Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire

[ravenn4544]

Amethu ponders, "I'm curious as to where these tunnels lead - perhaps a bit further into the darkness first?"

[Urson]

Zahra
What have we gathered since we left the surface? If we already have this item, should we not know it?
I suspect we will need to backtrack.

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

"No harm in looking. This dead place has no timetable to meet. We need to retrace our steps. We slept near the mold, maybe it covered whatever relic she speaks about."

He doesn't trust the witch oracle spoke truth but then, would she have been here is unattended for eons only to prattle BS and then disappear?

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

"If I am to be a thrall of Thanatos, I intend to see whether the information I traded my soul for is of any use."

Cruloc heads south back to their bivouac in the fungus room. He ties a rag over his mouth and nose and begins searching.

[jemmus]

Torix grunts his assent. These people were sorcerers. We might need their sorcerous thing to fight them. I agree about going back to look for it.

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

The rogue watches Cruloc head back to the fungus room and coughs unexpectedly in response. She follows but refuses to go back inside the deadly place. "I'll stand guard at the entrance while you search. If I scream, better come running."

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra joins Cruloc in the search, lighting another candle to help light the place. Maybe we should just burn the fungus first, to make the search easier.

[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





Intrigued by the strange prophecies of the Oracle of Thanatos, the adventurers wish to find the holy relic of which she spoke.

Cruloc leads the way, with Dahinna and Zahra close behind. They wind their way through the dark, turning corridor...




...and reenter the chamber of macabre, skeletal fungus men.




The horrific things remain as lifeless as they were left.

Zahra's candle struggles against the unnatural darkness. Cruloc covers his face and searches the thick subterranean growth, triggering the release of a poisonous spore cloud! (Cruloc, please Save vs Poison on 1d20+4 to act)


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet. L = lantern. 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: 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: 1/4 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, Candle
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: 71 rounds. Holds Amethu's Lantern
Protection From Evil (Grigor): Target: self. Duration: 11 rounds

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

Save vs. poison (13 req) [1d20+8]=19+8=27

The hardy barbarian searches on, unperturbed by the billowing spore clouds.
"Hreh! Being sprayed in the face is the price of entry to any Ophiran cathouse!"

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra belatedly covers her nose and mouth with a cloth, then joins the search. Burning this mess looks more and more tempting all the time.
Pre-emptive saving throw
(save Vs Poison:14 att [1d20+4]=20+4=24 )

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Stays outside with Gnasher.

[ChubbyPixie]

Not daring to risk being infested, Kiri stays out of the fungus room while it is searched. Grandfather hovers nearby, holding a torch.

"Did you hear, Grandfather? I now belong to the God of Death," he says, impassively. The torch wavers slightly, as if the figure holding it were laughing.

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

The rogue waiting outside the door hears Cruloc say something about an Ophirian cathouse and wonders what in the hell the Cimmerian is blathering on about now. "Hurry up!" she says, through the entryway. Kiri and Grigor can see the fear and worry on her face.

[jemmus]

Searching structures for ancient arcane items isn'tsavage Torix's strong point. He waits outside on guard with his short bow.

[ravenn4544]

Amehtu cautions, "Let us all go together - safely as can be managed. We should not separate our strengths"

[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







The rictus grins of dead, infested skulls leer up at Cruloc and Zahra as they quickly search the unwholesome subterranean flora.

There, braving supernatural darkness and airborne toxins, the barbarian and the amazon discover a stone casket, two feet in length and crudely carved with the unholy symbols of Thanatos!




Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet. L = lantern. 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: 17/17, Spells: 7/8 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl, Lantern
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: 1/4 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, Candle
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: 70 rounds. Holds Torch
Protection From Evil (Grigor): Target: self. Duration: 10 rounds

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)

[ravenn4544]

Amethu peers across the room, the words of the Oracle on his mind, the interest evident on his face invisible beneath his mask. "Interesting... Interesting, indeed."

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

"Holy bones, Gnasher, he has found something." the gypsy priest exclaims.

Now we just need the barbarian of all people find the ancient magic relic and go "bah humbug!" and toss it in the cavern.

He actually can't believe the witch soothsayer actually spoke some truth. Unless the chest is empty.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

The barbarian grins broadly.

"If one is willing to accept an indignity," he wipes clean his fungi-coated visage, "fortune waggles its teat in your face!"

A calloused hand motions toward the skull-emblazoned casket. "It may be trapped. Zamoran, Death challenges you once more. But this time there is a reward in the offing!"

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra holds her candle high. Dahinna, I think this is your job.
She steps back a pace, to give the thief space to work.