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

Game Master Daxter

Sven bids the happy couple the best of luck before departing with his friends. The big man watches closely as Ankih performs his magics to understand the power hidden in the scrolls.

"It sounds like you'll be good as new soon", the big man congratulates as he claps the lean Ulfen on the shoulder.

"What are you waiting for Ankih? Fix him up!"

" Alright , Kalt I will try."
Ankih puts his gear down and studies the scroll. Focusing intently, he seem unsure on parts but stumbles through to the end.
" Lana, your turn..." He seems more confident this time, maybe too much so...

The snow falls gently in the afternoon air, thick flakes sticking to Ankih's cloak as he tries to read from the scrolls. The cold bites into his eyes, and a cloud passes overhead. Every fiber of the elements calls into doubt Sarenrae's love and favor for her follower in the cold and alien land of Irrisen.

Nothing the cleric's struggles, Sven puts a meaty hand on Ankih's shoulder, wishing somehow that he could lend his own strength for this task.

"Don't give up Ankih. Your goddess hasn't let us down yet."

Kalt waits quietly, though not exactly calmly, as Ankih studies the scrolls they've found. He can't help but notice that the cleric seems to be having a tough time of it, with more head-scratching and uncertain glances than the calm Keleshite usually displays. When even Sven notices Ankih's struggles, Kalt realizes how grave they must be, and his own hope begins to weaken.

Through all the suffering under Radosek's curse, Kalt has remained relatively stoic, with only the occasional moment of lamenting his fate, even when it seemed it might spell his doom. Now, however, a dart of hope has slipped through his defenses, and as it begins to fade, Kalt realizes how shaken he is.

Lana takes a deep breath, reaching her spirit out toward Ankih and trying to calm him. Come on, Ankih... stay focused. Don't give in to the cold gloom.

A moment later the clouds pass, and sunbeams peak down from the clouds, almost saying This darkness shall too past

Anikh focuses all his energies on the scrolls and Sarenrae's grace flows freely. As he reads the scrolls Lana and Kalt Ìsson feel warmth flow through their bodies.

For Lana, the effect is dramatic; the ring loosens and falls off her finger and into the snow.

For Kalt, the effect is more subtle. He simply feels right and whole again, like a malaise has been lifted from his soul.

*******************************

As the party sets out to leave, the red-headed wood-wife comes up to thanks Kalt.

"There is one last gift I can thank you with. There is a small bit of magic in my blood, enough to grant someone a minor blessing of luck. It will not last long, maybe a day, but it may help you in the snows beyond the forest. I understand you suffered more then most in saving my dear husband, so please take this favor as a means of thanks."

She lays her hands upon Kalt's chest and sings small song in sylvan. When she his done, the ice-blooded man feels suddenly as though he is at the top of the world.

Nadya comes to the party, her eyes fixed on the horizon. Her fur clad hat and mittens have frosted bits of frozen breath sticking to them. "We have come to the edge of the woods, and many miles of snow-fields lie beyond. We should make haste before more of the ravens come searching for us, I think."

Lana breathes a sigh of relief as the ring falls off, reaching down to pick it up thoughtfully and study it, but keeping it well away from her fingertips. Did he really... did my effort help? I don't feel... drained by it, like I usually do when I open myself up like that. Maybe his goddess really did intervene.

Later, she nods at Nadya. "We should hurry, and keep our eyes open - it may be that we can hide from any we do see, if we see them before they see us."

As Kalt goes from bearing the burden of Radosek's cruel curse to the relief of its weight being lifted and on to the joy of the wood-wife's blessing, he feels uncharacteristically ecstatic. "Oh, gods, it's wonderful! Thank you, Ankih, thank you!" he says, laughter interrupting his words. He is almost dancing in the snow, his eyes alight with excitement and possibility, when Nadya approaches.

At her words, he settles down a little, but is still smiling broadly when he takes her hand and says, "You are right, Nadya, we should be on our way, but I feel things will be fine. Even better than fine." His smile takes on a slightly grim edge for a moment as he says, "Let's go kill some witches." But as he looks up at the sun shining through the clouds, turning the landscape around them a brilliant white, his smile softens once again, reflecting the joy he feels in each breath he takes.

Sven grins like a fool as the scrolls works their magic and both of his friends are freed from the dire curses placed on them. He was more confident than ever that, together, there was no horror this frozen land could throw at them that they couldn’t overcome. He gives Ankih a congratulatory clap on the shoulder.

The big man quickly scoops up the ring. ”Sorry Lana but I think it’s best this trinket be destroyed. I hope there’s no hard feelings.”

Lana looks up quickly, a puzzled look of betrayal on her face. "I agree... do you not trust me to do that? Surely you would not leave it here in the snow for some unfortunate to find... would you?"

Oh, I missed the part where Lana picked it up.

"You've done so much for us with those powers of yours. Let me deal with that thing for you."

***

”Careful Isson. Keep smiling like that and nobody will be able to recognize you”, Sven says with a laugh.

Can't bars read?!

With the slightest narrowing of her eyebrows, Lana absorbs Sven's offer. Is he being genuine? Is he mocking me, distrusting me? Can I trust him?

A moment later she nods. "Very well. I... suppose I don't need to tell you not to put it on?" she finishes with a wane smile, her tone lighter but a bit forced.

Sven offers Lana a warm smile in exchange for the cursed jewelry. "I don't think that'll be a problem."

Without fanfare he finds a solid stone to rest the ring on, shares a glance with the tribeswoman, and then cleaves into it with the heavy blade of his axe.

Kalt swings his and Nadya's hands back and forth like a pendulum as they continue down the path, nearly skipping as he looks over his shoulder at Sven and responds with a laugh. "But there's so much to smile about, Bjornson!" None who have travelled with him have seen Kalt in such a mood, not even Sven, who has fought by his side for years. So distracted by his contentment is he that he doesn't even notice the moments of tension that surface between Lana and Sven over the ring.

As they pause for Sven to attempt to destroy the cursed ring, Kalt jokes, "That's how I destroyed my curse-giver too, with the edge of a blade. Cut the bastard's head clean off. Let me know if you need a hand, eh, Sven?"

Thanks be to you, Milady. I felt your aid at the crucial moment, when I faltered in my understanding. I am as ever your humble servitor.
" Glad that I could be of help Sven. Feeling better Lana?" Ankih asks after noticing the slight....Altercation? between her and Sven.
----------------
" Be careful Sven! I have heard of magic items that explode when they are destroyed!" Yells the cleric as he hastily moves away.
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" Ahh. It's good to see Kalt so.. Jubilant. Happy am I that we could rid ourselves of these impediments."

The ring does not explode, but rather oozes a small puff of sickly green vapor and emits a sad sigh. Two painful reminders of the witches power banished, dealt with by means of decidedly divine intervention.

Nadya busies herself with repacking the sleds and mushes her dog once more into action. Pulling her white fur hat over her head she takes a moment to stop and talk to the group, particularly Kalt.

"I vill be happy to reach Ellsprin; each day I believe more and more that you vill end Nazhena's evil forever. I want Orm and Mjoli to grow up in a world without creatures such as her."

The sun shines for the rest of the day, reflecting brightly off the snow as the group makes their way northwest towards Whitethrone. The rest of the day good progress is made by Nadya's well-trained teams of dogs.

As the day wears on and the sun sinks lower, a curious phenomena is observed - the snow thins under the runners of the sleds and small batches of flowers can be seen poking their head up through the grass. Greens, yellows and pinks erupt riotously out of the ground.

Nadya calls for a pause.

"I have seen this veather before. It is the work of druids; they seek to restore the balance. They do not last long; the witches come and kill the druids, end their magic and grind their bones. But the druids persist, as is their way. It will be a small patch, only a few miles across. We will need to drag the sleds across it."

The dogsleds slowly become less and less effective as the snow thins, until the group is forced to rope them and laboriously drag them.

As the travelers crest one of the small hills of green rolling fields, they behold a mighty elk feeding on the fast-growing grasses. It snorts and moves a short distance away from the group, clearly skittish.

Kalt's renewed energy is called upon as they're forced to drag the sleds across the bare turf, stones and dirt in the false spring created by the druids. As he leans his weight into a rope and helps haul the attached sledge to the top of a hill, his attention is drawn by the great elk feeding not far away.

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

He stops moving and raises a hand in warning, saying, "Careful, that's a giant elk, the one the sages call a megaloceros. They only eat plants, but they do not like to share their territory with anyone or anything. If we spook it, it'll charge, and those horns might as well be a rack of spears driven into you."

He looks around for a safer route past the creature, turning to Nadya and pointing out another possible track they might take. "What do you think, that way?"

Survival, if some sort of roll is needed to identify a path around the elk: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14 Once again, I'm glad natural 1's aren't auto-fails on skill checks...

Sven heaves and pulls to keep the party moving despite the suddenly lack of ice and snow to move the sled along. It was hard exhausting work but flexing his muscles felt good and the effort helped to ward the cold away. He pauses to pick a flower as the group traverses the field of new growth and tucks it into Avora's golden hair playfully.

"It reminded me of you", the big man says with a warm laugh.

***

As the group comes upon the clearing and the great elf, Sven stares in awe of the majestic beast. He nods in agreement with Kalt's assessment.

"Let's not pick a fight with him if we can avoid it. I wouldn't want to have to hurt him."

"What about that way?" asks Lana quietly, motioning vaguely off to the side. The combination of the handsome beast, the green grass, the flowers, and the lack of snow stir something deep within her... a memory, or a fragment of one. Something about flowers...

Sven's laughter brings her back to awareness, and she pauses to study the group each in turn for a few moments. Who are they? Why did I come with them? Who was I before? Does it matter?

With a soft, secret smile she starts walking again.

Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Life, unimpeded by the magic of the ice witches, is a majestic sight to behold and it is clear neither man nor beast wishes to waste the energy on the fight.

Kalt Ìsson, with Lana's aid, starts to lead the group carefully around the megaloceros. Halfway around the creature it snorts loudly, looking up at, or perhaps past, the group in alarm. It suddenly bolts away.

In a moment it is clear what the great elk was fleeing from: a pair of man-sized, wolf creatures tear out of the treeline. Clearly the travelers have interrupted a hunt in progress, and have in turn become the prey.

Avora smiles warmly as Sven puts the flower in her hair. She kisses him, her lips brushing his only ever so slightly.

=========

"Wolves?" she asks, when the beasts break cover. "Something feels wrong about them."

Bugsby

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

"Careful!" cries Bugsby. "Theymighttrytotripyouandalsothey'reintelligent! Althoughhowintelligenttheycanbeifthey'reattackingusIcouldn'tsay!"

With another word he flings a glob of goo at the nearest of the wolf-creatures. Assuming it's within 30', otherwise he'll ready.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
That's probably not going to do it. :)

A fine Bugsby post, Lana, he'd be proud.

The goo hits the ground at the feet of the worg. The creature snarls and charges at Kalt, droplets of spittle flinging from his mouth. It snaps at the fey-touched man's feet, but only bites air.

A fine Bugsby post, Lana, he'd be proud.

*bows deeply*

Sorry so late, was out of town all day.
Seeing the Warg go for Kalt, Ankih rushes up on the opposite side and grasping his holy symbol, intones a quick prayer..
" Sun's Strength!"
Bull's strength +4, 3 minutes or 30 rounds.

Ankih invokes the blessings of the sun once again, as the second Worg charges Sven. The dogs teeth grind against the warriors heavy armor.

Kalt feels a surge of strength rush through him at Ankih's touch, and a fierce smile crooks his mouth up. "Ah, thank you, Ankih," he says as he raises his blade and swings at the worg before him.

+1 Greatsword attack, Bull's Str, Woodwife Blessing: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 2 + 2 = 19
+1 Greatsword damage, Bull's Str: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (1, 4) + 10 = 15

"Flee!" cries Lana at the injured wolf-man. "There is nothing for you but death among us!"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Um... we can hope he has a low HD+Wis, right?

Sven grunts in surprise as the wolf-thing’s slavering maw locks onto one of his greaves. Working his shield under the beast, he heaves knocking it free before rearing back for a blow with his axe. "You're going to have to work a lot harder than that", he laughs.

Axe: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Avora frowns as her worst fears are realized. Selecting the one facing Sven, she targets the creature with a ray of sickening (DC 14).

Kalt and Sven arc their mighty blades in expert blows against their foes, and blood quickly slicks the the fur of the two worgs.

Unfortunately, he creatures bloodlust seem to render them immune to Lana's intimidation's or Avora's necromantic spell.

Round Update
Monster initiative moved
Bugsby Featherfoot
Ankih Tohep
Worg 1 - charged (19 dmg)
Worg 2 - charged(9 dmg)
Avora Teremocles
Kalt Ìsson
Lana Shahakh
Sven Bjornson

Bugsby and Ankih are up!

Hmm. cant move my icon on the map, but Ankih should be behind Kalt.
Drawing his scimitar, Ankih gestures and it flies at the Worg in front of Sven.
Hand of the Apprentice: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 - 4 = 16 -4 for ranged into melee X(
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
" Haha! Dance for Milady!"

Bugsby

Bugsby lifts his small hand in front of his face and gives it a fierce look, even shaking a stern finger at it with the other hand as he says, "Nononono, throwitattheworg!" He takes a few steps forward and conjures up another ball of goo and tosses it into the air, giving a satisfied nod as he watches it arc toward the worg attacking Sven.

Move to square south of Avora, toss another protoplasm bomb.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

A sickly green protoplasm plasters the worg in place, and it snaps in frustration at Sven. Meanwhile, the blade of Ankih goes astray.

The worg attacking Kalt, suddenly cowed by the powerful warrior and bleeding heavily, turns around and flees, his tail hung low and howling in pain.

Avora moves to engage the one attacking Sven, lashing out with her spear.

Avora vs. Worg: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Damage (spear): 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Joined by his lover, Sven hacks at the trapped beast.

Axe (vs entangled!): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

With spear and sword and quick violence, that battle is ended.

A desolate quiet descends upon the glade, as the other birds and beasts seem to have fled during the fracas.

As the blood calms the group turns to find Nadya standing by her sled, bow in hand and ready to support them. "Well fought. Not even here, a dream-place, has peace from ze monsters." She frowns to herself. "Ze Worg is dangerous, but in Whitethrone are ze winter wolves - they take ze man shape in ze city. I hope you'll not face those creatures."

" Glad I am that everyone is ok. Those were huge! And you say that the Winter Wolves are bigger, Nadya?"
Ankih visibly shudders at the thought.
Frowning in thought, he continues,
" I will have to find some way to help more in a fight... Even with Milady guiding my blade, I missed..."

Kalt can't keep the smile from his face in spite of Nadya's dark words, as he continues to savor the relief from Radosek's curse. "A good fight, though, and a clean one," he says, "and no one hurt, right? Let's keep moving, in case there are more of them about."

Nadya stares at the flowers a few moments before helping the burly warriors before helping to drag the sled again with the burly warriors.

"Yes, the vinter wolves are larger, stronger, fiercer. Zey have codes though; zey do not attack Jadwiga, and in Whitethrone they only actively hunt humans after dark."

A few hours later the party drags the sledges back onto the ice. Nadya contemplates the patch of green "The south, and summer. I cannot imagine these things Someday perhaps I will visit ze southern regions.". She turns to her dogs. "Hike!"

Several days of travel pass uneventfully; the weather is mild (for the frozen wastelands.)

On the third day the party spots a falcon in the distance. It seems to be out hunting, but as you approach it quickly wheels and starts flying the opposite direction.

Kalt's egregious enthusiasm settles down somewhat over the course of several days' travel. He is still glad to be out in the cold wilds, though, where he feels most at home, even if these witch-lands have a strangeness about them.

As the falcon they've spotted changes direction and flies off, Kalt says, "That's a trained bird, on the lookout for something. And the way it turned as soon as we were in sight, I'd guess it's on the lookout for us. Be on your guard."

Sven squints, struggling to spot the raptor Avora and Kalt's keen eyes had noticed.

"A lookout? Think you could bring it down with that bow of yours?" the big Ulfen asks hopefully. "You were always a better shot than me."

" Bird? I didn't see it. Ahh. In this realm it was probably unfriendly in nature, but it grieves me to always assume that.."

The falcon is some 400 feet away - a difficult shot, but not impossible. Three range increments, or -6 to hit. Next round it will be at 5 increments, or -10 to hit.

I assumed it was way out of range...I'll go for it.

As Kalt slips his bow off his shoulder, he says, "Ankih, anything you can do to help my aim could be a favor to us all." He nocks an arrow and draws back powerfully but his shot is a poor one.

MW Composite Longbow attack, -6 for range: 1d20 + 8 - 6 ⇒ (3) + 8 - 6 = 5
Composite Longbow damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Assuming Ankih casts guidance during Kalt's first round, so he'll have it for one shot on the second round.

Feeling Sarenrae's energy course through him, Kalt focuses his attention on the hawk, then lets fly a second arrow, but it too is off the mark. He then chooses to expend the blessing on the last arrow that could possibly hit, and as he releases it appears to fly true.

MW Composite Longbow attack, -10 for range, Ranger's Focus: 1d20 + 8 - 10 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 8 - 10 + 2 = 5
Composite Longbow damage, Ranger's Focus: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6

MW Composite Longbow attack, -10 for range, Ranger's Focus, Guidance: 1d20 + 8 - 10 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 8 - 10 + 2 + 1 = 19 Maybe...
Composite Longbow damage, Ranger's Focus: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 2 = 12

" Of course, Kalt. Milady Bless."
Guidance