Valeros heads to the double doors to the east and listens at the door.
Valeros shrugs, pointing at his right ear and shaking his head left to right repeatedly to indicate "no". He slowly slings his bow back on his shoulders and quietly draws his two swords.
Nice and painless... Merisiel says before she heads into the room to see what she can snoop out
These doors are locked. Valeros hears nothing.
Merisiel can try to open them. It might be fairly quick, or it might take a while.
Do you wish to spend the time?
One moment...I'll try to jimmy this lock...watch my back... the rogue says as she whips out her picks and sets about trying to open the door.
Merisiel opens the way to a short vestibule, and then a second set of double doors.
Meri curses in elven as she gets out her equipment again.
But Deluge's bolstering cantrip doesn't help the rogue open the lock
@Merisiel, you can keep on trying. Just a question of how many rounds it takes.
Sone if a motherless goat....stupid locks... she mutters as she tries the lock again.
With the benefit of Morka's Heroism spell, Merisiel is able to open the second lock on her second try.
This room is clearly a prison. Several cells line the wall. They are empty, but a quick look around shows signs of recent occupation. A few hairs or threads on the floor, recent flaking on the cell door hinges, and footprints on the ground.
There had been prisoners here, but they were moved.
Where to now?
I am not sure what you mean.
Map.Double doors, 5' space, then another set of double doors behind it opening into the prison (room E6).
Unless you meant the double doors heading east. That's off the map and beyond the scope of the scenario. Nothing of interest.
Speaking of spells running out, I see the Enlarge Person was from a wand, so has a duration of 1 minute. It has expired.
Does Fethril wish to use the wand again before going through the central doors? Or make any other preparations?
Any sort of negotiations would take at least 1 minute.
You open the doors.
Bronze walls sweep to the east and west, framing a magnificent throne room decorated with metallic mosaics that seem to shimmer and glow with their own incandescence. The throne itself is a large chiseled mass of obsidian, and it rests upon a solid brass dais shaped like a fiery sun.
The ceilings soar thirty feet above.
And standing in front of the throne is a towering Efreeti woman, standing twelve feet tall. A massive falchion is at her side.
Hovering next to her is a small fiery winged creature.
Arranged around the throne are four bound and gagged prisoners; three humans (the Pathfinders you have been sent to rescue) and one Oread (the missing Councilor, most likely). All of them look beaten, wounded, and burned.
As you approach, Tygora Cinderfury holds up a hand. "Halt or your friends die."
Valeros stops as the twelve foot tall woman with twelve foot tall sword calls for a halt.
"Alright, Tygora. You got our attention now. Since you've got innocents at your mercy, perhaps we can de-escalate this and talk? Your life against theirs perhaps? We do not have anything against you personally, so if you let them all go, you have my word that you'll be able to go anywhere unmolested. Do you agree to parley?"
The Fire Mephit resists non-magical weapons and is immune to fire. It is vulnerable to cold. It has a breath weapon of a cone of fire, and has some spell-like abilities (I normally consider the specific SLAs another "fact", but in this case you beat the DC by enough to know that they are Heat Metal and Scorching Ray).
The Efreeti is immune to fire and is vulnerable to cold. It has an aura of fire around it and can change its size. It has a vast array of spell-like abilities, including most notably the ability to grant Wishes to non-genies.
Tygora Cinderfury gives Deluge a withering glare, then responds to Valeros. "We are on a first-name basis, little ape? No 'Highness' or 'Majesty'? Well, I do respect your nerve.
We can parley," says the Efreeti, "But on my terms. My 'guests' will stay where there are until we reach an accord.
You have done well for mere mortals. I honor your valor... and recognize that my troops need more training. And better gear," she adds bitterly.
"You must have been the ones to turn Valsog against me. I understand he may have some legitimate grievances. I did bring him here against his will. But so sensitive, isn't he? To still bear a grudge after all this time."
"While I could snuff out your lives with but a thought, you have proven yourselves worthy adversaries. I propose an agreement similar to what you propose. I give you your friends here -" she gestures to the captive Pathfinders - "and you leave in peace."
Meanwhile...
One of the captive Pathfinders is trying to make some sort of furtive signal with his hands.
Fethril...what is he trying to signal? the rogue whispers
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Deluge is relieved that they might be able to get out of this without a fight, but then that kill-joy of a pathfinder starts wagging his hands all over the place pointing and making big eyes and waving no with his other hand. Obviously trying to say something. But unless...
"You must think our brains are water-logged. I'm betting you want us to step into that summoning circle or whatever it is no the floor. Let me guess. A fire trap, right? Oh no! Not me!"
Tygora Cinderfury snaps at Deluge. "I have not asked you to step anywhere. I told you to stay where you were. I should incinerate you for the benefit of your feeble race, that you might not sire any idiot children."
She talks past Deluge to the others. "I could kill this fool as a favor to you, included in our arrangement as a sign of my great and magnanimous nature. Or perhaps you will bring him home for your amusement at his stupidity. As you choose."
"Deluge, tell her we have a deal. Then let's bring the captives to safety. After that, we'll see..." whispers Valeros.
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In response to Merisiel's question, Fetheril nods toward Deluge as if that was the message.
"I agree the humans can be tiresome, but that does not warrant their immediate death. Indeed, their time is so fleeting as it is." He continues, "Majesty, we try to stay out of local issues. Perhaps there is some resolution where all parties are satisfied."
Tygora Cinderfury calms down a bit at Fethril's use of a respectful title for her.
"Well. Staying out of my issues would be ideal.
You take your 'Pathfinders' and leave Crystalcrag. I do not incinerate you and them, and I do not send more of my kin to turn your 'Absalom' into a smoldering wasteland.
Everybody wins!
We all can live in peace.
That seems satisfactory. What say you?"
Tygora Cinderfury is being quite genuine in her offer. Though leaving her in power would result in serious consequences for the Oreads who rose up against her.
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Fethril bows in acknowledgment of the offer. "Much of what your eminence proposes is generous and magnanimous." He pauses a moment before continuing. "As I said, we don't like to meddle. However, we do have another long standing tradition. We support those who support us. We would want some guarantee there will be no action, penalty or consequence to those who supported us during our brief time here, or their families, friends and loved ones."
Tygora Cinderfury thinks a minute.
"Very well. I shall need my people to repair the damage inflicted, but I shall not impose any punishments specifically on those who helped you.
Rather, all of my subjects together will contribute the necessary labor for the repairs.
And you can tell them on your way out that their councilor Glaheri will remain my guest as an assurance of their good behavior."
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Fethril clears his throat as he holds up a finger. "To clarify, that sounds as if you are punishing everyone for the actions of a few. For this matter to resolve quickly, everyone should receive amnesty, including Glaheri." He then chuckles, "Surely your leadership is so skillful you do not need to rely on such tactics to ensure the safety and security of your land. I have no doubt you are better than some mere tyrant. Indeed, reliance on strongarm policies are what laughable human rely on, and rarely last for long."
"Fine."
She waves lazily at the captives.
"Take them all with you."
One of the captive Pathfinders makes the same sign as before, with greater urgency, and shakes his head.
FYI, I already made the relevant Sense Motive checks.
None of you sense any deception here.
Seeing all the prisoners are bound and gagged, Valeros says, "Ok Tygora, we have come to an agreement. Please remove the restraints on these four prisoners and release them to our care. Thank you. Fethril, when they are in our custody, can you see to their wounds? they appear burned and beaten..."
The prisoners remain bound and gagged around the throne.
Does Valeros go up to get them?
Bound and gagged? see Retconned post.
"I'm sure you can handle it."
"Very well. With your permission then, I would like to approach and release the prisoners."
"You may approach."
They are not tied to the floor or throne or anything. Their hands are tied, their feet are loosely tied (they can hobble), and they are gagged.
Valeros sheathes his two swords and approaches the nearest prisoner to untie his ropes. "Thank you Tygora. You are a wise leader. This will show your people that you care about them."
As Valeros steps forward to untie a prisoner, he hears a click a fraction of a second before he is engulfed in flames.
Tygora Cinderfury cackles and prepares for combat.
The Pathfinder captive takes the full brunt of the flames, which continue to burn.
Those are some fortunate initiative rolls for you guys.
Round 1
Fethril
James
Valeros -4 (Takes 3d6 fire damage at start of round, Ref DC 16 for half)
Merisiel
Morka
Mephit
Tygora
Deluge
Pathfinders (1 at -9)