[Outpost II] PFS #10-03 Death on the Ice - Author Run (Inactive)

Game Master Scott Young

"He just talking about hunting bears." Sickly mutters, apparently able to understand the creature.

They're his hunting bears?

"These northerners don't mess around, I want hunting bears..."

I quickly get out the scroll of Tongues and using my vestment ability cast is on Lilybeth.

"You can now be a cunning linguist. *giggle*"

I quickly get out the scroll of Tongues and using my vestment ability cast is on Lilybeth.

"You can now be a cunning linguist. *giggle*"

*sigh*

"Thanks..."

Lilybeth turns to the saumen kar.

"Greetings, We're pathfinders. I'm Lilybeth, these are LiveLover, Mason the Wall of Kortos, Viscount Sickly, Bertha Wotither, Loxx and Fetch. We have been searching for one of your kind, as we are in dire need of help. We fear that one of our colleages has accidentally weakened the wards that keep the Pilungak Flesh Eaters trapped. We understand that your tribe was responsible for imprisoning them long ago and we were hoping you could aid us in restoring their icy prison."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (1) + 22 = 23
I'll reroll
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 22 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 22 + 5 = 38

GM roll: 1d20 ⇒ 17

Lifelover pulls out a wand, which the giant regards intently. She casts her spell, and the giant casually moves his axe from his shoulder into a two-handed grip.

"Men siz digor min?" he asks.

GM roll: 1d20 ⇒ 1

As Lilybeth "disintegrates" the rhino, the giant takes a step back. The dark runes on his body seem to swirl in a hypnotic pattern. Rolling intiative to track time and reactions.

Initiative order
Lilybeth
Fetch
Mason
Loxx
Bertha
LifeLover - has comprehend languages
Saumen Kar
Sickly

"Hunting of bears." Sickly quickly corrects, blushing nervously.

As the giant brings his axe to bear, the dwarf's eyes glance around warily.

"I think you're making him nervous." He says to the rest.

Then of course, he asks a question... and Sickly is not sure if it is directed at him or not.

Weird escalation that happens due to PbP nature

Lilybeth will delay till LiveLover casts Tongues and deliver speech.

"LiveLover, tongues please, everybody else no sudden movements."

I didn't get a chance to respond until now, but was there time in between when the bears went down and when we entered the shrine? I ask because Loxx was fully intending to finish off the bears because that's a lot of good fur and meat right there and that seems like that could have had an effect on the current encounter.

I didn't get a chance to respond until now, but was there time in between when the bears went down and when we entered the shrine? I ask because Loxx was fully intending to finish off the bears because that's a lot of good fur and meat right there and that seems like that could have had an effect on the current encounter.

Lilybeth asked multiple times to let the bears be unconscious for the moment. Killing can be done later, but undoing it would be much more difficult. I'd actually go as far as calling it PvP if you force the issue.

Me not agreeing with your request is not pvp. You don't get to dictate the actions of other PCs. Maybe it's just the way things come across over a written medium, but my perception is that you try to control the narrative a bit too much. I would love the chance to reason with you and talk it out in-character, but we seem to have rushed to the next encounter before I had a chance. I'm sorry to bring drama like this into the game, but I'm getting frustrated.

Mason makes sure that he is situated in front or at least beside most of the group, then waits; ready to defend his team should this turn violent.

Lilybeth, the group is divided on the bear topic. You are making me feels like you are trying to control the groups actions.

Edit: This doubled up with Loxx's comment. I'm keeping it not to try to dogpile on you but to let you know that I'm also feeling that way.

Put it in discussion folks.

Round 1

Lilybeth delays.

Mason moves to defend the group.

Initiative order
Lilybeth - on delay
Mason
Loxx
Bertha
LifeLover - has comprehend languages
Saumen Kar
Sickly

Loxx moves to provide cover to the others in case the giant gets hostile.

Move and total defense.

I do what I said before, casting Tongues on Lilybeth and adding my funny comment (even if it is just funny to me and everyone else groans).

I do what I said before, casting Tongues on Lilybeth and adding my funny comment (even if it is just funny to me and everyone else groans).

OOC I thought the joke was funny. Lilybeth however has a different sense of humor

"Thanks..."

Lilybeth turns to the saumen kar.

Tongues

sense motive: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33
"I'm sorry, we didn't mean to scare you but I need magic to communicate with you. The rhino isn't hurt, It's just resting as a drawing on my body. The polar bears are only unconscious, we were afraid they were mankillers so we knocked them out. We mistook the red colored food for human blood."

"Please let us explain ourselves. We're pathfinders. I'm Lilybeth, these are LiveLover, Mason the Wall of Kortos, Viscount Sickly, Bertha Wotither, Loxx and Fetch. We have been searching for one of your kind, as we are in dire need of help. We fear that one of our colleages has accidentally weakened the wards that keep the Pilungak Flesh Eaters trapped. We understand that your tribe was responsible for imprisoning them long ago and we were hoping you could aid us in restoring their icy prison."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (1) + 22 = 23
I'll reroll
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 22 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 22 + 5 = 38

Bertha sees the large creature and her eyes widen. She moves to Sickly and says in a whisper "What's going on?"

Sickly starts when Bertha sidles up beside him and suddenly asks a question.

"Umm..." He replies hesitantly. "The giant... er... Winter's Favored? It didn't like when they pulling out wands and such when it arrived. So now Lily's trying to smooth things over... and explain where we're going, and why."

He mostly stares at his feet as he talks, not quite able to meet Bertha's gaze.

"Dunno if its working" He adds nervously.

Concentration: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23

At the mention of the Pilungak, the giant's eyes widen and he nearly loses his concentration, but manages to complete his summoning. The brands on his flesh flare, and a small white spot appears in mid-air next to him. The spot grows and becomes a dire polar bear, which surges forward with a roar - but the giant places his hand on the beast's shoulder and it freezes mid-charge, and sits down. All around you the silence of the forest is profound, as if every living thing had stopped to listen.

Rest of conversation is in Giant, but we will assume Lilybeth will translate for ease of play.

"You have released the Pilungak?" the giant whispers in disbelief. "How could you do this? Do you not know what lies buried there?"

”Not us personally, but a fellow member of our organisation. She did not know what was buried and was only curious. We were called in to help her fix her mistake, but as we don’t know all the details we were hoping you could fill us in. As it was a pathfinder who weakened the barrier, we do feel responsible.”

The saumen kar's shoulders sag and he bows his head in silence. The polar bear beside him dissolves into a flurry of snowflakes that dissipate in a cloud, and the giant leans his ice axe back on the ground.

"I am Ainemuuran," he begins. "I am also a path finder, a warden of the land. It was my people who were once called on to destroy the Pilungak and protect the land from them forever.
[b]"After the snows covered all of the Pilungak, we placed a sigil of ice over the site, and sang many spells into it. As long as it held, it would keep the evil trapped."

As Ainemuuren speaks, the dark runes on his skin seem to pulsate in rhythm with his voice. As his tale ends, one complex rune seems to form out of several smaller ones, and becomes more prominent while the others fade.

"This is the rune we use - I am not permitted to speak its name, but if it has been damaged, you will need to recreate it, exactly like this." He points it out, and traces the pattern with his finger.

Mason looks to the rune than back to the team. Perfectly recreate a rune or undead escape. great...

Looking at the rune really closely.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23

Can I tell what it is? Do I know how to recreate it?

Sickly doesn't get too close to the giant... years of dwarven history did not paint such creatures in a friendly light, and he was still a little nervous around this one.

Still he stands not too far from Lilybeth, ready should things go south.

As the giant tells its tail, his look of worry increases, and he makes sure to study the rune carefully when it appears.

When Lilybeth talks of the wards, he frowns slightly... as that was not the reason they were sent at all. He doesn't quite manage to muster the nerve to speak up though, instead just shuffling his feet in the snow, avoiding eye contact.

The rune doesn't seem to be anything specific, although it does bear some resemblance to an intricate mishmash of several letters of the Giant alphabet. You're pretty sure you can recreate it if need be. Presumably anyone who has a journal copies it down so you have a reference.

Ainamurren repeats most of the details you heard from Seshu back at the Erutaki village. "There were more than five hundred Pilungak when the village was buried," he adds. "If the ward has failed, they will all be released. If that is the case, your friend will be dead, and you will die as well." He states it matter-of-factly, but you're not sure if he means "you will die if you go there" or just "you will as a consequence of this disaster".

"We will go there as fast as we can!"

"is there anything you can tell us about how to fight the ones that are released?"

"Ainemuuran, can you take care of the bears to make sure they don't attack human settlements?"

Weird, post got eaten. Recreating it...

The Pilungak have frozen hearts, so they cannot be frozen further," the giant begins. "They will freeze your heart and muscles with a touch, though. The Pilungak also used blackfrost, the corrosive black snow that comes from the ancient city at the north pole. It weakens the constitution, and becomes more dangerous in larger concentrations."

To your second question, the giant becomes thoughtful. "The bears are driven inland by the early thaw. Already the ice begins to break on the sea, and the weather warms. Bear must eat; why do you care more for two-legs than four-legs?" he asks. "The way of the north is survival, and the strong survive while the weak sustain them. It is way of things, the way it must be."

You get the sense that Ainemurran isn't concerned with the fate of the two bears, nor of any humans they may eat in the future.

Weird, post got eaten. Recreating it...

It's the way of the North, only strong posts survive ;-)

"I think we've managed to get what we came for. Knowledge how to fix the wards and what dangers the Pilungak pose. Let's get back to our steeds and head out to the peninsula!"

Will try and alter my prepared spell list to try and deal with paralysis, cold damage, and poison.

With a twisted grimace Mason turns to the groups translator "Two-legs are us, four-legs are them. That is why we care." Hand feeling the sharp edges of his holy symbol, Mason continuous quoting an oath to Torag "My allegiance is to my people. I will do what is necessary to serve them... The strong that survives doesn't need to be an individual, the community that protects will be stronger."

Content with the information gained, Mason nods to Loxx letting him know he has Mason's support regarding the bears.

Bertha looks shocked as the polar bear appears then disappears again, but as the group hasn't reacted aggressively she seems content to wait.

After Lilybeth suggests heading back to the steeds Bertha looks confused but follows the rest of the party.

Bertha, I think the assumption is that Lilybeth is translating everything for the rest of the group.

"Everyone told us you giants are rare. Why are you here? Was this a chance encounter?"

Bertha, I think the assumption is that Lilybeth is translating everything for the rest of the group.

Rest of conversation is in Giant, but we will assume Lilybeth will translate for ease of play.

cool, Let's go?

I'm ready to get a move on.

Ainamurren turns to Mason at his question. "We are not rare, but we do not often spend time with humans. It is difficult to trust them to keep an opinion for longer than a moment, so even friends may be a danger. When given a chance, most humans become like the Pilungak - power hungry and selfish."

After remounting, you continue west along the edge of the Whitefang Bay. The ice is still solid here, giving you hope that the ice rune has not melted completely. in fact, you are able to cut the corner of the northernmost reach of the bay and head across the pack ice to the excavation site. It takes a mere six days to arrive at the peninsula.

As you approach the site, several features are visible from a distance. A large rectangular pit has been dug into the tundra, perhaps 50' by 100' and 10' deep. North of the pit, several tents lie in ruins, and scattered around the pit are several patches of red surrounding fallen figures. Within the pit, several figures appear to be working, but it's difficult to see given the angle.

A cry from the north attracts your attention - several humans huddle behind a makeshift barrier of tables and crates. Two figures shamble towards them, arms outstretch.

You are fully rested, but will have cast the appropriate spells for endure elements, etc. as per normal. Any spell with a duration of more than 6 hours can be active, but nothing else.

Initiative Order
LifeLover
Fetch
Bertha
GM 2
Mason
Inkwell
Lilybeth
Loxx
GM 1

Tactical map link at the top of the page is updated.

Sometimes I love going first.

I cast Haste on the group then move closer. (assuming normal movement speed, holler if I need to be slower)

Edit: I get off the horse since I'm not all that good at riding and fighting. I'm not built for making ride checks in battle

All of the snow is difficult terrain, sorry I forgot to mention. Only inside the pit isn't.

Any spell with a duration of more than 6 hours can be active

Phantom Steeds would have been cast (20 hour duration). 100' movement might prove useful. And they ignore snow as difficult terrain. I've put down some tokens.

Fetch is still in statue form.

Bertha rides forward and then cast a spell, as she cast her voice drops into a deep guttural grinding sound as she begins her incantation in Necril then she points at the 2 creatures and speaks

Bertha cast Halt Undead if they are intelligent undead they get a save DC 19 Will if they are not then they get no save and are immobilised for 8 rounds. The speaking Necril is just flavour. Also if the moving on the steed thing becomes an issue then Bertha will dismount and cast, as the spell has a range of 180ft.

Ok, will insert myself! =) Sickly Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

And I go early!

Sickly, his entire body wrapped up in clothes to protect from the cold and the wind, sees the strange creatures off in the distance, and what appear to be workers under siege, gives a low moan, and tries to spur his phantom steed forward to help.

Of course, despite being on the things all day, he still has no clue how to ride the damned things, and just clings to the saddle horn, as the spectral steed races across the snowy ground.

As it gets nearer, he tries to pull it to a halt, not trusting his ability to actually fight while on top of it... but he can't quite get it to respond to his panicked tugs, and it ends up running right up near one of them, as he desperately tries to tug his weapon free, and keep from falling out of the saddle.

Double move, trying to guide with his knees so he can pull out his weapon!

Ride (guide with knees, DC 5): 1d20 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (10) + 2 - 3 = 9

His breath is coming in gasping wheezes, like he himself just ran the entire distance, instead of the horse.

Edit: Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Round 1

Sickly rides forward. As he approaches the excavation pit, he can see four more humanoid creatures toiling in the pit, apparently digging with their bare hands. All four wear tattered clothing made of fur and leather, and their flesh appears frozen and blackened. The pit has been dug out to expose a huge and intricate rune made entirely of ice, embedded in the soil. Several parts of the rune are damaged by various pits and trenches, while the humanoids seem to be working at digging the ice up and breaking it.

Sickly, you also notice several patches of a fine black dust that covers the ground. It is easily disturbed into a faint mist by any wind or the efforts of a nearby humanoid. It seems very unnatural, almost as if it doesn't follow the same rules of gravity as everything else.

The yellow humanoid digs frantically at the ground with its bare hands.

LifeLover dismounts and casts haste on the party (except Sickly).

Bertha cries out in a terrible language, and the two humanoids advancing on the camp both stop dead. The red one freezes in its tracks, but the green one turns its head to stare at her. There is an unpleasant popping sound as the neck dislocates from the body, and the creature's head lolls awkwardly to the side before it too stops moving. Will save - red: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9Will save - green: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 A weak cheer rises from the humans behind the barricade.

The blue creature continues to dig in the pit.

From behind the barricade, a woman's voice rises. "Pathfinders! I am Svala Icerider, and I'm very pleased to see you! You've arrived in the nick of time! The blackfrost mummies have been swarming out of the pit. I don't know if they are trying to destroy the ice rune, or reclaim the scrimshaw statuette we uncovered, or both! We have wounded and can't hold out much longer!"

As if on cue, the pink creature clambers up the stepped edge of the excavation pit and moves towards the makeshift barricade.

Initiative Order
Sickly
GM4 (Yellow)
LifeLover - haste
Bertha - haste
Kuokei (NPC)
GM5 (Blue)
GM2 (Green) - paralyzed
Svala (NPC)
GM3 (Pink)
Mason - haste
Inkwell -haste
Lilybeth - haste
Loxx - haste
GM 1 (Red) - paralyzed
GM6 (Orange)

"Mason, Loxx, Shall I Dimention door you two to those inside the structure" pointing at cyan and yellow.

Having trained in strike force tactics with the conjurers of the Five Mountains, Mason waits, ready should Zey decide to teleport them.

His grip tightens on the glaive held in hand and his shield weighs heavy on his back where it wouldn't interfere with riding.

delay until after Lilybeth. I'm happy with anywhere you place me,ideally within 10 ft of one of them.

"I hope these undead don't throw ice javelins at dragons!"

Inkwell will fly down to the pit, sneeze ink on cyan and yellow and shift back 10 foot.

DC 15 reflex or blinded

Refilling ink reservoir: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16

These must be the flesh eaters

Assuming Loxx agrees as well Lilybeth will Dimension Door them both

Knowledge (Spellcraft): 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (9) + 22 = 31

"Bertha, Am I correct to assume those two will remain paralyzed for about half a minute unless they are attacked?"

Just making sure everyone else knows this as well ;-)