Six From Gate Pass - Chapter 2: The Indomitable Fire Forest of Innenotdar

[The Bashar]

Hrimr crosses the stone bridge with only a bit of trepidation. The stone work holds under his stout body as he's led across the bridge. As he sees the other group members trying to get at the chest he wonders if it's really worth the risk.

"I don't know if it's worth risking immolation for a chest who's contents are probably ash."

 

[Gregor]

"I agree with Hrimr," says Torrent, "this bridge is in a sad state. I say we move on while we can and leave that blazing chest alone. One mess up on the bridge and you could be inadvertently joining it at the bottom of a flaming gorge. Plus, I don't think anyone has anymore rope." She flashes a smile and takes a swig of water.

 

[digimattic]

Arnir curses as he hates giving up riches when they are free for the taking "No, I have no rope...Blast! Very well, unless someone can think of something ingenious, we should keep moving."

 

[fromage67]

Lars sighs as he rolls his rope and grapple and starts walking once more.

 

[Gregor]

a curious encounter

You follow Torrent away from the crumbling bridge and the chest that eluded your grasp, continuing to march through the ash and almost unbearable heat of the fire forest. You figure that you must have walked just over 4 miles since entering the woods and though you cannot tell the time of day due to the ever-surrounding flames, you reckon that good progress is being made.

The road soon dips down into a lower area of the forest and the elven homes you spied earlier become more abundant, signaling that this area was likely a lively village in its days before the flames. Lost in thought, you almost don't notice that about 50 feet ahead of you, a wolf-like creature emerges from the fierce flames at the side of the road. It peers at you with glowing red eyes and paws its way onto the road with an air of cordial ferocity. The beast resembles a big, powerfully built dog with short, rust-red fur; its markings, teeth and tongue are sooty black. It carries what appears to be a scorched human thigh bone in its mouth, and when it reaches the center of the road, it sits down facing you. It casually drops the bone in the middle of the road and barks a strange sound that is more reminiscent of a crackling fire than a dog's bark. It then backs up about 15 feet, exhales small flames from its nostrils and nods its head in the direction of the bone.

 

[digimattic]

Arnir stops dead in his tracks and stares at the strange beast for a moment before leaning on his bow. As he looks over the fire breathing hound, he casually twists a stray lock of hair that has fallen from his ponytail into his sweaty, ash covered face and tucks it behind his ear. Wearily wiping his eyes with the back of an equally dirty hand he says to Hrmir "Well, what about this druid? Have you any knowledge of flaming canines?"

Having said that he casts detect magic focused on the dog

OOC: Range of Detect Magic is 60'

 

[The Bashar]

Hrimr racks his brain trying to recognize the beast.

 

[Gregor]

[sblock="for Hrimr"]Hrimr, given that its obviously not a natural animal, the school of nature can tell you nothing.[/sblock]

When the dog-like creature sees Arnir cast a spell, it's hackles raise and it steps back slightly. It looses another loud bark and then breathes a 10 foot cone of fire in your direction. It then narrows its coal-like eyes and bounds off into the flaming woods.

 

[funkmamagoat]

When the dog-like creature sees Arnir cast a spell, it's hackles raise and it steps back slightly. It looses another loud bark and then breathes a 10 foot cone of fire in your direction. It then narrows its coal-like eyes and bounds off into the flaming woods.

Kirio looks at Arnir and winks "I don't think he appreciated that...? Shall we see what the cute little poochy left us." Kirio carefully walks up to the bone, crouches down and examines it...

			What in the blazes was that terrifying thing...

OOC: knowledge checks on the "dog"

 

[Gregor]

[sblock="for Kirio"]Kirio, you are aware that the dog-like creature is a Hell Hound. As the name suggests, they are from any of layers of Baator: the Nine Circles of Hell. They are quite intelligent and are capable of understanding Infernal, though are not able to speak it.[/sblock]

Kirio, you bend down and look at the scorched femur. You notice that something has been carved onto the surface of the bone. Closer consideration reveals that it is actually a message, crudely written in common. After crooking your neck to get a better look, you read aloud:

“Leave the case. Cooperate, and we might find an arrangement to spare your lives. Carry this with you if you wish to bargain.”