Lay of the Sluagh Sídhe - a Reign of Winter PbP (Inactive)

Game Master Mark Sweetman

Bastagar nods, gathering up his fetishes and tying them to his belt again.

____

Bastagar snorts at Hilde's suggestion, pointing to Caerb's ironshod boots. "Makes too much noise, this one does! Let Bastagar go alone." he protests, sticking out his chest. "Quiet as snow, Bastagar is!"

Take (10) Stealth - (21)
Take (10) Perception - (15)

Cearb elbows his way past Bastagar in an effort to get in the lead, "White as snow too, and as crunchy. These boots only stomp when things need stomping. We go up quiet, an stomp as needed when the others arrive." But he does slow down and get quiet as they approach the cabin and outbuildings.

Take 10 Stealth = 20; Take 10 Perception = 16

Bastagar attempts to shove past Caerb, but his bitter muttering will silence as they approach the cabin. He'll scout out the grounds and the outbuilding before risking a peek through the window, looking covetously at the fire.

And starting as but a flicker and spark, the flames return and wash over all. Thanks for the patience - we are back and running :)

As the twin gnomes fight each other to be the first to approach the cabin they do manage to keep relatively quiet at least, and get better view and understanding of what is coming. Nearer you creep, yet still remaining somewhat reserved... unwilling to expose yourselves to discovery but yet. No sounds can be heard that might offer knowledge of what comes - but your eyes do see.

Map You are currently off map along the trail about fifteen feet or so to the NE. Two gnomes in the front - rest of you bringing up the back.

Original description:
It does not take overlong before your reach an incline that sends the trail winding and rising to the West before doubling back on itself. After climbing at least a hundred feet in height into the hills, the snowy trail finally levels off. In a clearing among the trees, a large wooden lodge overlooks a ravine spanned by a long rope bridge. Smoke rises from the lodge’s two snow-covered chimneys, and large woodpile is stacked against the outer wall. A small outbuilding stands east of the lodge, and a stone well nearly blanketed by snow is barely recognizable to the north. Several tracks lead southwest toward a detached stable.

The thick and deep trail you have been following muddies nearer to the back of the lodge and numerous horse and human tracks cross back and forth through the snow near the back porch of the lodge.

Kelgar shelters his vision from the extreme brightness of daylight reflecting off the white snow and observes as Cearb and Bastagar duck low, work their way closer to the lodge, and occasionally elbow one another.

He gives the others a pleading look.

"Ach, th' two wee ones are gittin' close. Best ye pray t' yer gods they remain unseen."

The old dwarf winces in mental pain as he sees the two gnomes pause to chatter at each other about something.

Instinctively, he grips his axe tighter and prepares mentally for a bell to ring out, or a horn to blow.

The Halfhand stands idle, his fingers drumming impatiently on his crossbow as he tries to ignore the wispy black creature skittering across the ground before his feet. It can't hurt you. It can't hurt you. Despite his mantra, he can practically feel the thing's bristly fur on his skin as the imagined monster brushes past. His eyes roll back, lids half closed, and a shudder moves through his body.

"This situation makes me feel ill at ease." The Halfhand says, regaining his senses. He swallows, his mind going through the various horrific possibilities. "Who knows what they'll do when out of sight?"

Bastagar scowls about the grounds, before beckoning Caerb close. "Does it see a way inside? No matter. Bastagar has an idea, he does. A cunning trick to lure our prey." he says, with a wicked grin. "We can lose the tall folk and see what more we can find, what does it think?"

If we keep to the trees we gnomes can can scout the whole perimeter, I'd guess, but I wanted to wait and see what Caerb thinks.

Yes and no - to the far West you can see the hint of a ravine. So you wouldn't be able to circle completely from tree cover.

Hilde draws her bow and prepares an arrow. With absolute confidence in the gnomes and a broad smile for her companions, she settles in to wait patiently.

Cearb grabs Bastagar's coat to keep him from running off. He puts is mouth near Bastagar's ear and loudly whispers, "Na, I will boost you, you look in, you look like snowflake to those inside, me, I crush you with boots, if you boost me, look, see, remember, then get the others."

If agreed they can sneak in as before, maybe head for the north face where the trees are closer and away from the door.

Bastagar will peek through the window

Circling through the trees, the two gnomes seek to come upon the lodge from hiding. Gingerly emerging from the trees they stalk to the side of the lodge to peer through one of the windows. Three doors open into the room within and a sturdy bed heaped with blankets sits near the window below your view. It definitely looks sleeped in, but is currently empty. A large maple chest occupies the southwest corner.

The window is thinly iced over and does not appear to have a mechanism that could be worked to open it. All three doors within the room are currently closed.

Please make a reference to the map when stating which window you peek through. I have you looking in the one nearest to M,2.

Olaf watches anxiously, axe in hand, waiting for the Gnomes to be noticed, and all Hell to break loose...

"Empty." he mutters, skirting around the house to G3.

Kelgar scratches an itch on his buttocks, which takes several attempts to find a passage through his armor in which to administer the relief.

"Ach. They're just goin' window t' window. Ah bet the place is empty and th' kidnappers we're followin' aren't e'en inside.

With each investigated window, the dwarf takes a cautious step closer to the cabin, hoping to coincide his arrival shortly after when the gnomes are complete with their reconnaissance.

Cearb moves with Bastagar to boost him to the next window. "Be easier if everyone lived in holes, there'd be no Ol' Whitey putting his feet on me, don't know if his whiteflakes is somethin I can catch.

@DMVoV: I assume the tracks of the kidnappers that we've been following head up straight to the cabin's front door? Or do they skirt around this cabin?

If it's possible to get all the way around the cabin (without getting to close to it) to where the trail might resume, I can see us considering that while the gnomes peek in windows.

The goal here is trying to determine if the kidnappers are currently inside this cabin or not, without being detected.

Survival (if applicable to above inquiry): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Hilde continues to wait patiently. 8)

The Halfhand shuffles in place, growing more and more antsy.

"What are those gnomes doing up there?" he grumbles. "I feel like I've been standing here for days. I've already started freezing over..." He shakes a small pile of snow from the top of his boot.

The gnomes stalk to each of the northern windows in turn to take a quick peek and also around the Western edge of the compound before stalking back into the trees and their companions to offer a report.

From Left to Right on the Map
The Bridge:
A bridge made of rope and wooden planks spans a narrow ravine. It’s already covered in ice and snow, and it sways alarmingly in the icy winds blowing through the gorge. The turbulent waters of a fast-moving creek surge through a couple of waterfalls far below.

The Kitchen - I/J 4 on Map:
A large fireplace takes up most of the north wall of this room, its radiant heat providing palpable relief from the cold weather outside. Cabinets and shelves line the remaining wall space, and four windows look out on the wintry landscape surrounding the lodge.

The gnomes recoil quickly though when they see the back of a female half-orc within the room fetching what look like more vegetables from a table deeper within the room.

A Bedroom - K,3 on Map:
A single rumpled bed occupies this room. The gnomes can spy no occupants.

Bedroom and Chest - M,3 on Map:
Three doors open into the room within and a sturdy bed heaped with blankets sits near the window below your view. It definitely looks sleeped in, but is currently empty. A large maple chest occupies the southwest corner.

The window is thinly iced over and does not appear to have a mechanism that could be worked to open it. All three doors within the room are currently closed.

Yet another Bedroom - O,4 on Map:
A bed and chest sit across from one another in this small room. Two doors serve as exits, and a window looks out on the north side of the lodge.

Note: The lodge does have a second story - but you can't see in those windows.
It's not letting me upload the updated map - so will need to do that from home tonight.

Bastagar scurries back along the treeline toward the others, because it's high time everyone got posting again.

"No sentries stand vigil in winter cold, no. And we spy but one inside." he says, informing the others hastily of what he's seen. "Draw them out into the cold, we should. Spill their blood in the snow, one by onesies... Bastagar has an idea..." he says, barely able to control his malicious glee.

Updated Map

The Halfhand opens his eyes. The world is dull and muted, as if he had just awoken from a deep sleep. Slowly things settle into place, the return of the gnome snapping him from his stupor.

"Huh- What is-" he blinks a few times, a displeased expression forming on his face as he becomes increasingly aware of the gnomes' presence. "Oh. It's you."

He listens as Bastagar relates his information. "Well, go on then." the wizard says. "Tell us how you propose to do so."

Bastagar meets the outcast's gaze levelly, tapping his nose with a crooked finger. "Old gnome trick." he says, grinning. "Not for ears such as yours, but Bastagar tells."

"Gnome magic lures them out, yes. And we jumps them and cuts their throat."

Bastagar means to use ghost sound to lure whichever Bandit draws the short straw unto an ambush. Worst case scenario it's one less to deal with, and best case we draw the others out into the open terrain where we can flank.

Cearb leans over and whispers loudly and incredulously, "You make those noises? They always just seem to follow me around, especially when blood needs to be shed."

I'm taking that as both gnomes in support, need two more for quorum... plus what type of sound and where you want to make it as the lure if you go that way.

The sound of a bawling child a few feet into the treeline sounds delightfully morbid, doesn't it? Let's place it in the treeline behind the outhouse. If we manage to knock him out without him raising the alarm we can lock him inside as live bait.

On the map, is that are in I,6 a deck that leads up to to a door? Or is that the interior of the building? Which direction are we currently coming from? How come the gnomes didn't do a full circuit?

Kelgar waits, licking his lips as the rising smoke and heat coming from the cabin's chimney before returning his attention to the returning gnomes.

"Y'spotted a single woman inside? Could always be th' cabin's a friendly one. I'd hate to jump a woman who comes out searchin' for a babe."

Kelgar scratches his head and imagines what he would do if he heard a crying baby deep in the winter woods.

Ah'd probably think it's a witch's trick...

Yep - the deck on I,6 looks to be a front porch of some kind - though you'd need to either circle the cabin or sneak closer than the gnomes initially thought prudent to get sight of the doors.

Didn't do a full circuit as they hit upon the ravine, and wanted to give an initial taste.
You're down the path to the North East.

Because a certain gnome wasnt watching his map and hadnt realise we'd only skirted one wall. But more than that a certain gnome was in a hurry to get the game back into full swing. :P

Final decision? - at the present I count two gnomes in favor of the crying babe in the night, and four abstentions?

Cearb motions his head back toward the cabin and starts to sneak back that way. He whispers to Bastagar, "You have much experience around human infants? Wriggling little things...my father's done a swap or two, left nice little quiet things to raise, doing them Bigguns a favor really, what the Court wants with the squalling tykes is beyond me, like we ain't good enough, I guess."

Cearb will sneak back and take up hiding at the woodpile (Q-4) around the corner from the door. He will let the first thing to come out, head out to the woods unmolested, but will make moves to prevent it coming back, and assessing what else might come out the door.

Olaf frowns at Cearb's words.

"Whilst I have no strict objection to the plan, I must admit that I am more than a little disappointed by the revelations regarding your father. I trust that you have no personal experience?"

Surprised that his loud whispers were heard, "They...um...are well cared for. Adored really. Growing up in Nithveil is a privilege. They are better for it, rather than scratching a living in the dirt, wondering if they ever get enough to eat, every whim is answered for the privileged of the court. The Forest has its needs, my Father was its servant, and a great one at that, no harm was done, the children thrive, lucky even to never leave the wondrous city, with me though, I am but a lost Gnome, I do not directly serve the Grungir, having lost the way back to Nithveil, nor have I been called upon to plant a Changling....but some day I will be as great as Him, even if I don't get my own saga."

Kelgar shifts anxiously in his boots while considering the gnome's proposed plan.

"Alright lads. Try your tricks. Worst case they know we're 'ere, which they'dve figured out anyway 'ad we tried to 'ead up as a group."

Olaf regards Cearb warily, but not in a hostile fashion.

"I understand that there are two sides to every story, but I have only ever heard that of the mortals - the pain and loss upon discovering that the child you are rearing is not your own; babes stolen away by capricious First World entities, never to be seen, or heard of, again. I am sure you can appreciate why I might be... shall we say 'cautious'?... upon being told that a travelling companion's father was involved in such things. However, that is probably a conversation best suited for another time, when we are not trying to track down and eliminate kidnappers and murderers."

"What they want? Bastagar... does not care to know. But Bastagar has..." he whispers, cut off by Olaf. He tuts at Caerb's explanation. "Save your breath. He would not understand. He does not sing the fairie songs." he mutters. "Another time! Another time, yes!"

Assuming Hilde's support and not waiting for the Halfhand's opinion, Bastagar will make his way to the outhouse, hiding in the treeline at V8 and motioning the others to follow. If anyone totals below a 15 on their stealth check he will turn on them with a scowl and tell them to wait further away at V2, batting at them with his stick if they don't comply.

Stealth: ⇒ (Take 10) = 21
___

Rubbing his gnarled hands together, gleefully, the gnome spins his spell, humming to himself in Sylvan as a baleful cry echoes from the outhouse, louder than it has any right to be. He waits until his prey cannot ignore it any longer and prepares to strike. Ghost Sound (DC14)

Olaf waits at the tree-line, hoping that the Gnomes' plan will work...

Caerb stalks to the woodpile and hides amongst it easily, blending into snow and detritus admirably.

As Bastagar stalks along the treeline, he notices a trip line low and within the snow. Freezing in place he traces it back to a tree, and in the canopy sees a man sized crossbow perched on a hair trigger and ready to be released with murderous force if the tripline is crossed. He also spies a smattering of pots and pans suspended as well... an early warning device perhaps.

A passing thought of whether to exploit or bypass crosses his mind...

Continue with plan, or change due to discovery?

Bastagar raises a halting gesture to the others, furrowing his brow with frustration. "More foul traps. Curse them! Let their feet grow numb and their toes black." he grumbles, adding a few more choice curses to the mix under his breath. He follows the tripline and checks for a way around, only attempting to disarm it if he finds none. He motions for Caerb to approach. "Help us with this. The tall one's hands are too clumsy."

Disable Device (if no other route becomes apparent): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

The trap is at the end of the trail - about the U,2 area. You can easily walk around it, or disable with Caerb's assistance.

Crossbow in wait dealt with Bastagar continues to his chosen lurk and makes the sound of a crying babe.

He needs to keep it up for a few tens of seconds before sounds are heard - a door opening in the distance nearer the bridge. Soon after a quartet of bandits round the leading edge of the lodge. They are armed, two with bows and two wielding swords as they stalk forward.

Clearly they are prepared for combat and you can hear them talk as they approach "...you know what the ice b1tch said... there's someone about killin the fey." "Heh, they bloody deserve it though, bloody unnerve me..." "Quiet." One of the men with a sword hushes the others and addresses the tree-line "We know you're out there... show yourselves!"

Also, Perception checks from all please :)
You don't think they've noticed you yet...

Updated map - I'll correct the scale when foitin breaks out

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Bastagar can see a flicker of movement on the second story perhaps of someone watching, but even more troubling than that is a blur that sweeps near to alight on the corner of the lodge nearest the outhouse... the sprite that got away...

The Halfhand remains silent throughout the conversation, grimacing at the mention of kidnapping. Though the thought repulses him, it comes as no surprise. He loads his crossbow and holds it ready in the crook of his arm, sniffing the cold air vacantly.

Ormr hovers on his shoulder, swaying back and forth impatiently.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Sensing the fear in the man's voice, the dwarf looked about to give a friendly elbow to Bastagar to acknowledge that their plan seemed to actually be working, but noticed that the gnome had already scrambled off to the south.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

"Eh, what's that?"

Kelgar narrowed his eyes, sensing something moved that might be important to have noticed.

Olaf remains silent, waiting for the men to come closer...

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8.
Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15.

Oh yeah, I do suppose Stealth is applicable.

The Halfhand will do his best to keep himself hidden.

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

All on Bastagar... if no post by the time I get home tonight I'll chuck us in initiative at least to force the issue ;)

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30
Apply Poison: 1d20 ⇒ 8

Bastagar grins as his prey approaches, ceasing his illusion and drawing his blade, coating it in a viscous, sap-coloured liquid.

Move Action:Draw Blade, cease concentration on ghost sound.
Standard Action:Apply drow poison

Let's pray the surprise round is ours, boys! Either way, we have them in the open for the Halfhand and Hilde's arrows, so I think we can call this a win.