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While you are still settling, a sturdy gentleman enters the room with little fanfare.
Hamshanks ignored all pretense of pleasantries as he pounded into the meeting room in the Grand Lodge in Absalom. “Never time to do it right, is there? Gorum see us through this, then.” He grunted loudly and leveled his glare at the entire room. “Ever been to Qadira? Religion is almost a fad down there, with new cults springing up like weeds and getting crushed just as quickly. It has been that way for centuries.
“But some make a mark—on Qadira or in the Chronicles. Three centuries ago, the archdevil Moloch, preaching surrender to the desert heat, suddenly became the rage. Qadirans walked into the desert just to die just as if the heat was their paradise. The most devout sought out the hidden Citadel of Flame, where a fearsome bull-headed idol of Moloch judged them and sent the worthy to Malebolge, the sixth layer of Hell. No surprise that Sarenrae’s priests launched a mighty crusade to demolish the citadel. After two weeks, a great sandstorm swallowed the expedition—and, it seemed, the citadel and its idol. Nothing more was heard from either.
“Until ten days ago, that is. Sandstorms regularly scour the Qadiran highlands, and this time they emptied an entire valley of dunes. Poking out of that valley, visible only to those soaring above—such as a flying Pathfinder wizard—was the lofty spire of a fortress: the Citadel of Flame, presumably.
“Hopefully we are the first to learn about its reappearance and we need to act fast. The Decemvirate doesn’t expect any trouble, so they’re sending you. But I do expect trouble—who knows what’s infesting that citadel? Get in there fast and find that idol—it could be the key to the entire cult. It’s likely statue-sized, maybe as big as me, and should have a bull’s head on it. And for Gorum’s sake be careful.”
Hamshanks, waits impatiently for you to leave, but knows that agents always have questions.
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A solidly built half-orc woman stands still and stoic during Hamshanks' mission briefing. Her pale green skin is tattooed with strange sigils. She wears her long black hair tied back, has rather large teeth protruding from her mouth and a pair of large claws piercing her earlobes like earrings. She wears light clothing, no armour, and bears only a dagger and a sling for weapons.
As the briefing comes to an end she speaks for the first time, her teeth and her foreign accent make her a tad bit difficult to understand.
"Who is the Archdevil Moloch?" she asks seriously.
"Where is the Citadel of Flame?"
"How will we be travelling there?"
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Naseem looks about the room at the oddball assortment of adventurers gathered in the room. One appears to look like walking bullfrog, another seems human, but something is clearly almost animistic about her.
Not to mention the two more half orcs, one heavily armored, the other wearing some ragged robes. Aside from the venture captain, only one person in the room could pass for a common man.
When I was young, I was bullied for looking different. I can't imagine how those kids would've treated assortment of beings. Thank Gorum this mission doesn't require discretion, this crew would be drawing stares in nearly any civilized place on Golarian.
After pondering the makeup of the group and listening to the briefing, Naseem speaks up.
This place sounds miserably hot and unpleasant. I'm planning to buy some fire-ward gel, liquid Ice and a hot weather outfit. Anything else that you can suggest we do to prepare ourselves?
EDIT:
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Hamshanks responds reluctantly.
"Yes Archdevil, of the Malebolge and so-called 'God of Fires.' Had quite a following in Qadira, especially in Sedeq and Dimayen. This discovery is outside Sedaq in the southern portions of Qadira. The Society will be funding your travel to Segad, and you will need to travel from there a few days in to the desert."
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History of the Cult of Moloch
Three hundred years ago, during one of the fiercest heat waves ever recorded on the long rolls of the Padishah Emperor, the cult of Moloch, archdevil of Malebolge and so-called God of Fires, spread honeyed words through the many markets of Sedeq and Dimayen and the small towns in between.
The cult of Moloch argued that the heat itself was holy, a landmark guiding Qadira to paradise, but in truth they were encouraging their fellow Qadirans to risk the desert’s heat so that hundreds would die and the leaders of Moloch’s cult could claim to their god that they had made a great sacrif ice for him. Soon many Qadirans trekked alone into the
dunes, giving their lives to the inimitable desert, and young Qadiran lovers immolated themselves in the hopes of reuniting in the f iery paradise beyond. All of these events increased the Moloch cult’s power in the eyes of the archdevil of Malebolge.
This upstart cult and its devil god, seducing the faithful from the Dawnflower, infuriated Sarenrae’s dervishes. With much fanfare, they launched a crusade into the Meraz, seeking to destroy the Citadel of Flame and the cult within. Weeks later, the greatest sandstorm of the century scoured the desert, and the heat finally broke. Sarenrae’s expedition never returned and the cult of Moloch fell silent.
Legend also holds that the Citadel itself bound its pilgrims even more tightly through some ritual or ceremony.
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"At this point we are the only ones aware of this, so time is of the essence. You may want to be respectful of any Sarenrae remains you do find. We tend to stay on good terms with the Dervishes."
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Cork stands up when the VC finishes his announcement. "So we're headed to the desert huh?" He straightens his jacket and adjusts the belt holding his cutlass. "Being a sailor, well, ex-sailor, I'm more comfortable with water. But, you know? You have to do what they ask you to do." He tips an imaginary hat towards Hamshanks then looks to the rest of his group.
"So I guess we should stock our hold and get ready to go. By the way, when are we leaving? Oh. One more thing. Could I stop and get a couple magic items before we go?"
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Jinny wishes to purchase two vials of Liquid Ice for 80gp total, and call in a favor (2 Prestige Points) for a Wand of CLW.
Let's go! Adventure awaits!
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With your purchases made to board the ship to Qadira.
Now, after a swift voyage to Sedeq and a tiring trek through the endless Qadiran dunes, the sun beats down on a maze of red slickstone, with delicate arches and towering columns called hoodoos dotting the landscape. Somewhere within this expanse lies the Citadel of Flame and within, the idol of Moloch.
The path descends through a maze of cliffs, opening into a slot canyon of smooth red stone surrounded by towering hoodoos. At the far side, two hoodoos carved into enormous bull-headed men leer down on the canyon, while those nearby look like stylized flames. To either side, the canyon walls rise steeply in a series of rough ledges to the clifftops above. Brass doors on a massive wall of baked gray mud can be seen through an arch at the far side of the canyon.
The bull-headed statues leer down on the valley while the flame-carved hoodoos rise gracefully far above the canyon floor. The arch at the east end of the canyon has a multitude of faint runes carved on its front.
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Cork trudges along with the rest until they finally enter the canyon. He glances at the towering hoodoos and cliffs. "This is rather impressive," he says appreciatively. But at the same time he is wary of danger. He draws his cutlass. He also casts detect magic in the direction of the large brass doors.
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Moving into the box canyon, the following is determined:
There is definitely some type of fire elemental activity in the area
Several of these glyphs were carved recently
Desiccated corpses are also seen among the hoodoos. As well as erupting flames that take on lives of their own.
Two small fire elementals emerge from the hoodoos but you are ready as they approach.
Initiative
ROUND 1
The "green" elemental moves on up next to Naseem and attempts to slam him.
Although solidly hitting, Naseem avoids being set on fire by the creature.
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Quon's blade swings but the small elemental deftly dodges, however even with its high mobility, Kenza sticks her blade solidly enough and avoids catching on fire herself.
Cork's ray goes wide hitting one of the Hoodoo
The Crimson Fox deftly dodges around to get an opening, and while the elemental is reeling from Kenza's attack, is able to finish off the small fire elemental.
Beyond the arch, the red stone hoodoos open up to a massive citadel. The stronghold appears to have two parts: the nearest is a squat, square fortress covered in decaying plaster and topped by an enormous minaret from which a thin plume of smoke escapes. The plaster walls are richly decorated with intricate geometric carvings of dancing flames, and smaller minarets rise from the corners. At the east end of that building, the valley floor drops suddenly and a windowless second structure perches on a plateau beyond, rising gracefully from the void in a tangle of minarets and spires. Even though centuries of sand have scoured away most of the gold leaf that once decorated the structure, the sunlight reflecting off the deep red stone of the citadel makes the entire structure glow like a massive bonfire. A delicate, red, enclosed bridge links the first fortress with the second one beyond. A pair of massive brass doors covered in a flowing decorative script blocks access to the near fortress.
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"Now would be a good time to apply some magical armor" Quon says while he makes intricate movements with his wand, finally lightly touching himself with it on the left arm. An blue sheen moves from the touched spot to cover his entire body which shrinks in on itself until it is gone.
"What are those letters? Can anyone read them? Otherwise I have a scroll that will allow me to understand them."
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Naseem takes a step back and smiles as the team swarms and extinguishes the fire elemental.
I see Gorum has blessed me with a group that isn't afraid to get up close and fight! No lazy scholars or onlookers here! Naseem bellows.
He looks at Jinhong and Kenza in particular.
The fancy footwork, tricky nonsense and acrobatics isn't my style, but I cannot deny it's effectiveness. He says with a nod of respect.
As for you Kenza, I admire your eagerness, but battles must be fought with the head and heart. Punching fire is not an ideal battle plan. He says letting out a low chuckle as he says this.
We must search this area, there may be more fire elementals or other valuables in the area!
He moves up slowly, keeping an eye out for anything that piques his interest.
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Making you way though the archway, Naseem does notice that some of the mummified remains have salvageable items.
- four potions Spellcraft DC 16:oils of bless weapon
- four magic arrows Spellcraft DC 22:+1 holy arrows
At the doors, they seem steadfastly shut. It looks like they will require some effort to open. There is some strange script on the Door, matching the script on written on the bull-headed columns of the archway.
Korum is able to loosely parse that all the writing is in Ignan, and looks to be prayers or other types of idolizations of Moloch.
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Kenza nods at Jinhong, acknowledging her skill with a blade, before examining the space the fire elemental was defeated.
Kenza stands and surveys her surroundings, alert for more danger and enemies. She draws a potion from her belt pouch and drinks it.
Kenza wanders over to the wall that is carved and examines it, running her hands along its ancient carvings.
At Naseem's pronouncement, Kenza allows herself a bit of a smile. "It is my duty to protect such scholars and onlookers. I pray I will not be bored."
At Nazeem's further remark, her smile fades. "I have trained to ignore such pain, sir. But I accept your criticism with humbleness."
As she realizes the door will take strength to open, Kenza steps forward. "Shall we force them open?" she asks. "Of do our learned members desires to try wits first?"
Kenza is ready to try to push her way through the doors when given an order to do so. Until then she stands patient, but alert.
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"These look nice." Cork says as he picks up the potions and arrows. "These potions will bless our weapons and these are holy arrows. Who's our best archer here?" Cork holds the bundle of arrows out to whoever wants to take them.
Cork approaches the doors. "I'm all for forcing them open but maybe someone has a better way."
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Thanks for figuring out what these are Cornelius. I'm not much of an archer. But I will take an arrow anyway. I'll just ram it down a monsters throat! He says. I'm also keeping one of these oils for myself.
Naseem Passes out three oils of bless weapons to whoever accepts them.
As for the door, I'd also like to see if there's a quieter way in. He says. worst case, we can just muscle it open. He says, making a fist in emphasis.
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A quick survey of around the building show no other entrances. There should be some entrance from the bridge to the lower stronghold, but none easily seen from your vantage point.
Quon does not locate any traps and the doors just appear to be heavy, but not otherwise barred. Opening the brass doors without any adjustment would make some noise, most likely heard in the lower stronghold.
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We don't need any lubricant. Just elbow grease. We don't know what's on the other side of this door, so lets get ready before we get it open
Naseem takes a minute to apply his fire ward gel.
When he's finished, he moves to the door and begins straining against it.
Don't just stand and watch, help me push! He growls.