Chapter 4: Verulia in Darkness

[Zhym]

"No," objects Arthfael. "Move the hall. The animals will be no threat. We are now alpha. They know we are stronger. If you seek battle and want to hurt yourselves, do it without me."

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako examines the symbols more closely.
"I think I am beginning to understand how these symbols relate. Sarcophagus equals death which is opposite from Ankh life. A hawk will feed on serpent or hawk is of the air and serpents are of the ground. I would think Ibis a bird would go with cat. What cat doesn’t enjoy a bird? And All-seeing Eye to spear? Spear blinds eye?" He looks at the others inquisitively.

[hedgeknight]

Roan, Son of Rune

"Glad to see you back among the living, girl," Roan says to Gronda, giving her shoulder a companion-like squeeze. He clears his throat, then looks away.
To Mako, he says, "The way of the spear is my life. Let's choose that one."

[ChubbyPixie]

"No," objects Arthfael. "Move the hall. The animals will be no threat. We are now alpha. They know we are stronger. If you seek battle and want to hurt yourselves, do it without me."

"You will do as you wish, Arthfael. The rest of us will discuss what we will do as a group. Perhaps our paths will align. Or perhaps they will not and you will find yourself alone." says Kiri, his polite facade faltering for the first time since entering this crypt. "I see the sense in your plan Garrin. I have no desire to have these creatures at my back."

[tkrexx]

Atilla

Makes no difference, we can't catch the beasts if they flee.

[ChubbyPixie]

After an indecisive pause Kiri says "Who wants to look for the monkeys back down the Ankh path? Who wants to push another button? I'm fine either way, let's just all do the same thing. I vote moneys first, so I think that makes three so far for that. We have at least two who do not see the point and would rather push a button. What do the rest of you think?"

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

"The way of the spear, huh. Well lets see then Roan."
Mako presses the "The All seeing eye" and then "The Spear".

"Tie breaker!"

[Inferno]

The Revolving Corridor. Third Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Two. Midmorning. 14th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





In the ageless pathways of the ancients, the explorers of the Great Pyramid debate their options.

Mako of the distant East breaks the tie and presses the bronze hieroglyphic button of The All-Seeing Eye.

CLICK.

The monolithic stone doors of the wondrous revolving hallway begin to rumble shut and then Mako presses The Spear.

C-CLICK.

The cyclopean doors close, sealing the hallway, and the floor vibrates low and steady. The adventurers sway slightly. Moments later, the low roar ceases as both doors rumble open onto different corridors than before; corridors that both lead off into darkness.

The towering hallway of The Spear has walls adorned with a procession of lion-headed women marching into shadow.




The exalted passage of The Ibis is embellished with rows of servants dutifully bearing food and drink into the darkness.





All is deathly quiet.


Actions?!


Map:

Doors are open. Hall is not moving.





PC Status:

• Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 2: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 5/12, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl and 3/3 2nd lvl
  Attila: Hyrkanean Nomad Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 19/21
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 5, HP: 13/18, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Gronda: Zembabweian Savage Ranger/Thief 1/2: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 7/17
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 5/7, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 8/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: Move: 12", AC: 7, HP: 5/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, Light spell
  Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 15", AC: 4, HP: 18/23, Torch

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 (All): 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."
  Light (Mako): Duration: 62 rounds

PC 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)
  Men of the Hyborian Age (races of men)

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

"Well that wasn't so bad. No monkeys. Good call Roan."

[OGRE MAGE]

Gronda is finally starting to catch on to what is happening with the buttons and the different hallways. These types of things are very foreign and unfamiliar to the savage.

"There appears to be one more combination. We should push the final pairing to be sure we have fully mastered the hallways function." If nobody protests, she activates the Cat, and the All Seeing Eye buttons.

[SocraticLawyer]

Gronda is finally starting to catch on to what is happening with the buttons and the different hallways. These types of things are very foreign and unfamiliar to the savage.

"There appears to be one more combination. We should push the final pairing to be sure we have fully mastered the hallways function." If nobody protests, she activates the Cat, and the All Seeing Eye buttons.

Before Gronda pushes any more buttons, Garrin chimes in. "Perhaps we should explore these chambers before opening others. Spear first," he says, heading through the eastern door.

[hedgeknight]

Roan, Son of Rune

If Gronda presses a button...
"Damnation, woman! We just found a clear hall. Think we could have spied it out first?"

If Garrin is able to stop her...
Roan sighs in relief and presses forward with the others, not really caring whether they follow or not. He has a torch in one hand and a spear in the other, ready to throw. Sweat runs down his face and neck as he tries to control his breathing and not think about how far they are under ground and away from the open air.

[Zhym]

Arthfael protests against pressing another button. "Wonder if the hall with lion-headed women leads to the warrior women? Let's go west, with the food" he suggests.

[OGRE MAGE]

Gronda snaps her hand back from the bronze buttons, realizing her idea is less than favorable. Knowing her place, she gets herself ready and falls back in line when the others head down one of the halls.

[tkrexx]

Atilla keeps silent and stays ready to puncture any threatening thing with arrows.

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri, just happy to be doing something decisive, finally, works his way back to the middle of the group before pressing west down the spear hallway with the others."I can use magic to get back to the front, if needed," he explains to no one in particular.

[Inferno]

The Revolving Corridor. Third Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Two. Midmorning. 14th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia



The miraculous engines of the ancient architects cease and in the sudden silence, two shadow-filled corridors open up beyond the yawning maws of the twin stone doors.

Attila and Loche brace for an attack that doesn't come.

Arthfael of Cimmeria suggests they follow the imagery of sustenance, west toward The Ibis.

Garrin, son of Atlantis, steps over bloody baboon carcasses to move east in the path of The Spear. Roan the barbarian joins him with torch and spear. Gronda and Kiri follow behind them. They soon reach a titanic stone portal, carved with the majestic likeness of Sekhmet the ancient Verulian goddess. Hers is the head of a lioness, the fiercest hunter known to man.



The explorers of the Great Pyramid remember well the words of Ghorum of Osorus:

"The other cults of the Old Gods hast withdrawn into their own strongholds, as hast we...

"The Warrior Maidens of Sekhmet worship the goddess of war, fertility, healing, women and the sun. They art a female sect and doth harbor great mistrust for all men."


Actions?


Map:

The revolving corridor is motionless. Its door are open.





PC Status:

• Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 2: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 5/12, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl and 3/3 2nd lvl
  Attila: Hyrkanean Nomad Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 19/21
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 5, HP: 13/18, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Gronda: Zembabweian Savage Ranger/Thief 1/2: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 7/17
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 5/7, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 8/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: Move: 12", AC: 7, HP: 5/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, Light spell
  Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 15", AC: 4, HP: 18/23, Torch

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 (All): 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."
  Light (Mako): Duration: 61 rounds

PC 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)
  Men of the Hyborian Age (races of men)

[wordoftheoracle]

Loche, mildly relieved yet disappointed in the absence of an attack, peers into the darkness ahead.

Mibbie we shuid keep movin`. Ah dinnae wantae see whit beasties bide 'ere at nicht.

He urges the party on.
Do I have 8 or 18 HP?

[ChubbyPixie]

"Remember, if we meet any warrior women, I would advise politeness. Try not to spear anyone through the chest unprovoked. ...again." ( ) suggests Kiri. "Gronda, perhaps you should take the front in this endeavor? They'll take more kindly to you, I imagine."

[OGRE MAGE]

The badly battered woman just stares at the floor when it is suggested that she take point.

"Sure, why not? I have stayed pretty healthy in here so far."

To prove once again that she is a fearless savage, Gronda moves to the front of the group as instructed. She leads the men behind her up the few feet to the first door.

"Shall I just throw this door open as well, since I am the one leading the way now and the only woman present?"

She swallows her feelings for the moment and begins looking over the door for anything that might cause suspicion.