The Reign of Winter

Game Master Nayr Trebrot

Stel will turn and attack the other guard with his claw and bite!

Not seeing a good direction, and knowing there isn't much time remaining, Doc dismisses the spider spell.

Itharial did a dazzle (i.e., flare) and Ques did a daze. Not sure which spell he saved against or if a another save is needed.

Doc dismisses the spiders, and Stel turns to swipe at the man to his side. He misses, but hits cleanly with his bite, taking a chunk out of the man.

Grey moves in and crushes the poor fellow before him with whipping appendages. The man collapses in a broken heap.

Ques, seeing the man go down, lets out his spell at the other fellow.
Will save: 1d20 ⇒ 14

The man shakes off the attack with a grunt. He even manages to look surprised when Nox's shot dings off of the ice wall behind him. The man then turns and slashes down at Stel, before taking a step back from the dangerous predator.
Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

The guards to the south move into place; one strides up to Ithariel and swipes across with his blade, while the other moves to kneel on one of the cots, dropping his sword there to draw and load a crossbow.

sword slash at Ithariel: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Ithariel ducks the man's sword slash and swings his staff in a vicious uppercutting motion. Quarterstaff: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

I assume it has been more than three minutes since we entered the fort? if not, then add +1 to hit and + damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Having difficulty moving in Roll20. No clue where any bad guys are.

Doc starts chanting and summoning.

Summon monster 1 - full round casting time.

Lief growls with displeasure when another soldier moves to block his entrance into the room. With no other options, he tries to once again thread the needle between Ithariel and the doorframe in order to deal with the new obstacle.

greatsword (partial cover): 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 7 - 2 = 15
for: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (6, 1) + 10 = 17

Ithariel hits the man with an uppercut of his staff, cracking his jaw and sending teeth flying. The man reels back in pain, his hand going to his mouth.

Doc, you seem to have teleported to within the other room...I reset you back to where you were.

Lief cuts at the man sent reeling, but the very nature of his backpedaling saves the man's life as Lief's blade splits the air directly in front of him.

The captain stays back, and raises her sword and shield. Get back in here, you fool! You're playing into their bottleneck!

Stelmaria crosses behind Leif and Ithariel, finding a corner where he can snap his jaws at the guard, and does so.

bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Ques enters the room and sticks the guard unlucky enough to be standing there.

to hit boar spear: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

With Grey right alongside him, tripping over his own tentacles.

to hit tentacles: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
damage tentacles: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Nox takes a shot at the same guy (if he's still standing).

Attack, Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Damage, B/P: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Stel latches onto the man's groin with his jaws and pulls him down, then changes target and uses his jaws to engulf the man's face! He dies...luckily for him.

Grey misses his target, and Nox's bullet flies by overhead, accompanied by a loud BANG! The man, still standing, snarls as he puts his hands to his ears, then Ques's spear takes him in the gut, effectively marking him for the reaper.

The guard in the southern room takes aim, then looses a bolt at Ithariel!
Xbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2
He then reloads.

Lief rushes in over the fallen guard and swings his greatsword at the retreating officer.

greatsword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
for: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (5, 6) + 10 = 21

Only after his attack does he realizes he's left his back exposed to another living guard and (assuming that killed her) spin to face the crossbowman.

Well....darn

Lief rushes into the room, turns, and takes the head off of the woman. It falls to the ground with a wet thump and blood begins to spray from the severed neck as it falls to the side.

Sorry I didn't realize I was up!

Ithariel grimaces at the lone remaining guard, entering the room and swinging his hands together on his quarterstaff, aiming it high on the man's shoulder, attempting to drive him to his knees... But missing wildly...

attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

I am sure I posted, but no where do I see it!

Doc stops chanting with a little spin at the end, and points to a spot next to the remaining guard. Suddenly, a dog appears and tries to bring the guard down.

Bite Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Ithariel misses and then the Doc finishes his spell, summoning a dog nearby. The creature bites, but can't seem to gain purchase on the guard as he is skittering back on the bed. Gah! No, no...stop! He rolls back on the bed, drops his weapon, and throws his hands in the air. I give up, I give up!

Anyone want to finish him, or does this one live?

Lief points his bloody greatsword at the guard and barks, “tell us how many guards are left, and where they are and I’ll let you live.”

Ques waits there, tentatively, to see if the man gets better treatment than the last fellow who surrendered. He draws his wand of infernal healing, not sure whether to use it on anyone or not, basically frozen there in anticipation.

The guard puts his hands up higher...if possible...and begins quickly rattling off words.

Just the cook! No, the captain's in the library - she's there. Then, the ravenkeeper...but that's it. Well...then there's Radosek, but he runs the place - he isn't really a guard

"What kind of thing is Radosek?" Lief demands, "and how do we get to those places?"

Doc calls the dog over to him, and then after a few more seconds, it fades into mist.

Stelmaria begins cleaning the mess off his paws, waiting for the man's answers idly.

Meanwhile, Ithariel gives some space to the questioners, knowing he's as likely to much up the questions as he is to help. He surveys the carnage, and decides to check the commander for anything interesting on her person.

Radosek, he's a...a...a witch. One of the white ones, that brings the winter with him. The man shivers. He's a cold one...and powerful...but I don't begin to understand what he can do.

He points out the open door. The transporters out there...they'll take you up. It's odd magic, I know - took me a while too, but it works.

The captain had on her person:
MW cold iron longsword
Light spiked shield
Dagger
MW Light crossbow
Chain shirt
10 normal bolts
2 magical bolts
4 potions
Cold weather gear
Magical mirror

Is the shield wooden or metal? No reason....

Can anyone tell what these magical potions are? Might be handy if they are healing moving forward. Ithariel asks the crowd. He carefully gathers what he can from her before moving to the other deceased guards and repeating the process.

Lief gestures with the sword for the guard to flee, then follows him to the transporters to make sure he uses the one that leads downwards towards the exit.

"I'll give it a shot."

Quest casts a detect magic and starts examining the potions.
spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Doc examines all of the magic, chanting quietly as he shakes his feathered staff over the items.

Casting detect magic and examining
Spellcraft vs bolts: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
Spellcraft vs potion 1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Spellcraft vs potion 2: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Spellcraft vs potion 3: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

"What do you figure that mirror does?"

Since Nox asked, Ques moves over to the mirror and starts focusing his talents on it.

spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
It occurs to him, however, that all this analysis might be unnecessary.

"Say, fellow, would you happen to know what any of this magic stuff does?"

Sorry, the shield is steel...

The bolts are screaming bolts. The potions are 2 potions of CLW, one potion of endure elements, and one potion of interrogation.

The mirror, also magical is...odd. Ques moves over to it and looks down, and finds that it shows his face for only a moment. Then, it clouds over, and another face appears. A man with fierce eyes, long brown hair, and a pointed beard covering his chin appears. His eyes widen, then narrow, as he watches Ques.

Ques has the sinking suspicion that this is a 2-way communications device, and you're looking at whomever this captain had been reporting to.

The guard's eyes go wide. He looks at Leif and whispers. That's....how she talked to the boss..

Ithariel looks at the others, Does anyone else need the healing potions? I think I am set for now. Shall we proceed, if it is true that the mirror provides a link to a far-away place, we are known now, and should likely move with haste before this 'boss' can summon reinforcements to our enemies' aid. he gestures meaningfully to the party to perhaps move forward.

"Ques quickly turns the mirror towards the wall and says [b]"Uh oh. May have just announced our presence."

Ques makes no move to claim the CLW when asked and shows no interested in the other potions. He does take some interest in the bolts though.

"Say, I have a crossbow. Don't know if these odd bolts will be of any use, but they fit! I guess I'll take them. Are we done here?" With the realization that he just telegraphed their location, there is a new sense of urgency in Ques's voice.

Lief shakes his head, turning down both the potion and the bolts. “I’m fine right now, and I don’t have a crossbow,” he replies.

When the guard whispers about the strange face he answers, “thanks, now run off and don’t hurt anybody else or we’ll find you and you’ll end up like your captain.”

As the guard flees downward, the bulky tiefling nods and prepares to lead the way onward. “Which portal-thing do I take?” he asks with his sword at the ready. As soon as he gets an answer he steps in.

"Let's follow the guard. That way we surprise anyone he alerts instead of the other way around."

The guard looks at Lief, as if expecting that sword to find his back as soon as he turned. In the end, the idea of self-preservation won over, and he darted out of the room, heading to the east and out the main gates.

So, he's leaving the place entirely. If you want to follow him, you'd be heading back out into the wilderness towards the town of Heldren.

The dog, Hatch, appears at Ques's side, looking up at Lief. Both teleporters lead to the same place - they'll both take you to the dining hall. Remember, you have to say the phrase "A gathering within the hall, take one, take us all." Then, everyone gathered there will go to the dining hall.

The teleporters consist of a glassy pattern of striated, crystalline ice covering the tile floor in their alcoves, illuminated by a soft, blue light.

Ithariel grips his staff, and motions for Stel to join him on the teleporter. He'll wait for the others to join him before speaking the passphrase to enter the dining hall.

Lief follows Ithariel to the teleporter and waits for the magic to take them to the dining room.

As does Ques, as soon as he figures out the guard is not about to warn anyone.

Nox takes up an overwatch position in the back, pistol at the ready.

Everyone gathers around, and then the trigger words are uttered. After only a second or so, an odd tingling falls over everyone, and a sound like sleet tinkling as it falls on froze ground. Then….poof! You find yourselves in another place.

And a new map

A crescent-shaped dining table occupies this Y-shaped chamber, while two large mirrors on the north and south walls create the illusion of an even larger space. Twenty feet overhead, an immense chandelier of ice crystals hangs from the ceiling. To the east, rounded steps access a short hallway, flanked by twin ice sculptures of dryads holding ice-carved tree limbs, creating an elaborate archway. Translucent, glass like double doors are set in the hall’s north and south walls. To the west, two alcoves stand between three windows providing an amazing view of the wintry landscape outside of the tower.

"Are we still in the same building?" Lief asks as he looks around. His curiosity gets the better of him and he wanders over to the windows to take a look outside.

Can I see the rest of the fort, or anything that makes it look like we're still inside it?

You can, indeed, see outside of the building - it looks like you went up...almost directly up in fact. Outside, you see an idyllic winter forest area...almost peaceful.

Ques stands there and gawks for a bit.

"Wow. this place is beeeeautiful. I really like the dryads."

Ques steps around to the other side of the table, examining the table and the windows and the chandelier and... let's just say he give rubbernecking a new meaning.

I believe Ques and Grey are fully healed. Is anyone still injured?

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

"Don't get distracted. Looks can be deceiving in a place like this. Never trust a witch or her lair." Nox says, bitterly.

Stel prowls around, sniffing to see if he can get a sense for anything amiss in the chamber....

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Ithariel agrees with Nox, Maybe these Hex Nails will come in handy today, we'll see. But we should be careful indeed.

Stel is down 6 hp, Ithariel down 5 hp

Ques will tap each of them with a wand of infernal healing before he wanders off.

Lief turns away from the window and opens the nearest door.