GM Silbeg's Shades of Ice series. (Inactive)

Game Master Silbeg

By invite only... more details to come.

A Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for 1st to 5th level characters (Tiers: 1-2 and 4-5).

When the Decemvirate sends the PCs to the Viking city of Trollheim in the frigid northern Lands of the Linnorm Kings to deliver a package to an allied scholar there, the Pathfinders soon find themselves unwelcome visitors. Forced to navigate the rugged, isolated city and interact with the standoffish natives, can they deliver their cargo to its target, or will they find themselves exiled from the city... or worse?

Written in Blood is the first scenario in the three-part Shades of Ice campaign arc. It continues in Pathfinder Society Scenario #2-17: Shades of Ice—Part II: Exiles of Winter and concludes in Pathfinder Society Scenario #2-19: Shades of Ice—Part III: Keep of the Huscarl King. All three scenarios are intended to be played in order.

Written by Joshua J. Frost.

This scenario is designed for play in Pathfinder Society Organized Play, but can easily be adapted for use with any world. This scenario is compliant with the Open Game License (OGL) and is suitable for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.

The meeting in Absalom with Drandle Dreng nearly a month ago was brief, as always. “I have a routine mission for you, though a dangerous routine mission,” the old man whispered in the great hall in the Grand Lodge. Suffering from a cold and weak from lack of food and rest, the old venture-captain looked quite possibly the worst you’d ever seen him. Through wracking coughs he explained, “An ally of ours in the Land of the Linnorm Kings—Rognvald Skagni—is writing a lengthy report on the state of government in the northern countries of Avistan. I received a letter from him just yesterday requesting several key documents from the vaults here to help him finish the report.” Venture-Captain Dreng patted a large, heavy-looking chest next to him. “These are the documents, and I need you to board a ship north to deliver them to Skagni.”

Dreng tried to stand at that point, but a fit of coughing sent him back into his seat. He gestured for a well-dressed, impeccably kept man standing in the shadows of the room to approach and whispered raspy orders to him. The man picked up a small pouch and a large key and handed them both to the party. “Venture-Captain Dreng is unwell, as you can see. He wished me to give you this key and this pouch of gold. The key opens the chest, and the gold will buy you passage and get you from the Linnorm coast to Trollheim, where Skagni resides. Whatever you do, do not let the chest out of your sight and do not, under any circumstances, allow it to be searched. These documents are for Mr. Skagni’s eyes only. Are we understood?”

Dreng’s nameless servant waited for a reply and then smiled. “Good. Now run along; Venture-Captain Dreng needs his rest.”

The chest is 2 feet wide, 4 feet long, and 3 feet deep. It’s made of heavy oak bound with iron,and locked with an enormous, finely crafted steel lock. The chest weighs 100 pounds, and it’s imperative you all keep it safe—failing to do so means a loss of respect within the Society.

Knowledge Geography would be appropriate at this time

A small collection of vines and sticks nods. "Keep the chest safe - got it," they say decisively. "But why a big chest and not a magic bag? Meat-folk seem to find containers like this highly suspicious." The plant matter that makes up this leshy's body seems hard, almost rocky, and the ground trembles slightly at their step as they inspect the chest.

"Perhaps. Most will see what they expect to see." Long trailing ruff sways around the tengus beak as he speaks. "A magical bag would be far more interesting to those who can detect such things." Armor creaking as he sidles around the chest, he tests the weight of the shipment. "We will need a cart to carry it such a distance, after we have finished with ships."

You are able to make any purchase that you wish!

Untrained Knowledge (Geography) check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

A tall, lanky Taldan human in a chain shirt taps out a quick and complex rhythm on the table as he considers. "I happen to be a mite familiar with the geography of the area. Good thing, as otherwise I have little to offer such an august group as yourselves--little more than lore and rhymes." Next to him, a pack sits on the floor; its only unusual feature is a djembe tied carefully to one side. "I'll likely need to unearth my old cold-weather gear from Goka for this trip."

A tall fellow enters the room, not bearing much but a well-honed and rather intricate looking blade. At first glance he appears human but on closer examination there appears to be a hint of something else to him, perhaps a touch of jann somewhere in his ancestry. He also bears a peculiar root-shaped mark on his face, that is noticeably darker than the rest of him.

"Greetings, my friends!" he booms out in a jovial voice, "So, another adventuring day dawns, does it? Well then, let's at it! Oh, Bon Jon Bovi's the name..." He listens to Dreng's "mission" briefing and his smile falters and his shoulders seem to sag. "So, wait, you want us to take a chest with a bunch of papers halfway across Avistan so someone else can send a bunch of other papers back to you?!? Aren't there courier services for that? Or, for that matter, can you just wizard all the papers to him direct? I'm sure you must have a lost temple or a hidden shrine that you need us to investigate... no...?"

Tasha! shouts an overly excited tengu with white feathers, shaking the shoulder of yet another white feathered tengu, Tasha! We're going to visit home! I'm so excited! his curved sword bounces at his hip as he violently shakes her, hilt scraping against his breastplate rhythmically. A small feathered raptor in leathers excitedly dances and chirps at his feet, unsure why his companion is so happy but is happy all the same.

Jordun! he shouts, repeating the outrageous display on the other tengu in the room.

"As you may infer from the location of our destination, be prepared to deal with temperatures well below freezing during the nights. The people there also tend to be rather, shall we say, reserved around strangers. As Pathfinders, I fear we are stranger than most, so this may lend an additional complication to our task." The excessively voluble bard turns to Dreng. "I don't suppose you have some sort of safe-passage token from this Skagni person, hmmm?"

Note to self: research Linnorm poetic forms before departure.

Sunlight Under Stone produces a stick from their pack. ”This was enough to protect me from the desert’s heat - do you think it would help with the cold as well?” they ask hopefully.

Sunlight Under Stone has a wand of endure elements they’d be happy to share with the group if need be.

"I suspect it will. I shall be happy to use it upon us if you require." Jordun nods to Sunlight. As Sven grabs hold of him, the larger tengu doesn't seem to move much despite the younger's efforts. Placing one hand on Sven's head, Jordun nods. "It will be good to feel the air of home again, yes, even if only for a brief while."

Turning to the rest, he offers another nod. "My siblings and I are from the lands we travel to, but still we are a strange sight. This is also why we are Pathfinders. I am known as Jordun. These are my brother Sven and sister Ktasha. We shall overcome what obstacles lay before us."

Right! Sven responds with an emphatic, if slightly comical salute, by the way, these little ones are our hunting companions, Wrex and Grunt, he says as he kneels down to scratch the feathered necks of the halfling-sized raptors him and his sister brought with them.

As for what I bring to the team, I have some skill in diplomatic engagements and linguistics, and can help people survive in the wilds for a time. In combat Wrex, Grunt, and I use pack hunting to overwhelm the enemy in close quarters.

Sunlight Under Stone grins. "Oh, I have a friend too!" they say as they toss a handful of pebbles out of their pouch onto the floor. The rocks suddenly animate, clumping together in the form of a small winged dinosaur that screeches happily. "This is Ancient Stone Glider," they say as an introduction. "They like to hang out in my head, but sometimes they want to come out and say hi!"

"Sqwark!"

Oh, my. We have a menagerie. "Keep in mind that wandering about in tropical gear, even if you have magic to save you, will be seen as unusual. I advise furs for appearance's sake."

A white, owlish Tengu shakes back and forth as a very similar looking Tengu, obviously related shakes her and with a small involuntary "Quark" noise as she rattles in his grasp. As Sven then moves forward and greets Jordun, a small raptor, nudges her as she blinks her blue-gray eyes rapidly as she steadies and scratches the warm feathers on Grunt's head, the small raptor making purring and chirruping noises much like a large cat.

With a small wave, she nods as the assembled pathfinders. "As my brothers said, I am K'tasha, though most call me Tasha. We gained our companions when we got lost in our homeland and they rescued us just as much as we rescued them. We have been inseparable ever since!"

Ktasha gestures to her clothing, appropriate for the cold northern climates associated with Irrisen and the Linnorm Kingdoms. "It will be unusual enough to be traveling with tengu, as our tribe is definitely rarer, I don't think that drawing attention to ourselves by dressing oddly would bode well. We are all prepared for the colder climes. We are also somewhat familiar with northern territories..." she trails off thinking (e.g. I'm making the knowledge check for Geography to try and learn information).

Shaking out her feathers she continues," In addition to the help our companions bring, I have some skill with coaxing locks to do my bidding, knowledge of spells, and hostile negotiations when needed. I tend to be more brawn to my twin's brains and survival."

Knowledge(Geography): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

As for a wand of endure elements, while that will help in the short term, you will likely be in the northlands for weeks, so dressing appropriately would be more helpful, and less taxing on resources.

Quick questions I need answered:
What is each of you doing to protect yourselves and your companions from the cold?
How are you carrying the chest?

Chamius is using his cold-weather gear. With a 10 STR, he's not going to contribute much to carrying the chest.

"Here, can we get a wagon with detachable runners for snow travel?"

Bon Jon purchases a cold weather outfit for 8 gold. Then he offers to help carry the chest. With a 19 Str and little to carry he should be able to help carry the chest if our wagon gets stuck. He's currently carrying 40 lbs and the upper limit of a light load for him is 116, so he can carry another 76 without slipping into medium encumbrance. Hiring (or buying) a wagon is still probably a good idea, but in case it gets stuck... Or, what about some sled dogs! A bunch of birds and raptors riding on a sled pulled by dogs - what could possibly go wrong?

Jordun is our other heavy, so he can contribute to the portage. Depending on what we have to deal with, a sled or something would be welcome.

As you check, taking the road to Trollheim will take about eight to ten days overland, assuming you are bringing a cart. Going by riverboat is not possible during the winter.

This is to let you know the amount of endure elements needed. Winter gear will prevent the need... this assumes you can find wayside inns every night, which is probable.

"Sounds like we have a plan - let's not waste any more time," Sunlight Under Stone states firmly.

They'll pick up some cold-weather gear as well. Cannot contribute much to the hauling of our Weighted Companion Chest with being small and having 7 Strength. Sorry!

As you have money to pay for your journey, I am assuming you have a cart at this time. Another good option would be a wagon, assuming you'll be wandering around town.

Where the directions indicate Skagni’s house should be stands only the charred husk of a burnt-out building. Bits of burnt timber and ruined furniture lie scattered about, but if anything remained after the fire, it seems to have been picked over and looted. Though most of the walls are blackened with soot, a patch along the former front of the residence still shows relatively clean, white walls. Smeared across those white walls, written in reddish-brown letters four feet tall, are the words, “Pathfinders go home.”

Just realized the slides were not up. I will get them up tomorrow.

Well that's... ominous, Sven pipes up, clearly uncomfortable with the implications that this situation puts forth, maybe we should search around and see if we can get an idea of who did it.

Untrained Heal check: 1d20 ⇒ 1

Chamius shrugs. "Well, we did what we could, hey? Not our fault that things went sideways. I daresay, I don't look forward to telling the Venture-Captain that we couldn't finish things up due to the apparent demise of the recipient." He sighs. "Though Dreng--or his assistant, and I don't mind saying I don't trust him--will likely ask us some questions about what happened, so I suppose we'd better try to find out."

Heal, Take 10: 10 + 6 = 16

"Is it normal for humans to write with their own sap?" Sunlight Under Stone asks in confusion. "Or maybe there is no ink up here because it all froze?" They frown as they study the writing, then begin peering around the area looking for footprints or other signs of previous visitors.

Sunlight Under Stone Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Ancient Stone Glider Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Slides are up... characters are placed.
Please make sure you are where you want to be

"Far from normal." Jordun responds, scanning the blackened ruin carefully. "If our contact has been murdered, we must find out why. Other Pathfinders could be at risk unknowingly."

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

I put Chamius in the middle, because he's the weakest of the party.

K'tasha who had traveled mostly silently, answers Sunlight ,"No. No it is far from normal for people to write in their own sap like that." echoing what her older brother had to say.

Heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

Does it matter that neither of the companions - grunt and wrex on the map? I'm really really new to this (this is my first PbP) so I don't know how to move or change things about.

Bon Jon joins the effort to spot tracks or any other signs of whomever did the writing.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

He also asks one of his comrades to use his wand of Mage Armor on himself (or attempts to UMD if no one can).
UMD DC 20: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
UMD DC 20: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

I'm happy with Bon Jon's position on the map.

If the wall south of Sunlight Under Stone is made of rock, brick, or some kind of earthen material, they'll use their earth climb ability to scamper up top and look around from there. Otherwise, their current position is fine. Unless the leshy concentrates, Ancient Stone Glider is not present and their token has been removed from the map.

Please add companions. Also, it would be helpful if you created an alias for each companion, so that you can post as those companions. I will wait.

The building is a former brick and timber construction house

Added Grunt to K'tasha's right.

can't seem to add from my phone... this whole phone thing sucks. Will update when I get home.

Bon Jon shivers. "This place is chilly. Why can't the society ever send us to a tropical island somewhere....?"

Looks like we might be missing a couple of dinos?
Again, please set up avatar/aliases for the critters. I've added some dinos... claim 'em if you need.

Also PLEASE confirm that the macros on slide #2 are correct. I had to set up the perception and inits just to do the below. It really helps.

No one is surprised when a gang of Ulfen thugs jump out and attack!

Ktasha is/are up.
Universal Adjustments:
Universal Conditions:
Knowledge:

Note: You may look in the tracking spoiler

My macro's all look correct

K'tasha, draws her elven curved blade and spends a moment concentrating before beginning a spell. Her fingers on her left hand move in a complicated twirl and arcane words flow from her beak. The words glow briefly before drifting into the ground.

"Grunt, defend!" K'tasha commands the raptor next to her.

Casting Entangle, going to make it so that it just catches to the edge of the ruins

DC 14 Reflex or be entangled; Entangled creatures can use a move action with either strength or escape artist on their turn.

green reflex DC14: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
orange reflex DC14: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 Fail!
blue reflex DC14: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
woman reflex DC14: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 Fail!

Caught in the vines, the woman attempts to break free. She fails to do so.
STR check DC14: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
STR check DC14: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Sunlight, Sven is/are up.
Universal Adjustments:
Universal Conditions:
Knowledge:

Entangled: The character is ensnared. Being entangled impedes movement, but does not entirely prevent it unless the bonds are anchored to an immobile object or tethered by an opposing force. An entangled creature moves at half speed, cannot run or charge, and takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and a –4 penalty to Dexterity. An entangled character who attempts to cast a spell must make a concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) or lose the spell.

Bon Jon's macros have been corrected.

Assuming the chest is with us:

Sunlight Under Stone grins. "You all go ahead and get them," they state as the ground beneath them trembles and ripples like water. "I'll protect the chest."

Move action to gather power, readied action below.

Unsure of the intentions of the newcomers, Sven draws his curve blade like his sibling and casts his own spell, icy white magical energy transfering from his talons to one set of talons on Wrex's feet, followed by a quick, Wrex, defend! as they both set themselves in a combat ready stance. You probably don't want to do this, you're already not in the best position right now, Sven calls to the assailants from his readied position, making it clear he will defend his comrades if they are attacked.

Added the chest in
Purple moves, drawing a battleaxe in addition to his already drawn throwing axe. He then throws it at Bon Jon Bovi.
ax vs FF AC18: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Blue does the same, though is hampered by the vines. He throws at Grunt, however. The dino is hit by the axe!

ax vs FF AC14: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 throwing ax, Sneak: 1d6 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 2 + (6) = 10

Orange tries to get out of the entanglement. Though he does free himself, the grasping vines immediately catch him again.
break out DC14: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
break out DC14: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
reflex DC14: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 Much sadness

Green also moves and draw, and then throws at Dimus.
ax vs FF AC14: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16 throwing ax, Sneak: 1d6 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 2 + (1) = 9 I assume that hits his FF AC

Chamius, Jordun, Bon Jon Bovi, Grunt, Dimus, Wrex is/are up.
Universal Adjustments:
Universal Conditions:
Knowledge:

Jordun stomps to the side, readying his iron-sheathed club. As he gets clear of the party, the tengu suddenly doubles in size, towering over the two thugs. "Stand down or be subdued." he commands, swinging the now much larger weapon at the further target.

Tetsubo, Bludgeoner, on Blue: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Tetsubo Nonlethal Damage: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (4, 4) + 7 = 15

AC currently 16

Bon Jon quickly enters into the style of the dragon and leaps through the air with a flying kick towards Purple. This provokes from Purple if he has reach.

Kick: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
non-lethal dmg, Dragon Style: 1d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 2 = 12
Stunning Fist: If hit, DC 15 Fort or stunned for 1 round.

Punch: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
non-lethal dmg: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Actions - swift: enter Dragon Style; full-round: flurry of blows, including Flying Kick style strike and Stunning Fist.

"Aye, as my friend said, stand down or it will be the worse for you!"

I think Chamius acts before anyone else, which may help with things.

The Taldan taps out a simple beat, then chants to it:

"Proud Pathfinders/Strong in struggle
"Come and quench/The cravings of crows!"

Inspire courage; everyone take a +1 morale bonus to hit and to damage.

Jordun swings at blue, smashing his now incredibly large tetsubo into him. The man still stands, but he doesn't look happy about it.

Bon Jon Bovi, however, fails to connect.

The two dinos stay back and defend their masters.

Ktasha is/are up.
Universal Adjustments:
Universal Conditions:
Knowledge:

Don't forget that Chamius just started inspire courage, so that's a universal adjustment/condition.