Chapter 8: Necropolis of Eternity

[ravenn4544]

Amethu calls to the defending group “the way north is clear. This way!” Glad to see the paralytic devastation of the worm fall - slightly hesitant to retreat as he considers what a weapon that could make - he urges the group onward

[SocraticLawyer]

Praying that he will survive to fight another battle, Garrin again attacks his undead foe.

To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 6+1 = 7; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 7+1 = 8; lg - [1d12+1] = 2+1 = 3

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako strains to understand Loche quiet whispers. It's hard enough for the easterner to understand the Pict when he speaks in a normal volume. But through Loche's thick accent Mako understand Amethu. "No, no Amethu has fled. It is only you and I. We have no muscle to support our assault. What should we do?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorzen sees that it will require more brute force to do away with this enemy. He sprints to the south and attacks the cadaver trying to kill the brave amazon woman.

"Doth the priest or holy warrior have no power to turn away such monsters?"

Javalin Attack [1d20+1] = 9+1 = 10 Damage [1d6+2] = 4+2 = 6

[Zhym]

Arthfael is attuned to the life in all things—not only men, animals, and trees, but in the sand and rocks themselves.

The things attacking him have no life. And their spirits are evil.

He continues his attack.

Arthfael rolls really well when he's in NPC mode. Maybe the DM should make all his rolls!

Scimitar (THAC0 20): [1d20+1] = 8+1 = 9 [1d8] = 5

Definitely.

[Urson]

Zahra

att [1d20+2] = 2+2 = 4

Zahra snarls through gritted teeth, her mace going wide as she attacks again.

[wordoftheoracle]

Loche shrugs.

Ah weel. Best be getting oan wi' it then. It wouldn’t be th' stupidest thing i’ve ever dane.

Translation:

Ah well. Best be getting on with it then. It wouldn’t be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.

He scratches himself and moves stealthily south towards the action. He briefly looks backwards to make sure that Mako is still behind him.

[Monsieur Rose]

Soruk

You can almost hear the sound of an imaginary hand slapping the forehead of the large Verulian. You do hear the deep laughter of Soruk as he responds. "Of course! Truly mine own head wouldst falleth off if it be true not attached."

The holy warrior suddenly remembers who he is, grabs his holy symbol with one hand and prays for guidance in banishing the undead from the room.

Turn undead: [1d20] = 18

[ravenn4544]

Amethu alters his course to retreat through the northern hallway when he sees Soruk beseech the gods to cast down the foul undead.

He strides forward into the room, confident in his holy god! His eyes on the ancient skeletal fiends - he fails to focus on the dead slug and slips on the expanding ooze from its bloated carcass...

Turn Undead [1d20] = 1

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Loche shrugs.

Ah weel. Best be getting oan wi' it then. It wouldn’t be th' stupidest thing i’ve ever dane.

Translation:

Ah well. Best be getting on with it then. It wouldn’t be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.

He scratches himself and moves stealthily south towards the action. He briefly looks backwards to make sure that Mako is still behind him.

Mako follows cautiously.

[Inferno]

Fourth Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Three. Early afternoon. 15th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





From beyond the vast abyss of timespans unimaginable, lifeless men walk again in service without end for their deathless master, Xuthalhotep, pharaoh of pharaohs.

The incessant multitude of undead servitors has taken the door. They press forward without relent. Overwhelmed by the growing horde, the five explorers on the front line cannot land a blow against the unstoppable host.

Desperate, Amethu and Soruk hold forth their holy symbols, the all-seeing eye and the ankh, and call upon the half-forgotten gods of ancient Verulia to aid them now, in their hour of need.

Soruk's prayers are answered. Six sentinels of the crypt fall back as if struck by swords and hammers. Their mouths shriek out etheric wraiths, the ageless souls of these guardians of death, released at last from their eternal oaths.



The freed spirits quickly dissipate and their mummified soulless remains instantly crumble to dust.

Without hesitation, more unbending defenders advance to take their place.

Kiri unfurls a papyrus scroll, reads aloud its sorcerous hieroglyphs and impossibly divides into five identical likenesses of himself, each moving in surreal, perfect synchronization.

To the north, the footfalls of Mako and Loche echo in the Hall of Heroes as they pass through a battlefield of broken skeletons, half-expecting them to suddenly spring back to life. Only Loche can hear murmuring fleshless mouths buzzing in the dark reaches to the west, beckoning him to join them.

The pair of explorers leave the cavernous hall and extinguish their lantern as they quietly creep up behind the undead throng unnoticed.


Actions?!


Map Detail:

Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.


Rolls and Rulings (non-required reading):

Soruk turns how many? [1d12] = 6 Soruk turns 6 can can attempt to Turn these undead again.
Amethu's "1" is not a crit fumble. This game doesn't have them. But he can no longer attempt to Turn these undead.
The remaining, unturned creatures are more than 1" away from the explorers and are unable to "charge." So their action this round is movement only; they close with the adventurers to attack next round.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/10, Spells: 4/6 1st lvl
  Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 3: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 6/17, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 3/4 2nd lvl and 1/2 3rd lvl, Lantern
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 9/18, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/7, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 18/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 6/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl
  Soruk: Verulian Osoran Cleric/Fighter 1/1: Move: 12", AC: 6(5), HP: 5/9, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 2: Move: 16", AC: 8, HP: 12/12
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 2: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 12/16, 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 except Amethu and Zahra): 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."
  Mirror Image (Kiri): Duration: 2 rounds.

Player 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)

[Zhym]

Arthfael keeps waving his scimitar around. Perhaps something in this strange place has made him forget how to use it.

Scimitar (THAC0 20): [1d20+1] = 2+1 = 3 [1d8] = 3

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin hopes someday to be worthy of his god's power to banish the undead. In the meantime, he attacks the foul creature closest to him.

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

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri(s), delighted by the effects of the spell and not quite sure himself which image he is, rushes around the right flank to help his friends. In a psychedelic flurry of intertwining and dividing blades he attacks!

Attack with Two-Handed Sword (THAC0:20): To Hit: [1d20+3] = 9+3 = 12 Damage vs. s/m: [1d10+6] = 7+6 = 13, vs. Lg: [3d6+6] = 8+6 = 14

[ravenn4544]

Amethu, frustrated at his failed attempt to counter the undead horde, prays instead for healing for those battling up front. Seems that that too is to be underwhelming...

cure light wounds on Arthfael
Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 1

[OGRE MAGE]

In a rare attempt at humor, Xorzen shouts across the room to his masked Osoran brother as he smashes another advancing monster.

Javalin Attack [1d20+1] = 17+1 = 18 Damage [1d6+2] = 6+2 = 8

"Well doneth brother! I thought thow may have forgotten himself for a moment there!"

[wordoftheoracle]

Loche attempts to take one of the undead fiends from behind.

Dagger, melee (THACO:20): [1d20] = 9 Dmg [1d4] = 2

While not his finest, Loche hopes the element of surprise and his enchanted dagger will prevail.

[Urson]

Zahra

The Amazon is silent, gritting her teeth in concentration as she attacks again.

att [1d20+2] = 12+2 = 14
mace [1d6+3] = 4+3 = 7

Hold! For the love of the Gods, hold!

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Moving forward behind Loche, Mako attacks the creature closest to the door with his quarter staff.

Staff, Quarter THAC0 20 [1d20] = 17 S/M/L [1d6] = 6

[Monsieur Rose]

Soruk

Soruk laughs at Xorzen's comment. "In truth, so didst i."

He takes a step backward to allow the holo-Kiris to fill the space. Soruk prays for guidance once again to dispel these overflowing undead.

Turn undead: [1d20] = 5