GM Foxy's 2nd Legacy of Fire

Game Master Foxy Quickpaw

"He has Janni as I do but I don't know what personell Jhavhul left with him." Nefeshti replies. "We could stage a fake attack on Kelmarane to lure them out of their holes and then retreat as soon as a real fight starts. But we'd need a plan B if they decide to hunt us down. Something spectacular within Kelmarane that would force them to turn around. Or an ambush where you wait for them and we could sandwich them."

"If we sneak into Kelmarene invisibly or by teleportation, we can strike hard and liberate some of the buildings. That will sure raise the alarm and force them to come back to the city. Before they have the chance, we can escape again invisibly or teleporting" Ohrmizd tries to follow up on the plan exposed by the djann leader "Is there any particular target you do think it might make more sense for us to attack first?"

"Finally you have to take the brass tower, as that is where Davashuum resides. With the other buildings I don't know."

@Foxy, what do we (the party and Nefeshti) know about Jann as a race (ie spell like abilities, resistances and so forth)...

They are only CR4, without any classes, or extras, so yes, Ohrmizd knows that they are resistant to fire and can turn invisible and ethereal.

"The Brass Tower? Is that where the slave market and the combat arena was emplaced before?" Ohrmizd asks a bit confused "We could start liberating the Temple of Sarenrae. If the priests are still alive, they can be of great help on fighting back the janni"

"We must be careful here Ohrmizd," Hazreem adds, "We know little of what the situation is in Kelmarane so we have to keep our options open. Scouting around the area should prove helpful. I can talk with the fauna that still lurks around and glean more information."

"I would love to take down that janni... but I suppose finding intel on what is going on is a good idea too."

"I do agree, but Nefeshti was suggesting otherwise, to attack immediately, and she has been more time in here, so she must have good reasons to suggest this." Ohrmizd raises an eyebrow looking back at the jann leader for clarification.

Ok, I see 2 options here. 1) We work out something between me, Heshan, and Hazreem to smack around an army of Janni, or 2) we sneak into Kelmarane and try to take out Davashuum in a commando raid. I think Foxy is hinting at option 2), what with Nefeshti proposing "We could stage a fake attack on Kelmarane to lure them out of their holes and then retreat as soon as a real fight starts." I figure that the commando raid is probably the appropriate option. What does everyone else think?

"That's how we've always done it." Nefeshti replies with a shrug.

Sounds a lot like Andrathi was the only one doing proper plans.

Hazreem would go with option 2) here, throwing in a healthy dose of scouting/recon beforehand. Maybe we can find some allies/prisoners to free to help strengthen our band.

"Ok, let's do it that way then. Nefeshti stages a fake attack, and when the djanni come over them, we strike somewhere else." Ohrmizd points towards the town "The thing is where we scout bar attack, we can do over the plaza, the bridge, the temple, or the southern reaches. I am hopeful some allies remain in the temple, and thus, I was suggesting there, but I am fine with wherever else you all might think is better"

"We could inform allies to be ready if we can get in there, or start from there any take on Kelmarane in his hope," Heshan added.

"So Omari, Hazreem, what do you think? Shall we go see with our own eyes the town while Nefeshti prepares her fake attack?" Ohrmizd inquiries, trying to find a decision among the party.

"Yes I agree Ohrmzid," Hazreem nods, "We need to see what is happening with our own eyes."

"Scout, yes, good idea. But who's doing the job? Neither myself nor Khedron qualify as stealthy. From what Hazreem has said about using his elemental forms and talking to local animals, I am under the impression he was proposing going alone."

What is the plan you are proposing Ohrmizd, Hazreem? Stealth? Disguises?

"I can travel alone as I can transform into a pile of sand which will not draw attention. As for where to go let me see if any of the wildlife can answer that for us."

Hazreem will scout about the outside walls of Kelmarane and see if any wildlife is around to talk to.

"I can go invisible, but only for some minutes," Heshan added. "If Hazreem is going alone, we should at least make sure to keep communication open between us."

A quick evaluation of Kelmarane by flying around invisible reveals the following:
- Main entrance and exit from the town is at the river with the bridge. This is guarded from the watchtower that stands next to it (green circle).
- Behind is the lower part of town. There are still people living, but they are scared and hide most of the time in their houses. Several patrols consisting of a janni captain and six janni patrol the area.
- The entrance to the upper part of town is restricted by a tower gate (blue circle). There are two large spiderlike constructs guarding the gate.
- To the north is another tower gate (pink rectangle)
- The Temple of Sarenrae almost looks worse than when it was in ruins. Windows are broken, doors have been bashed open and hang loosely from hinges, and blasphemous graffiti is scrawled upon the walls in blood and excrement. Gaping holes mar the twin domes above the transepts, and oily black smoke issues from the cracks. The southeastern annex has been completely gutted by fire, its walls blackened, its dome collapsed.
- From what can be seen in the open, there are at least 50 Jann in the streets.
- Mostly in and around the temple of Sarenrae there is also a large number of gnolls.

The map setting makes only sense if you can't simply walk through the empty spaces between buildings where the blue line is, so assume there is either a steep cliff or a city wall, that prevents passage.

"Damned janni. How do they dare to cause such a disgrace on the temple of the Dawnflower?" Ohrmizd has strong feelings after hearing at the report from the scouting "The last time it was a series of tough fights to assault the town. But now we have learnt a lot and are way more powerful. We can simply strike from the sky while they are entertained by Nefeshti's army attack."

"Once we see they are on the move, responding to the attack, we strike their towers, like we did the first time, but this one from the air." the Kheleshite proposes, remembering what worked the first time "We can even add invisibility to the mix and they will not know from where the strikes are coming."

"That, and I want to go check the temple as soon as possible, but I understand other military targets and saving the people come first"

@Foxy, IIRC, the orange circle is the temple of Sarenrae, correct?

"Gnolls. The damned gnolls again..." Omari spits on the ground and continues "Can we kill them all this time?", the iron of his voice betraying his hatred...

He shakes his head and refocuses on the problems at hand. "Some considerations. First, that is a lot of enemy troops. If Nefeshti's diversionary attacks pulls a bunch of them after her, she and her troops will need help to survive. Second, did anyone get a good look at the constructs guarding the tower gate? (K Arcana check anybody...) We can bypass the ones at the tower gates with flying magic, but there might be more inside, where we will have to fight them... Third, there still clearly some people in the lower town. If we could sneak in, they might be able to tell us a good deal of what is going on inside the town."

Once he saw the desecration of the Sarenrae temple, he merely shook his head and gave Ohrmizd's shoulder a rub. "We will make sure the shoulders pay for this," he reassured the inquisitor.

He would do as Omari asked and see if he could identify the constructs.

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29

"That is true. Pulling the other janni away would also mean less people capable of flying."

"I think capturing one of those gnolls prisoners and interrogating it may prove wise. They would prove more tractable than any of the janni we encounter." Hazreem adds.

Ohrmizd smiles feeling Heshan's support, he taps his hand back before enduring his gaze "Ok, following on all these points and more clearly thinking on the layout, there is a clear barrier that surrounds the inner town, and there is a choke point that controls the access to inner Kalmerane, the northern look out tower Blue circle"

Pointing in that direction, he marks it as a possible first target "As Omari points out, there might be more guards there in the lower part, but I think if we strike from the sky on there, and descend down, we can seize control of the town's access, and open a path for Nefeshti's troops to go in. It is also a good choke point to defend our position."

"What do you think?"

"Of course, taking one or two gnolls for information, might proof of interest too"

Let's focus on agreeing initial target before discussing how we do it, or the amount of possibilities will lose us.

"Ok, I think even if we act to open a path, Nefeshti's troops cannot defeat the full mass of the army in Kelmarane. Thus, our objective here is the decapitation of the enemy forces by eliminating Davashuum. As I can jump us all out of trouble at the end of our attack (Word of Recall), that can be our primary escape plan after the raid. Tactically, decapitation suggests that we should bypass as many of the troops as possible. If we assume flying and some sort of invisibility, Nefeshti could launch her attack on the lower town, draw attention and pursuit to herself, while we use the diversion to sneak in over the wall..."

Word of Recall allows me to carry myself and up to 4 others at my CL. Khedron would count for 2, but I can make him the "caster" using share spells "may cast a spell with a target of “You” on her animal companion (as a spell with a range of touch) instead of on herself.", and then the 4 extras can be Omari, Ohrmizd, Heshan and Hazreem.

"But we also have to make sure they cannot just leave the place to join Javhul's army. Because if Davashuum falls, that is where they are going next, and we need to be prepared to cut that movement. Nor we want reprisal against the few people that we have seen still living in here." Ohrmizd adds to the discussion.

"While I agree with you here Ohrmzid I also know these plans never survive contact with the enemy." Hazreem nods in agreement here. "I don't feel comfortable striking immediately at Davashuum until we confirm he is actually at the Tower. If we could make one of the janni talk..."

"Hmm..." Heshan pondered. "I do not know if there is a way to defeat all the janni at once. Intimidating them into surrendering would be our best best and defeating their ruler would be the most likely way to do that. Plus it would be much easier that way."

If we really want to smash up the enemy army, we probably could. Attack with Nefeshti's bunch, make a parthian retreat to a small hilltop somewhere to make a stand. Then when they surround it, Hazreem can use control winds to make a giant tornado... Not sure that will get Davashuum though; Nefeshti makes it sound like he'd still be sitting in Kelmarane...

"While I agree with you here Ohrmzid I also know these plans never survive contact with the enemy." Hazreem nods in agreement here. "I don't feel comfortable striking immediately at Davashuum until we confirm he is actually at the Tower. If we could make one of the janni talk..."

"If we could interrogate a captive quickly, perhaps we could sneak into the lower city and grab one of the patrols there, without alerting the others? We would have to use the information quickly, before the patrol was to report back in though."

"Ok, so we strike at the lower city, grab a janni, interrogate the genie, then next we strike at wherever the janni tell us Davashuum is sitting. It sounds like we have decided for our targets." Ohrmizd summarizes where the group seems going "Now we need to plan out how we do proceed. I assume to attack in the lower city, we will go invisible. Do we ask Nefeshti to do her fake attack, or wait for our move on Davashuum for that?"

"I would hold the fake attack in reserve for our move on Davashuum. I think I can get us into the lower city without a bunch of invisibility spells, using Animal Shapes. If we go in at night, I can to turn us into bats. We can search the lower city with none the wiser and pick which patrol we jump. Once we have interrogated the Janni captain about where to find Davashuum (and possibly about the defences of the upper city), we signal Nefeshti to put in her fake attack and then try to infiltrate in the confusion..."

"I like the sound of that," Hesham nodded his head with enthusiasm.

"Ok, let's do that" Ohrmizd also agrees.

Leading the wait for the night to fall and Omari doing his magic, Ohrmizd passes the time preparing his items and making sure everything is ready.

The Kheleshite also passes some time inquiring Nefeshti "So, where have you been all this time since Jhavhul was closed in Kakishon?"

Ok, that will be tomorrow night. Our last rest was in Javhul's palace, and animal shapes is a domain spell (ie. only get 1 a day), and we used it to fly to the city of Brass, as teleport wouldn't haul us all around... Not to mention both Heshan and I have used a significant amount of spell slots.

Ohrmizd sensitive gaze takes the grasp of what Omari is thinking by just looking at him "It is fine with me if we have to wait for tomorrow."

--- The next day ---

The Kheleshite stands up stretching after a good night of rest "Ok Nefeshti, if they got the goats, what do you have around for breakfast? Do you have a cook in your army? Garavel had a very good one while we worked for him. I wonder if we still are working for him..."

Before leaving the monastery Ohrmizd will cast greater magic weapon in Zenzirad and magic vestment on his reliquary shield. And once the group is close enough to Kalmerane, he adds keen edge, bloodhound, clay skin, heroism and heightened awareness.

greater magic weapon (+3) 13 h
magic vestment (+3) 13 h
keen edge 130 min
bloodhound 130 min
clay skin 130 min
heroism 130 min
heightened awareness 130 min

"Just around the area, but there wasn't much happening and no reason for me to show." Nefeshti replies.

As for the breakfast buffet, you are reminded of the saying, that the better the army the worse the food. If that is true, there is at least hope for the battle.

Ohrmizd looks at the ranch breakfast, then to Omari "Maybe I should have not complained as much about the magical food." the Kheleshite let's a spoon of porridge slip out back into the dish.

Once the group is polymorphed into small flying animals, he flies with the group to the lower city of Kalmerane, trying to see what is the situation, while resting on a roof without being seen.
Perception+HR+HA: 1d20 + 20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 20 + 2 + 2 = 40
Stealth+HR+tiny size?: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 2 + 8 = 36

Token set around the area I think we are visiting.

The lower town looks much as when you left it. The buildings are intact. But there is a distinct lack of the life it had back then. Some of the buildings seem completely empty. In others you can catch a glimpse of someone through gasp in closed shutters. But none of the busy life it had back then. And there is garbage lying in the streets everywhere.

And of course you see a patrol walking through those streets. They look much like the ones Nefeshti has with her. But less friendly and that malicious look on their face.

Hazreem chirps in the common tongue here, thanks to his druidic nature, shrugging his wings here. "We can check out the Temple of Saranae and see if there is any useful information to be found there."

Before the party sleeps, Omari takes the time to take Nefeshti aside and tells her what the party found out about the fate that befell Andrathi in Kakishon.

Ok, it sounds like we are using animal shapes to go in. As I suggested, I think we should go in at night as bats or owls. We want to grab a patrol and disappear them, without their disappearance being noted...

In the morning, he prays to Erastil and prepares spells.

He spends the day crafting a scroll (Blessings of Fervor, 700 gp base price) as we wait for night to fall... In the evening before we go, he casts Heroes feast and Hunter's Blessing (Terrain: Urban, FE: Outsider (Native).

Bonus Temp HP: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

He also casts Magic Weapon (Greater) on his bow.

He suggests "Once we are in Kelmarane, let us spend some time observing the pattern of the patrols so we can pick one that is some time from meeting up with another, and then find a good spot to ambush them - one that's far away from the other patrols and has enough cover that we can hit them by surprise... Once we have picked a spot, Ohrmizd can cast Silence on one of my arrows, and when we spring the ambush, I will put it into the middle of one of them, so they cannot call for help"

"Understood," Heshan nodded... only to raise his hand once more. "Should there be anyone in particular we should be keeping alive?"

"If we can capture the patrol leader, then yeah...other than him, I say the others are...expendable." Hazreem chimes in.

Ohrmizd awaits patiently until the chosen patrol appears, then drops the animal shape touching one of the arrows offered "Your turn, Omari" and casts silence on it.

Unwrapping the carpet of flying under his feet, he readies himself for the attack while trying to keep hidden on the roof.
Stealth+HR+HB: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 2 + 2 = 24

HP 133+11/133
hero's feast 12 h
hunter's blessing (+2 sacred, urban, outsider native) 13 h
greater magic weapon (+3) 13 h
magic vestment (+3) 13 h
keen edge 130 min
bloodhound 130 min
clay skin 130 min
heroism 130 min
heightened awareness 130 min

The patrol consists of seven jann, one of them the commander. The jann are very perceptive and notice the ambush just before the arrow reaches its target. The commander disappears from sight immediately, the one next to him readies his scimitar.

Omari(one shot) <--
Ohrmizd, Heshan <--

Omari's arrow streaks at the patrol leader (chosen as target because Omari hopes to both keep anyone from shouting an alarm and to disrupt the commander's ability to give orders...)

To hit: 1d20 + 9 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 9 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 39 (and possibly a further +1 if he's within 30')
+9 bab +4 dex +3 enhancement (GMW) +2 HB+1 Heroes Feast +2 GBoA, I can also ignore up to 1 person worth of soft cover (eg a Janni standing between him and I).

Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 8 (magic (bow), cold iron (arrow) (and possibly a further +1 if he's within 30')
+3 enhancement +2 str +1 BoA, Greater

@Heshan - if you can figure out where the commander is, I would suggest glitterdust... (Do you have see invisble up from the rod?)

Before abandoning the roof, Ohrmizd gives advice to his companions "I leave the janni troops to you. But remember they are used to live in the desert and fire does not mean much to them."

Then, commands the flying carpet to descend him to where the commander was last seen, calling for the protection of the goddess before he comes too close to the area of silence.

HP 133+11/133 AC 36 TAC 20
judgement 4/5 (swift)
- protection (+3 AC)
- resiliency (DR 3/evil)
shield of faith 13 min (standard)
hero's feast 12 h
hunter's blessing (+2 sacred, urban, outsider native) 13 h
greater magic weapon (+3) 13 h
magic vestment (+3) 13 h
keen edge 130 min
bloodhound 130 min
clay skin 130 min
heroism 130 min
heightened awareness 130 min

Heshan would cast Overland Flight and Mage Armor before the start of the round

Well... that did not go as planned. The good news is that they at least had some defenses against it. Heshan brings out his rod and uses it to cast See Invisibility on himself so he could spot where the commander went.

Two of the Janni come at Ohrmizd with their blades.

@Ohrmizd
Scimitar: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 2 = 131d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Scimitar: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 2 = 141d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Commander(8)
Ohrmizd, Heshan
Jann, Jann
Omari, Hazreem <--

Hazreem shifts his form to a towering mass of air here (Wild Shape to Huge Air Elemental) before he flies down to cut off the janni's escape! Move to a place to cut off their retreat. Should one of them get too close [15' raech] then they take an AoO: Slam: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31; damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 2) + 6 = 11