Chapter 21: The Caverns of Thracia

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

The last dog yelps pitifully as its life is ended by Cruloc's salvaged Thracian blade.

Attack w/ +1 longsword [1d20+3]=11+3=14
+1 Longsword vs. S/M opponent [1d8+4]=7+4=11

With a throaty grunt, Cruloc hurls the limp carcass from him! Ringed about by the bloody hecatomb of slain dogs and men, he leans a moment on his dripping blade to rest his sinewy arms.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu casts his last healing prayer on Zahra.

Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=6

“Let us prepare a trap for these last three - we have the advantage! Let us not turn it back to them by opening the doors too quickly!”


He suggests liking the dogs in front of the door as an obstacle and that the group backs away and uses missile fire to thwart them.

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Swaps out the held spear for his trusty heirloom scimitar to ready for more close quarters when the Thracians breakthrough the door.

Grigor scimitar+2 in melee [1d20+2]=7+2=9 damage [1d8+2]=5+2=7

[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







The last snarling warhound rips Cruloc's flesh with merciless fangs! (4hp damage)

Then the barbarian's sword splits its skull in a grisly spatter of blood, brain and shattered teeth!



The battle is ended, again. A crimson wreck of dead men and dogs chokes the regal colonnade of a lost age.

The savage barking and hacking of blades subsides, but the bludgeoning of the northern doors continues. The wood creaks and groans and splinters. The invaders of antiquity know it won't hold much longer.

Kiri says, "Prepare yourselves..."

Amethu cries, “Let us prepare a trap for these last three - we have the advantage! Let us not turn it back to them by opening the doors too quickly!”
Then the masked sorcerer-priest heals his compatriot, Zahra with prayers to the strange gods of their distant homeland. (+6hp)


Actions?!


Map Detail:

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

Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=4, Monsters: [1d6]=5 Monsters win.
D6 attacks Cruloc? (1), Dahinna? (2), or Zahra? (3): [1d3]=1. To hit: [1d20]=18, damage: [2d4]=4 Hits Cruloc for 4hp damage.
Dahinna misses.

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 15/15, Spells: 3/7 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: 12/19
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 11/29, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 24/32, Torch
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 10/21, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 15/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 6/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 46 rounds, Torch, near Kiri
Wizard Lock (Kiri)

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)

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

Covered in blood and bits of fur, Dahinna pulls back to stand beside Zahra, even as Kiri plans to loose the Thracians upon them once again!
"Damn it all, this is hellhole of death!"

[Urson]

Zahra
Demons rut those bastards behind the door! We have no clear idea of how many are there- leave it locked. Even as she says this, Zahra wipes blood from her blade and prepares to fight.

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Bangs on the door, taunting the trio of Thracians inside.

"Hey, my dog is humping your dog. I going to make him a snuggly blanket from their pelts.

My barbarian comrade wants to make a snuggly blanket from your skins too.

Listen, I am using your helmets as a pot to pee in. Come out and I'll shove this spear up ... "

The bloodshed, foolishly in his view. We could have parleyed, negotiated safe passage, learned their story and history. The gypsy laments the Thracians initiating combat, put they have paid for it with their lives. He feels only anger at their continued futility. He taunts them, a way of expressing his own frustrations and needless injury.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

The abruptness with which Cruloc turns from killer to healer may unnerve outsiders, but it is second nature to his people. The blood of his comrades does not stir his battle lust, but rather it kindles a desire to rejuvenate as the warm winds of spring beat back the frigid Cimmerian winter.

"Let us retreat a few steps from the door so that they are not upon us when they break through."

He then sets about dressing the wounds of Zahra and Dahinna before tending to his own.

"Brave girl," he says to Dahinna. "But it is time for the Zingaran to awaken from his afternoon nap. Give him your place at the front."

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri will retreat several paces to the south. Once the door has splintered enough to expose an opening, he'll fire a few arrows through in the hopes of discouraging their assailants on the other side:

Attack with Short Bow (THAC0:18): To Hit: [1d20]=3 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6]=3, vs. Lg: [1d6]=3

Attack with Short Bow (THAC0:18): To Hit: [1d20]=3 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6]=1, vs. Lg: [1d6]=3

He misses the opening, badly.

"Maybe I should stick to brute force," he says to no one in particular.

[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







"Damn it all, this is a hellhole of death!" Dahinna exclaims from amidst the crimson wreckage of life. Bloody corpses of men and dogs litter the floor of the magnificent hall in the lost outpost of the once-great civilization of Atlantis.

In the momentary respite from murder and mayhem, Cruloc quickly binds the women's wounds. (+1hp each)

And then the merciless fight is joined again! With a sickening splintering and a savage cry, the great northern door is rent asunder!

Kiri's arrows misfire as the halted ambush is unleashed at last!

Suddenly, more bloodthirsty madmen from fabled antiquity burst from the shadows on all sides, joining their brethren at the sundered threshold!



With one terrible voice, they roar in Ancient Atlantean, "DEATH! Death for Thanatos!"


Actions?!


Map Detail:

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

Map:






PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 15/15, Spells: 3/7 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
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 11/29, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 24/32, Torch
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 10/21, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 16/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 6/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 44 rounds, Torch, near Kiri
Wizard Lock (Kiri)

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 spends his last healing on the closest one in need (CLW at Kiri). He braces for the oncoming attack with his back to his comrades. At least in this position they have somewhere to maneuver.

Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=2

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

Sons of Set! Here they come! blurts the Zamoran rogue, standing just behind the pile of dead wardogs. She licks her lips and hefts her short sword and when the first Thracian reaches her (T12), she steps up and goes for the gut.
Short Sword: [1d20+2]=10+2=12 Damage [1d6+2]=6+2=8

[ChubbyPixie]

"Thank you, friend," Kiri says over his shoulder to Amethu as his wounds heal ever so slightly.

He then takes a small step to his right so that Zahra may attack in whatever direction she chooses. If the warriors to the south rush in, he raises his shield and attacks over the top of it with a brutal thrust of his Claw of Chobek:

Attack with Trident +1, Claw of Chobek (THAC0:18): To Hit: [1d20+4]=11+4=15 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6+8]=4+8=12, vs. Lg: [3d4+7]=10+7=17

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra throws her last javelin at (T12), then readies her blade.

att [1d20+4]=10+4=14 javelin [1d6+3]=1+3=4

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

"Oh look, there's one behind me. I wonder if he bear the bats away."

The gypsy readies to receive the charge of T16, swatting uselessly with his blade.

Grigor scimitar+2 in melee [1d20+2]=6+2=8 damage [1d8+2]=2+2=4

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

The sinewy Northerner readies a spear and sets it against the coming onslaught from the east.

Attack w/ spear vs. charging opponent [1d20+4]=2+4=6

His spear tip is deflected by the Thracian's stout shield!

[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







And then, as if it had never stopped, the murderous battle with the ages-mad warriors out of Time immemorial is joined again.

Before the adventurers can act, an onslaught of spears and swords, of death and madness, descends upon them without mercy!

At the sundered northern door, Grigor is violently hewn by fierce Thracian steel! (8hp damage)

On the western flank, a maniacal death-worshipper drives his sword into Amethu's side, disrupting his sorceries! (6hp damage)

Surrounded and besieged, the adventurers desperately retaliate! Iago's flashing sabre whistles wide. Cruloc's spear, Dahinna's shortsword and Grigor's scimitar all crash against hoplite shields!

In a grisly spray of blood and gore, Zahra's javelin bites deep into a foeman's shoulder (T12) and Kiri's trident impales an enemy's chest (T15)! But both fanatical Thracians fight on, through blood and pain and ruination.

"DEATH!"


Actions?!


Map Detail:

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

Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=3, Monsters: [1d6]=6 Monsters win initiative.
T12, T14 throw spears at Dahinna and Kiri: [1d20]=10, [1d20]=8, damage: [1d6]=3, [1d6]=5 Both miss.
T9, T10 charge Grigor with swords: [1d20+2]=20+2=22, [1d20+2]=15+2=17, damage: [1d8+1]=1+1=2, [1d8+1]=5+1=6 Both hit. No critical hits in this game.
T16 charges Amethu with sword: [1d20+2]=13+2=15, damage: [1d8+1]=5+1=6 Hits.
T13 charges Cruloc? (1), or Zahra? (2) with sword: [1d2]=2, attack: [1d20+2]=7+2=9, damage: [1d8+1]=3+1=4 Misses Zahra.
Iago attacks T16: [1d20+1]=7+1=8, damage: [1d8]=5 Misses.

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 9/15, Spells: 2/7 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
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 3/29, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 24/32, Torch
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 10/21, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 16/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 6/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 43 rounds, Torch, near Kiri

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)

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

Frantically, Dahinna jabs at the Thracian in front of her (#13), but her short blade is again turned away.
Short Sword: [1d20+2]=7+2=9 Damage [1d6+2]=6+2=8
"We are beset on all sides! If we can push them into the room, at least we can funnel them through!"

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra attacks (T13), trying to push him back to create fighting room.
att [1d20+4]=14+4=18
Sword vs sm, med [1d8+5]=5+5=10
Her yowling battle cry echoes down the hall.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu recovers from his wound and lunges his mighty staff into the face of the attacking warrior.

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