DM JD's "Snows of Summer" Campaign - Winter is here! (Inactive)

Game Master Jack Daniels

Will save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16 and +1 if they are "evil spell casters"

Suspecting foul play as the sprite flies closer, Marek manages to cover his eyes before the spell hits.

"You bastard! Let's see how you like cold iron, huh!"

Marek takes one of his cold iron -tipped arrows, and shoots it at the closest sprite.
Longbow, PBS, FE: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 101d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

For all his bravado, he finds the tiny creatures very hard to hit.

Seeing the tiny sprite now, Vesna charges the little thing with her spear.

Charge to Orange Sprite in H-20
Charge: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

-2AC

Marek and Martok both save!
Marek's arrow misses the tiny sprite and Vesna's spear damages her sprite very little, as again the wound almost completely closes.
Orange Sprite's Will save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Aurora's Color Spray catches the sprite by surprise and overwhelms her, as she collapses to the ground unconscious!

Round 3:
The sprite in H-20 screams out, "They have cold-iron! And Shari is down and only one of them fell to her spell! It's time to retreat!" With that, the blue halo sprite casts a spell at Marek and then flees into the forest at a speed of 60, while the other one double moves into the forest, through the trees to protect them from Marek's arrows! Vesna gets AoO, if she wishes to take it.
Marek: Will save or you are dazed for 1 round.
That's end of fight unless you have some way of achieving 60' speed over difficult terrain.

Sure why not

AOO: 1d20 ⇒ 5
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Vesna watches the little sprites speed away and she looks down at the one knocked unconscious. "Well what do we do with her? Maybe she know what's going on?"

Will save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

"Whoa.." Like a vertigo, Marek's eyes roll for a moment when the sprite's spell hits him.

Later, if combat is over
"Do we have a piece of string to tie it up? Or then just finish it. I wouldn't take any risks with those critters" Marek says, looking at the unconscious sprite, showing nothing but contempt.

Martok hears the ranger ask for a string but is more worried about his fallen comrade. He carefully makes it to Exiel and tries to revive the paladin.

"Easy there, big guy. You OK?"

tag Exiel?

He sees the fallen winter fey and the voice is strong in his head. BURN IT

The dwarf shakes his head and turns to Marek, "Unless we're sure we can tie it up, we should kill it."

His hand already glowing with heat, "I can... burn it..."

Incidentally, since Exiel and Shari (the fey creature) were both taken out by colour spray spells, I'm going to assume I won't be conscious until she regains consciousness.

Exiel appears completely out of it, but his breathing is stable: you reckon he's going to be alright once the magic wears off.

We can fast-forward till Exiel is back in action and the blindness and stun wears off. I will assume someone tied up the 9-inch fey or has her in his/her fist to prevent her from casting or flying away.

Looking over at Exiel and seeing him waking up, then glancing around to confirm that no-one is in dire need of healing, Aurora breathes a sigh of relief.

I am thankful we all survived that, it could have gone much worse if they had stayed to recover their companion she indicates the orange sprite.

I think we should definitely ask some questions, I'm just not sure if we can trust her answers. Anyone have any ideas?

"Unhhh...my head... Well, that's new... Never realised that watching your enemy closely could actually end up working against you..." Exiel moans as he gets back on his feet.

"Well, I see we got one of them. What happened to the other two?"

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After being told they fled:
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"That's not good...if the fey are organised, this means they now know there are visitors in the woods. We'll need to be extra cautious."

Away and out of ear-shot of the fey creature:
"At least we know that they aren't the biggest on loyalty and solidarity. Perhaps we can persuade him to tell us where his fellows are and what traps or ambushes are likely to await us, as payback for them abandoning him? Does anyone here speak the sylvan tongue?"

Vesna takes a tie from her cold weather outfit and binds the small fey. She errs on the side of too tight rather than too lose. She also removes any equipment from the sprite.

"Hey, she's waking up. Bring one of your Cold Iron arrows, Marek. Maybe they'll help get her to talk."

"I was just about to suggest that!" Marek says and appears next to the sprite, with an arrow in his hand.

"Intimidation is all well and good, but there will be no need for torture..." Exiel mutters softly.

The sprite regains consciousness with a blank look on her face. Eventually, the blank look passes and she finds herself tied up. She looks at the party with hatred in her eyes. When confronted with the cold-iron arrowhead, you see fear in her eyes but she resolves herself and refuses to talk or look at the party.

Vesna removes a tiny shortbow, tiny shortsword, and 14 gp off the sprite.

Will need social skills rolls if you want information.

Aurora moves over to Exiel and whispers

Exiel, is this creature evil, as you determined with those undead back at the carriage?

moments later

Aurora considers the sprite for a moment, before addressing her.

Aurora can only speak common so hope she understand it..!

Let us state our purpose here. We meant you no harm, you attacked us. Your current situation is a result of your aggression towards us. If you seek to improve your situation you have to give us something in return

She appears kind but firm with her words and gestures.

Your companions have fled, it is unlikely they will return for you. This leaves our mercy as your only option. Whilst I would dearly like to reform you, I don't know if I can trust you. If we let you go, will you attack us later? What can you offer to make us trust you?

diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

"It won't be torture if she tells us everything." Vesna mutters under her breath. She stalks over to the sprite and motions with her hand. Suddenly water cascades down on the sprite, drenching her causing the tiny creature to sputter.

"Now, you'd better listen to her, little one! Because trust me, if you don't want to answer to Aurora, you get to play with me instead." She smiles grimly.

Intimidate, take 10: 10 + 3 = 13

Martok is taken back and tries to regain composure. He is surprised at the pyromaniac tendencies that arise when he's fighting.

Watching the fey from some distance, he waits for the responses while he scratches the white rat, trying to keep her warm.

After the sprite answers some questions, he adds, "I don't think we should let her go. Maybe we can keep her alive and use her as a token of our good faith towards her kin. I will be happy to strap her to the back of my backpack if you wish." and burn her later...

Martok looks sheepishly around not sure if what he heard came from him or it was just in his mind.

Exiel will try the softer approach, which he is better at.

"Now, now, there is no need to give the little creature a shower. Look. It's obvious to me that your allies don't think too much of you. They saw you only disabled momentarily, and already they were quick to leave you to your fate. Abandoned you, as it were. Left you to die. Or suffer worse at the hands of such psychopaths as my associate here with the black-and-white hair."

Vesna, wanna roll an intimidate check to assist my diplomacy check? XD

"But the thing is, your fate need not be a bad one at all. In fact, you can get the last laugh on them. Tell us where they are, and what traps or ambushes they have in store for us, and we'll let you live. And any tiny pieces of equipment that are too small to be of any interest to us, well, they'd be your's for the taking after we've passed through. And of course you won't have to deal with the beardy-man with the cold-iron arrow."

"Tell us what we want to know, and in return you get revenge, profit, and of course your life. What do you say?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Vesna glares at Exiel. "She tried to kill us! Now you're going to extend hospitality to her?" She huffs and shakes her head.

She looks at the sprite. "Trust me, if it were up to me..." She leaves it hanging and merely crosses her arms at the creature.

Sure if that's legal. Actually it's even better if we couch this as a type of Diplomacy
Aid Diplomacy, take 10: 10 + 8 = 18

I don't think you can take 10 with aid... Anyway, you deal with the diplomaticing, it's not Marek's field of expertise :)

"Just kill it already, and let's move on. No need to torture it any further."

Aid diplomacy, bad cop good cop -style: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

Sense Motive to tell if Exiel is lying: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Are you being honest?

If so... The luminous sprite, who appears as a dancing light, stares deeply into Exiel's eyes. "I see truth there so I will trust you over your barbarian friends. It seems you are right, I was abandoned to my fate by Pym and Vosi, so I owe those 2 scum no loyalty! Up ahead is Fawfein and his stag, then 2 ice warriors by the stream, then the lodge, where Izoze and Rohkar and his bandits are holding the noblewoman. Hope they all meet a gruesome death at your hands!"

Shari pauses and looks at Exiel, "Let me free and take my gold. I will no longer bother you. On my word."

Exiel was being honest.

"Know your enemy, know yourself, and you will win a thousand battles." Those were Yi Ruo's words. I think I'm beginning to understand some of his sayings. The fey are often reputed to be a cruel, capricious and petty lot, and this one seems to fit the bill. I'm wary of trusting his word, but I can trust his pettiness and greed, I think.

"Tell us about Fawfein, the ice warriors, Izoze and Rokhar, and we will release you immediately. Thereafter, you are free to follow behind us to loot anything we overlook or aren't interested in from their corpses. Or take your leave of us if you prefer; you will be at liberty to do so."

Exiel looks to the rest of the group. "We all agree, yes?

Assuming none of the group protests, he cuts Shari's bonds as a gesture of goodwill, though he holds on to her, not too tightly, but ready to squeeze if she tries to squirm free prematurely. If she answers about the aforementioned creatures, Exiel then proceeds to release her.

Vesna throws Exiel a look that's both attitude and boredom rolled into one. "Fine. Do it."

Martok isn't happy about the turn of events. "Why should we free someone who just tried to kill us?"

He shifts the grip on his spear, "It's like setting the wolf who just attacked your flock free."

He looks at the winter fey, "How can we trust you? Make me want to believe you. How about you come with us to make sure what you say is true or how about we leave you tied up here until we verify what you say is true?"

sense motive on fey's 'confession': 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

I've no objection to your words Exiel

She considers the creature.

Without companions she would stand no chance against us, I don't believe she's suicidal Martok

Aurora busies herself reloading her crossbow and prepping to continue.

Marek sighs and shakes his head. "You can't trust a fey! It'll be on us the moment we'll let our guard down" he tries to argue.

Exiel was being honest.

"Know your enemy, know yourself, and you will win a thousand battles." Those were Yi Ruo's words. I think I'm beginning to understand some of his sayings. The fey are often reputed to be a cruel, capricious and petty lot, and this one seems to fit the bill. I'm wary of trusting his word, but I can trust his pettiness and greed, I think.

"Tell us about Fawfein, the ice warriors, Izoze and Rokhar, and we will release you immediately. Thereafter, you are free to follow behind us to loot anything we overlook or aren't interested in from their corpses. Or take your leave of us if you prefer; you will be at liberty to do so."

Shari smiles when her bonds are cut. "Good to see you are a noble soul. Fawfein is an atomie, a fey, like myself, but with dragonfly wings and a rapier and he has a pet stag. He loves humiliating the tall-ones. The ice warriors are just that, warriors made of ice, from the Plane of Ice. Izoze is the leader of the fey, an ice mephit. It is rumored she works for one of the White Witches up north. Rokhar is the leader of the human bandits. He and Izoze have an...uneasy alliance to say the least. He's a priest I believe, always spouting nonsense about some god, Keeper of Secrets, he constantly calls him. That's all I know. Now, I don't want to gather your scraps. You let me go and I will bother you no further. And I hope you kill them all for abandoning me!"

Exiel, noting that he has the support of Vesna and Aurora (and thus the majority of the group), and furthermore that Shari has willingly kept her end of the offered bargain, nods to the fey creature and releases her.
Furthermore, that was alot of detail to invent on the fly. I'm inclined to think she's being honest.

"Fair enough. You're free to go then. If you do not trouble us, we will have no quarrel with you either. May you find better allies than those who abandoned you."
And hopefully allies who will draw you to a better path.

"Let's press on. Even if we don't trust her helpfulness, I think we can rely on her desire for revenge. And if she's lying, we will grant her no quarter next time. Now, we still have a lady we need to rescue sooner rather than later, and we now have some forewarning of what's ahead. Martok, looks like you will have plenty to burn this day. Or melt, as the case may be. Let's just press on."

As he starts along the path once more, Exiel thinks back on the descriptions given by Shari.
"Anyone know who the "Keeper of Secrets" might be? Unfortunately, my religious teaching was rather limited to that of my own faith, and I am unfamiliar with many of the other faiths on Golarion."

Vesna watches Exiel free the little fey and laughs. "You might get your wish. Maybe we'll deliver that message to Pym and Vosi for you."

After the fey is gone (assuming she does leave), she turns to the Marek. "Looks like those Cold Iron arrows will be handy next. Unless, of course, she was lying and then we're probably screwed." She loads her crossbow and slings it over her shoulder.

Marek keeps his distance to the others. He watches in silence as Exiel releases the sprite, arrow and bow ready. Eyes narrow, expression blank, he stands still until the fey is gone. Only then he turns towards the others.
"If it spoke true, our path is laid with enemies", Marek breaks his silence. "If we are going to do this, we better move fast. The cold is creeping into me, and I don't know how long I'll last."

Not happy with the way things turned out, the dwarf nods and gathers his things to continue on their mission.

"The little fey mentioned many things that await us and I wonder if we have taken on more than we can handle. Before Lord Fire, my main concern had been the stray wolf or two. Now..."

He shakes his head in determination, "I'm here for something even if I don't know just what it is yet."

He looks around the others to try and gauge how they fell, "Do any of you have more information on the things the fey said we would be facing. Best be prepared."

Knowledge, Nature on atomie: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

"She said the next thing we'll come across is an Atomie. It's another fey and also vulnerable to Cold Iron. They're aggressive things even though they're small. They can cast spells too." She pauses. "Ice warriors and an Ice mephit as well. Martok might be right. We could go and see if we can find more cold iron weapons and even fire to burn the ice creatures."

Argh!! Post-monster got me today!! Right, let's see what I can remember...

Aurora turns to Vesna

I don't think the smithy back in the village has anything else for us. Maybe we should head straight for this bandit lodge, bypassing the other fey. In this instance stealth can be our weapon perhaps?

She seems nervous in suggesting this.

"Hmm...I'm not sure we can find this lodge if we do not follow the tracks on this path. At the very least, we know what's ahead, so we won't be caught unawares. If Fawfein employs a stag as a bodyguard and uses a rapier, I'm not too worried - I can reach them with a sword. Same with the 'ice warriors'. The 'priest' and the ice mephit worry me more. We should make sure we are in good condition when we attack the lodge."

"She also said that the alliance between the bandits and the mephit is "uneasy"... We should keep an eye out for ways to turn them against each other."

"For now, however, Aurora's right. We already made what preparations we could before setting off from Heldren. And we may be racing against a clock without knowing how much time we have left. I reckon we should press on, but keep an eye out for lodges, streams and stags. Those shouldn't be too hard to spot."

The party moves forward, their bones chilled from the cold and the biting wind. Half an hour later, Marek sees hoof prints mark the underlying snow, leading in both directions. As he is about to tell the party the news, a white stag comes out from behind the trees, about 30' from the party and speaks, "Why are you out in such cold weather, travelers?"

Pic of Stag

Kitah shivers as she comes out to see the stag. The rat chirps at the large animal.

The last fey's warning about a pet stag is fresh in his memory so the dwarf decides to play along, "We seek the great Fawfein. I understand he knows a thing or two with a rapier."

He nods towards Exiel, "However, he may not be able to stand up to my companion here."

Mighty animal... Too bad it's part of the fey's plots.

Cold and tired, Marek leaves the talking to others. Meanwhile, he tries to search for the fey Fawfein, who is surely lurking somewhere close.

The last fey's warning about a pet stag is fresh in his memory so the dwarf decides to play along, "We seek the great Fawfein. I understand he knows a thing or two with a rapier."

He nods towards Exiel, "However, he may not be able to stand up to my companion here."

The stag responds, though it does not move its lips: "Fawfein, how do you know this name? While he may be great beyond all, how do humans such as you know of this fey?"

Seeing no one else respond, the dwarf continues with his ruse, "Well, you can't hide talent such as his for long. Word gets around."

He nods his head at the stag, "Now, no disrespect to you but, if you can't tell us where Fawfein, then we must move along."

bluff: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

Vesna chickles. "Humans take an interest in everything. It's just that many do not see the fey. But Fawfein is one that we would be honored to meet."

Aid Bluff: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

The stag's voice says, "Yes, it would be an honor to meet me." Suddenly, hidden on the stag's back appears a miniscule, green-skinned humanoid wielding a needle-thin rapier. A pair of dragonfly wings holds the wee creature aloft. "I am Fawfein...do you wish to honor me with treasures and riches?" You realize the stag does not talk; it has been Fawfein all along. He hovers next to the stag, now about 20' from the party.

"I am Fawfein...do you wish to honor me with treasures and riches?" You realize the stag does not talk; it has been Fawfein all along. He hovers next to the stag, now about 20' from the party.

Sadly, the dwarf shakes his head, "I'm a simple goat-herder. Don't I wish I had treasures and riches to honor you with."

He cocks his head as if remembering, "I can cook a mean stew, though. But pray tell, are you really that good with that rapier of yours?"

Fawfein's tone rises. "No treasures, then why are you wasting my time? Take your stew and shove it. If you don't give me some treasure, I will be forced to humiliate you in combat, o bearded one!" He shows off with a sly flourish of his rapier strike.

"Oh, that was wonderful! Show me something else! Come here and show me another trick!" Vesna's voice is giddy.

Bluff: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Well I believe the rules of honor and dueling are in force, no matter how poor a blade our friend Exiel is in comparison to you! she sweet talks the fey with flattery, all the while thinking i'll make it up to Exiel, I hope he understands my intent to cajole the fey here!

diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Martok beamed at the move, "Oh how I wish I could heap riches unto you."

He nods at Exiel, "However, my friend here says that he can beat you any day so how about it, care for a little duel?"

"And since we have no money or treasures, how about something suitably embarrassing for the loser. If you beat him, Exiel here will pledge to laud your name everywhere he goes so everyone will know what a great swordsman you are." The dwarf shrugs, "Or, if you prefer, we will tar and feather him and make him run around clucking like a chicken..."

He smiles, "So a little duel then..."

"Fine...a duel it is. To the first hit? Death? Surrender? What are the terms?"

Excited, the dwarf exclaims, "It's great we get to see you fence. Let's do it until surrender, yes?"

"And no magic. Just a contest of blades. If we lose, we will proclaim your greatness whereever we go. If you lose, you must take us under your protection to Rohkar and then depart. A simple task, yes?"

A scowl forms on Exiel's face as his companions play out their ploy.
I really don't see the point of all this. We should just rush him and be done with it...

As Vesna speaks, however, his heart sinks.
DAMMIT Vesna, don't let on that we know about Rohkar as well! We don't want the enemy knowing that we have information about them!

Eager to cover for Vesna's gaffe, Exiel tugs Yuln's longsword from his scabbard, eager to give the fey something else to focus on before he starts wondering how the party knows so much.

"I just want it to be noted that none of these guys speak for me... but I'll duel you. No magic, swords only, till one of us falls or yields. Let's get this over with. I'm sick of all this standing about and chattering. Or are you trying to best me by boring me to death with words?"

Initiative:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

If I go before Fawfein, my action will be to move towards him with a single move action and ready my standard action to swing at him as soon as he is in range. If he goes before me, well, he goes before me! XD