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Michael, August has been/is terrible, and September is not looking better for me. I may have to quit the Coast Guard Auxiliary because of this job's eating into my free time and personal time. I couldn't even look into a fanfic story, as you described, until late September 2022, at least.
Well, folks, I'm going to call this game. I do agree with Yazi. I would continue on, but Hajar has not been on in months, we're all down to once-a-week (if then) posting, and we still have an entire book to go. It's been fun. I got lots of experience. I will check to see if anyone responds to this post, but I recently lost my mother, lost my neighbor across the street that I cared about, and started a new job that is practically 12-hour shifts. Something's got to give. You guys and gals have been the best. Thank you all for being here for each other, for me, and for former players. Real life does interfere quite a bit, I'm sad to say. I wish you all the best for 2022, and beyond. GM Pace
GM rolls:
The others look unconvinced at Khayal's explanation, hesitating as they see the fighter's ring, but their eyes light up when the dancer talks. Gilbans sits back on his heels in the chamber, and the other azer nod approvingly. "Well, I know you Primers have had a long day." the fire giant rumbled. "We could rest here, away from prying eyes and blades being used against us, for a time." ---------------------LEVEL 13 ACHIEVED!-------------------------
Wow, what's worse, psychological stress, or a hospital visit? Just had a week of job hunting, now that I'm no longer taking care of the parents. I don't want to take the Covid jab in any form, but that means I may not be able to have employment within 2 miles of my house. Sigh. Back to the daily 1-hour commute... Will post more adventure today!
Hello, everyone! Everybody okay? Haven't heard from the players in a while. I'm currently having to undergo probate with my deceased mother's estate, including visiting a lawyer today. So major stress on me right now. But I'm waiting on you guys & gals!
As you climb back up to the inner chamber, the Fire Giant and Azer are waiting as expected. Gilbans was the first to ask "You all don't look any different. Did you find what was down there?" The smaller fire-dwarves also looked on with anticipation.
Yes, happy 4th of July, in the USA and elsewhere. There appeared to be an excess of available fireworks in my area two nights ago...lots of explosions after local 9pm.
Storing the flame-in-glass, the party turned around and headed back up the staircase. "What do we tell the others upstairs?" Rayhan asked from the rear of the party.
"We have extradimensional storage. I presume the flame will be unharmed?" Hajar asked, looking at Rayhan. The extraplanar expert nodded in response.
"Its' value alone in research makes this adventure a little less problematic." Rayhan agreed. "Perhaps we should not openly carry the flame, to avoid other natives', ah, reactions?" the older man cautioned.
"Uh, delicious?" Broadbeard replied. "It is fire. Even if it didn't burn you, it's meant for Plane of Fire natives. Without direct deity intervention, ahem, the flame would consume you. I think." Rayhan said, a little hesitantly. "I believe someone said we needed this?" Hajar questioned.
for Nasir:
Arcana: this is elemental fire of a nature you have never seen before. Almost...organic, not just flame. History: blank The Planes: the fire looks like something plucked off of a living Elemental Plane of Fire creature, not an ordinary flame Rayhan started stroking his beard in concentration, even as Hajar frowned upon seeing the flame in glass. "That looks like an Elemental Plane of Fire denizen flame, but the quality is divine!" the oldest man present exclaimed. "It registers as Evil." Hajar muttered. "Ymeri's Breath!" Broadbeard cursed, almost relevantly. Heads in the room turned back to him. The fire-dwarf said again, "No. Really. Ymeri's Breath. She breathed into that glass. The thing dreams are made of, to us. If one of us normal people touched it, our flame would become like Ymeri's, a little. It would purify us, forever!" "It would condemn you, forever." Hajar snapped back. He looked at the flame in glass. "It would be the first step to becoming one of the evil goddess' avatars." Hajar declared, his voice dripping with disdain. Hajar looked sideways at his fellow adventurers. "But safe to hold for us. As long as you don't try to eat it or breathe it in. You could even put that fire in a lamp for continual flame. Get some use out of something evil." he explained. Broadbeard's flames fluttered in shock. "Don't let any Fire Mephits or priests of the Queen of the Inferno hear you say that. Sacrilege, to them." he retorted.
The flame in the glass sphere appears to float within the center. It is a strange reddish color, almost the color of lava. Looking closer, you see that the top of the glass is open, but the flame doesn't move according to the air currents. Behind you, Broadbeard's eyes widen as he takes in the sequestered flame.
Hello everyone, Any reactions to the hidden chamber in the pyramid in the Palace? You're almost ready for another Level. I hope everyone had a good Memorial Day, and is ready for summer!
Hajar pricked his own hand first with the dagger, and under Rayhan's direction, bled in a slow circle at the spiral in the floor. Yazi followed Hajar's action, then Bartan, Khayal, and Nasir. Each circle of precious fluid got smaller, and Rayan carefully used a cloth to smear the blood between the lines.
Gilbans the Fire Giant looked a little better after the soundless wave of energy flooded the chamber. When the last of blood completed the spiral, a grinding noise made everyone look around, as the spiral fell into the floor, revealing Medium-to-Large sized stairs going down into the darkness. "Yazi, Bartan, with me-" Hajar started to say, but Rayhan interrupted him. "I have a wand of stone shape." he corrected the paladin, showing the magical item, "There might be a time limit to the magic." "Fine." Hajar conceded, "but only him with us." The human pointed at Broadbeard. "In case there's a trap that requires a native." The azer shrugged, but fell in line. The stairs are roughened stone as you proceed below, but no light is provided - other than what you carry, and Broadbeard's natural flames. Several turns later, you emerge into a small, tight chamber. Opposite the end of the stairs is a single alcove with a ledge holding...a flame in a glass sphere?
"Always." Hajar reassured Bartan.
GM rolls:
One of the azer speaks up in Ignan. Broadbeard appears to be ready to snap at the fellow fire-dwarf, but the mercenary is insistent, waving his arms at the other natives. The three azer huddle, hands on shoulders, as the one azer animatedly points first at the walls, then the human adventurers, then the floor. Gilbans takes an interest in the conversation, looking at the walls, then the azer, then peering closer at each adventurer, as if sizing them up. Rayhan, hearing the conversation in Ignan, walks closer to the group of fire-dwarves, his interest piqued. His brow furrowed in concentration turning to surprise, the older man strokes his beard, calculating. Broadbeard finally turns to the group and speaks before Gilbans, also looking pensive, can interrupt. "You Primers - always brawn over brains. Smash and grab. Like opening a conversation with fireball. " he started, only to have Rayhan clear his throat at him. Broadbeard changed his tone, saying "What I mean, masters, is that there's one word repeated over and over again on the walls - blood. And the ritual calls for pouring blood - your liquid stuff - on the spiral." "I said that." Hajar snapped. Broadbeard continued. "But that was the ritual, master. It doesn't have to be just one person's blood." Broadbeard looked pointedly at the adventurers. "It can be all of you, your blood. Enough to open the spiral!" The flames of the azer's beard, hair, and skin shone in the darkness of the temple. "But will it be enough without killing them?" Gilbans questioned. "Small humans like you don't have very much - usually one hit with a greatclub and you're a red smear on the floor." "It has to be just enough to cover the spiral's surface." Rayhan exclaimed. "More than a few drops, yes, but not even a pint would do, I suspect!" Hajar sighed, then got out his dagger.
Thanks, everyone.
Rayhan studied the walls, but was distracted by the Ignan he mumbled under his breath. "Worship...Queen, ah, yes...reward, hmm...enlightens? I may need to have more time, this Ignan is quite ancient, compared to the books I have studied." the wizard explained to everyone.
Hajar's usual disappointed look became more pronounced as he slowly paced from one end of the chamber and back, studying the raised pictographs, finally stopping before the center. The paladin-oracle turned to ponder the spiral in the floor. "No need, brother, Yazi, friend Rayhan. Jaren, the priest of Sarenrae who helped raise me in Katapesh," he intoned to the others, "had several examples of the ways evil gods entice their followers. These writings," his arm sweeping across the bronzed wall, "depict one such method. By sacrificing a Prime Material Plane native in this temple, their blood poured on the floor would open the spiral to a secret chamber that only the high priest was allowed to enter. It was," the man's voice twisted in disgust, "both a bottleneck, since it required a non-native victim, and a reward, for the faithful." Broadbeard grunted. "Appropriate." he replied. "You Primers are always seen as either enemy, or slaves, here in the City of Brass." The other azer nodded; Gilbans had the decency to look elsewhere.
Happy Mother's Day tomorrow in the United States. Don't forget your mother - mine just passed away. Tomorrow will be rough, my first without her.
Thanks to everyone for the well-wishes and prayers. It's been rough, but I'm staying busy.
Broadbeard looked nervously around. "Many bad rumors persist about the Queen of the Inferno, masters." he muttered. "Sacrifices, sacrifices,...and more sacrifices." The fire-dwarf pointed at the two newest members of azer to the adventuring team. "You two," the older Broadbeard commanded, "open these doors." Glumly the mercenaries complied. The ancient bronze hinges creaked and protested, but no traps went off, and the doors opened without falling down. Inside was... The inside of the temple is decorated with pictographs and writings in ancient Ignan. Search DC 25:
A spiral is hidden in the floor amongst ancient Ignan runes, pictographs, and places for priests to stand that have been rubbed smooth. But no indication of how to iris open the spiral. You see the same spiral in the pictographs on one of the walls, but you cannot make out how to activate it. Knowledge: Religion 25:
You easily make out stereotypical divine evil instructions on the sacrifice of Prime Material Plane and Plane of Water natives. Once in a great while, like a millennia or an eon, the head priest, proven in battle, was allowed to sacrifice a hated enemy of the Queen of the Inferno and gain enlightenment by going into a secret chamber in the center of the pyramid. A spiral built into the floor, when coated with mortal-derived blood, would open, letting the head priest see a secret of Ymeri, something given in eons past to Bayt al-Bazan. The head priest would emerge, ordained by Ymeri for life, or only smoke would rise up, and the spiral would iris shut again. Then a new, untested, high priest would be chosen. Knowledge: The Planes DC 30:
Ancient Ignan sounds like a roaring bonfire to human ears, but you can make out instructions in the pictographs. Efreeti holding a not-burnt human, reptilian, or mermaid corpse between them above a spiral on the floor, heart-blood dripping down and...opening the spiral into a circle? With only the head priest going down into the darkness and emerging...enlightened? Glowing? Ancient Ignan:
Be worthy by offering the Queen her captured enemies... Love the Queen. Only the greatest sacrifice will be rewarded. Only an untainted one, chosen by battle, will feel Ymeri's touch... Devote yourself to the Queen of the Inferno, and receive eternal flame. Ignan: Worship...Queen...hated ones... reward Ymeri blood...enlightens infidels...ash
On the stairs, Gilbans replied "The Grand Sultan rose to rule in the City of Brass by his expertise of wishcraft and defeating several troublesome wizards from the Prime Material Plane in the City. Efreeti currying his favor were easily satisfied. Such court intrigue became easier than sacrificing to the Queen of the Inferno. Ymeri is notorious for being fickle, and even ignoring her worshipers for centuries." The Fire Giant checked the boiling fire-clouds above them, as if testing his words.
Finally the adventurers led by the Fire Giant got to the stairs that started in the south-by-southeast side. "Like I said, this pyramid is abandoned. It isn't even on the patrol list, it's so ancient." Gilbans told everyone. He started up the stairs, the others following. -------------------------- Meanwhile, Nasir and Khayal reached the top of their climb. Now closer to the draconic, four-armed female centaurs at the corners, it was possible to notice smaller details, such as the statues each pointed outwards, as if to protect the temple therein. The temple itself is constructed of cracked, tarnished bronze. A set of Large-sized doors are closed, opposite the main stairs.
And my 50th birthday was yesterday, 19 April. Will post on the game tomorrow.
Hello players, My mother Shirle died yesterday (13 April 2022) at the hospice home. Her body couldn't take the travel from the hospital to the hospice, and she died as soon as she got to her room. Shirle died peacefully, asleep for the past 3 days. Thank you for all your prayers. I will continue the game as soon as I am able.
Khayal, showing his mountainous training only a few fighters even dream of, easily climbed the sheer side of the pyramid, his hands and feet finding sure holds. Halfway up the side of the 100-foot pyramid, a russet-colored blur passed the burly man, the Keleshite making her climb look more like a ballet dance across a stage. Feet clad in slippers never stopped, with her body making the occasional twirl as Nasir went around Khayal, continuing up the obstacle. The other adventurers and natives continued around the West and South side of the pyramid, until the stairs came into view. Yazi's head for some reason kept turning more and more to the side, watching the climbers, rather than what was in front of them. Bartan was leaning backwards, head to the side, as he also watched the Dervish Dancer show her expertise. "Ah, the power of youth." Rayhan sighed as he followed the Fire Giant. The three azer puffed vigorously, their flames flickering, as they ran to keep up with the taller people.
Sorry everyone, I had to admit my mother to the local hospital last night. I'll update as soon as I can. My mother was incoherent and not waking up fully. She went from the ER to the ICU last night, and I left her sleeping peacefully.
"There's stairs on the other side..." Gilbans pointed out to the climbing human, then shrugged. The giant started to take off, his feet still above the ground, but unexpectedly the Fire Giant landed on the floor. Bewildered, Gilbans looked at his feet, then back at the bulk of the adventurers. "It's not that long of a spell. The battle, plus the stairs, was its' duration." Rayhan explained to everyone. The Fire Giant laughed, saying "I guess it's back to climbing, then. The old-fashioned way." He turned back to face the pyramid. "Come, little invaders. To the other side, then the top!" "First time I've been this high in the Palace..." muttered Broadbeard, looking around, his eyes going up to the clouded fiery cacophony of the Plane of Fire. "And in the open."
Gilbans the Fire Giant, squeezing in from the rear, grunted upon hearing the name. "Female demigod, worshipped here before the Grand Sultan of the City of Brass became more...favorable." he replied.
"Queen of the Inferno." Rayhan confirmed. Hajar scrunched up his face, trying to remember, but could only say "A neutral evil demigod." Broadbeard spoke up. "Rumor had it Lord Jhavhul was obsessed with her. It was the reason he left the palace - to make himself more powerful to gain her favor, become her consort." The other fire-dwarves stared at him, dumbstruck. Broadbeard stubbornly set his face, adding "I heard several of the efreeti here talking about it after they were drunk one night. They did not favor his odds." Gilbans sighed in admonishment. "Her temple is that building at the top." he told Yazi.
The door is unlocked, and you see...more of those Large-sized garderobes on what must be the outer wall of the palace. But what blocks your view is a one-hundred-foot-tall pyramid of ancient tarnished bronze immediately in front of you to the East. The pyramid is smooth on this side. On the apex of the pyramid is a double-peaked roof. Statues of draconic, four-armed female centaurs rise from the corners of the building. Perception DC 25: You catch a glimmer of light in the reflection of the sky off of the brass door as you hold it open. The image of the strange man you saw earlier, in the basement of the palace, stares back at you. The dark-skinned, white-haired man's head turns to face the pyramid, and you hear the following in your mind: “A fiery orb from days of old lies suspended betwixt bronze and sky, yet hidden from mortal eye, in Elemental Queen Ymeri's temple. It is the key to your quest. In ancient adoration did this fiery heart lie, and only by heart’s blood of the true believer can the way be opened. Take the orb, and free me!” The glimmer vanishes from the brass door, leaving only the brass.
The fire giant showed you another pair of Medium-sized stairs, waiting until everyone had passed by him before going up the stairs. You emerge into another closed room. The floor of the western half of this guard chamber is lined with well over a dozen murder holes. Piled near the murder holes are a number of rocks. A large, empty jail-like crate rests at the north side. The room curves to the NorthEast to a door. "Hm." Gilbans muttered, coming up the stairs. "Could've sworn there was a guard here. Maybe he got called out by the commander?"
The adventurers' party made it up the Large stairs without incident, coming out to the East of a chamber they had recently been in. This dark chamber is of cavernous proportions, its vaulted ceiling held aloft by huge supporting columns. The stench of beasts remains strong, though whatever was once stabled here is long gone. The gutted remains of a few battered war chariots are pushed against the walls. Campfires of burning coals can be seen toward the rear of the chamber. "The Makhzen Stables." Gilbans wheezed from below on the stairs. "Directly South is the ziggurat of the Sacret Apis - that's a bull -" the Fire Giant explained. "I believe we have been here before." Hajar said, looking around. "How do get out of here, friend Giant?" he called. "Right, then right again to stairs going up." Gilbans offered. "Unless you want to go visit the crazed dwarf in the Palace Courtroom?
"Stairs. Stairs!" Hajar's matter-of-fact voice and Gilban's deeper voice say simultaneously. The two glance at each other, grinning at the decision. "Up is the surface level. We're done with the basements..." Hajar began. "And away from the Cult of the Fire Lizards." Gilbans offered. He scratched his beard. "Although my brothers, the, uh, Guardians of the Forbidden Gate, still have to be dealt with on that level." Hajar closed his eyes and prayed silently, his hands wavering around the air to his sides.
The adventurers plus allies got to the Western corridor, where they were joined by two more azer. "Don't worry, these are the fire dwarves who got us past the lava bridge." Rayhan assured everyone. Broadbeard looked the other azer up and down, harrumphing in disapproval. Hajar said "It looks like you three vanquished the lizardmen.", indicating Khayal, Nasir, and Yazi. "Do you need me for healing? We have time." As they rounded the corner, the party came to see...a door. A Medium-sized door. "Ah. A 'small' door." Gilbans muttered, his feet still floating above the floor. "I'll have to squeeze in last. Unless one of you has shrinking magic?" he asked. Rayhan shook his head negatively. Broadbeard the azer opened the brass door, showing...a room that opened to the East, or right, but had a set of stairs going up at the far end of the area.
"Holding my arms up to help you down here to this corridor!" Gilbans the Fire Giant reminds you.
Yazi cut the last lizardman into pieces. OUT OF MELEE
The last lizardman , seeing its' fellow compatriots fall, goes into a desperate attack.
However, the fates are not on the side of the lizardman. "C'mon, lassies, my arm's getting tired!" Gilbans called out from the corridor. One azer took off South at the intersection, waving at another azer standing guard at the door to the Palace's trash heap. The new azer took off at a run towards the first fire-dwarf. Meanwhile, Broadbead followed Rayhan and Hajar. Rayhan, his Rod of Flame Extinguishing head ready, peeked around the door. "Hm. One door to the North." he announced to Hajar behind him.
Old Man Winter is rolling the dice again for a snow-blowout on a January weekend. Updates tomorrow!
Nasir's blade at first hit armored hide, but with persistence, Shiver finally dropped the lizardman.
Okay, I'm back - on the downhill side of this cough. Let the game continue!
Sorry folks, I've been sick the last couple of days. Getting more fluids in now.
Still praying for MichaelCullen's family after the loss of their parent's house. We have another "winter storm" planned for Sunday, 16 January. It could go all the way up the Appalachian Mountains from Georgia to New York. Eight inches of snow in the mountains of NC. So prepare early and stay safe out there, players.
Hajar double-moves to the end of the corridor, Tempest at the ready. Bartan gets to the Western side of the corridor. Rayhan shifts his robe, trying to "walk off" his slight injury. Noticing the wizard's pain, Hajar shouts "Once we're in the clear, I'll heal us before we come across another door!"
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