Chapter 12: Time Out of Mind

[Urson]

Zahra

Still locked in fear, Zahra can do nothing but pray to her goddess. Hear this humble one, I beg! Take what you will of me, but help my friends destry this evil thing, so they can complete their quest to do a Great Good.

[Inferno]

The False Tomb, Fourth Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Five. Early morning?, 17th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





The fiery trap burns off its fuel. The ravenous flames recede, revealing that undying Xuthalhotep still stands! And his ghastly skeleton is all that remains!

Only Xorzen's errant throw of oil still burns; three feet behind the deathless master of the Great Pyramid, framing him in writhing flames.

Mako and Zahra remain stricken by fear!

Mighty Xuthalhotep seems completely impervious to the mortals' attacks! Xorzen splashes oil at Xuthalhotep's feet and it catches fire from the receding flames. The ageless king is sprayed by burning rivulets but has no reaction.

Kiri Khutan steps back and summons eldritch energies that stab invisibly at the monarch of ruins! Alas, they too have little effect upon his terrible majesty.

Amethu holds forth his holy symbol trying to drive back the unholy avatar of tombs! But the priest's faith has no power here! And neither the dagger nor the sword of Loche and Garrin can land a blow!

The immortal pharaoh of pharaohs tries to smite one of the heretical desecrators, but Loche the Pict nimbly evades the king's deadly grasp!


Actions?!


Map Detail:

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


Non-required reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 6, Monsters: [1d6] = 1 Party wins.
Splash damage of burning oil: [1d4] = 2 2hp damage.
Xuthalhotep attacks Garrin? (1) or Loche? (2): [1d2] = 2, To hit: [1d20] = 5, damage: [1d12] = 1 Misses.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 7/11, Spells: 3/7 1st lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 26/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 2/3/4, HP: 14/14, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 18/18, Torch
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 10/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl, Paralyzed for 2 more rounds.
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 7, HP: 2/16, Candle, Cursed!
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 19/21, Torch, Paralyzed for 1 more round.

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."
  Protection From Evil (Amethu): Target: Zahra, Duration: 3 rounds
  Shield (Kiri): Target: self, Duration: 6 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)

[SocraticLawyer]

With a mighty war cry, Garrin attacks the undead king again.

To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 14+1 = 15; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 7+1 = 8; lg - [1d12+1] = 3+1 = 4

[Scott308]

Loche

Die...again! Ye hackit, son o' a boot! Loche shouts at the undying Pharaoh as he attempts to land a blow with his dagger.

Jeweled Dagger +1/ +2 vs. Undead: [1d20+1] = 13+1 = 14; Damage: [1d4+1] = 2+1 = 3; Damage, Large: [1d3+1] = 3+1 = 4
Again, not including the extra +1 for undead.

[ChubbyPixie]

Knowing his weapons are useless, Kiri remains in the back and quickly prepares an incantation, the same that he used to push Xorzen through the narrow trapped wall. This time he holds the casting until the creature strikes at Garrin or Locke, intending to disrupt its blow just enough to throw off its aim... he hopes.

Kiri casts Push on the creature’s downswing to knock it to the side, which should result in a -1 to hit.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

...

[ravenn4544]

Amethu will attempt to prolong the fire by casting enlarge upon it.

[OGRE MAGE]

Seeing that his oil is having minimal affect, Xorxen grabs his magic javelin and attempts to thrust it into the skull of the creature who has damned his very existence.

Javalin Attack [1d20+1] = 9+1 = 10 Damage [1d6+2] = 6+2 = 8 Dang! Only 8 shy of a hit.

[Inferno]

The False Tomb, Fourth Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Five. Early morning?, 17th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





In the Stygian crypt beneath the Great Pyramid, Mako and Zahra can only watch as the fire-blackened, living skeleton that had once been king of the ancient world takes Loche by the throat and tries to strangle the life out of him! (5hp damage)

The Pict thief feels something sweep over him! The Curse of the Pharaohs! In horror, Loche watches his own skin become grey and corpse-like! He knows he has been damned! Loche wriggles out of the necromantic thing's bony grasp, leaps to the ground and cuts wide with his ensorceled dagger as Xorzen the twice-doomed monk mistimes his javelin thrust.

Kiri and Amethu weave further arcane sorceries and suddenly Xuthalhotep steps back, off balance, as the flickering fire behind him leaps up without reason, swallowing him up in its hungry flames!

Garrin of Atlantis swears a sacred oath as his enchanted sword comes down in a deadly arc, sundering open the ribcage of the god-king of Death!

Suddenly, Zahra the amazon warrior overcomes her terror! She is free to act!


Actions?!


Map Detail:

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.
Xuthalhotep attacks Garrin? (1) or Loche? (2): [1d2] = 2, To hit: [1d20] = 17, damage: [1d12] = 5 Hits Loche for 5hp damage.
Amethu's enlarged fire damage: [1d8] = 6 6hp damage.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 7/11, Spells: 2/7 1st lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 26/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 2/3/4, HP: 14/14, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 13/18, Torch, Cursed!
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 10/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl, Paralyzed for 1 more round.
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 7, HP: 2/16, Cursed!
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 19/21, 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."
  Protection From Evil (Amethu): Target: Zahra, Duration: 2 rounds
  Shield (Kiri): Target: self, Duration: 5 rounds
  Enlarge (Amethu): Target: flames, Duration: 19 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)

[Scott308]

Loche

Seeing his skin turn grey and knowing he is cursed, Loche rips into the the Pharaoh, attempting to verbally slay him, cursing him in turn as only a Pict is able, while slashing wildly (and very much off mark) with his jeweled dagger. Ah will murdurr ye, ye empty-headed animal fairn trough wiper! Yer mither wis a hamster, 'n' yer faither smelt o' elderberries! Gang 'n' bile yer bahookie, ye son o' a silly body! Ah wave mah private bits at yer aunties, ye cheesy lot o' seicont haun leccie donkey bahookie biters! Ah fairt in yer general direction! Ah unplug mah hooter at ye, ye tiny-brained wiper o' ither people's bahookie !

Jeweled Dagger +1/ +2 vs. Undead: [1d20+1] = 5+1 = 6; Damage: [1d4+1] = 2+1 = 3; Damage, Large: [1d3+1] = 2+1 = 3

[DadsAngry]

Mako

...

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen is so shocked to see another cursed as he is, he slips in the oil all over the floor, causing an unintended result instead of a good hit.

Javalin Attack [1d20+1] = 1+1 = 2 Damage [1d6+2] = 2+2 = 4 Man! He really IS cursed!!!

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin swings his mighty sword again, hoping to fell the ancient pharaoh once and for all.

To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 12+1 = 13; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 1+1 = 2; lg - [1d12+1] = 4+1 = 5

[ravenn4544]

Amethu is slightly encouraged by the fire's effect on the Ancient One. He steps to the side to find a clear path, prays for the support of the Verulian Gods and casts burning hands upon the writhing skeleton.

[Urson]

Zahra

Retconned

Zahra snatches the mysterious black javelin off her back and stabs the skeletal Pharoh, using the javelin like a spear.

att [1d20+2] = 15+2 = 17
javelin [1d6+3] = 3+3 = 6

[ChubbyPixie]

“This could be it, grandfather,” Kiri says quietly to his amulet. He glances in the direction of the alcove. If there are more containers of oil there, stashed by Xorzen, he’ll rush over to get one. If not, he will move over to the space between the helpless Maako and the undead King to do what he can to hinder any advance in that direction.

[Inferno]

The False Tomb, Fourth Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Five. Early morning?, 17th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





It is just as it was in the oracular prophecy of their doom foretold.

The weapons of Garrin, Loche and Xorzen are powerless against the fleshless necromantic pharaoh from beyond time and human imagining. The deathless thing that had once been the greatest ruler of the Pre-cataclysmic Age is seemingly invulnerable to the mortals that dare disturb his eternal slumber! Their reckless folly would soon be their undoing.

Within a tomb that might quickly become their own, Mako the conjurer remains gripped by a paralysis of pure terror. He can only watch the grim events unfold.

“This could be it, grandfather,” Kiri the mystic myrmidon says quietly to his amulet as he rushes behind Xorzen to arm himself with the last container of flammable oil.

Amethu the masked sorcerer-priest prays to wise Uthoth as he summons magical fire from beyond this world! An inferno erupts from his fingertips and engulfs Xuthalhotep in a conflagration of heat and flames!



Suddenly, Zahra the amazon overcomes her fear and lunges at the burning god-king of death, driving her enchanted javelin's spearhead through its left eye and out the back of its fire-blackened skull!

The burning mummy, impaled and consumed by flames, suddenly cries out a soul-piercing shriek of rage and agony and despair and relief!



Then all that remains of Xuthalhotep, pharaoh of pharaohs, crumbles to dust and falls away, freeing Zahra's javelin and ending forever the immortal king's endless reign over the Great Pyramid's tombs!

The momentary silence that follows is deafening. Mako overcomes his fear as realization suddenly hits them all. They did it! Through spell and sword and strategy, the adventurers were triumphant!


Actions?!


Map Detail:

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

Map:



Non-required reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 6, Monsters: [1d6] = 1 Party wins.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 7/11, Spells: 1/7 1st lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 26/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 2/3/4, HP: 14/14, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 13/18, Torch, Cursed!
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 10/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl,
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 7, HP: 2/16, Cursed!
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 19/21, 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."
  Protection From Evil (Amethu): Target: Zahra, Duration: 1 rounds
  Shield (Kiri): Target: self, Duration: 4 rounds
  Enlarge (Amethu): Target: flames, Duration: 18 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)

[Urson]

Zahra

Zahra steps back, panting. She pauses for a moment, unsure what has just happened- then she lets out a triumphant warcry.

[Scott308]

Loche

Blinking to assure himself that the deathless Pharaoh really is dead, the Pict has a hard time believing what just occurred. Weel! Ah thought fur sure we wur a' gonnae die. He holds up his ashen hand. Noo mah arm's fucked!

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin waits for any remaining flames to subside before sheathing his blade. He gives thanks to Mitra for their victory.

The paladin approaches Xorzen, praying for the grace to Cure Disease.