Chapter 13: Underground City of the Demon God

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin continues his assault on his foe.

To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 18+1 = 19; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 7+1 = 8; lg - [1d12+1] = 7+1 = 8

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen continues fighting, albeit rather poorly.

Attack w/ +2 Javelin of Men-khetu [1d20+2] = 4+2 = 6 Dam [1d6+3] = 3+3 = 6

[Inferno]

The Underground City, the Vast Subterranean Caverns Beneath the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Seven. Midnight?, 19th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





In the starless domain of subterranean Verulia, the last surviving priest of Zargoth (P3) completes his unnatural spell of necromancy foul and unspeakable!

In horror, the adventurers watch as the ruined corpses of two slaughtered beastmen and one masked priest rise from the dead! (B5, B6, P2)



"Kill the invaders of thy realm!" snarls their unholy creator. They are the last words he will ever utter. In a blur of silver, Zahra swings the Sword of Xuthalhotep and the priest's head flies from his body on a spurting jet of crimson! The headless corpse (P3) slides off its mount, plummeting down into the endless cerulean abyss!

"This ends now!" swears the fierce pale amazon.

Riderless bat monsters flap shrieking back to the eerie ageless labyrinth of the underground city, soaring over the bewildered Tjoruy who swings his ancient weapon wildly and without control! One of his cruel oppressors (B11) hacks a great stone ax deep into Tjoruy's shoulder with a murderous roar (-8hp damage)!

Nearby, Tjoruy's fellow hawk-masked disciple of Osorus remains locked in a life and death battle with two of the degenerate primitives! Sparks fly as Xorzen's javelin clashes against stone battle axes!

Across the chasm, Loche struggles to gain control of his monstrous bat steed as it seeks to follow its kin back into the underground city, and the wily Pict succeeds!

Beneath him, Amethu races up the natural stone bridge toward the fray in time to see Mako join Kiri in attacking a dismounted batrider (B2)! The bestial simian dodges Mako's quarterstaff and thrusts his barbed spear at Kiri who sidesteps it and drives his enchanted trident into the beastman's face, impaling it in a gruesome spray of blood and brains!



Garrin evades a savage ax stroke and plunges his sword into his exposed foeman! The blade point pierces his heart and stands out a foot behind his shoulders! The ferocious prehistoric man slumps to the ground, dead!

The horrific undead (B5, B6, P2), returned from the grave, descend upon Garrin and Zahra but the two veteran warriors raise their shields against the unholy terrors in the nick of time!


Actions?!


Map:

One PC marker = 5 feet. X = Dead.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 1, Monsters: [1d6] = 2 Monsters win, except for zombies who always attack last in a round.
B2, B4 attack Kiri and Garrin: [1d20] = 4, [1d20] = 1, damage: [1d6+1] = 3+1 = 4, [1d8+1] = 4+1 = 5 Both miss. No fumbles in this game.
B7, B8 attack Xorzen: [1d20] = 9, [1d20] = 7, damage: [1d8+1] = 6+1 = 7, [1d8+1] = 1+1 = 2 Both miss.
B9, B11 attack Tjoruy: [1d20] = 3, [1d20] = 20, damage: [1d8+1] = 4+1 = 5, [1d8+1] = 7+1 = 8 One hits for 8hp damage. No critical hits in this game.
Loche Wisdom check to control bat steed: [1d20] = 2 Success.
B5 attacks Garrin: [1d20] = 12, damage: [1d8] = 5 Misses.
B6 attacks Garrin: [1d20] = 7, damage: [1d8] = 4 Misses.
P2 attacks Zahra: [1d20] = 1, damage: [1d8] = 3 Misses. No fumbles in this game.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 11/14, Spells: 2/7 1st lvl, 2/3 2nd lvl, Lantern at feet
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 9/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 2/14, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 5/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 6/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl
  Tjoruy: Verulian Osoran Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 11/31
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 7/16
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 10/21

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, Tjoruy and Zahra have breathed of the mists): 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 attempts to aid Zahra in putting down, again, the undead priest, but perhaps due to loss of blood is unable to continue his rain of killing blows:

Attack with Trident +1, Claw of Chobek (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20+4] = 4+4 = 8 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6+8] = 2+8 = 10, vs. Lg: [3d4+7] = 8+7 = 15

[Urson]

Zahra

att [1d20+4] = 5+4 = 9
Sword vs sm, med [1d8+5] = 2+5 = 7

Zahra continues her butcher's work silently.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu will also attack the undying verulian priest (P2) if he can reach...it.

To Hit (THACO 20): [1d20+2] = 1+2 = 3
Staff of Uthoth - Damage: = S/M/L: [1d6+2] = 1+2 = 3


*cough*

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen spins, dodges, thrusts, and parries, finally landing a credible attack on one of the beastmen trying to kill him. B7?

Javalin Attack [1d20+1] = 17+1 = 18 Damage [1d6+2] = 2+2 = 4

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako rushes forward and attacks the undead priest (P2) with his quarterstaff. The laws of average tell him he'll land a hit at some point.
Staff, Quarter THAC0 20 [1d20] = 6 S/M/L [1d6] = 1
(but not this time)

[Pulpatoon]

Mace attack: [1d20+2] = 14+2 = 16; dmg: [1d6+3] = 3+3 = 6

Tjoruy tries to force his opponent over the edge of the bridge.

[SocraticLawyer]

"Stay dead, you fiend!" shouts Garrin at his recently-slain, newly-animated foe (B5). He attempts to put the foul thing down again.

To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 8+1 = 9; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 5+1 = 6; lg - [1d12+1] = 9+1 = 10

He fails.

[Scott308]

Loche

The Pict attempts to steer the bat over and attack B8.

Miscellaneous roll: [1d20] = 13

[Inferno]

The Underground City, the Vast Subterranean Caverns Beneath the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Seven. Midnight?, 19th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia






At the chaotic siege of the underground city, the servitors of Zargoth spend their lives cheaply defending their eerie realm. Then suddenly, the fight becomes a slaughter! Their priests murdered, the surviving beastmen (B7, 8, 9 and 11) break and flee in terror from the powerful invaders!

The Osorans, Tjoruy and Xorzen, strike retreating primitives with mace and spear, but neither brings one down.

Only the spine-tingling horrors of the undead (B5, B6, P2) remain, serving their dread master even after death!



Unnerved by their unnatural state, Amethu, Garrin, Kiri, Mako and Zahra cannot land a blow against the frightening revenants!

Above them, on leathery wings, Loche uses his legs to steer his gigantic bat steed and it swoops down upon the unliving remains of the beastman clan chieftain (B5)! Charmed especially against the living dead, his dagger sinks deep into the macabre monster's neck!

Xorzen spins and impales the undead chieftain (B5) with the fabled Javelin of Men-khetu, sending it screaming back down to Hell again!

Tjoruy the newly liberated advances onto the bridge and hammers another wretched undead soul (B6) with his golden mace of the Thurian Age!

Groaning like ghosts damned to walk the earth, the two remaining breathless cadavers (B6, P2) claw and bite at Tjoruy and Zahra but the pale Verulians evade their grisly onslaught!


Actions?!


Map:

One PC marker = 5 feet. X = Dead.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Monsters: Morale Check: [2d6] = 9 Fail.
The 4 remaining beastmen flee (B7, 8, 9 and 11). Xorzen and Tjoruy get free opportunity attacks:
Tjoruy opportunity attacks on B9, B11: [1d20+2] = 9+2 = 11, [1d20+2] = 6+2 = 8, damage: [1d6+3] = 2+3 = 5, [1d6+3] = 1+3 = 4 One hits for 5hp. Doesn't kill him.
Xorzen opportunity attacks on B7, B8: [1d20+2] = 7+2 = 9, [1d20+2] = 5+2 = 7, damage: [1d6+3] = 2+3 = 5, [1d6+3] = 4+3 = 7 One hits for 5hp. Doesn't kill him.
(Tjoruy's and Xorzen attack rolls are used as their proper attacks on the remaining foes they can reach: the undead B5 and B6.)
No initiative roll. Zombies always act last in a round.
Loche: Dagger damage vs B5: [1d4+2] = 4+2 = 6 Max damage.
B6 attacks Tjoruy: [1d20] = 8, damage: [1d8] = 1 Misses.
P2 attacks Zahra (1), Kiri (2), Amethu (3) or Mako (4)? [1d4] = 1 P2 attacks Zahra.
P2 attacks Zahra: [1d20] = 6, damage: [1d8] = 3 Misses!

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 11/14, Spells: 2/7 1st lvl, 2/3 2nd lvl, Lantern at feet
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 9/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 2/14, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 5/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 6/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl
  Tjoruy: Verulian Osoran Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 11/31
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 7/16
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 10/21

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, Tjoruy and Zahra have breathed of the mists): 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 feebly attempts to strike the fell priest...


To Hit (THACO 20): [1d20+2] = 11+2 = 13
Staff of Uthoth - Damage: = S/M/L: [1d6+2] = 6+2 = 8

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri, in visible pain, lashes out at the undead priest, but cannot land a blow for the blood running into his eyes.
Attack with Trident +1, Claw of Chobek (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20+4] = 5+4 = 9 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6+8] = 2+8 = 10, vs. Lg: [3d4+7] = 6+7 = 13

[Pulpatoon]

Tjoruy holds his mace aloft, it's filthy wrapping coming undone to reveal gleaming, untarnished gold, and bellows: "My heart! My mother! My heart, my mother! My heart, my coming into being! May there be nothing to resist me at my judgment! Hear your Vessel, of Osorus! May there be no opposition to me from the beasts of Zargoth! May there be no parting of thee from me in the presence of him who keepeth the scales!"

Turn Undead: [1d20] = 14

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra shrieks defiance and strikes (P2) again.

att [1d20+4] = 20+4 = 24
Sword vs sm, med [1d8+5] = 1+5 = 6

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako swing at (P2).
Staff, Quarter THAC0 20 [1d20] = 14 S/M/L [1d6] = 3

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin attacks the fiend before him (B6)...

To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 12+1 = 13; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 1+1 = 2; lg - [1d12+1] = 9+1 = 10

...to little effect.

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen continues to spin and jab with his new weapon until there is nothing left to kill.

Attack w/ +2 Javelin of Men-khetu [1d20+2] = 6+2 = 8 Dam [1d6+3] = 3+3 = 6

[Scott308]

Loche

Getting the hang of flying the bat creature, Loche wheels toward the undead priest, stabbing at it with his dagger as he flies past.

Jeweled Dagger +1/ +2 vs. Undead (20): [1d20+1] = 17+1 = 18; Damage: [1d4+1] = 2+1 = 3; Damage, Large: [1d3+1] = 1+1 = 2
Need to add +1 because the target is Undead.