This link will take you too the handout section Where i will be doing my best to keep updated with pictures of of NPCs and sights, as well with other handouts.
Rules for play:
1) All dice rolls must be posted. I don't care if you use the dice roller here, or if you use a website i just want to be able to see what you roll.
2) Combat will be ran on the battle map posted above. I will provide a key for every map. When posting damage on the stat sheet please make sure to do it as a function (=x1+x2+x30 as this will allow us to keep track of individual damage rolls.
3) With the start of each combat i will post the average initiative for the monsters. This number will function as a dice check. If you match or exceed it you will go first, and should act immediately. After the players who rolled higher go then the monsters will go, then the players, then the monsters, then the players until one side has won.
4) If you don't want to have to wrap "OOC" around your text simply post without and alias.
5) Don't be a monkey wrench. I don't mind party conflict but no being a dick just to be a dick. We're all friends but make sure that the characters work together at least, even if they don't get along.
6) Only read spoilers that apply to you, and no meta gaming with your other character about information they wouldn't have.
7) Somehow keep track of the loot you receive, as this time around I'll will not be handing out level up money. Appraise is now useful.
8) Have fun! duh....
Let the Reign of Winter begin!
Act one: The Snows of Summer
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 yesterday, 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.
Why are you here? Where you born here and have you traveled here? If you traveled here why? If you live here what do you do for a living? You should have been in Heldren for at least three days.
I need two checks from each of your characters as well. A local knowledge that you can all make, I just won't give you any information above 10, and a diplomacy check.
I will give you each the information from the Diplomacy check after you have rolled but you may look in the spoiler below to see what you learned from local knowledge. Remember, if your not trained in local knowledge you can only read the information giving up to DC 10
"I have recently arrived in this village, to where I have never been..."
"I've not been home in a long while..."
"It's amazing what one remembers..."
Me and my brother were raised in the north but a snow storm wiped out village out. We could find none of our sister tribes and therefore sought refuge here. In Heldren.
Me and my brother were raised in the north but a snow storm wiped out village out. We could find none of our sister tribes and therefore sought refuge here. In Heldren.
Assuming that you are in "The White Weasel" (the only tavern in Heldren) an official looking woman enters. "Everyone, Myself and the council believe that Heldren is in dire trouble. Apparently a caravan was attacked by bandits and creatures of snow and ice. What this means we do not know but they carried away Lady Argentea of Zimar! Is no one brave enough to discover what is happening here?"
"Stay calm woman... how many were there?"
"Stay calm woman... how many were there?"
"I do not know, the attack happened yesterday. There was one survivor, a mercenary. He told me to find anyone who might help save her. He is from the north and seems to know more of what happened."
"I've heard this story elsewhere, but I did not believe it to be true... You're not lying are you?"
"My assumption is that since we didn't hear any semblance of a ransom note from this source, she's dead and the caravan is looted. They wouldn't hold her alive for this long with no reason. There is no reason to venture out into the ever-winter for this farce."
"I'm going to search anyway. Anyone who comes, comes now. If not, I'm going alone."
Just then, then door swings open. Entering the tavern, a huge hulkish man stoops down to get through the door way. Behind him enters another, even taller behemoth of a man as pale as the snow. He ducks under the door, and once he enters, he lets his great double ax rest of the floor, shaking the buildings very foundation. He then swings the door close behind him.
We heard you have a bandit problem. Perhaps we can help. Said the shorter of the two men who's voice was deep as thunder.
"Ha! Is that supposed to be a bandit, or an ice yeti? Either way those brutes must have been what ravaged the caravan."
Don't be silly. Had we intended to destroy the caravan there would have been no one to inform the city of that attack. I am Thor (the taller one with the double ax and pale skin), and this is my brother, Odin(normal skin, normal hair). We seek refuge in this town, our village has been destroyed by a horrible blizzard. All of our family was lost in the storm. We want to help to gain trust and to make a place for ourselves among you kind. Do you accept our offer puny human?
The woman seems not to know if Thor is speaking to her or one of the other two when he calls them 'puny', however being she is the shortest of them all she responds, "If you find out what is happening in the Border Wood you and your brother will be most welcome in Heldren and all of Taldor."
"Be my guests." Jukka turns to face Keiran. "Will you join us, or are you too much a coward?"
"Be my guests." Jukka turns to face Keiran. "Will you join us, or are you too much a coward?"
"Only if I get half your gains you filthily stick in the mud"
Greedy filth. Your city is threatened and all you care about in profit. I would not spit in you direction. Let us leave him behind (Keiran), we need not waste time with the likes of him.
"Oh, but I have skills you'll need, giant," Keiran chuckles softly. "And I'll even revoke that last clause just to see you proven wrong..."
We have survived the coldest of storms. We have traveled further than your little mind could even comprehend. We have done things that would break your entire body. Make your choice now. For you are wasting precious time. Come with us to protect you home, or stay.
"Fine," Keiran says bitterly, "I'm coming. But again, you will be proven false!"
The woman leads you to the local temple. Symbols of a bow notched with an arrow are all over the temple, however there are several other symbols as well. Sitting in one of the pews are two men, one man is badly injured, his nose and fingers are black with frostbite. "So your the ones going to take on the winter touched eh?" He turns around fully and sees the two ulfen giants and proclaims, "Brothers of the North! Well you might have some chance then after all! What are you two doing so far south?"
The second man is wearing priest robes. He stands up and leaves with the council woman when you arrive. They stand in the doorway, able to hear what is said, but also giving you the distance you need to question the man.
Greetings. We have traveled far looking for a suitable place for us to live the remainder of our lives. Our village was destroyed in a wondrously devastating snow storm. How do you know of us?
Just then, then door swings open. Entering the tavern, a huge hulkish man stoops down to get through the door way. Behind him enters another, even taller behemoth of a man as pale as the snow. He ducks under the door, and once he enters, he lets his great double ax rest of the floor, shaking the buildings very foundation. He then swings the door close behind him.
We heard you have a bandit problem. Perhaps we can help. Said the shorter of the two men who's voice was deep as thunder.
this should be Odin Speaking. not Thor
He tries to stand but is unable. He winces in pin and sits down, extending his hand toward Odin. "Yuln is the name, and of course I don't know you personally, but I like to think that all Ulfen know each other. Yet you are larger than any Ulfen I've ever seen! What did your mother feed you?" He laughs at his own joke and then speaks to the whole party, "Well then, are you going to hunt the bandits?"
"Yes, if there are truly bandits that we are meant to deal with."
Odin extends his hand to help up the man. We have a complicated ancestry. He replies. I am Odin and this is my younger (taller) brother, Thor. We are of the Thunder clan. Nice to finally see another noble Ulfen. how did you come to this place?
In response to Jukka he says, There are much more than bandits in those woods. Would that I could go with you,”
he says. “My ancestors would ridicule
my lack of valor for f leeing 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.”
In response to Odin he says, "I traveled far from our homeland when the Winter Witches killed my entire tribe, once again, I find myself alone"
We too, brother Yuln, have lost our families. Now tell us, where did you last see the Lady Argentea. We seek to rescue her and bring her back safely. I'm sure we are more than a match for these bandits. Just point the way.
To Yuln, Keiran offers, "Would it be necessary, I could heal you up a bit, if only to prove my worth already. I learned a thing or two about healing from those damned witches before they expelled me."
"It will do no good, he's wounds are fine it is the frost bite we must worry about" Says the priest from the back of the room.
"I saw the bandits and the fey carry her off into the woods. The battle took place 6 miles south of Heldren."
In response to the priest, "The question begging to be asked here, is why in the hells are fey teamed up with bandits to capture bloody noblewoman?! Does anyone know?"
Nothing from your die roll, you have no clue why these bandits are working with Fey and vise versa.
"That's what we were wondering as well." stats Ionnia
"Well this is intriguing, I'm already becoming glad I came along. Still, I'm not looking forward to the looming danger bit."
Who cares why fey and bandits are working together. All you need to know is where to swing your ax and no further questions are worth asking. Let us be off. Time is precious and we don't know how long Lady Argentea has left to live. And that being said, the two brothers begin to go south, to find the Lady Argentea.
"It's not just any fey...it's the winter touched" says Yuln as the brothers are leaving. Of course they know what they are, as does Keiran. The only one out of the four who doesn't know is probably Jukka.
"No offense meant, but I'm sure we're done learning here. Come witch!"
Jukka and Keiran leave along with the Ulfen.
"Best of luck! May the gods be with you!" hollers Yuln as you leave.
Near the forest, the temperature grows noticeably colder. The road ahead is littered with debris and the corpses of slain humans and horses. A carriage stands in the roadway, its team of horses missing or cut free, while another overturned carriage lies sprawled and broken next to the tree line. To the south, more bodies have fallen around what appears to be a statue of ice. A snowy trail leads deeper into the forest.
Odin investigates the statue.
Thor searches through the bodies. Looking for any leads.
I search for tracks...
Treasure: One breastplate and one masterwork Longsword
Jukka points at a trail in the snow, "This way, we haven't time to waste,
Looks inside the carriage.
Lays the body down into the snow. Hearing Jukka he follows. Thor! let's go.
Ignoring the calls of the other, Thor draws his weapon, ready to pounce on what ever is moving inside the carriage.