Chapter 22: Underworld

[Inferno]

Chapter 22: Underworld

The Caverns of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Eleven. Morning. 21st day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







Sheltering beneath the towering shaft that reaches up into the temple of dead gods, the adventurers recover from the grievous battle wounds that almost ended them.

Amethu and Grigor bless and fortify the group one last time with prayers of healing. Then they all ready to venture forth again into the cavernous depths beneath a city lost to eternity.

The secret door opens onto the stairwell framed in dire scenes of apocalypse and ruin.

All is quiet. Above can be glimpsed light from the burgeoning dawn. Below lies the mythic underworld of an ancient age.



They've come in search of secret knowledge. They've come in search of treasure. All they've found is death and madness.

The invaders of the distant, timeless past steel themselves anew and descend into the abyss to meet their destiny.


Actions?! (and marching order and light sources, please)


Map:

One square = 10 feet. All is from memory. White X marks the adventurers.





PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 16/17, Spells: 3/8 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 18/25
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 19/29, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 21/21, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Torix: Pict Savage Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 28/28
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 12/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 10/11, 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)

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

The rogue lights a torch and hefts her short sword, ready to move out.
(Down to 3 torches and out of rations.)

[Bluetongue]

Grigor.

Having bashed open the double doors and defeated the Thracian guards and dogs there, I think we should explore that way. At least discover why they do fanatically guarded it.

Holding his scimitar which as an enchanted sword sheds a small radius of light.

[jemmus]

Torix stands, adjusts his elk hide shoulder pouch, and prepares to go where the group decides to go. They know more about this place than he does. And they've paid for the knowledge with wounds and death.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu agrees with Grigor's lead. "It is a step forward into the darkness we must endure." As they head towards the bridge he offers the light of his lantern should it be needed - but perhaps wisely kept in reserve. "I have yet to learn any magic that allows me cast a sustainable light. Perhaps it's a skill someone here has that we should share upon our next rest."

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Taking the lead down a path he has no desire to explore, Cruloc grimly stalks out of their hidden refuge.

"We'll be back here before long, striped again with blood, I'll wager," the Cimmerian grunts. "If my pockets are not filled with baubles, by Crom, I'll bring back a dusty tome to use for arse-wipe!"

"One of you lionhearts behind me hold a torch aloft so that I can see my death coming!" He hefts his shield, removes his looted sword from its sheath, and pads forward like a northern hill-panther.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra follows Cruloc. Warrior- I suggest you yield your place to a thief when we get to unexplored territory.

[Inferno]

The Caverns of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Eleven. Morning. 21st day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







The raiders of antiquity descend the stone steps down into the mysterious Underworld.

The cracked walls bear crude murals depicting the dark epoch after the fall of Atlantis: Apocalyptic Thracia plunges into death worship, chaos and ruin until it has become like unto Hell, a subterranean, supernatural netherworld where walk the souls of the dead for all eternity.



Into that sunless realm dare tread the adventurers.

Their flickering torchlight can be seen all across the vast, yawning chasm.



No cruel spears fly out of the darkness.

The explorers board the rope bridge...



...and advance, single file, suspended high above the bottomless pit.

Suddenly...



...gigantic feral bats screech out of the pitch shadows overhead and swoop down upon them! (B3, B4)


Actions?!


Map:

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





PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 16/17, Spells: 3/8 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 18/25, Torch
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 19/29, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 21/21, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Torix: Pict Savage Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 28/28
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 12/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 10/11, 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)

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra is back from the action, but she crouches to help stabilize the bridge. She keeps her light raised as best she can.

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

Dahinna flinches when the bats appear out of the darkness, but like Zahra she hunkers and tries to maintain her balance on the rope bridge, all while holding her torch aloft to she light on their attackers.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

"A screeching welcome from bewhiskered occupants! Have we penetrated a Zingaran bawdy house?"

Cruloc races north across the bridge and presses himself against the cold stone wall to allow his companions to also speedily make the treacherous crossing.

"Hurry, lest the abyss swallow you!"


OoC: If a bat follows him and if it is permitted, he will attack after getting off the bridge.
Attack w/ Thracian longsword [1d20+3]=9+3=12
Thracian longsword vs. S/M opponent [1d8+4]=3+4=7

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Hits out at a giant bat, impaling one with his sword that Gnasher also takes a bite at.

Grigor scimitar+2 in melee [1d20+2]=15+2=17 damage [1d8+2]=6+2=8

[ravenn4544]

Amethu will call out from behind is ancient mask, "Let us follow and allow the light to follow as well!" He will thrust at any bat that gets close enough to warrant the lesson.

To Hit (THACO 18): [1d20+2]=16+2=18
Staff of Uthoth - Damage: = S/M/L: [1d6+2]=4+2=6

[jemmus]

Torix hastens along the bridge, pausing to loose arrows at the bats.

THAC0 [1d20+2]=6+2=8 [1d6]=6 [1d20+2]=15+2=17 [1d6]=1

[Inferno]

The Caverns of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Eleven. Morning. 21st day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







In the enigmatic subterranean realm, the adventurers cross a creaky rope bridge that spans a fathomless chasm.

Suddenly, two great bats, impossibly immense, descend in eerie silence upon the pilgrims to Pandemonium!



Dahinna and Zahra each hold a torch in one hand and steady the bridge with the other!

Cruloc lunges across the suspended platform and into the dark tunnel cut into the northern cliff face!

Torix advances ten feet and fires a flint-headed arrow that grazes one vast leathery wing!

Amethu follows the advance and his fearsome staff bludgeons one winged leviathan out of the air and it plunges lifeless into the black abyss!

Grigor charges forth from the rear ranks and his scimitar cleaves asunder in mid-flight the last monstrous bat! The gigantic chiropteran, sacred to the Atlantean god of the Underworld, plummets down into the waiting darkness below.

The echoes of the sudden slaughter die away and all is quiet again.


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.
Cruloc moves more than 1" so cannot attack this round.

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 16/17, Spells: 3/8 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 18/25, Torch
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 19/29, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 21/21, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Torix: Pict Savage Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 28/28
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 12/29, Torch
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 10/11, 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)

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

At the rear, suggests we investigate what was so previously guarded behind the double doors that are ahead.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra moves forward, wary of more bats. When she gets to the corridor, she faces East, keeping her light raised.

[jemmus]

Torix
Cimmerian, I will go first. If it won't offend you. I am unwounded. He waits to see if the group follow the Zamoran cleric's suggestion about investigating the double doors.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu will light his lamp to help aide visibility.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Seeing his companions handily dispatch the giant bats, Cruloc spins, crouches, and raises his shield in anticipation of an attack from the north.

The battle-ready Cimmerian is fuddled as Torix politely asks permission to move past.

In recent days, he has seen suicidal attacks by crazed Thracians, giant temple-dwelling spiders, and Amethu magically grow to twice his logical size. But a Pict with manners?!

"Er.. ah... After you" he replies woodenly with a stiff sweep of his sword arm.

Cruloc's steel blue gaze follows after Torix. He wonders whether he may in fact be a painted Aquilonian highborn in disguise.

"Next time he drops his breeches to do his business," Cruloc deduces, "the colour of his haunches will reveal from whence he truly hails."