Chapter 22: Underworld

[jemmus]

Torix holds his hand over his mouth and nose and picks his way through the mold, careful not to touch any of it. He supposes its toxic the way toadstools and many mushrooms are.

[Inferno]

The Caverns of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Eleven. Past Midday. 21st day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







Within the unhallowed ground of Thanatos, the Atlantean God of Death, Dahinna, Torix and Zahra are haunted by a nameless dread.

The explorers of lost antiquity untether themselves, divide and advance, daring all. Footsteps seem unnaturally loud. Even whispers echo throughout, distorted and amplified. And their torchlight still struggles against the dense blackness.

Cruloc and Kiri cautiously edge deeper into their stone corridor.

In the first tunnel, Grigor fashions a mask and then fills Gnasher's jaws with rags and ties them tight. The others thread their way toward an obsidian chamber where the unnatural fungi grows tall in the darkness.

Suddenly, from the strange subterranean flora, ghastly figures rise!



Horrifically, their bodies are infested with the unwholesome fungi!


Actions?!


Map Detail:

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

Map:


Behind the DM Screen:

Torix Wisdom Check: [1d20]=12 Fails.

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 15/17, Spells: 3/8 1st lvl, 4/5 2nd lvl, Lantern
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 30/45, Torch
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 16/25, Torch, Unsettled
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 19/29, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 18/21, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Torix: Pict Savage Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 28/28, Torch, Unsettled
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 10/29, Unsettled
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 10/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

Spider Climb (Kiri): Target: self. Duration: 2 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

Fighting Fungoids in the confines of the tunnel is going to be much better tactically than getting grappled and covered in the fungus in a wider chamber.

He shouts some advice for the team to retreat along the narrow path towards him. He is not sure if folk hear him, muffled as he is in bandanna and face mask, but his waving gestures might be interpreted correctly.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra snarls a curse when she sees the enemy. She takes a couple of steps back, intending to give the others room to retreat. She raises her candle, hoping to provide light for the folks facing the Fungoids.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Quiet in here," says Kiri to Cruloc. "I wonder if this passage connects with the other?"

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

"Shit!" the rogue curses when the mold laden creatures appear out of the darkness. She immediately shifts to her left, raising her torch to illuminate the area...and her foe. Slashing with her short sword (at X1), she calls out to her companions, "C'mon on and join the party!"
Short sword (-1 to attack): [1d20+1]=15+1=16 [1d6+2]=3+2=5

[ravenn4544]

Amethu curses. No room to move forward, and limited room behind. He lends what aid he can to protect Dahinna up front. A magical phrase and a pinch of powder sprinkles with magical energy as he casts enlarge upon her.

[jemmus]

Zamoran! Torix yells to Dahinna. Go forward and let me my spear use!

[Inferno]

The Caverns of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Eleven. Past Midday. 21st day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







Inhuman things of mold, lichen and fungi rise from the strange subterranean growth! Before Dahinna can act, they descend upon her with savage claws!

The little rogue nimbly evades death (2hp damage) and then readies to deal it herself.

As she rears back with her shortsword, Amethu chants forbidden sorceries and suddenly, impossibly, little Dahinna swells to eight feet tall!

Towering over the unnatural things, her now-gigantic blade cuts like a scythe through grain and a fungi creature slumps headless to the stones! (X1) There is naught within it but bones and flora! But the impact of the fatal blow releases a cloud of spores that engulfs Dahinna! (Save vs Poison on 1d20+2 to act!)

Grigor shouts retreat and Cruloc and Kiri can hear him echoing in the dark tunnel's twin!


Actions?!


Map Detail:

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

Behind the DM Screen:

Party surprised? (1-2): [1d6]=3 No.
Initiative: Party: [1d6]=5, Monsters: [1d6]=6 Monsters win.
X1, X2, X3 charge Dahinna: [1d20+2]=19+2=21, [1d20+2]=11+2=13, [1d20+2]=2+2=4 X1 hits.
X1 damage to Dahinna: [1d6]=2

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 15/17, Spells: 2/8 1st lvl, 4/5 2nd lvl, Lantern
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 30/45, Torch
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 14/25, Torch, Unsettled
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 19/29, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 18/21, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Torix: Pict Savage Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 28/28, Torch, Unsettled
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 10/29, Unsettled
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 10/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

Spider Climb (Kiri): Target: self. Duration: 1 round.
Enlarge (Amethu): Target: Dahinna. 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)

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

1st action:

Cruloc spins and races toward the mouth of the passageway, stopping short at the edge.

"Mitra's nipples!" he thunders at the gypsy priest. "What betides the others?!"

2nd action pending...

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

In the narrower confines, he is really stuck in regards to how he can affect the melee, his spells don't seem to be that effective in the current encounter.

So stepping to the edge of the flora, he bellows down the passage, brandishing his holy symbols aloft and shouting at the nearest skeletal creature that seeks to come down the passage.

"Begone foul beast, I rebuke your warped soul and infected body."

Grigor Turns Undead [1d20]=10 [1d12]=1

he shouts at the fungal skeleton not the barbarian.

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

The rogue curses as the fungi creature attacks her and then lets out a "Whoop!" as she suddenly sprouts like a weed! She takes a few seconds to examine herself...especially the size of her breasts...you know, priorities.
"Very nice," she muses and then cuts the offending fungi in half, only to release a cloud of spores which engulf her. She chokes and gags and spits, and then fans her face with her "giant" hands...and attacks!
But alas, the vapors spoil her action!

Poison save (12): [1d20+2]=20+2=22
Man, wish I could have rolled that to hit!
Short Sword: [1d20+2]=6+2=8 Damage [1d6+2]=6+2=8

[jemmus]

Torix has some space in front. He charges into the room and jabs his spear at one of the things.

THAC0 20 [1d20]=5 [1d6+1]=6+1=7

[ravenn4544]

Amethu raises his staff and calls upon the venerable lords of Verulia to lend him divine aide! "Let thy might strike down these unholy defilers!"

Within a prayer are words of power! A green glow forms behind the lines of the enemy that quickly expands to resemble a disembodied fist - which strikes a sorcerous blow!

Spiritual Hammer - To Hit[1d20]=12 Damage(Sm/M) [1d6]=2 Large [1d4]=1

OOC: since from behind hopefully a sufficient bonus to help that roll!

[jemmus]

Torix's second attack [1d20]=3 [1d6+1]=3+1=4

[ChubbyPixie]

At the sound of alarm, Kiri turns and runs back down the corridor.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

"Battle is afoot!"

Cruloc leaps back across the inky chasm, landing effortlessly beside Grigor. "Your flea market trinkets are as pointless as a napkin at a Cimmerian feast!"

A yard of Thracian steel in hand, he forges north into the unfolding bedlam.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra growls in her throat. She doesn't want to risk being infested, but desperately needs to join the battle. She hold position for the moment.

[Inferno]

The Caverns of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Eleven. Past Midday. 21st day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







Within the obsidian warren of the Death God, gruesome, infested creatures besiege the adventurers!

Hearing the commotion, Cruloc leaps the abyss with steel bared! Kiri follows, traversing the cliff face with unearthly ease!

Against the ghastly fungus men, Torix the Pict charges with his spear, but his superstitious dread ruins his aim!

The infested things rip Torix and Dahinna with brutal claws! (2hp and 1hp damage respectively)

Amethu the masked sorcerer-priest summons forth the sacred Fist of Uthoth, an immense spectral hand (SH) that smites one unnatural enemy (X4) but does not kill it!

Cruloc the barbarian pushes his way north toward the battle where Dahinna's now-gigantic lungs withstand the spore cloud! Unaccustomed to her size, the backswing of her great shortsword crashes against the roof!

Behind her, Grigor holds forth his worthless gypsy trinkets and commands, "Begone foul beast, I rebuke your warped soul and infected body!"

And one of the infested creatures (X2) flees west, shrieking into the darkness!


Actions?!


Map Detail:

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

Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=1, Monsters: [1d6]=5
X5, X6 charge Dahinna: [1d20+2]=7+2=9, [1d20+2]=16+2=18, damage: [1d6]=5, [1d6]=1 X6 hits for 1 damage.
X3, X2 attack Dahinna and Torix: [1d20]=13, [1d20]=19, damage: [1d6]=1, [1d6]=2 Torix is hit for 2hp damage.
X4 spore cloud? (20%): [1d100]=84 No.

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 15/17, Spells: 2/8 1st lvl, 4/5 2nd lvl, Lantern
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 30/45, Torch
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 15/25, Torch, Unsettled
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 19/29, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 18/21, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Torix: Pict Savage Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 26/28, Torch, Unsettled
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 10/29, Unsettled
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 10/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

Enlarge (Amethu): Target: Dahinna. Duration: 28 rounds.
Spiritual Hammer (Amethu): Duration: 3 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)

[ravenn4544]

Amethu beseeches ancient powers once more, "Strike! Mighty Uthoth!"

Spiritual Hammer - To Hit[1d20]=2 Damage(Sm/M) [1d6]=3 Large [1d4]=2

I guess the answer when beseeching the gods is sometimes 'no'