The Caverns of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Twelve. Late Afternoon? 22nd day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia
Freely and of their own volition, the explorers venture deeper into this spine-tingling realm of unnatural darkness and death. Perhaps the Oracle was right. Perhaps they truly do belong to Thanatos now; unable to resist his call no matter the peril to their immortal souls.
As ever, Grigor leads the way into the jaws of danger. Amethu, Cruloc and Dahinna fall back, beyond the lashing gale, to the benighted chapel of the dead. They get torches alight and Dahinna returns north as far as her flickering brand will allow.
Zahra bares the fabled Sword of Xuthalhotep, older than the Hyborian Age itself, and its lambent blade adds to Grigor's feeble light. Together with Kiri and Torix they advance into the teeth of the wind storm, the sound of flapping cloth growing louder, and the stench of death stronger, with every faltering step.
Torix and Zahra swallow their ominous dread as they help push back the supernatural blackness to discover a towering hall (area 10) whose vaults lie beyond their sickly luminescence. The obsidian walls bear age-worn murals that give praise to Thanatos, the Atlantean God of Death.
Against their every instinct of survival, the explorers edge further still and their light unveils a looming figure, nearly as large as Grigor! (X1)
Its writhing, wind-tossed shroud is the sound that besieged them. Zahra wonders if this fearsome entity is the apparition that she and Amethu half-glimpsed whenever one of their number neared death?
If this spectral harbinger of doom was one and the same, then what dire omen does it portend for them now?!
Actions?!
Map Detail:
One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.
Map:
PC Status:
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 1: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 19/25
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 10/29, Spells: 0/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
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: 6/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4
PC Magic:
Player Resources: