Undead it is!
The party exits the tent, and makes a short trek to another portion of the camp. It has been abandoned, as it is overrun with undead. As you stalk through the eerily silent tents, you catch flickers of wispy, insubstantial creatures flickering about in the distance. When they spot you, they moan an unearthly moan and begin floating towards you!
We're looking at DC 18 Knowledge Religion on the big bad, and DC 16 Knowledge Religion on the little bads.
+ 2 in Forests
Dortlin
Little Bads
Big Bads
Kivuli
Teric
Daniel
Crios
Andurius
Dortlin is up!
All three of the spectral figures drift towards the party. They enter the tents out of sight. The locations on the map are the last locations you saw them at, but all of them are currently out of sight. I've marked entrances to the tents should anyone wish to enter them. The doors aren't big enough for things such as rhinos to enter.
Teric, Kuvli and Dortlin identify the creatures as a pair of exiled shades and a greater shadow.
They are both incorporeal undead with all of the defensive measures that entails. They have channel resistance, but no other resistances of immunities. The greater shadow has an incorporeal touch attack that deals strength damage. The exiled shades have a touch attack that deals int damage. If they drain all of your int, you become a thrall of the exiled shade. For Dortlin, they have a weakness where if presented by a symbol of the organization that they are tied to (the one that exiled them, I guess?), they are sickened for as long as the symbol is presented.
If someone wants to make me a knowledge local or knowledge history check to guess what that symbol might be, you might be able to cobble something together to achieve this effect.
Daniel thinks that the vine he is looking at might make a nice tea if steeped in some boiling water.
Dortlin
Little Bads
Big Bads
Kivuli
Teric
Daniel
Crios
Andurius
Pathfinders are up!
|
Crios shares his own insight with the group, hoping they might discover something of importance that would help in the fight.
He then takes to the air, rising 30 feet straight up, and readies his staff to attack the first enemy he sees. Once an undead becomes visible, he unleashes twin magical snakes, one black and one white, that streak from the end of his staff toward their target, biting wickedly on the incorporeal form as if it were solid.
|
Together with the Twinhorns, the assembled Pathfinders manage to fight off the undead attacking the camp and make their way to the ritual site. As Medda and Anok join the group of Pathfinders around the stone circle, she assists them with the binding ritual. Medda thrusts Ivvora’s hilt into the portal, calling on Vildeis for aid. The shadow rift shrinks and closes, releasing a massive shock wave that knocks the Pathfinders, the Twinhorn warriors, and Medda to the ground. A field of dark, rippling energy remains, suspended above the stone altar. As Medda reaches out to pick up Ivvora’s hilt—the already broken blade now spider-webbed with new cracks—a supernatural silence descends. Only the telepathic rage of some unseen menace cuts through the quiet. “You dare to shut me out?” it rages. “I see you, but I do not see her. Where is the dwarf woman, Ivvora, who fought me so long ago? Has her mortal body failed at last? Has the realm of the living at last lost its protector? Know this: when the long shadows reach out again, I will grasp them and claw my way back into your world to see your flesh devoured by my children.”
Sound returns to the Realm of the Mammoth Lords, and Medda cautiously stands. “It seems that Eshimka still lives and has even left this foul scar on our world,” she declares. “If we are to believe its promises, the fiend will attack on the next winter solstice. If we are to survive, we must be ready. Nearly a millennium ago, Ivvora held the key to defeating Eshimka. By following her legends and discovering her fate, we may harness the same holy power that banished this fiend—and together end the beast entirely. When we set out, it would be the privilege of this following to have the Pathfinders at our side. But that is a trial for another day. Tonight, at last, we rest.”
Celebration and preparation have filled the last two days. The Twinhorns are both relieved to have thwarted the villain Eshimka and resolved to help the following’s spiritual leader, Medda, retrace the paladin Ivvora’s millennium-old steps. After hours of considering and retelling ancient stories preserved by oral tradition, Medda gathers the Pathfinders. “The holy warrior Ivvora came to us in pursuit of Eshimka, whom she vanquished and banished with the Twinhorns’ help. However, she would not rest for long, and she insisted on seeking out other evils in the area. At that time, the most fearsome threat was Grathatonhakis, an immense white dragon that lurked in the Tusk Mountains and would strike our camps. Ivvora learned what she could, left her dagger with us, and departed to slay the dragon. She never returned, and neither did the dragon. Exactly what transpired is unclear from our legends.” Medda cradles the fragile remnants of Ivvora’s dagger. “This blade kept Eshimka at bay for so many generations, and now it is ready to fall apart. Ivvora held the key to defeating Eshimka, and by learning her fate or communing with her spirit where she fell, we might harness the same power. Then we shall not just reseal the shadow fiend but destroy it once and for all! From our tales we have learned where the wyrm Grathatonhakis laired. Let us set out together to learn what happened—and who might have taken the caves since.”
The trek is long and cold, taking the group first across the tundra and then into shadow of the frigid Tusk Mountains. As the trail winds around a frozen lake, the snap of a snare echoes over the ice, and a Pathfinder is whipped into air by a cleverly laid trap. Medda scowls and announces, “Pathfinders, we have kobolds. Keep within earshot and spread out. They aren’t just a threat; they may also be our best better to finding the dead dragon’s lair.”
The Pathfinders spread out and begin cautiously creeping forward to deal with the Kobold threat. It isn't long before you all hear angry shouting from up ahead. Craning your necks, you can see what appears to be some sort of Fey arguing with some Kobolds. As you approach, the kobolds draw weapons and begin stalking towards the fey, obviously intent on harming the creature.
What's the plan? You see three kobolds, one of which is mounted on some sort of icy amphibian, as well as a small dragon-looking thing.
All creatures involved are currently unaware of your approach.
|
|
"I recognize that dragon as an ice drake." Crios says to his group softly, sharing what he knows of the creatures.
Responding to Dortlin's comment he adds "Yes, please slow them down. I think we should protect the fey woman as those kobolds are certainly hostile."
He then takes to the air once more but hovers only a few feet off the ground. "If we act with haste, I will move quickly through the trees and come in from the back and we might be able to take out the drake before much else happens."
He then casts longarm on himself in preparation of a rapid assault, and swiftly drops his wand of shield into his hand from his spring loaded wrist sheath.
|
|
Dortlin offers his own version of a Hostile Howdy as he casts Stone Call on all of the enemies in the area up to 20 ft high for and hindering terrain.
Since both Dortlin and Rambi can move through the trees freely Dortlin calls on the totems of Bull and Snake and readies his weapon as Rambi double moves to just shy of the rubble.
Not counting possible +1 for height advantage vs medium or smaller.
If it confirms
"Hey! Leave the lady alone!"
The party swiftly decides to intervene on the side of the fey!
Dortlin calls on his magic to cover the area in stones once again, while Kivuli dashes forward to engage the kobolds and Crios utters a magical incantation, causing his arms to lengthen in preparation for the coming fight.
When Dortlin drops stone on them, one of the kobolds shouts out.[
gah! jaciv lasaua latali! svent astahi!
+ 2 in Forests
Crios
Drake
Dortlin
Mounted Kobold
Kivuli
Daniel (Surprise Round Only)
Andurius (Surprise Round Only)
Other Kobolds
Teric (Surprise Round Only)
Crios is up and Daniel, Andurius, and Teric have surprise round actions.
I'll say that the forest has no affect for adjacent creatures, provides partial cover with 2-4 squares between them and total cover with 5+ squares.
The party has elected to use their aid token, activating the inspire courage! Everyone has +3 hit / damage!
Waiting on Andurius's surprise roudn action and Crios's first round action. Will bot in the morning if I do not hear from them by then.
|
|
"B'fore ya go running off gett'en yer boots all mucked up let me at least help ya along tha way!"
Anduris searches his many hidden pockets in his many pocketed travel coat and finds the shaving of licorice root he thought he had with him. "Ah, good thing I didn't put that in my pipe an' smoke it." With the component available he moves through the complicated gestures to complete casting a haste spell on the party.
Your questions Crios:
No special defenses.
A frost drake can, as a standard action, spit a ball of liquid that bursts into a cloud of freezing mist. This attack has a range of 60 feet and deals 7d6 points of cold damage (DC 18 Reflex half) to all creatures in a 20-foot-radius spread. The mist cakes all surfaces in the area with a sheet of slippery ice that turns the area into difficult terrain for 2d4 rounds, after which the ice cracks or melts enough to revert to the normal terrain features in the area. Once a frost drake has used its freezing mist breath, it cannot do so again for 1d6 rounds. The Reflex save is Constitution-based.
This ability works like spider climb, but the surfaces the drake climbs must be icy. It can move across icy surfaces without penalty and does not need to make Acrobatics checks to run or charge on ice.
Speed Surge (Ex)
Three times per day as a swift action, a frost drake may draw on its draconic heritage for a boost of strength and speed to take an additional move action in that round.
Snow Vision (Ex)
A frost drake can see perfectly well in snowy conditions, and does not take any penalties on Perception checks while in snow.
The drake roars angrily as the staff wreathed in fire strikes his scales. The skin blisters and cracks, leaving the drake severely wounded. The drake, seeing more attackers bearing down on him will rear back and spit a ball of freezing mist into the midst of Daniel and Dortlin.
The red area is now difficult terrain as well.
Dortlin is up!
Crios
Drake -50
Dortlin – Needs Reflex save
Mounted Kobold
Kivuli
Daniel -Needs Reflex save
Andurius
Other Kobolds
Teric
|
|
"Watch out, The ice is not very thick."
Dortlin will have Rambi use Chameleon Stride to move double speed to the little island, Provoking from the greenish kobold and maybe the mount if it has reach.
Dortlin decides to focus on the rider.
Rambi attacks as well.
Also, the newt is a medium creature not large - it has been adjusted accordingly on the map.
As for haste, I'm not sure who was in range when it was cast and things have changed a bunch now. I'll give the benefit of the doubt and say that you got it. Andurius, in the future, please specify haste targets.
No AoO because they are still flat footed.
Dortlin guides Rambi onto the ice. He raises his nodachi and brings it down in what he is sure will be a lethal blow. At the last second the kobold gets his shield up, and narrowly deflects the blow! However, this leaves an opening for Rambi, who spears the kobold in the gut with his horn. The kobold points at Dortlin and says You die now!
As the kobold issues his challenge, the ice under Rambi cracks, and then shatters, dropping the pair into the icy waters.
It will be a DC 15 swim check for Rambi to clamber out of the water.
If you would like, Dortlin can make a DC 15 ride check to dismount onto the surface of the lake.
Dortlin nimbly dodges the first blow, but the back swing connects, denting armor and leaving a minor wound.
Crios
Drake -50
Dortlin – 23, Rambi -23, in the water
Mounted Kobold -31
Kivuli
Daniel -11, BC -23
Andurius
Other Kobolds
Teric
Kivuli, Daniel, and Andurius are up!
|
|
Daniel sees the state of his friend and points back towards where Anduris is standing. "Git back there kiddo, this ain't your kind of fight."
With B.C. scampering away, hopefully out of range of more dragon blasts, the half-orc rushes forward through the forest and fires a single arrow at the nearest Kobold.
for
Broken wing Gambit requires you to hit to activate. Dortlin missed, and is thus unable to activate broken wing Gambit. Rambis activated it no problem, but that does not provoke anything when Dortlin gets attacked. If I am misreading something somewhere, please let me know where (with a relevant rules link if possible).
As for the ice, I take your point about being on the island, and apologize for not resolving that properly. The check happens when a large or bigger creature moves on the ice, so that would still happen, and in fact should have happened before you get to the kobold.
In order to resolve, I suggest three options. You can pick whichever one you like best:
1). Attempt a DC 35 acrobatics check to jump the gap(DC 15 check for 15 foot jump to clear the bit of lake, doubled because you don't have a running start as you are jumping perpendicular to the direction you were moving, plus 5 for the icy ground. Due to the haste, rough terrain, and chameleon stride rambis speed will be 70 for this check, netting you a +16 to it)
2) Use rambis 2nd action to attempt the swim check to clamber out and move on to the cavalier, forfeiting his attack.
3) Stay on solid ground and direct your attacks against the green kobold instead.
Also, the Drake is flying just over the surface of the ice. It should have made a fly check to hover. The check is rolled below.
The knowledge check let You know it was possible, but not a sure thing. There is a certain percent chance that it happens, and you just got unlucky.
Rambi, enraged at her master being hurt lashes out, but once again the kobold narrowly gets his shield up in time to deflect the blow.
Kivuli lands a lethal blow on the distracted kobold, driving his estoc through his chest and into the creatures lungs, dropping it to the ground. The remaining kobold attempts to avenge his companion. As the kobold lunges to stab Kivuli, an arrow goes streaking past his head where the kobold was just moments before.
Crios
Drake -50
Dortlin – 23, Rambi -23
Mounted Kobold
Kivuli -5
Daniel -11, BC -23
Andurius [on delay]
Other Kobolds
Teric
Teric and Crios are up! And Andurius too!
The newt somehow nimbly avoids all damage from the ball of flame. Meanwhile, the kobold takes the full brunt of the blast. The drake also fails to avoid the blast, and its skin blisters and turns black. The drake screaches weakly, then falls to the ice, crashing through and sinking into the depths.
Crios and Dortlin are now up!
Crios
Dortlin – 23, Rambi -23
Mounted Kobold , kobold -27
Kivuli -5
Daniel -11, BC -23
Andurius [on delay]
Other Kobolds
Teric
|
|
"I better make meh-self useful and get inta tha action. Watch yer heads tha dwarf is taken to tha air!" When finished he takes to the air and it is hard to un-see the spectacle of the dwarf attempting to with grace into the fray. Anduris is looking for the rhino to invest it with flight...or anyone else that can use flight.
Teric clips the Kobold with his fireball, which Dortlin follows up with a vicious overhead slash that separates the head from the body. He follows through, attempting to also fell the mount, but the Kobold's spine knocked his sword off target, causing him to miss wide.
Rambi picks up where he left off and and gores the newt in the side, leaving a large bleeding wound. Meanwhile, Crios flies around the back side of the final kobold, and brings brings his staff down, missing, but sending spiderwebs through the ice where his staff strikes.
His rider dead, and injured, the newt will decide discretion is the better part of valor and flee. The final kobold, obviously outmatched, will also turn and flee.
After defeating the kobolds, the Dryad walks forward, gives the Kobold leader's corps a kick, then spits on it.
Foul, irresponsible creatures. No respect for nature and its balance. Thank you for your assistance. The kobolds have been getting more and more active in their hunting. What brings you motley lot to my lake?
|
|
Daniel yells after the Kobold as it flees, "remember this day, this is what you get when you don't respect nature! There is always someone bigger and better than you out there!"
He turns towards the dryad, "hullo there. We are seeking an ice dragon's lair. We let that one go so we can hopefully track it back to it."
He glances over her for injury and then starts heading around the lake to pick up the Kobold's trail. He whistles for B.C. to catch up and while they walk he pulls a wand and starts healing their injuries.
Daniel easily picks up the kobold trail leading up into the mountains.
Invading the ice dragon lair? I certainly approve of that mission. They have been breeding so much - disrupting the natural order. It's why the kobolds must hunt so much. Perhaps you would like to visit my people? They might be convinced to aid you in your mission. Or if you'd prefer, I can show you the entrance to their lair, though it looks like you could manage that on your own.