| | Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold | |
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Chris Admin
Posts : 22 Join date : 2018-01-17 Age : 33 Location : Newark, DE
| Subject: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Mon Jan 29, 2018 2:35 am | |
| The story so far... A sleepy summer solstice eve had fallen over Heldren, a small town nestled just north of the border between the two nations of Taldor and Qadira. Five travelers were gathered at the Silver Stoat Tavern, each about their own errands as the ale and merriment flowed freely in the long dusk: Iora Snilsen, a solemn Aasimar accompanied by a small hare with skin the color of the night sky; Halmier Northstone, a Dwarf, hard-drinking and pursuing business of great import to the south; Hemetre Stormwatcher, purportedly descended of Osirion nobility and the divine line of Bastet, intent on absorbing life's adventures before resuming the mantle of leadership in her desert nation; Binny Skitches, a pirate, orphan, and member of the much-maligned Tiefling race; and Firyali Taya, an uncommonly taciturn Undine dressed in shades of blue, gray, and white with unfamiliar weapons slung across her back.
On any other evening, even one traveler of such exotic provenance might have excited comment--but this was not destined to be an ordinary evening. Into the midst of the festivities stumbled a guardsman, badly frostbitten despite the season and raving; he had time only to cry a warning of winter-touched Fey before collapsing in a heap. The local clerics of Erastil brought the warrior, Yuln Oerstag, back to their temple, where he revived enough to spin a frightening tale: the veteran had been accompanying a trade convoy through the Border Wood between Taldor and Qadira when suddenly howling winds, snow, and dangerously low temperatures assailed them. Lady Argentea Malassene, the noblewoman leading the caravan, had urged them to turn back to Heldren--but they were attacked before they could attempt to turn the wagons. According to Yuln, many of his comrades had been slain near-instantly by volleys of small arrows made of nevermelting ice; as a native of northern climes, Yuln knew these to be the chosen weapons of winter-touched Fey, yet he could only guess at how they had come to be so far south.
Ionnia Teppen and the other leaders of the village council were much disturbed by the news of this otherworldly incursion, and asked the five outlanders to investigate its source. To aid them in their task, Teppen suggested that the group liaise with the Borderwood Sentinels, a group of rangers and woodspeople responsible for monitoring the forest for signs of Qadiran aggression. The Sentinels, the town council reasoned, would know the terrain well, and might even provide strong sword-arms in the event of conflict. The group agreed to the task, though not altogether altruistically. After equipping themselves with winter clothing and cold iron arrows (cold iron being one of the few materials known to hurt the Fey) the group set off to find news of the Lady Malassene, alive or dead.
Despite the summer weather still prevailing in Heldren, the temperature dropped precipitously as the group walked the six or so miles south to the Borderwood. Hoods, hats, gloves, and boots were all necessary by the time the ragtag band reached the site of the massacre at the edge of the wood. From what they could piece together, the fight had been brief and grimly one-sided: one carriage had been tipped onto its side, the two handmaidens inside pierced with tiny, icy needles; the Taldran captain commanding the guard had been frozen into a statue and hacked apart piecemeal. The only signs of life (or undeath) were the two zombies left as an unpleasant surprise within the remaining carriage. The group dispatched them easily, with both Halmier and Binny striking killing blows. (XP 100/2000)
Several hundred yards down the track, the group spotted a chest lying half-buried in the snow--a cache that would have turned lethal if not for the vigilance of Firyali Taya, who without a word directed the group's attention to the thin tripwire extending to a spiked log hidden in an evergreen, waiting to impale any would-be thieves. It took her barely a minute to disarm the primitive trap, after which the group discovered the equipment and outfits that had been stripped from the dead guardsmen. (XP 250/2000) The new gear found its way into use not minutes later, when a tatzlwyrm (distantly related to dragons) struck from a deep snowbank and dragged the Bard back belowground to be devoured. While Halmier took up a position at the outside of the tunnel, covering its retreat, Binny Skitches flew into an abyssal rage, leaped into the hole, and disemboweled the creature in a single burst of violence. (XP 400/2000) | |
| | | Binny Skitches
Posts : 8 Join date : 2018-02-05
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Mon Feb 05, 2018 11:38 pm | |
| As Binny's bloodrage fades, he pauses for a few second to collect himself. Thanks to Hemetre, the tatzlwyrm viscera is removed with prestidigitation. As he finishes picking the last of the flesh from his teeth, Binny ponders aloud. "Where are these Borderwood Sentinels?" | |
| | | Chris Admin
Posts : 22 Join date : 2018-01-17 Age : 33 Location : Newark, DE
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Tue Feb 06, 2018 2:47 am | |
| ((As an aside, you can feel free to make any checks you want at any time in PBP--in this case, a Kn. Geography to know which direction you're generally going in or a Survival check to follow tracks or a trail. If you're just pondering for flavor, carry on, but I'll assume you wanted the info. )) Kn. Geography to know the direction to Borderwood Lodge: 15 + 0 (skill). Survival to follow the existing trail: 10 + 4 (skill). Binny sniffs at the wind and examines the gradual downward slope of the land. He knows that the Borderwood Lodge lies about 8 miles to the southwest in the Somir Valley, but at present the path runs northwest. He notices a conspicuous lack of footprints along the track, possibly due to the heavy snowfall that has evidently been worsening conditions over the past few days. The wind picks up as he examines the tracks, and even an inexperienced survivalist could tell that more snow is on the way. | |
| | | Binny Skitches
Posts : 8 Join date : 2018-02-05
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Wed Feb 07, 2018 4:57 pm | |
| "It's this way," Binny says, gesturing off to the southwest. "Doesn't look like anyone has been here recently, but the snow makes it hard to know for sure." "There's more on the way, so we should make our way to the lodge." "Even if we don't find these sentinels, we can warm up a little bit." "Just keep an eye out, I only want to jump into one or two more tatzlwyrm lairs...three tops." | |
| | | RebeccaS
Posts : 4 Join date : 2018-01-29
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Thu Feb 08, 2018 2:50 pm | |
| Hemetre hurries after Binny toward the lodge, inclined to believe this guy after he wrenched a gross worm off of her. "Can we agree that we'd prefer no more tatzylwyrm lairs? I'd prefer no more."
((Can I do a knowledge local to know anything about the Lodge before we show up?)) | |
| | | Chris Admin
Posts : 22 Join date : 2018-01-17 Age : 33 Location : Newark, DE
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Thu Feb 08, 2018 4:56 pm | |
| Kn. Local: 12+1. You know that the Lodge is part-way between a manor house and a hill fort, designed to monitor Qadira for any signs of attack against Taldor.
((Try to come up with specific questions when rolling knowledge skills, as it helps me decide what the check DC is going to be. I know you guys don't know much about the Lodge yet, so it's hard to formulate specific questions.)) | |
| | | Binny Skitches
Posts : 8 Join date : 2018-02-05
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Sat Feb 10, 2018 6:28 pm | |
| A hill fort and a manor? That's way too many places for people to hide. When we get there, how about we hang back under cover and have someone scout out the place. I don't want to walk into a porcupine ambush like those people in the wagons. As we walk along, I'd like to keep an eye out for footprints in the snow. Then with a knowledge nature roll of 15-1, I'd like to identify any tracks. Also, would anyone like to climb to a better view point and get an idea of our surroundings? | |
| | | Tall Chicken
Posts : 5 Join date : 2018-02-06
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Sat Feb 10, 2018 6:49 pm | |
| Iora had been hanging back, trying to survey the southwest for a path or track of any sort. Do we know if this path runs back south after this leg, or should we try to strike off in the right direction from here? (I rolled a Kn Local to try to ascertain if we're still headed the right way, 17)
She gives Binny an appraising look before saying, "That's a prudent idea. Who would you suggest sending as a scout?" | |
| | | Chris Admin
Posts : 22 Join date : 2018-01-17 Age : 33 Location : Newark, DE
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Mon Feb 26, 2018 11:14 pm | |
| Iora shares with the group that there's only one large path leading through the Borderwood; despite it snaking around quite a bit, it will eventually lead to the Lodge. | |
| | | Binny Skitches
Posts : 8 Join date : 2018-02-05
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Mon Feb 26, 2018 11:52 pm | |
| Binny thanks Iora for the information about the path with a nod and a knowing glance.
"Well, I'm certainly not one for stealth." Binny says as he jokingly thumps of his armor.
"What about you, Firyali? You seem like the sneaky-stabby type."
"Anyway, we've got a few miles to figure it out, just something to think about."
Binny heads off slowly down the path towards the lodge. | |
| | | Chris Admin
Posts : 22 Join date : 2018-01-17 Age : 33 Location : Newark, DE
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Tue Feb 27, 2018 2:01 am | |
| An hour of marching passes in beleaguered silence, and snow begins to fall more heavily. It's becoming clear that many of you would have succumbed to hypothermia already if not for the cold weather gear that you picked up in Heldren; with the exception of Halmier, who can cast endure elements 1/day in cold terrain, none of you are made for extended exposure to freezing temperatures. Only Hemetre has felt the chill air begin to sap her strength. ((We treat anyone who's taken nonlethal damage due to cold as if they were fatigued, -2 to STR and DEX.))
As you pass through a corridor of close pines and firs, the group notices what appear to be small bundles of dark rags, swaying in the low branches. Firyali, Halmier, and Hemetre immediately pick these out not as fetishes or religious symbols but as the frozen corpses of ravens, strung up in some grisly display of intimidation. Anyone with a Heal check over 15 will be able to tell the group more. | |
| | | Binny Skitches
Posts : 8 Join date : 2018-02-05
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Tue Feb 27, 2018 2:32 am | |
| Binny got a 15, but has no bonuses to heal | |
| | | RebeccaS
Posts : 4 Join date : 2018-01-29
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Tue Feb 27, 2018 3:22 am | |
| (Hemetre got a 5, she doesn't know anything.)
"I'm feeling pretty tired," Hemetre sighed, "but this forest is giving me the creeps. Whoever decided to string up these dead Ravens couldn't have had anything good in mind. I'd be willing to climb up at take a look around." | |
| | | newbsa
Posts : 2 Join date : 2018-02-03
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Tue Feb 27, 2018 3:39 am | |
| (Halmier rolls a 1, pulls at his beard in frustrated confusion)
"What kind of devilishness is this? Spoiled! Perfectly good ravens, wasted!" | |
| | | Chris Admin
Posts : 22 Join date : 2018-01-17 Age : 33 Location : Newark, DE
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Tue Feb 27, 2018 6:19 am | |
| ((Love it, Newby--is raven a delicacy in Maheto?)) Binny takes a closer look at some of the swinging masses of feathers. The birds are unnaturally stiff, even in death, and the reason becomes apparent: they were pierced with the same shards of never-melting ice as the guards in Lady Argentea's caravan. Hemetre shinnies up the nearest fir and finds more ravens strung up throughout the boughs. When she's roughly 20 feet up, the group on the ground hears a chattering burst of speech from both sides of the snowy trail. Iora recognizes tactical commands being given in Sylvan, and immediately shouts a warning to her compatriots. The element of surprise is with your assailants, however, and they'll get a surprise round because none of you passed your opposed Perception checks. Surprise Round:Immediately after the rustling, desiccated sound of Sylvan issues from the trees, a volley of icy shards rips out of cover. The attack directed at Halmier glances uselessly off his thick plate; however, Hemetre is caught in the branches of the tree, unable to take evasive action--she is hit from two different directions, dealing 2 points of nonlethal damage.Round 1:Map of CombatPCs win the initiative. Rebecca is the Lyre icon, Laura C. is the Rabbit icon, Laura M. is the Kunai, Newby is the Helmet, and Branson is the Claw. Post when ready! | |
| | | Chris Admin
Posts : 22 Join date : 2018-01-17 Age : 33 Location : Newark, DE
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Wed Feb 28, 2018 4:36 pm | |
| I'm realizing that I left out some crucial background on this one. Normally you guys would have to work this stuff out for yourselves, but that's going to be too confusing. So here's the skinny: You're currently fighting diminutive sized enemies. As you go down in size, your AC and to-hit get better, but you trade off damage and some other things. Germane to our interests for this fight is the fact that going down in size improves your Stealth bonus. You'll have a hard time spotting these guys--they're currently hidden on the map (it's a link, so mouse over it) but I'll reveal them so that you can know where you're moving if you beat their Stealth rolls. Do note that because of the falling snow, all Perception and ranged attack rolls will take a -4 penalty.All enemies have an AC of 17. The Stealth score to beat here (because I'm terrible at rolling) is 4.Assuming that you can't spot them in future rounds, I'd advise that you use your standard action to use the Total Defense action, which will give you +4 AC against attacks. That action will help you from getting creamed by these guys. | |
| | | Tall Chicken
Posts : 5 Join date : 2018-02-06
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Wed Feb 28, 2018 8:45 pm | |
| Iora scans the woods for any sign of the assailants, thinking to herself that there must be some fey creatures around, for who else would be stringing up dead ravens and shouting in Sylvan? (Perception? roll of 16 to find them, +10, -4=22) While she searches, the thought of trying to incapacitate them before they can do any more damage leaps to her mind. | |
| | | Chris Admin
Posts : 22 Join date : 2018-01-17 Age : 33 Location : Newark, DE
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Thu Mar 01, 2018 12:10 am | |
| - Tall Chicken wrote:
- Iora scans the woods for any sign of the assailants, thinking to herself that there must be some fey creatures around, for who else would be stringing up dead ravens and shouting in Sylvan? (Perception? roll of 16 to find them, +10, -4=22) While she searches, the thought of trying to incapacitate them before they can do any more damage leaps to her mind.
You spot two of what look like winter-touched Fey as they alight in trees north of the trail. Clothed entirely in dried leaves and tiny scraps of cloth, their skin is a pale blue that stands out against the dark fir boughs. Each carries a tiny shortbow with quivers of blue-tipped arrows slung over their backs. | |
| | | RebeccaS
Posts : 4 Join date : 2018-01-29
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Thu Mar 01, 2018 3:00 am | |
| From her perch in the trees, Hemetre hisses as the ice hits her. She peers through the branches, trying to get a sense of what could possibly be attacking them and from where (perception roll of 15 + 6 - 4 = 17).
For after looking around, she decides that the best course of action would be to try to keep herself from getting hurt any further, and she decides to totally defend herself. | |
| | | Binny Skitches
Posts : 8 Join date : 2018-02-05
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Thu Mar 01, 2018 3:24 am | |
| Binny looks around for these frozen porcupines, but only manages an 11 (9+6-4). In the frenzy, Binny sneaks off. A stealth roll of 13 with a -1 penalty. He tries to find a spot with decent cover and gets his cold iron ready for action. | |
| | | Chris Admin
Posts : 22 Join date : 2018-01-17 Age : 33 Location : Newark, DE
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Thu Mar 01, 2018 3:53 am | |
| ((Bit of Pathfinder combat mechanics: there are a variety of actions that you can take in a round of combat, but at its heart, a round typically consists of one move action (moving, drawing a weapon, drinking a potion, etc.), one standard action (attacking, casting a spell, etc.), one swift action (some spells, special abilities, or other actions that don't take long to perform), and one or more free actions (things like making a Perception or Knowledge check, shouting a brief sentence, maintaining concentration on a spell, etc.). My experience has been that the action economy is the most difficult thing to get a grasp on in Pathfinder combat, so if you want more reading, you can check it out here. I mention this only because spotting using Perception is a free action, so a normal opening round for you guys might look like: Perception check to spot enemies (free) --> draw a weapon (move) --> fire weapon (standard). You could also substitute moving and casting a spell for the move and standard actions in that example. If y'all want to try to hit these suckers right in the opening round, I'll let you revise your actions. Iora, for instance, could have spotted an enemy, moved within range, and cast color spray to disable it, all within this round. Useful stuff! Do also note that if you want to move, you'll have to look at the map and tell me where you're moving to. Either where you want to end up or what your path looks like will be fine. I love you all! We'll get through the rules crunch of Pathfinder together, and once we do, I promise that it's a super fun, flexible system.)) | |
| | | Tall Chicken
Posts : 5 Join date : 2018-02-06
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Thu Mar 01, 2018 6:09 am | |
| (I think my problem is more the pbp mechanic. I didn’t want to cast a spell or move without knowing that I’d be able to find them. That was indeed my plan, o Christopher the Wise!)
Iora moves within range of one of the Fey (the left one?) and uses Color Spray.
ETA I can get within range with 10 ft of movement left, so I'd lie to duck back toward the road once I'm done. | |
| | | newbsa
Posts : 2 Join date : 2018-02-03
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Sun Mar 04, 2018 12:33 am | |
| Halmier runs toward the fey to the south (assuming south is the bottom of the map? if not, the fey toward the bottom of the map) and casts endure elements.
"Come and find a true fight, you raven-wasters!" | |
| | | Chris Admin
Posts : 22 Join date : 2018-01-17 Age : 33 Location : Newark, DE
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Sun Mar 04, 2018 6:16 pm | |
| (From your descriptions, it seems like Halmier and Binny are breaking south, while Iora and Hemetre are trying to take on the northern flank. Am I correct? I should also mention that everything off the path--and everything on it from this combat on--is considered difficult terrain, meaning that every square of movement costs two squares. Half speed, basically, due to the snow drifts. And Newbs, you would have had to roll a Perception in order to notice these guys, as they're technically "stealthed" right now...but, they rolled horribly, so you'd notice them.) Player Phase:Binny spends one move action to tuck and roll behind a fir; although his Perception roll wasn't aces, he definitely got the sense that the attack was coming from the south. With his second move action he pulls his shortbow and nocks a cold iron arrow. "Winter-touched fey ain't nothing but hos and tricks," he murmurs to himself. Did he actually say that? The wind is howling too much. You can't tell. Halmier attempts a valiant war cry and charge as he plows off into the deep snow south of the trail, but deep snow being deep snow, and him being only about 4 feet tall, he can't get very far. (As a note, endure elements is more of an exploration spell than a combat spell. It doesn't provide any bonuses in combat. You get that spell-like ability 1/day while in cold climates, however, and it lasts 24 hours. So use it anytime you're in cold places! You won't have to roll fortitude saves for exposure or hypothermia.) Hemetre, with her catlike senses, spots another fey creature tucked in the bole of a tree, nocking another arrow. She strategically positions a larger branch in front of her, thereby granting her +4 AC for the round. Iora, perhaps the most perceptive of all, has no difficulty finding the source of one volley of arrows: a fey off to the northwest. Although she is hindered getting to it by the deep snows, magic can operate at ranges that swords and claws cannot. Speaking a few sharp words in Draconic, she removes a small pinch of rainbow-colored sand from her component pouch and blows it toward the creature. With a sudden whoosh, the puff of sand expands to a 15-foot cone of vibrantly colored light. The fey fails his Will save miserably, and is now unconscious, stunned, and blinded for four rounds. He'll take a -2 to AC, as well as being treated as flat-footed and helpless. (You can find formal definitions of all those conditions right here. You might also want to consider performing a coup de grace on him, now that he's unconscious. Although you're off to a good start, fighting diminutive-sized fey in a snowstorm is not something you want to be doing for a long time.) Enemy Phase:NW Fey is unconscious. He takes no action.NE Fey (whom I've decided is a she) takes off from her perch in the woods and flits to within 15 feet of both Iora and Hemetre. Seeing her comrade taken down so quickly shook her--but fortunately, she also has some tricks to pull. She casts color spray, attempting to hit both PCs.Iora: Rolled 5 + 6 = 11. With a sigh, Iora slips into unconsciousness, going face down into the snow. She's unconscious, stunned, and blinded for 5 rounds.Hemetre: Rolled 10 + 2 = 12. Hemetre barely-- barely-- saves, and mewls plaintively at the sudden burst of light against her night-accustomed eyes. S Fey spooks a little at Halmier's charge and uses Stealth to hide. A Perception check of 30 or greater will spot her.Player Phase:Good luck! Post at will. | |
| | | Tall Chicken
Posts : 5 Join date : 2018-02-06
| Subject: Re: Chapter 1: A Rumor of Cold Tue Mar 06, 2018 6:52 pm | |
| Do I get saving throws against these status effects, or am I just out for 5 rounds? | |
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