GM Lamplighter's "The Frostfur Captives" (Inactive)

Game Master Scott Young

The hobgoblin that used to be Sochi shouts at the doll, "Me, Gronna, fierce warrior of great and powerful Redtongue tribe and guardian of these goblins, challenge you to fight!" Sochi smiles a wicked smile and rushes forward drawing her sword to attack.

Order of the Tome Challenge! Whenever an order of the tome cavalier issues a challenge, she receives a +2 bonus on all saving throws against spells or spell-like abilities cast by the subject of her challenge and a +2 bonus on all Bluff and Sense motive checks involving the subject of her challenge.

Innocent - If making a Bluff check to tell a believable/unlikely lie, the target always wants to believe you.

Bluff lying to the doll + Challenge + Innocent: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 2 + 5 = 29
Attack + Alter Self: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 1 = 20
Damage + Alter Self + Challenge: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 12

She got kicked out of the paladin program extremely early on... like on the admission paperwork.

Round 3 (partial)

Eryndir looses another pair of arrows, and one strikes the doll in the torso. It emits a high-pitched shriek, and its head spins around to glare at the archer.

The doll begins to rise into the air, and within seconds it is at the height of the treetops (about 30'). It continues to shriek and scream, rotating its head around 360 degrees as if looking for something.

Rha'ziz grabs his shield and weapon now that the doll is out of range.

"Oooh, it not eat longshanks' soul!" muses Durp aloud. "We go now," he suggests to Kella. "Doll only make noise now... get away from noise, we safe!"

We will drop out of initiative at this point, as the doll is no longer attacking you. You are welcome to continue attacking *it*, however.

Run before the worgs and trolls come!

"Yes, yes! Pathfinders and gobbies run now!" Skaarr says scrambling to his feet, and herding the goblins along in the direction they were heading before. "Quick, quick, fast, fast, away from evil doll!"

Kyras will drop his longsword, draw his bow and arrow and try to end the screaming.
Shortbow attack with Point Blank Shot: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 91d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
If I can use point blank shot, of course.

Kyras will try again, if no one else will.
Shortbow attack with Point Blank Shot: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 201d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

awwww... I wanted to play with the dolly...

"Yes, we should go," Sochi says in a gruff voice.

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Arrow 2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Next round, while the goblins and Skaar get moving...

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Arrow 2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Eryndir grazes the doll with another arrow, but the tiny creature is a difficult target. As you head into the forest, you can still hear the doll's wailing behind you.

I will assume you stop to do any further healing you need - just post to tell me what you're doing.

After several hours of nervous travel with a lot of looking over your shoulder, the forest thins out into an area of rolling hills and snow drifts. As you approach the area on the map which indicates the border, you see a plume of smoke, emanating from a chimney protruding from a large oval hill. A stout wooden door is embedded in the side of the hill facing you, and beyond the hill is a wooden stable. From the description,this looks like a border outpost of the Blackravens, the elite Ulfen unit that patrols the border with Irrisen.

Perception - Beromir: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Perception - Eryndir: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Perception - Kyras: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Perception - Rha'ziz: 1d20 ⇒ 20
Perception - Skaar: 1d20 ⇒ 8
Perception - Sochi: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (6) - 2 = 4

"Oh, we almost there!" Skaarr exclaims at the sight of the border. He then waits for the smart people to tell him what to do.

Well, it's a good thing the old secondary successes aren't valid anymore.
"I believe that we are going to be seen to soon."

Sorry, if someone wants to do anything before you leave, feel free...

I believe my last arrow had connected, and that might have been my only chance for the faction mission. If it didn't kill the doll than we can continue.

If Kyras wants to stay and kill the doll, Eryndir will stay and help.

If nothing else, the doll makes excellent target practice.

Before leaving, Beromir finished healing Rha'ziz with his wand.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

If you want to stay and kill the doll, you can... it sounded like people fired for a couple of rounds and then followed Skaar and the goblins. The doll is AC 15, has 17 hp remaining, and has DR 2/magic. Make a bunch of rolls and I'll check off your arrows. Kyras, your last arrow connected but did not penetrate the DR.

6 didn't penetrate the DR 2?

"Time for some target practice Eryndir." Kyras says with a grin. "The person who shoots the death shot wins. I shoot five then you shoot five. Sounds good?" With that said, Kyras then lets off five in succession.
Shortbow attack with Point Blank Shot: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 171d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Shortbow attack with Point Blank Shot: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 201d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Shortbow attack with Point Blank Shot: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 131d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Shortbow attack with Point Blank Shot: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 171d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Shortbow attack with Point Blank Shot: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 181d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Used 7 arrows total on the doll.

"I need the practice."
1
Shortbow Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Shortbow Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
2
Shortbow Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Shortbow Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6
3
Shortbow Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Shortbow Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1
4
Shortbow Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Shortbow Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4
5
Shortbow Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Shortbow Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

"I still need the practice. And I also need to buy arrows in larger quantities. Next person's turn."

Rha'ziz nods in gratitude to Beromir as he regains his strength.

Rha'ziz will switch to his crossbow and fire at the doll from a kneeling position.

Light Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Light Crossbow Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Attack 2:

Light Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Light Crossbow Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Attack 3:

Light Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Light Crossbow Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Attack 4:

Light Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Light Crossbow Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Attack 5:

Light Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Light Crossbow Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

If I did the math right, Rhaz's 3rd bolt killed the doll.

Ooops... wait one, ignore the last post if you read it, I missed some other stuff.

Rha'ziz's third bolt ends the doll's shrieking, and it plummets to the ground. Its porcelain face cracks from the impact, and one of its marble eyes falls out. The goblins cheer uncertainly, as they still seem to fear the doll even after its destruction.

Perception - Beromir: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Perception - Eryndir: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Perception - Kyras: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Perception - Rha'ziz: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Perception - Skaar: 1d20 ⇒ 2
Perception - Sochi: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (3) - 2 = 1

While retrieving one of his arrows, Eryndir finds a small piece of blue quartz in the doll's torso, carved into an exquisite snowflake shape. The goblins recoil in fear, and wail that it should be left behind, untouched.

Arcana - Eryndir: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Arcana - Sochi: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

We will pause for any resolution of this scene, and then move on to the border post.

Eryndir takes the snowflake crystal and wraps it up and puts it in his pocket.

The doll itself he quickly buries before joining the others.

Kyras walks over to Eryndir as he is burying the doll and asks "Hey, Eryndir. Was there any part of that doll that witches scry with?" in a hushed tone.

"Yeah, the eyes, hence why I buried it. Let the witches look at dirt for awhile."

"Very well. Thank you."
When Eryndir stands up and heads back to the rest of the group, he digs up just enough of the doll to grab the eye that fell out of the doll's head, wraps that up and puts it in his pocket.
"This should suffice." he whispers to himself, and catches back up with the group.

Sochi turns back into her Tien self as the spell fades.

Wait, before Eryndir has a chance to stow his item away I want to make a Perception check to see if I notice. I also want to take one of the doll's eyes as a souvenir.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 12

As Kyras is approaching the doll, I utter a silent prayer to Calistria and stand up in his face.

'I got my eye on that one down there, if you get my drift.'

A gold front tooth is exposed as Rha'ziz grins. His face shows evidence of having been broken numerous times. Scars from cuts and piercing weapons cover parts of his visage as well. And those cold angry eyes...

Kyras smiles. "Go right ahead. I'm sure that I only need one for my purposes."
As glad as Kyras is that Rhaz survived, he is still not willing to part with the message he received from his faction leader. which was that Lady Morilla wanted something that witches scry with to be able to communicate from long distances...like a phone.

Good thing the lass had two eyes eh? He claps the Half-Elf on the shoulder and laughs before delicately carving out the doll's other eye with his dagger. Stabbing it in the chest and then trampling it underfoot. He spits on the ruined corpse before turning away.

The other eye gets wrapped in a cloth and stuffed in his pack.

I think our scene at the doll house has resolved. Fast-forward back to the border?

Yes, over at the border outpost with the Ulfen Blackravens.

"Sverrir said that the Black Ravens near Trollheim would allow us safe passage into friendly territories. I think we're near Trollheim, aren't we?"

The rest of the day is spent hiking towards the border between Irrisen and the Land of the Linnorm Kings. It is late afternoon as you come to the edge of the forest into a clear area. Ahead is a low hill, with a stout wooden door set into its side. Atop the hill, you can see the helmeted head of an Ulfen warrior briefly, before it ducks down and disappears. A moment later, the door opens and an armored man appears, raising his hand in salute.

"Greetings, friends! Be welcome. I am Enrik Ironjaw, of the Blackravens, in command of this post. Freyr Darkwine told us to expect you, and your, ... guests. I offer you shelter and warmth. Welcome to Hagreach!"

"Ugh... not feel good... moans Big Mouth, still holding his stomach.

Kella grabs Rha'ziz's shirt sleeve and gives it a tug. "Ice men no like goblins... you no give us to ice men?" she asks.

Yes, you are entering Hagreach, the territory of which Trollheim is the capital.

I'm assuming the helmeted head reappeared from where it was before?

Eryndir pulls Kyras, Beromir, and Sochi aside and whispers his concerns about the Black Ravens under the spoiler.

Yes, the helmeted head appeared from the top of the hill.

"This feels wrong to me. We should politely decline them and keep moving." Kyras says to Eryndir, Beromir, and Sochi.

"A-ha! We're sorry, Enrik, the plans had changed. Did you not get the message? We are to continue to escort them a bit further. Thank you for your hospitality, but we--very sadly--must decline."

Bluff+Innocent: 1d20 + 7 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 5 = 14

Well, crud.

Enrik frowns. "Surely you won't press on further tonight, with the weather growing worse?" he says. "Freyr Darkwine ordered us to keep you and the goblins safe. You can dine with us and then tomorrow we will escort you to Trollheim. " He turns and gestures to the doorway. "Come, warm yourselves by the fire, we have hot food and mulled wine to ward off the chill."

"What you two am talking 'bout? Skaarr remember we is supposed to come here. Come, come gobbies, food inside!" Skaarr says happily, motioning the goblins forward and leading them into the hill.

Turning to face the others, he drops his voice to next to nothing and whispers, "We don't really have much of a choice. If he does mean us ill, he's less likely to violate his orders in front of his men. We will need to stand guard over the goblins, though."