Chapter 32: From Beyond

[ravenn4544]

Mouser stands in awe. "It's beautiful....."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKlFbMGTJVY

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis grits his teeth as the poison knifes through his veins. He calls to mind a memory of his old dwarven squad leader, Brigg Snapkettle, and how he would laugh off spider bites before crushing the offending arachnids with his great club. True, they were much, much smaller spiders... Save vs. Poison (11): [1d20]=12 ...yet, somehow he pushes through, head ringing, a coppery taste in his mouth.

"I got this bug handled!" he shouts as he ducks and brings Cranach around for a raking blow to the mandibles:
Morningstar +2 (THAC0 17): To Hit:[1d20+2]=19+2=21, Damage: vs s/m [2d4+2]=2+2=4, vs L [1d6+3]=3+3=6

[Inferno]

The Accursed Mansion, Blackchapel, Hookhill, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Two. Nightfall. Sunday, December 25th, 576 CY







Ariadnax the Devourer glares with an eager hunger, still suspended from its vast sprawling web!

Against all odds, Telkis survives the deathly poisoning! He hammers the immense, looming monstrosity with his morningstar but the horrific thing does not die!

Urdur fails to awaken Jerome; the great eye holds the paladin tight in its insidious power! The gnome conjurer urgently tries to shake Ingrid to her senses!

Roused to life, Long Bo retrieves his torch from Urdur's invisible hands and, with sacred words of power, its flame erupts in a fiery flash!



The loathsome demon spider is blinded long enough to foul its attack, and break the spell of its great unholy eye!


Actions, everyone!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet.

Map:


Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=6, Monsters: [1d6]=1 Party wins. This came at a good time.

PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 19/22, Invisible, Glowing Sword
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 19/19, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 5: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 18/25, Spells: 4/5 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl
Jerome, Human Paladin 4: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 20/23, Laying Hands: 1/1
Long Bo, Human Druid 5: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 35/38, Spells: 5/6 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl, 1/2 3rd lvl
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 26/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 11/11, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl, Invisible

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)
Invisibility (Urdur): Targets: Urdur and Faron

Player Resources:

Tale of Terror (the story so far)
A Dark and Terrible World (maps)
Blasphemous Iconography (the story so far in images)
Desperate Struggles (clues and player notes)

[Urson]

Jerome
Breaking free of the glamer, Jerome charges, shouting some terms that he definitely didn't learn at the monastery.

[1d20+1]=16+1=17 melee Longsword L[1d12+2]=3+2=5

[ravenn4544]

Mouser's eyes fly wide open at the sudden awareness of the monstrosity before him! "By the hells!" He instinctively raises his hands up to ward off the beast - and just as instinctively thrust his hands out to ward the thing off coupled with a shocking grasp spell.

[OGRE MAGE]

Long Bo takes another step backwards, staying away from the dangerous dripping fangs.

He shouts out phrases of magic as he moves, quickly outlining the huge spider with a glowing green aura of flickering light, making it easier for the others to target.

Casts Faerie Fire (+2 to hit)

[jemmus]

Faron's mind is freed from the spider demon's thrall by the magician's spell. He is simultaneously grateful and filled with rage at the insidious demon. He lunges at it with his glowing longsword.

[1d20+1]=11+1=12 S/M [1d8+1]=3+1=4 L[1d12+1]=2+1=3

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

...help them! We... the words die on Ingrid's lips as she breaks out of her reverie, truly seeing the giant spider in all its horrid glory for the first time. Thinking quickly, she utters words of power, calling forth a translucent hammer near the spider, lashing out at the enormous invertebrate.

Spiritual Hammer (18): [1d20]=7; Damage S/M: [1d6]=3; Damage L: [1d4]=1

[ChubbyPixie]

"It's about time!" shouts Telkis as the others finally come to their senses. He attempts to use Cranach to vault over a stabbing arachnid leg and continue the momentum for an overhead smash to the thing's body. He doesn't time it well...

Morningstar +2 (THAC0 17): To Hit:[1d20+2]=3+2=5, Damage: vs s/m [2d4+2]=7+2=9, vs L [1d6+3]=6+3=9

[Inferno]

The Accursed Mansion, Blackchapel, Hookhill, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Two. Nightfall. Sunday, December 25th, 576 CY







In the house beyond time and dimension, the grey druid blinds every eye of the colossal, crawling horror, including the demonic oculus in its back!

The insidious spell of beguilement is instantly broken! The doomed heroes see their chance and attack!

Mouser's sorcerous hand explodes in writhing bolts of lightning that electrocute the gigantic terror! Faron suddenly appears out of thin air, his blade slashing the monster deep! Jerome charges in amid the countless writhing legs and his gleaming sword strikes true!

By spell and by sword, the fearsome onslaught nearly kills the hideous monster! But not quite.

Knowing what dreadful thing happens next, Urdur backs up and covers his eyes!

Then, limned in an eerie green glow of Bo's devising, Ariadnax desperately turns its baleful, preternatural eye upon them all!



(Everyone except Urdur, please Save vs Spells to act!)


Actions!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet.

Map:


Behind the DM Screen:

The monster's temporary blindness extends into the first few segments of this round, so the party automatically wins initiative.
Mouser: to hit: [1d20]=12 Hits due to blindness and faerie fire.
Mouser: shocking grasp damage: [1d8+3]=7+3=10
Telkis and Ingrid miss. I'm NPCing Urdur this round:
Urdur INT check: [1d20]=14 Succeeds.

PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 19/22, Glowing Sword
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 19/19, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 5: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 18/25, Spells: 4/5 1st lvl, 4/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl
Jerome, Human Paladin 4: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 20/23, Laying Hands: 1/1
Long Bo, Human Druid 5: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 35/38, Spells: 4/6 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl, 1/2 3rd lvl
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 26/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 11/11, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl, Invisible

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)
Invisibility (Urdur): Target: self.
Faerie Fire (Bo): Target: Ariadnax. Duration: 19 rounds.
Spiritual Hammer (Ingrid): Duration: 4 rounds.

Player Resources:

Tale of Terror (the story so far)
A Dark and Terrible World (maps)
Blasphemous Iconography (the story so far in images)
Desperate Struggles (clues and player notes)

[OGRE MAGE]

Blinking at the perfect time, Long Bo resists the numbing effects of the horrid back eye.

Save vs. Spells (14) [1d20]=20

Seeing the beast about to fall, the druid launches his spear at the behemoth, hoping his throw is high enough to clear his friends heads.

Spear Attack [1d20]=16 Damage [1d6]=3

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

Missing with her divine weapon, the cleric readies herself for another attack...but then she sees that beautiful eye once more, and all thoughts of- well, anything- slip away, as she can do nothing but stare at the spider's eye as if it is the most fascinating thing she has ever seen. Because it is.

Save vs. Spells (14): [1d20]=2

[jemmus]

Faron looks away from the eye and avoids its gaze. but the effort caused him to jab his longsword at the spider demon almost blindly, with only a sidelong glance.

ST 13 [1d20]=16
[1d20+1]=2+1=3 [1d12+1]=10+1=11

[ravenn4544]

Mouser can't weave his way past the huge and hideous legs to land a strike...

Scalpel (THACO 20) To Hit [1d20]=3, S/M/L Dam. [1d8]=5
Save vs Spells (12) [1d20]=11
charm resistance (30%) [1d100]=42

[ChubbyPixie]

Save vs. Spells (11): [1d20]=7

Telkis gears up for a baseball swing and realizes just in time that they've all died and now, happily, stand before Garl himself. All of them.

"I thought it was just for gnomes..." he says quietly to Urdur, though he is unable to tear his gaze away from the splendor that is his diety. This is paradise!... Still, he wasn't expecting the undercurrent of anxiety here in the afterlife, just under the surface, a strange alien buzzing, almost a madness, just out of his perception...

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur realizes the others are falling under the thrall of Ariadnax again. He tries to shake Telkis from its influence.

[Urson]

Jerome
(save VS Spell: 14)Stat check [1d20]=10
Jerome falters, his rush to attack becoming a stumble.

[Inferno]

The Accursed Mansion, Blackchapel, Hookhill, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Two. Nightfall. Sunday, December 25th, 576 CY







In a sudden reversal of fortune, Ariadnax's unholy eye ensorcells Ingrid, Jerome, Mouser and Telkis!

Ariadnax the Devourer, Ariadnax the Brood Mother!

The eager, malevolent thing draws closer!



With growing alarm, Urdur shakes Telkis to rouse him from his unnatural beguilement! With mounting dread, Faron's sword stroke misses the great writhing horror!

All hope fleeting, the grey druid desperately launches his long spear and it impales Ariadnax's brain!

The hideous leviathan of countless legs and eyes crashes down, thrashing wildly beside the magnificent dining table, and then falls still. The crimson demon oculus closes, never to open again. Its evil spell is ended.

The doomed heroes emerge from their insidious enthrallment. High above them, the piteous victims held in the spider's cruel web flinch and tremble in their dark, harrowing nightmares.


Actions, everyone!


Map:

One square = 10 feet.

Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=5, Monsters: [1d6]=3 Party wins.

PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 19/22, Glowing Sword
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 19/19, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 5: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 18/25, Spells: 4/5 1st lvl, 4/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl
Jerome, Human Paladin 4: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 20/23, Laying Hands: 1/1
Long Bo, Human Druid 5: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 35/38, Spells: 4/6 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl, 1/2 3rd lvl
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 26/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 11/11, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl, Invisible

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)
Invisibility (Urdur): Target: self.
Faerie Fire (Bo): Target: Ariadnax. Duration: 18 rounds.
Spiritual Hammer (Ingrid): Duration: 3 rounds.

Player Resources:

Tale of Terror (the story so far)
A Dark and Terrible World (maps)
Blasphemous Iconography (the story so far in images)
Desperate Struggles (clues and player notes)

[jemmus]

Well, that was some nastiness, Faron says. Mouser, do you want to join me on a climb to free those victims? He wonders if the spider demon has a lair up there with some valuables. Gods know the group could use some cash.

[Urson]

Jerome
I will help. Jerome stays with Faron, trying to help safely lower the victims. He casts a long look at the decanters on the sideboard, and actually takes a step toward them before he catches himself and turns back to the rescue.