Dot in when ready!
You arrive in the Opaline Vault, heart of the shaitan genies' mighty Peerless Empire on the Plane of Earth, finally assembling at Lodehollow, an important border fortress for the Empire. You are here to discuss strategies for accomplishing the Pathfinder Society's long-held goal of freeing the good elemental lord of Air, Ranginori, the Duke of Thunder. Lodehollow's gravity is immense, nearly twice that of Golarion, and moving is difficult.
A radiant orb of tourmaline sheds a pale green light tinged with pink down onto the reflective surface of an octagonal hematite table. The Master of Spells Sorrina Westyr stands nearby, taut with frenetic energy. Her Shoanti companion Grave Treader seems less fitful, yet nevertheless carries a touch of anxious anticipation in her stiff expression.
Sorrina Westyr taps the table once before speaking. “We stand on the precipice of the greatest change the multiverse has witnessed in our lifetime or many of those that came before. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Pathfinder Society, we have recovered the prison of Ranginori, one of the long-lost elemental lords. We are now poised to liberate him after his untold millennia of imprisonment. The combined might of the other elemental lords banished Ranginori, and it’s by the combined might of their elemental energies that he could be freed.”
She motions to Grave Treader, who places a magnificent war pick and a crystalline decanter on the table. “These are the artifacts Fossilblight and The Breath of Lysianassa, powerful conduits of earthen and aquatic energies, respectively. We have communed with Ranginori directly to secure his mastery of winds, so all that remains is a source of unfathomably hot flame.”
Sorrina touches the top of the table, causing a series of tiny hexagonal columns—like pillars of basalt—to ripple outward across the table’s surface from her hand. In their wake remains a three-dimensional representation of the Plane of Earth sculpted into the table’s dark, glossy surface. Among mountains, immense stalagmites, and columns of natural igneous rock that must rise up to some unseen cavernous ceiling is a jagged rift where roiling lava flows.
Grave Treader gestures to the rift. “The Society has identified a source of power we can use to free Ranginori, the Lord of Thunder. A scouting party blazed a path to a ruin called Kandirion’s Pyre, an ancient forge on the border of the Planes of Earth and Fire. We believe the Pyre’s forge can channel trueflame, a fire so hot that with the help of Fossilblight and The Breath of Lysianassa it could shatter the Untouchable Opal. The Society is providing you with all of these tools for the journey ahead.”
Sorrina touches the map again, and it changes to create a detailed overhead view of a crumbling ruin set on a jagged cliff surrounded by ancient stone outbuildings. “The elemental lords Ayrzul and Ymeri have a combined force of elementals that numbers in the hundreds, and these groups patrol the region around Kandirion’s Pyre. Divinations confirmed that Ymeri believes that we are close to accomplishing our goal and that we may be seeking to use trueflame to that end. However, she has spread her forces among many sites near the Plane of Earth alongside Ayrzul’s legions, so she may not be totally convinced this is our plan. We will get you as close to the Pyre as we can with magic, and it will be up to you to circumvent or eliminate their forces to access the forge. We believe this central ziggurat is the front entrance to the Pyre, accessible by a fire-shrouded teleportation circle. Ymeri’s forces erected this fiery ward to discourage trespassers. If there’s another way in, we have yet to find it.”
“Take this next day to plan and make preparations. This is our best chance to free Ranginori, and we’ve only one chance to do it before the other elemental lords take notice. Do you have any questions?”
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Wynn listens quietly in the background as the Master of Scrolls and her companion explain the mission.
"I am not as well versed in magic as some of the others. But, the fire shrouded teleportation circle, meaning that we have to walk through the fire to activate the teleportation magic." He ask leaning forward, his chin resting on his long bow.
"Also, unless you hand us an instruction manual, how do we pry this elemental lord out of the jar?"
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What currently appears to be a nondescript wayang sits and listens, but he had been shifting between several other forms as he waited impatiently. At the end of Westyr's speech, he fights back an urge to try smashing the opal and speaks up.
"I will leave the magical know-how to those better suited. What concerns me, and what I'll keep myself concerned with, is getting there," Valrar grumbles, tossing a sword into the air and deftly catching it. "The Plane of Fire sounds dangerous by itself. But then there are the elementals. Not too strong, even the big ones, though their lack of weak points frustrates me to no end."
"I suppose I only have two questions, then. The first: Are there any special precautions we should take? Methods of fireproofing seem prudent. Secondly, would you prefer we tried to avoid opposing forces on our way there, or-" a wicked grin passes over the VC's face, "-perhaps we should mow through them?"
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A swirling mass of gas and crystals floats around Valrar's head. As the latter finishes talking, a series of images enter the minds of everyone else present: They explain the aeon's presence as an aid and check for the Venture-Captain on his missions. When he isn't looking, it also displays a note to the others. Evidently something complicated enough to get lost in translation.
"Together, our presence should keep him from performing any actions that would imperil our task. 98.5% certainty. Throughout the mission, this aeon's extensive store of intelligence is at your disposal for relevant queries."
Wynn listens quietly in the background as the Master of Scrolls and her companion explain the mission.
"I am not as well versed in magic as some of the others. But, the fire shrouded teleportation circle, meaning that we have to walk through the fire to activate the teleportation magic." He ask leaning forward, his chin resting on his long bow.
Sorrina answers, “Our scouts indicate that gravity is more akin to that on Golarion rather than what it is here. However, it is also considerably hotter there and will pose a significant hazard with prolonged exposure. Unfortunately, we have no idea exactly what the conditions in the immediate area of the Pyre and within are like.”
"Also, unless you hand us an instruction manual, how do we pry this elemental lord out of the jar?"
What currently appears to be a nondescript wayang sits and listens, but he had been shifting between several other forms as he waited impatiently. At the end of Westyr's speech, he fights back an urge to try smashing the opal and speaks up.
"I will leave the magical know-how to those better suited. What concerns me, and what I'll keep myself concerned with, is getting there," Valrar grumbles, tossing a sword into the air and deftly catching it. "The Plane of Fire sounds dangerous by itself. But then there are the elementals. Not too strong, even the big ones, though their lack of weak points frustrates me to no end."
"I suppose I only have two questions, then. The first: Are there any special precautions we should take? Methods of fireproofing seem prudent. Secondly, would you prefer we tried to avoid opposing forces on our way there, or-" a wicked grin passes over the VC's face, "-perhaps we should mow through them?"
Grave Treader responds, “As best we can tell, Ayrzul does not consider the Pyre a priority and believes we will act elsewhere to liberate Ranginori. Ymeri is not so convinced, and has committed a significant number of fire elementals to the region and demanded Ayrzul do the same with his forces. Beyond those creatures, we’re not sure.”
Sorinna adds "Our only goal is freeing the Duke. To the extent that your plans further this goal, we will leave the actual methods up to you."
Alie listener for a long while before speaking. ”I have some spells capable of fire resistance on a limited basis. Does this ‘super’ fire respond to normal magic or do we need something stronger?”
Sorrina seems uncertain. “Trueflame burns far hotter than any Material Plane fire. It is akin to hellfire, in that even creatures immune to fire’s caress can be burned away by its heat.”
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Know. Arcana
We are heading to the confluence of the planes of earth and fire. It is super volatile. There are occasionally flashes of fire creature that supposedly are hot enough to incinerate fire elementals. The trueflame can penetrate magical protections, like immunity and resistances. It is rumored that this place could birth fire elemtals, or even the planes themselves!”
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How exciting! We will actually see fire that is hotter than magical fire? Is it hotter than dragon fire? I have heard that can be about as hot as it gets. Maybe only for big dragons though.
I have heard they debate whether this is a “fire of creation” that could have forged the very planes themselves.
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Rurik sits quietly listening to to both the mission briefing, the questions asked and answered, and the pontifications on the the planes.
"So that I have this straight. We need to provide ourselves with protection from fire, fight through an army of elementals if we can't find any other way around, crack a god free from his prison, and all quick enough to avoid the notice of several other gods. Am I missing anything?" Rurik strokes his beard for a brief moment and then continues. "It seems rather straightforward overall from what I can tell."
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Rurik stands and walks over to the table. He picks up Fossilblight. He looks it over and then hangs it off his belt. "Alright, lets get what we need and reassemble here by days end."
Potion of Enlarge Person (10) = 500 gp
Headband of Mental Prowess +2 (Int & Wis) = 10,000 gp
Scroll of Mass Planar Adaptation = 1,650 gp
"Is there any protection that you could provide us with. Since we are going there on your behalf?"
“If we thought we’d be of any help, we would join you. Unfortunately this is so far beyond our capabilities that it’s almost laughable. You’re here because you’re the best. We know our limits, and we know when to cede the floor to the more experienced. That’s you.”
"However, we do have some supplies readied for you. When you are ready, we will assemble on the great plaza and I will have six potions of endure elements and six potions of resist energy (fire) for you."
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Satisfied that her associates aren't the typical dullards based on their efficient questioning and foresight, reviews her knowledge of the forge.
"We should also be mindful that even once we arrive, the danger won't be done," she adds. "The forge itself was damaged by the same trueflame incident that caused its creator to vanish, so it's entirely possible that using it is still dangerous."
This last bit of information disseminated, Luna purchases a scroll of planar adaptation and some magic ink, and inscribes the spell into her book in case it's needed later.
Ready at last, you all meet with Sorinna on the great plaza of Lodehollow. There with her is female Garundi named Farhaana Zadeh. She is the court conjurer of Thuvia's emir and owes the Society a number of favors.
Sorinna gives you the previously-mentioned potions and when you are ready, Farhaana begins her ritual, sending you all to a point on the trail several hours outside of Kandirion's Pyre.
So close to Kandirion’s Pyre, the Plane of Earth is a hellish, blasted landscape of twisted igneous rock and jutting spines of volcanic glass hundreds of feet tall that angle away from the incandescent glow of the horizon like glittering quills. A ceiling of stone disappears into an inky darkness overhead, and distant formations of rock a mile across rise up in looming columns. The horizon in the direction of Lodehollow entirely dark, and in the direction of Kandirion’s Pyre there is a flickering, eternal dawn of firelight that casts exaggerated shadows across the blasted realm. A highway of fire-blackened stone snakes toward that horizon, leading the way to Kandirion’s Pyre.
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Dora bows and then smiles as the feast is set before them
This is delicious! Keep it coming, Rurik! You are the man...er I mean the Dwarf!
She will use a rod to cast an extended heroism on herself once the party is ready.
She pats the muzzle of her large orange colored wolf.
Rusty, I am not sure if this will be safe for you. I may have to see what it is like first then call you.
So, it's hot and rocky, but you're all protected from the extreme heat thanks to Rurik's scrolls. How're you getting where you're going?
ACTIVE EFFECTS
Alie - Extended Mage Armor, Extended False Life, Heroes’ Feast, Planar Adaptation
Dora - Extended Heroism, Heroes’ Feast, Planar Adaptation
(Rusty the Wolf) - Heroes’ Feast, Planar Adaptation
Luna - Mage Armor, Overland Flight, Heroes’ Feast, Planar Adaptation
Rurik - Heroes’ Feast, Planar Adaptation
Valrar - Heroes’ Feast, Planar Adaptation
(Ambassador Paracletus) - Heroes’ Feast, Planar Adaptation
Wynn - Heroes’ Feast, Planar Adaptation
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”I think I’d be more comfortable flying. Not too high, as I don’t want anything to spot me, but high enough that I won’t be surprised if an attack comes from nowhere. I had a terrible experience with a group of xill that caught me unawares a long time ago. I don’t want to ever repeat that,” Alie says with a shudder.