North of the Wind (Inactive)

Game Master dien

Ulfens and tigers and bears, oh my. Except no tigers.

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HP 5/21 (4 NL), AC 15 / 11 / 14 | Fort +8 Ref +5 Will +3 | Init +1 | Per +7

The sign of life that Thrymr thinks he's heard through the snow gives him some pause. Eyes already kept to razor thin openings against the driving ice and snow turn to try and discern any more sign or sound. He has not seen nor heard anything that would warrant wakening the others... yet - but does double check that his back is to the shelter and shakes his mattock free of growing ice.

Exhaling a cloud of steam that is instantly stolen by the snow Thrymr growls out a benediction to Ullr, lord of snow... in the hope that he might be graced with better sense of what might lurk without...

Casting heightened awareness which boosts Thrymr's Perception up to +9 for 20 minutes.


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

Thrymyr squints into the snow, eyes raking through the whiteness looking for any sign of motion, ears primed to notice any noise.

GM:
?: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Thrymr Perceives, I assume: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 9 - 4 = 20

The wind howls. The snow blows and shifts and falls. Thrymr sees and hears nothing that would account for the noise. But nothing comes out of the whirling whiteness to attack him, either, so there's that.


HP 5/21 (4 NL), AC 15 / 11 / 14 | Fort +8 Ref +5 Will +3 | Init +1 | Per +7

Thrymr continues his vigil... unbowed by the ice.

Given no additional external stimuli, Thrymr will remain at the shelter's entrance as sentinel.


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

stormy weather (since my man and i ain't together): 2d4 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2

It is hard to judge time in a snowstorm; the sun is lost from sight, and the endless roar of wind and snow conspire to deaden the mind's ability to count and track things. Still, the snow eventually begins to ease from being a "storm" to merely being the gentle, fluffy falling snowflakes that can be considered a nice day by Ulfen winter standards. The sky lightens, as the worst and thickest of the clouds blown on to ravage another section of the coastline. While the sky is still gray and the sun is only occasionally glimpsed through the cloud cover, there are enough glances of it to tell Thrymyr that about two hours passed while he stood watch.

Does Thrymr roll a nat 1 on his second hour of Manly Storm Fighting: 1d20 ⇒ 9 (no)

Thrymr feels fine. He was born and raised to be one with the frigid north, and while he may have to brush inches of snow off his shoulders, he suffers no ill effects from his storm-weathering. Though he keeps ears and eyes strained for any sight or sound of what he heard earlier, nothing revealed itself to him during his watch.

Though the snow has piled up thickly over the lean-to, making a huge drift on the windward side of the lean-to, only about half-a-foot of fresh snow has settled on the landscape. Still... between that and the wind, the trail they were following has grown considerably more obscured, the footprint holes all but filled in. Gifr's nose is likely to be their best asset, going forward.

Knute and Gifr are woken (I presume) and crawl out from the lean-to into the snow...ier new land.

It's now been about 9 hours since you left the village; it is mid-afternoon, more or less, 3-4 p.m., but of course in winter, and at this latitude, the sun sets early. You have about an hour of daylight remaining. With night, the temperature will drop further. Do you wish to pursue the trail, to try and make the most of the last of the light; or do you wish to head towards a potential known shelter (trull cave), which may or may not be occupied; or do you wish to make a camp elsewhere/here; or do you wish to do something I have not described at all?


HP 5/21 (4 NL), AC 15 / 11 / 14 | Fort +8 Ref +5 Will +3 | Init +1 | Per +7

Thrymr shakes off the snow that's accumulated upon himself and moves to rouse Knute and check on his hund. Seeing Gifr much improved Thrymr gives him a solid scratch under the ears before reclaiming his furs. Gifr begins to sniff around the area while he waits for the two two-legs to be ready.
Long bow... but does Gifr smell anything weird in the nearby area?

To Knute he explains "Just a little storm, only a couple of hours but the day's almost gone. Either we make for the trull cave... or we look to set up for the night."


Human (Ulfen) Alchemist 2 | HP 7/17 | AC 15 - TAC 12 - FFAC 13 | F+6 R+6 W+4 | Per +2 Init +2

Eysteinn bites his lip looking at the path So, that crawling was almost worthless he thinks bitterly, fearing the rabid fury of a predator if he comes too close.

On the other hand, the storm is coming: there’s no way he can lay low waiting for the beast to go away. He takes out a roll of dried meat from his trail rations and tucks it in his belt, easy to reach, right next to his “special drinks”. Then, sword safely in hand, he keeps going, not even bothering with lighter steps since he has nowhere to hide.

I gathered that there’s no cover for Eysteinn to use Stealth, so just keep going, armed and ready, with an eye always on the beast.


Male Human (Ulfen) Ranger 3 [HP 23/27 | AC: 17 (Tch:14 FF:13) | Fort +4 Ref +7 Will +3 | Init +4 | Perc +8]

Knute wakes from his nap substantially refreshed, and a little hungry. He pulls a hunk of bread out of pack and breaks it in half, crawls out of the shelter and stands to join Thrymr and offer him half of the bread. "Thanks for keeping watch that whole time; I'll take first shift tonight."

Thrymr wrote:
"Just a little storm, only a couple of hours but the day's almost gone. Either we make for the trull cave... or we look to set up for the night."

"Actually, I think we might want to follow the tracks," Knute responds, inspecting the orks' trail while munching on the dry bread. Dissatisfied at the state the tracks are now in, he mutters (with his mouth full), "Or what's left of them, anyways..."

Standing back up, Knute faces Thrymr. "If another storm blows in overnight, we could lose the trail entirely. And I still think it's possible the orks are making their way towards the trull cave, which we would want to know before planning on making shelter there ourselves."

Knute turns towards one of the nearby trees and pulls out his hand-axe. Regardless of our course, we should make sure the others can pick up our trail here... He hacks an X facing the direction they'd come from and breaks a few branches, to make it painfully obvious that the two trackers had been here. While doing this, he goes on, "What do you think we should do?"


HP 5/21 (4 NL), AC 15 / 11 / 14 | Fort +8 Ref +5 Will +3 | Init +1 | Per +7

With the visual signs of the orc's passage covered with a thick plaster of snow Thrymr turns to Gifr. Kneeling beside his hund he asks "Get the scent eh? Track the bastards..." before standing and watching the bear-ish dog get to work. Gifr puts his muzzle near the ground and starts circling trying to pick up the orc's scent and trail.

Gifr Survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Turning back to Knute as the hund works Thrymr grunts "Unless he gets the scent, we should make for the trull cave. They've got the runes in their favor at the moment - trees to block our sight, snow to mask their trail..." trailing off slightly and waiting to see if Gifr finds anything.

Edit after seeing the nat one.

As if on cue, Gifr barks... before looking to set off back the way that the party has come. Thrymr calls "Nei, heel" bringing the hund back to him. "Trail is cold for us and him... I say we roll the bones on the trull cave... either the gods smile and we find the feckers... or they frown and we've lost them."


Male Human (Ulfen) Ranger 3 [HP 23/27 | AC: 17 (Tch:14 FF:13) | Fort +4 Ref +7 Will +3 | Init +4 | Perc +8]

Knute quickly takes a look at the tracks himself, to see if they're even worth trying to follow.

Track: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

If that doesn't work:

Knute grumbles at the unclear tracks and the prospect of following their quarry blindly, then looks at Thrymr. "Aye, trull cave it is then." With that, he shoulders his backpack and gathers his things back up. "You know the way to the trull cave? Or should I lead?"

If Knute (or Thrymr) can actually track the orks, Knute would still prefer to do that.


HP 5/21 (4 NL), AC 15 / 11 / 14 | Fort +8 Ref +5 Will +3 | Init +1 | Per +7

Survival for Thrymr: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

Eysteinn

Re: lack of cover: not necessarily. There are some rocks and such to provide cover, and staying low and moving quietly may be enough to keep it from noticing you... it does seem pretty intent on its meal. I'll roll a stealth check for you, and we'll see how it goes.

Sneaky Eysteinn? (penalty for armor): 1d20 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 2 - 1 = 13
Perception, penalized for distance: 1d20 + 6 - 5 ⇒ (16) + 6 - 5 = 17

Eysteinn takes advantage of the terrain to try and pass by unseen, about fifty feet from the lobster-like creature that is tearing voraciously into the seal. The wind is blowing from the sea; he figures he might be okay, since it won't have his scent coming at it...

But ill luck is with him-- perhaps the same dark luck that plagued Hofn, last night-- his booted foot skids on a small patch of ice, sending a rock to clatter over the half-frozen path. The lobster-thing twitches, and lifts antennae his direction...

Pardon this really half-assed map

You're 50 feet away from the animal right now, and you're at "0 feet" elevation-- it's basically flat, gravelly beach between you and the creature. But this is the lowest part of the path-- it also rises, behind you (where you came from), and ahead of you. The grey squiggles are large rocks, each at least five feet high. The black lines indicate cliff face to your right, so you can't really go that way-- well, you can, but it'd be a climb check.

Eysteinn Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
? initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

...welp, that's as clear an indicator of who goes first as one could ever hope to have.

With astonishing speed, the lobster-thing reacts once it's noticed Eysteinn: it starts scuttling across the beach towards him, front legs dragging forward through the gravel and dark sand, eel-like rear end writhing and wiggling, leaving an odd trough behind it.

One thing is immediately apparent to Eysteinn: it doesn't seem to be able to move that fast, on land. Clearly it was made for the water.

Now you are forty feet away from it. And you're up!


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

Gifr hunts around, sniffing at all the changed scents since the storm hits, but apparently finds nothing amiss, because he bounds back to Thryrm in the snow with a friendly headbutt into Thrymr's palm, with no growl of 'strangeness detected'.

Unfortunately, it appears that whatever he's not smelling also includes... the trail. When Gifr tries to track, he is clearly wrong: Thrymr has him heel, and they discuss options for a bit.

Both men agree to try and follow the tracks in what is left of the light, and they hike their packs up, tuck furs closely round themselves, and start on the trail again.

For a little while it seems as if they'll manage, even with the fresh, deep snow covering the track. But half-an-hour after they have left their shelter, both the hunters come to a stop near a smooth, white expanse: a frozen tjörn (pond). The trail leads here, then grows cold (no pun intended)-- the orks presumably walked out onto the frozen surface. It seems solid enough to easily hold their weight, or the weight of two men and a dog, but the issue is the wind: without trees to break its flow somewhat, the northern wind has been blowing the fresh snow steadily across the smooth ice, and there is no trace of track on the icy surface. Gifr's nose picks up nothing to help them.

The pond is not so very large-- perhaps two hundred feet across-- that they might not be able to circle around the pond's perimeter and pick up the trail again when it starts in the snow... but it would take time, and light, and both of those are failing for the two men.

Reluctantly, they make the decision to push for the trull cave, and the hope of shelter. If there is a bright spot in the bitter disappointment of losing the trail, then it is that the trail has still seemed to move in the general direction of the cave... perhaps their quarry is there after all.

Knute navigating to cave: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Taking care now to leave marks in the trees, the pair (and dog) continue, veering north towards the cave. Knute knows the landmarks by which to find it, even with fresh snow piled on everything: there is the great oak, and then you follow the stream...

Still, the light is all but gone by the time they reach the cave mouth, and they are both sick of unseen branches slapping them in the face in the twilight dusk.

(You can have torches lit if you wish, of course, but I would assume you would not unless you absolutely had to due to darkness... since a moving light source through the trees would be an unmistakable signal to any watchers that might be in the cave.)

Weary and grateful for the prospect of a rest somewhere out of the wind, the two Ulfen trudge through the snow towards the yawning blackness of the cave mouth.

Perception Knute: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Perception Thrymr: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Gifr, Per + scent: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

All seems well enough to Thrymr and Knute, but then, it has been a long day for them. Gifr, however, goes on alert as they approach the cave mouth, bristling, his teeth bared as he growls low and menacing towards the cavern.

I'll get a map up tomorrow, but you're about 40 feet away from the cave mouth, which is a little bit uphill from you still. How would you like to proceed?


HP 5/21 (4 NL), AC 15 / 11 / 14 | Fort +8 Ref +5 Will +3 | Init +1 | Per +7

Gifr's warning growl puts Thrymr instantly into a combat stance. Taking a knee beside his hund he keeps his eyes to the cave as he speaks at low ebb "Something in there..." grimacing as he puts his mind to thought.

GM Dien - have either Knute or Thrymr picked up any sign of tracks or ingress / egress from the cave? - or are we still too far away?


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map
Thrymr Níðingr wrote:
GM Dien - have either Knute or Thrymr picked up any sign of tracks or ingress / egress from the cave? - or are we still too far away?

An excellent question.

Survival Gifr: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Survival Knute: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Survival Thrymr: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Gifr is growling at the cave, but he also seems to be growling at... ah, there, a track. Knute is able to see it, though he must strain his eyes against the twilight of dusk-- a print, of a large cat's foot, visible beneath the sheltering branch of a tree that kept it from getting filled in by the falling snow of the storm. Judging by the fact that you can see no other cat-tracks, only fresh clean snow, you think that that print was likely there before the small storm hit. It was quite possibly left by the same cat whose tracks you noticed earlier-- it's the same size, anyway.

Other than that, there are no apparent tracks nearby.

Gifr is still on edge, his teeth bared at the cave mouth, a low growl issuing forth from him.

Cave mouth, even if there's not a lot to see there right now

(The green scribbles are my belated tree additions. It's dark inside the cave, so you really can't see more than a few feet in given the fast-fading natural light, unless you guys want to risk a torch or other light source. As it is, you can see... snow that's blown into the entrance, on a rocky natural floor, and that's about it. Thrymr's never been here; Knute was here once, years ago, as a boy; his father brought him while teaching him the general layout of the nearby woods, but they only went up to the mouth and peered in... Knute has vague memories of it smelling bad, and his father saying it was no place for a little boy to go messing around in-- a place where people had died, and still dangerous enough now, as who knows what wild animal might be in there at any given moment.)


HP 5/21 (4 NL), AC 15 / 11 / 14 | Fort +8 Ref +5 Will +3 | Init +1 | Per +7

Thrymr grabs Gifr by the scruff of his neck as the hund gets agitated making sure his companion is both calmed and restrained...

Just pausing to let Knute chime in


Human (Ulfen) Alchemist 2 | HP 7/17 | AC 15 - TAC 12 - FFAC 13 | F+6 R+6 W+4 | Per +2 Init +2

Eysteinn stares silently for a second at the animal crawling towards him What kind of beast leaves a good, easy meal to seek a fight with a bigger opponent? he shakes his head It seems to possess the same savagery as the orks. his jawline clenches as his mind, free from the memories of last night for a moment, rushes back to the death and destruction.

Sword in hand for precaution, he keeps walking towards Grinmer’s place, looking over his shoulder every few steps to check that the crustacean hasn’t gained ground.

If we are in Rounds, I'd call this a double move along the path.


Male Human (Ulfen) Ranger 3 [HP 23/27 | AC: 17 (Tch:14 FF:13) | Fort +4 Ref +7 Will +3 | Init +4 | Perc +8]

Sorry, Super Bowl weekend was pretty busy here!

Knute kneels near the tracks and grunts, pointing at the cat's footprint. "Looks like we will be sharing the cave, by the looks of it. One track in, and none out," he whispers. "And I think we'd know if the orks had come this way; they'd have made more tracks than the cat."

Knute stands back up, shaking the snow off his hands. "What do you want to do? I'd say we could take the cat, but I'm less eager to do that in the dark, in an unfamiliar cave." He wrinkles his nose at the memory of visiting the cave, long ago. "Plus, I'm betting the cave still smells..." Knute mutters.


HP 5/21 (4 NL), AC 15 / 11 / 14 | Fort +8 Ref +5 Will +3 | Init +1 | Per +7

Shaking his head as his hand shows steady and even pressure to ease Gifr's worry "Nei, best not tangle with the cat... best to leave that to the orcish bastards... wherever the bastards are." musing as he grimaces, conjures spit and dispenses it into the snow.

"Either the orcs are making for here... or we've lost them for good. I'd say we bolster nearby and wait for the howling in the night..." suggesting they let the great cat act as a form of primitive clawed alarum.


Male Human (Ulfen) Ranger 3 [HP 23/27 | AC: 17 (Tch:14 FF:13) | Fort +4 Ref +7 Will +3 | Init +4 | Perc +8]

"Aye, sounds good to me. I just hope it isn't us howling," Knute says wryly.

With that decided, Knute begins searching nearby for a good place to put up camp.

Thinking we'll set up downwind and out of easy sight of the cave, but hopefully close enough that we could hear a commotion there.

After putting up a makeshift shelter, Knute motions for Thrymr and Gifr to take their turn, indicating he'll take first watch. Knute slides his bow off his shoulder, nocks an arrow to the string, and holds it loosely at his side. He then squats with a nearby tree to his back, all senses on high alert. Skaði, watch over us tonight... And let us find the children alive.

How long is night this time of year? Knute will take up watch for half of it. Just make perception/fortitude checks when needed, I suppose?


HP 5/21 (4 NL), AC 15 / 11 / 14 | Fort +8 Ref +5 Will +3 | Init +1 | Per +7

Thrymr keeps a tight leash on his hund as the pair of Ulfens begin the process of making camp. He nods mutely at the suggestions of position and orientation, coming to the same conclusions as his companion.


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

Thrymr and Knute, the light is quickly vanishing even as you quickly discuss your plans. Setting up camp at night, with only a cloud-hidden moon to guide you, is going to be harder than it otherwise would be. Do you wish to risk a light?

*

Eysteinn- you did not do the foolish thing of charging the creature on the beach, so this 'encounter' is essentially over, coff. ;) You are able to climb up the trail at a brisk but cautious pace, keeping one eye on the scuttling creature on the beach, but you correctly realize that on land, it poses little threat to you... as long as you don't get within range of those pinchers. Within a few minutes, you have regained the high ground of the bluff pathway again-- the lobster-brute struggles with the vertical slope of the path for a few minutes before tiring and returning to the seal carcass at the water's edge. It is not made for climbing... at least not with water to help support its form.

The wind howls in your face once more as you resume the hike to Grinmer's. It is driving stinging drops of half-frozen saltwater into your eyes by the time you catch sight of the hut, built right into the hill-face for the warmth and solidity of the turf. (Dog not included.) How many hours you spent here, before everything went wrong, before you were disowned...? Eysteinn picks up his pace, feeling the wind trying to hurl him bodily from the cliff as the storm's lead edge begins to hit.

Grinmer opens the door before he can knock-- a trick Eysteinn remembers well. Grinmer is pleased to have the credulous think she can read the future and tell the hour of a visitor's coming... in truth, the hut merely has a good view of the path.

Grinmer is as Eysteinn remembers: old, withered as a winter apple, a sardonic smirk on the puckered mouth. Though Grinmer wears thick and baggy clothes to hide any hint of gender, age has begun to blur that line anyway, for the old seidr-worker-- past a certain point of years, the line between man and woman seems mutable indeed.

"Brought the storm with you, I see," says Grinmer, and impatiently ushers Eysteinn inside. The hut is close, crowded with bric-a-brac, dried herbs and pieces of driftwood and small dead animals in various states of preservation. A roaring fire burns beneath a battered pot, and the inside of the hut smells. It always smells. The smell is not pleasant, but it is an amalgam of a thousand scents, things charred, boiled, rotted, tanned, dyed, soaked... It's almost an entity in its own right, the smell in Grinmer's hut.

Grinmer shuts the door emphatically after Eysteinn, and the wind howls and screams its displeasure outside.


HP 5/21 (4 NL), AC 15 / 11 / 14 | Fort +8 Ref +5 Will +3 | Init +1 | Per +7

No light - if deemed necessary Thrymr would build a shelter big enough for Knute and Gifr, then rough it himself in his furs.


Human (Ulfen) Alchemist 2 | HP 7/17 | AC 15 - TAC 12 - FFAC 13 | F+6 R+6 W+4 | Per +2 Init +2

And the tragedy that storms carry, too, kennar.” he gets right to the point, finally happy not to pretend nor fake any sentiment. “I also brought this, though.” he gives Grinmer a small flask of herbal liqueur “Made a twist an old dwarf woman told me last Jol. Hope you like it. Strong as you taught me.” he nods with a hint of a smile. detracted 2 gp of trade goods from my sheet

He shakes his head, regaining his focus “The storm. Right.” he takes a deep breath “Last night, just before the dawn of the first day after Jol, orks attacked us. In numbers never seen before.” he goes on detailing what he knows and what he can piece together of last night, trying not to forget any possibly important detail. The help of dwarves and elves, the tactics used, what little he could see of the ork champions, the Winter Child, what happened to the children... who died and who was injured…
Some of the warriors got into that bubble of darkness together with the dwarves. It was a spell, I know that much, but I couldn’t make any sense of it – nothing like what you showed me.” he says with a bit of frustration.
Hrolf amongst them, of course. Whatever magic they used – seidr, or something fouler, I know not – but Hrolf has been blinded. And now the elders fear the morale will sink even further without an able-bodied chief.

He finishes his tale, telling how they were forced to let the kidnappers go, and the two trackers on their tails. “I hadn’t even the time to use your tricks in the fight, kennar” he murmurs “just grit and steel and muscle – no “special tonic” to help me.

He scratches his head “Now I said to Lord Th… to my father that I’d ask you for a way to cure Hrolf’s eyes. But really, anything you can do or tell us about this, anything, I’ll take it. Any kind of information. That name, ‘Varg’, the tactics, the type of seidr

And yes, father hates your guts and most folks at the village call you a crazy witch. You shouldn’t care. This is bigger than that. Palli and Hilde got hurt, they are kind to you. The orks took the children, Gods spare us, what kind of foul thing is that?

I guess I should roll Diplomacy?
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 ...awesome. That was a path worth traveling.


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

Eysteinn

Grinmer takes the bottle and sniffs at the cork, grunting in possible interest. The old witch has a fire going and is stirring a pot that sits over the flames-- Grinmer returns to doing that, barely looking at Eysteinn as he explains the situation.

Crappy roll! But good roleplay. I'll toss in a circumstantial bonus on my end. ;) Plus, you brought booze...

Spoilering the rest for length:
Grinmer is silent a moment after Eysteinn finishes his exhausted retelling of events, the old mouth puckered in a deliberating line. The spoon goes round and round in the pot, stirring a thick, tarry substance that smells like juniper and bubbles with thick, sullen belches.

"Never heard of any Varg," Grinmer says at length. "The ork clans I know all worship one they call Rull. They claim Tor stole lightning from him. Or maybe he stole lightning from Rull...? Eh. Who cares."

Grinmer spits into the flames to dismiss ork 'religion' with the gesture. The fire hisses briefly. "Maybe they have some southerner to lead them, if they fought smart like you say, with seidr to hide them."

The witch takes the pot off from over the fire and sets it down on the flat hearthstones before sinking into a wooden chair piled high with furs. Grinmer opens the bottle, takes a sniff, then a sip, then grunts. "This isn't too bad."

From Grinmer, that counts as high praise. The witch sits in silence a moment, staring at the flickering flames. "So Hrolf is blind, hm," Grinmer says after a long pause. "That puts your father in charge... Leif couldn't take control of the war-band yet, could he. Not quite proven himself. Ha!"

The witch chuckles, before the amusement drops and piercing eyes turn on Eysteinn again, staring out from the fringe of stringy grey hair. "And if you could bring back the cure, ah, what a hero, eh? Hrolf would surely pardon you. Your father would take you back. Is that what you're here for, the key to your old life?

"Well, let me disappoint you then: I have no such cure."

Grinmer is silent for several moments. "There are stories... Erik the Black's men washed his eyes in the blood of the demon that took his sight, and they say he was restored. Or the story of Britta the Blue-eyed-- Frigga took the form of a bird to claw out her eyes for looking at Odyn with desire. They say that Odyn had first to find a maiden who hadn't yet bedded a man, and then have the girl pick columbine flowers and crush them so the juices ran. The ointment was put on Britta's eyes and her sight was given back to her..."

Grinmer flashes a grin that is missing several teeth. "But good luck finding columbine in winter, eh? Or a girl pure enough to pick it."


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

Thrymr and Knute

The two men work to make a rough camp in the dark, wary of getting closer to the cave mouth and its probable feline resident. It's hard work: the clouds are still thick enough to block much moonlight or starlight from coming in, so as the last vestiges of twilight fade away, they're operating essentially by feel-- fumbling through the snow, packing it into a crude wall with some scavenged branches for structure. Hands become numb and chapped, and both men find the long day wearing on them. If only they could have a fire, a straw mattress, the sensation of being warm and dry again.... They don't complain, as they're Ulfen, but they might each privately long for the comforts of the feast from the night before.

Was it really less than twenty-four hours ago that they drank with friends and visitors, and fed their bellies, and listened to song and jesting? It seems much longer, the horrible waking and bloody battle taking up far more presence in their minds.

The "shelter" is completed, even if it's little more than a hollow in the snow with a roof of branches. The two argue over who will take first watch, as Knute points out he slept earlier while Thrymr stood guard, and Thrymr saying he's feeling fine...

Perception, Knute: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Perception, Thrymr: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Perception, Gifr: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

There is snow in Thrymr's ears after his long enduring-the-storm of earlier. Or perhaps he really is tired. But Knute hears- something-- over the rise of the wind, and holds his hand up for peace a moment. Gifr's head perks in the direction of the cave as well, and he lets out a single, sharp bark before Thrymr can quiet him.

Knute, you think you heard a voice, shouting. It's hard to be certain of anything, tired as you are and with the way the wind is howling.


HP 5/21 (4 NL), AC 15 / 11 / 14 | Fort +8 Ref +5 Will +3 | Init +1 | Per +7

Thrymr's heavy lidded eyes look to Knute, as he wordlessly gestures towards his hund... querying whether the bearish dog should be allowed free reign to chase down the sound he heard.


Male elf wizard 3, Init +3; Senses low-light vision; Perception +10/+12/+15 visual in light, AC 13 [17 Mage Armored], touch 13, flat-footed 10 [14 Mage Armored] hp 14 (2d6+4) Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +4; +2 vs. enchantments, Sense Motive +8

The figure draws nearer to the entrance, his feet are light on the snow.


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

Tassidar:
(Cough cough) Tassidar, might want to check over the PMs again. :) You're starting out already inside the cave, and there's no snow inside the cave, hence why it's a good place to shelter from the snow. If you want to narrate stuff you're doing for me as the GM, stick it behind a spoiler tag, because right now the other PCs can't see you at all. Basically, you woke up and realized you have company in the form of a large snow leopard in the cave with you. I'll leave it up to you whether or not you had a banked fire or another light source-- otherwise the cave is VERY dark.

Just to clarify, Knute and Thrymr, outside the cave, do not see any figure.

As Thrymr and Knute squint towards the cave mouth and Gifr growls questioningly, a loud feline yowling and hissing can be heard from inside the cavern entrance.


HP 5/21 (4 NL), AC 15 / 11 / 14 | Fort +8 Ref +5 Will +3 | Init +1 | Per +7

A harsh chuckle gracing his throat, Thrymr pulls Gifr in closer to signal to the hund that he's to heel. The dog struggles a moment or two before settling. The Ulfen speaks at a volume for Knute "Just the she-cat."


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

Playing fast and loose with time to give Halla a scene

(Since it could take a while for some of the exterior events to get back to you in Hofn, I'm fast-forwarding to the end of your nice eight hours of sleep, at any rate. Or ten. Whichever.)

Despite the second dream, Halla sleeps, and sleeps, and wakes slowly feeling like her head is full of wool. It's disorienting-- nobody poked her in the ribs and said 'up, girl', no rooster was crowing, none of the usual cues of her mornings were there. She was actually allowed to... sleep in, or something like it.

The sounds of whistling winds keen outside, and judging by how little light comes in the light-gaps, it's either dark out now, or storming. The longhouse is still full of many people, those too injured to be easily moved, but less so than when she went to sleep. Most are sleeping or unconscious. Palli is snoring like a saw on his bed.

Hilde is seated by the fire, awake, wrapped in a shawl. Signy is kneeling on the floor by the old woman, her bandaged face and head in her grandmother's lap; Hilde is stroking her hair as though Signy were a much younger girl. Signy seems to be asleep despite her position.

Hilde's sharp old eyes catch the motion when Halla stirs, watching her sit up. "Are you rested, child?"


Male elf wizard 3, Init +3; Senses low-light vision; Perception +10/+12/+15 visual in light, AC 13 [17 Mage Armored], touch 13, flat-footed 10 [14 Mage Armored] hp 14 (2d6+4) Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +4; +2 vs. enchantments, Sense Motive +8

Inside the Cave:

The low coals gave off incredible warmth, but little in the way of smoke. Their warm glow gave just enough light for the elf to see the large snow cat coming towards him.

Ashame my journey could come to an end in a cave at the hands of nature.---Think quickly now. Fire! Yes, light the torch. Maybe scare it off and we both live.

Tassidar sits up and thrusts a resin wrapped torch into the coals causing a shower of crackling sparks as the torch head stirs up and displaces the settled bed of coals.

"You will find no easy meal here cat."


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

Knute and Thrymr, you see light flaring up in the darkness towards the cave mouth...

Inside the cave:
The cat crouches on the other side of the cavern, tail lashing back and forth and the fire's light reflecting in the two pinpricks of its eyes. The fire seems to be temporarily holding the creature at bay, but it's exhibiting all the classic signs of predatory behavior, eyes watching Tassidar fixedly. Another low growl-building-to-a-yowl comes from the beast's throat.


Male elf wizard 3, Init +3; Senses low-light vision; Perception +10/+12/+15 visual in light, AC 13 [17 Mage Armored], touch 13, flat-footed 10 [14 Mage Armored] hp 14 (2d6+4) Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +4; +2 vs. enchantments, Sense Motive +8

Inside the Cave:
Very well then----

"Colorspray take you!"

A vivid cone of clashing colors springs forth from the Wizards hand striking the cat in the face.

"Come on, go down."

A vivid cone of clashing colors springs forth from your hand, causing creatures to become stunned, perhaps also blinded, and possibly knocking them unconscious. Each creature within the cone is affected according to its HD.

2 HD or less: The creature is unconscious, blinded, and stunned for 2d4 rounds, then blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, and then stunned for 1 round. (Only living creatures are knocked unconscious.)

3 or 4 HD: The creature is blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, then stunned for 1 round.

5 or more HD: The creature is stunned for 1 round.


Male Human (Ulfen) Ranger 3 [HP 23/27 | AC: 17 (Tch:14 FF:13) | Fort +4 Ref +7 Will +3 | Init +4 | Perc +8]

Knute looks startled at the sudden outburst from the cat. "Maybe the orks and cat did end up sharing that cave," he mutters.

Noticing Thrymr's heavy eyelids, Knute shoots him a frown. "Either we should all try and creep closer, to figure out what exactly is going on, or you should let me take first watch. We definitely shouldn't split up, even Gifr." Eyeing dog struggling against his master's hold briefly, he adds, "Gifr's got spirit; if he found a fight, including our enemies or not, would he come back to alert us of it? Or join in and hope we notice through his barks?"

Knute's eyes are drawn back to the cave as a light there breaks the night. "Look at that... That's definitely not the cat. Seiðr or fire, do you think? Should we take a look?" He turns back to their shelter. A wistful note enters Knute's voice at the thought of a full night's sleep: "Or wait until morning?"


Female Human (Ulfen) Oracle (possessed) 2/ Summoner 1 | hp 10/16 | AC 14 - t 11 - ff 13 | Fort +3 Ref +2 Will +5 | Per +2 Init +1
GM Dien wrote:

Hilde is seated by the fire, awake, wrapped in a shawl. Signy is kneeling on the floor by the old woman, her bandaged face and head in her grandmother's lap; Hilde is stroking her hair as though Signy were a much younger girl. Signy seems to be asleep despite her position.

Hilde's sharp old eyes catch the motion when Halla stirs, watching her sit up. "Are you rested, child?"

The sense of unreality hovering around the edges of Halla's unconsciousness due to waking in an unfamiliar way at an unorthodox time into unusual circumstances collapses into a tight ball of wariness. What does she want from me? Is she going to scold me for the poor job I did on Signy's stitches? She can't keep herself from giving the girl's bandaged face a guilty glance. "Aye," she answers guardedly. "Is there something I can do for you?"


HP 5/21 (4 NL), AC 15 / 11 / 14 | Fort +8 Ref +5 Will +3 | Init +1 | Per +7

Thrymr shakes his head "Not the orcs." before catching the light as well. Though he puts a slight thought to it, he answers "Morning, we don't know what it is... and if we leave the shelter we might not find it again." answering on his question on his hund last "Gifr does what he's asked... mostly, but no way of knowing how he'd react without knowing what's there."

Given that all we've seen is a witchlight in the cave, and the growls of a cat Thrymr doesn't want to tangle with - Thrymr's vote is stay put at the shelter


Male Human (Ulfen) Ranger 3 [HP 23/27 | AC: 17 (Tch:14 FF:13) | Fort +4 Ref +7 Will +3 | Init +4 | Perc +8]
Thrymr wrote:
"Gifr does what he's asked... mostly, but no way of knowing how he'd react without knowing what's there."

"A fair answer; I wouldn't expect more from myself."

Thrymr wrote:
"Morning, we don't know what it is... and if we leave the shelter we might not find it again."

"Right, sounds good." Knute motions for Thrymr (and Gifr?) to take his turn in the shelter, while Knute settles in to a snowbank, lounging and holding his strung bow across his lap. The Ulfen settles in for a long watch.

Not sure how long the night will be now, but Knute will try to keep the watch for a little more than half of it, since Thrymr let Knute nap earlier. Knute will wake Thrymr if/when the cold starts to overwhelm him or if a lot more light and sound is coming from the cave, though.


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

Inside the cave:
Normally I'd roll a regular initiative for us, and put up a map, but given this is, currently, a two-character combat (you and cat), I'm just going to narrate. If a map or an initiative count becomes necessary, I'll throw one up.

Tassidar strides forward fearlessly to within fifteen feet of the cat and calls forth a burst of brilliant rainbow hues that wash over the startled, yowling cat.

Will save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Though the cat seems dazed for a fraction of a second by the scintillating colors, it manages to shake off the effects, and overcome its wary fear of the two-legged who wields fire and light. It hunted for many hours today and found nothing that moved alone: here is single prey. Scary prey, with light and fire, but single...

The cat bounds forward over the cavern floor, weaving around the stalagmites and rubble on the floor. The cat bats at Tassidar with one over-sized snow-trekking paw-- sharp claws out.

Claw: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

But either the cat is still fearful and not devoting it's full skill to the attack, or perhaps Tassidar's deftness gives him the grace to dodge-- either way, the elf pulls back unhurt.

Due to Tassidar's study of the natural world, he knows that the great cats such as this one are fearsome foes in close quarters-- when they can bring both their claws and their teeth to bear. Their nature leads them to rake furiously at the belly of their prey animals with their rear claws, if they manage to hit with both of their fore-claws. And Tassidar is currently much closer to the cat than is likely good for his health!

You and the cat are adjacent to each other, so you'll either want to take a 5-foot step back before casting any spell, or cast it defensively. Alternately, you could take the withdraw action to move away from the cat, but it means you can't attack; or you could physically attack the cat (I'd say you could have that torch in hand if you wished). Or you could do something else entirely, if you like! (And sorry if I'm telling you things you already know; just trying to explain some things you may not know if you don't normally play casters.)

The first light that Thrymr and Knute saw seemed to have the orange-ruddy glow of fire. But scant seconds later, there's another flare of light (probably before Thrymr is asleep; it happened almost immediately after)-- this one in all the colors of the north-lights that are visible in the sky at some times of the year. A feline hiss and yowl follows on the heels of the rainbow hues.


HP 5/21 (4 NL), AC 15 / 11 / 14 | Fort +8 Ref +5 Will +3 | Init +1 | Per +7

The sight of more witch-lights from within the cave only cements Thrymr's belief that they should leave it well alone. He makes no movement to do anything but continue bedding down.


Human (Ulfen) Alchemist 2 | HP 7/17 | AC 15 - TAC 12 - FFAC 13 | F+6 R+6 W+4 | Per +2 Init +2

Great thinks Eysteinn, bitter nothing of actual help, a shoulder as cold as snow and mockery in folks’ tale form he bites his tongue. He is stressed enough to lash out at Grinmer, but first he has to make sure he’ll get nothing of use in the old witch “This is not even about father. I… I didn’t even think about that coming here. Odyn knows if I had been allowed to study more with you, maybe I could’ve done something more tonight, instead of being another useless man with a blade in his hands.

He breathes slowly, trying to stay calm “What about the children? If Varg means nothing to you – maybe the abduction does. Once they had the kids, they barely even fought anymore – just defending themselves while going out the gate. They didn’t burn down half as much as they could’ve. Do you have anything, be it knowledge or tool, that I can bring back to help the village in any way?


Male elf wizard 3, Init +3; Senses low-light vision; Perception +10/+12/+15 visual in light, AC 13 [17 Mage Armored], touch 13, flat-footed 10 [14 Mage Armored] hp 14 (2d6+4) Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +4; +2 vs. enchantments, Sense Motive +8

In the Cave:
"Well Master Gorfissel would take pride in knowing my spell just fizzled on a snow cat."

Tassidar steps back and casts Mage Armor on himself and he tries to back out of the cave keeping his torch between himself and the apex predator.

"Maybe I can get out of this with my skin, if not my dignity, intact."


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

Giving Knute a chance to post if he wishes, but either way I'll post moving everyone's scenes forward later today (Saturday)


Male Human (Ulfen) Ranger 3 [HP 23/27 | AC: 17 (Tch:14 FF:13) | Fort +4 Ref +7 Will +3 | Init +4 | Perc +8]

Ah, wasn't planning on posting, but I'll toss up a quick reaction to the pretty colors

Knute, despite not seeing much of the foul seiðr worked by the orkish leader firsthand, heard about its devastating effects after the raid. He shivers at the sight of the unnatural lights, dreading the prospect of facing down some sorcerer. Knute offers a quick prayer to Skaði and sits more alertly, watching the night for any more works of seiðr.


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

Halla

The old woman shrugs, her gaze sliding from Halla into the flames. "Do for me? Hmm, beyond saving the life of my grandson today?" she says. Old Hilde smiles humorlessly. "Have no fear, I will not do as Palli did."

Signy does not stir despite her grandmother's voice, perhaps still sleeping the sleep of willow tea and pained exhaustion. Hilde keeps absently petting at the white-gold hair, so different from Halla's dark, un-Ulfen locks.

"I do not think I will see this spring," Hilde sighs. "The years are catching up with me at last, as a young man overtakes a hale warrior... a day such as today ages you in the heart. And when the heart is too old, it does not matter if one has elf-blood or god-blood, I think. But this is of no concern to you, and why should it be...?

"Do you remember much of your mother? You were still young, that spring...."


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

Eysteinn

Grinmer is silent for a longer stretch of time, stirring the muck in the pot slowly.

"Children should not suffer the crimes of the parents," the witch says at last. Grinmer pushes upright, holding the spoon to Eysteinn. "Stir it."

Grinmer disappears...:
Grinmer disappears behind the curtain of hanging fox-tails that separate the witch's sleeping space from the rest of the room. Eysteinn catches a flicker of motion at the corner of his eye and sees the form of the weasel that keeps constant companionship with the old seidr-worker-- the beady-eyed creature darts to his ankle, and up his boot, sharp claws digging in for purchase. It regards him steadily from over his knee, small nose twitching. Never had liked him much, that's the feeling he always got from the lean, small rodent.

Grinmer returns, clutching a small leather bag. The witch's face is drawn and serious.

"What I give you is mystery beyond what you studied with me, boy. If you are seen to be using it... your father will gut you himself. Do the lives of children who are not your kin mean this much to you...?"

Not waiting for his answer, Grinmer keeps talking. "Odyn called the dead to him to answer with their knowledge. Do not think yourself the equal of the Hanged One, but... if you have the will... then you may call the dead yourself. Were there orks, slain at the battling?"


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

Thrymr and Knute (and Tassidar)

Wary of whatever foul sorcery is happening in the cave, the two of you keep a sidelong eye on the lights as you stamp down the snow and prepare to try and sleep.

Knute Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Thrymr Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Knute sees it: where before there was only the blackness of the cave mouth and the odd lights dancing within, now he sees a figure like a man's, bearing fire in hand and moving towards the entrance. The figure is silhouetted by that flame, and little detail can be seen, but it seems tall and slim for a man.

The sound of the cat's snarling travels out over the snow.

Inside cave:

The cat seems partially held at bay by the flame, still-- torn between fear and instinct. The cat takes a single swipe with one huge white paw, but still Tassidar's luck holds-- and his magical protections.

Claw: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 (miss)

Tassidar perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Tassidar, did you hear the barking of a hound out of the cave a moment ago, as you woke? It seems like it. At least you hope it is a hound, and not a wolf....


Human (Ulfen) Alchemist 2 | HP 7/17 | AC 15 - TAC 12 - FFAC 13 | F+6 R+6 W+4 | Per +2 Init +2

Eysteinn takes the spoon and stirs, careful not to make a drop fall out. He avoids looking through the curtain of foxtails – he’s never been at ease in Grinmer’s private room.

When the withc speaks again, he answers “Aye, there were. One or two fell by my blade…” Eysteinn scratches his head, choosing to dismiss the omynous reference to Odyn “so probably there are many more. Don’t quite remember if we managed to kill one of the big ones, the ones that took the kids – but I think so. Why?


HP 5/21 (4 NL), AC 15 / 11 / 14 | Fort +8 Ref +5 Will +3 | Init +1 | Per +7

Thrymr is unmoved from his attempt to sink into slumber, and he pulls Gifr in with him to try to ensure the hund doesn't go after the cat and disturb him.


Male Human (Ulfen) Ranger 3 [HP 23/27 | AC: 17 (Tch:14 FF:13) | Fort +4 Ref +7 Will +3 | Init +4 | Perc +8]

That certainly doesn't look like an ork, Knute thinks as he spies the figure walking towards the cave. But everyone said there was some seiðr user with the orks, which may have been a man... Knute turns to Thrymr, to point out the figure and get his thoughts on how they should react, but finds the Ulfen already falling asleep, gripping his hound in a bear hug. Knute smiles at the sight, then turns back to watch the cave mouth.

At least listening to the cat's snarls and watching the lights will make staying awake through the night easier, Knute thinks. We can always find out what's going on in the morning, or discuss what to do when it's Thrymr's turn at watch.


Male elf wizard 3, Init +3; Senses low-light vision; Perception +10/+12/+15 visual in light, AC 13 [17 Mage Armored], touch 13, flat-footed 10 [14 Mage Armored] hp 14 (2d6+4) Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +4; +2 vs. enchantments, Sense Motive +8

"Take a swipe at me will you?! Time to show you this meal strikes back."

Tassidar takes a fivefoot step back and unleashes a spell.

"Chew on this."

A glowing bolt flies from the Wizards outstretched fingers and streaks towards the face of the large cat.

Magic Missile
damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

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