Chapter 4: Verulia in Darkness

[Inferno]

Hall of the Slain (13), Third Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Two. Midmorning. 14th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





Within ancient domains marked by the hieroglyph of Death, the explorers of the Great Pyramid stand alone in the memorial chamber of the fallen.

Offerings to mighty Sutekh shimmer seductively from atop the altar. Hundreds of gold coins, a sapphire, ruby, turquoise, opal, emerald, golden animal mask, and more.

Arthfael of Cimmeria looks with suspicion upon the sparkling treasure.

Loche the Pict tends to Roan’s wounds and checks the altar for traps without touching the glimmering tribute. Kneeling behind the altar, the thief searches with nimble fingers, their sensitive tips gently probing for projections too small for the eye to detect. Loche discovers no mechanical dangers yet, and continues searching.

Mako of Khitai holds his sorcerous beacon aloft and asks Loche to heal unconscious Gronda with the healing waters that Mako took from the font in the secret shrine of Osorus.

Kiri the wizard-warrior looks at the treasure sidelong, suspecting an ingenious illusion. He wonders if it could possibly be the fabled Treasure of Xuthalhotep, said to reside in the great Pharaoh’s tomb, in tiers deep beneath this one.

None dare touch the riches, there for the taking.

None, save one. Profaning the sacred offerings to Sutekh, Attila the barbarian grabs a handful of golden coins, feels their weight in his hand, and returns them. “Somebody bag these,” he says as he turns to join Garrin in binding wounds.

Nothing happens.

And then suddenly it does.

The air vibrates. The darkness stirs. A deeper shadow slithers among the shadows. Hisses of serpents fill their ears. An immense black shape writhes to life from out of that darkness. Solidifying, transforming, becoming.



The ebon manifestation towers over them, eerie, hideous and unearthly.

Tentacle shapes undulate at its edges. In profile, the distinct visage of an alien wolf can be discerned, like that of Sutekh, god of discord, suffering and violence.



The gigantic, terrible being does not pale before Mako's conjured light.

The adventurers feel their skin crawl and their blood run cold. Its baleful eyes burn with a cold fire. They glare with bottomless malice upon the intruders; Attila most of all.


Actions?!


Map Detail:



PCs are the first two letters of their name, in white. The Sutekh-like manifestation is "S."





PC Status:

• Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 2: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 10/12, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl and 3/3 2nd lvl
  Attila: Hyrkanean Nomad Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 19/21
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 5, HP: 13/18, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Gronda: Zembabweian Savage Ranger/Thief 1/2: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: -4/17
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 5/7, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, Torch
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 11/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: Move: 12", AC: 7, HP: 6/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, Light spell
  Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 15", AC: 4, HP: 18/23, Torch

PC Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Garrin): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Garrin.
  Healing Mists of Osorus (All): All lost HP recovered with 8 hours of sleep. Wakeful rest, or sleeping less than 8 hours, enables recovery of 1 HP per hour. Duration: "months."
  Light (Mako): Duration: 75 rounds

PC Resources:

• The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
  Mysteries Strange and Deadly (player clues and notes)
  Hieroglyphs (the story so far, in images)
  An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)
  Men of the Hyborian Age (races of men)

[tkrexx]

The adventurers feel their skin crawl and their blood run cold. Its baleful eyes burn with a cold fire. They glare with bottomless malice upon the intruders; Attila most of all.

Insert Picard Face-Palm here.
What? Atilla can't help but notice the glower of power pounding into him, I returned it! Very well, take what is mine for the insult. The Barbarian places his own coin purse with the coins he already examined, on his way out the door.

[hedgeknight]

Roan, Son of Rune

"The gods just keep shitting on us in this hell-hole," Roan growls. He then gathers Gronda in his arms and lifts her easily, backing toward the door.

[Mant72]

Garrin places his trust the circle of protection bestowed by Mitra and holds his ground, "Spirit, we mean no transgression. We shall depart in peace."

He waits with baited breath, hoping that the others gather toward the exit while he parlays with the phantom.

[Jernau35]

Loche helps Roan with Gronda if he needs it, if not, he falls back quickly toward the exit.

[Zhym]

Arthfael backs away.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako seeing the other back away does so as well. He back out towards the entrance. As he does, he tries to keep the the party illuminated but if there are those who choose not to move that is their mis doing.

[ChubbyPixie]

Taking the hint, Kiri also backs toward the exit, shield up. As he moves, he'll try to place himself in front of Mako and/or those carrying Gronda if he can.

[Inferno]

Hall of the Slain (13), Third Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Two. Midmorning. 14th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





Far from the sunlit world of Men, something manifests. Something with the head of a beast.

The ethereal and the physical coalesce. Spirit and flesh merge and materialize. The writhing shape becomes a thing like unto Sutekh, except woven in shadow and substance.



The netherworld manifestation, borne of darkness itself, raises an unearthly black hand toward Attila of Hyrkanea.

Before the macabre avatar can reach him, Attila throws his coin purse upon the sacrificial altar and joins the other explorers of the Great Pyramid as they break and flee the Hall of the Slain, hurtling headlong back down the corridor as dry leaves before a thunderstorm's gale.

Roan of Vanaheim bears Gronda's bloody body. Mako the conjurer had produced a vessel of healing waters, but none had poured it down the savage scout's throat yet.

Somewhere behind them in the ageless shadows lurks the dark incarnation... and Garrin, son of Atlantis, who does not flee.

In the Hall of the Slain, the light retreats with the explorers and darkness surrounds the paladin and the monstrous incarnation. The latter seemingly becomes one with the growing shadows, or perhaps subsumes them. The fell demon stalks forward and its eerie eyes remain unchanged, glaring out from the darkness; the only answer given to Garrin's valiant words. The air grows chill.

The rest of the adventurers reach the strangely angled hall.



Both its stone doors are still agape, exposing its bronze panels of hieroglyphs...



...and their vertical sequences of gleaming square buttons:

• • The Serpent
  • The Cat
  • The Spear
  • The Ankh
  • The Hawk
  • The All-Seeing Eye
  • The Ibis
  • The Sarcophagus

Actions?!


Map:

PCs are the first two letters of their name, in white. The Sutekh-like manifestation is "S."


Rolls and Rulings (non-required reading):

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 2, Monsters: [1d6] = 2 Tie. Good news for Attila.

PC Status:

• Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 2: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 10/12, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl and 3/3 2nd lvl
  Attila: Hyrkanean Nomad Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 19/21
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 5, HP: 13/18, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Gronda: Zembabweian Savage Ranger/Thief 1/2: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: -4/17
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 5/7, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, Torch
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 11/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: Move: 12", AC: 7, HP: 6/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, Light spell
  Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 15", AC: 4, HP: 18/23, Torch

PC Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Garrin): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Garrin.
  Healing Mists of Osorus (All): All lost HP recovered with 8 hours of sleep. Wakeful rest, or sleeping less than 8 hours, enables recovery of 1 HP per hour. Duration: "months."
  Light (Mako): Duration: 74 rounds

PC Resources:

• The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
  Mysteries Strange and Deadly (player clues and notes)
  Hieroglyphs (the story so far, in images)
  An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)
  Men of the Hyborian Age (races of men)

[ChubbyPixie]

"Wait... where is Attila?" says Kiri looking around. Torch held above him, he turns and starts heading back to the treasure room. "He may be paralyzed by evil magic. We must help him."

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako rests his staff onto the wall over the body of Gronda. He lifts her head and slowly drops the liquid of life from his waterskin.
"Not to worry my dear. This will make you better."

Administering one dose of the fonts waters.

[tkrexx]

Wait... where is Attila

Here, The Barbarian's voice is heard farthest from the shadowy shape, somewhat shameful that he is first to flee from battle.

[Jernau35]

Loche

"It's nae Attila we hae tae worry aboot. Garrin's th' yin who's aye back thare. We need tae hulp him! Who's wi' me?"

Loche loads a bullet into his sling, and looks at Kiri. "I dinnae ken if yi'll waant tae gang back doon thare, bit if nae a'd lik' tae mooch that torch."

[Mant72]

Garrin stares unwaveringly into the shadow demon's eyes. Without further word, he steps back, closes the door, and rejoins the others.

[hedgeknight]

Roan, Son of Rune

The Vanir watches as the healing waters are coaxed down Gronda's throat. When he hears that Garrin didn't join them, he readies his axe and begins walking back up the corridor, intent on helping.

[Inferno]

Near the Hall of the Slain (13), Third Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Two. Midmorning. 14th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia



Dark are Gronda's nightmares.



Beyond the wall of sleep, the unconscious savage dreams of Verulia in darkness.

The desolate sands have become an ocean of blood. The blood of Khemsa.

An eternal moon eclipses all light. All hope.



That celestial dark star, devouring all light and hope, is Zargoth the Destroyer, self styled Demon God of Verulia.

With sudden dread, Gronda realizes his malevolent, alien consciousness can see her.



The monstrous spawn of the abyss patiently watches as the outland explorers work their way to him.

And to their certain doom.

Gronda suddenly awakens with a start.



The shadow archers and arrows are gone. So are many of her dire wounds (+9hp). She is held in the iron arms of Roan, son of Rune. Mako of the enigmatic East stands over her, watching, holding a waterskin and his glowing quarterstaff. She no longer sees the Hall of the Slain. They are back at the strangely angled hallway of the twin stone doors and the bronze panels.



She watches as the others slowly realize Garrin of Argos is not counted among their number. Kiri, Loche and Roan ready steel and stone to go back for him.

Then, within the shadows to the northwest stalks a denser shadow. It quickly grows closer...

And Garrin suddenly races into the light.



In the pitch darkness behind him, none may discern the black Shadow of Sutekh. Yet.


Actions?!


Map:

PCs are the first two letters of their name, in white.


Rolls and Rulings (non-required reading):

Gronda healing: [2d4+2] = 7+2 = 9

PC Status:

• Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 2: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 10/12, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl and 3/3 2nd lvl
  Attila: Hyrkanean Nomad Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 19/21
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 5, HP: 13/18, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Gronda: Zembabweian Savage Ranger/Thief 1/2: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 5/17
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 5/7, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, Torch
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 11/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: Move: 12", AC: 7, HP: 6/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, Light spell
  Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 15", AC: 4, HP: 18/23, Torch

PC Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Garrin): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Garrin.
  Healing Mists of Osorus (All): All lost HP recovered with 8 hours of sleep. Wakeful rest, or sleeping less than 8 hours, enables recovery of 1 HP per hour. Duration: "months."
  Light (Mako): Duration: 73 rounds

PC Resources:

• The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
  Mysteries Strange and Deadly (player clues and notes)
  Hieroglyphs (the story so far, in images)
  An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)
  Men of the Hyborian Age (races of men)

[Mant72]

Garrin:

Upon rejoining the group, the Argosian asserts, "I am uncertain if the shadow follows. Perhaps it is bound to the chamber? At any rate, we should remain vigilant." He continues to hold his blade at the ready.

He is relieved to see Gronda revived and hale, "How fares the warrior maiden?"

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Responding to Garrin, "She should be fine now. The waters of the font has mystical energy's of the faithful."
Mako rises from Gronda's side. He places his waterskin back in his pack and retrieves his staff that was leaning on the wall.

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri will approach and step just beyond Garrin, holding his torch up to illuminate the hall behind the paladin, to be certain the shadow creature isn't lurking there.

[hedgeknight]

Roan, Son of Rune

"Good to see you are hale and whole, Argosian. Now, pick us another route...and quickly!"
The Vanir looks up the hallway and lights another torch off Kiri's own.