The Heroes take to the air again upon Amir's rug and Kzrira's unnamed bronze griffon. They fly through the tunnel above the scorching river of magma until the passage opens into a truly massive cavern. By the hellish light of a lake of fire, a low, wide ledge of stone is seen about hundred feet away across the magma. The walls above the ledge that form the chamber resemble enormous stone plates which suggest a body like a serpent or centipede at a geologic scale. A forest of scythe-like claws, each of which could bridge the Pale River, run along the perhaps miles long form embedded in the volcanic core. The chamber funnels upward narrowing as the fossilized coils close in. High up over the magma, a monstrous draconic skull pitted with rows of empty eye sockets looms.
The deep thrumming noise, like colossal heartbeat, that reverberates through the rock is interrupted by a harsh laugh that pierces the ambient noise.
Karethas shouts out,
Varkata says, "Can't say that I'd trust you to honour that," and calls on Cayden Cailean to aid her.
Kzrira draws her new bow, feeling the coolness caused by the magic even in the grip and the string. While she only nocks a normal arrow, she is prepared to draw one of her special arrows if necessary.
Kzrira will begin to use the Outsider(evil) or Outside(fire) Bane arrows if an appropriate bad guy appears.
To nobody in specific.
You would think that these guys would get tired of being defeated after a while. Last time he was imprisoned for eons.
The laughing continues.
A giant Efreeti appears. Jhavhul is huge, over three times the size of a large man clad in living brass armor and wielding a great flaming polearm. His head seems elongated and is ringed by great black horns and a stretched maw that you don't recall when you saw him last passing out of Kakishon. In fact, it seems somewhat reminiscent of the mammoth draconic skull of the Spawn of Rovagug that forms the vaulted ceiling of the great cavern above you. Then Xotani's skull is obscured by clouds of ash and burning stones and fire rain down upon you all! With a gesture, a fireball streaks from Jhavhul's hand to explode as it hits the flying carpet engulfing Amir and Varkata in fire.
Amir
Karethas
Kzrira
Varkata
foe
Kzrira, thankful that the Drunken God's magic protected her from the vile Efreeti's fire, still grits her teeth as the rocks and ash pummel down on her. Nonetheless, she drops the normal arrow and draws one of the arrows she purchased just for this creature.
Using Outside(fire) Bane arrows.
Attack-rapid shot: <-- extra +1 as Bane arrows are +2 higher, so using the +3 from the arrows rather than the +2 from the bow, -2 rapid shot
Damage: <-- +1d6 cold, +2d6 bane, +9 base because of extra +2(1) from Bane
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Attack-iterative:
Damage:
Two of the arrows (hopefully) strike home. Kzrira is unsure whether the third hits as her vision is momentarily blocked by the ash swirling around.
As she fires, she calls out:
Some of us rather dislike being crushed.
Varkata winces from the bludgeoning stones, but holds her arms out as the fireball approaches, laughing as it bursts, "If that's the best you can manage, you wouldn't even be king of a midden heap."
She says, "Get me close enough to kill this idiot, old man."
I am rolling a crap ton to hopefully see if it stops...
Amir nods at Varkata and takes the pair in towards the efreeti, taking a chance to swing his open weapon in the process.
?
Karethas gasps as the giant twisted genie appears. He tries to cast a spell, but feels the tortured fabric of reality twist the arcane energies he is attempting to control.
for
Amir dives quickly as the fireball catches Varkata. Neither of them are harmed however. The rug flies at the towering Efreeti noble. The utter failure of his fiery assault surprises him and he gets his burning ranseur up too late to meet the closing carpet. The wishwarp pummels Karethas as he tries to harness the wild magic fluctuating through the volcano. His fingers burn from arcane overload and he fumbles a spell. Mounted in front of him on the hovering griffon, Kzrira starts firing. Two arrows get through the powerful genie's armor and scaly hide drawing burning blood. Amir and Varkata close, but cannot score hits of the monstrous Efreeti.
Jhavhul growls and turns to less arcane means of inflicting pain on his opponents. He drifts back and whirls his polearm with incredible speed landing two powerful blows on Varkata. Meanwhile, the surface of the burning lake stirs as great tentacles rise from it. As if the very presence of the great Spawn of Rovagug has infused the land with its evil, the magma comes alive and grabs at anything in reach. The bronze griffon is caught by its hind leg and it struggle to stay aloft under the inexorable pull of the burning tentacle!
Karethas curses and shakes his stinging hand. He grabs Kzrira tight as the griffin lurches in the magma's grasp. Looking down, he silently prays to Sarenae that this spell works as he attempts to blast the magma tentacles with a blast of cold.
Varkata takes a breath and lashes out again with the blade in her hands, its cold black flames blazing as she swings, then curses loudly as the carpet shifts below her feet, pulling her attacks to the side.
Hoping that Karethas can eliminate the tentacles from below, Kzrira continues firing at the efreeti.
Karethas, any chance you could speed us all up as you have done in the past?
Attack-rapid shot: <-- add +1 to attack and damage if <30' from PBS
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Kzrira continues to fire her fire killer arrows, each one encrusted with ice from her new bow. While not perfect, some of the shots (hopefully) strike home.
Kzrira also attempt to direct the griffon with her knees, attempting to get it to fly up and away from the magma creature.
Ride: <-- no clue what is required
The flying carpet stays with the giant Efreeti as Amir and Varkata press their attack. Amir feints, but Jhavhul isn't fooled and deflects the pair of follow up attacks with the haft of his burning polearm. Standing next to the old rogue, Varkata is off balance on the shifting rug and fails in her attack as well.
Meanwhile, Karethas gets it together again and sends a freezing cone at the magma menace below. The molten stone immediately hardens and the bronze griffon bucks shattering the stone's grip. Kzrira fires at the Efreeti Lord as she spurs her mount higher out of the burning tentacles' reach. Her first shot hits the enemy, but the sudden lurch upward of the griffon fouls her following shots. Jhavhul drifts back again and suddenly hurls a ball of fire at the pesky archer on griffon back!
The pyroclastic hail of ash and burning rocks continues to pummel those above the magma.
Refles:
Kzrira is infinitely thankful as she easily dodges the majority of the flames, resulting in only a minor scorching similar to grabbing a handle left too close to the fire.
Lord of Fire? I have gotten worse burns from hot soup.
With that, she continues to rain arrows at the efreeti, hoping that enough penetrate his flesh to stop him, once and for all.
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Attack-iterative:
Damage:
6 Fire Bane Arrows left
Unfortunately, the arrows are not as accurate as before, but one does once more strike home.
Kzrira dodges the heart of the blast and her fire protection mitigates nearly all the blast's heat. The bane arrows have an effect... when they can penetrate the great Efreeti's defenses.
Karethas rolls his eyes behind Kzrira's back, "Good thinking, I just thought I would try to keep us flying and out of the magma. He begins summoning the power through his ram skin cloak to cast a spell and is distracted as the blast of flames bursts around him. He bites his tongue to keep from screaming and still manages to cast the spell.
Badly wounded, Karethas notes that at least the ledge where his companions are fighting is outside the rain of burning ash and rock. If Kzrira guides the griffon with no name behind their companions at least he would be closer to the priestess. He calls upon the golden hide for a burst of speed.
Varkata shakes her head, "No need. Keep on him."
She raises the sword in her hand, keeping her guard up, reaching for her link to the Drunken Hero, filling herself with warmth... and then releasing it, slamming a mental wall around the Efreet as she does.
With the magma monster temporarily eliminated, Kzrira will guide the griffon with her knees to the platform where the others are combating with the efteeti.
The bronze griffon flies swiftly across the burning chamber to land on the ledge behind Amir and Varkata just as the priestess gives a healing toast that reinvigorates her wounded companions.
Amir continues to keep the carpet where he and Varkata can attempt to strike and he tried to push on as much damage as he can...
(8)
(10)
This time Amir succeeds in throwing his giant opponent off-balance and scores a quick slashes with his blade before Jhavhul recovers. The wound is minor, but painful and takes a further toll on the fire bleeding foe who has suffered greatly from the bane arrows. The fiendish Efreeti hisses a phrase and with a waves of his clawed red hand, disappears.
Varkata curses, "Can't undo that. Used it to heal."
Kzrira curses as well:
Karethas, you have any of that fun sparkly stuff that makes invisible people shiny?
Spellcraft:
Karethas is already preparing his spell as Kzrira makes her suggestion. He had prepared several of the spells in preparation for fighting Jhavhul or any of his genie followers. He listens for signs that the giant twisted genie had changed his position and casts his spell.
He listens for signs that the giant twisted genie had changed his position
The Heroes wait upon the fiery ledge for the great Efreeti to reappear. Suddenly, the monstrous genie is behind Kzrira and slashes her with his great polearm. Karethas ducks under the bronze griffon, taking cover as he conjures a glittering cloud around Jhavhul. The Efreeti is not blinded, but is now conspicuously glimmering with golden motes.
Kzrira grimaces as the huge polearm slices across her side, just managing to pull her bow out of the way to avoid it taking any damage. A moment later, she steps back and begins unleashing arrows at the monstrous fire genie.
With the new enhanced speed from Karethas' spell, she slows down her shots to increase her accuracy and not waste any shots.
Attack:
Damage: <-- 1d6 is cold, 2d6 is bane
Attack-haste:
Damage:
Attack-iterative:
Damage:
Confirm Crit:
Damage: <-- [ooc]pretty sure the bane is multiplied on a crit, but not the frost damage
While two of the arrows bounce harmlessly off the efreeti's tough leathery hide, the first strikes deeply, finding a vulnerable spot.
Kzrira backs away firing the deadly arrows. She gets one off pointblank before the monstrosity thrusts its great ranseur forward wounding her and foiling her following shots. The bane arrow pierces the great Efreeti in turn. The cold doesn't seem to do anything to the fiend-tainted genie, but the arrow sinks deeply into its chest.
Not having a solid sense of where to go Amir urges the carpet back towards Karethas and Kzrira in a wide arc hoping to catch something...
Varkata waits for the carpet to bring the massive Genie into range, then swings the longsword in her hands, the black flames on the blade surging and blazing as she does, while also calling on the ferocity only a drunken fighter could possess.
for
for
Amir seems confused, but quickly spots the Efreeti when he reappears to attack Kzrira. The old rogue with failing vision pilots the carpet up and at the Rovagug-tainted Genie. With blinding quickness, the burning ranseur stabs at the incoming rug riders. Amir ducks, but Varkata is pierced by the long spear-like polearm. She persists nonetheless and lands two powerful strikes on the Firebleeder's scion.
He staggers back, "I underestimated you, mortals! I will never do so again. Do not think that you have won. I will be back!" He disappears again, but not even the glittering motes give away his whereabouts.
Spell craft:
Kzrira growls as the genie disappears.
Where did he go Karethas?
Varkata curses, then slumps as she releases the crackling strength flowing through her. "He's gone . Very gone. Like to another plane."
Karethas grimaces at the familiar feeling of a foe teleporting away from a fight, "Heal us up. As Varkata said, he teleported to another plane. We should be ready if he returns though. If he doesn't, then we should be satisfied that we thwarted his plans for now. Let the forces above hopefully reduce his allies and keep him from enacting his plans for now."