"From under the Ice" PFS # 6-18 (Inactive)

Game Master lucklesshero

After several minutes of fruitless searching, Torvald lets out a disappointed sigh. 'Harumph, I guess we try the door on the other side then?"

"...but, why would a cage be locked if there is nothing inside of it? Obviously this was some kind of security office, but you don't just lock a holding cell if there is nobody inside.

What's that Torvald? Ah, yes, the other side, absolutely right, let's go. I'm sure that door isn't trapped either. No reason to check it out. Jamir, you go first." *wink*

Cast Guidance on whomever is going to open the door.

"Not that we shouldn't keep searching, but are we quite confident the key is here? This thaig has been abandoned for centuries and wasn't exactly difficult to find. If we could get in so easily, no doubt others could as well. This place does have a bit of a picked-over feel to it..."

"Traps?!" the half-orc says as he opens the first door.

Stupid stupid STUPID!

Without triggering a bang or a slice, Craggark moves sheepishly around the empty room, picking at ancient detritus. When it comes to opening the second door, he defers, and in response to Jawhar:

"I'm sure that door isn't trapped either. No reason to check it out. Jamir, you go first."

the half-orc grunts: "Yeah, maybe we shouldn't be too reckless in a place like this. I'll look, but maybe one of you two, Torvald or Tusk, could tell me what dwarven nastiness I'm supposed to be looking for?"

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

"Traps? Ingenious! I will assist by searching the lower half of the door and door frame!"

Jamir peers at the door, standing on his toes to reach the top of his range.

"Perhaps the lower one-third."

Perception AA: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Unbelievable. Every halfling rogue on Golarion just cringed without knowing exactly why.

"I do not see any traps, but of course, Captain Benarry did not include me on this team for my trap-spotting prowess, which is negligible, but for my skill at puncturing my foes! Perhaps, Torvald, you would be better suited by training and temperament for this task?"

"HA! It's said that there are dragons less covetous of their treasures than dwarven trapsmiths are of their inventions. We're workers of stone & metal, so collapsing blocks, hidden blades or dart-launchers, pit traps and the like are the most common. Poison gets used more often than you'd think, since we're resistant to the stuff, makes tragic accidents less likely. Really important things like temples and armories might even have magical runes concealed within elaborate decoration."

Perception AA: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Torvald, Craggark, and Jamir inspect the western door thoroughly finding no traps or any other types of mechanisms. The rest of the party waits patiently to give the all clear. Uliyara murmurs almost to herself,I hope Rigory's pack wasn't close by..

Let me know when you go in the door marching order ect..Right now Uliyar is in the middle behind Craggark, Torvald, and Jamir...say just in front of Jawhar?

Torvald, Craggark, and Jamir inspect the western door thoroughly finding no traps or any other types of mechanisms. The rest of the party waits patiently to give the all clear. Uliyara murmurs almost to herself,I hope Rigory's pack wasn't close by..

Jamir looks back to Haltani and Faenethor. "Do either of you know a spell to warn us if your talking wolf friend -- and my next fur cloak! -- comes sneaking up behind us?"

Torvald will step back behind Jamir so he can throw bombs without being too much in the way.

Faenethor mentally catalogs the spells in his spellbook, his face dropping, crestfallen. "No, no. Divination was never my favored subject, but neither was it my worst! Drat! I should have planned better!" As he talks he glances nervously over his shoulder.

"So strange for the door to open so easily. It's almost as though someone were here before us. A seeming impossibility, but we've faced enough deception and intrigue on our journey already that no possibilities should be outright dismissed. If someone already arrived, perhaps they already seized the relics we seek."

Craggark attempts to open the door, his wooden shield held to the ready.

"So strange for the door to open so easily. It's almost as though someone were here before us. A seeming impossibility, but we've faced enough deception and intrigue on our journey already that no possibilities should be outright dismissed. If someone already arrived, perhaps they already seized the relics we seek."

Jamir shakes his head. "I do not think that someone has entered these ruins before us, Faenethor, unless they could pass through centuries of ice without leaving a hole. But that does not mean these halls are uninhabited."

He holds his en grade position, but is practically vibrating in place with excitement.

Come on, Craggark! Open the door!

You open the door to find the living area of a reasonably furnished apartment. A table sits in the center of the room with several chairs of centuries past still placed around it, frozen solid to the floor. An fireplace that hasn't seen warmth in a thousand years is recessed into the north wall. In the western end of the room are cracked empty bookshelves. The southern wall has two closed doors in it.

As you push the door in further to get a better look, it bumps into something. A large block of Ice seems to be behind the door. As you slip into the room you can get a clear look at what's behind the door. The frozen corpse of a dwarf slumps against the wall, perfectly preserved in a block of ice.He wears a hexagonal hematite beard clasp with a single dwarven rune inscribed on the face.

I've thrown up a small map of this room in the Shared drive folder in case you want to take a look. You guys can tell me who is searching which part of this room. I also put a picture of the frozen Dwarf in the drive file. A knowledge local or history reveals something of interest in this room both DC:15

Moving cautiously into the room, Torvald will kneel down beside the frozen corpse, murmuring a prayer to Magrim, before standing and moving to examine the cold heart. "Jamir, could you lend me a hand here? I'm afraid I don't quite fit. A hearth is a good place to hide a secret compartment--the soot and smoke quickly obscure the signs and hide it well."

Craggark scratches his head and checks out the frozen dwarf and his beard locket.

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Once it is clear there is no immediate danger coming from the room, Jamir grabs his pack and quickly moves in.

Knowledge local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Someone want to clue me in?

Jamir looks at the millennium of frozen soot in the fireplace with mock horror.

"And risk soiling my fine wardrobe?" He grins at the dwarf and walks into the center of the firebox, pulling out his own sunrod and striking it on the ground to start its light. "Just tell me what to look for and where you want me to poke around."

Perception: 20 + 6 = 26

We aren't rushing through the room, so it should be ok to take a couple of minutes for this search. If not, then Torvald and I should decide who is aiding whom and roll or take 10.

Jawhar will move to the bookshelves and look for any important documents or books describing the history of the clan.

If for some reason we can't take 20:
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
* Who needs to take 20??

Glancing with interest at the dwarf in passing, he opines, "He certainly looks like an important dwarf. His clothing is quite fine. Do dwarves normally wear jewelry like that?

Faenethor rushes to the frozen dwarf, knocking on the ice casing with a gentle knock of his gauntlet. "Amazing that the flesh has frozen without damage to the superficial structures. I would at least have expected to note frostbite damage to the strata corneum and granulosum, if not those of the spinosum and basale layers. But his skin is flawless! It's almost magically preserved within the ice."

I can take 10 on the knowledge to achieve that DC.

"And note that clasp. It is a gladdringgoch, a traditional beard clasp worn to indicate status within dwarven society. This fellow was probably a leader of some sort. Maybe we should try to chisel him out, if for no other reason than to better identify the insignia on the clasp?"

Anyone want to light the fireplace.

"...But his skin is flawless! It's almost magically preserved within the ice... Maybe we should try to chisel him out, if for no other reason than to better identify the insignia on the clasp?"

"You are absolutely right. It is as if he was frozen so fast that damage didn't have time to set in. I wonder if this was some form of magical attack?

Do you think there is any truth to those old stories of being able to revive people who were completely frozen many years later?

While I agree that we should do what we can to retrieve the artifact, chiseling him out seems disrespectful. Perhaps we can find a way to transport the body itself? If we can figure out who he was, we could have him properly interred with full honors at Janderhoff or some other sky citadel. The artifact itself would probably be passed on to some distant relative of the clan."

Does the shield from the armory have insignia on it? Is there any connection to the rune on the clasp?

"If we can't find any other material to fashion a travois out of, we could probably use this shield as a crude sled."

Torvald heartily agrees with this plan. "If we can learn who he was and exactly which clan he belonged to, it may be possible to track down any descendants. Probably best to leave him frozen as long as possible, I doubt he'd stay so well preserved on the trip home if we thawed him out."

Jamir I'll assist you by offering suggestions of things to look for
Perception AA: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

"Well, it wouldn't really matter what I told you look for, since it'd all be covered by soot and maybe ice too! Maybe try rapping your dagger on the stone, listen for a hollow sound?"

Anyone want to light the fireplace.

"Hey!"

Jamir shines his sunrod into every crack and crevice he can reach in the fireplace, tapping with his dagger all the way around and on the floor. He stretches the sunrod up into the chimney as high as he can reach and examines that area as well (dragging over one of the chairs to stand on if it will fit).

As he searches, he starts to sing under his breath.

"Oh, there once was a lass from Ustalav,
Whose beauty was everywhere sung of.
Though the decades passed by,
She still caught every eye,
That ever-young beauty from Ustalav!"

Popping his head out from the firebox, Jamir calls out to Craggark, "Do you get vampires up in the land of ice and snow? Maybe you call them "wampires" instead?"

Your party begins searching the room. You notice that it's slippery in here, as it is everywhere in this complex. Jamir and Torvald search the fireplace, while Tusk stands guard. Jawhar is inspecting the bookshelves while Craggark and Faenethor study the Frozen Dwarf. Just as Jamir pokes his head out from the fireplace and says,

Do you get vampires up in the land of ice and snow? Maybe you call them "wampires" instead?

Uliyara walks in the room and all heck breaks loose.

Faenethor is studying the frozen corpse when from the corner of his eye he sees Uliyara enter the room. Suddenly, he sees the eyes of the corpse in the block of ice blink! Before even a gasp can come out of his lips thousands of fissures appear on the ice block and chips and chucks of ice explode everywhere. This Dwarf alive or dead is moving!

After a moment of shock and hesitation, everyone looks up to see the ancient Dwarf standing there, it's hate filled eyes focused on Uliyara. Jadwiga witch, you'll pay for your crimes! The formerly frozen Dwarf lunges for Uliyara, it's mouth agape with unnaturally sharp teeth.

Roll for initiative! The updated map and your positions are in the Google Drive folder. You may roll a knowledge religion to figure out what's going on here

Knowledge(Religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

"Watch Out! It's a ghoul!"

Initiative: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 8

Does he yell at Uliyara in Dwarven or some other language?

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

At the sounds of shattering ice Torvald whirls around, thinking to give Faenethor a piece of his mind for not being more careful. To his shock, the dwarf is standing, and moving! How is that even possible--? Oh dear, he's attacking.

Trying to think quickly, Torvald shouts, "Æret theign! Isen heks er vår fange, må vi henne til å avsløre henne slag er forferdelig magics! Vennligst ikke skade henne!"

Bluff: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (20) - 2 = 18

Æret theign! Isen heks er vår fange, må vi henne til å avsløre henne slag er forferdelig magics! Vennligst ikke skade henne

the ghoul will role a sense motive, if Torvald's bluff succeeded I'll -5 to it's initiative roll when I roll it to represent the slight confusion and hesitation it may cause the creature. This will take a full round action per PFSRD ( Deceive or Lie: Attempting to deceive someone takes at least 1 round). Anything more than a slight hesitation would not be consistent with this creature's motivations

The Dwarf/ghoul completely ignores Torvald's plead and closes on Uliyara, fangs barred.

ghoul Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Uliyara Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

After all initiatives are in the first PC may tell me what their action is going to be (even if the ghoul is first)

Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Jamir steps out of the fireplace, draws his rapier, and waits to see how the initiative order turns out.

Faenethor gasps as he is coated in a layer of powdered ice, not unlike a gigantic elf pastry.

Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

That seems more than fair, was a long shot but since Torvold doesn't recognize him as a ghoul he's not going for the bomb right away

"Do you get vampires up in the land of ice and snow? Maybe you call them "wampires" instead?"

"I wouldn't worry about it. The only 'wampires' that I've heard of were fire time stories my mother told of ugly ladies who sucked the blood from halfling naughty bits. Nothing for you to worry about, eh?" Craggark leers at the bottom half of Jamir visible inside the hearth.

"Jadwiga witch, you'll pay for your crimes!"

Oh crap. Nice to see that 'CRAP' doesn't trigger the profanity filter!

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Craggark fumbles with his shield and whips back around to the scene unfolding from the ice.

On his round of combat, Craggark will 1)take "Improved Shield Bash" as his Martial Flexbility feat with a move action, 2)attempt to shield bash the horror with a combat action, and 3)say something.

Tusk having his pistol out at all times when not in town and not busy will fire at the ghoul hit: 4 + 1d20 ⇒ 4 + (7) = 11 vs touch Haven't included any penalties, I'm sure a few come into play here, like firing into melee for one
dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 4
Then realizing he isn't too fast on reloading yet holsters his gun.
init: 5 + 1d20 ⇒ 5 + (5) = 10

The ancient Dwarf ghoul try's to grab Uliyara's shoulder with one of his blacked fingertips and rip her throat out with his unnatural maw.
claw at Uliyara: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
The Dwarf's other claw lashes low in an attempt to rake some part of Craggark's lower extremities.
claw at Craggark: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

dmg Uliyara: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Craggark's dmg.: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Uliyara's fort sav.: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

The Dwarf ghoul snarls, as both it's claws land on their respective targets. It's hisses with a ghastly sound when, it realizes Uliyara is still moving.

Need a DC 15 fort save from anyone hit by this ghoul either mouth or claw. If it has paralyzed Craggark, it takes a 5ft step into his space.

Uliyara shocked by the sudden attack, withdraws from the door she just entered. The Gods save me why does it want to kill me?!

Uliyara uses her turn to take a full withdraw outside the room. It's Faenethor's turn..then Torvald who used his full round action on a Bluff. So after Faenethor ..skip strait to Jamir.

GM just rolled three 15s in 4 consecutive rolls. Grrrrrr-eat!

"Ow! Not the leg again! Damn your eyes, I'm no Jadwiga, you icicle!"

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

The half-orc shakes his head and growls.

If there is an open space adjacent to the ghoul, Jamir will charge in on his turn to attack with his rapier, shouting,

"I have heard that dwarves hold long grudges, but don't you think this is a bit excessive?"

Rapier: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 221d4 ⇒ 3

If it attacks Jamir and misses, as an immediate action he will use a point of panache for his underfoot assault deed to get into the ghoul's square, forcing various penalties onto it.

Faenethor tumbles back a step (5ft step) and, in a defensive gesture, releases a pulse of arcane energy that sparks and explodes against the creature's skin.

force missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Craggark staggers for a moment as he feels the paralyzing scratch of the ghoul try to freeze his muscles. He shakes of the injury and prepares for a vicious fight with the undead horror. As the ghoul attempts to devour his friends, Faenethor takes a step back and lets loose another arcane bolt of energy. A moment later, Jamir steps up to skewer the creature in the gut with his blade.

However this is a tough creature with an unnatural hunger and hate, it continues to offer a fight.

It's Craggark's turn..then Tusk (who misses with his shot into melee the holsters his weapon). So after Craggark takes his turn Jawhar you are up...then it's the ghoul's turn again. Ps updated your positions on the map

I've already posted my attack above with the spoiler tag.

Shield Bash: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21; 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

"Stupid thing," Craggark grunts as he plows his full weight (behind his shield) into the undead horror. "Haltani, get back! he yells, not realising that she's already moved.

There's an odd sound as Craggark's shield bashes into the Dwarven ghoul. It's not so much as an umph..sound that you might expect from someone with breath in their lungs as it is a soft squelchy thud..It looks startled at the force of the blow, and turns it's attention towards it's most violent persecutor, Craggark.

A micro second after Craggark's shield bash the group hears a loud *crack!* as the report of Tusk gun rings of the walls of the tiny room. A bit of frost shakes loose from the ceiling as Tusk shakes his head (in disgust from having missed), spins his gun in his hand once, and holsters the firearm.

It's Jawhar's turn

"Sarenrae, bring your holy fire down upon this unfortunate soul and free it from the curse of undeath that grips it."

Jawhar will channel against undead and then draw his scimitar while taking a 5-foot step toward the hearth.

Channel (D 14): 1d6 ⇒ 4

The ghoul frozen for 1000 years transcends cold. It's very presence exudes bitter freezing aura. Craggark, Jamir, Faenethor, and Tusk all feel the unearthly cold emanating from the creature.
Craggark,Faenethor, and Jamir take 1hp cold dmg. Tusk failed his save takes 2hp cold dmg.(used pre-rolled Fort. saves)From now on, at the end of your turn, if you are within 10ft of the frozen ghoul, roll a fort sav. DC 15

Jawhar steps forward, the holy symbol of his Goddess raised high.

Sarenrae, bring your holy fire down upon this unfortunate soul and free it from the curse of undeath that grips it.

The un-holy creature's flesh begins to sear and blister, it staggers a moment underneath the powerful divine magic. However, it's hate filled existence somehow manages to hang on,and it rips into Craggark and Jamir with furry. Jawhar, lets his holy symbol drop back to hanging on his chest and steps in Torvald's direction, while drawing his blade.

claw for Jamir: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
claw for Craggark: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
bite for Craggark: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
dmg for Jamir: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
dmg for Craggark: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

will need fort saves for both Craggark and Jamir DC 15 to avoid Paralysis

Craggark cries out and falls to the ground, as he is unable to duck the viscous claw that rakes his face. Jamir is also hit by a filthy claw. Jamir begins to feel his muscles freeze up, he tires musters his inner strength, and attempts to fight off the paralytic effect of the ghoul's touch. The ghoul steps right into the space where Craggark fell.

A sweet sound of encouragement comes from the door outside. Uliyara starts to sing a song of hope and survival. It's magic infuses your spirits with confidence and courage.

Uliyara is using inspire courage. +1 to hit and dmg. on all attack rolls. It's Faenethor's turn and then Torvald's..FYI might want to look at the updated map, the ghoul can now reach everybody with AoO'sexcept Jawhar.

"Die...die!" Faenethor yells frantically, beginning to panic as the ghoul continues its assault. Something stronger!, he thinks as feels the reassuring presence of his ring. He raises his hand, his slender index finger wrapped in the silver sheath of encircled snakes biting an ice-gem. The jewel flashes brilliant white and his hand releases a burst of energy that slams into the undead horror.

magic missile (arcane bond), intense spells: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

Faenethor yells,

Die...die!

The jewel(on his ring) flashes brilliant white and his hand releases a burst of energy that slams into the undead horror. The ancient thing that was once a Dwarf looks down at the hole blown through it's rib-cage. A look of disgust appears on it's face, then it collapses into a heap.

The ghoul is dead and the cold aura is gone with it.

As it dawns upon him that the dwarf before him was no longer truly a dwarf, Torvald's face twists in anger--though his voice is calm, sad even. "Min bror, jeg vet ikke hva trolldom har gjort dette mot deg, men jeg sverger vi vil frigjøre deg fra denne lidelse."

Stepping to his left to put more of the frozen table between he and it, hauling out his vial once more and adding the catalyst and seal. Shaking the vial noticeably less vigorously than the last time, he shouts in Common, "I mean it this time, get out of the way!"

Can I do a Hold Action until the end of turn (giving Craggark & Jamir time to escape the blast radius)? If not, ignore the 5-foot step and I'll just Delay until after Jawhar instead.

Craggark isn't moving.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

I'd also point out his hp tally, or lack thereof

Well...crap.

"Torvald! It's down. Put the bomb away and see if the poor dwarf had anything other than the clasp on it."

Jawhar rushes over to Craggark and begins healing him once again.

Craggark at -8, 2/6 rebukes remain
Rebuke Death: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Now at -6, last rebuke
Rebuke Death: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Now at -5, use the last channel
Channel Energy: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Everyone else should now be healed of their cold damage.

Craggark now at -1, converting Prot. From Evil into a Cure Light Wounds
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

And Craggark is standing at 3.

"That is all I can do for you today, Craggark. I have exhausted my abilities and will have to wait until tomorrow to do more."

Jawhar holds his head wearily, kneeling on the ground in pure exhaustion.

"I never get to show off my inventions..." despite his muttering the alchemist goes to search the ghoul's body, murmuring another prayer to Magrim (and fervently hoping it's for real this time).