RoW: Let's Thaw the Frozen Stars! (Inactive)

Game Master Daxter

I'll update later when I'm not at work and have access to the books. That will hopefully give Ankih time to stand up and do something.

Opinions if Ankih should channel or just CLW himself?

Is he good on channels still? If he still has two or three I'd say channel. Kalt and Lachna could use the HP too.

I'd vote for Ankih channelling also (I think he's only used 1 of his 7 per day), since Kalt is soloing an ice troll at the moment. But Ankih will have to move a couple squares south if the channel is going to affect Kalt.

Ankih's eyes away with a flutter as the potion drains down his throat, mending blood vessels and dissipating his bruised skull. Rising to his feet, he calls upon his ladies blessing to stoke the flames of war within himself and his comrades as they fight the minions of winter.
Channel: 1d6 ⇒ 3
This puts Ankih at 9/13 HP. Can't get to Kalt since he needs to stand up first.

A final stone falls from the heaven's, and this time, Ankih is ready, bringing his shield up quickly to deflect the magically enhanced bullet. The troll again stabs deeply into Kalt, with it's teeth gnashing at the air. Then, with an element of intelligence, it takes a step backward.

Sling at Ankih: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 122d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 3) + 1 = 5
Spear on Kalt: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 191d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Bite on Kalt: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 61d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Acrobatics: 1d20 ⇒ 12

Kalt takes 12, putting him at 3 HP. PC's are up!

Kalt takes a step backwards away from the troll, saying, "I seem to have driven him back! Or, he doesn't like to stand on Bugsby's greasy spot. Either way, Lachna, any chance of a little blessing of Torag? That troll hits pretty hard."

Five-foot step, ready an action to attack with sword if an opponent comes in range.

Lachna - I think you've got two first-level spells left. Can Kalt get a CLW? Or I can wait if Ankih is going to channel again. But I'll need some sort of healing if I'm going to be of use much longer.

Status: 3/22 hp

" Many thanks Avora, and to you Milady."
Ankih gasps out as he staggers toward the center of the group.
" Blessed be Milady!"
channel: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Sorry Kalt was hoping for more of a bang than that. X(

"Take a breather Isson. Let me go a round with the beast."

Sven advances pulling a javelin as he does. He spins the spear in hand, focusing his wrath on his opponent.

Slaying a troll on fields of ice. If this doesn't make your proud father, nothing will, the big man thinks with a grin.

Smite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Fer sure, Lad. Torag blesses ye an' yer mighty sword.

CLW on Kalt: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Kalt savors the sting of the healing as two of his companions gift him with their gods' healing force. "Blessed by two gods at once! Thank you, my friends," he calls out.

He gets +2 hp per die, so a total of 4 from Ankih and 6 from Lachna, putting him at 13/22 hp. Thanks, team!

Avora heads back to the group now that Ankih has been awakened, and readies to strike with her spear at anything that gets close. Bugsby makes sure his crossbow is loaded and does the same. But no attack comes, Sven and Kalt can see the show of the troll back away into the howling blizzard. From above, the flutter of wings also dissipates.

PC's are up. We are staying in combat rounds.

Did Sven's javelin hit?

You think so, it was hard to tell in the swirling snow.

"They flee", Sven shouts over the blizzard. "The cave to the north. Take shelter in there."

The big warrior leads the way.

"They may well bottle us up if that cave has no other exit, but Sven is right, we can't fight them out here," Kalt calls out, as he looks about for their vanished foes. "Everyone, head for the cave, I'll bring up the rear and watch for our attackers!"

Kalt will move to the cave behind the rest of the party, making his move after everyone else this turn.

Description of the cave for when you enter:

Two bearskin rugs cover most of the damp floor in this cave, surrounded by crates, barrels, and other supplies. The ceiling rises 15' overhead, where icicles of frozen condensation hang from sharp stalactite's. Towards the back, you find a sizable lockbox. Locked

" I agree. Fighting out here just gives them the advantage."
"Blessed be Milady"
channel: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Ankih gives another positive energy burst, then heads for the cave with Sven.

Lachna breathes a sigh of relief when they enter the cave and find it mostly empty. Spotting the chest, she walks over, very interested.

What's this then? she asks, toe-ing the box with her boot. Her hope is that by doing this, the lid might shake a bit if it's open, but she may avoid setting off any trap if it is locked.

Bugsby and Avora drop their readied actions and follow the rest of the group towards the cave. All that can be heard is the howling of wind and snow, no sign of the two opponents yet to be defeated.

PC's are up!

"What's in those chests?" Sven asks as he stands guard at the entrance of the cavern. "With any luck, maybe something that'll help us see through this damned blizzard."

The big ulfen stares out into the whiteout straining for a sign of the troll and the yet unseen opponent.

"How are you feeling Isson? I hope the troll's love-taps didn't hurt too much."

Sven is readying.

Readying what?

Attack bad stuff if it shows up.

Kalt enters the cave last, and is grateful to be out of the blowing storm for a moment. "I'll live, Sven, thanks. That troll hits pretty hard, but Ankih and Lachna patched me up pretty good. From what I know of trolls, he'll have healed up all our hits by now and we'll get to start again with him."

Standing in the doorway with Sven, Kalt looks over his shoulder and says, "You keep an eye on the storm and what's hiding in it, okay? I'm going to check out what's stored in here. Bugsby, maybe you can give Lachna a hand with that chest, before she kicks it to bits?"

Kalt takes a quick look at the barrels and crates to see if there's anything useful to them.

With Ankih's last channel, +2 for Kalt's feyness, Kalt is now at 18/22 hp.

Kick it to bits indeed, she says, sounding offended. Twas only a little tap. Tryin' ter avoid ther mess I made wit the las' one.

Kalt pauses in his ransacking of the crates and barrels and laughs a moment. "'Twas only kidding I was, Lachna. After all, Sven and I opened the chests back at the lodge by ripping 'em open with our hands, your toe-taps seem just as sound an approach. But if you decide you want someone else to give it a kick with you, just say the word."

While Sven guards the entrance and the others examine the chest, Ankih takes off his pack and sets it on the 'bed'. He rummages around pulling out 3 flasks of oil, 2 flasks of alchemists fire and his common lamp.
if we're still in rounds that's all he does. If nothing else happens before his next round...
Setting his lamp on the ground, he fills it with oil and lights it.
" Again having no first hand experience, I have heard that fire is good against trolls. I am pretty sure that fire is good against 'ice' creatures as well. If we can hit them with it..."
A lamp doesn't give off a lot of light, but it will burn for a long time. Plus its a source of fire to ignite things if necessary..

At work, can’t move Bugsby and Avora, if someone would be so kind.

Bugsby and Avora dash into the cave and tuck in behind their warrior comrades. Bugsby pulls out his thieves’ tools getting ready to work on the locked box. With moving, Bugsby can’t try this round

From outside, piercing through the howling winds and driving snow, two things are heard. A yell in sylvan that Bugsby tells you is them saying “They went into the cave!” and the second is the multiple sounds of ice cracking and breaking.

PC’s are up.

Sven continues to stand guard while staring fruitlessly out into the snow.

"Any luck getting that chest open little man?" he asks. "Just imagine what kind of wonders could be inside", he adds egging the gnome on.

At the sound of ice cracking, the big ulfen frowns.

"What the hell was that?"

Any kind of check to recognizes what it was or where it came from?

Not really. You know it came from outside in the direction the troll backed up. Beyond ice breaking, there isn't really much you'd be able to determine. You could infer from the lack of other sounds what it might not be though, like since there wasn't a lot of splashing, someone didn't fall into a frozen river...

Okay. Continue readying.

Kalt moves over towards Sven, saying as he does so, "Sven, take a step back! If we can get the troll to try to squeeze into the doorway and fight him there, we'll have a much easier time of it. With those long arms of his, he could stand outside and hit you, or grab you, where you're standing. Or just drive his spear through you and pull you out like a Qadiran kabob."

Looking to their Keleshite cleric, he continues, "You ready with that fire, Ankih? I think trying to burn this thing is a good idea. If we can pin him in the doorway and light him up, we may be able to take him."

Mez - nothing of use in the crates and barrels, I assume? What is there?

Sven nods and follows Kalt's tactical acumen.

Sven nods and follows Kalt's tactical acumen.

But doesn't actually move his token on the map? I can do it if you're not able to at the moment.

Sorry.Driving.

Be safe! Posting and driving can be dangerous.

Sven is moved to a safer spot - now you be safe and stop reading and posting while you're driving, eh?

Heh. I wasn't actively driving. I was at a gas station refueling. I'm at work now.

Posted 2 rounds worth of actions last time, so now finishing earlier post. XD

Right then, le's pen this thing up an' burn it, Lachna said assertively. She readies her hammer and shield again.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Avora waits, unsure what to do while the warriors prepare for the troll. Bugsby begins to fiddle with the lock on the chest, nearly breaking once of his tools in the process.

From outside, a burst of light Flare illuminates the cave entrance, followed shortly by a 4' wide ice shard getting flung inside. Off target from hitting anyone, it smashes through the various boxes and crates, spilling foodstuffs and supplies all over the ground. A gruff voice calls out in common "Come face me or I shall bury you in ice!"

Anyone heard from Bugsby?

I’m afraid not. He mentioned being busy but I thought it’d passed.

Was the contents of the chest ruined?

No, just random junk of no value. The chest Bugsby is trying to open is very sturdy and heavy with the jingle of coins.

”We’re happy to come finish what we started”, Sven calls out. ”But you were the one that fled. I hope my friend didn’t bloody you too badly. My father often spoke of the might of trollkin. I wanted to see if there was any truth to the tales.”

Any sort of approximation of how far the troll is based on his voice?

Based on the size of the ice chunk that was tossed in, and the sound of his voice, you'd say he was maybe 10-15ish feet outside the caves. Either that, or he's a lot stronger than you expect.

Sven regrips his shield and nods to Kalt, ”Let’s finish this.”

With his shield help high, the big ulfen steps back out into the snow.

Total defense.

Kalt shrugs fatalistically as as his partner begins to move out of the cave, commenting, "And here I was about to ask him what happens if we step outside, so we knew what we were choosing between. I have my doubts that he plans to smother us in kisses." He slips his buckler off his shoulder and holds it before him, calling back to his companions as he does so, "Coming? Bring fire."

He strides out behind Sven, chuckling quietly and saying in a low voice, "What happened to following my tactical acumen, Bjornson?"

Total insanity.

Note: With the buckler equipped, Kalt's AC is now a whopping 17.

Hey, that was an out of character comment! Also, I feel like this encounter's gone on long enough. =P

Hey, that was an out of character comment!

No, it was a description of your action. And actions speak a good deal louder than words, so I knew just what you were saying...

Also, I feel like this encounter's gone on long enough. =P

Metagamey pot calling the metagamey kettle metagamey black, eh? And I was so pleased with my 'make him squeeze through the door' tactic. But I guess the 'die an icy gruesome death' tactic will be more expeditious.

What makes for a better tale, “The heroes strode out boldly into the snow and struck down the mighty troll” or “The heroes hid inside the cave until the troll got bored and left”?

What makes for a better tale, “The heroes strode out boldly into the snow and struck down the mighty troll” or “The heroes hid inside the cave until the troll got bored and left”?

You notice I followed you out? For the very reason you mention.

And now we get the added bonus of "And the heroes bickered as they strode out to do battle."