Chapter 3: The Civilization That Time Forgot

[Inferno]

The Second Tier of the Great Pyramid of the Lost City
The Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day One. Evening. 13th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





The Dead City isn't devoid of life after all. The lost explorers' incredulous eyes witness an impossible juxtaposition of civilization, savagery and madness, descending into chaos and murder.

battle.jpg (499.64 KiB) Viewed 4032 times

Primitive, heavy-browed brutes roar to show oversized, inhuman canine fangs, but their voices are all too hideously human. The clash of weapons and the crunching of bone almost drowns out those howls of hate and wrath. Garrin and the surviving hawk-masked warrior (O2) both withstand a savage bludgeoning from heavy, cruel clubs. (-4hp each)

To the northwest, Biblo and Loche race down an opulent corridor of the ancients, away from the looming shadow of the dark mother!

dark mother.jpg (217.95 KiB) Viewed 4032 times

They pass Mako, who is running toward the monstrous spider to help Stag, Hare and Wolf to safety!

Biblo is careful to avoid Gronda who is aiming her bow right at him, unable to see the invisible libriomancer! The Zembabweian savage looses two arrows at the mammoth tarantula and impales one of its many eyes in a splat of blood, gore and ooze!

Arthfael hurls a flask of oil at the giant, crawling horror. The glass bottle shatters on the ornate wall near Wolf. "By all th' gods an' thair mothers!" mutters Loche who had just gotten his torch out of that area.

The gargantuan arachnid creeps out from the shadows on its eerie, quiet, eight-legged gait.



It still bears its heinous young, each as large as a rat. But there seems to be fewer of them now. The horrific tarantula barrels down upon the shrieking figure of Hare before the masked albino lotus-eater can escape. His piteous screams soon stop. Then half the writhing, scrabbling spawn descend from their mother's abominable body to feast on Hare as he silently twitches.

With Mako guiding them, Stag and Wolf flee east, where a growing crowd is piling up in the hallway.

The dark mother looks down that corridor at her desperate, panicking prey.

In the ferocious melee with the primal ape-men, the barbarians Atilla and Roan suddenly, mysteriously regain their bloodthirsty nature but cannot land a clean blow. The tight press of so many warriors in such close quarters prevents mighty Kiri from attacking. Garrin of Argos cuts a gash across the ribs of the largest ape-man(N2), enraging the subhuman monstrosity.

On the beastmen's far flank, the gleaming hawk warrior (O2) shouts north, over his shoulder, "To arms! The creatures of Zargoth!"



His sword is a whirl of steel that shears past hideous limbs that grasp for him, hacking into a powerful arm and severing its artery in a bright geyser of crimson.

Another hawk masked soldier (O3) charges into battle aside him. As a beastman evades his blade, he gasps to his compatriot, "But they doth descend from above! How didst they survive the giant scorpion?!"


Actions?


Map:

Pyramid Tier 2.25.jpg (478.85 KiB) Viewed 4032 times

One square = 10 feet. Monsters not currently in sight of a PC are depicted in their last known location.
Factions: PCs: brown. Stag, Wolf: black. Neanderthal Morlocks: blue. Hawk-helmed Warriors: gold.


Rolls and Rulings (non-required reading):

Initiative, 1 of 2: Party: [1d6] = 5, Beastmen: [1d6] = 6, Hawks: [1d6] = 3, Stag, Hare, Wolf: [1d6] = 4
Initiative, 2 of 2: Spider: [1d6] = 4 Beastmen act first. Hawks last.
Which Beastman is the leader? [1d6] = 2 N2 is leader.
Beastman Morale Checks: First death: [1d100] = 5, Surrounded: [1d100] = 34 Both made.
Beastmen attack Roan and Garrin: [1d20] = 2, [1d20] = 14, damage: [2d4+1] = 5+1 = 6, [2d4+1] = 3+1 = 4 Garrin is hit for 4hp.
Beastman attacks Atilla: [1d20] = 6, damage: [1d8+1] = 4+1 = 5 Misses.
Beastmen attack O2: [1d20] = 9, [1d20] = 14, damage: [2d4+1] = 8+1 = 9, [2d4+1] = 3+1 = 4 One hits for 4hp.
Arthfael missile miss: [1d6] = 2, [1d8] = 2 Missile goes "2 feet to the right."
Mother Spider attacks Hare: [1d20] = 7, damage: [2d4] = 6 Hits for 6 plus poison.
O2 and O3 attack Beastmen: [1d20] = 11, [1d20] = 2, damage: [1d8] = 3, [1d8] = 5 O2 hits for 3hp.

PC Status:

• Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 2: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 7/12, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl and 2/3 2nd lvl
  Attila: Hyrkanean Nomad Barbarian 1: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 3/12
  Biblo Phyle: Zamoran Southman Cleric/Fighter/Magic-User 1/1/1: Move: 6", AC: 3, HP: 7/7, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 5, HP: 11/18, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Gronda: Zembabweian Savage Ranger/Thief 1/2: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 14/17
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 3/7, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 15/18, Torch
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: Move: 12", AC: 7, HP: 5/6, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl
  Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 15", AC: 4, HP: 22/23, Torch

PC Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Garrin): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Garrin.
  Invisibility (Biblo): Ingested one dose of potion. Duration: unknown.

PC Resources:

• An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)
  Men of the Hyborian Age (races of men)
  The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
  Hieroglyphs (the story so far, in images)

[Zhym]

Arthfael tries again with the oil. This one hits the other wall nowhere near the spider.

Thrown oil: [1d20] = 3

[hedgeknight]

Roan, Son of Rune

Growling like the savages in front of him, the Vanir hacks at his foe, trying to split it in twain!
Bastard sword: [1d20+3] = 8+3 = 11
Bastard sword dmg: [2d4+5] = 5+5 = 10

[ChubbyPixie]

Completely hemmed in and unable to land a blow, Kiri relaxes and stands up straight, calmly watching the battle rage around him. From the activity to the north, he gathers that the Spider Mother has made another appearance. He wonders in which direction he'll eventually be required. In the meantime, he watches the warriors battle with the ape-men, silently critiquing their technique and mentally preparing to jump in as needed.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Thinking the hallway would be well lit by the flaming light dripping from it's walls if the throw oil was lit, Mako steps forward just passed the masked animal people. He extends his quarter staff ahead of himself in an attempt to hold the giant spider at bay. Using it's length to keep it from getting close to attack. Hoping his actions will buy more time until a more skilled warrior can dispatch the eight legged web spinner.

Not attacking but trying to keep it at arms length and using the staff in defense.

[OGRE MAGE]

Gronda continues to fire arrows at the behemoth. This time her aim suffers badly from the fact that she is becoming hemmed into her corner by numerous bodies.

Attack w/ Longbow [1d20+1] = 8+1 = 9 Damage [1d6+1] = 2+1 = 3 [1d20+1] = 2+1 = 3 Damage [1d6+1] = 4+1 = 5

She screams at the lotus eaters in her high shrill voice.
"Turn and fight the beast or die miserably you fools!!!!"

[Mant72]

Garrin:

Spurned on by the success of his previous strike, Garrin redoubles his efforts and strikes again at the primate ape-man; however, his aim is off and he swings wide.

To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 5+1 = 6; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 4+1 = 5; lg - [1d12+1] = 2+1 = 3

[Grognardsw]

Biblo Phyle, arcanist

Breath deep. One two three... I huddle invisible, hemmed in by the group who in turn is trapped between dangers. The armored hawkmen are fighting the ape men. If we help them, will they consider us friends?

"Aid the hawkmen!" I yell.

[Inferno]

The Second Tier of the Great Pyramid of the Lost City
The Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day One. Evening. 13th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia







Mako of Khitai holds his staff out in a defensive posture against the towering arachnid horror. It looms closer, down the magnificent hall of the ancients in search of more prey for its screeching, ghastly young.

Stag and Wolf evade its deadly mandibles but cannot flee due to the tight crush of bodies.

Arthfael throws another glass flask and it explodes on the wall near Wolf, dousing him in the flammable liquid. "The spid'r! The spid'r! Am I dreaming this?" the masked albino asks.

Gronda fruitlessly urges Stag and Wolf to battle, loosing two more arrows that break on stone walls.

Ornery Loche echoes Gronda's cries, "We need bloody archers 'ere, 'n' quick lads!" Then he drops his torch and hurls two bone daggers in a blur of white at the crawling leviathan! Both find their mark, sinking to the hilts, one putting out another lidless eye in a grisly gush of blood.

Hearing the Pict, Atilla of the Hyrkanean steppes declares, "That's me! They need me!" The nomad archer changes positions with the man mountain called Kiri and races north up the corridor, unslinging his bow.

Kiri joins the savage fray against the repellent, bone white animal-men.



The Kambujan warrior impales the bestial face of a pale simian with his trident (N3), piercing eye, nose and mouth, straight through to the brain! Three crimson geysers erupt from its face as it collapses to the floor.

Roan splits his foe in twain! (N1) The Vanir barbarian's great sword tears through a brutish body, cleaving it open from neck to groin!

Blood drenches the floor.



The sound of hacking steel is like that of butchers' cleavers on Feast Day.

Garrin's Argosian sword is beaten down by the heavy club of a muscular ape-man. (N2)

Biblo, unseen scholar, avoids collisions with men and blades as he creeps south to witness the hawk masked warriors who might be allies. He spies one gleaming swordsman (O3) split a skull, reaping a ghastly harvest of brains and blood. (N5)

Despite the maelstrom of death that surrounds them, the last degenerate subhumans roar in defiance, red eyes ablaze! The wounded hawk warrior (O2) is struck dead by a lethal club, his battle cry cut short as he drops with a shattered skull.

And noble Garrin, son of Atlantis, is nearly killed! The primordial leader of the beastmen splinters ribs in a ruinous club strike that leaves the brave paladin's life hanging by a thread! (-9hp)


Actions?!


Map:

Pyramid Tier 2.26.jpg (478.73 KiB) Viewed 3978 times

One square = 10 feet. Monsters not currently in sight of a PC are depicted in their last known location.
Factions: PCs: brown. Stag, Wolf: black. Neanderthal Morlocks: blue. Hawk-helmed Warriors: gold.


Rolls and Rulings (non-required reading):

Initiative, 1 of 2: Party: [1d6] = 4, Beastmen: [1d6] = 3, Hawks: [1d6] = 6, Stag and Wolf: [1d6] = 6
Initiative, 2 of 2: Spider: [1d6] = 6 Spider, Hawks, Stag and Wolf go first. Beastmen, last.
Mother Spider attacks Wolf: [1d20] = 5, damage: [2d4] = 5 Misses.
Arthfael missile miss: [1d6] = 3, [1d8] = 5 Missile goes "3 feet short left."
Loche daggers at Spider: [1d20] = 20, [1d20] = 17, damage: [1d3] = 3, [1d3] = 1 Both hit.
Kiri attacks N3: [1d20+3] = 10+3 = 13, damage: [1d6+7] = 6+7 = 13 Hits for max damage.
O2 and O3 attack Beastmen: [1d20] = 2, [1d20] = 13, damage: [1d8] = 7, [1d8] = 7 O3 hits.
Beastmen Morale Checks: 25% of forces slain: [1d100] = 20, 50% of forces slain: [1d100] = 20 Morale holds!
Beastmen attack Garrin and O2: [1d20] = 17, [1d20] = 13, damage: [2d4+1] = 8+1 = 9, [2d4+1] = 4+1 = 5 Both hit. One for max damage.

PC Status:

• Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 2: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 7/12, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl and 2/3 2nd lvl
  Attila: Hyrkanean Nomad Barbarian 1: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 3/12
  Biblo Phyle: Zamoran Southman Cleric/Fighter/Magic-User 1/1/1: Move: 6", AC: 3, HP: 7/7, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 5, HP: 2/18, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Gronda: Zembabweian Savage Ranger/Thief 1/2: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 14/17
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 3/7, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 15/18, Torch
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: Move: 12", AC: 7, HP: 5/6, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl
  Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 15", AC: 4, HP: 22/23, Torch

PC Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Garrin): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Garrin.
  Invisibility (Biblo): Ingested one dose of potion. Duration: unknown.

PC Resources:

• An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)
  Men of the Hyborian Age (races of men)
  The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
  Hieroglyphs (the story so far, in images)

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri strikes out over his shield at the remaining ape man in front of Garrin, using his mass to drive his trident relentlessly forward, hopefully finding purchase in the beast's midsection:

Attack with Trident (THAC0:20): To Hit: [1d20+3] = 13+3 = 16 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6+7] = 5+7 = 12, vs. Lg: [3d4+6] = 9+6 = 15

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako continues to try and hold the giant spider at bay.

Same action as before. Was Mako unable to move past "M" and "S" and occupy the space in front of them last round? My intentions as stated in my last post was to get in front of "M" and "S", blocking the spider from advance any further. Mako would be one on one with the spider and using his quarter staff in a full defensive stance to block any attacks from it. From the image you use on the map I'm assuming that the spider take up the whole width of the corridor. So if Mako stands in the middle the spider would not be able to move forward until Mako is removed/knocked over/pushed out of the way.

[hedgeknight]

Roan, Son of Rune

"Step back, Garrin!" comes a shout as Roan pushes the paladin behind him and tries to help Kiri kill the ape man. Covered in blood and gore, those around him can see that Roan is smiling grimly; the barbarian is in his element!

Bastard sword: [1d20+3] = 7+3 = 10, [2d4+4] = 8+4 = 12

[OGRE MAGE]

Gronda stows her bow while she still can, thinking it useless now in these tight quarters.

She readies her spear, trying to jab over (or through) those in front of her, hoping to put out another ugly eyeball.

Attack w/ Spear [1d20] = 7 Damage [1d6] = 3

[Mant72]

Garrin reels from the brutal blow. With the last of his waning strength he lashes out with his steel blade.

To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 16+1 = 17; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 7+1 = 8; lg - [1d12+1] = 7+1 = 8

[Inferno]

The Second Tier of the Great Pyramid of the Lost City
Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day One. Evening. 13th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





In exalted pathways of the ancients, steel clashes against stone and petrified wood. Two primordial animal-men still stand fearless and defiant despite the red, mangled corpses heaped at their bare feet.



The largest prehistoric beastman (N2) sees Roan push Garrin back. He pounces like a jungle cat, ferociously striking the Vanir barbarian full in the face with a rough hewn club! Roan's fierce visage is skinned and bruised, his lips pulped, and a crimson rivulet oozes down his face from a wound in his scalp. (-7hp)

Hot blood in his cold pale eyes, Roan's retaliatory strike hums over the subhuman's head.

Garrin and Kiri see their chance. Their merciless blades brutally dismember the white man-ape leader (N6), hacking and piercing flesh, bone and sinew in a scene of carnage and gore straight from a slaughterhouse.




Twenty feet to the west, the last man-ape (N6) and the last gleaming hawk soldier (O3) are locked in a murderous embrace, each with a hand on the other's weapon arm, eyes inches apart, both shouting with fury into their enemy's face. "RRAAAUUUUGGHHH!!!!" It is hard to tell which is the more savage.



On the northern front, Loche, now weaponless, retreats cursing, "A'd better bloody weel git mah daggers back!" giving Stag and Wolf room to flee the horrific gargantula. "The spid'r! The spid'r!" the bizarre albinos giggle with hysteria as they come up right behind Roan, murderer of their friend, Monkey. The smell of flammable oil on Wolf fills the barbarian's bloody nose.

With Stag and Wolf gone, Mako tries to hold back the tide alone. Quarterstaff extended, he bravely attempts to defend the others from the towering, crawling leviathan, almost sacrificing himself.

Gronda the Zembabweian huntress advances with her spear, but cannot land a blow!

The giant arachnid attacks Mako, opening its terrifying maw and biting the Eastern conjurer with fangs both unnatural and wrong!



(-7hp. Please Save vs Poison.)

Mako slumps bleeding to the ancient stones. With a clear target, Arthfael shatters another oil flask against the left wall. And Atilla the Hyrkanean nomad fires two arrows from his horsebow, one impaling the giant spider!

The wet sound of spiderling mandibles, patiently devouring Hare alive, wane. The spawn of the dark mother see their heinous parent's latest offering: Mako. And they crawl toward their next ghastly meal.


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet. Monsters not currently in sight of a PC are depicted in their last known location.
Factions: PCs: brown. Stag, Wolf: black. Neanderthal Morlocks: blue. Hawk-helmed Warriors: gold.


Rolls and Rulings (non-required reading):

Initiative, 1 of 2: Party: [1d6] = 3, Beastmen: [1d6] = 5, Hawks: [1d6] = 3, Stag and Wolf: [1d6] = 5
Initiative, 2 of 2: Spider: [1d6] = 1 Beastmen, Stag and Wolf first. Spider, last.
Beastmen attack Roan and O3: [1d20] = 14, [1d20] = 9, damage: [2d4+1] = 6+1 = 7, [2d4+1] = 4+1 = 5 Roan is hit for 7.
O3 attacks N6: [1d20] = 10, damage: [1d8] = 2 Misses.
Mother Spider attacks Mako: [1d20] = 15, damage: [2d4] = 7 Hits for 7hp.
Attila attacks Mother Spider with Bow: [1d20] = 13, [1d20] = 12, damage: [1d6] = 4, [1d6] = 5 One hits for 4hp.
Arthfael throws unlit oil flask: [1d20] = 2 Another miss.
Arthfael miss: [1d6] = 6, [1d8] = 6 "6 feet to the left"

PC Status:

• Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 2: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 7/12, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl and 2/3 2nd lvl
  Attila: Hyrkanean Nomad Barbarian 1: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 3/12
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 5, HP: 2/18, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Gronda: Zembabweian Savage Ranger/Thief 1/2: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 14/17
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 3/7, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 15/18, Torch
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: Move: 12", AC: 7, HP: -2/6, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl
  Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 15", AC: 4, HP: 15/23, Torch

PC Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Garrin): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Garrin.

PC Resources:

• An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)
  Men of the Hyborian Age (races of men)
  The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
  Hieroglyphs (the story so far, in images)

[DadsAngry]

Mako

Save vs Poison

Save vs Poison 14 [1d20] = 10

[ChubbyPixie]

As the beastman disintegrates under their concerted effort, Kiri glances down the hallway and intuits from the actions of the party members at that end the presence of the Mother Spider just around the corner. "Perhaps one of you could lend a hand to our friends at the other end? I'll try to assist the mysterious hawk man," he offers before covering the intervening length of hall, surprisingly gracefully for a man of his sheer mass, and attempting to skewer the remaining man-ape.

Attack with Trident (THAC0:20): To Hit: [1d20+3] = 4+3 = 7 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6+7] = 6+7 = 13, vs. Lg: [3d4+6] = 5+6 = 11

[hedgeknight]

Roan, Son of Rune

The barbarian spits blood and blows bloody snot out of his nose as he tries to regain his senses. His head feels like he has been kicked by a mule! As he tries to cut the ape-man in half, he smells oil and out of the corner of his eye he glimpses Wolf and Stag run up behind him. Are they coming to kill me for killing their weird-ass freak of a friend? Roan wonders.

Distracted, he is unable to land a killing blow on his brutish foe.
Bastard sword: [1d20+3] = 1+3 = 4, [2d4+4] = 6+4 = 10

[Mant72]

Garrin rushes to the aid of the hawk warrior and charges at the last of the simian foes.

To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 9+1 = 10; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 8+1 = 9; lg - [1d12+1] = 8+1 = 9 Not that it looks like it would matter, but charge bonus is not included.

[OGRE MAGE]

Gronda sees her friends dropping one by one and knows that this might be the end for her right here in this old hallway. Spear in hand, she lunges forward at the beast, aiming to blind more of its massive eyes, hoping it is enough.

Attack w/ Spear [1d20] = 17 Damage [1d6] = 3