Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire

[ravenn4544]

Amethu rises quietly and tends to the others as needed. As the others recant their experiences of self-reflection during the time they were unaware, he keeps the fact that all was nothingness to him. Perhaps that peculiarity something to be reflect on?, he thinks.

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Rises from the dirt, slumped over and blanketed by a furry hound with a wet tongue.

"Good boy Gnasher. My, you are chilled to the bone." he rubs his animal companion and takes stock.

There seems little value in disturbing more of the dead to rise. Let us hope that was the only one.

Grigor invokes Cure Light Wounds: [1d8]=2

He blesses his hound with a spell. His last incantation until we can rest and he can pray again.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra stands, gathering her wits, and moving to join the others. I had thought us all dead. We must find a place to recover. Seeing how rattled Dahinna is, she gives the woman a hug. Well done, sword-sister.

[hedgeknight]

Cruloc
"Dahinna... Your valour penetrated the icy shroud between this world and the land of Crom. I heard you. And if He did not, I will tell him about it when I meet him next."
Cruloc's expression softens. "Hearken. The others stir. On your feet, girl. A hero does not accept acclaim from her knees." Catching her elbow, he helps her up.

Dahinna gets to her feet, sheathes her sword and wraps her arms around Cruloc's waist. She grits her teeth and forces back the new tears. "I th-thought all of you were dead, and I was alone with the specter of Thanatos!" She lets go after a few seconds...when Cruloc undoubtedly tenses...and looks around as her other companions stir to life!

Zahra
Seeing how rattled Dahinna is, she gives the woman a hug. Well done, sword-sister.

Dahinna hugs the Amazon tightly and then pushes back with a wet-eyed nod and a few sniffles. "How did all of you...survive? I thought for sure you were dead. I would have never left you had I thought otherwise."

[ravenn4544]

Amethu thanks Dahinna for her mighty stand against Death and protecting the rest of the group in their ill-fortune.

Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=7 on Dahinna

[hedgeknight]

Feeling her wounds heal, Dahinna gasps with relief, and hugs Amethu fiercely. She tries to speak but can't get anything out except a teary-eyed smile of gratitude.

[Urson]

Zahra
I don't know. I saw nothing, heard nothing. But I smelled the dust and spices of my home in the pyramid.

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri stirs and soon stands up. An observer would have a hard time telling he had just been through a traumatic experience.

He looks around for Grandfather but doesn't see him.

"Maybe we should descend the stair we found and get this over with, before we die again," he says.

[Inferno]

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







In dark, funereal regions of the Caverns of Thracia, death hangs over the adventurers that have seemingly returned from the grave.

The "revenants" are reunited. Amethu the masked sorcerer-priest tends to valiant Dahinna with orisons of healing that she may have the strength to continue on. (+7hp) Gnasher too has suffered some unspeakable ordeal, and Grigor sees to his faithful hound with gypsy charms of his homeland. (+2hp)

Then, with dread, the doom-haunted explorers of the mysterious Underworld consider their next fateful steps.


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: 17/17, Spells: 6/8 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 1: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 18/25, Torch
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 21/29, Spells: 0/4 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
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 5/11, 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 surveys the group, looking to see who is most hurt and in need of bandaging. The dog Gnasher seems closest to death, but he decides it best to leave any healing to its master. He's not friends with the wounded beast, but more than that, offering to fix another man's property for him could be seen as an insult to his pride. Next worse off is Dahinna, the Zamoran warrior woman. He says to her, in his Common, Maybe this body dead already. I like dead who move in this place. Your body hurt, maybe still alive. I bandage, if alright. He chews the pungent oily herb from his pack, puts a pinch of sea salt on a strip of bandage, and carefully drops the ground herb paste onto it.

First aid: This skill allows the barbarian to bind wounds, set sprains
or broken bones, and concoct natural antidotes and natural cures
for diseases. This means the barbarian immediately regains 1 hit
point, and thereafter he or she regains hit points at twice the normal
rate, regaining 2 hit points per day if resting, and 1 hit point per
day even if active and adventuring. The barbarian can also bind
wounds to prevent further loss in hit points of other characters.
Such “first aid” restores 1, hit point immediately, and then increases
hit-point recovery by 1000/0 if the barbarian continues to
administer aid and cures.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu asks, "Do we return and delve down deeper or continue forward on this pathway before us now?"

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc's gaze moves about the far corners of the chamber, and he wonders what rights of terrible, revolting, and inexplicable nature were once held here. The tangible fear he felt at the threshold of Crom's desolate, icy domain is replaced by curiosity, and he is reluctant to flee from the long shadows or horrors which lie beyond their current position and whose imaginings daunt the hefty Kiri.

"We dare not delve too deeply, for our supply of torches shrinks. Kambujan eyes may penetrate the dark, among the other wondrous feats they are capable of." Cruloc glances at Kiri, half-anticipating a positive reply. "But mine do not. Let us maintain our present course. Further, the unexplored passageway to the east draws my curiosity forth. I would probe its reaches before venturing beyond the darkened stairway below."

The Cimmerian binds the wounds of whomever is in need, canines included.

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

There is the passage to the west, past the body of x7.

The gypsy will go check out that area, eager to leave this ritual chamber of crumbling dead.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra scowls, not liking any of the choices. Are we sure there are no other exits behind the tapestry? If there are none, I would choose to go west.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc alerts the others to the presence of the iron door on the north wall.

"But I see we are led again by the wandering feet of the gypsy."

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

The Zamoran rogue is exhausted both physically and emotionally. She nods to Torix and smiles weakly, allowing the Pict to doctor her wounds. When the others begin talking about where to go, she agrees with Cruloc. "No deeper please. Plus, how are we going to see once we run out of light sources? Perhaps we should return to the surface...or else fashion some more torches."

[Inferno]

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







The "living dead" are surrounded by scenes of living death.

Cruloc and Torix tend to the newly injured (+1hp each) as Grigor gets his lantern alight and peers into the western channel (please mark off one flask of oil). The unnatural shadows relent, revealing a dead end.

No consensus emerges on their next steps. Kiri believes they should descend now toward their goal. Zahra suggests they search behind the tapestry. Cruloc voices that they should go east, and also mentions the northern door. Dahinna advocates for the surface.


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: 17/17, Spells: 6/8 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 1: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 19/25, Torch
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 21/29, Spells: 0/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl, Lantern
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
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 6/11, 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)

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

A dead end? No door? Ok. I will search for any secret one, pushing in any tiles, twisting sconces on the wall, tapping the plasterwork, look for seals and keyholes.

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

The young rogue holds her position near the door leading back the way they came. She thanks Torix again for the healing poultice and stands there watching her torch wane, the shadows creep in. She has her sword in hand although she doesn't remember drawing it. Still, it pays to be ready.

[jemmus]

Torix accompanies Grigor, to act as a guard.