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

Game Master Mike Tuholski

Waiting to see if Garinol has anything to say since it looks like everyone is hoping he will lead this discussion.

Diplomacy w/ Guidance: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
" I am Garinol, a child of the Everflame. We will help you to gain your freedom without you needing to aid a cause, friend. But can you tell us of this Hafshi, and what it is she would have you do? Or what is going on here. Why have we been attacked, friend?"

If I may, GM Star Reroll. . .
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

"Eh. Well, this freedom she promised me hasn't turned out to much different than slavery. If you can promise me real freedom though. . . "

The dwarf thinks for a moment before answering, "Sure. My duties right now require me to stop you but, of course, if the cult is destroyed then I am free from my duties. I suppose the others attacked you cause you're not part of the cult. But I'm sick of all this cult talk. I'll just pretend to be busy working and let you pass. Let me tell you before you go, though: this Hafshi is a priest of Moloch. She's quite handy with a whip, I can say from experience. Can't tell you much about her except that she bought me to help raise her an army. You know, making weapons and armor and such. She stays up to herself mostly, working on something secret, I s'pose. There'll be tests of faith up there to get past but that's why I never bother goin' that way. Hope you can take her out, for your own good and my own. That's all I can say."

With that the dwarf turns back to his anvil and resumes his hammering.

"Thank you for the advice friend. We are going to go talk to Hafshi and "negotiate" your release. You will be free to go."

Leaving the dwarf behind, the party ascends the Citadel. This long, winding ramp ascends gently in loops through the Citadel. 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.

Around the first bend (red dot on the map) 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.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Phyton follows along, weapon at the ready.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

"He said there'd be 'tests of faith'? That some of this on the wall? Can't we just skip it? We ain't here for the religion."

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Ah yes, what do you make of this, Garinol? Nivik points out to the group a nearby mural shows that pilgrims place a handful of sand above the vent and allow it to scour their bare faces. Do we really want to follow suit?

"Can't we just skip it? We ain't here for the religion."

There's certainly nothing stopping you walking around it as far as I can tell.

Not seeing anything stopping her, Tevaga shrugs her shoulders and walks around the vent, duly failing the first test of faith.

As you travel along the winding corridor, the mural continues. The pilgrim encounters increasingly large fire creatures, but in each case she prostrates herself to them and is allowed to pass. Standing in the middle of the hallway before you is an obsidian statue of a towering bull-headed man looming over the mosaics of pilgrims kneeling before it.

Assuming we can't just squeeze past it?

Tevaga looks around the base of the statue and on the floor for some switch that will trigger the statue to move aside.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Dang, I guess my post got eaten yesterday.

"This fiend, Moloch, must learn that the flame can both give and destroy. What it uses it for is simple. Easy. But it is is not the only master of the inferno, and I do not fear."

Offering a small prayer, both in an attempt to cleans the taint and for protection, Garinol takes two handfuls of sand and follows the depictions directions, though his faith is far from Moloch.

Phyton offers some sand as well and follows along. He then examines the front of the statue before kneeling before it.

T20 for 23 on Perception

Garinol tosses some sand on the device and follows the directions. The sand and heat scour his face!

piercing damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2
fire damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Yes, you can squeeze past the statue. There is no switch and it does not look like it can move.

I'll search for traps, and concider toppling it over if possible.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Seeing the inquisitor perform the ritual Nivik will do the same just to be on the safe side of things. My beard is not going to like this.

Piercing: 1d3 ⇒ 2 and Fire: 1d3 ⇒ 3 Correct this if its wrong, just trying to save time. I am resistant to the fire damage (5).

Hmmm, looks like we may need to kneel just to get by this statue. Do as the mural suggests. Would you agree, Inquisitor?

Nivik will do as Garinol does in performing any ritual or prayer required once more.

Tevaga watches to see if Nivik gets any result from supplicating the idol. If nothing happens, she squeezes through, failing the second test.

If you are performing the first ritual, yep. Just 1d3 of each type of damage.

Nivik prostrates himself before the idol. And will take a -1 penalty from now on on all saving throws against spells or other abilities of Moloch's cultists.

Garinol does not find any traps.

If Nivik realizes the penalty that he receives he will relay what he has learned to the others. He will then follow the others if they squeeze thru. I'm not sure I like this idea.

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. 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.

Nivik will cast Detect Magic in the room. Well, I can attempt to immolate myself in the blue flame there if we think it will be necessary. What do you think, Garinol? Any religiously related ideas? Anyone?

I do have resistance to fire so I'm willing to try it.

Religion, if it helps: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Just a little confused by the map. Are the doors on the corners on our level?

And are we basically at a dead end, where we assume there must be a secret door, since the smith told us this Hafshi woman is up here somewhere?

"If someone needs to burn, I can bring up that wizard. But how would the mechanics of the temple know if someone burned themselves here? There's gotta be a switch or something." Tevaga cautiously sets the head of her mace onto the center of the flame, seeing if there's some trigger in the brazier hidden by the fire.

Phyton follows, not sure what to make of the temple.

@Tevaga: yes on the doors being on your level. But no on this being a dead end; there's a spiral staircase at the end of the hall.

Tevaga does not find a switch anywhere.

Tevaga shrugs. "That's reasonable, I guess. 'Tests of faith' that don't need to test those with no faith. Before we go up these steps, let's check out these other rooms on this level." Tevaga backtracks to the first room past the statue (SW corner). She pauses before she tries the door. "Garinol, you want to check this for traps?"

Nivik performs the ritual, more out of his curiosity than anything else.

Unnnghh! Knowing that the fire didn't harm him you do notice something else was present that did. He doesn't look too badly off but you get the sense some minor healing would certainly help. I'm at 7/12 so if I could get someone to tap me with my wand, I will for CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Before heading up, Tevaga suggests checking out the smaller rooms on the corners. Each of these chambers constitutes the central hall of a tower with several more rooms, both above and below the entry points, along with bed chambers, guardrooms, a rude kitchen and dining hall, latrines, and storage closets. Nearly all are long abandoned, with the floors covered in a thick layer of desert sand, the simple furniture broken, food long since desiccated or rotten, and no signs of life.

Only one of the many chambers contains anything interesting. The first chamber in the northwest tower has been cleared of sand and three rough bunk beds have been set up in the room, as well as a simple shrine to Moloch.

Going up the spiral stairs?

If a search of the one room of interest bears nothing more of note then yes, up the spiral stairs we go. (Unless there is an objection)

The staircase opens onto a grand hall of polished obsidian and red marble. The walls are decorated with reliefs of a gleaming brass city, a massive sandstorm scouring a desert, and a horde of fire elementals descending on a city full of terrified humans. Rivers of slowly bubbling lava crisscross the floor, all streaming out of an elaborate altar at the far side of the room. Atop the altar sits a squat golden idol, 3 feet tall, of a bull-headed man, its arms raised and its hands holding a large thorned sword and a huge battleaxe. The idol’s eyes glow a deep crimson. Lava flows impossibly fast out of the bull-headed idol’s open mouth and down its torso, fanning out from there into rivers on the floor. Behind the altar, an obsidian relief of geometric forms stretches from floor to ceiling. Smoky forms flit across the relief ’s surface, their fiery eyes staring out at the room

Standing behind the altar is a female dressed in holy garb and wielding a whip.

Initiative:

1. Nivik
2. Hafshi Al-Moloch
3. Garinol, Phyton, and Tevaga

Nivik is up!

"Hm. Three bunks? One for Hafshi, one for the wizard, but the dwarf said he doesn't come up here, so who's the third one for? And that's assuming they don't have anyone using the top bunk."

Tevaga searches the three bunks, trying to figure out how many have actually been slept in. Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 Once satisfied, she follows the others to the spiral staircase.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Careful of the steam vents, Nivik says as he points them out.

Nivik will cast his 2nd Web, hoping to entrap the woman behind the altar! DC 16 Reflex, we'll see if the lava does anything to the webs as well.

All of the beds have been slept in. Remember, they were trying to build a cult army-but clearly they're not all here.

Ref: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Hafshi jumps free of the web's strands!

---

Hafshi begins casting a spell!

Initiative:

1. Nivik
2. Hafshi Al-Moloch
3. Garinol, Phyton, and Tevaga

You guys are up!

Nivik will cast Flaming Sphere on top of the evil woman!

Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 2) = 11, Reflex DC 18 to negate.

I will also have my familiar Troubles close to within 10' of the woman in preparation for another spell next round.

Can you walk over the lava?

Ref: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Nivik's summons a flaming sphere but she leaps out of the way.

@Phyton: it doesn't say you can't so I think so. Looks like about 3 feet so DC 3 Acrobatics to do so. As long as you don't end your movement in a lava square I think you'll be fine.

@Nivik: I believe in order for a familiar to deliver a spell it has to be in contact with you at the time of casting. Also, be careful using your familiar like that without invisibility or some other form of protection. Dead familiar = sad caster. I'm not above going after familiars and animal companions. . . as my fiance can tell you. . . from experience. . . yeah, I killed her wolf and that probably makes me a terrible person. She cried over that wolf when she realized it was gone. Our Lodge vilified me for two weeks.

Initiative:

1. Nivik
2. Hafshi Al-Moloch
3. Garinol, Phyton, and Tevaga

Garinol, Phyton, and Tevaga are up!

This is the first time I have even remembered I have a familiar so I'm still new to using it properly. I'll keep it at my side then and move myself as shown on the map. I'll see if I can read a little more about the familiar thing. The other wizard I have doesn't have a familiar.

Tevaga digs her thunderstone out of her belt pouch and throws it at the wall behind the evil cleric.

Move action: withdraw item.
Ranged throw vs AC5, one range penalty: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 3 - 2 = 16

Acrobatics: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

Phyton hops over the lava stream and moves toward the woman, then casts a spell, blessing the party!

I'll try to spring over the lava as well, combining the leap with a circling, dervish dance, heading directly at Hafshi while calling on divine Aid and drawing my weapon. (I can not see the map, so please move for me, or alter my actions as needed)

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Dance: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

"This blasphemy shall not stand!"

Move up (move), activate Judgement of Healing (swift), draw weapon (free), and cast See Invisibility (standard).

I was just going to attack (or heal) so please feel free to act for me if needed to speed things along.

@Nivik: most witches and wizards with familiars keep them in a familiar satchel unless they buff them up first; if they are out in the open they are susceptible to area attacks (fireball, burning hands, and such). At low levels you have to be careful with them because they are so fragile. At higher levels you can use shield companion (I think that's what it's called) and invisibility or greater invisibility and several other buffs to make them a little more useful in combat. Until then it's more of an RP thing (as well as the skill/save/whatever bonus they give you).

---

Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Tevaga lobs a thunderstone and deafens the cleric!

Phyton moves in and blesses the party!

Garinol leaps over the lava and moves up while casting a spell.

---

1d100 ⇒ 24

Hafshi finishes her spell and a devil appears in the room, clawing into Garinol!

claw: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

claw: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Hafshi then tries to trip Phyton with her whip!

whip it good!: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Initiative:

1. Nivik
2. Hafshi Al-Moloch
3. Garinol, Phyton, and Tevaga

H: deafened

You guys are up!

Phyton steps up and takes a swing at Hafshi!

Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 = 16
Damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 3) + 4 = 10

Know Planes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 Seriously EF, I need new virtual dice.

I can't seem to recall the significance of this creature! Garinol?

Nivik will move the flaming sphere to the woman' space again. Fire!: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 3) = 13 round 2 of 3

Nivik then steps over the lava (if its DC 3 I can't fail) until he reaches the altar. He then tries Color Spray on the woman! DC 15 Will

Acrobatics 1: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Acrobatics 2: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Tevaga jumps across two streams of lava to start closing on the cleric. She draws her throwing axe and lets her rage strengthen her as she lets it fly.

Rage round 1: str 20, con 17, hp 15/15, will save +4, AC 13
Axe ranged: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Phyton's blade bounces off of the cleric's armor.

Ref: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Hafshi jumps away from Nivik's sphere. Nivik sends a spray of colors at her but she is unaffected.

Tevaga tosses her axe at the woman but it sails past her.

Initiative:

1. Nivik
2. Hafshi Al-Moloch
3. Garinol, Phyton, and Tevaga

H: deafened

Garinol is up!

Know Planes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Healing a bit more, Garinol will move, (if possible), to flank, and attack.
Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

-Posted with Wayfinder

@Garinol: the lemure is right next to you. I'll assume you attacked it instead.

Garinol hits the lemure, wounding it badly!

---

The lemure attacks Garinol back!

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

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

Hafshi tries to trip Tevaga:

into shape!: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Failing that, she then steps forward and swings her mace at the half-orc.

mwk light mace: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Initiative:

1. Nivik
2. Hafshi Al-Moloch
3. Garinol, Phyton, and Tevaga

[ooc]H: deafened
L: 9 dmg

You guys are up!

Stepping to flank if needed, Garinol continues his wirling slices.

+1 Scimitar: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + (5) = 10

Attack vs Hafshi: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4) + 4 = 9

Phyton swings his halberd at Hafshi, once more.

Garinol slices the lemure devil in two!

Phyton then slices into the cleric!

Initiative:

1. Nivik
2. Hafshi Al-Moloch
3. Garinol, Phyton, and Tevaga

H: 9 dmg, deafened

Tevaga and Nivik are up!