Tombs of the Ancients, Fourth Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Four. Midday, 16th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia
Once, in this desolate wasteland of dust and ruins, the Empire of Verulia flourished – ruling the known world for five thousand years. Five thousand years before history was recorded – or five thousand years after history had ceased to be chronicled; for that span of time, reckon it how you will, the Verulian civilization had thrived. Think hopefully of the dreadful past the Earth has known, or else brood upon the future. But if you would believe the unholy truth – then Time is an agony of Now, and so it will always be.
Ravaged by dread Zargoth and the formless terror called Time, Verulia fell and newer nations succeeded her: Cimmeria, Aquilonia, Pictland, Argos, Khitai and Kambuja. Then memory began: Ur, India, China, Egypt, Assyria, Persia, Greece, and Rome – all these came after Verulia. But none dealt in the terrible mysteries, the secret sorceries of old Verulia. None used such power or knew how. And none lasted five thousand years.
In that agony of Now, deep with the Great Pyramid of Verulia, the explorers of antiquity push their way through tight passages between monolithic stone blocks and discover, at last, that for which they have been searching:
The Tomb of Xuthalhotep and Ankhara, and the unimaginable treasures therein which they would wield against Zargoth the Destroyer.
A towering door, covered in ancient hieroglyphics and sealed for five thousand years, is now all that stands between them and their goal.
Amethu, Xorzen and Zahra, living descendants of lost Verulia, can read the portal's dread warning from out of the inconceivable ages:
'Cursed Are They Who Enter This Sacred Tomb and Disturb the Eternal Resting Place of the Great Pharaoh Xuthalhotep.
Pestilence, Suffering and Death Await All Those Who Dare Break Its Seal.'
Actions?!
Map Detail:
Map:
One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.
PC Status:
- Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 10/11, Spells: 4/7 1st lvl
Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 17/26, Laying Hands: 0/1, Torch
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 14/14, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl
Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 12/18
Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 10/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl, Light spell
Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 7, HP: 15/16, Candle
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 15/21, Torch
- 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."
Light (Mako): Duration: 27 rounds.
