Chapter 15: Empire Under the Earth

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen keeps his distance from their dead friend even more after Mako's disturbing statement.

"Do we fortify one of these ant chambers to rest in? Or do we press on to find a more suitable place to sleep?"

[Scott308]

Loche

Burn him? He's nae pumpin' deid! If he wis infected lik' they ithers, he wid hae rose 'n' attacked wi' thaim! Gie him some o' th' healing potion.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc binds Tjoruy - with sturdy hempen rope!

"We'll find out soon enough once he's conscious whether he is a brainless thrall or his simple brainless self!"

To the decrepit Verulian, the Cimmerian then administers the crude but effective first aid common in the harsh snow-covered northlands.

[ChubbyPixie]

"You should thank our invisible friend," Kiri replies.

Handing the remaining 2/3 potion back to Mako, or at least holding it in the air until it vanishes back into the ether from whence it came, he considers the invisible illusionist's words. "Does Tjoruy not have true life then? Is he one of these? Can the condition be cured, like a disease?" he says, indicating the ant zombie people they've just slain.

[SocraticLawyer]

Let us give our friend a chance at life, before condemning him to a fiery death, says Garrin.

[Inferno]

Giant Ant Colony, Beneath 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. Morning?, 21st day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





Zahra's eyes open and they see Cruloc the barbarian bind Tjoruy hands, and then his grievous wounds. The subterranean scarecrow prophet does not awaken.

Masked Amethu and Xorzen counsel rest, that the explorers may recover.

Mako's eerie disembodied voice says: "Kiri we must burn Tjoruy's body with the oil you have discovered. It is the only way to give him peace."

Loche sputters: "Burn him? He's nae pumpin' deid! If he wis infected lik' they ithers, he wid hae rose 'n' attacked wi' thaim! Gie him some o' th' healing potion."

Merciful Garrin says, "Let us give our friend a chance at life, before condemning him to a fiery death."


Actions?


Map Detail:

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

Map:






PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 2/14, Spells: 2/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl, Lantern
  Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 6/35, Torch on ground
  Garrin: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 6/26, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 6/14, Spells: 0/3 1st lvl Torch, hovering
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 10/25
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 10/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl, Torch planted
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 6/16, Candle
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 1/21

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."
  Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 33 rounds
  Invisibility (Mako): Target: self

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]

“Mako? Are you here?” Kiri says to the empty air, “I feel we must try to help, Tjuroy, even if it is too late. You have the potion so the decision lies with you.”

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Mumbling curses, the barbarian withdraws, repelled by both the potential horror lying within the unconscious Tjoruy and the thought that his comrades may employ magic to treat him.

He looks on from a distance with trepidation and fear-born curiosity.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako walks over to Tjoruy's body. He kneels down beside him and holds his hand over the cleric's mouth, feeling for his warm breath that signals life. If Mako can feel it, he'll pour the remainder of the potion into Tjoruy's mouth.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra watches, puzzled. Does he live or not?

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen keeps his distance, watching the proceedings with his javelin at the ready.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu will also examine Tjoruy as best he can. "If he is in fact afflicted with some contagion, I have a remaining prayer book that can help alleviate it's potential spread."

[Scott308]

Loche watches.

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin waits nervously, weapon ready in case things go south. He says a quick prayer to Mitra.

[Inferno]

Giant Ant Colony, Beneath 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. Morning?, 21st day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia



Deep within the doomed giant ant colony, the stone flask reappears, hovering above the motionless form of Tjoruy. His mud-caked hawk mask seemingly removes itself and the vessel empties itself into his open mouth.

The wounds of the subterranean cleric of Osorus are healed, allowing him to awaken. He looks upon his companions, whom he thought he would never see again.



And then everything goes wrong.

Suddenly, Tjoruy's face turns wooden and he lunges violently at his friends! The ferocious attack is stopped only by the bindings that tie him!

With sinking hearts, his companions realize the harrowing truth. Like the others thralls of the hatching chamber, Tjoruy is filled with insect eggs that will soon hatch into larvae and eat him alive from the inside out!

Horrific images swarm unbidden into Amethu's mind:



Until that final ghastly fate, the eggs somehow control Tjoruy, compelling him to defend the very parasites that infest him and will kill him!


Actions?!


Map Detail:

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





PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 2/14, Spells: 2/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl, Lantern
  Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 6/35, Torch on ground
  Garrin: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 6/26, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 6/14, Spells: 0/3 1st lvl Torch, hovering
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 10/25
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 10/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl, Torch planted
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 6/16, Candle
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 1/21

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."
  Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 32 rounds
  Invisibility (Mako): Target: self

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:

Mako drops the empty flask onto the sandy floor and walks away back to Zahra who would have benefited from the last remaining drops.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu sees the beginnings of the infestation. He can think of no other way to help but to try and use the power leashed in the writings of his ancient people. He will unfurl the ancient papyrus and attempt to cure what is slowly eating Tjoruy from inside out. Perhaps it will be enough to help - and the group needs every bit of help it can get...

Case Cure Disease on Tjoruy

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin hopes Amethu's spell has the desired effect. He waits with his longsword ready in case it does not

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc continues to look on, albeit with considerable unease.

[Scott308]

Loche

The Pict watches, hoping that Amethu's magic will succeed.