Chapter 13: Underground City of the Demon God

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin approaches the being, cautiously. He keeps his hand on the hilt of his sword, but he does not draw it (yet).

"What miracle is that, strange one?"

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri will look to the others, then shrug and cross the bridge, stopping a respectful distance away from the ragged stranger, precisely just out of smelling range.

[Urson]

Zahra

Zahra can't help but smile a bit at the stranger's antics. She crosses the bridge, but keeps her distance- and keeps her javelin in hand.

[Pulpatoon]

Garrin "What miracle is that, strange one?"

Tjoruy: "A sparrow! With the voice of a man! It heralds your appearance and whispers of deicide! Or... Perhaps it is a scorpion?"

Taking in the company, he pauses, and asks, "Strangers strangely met, what bringeth thou to this deep place?"

When asked his identity, he answers, "I... Shadows long lost called a name, and there was once a boy who answered. Tjoruy was he, and he..." He grimaces and looks pained. "I... I am... a vessel. Yes... that is all. A vessel, empty and waiting, ready to be filled with Light and Spaciousness!"

[Urson]

Zahra

Having decided the stranger is harmless, Zahra nods politely to him, then turns to face outward, watching for potential threats. He listens carefully to what he has to say.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako stays quiet and unseen. What madness this lost soul must have living in such darkness.

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen keeps a wary eye out for danger as the other get acquainted.

He looks around the immediate area to get an idea of what they are up against from this point on, peering down into the crevasse for any trouble or clues as well.

[Inferno]

The Underground City, the Vast Subterranean Caverns Beneath the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Seven. Midnight?, 19th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia






Deep below the earth, at the edge of the breathtaking ruins of the underground city, the pilgrims to the land of eternal darkness speak to another lost Verulian madman wearing an animal mask.

He is Tjoruy, who has outlived the civilization that spawned him; another shattered piece of flotsam adrift on the endless cascade of merciless aeons.

One by one, the explorers begin to cross the natural rock formation that bridges the bottomless crevasse whose walls are eerily luminous with the cerulean phosphorescence of strange lichen and fungi.



Wise Amethu cautions, "Remember what happened at the last bridge we crossed. We should be more careful here." None heed his prophecies.

Then suddenly, before they can finish crossing, Hell vomits forth its dread contents!

Winged shadow-shapes soar out from the towering dark steeples of the vast forlorn magnificence of the underground city.




Atop them ride the pale sorcerer-priests of Zargoth! (P1-3) Their ghastly inhuman masks echo the horrific nightmares that have haunted the adventurers ever since they entered the lost city!




More of the gigantic albino chiropterans carry the savage beast-men of Zargoth into battle! (B1-?)

Beneath them charge a legion of such primitive brutes, degenerate beasts descended from the ancient Verulians who mastered art, architecture, medicine and science, and now, after centuries uncounted, had fallen to this crude, primordial state. Gripping clubs, spears and axes, they lunge forward with murderous fury! This is their home, their territory. They will defend it to the death!



Then Tjoruy the underdweller sees something he has never before seen in all the many years of his long dark life: armed men draw steel, daring to resist the fell servants of Zargoth!


Actions?!


Map:

One PC marker = 5 feet. The PCs are crossing the bridge from lower right to upper left.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

The wary adventurers are not Surprised.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 14/14, Spells: 3/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl, Lantern
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 26/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 11/14, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 18/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 10/10, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl, Invisible
  Tjoruy: Verulian Osoran Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 31/31
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 16/16, Invisible
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 18/21

PC Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Garrin): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Garrin.
  Healing Mists of Osorus (All except Amethu, Tjoruy and Zahra have breathed of the mists): All lost HP recovered with 8 hours of sleep. Wakeful rest, or sleeping less than 8 hours, enables recovery of 1 HP per hour. Duration: "months."
  Invisibility x2 (Mako): Targets: self and Xorzen

Player Resources:

• The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
  Mysteries Strange and Deadly (player clues and notes)
  Hieroglyphs (the story so far, in images)
  An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)

[SocraticLawyer]

Not for the first time, Garrin curses his foolishness at the obvious trap. He draws his longsword, running towards the group of beastmen to the north. He hopes that this newcomer with his strange words wasn't a distraction. He decides to trust the quirky man for now, running past him and into the fray.

The paladin attacks the nearest foe, but is to distracted to land a blow.

To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 6+1 = 7; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 3+1 = 4; lg - [1d12+1] = 7+1 = 8

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri draws his short bow and two of his blessed Arrows of Chisis. He levels his aim at the mount of one of the flying priests (P2) and lets fly, hoping to drop the beast from under him, or cause it to reel and disrupt any spell casting:

Attack with Short Bow and +2 Arrows (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20+2] = 17+2 = 19 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6+2] = 2+2 = 4, vs. Lg: [1d6+2] = 1+2 = 3

Attack with Short Bow and +2 Arrows (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20+2] = 6+2 = 8 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6+2] = 5+2 = 7, vs. Lg: [1d6+2] = 1+2 = 3

[Scott308]

Loche

Seeing the newcomer's wild gesticulations and hearing his bizarre comments, the Pict mutters, Figures. Th' foremaist thing we run intae that's nae trying tae murdurr us turns oot tae be a pumpin' loony!

As he casually makes his way toward the strange newcomer, he sees the horde of enemies approaching. That's juist pumpin' bonnie. Mair o' thae assholes. His sling already at the ready, he fires a bullet at one of the priests (p1) but unfortunately doesn't wait until it gets in range.

Sling of Sutehk (20): [1d20+3] = 3+3 = 6 Bullet Damage S/M: [1d4+3] = 4+3 = 7; Dam L: [1d6+3] = 2+3 = 5

[Urson]

Zahra

Without a word, Zahra throws the javelin in her hand at (B2), aiming at the bat-creature.

att [1d20+4] = 7+4 = 11
javelin [1d6+3] = 3+3 = 6

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako moves behind Zahra keeping at least 20 feet from her or any other character that moves forward.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu shakes his head at the unfortunate turn of events. With little options left to him, he will throw a silence spell onto P1 (or whichever priest is in range), so the spell will carry with it as it flies....

cast silence 15' radius

[OGRE MAGE]

Without another word, Xorxen sprints off to the northwest, trying to avoid the oncoming beastmen while darting to the side, attempting to get behind their ranks and remain unseen until he is completely behind them.

If successful, he will try to determine if any other threats are still coming up from behind this mob as he plans to start attacking them from their rear ranks.

[Pulpatoon]

It takes Tjoruy a while to process the events unfolding around him. What are these movements the strangers are engaging in? So familiar, and yet disconcerting. He can feel the presence of memory, an insistent itch, but it refuses to resolve into anything coherent.

Combat? Is this what it is to see others fight? Are they fighting, or is he? Did his hand draw a sword, or another's?

Reaching down among the bundle of filthy cloth that accounts for his material possessions, Tjoruy withdraws a rag-wrapped mace. His mace. In his hand. He commands the hand that swings this mace, and he is the vessel that chooses the target of the mace's attack.

"Homage to thee, O Osorus, in thy might and in thy strength. Thou maketh a path about heaven, thou sailest in the presence of Ra, thou seest all the beings who have knowledge. Verily I say unto thee, O Osorus, let let the wicked be driven hence, even unto the wall of burning coals."

Still not entirely sure of the difference between himself and the adventuring party, he joins them in their attack on the forces of Zargoth. "Jackal-faced apes! Unfit for Light or Spaciousness!"

THAC0 18: Mace attack: [1d20+2] = 8+2 = 10; dmg: [1d6+3] = 1+3 = 4

[Inferno]

The Underground City, the Vast Subterranean Caverns Beneath the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Seven. Midnight?, 19th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia






In the shadow of the timeless subterranean city, a ferocious battle erupts! The dread denizens of the underworld will defend their unspeakable master's frightful domain to the death!

Before the outlanders can react, hideously masked priests soaring high atop immense bat creatures chant orisons to Zargoth in the long dead language of Ancient Verulia, blessing their warriors with the dark favor of the voracious Demon God!



Thus sanctified by ageless evil, the fierce primordial men lunge forward to take the bridge!

They ignore the shambling directionless figure of Tjoruy entirely, hurtling past him into battle!



Unseen by mortal eyes, Xorzen narrowly dodges the stampede, plunging headlong to one side, at the cliff's edge of the bottomless chasm! He peers beyond the rampaging pack and spies no more creatures lunging out from the labyrinthine city of the distant past.

Monstrous batriders wing across the stone bridge to sow havoc among the invaders' rear flank with hateful long spears, missing Amethu and Zahra but gashing Loche's arm (-2hp) and ruining his aim with the Sling of Sutehk!

Behind them, in a wild caterwaul of sounds more animal than man, the marauding horde of murderous savagery gains the bridge, led by the three largest beastmen the outlanders have ever beheld! The strong, powerful creatures bludgeon and hack Garrin without mercy, nearly killing the noble son of Atlantis in one horrific onslaught! (-17hp!)



Invisible, Mako pads closer to the fray, slipping past two malign bat riders with spears, approaching Zahra the amazon as she launches a javelin with all the strength of her arm and impales a great chiropteran mount (of B2) at the neck in a spray of blood and gore! The bat beast screeches in angry defiance!

Kiri draws his bowstring back and looses two enchanted arrows toward an airborne priest of Zargoth (P2)! The fabled Arrows of Chisis sound low tones as they cut through the air, one grazing the unholy priest's flapping steed.

Amethu lowers his lantern and speaks arcane words of power, smothering another, unsuspecting priest (P1) in a shroud of unnatural silence!

At the bridge, slow realization hits Tjoruy of Osorus, and before he realizes it, his mace is in his hand. For the first time in his long dark life, he strikes back against his oppressors, hammering one in the center of its spine! (B12) Surprised at any sign of resistance from an underdweller, the snarling proto-human wheels in anger and raises his heavy stone ax with ruinous intent!

And Garrin, somehow still standing after the brutal attack, manages to drive his sword into the largest beastman (B5), a brutal clan chieftain perhaps, drawing blood and a furious roar!


Actions?!


Map:

One PC marker = 5 feet.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 5, Monsters: [1d6] = 6 Monsters win.
Xorzen: Dex Save to avoid stampede! [1d20] = 9 Saves.
B1, B2 charge Amethu and Zahra: [1d20+2] = 4+2 = 6, [1d20+2] = 1+2 = 3, damage: [1d6+1] = 4+1 = 5, [1d6+1] = 4+1 = 5 Both miss!
B3 charges Loche: [1d20+2] = 12+2 = 14, damage: [1d6+1] = 1+1 = 2 Hits for 2hp damage.
B4, B5, B6 charge Garrin: [1d20+2] = 16+2 = 18, [1d20+2] = 13+2 = 15, [1d20+2] = 13+2 = 15 All three hit!
Damage to Garrin: [1d8+1] = 4+1 = 5, [2d4+1] = 2+1 = 3, [1d8+1] = 8+1 = 9 17 hp damage.
P1: Save vs Spell (12): [1d20] = 19 Saves. Spell is centered one foot behind P1.
Garrin's foe (B5) is charging, increasing his AC by 2. And Garrin is charging, earning him a +2 to hit. So Garrin connects.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 14/14, Spells: 3/7 1st lvl, 2/3 2nd lvl, Lantern
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 9/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 11/14, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 16/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 10/10, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl, Invisible
  Tjoruy: Verulian Osoran Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 31/31
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 16/16, Invisible
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 18/21

PC Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Garrin): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Garrin.
  Healing Mists of Osorus (All except Amethu, Tjoruy and Zahra have breathed of the mists): All lost HP recovered with 8 hours of sleep. Wakeful rest, or sleeping less than 8 hours, enables recovery of 1 HP per hour. Duration: "months."
  Invisibility x2 (Mako): Targets: self and Xorzen
  Silence, 15' Radius (Amethu): Target: One foot behind P1. Duration: 5 rounds

Player Resources:

• The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
  Mysteries Strange and Deadly (player clues and notes)
  Hieroglyphs (the story so far, in images)
  An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)

[Pulpatoon]

Oof. I should have let them run past me and cast Chant. But that's no good now that I've been targeted. I guess it's time to double down on melee.

Tjoruy brings his mace to bear on the axe-wielding figure.
Mace attack: [1d20+2] = 16+2 = 18; dmg: [1d6+3] = 5+3 = 8

[ravenn4544]

Amethu will strike the passing bat creature (B1) for the first time with the ancient symbol of legend - the Staff of Uthoth!

To Hit (THACO 20): [1d20+2] = 12+2 = 14

Staff of Uthoth - Damage: = S/M/L: [1d6+2] = 3+2 = 5

[Scott308]

Loche

Deciding it's time to employ a new strategy, the Pict quickly stuffs his sling in his belt and attempts to hitch a ride on a passing bat creature.