PFS PBP Gameday Reign of Winter: Part 1 Snows of Summer (Inactive)

Game Master Dylos

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"I'm glad you all could make it." An old gentleman speaks, this is Venture-Captain Muesello, he summoned you just recently to the Oppara Lodge in Taldor. He is an older man and he speaks softly but clearly. "It has been brought to my attention that a certain pocket of Taldor has been experiencing an unexpectedly early winter, additionally menacing creatures have started appearing, and a Tandane noble has gone missing. As pathfinders I expect you to find out what is causing this pocket of winter and rescure the noblewoman, so I am sending you to Heldren, a small city near the Qudarian border." The man pauses examing each of you closely.

"I advise you to be ready for cold weather and if you have any questions please feel free to ask them now."

Thee young and towering Ulfen nods, and asks:
"Her name?"

Before the VC began talking:

A tall, thin Mwangi man strolls into the room with a small theropod bounding along at his side. The man wears a long white robe (think lab coat) and pulls a stretcher behind him; the stretcher is loaded with many vials and potions. He bears a wide grin and happily greets his companions in a resounding voice with long booming vowels, "Hello, hello, everyone! My name is Aponyaye Msomi. I have traveled far, from deep within the jungles of the Mwangi. I am pleased to meet you all."

Jump to current:

After all of the introductions have been made and the questions answered, Aponyaye will spend an hour playing with his dinosaur.

"Her name is Lady Argentea Malassene, she was on a trip to Zimar to meet someone and has not returned to Oppara since." VC Muesello explains.

"Well met, Aponyaye Msomi and Venture-Captain Muesello. My name's Serah Farron," she says, an Ulfen herself. She carries a falcata a size larger than intended in one hand and the blade balanced between her shoulder blades. "Is Heldren the center of the supposed pocket of winter located in?"

She then leans over to whisper in Sterk Birgunsen's ear in Ulfen, "It could have been a male..." Serah then stands up straight and gives a slight chuckle.

"The pocket of winter is actually right outside Heldren, in a nearby forest." The VC explains to the Ulfen woman. "The town itself is still experiencing typical summer weather, oddly enough."

Without turning Stern answers Serah:
"Noblewoman" - says in Common before continuing in Ulfen - "means female noble."

"Greetings fellow Pathfinder, Brom," a man with platinum hair introduces himself. "Sounds like I need to heat things up," he says with a grin. "But seriously, can you please give us a description of the missing noble? And the town, big, small, anything we should be aware of?"

Brom will buy cold weather outfit

A Dwarf with all manner of forge tools hanging from cunningly designed hoops that act as decorations upon his person steps forth. He's dressed in simple tunic of brown and greeen shades reflecting his religion, Soralyon.

"Greetings and well met friends. May the forge grant you all stength."

"Was there anyone else who had last seen this missing noble?"

Sterk bows towards Venture-Captain Muesello, and get out, to prepare himself for the journey.

"She had an Ulfen guard with her, by the name of Yuln, it is my understanding that he was seen in Heldren, badly injured, I fear he will ultimately have more information in this matter then I." Muesello responds, to Lars' question.

"Then Mayhaps, we should look for this Yuln, he could be our best chance to seeking our answers. What Do ya all think?"

Coebyrn a young human male who has the appearance of one that spends more time in the wild than the city, nods to the others "Greetings, I'm Coebryrn Forestwalker. A pocket of cold in summer is unusual. Do you know who the noblewomen was meeting with in Zimar or what her business was? It may be related to her disappearance."

"I do not, I'm afraid I am not privy to that kind of information." The VC responds, shifting his attention to Ceobryrn.

If someone can make a knowledge nobility check they might know however.

No nobility here.

"Haha!" the Mwangi man gives a booming and joyful laugh and puts his hand on the dwarf's shoulder. "I agree with Lars here. He has many good ideas to come, I am sure."

Looking to the VC, Ceobryrn ask "What type of menacing creatures have been reported appearing?"

Turning to the group, "I already have cold weather gear! but what other items should be good? Potion or scrolls of endurance, just in case it gets really cold?"

"Cleats and snowshoes"

"Endure elements, for sure, I have it at least in my book. I'd need something to help me carry my stuff, this gets heavy." Brom adds.

"Does anyone have a mount or pack animal?"

Sterk says no with his head.

"I may pray for endure elements for everyone as well should it be needed."

Turning to address both Brom & Ceobryn:
"Due to my time working my forges, I could be able to help carry some of your supplies should we not have a pack animal. I am slow but fear not I'm as sturdy as the steel I work with. I'll get there just not as fast as any of you.

Brom turns to Lars, "thank you very much for your kind offer. And I must admit, with everything we need to take, I'd would be crawling there, maybe I should have done something more than just shifting books. Time to get a Haversack, when I ccan afford it."

Sterk remembers all the histories he has heard of people dying in the unforgiving north because of all the trash they haul with them, while shaking his head.

The ranger nods, "Well I supposes after the VC lets us know what types of creatures have been spotted, we can be on our way after a quick stop by the store."

"Creatures of the frozen north have been rumored to be appearing, but weather or not one can believe the rumors from a small town is another question entirely, Yuln will likely have more information when you arrive in Heldren."

"Let's go find Yuln then."

Sterk seems more impatient every second, waiting for his team to stop talking and start moving.

Lars Nods and turns around heading towards the exit.

"Haha! Yes, we are off!" Aponyaye pushes his stretcher to the exit, his long white cloak flowing behind him.

Coebryrn follows the others out the door.

I will buy ten Alchemist Fire Flasks and ten Acid Flasks before she leaves to join the party. (300 Gold)

Serah Farron quickly catches up with Aponyaye and slips her Cure Light Wounds wand into his white cloak front pocket and pats him on the shoulder before whispering into his ear, "In case I get hurt, friend. Do you happen to have a nickname to call you by?" She smiles towards him.

She then looks towards the dwarf with concern. "Are you sure you can carry all the gear Lars?"

"Oh! Haha, certainly ma'am!" Aponyaye laughs as the woman puts her wand in his coat pocket. "Aponyaye is my name, but you may shorten it how you like. Some of the children back home call me 'Yaye'; I suppose that will do. Haha!"

ah-pone-YAH-yay

or

YAH-yay

Brom heads out as well. "Off into the cold then."

"Good luck on your travels, pathfinders." The Venture-Captain says as you all exit the lodge and begin to make your way off to Heldren.

The journey to Heldren is fairly uneventful, and in no time at all, you find yourself in the small village on the border of Taldor. The sleepy village of Heldren has rarely seen so much excitement or concern. Hunters from the nearby Border Wood speak of unnaturally cold weather at the height of summer that descended on the forest just days ago. Heavy snow followed, and those who returned spoke of an uneasy presence in the woods, as well as new, dangerous predators. No one knows what this event means, but the town’s soothsayer, Old Mother Theodora, claims dark times lie ahead.

As if in proof of that dire prophecy, a badly wounded mercenary arrived in town, claiming to be a bodyguard of Lady Argentea Malassene. He told the village council that the noblewoman’s escort came under attack by bandits and strange, wintry creatures near the edge of the Border Wood. He alone escaped, and Lady Argentea was dragged away into the forest. Now the townsfolk cast fearful eyes toward the snowy forest, worried what else might emerge to threaten their peaceful village.

Lars assures Serah Farron of her concerns that he'll managed and should he need help, he'll call for aid.

Lars proceeds to the wounded Man and attempts to first render aid to the man. Failing which, he'll channel the energy of the gods to heal this man. Cast Cure light wounds.
Heal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

I could see how that might be a little unclear, but the wounded man has already been recieving first aid and is already well enough to converse if you would like to visit him, otherwise you are in Heldren and could ask locals for more information or just continue to Yuln, the aforementioned wounded man.

"Right, my good friends! Let's visit this fallen hero Yuln before we head into the forest."

"How many where the attackers? How they dress? What tactics? How did you escape? "

The group quickly makes its way to the Willowbark Apothecary, where Yuln Oerstag has been under the watchful eye of Elder Safander, the village priest of Heldren. Despite Elder Safander's best efforts, it is obvious that it will take a good deal of time before Yuln is hale and hearty enough to travel again, much less wield a weapon. Despite his obvious pain, however, he waves the pathfinders closer to speak with them.

"Would that I could go with you," he says. "My ancestors would ridicule my lack of valor for fleeing rather than fighting to the end. But I faced enemies that even the greatest warriors in the Linnorm Kingdoms have faltered against, though I think I slew at least one of them before they dragged Lady Argentea away."

After Sterk asks his question, Yuln continues, "We thought they were just bandits at first—outlaws who hide like wolves in the forest. They were no match for us. But then came the cold fey of the north. They appeared among us and the battle turned quickly. My people speak of the winter-touched all the time, but I never expected to meet them this far south."

"They simply overwhelmed us, we were not expecting anything like this." The Ulfen man further specifies, "I only managed to survive by pure luck."

Aponyaye frowns for the first time since you have met him. "Please, sir, I come from the Mwangi and am unused to the snow. What are the winter-touched that you speak of? I have read quite a bit about fey but perhaps you can tell us more of what you encountered?"

KN (nature): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22 about fey

"Ah, yes of course," Yuln begins, "The winter-touched are fey creatures who have sworn themselves to the White Witches of Irrisen, those who stole our lands from us during the Winter War. Tiny sprites no taller than the length of a man’s forearm. But don’t be fooled by their small stature. Legends say they have taken a sliver of ice into their hearts, and their touch bears the harsh bite of winter."

Aponyaye knows quite a bit about fey, including that they tend to be frail, but agile. They are also often vulnerable to cold iron. Beyond that, fey share very few similarities with each other. I'd love to give you more information then that, but it's like asking about humanoids in general.

No problem. I know they're all different, I mostly wanted justification for this:

Aponyaye looks around at his companions. "If we are to be encountering fey creatures, I suggest that you pick up weapons made of cold iron; these will be more effective against such creatures. Be wary of tricks as well! Fey can be playful but devious!"

Coebryrn ask Yuln "The fey sprites where working with the bandits? What can you tell us about the bandits were they humans? Do you know if they attacked your group to purposely capture the noblewoman, or was it by chance? How many days has it been since the ambush?"

At the mention of Winter Fey Sterk mutters one word...
"Witches.."
And spit into the ground, in disgust.

"Do they burn? That's what I need to know," Brom asks.

Aponyaye looks in surprise at Sterk but his smile never falters. "I will reassure you, friend, that my powers have been refined at the Magaambyan Academy, one of the oldest academies of learning on Golarion and founded by the legendary Old-Mage Jatembe and his Ten Magic Warriors-the Magaambya-with the goal of reintroducing the light of learning to a world overcome by fear and despair after the cataclysm of Earthfall. I promise that my arcane powers are used in the style of the truly enlightened and philanthropic purpose of the Magaambya."

Thinking for a moment, Aponyaye responds to Brom, "Many times wintery creatures are damaged especially well by fire, yes."

"They do."
For the first time Sterk lets out a little smile.
At Aponyaye he looks with cold blue eyes, fixed in his, but don't say anything. But it's not a look of friendship or understanding.

While waiting for Yuln's response, Ceobryrn muses "Since it appears the bandits were assisted by winter fey and/or white witches, it seems that if we track the bandits down it may lead us to the other. If white witches are involved then I'm betting we will have found the cause of the winter weather! We should take a look at the place they where ambushed once we are finished here."