Chapter 18: Kingdom Come

[Inferno]

The Island of Death, The Underground City, Beneath the Great Pyramid of Xuthalhotep
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Ten. Midday, 23rd day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia






Drug-clouded eyes silently plead for miraculous deliverance.

Unseen by mortal eyes, his javelin poised to strike, Xorzen inches behind the trio of nefarious curates that hold their sacrifice to Zargoth.




Mako holds his intense concentration upon the sorcerous deception, as Amethu speaks in the language of lost Verulia, beguiling and mesmerizing one of the faceless horrors!




Impossibly, the once-Verulian thing (F8) resists Amethu's divine will!

With that, the warriors of the party suddenly abandon all pretense of subterfuge! Blades ringing from their scabbards, they plunge into battle!

Unexpectedly, arrow shafts fly from the southwest, feathering one of their misshapen enemies! (F7) Their friend, Kiri Khutan has recovered and returned, emerging from another stone door into the courtyard! (Ki)

Zahra pounces like a great cat, her merciless sword seeking a monster's gut! Rending open a wound that would have killed a man, her faceless enemy still stands! (F5) Suddenly, the point of a straight sword bursts through its chest in an eruption of hot blood!



Pierced through the heart, the monster falls dead into gaping wound of the Zargoth Pit, revealing Loche who had been standing behind him, his blade dripping with crimson!

Cruloc the barbarian charges north around the chasm toward the bound woman, taking a wild swing at another malformed servitor (F4) and missing him clean!

Noble Garrin launches himself at the nearest living foe (F6) and nearly smites him with one fell-handed blow! But the twisted inhuman giant still draws breath!

The priests of horror and death continue their alien, unholy liturgy when suddenly, the sacrificial maw explodes with an abhorrent, unnatural radiance not of this world!


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet.

Map Detail:



Behind the DM Screen:

This post serves as Round 3 of the PCs' plan.
Monsters Surprised? (1-3): [1d6] = 2 Yes. Only the PCs may attack this round.
F8 Save vs Spells: [1d20] = 18 Saves!
Kiri's arrows attack F7's back: [1d20+2] = 19+2 = 21, [1d20+2] = 14+2 = 16, damage: [1d6] = 3, [1d6] = 2 Both hit!

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 15/15, Spells: 1/7 1st lvl, 1/4 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 37/45
Garrin: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 14/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 19/19, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
Loche: Pict Savage Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 31/32
Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 12/12, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl
Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 4: Move: 18", AC: 6, HP: 10/16, Invisible
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 24/29, Light spell on javelin (shrouded)

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 (Garrin, Kiri, Loche, Mako and Xorzen have breathed of the mists): 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."
Invisibility (Mako): Target: Xorzen.
Slow Poison (Amethu): Target: Cruloc. Duration: 117 rounds.
Light (Mako): Target: Zahra's javelin. Duration: 15 rounds.
Phantasmal Force (Mako): A plague of eyes upon Garrin.

Player 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)

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

With the darksome, yawning pit to his left, and the corrupted, semi-human thralls of Zargoth before him, the fighting madness of his race is upon him now – and with a red mist of unreasoning fury wavering before his blazing eyes, Cruloc litters the cavern floor with a ghastly harvest of blood!

Attack w/ longsword [1d20+2] = 14+2 = 16
Longsword vs. S/M [1d8+3] = 5+3 = 8, vs. L opponent [1d12+3] = 9+3 = 12

“Let this cowardly cave god know that death is coming for him!”

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra flashes a fierce smile at Loche, already turning toward (F6). She only takes a couple of steps before the light blasts up from the pit. She turns and launches a javelin at (P1). It glitters like earthbound lightning as it flies over the pit.

att [1d20+4] = 20+4 = 24 javelin [1d6+3] = 3+3 = 6

[ravenn4544]

Amethu steps forward undeterred and casts Burning Hands in an arc of fire across the chasm. Intent is to target F7 and F8 and he'll sweep to the right to get any of the priests without hitting his own team.

[Bluetongue]

Loche

Reaches into his pouch and bites the end off the 'tube of speed' which he gulps down. Energised he dashes around the pit to stab frantically at P3.

Loche longsword attack [1d20+1] = 16+1 = 17 damage [1d8+1] = 1+1 = 2 [1d20+1] = 8+1 = 9 damage [1d8+1] = 1+1 = 2

[OGRE MAGE]

Worried about attacking these priests alone, which will likely negate the only defense he has against them, Xorxen pulls out his 20 foot length of strong cord and drops to his knees behind them. He attempts to loosely wind the cord in, around, and through each of their ankles, in hopes that they will trip and fall if they attempt to move about the area.

Since he isn't sure if that action would be considered an "attack" or not, then neither am I.

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin attacks the creature before him once again.

To hit with +2 Longsword [1d20+2] = 13+2 = 15; damage sm [1d8+2] = 2+2 = 4; damage l [1d12+2] = 5+2 = 7

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako breaks his concentration and moves cautiously up to the rock line (O12) on the outskirts of the gathering–taking partial cover behind the boulder.

[ChubbyPixie]

If he can reach I7 (not sure what kind of ground I'm covering here) Kiri will attempt to skewer him with his trident:

Attack with Trident +1, Claw of Chobek (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20+4] = 5+4 = 9, Damage vs. s/m: [1d6+8] = 4+8 = 12, vs. Lg: [3d4+7] = 8+7 = 15

If not he'll just move as far as he can in that direction.

[Inferno]

The Island of Death, The Underground City, Beneath the Great Pyramid of Xuthalhotep
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Ten. Midday, 23rd day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia






Deception cast aside, a ferocious battle erupts. And so does the Zargoth Pit!

Abhorrent, unnatural radiance not of this world pours forth from that strange void, seemingly propelled by the unhallowed hymn of the sacrilegious clergy!




Invisible, Xorzen falls to his knees and quickly threads his rope around the feet of the heinous high priestess and her two masked priests, limned in that ungodly light! (P1-3).




His snare laid, Xorzen stands up behind them, completely visible!

Suddenly, a javelin blooms from the chest of one masked priest in a crimson spray! (P3) Launched by Zahra's fell hand, it bites deep! Loche imbibes some sorcerous concoction and suddenly he is upon that same vile adept, slashing him with the silver blur of his sword! The blasphemous acolyte of Zargoth is cut down as his brother and sister in horror continue their profane otherworldly litany!

Cruloc and Garrin too reap a gruesome harvest! The barbarian's merciless blade splits a faceless skull (F4) and the paladin shears a misshapen head clean from its tainted body (F6)!




The surviving sentinels (F7, F8) lunge to defend the ghastly priesthood that had stolen their very identities.




With inhuman speed Loche evades an immense battle ax! But Kiri is gouged by a curving great sword! (3hp damage)

The illusory veil of eyes falls from Garrin's noble visage as Amethu, Kiri and Mako race toward the glowing maw! The three sorcerers cannot believe their senses. Colors without name lick like lambent tongues of flame within that scintillating, bubbling amorphousness! Other worlds, other realms, other spaces reside inside the seething shaft of roiling phosphorescence that flows outward from the Zargoth Pit!




Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet.

Map Detail:



Behind the DM Screen:

No initiative. F4-8 attack last in a round.
Potion of Speed duration: [1d4] = 4 4x5=20 rounds.
F7 attacks Kiri, F8 charges Loche: [1d20] = 18, [1d20+2] = 2+2 = 4, damage: [1d10] = 3, [1d10] = 1 Kiri is struck for 3 damage.

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 15/15, Spells: 1/7 1st lvl, 1/4 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 37/45
Garrin: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 14/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 16/19, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
Loche: Pict Savage Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 31/32
Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 12/12, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl
Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 4: Move: 18", AC: 6, HP: 10/16
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 24/29, Light spell on javelin (shrouded)

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 (Garrin, Kiri, Loche, Mako and Xorzen have breathed of the mists): 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."
Slow Poison (Amethu): Target: Cruloc. Duration: 116 rounds.
Light (Mako): Target: Zahra's javelin. Duration: 14 rounds.
Potion of Speed (Loche): Duration: 19 rounds.

Player 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)

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

With a sickening crack, Cruloc twists and wrenches his gore-splattered blade free of the gruesomely split skull. Dead on his feet, the thrall of Zargoth is sent plummeting headlong into the churning abyss by a kick from the hard sole of the barbarian's left boot.

Eyes fixed on his next kill, he advances menacingly, but his sword fails to find flesh!

Attack w/ longsword [1d20+2] = 9+2 = 11

[Bluetongue]

Loche

A whirl of flashing steel and rapid cursing vocabulary, the savage attacks the priest chanting by the sacrificial victim.

Loche longsword attack [1d20+1] = 15+1 = 16 damage [1d8+1] = 5+1 = 6 [1d20+1] = 5+1 = 6 damage [1d8+1] = 5+1 = 6

[Urson]

Zahra
Almost before her javelin finds its mark, Zahra is sprinting around the pit- keeping at least 15' between herself and the Unnatural there- shrieking her bloodlust. Her target is (P1).

I'm pretty sure she can't reach the priests this round.

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen notices that he is now visible, and that stealth is no longer aiding him.

Disappointed in himself for not attacking sooner, he steps to the side and thrusts his weapon through the ribs of the chanting priestess, attempting to shove her sideways, and hoping to prevent the woman from being shoved into the pit.

Attack w/ +2 Javelin of Men-khetu [1d20+2] = 15+2 = 17 Dam [1d6+3] = 6+3 = 9

[ChubbyPixie]

Finding his vision still intermittently blurry after his ordeal, Kiri fails badly in his attempt to rend the faceless man with his trident.

Attack with Trident +1, Claw of Chobek (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20+4] = 1+4 = 5 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6+8] = 6+8 = 14, vs. Lg: [3d4+7] = 7+7 = 14

[ravenn4544]

Amethu looks to cast some of his remaining magic (burning hands at F7 if in range, or P1/P7/W1 if he can move and get close enough to hit 3 enemies)

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako moves his full movement around the pit to (I6)

[Inferno]

The Island of Death, The Underground City, Beneath the Great Pyramid of Xuthalhotep
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Ten. Midday, 23rd day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia






The alien, sinister luminescence rises above the Island of Death! An eclipse of light and darkness to rival Nature's own.

There, Mako and Zahra circle the source of that shapeless riot of luminous, interdimensional writhing!



There, Amethu the sorcerer-priest chants secret words that were ancient before Atlantis was born. His hands combust with living flames that arc outward engulfing one of the faceless horrors (F7), the malformed degenerate future of Verulia, the dire fate of his own people, of he himself! The conflagration consumes it alive.

There, Loche and Xorzen descend upon the heinous high priestess, adorned in vulgar finery! (P1)




With sword and spear, they disembowel her where she stands in a ghastly mess of streaming entrails!





Free from the dead woman's grasp, the sacrificial victim is frozen with terror.




There, Kiri Khutan, still recovering from madness-induced blindness, cannot land a blow. Nor can Garrin of Argos. Nor can Cruloc the barbarian after he wrenches his blade free from a victim and sends its corpse hurtling down into the yawning sinkhole and its terrible, living light!

One priest remains to complete the profane prayer and the monstrous stream of unnatural, unhallowed color expands and subsumes them all!



Within the alien rainbow of cryptic radiance, seething, feeling, lapping, reaching, straining, the world slips away, shifting around them and from beneath their very feet! They are devoured and transported to regions unimaginable.

A malign consciousness lurks upon the periphery of their bewildered awareness. With dread, the adventurers recognize it from darkest nightmare.



Here, they stand alone upon islands adrift above the bottomless black void of their beleaguered sanity. A huge shape looms up out of the fog. Their minds reel, struggling to comprehend the enormity of the madness and the horror.

Zargoth has come.


Actions?! (Everyone, please Save vs Spells in order to act. Wisdom modifiers count. Garrin's Protection From Evil aids Amethu, Kiri and Garrin. Good luck.)


Map:

One square = 5 feet. Black is the void. Grey are islands.

Map Detail:



Behind the DM Screen:

No initiative. Faceless things attack last in a round.
Garrin charges F7: [1d20+4] = 6+4 = 10, damage: [1d12+2] = 6+2 = 8 Misses.

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 15/15, Spells: 0/7 1st lvl, 1/4 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 37/45
Garrin: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 14/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 16/19, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
Loche: Pict Savage Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 31/32
Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 12/12, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl
Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 4: Move: 18", AC: 6, HP: 10/16
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 24/29, Light spell on javelin (shrouded)

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 (Garrin, Kiri, Loche, Mako and Xorzen have breathed of the mists): 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."
Slow Poison (Amethu): Target: Cruloc. Duration: 115 rounds.
Light (Mako): Target: Zahra's javelin. Duration: 13 rounds.
Potion of Speed (Loche): Duration: 18 rounds.

Player 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)

[Bluetongue]

Loche

Aided by the arcane influence of his magic ring, the savage appears too steadfast or too stupid to be enthralled in fear. Already counting himself among the dead, he continues to attack and targets the chanting priest with a flurry of blows.

Though in the frantic hacking and slashing he seems a bit uncoordinated like a man flapping at a buzzing bee.

Loche. Zargoth arises. Save spells vs 13 [1d20+1] = 20+1 = 21

Loche longsword attack [1d20+1] = 1+1 = 2 damage [1d8+1] = 6+1 = 7 [1d20+1] = 11+1 = 12 damage [1d8+1] = 5+1 = 6

[ravenn4544]

Amethu stares in awe at the nightmare that has become reality.

Save vs Spells (12) [1d20+5] = 13+5 = 18

He claws through the twisted imagery and attacks the darkness!

To Hit (THACO 20): [1d20+2] = 19+2 = 21
Staff of Uthoth - Damage: = S/M/L: [1d6+2] = 4+2 = 6