"I'm ready, though I do hope the plan to return works." She smiles at Ratibor.
Deciding to press on after reaching a trial arrangement with Ratibor the group makes preparations to head out in the unknown landscape surrounding the Hut. It is clear from the windows that the locale is in a frozen part of the world again as snow and ice dominate the landscape. A further look gives clue that he Hut is either at the edge of a forest or is in a large clearing as a large amount of trees can be seen 100ft away from the Hut's door. Bundled up for the cold the door is opened and you continue on your path to helping Ratibor and Baba Yaga. Yet it feels that he more you learn of Baba Yaga you begin to wish there was an alternate path to take to keep all of Golarion from being covered in snow and ice.
Outside the snow is fluffy and soft as you sink into it to mid calf slowing the progress of some of you. You make it 30feet away from the hut when you think you see a flash of movement from the tree line.
There was definitely movement from large creatures. Giant men carrying large axes and covered with frost, snow and ice.
These are frost giants and they are pissed off and coming your way now that they noticed someone leaving the Hut!
Whoa! We got some giant snow covered men coming for us!
"Where?"
Jetro points
"Frost giants. They don't look happy to see someone coming out of the Hut."
Jetro gets out his bow.
Calls back into the hut, "Ratibor! Chain yourself up, please... we have to come back... and quickly1!!"
Jetro, you and Duardlara see 1 at the edge of the trees but it appears that there are at least another 4 moving shapes further back between the trunks.
Let's soften them up a bit while heading back
"We need to face them friends! They are in our path!" - Helgash roars, a spell summoned to protect him - "Stand fast as Jetro peppers, and try to hit them from afar as best as you can - focus on one at a time!"
Greta moves forward to stand close to Helgash.
"Wasn't there a spell to make us larger?" - she shouts back.
Venja steps back toward the hut, not being the brave paladin type... but she doesn't enter or anything for fear of Ratibor...
IF she can get 2 or more in a straight line, she'll cast lightning bolt at the giants.
Venja readies to attack while Helgash takes a pen offensive position with Greta next to him but with a space in between. Jetro limbers up drawing his bow and Beck and Sheelahflank out wide.
Beck +1/2 level in cold
Helgash
Jetro
Duardlara
Venja
The frost giants break from the cover of the tree lines and to your dismay you see not 5 but 8 of the terrible giants facing you. 5 of them moved just to get into the clearing but the other 3 heave rocks directed at Helgash in the front.
2 of them take a bolt of lightning for their efforts though from Venja.
Rock toss +9 for +13
Helgash takes a rock to the face for 14 damage as the other 2 miss him.
Reflex saves +4 each
Stats
HP 65/65 AC 19
Spells in effect:+2 Saves vs. Cold +5 Survival, -2 perception to hear when hatflaps pulled down.
As for your present everyone gets a 1 time use surge of d6 to add to any d20 roll.
Oh fudge Jetro fires three arrows at a wounded giant while 5 stepping back
After identifying the figure and seeing Helgash preparing to take a stand, Duardlara casts gravity bow and readies a shot. Her arrow follows after Jetro's to focus on the same target.
Migger was riding on her shoulder to stay out of the snow and instinctively moves to allow her to shoot without interference.
--------------
"We stand our ground Greta!" - Helgash adds - "If they want to get to our ranged attackers, they have to get through us!" - he reinforces, grunting away the pain of the thrown boulder - "Keep peppering them!"
Greta nods grimly, and steps back also, readying an attack in case the giants try to close the gap - "They will eventually run out of boulders, I guess" - she growls.
Venja damage roll for lightning bolt
Jetro fires at the front wounded giant hitting with every other shot inflicting some good damage but he giant seems to just shrug it away. Duardlara fires as well and just manages to pierce the hide as well. Even with 3 arrows and smoking from the lightning bolt the giant just smiles at you all.
Helgash and Greta maintain their positions while Sheelah and Beck buff up for the coming fight.
The giants reach into a sack at their hips and pull out more stones and by the looks of the bag they each could be holding about 5 stones.
4 stones on Helgash
for
Helgash takes a single stone to the chest for 18 damage.
4 stones on Greta for
Greta is not as fortunate though as 3 of the boulders strike her for a massive 53 damage.
HP 65/65 AC 19
Spells in effect:+2 Saves vs. Cold +5 Survival, -2 perception to hear when hatflaps pulled down.
I think we better take cover. It is like Starfall here with all the giant rocks.
Jetro moves 30 feet back to the hut and sends one arrow at a wounded giant.
"They are just going to pick us off from a distance.... I recommend we withdraw into the hut for safety... " As she speaks, she moves (if necessary) so she's within 10' of Greta, extends her hair to touch the winter wolf and administers a healing hex.
"I have no desire to fight the hut's guardian. Nothing says we have to move to or through the giants' position, however." She starts looking around. "Let's find a different way out of the clearing. Among the trees, they will not have such free range to throw their rocks and we might be able to ambush them one at a time and bring Helgash's and Greta's weapons to bear."
The hut is in the middle of a clearing so you could try to go through the woods on the far side of the Hut. That would be a trek of about 120ft and still within throwing distance from the giants.
Venja you are easily able to touch Greta with your hair healing the magical beast of some of the damage from the boulders.
Jetro fires his solitary arrow as he moves back tot he Hut wounding the lead giant.
There are 8 total. No more have come out of the woods.
"They will just wait for us to exit if we retreat into the hut. Since we are out now, let's go into the trees and work our way around." She points directly away from the giants' position.
Maybe the hut can fly around on it's chicken wings. We can always take pot shots out of the door.
"I don't know that we know how to control it. Even if we did, we have to overcome the guardian's compulsion first. I have no desire to fight with him before us with eight frost giants behind us. I'm not sure which is worse, especially since we don't want to hurt him."
"Ratibor, are you secured yet?" Venja asks the guardian.
"Agreed Duardlara - lead the way to the trees" - Helgash roars, his life link healing Greta for some of her wounds, as simultaneously the paladin heals himself, and follows Duardlara.
Greta roars in pain as the rocks hit her one after the other, and moves to follow the others, cursing profusely.
From the hut you hear called out, A few seconds more. I was not prepared for such a quick time frame.
As the party retreats to the other side of the hut to find solacei n the woods Beck and Venja are able to make it thorugh the snow outdistancing the rest. Thus Helgash and Greta are the ones targeted yet again with the boulders coming their way after the giants move closer. You notice that the giants are not slowed by the snow as they move 40ft ahead before throwing the boudlers.
4 on Greta and 4 on Helgash
Greta + 9 each for +13 each
3 hits for a total of 48 damage
Helgash + 9 each for +13 each
confirm for
1 hit but critical for 36 damage
Venja touches Helgash and heals him for , then says.. "Ratibor says he's almost ready for us to reenter... i think we should run for the hut, try to collect Greta on the way and rush inside... "
Jetro keeps moving back to the hut and fires off an arrow
"Thank you Venja" - Helgash nods at his companion, picking up Greta and her weapon, and moving inside.
"Don't worry Greta, you'll be back on your feet in no time" - he offers to the unconscious woman in his arms.
Duardlara shakes her head at how easily they were brought down and follows Venja and the others to the hut. Rapid-fire, as ideas occur to her, she says, "Get her inside, move out of the entrance room as quickly as you can. Don't engage Ratibor, spread out, let him pursue me if you can. I have options."
str check
As you all make your way inside the Hut Great wakes up with some healing touch. You see Ratibor on the ground with a rope around his ankles and wrists and the end of it in his mouth. At seing you he spits out the rope from his mouth and strains at the rope trying to break it. Luckily for you it holds him tightly bound. If I ever get free of this I will kill you all for coming in here! Curse you and Baba Yaga!
all of a sudden you feel and hear a thump as a boulder must have hit the Hur from the giants. Taking a glance out the window and the open door you see the giants engage the Hut directly since their quarry fled. the hut moves rapidly though you feel no movement yourself. Clearly the Hut can protect itself even without it being given direct orders from the cauldron.
attacks any thing but 1's
In a matter of seconds it disemboweled a frost giant with 2 slashes from its talons and a bite from its beak.
Holyyy smokes! Those giants have no chance, take their time. Let's get back into the hut so Ratibor doesn't pop a vein.
Venja hurries past Ratibor with a soft comforting word to him... "I'm sorry we must do this... " Then she's gone into the interior in a flash.