The Reign of Winter

Game Master Nayr Trebrot

To the others, Garland whispers "I don't like this one bit. Any ideas?" She slows down to careful look over the snowman, from a distance, before passing by it.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

"Yea, don't go anywhere near that snowman. I don't think Grey wants a repeat of that fiasco we went through before."

And Ques suits actions to his words and starts forging his own path 100' up creek from the snowman, accompanied by Grey.

”Hey...Stag...lord. We trespassers...or not? If we’re with you, we’re...not...right?” Ana yells to the receding stag. She doesn’t step one foot beyond it, and points her crossbow at the ‘man’s head, execution style, waiting for the stag to answer.

The stag pauses, and seems to flick an ear back at Ana. Right...I will guide you through the forest...you only need approach the sentinel and you will be allowed passage.

When you get closer to the snowman, it speaks up, shouting in common. Can't you read? The sign says turn back, now get lost!

The stag, now stopped, looks back at you, waiting for you to proceed.

Garland quickly yells out, "Everybody stop! Whoever you are atop that stag, show yourself! If you want us to trust you, we need to see your true form."

Arsiel stops dead in his tracks, pulling his arrow back to readiness focusing on the ground between the snowman and the stag.

Garland, what’s the deal? I’m getting pretty tired of strange things messing with us in this wood.

"Whatever is controlling that stag laughed when we asked if it was safe to pass. I'm tired of being a pin cushion."

Showing a complete reversal of attitude, Ques shouts out, "I'll bet it is one of the little buggers and there is probably another one on that snowman. Show yourselves, evil little sprites!"

Thkwupthst! goes the quarrel as it embeds into the snowman's noggin.

Ana shrugs. "Pincushion." she says. She reloads her crossbow.

As soon as you call out the creature, you hear a snicker that soon evolves into giggles. The giggles seem to rise off of the stag's back, perhaps following a body. You hear whispers, then the stag looks towards garland and prepares to charge!

Initiative giggles: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Initiative stag: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Ana: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Garland: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Ques: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Arsiel: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

The giggles seem to move away, and begin muttering in Sylvan.

Don't think anyone speaks that, right?

Can we see footprints in the snow made by Giggles?

Does Grey get his own Initiative roll?

Seeing the stag beginning to charge, Arsiel drops his longbow in favor of the polearm, prepping to receive the charge of the creature.

Move Action, swap weapons & studied target on the Stag

attack power attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Damage: 2d4 + 9 ⇒ (3, 4) + 9 = 16

Following Arsiel's lead, Garland grabs her spear and pushes the weighted side into the snow, bracing it against the incoming attack.

Move: Draw weighted spear; Ready: Brace spear

Weighted Spear: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
P damage (against charge): 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (1, 3) + 2 = 6

Something I see a lot of GMs do is take the average of the inits for a PC and a companion and have them go at the same time just to keep things simple.

Anadorita steadies herself, aims her heavy crossbow at the stag and fires! Her aim is fouled by fear and the quarrel flies well wide of the mark...

Ptchoonk!!!: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 [+2 Dex]
Kwisshp!!!: 1d10 ⇒ 5

No, you cannot see footprints. I have Grey going on Ques's turn, but can start rolling for him if Ques would prefer.

Garland sets her spear to take the charge, even as Ana fires a bolt and Arsiel stands ready at her side. Ana's bolt flies over the elk's fur as it puts its head down to charge (verbiage only; it doesn't have room for it, mechanically) at the group.

It comes in more quickly than both Garland and Arsiel figured, and their readied strikes both fly wide of their marks. Instead, the stag's rack flies towards Garland's midsection. It slams into her soft belly, scoring wicked puncture wounds that instantly begin to flow with red.

Gore: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

7 damage to Garland!

No, you cannot see footprints. I have Grey going on Ques's turn, but can start rolling for him if Ques would prefer.

Since Grey has a +3 and Ques a +1 can we make a single roll at +2?

Grey lashes out with his own natural weapons while Quest tries to stick it with his spear from his position of safety behind his eidolan.

to hit bite, flank: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 1 + 2 = 18
damage bite: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

to hit tail slap, flank: 1d20 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (6) - 4 + 2 = 4
damage tail slap: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

to hit longspear, flank: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 1 + 2 = 16
damage: 1d10 ⇒ 2

Sure, I'm fine with that.

Grey takes a huge bite out of the stag, ripping a thick muscle from its flank. Even as he does, Ques stabs down and pierces through the creature's muscled shoulder. The stag rears up in pain, its eyes wide with fright.

As the stag falls under attack, Arsiel hears the strange words of the woodland language, but now they're accompanied by a strange tingling sensation. As the words complete, the woodland creature appears - looking much like those foul creatures that assailed them just yesterday not too far from here.

Arsiel - DC15 fort save or be reduced! The fey casts reduce person on you; it is ten feet off the ground in flight.

"Die, pesk!" Ana shouts, moving behind Garland and around Arsiel, pulling snow from the ground into a ball and hurling it at the flying fae. Her face falls as the shot is, anazingly, but now traditionally, well wide of the mark.

Move Action: Move 25' (5' east then 15' south then 5' west) to square below/south of Arsiel.

If that attracts AoO from stag then do I need to roll Acrobatics? Acrobatics appears to not allow untrained rolls? Is that correct?

Kszchzvaaa!!!: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9 [+2 Dex, +1 Weapon Focus]
Kschtumpf!!!!: 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 = 5 [+3 Con, +1 Physical Blast]

Seeing the little gnat that attacked them previously, Garland takes a step back, pulling a small piece of leather from the pouch at her hip. She mutters a few dark words as darkness collects around her fingers, weaving patterns in the air. The darkness then spreads out to shroud her.

5' step off the map; cast Mage Armor: +4 AC

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Arrrgh, what is happening!Shaking his head Arsiel shrugs off the enchantment from the fey thing.

Oh I'll get to you in a moment you little pest! Arsiel roars as he attacks the stag once more. Nearly beheading the furious animal with his ranseur.

Power Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Damage: 2d4 + 9 ⇒ (1, 1) + 9 = 11
Confirm: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
damage: 2d4 + 9 ⇒ (1, 4) + 9 = 14
damage: 2d4 + 9 ⇒ (4, 1) + 9 = 14

It would provoke, and you can roll acrobatics untrained, but...looks like it's not needed.

Garland empowers herself with a shimmering shield of energy, while Arsiel steps in, his ranseur raised in his simmering anger. He brings it down upon the stag, cutting into and through its spine with the point. The stag immediately goes limp, its nerves severed. The curved blades on the weapon dig out deep ruts in the skin to either side, but the stag is already quite, quite, dead.

Boom, now that's a hit! Stag down and double dead. Ana, feel free to change your action if you like.

Ques breathes a loud sigh of relief, audible even over the sounds of battle, when the stag goes thundering down to the ground.

"Now if we can just get a little lucky when dealing with the Little Buggers."

No, all good - my action was still predicated on trying to kill the fae...

The little creature cries out as its stag ally falls, though still in Sylvan. It breathes deeply to spit curses at you, snarling like a caged wolverine. Ana's snowball flies by, and the darting creature dodges aside.

Ques and Grey are up, now that the stag is in pieces.

Ques backs away from the others in case it tries another one of those blinding sprays, and Grey moves to protect him.

Biting his lip he tries to hit the Little Bugger with a cold iron bolt.

to hit heavy crossbow: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
damage: 1d10 ⇒ 4

"Dang! they are fast AND small!"

But frankly he is not all that good at it and will need to get lucky to hit.

I assume they are all out of reach of Grey and this will be a shooting match?

The flying little creature darts aside, and Ques's crossbow bolt flies wide of its mark. Spitting out another curse, the tiny fey winks out of existence, or at least appears to...

Correct, too high for Grey, though feel free to do something for him retroactively if you like. Everyone's up, though there are no visible enemies.

"'Sblood! Where'dit go?" Ana shouts, feverishly reloading her heavy crossbow.

Full Round Action: Load crossbow

Ques is also darting his head about, looking for where the Little Buggers might appear next.

Arsiel scoops up his longbow from the ground, drawing a cold iron arrow as he moves slightly closer to the snowman. "We should spread out some more and see if we can find the little thing"

Where are all these invisible things coming from?

"I wouldn't go too close to that snowman. If the Little Bugger's are responsible, it's probably trapped. We should cross somewhere else and nail them when they appear."

Garland moves past the decimated body of the stag and up the path a little. She pulls a small piece of cloth from her pouch and mutters a few dark words. Her fingers collect a few motes of dark energy as the cloth breaks apart and spreads out over her body. "Come out and play and stupid creatures."

Cast Resistance +1 to saving throws

You take a breath in the few seconds of silence that the fey's departure gives you, but alas it doesn't last. A moment later, the creature reappears - this time above the frozen creek. It holds a stone in its hands and seems to be struggling with the weight of the small fist-sized thing. It giggles and mocks you in common. Had you fooled! Too bad you have to die...I liked playing with you!

With that, it drops the rock, which drops down and hits with a resounding crack on the ice of the stream below. Within a second or two, you can see shadowy forms under the ice. Then...the fey once again turns invisible.

Initiative new threat?: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10

Garland stays back from the stream, and waits for whatever lies beneath to surface.

Delay until after the threat surfaces

Arsiel stands his ground in the path, casually replacing the cold iron arrow in his quiver and withdrawing a standard arrow.

Delay, move action swap arrows & Studied foe on new threat, fire arrow when able

"I say we run away and wait for the spell to lapse!"

When (or, I suppose, if) the group ignores his advice he orders Grey forward and himself moves backward. The map is somewhat restrictive. Assume Quest is about 20' north/northwest from Garland.

"OK, Grey, get up there and be ready."

Ana shakes her head, sighting her crossbow on the frozen shore.

"Last time I ran they omost killed me. I say we stick together. Stay awake. Shoot this...thing and whatever it just released from the creek bed."

Ready/Delay shooting heavy crossbow...

Sorry Ques; that's a canned Paizo map, and agreed. I could add to it, but the terrains wouldn't match and it would look pretty shoddy. Your location is just fine.

Grey nods to Ques, then takes another look at the remains of the stag as he moves to comply. Why...the rack on that beast would make a fine decoration for your tavern, Anadorita Garimos. Perhaps when we're done felling these cruel fey, you should cut that trophy from beast and proudly carry it to your ancestral home.

Grey is only stating what he thinks he knows of Ana from their limited interactions and Ques's out-loud musings.

You all stand ready for whatever may come out of that icy stream...arrows strung, bowstrings taught, breath held. Thus, you're a bit shocked when something bursts out of the snow right at Grey's side and attacks the eidolon.

Readied actions go off!

The blue/white skinned creature has a humanoid torso and a snakelike bottom half that it uses to push itself along. It lets out a weird, breathy moan as is swats at Grey.

Slam: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Crit confirm: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Miss chance low: 1d100 ⇒ 89
Base damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Cold damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3
Grey's fort save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

8 damage to Grey and he's staggered for 1 round. He doesn't have any resistance to cold from his shadow plane does he?

Another pops up right in front of Arsiel, ready to swat him as well. It does, but Arsiel is able to nimbly dodge the blow.
Slam: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Whether you readied or delayed your action, you can take those now and your initiative will be reset. Since you can't interrupt an action with a delayed action, your init would be after the creatures. If you readied, your init will be before the creatures. After that, Grey and Ques are up.

Oh, dear. not again! Nope, no defenses. And he's astral with a shadow form. I think of him as something not a part of any actual plane but a wanderer of sorts.

”Mm, Grey, that they woooAAAGH!” Ana screams a little in surprise as the icy beings emerge suddenly. She scampers over in an ungainly fashion, ending up between Arsiel and Garland before shooting q quarrel at the creature that tore into the eidolon.

Move Action Move 25ft to end up in the middle of a line Garland/Ana/Arsiel going North to South. [Please move Ana...]

Standard Action: Shoot!

Ktungmp!!!: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 2 - 4 = 14 [+2 Dex, -4 coz PF stoopid]
Fmvoompk!!!: 1d10 ⇒ 6

Placed your icon where I think you want it.

Startled by the sudden appearance of the creature immediately next to him, Arsiel throws his bow and arrow to the ground, grabs his ransuer and attacks the creature, Ahh! Where did you come from?!?"

Ok, new plan, move action - studied target on the one in melee with him, draw ransuer as part of the action, power attack

Power Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
damage: 2d4 + 9 ⇒ (2, 4) + 9 = 15

Clearly the sudden emergence of an unexpected foe startles the fetchling, and he misses wildly.

What Knowledge to ID?

Garland pulls the sling from her belt and loads it.

Move to draw sling and another move to load.

Knowledge planes, please

know planes: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23, the only knowledge skill he has. What are these things and what special defenses.

Ques knows that these are ice elementals and as such are immune to cold but vulnerable to fire. They slam creatures with icy fists, causing a cold that can numb the bones. They move through any snow or ice with incredible ease.

"Uh, guys, these things are made of ice. I think they are some form of ice elemental. I'm fairly sure that fire would work best on them and, well, water or cold would not."

After saying this, Ques laments the fact that he has no alchemist's fire.

Ana's bolt flies wide, and Arsiel's blade does much the same. You notice that these things have no issues moving through the snow and ice, it's as Ques describes - they seem to be made of the very stuff through which they're moving.

The creature before grey tries to slam it with an icy hand again, this time bringing both hands up high and then back down in fury. It hits once again, bringing its sharp, icy fists down upon the eidolon.

attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Miss chance low: 1d100 ⇒ 56
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

The other continues its duel with Arsiel, this time punching out at its opponent.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Poor Grey....does that put him down again? If so, don't worry about the save, of course. If not, he'll need to save DC12 Fort or be staggered for 1 round.

Yep. He's down. I'll make a stabilization roll. it would help if you rolled average.

stabilize: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Ques gives his new crossbow a try.

to hit heavy crossbow: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
damage: 1d10 ⇒ 10

Ques is starting to feel a bit discouraged.

[Fwoof] Her heavy crossbow drops onto the snow. "Right!" Ana mutters. She draws forth a bottle from her pack, lights the trailing fabric and after taking a step tosses it at the creature that downed Grey. Unless that target was just killed by Ques. If so, change target to Arsiel's foe.

Free Action: Drop heavy crossbow.
Move Action To draw/light.
5' step one square to the west. Already moved my icon
Standard Action Throw molotov cocktail!

Fwoompkf: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19