Citadel of Flame T1 (Inactive)

Game Master Baerlie

"Wait! lets make sure we are tied together for this just in case the bridge starts to break and one of us falls." Following his words with action, Awen pulls his rope out and starts daisy chaining everyone together, starting with Arthrax. "I will follow Arthrax."

Before crossing, Awen will take a few moments to study the bridge and the creature at the end of the bridge.
Taking 20 for a total of 31

Gregory will tie himself after Awen.

The bridge is stable enough for you to cross, but the gap is too big to just step over it. You would have to jump.

"Stay there, you are not allowed to enter!" the creature on the other side shouts. knowledge planes to find out what it is

Awen stops until someone figures out what the thing is. "Why not?" he calls out. "What are you hiding?"

Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Ouch!
Winella ties herself to the rope
"I'm not very athletic guys, just a warning to be ready.

Arthrax grimaces, looking down through the gap in the bridge. He stows his shield, then takes a short running leap over the gap.

Acrobatics (Jump): 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (14) - 3 = 11

"I'm not hiding anything. I'm guarding the entrance to the Inferno Heart and you are not members of the Moloch Cult. You must not enter!"

Winella knows that it's some kind of lesser host devil, a small, evil outsider, but she can't recall much about them. Only that they can resist some damage from normal weapons. DR5/good

Arthrax jumps over the gap and as soon as he is on the other side the devil attacks.

"I told you to stay away!" it hisses.

Round 1
Winella
Gregory
Devlil
Lone
Awen
Arthrax

Misfortune D/C 15

Giving the evil little thing a dirty look...

"I don't really want to deal with a devil, while jumping over a crevasse. Go to sleep!"

I cast sleep on it. DC 15 will save

Will vs. Misfortune DC15: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14
Will vs. Sleep DC15: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2

Winella's and Gregory's spells effect the devil and he drops to the ground and sleeps.

Round 1
Winella
Gregory
Devil sleep 20r
Lone
Awen
Arthrax

Arthrax steps over to the slumbering devil, raising his axe high like he learned to chop wood in his youth. Measuring the angle needed, he chops down viciously.

Full-Round Action to Coup de Grace: 3d8 + 12 ⇒ (5, 6, 3) + 12 = 26

Fort DC 36 or die, if the 26 doesn't drop him. Unless he's immune.

Acrobatic: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Awen jumps over the hole and joins Arthrax. "Wow.. We certainly did that one in... Good job guys!" He says as he steps over the pile of ICK and examines the door.
Taking 20 for 31

After waiting for the devil to be dispatched, Gregory will attempt a running jump over the gap.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Seeing his companion start to fall, Awen grabs the rope and starts to pull
Strength: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

-Posted with Wayfinder

[b]"That is just disgusting!... But efficient I must say."[b]

Waiting for Gregory to make it up before attempting the jump.

[b]"Here I come boys, better not drop me now![b] Winella says with a flirtatious grin.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Wow this cold is ruining my formatting skills!

Arthrax gives a hapless shrug to the witch as he wipes his axe blade on the ground. He grins at her statement before she leaps over the narrow chasm, planting his feet in case the willowy woman needs to be pulled back from the brink.

Once everyone is across, he nods to the group in general, gesturing to the door up ahead. "Everyone ready? I'm baking in this mail!"

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10

After Lone jumps, says "Wait a minute. before do it ..."
A light which glitters in his finger goes on everyone for healing.
"Ok, Ready up." Lone says with smile.

Channel Positive Energy to Arthrax, Awen, Lone: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Fort. vs. CDG: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23 almost, lol

Arthrax chops the head off the devil's body, to make sure it does not rise again.

You start to jump across the gap, Gregory slips and almost falls down but Awen is able to catch his fall with the rope and pulls Gregory back up.

The doors to the Inferno Heart are warm to the touch, though not hot enough to deal damage.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

"Hey, what have we here?" Arthrax moves the shield aside, grabbing at the items hidden behind. His face falls, and he extends his hand out, holding a small journal of some sort. "It's a book." The warrior's attitude is void of any sort of excitement, and once someone takes it, he grabs the nice shield and proceeds to the door, getting ready.

"That may be very valuable to the Society. Lets keep it, for now." Awen then turn to the door and takes a good long look at it.
31 on perception

Winella stares at the door with Awen and whispers,

"What are we waiting for it to do?"

Perception aid: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

"I am looking to make sure the door is not trapped or rigged or anything." Awen says as his hands move over the door, nimble fingers searching crevices and cracks.

Awen examines the door carfully and finds out that it is not trapped, but the air on the other side seems to be very hot.

Not finding anything, Awen carefully opens the door and peers inside
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Arthrax follows the ranger inside, sweat beads immediately popping out on his forehead from the extreme heat.

Winella feeling the increased heat,

"This is just ridiculous! This place gets hotter and hotter, you men are going to start to get swampy if this keeps up!"

Awen looks over at Winella's comment "Going to start?? A bit late on that one!" he says with a chuckle

Normally Arthrax would quip about how the ladies get 'swampy', as well, but Arthrax is too hot and tired to care. He looks around, trying to give the place a quick once-over to determine if it's worth it to proceed inside furthere.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

The bridge’s door leads into the second part of the Citadel, known as the Inferno Heart, and in particular to the cult’s primary forge, the Volcanic Anvil.

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.

This room holds the forge that arms Moloch’s cultists. A single creature works the bellows and anvil: a mercenary weaponsmith named Vulcus. Vulcus is a one-eyed dwarf. He is finishing a spear point on the southern anvil.

Awen readies his bow and moves into the room. He takes a quick look about, and calls out to the dwarf. "Oi! You! What are you about?!"
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

The dwarf looks a bit surprised, sweating from the heat and the work. "I'm creating weapons. What are you doing here?" the dwarf asks. "You don't look like Moloch cultists."

"No, we are not. Maybe we can talk about this? Do you work for them willingly?"

"Yes, I do. And I'm here to protect what lies farther inside of this building. Tell me, what brings you here?" the dwarf says.

he seems to be indifferent, normal diplomacy rules apply here

From a door, Lone appears with a smiling face.
"We came here to examine this place. Is there anything in this building?"

Diplomacy Skill: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11　Oh...

Arthrax goes in, letting the others handle the soft speaking. He wasn't one for pretty words, but if they could talk their way around the grizzled-looking dwarf, the warrior supposes that's for the best.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Awen raises his hand to pause his companions.
"Well, sir, We were sent to investigate what we thought were ruins, but so far you are the first to bother talking to us. Can you Tell us what is so important? What it is that you are protecting?"

Winella Follows Awen into the room, listening to the conversation knowing her words would make things worse, she decides being seen is better then being heard for the betterment of the group.

"I am former Qadiran slave, I could convince Hafshi to purchase my freedom and promised to help her cause. I'm not a slave any more, but it's not much Hafshi pays me, just a pittance. I don't like those people, they are strange and it's hot all the time. I can't understand why those cultists like the heat. Upstairs is the Lava Temple, it's holy to the Moloch cultists. You would also protoct your god's temples from non-believing intruders, wouldn't you? My duties require me to stop you here, but if you tell me a really good reason why you want to enter the rooms beyond I may be busy with my work here and don't see or hear anything." the dwarf says.

"Very true, but not many gods would unleash the destruction on unwitting and innocent civilians that these people do and have either. If it were a peaceful god and peaceful followers, it would be a different story. We are just trying to protect innocents.. many of them slaves like you were, from coming to harm. Besides.. perhaps a bit of gold could help you buy yourself better employment?"
Awen jingles his belt pouch to indicate that he may be willing to discuss terms.

Thinking that depending on the dwarf's goodwill is a bad idea, Arthrax readies his axe. The group was here for the idol, and whoever this Hafshi was would likely not be taking kindly to that. He looks back to the dwarf, waiting on his reaction to Awen's offer.

The dwarf gives Arthrax a mean look but takes the money Awen offered and returns to his spear tip. "I hear and see nothing." he says.

How much would have convinced him?
Awen finishes his transaction and waves the others on. "Lets go!"

The whole transaction stank to Arthrax, but it seemed to work. He doesn't question good fortune, simply strides past Awen into the next area.

Hmm... Smells like double cross to me

"Ok, We go."
Lone goes up a stair to respond a sign of awen.
His face is severe since the dwarf said "slave" word in the transaction.

5 sp would be enough

In the middle of the room a long, winding ramp ascends gently in loops through the Citadel. This was the final passage for pilgrims seeking service — or death — with Moloch, and was of enormous ceremonial importance to the cult. The ramp begins 5 feet wide and grows to 10 feet wide by the time it reaches the upper level.

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 point marked A 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.

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 center of the hall marked B, an obsidian statue of a towering bull-headed man looms over mosaics of pilgrims kneeling before it.

The outermost loop shows the final judgment of the pilgrim. The golden idol looms over the entire Lava Temple, reflected in every torch, lava pool, and smoke plume. at point C 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.

There are four doors in the corners of the upper level's room.

Awen takes his time on his way up the stairs, studying the murals
take 10 for 21 and points out the interesting bits and how they correlate with their surroundings. He also takes a good long look at each door, looking for traps or hints of what may be behind each.

Black sand perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6
Statue perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10

Gregory hardly notices the sand, and barely glances at the statue as he approaches it.

Arthrax huffs and puffs his way up, sweat pouring down profusely. Several times he uncaps his waterskin, taking a few generous swallows to rehydrate himself. Not caring in the least about the sand and statues and murals and whatnot, he waits at the pinnacle, waiting for Awen to inspect the doors.

Assuming the ranger turns up nothing, Arthrax will open the northern door, axe and shield leading.