Chapter 9: Abyss of the Xenomorphs

[Inferno]

Chapter 9: Abyss of the Xenomorphs

The Castle U.S.S. Enterprise
The Barren Wasteland, Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Five. Afternoon? March 29th, 912 CY









Deep within the inexplicable Castle U.S.S Enterprise, the newly reunited adventurers follow the memorized treasure map of the Gods' Eye...





...and enter the bottomless pit as they continue their holy quest to rescue the beatific Kirk and his crew!




Adrock and Ko-Nan carefully descend using the outcroppings and poles jutting from the iron walls of the cold dark shaft.

Connak, Fiefo, Malga, Maskelyn and Sheriff Yul employ the heavy, kaleidoscopic rope.

Far below, they see the light of Yul's lantern tied to the end. But before they reach the cord's 75 foot length, something stirs somewhere high above them in the darkness!



Suddenly, the multicolored rope is cut!


Actions?! (Connak, Maskelyn and Sheriff Yul: Please make an Ability Check vs Dex on 1d20 to grab onto something!)


Cut-Away View:

One square = 3 feet. Lighter areas are visible. Yul's lantern hangs below the bottom of image.


Behind the DM Screen:

Adrock: rope?(1) or outcroppings?(2): [1d2] = 2 Outcroppings.
Party surprised? (1-3): [1d6] = 2 Yes.

PC Status:

Connak: Cat-Man Fighter/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC: 6, HP: 19/19
Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 26/26
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 30/32
L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 9/9, Spells: 4/6 1st lvl, Lantern on back
Malga: Mok Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 32/32
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 14/14, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Sheriff Yul: Robot Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 38/38, Lantern on end of rope

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)

[redwarrior]

Connak, feeling a sudden tension on the line just before it goes limp growls deep in his throat as he lashes out with his claws, managing to catch hold of some assorted metallic pipes. Continuing to growl for a few more moments as the adrenaline courses through his system, he considers going up to confront whatever attempted to rob him of one of his nine lives.. After a moment's consideration, he decides he'd best stay with the group, most of whom probably can't climb as well as he can. Trusting to his reflexes and training in the thieve's guild, he starts climbing down, jumping from protrusion to protrusion where it looks mostly kind of safe. It's a little more work than he expected, but he works his way safely lower.

If any of his companions above look like they are going to fly by him on the way to the bottom, he will try to catch them.

DEX Check - Target 16 [1d20] = 3
Climb target = 87 [1d100] = 74

[Bluetongue]

Sheriff Yul

Feels the technicolour cord go limp as he abseils down the chamber, but he is not a puppet without strings. Baldly going where no man has gone before, the cyborg grabs a handrail and foothold.

Sheriff Yul Dex skill check vs 17 [1d20] = 2

I am still holding the cord in one hand so will attempt to tie off a belay hitch around some hook or handle. There must be about 40'ft of rope (and five characters) directly above me. He hopes that no falling characters knock him off his perch and if they still hold the loose rope, they don't splat into the floor if it is less than 40'ft below him.

[Urson]

Maskelyn
Maskelyn has been descending the rope slowly, chanting the Law of Murphy (an evil, spiteful aspect of Bugs).
THE PRIME AXIOM: In any field of scientific endeavor, anything that
can go wrong, will.

2. If the possibility exists of several things going wrong, the one that
will go wrong is the one that will do the most damage.
3. Everything will go wrong at one time.
3.1 That time is always when you least expect it.
4. If nothing can go wrong, something will.
5. Nothing is as easy as it looks.
6. Everything takes longer than you think.
7. Left to themselves, things always go from bad to worse.
8. Murphy always sides with the hidden flaw.
9. Given the most inappropriate time for something to go wrong, that's
when it will occur.

These are the Ways of Murphy- may he choose to ignore us.

He's gotten through this litany twice by the time the rope is cut. He scrambles for a projecting pipe-
(Dex 17) [1d20] = 19

[Inferno]

The Castle U.S.S. Enterprise
The Barren Wasteland, Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Five. Afternoon? March 29th, 912 CY








In the fathomless shaft, Connak, Fiefo, Malga, Maskelyn and Yul suddenly, sickeningly, find themselves weightless! Their prismatic lifeline has been cut and they plummet to certain death!

Connak, Fiefo and Yul manage to save themselves, desperately grabbing hold of outcroppings on the wall! The cat-man rogue nimbly snares Maskelyn as he falls past, saving him; holding the malformed gnome in one hand, and hanging on for dear life with the other!

But Malga the Mok plunges past them all to a horrible doom! The echoing cry from the shadows below isn't soon forgotten.

Sheriff Yul grips the heavy rope in one hand, struggling to tie it off, as Ko-Nan the barbarian scales the shaft wall, readying to meet whatever threat descends upon them from above!

He doesn't wait long. Out from the darkness looming over them, a gigantic horror emerges, deftly navigating the shaft walls! (XA)



An enormous albino mutation of the sleek black creatures that attacked Adrock, Fiefo, Ko-Nan and Maskelyn!

Dread memories surface unbidden.

Hideous remembrance triggers a startling revelation: the immense, terrifying predator is what results from an alien parasite-seed laid inside one of the strange gargantuan monsters from the wastes!

Colossal, cunning and fierce, the horrific hybrid above them beholds the confined adventurers, and roars with a bloodthirsty fury!


Actions?!


Cut-Away View:

One square = 3 feet. Lighter areas are visible. Yul's lantern hangs below the bottom of image.


Behind the DM Screen:

This round, Connak grabs hold of an outcropping, and catches Maskelyn. He doesn't get the chance to descend the wall yet.

Malga is too heavy for Connak, or anyone, to catch.

PC Status:

Connak: Cat-Man Fighter/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC: 6, HP: 19/19
Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 26/26
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 30/32
L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 9/9, Spells: 4/6 1st lvl, Lantern on back
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 14/14, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Sheriff Yul: Robot Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 38/38, Lantern on end of rope

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)

[Bluetongue]

Sheriff Yul

Watches as his comrade falls by him, unable to catch his flailing form. He looks up towards the new threat. Not familiar with the creature but sensing its predatory threat. He aims upwards with his weapon and triggers a bolt but the shaft plinks off the interior walls.

"We are disadvantaged against this creature in the confines of the shaft. We must descend and quickly."

He ties off the cord remnants and continues to abseil into the depths taking little leaps as he goes, hoping to spot any other shaft entry grates or maintenance access points.

Sheriff Yul. Handheld crossbow [1d20+3] = 6+3 = 9 damage [1d6+2] = 3+2 = 5

No med or long range modifiers adjusted in roll.

[Urson]

Maskelyn
Thanks for the hand, Doc! Maskelyn scrambles for a good handhold. Once he finds one: May Bugs never decide to prank you. His voice quavers as he blesses Connak.

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan glares at the giant alien monster and shouts a defiant, "CROM!" He will continue to climb down as fast as he can manage - using his surefooted climbing skills honed from a life in the Mines of this homeland.

[wolfpack]

LL doesn't hesitate and climbs down as fast as he can.

don't give me no line and keep your hands to yourself

[Inferno]

The Castle U.S.S. Enterprise
The Barren Wasteland, Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Five. Afternoon? March 29th, 912 CY








The gigantic, horrific hybrid descends upon the adventurers, navigating the iron pit with chilling ease and familiarity!

Plunging frantically down the endless shaft, the fleeing heroes realize with dread that the pale, monstrous crossbreed is gaining on them! Closer! It will catch them before they can reach the bottom!

How do they wish to face their doom?!


Actions?!


Cut-Away View:

One square = 3 feet. Lighter areas are visible.





PC Status:

Connak: Cat-Man Fighter/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC: 6, HP: 19/19
Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 26/26
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 30/32
L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 9/9, Spells: 4/6 1st lvl, Lantern on back
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 14/14, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Sheriff Yul: Robot Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 38/38

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)

[Bluetongue]

Sheriff Yul

"We corral the beast in a ring of steel.
Comrades take to the walls either side of me. We can outflank the creature as our advantage."

He rues that we have no combined lance or spears to keep the creature beyond reach as we form a porcupine of sharp blades. So to melee!

The lawman directs folk to take a stand in the midst of the chamber and he draws his peacekeeping blade. As the creature approaches he swings a powerful hack at its head.


Sheriff Yul melee [1d20] = 9 [1d12] = 11

[Urson]

Maskelyn
Maskelyn shudders as he looks up the shaft, seeing the horror headed their way. He grabs something from a fold in his clothes and shouts
Murus ignis! Phantasmal force
His spell should create an illusory wall of fire between the group and the Big Bad.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Oh great, certain death. Again. I should have known," says Fiefo the rat-man. He'll forgo the rope and leap to attempt to slide down the vertical piping in the shaft (like a modern day fireman's pole).

Dex Check (17): [1d20] = 2

On the way down past the space cowboy (assuming he doesn't plummet) he adds "They got acid for blood, champ. Stab that thing and we all die. Why listen to me, though? No one ever doooooes..." his voice growing fainter as he disappears down the shaft...

I'm back! Um... hello? where is everyone? This place is more brutal than I thought.

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan stands to fight! He roars, "feel the taste of my steel and DIE!"

Attack: THACO (20): [1d20+2] = 16+2 = 18 / Damage: (S/M: [2d4+3] = 5+3 = 8 / L: [3d4+3] = 6+3 = 9)

[Inferno]

The Castle U.S.S. Enterprise
The Barren Wasteland, Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Five. Afternoon? March 29th, 912 CY









The immense pale horror plummets closer!




Closer!

Just before it can seize the fleeing heroes, Maskelyn suddenly conjures a wall of fraudulent flames!



The gigantic terror stops and roars in rage from above the silent inferno!

Fiefo slides down! Yul stops his descent, makes a stand and draws steel!

Ko-Nan's merciless ax hacks through the writhing veil of fire, wounding the monstrous thing! Burning blood sprays down upon the adventurers!



(Everyone except Maskelyn, please make an Ability Check vs Dex on 1d20 to evade 5hp damage! The PC nearest the hybrid alien, who fails the roll, is damaged. If Maskelyn chooses to end his spell, he may roll the Ability Check.)


Actions?!


Cut-Away View:

One square = 3 feet. Lighter areas are visible.


Behind the DM Screen:

Yul's attack, as written, was conditional upon the monster's approach. The monster's halt prevents Yul from attacking.

PC Status:

Connak: Cat-Man Fighter/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC: 6, HP: 19/19
Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 26/26
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 30/32
L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 9/9, Spells: 4/6 1st lvl, Lantern on back
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 14/14, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Sheriff Yul: Robot Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 38/38

PC Magic:

Phantasmal Force (Maskelyn)

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)

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan roars as his axe bites deep! The spray of acid blood misses him and he cleaves the vile alien beast once more! "Die Filth!"

Attack: THACO (20): [1d20+2] = 17+2 = 19 / Damage: (S/M: [2d4+3] = 3+3 = 6 / L: [3d4+3] = 9+3 = 12)

Dex (14) [1d20] = 7

[Urson]

Maskelyn
The gnome grits his crooked teeth and maintains the spell.

[Bluetongue]

Sheriff Yul

Waits for the beast but its descending charge is halted temporarily by the illusory flames. He dodges a gout of acidic blood. Climbing back up the shaft, 10'ft, he takes aim with his crossbow and fires through the flickering tongues at the thrashing horror.

Sheriff Yul: Acid splash Dex skill check vs 17 [1d20] = 13

Sheriff Yul. Handheld crossbow [1d20+3] = 7+3 = 10 damage [1d6+2] = 6+2 = 8

[redwarrior]

Connak quickly shifts out of the path of the acidic blood by sheer instinct. Again, by sheer reflex, he strikes out, hitting only empty air. Unless this thing has a really bad AC

Dex Save (target 16) [1d20] = 2
Attack with scimitar THACO 19 [1d20+3] = 8+3 = 11 Damage [1d8+4] = 3+4 = 7

[wolfpack]

I am currently unable to roll, please roll for me

Ll continues to descend as fats as he can