Chapter 11: The Parallax Reality

[jemmus]

Mungo grimly nods his snout to Finver. He raises both his headlamp and his forge hammer.

[Inferno]

The City of the Sleestaks, Deep Beneath the Forbidden Zone
The Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Eleven. Morning? April 6th, 912 CY





The adventurers cautiously file into the tight tunnel to the alien door.

Connak, Finver and Maskelyn advance to the front to examine the bizarre portal.



Suddenly, it flies open without warning!

Beyond its iron threshold are Sleestak warriors without number, waiting and ready to pounce!




Beyond the insectoid-reptilians is a seeming-shrine of mysterious sorcery engines!




In the engines' magic mirrors are enchanted visions of the adventurers and the egg vat chamber!

And then the Sleestaks charge!


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.
PCs are purple. Altrusians are orange. Ambrose is brown. Sleestaks are green.

Map:






PC Status:

Connak: Cat-Man Fighter/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 12/19
Draupadi: Human Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 16/34, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 8/26
Finver Karstlander: Dwarven Fighter 3: Move 6", AC: 2(1), HP: 10/31
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 11/39
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 14/14, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Mungo: Mole-Man Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 6/34, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl, Lantern

PC Magic:

None currently.

Player Resources:

End of the World (game description)
Strange New World (maps and realms)
Memory Tapes (the story so far)
Viewscreen (the story so far in images)

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan seeing no way to advance to the front to engage and destroy the attackers move down the unknown corridor for a way to get around to the rear and surprise them.

[Urson]

Maskelyn

Murus ignis speciem ! Maskelyn casts Phantasmal Force (wall of fire) just inside the doorway, between the party and the Sleestaks.

[redwarrior]

Connak makes and accurate swing at one of the creatures, only to jump back as the fire appears just in front of him!!!! Fire bad for fir!!!! Connak will start back down the corridor as the press of the party behind him will allow.


Saber THAC0 19 [1d20+2]=18+2=20 Damage [1d8+3]=2+3=5

[Rex]

Draupadi

Draupadi follows Ko-Nan, mace at the ready.

[SilverBen]

As the door opens unexpectedly, Finver quietly releases a dwarven expletive. He drives his foot against the wall behind him for leverage, raises his small shield in front of him, and desperately presses forward against the enemy line to protect the party behind him. He turns his head and orders, "Flee!! Too many to fight!"

[jemmus]

Finver is right, Mungo cries, a little shrilly. We can't fight all of them. Everyone, let's run while the fire holds them back. At least as far as the intersection there. He points a forge glove toward the T-intersection behind them. From where Fiefo and Ko-nan are standing, we could hit them one-by-one, from two sides. He shines his headlamp on Fiefo and Ko-Nan, in turn.

[ChubbyPixie]

Not sure what they're doing tactically, Fiefo will retreat with Drapaudi and Ko-nan, mostly just to make room for the seemingly fleeing party.

[Inferno]

The City of the Sleestaks, Deep Beneath the Forbidden Zone
The Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Eleven. Morning? April 6th, 912 CY







Suddenly, the strange iron door opens without warning and the swarming Sleestaks are upon them!

Before they can act, Maskelyn and Finver are ripped and stabbed by alien, jagged spears! (3hp damage and 6hp damage respectively) The gnomish conjurer's spell is ruined and Finver is near to falling!

Within the temple of sorcery-engines (area 23), more bestial degenerates of the Altrusian race use the other iron portal to circle around through the egg-vat chamber (area 22) and surround the adventurers! The noose is closing fast.

Connak the catman lunges forward and slashes a hissing cold-blooded warrior (S41) before joining Maskelyn and Finver as they stagger back!

Ko-Nan, Draupadi and Fiefo move down the eastern witch-lit tunnel and spy a natural cavern ahead! (area 24)

"Flee!! Too many to fight!" Finver cries. The adventurers retreat to find more Sleestaks behind them! Wounded, outnumbered, surrounded; the situation looks dire!

Suddenly, a Sleestak hisses, "Ssssurender, humansss!"

Ambrose exclaims indignantly, "Humans?!"

And the Wandering Master cries, "My friends, use your Spectacles of Sight!"


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.
PCs are purple. Altrusians are orange. Ambrose is brown. Sleestaks are green.

Behind the DM Screen:

Party surprised? (1-2): [1d6]=1 Yes. But PCs were expecting trouble in general. I'll rule Sleestaks win initiative but don't get a "surprise round."
S40 and S41 charge Maskelyn and Finver: [1d20+2,]=err09, [1d20+2]=20+2=22 Finver is hit. Let's try again for Maskelyn...
S40 charges Maskelyn: [1d20+2]=16+2=18 Hit.
Damage to Maskelyn and Finver: [2d4]=3, [2d4]=6

PC Status:

Connak: Cat-Man Fighter/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 12/19
Draupadi: Human Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 16/34, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 8/26
Finver Karstlander: Dwarven Fighter 3: Move 6", AC: 2(1), HP: 4/31
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 11/39
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 11/14, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Mungo: Mole-Man Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 6/34, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl, Lantern

PC Magic:

None currently.

Player Resources:

End of the World (game description)
Strange New World (maps and realms)
Memory Tapes (the story so far)
Viewscreen (the story so far in images)

[Rex]

Draupadi

"Use the spectacles and target the leaders!"

Not having spectacles Draupadi will stay close to the others and support them by attacking the nearest foe.

Mace [1d20]=18 to hit [1d6+1]=5+1=6 damage

[ChubbyPixie]

Having not taken any of the "spectacles," Fiefo continues to scurry forward into the next room to see if it may contain a way out of this place.

[jemmus]

Mungo already had his Spectacles on under his thick goggles. If nothing else, he has good eye protection. He raises has forge-gloved paws and closes menacing on the nearest zombie-ish thing.

Forge Gloves of Shocking Grasp
+1 to hit and +1 to damage to any attack (touch or conductive weapons). and Once per day, bestows 1d8+4 damage to one attack (touch or conductive weapons). A miss doesn't discharge the electricity. Otherwise as per the spell except: No verbal or somatic.
THAC0 18
[1d20]=1

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan pushes forward into the cavern to ensure there is nothing waiting to kill them. Seeing the cavern mouth open up a bit he signals back, "if we move back here, we can stand abreast and fight these things one at a time"

[Urson]

Maskelyn
Bugs take you all!!

Maskelyn casts Blur. Perversa visione!

[redwarrior]

Connack will back up defensively, giving the others time to move back. He swings weakly at the nearest advancing creature. Do we have a plan? he asks over his shoulder.

Saber THAC0 19 [1d20+2]=2+2=4 Damage [1d8+3]=5+3=8

[Inferno]

The City of the Sleestaks, Deep Beneath the Forbidden Zone
The Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Eleven. Morning? April 6th, 912 CY







"Ssssurender, humansss!"

When the adventurers do not immediately comply, the merciless insectoid-reptilians continue their savage attack!

A Sleestak-spear beats aside Connak's sword thrust and impales the catman in the chest! (7hp damage!)

Maskelyn the conjurer weaves a cunning illusion that distorts his form and renders his true position unknowable!

They and Finver continue falling back, funneling into single file with the stout-hearted dwarf closest to the marauding Sleestaks!

On the rear flank, Mungo and another cold-blooded adversary battle in a clash of sparking forge-glove and jagged alien spear! The disciple of Verne and Wells peers into the ranks of his swarming foes and his strange spectacles reveal something else lurking among them! (S37)



The Wandering Master sees it too and cries out! "My brothers! There is your true enemy! Hidden, insidious, right in your very midst!"

The fleshless, ghoulish creature flinches at being seen! But the Sleestaks ignore the Altrusian's desperate plea!

Meanwhile, in the easternmost tunnel, Ambrose, Draupadi, Fiefo and Ko-Nan storm a large, witch-lit, natural cavern! It holds a pond and, against its southern wall, another inexplicable sorcery engine, buzzing and humming and blinking.



Before the incomprehendable machine stand two Sleestak warriors! Neither charges, leveraging the element of surprise. Rather, they hold a defensive position, protecting the sorcery-engine.


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet. PCs are purple. Altrusians are orange. Ambrose is brown. Sleestaks are green.

Map:


Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=3, Monsters: [1d6]=6 Monsters win.
S40, S41 attack Connak and Finver: [1d20]=20, [1d20]=9, damage: [2d4]=7, [2d4]=5 Connak is hit for 7hp. No double damage on a natural 20 in this game, thankfully.
S32 attacks Mungo: [1d20]=8, damage: [2d4]=7 Misses.

PC Status:

Connak: Cat-Man Fighter/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 5/19
Draupadi: Human Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 16/34, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 8/26
Finver Karstlander: Dwarven Fighter 3: Move 6", AC: 2(1), HP: 4/31
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 11/39
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 11/14, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl
Mungo: Mole-Man Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 6/34, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl, Lantern

PC Magic:

Blur (Maskelyn): Duration: 5 rounds

Player Resources:

End of the World (game description)
Strange New World (maps and realms)
Memory Tapes (the story so far)
Viewscreen (the story so far in images)

[Rex]

Draupadi

"Maybe if we destroy the thing they guard it will aid us, otherwise we are trapped."

She rushes down the western side of the cavern and attacks the guard.

Mace [1d20]=2 to hit [1d6+1]=2+1=3 damage

[ChubbyPixie]

Feeling suddenly panicked at having no exit from this room but the way they came, Fiefo’s instinct is to turn cybernetic tail and run, but he also doesn’t relish the idea of enemies at his back. He fires two arrows at S46:

Attack with Short Bow (THAC0 16): To Hit: [1d20+1]=19+1=20 Damage, s/M/L: [1d6]=3

Attack with Short Bow (THAC0 16): To Hit: [1d20+1]=17+1=18 Damage, s/M/L: [1d6]=3

[redwarrior]

Connak will continue his defensive retreat, lashing out at any Sleestak that gets close enough to engage above Finver's head.


Saber THAC0 19 [1d20+2]=18+2=20 Damage [1d8+3]=8+3=11
Not quite sure if the geometry of the situation will allow it, if not Connak will move over to using his bow.