Reign of Winter Adventure Path Table 2 (Inactive)

Game Master GM Sapphire Fox

Tyrael moves up next to mustafa and stands ready. As eladorn lifts up the trap door tyrael will look fpr a way down and into the area and surch around the area to see where the noise is coming from.
perception: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Ylosani moves through the hall, passing the macabre dinner scene and the fireplace. He takes up a position next to a very familiar window...or the remains of a broken window. He glances at it briefly then turns his full attention back to the trapdoor in the middle of the room.

"Anyone with darkvision should go first. And someone should detect magic down there," he says.

He then draws his bow up again.

"Light perhaps would be best for those can't see in the dark..." mentions Thorn.

Newmark walks over to the fire-place, picks up a piece of firewood, cast light upon it and drops it down the open trap door. There now, everyone can see! He says as he slaps his hands together noisily relieving them of dust.

took 2 rounds to do that R3 of Newmark's resistance spell approximately 7 minutes left on my mage armor.

A half-dozen boxes and barrels take up the majority of this underground cellar. A rough blanket lies spread on the floor in the southeast corner next to a bowl of half-eaten food.

There is a lady sleeping on the blanket until the light comes down and you can tell the body is unconcious, and very well bruised and beaten

Tyrael will move over to the lady on the floor and make sure its still alive.

Tyrael will shout back up"guys we can use some healing down here there is a lady on the floor thats been beaten badly."

heal: 1d20 ⇒ 2

"Watch our backs," Mustafa says as he moves quickly to the basement.
heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
With sure hands, he quickly assesses her state.
if she requires it, I'll cast cure light wounds oh her.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Eladorn looks at the woman in the basement with suspicion. "Is this our kidnapped noble?"

"If this necromancer spent the time to place your former friends in that macabre tableau over there, why didn't he take his captive too? Why would he leave her behind like this?"

"It seems too easy."

Maraxus grips his blade and scans the room while others help the mysterious lady.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Ylosani, like most of his companions feels like this is a situation that is too good to be true. He remains upstairs as the others head down into the basement. He continues to scan the room and cabin, waiting for some kind of threat to appear.

"Search quickly and get her up here. I don't want to linger here too long. If she's who we're looking for or just another innocent victim doesn't matter at the moment," he said.

Newmark stays above in the cabin. Loaded crossbow in hand.

Thorn stays with Newmark, his own weapon in hand and a spell on his lips after casting Guidance on Newmark.
"Something seems off though I can't place a finger on it. Here's a little spell to guide your next shot if it comes down to it."

Lady Argentea stirs awake though when she notices the group she kinda moves back and stands up in one swift motion, her stance somewhat defiant

"what now, am I to be dragged up to the Cleric now to learn my fate?"

"Actually, milady, we're here to escort you to safety."

"A Cleric?" Thorn looks around now this time.

"Given how Ylosani's former companions are laid out......Newmark do you spot anyone nearby?" Thorn asks as he looks around himself.

Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

"Of what cleric do you speak? We were only told of a necromancer. Was there some cleric aiding the necromancer?"

"Some clerics are capable of raising the dead as well," Ylosani points out from the cabin above, even as he continues to watch for anyone or anything approaching.

"It hardly matters if it was unholy magic or arcane that brought the bodies to life and is something much better discussed somewhere else. We are here to save you from those who abducted you, milady. That task will be much easier if everyone comes upstairs, now."

Newmark looks impatiently down at the people talking in the cellar. You all about through? My mage armor just ran out and the light spell I cast on the piece of wood will in a few minutes. Best look around that cellar and get back up here. We'll look around up here. With that, Newmark slings his crossbow back over his shoulder un-loading it first. Then begins to search the cabin (take 20' if I can: if not roll beneath the spoiler)

Note: Newmark would search the entire top floor of the cabin..including the bodies of the old adventures.

Note, there is an upstairs as well.

Seeing there are no immediate threats downstairs, Maraxus assists the gnome in searching the main floor of the cabin.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Thorn remains keeping watch at the door.
"I'll keep a lookout while you fine fellows do the search."

Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

tyrael will climb back up the ladder. "well lass you can either come back with us to the town or you can stay down there in that hole. but i would be nice if you came with us."

he will look around for anything to keep the woman warm for the walk back to the town.

"here lass use these blankets to stay warm as we walk back to town."

at the mention of a uspstairs tyrael will head up the stairs and take 20 if able to search around up there for anything that might give us clues as to wahats going on as well as anything that might be useful.

"Lass, did you hear anything that these brigands said why they were here?"

assuming she ascends the ladder/stairs, Mustafa would help her up to make sure she doesn't fall or anything

She will return to town with you all

"I heard the scuffling of a fight a few nights ago, and before that the cleric mentioned about waiting for orders from Teb

searching the upper room there is a footlocker that is locked

"Do you have any idea who--or what--Teb might be?"

after finding the foot locker tyrael will bring it back down stairs.

"didnt find much of use upstairs but this is locked. anyone care to try and unlock it so we can see if there is useful info inside it."

after finding the foot locker tyrael will bring it back down stairs.

"didnt find much of use upstairs but this is locked. anyone care to try and unlock it so we can see if there is useful info inside it."

I don't think anyone has the skills necessary to pick a lock.. Newmark remarks. just bash open the lock or take the whole locker with us and we'll have it, opened in town. Newmark looks at Ylosani's dead companions...what do you want to do with them? The ground is too hard to bury them with all this snow...funeral pyre?

Mustafa nods. "A pyre will serve. It's the least we can do."

"Pyre it is then. And smash it open I think." Thorn concurs as he steps out to look for suitable materials to make one.

"i would rather not smash it encase there are viles of anything in it who knows what might be in here."

Tyrael will start gathering some wood aka making what ever he can in the house useable tinder "ok that aught to do it, ready to light it up as soon as we are ready to leave"

Eladorn watches Tyrael gathering the wood for the pyre, and he lifts his eyes in confusion. "You're not planning on burning this whole lodge down, right? This is Heldren's hunting lodge. I'm a member here. We can bring the bodies outside and do the burning out there. We can also gather wood; we don't need to burn those chairs. I helped buy those chairs!"

He will help drag the bodies outside and find an appropriate place for a funeral pyre, then helps gather firewood to help get it alight. He also takes some time to board up the broken windows to better protect the lodge from the elements until a work crew from Heldren can get out here to properly fix the damage.

Before leaving the lodge, he gives it a final walkthrough, just making sure that they haven't missed anything.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

"Do we want to investigate the stable and outhouse before returning to town?"

After searching the house and hearing plans of a funeral pyre, Maraxus speaks up.

"There were several outbuildings we should search. There is still a necromancer and numerous zombies unaccounted for. Do not let your guard down."

Gorum's bloody fist, worrying about burials in a possibly still active battlefield, now I've seen everything

"Maraxus if they were still around they would have come out and attacked us already. i do agree that we need to check the out buildings looking for these zombies and this necromancer or cleric or whatever it is." at the mention of burning down the whole lodge. "well Eladorn that was the plan since this place has been desicrated by the foul plans and magic that was worked inside these walls."

"Would they? Ylosanis recountment had this necromancer attacking from behind, a devious move. I would not put it past such a man to leave traps for the unwary. Zombies and skeletons can sit still under any of this snow until we blunder by. Secure your location before you worry about non vital matters. That is rule 1."

Looking about the group, "Would anyone like to assist me in securing the outbuildings and grounds before we deal with these bodies?"

With any takers he will move to inspect the stables, still on guard.

Mustafa looks momentarily confused. "Burn the lodge? I don't think that's necessary. The people depend on the works of these rangers to keep them safe. But yes, we should definitely check the outbuildings. Whether or not there are any foes about, there may be further clues about what's going on."

"I appreciate your wish to put my former companions to proper rest as quickly as possible Tyrael, but the dead can wait a bit longer. When I leave this place, I would like it to be for good and the outbuildings need to be searched. We didn't get a chance the first time and, even if our enemies are not still around, we must ensure there are no other clues to what is happening in them," Ylosani replies.

He looks to the macabre tableau the dead make up again as he passes back through the room where they've been arranged. But only for a moment before firmly looking away and back to the business at hand.

When he gets outside, he sets up his usual position, close enough to the stables that he can get a good shot at any targets inside, far enough away to give him time to react to danger.

*tsk*, Go search the outbuildings if you must but, hurry! It will be dark soon enough and Lady Argentea is most likely anxious to get back to her Villa. Do these mercenaries even know the meaning of, "rescue mission?" I personally could care less if, you lay your former comrades to rest or not Ylosani. Newmark literally spits before uttering the next sentence. I suppose the rumors are true about elves having no reverence for their fallen comrades. Or loyalty to their friends for that mater. However, if your in this just for a treasure hunt, Newmark points his finger at Lady Argenta. She's likely to be the biggest score here, by way of reward. Newmark winks at the noblewoman.

So after you're through picking the corpses of the living dead clean, come get Lady Argenta and I will ya? We'll be warming ourselves by the fire in here while you are running around the stables. Oh and I hope you don't find it too disrespectful that I drag the bodies of former friends outside...once it starts to warm up in here...they'll start to thaw a bit I'm thinking... Newmark plugs his nose and makes a wavy motion with the other hand. Don't want to deal with the stink, as they decay..ya know? Newmark looks to Eladorn and ask, I'm sure the lodge members don't want to return here in the spring to find the rotting corpses of Ylosani's friends, don't you think? Newmark smiles in a wry manor, Though I suppose you could explain to them it's some sort of obscure ancient Elven rite? Newmark winks at the militant un-feeling Elf; completely disdainful of his lack of respect for his fallen comrades and suspicious of the hand he may have played in their early demise.

You know Ylosani, I haven't had the chance to ask you yet...just how did you survive the bloody attack, when all your comrades fell? From the way you stood outside while others approached...I think I can guess. Newmark *snorts* in disgust. I suppose that will be your, modus operandi, our entire trip? Newmark looks to the others for support. You hang back and cover while others throw themselves in to battle? *chortle* Newmark takes out a pipe and stuffs some tobacco inside it. A very Elvish way of fighting I'm sure *har!*

"Suggest that I have no reverence for my fallen comrades again and there will be another body placed on the pyre, Newmark," Ylosani quietly answers in return.

"If you are too stupid to understand that we cannot leave an outpost of the enemy unexplored then your opinion is neither needed nor wanted and you are welcome to keep it to yourself. The same goes for your opinion about my motivations. It is dwarves who are obsessed with gold and gems, not elves, as everyone knows."

He gestures to the snow that covers the ground in this southern realm in summer. "If you think that the only reason we came out here is to save one noblewoman then I have no doubt about your intelligence, or lack thereof. We are here to end this unnatural weather and save a community, perhaps a whole land, not a single person. If that is not why you are here, then you and your dear lady are free to head back the way we came right now. Your services are not needed."

"And when I want to know how to fight like a blood drunk orc, I'll ask for tactical advice from a dwarf. Until then, don't get between me and my target. Casualties caused by 'friendly' fire are always tragic," his voice remains low and steady throughout his reply and his gaze remains on the stables.

"Anyone who wants to actually try to solve this problem, let us further our investigations. Any cowards are free to stay in the lodge with the dead, since your life is of no value to me, in any case."

Following Ylosani outside, Eladorn looks from Newmark to Ylosani with surprise. It's tense alright. Emotions running high. Well, no bother; they can keep each other in check.

At least we're not going to burn the lodge down. What were they thinking!

"Hey, let's all agree right now to not try to kill each other. I don't really care about the rest of your differences, but we need to keep each other alive. All of us. We do appear to have a common enemy... let's not give him more bodies to fight us with." He begins making his way to the stables without waiting for a reply. Sliding up beside the door, he listens for any noises from inside.

Stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

If he doesn't hear anything from inside, he'll check to make sure the door is safe to open, and then opens the door.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Shael comes around the house when she hears Eladorn outside. She quietly approaches the stables, stopping and watching Eladorn.

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

And when I want to know how to fight like a blood drunk orc, I'll ask for tactical advice from a dwarf. Until then, don't get between me and my target. Casualties caused by 'friendly' fire are always tragic," his voice remains low and steady throughout his reply and his gaze remains on the stables.

"Anyone who wants to actually try to solve this problem, let us further our investigations. Any cowards are free to stay in the lodge with the dead, since your life is of no value to me, in any case."

Spoken like a true hero noble elf *chortle*..and as far as your threaten me with friendly fire...perhaps our Paladin friend my have something to say about that? Even as blood-thirsty as priest of Gorum are known to be...I hardly think that they'd think back shooting a comrade Honorable...isn't that true Maraxus? How about you Mustafa? Where does your deity stand on back-shooters? Newmark moves one of the bodies closes to him and inspects the back... Hmmm no arrow holes here...guess your aim isn't always that good elf! Gotta rely on actual warriors once in a while to do your evil for Ye? Newmark redies expeditious retreat, somewhat sure the real cause of the slaughter was the cowardly elf. Knowing he cannot face the elf alone, his only hope is to run. Newmark hopes, his Honorable comrades see the elf, for what a villain he is.

I playing-up the tension between races on purpose. This is not an indictment of Ylosani's style of play. But, the Dwarf has sceen Ylosani do nothing but "hang back" while others went to check on the welfare of his former comrades. When it was suggested they be respectfully laid to rest the Elf immediately jumped to things that he thought were more important even though he recruited us with the idea we avenge his brethren. This would irk my Dwarven character's already bigoted nature to the tipping point. Cause him to be very suspicious that Ylosani had ulterior motives for dragging them out there. After subtly threatening to kill Newmark; there'd be no doubt that Ylsoni was a coward and a villain in Newmarks' mind. Be curious to see how the other players roll-play this.

"If you two are done with the pissing match, we have work to do."

Maraxus grumbles and he heads out of the house.

I wonder if the dwarf sees the irony of a mage calling an archer a coward for hanging back in battle. Bah, he's a dwarf, he probably doesn't even know what irony is

As the three tall warriors leave the house, Newmark ask Lady Argentea, Well my Lady? What do you think of this heroic group? Would you like me to escort you back to town, while our brave warriors fumble around the outhouse and stable for, no doubt..ripe and smelly treasure? Or would you prefer to wait and hold one of their hands on the way back? *giggle* Newmark looks at the dead men stacked like macabre dolls and shivers. The elf may not care if you end up like them.. He points to the gruesome sceene of Ylsoni's friends butchered and mutilated on display. But, i'd prefer it, if your pretty smile not be sewn on like those poor souls...shall we go?

diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

If the noblewoman says yes, Newmark loads his crossbow and heads out with her in tow...not worrying if any of his comrades follow.

"Peace Friends. Strife within our ranks does us no good at all." Thorn begins.

"We can do both. Some of us can see about setting a pyre and lighting these poor souls to their journey while also maintaining the lodge. While the others can checks the stables. We don't need to be sniping each other. There's a cleric and necromancer or both and someone named Teb we should be more concerned about."

Turning to Lady Argenta, Thorn offers her a seat.
"If you should still be feeling the chill of this winter, I have spells to help you."

tyrael stands there listening to his two comrades bicker and argue back and forth. tyrael will move over to the bodies of the fallen and as Newmark pulls one closer to him to look at its back.

"there shall be no "friendly" fire going on here or anywhere."not even sure how such a word exists there is nothing friendly about it"and for a further matter Ylosani you were looking for people to come out here and avenge your fellow companions. unfortunately that looks like its not going to be possible considering the enemy "seems" to be gone at this point."

"you go and search the buildings and i will start laying these fine heroes to rest. hopefully it shall be a peaceful one. may apsu protect you as you search and if you need my help cause something comes crawling out of the ground then yell and i shall come"
with that tyrael will turn his back on the group and set to work moving the bodies out and getting ready to burn them.
hopefully i dont get shot in the back myself with him threatening to do that to people. oh well.....Apsu if it is my time than i shall be coming to see you before the day is through."

The outhouse as you go to look at it, is frozen over, and the axe used to break the ice off, seems to be frozen to the building as well

as for the stables, you see that it would hold maybe 3 horses, but they are all empty and nothing of note.

GM did you read Newmarks post? does Lady Argenta respond to the offer of heading back?

Ylosani was reminded how foolish it was to let his emotions guide his actions as his companions reacted to his exchange with Newmark. He made no further response to the dwarf, nor did he answer any of the other's comments, his face resuming its normally stony visage.

That mask breaks a bit with disappointment as he sees that the outbuildings are unoccupied. He was expecting, even hoping to find the necromancer in one of those buildings so that he could truly avenge his dead companions.

"Thank you," he says simply enough to Tyrael as he begins the rites to lay them to rest.

He has a deep reverence for and connection to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in fighting evil, however.

Before their mortal remains are sent to the next world, he goes to each of his fallen comrades, whispering something to them before gathering something of importance from them. A marble from Yuukyou, a glove from Tchort, a bit of leather from Ulric's shield strap and some cloth from Orladan's clothing. He would not touch her holy objects, having too much respect for her connection to her god. He wraps it all in a bit of cloth from Nox's clothing, making a small pouch that he hangs from his bow.

He bows his head and closes his eyes. "To remember," he quietly says.

He'll watch respectfully and quietly as the rites take place but will urge the party along as soon as the religious portions are over but long before the bodies fully burn.

Assuming she's still there, he says "Let us return the good lady to the village. Then, you each can decide if you want to come back with me to determine the source of this unnatural cold."

Before the pyre is lit, Eladorn will remove any magical or valuable items from the former party members' bodies.

Or did the necromancer loot the bodies first?

Good call, Nox had our CLW wand and Ulric had a masterwork cold iron longsword.

Maraxus relaxes only a bit as the grounds are secured.

"Now we know we won't be ambushed from this building. Even so, I will keep watch while you perform services on your fallen companions. This is still hostile country. When we finish I suggest we take the Lady back to town, then proceed on tomorrow to solve this mystery."

Looking at the rest of the group he looks for another with a mind for security, "If another would assist me in security, we would be doubly effective. Striking while we are distracted seems to be a common tactic from our foes."

Looking at the foul mouthed dwarf, Maraxus ponders.

Back talking to the principal, calling battle mates cowards with no foundation, from someone who won't carry a proper blade no less. I will be surprised if this one survives this expidition

To the group. "Enough with the bickering. If you cannot work within this group, leave. We cannot have discord in battle, liabilities such as that endanger not only our success, but our very lives."

With a long, slow, look at the dead adventurers, "Possibly even our souls."