Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

[Inferno]

Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

Beneath the Barren Wasteland, Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Ten. Afternoon? April 5th, 912 CY








The surviving heroes that saved the crew of the Castle U.S.S. Enterprise from a fate worse than death,...

Connak the Cat-Man Fighter/Thief!

Fiefo LeBratt the Rat-Man Fighter!

Ko-Nan the Human Barbarian!

Maskelyn the Gnome Illusionist!

Sheriff Yul the Robot Fighter!

...journey for five days in the vast underground cavern complex beneath the barren wasteland of Xygax's Island. They found a subterranean river on the third day and refilled their waterskins, but their food supplies are severely taxed. (lose 5 days rations each)

The air has been steadily improving and, on the fifth day with only Connak's enchanted blade for illumination, they discover a trio of ageless stone pylons in the center of an immense cave, each forming the corner of a great triangle, each crowned by a horned, bulbous-eyed, inhuman head somehow given a noble cast!



Unable to decipher the mysterious glyphs etched into their stone surfaces, the party readies to continue eastward through the only other tunnel from the cavern when suddenly, the weird obelisks oscillate with a high pitched tone! A strobing sphere of colored light appears above them! Deep within that shimmering orb comes the vision of a bizarre creature identical to the eerie visages sculpted atop each strange monolith!



"Ya na kadishtu nilgh'ri stell'bsna Nyogtha, K'yarnak phlegethor l'ebumna syha'h n'ghft!" the being utters in a language unknown to the adventurers!

And then it and the shining globe disappear! But now suddenly standing between the three pylons are two figures, adventurers by the look of them, and surprised! The party does not know that they are:

Draupadi the Human Cleric of Dhianha!

Mungo the Mole-Man Cleric of Verne and Wells!

Nor do they know that the holy pair had just undertaken an expedition to the Forbidden Vale and discovered the lost ruins of a dead civilization of highly advanced reptile creatures both ancient and wise!



There, Draupadi and Mungo had examined a trio of pylons identical to these and suddenly found themselves transported into this dark cavern, they know not where! They too could not decipher the cuneiforms carved into the obelisks, nor comprehend the utterance of the spectral hovering visage that materialized before they were conveyed here!

Now they see four figures nearby, adventurers by the look of them, and wounded!


Actions?! (and introductory posts please!)






PC Status:

Connak: Cat-Man Fighter/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 12/19
Draupadi: Human Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 34/34, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 26/26
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 28/39
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 14/14, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl, Invisible
Mungo: Mole-Man Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 34/34, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
Sheriff Yul: Robot Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 16/38

PC Magic:

Invisibility (Maskelyn): Target: self

Player Resources:

End of the World (game description)
Strange New World (maps and realms)
Memory Tapes (the story so far)
Viewscreen (the story so far in images)

[Rex]

Draupadi

"Hail, who goes there?" Draupadi waves to the other adventurers. "Look Mungo, some others."

[Stirling]

Mungo

Blue arcs of static electricity run across his body in streaks of zapping and illuminating sparks. His gloves, a pair thick leathery forge gauntlets a conduit for the hair raising voltage.

He claps his hands and pads himself down, embers of ignition burning his garb. His hair returns from 'on end' to cover his face in a bushy beard.

"Did I touch the 'do not touch' button again?" he asks.

Before he can even assess his surroundings, his comrade points out the others. He switches on a lantern attached to his helm which focuses a spotlight beam at the other arrivals. Draupadi seems confident they are no threat as she waves them over so he watches them as they move. Rather than reaching for his weapons he fingers some twisted tubular pipes that dangle from his torso.

[Rex]

Draupadi

"One of us did for sure Mungo." She looks over carefully the others as Mungo's light spotlights them.

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan raises his axe - pitted with blood and bile - over head ready to strike! "More tricks from the Wizard Filth!" He stares unblinking with cold hard eyes waiting for any sign of trickery and deceit.

[Urson]

Maskelyn

When the magical image speaks, Maskelyn watches carefully. Yahh- your brother blows bubble gum!

He studies the two figures as they appear, unsure how to react and respond to their actions. His stomach growls- a loud 'oiiinnnggg! sound.

[Bluetongue]

Sheriff Yul

The cyborg moves carefully. The appearance of the bug eyed saurons in the globe mystified him. Were they trying to communicate a warning or cast a spell? Maybe this is a holy place and they intoned some templar chant? How do they manifest in the spectral vision?

The two figures are very different from the reptilian globetrotters. One a short stocky and sooty bundle of wild hair and carrying odd objects. The other, tall lithe and dressed in a shiny scale. Is that a suit made from the skin of these reptiles?

He appraises the duo and walking forward towards a pylon, greets the newcomers.

"Hail. Who are you. What are you doing in this place. Do you even know what this place is?"

Sheriff healing in the five tunnel days

Sheriff Yul heals overnight vs 17 Con [1d20]=19 [1d20]=19 [1d20]=20

Sheriff Yul heals overnight vs 17 Con [1d20]=19 [1d20]=18

[Rex]

Draupadi

"I am Draupadi! Priestess of Dhianha. We don't know where we are actually. We stepped on something similar to this located in the Forbidden Vale and suddenly we are here."

[ChubbyPixie]

Fiefo lowers his fork and regards the newcomers skeptically. Suddenly he relaxes. "They must be ok or they would have tried to kill us already, like everything else."

[Stirling]

Mungo

The dwarf-kin studies the group in the beam of his torchlight. An eclectic group no doubt.

"You look like 'castaways'" he concludes as he notes their ripped and torn garb, limping gaits and scars of battle.

"I think we too have stepped beyond our reach. The Forbidden Vale and its' secrets have belched us here, wherever 'here' is. Perhaps we can aid each other?"

Feeling less threatened he approaches the others, holding his hand out to greet them. He introduces himself as 'a purlioner of antiquities' and an 'acolyte of the new sciences'.

He notes the Catman and the baldy with the tin star seem injured. That is perhaps an area we can both help. "In our way, both Draupadi and I minister the blessings of the divine. May we look at your wounds?"

[Rex]

Draupadi

Draupadi will look over anyone who is willing. "Dhianha teaches wisdom, as well as war. But we are always prepared to fight when necessary." She sermonizes as she inspects their injuries.

[Bluetongue]

Sheriff Yul

The cyborg didn't heal any extra during the transit here so looks most in need of whatever tender mercies the gods bless him with. He is not a religious 'borg' but has a knowledge of medicine men and ordained clergy blessing their flocks.

He offers his arm and shoulder for inspection. He still has the acid burns on his subdermal layers and probably leaks blood and oil from claw wounds.

[Urson]

Maskelyn

Oh, sorry, folks! I forgot... Maskelyn lets the Invisibilty spell lapse, fading into view.

[Rex]

Draupadi

Startled for a moment at Maskelyn's appearance she quickly recovers. When done examining everyone, she casts CLW on Connak.

"Here, this should help."

Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=8

[Inferno]

Beneath the Barren Wasteland, Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Ten. Afternoon? April 5th, 912 CY







Deep beneath the earth, the clerics Draupadi and Mungo miraculously materialize within the triad of ancient obelisks that each bear a strange visage!

Maskelyn the gnomish conjurer suddenly materializes as well, appearing out of thin air! Ko-Nan the barbarian readies his fearsome ax, but cooler heads prevail. The two groups of explorers warily exchange greetings that echo in the vast cavern.

The holy strangers offer blessings of healing and Connak the cat-man gratefully accepts. (+8hp)


Actions?





PC Status:

Connak: Cat-Man Fighter/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 19/19, Glowing Saber
Draupadi: Human Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 34/34, Spells: 4/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 26/26
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/39
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 14/14, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Mungo: Mole-Man Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 34/34, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl, Lantern
Sheriff Yul: Robot Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 16/38

PC Magic:

None currently

Player Resources:

End of the World (game description)
Strange New World (maps and realms)
Memory Tapes (the story so far)
Viewscreen (the story so far in images)

[Stirling]

Mungo

The Moleman takes the arm of the tin starred cyborg and pulls his goggles over his eyes to inspect his wounds.

He finds it fascinating that here before him is a 'living and breathing machineman'. Quite clearly he has a physical body and must have some semblance of mind and intelligence, even if artificial. The fates have obviously brought him here for a reason.

"Do you have a soul my son? When you die will you corrupt and decay? Dust to dust and rust to rust? Or will you soar on wings like eagles into Nirvana, 20,000 leagues above the heavens? Have you a spiritual vocation?"

He chatters and mumbles at the Sheriff as he lays hands on him before intoning some glossolalia of scientific incantations, his gloves sparking along his holy pipe symbol as he ministers healing to the wounds.

"Son. Maybe you need to repent of the innocent blood you have spilt or from any anger in your heart for being so disenfranchised from your Creator. Verne will hear us even in the very centre of the earth." he says after the spell produces little effect. He prays again for Sheriff Yul.

He pats the cyborgs arm. "God has chosen compassion on you. May you have compassion on others."

Mungo casts Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=1
Mungo casts Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=7

[Bluetongue]

Sheriff Yul

The questions from the inquisitive cleric provoke a strange look on his visage. His eyes flicker. He has not thought so much about 'the meaning of life'. "I have only duelled those who wished to duel with me. I have shot no man in the back and served justice on many others.

My vocation is to uphold the law. Is that not a righteous calling? That is the demands of justice."

He marvels though as some of his exoskeleton rib bones knit together and the acid burns fade on facial scar tissue. He jerks spontaneously as severed wires reconnect which reboot internal programs. Healthier but not fully healed.

Aware of the exposed position we are in gathered under the pylons he advises, "We should carry on and not dally here. Those creatures in the vision globes may be alert to our presence. "

[Rex]

Draupadi

"Yes then we should move on. Do you mind if we join you for now? Safety in numbers and all."

[Urson]

Maskelyn
Maskelyn attempts a charming smile- on him, it comes out more of a leer from a drowned rat.
Certainly, sister! Glad to have your company.

[ChubbyPixie]

Fiefo, the ratman with the cybernetic eye, just sighs. "Sure, I guess? Join us. We nearly die of exposure or get murdered about every ten minutes or so - just sayin'. But suit yourself." He readies to move out.