North of the Wind (Inactive)

Game Master dien

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

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Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

Trull cave

Tassidar, I moved you on the map to have line of sight and be within 30' of the leopard for your Hand of the Apprentice. Keep in mind it's treated as a ranged attack, with the usual penalties for firing into combat, etc, in this case, -4. Fortunately a 16 still hits!

The witch-lights flow into the cave, shedding light over all and giving Thrymr and Gifr good light to see by, though the hund needs it less than the man. The foreign elf seems to throw his sword-- yet it flies with perfect grace, and, after slicing along the beast's flank, floats back through the air to his hand!

A second later, Thrymr swings with his mattock from the ground-- the heavy weapon cracks into the leopard's jaw from below, and with a crunch of bone, the beast slumps to the ground, furred body twitching.

Well done; out of combat rounds.

GM:
?: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14
V: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

Their breaths steaming in the chill cavern air, the group relax as they realize the leopard is no longer a threat.

Kn Nature DC 13, or Appraise DC 13:
A snow leopard's beautiful coat is incredibly warm, as well as visually appealing. Southerners prize it for the stark whiteness and black ring pattern, while Ulfen and other northerners value rather its heat-retaining properties. In good condition, a snow leopard fur can fetch as much as five hundred trade ingots 500 GP.

The injuries and burning would devalue this particular hide somewhat, but, if you wished to take the time to skin the leopard, you'd still have a valuable hide.

The lights play around this room, letting you see in its fullness now that you have the time to do so.

A full half the room is filled with cold, black water, shallow near your group, but getting deeper towards the far wall. Pale cave fish dart in the furthers shadows, half-glimpsed figments of imagination.

Thrymr landed on something unpleasantly hard-- as he picks himself off and sees to his the gash on his arm, it can be seen that is the wreckage of a gate, made of wood and bones lashed tight together with sinew. Looking around, you see worn grooves in the walls of the room's entrance, and surmise that it originally fit there, a long time ago. The bones and branches are spaced close enough together that anything bigger than a dog would have a hard time wriggling through them.

Thrymr and Knute know the stories: that the ice trulls kept those they hunted and captured in a dark pit of a chamber. Perhaps this was that room.

A cursory glance around reveals little of value, just dripping rocks and pale mushrooms growing in the corners. A few small bone fragments in a corner are a testament to something that died in this room... you hope they weren't human.

Perception DC 15, or Kn Engineering 10:
One of the many small crevices branching off from this room leads upward, but this one bears signs of tool-work, to have widened it. You feel cold air gusting down from the darkness above. It's not wide enough for a grown adult to slip through.

Perception DC 20:
You notice crude carving on one of the walls, about three feet off the ground. Shallow Skald runes say Einar Bjornsson, Asleifar and then there are six vertical grooves after it.


HP 17/17 :: AC 15 T 13 FF 12 :: CMD 19 :: F +6 R +6 W +4 :: Initiative +2 Perception +5

IN HOFN!

Halla Ingendóttir wrote:
"'Where are the children?'" Halla retorts, as if it is obvious. "How long will this binding take? Old Hilde said word has come from the trackers, and a rescue party will set out in the morning."

Eysteinn answers in a pretty terrible impression of a dumb ork. "Uh ... me not know ... with ork friends who took them?" He shrugs with a grim smile, switching back to his normal voice. "We may want to be a bit more specific than that."

He steps from their discreet spot, heading towards the shed. His voice is less certain, "I don't know, but not long, I think." He looks over at her, a hopeful smile on his lips, "Hopefully less with some help?"

He lapses into a few moments of silence as they walk, "Where the children are being taken would be good, though ... if he knows. And for what purpose. Bah! Again ... if he knows." Despite his obvious frustration, it's easy to see that Eysteinn is enjoying the mental exercise of choosing the right questions.

When they get to the hiding spot, Eysteinn does his paranoid look around before quickly digging up the head. "Meet our new friend. New friend ... Halla." He ushers her into the shed, giving himself a few minutes to let his eyes adjust to the even deeper dark of the interior. Then he looks up at Halla as he pulls out Grinmer's bag once again. "Anything you want to do before we get started?"

And any other thoughts on the questions? I'm leaning towards:
"where is your leader taking the stolen children?"
"What will happen to the children once they're there?"
"...?"

Not sure on the third.

Dien, any clarification on the ritual itself? Do we just rp Eysteinn following Grinmer's instructions? Or is there actually a requisite spell-casting component to this that Halla will need to help with?

RPG Superstar 2015 Top 16

Just RP is fine. I may roll some percentiles along the way. ;) Throw in a spellcraft for Eysteinn when you get to the scene itself (Halla too, if she is actively lending her mojo).


HP 17/17 :: AC 15 T 13 FF 12 :: CMD 19 :: F +6 R +6 W +4 :: Initiative +2 Perception +5
dien wrote:
I may roll some percentiles along the way.

*Cue ominous ominous music.

Cool. I'll let her let me know if there's anything else she'd like to do before they get started. Otherwise, I'll push forward.


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

Kn: Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Knute breathes a sigh of relief as the cat lets out its last. He picks his way over to Thrymr, and asks, "That was a strong hit; there isn't much that would be standing after it." He glances at the gash and bite Thrymr took. "Everything feel all right? We'll get you bandaged up when we're outside, in the light." Then his eyes turn to the leopard. That's a fine pelt... I should take that home. If I was the one who actually slew it. And we weren't in such a rush. Knute sighs, but doesn't mention anything about the pelt.

Knute then looks around the chamber. Spotting some marks on one of the walls, he steps over to look more closely. Reading the runes, Knute tries to remember if he's heard of this man, or what is presumably his town. Is he related to Njall Bjornson...?

Kn: Local, if needed: 1d20 ⇒ 8
or Kn: Geography, if needed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Regardless, as he's thinking he points out the carvings to Thrymr and Tassidar, waving them over.


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

Knute: Asleifar is the nearest "city" to Hofn (a town of several thousand people). It is about 40 miles away as the crow flies.

You don't know anyone by the name of Einar Bjornsson, but yes, there are several Bjornsons in Hofn. It's certainly possible there's a relation.

The marks do not look at all recent.


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

Pushing away the muzzle of his concerned hund, Thrymr flips himself onto his knees and gently frees his mattock's head from the cat's body. With rough hands he smooths over the beasts fur akin to an undertaker preparing a body. His hands linger slightly at the points where the fur is marked with burns... but he doesn't add words.

Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Replying in baritone "I'll live" before getting the content of the carvings relayed to him. Frowning in thought "Some poor bastard that was kept?"

How long would it take for Thrymr to skin the leopard and prep the hide?


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
Eysteinn of Hofn wrote:
Eysteinn answers in a pretty terrible impression of a dumb ork. "Uh ... me not know ... with ork friends who took them?" He shrugs with a grim smile, switching back to his normal voice. "We may want to be a bit more specific than that."

She blushes angrily as he points out the weakness of her plan.

Eysteinn of Hofn wrote:
When they get to the hiding spot, Eysteinn does his paranoid look around before quickly digging up the head. "Meet our new friend. New friend ... Halla." He ushers her into the shed, giving himself a few minutes to let his eyes adjust to the even deeper dark of the interior. Then he looks up at Halla as he pulls out Grinmer's bag once again. "Anything you want to do before we get started?"

Halla's lip curls in distaste at the sight of the half-frozen head, ugly enough before it was dead and separated from its body. She shakes her head in response to Eysteinn's question. "Am I to wield the needle? Will we not need better light to see by?" She reaches into her belt pouch to retrieve the flint and steel inside, but in the dim light, her hand comes out with the dwarf woman's ring instead. "Ní féidir liom gá fáinne. Dhíth orm solas," she grumbles, and the ring begins to glow with a heatless light that fills the outbuilding.

casting light

Varisian:
I don't need a ring. I need a light.


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 lights reposition themselves again to maximize their effectiveness. Tassidar hovers an open hand over his blade and the blood drops away from it revealing the gleaming Damascus steel underneath, now clean and unstained. prestidigitation

"Well struck blows everyone."

Tassidar moves over to stand next to Knute.

"This man whose name is engraved here, is he known to you?"


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map
Thrymr Níðingr wrote:
How long would it take for Thrymr to skin the leopard and prep the hide?

With the caveat that your GM has never actually done it, coff, and is relying on information gleaned from online hunting forums: about a half an hour. Thrymr could skin and dress a deer in half the time if he weren't trying to do a particularly good job with the hide, but in this case, the hide is the valuable part, and getting it cleanly off the flesh without doing further damage to it is a bit more time consuming.


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

:) Yeap a half an hour.


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

Thrymr stands "I'll put the leopard in the snow... maybe will still be there after we deal with the orcs." before moving to Knute "Anything else here worth seeing?"

Once we've finished in here, Thrymr will lug the leopard out the cave and pack it in snow. Maybe it'll get scavenged, maybe not - but the ice and snow should preserve it for a short while.


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 skin will come off more easily when it is fresh and the body is flexible. Many hands make quick work. We can do it together. It would be a shame to waste the animal."


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

"No, he isn't. Not unless he's related to Hofn's smith." Knute falls quiet for a moment, remembering the tales of what happened to those trapped here.

Knute looks from Thrymr to Tassidar, smiling at the possibility of retrieving the leopard's skin. He nods enthusiastically at Tassidar's comment. "We can certainly skin it, though we still won't be able to tan it now or carry it around as we track the orcs..." He trails off at that thought. "I suppose we could hide the pelt, though. That might be less likely to attract predators."

He looks to the other two men, waiting for their opinions.


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

Frowning as Tassidar attempts to give him advice on woodscrafts Thrymr just repeats his first words "I'll put the leopard in the snow" making to heft the beast up onto a shoulder as he adds "Best you get to looking over the rest of the cave... if nothing's here we needs be back on the trail."

Quick hunting website search states that you can freeze whole carcass and skin it later when it's in partial thaw. It's the quickest and simplest solution - especially given we're hypothetically still meant to be chasing after the children.


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's grin fades at the larger Ulfen's words. He's right, of course. We are in a hurry. You're letting greed get the better of you, Knute chastises himself.

Knute sighs audibly as he agrees with Thrymr, and gives the chamber one brief look around. He peers into the wider crevice and makes sure he didn't miss anything, before making his way back to the first chamber, with the branching path.

I don't think there was anything else to see along the way, and the prisoner area seems to be a dead end. If that's not the case, Knute would instead check out anything near by. Also he's hoping Tassidar is providing illumination for the walk back... :)


HP 17/17 :: AC 15 T 13 FF 12 :: CMD 19 :: F +6 R +6 W +4 :: Initiative +2 Perception +5

Sorry for the delay … weekends are often tricky for me to post.

IN THE HOFN SHED, WITH THE SEWING NEEDLE

Eysteinn watches curiously as the ring lights the shed, ”That’s certainly useful.”

He forces his curiosity aside to focus on the task at hand. ”Good idea on the needle,” he says as he sets the head and bag on an empty spot on the floor. ”Which means I handle the blade and blood, huh?”

With one last mental review of Grinmer’s instructions, Eysteinn sighs. ”Here goes,” he mutters as he draws the strange needle. With an anxious sigh, he pokes it into his finger hard enough for it to bead up immediately. ”Odyn. Fjölsviðr. Give us wisdom and make this foul shade speak true.”

He looks across at Halla with a shrug before handing her the blood-tipped needle. He ignores his bleeding finger as he readies the blade. Once the lips are sewn, he turns the head towards himself and pauses … giving the room’s gloominess a suspicious glare. Then he continues his work, cutting the threads.

After one final ’here we go’ look at Halla, he speaks asks his first question in Skald.

”What is to be done with the stolen children when their destination is reached?”

If the head doesn’t respond, he’ll repeat that same question in Ork.


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

Yeah I've got the lights on.

Tassidar watches the human interaction without any emotion on his features. After the larger man leaves he speaks to Knute.

"Did he have no other interest in this cave, but to kill the cat? . . . And you were right by the way. Scavengers would have no interest in a flensed cape, just the guts and carcass. He is a strange man to me."

"If there is nothing else of interest here for you, I am to move on to the rest of the chambers."


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

IN THE HOFN SHED, WITH THE SEWING NEEDLE

Eysteinn of Hofn wrote:
Eysteinn watches curiously as the ring lights the shed, ”That’s certainly useful.”

"I ... got it from a dwarf on Jól," she deflects.

She takes the bloody needle with a grimace and, overcoming a moment of revulsion, begins to stitch the coarse lips together. The dead flesh is near-frozen, and the needle pierces only reluctantly, making the task too slow for her tastes. She tries to ignore the gaping absence below the rough-hewn neck. Just another filthy Ulfen warrior injured in battle, she tells herself steadyingly. Gods know it's an ugly one. Even uglier than Stefnir Skulason after he fell off the roof of the longhouse onto his face and his nose never grew back the right way again.

Distracting herself thus, she manages to finish the grisly task and push herself away with a shudder, leaving the head to Eysteinn to complete the ritual.


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 glances after his companion, trodding away with the massive cat slung over his shoulder. "No," Knute replies to Tassidar, "I think he was hoping to find more than the cat, and was disappointed. There isn't much noticeable in this part of the cave, so he wants to move on. That isn't too strange, for an Ulfen. We're typically practical folk. Though he is more gruff than most others." Knute says, looking in Thrymr's direction again. Then he shrugs.

The Ulfen continues, "And, if he buries it well in snow and ice, it might be here when we get back. Scavengers generally aren't interested in frozen meat, if there's anything else around..." Knute says, frowning at the lame excuse. Then he sighs again. "He's right that we should be in a hurry, after all. I was letting my greed get the better of me."

The ranger takes one last look around the chamber, nods to Tassidar, then walks with the elf back towards the mouth of the cave.


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

At the cave

Thrymr hoists the feline corpse onto his shoulder, and Gifr faithfully follows him out to the snow to stick the body somewhere it will be safe enough, for now.

Knute and Tassidar make their way down the other branch of the cave.

The first obstacle is the floor sloping down into a ditch, some fifteen feet wide and several feet deep, where melt-water has collected and formed a bitterly-cold miniature pond. On the far side the cave floor rises sharply-- originally, this was a crude defensive barricade on the part of the trulls.

But the rocks that the trulls had piled on the far side to serve as a wall were long ago knocked down. Enough of them landed in the water that they can serve as stepping stones across, which Tassidar noted in his earlier explorations and points out now to Knute. The two make their way across without soaking their garments in the cold water, and scramble up the bank on the other side. The corridor curves around until it opens into a wide, broad chamber.

Ten years have passed since Hrolf came through here and broke the nest of trulls that laired: the signs of the warriors of Hofn are still evident in this place. There is a large, charred hunk of wood over-turned in the center of the floor: Knute knows enough of the story to recognize it as a crudely-carved chair, where the oldest trull sat. Dead logs ring around it, dragged here by the trulls to serve as the simplest of furniture.

On the wall near where Tassidar and Knute enter, there is a rack of wood and scraps of rusted pig-iron: weapons and tools probably hung here, but anything of use was taken by Hofn long ago.

This room also contains the ruined shrine that Tassidar had noted earlier. It was made of stone, but the Hofn warriors took hammers to it, destroying the representation of whatever foul god or demon the trulls paid obeisance to, and leaving it in shattered fragments on the cavern floor. The stone shards no longer hold any power, even if they have old, brownish stains on them.

This room has no trickling water, unlike the lower passage. There is no algae and only a few stubborn fungi trying to make a go of it. The air is still, dry, and cold, and Knute and Tassidar's breaths puff around their faces.

A few alcoves lead off from this chamber; the largest of these niches once had a hanging hide to cover it, but only the stick from which it hung yet remains. There is one more yawningly-wide chamber ahead, just glimpsed at the furthest edge of Tassidar's lights.

Thrymr: you see the southern elf's hawk still here outside the cave, perched in one of the snow-heavy pines. The bird is keeping a keen-eyed watch, and tracks your presence as you emerge with the cat. It does not take long for you to dig a pit in the snow.


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

Halla and Eysteinn

GM stuff:

Eysteinn Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Forgot Halla isn't trained in it. Just Eysteinn's it is!

?: 1d100 ⇒ 8
?: 1d100 ⇒ 77

Will save: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

The two thralls-- one born to it, the other made such for his transgressions-- work in tense quiet. It seems to Eysteinn that the needle draws his blood very eagerly.

Halla does the grisly work without flinching, even if her breathing is shallow. Stitch-and-sew, stitch-and-sew--

Eysteinn takes the head, and murmurs words to Odyn. He pauses a moment, hoping perhaps for some sign of the god's favor or disfavor... but nothing happens. The unnatural light from the ring glows steadily, so unlike a candle or a torch. With a deep breath, Eysteinn cuts the threads.

The ork's eyes open.

Gleaming dull, rheumy yellow in the light from Halla's ring, they stare blankly up at Eysteinn. He asks his question in Skald, and receives no response.

When he repeats it in the harsh and guttural ork tongue, however, the dead flesh ripples and twists, the mouth moving, thick lips trailing the snipped threads of human hair in their wake.

"Guhun ak dalrin."

Ork:
"Given to dalrin." Dalrin? That doesn't sound like an ork word-- and if it is Ork, it is not a word that Eysteinn knows.

The eyes stare blindly up at Eysteinn, waiting for further demands.

Perception, Eysteinn: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Perception, Halla: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Halla:
Halla is not distracted by questions of language, since the dead ork's words are so much gibberish to her, but that leaves her ears and eyes sharp for other things. One is the tread of feet crunching through the snow, outside; the other is that a small, white-and-black snowbird is nestled up in the eaves of the outbuilding, head cocked; the ring's light a reflective pinprick in its small black eye.


HP 17/17 :: AC 15 T 13 FF 12 :: CMD 19 :: F +6 R +6 W +4 :: Initiative +2 Perception +5

HOFN SHED FUN

Eysteinn, transfixed by the horrific work, doesn’t look up as he gives a muttered translation to Halla.

’Given to Dalrin,’ it says. That mean anything to you?”

Does it mean anything to Eysteinn? He has ranks in Know: arcana, local, and nature, all at the same modifier, so I’ll make one roll, and you can use it as appropriate.
Knowledge (Arcana/Local/Nature): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15


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

Gm Dien and the Hawk - and Tassidar:
After using his mattock to hew apart the snow and frozen soil, Thrymr gives the leopard a shallow grave for the short term by the base of a decent sized tree. The trunk is marked with a crude 'T' after he sees the beast covered up. While the Ulfen works, his hund keeps a steady eye upon the hawk standing steady sentinel.

As Thrymr finishes his work and straightens his back, Gifr gives a single sharp yip before gesturing with his muzzle towards the bird... and holding his head slightly cock-sided. Thrymr muses, swirling some phlegm within his mouth before spitting it into the snow.

With eyes upon the elf's companion Thrymr holds out a fur and cloth garbed arm before whistling softly and offering the perch to the beast of the sky...

Essentially he's offering Vethrfolnir his arm as a perch - if the hawk will accept it.


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

HOFN SHED FUN

Eysteinn of Hofn wrote:
’Given to Dalrin,’ it says. That mean anything to you?”

Knowledge (history/local/nature/religion) on Dalrin 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

She shakes her head. "Yngvi might know. Or the southern skald." Her eyes widen suddenly, and she lifts a finger to her lips to warn Eysteinn to silence. Pushing up onto her knees, then to her feet, she crosses to the door of the shed, settles her face blandly, then opens the door just enough to step out, pulling it shut again behind her. She leaves the dwarf's ring, with a bit of a pang, behind with Eysteinn, and looks for whoever she heard walking in the snow or, in lieu of a visible figure, footprints.


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

"Last one ahead. Do we search it alone?"


AC 16, touch 15, flat-footed 13 (+3 Dex, +1 natural, +2 size) hp 7 Init +3; Senses low-light vision; Perception +15 Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +5

The hawk looks at the man and dog. The four legs is ever a threat to birds, but the man's hand looked inviting.

The hawk sends feelings of temptation and wariness to his companion.


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

Vethrfolnir:
Catching the hawk's slight gaze towards the hund Thrymr speaks brusquely "Hund isn't going to bite hök..." pausing for a few more moments to see if the words are understood or ignored.

hök - hawk in Skald


HP 17/17 :: AC 15 T 13 FF 12 :: CMD 19 :: F +6 R +6 W +4 :: Initiative +2 Perception +5

HOFN SHED FUN

Eysteinn scowls at her silencing gesture, but follows along, keeping his mouth shut as she moves for the door. After a second, he sets the head down (preferably somewhere out of immediate site), and skulks to the shed door himself, trying to discretely monitor what's happening beyond.

Taking 10 on Perception (18) and Stealth (11).


AC 16, touch 15, flat-footed 13 (+3 Dex, +1 natural, +2 size) hp 7 Init +3; Senses low-light vision; Perception +15 Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +5

"Oh, what the hell."

The white and black hawk hops into the air revealing the black chevron across its wings. With three lifting wing beats it gets some altitude then flutter glides over to the offered perch giving a little shriek of appreciation.


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

"Hummmmm, something has contented Vethrfolnir outside."

The elf sends three lights into the chamber ahead of them leaving one in front of Knute to aid his human eyes.

"Well then. Let's be on with this and then see to those children. . . I can see you are a little less afraid of my magic than most, is that because of the elves that come to your village?"


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

Vethrfolnir:
Thrymr lets the hawk settle upon his arm, taking the added weight without complaint. His heavy eyes above bearded face are active and engaged, even if his features don't betray much emotion. The ulfen just watches for a hand of seconds before slowly reaching into his pack with the other hand, withdrawing a skerrick of dried jerky.

Clutching the tidbit enclosed within his fist he raises his off hand and holds it with the top of his hand facing the hawk and allows the bird of prey to spend a moment to sniff and investigate. Assuming that there is no sign of aggression or withdrawal, Thrymr flips his hand open and offers the piece of meat to be eaten from his palm.

As he waits to see if the meat is taken, Thrymr looks over the bird with a calm eye. He follows the flow of the hawk's feathers from head to tail and along each wing... both regaling the bird of prey... as well as checking for any sign of maltreatment or ill-health.

Gifr remains patient and panting at his companion's side, watching with a curious cock-eyed gaze.


AC 16, touch 15, flat-footed 13 (+3 Dex, +1 natural, +2 size) hp 7 Init +3; Senses low-light vision; Perception +15 Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +5

The hawk takes the offered meat being accustomed to hand feeding. The animal is magical in nature and benefits from Tassidar keeping him in perfect condition using prestidigitation and mending as well as decades of mundane falconry skill.

The Falcon wears a thin band of tarnish free silvery metal on its left leg. A gem with a stylized briar and thistle flower centered within it are engraved upon the band.

The hawk looks back at the human studying him in return with an intelligence beyond what one would expect from a hawk.


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

Vethrfolnir:
Thrymr's forehead creases into a frown when he sees the band of metal, unsure of whether it's a mark of possession or simply a possession. He runs his hand from neck down the hawk's back before surging his support arm upwards to give the bird of prey an easier take off. Bending to give Gifr a scratch behind the hund's ears before putting mattock across his shoulders and moving back to the cave's entrance.

Peering into the dark mouth, he sees if he can make out the seidr light of the elf.


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 calls to Thrymr, "We're checking out the other branch of the cave, if you'd like to join." He then walks with Tassidar into the other passage. "Thrymr's only a yell away, if needed. And you didn't stumble into anything last night, so we should be all right. Skaði send it so...

Picking his way over the strewn obstacles in the cave, Knute searches for any signs of recent disturbance or habitation. Surely, if the orcs were here, there would be something...

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

He looks around for a little while longer, then asks Tassidar, "Well, which way do you like first? I vote we leave the large one for last."

Knute glances at Tassidar at the elf's comment. "Well, you seemed friendly, enough, and I think I've had a touch of magic, with the elves coming to visit. They've certainly done tricks before. Though that number you did with your sword was new." Knute does look a little uneasy at the mention of that, but shrugs it off. "Mostly though, I'm just trying to get used to it; if we're facing dark, orcish seiðr, we'll need seiðr of our own, from elf or man."


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

At the Hofn shed, with the candlestick, er, needle... flames, flames on the side of my face...

There is no mystery for Halla as to who made the sounds of feet; Njall the blacksmith is coming towards the shed, though he stops walking and squints at her uneasily when she emerges.

"...I saw a light through the cracks," the big man says slowly. "I thought there might be some ember left from the orks that had kindled on dry wood. What are you doing in there, girl?"

Eysteinn can perceive it all from inside the shed, squinting through a crack in the boards.

(Sadly, neither he nor Halla know anything of the word 'dalrin'.)


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

Tassidar and Knute and Thrymr

Knute pokes around the large room by the elf-light, but it all seems cold and long abandoned. There aren't even signs of animal habitation in this room, unlike with the bones and hairs of the entrance, and the bats in the other chamber. It seems a room determinedly devoid of life, and the air seems even colder near the shattered shrine.

The alcoves are no more than a quick peer into each, even the largest one with the stick hanging above it. Knute sees nothing but crude shelves made of old, stripped tree branches here. When Tassidar glances over...

Tassidar Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

...his inhumanly keen eyes do find a faint glint down in the detritus on the floor, a tangle of dust and rocks and ashes and broken pottery that conceals something that Hofn's warriors overlooked, all those years ago.

It's... a nail, once lifted out of the rubble and brushed off. About six inches long and made of a black metal heavier than steel or iron. Despite the chill of the room, it is vaguely warm to the touch.

Kn Nature, DC 15:
The nail is made of adamantine, a metal that the dwarves are known to prize.

The unexplored far chamber still yawns, open and cold, as Knute shouts words back to Thrymr.

Thrymr, you can see the light that shows the way they went, gleaming down the other passage. It gives you just enough faint light to see the water in your path, and the rocks to cross over them by. As you prepare to do so, you hear a short, shrill cry from the hawk, back behind you.

Tassidar, you feel a sudden surge of alert wariness from Vethrfolnir, outside.


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

The cry causes Thrymr to spin and narrow his eyes towards the tree line behind him. A slap at his side gets Gifr in close synchronicity as he moves to the side of the cave entrance and focuses outwards.


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 elf stoops to pick up the nail. A wave of his hand magically clears the loose deposits and dirt from the metal so he can inspect it more readily.

Know Nature: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

"Adamantine also known as "star metal" and highly prized by dwarves. Was this captured from them? Or is the an opening to . . . "

Tassidar stands up suddenly.

"---My companion has sensed something outside. Someone or something comes."

The elf closes his eyes and makes a send to the hawk.

"Climb and observe, remain high and above bowshot. One? Few? Many coming?"


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 sighs as the chamber reveals nothing that gives clues as to where they should go. Should we just continue west northwest, then? And hope we stumble on something? Knute continues searching glumly. He perks up, though, as he notices Tassidar peering at a small object.

The ranger walks over as Tassidar identifies the metal. Knute opens his mouth to ask more questions, opening to what? but stops as he sees Tassidar's suddenly alert expression. At his remark, Knute thinks, his companion sensed? They can talk telepathically? The Ulfen is confused, but asks no questions, instead motioning back towards the mouth of the cave.

"We'd best be there to greet it with our friends, then, whatever it is. The rest of the cave can wait." With a last glance at the chamber behind, Knute sets off at a hurried pace back to the entrance.


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:

There is no mystery for Halla as to who made the sounds of feet; Njall the blacksmith is coming towards the shed, though he stops walking and squints at her uneasily when she emerges.

"...I saw a light through the cracks," the big man says slowly. "I thought there might be some ember left from the orks that had kindled on dry wood. What are you doing in there, girl?"

She shrugs in what she hopes is a careless manner. "Looking for fungus," she invents, "for a poultice to treat infected wounds. Old Palli's supply is low, and he sent a few of us to look for more. Anything outside is buried in snow, but it grows in moldy straw, rotten wood... we thought to check the outbuildings, that we might find some in a damp corner."

Bluff 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

At the trull cave

Thrymr hurries back outside once more.

Thrymr Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Gifr Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

The hound looks around curiously, seeing (and smelling) nothing out of place, but this time, the morning light shines just right for Thrymr to see-- something.

His eyes gloss over it as merely a tangle of icicles hanging from a tree's bough, at first, but then he perceives small, jagged limbs and tiny eyes that glint like chips of ice. Half-hidden in the snow that drapes heavy on the branches of the nearest pine, there is a small, odd figure trying to hide, by freezing in place. Heh.

The hawk is eying it steadily, wings beating the air as it tries to sort out if this is prey or not.

Tassidar:
Just for reference, the familiar rules in Pathfinder may be different than prior editions. At this level, all you have with Vethr is an empathic bond allowing transfer of general emotions. Being able to mentally issue specific commands is a ways off yet, alas.

Knute and Tassidar start hurrying back towards the entrance-- Thrymr, you have a split second or two, it seems, in which the creature hasn't noticed you yet. What would you like to do?

Thrymr, kn local, untrained: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19 Caps at 10, per untrained, but that's enough for:

The tales of Yngvi include more than one reference to the old spirits that dwelt here before Rolf came in his red ship-- things strange to men, not-quite-gods, spirits of snow and woods. This might be one such thing... though from the stories, Thrymr always thought they'd be, well, bigger. The ice-creature would barely come to his hip.

Knute and Tassidar will arrive 'next round', though I'm not rolling an initiative just yet, as it's sort of a surprise round if we're thinking of it that way.


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

In Hofn

Njall stands there in the snow, his black brows drawn together. He's not known for being the swiftest thinker in town.

Njall sense motive: 1d20 ⇒ 12

He frowns, doubt and wariness flicking over his face. "That's a curing shed," he says gruffly, taking another step forward. "There'll be no mushrooms in there, I don't reckon. Who's we? You have someone in there with you, lass?"


HP 17/17 :: AC 15 T 13 FF 12 :: CMD 19 :: F +6 R +6 W +4 :: Initiative +2 Perception +5

Eysteinn makes sure his clothes are disheveled before he steps out.

"Halla ... I think I found some of the—" he stops to make a show of noticing the big man. "Oh, Njall. We didn't mean to wake you. Palli set us to finding fungus." He tries to deliver the last with a mix of annoyance and fatigue. "Apparently it needs boiling before everyone wakes."

Bluff, DC 10 to Aid Halla: 1d20 ⇒ 13


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

Thrymr's mood darkens at the sight of the beast and he puts a hand down unto Gifr's neck. "Vakta" is growled as the ulfen seeks to withdraw slightly within the cave mouth, hund at his side. If it means us ill, at least within the roof and walls will mean it's wings are less of use

vakta = guard
Thrymr is remaining watchful and withdrawing back into the cave (though not into darkness) where he might get the advantage of the confined space.
Gifr is 'guarding' by his side.


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

Okay, I read the section on familiars and I am all set on that.

Tassidar moves towards the mouth of the cave, but slows down and tries to remain quiet when he sees the Ulfen hunter acting cautious and telling his hound to guard.

"Not an obvious enemy, or it hasn't spotted us perhaps? I should observe and watch what these men do."

Right now what Tassidar does is really dependent on the two Locals.

Tassidar reaches for his bow propped up against the wall.

"Best be prepared."


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

At the cave

There's a noise like a boiling pot of water as the ice-creature recognizes there's a man-thing watching as well as the bird. It remains frozen a second longer, then lunges away from its no-longer-effective hiding place into the chill air, wings made of ice taking it the opposite direction from the cave mouth.

Thrymr (and Gifr, and Vethr) see the creature fly away about forty feet before swooping behind a stand of snow-heavy trees and disappearing from sight.

GM:
?: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

By the time Tassidar and Knute reach the cave mouth, nothing is automatically visible.

Perception DC 20:
Thrymr can point out where the thing flew off to, and anyone who looks that way and is very keen-eyed can see the quiver of one particular branch, as if a weight had just settled on it.


Plaguestone Map | Gallows of Madness Combat Map

Back in Hofn

Njall's brows lift as Eysteinn appears, and he takes in the other thrall's disheveled clothing with a snort.

"Fungus," he repeats, in the tone of a man who says he's found you out, yes he has, fungus, really. Njall shakes his head and mutters something into his beard that sounds like 'no accounting for taste'.

"Well, I suppose it's no harm to any but yourselves," he mutters, rubbing at the back of his neck. He squints at Eysteinn as if about to say something more, then shakes his head again, and turns, and heads back towards his forge, plodding away in the snow.

Arrow dodged, or something.


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

Keeping his eyes into the snow towards where it left his sight Thrymr points "Small beast with wings... looks like it is made of ice."


HP 17/17 :: AC 15 T 13 FF 12 :: CMD 19 :: F +6 R +6 W +4 :: Initiative +2 Perception +5

Back in Hofn

Eysteinn waits until the big blacksmith is back out of hearing range, then mutters an amused, "I don't think old Njall believes we're after fungus. I almost feel bad tricking him ... almost like deceiving a child."

When Halla looks over at him, Eysteinn shrugs and straightens his clothes as the reserved grin melts from his face under her hawkish gaze. As the moment stretches out, his dark eyes stare at her with an odd expression. After another moment, he breaks the gaze, looking at the snows, houses, and darkness around them as he cups his hands over his mouth, warming them with his breath.

”Finish the task?”

Assuming she doesn’t refuse or leave, he opens the door for her before following her in. After a moment to regather his wits, Eysteinn recollects the ork head, holding it uneasily with just the fingertips of both hands. ”Maybe it knows what Dalrin means.”

He looks at the head, breathes another request for Odyn's aid, then once again takes up the orken tongue. ”Kto alebo čo je Dalrin?”

Ork-ese:
"Who or what is Dalrin?”

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