Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire

[ChubbyPixie]

Unable to move forward in the compression of bodies, Kiri is barely able to make out what is going on. Hearing the request for a pole, he passes forward his rope and grapnel.

"Can you pull him out with this?" he shouts.

[Urson]

Zahra
I will try...
She hefts the grapple, looking above Grigor. Then, she stops and tosses the bare end of the rope against the surface of this thing, watching to see if the rope is consumed.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Attack w/ +1 longsword [1d20+3]=5+3=8

The translucent, shimmering form of the voracious cube confuses the Cimmerian's depth perception, and it somehow evades his sword's thrust!

"Normally, I would applaud such vigorous jiggling!"



If Cruloc is out of range for an attack, he'll give Zahra his rope.

[jemmus]

Torix wonders if the thing is natural beast or monstrous abomination. But it seems that it is not immune to sharp flint-headed arrows.

[1d20+2]=17+2=19 [1d6]=1 [1d20+2]=10+2=12 [1d6]=3

[Inferno]

The Caverns of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Twelve. Afternoon? 22nd day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia






Amid desperate cries and barking, Amethu wields ancient magicks of Verulia to transform the stricken Grigor into a giant!

Cruloc the barbarian pushes forward to plunge his sword into the quivering amoeboid horror, but his eyes are vexed by its shimmering, otherworldly shape!

Zahra throws one end of Kiri's rope at the immense creature and it is swallowed up into its transparent, viscous mass.

Out in the hallway, Torix watches in horror as the unimaginable thing grows ever more crimson with Grigor's blood as the gypsy's body is hideously dissolved and consumed! (5hp damage more)

The Pict savage narrowly evades the vast, looming thing and sinks two arrows into it, which are then devoured into its frightful, alien form!


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.

Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=5, Monsters: [1d6]=4 Party wins.
Does monster absorb rope? (1): [1d2]=1 Yes.
Thing attacks Torix: [1d20]=6 Misses.
Damage to Grigor: [2d4]=5

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 17/17, Spells: 5/8 1st lvl, 4/5 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 1: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 19/25, Torch
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 2/29, Spells: 0/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl, Paralyzed
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 20/21, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl, Torch
Torix: Pict Savage Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 28/28
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 24/29, Unsettled
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 6/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

Enlarge (Amethu): Target: Grigor. Duration: 29 rounds.

Player Resources:

The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
Mysteries Strange and Deadly (player clues and notes)
An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra pulls back the rope, then kneels to get a torch lit. She'll be using it as a burning spear.

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

The rogue sees the ineffectual attacks on the gelatinous blob that is devouring her companion...and doesn't really know what to do...except pray to Mitra for guidance.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

The battle for the priest's life is grim, desperate, and its sounds are a profane salmagundi which defies description by all but the insane.

Attack w/ +1 longsword [1d20+3]=13+3=16
+1 Longsword vs. L opponent [1d12+4]=12+4=16

Cruloc plunges his Thracian blade deep into the quivering jelly - SHLNK! If the thing has vitals, his steel has certainly pierced them. An unearthly, piteous wail emerges from an unseen orifice, and before the hilt, his hand, and forearm are swallowed, he jerks it forcefully downward, scything open a great gash in its side. Slurping, burbling flatulence spews forth, cutting short the barbarian's primal shout.

"GRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAA- *uck*!"

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri will hurriedly light another torch and pass it forward, in case the thing proves to be vulnerable to burning.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu is stuck in the hallway unable to advance and use spells or staff!

[Inferno]

The Caverns of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Twelve. Afternoon? 22nd day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia






Gruesomely, the adventurers can see Grigor slowly being digested within the translucent horror.

Suddenly, by the devastating arc of his merciless blade, Cruloc the barbarian cleaves asunder the glistening thing from darkest nightmare!

Mortally wounded, the otherworldly protoplasmic leviathan loses all physical cohesion and instantly melts to the ground in a splatter!

Grigor is released and can breathe again! Splayed around his giant, stricken form are skulls, bones and other indigestible objects.


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.

Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=4, Monsters: [1d6]=1 Party wins.

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 17/17, Spells: 5/8 1st lvl, 4/5 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 1: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 19/25, Torch
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 2/29, Spells: 0/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl, Paralyzed
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 20/21, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl, Two Torches
Torix: Pict Savage Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 28/28
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 24/29, Unsettled, Torch
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 6/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

Enlarge (Amethu): Target: Grigor. Duration: 28 rounds.

Player Resources:

The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
Mysteries Strange and Deadly (player clues and notes)
An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc stifles the vomit rising in his throat - he has no recollection of eating beans since Fort Tuscelan - and pulls the limp giant from the muck.

"There you are, priest, partially digested, softened up, and spat out. You'd best accustom yourself to it if you plan to proselytise anywhere near Shadizar!"

Strong, quick-working hands bind the Zamoran's half-dissolved flesh to his bones.

"Hreh." Chuckling, he regards Grigor's untouched clerical baubles among the sludge. "I see the thing and I shared a distaste for your gewgaws."

[jemmus]

Torix lowers his bow, relieved that the weird thing died of wounds like an ordinary creature of nature. He retrieves his arrows and puts them into his two quivers, checking the undigested items for anything useful or of value. Then takes his familiar leaves from his shoulder pouch, chews them, and applies the pungent salve to worst-damaged areas of Grigor's skin.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu moves into the room to attend to the now giant Grigor. While the spell perhaps didn't work out as intended, he does enjoy seeing sorcery unleashed.

Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=4
Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=3

[Urson]

Zahra
With her torch lit, Zahra moves into the mess where the creature had been. She takes a position South of the secret door, watching the southern corridor. She walks carefully, apparently not wanting to step in the muck left by the thing.

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

The rogue tries not to look at her half-digested companion, while holding Gnasher back lest he rush to his master's side and start licking...the flesh would...urp...she squeezes her eyes shut and tries to think of something positive, something happy to keep from spewing all over the wall. She sits with her back to the others, facing the long hallway they just came down.

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri finally makes it up to where he can see what exactly was going on without a tumult of bodies in the way. He mentally grimaces when he sees the state of Grigor, but doesn't show it outwardly.

"I opened the other door with these keys from the guard," he says, holding them up. "There was a darkened corridor beyond."

[Inferno]

The Caverns of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Twelve. Afternoon? 22nd day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia






The explorers of antiquity cannot help but shudder at the grisly, harrowing ruin of Grigor's flesh. The digestive secretions of the unearthly horror had almost dissolved the gigantic gypsy, leaving him stricken in agony, unable to cry out.

Cruloc does what he can (+1hp) and then Amethu attends to Grigor with sacred orisons of healing (+7hp). Grigor's paralysis leaves him, and he will not die of his ghastly wounds.

Torix the Pict recovers some of his arrows and, seeing that Cruloc has already applied first aid, examines the other undigested items. He finds the skeleton of a Thracian warrior whose flesh was completely consumed, a Thracian spear, shield and helm, 34 silver coins minted before the fall of Atlantis, a bronze dagger, a small blue gemstone, and another human skeleton whose skull is that of an animal!


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.





PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 17/17, Spells: 3/8 1st lvl, 4/5 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 1: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 19/25, Torch
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 10/29, Spells: 0/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 20/21, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl, Torch
Torix: Pict Savage Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 28/28
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 24/29, Torch
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 6/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

Enlarge (Amethu): Target: Grigor. Duration: 25 rounds.

Player Resources:

The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
Mysteries Strange and Deadly (player clues and notes)
An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Blistered and withered he checks his body. "My moustache! Curses!" he strokes his top lip, missing its years grown handlebar of finely waxed hirsuteness. Among his remnant garb he can still sport a silvered holy ankh medallion upon his now bare chest, singed clean of hair and tattoos and a pitted bearskin jerkin. His boots losing their glossy shine to appear weathered and his pantaloons now sheared to be short shorts.

"My gypsy finery gone, I feel like one of the village people." His belt of horseshoes survive but the lucky rabbit's foot, coon tail and five leaf clovers have no such luck and his linen priestly garb and phylactery shredded to ever shrinking rags.

He checks among the detritus of cube tenants to fish out his heirloom scimitar, happy it shines light again once he grasps it and checks for the Bone Wand that we found earlier.

[jemmus]

Torix takes the coins and the blue gemstone. He doesn't touch the weapons, shield, or helm. He holds the stone to the light of a torch. How much? Anyone know? He points to the other items? Sorcery on them? Anyone know? He looks at the animal-headed skeleton. A minotaur?

He can't do division calculations, so he divides the silver coins into seven piles. Four coins each, with four left over. He gives each member of the party a pile, and the extra four and the stone to the cleric Amethu. You keep for all us for later, priest Amethu?