DM Dr Evil's Reign of Winter AP (with PFS Credit)

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

Andras grins at the man, "No problem, all in a day's work. Hreat work by the way Agatha." He says the last bit as he turns towards the Ulfen woman. She was about as old as his sister but apparently a bit more of a brute, which was quite tough to imagine after one saw his sister.

Andras casts a simple spell as he searches the field of battle with the others. "It's odd indeed. I can't say for sure if the fey are involved here, both they and the walking dead were story material to me before today."

Casting DetectMagic

Agatha finally steps up and walks around. Looking at the guard captains weapon she breaks it free and then walks to the statue. "Brother, I, we will use your weapon to kill those that brought this demise to you. And then, with the blood of your enemys still sticking to it, I will bring it your family so that they can honourably lay it on your ship to be burned. This I, Agatha, swear by my blood." Cutting her wrist she smears her blood on the chest of the captain. "If anyone else wants to claim this blade, you may, but I will take care my vow will be fulfilled!"
Could one use the breastplate too? As a woman I guess it wont fit me, but maybe one of the others?

This girl is intense.

Talon and the others examine the obvious trail the attackers left.

"I assume we all agree to follow this trail...it seems the only way forward," Talon offers.

As far as I'm aware, there's no Male/Female sizing in Pathfinder...right? You just make some adjustments using all the straps and such.

I am not sure, and a breastplate is something that really should be fitting. Chainmail, chainshirt, scale mail, or other armors are diffrent, but Breastplate.... I know of healmhair, but it should give me armor chest.

I think you're inserting too much real life into Pathfinder. I've heard people ask if armor they have found is sized medium or small, but never if it's male/female sized!

"Or we could stick it in his enemies and keep it or sell it" Lars got down from the carriage he was searching walked closer to Agatha "I am sure the man would want to reward the people who are killing his enemies" He said with half a smile, then opened the box of jewels took out the ring with the seal looked it over and flung it to Andras.

"Here you go guardsman, should we not find the lady still drawing breath I am sure you could show this as proof that we actually went to look for her" Explained the man in the overcoat Not to mention that selling things with family seals usually makes you easier to track He continued to himself.

Once he gave the area one last look, Lars walked across the path, his boots shuffling the snow as he went "Well lets press on, I don't want to stay and find out if this weather will get any better and someone pick up that breastplate, would be a shame to let good armor go to waste"

"I'm sure we can put it to better use than he can," Talon says as he works to free the armor from the ice.

This is already turning out to be a lucrative affair. This may be worth it after all.

After working on the armor, Talon says "Let me see that jewelry. I'm no expert, but may have some idea of value..."

appraise Opal Earrings: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Pearl-inlaid Bracelets: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Gold and Silver necklaces: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Sapphire Pendant: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Signet Ring: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Let's follow the trail after we've collected anything useful. We can give the jewelery box back to the Lady when we find her, if she's alive and if not we can worry about what to do with it then.

Lars watches as Talon examines the jewels Ah a fellow oppertunist A smile crawled to his face.

Let's follow the trail after we've collected anything useful. We can give the jewelery box back to the Lady when we find her, if she's alive and if not we can worry about what to do with it then.

Ah a law abiding citizen The smile shrunk slightly "I am sure that if she is still among the living, that she would have more pressing things than a box of jewelery...like STAYING among the living" He said with an unsubtle emphasis.

Don't sweat it Agatha the breastplate will fit you if you claim it. There are straps on the sides that you can use to loosen or tighten as needed to fit. What do you do with your existing armor, if you put on the breastplate? Is the barbarian is also taking the MW longsword? Not as big a weapon as she currently has perhaps? I need a definitive answer on who is taking what.

Talon is able to successfully appraise the gold and silver necklaces as worth 75 gp. The rest, however is a mystery to him. The jewelry box with all items inside, is currently in the possession of Talon, the rogue, correct?

Andras' search for magic comes up empty as there are no magical auras remaining here.

After collecting the weapon, the breastplate, and the jewelry the group has looked over all they can. Examining the trail, which leads them off the road, and into the border wood, it is quite evident that the winter weather is coming from this direction. The snow is deeper here, enough to make all squares difficult and to slow overland travel, and the dark storm clouds seem to swell and circle above the ridge-lines farther south in the center of the woods.

The question remains: do you want to go on and look for the missing noblewoman and find wealth and glory, or turn back to Heldren and slink away to safety and obscurity?

If we've gotten everything picked up, let's move on before this snow gets worse.

Meditrina hesitates slightly. "I agree with Trawets, moving onward is best"Here she pauses, thinking hard for a second, before continuing, "On the other hand, can we go carefully? There is no attempt so far for these bandits to hide their tracks, and the zombies left behind are troubling...let us go carefully least we walk into a nastier ambush"

Breaking the armor free and adjusting the straps Agatha looks around one more if no one else wants the items she liberated. Her look says take it please, I only use it if no one else is interested before donning it.

Talon nods at Meditrina's suggestion about moving carefully.

"Perhaps some of us should scout ahead slightly to look for ambushes or traps. I have some skill in this and would be willing to fill this role...perhaps there are others," he says as he looks at Lars.

Careful is good. Talon, you might not want to get too far ahead though, so if you get ambushed we can assist you quickly.

"My idea exactly," Talon agrees.

A sigh escaped Lars' lips "Do I have trapper written on my chest?" He asked to no one, before he walked ahead, his thoughts going back to the many pirate captain he worked with, while his body tried to to ignore the cold.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Perception: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 1 = 7

I will assume Agatha has the breastplate on and is carrying the MW longsword until further notice.

As you pass down the path, you go inside the tree line of the Border Wood and the weather goes from bad to worse. Snow begins falling, hurting your visibility, snow covers the ground in places knee deep, and temperatures drop below freezing, setting your teeth to chattering, and unless you are bundled up, the risk of exposure is very real.

In game terms, the temperature is considered cold, meaning each hour spent in the wintry conditions require a Fortitude save (DC 15, +1 for each additional hour) to avoid taking 1d6 non-lethal damage. Those who take non-lethal damage also suffer exposure and gain the fatigued condition. Cold weather gear adds a +5 to these Fort saves. Endure Elements (or similar) gives 24 hrs of protection against this damage. Non-lethal damage can be healed (and the DC reset) by building a fire. NL damage heals at 1hp/level/hr of rest.

Falling snow creates reduces visibility by half in the winter pocket. Characters take a -4 penalty on perception checks and ranged attacks while in the snowy areas, unless otherwise stated.

Finally, within the edges of the Border Wood, 6 inches of snow covers the ground, reducing overland travel speeds by half. Characters wearing snowshoes can reduce the movement penalty in tactical situations.

The trip through the forest is slow but steady. The footprints in front make an easy to follow trail in the deep snow, which winds it's way uphill through the forest. Gritting their teeth against the cold, the group trudges along behind for nearly an hour.

Please make the first DC 15 Fort save described above or take 1d6 nonlethal cold damage and gain the fatigued condition. Remember the cold gear gives you a +5 on your save, if you have it.

FortSave: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

fort save: 1d20 + 3 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 5 = 11

Talon's teeth chatter as he presses forward in the snow despite his cold-weather gear and constant movement. It was simply too cold.

nonlethal: 1d6 ⇒ 5

DC 15 Fort Save: 1d20 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 2 + 5 = 23

Trawets trudges along in the cold, this is going to be a long walk.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

I am rolling the others just for the sake of moving along the story. Get used to these checks, because they happen frequently...I may just rol them for you from now on.

Andras DC 15 Fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Lars DC 15 Fort, cold weather outfit : 1d20 + 3 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 5 = 17

Thanks to the cold weather outfits, the biting cold and wind effects only Talon, who begins to suffer from exposure during the walk as well.

As it enters the full expanse of the Border Wood, the trail passes through a small clearing among the taller trees before continuing uphill and out of sight. A large chest lies half-buried in the snow, apparently dropped or discarded by those who hastily passed this way.

Homemade map link here and at top of page..

Ah a chest in a clearing, yes that is not suspicious at all The others were spared Lars' sarcasm as he motioned them to stay back with his hand. His eyes focused on the chest and the area surrounding it, this whole stage screamed one thing to him Ambush And what did any good ambush need? A trap.

Lars will take a 20 on perception to find traps, that makes it a 26 roll.

Actually nets a 22 when you take the -4 to perception from the falling and blowing snow, but either way, it's enough.

Carefully approaching the chest, Lars, suspicious from the beginning, starts searching the case up and down and from side to side. The chest appears to be a twin to some of the ones spilled at the massacre site, and does not appear to be locked.

But as the ranger/trapper searches more, he finds a heave rope buried in the deep snow. Leading from the chest's lid, the rope is secured on the other side to a 20' long spiked log that has been lightly set up in the tree top nearby. It appears anyone opening the chest would pull the rope enough to set the long spiked tree swinging down and cleaving a swath along the path and maiming anyone standing within 20' of the chest.

It appears Lars' suspicions about a trap are quite confirmed.

Stepping back as carefully as possible, Lars looks about himself for signs of ambushers, while keeping his left arm held up; motioning the party to keep their distance.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 Looking for any possible ambushers.

In the event that Lars finds none.

Once he was about thirty feet away from the chest, the trapper unsheathes a throwing dart, and after a moment of gauging the distance flings it at the rope connecting the chest's lid to the log that was lying in wait to disfigure any who fell for its scheme.

Ranged Attack Roll: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 - 4 = 20 Well hello there natural 20!

Damage Roll: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Confirm Crit: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Crit Damage[/dice: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

If the trap is harmlessly sprung.

Lars moves and once more tries to find a shield from prying eyes in the wooden giants of the snow filled forest.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

After checking fruitlessly for ambushers, Lars skilled dart-throwing triggers the trap bringing the huge spiked log swinging down and sweeping the path. All stare in horror at what might have happened if they hadn't found the guide-rope first.

Once the trap is sprung, it appears the chest is safe to examine in detail. As Lars opens the chest, he is surprised to find it completely empty.

Clearing the log trap (which massacred my first group running this) earns you each 100xp for a total of 200/2000 or about 10% to your next level.

Talon watches in numbness as the log trap smashes their would-be position. His frozen extremities now match the cold he feels in his heart.

"Let's keep going...they won't expect anyone to follow further than this..." he says.

Following the lead of Talon, the group moves off down the path. The temperature continues to deaden your senses, and the blinding snow makes vision difficult as you continue climbing.

The snow becomes increasingly deep in this part of the forest, where a windswept gully carves a path through a tree-covered ridge. A soft cascade of snow falls from an overhead branch, hissing softly as it strikes the ground.

New map is up. The party is headed south on the trail Space yourselves out how you will. If you fail to make the Perception check, you may not act during the surprise round.

Trawets walks down the path looking for trouble.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 7 - 4 = 9

My spot looks good on the map.

i doubt anyone can roll a 30...I can't, so won't bother rolling.

didn't think about that, but I suppose you are right. If any gets a 30, we can retcon the action, but based on ranks I see, it is unpossible.

Heavy Snowdrift - Surprise Round

* = may act in surprise round

23 Talon
21 Trawets
20 Andras
12 Agatha
9 Lars
8 Wyrm*
6 Meditrina

From behind and to the east of the party, a serpentine creature that has the head of a ferocious dragon and two relatively small forearms ending in tiny claws, appears suddenly out of the snow near Trawets. The white-scaled, creature races across the snow without any difficulty, pouncing on poor flat-footed Trawets from behind. The wyrm bites Trawets, but more sinisterly, it begins slowly wrapping round the wizard, grappling him.

Bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Bite Dmg: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Grab Grapple vs FF CMD 10: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

End of Surprise Round

Heavy Snowdrift - Round 1

23 Talon
21 Trawets (grappled)
20 Andras
12 Agatha
9 Lars
8 Wyrm (grappled)
6 Meditrina

Talon may act first. Remember all the terrain is difficult for mvoement purposes, and the -4 penalty to perception and ranged attacks.

I'm going to put my action up as I doubt Talon will break me free, even though my action is pointless as I doubt I can get out of this.

Kn: Arcana: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Trawets squirms against the worm and tries to break free. Never heard of a white one of these before, they usually are found in forests, not snow.

Grapple: 1d20 ⇒ 15

From those who are about to die, I salute you.

Feeling the danger and the anger rising Agatha steps closer and raises her axe. The sword is for the bandits
ragingattack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 211d12 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Meditrina delays for now.

"Look alive!" Talon yells, then moves quickly behind the creature to flank with Agatha.

double move.

With battle axe flashing in his right hand, and shield prepared on his left forearm, Lars stared at their foe and began thinking how they were going to take down this overgrown, and overly ferocious lizard "Lets move quick, hit hard and show no sympathy, I doubt the thing is taking prisoners" The smiling man moved quickly and came to a skidding halt that launched a small of snow once he was in range to strike. A flash of dark metal momentarily decorated the air as it shrieked its way to the scaly hide of Lars' foe.

Attack Roll: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 2 = 24

+2 from hitting a foe that is grappling, which takes a -4 to dexterity.

Damage Roll: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Lars moves to E-10.

Talon - with the fatigued condition, your carrying capacity also falls, and you become heavily encumbered. You were Medium before anyway, so you can move 20' in a round. Since all the terrain is difficult, you can move only 2 squares with a move action, or 4 in a double move turn. This puts you in combat range, but not in flanking position.

Lars, since Talon is taking square E,2 then I am moving you to square D,2. The wyrm is grappled and hence no AoO's anyway.

Gentlemen (and Ladies) please use arrow tool to show your intended movement path for just such instances, especially if posting out of sequence, so I can tell where you went in relation to others (foe and friendly) actions. Thanks!

Meditrina, you are last in the round anyway, so just let me know when you'd like to get back in the action, if before your normal spot.

Heavy Snowdrift - Round 2

Moving as fast as his bone-cold limbs will take him, Talon moves to assist the grappled wizard against the strange attacking beast.

Recognizing the tatzylwyrm, Trawets knows he better break free to live, but his attempt to overthrow the grapple of the wyrm fails, and he feels the coils twist tighter around him.

Andras hasn't posted Wednesday, I am assuming he still has PC issues, and will run him here.

The bard Andras leaps into the fray against the wyrm trying to save the group's caster. He stabs at the grappling wyrm with his heirloom falcata, but the quasi-dragon's thick scales turns his blade aside.

Eschewing the new sword for her more familiar axe, Agatha brings the great blade down on the body of the twisting wyrm. The raging warrior's axe bites deeply into the dragon, causing a gout of blood to well from the beast, which utters a strange cry.

Lars is also able to strike the tatzylwyrm with his battleaxe, but the creature still lives after all the carnage.

The wyrm, thinking it has dinner in hand, turns and breathes a slightly poisonous vapor into the face of the seriously injured Trawets. It twists it's coiled body away from the heroes, trying to slide back under the snow cover as much as possible.

Andras Falcata: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Trawets need DC 12 Fort save or take 1d2 STR dmg. Back to Meditrina's turn in Round 2, lmk if you are still delaying, and we'll move on to Round 3.

Fort Save DC 12: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Not dead yet. (Really hard to type that with an english accent)

Wow it tanked a lot of punishment, id walk in and try to finish it off but I am pretty sure the terrain (with the movement penalties) and the fact that every other square is blocked means that I couldn't get there. Unless that changes, I'll simply continue delaying.

Still suffering from the effects of the cold, Talon is unable to obtain a flanking position with anyone.

Rather than stab the creature's thick hide with his dagger, he kicks snow in its face to try to distract it while Agatha attacks.

assist Agatha's attack: 1d20 ⇒ 7

In silence Lars moved towards their poison spewing opponent, his motion clearly indicated that he would strike at its leg, the strike was intentionally slow which made it easy for the creature to leap over it, but before it could strike back Lars was already back in his stance Alright, its nervous Lars' smile grew.

Move Action to use Freebooter's Bane, everyone within 30 feet gains +1 to attack and damage rolls.

Once more Lars lunged at their scaled opponent once more, the shield came first, a swing of the flat of the blade followed and finally a horizontal arc sent the edge of the axe towards the hide of the beast.

Attack Roll: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 16

Damage Roll: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6

Trawets once again tries to desperately break free.

Grapple: 1d20 ⇒ 2

And fails miserable.

In a panic Evelyn tries to bite the creature.

Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 Damage equal 1 and automatic grapple. Weasel

Still riding her fury Agatha attacks again!
Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 271d12 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Confirmation: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 232d12 + 18 ⇒ (12, 2) + 18 = 32
In this moment the wyrm moves his head half an inch to the left, directly in the way of Agathas Axe.

Eager to get his new companion out of the tight spot he is in Andras strikes again. "Take it's head, it would make a great trophy." With that he takes his blade in two hands, arcane energy coursing through it.

Swift: Activate Arcane Strike
Standard: Attack the wyrm
Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 2 = 23 Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Computer seems to be functional again. Had it fixed earlier and then kinda screwed it up again in an attempt to retrieve the data from my busted hard drive. It luckily all ended well.

Heavy Snowdrift - Round 2 - concluded

Trawets is able to avoid breathing the poisonous vapor from the wyrm's breath and Meditrina finds herself standing and watching this round again.

End of Round 2