Whoo! Its Chilly Out Here! A Reign of Winter Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master KatsuneSage

"You know, the usual stuff. Who the one raising the dead is in your group, which ones aren't nearly as loyal as the rest, any particular traps that we should look out for..." Lex thinks it over for another moment before continuing.

"Oh, yeah, and maybe you know why Gorzeh has dropped a futu-i snowstorm all over Taldan in the middle of summer."

Whispering to Grim, she makes sure she is not heard by the captives, "If you ever don't get through...I can try zhe more subtle vay. Ve need to be sure ve use all ve have."

Llyr is quiet during the interrogation, not really sure where to step in. "If they doesn't answer, toss them in the river and see how well they do in this cold."

Im sorry its been so long guys. Getting over sickness and getting stressed over school work kind of makes a vicious circle of not getting better... I will post later on tonight. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE!!

Nev watches the proceedings with apparent disinterest. they were captured far too easily...either they don't know anything worthwhile, or they're bait for a trap...either way, we're wasting time...

The bandit begins to cry and spills his guts. "Rohkar tasked us to stay behind to kill anyone who might be looking for the captive! *sob sob* The rest of our group is at the High Sentinel lodge! *sniffle* *sob*"

Snot drips from his nose as he sobs. "Please don't kill me!! Please dont throw me in the river! I only do this because I need the money! *sob sob*"

As the man is broken, Llyr adds a few questions of his own. "How many more can we expect? Your group seems fond of traps, are there any more we should look out for? Where are they keeping the Lady?" Then he adds to the group, in a voice to be heard by the bandits, "I say we leave them tied up here. When we return with the Lady, we can take them with us to the warmth of Heldren. If we fail, then they freeze to death with no hope of rescue."

"That sounds like a good idea." Lex comments, leaning on her staff. "Don't worry, we'll leave you a fire - still, you'd better hope that we get back in one piece, because without anyone to tend it, it won't last but for a couple hours. And if you want us to come back for you, the best thing you can do is give us the information so we have the best chance of survival, right?"

At least they spoke of something important, as she tries to think about what and where the High Sentinel Lodge is.

Know Local: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Do we think he is lying?

Elxurian thinks about it for a bit, and realizes he's too scared too put some coherent answer to their demands. She waits until they have answered every single on of Llyr's questions before adding more to it, one at a time.
"Rohkar, you say? Who is he?"
"Are you afraid of him?"
"Were you with the group that attacked the caravan?"
"What does your boss wants with Lady Argentea?"
"What happened to the High Sentinels?"
"How far is the lodge?"
______________________
Away from the Bandits:
"I don't think they are really bad guys Llyr. They were working for evil forces, for sure, but... I don't know... I feel like execution would be a proper sentence, but maybe they deserve some mercy. It will also lift our spirit, I think. If we just leave them here we could take days before coming back, and they would die on our hands, but suffering." She pauses for a moment, thinking about it properly. "It seems they fear the boss, so now that they failed, they would not go back there. If we killed him for being the head, that will be certain."

In response to Elxurian’s comments away from the bandits

”I said nothing about executing them. That would imply they would die without the ability to help themselves. If they provide the information we need to survive and succeed at our mission, then they will live, and we can ask for leniency with the law as they were “vital” in the rescue of the Lady. In the end, their lives would be in their hands, and it would be their choice that leads them to their fates, not mine. Also, I don’t think we’d be gone for days. You don’t leave guards more than a mile from your camp, as they are too easily avoided to be useful. If their leader is smart, which it seems he is, we’ll find their camp fairly soon.”

Elxurian looks down, getting a little red on the cheeks. "Smart thinking. If you think they will survive here we may let them be for a while, until we come back."

Barking out a laugh, Llyr tries to cheer her up, ”Bah, can’t have a guardsman as a father without some things getting bashed into your head. I hope for their sake this Rokhar is smart, because if he has them guarding a trail days travel away from their campsite, I will feel truly sorry for them, and you can give me a sound “I told you so”. You should be happy, we are nearly done with our mission, and just think of all the good you can do with the reward money we’re sure to get! Studdly men for you, wine and ale for me, and maybe some stout, ooohh, and a nice bourbon, that’ll warm me up after all this cold.” he says, his eyes glazing over in revelry. Coming back into focus, ” Did I ever tell you about my friends Jimmy Walker and Jack Daniels? They brew up some of the best liquor you’ll ever taste. A few drinks of that stuff’ll be sure to put hair on your che… yeah, well, umm… It’s some good stuff at least.” he finishes, his cheeks reddening a bit over the almost slip of the tongue.

"Men? Really? Like I would use gold to hire calistran whores? You take me for a fool young one?" She waves a hand, dismissing the subject. "I do know a Johnnie Walker though."

And that's what happens when someone who doesn't drink tries to play a drunkard... lol

I figured ^_^ You got one right, at least!

After listening to Llyr and Elxurian's discussion, Grimkell slaps Llyr on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, I will drink with you. I bet you hold your liquor not to badly too, should be a fun evening. As for the answers we got, it is strange that the bandits are in the Sentinels lodge. They might have killed the sentinels. If that is the case, we are facing dangerous ennemies..."
Grimkel looks at his companions.
"Yet, with such a group, there is not much to worry about. Even the shy girl over there has a spirit full of fire." He points Lex with his chin.

We all learned about the sentinels when Grimkell shared his k.local 15 at the start of the adventure, see the first post of the campaign.

Sorry about the delay, everyone: I've been at work.

Nev frowns a bit at the debate over the bandit's punishment. they've tried to kill us - should die...an eye for an eye, and all that...still, they're just doing their jobs - can't really blame them...what if we made them a better offer?...

Away from the bandits
Nev finally breaks his silence. "Really, they're just hired grunts for this Rohkar fellow. They broke really easily, so he can't have paid them particularly well. What if we made them a better offer? Spare their lives, offer them a second chance, maybe give up a little coin, and there's a good chance they'll help us out. If the head chaps did manage to take over the High Sentinel Lodge, they're probably pretty tough, and we could use the extra help. These guys don't look like much, but they could at least serve as a distraction for us and maybe draw some enemy fire if we have to storm the Lodge."

Turning toward Nev:"These three? They are weak peasants without any backbone, they would turn on us as soon as we reach the lodge. They do not even deserve a death by the sword... death of old age in a poor farmhouse would suit them better."

Grimkell expression is filled with disgust as he speaks of the bandits.

"I agree with Grimkell. If they give us details we should free them and leave them with only some coins to get moving forward, someplace far far away."

Nev frowns defensively. "They have no backbone, that is true. It means they'll serve whoever they're most afraid of. Make sure that's us, and we won't have a problem. After all, why turn on us when they'd have to face THIS!" He whips off his mask to reveal the face of a corpse.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

You hear music beginning to play.
NEV'S THEME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"I'm not shy," The magus mutters, frowning as the group starts bickering amongst themselves about what to do about the captives. "Excuse me? Before you all go and put the wagon before the horse, maybe you should wait and see what other info they give us?"

She steps forward, grinning at the group of bandits. "Okay, so, first one of you to speak up and tell us everything - and I mean everything - about your base, your numbers, and everything else gets to keep their nice warm clothes. The other two get to be naked. In freezing temperatures."

She's not kidding.

He crying immediately stops at Lex' threat. ”WOAH WOAH! I don’t want to see these two naked! I’ll tell you what you want to know, just so I don’t have to be tied up to these poorly kempt rats! He is the boss! We’re scared of him because he can kill us, of course. We were just hired to be muscle. 5 more after us… As for traps and such, we wouldn’t know whats up ahead! They told us to stay here and get people looking for the posh broad.” The other two look at him with hatred and fright all rolled into one ugly, but not as ugly as Nev, glare.

We really should stop speaking at a moment after the questions had been answered... I posted that we would have the discussion 'later', but we carried it on for way too long.

"Were you with the group that attacked the caravan?"

"What happened to the High Sentinels?"
"How far is the lodge?"

Love quoting. I'll ask again if they did not answered that ^^

"And how will he kill you? Is he a master swordsman, a deadly archer, do gods answer his call, does he bend the threads of reality, or is he move of a.. pulling out his dagger, "Knife in the back... sort of man? You're going to have to do better to stay alive my good man. You are trying to tell me they didn't tell you if there would be traps? I assume you were to eventually return to your base, and without knowledge of any traps, you'd be likely to trip one. Still, all that would mean is a larger cut of the loot for everyone else. Now, I've found every trap you've set before us, and I'll find any more that your little band has set."

Pausing for effect and to make sure he has the bandits full attention, Pray I don't find any more. I'm a good man, and stick to my word. I won't kill you if you share everything you know truthfully. If you unnecessarily endanger myself or this little band, you'll find death a welcome release. Have you ever been to the far north? In the cold of winter, the trees crack and rupture as the sap within them freezes and expands. It's not that hard to do to the limb of a person either. You bind tight the veins so that blood can't get back to the heart, and the limb swells with blood. Then you simply wait for the blood to freeze, causing even more pressure on the already stretched skin until it just... pops. I've heard the hand still twitches for a minute, assuming it's still mostly intact."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Shaking her head, she allows the group to try this approach, but she will certainly have words with them before they find themselves in this situation again. You can catch more flies wizh honey, zhan wizh a hammer...

I'm assuming we've decided not to try to bribe them into working for us, then? Neutral Pragmatic is fun. :-)

If you ask me I would advise to not do it. You never know when they're gonna turn their cloaks.

I'd just like answers so we can move on, regardless of what they are! We've spent more time talking to these guys than we did the entire town of Heldren!

I'm just waiting so see if they're actually going to answer the questions given to them or if they've stopped being helpful, in which case we can knock them out and set them by a fire, then get going.

Or set them on fire, then get going.
Joking. Or maybe not.

As you all are trying to figure out how to deal with the sniveling bandits, A strange man in a blue coat walks by. He waves his hand and you feel something warm and gooey permeate your entire bodies. The smell of fresh baked cookies, each of your favorite variety, rises to your nostrils.

You have all gained the Spell Like Ability: Create Cookie!

He smiles at you all and waves his goodbye. "Merry Magic Cookie Day!"
This is a learn-able spell in my game. It exists in my world, and in every world I create from now on. I CREATED IT!! TM!!!

Grimkell shakes his head, a bit unsettled by the vision he just had. Yet, this does not take away his mind from the thugs. He goes on looking at the one speaking, and nods, showing that he approves of the answers and that if the thief lies, he will make sure that he pees himself once more.

Nev reaches for his spear as the strange figure approaches but quickly relaxes. someone who smells this much like cookies can't be hostile...finally, a friendly face... As the man disappears, Nev focuses on the lingering smell and jumps slightly in wonder as two white chocolate macadamia cookies appear in his hand. Taking a careful nibble, he grins. just like grandmother used to make...what a strange man... He takes a couple minutes to enjoy the tasty treat before returning his attention to the thug interrogation.

Elxurian suddenly opens a hand, face up, and two cookies appear in it. The chocolate on them is melting, and they seem warm enough, so she gives them a try.
Hmm, no winter package. This are good!
Then see returns her attention to the bandits, waiting for their answer.

The bandit sniffles. "I've told you everything I know; everything we know! Please don't leave us to die!" You cant tell that he really doesn't know anything else.

You cant tell that he really doesn't know anything else.

Cant, or is that a typo and we are sure he's spilt his guts to us? Double negative confusion!

That's really all the magus needs to know, before giving each of them a love tap on the back on their heads with her staff. Lex looks at the others if they complain about it. "What? They say they didn't know nothing anymore, and I refuse to waste any more time than we need. Let's leave them a fire so they don't freeze to death and then get to their base, all right?"

As soon as the fire's set for the unconscious bandits, Lex is ready to get going out of the cold.

"Whatever, let's get moving then. We can have a more serious conversation with this Rohkar. You three better pray for our return."

I still don't like it, but let's go!

Grimmkell gives a last look, filled with a mix of pity and dislike, at the so called bandits. He then walks slowly back to the front of the line, ready to use is tracking skills if necessary.

On his way, he slaps Lex's shoulder again:"It has to be said again: really good job with those three."

Once the bandits are seen to, Llyr takes his place at near the front of the line, sword drawn and eyes flickering around as they resume their travels.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27+1 if a trap

Just a small post to say he's ready to go.

"Better zhat ve find a vay vizhout kill zhem. Zhat is good, if zhey have told us zhe truth, zhen perhaps zhey can work for us next. Ve never know vhen ve might need more men." She says with a nod as she follows Llyr.

Is it safe to assume Karyne could have found a nice quarterstaff sized piece of wood through the travels at this point? Heck, even cane length. I just have this image in my head of her having a staff to lean on.

Typo, lol sorry!.

Sure Karyne. It is a free weapon and there are plenty of trees around (yall are in a forest). Go for it. Fort saves DC 15 (assuming you made a fire for the poor cowards).

After climbing at least a hundred feet into the hills, the snowy trail finally levels off. In a clearing among the trees, a large wooden lodge overlooks a ravine spanned by a long rope bridge. Smoke rises from the lodge’s two snow-covered chimneys, and large woodpile is stacked against the outer wall.

A small outbuilding stands east of the lodge, and a stone well nearly blanketed by snow is barely recognizable to the north. Several tracks lead southwest toward a detached stable.
You are no longer in difficult terrain.

Llyr holds up a hand to halt the group. "I see something in the woods there, a twofold trap. It looks to be a crossbow attached to some pots and pans.." he says, semi confused by the design of the trap. "Do we want to go around, and not risk setting it off, or should I try and disable it for good measure? It seems those bandits we left were not well liked, I doubt they could have spotted this"

Fort Save versus Cold: 1d20 + 5 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 5 = 20

The magus pauses as she surveys the lodgings, peering out at them. At least the snow isn't deep here, so they can get inside swiftly. The smoke tells a better tale of just how much warmer it will be inside. Though anxious to slip in, she withholds from rushing and lets their trusty scout lead the way forward.

She glances over at Karyne with the rough branch she picked up to use, frowning a bit and stepping up the her. "You might want to scrape off the rough bits with a dagger. Don't want to get any splinters in your hands, do you?"

Grimkell stops his advance as soon as they spot the lounge and sneakily moves behind a tree. As Llyr spots the trap, the skal straps on his shield.

"It would seem better to disarm it just in case. If you do, make sure you stay hidden while getting there. They must have people on the lookout." Whispers the Ulfen to the others.

Is the lodge accross the ravine from us, or is it past the lodge?
Cold weather: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Cold damage: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 0-2 is for cold resistance.

Fort save: 1d20 + 8 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 5 = 26
"Well, we got to the lodge they told us about. And if you found a trap, we are in enemy territory. Maybe this is still the headquarters for the High Sentinels, so try to keep them alive if you can. Does anyone wants to do anything before we move in?"