Chapter 14: The Doomed Undying

[Inferno]

The Desecrated Temple of Osorus, 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





Beneath towering columns, the waking adventurers drag their sleeping comrades into the sandy pit.

Then they lower the massive stone lid over their common grave, sealing themselves in to the oblivion of absolute darkness and slumber.



Mere inches lie between their faces and the cold, tombstone-like slab above them.

Packed in close, they succumb to the exhaustion that drags them down to the land of sleep.

In this blackest of nights, within their unsettling dreams, they can hear footsteps walking above them. And, as ever, they dream of Zargoth searching for them, hunting them across the underground city without relent.



In time, they awaken, refreshed, aware that their companions lie awake also. All is silent now above them, in this pitch black grave of the enemies of Zargoth.

Their gambit has worked. They have survived a night in the underground city of the demon god.



Actions? (All casters are rested and, after study, may choose new spells.)



Underground City Map:



Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Garrin, Kiri, Loche, Mako and Xorzen have breathed of the mists of Osorus, and heal fully overnight. Everyone else heals 2hp overnight, due to Cruloc's first aid.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/14, Spells: 7/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl
  Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 24/35
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 26/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 14/14, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 18/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 10/10, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
  Tjoruy: Verulian Osoran Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 12/31, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 16/16
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 9/21

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, Mako 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."

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)

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Waking from his restful sleep, Mako lights a candle and studies his spells for the day.
(Spells updated)

[ChubbyPixie]

Feeling completely refreshed, or as refreshed as one can feel with one’s massive bulk crammed into a dirty stone crawlspace, Kiri rouses and studies his spells quietly with the aid of the light from Maako’s candle. Afterwards he crawls around the space a bit to see if their Verulian predecessors left anything interesting behind.

When they are ready he will help heft the trapdoor out of the way.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Observing Mako, Kiri, and the others deep in their spellbooks, Cruloc turns to Garrin. Dread evident in his eyes, he hisses,

"I’ll fight man or beast – but wizardry turns my bones to water. Don’t you fear it?"

OoC: The barbarian continues with first aid on himself and the party while the accursed spellcasters study.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra wakes, feeling more rested than she expected to. She squirms, discovering how tightly packed they are. When the time comes, she will gladly help push the slabs away.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu rises from the tomb like slumber feeling well enough to study his spells and commune with the Verulian gods old and new. Once compete he will beseech those gods to aide him in his recovery.

Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 6

[Scott308]

Loche

Not the most comfortable night sleep ever, but much better than being woken during the night and fighting for their lives.

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin gives thanks to Mitra that the group has survived another harrowing day.

When the time comes, he helps move the trapdoor.

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen sleeps like the dead inside the safety of the vault, happy to finally get some rejuvenating rest for once.

When the others begin to wake, he keeps his eyes closed, meditating to himself as they pray and study.

Once it is time to remove the lid, he helps everyone escape from their underground bedroom.

[Inferno]

The Desecrated Temple of Osorus, The Underground City
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Eight. Dawn?, 21st day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





The adventurers waken in absolute darkness, unable to see their hands before their faces.

While the masked, pale denizens of the underground city eagerly hunted them, the explorers survived the night hidden beneath the floor of the desecrated temple of Osorus.

Now, awake and rested, they hear no sound above them and cautiously lift the gigantic slab, letting them out of their tomb-like sanctuary.

Mako's flickering candle reveals no other living thing in the sacristy hall.



Some of the refuse here has been disturbed, however; signs of their would-be murderers searching for them in the night.

They quietly break their fast as priests, monk and paladin devoutly pray to their gods, and sorcerers study their arcane tomes. Tjoruy heals Zahra with pious orisons to Osorus, the traditional enemy of her sisterhood's sect. (+7hp)

Kiri and Tjoruy reenter the sandy open grave, searching for anything left behind by their Verulian predecessors countless centuries ago. Beneath the threadbare blankets, under the sand, Kiri finds three long-buried, humble ceramic bottles, etched with hieroglyphs of a bygone age that the wondrous Helm of Uthoth deciphers for him! Two give orisons to Osorus, bringer of light and warmth. The third gives praise to Osorus, healer of the sick and the lame.

Beside him, Tjoruy pulls an ornate rod from the sands. Then suddenly, the ground below him collapses into a sinkhole! "Help!" he cries as he instantly plummets from sight into the hungry gap that swallows him alive!



The ground near the pit gives way, sliding into the maw that devoured Tjoruy, and Kiri feels the sand shifting beneath his feet!

Tjoruy's desperate shouts echo up the widening, unstable shaft. Suddenly, they intensify with urgency and terror!


Actions?!



Underground City Map:



Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Tjoruy heals Zahra: [1d8] = 1
Tjoruy heals Zahra: [1d8] = 1
Tjoruy heals Zahra again: [1d8] = 5

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 12/14, Spells: 6/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl
  Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 24/35
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 26/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 14/14, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 18/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 10/10, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl, Candle
  Tjoruy: Verulian Osoran Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 12/31, Spells: 2/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 16/16
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 16/21

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, Mako 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."

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)

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

The barbarian removes the rope from his belt, gives one end to Kiri, and tosses the remainder down the hole.

"Climb out if you can, Verulian!"

If Tjoruy is unable to do so, Cruloc swiftly rappels down to aid the peculiar cleric.

[ChubbyPixie]

“Tjoruy!” Not wishing to lose any time, Kiri jams the vials in his pack says, “Follow me, Cruloc!” and jumps down the hole with the torch they’d been using to explore the space.

Kiri will be ready to cast Feather Fall should it prove necessary as he careens down the hole.

Oh, wouldn’t Kiri be able to read the vials with his snazzy new Helm of Uthoth?

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako watches from a distance, not wanting to get close to the opening. He instantly recalls the events which transpired a week ago. How similar the situation. Then too Kiri tied to aid others from the suffocating death of the ever-shifting sands to almost being a victim himself. We lost two that day Attila and Gronda. If it was not for Zahra, Kiri would have made three. Mako's eyes shift to Zahra. Would the Verulian save the Easterner once again?

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra springs to Kiri's side and wraps the rope around her hands to give herself a solid grip. She braces to take the weight of the Cimmerian as he climbs down, wary of the collapsing edges of the pit.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu stands by and will help hold a rope and pull out anyone who is in need.

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen rushes to the side of anyone holding or pulling on a rope to save those who fell/jumped into the hole.

He keeps a sharp eye on the edges of the hole and all around the surface, ready to jump back up to the floor if the whole thing appears ready to cave in.

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin also stands ready to help pull up any of the companions who have jumped into the hole.

[Scott308]

Loche

The Pict figures there are enough people dangerously close to the edge of the pit, so he will stay well back from the gaping hole in the floor.

[Inferno]

The Desecrated Temple of Osorus, The Underground City
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Eight. Dawn?, 21st day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia






"Help! HELP!!" comes Tjoruy's desperate cries from the center of the collapsing hole!

Cruloc unfurls the rope at his hip and casts it down into the ever-widening hole. Sand shifts and slides beneath his feet, feeding the voracious, expanding maw.

Without hesitation, Kiri leaps in, hurtling down in a freefall through the cascading sand, into an abyss of shadow!



When the rope does not slacken, Cruloc passes it off, takes hold with both hands, and plunges down into the dusty darkness!

Amethu, Garrin, Xorzen and Zahra slowly retreat before the growing pit that threatens to consume the entirety of the sandy sanctuary under the floor of the desecrated temple!

Cruloc and Kiri crash to the ground in the absolute darkness! Blind, they feel sand beneath them that cushioned their fall. Choking on the unrelenting torrent of falling grains, they hear Tjoruy's urgent shouts echoing all around them in the pitch blackness!

"HELP! PLEASE! NOOO!"


Actions?!



Underground City Map:






PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 12/14, Spells: 6/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl
  Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 24/35
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 26/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 14/14, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 25/25
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 10/10, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl, Candle
  Tjoruy: Verulian Osoran Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 12/31, Spells: 2/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 16/16
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 16/21

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, Mako 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."

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)

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

As Mako watches the hole expand he takes refuge at the room's exit in case it does not cease.
"By the blackened teeth of Akahu, three more victims consumed by this cursed place. Quickly move away before it swallows us all!"