Cant Take The Heat Stay Out Of The Forge

*Hired by*: Aesarel (female cloud giant ghost)

*Mission Request*: Rid air tower of fire elementals

*Rewards/Loot*: Access to Aesarel's Temple, 6400gp, magic items

*Discovered Places*: Aesarel Temple (Cloud Tower)

*Caravan Allies*: Gromlo (antiquarian), Caliban (cook), "Bob" (alarm gnome)

*Monsters Encountered*: Salamander (large fire snake creature), Fire snake, Efreeti

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## Summary

The party journeyed to the air nexus near the Obelisk Nexus to unlock its warping capabilities. Upon arrival they found a temple with similar architecture to that seen on the Air Plane, but it was darkened by soot and surrounded by lava flows. There was a tall main tower connected to a smaller set of building by a magma duct. From afar Arco could make out enslaved creatures working in a mine on the left side with giants moving large buckets of oar, and Salamanders (*monster*) patrolling the tower. Aster used her newfound grim psychometry ability to try to suss out any evil pasts of the area. While she wasn't able to glean much, she did feel a strange presence calling from the far right side at the base of the buildings. The party waited until night to check out the area; Beebo was left sound asleep at the caravan. They dispatched a few Salamanders and fire snakes before finding the skeletal remains of a giant in the sand. The ghost of a female cloud giant, Aesarel (ace-are-ell), emerged and spoke to Aster in Auran. She requested the party's aid in ridding the air temple of the fire elementals who redirected the air nexus to that of fire using a magical ruby that resides in the center of the main tower. In order to destroy the ruby, they need to stab it with Aesarel's silver scimitar hidden in a secret chamber beneath the forge. The chamber will unlock when air is blown into the skywhale statue's mouth. Aesarel also warned the group about General Ashana, the fire giant seen watching over the mine.

Aster flew up the cliff side with Raxis's pitons to help the party scale the 400 foot wall. After a few close calls, the party was able to reach the top and hide out in a small partially destroyed building. Aster flew overhead to look in the largest building on the cliff. She confirmed it was the building was the forge and found out the smaller intact building next to it was used for housing and also currently empty. A efreeti could be inside working the forge and a few fire snakes were seen coming in and out of the building from the magma duct side. The party then discussed a strategy, settling on luring out the efreeti and pushing him over the edge while Raxis snuck in to unlock the secret chamber. Eira was stationed outside the forge, Aster was up on the roof, and Arco stayed hidden in the destroyed building. Eira made a bird call sound first, but a fire snake minion went outside to check out the noise. Aster made quick work of the creature then flung it over the cliff side. They tried again and had to get rid of another minion. On the third try the efreeti left the forge, which initiated phase two of the plan. Arco made the same bird call sign to lure it out further and Aster flew at the efreeti's back to shove it off the cliff. She succeeded but it turns out efreeti can fly so the party had to fight him while Raxis snuck into the forge. Arco cast hold person on the efreeti, which caused him to fall the 400 feet down. Aster flew after him to make sure he was dead and also looted the body. Raxis got rid of a couple more fire snakes before unlocking the secret chamber. He found a shield of Syranita, quarterstaff of Khord (*more like Khorderstaff, am I right?)*, Aesarel's scimitar, a paper breastplate, and a magic boomerang. All this commotion alerted General Ashana, so Raxis quickly ushered his companions into the secret chamber, then locked them inside while he hid and watched. After Ashana left, Aster took the scimitar, Eira the boomerang, Arco the shield, and the breastplate was given to Beebo.

Raxis and Aster made their way under the magma duct to lure more enemies to their doom. Eventually the party ran to the other side while being chased by Salamanders and fire snakes. Once in the clear they hid and Aster scoped out the main temple chamber. The large ruby was suspended above a big pool of lava inside with General Ashana and many minions, so the party discussed strategy to get rid of Ashana. Ideally they would lure her out of the main temple so Eira can banish Ashana while Arco and Raxis protect her, then Aster can fly in and destroy the ruby. Luring Ashana out was difficult but eventually Raxis just stood on the magma duct bridge and shouted at the top of his lungs. The plan went off, banishment was cast, Aster flew in through the open roof, Raxis skittered away, and Arco cast gust of wind to keep other enemies from crossing the bridge easily. A struggle ensued. Eira concentrated on her spell. Raxis fell off the bridge, but used the blue feather Sohtana gifted the party to cast feather fall on himself. Arco concentrated on his spell. Aster stabbed at the ruby while taking fire damage for being too close to the lava. Beebo ran up and joined Raxis on the ground to fight. He used dimension door once he was told the party must protect Eira for the plan to succeed. Raxis was surrendered after Beebo left and the Salamanders shackled him to take him to the mines. Aster destroyed the ruby but the fire elementals remained so she joined the party outside to help Eira. After half-a-minute the link to the Fire Plane was broken and the griffon calvary came rushing through the air nexus. Air elementals fought off the last of the fire elementals. Aster tried to dive bomb Raxis's captors but she misjudged the trajectory; thanks to her Breastplate of the Griffons she was undamaged by the fall. After the grueling battle, the party stayed for the week to rest and help the air elementals slowly rebuild Aesarel's Temple.