Chapter 21: The Caverns of Thracia

[Inferno]

Beneath the Forbidden City of the Dead, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Nine. Morning. 19th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







"Death!" roar the warriors from the darkness!

The adventurers on the rope bridge neither attack nor retreat and more merciless spears rain down upon them, sowing havoc among their number! (3hp, 1hp and 1hp damage to Dahinna, Grigor and Iago)



All is quiet on their rear flank where Cruloc the barbarian can hear the harrowing sounds of battle!

Zahra launches a flaming javelin east. The fiery missile briefly illuminates three fierce spearmen before it plummets into the fathomless depths below!

By the power of the gods, Grigor tries to drive off their murderous enemies, to no avail!

Like the monstrous spiders that descended upon them in the accursed temple above...




...Kiri Khutan scuttles eerily along the underside of the groaning bridge! With a word of command, the torch borne by the ghost of his ancestor follows above, revealing the eastern spearmen clearly!




The rope bridge leads east to a third tunnel in the cliffs that face out onto the bottomless chasm. The rock wall prevents Kiri from advancing behind his foemen!

In the southern tunnel, Amethu tries to cast a hex upon the first warrior (T1). The Verulian sorcerer-priest labors to exert his will over him with ancient spells of beguilement!



He can see the helmet of his enemy, but with four besieged adventurers between them, Amethu cannot tell if his enchantment worked, nor whether he can even be seen or heard through the savage fray!


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible, all else is from memory.

Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=3, Monsters: [1d6]=4 Monsters win.
Does Zahra's blind throw hit anything? [1d20]=2 No.
2 Spearmen from North must Save vs Spells to attack Grigor: [1d20]=11, [1d20]=18 T2 succeeds. T1 cannot arc spear at another target, due to tunnel roof.
From north: One spear at Grigor: [1d20]=15, damage: [1d6]=1 Hits for 1hp damage.
From east: One spear at Dahinna, two at Iago: [1d20]=18, [1d20]=14, [1d20]=8, damage: [1d6]=3, [1d6]=1, [1d6]=2 One spear hits each of them.

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 15/15, Spells: 6/7 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 44/45, Torch
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 13/19
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 20/29, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 27/32
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 21/21, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl, Torch
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 26/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 5/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 69 rounds.
Spider Climb (Kiri): Duration: 3 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)

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Hacks with his scimitar at the front rank of men attacking him on the bridge. Gnasher barks but can do nothing but dodge the missiles.

Grigor scimitar+2 in melee [1d20+2]=15+2=17 damage [1d8+2]=2+2=4

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

"Aiiiieee!" screams the rogue and, doing what she has done all her life to stay alive, she runs back toward Zahra and Amethu.

[Paladin]

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

The feeling of being caged like an animal while spears rain down finally snaps Iago. "You rutting bastards!" He growls savagely and charges toward the guards to the east.

[1d20+3]=10+3=13, [1d8]=5, [1d20+2]=1+2=3, [1d4]=1

[ravenn4544]

Amethu's spell has been cast but now to test it. Calling out to the target of his charm, "Might Warrior! We are but travelers in this ancient land. Help see us safely across. Protect us from harm as we make our way over!"

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc moves forward to the edge of the bridge, assesses its soundness, and pauses.

He readies his bow and fires two ineffective arrows at a Thracian spearman!
Attack w/short bow [1d20]=3
Attack w/short bow [1d20]=8

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri will attempt to grab the leg of the first warrior above him and yank him bodily through the supports and off the bridge, purposing to cast him into the void.

Not sure what roll is needed here:
Leg grabbing attack: [1d20+3]=7+3=10 I just added his strength "to hit" bonus.

STR Check (18/00): [1d20]=7

[Bluetongue]

Looking at the pic, I realise if I stay still I am a standing target, so I will advance to attack T1 in melee rather than wait for him to come to me. Charge to cover the distance if necessary.

Gnasher will follow to bite the warriors ankles.

[Inferno]

Beneath the Forbidden City of the Dead, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Nine. Morning. 19th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







"DEATH!" chant the warriors of the Underworld with a nihilistic fervor!

"Aiiiieee!" screams Dahinna as she flees back to the safety of the tunnel!

Cruloc stalks past her and, with a bow hewn from Cimmerian elm, fires two whistling arrows that shatter against the iron shields of the Thracian spearmen to the east! And then suddenly Iago is upon them, dagger flashing and sabre slicing open a neck! (T3)



Beneath the gleaming arc of Iago's dazzling steel, a mighty hand reaches up from below the slats of the groaning bridge and claims an enemy's ankle in a vise-like grip! Then Kiri pulls him through the rope railing and casts him down into the bottomless abyss! (T3)

Keeping out of Kiri's reach, the two eastern spearmen (T4, T5) launch the last of their missiles at the gigantic human spider! One spear sinks deep into a wooden bridge-slat! The other into Kiri's grasping hand! (3hp damage!)

Unwilling to lose more javelins to the pit below, Zahra the amazon unsheathes the fabled Sword of Xuthalhotep and advances to the platform's crossroad, tensed to lunge in wherever she is needed most!

Meanwhile, behind her...



...wielding subtle magicks that can bend the will of mortal men, Amethu the sorcerer-priest beguiles the spearman to the north (T1) with honeyed words spoken in Ancient Atlantean.

Before the mesmerized Thracian can reply, Grigor charges through the onslaught of spears, into the smooth-walled tunnel, and carves a gash across his ribs with a curving blade!

Instinctively, the fearless warrior retaliates! His sword rings from its scabbard and stabs at Grigor's gut (4hp damage!) as Gnasher bites and rends his ankle!


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible, all else is from memory.

Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=2, Monsters: [1d6]=1 Party wins.
T1 Save vs Amethu's Spell: [1d20]=4 Fails.
Because of Iago's attack, T3 is automatically Surprised by Kiri.
Kiri's target gets a Dex save: [1d20]=20 Fails.
Gnasher charges T1: [1d20+2]=11+2=13, damage: [1d4]=4 Hits!
T4, T5 attack Kiri: [1d20]=6, [1d20]=11, damage: [1d6]=2, [1d6]=3 One hits for 3 damage.
T1 attacks Grigor: [1d20]=19, damage: [1d8+1]=3+1=4 Hits for 4hp damage.

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 15/15, Spells: 6/7 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 44/45, Torch
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 13/19
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 20/29, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 27/32
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 18/21, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl, Torch
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 26/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 5/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 68 rounds.
Spider Climb (Kiri): Duration: 2 rounds
Charm Person (Amethu): Target: T1

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

The Gypsy curses the warriors who have an intent to attack us unprovoked.

"We could have talked this through. Parlayed, traded? Instead we trade blood and guts?" Forced to press his attack, he continues in the melee with T1.

Grigor scimitar+2 in melee [1d20+2]=15+2=17 damage [1d8+2]=5+2=7

[Paladin]

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

When his current opponent is snatched off the bridge, Iago pushes ahead to attack the next spearman.

[1d20+1]=2+1=3, [1d8]=3, [1d20]=7, [1d4]=1

He growls his frustration and slashes wildly.

[ChubbyPixie]

If he can do so without danger of accidentally skewering Iago, Kiri will remove his trident from his back and stab through the supports, aiming for the closest warrior. If his attack will be obscured by his companion, he'll instead skitter up over the side, then attack.

Attack with Trident +1, Claw of Chobek (THAC0:18): To Hit: [1d20+4]=20+4=24 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6+8]=5+8=13, vs. Lg: [3d4+7]=7+7=14

"You're doing well, Grandfather!" he shouts to the hovering torch.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu hopes his spell made some difference in the battle. His options are limited and he stands guard at the rear.

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

Terrified and bleeding, the Zamoran rogue cowers behind powerful Amethu for several heartbeats...until she finally grits her teeth and steps back in front of him, holding her sword.
"Mother Mitra! Protect your children from the evils of darkness!" she whispers, over and over into the cavernous depths.

[Inferno]

Beneath the Forbidden City of the Dead, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Nine. Morning. 19th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







Now comes the business of killing.

Grigor and Gnasher press the attack against a Thracian that hungers for their death (T1) and the gypsy's scimitar nearly disembowels the man in a gruesome vomit of crimson!



The warrior fights through the pain but his straight sword slashes only air. He steps back ten feet and Grigor sees the tunnel widens and other men await with swords bared! Gnasher readies to spring!

As Dahinna prays to Mitra, and Amethu guards the rear, Cruloc and Zahra rush to battle!

On the eastern spur of the rope bridge, murderous Thracians draw swords as their reinforcements start to arrive! Iago's sabre and dagger meet a Thracian blade in a crash of steel on steel! (T4)

Ahead, Kiri scuttles up spider-like from beneath the suspended platform and drives his trident into a broad chest! (T5) There is the sickening sound of cracking ribs. Blood spurts forth, and fills the Thracian's mouth. He smiles bright red and stabs at Kiri's face, missing only by inches!


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible, all else is from memory.

Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=6, Monsters: [1d6]=4 Party wins.
Gnasher attacks T1: [1d20]=1, damage: [1d4]=4 Misses. No fumbles in this game.
T1 attacks Grigor: [1d20]=4, damage: [1d8+1]=5+1=6 Misses.
T4, T5 attack Iago and Kiri: [1d20]=7, [1d20]=2, damage: [1d8+1]=4+1=5, [1d8+1]=3+1=4 Both miss!

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 15/15, Spells: 6/7 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 44/45, Torch
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 13/19
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 20/29, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 27/32
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 18/21, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl, Torch
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 26/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 5/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 67 rounds.
Spider Climb (Kiri): Duration: 1 round.
Charm Person (Amethu): Target: T1.

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)

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

"We must scatter them!" the barbarian growls at Grigor. "Get behind me, you and your hound!"

Cruloc lights a flask of oil with his torch and hurls it dead centre into the phalanx of Thracians, roasting their flesh!
Flaming oil [1d20]=20
Oil direct hit [2d6]=9, splash hit [1d3]=2

"Dahinna! Amethu! One of you come and be the torchbearer!"

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

Swallowing her fear and wanting to help her companions, Dahinna responds to Cruloc's summons by dashing across the bridge as fast, and as safely, as she can. "I'm here, Cimmerian! Give me the torch and do what you do best!"

[ravenn4544]

Amethu, their rear seemingly secure, will advance also with a spell coming to the ready. He needs to move closer for it to have any chance of working.

[Paladin]

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

"You're harder to poke than the landlord's daughter," Iago mutters. "And she had good reason to avoid me! Her husband would've killed us both. Stand still, you boney whelp." He presses his attack with sword and dagger even as the insults leave his lips.

[1d20+1]=11+1=12, [1d8]=4, [1d20]=12, [1d4]=2

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Not wanting to face a spear and shield wall, he takes Cruloc's advice, allowing the barbarian to pass him as he throws the oil.

With no melee unless he wants to immolate, he sheaths his scimitar and unshoulders his bow. Nocking fresh arrows (Pict ones in fletched style), he looses a volley in the Thracians that stay on the other side of the flaming oil.

Grigor shortbow attacks [1d20+3]=14+3=17 [1d6]=4 [1d20+3]=10+3=13 [1d6]=4

"now, remember our painful lessons, no during into melee!"