This Time We Saved Neros Willingly
Chapter 4, Session 17 (10/6/25)
PCs (level 10):
- *E.M.E.T., Warforged Bard (College of Creation)
- Fen Brambledew, Halfling Rogue (Swashbuckler)
- *Jimothy, Human (11) Druid 4/Warlock 5 (Circle of the Shepherd/Pact of the Chain)
- Kupa, Imp Familiar (plus one level)
- Khîthwaïre (Khithi) Martadil, Drow Wizard (School of Divination)
- Kysyaries (Ky) Adious, Half-elf Rogue (Arcane Trickster)
- Neros Psariath, Triton Sorcerer (Storm Sorcery)
- Olearius, Human Druid (Circle of Spores)
(*denotes absence at Oct 6 session)
Current Location & Quest:
- Beneath Mt. Haresh, journeying through the tunnels to the Fire Temple
- Pursuing the Red-Cloaked Druids to the to obtain the Fire Amulet
Previously...
It's been a minute. But, since last we left off the party made their way to the end of the river and hired a Fire Genasi (Ignis) as our "Volcano Sherpa." Goral the Tortle has continued journeying with us because of the mind flayer situation in the Underdark.
The party began their journey into the tunnels of Mt. Haresh with Ignis as our guide. Until this point, Ignis had not spoken a word to us. As we enter a cavern on the magma river something rises up from the magma itself. "Arn-Koroch," Ignis tells us. He is a man of few words, but they sure are important. The party began to make a break for the cave entrance across a bridge, but things did not go exactly as planned...
Basically, Te Fiti
As the party engages Arn-Koroch, Goral, Jimothy, and Ignis all make it to the cave entrance while the rest follow behind, making attempts to attack and run.
Olearius is loathe to harm Arn-Koroch, so he casts blindness. Khithi saw this coming (aka used a portent roll of 11) and Arn-Koroch is blinded. With the elemental at a disadvantage, Khithi casts Cone of Cold but the big ol' magma monster doesn't seem to mind much. E.M.E.T casts mass healing word to "top off" the players who had been hit by an initial attack from Arn-Koroch before making it to the cave entrance.
Neros decides to take a different approach. He casts fly on himself and Khithi and attempt to speak with Arn-Koroch. Instead of responding with words, Arn-Koroch swings his arm and swats Neros out of his face. He smashes the rock outcrop where Neros now lies and it falls into the magma. Neros hastily casts Misty Step and manages to escape immediately falling into the magma. However, he is now on a piece of rock quickly approaching the chasm and magma waterfall.
Don't forget to attach your grappling hooks, kids
Ky dashes into action and plans to throw her grappling hook to Neros before realizing she didn't tie it to the rope. It's fine, Neros will probably be ok waiting.
While Ky saves Neros, Khithi summons a Chasme who attacks the elemental with a natural 20 (which Khithi also saw coming that morning aka portent). The Chasme deals significant damage to Arn-Koroch who begins to fall to pieces. After the demon attacks, Khithi casts snowballs at Arn-Koroch, but for a magma monster he is pretty quick and they aren't very effective.
Rather than continue the fight, Arn-Koroch melts into the magma and vanishes. Ky throws the grappling hook, Neros scrambles up to safety, and the party regroups in the mouth of the cave.
Magma Salmon
The party asks Ignis where Arn-Koroch went and he looks out over the magma. Fen and Ky do as well, and Ky spots a bit of the magma flowing in the opposite direction and moving up one of the magma falls and further into the volcano.
Olearius laments that we tried to kill Arn-Koroch, saying he is part of the ecosystm. Ignis responds that he is not, he is a spirit. Then, Ignis returns to his typical silence and leads the party a bit further underground to a small cave where they can rest. A map of the tunnels is carved on the wall and Khithi copies it while Ky stares at it intently to memorize it.
Before going to sleep, Ignis tells the party this may be their last chance for a full night's rest. The journey through the tunnels is perilous and will take at least three days, so he encourages them to rest while they can.
Do you think the magical dome is structural?
The party successfully (to everyone's surprise) navigates through the tunnels with little difficulties. This was in part due to the guidance of Ignis and the survival skill of Goral. We've gotta find a way to keep him with us forever.
On the fourth day of the journey through Mt. Haresh the party arrives in a large cavern. Above them is a pinprick of light--the opening of the volcano and the first bit of sunlight the party has seen since they entered the Underdark weeks ago.
They stand on a rocky outcrop and before them is a lake of magma with an island in the middle. Ornately carved obsidian bridges span the magma to provide access to the Fire Temple the party has been seeking. Khithi and Neros notice a magical dome around the temple which seems to protect it from the magma, heat, and eruptions. There is a courtyard on the island with a garden of trees, plants, and even a pond.
There are two doors to the temple, each with a 15 foot symbol carved on them. One door is closed shut and the other is cracked open. We might not need that fire temple key we definitely never forgot we had after all.
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