Chapter 7: The Castle U.S.S. Enterprise

[Inferno]

Castle U.S.S. Enterprise
The Barren Wasteland, Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Four. Night. March 28th, 912 CY





In the astounding realm of the gods, Maskelyn continues the search alone and comes up empty. Ko-Nan and Tullia stand guard, fighting off premonitions of doom.

Adrock and Fiefo attempt to decipher the puzzle of the new God's Eye table, to no avail. Even Adrock's sacred oracle orb of infinity is of no use. The pair are completely mystified.

Then, at Hans' urging, Jack the wolf cub scout stands upon the strange dais of circles. From out of nowhere, a disembodied female voice, cold and emotionless, says, "Emergency transporter procedure activated."

And then Jack is engulfed and consumed by a fiery light!



There is an eerie, distant sound of ringing harps.

The sound and the pulsing light fade and Jack is gone!




Actions?!



Map Detail:

Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory. X = dead.

Map:



Behind the DM Screen:

This post covers only two rounds.
Re: the Transporter Room: First round: Adrock works while Fiefo and Jack enter.
First round: Puzzling: Adrock: [1d10] = 5
Second round: Adrock and Fiefo work while Jack stands on the platform.
Second round: Puzzling: Adrock: [1d10] = 9, Fiefo: [1d10] = 7
No success yet in understanding how to operate the transporter controls.

PC Status:
Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 26/26
Hans the Shrewd: Mole-Man Cleric/Thief 2/2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 16/16, Spells: 4/4 1st level
Jack: Wolf-Man Cleric 3: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 17/25, Spells: 4/4 1st level, 1/1 2nd level
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/32
L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 8/8, Spells: 3/5 1st lvl, Light spell
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 8/14, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Moniqua: Robot Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 32/32
Tullia Galena: Half-Elf Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 31/31

PC Magic:
Light (Adrock): Duration: 25 rounds.

Player Resources:
End of the World (game description)
Strange New World (maps and realms)
Memory Tapes (the story so far)
Viewscreen (the story so far in images)

[Yrkoon]

Hans the Shrewd

Briefly, the moleman cleric stands dumbfounded at the entrance to the puzzle room.

"W-W-Whisked away to Nive-ana, by Iithius!"

Panic rises in him as he contemplates further adventuring without his erstwhile travelling companion, and he rushes forward onto the dais to stand where Jack had been mere moments before. Hans clutches his holy vessel of cream, closes his eyes, and prepares for ascension.

[wolfpack]

wait! we must figure out the puzzle


The magical mystery tour is waiting to take you away
Waiting to take you away
Mystery trip

[SpinwardMarch]

Tullia

In answer to Moniqua's rather long question: I don't understand your question. About safety, it would be better if we all stuck together, instead of wandering off.

She continues listening, and with her augmented hearing probably hears the harp sound.

Oh, no. What now?


Busy typing away and cockatiel climbs up my arm to get "scritchies." Makes it hard to type.

[ravenn4544]

Ko-nan shakes his head and curses.

[Urson]

Maskelyn

You're right, Tullia. So, do we go in there, or... He stops, hearing the sounds from the other room.

Duck, rabbit... he mutters as he heads toward the door.

Spin: I feel your pain. I have a "velcro" cat who makes my typing take longer than it should...

[ChubbyPixie]

Fiefo stands dumbfounded, staring at the circles.

"Just like that... Incinerated... Should have expected this..." he mumbles incoherently.

[Captain Kinkajou]

Moniqua

Moniqua impassively processes < FRIEND=TULLIA's > response.

< ADDITIONAL INPUT RECEIVED. MISSION = GET TO SOMEWHERE SAFER FOR ALL OF US. SAFETY=IT WOULD BE BETTER IF WE ALL STUCK TOGETHER, INSTEAD OF WANDERING OFF. >

< COURSE OF ACTION ANALYSIS COMPLETE. >

< COURSE OF ACTION 1 <> WANDERING OFF. >

< COURSE OF ACTION 2 = REMAIN VIGILANT FOR ADHESIVE. >

At that moment, Moniqua's audio receptors detect a strange, tinkling harp-like sound from the direction of the puzzle room. She is unsure what to make of it but, from her companion's reactions, it isn't good.

< FRIEND=MOLE HANS > string$=(W-W-WHISKED AWAY TO NIVE-ANA, BY ITHIUS!) < FRIEND=TULLIA > string$=(OH, NO. WHAT NOW?) < SUBJECT=FIEFO> string$=(JUST LIKE THAT... INCINERATED). >

< PROCESSING. EXTRAPOLATING. INTERPOLATING. >

"< OH, NO. SADNESS. SOMEONE HAS BEEN INCINERATED AWAY TO NIVE-ANA! >" she declares.

< SCANNING FOR POSSIBLE MATCHES

• < FRIEND=TULLIA > VISUAL CONFIRMATION. CHECK.
• < FRIEND=MOLE HANS > AUDIO CONFIRMATION. CHECK.
• < SUBJECT=FIEFO > AUDIO CONFIRMATION. CHECK.
• < SUBJECT=KO-NAN > VISUAL CONFIRMATION. CHECK.
• < SUBJECT=MASKELYN > VISUAL CONFIRMATION. CHECK.
• < SUBJECT=LL ADROCK > STATUS UNKNOWN.
• < SUBJECT=JACK > STATUS UNKNOWN.

>

"< I BELIEVE IT TO BE EITHER SUBJECT=LL ADROCK .OR. SUBJECT=JACK >"

The robot remains with < FRIEND=TULLIA > to avoid < WANDERING OFF > and keeps an eye out for any < ADHESIVE >.

[Inferno]

Castle U.S.S. Enterprise
The Barren Wasteland, Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Four. Night. March 28th, 912 CY





Adrock continues to search for the answer to the riddle of the altar of the God's Eyes. Suddenly, Hans rushes up to the dais to share the mysterious fate of his companion Jack!

Once more, the distant voice of the ghost woman intones, "Emergency transporter procedure activated." And then Hans is devoured by a shimmering light!



The otherworldly chorus sounds again.

When the angelic whisperings and the hungry light fade, Hans is gone, having followed Jack into oblivion!




Outside the chamber, Ko-Nan sees the fearsome king of the monsters look up from his ravaged feast, in the direction of the adventurers.






Actions?!



Map Detail:

Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory. X = dead.

Map:



Behind the DM Screen:

Puzzling: Adrock: [1d10] = 4
After 4 minutes, Adrock hasn't figured out how to operate the transporter controls.

PC Status:

Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 26/26
Hans the Shrewd: Mole-Man Cleric/Thief 2/2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 16/16, Spells: 4/4 1st level
Jack: Wolf-Man Cleric 3: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 17/25, Spells: 4/4 1st level, 1/1 2nd level
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/32
L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 8/8, Spells: 3/5 1st lvl, Light spell
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 8/14, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Moniqua: Robot Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 32/32
Tullia Galena: Half-Elf Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 31/31

PC Magic:

Light (Adrock): Duration: 24 rounds.

Player Resources:

End of the World (game description)
Strange New World (maps and realms)
Memory Tapes (the story so far)
Viewscreen (the story so far in images)

[SpinwardMarch]

Tullia

What now?, after she hears the harp sound a second time.

[wolfpack]

there has to be a clue, something that tells us how the magic is triggered.

standing on the dais triggers the magic but what magic, are they invisible and frozen/ disintegrated? teleported?

Adrock will look aorund the room trying to find anything that may be a clue such a instruction manual.

[Captain Kinkajou]

Moniqua

< QUERY FROM FRIEND=TULLIA: WHAT NOW? >

< ANALYSING... >

< DIALOGUE SUGGESTS INCINERATOR=AN APPARATUS FOR BURNING WASTE MATERIAL TO ASH. >

< MUSIC-LIKE AUDIO SUGGESTS DISCOTHEQUE=A CLUB OR PARTY WHERE PEOPLE DANCE. >

"< FRIEND=TULLIA, I THINK SOMEONE ELSE HAS BEEN INCINERATED IN THE DISCO INCINERATOR >" she says.

< SCANNING FOR POSSIBLE MATCHES

• < FRIEND=TULLIA > VISUAL CONFIRMATION. CHECK.
• < FRIEND=MOLE HANS > STATUS UNKNOWN.
• < SUBJECT=FIEFO > STATUS UNKNOWN.
• < SUBJECT=KO-NAN > VISUAL CONFIRMATION. CHECK.
• < SUBJECT=MASKELYN > VISUAL CONFIRMATION. CHECK.
• < SUBJECT=LL ADROCK > AUDIO CONFIRMATION. CHECK.
• < SUBJECT=JACK > =1ST ASCENDEE TO NIVE-ANA BY PROCESS OF ELIMINATION.

>

"< EITHER FRIEND=MOLE HANS .OR. SUBJECT=FIEFO HAS JOINED SUBJECT=JACK IN NIVE-ANA. >"

[Urson]

Maskelyn
Maskelyn stands at the door, not entering the room. His mouth hangs open at the display of power he's just seen.

I... don't think they were incinerated. Burning HURTS. They didn't even whimper, much less scream.

He raises his voice, shouting into the roomHey! You guys! Allee-Allee- Oxenfree! If you can hear me, say somethin'!

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan calls to the group, "The big creature looks hungry again - and coming this way!"

[Inferno]

Castle U.S.S. Enterprise
The Barren Wasteland, Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Four. Night. March 28th, 912 CY








Hans and Jack have disappeared like a magic trick. Maskelyn the trickster calls out to them. There comes no reply.

Adrock searches in vain for illuminated manuscripts and other sacred texts that might lay bare the divine mysteries of the strange engines of the gods. Moniqua's talk of a 'disco incinerator' reminds him of an ancient hymn whose haunting chorus chants, "burn, baby burn..."

Then Ko-Nan the barbarian warns them that the fearsome thunder lizard king has returned its terrible attention to them!



Fiefo grumbles miserably, "If this "transporter" thing is an exit, we'd better take it while we still can!"



Actions?!



Map Detail:

Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory. X = dead.

Map:






PC Status:

Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 26/26
Hans the Shrewd: Mole-Man Cleric/Thief 2/2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 16/16, Spells: 4/4 1st level
Jack: Wolf-Man Cleric 3: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 17/25, Spells: 4/4 1st level, 1/1 2nd level
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/32
L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 8/8, Spells: 3/5 1st lvl, Light spell
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 8/14, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Moniqua: Robot Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 32/32
Tullia Galena: Half-Elf Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 31/31

PC Magic:

Light (Adrock): Duration: 23 rounds.

Player Resources:

End of the World (game description)
Strange New World (maps and realms)
Memory Tapes (the story so far)
Viewscreen (the story so far in images)

[wolfpack]

We must decide do we take a chance? there are 6 disks we can each stand on one.

If you change your mind
I'm the first in line
Honey, I'm still free
Take a chance on me

crossing his fingers Adrock runs up and steps on a disk

[Urson]

Maskelyn
Masskelyn dithers a moment, then springs for a disk. Mighty Trickster, favor me!

[SpinwardMarch]

Tullia

Monique, I had hoped to continue looking around. But it looks like the more rash of our group have made a different decision. Maskelyn may be right, and this device will get us out of here, before we become monster food. She sighs and beckons Monique to follow her into the "incinerator disco" room.

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan can't believe the group is making these rash choices to jump right back into the shit storm of a wizards grasp. "Have they learned nothing?" he rages to himself. He clutches his mighty cleaver and stares down the immense goliath heading there way. He looks back over his shoulder as they others are also following the foolish path. "CROM!!!! what test is this now?!?"

He backs away with fire in his eyes and he has but one choice forced upon him. He too will enter the wizard's grasp...

[Inferno]

Castle U.S.S. Enterprise
The Barren Wasteland, Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Four. Night. March 28th, 912 CY









Suddenly, the two insatiable leviathans barrel down upon them! The explorers race for their lives to the sorcerous dais!

With ravenous death at their heels, they leap upon the platform of the 'Disco Incinerator' and the distant, disembodied specter intones "Emergency transporter procedure activated."

Mere seconds before they are consumed alive by the ferocious radioactive monsters, they are instead consumed alive by otherworldly sounds and a fiery light of the gods!



When their senses return, the adventurers see that the chamber has changed?! It's smaller... and the two gigantic creatures are transformed?! They have become Hans and Jack! Both gesticulate toward the dais in solemn piety. Then they smile, happy that the questers of The Kirk are reunited in glorious spiritual ascension!


Actions?!


Map:






PC Status:

Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 26/26
Hans the Shrewd: Mole-Man Cleric/Thief 2/2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 16/16, Spells: 4/4 1st level
Jack: Wolf-Man Cleric 3: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 17/25, Spells: 4/4 1st level, 1/1 2nd level
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/32
L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 8/8, Spells: 3/5 1st lvl, Light spell
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 8/14, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Moniqua: Robot Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 32/32
Tullia Galena: Half-Elf Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 31/31

PC Magic:

Light (Adrock): Duration: 22 rounds.

Player Resources:

End of the World (game description)
Strange New World (maps and realms)
Memory Tapes (the story so far)
Viewscreen (the story so far in images)