Chapter 14: The Doomed Undying

[Inferno]

Tjoruy's Hovel, the Underground City
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Eight. After Midnight?, 19th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





Revealed by the impossible light atop Mako's quarterstaff, rows of eerie faces leer out of the eternal shadows under the earth as the adventurers try in vain to hold back the tide of madness and mayhem.

Trapped. Surrounded. The battle lines are unmoving. And the thralls of Zargoth hunger for their death!

Antique blades chop, carve and sever, continuing their unrelenting, brutal work! Cruloc is lacerated across the arm (-2hp), Amethu is stabbed in the chest (-5hp), and Xorzen is impaled in the gut (-4hp) and falls to the street, dyeing the bricks red with his blood!

High above the scarlet road, Kiri pulls himself up onto the roof of Tjoruy's hovel. The ancient structure hold his vast weight as he unshoulders his bow and sinks an arrow into the heart of one of deranged revelers in the second rank! Another pale masked subterranean falls dead.

Cruloc the barbarian sees the hole open in the enemy's ranks and tries to hack his way to it! A devastating slash of his merciless blade sends a masked head flying from its shoulders on a jet of gushing crimson!



Cruloc steps forward to take the headless man's place!

Behind him, wounded and weak with blood loss, Amethu and Loche cannot kill their way to freedom.

While inside the dilapidated hovel, Zahra the amazon razes yet another foe who crashes to the floor, blood pouring liberally from a severed throat.

Beside her, Garrin the paladin, utterly unaccustomed to knife fighting, risks a glance backwards and sees an opening in the street outside!

Then Tjoruy steps over his brother in Osorus and mangles Xorzen's assailant vengefully with an iron bludgeon! Another enemy falls and Tjoruy croaks, "Their line is sundered! This way my friends! Let us flee!"


Actions?!


Underground City Map:

Only lit areas are visible to one or more PCs. All else is from memory.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 4, Monsters: [1d6] = 5 Monsters win.
Masked madmen attack Zahra: [1d20] = 11, [1d20] = 8, damage: [1d6] = 6, [1d6] = 1 Both miss.
Masked madman attacks Garrin: [1d20] = 11, damage: [1d6] = 2 Misses.
Masked madmen attack Cruloc: [1d20] = 13, [1d20] = 11, damage: [1d6] = 2, [1d6] = 2 One hits.
Masked madmen attack Amethu and Xorzen: [1d20] = 20, [1d20] = 17, damage: [1d6] = 5, [1d6] = 4 Both hit.
Tjoruy attacks with mace: [1d20+2] = 15+2 = 17, damage: [1d6+3] = 4+3 = 7 Hits for 7hp damage.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 3/14, Spells: 2/7 1st lvl, 2/3 2nd lvl
  Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 21/35
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 11/26, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 4/14, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 4/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 8(1)/10, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl Light spell
  Tjoruy: Verulian Osoran Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 12/31, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 0/16
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 6/21

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 (Garrin, Kiri, Loche and Xorzen 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."
  Protection From Evil (Tjoruy): Target: Xorzen. -2 to be hit by evil, +2 to saving throws against evil. Duration: 17 rounds left

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 will shoot another volley down into the mob in order to give his friends below as much chance to escape as possible. He'll wait until he see the last of them pass southwards before giving up his covering fire to follow after:

Attack with Short Bow (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20] = 19 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6] = 3, vs. Lg: [1d6] = 4

Attack with Short Bow (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20] = 11 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6] = 2, vs. Lg: [1d6] = 4

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc struggles for life and sanity against the unholy mass of blades which beset him.

"Crom's curses! The demon lord of this city has more masked puppets than a Pict has fleas!"

Attack w/longsword [1d20+2] = 9+2 = 11
damage [1d8+3] = 6+3 = 9

[Urson]

Zahra

Let us go, swordsister- they have an opening.

Zahra continues her fighting retreat.

att [1d20+4] = 19+4 = 23
javelin [1d6+3] = 6+3 = 9

[ravenn4544]

Amethu feeling himself weaken from his wounds, beseeches his ancient gods for a glimmer of a pathway forward - for their glory and redemption from the ancient defiler - Zargoth. He feels the strength of his gods answer his prayers as the Staff of Uthoth seemingly glows green in righteous fury as he lashes out at their common enemy!

To Hit (THACO 20): [1d20+2] = 20+2 = 22
Staff of Uthoth - Damage: = S/M/L: [1d6+2] = 3+2 = 5

[Scott308]

Loche

Cruloc

"Crom's curses! The demon lord of this city has more masked puppets than a Pict has fleas!"

Whit? Ah ainlie hae a few fleas, ye scurvy bas!

Loche will make a defensive retreat if there is room for him to do so. If not, he will attack.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako binds the wounds of Xorxen.

[SocraticLawyer]

If Garrin is bothered at being referred to as a swordsister, he doesn't show it. He continues their fighting retreat.

If needed:To Hit with Dagger: [1d20] = 19; Damage: sm - [1d4] = 4; lg - [1d3] = 3

Sorry for the delay!!

[Inferno]

Tjoruy's Hovel, the Underground City
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Eight. After Midnight?, 19th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





In the city under the earth, murderous oaths mingle with the cries of the dying.

Swords clash, sparking like summer lightning, as the demented underdwellers' latest assault is all but entirely repelled! (-3hp to Tjoruy)

The invaders of the underground city, however, reap a cruel harvest!

From the rooftop, Kiri's arrows puncture the lungs of an enemy who quickly drowns to death in his own blood!

Inside the hovel, Zahra the amazon dismembers another masked murderer who falls screaming, clawing at a crimson stump that had been an arm.



Beside her, Garrin the Atlantean stabs an insane rampager who does not fall.

Outside, Cruloc splits a skull in a ghastly spray of blood and brains!

Loche retreats from the savage Cimmerian to Mako who binds Xorzen's wounds.

Nearby, Amethu and Tjoruy bludgeon to death the last masked lunatic on that front! The line is breached! "This way!" urges the ramshackle prophet of the unseen sun!


Actions?!


Underground City Map:

Only lit areas are visible to one or more PCs. All else is from memory.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 2, Monsters: [1d6] = 3 Monsters win.
Masked madman attacks Zahra: [1d20] = 8, damage: [1d6] = 1 Misses.
Masked madmen attacks Garrin: [1d20] = 10, [1d20] = 7, damage: [1d6] = 4, [1d6] = 4 Both miss.
Masked madmen attack Cruloc: [1d20] = 9, [1d20] = 6, damage: [1d6] = 6, [1d6] = 5 Both miss.
Masked madmen attack Cruloc and Tjoruy: [1d20] = 3, [1d20] = 20, damage: [1d6] = 2, [1d6] = 3 Tjoruy is hit for 3hp damage.
Tjoruy attacks with mace: [1d20+2] = 19+2 = 21, damage: [1d6+3] = 2+3 = 5 Hits for 5hp.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 3/14, Spells: 2/7 1st lvl, 2/3 2nd lvl
  Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 21/35
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 11/26, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 4/14, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 4/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 8(1)/10, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl Light spell
  Tjoruy: Verulian Osoran Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 9/31, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 0/16
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 6/21

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 (Garrin, Kiri, Loche and Xorzen 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."
  Protection From Evil (Tjoruy): Target: Xorzen. -2 to be hit by evil, +2 to saving throws against evil. Duration: 16 rounds left

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

Dagger still in hand, the Pict uses his free hand to grab the monk by the collar. We need tae shift. Noo! While th' coast is clear. Ah will hulp drag Xorzen, bit we need tae git tae safety! He begins to pull Xorzen behind him, hoping the direction he chooses will lead them away from any more masked marauders.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

"Cimmerian steel and sinew will hold the line until you pass!" Cruloc thunders to Garrin and Zahra. "Meanwhile, I'll shew this tongueless cohort what killing means!"

The blood-crazed barbarian strives to butcher his foe with deep, stabbing thrusts.

Attack w/longsword [1d20+2] = 15+2 = 17
damage [1d8+3] = 3+3 = 6

Grinning malevolently, Cruloc whispers to the wide-eyed sycophant who finds himself clutching at his escaping innards, "Your entrails foretell a dire end for you."



OoC: Cruloc desires someone to hold the front line at his side so that it is 2-on-2 rather than 3-on-1 against him as the retreat is made.

[Urson]

Zahra

Zahra hesitates, ready to take a stand beside Cruloc and cover the retreat- but then realizes that her own wounds make her a liability, and runs with the others, helping the wounded.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu doesn't move to far forward with comrades at this back. He considers enlarging Cruloc to aid in battle but it may make him too big a target. It's too big a risk. He'll advance to the next possible turn and keep watch on the area.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako secures his staff and Xorzen javelin to his backpack. "Loche! Loche, help me pick up Xorzen," he says as he slowly lifting the downed monk over his right shoulder. "Get the other side, and hurry!"

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri fires once more into the second rank to support Cruloc and the others who are retreating:

Attack with Short Bow (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20] = 6 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6] = 3, vs. Lg: [1d6] = 5

Attack with Short Bow (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20] = 15 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6] = 6, vs. Lg: [1d6] = 2

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin takes Cruloc's invitation, maneuvering to the opening if he can do so in a way that is safe for himself and Zahra. He holds the line with Cruloc, if there is room to do so and if it will not endanger anyone else.

If he can attack, Garrin will do so.

To Hit with Dagger: [1d20] = 3; Damage: sm - [1d4] = 4; lg - [1d3] = 1

[Inferno]

Tjoruy's Hovel, the Underground City
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Eight. After Midnight?, 19th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





Cruloc the Cimmerian shouts that he'll hold back the tide while the others escape into the eternal night of the subterranean realm! Good to his word, the barbarian disembowels another deranged madman with the destructive arc of his merciless blade!

Garrin and Zahra retreat unscathed from the hungry swords inside Tjoruy's disheveled hovel. Garrin holds the line with Cruloc, grateful for the room to swing his longsword again! The two warriors - one savage, one civilized - leap back to prevent the hovel's backdoor from letting their enemies flank them!

Zahra helps Loche and Mako carry Xorzen away as the explorers plunge headlong into the twilight labyrinth of the underground city!

Behind them, atop the hovel's roof, Kiri looses more arrows and one sinks to the feathers in a bone white neck! Another murderous lunatic in the second rank falls dead.



Then Kiri looks north and sees two masked madmen ascend the roof, eager for his death!

In the blood-soaked street below, the pale thralls of Zargoth fearlessly lunge at Cruloc and Garrrin, but none can slip past their defenses.

The rest of the explorers reach the first fork in the maze-like warren of ancient ruins! Tjoruy rants, "If 'tis to be a chase through Pandemonium, we'll not get far carrying my brother!" The ramshackle prophet produces a shimmering chalice of gold and silver wrapped in filthy grey rags.



He fills it with water from a skin and holds the gleaming cup to Xorzen's lips. (+8hp)

"Arise, brother! Sleep not through thy death!" Tjoruy croaks as Xorzen miraculously awakens!


Actions?!


Underground City Map:

Only lit areas are visible to one or more PCs. All else is from memory.
Scale: streets are ten feet wide.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

DM mystery rolls: [1d20] = 8, [1d20] = 5Last round, two masked madmen made their Dex checks and began scaling Tjoruy's hovel to reach Kiri.Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 6, Monsters: [1d6] = 1 Party wins.
Opportunity attacks on Garrin and Zahra: [1d20] = 7, [1d20] = 4, damage: [1d6] = 6, [1d6] = 1 Both miss.
Masked madmen attack Cruloc and Garrin: [1d20] = 4, [1d20] = 1, damage: [1d6] = 2, [1d6] = 2 Both miss. No critical hits or fumbles in this game.
Xorzen healed: [2d4+1] = 7+1 = 8

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 3/14, Spells: 2/7 1st lvl, 2/3 2nd lvl
  Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 21/35
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 11/26, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 4/14, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 4/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 8(1)/10, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl Light spell
  Tjoruy: Verulian Osoran Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 9/31, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 8/16
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 6/21

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 (Garrin, Kiri, Loche and Xorzen 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."
  Protection From Evil (Tjoruy): Target: Xorzen. -2 to be hit by evil, +2 to saving throws against evil. Duration: 16 rounds left

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]

Alarmed by the two summiting masked animal-men, Kiri will turn abruptly and run south along the rooftop's edge, stowing his short bow in his hip quiver as he does so. He glances down as he runs and notes, he is sure, a bemused expression on his grandfather amulet, causing him to wonder if the old man knows something he doesn't. "I suppose this is funny to you, grandfather. You could help, you know," he says, "Unless you wish to die here along side me."

[OGRE MAGE]

Suddenly on his feet again and feeling much better, Xorxen is only slightly confused until he hears the swords of the others still clashing against their enemy behind him.

Seeing the golden chalice in Tjoruy's hand, the monk remarks. "You are simply full of surprises, aren't you dark brother?"

With that, he tries to quickly assess their situation before rushing off ahead again.

"You must know your way through these damnable streets? Which way to safety, friend?"

[ravenn4544]

Amethu examines the intersection and sees that it appears clear. "This could be our spot to fight - if we cover these two sections of roadway - those creatures would funneled into us! We would have the advantage!"