Reign of Winter by GM Niles (Inactive)

Game Master nilesr

Sven wants to collapse but instead musters what strength he has left and rushes back inside (through the door this time) to try and help Merisiel. He freezes just inside the doorway however, eyeing Tenpenny and drawing the Cold-iron shortsword from his belt.

"We are thankful for your help." He says calmly, but with a bit of a growl. "We do not wish a fight, and hope that you do not either. But if you do, we will give you just that."

Hassan backs Sven's play. "Declare yourself friend or foe. And prepare to be welcomed as whichever you choose."

To others: "There was some sound coming from under the big table in the coommon room. Perhaps another enemy awaits us. Let us go and investigate."

Once, Ten-Penny declares her intention, Hassan will head to the table, and weapon ready, move the rug, seeing what is under there. If she wants to fight, he will oblige.

Will get the Loot Log updated with the stuff from Rokhar and bandits.

"What is that blue skinned thing?" the strix ask no one in particular then he remembers the one he shot down.
"Is she alive?" he asks.

Tenpenny lowers the dagger, flips it hilt first and offers it to Hassan.

I got no problems with you. I assume your after the Lady then. She's under there. Tenpenny points under the table Rohkar has the keys, but you've probably done for him right?

Are you guys waiting for me?

Gauthier moves to clear the trapdoor, with Winter smelling its edges: "Hassan, would you get the key? What happenend out there? Someone escaped from what I heard?"

Once the trapdoor is cleared, he'll stand aside, making sure Winter doesn't bolt at an innocent by placing a calm hand on its neck.

Feels warmer here. It's a mess, but it's warm.

"By the way, those men looked sick. Might be better to burn their corpses afterwards.

May be burn the whole place down...

Sven relaxes as Tenpenny hands over the weapon. "I am glad to hear you say that." He says with a grin, still quite light-headed and winded. "And we thank you for your help."

He then drops to his knees beside Merisiel. "Can anyone help her? I still need to follow her, so we can not lose her!" He looks up at Tenpenny as she reveals the location of the Lady they were searching for. "I will get the keys, if someone can heal Merisiel." he continues.

He storms outside, then returns dragging the mess of what's left of Rohkar, both the slain and the barbarian trailing blood along the floorboards. He rifles through the man's pockets before producing the keys. "There seems to be much more we could take from him, once our girls are both freed and conscious again."

He rushes to where Gauthier has cleared the space above the trapdoor. He trusts Tenpenny, and has no doubt that the trapdoor holds exactly what she says it does. Using the keys from Rohkar, he quickly tries to free their noble charge.

DM, could I pray to fill my new level 1 spell slot with a CLW spell?

As Sven flips the trapdoor open a woman comes into view, she looks like she had been tied up but wriggled out of her bonds.

This is what she looks like

She says Don't just stand there gawking, get me out of here!

@ Gautheir After 8 hours of rest yes.

Gauthier shrugs. He knows the type, and is glad to stay in the background for now.

He moves to Merisiel to see if there is anything else he could do.

New Heal check with new skill point: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

The barbarian grins, crouching low as he extends a large hand to the poor woman. He is impressed that she was already able to escape her bonds. "Watch your step."

Gently gauthier, that arrow knocked the wind out of me she says coming around.

Hassan drops down into the lower space where the lady was held, light spell cast on his scimitar. He is checking that area for others who might be held, or items of interest or value to the group.

Hassan you see that the cellar has been converted into a prison of sorts complete with a bucket and post to which the Lady seemed to be tied. There isn't much of value there.

The Lady takes Sven's offered hand with a tight smile and nod. Once out of the cellar she says My name is Argentea Melassane, thank you for coming for me. From the bodies around here I take it that the bandits did not give up easy? Did you kill their leader?

The strix think its best stay in the background for now. He remember last time he met a noble. The torture was not a pleasant thing.
Moving near the leader, he will check his possessions, without asking he get the tools and the armor.
Then he walk over to Merisiel and carry her to the room with bed, putting her in one of them and using whatever he can to make her warm.
”I’m sorry…” he whisper to the unconscious woman.

So it is true. Thinks Gauthier as he steps back a pace to give them a bit of privacy. He did shoot her.

I wonder why...

Secure in the fact that there is not more to explore, more prisoners or bad guys underneath, Hassan climbs back out of the cellar. He approaches the half-orc lady who aided them at the end.

"What of these men we have slain? Surely these are not the High Sentinel's who we heard tell of. They appear to be low men, and their leader a necromancer. Are they in league with that blue-winged thing that we say outside? What fell plans had they? Speak now, lady and gain our favor. Hold back and gain our wrath."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

I am touched by your solicitude Kirraak but i can walk by myself

It takes her a moment to dress the wound and cast a mending spell to repair the damage done to her clothes.

So i take it that we found the prisoner she says sitting on a chair trying not to move much as the wound was still hurting her.

Tenpenny raises her hands defensively Okay okay! I get it your mad. But I didn't fight you, I didn't have nothing to do with the kidnapping. I fell in with Rohkar a few months back in Zimar after a job of mine went wrong. He offered to pay me for some top floor work, and I just kinda followed him here. The Blue Winged Thing is Izoze, she works for someone else, I've heard the name Teb Knotten used in hushed tones.

Lady Argentea speaks up and says I too have heard that name. I also know that these creatures have something to do with the unnatural weather. Perhaps Rohkar left something in his effects that might shed light on this?

"Let's clean this place up then. But before we do anything else, these men seemed sick before they were raised as walking corpses. What do you know of this?"

Tenpenny responds Ahh yeah, the Chillbane Shakes, s'what we called it up in the River Kingdoms. Those fellas caught it wandering out in the Wood. And Rohkar raised them yeah...he always seemed an odd fellow. Kept his own counsel mostly.

"So these bandits aid the winter fey and work for this Izoze and perhaps Teb Knotten..."

Is that name familiar to us with KNowledge (anything)?

"If there is disease there, we should burn the items in that room, and air it out as best we can." He nods to Gauthier to being that process if he likes.

Turning back to the ladies, Hassan says "Is there foodstores and water here? Do any other fey creatures visit besides this Izoze? How long can the Lady stay here safely if we go on to investigate this winter witchery?"

He also consults with Sven about searching the bedrooms on the north side of the lodge. When Hassan checked they were all empty of foes, but looked like be worth examining.

Hassan, you have never heard of Teb Knotten
Tenpenny responds to Hassan's questioning Ah, yes they work er worked for Izoze but she ain't the big boss. to the second question she says Yeah, I gots some horsemeat to cook in the kitchen and theres a well outside that ain't too frozen over. about the fey she says Only seen the one, she called herself Izoze, didn't know there was more of em... she shivers slightly.

Argentea speaks up You will not be leaving me here. You will take me with you, or escort me back to Heldren.

I posted the loot from Rohkar and the Bandits on an earlier page.

"I trust her." Sven comments in regards to Tenpenny. "She had chances to make a move against us, and she took none of them. There were points I wasn't so sure we'd fare as well as we did, so she certainly had opportunity."

"It also appears we have quite a bit of supplies. We'll want to take account of what we have and make sure it goes to where it will be of best use. I'll go upstairs and see what I can find there." He then tosses Rokhar's keyring to Hassan. "There's more keys on this, in case you find something to stick 'em in."

As he's ascending the staircase, Sven adds, "And dibs on some alcohol if we find it. I could use a drink."

After taking Merisiel to one of the roons, Kirrak will search the place for anything else he can find. He will take the lead from Tenpenny and try to use the key from the dead necromancer.

If that is possible, I want to take a 20 in the entire place. if not I'll roll the searchs.

Searching the entire place, even with help will take hours. Are you guys planning on staying the night?

Gauthier shrugs as he gets ordered like a serf, but is too tired to argue and simply gathers some blankets to collect the remains of the diseased undead.

He pulls them one by one outside and starts collecting some wood to prepare a pyre.

"Is this place safe?" Kirraak ask the Half-orc "We need to rest before going back and delivering the Lady to safety."

Tenpenny says Well, your the only ones who've ever attacked it...besides Rohkar. But, you did just piss off Izoze so you might want to bar the doors and keep watch.

Appraise: 1d20 ⇒ 16
Spellcraft, spell sage: 1d20 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 3 = 11

Hassan looks over the items from the chest, appraising the loot and telling the rest of the party the approximate value. While he is examining items, Hassan also detects magic in the cloak found on the evil cleric, attmpting to discern it's properties.

Spellcraft, spell Sage: 1d20 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 3 = 23

Anyone should be able to read that Appraise spoiler now. I'll add the items to our loot list.

"Yes, I think that resting here out of the cold and with a secure base is a wise plan. If the fey attack us here we have some protection if out in the woods, we are easier targets. Let us see what Sven finds upstairs, then re-group and discuss what we will do with the lady. We also need to get Merisel some healing if possible."

"Perhaps, Kirrak, you could inspect the outbuilding, and keep watch on the bridge in case they come at us in force?"

While Sven searches upstairs, and Gauthier destroys the infected bedclothes etc, Hassan will go unbind their prisoner from the woods outside the lodge, and lock him instead in the cellar.

Hassan you find the prisoner frozen stiff with a look of abject terror on his face. He is clearly dead. He looks to be in the same state as the Taldan guard Captain did at the original ambush site.

Tenpenny says With a little work you can probably board up these doors, there's hammer and nails in the workshed. It would make the place a little more defensible

Spellcraft, spell sage: 1d20 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 3 = 26

Seeing the scrolls as evil necromancy, Hassan curses when he sees them. He casts detect magic on the rest, keen to see if the labeled bottles are indeed arcane.

Spellcraft to ID any that are magical, spell sage: 1d20 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 3 = 24

"These scrolls bring the dead back from Pharasma's judgement to serve whoever calls them. They are evil and should be destroyed." He makes ready to throw them into the fire, unless stopped by another.

His grisly work done, Gauthier goes back in to get warm. He takes a moment to make sure Merisiel is comfortable and warm.

He turns back to Sven: "How is Lady Argentea faring? Do we know why she was kidnapped?"

The Green Vials are alchemical in nature and not arcane. A DC 12 Craft:Alchemy or Kn:Nature would identify them.

Sven laughs. "I have no idea how she is. But I can go ask her."

The giant finds Lady Argentea. "If you haven't heard the news, we are staying here for the evening. We will likely bring you back come daybreak, if the cold allows us. There is some food if you are hungry. Then, once you are comfortable, maybe you can tell us what you think may be going on here, and why you have become wrapped up in it."

"We also have some items that I believe belong to you. A ring and perhaps some other jewelry. I was hoping to wear them at the next gathering... but I suppose they'd be better on you."

Argentea smiles at Sven's humor. She says The bandits did not share their plans with me, but I surmise from overhearing a few snippets that they wanted to use me as a bargaining chip with which to guarantee themselves a comfortable perch here in the Wood. Their Blue friend was keen on not harming me in particular, something about their masters needing an inside person. I would indeed be a useful hostage as I am third cousins to the Grand Prince himself.

She agrees that staying here one night would be useful and beneficial.

Everyone post what you would be doing for the night. I believe that you have searched the building yes?

Merisiel's action for the night is ZZZzzzzZZ

I believe we've searched the building. We need to set up a watch as it's almost guaranteed that Izoze will be coming back. Sven is fine taking the first shift if others would like to get some rest. He'll post himself by the window in Tenpenny's room (not the broken one on the south side... hopefully we've boarded that?

Gauthier is not convinced. He stays near the Lady and the fire, pressing his hands against its warmth: Fey care about who's whose third cousin? I mean, don't get me wrong Lady Argentea, I care! But the icy deathly fey..? Perhaps there is another reason why you would be considered an inside person?"

I meant the bottles labeled "magic weapon" or any of other loot to detect and identify magic.

Returning to the hut, Hassan relates the story of the frozen prisoner. "It seems our fey enemies perhaps saw to the man before we did and killed him. Not a big waste, but he may have had valuable information."

After that, Hassan listens to the discussion with the Lady with interest. "It is possible the fey are directed by someone who does care about the lady's relations to the Prince. They may be but pawns on a chessboard we cannot see at the moment. Are we then taking the lady back to Heldren in the morning, or pressing on the assault. This lodge will provider her good food and shelter until we return, if she chooses not to stay here, I cannot help that." he shrugs, not particularly concerned about the whims of the lady of Taldor. Knowing they rescued her is enough, if she takes foolish chances after that, it is on her.

Since no one seems intent on stopping his destruction of the necromantic scrolls, Hassan burns them in the fire. Raising a blessing to the Dawnflower each time he has to handle the unclean documents.

Better not to get in their way. There are things outside that need checking...

"Hassan, do you mind lending me that cloak for some time, while I search outside? Darkness does no bother me, but cold..."
Assuming Hassan gives me the cloack.
After preparing his weapons and changing his armor, the strix go out, into the cold, to search nearby.
First, I’m going to get the prisoner and bring him inside the keep. Then I’ll search the places marked as 2 and 3 in the map. Then I’ll get back into the Manor and give back the cloak to Hassan.

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Argentea replies to Gauthier's question I don't know what they meant by an inside person, perhaps they planned to replace me with some other person, illuson magic could do that. I know a little about such things, having trained at the Opparan Bardic College.

Kirraak you find that #2 is an outhouse mostly frozen over and #3 is a stable with two horses inside. The tack and saddle look like it matches the carriages from Lady Malassene's caravan.

Hassan the necromantic scrolls burn with a sickly green light. However, you get the feeling that something approves of your actions, a sense of rightness overtakes you and this feeling spreads to the rest of the members of the party.

Everyone is considered under the effects of a Bless spell until I say otherwise

A noble, yet simple man, Gauthier is genuinely curious about the Lady's training. He asks: "You studied at the College! How wonderful that must have been. Please, tell me more about this experience. What did you study? For how long? Is it as hard as they say?"

Argentea is more than happy to talk about her experience I studied as a youth. It was certainly challenging but my father recalled me as he wanted me to marry in order to improve my family's stature. My primary focus was Oration, I do miss the academic life.

Ok, everyone can consider themselves rested, you regain 4 HP from rest. It seems that Hassan's sacrifice was noted and approved.

As he wakes, Gauthier immediately goes to check on Merisiel's status.

He lets her rest and picks a quiet corner to pray.

Merisiel breathing becomes easier and after the rest she will wake up by herself.

Seeing her body still wounded she will release her own power into it feeling better after it.

Healing Hands: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Pleased to see that Merisiel is up on her feet again, Hassan greets her warmly. "Hail lady, you fought well and bravely against the villans installed here. I am glad you are well. We have been searching and fortifying this lodge. Now we need to discuss our next step."

"We know that this Izoze, the blue skinned flier, had regular contact with these bandits and their leader. The ladies have told us that Izoze works for a man named Teb Knotten. And that they wanted to hold the Lady Argentea has leverage to set themselves up here in Taldor. It sounds as if this Teb is planning on being around for awhile. Shall we seek him out and see if he is behind this accursed winter weather? What shall we do with the Lady Argentea or our new friend Ten-Penny while we go? Do we know where this Teb Knotten is located?"

"If I had my way, I would suggest we leave the Lady and Ten-Penny here while scout ahead. The lodge is warm and more secure than the woods, and we would be between them and any counter-attack. What say the rest of you?"

In the morning you discover that both horses were slain in the night, their bodies frozen stiff.

it was Kirraak arrow that brought me down, but he was mentally controlled at that time. The lady stays we with up TenPenny can do what she wants and we are going after the blue fey and putting and and to this. The have the advantage of the weather and we don't