City of Ashes (Inactive)

Game Master Grimmy

"Make your preparations quickly everyone. We haven't time to tarry this morning. I'm afraid we will soon be caught between two enemies, those unknown at our front, and the known group that will be closing in behind us."

After the group gave the indications they were, ready, Lilia used another Mage Armor scroll, knowing she'd need whatever protections it could provide, as they were now two fewer in number.

The blood red water lapse gently against the sunken altar in the center of the gloomy cavern. On the eastern bank of the pool, the paved road continues east toward the cave with the blood-mist falls. The stream from the waterfall and another tributary feed the pool, and it dumps into a third stream that chugs north into the earth.

To the west lies the skeletal mages tomb, the lair of the vegepygmies, and beyond those the road to the glowing hot room Uurnir had spotted while scouting the night before.

Where to?

"I think our only choice is deeper into this place. If there are multiple bodies as the skeleton talk Cairenn, we will need to find a larger chamber, where all of them could be stored properly. I'd avoid the smaller ones, as I'd guess there's nothing in them except more guardians. What do the rest of you think?"

Thinking over Lady Lilia's suggestion he agrees. "As time is against us then we should stay focused and search for the larger chamber. It will still take time for the digging team to get down here. Thry will be cautious until they realize others are down here."

"I saw a chamber that glowed brightly whilst I searched for a camp yesterday. Perhaps that is what we seek?"

"That sounds like as good a place to start looking as any, Urrnir. If you and Priscila feel like heading that direction, we will follow." As the group turns to leave, that is when Lilia uses her scroll of Mage Armor. She keeps the parchment, knowing it might come in handy later.

The vegepygmies don't show themselves as you pass their den, and the skeletal mage is silent and still in his tomb. The road leads to area Uurnir described, the hall approaching it getting warmer with every step.

Uneven, roughly hewn steps lead down into a natural cavern dominated by a pool of liquid fire. Four huge, intricate carved demon heads with gaping maw and glittering black eyes sit upon roughly hewn plinths. The ceiling towers 40 ft. above your heads.

As you descend the steps, smokeless flames suddenly fill the maws of each carven demon head and a low chuckle echoes through the chamber.

This is area 6a on the map.

"This certainly looks like it leads to a big room, doesn't it. Does it look safe to you all? I'd like it to be checked for traps before we blunder into it, to be honest. Those demon heads are probably trouble. "

"I'm more concerned about the laughing..."

Urrnir begins to exam the room while very, very slowly moving into the chamber.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Ronen waits outside the chamber. The sight of the idols is troubling and he readies himself by unsheathing his blade preparing should anything move to intercept the warrior of Freya.

Priscilla trudged along shuffling about still not happy about the morning, but still what can you do with a bunch of eager breakfast skipping tallies. She heard her name and looked at the chamber with the laughing.

" Hey I know I didn't get enough rest or enough time to fix my hair, but that does mean you get to laugh!" she says a bit angry at the whole thing.

Priscilla peered into the room and room. She peered about for traps.

preception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

Ixjavit Stealth: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19

The steps open into a chamber that is about 50' x50'. Unlike the other chambers that were uneven natural cavern formations, this one is perfectly square.

In the center of the room, a square obsidian platform frames a pool of fire. On each of the two side walls, a pair of plinths each support a huge, roughly hewn carved demon head with black eyes and gaping maws.

On the far wall, a matching set of steps like the ones you have just descended lead up to a continuation of the paved road.

Priscilla can not tell from here what areas might be trapped, but she determines that the floor of the room, while warm from some heat source below, is not too hot to walk on.

Ares follows his comrades in silence, not knowing what could alert the guardians to there presence or give themselves away to the vile skeleton sentries. With a stronger grip on his father's shield, the aasimar listens to the laughter go on. "There any magic within the room Mistress Stinisen?" Ares whispers as he examines the room as well looking for any new symbols or clues to where the crystals reside.

Perception:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Knowledge(Religion):1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

"It seems safe, but..if anybody has any bacon or eggs we might try to find out how hot the floor is and make breakfast at the same time!'

Lilia answers Ares' question by casting a spell. "Give me one second and I'll tell you precisely, Ares.". After casting the spell, she tries to look around the rest of the group to see as much of the room as possible.

"I'm afraid it's hardtack and jerky, Priscilla. If that bad crew gets down here before we escape, there might not be many more breakfasts for us in the future!"

"True, just trying to lighten the mood. Still the heat is coming from the floor. and you said something about fire elements or something...I mean Isn't it smart to be a bit cautious about a hot floor when Mud and Water has already tried to attack us?" She says with her ever so cheerful smile.

"Yeah, this room gives me the creeps. Of course, every room down here has given me the creeps, especially those awful skeleton guards. We will have to sneak out very carefully by those things once we get the crystals."

In the flames leaping out of the pool in the center of the room, Uurnir notices a creature moving behind the flames, confident that it hasn't been noticed, because it does indeed blend in very well. It is even smaller than Priscilla, and It has thin, leathery wings, small horns protruding from its forehead. It is watching the party, rubbing it's hands together with glee.

As the idle conversation of the others carries own behind her, Urrnir is focused acutely on the task at hand. She had already had enough close-calls in this forsaken place and breakfast was the furthest thing from her mind at the moment. Her dedication pays off as she spots a mischievous sprite observing the party

Urrnirr does her best to draw her companions attention to the strange creature while hoping not to alert it at the same time.

"Look there." she whispers "Something moves amide the flames."

Ronen does his best to casually peer towards the flames. It takes a few seconds but he begins to glimpse the shape of the impish creature in the fire.
"Does anyone know what that is? And is there anymore hidden?"

"So wait there is a creature in there!" She squints her eyes to look and see if she can make it out.

perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

Ares waits a moment before looking for the creature, peering at it and dipping into to his limited pools of knowledge to identify it.

Knowledge(Religion):1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
If I need it perceptiion:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Know. Arcana 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 to see if I know anything about the creature.

Comparing notes between the two of them, Ares and Lilia think this thing is a mephit... it has a breath weapon and other fire magic, and it heals quickly when in contact with flames.

"Can anyone try to lure that thing out of that hot room? We need to be sure to not use any fire against it, either."

" So maybe this will work" Pris steps inot the room and smiles a big smile.

"HEY EMBER GUY I'M HERE AND I BROUGHT FOOD"Priss calls out as she pulls out some jerky and waves it about.

"Come on, I promise I won't hurt ya, besides we sneaky people gotta stick together right!" She says hoping to tempt it to come out and share some food.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

As Priscilla steps forward, a swooshing, roaring sound is heard beneath the floor and behind the walls, and the two demon head statues to either side of her belch flames from their gaping maws... straight at her!

vs touch ac
Fire bolt: 1d20 ⇒ 20 crit threat
confirm: 1d20 ⇒ 7
Fire bolt: 1d20 ⇒ 1
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

From the pool of fire in the center of the room, the fire mephit hurls taunts and insults.

"The abyssal flame will burn your flesh and scorch your bones!"

The two statues in the rear of the room vomit pools of magma which coalesce into vaguely humanoid forms.

Initiative:
Ares: 1d20 ⇒ 4
Priscilla: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Urrnir: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Lilia: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Ronen: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
Magma Elementals: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Fire Mephit: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Round 1
Priscilla <<<<
Fire Mephit
Uurnir
Magma Elementals
Lilia
Ronen
Ares

Priscilla is up!

ummm we're in trouble arent we?

We need to draw them out of this room, preferably to somewhere with a large source of water.

Yeah, we are all going to die! We need to kite the heck out of these things. I can magic missile them, until they come after us. Any good archers in the group?

I can bottleneck at least one of the elementals with a bear trap. It's too bad we don't have Kn Engineering or Dungeoneering and a decent amount of explosives, cause I'd just flood the cavern.

"Okay Strategic retreat"She says as she withdraws looking to see if anyone else can figure out something better to do as she pats her self out.

figure we try to lure them to the water or someplace we can collapse the tunnel on.

Round 1

The fire mephit pokes out of the pool of flames and points a finger. A torrent of flames jets forth at...

1d5 ⇒ 3

...Uurnir.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 3, 1) = 13

Round 1
Priscilla (withraw)
Fire Mephit (scorching ray)
Uurnir <<<<
Magma Elementals
Lilia
Ronen
Ares

Uurnir is up!

Round 1

Urrnir tries in vain to deflect the ray as she would with a mortal arrow, instead catching the fiery blast square in the chest. It sears her flesh violently and singes the furs she wears, filling the immediate area with the scent of burning hair. Though the pain is immense the warrior of Freya does no give a single inch. In fact, she grits her teeth and bellows a challenge at the impudent creature:

"Is that the best you've got!? Ha! I barely felt it!"

She defiantly plants her foot forward, signaling that she would not give in so easily.

"Lady Lilia: I will occupy the two magma creatures. In the meantime take the opportunity to give this imp a taste of your own magic."

Urrnir: Total Defense action, 5 foot step to map point.

Magma Elementals

The two small molten humanoids move away from the party, towards the exit on the far side of the room, dripping a trail of hot sludge as they go. When the reach the steps to the exit, they begin to bubble and molt, seeping hot magma from every pour. It looks like the very ground beneath where they stand is converting to hot magma.

5' Step
Full Round: Lava Puddle

Round 1
Priscilla (withraw)
Fire Mephit (scorching ray)
Uurnir <<<<
Magma Elementals (lava puddle at exit)
Lilia <<<<
Ronen <<<<
Ares <<<<

Lilia, Ronen, Ares are up!

Lilia fires a magic missile at the mephit. "Come fight us, coward!"

Damage 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 3) + 2 = 9

Lilia ducks away from the door after firing off her magical blasts, trying to avoid the flames.

Round 1

"May we learn from the scars we earn." Ares says in a prayer as he heals Urrnir.

Cure light wounds:1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 Used Protection from evil.

The swooshing, roaring sound is heard again and flames begin to build up in the mouths of the four demon head statues again. The mephit rubs his hands together in anticipation.

Round 1
"Whatever those abominations are up to does not look good."

Turning to Lilia, "When you are able Lady Lilia I will need my crossbow and bolts if we upset the imp-like creature maybe it will leave this lair when we move around the corner".

Standard action: Move back to the corner outside of chamber

Round 1
Priscilla (withraw)
Fire Mephit (scorching ray)
Uurnir (total d)
Magma Elementals (lava puddle at exit)
Lilia (magic missile)
Ronen (move)
Ares (clw)

Round 2 Go
Priscilla is up

hmmm not sure what to do but will draw my sling and load it. Thus waiting for any openings

Priscilla now back on the dias, gets her sling ready the hurl at any enemies she sees.

I'm here ,but waiting for the enemies actions before I do mine.

Round 2 - Ixjavit (and demon statue traps)

The fire mephit flies out of the fire pit and breathes a cone of flames over Ares, Uurnir and Lilia.

Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

dc 13 reflex for half

The gems in the eyes of the statues gleam and they spew forth flames once again... the two nearest ones vomiting another pair of magma elementals, while the two furthest ones spit bolts of fire at Ares and Uurnir.

Fire Bolt vs Ares: 1d20 ⇒ 14
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Fire Bolt vs Uurnir: 1d20 ⇒ 1 miss

So there are four elementals now? I don't see them on the map.

Also, fight or flight guys? I get the feeling we aren't all on the same page and I don't want to make the same mistake I made against the zombies.