Chapter 19: Civilization's End

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc frees his sword of the encumbering flesh. He kicks once at the hands of the dying Pict as he clutches vainly at his escaping innards. Zahra, the Zingaran, and the Zamoran, he observes with grim satisfaction, are carving up the remaining savages in a more artful yet no less effective manner.

Foul words of magic fill the leaf-canopied forest corridor, and the barbarian wheels to observe the hands of Amethu the Verulian making arcane gestures in the direction the party had been moving before the trap was sprung.

"More of them!" he surmises, and he bolts back into the undergrowth. Half-crouched, the Cimmerian moves apace, unerringly, toward the new threat in the north, like a man-eating shark of the Black Coast!

[Bluetongue]

Grigor 'the Pict pincushion'

returns a volley of arrows at the charging savages, taking the one at the front of the advance (P8)

Grigor shortbow attacks [1d20+3]=15+3=18 [1d6]=2 [1d20+3]=18+3=21 [1d6]=3

[Urson]

Zahra
att [1d20+4]=6+4=10 Sword vs sm, med [1d8+5]=2+5=7

Her startlingly white skin and hair a drastic contrast to the Picts and their warpaint, Zahra engages (P2). Her warcry sounds oddly muffled outdoors, but she screams it in the Pict's face, nonetheless.

[Inferno]

The Pictish Frontier, Between Thunder River and Black River
Aquilonia, the World of Hyboria
Day One. Afternoon, 11th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







In the raw wilderness, the ambush reaps a cruel harvest.

Before Grigor and Amethu can react, more Pict arrows sink deep! (-5hp and -14hp respectively, from P5-8)



Amethu weaves sorcery to dominate the mind of a savage when suddenly the strength goes out of him and the ground rises up and strikes him like a club!

All of a sudden two more arrows appear, blossoming from a Pict's chest in a flare of crimson, late of Grigor's bow! (P8)

In the middle of the battlefield, off the trail, Kiri hovers in mid air instead of plummeting to his death! For his second miracle, he utters forbidden words from the distant East and suddenly scrabbles up the sheer cliffside like a gigantic arachnid! He raises his head above the precipice and the gypsy's dog licks his face. The spirit of Grandfather is not amused.

Across the trail, sword still wet with blood, Cruloc backtracks through the deep green foliage, following the stony ridge toward the archers that struck down Amethu!

On the southern end of the deadly fray, Picts grip axes and long knives with murderous intent! (P1,P2)



They had sheathed their bows, useless at such deadly close quarters. Half crouching, snarling like wild beasts, barbarians of a thousand generations of barbarians, they lunge! Iago's flashing blade beats down the attack! But Zahra is too intent on dealing death to evade it. A fierce Pict sheathes his ax in her side! And his knife nearly cuts her white throat from ear to ear! (9hp damage)

Zahra is staggered. Her enemy ducks beneath the arc of her legendary blade and, as he rises up, another blade-point suddenly bursts from his gut! Stealthy Dahinna stands behind him, her shortsword plunged to the hilt in his back! The Pict falls dead. (P2)



Close-by, there's a gleam of steel as Iago whirls his sword and a headless body slumps down before him, spurting blood! (P1) Furious black eyes glare up at the Zingaran pirate with no dimming of their feral light, the lips writhe dreadfully, and the hands grope as if searching for the severed head.


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 20 feet. X = Dead or Unconscious.

Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=3, Monsters: [1d6]=5 Monsters win.
Arrows at Grigor: [1d20]=16, [1d20]=8, [1d20]=7, [1d20]=2 One hits.
Arrows at Amethu: [1d20]=5, [1d20]=20, [1d20]=14, [1d20]=18 Three hit. Amethu's spell is disrupted because the Picts won Initiative.
Arrow damage to Grigor: [1d6]=5, and Amethu: [3d6]=14
P1 attacks Iago: [1d20]=3, [1d20-2]=13-2=11. Damage: [1d8]=4, [1d4]=4 Both attacks miss.
P2 attacks Zahra: [1d20]=16, [1d20-2]=19-2=17. Damage: [1d8]=7, [1d4]=2 Both attacks hit.

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: -5/14, Spells: 5/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 45/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 19/19
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 12/29, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 12/32
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 19/19, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 19/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 9/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

Spider Climb (Kiri): Duration: 2 rounds.

Player Resources:

The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
Mysteries Strange and Deadly (player clues and notes)
An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri will charge the line of picts to the north and hope for the best:

Attack with Trident +1, Claw of Chobek (THAC0:18): To Hit: [1d20+4]=8+4=12 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6+8]=3+8=11, vs. Lg: [3d4+7]=8+7=15 (+2 for charging?)

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Looses another volley of arrows at the northern pict group, aiming at P5.

Grigor shortbow attacks [1d20+3]=9+3=12 [1d6]=1 [1d20+3]=1+3=4 [1d6]=5

It seems fighting is not his forte. He sees Kiri rise up and Amethu fall and determines to call on his gods next round before Amethu pays them a visit.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra nods to her sword-sister Dahinna, then crouches and readies her bow. Changing weapons, so I assume she won't be able to attack.

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

Dahinna returns the nod to Zahra. "Are you alright?" she asks, wiping her blade on the dead Pict's hide armor. To Iago she then asks, "Zingaran, how do you fare? Do you need healing?"

If she gets no response, Dahinna hurries back through the side brush, moving as quickly and quietly as she can, back toward the northern line of Pict warriors; she hopes for another opportunity to wet "Dancer's" steel with Pict blood.

Hide in Shadows: [1d100]=60
Move Silently: [1d100]=84

[Paladin]

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

"If healing is offered, I will not refuse," Iago replies with a grin. He gestures to the copious blood seeping through his elegant clothing.

He sheathes his blades and, hugging the right side of the trail to avoid presenting a clear target, jogs back to his bow and two arrows to retrieve them, preparing himself to hurl death upon the newly-arrived Picts.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc erupts from the foliage, a snarling demon from Pictish nightmares!

"Dogs and sons of dogs!"

Attack w/ longsword [1d20+2]=9+2=11
Longsword vs. S/M opponent [1d8+3]=6+3=9

[hedgeknight]

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

"If healing is offered, I will not refuse," Iago replies with a grin. He gestures to the copious blood seeping through his elegant clothing.

He sheathes his blades and, hugging the right side of the trail to avoid presenting a clear target, jogs back to his bow and two arrows to retrieve them, preparing himself to hurl death upon the newly-arrived Picts.

If possible, Dahinna will retrieve a vial from her belt pouch and hand it to Iago as they hurry back toward the other Picts.
"Here, drink this. It will help your wounds...promise."

[Inferno]

The Pictish Frontier, Between Thunder River and Black River
Aquilonia, the World of Hyboria
Day One. Afternoon, 11th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







In a land untainted by Men or their quaint notions, the arrows of the Picts hunger for the adventurers' death.

Pierced mercilessly, Grigor's wounds betray his aim. At his feet, also riddled with shafts, Amethu lies motionless as his lifeblood drains away. (-1hp)

Blazing with helpless fury, black eyes watch Iago from a decapitated head...



...as the swashbuckler quaffs a healing draught proffered by Dahinna (+5hp) and races to his own bow and arrows.

He glances back to return the precious elixir but the little Zamoran thief is already gone, darting beneath the leafy growth, hoping for another unsporting strike at an unsuspecting enemy's back!

Suddenly, the tables turn and the fight becomes a slaughter.

Zahra looses two arrows with unerring aim. They instantly appear in a shaven skull and the savage is dead before he hits the ground! (P6)



With a primitive ferocity that rivals the Picts' own, Cruloc springs from cover and shears a surprised archer in twain in a crimson spectacle of horror! (P8)

Kiri charges the sundered line, trident in hand, and splits a painted head in a brutal splatter of brain and gore! (P7)

The last Pict standing (P5) abruptly turns and flees into the woods, never knowing how close he came to Dahinna's glimmering blade!

The primeval forest is silent again, as if none of this had ever happened.

Dead Picts lay broken all around and the adventurers recall that Aquilonian officials pay thirty silver a scalp.


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 20 feet. X = Dead or Unconscious.

Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=5, Monsters: [1d6]=3 Party wins.
Iago healing: [1d8]=5
Zahra arrows: [1d20]=17, [1d20]=16, damage: [1d6]=6, [1d6]=6 Dang! You're welcome!

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: -6/14, Spells: 5/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 45/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 19/19
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 12/29, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 17/32
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 19/19, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 19/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 9/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

None currently.

Player Resources:

The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
Mysteries Strange and Deadly (player clues and notes)
An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)

[Paladin]

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

The sun-browned Zingaran sneers contempt at the fleeing Pict's back. He spits in the man's direction and stashes his bow and arrows. "Dahinna...thank you." He returns her elixir with a nod. "I fear our comrade Amethu may need a healing touch."

Iago peers into the jungle to assure himself that no more Picts lie in wait, then draws his dagger. A hungry gleam burns in his eyes and he kneels beside the Pict he slew moments before. He grips the man's hair and pulls it back, then bends to the grisly task of removing his scalp.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Stepping to his right to avoid the arterial spray which paints the nearby fronds, Cruloc grins approval at Iago's enmity for the Picts.

"I like a good hater."

He hurries to the fallen Amethu, his steady - if not spooky - companion of the past months, and binds his grisly wounds.

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Breaks the shafts of arrows which protrude from his own body, bloodied streaks still staining his clothes. He sees his faithful hound limp out the undergrowth, an arrow also stuck in his hind.

Considering that at least both carry non fatal wounds he limps himself over the the fallen Amethu and as Cruloc ministers bindings he raises his holy symbol and muttering in an orthodox chant, invokes a healing prayer

Grigor invokes Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=3

"His wounds are deep and grievous. He can be stabilised and I will barter the grave for his soul again later unless some other medicine can be given now?" He crushes some of the feathers from the penetrating shafts and fix them in Amethu's fists. "A charm that he will overcome his foes." He leaves the body with the barbarian.

Seeing Iago claim a scalp from the warrior he slew is not something he would openly countenance. "These men were murderous savages but men nonetheless. We should not treat them as trophies to be vaunted. Stay your hand from such desecration. Take the Picts weapon as token instead." the cleric counsels the pirate.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra ignores Grigor's speech, taking whatever scalps she can. Alive, they would have tried to kill us. Dead, they are worth coin. Any scalps she takes will be hung from a low branch to drip dry before they are stored

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

"Hreh!" chuckles Cruloc. "The bitch will have her silver, gypsy priest."

[Paladin]

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

The Zingaran crouches wolf-like over his kill. He peels his lips back in a feral grin and completes his task, then loops the scalp over his belt. "I have a taste for Aquilonian silver, amigo." If anyone else neglects to take their reward, he will happily fall to the task and take their scalps, as well.

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

The Zamoran grimaces and spits a curse at the fleeing Pict, but then realizes other things are more important. She takes the healing vial back from Iago with a nod and a smile, and hurries to Amethu.
"Raise his head, Grigor, and let's pour some of this down his throat."

With help, she coaxes the remaining liquid in the vial into the unconscious magus.
Healing potion (2 doses): [2d8]=8

[Inferno]

Sorry Pixie. That's four days. Moving it along. I hope all is well.