15.4X - Trial By Fire

SESSION DATE: September 27, October 4 & 25, November 1, 8, December 6 & 13, 2025
PRESENT: Rory, Elorion, Zhanis, Rudas

Deep Dive

![[Rory - 15_4X Trial By Fire.mp4]]
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![[Rory - 15_4X Trial By Fire.m4a]]

Adventure Photos

![[Elorion Dancing.mp4]]
![[Elorion Dancing Some More.mp4]]




![[Zhanis's Celestial Attacks Orghitnirig.mp4]]

Adventure Song & Lyrics

![[Trial By Fire.mp3]]

[Verse 1]
The dream was shattered, the sudden shift, a room of smoke and ash,
Four strangers bound by a shared gift, preparing for the crash.
We saw the walls of Orghitnirig, where towering braziers burned,
A silent pact to cross the rig, from which we could not be turned.
We passed the sentries, quick and fast, as fiery walls were thrown,
Knew every step was meant to last, on pathways carved of stone.

[Chorus]
The air is thin and the earth is cracked, the line is drawn and stark,
A trail of cinder we must track, deep in the heavy dark.
We fought through the weakness, the heat, and the shame, a promise we must keep,
This is the heart of the trial by fire, only the promise we keep.

[Verse 2]
The Lieutenant rose from molten ground, a phantom made of dread,
His terrible blast dealt a wicked wound, and left the soul near dead.
We crawled in slow exhaustion's grip, our speed and spells undone,
But met his fire with cold lips, the final battle won.
The summoning failed, the elementals broke, a brief and blessed rain,
But victory was found in the stroke, that banished the searing pain.

[Chorus]
The air is thin and the earth is cracked, the line is drawn and stark,
A trail of cinder we must track, deep in the heavy dark.
We fought through the weakness, the heat, and the shame, a promise we must keep,
This is the heart of the trial by fire, only the promise we keep.

[Verse 3]
Then came the beast of crimson scale, his shadow filled the dome,
He snatched the blade and watched it fail, sinking into the foam.
The lava closed on hilt and steel, thirty feet below,
A sacrifice we felt too real, a price we had to know.
We clung to ledges slick with ash, while he rained down his fear,
And prayed the power of the desperate dash would draw the lost one near.

[Bridge]
A friend fell broken, dropped from height, consumed by the cruel heat,
We rallied in the failing light, refusing grim defeat.
By cold conviction, and iron bonds, the tyrant was subdued,
We pulled the life that corresponds, where courage was renewed.

[Verse 4]
We found the strength where others break, where fear dissolves in need,
We hauled the wounded from the lake, and planted life's new seed.
The final blow, not ours to wield, but of the watchful star,
The ancient terror left the field, and vanished where they are.
We gathered close and held the line, against the smoking air,
And stepped beyond the burning sign, with a moment's simple prayer.

[Chorus]
The air is thin and the earth is cracked, the line is drawn and stark,
A trail of cinder we must track, deep in the heavy dark.
We fought through the weakness, the heat, and the shame, a promise we must keep,
This is the heart of the trial by fire, only the promise we keep.

[Coda]
The treasure claimed, the beast is still,
The golden door waits on the hill.
A moment's rest to mend the will.

World Anvil Journal

sooo… i wath at kimiweelth manthin thinkin about the genie an then i wath jutht GONE. i woke up in thum kinda dweam-wike pwathe. i wath with thwee new peopow. they wewe cawwed ewoweeon, a fytin majik guy, an zanuth, a cwewic, an wudath, a dwuid.

we wewe in a fiwe wing with vewy taww thtone wawwth an fiwe bwazewth. the air wath THICK with thmok an ath. i uthed my miiwwow majik to make thwee of me an i dwank a thpeed poshin an felt weawwy FATH. ewoweeon did head-tawk majik. the thmok made zanuth an wudath thik but wudath heawed zanuth. ewoweeon fwew up high.

we wint down the thtaiwtth. thum gawdth athked fow a patthwowed. i thaid "the patthwowed ith 'thith pwathe ith thupa thmoky'". they thaid we wewe in the waiw of owghitniwig, a vewy famouth WED dwagon! i thwowed a waj becuth i wath angwy.

i thwinged an kiwwed the fiwtht gawd. zanuth gave me tempowy heawth. then thum mowe bad peopow wowed up. ewoweeon kiwwed two gawdth in a WAMPAGE! then a fiwe pwiect thwew a FIWEBALL an zanuth an hith gwiffon got huwt bad.

i kept thwingin an kiwwed two mowe gawdth. zanuth heawed hith gwiffon. ewoweeon kiwwed FOUW gawdth in a thpwee. he wath unthtoppawow! then an azew pywomanthe thwew anothew FIWEBALL at aww of uth too. wudath wath thupa-fafth an uthed majik to thave uth.

i wan down the cowwidow to fyt the majik peopow. i kiwwed the pwiect an then hit an azew pywomanthe an MAWED him an he wath thtunn’d. ewoweeon kiwwed the watht gawd. i kiwwed the thtunn’d azew pywomanthe an the watht gawd by the thtaiwtth. i ran back an zanuth gave me mowe tempowy heawth. ewoweeon kiwwed a big azew.

then a fiwe-guy HIT HIM A WOT ewoweeon.

i wan towawdth the cawtew an BIG HITTED an azew pywomanthe an kiwwed it. i kiwwed two mowe azewth an wudath thaped into a bwud hawk an fwew up! anothew azew thwew anothew FIWEBALL at aww of uth. then the fyt wath ovew.

wight aftew that, thumone thowted, "mwahaha! you can't get the mathtew'th tweathuwe without gowin thwough me!" we peeked an thaw wotth mowe azewth an two vewy taww fiwe-snake peopow cawwed thawamandewth. this whowe new woom wath wike wocks an WAVA. we made a pwan to jutht chawge wight in.

ewoweeon wint fiwtht an thwew a HUGE majik con of cowd at aww of them, even the thaaamandewth, an they got vewy cowd an thwow. i wath wight behind him an i thwinged thwee timeth at the fiwtht thaaamandew an kiwwed it! then i hit the thecund one an thwowd it down. the bad guyth thwew fiwe at ewoweeon an me. one twied to Gwab me but mithd.

wudath came back, he wath thummonin aniumawth. an ewoweeon kiwwed two azew pywomanthewth with BIG HITTH. i kiwwed the watht thaaamandew an kiwwed two mowe azew thtowth. zanuth gave me mowe tempowy heawth. wudath uthed majik to make hith aniumawth bit the azewth. zanuth fwew wight ovew evwything an uthed GHOST-WADIES majik an they aww kept gettin hit. ewoweeon kiwwed two mowe azewth. that fyt wath ovew thow!

then we thaw mowe cweatuwth thowthwest of uth. they wewe knuwin an thayin thumthing to a big wock in the WAVA. we took a wittow thhowt wethth tho zanuth cud get hith heawy majik weady. i twd the gwoup i wud wawk on the wava wocks an use miiwwow majik an thpeed poshin an chawge them.

i got my thpeed poshin an miiwwow thtow an wan towawdth the wouwthip peopow. then a fiwe monk cawwed an athawi fiwetamew uthed a FIWE WAWW an thwowd it wight between uth. wudath got thtowk in the fiwe an tuwned back fwom hith aniumaw thape. he uthed hith majik an thummonded mowe aniumawth next to the monks. then anothew monk thummonded a FIWE EWEWENTAW that gwabbed wudath an huwt him!

then the wotht thting happened. anothew monk thaid thum majik wowdth an aww my miiwwowth an my thpeed went GONE. i wath thowk! ewoweeon fwew up an kiwwed the monk that thummonded the ewementaw, which made the ewementaw vanithh. phew! anothew monk thwew majik at ewoweeon an took AWAY hith thpeed an aniumawth too.

i kiwwed the monk ewoweeon hit. i hit anothew monk an he dwobbed hith FIWE WAWW. then the monk ewoweeon thtopped fwom doin majik tuwned into a FIWE EWEWENTAW an it wunned wight thwough me an ewoweeon an we got buwnin! i dwank a thpeed poshin an thwinged thwee timeth at it. it hit me on the way. we wewe fytin fow a wotth whiwe an ewoweeon got thcoawched a wot. he twied to wun but he gowt hit by anothew ewementaw.

i hit one of the fiwe ewementawth an i hit the monk concentwatin on the ewementaw an thaid thum majik an he wath thtunn’d an the ewementaw went GONE. then zanuth thaid a thpeww an made it WAIN on uth an put outh aww the fiwe! nice!

a monk thwew a HUGE FIWE WAWW an it got me an ewoweeon an zanuth an hith gwiffon. i wan thwough the fiwe an thwinged thwee timeth at the ewementaw an HUGE HIT it. i kiwwed one of the monks. ewoweeon kiwwed anothew monk. then the watht monk twied to thwow anothew FIWE WAWW an it hit me an zanuth an the gwiffon.

i wunned thwough the fiwe an thwinged an kiwwed the watht monk. he thaid he wud teww uth thumthing if we wouwd thtop. that fyt wath awefuw.

that monk guy thaid we couwd wet him go if he thowd uth hith tweathuwe. we weth thowt of thtowpin ouw waj an athked him quechthionth. he thaid the next bad guy wath a WIU-TEN-ANT an he wath vewy fyiwe. he cud thwow an INFEWNO BWAST majik that did WOTTH of fiwe an made uth get TIWED (exhausthion). he thaid hith bofth'th pwathe, the "MATHTEW'th THUMMIT", wath the big wock. we wewt him go, but he had to dwop aww hith thtuff.

i thneaked down the howw to the next fiwe-woom an thaw WOTTH of enemieth, wike twentie! i knew we coudnt fyt jutht a few, we had to fyt AWL of them.

zanuth uthed thum vewy thpechiw majik to thummon a CEWETHTIAW an ewoweeon thummonded a gwound ewementaw an wittow ewementawth. the CEWETHTIAW thaid thumthing an the fiwe-guyth got huwt vewy bad wight away. i wunned in an kiwwed an azew.

then the WIU-TEN-ANT, cawwed a THAWAMANNDEW INFEWNO MATHTEW, thwew hith big INFEWNO BWAST. it huwt zanuth an ewoweeon an the gwiffon an it made them AWL BUWNNING an TIWED. thith wath the wotht thpeww we'd seen! i wath thwingin an kiwwed two thaaamandewth vewy fafth.

ewoweeon wath TIWED an BUWNNING but he kiwwed an azew an hith gwound ewementaw hit thum anothew azewth. ewoweeon got mad an thwew a HUUUGE thwing majik thpeww. he BIG HITTH WOTTH of thtowth an did SIX HUNNERT an eightie thix damaje! he kiwwed AWL of them but the Mathtew an a few othewth. thuddenwy the gwiffon got hit by a thpea an zanuth wath vewy thad. zanuth uthed majik wain to make the fiwe go away.

the INFEWNO MATHTEW kept popin out of the WAVA an thwowin INFEWNO BWAST an we aww kept gettin TIWED an BUWNNING. ewoweeon wath vewy thwow an TIWED and almost DIED fwom bein thow thwow, but zanuth uthed thum heawy heawin majik an made him a wittow bettew. i jumped WIGHT into the WAVA to hit the mathtew. it huwt me A WOT an thum fiwe thnaketh twied to pwww me back in!

we kept fytin but the mathtew wouwdnt thtay thtiww. i coudnt see him an ewoweeon wath vewy TIWED an had to fwy away. i wunned outh of the howw to wet them wetht. that fyt wath thow vewy WONG.

we wunned away an wudath uthed majik to make ewoweeon an aww of uth un-TIWED. ewoweeon then made a WEE WIDDOW HUT tho we couwd take a WONK WETHT. whiwe wettin, we heard BIG THWUMPIN an thaw two GIWANT peopow, fiwe giwantth, go paath. now the mathtew had mowe fwiendth!

wudath an zanuth uthed mowe heawy heawin majik an we wewe awl thow much bettew. i peeked an thaw the giwantth an the mathtew an wotth of azewth. this wath the final fyt.

ewoweeon did thum majik an now HE wath IMMUNE to fiwe an wudath did thum majik an now I wath IMMUNE to fiwe! we wewe wike thupah-peopow! i went fiwtht, wagin an wunnin in!

the fiwe giwantth thwew theiw hammerth at me an they huwt WOTTH, but the fiwe fwom the INFEWNO BWAST an the fiwe awouth did NOTHING. ewoweeon uthed a thwing thpeww an did THIXTY damaje on FIVE thtowth, an kiwwed thow many azewth.

the INFEWNO MATHTEW popped out, an wudath thwew an ICE THPOWM wight at him. then zanuth thwew hith CEWETHTIAW majik an kiwwed one of the fiwe giwantth!

the giwantth kept thwowin hammerth an puthin me away, an the INFEWNO MATHTEW got cwoath an hit zanuth thow vewy hawrd. but then zanuth thwew a CON OF COWD an the mathtew got huwt WOTTH becuth he hateth cowd. wudath thwew anothew CON OF COWD an the mathtew wath almost thowk!

i hit him wotth of timeth but he wouwdnt thtop fytin. ewoweeon HIT HIM HAWRD the thaaamandew thtow, kiwwin it. zanuth kiwwed the watht giwant with hith CEWETHTIAW. it wath jutht the INFEWNO MATHTEW weft.

he twied to INFEWNO BWAST zanuth one watht time, but zanuth wath thow FATH he thaved! an then zanuth uthed hith fwohtht thwowd an kiwwed the THAWAMANNDEW INFEWNO MATHTEW! he wath GONE! that wath the vewy hatht fyt!

we took a howt, bwight gold thing fwom the mathtew. that wath the thing we needed to get the Bofth! ewoweeon gave me the majik wowd fow hith fwyin cawpet tho i couwd fwy with my Waj. ewoweeon an i fwew wight ovew the WAVA to the big wock, the "MATHTEW'th THUMMIT," an zanuth an wudath wewe wight behind uth.

i put the gold thing in the wock an BAM! a HUGE fiwe came out an it wath HIM! OWE-GIT-NIH-WIG, the WED DWAGON! he wath thow vewy thcary.

he twied to bite ewoweeon an then hit him vewy hawrd. ewoweeon got thcowtched, an then the dwagon thaid majik wowdth an me an ewoweeon had to DWOP ouw weaponth. a thecwet fiwe-monk popped outh an GTWABBED my THOWW THWOWD an CHUCKED it WIGHT into the WAVA! i wath thow angwy i fowgot aww about the dwagon an I JUMPED WIGHT into the WAVA aftew my thwowd! i wath IMUNE to fiwe tho i wath okay, but the lava wath DEEP. i wooked an wooked but i couwdnt find my thwowd an the dwagon an that fiwe-monk kept GWABBIN an thwingin at uth.

the dwagon gwabbed ewoweeon an fwew him wight ovew the wava an DWOPOED him. he was thow much bettew at fytin than we wewe. ewoweeon had a majik thing tho he didthnt get huwt fwom the fawwin. zanuth moved hith CEWETHTIAW wight ovew the dwagon.

ewoweeon dwank a thpeed poshin an uthed majik to get hith thwowd an get to thafety. wudath kept hidin. the dwagon hit zanuth an DWOPOED HEW into the WAVA! zanuth got huwt WOTTH fwom the WAVA an thhe thtopped thow much majik.

i wath thtill wookin fow my thwowd at the bottom of the wava, THWITY feet deep! i FINAWWY GWABBED it, an twied to caww outh, an a majik fiwe came wight at me an MITHED! i fwew up an that fiwe-monk twied to GWAB me an MITHED.

ewoweeon uthed thum vewy cwevew majik an THWAPPED the DWAGON in thtrong iwon bandth an he DWOPOED into the WAVA, thtuk! ewoweeon cwitted him two timeth! i made my thafety throw an wathnt thcowd any mowe. wudath twd me that zanuth wath in the wava, thow i FWUED over an GWABBED HEW an heawed hew with a poshin.

the dwagon wath STWUCK an couldthnt move. the fiwe-monk kept thwowin majik an thowppin ouw thpewwth. ewoweeon wath TIWED an BUWNNIN fwom the monk'th majik an he DWOPOED onto the WAVA an got huwt again!

then the dwagon got ewoweeon an hit him thow hawrd he FEWW ASLEEP (unconthciouth) an then the WAVA hit him an he WATH GONE. Eloweeon wath ded.

we kept fytin thow much. zanuth kiwwed the fiwe-monk with her dewd majik. an then that WEE WIDDOW CEWETHTIAW wath thtill thwowin majik at the dwagon an it FINAWWY DIED!

i wath thow fafth an fwew an GWABBED Ewoweeon wight out of the wava an zanuth uthed vewy heawy heawin majik an bwought him BACK!

aftew aww that, we got majikawwy thwowed back to the woom with the doowth. an now thewe ith a NEW, vewy, vewy, vewy bwight doow. i think it goeth to the bofth, the mawd majik guy! i need a WONG WEHTHT.

pwethe keep uth thaf an wet uth wett aww the way. an pweeth thow uth the way to be thtowng fow the bofth majik-guy.

Private Notes

• Rory suddenly finds himself teleported into a new scene, as if he had just entered some kind of dream-like state. Last thing he remembers was being in Kemurial's magic mansion while Kemurial contemplated summoning his efreeti from a bottle. And now Rory suddenly finds himself here, with three strange, new faces beside him: Elorion, an experienced arcane warrior of sorts; Zhanis, a twilight cleric woman; and Rudas, a shapeshifting moon druid with heals.
• A door opens into a fiery wing of whatever place we're in. We see stone walls and stone stairs. Everything is tall. 30' walls at a minimum. They have braziers lit ahead. There are humanoid figures ahead in the smoky, reddish hue lit by the flames. We are given the opportunity to prepare before the inevitable fight. Rory casts Mirror Image then quaffs a Potion of Speed just before entering the encounter. Elorion ritually casts Rary's Telepathic Bond on all of us so that we can telepathically communicate with each other for the next hour, then he takes off flying about 20' up.
• Everything is lightly obscured thanks to the heavy smoke and ash in the air. We each need to make a DC 15 Constitution Save. Rory and Elorion make their saves. The others fail. Those who failed are poisoned. Rudas offers to remove Zhanis's Poisoned condition, which she accepts.
• As we head down the stairs ahead, the guards shout "We don't recognize you! What is the password?" Rory has no clue, but says "The password is 'This place is super smoky'." anyway. The guards look confused. One of them says "Does that count?" Another says "You're in the lair of Orghitnirig!" Sounds draconic. Rory and Elorion think they've heard of this name. It's a pretty well-known red dragon. Interesting. Rory wasn't expecting to be taking on a dragon today! The guards approach and Zhanis tells them to step aside because we were summoned here. They don't move. Instead they form a line and readying themselves to dodge. They say the word "fury" which is enough to get Rory raging. INITIATIVE!!!

  • Round 1

    • Rory - Two attacks at Disadvantage on the guards since I forgot to attack Recklessly. Both hit, taking out the first guard. Bonus Action to attack again on the southern guard, miss. Hasted attack also misses. Rory ends his turn within 30 feet of Zhanis, so she gives Rory some temporary HP. Nice!
    • Eternal Flame Guardian - Comes from around the corner, fires at Rory with a Heavy Crossbow, miss.
    • Zhanis - Moves up, casts True Strike, attacks northern guard with Frost Brand Longsword, hits. Second attack misses.
    • Eternal Flame Guardian - Comes around the corner from the south, fires Heavy Crossbow at the griffon, hits.
    • Rudas - Casts Ice Knife at the guard just beyond Rory's reach, hits.
    • Elorion - Flies over and down, landing in the fray, flanking with Rory and attacks, barely missing the southern guard. He attacks again, hitting and doing massive damage (six of the seven dice he rolled for damage were sixes!). He pumps so much dice into these attacks that I can't keep up. There's the scimitar, Booming Blade, Conjure MInor Elementals, and who knows what else. CRAZY DAMAGE is what I'm trying to say! Anyway, he kills the guy, which doesn't surprise me. He moves up to attack the remaining guard in this initial group and misses with a Nat 1. Hasted Attack hits, doing some more good damage.
    • Eternal Flame Priest - Looks like this guy has Blur on him. He casts Fireball on most of us, just missing Rudas. Elorion and Rory both make their saves, taking half the damage. Zhanis and her griffon fail.
    • Eternal Flame Guardians - One dodges, five dash into the fray with us, one comes around the corner and fires his Heavy Crossbow at the griffon, missing. The last one fires at Zhanis, missing, then steps around the corner.

  • Round 2

    • Rory - Four attacks, taking down two guards. Zhanis gives Rory 19 temp HP.
    • Eternal Flame Guardian - Moves up into the fray, attack Rory with multiattack and Flaming Weapon, one hits.
    • Zhanis - The griffon Disengages with Zhanis riding it and retreats back to the entrance near Rudas. Zhanis heals the griffon with Healing Word. Casts Toll the Dead on the dodging guard, killing him.
    • Eternal Flame Guardian - Moves up into the fray, attacks Rory with Flaming Weapon, both attacks miss.
    • Rudas - Moonbeam on three guards. Zhanis gives him 20 temp HP.
    • Elorion - Attacks a guard, hits, does lots more damage. Second attack hits and kills the guard. Steps up to another guard to attack, hits and kills that one too. Bonus Action attack on another guard with Booming Blade, hits and kills that one as well. Hasted Attack on another guard, hits and kills that one too. He's on an absolute RAMPAGE right now!
    • Eternal Flame Priest - Casts Fireball into the party again, then steps back around the corner.
    • Eternal Flame Guardians - One tries to grapple Elorion, but can't, so he misses with an attack instead. One runs up to Rory, misses once, hits once.
    • Azer Pyromancer - Comes around the corner, casts Fireball on us. Rudas fails and uses his Reaction to cast Absorb Elements to dampen that damage a bit.
    • Eternal Flame Guardian - Heavy Crossbow at Rory, misses, then steps around the corner.

  • Round 3

    • Rory - Asks the group if they've got these guards taken care of, which they affirm they do, so Rory takes off down the corridor to take care of the ranged casters causing us issues. Rory attacks the Blurred guy twice, taking him out. Rory steps up to the Azer Pyromancer and hits it as his Hasted attack. As part of the attack, he pumps Staggering Smite into it, successfully stunning the Azer Pyromancer. He also sees another creature further in the cavernous room around the corner. He steps back and tells the party what he sees.
    • Zhanis - I went to get something to eat, so I don't know what happened.
    • Rudas - Moves the Moonbeam down to the remaining guard, causing it to take some damage.
    • Elorion - Moves down to the last guard near the entrance, hits and kills him. He moves further down the corridor toward Rory, staying within range of Zhanis's temp HP bubble for 18 temp HP.
    • Azer Pyromancer - Stunned.
    • Azer Sentinel - Moves up a bit and Dodges.
    • Eternal Flame Guardian - Misses Rory twice.

  • Round 4

    • Azer Pyromancer - Moves up, Dodge.
    • Rory - Attacks and kills the stunned Azer Pyromancer, then turns his attention to the last remaining guard and kills him as well. Moves back to get some temp HP from Zhanis, and gets 15 temp HP.
    • Zhanis - Moves up and Readies an attack for the first enemy to approach her.
    • Rudas - Moves up.
    • Elorion - Moves up, attacks the dodging Azer Sentinel and kills it. Moves some more and attacks some more. Rory can't see the action, but can hear it, so he doesn't know the details. I'm sure he's doing like five attacks this round like usual!
    • Azer Sentinels - Unsure, can't see them.
    • Azer Pyromancer - Unsure, can't see them.
    • Azer Sentinel - CRITS Elorion with a Flame Burst. Can't see the others.

  • Round 5

    • Azer Pyromancer - Can't see them, but can hear them attacking Elorion, but they seem to miss.
    • Rory - Runs toward Elorion and attacks the Azer Pyromancer, CRITTING it and very nearly taking it out. It Hellish Rebukes Rory. Rory uses his second attack to finish it off. The crit triggers Rory's Remarkable Athlete feature (which I always forget) to allow him to move half his speed without provoking opportunity attacks, so Rory continues past Elorion and, with his Hasted attack, CRITS an Azer Sentinel and kills it. This triggers Remarkable Athlete again, so Rory continues to the next Azer Sentinel, which is Dodging. Rory's Bonus Action attack hits it, doing good damage.
    • Zhanis - Moves up next to Elorion and Rory, Toll the Dead at the same Azer Sentinel Rory attacked, and kills it. Nice! Second Toll the Dead at the next Azer Sentinel, doing some damage.
    • Rudas - Purposely drops Concentration on Moonbeam, Wildshapes into a Blood Hawk and flies up toward us. Cool!
    • Elorion - Moves up to an Azer Sentinel and attacks it, hitting it with his scimitar, and hitting it with his vicious scimitar, killing it! Attacks another one with Booming Blade and does tons more damage to it, killing it. Elorion is unstoppable! Continues moving past us up to an Azer Pyromancer and attacks it with his Bonus Action, hitting it for a bonkers amount of damage.
    • Azer Sentinel - Misses Rory, Fire Aura does some damage to Rory.
    • Azer Pyromancer - Steps up into line of sight with us all, apparently triggering Elorion's Booming Blade, causing itself to take some damage. It then casts Fireball on Zhanis, her griffon, Rudus and Rory. Fire Aura does some damage to Elorion.
  • Combat over.
• Once combat is over, we hear "You may have thought you could get in quickly and get out with the master's treasure quickly. But that can't happen without going through me! MWAHAHA!" Elorion hears it coming from the southeast.
• Speaking of southeast, we peek around the corner and see lots more Azer Sentinels gathering around a couple tall salamander-like creatures.
• We make a quick plan to pretty much charge in, but it might require some flying this time as the terrain here is uneven with lava between the rocks. This area is difficult terrain, but will not cause us to take fire damage, but we should still be careful! We charge in. INITIATIVE!!!

  • Round 1

    • Elorion - Moves up and casts Cone of Cold, catching some of the Azer Sentinels, the two Azer Pyromancers, and catching both of the tall salamander creatures. Most of them fail their saves. The salamanders also seem vulnerable to cold damage. Nice! The Azer Pyromancers use Hellish Rebuke on Elorion after taking damage from his Cone of Cold. He then moves up and attacks an Azer Sentinel, killing it. Hasted attack at another nearby Azer Sentinel misses.
    • Rory - Moves up, Recklessly attacks the first salamander three times, killing it. Moves up to the second one, attempts a Brutal Strike, hitting for good damage, and slowing the salamander's movement by 15'.
    • Azer Pyromancer - Moves away and casts Fireball at Elorion and Rory.
    • Azer Sentinel - Moves up to Rory, hits Mirror Image instead. Fire Auras hit a bit.
    • Salamander - Attempts to Constrict Rory, but Rory saves. Second attack at Rory would've hit, but hits his second Mirror Image instead. One left. Fire Aura does some damage.
    • Rudas - Was AFK for a phone call. Conjured some animals. Neat!
    • Azer Sentinel - Moves up to Elorion, gets attacked by Rudas's conjured animals. Attacks Elorion, misses. Fire Aura. Another one does the same.
    • Zhanis - Moves up into the cavern, flying about 20' up. Casts Spirit Guardians and flies around just out of reach of the enemies over their heads to trigger the Spirit Guardians damage on each of them. Applies temp HP to her griffon.
    • Azer Sentinels - One attacks Elorion, hits. Fire Aura. Another one moves up and CRITS Elorion.
    • Azer Pyromancer - Fireball at us all (except Rudus, who's still outside the area). Moves away from the larger group, but takes some damage from the Conjured Animals first.
    • Azer Sentinel - Dodge. Another moves up toward Elorion, takes damage from the Conjured Animals, misses Elorion.

  • Round 2

    • Elorion - Misty Step to the Azer Pyromancers, attacks and hits one. It reacts with Hellish Rebuke. Elorion then CRITS it and completely knocks the thing out of the park. Decimated! Attacks the remaining Azer Pyromancer and hits. It also Hellish Rebukes Elorion. Elorion takes it out as well. He grabs his cloak and flies back toward the fray.
    • Rory - Attacks the Salamander, killing it. Attacks a Sentinel, CRITS and kills it. Moves up to another Sentinel, kills it as well. 17 Temp HP from Zhanis.
    • Rudas - Starry Wisp at a Sentinel, hitting it. Moves himself slightly as well as his Conjured Animals, causing the Dodging Sentinel to take some damage. Then he moves the animals back to where it was, causing the others to take damage as well.
    • Azer Sentinel - Moves up to Rory, taking Conjured Animals damage, and attacks Rory, misses. Fire Aura.
    • Zhanis - Zooms around with Spirit Guardians causing all the enemies to take damage.
    • More things happened while I was AFK again.
  • Combat over.
• There are more creatures southwest of us kneeling as if chanting or worshipping. They're facing a large central rock in the middle of the lava.
• We decide to take a Short Rest so that Zhanis can gain one use of her Channel Divinity for this next fight.
• TSRGBU.
• Elorion recasts Rary's Telepathic Bond ritually.
• Rory tells the group he'd like to walk along the lava rocks and will use Mirror Image and a Potion of Speed just before engaging.
• We move along and they don't seem to notice us.
• Elorion tells us to make our preparations and he'll go on Rory's charge. Rory finishes his prep as prescribed and charged into the fray. INITIATIVE!!!

  • Round 1

    • Ashari Firetamer - Wall of Fire to try to separate the party. Rudas and Elorion are caught in the fire. Rudas fails his save and Elorion makes his save. Moves up to Rory. Rory recognizes these guys as a sort of fire monks.
    • Rudas - The Wall of Fire caused Rudas to revert to his normal form. He's stuck on the rock in the fire. He steps out of it and Moonlight Steps down off it and further out of the fire. Then he upcasts Conjure Animals next to the three grouped up Ashari Firetamers.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Casts Conjure Elemental, summoning a Fire Elemental next to Rory and Rudas. The Fire Elemental Restrains Rudas and takes a ton of fire damage, but uses Absorb Elements to halve the damage he takes.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Casts Dispel Magic at Rory, instantly ending both Mirror Image and Haste. Bummer.
    • Elorion - Flies over and lands next to Rory, attacking the Firetamer who summoned the elemental. He hits it a few times, dealing some great damage to it, and casts Booming Blade on it. It's barely hanging on to life. He breaks the Firetamer's Concentration on the Fire Elemental, causing it to be removed from battle and un-Restraining Rudas! Perfect!
    • Ashari Firetamer - Casts Dispel Magic at Elorion, causing him to lose Haste and Conjure Minor Elementals. Womp womp womp... He then moves away to the edge of the lava.
    • Rory - Attacks the nearly-dead Firetamer, killing it. Attacks the other Firetamer, hitting it and causing it to drop its Concentration on the Wall of Fire. Nice!
    • Zhanis - Attempts a couple Toll the Deads at the Firetamer near Rudas, but the Firetamer saves both times. RIP.

  • Round 2

    • Ashari Firetamer - Attempts to cast a Wall of Fire, but Elorion Counterspells it. Nice! It then turns into a Fire Elemental. Oh great. It moves into Rory's square, which also triggers Rudas's Conjured Animals damage, and then proceeds to move on top of both Rory and Elorion. It hurts us with Fire Aura and also causes us to have the Burning condition.
    • Rudas - Wildshapes into a Swordbeak. Disengages and flies up 50'. Moves the Conjured Animals, causing some more damage to enemies, but they save and take nothing instead. Ah well.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Conjure Elementals for another Fire Elemental. Oh boy. It moves up to Elorion, but he makes his save and is not Restrained. The Firetamer retreats behind a nearby pillar.
    • Elorion - Makes his save again. He moves away, provoking, but the attack misses. Quaffs a Potion of Fire Resistance as a Bonus Action. Attacks the Ashari Firetamer to the west of us, missing, but he uses the property of his sword to make it a hit anyway for a bit of damage. Nick attack hits for a bit more damage. Extra attack hits with Booming Blade for some decent damage.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Turns into a Fire Elemental. Multiattack on Elorion. First is a Burn attack, which hits for minimal damage. Second one misses. Moves through Elorion's space, making him take Fire Form damage, and ends its turn with Fire Aura.
    • Rory - Bonus Action Potion of Speed. Three attacks at the Firetamer/Elemental. All of which hit. Rory then takes off down toward the non-elemental Firetamer who's Concentrating on the fire elemental spell, triggering an opportunity attack, which hits, but doesn't stop Rory from moving.
    • Zhanis - Toll the Dead twice on the Firetamer/Elemental for a bit of damage. Moves away and down to about 15' above the floor.

  • Round 3

    • Ashari Firetamer - Makes save against Conjured Animals, moves toward Elorion, moves through Elorion's space for some fire damage, multiattacks both miss, Fire Aura for some damage.
    • Rudas - Flies over toward Elorion and moves the Conjured Animals at the same time, catching both Elemental Firetamers in its movement, one saves and the other takes damage from it.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Transforms into Fire Elemental, runs through Rory, causing some damage. Multiattack, both hit. Fire Aura for some extra damage.
    • Elorion - Takes a single point of damage from Burning, uses Steel Wind Strike with his scimitar, hits both targets! Bonus action attack hits. Flies up to his flying carpet, opportunity attack hits. Moves near Zhanis.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Moves on top of Rory for some fire damage. Zhanis gets an opportunity attack as it passes her and hits. Firetamer attacks Rory, one attack hits. Fire Aura for more damage.
    • Rory - Reckless attack on the northern Fire Elemental, hits. Second attack on the concentrating one hits. Hasted attack on the concentrating one hits with Staggering Smite, it fails its save and Concentration check, so it drops concentration and is Stunned until the end of Rory's next turn. Rory moves around the nearby pillar to get Zhanis's aura.
    • Zhanis - Moves northwest toward the other Fire Elemental, casts Toll the Dead twice. The elemental fails one of the saves, taking some good damage.

  • Round 4

    • Ashari Firetamer - Runs and jumps through Zhanis's space catching both her and the griffon in its Fire Form. Multiattacks at Zhanis, missing both times. FIre Aura for some fire damage.
    • Rudas - Starry Wisp hits the nearby elemental, killing it. Moves himself as well as the Conjured Animals, making the other Fire Elementals have to save, which they do.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Stunned. Fire Aura.
    • Elorion - Mind Sliver at the elemental near Rory, but it saves. Illusionist's Bracers for another Mind Sliver, which works this time. Lands and hops off the flying carpet.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Runs over Rory for fire damage. Multiattack, one hits. Fire Aura.
    • Rory - Two Reckless attacks at the nearby elemental, taking it out and causing it to revert to his normal form. Hasted attack with Staggering Smite hits, fails saves so is stunned until end of Rory's next turn. Rory moves to the third Ashari Firestarter who has reverted. End turn, so the Fire Elemental isn't stunned anymore.
    • Zhanis - Create Water as rain around her, catching herself, her griffon, and Rory in it, putting out all of our Burning conditions. Nice!

  • Round 5

    • Ashari Firetamer - Casts Wall of Fire at 5th Level, catching us all except Rudas in it, including the Flying Carpet. Zhanis and her griffon make their saves, Elorion and Rory fail. Moves away from Rory, but no opportunity attack since Rory can't see him now.
    • Rudas - Moves so he can move his Conjured Animals, catching the elemental and another Firetamer in it. Starry Wisp misses.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Moves, attacks and stuff. Can't see behind the Wall of Fire.
    • Elorion - Uses Flying Carpet to fly back a bit. Drops Prone to stop the burning.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Can't see, but sounds like he takes damage from the Conjured Animals.
    • Rory - Move through the wall, taking damage. Three attacks at the elemental, all three hit with one crit.
    • Zhanis - Flies around the wall, Toll the Dead on the elemental twice.

  • Round 6

    • Ashari Firetamer - Dispel Magic on Rory, removing Haste. Moves away near the Conjured Animals, but saves.
    • Rudas - Moves, and moves Conjured Animals. One of the Firetamers fails save, taking lots of damage. The other makes save. Starry Wisp.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Moves through Rory, multiattack, one hits. Fire Aura.
    • Elorion - Moves down to the Firetamers, avoiding the Wall of Fire. Multiple attacks, two miss and one hits, Booming Blade. Illusionist's Bracers for Booming Blade again, hits, killing the Firetamer.
    • Rory - Two Reckless attacks at the Firetamer. Both hit, with the first causing him to revert to his normal form. Second Wind for a little healing.
    • Zhanis - Flies toward the Firetamer near Rory staying on the safe side of the wall. True Strike twice, one hits.

  • Round 7

    • Ashari Firetamer - Dodge, tries to move away from Elorion, opportunity attack with Booming Blade hits, breaking his Concentration on Wall of Fire. Decides not to continue moving.
    • Rudas - Moves himself and the Conjured Animals, catching the Firetamer in it. Starry Wisp hits.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Wall of Fire catching Zhanis, the griffon, and Rory in it. Zhanis saves, but the griffon and Rory fail.
    • Elorion - Scimitar attack at Firetamer, hits. Second attack also hits. Booming Blade hits.
    • Rory - Run through wall, taking damage, two Reckless attacks at Firetamer. FIrst attack hits and causes it to drop Concentration on the Wall of Fire. Second attack hits and kills it. Move next to Zhanis and the nearby pillar.
    • Zhanis - Cure Wounds scroll on the griffon.

  • Round 8

    • Ashari Firetamer - Says he'll yield and trade information, leans weapons on the pillar.
  • Combat over.
• We accept the Ashari Firetamer's offer to yield. We'll question them.
• Rory puts the fire out on himself and keeps his Rage going while Elorion questions the Firetamer.
• We ask about the next fight. He says we cannot reach the master until we defeat the lieutenant who is located in a long hallway filled with enemies, including the spellcasting lieutenant, and a pool of lava. Elorion asks for more info about this lieutenant spellcaster. He says they can cast elemental spells, shooting something similar to a Fireball and the base damage is 10d6 and applies a burning effect, which is a d10 at the beginning of a turn. Elorion asks about weaknesses. He says he is vulnerable to Cold damage. Rory asks why they were kneeling and worshipping the rock to the northwest. He says that's the "master's summit" and that if the master should decide to show himself, that's where he'd appear along with his horde.
• We let him go as long as he drops everything he owns. We make note of all distinguishing features about him, including marks on his skin and whatnot. We tell him he can go, and if he acts against us in any way from here on out, he forfeits his life. He leaves in the direction we came in from.
• We stealthily move on. Rory sneaks along the wall and sees at least twenty other enemies down the eastern hall. Rory determines we won't be able to engage just one group of enemies at a time. Once we engage, they'll all come running.
• We think having Zhanis using Conjure Celestial would be a good way to go.
• Elorion summons a burrowed earth elemental, hops on his carpet of flying, and casts Conjure Minor Elementals on himself.
• Zhanis uses Conjure Celestial to get the party started and Elorion makes his elemental surface. INITIATIVE!!!

  • Surprise Round

    • The Conjure Celestial sears enemies in its light, doing massive damage.
    • Elorion - Commands the earth elemental to surface and attack. Bladesong, Mind Sliver.
    • Rudas - Conjured Animals moves, doing damage.
    • Zhanis - Conjure Celestial
    • Rory - Rage, move, attack Azer, kill it.

  • Round 1

    • Elorion - Earth Elemental Multiattack on salamander, both miss. Flies in on carpet and lands. Lightning Lure, Salamander saves.
    • Rudas - Moves conjured animals.
    • Zhanis- Moves Conjured Celestial, which kills a Salamander. Flies up on griffon, Toll the Dead twice.
    • Salamanders - Moves through Celestial area as well as the conjured animals area toward Rory and Elorion. Tries to constrict Rory, but Rory saves. Attacks and misses. Another attacks Rory, hitting once.
    • Salamander Inferno Master - Inferno Blast. Rory saves, Elorion, Zhanis and the griffon fail. Zombie dies. Those who fail are burning and gain a level of Exhaustion each time they take this burning damage.
    • Salamanders - Target Rory with Flame Spear, one hits. Same thing from another, one hits.
    • Azer Sentinels - Moves up, unsure otherwise, was AFK.
    • Rory - Kill Salamander Recklessly, kill other Salamander, Bonus attack on Sentinel, move away into Celestial area for healing, move back to Sentinel.
    • Salamanders - Spears at Rory, two hits.
    • Azer Sentinels - Move up.
    • Salamanders - Move up.
    • Azer Sentinels - Move up.

  • Round 2

    • Elorion - Mounts carpet, flies ahead into the Celestial area, Scimitar attacks with Cold damage which they're vulnerable to, nice! Second misses, third hits with Booming Blade. Thundering Smite hits as well. Elemental slam attacks both hit killing a Sentinel and critting another.
    • Rudas - Moves conjured animals up catching lots of enemies in it.
    • Zhanis - Moves Conjured Celestial forward, catching lots of enemies and doing massive damage as it goes. Toll the Dead on Sentinel near Rory, nearly killing it. Toll the Dead a second time on it, killing it.
    • Salamander Inferno Master - Flame Trident at Elorion, one hits but Elorion casts Shield.
    • Azer Sentinel - Elorion shrugs off the Constrict. Second attack misses. Fire Aura.
    • Azer Sentinels - One moves up and crits Elorion. Fire Aura.
    • Rory - Move up to southern Sentinel, crit and kill it. Move up to next Sentinel, second attack misses, Bonus action attack hits and kills it. Move up to Salamander next to Elorion.
    • Salamanders - Constricts Elorion, who fails the save. Attack misses. Another swings twice at Elorion, missing both times. Spears at Elorion, both miss. Another moves into the Celestial area, taking damage. Two more spears at Elorion, both missing. Yet two more spears at Elorion, one hits. Another moves through the Celestial's area, taking massive damage. Two spears at guess who, and both miss.

  • Round 3

    • Elorion - Burning damage and a level of Exhaustion, uses Enspelled sword to cast Steel Wind Strike, CRITTING the first one for MAX DAMAGE (216!!!), seconds hits for MAX DAMAGE, third hits for MAX DAMAGE, fourth hits for MAX DAMAGE, fifth and sixth both hit as well. ELORION JUST DID A TOTAL OF 686 DAMAGE ON SIX TARGETS! Good grief! He chose the nuclear option. Elemental moves up, misses with Slam, then stops drops and rolls to put his Burning condition out. Elorion moves away, provoking, gets hit, allowing Rory to attack the Salamander, Elorion uses Contingency Band. Rory's opportunity attack hits and kills the Salamander. Elorion stops drops and rolls.
    • Rudas - Moves conjured animals northward, catching both remaining Salamanders.
    • Zhanis - Burning damage and more Exhaustion for herself and the griffon. Creates water over herself and the griffon to put out the Burning condition. Moves Celestial over the Salamanders, killing one, and then northward toward the Salamander Inferno Master.
    • Salamander Inferno Master - Chucks spears at Rory, hitting once, then submerges into the lava.
    • Rory - Moves toward and into the Celestial area using a Dash Action to get healed.
    • Salamander - Spear at the griffon, killing it. Zhanis falls, taking damage and makes Concentration check. Second spear at Elorion, missing. Moves north.

  • Round 4

    • Elorion - Moves elemental into the Celestial's aura. Elorion stands up and hops onto his carpet. Mind Sliver at the remaining Salamander, but it saves. Uses bracers to cast it again, and this time it fails and does MINIMUM damage. Such a middle finger after the previous round lol.
    • Rudas - Moves conjured animals to Salamander which kills it. Rudas flies northward to join the fray.
    • Zhanis - Moves north, Readies Greater Restoration. Uses Celestial to heal Rory.
    • Salamander Inferno Master - Pops up out of lava and casts Inferno Blast again at Elorion, Zhanis and Rudas. Rudas saves for half damage, but the others fail, taking 42 fire damage and are Burning once again.
    • Rory - Moves out of the Celestial and back in for a heal, then stands next to the lava and Readies attacks for when the master reemerges from the lava. Standing next to the lava causes a bit of damage.
    • Elorion - Burns, taking another level of Exhaustion (now at 3). Stops, drops and rolls to put out the flames. Retreats toward the south, passing by Zhanis and taking her Greater Restoration spell, reducing his Exhaustion level by one, down to 2 now. Elemental moves out and back into the Celestial's area for healing.
    • Rudas - Moves Conjured Animals over the lava near Rory.
    • Zhanis - Burns, taking a level of Exhaustion, which is up to 3 now. Action to stop drop and roll. Stands back up. Moves Celestial northward and partially into the lava near where the Inferno Master last submerged. Rory gets healed.
    • Salamander Inferno Master - Reemerges and chucks tridents at Rory, hitting twice. Submerges again.
    • Rory - Cast Mirror Image, run out and back in to get heals, moves away from the lava and yells to the rest of the group for ranged attack assistance.

  • Round 5

    • Elorion - Uses carpet to double move toward the north and into the Celestial area for healing. Second Wind for more. Elemental moves into the circle as well. Elemental Readies an attack.
    • Rudas - Flies over the lava and Readies an action to attempt to grapple the Inferno master when he shows up again.
    • Zhanis - Moves up and moves the Celestial to heal Rudas, Elorion and his earth elemental. Drinks Potion of Invisibility.
    • Salamander Inferno Master - Didn't seem to do anything.
    • Rory - Steps back against the wall, Bonus Action continue Rage, Ready crossbow attack.

  • Round 6

    • Elorion - Moves elemental north and readies action.
    • Rudas - Moves conjured animals down and hits the Inferno Master, causing ripples to appear in the lava. Elorion calls this out. Readies grapple.
    • Zhanis - Moves Celestial over ripples, moves up.
    • Salamander Inferno Master - Unsure.
    • Rory - Bonus Action continue Rage, Ready crossbow attack.

  • Round 7

    • Elorion - Can't see ripples anymore. Elemental Readies attack. Elorion also Readies attack.
    • Rudas - Readies grapple, moves conjured animals.
    • Zhanis - Moves Celestial, readies attack.
    • Salamander Inferno Master - Moves into conjured animals, pops up to cast Inferno Blast, triggering our Readied attacks. Elorion's Bead of Force goes off, but the Inferno Master succeeds on the save. Gets pushed away from it to the southwest into both the Celestial and Conjured Animals. Rudas tries to grapple him, but he saves. Zhanis's crossbow attack hits. Rory's crossbow attack misses. Terrible. Here comes Inferno Blast. All but Rudas fail (Zhanis unaffected). We're burning. Bonus Action Blazing Movement and dips under the lava. Rudas calls out he's right below him.
    • Rory - He's had enough, Potion of Speed and jumps into the lava after this guy, taking tons of fire damage. Three attacks, three hits. Action Surge. Both other attacks miss. Rory leaves the lava through the Celestial's aura for healing. The master's opportunity attack hits one of Rory's Mirror Images (two left) and previously unseen Fire Snakes attempt to pull Rory back in, doing some more damage.

  • Round 8

    • Elorion - Moves elemental through celestial for heals. Lands and goes Prone to put out burning.
    • Rudas - Moves conjured animals.
    • Salamander Fire Snake - Out of lava, hits Rory. Fire Aura. Another comes out, Earth Ele AoO hits and kills it.
    • Zhanis - Moves Celestial over allies for healing.
    • Salamander Inferno Master - Here comes Inferno Blast again. We all fail this time. Blazing Movement.
    • Rory - Moves up to barely submerged master, swings thrice, hits twice. Stays here.
    • Salamander Fire Snake - Moves to Rory and hits, Fire Aura. Another hits the earth elemental.

  • Round 9

    • Elorion - Burning, drops Concentration because of it, moves to celestial for healing, Potion of Speed, Disadvantaged attacks on Inferno Master, all three miss. Earth elemental hits once.
    • Rudas - Flies southward, falls Prone to put out flames.
    • Salamander Fire Snake - Move, attack earth ele, miss.
    • Zhanis - Moves Celestial over enemies and allies, taking out all Fire Snakes but one.
    • Salamander Inferno Master - Moves.
    • Rory - Stop drop and roll, move out and back into Celestial for healing, then moves out again.

  • Round 10

    • Elorion - Stop drop and roll. Now at FIVE levels of exhaustion. One more and he dies. Mounts up on carpet and flies away. Earth ele moves into Celestial for healing, stop drop and roll.
    • Rudas - Stands up, flies next to Elorion, reverts into normal form, casts Greater Restoration on Elorion.
    • Zhanis - Moves back, moves Celestial over Rory.
    • Salamander Inferno Master - Unsure.
    • Rory - Looks around, sees no indication of the master's location, and retreats down the hall to regroup.
  • Combat over.
• Rudas casts Greater Restoration a few times before Elorion casts a Tiny Hut for us to take a Long Rest in.
• TLRGBU.
• While resting we could hear stomping, and we see two giant creatures pass us by, heading toward the Inferno Master. Great. Rory recognizes them as Fire Giants.
• Rudas and Zhanis cast Greater Restorations to remove all remaining Exhaustion levels from us all.
• Rory peeks around the corner to see what he can see, and sees several Azer Sentinels, both of the Fire Giants, and a Salamander all in the master's room, nothing in the corridor.
• Elorion ritually casts Rary's Telepathic Bond.
• Elorion casts Investiture of Flame on himself, and Rudas casts it on Rory. Two of us are now IMMUNE to fire damage. Nice!
• Rudas holds his Ice Storm for when he can see the Inferno Master. Elorion and Rory lead the charge since they're immune to Fire damage, and Zhanis will do whatever she does.
• Rory Rages and charges in. Elorion and Zhanis follow behind. INITIATIVE!!!

  • Round 1

    • Salamander - Moves up, misses Rory.
    • Rory - Two attacks at Salamander, both hit.
    • Azer Sentinel - Attacks Rory.
    • Elorion - Moves up, Steel Wind Strike, hits five times for 60 damage each! SHEESH.
    • Fire Giant - Two hammer throws at Rory, both hit. Rory has Disadvantage on next attack before end of his next turn.
    • Salamander Inferno Master - Becomes visible, triggering Rudas's held action. Rudas casts 5th Level Ice Storm. Inferno Blast. Doesn't affect us now that we're immune.
    • Azer Sentinel - Hammer hits Rory.
    • Fire Giant - Two hammer throws, both hit and push Rory 15' away each time.
    • Zhanis - Moves up and casts Conjure Celestial at 8th Level on the southern most enemies, killing two of three. Moves the celestial to get more of them.
    • Azer Sentinel - Hammer hits Elorion.
    • Salamander - Flame Spears at Elorion, both miss.
    • Rudas - Readies spell again.
    • Azer Sentinel - Misses Elorion.

  • Round 2

    • Rory - Moves up into the celestial for healing. Hits and kills Sentinel. Fires crossbow at Fire Giant, CRITS.
    • Elorion - Kills Sentinel. Gets celestial heal. Attacks Fire Giant and hits. Booming Blade. Bonus action attack misses.
    • Fire Giant - Two hammer throws at Rory, both hit, pushing him back 30' again. Celestial damage to the giant as it moves away.
    • Salamander Inferno Master - Moves out and next to Rory. Flame Trident at Zhanis, which hits. She maintains Concentration. He throws another, hits. She maintains again.
    • Fire Giant - Hammer throws at Rory, hits. 15' pushed back for Rory. And again.
    • Zhanis - Moves celestial, killing a Fire Giant. Cone of Cold at the Inferno Master. He's vulnerable to Cold damage so takes 90! Healing Word on herself.
    • Salamander - Moves up and attacks Elorion, but he uses Medal of the Horizonback to mitigate it.
    • Rudas - Moves up, Moonlight Step forward a bit further, Cone of Cold toward Inferno Master, which takes 100 (!) Cold damage!

  • Round 3

    • Rory - Moves into Celestial for healing, two swings at Inferno Master, both hit. Second swing with Staggering Smite, but it makes its save.
    • Elorion - Attacks Salamander with Booming Blade. Second attack hits. Third attack hits. Illusionist's Bracers for another Booming Blade, which hits.
    • Fire Giant - Moves up, two hammer throws at Zhanis, both miss.
    • Salamander Inferno Master - Blazing Movement down to Zhanis, Zhanis makes Concentration check. Tridents at Rudas. First one hits. Rudas casts Absorb Elements. Makes Concentration save. Second one misses. Continues to move down to Rudas. Ruh roh.
    • Zhanis - Moves Celestial onto enemies, killing Fire Giant. Moves south, casts Toll the Dead twice, but the Inferno Master makes both saves.
    • Salamander - Flame Spear at Elorion, hits. Misses second one. Nearly dies to celestial damage.
    • Rudas - Bonus Action Jaunt northward, Dash Action to move further to celestial for healing.

  • Round 4

    • Rory - Double move to get to Inferno Master, Action Surge, both attacks hit. He must just be barely hanging on.
    • Elorion - Attacks Salamander, hits, kills it. Just the master remains.
    • Salamander Inferno Master - He gets his Inferno Blast back and drops it on Zhanis. Zhanis saves luckily, and maintains Concentration. Blazing Movement, Zhanis maintains again. Fire Aura, Zhanis saves yet again.
    • Zhanis - True Strike with Frost Brand Longsword, killing it finally!
  • Combat over.
• We search him and find a solid gold totem burning hot on the inside as if recently forged. This is what we'll use to summon the master.
• We move with the Celestial back to the main chamber where the monks were chanting.
• We each gain 18 temp HP from Zhanis's aura while we plan.
• Elorion tells Rory the command word for the flying carpet so he can fly over while maintaining his Rage. Elorion and Rory fly over to the dragon's rock and prepare for battle.
• As Rory places the totem into the keyhole, the lava grows brighter and the smoke heavier. Along the west edge of the room, we see what appears to be almost a dozen red dragon eggs that begin to glow. A burst of flame engulfs Elorion and Rory, who are both immune to Fire damage. It reveals Orghitnirig, the red dragon, whose wings unfurl menacingly. INITIATIVE!!!

  • Round 1

    • Orghitnirig - Frightful Presence, everyone but Zhanis fails. Elorion uses Orros Mark of Fate to potentially fear the dragon, but it saves. Turns to Elorion and attempts to bite, and misses. Rend at Elorion, hits. Another Rend crits Elorion, but does relatively minimal damage.
    • Elorion - Steel Wind strike at the dragon, miss. Scimitar of Speed hits. Moves. End of turn, Orghitnirig casts Command on Rory and Elorion. We both fail. We are commanded to Drop. We drop our weapons and the dragon tells the Firetamer to "take them".
    • Ashari Firetamer - Previously unseen figure drops from the ceiling and says he'll help his master. Moves to Rory and picks up his sword and tries to run off with it. As he moves away Rory uses his Opportunity Attack to perform an Unarmed Strike using the Grapple option. He fails and is Grappled. Even with his Freedom of Movement, Sentinel reduces his movement to 0 so he can't automatically escape the grapple. He then throws Rory's Soul Sword into the lava. He then casts Jump on himself. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary action to move down to ground level and beats his wings, knocking us prone (except Elorion since he's immune to Prone thanks to his Glowrune Pigment) and doing some damage, including to the Firetamer.
    • Rory - Watching as his sword flies into the lava, Rory stands up, quaffs a Potion of Speed and takes off diving into the lava trying to follow the sword's trajectory as best he can. The Firetamer tries to prevent Rory from getting away by grappling, but Rory resists. The dragon does the same, but Rory is able to escape that as well. Rory leaps off and dives into the lava, taking some damage on impact. Using all available movement, Rory searches for the sword, to no avail. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Pounce to move and Rend Elorion, and would hit but Elorion uses Shield.
    • Zhanis - Moves Conjured Celestial over the lava.
    • Rudas - 4th Level Blight on Orghitnirig, he saves, taking half damage. Moves behind a column out of sight of the dragon. He makes the save against the dragon's Fear and makes it!

  • Round 2

    • Orghitnirig - Grapples Elorion. Flies with him toward the north and attempts to Bite, which hits. Elorion maintains Concentration. Dragon then Rends Elorion, hits, and Elorion still maintains Concentration. Orghitnirig drops Elorion to the ground. Elorion's Feather Token activates, preventing the fall damage. Elorion floats harmlessly to the lava below since he's also immune to Fire damage.
    • Elorion - Action to drink Potion of Speed. Haste to make it back to the dragon's rock. Moves up to his sword and picks it up. Bonus Action Bladesong. Moves to other end of the rock. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Pounce, moving half his movement speed. Can't attack anything this time though.
    • Lair Action - Searing Heat at Zhanis and Rudas. Zhanis uses Lucky to give herself Advantage. Both make the save.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Stands up, casts Dispel Magic on Elorion. Elorion attempts to Counterspell, and does so successfully! He casts Flame Blade as a Bonus Action. Moves up to Elorion. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Pounce to move near Elorion and attempts to Rend him, which misses.
    • Rory - Uses all available movement and actions (minus Bonus Action) to continue his search for his sword, to no avail again. Bonus Action continue Raging. Still fails Wisdom save against the Frightened condition. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to cast Command on Elorion, commanding him to Grovel, but Elorion makes his save.
    • Zhanis - Moves celestial area up 25 feet and forward enough to catch the dragon in its area. He saves though, taking half damage. Moves out of fire area. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Pounce, making a Rend attack at Elorion, which hits, then moves away.
    • Rudas - Moves out of Searing Heat. Casts Blight at Orghitnirig, fails save but uses Legendary Resistance to succeed anyway, taking half damage. Hides behind pillar.

  • Round 3

    • Orghitnirig - Flies up to 60' directly over Zhanis and Rudas and breathes directly down to catch both in his Fire Breath attack. Both fail their save, but both are currently Resistant to Fire damage, and both maintain their Concentration! Phew! Uses remaining movement to move downward toward Rudas.
    • Elorion - Bonus Action Celestial Revelation: Heavenly Wings. Flies through Conjured Celestial for healing. Action to cast Mirror Image. Ashari Firetamer takes Opportunity Attack, misses. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Pounce, moving toward Rudas and attempts to Rend him, but misses.
    • Lair Action - Noxious Smoke on Zhanis and Rudas, both save.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Moves to the edge and casts Dispel Magic at Elorion. Elorion attempts to Counterspell, and does so successfully. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to attack Rudas with his tail, and CRITS. Rudas maintains Concentration.
    • Rory - Still searching for the sword, Rory dives deeper, hitting the bottom at 30' under. Rory uses Primal Knowledge to be able to make his Perception check using Strength, and STILL ROLLS UNDER THE DC. The absolute terrible luck tonight! End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to whip Rudas with his tail, and misses.
    • Zhanis - Moves south to cast Cone of Cold without catching Rudas in it. The dragon saves taking half. Uses Celestial to heal Elorion, then moves it to catch the Firetamer in it. It saves, taking half. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to attack Rudas with his Tail, hits. Rudas maintains Concentration.
    • Rudas - Disengage Action, move away, Bonus Action Wildshape into Swordbeak, flies north over the peninsula.

  • Round 4

    • Orghitnirig - Moves to Zhanis, Bite misses, Rend hits, Zhanis maintains Concentration, grapples Zhanis, flies her over the lava and drops her. Zhanis takes a MASSIVE 103 Fire damage, but she's resistant, taking half. However, she fails her Concentration save to maintain concentration, causing the Conjured Celestial to disappear.
    • Elorion - Action to cast Synaptic Static on the dragon. It would fail its save, but it uses its second Legendary Resistance to succeed for half damage. Bonus Action Second Wind. Flies northeast to an area over solid ground. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Pounce, moving toward Zhanis and Rends her, and misses.
    • Lair Action - Targets Rudas with Searing Heat, Rudas maintains Concentration.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Dash to move to bottom of crag.
    • Rory - Continues searching. Another failure... Bonus Action to continue Raging. Rory fails the Wisdom Save against the Frightened condition again. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Pounce to Rend Zhanis, which hits. Orghitnirig moves toward Rudas.
    • Zhanis - Immediately takes Fire damage from being in the lava and drops unconscious.
    • Rudas - Disengage and move north in order to try to maintain Concentration, Moonlight Stepping past the relatively narrow terrain to move further. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Pounce toward Elorion.

  • Round 5

    • Orghitnirig - Multiattack at Elorion. Bite misses, Rend would hit but Elorion it hits a Mirror Image instead (two images remain), second Rend misses.
    • Elorion - Hasted Action to Disengage, fly southwest to directly over Rory, movement to fly down to his flying carpet, Action to Psi Lens back to entrance.
    • Lair Action - Noxious Smoke at Rudas, he saves.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Hold Produce Flame until he sees Rory or Zhanis surface. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Pounce toward Rudas, Rend hits Rudas, maintains Concentration
    • Rory - FINALLY finds his sword, grabs it and surfaces, triggering the held Produce Flame, which misses. Climbs up onto the ledge of the island. Bonus Action to continue Rage. Fails Wisdom Save against Frightened, of course.
    • Zhanis - Succeeds first Death Save! But auto-fails one as well since she's still in lava. One success, one fail. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Tail attack Rudas, and misses.
    • Rudas - Moves around the dragon, Moonlight Steps away, continues moving west, Dashes to fly all the way back down to Rory.

  • Round 6

    • Orghitnirig - Flies around the corner from the north back toward us. He seems to be pursuing Rudas at the moment.
    • Elorion - Flies in from the north toward the dragon. Drops a Psi Lens below him as he flies. Uses Iron Bands of Bilarro to attempt to Restrain Orghitnirig, and it hits! Looks like the dragon is Restrained. The dragon immediately falls down into the lava. Continues flying toward the downed dragon and attacks with his scimitar as a Bonus Action, hits, Hasted Action to attack again, CRITS. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Tail Attack Elorion, which would hit, but hits a Mirror Image instead (one image remains).
    • Lair Action - Noxious Smoke on Elorion, who fails the saving throw.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Moves to the opposite side of the island from Rory and Faerie Fires Rudas, who succeeds on the save. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Tail Attack Elorion, which would hit, but it hits the last remaining Mirror Image instead.
    • Rory - Starts chasing after the Firetamer, but when coming around the corner, Rudas sees Rory and tells him to grab Zhanis who is in the lava, and points to her location. Rory turns, sprouts his wings using Bonus Action Draconic Flight, flies directly over her, searches and finds her, picks her up, and begins moving her to relative safety. Wisdom save on the Frightened Condition, which Rory FINALLY makes! Hooray! End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Tail Attack Elorion, which would hit, but Elorion uses Shield to prevent it.
    • Zhanis - Fails second Death Saving Throw. One success, two failures. Not good!
    • Rudas - Flies toward Zhanis in Rory's arms, Dash to move a bit further and hides behind the pillar of rock for full cover. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to cast Command on Elorion, who fails the save. Elorion is Commanded to Drop.

  • Round 7

    • Orghitnirig - Sinks further into the lava. Attempts to break free of the Iron Bands of Bilarro but FAILS, meaning he's Restrained for the next 24 hours, assuming, of course, he doesn't have other ways of escaping!
    • Elorion - Drops what he's holding and ends his turn. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Tail Attack Elorion, which just misses.
    • Lair Action - Noxious Smoke on Elorion, who makes his Save this time.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Targets Elorion with Dispel Magic. Elorion loses Haste and Investiture of Flame. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to cast Command on Elorion to Command him to Grovel, and fails the save :(
    • Rory - Bonus Action to administer Potion of Supreme Healing on Zhanis, then set her down on land. Fly and Hasted Dash to close the distance on the FIretamer. Action to make two attacks, both hit, causing him to drop Concentration on the Faerie Fire that hit no one. Rory continues moving and provokes, which misses. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to cast Command on Rory, who fails the save, and Commands him to Drop.
    • Zhanis - Casts Conjure Celestial near Rudas, heals him, moves it to herself and heals up as well. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Tail Whip Elorion, which misses.

  • Round 8

    • Orghitnirig - Bite misses Elorion, Rend hits Elorion. Elorion uses a Reaction to activate his Contingency Band to heal himself using a Potion of Supreme Healing. A second Rend hits Elorion as well.
    • Elorion - Grovels as Commanded, and goes Prone on the lava, taking 45 Fire damage. Ouch! End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Tail Attack Elorion, which would hit, but Elorion casts Shield.
    • Lair Action - Noxious Smoke on Elorion, who fails the save and is Poisoned until the end of his next turn.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Casts Dispel Magic on Rory, which causes his Haste to drop. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Tail Attack Elorion, which misses.
    • Rory - Drops weapon as Commanded and ends turn. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Command Rory and Elorion to Halt. Both fail the saves.
    • Zhanis - Drinks a Potion of Flying and flies about 10' above the lava and heads toward the southern dragon eggs along the wall. Moves the celestial along with her to heal some more. Dashes to move further westward toward the eggs. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Tail Attack Elorion, which hits.
    • Rudas - Continues hiding in Full Cover, Dodge Action.

  • Round 9

    • Orghitnirig - Multiattack at Elorion. Bite misses, Rend hits. Second Rend also hits, causing Elorion to fall Unconscious. No bueno.
    • Elorion - Succeeds first Death Saving Throw, then immediately fails one thanks to the lava.
    • Lair Action - Searing Heat on Elorion, causing him to immediately fail another Death Saving Throw. One success, two failures.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Attempts to leap out over the lava after Rory to attempt to Grapple him, but Rory makes the Strength Save. The Firetamer attempts an Acrobatics check to prevent himself falling into the lava, and makes it.
    • Rory - Halts.
    • Zhanis - Moves herself and her celestial forward and casts Fire Bolt on a red dragon egg along the southern wall. The light emanating from the egg deepens and grows brighter. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Tail Attack Elorion, and hits. Final Death Saving Throw gone. Elorion, with no last words, ceases to be.
    • Rudas - Hides and Dodges.

  • Round 10

    • Orghitnirig - Scorching Rays at Rory, two of which hit, but Rory is immune to Fire damage.
    • Elorion - Dead.
    • Lair Action - Noxious Smoke over the dragon.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Faerie Fire on Rory, who fails his save. Not a big deal for Rory. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Command Rory to Approach.
    • Rory - Approaches the dragon and ends turn. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Tail Attack Rory, which hits.
    • Zhanis - Moves north a bit to get within range and casts Toll the Dead on the Firetamer. It fails the save, taking the damage. Tries again using the Illusionist Bracers, but he makes the save this time. Moves the celestial around the east side of the island. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Tail Attack Rory, which hits.
    • Rudas - Waits and Dodges. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Tail Attack Rory, which misses.

  • Round 11

    • Orghitnirig - Multiattack at Rory. Bite hits, first rend misses, second hits.
    • Lair Action - Noxious Smoke. Rory saves.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Produce Flame. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Command Rory to Halt. Even with a Nat 20, Rory cannot succeed. Rory's done at this point.
    • Rory - Halts. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Tail Attack Rory, which hits.
    • Zhanis - Moves up a bit, Toll the Dead on the Firetamer twice. One hits. Moves Celestial northward. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Tail Attack, which misses.
    • Rudas - Dodge. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Tail Attack Rory, which hits.

  • Round 12

    • Orghitnirig - Multiattack at Rory. Bite Misses. First rend hits. Second Rend also hits.
    • Lair Action - Noxious Smoke, Rory saves.
    • Ashari Firetamer - Produce Flame at Zhanis. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Command Rory to Halt. Rory fails.
    • Rory - Halts. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Tail Attack Rory, which hits.
    • Zhanis - Toll the Dead on the Firetamer, WHICH KILLS IT FINALLY! Moves celestial toward Rory, which gets Rory in the radius, healing him for 34 HP! Yells to Rudas that the Firetamer is dead. Casts Healing Word on Rory for more healing!

  • Round 13

    • Orghitnirig - Multiattack at Rory. Bite hits, both Rends hit.
    • Lair Action - Noxious Smoke, Rory makes save.
    • Rory - Nothing. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Tail Attack, which misses. And the celestial heals Rory. Nice!
    • Zhanis - Moves celestial over dragon and down into the lava a bit. Dragon saves, but still takes half! End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Tail Attack, which hits.
    • Rudas - Flies over to the island and Dodges. End of turn, Orghitnirig uses Legendary Action to Tail Attack Rory, which hits.

  • Round 14

    • Orghitnirig - Bite misses, first Rend misses, second hits.
    • Lair Action - Noxious Smoke, Rory saves.
    • Rory - Nothing. Instant fail on Command. Celestial heals Rory.
    • Zhanis - Celestial heals Rory.
      .
      .
      .
  • Clearly it's kind of a stalemate until the Celestial wears down the dragon, so we skip turns until that happens. The dragon dies thanks to the celestial! Rory, while still immune to fire damage, hurries and scoops up the quickly deteriorating Elorion and brings him to the central pillar, which is now only 5' above lava level. Zhanis resurrects Elorion.
  • Once things have calmed down, we all get magically teleported back to the Nexus. The room spins. Once it stops, where there once were four doors, there is now one glowing radiant door. We presume this is the door to the final chamber, which we also presume to be that of the mad mage themself.

That's it for this session!

Adventure Loot

• Scimitar
• Red Dragon Scale Mail (2000g)
• Robe of Scintillating Colors (3000g)
• Spell Scroll (8th Level)
• Spell Scroll (7th Level) (Elorion)
• Ioun Stone (20000g)

Loose Gold Found

Total: 355000g
Converted:
Split: 88750g

• Gold has been split