[PFS]DM Elanmorin's Shades of Ice, Part II: The Exiles of Winter (Inactive)

Game Master Rogar Valertis

Calephe slips up and slashes out with her kukris.

Kukri: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 1 = 26
Damage: 1d4 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 = 8

Kukri: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 1 = 13
Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 = 6

Kukri Crit Cofirm: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 1 = 11
Damage: 1d4 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7

I forgot to add +1 from Scuttlebutt’s bardic inspiration, so would be 21 AC and 12hp Damage if successful hit.

Before falling down the Thundercloud tried to counter the insidiously small dragon but unfortunately to no avail.
Although it seemed Zane missed the dragonling with his powerful swing, in fact the movement of air alone was enough to hurt the creature, testimony to the half-orc prowess!
Calephe joined the dance as well, almost skewering the winged lizard-like creature.

Despite the heavy wounds sustained the dragon did not fall. With powerful flaps of his wings it regained altitude disappearing in the mist hiding the ceiling while shrieking in rage...

withdraw

Round 3 - Bold may act

Aralantryx -26hp

Midge
The Thundercloud -11hp, stable
Scuttlebutt
Calephe -2hp
Dragall -5hp
Zane -2hp

Midge glides over five feet across the ice so she's beside Thundercloud. She bends down over him and draws a potion.

Move to get back beside him, since I can't five foot step on the ice. Move to draw a potion. Can't feed it to him until next turn.

Dragall is waiting with an axe in his hands. When the dragon appears it will hit him if Dragall is close enough.

Where is he, where did he disappear?

You may not be able to locate it in the mist above but you can certainly prepare for its ineviatble next attack... :P

Calephe prepares herself for the creature to attack.

Scuttlebutt continues his sea shanty and stows his crossbow while slowly moving to the edge of the mist, drawing his rapier as he carefully traverses the ice.

Free action to continue bardic performance for inspire courage, move action to stow the crossbow, move action across the room and drawing his rapier as part of that move.

Four rounds of bardic performance left and lingering performance will tack another two rounds beyond that. Let's pluck this sneaky duck before that.

Zane prepares for the wyrmling to sweep down again, and hopes the creature targets him taunting him, "Little lizard you want some more of big axe? You scared of us hiding awway in the fog?"

He is alert and ready to attack

I forgot to roll my Readied Attack.

For an interminable moment only silence reigns inside the frozen room. Then another enraged shriek announces the dragonling next attack as it sweeps down from the misty clouds above and attacks the isolated Scuttlebutt!

Attack roll (bite vs Scuttlebutt): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24 -> Damage roll: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

The creature's plan works perfectly as it tears a large chunk of flesh out of the bard's shoulder!

Scuttlebutt gains an AoO against the dragonling as long as he has a weapon in hand. For the rest of you: remember the rules for movement in this place

Round 4 - Bold may act

Aralantryx -26hp

Midge
The Thundercloud -11hp, stable
Scuttlebutt -7hp
Calephe -2hp
Dragall -5hp
Zane -2hp

Following the sound of the fight, Dragall moved toward the dragon and tried to hit him with an axe.
It's here!

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
to hit: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 3 + 1 = 22
damage: 1d12 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6

Scuttlebutt grits his teeth as the dragon savagely tears into him, but as the wyrm approaches in such close proximity, he stabs forward witb his rapier.

And this is exactly why he switched out the crossbow for the rapier because it's AoO time. And he'll use his last two points from his inspiration pool to add another 1d6 to the attack roll.

Attack + inspiration: 1d20 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 1 + (6) = 8

Ok, I wish to use my shirt/folio reroll with +3 for GM stars on that d20 roll

Attack reroll: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Totally worth it, yay!

Crit confirm: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Damage[/dice: 1d6 ⇒ 3

And in case a 16 confirms the crit...

1d6 ⇒ 4

Dragall and Scuttlebutt put an end to the savage Dragonling who lands on the icy ground hissing one last time and puffing cold breath before dying. Seems like the battle has been won and you lived to tell the tale!

@Scuttlebutt: Dragall's blow was enough to kill the dragon. Save your GM reroll if you want, no need to waste it!

You did it! Yet you still need to decide how to deal with Skagni and the Blood Ram tribe as they won't be able to leave Winterthrone freely as they are

"So, we have an obligation to assist Mr. Skagni and the other captives out of here. My first thought is to locate our Varisian friend who helped us into town and see if we can grease his palm to help us get out of town."

"That sounds like a good plan Scuttlebutt. Let's give that a try."

Midge pours a potion down Thundercloud's throat.

Healing: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

"Are you alright?"

She offers Thundercloud a hand, pulling him to standing.

After that she looks around. She can't see much through the mist, but she can hear her companions talking. Assuming the dragon's dead she slides towards her companions.

"It's risky. But it might work." she adds. "Our friends don't exactly look well-nourished. Think that will be a problem?"

"Oh! And we'll need to get them clothes and supplies, of course."

Dragall went looking for Skagni to the previous room. If Skagni is injured use a wand of cure light wounds on him.

cure: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

"Mr. Skagni what happened here and how can we help you?"

As Scuttlebutt gets back to Winterthrone Market Square the rest of you tries to help the former captives and Skagni. The malnourished Ulfens helped themselves to the Shadow Lodge's stored supplies. They are still skeletal but at least they don't risk to die of starvation on the spot.

Now he's eaten and has been healed Skagni is better able to provide answers to your questions:"This so called Shadow Lodge aims to bring ruin to the Pathfinder Society. To that end they travelled to a place called the Keep of the Huskarl King, a fortress that stands in the Realm of the Mammoth Lords. They are searching for some sort of "weapon". I don't know what it is, but I know that should the Lodge get the weapon hidden there, they might cause serious problems for the Pathfinder Society and among the nations of the north. I've read of this "weapon" in the transcriptions of ancient verbal tales passed down in the northern tribes of the Realm of the Mammoth Lords and I'm sure that it’s something to be feared. Fortunately for you I've also spent several years studying the very Keep those miscreants are trying to raid and I can draw you a map to its location. I don't believe I need to stress you need to stop the Shadow Lodge getting their hands on that ancient weapon, right?" so saying Skagni starts to work on the map, while you thoroughly search the underground areas of the lodge.

After a good deal of searching you find a series of journals and letters detailing a Shadow Agent named Caggrigar’s journey to the Worldwound with an elite team of other Shadow Lodge agents. It seems they left a man named Vermund, one you identify with the crazed druid you killed before fighting the goblin slavers, but he was given that dubious honor only after another shadow agent named Melkorka Skur took the remaining reliable agents and set out for the Keep of the Huskarl King.
A single, unfinished letter from Caggrigar to someone named “the Spider” in Almas talks about the “great power” contained within the keep that the Shadow Lodge could “harness and train” to take down the Grand Lodge in Absalom once and for all. The end of the unfinished letter mentions the failure of “our illustrious leader” and hints at support should the Spider wish to usurp control of the lodge entirely.

Scuttlebutt addresses the merchant in Varisian in a far-fetched hope to enhance his sincerity. "Friend Lupei, I come to you again to seek your aid for myself and my traveling clan. The six of us have picked up ten more unexpected 'mouths to feed' and are need of assistance to make an exit from the city with these people. I ask if this is a service that you may have the capability to help with. Compensation via payment or agreed-upon services is, of course, available. However, I acknowledge what I ask is no small task and I would not be offended if this were something you would wish to decline, your family deserves to see you on your return home. And we would be grateful for any direction you could provide in that case."

Bard charisma powers and inspiration pool, don't fail me now!

Diplomacy plus inspiration: 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (10) + 7 + (2) = 19

I will go with that roll result. I have only a 50-50 chance of doing better with my reroll and the chance of getting a worse roll is too much.

Zane helps treat the newly released captives, and waits on Scuttlebutt’s return.

Midge pours a potion down Thundercloud's throat.

"Are you alright?"

She offers Thundercloud a hand, pulling him to standing.

With the potion, Thundercloud is up now and at 4 hps.

Waking back into consciousness with a gasp, Minuro/Thundercloud gratefully accepts Midge's help in standing back up.

Glancing about as he does so and not hearing any further sounds of combat from the rest of the group, Minuro/Thundercloud replies, "Thanks, Midge- so has that dumb lizard-bat-thing gotten taken cared-of already?"

If told the details of what happened after he got chewed upon, Minuro/Thundercloud will congratulate both Dragall and Scuttlebutt for their killing blows upon said dragon.

After that she looks around. She can't see much through the mist, but she can hear her companions talking. Assuming the dragon's dead she slides towards her companions.

"It's risky. But it might work." she adds. "Our friends don't exactly look well-nourished. Think that will be a problem?"

"Oh! And we'll need to get them clothes and supplies, of course."

Following after Midge and upon seeing the tiny dragon's corpse, Minuro/Thundercloud adds in with, "Maybe we could feed that stupid lizard-bat to the folks in the cavern? Wonder if it'd make a good stew for them..."

Anything of note to be found in the cold ice-room? Also, Thundercloud's got an extra endure elements memorized, so at least Skagni won't hafta worry about being under-dressed for the occasion. ;)

Glancing about as he does so and not hearing any further sounds of combat from the rest of the group, Minuro/Thundercloud replies, "Thanks, Midge- so has that dumb lizard-bat-thing gotten taken cared-of already?"

"The wyrmling?" she confirms with a smile. "Yes. Though I didn't see how."

By ability or maybe through sheer luck your plan works out. You keep a low profile hiding inside the Sahdow Lodge consuming your enemies resources until the appointed date then lead the blood ram tribe's survivors and Skagni to Lupei vagons. You made it seem like you are selling the ulfens to the Varisian and since slavery is treated like a legitimate trade in Winterthrone no one seems bothered by the act. And so you rejoin Lupei and his people. He makes a grand show of purchasing slaves to sell in Kaer Maga and to hire you as additional guards and in a couple of hours you leave the frigid city of Winterthrone behind you. You spend the next day travelling with the Varisians but you know your duty leads you elsewhere once you are near the border with the Lands of the Linnorm Kings you thank Lupei for his help, say your farewells to Skagni, the Ulfens and Varisians and leave. Your next destination the Realm of the Mammoth Lords... and then the Keep Of The Huskarl King!

Well, you completed part 2 of the Exiles of Winter, now all is left is part 3. We'll start again after Christmas but in the meanwhile I'll make sure to complete your CS. Expect them for tomorrow evening at the latest!

Starting part 3 of this 3 part series. Keep in mind most encounters will happen outside in the frozen north and we'll be using the rules for harsh climates you already know.

The Ulfen have a saying: “No blade is as sharp, no demon as cruel as the winds that walk their way down the Icestair.” At the border of Irrisen and the untamed wilds of the Realm of the Mammoth Lords, the meaning of those words becomes clear as the barren, snow-covered plains stretch to the horizon. Four days’ travel now lies between the eastern edge of Irrisen and the shattered remains of the Huscarl King’s keep. To the east, sinuous snow drifts give way to rocky foothills from which pines and scrub brushes claw for life. In the distance, the massive creatures that give this land its name shuffle along at a ponderous speed, still impossibly huge even from far away. Skagni’s map marks a clear and straightforward path, but the snow makes for slow travel. The Shadow Lodge agents have a head start, but persistence through the harsh environment and adherence to the strict map may yet make it possible to catch them before they reach the Keep of the Huscarl King and gain access to the mighty weapon held within.
Despite the urgency of your chase you took the time to buy provisions from wandering hunters as not doing it could have meant an early and frozen grave...

Rolling 25 or more on this check will laso give you a nice bonus for something else

You make way across foothills and open swaths of tundra for the early part of the first day’s journey. The huge creatures that give this land its name (but also giant elks and sloths) do not approach you directly but they linger just out of range and seeminly study you from afar.
Just after noon, the trail leads through a patch of dense evergreens that end atop a low hill. On the ground below, the evidence of battle is immediately apparent.

Before we continue, each one of you needs to roll 4 fortitude saves, representing 4 hours on the chase through the snows. Use the rules below for DCs.
Keep in mind the average daytime temperature in The Realm of the Mammoth Lords during this adventure is just below freezing, and the average nighttime temperature hovers around –10 degrees Fahrenheit. I suggest you stop and make camp during night-time...

Calephe digs into her bag. She pulls out a wand and waves it in front of Midge. "I got a new wand. The fellow told me it was to Endure Elements. Can you take a look and tell me if I got gypped? You can use it on anyone who needs to endure this horrible cold weather."

"Calephe's smart thinking when buying that wand. How did I not buy such a wand? Hmm! I did not think, again!" I'm so stupid!

Knowledge (history): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

"Guys did you know that an Ulfen warrior once carved out a small “kingdom” for himself in the western regions of the Realm of the Mammoth Lords, earning loyalty from local Kellid tribes. The Ulfen warrior Ranulf was known as the Huscarl King, as he had once served as one of the Emperor of Taldor’s personal guards. After he established his keep, it was attacked by a powerful white dragon who the Huscarl defeated in a battle so fierce that legends claim Ranulf ’s beard was frozen during the fight. Despite ruling for almost 30 years after the battle, Ranulf died with no heir."

Shivering from the cold already, Midge turns her big wide eyes on Calephe. "That's the real deal. And YOU are my hero!" Midge happily casts endure elements on everyone from the wand. All six of us are going forward? That's six charges used. Endure elements for 24 hours each. "Yeah! Much better!" Midge's teeth stop chattering.

Untrained Local, Max DC 10: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13 Max DC 10

"Yeah," Midge remarks, nodding along with Dragall. "I hear extreme cold's not good for the act of making heirs, if you know what I mean!" She chuckles then scrunches up her face in thought. "Kellids? Oh! That's what they call the denizens of the Realm of the Mammoth lords. They're considered primitive by many in the Inner Sea, but respected for their hardiness."

-10 F? Man, I wish we had that weather where I live today. It hasn't been that warm in weeks.

"Whoah! Look at those mammoths!" Midge exclaims happily as they travel. "It's watching us! Neato!"

At noon, Midge looks at the ground. "Whoah! Looks like a battle happened here!"

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Thanks to Calephe's wand (and Midge casting) you manage to avoid the sharp bite of cold for your first day of travel among the snows of the frozen north, but that's doesn't lessen the chilling impact of the scene that presents itself before your eyes...

The thick cluster of pine trees ends abruptly at the top of a low hill. At the bottom, the snow is littered with the aftermath of battle. Broken shields and spears jut from the snow like fractured bones, and blood colors the ground around a sprawl of bodies, many still seemingly locked in combat.

Midge notices the corpses number 10 in all, and are of two distinct groups. Five are native Kellids who carried axes and wooden shields. The lower half of each Kellid warrior’s face is painted white in a haphazard sprawl of color from the upper lip to just above the larynx.

The other combatants wear more “civilized” clothes, including heavy winter coats. These non-Kellid dead have been stripped of their weapons and any other valuables, leaving them in only their clothes and padded armor.

Midge studies the trail in the snow learning about the 2 sets of footprints...

for the knowledge checks at the beginning of the scenario:
Knowledge local+inspiration: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (18) + 9 + (3) = 30
Knowledge history+inspiration: 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (11) + 7 + (6) = 24

The four fort saves with a bulky seven pound cold weather outfit encumbering him:
Fort save + cold weather outfit: 1d20 + 1 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 1 + 5 = 17
Fort save + cold weather outfit: 1d20 + 1 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 1 + 5 = 15
Fort save + cold weather outfit: 1d20 + 1 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 1 + 5 = 25
Fort save + cold weather outfit: 1d20 + 1 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 5 = 13

new knowledge local check at the battle scene
Knoweldge local+inspiration: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 9 + (5) = 21

"Oh! How horrible!" Midge gasps, covering her mouth with her hand. She looks devastated to see all the carnage.

After a few deep breaths, she removes her hand and takes a look at the scene before her. "Looks like the Shadow Lodge ran afoul of the locals." Midge remarks. "See here? And here? These boot-shod prints are who we're following. They head off in the same direction we've been travelling. But these prints, here and... here. These guys are wearing crude footwear. They're following the trail left by the Shadow Lodge, in a flanking formation."

Midge shivers in apprehension. "That's all I can tell from... this."

for the knowledge checks at the beginning of the scenario:

[dice=Knowledge local+inspiration]1d20+9+1d6
[dice=Knowledge history+inspiration]1d20+7+1d6

The four fort saves with a bulky seven pound cold weather outfit encumbering him:
[dice=Fort save + cold weather outfit]1d20+1+5
[dice=Fort save + cold weather outfit]1d20+1+5
[dice=Fort save + cold weather outfit]1d20+1+5
[dice=Fort save + cold weather outfit]1d20+1+5

new knowledge local check at the battle scene
[dice=Knoweldge local+inspiration]1d20+9+1d6

I cast endure elements on everyone. You don't need to make the saves against the cold.

Scuttlebutt. wrote:

for the knowledge checks at the beginning of the scenario:

[dice=Knowledge local+inspiration]1d20+9+1d6
[dice=Knowledge history+inspiration]1d20+7+1d6

The four fort saves with a bulky seven pound cold weather outfit encumbering him:
[dice=Fort save + cold weather outfit]1d20+1+5
[dice=Fort save + cold weather outfit]1d20+1+5
[dice=Fort save + cold weather outfit]1d20+1+5
[dice=Fort save + cold weather outfit]1d20+1+5

new knowledge local check at the battle scene
[dice=Knoweldge local+inspiration]1d20+9+1d6

I cast endure elements on everyone. You don't need to make the saves against the cold.

Whoops, so much stuff to read and catch up on; many thanks for the wand tap!

"Snowmask tribe members, definitely the Snowmasks...," Scuttlebutt murmers as he surveys the grisly scene before him. He then relates the information known to him about the Snowmask tribe and the history of the area.

"And now the plots of the Shadow Lodge threaten these innocent tribal folk. This has to stop." He turns away from the dead for a moment, his morality still not quite accustomed to the senseless slaughter that his chosen line of work occasionally presents to him.

Heal: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (9) - 1 = 8

Dragall looked at the bodies of the dead and said, "What a slaughter!"

Heal: 1d20 ⇒ 15
Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Calephe looks over the scene, and suddenly starts to run into the carnage. "There's someone still alive over here!" She rushes next to that person.

Looking surprised, Midge also runs over to wherever Calephe found a survivor.

Calephe realizes the Kellid warrior's death is approaching fast! Unless he's healed quickly he's not long for this world...

Thundercloud would've cast his customary Endure Elements on himself already (now part of his routine procedure in the frozen parts of Golarion) so that's one charge saved for Calephe's wand. :)

Assist Heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19.

Assist Survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9.

If worst comes to worst, Thundercloud will offer to cast Infernal Healing via the scroll or have someone (like Midge, Scuttlebutt, or Dragall) use his wand of CLW upon the injured Kellid man; would the injured man also have need for some Endure Elements or would he be perfectly fine in this weather?

Dragall will come to injured Kellid man and use his Wand of cure light wounds on him.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"Are you ok? Can you speak?"

When Dragall realized that he did not understand the man he cast Comprehend Languages.

"Dragall, wait on your spell a moment. I know quite a number of dialects. Give me a second to listen to him."

Scuttlebutt speaks over ten languages and picked up Hallit and Skald when he last leveled up while in the northern lands.

"OK!"

Midge sighs in relief as Dragall heals the poor man. As he speaks Midge raises an eyebrow.

"I've got no clue what he's saying."

"I'm afraid I don't speak Kellid." She tries to look nonthreatening, and takes a step back.

Dragal taps the dying kellid a couple of times with his wand and the man seems to get better, but not enough to get back to consciousness, so the half orc taps him a third time...

CLW (Dragall): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

.. and the man regains his senses, talking in his own tongue. The pathfinders seem at loss at first but Scuttlebutt shows his mastery of Hallit and translates the warrior's words. The man raises to his considerable height and then speaks again to the bard:

When Calephe and Midge are using Wand of Endure Elements

Zane will shake his head saying, "Thank you Midge and Calephe for offering this aid. I will use my own spells, so that your wand can last longer."

He will then proceed to cast Endire Elements (cold) each morning.

====================

He waits for the translation from the bard then looking at the tall Kellid will say, "Greetings Dorn of the Snowmask Clan. I am Zane Shivers of Brevoy, and am in your lands fighting these treacherous Shadow Agents", pointing at the corpses of the dead more "civilized" combatants.

As Scuttlebutt translates Zane's words the warrior considers the rest of you carefully:"So you are enemies of our enemies... that's good and... look out! A kuekuatsheu" he exclaims, pointing you at a big wolverine running in your direction through the snow...

The wolverine advances towards you at full speed coming dangerously close to your ankles and showing no signs of wanting to stop.

Round 01 - Bold may act

Wolverine

Dragall
Calephe
Zane
Midge
Scuttlebutt
the Thundercloud

[/b]"Zane can you make it not angry with us?"[/b]

If Zane says he might not be able to calm the creature.
Calephe pulls out her kukris, and slashes at the creature.

Kukri: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Kukri: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

If Zane might be able to calm the creature, she'll hold the above action until it's clear that calming the animal won't work.