Chapter 3: The Civilization That Time Forgot

[ChubbyPixie]

Outwardly calm, only Kiri's eyes react to Roan's attack on the, admittedly, clearly insane monkey man. He's already seen so much similar behavior in this sun-blasted land over the last several weeks - it seemed any gathering of two or more always resulted eventually in one with a spear or an axe in him. He glances down at the effigy of his grandfather hanging at his neck. What now? he thinks. So much for learning from these creatures.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Shock at the actions of Roan upon his new friends, Mako fears Roan appetite for human flesh has returned. Not wanting to see anymore harm come to his new friends Mako quickly works an enchantment that may sway the opinion of Roan, Arthfael, Attila and his new friend to do no more harm. "Please friends do no more harm. No violence! No Violence!"

Casts: Hypnotism on Roan, Arthfael, Attila, "M","S","T"
Duration: I round + I round/level (3 rounds)
Area of Effect: One to six creatures
Casting Time: I segment
Saving Throw: Neg.

The gestures of the illusionist, along with his or her droning incantotion, cause from 1 to 6 creatures to become susceptible to suggestion. The suggestion must be given after the hypnotism spell is cast, and until that time the success of the spell is unknown. Note that the subsequent suggestion is not a spell, but simply a vocalized urging. Creatures which make their soving throw are not under hypnotic influence.

[Zhym]

Arthfael's reaction is less calm. In most situations, the druid would allow Rune to do as he wishes. When man fights man—or man-like somethings—the maggots win. And who is to say that maggots have less right to live than man? But Arthfael will not have his introduction to these strange creatures spoiled. As soon as he hears Roan's intentions, the painted barbarian rushes Roan, intent on stopping him from attacking.

[Inferno]

Outside the Secret Shrine of the Oracle of Osorus (3)
The Great Pyramid of the Lost City, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day One. Evening. 13th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





Something rustles deep within the darkness of the monstrous spiderhole. A blacker shape in the blackness.

Before a horrific, gargantuan limb can emerge, Gronda bolts through the secret door into the shrine! She peeks out a crack in that door and sees no movement from the lair of the dark mother. Suddenly, from the other direction, come angry shouts and screams of bloody murder!





Moments earlier...

The monkey introduces the gourd to the lost explorers. "His name… is Xuthalhotep."

Unseen, Biblo the scholar blinks in recognition of the name.

All of the animal-headed strangers suddenly succumb again to gleeful shrieks of maniacal, deranged laughter that echo down the timeless, hallowed corridors of the ancients.

Attila the nomad calls, "Tell them we can help them in whatever way they fancy, as long as they provide us with ample food and drink first!"
Noble Garrin says to the strange beings, "Perhaps your invalid friend may benefit from the healing waters of the font in yonder shrine."

The strangers stop laughing. Fox steps forward and gazes unblinking at Garrin.



Her skin is the color of milk. "Leadeth on, kind sir," she says without moving her mouth. "That we might act in time to saveth him."

Roan the barbarian has little patience for "civilized" men, and even less for madmen. He looses a sizzling oath and then a spear that has all his formidable strength behind it. The missile streaks forward to strike full in the bare chest of the monkey creature! A wet thunk echoes deep in his chest cavity, followed by his death scream. Impaled, Monkey drops the white gourd from his trembling hand and it splatters open on the stone floor. His hideous shriek grows wetter and wetter until it is only a gurgle and then he falls backwards.



The remaining strangers freeze dead in their tracks.

Loche gasps softly, "Bloody hell, lad."

Mako of Khitai overcomes his shock at this sudden, unexpected act. The Eastern conjurer hastily weaves an enchantment to beguile and enthrall the minds of men.



"Please friends, do no more harm. No violence! No violence!"

Arthfael, Atilla and Roan fall under his spell. Arthfael stops his attempts to restrain his fellow Northerner. All three cannot bring themselves to commit further violence.

Screaming bloody murder, the surviving beastmen flee for their lives, squealing north and east into the ancient darkness of the great pyramid!

Monkey remains motionless on his back, Roan's spear blossoming up as vertical as a tombstone. A slowly widening pool of dark crimson gushes from his chest, eyes, mouth and throat.


Actions?


Map:

Pyramid Tier 2.21.jpg (448.96 KiB) Viewed 2593 times

One square = 10 feet. Monsters not currently in sight of a PC are depicted in their last known location.


Rolls and Rulings:

No PC is 'surprised' by Roan's attack, due to the dialogue that preceded it. The strangers are 'surpised' enough that the PCs have the initiative. So we went in standard combat order:

A. Avoid engagement (flee, slam door, use magic to escape, etc.) if possible.
B. Attempt to parley. (Attila and Garrin)
C. Await action by other party.
D. Discharge missiles or magical device attacks or cast spells or turn undead. (Roan throws spear. Mako begins casting his one segment spell)
E. Close to striking range, or charge. (Arthfael moves toward Roan)
F. Set weapons against possible opponent charge.
G. Strike blows with weapons, to kill or subdue.
H. Grapple or hold (Arthfael, had he not failed his Saving Throw)

Save vs Spells: Toad: [1d20] = 6, Stag: [1d20] = 13 Both fail.
Save vs Spells: Roan: [1d20] = 11, Attila: [1d20] = 12 Both fail.

PC Status:

• Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 2: AC 6, HP 7/12, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl and 2/3 2nd lvl
  Attila: Hyrkanean Nomad Barbarian 1: AC 1, HP 11/12
  Biblo Phyle: Zamoran Southman Cleric/Fighter/Magic-User 1/1/1: AC 3, HP 7/7, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: AC 5, HP 15/18, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Gronda: Zembabweian Savage Ranger/Thief 1/2: AC 7, HP 14/17
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: AC 4, HP 3/7, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: AC 5, HP 15/18, Torch
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: AC: 7, HP: 5/6, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl
  Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 2: AC 4, HP 22/23, Torch

PC Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Garrin): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Garrin.
  Invisibility (Biblo): Ingested one dose of potion. Duration: unknown.
  Hypnosis (Mako): Arthfael, Attila, Roan, Stag and Toad. Duration: 3 rounds.

PC Resources:

• An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)
  Men of the Hyborian Age (races of men)
  The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
  Hieroglyphs (the story so far, in images)

[Mant72]

Garrin Locke:

Garrin seethes with rage at the senseless murder and vehemently screams at Roan, "They were in no way showing any signs of aggression! What foul madness has befallen you?! You may have very well resigned us to our deaths."

Garrin turns away and stoops to check the fallen Monkey for signs of life.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

"Is he dead Garrin?" he says looking down at the monkey man.

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri merely glances at Roan then goes over to the Monkeyman, reaches down and... feels to see if his head was indeed a monkey's or just a mask of some intricate design. He will close the moneyman's eyes if they are open, then turn. "I agree with Mr. Garrin that this action seems unwise. It may be best if we coordinate our intent in the future, perhaps?" He'll then turn back to look down the hall after the retreated animal-men, looking for any signs of retaliation.

[Starbeard]

Attila the Nomad

Attila grows slack of shoulder and seems less fascinated by the gaudy great-helm balanced precariously on his head. Absent-mindedly rubbing his large belly, he looks up at Biblo. "You are a good friend. I love you, my friend." He throws a hirsute arm around the gnostimancer and then notices Kiri standing before them. "I love you as well. Hei ho! This is a true thing! I love everybody!"

He makes a loud raspberry and laughs, then slaps his comrades heartily on the back. "Come. Let us move forward. My instincts tell me good things about this place, and they are never wrong."

[hedgeknight]

Roan, Son of Rune

For some reason, Roan doesn't feel as angry as he was a moment ago. After the tongue-lashing from Garrin, the barbarian almost looks hurt. "What the hell did I do to you?"
He then shakes his head and walks to the "monkey", places a foot on the man's stomach and jerks his spear free. He whistles as he wipes the blood off the tip of it with the man's loin cloth and then steps aside to let the others at the body.
"Now what?" he says.

[Zhym]

Arthfael abandons thoughts of violence. But he is far from sanguine.

He turns on Roan, eyes ablaze and full of contempt, and spits at the barbarian's feet. "Baethlach! You are so strong you need more enemies? Now you have them! I wish them luck!"

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri is duly impressed by Mako's attitude transformation magic, of which he has no understanding. "I am impressed, Mako. I could have avoided many fights in the past with this skill. How do you do it? ...Can you change them back?"

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

"Kiri, the mystic powers of the east that I called upon are not as powerful as you perceive. They only bestow me influence on to others and not direct control over them. Each individual has free will to do what they please. My plea only calls upon the good in each man. Whether they choose to listen to that part of themselves is up to them. I'm glad that they choose to end this meaningless violence but it would have been better if they listen to their own voice of good before acting in the first place. We lost an ally that could have provide us with the means to make it out of here alive as well as giving me meaning to this branding." Mako holds out his branded hand and looks upon the strange symbol.

[OGRE MAGE]

Really sorry for the delay here!

Gronda is confused by all of the screaming and yelling coming from down the hall, especially since it doesn't sound like battle. She decides to remain silent and wait it out, instead attempting to hear if there is any movement coming from the spider hole.

Hear Noise (10) [1d100] = 66

[Inferno]

Outside the Secret Shrine of the Oracle of Osorus (3)
The Great Pyramid of the Lost City, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day One. Evening. 13th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





Gronda waits, patient as a spider. The harrowing death shrieks end. The giant spiderhole is motionless and silent. The hallway beyond the secret door darkens.





Harsh words are exchanged as Garrin and Kiri kneel at the body of Monkey. At this intimate proximity, it's clear his head is an elaborate mask. They gently pull it off and his vomited blood pours out.

The face beneath the mask is human, a young man with bone pale hair and skin. His dead eyes, as red as his blood, stare up to infinity. To eternity.





A sheathed dagger lies on his hip. His eyes are larger than normal and so are the pupils, even in death. Kiri recognizes the dreamy dilation of a lotus-eater.

Gaunt and pale, the albino corpse resembles not the dark, proud men depicted in the ageless friezes of the lost city. Kiri gently closes the dead man's eyes.

Attila, blithe and delirious, wanders north and looks down another magnificent, ornate corridor that fades away into thickening twilight.

corridor 2.jpg (273 KiB) Viewed 2532 times

The hallway is quiet. There is no sign of the dead man's bizarre kin.

...until a woman's bloodcurdling scream cuts the silence! Echoing out from that dim eastern tunnel, all the explorers hear it, save Gronda.

Suddenly, the wail is cut short, mid-cry!

There come echoes of other urgent voices and the unmistakable sounds of battle. "What's wrong with thee? Fight! Fight for thy lives!" a man's voice desperately implores in the distance.


Actions?


Map:

Pyramid Tier 2.22.jpg (492.02 KiB) Viewed 2532 times

One square = 10 feet. Monsters not currently in sight of a PC are depicted in their last known location.





PC Status:

• Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 2: AC 6, HP 7/12, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl and 2/3 2nd lvl
  Attila: Hyrkanean Nomad Barbarian 1: AC 1, HP 11/12
  Biblo Phyle: Zamoran Southman Cleric/Fighter/Magic-User 1/1/1: AC 3, HP 7/7, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: AC 5, HP 15/18, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Gronda: Zembabweian Savage Ranger/Thief 1/2: AC 7, HP 14/17
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: AC 4, HP 3/7, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: AC 5, HP 15/18, Torch
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: AC: 7, HP: 5/6, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl
  Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 2: AC 4, HP 22/23, Torch

PC Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Garrin): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Garrin.
  Invisibility (Biblo): Ingested one dose of potion. Duration: unknown.
  Hypnosis (Mako): Arthfael, Attila, Roan, Stag and Toad. Duration: 2 rounds.

PC Resources:

• An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)
  Men of the Hyborian Age (races of men)
  The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
  Hieroglyphs (the story so far, in images)

[Grognardsw]

Biblo Phile, invisible arcanist

From the back of the group I behold the wonderful sight of the animal-headed people.

"Their master is the ancient pharaoh of this place," I whisper ahead. "We should consider gaining an audience."

The pharaoh is surely a madman like these others, but my curiosity is roused.

I glance backwards at the spider hole, wondering if the arachnid will reappear.

Roan attacks.

"No, we shouldn't antogonize them!" I hiss.

I blink and take it all in. It all happened too fast. Talk and violence and now more.

Atilla seems addle-brained, groping another who he thinks is me.

"Let's try to recover," I say aloud from the back. "Say Roan has gone mad. Their Xothohotep is the ancient pharaoh whose shrine this is. We should seek answers. Perhaps these people are remnants of his retinue imprisoned with the dead king."

[Zhym]

"We could give them Roan's head as a peace offering," suggests Arthfael, continuing to glare at the murderous barbarian.

[OGRE MAGE]

Gronda doesn't like the darkness.

She bolts through the door quickly and tries to meet back up with the others.

I saw movement in that spider hole back there!

She sees the dead body of the albino.

What has happened out here? Were we attacked?

[hedgeknight]

Arthfael abandons thoughts of violence. But he is far from sanguine.
He turns on Roan, eyes ablaze and full of contempt, and spits at the barbarian's feet. "Baethlach! You are so strong you need more enemies? Now you have them! I wish them luck!"

Roan grits his teeth and shoves Arthfael away from him. "Spit on me again and I'll bloody my spear some more by making you a new asshole! You're just as crazy as this addled bastard!"

Once he hears the screams coming from up ahead, he runs forward, giving Arthfael and anyone else the finger as he approaches Attila. "What do you see? Where are the screams from?" he asks.

[Mant72]

Garrin Locke:

"Peace!" Garrin hisses at Roan. "There has been enough bloodshed for now." Ironically on cue he hears the bloodcurdling scream from down the hall. He draws his sword and cautiously approaches.

[ChubbyPixie]

Ignoring the inter party squabble, Kiri moves down to the corner with the others. He readies his hand axe for throwing if needed. He guesses it won't be long before it's needed...