GM thunderspirit's Reign of Winter AP

Game Master thunderspirit

In response to the lad's desperate pleading, Davosh mutters softly, then with increasing intensity, as though arguing with himself.

The argument apparently lost, The Eye glitters as Davosh looks with a mixture of pity, sorrow, and regret upon Vojtek's tattered remains.

The wizened old man enters a state of enthralled intensity unlike any Kapi had witnessed before, and when Davosh spoke, it was a weird blend of the man's own voice and a reedy older voice, as though speaking from a great distance.

"There is a way, but it is beyond your ken," the voice began. "With the application of certain rituals and hidden knowledge, the young man may fight again, but the cost will be significant."

Kapi seeming to sense a glimmer of hope, looked upon Davosh's now wavering form hopefully, and said, "Yes, we will pay it - Vojtek cannot have fallen! And to the enemy he hates? It can't be!"

Davosh-not-Davosh continues, "Then take the young man down, place him beside the slain Dragon, and prepare. Prepare."

Kappi nodded vigorously, and took the barbarian into his arms. The already slight man seemed somehow diminished, lighter without the spark of life, and the amount of the man's blood that lay splattered across the floor was incredible. With a sobbing sniffle, Kappi shouldered his awful burden and as Edward helped him navigate the steps, and Ali gathered fallen equipment and weapons, the group made their way quickly down to the snowy grave the plummeting dragon had cratered.

Davosh-not-Davosh, with a muttering intensity pointed a gnarled finger (gnarled far beyond the man's years and life experience) at the dragon's chest, and cried, "Free it! Free the heart and prepare!"

Kappi stood agape, but Ali seemed to understand. As Edward turned away in uncertain trepidation, Ali whispered to Kapi what had to be done, and the lad, to his credit, managed to saw into the Dragon's chest and expose its frost-tinged heart with some amount of effort.

Edward, finally unable to bear it burst out, "This cannot happen! Vojtek will not countenance this abomination! and his oath and geas in life will be unalterably corrupted! Don't do it, I implore you."

But Davosh-not-Davosh continued unabated, giving the next step in the ritual to be performed. Vojtek's heart, already torn and laid bare to the elements was simple to remove. The Dragon Heart fit into the sucking cavity well, although it was a bit too large, and the veins were not a proper match for human anatomy.

Davosh-not-Davosh continued unabated as Edward began to moan and rock in prayer. Kappi, in a daze and seemingly hypnotized by the rhythmic nature of Davosh-not-Davosh's chants, brought forth a pale blue potion. Ali, with a tear in her eye, held each vein and artery into place, as the voice behind The Eye directed. Kapi allowed a few drops of the potion to seal the dragonflesh to Vojtek's body, vein to vein and artery to artery. As each piece was magically sealed, the heart began to quiver, as the chanting Davosh-not-Davosh was struggling through increased in intensity.

With a rising crescendo of magical tones and mystical power, Davosh-not-Davosh channeled the love Kappi and the others felt into the ritual. With a strange flickering between past, present, and future, Vojtek's lifeline, which had ended so abruptly in the battle above, and had changed so irrevocably at the coming of The White, extended. Young Vojtek, Current Vojtek, and a Future Vojtek - somehow blended with the image of a screeching White Dragon, flickered into being all at once. Davosh dragged his sharp pinky fingernail across Kappi's cheek, and roughly held the lad's face over the barbarian's chest cavity, allowing the tears of true sorrow, and the blood of true innocence to mix and drip drip drip onto the heart of Logravich.

The heart began to pump, and with a shuddering wheeze, the broken body before them, lying in the cold snow, began to stir.

Edward, kneeling and praying allowed his life link to trace out of his chest, seeking the familiar communion with his friend, and finding a match that seemed 'close enough', allowed his life force to seep slowly into the yawning chasm of Vojtek's constitution. With a pull at first gentle then increasingly urgent, Edward felt his power coursing into the torn and abused frame.

With Kapi providing a slow but steady shower of pale blue potion, dripping into the barbarian's wounds, along with the lad's salty tears and blood, the awful wounds began to knit. The frost-tinged heart was sealed from view. With increasing regularity, Vojtek's chest rose and fell, and the scarred chest sealed the dragonflesh in.

The Northman lived, but at what cost? Unnoticed by all, the scars upon Vojtek's chest upon healing briefly gained a scaly quality before the pink of freshly healed wounds returned.

The gasping cry Vojtek shrieked upon his waking could have been explained by harkening back to his most recent experience, namely having been engaged in mortal combat with the dragon. Some may have thought it a reasonable reaction to having been brought back from the brink of death with an eldritch ritual. Davosh, no longer in close commune with the Ancients, thought he had a faint memory of what it might signify, but that memory was fading quickly.

In the excitement and thankfulness, everyone dismissed the reptilian cry that tore from Vojtek's throat.

With a tearful reunion underway, the only terrifying thing Vojtek could remember was an unexplained vivid memory of tearing the flesh from his own bones, and watching his own body crumple to the floor, motionless.

Vojtek had no idea what ritual had been performed, nither did Davosh or Kappi for that matter. Edward had heard dread rumors of such dark magicks, but for the moment chose not to believe they could be true. After all, his friend was alive, and Apsu's respect for life trumped any of the other, right? Truly evil magic would have raised Vojtek as an undead shadow of the man he knew before, right?

But deep in his, or rather Logravich's heart, Vojtek had a sense of unease...

Cheat Death, spend 2 Hero Points

With Vojtek's eyes fluttering open and his Tin Man transformation at the hands of the Wizard complete, Edward suddenly remembers the signal requested for the fall of the dragon, and the party makes plans to return to the Heralds' hideout.

Awesomely done sir. I'm sorry I couldn't hook up to participate in the post. Too many games, too many real life chores.

On the way back Davosh struggles. While he trusts the voices in his head, he can't help but wonder what he's done. He looks down and sees the dried blood on his cuffs. He sees the pall in Edward's eyes. He sees the bending of Kappi's back caused by the trauma.

He sees Vojtek, "The ancients willed it. I must be!"

Then Davosh's mind moves to the voices. They were there in one moment and gone the next. Such power. Such insight. Such is my future?

His thoughts turn to the ritual, Must make a trip to a library. Must study Shoanti totemic rituals. What have I unleashed?!

As he enters the Herald's Hideout, the Davosh no longer Davosh-not-Davosh moves for a warm drink and deeper thought....

Again, I'm sorry I couldn't do the post justice. A perfect storm of timing.

I'm really excited about the future character development possibilities across the whole party right now

I'm really excited about the future character development possibilities across the whole party right now

Agreed. I've been looking for something a bit... more for Davosh's desire to grow in power. Also, this helps paint the picture for what his next level is going to look like.

The party, supporting Vojtek, stumbles in. Only the most charitable assessment would call the barbarian OK. His armor and clothes are shredded quite literally. His feet are bleeding from the trudge through the icy streets, and the mixture of bright red and dark clotted blood covering him from head to toe tells of terrible things.

The hardy northman has blue-tinged skin with a pallor of deathly illness so atrocious that he could easily be mistaken for an undead monstrosity.

Edward politely but urgently asks a young couple near the fire for the table nearest the warmth. They readily agree and gather their things quickly. The man makes haste to the bar for a cup of warmed wine and the lass turns to Ali with questioning eyes. She glances at Vojtek then quickly turns back to Ali blushing in embarrassment at seeing the patient exposed. Edward discreetly tucks a shredded corner of Vojtek's prized bear skin cloak over the man's naughty bits.

He nods thankfully to the young man and accepts the offered wine. With a patient hand, Edward administers the warming liquid to is friend.

Kappi's entrance briefly took the bar's attention from the brutalized man by the fire to the wild-eyed youth in the door. Far from traumatized, Kappi had been somehow galvanized by the experience. As the door shut behind him, he spotted his group by the fire and made his way over to them. Murmuring in the Herald resumed.

A lone man at the bar looked forlornly into his beer and shook his head. Someday they'll need me. Someday.

Wow. that took guts--and the pun was not intended. I've always respected authors who are able to take their world/main character and really alter (or wreck??) them like that.

Ali participates in the ritual as seemingly guided by Davosh, blissfully unaware--at least, it seemed that way--of the dark undertones some of the others felt. The trauma of losing the barbarian, the grief of loss, trying to be strong for Kappi, the flare of (what she thought was) false hope, and the elation of their friend returned was too much for her, and her facade of strength crumbled. The elf wept openly as Vojtek breathed more and more easily.

Through laughing tears, she went over to the fallen dragon, and scooped a double-handful of its cold blood. Previously her ritual was simply dipping two fingers into fallen enemies' blood and tasting it; this time, she actually drank a hit, forcing the liquid down past her tears. She brought her now half-empty hands over to the awakening Vojtek, and held them under his chin, offering him a taste.

The blood of our enemies makes us strong!!

She offers the dragon's blood to all of her battle-friends as well.

A lone man at the bar looked forlornly into his beer and shook his head. Someday they'll need me. Someday.

Perhaps...but not today! (I'm trying to find the Star Trek clip where Gowron says this, but am unable)

After they set off the firecracker as the "Ding Dong the Dragon's Dead" alert, Ali slaps her palm onto her forehead. We forgot something very VERY important...

TREASURE!!!

She immediately turns back toward the now-empty tower to loot the dragon hoard.

Pertinent. ;-)

Pertinent. ;-)

I heard Willie Wonka say, "It's all there" and YouTube stopped. That's it. Sweet!

GM thunderspirit wrote:

Pertinent. ;-)

I heard Willie Wonka say, "It's all there" and YouTube stopped. That's it. Sweet!

I SAID GOOD DAY!!

After they set off the firecracker as the "Ding Dong the Dragon's Dead" alert, Ali slaps her palm onto her forehead. We forgot something very VERY important...

TREASURE!!!

She immediately turns back toward the now-empty tower to loot the dragon hoard.

Only something as insane as Vojtek's dragonheart rebirth could keep Kappi from something as cool as a dragon hoard.

The normally glib ordain was quiet, lost in his thoughts and memories. After getting Vojtek Is it still Vojtek, or Vojgrovich?, situated and covered up, the distracted Edward left to tend to yet another promised duty.

Bella Belvorica please follow me, I will escort you to the one who misses you.. Bella nodded her head, she wanted to talk to her rescuer, but her attempts at conversation have been answered with polite, but one or two word answers. She left him to his thoughts. The introduction to Solveig was just as terse, with Edward bowing politely and both women knew that he wanted to be anywhere but with them at the moment.

Edward returned to the room where Vojtek was, and re-established his life link. The barbarian with the dragon heart didn't need it right now, but still the curious oradin made the connection.

Edward concentrated on it. There it swirled he could feel it feel the taint of chaos and evil. With every beat it was there. Pushing, seeping throughout Vojtek's body the taint spreading. "No this can not be happening! I will not let this noble spirit with such fire and drive fall to this!"

The holy power in Edward surged, his mentor appeared in his vision. In the vision Edward looked up like he did as a child wondering questioning what is next. His mentor just smiled and turned his gaze the shimmering form of Vojtek was there, but there was more, he could see the taint the swirling mass of the dragons influence, and he could see his life link pulsing around the mass.

Edward got up strode to Vojtek, and just like Davosh he grabbed the northman's head blue eyes piercing straight into his soul. Edward concentrated pushing his very essence into Vojtek trying to envelop the swirling mass to remove the taint. The Oradin broke out into a sweat the mass was fighting him, fighting for it's new life in the northman.

Edward managed to get part of the taint to break free move it along the bond he had with Vojtek at the last moment it snapped back returning, but a small piece remained. Edward broke his connection to Vojtek, and the little piece vanished. The dragon heart won this time, but it wouldn't be the last. Edward couldn' no won't let his friend fall to chaos and evil.

There was a little gasp by both men as the connection ended and they separated. Edward returned the cloth covering the northman's privates again.

Vojtek the ancients and Apsu has blessed this union, but there will be a fight for your soul. A fight I hope to help you win.

Feeling relieved that there is something he can do about it Ed turned and smiled at his friends who all shared a look, especially Kappi wondering why Ed left Bella to be with Vojtek this soon.

Vojtek, unaware of the battle raging for his destiny both inside his chest and within his family, suffered the indignity of helplessness in near silence. Not by choice or manly stoicism, but more so by necessity. The trying hours behind him were still fresh, and he was doing all he could to cling to his essential Traits.

He was Vojtek. He was clanless. He had swooped from the peaks of the crown of the world to destroy the puny village at the edge of the ice...

No, that wasn't right. He could feel Edward prompting him, reminding him of the Truth.

He had sworn vengeance on the weak humans on the tundra after.... no. No!

The warm wine, which the living thought was helping, was eroding the wall of Vojtek's self. With a heroic effort, he knocked the bowl to the floor, spilling the wine onto the worn hardwood floor. Unwittingly aiding the darkness, the young paramour dug into his pouch again and spent his last silver piece on another bowl of warmed wine for Vojtek.

Edward, unaware of the danger, tipped the bowl to Vojtek's blue lips. Davosh was wrapped in an introspective labyrinth and knew nothing of what was happening. Kappi, worried to distraction at the awful state his friend and mentor was in was busy stoking the fire, and anyway was a bit too inexperienced to understand the danger Vojtek was in...

When his mouth opened, and the essence of cold bellowed forth, he grinned wickedly at the death he had wrought

Vojtek sputtered and gagged, but his smile was otherworldly.

His talons rent the earth, tearing stones laid eons ago in the tundra at the edge of the ice. With the blood of his own people tart and coppery in his fanged mouth What? NO! Vojtek wheeled in the sky, preparing for another pass

Vojtek ran across the ice, his breath burning in his throat, chasing the destruction of his village. But yet, with every league, the edge of the ice pulled further away, and he swooped into the clock tower yet again to murder the insolent group who so troubled is lair.

Grandfather's soothing voice and grandmother's warm embrace made all the troubles of the world freeze solid in the icy gales of magic that he gusted forth upon the village's weakling humans and the solace young Vojtek found in that young woman's plaintive cries and pitiful songs whenever he summoned her up to his aerie soothed his icy heart

The battle raged on, but the goodly love of his true companions fortified the wiry northman. His hoard was safe, these weak things he called "friends" had gathered it faithfully from the ruined clock tower and brought it to him. Logrivojtek drank deep of the wine and felt dragonstrength flow through him.

The prose and story have been awesome. Can we also take a moment to sum up our current situation, goals, and treasure?

The prose and story have been awesome. Can we also take a moment to sum up our current situation, goals, and treasure?

Yes, now that we slew LogRich I kinda forget what we are doing. What is our next step in this?

GM recap: Following the death of Logrivich and the ensuing full-scale revolt of the Iron Guard, Whitethrone is plunged into chaos, at least temporarily. The revolt will likely last no more than a few days. You guys have time to heal up and resupply, but if you want to get to the Hut before the Winter Guard gets back to full strength, you'll need to do it shortly.

My treasure spoiler should be up to date. Check, and claim!!

My treasure spoiler should be up to date. Check, and claim!!

Kappi wants/needs nothing from our loot pile. He is all for liquidating and getting his share.

Vojtek on the other hand. His armor is shredded and his greatsword is snapped in half. He might make good use of the +1 great ax.
We need to buy him some magic armor/ring of protection/etc... to get his AC up

Yes. What he said.

OK then.

I've removed the lg +1 axe for Vojtek, and if no one else wants ot carry it, Ali will keep the adamantium war hammer. Also, assuming Davosh has the cauldron.

We're also keeping all the expendables. There are ?? after some--meaning either they haven't been identified, or we don't know the clvl. Let's get folks to say what they want to hold!!

identify, feather 1: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31
identify, feather 2: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32

I"ll try to find the pages these items appear on for GMTS' records

Ali holds out the bag of holding, bouncing it on her palm, then hands it over to Kappi. You're getting sneakier, so you hold this in case you come across something big to steal!

Ali will take the potion of Enlarge Person--maybe that will make it easier for her to draw heat away from Vojtek in other battles (something she thinks about a lot lately)

Oh yeah!! Is that necklace of fingers magical in any way? I kept it as it struck me as a possible item of value, but if not I'd like to discard it.

EDIT: found the page where we found the feathers. It's in GMTS' 3rd post on the page:
http://paizo.com/campaigns/GMThunderspiritsReignOfWinterAP/gameplay&pag e=57#2808

first feather is a bird.

did anyone take/wear that ring of regeneration? Because if not,...EFF YOU!!!! someone put it on right now.

Assuming that
1) the finger necklace isn't something we're selling
2) no one else wants anything else "sellable"

everything including coins totals 4688 gp. Which then divides out into 5 shares of 937 gp, 6 sp

MAKE SURE YOU SAY SOMETHING if you want any of the permanent items we're selling so this can be adjusted!!

If we have any downtime (sounds like not much if we do!), please recall that Ali has the Craft Wand feat. I know in 3.5 an item-crafter could create items that had spell(s) s/he couldn't cast, if s/he got the help from a caster who could--is that still true in PFS? Because we could make Cure wands cheap!

DMTS, I feel like I hijacked the story with the narrative in the Inn. My apologies! The muse struck me and did 1d6 nonlethal damage. Anyway, before we go too much further off the rails, I'll defer to you as to time and events occurring at the inn. I sort of want Vojtek to be so out of it that it isn't funny, and (if it is in the cards) for him to wake up in a room that is bright with sunlight, a chill in the air to make his breath visible, and as he sits up he is bewildered by his surroundings. I kind of picture a stark contrast to the dire straights he was in when he last had his wits about him and the cheerful snowy day outside. Maybe I'll weave a bit of foreshadowing or an undertone of disturbing menace from his unexplained scars - or a sharp pain in his chest... because at this point, Vojtek should have no clue whatsoever about what happened. I'm picturing an uneasy awkwardness from the others until maybe Edward lays it out. I'm unsure where to go from there. I do know that when he rages and dragon crap starts happening to him it will be a significant experience. I see the reveal as a means of forging this group into a tight knit family, replete with tragic choices and hurt feelings. I'd ask for some room to play this out a bit. How would you deal with the death and raising of your friend, especially the weirdness of the situation. Davosh had some significant weirdness that needs some exploration too, but he can hash that out now or in his own time obviously.

Anyway, for expedience - Vojtek will take the Axe for now, but a one handed weapon might be a better way at this point given the claws attacks... with a weapon in one hand, he should be able to attack with it and with the other hand too, both at full BAB, right? The Ring of Regen should be Edward I think. It better supports the group since he can essentially allocate those HPs to where they are needed via his Life Link. He needs some sort of armor and any possibility of natural armor and/or better saves are a priority. That fingers necklace is right up Vojtek's alley too - I can't recall who's fingers they are though. If shopping is a possibility after we see what DMTS has in store for us, I need stuff. I have to get the Polar Bear Cloak fixed up, and get some pants probably.

Finally, thanks guys! I feel like this campaign has a life of its own now, and the characters feel real to me, which is my litmus test to determine if a book is a good book or not. Keep it up boys!

Vojtek: no worries. Seriously, s'all good. :-)
Ali: the necklace of severed fingers is gruesome, but nonmagical.

When Edward tries on the ring of regeneration, he feels a deep sting in his finger, but finds he cannot take it off!

Davosh tries to Spellcraft the iem again, and it still detects as a ring of regeneration to him (he basically could not have made the DC 35 Spellcraft check to learn it was a cursed item, a ring of lifebleed).

Edward will need a successfully cast remove curse to remove the ring!

Fortunately, Solveig is a cleric of Milani.
Even more fortunately, she has remove curse prepared!
DC 20 CL check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Unfortunately, she is unable to remove the curse today.

You have enough time for a single shopping trip, then should work to take advantage of the uprising to get to Baba Yaga's Hut! Consider yourselves able to turn everything you don't want into liquid capital.

Meh I was totally right about the ring. Which is why I never put it on and forgot about it. Ali I borrowed some money from either Kappi or you for my boots, and my share of the treasure will go to the person that I did. It is what it is, and I will continue to wear the "w"ring until we can get it removed. If I was playing one of my sneaky characters I would temp a bad guy with it once or twice :P

It was me :-). I suppose I won't argue...

Meh I was totally right about the ring. Which is why I never put it on and forgot about it. Ali I borrowed some money from either Kappi or you for my boots, and my share of the treasure will go to the person that I did. It is what it is, and I will continue to wear the "w"ring until we can get it removed. If I was playing one of my sneaky characters I would temp a bad guy with it once or twice :P

I was trying to find the thread, I remember loaning money. But I forget how much Kappi lent.

I'd noted that I"d loaned Ed 675 gp (it was for his boots, IIRC)

RING: dam, daniel. :-(

The items that would most be beneficial to Davosh are still a bit too expensive. I'm happy to sell that stuff off and take my share. I have time today, I'll make a proper post during office hours.

While we are gathered Ed sits everyone down. So moving onto our next step, we need to recover this hut. How are we going to move something so large. Do we need to hire some carts and oxen?

Davosh looks about at everyone, especially Vojtek, for some time before responding to Edward. "Indeed, the foundation to this point in history is cracked. Our bairns will look back at this point with serious reflection. The question is, when they finish the thought and take a drink, will they hoist their glasses to remember, or to forget? We have the opening, and if we do not act now I know which it will be."

The speaker-to-Ancients goes quiet. Planning is not his strong suit. He does, however, chew on Edwards words a bit more. "I don't know about a cart, but I DO know that we're not going to get in easily. Thankfully the couplet to enter is known to us." Davosh gives no additional insight as to his last comment's purpose.

Davosh looks about at everyone, especially Vojtek, for some time before responding to Edward. "Indeed, the foundation to this point in history is cracked. Our bairns will look back at this point with serious reflection. The question is, when they finish the thought and take a drink, will they hoist their glasses to remember, or to forget? We have the opening, and if we do not act now I know which it will be."

Young Kappi is clearly confused. But he hates to interrupt wise Ojos Locos. Since he has finally seem to overcome his shyness around Ali, he leans over and whispers to her What is he talking about? My people don't keep BARNS, we are a traveling folk. I don't think barns do much thinking anyway...

But at talk of the Hut, he does blurt about a bit, I think we can ride inside the hut. They say it walks about on big legs.

While Vojtek still lies in a mostly unconscious state sleeping and recovering from the "incident" as Kappi calls it in his head. He is happy his friend is back, but honestly doesn't really like to think about what they had to do to make it happen.

First Kappi went out on a little shopping expedition. First he had to source another tanglefoot bag to carry. Because if it worked well enough on a fracking dragon, then it should work well enough on any nasty flying creature.
Then this was a bit harder, but with their help and contacts in the black market Kappi was able to score some magical armor for his sleeping friend. Even before the incident... Kappi had watched his friend throw himself into battle and dish out horrific damage with his great sword of killing. Yet, he often in turn took awful wounds.
The Varisian lad was determined to give his friend a better chance at surviving all these crazy encounters they seemed to keep winding up in. He first inspected a suit of fine chainmail. Yet, he decided to pass on it and he was glad he did. He found something much better he felt. A beautiful +1 breastplate with dragon like wings etched in the steel. Kappi smiled and paid the man with Vojtek's own money that the lad had "borrowed" earlier. His friend was a little short and Kappi made up the difference from his own purse.
Lastly, he picked up the man stout pair of pants. Kappi didn't quite like the strange kilt thing the warrior used. He didn't like to talk about it, but he had seen his friend's manhood swinging about during battle always made Kappi a bit uncomfortable. He hoped Vojtek would accept the pants and always wear them.

The lad came back to where the party was staying and checked in on his still sleeping friend. With a big dumb smile he laid the magical breastplate next to the massive ax, and folded up the pants nearby.
It was only upon seeing Vojtek's prized Polar Bear cloak still in a shredded bloody ruin did the lad's smile deteriorate.
Then with bright idea the lad went and found the nearest woman, which happened to be Ali. Much to her chagrin, she helped her young friend find an awl punch with a thick needle and thread sturdy enough to do repairs on thick polar bear hide.
Ali was kind enough to get Kappi started with the sewing and soon the lad was blazing with energy to try and make repairs.
Ali didnt' have the heart to stop the lad or tell him how futile trying to repair the completely shredded remains of the cloak would be.

Hours later Kappi was still sewing and working on repairs. He skipped his evening meal and drank a mug while he continually worked. The tattered remains began to take some sort of shape. The lad's highly dexterous fingers could probably make him a fair seemstress if he put some practice into it.
The fur on the old bear hide cloak began to take on strange patterns and shapes from stitching the ragged cuts. The cloak itself began to take on a strange shape and form from the many holes being pulled together around missing pieces.
At some point in the night Kappi's youthful energy and determination ran out. The lad fell asleep needle in hand held dangerously close to his own eye as he slept balled up in a chair near Vojtek's bed.

The now odd and strange looking polar bear cloak about three quarters finished with lots of hanging and tattered pieces on the lower right corner/side.

When Kappi finally falls asleep, Ali smiles and nudges Davosh, nodding to Ed to get his attention. He's adorable! Do you think we should try to get a Mending spell to help him out, or just let him be?

no mending, Phil and I made this scene on texts... I want it to look all crazy.

"Nay Ali, the damage is part of him now, as assuredly as that heart. It'll fuel him. We just need to point him in the right direction! HA! Though I do worry about Kappi. The lad is still innocent, despite all of this. I'm not sure how that'll keep. I wonder what the boy is made of. I wonder what he'll look like when he looks like Vojtek's cloak."

Davosh stars at Vojtek and tilts his head sideways like a pitbull, "Though shouldn't he have a bear's cloak. His name is Vojtek after all."

Davosh lays down and prepares to let sleep take him. "We must strike. Plain and simple."

Ed shakes his head side to side. No I don't believe that we should, though I would mend our own gear before he gets done. Ed says with a smile. Then with a more concerned look he glances at Vojtek gives a deep inhale before turning back to Ali and Davosh. Agreed Davosh this situation is highly unusual, but is is where we are. I can only hope to help guide him against the urges of the symbiote. But when one such as I worships a dragon god I guess strange things should happen when combating dragons.

The question is, will you two help me guide him. There is no telling what to expect when you meld a "mundane" body with a magical beasts heart, and an evil magical beast at that.

Ali looks back at Vojtek and Kappi. Of course i'll help--but I'm not as strong a guide in the whole spiritual thing as either of you. But I DO promise that i'll fight all the harder to keep any of us alive from now on! I don't want to see anything like...that ever happen to any of us again!

Ali is ready (with Davosh's help casing a couple Masterwork Transmutation scrolls). Let's go get Baba Yaga!!

Edward, Davosh (and therefore presumably at least a few Ancestors), and Ali spoke quietly in the doorway in the early morning. The pale grey light of the chill morning filtered through their gathered legs and onto the worn oak flooring of the Herald’s hallway. While the three had shared a room, the eager and industrious lad had apparently stayed awake long into the cold watches of the night. With the once-white bearskin laying across his chest and legs for a bit of warmth, only Ali’s keen elven eyes could really make out the clumsy stitching and ragged seams. Blood still stained portions of it pink, but the reddened suds atop the water in a bucket beside Kappi’s foot told of several hours of scrubbing.

Vojtek appeared to slumber peacefully, and Kappi as well. The Varisian was propped in the overstuffed chair he had commandeered. The rest of the party quietly edged out of the door, with Edward easing it shut behind him. They left the Herald and stepped into the cold to do some shopping. They assumed if Kappi and Vojtek wanted to join them, that the clear footprints they left in the finger’s breadth of snow would show the two where to go. It was early still, just before dawn, and Ali could tell the day would be bright. She hoped a little warm too, but she would settle for bright.

In the bed, Vojtek’s breath crystallized in slow, regular intervals as he slumbered on in a deep yet dreamless sleep. Kappi stirred a bit and pulled the bearskin up to his nose, as the cold crept through his crude repairs.

* * *

With a start, several hours later, Vojtek awoke. He was completely disoriented for many moments. He hurt, more so than he could recall having hurt in a great many winters. He felt as though he was in a bed, comfortable if a bit too warm. He slowly opened his eyes, just a slit, and took in the bright mid-morning sunlight streaming through the window. He heard a stir and snapped his eyes to the left without moving his head. Seeing Kappi bundled under his cloak, Vojtek breathed easier for the moment. Apparently he was safe.

With a lurching realization, Vojtek realized he couldn’t feel his hoard beneath him and rolled to one side, feeling the sweat-dampened depression where he had slept for coin and gemstones. Odd, Vojtek thought, what a nonsensical thing to worry about… Vojtek assumed it was the gossamer shred of some dream he had lost when he awoke and dismissed it from his mind.

Quietly he stood and turned to the window, peering outside at the brilliant snow blanketing the ground, and at the glistening ice and drops of water on the eaves and the branches just outside. Vojtek smiled a rare smile, which would ordinarily be a frightful sight to anyone nearby. He cracked open the window slightly to let some air into the stifling room, and turned to the small table against the wall. He fingered the tracery of dragon wings etched into the strange breastplate and wondered who’s it was. Kappi wouldn’t wear something like this certainly…. Hmmm.

Suddenly, Vojtek had a flash of memory. He was in Logrivich’s tower, engaged in mortal combat with his friends arrayed behind him. He remembered the rending pain as the dragon tore into his flesh. Absently running his thumb laterally across a horrid jagged scar that seemed to run from his collarbone on one side of his body to very near his opposite hip, Vojtek’s brow furrowed in thought.

He stepped lightly to Kappi’s side and shook the lad’s shoulder through his cloak to wake him. With widening eyes, Vojtek took in the tatters and repairs, and wondered at what they might mean.

Kappi! Arise my friend!

The lad rubbed the sleep from his eyes with the back of his hand and looked around slowly until his gaze fell on Vojtek. The look of momentary fear was unmistakable, but Kappi’s youthful enthusiasm took hold soon enough. Vojtek! I didn’t expect you to wake before me! The young man’s breath was white and his teeth were chattering slightly, despite having the benefit of the cloak. Vojtek’s bare-chested comfort in the icy air was something the group had come to understand about him, but this seemed a bit more… sinister? Concerning? Kappi didn’t know the right words, but the fear slowly started creeping back into his eyes.

I don’t remember how I ended up here. I have no idea what could have caused these scars that seem to be new to me. And what happened to my cloak? The northman had no trace of anger, no fearsome effects from the… 'incident'.

Kappi replied incredulously, You don’t remember the fight against Logrivich?

Vojtek shook his head.

Forgetting the gravity of the situation, and really just happy to be talking to his friend, Kappi stood and began describing the battle. It was amazing! You were flying through the air with your Gr… Greatsword.. uh... held high Kappi stumbled a bit upon mentioning the destroyed weapon, and slashed a few good hits at him!

Kappi recounted the battle, limiting the fall of Vojtek to a lame, you got hit pretty bad and fell to the floor with blood everywhere… ummm… I didn’t think you were going to make it. Kappi continued in a rush, looking a little sheepish, yet obviously proud of his role in slaying the beast, and described the thrown tanglefoot bag in great detail. He hoped Vojtek would be riveted by the tale and neglect to ask follow-up questions that he really didn’t want to address.

Vojtek beamed, presenting a second full-on smile. The pride Vojtek felt at Kappi’s ingenuity was dwarfed by the warm pride that suffused the young man at hearing Vojtek’s praise heaped upon him. The mysteries of the intervening hours forgotten, Vojtek was immediately seized by the idea to go find the dragon’s carcass.

With alacrity that seemed unusual given the physical punishment the barbarian had endured, Vojtek began casting about looking for his kilt, his mail, and his sword. He turned a questioning eye to Kappi.

Uhhh… you don’t remember, but your sword was snapped - broken completely beyond repair in the fight.

Pain and wistful regret seemed to dampen Vojtek’s mood. He had been given that blade by an old friend for leading the very expedition that won him the cloak Kappi was handing him. And my clothes and chain mail? Vojtek asked with reserved hopefulness.

Kappi simply shook his head and gestured in an odd Varisian manner that seemed to suggest they were gone and that was that. Vojtek scowled a bit, chalking this up as yet another debt The White would pay someday.

Kappi handed the pants and magical armor to Vojtek with a proud smile, I got these to replace them, and the rogue reached around behind the chair to grip the waraxe’s finely crafted haft this, in place of your sword! With a flourish, Kappi presented the weapon to his friend.

Kappi, how in the world did you get these!?

The axe was part of the treasure we took from the tower, and I used your coin and a bit of my own to buy this magical armor. Kappi was starting to excitedly show the qualities of the truly splendid armor, when what he had said sunk in.

Without thought, Vojtek slammed the armor onto the table, shattering two of the legs, and sending the whole lot of armor and table-splinters clattering to the floor. Mouth agape, Kappi stared in incomprehension as his friend had entirely the opposite reaction he had expected.

Vojtek’s chest contracted with an icy, frozen, evil force. His neck bulged, his lips curled back, and his hands came up before him in claw-like contortions, no… they appeared to actually be claws for a moment. He saw nothing but white rage for a split second and a jealous surge of anger pumped into his brain. Now he suddenly knew where his hoard had gone! This was unforgiveable!

Then as quickly as it had come, the rage was gone. He looked confused at Kappi’s agonized expression and looked away in time to allow the lad to pretend to scratch his face and wipe a tear gathering in his eye, sparing them both further embarrassment. Vojtek looked at the table and the scattered pieces of armor and began collecting it up, prompting Kappi to show it to him and describe it.

There was an awkwardness between them that lasted through the quick bite to eat in the common room and out the door into the snow. As they walked together towards the tower, that awkwardness was replaced by focusing on the task of climbing the steadily rising hill through the woods in the most direct route to the tower.

By the time they reached the snowy grave Logrivich lay within, each had a sheen of sweat on their forehead from the exertion of the climb. Kappi was describing the tanglefoot bag again for the third time, although each time had been at Vojtek’s prompting. They stood over the dead dragon in silence though. The magnitude of defeating such a creature was not small, and Vojtek held Kappi in great esteem for his clever defeat of this terror. He noted the blood and trampled snow all around, and wondered at it. He had never been especially imaginative though, and he let the wonder pass. Kappi seemed relieved when Vojtek suggested they get down to the business of skinning it.

Vojtek and Kappi took their time, working in companionable silence. The body had mostly frozen, so the work was hard, but Vojtek showed Kappi some tricks he had learned from his grandfather that made it easier going.

When they rolled the beast over to continue on its chest, Kappi became apprehensive. Vojtek pondered the gaping chest wound and remarked, The heart is gone… something or someone must have taken it in the night.

Another vague Varisian gesture somewhere between a shrug, a nod, and a “lets get back to work” was the only response he got. Kappi burned with guilt from the lie of omission, but after the display in the room he had begun to suspect that something was very wrong… He resolved to let Davosh handle it, since the whole thing had seemed to come from him anyway. Kappi was happy just to have his friend alive, and Vojtek was happy to be desecrating a white dragon with his friend the dragonslayer.

Finishing up by folding the last of the skin into his pack, Vojtek grinned at Kappi, Come now Kappi Dragonslayer, lets find the others and see what comes next!

Kappi nodded mutely, afraid of exactly what Vojtek had spoken of… what would come next.

Returning from their excursion slinking about Whitethrone, avoiding mirror men and remnants of unoccupied Winter Guard squads, the party finds a joyous Kappi and a resurgent Vojtek busily trying to take the skin off the fallen dragon.

Survival check to skin Logrivich.

Solvieg draws herself away from her reunion with Bella long enough to encourage you to strike while the log continues to glow at the Market Square where Baba Yaga's Hut is tethered, surrounded by a forest that renews itself overnight each day.

Kap and Votek butcher and skin LogRich

Survival 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Vojtek watches Kappi and adds tips and helpful suggestions where he can, but it is clear the lad is well able to handle the task.

Survival (Aid Another): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Success! Kappi expertly decorticates the beast while Vojtek looks on. A few moments to prepare the scaly skin and tan the hide, and the rogue and Northman are ready to set out again.

With the city in tumult, a number of skirmishes can be seen erupting about them as the party makes its way toward the forest in the midst of the Market Square. Several shops and buildings are abandoned near the wall of evergreens that have burst through the cobblestone streets. Ahead, a few trees have parted to form a path that leads into the dark forest overrunning the erstwhile Market.

Kappi stops the party some twenty feet outside the break in the treeline; he can see a trio of rather bored-looking ice trolls lounging about just inside the breach. Davosh absently notes that the firs here have sharp, thick needles, and act as a wall of thorns, meaning the party needs to stick to the path.

"Does anyone here think the path is likely to shift and cause us to be lost in the thicket?" Vojtek asks the group. "I have limited experience with trees and paths through them, but this magical forest seems like it could cause us grief." The barbarian scratches absently at his scalp and asks, "Is there any way to protect ourselves from it closing in on us?"

He adjusts the straps on his new armor a bit, and jostled his manhood about in the prison-like pants Kappi supplied, and readies himself for the worst. "This axe could be used on the trees to great effect" Vojtek hypothesizes.

Does the thicket itself appear to radiate magic? Detect Magic please.

"Who knows what to expect, but regardless, those trolls will definitely smash our skulls in and eat our dead flesh if we let them. Let's stick to the path and focus on them."

Davosh has a conversation with Liska, at least it LOOKS like that's what he's doing. He then turns to the party.

"I can send Liska ahead to scout, maybe even harangue them a bit, draw them out. Thoughts?"