Combat 3: The Ambush (Level 6)

A long narrow stone path, 12 squares long and 3 squares wide, running left to right. Solid volcanic cliff wall along the top edge. A wide flowing lava channel (2 squares wide) runs the full length of the bottom edge, molten and bright. About one-third of the way along, a side passage (2 squares wide) branches upward through the wall, forming a T-junction. Two sulphur vents erupt from cracks in the path floor — one near the left entry, one further right. A section of the path between the vents has visibly cracked and sagging stone with heavy fracture lines — unstable ground. The path surface is dark scorched stone. Use heavy deep orange wash for the lava channel, sickly yellow-green wash around the sulphur vents, and hatched linework on the unstable section.

3 Possessed Fire Giants + environmental hazards — Hard-Deadly. Flanked. Narrow path. Lava.

This is the nasty one. Narrow path between the volcano wall and a lava channel. Side passage creates the flank.

Unstable ground:

• A 20ft section in the middle of the path
• If a Huge creature (giant or Lux) steps on it: DC 15 Dex save or it collapses
• Fall: 30ft drop to a lower ledge, 3d6 bludgeoning
• Draw this as a dashed square so you remember

Side passage (G3’s ambush):

• G3 is hidden in the side passage. Doesn’t appear until round 2.
• Emerges behind the party — they’re now flanked, giants on both sides
• The passage is only 20ft wide — G3 blocks it, cutting off retreat

Sulphur vents (mark with X or circles):

• Init count 20 every other round: 15ft cone from each vent
• DC 14 Con save or poisoned for 1 round
• Place them so the party has to move through them to engage the front giants

Portal event:

• Portal Recall opens 15ft from Lux — right in the middle of the path
• Grip Check #4 (DC 18) — the bad one. Two involuntary steps. Hand drops weapon.

Tactical notes:

• Path is NARROW — 30ft means one giant nearly fills the width. The party can’t easily get past.
• Lava channel is lethal. Falling in = 10d10 fire damage per round. No save.
• The flank from G3 in round 2 splits the party’s attention
• Pushing enemies into lava IS possible and your rules lawyers will try it
• If Lux is near the lava channel when the portal opens — very bad visual