[PFS] GM Lithrac's The Snows of Summer (AP#67) (Inactive)

Game Master Cyril Corbaz

Gratmal wisely allows the others in the party to do the talking. He knows that any talking he might do could easily be discerned as hostility. Keeping a watchful eye over the interactions, he adjusts his grip on his axe.

Gratmal let others talk. Take deer's head if fight breaks out.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Jocephus bows deeply to the stag. "Well met Fawfein. As my companions have said, we are investigating the unusual weather. Surely a master of the forest as yourself has noticed the strange weather. Do you know what may be the cause of such frigid weather?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

The stag looks at you strangely. You aren't able to discern what those large black eyes reflect, but the voice emerges from the stag once again.

Everyone can make a Sense Motive check.

"I am no master of the forest, for feys have invaded it when the winter came. They are the masters now. Not even the humans resist them."

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Hskoro begins to sway a little ...

"How fortunate that ssome of uss are not human" Hskoro replies, as he gazes intently at Fawfein.

"Why are you here?" Hskoro asks the stag.

1d20 ⇒ 5

The stags has a blank gaze, but answers calmly. "What a silly question. I live here. I should ask you the same question, really!"

"You did ... when we firsst met ... and we gave you an ansswer. On the other hand, your ansswer does not tell uss why you have chosen to come to uss. Why have you come to speak with uss?"

Something is very wrong with this animal ...

SM: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Jocephus furrows his brow in thought. "You do not know the cause of the winter, then? Do know where the fey are coming from, at least what part of the forest they concentrated in? Have you seen any other manner of....invaders aside from the fey and us of course."

Though Necress perceives that the stag is talking, she seems to be having difficulty understanding what it is saying.

I have read lips, but I'm guessing they don't move the same as humanoids...going to say I have no clue what's going on.

The stag peers at Hskoro, then lets out: "You're too curious for your own good!" and prepares to strike the nagaji with his massive antlers, but is too slow.

Initiative - round 1 - bold names may act!
1. Necress & zombies, Kaelen, Jocephus, Sifvery, Hskoro
2. Fawfein
3. Gratmal
No map for this encounter either. The people who talked with the stag are right next to it, whereas the others are about 10 feet away.

Round 1 Initiative 8

Hskoro fires his readied crossbow point blank range as the stag lowers his head to attack ...
Crossbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 for Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 10
... then drops his useless crossbow and draws his urgosh.

"That wass disssappointing."

Relying on his luck, Jocephus takes a step back, draws, and fires his pistol.

RTA: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 2 = 24
Cold Iron Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

"Kill the stag!" Necress yells to the pair of mindless undead.

They respond by charging forward.

"Nuuuuhhn..."

slam attack w charge: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 = 8

dmg: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

While once zombie nearly impales itself on the stag's horn, the second strikes more powerfully.

slam attack w charge: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 2 = 20

dmg: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Sifvery steps back 5' and fires a cold iron arrow at the stag.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Under the combined assault of the Pathfinders, the stag quickly falls to the ground, struck dead. From the fur of its back something moves away into the air, soon to be revealed. A tiny feylike creature cackles with mad laughter. "Hello, my name is Fawfein. You killed my stag, prepare to die!" Somehow, the voice resembles that of the animal you've just killed.

The winter fey points at Gratmal's massive weapon and chants arcane words.

Will DC 17 to avoid having it shrunk to 1/16 of its size.

Initiative - round 1 - bold names may act!
1. Necress & zombies, Jocephus, Sifvery, Hskoro
2. Fawfein
3. Kaelyn, Gratmal

Necress points to the creature and again orders the zombies to attack it.

Though she hasn't heard its words, she recognizes a hostile spell being cast.

The zombies try to slam the creature into the ground.

slam attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 dmg: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

slam attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24 dmg: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
crit?: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 dmg: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Hskoro activates Elemental Strike (1/3) on his Urgosh and moves in to attack ...

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Slashing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Johender draws his cold iron rapier and stabs at the tiny creature.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 2 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 2 = 4

Waiting for Sifvery, right?

James and Hskoro jointly strike the fey, who dies instantly. Silence falls again on the woods.

I don't think there's any healing to do, so I'll just move forward to the next part. Feel free to state if you have something you would like to do before that.

The road goes on and on in the forest, until it comes to a clearing. A human-sized snowman stands in the middle of the trail before a frozen stream. A crude wooden sign leans against it and bears the words “Trespassers Turn Back.”

Beyond, a solid sheet of ice extends across the frozen stream, while snow-covered rocks line its banks. On the other side of the river, the road continues, and the keenest eyes among you are able to spot the legs and feet of a frozen corpse jutting from a pile of snow next to the trees over there.

Hskoro stows the Urgosh, picks up his heavy crossbow and reloads it. Now he is ready for the next encounter.

As the party comes into view of the river fording and the snowman impeding their path ... Hskoro groans as he shoulders the crossbow to take aim ...

"I think thiss fight may asss well begin now. Sstand ready ..."

Giving the party a few moments to array themselves as desired, Hskoro fires his crossbow at the snowman.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23 Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 2
Confirmation: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20 Critical: 1d10 ⇒ 8

Hskoro drops the crossbow and draws his Urgosh ...

Such cruelty for a mere snowman! ;)

The bolt whizzes through the air and shoots the carrot the snowman had as a makeshift nose, reducing it to bits. A voice emerges from the snowman, saying: "Can't you read? The sign says turn back! Now, get lost!"

"Nice marksmanship," Necress states flatly.

"Now let's spring the trap," she adds. "Ensor, please be so kind as to approach that pile of snow," she says, pointing to the snowman.

One of the zombies trudges off through the snow until it reaches the destination.

"We seem to be killing fey, but still getting no answers. Perhaps we should try to capture one?"

The zombie obeys his mistress, slowly moving towards the snowman. Immediately, a very high-pitched noise echoes through the forest as a warning. It is painful to hear, and Ensor's ears start bleeding.
Fort: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Sonic damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1 1 damage on Ensor

As if answering the call, two small masses of ice shards surge from the frozen river and attack Ensor.

Initiative - round 1 - bold may act
1. Hskoro, Gratmal, Necress & zombies, Kaelyn
2. Creatures
3. Sifvery, Jocephus
Knowledge (planes) is appropriate to identify these creatures.

Icy Crossing map

"Gratmal break creature with his axe!" the barbarian roars as he approaches the icy creature with his greataxe drawn overhead.

Power Attack

Attack: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 5 - 1 = 13
Damage: 1d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 3 = 13

Going to be a close call to make contact...dice in all my games are killing me lately

KN: planes: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Gratmal strikes hard, but his aim lacks precision. He misses!

Round 1 Initiative 22

"I hate ice!"

Hskoro calls Elemental Strike (2/3) as a swift action on his Urgosh and charges the outsider ... hoping somebody else will deny the flank against the zombie.

Charge: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 2 = 18
Slashing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Hskoro charges the creature, which explodes into little shards of ice under the violence of the blow combined with fire - clearly their weak point.

One down, one to go!

"Gratmal's axe continues to disappoint him!" he growls. The large half-orc appears to be getting angry at his recent inability to strike true with his weapon.

By the way Gratmal, you never rolled that save to avoid having your axe reduced, did you? Link of the post where I asked for it.

You're right. That's my fault. I actually had the post completed at my house and got busy and left it. Incoming now.

Will Save: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6

After Gratmal's failed attempt to attack the ice creature, he suddenly feels his greataxe shrinking in his hand. "Gratmal axe tiny. Can't sever heads with tiny axe."

Good thing I missed my attack anyways. Not sure what I do about this lol

Necress orders the zombies to attack the last ice creature, and they respond without hesitation.

The zombie named Ensor, already adjacent to the creature, swings a powerful arm.

slam attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 dmg: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

The other charges into the fray.

slam attack: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 2 = 14 dmg: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Weakness and Defenses

"Ice elementals....!" Jocephus says as he moves closer while drawing his whip. He lashes out at the remaining ice monster, trying to trip it!

Whip Trip: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Jocephus, it isn't your turn to act yet, but I'll keep your action on hold. Actually, it will come into play right after the elemental has acted, since I'm having Kaelyn delay.

Necress, please update the hp of your zombie in its header, thanks.

One of the zombies slams into the elemental, splinters of ice are shattered by his blow, but the creature still stands.

Kaelyn observes the fight from a distance, but does not deign help her companions.

The remaining ice elemental slams into the wounded zombie that has triggered the trap, but misses.
Slam: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Jocephus succeeds in wrapping the lash of his whip around the ice elemental's leg, but fails to trip him.

Initiative - round 2 - bold may act
1. Hskoro, Gratmal, Necress & zombies, Kaelyn (D)
2. Creatures
3. Sifvery, Jocephus

Round 2 Initiative 22
Delay action until after Necress/Zombies move hoping the one in front of me moves out of the way during its attack
.

New Initiative 18

If ... the zombie does move out of the way, Hskoro will 5ft step back, then Rage and Charge ...
Raging: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 + 2 = 17 for Slashing: 1d8 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 3 = 8
Else ... move and 5 ft step to engage from the south with only a 15 to hit.

It is unlikely Necress will read your thoughts. You had better voice your opinion! ;)

Sorry about that, over eager I guess.

Jocephus frowns as his attempt to trip the creature fails. "Ice elemental, vulnerable to fire...." He says as if stating the obvious.

It is unlikely Necress will read your thoughts. You had better voice your opinion! ;)

Quite right ... although the flanking move would be an ideal tactic in this case :-)

"Necress, get those zombies on the flank and out of my way!"

How do I go about acting with my axe reduced in size. On mobile right now with no access to books/pdf.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Not sure how much your character would know about the spell; however, I think it would be reasonable to drop it onto a solid surface, aka the ground, and look for a makeshift weapon to fight with. The results might be what you are looking for ...

Not having a source of fire, Sifvery moves forward and fires an arrow at the ice creature.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

That would depend on your Spellcraft skill, Gratmal. My advice would be to act as if you were your character and had no knowledge of the spell, but that may be harder now that Hskoro has nicely spoiled the situation for you by metagaming (bad etiquette I'm afraid, especially when putting in bold the key information - please refrain from doing that).

Sifvery shoots an arrow, but misses.

Initiative - round 2 - bold may act
1. Hskoro (D), Gratmal, Necress & zombies
2. Creatures
3. Sifvery, Jocephus

My apologies ... will not happen again.