[PFS] GM Lithrac's The Snows of Summer (AP#67) (Inactive)

Game Master Cyril Corbaz

"You mean the creepy hut or the creepy ghost? I am no fan of either."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

It appears Necress's words have yet managed to reach the ghost's ear, and she reacts differently than before, lingering a moment or two before disappearing again.

You may ask a single question to the ghost, Necress.

Can you only make one Diplomacy roll? Asking since Jo rolled one earlier.

"Tell me what happened to you and who did it," Necress urges the ghost.

Unfortunately Jocephus, for this encounter the scenario clearly states when Diplomacy rolls are in order. The first time you see the girl isn't such a time.

The little girl glances at Necress, her eyes full of terror. "It was Nazhena Vasilliovna. She hurt me because I was insulting her, but I didn't mean to..." The ghost disappears in the maze of icy boulders again.

You have two possible choices now: either you try and follow the ghost of the little girl in the maze, or you ignore it and go straight for the hut.

"Chasing ghostss is not likely to end will ... and I would not like to leave whatever iss in the hut behind uss while to tour the ice fields here."

"Let's go to the hut, then, and see what we find..." Necress agrees.

A small hut stands here on four legs, each one a single tree trunk whose gnarled roots resemble the toes of a giant chicken. The hut is constructed of heavy logs with a patchwork roof of shaved bark shingles. Inside the hut’s open doorway, a small figure sits on a carved wooden chair, staring across the clearing at the trail on the other side.

The porcelain doll inside the hut watches you intently. The doll wears the same dress as the ghost girl you saw a minute before. The doll’s face is that of an old crone, and it still bears a strong resemblance to the ghost girl. Far more unnerving, however, are the doll’s mismatched eyes—one a blue gemstone, the other a small round mirror the size of a coin, reflecting the world around her.

Past the hut, the trail continues through a narrow pass, descending south and east into an icy valley. An unusual pattern of lines is scratched into the fresh snow covering the trail at the edge of the clearing.

Well, isn't this just creepy...

"I don't even know what to make of this. But I feel like we should destroy this hut and this doll, as I just cannot see any good purpose they serve. Anyone disagree?"

With that, Sifvery prepares her shot.

I assume this means initative. Let's roll!

Sensing your ill intentions, the doll suddenly comes to life and rises into the air, levitating about 15 feet above the ground.

Initiative - round 1 - bold may act
1. Doll
2. Jocephus, Gratmal, Hskoro, Kaelyn, Sifvery, Necress & zombies

"Gratmal will end her staring," he says as he approaches the doll with his axe drawn overhead. When he reaches the doll he brings the axe down aiming to split her in half.

Power Attack

Attack: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (13) + 5 - 1 = 17
Damage: 1d12 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 3 = 17

-Posted with Wayfinder

Hskoro will rage and attack behind Gratmal ...
Urgrosh: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 2 = 20 for Slicing: 1d8 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 3 = 14

Knowledge (arcana? they're all +7): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Kaelyn moves to position herself for a better shot, and then looses an arrow at the doll.

Move Action: Move west
Standard Action: Attack with longbow

Longbow (point-blank shot): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Crit confirm: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Damage: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (1, 1) + 6 = 8

Gratmal and Hskoro, she's levitating out of your reach. Since it must not have been clear, you can change your actions.

Kaelyn shoots at the doll with a perfect shot, lodging the arrow in the doll's chest.

Initiative - round 1 - bold may act
1. Doll (levitating!)
2. Kaelyn, Jocephus, Gratmal, Hskoro, Sifvery, Necress & zombies

Oooh, interesting. Thanks! Suppose it does say that, I see combat and get excited. Could we make that a readied action instead then if she comes close enough to have her head removed?

Absolutely! We'll keep your roll in this case, of course.

#%*@)$! ... Ok ... make mine a ready action as well; perhaps it will loose a little altitude when the range weapons hit :-)

Sifvery takes her shot.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Attack: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

With the creepy doll levitating above the fray, Necress aims her crossbow at it and fires.

"What manner of creature is this?!" she exclaims.

Light crossbow attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12 for Light crossbow damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Sifvery's arrow hits the dolls, but it doesn't appear to be affected by it. Necress's bolt flies far and wide.

Jocephus!

Jocephus moves closer and calling on his luck, fires his pistol.

RTA: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 2 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Can't edit map atm. Jo would move ten west. I think he can see from there.

Moved you.

Jocephus aims carefully, his bullet hits its mark, but much like Sifvery's it doesn't leave any visible mark.

The dolls chants in a northern-sounding language, and beams a smile at Gratmal. Will DC 11 or be charmed.

Initiative - round 1 - bold may act
1. Doll (levitating!)
2. Kaelyn, Jocephus, Gratmal, Hskoro, Sifvery, Necress & zombies

Will a spellcraft check help here? I am not sure if this is a creature, a magic item, or just a doll that is somehow animated.

Oh sorry, completely forgot to mention it. Identifying that creature would require a Knowledge (arcana) check.

KN: arcana: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 2 = 19

Round 2 Initiative Delay
Hskoro grumbles at the ineffectiveness of the party's range weapons.
"You got to come down eventually."

This creature is known as a guardian doll, and ignores mundane damage. DR 5/magic

Knowledge, Arcana: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

We need something magical, I guess...

Sifvery switches tactics, and casts a ray of frost at the creature.

Attack, Ray: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Kaelyn steps forward as she begins mixing a concoction from her belt. She lofts it toward the doll.

"Heads up, Hskoro!"

Free Action: 5-foot step
Standard Action: Bomb attack

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 fire, plus 5 splash

With few options to damage the doll at range, Necress settles for loading another crossbow bolt and firing at it.

Light crossbow attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11 for Light crossbow damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Jocephus takes a step forward and tosses a flask at the doll.

RTA: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 2 = 22
Alchemist Fire: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Kaelyn's bomb shatters the doll into a thousand pieces! The flying toy of terror is no more.

End combat

There is no furniture in the hut except the wooden chair on which the doll was seating prior to your arrival. Searching the remains of the doll allows you to find one of its eyes, which turns out to be a blue gemstone that could fetch a hefty price on the market!

The trail continues through a narrow pass, descending south and east into an icy valley. An unusual pattern of lines is scratched into the fresh snow covering the trail at the edge of the clearing. Upon closer inspection, the pattern of lines in the snow is revealed to be a warning in Common that reads, “Turn back before the winter devours you.”

"I think we will continue on, thank you very much," Necress says to no one in particular as she reads the warning in the snow.

"I have already thought of that!" she snaps at an empty patch of air.

"Gratmal not scared of winter. Gratmal grow up in cold."

The half-orc continues walking ahead in the snow when he hears Necress behind him. He turns to her and just watches. After seeing her talking to no one in particular, he turns back around and continues down the trail.

Kaelyn studies the snow, and then smiles.

"They try to scare us, but it only serves to show that we're on the right trail!"

As Gratmal moves forward, the warning turns into pain. A cold, blinding light dazzles the half-orc, and an explosion occurs, engulfing Gratmal and Hskoro.
It's a trap! Ref DC 14 halves, cold damage: 3d8 ⇒ (2, 2, 2) = 6

After a lengthy investigation, no other traps can be found in the proximity of the last one, and you carry on your journey. Of course be my guest if you want to heal and roll it in the next post, along with your Reflex save. Moving on to accelerate things since we're getting close to the end.

A cold wind blows through the valley, bringing a spray of sleet and broken ice. The sky ahead roils with thick, gray clouds and the sun is only a dim glow somewhere in the mist. Suddenly, a snowy figure springs from the trees to attack you! Once the moment of surprise has passed, you recognize the giant weasel the journal was talking about.

Initiative - surprise round (standard action only) - bold may act!
1. Sifvery, (Necress & zombies), Kaelyn, (Hskoro), Jocephus, (Gratmal)
2. Giant Weasel
Forest Crossing map

Jocephus heals Gratmal along the way.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

"Weasel!" Jocephus yells, as the creature appears. Calling on his celestial heritage, Jocephus creates a burst of sparkling glitter, coating the weasel!

Glitterdust DC 14

Was the trap damage just Gratmal or did Hskoro take damage as well?

Thanks Jocephus. No real need for that roll now

-Posted with Wayfinder

Sifvery fires her bow at the creature.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Kaelyn draws an arrow from her quiver, studying the creature as she looses the arrow toward it. She then moves quickly along the tree line, finding a better position.

Standard Action: Longbow, Deadly Aim, Point-Blank Shot
Move Action: Move southwest

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Everyone up in the regular round now?

Gratmal and Hskoro both took damage from the trap.

Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
The giant weasel is now blinded by Jocephus's shower of golden particles! Thanks to it, both Kaelyn and Sifvery's shots hit the beast.

The giant weasel tries to bite Gratmal.
Bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 251d8 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Miss chance, high hits: 1d100 ⇒ 8 *miss*

Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 *still blinded*

Initiative - round 1 - bold may act!
1. Sifvery, Necress & zombies, Kaelyn, Hskoro, Jocephus, Gratmal
2. Giant Weasel

Necress commands the zombies to attack the weasel while she moves forward.

"Kill it!"

The zombie James moves forward and strikes it with both arms.

slam attack: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 2 = 201d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

While the other zombie's blows also rain down.

slam attack: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 2 = 171d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Both zombies manage to slam into the weasel, wounding it badly.

Focused, Kaelyn takes aim once more, releasing an arrow toward the weasel.

Standard Action: Longbow attack, deadly aim, point-blank shot

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Round 1 Initiative 12
Reflex: 1d20 ⇒ 19 HP 9/12
Hskoro fires his heavy crossbow into melee ...
Hvy Crossbow: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 - 4 = 10 for Piercing: 1d10 ⇒ 4
... then, quite upset at the dismal shot, drops his crossbow and draws his Urgrosh.