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

Game Master Mark Sweetman

Rikka detects no latent dweamors in play, and Elghund's hooking dislodges the chest from where it is buried... showing that the earth beneath it is freshly churned... something has been buried deeper within the soil.

"Second trap?"

Elghund crawls forward and prods the churned earth with his sword, and flicks some of the dirt aside to see what is below (assuming that something is there)

Brushing away at the dirt reveals the hauberk of a suit of boiled leather armor. Digging a little further reveals what appears to be the arms and armor that was relieved from the Lady's carriage guardsmen.

Please RP the discovery and divvy up kit... but before I narrate the arrival to the next scene - could I get a cold weather exposure save (Fort save DC 15 or 1d6 non-lethal damage - normal bonus for cold weather gear applies), and a Perception check from everyone?

Fort 1d20 + 2 + 5 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 5 + 2 + 4 = 23
Perception 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Fort Save 1d20 + 4 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 5 = 19

Elghund looks up from the hole and wipes off his blade.

"No more traps, just more stolen things. Dead men won't need these..." Elghund moves to the hole and pulls out some of the items, casting an eye over each piece as he pulls it out and queitly places them in an orderly fashion. "I want the mail, looks light enough not to annoy, but better than my armour"

"Who doesn't have a weapon that can bite over distance" he asks while grasping a crossbow suggestively.

Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Elghund continues cleaning up the trap site.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 4 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 5 + 2 = 15Do the bonuses for cold weather gear and furs stack? If so all good... if not brrrrrrr :(

Still feeling the bite of the kald North in his worn limbs, Skäne watches stoicly as the weapons cache is unearthed.

He reaches gingerly into his pack retrieving a small sturdy bottle from which he takes a wee nip;

"Oldlaw whiskey... picked it up in Taldor... auld favourite with fighting men and will warm kald bones..."

He offers the bottle to any who wish it, whilst gauging their surroundings;

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Reading over furs I think that they are meant to be a cut down version of a cold weather suit. So I don't think the two stack with each other... but happy to be corrected by one more knowledgeable?

I was wondering the same earlier, but also thought they were separate non-stacking bonuses, though I wanted it to be otherwise... that said, looking up the Survival skill, if we are moving at half speed we can get +2 to the Fort save, and I'm assuming that that isn't half speed on top of half speed for the snow plus half speed for tracking. That ends up as 'standing still'. If anyone else wants to Aid Another, for every point over 15 another party member can get a +2 Fort

Survival 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

DMVoV that work ok?

Yep - perfectly fine... but if you read the fine print of the furs and cold weather gear, they don't stack with a survival bonus.

LOL urgh... umm... that sucks :p Might help anyone without ECW gear though

Am cool with them not stacking - will change my Cold Weather gear to traveller's outfit as I prefer the flavour of furs (despite the crappier bonus)... that being the case my Fort save would have been 10 rather than 15? Although Skäne might be better served going for the Survival checks in future and benefitting from any Aid Another bonuses??

Seems only Furs have the no-stack rider?

Indeed Elghund - oversight on my part.

Fort DC15 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Perception 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Also noticed that furs mentions "wearing enough furs to cover the body" which does not cover Skäne's fleabitten cloak of black bear fur. So i'll revert to wearing Cold Weather clothing... which still fails by 2... bawbags!!!

Bite o' the North: 1d6 ⇒ 4 Non Lethal Damage

Scrap above - based on latest OOC chatter Skäne will be ragnarokin both the Cold Weather and Furs for a +7 bonus and sneaking the DC15 check. Nae "nippy sweeties" for this lad!

Rikka shivers in the sudden frost and pulls her jacket around her tighter, blowing a cloud of steam. "Son of a..." She glances at the weapon stash, "I could use a crossbow but I already carry as much gear as I can without slowing myself down more than this unnatural weather does. I'll have to rely on what I carry now."

I'm pushing max light encumbrance already. I'm willing to carry more if we are happy with a 20' move base for an arcanist who should probably stay light on her feet.

Fort Save 1d20 + 1 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 5 + 2 = 14 circum - cold weather outfit, +2 from AA (Elghund)
Perception 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 7 - 4 = 10 snow
Survival AA 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20 Too bad this wasn't my save... so 4 people can get the +2 bonus? Can we get more than one AA bonus? :)

DAM 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2 Northern Ancestry

Also, guys, let me know what we decide to keep and I'll update the booty list.

I'm pushing max light encumbrance already. I'm willing to carry more if we are happy with a 20' move base for an arcanist who should probably stay light on her feet.

I'm assumign you're concerned with combat-tactical movement? Due to armor, Kló's move is only 20, so our overland speed is only that much, anyway. If you just want to have the crossbow on-hand somehow, Kló could carry it for you. Let me know if you'd like me to.

Kló rubs his arms to stave off the unnatural cold as he eyes the buried stash. "If any of that is worth a fair value in town, I can carry some of it." He shrugs, "My pack isn't very heavy right now."

Appraise (to see identify the masterwork stuff) 1d20 ⇒ 19

Skäne recants the bottle of Oldlaw with a besmused shrug and stows the winter warmer for personal consumption later.

Turning his attention to the cache, the warrior eyes the crossbows;

"Flatbows. Taldan's love 'em. I'll just rely on minn throwing ax..."

Skäne also moves at 20ft, so its slow and steady for our group... although with his height Kló should have a trait called Langshanks granting him +5 ft movement lol

I'm assuming you're concerned with combat-tactical movement?

Yep. I was thinking purely of tactical moves, particularly for setting up positions to use Burning Hands to best effect, catch flanks, etc. Slow mages make for dead mages... at least given how aggressively I play them.

If you just want to have the crossbow on-hand somehow, Kló could carry it for you. Let me know if you'd like me to.

Thanks for the offer. Let's see how the gear gets distributed and then see if it's worth you packing a 'just in case' crossbow for Rikka. With the team firepower, it might be unnecessary.

That survival check gives me a +2, which means we ALL get the +2 Fort bonus to saves

"I can carry plenty, or just re-bury things by the other tree. bandits not going to come back for it, or if they do then we won't be", the last getting a chortling laugh from the Orc.

"Soon we should make short camp, warm up and rest before cold takes lives. Killed by iron one thing, killed by snow another"

I've already included that as an AA bonus on my roll, unfortunately I'm coming up a point short on the save. Can someone else roll a survival AA that will stack?

I'll supply it if it won't further slow the group down. Kló hits the AA without rolling, so as long as it doesn't drop our overland movement to 15 or something, go ahead and assume you have it from me (unless you were already).

Kló once again regards the orc with a bit of surprise, "That's a good idea." He hadn't let himself realize how tired he was, "Lets find a place to rest."

Perception 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Survival 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Bedtime for me, but assume Elghund is happy to pull in for sleepytime too!

Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Fortitude 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
Survival (if needed too) 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

I'm assuming AAs stack. If so, then Rikka is good. Thanks!

Rikka - for this purpose yes, I'll allow multiple AAs on the Fort save vs cold weather

As the bitingly cold wind and prevalence of snow begin to deepen you turn collars against the cold and stoically continue onwards. Further down the path the snow becomes increasingly deep, and you soon come to a place where a windswept gully carves a path through a tree-covered ridge. A soft cascade of snow falls from an overhead branch, hissing softly as it strikes the ground.

You begin to ford the thigh deep snow forcing your way through the gully. However after you have mired yourself within the deep snow... Annalisa and Klo spot trouble lurking at your flanks. Hidden in the snowdrifts at your left and right are white serpentine creatures almost invisible against the deep snow... but they are rousing and rearing to strike.

Action Tracker (Surprise Round): Annalisa, Klo, ??? Remember standard action only in the surprise round.

Mapski

The snow is especially deep and you need 20ft of movement to move 5ft (unless you can ignore difficult terrain). This means no 5ft steps.
Snowshoes reduces the movement to 12.5ft per 5ft moved.

Annalísa turns to face the one at A4, her sword up and ready.

Knowledge: Nature (to ID the opponent as well as any strengths/weaknesses)
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Kló scours his brain for any hints as to what these coiled creatures. "Snow creatures. One to left and right!" he roars as he hurls his shortspear.

Throw Shortspear 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21 <--- CRIT? (sheesh)
---> Damage 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
---> Crit Confirm 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
---> Total Damage 7 + 1d6 + 4 ⇒ 7 + (1) + 4 = 12

Awaiting turn

Know: Nature 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

That's the smartest dumb orc i've ever seen! :D

He's not book-smart, he's rat cunning :) Crafting with Elghund.

As Annalisa turns to face the serpentine threat, Klo releases his spear in a short but brutal throw that cuts through flesh before skipping off the beast's spine.

The creatures react with speed and lunge forward through the snow, the powder giving them no impediment to their movement as their maws seek flesh...
Bite at Annalisa: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Bite at Klo: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
...though their snapping teeth close only on a meal of cold snow.

Move to F,5 and B,3 respectively.

Action Tracker (Round 1): Skane, Halla, Elghund, Annalisa, Klo, Tatzlwyrms, Rikka

Longsword1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 Should the creature move into striking range, as a readied attack for the surprise round. Thanks, Joana.

Damage 1d8 ⇒ 4

"Tatzl's, spears and blades work good! Just hack em up!"

Waiting turn

Round 1

Seeing the wyrmlike creatures snap and slither, Skäne lumbers forward cursing the snow that hampers his movement, before aiming a chopping blow at the beast attacking Annalísa;

"Dammr Snow and dammr Tatzl!"

MW Langsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Bite of Steel: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Hopefully not speaking out of turn here but, Annalísa, I think your DAM should be 1d8+3 for STR.

Halla's turn?

Halla pushes through the snow, staying well away from the snowserpent's teeth.

Double move to H6

Indeed it should, Rikka, and no worries. I seem to be botching everything with this campaign thus far :) Bad timing is what it really boils down too, have a lot going on at him right now between my kid and school that my brain can't seem to fully focus on anything for more than a minute or two.

Understandable. :)
Luckily for you, you're about to be up again (after Elghund the Destroyer, of course)... go kill you some snow-snake-thing!

R1

Seeing two warriors already fighting one Tatzl, Elghund heads over to the right to fight the other one, his snowshoes kicking up a piles of fresh powder as he races in with his nasty looking blade ready to do its bloody work.

With a snarl and a grunt, Elghund attempts to savage the beast.

Move to 3f and attack
Attack 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Damage 2d4 + 7 ⇒ (2, 2) + 7 = 11

The creature's attack slams against Kló's wooden shield, eliciting a groan from the shield that mirrors the grunt from the big man. From over his shoulder, he draws out a strange blade.

The blade is a roughly finished, crudely-worked thing that leaves its sheath with a dry rasp. The big man brings the crude blade over his shoulder and down onto his attacker's head in a single ferocious strike.

"They seem to bleed well enough," he growls darkly.

Round 1
Move to draw Blóð'steinn**
Standard to Ferocious Strike
.
Attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
---> Damage 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

So I decided to blow off homework and housework in favor of getting drunk instead. Awesome choice that I'll later regret, I'm sure. In the meantime:

Annalisa lets out a growl and rushes the creature.

Enter Rage and move to strike B4 (if it hasn't moved to me)
Longsword1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Damage1d8 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Sucktastic

Annalísa the snow-wyrm was already @ B3, so no need for you to move :) Besides I forgot to say that Grumpy Ingvârssonn had stumbled to B4

Blóð'steinn works prefect hombre - for the record I draw on the following resources for minn Old Norse (might be useful resources to all who wish to pepper their speech with the "auld tunga" ;) :

VIKINGS OF BJORNSTAD DICTIONARY

UNIVERSITY OF YORK OLD NORSE DICTIONARY

Annalisa's readied strike catches the tatzylwyrm across the cheek and opens a furrow that begins to turn the snow pink before her.

As Halla makes her way to one side, Skane opens a second wound on the wyrm on their left flank - a deep cut near the beast's small legs that end in wickedly sharp raking claws.

Elghund pushes through the snow with the assistance of his wide snowshoes to bring his hacking sword down on the tatzylwyrm's back. The force of the blow emits a cracking sound harkening that the beast's spine has been forced to undergo significant duress before the burgeoning agony of the creature is ended by the accurate thrust of Klo. The tatzlwyrm shudders with furtive spasms as it begins to make it's passage to Pharasma's realm.

Annalisa takes on the red haze and lashes out with force powered by anger itself, but her strike is o'erwrought and does not cause the beast further harm. I think your attack bonus while raging should only be +6 (1 BAB +3 Str +2 Raging)?

The tatzlwyrm is blinded to it's impending doom by the depths of hunger that forced it to attack such a well armed group and lunges again at Annalisa...
Bite at Annalisa: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16 for 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 and Grab: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27 - Annalisa is grappled
...teeth scything through armor to lodge in the raging woman's hip and the sinuous form of the creature whips around to wrap around Annalisa tightly.

Action Tracker (Round 1): Skane, Halla, Elghund, Klo, Annalisa, Tatzlwyrm, Rikka

Updated Map

Certain the warriors will finish off the beast long before she enters the fray, Rikka wades through the snow with difficulty trying to flank the creature wrapped around the barbarian woman, spear at the ready.

~ Round 1 ~
Double Move to A5

Action Tracker (Round 2): Skane, Halla, Elghund, Klo, Annalisa, Tatzlwyrm, Rikka

Round 2

Seeing the gripping beast crush Annalisa dos little to improve Skane's mood.

Gritting his teeth he slides his new blade into the coils of the wyrm, mindful of the warrior it embraces;

MW Langsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Stab of Iron: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4