GM Rednal's Northlands Saga Complete (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

1d6 ⇒ 5

Another group of undead crumpled as Eydis unleashed another blast. As you reached the end of the hallway, one of the undead in the furthest cage shifted again - and you heard a faint groaning sound from its body, very much like the call for help you'd heard. Slowly, the corpse lifted its head and stared at you with frozen eyes, then rose to its feet and began reaching out through the bars, trying to grab ahold of one of you - a task made futile by the distance you'd been wise enough to keep.

"Time to retreat? Unless there's something in that one's belly?"

Hakon steps past Eindrid, a morbid fascination compelling him to draw closer to the source of the voice even as he makes sure to remain well outside the corpse's reach.

"What purpose, do you think, could lie behind this... trap? Simple a means to draw us into this hall? Or perhaps a spirit haunts this corpse?"

He stares into the sunken, rime-filled eyes. "Can you understand me?"

Does this undead look any different from the others?

Eydis looked at the creature in vague horror. She could only hope that the creatures spirits had departed for the realms of the honoured dead, and was not trapped in this decaying shell.

She looked down the corridor, making sure none of the others had broken free.

1d6 ⇒ 3

The undead continued to slam against the brittle metal cages, but hadn't broken free - yet, at least. There was no sign that the one reaching out understood you - like the others, it was simply mindless, hungry... a wretched abomination and an affront to the world that should have been.

Eindrid suggested, once again, that the party leave this hallway, and attempt to jam the door closed afterwards.

Eydis nodded, and headed towards the door once more.

Hakon agrees, and leaves along with them.

With a bit of effort, you were able to jam the door shut, leaving a good portion of the undead left in their cages, for however long they ultimately wound up being down here.

...Although I will note that they're fairly easy XP, if a bit reduced because of the lack of challenge... XD Ready to head back up, or was there anything else you wanted to do down here?

Ready to head back up.

Sure thing.

You mean we don't get the XP for sealing them away? Awww.

With the door secured, Eydis reasoned they had no other reason to be down here, and ventured back up the stairs.

They were sealed up when you found them. XD That's less overcoming a challenge than putting the challenge back where you found it. You did, however, get 400 XP for the ones you actually got rid of, bringing you up to 8530/9000 XP.

...Yidhra insists I remind you that looking around enough to level up before you proceed would not be a bad idea. XD

Trudging back up to the main floor after leaving the zombies sealed in behind you, one thing catches your eye. The big wall of ice at the far northern end of the main floor seems to have retracted, leaving the body contained within sprawled on the floor. There's something rather... familiar... about it.

Ooh yes, I get a *major* combat boost at level 4. Let's do this then.

Eindrid walks towards the body, keeping his sword leveled towards its chest, and seeing if he can get a better look at whatever it's wearing.

Hakon follows by Eindrid's side, his Wotan-blessed blade held at the ready, eyes narrowed as he studies the situation.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

The body is face-down as you approach it, but as you flip it over, the dead face of Berg Geirson - one of the men who jumped ashore before you, and who you'd gotten to know on the trip here - stared sightlessly towards the ceiling. That explained where one member of their group had gotten to, then, but there was no sign of any of the others.

"Not a good place for a proper burial." Eindrid frowned, and began searching his memory and the body for some sort of keepsake of the man that he could bring back, should the party have to flee this place in a hurry.

Kn (local)?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Keeping her spear ready, Eydis examined the body for clues as to what happened. His family would wish to know as much of is passing as tey could, so a proper saga could be crafted, and it was important that they know as much as they could too.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

"Geirson," Hakon says unnecessarily as he positions himself to stand guard, peering past the fallen body into the chamber beyond.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

The man's longsword probably wasn't a bad object to bring back - it wasn't a masterwork blade, but it was steady and had seen him through a great many battles. Handing such an object off to his son would be seen by many as a fitting tribute.

Beyond the ice wall, the large chamber is rectangular except for the rear wall that has the rough appearance of a natural glacier. Barely visible within its thick ice are the frozen shapes of men and animals — some large enough to be mammoths or other fabled creatures of the frozen North. The other walls are covered in frozen tapestries depicting various rites of a demon-god, as well as scenes depicting battle, the enslavement of captives, feasting, and debauchery. The floor is tiled in a great mosaic of multicolored ice. The ceiling vaults 60 feet overhead and bears another mosaic, this one featuring the snarling face of the demon-god circled by hordes of winged demons.

Sitting before the glacier wall is a throne made of carved red-black ice that appears to be frozen blood. Upon the throne sits a freeze-dried corpse adorned in royal finery. Jewels and gold thread richly adorn the corpse’s dress and raiment, and upon his head sits a crown made of sapphires and silver fangs. His hands rest on two ice statues carved to look like fanciful crouching birds with long necks and thick-beaked heads. Around the elongated necks of these statues are golden collars set with sapphires and diamonds. The corpse’s head sits firmly upon its neck, and though time has eroded some of his features, the former lord of this palace still stares with menacing, though empty, eye sockets.

Looking at the creature on it's throne, Eydis began to step forwards...and stopped. Something deep in her stomach - perhaps simple sense, perhaps a message from Wotan - told her it was not time to step forth and face this yet.

Eydis looked at the others. "I feel...we need something more before coming here. Let us continue our search for a time, and return in moment is right."

"I feel that too." Eindrid replied. "There's likely some sort of burial curse on the lord of this room. I'd rather not pass through here, gems or no, until we've decided there's no better passage to wherever the rest of our men are."

"Agreed," says Hakon. "There's no rush to investigate that particular chamber. It can wait while we explore further."

Nodding, Eydis turned and returned to the lower level. "Let us put these creatures out of their misery before we move on further."

Removing the barricade, Eydis moved into the prison cells, and after finding the greatest concentration she could reach channeled energy into the room once again.

Channel Positive Energy: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 3) = 8

Hakon follows grimly, watching her back.

Eindrid prepared to stab, through the bars, any zombies that still survived Eydis's burst.

The Northlands valued bravery - but not, as it happened, foolhardiness when you suspected you were going into danger. Perhaps Wotan really was paying attention... or perhaps it was merely your instincts. Either way, exterminating the rest of the undead down below (and stabbing the ones Eydis couldn't get through the bars) was proving to be rather educational when it came to things like adequately landing your blows and exerting the effort needed to take down such opposition...

600 XP, putting you over the top. XD You've reached Level 4, and as always, please post your levelup summaries in the discussion thread for approval. Don't forget to check the recruitment post and the campaign info tab to refresh yourself on this game's rules.

His resolve settled, Hakon leads the others back to the chamber wherein sits enthroned the emaciated ruler from a bygone era. He pauses well outside the entrance way and looks over his shoulder at the others.

"Shall we strike that corpse from here? Something tells me that the moment we step within it will animate and blast our flesh from our bones."

That said, he draws his spear and hefts it once or twice.

Eindrid shakes his head. "Much as I support taking precautions against the dead, I would not mar one we know personally until the moment he lurches up from the ground."

Anyone want to heal me before we move on?

Eydis nodded, reluctantly. The creature seemed likely to be formidable, but without defeating it...well, they were unlikely to find out what had happened to the others.

As they returned she made sure to gather up Berg Geirson's sword.

Oh wait I thought you were talking about stabbing Berg. I guess I'll assume it was just a miscommunication.

Hakon pauses, a look of confusion crossing his face.

"Oh - no. Not Berg. I meant the ominous king-figure sitting on the throne. While I myself am loathe to disturb the dead, this place has made me wary to the point of paranoia. I was thinking of striking it from afar before it could animate and do battle."

"Ah. Yes, I suppose I have a song for that."

Such songs would probably be useful, yes... (Although Hakon, you should update your levels in your profile and QRB. XD)

Hakon takes a firm grip of his spear, hefting it once or twice, and then sights down its length at the distant figure. Biting his lower lip, he takes two quick, short steps forward, and hurls his weapon through the doorway toward the distant throne.

Ranged Attack + 2 Stamina points: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Eydis nodded, and hurled Roksper along with Hakon. Unlike Hakon the weapon magically returned once it struck.

Roksper: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Destruction: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Einarid nocks his bow and silently follows Hakon's shot with an arrow of his own.

I think you need to roll damage?

Bow: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

The two attacks hit the body's ancient armor, but it didn't stir.

There was, however, a reaction from another part of the room.

1d6 ⇒ 4

One of the tapestries on the side of the room abruptly began to glow, and 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 skeletons emerged from it, brandishing their weapons. The good news? You'd had plenty of time to see them coming, and could react first.

*Updates map* We'll be using it for this battle. o wo/ You've been positioned by the entryway.

Einarid dropped his bow, drew his sword, and began beating it against his buckler in a simple war chant, waiting for the skeletons to do something.

Inspiring Courage. Added an "active buffs" bar so people can see what I'm adding to the combat.

Magically called skeletons? Eydis shook her head. More that wool had gone in to such a picture. She readier her weapon, content to strike them down as they approached.

Readied Action - Smoosh: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Destruction: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Hakon also settles into his combat stance, not surprised by the skeleton's appearance - something ghastly had to happen, of course - but ready to fight to the death should the occasion call for it.

Longsword attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 2 + (6) = 11
Shield Bash attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Given the way they'd come out of the tapestries... they were already pretty close, actually. Eydis lashed out and cut through her foe, and Hakon took out the one that approached his way. The others moved in a moment later, quickly swinging out. The tapestries on the other side of the room flashed-

1d6 ⇒ 3

-and 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 more skeletons stepped out, even as those close to you began lashing out.

Melee (Eindrid): 1d20 ⇒ 5
Melee (Eydis): 1d20 ⇒ 5
Melee (Hakon): 1d20 ⇒ 12

Fortunately, none of them were actually able to hurt you.

Total Skeletons Destroyed: 2.

Aww, it makes me sad when nobody uses Eindred's party buffs.

Oh, my bad, I thought Inspire Courage only gave a +2 morale bonus to saves vs fear.

Oh gosh, would that ever be disappointing.

Eindrid added another few words to his magical war chant, adding kennings to praise both their metal teeth and metal walls.

Tactician to give everyone Shield Wall, for an extra +2 AC to all party-members as long as we're all adjacent and Eindrid isn't in the middle. Yay! Now watch all my hard work get undone by enemies rolling natural 20s

Sorry for forgetting buffs - my brain is currently on vacation, I'm afraid.

Seeing the skeletal swarm approach, Eydis realized her spear was not the best weapon in this fight, but her faith. Earlier she had poured her remaining power into destroying the undead in the basement. Now she called upon it again, this time from her Faith, and summoned forth another burst of power.

Warpriest Channel Positive Energy (DC 16): 2d6 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7

Hakon grits his teeth as even more skeletons join the horde, but they're falling easily so he presses on.

Longsword attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 3 + (6) = 16
Shield Bash attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

With Eydis' blast, a fair number of the skeletons were shattered outright, although Hakon wasn't able to finish off any of those who remained close to him. All those that remained were fairly damaged...

1d6 ⇒ 4
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

...but more stepped out of the tapestries on the left side, taking the place of those that had fallen. It didn't look like they were going to stop coming - if you wanted to put an end to this, you were going to have to do more than simply try and hold the line.

Melee (Eindrid): 1d20 ⇒ 18
Melee (Eydis): 1d20 ⇒ 15
Melee (Hakon): 1d20 ⇒ 6

Grinding her teeth, Eydis said, "We must destroy that tappestry. I will try to destroy as many of these as I can. Let these things dust stand in for the blood dew!"

Channel Positive Energy (DC 18): 2d6 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6