Chapter 19: Civilization's End

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

She curses along with Cruloc and then curses some more when she realizes she wasted three of her darts.
"Now what? I guess we need to get moving."

[Paladin]

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

The warmth of healing steels Iago's resolve and he looses another storm of arrows.

[1d20+3]=7+3=10, [1d6]=4

[1d20+3]=1+3=4, [1d6]=5

The Zingaran curses his poor aim and hurls insults at the backs of his foes. Perhaps they will land with more success than his arrows.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu agrees that it serves them best to leave. He studies what he can view of the stars to make a best guess on the direction of travel.

[Urson]

Zahra
zahra nods agreement. It's possible that they were frightened away- but likely that they will bind up their courage and return, hoping to steal our power.
When the group moves out, she'll be in the first rank, right behind the scout.

[Inferno]

Black River, the Pictish Wilderness, the World of Hyboria
Day Two. Night. 12th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia
Light clouds, cool






At the river that carves Conajohara from Pictland, the adventurers hurl arrows and insults into a night as black as the fear that grips their savage enemies.

The Picts gone from sight, Cruloc binds his fresh wounds (+1hp). After a litany of curses that would make a Zingaran pirate blush, Dahinna mutters, "Now what? I guess we need to get moving."

With that, the explorers grimly set out, single file, walking in each others footprints through a forest wilderness that thickens with every step away from the Black River, away from this fraying edge of civilization. The stars and planets guide them west-northwest.



Suddenly, the far-off drums change their rhythm. An hour or so later, they stop entirely. In the ominous silence that falls, only the distant screech of a panther breaks the stillness.

On through the pitch black they drive, surrounded by solid palisades of darkness, stopping only for short rests. They hold their course for hours, following Decius' half-believed rumors and Amethu's arcane star charts, transcribed from the inner dome of the great hall of the Pyramid of Xuthalhotep.



Constellations of animal-headed Verulian gods march in procession across infinities of night without end.

The stars have not yet paled for dawn when they startle a herd of deer.




Actions?


Map:

X marks Fort Tuscelan. The PCs are west-northwest of the fort, they know not where.

Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=5, Monsters: [1d6]=5 Tied.
The Picts take a full move west.

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 10/14, Spells: 5/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 28/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 19/19
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 20/29, Spells: 1/4 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 13/32
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 15/19, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 13/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 11/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

None currently.

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

As much as roast venison tastes great, after the long trek the gypsy is quite happy to put his feet up in some hammock and sleep a little, munching on the rations we have.

Not that he is against hunting or blood sport and he certainly isn't vegan. I just wonder because on another day my incantations and study could allow me to communicate with animals. Not today. Can anyone else?

Imagine befriending the herd and getting the stags to carry us a few miles further over the next hill? Much harder for the Picts to follows us then if we leave only hoofprints?

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

Dahinna startles herself when the deer spook and run...but the thought of fresh venison does make her belly grumble, so she digs inside her new rations for a piece of jerky or hard tack biscuit to satisfy her as she walks.
"Besides, we'd have to eat it raw," she whispers to herself, nearly gagging at the thought.

[ChubbyPixie]

Once he judges them to be far enough away from the confrontation with the Picts, Kiri takes a moment to summon Grandfather. It's good to not exactly see the old man again.

"If we wished some light, Grandfather could carry a torch some ways ahead. He cannot be harmed by arrows. Or perhaps we continue with none," he says.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra is more shaken by the appearance of the deer than she would like to admit- large wildlife is still strange to her. She was within a second of throwing a javelin at the beasts.
She shakes her head at the idea of a torch. No point in attracting attention.

[Paladin]

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

"Sons of jackals," Iago grumbles and spits on the forest floor. "Pity we couldn't skin their mangy corpses this time. Painted devils." He falls silent and trudges on as silently as darkness and the cramped forest will allow.

When the deer jump, he freezes. The pirate scans their immediate surroundings to see if he notices Pictish hunters on the prowl. He'd hate to startle prey only to become the new prey.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

The benighted barbarian provides first aid to any who will allow it. For those who receive his 'treatments', it is best to look away.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu searches quickly for a deer trail to ease thier passage

[Inferno]

Somewhere in the Pictish Wilderness, the World of Hyboria
Day Three. Before dawn. 13th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia
Clear, cool






In the howling wilderness, beneath shimmering stars without number, the adventurers scatter a herd of deer before them.

They risk another short rest and Cruloc the barbarian practices his frightful medicines upon the injured. (+1hp each) Kiri performs an arcane ritual and then seemingly talks to himself awhile. Iago stands watch as Amethu discovers a deer trail, something he's read about in his dusty books.

They press on, following the deer path while it aligns with Amethu's esoteric calculation of the celestial architecture of heaven.




It's not long before the stars fade and birdsong heralds the dawn.




They've walked some ten hours. They've not slept in 24. They've no idea if they are being tracked and if so, at what range. But they've broken through the Pictish watch set upon Fort Tuscelan and struck deep into Pictland.


Actions? (And intentions for the next 12 hours please)


Map:

X marks Fort Tuscelan. The PCs are west-northwest of the fort, they know not where.





PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 11/14, Spells: 5/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 28/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 19/19
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 21/29, Spells: 1/4 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 14/32
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 16/19, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 14/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 11/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 10 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)

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

Exhausted and wishing she could soak in a hot bath for hours, Dahinna carries on ignoring the pain in her thighs and calves. "This pace is seriously not doing my girlish figure any favors," she murmurs to no one in particular. "Not to mention the stinking scalps dangling from my belt and bouncing off my ass."
She will continue to complain off and on until someone tells her to shut up. In between complaining, she will nibble on some rations. If a rest is called, Dahinna will curl up in a fetal position and sleep until she is woken to continue. At any sign of trouble, she immediately looks for a place to hide and then will move to flank and attack.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra pauses to admire the sunrise- and realizes how tired she is. I hear no echoes from... She stops, realizing that her experience in the corridors of the Pyramid mean nothing here. I hope we have lost them. We must find a safe place to rest.

[ChubbyPixie]

"We must eventually rest," says Kiri. It may as well be here. If we are attacked, so be it. If we continue and are attacked, our exhaustion will make us sluggish. Except Grandfather. He seems very spry today."

If they find a good spot, he'll ask Grandfather to help clear a space and build a fire pit, but only after doubling back and brushing out their tracks as far back as he is able.

I should have specified this in the last post. Oh well.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc has never liked 'Grandfather'. He can neither see nor hear him - even his keen nose fails to detect the invisible patriarch's presence. What manner of oldster does not stink? In Cimmeria, the fetor of unwashed hides and tooth decay announce the presence of an elder a bowshot away. Nevertheless, the old man has been with them since the Southern Sands, so he deserves some token deference, the barbarian concludes. Still, why must he make things float in midair? Why does he not reveal himself? What odious deformity is concealed by his supernatural shroud? The hairs on his neck stand straight and his gut turns when Kiri's ancestor performs his silent duties. He ponders how to slay Grandfather.

The barbarian spurs the group on, but he knows the time they must rest is nearing.

"A treefall, a rockslide, or another defensive position will be our cold campsite. Keep your eyes open and your mouths shut," he warns.

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

"Keep your eyes open and your mouths shut! Keep your eyes open and your mouths shut!"
Dahinna mocks Cruloc like a petulant four year-old, albeit very quietly, hoping the Cimmerian doesn't hear her. And she keeps walking...

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

"Certainly a camp is needed. Whoever follows needs rest also."

He eyes not taking some young fawn from the herd but settles for his rations, dividing a portion to Gnasher. At least the dog can sniff a rabbit out if they ever hop about.

Looking about, where is the tallest tree? It might be worth climbing to get a view of the land unless we are still surrounded by forest. Are we near fresh water, any more ravines.

As we make camp he will set up one of his votive statuettes and mutter a few prayerful chants with his rosary to the saints watching over him. As he prays he considers the warning that the spirit of the dead lurk in this place they seek. Maybe undead wander this wilderness too. He makes sure his cleric garb and vestments are nearby should he have to call forth any divine rebukes.

next 12 hours. Do we camp here for 8, giving spell casters time to meditate as well. Then move on, hunting game as we travel.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu objects to any fire. “We may hide the flame but the woodsmoke will be detectable for much further than we can anticipate”

If we are resting he will use his remaining heals first

CLW on Zahra - Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=5
CLW on Iago - Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=3