GM Lithrac's Mythic Reign of Winter - A Trail of Breadcrumbs (Inactive)

Game Master Cyril Corbaz

"Well that's funny!" says at loud Thorgull. "The phantom-girl just asked me to destroy the hut and its inhabitants. And she said something about... a gem. It must be destroyed over all!"

After a few moments Zadok recovers his senses and returns to the group. "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me."

To Thorgull Zadok responds, "Well, I wouldn't normally trust phantoms. But maybe it would settle that little girl's spirit. Let's try."

After recovering his emotions, and his dignity, Stian returns to his companions. "I have never felt like that before, unnerving...."

Nodding, Stian says. "It sounds like we should seek out this hut."

Thorgull nods and says "As usual, I'll let you... lead the way." he says to Virgil and Stian, waving towards the hut.

As you approach the hut, the doll comes to life!

The Watcher
1. Stian
2. Doll
3. Virgil, Thorgull, Zadok

Stian steps south and quickly fires two arrows at the doll.

Rapid, PBS: 1d20 + 6 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 - 2 + 1 = 11
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 1 = 10

Rapid, PBS: 1d20 + 6 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 - 2 + 1 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 1 = 10

Can't edit map, atm.

One of Stian's arrow pierces the doll in a loud thunk. It sounds as if it's made of wood. The doll immediately react by chanting arcane words in the Skald language, then rises into the air, reaching the ceiling of the room she's in in no time. She's out of reach of melee attacks.

The Watcher, round 2
1. Virgil, Thorgull, Zadok, Stian
2. Doll (5)

Oh, that's ok....

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25 DR, resistances, mind-affecting?

Assuming it can take mind-affecting, Zadok tries to give the doll the Gift of Madness.

DC 14 Will save or confused for 1 round

Seeing the doll rise into the air, Virgil reaches into his backpack and withdraws an alchemists fire.

"Stay back gentlemen, I'm going to put this thing to the torch!"

I'm back. Sorry for my absence.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Welcome back, Virgil :)

Knowledge (Arcanananah): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25 weaknesses?

Thorgull begins to chant arcane words in Hallit.
"Κε λε γρανδ κρικ τε κροκ!"

Summon monster I, here comes a smiting eagle of impending doom.

Thorgull: Seven immortal demons are coming after your eagle! (Sorry everyone, private joke I guess.)

Will: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 = 11
The doll is befuddled by Zadok's shared disturbing mental images!

The Watcher, round 2
1. Virgil, Thorgull, Zadok, Stian
2. Doll (5, confused 1 round)

Stian fires two more arrows at the doll.

Rapid, PBS: 1d20 + 6 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 - 2 + 1 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6

Rapid, PBS: 1d20 + 6 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 - 2 + 1 = 6
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 = 11

The tiny doll easily dodges the incoming arrows.
Confusion: 1d100 ⇒ 53

Inexplicably, is starts beating on itself, but it can't seem to be able to deal any real damage.
Self-damage: 1d8 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

The Watcher, round 3
1. Virgil, Thorgull, Zadok, Stian
2. Doll (5)

Thorgull quickly shouts what he learnt about the doll to the others. As he does so, a shining eagle appears and smites that awful creature.

Talon, Smite, Augmented summoning: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20 for P,S: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Talon, Smite, Augmented summoning: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 for P,S: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Bite, Smite, Augmented summoning: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14 for B,P,S: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Thorgull points at the doll and throws an acid splash.

Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 3 - 4 = 14 for Acid: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Rapid, PBS: 1d20 + 6 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 6 - 2 + 1 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 = 11

Rapid, PBS: 1d20 + 6 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 - 2 + 1 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9

Stian keeps firing arrows, taking a better aim this time.

Zadok tries to break into the mind of the doll to discover who is trapped inside and who did this to them!

Brain Drain: DC 14 Will save to resist or take 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7 damage and next round I can steal some thoughts. Love this revelation.

Will: 1d20 ⇒ 6

The doll is rent by the eagle, then shafted by Stian's arrows, only to find its head imploding from Zadok's curse. It blows to pieces, her remains falling like a shower in the small hut.

The shining eagle flies to Thorgull's shoulder and the wizard mumbles words of gratitude to him, petting him softly. After a little moment, the eagle disappears to come back to his native plane.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Coming back to his senses, Thorgull looks around the hut. "The phantom mentioned a gem to destroy..." he says, thinking back to the earlier events.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

"Drat," Zadok sighs. "I was hoping to probe its mind further and discover what poor soul was trapped within. I did not think it's mind would be so weak by the time I got to it. Well, such things sometimes have a vessel that holds the actual soul; I am guessing that is what the gem is, Thorgull. We need to make sure to destroy that completely to free the soul inside, I think."

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Virgil see's nothing.

"What an odd creature to find here."

-Posted with Wayfinder

One thing that you noticed is that the doll bore a striking resemblance to the ghost of the little girl you encountered earlier. Her dress, her hair, almost everything was similar. Only one element was different - the doll had the face of a crone, not of a young girl.

"Phoo!" Zadok closes his eyes and shakes his head, his dark hair swinging forth before his face. "I think my mental connection did actually leave a memory in tact. . . two people, northerners by their dress, a man and a woman. . . they were torturing me-her-for hours. . . and then they showed me my own body, dead." Zadok opens his eyes but quickly rubs them with his fingers and blinks a few times. "What a sorry story. I hope we can put her soul to rest. And perhaps find the cruel people who did that to her."

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Stian moves up and kicks at the remains of the doll. Reaching down, he picks something up and peers at it. Holding it out to the others, he grasps a blue sapphire between his thumb and forefinger. "Is this what we're looking for?"

"Yes, I think it is. We should destroy it. Do you think you will be capable? It will probably take some brute force."

"I wouldn't destroy it. It could be valuable. We should get it examined."

-Posted with Wayfinder

"Well the phantom said it was really important to destroy this above all." states Thorgull.

"I'm not sure we should be trusting phantoms. Let's take it with us for now, and continue on."

-Posted with Wayfinder

Stian thinks for a moment. "Twas, but a little girl and she did us no harm. If destroying the gem will release her, I think we should." Stian says, reflecting, then adds with a bit of melancholy. "Reminded me of me little sister...."

"I tend to agree with Stian. Let's destroy it. If I understand the magic correctly, her soul is trapped inside. It will not be at rest until released."

"I agree with you too, I'll let you deal with that, though." Thorgull adds with a glimpse of fear in his eyes.

Nodding, Stian puts the gem on the ground and tries to crush it under his boot heel.

The gem appears to be a little too resilient for a mere boot heel, and resists for now. Not sure about a sapphire hardness, but my guess is that this wouldn't be enough to shatter it.

As for the trail, it continues through a narrow pass, descending south and east into an icy valley. An unusual pattern of lines is scratched into the fresh snow covering the trail at the edge of the clearing.

"Might need to smash it with a weapon, I think." Zadok suggests.

After the gem has been destroyed, Zadok suggests that the party continue on. He studies the lines in the snow for a moment and detects magic in the area. "Anyone good with tracking want to check this out with me?"

Stian takes his axe, looks for a rock, and tries hammering the backside of the axehead on the gem.

When Zadok asks for help, Stian comes over and studies the area.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Leaving the others to deal with the gem, Virgil processes onto the trail, allowing them a few moments to catch up.

Things have calmed back down and all my other PbPs are wrapping up. I'm good to go.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Good to know! Onwards it is, then.

Stian crushes the sapphire into bits. Strangely enough, when the gem breaks it releases a gust of cold wind, almost like a frozen sigh of relief. Thank you, a voice whispers in this wind.

A cold wind blows through the valley, bringing a spray of sleet and broken ice. The sky ahead rolls with thick, gray clouds and the sun is only a dim glow somewhere in the mist. As you are treading with great effort in the thigh-high snow packed everywhere, the same snow comes to life - or was it the snow-white fur of a hidden beast? This last hypothesis is confirmed when a giant weasel emerges from the snow, ambushing you! Luckily, Stian and Virgil aren't surprised and are able to react in time.

The weasel charges Stian with great ferocity, but misses the ranger!
Bite, partial charge: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 2 = 101d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Initiative - surprise round (single action only)
1. Giant Weasel (-2 AC due to charge)
2. Virgil, (Thorgull), (Zadok), Stian
Note that due to snow, terrain is considered difficult everywhere.

Zadok put on those snowshoes we found earlier so I'm guessing the snow isn't difficult terrain for him (?).

No, it's normal terrain for him then.

Stian barely has time to duck as the weasel charges him. "Weasel!" He screams, stating the obvious in his surprise. Cursing the deep snow and unable to maneuver to a spot to fire his bow, Stian grabs his spear and readies to stab at the beast.

"Never a dull moment."

Virgil shifts through the snow alongside Stian, pulling his rapier from its sheath as he does. With a flourish, the duellist stabs forward.

Mwk Rapier: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 191d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

-Posted with Wayfinder

Virgil strikes true, wounding the weasel some more! The beast lashes with teeth and claws at the duelist. It misses him twice, but the second claw rips open a large gushing wound on Virgil's chest.
Bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 101d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Claw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 81d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Claw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 221d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

The Wounded Weasel - round 1
1. Giant Weasel
2. Virgil, Thorgull, Zadok, Stian

"Hmm, I feel as though I have seen this clearing before. Seems every forest has a similar one."

Zadok steps back and uses his bow to preserve his magical reservoir.

shortbow: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 3 - 4 = 15
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 +2/+2 if it happens to be fey.

Stina grips his spear and stabs at the weasel.

Thorgull draws a crossbow in the panic and loads it.

Virgil stabs down at the weasel again, grimacing at the wound.

Mwk Rapier: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 161d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

@Stian: Sorry, it's an animal.

The concerted attacks from the valiant explorers are enough to scare the giant weasel! It runs off somewhere deeper into the forest, probably to lick its dire wounds.

End combat! I'll let you heal up before we move on.

"Well done, folks! That was... fast!" says the wizard with a smile on his face.

Does anyone else have a wand or potions? Zadok has spells if not:

Zadok moves about tending to the wounds of the party.

clw Virgil: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
clw Stian: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

3 more 1st level spells left for the day, just so everyone is aware. I can keep going.

Virgil nods gratefully to the oracle, glad to to rip of the pain inflicted by the wound.

"My thanks, Zadok. I didn't expect such a wild creature to be so swift. We should probably push on."

Aware of the danger around them, the duellist keeps his newfound rapier to hand.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Stian nods in thanks to Zadok, but is clearly preoccupied. Searching the ground, he looks for the weasel's trail. "We should track it and finish it. Its pelt would a lot of gold."

Survival to follow giant weasel: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17