Arcade’s Journal -- The Academy of Flamecraft, Part 1

...set forth from Kindric many days ago, following Wyrmscar’s map and heading for Hettich. The town was once known as Heat-teach, evidence of its proximity to the Academy. We are seeking Goblin’s Leap, which should be found nearby. We passed through many wonderful towns: Ragost, the spa city of Helidan, and Callandale.

On arriving in Hettich we were greeted by an acolyte of a man named Tallonias the Prophet. The Prophet is the dominant figure in the local religion, and he apparently had foretold our coming. The acolyte kindly provided us with healing potions for our quest.

We made some inquiries about town. It seems that Chemith, the last known location of the Academy of Flamecraft 200 years ago, is now the home of horrible creatures of flame. It is located beyond the Flamefalls and the Fire Rift, and sits on the plains below. We resolved to avoid the area if possible, and set off on the trail to Goblin’s Leap....

...reached the ‘Leap. The entire area is a plateau, hundreds of miles long, set thousands of feet over the southern plain. The ‘Leap is at the top of this steep cliff, known as The Wall. At sundown, as described on the map, we began to descend the perilously narrow path down the cliff face, moving from rock shelf to rock shelf. Far below, we could make out the shape of a stone wyvern. Alix used his magical crossbow to assist during the descent. Its enchanted bolts could be fired in a straight line while carrying a rope, and a command word would cause the rope to be winched in. His expertise with the device was highly questionable, however, and he managed to hit me in the head with one poorly placed shot! (Not the first time for this, I’m afraid.)

We were part way down, facing a deep chasm cut in the rock, when a harsh cry rang out. From some hidden cave, two winged shapes dove towards the party. At first it appeared that gigantic green eagles were attacking us . . . until we saw the heads: black stags’, with glowing red eyes. The battle was fierce, and I was sorely wounded. As they stooped, attempting to knock us from the cliff, I managed to fork a ’Bolt into them and blew them from the sky.

We reached the stone wyvern. In the shadow of its wing we could see the entrance to a huge cavern. On the rock outside, a picture of a heart was inscribed, containing initials and a date: "L + E ’22."

As we entered the cave, we found evidence of a tremendous battle. A dragon, turned to stone, stood upon the cavern floor. The skeleton of a smaller dragon was found nearby. Its bottom half was buried in a large pile of dirt, while its head had been smashed by a Wall of Iron, now nearly rusted away. Large rock piles were found that had melted and run in the blasts of dragon’s breath. Shattered walls, huge gouges, and crumbled columns could be found everywhere.

In a vast depression, deep within the cavern, lay the skeleton of a much larger dragon, truly gigantic, with the skeleton of a smaller one nearby. It appeared that Fireforge and several of her children had met their doom at the hands of Felzik and his band.

With some searching, we located a passage leading to what appeared to be a Teleportation circle. We suspected that this way led to the Academy. But first, to our sorrow, we decided to investigate another side passage obstructed by rocks near the entance to the cavern.

As we turned the corner, only Grundo and Alix (why did it have to be them?) were quick enough to avoid looking upon the massive mirror propped in the hallway. In an instant the entire rest of the party disappeared into a grey void, as the Mirror of Life Trapping did its work.

Needless to say, Alix and Grundo did not have the patience to work out the command word needed to free us from the device, nor to come up with any other sensible plan. Their response was predictable, direct, and foolish, and resulted in a near disaster.

They shattered the mirror into a million fragments, releasing all of its inhabitants.... Map of Fireforge's Cavern. Note small side passage blocked by rocks near the south entrance, with Mirror propped against stone pillar. Entrance to Academy is to the east, via Teleport circle. Posts: Arcade’s Journal -- Final Entry, Academy of Flamecraft Part 2

. . . in a moment, all of the inhabitants of the Mirror of Life Trapping were freed. Chaos immediately ensued.

A middle-aged woman dressed in red robes appeared and assumed a casting stance, her aura visibly pulsing with power. Next to her was a young man, also wearing a red robe, but plainly confused and disoriented. A heavily-muscled, bald man materialized, wearing a girdle that seemed to be made of dragon bones. A young lad in climbing gear appeared, apparently in the act of yelling a warning. With him was a young lady, lying comatose on the floor, and also dressed for climbing. A man dressed as a monk also lay unconscious. Last of all, a screaming man appeared, charred and still smoldering. He too slumped to the floor.

With them emerged two lizards, a 4-foot-long purplish-red lizard, and a 1 ½ foot long red lizard. In the first moments, while the rest of us were gathering ourselves, Grundo quickly struck with all his force and slew the larger lizard. Sadly, his blow could have been put to better use elsewhere.

Within seconds, as the 281-year-old Reduce spell expired, the tiny red lizard, Pyreclaw, spawn of Tagachark, was restored to his former 80-foot-long glory! At this moment, I suddenly regretted the emphasis on spells useful for climbing cliffs in my current repertoire.

Alix leapt into action, scooping up the helpless young woman and springing away across the cavern. Grundo, realizing his error, raised his axe in both hands and charged. Glimmer hastily cast Fire Resistance. The bald man ran at the beast, using his magically-enhanced strength to slam it with both fists.

The woman in red (Dargastal the Archmage, of the Academy) tried Finger of Death and several Missiles, but the spells extinguished themselves harmlessly as the dragon "resisted."

Grundo managed to hack off several large chunks of wyrmflesh, and attracted Pyreclaw’s baleful gaze. The dragon grabbed the doughty battlerager, and before our eyes, squeezed him to paste. Tao seemed to go mad, and began trying to climb the thing’s flank to get at its neck. I joined in with my remaining Darkening Bolt, crisping the creature’s hide, and Tom-Tom launched his Dagger of the Swarm. The wyrm seemed to laugh, a low, coughing, chuckle.

A great rush of inhaled air signaled the next onslaught. I managed to grab Nolin, Tom-Tom, and the young man in red (Kestellan, an Academy acolyte). Using the staff, we Dimension Doored behind the nearby stone dragon in the nick of time.

Velendo, standing squarely in the dragon’s path, began rapidly repeating, "I don’t believe this is happening! Wait . . . that’s right! I DON’T believe this is happening! There is no dragon. No dragon at all. I don’t see a dragon." A glowing nimbus of faerie-light began to surround him.

Pyreclaw’s flame breath roared across the party, incinerating the charred man, the bald fighter, and the lad in climbing gear. Glimmer quickly took advantage of a bad situation, pulled on the dead man’s bone girdle, and felt his muscles begin to bulge with unnatural strength. The flames washed over Velendo where he stood, bemused and untouched, wondering what was going on.

The fire also claimed Cadrienne’s pack, which had contained her Holy Book. The peace-loving, compromising, sweet-tempered cleric promptly drew her flail, screamed with rage, and charged the dragon.

Dargastal finally managed to score hits with some of her Missiles. Grinning, the dragon leaned in close and bit her head off.

I anticipated the dragon’s next move, and Dimension Doored the rest of the party to the left flank moments before his massive tail destroyed the stone dragon we were using for cover. Knowing how much we needed his aid, I strove to talk Velendo out of his Solipsism. As the spell effect faded, blisters suddenly formed on his skin. Luckily the damage was minimal, and he returned to the fray.

Tao was hacking desperately at Pyreclaw’s neck, doing hideous damage. Augmented, Glimmer moved in to strike with his mace. I transported Nolin to the dragon’s back, where he put the Frost Jambiya to good use.

The dragon was now badly wounded. He whipped his tail around and swept Tao and Glimmer off, slamming them hard against the cave wall.

Again came the deadly inhalation of breath. Pyreclaw opened his mouth wide. The raging fires within could plainly be seen as he began to breathe.

I cast Pyrotechnics.

With an earth-shattering roar, Pyreclaw’s mouth exploded. His lower jaw hung loosely, unhinged and useless.

The end came soon after . . . .

. . . we buried Dargastal. Cadrienne was despondent over the loss of her Book, and we gave her Dargastal’s necklace of red rubies as partial consolation. Cadrienne then managed to awaken the sleeping monk, one Brother Caldecott of Celian, who had been comatose in the mirror for decades. It turns out that Caldecott had been sent on a mission to recover the Incabulin.

Kestellan, Dargastal’s apprentice, speaks Common badly, but was able to tell us that he was chased into the mirror by the dragon, who had moved it from the passageway it was guarding. Kestellen has seen the Incabulin before. He reported that the last mage to touch it had his hands blown off. I think that making use of the tome may require both myself and Brother Caldecott. I have decided to trust Kestellen temporarily, although his manner irks me.

The poor young maiden in climbing gear could not be awakened from her coma. She had a heart-shaped locket inscribed LH III+ET. Plainly the couple had inscribed the initials outside the cavern years before, but who were they? We will seek to uncover the mystery later.

We gave Grundo an amazing wake. We poured the heroic dwarf’s remains into one of the empty ale kegs. Now drunk, Alix and I got into a ripping row about fleeing from combat . . . .

. . . healed and rested. We entered the secret passage. Tom-Tom detected a fire trap, but the Fire Resisted Glimmer absorbed it without harm. We entered a circular room with a ring inscribed upon the floor. The place was filled with sconces and braziers. These we lit, and a flame sprang up in the center of the ring. Kestellen assured us that this was the gate to the Academy. We put our trust in fate and our gods, and leapt in . . . .

This is the end of the official entries found in Arcade Deltarion’s Journal.