"Agreed, rope it up, but let's check the sides of the trail first. I might be able to talk to the ancestors, but I'm not interested in meeting them yet."
While Edward checks the same side and goes north. Kappi starts checking the same side and goes south. He uses his spear to check the snow/ice and his footing as he explores.
He has Vojtek holding the other end of a rope for him.
Since the oracle is taking his time so will the young rogue.
Take 20
perception 27
Between Edward and Vojtek, the determination is made when looking at the ice closely that the rock shapes are actually thin spots, presumably made by the now-deceased ice elementals. THe two, well-versed in navigating frozen water, safely guide the party around them.
Nothing is found on the near side of the river; however, Kappi's sharp eyes spot the legs and feet of a frozen corpse jutting from a pile of snow next to the trees on the other side (indicated by the arrow).
Kappi and Ali work to excavate the poor soul. In doing so, they reveal an elderly man with bludgeoning damage all about him; Ali guesses he ran afoul of the ice elementals. His possessions appear in good repair; they include a composite longbow (+1 Str bonus), a masterwork thorwing axe, and a pouch with some coins.
The Varisian lad quietly whispers a few verses of an old prayer over the man's body.
"The road is difficult and long, take your rest.
Its over now, sing the song. Take your rest..."
Kappi lays claim to the dead man's well made ax.
I, Hatchet Jack, being of sound mind and broke legs, do leaveth my bow and ax to the next thing who finds it, Lord hope he be a human. It is a good bow, and kilt the bear that kilt me. Anyway, I am dead. Sincerely, Hatchet Jack.
|
Lo there do I see my Father
Lo there do I see my Mother, My Sisters and my Brothers
Lo there do I see the line of my people
Back to the beginning
Calling me to join Them
Bidding me to take my place among Them
Wayfinder grant him the path to
Where the brave
May live
Forever.
After the short prayer for the dead, nodding at Kappi's spirituality. Edward hands Ali the bow in exchange for the one he lent her.
Ali wordlessly exchanges bows, testing the pull on the newly found one and finding it to her liking. She faces the dead man, bows her head slightly, and says Thank you.
She takes his pouch, and adds it to the stash of coin she's carrying from the last treasure pile.
Still at the corpse of the frozen man, Kappi studies him a moment more.
Is this dead guy one of the Lady's men? Or is he some other random guy? Is there anything else of significance we can tell from his body/clothing/gear?
Lets go.
Lets keep going.
Is there anything else important about this frozen dead guy? Is he one of Lady Argentea's men?
Let's go.
-Posted with Wayfinder
go
After crossing Wishbone Creek, the trail begins to climb a ridgeline to the south beneath snow-laden trees. On this side of the creek, the prints of boots and horses mar the freshly fallen snow on the trail.
Up ahead, as the trail winds its way around a steeper hill, Davosh and Kappi both notice a scent of burning up ahead, and Kappi notices the soft glow of a small fire.
After they tell everyone about it Vojtek suggests approaching w caution and naked steel. Or cold iron. Stealth might only invote a friendly traveller to arms against us as supposed bandits. Lets give them fair warning of our approach.
"I disagree my friend. A fire and uncaring rest is more likely our adversaries than anyone amiable. Stealth is the way to go.
Davosh, can Liska pop in there, take a look, and communicate anything back to you?
"Not yet, not more than simple emotion. Perhaps that is enough though."
Davosh kneels down to his arctic fox and gives her a loving pet behind the ears.
The fox trots off into the snow.
Kappi watches the fox trot off into the snow. He then prepares himself incase Liska's scouting proves inconclusive. The young lad rolls his neck then bounces a few times on his feet. He stands straight up feet together and then folds his upper body right down on his legs as he wraps his hands around the backs of his legs.
As he unfolds he tells Davosh, Im not sure if I am as stealthy as a fox, but Im ready to go if need be.
Liska gives back a little apprehension, and also some allure over shiny things and roasting meat.
Kappi tries his go at a stealthy scouting mission.
He hands his brace of spears to Vojtek and hefts his new favorite ax. He creeps off toward the shimmering light.
Stealth
He sees three men huddling about a campfire and can hear them bickering back and forth about who did more during a caravan ambush and thus should get more gold, and one remarks, to the consternation and disapproval of his fellows, of what he'd have done to "that noble lass."
The young lad sneaks back to his comrades to fill them in.
Kappi is ready for an ambush. He wants to set up for a sneak attack. Is everybody in for killing? Do we need a live one for questioning?
Someday I'll be able question corpses. Today we should try to take one alive. I'll not cry if we kill them all though."
Ali twangs her bow gently. Let's get 'em
Okay, lets go.
With that Kappi sneaks off again toward the trio of bad guys. The Varisian lad will sneak to 15 ft away from the red bad guy (better dead than red) and throw to start things off.
Kappi takes 20 on his stealth approach.
Stealth
Throwing attack
mwk throwing ax (plus sneak attack damage)
Crit roll
Surprise Round
Vojtek will sneak in as close as he can,
On the signal, Vojtek will run into the small campsite with his Greatsword held high, and a fearsome war cry on his lips!
Screaming his war cry, Vojtek plunges his Greatsword through the frigid air into the closest man's neck and shoulder!
Power Attack with Greatsword: for damage.
for extra damage.
Davosh will sneak to 30'. From there he'll shout at blue. Then give him the Evil Eye! (Will DC 15 to reduce duration from 8 to 1 round.)
SURPRISE ROUND
Ali waits where she is, far enough to easily hide but close enough for bowshot. Once Kapi makes his hit, she takes cool aim, enhances her bow with her arcane power, and lets fly.
<--gawdammit
Yeah Vojtek took Green, Kappi took Red. I think Vojtek probably dropped Green, so Ali should target Red unless Red fell, then target Blue.
Posting for Edward
Surprise Round Edward's action
The oracle slowly moves up to about 30 ft away. He raises his crossbow and sights in on the red guy trusting Vojtek to bisect green w/ his greatsword.
If Kappi's ax throw fails to drop the red guy then Edward will let fly his bolt. Yet if Kappi does drop the red guy, then Edward will immediately shift his aim to the final man and yell for his surrender.
Readied action
Crossbow
bolt
Kappi's axe lodges neatly in Red's skull — such a clean cut, there's almost no blood. Just a fallen bandit.
Vojtek goes one better; he cleaves Green's head clean off.
Repost:
Ali 27
Kappi 16
Edward 13
Vojtek 12
Davosh 9
baddie 2
Tis, true. I won't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Daze the survivor (Will DC 15) If it works, "Tackle him!'
ROUND 2
Ali moves closer to the fray. Since it was shouted that one should be kept alive, she holds her shot, instead looking around, ready to fire at any other foe.
Power Attack with Greatsword: for damage.
Round 1
Kappi carefully throws another throwing ax, timing the throw so the butt end hits causing non lethal damage.
throwing ax
Round 1 Edward's action
The oracle moves up closer to Vojtek. Edward holds his crossbow but holds his shot ready to shoot if needed. He hopes the bandit can be taken alive.
ROUND 2, CONTINUED
Seeing how quickly the first two went down, and how the rest of the group is focusing on the remaining bandit, Ali calls out SURRENDER! You can't win, and you won't walk away if you fight.