Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc draws an arrow.

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri bids Grandfather back into the hexagon room.

At the mention of "library" he suddenly becomes quite interested in the double doors. He also draws his bow.

"Open the doors if you wish. If there is something... unmanageable... on the other side, slam it shut and I can hold it with magic as we escape northwards," he says.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra holds her place, sword in hand.
You're right, Torix. When we have a safe place to discuss it, we need to decide who will lead.

[Inferno]

The Caverns of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Twelve. Morning? 22nd day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







Consensus forms around the towering double doors.

Muscled tensed, Torix cautiously prods the mysterious hexagon with his spear. Death does not befall him yet.

As the spectral lantern draws near, Cruloc and Kiri pull back their bowstrings, and the Pict barbarian throws opens the twin portal. As the seal is broken there is an instant rush of air. How many centuries have passed since this threshold was last breached?

The lamplight struggles against the preternatural shadow. Beyond the doorway lies a great circular chamber with walls of human skulls.



More sacred geometry is etched into the smooth obsidian floor.

At the center of the arcane pattern, at the edge of the hungry darkness, stands a black, motionless shape like unto a bride in mourning. (at 12)



From it emanates the voice of a woman speaking in Ancient Atlantean! Amethu and Kiri quietly translate for their companions:

"I am the Oracle of Thanatos. Devout ministers of Death, what wouldst thou know?"


Actions?!


Map Detail:


Map:





PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 17/17, Spells: 7/8 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: 21/29, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl, Glowing Scimitar
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 20/21, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Torix: Pict Savage Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 28/28, Unsettled
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 24/29, Unsettled
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 11/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 77 rounds. Holds Amethu's Lantern

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

Holds back Gnasher who whines in the presence of the eerie, deathly figure. He wonders if the shrouded woman is some undead wraith serving an eternal devotion or just an actual flesh and blood' person.

An Oracle, sounds very much like a diviner of fortunes, a Soothsayer. He doesn't speak but checks the area for any such glass orbs she might use or bones she might cast to read.

Bones of those unfortunate victims that line the wall no doubt. He can't help but check that spaces exist waiting to be filled by his and his comrades skulls. He shivers at the thought, along with his dog.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc guards the northern passage, but his attention cannot help but be drawn by the woman's voice speaking an unknown tongue from the dark chamber. He listens intently to Kiri's translation.

"An oracle?" He draws his breath in sharply. "She will want something not easily given."

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra holds her place, her senses on high alert.

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri glances from side to side, then steps forward.

"We seek the written knowledge of this place, Oracle, so that we may fully learn its secrets," he says, trying to sound official.

Grandfather moves to just inside the doorway with the torch.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu studies the mysterious oracle as the questions are posed. He can't argue with the questions askes so will remain alert to the next responses or actions of the creature. It is prudent to remain quiet, as well, as too many questions may illicit a dangerous response.

[jemmus]

Torix remains silent and waits to hear the witch's response.

[Inferno]

The Caverns of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Twelve. Morning? 22nd day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







"I am the Oracle of Thanatos. Devout ministers of Death, what wouldst thou know?"

A dread silence falls upon the explorers of this strange netherworld.

Grigor notes the macabre walls with an involuntary shudder.



The gypsy priest cannot help but imagine his own skull among it, and those of his friends. He spies no divination focus in the magic circle of the Oracle, and wonders whether she be ghostly wraith or flesh and blood.

Amethu remembers having read the holy scripture of Thanatos and thinking: "What would a culture reveling in the learnings of the dead actually uncover? Immortality of a sort?"

Cruloc of Cimmeria warns them of the price of that which is offered.

Yet Kiri steps forward into the cold, stagnant air. "We seek the written knowledge of this place, Oracle, so that we may fully learn its secrets."

The Oracle of Thanatos answers: "Deathly acolyte, what thou seeks lies west and far below. The Library at Thracia, which hath become the Palace of the Minotaur King."

She looks past Kiri at the others. "Who else comes bearing questions?"


Actions?!


Map Detail:


Map:





PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 17/17, Spells: 7/8 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: 21/29, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl, Glowing Scimitar
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 20/21, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Torix: Pict Savage Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 28/28, Unsettled
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 24/29, Unsettled
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 11/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 76 rounds. Holds Amethu's Lantern

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)

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc contemplates asking the Oracle how to kill Grandfather, but he reconsiders given the harm it may do to the powerful Kiri and the elder's potential usefulness as a springer of traps.

An unaccustomed feeling of guilt rises in his barbarian brain as he realises that he would miss Grandfather if he were gone.

[jemmus]

Torix listens to the death witch's pronouncement. It seems surprisingly straightforward and the information actually useful. Of course, it could be lies to send gullible fools to their deaths. There is other information that he would like to know. But he will not speak with a witch of the death god.

"The Minotaur King," he thinks. For some perverse and likely very foolish reason, he would like to see a live minotaur.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra hesitates, reluctant to sound stupid. Then she speaks We seek the written knowledge of this place, so that we may fully learn its secrets.

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri steps back as the others ask their questions, making a calculation and a mental note of which way is "west" down here. He imagines the way to the library is down the steps they encountered earlier.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu continues to study the oracle quietly. Zahra asked exactly the question that is on his mind.

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Fiddles with his plethora of Holy symbols, wondering what the Oracle might actually know wisdom or soothsaying wise that will benefit our exploration.

"Taxes, death then the Judgement come to all men. But in this place of death, how can
we remain righteous? What Godly relic can we find to redeem ourselves?"

He asks the witch hoping she might know of some temple vaults with blessed rather than cursed goodies in them.

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

The rogue shudders every time the shrouded Oracle speaks; her voice creeping down her spine along with the sweat from her nerves. "Wise Oracle, what awaits us below?" her voice barely above a whisper. "Who...or what is the Minotaur King?"

Thanks for taking care of Dahinna, Inferno.
Back in the saddle.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

"Hmm... If not for the ill-boding etchings on the floor and the surrounding stack of skulls, the fair timbre of her voice would have me believe she is a dove ready for the soiling."

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra side-eyes Cruloc and snorts in amused disgust.