Chapter 11: Curse of the Pharaohs

[ravenn4544]

Amethu uses his last available curative prayer on Xorxen to help him recover from the attacks from both friend and foe alike....

Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 4

[Scott308]

Loche

Bugger this jobby! A'm oot o' 'ere! Seeing that he currently represents more of a threat to his party than the Pharaoh, he decides it's time to exit the hidden tomb.

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin attacks the great pharaoh again, to no avail. Again.

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

[ChubbyPixie]

Resigned, though sure the party is succumbing to some evil enchantment hanging over this place of death, Kiri strikes out yet again, but can’t land a blow:
Attack with Trident (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20+3] = 9+3 = 12 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6+7] = 5+7 = 12, vs. Lg: [3d4+6] = 8+6 = 14

Yarg.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Paralyzed

[Inferno]

The Tomb of Xuthalhotep, Fourth Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Four. Sunset, 16th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





Drenched in sweat and urine, Mako can only look on in terror as his companions are beset by an entity from beyond this world's understanding.

Alone, perhaps Loche understands. The Pict thief bolts, fleeing the ancient crypt with his life!

Having journeyed through eternity, the pharaoh of the dead would destroy those that disturb his endless slumber. Garrin's enchanted sword and shield narrowly stave off his merciless, punishing fist!

With a fierce, cat-like screech of defiance, Zahra throws her torch at Xuthalhotep. It misses the mark, hits the ancient tiles near Garrin's left foot, and is extinguished! Darkness closes in upon the explorers! The only light remaining in the ageless tomb of the dead is Xorzen's large candle, held in one hand as he wields his javelin in the other!

Amethu calls upon the mercy of his god in this, their darkest hour of need! He begs that his lifelong rival, Xorzen of Osorus be healed by Uthoth's mercy! Amethu feels holy blessings pass through him... but upon Xorzen they have no effect!

Was Xorzen truly doomed?! The deathless king had bestowed a dread curse upon him with but a touch! In disbelief, Xorzen's widening eyes look upon his bare hands in horror!



The Curse of the Pharaohs rots his very flesh! His hand is as grey and withered as a corpse. Mercifully, his face is hidden behind the golden mask of Osorus the hawk. And so is its anguish and grief.

Shaken, Xorzen's javelin cannot land a blow upon his lost king. Neither can Garrin's sword nor Kiri's trident strike the majestic, long dead ruler of the ancient world.

The explorers' morale is crumbling. They are about to break.



Actions?!



Map Detail:



Map:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 3, Monsters: [1d6] = 4 Monsters win again, of course.
Xuthal attacks Garrin? (1), Xorzen? (2), or Kiri? (3): [1d3] = 1 Xuthalhotep will attack Garrin.
Xuthalhotep attacks Garrin: [1d20] = 7, damage: [1d12] = 4 Misses.
Zahra torch targets: Xuthal? (1), Garrin? (2), Xorzen? (3), Kiri? (4): [1d4] = 2 Torch targets Garrin.
The torch misses.
Distance and direction of missed missile: [1d4] = 1, [1d8] = 6 As per DMG p. 64, the torch lands 1 foot to the left of Garrin (from Zahra's POV).
Does torch go out? (50% chance): [1d100] = 49 Yes.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/11, Spells: 3/7 1st lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 12/26, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 10/14, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 8/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 8/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl,
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 7, HP: 4/16, Candle, Cursed.
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 11/21

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)

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri does his best. It's not good enough.

In spite of repeated failure, it does not occur to him to give up while the ones frozen with fear are unable to move.

Attack with Trident (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20+3] = 8+3 = 11 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6+7] = 1+7 = 8, vs. Lg: [3d4+6] = 10+6 = 16 This is painful now...

[Urson]

Zahra

Zahra pulls the Black Javelin from her gear. She pushes forward, intending to protect her "sisters' " escape.

Run! For love of the Gods, RUN!

att [1d20+2] = 4+2 = 6

She makes a failed thrust at the creature, hoping to at least draw its attention.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

"##&&@*#!!!!!" he says in his native language.

Paralyzed round 2 of 3

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin knows this may be his last stand. Hopefully he can distract the undead beast long enough for the others to escape.
The paladin gives a fierce war cry as he swings his longsword again.

To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 3+1 = 4; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 8+1 = 9; lg - [1d12+1] = 11+1 = 12

[ravenn4544]

Amethu frets beneath his mask as can't won'tengage in melee with the Ancient One and he has no other actions he can take. He instead tries to study the room for clues or other ways to circumvent the creature or if something was in reach.

[OGRE MAGE]

If this action is allowed, here it is.

Xorxen looks on the others in disbelief, not allowing the amazon to take his place in the line.

"Look at my skin changing! I am forfeit! Saveth yourselves now, and return herein to avenge me."

He attacks the ancient pharaoh again, not showing Zahra up in the least.

Javalin Attack [1d20+1] = 11+1 = 12 Damage [1d6+2] = 3+2 = 5

He looks upon the others again with pleading eyes under his mask.

"Flyeth, thy fools!"

"I will hold it off while you all flee!"

[Inferno]

The Tomb of Xuthalhotep, Fourth Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Four. Sunset, 16th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





The immortal king of ruins raises his dread hand to curse Garrin with a doom certain! But the Atlantean holy warrior raises his enchanted shield in the nick of time, narrowly deflecting another devastating strike!

Garrin, Kiri and Xorzen continue their impotent assault upon the deathless Pharaoh who is seemingly invulnerable to the attacks of mortals.

Wise Amethu scans the shadowed vault for anything that might be able to save them, to no avail.

Already doomed, Xorzen joins Zahra in imploring the others to flee with their lives while they still can! But Amethu, Garrin and Kiri cannot bring themselves to leave their companions behind. These five strangers, who met mere days ago, have become bonded by the unforgiving crucible of the Great Pyramid. Now they would choose to die together, deep in these haunted tombs.

Undying Xuthalhotep is only too willing to grant them this final wish.


Actions?!



Map Detail:



Map:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 2, Monsters: [1d6] = 3 Monster wins again.
Xuthalhotep attacks Garrin? (1), Xorzen? (2), or Kiri? (3): [1d3] = 1 Garrin.
Xuthalhotep attacks Garrin: [1d20] = 7, damage: [1d12] = 8 Misses.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/11, Spells: 3/7 1st lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 12/26, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 10/14, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 8/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 8/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl,
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 7, HP: 4/16, Candle, Cursed.
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 11/21

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)

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri has never missed so consistently in his life. It’s as if there’s a force field around the King that won’t allow his attacks to penetrate. His grandfather amulet scowls at him. Fool! What good is all your strength?! You flail around like an idiot! You let him rattle you! he distinctly hears it say as he swings wild again.
Attack with Trident (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20+3] = 9+3 = 12 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6+7] = 6+7 = 13, vs. Lg: [3d4+6] = 7+6 = 13 Gosh.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Regaining his composure, Mako make one last arcane effort to aid his comrades.
"ファントサル・フォース"

[Urson]

Zahra

Thrusting again with the Black javelin, Zahra finally connects!

att [1d20+2] = 14+2 = 16
[1d6] = 2+3


She snarls triumphantly. Die, false King!!

[ravenn4544]

Amethu struggling with what to do remembers an oil flask he carries and makes an attempt to douse the Ancient One "Fire may harm it!"

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin tries to clear his mind and focus his strike on the undead king. He fails. Again.

To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 5+1 = 6; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 6+1 = 7; lg - [1d12+1] = 2+1 = 3

Come on!!

[OGRE MAGE]

Seeing that the others will not leave, Xorxen allows himself to be pushed aside by the amazon this time, since he has done nothing to harm this enemy whatsoever.

Being the only person with a flame, the monk readies his candle to ignite the oil once he recognizes Amethu's intent.

[Scott308]

Loche

Loche sees that the others have stayed to fight. Calling to them from outside the room, he shouts, Ye fools! Git oot o' thare! We cannae defeat him in th' tomb, if at a'.

Seeing everyone else continue fighting the former god-king, he continues exhorting them to end this folly.

Mibbie he cannae follow oot o' his tomb! If he kin, if we kin git tae a larger area, we kin git mair fowk attacking himm!