GM Rat Sass's Legacy of Fire (Inactive)

Game Master GM Rat Sass

Ami looks at Aldebert, torn between making sure his brother snaps out of it and going to check on his sister. In the end, Ami dismounts to go give Haleenie a warm invisible hug.

”Haleenie! Haleenie!” Ami bursts with unbridled joy. ”You are well! You are safe! We should get you out of here!” Ami hugs and hugs his sister. He hugs until Aldebert’s paralysis fails and he wants his turn.

He moves to get back on Yeen and to allow Yeen to lick Haleen from face to toes, a thorough grooming.

Gretiem meanders around the room, with no particular task. He's careful not to rock overmuch lest Aldebert fall off.

After a minute or so, Aldebert finishes his war cry! He lowers his blade and laughs, rubbing his muscles to chase away the last of the stiffness. He quickly cleans his blade, sheaths it, dismounts, and rushes to Haleen, hugging her in turn with his brother.

"A genie wished us here by your side, and here we are indeed! Good thing too, those louts were dangerous! How have you fared? Are you hungry, what are your immediate needs? For we must be quick. We've magicked our way here, but plan to fight our way out!"

He slams his fist in his gloved hand to show his determination.

Mahdi hangs in mid-air like an odd candelabra until at length the paralysis ends-- at which point he shakes himself, grimaces, and wipes vigorously at his cheek. "IT LICKED ME," he says indignantly, and directs a well-aimed gob of spittle down atop the charred and broken bones of the so called king. "UGH."

Deigning to descend to the earth, he scrubs at his face some more, and gives Haleen a short nod. "Hello. You'll need to stick with us, I cannot afford to waste spells sending you out of here to safety. You might ride on the carpet with Pent, perhaps, that should put you above most of the fray. I trust you are pleased to be reunited with your brothers. It is time the same happened for myself and my own."

Throughout his speech, Mahdi shoots glances upwards, as if trying to peer through the stone itself.

"Let us see if there was anything of use on the corpses of these abominations and then continue, yes?"

"You might ride on the carpet with Pent, perhaps, that should put you above most of the fray."

Ami’s face brightens an idea coming to his face.

”Sister, you should be safe. And yes, riding with the gnome will keep everything but your nose safe,” Ami agrees readily as he slips off his very valuable Ring of Invisibility off and offers it to his sister. ”Wear this, Sister, so that you might remain unseen as long as you do not attack others. I would have you safe.” Ami doesn’t like giving up his prized ring, but he wants his sister to be safe.

Then he will help Mahdi search the area and the bodies.

"Do you by chance know anything of what lies ahead, Haleen? How did you manage to escape to be hiding here?" Mahdi asks as he scans the room for things of magical relevance. When he sees Ami offering the ring, he says, "--if you're going to do that-- one moment. Miss Haleen, may I protect you from flames?"

Assuming she agrees, resist fire on Haleen

Otah smiles as siblings re-unite. When suggested, he begins to marshal bodies and their belongings.

"Thirsty?" the dwarf will offer the halfling his goblet, now filled with water.

Pent watches the thing called Ghartok in its previous life fall into a heap of bones and bile blood and bags of brawn, and he is relieved. More relieved, as Aldebert and Mahdi come back to them, without the need of further blessings to bring them back.

"He's trucking with meaty undead now. I thought the ghostie on the throne was abominable, and here we've got worms propping up skellies to paralyze us... what is this world coming to..?"

Pent hovers a little closer to Mahdi, giving the fire mage a good sniff at a dist. He was glad to have avoided the unwanted tonguing, but he was also curious as to its effects. "You've got a little... spittle... right along the hem there..." The gnome shudders and distances him and his Carpet, in case Mahdi makes any sudden lurching movements that might cause the spittle to centrifuge outwards.

When the halfs unite, the gnome looks down on the gathering, and wonders where in the world his gaggle has wandered off to...

Ami holds his brother and sister as long as he can before Yeen interrupts and wants to get his licks in. When he is finally edged out by the whiskered longcat, he gets ready to move on.

"Haleenie? Is there a way out for you? Which way?"

"Haleenie! Haleenie! You are well! You are safe! We should get you out of here!”

The halfling woman lets out a restrained yelp when Amiamble reaches out to her from invisibility. Her stiff frame loosens when Amiamble's words reach her ears, and she is reassured.

"These halls are anything but safe, Ami-Broer. They've sealed off all the walls above. The efreet come and go now as they please, leaving those they seized from Kelmarane unable to find a way out."

"A genie wished us here by your side, and here we are indeed! Good thing too, those louts were dangerous! How have you fared? Are you hungry, what are your immediate needs? For we must be quick. We've magicked our way here, but plan to fight our way out!"

Haleen turns to Aldebert, accepting his embrace. "I was lucky to have found these stairs, which led to this tree. I have been plucking Almonds, and bringing them to those above. That is, until the undead blocked my way back. I have been couched behind this tree for the better part of three days now. Now that you've come, can we round up the others, and find our way out?"

"Hello. You'll need to stick with us, I cannot afford to waste spells sending you out of here to safety. You might ride on the carpet with Pent, perhaps, that should put you above most of the fray. I trust you are pleased to be reunited with your brothers. It is time the same happened for myself and my own."

Haleen nods respectfully to Mahdi. "I am beyond pleased, to be perfectly honest. They, and you, are a sight for the sorest of eyes."

"Sister, you should be safe. And yes, riding with the gnome will keep everything but your nose safe. Wear this (ring), Sister, so that you might remain unseen as long as you do not attack others. I would have you safe.”

Before Haleen accepts the Ring, she asks her own question. "What are your intentions? You've already risked your own lives entering the House. Are you here to help the prisoners?" She looks over Aldebert's shoulders, into the Chamber of the Stone Speakers. "Or are you going deeper?"

"Do you by chance know anything of what lies ahead, Haleen? How did you manage to escape to be hiding here? --if you're going to do that-- one moment. Miss Haleen, may I protect you from flames?"

The halfling sister nods to the fire mage's gift of protection. "There." Haleen points towards the western doorway, and the empty chamber recently protected by the pack of mohrgs. "I've seen something glimmering there, then it went dark. Two jannis came from that room, and passed through this one, to the floors above, unassaulted by the undead."

"Thirsty?"

Haleen smiles for the first time. "Actually, yeah. I've only eaten from the Tree. I didn't dare try for the stream." She takes Otah's offer of water, and slowly drains it.

"Haleenie? Is there a way out for you? Which way?"

Haleen looks undecided. "That, De broer van mijn, is yet to be determined. I do not want to burden you with my protection, if you are striking deeper. I can certainly help with the wounded and infirm in the House above, as long as the dangers are removed first. Tell me. What will you do here, next?"

...

Haleen doesn't step upon Pent's Carpet, at least for now. She also refrains from putting on the Ring of Invisibility, though she carries it currently. Instead, she beckons you all to follow her up the stairs, up to the Maggot Throne Room, but not before she plucks another dozen Almonds, and tucks them into her pockets.

Ascending the stairs, you arrive unimpeded, in the large chamber above.

To the south, shackled to the pillars which separate the Throne Room from the large room beyond, stands someone familiar to you all. Hazim al-Jabira. One arm extends painfully to each side and up. From his wrists towards his elbows, he wears dried blood. He wears nothing else. He doesn't immediately register your presence, so cannot be embarrassed by the circumstance. He doesn't see you. For his lack of eyes, having been burnt from their sockets. Enough noise comes to the grand room, he does lift his head at an angle, and speaks.

"You finished tailoring, yet? I'm thinking you couldn't get your hands on silk, you must have been looking long and hard. Beggars and choosers, am I right?"

Haleen turns to Aldebert, accepting his embrace. "I was lucky to have found these stairs, which led to this tree. I have been plucking Almonds, and bringing them to those above. That is, until the undead blocked my way back. I have been couched behind this tree for the better part of three days now. Now that you've come, can we round up the others, and find our way out?"

Aldebert shakes his head, ”Sister, we are here to free everyone from the yoke of this oppressor, not just the few imprisoned here. With help, we’ve taken back Kelmarane, and we’re here to press our advantage. We can perhaps secure the prisoners here, but we cannot linger to guard them at this time. Our path leads deeper - all the way to the bottom.”

He wipes his brow and shifts his helmet, ”When we have won, we will of course come back here, and fight our way through any remaining resistance to the surface, gathering the captured along the way. Do you wish to join us, or stay here? I cannot say what might come from above, but we will carve a swath of death below.”

To the south, shackled to the pillars which separate the Throne Room from the large room beyond, stands someone familiar to you all. Hazim al-Jabira. One arm extends painfully to each side and up. From his wrists towards his elbows, he wears dried blood. He wears nothing else. He doesn't immediately register your presence, so cannot be embarrassed by the circumstance. He doesn't see you. For his lack of eyes, having been burnt from their sockets. Enough noise comes to the grand room, he does lift his head at an angle, and speaks.

”You finished tailoring, yet? I'm thinking you couldn't get your hands on silk, you must have been looking long and hard. Beggars and choosers, am I right?”

Aldebert’s eyes light up at the sight of Hazim, glad is he that the man is still alive. They soften however, when he sees the state the poor man is in. He very nearly laughs though as Hazim challenges those he assumes are his captors. Good for you!

He rushes forward on Gretiem, careful not to get in Madhi’s path, to help cut the man down and relieve what he can of his injuries and pain.

(Aldebert moves up, cuts him down, and lays hands upon him. I doubt my paladin's healing of blindness applies to missing eyes. That likely requires regeneration...)
Lay on Hands: 9d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 5, 3, 2, 6, 4, 4, 2) + (5) = 39 (-5 to heal blinded, fatigued, diseased, and/or poisoned)

Mahdi doesn't speak. He simply flies-- soaring through the air at the fastest speed the spell will allow him-- and shoulders out of his crimson-and-gold robe, the one with tiny seed rubies woven in along the seam of the stylized flames-- even as he is darting through the air.

"Shaqiq," he whispers at last, when he is by Hazim's side, the Kelish word for brother. "Hazim. Hazim, I am here, it is over. Shh, now." Mahdi's voice might break on the whisper, but only Aldebert might be close enough to hear it. Not that Mahdi even seems to notice the halfling's presence.

Mahdi drapes the robe over Hazim's body, touching with shaking fingers at Hazim's jaw with its unkempt beard-- and trying not to look at the black pits of his older brother's eyes above it. The mage stands in the garb he wears beneath the robes-- a pair of lightweight linen breeches, a loose light tunic-- and swallows with some difficulty.

"Hazim, it is Mahdi. We will get you out."

Ami follows along, staying close to be protective of Haleen until she dons the ring. He stops short when he sees Hazim. He barely recognizes the man. It was so long ago. ”That’s Hazim? Are you...sure?” Ami breathes uncertainly.

He waits to see if his brother’s touches help, or if something stronger is needed. He will cast Heal if the man is still afflicted by some malady.

”maaaah-DEE, does he require more healing?”

Pent keeps a respectful distance, as Mahdi drifts deliberately towards his brother, shackled and battered. When he looks down on his hands, he finds his hat. Looking back up, and on the face of Hazim, the gnome bows his head.

"I didn't think to ask Sarah for her powerful healing today. I can tomorrow, if it helps."

The chamber echoes of metal chains against marble, as Mahdi speaks softly to his brother. There is no forgiveness in the shackles, so Hazim's right arm punishes his left as the red-robed prisoner flinches from the voice at his side. The eyeless face, defiant at first, yields a tremble at the lip, as Hazim turns to answer his brother.

"Shaqiq? Mahdi? How on... how did you..." Hazim sighs of embarrassment, quietly, before he coughs it away, and stands a little taller. For the light the fire mage brings to bear on his brother's frame, it is evident that Kelmarane's quiet scout has seen better days.

As Aldebert cuts him down and lays hands upon him, Hazim steadies himself by finding the floor quickly, and pulling his brother's robe about his shoulders. Those nearby can see the wounds healing around his wrists, fresh as they are. Hazim's back is another story, for the wounds healed roughly, though naturally. The marks of the slave, whipped and punished.

Aldebert can share that Hazim was restored of his fatigue, though the malnourishment will take time to overcome.

Hazim reaches out to Mahdi, taking hand or forearm, whatever he can touch to begin a slow seeking of reassurance. "You're a sight for sore eyes." Hazim squeezes Mahdi, his bony grasp demonstrating a marked weakness.

"Is it over, then? You burn them all out? You leave any for me?"

Haleen approaches Hazim, and produces an Almond, handing it to Mahdi. She looks to Otah, gesturing a mime of drinking, before nodding towards Hazim.

Otah says a dwarven word under his breath and offers the goblet, now filled with water, to Mahdi.

He steps back next to Haleen. "What other guards are above?"

Haleen thanks the dwarf for filling the cup with a pat on the upper arm. "There were several janni and efreet, but they have all but abandoned our prison. That's how I took advantage of sneaking away. I was hoping to find a way out, deeper in the structure, when I found myself pinned down in the garden..."

The halfling accounts for eight Kelmaranians, clustered in a set of rooms not too far from Hazim's position. In short order, you have them, mostly women, secured, and willing to wait until the way forward is cleared.

Clearing out the compound is relatively simple. Several wandering monsters make noises outside the walls of the House of the Beast, while several harpies screech in the background. What's managed to find its way into the complex are mainly elementals, both air and earth, which are quickly enough dispatched by the Scourge.

You do find the efreeti as well, but they are no match for the ferocity of lot of you. The dust settles, and the House of the Beast grows quiet.

How do you proceed?

Pent flits about the gaggle of prisoners, his eyes keen to encounter kin. When he finds not a one of his gathered, from Katapesh, he doesn't rightly know how to feel. Good that they're not prisoners here. Bad that they're not here, so I can free them.

The gnome inquires about Hyami and the others, hoping to learn anything, really, regarding their whereabouts.

Those imprisoned in the House of the Beast can share nothing of Hyami et al's whereabouts. If asked, Hazim is also unable to lend any intelligence.

Sorry, just clarifying-- it sounds like Hazim's eyesight is now restored via the Lay on Hands, and doesn't need bigger magic?

Mahdi hovers at his brother's side as close as his own familiar ever lurked to him, taking water and almonds and producing a strand of grapes from his own belt and offering these with over-the-top solicitousness to his brother, speaking in Kelish all the while-- a near-babble of how, yes, of course Hazim still wants to get even with the bastards, isn't that just like you Hazim, coming off torture and you still want to be the older brother, it's alright if you let me take care of you this once, you need to rest, I have so much to tell you, things are moving fast, please, eat this, drink, you need water--

Ultimately the mage's indefatigable well runs dry, and he simply walks by Hazim, deigning to let his feet touch the ground despite his mastery of flight. He joins with the others when there are elementals to be routed, but his every other glance is to his brother, as if assuring himself that Hazim is still there.

As for what comes next.... Mahdi exhales, seeing the freed prisoners, running math in his head. "I cannot see them all back to Kelmarene with the spells I have prepared today," he says. "We must remember our goal here-- we cannot allow him too much time."

OOCly my memory is crap-- was Jhahvul's lair/end goal/etc supposed to be beneath the house of the beast?

Aldebert was quite right- Hazim's eyes will need to be Regenerated. The Lay on Hands was kind enough to relieve Hazim of his Fatigue only.

Haleen steps forward, placing Hazim's hand on her shoulder, before answering Mahdi. "I will look over them, in the garden below. The smell is much, much better there. I think that you've silenced the Beast, now you need to do what you came to do." She looks at Aldebert and Amiamble, her eyes asking if she's right with what she's said.

Jhavhul's currently haunting the below grounds of the House of the Beast, according to Nefeshti's intelligence gathering. The Stone Speakers Chamber, replete with Almond Tree, stream, and negative energy spewing stone heads, is certainly below the House. Might there be deeper delves..?

Ami waits to see if Mahdi feels Hazim needs more healing, wondering what else he can do.

If nothing else, he will look to his sister. ”If you are staying back, stay safe.” Ami’s eyes go to the ring.

He mounts Yeen and is ready to descend to find the big evil.

Aldebert nods at his sisters perception, "Yes, we are going deeper. We must root out this evil as I've said. Then we can come up and see about transportation. Let us descend one more time."

He grins despite himself and remounts Gretiem. He draws his sword in what he hopes is a heroic manner and, when the others are ready heads down, and to the left.

Got it.

Mahdi gazes at Hazim, still ready to try and take the fight to the enemy, even without his eyes. He shakes himself a moment, then looks to Ami.

"It won't help him, I don't think," he says in the smallest of voices the wizard has ever spoken in. "From what I know of magic, simple healing alone will not do it-- supposedly there are prayers to restore that which has been fully.... destroyed."

He nods slowly at Haleen's words of saying she will watch over him-- and the others, but mostly his thoughts are for his brother. He carefully touches again at Hazim's cheek (trying to avoid those ravaged eye sockets) and rests their foreheads together a moment.

"I have so much to tell you," he repeats. "I have seen so much, Hazim. I have stood on the plane of fire itself. I have fought a dragon, argued our case to the sultan of flames. You told me, when I was a boy-- when I would become discouraged over the difficulty of my studies, when I wanted to quit-- you told me that you knew that if I kept at it, if I worked and did not quit, that someday even efreets and demons would bow before my magic, like if I were Nex himself."

Mahdi takes a breath, his eyes closed. "It is perhaps not so far from that now. You were right.

"But while I was learning, you were working, to earn the coin to pay for my studies. You worked for the thief guilds, doing the most dangerous tasks, risking your skin-- and your hands, had you been caught-- so that we could pay my tutor. I remember, Hazim.

"And while I have been soaring through the planes, trading spells with ghosts and monsters, you...... you have been here. And you paid for it," he says, in a pained whisper.

"I will make it up to you, Hazim. I will see you restored. I swear it to you. By Ymeri and my own magic. The others and I-- we must go deeper. The one responsible for all of this-- if he is not stopped, there will be no world for anyone at all. But when that is over--

"I shall take you, Hazim, to the Plane of Fire, to the courts of angels and the elemental lords-- as a guest in splendor. With your sight restored, you will gaze on all the things I have seen. For the indignity they gave you now, I will dress you in silk of gold, and diamonds and rubies, shaqiq. For every night you did not eat when we were boys, so that I might have a crust of bread in my belly when I went to my studies, I will see that you feast like a mighty lord. For every sacrifice you made for me, I will place the gems of the earth in your palms, I will burden you with rings of platinum each worth a king's ransom, oh my brother. And I will say, this is Hazim al-Jabira, without whom Mahdi al-Jabira would have been as nothing. I swear it to you, Hazim."

The wizard takes a breath. "Go now with Haleen, big brother. I will return. I swear it. And I also swear to you that I will see Jhavhul broken, for this."

Mahdi is unwilling to go until his brother is settled in as much ease as can be had by the tree. He nods slowly at Haleen.

"Please take care of him."

Only then does he turn and prepare to follow Aldebert down, down into the earth.

"Let us see this concluded. I burn for vengeance."

OMG, good post Mahdi.

Ami tries to keep the tears from welling in his eyes as he turns away. He, too, wants vengeance, and his resolves has only been stiffed by Mahdi's words.

Seconding Amiamble. You Staggered me, Mahdi. Made me want to set a goodly amount of time to update, so will do so later today...

Aww..... shucks, my dudes.

Pent elevates the Carpet and drifts away from the brothers al-Jabira, allowing them their privacy, though the House of the Beast rattles with two pronounced gnomy nostril honks.

When the Scourge appears to advance, the gnome abides.

"If you are staying back, stay safe.”

"Yes, we are going deeper. We must root out this evil as I've said. Then we can come up and see about transportation. Let us descend one more time."

Haleen traces Amiamble's eyes to her hand. Looking down on the Ring, she shakes her head, and gives it back to her brother. "We will be as safe as we can, as long as you stand between us and whatever lies deeper. We should not register as a threat, only captives found wandering the House, like lost sheep." Her smile is only lightly self-deprecating.

Haleen turns to Aldebert. "Protect each other, as you always do, but... come back to me. If you judge this battle unwinnable, there is no honor in sacrificing yourself in vain." The halfling lass looks into Aldebert's eyes, seeking understanding.

<Post of Goodness>

"Sayakun katf 'akhi alshielat alty taquduni khilal alzalam."

Hazim keeps his hand firmly on Mahdi's shoulder, as the Scourge descends into the Chamber of the Stone Speakers. The elder al-Jabira makes no sound, so steady now are his footsteps. He doesn't object when Haleen assumes the caretaking duty, though he does speak before his Mahdi departs.

"I won't take my eyes off of them, Brother. Do what needs to be done. We've got sights to see, when you get back." Hazim rubs the back of his neck, his body gesture acknowledging his poor choice of words.

Haleen uses the moment before taking Hazim's hand, to soak some water from the stream in a cloth. She uses it to begin cleaning the blood from his wrists and forearms.

He draws his sword in what he hopes is a heroic manner and, when the others are ready heads down, and to the left.

Crossing the Chamber, Aldebert leads the Scourge to the empty room that awaits. A vibration draws the halfling rider's attention to his backpack. He produces the Bone Holy Symbol of Rovagug, which thrums of purpose. Immediately, the room alights in color and heat, the walls and floor of the room to shimmer with fiery energy.

A few moments later, a 10-foot-wide section in the western stone wall shudders and opens, unleashing a blast of hot air into the room and revealing a cave tunnel leading off to the west.

Roll20 Map has been updated.

Ami reluctantly takes the ring back from his sister. He would prefer that she wear it and stay safe, but knows that it offers him the ability to better protect Yeen and his brother and so takes it back.

”Stay safe, sister,” Ami dismounts to offer her a proper hug of goodbye. ”We will be back for you. But Sarenrae was work for me. And this I must do. I have Yeen tear the throat of our enemy and then we will safe again.”

* * *

At first Ami ignores the vibrations, thinking it is prolonged flatulence from another party member, but when it is clear that it’s is the symbol, his gaze turns to Aldebert’s backpack, hearing the bony thug’s harmony. He waits for the magics to be revealed, then readies to protect Yeen with a Resist Energy (fire), forsaking the protection for himself.

He will follow his brother in.

Aldebert is pleased they’ve found Mahdi’s brother, and confident that he can be healed in time. He bows to his sister, making no promises.

When the secret passage is revealed, Aldebert nods to the others happy for his Endure Elements at least. He pats Gretiem on the shoulder, knowing the lizard likely loves this heat. At least for now.

When the others are ready, he proceeds down the hall.

(Aldebert pays attention to Gretiem’s comfort. If it grows too warm for him, he’ll cast another Endure Elements using a pearl of power to get his spell back first.)

When the portal opens with fire and roar and cavern light, the gnome is offended at first. The spectacle intrudes on the relative peacefulness of the Stone Speakers, the little trickle of water that echoes off the stone walls like a meditative garden. Pent promises himself a garden just like this one, though outdoors, but walled off, so he can walk the garden unclothed, as Sarah's sun intends it to be.

Not like the inferno echoing beyond the west wall.

"Welp, looks like that's a pretty good bet for finding Jhavhul lurking about. Do we even know what he looks like? Is he just a bigger version of all the efreeti we've greeted in his Bayt? Or is he a different meanie of genie? I don't remember any portraits on the walls of his palace..."

"Can't say what he'll look like there Pent, but I expect we'll know him when we see him, if you know what I mean. Unless he's trying to sneak out on us, which doesn't seem to be his style, such as it is."

The Scourge leaves the relative comfort of the Stone Speakers, setting one last look upon the familiar visages before passing through the portal into the cavern beyond the wall. No words pass the lips of those you so recently rescued, as they watch in awe as you bravely venture forth.

The smooth volcanic tunnel 15' in height leads you west, before it splits into three tunnels, continuing on to the west, northwest, and southwest. Looking back over your shoulders, you see the portal close behind you as Aldebert Bone Bearer distances himself enough. The heat level within this realm is Severe.

As the Brothers Piddlespot approach the intersection, a quite large efreet, some may say Huge, appears suddenly!! He is a towering figure with crimson skin, smoldering eyes, and black horns, and wields a burning scimitar. The smell of brimstone fills the air, and the powerful genie’s mouth splits into a feral grin as soon as he sees you.

“Welcome, visitors, to Xotani’s Grave, where all your wishes are granted!” the figure says, spreading his arms in welcome and unleashing a wave of heat. “You are honored to have been chosen to witness my ascension. Enjoy yourselves, and when you are but ants beneath my feet, I may even let you live!”

He throws back his head and laughs, a deep, booming sound that brings to mind the roaring of flames. The figure turns to smoke and slowly fades away as his thunderous laughter echoes down the tunnels.

When Otah and Mahdi enter the intersection, Jhavhul appears again!

“Welcome, visitors, to Xotani’s Grave, where all your wishes are granted!” the figure says, spreading his arms in welcome and unleashing a wave of heat. “You are honored to have been chosen to witness my ascension. Enjoy yourselves, and when you are but ants beneath my feet, I may even let you live!”

He throws back his head and laughs, a deep, booming sound that brings to mind the roaring of flames. The figure turns to smoke and slowly fades away as his thunderous laughter echoes down the tunnels.

Not surprisingly perhaps, Jhavhul reappears to greet the lagging gnome.

“Welcome, visitors, to Xotani’s Grave, where all your wishes are granted!” the figure says, spreading his arms in welcome and unleashing a wave of heat. “You are honored to have been chosen to witness my ascension. Enjoy yourselves, and when you are but ants beneath my feet, I may even let you live!”

He throws back his head and laughs, a deep, booming sound that brings to mind the roaring of flames. The figure turns to smoke and slowly fades away as his thunderous laughter echoes down the tunnels.

Roll20 Map has been updated. For convenience, you begin on the map on the left. Moving right is moving west, clear as mud? You haven't left the eastern tunnel, as of yet. Please let me know what buffs each of you have in place, while we proceed. Thanks.

”Well, they know we’re coming. Let’s wait a moment or two to see if there’s a welcoming committee before we head down any of these paths. Then I have no opinion. Shall we try to the right first?” He suggests waiting just five minutes or so, before turning right (south or north I'm not sure which - can we just say to the right is east for sanity?).

”Oh, I have another Endure Elements if anyone really needs it. Hey Pent, got any charges on that there wand? I’d like to freshen Gretiem at least.”

Aldebert will heal himself and Gretiem slightly in anticipation of further harm. Likely would have done sooner, but lost track in all the excitement. :)

Aldebert CLW x1: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Gretiem CLW x 5: 5d8 + 5 ⇒ (8, 3, 5, 7, 3) + 5 = 31

Current Conditions
Aldebert: Endure Elements (24h), Hero’s feast (6/12h, +1 attacks/will & +4 poison (morale)), Magic Vestment (+3), Barkskin (+5)

Gretiem: Mage Armor (6/14h), Hero’s feast (6/12h, +1 attacks/will & +4 poison (morale)), Shield Companion (6/11h, +1 AC, +1 saves), Endure Elements (1/24h)

Ami and Yeen both jump whenever the booming voice booms. Yeen hisses and Ami tenses up, angry at the noise. He does not like it here.

”Brother, this djinn is an a!@$!@$,” Ami uncharacteristically says to his brother. ”Let’s go left here brother.” Top of the map.

Castings: Extended Barkskin (Yeen & Aldebert), Magic Vestment (Yeen & Aldebert), Resist Energy (Fire, Yeen&Ami), Extended MCFE10’ (Yeen), Air Walk (Yeen).

"Oh, left? Do you have a reason to go the opposite direction as me?" he chuckles. "Fine, we shall go your way. Perhaps Yeen senses something."

Aldebert nudges Gretiem toward the left and heads down the passage.

For the record, the life bubble currently on everyone should totally mitigate the need for endure elements, but since everyone's a prepared caster I suppose it's irrelevant, since it's not like any of those EEs could have been used for other spells

As they prepare to descend, Mahdi will invoke some protections against flame for those not already yet protected. Communal resist fire, via the extend rod, because why not. Otah already has resist 30 fire via his ring, and so do Ami and Yeen, so the targets will be myself, Pent, Aldebert, and Gretiem, a hundred minutes for each of us, with a little spare change

My other current buffs are as follows:

Overland Flight (self, 14 hours), Life Bubble (all PCs and animal companions, 4 hours each), Getaway (all PCs and animal companions, keyed back to Nefeshti's base, lasts until triggered), Mage Armor (self, Gretiem, Yeen, lasts 14 hours), Shield - cast into an ioun stone and given to Otah to hold, amplified with extend rod (it will last 42 minutes once Otah activates it)-- NOT CURRENTLY ACTIVE but can be when Otah wants it, False Life (self, 14 hours, 14 temp hp), Locate Creature (self - Hazim as target, duration 2 hours 20 minutes, still active even if no current point to it), see invisibility, amplified with the extend rod to last for 7 hours, and the resist energy just cast.

"Jhahvul wastes magic on posturing," he says with a small eyeroll of the obvious illusion magic. "I'm eager to flay his confidence from him. Lead on, Aldebert, we are right behind you."

Or above you, as may be, since Mahdi sticks to the air, flying right below the ceiling. He is not remotely caring that he is currently in his undergarments, an odd contrast to the fact that he is still draped in one magical cloak, which he elected to keep on him rather than give to Hazim as he gave his non-magical-but-expensive robe.

"Thanks for the resist fire Mahdi. And sorry to waste the Endure Elements. I had not realized (forgot) that your life bubble did the same. Excellent!"

Aldebert does as the mage demands and heads into the tunnel.

Pent recognizes the hellmouth they'll make their way through, so steels himself when Mahdi brings about his Bubble, and his Communal fire resistance. "Thank you, Mahdi. We'll see this through yet, Sarah willing."

Pent indeed burns more charges from the Wand, to make sure Aldebert and his lizard are as healed as they'd like to be. Pent bears a Wand of Cure Moderate Wounds, Aldebert. Size matters, Half. I'll leave the calculation on charges to our illustrious GM.

The gnome considers the inevitability of bubbly rivers of rumbly lava, so blaps his buds with a Communal of his own. Air Walk on Otah, Aldebert, Gretiem, Amiamble and Pent- 28 minutes. And, yeah, still got our Heroes' Feast up and running from the day's beginning...

Pent watches the illusion go off, no less than three times. He decides to fly east, then return to the greeting chamber, just to see if he can activate the illusion just by reentering.

Once it's clear the halfs have their huddle, the gnome keeps elevated, and moves forward, expecting the worst.

As soon as the Scourge passes into the intersection, a series of four magical surges goes off.

Aldebert: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29
Gretiem: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26
Amiamble: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33
Yeen: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30
Otah: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32
Pent: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33

It takes Mahdi a moment to sort things out, but your fire mage is pretty sure that everyone except himself has been stripped of fire protections.

Life Bubbles and Endure Elements are still active. Communal Resist Fire is gone. Otah's Ring of Fire Resistance is still up and active, at least.

I'll let you react, before pushing you to the left tunnel.

Mahdi holds up a hand sharply in the sudden tick of powerful magic. "Wait! Stop." He frowns, sniffing the air, as if he were trying through sheer olfactory power to grasp the altered magics.

".....bastards," he says with a dark snort. "They stripped away the fire resistance. Well. One moment."

He casts a spell, studying the cavern around them.

Casting detect magic and trying to determine if those triggered dispels will reset, basically, or if he can tell if they originated from a certain point or anything in that vein. Essentially, he is trying to determine if he can safely cast new spells or if they will also get dispelled as soon as they are in play. Arcana and Spellcraft both at +24 if it is relevant.

"This place pops our protections, what's next? We gonna start randomly losing articles of clothing? Mahdi's behind as it is, I don't need to see it any time soon..."

Mahdi scowls and paces a few times around the group, glancing at the walls around them, and finally retrieves a pearl from one of his belt pouches. "Let me test things."

(Using his 2nd level Pearl of Power to get back a casting of resist energy, since he used it on Haleen)

He picks... Amiamble, and tries to protect him from the blazing heat they are likely to soon face.

Caster level check: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22

The look on Mahdi's face is one of personal outrage when his spell fails. He sputters a few seconds, tugging on his short beard, and resumes pacing.

After a few circuits of this, Mahdi seems not deterred, but more determined. "Very WELL," he hisses with narrowed eyes. "It is to be a battle of magic against magic, raw power against power....? So be it!! All of you, come near!!"

Rather than being deterred by the failed casting, Mahdi seems offended enough that it spurs him to greater attempts due to his stung ego.

Attempting the CL check for communal protection: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33

He gestures, he intones in Ignan, and he sweats a little in a way that has nothing to do with the heat as he battles the power of Xotani's Grave-- but ultimately Mahdi wears a look of victory.

Communal protection from energy (fire) on Aldebert, Gretiem, Yeen, Ami, Pent, Otah, and himself - 120 points for all.

"There."

Ami grumps as his many protections are gone, but then recasts Air Walk, Barkskin, and Magic Vestment on Yeen, the minimum of what he would want to do once they are past the trapped area.

He accepts Mahdi’s fire protections with a smile.

”Come, that is a set back, but one we can endure,” Ami says from his invisibility. He moves forward when others are ready.

To be clear, only the fire protections were targeted. Air Walk, Barkskins, Magic Vestment, those are all still up and running. Xotani's Grave is very specifically targeting fire protections. Good creatures were targeted when they entered, cloaked in fire protection, and Mahdi's effort to cast fire protections targeting ANY creature were interfered with. Subsequent attempts to cast such fire protections will be met by the same interference(i.e. Caster Level Check), regardless of your location within Xotani's Grave.

Mahdi succeeds in reapplying your Fire Protection, before continuing into the Left Tunnel.

A river of lava runs through this cavern. The ceiling climbs to 30', and the river banks sit 5' above the surface of the lava flow.

Scattered throughout the cavern are several salamanders, as well as a single noble salamander towards the rear. He twists his head to observe the newcomers.

"Strangers here. You should turn back. You stand before Bey Rezaz, and his elite guard. Turn back while you can."

Round 1
Amiamble- 27
Mahdi- 26
Otah- 22
Bey- 17
Pent- 13
Aldebert- 11
Sallies- 8

Amiamble, Mahdi, and Otah are up! Roll20 Map has been updated.

Mahdi's answer is a baring of his teeth in a dark and vengeful grin.

"You're the intruders to this plane," he says shortly. "If anyone is the stranger, you are. I shall give you a counter offer: Flee while YOU can."

He snaps his fingers, and he and his allies are emboldened with speed.

Haste, all PCS/animals