Variel's Reign of Winter

Game Master Neltji

No worries, Variel. Enjoy the service and we'll see you then! :)

Round 6 recap
Variel manages to protect himself but can not hit the troll in front of him. Likewise Beck tries the same thing but is unsuccessful with his sling.

Sheelah bites one of the fey but cant seem to get the finishing blow as the fey is now burnt and bitten. Xanxan tries for an attack as well but the cold is starting to affect his aim.

Gabe pulls back on his bow and the nible atomie moves just at the wrong time for GAbe as the arrow misses the fey head. the feather on the shaft managed to caress Hommelstraub's ear it was that close. Aneira pulls up a shot as well (don't know what the second -4 is, no combat penalty just the weather) but her talents lie elsewhere than archery. Venja takes the opportunity to cast he 1 healing spell for the day and brings Gabe up to full health.

Round 7 top
Hommelstraub continues to punish the man below him. this time he releases a shot from the sling in his hand. The bullet strikes Gabe with a hard thwack in his upturned face between his eyes. 6 damage and fort save DC 13 or staggered for 1 round

The troll moves up gracefully ignoring the mounds of snow and walking on top of it to reach the hateful Beck with the deadly alchemist fire. With a mighty lunge the boar spear rams into the chest of Beck with enough force behind it to shatter his spine. Lucky for Beck the layered hide armor caught enough of the blow to turn Beck just enough that the metal spear went between his chest and his arm. Only the crosspiece of the boar spear is what clipped him. No damage, missed your AC by 1 otherwise 11 damage Likewise the Troll snaps at Beck with gaping jaws but is unable to connect with Beck's head. Perhaps the spear guard moved Beck just enough to also throw off the troll's attack. [/ooc]Again missed by 1 or another 4 damage[/ooc]

The fey next to Xanxan and Sheelah draws a tiny shortsword and stabs at Sheelah in retaliation for biting it. Not accustomed to melee weapons the blow is wide. the other fey behind it though is more lucky and manages to hit Sheelah. The weak attack is only able to bruise Sheelah through her thick fur as Sheelah growls in frustration. 1 subdual damage to Sheelah as the damage was below 0 dealt. Also need a DC 11 for save or staggered for 1 round.

combat map

Gabryjel looks at the creature above with flat eyes.

He has no interest in steeling himself against damage from the stone, however.

In point of fact, at this point he is glad of the stone hitting his face; the pain helps focus him. And at this point, if it kills him, he no longer cares anymore.

Attack with Cold Iron arrow; penalties factored in
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

If it hits -
1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

EDIT: I don't care about being Staggered at this point. I'm not really planning on moving and if this is going to be a TPK; that's how it's going to be, I guess.

The other -4 was a penalty for firing into melee. And ouch re the comment regarding Aneira and her talents lying elsewhere. The light crossbow is her primary weapon.

Maybe Xanxan can't hear, but he's still symppathetic to the big cat's trouble. "I know, Sheelah, I know. Short people are so annoying!"
And he tries to flank the fae and stab.

To hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15+2 if flanking possible

Dmg:1d4 ⇒ 4
If flanking possible, sneak attack bonus 1d6 ⇒ 1

Hommelstraub is above Gabe and not within melee range at this point. As for the crossbow not being your strength Aneira, I was going for glib and sorry if it came off as harsh. I meant tht you have more abilities than the crossbow with your spellcasting. If it makes things better Variel is doing just as good with his rapier.

Variel continues to try and attack the troll before him placing both hands on the rapier to get more force out of it. Yet again Variel can not hit the broad side of a barn, or a large troll either for that matter.

1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 5 - 1 = 6
1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Sorry guys I just cant roll anything over a 10 it seems this combat.

Xanxan, you would have to provoke an AOO from the troll to move into a flanking position.

can't he use acrobatics to avoid the aoo?

with the movement penalties for the snow combined with the double the cost to use acrobatics he would only be able to move 5 ft as a single move.

At work so i can't see the map and am not sure what to do. I'll post once i get home. I have been rolling the wring sling damage if i've rolled it, cause I'm small (not that i've hit) but what is a d4 turn to when its small? 1d3?
Beck's AC is also 19 right now due to being small and having a +2 to dex. not sure if I mentioned that already, but wanted to make sure. I like the description tho =P

Yes the damage would be d3 and I did not include the change in AC for small and +2 dex. Went with the stat line shown. Will remember that for the rest of the fight. Glad you liked the description though.

Oh, let's provoke. Otherwise my rapier won't be hurting the darn fae much at all.

ok you asked for it.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 Blah never mind. At least I roll poorly as Variel and as the GM.
1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Wow, that was a gutsy move, Xan... glad he missed you!

Aneira, realising her crossbow is completely ineffective in the current weather conditions, stows it over her shoulder, and instead draws her light mace, in case she needs to defend herself.

Two move actions, I believe...that's all she can do right now.

I'm going into day surgery this afternoon for a procedure. I may be in some pain afterward, so if you do not see further posts from me today or tomorrow, that is why.

Good luck Aneira. Hopefully it goes well and the recovery is quick so you can fully enjoy your vacation coming up.

Venja, in desperation as to what she can possibly to do help against such foes, extends her hair to 10' in length and takes a swipe at the troll with it.

to hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
dmg if hits: 1d3 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Lets make some concentration checks...
DC 17 concentration: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
beck tries to cast his cure spell as a summon defensively. [ooc]dunno the weather penalties...

Sheelagh, on the other hand looses interest in the annoying li'l fey that she can't hit and goes crazy and rips into the damn troll for attacking her beloved master...

1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 3 - 2 = 19
for 1d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 2 = 9

1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 3 - 2 = 17
for 1d4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 2 = 4

1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 3 - 2 = 20
for 1d4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 2 = 5

Umm, wow, ok the troll goes down quick. Update in a bit once the kids are asleep.

that's what happens when the animal companion with three natural attacks and PA finally starts rolling above 10 =P

that's what happens when the animal companion with three natural attacks and PA finally starts rolling above 10 =P

A strange ghostly voice suddenly carries across the Cosmos at the fall of the troll...

"Banzai Sheelah-san..."

That is all...

Venja magically enhances her hair to give it the length needed to attack the troll. With precision that confounds the fey the hair punches through and wounds the troll deeply. As if a switch was thrown by the troll when it attacked Beck, Sheelah went on a rampage with tooth and claw tearing into the large troll. Even with all the carnage dealt to the beast it was still not going down until the last swipe felled it. Even then the body of the troll started to knit together as the rapid healing of the troll took over. Although still down and unconscious it would be back up soon.

Xanxan takes the opportunity to jump tot he other side of the fey and stabs at it with Sheelah's help. The blade finds it purchase and the fey at the other end of it collapses dead. Good call Xanxan as the AC is 17 so you needed the flank and the sneak is what put you over the damage threshold.

Gabe fires another arrow at Hommelstraub that pierces the body and continues to make it bleed for assaulting the group form above.

Seeing the troll collapse the two fey retreat and head back towards the portal attempting to return from where they came and report back to their masters.

Those that wish can pull ranged weapons or use them to fire 1 time before the fey disappear. Assuming someone brains the troll before it gets up next round will effectively kill it and end the combat.

While getting out another alchemist fire to kill the troll outright with flame, Venja strikes at it again with her hair to keep it down while it lies on the ground.

to hit: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 4 = 12
dmg: 1d3 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

really? a 3? sigh, sorry guys...someone else better smack it and keep it down.

Gabryjel frowns, watching the Fey disappear. His focus is entirely on them, and he takes a shot -

All penalties/bonuses factored in - cold iron arrow on Fey that hit me with a rock.
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

If it hits -
1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

EDIT: Hell yeah about the damage! I don't know if it got dropped, but at least I managed to hit it (I hope). If it's vulnerable to Cold Iron, that should be a total of 24 damage. I don't know if that's good enough to drop it, but i'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Meanwhile, if Beck was using Summon Nature's Ally last round, wouldn't he be able to have a creature appear and attack something fleeing this round? If so, that would be really good times! I just want that thing to be dead is all :)

Yes gabe thank you he could summon an eagle to have it charge the fey

Yes gabe thank you he could summon an eagle to have it charge the fey

Cool beans!

Venja, that. Attack hit, considering the troll is helpless and has a dex mod of -5 as opposed to +something. So a 12 prolly hits. Or call the attack a coup de grace if allowed and do crit damage, if allowed.

As the fey flee, Beck's spell completes and an eagle appears before him 30 ft out.
The Druid loads up his sling and whips a Cold Iron bullet at the retreating enemy.
1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 5 - 4 = 15
For 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Then the bird charges through the air and digs its beak into the fey
1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 = 9
For 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

If the fey are Running then they take an ac penalty. Are they? Or did my bulet miss =/

are there enhancements/feats that negate weather penaltieson range attacks? Iirc there is one that does miss-chance/cover... that coud be great for this game

Xanxan sees them fly off, sticks his tongue to the side of his mouth to catch a tasty snowflake, and then fires a crossbow bolt at one on the odd hope he can actually nail it.

To hit, -4 for snow and wind counted in 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
dmg if it hits:1d6 ⇒ 1

Not sure if Venja's attack finished off the troll, but just in case it didn't ...

Aneira moves forward (P:24?) to prone troll and hits him as hard as she can with her light mace,

Attack with light mace: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Damage, if hits: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Aneira has Child of Winter Revelation and heavy snow costs her only 2 squares of movement instead of 4.

If she can't get to troll (due to the heavy snow/movement) to do this, then please ignore.

Seeing Aneira slip forward and smack the troll, Venja smiles and speaks up, hoping to be heard over the howling wind.

"Well struck, Anee! Is it dead finally? If not I have one more alchemist's fire we could burn it with."

Over the fierce wind, Aneira replies, "I sure hope it is dead. Your hair struck it well and then my mace. Keep your Alchemist's Fire handy, Venja. Just in case. I have no more flasks."

Headed to bed for a bit as I'm loopy on these meds. DM Var, please tell us if the big, bad troll is dead? :)

What gives, the fey run and all of a sudden people start hitting with range attacks and eagle AOO's. not fair at all. Hommelstraub had 12 hp left. Gabe hit it for that much which staggers it meaning it can't withdraw without collapsing. Thus the AOO from the eagle which does 3 damage bypassing its dr by 1 effectively killing it. The other fey had only 1 hp left from being hit with the alchemist fire which Xanxan took care of as well.

Maybe it was the sight of the troll going down or maybe people were starting to get a feel for the wind. The exact reasonings really didn't matter so much as the results. Both fey are knocked out of the air by bolt beak and arrow and collapse to the ground where the eagle tears one to shreds before it disappears. Venja and Aneira pummel the downed troll and keep at it until they see the magical healing properties quit working.

Nice job guys. I was worried there with the bad rolls but the last two rounds you made up for them.

What would everyone like to do now? Sunset is in 2-2 1/2 hours. Enough time to make it back to the hut but barely. I know Gabe mentioned using the igloos as well.

"Perhaps we should search the igloos and use them for shelter if they are clear of additional threats. If not the latter, we should search them quickly and return to the hut as soon as we can vefore it gets too dark."

"Desna is feeling fickle," The gnome mutters before looking back at the others... he rubs his ears, wondering if he can hear them yet.

Gabryjel turns up his cloak against the cold and moves to collect all his arrows.

As he moves to the Fey that did so much damage to him he lifts his Cold Iron ax and chops off its head with flat eyes, then cleans the blade in the snow and spits on the corpse with disgust.

After that he quickly searches the corpse, looking for anything of note from coin to weapons.

I guess I'll take 10 on the Perception Check for a total of 17.

He looks up at the others and calls out from the cold as they're searching the igloos -

"Ya'll find anything there?"

After searching the bodies, as the others are searching the igloos he'll make a wide sweep of the area to see if there's anything else in the area.

I don't plan on taking too long with this search - no more than 10 minutes top if we have to leg it back to shelter.

On the plus side, it takes a lot less time for me to pitch my tent for shelter if we really need shelter now.

GM - I sent you a PM earlier; if you get a chance to let me know what's up, I'm eager to see an answer. Thank you.

"I will help search the igloos", Aneira calls out over the wind to any who would hear.

Aneira moves with those who would search the igloos. She cautiously approaches and begins, not wanting to hold up the party in such terrible weather conditions and sundown approaching in a couple of hours.

Anee will take 10 on the Perception check for a total of 15.

Venja will aid Aneira in searching the igloos, starting with the furthest out and working back so they don't waste time searching the same ones. She casts detect magic in each one she searches to make sure nothing is missed.

taking 10 for a 17 for the mundane search roll

Aneira casts Detect Magic in the igloo she is searching.

Beck aso takes a 10 on his perception for a 20 total for a cursory search of the igloos and to examine the portal.

GM - if I find anything on the bodies of the dead; if it looks important or valuable I will take them to the rest of the gang for them to assess for any magical properties (if I find anything, that is).

Xanxan also helps look about, talking as he does so "I think my ears are STILL ringing."

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24 Assuming he's not still deaf, of course

Before going too far, Variel turns to Aneira and approaches quickly. Not able to hear anything, he looks her over quickly to make sure she is ok before giving her a hug and kiss in relief. Not able to hear himself speak, he ends up shouting a bit more than necessary but how is he to know, Are you ok anee? is there anything i can do for you dear? did yu get hit by the flying creature at all?

Turning to the others he looks at them to make sure they are not bleeding out or too harmed. Seeing that Aneira and Venja have it all well in hand he lets them go about their business.

As the portal is what is the most concerning, Variel approaches it with some trepidation until he is finally at the outer ring of icicles. Once there he detects magic on it to try and identify it.

spellcraft 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
know arcane 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Gabe starts to dispatch the fey ensuring that nothing happens with them coming back somehow. As he does the grisly process he takes the time to loot the bodies as well. The two fey had diminutive shortswords and shortbows. Hommelstraub had a diminutive sickle and sling, potion of cure mod wounds, scroll (?), 1 thunderstone, a small mirror, and 96 gp in coins. On the troll was found a magical spear, a key ring with a single key, a small mirror, and 72gp in coins.

Going alphabetical for searchers in the igloos. From now on to make it fair I will try to do it this way for those that are searching and random effects.

Aneira, Beck, Venja, Xanxan 1d4 ⇒ 3

The group starts to spread out to examine the area. Each igloo is only 4 feet high requiring most to crawl in. Inside it is quite cozy and the driving snow and wind are kept out. If needed these could serve as decent accommodations for the night. A set of winter clothes and a heavy blanket is all that would be needed to rest comfortably without worry that the cold would sap their strength. Inside the huts are not much other than some furs (treat as a heavy blanket) and a empty chest to store items in. As Venja started to crawl in her hut, she just about made it to the center of the igloo when the floor gave way.

Finished with the igloos and looting the bodies (took about 5 minutes total) and returning back to the center Beck remembers and points to the cave to the northeast as the last area to examine before they try to figure out the portal.

Variel just stands at the portal staring at it trying to decipher what they could do to affect magic this vast, powerful, and imposing. Does not have detect magic memorized this day...oops.

reflex save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Venja yelps in surprise as the floor swallows her up and she falls, taking a myriad of bumps and bruises. With the help of her companions (hopefully SOMEone will come assist her), she crawls out of the hole and proceeds with her search, limping slightly.

"At least if we decide to stay here, these igloos are warm inside, and safe from the winds. Shall we go back to the hut or stay here for the night?"

Hearing Venja's cry, Beck sprints over to investigate, blade ready. "Oye, you alright?" he asks, lowering a rope from his pack to te witch to help her up. "Had me worried there. Need some healing after that fall? Looked nasty."

"I could surely use a little medical attention, my friend, but we should wait until we are ready to settle in for the night, either here or back at the hut, before dispensing the last of our healing. I should be fine for a little while. I'd just hate to see you waste a spell on me if it's possible our primary fighters might get in harm's way again before we rest. You are so kind to offer though, Beck."

Gabryjel looks at the dead Fey.

He considers his time with some of the plainsmen who hailed from the northlands. After battles with especially challenging foes, it is said that they would slice the scalp of an enemy from their skull and take it as a trophy.

Hell, ain't hardly worth it... 'Sides, that may just piss of any friendly Fey we bump into later... and it's likely to upset my mates... Reckon I'll pass on it for now, then...

After hearing Beck's suggestion to go back to the hut, his eyes glance to the sky and he gauges the weather, and the remains of the sun.

We got about maybe four or five hours to sunlight - seeing as this is supposed to be a summer sky; still the way the gods damned weather's coming down; hell - I don't know, seems pretty dicey to me...

He looks over at the others.

"This place seems pretty rough; what with all the bad weather, but I reckon if we all trek back to the cabin, the weather may get worse. Hell, we get back there, crash out, then leg it all the way back here in the morning... I don't know... we maybe get a few more feet of snow between now and then; and no telling if we can all move through it..."

He looks at the igloos a bit skeptically, especially as one of them was trapped.

Luckily Beck managed to help Venja; but still... the place didn't seem to safe; especially with that weird portal-thing.

For a minute his mind recalls the Fey who had healed him after his wounds in the battle; they had talked of "wyrd" things before as well; but their usage of the word was an older one, with subtle differences.

When that Fey lass said "weird" she didn't mean uncanny or even doing with dark spirits; to her it had to do with Fate... funny that I think this portal's "Weird" instead of "Strange" or "Odd" or any number of words... Huh... Maybe that came to my mind of a purpose - maybe it's a clue from beyond that our Fate's are all tied to this gods damned thing somehow...

He snorts.

Ah, hell - it's likely that it's just a bloody coincidence...

He glances back at the portal again as Variel examines it, watching the elf study it for a moment.

But then again...

Gabryjel takes out a sack and dumps all the gear he found in it and slings it over his shoulder and moves back to the party.

GM - Gabryjel is fully prepared to have this conversation here; but with the portal so close, the snow falling so bad and so on - is there place that we can gather to talk for a bit to make plans out of the weather? It looks like some decent tree cover at K:25-26 - it doesn't really matter to me where we stand, but for RP purposes Gabryjel would likely do this stuff in a place that the snow is not falling in his face :) For now, can we all fit in one igloo together to talk, or is it assumed we can talk and do all this without any distraction from the weather?

"Well, I found a heap of crap on them bodies there - potions, loot, and this thing here..." he says tossing the scroll towards Variel.

Having examined the scroll for any clues he realized quickly that the ever-scintillating writing must be magical; and therefore the scroll must be magical, even though he couldn't read the damn lingo.

This is kind of assumption from D&D and Dragonglance campaigns - in that world "Magic Writing" could be identified as runes that kept shifting back and forth magically - no one could use Linguistics to break the code, because the pattern never remained the same. I'm guessing this is the case for Magical Scrolls in this world, as that's how the former GM did it; if not, and I don't know it's magical formally, for now - call it a hunch. Just let me know how magic writing will be done in the future for RP purposes, though. Thanks!

"You're magi - can you make anything of it?" he asks the elf, then glancing at Venja, as he knows that she is also has a knowledge of the Arcane Arts.

He looks over at Aneira.

"I think this may be a magic potion - you're handy at healing; I reckon maybe you'd want to hang on to it; just in case?" he says offering the potion to her more gently, so it doesn't fall and break in the snow.

"There's other hash here, too - but I don't know if any of it's magical or not - looks like a bunch of junk; 'cept maybe the coins..." he says showing them the mundane items like the mirrors, weapons and coins.

Glancing at the coins, he pauses, a sudden thought occurring to him, and he quickly rummages through them, examining them carefully as the snow falls.

Spreading them out, he tries to identify the markings on the coin.

Are they local? Are they from the villagers native here; or farther back in the capital? Or did they come from even farther abroad...

Basically Gabryjel's trying to figure out what nation or country minted the coins. While coins can travel a long way, it may be a clue where the enemy came from. Let me know what roll - if any - needs to be made. Meanwhile, if anyone else can make the rolls, good hunting! :)

Okay, I'm off. See you all later and I look forward to what comes next *cough cough - leveling perhaps? - cough cough* ;)