Adventure Path Reign of Winter

Game Master Almonihah

"Agh! Just burn you stupid trees!" Maka yelled in aggravation as her flames proved ineffective. "And where did Fin go!?"

"She looks kinda Vudrani." says Quasit. "Maka, any clue?"

She is some kind of Asura, but let's see if Maka knows that.

K. Planes: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

"And where did Fin go!?"

"I'm sure he's just doing his elf thing. He's probably the safest one in here." murmurs Quasit in response as she moves warily forward with the group.

Her eyes settle on Selena and her mouth purses a little and her eyes narrow a bit.

"Do you think the reincarnation spell is completely random?" she muses. "Or do your actions in a previous life impact what happens? Or does the caster get any influence? I wonder if maybe next time Selena might come back as a haughty kobold, or a bitter little opossum? That might be amusing."

As soon as the tree's grasp relaxes Sakitu squirms from the tree then turns and glares at the tree. "I didn't like that at all."

She turns her focus back to the group. "We are following her, right? And why is Selena already going with her?" Her eyes grow wide. "You don't think that Selena is in league with her do you? Maybe Selena has just been leading us to her."

"We are following her, right? And why is Selena already going with her?" Her eyes grow wide. "You don't think that Selena is in league with her do you? Maybe Selena has just been leading us to her."

Quasit shakes her head. "Nah, she's just being her usual arrogant willful self. Selena is a lot of things, but deceptive isn't one of them."

Maka Na'Shota wrote:

"And where did Fin go!?"

"I'm sure he's just doing his elf thing...I wonder if maybe next time Selena might come back as a haughty kobold, or a bitter little opossum? That might be amusing."

Fin grins at the girls’ banter but remains silent and concealed as he continues to move warily ahead...

Stealth 39, Perception 26, and Survival (Tracking) 23

Quasit shakes her head. "Nah, she's just being her usual arrogant willful self. Selena is a lot of things, but deceptive isn't one of them."

"Unless she's fooled you too. I mean, if she's really good at it. But you're probably right. But it would be funny if she came back as a turtle. A big, slow talking turtle."

She peered off towards the dark end of the room.

"So what do we do now? Just follow them?"

"We're going to do what we said we were going to do. We're passing through here to the next room. And if she wants to try her luck stopping us, she can. But I'm not going to play hide and seek with her in this fossilized forest."

Findurel has no problem moving unseen among the strange trees, which remain motionless. However, he is keenly aware of the racket Bulvi is making. Updating map.

@GM Lareg, have our knowledge checks determined anything?

Fin continues on warily in the direction he last saw the six-armed lady...he’ll move to the last copse of trees and look towards the passage running east...

Stealth 39, Perception 26, and Survival (Tracking) 23

Selena focuses on following the lady-thing, not feeling that her companions need any help from her for something so simple and vulnerable to Maka, but she does make sure to scuff things up and make it easy to be followed if she gets out of sight of the others. She does draw her sword just in case the lady-thing, or something they encounter, attacks. "You never told us your name! Who are you?"

Findurel moves forward cautiously only to find the passage beyond the strange trees blocked. Likely through magic. Several of the trees have been made to cover the way through with their branches. There are spots where the overlapping branches leave just enough space to look through. And perhaps just enough space to shoot a well aimed arrow. Beyond the elf sees the strange woman meditating.

With a bit of conferring with Tezuzu you can assume you will figure out where the creature comes from. You can role play that however you like. I will post specifics tomorrow hopefully.

Not sure about what the creature’s doing, Fin silently gets Quasit’s attention, waves her over to his position, and points to the meditating six-armed lady...

Stealth 39, Perception 26, and Survival (Tracking) 23

"Maybe Selena can talk her round without me having to hand over my armour but I just don't think she's receptive to a reasonable deal at this point. She's confident though you've got to give her that."

Forgoing any attempts at stealth now, Quasit walks up to the little meditation nest the six-armed woman has crafted for herself and peers into the bier, then steps back, puts her hands on her hips and sucks her teeth.

"Well, it's clear she controls these trees, and it's clear she's inviting us to start something by shooting at her. And then her trees will grab us and she'll cut us up with all six arms. At least that's her plan. I have no idea why she's being so coy about this."

She turns to Marislova. "I don't suppose you have any idea who this bimbo is, do you?"

Just to be clear, could we have the position of Lady Hexabrache marked? Also, is the way to the passage beyond blocked by the branches of the stone trees only, or by the branches as well as a magical force field of some kind? It's not really clear to me from the description.

Findurel is already noticing engravings on the strange trees as Marislova points one out. “I’m not sure, but I bet the magic users might have something to say about that.”

Quasit lifts an eyebrow then turns to look back at Tezuzu and Sakitu.

Sakitu looks where Marislova is pointing. "Oh! Hmm. I mean, I wonder what that is." She extends a thread of magical energy checking for a reaction.

Detect magic and then spellcraft

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Knowledge(arcana): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Bulvi watches Sakitu's back while she focuses on unraveling the mystery of the runes.

Tezuzu hold up a talon to pause the group discussion before looking to Maka. “What did you say earlier, when you were trying to figure out what or who this woman is?” Tezuzu looks concerned at the appearance of the engravings on the trees. “If these are what I think they are, this isn’t food. They aren’t Iborian, that’s for sure.”

Sakitu is fairly sure the engravings are evil in nature, but doesn’t recognize the language.

Maka suspects the woman is an outsider of some kind. Tezuzu and her will work out that she is a lawful outsider of some kind. You all may role play that out or simply assume you have talked through what each understands.

So, Selena stuck to following the lady from the beginning. Did she manage to stay close? Did the lady not respond to my question? Did the lady do anything about me following her?

That is entirely up to Selena. She could have decided to keep following regardless of what the others did. In terms of what would have happened... Selena, CMD: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 it looks like Selena got grabbed by one of the other trees.

Tezuzu hold up a talon to pause the group discussion before looking to Maka. “What did you say earlier, when you were trying to figure out what or who this woman is?” Tezuzu looks concerned at the appearance of the engravings on the trees. “If these are what I think they are, this isn’t food. They aren’t Iborian, that’s for sure.”

Quasit looks puzzled by this 'revelation'.

"Tez, none of us thought the trees were food. They're made of stone." she says in a strained voice.

She starts pacing back and forth in agitation. "C'mon people, let's think. Do we have any spells that can circumvent this situation? Do we think the adamantine weapon can bust through these branches? Can the runes be erased or disabled somehow?"

She stops and looks at the meditating woman. "Do we have any option besides shooting her?" she adds grimly.

Tezuzu shakes his head, “Good, not food. This common tongue of yours is not meant for beaks like mine.”

Assuming Sakitu shares what they learned, Tezuzu has enough confirmation to identify the engravings on the trees as Infernal, which likely means this strange woman is a lawful evil outsider of some type.

"Oh. Yeah, that makes more sense." says Quasit. Still pacing around with hands on her hips, Quasit stops now by Sakitu and speaks to her quietly.

"I wonder if we distract or daze her if her control over the trees would drop? It seems like she might be mentally controlling them. Saki, do you remember that Rainbow spell you used on the dragon in White Castle? You think maybe we could try it on her?"

Sakitu nods eagerly. "Yes. I do remember that. Do you want me to try it now? What if it makes the trees go crazy? You should tell Maka, Bulvi and Fin. I guess Selena too. But we want to surprise that thing. Right?"

Sakitu nods eagerly. "Yes. I do remember that. Do you want me to try it now?"

"Yes"

"What if it makes the trees go crazy?

"It might. But if she's controlling them and your spell works, they might get out of our way."

You should tell Maka, Bulvi and Fin. I guess Selena too. But we want to surprise that thing. Right?"

"Do they need to be looking away when you cast it? Or can you cast it so it only affects her?"

"I can make it affect just her."

Sakitu peers through the twisted tree branches to get a clear view of the creature then casts her spell so that the area affected only catches the creature.

Casting Rainbow Pattern. DC 20 Will save to negate. SR applies so I'll roll a caster check since it's likely that the creature has SR.

Overcome SR: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Selena kept after the lady deftly dodging another tree.

My cmd is 16 so the tree misses.

So, where exactly am I in all this. I see that the rest of the group isn't far behind the lady but behind a wall of trees if I understand correctly, but since Selena followed the lady without stopping, is she on the other side?

"My companions can be a bit dense sometimes, but I'm sure you can understand the desire to make certain that what you won't interfere with our purpose."

Oh, and taking total defense against anymore tree attacks. Cause that actually applies to cmd too, which boosts me to cmd 20. Neat! :)

Selena, As you can see in the previous post, I rolled an additional CMD for you, which resulted in an 11. Selena was unable to avoid the trees a second time. We are moving on.

Although the strange woman is affected by the spell the trees mum’s remain as they are. Detecting magic reveals that whatever magic is controlling them is localized to the carved infernal runes on each tree.

Did the Rainbow Pattern have any effect?

"Could someone dispelling those runes get rid of the effect you're speaking about?" Bulvi inquires before adding with a sigh. "Did Selena just say we were dense again? Why does she like the sinister stranger so much more than us?"

Quasit gets a little excited and jumps up and down in place a few times.

"Good! Saki, I think it worked!"

She looks expectantly at the tree branches, then bangs one with her fist.

"Bah! Magic!"

"Tez, can you dispel the magic on these tree runes?" she asks. Meanwhile she pulls out her lock picking tools and begins to deploy the solvents and powders she uses on magical traps...

Disable Device on a rune: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (10) + 21 = 31

I know DD is a bit of a stretch, but I'm just throwing spaghetti at the wall here.

Oh! I missed that the GM posted that she was affected. I guess I read that too early in the morning this morning... I think we'll need Tez to apply his magic touch.

Quasit is able to do something, though she isn’t exactly sure what. What is clear is that the engravings on one of the trees separates into two letters that Tezuzu confirms are Infernal. “If each of the carvings are two letters, maybe this is some kind of puzzle...

Quasit can take ten to reveal the nested letters on each tree. There are 14 letters total. Tezuzu identifies them with Common letters (A, A, C, D, D, E, E, E, O, R, R, S, T, T, Y). Quasit is aware that the letters were in seven pairs.

Just to make sure I understand, on EACH tree, there are seven pairs of letters, or are there a single pair of letters on seven different trees? Can we see which letters are paired with which? My initial thought is that one of each pair is correct, and that if we pick the seven correct letters, they will spell something and unlock the puzzle, like a combination lock.

Okay, we're resetting things to the entrance of the room with the stone forest. You haven't yet seen the creature in the room.

The party stands in the entrance to a large cavern, whose ceiling reaches up far overhead. Trees of petrified wood stretch up towards the ceiling, twisted branches, bare of leaves, reaching upwards as if frozen while clawing at the sky. From the entrance, everything seems still.

Fin casts blend and draws his bow prior to entering the large cavern with his mini-croc companion Izzy close behind...he approaches and enters the chamber in his usual style, quietly, taking cover when it’s available, and keeping a sharp eye out for traps and foes, as well as any tracks...

Stealth: 1d20 + 23 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 23 + 2 + 4 = 36
Perception: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 14 + 2 = 23
Survival (Tracks): 1d20 + 10 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 3 = 24

For only an instant, the forest of petrified trees intrigues Sakitu and sparks her curiosity. But then the deadly nature of this whole place and the terrifying horrors they've been dealing with quickly overwhelm any sense of wonder or awe. She shrinks behind Bulvi.

"What is this now?" Her voice is barely more than a whisper. She watches Fin disappear into the forest. "Quasit, do you see anything?"

She looks to Maka who no doubt is getting ready to blast the first thing that moves. In a strange way Sakitu takes comfort in that. Selena. Well, Selena is still hard to read. Half the time she is chastising the group for attacking enemies and the other half of the time she is reminding everyone that evil people aren't evil. Or something like that.

Sakitu focuses back on the stone trees, looking for any signs of movement.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

"Plant monsters? Frozen plant monsters... maybe just monsters that like to free plants. Hard to know for sure Sakitu but we'll be able to tackle it." Bulvi said in a low voice but not turning to look towards her keeping his eyes scanning the new environment.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

Perception; LL Vision, Darkvision 60ft: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

"Probably another trickity trick trick that doesn't know what's good for it."

"What is this now?" Her voice is barely more than a whisper. She watches Fin disappear into the forest. "Quasit, do you see anything?"

As Quasit looks around...

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

... she suddenly blinks and shakes her head abruptly.

"Huh. I just had the strangest feeling like I've seen this place before. In a dream or something. Must be my imagination acting up."

She edges forward to touch one of the trees. "Maybe all the people stuck inside here just wanted a little fake park to take strolls in. But more likely it's a murder forest with murder squirrels in the trees. And the murder squirrels give you lectures about Motherhood while they nibble open your neck veins."

She sighs deeply. "I'm really starting to miss the sun."

Selena casts detect magic and looks around, in particular she looks up a lot, her self appointed travel role of watching for threats from above, as she wanders in the room, giving the trees plenty of distance but otherwise seeming to pay them no attention, though she is tense ready to respond, waiting for something to make a move.

As Fin creeps forward and the rest of the party peers between the branches, you're able to catch glimpses of a(nother) strange being. While roughly human-like in shape, their head has three faces and their body six arms, three of which grasp weapons, while the other three are held in an attitude of prayer or meditation.

?: 1d20 ⇒ 6

They do not yet react to your presence, instead remaining seated upon the ground.

Sakitu cringes with Quasit's description. "I really hope you're wrong Quasit. She squints through the trees. "Oh! There are people there, through the trees. Do you see them?"

Fin, looks back at Maka and shrugs as he’s never seen a creature like this...he silently motions to Quasit, waving her forward to see what she makes of this...

"Oh! There are people there, through the trees. Do you see them?"

"I... I think it's just one person. With lots of arms. She looks like she's meditating or praying or something." Instinctively she looks toward Maka, then scratches her head and shrugs her shoulders.

"Let's try not to bother her. Everyone try to be quiet and maybe we can just walk past her."

So saying, Quasit begins trying to creep forward, giving the strange woman a wide berth.

Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

Almost immediately she scuffs a foot and nearly trips, but manages to stay on her feet. Her eyes tamp tightly shut with embarrassment and her cheeks color.

The bizarre creature stands up with an easy grace that seems like it should be impossible for one with such nonsensical anatomy. As she gives the party a fanged smile, Marislova (who has wisely been staying in the back) gasps and slinks back further.

The three-faced being speaks through her fanged smile, "You are not of those who live here. Have you come to learn of Destruction?"

"Um..."

"No?" answers Quasit tentatively at this unusual question. "But you're right, we aren't from around here. Just passing through. We didn't mean to disturb you."

Fin watches the three-faced woman intently as Quasit converses with her, trying to get a good read...

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14