Chapter 2: Escape From the Island of the Apes

[Inferno]

Chapter 2: Escape From the Island of the Apes

Beach of the Goddess, Eastern Coast of the Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard
Land of One Thousand Towers
Day One. Mid-Morning. March 25th, 912 CY







The battle is joined, a strange, fantastic war out of time and place.

Chaka the ape-boy continues to scramble down the monolith of the Goddess, while, by the mysterious power of Staark, an impossible, blinding light erupts among the ranks of the human beasts, startling them momentarily.



It gives the shipwrecked adventurers an advantage that they seize with more mystifying sorcery. L.L. Adrock the sorcerer-priest chants another half-forgotten chorale from out of aeons unimagined. "Exit light, enter night, off to never never land."

Suddenly, three of the massive, primitive ancestors of Men are seemingly struck dead! (11, 5, 4) They instantly collapse to the sand, ensorcelled by the powerful magicks of Adrock!

Elsewhere, other foes are stricken by means more earthly.



Ko-Nan the barbarian savagely hacks his merciless blade into the neck of one of four brutes that try to surround him! (7)

Fiefo and Buck can strike only air. But Maskelyn's quarterstaff hammers the blinded beastman (3), and Tullia slashes a primitive savage with her double-edged straight sword. (1)

Seeing three of their number inexplicably stricken dead, a primal fear of the unknown ripples through the pack of animalistic men.

Switch the dwarf arrogantly derides the superstitious cavemen, "If this is the best they've got around here, in six months we'll be running this island!"

Then from the south comes the deep, noble sound of a horn. The primitives freeze in terror and dread.

The adventurers look south and see dark riders charging toward them on horseback.

But they are unlike any they've ever seen before.



Unlike the ape-man hybrids of Chaka and his tribe, these apes are pure, true animals. But they behave like civilized Men! Fully clothed and equipped, they ride horses with saddle and rein. (G1-6)

And then they speak!

Indicating with disgust the battlefield beneath the towering Goddess, one says with the reverence of recitation:

"Beware the beast Man, for he is the Devil's pawn. Alone among God's primates, he kills for sport or lust or greed. Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land. Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him; drive him back into his jungle lair, for he is the harbinger of death."

The other riders nod in grave assent at this sacred wisdom. The primitive Humans ready to flee for their lives into the jungle as the advanced Apes raise exotic artifacts of wood and iron and aim them like crossbows into the battlefield!


Actions?!


Map:

The PCs are blue. Houdin is green. Cavemen are orange. Gorillas are purple.
X = Unconscious or dead. B = Blinded. S = Sleep


Non-required Reading (Rolls and Rulings):

Buck's Light spell doesn't break the cavemen's morale, but it does give the superstitious creatures pause for long enough for the PCs to automatically win Initiative.
Number affected by Sleep spell: [2d4] = 3 Three are affected.
Three cavemen Save vs Spell (17): [1d20] = 11, [1d20] = 8, [1d20] = 8 All fail their save.

PC Status:

• Buck Russellswart: Mole-Man Cleric 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 18/18, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl
  Chaka: Ape-Boy Thief 3: Move: 12"(6"), AC: 6, HP: 17/17
  Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 13/20
  Jeojand: Cat-Man Magic-User 2: Move: 6", AC: 7, HP: 5/10, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/32
  L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 6/6, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl
  Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 2: Move: 9", AC: 8, HP: 5/10, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Tullia Galena: Half-Elf Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 24/24

PC Magic:

• Light (Buck): Duration: 78 rounds
  Sleep (L.L. Adrock): Duration: 4 rounds

PC 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)

[Starbeard]

Jeojand, not taking any chances on how loosely the mounted apes define the term "Man," dashes for the foliage to the west of him and watches in hiding, hissing and slashing out at any cavemen who run his way.

Jeojand Dagger (ThAC0 20): [1d20] = 14 / Damage (S-M/L):[1d4] = 3 / [1d3] = 2

[wolfpack]

LL sprints for cover behind the statue before the firing starts

[SpinwardMarch]

Tullia

She looks at the riders approaching, and hurries in the same direction as Jeojand. At least the trees offer some cover. After wiping off her sword and sheathing it, she will take the bow off of her back and grab an arrow, in case shooting is required.

[Urson]

Maskelyn

ictus fulmine! Maskelyn casts Audible Glamer, as close to the middle of the horses as he can manage. He's hoping this will spook the horses, and possibly throw off the aim of the shooters.

After this, he'll be dropping to the ground to try and do some vetrinary first aid on Houdin.

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan halts his next strike mid-air as the new foe makes an appearance on the battlefield. The haughty attitude of contempt reminds him of how the ogre guards at the mines would treat the hard-working miners. Remembering that even the slightest unexpected movement or grunt would bring them cruelly down upon a worker - his attack his held. His eye's dart back and forth to these newcomers and the foolhardy brutes before him who dare face him directly.

[OGRE MAGE]

Buck hits the sand, trying to find some debris to use as cover if he can.

[Mant72]

Chaka sees the approaching apes on horseback and continues to climb, hoping to crouch safely behind the statue goddess once reaching the ground.

Climb rolls for climbing:
Climb Walls (117%): [1d100] = 83
Climb Walls (117%): [1d100] = 5

[ChubbyPixie]

Guessing the artifacts must be ancient weapons, Fiefo charges, shield up, for the cover of the ship, slashing at 6 on the way:

Attack with Scimitar (THAC0 19): To Hit: [1d20] = 16 Damage, s/M/L: [1d8] = 5

[Inferno]

Beach of the Goddess, Eastern Coast of the Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard
Land of One Thousand Towers
Day One. Mid-Morning. March 25th, 912 CY







At the sight of the advanced simians, terror grips the primitive humans, and astonishment the stranded adventurers.

But there is no fear among the civilized apes, or hesitation; only the excitement of a big game hunt. This is clearly sport for them. Fun.
Then their strange weapons explode with a deafening crack of thunder!

BOOM!

The air mysteriously hums and whistles around Adrock, Ko-Nan and Maskelyn!

Fiefo LeBratt the rat-man readies to slash his curved sword at a brutish adversary (10) and suddenly the beastman's head explodes in a crimson deluge of blood and brains!



Maskelyn's primordial foe (2) is suddenly wounded as if by an invisible spear! His shoulder is nearly torn open by the phantom impalement but the hardy beast still lives.

And one of Ko-Nan's primitive enemies (12) suddenly cries out as if he had been stabbed in the back by a ghostly, unseen sword! The massive brute still draws breath.

In jovial competition, the civilized apes call out their hits with the casual cruelty reserved for animal targets.

As one, the savage subhumans flee for their lives into the jungle to the west. Except for the blinded primitive (3), who falls to the beach at the roar of the apes' powerful magic.

Jeojand the cat-mancer follows their example and hurtles west to hide in the thick foliage. Tullia the ranger follows closely behind and, once within the treeline, readies her bow. Arto the halfling and Switch the dwarf also follow the primal beasts' model. "Wait for us!" cries Arto Hobbs.

His foe gruesomely decapitated, Fiefo the rat-man races south to take cover behind the shipwreck.

Buck the mole-man hits the sand. Only splintered deck planks are scattered near him. Not enough for cover.

Perhaps recognizing these mythical weapons from out of ancient legends, Adrock the scholarly sorcerer-priest sprints for cover behind the monolithic statue goddess, where he finds Chaka the ape-boy crouching in wait.

Alone, Ko-Nan the barbarian freezes, not wanting to attract attention. He meets the gaze of the mounted apes without fear.

Then Maskelyn the twisted gnome impossibly conjures up falsehoods and fantasies from thin air. Suddenly, as he hits the sand, the low growling of wolves can be heard among the line of horses, unsettling them!


Actions?!


Map:

The PCs are blue. Houdin is green. Cavemen are orange. Gorillas are purple.
X = Unconscious or dead. B = Blinded. S = Sleep
Not depicted are Adrock and Chaka, hiding behind the eastern side of the statue.


Non-required Reading (Rolls and Rulings):

Initiative: Party:[1d6] = 1, Cavemen: [1d6] = 2, Apes: [1d6] = 4 Apes win, then Cavemen, then Party.
Firing into a melee, apes have a 50% chance to hit shipwrecked adventurers or primitive natives.
G1, G3, G5 fire on Primitives: [1d20] = 17, [1d20] = 14, [1d20] = 13 All hit!
G1, G3, G5: Primitive Targets (1 is northernmost, 8 is southernmost): [1d8] = 3, [1d7] = 2, [1d6] = 6 Hit Cavemen 10, 2 and 12.
Rifle damage on Cavemen 10, 2 and 12: [2d6] = 11, [2d6] = 3, [2d6] = 6
G2, G4 and G6 target which adventurers? (alphabetical order, minus Chaka, with Arto and Switch in last two spots): [1d9] = 4, [1d8] = 4, [1d7] = 4 Target Ko-Nan, LL and Maskelyn.
G2, G4 and G6 to hit: [1d20] = 7, [1d20] = 4, [1d20] = 4 All miss!

PC Status:

• Buck Russellswart: Mole-Man Cleric 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 18/18, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl
  Chaka: Ape-Boy Thief 3: Move: 12"(6"), AC: 6, HP: 17/17
  Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 13/20
  Jeojand: Cat-Man Magic-User 2: Move: 6", AC: 7, HP: 5/10, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/32
  L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 6/6, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl
  Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 2: Move: 9", AC: 8, HP: 5/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl
  Tullia Galena: Half-Elf Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 24/24

PC Magic:

• Light (Buck): Duration: 77 rounds
  Sleep (L.L. Adrock): Duration: 3 rounds
  Audible Glamour (Maskelyn): Duration: 5 rounds

PC 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)

[ChubbyPixie]

Fiefo is under no illusions that these ape men are their allies, being enemies of their enemies, or enemies of their adversaries due to misunderstanding, or whatever. The nonchalant way they fired into melee, he's certain they wouldn't have lost any sleep had it been his head that exploded. He has to admit, though, the way the exploding head thing worked out was very satisfying.

Behind the cover of the boat, he throws down his scimitar and shield and readies Enard', the wicked looking tribal fork. He'll stay put, concealed, but if any of the apes try to ride past near the boat he'll lash out in an attempt to gut his horse out from under him:

Attack with Fauchard Fork (THAC0 19): To Hit: [1d20] = 13 Damage vs. s/M: [1d8] = 2, vs. L: [1d10] = 10

[wolfpack]

LL looks at Chaka

Firesticks! Lost technology from the ancient age, the might of We the People. We must disappear into the forest.


using the statue as cover LL makes his way into the woods.

[Urson]

Maskelyn

The gnome drops flat, getting a nose full of sand for his trouble. He squirms closer to Houdin, muttering Sorry, buddy. uses the wounded beast for cover.

[SpinwardMarch]

Tullia

She silently nods at Jeojand to fade back into the jungle, and she quietly goes back about 20' into the tree cover.

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan continues to remain still. Watching the Ape-Men carefully for any movement. Any indication that they intend to unleash their weapons again at him he'll dive into the woods to take his chances.

[OGRE MAGE]

After seeing heads exploding, Buck doesn't like the odds of this fight.

He dares to look up from the sand to see if any of his friends are still alive. That's when he notices that only cavemen were killed by the damn dirty apes toting the strange boomsticks.

He tries something dangerous to show the mounted ape-men that his group means them no harm. He stands up again and waves his arms, then shouts out in his squeaky, high pitched voice.

"Hey! What the heck is going on here? What gives you the right to act like this? I don't care if you drive the beast-men back into the jungle, but we are clearly not them! Who speaks for your group?"

The tiny mole-man gets ready to run back into the water if things start to go (more) badly.

[Mant72]

Chaka nods at the wisdom of LL and stealthily follows the mage-priest into the cover of the jungle.

Rolls if needed: Move Silently (27%): [1d100] = 44 Any bonus for moving on sand?
Hide in Shadows (20%): [1d100] = 2

[Inferno]

Beach of the Goddess, Eastern Coast of the Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard
Land of One Thousand Towers
Day One. Mid-Morning. March 25th, 912 CY







After the echoing thunder and the smoke clears, the advanced simian hunters of Men ready their deadly magical weapons again! Suddenly a strange, low growling of wolves in their midst spooks some of their steeds!
"What's that sound?"
"I don't know. I don't see anything."
"The surf echoing off the rocks?"
The commotion and confusion gives the shipwrecked adventurers a chance to flee. Some take it.

Tullia the ranger moves deeper into the thick, pristine jungle.

Behind the colossal goddess, Adrock exclaims to Chaka: "Firesticks! Lost technology from the ancient age, the might of We the People. We must disappear into the forest!"
The learned scholar of antiquity and the ape-boy race behind the towering statue and into the dense jungle where they find Jeojand hiding and watching the beach. "To think, they might confuse me with a Human!" the cat-mancer pouts unhappily.

Pinned behind the sagging wreckage of their ship, Fiefo LeBratt draws his ancestral trident and waits.

Flat on the sand, the rodent-like gnome Maskelyn wriggles behind Houdin's bleeding body to use as a shield.

Only Buck the mole-man comes out from cover. He stands up, waves his arms and cries out to them, trying to parlay and assure the Apes that they have nothing to fear from Men.

The roaring surf, the snarling of wolves and the commotion among the frightened horses make it hard for the civilized apes to hear Buck from 100 feet away.

But one notices. (G6) Ko-Nan hears him say to his fellow hunter, "Look at that one, there. Ha. He sure looks angry. Wait. I think he's trying to speak!"
His comrade (G5) says, "Easy, girl," as he calms his horse. Then: "What are you talking about? Humans can't speak."
"He's doing a pretty good job of pretending!"
"Well, you know what they say. Human see, human do."
"Hah. I'll wing him."

Buck feels the devastating impact before he hears the thunder. His left forearm suddenly, impossibly erupts in a gout of crimson! (-8hp)



Then the sound reaches him:

BOOM!

The center four ape riders (G2-5) calm their frightened horses.

The simian hunter nearest to Ko-Nan (G1) casually asks his comrade, "What's wrong?"
"I don't know," answers the other. (G2) "Something's got them spooked."
"It's the stench of those beasts. Can you blame them?"
"Wait. What's the matter with that one?" indicating Ko-Nan.
"Strange. It hasn't even got the sense to run! Hah."
"Careful, Brutus. It might be feral. Better not let it get too close. It'll bite you."
"You're right," agrees Brutus (G1) as he calmly points his strange weapon at Ko-Nan.

BOOM!

When the smoke clears, there is no sign of the barbaric warrior. He leapt into the jungle before the weapon was fired.

"Where did he go?!"


Actions?!


Map:

The PCs are blue. Houdin is green. Cavemen are orange. Gorillas are purple.
X = Unconscious or dead. B = Blinded. S = Sleep
Not depicted is Tullia who is 20 feet west of Jeojand.


Non-required Reading (Rolls and Rulings):

As per Monster Manual, under Wolves:
50% chance of the horses of G2,3,4,5 being spooked: [1d100] = 30, [1d100] = 47, [1d100] = 27, [1d100] = 22 All four are spooked by the Audible Glamour. Their riders cannot fire this round.
Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 6, Monsters: [1d6] = 1 Party wins.
G6 attacks Buck: [1d20] = 17, damage: [2d6] = 8 Hits for -8hp

PC Status:

• Buck Russellswart: Mole-Man Cleric 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 10/18, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl
  Chaka: Ape-Boy Thief 3: Move: 12"(6"), AC: 6, HP: 17/17
  Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 13/20
  Jeojand: Cat-Man Magic-User 2: Move: 6", AC: 7, HP: 5/10, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/32
  L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 6/6, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl
  Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 2: Move: 9", AC: 8, HP: 5/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl
  Tullia Galena: Half-Elf Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 24/24

PC Magic:

• Light (Buck): Duration: 76 rounds
  Sleep (L.L. Adrock): Duration: 2 rounds
  Audible Glamour (Maskelyn): Duration: 4 rounds

PC 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

The gnome huddles low behind his iguana, trying to stay unseen by these creatures and their blasting staves.

[Starbeard]

Jeojand purrs, "These damn dirty apes are blind and naive fools." He runs south under the cover of the jungle foliage, hoping to get as close as he can to the mounted gorillas while staying hidden in the trees.