Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

Seeing the ghostly figures, Dahinna gasps and takes a step back. "By the teeth of Set! What have we stumbled upon?"

[Urson]

Zahra
Having burst into what appears to be a temple, Zahra stops. She keeps her sword in hand, but lowers it, point to the floor. She watches the shapes, expecting anything.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu whispers, "if they are unmoving, perhaps best to retreat. We can circle around this temple behind the curtain.."

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Having stepped through the curtain, in order to surprise anyone conducting rituals, he himself is surprised to find the figures dead or at prayer?

I will cautiously approach X1 and at arms length lift the shroud off the figures head with the tip of my scimitar.

Can I see any burning brazier or incense holder? I wonder why it still burns if it is not a recent thing? Having a mask from the yellow mold room, just in case this new incense has some effect, I will bandanna up to help filter any spores away from my nose and mouth.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc cautiously moves 10 feet to the north, torch held high.

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri watches intently for developments as Grandfather moves into the center of the temple with the torch held high to fully light the area.

[Inferno]

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







The explorers violently hack their way into an eerie chapel. Within, all is quiet as a tomb. The pale, shrouded congregation neither moves nor speaks.

"By the teeth of Set! What have we stumbled upon?" Dahinna gasps, stepping back as Cruloc and Torix cautiously advance.

Kiri's unsettling torch (T) hovers into the shrine, revealing more unmoving worshippers and the tapestry that surrounds them, depicting a vast apocalyptic tableau of horror and death.



Breathing the thick incense on the stagnant air, Grigor ties a rag around his jaw. He notices a dark brazier in each corner.

Amethu quietly counsels they should avoid this temple of Death.

Grigor enters and, with the tip of his scimitar, pushes back the hood from one shrouded figure to discover what lies beneath!



Dead, empty eye sockets stare back at the gypsy, and then the fleshless worshipper crumbles to dust and bone!


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet.

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, Lantern
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/45, Torch
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
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: 58 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)

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra relaxes a fraction as the uncovered skeleton crumbles. Let the dead rest. She circles the room, counter- clockwise, staying in the space between the pews and the tapestry. She wil avoid touching any of the sheeted figures.

[ChubbyPixie]

Staying on the outside of the curtain, Kiri will circle clockwise to the opening in the west, meeting Grandfather there to compare notes.

[jemmus]

Torix follows Kiri to the opening, careful to stay clear of congregant. He views the tapestry and mutters, What kind of madman could think of such a thing?

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Is confused a little. My natural instinct would perhaps move around to the next one along the pew, X4, repeating the same carefully prodding the skeleton and lifting off the covering.

If that one also turns to dust he will sieve his way through the ashes and bone with his sword tip, looking for any gold teeth, rings, brooches. The warriors we fought each wore some insignia. These worshippers might be no different.

I wonder too why the brazier continues to burn?

These bodies have been here centuries in their decay yet the ceremony continues? I have no memorized ability to detect magic, but assume some magic must be ongoing to maintain the incense burning or else a worshipper is still coming into the room to carry out ceremonial duties?

I will call Gnasher and speak to him. He is a Dalmatian type hound and should be able to detect scent, even above the incense. I wonder if he could trace the steps of a priest coming and going in the room?

looking at the picture, it makes sense the curtain encloses the room except that gap by no' 9, which might lead to another chamber or door. And if someone is coming and going from that direction to the braziers, Gnasher might pick that up?

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

Horrified at the ways of this death cult, the rogue moves left, past Kiri and Amethu, and along the tapestry while searching for a possible door or hallway to another chamber. She holds her short sword before her...

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc circles the outside of the curtain counter-clockwise, a sputtering torch managing just to keep his unease at bay.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu is mindful of the hooded dead. "In this place, the dead can indeed rise once more..."

Slowly, he too advances around the curtain for another way forward.

[Inferno]

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







The gypsy priest desecrates the holy chapel of Death, disturbing a second reverent disciple (X4) who crumbles into a cloud of dust and bone.

Grigor finds a silver charm among its gruesome remains, like that which Iago donned for good luck moments before his murder.



His companions fan out. Cruloc discovers an iron door set into the northern wall. Amethu, Dahinna, Kiri and Torix find a thin corridor ranging west into darkness. Gnasher sniffs the floor near them but seemingly finds no scent.

With revulsion, Torix regards the tapestry that surrounds them. In the horrific vista, Thanatos is not depicted as an angel of death, but as a legion of the dead returned to Earth on Judgment Day. And they come to claim all. None can escape them. Peasants, warriors, kings; all fall to Death.



Suddenly, those that breathed of the thick, stagnant incense feel light headed. (Dahinna, Grigor, Gnasher, Kiri, Torix and Zahra, please Save vs Poison to act. Grigor saves at +2.)


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet. 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, Torch
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
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: 55 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]

Dahinna

Having been poisoned before, the rogue recognizes the familiar feeling and grits her teeth, shaking her head vigorously. "Poison!" she hisses, backing away farther from the tapestry and room of the dead. She watches her companions closely, hoping they will not succumb to the toxin's effect.
Poision save (12): [1d20]=15

[ravenn4544]

Amethu contemplates the unwritten messaging in the tapestry. "While their devotion is rather maniacal here, the lesson is the same the world over: One may be a king, or a lowly street sweeper - but sooner or later, we all dance with the Reaper..."

[jemmus]

Torix feels lightheaded from the fumes. He's ready to get out of this room.

+4 barbarian bonus, but still no good. [1d20+4]=2+4=6

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Breathes heavily. His faithful hound licks his face as he feels faint.

Grigor saves vs poison 10+ [1d20+2]=6+2=8 Gnasher saves vs poison 14+ [1d20]=15

[ChubbyPixie]

The room swims before Kiri’s eyes suddenly. He bends down with his hands on his knees, suppressing the urge to vomit.
Save vs. Death/Paralysis/Poison (13): [1d20]=1

Grandfather, unaware, moves 20’ down the western corridor.