Summer's Soldier--A Solo Reign of Winter Game (Inactive)

Game Master Almonihah

Sometimes you run from one war just to crash headlong into a bigger one...


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Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

Heldren is just the sort of sleepy village you'd expect in southern Taldor--quiet, unassuming, and suspicious of strangers. Even in the short time Theodric had been in town, however, he had gotten a feeling for the uneasiness now disturbing the village's usual quiet. The unnatural snows had everyone on edge.

Taverns were often good spots to hear the local news, and afternoon found Theodric in the Silver Stoat, Heldren's only tavern. He'd hardly had time to order a drink from the barkeep--a practical-looking middle-aged woman--before fate came knocking on the door.

Or rather, barging through it.

The man was quite a mess--his extremities were blackened with frostbite, an ugly wound in his side still oozed blood, and his cold iron sword was still in his hand.

"Send help!" he gasped, panting hard between words. "The Lady... they've... they've taken the Lady!"

"Quick! You!" The barkeep points at one of her long-time patrons. "To the apothecary! Off with you!"

The farmer stumbles to his feet and jogs to the door, apologizing to the wounded man as he warily makes his way around him.

"No, do not... worry about me..." he pants. "The Lady... I left them..." He falls to his knees as the barkeep gets out from behind the bar to do what she can for him.


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

Theodric sets aside his mug. Frostbite? In the summer? Now he'd seen everything. Still, he isn't about to let a countryman bleed out on the floor if he can help it.

He leans down to pick up the frayed messenger bag he'd stashed by his feet while he drank, and rifles through it until he comes up with a vial of thick fluid with a cork stopper.

Then he hurries over to the wounded man, and gets down on one knee beside him.

"I don't know much about frostbite. But this helps for wounds." He pops off the stopper, and kneels beside the wounded man to feed him the potion. "Drink."

Theodric fixes the barkeep with a stare. "He should lay down somewhere until help comes," he tells the woman.

Using one of my potions of Cure Light Wounds. This seems a worthy cause.

Healing: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

The man's wounds close slightly as he drinks the potion, and it undoes enough of the damage to his hand that he finally drops his sword, which clatters to the ground.

The barkeep efficiently orders a couple of her patrons to gently carry the man over to the fire and lay him down. The whole time he protests, "You must send help... they took the Lady... I failed, I fled..."


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

Theodric picks up the man's sword, and lays it down at his side.

"Which lady, who took her, and where?"


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

"Lady Argentea!" The man exclaims. "They... there were just bandits, at first, but then, cold fey! Their ice... it chilled us, froze us... my comrades fell... and I ran..."

He takes a moment to collect himself before continuing, and you note that he looks to have some Ulfen heritage. "It was... a day's journey south of here, along the road, near the Border Wood."

The barkeep frowns. "There've been strange stories coming out of the Border Wood of late. Snow falling in summer and white-furred weasels. Didn't believe it at first, but..." She nods meaningfully at the man's frostbitten extremities.


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

"I'd find it hard to believe too, m'am."

He's done about what he could for the man, and he wasn't a healer.

"What are cold fey? Some kind of evil fairy?" He frowned. That sounded like something out of a nursery tale. Perhaps the cold had addled the man's wits.

Still, there should not have been any cold at all. Who was to say?


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

"Servants of the White Witches of Irrisen!" The guardsman cries out. "What they do here, I know not!"


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

"Then rest. I'll go south. Find your lady."

He'd need heavier clothing, though... He couldn't help but stare at the man's fingers. Gloves. He'd need gloves. Where to get them? The barkeep probably knew.

"M'am, do you know where I could buy warm clothes around here?"


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

"General store. Just across the street," she points north. "I think Vivialla still has some warm clothes from that bad winter a couple years back."


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

"Thank you." He nods at the woman as he leaves in search of the general store. He takes long strides, intent on getting moving as soon as he can.


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

The proprietor of the general store turns from looking over her stock as you enter her store. "Welcome, traveler," she says, looking you up and down quickly, "Have a look around. I carry many supplies useful on the road, or if you need something you don't see right off, just ask, and I can point it out for you."


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

He doesn't bother trying to find the stuff himself - they've probably put it away for the season.
"I need winter clothes. Heavy boots, gloves, fur sort of thing. I was told you might have some around."


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

"I do, actually, but it's in back. Just a moment," she says as she opens the door to her back room. She continues speaking even while she's out of sight. "We had a real hard winter a couple years back, but by the time my order for more winter clothing came in, it was nearly over. I still haven't sold all I bought that winter. Don't worry, though, it's still in good condition."

She came walking back up to the front with an armload of clothing for cold weather. She sets it on the counter and steps to one side slightly.

"There. Coat, boots, gloves, fur leggings. That should be everything you need. If it looks good to you, that will be eight gold."

She pauses a moment. "Thinking of going into the Border Wood, are you?


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

"Bandits kidnapped some woman. I'm going out to get her back," He says, as he rummages around a bit to find the coin for his purchase. He places it on the countertop, then sets about fitting the clothes into his backpack.


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

"Oh, my!" Vivallia says, startled by Theodric's revelation. She pauses a moment to count his coin, then asks, "Is that what that commotion at the inn was about?"


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

"Yes," he nods, swiping his hair away from his eyes with a hand, "A man, a northener, staggered in and collapsed. Apparently, he was part of a guard that had been waylain by highwaymen."

He takes a seat to change into his new boots. It was hot enough that he'd sweat overmuch on the road if he dressed up in wintergarb, but the boots were good enough.

"Anything I should look out for in there? Aside from the snow, say."


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

"In the Border Wood? Well, the High Sentinels used to watch it, but if there're bandits attacking travelers along the road..."

She shakes her head sadly. "I don't rightly know what's going on in there now. Snow in the middle of summer, and now this? Maybe some of the crazy stories about giant white weasels are right!"


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

Ah, that'd have been convenient, if she knew something more concrete. Still, no sense wasting time. "Maybe. Good day, and thank you."

He leaves the shop, headed for the southern road.

Assuming he finds it without incident, he starts out on foot. When he's out of sight of the village and alone, he'll whistle softly, to see if the grey horse will appear. It's the first time he's tried to actively summon it, but he needs speed now.


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

The southern road is not hard to find. A moment after Theodric's whistle, a pale grey, vaguely translucent horse appears next to him.

It bears him swiftly down the road. Soon enough the temperature starts to drop as he skirts the forest, until a sight of carnage comes into view. A carriage stands bereft of horses in the middle of the road, while another lies on its side a short distance away. A number of men, and a couple of women, lie dead all around them. One man still stands upright, held in position past death by the thick coating of ice on him.


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

Theodric rides among the fallen corpses, looking down on them. He dismounts, boots hitting the ground heavily, to take a look at the still standing carriage, keeping his glaive close at hand.


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

Theodric notices that the door to the carriage is shut. It sounds like something might be moving inside of it.


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

He carefully dismounts, puts his glaive on the ground, and draws his shield and stolen scimitar before opening the door.


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

A guardsman stumbles out of the carriage after Theodric opens the door... from the wound in his chest, a dead guardsman. This impression is only reinforced when he raises blank eyes up to Theodric and groans, hands balling into fists as he prepares to swing...

Theodric initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Zombie init: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Before Theodric can react, the zombie swings a fist at him!

Zombie PUNCH!: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Its fist clangs off of his armor, hard enough to rattle his teeth.


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

Theodric staggers under the weight of the punch, and raises his shield before lashing out twice with his scimitar, trying to lob off a reaching hand. The second blow is rushed, and somewhat inaccurate.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21, 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Minute Hand Boost: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20, 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Minute Hand expended.


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

Theodric's slashes are swift, but weak. They cut the zombie, but not deeply. It continues trying to bash him.

Another slam: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Its wild swing doesn't even get close to him.


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

Theodric swings at it again, trying to drive the curve of the sword across its throat.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26, 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Confirm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7, 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

Theodric's slash severs something vital, and the zombie stumbles to one side then collapses.


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

Theodric wipes his blade clean on the zombie's clothes, and sets about investigating the area, going through the various carts to see what has been taken, and what's been left behind. Were the bodies looted, or just left behind where they fell?

Most pertinent though, he looks for any tracks left behind by the kidnappers.

Perception check? Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

The bodies have been stripped of gear, save for the man frozen where he stood, who still wears a fine breastplate and wields a masterfully crafted longsword, if they can be extracted from the ice. The overturned carriage has three fine outfits, apparently left behind for some reason. (3 courtier's outfits)

The formerly zombie-containing carriage, however, has a hidden compartment under the seat, with a small jewelry box inside. Inside is a signet ring, a pair of earrings (25 gp), a set of pearl-inlaid bracelets (90 gp), a gold necklace (75 gp), and a sapphire pendant (50 gp).

The bandits' trail is obvious--over to the side of the road, there's a trail covered in unseasonable snow which has been churned up by many boots.


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

Theodric stuffs the jewelry box into his backpack, and leaves the rest of the equipment where it lies. He's no stranger to looting the dead, but something about that frozen corpse unnerves him.

After a short pause to change into his new clothes, he mounts up, and follows the tracks on horseback, glaive in hand.


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

Theodric rides down the path, the snow growing deeper around him as he travels further into the woods. He doesn't go very far, however, before he reaches an interesting sight--a chest, likely stolen from one of the carriages, half-buried in the snow in the center of a small clearing.


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

That looks like an obvious sort of trap.

He rides in a circle around the clearing, looking for ambushers, if he finds none, he'll dismount and look the snow immediately around the chest, and then the chest itself, over for traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

Theodric rather quickly spots a hurriedly-hidden tripwire concealed in the snow in front of the chest. Looking around, he can see a log hanging up off the side of the trail which would likely swing down on anyone unfortunate enough to trigger the trap.


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

Leaving the trap behind, Theodric rides on, careful not to cross the wire - the horse might yank on it by accident.


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

Leaving the trap behind, you ride on for a couple of hours, your ghostly steed kicking up snow with every step. As you come around a bend, you stumble upon an odd sight--a number of dead crows, strung from the trees by small threads and pierced with many little pins.

Theodric perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

Theodric steers the horse over the the crows. With his glaive, he gently pokes one of the strung up birds. What gives?

Knowledge(Nature), or Survival, what does this?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29 Substract -3 from the check if survival is what applies


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

It quickly becomes apparent what does this kind of thing when the two winter-touched sprites hiding in the branches nearby open fire on him with their tiny bows!

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Arrow 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Fortunately, both of the arrows bounce of of his breastplate, leaving him unharmed.

There are two sprites, each 20' away from you, slightly in the trees. You're up!


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

He drops his glaive, and draws his longbow, carefully picking out a cold-iron arrow as he takes aim at one of the sprites.

Arrow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21, 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

The little blue-white sprite shrieks in pain as your arrow scratches its shoulder on the way past. It flits back a little ways and returns fire with its comrade.

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Arrow 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Crit confirm: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Damage is 1 hp

Theodric Fort save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
One of the arrows sticks in Theodric's arm. Its small size means it does little damage, but the frigid cold it carries seems to sap his will to move.

You're staggered this round.


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

Sluggishly, Theodric nocks another arrow and lets fly, aiming at the same fey.

Cold Iron: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14, 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

The little fey dodges aside, and his arrow goes sailing past it. It cackles gleefully at him as it returns fire.

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Theodric notices the other fey is starting to sidle around to his side, getting a bit closer before it fires its arrow.

Arrow 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

This time, both arrows ping off of his armor.


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

I couldn't reach it with my scimitar, could I?


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

You could if you ran forward, though it could easily fly up above your reach the next round if it survived.


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

He's actually still mounted. At least, unless he had to dismount at some point.

Keeping his bow in hand, Theodric spurs the horse towards the fey, and rides over to the sprite hovering near him, drawing his curved sword.

The blade flashes with reflection of color as he swings it twice in rapid succession.

Cold Iron Scimitar, Breaking Glass Strike: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17, 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Breaking Glass Strike:
Breaking Glass Strike
Discipline: Shattered Mirror (Strike); Level: 1
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

Your vicious strike flares with shards of mirror-bright color that dazzle and dizzy your victim. Make a melee attack. If it hits, it deals weapon damage as normal, and the target must succeed at a Will save (DC 11 + your initiation modifier DC 15) or become dazed for one round. Regardless of whether or not the target succeeds at its save, it also becomes dazzled for a number of rounds equal to your initiation modifier.

Cold Iron Scimitar, Minute Hand: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14, 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

Ah, I forgot about that.

Will save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

The little sprite mostly dodges his brilliant first strike, taking only a small scratch, but the light dazes it, and it flutters about erratically, spoiling his second strike but not attacking in return.

The other sprite, however, shrieks in anger and darts forwards, blasting Theodric with a cone of rainbow lights.

Will save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

By chance, you blink just in time to avoid the worst of it.


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

"Enough!" Kane squints against the rainbow lights, and attack the fey in front of him again.

Scimitar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16, 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

Theodric's scimitar misses the sprite by just millimeters. It breaks out of its daze and darts upward. Withdraw action

The other sprite fires another little arrow.

Arrow: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Fort save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

It strikes home, causing only a little pain 1 point of damage. While it is freezing cold, Theodric shakes the cold off without much effect.


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

Theodric sheathes his scimitar, and prepares to fire his longbow again.


Male Shapeshifting Griffon RoW maps Technomancer 20 | LP Maps

The injured sprite suddenly dives right back at Theodric, a cone of multicolored lights spreading from its outstretched hand.

Theodric will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

This time, however, you're ready, and easily look aside before the spray of colored lights washes over you. The other sprite keeps up its barrage of little arrows.

How many arrows do they have anyway?: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

But its tiny projectile just glances off of your armor.

The more injured sprite is 10' above you, the less injured one 20' off to the side of you, about 5' above the ground.


HP 9/22(0 temp) | AC:22 T:14 Fl:20 | CMB: +6 CMD: 18 | F +5 R +4 W +3 | Init +4 | Perc: +6 Sense Motive +6

Theodric knocks and lets fly two arrows one at each, and spurs his horse, beginning to ride down the trail. He'd brought the cold iron arrows quite by chance, and if he couldn't take them down, he'd be more or less forced to run away or bait them into melee combat.

Cold Iron arrow, rapid shot: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21, 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Another Cold Iron arrow, rapid shot: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24, 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Taking a half move with the horse also, moving 20ft.

Woo Crit!: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5, Extra Damage?: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (4, 5) + 4 = 13

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