GM Endless Forms' PFS 01-39 The Citadel of Flame (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

He laughs a bit again at Tevaga's last question. "They're my footprints. You don't know much about magic, do you?" He goes on to describe Moloch’s history in Qadira, detailing the archdevil’s domain of Malebolge, his long interest in Golarion, and his promise of paradise for true believers. "I'll gain paradise, you'll see."

You get the impression that he is not interested in saying much more.

As the wizard starts the history lesson, Tevaga listens long enough to recognize that he doesn't have anything enlightening to say. She pulls out her heavy mace and makes good on her threat, smashing it on his foot. She then hits him in the head, knocking him unconscious.

"Let us go. Make sure his bounds are good." When then others are ready, Phyton will pummel the creature in unconsciousness, with the butt of his weapon. Unless someone has a better idea.

I'll go ahead and move to the other room, and once the others have come nearer, finishing their business, open that door and continue to explore.

Garinol opens the door to reveal a richly-decorated chamber. Against the east wall sits an ornate brass throne, sculpted to resemble an enormous hand of flame. Wood painted to resemble tendrils of smoke rising from behind the throne merge into a detailed mural of Moloch's idol on the wall.

Beautiful tapestries line other other walls, depicting a grand battle between soldiers of flame and the dervishes of Sarenrae.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Untrained Knowledge: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Phyton studies the tapestry for a moment, but can't make anything of it. Scanning the room, he points. "There are two secret doors here. One there and one behind a tapestry."

History: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Hmph, fiction. Nivik mumbles out loud as he gazes at the tapestries. They may want such a battle to take place but no such event happened. What a waste of time.

Nivik then turns to Phyton regsrding the secret doors. Oh? This place is full of surprises... not surprisingly. Hmph! Well, no need to go back in there. Try this one. Nivik says, pointing in the direction of the first one.

Tevaga sits down on the throne while Garinol works on the locked secret door behind her. "Hm. Seems boring to me, sitting on a throne all day."

Or maybe Nivik should try the key he picked up off the wizard?

Hey!

Tevaga suggests that Nivik try the key in the secret door behind the throne and it works!

The secret door opens onto a covered bridge forty feet across. The entire structure appears to be carved from a single red stone, but the centuries-long burial in sand has levied its toll. Long cracks line the walls and ceiling, and twenty feet along the bridge a seven-foot gash splits the floor in two, through which the dark orange stone of the valley below is visible. Spaced every ten feet on the walls are a series of massive carved heads: a pair of screaming fire elementals, a pair of humans clad in armor, and a pair of bull-headed men, each flanked by massive torches. The arch’s far end is carved into the shape of a massive leering face, with golden double doors in place of its mouth.

Flying above the open chasm is a small winged creature that giggles maniacally, clearly intending to bar your passage.

Initiative:

1. Nivik, Garinol, Phyton, and Tevaga
2. Gaav

You guys are up!

Gah, I mentioned the door, forgot to suggest the key. No wonder we hadn't moved. Oof.

Planes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Hmm, a lesser host devil! They are immune to fire and poison, and resistant to acid and cold. Weapons of good are required. DR/good Nivik retrieves his wand of magic missile and fires a volley!

Missile!: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Know Planes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Unable to check out the map at work. :(

I'll draw my scimitar and move up slightly, hoping to draw most of the attacks if able.

Also, if I can, I'll try to look for any traps in the first/closest section of statues/faces.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Nivik puts a magic missile into the devil and Garinol moves up with his scimitar drawn.

Initiative:

1. Nivik, Garinol, Phyton, and Tevaga
2. Gaav

G: 2 dmg

Phyton and Tevaga are up!

Phyton moves foward, blessing his weapon with the holy strike blessing.

"I don't have a good weapon!" Tevaga puts away her heavy mace, and pulls out her sling.

Move action to sheathe weapon, move action to draw sling.

Phyton moves up while Tevaga pulls out her sling.

---

The devil flies over to Garinol and lets out a blast of noxious breath!

DC 14 Fort save or sickened for 1d4 ⇒ 1 rounds.

Initiative:

1. Nivik, Garinol, Phyton, and Tevaga
2. Gaav

G: 2 dmg

You guys are up!

Tevaga wraps a bullet in her sling. She lets her rage put strength behind her attack as she flings the bullet at the devil.

Enter rage (round 1): +4 str, +4 con; 15/15 HP; AC 13; Fort +5 Ref +2 Will +4
Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

I think I have to devil from current position.

His weapon charge with good energy, Phyton swings at the creature above Garnol's head!

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Damage: 2d4 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (3, 3) + 4 + (1) = 11

Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Beginning to spin about in a dervish style and leap across, Garinol gets slammed in the face by the gas and instantly begins to wretch. Nearly loosing hold of his blade down the drop, he grabs it just in time and makes a quick swipe.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 7 - 2 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Tevaga flings a stone at the devil but misses.

Phyton attacks it and deals a nasty blow!

Garinol also swings but misses his target.

Initiative:

1. Nivik, Garinol, Phyton, and Tevaga
2. Gaav

G: 8 dmg

Nivik is up!

Was Phyton's weapon good-aligned to bypass DR?

Its one of the many issues with the Warpriest that Paizo didn't really bother to answer. Assuming Phyton is using the Good Blessing it doesn't actually state it overcomes DR, just that it deals an extra d6 vs evil. RAW no, but I think that RAI it might.

Whereas Holy states:

Nivik decides to stick with his current method of fighting the enemy!

Missile!: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Ah, I understand now. Thanks, Garinol.

Nivik puts another missile into the devil!

The devil slashes at Garinol with its claws while still flying over the gaping chasm!

claw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

claw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Initiative:

1. Nivik, Garinol, Phyton, and Tevaga
2. Gaav

G: 11 dmg

You guys are up!

Phyton swings hard at the devil once more.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Damage: 2d4 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (3, 4) + 4 + (6) = 17

Nivik sees the creature is still flying over the chasm and wonders if he might be able to disable the creature.

Could I cast Web, with the anchor points being the creatures wings, thereby entangling it and causing it to stop flying? Or is the area of effect of the spell too large for that? If so, I'll just missile it again.

Missle: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Phyton hacks into the demon and Nivik missiles the demon for a bit more damage!

I think by solid points they mean not the creatures you are trying to capture in the web. At least that's how I interpret it.

Initiative:

1. Nivik, Garinol, Phyton, and Tevaga
2. Gaav

G: 25 dmg

Garinol and Tevaga are up!

The bridge is covered, so there is ceilings for a web to connect to.

Tevaga lets her rage subside, seeing how little it helps her. She throws another stone at the devil.

Attack into melee, fatigued: 1d20 + 3 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 3 - 2 - 4 = 17 Oh, good grief!
Damage, fatigued: 1d4 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 - 2 = 3
Crit confirm: 1d20 + 3 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 3 - 2 - 4 = 12

Yes I know, my idea was to hit him with the web so he couldn't fly and then drop to the floor. Probably should have just used web either way.

Still a little sick to the stomach, I'll try to swing once more.
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Tevaga digs her blade into the devil but it doesn't seem to hurt it at all.

Garinol swings but the devil leaps out of the way.

---

The little devil continues to claw at Garinol!

claw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

claw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Initiative:

1. Nivik, Garinol, Phyton, and Tevaga
2. Gaav

G: 25 dmg

You guys are up!

Nivik will now cast web, attempting to immobilize the creature so his friends might be able to take it down. DC 16 Reflex

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Damage: 2d4 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (2, 1) + 4 + (6) = 13

Phyton continues to swings at the little devil!

Ref: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

The devil jumps out of the way of Nivik's web only to be sliced in two by Phyton!

Out of combat!

Meh, figures. :) Can we take 10 to jump the 7' gap? Also, I'll search the creature to see if it had anything useful.

Breathing heavily, Phyton looks around. "Now what?"

Yes, you can T10 to jump across. DC 7 Acrobatics to jump 7 feet with a running start.

Grasping his shoulder after the devil's claw attack hits home, Garinol regathers his inner strength and swings once more.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Tevaga brings out her rope and grappling hook. She tosses it across, hooking it on one the statues on the other side. She swings across easily, and then tosses the rope to the next person that might need it.

Nivik will gracefully leap across. Take 10 for 15 Now that we've defeated our latest foe we should press on. Agreed?

The party easily leaps across the gap and comes to a fortress across the way.

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.

Inside a one-eyed dwarf with an evil glare works at finishing up a spear point on the southern anvil. When he notices you the smith smiles obsequiously and introduces himself, "Vulcus. Who be you?"

Phyton puts a hand on Garinol's shoulder. "Easy there, it's all over.."

After the group crosses and comes upon the dwarf, Phyton raises a hand. "I am called Phyton. What is it you do here Sir Vulcus?"

"And how did you get here? I thought this temple had been buried for hunnerds of years."

Diplomacy to improve his attitude.

"I was a slave but a woman-Hafshi-promised to buy my freedom if I promised to further her cause."

Diplomacy Aid to Garinol?: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

What is her cause?

Impressive.

Nivel simply listens to the conversation while eyeing the surrounding area for interest points or surprises.

Perception if needed: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

"Some cult. Doesn't int'rest me much, t'be honest."

Diplomacy aid another: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

"So now you're a slave to a cause you ain't int'rested in. Crummy tradeoff."