Roran moves forward with an animalistic grin, then lunges and cuts into bugbear B!
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Roran quickly moves forward and swings his weapon at Bugbear B! The creature raises its morning star and parries the blow!
Group 5: The Human
The human laughs and swings his sword in a blinding speed at Trane, as flames crawl swiftly along its blade!
and
His first blow lands solidly inflicting 15 points of damage to the druid!
The human then points the blade at Roran and a blast of fire erupts and shoots outward enveloping Roran in a ball of flame and burning for 22 points of damage!
Come forward...come forward and receive the blessings of the Temple of Fire!
Group 1: Trane and Chaandra, Cananthir
Chaandra attacks the grappled bugbear, trying to finish it off.
After Chaandra attacks the grappled bugbear, Trane and his summoned lion shift five feet to the south.
The young lion attacks.
Trane then attacks the human with his claws and bite.
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Chaandra claws and bites at the Bugbear and manages to land a bite for 7 damage!
Trane and his summoned Lion shift south and attach the human! The lion tries to bite and grab the foe but misses. It does manage to land a claw, inflicting 7 damage! Trane attacks with a flurry of bites and claws, and lands them all, causing 40 points of damage!
Cananthir swiftly rushes forward and slams his weapon into the human for 16 more damage! He tries to bite the human but misses, as the human drops dead on the floor!
Group 2: The remaining Bugbear
The remaining bugbear, blood streaming down its armor from its many wounds, tries to get ungrappled: It struggles, but is too weak to succeed.
Group 3: Velcore, Kalizama, Uldar
"Pin him!" shouts Uldar as he aims the bugbear readying an action to attack him if he attempts to escape.
"Let him talk! You, explain us what are the plans of the Temple of Fire! You are defeated." commands Uldar to the bugbear.
Roran has no love for bugbears, but he was not one to execute the defenseless unless the situation called for it. He moves forward and shoves the bugbear down, trying to pin him for questioning as he winces from his burn.
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The bugbear collapses on the floor of the room, bleeding heavily, the pools of blood matching the color of the red cape it is wearing. Plans of the Temple? How should I know? I am a guard. I go where I am told to, and do what I am told to do. You do not wear Fire Temple colors, so you must be stopped. That's what I know...
"Good, then take us to whomever is the maximum authority of the Fire Temple and let us deal with him directly" orders Uldar to the bugbear "And let us use those Fire Temple tunics of your companions so we do not get bogged down as we reach him"
Roran gives a half-hearted grunt in response. "Aye, I've been there before. Gotta decide if the job's worth your life though. I've been there before too. You can guess the choice I made." He says with a grin.
I quietly approach the prone bugbear and cast a charm spell on him. DC14
Trane reverts back to human and smiles at the bugbear as his teeth return to normal with a crack of his jaw. "Just take us below. You can earn some extra coin too for your help, the lady has money. And you won't find what it is like to be hurt by lions."
Trane pats the lion that arrived and sends him on his way. He searches the fallen human, expecting the most treasure to be on him.
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Bugbear: Head of Fire Temple is Prefect Alrrem. You can't miss him, he wears a robe of deep crimson with a purple lining and gold trim; it has gold skulls on front, back, and sleeves.
Trane searches the dead bugbear and finds little worth saving except a pouch with 12 gold pieces in it.
He then searches the human, and finds the person has:
A robe of entanglement, which is coiled and kept at his belt.
A named sword that shimmers with the images of flames: Flametongue
Banded armor + 1
On his gold chain is an eight-pointed fire amulet with a large inset garnet (jewelry value 750 gp). He carries a purse containing 20 gp, and 6 pp. In the pockets of his dark red cloak are 8 banded agates, 5 tiger eyes, and 6 pieces of good turquoise (each gem worth 10 gp).
Trane points out the sword. "A truly amazing sword. Too bad none of use seem to like one-handed swords of this size much."
Trane follows the human's example, though, and wraps the rope of entanglement around him as a belt.
"This rope can be useful, and I am glad it wasn't used against us. The gems and valuables we can add to our treasure collected."
I say to the other members in our group,"We killed that human cleric, Prefect Alrrem, in the last battle before this one! Perhaps Roran will be able to use the Flametongue sword.'
To the bugbear I say,"We know you are not a bad person. Will you please show us what else is on this floor? And if you are familiar with the floors below this one, will you please show us the layout of those floors as well?"
Roran takes a few swings with the sword and gives a half-arsed grunt. "Don't care for it much, too light. Plus I'm not much for ranged attacks."
"If our warrior will not use the sword I can wield a longsword. The blade is a symbol of my God." Velcore says in a even tone.
Uldar nods supporting the idea. Then if the bugbear does not lead the group, the halfling examines the next door and opens it after making sure it is clear.
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Bugbear: What else on this floor? Let's see...there be Temple of Fire, and other bugbears like me serving Temple of Air and Temple of Water. Lots of mingling of different Temples on this level...makes for lot of friction! Every Temple wants to be the biggest, you know? So they always scheming against each other. I stays out of the other areas...wearing scarlet cloak of fire temple makes me a target for the other temples. I haven't been down below, so don't know what is down there. Immediately south of us, through those curtains, is the main Temple of Fire. Very impressive temple...
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There can be no doubt that this huge hall of red granite (Room 212), lit by scores of flambeaux and pervaded by the odor of heated metal and sulfur, is the Fire Temple. The great doors of beaten brass in the northern and western walls reflect the leaping flames.
Tapestries adorn the walls of the north (wider) section, depicting scenes of fire in evil form. Despite the many torches and flaming cressets, the air seems to carry motes of rust-colored luminescence, and the streaks of blue and mica flakes in the polished granite walls appear to leap and dance as if flames, caught within the rock.
A brass tube, 20' long and 2' in diameter, is suspended from the ceiling by chains of the same metal. Just to the north of it is a shallow fire pit; and to either side of the tube are low stands of brass, upon which are many small blocks of charcoal. To either hand, east and west beyond lines of pillars, are great copper cauldrons, flanking the main area of the Temple. Before each such vessel is an octagonal brass table; on each table are 16 bowls and a copper dipper.
A glance into the huge pots finds them filled with some sort of glowing amber liquid. At the south end of the Temple stands a translucent block of golden apatite, three feet wide and high and nine feet long. Skulls grin from its sides, their forms inlaid with hammered gold. Atop the altar is the eight-pointed fire symbol set in wrought gold. Before this altar is a fire pit of diamond shape. It appears to be several feet deep, and its bottom is covered with glowing hot coals. Tiny forms seem to cavort atop these coals — perhaps small denizens of the Elemental Plane of Fire.
"Weird place. Let's be careful" the halfling advances carefully to the northern tubes where he tries to hide from the small denizens.
From there he searches the tubes and attempts to observe where the creatures are like likely coming from.
"How do you think those creatures have arrived this plane Kalizama or Velcore?" asks the halfling to the experts.
"Pretty." Roran bemuses as he walks in. He nonchalantly twirls his falchion around as he strolls forward. He grimaces as he suddenly remembers his wounds. "Right. I could probably use some healing before we get into another scrap."
Velcore will move to Roran a begin to work on his wounds.
Roran gives a nod of thanks as his wounds magically seal. "Still ain't used to that. Thanks Velcore."
Bugbear at my side, I survey this immense room and study its unique items. I wonder what the glowing amber liquid is in the big copper cauldrons; I wonder why each has 16 bowls and a copper dipper around them on an octagonal brass table. And the tiny creatures cavorting on the hot coals in the diamond shaped fire pit before the alter are most intriguing. I attempt to search knowledge bases to find answers.
Knowledge Arcana:
Knowledge Planes:
Knowledge Religion:
Perception:
Spellcraft:
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Kalizama ponders the information she sees in the Temple of Fire, and she reaches the conclusion that the amber liquid in the great copper cauldrons is fine scented oil with continual light in each. Apparently approved supplicants are to fill a bowl to pour upon the altar. The fire in the fire pit is magical and of evil nature. The tiny images flitting about the flames of the pit have the appearance of salamanders.
I cast Detect Magic. Then I ask my bugbear if he knows how often these objects are used and by whom and how they are used.
Uldar remains hidden, but he readies an action against the Salamanders in order to attack at whatever one seems to discover anyone in the party.
"Shall we attack the salamanders or avoid this room?" he whispers while waiting for Kalizama as he knows the woman is probably gonna know how to better deal with the room.
Trane summons eagles to assist.
Velcore moves with the group to inspect the Temple of Fire. "I can feel the taint of evil in my bones.This place must be cleansed." Velcore draws his longsword and begins a chant.
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Kalizama slowly turns about in circles, casting Detect Magic about the temple. She detects that the fire in the fire pit is magical and of evil nature. A source of powerful magic is sensed beneath the glowing coals of the fire pit, a source that is NOT evil but instead is Lawful Good. The coals are too deep to see exactly what the source of such emanation could be.
Tiny images of salamanders continue to cavort among the flames of the fire pit. They appear almost translucent, as if they are illusionary in some manner.
Bugbear (to Kalizama): Oh, I have seen the ceremonies before. Let's see...you takes some of the oil from the copper bucket, puts it in one of the bowls, and then it is put onto the fire...I think that's how it works? And then, of course, you make your sacrifice - either putting a costly item into the flames, or putting a living creature in to be devoured by the flames. It works something like that. I be standing guard, so not paying close attention to the details...
"Well, does anyone of you know how to sterilize this place?" says Uldar "We can attempt to follow the ritual to try discover what is the source of that magic Kalizama points out"
He looks at the bugbear when saying so some idea crossing his head. He then negates and looks at his inventory instead looking for something able to resist fire "I am not well prepared against the flames though..."
Velcore shudders at the Bugbear's words. "We will have to come back to cleanse this unholy place for I am drained of power and must pray to my God to gain the knowledge of the proper ritual. Let us secure the area so that we may return and complete this task later."
Uldar nods "Do we have a source of water to put off the coals?"
He then takes the initiative as suggested by Velcore and shots an arrow to one salamander.
"Damn! What ill magic is that one?" burst the halfling "Let's get back on move, we can come back once we are rested and Velcore can sacralize this place" proposes Uldar.
If the rest of the party also wants to move on, the little halfling moves to the northern doors and opens them after checking for traps.
It seems the salamander creatures are just an illusion. Perhaps they are to distract us from figuring out how to get to the powerful source of the Lawful Good magic that I sense under the evil firepit.
I then follow Uldar through the northern doors.
Understanding the group wants to follow up, Uldar studies the new doors, and then opens them.
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Uldar opens the doors at the end of the hallway (209) and discovers the hall proceeds directly northward until it connects with the grand hallway (227). The walls of this 20' wide passage are painted with scenes of gross evil, death, and destruction. Some also depict parties of worshipers and their sacrificial captives; each is led by a robed cleric. The great doors along the southern part of each hall are polished brass, with many more vile scenes and runes. Huge rings hang from their centers, for opening and closing.
Close inspection of the walls reveals inset symbols of bronze adorning the pictures of the priests — a square on a figure wearing silvery gray robes, a circle on a green-robed cleric, and an eight-pointed device on the figure in red.
Immediately to the west of the newly opened doors is another set of bronze doors. Farther up the hallway on the eastern side is a passageway leading back to room 206; and another door appears, closed, prior to the end adjacent to the great hall (227).
The halfling makes a signal, and trying to move silently sets himself in front of the small eastern door inspecting and then open it.
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Uldar inspects the eastern door in the hallway, and finding no locks or traps he slowly opens it to reveal room 207
The floor here is of white marble, the walls and vaulted ceiling sheathed in pearly alabaster. There is a "right feel" to the place, as a place of safety in a storm of evil. The room is bare and clean. A sheet of cloudy crystal substance seems to be set into the northern portion of the east wall. As you look, it begins to brighten, its radiance actually lighting the room! Two manlike creatures with wings of snowy feathers and radiant faces, robed in purest white, appear amidst golden tinted, cloud-like billows. A pale blue sky can be seen behind them. They first peer out at you, and then one speaks in dulcet tones, "What are fair and just folk such as you doing in this foul place of pain and base wickedness?"
Velcore steps forward. "We are here to cleanse this place of evil to protect the surrounding areas from it's taint." He turns to show his birthmark, the Holy Symbol of Iomedea, on his right shoulder. "You seem as out of place as we do."
Trane is quite taken by the sight.
"Can evil wear such a pure guise?? I think not!!"
Trane and Chaandra approach the figures.
"We would like your blessing, servants of good. How did you come to be here? The line is what are two nice creatures like you doing in a place like this?"
Roran makes a double take. "Aye, to cleanse the place. What are two holy figures like you doing here?" He asks, suspicious of trickery.