Chapter 21: The Caverns of Thracia

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc abandons his tactical plan and mutely watches Grigor push past to take the lot of them on by himself.

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Feels abandoned by his comrade.

[Paladin]

Iago Velazquez de Quesada

The Zingaran kicks the lifeless body of his former adversary over the edge, moving up to reinforce Kiri.

"Still want to talk?" he growls at the remaining Thracian.

[ChubbyPixie]

Seeing the remaining warrior unable to move and having had his fill of gutting defenseless opponents, Kiri calmly strips him of his weapons and ties his arms and ankles firmly in case the party should want to question him. Given their behavior so far, he doubts they'll get much, but it never hurts to try.

"Thank you, Grandfather. Your illumination efforts were instrumental and quite well executed, ensuring our victory on this side of the bridge," he says over his shoulder as he works, addressing the empty space under the torch.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu continues to remain vigilant. He scans the party to get a sense of who is in need of the most healing for when he can safely reach them.

[Urson]

Zahra
IF Zahra can push past Iago, she will. Otherwise, she slaps his shoulder. Nice work. Now, press the advantage! Get to that man!

[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







On the eastern front, the battle becomes a slaughter. Iago casts a dead enemy down into the hungry abyss. (T4)

Zahra pushes past Iago with murderous intent. But Kiri mercifully binds the last ensorcelled enemy (T8), who is powerless to resist.



The gentle giant seizes the Thracian's spear, knife, shield and sword.

Kiri's torch, eerily borne aloft by the dead spirit of his revered ancestor, reveals a guardpost armory of spears (circular shape on map). The tunnel extends east toward another rope bridge!

Meanwhile at the northern front, the battle rages on!

Grigor shoulders his steppe bow and unsheathes his scimitar! "Come you dogs. Send your champion, we shall meet as one." Then he lunges past Cruloc, into the Thracian phalanx! Grigor's curving blade gashes a red line across the belly of the least injured of his two bloodthirsty foemen! (T2)

If the survivors of the dead city can understand the common tongue of the Hyborian Age, they give no sign. Thracian steel whispers from their scabbards!



Then both swords stab and hack the gypsy without chivalry or mercy! (5hp damage)


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet. X = Dead. B = Bound.

Map:


Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=4, Monsters: [1d6]=4 Tied!
T2, T6 attack Grigor with swords: [1d20]=20, [1d20]=18, damage: [1d8+1]=1+1=2, [1d8+1]=2+1=3 Both hit. 5hp damage total.

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 15/15, Spells: 6/7 1st lvl, 3/4 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 36/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 13/19, Torch
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 15/29, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 23/32
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 9/21, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
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: 63 rounds, Torch
Hold Person (Amethu): Target: T8. Duration: 4 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)

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc works on staunching the blood loss from the gaping wound in his hip.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra looks around the guardpost. Is there a way to barricade the path East?

[Paladin]

Iago Velazquez de Quesada

Iago moves back to the intersection of the two bridges and keeps a weather eye upon the way they came, lest enemies creep upon them from that direction, too.

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Growls mimicking Gnasher and hits out at the opponent he injured before.

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

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

Do something before they kill him! the rogue hollers, worried about Grigor.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu continues to wait as patiently as possible for an opportunity to help.

[ChubbyPixie]

Zahra
Zahra looks around the guardpost. Is there a way to barricade the path East?

"If there were a door I could lock it with magic..." says Kiri, his eyes drifting to the battle in the north as he speaks. He sees no way to aid in the battle on that front and decides to trust that they will be fine on their own. "Regretfully, as there is none, we shall have to be the barricade should others arrive."

[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







Swords clash in a spray of sparks! Grigor growls like a feral dog as his scimitar parries two thrusting blades and carves another gash into a death-worshipping Thracian! (T2)

"Do something before they kill him!" Dahinna cries, but the adventurers are powerless to help Grigor in the tight confines of the northern tunnel!

Gnasher barks ferociously! Cruloc quickly staunches the ghastly wound above his hip (+1hp) in case Grigor falls and he finds himself next on the front line. Kiri and Zahra see nothing with which to barricade the eastern spur. Iago grips his crimson blades and watches their rear flank. And Amethu gazes north, waiting to see who will die first, as inch by inch, the grueling work of ruthless murder grinds on!


Actions?! (...for the next two rounds, please!)


Map:

One square = 10 feet. X = Dead. B = Bound.

Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=5, Monsters: [1d6]=6 Monsters win.
T2, T6 attack Grigor with swords: [1d20]=10, [1d20]=9, damage: [1d8+1]=5+1=6, [1d8+1]=4+1=5 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, 3/4 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 37/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 13/19, Torch
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 15/29, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 23/32
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 9/21, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
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: 62 rounds, Torch
Hold Person (Amethu): Target: T8. 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)

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc binds the wounds of Dahinna and Gnasher while the air is filled with the sound of blade on blade and the stink of hot blood.

[Paladin]

Iago Velazquez de Quesada

Barring the arrival of new enemies to the east, Iago will maintain his position at the intersection, blade at the ready. He'll look over his shoulder every few seconds to check on his comrades.

"Vámonos!" He calls out. "You act like there are bloodthirsty savages blocking the path." The Zingaran chuckles and stands his ground.

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Calls on his polytheistic gods to give him divine favour in the sword play. He continues to attack the same injured opponent

"Why weren't you just polite and talked to us? You death is aimless. For what? A rope bridge and tunnels under the sky?"

Grigor scimitar+2 in melee [1d20+2]=13+2=15 damage [1d8+2]=4+2=6

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri will excuse himself to Zahara and begin searching the downed opponents in the east for any keys, maps or illuminating trinkets that might prove helpful as they move forward. If he finds anything he'll ask Grandfather to move the torch a bit closer so he can examine it in more detail.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu grows anxious stuck on the bridge. He has little option at the moment.