Chapter 27: The Tower of the Ancients

[ChubbyPixie]

Glancing at Asteroid and Torix, Kiri silently nods, then sends Grandfather through the crack in the door to scour the room beyond.

[Inferno]

The Ancient Marble Tower, The Ruins of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Twenty-five. Late Morning. 3rd day of the month of Ublex, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia













Dire warnings of death and horror surrounded the explorers. Undaunted, they descend to meet their fate.

They discover an antechamber of doors left slightly ajar. Their torches flicker and the walls writhe, as if lent serpentine life and movement by the unsteady light.

Wise Amethu alone shields his eyes.

But like fabled Orpheus, Asterion cannot help but look. Perhaps intrigued by the mysteries of his long dead ancestors, or the scent of sweet perfume, the son of Atlantis plunges ahead, followed closely by Torix. The Pict glances at the other doors' six-inch gaps and notes daylight emanating from each. Kiri bids Grandfather squeeze between the two warriors with a lit torch and a small hand mirror.

Cruloc barks insults at Asterion who responds, and Cruloc snarls again.

Asterion opens the eastern door wide enough to peer in and he beholds a daylit, opulent chamber adorned in exotic silks. The otherworldly mistress of this chamber stands waiting for him! (M1)



It is an abysmal, slithering entity that fills the Atlantean with a nameless dread. Its terrible gaze rests upon Asterion and with it, ruin!

(Asterion, please Save vs Petrification to act!)


Tower Map:

Tower's diameter is 35 feet.

Behind the DM Screen:

Monster is not surprised, due to voices in the antechamber. Door is ajar.
Are PCs surprised? (1,2): [1d6]=6 No.
Initiative: Party: [1d6]=4, Monsters: [1d6]=2 Party wins. Asterion and Grandfather move to the door before monster acts.

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 14/17, Spells: 6/8 1st lvl, 4/5 2nd lvl
Asterion: Argosian Atlantean Ranger 4: Move: 6", AC: 4, HP: 34/34, Torch
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 41/54
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 16/25, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Torix: Pict Savage Barbarian 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 37/38

PC Magic:

Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 87 rounds, Torch

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)

[hedgeknight]

Asterion

Niggling at the back of his brain is a warning...but the Atlantean ranger is eager to see what lies beyond this door...and it is the last thing he will see for all eternity!

Save vs. Petrification (14): [1d20]=10

[Inferno]

The Ancient Marble Tower, The Ruins of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Twenty-five. Late Morning. 3rd day of the month of Ublex, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







Suddenly, impossibly, Asterion the Atlantean is transformed into stone before the adventurers' disbelieving eyes!

A monument to curiosity, anguish and horror that will stand forever amongst the other masterful sculptures of his ancestors in the ageless city of desolate eternities.

Along with his every possession, Asterion's torch is also ossified and its light extinguished. The other torch and hand mirror float through the eastern doorway, out of sight, plunging the antechamber into shadow!


Actions?!


Tower Map:

Tower's diameter is 35 feet.



PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 14/17, Spells: 6/8 1st lvl, 4/5 2nd lvl
Asterion: Argosian Atlantean Ranger 4: Move: 6", AC: 4, HP: 34/34, Petrified
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 41/54
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 16/25, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Torix: Pict Savage Barbarian 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 37/38

PC Magic:

Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 87 rounds, Torch

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)

[ChubbyPixie]

Witnessing Asteroid Astern Asterion go suddenly still and his color drain away, Kiri wishes mightily that he'd studied his door sealing incantation this morning. As it is, he'll have to do it physically.

"Grandfather! We're counting on you! Please don't let us down!" he shouts.

He grabs the handle of the western door and heaves it shut, then yanks down his blindfold. "I've got this one, someone secure the southern door!"

Grandfather bridles at being given orders like a servant, yet begrudgingly attempts to execute the plan by maneuvering the mirror into place in front of the creature's gaze...

[jemmus]

Torix's jaw drops and the hair on the nape of his neck rise. Demons and monsters from the ancient tales still walk, slither and crawl the earth? And fly in the air above it? As in a childish nightmare?

The Argossian hunter Asterion has been instantly turned to white stone. Every detail of him in life, down to the chinks of his chainmail and the stubble of his chin. Poor fellow, he couldn't have had less than the time of a heartbeat to know what was happening. But it's the same as being brained in battle by arrow, axe or mace. Such is a warrior's death, such is the death of a prey meat animal or fish or preyed upon human. Jhebbal Sag cares not for mistakes made by hares, mice or the bad luck of one's luck for circumstances cub or chick in a nest. It's' all the circle of life, mating, feeding and breeding to keep Life going on earth.

He figures that the Asterion's stone figure will block the demon on earth from passing through the eastern door. He hisses low under his breath in the still air of the darkened room of the tower, Yes, Cruloc and Kiri, Amethu. I get the southern door. He turns and sights to the area as best he can estimate, lowers his fish-smelling hunter/fisherman's washcloth over his eyes, and tries to make the treads of his feet blindly follow a straight line from memory alone.

He'll leave a tribute to the Argossian woodsmen and hunter and warrior Asterion before he leaves the room. Of that, he swears. The meat in his bag, or the medicinal herbs that remain in it. The medicine, probably. That seems more appropriate for an ancient warrior against fighting for eternity against an ancient exponent of evil.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

No serving wench in Akbatanan's wine-stained taprooms could mistake the candor in Cruloc's lingering gaze, nor could the sibylline coaxings of the crone Dagda, hunched and spectral, pry his eyes from the dirt, for discipline learned at the end of a switch had taught him when to look — and when not to.

Unlooping the coil of rope from his broad belt in one motion, the Cimmerian races down the remaining steps. Quick fingers tug at his blindfold and thrust the ends of the line into the strong hands of Kiri and Torix. "Make the doors fast! Tie this to their handles and draw it tight — tight as death's own grip!"

[ravenn4544]

Amethu silently curses as his comrade's form is twisted from flesh to stone - yet part of him marvels at such sorcery!

He slowly shuffles backwards with eyes still shielded to allow the others to seal the doors as best they can.

[Inferno]

The Ancient Marble Tower, The Ruins of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Twenty-five. Late Morning. 3rd day of the month of Ublex, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







What horror from out of the distant depths of Time confronts the explorers of Thracia?

And were they to share the agonizing fate of Asterion?

Or of the blinded servant?




As if shielding themselves from the sight of Asterion's harrowing doom, or in preparation for their lifetime of servitude in cruelty and darkness, the adventurers willingly close their eyes.




Blind, they frantically fumble with ropes and doorknobs by feel and by urgent shouting.

When at last they believe the western and southern portals are secure, all goes quiet.


Actions?!


Tower Map, from memory:

Tower's diameter is 35 feet.



PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 14/17, Spells: 6/8 1st lvl, 4/5 2nd lvl
Asterion: Argosian Atlantean Ranger 4: Move: 6", AC: 4, HP: 34/34, Petrified
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 41/54
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 16/25, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Torix: Pict Savage Barbarian 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 37/38

PC Magic:

Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 85 rounds, Torch

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)

[ChubbyPixie]

“Grandfather! If you’ve succeeded in your task, return to me so I can feel the heat from your torch near my face!” shouts, Kiri.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Groping his way through the void, Cruloc's searching hands latch onto the petrified form of the ill-starred Asterion. He sets his jaw and hauls mightily, striving to topple the calcified ranger towards him. If Grandfather lives, he will need a way out.

"Torix! Help me open a path for Grandfather! Set the Argossean down gently, lest his limbs shatter like dry kindling!"

[jemmus]

Torix, horrified and in disbelief, sees the Argossian hunter turn from bone, muscle, heart and the even the threads of locks of hair turn into smooth, hard stone in an instant. He has seen death come hardly before the recipient can have time to perceive it. Brains dashed from under a helm by a blow from the side, an arrow through the back of the skull. But to be instantly frozen in place for eternity at a glance, in the time it takes to spot one's reflection in a pool.... His mind races, wondering if the magicians know of some way to reverse this, and make stone into skin and hair again...

Yes, Cruloc! I'll grab him! You go! He reaches in the dark for the statue of the forest ranger he was standing just behind, grunts, and lowers the heavy body to the floor.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu continues to be silent and a minimal distraction for those battling in the darkness. He combs through his magical repertoire and can think of nothing immediately beneficial to aide in this new challenge. The mirror that is currently in the hands of another magical spell may be their best defense...

[Inferno]

The Ancient Marble Tower, The Ruins of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Twenty-five. Late Morning. 3rd day of the month of Ublex, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







Horrifically, something unseen in the eastern chamber has turned Asterion to stone.

To judge from the garments of its other victims in the gallery of shattered statues, this mysterious entity is infinitely old. Immortal. Eternal as the lost city itself.

Rather than flee with their lives via the unobstructed path upward, the adventurers labor to enter the eastern chamber!

Whether foolhardy or valorous, Cruloc and Torix shout and strain as they gently lower Asterion's petrified corpse to the floor.

When the yelling subsides, all falls eerily quiet and Kiri feels no heat upon his face.


Actions?!




PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 14/17, Spells: 6/8 1st lvl, 4/5 2nd lvl
Asterion: Argosian Atlantean Ranger 4: Move: 6", AC: 4, HP: 34/34, Petrified
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 41/54
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 16/25, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Torix: Pict Savage Barbarian 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 37/38

PC Magic:

Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 84 rounds, Torch

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)

[jemmus]

Torix again lowers his blindfold over his eyes, although the room is already as black as pitch. Plan, Cruloc? And hear my voice, I'm here. Don't hit me with your blade, right? He holds the Atlantean spear ready.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

With his blindfold secure under his great helm, the Cimmerian is the vanguard across the threshold. Shield raised, sword probing and thrusting forcefully at chest and at knee level, he slides to his left while hugging the wall, making sure the northern area of the chamber is unoccupied. Faint sparks scatter like dying fireflies as his steel rasps against stone, yet Cruloc beholds none of it — his world is now naught but instinct and blackness.

"Follow, you two. Form a line as if Pi—, er, Vanirmen were crashing down on us, with no more than an arm's length between! When I reach the northern wall, we swing south, stabbing the dark like it owes us blood. The third one in, plug that cursed doorway until we all begin moving south so that nothing may creep by! And make noise, damn you! I want to hear the grunts, curses, and shouting of a brothel on fire!"

[jemmus]

Torix
Cruloc, left. Next to him, Amethu. Next, Torix. Kiri on right. Good? I say "hut" sometimes. Means "I'm here" in Pict language.