Chapter 9: Abyss of the Xenomorphs

[Inferno]

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






By the light of Adrock's lamp, the explorers delve deeper into the dank, misty dungeons of the Castle U.S.S. Enterprise.

Yul cautiously tests the exotic resin that forms their bizarre environs.



The synthetic sheriff finds it rigid, strong and dry. Ko-Nan warily sniffs the air and picks up a subtle scent he doesn't recognize.

Fiefo the ratman frets, "So, Adrock, buddy... which way to this Engine Earring? Let's get this over with alright?"

"There," the historian-priest points. "There." Adrock softly murmurs an ancient hymn in the hope that all-knowing, all-reporting TeeEmZee will watch over them. "There's always a siren singing you to shipwreck..."

Ko-Nan leads the way. The grizzled veteran of slavemines takes the left at every fork to ensure they can find their way back out of the labyrinth of the aliens.

Alert, Connak and Maskelyn watch all around, especially the ceiling; a weird fusion of the mysterious amber and the superstructures of the gods.



They wind past their former position and venture further into territories unknown.

Suddenly, the wall formations change, becoming pale, wet and irregular.



"My god," says Adrock. "There's someone in there!"


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 5 feet.





PC Status:

Connak: Cat-Man Fighter/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC: 6, HP: 18/19
Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 26/26
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 24/32
L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 9/9, Spells: 2/6 1st lvl, Lantern
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 10/14, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Sheriff Yul: Robot Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 29/38

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 hesitates a second, then scrambles up the wet formations to check the body. Is he/she alive?

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan raises his axe ready to strike, "We should end it's suffering"

[Bluetongue]

Sheriff Yul

"Caught in a viscous spider's web or glued to the wall as a warning to others?" The borg suggests a couple of reasons the figure might be held there. He takes out his sword to cut away the resin holding the figure tightly.

Is the person someone we might recognise?

[redwarrior]

Connak continues to watch in all directions, noting the greater space, he slides his saber into its sheath, and draws his compound bow, with an arrow at the ready. He is especially looking for hidden portals and for other parts of the resin that may be spouting bodies. has this happened before?! he asks to anyone who feels like answering.

[ChubbyPixie]

Fiefo distinctly avoids touching the walls, fearing they may prove to be some sort of glue trap and condemn them to a fate like the body they see now. "Don't touch that stuff," he says with a hint of anxiety in his voice.

[Inferno]

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






In the sweltering, claustrophobic bowels of the castle-ship, the adventurers make a startling discovery.

"My god," says Adrock. "There's someone in there!"

"Don't touch that stuff!" warns Fiefo. But Yul grimly draws steel and cuts at the wet, sticky resin that shrouds the corpse-like figure!

Connak scans in all directions and sees a shut door to the left of Yul, hidden behind a thick layer of the strange, viscous slime! He turns right and is horrified to find more ghastly cocooned bodies trapped against the resin-coated wall, receding into the darkness!



After frantic minutes, Yul's sword reveals the lifeless stranger but she is still held tight.

Her skin is grey, cold and clammy. Her attire reminds some of The McCoy...



...except, filthy, wet, torn and bloodied.

Yul discovers a strange object holstered on her hip.



Maskelyn scrambles up the wet formations to check if she is still alive!

Caught in the sticky compound, he touches her neck and suddenly her head jerks up and her eyes jolt wide open!



Her weak voice urgently pleads, "...please!... kill me..."


Actions?!


Map:

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





PC Status:

Connak: Cat-Man Fighter/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC: 6, HP: 18/19
Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 26/26
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 24/32
L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 9/9, Spells: 2/6 1st lvl, Lantern
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 10/14, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Sheriff Yul: Robot Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 29/38

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)

[ChubbyPixie]

Something about the woman's plight grips Fiefo. He has a distinct and jarring vision of himself in her place - and doesn't hesitate. He draws his scimitar and sweeps it across her neck, trying to end her suffering as quickly as possible.

[Bluetongue]

Sheriff Yul

"A corps member by their dress. We should help, maybe save her from being a corpse member."

He takes the belted relic and frisky her pockets and pouches in search of medicinal aids that may ease her pain.

Then suddenly another spout of body fluid drips over him, this time blood not acid.

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan pulls his axe away as the other search through the filth. He moves to the watch the tunnels around them.

[redwarrior]

Connak speaks up, "Team! There are more of whatever that thing is to the right over here!! And a concealed doorway over to the left! Seeing that we slew the one, he will move to the group of figures to the right, putting away his bow and drawing his saber, getting ready to do the same, Is there any chance that some of these can be saved? he asks, staying his blade until he hears a yes or no.

I'm assuming he was far enough away that he didn't hear the "kill me." Connak is thinking that the crewman/strange person was slain for some reason known to the rest of the party.

[Urson]

Maskelyn
Are you sure... Maskelyn starts to say- but doesn't finish as Fiefo releases her. He scrambles back down, scowling at the muck on his hands and trying to find a dry surface to wipe it off on.
He glances around at the other victims, color draining from his face. Duck, rabbit... he mutters. He will be slightly more cautious as he checks the other bodies.

[Inferno]

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







Unexpectedly, the trapped woman's head jerks up and her eyes jolt wide open! She urgently pleads, "...please!... kill me..."

Without hesitating, Fiefo rushes forward and cuts her throat with his curving blade! The woman's head falls limp, her suffering ended.

Maskelyn finally pries himself free from the viscous resin. He looks at the unfortunates to their right as Connak approaches them with saber drawn.

Yul searches the dead woman but find neither pockets nor pouches. Suddenly, his artificial hands tremble. No. It's the corpse! Her torso jerks and bulges as if something alive crawls beneath her skin!

Suddenly, her ribcage explodes in a vomit of crimson!






A heinous screeching spawn of the black demons bursts out of her, hatching from its host in a ghastly baptism of blood.


Actions?!


Map:

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





PC Status:

Connak: Cat-Man Fighter/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC: 6, HP: 18/19
Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 26/26
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 24/32
L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 9/9, Spells: 2/6 1st lvl, Lantern
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 10/14, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Sheriff Yul: Robot Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 29/38

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)

[Bluetongue]

Sheriff Yul

The lawman is surprised by the parasite emerging and takes a powerful swing of his sword to abort its birthing but just succeeds in disembowelling the deceased host further as slippery gore and intestines slither to his feet.

Sheriff Yul bastard sword melee [1d20]=6 damage [1d8]=8

[redwarrior]

Connak lunges towards his traveling companion to give aid. Landing a terrific blow to the creature's back. It's a breeding nest! he shouts needlessly. As soon as the blow is landed, he'll pull his dagger with his off hand.


Attack with scimitar THACO 19 [1d20+3]=20+3=23 Damage [1d8+4]=2+4=6
Now I get to see how crits are done.

[Urson]

Maskelyn
Yikes! Yikes,Yikes!! Maskelyn dodges between the taller folks, getting away from the little horror. He's already seen enough of those to last him a lifetime.
He's heading for a spot behind Adrok, between him and Ko-Nan.

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan keeps watch and an eye over his shoulder. He wonders how long does it take to kill the unlucky trapped in the filth?

[ChubbyPixie]

Fiefo will back off as the others close in on the creature. He looks down the hall at the remaining unfortunate incubators. Hopefully these things aren't hatching on a timer, he thinks.

[Inferno]

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







In shock and horror, the adventurers witness the ghastly, abhorrent birth of the abomination spawn!

Maskelyn, Adrock and Fiefo back away in revulsion as Yul and Connak grimly advance!

The cyborg sheriff's sword stroke is fouled by the thick web of clinging resin. But the catman hacks apart the hideous progeny of demons! (Connak, please roll an Ability Check vs Dex on 1d20 to avoid 2hp damage from its acid blood)

The hateful thing dies squealing and shrieking!

Ko-Nan keeps vigilant and suddenly, shadows emerge from the labyrinthine darkness and become looming, frightful things!




Actions?! (fyi: monsters are larger than man-sized for damage rolls)


Map:

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





PC Status:

Connak: Cat-Man Fighter/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC: 6, HP: 18/19
Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 26/26
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 24/32
L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 9/9, Spells: 2/6 1st lvl, Lantern
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 10/14, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Sheriff Yul: Robot Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 29/38

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)

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan lunges forward to attack the creature on his right.

Attack: THACO (20): [1d20+2]=9+2=11 / Damage: (S/M: [2d4+3]=5+3=8 / L: [3d4+3]=5+3=8)