Gamemaster Kobolum's - Reign of Winter (Inactive)

Game Master Kobolum

As they walk, Hendra shrugs. "No. History of surface not well researched, learning as we go."

"Hah... nobility. Well, I guess they do have to have someone leading them. An odd question though... I would think that it was based off of whatever short-lived arrogant fool managed to both control an army and convince someone to mate with them."

"I suppose that's not unexpected. Irrisen is on the far side of the continent." Freyr sighs and takes a moment to put his thoughts in order. "Each queen of Irrisen, and it's always a queen never a king, is the latest daughter of Baba Yaga. Each noble family in Irrisen is descended from one of these queens, and they take their family name from her sole name."

"For example, the last Queen was Queen Yelizaveta the spiteful and 13th Queen of Irrisen. So each of her grandchildren's and their childrens surnames are Yelizaveta. This tells the rest of the nobility where they stand in the scale of power. The closer to the royal family you are the more power you have." Frjya explained as they walked. "The current queen is Queen Elvanna 14th Queen of Irrisen and Daughter of Baba Yaga." She stated before she looked to her brother nervously, though the look only lasted a moment.

She looked back at the ground before saying "I am Frjya Elvanna, youngest daughter to Queen Elvanna, and this is my twin brother Freyr Elvanna youngest son to Queen Elvanna." She told them honestly. "We are... I guess you could say the black sheep of our family? We are not as cold and cruel as out siblings and mother. Thus in their eyes we are lesser. Though honestly we're still better treated then the most loved Yelizaveta..." She reached up with the hand that didn't hold her staff, and rubbed the jeweled ribbon wrapped around her neck. "Though that doesn't say much."

"White sheep in a black flock maybe..." Freyr adds dryly. "We were planning on escaping from our family and never looking back, but it seems that they've decided that they're not satisfied with lording over Irrisen anymore. This unnatural winter is just another part of the icy magic from our homeland. And from what we managed to put together, it may only be the beginning."

"You wanted to run, I wanted to find help." Frjya muttered with a sigh. "The people of Irrisen need a good ruler. One who may show them spring. I would like to remove my mother from the throne to end the people's suffering. But I am not fool, I cannot take on my mother alone with the power I have now. Even with my brother's help... but I know that Freyr was correct. I could no longer stay in Irrisen."

Hendra listens attentively to the twins as they tell their tale, making mental notes. When they seem to have mostly finished, she clears her throat.

"So white witch caused winter here, yes? Contract from Heldren is find source, slay it. Both of you major blood line, current ruler. Probable you know person responsible. Two questions for you." The drow uses the hand not holding her scythe to hold up two fingers. One drops down as she proceeds.

"How powerful is person maintaining sorcery? As follow up question, what forces...." she struggles for a moment trying to think of the correct word, settling upon, "extra... does this person have at disposal?" The other finger ticks down into her fist as she continues.

"Will have problems with killing person? Black-white sheep, regardless, kill family not always easy ask of person."

"I can't answer both perfectly, but I can give a general idea." Freyr absently runs his hand through his hair. "The one behind this particularly incursion is named Nazhena. She's our..." He trails off. "Cousin, I think. Our family tree is more a gnarled shrub to try to track. Anyway. She's a relatively powerful winter witch, very ambitious too. I worked with the guard at her fortress for a bit, but she'll very likely have changed things since we slipped away. With the bandits working for her, she can afford to keep her more skilled troops covering her ass rather than needing them here." He snorts. "And please, feel free to kill her. The only person in my family that I'd try to protect is my sister."

Lanyssa listens carefully to the twins' story, paying attention in case she detects signs of lying. "They seem to be telling the truth... If they are, this is a dire peril which needs to be taken care of. Higher authorities should hear of this..."

Despite these thoughts, she unconsciously asks "And this cousin of yours... Does she act on her own behalf, or is your mother interested as well in bringing you back?"

"Great-niece actually." Frjya corrected. "Nazhena is mother's great granddaughter brother. Which makes her our great-niece. But yes... Nazhena is powerful and has the ambitious to become more powerful if left to run her schemes... Though she had left for the capitol when we ran. With luck she won't have returned yet and what we know of the tower will still be useful." Frjya said.

"No one in Irrisen does something like with without the Queen knowing. My mother is very powerful. But yes if Nazhena has returned she will try and bring us back. It is a grave crime to raise a weapon against an Elvannan and even the most hated Elvannan is treated better than the most beloved noble. If it ever was told to mother that Freyr and I escaped... Nazhena would be in serious trouble." Fryja explained as her hand moved over her staff. "As for... killing her..." Fryja looked down at the ground, seeming to fight back tears. "After what she has done... there is no saving her."

"And still somehow older than us," Freyr adds dryly. "But yes, we chose to leave when she wouldn't be around to stop us. With a little luck, she's not back yet and we'll just have to deal with her apprentice. And if she has learned what happened, I very much doubt that she'll tell the queen right away. She'll do everything in her power to get us back before Elvanna notices anything is wrong. Though this whole winter has nothing to do with that. This is an entirely different scheme that I'm fairly certain most of the country is in on."

Greivous gets bored of the story about halfway through and drowns the rest out with her smoke, taking long puffs of the Tabbaco. Hmmm... Interesting... she would say every now and then to make it seem like she was paying attention... Anyways, should we not be on our way still? We came back to restock... Given our quarry plenty of time to run... I do believe we should be getting on our way?

Thought they were telling us the story as we were walking to the ambush site...

"We get there, soon. Be ready. Fey likely left more tricks. Call dibs on head, will take for trophy."

Faethara tsk's derisively when Hendra suggests killing a powerful mage. "I wanted to help her ladyship, but to be truthful, all of this is piquing my interest. And, well, it would not feel right to leave young ones to face such horrors alone," Faethara admits.

Lurruk is moved by the siblings' story. "That is horrible. Beauty and I will do what we can to help you overcome all that evil. Next question: who or what is this Baba Yaga? Your grandmother is that right?"

"She is the Witch Queen," Freyr says simply. "The most dangerous witch to ever walk this world. Immortal and nearly all powerful. She's the one who conquered all of Irrisen and took it away from the Linnorm Kings who once ruled those lands. Then she put a daughter on the throne and vanished off to some other world or distant plane to continue some other plan. She only returns once a century to appoint a new queen before disappearing again."

Into the Border Wood - On Frozen Pond

As the investigators walk and the Twins share their tale Hendra is easily able to pick up the trail from the day before, Lurruk can see it just as easily but he can tell the Drow has vengeance on her mind and allows her to lead with no further comment.

Soon enough the group comes upon the same frozen river as the day before, this time though the elemental standing upon the ice is much larger and more fearsome and alone!

"Surrender the Winter Witch and her sibling and I shall let the rest of you summer folk escape with your lives!"

With the exception of Fryja who is jarred by the appearance of the elemental, the rest of the group easily spots three bandits in the trees across the other side of the river...

Actions?

"Enough games. Come out from hiding, tiny creature! Face death with blade held high... or die afraid, cowardly illusionist." Pointing to the 'snowman', Hendra shakes her head at her companions.

"Fake snowman. Illusion. Same pixie demon from horse. Still call dibs on skull, will turn into necklace later."

Freyr reaches back and grabs the hilt of his sword. He's privately a little glad that they don't have to deal with a much stronger elemental. The last few were bothersome enough on their own. "Fey like their tricks. I do hope you're carrying cold iron though. Otherwise he'll likely be deceptively hard to take down. His back-up may have bows to try to keep us from crossing, so be careful of that."

"Well really only about one third of Irrisen once belonged to the Linnorm Kings, the rest was once another Kingdom that grandmother took over." Frjya explained. "But that was over 1400 years ago. Grandmother would change the rule of Irrisen once ever century like my brother said, but when she did so she'd also take all of her grandchildren as well as the former Queen. They're never seen again so we've no idea what happens to them. With the changed of a Queen a new noble house is founded by the grandchildren of that Queen." Fryja when on to say.

"They know we're gone now Freyr... they'll be looking for us the whole way." Fryja told her brother through their bond. "Though maybe we can use that to our advantage."

Frjya stepped up beside her brother and called out "Who are you to demand something from one of Elvanna's own?! Who would be so bold to give you those orders?"
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Into the Border Wood - On Frozen Pond

The voice booms out once more from the "elemental", "Nazhena herself orders your capture renegade. You and your brother, come forward. No doubt your compliance will be looked upon favorably. I would hate to have to return corpses..."

The group at this point get a sense for where the ambushers are located, it is hard to ascertain whether they are fey or just mere men, their numbers are also not entirely clear.

No surprise rounds on either side here if, when, battle ensues.

"Is Nazhena back from the capitol already? Or did Radosek send you hoping that he could cover his own mess before she came back? I'll tell you what. Turn and run now and we won't have to show you want a fully trained Winter Witch and her Witchguard can do. I assure you, the apprentice's spells are parlor tricks by comparison." He draws his blade with a steely hiss, readying himself for battle.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

"Tiny fey... come out from behind illusion. Have score to settle with you, not connected to Naz-heh-nah's", she sounds each syllable out like a curse in undercommon, "score with twins. Face me, coward. Alone. Tell bandit friends stay other side of river, or will kill them too."

aid another to Freyr's intimidate: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

"You should p-probably listen to him," Faethara says weakly. Only after a moment does she think to draw her sword, which sticks briefly in the sheath before she can bare it completely.

Lanyssa stands herself ready for the incoming assault. She unsheathes her enormous falchion and grabs it with both hands.

Ready action: when they attack, cast Divine Favor.

Grievous holds up her crossbow, You know, I've always thought elemental don't talk. After all they are entirely made of their elements, how would they talk? I understand spirits and such, that's ghostly energy... But elemental? Of the purest form that is. I understand the more humanoid ones... greivous says...

Hendra gives Norn a sideways glance.

"Not real. Illusion. Like snowman, and talking horse. Same tiny backstabber. If you burn, try to save bones."

She turns back to the illusion as she adds, "Intend to wear as necklace."

Planting her scythe in the ground, she pulls out the spear she took from the chest.

"Play time over. Death time, now."

So saying, she lazily tosses the spear at the illusion, not much caring if she connects.

Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Not rolling damage because I am assuming it is a complete illusion that can't take damage... it would be a 1d8 if applicable though.

Lurruk draws his longsword. "Leave my friends alone or you will face the consequences."

intimidate AA: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Meanwhile, hearing Hendra's theory, he instructs Beauty to fly over and see if she can spot any hidden fey.

Beauty perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Beauty stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26 +4 if considered to be in snow

Greivous puffs her pipe and squints, looking around...
Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 12

If you say so, I don't believe anything talking in this forest. Next thing we come apon I'm shooting... she looks into the trees, smiling. Well... I could always try to flush it out!

Into the Border Wood - On Frozen Pond - Showdown on the Ice Part II

Hendra throws her spear and it dissolves the illusion that most of you already knew stood before you.

Initiative Round 1 -
Faethara, Fryja, & Lurruk - GO!
Enemies
Lanyssa, Grievous, Grey. Hendra, & Freyr

Note as the NPCs are in the trees all have Soft-Cover.

When the elemental disappears, Lurruk raises his longsword high, calling "Whoever you are casting this foolish illusion in our path, show yourselves now and you can still receive our mercy. Do not force us to destroy you!"

intimidate: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

"You wish to battle a Elvannan?" Frjya asked as her eyes glowed a bright ice blue. "So be it." A layer of frost slowly coated the princess before she readied her staff.

Mage armor!

Faethara advances to the front, and casts a spell that causes the air in front of her to momentarily shimmer. Two fingers set on her sword make it shine.

Casting Shield as a standard action and spending a point from her arcane pool to make her sword magic as a swift action.

"To work, then; let us see what you can do," she says.

Into the Border Wood - On Frozen Pond - Showdown on the Ice Part II

As Faethara and Fryja raise defenses Lurruk tries to diffuse the combat through Intimidation, his response, three sets of arrows streaking towards him! Two of the arrows miss but one embeds itself painfully into his left oblique. 1 Damage

Meanwhile a ball of snow emanates from the tree nearest the frozen creek streaking right for Hendra! While she shrugs off the numbing cold it does bludgeon her chest upon impact 9 damage Hendra.

Hendra has seen enough, the fey revealed itself and has once again singled her out for injury, time to eliminate it!

She streaks across the ice Acrobatics 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 but loses her balance and slides to the base of the tree prone and even more enraged! "I'll roast cold fey before this day through".

Initiative Round 1 -
Lanyssa, Grievous, Grey. (Hendra - acted on DMPC), & Freyr - GO!

Initiative Round 2 -
Faethara, Fryja, & Lurruk - GO!
Enemies
Lanyssa, Grievous, Grey. Hendra, & Freyr

Lanyssa had to wait for a while, but in the end the fairy appears. She was ready to cast a spell, and she does. Now on to reaching the other part of the river and use it for good...

LAnyssa casts Divine Favor, as it was her readied action.

Freyr considers his options for a few moments and then starts across the ice, favoring slow, methodical movement instead of rushing and landing on his ass like the drow. And exposing himself to fire meant that he could draw some of the archers' fire away from the large cadre of spell casters that they're escorting.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Double move at half speed to get all the way across

Grey moves carefully across the icy river, wanting to get closer to those that may need her assistance.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Unfortunately she has been too long absent from the north and can't seem to keep her footing.

Greivous smiles pulling out her crossbow and slowly advancing across the river... Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 showing new experience with ice...Move across... Assuming that's enough to get across full speed?

She then looks up into the trees where the Fey where hiding and yells. So? You like trees? Try to hide up there when they are on FIRE! then she holds up a hand, and a fan of flames blasts up into the trees, greivous not really caring if she hits the Fey, rather she just wanted to flush them out by setting the trees ablaze.
Fire(15ftcone): 1d6 ⇒ 1Reflex DC:14 half

acrobatics half speed: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Faethara, a little smug after watching the drow land on her face, takes a more cautious movement across the ice, and she, too, slips on the ice.

Ice, our worst enemy...

Lurruk has already had trouble on this icy river crossing before. Seeing all the others falling before he steps on, he decides to draw out his crossbow and fire at the fey from here.

attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Fryja, not worrying about the frozen river at the moment, held out her arm while focusing on one of the bandits. She grinned and snapped her fingers.

Dazed! DC 14

Into the Border Wood - On Frozen Pond - Showdown on the Ice Part II

Lanyssa casts a spell granting her increased battle prowess.

Freyr manages to get across the ice as if it were solid ground, he stands next to the drow daring the attackers to fire at him.

Grey follows but once more the ice claims a member of the team and she slides down on her rump... as does Faethara!

Grievous charges cross ice and releases fire!

Lurruk fires at the fey but his shot merely strikes the trees instead.

Finally, Frjya focuses on one of the archers with her spell.

While the fire does not harm the fey, Grievous has flushed the little bastard out. No more cover for him.

It seems the Winter Witch's spell failed as another three bandit arrows fly.

One headed for Freyr, one for Grievous, and one for Lurruk.

Freyr takes a hit in the shoulder. 6 damage. Grievous is as well struck by a well placed arrow. Take 5 damage and make a concentration check to cast your next spell this turn. Lurruk's foe has better aim and also strikes. Lurruk, take 4 damage.

The fey cackles in delight, "Let's cut you down to size evil elf shall we?" Hendra, make a Fortitude save DC 15 or be subject to a Reduce Person spell.

Initiative Round 2 -
Lanyssa, Grievous, Grey, Hendra, & Freyr - GO!

Initiative Round 3 -
Faethara, Fryja, & Lurruk - GO!
Enemies
Lanyssa, Grievous, Grey. Hendra, & Freyr

Note as the Bandits are still in the trees all have Soft-Cover.
The fey is 25' above the current position of the PCs on the other side of the frozen stream.

"Pfff..." is all Lanyssa gets to think when she remembers about the ice. Deciding that trying to be careful can only get her killed by the rain of arrows, she braces herself and runs towards the opposite shore, in the hopes that the momentum will carry her there if she falls.

Double move towards the other shore.

Acrobatics: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (19) - 2 = 17

Freyr flips his sword and stabs the point into the ground, then reaches back and draws his bow. "You were warned." He pulls a cold iron arrow free from his quiver and fires up at the exposed fey.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Free action: drop greatsword, Move action, draw longbow, Standard action, shoot fey

Grey tries to get across the river to her wounded compatriots.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Finally managing to her her feet under her.

Lurruk, frustrated, pauses to call upon his battle spirit to assist them in their archery.

+1 to attack/damage.

Meanwhile, he calls empathically to Beauty, instructing her to hit the fey and distract it. She swoops in silently and claws at the fey.

stealth in snow: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (3) + 19 = 22

attack+battle spirit: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 1 = 19
damage+battle spirit: 1d4 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) - 2 + 1 = 3

Greivous growls lifting her crossbow and firing it at the Fey she flushed out. She had always hated those little bugs. She grits her teeth, ignoring her wound
Ranged attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Crossbow Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8
She laughs maniacally as she fires.

Once she is sure her bolt is fired, she finds the closest tree and moves to take cover.

4HP, Forgoes Spellcasting to shoot-standard action, moves behind tree-move action(assuming a tree is within 30ft)

Slightly annoyed that the bandit seemed to have shaken off her magic Fryja tried once more, snapping her fingers while glaring at the bandit.

Daze once more!

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Faethara stands up carefully and crosses the rest of the way over the frozen pond.

Into the Border Wood - On Frozen Pond - Showdown on the Ice Part II

Round 2

Lanyssa dashes across the ice more successfully than most of her companions arriving at the other side. Grey's feet find the right touch on the ice and they too are across.

Freyr's shot goes right through the fey's leg. It screams in pain but continues to climb looking for altitude. Still it is not out of range for Grievous whose bolt also finds the mark!

Hendra from the ice draws her hand crossbow and fires at the fey, "Get down".

Ranged Attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 - Damage 1d4 ⇒ 1

Hendra save 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7.

As she fires, the drow shrinks! Though her bolt hits, it appears to simply bounce off of the fey's magical hide.

Round 3

Faethera is also able to finally get across.

As the fey spins to look back down, it is cut across the face by Beauty! Still the damn thing hovers in place, bleeding from a few wounds.

"Kill them, kill them all!" it cries out to its arrow wielding companions. It grins and disappears from sight!

Fryja casts again. This time her spell is met with success as one of the bandits falls right out of the tree!

Grievous is struck by an arrow in the arm from the volley let loose from the trees. Take 2 damage.

Freyr is likewise struck once more though tis but a flesh wound. Take 1 damage.

Initiative Round 3 -
Lanyssa, Grievous, Grey, Hendra, & Freyr - GO!

Initiative Round 4 -
Faethara, Fryja, & Lurruk - GO!
Enemies
Lanyssa, Grievous, Grey. Hendra, & Freyr

Notes: The two Bandits still in the trees all have Soft-Cover.
The one on the ground is prone.
The fey is now invisible and you have a 50% miss chance to try and hit, it is seriously wounded though.