Chapter 20: The Forbidden City

[ravenn4544]

Amehtu expends some healing power prior to resting for the evening...

Zahura -> Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=4

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra nods her thanks to Amenthu, then busies herself with laying out her bedroll and examining her blade.
She'll spend her watch sharpening and cleaning her weapons.

[Inferno]

The Temple Ruins, the Dead City of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Eight. Nightfall. 18th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia
Partly cloudy, cool




Light returns to Thracia for the first time in centuries untold.




In the ruins of a civilization destroyed by the gods for its hubris, the explorers learn not the lessons of the ancients.




"If these gods had any power, they'd have prevented the desecration of their holy places, yes?" smiles Iago as the adventurers violate the sanctity of a sacred temple, rubbing salt in the open wound of its defilement. There, they brush back the cobwebs and succumb to exhaustion.

It is the witching hour when Amethu is plagued by nightmares of ominous portent.



His subliminal mind spinning with the murals of lost antiquity, he dreams of ancient Atlantis:

A talented mortal named Arachne challenges Athena, Atlantean goddess of wisdom, craft and war, to a weaving contest. When Athena can find no flaws in Arachne's tapestry, the goddess becomes enraged and transforms Arachne into a spider for presuming to place herself on a level equal with the gods.



The adventurers sleep among the ghosts of those gods. In the lonely hours before dawn, Grigor and his faithful hound stand watch.

In the shadows high above them crawls the shape of fear!



Three gigantic horrors descend on webbing, silent and unseen; the very symbols of hubris seemingly sent to exact revenge against the explorers' prideful transgressions!

Unsuspecting Gnasher is stung by a frightful, gargantuan arachnid (7hp damage!) and injected with a burning venom! (Save vs Poison to act!)

Two more immense spiders catch Grigor unawares but the gypsy's luck saves his life! Neither of the hideous monsters' spear-like stingers can pierce his armor!


Actions, Grigor and Gnasher only!


Map:

Spiders 1 and 2 are above Grigor. One square = 10 feet

Behind the DM Screen:

Which watch? [1d4]=4 4th watch.
Which dreamer? (in night watch order): [1d6]=1 Amethu.
Party surprised? [1d6]=1 Yes.
S2 and S3 attack Grigor and Gnasher: [1d20]=4, [1d20]=19 Gnasher is stung.
S1 attacks Grigor: [1d20]=2 Miss!
S3 damage to Gnasher: [2d4]=7

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 13/14, Spells: 4/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 41/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 15/19
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 29/29, Spells: 1/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 28/32
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 18/19, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 24/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 4/11, 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)

[Inferno]

The Temple Ruins, the Dead City of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Nine. Before Dawn. 19th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia
Partly cloudy, cool








Trespassers sleep among the desecrated pantheon within the temple ruins at Thracia.

Seemingly, a curse from the gods is sent to punish their folly.




The spider is the ancient Atlantean symbol for hubris. Gigantic, monstrous arachnids descend upon them, catching them unawares!

Gnasher the hound is poisoned and falls lifeless to the temple floor with a whimper! Grigor sounds the alarm, desperately rousing his companions to wakefulness!


Actions?!


Map:

Spiders 1 and 2 are above Grigor. One square = 10 feet





PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 13/14, Spells: 4/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 41/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 15/19
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 29/29, Spells: 1/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 28/32
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 18/19, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 24/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 4/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4, Poisoned

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)

[ravenn4544]

Amethu is awoken from his dreams to face a nightmare!

To Hit (THACO 20): [1d20+2]=16+2=18
Staff of Uthoth - Damage: = S/M/L: [1d6+2]=1+2=3

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

The rogue jerks awake at Amethu's shout and recoils in horror at the giant arachnids hoping to get an easy breakfast. Pulling her last three darts, she hurls them at #3...
Darts attack: [1d20+3]=2+3=5 [1d20+3]=3+3=6 [1d20+3]=14+3=17
Dart damage S/M & L: [1d3]=1 [1d2]=1

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Barks a warning as his faithful hound crumbles to the floor, poisoned by the arachnid. He waves his blade at the nearest but with little effect.

Grigor: saves vs Poison 10 [1d20]=1 (Gnasher fails save).

Grigor scimitar+2 in melee [1d20+2]=1+2=3 damage [1d8+2]=8+2=10

apologises I misread the text and thought Grigor not the dog was injured.

[Paladin]

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

The Zingaran pirate startles awake, eyes wide at the murky image of enormous spiders descending upon them.

"I've gone to bed with spider-legged women before, but..." He shudders with revulsion and hurls both daggers at the spider Dahinna is attacking.

[1d20+3]=14+3=17, [1d4]=3, [1d20+3]=10+3=13, [1d4]=1

Iago scrambles away from the many-legged horror.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

In an instant, the barbarian is awake, alert, and on his feet, weapon in hand. Oceans of ale and years of debauchery in far-flung lands have not dulled his keen senses; he had heard the soft padding of the spiders, but not in time to save Gnasher.

Cruloc lunges with speed that almost defies the eye, roaring a war cry and delivering a tremendous, two-handed slash of his longsword.

"Crom devour your heart!"

Attack w/ longsword [1d20+2]=15+2=17
Longsword vs. S/M opponent [1d8+3]=8+3=11, vs. L [1d12+3]=4+3=7



OoC: He advances 10' to stand to the east of Dahinna. He does not charge.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra jerks awake, rolling to her feet and grabbing a javelin. She blinks, unsure she's actually seeing gigantic spider-things. She uses the javelin like a spear, thrusting it into the side of (1).
att [1d20+4]=3+4=7 The angle is bad, and the point of the javelin slides across the creature's exoskeleton.

[Inferno]

The Temple Ruins, the Dead City of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Nine. Before Dawn. 19th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia
Partly cloudy, cool







While the gods watch, the sleepers awaken to harrowing, crawling things from darkest nightmare.




Gigantic, sinister terrors descend from the shadows onto their waking, scrambling prey! Before Grigor can act, he is ruthlessly impaled by a stinger the size of an Aquilonian lance! Burning poison floods his veins! (6 hp damage. Save vs Poison!)

Dahinna evades a venomous bite and Zahra's sword beats down another horrific stinger!

Iago clambers back in fear, hurtling two daggers that each cut deep into a monstrous hide! Primal revulsion sends a shudder down Dahinna's spine, marring her aim! Two darts fly wide and the third only grazes its loathsome target!

Kiri looses two arrows, one sinking to the feathers, as Grigor's scimitar and Zahra's javelin crash off thick chitin carapi!

Amethu drives his staff and puts out one of eight ghastly eyes!



And Cruloc swings his great sword in glittering arcs that makes naught of thick exoskeleton and hair-raising dread! Two colossal writhing limbs are hacked free in a spray of ichor but the fearsome creeping monstrosity still lives!


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet

Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=4, Monsters: [1d6]=6 Monsters win.
S1, S2, S3 attack Zahra, Grigor, Dahinna: [1d20]=9, [1d20]=13, [1d20]=2 Grigor is hit.
Damage to Grigor: [2d4]=6
Kiri: Attack with Short Bow (THAC0:18): To Hit: [1d20]=19 [1d20]=2, damage: [1d6]=2, [1d6]=5 One arrow hits for 2 damage.

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 13/14, Spells: 4/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 41/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 15/19
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 23/29, Spells: 1/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 28/32
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 18/19, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 24/29

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)

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Grigor: saves vs Poison 10 [1d20]=8

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

Trying to calm herself down, and failing, Dahinna screams like a little girl and draws steel, hacking wildly at this monstrous arachnid that is intent on having her for dinner! She stands her ground, even though she wants to run away screaming, and delivers a vicious strike!

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Moving to his left in an attempt to divide the loathsome creature's attention, the Cimmerian presses his advantage, reversing his blade to follow his first blow with a second intended to split his foe’s head to teeth.

Attack w/ longsword [1d20+2]=12+2=14
Longsword vs. S/M opponent [1d8+3]=8+3=11, vs. L [1d12+3]=2+3=5

[ravenn4544]

Amethu struggles to deliver another strike.

To Hit (THACO 20): [1d20+2]=2+2=4

[Paladin]

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

Iago will lunge around the column (to his left side, to avoid throwing himself at the other spiders) and stab at the monster again.

[1d20+2]=6+2=8, [1d8]=5

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra shouts defiance in the face of the spider, attacking again with her javelin.
att [1d20+4]=11+4=15 javelin [1d6+3]=2+3=5

[ChubbyPixie]

Forgoing his shield in his haste, Kiri grabs the first weapon that comes to hand, his strangely wrought, eastern two-handed sword and swings it in a vicious and irresistible arc at the nearest horror.

Attack with Two-Handed Sword (THAC0:18): To Hit: [1d20+3]=12+3=15 Damage vs. s/m: [1d10+6]=6+6=12, vs. Lg: [3d6+6]=13+6=19

[Inferno]

The Temple Ruins, the Dead City of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Nine. Before Dawn. 19th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia
Partly cloudy, cool






In the eerie temple ruins, Grigor succumbs to the insidious spider venom! Tatters of blackness fill his eyes and then, oblivion.

In alarm and desperation, the besieged party fight for their lives against the vast, crawling horrors!



Iago lunges into the deadly fray, his saber whistling over a ghastly limb! Before him, Dahinna screams and hacks her shortsword wildly, rending open a gruesome wound in one of the spine-tingling monstrosities! (S3) Beside her, Cruloc's sword is a blur of cold silver!



Suddenly, the great arachnid is decapitated! The writhing, headless body crumples down, spurting blood! (S3)

Nearby, Amethu's staff is beaten aside by an immense spider leg! At his side, Zahra drives her javelin deep with all her strength, impaling another horrendous inhuman eye! (of S1) Then mountainous Kiri unsheathes his greatsword and splits the macabre leviathan in twain!



The creeping terror is killed instantly but its many legs twitch and claw erratically for long minutes after.

The surviving spider flees (S2), ascending its web into the looming shadows above!

The gypsy and his faithful hound, who sounded the alarm and saved the sleeping party, lie lifeless on the temple floor!




Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet

Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=6, Monsters: [1d6]=4 Party wins.
S2 fails morale and flees. No PC was currently in melee with it, so no free opportunity attacks.

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 13/14, Spells: 4/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 41/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 15/19
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 28/32
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 18/19, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 24/29

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)

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra pants for breath, looking around her for more threats.