Chapter 22: Underworld

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri wonders, not for the first time, at the strange layouts of subterranean lairs.

"A grand colonnade leading to... a stinking cave for dogs..." he remarks. "Perhaps we explore past the armory over the bridge."

[Inferno]

The Caverns of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Eleven. Late Morning. 21st day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







The explorers discover further evidence of the existence of other enemies of the mad, death-worshipping survivors of ancient Thracia.

Cruloc believes the slaughtered wolf pups were hacked apart with an ax.

Kiri suggests they follow the rope bridge eastward into the unknown.


Actions?!


Map:

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: 15/17, Spells: 3/8 1st lvl, 4/5 2nd lvl, Lantern
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 30/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 16/25, Torch
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 19/29, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 18/21, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Torix: Pict Savage Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 28/28, Torch
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 10/29, Torch
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 10/11, 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)

[jemmus]

Torix looks around the cavern, checking to see if perhaps any reptilian tracks might be on its floor.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc sheathes his dagger and draws his sword, gripping it tightly enough to draw complaint from the leathered handle. Suspicion flares in his ice-blue northern eyes.

"In Cimmeria, the enemy of my enemy is also my enemy," he growls.

[Bluetongue]

Kiri suggests they follow the rope bridge eastward into the unknown.

Grigor agrees.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

"The Easterner wishes to venture east. I concur."

[jemmus]

Torix nods his agreement to the idea.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra stays near the front of the group, weapon in hand.

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri looks from one to the other as they voice agreement, then after a brief, awkward silence, shrugs and says, "Yes, let's go, then. Keep your eyes open for giant lizards."

[ravenn4544]

Amethu leaves the bodies to the warriors and examines the walls and the rest of the room for any possible clues or hidden exits.

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

The rogue stays away from the dead pups and instead uses her torch to help her search the walls, if perchance there is some type of concealed passage. When the group readies to cross the bridge, Dahinna falls back in line, sword in hand.

[Inferno]

The Caverns of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Eleven. Late Morning. 21st day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







The bare rock offers no sign of footprint nor secret passage.

The explorers withdraw and return to the rope bridge above the great, black abyss.



They venture across, single file.

A cold wind rises from the darkness below and sets their torches dancing. Natural sized bats swarm overhead in shifting, winged clouds.



They turn eastward on the suspended platform and enter a tunnel whose floors are stained with dried blood. They pass another empty guardpost armory and find a third immense cavern, the largest yet discovered!

Their flickering light pushes back the ancient darkness of the boundless expanse.



A rope bridge spans the bottomless chasm (14 and 15) and reaches a shadowed tunnel beyond.

To the northeast, at the edge of his torchlight, Torix spies another dark, open doorway set in the rock (NE of 14). A thin, treacherous path carved into the towering cliff-face itself (W of 14) leads from their position to the distant, black portal. Torix shares his discovery in a whisper that echoes in the vast, yawning gulfs.


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.

Map:





PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 4/3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 15/17, Spells: 3/8 1st lvl, 4/5 2nd lvl, Lantern
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 30/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 16/25, Torch
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 19/29, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 18/21, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Torix: Pict Savage Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 28/28, Torch
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 1, HP: 10/29, Torch
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 10/11, 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)

[jemmus]

Torix
We go toward the tunnel?, the tattooed Pict whispers. He holds his short bow and on hand and his torch aloft in the other.

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna]

"Anything to be back on solid ground. These bridges...have I mentioned I hate them yet? No? Well, I hate them," the rogue murmurs, talking mostly to herself, but occasionally glancing over her shoulder at Grigor.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc gazes upwards at the doorway suspended high above and the precarious ribbon of a pathway cutting across the sheer rock face. He grunts.

"A length of rope, a Zamoran thief, and a Pict are all that I require to ascend yonder track. A trinket or two lies there in wait, I'll wager, among other things." He looks back at Dahinna and slaps Torix on the shoulder. "Time to earn our keep."

To the others, he adds. "Cover us, whatever emerges from the portal across the bridge. We'll be in no position to defend ourselves."

[ravenn4544]

Amethu watches quietly as the others brave the trail to the tunnel.

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

"Sure, go on ahead, secure the tunnel." the gypsy encourages the trio to scramble along the narrow path.

"Make like a goat!" he shouts after them ... ....

"no, no, I mean, goats and hooves. Be surefooted on the precipice, not rear mounted and made to go "baa"."

[jemmus]

Torix
I don't have a rope. But if someone does, I will climb with the others.

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri questions the wisdom of splitting the group, but takes one look at Cruloc and says nothing. The man seems determined, and, frankly, capable.

He hands over his 50' of rope and the grapnel that goes with it.

"Please return this to me when you are finished," he says.

[Inferno]

I'll assume standard marching order for the climbers.

Sorry Urson, we're past three days. Onward!