[PFS] PbP Gameday 3 - The Citadel of Flame (Inactive)

Game Master Luke_Parry

The Varisian bard kneels beside Madok and looks him over.

Nice work, guys, especially Billin and Odo. Darvan, Trig's got 2 spells remaining today and CLW is on his list. I'd rather keep the spells handy, but if you ant to preserve wand charges, I'll help heal Madok up. 3 rounds of barid performance left.

... Trig takes a few moments looking through the book. "This girl could have been a Chelish court poet. She's got a talent for describing gore." He slips the book into his pack. No doubt someone at the library will be looking for details on the life of a slave of Moloch. Why do we save this stuff?

Then he turns his attention to the doors. Detect magic on the doors, please.

"I can use my own healing abilities to help people. It is fairly effective. We'll start there and then break out wands. As difficult as that fight was, we could use a moment to catch our breath and reassess the situation."

Are we treating getting across the gap as accomplished now that there's nothing around to threaten us? If so, great. If not, Odo will take off his armor and bag it up tied to a rope for separate transport. Then he will make the leap.

Once I can get in to lay on hands, I can heal 3d6. And I've got 4 of those left today.

Now that we are out of combat, yes, we can hand-wave getting across the gap; basically, we assume that people remove armor / use ropes / et cetera.

Other than the faint abjuration effect previously detected suffusing the entire building, Triccio does not detect any magic on the door.

I was serious when I said that there wasn't a trap ;-)

Darvan will take one or two of Odo's lay on hands, and will use his wand, as needed, on himself and everyone else.

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Odo starts to make rounds with his healing abilities.

Lay on Hands - Madok: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 4) = 9
Lay on Hands - Madok Again: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 6) = 12 so that's 21 for Madok

Lay on Hands - Darvan: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 5) = 12

I'll save my last one for an emergency combat heal, for now.

Darvan and Odo heal the party's wounds, and gird their loins for whatever trials lay beyond the door...

Just waiting for a declaration of intent ;-)

"No magic on the door. Let's keep moving." Trig waits for the others to ready themselves, then open the door.

Upon opening the door...

The red glow of lava dimly lights this vast room. Rivulets of molten rock thread the hall’s floor, fed by streams of lava flowing down the walls. Four enormous forges are spaced evenly around the room, with large hammers, bellows, anvils, and tanks of water dripping on the lava below. A circular ramp rises gently near the center of the room, looping above the lava channels before disappearing into the gloom above.

Hammering away on a spear-point at the southern-most anvil is a soot-stained dwarf...

1d20 ⇒ 8

...who does not notice when Triccio opens the door.

Let me know what you want to do.

Also, the map has been updated ;-)

Since he's across the bridge in the 'inner' sanctum, he's either another zealot or a captive. I guess I'll just ask him.

Trig holds up a finger for the others to be quiet. Then he soft foots it around the north side of the spiral ramp.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 Arriving next to the eastern forge, he clears his throat and asks, "You couldn't tell me where to find an honest drink of water, could you? I'm awfully parched."

1d20 ⇒ 2

The Dwarf remains oblivious to Triccio's approach, and does not even hear him speak of the din from the forge.

Just to move things along...

However, when Triccio moves in front of him, he looks up with a start, and quickly takes in the appearance of the intruders into the forge area, before smiling obsequiously.

"Salaam, and welcome to you all! I am Vulcus, a humble smith. What brings you here? At a guess, I would say that you are not allied with my employers..."

Odo watches the exchange between dwarven smith and Trig closely. He entered the room with his scimitar in its sheath, hoping to keep hostility to a minimum. Now, he tries to assess the dwarf and his place in this setting...

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Try as he might, Odo is unable to get a good read on the Dwarf.

Unfortunately, a 'hunch' is a flat DC 20.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

"Not allied, no. But we've no reason to squabble with them. We're antiquarians interested in the temple's history. What's your part here?" Trig keeps his expression friendly.

"Me? I am an independent contractor, hired to manufacture weapons for them. As to the history of this place, I don't really know much - I never really bothered to learn; I am just here to do a job."

Triccio looks around at the empty forges. "What kind of weapons? Are they making a lot?"

"They are making none - it is just me; mostly fairly simple stuff - spears, daggers, maces - that sort of thing."

"How long have you been here? Are you here against your will?" Darvan tries to judge the dwarf's answers and intent, but fails.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

The Dwarf shrugs.

"I have been here for an amount of time; how long exactly, I am not sure - you tend to lose track after a while."

He then snorts at Darvan's second question.

"I see you weren't paying attention to what I said earlier - I told you, I am being paid for my services; I am not here against my will."

Odo decides it's time to try to pump the dwarf for information - gently. "We thought this area had been buried under the sands until quite recently and did not really expect to find anyone, much less a smith working for hire. In that light, could you tell us more about the area? Are there a lot of people here that you are supplying? Are there areas we should tread lightly to avoid provoking your employers?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

There we go!

The dwarf shrugs.

"Well, I know that a woman named Hafshi leads the cult here at present, and she has a boy named Galli as her sidekick; other than that, I don't think there are too many living members of the cult here at present - just a demon or two, and some fire elementals.

As to what is present up above, I don't rightly know - I have never been allowed up there..."

He then pinches the bridge of his nose, and sighs.

"Look - tell you what - technically, I am supposed to attack any outsiders who come in here, but I haven't actually seen most of the cash that I was promised, so far, so I am somewhat ambivalent towards my employers at present. How about I go back to finishing my latest spear, and pretend that I never saw you go up those stairs?"

Darvan smiles, "I believe we could agree to those terms." With that, he orders Sahba to follow him, and begins making his way in that direction.

Heading upstairs...

This long, winding ramp ascends gently in loops through the Citadel.

The corridor’s walls are decorated with mosaics of a female pilgrim’s journey. Throughout these scenes, a small golden idol of Moloch perches on her shoulder.

The innermost loop is covered in a large mural that shows a devotee of Moloch abandoning her family to begin a pilgrimage to the Citadel, as well as her journey through the Qadiran desert, with sandstorms, steadfast refusal of water, and a heat-induced vision of Moloch.

At the end of the inner loop, a super-heated vent of air from the
forge blows upward across the outer wall of the loop. Next to it lays a pile of black sand. At this point, the mural depicts pilgrims placing a handful of sand above the vent and allowing it to scour their bare faces.

Continuing on, the middle loop illustrates the passage through the hoodoo maze.

The pilgrim encounters increasingly large fire creatures, but in each case she prostrates herself to them and is allowed to pass.

At the end of the middle loop, an obsidian statue of a towering bull-headed man looms over mosaics of pilgrims kneeling before it.

Lastly, the outermost loop shows the final judgment of the pilgrim. The golden idol looms over a smoke-choked temple, its image reflected in every torch, lava pool, and smoke plume.

At the end of the outermost loop, the pilgrim immolates herself by placing her hand in a bonfire of blue flame. A much smaller brazier of blue flame stands on an ornate sconce in the passage.

At the terminus of the ramp sits an ornate spiral stair leading up. The murals here depict Malebolge (the domain of Moloch), where the pilgrim has been reborn as a fiery warrior clad in black armor and standing in a paradise of water and palm trees (though hints of darker skies and fiery storms can be seen in the distance, reflecting the true nature of Malebolge). Along the walls, choirs of fire creatures sing in celebration, and a frieze on the ceiling shows the golden idol of Moloch smiling over his hordes.

Let me know if anyone wishes to complete the three stages of the ritual :-)

Bardic Knowledge, religion: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Trig examines the murals as they pass. "It appears the ritual may confer some degree of safety from the temple's guardian elementals. No doubt there is some price to be paid. I am willing to essay the test and trust in the lady of stars to keep me from lasting harm. What do you think?

Know Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

"I think it is a farce." Odo says, disgust evident on his face. "Of course, Moloch is smiling. He has just taken another soul to Hell. There is a reason that his domain is known as the forest of false reward. We can see it even within these murals if we look at them without self-delusion."

Odo heads to the spiral stair, impatient to get at the heart of the temple's corrupt influence.

Darvan, too, bypasses the ritual and follows Odo.

Having no interest in formal religion, Billin continues upwards behind Odo and Darvan.

The young Varisian shrugs and follows the others.

Not going to do it without support from the rest of the party.

"I DUNNO ...SEEMS PRETTY DUMB. EVERYONE KNOWS MAGIC COMES FROM YOUR SPECIAL PURPOSES."

Alright then...

Triccio looks tempted to complete the ritual, but when the others simply walk past him, and wait impatiently at the bottom of the stairs, he reluctantly follows them.

Heading up the staircase...

The staircase opens onto a grand hall of polished obsidian and red marble. The walls are decorated with reliefs of a gleaming brass city, a massive sandstorm scouring a desert, and a horde of fire elementals descending on a city full of terrified humans. Rivers of slowly bubbling lava crisscross the floor, all streaming out of an elaborate altar at the far side of the room. Atop the altar sits a squat golden idol, 3 feet tall, of a bull-headed man, its arms raised and its hands holding a large thorned sword and a huge battleaxe. The idol’s eyes glow a deep crimson. Lava flows impossibly fast out of the bull-headed idol’s open mouth and down its torso, fanning out from there into rivers on the floor. Behind the altar, an obsidian relief of geometric forms stretches from floor to ceiling. Smoky forms flit across the relief ’s surface, their fiery eyes staring out at the room.

Standing in front of the altar is a Keleshite woman who a cruel twist to her face, wearing scale mail, and wielding a whip and a light mace.

"Infidels! Your lives will be sacrificed to the glory of Moloch!"

Round 1: Madok, H, Billin, Darvan, Odo, Triccio

Madok is up.

Please note that jumping over the lava requires an Acrobatics check (DC 10).

Darvan quickly proceeds to leap over the lava, drawing his cudgel as he does so, then orders Sahba to attack. He then spends a few seconds enchanting his club; it grows and curves in on itself, becoming a magical shillelagh.

Move action: As indicated on map, drawing cudgel
Acrobatics (ACP): 1d20 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (20) + 2 - 3 = 19

Free action: Order Sahba to attack
Handle Animal (Link): 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 4 = 11

Standard action: Cast shillelagh

Sahba leaps across the lava, landing directly in front of the woman and lashing out with his talons.

Move action: As indicated on map
Acrobatics (60' speed): 1d20 + 8 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 12 = 32

Standard action: Attack woman
Attack (Talon): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Damage (Talon): 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

@Darvan: I will take those as your prepared actions, but you don't take them just yet, as the woman acts second in the initiative order - there is a reason that I only asked for Madok to act ;-)

Huh, yeah, my brain didn't quite register that, apparently. I'll move my tokens back on the map, too.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10"HEY MEAN LADY! WE'RE GOING TO BEAT YOU UP!"

Madok's attempt at intimidation seems hollow after his near death experience.

The woman snorts in derision, and then strides forward to cast a spell.

"BURN!"

Immediately, a cone of flame erupts from her outstretched hands, engulfing Billin, Triccio, and Madok.

4d4 ⇒ (4, 2, 1, 4) = 11 Fire damage, DC 14 Reflex save for half.

At the same time...

1d3 ⇒ 1

...the steam vent next to Darvan and Sahba lets out a great gout of super-heated steam.

1d8 ⇒ 8 Fire damage, DC 13 Reflex save for half.

Round 2: Billin, Darvan, Odo, Triccio, Madok, H

Party is up. Darvan, you man revise your actions (keeping your previous rolls, of course).

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Viewing the room, Trig smiles to himself. That's got to be the idol. How're we going to get it out of here with lava pouring out of it.

She begins her inevitable rant and he tenses himself for her attack, but the spell catches him by surprise.

Refl save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 That hurts. 4 of 15 hp remaining.

"Aahh!" Trig cries out in pain and the flames engulf him. Then they are past and he's still standing shakily.

Evaluating the situation he thinks thinks this is a situation for the fighters. He begins a song to bolster their courage.

Inspire Courage (Su): To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive the bard's performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.

Odo grumbles under his breath about this temple's lack of sensible flooring. But, knowing he has to do something to draw this dangerous woman's attention, he grits his teeth and makes the leap...

Acrobatics: Jump: 1d20 - 8 ⇒ (8) - 8 = 0

And ends up just slogging his way through the lava flow. Crying out "For the Sun and the Fury!" he calls upon his divine power to smite the woman.

Scimitar, smite: 1d20 + 8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 3 + 1 = 15
Damage: 1d4 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 11
AC raised to 23 vs smite target

Reflex save, Billin: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Reflex save, Remue: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Billin and Remue both avoid the brunt of the blast, and then Billincasts a spell.

casting magic stone

Avoiding the worst of the flames, Billin casts a spell.

Darvan jumps across the lava, and then casts a spell, urging his companion to attack the woman.

Sahba successfully jumps across the lava, and slashes at the woman with one of her talons, drawing blood.

Odo attempts to jump across, but lands in the lava instead...

...taking 6d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 5, 1, 6, 3) = 21 Fire damage...

...however, despite being badly burned, he manages to complete the crossing, and takes a swing, but his blade bounces off her armor.

Triccio, badly burned by the flames, decides that the best thing that he can do is to inspire his allies, and begins to inspire them.

Round 2: Billin, Darvan, Odo, Triccio, Madok, H

Madok is up.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21Badly burned but now enraged again, Madok leaps across the lava easily and brings his greataxe down fruitlessly.Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8Damage: 1d12 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Madok jumps across the lava, and brings his greataxe down in a bone-crunching blow... which only succeeds in cracking a floor tile.

The woman sneers, and holds her holy symbol high.

"Moloch will feed on your souls!"

Channel negative energy for 2d6 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6 negative energy damage, DC 11 Will save for half (affecting everyone).

1d3 ⇒ 1

This time, the same steam vent that blew last time lets out a super-heated cloud of gas, but fortunately, no-one is standing near it.

Round 3: Billin, Darvan, Odo, Triccio, Madok, H

Party is up.

In addition to the will saves, Darvan and Sahba still need to make reflex saves versus the steam damage from last round.

Will Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Odo saves for half damage but that takes him to 5 hp and with the 5 points of non-lethal damage, he's staggered but with positive hit points.

Odo drops his scimitar in order to lay on hands (swift action) on himself.

Lay on Hands: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 1) = 7

That takes him to 12 hit points and removes his non-lethal damage. It also removes his staggered condition. Should I still limit myself to a single move or standard action this round because I was briefly staggered?

Will save, Billin: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Will save, Remue: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Remue whimpers as foul energy from the woman almost fells him. Hearing his trusty companion's sad condition, Billin's teeth clench and his eyes almost seem to pop out of their sockets. "Eat this, bull-y!".

Raging.

attack roll, sling: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
damage roll, sling: 1d6 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 + 2 = 7

@Odo: Actually, when you are reduced to 0hp with non-lethal damage, you aren't staggered - you fall unconscious.

@Odo: Actually, when you are reduced to 0hp with non-lethal damage, you aren't staggered - you fall unconscious.

That's what I thought at first, but then, because I remembered being at 0 hp is often a bit weird, I double-checked. The damage took me down to 5 hp, I had 5 hp of non-lethal damage. If they're equal, I'm staggered, not unconscious.

No problem!

Billin fires a sling bullet at the woman, which bounces off her armour.

Odo, feeling quite woozy, channels healing energy into his broken frame, restoring his vitality.

Round 3: Billin, Darvan, Odo, Triccio, Madok, H(-3)

Darvan, Triccio, and Madok are up.

Will save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

The chill touch of death seeps into Trig's heart and he drops to the floor.

-2 hp

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24Damage: 1d12 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8"GRAAAAGGGHHHHHBLAAA!" Madok astutely hollers as he chops at the villainess.

Darvan?