Dave the Dwarf Presents: Legacy of Fire!

Game Master Gandrik Th-kar

Hajar attempts to calm everyone down.
not sure if appropriate now but Diplo.: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Peace, Peace! Master Raj, this harpy does not have cause to lie. We will find the truth of this in time. Tempest has shown me glimpses of the truth but we must fill in the gaps.

After everyone calms down Hajar muses

Tempest was once Vardishal, who was a friend to Kardswann, who served a greater master...Master Raj, please can you retell the story to me. What do these genies have in common.

Tell me Hajar, do you think freezing together the lying fork in this hag's tongue could stop her treachery?

Nemaides flies onto the rim of a cauldron not currently in use. Perhaps we should go and see for ourselves before we kill her.

Raj's laugh is humorless. Don't be silly, we've already listened to her boast of her exploits with whoever the real chieftain is; the gnolls would not have left her this long if she wasn't cozy with them. She's trying to lead us into a trap, I'm sure of it!

He turns back to the Harpy, eyes narrowed, and lip curled. Let's try this again, shall we?

EDIT: Ninja'd by Hajar, assume this happens right before what he says does.

You remember the flind gnoll said the Kuldis tribe was led by a jann. Also Dashki described the leader as having an elaborate great axe. Could the harpy be telling the truth?

Edit: Im back in the hospital with my wife so my posting may be wierd at times. This is my one distraction so my posting will not stop so you know.

You will find you do not want me as an enemy wizard. She says smiling at Raj. I have no desire to fight you though. What do I have to gain by lying? You think I enjoy shareing my home with Gnolls?

Uh-Oh. Unless its a baby, in that case congratulations! Hope she gets well soon. I filled in the blanks a little bit with the story, please correct me if anything I said will mess up the continuum.

I can think of a number of reasons you might, but it looks like those will have to wait. Raj grits his teeth and turns away from the harpy, though the tip of his staff is still glowing conspicuously, albeit not as brightly as before. I'll get to the bottom of this.

Afterward, Raj answers Hajar's question. Between my father's stories and my research at the monastery, I've pieced together most of the story. Jhavhul, a disgraced Efreeti, was banished from the City of Brass, a place of magnificent villainy, and home of the Efreet on the plane of fire.. In order to regain standing with the Efreet, he began marshaling armies on our world, including creatures of Rovagug. This caught the attention of the mighty Djinni Princess Nefeshti, who for reasons unknown to me has a vested interest in this area. At first, only Kardswann served Nefeshti. He was the first of the Templars, and with the knowledge from his continual traveling and curiosity, he was an invaluable asset. How much more so when he met my distant ancestor, Vuldaris the Genie Binder.

Vuldaris was unaware of Jhavhul, but he once summoned Kardswann, hoping to take advantage of the Janni's wide knowledge. Kardswann was impressed by Vuldaris' arcane might and presented Nefeshti's case. Realizing the implications of a noble Efreeti raising an army of destruction the immediate vicinity, he joined the cause. Vuldaris then summoned some of the other powerful Jann he had encountered during his long life: Davashuum and Zayfid, and with some help from Kardswann convinced them to help in the fight against Jhavhul. Pazhvann was sent directly by Sarenrae, though when I'm not sure. I'm also not sure where Vardishal came from, but I'm fairly certain he was the leader of the Templar, as they eventually became. Really, I'm not sure they had much in common besides their dedication to Nefeshti and their determination to stop Jhavhul, though more specifically the forces of Rovagug. In that regard, they were successful. The armor was stopped, as evidenced by the fact that Katapesh is still inhabitable.

Barely... grumbles Nemaides, shaking sand out of his feathers.

The left corner of Raj's mouth twitches, but he continues. Unfortunately however, as far as I know Jhavhul was never killed, and is still out there somewhere. I'm made even more sure of this by the fact that sometime after the fighting ended, magic the level of a wish spell prevented Vuldaris from traveling to the plane of air, preventing him from visiting his Djinni love, who I've begun to suspect was the princess herself. She must have visited him though, as he had at least one child by her, possibly two. She put that child in Vuldaris' care to raise, but Vuldaris had made many powerful enemies, and the family fell under the influence of powerful magics, hostile too. Vuldaris died within 40 years at the age of 127, despite the fact that he had been granted magical immortality. His son died at 32, but not before he had a few children. And so on down the line.

He sighs disheartedly. It is truly a tragedy if Kardswann has fallen.

Hey, I got the first part of my revamped backstory done here! Killed two birds with one stone!

Naziri, having remained stoic throughout the conversation, (as is typical for him), finally speaks up.

"I do not think it is wise to leave an enemy behind you. However, it is even more foolish to make an enemy where there is not one. For now, I will not say that I trust this creature, but she has given us no reason for ire. Let us leave her, and if she betrays us, we will have Sarenrae's swift justice, but I believe our focus should lie elsewhere."

Its wild to me how much of the backstory you have managed to guess at and get right.

Andrathi was the name of Nefeshti human lover. He was a great wizard of course. Andrathi sacifriced himself to trap Jhavhul. Nefeshti did have one child that you know of. Vuldaris was Andrathi's brother apprentice whatever you want. Raj knows this or not your choice. The rest of what you said is mostly true.

Awesome stuff Raj!

Take heart Master Raj, if one such as Kardswann can fall he can also walk in the light once again. So, this Kardswann and Vardishal were once allies with your ancestors under the Djinni Nefeshti, and they fought against the Efreet Jhavhul and his allies, who were also minions of the Rough Beast. Hajar's eyes flame up at the mention of the hated Rovagug.

These are impressive enemies. We will destroy the allies of the Rough Beast and cast their ashes into the wind. Let us see to the Church.

With a glance back at the harpy that spells a warning for trickery Hajar stalks out of the foul smelling tannery.

The harpy looks to Naziri for the first time.
Hello handsome! You know I like the strong silent type. What do ya say I can show you some things to use on your lady friends.

Naziri will get back to us with his reply to the harpy.

Most of the walls of the forlorn ruined church still stand, but the interior walls have been demolished and gutted. Several skeletons litter the structure’s interior, including about a dozen garbed in the red-chitin livery of the Pactmaster Guard. The rest appear to have been clerics of Sarenrae or even common citizens, though the past 20 years have rotted away most of the skin and clothes worn by the corpses. Ash stains the interior walls and ceiling throughout most of the structure, and signs of violent battle are everywhere. Near the center of the church stands a forlorn stairwell that leads down to a heavily barred door. A strange metal plate with a glowing series of irregularly etched lines mark the surface of the door, casting the stairs in a dull red illumination. This is the interdict seal placed on the door by the Pactmaster Guard to keep the daemon Xulthos imprisoned in the crypt below.

Lol at Naziri...

Lets have Vuldaris be Andrathi's son. It would be an easy detail to mix up over the years if Vuldaris was old enough to remember the war himself, and maybe even assist in some way in it (you can never have to many color spray scrolls...). Andrathi perished, but then Vuldaris grew into a capable wizard himself, and his children often confused the two. Vuldaris then died young, the hostile magic working on the bloodline leading to his demise, leaving the error uncorrected in his young children. (A "random" herd of Bulletes (land sharks) attacked him while he was traveling.) A lot of the stuff I guessed on accident; I just thought it would be cool to have a genie binding wizard descended from the genies, and the old genie wars seemed to be a good place to link to.

We've got to finish the gnolls first, and finish them we shall. Come on. he begins walking in the direction of the Battle Market.

ACK! Ninja'd again! Okay, ignore the walking to battle market part.

Hajar will use Detect Evil to ensure that everything is truely dead, and if he is satisfied no undead are here then he begins gathering the remains of the townsfolk to be cremated and interred.

Truly this is a great desecration. Terrible. Please, help me fix this .

As Hajar pleads for help from his friends, he tears up a bit and begins to shuffle his feet.

"If I had lady friends, I might take you up on that offer. However, My Lady is the Dawnflower, Sarenrae, and our bed is the desert. I cannot think of any things that you might show me, which I would share with my Lady. But if you would like, perhaps I can show You some things that you might use with My Lady friend." Says Al-Akim smiling unashamedly.

no one ever lusts after the gnome lol

"If I had lady friends, I might take you up on that offer. However, My Lady is the Dawnflower, Sarenrae, and our bed is the desert. I cannot think of any things that you might show me, which I would share with my Lady. But if you would like, perhaps I can show You some things that you might use with My Lady friend." Says Al-Akim smiling unashamedly.

Well, you don't know what your missing!

no one ever lusts after the gnome lol

Alas it is the truth =(. LOL

God if any of you had taken her up on the offer I might have had to stop the game!

Naziri jumps to help Hajar with the bodies. I am sure the rest of you help as well even though this seems dangerous. Gunk provides the fire of course and Hajar puts these souls to rest.

"My friend Hajar, let us pray over these bodies and offer them the peace of the Dawnflower's redeeming glory. We shall seek restitution in time for these atrocities, for now, do not let their sacrifice be in vain. Hold strength, and your faith will be rewarded."

Naziri solemnly gathers the bodies with a gentle reverance. Praying over each one before it is laid respectfully together and prepared for a cleansing fire.

After the bodies are attended to you explore the church grounds. The cliffside behind the ruined church overlooks the fields west of Kelmarane through a ruined series of pillared arches. Across a short yard stands a column about 10 feet tall, upon which stands a splendid statue of Sarenrae with both arms upraised to the heavens. In the shadow of this statue are five graves marked with the life- sized statues of holy warriors. Remarkably, what appears to be a human man garbed in the fine robes of Sarenrae kneels before these graves, muttering a quiet series of prayers.

Could we get a map update? If not then that's cool. Also, I'm guessing that the cremation ceremony took a while, hours probably. Is night falling?

Detect Evil.
Hail friend, Did you not notice the state of the church? Why would you let those bodies stay desecrated.

Whoa! Did I miss something? We created a funeral pyre and cremated a dozen bodies less than 300' from enemies? The smoke from that fire would be seen for 30 miles or so away. Thats crazy doing it from a few hundred feet. We either invited the enemy to ambush us or we simply told them we are here so be very ready for us. I'm not saying that these fellow devotees dont deserve a proper burial but the timing is way wrong imho.

Sorry im back in the hospital with my wife. Ill do maps when I can.

OH sorry Dave! Didn't realize man

@ Gunk We can play as if the reburial/cremation happens later, I don't think it matters when it happens but rather that it happens to Hajar.

@Hajar

Welcome...” he says with a grin. Then his features seem to melt away, leaving a hideous skeletal face garbed in a grubby, fire-stained robe. “...to my church,” he finishes. “Your souls will feed the greatest heroes
of Kelmarane!”

May be a bit before I can do a battle map.

@Hajar

Welcome...” he says with a grin. Then his features seem to melt away, leaving a hideous skeletal face garbed in a grubby, fire-stained robe. “...to my church,” he finishes. “Your souls will feed the greatest heroes
of Kelmarane!”

May be a bit before I can do a battle map.

Ok then, thats not too freaking creepy. I might not be able to sleep tonight now!! 8)

Sorry was a busy Sunday.

"It's ok Gunk, I'm pretty sure there will be someone out there for you, but in order to meet her I think we have to finish this one up first." as Leyli points at the skeletal faced creature.

Ok, I edited the other battle map and made a quick and dirty map for this fight. I'll go first.

Hajar smites evil and charges the undead priest skeleton thing!

To the pit with you!
Smite Evil +3att +6dmg +3 AC
Tempest Charge: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23 Tempest Damage: 2d4 + 14 ⇒ (3, 4) + 14 = 21

Almost simultaneous to the Paladin's charge the Ranger, Naziri, lifts his lonbgbow. With lithe and powerful movements, he sends two arrows past Hajar, seeking out the foul priest.

With a curt, rage filled scream he shouts, "Sarenrae!"

attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
attack2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4
damage2: 1d8 ⇒ 2

His disgust with the creatures grim visage, and its foul presence cause Al-Akim's shots to fly harmlessly wide of the target.

Gunk recoils as the skeletal face turns to look in their direction. Quickly he pulls out a vial with two different coloured liquids inside separated by a thin membrane. He shakes the vial breaking the membrane and mixing the two liquids which quickl react and form a deep orange goo which he then throws at the skeletal figure.

Ranged Touch Atk: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 2) + 3 = 10

Here's wishful thinking but if it is a gnoll skeleton add one to both attack and damage

Leyli pulls out her quarterstaff and a burst of lightning comes out of her fingers,

Storm Burst (Ranged Touch): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

If hit, opponent gets -2 on attack rolls for 1 round.

Hajar Hits with his smite every else Misses.

The Undead Priest roars in pain as Tempest burns his flesh. He retaliates with his clawed hands.

1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30, 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

Crit confirm 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12HaHa lucky

2d4 + 16 ⇒ (1, 2) + 16 = 19Damage. Hajar is raked across his body with the foul creatures claws.

Gunk Deviation 1d8 ⇒ 8 The bomb lands before Hajar gets to the creature. Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 Is that good enough to avoid the 5 damage Gunk?

Can everyone put there DC for spells in there bar for easy reading?

Round 2 Start. Raj Has 2 rounds worth of actions available.

HP 15/31; AC 20

Lady hear my prayers! LoH: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Hajar screams his war cry الشمس تحرق عينيك

And fire springs from his blade!

Hajar swings the flaming falchion at the undead thing's desiccated body!
Tempest Slash: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13 Damage: 2d4 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ (2, 3) + 14 + (2) = 21

The Undead Priest dodges out of the way of the flaming blade.

For my summon I am using the stats of a hyena, but since that's too close to a Gnoll I'm calling it a really big dog.

Round 1:

A small candle mounted on the tip of Raj's staff lights, and a white circle inscribes itself in the ground next to the Skeletal Champion. There's a growl so deep, the floor almost seems to rumble, and as Raj chants in what sounds like an odd dialect of celestial out from the now completely glowing circle leaps a great dog, brightly glowing pure white, it's eyes blue crystals. It doesn't even pause to gain footing, and the first thing it touches in this world is the priest.

Round 2:

Resolving attack as if charging. Smite evil (finally found the rules for non-palidins) +0 to hit, +2 damage. Flanking with Hajar. And it's augmented. Trip applies only if bite hits.

Die skeleton...

Bite: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 2 + 2 = 17

Trip: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Bite Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

As the holy canine connects with the skeleton, Raj raises his staff. With a quick word, two magic missiles shoot forth at incredible speed, one dodging between Hajar's legs and the other under his arm to impact on the skeleton's chest.

Magic Missile Damage: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 4) + 2 = 10

Eh, mixed bag. Max magic missile damage, but I doubt the wolf did more than graze off the skeleton without doing damage. Someone's please take care of my map work, I'm mobile right now.

Raj is right. Dog missed.

Still round 2. 31 damage done.

"I guess that one is not enough!" as another set of lightning comes out of Leyli's hands,

Storm Burst (Ranged Touch): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

-2 attack roll for 1 round if it hits.

Hits 33 damage -2 to hit (Hajar thanks you)

Still round 2.

Al-Akim fires two more arrows at the monster!

attack1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
attack2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

damage1: 1d8 ⇒ 1
damage2: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Priest attacks Hajar again.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26,1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

1d4 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10 damage to Hajar

I will round summary ASAP

Summary

Round 1
Hajar charges does 21 damage
Raj summons a hound
Leyli shoots lighting and misses
Naziri shoots arrows and misses
Gunk throws a bomb misses but what is DC for splash?
Undead cuts Hajar

Round 2
Hajar misses,
Hound misses
Raj max damage magic missile 31 damage
Leyli hits for 2 with lightining. 33 damage
Naziri misses
Hajar is hit for 10 more
Gunk has a action left

Round 3
Gunk take 2 actions
Everyone else 1

You notice that the undead preist is focused on Hajar like its personal. (Its the markings of Saranrae)

HP 7/31; AC 20

Goddess preserve me. I will not abide evil, and will combat it with steel when words are not enough.

LoH: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Hajar shouts again in another strange tongue! المجد لالهة

Holy hell, no pun intended. WTF is with these rolls

I was out with the kids today sorry.

I throw another bomb at the thing.

Ranged Touch Atk: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2) + 3 = 7

Sorry, someone's going to have to translate this to the map again.

Raj hollers an instruction in celestial to the dog as he tries to maneuver for a clear shot with an acid splash.

(Note: vs Touch AC, but -4 penalty if firing into melee,)

Acid Splash: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

The dog's first attack having missed, the celestial Dog's momentum carries it well past the skeleton [provoking an attack of opportunity]. It runs right up to the wall, and even a little up the wall as it turns around sharply and charges right back at the priest.

Same bonuses as last round.

Bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Trip: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
^If attack hits.^

Bite Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

The corruption of this place will end! He fires the spell, which connects with the side of the priest's head and then looks at the sealed doors. You hear me Xulthos? We're gonna send you right back to Hell! This proclamation is punctuated by the return of the deep rumbling growl that first announced the Doug's arrival, and Raj looks back to the fight as the dog, now latched onto the skeleton's hip, shakes its great head and sends ribs flying in all directions. Having munched that part of the skeleton's body to current satisfaction, it tries to throw down the priest to the floor so it can get a good chomp on it's head.

Leyli was about to unleash another set of storms but he noticed the paladin in danger,

"Do not falter holy one,"

Cure Light Wounds on Hajar: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

HP 18/31; AC 20

Map updated, hopefully trip worked

Well i am back sorry for the long wait (in case you didn't miss me :) i got caught up in new job. i did read all tough 5 pages of what i missed.

Woot Grim is back! You guys know how much I like the dramatic so...

Hajar misses.
Leyli heals
Gunk's bomb bursts the creature in flames while Raj's acid burns it in a different way.
The dog manages to get the creature on the ground and Hajar speaks an prayer to Sararane and decapitates the undead priest.

Naziri catches movement out of the corner of his eye. He looks to see a single gnoll with a crossbow made for the seige of castles and the bolt is aimed directly at Hajar's back! Naziri quickly lets loose an arrow but the design of the weapon is such it gives the user cover. Feeling helpless Naziri knows what will happen next.

The Gnoll slumps over with a dagger in its back! There stand Grim with a smirk as if to say "Did you miss me?"