Chapter 20: The Forbidden City

[Paladin]

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

"By the blade of my father!" The Zingaran pales and staggers backward, grabbing for his bow and firing frantically at the closest of the unsightly hags.

[1d20+3]=4+3=7, [1d6]=3

[1d20+3]=14+3=17, [1d6]=5

"What say you, Cruloc?" He says with a faint grin, his humor recovering faster than his aim. "Even harpies need love. You man enough?"

[ravenn4544]

Amethu tries to lash out with his staff to any monster that gets in range.

To Hit (THACO 20): [1d20+2]=2+2=4

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

"Ha!" sneers Cruloc at the frothy buccaneer's challenge. "I yield! Mating with homely women is the province of Zingaran men!"


ref:
viewtopic.php?f=376&t=10177&start=220

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

"Love is blind. Probably just as well." he unshoulders his bow and nocks some arrows but the exertion puts his aim off.

Grigor shortbow attacks [1d20+3]=9+3=12 [1d6]=6 [1d20+3]=5+3=8 [1d6]=5

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra spits a series of comments about stupidity, apparently directed at her companions.
She throws a javelin (badly)
att [1d20+4]=3+4=7

[hedgeknight]

Darts: [1d20+3]=19+3=22 [1d20+3]=6+3=9 [1d20+3]=7+3=10
Dart damage: [1d3]=1

Dahinna suppresses the urge to stab Iago in the ass for his cheeky comment, instead hurling three of her darts at the closest Harpy (H4)...and is disappointed that she wastes two of them.

[Inferno]

The Ruins of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Eight. Before Sunset. 18th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia
Partly cloudy, warm





Sweet singing turns to inhuman shrieking as dreams of beauty and grace are rent asunder by a shocking reality of hideousness and horror!

Despite their human faces, it's clear the wicked minds of the filthy, unnatural things are entirely vulture-like. Wild eyes dart madly and tongues loll behind screeching lips!



The ravenous winged harridans swoop down into a cloud of arrows, darts and javelin launched by the adventurers perched high atop the narrow cliff trail! The things hurtle through the desperate volley and one is grazed by Dahinna's dart (H4). Another (H1) is nearly slain by the dead-eyed arrows of Grigor and Iago!

But their onslaught is no less ferocious. Bone clubs of human femurs bludgeon Dahinna and Iago with murderous blows! (5hp damage each!) And merciless vulture talons lacerate the faces of Amethu and Kiri, dislodging mask and helm and nearly putting out their eyes! (2hp damage each!)

Cruloc's spear and Amethu's staff clash with gigantic claws as the monsters' dirty, reeking stench assails them all!

Amethu's iron will resists a strange and fleeting phantasm but Kiri stands transfixed. The wretched witches become fair as their voices once were.



The mighty man-mountain of the East rushes to their defense, impaling Zahra with his enchanted trident, nearly disemboweling the amazon in a grisly rain of crimson! (13hp damage!)




Actions?!


Map:

One square = 5 feet. Cruloc, Iago, Amethu and Kiri are tied together.

Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=1, Monsters: [1d6]=6 Monsters win.
H1 charges Cruloc? (1) or Iago? (2): [1d2]=2. To hit: [1d20+2]=1+2=3, [1d20+2]=6+2=8, [1d20+2]=18+2=20 No critical hits or fumbles in this game. Two claws miss. Hits with bone club.
Damage to Iago: [1d6]=5
H2 charges Amethu. To hit: [1d20+2]=17+2=19, [1d20+2]=11+2=13, [1d20+2]=5+2=7 Two talons hit.
Damage to Amethu: [2d3]=2
H3 charges Kiri. To hit: [1d20+2]=12+2=14, [1d20+2]=5+2=7, [1d20+2]=10+2=12 One talon hits.
Damage to Kiri: [1d3]=2
H4 charges Zahra? (1) or Dahinna? (2): [1d2]=2. To hit: [1d20+2]=2+2=4, [1d20+2]=6+2=8, [1d20+2]=15+2=17 Hits Dahinna with bone club.
Damage to Dahinna: [1d6]=5

Amethu and Kiri: Save vs Spells: [1d20]=20, [1d20]=11 Amethu saves. Kiri fails.

PC missile weapons declared for this round won't count as firing into a melee. The melee didn't exist when this round began.

Kiri attacks Zahra with Trident: To Hit: [1d20+4]=15+4=19 , Damage vs. s/m: [1d6+8]=5+8=13 Hits.

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 12/14, Spells: 7/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 45/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 14/19
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 29/29, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 27/32
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 17/19, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, Charmed
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 16/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 11/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 27 rounds

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)

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Attack w/ longsword [1d20+2]=1+2=3

Crom, a mirthless god, laughs.

[hedgeknight]

"You filthy bitch!" Dahinna shrieks, drawing her short sword, murderous intent on her face.
She waits until the stinking siren comes back at her and jabs at the creature's sagging teats.
Short Sword: [1d20+2]=5+2=7 Damage [1d6+2]=6+2=8
And then she curses again, her words aimed at the cruel gods who brought them here.

OOC: Does Dahinna notice Kiri attack Zahra or is she too caught up with the harpy?

[ravenn4544]

Amethu, the ancient evil creatures now within the range of his spell, unleashes fire upon them.

cast burning hands on H2 - hopefully the spreading flame can reach those to it's flank as well.

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Kneels by the cliff face behind him, putting his back against the wall. He trusts his bow and with a steadier aims, looses a volley of shafts into the hovering harpies. (H1 & H2).

He calls Gnasher to guard mode, if anyone melees him, the mastiff will bite them hopefully.

Edited with my macro

Grigor shortbow attacks [1d20+3]=12+3=15 [1d6]=5 [1d20+3]=17+3=20 [1d6]=5

[Urson]

Zahra
Gods damn you! she shrieks. Using a javelin like a thrusting spear, she strikes at Kiri.

att [1d20+4]=3+4=7

[Paladin]

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

The plucky Zingaran grabs for his blades to give the harpies a taste of cold steel. He swings and stabs at the enemy nearest himself and Cruloc, bile rising into his throat at the vile stench of her unsightly carcass.

[1d20+1]=10+1=11, [1d8]=6, [1d20]=11, [1d4]=3

[Inferno]

The Ruins of Thracia, Pictland, the World of Hyboria
Day Eight. Before Sunset. 18th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia
Partly cloudy, warm








Coughing up blood, Zahra's face turns a shade whiter, paler even than the rapacious carrion-hags that assail them on the cliffs above the forbidden city of the dead!




Grigor the gypsy looses arrows into the murderous fray! One shaft sinks deep into Cruloc's swordarm, ruining the Cimmerian's aim! (5hp damage) Another arrow pierces one of monstrous vulture-women! (H2) She screeches with spiteful malice!

Then Amethu utters forbidden words that were old when the bricks of Thracia were baked. Suddenly, flames erupt from his finger tips! The hungry conflagration engulfs three of the hateful, voracious crones! (H1, H2, H3) Withered skin is scorched, filthy hair and greasy black wings are set alight!



One accursed succubus of the ancient world is consumed alive! (H1) She dies screeching, spiraling down like a fiery comet to smash on unseen rocks below, spattering blood and brains and gore.

Iago lunges at another burning monster! Flashing steel crashes into her shrieking maw in a spray of shattered teeth and blood! Her head nearly severed, the vile she-devil plummets, falling silent forever! (H2)

Dahinna's dagger seeks a shriveled, barren breast and a fierce maelstrom of wings and talons batter it aside! Grievously wounded, Zahra tries to drive her javelin into Kiri but blood loss renders her too weak to strike true!

The last two gaunt, haggard fiends recoil from the slaughter and the flame, and flee like animals, swooping down into the mists and out of sight!

The battle is ended. The sudden hush following the sounds of carnage fills their ears. Kiri snaps out of his beguilement and finds his trident red with Zahra's blood.


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 5 feet. Cruloc, Iago, Amethu and Kiri are tied together.

Area Map:


Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=5, Monsters: [1d6]=2 Party wins.
Grigor: Arrow into a melee hits: Cruloc? (1) or H1? (2): [1d2]=1 Cruloc.
Grigor: Arrow into a melee hits: Iago? (1) or H2? (2): [1d2]=2 H2
Harpies morale check (7): [2d6]=12 Failed!

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 12/14, Spells: 6/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 40/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 14/19
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 29/29, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 27/32
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 17/19, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 16/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 11/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 26 rounds

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)

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc pulls the arrow from his arm, flings it at Grigor, and growls. "Are your ears full of wax, man? I said 'Zingaran', not 'Zamoran'!"

He binds Zahra's wounds, his own, and then any others.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu watches the last of the flaming creatures flee then scans the city below. "We should make haste off this cliff - that will have undoubtedly got something's attention..."

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

"Sorry. I was aiming at an ugly crone and couldn't make out which." he tries to jest regarding his ill wisdom to shoot into melee.

"Come let us get off this trail and seek shelter below.". He leads the way down the cliff path.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra moves in, within a second of backhanding Kiri. She checks her swing, contenting herself with a glare that should chip stone.

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna gets in line for Cruloc's wound-binding and then agrees readily with Grigor. "We need to move quickly. Those singing sluts may return with more of their filthy kind!"

[Paladin]

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

Still a bit dazed from the encounter, Iago nods along at the prospect of moving on. "Yes, let's move quickly."