Legacy of Fire (Inactive)

Game Master dinketry

Layaali reaches out a hand to the creature and prays. "Vildeis! Purge this evil from the world!" She clenches her fist, and a powerful force seizes upon jawcrackers bones, squeezing them within his own body.

Casting boneshaker!
Untyped Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 2, 6, 4) = 18 Plus I move the target 5 feet away from Min and Rab-rab.
DC 16 Fortitude save for half damage and to negate the movement.

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12 FAIL!

With a hideous crunching noise, the leucrotta's legs fold up in a way that its legs shouldn't move. Following that, the force of Layaali's spell tosses the large creature like a rag doll against the cavern wall, where it collapses into an inert heap.

COMBAT END! Drael and Razif both immediately feel confused, as if they had seen a vision of Uzma, but nothing more.

A brief perusal of the cavern reveals nothing interesting apart from a pile of odd spoor from the bowels of the leucrotta. Within and despite the faecal pile, a strange pair of crystalline lenses within a gleaming golden wire frame immediately catches your attention.

Layaali looks on it surprise for a moment, a little disconcerted by the power of her prayers. She shakes her head and moves to heal her companions, certain the creature must have been evil indeed for her goddess to empower her so.

She prays some more, to heal Min's wounds.
Healing Min: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Min's at 19/21 hp now.

Drael shakes his head, as if trying to wake himself up. That was strange, I could have sworn I heard Uzma from further in this cave. Well done for defeating that creature without my help.

"He's gone again... I guess we should've known better?" Razif says, dejectedly.

Rewinding out of the cavern, the group comes back out from behind the falls to find the nixie perched on the slippery rocks, her visage intense with curiosity.

"Well? Is the leucrotta dead, or are you fleeing in a severely-slowed fashion?" She seems impatient, but in good spirits, as if she already knows the answer.

Min groans loudly as Layaali heals his wounds. "We have to stop helping people. It's way too dangerous!"

Once he's stopped bleeding everywhere, he cleans up the glasses with prestidigitation and checks out the glasses.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Frustrated he can't seem to figure out their aura, he places them in his bag to reexamine later.

Outside, he grumbles at the nixie. "Its dead. You're welcome. You'd better be a good ally cause that favour right there sucked."

"Yeah! Min-min almost DIED!". Rab-rab pouts.

The nixie claps her webbed hands together in delight, oblivious to the gnomes' displeasure.

"Oh goodie, my cave!" With an abrupt move, she dives backwards into the turbulent waters of the waterfall pond.

An uncomfortable pair of minutes passes before the nixie emerges from the waters with barely a splash, an odd cylinder wrapped in moist seaweed in her hand. She tosses the hollow cylinder to the ground and stands to address you all.

"There. A deal is a deal - and I found something extra that you'd likely be interested in, so remember THAT when you go back to the so-called peaceful citizenry of New Kelmarane and forbid them from trespassing at my falls."

The cylinder proves to be a homemade scroll tube fashioned from a hollow reed and sealed with fish guts and seaweed - odiferous, yet functional at waterproofing the housed threadbare papyrus. In addition, a scrap of leather has been shoved inside the reed as well.

The papyrus contains a drawing of a mountainous region with what appears to be a giant peak dominating the centre. Strange angular runes seem to have been burnt into the page. The nixie explains.

"That's Ignan. I don't know the language, but it was given to me by the salamander people that live between Pale Mountain and Silver Tarn." She points out a lake to the north of the singular peak. "I used to reside there, but it was too quiet. The salamanders and I had an understanding, and, well, you know...we left each other alone. I quite liked them as neighbours." She looks momentarily winsome.

"Anyhow, we are both territorial sorts, so we drew up this as an agreement. Andgronakraks did it for us - he's the salamanders' seneschal - but it's not really necessary anymore as I don't live there. Regardless, I learned from them that there was some connecting passage between their territory and the fortress under Pale Mountain, so if you're looking for a way in, then I think that that's pretty valuable, eh?"

The piece of leather needs much less explanation. It has been branded with a symbol you all immediately recognise of three canine heads with fangs bared. It is the emblem of the Three Jaws clan.

"I stole that from Jawcracker's den soon after he arrived at my cave."

Razif subtly reads the map, not wanting to betray to the nixie that he can read Ignan, just in case.

"Maybe Dashki would like to have this," he remarks about the leather. "I wonder how Jawcracker got hold of it..."

The map never belonged to Jawcracker. It belongs to the nixie whose name you now know is Beshvi. The sleeve of leather belonged to Jawcracker. Sorry for the confusion.

That's what I said, right? :) Razif's talking about the leather.

Drael looks at the map over Razif's shoulder, ignoring the text but doing his best to make sense of the general area from his knowledge of the region. He might want it back, but perhaps it's best not to remind him of his tribe after all he's been through?

"I don't know... if it were me, I'd appreciate any keepsake or reminder of those lost to me that I held dear. Things have mostly calmed down for him since then, right? We can always ask, at least."

You all recall what befell Dashki during the naming ceremony of New Kelmarane - that same ceremony where you all were feted.

The nixie gives you all an awkward look. "So, I guess I should thank you. Beshvi. That's my name. If you'd please, I'm going to start cleaning the filth out of my cave. Excuse me." And without any further words, Beshvi winds her way around you all and into her cave.

Where would you like to go now?

Drael nods, I suppose we can talk to him next time we're in New Kelmarane. We'll get out of your way Beshvi, thanks for your help.

As they leave the cave, he turns to the others. So, should we go back to town and let the others know to stay away from this cave, or head straight to Pale Mountain?

"I think we could stop by town real quick to report this." Razif says. "This detour turned out a bit messy anyway, might be a good thing to recover a little before we start the journey in earnest."

Layaali nods. "Agreed. We need to report this before leaving. Let's go."

Just after the passing of the mid-day sun overhead, the adventuring crew heads back towards Kelmarane, the hour-long hike finding them lost in their thoughts surrounding Beshvi and her alliance with the salamanders, the dead leucrotta and its involvement with the Three Jaws, and the ever-looming threat of the Carrion King and his army. Before long, you find yourselves passing through one of the main gates to New Kelmarane, a labouring crew hard at work shoring up defences at the city walls. You swiftly head for the Battle Market where you spot a familiar face amongst the scurrying citizens.

"I heard you had left for Pale Mountain," the rosy-cheeked halfling-not-halfling states bluntly, her eyes coolly staring over Drael before snapping to Layaali. "And yet you are here. Have you not left? Were you not to bring death to the Carrion King?"

Her eyes flicker towards Drael, then flash back to Layaali.

"It is comfortable, this form, amongst all the new people coming to the Infusium. I get much more work done this way," Her cheeks redden slightly as Undrella provides the explanation for which no one asked.

"Well?"

"Hello, Undrella," Layaali replies pleasantly. "We have news of the pond. Can you relay a message to Garavel for us? It would spare us time and allow us to head right back out to continue our mission."

The message itself, she leaves to Razif, for it was he who discovered the dangers at the pond in the first place and could best describe its location.

Razif offers Undrella the details. "When Garavel gives you lip about it, and he probably will, maybe mess with him a little. Bring up that expanding towards the pond would invade someone else's home. How would that make us better than the kobolds? Would Princess Almah be happy to hear he kicked a child out of their home into the desert?" Razif grins as he imagines the expression on his face, but he's more glad to not have to be there to see it.

Checking his quiver, something he hasn't done in a very long time, he realises he's almost out of arrows. "Can we pick up a couple arrows before we leave?"

Razif'd like 40 arrows, before I forget to refill again

"Of course," Layaali replies.

With a nod she adds, "Thank you, Undrella."

"What am I relaying to Garavel?" Undrella blinks at Razif. Hee hee. Not letting y'all off that easy.

You can purchase the arrows from a supplier in the city, Razif, at standard pricing.

Ahaha, fair enough, we did say we'd think up some sort of story...

"The pond is... occupied, by another party. They're very secretive, private and wish not to be disturbed. We've approached them and negotiated with them, but they want nothing to do with neither New Kelmarane nor any other group in the Highlands. We have their word that no harm will befall any of ours should we wander into the territory by accident, but that is the best we can do. It's definitely not ideal, but we implore the town to respect this agreement."

Not exactly certain of a tale to spin, he decides to mix some half-truths and lies of omission to imply there's a bit of a community there, rather than a single very sassy nixie.

"While you buy your arrows me and Min will go pat and care for my bunnies! Bye!"
Then she runs off pushing Min with the wind so he has to come with her.
(They come back once Razif is done.)

"I thin-WOAH!"Min says as he get pulled away by Rab-rabs wind.

Come on Min stop resisting. Rab-Rab groans.

Layaali smiles as the gnomes prance away bickering.

"Thank you, Undrella."

Undrella blinks at Razif, then turns to watch the gnomes scamper away. As they leave, she turns back to the ranger.

"You met Beshvi," she pronounces plainly.

The gnomes scamper back to the mansion by the harbour. They find Torre-telis bent over inside one of the hutches, a lyrical baritone in Draconic echoing through the rabbits' sleeping quarters.

"Cwningen fach unig yn neidio ar y twll gwyrdd, cynnes yn aros, breuddwydiwch am eich breuddwyd"

The priest of Vildeis straightens hurriedly as the gnomes enter, bonking the back of his scaly head as he extracts himself.

"Excuse me, this is the ---- oh! Little masters! I thought you gone. Returned so soon?"

Razif nods. "You know her, then?" He sighs. "It's an awkward situation, but it's clear she doesn't want anything to do with us, and we think it's best to honor that. But if we tell Garavel that there's just a single nixie there, I doubt he'll be keen to let it go." He suddenly remembers something. "Ah, that's right. She chased us off initially with an illusion of big tentacles. Guess that can be that "community's" protector, if Garavel asks."

Undrella gives a non-specific grunt and a single uptick of her head.

"You forget I come to this place before the Kulldis. I know of this Beshvi and her illusions." the halfling-not-halfling shrugs her shoulders as she stares at Drael.

"Everyone hunts for their place in this world. Some are lucky to find where they believe they should be."

She glances back at Razif. "I will tell Zastoran. He will tell Almah. She will tell Garavel." Undrella nods curtly, the explanation clear in her own mind, if no one else's.

Drael nods coolly at Undrella's look, content to let the others fill her in on their expedition.

Undrella walks away from the team abruptly without a further word. The busy nature of the Battle Market roils on, people coming and going, many of them faces that you've not seen before. An occasional familiar face smiles at the Knight-Protectors of New Kelmarane as you await the gnomes' return.

After a time (when Rab-rab becomes reassured that the rabbits are being well tended to by Torre-telis), the gnome siblings reappear. Razif completes his purchases, and the afternoon sun beckons the adventurers back onto their trail. Razif takes the lead as you all follow the old merchant road out of Kelmarane and back into the foothills of the Brazen Peaks. The weather remains clear as the path passes by Kelmarane Falls, the home of the reclusive Beshvi. And still you press on, making decent time through the growing elevation as you wind further and further up into mountainous terrain.

The temperature remains comfortable, a blessed side effect of desert proximity. Though subject to poor - if not absent - maintenance, the merchant's road cuts through the roughest of the geography in an efficient fashion, and as the day begins to fade, Razif estimates that your initial half-day of travel out from Kelmarane reflects a respectable distance. Triangulating your position on the map with your target destination of the singular Pale Mountain peak, gives you an impression of a further three days on the trail. You find a place just off the trail to make camp, a naturally-fortified position where multiple souls making this lonely and perilous journey have likely broken from the trail before, some of them non-humanoid.

Razif and - curiously enough - Rab-rab share the duties of setting up an inoffensive camp within the wilderness. Through their dual efforts, the team rests comfortably, ensconced in a position that seems veritably undetectable from ten feet away. The adventuring party sets a watch order, but the night passes without event, the strange hoots, growls, and echoes from the Brazen Peaks the only reminder that your presence is not completely welcome. The morning sun rouses the team, and after a quick trail breakfast, you break camp and continue deeper into the mountains.

Midway through the morning of the first full day on the trail, you all spy the start of a huge canyon scoring the earth between the mountains towards the northwest. Scrub and spiky grass grow along the internal edges of the canyon, and in the more shallow, shadowy depths of the nascent canyon, a pale sparkling stone or sand seems to coat the floor of the cleft. The merchant trail divides at this point, one road leading intertwined with the canyon, and another branch heading north.

I've updated the map to show your position. Which branch would you like to take?

Drael looks around warily as the rest of the group observes the trails ahead. Razif, any clue which of these might get us to Pale Mountain?

The map looks like the lower trail leads closer to that area, but not sure if that's correct.

Razif thinks for a moment and takes a look at the map.
Razif's going to double check to see if he can make sure the hunch he's about to share is correct.
Knowledge Geography: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

"I think they both do. If I'm not mistaken, taking the north path will take us to the Silver Tarn, to the salamanders. Beshvi mentioned their territory has a passage into the "fortress under Pale Mountain". The other path will eventually lead us straight to Pale Mountain as well.
I'm tempted to suggest the northern path, myself. If we can make the salamanders our allies, we'll have a possibly unguarded way into the fortress, as well as a friendly area to retreat to when things get hairy."

"Agreed." Layaali remarks with a nod of her head. "Lets pay these salamanders a visit. Perhaps we can convince them to allow us passage. Help, even."

Of note, the blue line on your map is the Pale River, not a trail. Regardless, the northern branch of the trail follows the northern branch of the Pale River, at least initially.

The team turns north and continues on their trail. A few hours into the afternoon finds them climbing ever higher, their previous rapid progress slowed considerably by the challenging terrain of the mountainous trail. By the time the sun touches the horizon, the entire team feels weary and grateful to take a rest, though the terrain seems less hospitable than previous, if it could be imagined. A cold wind picks up from the northwest, promising less favourable camping conditions. Rab-rab and Razif consider where to place their camp.

Despite the turning weather, the gnome and the ranger cobble together a fortified position just off the main trail on a raised plateau. A hurried dinner follows as the adventurers struggle to eat before succumbing to fatigue, leaving the gnome siblings awake to take the first of the night's watch shifts.

I haven't asked, but I'm assuming that your watch rotation leaves Layaali out so that she may sleep (and because of her lack of vision). I also assume that the gnomes would watch together, and because of Min's spell casting, would likely take the first watch. Razif taking the watch that would allow him to see the dawn also seem appropriate, leaving Drael the middle of the night watch.

The weather continues to worsen, the winds whipping anything not pinned down. Min and Rab-rab do their best to keep each other's spirits up, but their shift is miserable. The temperature plummets as a cold fog drops into place, obscuring the scant starlight from the sky.

It's soon after that point that the moaning begins.

Will Saves, Min and Rab-rab: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 91d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19 Min, you are shaken. Rab-rab is unaffected. Both of you are within a fog bank, obscuring all vision outside of five feet away from you, and it's dark (though I'll allow a magical light to have been lit prior to your watch starting). Oh, and while we're at it...

Before either can react, the dark fog seems to reach out at Rab-rab!

Melee Attack vs Rab-rab Touch AC, Flat-Footed: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 253d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 5) = 10 HIT! 10 pts of cold dmg, Rab-rab!

A flickering ghostly form comprised of a skeletal torso cloaked in tattered wrappings rakes at the gnome with claw-like finger bones as malevolent embers burn within its eye sockets.

Rab-rab and Min both may act! Everyone else is asleep!

welAHHH ray of frost: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (6) - 2 = 4 "Daree doree dooo!" Min holds his right hand over his shoulder, as if he were winding up for a pitch. Icy, blue energy gathers in his hand. Then he throws his hand forward like he's throwing a ball. A beam of ice flies from his hands!damage: 1d10 - 2 ⇒ (3) - 2 = 1

YIKES!! Where did you come from!! Yells Rab-Rab.
WAKE UP!!! THERE IS A MONSTER!!! She screams at the top of her lungs to wake up the others. Then she fires an wind blast at the monster.
attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Damage: 3d6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 3, 2) + 6 = 16

Perception Checks to Wake: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 211d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 81d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

The gnomes emit blasts of icy and pneumatic power, respectively, but both miss wildly. In response to Rab-rab's screams, Drael and Razif both wake up into a horror-show of cold mist and wailing moans. Layaali remains blissfully asleep.

Will Saves, Drael and Razif: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 71d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 Both Drael and Razif FAIL and are SHAKEN. They are within a fog cloud, meaning that your vision is obscured for all but 5 feet around you. It is dark as well, and you are both prone.

Drael and Razif both may act!

Do we have a general sense of which direction the gnomes' screams came from? I would imagine Drael wants to get up and move towards where he thinks they are, but given the fog I don't want to make any assumptions about what he can do.

Drael groggily shakes his head, rising to his feet as he hears the moans and yelling coming from a few feet away.

With no time to put on his armor, he hefts his axe and moves quickly towards the noise, doing his best to peer through the dark and the fog to find the source of the gnomes' terror.

The map is view only, but Drael would like to stand up and then move three squares to the left while drawing his weapon. If possible, he would like to then move in front of the gnomes if he can tell which way they are facing (seems like diagonal up/left would make sense if he's looking at Min's face), but if he needs to stop in place to see the gnomes then feel free to just end his turn there.

Apologies. I didn't realise the map was on 'view only'. I think I've fixed it now to allow y'all to edit it. Drael can step in front of the gnomes.

Drael stands and staggers towards the sound of Rab-rab's screams. He comes quickly to a rubble-strewn edge that lines the plateau overlooking the mountain trail that they've been following. It is then that the bloodrager sees the dark torso floating in the mists, burning fires from malevolent eyes gazing at him.

Of note, the trail is ten feet down via a rough scrag-covered slope. Razif may act!

Razif, also still needing a bit to awaken, gets up, grabs his scimitar and follows the noise to the fight.
"Is everyone alright?!"

The ranger sees the nightmarish image of the floating dark torso as he careens through the fog to the gnomes' aid. Winds whip about as the flickering creature reaches out to rake at...

Random Roll: 1d3 ⇒ 1

...the bloodrager!

Melee Attack vs Drael Touch AC: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 163d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 4) = 9 HIT! 9 pts of cold dmg, Drael!

Icy claws slice into the suli as the creature's whispers float upon the wind.

Everyone but Layaali may act!

GM roll: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Min sings a series of long notes. As he chants, his body glows with a bright, brilliant light. Then he claps his hands together! The light from Min extinguishes and a bright ball of light surrounds! attack: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 0

AHHH IT DID NOT WORK IT'S INVINCEBLE!!!

WAKE UP EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!
attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
damage: 3d6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 2, 1) + 6 = 13

@GM: Min just cast burst of radiance and didn't need to roll an attack roll. It's actually a DC 15 Reflex save from the creature, and Min says he's aiming to not hit his friends if he can. Damage is:
5d4 ⇒ (2, 2, 2, 3, 2) = 11

@Min: Don't forget to mark off the spell slot you just used.