Chapter 34: Nightmare World

[Inferno]

Blackchapel Manor, the Dreamlands
Day Nine. After Midnight. Sunday, January 1st, 577 CY







In the surreal house of madness and horror, Mouser and Telkis flee up the stairs from their sinister selves!

They burst through the open doors of the second floor in time to see evil Urdur, diabolical mesmerist, say to Ingrid, "Don't be afraid, my child. Go right in. How tired you must be. Why don't you lie down?" indicating the sacrificial altar.



"And you're still warm from that armor. You should disrobe and be comfortable."

Virtuous Jerome continues to be scalded alive inside his red-hot armor! (1hp damage) "Saint Cuthbert, help me!" his harrowing voice cries out.

"Silence!" snarls Jerome the anti-paladin. "Saint Cuthbert has forsaken you."

Then both Urdurs attempt to ensorcel the other in an arcane battle of wills! (Urdur please Save vs Spells to act freely!)

Meanwhile below, in the great hall, Long Bo emerges from his catatonic state and rushes to Faron's side to aid his fallen friend!


Actions?!


Second Story Map:


Second Story Map Detail:

Lit areas are visible this round. All else is from memory.

Behind the DM Screen:

No initiative roll is necessary. The doomed heroes and their dark reflections move simultaneously. Initiative is tied.
Heat Metal damage: [1d4]=1
Number of Hypnosis targets: [1d6]=1

PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: -2/22
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 4/5: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 16/21, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 5: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 10/25, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 4/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl, Hypnotized
Jerome, Human Paladin 4: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 3/23, Laying Hands: 1/1, Hypnotized
Long Bo, Human Druid 6: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 41/41, Spells: 4/6 1st lvl, 1/4 2nd lvl, 0/2 3rd lvl, 1/1 4th lvl
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 33/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 15/15, Spells: 1/4 1st lvl, 0/2 2nd lvl, 1/1 3rd lvl

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)
Faerie Fire (Long Bo): Targets: The Bo, Jerome, Telkis and Urdur from the accursed looking glass. Duration: 17 rounds
Heat Metal (Long Bos): Targets: Both Jeromes, and the true Ingrid. Duration: 1 round. Rounds of exposure: 6
Hypnotism (Urdurs): Targets: both Ingrids, both Jeromes. Duration: 1 round.

Player Resources:

Tale of Terror (the story so far)
A Dark and Terrible World (maps)
Blasphemous Iconography (the story so far in images)
Desperate Struggles (clues and player notes)

[SocraticLawyer]

Save vs Spells (12) [1d20+4]=20+4=24

Urdur believes that evil Ingrid and evil Jerome are still hypnotised.

He turns to evil Ingrid. What are you waiting for?
Can't you see she needs your healing magic? he says, pointing to the real Ingrid.

Then Urdur turns to evil Jerome. What are you doing? You need to get out of that armor immediately! Drop that foul thing! he says, indicating evil Jerome's sword. Assuming evil Jerome drops his weapon, Urdur continues: Here, drink this healing potion. It'll make you feel better. Urdur tosses a vial of holy water to evil Jerome. To be clear, Urdur is not throwing the vial at evil Jerome. Just a friendly underhand toss.

Really hope this works!

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof - Human Sacrifice/ Wanton Whore

Ingrid begins walking toward the altar, letting her clothes fall to the ground as she goes. Naked as the day she was born, she climbs on the altar and lies down atop it.

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis skids to a halt inside the doors in time to see Ingrid strolling nudely to the altar like some sort of brazen strumpet. He blinks in astonishment, then turns to slam the doors in the faces of his evil counterpart and friends, simultaneously looking for a way to bar the door.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser reacts quickly to help Telkis slam the doors with an obvious expletive about their situation, "Shit!"

He does gather his wits - these situations in his recent history aren't that unusual after all- and ensorcells the doors with a magical barrier.

Cast hold portal

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo rushes to the side of his fallen comrade.

With little time for diagnosis, he touches Faron's chest, reciting a prayer to the Shalm to heal the unconscious soul.

CLW [1d8]=4

[Inferno]

Blackchapel Manor, the Dreamlands
Day Nine. After Midnight. Sunday, January 1st, 577 CY







In the grand hall of the house that bridges reality and madness, Long Bo miraculously heals Faron (+4hp) and the rogue awakens back into a living nightmare.

Above them, on the second floor, Mouser and Telkis wheel around to discover the evil incarnations of Faron and Mouser about to backstab them both! The true Mouser and Telkis slam shut the doors between them and Mouser conjures a hex to seal it!



Mouser is a reckless dabbler in sorcery but even he knows his spell will not bar devils nor demons. The door holds! The sinister simulacra of the haunted mirror cannot be either of those supernatural horrors!

Nearby, Urdur and his mirror image each resist the hypnotic domination of their mind by the other!

The true Urdur beguiles the unholy Ingrid to heal her virtuous counterpart, and the wicked anti-paladin to drop his accursed black blade and drink holy water! The evil Jerome complies and suffers no ill effects, again revealing these insidious creatures to be neither devils nor demons!

Simultaneous to Urdur's actions, his diabolical reflection leads the true Ingrid and Jerome into the occult chamber beyond the threshold! Against every fiber of their being, they have no choice but to comply.




Ingrid disrobes and lays upon the sacrificial altar.




Five young girls had been slaughtered in service of Lord Blackchapel's dark design. Now Ingrid Esthof would be the latest and final victim of the "Hookhill Ripper," completing the eldritch ritual that will forever end the world of Men!

Ingrid's sinister self enters the altar room, that she may heal Ingrid as instructed, as the evil Urdur cries out, "May I introduce the Lord and Lady Blackchapel?"

At the north end of the tapestried chamber (room 15) stand two young figures of noble refinement gazing at each other in mutual admiration like matched cameos in silhouette. Adorned with grace, beauty and elegance, they are the very flower of the Greyhawk aristocracy.

"Pioneers and explorers not of the spaces we know, but between them!" the evil Urdur proclaims in a voice rapidly approaching hysteria.

Lord and Lady Blackchapel turn their beautiful heads to have audience with the heinous Urdur, Jerome, and both Ingrids. Suddenly, the indescribable effects that the Dreamlands have wrought upon their minds, bodies and souls are laid bare.






"It's true what they say," the evil Urdur titters wildly. "Travel broadens the mind."

With an uncontrolled shudder, the true Urdur recognizes what his dark reflection next chants; unspeakable truths of blasphemous tomes from which they both have drank too deeply! "Ai! Ai! The Great Old Ones shall return! Man rules now where they ruled once! They shall soon rule where man rules now! After summer is winter, and after winter, summer! They have waited patient and potent. For now, upon this Oerth, shall they reign again!"

In an exquisite voice of calm, cultured measure, the writhing thing that was once Lord Blackchapel says, "The stars are right. The ritual is complete. Our time has come at last," as he raises a dagger high above Ingrid's heart.

At that instant, the spell that mesmerized Ingrid fades away and she has free will.


Actions?!


Second Story Map Detail:


Second Story Map:


Behind the DM Screen:

No initiative roll is necessary. The doomed heroes and their dark reflections move simultaneously. Initiative is tied.

PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 2/22
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 4/5: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 16/21, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 5: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 10/25, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 4/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl
Jerome, Human Paladin 4: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 3/23, Laying Hands: 1/1
Long Bo, Human Druid 6: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 41/41, Spells: 4/6 1st lvl, 1/4 2nd lvl, 1/2 3rd lvl, 0/1 4th lvl
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 33/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 15/15, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl, 0/1 3rd lvl

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)
Faerie Fire (Long Bo): Targets: The Bo, Jerome, Telkis and Urdur from the accursed looking glass. Duration: 16 rounds
Hold Portal (Mouser): Duration: 3 rounds

Player Resources:

Tale of Terror (the story so far)
A Dark and Terrible World (maps)
Blasphemous Iconography (the story so far in images)
Desperate Struggles (clues and player notes)

[jemmus]

Faron's senses feel a mystical goodness and they turn back from fading away into nothingness. He wakes, looks around, and with horror remembers where he is.
Thank you, Bo, he says. Seeing only friends here, he dashes up the staircase to try to help the coming of an unthinkable.

[ChubbyPixie]

"How long have we got?" says Telkis seeing the magic take hold on the doors.

Without waiting for an answer, and heedless of a possible opportunistic attack from evil Jerome, he charges into the altar room with the intention of laying Evil Ingrid low before she can effect any more diabolical prayers.

Morningstar +2 (THAC0 17): To Hit:[1d20+2]=18+2=20, Damage: vs s/m [2d4+2]=6+2=8, vs L [1d6+3]=1+3=4

[ravenn4544]

Mouser looks to take advantage of Telkis darting off to attack evil Jerome - and strikes from behind.

Scalpel (THACO 19) To Hit [1d20]=4, S/M/L Dam. [1d8]=5

Ooc: I didn’t add the possibility of a backstab advantage but it doesn’t look like it’s going to matter

[OGRE MAGE]

With his long hair flying backwards after Faron's quick exit, Bo follows along, making his way to the stairway, and ascending to their possible demise.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof - Human Cleric

The haze in her eyes disappearing as her ensorcellement fades away, the young cleric sees a dagger ready to plunge into her, stealing her life away. With only a split-second to react, she utters a single, magical word of power- Flee! she commands the knife-wielder as she rolls off the altar to the eastern side of the room.

Ingrid cast Command on Lord Blackchapel.

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur tries to encorcel his enemies again.

Prostrate yourself before the Lady Blackchapel!, he says.

Casts Hypnotism again, targeting evil Urdur, evil Ingrid, and evil Jerome, in that order.

[Inferno]

Blackchapel Manor, the Dreamlands
Day Nine. After Midnight. Sunday, January 1st, 577 CY







Deep within the Blackchapel Manor of another world, Faron and Long Bo hurtle up the arcing staircase to aid their friends!

In the balcony at the top of the stair, the twisted reflection of Telkis tries to smash down the hexed double doors, to no avail!

"Stand back," intones Long Bo's dark twin.



The evil druid summons ancient power to bend nature to his malevolent will! The door creaks and groans until it ruptures open before his sorcerous might!

Beyond the sundered threshold, Urdur attempts to reestablish mesmeric control over the mirror images! "Prostrate yourself before the Lady Blackchapel!" the occult arcanist commands. Urdur's wicked shadow self is beyond his sorcery's reach but the evil Ingrid and Jerome comply!

Suddenly, Grey Mouser stabs the anti-paladin in the back! The evil Jerome tries to speak but all he can utter is a gout of crimson.



Mouser unsheathes his sword from the anti-paladin's back and the evil Jerome crashes to the floor, his wicked life extinguished!

Telkis bursts into the altar room and hammers the unholy Ingrid with Cranach as she bows before the writhing horror that was once Lady Blackchapel! Reeling from the attack, the satanic Ingrid readies to defend herself!

The evil Urdur chants with demented ecstasy: "Ai! As a foulness shall ye know Them! Their hand is at your throats, yet ye see Them not; and Their habitation is even one with your guarded threshold! Within your very own mind!"

The true Jerome emerges from his nightmare of helplessness and without hesitation cries out, "Saint Cuthbert!" and lunges over the altar toward Lady Blackchapel! The unspeakable horror attempts to ensorcel Jerome but his lord god is his shield!



Upon the profane altar, the real Ingrid suddenly leaves her horrific trance as Lord Blackchapel, hideously contaminated by his contact with the Dreamlands, drives his dagger toward Ingrid's heart to end her life and, in the culmination of his black ritual, the world!

With the blessings of her god, Ingrid drives back the eldritch horror with a word of power! It drops its dagger and escapes through the only open door, surprising Urdur and Mouser!

The undulating, amorphous atrocities of young Lord and Lady Blackchapel writhe in a hideous shifting maelstrom of changing flesh! Their very existence threatens to break the doomed heroes' sanity! (Ingrid, Jerome, Mouser, Telkis and Urdur, please Save vs Spells to act freely! Wisdom modifiers count.)


Actions?!


Second Story Map Detail:


Behind the DM Screen:

No initiative roll is necessary. The doomed heroes and their dark reflections move simultaneously. Initiative is tied.
Evil Telkis breaks down door? [1d6]=4 No.
How many affected by Urdur's Hypnotism? [1d6]=4
Evil Ingrid, Evil Jerome: Save vs Spells: [1d20]=4, [1d20]=2 Both fail. Evil Urdur is out of the spell's range.
Lord Blackchapel Save vs Spells: [1d20]=5 Fails!
Jerome can't Charge over an altar. Moves this round. Will attack next round.
Jerome: Save vs Spells: [1d20]=14 Saves!

PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 2/22
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 4/5: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 16/21, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 5: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 10/25, Spells: 4/5 1st lvl, 4/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl
Jerome, Human Paladin 4: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 3/23, Laying Hands: 1/1
Long Bo, Human Druid 6: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 41/41, Spells: 4/6 1st lvl, 1/4 2nd lvl, 1/2 3rd lvl, 0/1 4th lvl
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 33/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 15/15, Spells: 1/4 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl, 0/1 3rd lvl

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)
Faerie Fire (Long Bo): Targets: The Bo, Jerome, Telkis and Urdur from the accursed looking glass. Duration: 15 rounds
Hold Portal (Mouser): Duration: 2 rounds
Hypnotism: (Urdur): Targets: Evil Ingrid, Evil Jerome. Duration: 5 rounds.

Player Resources:

Tale of Terror (the story so far)
A Dark and Terrible World (maps)
Blasphemous Iconography (the story so far in images)
Desperate Struggles (clues and player notes)

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof - Human Cleric

Seeing her companion, Jerome, nearby, and noting the blood he seems to have lost, the young cleric hurries over to him, calling upon Holy Tritherion to restore life energy to the paladin.

Save vs. Spells (14): [1d20]=13
If this counts as a mental attack then I think her +4 bonus should make this a success.
Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=4

[SocraticLawyer]

Save vs Spells (12) [1d20+4]=16+4=20

To Evil Ingrid, Urdur says, Silence that foul interloper!, indicating Evil Urdur.

[ChubbyPixie]

Crouched over the prone Evil Ingrid, Telkis raises Cranach, then makes the mistake of glancing towards the altar...

Save vs. Spells (11): [1d20]=9

In spite of all he's been through, he is not quite prepared for what he sees there.

[OGRE MAGE]

Knowing his friends precarious health situation, Bo waits on the stairs for a moment to see what the enemy at the top of the steps will do.

If they are content to move into the room, the Druid will attempt to follow them without their knowledge, urging hias companion to do the same.

If they attack before entering, Bo will cast another spell, trying to encapsulate evil Grey Mouser and Faron within a halo of glowing light as well.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser takes a step forward after his lucky blow then stops in his tracks as he’s mesmerized by the new horror before him….

Save vs Spells (12) [1d20]=4

[jemmus]

For once, Faron sees an opportunity to own of the things he knows how to do fairly well. He ignores the dark mirror dream Faron, as if the thing doesn't exist. He darts an averted gaze at the other shadow, not announcing his presence, and drapes his blood-stained and many-holed cloak over the glow of his long magical blade. He begins to ascend the stairway, as swiftly as he dares. To run it through the fiend through the back, from stem to stern, if he can. Step by step... as swiftly as he dares for a successful strike... in last minutes or seconds of the eve of the end of the world. Haste and the quiet craft of the thief do no mix well. But there is no time! He listens for the dreaded clanging of the New Year's bells from outside his dream. And inside it as well. As in a dream, he fears that he is too late for the event that will not wait one heartbeat longer. And tries to quicken his loud, heavy leaden feet.

Move Silently 43% [1d100]=83
THAC0 19 +1 Longsword [1d20+1]=18+1=19 S/M [1d8+1]=4+1=5 L [1d12+1]=9+1=10