Round 2, Initiative 7, Location: J17->K7
Weapon Equipped = everburning torch
Conditions = none
Arcane Bond = none
Force Missile = 6/6
Wizard Spells Remaining:
0) Detect Magic, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost*, Spark
1) Burning Hands*, Magic Missile w/Topple*, Magic Missile w/Topple*
Again moving as quickly as he can, Othoe just makes it into the room and in position to see something, but gets no further action.
Round 2, Init 6
Know (Religion)
"By Sarenrae's Sunless Areas, what is that!? Well, give me some room so I can hit it."
Kast looks at the door and grunts.
"Nevermind, I'll go get it."
Kast will double move to F11, his lighted bardiche leading the way.
"I'm here! Come and get some!" Kast roars, trying to get the creature's attention.
SOLDIERS CHALLENGE!
Round 2, Init 5
As Kast rushes outside to challenge the Fetch attacking through the wall, he comes face to face with another, claws swiping at him through the snow.
Round 2 | Initiative 20
Standing, Dorial reaches out to Nimeon to provide some support.
Nimeon will react to Kast's cry by moving out and attacking the second fetch.
Simon again reaches his flaming hands at the creature.
Kast takes off outside to take the fight to the Fetch, only to run into his partner out in the snow. Othoe makes it up the stairs, huffing and puffing as fast as his stubby little legs will go. Dorial touches Nimeon, giving him a little divine guidance. Nimeon rushes out to help Kast, but just misses the fetch. Simon tries to touch the first fetch with his hands of flame, but misses.
round 2, Init 5
Fetch 1, tries again to rip his way through the cabin, clawing at the wood with both hands to get to the fire wielder inside. A few chunks come off in his hands as he growls in frustration.
Fetch 2 turns her fury on Nimeon for intruding, slashing at the man with her vicious claws. Her stark blue eyes shine with a malevolent light.
,
,
Chrystosm: ………………20
Dorial: ………………………20
Othoe: …………………………7
Simon: …………………………6.5
Kast: ……………………………6
Nimeon: ………………………5.5
Frozen fury: …………………5
map
Begin, Round 3
Round 3, Init 6
Kast nods to Nimeon, fellow soldier.
"Let's do this like some of us were trained, eh?"
Kast will 5' step back to E7 and ready to strike when Nimeon goes for flank.
to hit;
damage.
Soldiers fight.
Kast's Quick Stats:
AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+3 armor, +3 Dex)
hp 11/21
Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +1
Weapons in Hand: cold iron bardiche
Spell Effects: none
Conditions: none
Irorian Mantras of Perfection:
0) Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Read Magic
1) 4/4 remaining: Shield of Faith, Protection from Evil, Cure Light Wounds
Round 3 Init 5.5
HP = 6/18
AC = 17/12/15
Weapon Equipped = Longsword
Speed = 20'
Smite Evil = 0/1
Status Effects = Smite
Badly injured but resolved Nimeon nods at Kast.
"Aye, let us put these beasts down."
Round 3, Initiative 7, Location: K7->G8
Weapon Equipped = everburning torch (club)
Conditions = none
Arcane Bond = none
Force Missile = 6/6
Wizard Spells Remaining:
0) Detect Magic, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost*, Spark
1) Burning Hands*, Magic Missile w/Topple*
Othoe rushes to the door and seeing the creature, casts Magic Missile w/ Toppling Spell.
What an unwholesome place the countryside is. So dangerous it's a wonder anyone leaves town at all!
Round 3, init 20, Location: J10
Chrystsom grits his teeth and attempts to strike again, fumbling badly and only just avoiding getting his rapier stuck in the wall of the shack.
"D'oh!"
Round 3, so far
Othoe rushes to the door and is just able to make out the horror facing Kast and Nimeon. Quickly, he launches a bolt of magic ire at the thing, knocking it prone at their feet. Kast swiftly takes advantage, hacking into the thing with his glowing blade of doom. Nimeon follows suit, bringing the decisive smite of Erastil down upon the creature's head, which rolls away wailing into the snow, before falling silent, it's stark blue eyes fading to black.
Inside, Chrystosm stabs at the charred blue gray arms that reach through the wall, but stumbles, nearly sticking his blade in the rotten wood of the cabin wall.
Round 3 | Initiative 20
Nimeon now out side, Dorial turns to one of her remaining companions in front of her. She mutters a few words and touches Simon's arm, smiling at him before pointing to the beast outside.
Simon again grips at the icy horror, trying to burn it with the fingers of flame.
Round 3, Init 5
Though Dorial gives Simon extra guidance, He can't seem to touch the icy arms ripping at the wall.
Outside, The first Fetch reaches through the wall, clawing at Simon in turn. He misses with both hands, then realizes belatedly that Nimeon and Kast have killed his mate,
"EMMMMMAAAALIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNEEE"
,
Chrystosm: ………………20
Dorial: ………………………20
Othoe: …………………………7
Simon: …………………………6.5
Kast: ……………………………6
Nimeon: …………………………………………………5.5
Frozen fury: ………………………………………… 5
Begin Round 4, next up, Chrystosm, Dorial, then Othoe....
Round 4, Init 6
Kast limps to G11 and issues the challenge that never happened last round.
"I'm here! Come and get some!" Kast roars, trying to get the creature's attention.
SOLDIERS CHALLENGE!
Round 4, init 20, Location: J10
Lips pursed in concentration, Chrystosm attempts once more to make a mark on his opponent, without effect.
Simon keeps reaching at the creature with his hands of flame, hoping that the touch of fire will drive the beast away.
Though Chrystosm's rapier misses , Simon's hands of flame catch the creature as it pulls away . Nearly mindless of it, however, the icicle husband howls an answering challenge to Kast's, turning towards him with ice cold murder in his eyes.
Round 4 Init 5.5
HP = 6/18
AC = 17/12/15
Weapon Equipped = Longsword
Speed = 20'
Smite Evil = 0/1
Status Effects = None
"Well take him together Kast."
Nimeon prepares to attack as soon as the other fetch is in range.
Round 4, Initiative 7, Location: G8->F15
Weapon Equipped = everburning torch
Conditions = none
Arcane Bond = none
Force Missile = 5/6
Wizard Spells Remaining:
0) Detect Magic, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost*, Spark
1) Burning Hands*, Magic Missile w/Topple*
Othoe moves out into the cold and blowing snow still carrying the everburning torch. Seeing the last creature, he fires a Force Missile.
Round 4 | Initiative 20
Dorial heaves a sigh of relief when the second monster goes down. Turning back to the first attacking one she reaches out to give Simon some more additional support.
Round 4, Init 5
Mr. Fetch charges at Kast, provoking the mighty swing of his bardiche. The light goes out, buried in the head of shoulder of the Fetch, though it pulls free, poised to rake Kast into his future as a fetch. But Nimeon's diviinely powered swing of his longsword connects before he can reach the soldier's face. The ugly creature drops dead, his blood thirsty claws slipping harmlessly over Kast's armor. Burn marks from Simon's attacks char his arms and face, Kast's bardiche has nearly removed one arm, Othoe's force missile has pummeled the thing's face, and Nimeon's longsword has spilled his frozen innards out into the snow. Mr. Fetch is as well and truly dispatched to whatever belated plane awaits.
Kast swings at the creature again, just to be sure, then returns to slice again at the other one, again, just to be sure.
Soldiers confirm kills.
Kast takes a moment to calm down, his heavy breath sending plumes into the air.
"Cold dead things. I'll not be burying these things tonight, but maybe we could tender a fire for them in that tree," Kast uses his bardiche to point to the burnt lonely tree. "We'll build a pyre there for them."
Kast looks at his own wounds, then at Nimeon's.
"They struck sharply with cold, did they not, Nimeon. They hated the fires of our lives," Kast says as he begs Irori for perfection while laying his hands on Nimeon.
healing
Then himself.
healing.
Simon casts Cure Light Wounds on anyone that's injured.
Healing for Kast:
Healing for Nimeon:
Chrystosm eyes his rapier sadly before sheathing it.
Hum. Fat lot of good I was back there. Out of practice?
He thinks for a moment, then shakes his head.
Nah. Just bad luck.
For want of something to do, he starts attempting to patch up the shack walls with whatever happens to be at hand
"Well done all. Indeed Kast those beasts struck with cold in an effort to snuff out the light of our lives. As a team we were able to dispatch them, like a pack of Erastil's wolves we worked together to defeat this foe. Let us retire to the warmth of the cabin though, lest we join them in death."
Kast goes inside with the intent of making the night in the shelter and continuing on to find Nimeon's dad in the morning.
* * *
"So Othoe, what about them shoes and that box? Chrystosm, did you find any warm clothes amongst all the lingerie?"
"Sorry Kast, I've learned nothing so far. As I mentioned before we were interrupted, I'll take another look in the morning after breakfast when I'm fresh. Maybe have better luck."
Othoe heads back inside quickly to conserve what's left of the warmth.
"Does anyone know what those things are? They're obviously more than just beasts as they spoke and showed emotions."
Once everyone is settled and the atmosphere quiets down, Dorial settles down into her corner to meditate.
"If we are planning on staying the night here then I can help with watches. Also, who could use some relief from the cold? I can help two others plus my self."
"They are fetches. The bodies of murderers buried in cold ground, they return to drink the fire of the living and make others like them. If the clothing you found below is any indication they might have been people who lived here. No doubt when we explore further in the morning we will learn more."
Chrystosm, using wood from the shelves below, is able to fix the worst of the damage to the wall, though a draft whistles through the room. There are two fur coats mixed in with the clothes.
Along with the shelves, the group is able to bring the cabinet up the stairs to burn, providing plenty of warmth for the night. Moving it reveals a trap door hidden beneath it.
"Umm, should we be removing that cabinet from the trap door, maybe it was keeping something inside?" Simon stands on the stairs, looking nervously from the trap door to the warm fire.
Kast lifts the cabinet/firewood and sighs.
"There is more down here. Nimeon, Chyrsto, do we want to go down here now or wait until the morning? I guess we can put the cabinet back while we rest. I could go now...what's the worst that could be down there? Them ugly, foulmouthed, blue elves that are crazy sometimes live in holes, right?"
Kast looks down the trapdoor and casts light on his bardiche.
Chrystosm peers down the trapdoor nervously.
"I say we sleep on it, by which I mean that we physically sleep on it, so nothing can come out"
Foolproof! Nothing could go wrong with that idea
"Then check it out in the morning, once we're warm and have had some shut-eye. I've heard about these blue elves of yours... throwing a bottle of brandy and some porn down is supposed to keep 'em quiet" He pats his pockets "But I'm all out... of brandy. Er, all out. Of everything. Nothing to see here. Goodnight!!"
He slams down the trapdoor and curls up on it, wrapped up in his bedroll and making loud and unconvincing snoring noises.
Beneath the trap door is an old ladder that disappears into darkness. Kast's bardiche reveals a tunnel that heads to the west.
"I'm game searching it now, but waiting until morning when we're fresher is probably prudent."
I wonder what horrors lie down there? Or maybe some treasure...
"We should show some caution Kast. I misspoke earlier, fetches are the bodies of murder victims interred in cold earth. That implies they were murdered by something, yes?"
Kast listens to Nimeon and Chrystosm and shrugs. "We go in the morning then."
Kast sets up the watch (whatever we usually do), prepares for sleep, and takes his turn at watch.
In the morning, after this usual routine of prayers for perfection and practice with his bardiche, Kast will eat and be ready to explore the trapdoor.
"Is there any reason to or not to explore this? I mean, the two ladies that lived here probably kept this door here for a reason. How deep could it go?"
"Most likely it's a bolt hole Kast. These woods are close to town but the area is hardly civilized, as you could see. Most likely they were killed before they could make their way down there. Probably the two fetches we encountered, poor lasses."
Chrystosm's sacrifice of sleeping on the trap door in the unheated basement proves unwarranted, as nothing other than his dreams thumps or bumps beneath him through out the night. Left with the a fur coat and/or some of the other clothing, he makes it through the night without any problems.
Above, the others too pass the rest of the night uneventfully, with the warmth of the fire that the basement lacks.
The next morning dawns with reassuring silence and streams of bright crystal light filtering through the cracks in the walls. The fire keeps any chill away.Outside, the bright light refracts over snow drifts and icicles that have formed as the day has warmed slightly. Crystal clear and deadly sharp, several hang off the roof in front of the door.
Upon waking, the group explores as discussed. The ladder leads to a tunnel, which dead ends about 500 feet to the west. The cave in may have been intentional, as the support beams in this area look like they were hacked with a bladed tool of some kind.
The ladies certainly did like their underwear lacy for such an isolated environment. I wonder why? ...
In the morning Othoe prepares his spells and takes another hard look at the boots and the box.
Weapon Equipped = everburning torch
Conditions = none
Arcane Bond = none
Force Missile = 5/6
Wizard Spells Remaining:
0) Detect Magic, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost*, Spark
1) Burning Hands*, Magic Missile w/Topple*, Magic Missile w/Topple*
Detect magic and spellcrafting on the magics.
He continues to carry the everburning torch as the party begins to investigate the basement as a group.
"I wonder what we'll find in two ladies bolt hole? More pretty clothing?"
EDIT:
"Hey folks, look at this! A few pearls, but also some canvass - maybe another hidden way deeper down?"
Othoe sets the torch to one side and tries to remove the canvass, lift it up, etc.
Still bleary eyed from sleep, Chrystosm isn't clear on what Othoe's able to see, but shambles along to help look anyway, rapier in one hand and lantern in the other.
Boots of the Winterlands
Aura faint abjuration and transmutation; CL 5th
Slot feet; Price 2,500 gp; Weight 1 lb.
DESCRIPTION
The wearer of these boots is able to travel across snow at her normal speed, leaving no tracks. Additionally, the boots enable her to travel at normal speed across the slipperiest ice (horizontal surfaces only, not vertical or sharply slanted ones) without falling or slipping.
Finally, boots of the winterlands warm the wearer, as if she were affected by an endure elements spell.
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
Craft Wondrous Item, cat’s grace, endure elements, pass without trace; Cost 1,250 gp.
Digging up the canvas reveals a large bag. In it are is a fine suit of formal breastplate armor with strange markings. Othoe recognizes them as the herald of one of the minor noble houses of Cheliax. In the standard Chelish Black and Red motif, it is stark and would prove difficult to sell in Andoran. Its quality brand it as most likely a member of the Family's armor, as opposed to hired muscle. Selling it in Cheliax could likely bring the weight of a blade upon your neck. Buried beneath it are a small diary and a broken collar with similar markings.
Othoe screws up his face in consternation while studying the box.
"Well I figured out what the boots are. They allow the wearer to move normally in all this snow and ice while leaving no trace. Additionally they keep them toasty warm. I suggest we give them to Kast or myself as we're the slowest in this damnable weather."
"The box continues to elude me. It's definitely conjuration, so it could be just about anything. Nothing normal comest to mind though. It's not a standard magic. I may need a few more days to truly plumb it's depths."
He hands the boots to Kast, if he'll take them.