Chapter 8: Necropolis of Eternity

[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





Loche and Xorzen continue padding down the new corridor. Its ageless shadows retreat before their advance. They safely find the hallway's terminus: a door leading back into the great hall of heroes. No more ingenious traps of the ancients are found or triggered.

Far behind them, Kiri and Soruk take the broken coffin lid from the sarcophagus of the mummified Verulian.



They heave it up into the burrow entrance in the ceiling as Zahra readies a javelin and cries, "Be careful! I think it's coming!"

The amazon is right. The chittering echoes of another tentacled, monstrous grub grow louder as Kiri and Soruk quickly shift the slab into place and barricade the hole.

Movement and rustling comes from above. The writhing leviathan insectoid is standing on the barrier separating it from its prey. The slab doesn't budge.

At the commotion, Amethu looks up from his spell tome and Mako awakens from his brief nap and asks, "Are we resting here or not?"


Actions?


Map Detail:

Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.

Map:






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: 11/17, 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: 15/18, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/7, Spells: 1/2 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: 9/9, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 2: Move: 16", AC: 8, HP: 12/12, Lantern
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 2: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 13/16, 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."

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)

[Urson]

Zahra

Well done, sis- brothers. Switching mace for javelin, she smashes any of the creature's eggs she finds.

I see no reason to stay here. Let's rejoin the others.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

The weary eastern follows Zahra as they rejoin the others.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Shall we go investigate where the boulder went?" suggests, Kiri. "I'm curious. And maybe we can find the other half of your scroll somewhere in here, Amethu."

[wordoftheoracle]

Weel, that wis a muckle auld shite o' time fur us, xorzen. Let's jyne th' ithers. Mibbie we'll git tae see whit's doon that lang loaby. It cannae be tae ill if that muckle rock wanted tae gang that wey tae.

Translation: Well, that was a big old waste of time for us, Xorzen. Let's join the others. Maybe we'll get to see what's down that long hallway. It can't be too bad if that big rock wanted to go that way too.

Loche sighs impatiently at the prospect of backtracking. He starts back towards the rest of the party. He mutters to himself.

Ah jalouse it's better than servin` some mirk god fur a' eternity.

Translation: I guess it is better than serving some dark god for all eternity...

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorzen nods his masked head, not always totally understanding the thief when he speaks.

Once back in the room, he explains to the others that the passage only bends back into the larger chamber.

"I still feel well enough to at least seek out where the boulder ended up. Lets go forth to have a look."

With that, he starts down the southern hallway, cautiously checking for any more trap triggers along the way.

[Monsieur Rose]

Soruk

Glad to leave the tomb with the tentacled horror scrabbling on the ceiling, Soruk is in a good mood as he walks back into the hallway. "Yond thing may not beest trapped for long. Alloweth us continueth on."

He enters the hallway, sword in hand. He stops to light another torch.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu sighs as he carefully closes his spell book and runs his hands along it's cover lovingly. Studying will have to come later. Placing it back into his pack he stands and gets ready to move...

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin readies his sword and shield, leading the group on.

[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







Mace in hand, Zahra smashes the gigantic insect eggs laid in the desiccated abdomen of the body in the sarcophagus, avenging herself against the leviathan grub hacked asunder on the floor, and its twin that scrabbles frantically behind the barricade in the ceiling hole. Was the gargantuan larvae above trying to reach its mate and its eggs?

Amethu and Mako slowly rise. No rest for the weary, it would seem.

Xorzen and Loche rejoin the others in the violated crypt. Xorzen, Garrin and Soruk ready to continue their explorations in the boulder corridor.

Soruk opens the door.



The hallway outside is filled with undead mummified cadavers patiently waiting in the ageless shadows.

Unchanged by the crawling of the centuries, the first bloodless revenant crosses the threshold into the crypt and slices Soruk's chest with an ancient greatsword! A line of crimson blossoms across the Verulian's milk-white flesh. (-1hp)

In the darkness of the stone corridor, the true numbers of the unliving sentinels are impossible to guess.

Then from above comes the sudden sound of stone scraping on stone. The slab in the ceiling maw is shifting!


Actions?!


Map Detail:

Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.


Rolls and Rulings (non-required reading):

Three PCs said they were going into the boulder corridor. Who opens the door? Garrin (1), Soruk (2), Xorzen (3)?: [1d3] = 2 Soruk opens the door.
Party Surprised? [1d6] = 2 Yes.
M4, M6 attack Soruk: [1d20] = 1, [1d20] = 18, damage: [1d8] = 6, [1d8] = 1 M6 hits for 1hp damage.

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: 11/17, 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: 15/18, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/7, Spells: 1/2 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: 8/9, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 2: Move: 16", AC: 8, HP: 12/12, Lantern
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 2: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 13/16, 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."

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)

[ravenn4544]

Amethu quickly heads toward the northern door! "Let's circle around them and let the foul thing above have a chance at them!"

[ChubbyPixie]

Not at all certain if it will work or not, Kiri turns quickly to the stone blocked hole in the ceiling and casts Hold Portal.

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin quickly guesses that the strategic importance of holding the current choke point is greater than that of allowing their first enemy the opportunity to attack their second.

He holds his ground and attacks the undead horror before him. To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 9+1 = 10; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 7+1 = 8; lg - [1d12+1] = 10+1 = 11

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorzen spins his magical javelin around in his hands with blinding speed and impressive control once he spots the incoming monsters. He nods at his large brother and the holy warrior outlander, understanding the need to keep the herd behind the front ranks at bay. He swings his weapon down hard at the cadaver that just struck Soruk, striking with the shaft instead of the point.

Javalin Attack [1d20+1] = 19+1 = 20 Damage [1d6+2] = 6+2 = 8

[wordoftheoracle]

Loche spots an opportunity to practice his more roguish skills. He just discovered a door to the big chamber with Xorzen not minutes before.

Staun pure tough, men o' valor! ah wull surprise thaim fae th' rear! They in th' back, come wi' me 'n' we wull send thae beasties back tae hell!

Translation:

Stand strong, men of valor! I will surprise them from the rear! Those in the back, come with me and we will send these beasties back to Hell!

He sprints as fast as he can down the hall to the north with the intention of circling around and flanking the undead beasties. He draws his newest shiny (the one with the enchantment) in preparation.

[Urson]

Zahra

Her mace still smeared with insect egg, Zahra rushes to help hold the door against the undead. We have advantage! The door is too narrow for a decent charge! DON'T let them through!

[Monsieur Rose]

Soruk

A look of complete surprise flashes across Soruk's face as he sees the corridor filled with undead. It quickly turns to anger as he feels the blood trickle down his chest. "Thee madeth me bleedeth mine own blood!" He slashes at the creature who cut him. "I bethought thee destroyed all the undead!" He calls as he tries to keep them from overwhelming the room.

Bastard Sword (15): [1d20] = 4

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako strangely understands Loche request and follows the him up the north passageway.

[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







Unliving sentinels from beyond time without measure toil to slaughter the crypt raiders of the Great Pyramid.

Amethu, Loche and Mako run north into the corridor. The lantern of the pale, masked sorcerer cuts a path for them through the ageless darkness. Somewhere, ahead in them in the shadows, awaits a closed door.

Somewhere, behind them, Kiri Khutan utters ancient arcane syllables of the mysterious east and the slab blocking the ceiling burrow of the giant insect stops shifting for now!

Zahra the amazon charges forward and cries out that they need to hold the door if they are to have a chance! Arthfael grimly nods and joins her; tattooed fists wielding a savage Cimmerian spear!

In the doorway, a clash of steel thunders and sparks as Garrin and Soruk cannot land a blow!

Xorzen the masked acolyte spins his javelin like a quarterstaff and strikes a skull, shattering it! The breathless mummified guardian in the doorway (M6) falls backwards to the floor and is immediately replaced by another (M5) that tries to hack its way through the flesh and blood barricade at the door. Soruk feels its blade sink deep! (-3hp)

Xorzen cannot help but wonder if it is his fate to join these tireless, immortal undead in guarding this sacred necropolis for eternity.


Actions?!


Map Detail:

Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.


Rolls and Rulings (non-required reading):

M5 attacks Soruk: [1d20] = 13, damage: [1d8] = 3 Hits for 3 damage.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/10, Spells: 4/6 1st lvl, Lantern
  Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 3: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 11/17, 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: 15/18, 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: 13/16, 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."

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)

[SocraticLawyer]

With a great war cry, Garrin again attacks the unliving thing,

To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 6+1 = 7; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 3+1 = 4; lg - [1d12+1] = 7+1 = 8

again to no avail.