Chapter 14: Things From Another World

[Inferno]

Chapter 14: Things From Another World

Caveman Dwelling near the Starfall, Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Night. Friday, April 13th, 912 CY








Seeking a fallen star, the adventurers find something else entirely. Within their minds' eyes, Draupadi and Finver glimpse cascades of a writhing slime intelligence of inconceivable magnitude!

"Welcome to your new existence. Welcome to the Void Slime," the two infected heroes hear.

Finver mutters to Connak: "...Who said that?"

"We did," comes the slurping reply of the Slime Mind. In their brains, Draupadi and Finver hear: "You are our foothold in this new world. You shall be purified, made compatible, merged."

Draupadi attempts a Prayer of Dispelling, to no avail! Whatever this chilling invasion of mind and body is, it is not borne of sorcery!

She and Mungo urgently voice their desire for rest. If they can survive the night of the walking wet, at dawn their gods, Dhianha, Verne and Wells, may grant them sacred blessings to overcome the infestation of the Void Slime!

Ko-Nan scans the cavern walls and notes the eastern cliff ascending to an area unseen.

Connak, Fiefo and Finver edge northeast and can suddenly hear a distant slithering, echoing from out of the rough-hewn stairwell. The shambolic horrors that Maskelyn misdirected are returning!


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter area is visible. All else is from memory.

Map:






PC Status:

Connak: Cat-Man Fighter/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 20/24
Draupadi: Human Cleric 5: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 37/41, Spells: 4/5 1st lvl, 4/5 2nd lvl, 0/2 3rd lvl, Continual Light, Infested
Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 4: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 29/29
Finver Karstlander: Dwarven Fighter 4: Move 6", AC: 2(1), HP: 25/35, Infested
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 44/51
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 18/18, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl
Mungo: Mole-Man Cleric 5: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 39/39, Spells: 3/5 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl, Lantern

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
Maskelyn shrugs, apparently accepting his possible fate. When Bugs decides to prank you, he's thorough....

[Rex]

Draupadi

"This is not good, the slime has started talking to me in my head. I must rest to get new spells to attempt to eliminate this. I will fight if forced to but otherwise I need to try and deal with this as quickly as I can."

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan points out the cliff as a possible danger and moves to the north to continue his exploration.

(How his the cliff to the east?)

[jemmus]

Mungo lays paws on Draupadi. Sorry to have scorched you, friend. By the power of Verne and Wells, be healed! He does the same for Finver, twice.

CLW
[1d8]=7 [1d8]=6 [1d8]=4

[Rex]

Draupadi

"Thank you my friend. You did what must be done, even if it failed we had to try. Now are next attempts need to be Remove Curse and Cure Disease, Dispel Magic has already failed."

[redwarrior]

Connack prepares his bow and looks in the direction of the sounds We need a plan, a direction, something If any creatures come into view, he will loose at it.

just in case roll...

Short Bow THAC0 18 [1d20+2]=8+2=10 Damage [1d6]=5
Short Bow THAC0 18 [1d20+2]=3+2=5 Damage [1d6]=5

Ugh! with those rolls, I hope none come in sight!

[ChubbyPixie]

Fiefo will back off as he readies his bow as well, firing at any slime creatures that make an appearance:

Attack with Short Bow (THAC0 15): To Hit: [1d20+1]=17+1=18 Damage, s/M/L: [1d6]=5

Attack with Short Bow (THAC0 15): To Hit: [1d20+1]=17+1=18 Damage, s/M/L: [1d6]=4

[SilverBen]

Finver waits for Mungo to complete his ministrations. His eyes remain closed in faithful concentration while he anxiously combs his beard with splayed fingers. But Finver slowly opens his eyes with an expression of confused disappointment, "Many thanks, Mungo, but I don't feel any different."

Alarmed by the sound of more creatures approaching through the silence, he withdraws his war hammer and points to the roughly hewn steps announcing aloud, "We got more slimies comin' ta greet us and I'm goin' ta tell 'em we got other plans."

He rushes towards the rough-hewn stairwell with his war hammer held ready to swing. With a grin he urges "We need ta find that fallen star and prevent anyone else from getting infested. C'mon Lady Draupadi, bring yer mace! When yer already infested, things are gonna get messy!"

[Inferno]

Caveman Dwelling near the Starfall, Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Night. Friday, April 13th, 912 CY





Echoes of a wet slithering herald the imminent return of the misshapen atrocities!

Mungo prays for divine healing of the two adventurers invaded by the Void Slime, Draupadi and Finver. (+7hp, +10hp respectively) But the ghastly infestation of the sentient ooze is unaffected!

Suddenly, malformed monstrosities of slime and bone (that had once been men?!) stagger down the northeastern steps!



Was this the fate of Draupadi and Finver?

Without hesitation, Fiefo LaBratt slays the first one with two dead-eyed arrows! (?10) Connak's shafts arrive a second later, missing the now-fallen target!

Realizing he is already infected, Finver grips his dwarf-hammer and valiantly charges into melee, urging Draupadi to join him at the front line!


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter area is visible. All else is from memory.





PC Status:

Connak: Cat-Man Fighter/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 20/24
Draupadi: Human Cleric 5: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 41/41, Spells: 4/5 1st lvl, 4/5 2nd lvl, 0/2 3rd lvl, Continual Light, Infested
Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 4: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 29/29
Finver Karstlander: Dwarven Fighter 4: Move 6", AC: 2(1), HP: 35/35, Infested
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 44/51
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 18/18, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl
Mungo: Mole-Man Cleric 5: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 39/39, Spells: 0/5 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl, Lantern

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)

[Rex]

Draupadi

Draupadi moves up and tries to hold the line with Finver.

Mace [1d20]=15 to hit [1d6+1]=6+1=7 damage

[Urson]

Maskelyn
Maskelyn trots toward the NE opening, where the others are fighting. He stays back from the battle so far.

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan hefts his axe with a grip of iron as this new foe appears. "More filth!" While not afraid of battle, the idea of being infested with such a horror sickens him.

He salutes Finvers courage of attacking them while they carry the scar of infestation to protect the rest of the group. Sacrifice is something he is all too familiar with.

[SilverBen]

Finver bellows at the approaching creatures in a final attempt to intimidate them with fearsome dwarven fury, "I'll cover the walls with yer slime before I let ya come near my friends!" He tilts the head of his hammer back before charging forward and meets the approaching creatures without regard for his own welfare. He heaves the war hammer and lands an attack on the lead slime creature (?12) with stunning precision!

Finver attacks in melee with two handed war hammer [1d20+2]=20+2=22 doing [1d6+2]=5+2=7 of bludgeoning damage


(My apologies for this melodramatic post, I feel obligated to celebrate a natural 20 when rolled with high damage, even if no critical hit/fail rules apply. I apparently have a sentimental attachment to critical hits despite their flaws.)

[redwarrior]

Connak lets fly his last arrow, too quickly, and then draws out his sling and loads a stone.


Short Bow THAC0 18 [1d20+2]=10+2=12 Damage [1d6]=3

[ChubbyPixie]

Unwilling to fire into melee and unable to fit on the front line, Fiefo lowers his bow and takes out his fork. He hesitates for a moment, then pumps his fist in the air.

"Er... get 'em fellas," he says.

[jemmus]

Mungo hastens on his short legs to join the battlers. He to can only watch from the rear. Great hit, Finver! But try not to splash any slime around!

[Inferno]

Caveman Dwelling near the Starfall, Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Night. Friday, April 13th, 912 CY








Harrowing, malformed amalgams of slime and men descend upon the adventurers!

By arrow, axe and mace, the shambling horrors are rent asunder by Connak, Finver and Draupadi! And suddenly, there is another respite in the attack.

Then the infected, Draupadi and Finver, hear the alien voice of the Slime Void Consciousness in their minds:

"Tell us, Earthlings. Tell us about your little world."


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter area is visible. All else is from memory.

Behind the DM Screen:

No need for Initiative. These things strike last in a round.
To attack this round, Draupadi Charges.

PC Status:

Connak: Cat-Man Fighter/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 20/24
Draupadi: Human Cleric 5: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 41/41, Spells: 4/5 1st lvl, 4/5 2nd lvl, 0/2 3rd lvl, Continual Light, Infested
Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 4: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 29/29
Finver Karstlander: Dwarven Fighter 4: Move 6", AC: 2(1), HP: 35/35, Infested
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 44/51
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 18/18, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl
Mungo: Mole-Man Cleric 5: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 39/39, Spells: 0/5 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl, Lantern

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)

[Rex]

Draupadi

"I will not!"

She seems to be frustrated and stressed.

"I need to rest and change my spells."

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan will step away from the infected members of the party. "If the voices in your head don't stop soon, we may need to take off more than an arm!" He'll move toward examining the corridor where the last filth came from.