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Re: Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2022 1:52 pm
by 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.
Re: Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2022 3:13 pm
by 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.
Re: Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2022 5:26 pm
by 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.
Re: Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2022 7:50 pm
by hedgeknight
Yrkoon wrote: ↑Thu Dec 15, 2022 7:01 am
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!
Urson wrote: ↑Thu Dec 15, 2022 5:26 pm
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."
Re: Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2022 9:49 pm
by 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
Re: Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2022 12:51 am
by 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.
Re: Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire
Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2022 6:59 pm
by Urson
Zahra
I don't know. I saw nothing, heard nothing. But I smelled the dust and spices of my home in the pyramid.
Re: Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2022 1:47 pm
by 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.
Re: Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire
Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2023 11:25 pm
by 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:
Re: Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire
Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2023 11:58 pm
by 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.
Re: Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2023 11:39 pm
by ravenn4544
Amethu asks, "Do we return and delve down deeper or continue forward on this pathway before us now?"
Re: Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2023 9:42 am
by 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.
Re: Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2023 2:58 pm
by 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.
Re: Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2023 5:00 pm
by 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.
Re: Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2023 9:28 am
by 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."
Re: Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2023 4:53 pm
by 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."
Re: Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2023 5:16 pm
by 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:
Re: Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2023 9:53 pm
by 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.
Re: Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire
Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2023 5:52 pm
by 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.
Re: Chapter 23: The Grave of Empire
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2023 1:23 am
by jemmus
Torix accompanies Grigor, to act as a guard.