Chapter 5: Subterrane of the Cyborgs

[SpinwardMarch]

Tullia

She surveys the area, and asks Chaka, Should we chance crossing the water, and climb up the ladder? I don't see any other way to get to our friends. She wears boots, but is not sure what the fluid might do to them.

[OGRE MAGE]

Chaka nods vehemently at Tullia's suggestion.

"Tullia wait right here", is all the chivalric little hairball says.

The ape boy then moves back into the larger room so he can get a running start and quickly sprints back towards the open door again. Just before the water, he tries to leap the distance to the ladder.

Dex Check (16) [1d20] = 20 oh shit

[SpinwardMarch]

Tullia

She watches in amazement as Chaka launches himself towards the ladder. Wow, I didn't know you could do that! Now, all she needs is to get to the ladder herself. As a test, she will get a small piece of dried meat from her pack, stick it on her sword and poke it into the water. If the meat survives, so should her boots.

[Pulpatoon]

Garamond, perspex dome-head spinning from blood-loss, attempts to come to Fiefo's aid.

Drill Attack (THAC0 18): [1d20] = 6 Dmg: [1d6+1] = 1+1 = 2

[Inferno]

Beneath the Dead Wizard's Skyscraper
Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Three. Midday? March 27th, 912 CY







The luminous emerald parasite attached to Fiefo's chest keeps drinking the ratman's life away! (2hp damage) Lightheaded from blood loss, the vermin myrmidon slashes his crescent blade, shearing off one of its four shimmering wings, but the vampiric insectoid still lives!

Adrock binds Maskelyn's wounds to stop the gnome's bleeding. Garamond rushes to Fiefo's aid, causing the door beside him to open automatically onto the chamber of the dead cyborgs. Garamond drives his drill at the thing feasting upon the ratman's blood and misses!

Far below them, Tullia stabs a morsel of dried meat from her rations and lowers it into the water as a test. Nothing untoward befalls the impaled piece of salted pork.

Beside her, Chaka takes a running leap for the iron ladder and mistimes his jump. He crashes into the enormous glass pipe in the center of the chamber (1 hp damage) and cracks it! Glowing green liquid sprays from the crack, dousing the young ape boy and his torch as he sprawls in the puddle on the chamber floor! (Save vs Poison or take 6hp damage)

(Next round...)

Fiefo nearly swoons as the ravenous chiropteran affixed to him continues to quench its insatiable thirst! (1hp damage)


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet. X = Dead or unconscious. Lit areas are visible. All else is from memory.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 3, Monsters: [1d6] = 4 Monsters win.
S2 drinks Fiefo's blood: [1d4] = 2, Effect? (1): [1d6] = 6 2hp damage. No effect.
Chaka's Dex fail causes a problem? (50%): [1d100] = 36
Chaka effect? [1d6] = 3
Chaka potential damage: [1d6] = 6
Next round...
Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 2, Monsters: [1d6] = 3 Monsters win.
S2 drinks Fiefo's blood: [1d4] = 1, Effect? (1): [1d6] = 6 1 more hp damage. No effect.
PCs turn for this round is next...

PC Status:

• Chaka: Ape-Boy Thief 3: Move: 12"(6"), AC: 6, HP: 2/17
  Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 3/20
  Garamond Antiqua: Cyborg 2: Move: 12", AC: 8, HP: 5/20
  Jeojand: Cat-Man Magic-User 2: Move: 6", AC: 7, HP: -4/10, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl
  Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: -4/32
  L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 3/8, Spells: 0/5 1st lvl
  Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 2: Move: 9", AC: 8, HP: -3/10, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl
  Tullia Galena: Half-Elf Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 16/24

PC Magic:

• None currently.

Player Resources:

• End of the World (game description)
  Strange New World (maps and realms)
  Memory Tapes (the story so far)
  Viewscreen (the story so far in images)

[ChubbyPixie]

Fiefo suddenly goes a paler shade of mange. “ A little... help here...” he says, weakly as he flails wildly now at the blood-sucking vermin with his scimitar:
Attack with Scimitar (THAC0 19): To Hit: [1d20] = 16 Damage, s/M/L: [1d8] = 5

[SpinwardMarch]

Tullia

She watches as Chaka misses the ladder and hits the glass column. Oh, no!

Noticing the experiment with the meat shows no damage, she will carefully walk to the ladder. Once there, she is going to figure out how to rescue Chaka without touching the green goo. Perhaps something in her pack will work... maybe that towel...? At any rate, Chaka is not doing so well.


Always know where your towel is. H2G2

[wolfpack]

LL moves to bind the wounds of the rest of the fallen

[OGRE MAGE]

Chaka immediately regrets his decision to try keeping his fur dry. He slips into unconsciousness as the toxic slime covers him.

Save vs. Poison (13) [1d20] = 10

[Pulpatoon]

Garamond continues to flail around, trying desperately to drill the horrible flapping monster.

Drill Attack (THAC0 18): [1d20] = 10 Dmg: [1d6+1] = 5+1 = 6

[Inferno]

Beneath the Dead Wizard's Skyscraper
Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Three. Midday? March 27th, 912 CY







Emerald blood splatters everywhere as Fiefo Le Bratt and Garamond Antiqua dismember the last of the luminous insect-bat scourge. And suddenly the battle is over.

Adrock binds Ko-Nan's wounds. Then the healer moves to aid Jeojand and discovers the catman sorcerer has perished from blood loss.

Through the grid of the iron catwalk, the adventurers see that Chaka and Tullia have rejoined them below. Chaka is injured and Tullia readies a length of cloth to drag him away from the glowing green liquid spraying from the crack in the central glass column.

The halfelven ranger sees the unconscious young ape boy is somehow changing... mutating! Chaka remains unconscious throughout the startling transformation but when it is done, his physique seems more hardy, and his skin and hair have taken on a greenish cast! (Lose 1 point of CHA and gain 1 point of CON which adds 3 to his hit point total.)





Actions?!



Map:

Chaka and Tullia are on the lower level. All others are on the upper catwalk.
One square = 10 feet. X = Dead or unconscious. Lit areas are visible. All else is from memory.





PC Status:

• Chaka: Ape-Boy Thief 3: Move: 12"(6"), AC: 6, HP: -1/20
  Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 3/20
  Garamond Antiqua: Cyborg 2: Move: 12", AC: 8, HP: 5/20
  Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: -4/32
  L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 3/8, Spells: 0/5 1st lvl
  Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 2: Move: 9", AC: 8, HP: -3/10, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl
  Tullia Galena: Half-Elf Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 16/24

PC Magic:

• None currently.

Player Resources:

• End of the World (game description)
  Strange New World (maps and realms)
  Memory Tapes (the story so far)
  Viewscreen (the story so far in images)

[wolfpack]

With everyone bound LL slumps against a wall and slides down.

I will go no further until I rest and regain my spells.

We have lost another of our friends, this place has become a curse unto us.

I'm goin' down in a blaze of glory

Take me now but know the truth
I'm goin' down in a blaze of glory

Lord I never drew first
But I drew first blood
I'm no one's son
Call me young gun

[SpinwardMarch]

Tullia

Seeing the change the green goo has made to Chaka, Oh, dear. We need to get that stuff off of you.

She gets out a big cloth towel, uses it like a large glove to grab Chaka by one of his limbs, to drag him away from the glass tube. Then she wraps the cloth around him, to avoid getting slimed, and hoists him over her shoulder.

Hang in there, my friend, I will get you up the ladder. Tullia slowly and carefully climbs up the ladder.

[Pulpatoon]

Garamond weeps dramatic non-tears over Jeojand's body, despite not knowing the cat-man very well. "Alas, poor Geode! Brave, beautiful Geode! You will not be forgotten, my friend! I’ll know it is only your soul saying goodbye to your body, but your spirit will be with me always. When I see a bird chirping on a nearby branch, I will know it is you singing to me. When a butterfly brushes gently by me so free from care, I will know it is you assuring me you are free from pain. When the gentle fragrance of a flower catches my attention, I will know it is you reminding me to appreciate the simple things in life."

Standing up and wiping the goo and blood off it's pincer-grips, it switches emotional gears and says, "Where would be safest to rest?"

[ChubbyPixie]

Fiefo shuffles over to collect his fork, then slumps to a sitting position against the railing looking rather droopy. He glances over at Jeojand’s body and scowls. “It was just a matter of time, I guess. I told you we’re all going to die. I’ll probably be next,” he says and coughs.

[Urson]

Maskelyn
Still unconcious, the Gnome mutters and scowls.

[wolfpack]

I don't plan to go any further than here, this room should do.

[Inferno]

Beneath the Dead Wizard's Skyscraper
Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Three. Midday? March 27th, 912 CY







In the rank, deteriorated chamber, Tullia the range rescues Chaka from the sudden viridian fountain of transmogrification. She wipes the emerald ape-boy clean and hauls him up the iron ladder to join their companions on the catwalk balcony above.

There, she discovers that Jeojand is dead.

In mourning and exhaustion, Adrock and Fiefo slump to the grid floor. The sage-priest of ancient history is unwilling to go on. Having done all he could to stop the party's bleeding, Adrock insists he can do no more without rest. His magic power is spent.

Garamond also mourns the lost catman. The electric eulogizer elocutes with emotion, elegance and elan, and then quickly enquires where they can rest to recover their strength.


Actions?


Map:

All PCs are on the upper catwalk.
One square = 10 feet. X = Dead or unconscious. Lit areas are visible. All else is from memory.





PC Status:

• Chaka: Ape-Boy Thief 3: Move: 12"(6"), AC: 6, HP: -1/20
  Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 3/20
  Garamond Antiqua: Cyborg 2: Move: 12", AC: 8, HP: 5/20
  Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: -4/32
  L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 3/8, Spells: 0/5 1st lvl
  Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 2: Move: 9", AC: 8, HP: -3/10, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl
  Tullia Galena: Half-Elf Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 16/24

PC Magic:

• None currently.

Player Resources:

• End of the World (game description)
  Strange New World (maps and realms)
  Memory Tapes (the story so far)
  Viewscreen (the story so far in images)

[SpinwardMarch]

Tullia

She lays down Chaka, where he can recover. Poor Jeojand. May his spirit rest peacefully. Then she sits down on the floor of the catwalk, so she can rest.

[Pulpatoon]

Garamond sets itself down for a rest. "This metal grating is fine for me, but surely it is less comfortable for the delicate, peach-like flesh of you, my biological companions. Would it be too grisly to go back and rest among the defeated cyborgs?"