The group flies around the southern side of the volcano, and over to the ridge that runs down its side going off to the west. The ridge has been shattered by recent seismic activity, and shows many fresh fissures and crevices. There is one particularly large gash with sheer sides, that descends into the ridge and volcano. Some volcanic gasses are issuing from the gash, but there is no sign of lava from the surface.
"I would imagine that the disturbance which awoke the volcano lies within it," the Lady comments. "Perhaps we should investigate?" she adds, pointing towards the opening with an insubstantial fan.
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"Given the extreme heat inside the volcano, I doubt it has anything to do with the succubi or the kidnapped," Apex insists once again. "Granted, I suppose we check again if we exhaust all other options. In the mean time, I plan to have a look down there."
Apex takes thirty seconds to return to his normal form and then activates his Ring of Invisibility. Unless something stops him, he then descends to the ground, maintains a hover height of about two feet, and begins to carefully search the area.
There are definitely multiple sets of tracks going down into the gash. They are of different size categories and ages, but at a minimum more than one medium creature and several large creatures have gone down there recently.
"I suggest we all land and resolidify before anyone enters the crevice. Then, either we all go in together or -- if you feel confident to scout solo, Apex -- you go as far ahead as you feel is safe, and then report back to us.
"Do we have any means to stay in communication while you scout?"
"I have a simple spell for that. As long as you do not go to far out, it should be fine."
He points to himself and everyone in turn as he completes the spell with a word and single gesture.
"Ah yes it does not work through barriers. So make sure you do not have anything blocking yourself from us. For example a door, granted that would be something odd to find around a volcano. Unless it's fire giants, but I suppose that would seem more like a gate to us. Anyways keep that in mind, please."
Before Apex can explain that he simply plans to return to the group and report his findings, Cael casts his Message spell, which gives the Masked Man a nicer alternative option. With a salute of gratitude, the vigilante vanishes from sight and descends to the a just a couple of feet above the ground. He then carefully takes a look around.
"There are multiple sets of tracks of varying size going into the gash. One set seems to be something of our size, but the rest are far larger. They are all recent. How should we proceed?"
"Given the extreme heat inside the volcano, I doubt it has anything to do with the succubi or the kidnapped," Apex insists once again. "Granted, I suppose we check again if we exhaust all other options. In the mean time, I plan to have a look down there."
Apex takes thirty seconds to return to his normal form and then activates his Ring of Invisibility. Unless something stops him, he then descends to the ground, maintains a hover height of about two feet, and begins to carefully search the area.
[dice=Stealth (Heroism, Invisibility)]1d20+27+2+20
[dice=Perception (Heroism, Heightened Awareness, Alertness)]1d20+21+2+4
Apex flies down into the volcanic vent, invisible, and silent. The passage is clearly recent. The stone of the walls is jagged and torn. It has yet to be reached by erosion, or the growth of plants. Anyone not flying who descended would need climb the steep walls. After about a hundred feet of descent the crevasse opens up into a small chamber, which is connected to a tunnel. Unlike that which he saw coming down, this new area has clearly seen intelligent hands. The tunnel ahead displays the artful shoring and smooth stonework that is only produced by advanced civilizations. Heated gas escapes the tunnel. It is very hot, but would be bearable for a non-protected person. Flying a short way through the tunnel, Apex emerges into a massive subterranean chamber. The inside of the massive cave is lit by the red and yellow glow of the magma that fills most of it. This chamber is as hot as an oven and would be harmful or deadly to someone without magical protection. A 15 to 20-foot wide stone bridge extends from the tunnel Apex entered from, to a platform suspended above the lava. There appears to be some kind of horizontal ring or gateway at the end of it. Walking about on the bridge talking to each other in a makeshift campsite are five male fire giants in armor, wielding greatswords. A female giant stands on a platform, apparently inspecting the gate-like construction. She is also armored, and wields a burning glaive.
Even though he asks his group for input on how to proceed, Apex decides to move forward.
"On second thought, I will take a quick peak inside."
Apex promptly makes good on his word. He is glad that his Life Bubble has spell has paid off; many of his colleagues have called the spell useless, but it has protected him time and again. He frowns at the sight of fire giants. Normally, he would just turn around and leave and suggest the same to his allies, but that construct looks mighty interesting...
Bar some sudden interruption, Apex quietly makes his way back to the group.
"There is a massive subterranean chamber through the gap. It is quite hot there, but my Life Bubble endured the heat very nicely. Inside, I found a makeshift campsite consisting of fire giants, five male and one female. She was inspecting a gate-like construction. They are heavily armed and armored," the masked man says as he decloaks. "Any ideas on how to proceed?"
"If the giantess was inspecting the gate, then it is likely that it is a new discovery to them. Was the gate obviously magical? Did it appear active?" the Lady asks Apex, while considering a next move.
"There is a massive subterranean chamber through the gap. It is quite hot there, but my Life Bubble endured the heat very nicely. Inside, I found a makeshift campsite consisting of some sort of giants, five male and one female. She was inspecting a gate-like construction. They are heavily armed and armored. Unfortunately, I did not recognize their species," the masked man says as he decloaks. Despite his stoic voice, he seems a bit disgruntled about that last tidbit. "Any ideas on how to proceed?"
Apex considers Lady Gabrielle's questions.
"I did not scan it or anything, but if you ask me, the odds are good that it is magical. It did not look active from my observation distance," says the masked vigilante.
"Well I have a spell that will allow me to see your memory. The memory will be no longer then a minute, which should be enough. With that level of detail I may be able to add my own expertise without having to scout in person. If you would allow it."
If allowed he goes to touch Apex but stops sort.
"Do lower any protections you may have. Last thing we want are wards going off, yours or mine."
Once that is done he speaks a few words as one hand goes through the motions and then touches Apex. Viewing the memory of the giants and the gate. He had some guesses as to type of giant and the gate, but he would like to confirm. He was especially interested in the gate, if it was a rare portal then he would dearly wish to study it. That kind of permanent and powerful magic was mostly lost in this age. Only the elves had any knowledge of it and mostly it was only of their use not creation. As even their long lives were lost to time. Could it be a elven gate or some other culture.
Temporarily lowering his magical defenses, Apex allows Cael to read his mind.
"Well they are as expected, fire giants. The gate is a portal to the moon, I guess we found how they made it there and back. The portal seems to be Azlanti in design and among their last acts before their fall. The problem I foresee is that the portal is inactive, I suspect some sort of key or means of activation is needed. Something we will need to know if we plan to make use of it. Then again their is the matter of the fire giants in the way."
The Lady considers the details for a moment. "Did the giants appear to have set up a living space near the inactive portal?" she asks.
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"I see," she says after receiving the clarification. "I wonder if they have lived in the volcano long enough to have witnessed Brythen Blood being whisked away. Are they working for the demons, or are they entirely clueless?" she wonders aloud.
"It seems that we have solved one mystery then. The Lady does raise another, though. Are fire giants typically... approachable?" Apex ponders. "Unless we locate another portal, we will likely have to deal with them."
"Portals are rare things, not easy to create even by the most powerful of spellcasters. I doubt there is another that leads to the moon in existence. As for the fire giants being approachable. That too I doubt, they are the most militaristic of the giant races as well as the best at working together. Combine that with their racial superiority complex towards any race smaller then them and arrogance, well unless your very convincing as well as seen to be a threat not easily crushed they will most likely attack or demand tribute before attacking."
He did not blame the fire giants, a lone one could level a village with ease. The naturally strong had a bad habit of abusing their gifts, but then again that's where self control and morality came in. Something he would never accuse a average fire giant of possessing in abundance.
Iko Ilue nods. "Then it seems that their end approaches and we are to be its instrument. Our choices then are to use surprise to our advantage as best we can, or to spoil it on the slim chance that they will work with us or have information to share.
"I lean toward a clean strike like lightning. Then I trust we will determine how to open the portal and take this fight to the demons' home, and rescue Blood."
"Unfortunately, dispatching them will bring us no closer to our destination," the Lady says. "They are not opposing us at the moment. If we were to slip past them, they would serve quite well as a rear guard."
Iko shrugs. "It seems we need to activate that gate, which seems hard to do stealthily while they're examining it themselves...and even if we succeeded at that, it sounds like they're trying to get through it too so I'm not sure whether they'd be our rear guard or the foes coming up behind us while we're in a demon-infested lunar jungle.
"That said, I bear them no ill will. If one amongst us is able to get us past them without bloodshed, and still enable us to examine and hopefully activate that gate, I'm all for it.
"If not...I avoid battles when I can but my intuition tells me that these giants will thwart our attempts to use this gate unless we fight them for access to it...and if I'm right we might be best off making the most of our current tactical advantage."
"The portal is only an advantage to our enemies, be that demons or fire giants. Once I visit the moon, my magic can transport us to and back there after. While the giants are not allies of the demons, they would know how to use the portal I take it, then they will be a third party. One that has more to gain and could be bargained with more easily by demons then us. The giants are arrogant enough to think they can deal with demons and the demons would consider the giants good enough pawns to pretend to be dealing with them. Not to mention as I said they are known to work together, a uncommon thing among the giant races. This could be a scouting party or splinter group from a larger force. Which could lead to even bigger problems for us if left alone."
He grips his snake staff.
"All that being said. I would rather we be done with them. I doubt even we can lay waste to them all at once. If they surrender then I will spare them. If not, then they have made their choice. While I am loath to strike down fleeing or defeated foes. I show no mercy in battle, that is how comrades die. Call me a selfish man but I consider comrades more valuable then enemies."
"Sneaking past them is very unlikely. The portal is not active for one, and we will not know how to start it until we take a closer look. As such, I say we offer them a chance to work with us," Apex remarks neutrally. "If they get aggressive over cooperation, then we have every right to fight back."
"Perhaps you would be able to get that closer look, Apex," the Lady suggests. "I would assume that your invisibility magic would suffice."
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Iko shakes his head. "Lady Gabrielle, if Apex says that he's unlikely to be able to figure out how to activate the portal without being discovered (especially given that they're attempting the exact same thing right now), well, that sounds right to me. I think you're outvoted on that one.
"Apex, I can see the wisdom in attempting negotiations...if attempted cautiously. You prefer to talk in the hopes of avoiding battle and (while I favor a surprise strike) I'm willing to agree. It sounds like you're amenable too, Cael?
"That gives us a majority and I suggest we proceed. Gabrielle, any objections?
"If we do this, who will be the main negotiator? Are we clear what terms we're offering, and what information we're willing to give away here?"
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Iko reaches into his pack and pulls out what looks like a small horse's femur. He holds it to toward the sky, calls out "O Dark Wind, I do your work today. Please charge this bone with your energy, that it might protect me." Iko then throws the bone into the air and it starts a slow orbit around him.
He turns to Apex and says, "Even if I don't need it versus the giants, I suspect I'll need it if we make our way through the portal. By the way, I'd suggest that we save casting Stoneskin for once we've learned how to activate the portal. It only lasts so long, and while working out how to activate the portal might take only minutes...it could take hours as well."
_________________
"That gives us a majority and I suggest we proceed. Gabrielle, any objections?"
She slowly pushes her glasses a bit further up the bridge of her nose, her expression one of displeasure and restraint. "You are certainly an adherent to your deity's ideals," she matter-of-factly answers. "I offer no further resistance to the persistent storm."
It appears that this little expedition just became much more dangerous, she considers.
For the most part Cael stays out of it, he had given his position. Until it comes to the topic of the portal and negotiations.
"I do not specialize in diplomacy, I have my ways with most elementals and their kin due to my nature. Concerning what we have to offer, I would be careful. I will not supply any information I deem to dangerous to such beings. I would advise you to do the same. Concerning terms, if they leave in peace then bloodshed can be avoided on both sides. I think that is fair, they can return later and walk away with the knowledge of the portals location. Unless I am mistaken they have not informed others yet, they would have dug in to protect such a find I imagine."
He thinks on the study of the portal.
"They may not have anyone with them capable of understanding such high magic. But seeing as portal creation is not only done by powerful magic, in this case tapping into magical ley lines as well, it's complexity may even challenge or exceed my own knowledge. It could even take days if it's scope is far outside my own. Then again if it is not it could take less then that. I do have emergency resources I could call upon as well should that be the case. In short until I examine it, I can not give you a true measure of the time it will take. Demons on a deserted moon have all the time in the cosmos, which explains their mastery of use over it."
"I could probably study the structure under their noses, and given time, I could figure out some way to activate it," Apex clarifies to his group. "However, while they might fail to spot me, the giants will certainly notice the gate coming to life. There is also the question of how you all sneak past them."
Apex glances toward the scar in the earth.
"Avoiding a confrontation would save resources; I do not doubt our ability to defeat them, but I at least know that I need a some augmentation to fight something like a giant in direct combat," says the masked vigilante. "I can try talking to them; I can be... persuasive on occasion. One learns to be if you are as old as I am. We should figure out what to say first. They are technically in a position of strength."
"The primary objective is to uncover how the gate can be activated," the Lady says. "Then we will be in a more viable position in which to deal with them."
Apex casts a couple of spells, polymorphing himself into a fire giant and then making sure that he'll be able to speak the giants' native tongue. After these adjustments, he makes his way back down into the crack, and goes into the lava chamber. As soon as the giants see him, two of the males move to block his path.
"Who are you? What do you want?" the lead one calls out in giant. His words alert the rest of the giants to the situation, and they all turn their heads to watch the newcomer's reaction. The female giant's facial expression is cool, and she shifts her weapon subtly, ready to give the order to attack.
Before heading out, the Magus alters his mask into a swanky hat. It would be a bit pointless to disguise himself as a fire giant and then hide his face. If allowed, Apex takes a step back to give the other giants some breathing space.
"Greetings. My name is Zenith. I am a traveling scholar, and I am studying the old Azlanti artifacts in the area. I was just searching the area for... that artifact right there actually."
"Zenith" nudges his head toward the moon portal.
"It seems that you all beat me here, though."
Apex's lies come as easy as breathing.
"This is our home now, we found it first. You must talk with our queen," the warrior replies, motioning to indicate the female giant. She gestures to "Zenith" asking him to come forward. When he arrives she says, "You cannot join our band without swearing fealty to me. But why should I accept your service? Tell me of your heritage and deeds. Where is your home territory? Who is your former liege?"
"I have been studying these ruins for a reason. I hail from the distant land known as Varisia. The ruler of my group is known as King Pinnacle. I am loosely named after the man. As far as I know, we are distant descendents of the survivors of Thassilon's fall. I served as a sage in his Majesty's court before he sent me to give others of giantkind a warning."
Zenith scratches his chin.
"This might sound... incredulous, but please hear me out. Many years ago, King Pinnacle's consort Ignia was mysteriously kidnapped in the middle of the night. It was disturbingly clean. We spent the better part of a decade trying to find out what happened to her, and what we eventually learned is... worrying. She was abducted by demons.
"Are you familiar with the Moonscar, Your Majesty? It's that terrible gash across Luna's surface. The Azlanti accidentally created it when they tried to terraform the moon. Terrible demons now infest the area, and they have some agenda for this planet. These lunar monsters seem to target individuals of great power for some reason. Humans, dragons, giants, outsiders, no one is safe. One would think that our superior martial prowess would protect us, but they have powerful means of influencing the mind. They are also... sneaky; we believe that Ignia was taken in her sleep."
"Zenith" gestures to the portal.
"I have traveled the planet searching for the answer to how they capture so many so quickly. All my studies point to a magic portal device serving as their gateway to Golarion. I believe that artifact over there might be how they do it. In addition to spreading the word, King Pinnacle tasked me with seeing if I could find a way to get to the Moonscar for an eventual rescue mission. Hence how I ended up here."
"Zenith" pauses.
"I will not dispute that you were here first, Your Majesty, but I am concerned that your new home might not be... safe. Even if that device is not their gate, the lunar demons still lurk in the area, and they much prefer cheap tricks instead of honorable combat."
"So? What do you want?" the 'queen' replies, looking very suspicious. "That sounds like a whole lot of not my problem. We haven't seen any demons here."
How shall I proceed? Even with most of the truth known, they don't seem to grasp the danger of the situation. It would take a lot to get them to relocate. Either a hefty bribe or a great deal of force, neither of which I readily have. I doubt I could fight them all at once, so I suppose I should just depart. If nothing else, this proves that they were never going to take us seriously from the start.
"Zenith" decides to take his leave, but not before using every ounce of diplomacy he can muster.
"I mere want to pass along the warning and to stress that the area by this device might not be safe. As I said before, they strike when you least expect it. Just be careful, alright?"
If allowed to leave in peace, the polymorphed Sylph does. If not, "Zenith" quickly taps into his arcane pool, warps away 160 feet, and then cloaks himself with his Ring of Invisibility. Either way, he makes his way back to the group as quickly as he can.
"Alright. This thing only comes on at night anyway," the queen says, kicking the portal apparatus with the toe of her boot. "So far nothing has come through, but we'll be careful. If it goes to the moon, there's no reason for us to use it. Thanks for the info," she says, inclining her head. "Go in peace."
With this dismissal, the giant warriors cross their arms over their chests and lead "Zenith" out of the lava cave.
Once out of sight from the giants, Apex returns to his allies.
"I have much to report. The giants were not... overtly hostile. Suspicious and curious, sure, but they heard me out and let me leave in peace. I assumed the guise of a Varisian Fire Giant named Zenith. He was sent to investigate these ruins by his liege King Pinnacle, who also happened to have his wife Ignia abducted by the lunar succubi, and warn others of giantkind about their danger. Otherwise, I told them the truth, though some details were altered.
"Unfortunately, they do not seem keen on leaving that spot, but we now have a stealth option; their leader told me that the portal activates on its own at night. I saw no holy symbol among them, and they were much too armored to be arcanists, so Invisibility would likely render us undetectable to them. I was informed that they have no use for a portal that goes to the moon, so I believe that they will not follow us. Once through, I do not think that they will be an issue. Even if we have to stay longer than Cael Windstorm's Getaway spell lasts, escaping the moon will be trivial."
"It seems that we will have to wait until nightfall to use stealth. There might be a way to manually activate the portal otherwise, but I learned nothing about it."
Iko Ilue gives a slow nod.
"Well done. I hate delays...but perhaps this one is worth it if it keeps us from spending resources unnecessarily."