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A select group of Pathfinder Seeker Agents receive telepathic communication to meet in the Grand Lodge of Absalom. The orders come from one of the decemvirate. Arriving there, you enter a meeting room with an Iroran monk that some of you recognize as one of the new unmasked members of the decemvirate. This is Decemvirate Menas Red, Champion of Irori.
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The Iroran Champion bows in greeting to each of you, "Greetings agents, venture-captains, and other members of the Decemvirate. I have an important mission that we need our most powerful agents to deal with." he says as he pulls out a map and places it on the table, "This, as some of you may well know, is Irrisen." he says pointing at the frozen northland on the map. "I'll cut right to the chase, Queen Elvanna has asked for our assistance in retrieving the Torc of Kostchtchie from the Veil of Frozen Tears in hopes of finally defeating Baba Yaga. While I loathe to help a nation of witches, Baba Yaga is a greater potential threat should she choose to be one. Barring the defeat of Baba Yaga, we can at least keep the Torc in safer hands. Prepare yourselves as best you can and once you are ready, we can teleport you straight to the entrance of the Veil of Frozen Tears. Any questions?"
Half a millennium ago, the reign of Queen Tashanna of Irrisen drew near its end, and the time approached for her to abdicate her throne and abandon Irrisen—and even Golarion—or other worlds and dimensions. Tashanna, however, chose a different course. Rather than give up her throne and the kingdom she had so carefully nurtured for nearly a century, she sought to depose her own mother, Baba Yaga, and retain her rulership of Irrisen. After years of research, she was finally able to locate the Torc of Kostchtchie, an artifact containing the mortal soul of the Demon Lord of Giants and Cold. Knowing of Kostchtchie’s hatred for Baba Yaga, Tashanna used her possession of the torc to convince the demon lord to ally with her in a rebellion against Baba Yaga. This short but bloody rebellion became known as the Witchwar.
Unfortunately, Tashanna underestimated Baba Yaga’s personal power. The Old Crone had created both Kostchtchie and the torc, and possessed the means to undo them. Baba Yaga first faced Kostchtchie and savaged him with her magic, sending him fleeing to Iobaria to lick his wounds while her loyalists decimated his giant forces. The Queen of Witches then turned her attention to Tashanna and quickly defeated her rebel forces as well, capturing her daughter and ignobly parading her before her own defeated troops. Baba Yaga executed every one of Tashanna’s followers and created a huge magical necropolis wherein she interred Tashanna’s defeated army and purportedly the deposed witch queen herself, along with the magical torc that led to her downfall. Known as the Veil of Frozen Tears, this hidden necropolis, filled with traps of the Old Crone’s devising and foul guardian spirits, remained inviolate for 5 centuries—until now.
Now Queen Elvanna, Fourteenth Daughter of Baba Yaga, nears the end of her own reign over Irrisen and faces the uncertain future of her sister-queens who have gone before her. She hopes to hedge her bets with the possession of a powerful artifact, such as the Torc of Kostchtchie. To this end, she has discovered the location of the Veil of Frozen Tears and sent mercenaries to penetrate its wards in order to recover the torc for herself. But the dangers of the frozen necropolis are manifold, and none of her hirelings have yet returned from their quest. A side effect of their meddling, however, is that some of the necropolis’s wards have been breached. Kostchtchie is now aware of the location of the tomb and Elvanna’s efforts to reclaim his torc. Remembering well the humiliating and painful results of the last time someone possessed his torc, the demon lord has sent his own agents to bring it to him. These two factions are heading for a confrontation over the hidden necropolis, and woe to those who get in the middle.
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Tuwo is Tian human of average height. His clothing is simple but well made. He has a bow and some quivers on his back but no other apparent weapons. He nods to his fellow pathfinders and smiles at a couple of familiar ones.
Tuwo teaches at The Academy and can't help but speak as if to his students.
"Half a millennium ago, the reign of Queen Tashanna of Irrisen drew near its end, and the time approached for her to abdicate her throne and abandon Irrisen—and even Golarion—or other worlds and dimensions. Tashanna, however, chose a different course. Rather than give up her throne and the kingdom she had so carefully nurtured for nearly a century, she sought to depose her own mother, Baba Yaga, and retain her rulership of Irrisen. After years of research, she was finally able to locate the Torc of Kostchtchie, an artifact containing the mortal soul of the Demon Lord of Giants and Cold. Knowing of Kostchtchie’s hatred for Baba Yaga, Tashanna used her possession of the torc to convince the demon lord to ally with her in a rebellion against Baba Yaga. This short but bloody rebellion became known as the Witchwar.
Unfortunately, Tashanna underestimated Baba Yaga’s personal power. The Old Crone had created both Kostchtchie and the torc, and possessed the means to undo them. Baba Yaga first faced Kostchtchie and savaged him with her magic, sending him fleeing to Iobaria to lick his wounds while her loyalists decimated his giant forces. The Queen of Witches then turned her attention to Tashanna and quickly defeated her rebel forces as well, capturing her daughter and ignobly parading her before her own defeated troops. Baba Yaga executed every one of Tashanna’s followers and created a huge magical necropolis wherein she interred Tashanna’s defeated army and purportedly the deposed witch queen herself, along with the magical torc that led to her downfall. Known as the Veil of Frozen Tears, this hidden necropolis, filled with traps of the Old Crone’s devising and foul guardian spirits, remained inviolate for 5 centuries—until now.
Now Queen Elvanna, Fourteenth Daughter of Baba Yaga, nears the end of her own reign over Irrisen and faces the uncertain future of her sister-queens who have gone before her. She hopes to hedge her bets with the possession of a powerful artifact, such as the Torc of Kostchtchie. To this end, she has discovered the location of the Veil of Frozen Tears and sent mercenaries to penetrate its wards in order to recover the torc for herself. But the dangers of the frozen necropolis are manifold, and none of her hirelings have yet returned from their quest. A side effect of their meddling, however, is that some of the necropolis’s wards have been breached. Kostchtchie is now aware of the location of the tomb and Elvanna’s efforts to reclaim his torc. Remembering well the humiliating and painful results of the last time someone possessed his torc, the demon lord has sent his own agents to bring it to him. These two factions are heading for a confrontation over the hidden necropolis, and woe to those who get in the middle."
Tuwo then thinks for a moment. "I am prepared for demons and undead. But not for bitter cold or the disarming of traps."
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Aurelia strides into the room, looking fairly nondescript, wearing a traveler's outfit dyed black with an odd-looking collar. She is a Dhampir, with pale skin, black hair and eyes that seem to consume the light from the room. She glances around speculatively at the assembled seekers. Decemvirate member Aurelia Crimson. Pleased to meet you all.
Taking 10 on Kn(History or Nobility) for 29 or on Kn(Local) for 41, she smiles at Tuwo's recitation. Seems reasonably complete. Thank you for the recitation, Tuwo.
She turns to Menas. Will you be accompanying us? Any more detailed ideas of what we should expect in the tomb?
Her collar pops a small head up and looks at her. Maybe we should just ask Baba Yaga. For someone so smart, you are a moron sometimes. Obviously prepare for cold, undead and traps. Tell me when you're ready to go. A small dragon uncurls from her shoulders, stretches, and takes wing, flying to a nearby couch where she curls back up and closes her eyes.
Aurelia sighs. This is Daosvaria, my familiar. She's incredibly rude when she's right, and she's always right. She looks at Daosvaria, You're wearing the bandolier with the wands again. I know it's uncomfortable, but we need to be prepared. Aurelia sighs. I swear, sometimes I wonder if I should just give her back to Ralzeros and find a new companion.
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As the group gathers, a halfling arrives astride a man-sized wolf. Both are wearing rather gaudy outfits, apparently dressed for performing rather than adventuring.
"Greetings, all! I am, as you are all aware, the ringmaster of the Flying Flutterfoot Family Circus, wolf-rider extraordinaire, beloved by all, the one and only, the Great Rinaldo!" He stands in the stirrups of his saddle and bows deeply. The wolf, somehow, also bows.
Rinaldo accepts the applause and cheers that apparently he alone can hear before continuing. "Together with my amazing cousin, Messa, I am Venture-Captain of the Flutterfoot Travelling Pathfinder Lodge. I look forward to working with all of you."
He notices Tuwo, and bows again. "Well met, good archer! I am pleased to see you again, and look forward to making an incredible combatant be even more so!"
As Aurelia introduces herself and her companion, Rinaldo thinks for a moment, and asks, "Did you say Ralzeros, as in "The Overwatched"? Did he introduce you to this unusual creature?"
"Cold is fairly easy to accommodate with magic. Make sure you have a wand of the Endure Elements spell, and I can cast it upon you daily. On that note, Master Red, do you have a guess as to low long this expedition may take? We should be prepared both with magic to handle the cold as well as provisions."
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Daosvaria perks up at Rinaldo's question. Yes, puny halfling. As in the overwatched. I was familiar to the crazed fool for hundreds of years, trapped in his own dream plane. She stretches, circles, and lies back down. This one came to retrieve him and he offered my services to her. Apparently time did not pass for me here as I reverted to my younger self upon leaving the dream plane. She snorts, and a small spray of acid comes out, leaving small, smoking dots on the floor.
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A Tall, balding blue humanoid, dressed impeccably in a finely tailored Taldan suit, bows to the rest of the party.
"Greetings, all. I am the Lord Tullian, Visbaronet, Baronet, Count, Landgrave, Hereditary Senator of Taldor, Gaius Plinius Secundus, fourteenth of his name, and loyal disciple of the Great God Nikolai Tesla. I have some small skill at talking with people, know a reasonable amount about the world at large and the planes beyond, and have the ability to alter probabilities in our favour. This," he says, patting the flank of the enormous, primeval-looking tiger at his side, clad in armour made from hematite, "is my loyal companion, Sir Ambrose. He specialises in aggressive negotiations, when the olive branch of peace is rebuffed."
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Daosvaria perks up slightly at the arrival of the tiger. She gets up, stretches again, the walks over to him, sniffs him, walks around him once. If you don't mind, Sir Ambrose. She hops up onto his back and curls up again, with an accusatory look at Aurelia. You mortals are much too cold. She closes her eyes and start purring.
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A lean looking Dwarf enters the chambers ever so quietly and sits to listen to the briefing. He nods to Menas Red greeting him in traditional Irorian fashion with a silent two handed signal quickly displaying the Master's Rebus.
"I am certain that we will get to know each other much better in the coming days. I am Flint, humble servant of Irori."
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Menas looks to Aurelia, "No, I'll be needed elsewhere shortly. The society is spread thin after the Whispering Tyrant's awakening and escape from Gallowspire." he says before responding to Rinaldo, "Seeing as how we are teleporting you directly to the Veil of Frozen Tears, I don't expect your mission should take more than a day, two if you need to rest and recover. There is no set deadline for this mission, but obviously sooner is better than later lest the Torc be recovered by someone else. Keep this in mind as you venture forth, we can ill afford to lose so many seekers should caution be tossed aside." he says before finally turning to Flint, "A brother in service to Irori! You'll have to join me in my library, or the sparring ring, one of these days."
Menas smirks a little as he makes one more comment to Aurelia, "I'm not sure, but I think the name 'decemvirate' might not be accurate anymore. Without need of the helms to limit the number of members, I believe we have many more than ten sets of eyes leading the society."
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Flint eyes brighten at the mention of the cold.
"Funny thing. I picked up this Bottle of Yeti Fur. It should be just perfect for this setting. Talk about Kismet."
He turns to Tuwo.
"I can certainly spare a charge or two off my wand to keep you warm or if you wish you can visit the temple of Irori and they can set you straight. For a small fee of course."
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Tuwo contemplates his navel as the discussion of spells known occur.
To Flint: "I have a wand of Endure Elements and am happy to share though someone else must activate it."
When Mess asks about spells: "Greater Magic Weapon was very effective last time and will be again. And Mage Armor is a great boon, The spell is more efficient then my wand."
Thinking for a moment.
"Actually, In my experience witches thrive on trickery and deceit. Pretending to be helpless victims or small children and so forth. While I have not encountered one that pretended to be a party member yet, We should prepare by assigning a few nonsensical but easy to remember phrases to each of us and recite one should our identity be questioned. Other measures to bypass illusions, invisibility, and disguises us may help as well."
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Flint raises an eyebrow at Tuwo's concerns.
"I have been trained to ferret out falsehood in the Church of Irori and beyond. Many of us can see through invisibility and I doubt there is a disguise that will not be noticed by either of us. However out of an abundance of caution our password will be Strawberry Lollipop."
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I'm particularly inclined towards a group I heard perform recently at a tavern in Absalom. They claimed to be a band of Bards called Strawberry Machine Cake. It was strange and fascinating music they produced, with much clanging and shouting and use of illusory lights flashing about the tavern. Daosvaria claimed it was nothing more than noise, but I found it was quite rhythmic and pleasing.
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Yes, of course. We mustn't piss off Ralzeros. The man could barely walk when we got him out and was deformed and unable to use magic. You are my familiar now and we will go where I please, thank you very much. Aurelia looks frustrated, like she's had this argument dozens of times before.
Messa, if we each cast Extended Life Bubble, we can cover the entire party including the wolf, the tiger, and Daosvaria for 15 hours. Surely that should be sufficient?
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Flint feigns amusement. He has his Kama from his earliest day but it has never been used actively in combat.
"Right, that is what it is for. I have been using mine to open mail, the edge is just right and the back of the pommel is excellent for tapping down wax seals. It has become quite a staple item down in the library. Waste not, want not as they say."
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Messa, if we each cast Extended Life Bubble, we can cover the entire party including the wolf, the tiger, and Daosvaria for 15 hours. Surely that should be sufficient?
Messa grins. Let's hope!
Before stepping on the circle, Messa casts the following spells:
- Extended Life Bubble (ioune stone is not slotted for this one)
- Greater Magic Weapon on Tuwo's Bow
+4 enhancement bonus for 18 hours
- Magic Vestment on herself
+4 enhancement bonus to her armor for 19 hours
- Deadeye's Lore
- Longstrider from a wand (and then passes it to whomever wants to use it)
- Heightened Awareness from a wand (passing to whomever wants to use it)
She also takes a dose of Clear Ear.
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"And my wand of Mage Armor if you would? Others may use it as well if they wish. Though it will not cover us all for a full day. Much appreciated both of you."
Bow in hand Tuwo examines the portal.
"And who shall go first?"
Seeing someone apply Clear Ear prompts Tuwo to remember his recent purchase and do the same.
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"And my wand of Mage Armor if you would? Others may use it as well if they wish. Though it will not cover us all for a full day. Much appreciated both of you."
Messa takes the wand. We can use this if we see any ghosts. Until then, let me make your clothing better. Messa concentrates on a pearl of power for a moment, then casts again.
- Magic Vestment on Tuwo
+4 enhancement bonus to his armor class for 18 hours
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Flint returns from his brief stint in the big city with the telltale signs of spell casting services, newly purchased scrolls, a full stomach and a mostly depleted coin purse.
Bow in hand and spring loaded wrist sheath prepared. Flint is ready to go.
"Ready."
Spells now in place - Spell Casting Services:
Ablative Barrier CL 5, 5 hours
Delay Poison CL 3, 3 hours
Items used right before leaving:
Bottle of Yeti Fur, 24 hours
Blood Boiling Pill, 8 hours
Wand of Mage Armor, 1 hour
Wand of Heightened Awareness 10 minutes
Staff of Minor Arcana (Shield - 1 charge) 8 minutes
Abilities/Spells used:
Barkskin (+3 AC, 1 KI) 80 minutes
Deadeye Lore 8 hours
Heroism (Extended,Quicksilver consumed) 3 hours
See Invisibility (Extended) 160 minutes
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An unbelievable sight waits at the end of this valley, where the frozen plains meet the Crown of the World. At the head of the valley, a massive waterfall once plunged the seven hundred feet to the valley floor, but the waterfall has frozen solid, leaving a braided ice column of unimaginable proportions extending from the lip of the cliff above to its base of jagged ice boulders and frozen hillocks at the bottom—the legendary Veil of Frozen Tears, the icy necropolis of the defeated rebels of the Witchwar. A fortification of some sort, apparently carved from the ice itself, protrudes from the ice sheet halfway up, with both a turret and wall pierced with arrow slits. Above this, a hollow has been carved out of the ice, forming a great shelf upon which appears to sit some sort of village. A fissure marks the ice flow’s lower reaches and possibly provides entrance. A hundred yards away from the base of the icefall is a camp occupied by a number of large brutes
Baba Yaga created the Veil of Frozen Tears as retribution against her daughter Tashanna and her upstart rebellion. As the Witchwar concluded, the survivors of the rebelling army were captured by Baba Yaga’s forces. A massive purge then took place, in which the Old Crone’s monstrous soldiers rounded up the families of all the disloyal troops. These terrified civilians—men, women, and children— were forced to undergo a brutal march north to the uttermost edge of Baba Yaga’s kingdom. Many of them did not survive the long road of cold and deprivation, and those who did remained haunted to the end of their days by what they found at the end of their journey. At the head of a narrow valley, they found their loved ones—the hundreds of captured soldiers—chained to the massive stone escarpment. The deposed Queen Tashanna and her war captains stood huddled under guard on one slope of the valley, while the hapless families of the condemned stood below on the valley floor. Baba Yaga’s infamous hut stood atop the escarpment like an enthroned ruler
surveying her domain.
While the horrified crowd of thousands watched, Baba Yaga stepped from the entrance of her hut and wove a mighty spell that rerouted an icy river flowing through the nearby mountains and brought it to the cliff’s edge just above the hundreds of chained prisoners. The sudden rushing flood poured over the cliff face. The chained prisoners were held helplessly in its path as the onslaught tumbled down upon them. Many were killed outright by the crushing weight of the water and the debris it carried, or were ripped bodily from the face of the cliff—leaving twisted limbs still manacled to the rock—as they tumbled to their doom hundreds of feet below. Others drowned as the newly formed waterfall gushed down over them, stealing their breath even as it numbed their bodies with its cold.
The crowd of onlookers below was not spared the slaughter. Too late they realized their jeopardy as the mighty waters rushed over the cliff and into the valley. They fled in droves for the slopes of the valley, but many hundreds were unable to escape before being swept away in the catastrophic flood. Thus Queen Tashanna and her captains learned the price of their betrayal as they watched their loyal followers being wiped out, and saw even the families of those followers destroyed by the Old Crone’s vengeance.
Finally, as her fabled hut stood firm on its perch in the midst of the rushing flow, Baba Yaga cast a final spell. With a wave of her hand, the tumbling waters below her froze solid into a cyclopean column of twisted ice spilling over the cliff’s edge and into the valley. With another motion, she summoned great ice worms that rose from the snows and ice of the valley slopes and began to tunnel into the frozen cataract, creating tunnels and chambers within the frozen tomb. The last sight beheld by the surviving families as they were led away on their long march south was of Tashanna and her war captains being taken in chains to face their own fates in the newly carved tunnels of the frozen veil that now hid their deceased loved ones. None of the officers of the former witch queen were ever seen in Irrisen again. The Old Crone’s vengeance was complete, and the Witchwar became but a distant memory as the nation of Irrisen, bloodied but whole again, continued on beneath the rule of another of her daughters.
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Tuwo clears his throat and points as appropriate.
"Baba Yaga created the Veil of Frozen Tears as retribution against her daughter Tashanna and her upstart rebellion. As the Witchwar concluded, the survivors of the rebelling army were captured by Baba Yaga’s forces. A massive purge then took place, in which the Old Crone’s monstrous soldiers rounded up the families of all the disloyal troops. These terrified civilians—men, women, and children— were forced to undergo a brutal march north to the uttermost edge of Baba Yaga’s kingdom. Many of them did not survive the long road of cold and deprivation, and those who did remained haunted to the end of their days by what they found at the end of their journey. At the head of a narrow valley, they found their loved ones—the hundreds of captured soldiers—chained to the massive stone escarpment. The deposed Queen Tashanna and her war captains stood huddled under guard on one slope of the valley, while the hapless families of the condemned stood below on the valley floor. Baba Yaga’s infamous hut stood atop the escarpment like an enthroned ruler
surveying her domain.
While the horrified crowd of thousands watched, Baba Yaga stepped from the entrance of her hut and wove a mighty spell that rerouted an icy river flowing through the nearby mountains and brought it to the cliff’s edge just above the hundreds of chained prisoners. The sudden rushing flood poured over the cliff face. The chained prisoners were held helplessly in its path as the onslaught tumbled down upon them. Many were killed outright by the crushing weight of the water and the debris it carried, or were ripped bodily from the face of the cliff—leaving twisted limbs still manacled to the rock—as they tumbled to their doom hundreds of feet below. Others drowned as the newly formed waterfall gushed down over them, stealing their breath even as it numbed their bodies with its cold.
The crowd of onlookers below was not spared the slaughter. Too late they realized their jeopardy as the mighty waters rushed over the cliff and into the valley. They fled in droves for the slopes of the valley, but many hundreds were unable to escape before being swept away in the catastrophic flood. Thus Queen Tashanna and her captains learned the price of their betrayal as they watched their loyal followers being wiped out, and saw even the families of those followers destroyed by the Old Crone’s vengeance.
Finally, as her fabled hut stood firm on its perch in the midst of the rushing flow, Baba Yaga cast a final spell. With a wave of her hand, the tumbling waters below her froze solid into a cyclopean column of twisted ice spilling over the cliff’s edge and into the valley. With another motion, she summoned great ice worms that rose from the snows and ice of the valley slopes and began to tunnel into the frozen cataract, creating tunnels and chambers within the frozen tomb. The last sight beheld by the surviving families as they were led away on their long march south was of Tashanna and her war captains being taken in chains to face their own fates in the newly carved tunnels of the frozen veil that now hid their deceased loved ones. None of the officers of the former witch queen were ever seen in Irrisen again. The Old Crone’s vengeance was complete, and the Witchwar became but a distant memory as the nation of Irrisen, bloodied but whole again, continued on beneath the rule of another of her daughters. "
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A hundred yards away from the base of the icefall is a camp occupied by a number of large brutes.
There are fifteen giant humanoid creatures, although one is clearly the leader here.
Frost giants are among the most feared giants, as their wanton destruction, battle lust, and fearless demeanor push them to ever-increasing displays of brutality. Frost giants usually start combat at a distance, throwing rocks until they run out of ammunition or the opponent closes, then wading in with their enormous greataxes. A favorite tactic is to lay an ambush by hiding buried in the snow at the top of an icy or snowy slope, where opponents will have difficulty reaching them, and then starting an avalanche before leaping into battle. Frost giants can hide well in snowy environments and are masters of stealth in their domain.
The leader is both fiendish and gnarled.
Creatures who have been “blessed” by a demon lord‘s attention may acquire this template, which leaves them hunched and knotted with corded muscles and awkwardly formed limbs. Though slower and clumsier than their fellows, gnarled creatures are much stronger and hardier and have thick, horny skin.
There are also 10 ogres.
Stories are told of ogres—horrendous stories of brutality and savagery, cannibalism and torture. Of rape and dismemberment, necrophilia, incest, mutilation, and all manners of hideous murder. Those who have not encountered ogres know the stories as warnings. Those who have survived such encounters know these tales to be tame compared to the truth.
An ogre revels in the misery of others. When smaller races aren’t available to crush between meaty fists or defile in blood-red lusts of violence, they turn to each other for entertainment. Nothing is taboo in ogre society. One would think that, left to themselves, an ogre tribe would quickly tear itself apart, with only the strongest surviving in the end—yet if there is one thing ogres respect, it is family.
There are also 6 frosty wolves.
Winter wolves are larger, smarter, more ferocious variants of worgs with white fur and a deadly breath weapon.
There are also 9 hairy elephants.
The great mastodons are primeval cousins of elephants. Their large tusks dwarf those of regular elephants, jutting outward and then curving back toward one another at the tips.
And finally, there are 12 hairy rhinos.
The woolly rhinoceros is an herbivore, though unlike its non-woolly cousin it grazes for food rather than browsing on larger plants. The woolly rhino is legendary for its foul temper, and its size and huge horn give it a ferocious bravery. Any threat (real or perceived) to the rhino or its herd is met with loud bellows and the stomping of feet. Often, those who unwittingly anger a woolly rhino have no time to amend the intrusion before the beast attacks.
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Flint gestures to the others to move away from the base camp quietly. These giants pose no real threat but little can be gained by fighting them at this time however his bow is drawn. He prepares himself in case he will have to battle these enemies (Standard action - change Teamwork feat to Stone Dodger).
Take 10 on Stealth in this environment is 41.
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Gaius doesn't recognise the giants.
"Beware! The leader has been 'blessed' by a Demon Lord - it is both 'Fiendish' and 'Gnarled'."
He then nods towards the Ogres.
"Sadistic, cannibalistic freaks. We would be doing the world a favour by eliminating them."
"Ah, Winter Wolves - not unexpected in these climes."
Gaius doesn't recognise the hair elephants.
"Interesting. Woolly rhinoceros traditionally are quite foul tempered; I am impressed that they are being kept in check..."
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Flint comes out of the shadows as the party does not seem to be moving away. He does keep his voice down.
"It has been my experience that discussions with Frost Giants and Ogres is unproductive at best. They are most likely just going to attack us on sight and are not even open to negotiations. This is especially true considering how small we are compared to them in both size and number."
"In my thinking we can either try to avoid them completely or take them out in a surgical strike from a good distance. Tuwo and I can easily dispatch their leader while the spell casters in the party attack multiple enemies at once from range. I see no advantage in closing our distance to them especially to negotiate."
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Rinaldo nods. "I will defer to your experience, as I have not spent any time with giants. If you want to do a ranged strike, I can perform to enhance your weapons and be prepared to engage those that approach. With luck, the aerial advantage will prevent much of their potential damage. I have significant experience with Mammoths, as a former companion of mine rode one. Don't get under their feet!"
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Flint thinks.
"I wonder if it would be possible to collapse part of the ice fall or cause an avalanche from the snow on top of the ice fall on to the base camp as part of the attack?"
@GM Zer0darkfire - Would it be possible to use Prof-Engineering or Survival to trigger an avalanche on to the base camp?