PFS - GM CariMac's 2-19 Shades of Ice Part III: Keep of the Huscarl King (Inactive)

Game Master CariMac

Carina holds on to Prothero tightly as he does two amazing jumps to get out of the way of the bison stampede. Zero tries to get the other's attention so they can grab the rope he offered them. The only one who notices is Abaal.

Grace manages to dodge most of the damage, but Ailean isn't so lucky. The tail end of the stampede runs by, and one last baby bison bleats and almost knocks over Grace as it brings up the rear.

The ambush is over, and the group continues on their way.

19 Damage to Ailean, and 8 to Grace. Feel free to heal as you are heading out of the gorge.

Once you make it out you find A dozen Kellid warriors with painted faces stand vigilant in the center of the route. Although they are armed with axes and round, Ulfen-styled shields, their weapons are not drawn. At the head, a tall and powerfully-built figure with piercing eyes steps forward.

As he approaches, his hands are held palm up until he is close enough for words. “I am Hiryla,” he says in broken Common, his words flowing with a strange cadence that suggests that he is speaking words that were given to him by another to say. “You come with me… We must talk.”

That was awesome, Carina! I hope you don't mind my grabbing you and sort of deciding your action for you, but I was concerned that not getting to act in the surprise round might have grave consequences for you. Turned out to not be so bad, but I think we had an excellent teamwork solution - and that's the first time I've used that jump bonus!

"All right," Prothero says calmly, as the warriors do not seem to mean them harm, and they are not a charging herd of bison. "Where are we going, and what are we talking about?"

Earlier:

Abaal leaps down.

"Quiet invigorating, no? -Oh my! Are you alright?" In particular he looks at Ailean (whom he is constantly worried about given the man's moist, soft-boiled looking eyes, broomstick-like limbs, and general unhealthy pallor).

"How many fingers am I holding up? You should pick your battles with more wisdom, my friend. A little fellow like you against so many large animals. We shall have to begin a rigorous training regimen to get you into fighting shape. Perhaps we could engage our big silent friend to help in your training?"

Ailean stands up after having being gored by bison and says "Wo-oww, many bumps to get fixed by stick." and pulls out his wand of CLW.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

"Not with the worrying, I don't see any wiggle-wangles sword-stache man, no question-tricks for my top skull. Not with the training, lantern give me the pranks, lantern pull the pranks, never with the final prank though."

Earlier, though not quite as early as the last 'Earlier':

Abaal nods sagely, and pats the little man on his head, already looking toward the future and the torturous training montage ahead.

Then he realizes he might be standing on someone and quickly begins digging through the snow for Grainne.

Basic Hydrokinesis (Also, you all know her only as Grace. She doesn't tell anyone her real name. Also, if none of you have a shoulder slot item you can have the +2 cape for thier saves... Ailean.

the snow rumbles and shifts, revealing a SLIGHTLY miffed Grace. "Well THAT happened..." she said brushing herself off.

"We are going to my village." As you follow Hiryla over the hill, you see the Kellid camp at the base on the other side. Unlike the fur and hide tents common among the nomadic northerners, this village is composed of small, round houses and low, long buildings built of stone with thatched roofs. The rectangular, round-topped buildings number almost 20 in all, gathered around a central, circular building that is larger and grander than the rest.

Hiryla leads you to the large central building.

Inside this grand hall, dozens of Kellid men, women, and children scurry to and fro, passing food and drink around an enormous central hearth. Long, low benches ring the fire, and a handful of elderly Kellids, decked out in ornate white furs sit on the other side of the flames from the building’s entrance. A young woman with one leg, walking with the aid of a crutch,greets Hiryla in Hallit, and then turns to the door and speaks in perfect Common. “Welcome to the North,” she says with a broad grin and a handshake. “My name is Teyma.”

The Snowmask Clan has skirmished with a group of travelers out of Irrisen many times in the last few days as the intruders have
come farther and farther into their lands. We tried to talk with these outsiders, but they were attacked, and fought back. Now that you have agreed to talk, Hiryla and the elders want to know why two companies of foreigners have come into their land along
the same route in such a short time."

She continues, “The elders want to hear your story. Tell us of your clan, and what brings you here. If the tale is good enough,” she adds with a smile, “we will tell you ours.”

Prothero waits for someone else - anyone else, really - to begin telling the tale, trying to helpfully add details. Unfortunately, his little tidbits of detail do more to distract the listener than fill out the story.

Perform (oratory), Aid: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7

perform oratory: 1d20 ⇒ 17

Grace helps with a show of her powers, making the snow dance around her like a personal storm before it flutters down harmlessly.

Perform Aid: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (2) - 3 = -1

Zero tries his best to assist by way of shadow puppets against the fire. But his tale drastically differs from the one the others try to tell, depicting a rather bloody and disturbing scene.

"Very well,"She states before switching to her own heavily accented Hallit. For the sake of brevity, I'll not throw this behind a spoiler

"Honored elders, my associates and I are from a great organization that is centered many weeks south that goes by the title of the Pathfinder Society. Many people from many walks of life join our Society, from scholars, to warriors and many other groups in between. We seek knowledge, both lost and hidden, and if that knowledge is deemed dangerous by our scholars and scribes, we guard it for safekeeping."

"At first, my associates and I were actually sent into the Northlands solely to deliver some of this knowledge to a friend of our group that lived several weeks west of here, much closer to the ocean. However, when we reached his home, we had found that it had been attacked and burned to the ground, and those that did so left people to try, and fail horribly, to kill us. With some effort, we were able to locate the man and woman who led the attack, as they was attacking the stores of that area, in an effort to blame it on us. However, they did not account for our strength in arms and we bested them. From the woman, we found out that our society's friend was shipped in this direction, to the frozen witch-run city still to the west of here."

"So we traveled east, to that city. With a little bit of magic, we snuck into the city and found the mostly-abandoned hideaway, infested with goblins and the last remnants of the group that was trying to influence things throughout the Northlands. We also found a large number of people that the goblins were trying to sell into slavery, including our friend that was the reason for visiting up here in the first place. After we rescued them, our friend told us that the reason the hideaway was almost empty, was that the leaders of the group discovered the location of a great weapon in the foothills in the mountains to the east of there. And so, with the knowledge he gave us for a path, we came this way, following our foes. It is our belief that they are after the axe of the Huscarl King, and we intend to stop them."

Perform(Oratory): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

I should have brought my skald, his main skill is perform (oratory) lol

a failure, a successful help, and a NEGATIVE ONE FAILURE, thus negating the success XD maybe we should have done it seperately XDDD
Also Carina, I do believe the DM is allowed to give bonuses to a roll for good acting. Of which I think your post qualifies~ XP

Zero tries his best to assist by way of shadow puppets against the fire. But his tale drastically differs from the one the others try to tell, depicting a rather bloody and disturbing scene.

"One of the best deformed rabbits I have seen, and that is a fact." Abaal says difinitively.

One of the elders, her face painted white like those of Hiryla and the other warriors, stands from the bench. With no other cue the room falls silent as she speaks. Her words have a strength and resonance belied by her withered frame.

“This is the story that the elders told me when I was a child. Once, a great warrior came to our lands from the South, though his blood and his beard were of the West, in the land where the first dragons hunt and kill. With gold and magic this warrior built a stone keep at the base of a mighty mountain. During this time he came to us, in peace, and invited us to his hearth with gifts of furs. Humbly he asked the elders of our clan if he could hunt with them and share in our ways. Quickly he proved himself a friend to all, sharing in our customs and sharing his with us."

“By the time the last stone was laid in his keep, he had hunted with the elders many times, and made many kills. His axe, sheathed in fire, had protected us from the white wolves and the yetis, just as we too had used our food and furs to keep him warm against the deepest colds. When his banner was raised, the elders were guests in his hall, and some of his own house had already merged their blood with our own. For years the king and our elders prospered, and we learned of crafts, weapons, and ways different from those that came before."

“Then the white wyrms came. For beneath the keep, in the iced caverns below, the dragons had bred. For years their eggs slept and waited. When they hatched, they plagued the king and his new house, but he fought them back with the strength of his arm and the fire of his axe, and the battle was nearly won. But when a matriarch of the white returned to tend her brood, she was furious at the king and threw herself on the keep in madness. In the season of the longest nights, still the sun set and rose again before the battle was decided. The King struck the wyrm down, even though his armor and his beard were white with the ice of her breath. Our elders made trophies and talismans from what remained of the beast, and helped rebuild the crumbled tower."

“The mammoths crossed the plains ten times, three times over before the great king passed, and still the dragons were kept at bay. When the hour of his dying came, the great and generous Huscarl King gave all within his castle to those that had served and befriended his house, save for his mighty axe. With this, the elders buried him, and as we raise a mound of stones over the dead when the earth is too cold to dig, so did the elders bring the mountain down atop our king. Ever since have we held vigil over his tomb and what lies within. We remember his lessons, his ways that bled into the ways of the elders to become our ways. And we remember his beard, first white with frost, then with age, as it symbolizes what he protected us from and what he stood watch against.”

The clan sits back and waits for your response to their story.

Diplomacy Check Please.

"Wow, that's an amazing tale..." Prothero says, leaving the more elaborate response to someone with a smoother tongue.

Diplomacy, Aid Somebody: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19

"The speak-talk of the story is great. On the floor we all being for the tale of the warrior people. In the soon, we make great helping tale to the people of the tale, yes? My eyes be seeing your story in the cave hole in days past."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 25 This includes varies buffs and the bonus from Prothero's Aid

Diplomacy Aid: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (3) - 3 = 0

Zero starts clapping slowly. He seems blissfully ignorant of the fact that decades of silence have eroded his already mediocre social skills.

Hiryla looks confused at Ailean's words, but then realizes that it's a complement on the history of the Snowmark Clan, "Good, Good. Thank you for appreciating our story."

He will allow you to travel to the keep with no problems tomorrow morning.

IF you want to ask for their help at the keep, please give me another Diplomacy Check

"Helping us with the helping of the story in the journey?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

”In case it wasn’t clear,“ Prothero explains, ”what my friend here is asking is whether you might be able to assist us at the keep, as well as simply allowing us to go there.“ Unfortunately, his tone is ill-judged and he sounds as if he’s talking to an idiot rather than a prospective ally.

Aid Diplomacy : 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3

"Friend Prothero, we have a saying in the desert: 'Do not over sell it'."

diplomacy (aid): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18

Aid diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

"And besides, I bet you'd all LOVE a second shot at those bastards." Grace said cracking her knuckles hoping for a chance to knock a few skulls in today.

Carina stays quiet. After all the skulduggery that the Snowmask tribe have done, she's not sure she wants them watching her back in a serious battle.

Carina stays quiet. After all the skulduggery that the Snowmask tribe have done, she's not sure she wants them watching her back in a serious battle.

if they betray us it just means we will have to dig the hole for the bodies a litte DEEPER....

Hiryla smiles brightly. "I will join you myself. It will be good to take care of these intruders."

The bones of two ancient stone watchtowers rise from the ground like sentries set to guard the entrance to Ranulf’s Keep. Snow and ice still cover their base, making them inaccessible, but they mark the edge of the Huscarl’s Keep, just visible in the distance.

Melkorka, a dark-skinned figure swathed in the orange and blue of a desert sky at sunset, strides defiantly forward. Her outline shivers with the heat emanating from the flaming greataxe in her hands. As snow swirls on the wind around her, flakes hiss and shriek as they fall on the blade’s open flame. “Come Pathfinders,” she invites in a honeyed tone, as her companions draw their weapons. “Let Jedrek’s Shard warm you against the cold.”

Initiative Round 1, Bold May Go
Int Zero: 20
Int Baddies: 20
Int Prothero: 18
Int Melkorka Skur: 17
Int Abaal: 11
Int Grainne: 9
Int Carina: 4
Int Snowmarks: 4
Int Ailean: 2

Assuming those below us are our new allies come to help?

Frankly, Zero is just happy for something he can better participate in. Rather than run headlong into battle, the oread approaches slowly into a tactical position, whipping a bullet from his sling at Melkorka.

Sling, range increment vs. Melkorka: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 - 2 = 20
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

gather energy, kinetic rush bringing me next to zero.

"THAT LITTLE TINDERTWIG IS NOTHING BEFORE THE STORM!" Grace says as ice and snow gathers under her feet propelling her forward to land next to Zero. "This little guppy knows NOTHING of the Elements. WHY DON'T WE SHOW HER how powerful they can be?"

Yes those below are the allies. The enemies are across the map.

Zero's sling attack hits, but she just laughs. The four Shadlodge agents take a step forward and fire their longbows at the Pathfinders. Two of the four attacks hit. An arrow barely grazes Abaal, but the other arrow has better luck hitting Carina.

Initiative Round 1, Bold May Go
Int Zero: 20
Int Baddies: 20
Int Prothero: 18
Int Melkorka Skur: 17 8 DMG
Int Abaal: 11 1 DMG
Int Grainne: 9
Int Carina: 4 7 DMG
Int Snowmarks: 4
Int Ailean: 2

Next round, Grace will move another 20 feet forward, and gather energy (move action, one energy gathered,) and take 10 damage in non lethal(2 burn) to boost AC to 26 for next round, 24 from there after.

"COME ON GUPPY, LET ME SHOW YOU HOW A REAL SHARK SWIMS AND FIGHTS." Grace says, water pouring from her skin like an elemental, crawling up upon her armor forming Spikes of ice in a menacing show of power as the very ice and snow all within 20 feet of Grace began to raise up menacingly as if she was about to hurl a storm at them.

Gathering power creates an extremely loud, visible display in a 20-foot radius centered on the kineticist, as the energy or matter swirls around her.

She WANTS them to target her whether it is fear of her "attack or whatever.

Prothero take a short step forward, then lets fly a pair of arrows at Melkorka, saying quietly, ”You just keep shouting and waving that axe around, I’ll kill you from here and we’ll all go have cocoa.“

Five foot step, flurry at Melkorka.

Flurry with Longbow, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 10 - 1 = 21
Longbow damage, Deadly Aim: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6

Flurry with Longbow, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 10 - 1 = 26
Longbow damage, Deadly Aim: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6

Casting Mage armor, Shield, and Mirror Image (1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 images) on the way in, as well as wand casting Mage armor on Prothero and Zero, if that's kosher.

Carina looks at the remaining Shadow Agents. "This is it?" she asks indignantly, as she steps forward. "This is all the men you have left from your vaulted attempt to force the Society out of the Northlands? Just 5 people?" She sighs, "I don't even need to consult the cards to read your fate." And with that, she pulls a well-sealed container out of her pouch, and consumes it with a casting into a small green-brown cloud. With a brief exhale to impart motion, the wispy cloud shoots forward, holding together until it's among the Shadow Lodge members, where it blossoms into a roiling fog bank of the same color.

Move
Standard - casting Stinking cloud in the outlined area. DC 18 Fort save or be nauseated for the duration in the cloud + 1d4+1 rounds. The Save must be made every round in the cloud. In addition, As with most cloud spells, Vision is limited to within 5 feet.

"But our party is just five people (and Ailean of course)" Abaal says to Carina. He smiles at the little man and then continues. "And see all that we have wrought?"

Before combat Abaal, calmly finishes his tea and puts it gently to the side just out of the scene. He doesn't start even when the arrow fletching scores his cheek.

Yes all the buffs are ok Carina.

The archer's arrow hits one of her images and it explodes into dust.

Melkorka takes damage from both of Prothro's arrows, and laughs at your comments, and moves forward. She casts a spell on Zero.

Grace moves forward next to Zero while she gathers energy. Carina casts the stinking cloud spell. Effectively cutting off the archers for the moment.

Initiative Round 1/2, Bold May Go
Int Zero: 20
Int Baddies: 20
Int Prothero: 18
Int Melkorka Skur: 17 20 DMG
Int Abaal: 11 1 DMG
Int Grainne: 9
Int Carina: 4 0 DMG, 2 Images Left
Int Snowmarks: 4
Int Ailean: 2

Rather than approaching slowly and tactically, the Sword of Katapesh runs headlong into battle, whipping the falchion about himself.

Double move.

Ailean simply moves forward, getting ready to unleash chaos.

Double move

Next round, Grace will move another 20 feet forward, and gather energy (move action, one energy gathered,) and take 10 damage in non lethal(2 burn) to boost AC to 26 for next round, 24 from there after.

"COME ON GUPPY, LET ME SHOW YOU HOW A REAL SHARK SWIMS AND FIGHTS." Grace says, water pouring from her skin like an elemental, crawling up upon her armor forming Spikes of ice in a menacing show of power as the very ice and snow all within 20 feet of Grace began to raise up menacingly as if she was about to hurl a storm at them.

Gathering power creates an extremely loud, visible display in a 20-foot radius centered on the kineticist, as the energy or matter swirls around her.

She WANTS them to target her whether it is fear of her "attack or whatever.

Will, Harrow Penalty (+2 vs. enchantment): 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 4 - 1 = 18

Zero's resolve allows him to shake off the incoming spell. 'Does this Melkorka bandy about with both magic and close combat? If so, I can likely best her at the latter,' the oread thinks. Despite this confidence, he heeds Grace's wishes, advancing slowly and chucking a javelin.

Javelin, Harrow Bonus: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 1 = 28
Confirmation: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 1 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Extra Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Harrow Bonus marked as used in my profile. I've kind of forgotten about them, but haven't had a lot of chance to activate some.

Your Snowmark allies move closer to the battle, and call out encouragement to the Pathfinders. "We'll check on the archers." Grace creates an amazing display of swirling ice. Zero hits Melkorka with his javelin hard.

The archers in the fog all manage to avoid the stench, and move forward. Three of the four fire arrows at the Pathfinders. None of their attacks hit.

Initiative Round 2, Bold May Go
Int Zero: 20
Int Baddies: 20
Int Prothero: 18
Int Melkorka Skur: 17 31 DMG
Int Abaal: 11 1 DMG
Int Grainne: 9
Int Carina: 4 0 DMG, 2 Images Left
Int Snowmarks: 4
Int Ailean: 2

Abaal scratches his head wondering where all the monks are.

Prothero takes another step forward and lets more arrows fly at Melkorka!

Flurry using Perfect Strike, higher of two rolls is attack roll, lower is crit confirmation roll if needed.

Arrow 1:
Flurry with Longbow, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 10 - 1 = 13
Longbow damage, Deadly Aim: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6
Flurry with Longbow, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 10 - 1 = 29 This is attack roll.
Longbow damage, Deadly Aim: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 = 11

Arrow 2:
Flurry with Longbow, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 - 1 = 19
Longbow damage, Deadly Aim: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7
Flurry with Longbow, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (13) + 10 - 1 = 22 This is attack roll.
Longbow damage, Deadly Aim: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7

I mean they should be here right? They are monks. Monks are fast. Perhaps there is pit trap behind me that I do not know about. No use looking back now.

Prothero's strike flies true and Melkorka falls. The other Shadow Lodge members look like they want to drop their arrows.

Initiative Round 2, Bold May Go
Int Zero: 20
Int Baddies: 20
Int Prothero: 18
Int Melkorka Skur: 17 Dead DMG
Int Abaal: 11 1 DMG
Int Grainne: 9
Int Carina: 4 0 DMG, 2 Images Left
Int Snowmarks: 4
Int Ailean: 2

Realizing the biggest threat was taken care of, Ailean walks up (as far as needs to, up to 30ft) and casts hold person (DC 21 Will Save) on the closest enemy.

"Walk walk walk, freeze, too tight!"

Zero sighs internally and rushes the nearest archer.

Unarmed vs. Green: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Damage, Nonlethal: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

well so much for her. move twenty feet forward, activate "Kinetic rush{blade} to launch a further 25 feet right at the two by the tower.
Also taking a burn to Empower my attack.

As Grace rushes forawrds, the gathered energy of ice and snow picks her up in a devastating rush towards the enemy.

charge attack Vs touch: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 2 = 20

damage: 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 5, 2) + 2 = 15

15x1.5=22 cold damage.

As her allies rush forward, Carina begins to raise her scarf to cast another spell, but notes a bit of reluctance in the remaining foes. Sighing, she raises her voice and cries out, "your leader is dead! Drop your weapons and yield, and we can discuss terms of surrender!"

"Perhaps we might dispense with the magical cloud and allow the rest to surrender?" says Abaal as his companions leap to the slaughter.

heal: 1d20 ⇒ 2

He inspects the arrow-ridden body of Melkorka Skur with the gentle prodding of his boot, and then shrugs.

this snake seems to have no bite wothout its HEAD...