Chapter 2: Pyramid of the Dead

[Zhym]

"Flame is good idea," says Arthfael. "We should do that."

[ChubbyPixie]

"How do we avoid dropping into this fire?" says Kiri. "I think we need a new plan. Maybe just run for it and hope for the best? Or wait here for Mako. Perhaps he has a spell that could help. Unless he's been devoured by the ape men already..."

There's a short pause after he trails off, then he has an idea. "Wait, Biblio, you are invisible. They are drawn to the light of the candle? Drop down, pick up the candle and throw it into a corner. Then we make a run for it. While they are distracted. Hopefully. Unless the candle goes out."

[Starbeard]

Attila wipes sweat from under the brow of his giant steel helmet and holds the helm in place as he scampers over to the font. 'Probably just water.'

He gives it a cold, hard stare before deciding whether to sate his thirst.

Detect magic (25%): [1d100] = 67

[Zhym]

Arthfael reconsiders. "One enemy at a time. We should climb out of here, deal with the beast men first."

[Inferno]

Day One
The Great Pyramid of the Lost City, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
13th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia
Evening. Hot, arid, cloudless







The bone white primordial men from beyond Time without measure lope forward growling and snarling as Mako retreats to the trapdoor pit. The Eastern prestidigitator is quickly followed by half of the well-fed, muscular simians. The rest of their pack scans the unearthly hall of the ancients with torches.

One primal beast (N2) tests the rope stretched taut between the immense statue shard and the pit, with a huge, distorted hand and screeches when he finds tension still on it.

Another base creature (N1) holds forth a black noose woven of dried vines or roots. He signals for Mako to place it over his head and around his neck. Now.

It is clear that, from now on, Mako belongs to these things.


Actions?





Far below them, in a stone shaft filled with darkness and the deafening roar of insect wings, Arthfael, Biblo and Kiri deliberate their next move as they cling to the rope. Biblo looks down, through his invisible body, to the swarming, giant flesh-eating scarabs below.




Actions? Biblo, please Save vs Con on 1d20 or lose next round retching from the stench.





West of the chamber of scarabs, Attila, Garrin, Gronda, Loche and Roan gaze upon the mysterious, secret shrine. The sanctuary is ornate, detailed and decorative, unlike the rough hewn corridor the lost explorers just escaped. Small air vents are woven into etched design elements near the high ceilings.

Loche the Pict says, "Go ahead wi'oot me. Ah'll be right thare." The little thief listens at the door they just shut. "Whaur ur thay?!"

The others advance in trepidation. The chamber is empty of human life. A powerful silence reverberates against their very beings.

Gronda the scout finds no more devious, cunning traps here but sees undisturbed dust on the floor, and the shadow of another seam in the northern wall; another secret passage.

As they approach the sacred basin, they find water within it glowing clear and clean with lambent, otherworldly light. On the wall directly behind and above the strangely luminous font is a magnificent carving of Osorus.

osorus.jpg (199.83 KiB) Viewed 1803 times

The adventurers recognize him from one of the titanic stone colossi that crowns this pyramid. They remember what Biblo the scholar had told them about this long dead god of the ancients: "Osorus. Falcon-headed Pharaoh of the Gods, ruler of the sun, the moon and the stars, of war, water, and life everlasting; "the distant one," the "one who is above, over.""

This carving's pose matches that of the giant statue: hands held forward and cupped, to signify "water."



The water beneath his likeness seems to shine brighter, and strangely familiar eyes impossibly appear within the clear, radiant liquid!



Suddenly, a voice like fire speaks in an archaic form of the common tongue:

"SPEAK PETITIONER AND HAVE THY SAY
THAT I MAY ANSWER YEA OR NAY."


Replies?! Every PC here may ask one 'Yes or No' question.


Maps:

Pyramid Tier 1.8.jpg (715.01 KiB) Viewed 1803 times

Pyramid Tier 2.8.jpg (449.95 KiB) Viewed 1803 times

One square = 10 feet. Biblo emerges from the ceiling.





Status:

• Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 2: AC 6, HP 12/12, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl and 2/3 2nd lvl
  Attila: Hyrkanean Nomad Barbarian 1: AC 1, HP 8/12
  Biblo Phyle: Zamoran Southman Cleric/Fighter/Magic-User 1/1/1: AC 3, HP 7/7, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl, Candle
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 1: AC 5, HP 8/11, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Gronda: Zembabweian Savage Ranger/Thief 1/2: AC 7, HP 3/17
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: AC 4, HP 7/7, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: AC 5, HP 15/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: AC: 7, HP: 6/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl
  Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 1: AC 4, HP 4/12, Torches

Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Garrin): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Garrin.
  Invisibility (Biblo): Ingested one dose of potion. Duration: unknown.

Resources:

• An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)
  Men of the Hyborian Age (races of men)
  The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
  Hieroglyphs (the story so far, in images)

[Mant72]

Garrin Locke:

Garrin dislikes tampering with ancient magicks associated with blasphemous gods, but the welfare of the group may depend upon it. He speaks firmly and clearly, "Other than human flesh, is there food within this pyramid capable of sustaining human life?"

[hedgeknight]

Roan, Son of Rune

The barbarian licks his lips and swallows what little saliva he can work up in his mouth to soothe his parched throat.
"Is the water in this font poisonous?"

[Grognardsw]

Arthfael reconsiders. "One enemy at a time. We should climb out of here, deal with the beast men first."

"I think they are more deadly," I whisper above. "If they have any brains, our rope will be cut soon."

At the shaft end in the ceiling I look to and judge if I can push off against the shaft wall in order to land beyond the main body of bugs. (Easy or Dex. check?) The smell is overwhelming and I vomit.

Can I still take further action this round?

[OGRE MAGE]

Gronda looks for a way to open this new secret door. She nonchalantly speaks over her left shoulder.

Are there other entrances or exits to this massive structure other than the hatch in the roof that we just entered? Preferably near to the ground level?

[Zhym]

"I could make friends with one of the ones above," says Arthfael. "Insects are insects." But he drops down after Biblo anyway.

Con (12): [1d20] = 12

[Starbeard]

Attila cocks his head, confused. He did not expect the fountain to do that. He thinks very hard about his question, and speaks slowly to make sure he gets it right.

"Do any sentient people live in this pyramid or the ruins around it?"

He quickly grows bored of the gimmick and walks over to the north wall, pushing at it and tracing his fingers along the seam in the stone to see if he can get the door open. "You probably would not believe this, but the unknown path is always better than the known path. If the known path has a screeching jelly demon! Ho-ho!"

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri will drop down, heft the retching Biblio in one arm and run for the door.

if that's all possible...

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Faced with captivity by a ape-ish creatures or decent into a darken pit where lies other of his kind. Both could me certain death, but which one would be quicker? Mako makes up his mind and jumps into the pit towards the daunt rope below. He goes to grab the rope with his body and slide down it as he leaps forward.

Dex 17 [1d20] = 18
Nope, he's dead. At least it was quick.

[ChubbyPixie]

Seeing Mako's shadow darken the shaft opening, grasp for the rope and begin falling, Kiri holds on with one hand and snapping the other in a series of quick motions casts Feather Fall on the hapless illusionist. "Open your eyes and grab the rope before it wears off, Mako." he says. "It's pleasant, right?"

[Inferno]

Day One
The Great Pyramid of the Lost City, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
13th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia
Evening. Hot, arid, cloudless





Inside the highest chamber on Earth, an alabaster ape-man holds forth Mako's new leash and commands him to place it around his neck.

white ape.jpg (230.51 KiB) Viewed 1748 times

Mako leaps into the pit trap instead. He misses the rope line and plummets down into ancient darkness!

Far below him, descending the same rope in the same stone shaft, his fellow Easterner looks up and sees Mako hurtling toward him at deadly velocities. Kiri Khutan urgently weaves a lost, magical incantation of the Far East that, luckily, doesn't require the use of his hands.

Ten feet from murderous impact, Mako's deadfall descent suddenly, uncannily stops! He grasps the rope.

Below, clinging to the same cord, invisible Biblo retches, emptying his stomach of human flesh. Arthfael tries to climb down, but sees beneath him a torrent of hot vomit miraculously materializing from thin air. Not wanting to be covered by the surreal, occult regurgitation, he waits to drop. But not for long.

High above, a primitive, stone blade cuts their rope and Arthfael, Biblo, Kiri and Mako fall into the chamber of scarabs! (-5hp) The stench of feces is kneebuckling, and the shite-stained, stone floor is alive with giant, glimmering scarabs!



Fortunately, they are as surprised as the adventurers.


Actions?






Due west, in a secret shrine, a mirage of two all seeing eyes appear in the luminous waters of a holy font, and the sacred oracle of Osorus pronounces in speech like indelible flames:

"SPEAK PETITIONER AND HAVE THY SAY,
THAT I MAY ANSWER YEA OR NAY."




The omniscient intelligence illuminates the lost explorers of the Great Pyramid with transcendent prophecies of vision and divination.





Garrin the Atlantean-blooded paladin speaks first: "Other than human flesh, is there food within this pyramid capable of sustaining human life?"

"AYE."

Roan, son of Rune, barbarian of northern Vanaheim asks: "Is the water in this font poisonous?"

"NAY."

Gronda the Zembabwean savage asks: "Are there other entrances or exits to this massive structure other than the hatch in the roof that we just entered?"
Before she can ask her second question, the prophecy is given:

"AYE."

Attila the Hyrkanean barbarian nomad asks: "Do any sentient people live in this pyramid..."
Before he can ask a second question, the oracle speaks:

"AYE."

Loche the Pict thief picks up Roan's spare torch and asks from a distance: "Are oor friends trying tae find us?"

"AYE."

Attila and Gronda find a secret handhold in the northern wall. They are about to pull the concealed door open when the disembodied voice of the oracle speaks again:

"THINE ANSWERS HATH BEEN SHOWN,
NOW YE ARE OSORUS' OWN."

Suddenly, a small, white, strangely shaped blemish appears on the back of the right hand of every living soul in the hidden shrine. The explorers have seen this symbol before, among the hieroglyphs of the ancients:




Actions?


Map:

Pyramid Tier 2.9.jpg (444.53 KiB) Viewed 1748 times

One square = 10 feet.


Rolls and Rulings:

Falling damage: [1d6] = 5
Party surprises scarabs? (1-2): [1d6] = 1 Scarabs are surprised.

Status:

• Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 2: AC 6, HP 7/12, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl and 2/3 2nd lvl
  Attila: Hyrkanean Nomad Barbarian 1: AC 1, HP 8/12
  Biblo Phyle: Zamoran Southman Cleric/Fighter/Magic-User 1/1/1: AC 3, HP 2/7, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl, Candle
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 1: AC 5, HP 8/11, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Gronda: Zembabweian Savage Ranger/Thief 1/2: AC 7, HP 3/17
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: AC 4, HP 2/7, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: AC 5, HP 15/18, Torch
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: AC: 7, HP: 1/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl
  Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 1: AC 4, HP 4/12, Torch

Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Garrin): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Garrin.
  Invisibility (Biblo): Ingested one dose of potion. Duration: unknown.

Resources:

• An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)
  Men of the Hyborian Age (races of men)
  The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
  Hieroglyphs (the story so far, in images)

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri finds himself suddenly contacting the bug room floor very heavily. He is quite hurt, and wishes very much he hadn't needed to use up his Feather Fall incantation on Mako, but doesn't waste time feeling sorry for himself. Seeing a magic user shaped depression in the dung surrounded by vomit, he scoops up Biblio, fearing he'll be incapacitated by further sickness, and runs for the door in the southwest corner to try to get inside, away from the not-quite-yet-disturbed beetles.

[Inferno]

Chub, please roll 1d6 to force open the door.

[ChubbyPixie]

I would love to try.
Open Doors (1-5) Open Locked, Barred or Magically Held (1-2): [1d6] = 4
(...please don't be barred...please don't be barred... )

[Zhym]

Arthfael stands up and brushes himself off. He speaks an apology to the beetles and tries to get out the door before the insects work themselves up into another frenzy.

[Starbeard]

Attila loses interest in opening the hidden door as soon as he hears that the water is not poisonous. He stoops his head and drinks well.

Then, noticing the symbol newly placed on his hand, he grimaces and tries scratching it off with his fingernails and teeth.