RD's Citadel of Flame (Inactive)

Game Master Rene Duquesnoy

See anything interesting up there?

The valley floor is stone, and the first level of walls are steep, but rough (DC 0 Climb). The ledges are covered in stone and rubble, and count as difficult terrain. I assume Zefeni passes this information to the back.

Hoodoos, can I make a Knowledge Religion Check? Good job on the Map, do you think you can make the door brighter and bolder, also could you describe what the black areas are and the Gray.

"I could climb up to the ledge and make my way along it. I'd have a great vantage point for shots and might see something differently from there. Thoughts?"

He cautiously draws an arrow from his quiver and readies his bow as if in anticipation of something.

Orryn studies the map closely.

Does this look like the correct place for the citadel as far as the map is concerned? Or does it appear to be inaccurate according to it?

unfortunately, the borders can't get bigger like in excel. i labeled the squares though. The black areas are the top of the cliff, where as the gray area is a ledge around. I got lazy, but the cliff is much wider than what is pictured, but doesn't impact the scenario. Octavius can use Knowledge Religion to inspect the hoodoos. However, you have to be much closer, like next to them to fully inspect stuff. @orryn, this is the correct place.

Orryn looks about and back at the map, confirming his thoughts.

This looks to be the citadel, friends. Hmm, not exactly what I expected, but that happens sometimes. He points toward brass doors. I would guess those lead inside.

Llathander contemplates for a second on the hoodoos
Knowledge Religion 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Opal follows the rest into the valley.

Knowledge Religion 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Octavius follows everyone into the vally

Dex climbs up onto the ledge on the right side and matches the party's pace as they move through the valley. Bow readied.

Climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

As you enter the canyon, it is quiet. A little too quiet. Dex is able to climb up the side to the ledges.

Two small fire elementals come out from behind 2 hoodoos (north & south) and fly towards the party!

Initiative order

Dex
Fire Elementals
Opal
Octavius
Zefendi
Orryn
Llathander

map

I have a +7 to my Initiative...so shouldn't I go before the fire elementals? also about the hoodoos?

Octavius notices the flaming things and searches his memory for anything about them

Knowledge (Planes) 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Swift action, writs sheath, wand of Magic missle and I ready an action, if they come to attack I will fire off the spell. Ill roll damage,

1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Fire elementals, can anyone speak Ignan? I don't know if they are going to attack us as a wand pops out from a device on his wrist and into his hand But be prepared and on guard As he points his wand at one of the elementals

(for some reason I had you as a +2 my bad)

Dex
Octavius
Fire Elementals
Opal
Zefendi
Orryn
Llathander

Octavius thinks upon fire elementals and doesn't recall much besides they look like floating fire.

Dex is in awe at the emergence of the fiery forms, out of instinct, if not desperation he initiates his attack, he moves along the ledge to F8 to get a clear shot of the elemental at H16 and fires his bow, though he's not sure how much effect it will have.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Dex looses an arrow that flies into the shoulder of FE1. It screams out in agony.

Is this a good thing for me to show? How much damage each baddy has taken.

FE1 - 3 hp damage
FE2 - full health

Dex
Octavius
Fire Elementals
Opal
Zefendi
Orryn
Llathander

I think that is a great idea

You saw that Octoman posted his action above, yes?

I think that is a great idea

Seconded.

You saw that Octoman posted his action above, yes?

He did -- it was a readied action, so it shouldn't go off unless/until the elementals attack. GM, you're up.

I didn't see the other stuff from Octavius. Was it always there and I was just blind?

FE1 - 6 damage
FE2 - no damage

Dex
Octavius
Fire Elementals
Opal
Zefendi
Orryn
Llathander

FE1 begins speaking in a language (Ignan) and flies towards Dex. Octavius blasts a charge from his wand towards FE1, which lands dead center on his body. However, this only makes him turn his head toward Octavius as he continues towards Dex. FE2 flies straight to Zefeni.

I didn't see Ignan on anyone's sheet. if you have it they say:

FE1 attempts to grab Dex with a slam attack
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 vs AC 16

FE2 attempts to grab Zefeni with a slam attack
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 vs AC 16

Dex feels the heat from FE1, but his trusty armor protects him. Zefeni stares FE2 down as FE2 reaches wildly toward him, coming up with nothing but air.

Opal steps foreword, bringing her sword to bear on FE2.
Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

On Llathander's turn he will move to flank the Fire Elemental grabbing Zefeni

Llathander moves with the swiftness of the breaking dawn and brings the symbol of his goddess down on the fire elemenatal, seeking to bring it to redemption.

Charging Flanking Power Scimitar Attack 1d20 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 2 + 2 = 12 1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 2 = 8

Opal's blade slices across the face of FE2

FE1 - 6 damage
FE2 - 6 damage

Dex
Octavius
Fire Elementals
Opal
Zefendi
Orryn
Llathander

Zefeni spins toward FE2 with his scimitar.

Scimitar attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Zefeni's blade goes into the side of FE2, and that swing would normally hurt more on a normal creature

Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

FE2 buckles over from the scimitar and dies, creating a small puff of smoke

FE1 - 6 damage
FE2 - 14 damage (dead)

Dex
Octavius
Fire Elementals
Opal
Zefendi
Orryn
Llathander

Llathander, do you want to change your action?

[ooc]change it to fe1, same action, if you need a re roll:[/
1d20 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 2 - 2 = 8
1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5

Orryn will charge the fire elemental on the back of his roc using the Ride-By Attack feat to strike the fire elemental.

Attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 (+1 BAB +1 STR modifier +2 charge)
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Orryn and Stellah will end up 30 feet beyond the elemental, and will attempt a 180 degree turn using 10 feet of Stellah's movement targeting a DC 20 Fly check: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

Orryn charges the roc, nailing it with the tip of his lance. Orryn flies past and is able to control the roc as he does a U turn.

FE1 - 9 damage
FE2 - 14 damage (dead)

Dex
Octavius
Fire Elementals
Opal
Zefendi
Orryn
Llathander

Llathander, you cannot charge up the wall to get to FE1. However, you can move to the wall and then do a climb check to get to the top. Please refer to the grid here and let me know where you want to move.

Orryn, your lance on a charge should deal 2d6+2. I'll shoot another magic missile @FE1

1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Octavius blasts another magic missle to FE1's face. The power of the magic missle destroys the fire elemental.

Post combat perception checks:
Orryn: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Llathander: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (20) + 0 = 20
Opal: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Zefendi: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Octavius: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Dex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Orryn, Llathander, Octavius, and Dex all notice a pair of mummified corpses. They dig around and find 4 oils of bless weapon & 4 +1 holy arrows, along with 153 GP (each). The large brass doors are to the east, and they are shut.

Everyone but Octo and I should take one of those oils. And the arrows go to Dex?

Orryn, your lance on a charge should deal 2d6+2.

It's held one-handed (since I'm mounted, so I can use a shield), meaning the STR modifier isn't doubled; but you're quite correct that the lance itself deals double damage when used from the back of a charging mount. No going back in time, though -- my bad, I forgot that.

Everyone but Octo and I should take one of those oils. And the arrows go to Dex?

Agree with this.

"I would be honored to accept these and to use them in service of the party, thank you."

Opal walks forward to try the door, gently.

Wait. Before we go in, we should have some sort of game plan. This place is not deserted and is an object of homage to an Arch-Devil. We have already encountered some of its wickedness with these fire elementals. He turns to Opal, Do you have a wand of healing? I have one and you can use it freely on the party. Octavius grabs a wand of white birch from his belt and offers it to Opal. Also, I have a sky blue potion on my belt, if you go down I will surly use it on you.

Opal takes the offered wand. Thank you Octavius, for your foresight. I will split charges between yours and mine, but also call upon Iomedae for assistance when needed.

I, too, have a wand of healing, within my enchanted pack here. Orryn points to his handy haversack as he speaks. The magic within it allows you to find exactly what you seek without having to search at length. I have been blessed with the good fortune of Chardira and can use it as well.

Orryn looks over the brass doors for a moment before continuing. I'm not great at planning unless it involves a cavalry assault, so I'm willing to listen to any suggestions people might have.

As far as a plan, were you looking for something more specific that storm the citadel and root out any evil we find there?

I think that is a valid approach, however I just wanted to be sure we had a plan concerning healing. It would be desaterous if the nessary steps weren't taken before hand on who was able and willing to heal.

Zaryn turns to Zefendi and Llathander Would you be willing to take up the front again friend and open the doors.

Llathander nods and moves to the front, opening the doors

I am a capable healer, and Orryn can back me up if need be. Let's open the doors, yes?

"Best I can do to assist as far as healing is concerned is to avoid being hit." he says as Dex makes his way down from the ledge to the group. "Ready when you are, I can man the second line or the rear, whichever is best. I'm not to concerned about shooting into melee ..." he pauses for a moment to proces what he said, " ... don't worry, its not cause I don't care, I just have a steady shot. Ready when you are." He draws an arrow from his quiver and casually makes ready for his next shot.

Shall we keep the same marching order? It's fine with me if it's fine with everyone else.

Orryn, Opal, and Dex notice some of the ancient glyphs are written in a different language, and have been partially rubbed out. Octavius examines them further, and they appear to be Kelish prayers for Sarenrae.

Time to kick in the door?

Unless someone needs these glyphs for something, let’s move on. Opal is not exactly the brute force type, so someone else should open the door.

After noticing the rubbed out glyphs Dex shrugs and says, "Maybe this was originally a shrine to Sarenrae that has now found some other purpose?"

Octavius takes a couple of steps back.

I believe that Llathander said he would open the door so kicking the door would happen, what do we see

Llathander opens the door and slightly past the door arch, you see the actual citadel.

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.

Llathander points out a script on the front door of the citadel. Octavius inspects the script cautiously

After a few moments, Octavius believes these scripts, written in Ignan, are prayers for Moloch's blessing.

Map updated here

Orryn steps forward to speak with Octavius. Kn: religion (untrained=max 10)

I am not familiar with these markings, nor the name you gave us -- Molok, was it? Does this name have anything to do with the flame wisps that greeted us outside?

After the wizard answers, Orryn will move toward the red bridge. He rides Stellah who is moving by talon currently.