ROUND 2
Ali gasps at the vicious stab that bleeds profusely. She glares at the newcomer with rage, and casts a spell, infusing her sword with more magic--this time with a ghostly blue hue.
She swings at him...
<--THREAT!!
<--fort save DC 15 or 1 str damage
<--I don't know whether the str damage is also doubled on a crit.
Davosh stares at the Taldan man.
With the Big Eye. Will Save DC 18 to reduce the duration from 8 rounds to one.
"MWAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!" He cackles
Round 1 continued...
When the Taldan man thrust his point into his elven friend, Kappi saw an opportunity. He leaned in and tried to stab the man through the kidney. He hoped to make him pay for poking Ali.
Flank attack
Sh sword sneak
The rogue inflicts the bewildered effect on his victim. The Taldane man for the next round has a -4 AC for Kappi to hit him and a -2 AC for the rest of the party.
Threatening critical
Extra damage
The rogue visciously twists the blade in the wound then even works it back and forth opening a huge wound cavity as he rips it out.
That's a threat!
Round 2 action
Spurred on by the sight of blood the rogue presses the attack. He pulls a knife with his off hand and goes full attack on this Taldane. For a tiny moment in his mind he hoped the others would be proud of him. Ali, Vojtek, and Edward had given the lad instruction with the sword. Mind back in the moment he bring both blades to bear, short sword slicing high and the knife thrusting low.
Main attack
Sh sword
Offhand
Knife
Vojtek's warcry is truly frightening. Spittle and rage shower the Taldan man, but it's nothing compared to the blade that follows:
Power Attack with Greatsword: for damage.
Then in his berserker fury, bites the man on the nose. for
Enarxion falls over, his spleen and kidneys sufficiently eviscerated.
Borger tries to take his anger out on Kappi!
Davosh eyes the ogre. EYES the ogre. "You final breath draws near. Today is your death day."
Evil Eye to drop his AC. I'll cackle each round at this point.
ROUND 2
Ali continues to bleed profusely from that nasty stab, but she grits her teeth against the pain. KAPPI! Back out so we can join in!!
Delay ...hopefully a clear shot will emerge
If everyone is delaying, Kappi will move. Round 3 action
The young rogue heeds Ali's words. He lightly steps on the downed Taldane and jumps between Edward and Ali.
li ending in the space just south of the elf woman.
Riund 3
Everyone make room for him to come out
May I humbly request you consider healing Ali instead--to stop the Bleed if nothing else? (And with the damage an ogre does I probably will fall after 1hit...
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Edward Round 2 revised please
After Edward recovers from his blood lust, after watching the powerful swing that just missed Kappi, and how Ali is bleeding profusely. Still holding his longsword with menace he concentrates for a few moments switching his life link from the barbarian to the scarlet elf, and requests healing from Apsu.
:-)
Two unconscious ogres and a very dead Varisian lie in the doorway of the building.
The orge's ogre hooks are mundane, but Enarxion has a +1 rapier, a ring of protection +1 and a +1 chain shirt. His corpse also has a gaudy gold necklace (50 gpv) and a key.
You locate Uncle Ringeirr tied up, gagged, and somewhat battered and bruised in a small bedroom next to Marcian's room. He and Nadya happly embrace, and he is profoundly thankful for the rescue, inviting you all back to his hut once his possessions are found. Enarxion's key fits a locker under a bed, in which is Uncle Ringeirr's gear, along with 179 gp, a pouch with four rubies (50 gpv each), a curious silver mirror engraved with an illicit image of two lovers embracing (100 gpv), and a wand.
Can you take 10 on Spellcraft? If so, I will.
"HA! Let us celebrate tonight! MWAHAHAHAA There is some great treasue in here. Stuff fitting to outfit some heroes!"
To the reunited family once safe at home, "Tell us your story! What is this racket? Why are you so oppressed here? I can promise you that we are here to help. Give me knowledge, tell me the tail of your eyes and speak to me the words of your forebears."
Oooohhh..Spider Climb!. Ali gives the wand to Davish, and arranges the rest of the gear with their impressive bunches of treasures!
The mirror does not detect as magic.
After his rescue, Ringeirr invites you to his modest hut for some hot food and rest. He thanks you for reuniting him and Nadya, and asks for some background on your travels. After a recap, he takes you into his confidence. He divulges a secret of which even Nadya was unaware: Sometime after he came to terms with the loss of his wife and son, he
was contacted by the underground resistance group called the Heralds of Summer's Return. These resistance fighters in Whitethrone are members of a clandestine cult of Milani who maintain a secret shrine to the goddess in the city. After meeting them, Ringeirr found a new purpose in helping the oppressed people of Whitethrone. Now an agent of the Heralds, he smuggles the desperate out of the city and brings in much needed supplies to the resistance.
Ringeirr makes it clear how difficult it has become recently to get in and out of Whitethrone. Since Queen Elvanna has seized power from her mother, Baba Yaga, and intends to remain on the throne on Irrisen, she has removed the Iron Guard from power and instituted a new military force in its place, the Winter Guard, loyal to her alone. Elvanna has also declared martial law in Whitethrone, making it extremely dangerous to go through the city's primary gates. Traffic still passes through the city gates, but it has a slowed to a crawl, with large contingents of the Winter Guard performing thorough searches of anyone entering or leaving Whitethrone.
Entering the city isn't the only problem, it seems; citizens are routinely checked even within Whitethrone. Papers authorizing your movement throughout Whitethrone are vital, not just to get through its gates.
There is a potential loophole, the older man suggests. There is a privileged group of Jadwiga called stilyagi, young nobles known for their outlandish behavior and styles of dress. Like-minded stilyagi form gangs that adopt the cultural and stylistic trappings of other lands and peoples — even pretending to be adventurers from other nations. With their wealth and indolent lifestyle, stilyagi are also notorious for the recruitment of foreigners (even those of other races) to Whitethrone to act as companions, teachers, and advisors...at least until they grow tired of them. Ringeirr suggests that your group could take the roles of stilyagi and their foreign guests to move about the city.
Ringeirr knows a man in Whitethrone who not only can prepare the correct documents, but also knows the secret household symbols of many of the city's Jadwiga clans and can reproduce them with arcane marks for added authenticity. Mortin lives on the borders of the district known as the Howlings, which is predominantly controlled by winter wolves, but it is the one district Ringeirr feels he might be able to get you through and into the city. Thanks to an ancient pact with Baba Yaga, winter wolves can assume human form in the Howlings. The "Howlings Gate" is not a gate at all but rather a hole in the city wall that gives the wolves unrestricted access to their district. They are responsible for security of the district, and Ringeirr confides that they're often lax about it — and can be susceptible to bribery as well.
In exchange for his help in entering Whitethrone, Ringeirr does ask for your assistance: as part of the trip, he wants to bring food to desperate humans who are going hungry, and requests your help to make the delivery. Once inside, after the forged papers are procured and the food shipment made, Ringeirr will take you to meet his contact with the Heralds of Summer's Return, a woman named Solveig Ayrdahl.
"This sounds like that business in Korvosa all over again! You sure she's not just controlled by a dragon-soul crown?" Davosh thinks for a bit, "I can deifnitely play that part. I don't know if you've guys have noticed yet, but I have an occasionally outlandish mode of dress and manner." Davosh then closes his eyes and has a mostly silent conversation with the Ancestors. When words do come out, nearly a dozen languages are involved. Finally he speaks, "I think it's safe to say that we'll agree to this. I need to first buy scrolls of power and the arcane. When do we leave?"
Davosh doesn't know anything about the Heralds of Summer's Return or the stilyagi other than what Ringeirr has told the party.
Milani, the Everbloom
Originally, Milani was a minor saint associated with Aroden's worship, looked to in times of unrest and oppression. The death of Aroden and the rise of devil-choked Cheliax catapulted her into the role of patron saint of rebels everywhere. She is the goddess of revolutionaries and partisans, people who struggle to lift the boot of the tyrant from their throats. Her alignment is chaotic good, and her portfolio includes devotion, hope, and uprisings. Her favored weapon is the morningstar, and her symbol is a red rose growing between blood-smeared cobblestones.
The young Varisian lad looks surprisingly serious listening to the old man. He nods his head giving his agreement with the strange Davosh. Kappi is already thinking about some of the brighter more outlandish scarves and sashes his still has at the bottom of his pack.
Yet, he can't help but thinking about this much larger problem of all these oppressed people of whitethrone. Kappi doesn't think too much about danger for himself, but now their mistakes could cause people to starve or come to worse troubles...
Davosh looks at the lad, "There will be death Kappi. In the heart of men and elves is the worst of the worst, apathy. Cold apathy. We like to think that each man can play their part, but it's simply not the case. Heroes are few and far between. I see that look, I see that desire. It's fire in your loins. I agree with you, but there will be death. We will help these people."
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Edward as normal listens first to what is said, studying the speaker,and gauges the reception it has with his audience.
With a final contemplative rub of his freshly shaven chin between his thumb and first two fingers. I agree with Davosh. We need to help the people of Whitethrone. Apsu has taught me of The Everbloom, although just a minor Deity she is one I can respect. Apsu will be agree to let me lend aid in his name, although I am hesitant to be so deceitful in entering the city, but I suppose it's safer and less bloody than breaking in any other way.
Ringeirr, we have fought some of these Winter Wolves already, but you say they can be bribed. What has worked in the past, is there anyway to swing them to being allies in this fight?
Vojtek nods sagely and whispers a remedy for firey loins to young Kappi with an avuncular slap on the back.
The idea of helping this village appeals to him. Wolves have always been a threat to Vojtek and his people, so the opposition is natural; Thierry appearance on the tundra at the edge of the ice always bode ill.
Davosh looks over the party after Edward's words and Vojtek's slap. Liska does the same, though never looking at the same partymate as her master. The effect is comical, though the increasing intelligence in the fox's eyes is the thing of storybooks. "Not too long ago we were far to the South, and now we are near the world's crown. It is no accident that the Ancients have guided us here. I know it pains Edward to engage in such clandestine methods, but make no mistake, this is not a simple adventure like those meddlesome Pathfinders are always bragging about. This is big. Very big."
Ojo Loco looks at the young Sczarni, "Lad, one the one hand I pity that you've fallen into this life. On the other, I'm glad to have you here, and would be dead if you weren't!"
Elvanna is the queen of Irrisen, though she rarely leaves her palace in Whitethrone. Like all queens before her, Elvanna has her children and grandchildren placed in positions of power throughout Irrisen, and little happens within the wintry kingdom without the queen soon hearing about it. Elvanna is the fourteenth daughter of Baba Yaga left to rule that wintry land.
Like prior daughters of the old crone brought to power in Irrisen, Elvanna followed her older sister Yelizaveta.
Elvanna's 100-year term expired at the end of last year, but Baba Yaga has not returned. This is because of what the Black Rider told everyone, Edward recalls, back in Scene 24.
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Sitting and listening to the conversation Edward is lost in his thoughts. At a lull in the conversation he quietly speaks.
Making sure he has the man's attention this time.Ringeirr you've dealt with the Winter Wolves before, is there any way to sway their aid to us, or help grease the wheels of safe passage through their part of the city?
After the answer he thanks him.
One question that does come to mind is if Elvanna's term is expired, who is the 15th daughter set to take the throne? Could she or her progeny be allies? Could one of them be here in Whitethrone and offer their support of us and actually become stilyagi? Which will open doors for further help to the resistance.
Davosh you're correct. It IS against my nature to stoop to such trickery, but I'm certain that trying to walk in, or fight our way to the displayed hut will result in either death, or being able to see our objective in chains. So unless we can find a patron, no that's not correct, a matron to aid our cause and get real credentials then I might have to bend a bit to help the resistance. Which will further us in getting these portals closed.
No one knows, act'lly, mutters Ringeirr. Never know till Baba Yaga comes along and does it.
As fer the wolves, he says, poking at the fire with his broadsword, ye can try t' get 'em on yer side, but yer best off tryin' to make 'em ferget they seen ya. Gold helps. He is quiet a moment, then continues. 'less a course ye think ye can pretend t' be one! he says this with a cackle. Ye'd need a pelt and a heap o' luck, though, t' do that.
Kappi wonders if silver bars would work just as well...
"Pelt we have, luck not as much. Let's do this."
Time to get on with the show! Who is going to do the talking?
Ringeirr stops in mid-swig as Davosh mentions a pelt. He lowers his mug and eyes the wild-eyed one closely. Ye have a winter wolf pelt? Where on Golarion did ye find that? Let me see it!
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on a winter wolf. He didn't need it anymore -shrug-
Ringeirr stops in mid-swig as Davosh mentions a pelt. He lowers his mug and eyes the wild-eyed one closely. Ye have a winter wolf pelt? Where on Golarion did ye find that? Let me see it!
Kappi looks confused for a moment as Davosh and Ringierr speak of a wolf pelt. Then an almost exaggerated look of understanding passes the lad's face. Oh! You mean my blankie. Yeah its right here.... The young rogue pulls it out from his pack. He looks around to make sure nobody outside the group is looking than he unrolls it to show it off. Its quite warm and cozy for sleeping.
Ringeirr takes the proffered hide and examines it. After a moment, he breaks into a broad grin. This winter wolf ye slew, it had eyes like that one, eh? he says, pointing at Davosh. Two diff'rent colors? Quite a boon, actually. This ain't no ordinary pelt, friends; skilled hands skinned the beast and manifested the magic within.
He hands it back to Kappi and rubs his hands together. 'Tis a rimepelt ye now hold. 'Twill allow ye to appear as a winter wolf in human form. Ye'll be above reproach for being armed, though only in th' Howlings. 'Tis not a free pass, ye unnerstan, but it's a great help.
The Varisian lad gasps in astonishment. He stares at his blankie as if it is a great treasure. REALLY!!? I can turn into a wolf? Will I be able to talk to other wolves? Ive always wanted to be able to track by scent and run swift as the wind...
Kappi is clearly pretty excited about his new life as some sort of wolf skin walker.
"Kappi, you shall run as WOLF AND MAN!"
Ringeirr arranges for some fisherfolk to help him get the fish cart to the outskirts of Whitethrone, but acknowledges that you and he must push it through the Howlings Gate and into the district beyond.
Ringeirr can safely push the cart, currently bearing a 150 pound load of frozen fish, at a speed of 30 feet per round. If pushed at a higher speed, however, the cart may tip over.
The walls of Whitethrone tower 30 feet high, and have the appearance of giant, sharpened femurs fused together, though closer inspection reveals only smooth stonework the color of bleached bone. Massive skulls of the same bone-white stone top the walls, staring with blank gazes outward from the city in all directions. A rough road of frozen mud, churned and trampled from the traffic of countless feet, leads through an opening in the wall, which appears to have been deliberately left unfinished rather than sundered.
On the way, Ali questions Ringeirr on their upcoming subterfuge. Do the Wolves often travel with humanoid races in their patrols? Specifically, will their eclectic group stand out too much if one poses as a Wolf and the rest are part of the patrol? Also, will they still need papers for this disguise?
The morning we leave, Davosh starts with a spell of Youthful Appearance. Once he casts the spell, he looks like a teenage boy. His beard is gone and his eyes, though different in color, are now evenly squinted (leaving you to conclude he squints by choice.)
He cinches up his clothes so that he appears like a poor child who wears hand-me-downs.
"Hehe... I've been wanting to try this. I'm going to try not to talk. I might look like a kid, but I'm sure my mouth will get me into trouble. Let's just assume I'm Ringeirr's kin."