40 lines
1.6 KiB
Markdown
40 lines
1.6 KiB
Markdown
---
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type: location
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region: "Northern Valdris highlands"
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danger: High
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---
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# Ashpeak Caldera
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## Overview
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A dormant volcano in the northern Valdrian highlands. The caldera is the surface-side entrance to the [[Gate of Stone]], the planar portal to the Elemental Plane of Earth and the [[Heart of the Mountain]].
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## Environment
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- Thin, sulfurous air — DC 12 CON save every hour or gain 1 level of exhaustion
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- Geothermal vents that deal 2d6 fire damage to creatures ending their turn within 5 feet
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- Ash fields that count as difficult terrain
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- The caldera floor is 2 miles across; the Gate of Stone is at the center
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## The Gate of Stone
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A massive stone archway 30 feet tall, carved with First Sage runes and flanked by two obsidian pillars. The gate is dormant until activated by a Dragon Lord's presence or a DC 20 Arcana check (requires knowledge of the gate's activation sequence). When active, the archway fills with swirling gray light that solidifies into a stone bridge — walk across it to enter the Plane of Earth.
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## Guardian: The Stonewarden
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An ancient earth elemental myrmidon (CR 14) bound to the gate by the First Sages. It tests those who seek passage with three trials (Strength, Wisdom, Sacrifice). See [[Arc 3 - Heart of the Mountain#Hook 9: The Obsidian Path|Arc 3, Hook 9]].
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## Encounters
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| Encounter | CR |
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|-----------|-----|
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| Magma mephits (1d4+2) | 2-4 |
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| Fire newts (2d4) | 3 |
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| Young magma dragon (patrol) | 10 |
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| Stonewarden (if attacked) | 14 |
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## Access
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[[Khalyraxis, the Verdant Wing]] knows the way. The journey from [[Valhold]] to the caldera takes 5 days by horse through increasingly volcanic terrain.
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