Chapter 16: Beneath the Starless Sky

[Inferno]

The Underground City, Beneath the Great Pyramid of Xuthalhotep
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Ten. Mid morning?, 23rd day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia






A pack of snarling beastmen have burst onto the shifting deck of the Dark Ship! The feral primitives sow havoc in a wild maelstrom of violence and mayhem!

With a deafening crash of stone on steel, Zahra the amazon is mercilessly savaged by ax and by spear! (12hp damage from B3 and B5)



Cruloc the Cimmerian frees his sword and several rotten teeth from the vile priest's corpse when he is suddenly smashed and hammered with brutal ferocity! (6hp damage from B7)

As Mako the conjurer holds the ship dangerously close to the wind, the squall of frenzied savagery on deck overwhelms the adventurers and only two of them can land a blow in the chaotic rampage!

Amethu leaves his lantern at the bow and charges midship to Zahra's aid! The fabled Staff of Uthoth bludgeons a slanted white skull, nearly smiting an enemy in one stroke! The primal brute (B3) forgets Zahra and roars at Amethu, animal fangs bared!

And, from the rigging above...



...Xorzen drops down onto Garrin's wounded foe (B4) driving his javelin with all his weight, fatally impaling the degenerate relic of himself! In a spray of crimson, the bestial monstrosity crashes to the deck!


Actions?!



Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet.


Map:



Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 1, Monsters: [1d6] = 4 Monsters win.
B4 attacks Garrin with ax: [1d20] = 7, damage: [1d8+1] = 2+1 = 3 Misses.
B3, B5 attack Zahra with ax and spear: [1d20] = 15, [1d20] = 18, damage: [1d8+1] = 4+1 = 5, [1d6+1] = 6+1 = 7 Both hit for 12hp damage total.
B7, B11 attack Cruloc and Loche with club and ax: [1d20] = 13, [1d20] = 1, damage: [2d4+1] = 5+1 = 6, [1d8+1] = 1+1 = 2 Cruloc is hit for 6hp damage.
B10, B12 attack Kiri and Tjoruy with axes: [1d20] = 4, [1d20] = 10, damage: [1d8+1] = 4+1 = 5, [1d8+1] = 6+1 = 7 Both miss.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 11/14, Spells: 7/7 1st lvl, 2/3 2nd lvl, Lantern at bow
  Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 23/45
  Garrin: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 20/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 19/19, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 23/25
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 12/12, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
  Tjoruy: Verulian Osoran Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 18/31, Spells: 3/5 1st lvl, 3/4 2nd lvl
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 16/16
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 10/29

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."
  Invisibility (Mako): Target: self
  Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 34 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 attacks (B5), hoping to either kill him or force him overboard.

att [1d20+4] = 17+4 = 21 Sword vs sm, med [1d8+5] = 1+5 = 6
Her red eyes blaze, almost seeming to become slit-pupiled like the Lion goddess herself.

[AleBelly]

Tjoruy watches another beast fall. Perhaps we will survive this jaunt, he thinks to himself.

He peeks over his wicker shield, and swings his mace as hard as he can towards the head of a neighboring enemy. "Osurus will see me through! I am not destined to die at the hands of such base, unworthy creatures!"

Mace of the Old Kingdom attack [1d20+2] = 12+2 = 14 damage [1d6+3] = 5+3 = 8

[ravenn4544]

Amethu risks a glance over the prow of the ship before attacking again. It's enough to distract him...

To Hit (THACO 20): [1d20+2] = 2+2 = 4

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Battered and bloodied in the red chaos of the beastmen's attack, Cruloc swings again to no effect.

Attack w/longsword [1d20+2] = 8+2 = 10

"Macha, Morrigan, and Nemain!"

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako continues to steer the ship.

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri raises his shield and thrusts his Claw of Chobek forward at waist level, looking to skewer B10 and remove at least one of the beastmen foes surrounding Tjoruy.

Attack with Trident +1, Claw of Chobek (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20+4] = 11+4 = 15 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6+8] = 3+8 = 11, vs. Lg: [3d4+7] = 8+7 = 15

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen spears the next closest monster in its back with his enchanted javelin. (B3?)

Attack w/ +2 Javelin of Men-khetu [1d20+2] = 11+2 = 13 Dam [1d6+3] = 1+3 = 4

[Scott308]

Loche

Loche slashes at the Beastman before him, but the short blade is not able reach his target with the rocking of the ship.

Jeweled Dagger +1/ +2 vs. Undead (20): [1d20+1] = 8+1 = 9; Damage: [1d4+1] = 4+1 = 5; Damage, Large: [1d3+1] = 1+1 = 2

[SocraticLawyer]

With a nod of thanks to Xorzen, Garrin attacks the nearest beastman B3 I think.

To hit with +2 Longsword [1d20+2] = 18+2 = 20; damage sm [1d8+2] = 1+2 = 3; damage l [1d12+2] = 1+2 = 3

[Inferno]

The Underground City, Beneath the Great Pyramid of Xuthalhotep
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Ten. Mid morning?, 23rd day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia






In a howling fray on the veering deck, the adventurers seize the upper hand and don't let go!

From the ship's wheel, Mako watches Garrin and Xorzen each circle the mainmast in opposite directions, descending upon a rampaging beastman (B3) together with sword and javelin, brutally dismembering the feral primitive where he stands!

Zahra drives her enemy over the rail with a feline strength that belies her form! The degenerate monster (B5) plunges overboard, roaring as he plummets and then he and his clamor are both swallowed up by the waiting black waves!

A fervent prayer on his lips, Tjoruy crushes an enemy's skull (B12) with the golden mace of the Old Kingdom! The nigh-headless corpse falls, splattering the deck with blood, brains and bone!



And Kiri Khutan thrusts his enchanted trident, disemboweling a savage brute (B10) in a ghastly harvest of steaming entrails!

Only two beastmen (B7, B11) still draw breath! One of them (B7) is so grievously wounded he can barely stand. The rest of the bestial pack lay strewn across the maindeck in wet crimson ruins. The last two survivors lunge for the portside rail to escape with their lives!


Actions?! (Cruloc, Tjoruy and Zahra each have a bonus opportunity attack on B7. And Kiri, Loche and Tjoruy each have one on B11. These free opportunity attacks will precede all other actions.)



Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet.


Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 5, Monsters: [1d6] = 4 Party wins.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 11/14, Spells: 7/7 1st lvl, 2/3 2nd lvl, Lantern at bow
  Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 23/45
  Garrin: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 20/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 19/19, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 23/25
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 12/12, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
  Tjoruy: Verulian Osoran Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 18/31, Spells: 3/5 1st lvl, 3/4 2nd lvl
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 16/16
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 10/29

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

[ravenn4544]

Amethu returns to the front of the ship to scan the black water.

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri will swipe at one of the creatures as it runs for the railing.

Attack with Trident +1, Claw of Chobek (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20+4] = 5+4 = 9 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6+8] = 1+8 = 9, vs. Lg: [3d4+7] = 7+7 = 14

Once the creatures are gone he will see to helping with the sailing of the dark ship.

"We should ensure there is no one else below," he says.

[Scott308]

Loche

As the beastman turns to run away, Loche is able to slash at its back. When there are no more of the savage creatures alive on deck, the Pict will help throw bodies overboard. Thay reek ill enough alive, ah dinnae wantae fin' oot howfur thay stink whin deid 'n' rotting!

Jeweled Dagger +1/ +2 vs. Undead (20): [1d20+1] = 14+1 = 15; Damage: [1d4+1] = 3+1 = 4; Damage, Large: [1d3+1] = 3+1 = 4
I did not add the +2 bonus for AoO, so it is actually 17 to hit.

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen looks the bodies over before they are tossed overboard, in case they carry valuables or any other information upon them.

He takes a listen at the door leading below decks before acting upon Kiri’s suggestion to search the bowels of the ship.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Missing again, Cruloc curses.

Attack of opportunity w/ longsword [1d20+4] = 2+4 = 6

"Masts of Macha!"

[SocraticLawyer]

After the final beastmen are dealt with, Garrin helps the others search below decks.

[AleBelly]

Tjoruy works himself into (further) delirium as he dances, holding his mace aloft. "Osurus has filled me with strength and courage! You"

<swing>

B7 opportunity attack [1d20+4] = 10+4 = 14 damage [1d6+3] = 6+3 = 9

"apparitions"

<swing>

B11 opportunity attack [1d20+4] = 13+4 = 17 damage [1d6+3] = 5+3 = 8

"shall trouble us no more!"

No matter the outcome of the battle, he tries to halt belowdeck exploration...at least for a moment.

"Brethren!" he shouts above the rippling sail. "Let us ask Osurus if exploration of the cabin will bode ill or well for us! Despite your insistence on meeting your end on the Isle of Annihilation, I will still assume that an ill outcome will be defined by death."

With that, he fills his chalice with water from his waterskin, adds a few chunks of mushroom, then pulverizes the mixture with the shaft end of his mace. He drinks deeply, then sets it down next to him.

Healing from chalice [2d4+1] = 6+1 = 7

"Brethren, the power of the chalice is waning. Drink from it, if you need healing. And enter the dream world with me."

He then begins to chant

Cast augury

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

In a fouler mood than usual, the barbarian binds his own wounds and those of the others.

[Inferno]

Sorry Dads and Urson. Moving it along.