The Djinn of Al-Qadim

Session #42

Previously, the group had dispatched First Brother Ebonflame and, with a battle raging outside, within and above the city of Huzuz, had begun to make their way through the city to search for Bakada.

Tailing Bakada

The lava flows lead them in two directions, and they take the one that leads toward the gladiatorial arena (in which they began the campaign, it should be noted). Previously, Telchak had seen it from a distance, a dull glow coming from within it.

On their way, Bakada literally streaks overhead, some 500 feet or so above them. He doesn’t see them, and seems headed toward the city’s walls. They follow.

Reaching the walls some time after the staggeringly fast Bakada, they find him beating back attacks, killing swaths of enemies easily with his massive, barbed sword, fire and lava dripping from it. Around him, Bakada’s forces rally and seem to force back the attackers, pushing them back through a breach in the city’s walls they’d created.

Atar instinctively hurls a Fireball (magically shifted to do radiant damage) at him. It hits, and he turns his attention to them, smiling. He streaks forward to attack, but a contingent of air djinn force him to the ground. “I have prepared for this,” he says, standing up. “Fate has brought you to me so that I may stamp out your rebellion once and for all.” Growling, he casts a spell and teleports away.

They fly up and – scanning the horizon – see Bakada’s unmistakable figure in the distance above the arena. They speak briefly with one of the air djinn, the same who had asked for their aid outside of Hiyal. She knows what a loss means for her and her kind, and wants to aid them in killing Bakada. Three air djinn fly with them toward the arena.

But they’ve attracted attention, and fire elementals swarm toward them. Two of the air djinn break off to hinder them, while the party crests over the edge of the gladiatorial arena. Inside, lava flows and cracked rock, and Bakada hovering over the center, the tip of a volcano beneath him, rising rapidly from the earth below…

Dungeon Master’s Notes

This was a short session, but we were down a player and weren’t going to start combat with the Big Bad without them. Next week should be dominated by combat with Bakada.

Creatures Used

• Bakada (Balor base reference, heavily modified, no exact CR, probably ~CR22)
• Djinni (CR11)
• Fire Elemental (CR5)

Continue Reading: Session #43