Hadassa's Legacy of Fire

Game Master jhpace1

Encounter Maps
Ruins of Kelmarane, Old Monastery, Kelmarane Hinterlands, Pale Mountain Region
Adventure Log, Loot, Components, WBL


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Male Human Gamemaster

On the stairs, Gilbans replied "The Grand Sultan rose to rule in the City of Brass by his expertise of wishcraft and defeating several troublesome wizards from the Prime Material Plane in the City. Efreeti currying his favor were easily satisfied. Such court intrigue became easier than sacrificing to the Queen of the Inferno. Ymeri is notorious for being fickle, and even ignoring her worshipers for centuries."

The Fire Giant checked the boiling fire-clouds above them, as if testing his words.

(Everyone is now at the temple top.)

Silver Crusade

HP: 106 | AC: 20/12/18; CMD: 25 | F: + 10; R: +6; W: +5 | Initiative +3
Skills:
Perception +25
Rage 24/24 Resolve 5/5 Wild Nights 2/2 Carry the Burden 2/2

"Huh, so it's possible she isn't a fan of who we're dealing with?" Yazi thinks aloud as she notices Yasir, then the statues that has her attnetion. "Find some good ones?" she calls out to the cute Pathfinder.

Scarab Sages

Female Keleshite Human Dervish Dancer (Bard) 12: HP 87/87 : AC/T/FF 17/17/13 (21/21/17 w/Mage Armor): Fort: + 4 Reflex: +13 (16 w Rain of Blows) Will: +10 (+12 vs Mind affecting, +16 Bardic/language/sound) : Perception

[m]"Mmmhmm."[/b] she replies, looking up from her sketching for a moment. "I figure an artbook of some of the things we've seen here would do pretty well once we get back."


Male Human Gamemaster

Broadbeard looked nervously around. "Many bad rumors persist about the Queen of the Inferno, masters." he muttered. "Sacrifices, sacrifices,...and more sacrifices."

The fire-dwarf pointed at the two newest members of azer to the adventuring team. "You two," the older Broadbeard commanded, "open these doors."

Glumly the mercenaries complied. The ancient bronze hinges creaked and protested, but no traps went off, and the doors opened without falling down. Inside was...

The inside of the temple is decorated with pictographs and writings in ancient Ignan.

Search DC 25:

A spiral is hidden in the floor amongst ancient Ignan runes, pictographs, and places for priests to stand that have been rubbed smooth. But no indication of how to iris open the spiral. You see the same spiral in the pictographs on one of the walls, but you cannot make out how to activate it.

Knowledge: Religion 25:

You easily make out stereotypical divine evil instructions on the sacrifice of Prime Material Plane and Plane of Water natives. Once in a great while, like a millennia or an eon, the head priest, proven in battle, was allowed to sacrifice a hated enemy of the Queen of the Inferno and gain enlightenment by going into a secret chamber in the center of the pyramid.
A spiral built into the floor, when coated with mortal-derived blood, would open, letting the head priest see a secret of Ymeri, something given in eons past to Bayt al-Bazan. The head priest would emerge, ordained by Ymeri for life, or only smoke would rise up, and the spiral would iris shut again. Then a new, untested, high priest would be chosen.

Knowledge: The Planes DC 30:

Ancient Ignan sounds like a roaring bonfire to human ears, but you can make out instructions in the pictographs. Efreeti holding a not-burnt human, reptilian, or mermaid corpse between them above a spiral on the floor, heart-blood dripping down and...opening the spiral into a circle? With only the head priest going down into the darkness and emerging...enlightened? Glowing?

Ancient Ignan:

Be worthy by offering the Queen her captured enemies...
Love the Queen.
Only the greatest sacrifice will be rewarded.
Only an untainted one, chosen by battle, will feel Ymeri's touch...
Devote yourself to the Queen of the Inferno, and receive eternal flame.

Ignan:

Worship...Queen...hated ones...
reward
Ymeri
blood...enlightens
infidels...ash


Male Male(Human) Class Level Fighter 12 Weapon Master | HP 93/122| AC/Touch/Flat 24/15/19 | Fort/Ref/Will 8/8/6| Init: +6 | Percep: +12 BAB 12 | CMB +17 | CMD 30 (33 if kukri related)

Khayal eyes dart around the temple perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26 before coming to rest on the spiral on the floor and in the pictographs. This looks like it may open, perhaps if we find a lever, or perhaps we can force if.

Silver Crusade

HP: 106 | AC: 20/12/18; CMD: 25 | F: + 10; R: +6; W: +5 | Initiative +3
Skills:
Perception +25
Rage 24/24 Resolve 5/5 Wild Nights 2/2 Carry the Burden 2/2

"Might be wise to not immediately resort to smashing the ancient evil abandoned temple. Immediately anyway, we can always smash it later." Yazi muses as she lets hr gaze drift around the room.


Male Human Gamemaster

Rayhan's Knowledge: The Planes: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (4) + 19 = 23
(Rayan knows Ignan.)

Rayhan studied the walls, but was distracted by the Ignan he mumbled under his breath. "Worship...Queen, ah, yes...reward, hmm...enlightens? I may need to have more time, this Ignan is quite ancient, compared to the books I have studied." the wizard explained to everyone.

Hajar's Knowledge: Religion: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29

Hajar's usual disappointed look became more pronounced as he slowly paced from one end of the chamber and back, studying the raised pictographs, finally stopping before the center. The paladin-oracle turned to ponder the spiral in the floor. "No need, brother, Yazi, friend Rayhan. Jaren, the priest of Sarenrae who helped raise me in Katapesh," he intoned to the others, "had several examples of the ways evil gods entice their followers. These writings," his arm sweeping across the bronzed wall, "depict one such method. By sacrificing a Prime Material Plane native in this temple, their blood poured on the floor would open the spiral to a secret chamber that only the high priest was allowed to enter. It was," the man's voice twisted in disgust, "both a bottleneck, since it required a non-native victim, and a reward, for the faithful."

Broadbeard grunted. "Appropriate." he replied. "You Primers are always seen as either enemy, or slaves, here in the City of Brass." The other azer nodded; Gilbans had the decency to look elsewhere.

Silver Crusade

HP: 106 | AC: 20/12/18; CMD: 25 | F: + 10; R: +6; W: +5 | Initiative +3
Skills:
Perception +25
Rage 24/24 Resolve 5/5 Wild Nights 2/2 Carry the Burden 2/2

"I wonder if the two are related?" Yazi remarks with a cluck of her tongue before turning to the others. "So we smashing?"


Human Male Human (Varisian) Magus 7/Rogue 2/Arcane Trickster 3 | HP 72/72 [13 TEMP] | AC/Touch/Flat 19 23/14/15 | Fort/Ref/Will +8/+11/+6 | Arcane pool 5/5 | Impromptu sneak 1/1 | Init: +5 | Percep: +7

Bartan stares at the sacrificial altar almost longingly, wishing the group had a person of purely evil intent who could be sacrificed for the greater good. Then he shakes his head quickly, the evil thought chalked up to missing home.
"I think smashing sounds like a fine idea, my lady."

Scarab Sages

Female Keleshite Human Dervish Dancer (Bard) 12: HP 87/87 : AC/T/FF 17/17/13 (21/21/17 w/Mage Armor): Fort: + 4 Reflex: +13 (16 w Rain of Blows) Will: +10 (+12 vs Mind affecting, +16 Bardic/language/sound) : Perception

Nasir furiously scribbles down notes as Hajar and Rayan explain the purpose and process of the temple, recording the ancient mechanism, for posterity.

"It seems like that may be the best course of action."


Male Human Gamemaster

GM rolls:

Perception check Broadbeard: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
Perception check Azer #1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Perception check Azer #2: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Perception check Gilbans: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16
Wisdom check Gilbans: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Intelligence check Rayhan: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

One of the azer speaks up in Ignan. Broadbeard appears to be ready to snap at the fellow fire-dwarf, but the mercenary is insistent, waving his arms at the other natives. The three azer huddle, hands on shoulders, as the one azer animatedly points first at the walls, then the human adventurers, then the floor. Gilbans takes an interest in the conversation, looking at the walls, then the azer, then peering closer at each adventurer, as if sizing them up.

Rayhan, hearing the conversation in Ignan, walks closer to the group of fire-dwarves, his interest piqued. His brow furrowed in concentration turning to surprise, the older man strokes his beard, calculating.

Broadbeard finally turns to the group and speaks before Gilbans, also looking pensive, can interrupt. "You Primers - always brawn over brains. Smash and grab. Like opening a conversation with fireball. " he started, only to have Rayhan clear his throat at him. Broadbeard changed his tone, saying "What I mean, masters, is that there's one word repeated over and over again on the walls - blood. And the ritual calls for pouring blood - your liquid stuff - on the spiral."

"I said that." Hajar snapped.

Broadbeard continued. "But that was the ritual, master. It doesn't have to be just one person's blood." Broadbeard looked pointedly at the adventurers. "It can be all of you, your blood. Enough to open the spiral!" The flames of the azer's beard, hair, and skin shone in the darkness of the temple.

"But will it be enough without killing them?" Gilbans questioned. "Small humans like you don't have very much - usually one hit with a greatclub and you're a red smear on the floor."

"It has to be just enough to cover the spiral's surface." Rayhan exclaimed. "More than a few drops, yes, but not even a pint would do, I suspect!"

Hajar sighed, then got out his dagger.

Scarab Sages

Female Keleshite Human Dervish Dancer (Bard) 12: HP 87/87 : AC/T/FF 17/17/13 (21/21/17 w/Mage Armor): Fort: + 4 Reflex: +13 (16 w Rain of Blows) Will: +10 (+12 vs Mind affecting, +16 Bardic/language/sound) : Perception

"So draw blood from each of us to supply enough for the ritual without having to carry out a lethal sacrifice? That's pretty brilliant actually." Nasir says, intrigued.


Human Male Human (Varisian) Magus 7/Rogue 2/Arcane Trickster 3 | HP 72/72 [13 TEMP] | AC/Touch/Flat 19 23/14/15 | Fort/Ref/Will +8/+11/+6 | Arcane pool 5/5 | Impromptu sneak 1/1 | Init: +5 | Percep: +7

"I'm on board with this, as long as Master Hajar is willing to heal up my wound after the required blood is let." Bartan offers up his arm to do some bleeding.


Male Human Gamemaster

"Always." Hajar reassured Bartan.

Silver Crusade

HP: 106 | AC: 20/12/18; CMD: 25 | F: + 10; R: +6; W: +5 | Initiative +3
Skills:
Perception +25
Rage 24/24 Resolve 5/5 Wild Nights 2/2 Carry the Burden 2/2

Yazi eyes dart around furtively at everyone. "Uh, I wasn't gonna bring that up and sound weird, but if y'all are all for it I'm down." the follower of Sekhmet says with a cattish grin.


Male Human Gamemaster

Hajar pricked his own hand first with the dagger, and under Rayhan's direction, bled in a slow circle at the spiral in the floor. Yazi followed Hajar's action, then Bartan, Khayal, and Nasir. Each circle of precious fluid got smaller, and Rayan carefully used a cloth to smear the blood between the lines.

Hajar's Channel: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 2) = 11

Gilbans the Fire Giant looked a little better after the soundless wave of energy flooded the chamber.

When the last of blood completed the spiral, a grinding noise made everyone look around, as the spiral fell into the floor, revealing Medium-to-Large sized stairs going down into the darkness.

"Yazi, Bartan, with me-" Hajar started to say, but Rayhan interrupted him. "I have a wand of stone shape." he corrected the paladin, showing the magical item, "There might be a time limit to the magic."

"Fine." Hajar conceded, "but only him with us." The human pointed at Broadbeard. "In case there's a trap that requires a native." The azer shrugged, but fell in line. (Everyone free to go down, or stay in the chamber. Except for the guys with fire for hair.)

The stairs are roughened stone as you proceed below, but no light is provided - other than what you carry, and Broadbeard's natural flames. Several turns later, you emerge into a small, tight chamber. Opposite the end of the stairs is a single alcove with a ledge holding...a flame in a glass sphere?


Male Human Gamemaster

(Hello? Reactions? Any comments?)


Male Male(Human) Class Level Fighter 12 Weapon Master | HP 93/122| AC/Touch/Flat 24/15/19 | Fort/Ref/Will 8/8/6| Init: +6 | Percep: +12 BAB 12 | CMB +17 | CMD 30 (33 if kukri related)

Khayal takes the steps gingerly, he experiences a bout of vertigo due mostly to the loss of blood.

Observing the sphere, his eyes move across it wearily. Summoning up some courage, Khayal steps forward to examine it. perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32


Male Human Gamemaster

The flame in the glass sphere appears to float within the center. It is a strange reddish color, almost the color of lava.

Looking closer, you see that the top of the glass is open, but the flame doesn't move according to the air currents.

Behind you, Broadbeard's eyes widen as he takes in the sequestered flame.

Silver Crusade

HP: 106 | AC: 20/12/18; CMD: 25 | F: + 10; R: +6; W: +5 | Initiative +3
Skills:
Perception +25
Rage 24/24 Resolve 5/5 Wild Nights 2/2 Carry the Burden 2/2

"Soooooo what do we do with it?" Yazi asks as she arches a brow at the small but ominous flaming snowglobe.

Scarab Sages

Female Keleshite Human Dervish Dancer (Bard) 12: HP 87/87 : AC/T/FF 17/17/13 (21/21/17 w/Mage Armor): Fort: + 4 Reflex: +13 (16 w Rain of Blows) Will: +10 (+12 vs Mind affecting, +16 Bardic/language/sound) : Perception

Nasir moves closer, studying the magnificent flame with an intrigued expression.

Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Knowledge History: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14
Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25


Male Human Gamemaster

Rayhan's Knowledge: The Planes: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (16) + 19 = 35
Hajar's Knowledge: Religion: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33

for Nasir:

Arcana: this is elemental fire of a nature you have never seen before. Almost...organic, not just flame.
History: blank
The Planes: the fire looks like something plucked off of a living Elemental Plane of Fire creature, not an ordinary flame

Rayhan started stroking his beard in concentration, even as Hajar frowned upon seeing the flame in glass.

"That looks like an Elemental Plane of Fire denizen flame, but the quality is divine!" the oldest man present exclaimed. "It registers as Evil." Hajar muttered.

"Ymeri's Breath!" Broadbeard cursed, almost relevantly. Heads in the room turned back to him. The fire-dwarf said again, "No. Really. Ymeri's Breath. She breathed into that glass. The thing dreams are made of, to us. If one of us normal people touched it, our flame would become like Ymeri's, a little. It would purify us, forever!"

"It would condemn you, forever." Hajar snapped back. He looked at the flame in glass. "It would be the first step to becoming one of the evil goddess' avatars." Hajar declared, his voice dripping with disdain.

Hajar looked sideways at his fellow adventurers. "But safe to hold for us. As long as you don't try to eat it or breathe it in. You could even put that fire in a lamp for continual flame. Get some use out of something evil." he explained.

Broadbeard's flames fluttered in shock. "Don't let any Fire Mephits or priests of the Queen of the Inferno hear you say that. Sacrilege, to them." he retorted.

Silver Crusade

HP: 106 | AC: 20/12/18; CMD: 25 | F: + 10; R: +6; W: +5 | Initiative +3
Skills:
Perception +25
Rage 24/24 Resolve 5/5 Wild Nights 2/2 Carry the Burden 2/2

Yazi's eyes quickly dash back and forth between everyone speaking at once over the apparent super powerful but evil lantern. Finally she scratches her head. "I've never wanted to eat fire before but now I'm kinda curious what that would even taste like?"


Male Human Gamemaster

"Uh, delicious?" Broadbeard replied.

"It is fire. Even if it didn't burn you, it's meant for Plane of Fire natives. Without direct deity intervention, ahem, the flame would consume you. I think." Rayhan said, a little hesitantly.

"I believe someone said we needed this?" Hajar questioned.

Scarab Sages

Female Keleshite Human Dervish Dancer (Bard) 12: HP 87/87 : AC/T/FF 17/17/13 (21/21/17 w/Mage Armor): Fort: + 4 Reflex: +13 (16 w Rain of Blows) Will: +10 (+12 vs Mind affecting, +16 Bardic/language/sound) : Perception

"It's alive in a way, and definitely infused with primal elemental power. We should take it with us." Nasir says after studying it for a bit.


Male Human Gamemaster

"Its' value alone in research makes this adventure a little less problematic." Rayhan agreed. "Perhaps we should not openly carry the flame, to avoid other natives', ah, reactions?" the older man cautioned.

Scarab Sages

Female Keleshite Human Dervish Dancer (Bard) 12: HP 87/87 : AC/T/FF 17/17/13 (21/21/17 w/Mage Armor): Fort: + 4 Reflex: +13 (16 w Rain of Blows) Will: +10 (+12 vs Mind affecting, +16 Bardic/language/sound) : Perception

"That would make sense, I imagine it would be akin to walking around with a holy artifact among the clergy who laid claim to it."


Male Human Gamemaster

"We have extradimensional storage. I presume the flame will be unharmed?" Hajar asked, looking at Rayhan. The extraplanar expert nodded in response.


Male Human Gamemaster

Storing the flame-in-glass, the party turned around and headed back up the staircase. "What do we tell the others upstairs?" Rayhan asked from the rear of the party.


Male Male(Human) Class Level Fighter 12 Weapon Master | HP 93/122| AC/Touch/Flat 24/15/19 | Fort/Ref/Will 8/8/6| Init: +6 | Percep: +12 BAB 12 | CMB +17 | CMD 30 (33 if kukri related)

When asked what we found, we reply truthfully, Plenty of fire.
When they say really, we say yes.

Khayal states plainly before heading back up the stairs.

Scarab Sages

Female Keleshite Human Dervish Dancer (Bard) 12: HP 87/87 : AC/T/FF 17/17/13 (21/21/17 w/Mage Armor): Fort: + 4 Reflex: +13 (16 w Rain of Blows) Will: +10 (+12 vs Mind affecting, +16 Bardic/language/sound) : Perception

Nasir chuckles as she considers Khayal's suggestion. "That works"


Male Human Gamemaster

As you climb back up to the inner chamber, the Fire Giant and Azer are waiting as expected. Gilbans was the first to ask "You all don't look any different. Did you find what was down there?"

The smaller fire-dwarves also looked on with anticipation.


Male Male(Human) Class Level Fighter 12 Weapon Master | HP 93/122| AC/Touch/Flat 24/15/19 | Fort/Ref/Will 8/8/6| Init: +6 | Percep: +12 BAB 12 | CMB +17 | CMD 30 (33 if kukri related)

It was pretty hot, plenty of fire.
bluff: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

Khayal may be only telling a half truth, but he pulls it off as convincingly as he could hope for.

Scarab Sages

Female Keleshite Human Dervish Dancer (Bard) 12: HP 87/87 : AC/T/FF 17/17/13 (21/21/17 w/Mage Armor): Fort: + 4 Reflex: +13 (16 w Rain of Blows) Will: +10 (+12 vs Mind affecting, +16 Bardic/language/sound) : Perception

"Indeed, there was fire, as there is everywhere here. Not much different tha any other level really." Nasir elaborates.

Bluff: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28


Male Human Gamemaster

GM rolls:

1d100 ⇒ 78
1d100 ⇒ 1

The others look unconvinced at Khayal's explanation, hesitating as they see the fighter's ring, but their eyes light up when the dancer talks. Gilbans sits back on his heels in the chamber, and the other azer nod approvingly.

"Well, I know you Primers have had a long day." the fire giant rumbled. "We could rest here, away from prying eyes and blades being used against us, for a time."

---------------------LEVEL 13 ACHIEVED!-------------------------

(You folks know that I like to level people after they sleep for a while. This was also a major accomplishment, and you adventurers have been fighting almost continuously now for hours.)

(If you read the Discussion window, Yazi is bowing out of the game. It has been five years for us. I'm good to continue, daily or weekly if needed. I can DM players as required - as long as just one or two people are left, and they are, as I count them!)

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