Adventure Path Reign of Winter

Game Master Almonihah

"No. We stick together. That thing has been following us for days, and even you only spot it for a few seconds once in a while. If you went off alone it would pick you off in no time. And you saw what it can do. One attack and it practically ripped Erdija in two. And meanwhile, we'd be sitting here for days wondering what had happened to you."

She looks toward her friend now. "We need your eyes and ears with us." Then she stands up. "Come on, let's see if we can find Tez's more secure campsite. Probably no caves around here, but we can at least try and find someplace that's dry and has a little cover to it." She hoists her pack onto her back.

Fin shrugs, muttering, "It'd have to catch me first...it can't hit what it can't see..."

He ponders wistfully a moment, before saying a bit louder. "But you're right...it's just I feel so friggin' helpless right now. We best find shelter for her...and it had best be close as we'll have a hard time hauling her too far if she can't move..."

Fin helps Quasit and the others find a campsite. (Using my taking 10 numbers from my post above)

Bulvi steps forward and takes the magical- and formerly cursed- ring off his finger. "This wouldn't hurt right? It wont help with any damage done as I understand it but it should help staunch the bleeding."

No good on existing damage but it should stop bleed damage etc. Worth a shot since we aren't fully sure whats going on.

When Quasit sits down next to Sakitu, she scoots over to be even closer to her friend and leans her head onto Quasit's shoulder. It feels good just to be close to someone.

Fin suggests leaving the group for a couple days. A surge of anxiety floods Sakitu's stomach. "No! That's not a good idea." she blurts out as Quasit also voices a similar objection.

"Finding a shelter here is better. And Tez can message the group, like he's going to do with my parents. I'll help you Fin." Sakitu stands up and helps Fin find and prepare a good shelter.

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Erdija does not appear to be affected by any poison. Findurel is fairly sure that the shadow like spreading in the centaur's flesh is undead in nature. With this in mind, the main concern is if she will turn into some other kind of creature if she dies. For now Erdija is stable, but unconscious.

The group easily finds camp and as they are getting situated a lone centaur emerges from the forest, waving from a distance. Unable to speak common, he hands over a letter and speaks in Sylvan.

Once things seem less perilous Tezuzu will spend time focusing his energies to gain the magic he needs drawing upon his pearl to reclaim another spell to magically enhance his wine before casting Akashic Communion focusing on the two pressing unknowns. What affliction has befallen Erdija and what that creature might have been.

(You get to roll them in secret DM, at present with the insight bonus from the spell his knowledge skills are: +28 Knowledge Arcana, +26 History, +20 Nature or Planes, +16 any other knowledge skill.)

Before he begins his ritual he notes to the rest of the group "If I learn that I can cure what ails Erdija it might require most of my remaining magic for the day and I might not be able to call upon the wind spirits to deliver word to her people. If you could find a bird close by I can compel it to travel to their camp instead with little energy spent." (I have an open slot for sending at 4th level, but if we need it to un-curse Erdija I can use animal messenger in my open 2nd level slot to send a raven/hawk.)

Fin nods to Tezuzu. "It appears she was attacked by an undead creature; most likely some sort of shadow. It doesn't appear to be poison...but the shadow is spreading in her...some shadows have that effect...if she dies, I fear she'll rise and become a shadow herself. Can you remove a curse or a disease, Tez? If so, you might try one or the other...or both to try and make sure..."

When the Centaur arrives, Fin shrugs, motioning that he can't understand the creature. He tries talking in Elvish:

"My apologies, I do not understand your language. Can you understand Elvish?"

If he gets no response, he'll look to one of his companions to answer...

Selena responds to the centaur in sylvan,

Otherwise, Selena does what she can, studying the shadow and seeing if it seems tangible or if it sticks with flesh as it moves. She investigates the radical idea of whether she could cut away the "infected" flesh, though not certain yet she wants to try it.

If it seems like it could be possible (using healing magic to heal as the infection is cut away), she'll mention it, otherwise she keeps the idea to herself.

The centaur nods yes and repeats himself in elvish.

The letter he shares with the group is written in common. Greetings. This scout has been sent out as contracted by a merchant who sent word they would be heading south. The prescribed days have passed and he has not check in. This scout has been sent to lend assistance to the merchant. The letter has some sort of official seal.

Not sure what Selena has said, Fin answers the Centaur in Elvish:

The male centaur nods, replying to Selena first and then Findurel.

Fin tries to hide a frown.

Unable to follow the conversation, Maka kept an eye on the newcomer. Wary of any tricks that might hurt more of her friends.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

The male centaur responds.

Clarifying. The party suspects this is not a curse. Findurel can only guess, but thinks it might be something that happens to any creature that is slain by whatever attacked Erdija. The shadow coloring on her flesh is not growing.

Once Quasit is made aware of what is being said, she immediately approves of the idea of Erdija being pulled back to town.

"We can't do much for her here except trial and error magical experiments, as far as I can see."

When she sees the letter indicating that the centaur was seeking the merchant and the boatman, she seems mildly amused but says nothing beyond what her friends have already volunteered.

Fin nods, turns back to talk with his friends. "As we don't seem to know exactly what's wrong with Erdija, I would advise we take up this Centaur's offer to take Erdija back to town; he seems sincere and I fear she may get worse and die if she stays with us. Hopefully they can heal her; but she'll be more comfortable there than here..."

Seeing Quasit thinks so as well, he looks back to the Centaur...

Sakitu is busy helping setup the camp and make Erdija comfortable when the new centaur appears.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13

She can tell that he's sincere. "Do you think she can handle bouncing on the sled you make? I hope so. How fast can you get to town?"

Bulvi leans over to Maka and translates the sylvan part of the conversation.

Tezuzu's eyes roll back into his head as he maintains his meditative focus his mind spiraling through and sorting among many foreign thoughts and experiences flowing through him from the astral planes searching for answers. He is obviously oblivious to the new centaur, the discussion around him, or the world for that matter, his brain a mushy mess as it sorts through and attempts to organize all the information overloading his mind.

(See my last post Lareg.)

The centaur nods vigorously, asking his remaining questions about the merchant and the boat as he and Findurel prepare the gurney.

Meeting this morning, but I'll try for a more detailed post later.

With the gurney ready, the centaur gently lays Erdija down and then turns to Findurel, addressing him in Elvish. "I'll need you and your friends to lift the gurney up a bit so that we can harness it to my back. I should be able to get to town tomorrow sometime and even before then can alert the others to come assist me."

Fin nods. "Roger that. Bull, Maka...can you give me hand?"

Aid Another (Strength): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13 (If needed)

Once they get her attached, Fin leans down and gently kisses Erdija's forehead, sadly whispering to the unconscious Centaur, "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, my friend...ask your sister to forgive me..."

Looking up he addresses their new friend. "Our thanks to you for taking care of our friend. We are in your debt...we will check on her on our way back. Godspeed and fare thee well!"

After the Centaur sets off with Erdija and is safely out of sight, Fin looks to Quasit. "Well, Q, we've already set up camp...do we stay here or press on for a bit longer?"

"It's only a little after midday. I say we press on. Our path is clear enough, north into those hills and then look for 3 gigantic stone women."

Fin nods. "With Erdija gone, we've one less scout...I'll try not to get too far ahead of you and will signal you every so often. I'll search for a suitable campsite as sunset approaches...

"If Erdija wasn't mistaken, we should reach Artrosa some time tomorrow...hopefully before nightfall..."

Fin pulls his hood up over his head, draws his bow, casts Blend, and sets out towards Artrosa...

I'll just take 10 for his scouting abilities for the trek to our next campsite...

Stealth: 10 + 21 + 2 + 2 + 4 = 39
Perception: 10 + 13 + 2 + 2 = 27
Survival (Tracks): 10 + 10 + 2 + 3 = 25

The centaur sets off at a steady pace with Erdija. By this time the sun is about three quarters to the horizon with some daylight left for traveling.

After traveling further for about three hours, give or take, as the sun starts to set, Fin will look for a camp site, searching for one that's close to the river that has some tree cover around it. He'll alert his friends when he finds a suitable place...

Still taking 10, so using the numbers in my previous post...

The party makes good time even as their hearts are heavy with concern for Erdija. Findurel finds a suitable campsite and camp is made without issue. There is no sign of being followed and beyond sounds that seem typical for the marshy area that is becoming more established as they move north there is little out of the ordinary.

Don't want things to stall here so doing a bit of a quick transition with the night. Feel free to roleplay as you like. I'll move us ahead tomorrow morning.

After helping set up camp, Fin leans against a tree and, while the others eat, he starts sipping the mead from his wineskin. While reflecting on Erdija, who's the latest near death of their party, a bout of melancholy comes over the Elf, and he starts taking larger hits of the mead. After a while, uncharacteristically, it's apparent that, as Quasit would say, he's quite sloshed...

"All right, me friendsss...I promisssed you 'nuther song tonight...but no worries, no more of that Elven self-pity crap! This song is a collection of fun ditties about each of ye...lovingly crafted by meself...so have a thick skin, knowing that I be fond of ye all, even you Selena, you infuriating white...witch!"

Fin rises, looks to Quasit, giving a drunken bow as he says, "Q, some of your adroit flute music, to accompany me...if you please, m'Lady," before plopping back down against the tree and taking another swig from his wineksin...he then begins to sing...

Performance (Singing): 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (16) - 2 = 14

♫ Our leader Q knows quite how to think
Up any plan but don't let her drink,
Or she'll run off and pork
Any lad that's half-Orc,
And then blush till her cheeks turn deep pink... ♫

♫ Maka is fiery, just like a dragon,
Loves to fight and drink ale from a flagon,
Though your lip she will bust,
She will make up in lust,
Leave you sore and your tongue all a waggin'... ♫

♫ Sakitu's one beautiful Kitsune,
Her looks can make a guy's eyes go looney,
She has only one vice
As she's just too damn nice,
But she did slay a drake, she's not puny... ♫

♫ Bull's like a bear with a bad attitude
In a fight, he treats foes rather rude,
I'm sure it's no shock, uh,
To say he loves Maka,
Whom he'd rather spar with in the nude... ♫

♫ Selena's a crafty white witch,
She thinks Fin is a son-of-a-b!tch,
She can't tell a friend
From a bugbear's rear end,
When she dies she comes back like an itch... ♫

♫ Tez is an odd but intelligent bird,
There's not a thing that he has never heard,
He collects every head
From all things we find dead,
He thinks it's normal, we think it's absurd... ♫

Bulvi raises an eyebrow and leans forward after the song is finished. "What do you mean 'bad attitude'?"

...earlier.

Tezuzu awakens from his stupor cursing in various languages gripping his head in pain "By the gods that feels like a hammer being slammed into the back of your skull." At first he is mildly confused by the appearance of a new centaur before his body language softens some once arrangements for Erdija's transport are made.

He grimly mentions to the rest of the group softly "...I am afraid this is outside of my abilities to solve...but perhaps with some study or a relic from the trove of knowledge Artrosa is surely to hold maybe we can find a way to remove this evil." avoiding the rest of the groups gaze he sighs "I suppose I should send word ahead to her tribe"

He will kneel down drawing out a dagger from his boot and cut a tuft of hair and squirrel it away. Drawing out his wand he softly whispers "Apologies, this will only hurt for a second" as he delicately shaves off a fingernail sized portion of the 'shadow flesh' and stores it away in a small vial for future examination before casting another healing spell from his wand for good measure.

CLW, Erdija: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Turning to the centaur he says "Best of luck to you, travel safely."

----------

As they travel Tezuzu keeps an eye out for any birds nearby once he locates one he will cast Animal Messenger on one tying a small scroll with a message in slyvan with twine to its leg.

----------

Later that evening...

Tezuzu will work on his crafting project for the evening finally finishing the lucky medallion. As his listens to Findurel's song he doodles with parchment and ink drawing the closest approximation of the creature that had attacked them earlier in the day.

He approaches Findurel shortly after his song and asks quietly "Are you fine? Turning to wine to dull your unpleasant emotions.... can be a seductive path, one that can ruin a man. If you need a... friend... to shoulder any burden that weighs on your mind you have my ear, for the moment at least."

Once watches have been sorted out Tezuzu will create a small pool of water by digging a hole in the dirt and lining it with whatever he might find around camp setting the new mirror in said hole.

He exhales calmly before drawing on his very strongest magics clutching the drawing of the shadowy creature in one of his claws as a bright light flows into the mirror from the other as it begins to glow in the pool of water with a singular purpose he peers intensely into into the reflective surface with one hateful thought in his mind.*

*(Casting Scrying Target: Shadow creature that ambushed us, DC 18 Will-Save. Modifiers: +0 'First-hand' knowledge, -2 penalty to it's save for the likeness of Tezuzu's drawing. If on another plane it gets a +5 to it's save.)

Sakitu sits near the fire, chewing on some bland rations when Fin starts to sing. She smiles as he describes each of the party members. When he finishes she pipes up. "What do you mean, I'm too nice? I don't think that's possible. And what about you? You didn't have a verse about you?"

Bulvi raises an eyebrow and leans forward after the song is finished. "What do you mean 'bad attitude'?"

Fin rolls his eyes at his friend. "Bull, I'm using poetic license...it means you're a badass when in combat, my friend..."

He approaches Findurel shortly after his song and asks quietly "Are you fine? Turning to wine to dull your unpleasant emotions.... can be a seductive path, one that can ruin a man. If you need a... friend... to shoulder any burden that weighs on your mind you have my ear, for the moment at least."

Fin smiles. "Ah, I appreciate your friendship and the offer of lending an ear, Tez. But I'm not drinking tonight to dull unpleasant emotions...I'm drinking to forget them completely! At least for a little while...but I'm sure I'll regret it tomorrow..."

Sakitu sits near the fire, chewing on some bland rations when Fin starts to sing. She smiles as he describes each of the party members. When he finishes she pipes up. "What do you mean, I'm too nice? I don't think that's possible."

Fin grins widely at Sakitu and shrugs. "It's actually a compliment, Saki...when I say your only vice is that you're too nice, it means you're the nicest person I know...plus it rhymes very well, don't you think?"

"And what about you? You didn't have a verse about you?"

Fin shakes his head and hiccups. "I can make up one about me...but when I've been drinkin' and make up a ditty this quickly, without much thought, they tend to be rather...bawdy...and you might not want to hear it. Plus I sang about myself last night...and probably way too much..."

"Q, some of your adroit flute music, to accompany me...if you please, m'Lady,"

Quasit nods and pulls out her little flute. She listens to Findurel briefly and quickly picks up what he's throwing down, and begins tootling adroitly with nice little counterpoints and trills woven into his melody.

Perform: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

"It sounds like your poetic licence needs a hug." Bulvi surges forward and tries to snatch up Findurel in a bear hug but Fin's elven reflexes are just too much this time.

CMB for Bear Hug: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

"Sometimes I wonder if you guys are secretly a circus troupe." Selena remarks. Winter barks something at her and she rolls her eyes.

Morning brings a clear sky and warming sun. A quite night has left everyone rested and somewhat unburdened from the prior days events. With a general sense of direction, due north, and the assurance that the three figures will be visible for quite a distance the group easily breaks camp and is ready to make the day's travel.

Though the party may arrive very close to Artrosa today, it will likely be nightfall by the time they do.

"It sounds like your poetic licence needs a hug." Bulvi surges forward and tries to snatch up Findurel in a bear hug but Fin's elven reflexes are just too much this time.

In Fin's current condition, I'd say your Bear Hug succeeds...

Fin, caught unawares, is bear-hugged by his Ulfen friend and lifted up off the ground. He grunts out, when he can catch his breath, "See, my friend...this is what I meant...by bear with...a bad attitude...you might best put me down...before I throw up all over you..."

"Sometimes I wonder if you guys are secretly a circus troupe." Selena remarks. Winter barks something at her and she rolls her eyes.

Fin rolls his eyes. "Selena, you need to let your hair down every now and then...and not always act like you got a corn cob stuck...oh, never mind..."

Quasit nods and pulls out her little flute. She listens to Findurel briefly and quickly picks up what he's throwing down, and begins tootling adroitly with nice little counterpoints and trills woven into his melody.

Calming down, Fin nods to Quasit, saying seriously this time, "Q...you're flute playing was phenomenal tonight...you're getting much better. Sadly, I think my singing is getting much worse...this will be my last for a long while..."

He looks to his bedroll longingly. "Time for me to hit the hay. Wake me in a couple of hours for my watch..." Fin plops down and starts sleeping within minutes...

GM, what phase of the moon are we in? Looking back on the hints the Riddle Ravens were giving us, it seems like the state of the moon was important info.

In spite of the cheerful sunshine and relatively mild temperatures, Quasit seems subdued and reticent when she gets up from her bedroll. Though she's never really a morning person, today her mind seems far away -- she foregoes a morning meal and just sits on a rock sawing at her teeth with her ubiquitous toothbrush, staring off to the south.

But she makes no complaints as camp is broken. She hoists up her pack with a light sigh and falls into line. By about mid-morning, her natural restlessness begins to overcome her funk. She falls back to speak to Tezuzu.

"Hey Feathers... sorry, Tezuzu. I was just thinking I don't really know that much about you. Where are you from? Do you have a family anywhere? Wife and kids maybe? Heck, I don't even know how old you are."

There's a strange urgency in her questions.

Fin wakes up for his time on the watch with a slight headache...and much regret. No more drink for me...for a long while...definitely no more singing. He goes through his watches, silently keeping to himself. When he awakes Maka for his monk training, he goes through the exercises quietly and gets thumped more than usual...

He goes down by the river to take a quick bath and clean himself up...and then fishes so his friends will have something to eat and hopefully a little left over for travel...

Survival: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 10 + 2 = 19

He quietly cleans the fish, tosses the innards to Izzy to snack on, and heads back to camp...

When Quasit gives the word to move out, Fin will cast blend and scout ahead in his usual manner...

When traveling, be easier to track if Fin always takes 10...

Stealth: 10 + 21 + 2 + 2 + 4 = 39
Perception: 10 + 13 + 2 + 2 = 27
Survival (Tracks): 10 + 10 + 2 + 3 = 25

Quasit readily recalls last night that the moon is waxing (gibbous phase).

Quasit readily recalls last night that the moon is waxing (gibbous phase).

Thank you. For those who may have forgotten what the Riddle Ravens said, it sounds like the 3 aspects of Artrosa can be accessed at different phases on the moon. The Maiden is accessed during a waxing moon, the Mother at the full moon, and the Crone at the waning moon. So if we arrive there today or tomorrow, it sounds like the Maiden should be our first objective.

Good catch, Q, I had forgotten about that...that means we'll be in Artrosa for at least a couple of weeks or so, doesn't it? If I recall correctly, doesn't each moon phase last about a week?

GM: You had mentioned before that you wanted us to level up before entering Artrosa...is that still the case?

Earlier the night prior... Tezuzu laughs momentarily before adding to Selena's comment "You know that might not be a terrible cover story. Good thinking, Selena" earnest in his assessment his tone making it difficult to discern if he had caught on to Selena's jest.

----------

In the morning Tezuzu performs his usual rituals and meditations.

He will inform the party of his failure to scry on the shadow beast the night prior before asking notably to Quasit, but leaving the inquiry open for to the rest of the group "We should get rather close to Artrosa by tonight. Are we planning on exploring the labyrinth tonight or shall we make camp and aim for doing so at dawn in the daylight?"

"People associate the moon more with night time, it might be accessible only at night."

Fin nods to Tez, starting to speak, but then reconsiders when hears Bulvi's words. "Hmmm...I was going to agree with you, Tez; I was thinking we should get a good night's sleep before entering. But Bulvi may be onto something...I had not thought of that. If we can only enter while the moon is up, perhaps we can get a short rest and go in while it's still dark?"

The morning gives way to midday as the party continues their journey. In the distance the three figures can be seen. It is difficult to see which is which from this distance, but it is clear that Artrosa is ahead. The marshland has settled into a predictable arrangement and the group is recalls the threat of wisps as they survey the remaining journey ahead.

When Fin first sees the three figures in the distance, he alerts his friends...

"Can't tell which is which from here...as we get closer and can identify the three, I'll move us towards the Maiden..."

Fin presses on...

Continuing to take 10 (Stealth: 39, Perception: 27, Survival-Tracks: 25)

By twilight the party is close to the base of Artrosa. Wispy clouds race across the darkening blue sky overhead, but
the floor of the crevasse lies in darkness, the dwindling light blocked by the massive cliffs on either side. Gray grasses and scraggly trees poke through drifts of melting ice and snow, weaving their way through black boulders that lie at the base of the towering cliffs. Crudely carved into the face of these cliffs, several miles apart, stand three impossible sculptures that each rise over half a mile in height. Each carving depicts a naked humanoid woman holding forth a warning hand. The first resembles a young maiden with flowing hair, the second depicts a pregnant matron, and the third a stooped and withered crone. The area is speckled with an inordinate amount of humanoid bones of varying types, sources, and ages.

Fin looks over the three astounding sculptures. "Well, the Maiden is definitely the first...mmm-hmmm...and mighty healthy she looks as well. Looks like we're gonna have to climb her to gain access...which means we'll most likely want to make the ascent in the daylight...

"I saw signs of the wisps...but they are within the rockfaces of Artrosa...I doubt we'll have trouble from them until we start the climb..."

Seeing all the tracks around close to the base, Fin frowns. "There have been frost giants here recently...and perhaps more disturbing to me, Centaurs as well...too bad Erdija is not here to advise us of which tribe they might belong...

"Q, it's your call...but I think maybe we should make camp and rest here...this looks like it could be a tough, and contested, climb. Might be best if we face it after a good night's rest..."

GM: Can Fin tell if the tracks look like there might've been a fight here between the Frost Giants and Centaurs?

Findurel doesn't think their was a conflict between the Frost Giants and Centaurs. The tracks are in the same area, but could have been made at different times, but both are recent.

Quasit listens to Tezuzu talk about his past in a mood of determined melancholy.

"A clan of exiles... that sounds lonely. I can't even imagine traveling over the Crown of the World. My mother's family were a clan of wanderers too. She preferred it to living in a city, but I can't say that I did. Although if I grew up in White Castle I might feel differently."

"'There is no blood family.' I suppose I know what you mean, but I don't think I really feel that way. But I suppose humans are different, since we spend so long dependent on our parents and all that. In a way, it would be nice if I didn't feel some of those old ties. It's all just accidents of birth, isn't it? But in a way, I suppose everything is. Including the whims of the heart."

She walks in silence for a bit, then speaks again.

"I couldn't stop thinking about Erdija last night. If that other centaur hadn't come along, and she had just died out here in the middle of nowhere, among a bunch of strangers for a mission that isn't even really hers. It just sort of drove home to me how ... I don't know... if I died out here, like that, no one back home would ever even know. It seems like I've spent most of my life on the move, running here or there, all for no reason. And all I've ever wanted was a place I belonged."

She shakes her head and sighs. "I guess I'm just homesick. I dunno. Some days I don't feel like being a brave adventurer."