Nasira nods with understanding as Maelchar works his magic. "Brilliant. Well done, my friend."
As the mist disappears through some cracks in the wall that only a master at perception could trace Maelchar smiles. At a word and gesture the area is stone shaped to create a doorway revealing a 5ft wide hallway with the stone craved differently from that in which you are currently in.
A ten-foot-wide cage encloses an elevated lift at the top of this
high terrace. A line of chains and an array of pulleys allow the
cage to be lowered down into the room or moved across the
room to a set of double doors at the far side of the chamber.
The terrace and cage both overlook a large chamber with walls
that seem to glow red hot. Heat wavers in the air, and wisps
of vapor periodically waft up from the floor and walls, but the
temperature atop the terrace is rather cool. Below, in the center
of the room, squats a large forge made of black and red metal.
From your vantage point you can not see down on the floor of the room but the forge sits high enough you can see it easily.
Maelchar casts levitate on himself incase the mist changes elevation, and continues to follow.
Pakak eyes his own scale that would allow him similar lift in case it is needed.
Morgrym rolls his eyes as he slowly follows the big ball of gas, internally wishing it would hurry up. Sheesh. We're gonna be here all day at this rate.
The vampire continues to move forward across the chasm. As you press onward the heat becomes even more unbearable.
Every minute in here will cause nonlethal damage from the heat unless you are protecting yourself with endure elements.
Inching forward slightly you can here the sound of metal on metal and a strange sound coming form the bottom of the room. Clearly something or things are down there working near the forge.
As Morgrym moves into the room, it appears he has little concern about the heat. Either that or he just doesn't care. "I can tell ya it's gonna be hot in here, so, if any o' ya can't take the heat... well... you'll live," he says as a matter of fact. "What we need is a way across because that first step is a doozy."
Using his Inspired Spell ability, Maelchar casts Communal Air Walk and touches all, giving everyone the ability to walk on air for 110 mins/# in party, min 10 mins each... He'll grant any extra to himself, Gaereth and Morgrym before first...
After the spell, he tests it by stepping out, hoping there isn't an anti-magic field preventing the spell from working, (in which case he'd plunge to his death no doubt, lol. Then he crosses the divide if nothing prevents him, following the vampire mist.
"Milady Nasira, can you use INspired Spell to cast Communal Air Walk so we can all cross here?"
Maelchar casts air walk on himself using Inspired spell and uses it to pull those levitating and carry those who aren't that are within his carry capacity. OThers can use the cage if they want to brave it, (if it's only one or two, he'll just cast levitate on them and pull them across)... (no idea on the cage's speed and we have to move at least as fast as the vampire mist I think)
subdual heat damage to everyone
Moving into the room properly after casting some preparation spells you see that the floor of the room is 30ft below you. Moving about are 6 snakelike creatures with spears strapped to their backs. Each of them appears to be on fire. They look up at your approach and unsling their spears taking a defensive stance.
These creatures are salamanders and native to the realm of fire. Industrious and able to create works of art with metal they make perfect smiths. As they are CE they align themselves more with those that serve the Abyss and take pride in working for such masters as balors and fire themed demon lords.
Maelchar looks down at the creatures and points them out to the others... "They are salamanders... chaotic evil creatures from the plane of fire... they make excellent smiths and pride themselves on working for greater demons and demon lords, esp. those who are aligned with fire like them. I suggest we just move past them for now and follow the mist, and return to deal with them after... we don't want to lose our opportunity to dispatch the vampire."
The vampire in question lowers itself 10 feet as it looks like it is making its way to the floor of the chamber.
"Damn it's going down to their level... I don't suppose anyone has protection from fire before we go down there?"
So'rien levitates as well and allows himself to be pulled along. He is not as concerned about the salamanders as he has the ability to switch the elemental damage of his spells. Mr. Shin is in tattoo form at the moment on So'rien's chest.
Nasira will call out to the salamanders in Ignan.
"Talented smiths and artisans! We seek passage to pursue yon mist creature. What say you?"
One of the salamanders hisses up at you Nasira. Missst Creature no consssern of oursss. You speak missstresssessss name you free to crossss.
"If we speak their mistress' name, we can cross without fighting." She looks at the others, "Who do you suppose is their mistress?"
Morgrym thinks on it a moment. "Do any of you remember the name of the fake goddess demoness? I'm willin' ta bet it's her. Worth a shot." He shrugs. "If not, we're just gonna have ta kill 'em all and hope we can do it before we burn ta death," he says as a matter of fact, shrugging again.
Zeriax stands ready in spite of the searing heat - bow taut and wary of their interlopers - "It could very much be so, or some other fiery creature they hold as leader or queen?"
The knowledge planar would also reveal that Ymeri is the Queen of the Plane of Fire. That is another option.
There is another option. You recalled that there was a dark priestess upstairs who was going to try and destroy the entire city rather than let it fall into your hands. You caught a bit of her journal and plans.
"We need to risk an option" - Zeriax adds.
"We need to risk an option" - Zeriax adds.
"You're right. I say we go with the fake Iomedae. It's got ta be her... maybe," he says, shrugging.
The salamanders start to grumble as a few of them move over to a rack of javelins sitting there. 2 of them pick up ones that look mighty similar to the javelins of lightning that Zeriax has. You figure your time is up and an answer needs to be given immediately.
The forward salamander who has been speaking to you hisses at the names given. Foolsss, neither of thossse are our misstressss. Intruderssss!
Nasira
Maelchar
Pakak
Zeriax
Morgrym
Sir Garith
So'rien
salamander captain
salamanders
So'rien holds his action as the encounter turns sour, waiting for an opportune moment to strike.
Pakak curses as the vampire gains allies in his escape, "We have no time for you!" And attempts to blast as many of the Salamanders as he can using his dragon's breath spell, one of ice and cold!
Morgrym is mighty impressed with the cold outburst by his brethren. "Nice," he says, nodding. "My turn." Morgrym cracks his neck and jumps down, aiming for the head of the nearest salamander with his mighty hammer.
Pakak levitates down a bit in order to catch 2 of the salamanders in his blast.
Reflex dc 19 +9 each success but cold vulnerability still means each takes 24 damage
Morgrym meanwhile hurls himself off the ledge down at the closest salamander. His charging rush strikes the outsiders as foolish until Morgrym lands on his feet with his hammer swinging. Only the natural toughness of the salamander prevents Morgrym from delivering a powerful blow.
Maelchar creates a greatsword and casts lead blades on it, letting his levitation take him down toward the salamanders at a bit slower rate than Morgrym's vertical charge.