Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire

[Inferno]

Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire

The Caverns of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Twelve. Morning? 22nd day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







Deep in the darkness of the earth's bowels, the explorers tread upon the grave of the Atlantean Empire. Its distant outpost, Thracia, once the envy of the world, long ago descended into madness and horror and death.

Skilled Dahinna made short work of the barred door and now they plunge anew into the silent, black unknown.



The nigh-impenetrable darkness still looms unnatural and soon, Amethu's lantern is passed forward that the front rank may see their hands before their faces.

Dread haunts their echoing footsteps as the obsidian walls grow tight and winding like a catacomb. They come to a towering, iron-bound door where the corridor continues onward. At the crossroads before the threshold is etched a hexagon with the exacting precision of the ancients.


Actions?!


Map Detail:


Map:





PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 17/17, Spells: 7/8 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/45, Amethu's Lantern
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 18/25
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 21/29, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 20/21, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Torix: Pict Savage Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 28/28, Unsettled
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 24/29, Unsettled
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: 83 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)

[ChubbyPixie]

"If you like, Grandfather can hold the torch, to give you use of your hands," Kiri says to those in front, "Simply hold it before you and release it." Grandfather moves forward and hovers near the torch bearer.

If he's able to get close enough, Kiri will use the power of his Helm of Uthoth to scan the hexagon for any markings that may disclose its purpose, though he fears he needs no translation to make an educated guess.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra chafes at her position in the middle of the crew. Hexagon? I think some ancient peoples used them as a base for their magic. Be careful.

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Waits patiently for any revelation to come to Kiri from communing with his helm (I am guessing it has some kind of find traps trait?).

He wonders if we should all huddle within the hex, maybe a blessing is contained therein or some ritual or performance is needed. Stand in the hex and bow to the door to gain entrance or something like that? He checks the walls on the corridor to see if any faded mosaics show anything.

[jemmus]

Torix does like the looks of the hexagon. Six is a sacred number, for the four cardinal directions and downward to the Earth and upward to the heavens. But there is nothing sacred about this death-worshipping place. Is it some kind of mockery of reverence for the number? Or the sacred number put to evil uses?

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc's eyes widen and his mouth hangs limply open as a spectral force lifts the lantern from his grasp.

"C-C-..." The name of his god fails to escape his throat.

Eager to give a wide berth to Grandfather and the hexagon, the rattled barbarian stumbles a few paces north to keep watch on the darkened passage. Timorous glances are directed backward at the empty space where the new lampbearer ought to be.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu peers at the stout door and then the hexagon. “Point the lantern at the ceiling - there may be some trigger or trap lurking that is associated with this”

[Urson]

Zahra

IF she can, Zahra will squeeze her way forward, getting ready to assist if things go badly with the examination of the hexagon.

[Inferno]

The Caverns of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Twelve. Morning? 22nd day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







Careful not to set foot into the etched hexagon, Dahinna of Zamora quietly pads toward the towering double doors and probes them with expert hands, eyes and picklocks.

Suddenly, the unseen spirit of Kiri's ancestor takes the lantern from Cruloc's quavering hand! At Amethu's request, its light forces back the hungry darkness, revealing empty ceilings above.

"Point the light back here!" Dahinna hisses. "I'm still working!"

Grigor squints at the obsidian walls but they have held neither mosaic nor mural since the explorers entered this shadowed corridor north of the chasm.

Kiri scans the mysterious hexagon and finds no words there to decipher.

At the portal, Dahinna whispers, "The door isn't trapped and the lock opened right up for me." Her job done, the thief steps back for whoever will dare enter first.


Actions?


Map Detail:


Behind the DM Screen:

Dahinna: Open Locks (57%): [1d100]=46

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 17/17, Spells: 7/8 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 18/25
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 21/29, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 20/21, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Torix: Pict Savage Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 28/28, Unsettled
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 24/29, Unsettled
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: 80 rounds. Holds Amethu's Lantern

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

"Before opening the door, I would know what lies to our northern flank. Kiri, bid your elder briefly shine the lantern this way."
Cruloc presses himself against the wall in an exaggerated fashion so as not to make any inadvertent contact with Grandfather.

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

My scimitar sheds a minimum of light so I can go with Cruloc while the others investigate with the illumination from the torch. "'Grandfather' probably has to stay close to Kiri rather than wander down the passage."

[Urson]

Zahra
I don't like leaving a trap unsprung behind us- we may be in a hurry coming back this way. Does anyone have chalk? Or something else we can outline the hexagon with? Beyond that, I am ready to push on. She will NOT touch the door until the group is ready.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu is also preoccupied by the hexagonal drawing. He peers down at the floor to see if, instead of dropping from the ceiling, there is some indication of a trap rising from the floor.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Could this be some sort of summoning circle, Amethu, activated by the opening of the door?" says Kiri, convening with his fellow magician. "It does seem a bit... simple... for such a thing."

He makes his way to the beginning of the northern passage, bidding grandfather to pass down it and reveal where it might lead.

[Inferno]

The Caverns of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Twelve. Morning? 22nd day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







As if of its own volition, the eerie lantern floats in mid-air! Its illumination is half normal in this unsettling realm of supernatural shadows.

By its pale light, none dare enter the ominous double doors.

At Cruloc's request and Kiri's command, the lantern drifts northward, plunging the explorers into darkness. Grigor unsheathes his enchanted scimitar and by its wan glimmer, Amethu studies the hexagon etched into the floor. The Verulian scholar discerns no stonecraft of the ancients that might imply some diabolical death trap lying in wait.

To the north, Amethu's ghostly lamp (L) reveals another door; a singular twin to the double portal.


Actions?


Map Detail:


Map:





PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 17/17, Spells: 7/8 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 18/25
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 21/29, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl, Glowing Scimitar
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 20/21, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Torix: Pict Savage Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 28/28, Unsettled
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 24/29, Unsettled
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: 79 rounds. Holds Amethu's Lantern

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

"Double doors, double trouble" he repeats a quote from some obscure holy book used once when they entered the round, broken statue room.

"Let's go through one at a time."

He favours going through the double doors figuring important rooms like temples, libraries, banquet halls are behind more grandiose entrances.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

"If you had spent even a single night in Shadizar, gypsy priest, you would know that a shrewd man never goes straight for the double doors."

The barbarian points north.

[Urson]

Zahra
We are here. Let's clear this room, so we don't leave danger behind us- but with caution. Leave a watcher on the northern corridor.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu is indifferent to which door is open now - every portal is a step closer to their quest. "Let us remain outside the hex while the door is opened. Perhaps if possible, it's wise to pull open the door with a rope - from back here.."

[jemmus]

Tattooed Torix gives the floating lantern very wide berth. He says in his choppy, thickly accented Common,Every war party has a chief who decides. A war party with no chief is a snake with no head. It cannot move and it cannot decide. A chief we don't have. He says it without judgment on anyone, just as stating a fact. Some want to go around these doors and come from the side. Some don't want to go and leave a maybe danger in the back. I think the two thoughts are good. Two good thoughts the same. But as the Hyborian people do, I do what the last person to speak said.

Go back everyone, if you want. I will touch my spear to the shape on the floor. And then try to open the big doors. The Pict can visibly be seen draw breath and buck up courage. About the doors? Or the hexagon? Or the floating lantern hanging from a disembodied hand?