Chapter 14: The Doomed Undying

[ravenn4544]

Amethu will follow his comrades out of the hovel and into the streets of chaos and blood. He will strike with his staff where he can and save his precious spells for a more opportune time.

as needed:
To Hit (THACO 20): [1d20+2] = 13+2 = 15
Staff of Uthoth - Damage: = S/M/L: [1d6+2] = 6+2 = 8

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

OoC: If he is able, Cruloc will move 10 feet to the space currently occupied by Kiri and attack. If the way out of the hovel is blocked, he will... bind his own wounds.

If an attack is possible...

Attack w/longsword [1d20+2] = 7+2 = 9
Damage [1d8+3] = 7+3 = 10

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako waits in the doorway for his comrades to make room so he can meld into a pocket of safety.

[Inferno]

Tjoruy's Hovel, the Underground City
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Eight. Hours before dawn?, 19th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





Surreal lurid masks dart and lunge in a horrific hallucination of violence and insanity. And the besieged explorers repel another mad, ferocious onslaught of murderous antique blades!

Mountainous Kiri casts off his boots and gauntlets, and weaves a magical spell whose origin is older than the East itself. Then, in miraculous defiance of gravity and his immense mass, the enormous spellsword scrabbles up the sheer surface of a stone wall, ascending impossibly ten feet above the savage fray!

In the cramped street below, Loche the Pict cuts out the throat of a demented underdweller with his enchanted dagger, killing him instantly!

"We must make a path through these bastards so the others may follow!" Cries Xorzen as he stabs another enemy to death and shoves forward to take the dead man's place!



Behind him, Tjoruy shunts over to make room for the evacuees of his home! Unable to heal his fellow Son of Osorus, he prays sacred orisons of protection instead, that they may bless and shield Xorzen from mortal harm! (casts Protection From Evil) "Fight on, brother!" the ramshackle prophet croaks.

Cruloc plunges into the tenuous opening in the twilight street and slashes his great sword in a devastating arc! A pale assailant ducks and the barbarian's blade cracks the wall behind where his masked head had just been!

Amethu follows the barbarian out into the nightmare city! He brings his magic staff down with all his might, shattering an eerie leering mask and the face behind it. The sorcerer-priest moves over his dead victim to make room for the others!

Seeing a safe position at last, Mako joins his companions outside the hovel. He watches another albino aggressor emerge from out of the the perpetual twilight gloom of the crooked street to join the swelling ranks of bloodthirsty madmen!

Behind the fleeing adventurers, still trapped inside Tjoruy's hovel, Garrin slices wide with his dagger. And Zahra the amazon impales the eyehole of another lunatic's mask with her merciless javelin! The facade's orifice gushes a jet of bright blood as another wet corpse slumps into the glutted maw of the front doorway!


Actions?!


Underground City Map:

Only lit areas are visible to one or more PCs. All else is from memory.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 1, Monsters: [1d6] = 2 Monsters win.
Masked madman attacks Garrin: [1d20] = 9, damage: [1d6] = 6 Misses.
Masked madmen attack Kiri and Loche: [1d20] = 9, [1d20] = 6, damage: [1d6] = 4, [1d6] = 5 Both miss.
Masked madmen attack Tjoruy and Xorzen: [1d20] = 12, [1d20] = 9, damage: [1d6] = 4, [1d6] = 6 Both miss!
Opportunity attack on Kiri: [1d20] = 1, damage: [1d6] = 1 Misses. No critical hits or fumbles in this game.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 12/14, Spells: 2/7 1st lvl, 2/3 2nd lvl
  Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 23/35
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 16/26, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 4/14, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 8/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 8(1)/10, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl Light spell
  Tjoruy: Verulian Osoran Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 12/31, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 4/16
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 11/21

PC Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Garrin): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Garrin.
  Healing Mists of Osorus (Garrin, Kiri, Loche and Xorzen have breathed of the mists): All lost HP recovered with 8 hours of sleep. Wakeful rest, or sleeping less than 8 hours, enables recovery of 1 HP per hour. Duration: "months."
  Spider Climb (Kiri): Target: self. Duration: 2 rounds left
  Protection From Evil (Tjoruy): Target: Xorzen. -2 to be hit by evil, +2 to saving throws against evil. Duration: 19 rounds left

Player Resources:

• The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
  Mysteries Strange and Deadly (player clues and notes)
  Hieroglyphs (the story so far, in images)
  An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)

[Scott308]

Loche

With nowhere to go, Loche has no choice at this time but to keep fighting.

Jeweled Dagger +1/ +2 vs. Undead (20): [1d20+1] = 10+1 = 11; Damage: [1d4+1] = 4+1 = 5; Damage, Large: [1d3+1] = 2+1 = 3

[ravenn4544]

Amethu tries to continue to battle but can't land a solid strike...

To Hit (THACO 20): [1d20+2] = 3+2 = 5
Staff of Uthoth - Damage: = S/M/L: [1d6+2] = 1+2 = 3

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

"Damn you! Damn your pale hides!" roars Cruloc at the masked mob as his longsword again whistles wide.

Attack w/longsword [1d20+2] = 5+2 = 7

"Strike harder, you dogs!" he barks to his companions. "Sell your life dearly if you must!"

[Urson]

Zahra

No! We step back, side-by-side, to the back door!

As she says this, Zahra takes one step back, her javelin slamming into yet another masked cultist.

att [1d20+4] = 20+4 = 24
javelin [1d6+3] = 3+3 = 6

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako shuffles along as the line moves.

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen leaps into the area of the thrall he just dropped, only to find 2 more of them taking its place. Unable to see past a few feet in front of him, the masked monk wonders if every street here is filled with their enemies. Since he cant see the enemy gathering, he tries to use his ears instead, hoping he can estimate just how many more of them there are in front of him from the sounds they make.

The only thought that keeps the badly injured monk attacking is that one of the fighters of the group must have leaped up into the front ranks to help him clear out a path for the others. But when he dares chance a quick glance to his right, he sees only his friend Amethu, who is also flailing at the enemy for his dear life. The surprise of the distraction of seeing a spell caster alongside him in the front ranks causes his next attack to fail.

Attack w/ +2 Javelin of Men-khetu [1d20+2] = 7+2 = 9 Dam [1d6+3] = 6+3 = 9

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri glances around the roof for some architectural element or large piece of rubble. If he can find something suitable that he can pry loose, he'll attempt to dislodge it and cast it down on second rank of the mob of assailants pressing the party from the north.

Save vs. STR (18/00): [1d20] = 20 !!

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin mimics Zahra's movements, keeping his back to hers. If the opportunity presents itself, he strikes out at one of the underworld attackers....

To Hit with Dagger: [1d20] = 5; Damage: sm - [1d4] = 2; lg - [1d3] = 1

...again to no avail.

[Inferno]

Tjoruy's Hovel, the Underground City
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Eight. Hours before dawn?, 19th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





The wild intensity of the surreal orgy of bloodshed thwarts most battlers from landing a blow!

Archaic Verulian blades continue their unrelenting war of attrition, slowly, inexorably hacking away at the trapped explorers! (Amethu and Loche each lose 4hp)

Xorzen sees no more pale assassins emerge from the ageless shadows for now, nor can he hear anything beyond the ferocious sounds of the savage battle!

Above the raging fray, Kiri impossibly ascends another ten feet higher and tries to dislodge a piece of ancient stonework from the hovel's rooftop to rain it down upon their enemies. But the monolithic block will not budge!

Below him, inside the hovel, Garrin and Zahra use their momentary respite to step back toward the rear door. They don't get far. Suddenly another deranged masked killer scrabbles over the corpses in the doorway and lunges forward to meet his death upon Zahra's ruthless javelin!



More maniacal lunatics follow, and gash and rip at Garrin and Zahra with ancient short swords! (-5hp damage to each)

Time was against the explorers. They were slowly being worn down! It was death by a thousand cuts.


Actions?!


Underground City Map:

Only lit areas are visible to one or more PCs. All else is from memory.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 5, Monsters: [1d6] = 6 Monsters win.
Third Verulian in hovel attacks Zahra? (1), or Garrin ? (2): [1d2] = 2 Garrin.
Masked madman charges Zahra: [1d20+2] = 14+2 = 16, damage: [1d6] = 5 Hits Zahra for 5hp damage.
Masked madmen charge Garrin: [1d20+2] = 14+2 = 16, [1d20+2] = 11+2 = 13, damage: [1d6] = 5, [1d6] = 4 Garrin hit for 5hp damage.
Masked madmen attack Cruloc and Loche: [1d20] = 1, [1d20] = 19, damage: [1d6] = 2, [1d6] = 4 Loche hit for 4hp damage.
Masked madmen attack Amethu and Xorzen: [1d20] = 13, [1d20] = 10, damage: [1d6] = 4, [1d6] = 3 Amethu hit for 4hp damage.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 8/14, Spells: 2/7 1st lvl, 2/3 2nd lvl
  Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 23/35
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 11/26, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 4/14, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 4/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 8(1)/10, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl Light spell
  Tjoruy: Verulian Osoran Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 12/31, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 4/16
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 6/21

PC Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Garrin): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Garrin.
  Healing Mists of Osorus (Garrin, Kiri, Loche and Xorzen have breathed of the mists): All lost HP recovered with 8 hours of sleep. Wakeful rest, or sleeping less than 8 hours, enables recovery of 1 HP per hour. Duration: "months."
  Spider Climb (Kiri): Target: self. Duration: 1 round left
  Protection From Evil (Tjoruy): Target: Xorzen. -2 to be hit by evil, +2 to saving throws against evil. Duration: 18 rounds left

Player Resources:

• The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
  Mysteries Strange and Deadly (player clues and notes)
  Hieroglyphs (the story so far, in images)
  An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

No three foes are a match for Cruloc as he moves through the swirling mass with the deadly sureness of a panther amid a pack of alley curs. The Northman's face is a grim mask of stone. His eyes blaze with volcanic rage. His voice is a deep growl of thunder.

"I will wash these thrice-cursed flagstones with your blood!"

Attack w/longsword [1d20+2] = 18+2 = 20
Damage [1d8+3] = 4+3 = 7

OoC: As his enemy falls, the barbarian will attempt a push northward (or at least a step in that direction) to open the way behind him for his companions to exit the hovel.

[Scott308]

Loche

Weel, wee jimmies, tis bin an honor fightin' wi' ye. If oor journey ends noo, thir's na finer band o' warriors a'd ower die wi'. Growing weak with blood loss, the Pict makes a feeble stab at the nearest enemy.

Jeweled Dagger +1/ +2 vs. Undead (20): [1d20+1] = 9+1 = 10; Damage: [1d4+1] = 3+1 = 4; Damage, Large: [1d3+1] = 3+1 = 4

[ravenn4544]

Amethu can't find a use for his precious remaining spells - which would be a challenge to cast anyway with the onslaught before him. The cut from the recent attack leaves him off balance and unable to connect.

To Hit (THACO 20): [1d20+2] = 3+2 = 5

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin grunts in pain, but keeps his back to Zahra. He strikes out again with his dagger.

To Hit with Dagger: [1d20] = 2; Damage: sm - [1d4] = 3; lg - [1d3] = 2

Again, to no effect.

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri, frustrated that his herculean effort failed to dislodge a stone, now pulls out his short bow and fires down into the crowd of lunatics north of his friends - he fires into the second rank, to avoid hitting any of his own party:

Attack with Short Bow (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20] = 6 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6] = 5, vs. Lg: [1d6] = 1

Attack with Short Bow (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20] = 15 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6] = 6, vs. Lg: [1d6] = 6

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen lunges forward again, leading with his javelin. But, hearing the cries of his friends being wounded all around him throws his aim off for a second consecutive attack.

Attack w/ +2 Javelin of Men-khetu [1d20+2] = 6+2 = 8 Dam [1d6+3] = 5+3 = 8

[Urson]

Zahra

Zahra moves like the whirlwind, blocking and thrusting with her javelin.

att [1d20+4] = 18+4 = 22
javelin [1d6+3] = 6+3 = 9

She curses stedily under her breath, a droning snarl of catlike fury.