|
The door swings open as soon as Exiel extricates the spear. A figure stumbles out from behind the door, hitting you with a horrid gust of stench as he lurches forth. Something seems unnatural about his movements...they are rather sluggish, and jerky...but that doesn't stop it from taking a swipe at Exiel!
Readied actions trigger. Since it won't overly matter whether you roll or I do, I will roll for the readied actions if the player does not in 1 hour (meanwhile, I will try to get some actual work done =p).
Assuming it survives, it will take a swing at Exiel.
|
|
Eldanar's bullet punches through the creature's gut, rupturing organs in the process. Unfortunately, it does not look like the creature actually needed those organs in its current state, and where a normal human would likely have crumpled, the creature simply turns in the direction of the gunslinger. Slooooowly.
Exiel follows up with a swing at the creature's head whilst it is looking away and manages to decapitate it. It drops to the floor, though no blood seems to spurt from the already-decayed neck.
Before you have time to celebrate, however, another similar creature lurches from the carriage, taking the place of its fellow.
|
|
Knowledge Religion 1d20 + 1
Without a idea of what it is Badr shoots at the same one already shot
. 1d20 + 7.1d12.
That one already crumpled, but the bullet hits the one that followed right behind it. Your shot punches right through its neck, and you are sure that a normal, breathing creature would have trouble breathing now. This creature however recoils from the impact but otherwise doesn't seem to register the pain.
|
|
Guilford's crossbow bolt thuds into the carriage, where a dozen or more similar bolts are already embedded.
Mu's speak plunges into the creature's gut, causing it to stumble, but it's not down yet!
Initiatives
To simplify things, anyone going before the Zombie can go in any order before it. Anyone going after the zombie will have to wait till after the zombie acts, but again can do so in any order.
Mu, Guilford and Eldanar, declare your actions.
|
Well, any shot by my bow is blocked, and my telekinetic fist is weak against certain creatures. Should I spend a spell?
Guilford calls out: "My spells are limited, but I will be ready in case the creature appears ready to cast one."
I will move to the square to the Southwest of Exiel. I will ready an action to cast Protection From Evil on him if the creature begins casting a spell.
|
|
Mu sends his spear right through the creature's brain. For whatever reason, this seems enough to stop it. It slumps to the floor.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Exiel as expressed earlier goes to investigate the icy figure to the south. He finds that it is really the remains of the Taldan soldier that stands there as a gruesome statue, his slain body mostly encased in ice. Unfortunately, the soldier's body is no longer intact, as something or someone has carved away pieces of him that now lie in blocks of slowly melting ice at his feet.
The frozen soldier still wears his breastplate, emblazoned with Taldan heraldry, and one of the chunks of ice contains the soldier's arm, still grasping his masterwork longsword.
The only other things of interest at this site are the carriage that the zombies exited from and the tracks leading south.
As all good adventurers do, I assume you ransack the carriage. =p
Perception checks
A thorough search reveals that the bandits missed a small jewelry box under the seat of the carriage. A signet ring is still inside, as are a pair of earrings worth 25 gp, a set of pearl-inlaid bracelets worth 90 gp, assorted gold and silver necklaces worth a total of 75 gp, and one sapphire pendant worth 50 gp.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Make what preparations you wish before proceeding. Also, give me a marching order on this map. =)
|
|
At the edge of the massacre site, an obvious trail leads between a copse of trees and over a snowy plain toward the Border Wood. As Yuln said, the bandits took the surviving horses from Lady Argentea's carriage with them, leaving an obvious trail in the heavy snow. And because of the prompt action taken by Aram Zey in sending you and yourself in giving pursuit, the trail is fresh enough that it can be followed easily without the need for Survival checks.
This bit is important!
Once you pass inside the tree line, the weather worsens significantly, with temperatures below freezing and falling snow. The snow reduces visibility by half, imposing a -4 penalty on Perception checks and ranged attacks (Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook 438). Additionally, 6 inches of snow cover the ground, reducing overland travel rates by half. During combat, entering a snow-covered square costs 2 squares of movement. Snowshoes halve this penalty.
The temperatures inside the winter pocket are considered cold (approximately 30° F during the day, and 10° F at night). Every hour spent in the wintry conditions requires a Fortitude save (DC i5, +i per previous check) to avoid taking id6 points of nonlethal damage. Those who have taken nonlethal damage from exposure suffer from hypothermia (treat as fatigued), and if this condition is not remedied, they also suffer from frostbite (Core Rulebook 442). If you secured cold-weather outfits before leaving Heldren, you receive a +5 bonus on Fortitude saves against exposure to the weather while adventuring in the forest.
|
|
It all happened so fast. He didn't even have time to take his hands from the new curtain cloak draped across his shoulders before the smoke stared to clear and the second undead creature fell. For a long moment after he just stood there with his mouth hanging open. Atop his head, Pu shared the stupefied expression.
"Pu? What. The. 曷. Was. THAT?!"
Looking down, he noticed a piece of "that" stuck to his cloak, likely propelled there by one of the black powder weapons.
"Eek!" He flung it off and stepped quickly away, cursing colorfully in Tien.
Though feeling a bit useless, Shu decides that fate must have more important matters in store for him, so he helps search the area and inventory found items, using his mastery of the arcane to determine magical auras, present or residual.
|
Exiel puts on the armor and sheathes the cold-iron longsword, taking up the masterwork longsword instead. (I'll use the MWork as primary weapon, switch to cold iron if there is an obviously fey creature? If someone else wants a longsword though, I'm happy to pass one over. =) )
Your armor will serve no one here, warrior, but perhaps it will protect me as I avenge you against your killers.
Looking to the path south, he takes a deep breath. This cold won't do us any favours if we stay in it for too long. We might as well get moving.
|
|
If there is heavy ongoing sbow, perhaps Eldanár will switch to his skies. But then, since the others are really slow, he is already faster as them in snowshoes, so he will just walk along besides Ted with his musket in hands (which he of course reloaded with a bullet and blackpulver).
Unbelieveable. I really did not expect to meet such undead punks out here. It seems whoever ambushed that treck and took the lady is able to either raise or turn someone into undead. Anyone knows what those were exactly?
Hu? Trap? Where does that chest come from? Carefull there!
Eldanár steps forward with Ted untill the chest is within 15 feet and then encircle it in this distance, letting Ted smell if there is anything or some tracks. He also switches from Musket, witch he slings on his back, to his seemingly oversized sword.
+ Scent
Swearing in chinesemost translations in german, but i´m sure you get the idea. Old is Lao in Chinese, which is kind of a honor title, you can write it like that if you want: 老鼠, meaning is old mouse.
|
|
Ted may or may not see something. The real question is, is it smart enough to identify something it sees as suspicious, and does it have any way of communicating what it sees with you? ;)
That said, your suspicious companion seems to prompt the rest of the group into investigating the area to make sure there are no traps.
Perception checks
Badr:
Mu:
Shu:
Guilford:
Eldanar:
Edit: you all give the area a good once-over, and are almost ready to declare the area trap-free when Mu and Guilford point out that there is a line of packed snow leading from the chest to another tree about 20ft away, and a rope running from the base of the tree up into the foliage...and amongst the foliage a rather nasty-looking log with rusty iron spikes protruding from it. The presence of all this is, of course, 'pure coincidence'. ;)
Edit: I need to remember to give your dog perception checks too!
|
|
Hmm...if the chest was the bait, and the rope was meant to release the log...
Hmm...ok, everyone, stand away from the chest. Like a good 50ft away. I'm gonna stand by this here tree, and pull on the rope and see what happens.
For the record, Exiel will stand behind the tree such that the tree will be shielding him from the chest.
Edit: If that chest in the map is the chest we're looking at, and those are the 2 trees, then that's where Exiel is standing. (refer to map)
|
|
Shu falls into the order wherever he's placed. When they come across the chest he completely misses the trap attached to it, and was considering opening it. When everyone steps way back, Pu thumps his head and points as if to say, hey stupid go stand over there.
Shu grumbles but wades through the snow to safety. "We too old for dis weather." He says as he falls in beside Mu. Pu gives the monk a grimace, silently concurring. Or maybe mocking. It's sometimes hard to figure out monkey-humor.
|
|
As soon as Exiel pulls on the rope, there is a cacophony of breaking wood as the spiked log swing down towards the chest. It crashes into the chest, smashing a hole in the lid and revealing an empty interior...
Perception checks
Exiel:
Badr:
Mu:
Shu:
Guilford:
Eldanar:
Edit: So why did Badr's keen hearing pick up the sound of metal rattling and rasping against metal over the sound of splintering wood?
Edit: To clarify, the sound of metal on metal came from the chest...or perhaps more specifically from under the chest.
|
|
Intrigued by Badr's discovery (though some of you may wonder whether or not he was hearing things), you aid each other in lifting the chest from the snowy, icy ground.
You find that the chest was not only bait for a trap, but also a marker for the location of a rather hastily-hidden stash.
You find a cache of weapons and armor under the chest, including five sets of leather armor, three sets of studded leather armor, a masterwork chain shirt, two light wooden shields, seven longswords, two spears, a masterwork dagger, and three light crossbows with a total of 25 bolts. The longsword appear similar in make to the longsword Exiel retrieved from the frozen soldier several minutes earlier, though not nearly as well-crafted, and the chain shirt bears similar Taldan heraldry.
|
|
You continue following the tracks to a windswept gully. The snow is much deeper here due to the local geography (entering a snow- covered s quare requires 4 squares of movement). The ridge above you is covered with trees, and a soft cascade of snow falls from an overhead branch,
hissing softly as it strikes the ground.
Perception checks
Exiel:
Badr:
Mu:
Shu:
Guilford:
Eldanar:
Ted: (Scent)
None of you detect anything amiss as you track the bandits through the snow. However, Eldanar's dog suddenly starts raising a ruckus, barking towards the South-East and refusing to move any further forward.
You pause briefly, wondering what is causing the dog to act up, when a large (medium-sized, really) reptile leaps out, as white as the surrounding snow and at least six feet in length. It has a dragon’s head filled with sharp teeth, and two arms ending in grasping claws. A cloud of white vapor wafts from its gaping maw.
|
|
The snow is affecting your aim (-4 on ranged attacks, per my earlier post), but you manage to act before the creature finishes digging itself out of the snow completely, and thus presents a relatively easy target (flat-footed). Your bolt sinks into its side...but you get the impression that it may not be so easy to strike now that it has freed itself from the snow and has started moving...towards Mu!
The creature leaps towards Mu, taking a good bite out of the old man. He cries out in pain, but the spry geezer still manages to react in time to free himself from the beast before it wraps its coils around him!
The rest of the party can now declare actions. Keep in mind that ranged attacks are at -4, and ground-movement costs 4 times as much here.
|
|
Fair enough, I have amended the map. And you should now be able to edit it. With snowshoes halving the penalty, he can move up to 30ft (6 squares) with a full withdraw action.
That said, the beastie was always going to go for you the moment you described yourself as an old man in the discussion thread. It's scripted to go for someone unarmored and who looks relatively easy to bite - an old man without armor best fits the bill. XD