*Below the Searing Stone: The Test of Flame*
Setting: The Searing Stone Cavern
Deep beneath the treacherous peaks of the Cragfire Mountains lies a hidden cavern known only to a few: the Searing Stone Cavern. The entrance is obscured by rocky outcroppings and smoldering volcanic vents, which release clouds of steam and stench of sulfur. Inside, the cavern shimmers with a fiery glow, emanating from molten rivers that snake across the stone floor. Stalactites drip with molten rock, creating a dangerous landscape where heat and peril coexist.
This cavern is the domain of the Fire Elemental Lord, Pyrosius, who challenges adventurers with trials of flames and fearsome guardians. Legends say that those who conquer the challenges within the cavern win the favor of the Fire Elemental Lord and may even earn a magical boon crafted from pure elemental fire.
Characters:
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Pyrosius, the Fire Elemental Lord: A towering figure composed of molten rock and flame, Pyrosius embodies the purifying fury of fire. He oversees the challenges within the cavern and rewards only the worthy. He seeks to test the bravery and resilience of adventurers.
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Ember Drakes: Fierce draconic creatures, not much larger than a dog, that reside in the cavern. These small, fire-breathing beasts are the first line of defense against any intruders and are agile and cunning in battle.
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Magma Golem: A massive construct created from rock and lava, serving as the ultimate guardian of the cavern. The golem is nearly impervious to physical attacks and swipes with lava-covered fists that can sear through armor.
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Searing Spirits: Shadowy creatures born from the souls of those who failed Pyrosius' trials, these spirits float through the cavern and lash out with fiery tendrils. They seek to discourage new challengers and prevent them from succeeding.
The Goal
The party’s objective is to navigate through the cavern's challenges to defeat Pyrosius’ guardians, ultimately facing Pyrosius himself. If they succeed in overcoming the trials and besting him in combat, they will be granted a boon—a magical fire-related artifact that enhances their abilities against enemies of elemental nature. The price of failure, however, might involve becoming a Searing Spirit themselves, trapped within the cavern’s depths.
The Encounter
Entering the Cavern
As the party makes their way through the rugged terrain, they come upon the entrance to the Searing Stone Cavern. The air is thick with heat, and a sense of foreboding washes over them. Once inside, the glow from the molten rivers reveals the path ahead and introduces them to the first of Pyrosius’ challenges.
The First Challenge: Ember Drakes
Before the adventurers can venture deeper, they hear a flurry of rustling wings. A group of 3 Ember Drakes bursts from the shadows, their scales glinting like embers. The drakes are adept at using the environment to their advantage, flying above the molten rivers and darting between stone columns.
Encounter Mechanics
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Tactics: The Ember Drakes will attempt to flank the party from above, using Breath Weapon as a ranged attack. On their turns, they can fly high into the air, making them harder to hit while they harass the party from above.
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Environmental Hazards: The ground is uneven with patches of molten rock. Characters moving through those areas must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw (DC 13) or take 1d8 fire damage, representing the dangers of the cavern.
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Rewards: Upon defeating the drakes, the party finds a small cache of treasure—a fiery gemstone worth 150gp and a Potion of Fire Resistance conveniently placed on a nearby ledge.
The Second Challenge: The Molten Puzzle
After dispatching the Ember Drakes, the path continues until the party finds themselves in a large chamber dominated by a large circular pedestal carved from obsidian. Upon this pedestal lie five orbs, each radiating heat and glowing with colors of red, orange, and yellow. Exotic runes surround the pedestal, and the heat pulsates in waves.
In the center of the pedestal, a riddle can be found:
"Five colors of flame, a choice you must make,
Place them in order, or the ground will shake.
Match the hue to the heart of the fire,
Or be engulfed in a wall of pyre."
Solving the Puzzle
The players need to determine and place the orbs in the correct order based on elemental hierarchy. Players can roll Arcana or History checks (DC 15) to glean hints from the runes about the correct sequence.
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Correct Sequence: Red, Orange, Yellow, White (if applicable), and Black (for darkness). Correctly placing the orbs causes the pedestal to emit a soothing warmth, revealing a path forward and earning them a Flame Keeper’s Staff, which holds the power to cast Fireball once per day.
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Incorrect Order: Placing the orbs incorrectly activates a trap, summoning 2 Searing Spirits that lash out at the party. Each Spirit deals 1d6 fire damage on hit and has the ability to grapple, attempting to pull participants toward the surface of molten rock.
The Final Challenge: The Magma Golem
As paths unravel behind them and the overwhelming heat builds, the party enters yet another chamber, now fortified in darkness and shadow. Tension mounts as they see a massive figure lurking in the shadows—a Magma Golem.
The golem emerges and the ground shakes beneath their feet, its form shifting with molten lava. It senses intruders and charges forward with raw strength, aiming to crush anything that stands in its way.
The Climax of Combat
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Combat Mechanics: The Magma Golem attacks with powerful swings, dealing 3d10 bludgeoning damage with its fists. On a hit, it also deals 1d10 fire damage due to the lava coursing through its body. The golem has resistance to non-magical damage but is vulnerable to cold damage.
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Environmental Interaction: Pools of lava are scattered throughout the room. Players can strategically maneuver to push the Golem into these pools, causing it to take additional damage (3d6 damage).
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Victory Condition: Defeating the Magma Golem activates a surge of elemental energy, causing Pyrosius to appear in a blazing flame. Satisfied with the players' tenacity, he offers them an ultimatum: a reward, or they could choose to face him in a final trial.
Resolution: The Fire Elemental Lord
If the players accept Pyrosius’ challenge and win against him, they will be rewarded with a powerful artifact: the Emberstone Amulet, which grants immunity to one fire damage type and allows its wearer to cast Wall of Fire once a day.
Should the party decline the challenge, they may instead be given the choice to leave unscathed, but will suffer from the loss of potential rewards and possibly the risk of becoming Searing Spirits if they fail to escape the cave in a timely manner.
Regardless of their choices, the fire rumbles around them, preparing to engulf the unworthy, ensuring no one leaves the Searing Stone Cavern without paying a price. As the cavern quiets down, an uneasy peace settles in, leaving party members to reflect on the fiery trials they endured and the tension of their momentous choices.
