64 lines
3.8 KiB
Markdown
64 lines
3.8 KiB
Markdown
---
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type: location
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region: "Volcanic demiplane"
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danger: Extreme
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---
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# Crucible of Ash
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## Overview
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A volcanic demiplane created by the [[Dragon Lords]] as a prison for [[Ignivar, the Betrayer]] after his failed attempt to shatter the seals 500 years ago. The Crucible exists between the Material Plane and the Plane of Fire — a pocket dimension of lava rivers, obsidian bridges, and perpetual ash-storms.
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## Access
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A portal in the [[Heart of the Mountain]] leads to the Crucible. The portal requires a Dragon Lord's breath weapon to activate — [[Khalyraxis, the Verdant Wing]] or [[Silvos, the Shifting Wind]] can open it.
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## Environment
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- **Ash Storm:** Visibility 60 feet (heavily obscured beyond). Ranged attacks at disadvantage beyond 60 feet.
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- **Lava Rivers:** 10d10 fire damage per round of immersion. DC 15 Acrobatics to cross obsidian bridges (narrow, slick with ash).
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- **Volcanic Geysers:** At initiative 20, 1d4 random geysers erupt. 15 ft radius, DC 15 DEX save, 4d10 fire + 2d10 bludgeoning.
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- **Searing Heat:** At the start of each hour, DC 15 CON save or gain one level of exhaustion (creatures with fire resistance are immune).
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## Areas
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### The Gallery of Fallen Scales
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A long obsidian hall lined with the preserved scales of dragons who died in service to the Pact of Seven Flames. Each scale is a foot wide and bears a Draconic inscription naming the fallen. Walking the hall requires a DC 14 WIS save or be overwhelmed with visions of draconic memories (1d4 psychic damage and frightened for 1 minute on fail).
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### The Bridge of Regret
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A 200-foot obsidian bridge over a lava river. Halfway across, the bridge splits — one path leads to the [[Emberheart]] chamber, the other to a dead end that collapses 40 feet into lava. DC 18 Perception to spot the correct path (faint draconic footprints).
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### The Ember Chamber
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[[Ignivar, the Betrayer]]'s prison-throne. A massive volcanic geode with crystals glowing from internal fire. The [[Emberheart]] floats at the center, held in place by six obsidian chains.
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## Boss: [[Ignivar, the Betrayer]] (CR 16 while weakened)
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- **HP:** 367 (reduced from ancient red dragon 546 due to imprisonment)
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- **AC:** 19 (reduced from 22)
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- **Breath Weapon:** Still 90 ft cone, but reduced to 18d6 fire (from 26d6), DC 21 DEX half
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- **Chain Vulnerability:** The six obsidian chains binding him to the Crucible have AC 15 and 30 HP each. Breaking all six removes his Frightful Presence and reduces his attacks to 2/round instead of 3. Breaking three removes his Legendary Actions.
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- **Lair Actions:** Same as [[Crucible of Ash#Environment|Crucible environment]]
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## Ignivar's Speech
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When the party enters, Ignivar speaks — his voice a ruined whisper that still shakes the chamber:
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> "More mortals. More pawns. Did they tell you I was a monster? I tried to break the seals because I saw the truth: the Wrath is a prison, and we are the wardens. Every day the seals hold, the Elder Dark grows hungrier. Tell me, little flames — which is the greater evil? The beast I tried to free, or the god I tried to starve?"
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## Aftermath
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If Ignivar is slain:
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- The [[Emberheart]] becomes free to claim.
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- Ignivar's final words: *"Tell Morgra... the ash remembers..."*
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- The Crucible begins collapsing. The party has 10 rounds to escape.
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If Ignivar is reasoned with (DC 22 Persuasion, possible only if party knows the Elder Dark truth):
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- He surrenders the Emberheart willingly.
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- He will not fight in Arc 4 (he is too weakened) but provides critical intelligence about the Citadel's defenses.
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- His name is spoken with honor at the World Council, beginning his path to redemption.
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## DM Notes
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This is a roleplay-heavy boss fight hybrid. The party should feel the weight of Ignivar's argument. He's not wrong — he just chose the wrong method. If the party has moral objections to killing a "villain" who might have a point, reward that complexity.
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