Chapter 8: Alien Invasion

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan seethes at the delay. "What bridge? What does it cross and what does it lead to?""

[wolfpack]

The McCoy said we needed to find the engine earring.

LL memorizes the map

We should proceed there with haste, It is a lower level of this keep, most likely a dungeon

[Urson]

Maskelyn
Maskelyn blushes a bit, embarrassed that he got sidetracked. He focuses on finding the Earring, trying to remember the route.
Ready when you are, Doc.

[Inferno]

Castle U.S.S. Enterprise
The Barren Wasteland, Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Four. Night. March 28th, 912 CY








Hans the Shrewd collects the strange treasures in the chamber of the Gods.

Having discovered their holy destination within the wondrous visions of the oracle-glass, the explorers barricade the room and rest for the night that they may continue the quest of The Kirk tomorrow. Thus refreshed, they will descend into the mysterious dungeons of the astonishing Castle U.S.S. Enterprise!

Adrock and Ko-Nan take first watch. All is quiet and they awaken the second shift, Maskelyn and Fiefo, before retiring. The second watch is also uneventful and they awaken Hans and Tullia.

No one is awoken after that.



Hours pass.

Adrock, Fiefo, Ko-Nan and Maskelyn slowly open their eyes. No one has roused them! Something's gone wrong!

They sit bolt upright to see what happened and are horrified by what they find!



All their friends lay lifeless with heinous creatures affixed to their faces! Fiefo cannot stifle his scream.


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 5 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.

Map:







PC Status:

Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 26/26
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 23/32
L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 8/8, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl, Lantern
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 11/14, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl

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)

[wolfpack]

This...this....this is unacceptable

LL mumbles

[Urson]

Maskelyn
Maskelyn cringes back from the corpses, looking very pale. No one deserves a death like this. Do we have oil to start a funeral pyre?
Whatever happens from this point, Maskelyn will be urging that the group move on quickly.

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan jumps to his feet, "CROM! More foul sorcery!" He unleashes his axe upon the creatures! The blade rises and falls in a spray of blood and acid as the Barbarian slakes his fear upon the alien beings!

[Inferno]

Castle U.S.S. Enterprise
The Barren Wasteland, Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Five. Morning? March 29th, 912 CY








The questers of The Kirk stand stunned in terror and dismay.

Then Ko-Nan the barbarian suddenly hacks asunder the heinous alien parasites in a spray of acidic yellow blood that consumes their piteous hosts alive!



The sizzling stench of burning flesh is nigh unbearable.

Suddenly, the ghastly tableau of horror and death and is interrupted! The door to the corridor unexpectedly whooshes open and beyond its barricade stands startled a great leonine monster, tensed to pounce!




Actions?!


Map Detail:

"Mg" is the monster. Blue Xs are the barricade. One square = 5 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.





PC Status:

Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 26/26
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 23/32
L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 8/8, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl, Lantern
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 11/14, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl

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)

[tarlyn]

Malga

The big Mok enters to a macabre scene. Moving to unstrap her massive two handed blade, she then spies the rooms other occupants. Unsure if they are responsible

for this horror, or they too have come upon this scene she stops a moment and looks at everyone, trying to gauge their reactions to this scene.

She remains alert for any sign of trouble and will not hesitate to unstrap her two handed "friend".

Clearing her throat she speaks in a gravelly tone "You kill these people?" she asks.

[Urson]

Maskelyn
Maskelyn is intent on the dead, and the monsters attached to them. He shuffles backwards, making sure to stay clear of the chemical mess created by killing the creatures.
He startles when the entity in the doorway speaks up, fumbling for his staff.

[wolfpack]

LL holds up his hand

No they were our campanions. They were killed while we slept by some kind of face hugging monster, that is where the acid came from. we are no threat to you, we would prefer peace. we seek new life, and new civilizations, and wish to boldly go where no one has gone before.

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan looks up from the spray of gore around him at the approach of the newcomer. Instead of gnashing teeth and death, it speaks. "You speak!?! Then speak!! Or face the edge of this axe - and death!" He approaches and threatens. He pauses but a breath - mostly to catch his own....

[tarlyn]

Ko-Nan looks up from the spray of gore around him at the approach of the newcomer. Instead of gnashing teeth and death, it speaks. "You speak!?! Then speak!! Or face the edge of this axe - and death!" He approaches and threatens. He pauses but a breath - mostly to catch his own....

Malga

The big Mok eyes Ko-Nan up and down, and crosses her arms over her massive chest, sizing him up.

"I have faced a lot worst than you, little man. Put away your toy, I have no quarrel with you. And I have already spoken. I wish none of you harm. But,"

Eyeing Ko-Nan as she unstraps her massive two handed blade, holding it in front of her now, both massive paws on the hilt, ready to unleash her fury, She holds the blade

down tip touching the floor now,

"Given any incentive to slay you, I shall not hesitate. I will not ask you again to put away your axe."

She grips her two handed blade in her hands again, eyes on Ko-Nan, nods and straps it back on her back.

"I am Malga, last of my tribe. I have wandered these lands many moons and encountered many different perils and wonders. What is this place? I do prefer peace as

well but shall defend myself to the death, I assure you."

[Urson]

Maskelyn
Easy, now! Nobody needs to get hurt. Maskelyn sidesteps out of range of the two, trying to smile.

[Inferno]

Castle U.S.S. Enterprise
The Barren Wasteland, Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Five. Morning? March 29th, 912 CY






Suddenly, unexpectedly, the ferocious monster speaks!

Tempers flare! Ko-Nan the barbarian and Malga the Mok face off over the barricade that blocks the door, weapons gripped, ready to do battle!

Then the bestial newcomer puts away her great sword.


Actions?! (and new Experience Point award is here!)



Map Detail:

Blue Xs are the barricade. One square = 5 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.

Map:






PC Status:

Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 26/26
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 23/32
L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 8/8, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl, Lantern
Malga: Mok Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 32/32
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 11/14, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl

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)

[Urson]

Maskelyn
That's better. So how'd you get here, Ba- err, Malga?

Maskelyn gives the newcomer a snaggle-toothed smile.

[tarlyn]

Malga

"One day a Mok find a strange rock and bring home. It kill almost all tribe except me.

I flee and travel many many moons across wastelands until I end up at strange metal castle. Come in

and explore. I find strange chamber with discs on floor. I step on one and it send me, well, here, back

up that corridor," her big paw points back out the door she barged in.

She thinks a moment and asks in her deep gravelly voice "What bring you all here?"

[wolfpack]

We are on am ission for the great Kirk, we seek the Earring of Engine. We found a map of the sky castle and are now heading that way.

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan assesses the newcomer once again. Cold hard eyes piercing out and meeting the same. He also thrusts forward his wicked axe knowing that the newcomer can only be impressed. "This has slain the entire Clan of Umblek. They fought. They died..." He peers over his axe at the long steel of the sword of the newcomer. "Such weapons were not allowed in the Mines. Only what we could make with our might." He stares at his axe then back at the sword.... thoughts of learning such a weapon brings a smile to the chiseled face of Ko-Nan.

[Urson]

Maskelyn
Maskelyn looks back and forth between the two burly warrior types. I dunno, Doc. I'm not sure he's your type....