Chapter 22: Underworld

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Sees one horror flee. He should have more faith or perhaps the same amount of faith but spread across less deities. Clutching several holy symbols, he is not sure which to thank. Demi-god Crom perhaps, the anvil god, a smiter. Just what we need against brittle bone.

Copying Amethu, he summons a spiritual force, hammer shaped which he conducts with sweeps of his arms as if furiously working a holy forge.

casts Spiritual Hammer

Grigor cast Spiritual Hammer [1d20]=2[1d6]=3

It seems Crom heareth him not in this fell place.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

"Ha! One of them bolts at the sight of a Cimmerian!"

Cruloc is nearly certain that his presence has compelled the retreat, but a disquieting flicker of doubt lingers in the murky depths of his mind. Could the vagrant Grigor and his feeble mewlings be responsible? He ponders this momentarily, then stamps it out as his mother once did to a Vanirman's head against a flat rock.

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna the Giant

Trying to balance herself, the "giant" rogue slashes at one of her foes, hoping to slice it in half!
Short Sword: [1d20+2]=10+2=12 Damage [1d6+2]=2+2=4

[jemmus]

Torix steps to his left to open room for the Cimmerian or another to enter the room. He aims a two-handed thrust of his flint-headed spear at a mold thing.

THAC0 20 [1d20+1]=4+1=5 s-m [1d6+1]=1+1=2 l [1d8+1]=8+1=9

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

"Obscene ilk!"

Attack w/ +1 longsword [1d20+3]=18+3=21
+1 Longsword vs. S/M opponent [1d8+4]=7+4=11, vs. L [1d12+4]=6+4=10

With a great downward arc, Cruloc's sword carves a deep gash into the creature's corrupted form. A heave of mighty shoulders wrenches the blade sideways, ripping the weapon free and tearing the abomination almost in half. He snarls and strives not to recoil. In that selfsame instant, to his left he perceives the giantess Dahinna, whose proportions now rival those of Yef, a demigod who was born of a mating between a bear and a landslide.

"Yegads! Crom will have my eyes for witnessing such things!"

[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







Living, fungi-infested cadavers besiege the raiders of Thracia!

After having driven off one of the undead horrors, Grigor the gypsy priest joins Amethu's efforts and summons forth the fearsome Hammer of Crom! But the unnatural creatures of fungus and bone resist the phantom avatars!

Against a human foe, Torix's spear thrust would have impaled a beating heart! But now, it pierces an empty ribcage!

Then, with the devastating arc of her greatsword, Dahinna the giantess splits an enemy from neck to groin! (X3)



Not since adventuring with Roan, Son of Rune, had Amethu beheld such a gruesome sight. Then Cruloc matches it.

The Cimmerian enters the fray and, by the silver blur of his terrible iron blade, the barbarian cleaves another enemy half asunder! (X4)

For a moment, his sword is held fast.



Then he wrenches it free.

Both creatures fall dead, vomiting spore clouds that swallow up Cruloc and Dahinna! (Each please Save vs Poison on 1d20+2 to act!)

Other fungi creatures take the places of the dead, slashing the invaders with bony talons! But Dahinna and Torix beat down the attacks by sword and by spear!


Actions?!


Map Detail:

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

Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=3, Monsters: [1d6]=1 Party wins.
X5, X6 attack Dahinna and Torix: [1d20]=4, [1d20]=14, damage: [1d6]=1, [1d6]=2 Both miss.

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, 1/2 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: 27 rounds.
Spiritual Hammer (Amethu): Duration: 2 rounds.
Spiritual Hammer (Grigor): 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

Continues to conduct spiritual warfare with the summoned hammer of wafting.

Grigor cast Spiritual Hammer [1d20]=3[1d6]=1

[jemmus]

Torix doesn't know whether these things are animated by sorcery, or by the natural power of some strange mold. He hopes it's vile sorcery, and not some mindless plant that could spread itself on its own like a pox, out in the regular world. Either way, the task at hand is the usual one that needs no thought about how or why-- slay or be slain. He furiously works his spear on the thing before him.
THAC0 20 [1d20+1]=15+1=16 s-m [1d6+1]=6+1=7 l [1d8+1]=1+1=2

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Save vs. poison [1d20+6]=11+6=17
Barbarians save vs. Poison at +4

Cats, skunks, harlots. Cruloc cannot count the number of times he has been sprayed in the face, yet none of them prepared him adequately for the odiousness of the billowing cloud of pathogens filling his airways.

"Set's rumbling bowels!"

Undaunted, his rampage continues!

Attack w/ +1 longsword [1d20+3]=9+3=12
+1 Longsword vs. S/M opponent [1d8+4]=5+4=9, vs. L [1d12+4]=5+4=9

[ravenn4544]

Amethu concentrates and channels his Verulian strength to his magical fist.

Spiritual Hammer - To Hit[1d20]=16 Damage(Sm/M) [1d6]=6 Large [1d4]=3

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra waits, muttering in frustration.

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

"If they explode into poison upon death, you ought not to get too close." he shouts, making sure he is still mask muffled and not intruding upon the area of floral fungi.

[ChubbyPixie]

Unable to progress further, Kiri listens to the sounds of a giant woman fighting in a small room and wonders what exactly is going on up there...

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

Raaarrr! cries the "giantess" as she cleaves one of the fungi creatures! But then she begins to gag and cough, engulfed it choking spores upon its death.
Poison save (12): [1d20+2]=7+2=9
She attacks the closest one on her left while trying to catch her breath.
Short Sword: [1d20+2]=18+2=20 Damage [1d6+2]=4+2=6

[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







Overcome by the insidious spore cloud, Dahinna chokes back a cry and topples like a felled tree! The giantess crashes to the ground, all the life gone out of her!

The battle against the eerie things of subterranean flora rages on!



Atop his mountain, mighty Crom ignores the insignificant plight of Men, and hears Grigor not.

But at Amethu's urgings, the sacred Fist of Uthoth mortally bludgeons an unwholesome foe! (X5) The fungi creature staggers a few feet before death pulls it down to the stones!

Then the Pict and the Cimmerian, with thrusting spear and slashing sword, dismember the last infested thing in a spray of airborne toxins! (X6)
(Cruloc and Torix, please each Save vs Poison on 1d20+2 to act!)

The slaughter subsides. All is quiet. And Dahinna lays lifeless upon the floor!


Actions?!


Map Detail:

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

Map:


Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=6, Monsters: [1d6]=5 Party wins.

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, Unsettled, Poisoned
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 19/29, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl, 1/2 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: 26 rounds.
Spiritual Hammer (Amethu): Duration: 1 round.
Spiritual Hammer (Grigor): Duration: 1 round.

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)

[jemmus]

Torix yanks his spear out of the thing and rushes over to Dahinna. He tries to revive her.



ST 14, Barbarian +4
[1d20+6]=8+6=14

First aid
[1d3]=3 I hope that's the right roll. I don't have the rules with me.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu yet again calls upon the power of his ancient kin. "I know not what ill tendril winds it's way through her body. Let us pray this may give us time to lend aid"

slow poison on Dahinna

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Curses himself for not having greater faith to rebuke more of the fungal skeletons away. There was one who was successfully Turned.

"We should chase it down lest it return with other infected undead."

I will pick my way careful along the thin trail between the fungus blossoms and go to the clear patch in the west of the room. My spiritual hammer is still in effective though ineffective as far as smacking anything, just in case the Turned one is actually within sight and range.

Grigor cast Spiritual Hammer [1d20]=6[1d6]=6

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Save vs. poison [1d20+6]=14+6=20

"Hnnnaaah! Hnnnnaah!"

With deft application of thumb to each nostril, Cruloc emphatically expels two yellowish strands of mucus from his nose.

"A toxin is yet to be brewed what can fell a Cimmerian!"

He considers Dahinna's massive, prone form before prodding Torix. "I did her the last time she was poisoned." Chin painted with ochre bile, he leans in. "Show me what you've got."

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

Crashing to the floor in a swirl of yellow motes, the Zamoran rogue tries to catch her breath...but she cannot seem to grasp it as it begins to wisp away on strands of fungal sunlight.