Looking at the cliffs and drops Ezro whistles, "This is not a friendly place. Rivers of lava and 200 foot drops."
Making a quick prayer to Iomedea, he looks over to Alikia, "Alikia, might you have some magics that could help? I unfortunately do not gain such blessings."
I do not have a spells either that can help. Sounds like it is up to Alikia and the scale. Hyram nods in agreement as he peers over the edge.
Quinn edges up to the brim of the sheer precipice. "That," he says with emphasis, is a river of death. Remember the trap laid for us over the pit of slime. No quick action will save us if such a trap is waiting for us here."
Alikia raises an eyebrow at the heat emanating from the lava flow. "Well, I can get us down there, and have an ally scout ahead, but there is a slight issue. Does anyone speak Ignan? I haven't been too well versed on the elemental planes and focusing more energy on learning the more complicated languages of the Abyss and -" cutting herself off from her rambling, Alikia clears her throat and shakes her head. "Any way, I can summon Magma elementals, but will be unable to communicate with them unless someone can speak Ignan."
Preparing her summoning ritual, a look of realization crosses over her face. "Or... I could just do this." Pulling out a small clay pyramid, Alikia calls upon the power of the wardstone, causing her eyes to glow an eerie color. Grabbing onto three of her allies, she salutes the last one, "See you on Not-lava island." Before opening up warping reality around her to her whim. Appearing on a solid mass of ground, Alikia gets to work. Brandishing a candle, she quickly switches to summoning one of her numerous contacts from the elemental planes.
As the small creature materializes, Alikia kneels down and explains the situation "Ah thank you for answering my call. We don't have a ton of time, but if you would do me a huge favor and look ahead for us while my other friend works their way down here, it would be super. Please let me know if there is any hazards for ground-walkers that could harm people who are flammable or if there is anyone up ahead." She whispers.
N Small outsider (earth, elemental, extraplanar, fire)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +5
DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 10, flat-footed 15 (-1 Dex, +5 natural, +1 size)
hp 15 (2d10+4)
Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +0;
Immune fire, elemental traits;
Weaknesses vulnerable to cold
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., burrow 20 ft. earth glide
Melee slam +5 (1d3 plus burn+3)
Space 5 ft.Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks burn (1d4, DC 11), lava puddle
STATISTICS
Str 14, Dex 8, Con 15, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11;
Base Atk 2; CMB 3; CMD 12
Feats Improved Initiative
Skills Knowledge (dungeoneering) +2, Perception +5, Stealth +8
Languages Ignan
SQ earth glide
SPECIAL ABILITIESBurn (Ex) A magma elemental's burn DC 2 a -2 racial penalty, as their fires don't burn quite as hot as true elemental flames.
Earth Glide (Ex) A burrowing magma elemental can pass through stone, dirt, lava, or almost any other sort of earth except metal as easily as a fish swims through water. Its burrowing leaves behind no tunnel or hole, nor does it create any ripple, though the area it passes through feels warm for 1 round afterward and often retains a strangely smooth texture, as if the stone had been polished. A move earth spell cast on an area containing a burrowing magma elemental flings the elemental back 30 feet, stunning the creature for 1 round unless it succeeds on a DC 17 Fortitude save.
Lava Puddle (Su) Once per day as a full-round action, a magma elemental can vomit forth a puddle of lava (Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook 444) that fills its space to a depth of 2-3 inches and counts as difficult terrain. Any creature that moves through this puddle of lava takes 2d6 points of fire damage. This damage continues for 1d3 rounds after the creature leaves the lava pool, although then it only inflicts 1d6 points of fire damage per round. The lava puddle solidifies and is safe to touch after a number of rounds equal to the elemental's Hit Dice. At the GM's discretion, this puddle of lava could start secondary fires.
Looking over the edge, Aladir frowns slightly, noting the opening near the lava flow. Looking back to the rest of the group, he shrugs slightly. "Well...unless we've got a bunch of fly or spider-climbs available, or unless someone can levit...wait. Quinn, don't you have the scale from Terendelev that allows you to levitate? Would that be enough to get us all to the bottom? Even going one at a time if it's necessary."
Quinn spends several minutes conferring with Aladir before they turn up Terendelev's levitation scale. He pulls out a long coil of rope and a grappling hook and begins working the kinks out so the whole coil can be thrown freely. As they discuss the complicated problem of getting the entire party down with a single levitation, Alikia begins a complicated series of incantations. Golden flashes punctuate her strange intonations as Quinn manages to sling the ropes over his shoulder. Suddenly Aladir is drawn into her casting as...
Grabbing onto three of her allies, she salutes the last one, "See you on Not-lava island." Before opening up warping reality around her to her whim.
"Wait, I need a way across the-" and they all vanish, "-chasm..."
Quinn looks forlorn for a moment as the remainder of his group vanishes in a burst of gold. "At least they left me the rope and the scale," he grumbles to himself.
Wobbling slightly after re-materializing and feeling dizzy. Ezro looks around getting his barrings. Shacking his head he collects himself.
"So...where are we now?"
Hyram is about to take the scale from Quinn since if he falls into the lava he would be most able to survive-for a little bit. he reaches out his hand when he feels Alikia's hand on his shoulder and in a flash of bright light finds himself in a new location. He blinks several times to adjust to the light.
Leaving Quinn with the scale, some rope and a grappling hook, Alikia takes the rest of the group to the tunnel entrance, 200 feet below the edge of the chasm, and only 20 feet or so above the lava flow. Quinn meanwhile stows his weapons so both hands are free, and with the scale in one hand, and the rope with a grappling hook attached, begins to slowly lower himself down the edge. As he approaches the opening in the solid rock wall, he throws the grappling hook into the open, and it catches on some rock. Hyram immediately moves to hold onto the rope, as Quinn pulls himself into the tunnel.
The tunnel opens into a large cavern, through which a bubbling river of lava flows lazily between a number of gaping pits. A small ledge sits near the center; upon the ledge lies a slab of smoky crystal inside of which a faint humanoid form is visible
Aladir frowns slightly at the humanoid figure in the smoky crystal, unsure of how it should be approached.
"Well...not quite sure how we should approach. Not without knowing whether it's an enemy or an ally over there."
Hyram's mouth upturns, Carefully, very carefully. he whispers and he slowly approaches the crystal with his sword drawn.
Moving slowly towards the lava flow, and towards the black slab, you see a man sitting on the slab. As you approach the lava, where you would have to jump or fly over, the man stands. The front of his armor is caked in vomit and his eyes are filled with exhaustion. You see a holy symbol of Erastil hanging from a chain around his neck.
He yells to you, "I’ve only brought shame upon my family, my god, and all the people who loved and trusted me. You’ve come here to save me, but you’re too late. I’m done with this failure of a life, and now that you’re here to witness my end..."
"Oh not today! Hyram! Quinn! He's going to throw himself into the lava! We have to stop him!" Alikia shouts out, quickly snatching a small piece of iron from her bag and beginning to cast a spell.
Not only that, he is not fully in control of his actions! Hyram yells as he moves to intercept the man.
Quinn barely made it through the cave mouth before crisis erupted. He was just recoiling his rope when the shouting began. First it was the deranged man on the slab, but quickly became a chorus of voices. Alikia's cut a higher tone, and much more urgently.
"Oh not today! Hyram! Quinn! He's going to throw himself into the lava! We have to stop him!"
Quinn feels the heat beneath him as he barely clears the molten moat. With a stone slab between himself and the deranged man, Quinn realizes he will never reach him in time. Aggressive instincts already peaked, Quinn resorts to attacking him with the weapon at hand, slinging the grappling hook in a wide arc like a whip.
Looking around to help somehow, he finally decides to Pray. "I have very little to help this man but maybe Iomedea can strengthen him and yourselves!"
Hyram tells the group that the man is not in control of his actions.
As the man lays there, a creature seems to remove itself from him as if it possessed him.
This winged abomination is a horrid mix of demonic and angelic features, as if two bodies were carelessly fused into one. Its fanged, inhuman face is frozen in permanent contempt, while a beautiful visage with an expression of horror bulges from the back of its skull.
As he emerged from the man, he casts a spell and another demon appears behind Quinn.
Quinn drops the coil of rope, ripping Radiance out of its scabbard. The rivers of molten rock in the cave mirror Quinn's broken skin as lines of molten gold ripple along his skin. In a flashing flurry, Quinn cuts through the succubus as she appears.
Coming Quinn! Hyram shouts as he leaps accross the lava. He almost feels like he is not going to make it, but in his mind The Inheritor carries him across.
He tries to flank with Quinn to hit the demon.
Using Irabeth's outsider bane longsword, Hyram slices into the demon.
Wracking her brains as to what exactly the creature that emerges from the man, Alikia's eyes widen in recognition. For a brief moment she reaches out with her magic before taking a confident step forward, appearing on the other side of the lava flow. "Back away from the man, demon." She snarls, pointing her crossbow at the creature.
Bow in hand, Aladir rushes forward, making his own leap over the lava , making the leap as easily as a feline might, and then the moment his feet touch down he flashes golden, moving almost instantly from that spot to stand just behind Alikia, where he looses one arrow, then another, at the strange demon-angel abomination.
Ezro draws his sword as he hears Hyrams words of warning and makes ready. He is glad he did as no sooner had Hyram spoke as he witnessed the appearance of the demons from the man.
"Iomedea! Bless us your soldiers, faithful, and their dear friends to help this innocent man!"
vs AC 24 Quinn (2-threat)
vs AC 24 Quinn
vs AC x24 Quinn
Alikia searches her memory to try and determine what the creature is, but is able to only understand partially what the creature is. She then "steps" forward to the other side of the lava flow. With the Inheritor help, Hyram makes it across the lava flow, and although he cannot flank the succubus, he does wound it. Quinn drops the coils of rope, and drawing Radiance he continues the assault on the succubus, damaging but not killing it. Aladir easily jumps the lava flow, then fleet charges to just behind Alikia and looses two arrows at the shachath demon, hitting it both times. Ezro moves up to include all in his spell, and casts bless on the group.
The succubus, hurt mostly by Quinn, almost critically wounding him. The shachath, sensing the paladin, flies over and attacks him with his longsword, damaging him.
Hyram attacks the demon again.
Fearing for Quinn's safety when under assault by both the demons, Aladir repeats the same use of his mythic energies, this time moving to within sight of the succubus and peppering her with four more arrows!
Alikia lets out an aggravated sigh as the Shachath demon vanishes, only to reappear by Quinn. "Careful everyone! This thing is called a Shachath. It has a tough armor that only can be overcome by weapons made out of cold iron or that hold a holy aura. It also has a resistance to spells and cold, and is outright immune to electricity and poison. And judging by the poor man here, one can conclude that it has some sort of possession ability."
Alikia moves in front of Alaidr, letting off two beams of fire from the tips of her finger. However both of her rays go far, leaving new scorch marks against the floor.
With his allies making short work of the succubus, Quinn turns to the other abomination. "I do not know if any portion of you was once a holy creature, as it appears. But, either way, cutting you in half seems like the best solution."
Ezro moves up to Aladir and touches him on the shoulder, "May Iomedea guide your shots."
vs AC 24
vs AC 24
Alikia provides information on the demon Shachath, and then fires scorching rays at it, but her aim is off and the rays go wide. Hyram attacks the Succubus, trying to take out at least one of the creatures flanking Quinn, as well as providing Quinn and Ezro hardening of the skin, protecting them from some of the damage. Quinn, seeing his allies take on the Succubus, ignores it and concentrates on the more dangerous target, wounding it significantly. Aladir continues to fire arrows at the Succubus, and although not killing it, reduces its will to fight. Ezro moves to Aladir and provides him with the ability to hit harder for a short time.
The Succubus full attacks Quinn, but its claws do not penetrate his armor. The Shachath full attacks Quinn, and even hitting him twice with his longsword and both times with its claws, the protection provided by Hyram limits the damage to a single scratch.
Hyram will take another chunk out of the succubus. Die Foul Demon! he shouts.
The succubus brought nearly down by Hyram's strike, Aladir turns his arrows against that enemy again first, hoping to bring their foe count down to let Quinn focus on the Shachath.
Quinn grins as the demon's most effective attacks bounce harmlessly off of his hardened skin. "I'll take Hyram over a tower shield," Quinn laughs, driving his sword repeatedly into the half-and-half demon.
Humming nervously as she watches Quinn scratched by their abysall enemies. "Let's pick up the pace!" She quips out, tapping into the still alien source of magic to weave a more powerful version of her spells.
Ezro channels Iomedeas might through himself, summoning up his pool of mythical power, and channeling positive energy to his allies, before bringing up his holy symbol and firing a green ray at the scathach to Dimensionaly Anchor it to this plane and prevent its escape. The ray unfortunately flies wide, missing the creature entirely.
"Alikia, are you able to bind that creature to this plane. I would hate to see it disappear to do this to another soul."
vs AC 20 Succubus
Alikia casts a spell on the group, allowing them additional attacks and additional defense. Hyram immediately makes use of the extra attack to kill the Succubus, which dissipates as its time on this plane is done with its death. Now that he is not flanked by two creatures, Quinn focuses on the demon in front of him, and almost kills it, so Aladir finishes it off with his second arrow.
Hyram will check on the formerly possessed man.
Quinn grabs the remains of the rope, and takes the deranged man from tangled to tied up. "You'll pardon me if this is uncomfortable. We can't have you making any more mad dashes for that lava."
Once the man is trussed and tied, Quinn lifts him onto the stone slab for the others to inspect and question, then steps back to tend to his wounds.
Hyram checks the man, and finds he is no longer possessed, and not wounded at all, just filthy and vomit encrusted. Quinn makes sure he is trussed and then steps back and does some healing on himself.