Chapter 32: From Beyond

[Inferno]

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







In the surreal magnificence of the otherworldly mansion, the voracious, crawling Brood Swarm of Ariadnax closes in on the doomed heroes!

Jerome brings fire bear in a desperate attempt to keep the swarm at bay when suddenly, Telkis and Mouser topple one of the great simmering cauldrons in the direction of the inexorable, creeping doom!



Boiling blood pours from the pot, scalding the demonic spiderlings and driving them back!

Upon the steaming, ghastly tide come small human skulls, each the size of a child's.



The heat of the fireplace convinces Bo this is no nightmare into which they have strayed.

He flees west and, torch aloft, gazes into the darkened chamber beyond.

His mind struggles to comprehend the dreadful sight his eyes behold!



Countless dead men and women stand motionless and silent in the darkness! The stench of decaying flesh is sickening. The horrific legion is seemingly without number and what remains of their attire marks them as denizens of Hookhill!


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet. Grey area is the Brood Swarm.

Map:






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: 2/5 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, Torch
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, Torch
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 18/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 11/11, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl, Invisible, Torch

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)
Invisibility (Urdur): Target: self.
Faerie Fire (Bo): Target: Ariadnax. Duration: 12 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)

[Urson]

Jerome
Jerome tries to keep out of the boiling liquids. He holds on to his torch, his face going dead-white with fury as he sees the collection of tiny skulls. His main intention is to keep watch on the Swarm until he's sure they've been turned back.

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur nearly vomits when he sees the ghastly crowd discovered by Long Bo. He verifies that they are not moving before turning his attention to the spider horde. If the spiders still pursue them, Urdur uses his torch as best he can to keep the horde at bay. If not, he turns his attention to the cadavers in the pantry.

Should we burn them?

[OGRE MAGE]

Wishing he had the power to ignite this entire place in a cloud of fire, Bo knows the group is in trouble if he just triggered this throng of the undead to attack.

With torch and oil in hand, the druid takes off running towards Urdur and beyond, trying to get back into the open entry area to check if the baby spiders are coming at them from that direction as well.

"Ummmm, folks........if we dont want to get surrounded, I think we might need to......RUN!"

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis doesn't need to be yelled at by a druid twice. He wrenches his eyes away from the horror of the tumbled skulls, glances at the cadaver army and sprints for the entryway.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser's eyes are wide at the site of the quiet horror. He back up slowly. "Burning them sounds like a good idea.... but will that take the house down around us?"

[Inferno]

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







In the surreal lair of that which Men call the Hookhill Ripper, Long Bo staggers back from his horrific discovery! The frightful host of living dead neither moves nor speaks.

Nearby, Jerome seethes at the gruesome stock of blood and bone! The scalding tide of horror keeps the spiderling swarm in the dining room of unspeakable feasts (area 2).

Bo and Telkis frantically attempt to flee for their lives but their escape is blocked by the blistering heat of the roaring fireplace (area A) shared by the kitchen (3) and the grand entry hall (1).


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet. Grey area is the Brood Swarm.





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: 2/5 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, Torch
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, Torch
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 18/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 11/11, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl, Invisible, Torch

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)
Invisibility (Urdur): Target: self.
Faerie Fire (Bo): Target: Ariadnax. Duration: 11 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)

[Urson]

Jerome
Jerome scowls in frustration. We are cornered, but safe for the moment. I wonder if the spiderlings will attack themselves if they can't get at us?

If the Swarm tries to push into the kitchen, Jerome will do what he can to keep them at bay with the torch.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

I can do a few things. First, I can create water to put out the fire so we can go through. I can also put down a glyph that would explode if anything tries crossing it without uttering the password. I could put it so that it blocks the fireplace in case anything tries to follow us. Unfortunately, the spiders can get out from the other direction so I don't know what that means for us- if they'll chase us or not.

If the others agree with her plan, the young cleric will begin by dousing the fire.

[ChubbyPixie]

Ahhh, ok. I get it now. Not a corridor - giant fireplace.

"Yes, yes, put out the fire, Ingrid," says Telkis distractedly as he keeps one eye on the motionless horde and backs up to avoid being scalded by steam.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo stops short before actually entering the fireplace, embarrassed he didn't notice the flames blocking their path sooner.

While he and Telkis await the clerics watery extinguishing of the barricade, the druid casts a spell of healing on his tiny friend.

CLW on Telkis: CLW [1d8]=3

[SocraticLawyer]

Good idea, Ingrid says the invisible Urdur. He keeps his eyes on the spider swarm, ready to put his torch to them if they get too close.

Urdur also periodically looks to the closet of dead bodies. He is almost positive that they will start moving and attack at exactly the worst possible moment.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser suggests, "While you guys figure out what to do about those zombies, I'll check out the main room and keep an eye on those stairs. I'll whistle if we are in trouble."

Using his magical boots of quietness he'll keep to the walls and shadows to go through 2 to peer into 1 and get a look at the staircase and above.

[jemmus]

Faron keeps an eye on the dead. He'll be the last to leave the kitchen.

[Inferno]

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







In a house that exists in territories unknown, countless unspeakable horrors watch from the shadows (in area 4), seen only in dreadful memory.

Mouser moves toward the crimson dining room (2) and finds its floor crawling with the demonic Brood Swarm (red area). The little thief saw them strip the flesh from their piteous hosts.



He knows his boots will not protect him from the same grisly fate.

Jerome and Urdur see that the deluge of scalding blood keeps the spiderling swarm from entering the kitchen (3).

With blessed orisons to their gods, Long Bo heals Telkis (+3hp) and Ingrid douses the roaring flames in the great fireplace (A). That path is now survivable, although filled with smoke and heat.


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory. Red area is the Brood Swarm.





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: 1/5 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, Torch
Long Bo, Human Druid 5: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 35/38, Spells: 3/6 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl, 1/2 3rd lvl, Torch
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 21/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 11/11, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl, Invisible, Torch

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)
Invisibility (Urdur): Target: self.
Faerie Fire (Bo): Target: Ariadnax. Duration: 10 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)

[ravenn4544]

Mouser reels back from the swarm and tries to move instead through the fireplace to examine the room and stairs beyond.

[OGRE MAGE]

Seeing no immediate advance from the undead throng in the next room gives Bo an idea.

"If the spiders need to eat so badly, perhaps we could lure them into the zombie room where they can gorge on rotting flesh till they explode."

Using his spear, the druid pulls the smoldering logs from the fire and tries to place them in a line from the spider room to the zombie room. If he lacks the material to cover the entire span, he simply stretches them across the fireplace opening instead, hoping to create at least a bit of a barrier to prevent them from following the living back into the entry chamber.

[jemmus]

Faron
I think we need to find a way to kill the spiderlings. If they grow into adults like their mother... with hundreds of them, we'd be finished. And maybe a lot of the townspeople too. Maybe burning oil would work?

[Urson]

Jerome
Let us not borrow trouble. Wherever this manor came from, The Brood came with it.
If we can solve the problem, they will go back with it.
He moves through the fireplace, watching the doorway for spiders.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

The cleric will crawl through the fireplace and wait for everyone else. I think Jerome is correct. If we can figure out how to solve the problem that brought us here, we may not need to deal with the spiders.