Adventure Path Reign of Winter

Game Master Almonihah

Fin checks out the southern portion of the room...he looks to see if there is an entrance/exit other than from where they entered...

Perception: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 14 + 2 = 30

"Wait! So there are two witch groups trying to find the key? And we're trying to find the key too? And everyone is here inside these gigantic statue ladies? That all seems so confusing."

Sakitu steps gingerly through all the debris in the room and she looks around. She's content to let Selena and Tez do the magical detections and she moves closer to Fin while he's checking out the southern end.

Quasit dodges aside from the broom tossed at her, letting it clatter to the ground.

"Not sure, Saki. Just a guess. All we know for sure is that the demon worshippers have been hanging around everywhere we go in one way or another, and we just saw one of the witch types helping one of the giants. And one of the witches gave us a key. But there could be another explanation I suppose. It's not like we're going to get a straight answer out of anyone in here."

Suddenly she winces as if from pain. She turns aside a little and lays a hand on her belly, and grumbles something foul under her breath. She crouches down and begins idly combing through the detritus.

"Quasit what's wrong!? Did a witch get you?" Maka said as she ran over to her friend.

"No." says Quasit with mild annoyance in her voice. She blushes and glances around, then whispers.

Selena is able to mend the ladder well enough to at least temporarily use it. The books she finds are to dated to be useful for anything more than kindling. Some are so old that the pages crumble, others the ink faded and unreadable. With several pauses to secure her scarf around the rungs, she continues to make her way around the room. Meanwhile

Tezuzu finishes making his study of the book. “It is as I suspected, this book will help the strange prisoner / bound guard back at the hut.”

Maka looked confused for a moment before laughing and quickly trying to shush herself.

Fin smiles widely. ”Well done, Tez! Would’ve been a shame to have to kill Ratibor...now perhaps we won’t have to...never thought I’d say this but I’m beginning to miss that hut...”

Seeing the girls whispering conspiratorially and sharing some kind of food, Fin starts to query them...and then thinks better of it, murmuring, ”Some things are better left a mystery...”

Maka looked confused for a moment before laughing and quickly trying to shush herself.

Quasit blushes some more and gives a weak, rueful smile at Maka before glancing around again to see if other people are watching.

She accepts a tonic bottle from the monk and helps herself to a swig, giving a little wince at the taste. "Ugh." Then she hands it back. "Thanks." Then she also accepts some chocolate and pops it into her mouth, letting it melt. "Good to see you're prepared for everything." she confides shyly.

Then she leans in closer and shares a quieter confidence.

Fin smiles widely. ”Well done, Tez! Would’ve been a shame to have to kill Ratibor...now perhaps we won’t have to...never thought I’d say this but I’m beginning to miss that hut...”

"Excellent work! So coming down here wasn't a complete waste of time after all!" says Quasit cheerfully. "I hadn't really held out much hope we'd find any way to help him. But i suppose it makes some sense that Baba Yaga would stash that book here. Ratibor comes from this area after all."

"Well, it looks like there's no other ways out of here, so back the way we came, I guess."

She picks up the magic broom and whaps Bulvi with it on the butt. "Wake up Blondie."

Fin nods, drawing his bow, murmuring, "Roger that, Q," and going back into the previous room to scout the area that had unexplored passages leading south...

Stealth: 1d20 + 23 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 23 + 4 + 2 = 45
Perception: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 14 + 2 = 22
Survival: 1d20 + 10 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 3 = 19

Sakitu glances quickly at the men in the room and tries not to blush. She leans into Quasit and Maki to keep their conversation quiet.

On the map, D7 is the room with the giant and witch ghost, right? Is there anything to the south there?

I don’t think so, Sakitu...Fin mentioned looking to the south for another exit/entrance but none was mentioned so I assumed not...

Once the group returns to the strange witch shrine room, Quasit takes a look around then points to the open hallway directly across the room. "Shall we try that way next?"

Looking at the open passage on the bottom left of the map marked 'Open passage east'

Three things before we leave,

First, now that Selena has satisied herself about the books, with a sad sigh for the loss of so much knowledge, she invesitages behind the shelves for secret doors, breaking holes in the backing if she has too.

Second, you said that some of the dust was causing metal to rust, so if she can, she'll try to gather some into one of the unbroken jars.

Third, she'll try to discern where the smoke from the fire goes.

Oh, "We should check for secret doors. It seems likely that here is a good place to find one."

@Quasit: Yeah, brain fart on my part; that’s the passage I meant when I said Fin would explore south as I went with the way the map was oriented rather than reading the note as I should have...

@Selena: Fin checked for other exits/entrances and had a Perception check of 30 so I just assumed that would’ve found anything...but I could be wrong...

A strange forest of dark and leafless trees fills this expansive natural cavern, twisting upward toward the ceiling high overhead. Map updated.

So, did I get any of that rust-making dust? Also, where did the smoke go? Does flow somewhere, or is there magic of some sort?

Fin draws his bow and warily scouts to get a better look into the cavern to see the layout before trying to proceed further, while looking for traps, tracks, and foes...

Stealth: 1d20 + 23 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 23 + 4 + 2 = 35
Perception: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 14 + 2 = 24
Survival: 1d20 + 10 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 3 = 27

Quasit takes one look at the Grotto of Dead Trees and groans.

"Aw come on, this place might as well have a sign over the entrance saying 'Monster Room'. This place looks like where my nightmares come from. Are witches just fundamentally opposed to nice things? Are they just not happy unless everything is spooky and creepy and nasty?"

She wrenches her sword out of her scabbard and takes a deep, cleansing breath.

"All right monsters! Come and get us!" she grumbles to herself before skulking into the room.

Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33

Selena watches the plants. Plants are great sources of poison, and she knows to expect the possibility of the plants being used as a weapon, even possibly making them move against us.

"Just let me know if I need to set any of these trees on fire." Maka said as she followed behind the others.

Perception; LL Vision, Darkvision 60ft: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21

"This is weird. Trees growing underground? Are these trees even alive or are they all dead? Maybe someone just brought them from outside. Or, maybe they're magical trees." Panic rose in Sakitu's chest at the thought of a cavern full of menacing magical trees, their branches groping to snag and grab passersby. She scanned the room for magical auras.

Detect magic at the trees

"Just let me know if I need to set any of these trees on fire."

”Maka, if one of these trees bites, grabs, favors us with a cross word or otherwise does anything a tree isn’t supposed to do, feel free burn away. But I have a feeling it’s not really the trees we need to worry about.”

"This is weird. Trees growing underground? Are these trees even alive or are they all dead? Maybe someone just brought them from outside. Or, maybe they're magical trees."

”Witch trees. There’s probably an evil dryad hanging around in one of them. Or killer squirrels. Or both.”

Fin shakes his head, "Nay, Q, you had it right at witch trees...most likely these trees hide more witches...this whole quest is all about witches. The ultimate witch, Baba Yaga ,sends us here, albeit indirectly through her Black Rider, and we are beset upon by witches, probably her allies. Just wish she'd sent word to them that we're here doing her bidding so we wouldn't always be attacked on sight..."

"That would invalidate the test Fin. Not to mention the preparation for the later forces we'll have to face when it is time to free Baba Yaga and replace the queen." Selena remarks matter of factly.

Fin shrugs. "Perhaps you are right, Selena...you are a witch and would probably know...but my way would be more practical..."

"It's a really stupid, trickety trick trick way if you ask me. Baba Yaga should have just made Cluckers a training area where we fight progressively stronger stuff until we are strong enough...or just be nicer and have the people serving her want to serve her instead of cursing them and stuff."

"...or just be nicer and have the people serving her want to serve her instead of cursing them and stuff."

"Nobody wants to die." says Quasit with a little shrug. "And from what I understand, when Baba Yaga comes back, Elvanna has to die and be replaced by a new daughter. I can understand why Elvanna would imprison Baba Yaga, honestly. But taking over the world and spreading eternal winter everywhere -- that's why she has to be stopped." Quasit shakes her head. "Kings and queens never think it's *their* fault they aren't loved anyway. They always blame everyone else. If I was in charge of the world, I'd get rid of all kings and queens. A bunch of expensive, entitled pets who have the right to murder you."

If I was in charge of the world, I'd get rid of all kings and queens. A bunch of expensive, entitled pets who have the right to murder you.

"OR you could make everyone a king and queen!"

"But then everyone would have the right to murder everyone else. But on the plus side, we'd all get tiaras."

"Maka, trickery is a very practical tactic. Not very nice to southern sensibilities perhaps, but very practical. Also, test, and just a test of skill, but of mind and spirit. You can't just be skilled, you need brains and willingness to take risks, not to mention your ability to face the unknown when your life is at stake. There are plenty who can win the practice match, v=but fail utterly when it's real.

When Quasit mentions dying, "We don't know that death awaits a queen. Bab Yaga takes the queen with her to other places. We don't know the reason or for what purpose. Though, to be fair, the unknown is often more terrifying."

Fin snorts. ”I have no use for a tiara, Q...so one of you can have two. Besides, if everyone were kings or queens, then there wouldn’t be any...”

"A tiara?" Sakitu lets a little grin slip. "Well, that might be kind of fun." She toys with the headband she is wearing and imagines what it would be like if it was diamond encrusted.

After only a moment she remembers the trees and witches and her smile fades.

"But what do we do here?"

"Find the killer squirrels." answers Quasit matter-of-factly. "I guarantee you this room isn't empty."

“You are correct young one. It has been so very long since I have heard such vital chatter I had hoped to listen a bit longer. The voice sound old and is coming from deeper within the cavern of leafless trees.

Quasit shares an alarmed look with her colleagues, then swallows heavily and makes her way forward cautiously, giving up all pretense of stealth, her hands raised a little to show that they are empty.

"If you like, we can talk some more. What's your name?" she asks the dark room, looking about warily for her interlocutor.

Fin jumps a bit at the voice. As he's not quite as trusting as Quasit, keeping his bow in hand in case he quickly needs to cover his friend, he doesn't bring it up to bear...

"Are you an ally of Baba Yaga?"

While awaiting an answer to either question, he peers at the trees, trying to locate her via sight or sound...

Perception: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 14 + 2 = 23

"Even if you aren't, we can still be friends if you want!" Maka added to Fin's call.

Is there light in here?

Sakitu peers around trying to find the speaker. Her nerves are on edge again. Sometimes she thinks she'll never be able to relax. Instinctively, she casts a spell on herself and quickly feels a little more sturdy.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

FYI, cast resistance on myself.

Maka keeps light cast on Izzy so there is at least a torch's worth of light.

Bulvi shakes his head clearing himself from his pensive introspection. He speaks quietly to the others. "You know sometimes I have to stop and consider the road that brought us here and how deranged our lives have become."

He then speaks more clearly to the mysterious voice in the woods "So we're quite happy to talk and as said be friends but we're capable in case our journey here takes another unpleasant twist."

A distinctly feminine figure shifts from a lotus pose from atop one of the leafless trees. Her six-arms move to her side as she slips gracefully to the ground. Although you hear one voice, her head has three fanged faces. She wears colorful robes and her hands rest near several exotic weapons stowed at her waist.

“I came to learn from her. I wouldn’t consider myself anyone’s ally.”

Sakitu whispers to herself. "Wow, six arms. That seems so awkward. I mean, what would you do with all those arms?" Unconsciously, she moves behind Bulvi's sturdy body, keeping him between her and the new creature.

"Well... she is certainly very old, I suppose she could teach a lot, if she were so inclined." says Quasit vaguely. She stops a safe distance away, for the moment keeping her hands in a neutral position. She fixes a pleasant smile on her face, and affects an easy, offhand manner."We're sorry to disturb your meditations. What sort of things were you hoping to learn, if you don't mind my asking?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Bulvi without turning his line of sight fully turns his head a little and gives Sakitu a reassuring before whispering with a reassuring smile. "She probably wonders how we manage."

Fin whispers in his answer to Saki, "Fire two longbows at once..."

Not having seen nor heard of such a being, he whispers lightly to Tez, "Do you know what this creature be?"

While Tez checks his memory, Fin stays put but keeps a sharp eye out for other hidden foes/traps...and tries to get a read on this multi-armed lady...

Perception: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 14 + 2 = 33
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Botting Tez, using his knowledge shotgun:

Tez shrugs, trying to recall what he might know of this formidable looking six-armed woman...

K.Arcana: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22
K.Planes: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
K.Religon: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
K.Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

"Wow, six arms. That seems so awkward. I mean, what would you do with all those arms?"

"What wouldn't you do?" Maka replied as she looked the newcomer up and down.

“I came to learn from her. I wouldn’t consider myself anyone’s ally.”

"You could be our ally, we're always looking for new friends. Especially ones that look as fun to fight as you."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Perception; LL Vision, Darkvision 60ft: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22