[PFS_Aerondor] 00-04 The Frozen Fingers of Midnight (1-5) (Inactive)

Game Master Aerondor

Vanya slashes again at the red skinned zombie trying to get rid of it before it gets lucky and somehow manages to land a blow.

Attack roll 01: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 -> Damage roll: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Attack roll 02: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13 -> Damage roll: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Druga once again calls on Gorum to guide his blade while he attacks the undead abomination in front of him.

Druga uses another Destructive Smite domain power and attacks the blue zombie.

attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

damage: 2d6 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4, 6) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 16

+1 for destructive smite, +1 for magic weapon

My friends, if I go down, there is a curing potion and a wand in my pack!

Stonegrin is overcome with horror at the touch of the undead and just stands there.

Vanya slashes at the red zombie and reduces it to ribbons.
But I think your second attack should only be +2 damage, not +4; just because you substitute your dex for str doesn't mean off hand attacks are not reduced damage. I have to remember this for my uRogue too :-(

Druga lands a solid blow on the Blue zombie. This one looks a little different from the other zombies, newer, fresher and certainly not rotten... That doesn't keep it on its feet, it too collapses.

Status, bold may post
Gromsk -
Ryllwynne
Zaamir
Undead
Yellow
Druga - magic weapon; 9 damage; Ghoul Fever
Vanya -
Stonegrin -2 damage, Paralysed

Gromsk moves up to the ghoul and brings down his falchion with significant force.

Attack (Power Attack): 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (13) + 10 - 1 = 22
Damage: 2d4 + 12 ⇒ (4, 1) + 12 = 17

Zaamir goes down and hears words of Druga.

"You're up early going to rest, the cleric. Your God will not appreciate this!" - he says smiling grimly.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 ups! (

Gromsk removes the ghoul's head. Guess it isn't hungry any more.

A quick look around the lower desk shows that the bodies are of an odd assorting.

The ghoul wears a silver and gold burial mask and wears rich rotted robes. Two of the zombies are dressed as an honor guard. A third of the zombies appears as more of a rag-tag raider and the last is not rotten at all and wears quite contemporary clothing.

A single stair leads up at the front of the boat.

"Is someone here able to check for magic items? I think that mask there could be one such object" then the taldan girl moves near the oddly looking zombie and sighs:"I think this one here was one of the raiders who entered here and was not quick enough to escape. What an horrible end!"

Once we are done checking we should move up the stair

"Good idea. Appreciate when beautiful women are smart." - says Zaamir and winks to Vanya. He is explicitly tuned to annoy Kida. When spirit is clearly going to throw something in reply, he puts on her so heavy gaze, that she stops and just turns away, trying to hide the anger on her face.

Then Zaamir carefully examining the mask.

Appraise: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
K. Arcana: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

The mask is obviously valuable. Whether it is magic... well, you'd need a spell for that.

apologies. had some ex wife aggro for a bit there, now catching up. ty for botting her.

Before we move on, I'd like to do a couple of things.

Thanks Zaamir. I am not sure what you did, but I feel much better, If you let me take a look at that mask, I may be able to determine if it is magical.

Druga casts Detect Magic and focuses on the mask. He do not have Knowledge (Arcana) or Spellcraft as trained skills, so he can only check for presence of magical auras and relative strength.

wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Is any one else hurt? Would anyone else like me to use this magical healing wand on them?

After Detect Magic, Druga uses his wand on himself and offers to use it on anyone else who wants some healing.

The mask is obviously valuable. Whether it is magic... well, you'd need a spell for that.

I think an appraise check of DC25 or more can determine if an item is magical or not although it can't define the kind of properties the object has

Indeed the mask has a magical aura to it.

Stonegrin eventually comes out of his paralysis.

Status:
Gromsk -
Ryllwynne
Zaamir
Druga - 3 damage; Ghoul Fever
Vanya -
Stonegrin -2 damage,

Aerondor, I believe I am at full hp. 8 posts up, Zaamir healed me for 3 hp, unless I misunderstood the post.

Corrected!

Actions?

Status:
Gromsk -
Ryllwynne
Zaamir
Druga - Ghoul Fever
Vanya -
Stonegrin -2 damage,

Let's pick up that mask and move on... I'm freezing!" says Vanya pointing at the stair.

You climb up the ladder to the deck of the ship. The soft glow of sunlight again penetrates into this ice cave, and several braziers burn near the walls. A beautiful woman stands next to a simple chair, facing you. Other furniture in the chamber suggests that this is her private quarters. The woman looks you over as though judging a draft animal, and asks, “Have you come to work the oars? I am in need of more rowers.”

Stonegrin flexes his muscles and grins a big toothy grin.

Aye mam! Best rower that ye ever saw!

Rolling his eyes at Stonegrin's apparent enthusiasm, Gromsk adresses the woman.

"Take no heed of my companion, my lady, he's only jesting. The real reason we've come here is to lift a curse, that has been placed on Skelg the Ripper. We believe that it is somehow linked to a magical lantern and this ship. Would you happen to know what we're talking about?"

"Skelg is cursed? That is most unfortunate. I was hoping to spend more time with him. I would have him join me.."

Time for some diplomacy

Who said "diplomacy" near me? )

"Beautiful lady! Do not deign to tell us what you mean? How was he supposed to join you? And why?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16 (-2 if she's not a human and not an evil outsider)

Got a re-roll you might want to use on that?

Alas, no opportunity for reroll I don't have... Is it that bad? )

P.S. "Not a humanoid and not an evil outsider" - I wanted to write above ;)

Not bad, but not ideal. Lets see if you can get some aid-anothers from the party.

Yes, why not spend more tie with him? Is It possible for you to come with us? We can bring you to him.

Aid Another (Zaamir): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Aid Another (Zaamir): 1d20 ⇒ 9
Well, much help I was...

"I would like to spend some more time with him.." she confesses.

"He saved my life you know."

I'm going to give you a little leeway here, as the scenario is a little contradictory. And we'll take Druga's roll with Zaamir as an aid on it.

"In return for the lantern you hold, I will be able to break the curse on Skelg. But you must bring him here, to me." she eventually offers.

Well I guess I can use me rowin prowess fer carryin purposes if need be...

Stonegrin mumbles...

Ryll will row as well if that is needed...

"If you leave me the lantern and bring me Skelg, I will not need rowers." says the icy lady.

"Madam! I see that you are just as beautiful as smart! You perfectly know how bad is our friend. It's really hard. We will be happy to get him here, but only if we are sure he will be fine. Please tell me what's going on here? "

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

"hmm.." she says for a moment.

"Skelg and I have history, presumably he told you about me?"

And presumably you answer no!

"A little over a month ago, my husband Haldyr Bjornsson, died. As was the custom of our homeland, his treasures were placed on his funeral ship to be burned with his body. As his wife, I numbered amongst those treasures. Skelg rescued me and looted much of the ship. He then left to take his commission with the long axes, leaving me the ship to sail where I will. However one of the treasures he took was the Beacon of the North - that lantern is associated with this ship. If you bring Skelg and the lantern to me, I can free him from his curse."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Hmmm , Druga thinks aloud, Nothing else seems to be working. Would do you think, friends, worth a try?

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16 Dice, stop it!

A threat? A trap? Cheating? Hmmm...

You are not aware of lies. What evidence there is supports her claims.

Gromsk shrugs.

"I guess it's the only way... Should we get going?"

"I think, Yes, it's the right thing to do. Other variants I do not see."

You head back to Greydog manor house and find little changed.

Diplomacy check if you want to convince Skelg to head through, but let me know what you tell him.

"We found a way to beak the curse on you Skelg, there's a nice lady who seems to know you and is willing to get to know you even better who claims to be able to lift it. She claims to be the widow of a certain Haldyr Bjornsson and that you resqued her. If you come with us to meet her she's willing to help you it seems. Worth a shot, no?" says Vanya trying to convince the Ulfen.

Diplomacy check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

"Yes, Skelg, this lady claims to know you and she seemed willing to help remove the curse with you and the lantern in her presence. Are you willing?"

Ryll adds trying to help Vanya convince the afflicted man...

Diplomacy aid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9 and is not very convincing...

Skelg coughs. A lot.

"A right beauty...but a cold one. I'd be able to warm her up though.."

The man servant however looks horrified. "Your condition is far too fragile..."

Need someone to come to the party with an aid on the diplomacy, given that Zaamir can auto succeed, I'm going to assume you do that.

The charming half orc spends a bit of time reflecting on the, ahh, attributes, of lady Yavevna to Skelg. Wrapped up against the cold he enters the portal with you and is soon back on the boat.

In the hull of the ship he identifies the various bodies. The one with the mask was Haldyr Bjornsson, another was one of his guards. The third was a fellow raider of Skelg's, and the last was his man Tirfyr who went through the portal earlier.

Then you travel up to Lady Yavevna. In her presence their is a rear spark between them.

Natalya summons a ball of fire and melts several feet of ice at the front of the ship.

"The lantern has made a connection from this ice to Skelgs heart. Hang the lantern on the prow of my ship. I can then close the portal from here to Skelg."

"And this will break the curse, yes?" says Vanya a bit dubious but moving towards the ship's prpow with the lantern in tow...

"Yes. On the front I can make a portal for the ship. The lantern would have to close the other portals to be able to make the large one for the ship. We sail through and then I can send you home back to the tapestry in Greydog mansion."

"Well... if you're so sure..." Vanya shrugs and does as she's told...

And her player crosses his fingers

Sailin through portals...not sure if me ancestors would approve... Beromar gulps before sharing a drink with anyone interested.

"I don't have any other ideas. Forward."

This should be interesting. Let us do it, but be prepared for whatever happens!

Natalya hangs the lantern on the front of the ship.

Returning to the deck she concentrates for a moment, and then, in front of her, a huge portal opens up. The ice clad ship surges forwards and through it.

You find yourself on the deck of a ship in a large almost hexagonal harbor. The sky is cold and blue, and small chunks of ice float around.

Within moments Skelg throws off his piles of blankets and grabs Natalya in a warm embrace. He looks years younger.

"I can return you pathfinders to Greydog manor if you wish" she offers.

Or you can hang around in Whitethrone. If you eventually do Shades of Ice part 2, you'll come back here!

I'll upload chronicles.

Aerondor, thank you very much for running this scenario. It was fun!

I have to say, having played this a couple of times myself, it is one of my favorites too. Until reading it, I didn't realize quite how hard it was to get that second PP though, especially at low tier. You need to nail a very high diplomacy check. Still, the story for this one is much more atmospheric than many.

When I played it we went a bit murder hobo-ish in the warehouse and had to flee the guard in a stolen Ulfen longship (with none of us having any relevant skills!) It was just one of those moments that lives with you for a long time afterwards.