Chapter 20: The Forbidden City

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra readies herself for the day, glad to be still alive after recent events. Ink? Would it be possible for you to improvise? Some soot from a torch, mixed with oil- or water- or something?

[hedgeknight]

"Harpy's nest. There may be a bauble or two in there."

"I'll help you look around," Dahinna says, careful to avoid the piss puddle.

[Paladin]

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

The Zingaran pirate yawns uproariously, scratching his chest and blinking several times as day breaks within the blighted temple. He immediately rakes a hand through his hair and straightens his clothing and belongings, then slips away to do what must be done.

He returns bright-eyed and buoyant, inhaling the morning air and--"Baubles?" Eyes alight with the lust for something shiny, he eagerly joins his comrades in searching through the rubble.

[Inferno]

The Temple Ruins, the Dead City of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Nine. Dawn. 19th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia
Partly cloudy, cool







Dawn comes to the dead city. But daylight renders it no less eerie.

Within the temple ruins, Kiri wrests the archaic volume from Amethu's hands at last.

Questing for further knowledge, Amethu heaves up the loose paving slab that Grigor discovered. Beneath is a rope ladder that plunges down into the abyss.



The ancient murals revealed that somewhere beneath this temple lies the fabled Library at Thracia, the destination of their quest to Pictland.

Grigor asks whether they should descend or explore the forbidden city.

Cruloc, Dahinna and Iago voice support for an expedition back to the rockfall beneath the cliffside trail, to locate the nest of the monstrous vulture-hags, and what treasure it might hold. The explorers know two of the beguiling harridans survived the battle.

The adventurers weigh their choice.


Actions?!


Maps:

One square = 10 feet


Area Map:

X marks the heroes' position.





PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 15/15, Spells: 7/7 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 44/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 17/19
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 29/29, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 30/32
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 21/21, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 26/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 11/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

None currently.

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 into the depths.... He then notices the group debating which way to go. He offers, "I suggest we focus our efforts on our quest. We can explore the ruins upon our return." He peers once again into what is hopefully the entrance to the past they seek.

[Paladin]

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

The Zingaran is visibly crestfallen at Amethu's suggestion. "But...baubles!" He gestures out toward the general direction of the hags' nest. "Shiny things, amigo! Curiosities and treasures--" When the spellweaver only continues peering into the dark hole, he sighs audibly and wanders to his side, squinting to look down.

"Okay...if you insist. It is a hardship adventuring with you focused types," he grouses good-naturedly, a smile playing across his lips.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra says nothing. She crouches beside the hole, and drops a burning branch into it. Her intention to go down is clear.

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Looks down. He has to figure a way to get Gnasher below. The hound would be like carrying a deadweight over his shoulder. On a rope ladder, that is not practical. He begins to rig a basic harness that he can loop around the dog's leg and shoulders so he may be lowered down by hand.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc is irked, and unleashes a torrent at the esurient scholars.

"Bah! Books! You've already got one, and you'd have more before we've finished our morning victuals!"

"I came here to get rich," eyeing Iago, "and I suspect our comely thief whom you fancy is of the same mind! I intend to drink my way back to Cimmeria, and I won't be paying tavernkeepers and whores along the way with pages torn from dusty tomes filled with chickenscratch!"

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

"Searching the siren's nest won't take long. The ladder down into the depths, assuming it will hold any one of us after all these ages, isn't going anywhere. We may find some things to aid us on our journey below."
She looks to Zahra for help, but can see there is none to be given.

[Paladin]

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

The changeable rogue's eyes flash with the allure of wealth and pleasure. "Aye," he remarks with a slow nod. "Taverns and whore--" he catches himself and flicks a glance at the aforementioned comely thief--"ses. Taverns and horses. The races, you know." He winks at Cruloc.

"They have a point, amigo," he says to Amethu with an apologetic shrug. "Perhaps we should ransack this nest first."

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri, remembering with deepest shame his behavior in the presence of the harpies on the cliffside, walks to Zahra's side and peers down into the opening.

"I would prefer pressing on," he says. "Grandfather can light our way as we descend, should we choose to, leaving our hands free to grip the ladder."

[Inferno]

The Temple Ruins, the Dead City of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Nine. Dawn. 19th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia
Partly cloudy, cool







The sun rises over the ancient desolation of Thracia.

Iago wavers like a Jolly Roger in a squall and then the adventurers are decided. They will plunge into the unknown regions beneath the dead city in search of the object of their quest. Grigor fashions a rope harness for his faithful hound.

Zahra drops a burning log from the campfire into the hole in the temple floor. It plummets like a falling star, illuminating the rope ladder and a thin, shaft-like chasm in the rock, down, down, down and then the flame goes out and darkness swallows up the depths again.

The clattering echo of the branch's impact on stone is the only sound on the cold dank air emanating from the pit.


Actions?! ( Light sources? How many on the ladder at a time? Usual marching order to descend?Thanks!)



Map:

One square = 10 feet





PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 15/15, Spells: 7/7 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 44/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 17/19
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 29/29, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 30/32
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 21/21, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 26/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 11/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

None currently.

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)

[Urson]

Zahra
Seeing that the choice has been made, Zahra leads the way down. She tries to keep track of the number of rungs, hoping to get a guess as to the depth of this pit.

IF she reaches the bottom without incident, she'll light a candle and set it on the floor, then steady the ladder.

[Paladin]

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

The pirate sighs, girding his proverbial loins and awaiting their comrade's descent before taking the ladder down after her. "I shall discover baubles upon our return," he decides. "And perhaps those awful women will not kidnap and ravish me." He grins and heads for the bottom. "But alas...they are but women, hideous and screeching though they may be. Who could blame them?"

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Ties on the hound and lowers him down after Zahra and the others. It is much easier to haul up than lower down, belaying a wriggling dog not an easy task but Gnasher has an understanding and trust with his master and goes over the edge in the harness.

if you need a skill check:
Grigor: ropes Gnasher and lowers him vs Dex 17 or Str 12 [1d20]=7

He probably has 40'ft of rope after tying around the dog.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu takes a breath before descending. He cautions the group, "remember the statuary that depicted a snake-like evil. This could be the same menace that brought this city low - and may indeed yet remain in the depths below."

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Unnerved by the prospect of descending once more into the mind-bending intestines of the Earth, Cruloc elects to bring up the rear.

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

The rogue shakes her head as Iago's tout's his virtues, considering whether she should cut the rope as he descends. Deciding to instead save him for the sirens, she waits her turn and descends into the pit.

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri takes a moment to call upon Grandfather and asks him to carry a torch for them as they climb down the ladder. He then descends in his turn.