GM Bold Strider's PFS 00-04 The Frozen Fingers of Midnight (Inactive)

Game Master rpblue

You have been called to the Grand Lodge of Absalom for a briefing. Seated in a small chamber around a darkwood table, various trophies gathered from across the face of Golarion hang from the walls. A monkey-shaped mask with a serpent’s tongue glares out from the center of one wall, a strange halberd with gold rings piercing its thick blade and dragons carved along its haft hangs opposite the monkey mask. You are alone save your fellow Pathfinders, who apparently have been called here for the same purpose.

You all wait, engaging in idle chitchat or sitting quietly.

Finally, a huge man wearing creaking leathers marches into the room. He looks at each of you, as if he were appraising a handful of gemstones freshly pulled from the earth, and nods curtly. Some of you know him as Adril Hestram, a longtime Pathfinder and rumored to be the unwitting architect of the famed Katapesh slave riot of 4702. Adril’s physique puts most half-orcs to shame.

“Welcome, friends. We have a serious problem. Skelg the Ripper came to Absalom one month ago. Like many Ulfen warriors he joined the Longaxes, the Taldan Emperor’s personal guard whose duty it is to protect the embassy and Taldan visitors. Skelg also dropped a hefty sum of gold to purchase a manor in the Ivy district, something a Longaxe isn’t paid well enough to do. It is widely assumed that he brought most of his wealth with him from the north—a rumor I know to be true."

“It seems that Skelg also brought a curse with him. In his letter to me, he speaks of lying abed in this miserable summer dying from the cold. Neither physician nor priest has been able to cure his ailment, and there are no signs of disease or poison. Of course, for such a man, there is no greater dishonor than to die in bed instead of in battle."

“Normally, the Pathfinder Society would monitor these events and let the authorities deal with them. However, there are three factors that have drawn our interest. First, Skelg is himself a member of our Society and has asked for our help. Second, he is a personal friend of mine, and finding a sparring partner as worthy as Skelg to replace him would be a trying task. Last, he claims that artifacts of great power are involved, and that we may be able to recover them for the vaults of the Grand Lodge."

“We view this situation as having enough importance to assign you to investigate it. Go to the home of Skelg the Ripper, learn what you can, and do your best to help him. If you find an item that is somehow connected to the curse, either retrieve it or glean as much information as you can about it."

“I trust there are no questions?”

This is most trying... I shall do what I can to assist Skelg. As one day if I am in a similar situation I hope that a group of Pathfinders would help me.

Kalendir stands to stretch his long legs, double checking the security of his longbow.

What do we currently know of the situation and what is he asking for from the vault?

As Roscoe listens to the briefing, barely paying any attention, he studies his follow Pathfinders, finding them a bit intimidating giving him own youth and inexperience. Almost unconsciously, he gently pets the razorback at his side and softly whispers ...

"What have we got ourselves into this time Kevin?"

Standing silently off to the side, you see a tall, dark human man with a dark weathered cloak and a longbow and quiver on his back. He has a habit of observing conversations, studying the comments made as if unaccustomed to civilized gatherings. If he speaks at all, he speaks with a thick Varisian accent.

"Greetings. Zhey said zhe team needed zome assistance. I have worked against zhe ambushes and kidnappers before, so I might prove more zhe help once we start to find zhis Skelg. My name is Roland...zhe pleasure is mine to work with you all."

"Strange. Very strange indeed," the Varisian man called Kostin says in a strangely nasally voice. "But he is one of us, and there are artifacts involved. Count me intrigued."

A tall well-muscled man with the hilt of a finely-crafted greatsword sticking up from its back sheath over his left shoulder walks into the room. He is dressed in Andoran military garb and walks with a ramrod posture and a grim visage on his face. He stands in the back of the room and listens intently with his arms crossed before him.

He nods briefly at Roland, thinking he recognizes him from another mission.

I accept the mission. Let us get to the residence and help our brother-in-arms.

Graz growls softly as the mission briefing unfolds. "Dying in bed is no way for a warrior to go. I will gladly help this man find honor before he meets his judgement."

Graz is a large burly half-orc carrying a spiked chain and banded mail. He has longer than expected tusks that look exceptionally sharp and dangerous.

@Kalendir: He is not asking for something from the vaults, but that any artifacts may be taken to the vaults after freeing him.

The Pathfinders leave Venture Captain Hestram's office and proceed to Skelg's villa. Parkview Street is true to its name, running the entire length of the Ivy District park. Standing like a tomb in a flower garden, Greydog Manor is easy to find. Six-foot-high walls surround the massive, stone building and an immense iron gate flanked by granite statues of hunting dogs stands open, offering access to the interior. Looking along the street, it is clear that locals give the estate a wide berth. The stone walls seem to give a slight chill to the air, which is not entirely unpleasant on such a hot day.

The manor has several windows that can be seen from the street, but all have curtains drawn. The building itself is 40 feet by 40 feet, and the courtyard at the front is the same size.

You are currently outside the gate, what do you do?

"An open gate is as good as an invitation," says Graz. He ducks through the gate and heads for the front door. "Let's go in and see this cursed man and get this all fixed up."

Graz ducks inside and see two Ulfen men in armor, brandishing weapons. They are clearly guarding the door.

"Hello boys!" says Graz, his hand dropping to the handle of his spiked chain. "Want to let us up to the see the Jarl, or do we have to do this the hard way? Personally, I like the hard way!"

He gives them a rather toothy grin and steps to the forefront of the group.

The courtyard is cool and shady compared to the street outside. Dead leaves are scattered across the flagstones and the granite steps where two Ulfen warriors stand. Each man wears a chain shirt and a surcoat bearing the Taldan crest and carries the traditional imperial guard long axe.

The guards look at you sternly, and one of them speaks. “Skelg is ill, cur. He wants no visitors, especially from impudent whelps like yourself.”

Roscoe trundles up behind Graz with Kevin at his side, hoping to keep this encounter peaceful despite an observed tendency for Graz to push for the alternative ... Nervously, he steps forward to speak with the guards.

"Yyyyess ... we know. Please excuse my colleague's brusque address. We are actually investigating his illness and hope to determine if it may be of some supernatural origin. Unfortunately ... not being able to speak with Skelg would greatly hinder our inquiry and possibly prevent us from discovering a cure. We only have his best interest in mind ... You do see that yes?

We are sorry for your inconvience, but Skelg has decided to die in peace. He has told us to turn away all visitors, so he can pass on to Valhalla. The guard informs Roscoe.

"That is disappointing. Perhaps you could direct us to his seneschal or another confidant that may have the information we are looking for? I worry that perhaps Skelg will not be the last to fall to this mysterious illness."

"Ah, ball-ocks!" shouts Graz as the guards give Roscoe the business. "We're from the Pathfinder Society here at Skelg's special request. Now send word that we're to see him, or stand aside and let us pass."

"Either way, the lot of us are going up there. Hard way, easy way...You choose, but I'm done yappin' about it."

Again he gives a toothy grin, with more than a little menace in it. Knowing that his mates have his back should it come to it, Graz steps up on the porch and makes to grab the door to enter. He has one hand near his chain, knowing how provocative his actions are.

Jake simply stands with his arms crossed looking carefully at the exchange.

Roscoe sighs as Graz bulls his way forward ...
I do not see a map yet; however, if it is possible to find a 40ft R area that includes the guards and not any party members, Roscoe will cast Entangle

Roland stands next to Jake watching the unusual parlay unfolding before them.

"Well, zhis is one way to make an appearance at zhe home of a dying friend. Not zhe way I usually encounter, but zhis may be just as effective none zhe less."

He keeps his grip on his longbow, waiting to see if the guards back down.

Th guard sighs and looks at his compatriot. If you impudent whelps insist, then we will acquiesce.

The other guard moves through the party towards the gate and begins to lock it. If we have to escort you to Skelg, then we will need to secure the gates.

Just to be clear, you were planning to kill the guards for the man you were sent to help? As well as cast Entangle on them... (which you can't do as the courtyard isn't big enough for that and you guys are dead center).

A curious creature alike to a centaur, but with a demonic appearance charges towards the gates. You can see a male face popping up with each stride yelling "Wait for uuuussss!!!"

As they reach the gate you can get a good look of the two. The one on the back is dressed in tatters, but carries with him a well made lance and morningstar. On his forehead rests a red gem which seems to be in bedded in his skull. On the demonic creature's skull a similar gem is apparent. With four legs and two arms the red scaled creature is unlike any you have seen before. On its back rests a set of greatswords of different metals.
"Adril called for us as well, but we had an errand to run beforehand. My name is Tywin and this is Lord Graxus. Sorry we are late, please let us in sir!" Tywin says.

I think everyone needs to settle down, a bit.

He looks at the guards.

We are here to help. If you know anything about the man you are charged to protect, then you would know that he is a fellow Pathfinder and would want to see us.

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 6

Do we seriously have no one in this party that can use Diplomacy to aid me, or preferably lead this conversation?

I was unsure if the entangle would work; no worries. It was more an attempt to actually avoid combat than anything else ... so yeah ... no killing guards for Roscoe; at least not yet.

Confounded by the stone courtyard, as well as its shape and size, Roscoe hesitates casting his spell long enough to hear the guards capitulate ...

"Aahhh .... Thank You?"

That was close.

Assist Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

"We really do have Skelg's best interests in mind with this visit."

"Why y..y..yes of course we are here to help Skelg, I believe he wants an honorable death right? Not one due to illness... I am sure he would look favorably to those who help him in that. Not that we are here to kill him though! No! We are under strict orders to do whatever we can to get a fellow pathfinder back on his feet...yes!" Tywin stammers.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Graz only stares at the Ulfen men defiantly.

Graz wasn't going to kill them but he doesn't have strong social skills, standing between him and what he wants might result in your getting hurt. He doesn't mind roughing it up a bit.

Roland waits for the guards to secure the gates and prepares to follow them to see the sick man inside they are here to help.

"Now Zhat is more like it . "

"Roughing up the guards . . . not-t-t a g-g-ood omen. No, not good at-t-t all," Kostin stutters, shuffling through his deck of cards. Through the stutters, though, he keeps a close eye on every movement the guards make.

Yes. The guards mean us no physical harm, my friend. Let us move on from here and check on our assignment to see if we might be able to alleviate his suffering.

Kalendir follows behind everyone with his bow.

The guard locks the door behind Roland and then moves to slash Tywin's eidolon across the neck. The lead guard lashes out at Graz with similar killer intent. As if we would take you to that coward!

Greataxe @ Graxus-20 AC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21 Does Graxus have Mage Armor up?
Greataxe @ Graz-18 AC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

The lead guard misses Graz, but Graxus takes a brutal slash across the body.

Damage: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Initiative:
Kostin: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Graz: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Roscoe: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Roland: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Kalendir: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Jake: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Tywin: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Guards: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Initiative:
1st: Jake @ 48/48 HP; Kalendir @ 34/34 HP; Roland @ 36/36 HP; Roscoe @ 11/11 HP
2nd: Guards (#1-Red; #2-Blue)
3rd: Graz @ 39/39 HP; Kostin @ 24/24 H{; Tywin @ 30/30 HP; Graxus @ 10/19 HP

Round 1, Power Att, Furious Focus, OH Chop

Jake quickly steps around Kalendir and slices into the guard closest to the front door.

GS Att: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
GS Dam: 2d6 + 4 + 4 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (5, 3) + 4 + 4 + 1 + 6 = 23

Confirm: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
Add'l Dam if Confirmed: 2d6 + 4 + 4 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (4, 6) + 4 + 4 + 1 + 6 = 25

Round 1 Initiative 12

Roscoe and Kevin step around Kostin ...
"Kevin ... Attack"

Kevin follows Roscoe around Kostin, then leaps forward to gore the blue guard at Roscoe's command ...
Gore: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 = 10 for Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
... giving Tywin a flank and not much else.

You take advantage of our good intentions?

Kalendir quckly steps away as he lets loose two arrows at the guard Blue

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 11
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 + 4 = 11

Arrow 2: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 + 4 = 9

+1 Attack / Damage from point Blank Shot
Precise shot to eliminate -4 modifier for shooting into melee
-2 modifier for rapid shot to fire an extra arrow
Weapon Focus and Deadly Aim -2/+4

Nah Mage armor wouldn't be up as they weren't expecting a fight.

Jake cleaves the guard in the front in half, literally. A spray of blood coats Kalendir, causing him to miss his first arrow and the second only to lightly wound the man.

Initiative:
1st: Jake @ 48/48 HP; Kalendir @ 34/34 HP; Roland @ 36/36 HP; Roscoe @ 11/11 HP
2nd: Guards (#2-Blue @ 9 damage)
3rd: Graz @ 39/39 HP; Kostin @ 24/24 H{; Tywin @ 30/30 HP; Graxus @ 10/19 HP

Posting now, as I will be at the Steelers-Titans game tonight, freezing my A** off...

Graz leaps at the chance to knock heads with the mouthy Ulfen. If the man still stands, he races forward, grabbing his spiked chain from his belt in the process, and knocks the guard upside the head with it.

"Shoulda let me beat their brains in when we first got here, and saved the trouble!" shouts Graz as he enters the fray.

Graz Spiked Chain: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Dmg, if hit: 2d4 + 7 ⇒ (4, 3) + 7 = 14

I am from Pgh! Diehard fan! Are you from Tennessee?

Roland will fire off a pair of arrows into melee with cover on the temaining guard.

"Traitors!"

attack, pb, precise, rapid : 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 9 - 2 + 1 = 27 for dmg : 1d8 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 1 = 10

attack, pb, precise, rapid : 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 2 + 1 = 22 for dmg : 1d8 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 1 = 7

Graz and Roland kill the remaining guard with a few fletching and a slash from a spiked chain. No point in him attacking to waste CLW charges.

The Pathfinders find a ring of keys on the guard that was just killed. It opens both the gates that were just locked and the front doors to the mansion. The group quickly searches the manor for Skelg.

You open the door to the master bedroom and are greeted by a blast of heat. A roaring fire blazes in the fireplace even though the day is swelteringly hot. A huge bearded man shivers under his blankets, his bed pushed dangerously close to the fire. A thin servant sits in the far corner by a window, fanning himself with a handkerchief. The bearded man looks at you and blinks a few times, then speaks through chattering teeth. “Are y-you P-path-f-finders?”

Tyros, the aid to Skelg, explains the situation, with occasional interjections from the half-frozen warrior. Tyros is reserved, but the Pathfinders prompt him for information. He will show them anything in the house that they wish to see. Skelg is more forthcoming, but has difficulty speaking in his current condition.

A week ago, Skelg caught Bengeirr’s men in his basement vault, mistaking them for common thieves. One of the intruders had lit a lantern he found in the vault that was actually the Beacon of the North, but Skelg was unaware of its magical properties. When the light from the lantern struck Skelg, he began to freeze. When the light shone on a tapestry hanging on a wall in the hallway outside of the vault, a shimmering doorway appeared, frightening the intruders enough to flee the manor. With Skelg in a weakened state from the immediate effect of the cold, the thieves easily escaped him and fled with the lantern and other valuables from inside the vault.

The tapestry in the hall now depicts an Ulfen longship on a rolling sea, mostly encased in an iceberg (it was a meadow scene with shepherd and flock before the lantern shown on it.) Anyone examining the picture closely notices that a large lantern ring hangs from the mouth of the dragon figurehead, but no lantern hangs there.

After Bengeirr’s raid, one of Skelg’s men named Tirfyr walked into the portal on the tapestry to investigate. He returned a moment later saying that it led to a ship encased in ice. He went back to investigate further, but after half an hour, the portal disappeared, trapping poor Tirfyr in the frigged landscape. Skelg recognized the ship in the tapestry as the funerary ship of his old enemy, Haldyr. He believes Tirfyr traveled to the ship and that the cure to his curse lies there.

Two days ago, Bengeirr’s men returned with Bengeirr himself and killed Skelg’s guards. Bengeirr spat on the sickly Skelg, snarling, “Now you’ll die in bed like an old woman.” He left his guards to prevent anyone from saving Skelg and tossed the corpses of Skelg’s men into the vault in the basement. Skelg, in his weakened state, was unable to do anything to defend himself and hurriedly wrote a cryptic letter to his friend Adril, hoping his sparing partner would send help immediately. Then he had timid Tyros smuggle the letter into the city.

The items in Skelg’s vault came from his raid on the funeral ship of the Ulfen jarl, Haldyr Bjornsson. Skelg took the gold and silver lantern from the bow of the ship, along with most of the funeral offerings. Natalya, a pale Irrisen of unearthly beauty left on the ship to burn with Haldyr, convinced him to give the ship to her.

When asked about his symptoms, Skelg quakes and utters: “It is as if the frozen fingers of winter’s blackest midnight clutch at my heart. I’m freezing from the inside out.”

Skelg says that he is willing to hand the Beacon of the North over to the Pathfinder Society as well as any unique or bizarre magical items found beyond the tapestry.

I am from Pgh! Diehard fan! Are you from Tennessee?

Aye! Nashville suburbs. Good game, and ended in typical Titan style, just not quite good enough to get a W. Hope you got to see it!

Graxes kicks the downed guard since he didn't get the chance to return the pain.
"Pathetic coward." He growls and spits a globlet of liquid fire on the corpse that sizzles the face of the dead man.

Tywin uses a wand on Graxus that slowly heals his wound.

Within the tent Graxus' eyes glint with red fire at the mention of keeping any artifacts.
"Well that sounds like a nice proposition. Any idea what we can expect to find beyond the portal?"

-Posted with Wayfinder

If I cared about football, I would have to rep the Colts, but that is just because I am from and live mostly in Indiana.

I-I-I have no-o idea. claims the freezing Pathfinder. You must find... Bengeirr.

"Fear not. We will find zhis Bengeirr and zhe clues to your illness. Is Zhere anyzing else Zhat we should know before we depart? "

"How do we find this cur, Bengeirr? Where are he and his men based?" asks Graz to the freezing jarl.

"Do we just activate zhe lantern or zhe portal and walk Zhru? . "

Tywin looks upon the scene in great anxiety, he didn't bring any warm clothing and these tatters are all he has.

-Posted with Wayfinder

"It sounds like Bengeirr is someplace here in town. He came here personally with his warriors, then retreated. If we ask around, perhaps we can discover where he is staying."

Whatever you all think is best. We best be moving though.

"Very well. Let us find zhis Bengeirr in town . "