Saga of the Taighean Dubha - a Reign of Winter PbP (Inactive)

Game Master Mark Sweetman

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

”Good chance it’ll snow later,” Kló grunts as they set out. ”We should be prepared.” He re-settles the straps of his pack over his layers of furs, too entrenched in his thousandth review of their rough plan to notice much of what is happening around him.

Also, I wiped the Loot page's information, so please update your char sheets with the loot division and the items we purchased (if you haven't already). :D
Let's see if we can find a good use for our new arms and armors, shall we? >:D

Perception 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
"Ya ever think about moving away to someplace warmer?"

Rikka turns on Skane, straightening his yeti hide and using the bulky man as cover. She points through him at a crease between buildings on the opposite side of the square. She continues to fuss over the warrior and says quietly, "We may have a watcher, over there, flattening against the wall."

Seeming satisfied with the state of Skane's outfit, she turns back towards their planned way out of town.

Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Kló looks up at the sky, angling his face away from Rikka’s unseen watcher and pitching his voice so it won’t carry beyond the group. ”I don’t get the feeling the jadwiga would waste time being subtle if we were found out. So a spy? Informant? Curious local? Either way, let’s not more draw attention. Maybe they’ll follow us.” He looks over at Annalísa, raising his voice to carry, ”And leave all this behind? Who’d want to do that?”

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

"Bites less than it could. We'll warm ourselves at the hearth's of our foes soon. Should we set an ambush for this follower?"

Annalisa furrows her brow at Rikka's information but doesn't look in the indicated direction. "Perhaps just a visit, then? I wonder often what it's like. I'm told the women wear far less clothing." She says with an affected grin. She stretches her arms up above her head, warming her muscles a bit in case she needs to take swift actions.

Kló nods to Kath, "Where? Not something to do in the open."

He keeps walking, shaking his head at Annalísa's words as he looks for an out-of-the way place where they could ambush the watcher.

Any side-streets or alleys that look abandoned enough that we could quickly set up an ambush? Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

If Kló sees nothing, he looks at the group, again looking away from the watcher and pitching his voice low. "Let's keep going. Maybe they'll follow."

Skäne eyes narrow at Rikka's words and when she finishes checking hier warning he claps her shoulder in mock thanks and shoots a look toward where she intimated;

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

As falls back into the group the vikingr hisses another comment to one and all;

"Feh. I did vara (warn) the vǫrðr (guard) was watching... Perhaps it is him or some other pet of the Jadwiga nei? Let them follow to their dauðadagr (death day)..."

There are side streets that you could turn into and lay in wait if you wished to. Though to set an ambush you'd need to give me some stealth rolls... which might be a concern for some of you.

Setting off Westward and out of the square, you begin the steady plod through snow cover and towards the Pale Tower...

Kló takes point, readying his shield as they pass out of Waldsby, though he throws a glance back every once in a while, seeing if their watcher was following.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

He sets a course that follows the road naturally, but—after a mile or so, and if they don't feel any eyes on them—he changes their route, so they will circle across country to come at the Tower from an unexpected direction.

Klo catches fleeting signs that they are being tailed as they exit the town...

Do anything about it or continue?

Sure, I'll bite. We came to this gods-forsaken town for information, right?

Kló catches the watcher from the corner of his eye and grunts, leading the group into a narrower side-street that looks to have some carts or barrels to offer ambush spots. Without breaking stride, he growls out, "They're following. Rikka. Annalísa. Hide and ambush 'em. We'll come running."

He continues walking, as if this was their intended direction all along.

I like simple plans.

I'm down with that.

Rikka will slowly move to the front of the group, then get ahead and find a hiding spot and hunker (hopefully when I feel confident I'm out of sight of the stalkers). She waits for the team to pass by, hopefully obliterating any signs of her tracks.

Katherson continues walking with the group, keeping his eye open for any counter ambush.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Annalisa nods at Klo's orders and follows Rikka to a hiding spot.

cough stealth rolls cough

Stealth 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 Duh! Probably be helpful if I included one of those, huh?

Skäne walks on as the group attempt to set the trap. As he trudges the vikingr's gloved hand taps the pommel of his langsword;

"Hope they fight. Need some exercise..."

"We need information first." He breathes into his hands, warming them as he looks over at the stout warrior, "Then we can see about that exercise."

Skäne eyes the big man, afore sighing and spitting into the frost;

"Feh. Knew that was coming Hilmir (Chief)... Fregn (information) first it is..."

"We'll be at the tower soon. Collect some skins there."

*Grumble, grumble, stupid stealth roll* 1d20 ⇒ 15
Her armor check penalties negate her dex mod.

You should get your full +2 dex mod. Armor must be masterwork before it can be enchanted, and studded leather armor has a -1 ACP naturally... which the masterwork reduces to 0. :D
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So your 15 should be a 17 (unless your shield is equipped, then it's 16).

EDIT: Plus, 15 and 16 is better than any of the boyos could have likely done.

You should get your full +2 dex mod. Armor must be masterwork before it can be enchanted, and studded leather armor has a -1 ACP naturally... which the masterwork reduces to 0. :D

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So your 15 should be a 17 (unless your shield is equipped, then it's 16).

EDIT: Plus, 15 and 16 is better than any of the boyos could have likely done.

I didn't realize that about the studded leather, sweet. I personally didn't think it would make sense for her to have her shield on while in town, but I didn't want any complaints for not considering the ACP on the shield. So, I guess that one will be left to DM VoV. Thanks, Klo!

As you withdraw into the alley and set a trap of sorts with Rikka and Annalisa serving as lurks to the more obvious of your party - your eyes catch sign of the following party. Man sized, man shaped, man garbed in pale blue and white - though it is but fleeting glances and detail escapes your eyes.

With breath hanging foggy in the air you pause and hope that trap laid is taken... but your waiting is in vain. A span of seconds bleeds into a few minutes, and no enemy falls into your trap. Eventually your patience breaks and a quick inspection near to the alley entrance shows impressions of boots, approaching - waiting at the alley's mouth, before departing in the direction of the Pale Tower.

Perception 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Disappointed that their trap didn't work, Annalisa rejoins the others. "I got a look at him, at least. He's got a beard and he's dressed kinda like those guardsmen we saw yesterday."

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Kló hustles back up to the women, his eyes first questioning, then hardening at Annalísa's words. He begins looking at the tracks.

Survival: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Based on his direction and speed, is it likely that we could catch/intercept him before he gets to the tower? (without own armored speed in mind)

that final line should have been "with our own armored speed in mind"

Skäne scowls, the waiting doing little to improve his usual cantankerous mood. He sarcastically claps Rikka and Annalisa's news;

"I told you all afore it was a guard that augur (saw) us! You two bring fregn (news) of a skegg (beard) when you should bring his head!"

The black-mooded vikingr spits, then hefts his sword and shield as he shakes his head.

Rikka shrugs, "It was a gamble that didn't pay."

Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

"I didn't see you rushing in to close the trap, ya grouch."

Skäne shoots a baleful gaze at the barbarian as he waits for their next move.

Annalisa grins and winks at Skane in return.

Klo reckons that you're unlikely to catch the man if he's moving with intent. He knows the lay of the land and at worst is going to be travelling as quickly as you. If haste is made though, you'd think his arrival at the Pale Tower (if that is his destination) could be made to predate your own by only minutes.

Kló grunts, and runs to the first intersection the man would have taken, trying to catch a glimpse of him if he's still around.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

As he's looking, he considers. "If we can't catch him now, time's against us. We could hustle, but tracking takes time."

He looks at the team, "Head him off at the Tower? Get there as fast as we can, find an ambush point on his likely route, and nab him when he's close? He might not be headed there, but if he is, I don't want him reporting in."

"Best we move as fast we can, no point tracking him if he's a guard. Let us make for the tower."

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

In the name of forward progress, i'd say we hustle on a more direct route, try to get ahead of the spy (if tha's wh at the is) and set up an ambush along the most likely route for him while we take a look at the Tower's entrances/defenses.
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Other than that, i'm unlikely to be able to post again today. Sorry, family travel.

Klo reckons that you're unlikely to catch the man if he's moving with intent. He knows the lay of the land and at worst is going to be travelling as quickly as you. If haste is made though, you'd think his arrival at the Pale Tower (if that is his destination) could be made to predate your own by only minutes.

Why are we going to attempt an ambush if we believe it won't work, isn't that simply going to give him more of an advance towards the tower?

Skäne nods at Katherson's words;

"Our fugl (bird) has flown. We make for the Tower..."

Kló nods as well, setting his feet towards that path. "Aye. Let's get on with this."

Unless someone has a better idea, I'd still suggest we try to approach the Tower from a non-traditional angle to see if we can take a look at its defenses and entrances before we show ourselves. If the guy's going to beat us there no matter our efforts, I'm not inclined to walk straight in there.

DM - Voice of the Voiceless wrote:

Klo reckons that you're unlikely to catch the man if he's moving with intent. He knows the lay of the land and at worst is going to be travelling as quickly as you. If haste is made though, you'd think his arrival at the Pale Tower (if that is his destination) could be made to predate your own by only minutes.

Why are we going to attempt an ambush if we believe it won't work, isn't that simply going to give him more of an advance towards the tower?

You're right. I had misread that... thinking we could make good enough time to get just ahead of him... not just behind. My bad.

Putting the thoughts of what might have been with a well executed ambush behind you, track is made circuitous through wood and snow to come upon the Pale Tower from the side rather than the front. It takes you four hours hard march through snow to come upon it.

Sharp winds whistle across this stark white plain, stinging the eyes along with the near-blinding rays of the reflected sun. A great eruption of frozen ice rises in the distance—an imposing pale tower crowned with icicles spearing into the sky. Seemingly born of the land itself, an unbroken circular wall of ice guards the tower’s base, with no means of entrance visible. High above, a large gash opens in the tower’s bowl-like crown, ringed in icy spikes and split by a massive plane of ice resembling an inverted crescent moon.

Coming forward as a group? - or sending one forward to scout?

Rikka blows steam from her nose after the long hike and surveys the tip of the tower from a distance. "This is the part I hate." She shrugs out of her winter coat and shivers in the cold. She pulls a leather thong from her pocket and wedges it between her teeth. She crouches down in the snow and pulls up her shirt, exposing her bare back to the wind's bite. Her pale skin holds black runic tattoos surrounding the form of a winding, sinuous dragon that seems to coil around her body, vanishing below her skirts. Resting above the thick dragon's body, across the very top of Rikka's back, is a thickly etched tribal tattoo of a fox. The fox's head turns and snarls. It leaps from the sorcerer's back, trapped by the flesh. Rikka's pale skin stretches unnaturally as the fox tries to fight free. With a snap the skins whips back in place, scourging her scapulae as the fox springs free turning from black ink and pale flesh to fuzzy white fur. Rikka writhes in pain and lets the leather thong absorb her scream. The small white fox paces restlessly, waiting for its mistress to recover. Rikka rolls onto her back, letting the snow to numb her bruised flesh and spits the thong free. She quickly dresses again.

She looks at the fox, "Kettu, go quick and quiet. Search around the tower - for traps, people, entrances, anything of interest. Don't get caught and come back by a different route."

The fox yips and takes off, vanishing into the snow.

Kettu Stealth 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Kettu Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Skäne hunkers down as the sorceress sends out her otherworldly scout.

The brutish vikingr sharpens his langsword with a grin and nod toward Rikka;

"Good to see né (not) all the fróðleikr (magick) is on their síða (side)!"

Annalisa watches with awe and fascination, taking a hold of Hundur's collar to keep him from bothering the fox. Once Rikka has recovered she asks her, "You alright?"

Rikka's skin-borne fox pads off into the snow, soon being lost from your vision.

Ok... this is where it gets a bit interesting.
I have no issues with the fox going off to scout - it's mundane enough not to draw interest and will be able to trot around and come back... but... how are you intending to liberate it's scouted information?
It has a middling intelligence - so I don't have problems with simple instructions being given to the animal... but it only has an empathic link with Rikka, so can only communicate back in terms of emotions.
If you give a bit of guidance on how you're attempting that, then I'll narrate the emotive trip round the tower.

I was figuring it would be more of a yes/no Q&A after the fox got back. Were there humans? Yip! Was it just one or two? Grrr. More? Yip. Can you lead me in by a route where you saw no humans or traps? You'll have to decide if that is asking too much at this point. Emotively, humans would rank as stressors/threats, I imagine. Traps as something to distrust.

Kettu returns unharmed after a good span of thirty minutes.

Skäne eyes the returning Kettu and its interactions with Rikka;

"What does the fox say?"

Sorry couldn't resist

I don't see how you could pass that joke up. :)

Rikka frowns during much of the fox's absence, trying to puzzle through its emotional states. She is relieved when Kettu is on his way back. "Understanding an animal's mind is no easy thing. He took 10 minutes to get close to the tower, and then there was a sense of immediate fear and danger. That could be from a man or something else. He waited for a time and carefully continued on, followed by hiding or cowering and then he withdrew. The odd thing is, on his way back, presumably some distance from the keep, he was surprised and wary of a few things - possibly traps along his route back..." She scratches at the fox's ears, hoping to communicate with both words and emotions. She projects the emtions she felt from Kettu and asks, "When you felt this scared/danger... was there a man there? Was it something else?" She takes a few moments trying to see if either of those options evinces a reaction from the animal before moving on, "When you were wary Alarm/surprised wariness were there traps or snares?"