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Chapter 7: In Search of the Pharaoh's Tomb

The Revolving Corridor. Third Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Two. Early afternoon. 14th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





The explorers of the Great Pyramid are reunited at the revolving corridor. They seek a fabled treasure of magical artifacts, entombed with the eternal remains of Xuthalhotep, Pharaoh of Pharaohs. They intend to wield that sorcerous power to destroy the demon god Zargoth and free the remnants of the Verulian race that suffer beneath his evil yoke.

The heroes' strange encounter with the bizarre Grand Magi of Uthoth gave them, among other things, a clue to locate the tomb of Xuthalhotep...

"You must walk the floors of Hell, the serpentine path of the righteous."

...and a new addition to their ranks: Amethu of Uthoth. He carries a staff and, like all Verulians, his skin is white as milk.
Amethu trades his human mask for that of an Ibis, as is the custom of his sect when venturing beyond their borders.




In the rotating hallway of the ancient architects, twin bronze panels of vertical hieroglyphic buttons glimmer in the torchlight.

• • The Serpent
  • The Cat
  • The Spear
  • The Ankh
  • The Hawk
  • The All-Seeing Eye
  • The Ibis
  • The Sarcophagus

Actions?


Map:

Both doors of the revolving corridor are open. So is the door of chamber 14a.
Lighter areas are illuminated and visible. All else is from memory.





PC Status:

• Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 2: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 5/12, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl and 3/3 2nd lvl
  Attila: Hyrkanean Nomad Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 19/21
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 5, HP: 13/18, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Gronda: Zembabweian Savage Ranger/Thief 1/2: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 7/17
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 5/7, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, Torch
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 8/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: Move: 12", AC: 7, HP: 5/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, Light spell
  Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 15", AC: 4, HP: 18/23, Torch

PC Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Garrin): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Garrin.
  Healing Mists of Osorus (All): All lost HP recovered with 8 hours of sleep. Wakeful rest, or sleeping less than 8 hours, enables recovery of 1 HP per hour. Duration: "months."
  Light (Mako): Duration: 24 rounds

PC Resources:

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

Amethu, a Grand Magi of Uthoth, volunteers to join the explorers as they delve deeper into the Great Pyramid. Introductions are made and Garrin of Argos says to him, "With your leave, I have a spell that will place the blessing of my god upon you."

Amethu replies with deference, "I mean no disrespect sir, but it would be sacrilege for me to accept such a blessing from an... outsider's god."

"So be it," says Garrin. Turning to the others, he says, "The magi referenced a 'serpentine' path. I suggest we regroup and try the serpent."

Loche agrees with Garrin that a serpentine path probably represents a serpent.

Kiri shakes the cobwebs out of his head as the buzz wears off. "Was I acting weird? Hmmm. I don't know what this means, but I got the distinct feeling at the end of the party that the demon knows we're here. It might have been the wine." he says. "Yes, the Serpent is seemingly the way to proceed. Will we leave the other path unexplored? Gronda, how did it go in there? Did you learn anything?"

Mako:

Mako joins the group in the rotating hall.

ChubbyPixie wrote:Kiri
Gronda, how did it go in there? Did you learn anything?"

Gronda shakes her head in disgust.
"I learned nothing at all. Unless you are interested in the stubborn ways of a boorish sect of overzealous men haters. I learned a lot about that. I don't suggest that any of you attempt to return."

The savage notices a new member of the group and looks confused. Pointing at Amethu, she asks "what's with the new guy?"

Roan, Son of Rune

Seeing Gronda, the Vanir barbarian walks up and squeezes her shoulder. "So those masked bitches didn't convince you to swear off men, did they?" He grins and winks at Gronda; it's obvious he is glad she is back with them.

As to her question, "More masks and more secrets. But he has agreed to go with us to show us the way to the demon's lair below. If he can guide us..." Roan shrugs, leaving the rest of the statement open.

Roan then checks his gear, readies his axe, and waits on someone to push a button.

The Revolving Corridor. Third Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Two. Afternoon. 14th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





"I am Amethu," the masked stranger says to Gronda.

A bone white hand emerges from his voluminous robes and presses the bronze hieroglyph of The Serpent.

CLICK.

A deep rumble is felt beneath their feet as both immense stone doors seal the revolving corridor shut.



The explorers sway slightly and in time the low roar ceases.

Both slab portals slide open onto the pathways of The Serpent and The Hawk.

The floor of the corridor of The Serpent flickers in the torchlight like fire opals:



The hall of the Hawk extends straight until it is swallowed by shadow.

Within that pitch darkness, eyes reflect the torchlight.

Many eyes.

Watching.



Suddenly, they lunge forward into the light, screaming!




Actions?!


Map:

Lighter areas are illuminated and visible. All else is from memory.





PC Status:

• Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 2: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 5/12, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl and 3/3 2nd lvl
  Attila: Hyrkanean Nomad Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 19/21
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 5, HP: 13/18, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Gronda: Zembabweian Savage Ranger/Thief 1/2: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 7/17
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 5/7, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, Torch
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 8/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: Move: 12", AC: 7, HP: 5/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, Light spell
  Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 15", AC: 4, HP: 18/23, Torch

PC Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Garrin): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Garrin.
  Healing Mists of Osorus (All): All lost HP recovered with 8 hours of sleep. Wakeful rest, or sleeping less than 8 hours, enables recovery of 1 HP per hour. Duration: "months."
  Light (Mako): Duration: 22 rounds

PC Resources:

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

"The monkeys!" says Kiri to Amethu, gesturing with his weapon, as if the fellow mage needed help identifying them. He then readies himself to strike if one of them attacks him directly or attempts to scamper by along the wall.

Garrin rushes forward, drawing his longsword a he does so. He strikes at one of the baboons with an Atlantean war cry.

To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 17+1 = 18; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 2+1 = 3; lg - [1d12+1] = 6+1 = 7

Again, Gronda feels somewhat helpless in the back ranks of a narrow hallway.

If she estimates that she can do so without endangering her friends, she will shoot arrows over her comrades heads, hoping to hit the baboons in the very rear ranks. If she cannot do this with some certainty that she wont hit those in the front ranks of her party, she simply turns around and guards the rear of the group with her spear at the ready.

"Damn dirty apes!" Roan growls, knowing he can't get to the front of the group without endangering his companions. Like Gronda, he turns and faces the other corridor...just in case something attacks from that direction. Of course, with every scream and hoot, he glances quickly over his shoulder.

Mako:

Mako holds his position to allow the light from his staff to illuminate the battlefield.

The Revolving Corridor. Third Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Two. Afternoon. 14th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia



All hell breaks loose.



"EEEE! EEEE! EEEE!"

Before anyone can loose an arrow, the stinking black onslaught of fur, talons, fangs and fleas floods the revolving corridor of the ancients.

"OOOUH! OOOOUH!"

In the deafening chaos, powerful shrieking beasts scrabble across the towering ceiling far from reach. Then they pounce down in a bloodthirsty frenzy of rending and biting!
(-1hp to Roan, Gronda and Mako. -2hp to Attila. -3hp to Amethu and Kiri. -4hp to Garrin)

"AAAAAH! AAAAAH! AAAAAAAAH!"

Amethu, Attila and Roan cannot land their weapons in the screaming, slashing pandemonium. Mako barely holds his glowing staff aloft against the tide of wild animals.

Loche the Pict sheathes a bone dagger in one clawing simian's eye socket, killing it. (B17)

One beast lunges down onto Kiri and the mighty Kambujan gores it with his trident, baptizing himself in a torrent of the beast's hot blood! (B16)

Arthfael of Cimmeria slashes his scimitar into the wide mouth of a shrieking baboon, silencing that screeching orifice forever. (B13)

Garrin's Atlantean long sword cleaves open a simian skull in a sickening spray of brains and blood. (B15)

Gronda the savage drives her spear through the neck of howling ape and its screams a jet of blood from its black lips before it falls to the floor dead. (B11)



In an instant, five beasts lay broken, bloody or dead.

Suddenly, pushing through the primate ranks comes a large ferocious baboon, wearing bones like armor and wielding a femur like a club (B19).



It roars above the din and readies to join the madhouse fray!


Actions?!


Map Detail:



Rolls and Rulings (non-required reading)



PC Status:

• Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 2: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 5/12, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl and 3/3 2nd lvl
  Attila: Hyrkanean Nomad Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 17/21
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 5, HP: 9/18, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Gronda: Zembabweian Savage Ranger/Thief 1/2: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 6/17
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 2/7, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 8/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: Move: 12", AC: 7, HP: 4/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, Light spell
  Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 15", AC: 4, HP: 17/23, Torch

PC Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Garrin): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Garrin.
  Healing Mists of Osorus (All): All lost HP recovered with 8 hours of sleep. Wakeful rest, or sleeping less than 8 hours, enables recovery of 1 HP per hour. Duration: "months."
  Light (Mako): Duration: 21 rounds

PC Resources:

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

Arthfael strikes ineffectively at the nearest baboon.

Scimitar (THAC0 20): [1d20+1] = 4+1 = 5 [1d8] = 1

Mako:

Screaming "Get it off me! Get it off me!" Mako wildly swing his staff at the attacking baboon (B12).

Assuming Garrin can reach the armored baboon without provoking an opportunity attack from B18 or B14, and without messing up his companions' actions, Garrin rushes forward to attack the armored baboon:

To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 12+1 = 13; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 6+1 = 7; lg - [1d12+1] = 1+1 = 2

If he can reach B18, but not B19, without first provoking an attack from B14, he attacks B18.

If Garrin cannot reach B18 or B19, then instead Garrin turns around to attack the baboon behind him (B14)

I hope that makes sense!

Roan, Son of Rune

The Vanir curls his lips back from his teeth and chops at the ape behind him (B10).
"RAWWRRR!" he yells as he attacks.

Battle axe: [1d20+3] = 12+3 = 15, [1d8+4] = 1+4 = 5

Kiri, smarting from the suddenness of the attack and worried that his fellow magicians may be in trouble behind him, turns and strikes downwards with his trident. Attack with Trident (THAC0:20): To Hit: [1d20+3] = 7+3 = 10 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6+7] = 6+7 = 13, vs. Lg: [3d4+6] = 9+6 = 15

Gronda tries to keep the simian monsters at bay, using her spear to try to prevent any more from getting past them from above.

Attack w/ Spear [1d20] = 4 Damage [1d6] = 5