Tired of hearing the fighting and not being able to see her adversary, Letitia tries to banish the magical fog.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Llewellyn swings at the hag, getting one hit through the fog. he intimidates Anna, shaking her briefly.
Ashling activates the Cloak doing some cold damage, but her scimitar attacks either bounce off the hag's hard hide or whiff in the mist.
Callix puts all of her might into a massive swing, but it misses. her spiritual weapon continues to attack but just barely fails to injure the hag.
Samuel also tries a melee attack but can't break through the thing's sturdy defenses.
Letitia uses her magic and dispels the cloud. suddenly everyone can see clearly again and can see that Anna is now a large and very ugly hag.
The hag is surrounded, but smiles at you as she utters a prayer to Mestama. dark energy swirls around her, injuring those close by.
Llewellyn resists some of the damage, the rest are caught by surprise.
The party may act
Global Condition: |Party Condition:
Callix HP: 45/58 - AC: 20/14/16 Status: 1 CHA damage
Letitia: HP: 41/48 - AC: 18/12/15 Status:
Llewellyn HP: 35/59 - AC: 23/21/13 Status:
Samuel HP: 54/67 - AC: 23/18/16 Status:
Ashling HP: 31/44 - AC: 19/15/15 Status:NPCs:
Anna HP: -48 | AC: 24
Samuel smiles when the mist just fades and disappears "Ah! Excellent job witch!" just to screech in pain when wounds suddenly open all through his body "Cursed hag!"
"But you cannot hide now from my lovely friend" stepping back to quickly reload Samuel takes good aim and shots .
Seeing the massive claws on the hag, Letitia tries a particularly debasing hex she recently learned.
Callix shakes her head to push away the negative energy, then calls on the Drunken Hero to fill her axe with Holy power before attacking.
for
for
Llewellyn grimaced as the filthy hag bit him, taking advantage of Ashling circling around behind he tried to fight back but the pain was distracting him badly.
Same routine as last time, She'll take a few swings now that she can see more clearly
Samuel steps back and shoots a nice hit with his musket.
Letitia's hex fails to affect the hag. though some might argue that pig-like features would be an overall improvement!
Callix and her force weapon hit, causing a good bit of damage.
Llewellyn fails to connect with his attacks even though the enemy is visible now.
Ashling hits once in her volley of attacks, plus does some cold aura damage.
The hag attempts to cast a spell, but loses concentration with all the attacks coming her way.
She attempts to run, likely getting cut down as she moves.
The party may act
Global Condition: |Party Condition:
Callix HP: 45/58 - AC: 20/14/16 Status: 1 CHA damage
Letitia: HP: 48(+4)/48 - AC: 18/12/15 Status:
Llewellyn HP: 35/59 - AC: 23/21/13 Status:
Samuel HP: 54/67 - AC: 23/18/16 Status:
Ashling HP: 31/44 - AC: 19/15/15 Status:NPCs:
Anna HP: -109| AC: 24
Letitia's lips curl in disappointment when the hag throws off her hex, but it's only her pride that suffers slightly. She still feels real satisfaction when her allies deal blow after blow now that the fog had lifted.
Seeing that Caigreal is trying to flee, Letitia raises her wand and causes a lance of ice to strike upwards in the hopes of taking her off her feet.
Llewellyn's blade flicked out as Caigreal tried to escape.
He stormed after her, closing to attack with a savage overhand chop.
"Going somewhere Caigreal?" he taunted her as his blade fell.
As the Hag's defences are dropped in her attempt to flee, Callix takes advantage of the opening to strike again.
for
Ashling will give chase and attack.
Samuel is still reloading when he sees sword and axe cutting through the hag. He refrains from spending bullets unnecessarily, but takes aim at the flying monster, and if she manages to reach the corridor of the cave, flings a last volley of powder.
The hag tries to flee, but the party has her cornered and without the fog there is just nothing to protect her. she is cut down in a flurry of attacks before she can even take a step.
End of combat
Letitia breathes a sigh of relief when the hag falls. "A pretty face and silver tongue very nearly set us on the wrong path to our doom," she says as she looks over their deceased adversary. "Let's see if she had anything of value, then we must plot our next move."
we should be more suspicious in the future. We are in a precarious situation... that said is everyone okay the pale assassin says deactivating the cloak and aura for now.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Llewellyn gave the body and her quarters a brief but professional search.
Afterwards he said, "Damn hag bit me! Gonna have to get that disinfected and healed."
Letitia invites the half-orc bard to come close with a gesture. "I can help, but I can do this but once per day per person."
After that, she motions for Ashling to come closer.
"Might as well heal you all."
Samuel sighs relieved as Letitia channels healing energy through the group's wounds "If we only find a pool to bath that is not f++~ing frozen up..."
The Taldan looks down to the fallen enemy "Hope that helps us with the Ward and not the other way around..."
Letitia uses her hex magic to heal the group one at a time.
Llewellyn searches the hag. he finds an unenchanted quarterstaff, a magical amulet with the holy symbol of Mestama, and an iron key
the room is now silent, and the group must decide what thread to tug at next
Letitia quickly studies the magic of the amulet and adds the iron key to the other keys provided by the Warden.
"If I'm not mistaken, it requires three hags minimum to make a coven. With Caigreal gone, the other two -- the green hag and the witchfire -- are less of a threat. However, what's been stated about the witchfire makes her sound fearsome just on her own. Mayhap we need not face her now that Caigreal is no more."
She thinks about their true goals. "I believe our best course is to further assist the Warden by seeking out and defeating more of the frost giants that remain. We could also return to the room where Maris resides and inform her of our progress. It was at her behest we fought the debased nymph because she drove a wedge between her and Jadrenka. She spoke of Caigreal to us as well, so she may be pleased to learn about her defeat. It's possible she could aid us further."
Llewellyn thanked Letetia for the healing before saying, "Yeah, that's worth a shot. Still I wouldn't be surprised if we're going to get our arms twisted to deal with the other hags..."
Samuel stashes the new magic items and halts at the iron key "I wonder what this one opens. Does anyone remember a door we have not been able to open?"
The Taldan looks around for the furniture in this room, and specially if there is anything with a lock, for example a chest or something. If so, he tries the key there.
"I like the idea of hunting down the frost giants the most. If Nostafa was honest with us, I fear the Demon Lord they want to free might be Kostchtchie himself" Samuel rugs his nose and cleans his musket of the recent shots' powder, lodging a new bullet inside with great care "The giant leader is going to be a hard bone to crack. But if they free a Demon Lord, we are basically f@@$ed up. We should have that as our priority"
"Let's trace back to the womb of the Crone. Nostafa told us the Eon Pit is there"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Letitia examines the magical symbol, and decides it is a phylactery of negative channeling
Samuel looks around the room, and finds a few trunks. He opens them, finding:
various feminine clothing, some Large size
a black star sapphire worth 3000 gp
800 gp in coins
a scroll
a potion
a small wooden box of what appears to be a collection of small scalps... gross
There is some debate on where to go next. Try to find the other hags? Deal with the Giants? report back to some of the (more) friendly people they have found so far?
however you decide to proceed you feel that you have made a big step forward by killing this hag and weakening the coven's schemes for the fortress.
You all level up to lvl 9!
"Well, by taking this piece we have basically broken the coven." Samuel states feeling the group has advanced and matured since they entered the statue.
Opening the trunks, Samuel picks up and shows a magnificent gem "Look at this! This sapphire is as big as the palm of my hand, it must be worth a tone"
Letitia casts read magic and inspects the scroll. If no one can identify the potion, she casts detect magic and tries to identify it as well.
After Samuel talks about going to the Eon Pit and facing the frost giants directly, she draws in a breath. "That is likely our greatest task short of facing the coven in all its strength. Since we've mainly dealt with that threat, I suppose we should set our sights on stopping the frost giants from their goals. We cannot allow them to succeed, that is certain."
Knowing that they must return to the Crone, if all are in agreement she leads the group back through the pathway north of the cave where the lurkers in light were. If necessary, she arranges the statues back in the same pattern that they used before. "If I recall, this puzzle gained us entry us to Crone."
Samuel nods, obviously in agreement with the witch "Let's not forget Nostafa warned us about an aging curse in the pit. Maybe we will need to make use of that aging protection magics we found a while back"
"By stopping them I assume you mean killing them, or at least their leaders." muttered Llewellyn.
He thought about the things he'd heard and wondered what he knew of the frost giant leadership.
Nodding to Mr Samuel, Llewellyn replied, "Yeah, I don't fancy getting hit by an aging curse."
one of us could go down under effects of the scroll we found.... i am the youngest here 15. and thus the least likely to be effected by such spells long term. Ash suggests with complete seriousness, putting little worth on her own life once again, For what its worth, i do count as a maiden. I am aware curses can be abstract and odd with certain requirements
Letitia sighs. "It shouldn't have to come to that," she tells Ashling. Then she taps the rotund cauldron she keeps with her. "A summoned outsider should be able to retrieve the key from the depths of the Eon Pit with no detrimental consequences."
"And of course you count as a maiden, as do I. Callix, too, unless she's had children that she's failed to mention thus far."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The group feels refreshed after making such a big step forward.
The coven should be significantly weakened even if the others still are around to cause toruble. The party decides it probably makes the most sense to deal with the giants next to keep them from causing trouble with a Demon Lord.
Llewellyn thinks back to tales he has heard of frost giant leadership and society.
Frost giants are among the most feared giants, as their wanton destruction, battle lust, and fearless demeanor push them to ever-increasing displays of brutality.
Frost giants survive on hunting and raiding alone, as they live in desolate, frigid environments. Frost giant groups are split almost evenly between those that live in makeshift settlements or abandoned castles and those that roam the frozen north as nomads in search of spoils and provisions.
Frost giants are brutal, superstitious warriors among whom only might makes right. The title of jarl inevitably falls to the strongest and most worthy warrior of the tribe, who leads her people to glory through intimidation and violence. At any time, a jarl may be challenged in combat by one of her peers. The winner of such fatal duels is deemed the rightful ruler of the tribe—at least until the next challenger approaches.
The influence of a particularly charismatic jarl can often extend to clans outside her own tribe. In such cases, the leaders of the lesser tribes are typically known simply as chieftains or warlords. These allied tribes often meet to trade goods and arrange marriages, and especially organized collaborations have been known to form massive war bands for devastating campaigns that can span entire mountain ranges before disbanding.
A few frost giants have magical powers and can use runes, sorcery, or foul rituals to cast divinations or bring ruin to their enemies from afar. Such individuals serve their tribes as shamans, earning great standing among their peers second only to the jarl herself. Frost giants take a serious view of their heritage, and in addition to their more oracular duties, shamans are responsible for teaching the tribe’s children about their ancestry and the tribe’s oral history.
Given their generally warlike nature, frost giants show unusual reverence for their dead. Warriors are buried beneath icy cairns on the battlefield where they met their end, and are placed in their grave alongside their favored weapons. Particularly favored chieftains and jarls are taken back to the Frost giants’ encampment or base, where a small ceremony is performed before the deceased is buried next to grave offerings such as gold and even live slaves, tributes meant to ensure she is given proper station in the afterlife. In contrast, those who challenge their current jarl in combat and lose the duel are treated as little better than traitors, their bodies desecrated and some part of their skeleton mounted on the jarl’s throne or the hilt of her weapon.
Frost giants possess a particular fondness for slavery, and whenever possible take captives from their destructive raids. Bands of frost giants usually keep at least one or two humanoid slaves shackled to a slave handler—a feared and respected position of authority within frost giant society. Slave handlers are responsible for making sure slaves don’t escape, as well as arranging slave trades between other tribes and warlike cultures or divvying out slaves for meals in lean times.
In addition to humanoid thralls, frost giants are quite fond of monstrous pets, including winter wolves and young white dragons, though virtually any creature native to their preferred domain are prone to capture and crude domestication. Mammoths, yetis, and even remorhazes and linnorms can sometimes be found battling alongside frost giant barbarians, as well as guarding frost giant encampments when their masters are out pillaging.
Letitia examines the items from the trunk. the potion is potion of protection from arrows, the scroll is Flame Strike.
Letitia recalls the path that was taken previosuly to get to the Crone, and can lead the group back to the passage that took them there the first time.
Someone has indeed reset the items that made up the puzzle to this passage, but it is easy enough to recreate the solution and continue on.
you find yourselves back in a room with 4 doors and very little else. this is where you spoke with the old woman Warden and found the scroll of age resistance.
"Charity angels, the best of society" Samuel jokes listening Llewellyn's description of frost giant society while eating an apple that has appeared on his hand out of nowhere "Well, aside of total rampage, at least we can hope the Warden's friends are enslaved and not just killed. That, and be prepared for a wolf or a white winged lizard or two, ah?"
As the group reaches back the doors' room, the Taldan slowly counts the doors "We took two of these. There are two left to check. I guess one might be as good as the other to start with." pulling a gold coin, he tosses it in the air.
"Aha, heads is always my lucky one." Samuel points to the bottom door, the one by side to the other the group already visited "This one."
He checks the door with care before attempting to open it.
Llewellyn nodded to Samuel, "Frost giants almost make Orcs sound nice by comparison. Almost."
While Samuel inspected the door and listened for anything on the other side, Llewellyn did his best to help in case there was a lurking surprise.
Callix shrugs, "If that's the definition of maiden in this context, I've not had a child either... though I do like the idea of using something ageless instead of one of us."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"I think you must be conflating 'maiden' with 'virgin', Callix," Letitia says. "When your attitude toward the carnal act is procreative and not recreational, you will have moved to the next stage even if you do not bear a child. Though it's certainly possible to accidentally make that transition if you... recreate too often without proper precautions in place." She smirks.
When Samuel chooses the door by chance, Letitia's mouth twists in distaste. She hated letting something as important as their next course of action be decided by chance, but she didn't have any means of determining the correct path. Except...
"Once the door is open, consider: if the passage goes down, we will likely be going in the right direction. If it goes up, it likely will not. We are seeking the Eon Pit, after all."
Callix nods, "There are some who use the terms interchangeably, hence terrible euphemisms like 'maidenhead'. But, either way, I've not made the transition you describe."
She pauses, then suggests, "When that wave of warmth hit after our last battle, I felt my spells refresh -- I could use an augury help with determining the path to take."
my referral did mean the old fashioned sacrificial pure hearted virgin princess stories sense. But if its unnecessary then all well and good
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Letitia shudders in disgust. "You may despise Irrisen, but at least we do not ascribe to the belief that a man's esteem is increased by the number of women he's bedded while simultaneously holding that a woman's worth is diminished the more times she's shared her bedchambers."
Turning back to the topic of choosing their path, she gestures to Samuel and Llewellyn who are busy with the door. "It seems our choice has been made, but feel free to ask for guidance if your drunken god will provide wise counsel."
Callix shakes her head, "No, that sort of ridiculousness is clearly a southern idea -- as are notions of one's worth coming from the station of birth and it controlling how you dress or whether or not you can grow a beard... and I do not despise Irrisen, so much as what she does to her neighbours."
Callix shrugs, "I can at least trust him to say whether or not something is a good idea, at least... though, that said, we should probably work together on ensuring we ask the right question."
While this debate goes on, Llewellyn studiously attends to the door in case it's a polymorphed dragon or something else equally exciting. He does however share a glance with Mr Samuel.
Samuel gives back a glance to Llewellyn, then grumbles back to the rest of the group "If you have not noticed, we men are trying to figure out the mechanical parts here in an attempt to open this door safely. We could enjoy a lower tone."
The Taldan goes back to the door's lock, trying to make it open "Point taken though on looking for a corridor going down."
Do you need help picking the lock? she offers, taking out a mastercrafted tool set.
Callix chuckles, "Well, don't let me stop you, Samuel."
Samuel is able ot unlock the door after clearing it for traps.
Llewellyn listens at the door, but doesn't hear anything.
The rest of the group discusses the specifics of the difference between the life stages of a woman and how they might be interpreted in different cultures.
The door swings open and you see that there is indeed stairs going downward.
Assuming Samuel scouts ahead slightly, he finds that the door at the bottom of the stairs is smashed to pieces and falling off of its hinges. He can hear two creatures talking to each other in Giant.
If told about the voices in Giant, Letitia strains her ears trying to overhear the conversation.
"It is not that easy with this frozen cold you know" Samuel answers a bit frustrated until the lock does click, and his face turns to smile "Ah, there you have them. Your stairs down."
Samuel indeed carefully moves down, and when he overhears the conversation, he moves upstairs again to inform the group and trying to not be detected "There are at least two people there. Giants by the pitch and tone..."
He checks the musket is loaded before descending the stairs to cover Letitia on her investigation.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Wanting to listen in without getting too close, Llewellyn softly casts a new spell, one that turbocharged his senses. It was a little overwhelming, he felt he could hear a pin drop in a room down the hall!