Clebsch's Reign of Winter

Game Master Clebsch RoW

Is anyone taking up Erland's offer to fly to the rooftops? That should work to get out of sight without any rolls if done as soon as possible. Is everyone else going through the tunnel? I'll assume Ingrit, Anadrien, and Domitian in front of the cart, minus Erland and whoever goes with him? If anyone else is doing something different, post it by tomorrow. Those flying should move their tokens to their new location.

Cant move token, on mobile. Suggest Rurik and I take the skies, then meet up with the others on the opposite side of the encounter.

That’s fine with me.

"Okay, but don't stray too far--would like you to be in range if combat ensues. Now that you mention it, maybe I should disappear from sight as well?"

If Dom can get to the rooftop, can he also stay invisible? If so, the only people walking by would be a wolf-disguised Ingrit, a stilyagi Andarien, and Ringeirr--in other words, nobody who has any obvious connection to the mischief we caused earlier with Nazhena. But if Dom's going to need to make a stealth check, then that becomes an awful idea and I will stick with my original bluffing.

The covered alleys are 30 feet long and 8 feet high on average, with only dim light even during the day. It requires a successful DC 20 Climb check to scale an adjacent building to get on top of a covered alley, or a successful DC 12 Acrobatics check for Medium creatures to jump up and grab an edge (DC 16 for Small creatures), followed by a successful DC 15 Climb check to pull themselves up. The roofs covering the alleyways are f lat, solidly constructed, and regularly cleared of snow, but the slanted rooftops of most buildings constitute difficult terrain. The narrow bridges between buildings are typically 2 to 3 feet wide and 15 feet above the ground. They are slippery after fresh snow falls, requiring a successful DC 10 Acrobatics check to safely cross.

Taking 10 on Acrobatics and Climb lets me succeed on both checks to get on the roof.

Taking 10 is only allowed in situations where there is no danager involved in failing. Here, a failure could draw unwanted attention, so if Domitian wants to climb a roof, he'll need to make the acrobatics roll.

I moved Erland, Rurik, and Fiske to the roof of the tunnel, then feet from the south end. If you'd prefer a different location, indicate where instead. By crouching, they will not be visible from the street

If Domitian does not indicate an action, I'll 'bot him and say he hides in a snow drift amid trees, perhaps casting rope trick to better hide, although the spell leaves the rope visible. If he does that, Domitian could follow him and hide in the space provided by rope trick. The rope would be hidden more or less by the trees, although the tracks into the drifts might draw attention, if noticed.

Ingrit rides along, following the others into the tunnel, maintaining the professional boredom of one simply doing their job.

Bluff: 1d20 ⇒ 19

It's likely that important stillyagi like Anadrien would have a bodyguard, so Dom should be fine.

casting rope trick there
Quick , hide in there or use it to the roof
Damiano will hide in the rope trick

I'll continue with the Bluff check from the previous page and we'll see how it goes.

Note on map: Elrand and Rurik are on the top of the tunnel while the others are passing under it. I assumed Damiano would use the rope trick back away from the path amid some trees to keep the rope from being obvious.

With three of the party hidden away, the group moves into the tunnel, led by the odd sight of a winter wolf in humanoid form and followed by a Stilyagi and her bodyguard, with the peasant pulling a fish cart.

As Ingrit gets to the north end of the tunnel, she sees the mirror man watching, waiting for her to emerge. Tall and lean, this hooded figure resembles a human until the terrible face beneath the cowl is revealed—nothing but a featureless mirror, reflecting a hard, cold world. As the stag emerges, the mirror man paces forward, giving room for the group to come into the small lane of shoveled street between the tunnel and a house to the NE. He points to the ground, wordlessly indicating the group is to stop for inspection.

All hear a rasping, cold voice in their minds, a telepathic message evidently directed at Ingrit or perhaps Anadrien. <Do these slaves belong to you? Explain your business.>

Noting that Andarien was far better with words than she, and more convincing as well, Ingrit opts to keep her reply simple, with everything she said being essentially true. Assuming that this form of communication would be normal for one in her position she thinks her response at the mirror creature.

<They are hers. Serving some Stillyagi prince. I an making sure they stay out of trouble until they get where they are going. > she turns to glance at Andarien, indicating that anything further would come from her.

"Not a slave, sir. A hired hand." Being called a slave is grating to Domitian. Mercenary, servant, fishmonger, all would have been more tolerable than being called a slave. Dom hopes his genuine indignation helps sell Andarien's story.

Bluff (aid another): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

The mirror man shifts it's facing, so Anadriel can see herself reflected in the oval. It is wordlessly expecting an explanation from her.

Erland holds his breath and waits to hear yelling and combat below. He looks at Rurik with wide eyes and tightly clenched teeth.

Rurik narrows his lips and remains crouched and waiting for action.

Anadrien has spent countless months within Whitethrone, has dealt with everything from surly ogres to frothing packs of near rabid winter wolves. She's faced down the most scathing of bureaucrats, has danced with nobility so jaded they'd not have blinked if she'd vomited blood, and has lost track of the number of times she's feared for her life.

Still.

She's never tried to bluff a mirror man.

"Good day, sir. I am Anadrien Elrynduil, friend and member of Prince Paval Turosky's court, and am on a personal mission for him to acquire fresh piscine provender for his upcoming feast. We're returning from Fish Town, and I have hired these people to assist me in delivering my goods."

She pauses for but a second, wondering if brevity is best or whether she should seek to drown the man in verbiage, and then settles for a deep, courtly bow. "I am of course at your service in any way, and if I can help you or our Queen, it would be my greatest honor."

Bluff+Archaelogist's Luck+Aid Another: 1d20 + 10 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 10 + 3 + 2 = 22

There is no immediate response to Anadrien's statement. The only sound is the cold wind cutting through the streets and sleet hitting buildings nearby. Then everyone 'hears' the mirror man's voice in his or her head, "Papers." He holds out his hand, expecting to receive four leather envelopes that papers are required to be stored in.

Despite the cold Anadrien feels sweat prickle down the slopes of her back, and a familiar, knotting sensation in her stomach warns her that this situation is about to take a terrible left turn.

But I could have sworn my lie was convincing... she protests to herself, even as she forces a sweet smile.

"But of course. Here are mine." She pulls forth her papers from her satchel and extends them.

The moment he takes the letters, the moment he opens up the leather envelope to check her papers, she attacks.

Initiative? Maybe a chance for surprise given her ploy?

Initiative Order:

Surprise
Anadrien
Mirror Man

Other PCs: make perception checks DC 12 to notice Anadrien's shift to offense in time to participate in the surprise round. If your initiative roll is higher than the Mirror Man (9), you may act in the surprise round before the mirror man.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

If Erland can get a line on the mirror man for a lightning bolt without hitting any allies, hell do that. If not, use surprise round to fly closer and remain above the roof, drawing dagger as I go.

While the bolt will come perilously close to Domitian, Erland does have line of sight and a clear path to the mirror man. It will make some noise, however, which might attract other servants of the queen.

Perception DC12: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Seeing what Andarien intends to do while showing the mirror man her papers, Dom draws his masterwork falcata fisherman's dagger and gets behind him, ready to strike.

Surprise round--move and draw dagger. I moved through the mirror man's threatened area, so I'm hoping it's still flat-footed. The dagger is actually the Bladed Belt in dagger form, but doesn't seem worth the standard action to make it a falcata. This can happen after Erland fires his lightning bolt if that's what he wants to do.

I'll hold on on the lightning for now. Cutting it close with allies and making a lot of noise seems counterproductive now.

perception: 1d20 ⇒ 8

I don't want to 'Bot Anadrien in this instance, so we'll wait for her to post her surprise round action. The mirror man is flat-footed until his turn in the surprise round, so movement through threatened squares does not risk AOO.

Panic.

No weapon in hand. The time it would take to draw one is time she doesn't have.

Self-preservation instincts born of endless months focusing on survival kick in.

A few steps back, she casts a spell, and disappears.

Sorry guys, been racking my brains over what I can do. With only a standard or move action, I can't draw a weapon, don't have any offensive spells - so - taking a moment to re-position by casting Invisibility after a 5-foot step.

As Anadrien disappears and Domitian draws his weapon, Ingrit catches on to the escalation of the encounter.

Ingrit can act while the mirror man is still flat-footed. Then he gets to act.

Just me or Wapiti as well since he's on my init?

Both.

Realizing that things are about to go erupt into violence, Ingrit rapidly dismounts, drawing her bow from over her shoulder as she gives Wapiti the command to attack.

Lowering his head, Wapiti rakes his antlers across the mirror man with a broad sweep.

Gore/ Flank: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 2 = 19
1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Wapiti's attack catches the mirror man by surprise, driving an antler prong deep into his stomach. No blood flows from the wound, however, and it does not seem to damage the mirror man as much as it would a biological creature. Piercing attacks do not get through it's DR, so the attack did 2 damage.

The mirror man steps east to get out of the flanking situation, drawing a sword and lashing out at Ingrit with a very nice looking longsword. The sharp blade stricks Ingrit's chest, but is stopped by her armor.

Surprise Round
Erland

Round 1
Ringeirr
Anadrien
Domitian
Rurik
Ingrit
Damiano
Mirror Man (2 lethal)
Erland

Erland flies to the other end of the alley's rooftops, drawing his dagger as he moves.

Ringeirr throws open the top of the fishcart and reaches under the ice to find his club.

Others can retrieve an item in the cart with a move action once moving adjacent to the cart.

Round 1
Anadrien
Domitian
Rurik
Ingrit
Damiano
Mirror Man (2 lethal)
Erland

Round 2
Ringeirr

"This thing does not bleed!" cries Dom as Ingrit's arrow has a diminished effect. Deciding that his dagger might not be the right weapon for the job, Dom concentrates and changes the bladed belt into a morningstar. It seemed fitting to use the holy weapon of Milani to fight this fight.

Moving up alongside Domitian, Anadriel whispers to him, "May righteousness guide your arm!"

She then reaches out to touch his shoulder, casting Heroism upon him.

+2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks.

If Rurik moves 20 feet north, he'll be next to Erland and can look down on the melee area. It is a 5 food drop to the fish cart, which Ringeirr has thrown open for folks to access the things hidden under the ice. The mirror man is 25 feet north and 10 feet east of that position. Domitian is another 10 feet north and five feet east of the mirror man. Ingrit and Wapiti are south and west of the mirror man in melee range. Anadrien cannot be seen.

Domitian now knows where Anadrien is, but no one else can detect her position, since she's invisible.

Damiano is 80 feet south of the action. He may not be able to tell a fight has broken out, since only Wapiti has attacked and his perception roll was too low to detect anything short of open melee fighting.

For what it's worth, Ingrit has not yet fired any arrows. The antler that hit the mirror man did piercing type damage, similar to an arrow and it didn't get past DR.

I'm waiting on posts from Rurik, Ingrit/Wapiti, and Damiano. Post if you need information from me.

Rurik creeps forward so that he can see the conflict below, then with a whisper to Milani he summons a prayer to aid the team in this conflict.

No action since you said I was unaware combat had begun

Ingrit takes a step back, firing at the mirror man as Wapiti continues to attack. "A little magic would be damned helpful right now!"

+1 Composite Longbow/ Bless: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 13 + 1 = 24
1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Gore: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 1 = 16
1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Erland moves closer to the battle and sees Ringeirr bravely attack the mirror man with a club, but cannot hit the quick opponent.

Domitian's knife magically transforms into a morningstar, better to bash the bloodless construct.

Ingrit sends an arrow into the mirror man, but it fails to hit anything that does any damage. I repositioned Ingrit to the west, as she had been moved into a square that is difficult terrain due to snow drifts. DR canceled her damage. Note both Wapiti and Ingrit should have benefited from the prayer spell, +1 to hit and +1 to damage, but it would not have changed the outcomes.

Wapiti attempts to gore the mirror man but he is too nimple and quick at keeping out of the way of the sharp antlers.

Damiano hears the sounds of battle. He may take his 1st round action.

The mirror man silently wields his lovely longsword, attacking first Ingrit, then Ringeirr. Ingrit sees the blade coming but cannot quite avoid it and it cuts into her leg. Ringeirr takes a less grievous wound, but starts to leave blood in the snow. 10 lethal to Ingrit, 6 to Ringeirr.

Damiano
Mirror Man Already acted.
Erland (prayer)

Round 2
Ringeirr (prayer, 6 lethal)
Anadrien (prayer)
Domitian (Heroism, prayer)
Rurik (prayer)
Ingrit (prayer, 10 lethal)
Damiano
Mirror Man (pryaer, 2 lethal)
Erland (prayer)

Erland flies over and stabs at the mirror man, intending to aid Domitian in striking the creature easier.

Aid Another vs DC 10: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 to hit

Failure, no +2 for Dom.

Suddenly feeling very heroic thanks to Anadrien, Dom steps into the battle with his morningstar. "It's me you want, come at me!" He swings the morningstar at his opponent to emphasize that he was the real threat here.

Mwk. Morningstar, Prayer, Heroism, Flanking: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 35; Damage, Precise Strike, Prayer: 1d8 + 6 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 5 + 1 = 17 That's a critical threat due to Swashbuckler Weapon Training doubling the crit range.
Crit?: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21; Damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Dom does some damage . . . the question was how much?

If the mirror man attacks him, Dom would parry/riposte.

move out of the rope trick then towards the sound of combat

Cursing at the pain of the cut along with the freakish mirror-man's unnatural resilience, Ingrit takes a step back, firing another arrow into the construct's body as the others press the assault. [b]"Keep the pressure on!"[b]

+1 Composite Longbow/ Bless/Prayer: 1d20 + 13 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 13 + 1 + 1 = 25
1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 1 = 11

Wapiti steps in, head lowered as he drives his deadly antlers into the mirror-man with substantial force.

Gore/ Bless/ Prayer: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 29
1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 1 = 11

Confirm
Gore/ Bless/ Prayer: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 13
1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 = 9

Any way for me to get down off the roof short of jumping?

Rurik, you're still under the effect of the fly spell

Anadrien digs free a small pad of butter from a pouch, and rubs it between her fingers as she gazes at the Mirror Man's blade. Whispers words of power, and suddenly the sword gleams with a thick coating of grease.

The Mirror Man must make a DC 13 Reflex check each round it wants to use its blade or drop the sword immediately.