FCG was met with blizzard conditions as they reached the exit of the Aeorian ruin and elected to spend the night just inside the cave rather than brave the storm. Malcolm was spooked by some faces in the lava as he kept watch, but both the night and blizzard eventually passed without issue. The next morning, Endrin’s condition worsened as the Woe began to take its toll on his body. Wasting no time in beginning their journey to Aeor, Malcolm ascended up out of the cave using the slick icy rope they had left behind while Artaema ferried the rest of the group up with arcane flight. Once everyone was safely up away from the pool of lava, FCG headed down to the banks of the River Inferno.
Artaema remarked that the conditions were ideal for crossing given the light snowfall and the blizzard the night before. Rather than expend more of their arcane energy attempting to fly across the mile long river, FCG elected to traverse the river on foot, walking across the slow drifting snow banks that floated upon the lava’s surface. The party waited for a nice large patch of snow before beginning to cross.
The first leg of their journey across the molten river went smoothly as they walked carefully on a thin layer of snow. It wasn’t until they had to hop over to the next bit of snow that they ran into trouble. Nyx misjudged the leap, Endrin’s legs left him short, and both adventures wound up screaming in pain as their feet dipped into the lava. The commotion disturbed the flaming denizens of the river, and a group of fire elementals rose up from the depths to dispose of the intruders.
Trapped on a small patch of snow, FCG engaged the raging elementals, fighting against the living flame and lava beneath as the elementals carved away the party’s footing with every advance. Many of the party were set ablaze in the battle, but fought valiantly nonetheless. Endrin soared up above and rained gravitic fury while Malcolm did what he does best and fought fire with… sword. Eris took a defensive stance, creating illusory duplicates of herself, and both Artaema and Nyx made use of their evocation spells. Triple J managed to confuse the armored elemental for a brief time, stymying the collective damage dealt to the party.
Just as FCG was finally getting a handle on the fire elementals, two flaming skulls burst forth from the lava. The two skulls unleashed two fireballs in unison upon the party, cackling as the party burned and Triple J fell unconscious. Triple J continued to burn from his flaming clothes, teetering on the brink of death. Luckily Eris was able to restore the crispy bard just in time. No sooner had Triple J been revived than Malcolm fell prey to his own searing wounds. Desperate, Eris pleaded to Bahamut as she continued to swing her blade, suffering the flames of the lingering elementals with every blow. The platinum dragon heeded his champion’s call and shined his healing light down upon the entire group.
With renewed vigor FCG battle back against the flames. Endrin, Nyx, and Artaema sniped the flaming skulls from afar while Triple J and Malcolm disposed of the remaining elemental. FCG breathed a sigh of relief as the flames of their foes were finally extinguished. Artaema dared not linger a moment longer on the firey river and dug deep into her arcane reserves, casting fly on all members of the party, save Endrin who was already flying. The party soared high above the River Inferno, safely arriving on the North Eastern bank and one step closer to Aeor.
