Damn Daardra, you’ve been hitting the books hard!
Daardra feels confident that although the stones detect as strong magic (evocation) they seem to be from this plane. She confirms Eng's fire geode theory and remembers reading that the geodes needed to be fed fire from a dragon or similar source of extraordinary heat. She believes that they can be 'cracked' open with sufficient force if the word of opening is not known.
Rest for the night in the secret room.
The party rests without incident.
Gather up the stones and head back out into the foyer.
"A row of five half-columns splits this foyer, their crowns carved into small stone offering bowls. Beyond the foyer, a wide set of stairs descends to a recessed central chamber with three long prayer benches. The stone benches are cracked and covered with moss. Much of the ceiling has collapsed into piles of giant slate shingles. Shrubs and weeds grow through the floor, covering everything in verdant tangles. Along the west wall, two flights of stairs climb to raised balconies with cracked stone railings. The first staircase coils around a slender menhir topped with the crudely carved countenance of a heavy-browed fire giant. To the north, a set of steps climbs to a broad dais facing the benches. A huge fire pit fashioned from sheets of hammered black iron, bent and riveted together, stands upon the dais atop an ornately forged cast iron frame. A wide stone altar stands behind the fire pit, engraved with a giant helm with huge fangs. The altar and dais are draped in a thick blanket of stringy greenish moss."
Did we fully explore this area, go up the staircases, or did the battle prevent? Looking for other doors or anything we might have missed.
Assist looking around.
A thorough inspection of the ruins reveals nothing else of interest.
Rest before we move on to Minderhal.
um, do we know where Minderhal is?
Onward, continue up the valley.
Takes point.
You continue back along the branch of the valley you have been following. Perception rolls from the other 2 heroes please.
Follow the others, keeping eyes peeled.
Brings up the rear...always alert
Daardra cries out a warning just before a massive shadow passes over the party-Dragon!....
....and a ball of caustic gas launches at the party bursting into a deadly cloud upon impact.
+ slowed if damaged
DC 22 FORT save for 1/2
Daardra is able to act before the creature makes another pass, the rest of the party is still surprised and flat-footed.
-19
-19
-39hp slowed
Cast Haste
-38 hp
Daardra
The massive creature (14'+ long and 2,500+ pounds) flys by ripping at Daardra with its savage fangs:
Flying out of melee as it passes and banking, preparing for another attack run.
-2
Attack it as it flies by and bites.
Attack it as it flies by and bites.
You were surprised and unable to respond that round.
Initiative for the next round.
Wasn’t that the second round? Breath weapon first round and bite second round?
Wasn’t that the second round? Breath weapon first round and bite second round?
[dice=Init]1d20
Because of her superior perception Daardra was able to act a round prior to the rest, who were still surprised.
Init for D and E.
-40 hp
-slowed & hasted-
cast heal hex on herself
-28 hp
-21 hp
The lumbering beast flies by again, snapping at Daardra again and passing by before the party can respond with melee attacks.
Throw Shuriken
initiative for next round
initiative for next round
-43 hp
-sickened-
Exclude bad guy
As the creature circles for another run Orett hits it with a shuriken. This time the party is ready for it and all but Daardra (need init for Eng) can get in a standard action before it flies past.
RAGE!
With one might swing of his hammer, Ghun crushes the skull of the drake sending it spinning to its death before landing nearby in a heap.
Was it carrying any treasure or a map to its lair?
Was it carrying any treasure or a map to its lair?
[dice=perception]1d20+19
Sadly the map was destroyed during its death crash landing.
-maybe it ejected in a treasure map pod...any little parachutes floating down?-
Keep on towards Minderhal
The party continues on its way through the giant valley and late in the day make there way to a section where a small river runs through the center of the valley. The precipitous slopes of the rocky canyon walls are dotted with a few dozen dark cave entrances.
Peer at the cave entrances more intently
I too shall look more intently at the caves.
Ghun joins Daardra and Orett.