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Chapter 21: The Caverns of Thracia

Beneath the Forbidden City of the Dead, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Nine. Morning. 19th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia






Dawn comes to the ruins of Thracia, lost forever to antiquity.

Far below the dead city, the explorers turn their backs on the rising sun and descend into the black depths of the mysterious underworld.



Here, long ago in vaults buried deep, had once existed the greatest library on Earth. Verulia's lost past would be found here, along with treasures beyond imagining... it is hoped.

Zahra notches the stone to mark the secret passage.

Amethu, the budding scholar of Atlantean lore, scrutinizes the dark walls and discerns faint etchings among the cracks and crags. The style is the same brutal hand observed earlier, of that dark Thracian epoch after the destruction of Atlantis.

The horrific tableau depicts Thracia fallen into death worship, chaos and ruin after the apocalypse of the world's greatest civilization.

Farther down the vertiginous steps, the etched city has become Hell, a subterranean, supernatural netherworld where walk the souls of the departed for all eternity. A ferryman carries the newly deceased across a river that divides the world of the living from the world of the dead. The crude carvings inspire haunting visions within the minds of the explorers:



At last, they reach the bottom of the stairway and Kiri's spectral torch guides them deeper into Pandemonium.

The stone corridor turns north. Zahra peers around the corner and the hovering, ghostly flame reveals a great cave and a rope bridge extending out across an abyss!



The sound of a river echoes in the cavern, but of the ferryman there is no sign.


Actions?!



Map:

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





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PC Magic:
Player Resources:

Dahinna

The rogue glances behind her at Grigor, her fellow Zamoran and whispers, "How long do you think that rope ladder has been hanging there?" She inches forward, following closely behind Kiri.

Zahra
How long ago did the city fall? Zahra studies the ropes and slats of the bridge- WITHOUT going onto it.

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

"May I borrow your torch?" he asks of anyone in the party with a lit torch. If they are willing, he'll take the light source and move ahead to examine the ropes. If they are in good condition, he'll take a cautious couple of steps onto the bridge, tense and ready to catch himself should the slats break.

Grigor

Keeps a short tether on Gnasher, recoiling his rope to around his torso.

He has no clue about the rope ladder. Good hemp, dry and away from gnawing could last years, centuries even. Like the rope bridge.

"Shall we cross?" It seems not so much a question as an obvious statement but he appreciates those in front want to make sure the bridge is in fettle enough to hold our weight.

Cruloc

Cruloc watches the rear while those at the front fiddle with the bridge.

Kiri moves forward so that Grandfather may illuminate as much of the rope bridge as possible. Where does it lead? he wonders.

He recalls that their track record for crossing bridges unmolested is not very high.

Amethu peers into the darkness after deciphering the ancient pictures on the walls. "These caverns and chasms are likely thousands of years old. Perhaps more. We delve into the bones of an ancient world. The bridge before us is old, but implies that something was recently active in this underground world - and perhaps still remains to hinder our quest. Be on your guard - there are older and fouler things in the deep places of the world..."

Beneath the Forbidden City of the Dead, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Nine. Morning. 19th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia






The explorers descend into the eternal night of the Underworld.

In that unearthly realm, Kiri the sorcerer sends forth their only lit torch. Impossibly, it floats of its own volition, deeper into the immense cavern. Shadows flee before it, revealing that the rope bridge crosses a chasm (19) whose fathomless depths lie in darkness far below.



The bridge spans east into shadow, and north to the opposite cliff of the crevasse where a tunnel cuts into the rock. From the black pit below comes the faint sound of a river.

Suddenly, two gigantic bats with wingspans greater than a man descend from the stalactites and circle the ghostly torch at the platform's crossroad!



The explorers inch closer to the subterranean precipice. There, Iago and Zahra discover the bridge is younger than the rope ladder, and shows signs of recent repair!

As if walking the plank, Iago the pirate takes a few steps out onto the scaffold suspended high above the abyss. The bridge does not give way beneath his feet, yet.


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet. Grey shape (19) is a chasm. Lighter areas are visible, all else is from memory.





PC Status:
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Dahinna

Her heart in her throat, Dahinna watches Iago test the bridge, silently praying to Mitra for her lover's safe passage. The bats give her pause and she whispers to Kiri in front of her, "Do you think there are more of those giant bats? What if they spot us and decide they are hungry?"

Zahra
I would suggest we cross one at a time, with the rest keeping watch. Keeping her own counsel, Zahra readies a javelin.

Cruloc

Guarding the rear, Cruloc strikes a torch and holds it aloft.

Amethu will eagerly wait his turn to cross. "At the fork in the bridge, we will need to choose which direction to go. Perhaps north first?"

Grigor

Hurries across the bridge with Gnasher in tow. Should a bat descend to attack he will defend himself with his trusty blade.

Grigor scimitar+2 in melee [1d20+2]=12+2=14 damage [1d8+2]=3+2=5

Zahra
Not moving from her place, Zahra says The two bridges suggest that people spent a considerable time down here- perhaps an underground city?

Watching Grigor suddenly sprint across the bridge, Kiri replies to Dahinna as he removes his short bow from its sheath, "I believe we are about to find out."

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

The swashbuckler is jostled aside and looks on with wide eyes as their comrade bolts across, heedless of the giant bats. "Amigo, I--" He grins at Grigor's haste and spreads his hands wide. "Orale, vato! Show us the way!"

Notably, he hangs back with the others to see how the bats react. "He's a brave one," the pirate mutters.

Dahinna

"Madness is often confused with bravery," murmurs the rogue, watching Grigor's progress.

Beneath the Forbidden City of the Dead, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Nine. Morning. 19th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







Far beneath the sunlit world of Men, the explorers to the strange, chthonic realm come to a rope bridge and cautiously confer on their wisest course of action.

Suddenly, the gypsy priest takes a leap of faith. Grigor pushes past Iago and sprints across the suspended slats, faithful hound tethered to his waist!

At the crossroad, the twin gigantic bats descend upon him without a sound!



With a flash of his curving blade, Grigor cuts one from the air! Its left wing entirely severed, it flails down into the blackness below!

The other monstrous chiropteran (B1) bites Grigor on the neck (1hp damage) and throws him off balance! (Grigor, please make an Ability Check vs Dex on [1d20-2] to remain on the bridge!)


Actions?!


Map:

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

Behind the DM Screen:



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PC Magic:
Player Resources:

Grigor

Steadies his feet, anchored by the hound pulling him further across the bridge, he swishes at the next bat as he stumbles on.

Grigor: Dex check vs 17 [1d20]=1 scimitar+2 in melee [1d20+2]=9+2=11 damage [1d8+2]=4+2=6