A Tiny Part Of The Dimension Wars (Interdimensional Spy Follies

Game Master GM Hansj

The Sage looks to Paritosh.
Up for a quick trip to secure the device? Perhaps, we could investigate the shapeshifter area too?

"Absolutely, whenever you like. I'm sure that Moonbeam can carry us both, if that is helpful."

Paritosh searches out some gosmin weed. When he finds it, it reminds him of the athelas plant from his homeworld. He kneels next to it and whispers ”forgive me for asking, but please come with me.”

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

He then pulls some of the plant and places it in his bag.

Paritosh then searches for his stone…

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15 +2 Urban, +FE Bonus

He finds a small, rounded off, piece of quartz that feels “right” to him.

He sets about gathering wood with the others to create a fire.

He pulls out his flint, and sets a brand alight…

Survival: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21 +2 Urban, +FE Bonus

… and when the others are ready, he joins them in lighting the fire.

With the fire going well, he wraps his stone with the gosmin weed. ”my apologies good plant, but I need you to warm this stone,” he whispers, as he places them into the fire.

When the fire finally burns down, he retrieves his stone, surprised at the way its color has changed. It was now more of a reddish quartz than the white it had started.

He returned to Mornam’s hut with the others and stayed the night performing more rituals…

Will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17 +2 vs Illusions

Paritosh dreams of his youth, with siblings, and parents, and grandparents. Playing in the meadows, swimming in the streams.

Finally, he emerges onto the dream plateau.

Rollo smiles as the instructions for the Dream Ceremony. The Sorcerer does cast some Extended spells on himself and those that accept.
Extended Heroism 3 hours

3. The party members gather wood and form a pile for fire (it's late winter, even in the mild climate here, burning is safe).
Rollo casts Floating Disk.

4) The party members should each light a fire with their own flints. Then bring a burning brand and light the gathered wood. Singing songs, any of a given member's choosing
(roll survival for how long it takes to light your brand - 1 minute to 1 hour)
Survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Perform (Cha): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31

Rollo sings louder every time he gets lost...

5) Place the stones and Gosmin Weed in the flame and watch the flames burn to ashes and let them cool as the sun declines. Finally the party will blow the ashes and member will gather their stones and takes them back to Mornam's hut.

Rollo is tempted to use Gust of Wind to blow the ashes to make up for his outdoorman skills....

6) The group will spend the evening in Mornam's hut doing slow, relaxed chants. Mornam will cast a spell called "mind to stone" that allows constructs and animated creatures to take part in rituals normally reserved for creatures of flesh so the entire party should be able to take part. After a few hours, each party member will begin to see the "gate of dreams" which they can step to begin their dream.
Will get back to this in the morning...

Will: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
+2 racial bonus on saving throws against disease and mind-affecting effects.

As the others join she feels her mind start to experiences things she, sorry her original had not felt for a long time.

At the start it was hard, she was lost but as her originals memories came she started to feel more at ease with this odd input.

I don't have to say too much at this point. You describe your character's dream. It's an event that happened in the character's past. Your character re-experiences it, probably from a slightly different point of view and gains new insight into the event. It can influence them a little or influence them a lot. At the very end of the dream, they meet another one of the character's in the party and can communicate. Then you emerge into the community dreamscape and can talk to the Oomsatta generally, discussing what you wish.

The familiar sounds of the constant dripping, dripping, dripping of the run-off echoes in the background. The strong scent of the sewage assaults the nostrils. Each and every step may cause one to slip and fall into the slow moving sludge that meanders throughout the underground tunnels.
Rollo smiles at this memory. He is at home in the great city of Katapesh. The oppressively heavy heat presses down from above, causing the underground environment to act like a sauna.
Not a great smell.

The dhampir views his younger self huddled in an empty alcove. He is eating his first meal. His initial taste of raw, warm, ecstatic blood from a living creature! The large rat squirms and shrieks when the young dhampir engages in his birthright.
How ironic actually., muses the older Sage.

He remembers the fear, the self-loathing, the embarrassment of the days preceding that moment. His mentor was cruel. He was unforgiving. He was tossing the baby bird from the nest to learn to fly!

Rollo smiles again at his own foolishness and naivete.

He breaks from his reverie, watching the dream unfold before him; knowing what will happen next.

The younger dhampir messily drains the giant rodent of its life blood. He stops just before the final beating of the heart. He absently drops the corpse into the flowing river of sewage. His blue eyes glossed over. His head swimming. He stands. The strange call of a thumping echo reaches his sensitive ears from somewhere close by. As if in a trance, the young and hungry dhampir moves silently toward the memorizing call.

Traveling as if by instinct, Rollo traverses the narrow ledges of the slime-covered pathways throughout the sewage system. His step steady. The enticing sound is all encompassing. His concentration only focused on finding the source.

Rounding a bend, his blue eyes find his prey! Huddled alone and not yet aware of the predator invading his safe hide-a-way, there sits a human boy. He is obviously a run-a-way from the unforgiving streets from above. Dirty, wearing only a tossed off sack, and greedily eating a stolen morsel, the boy turns suddenly. His glazed and frightened gaze finds Rollo; standing not 10' from him, edging closer and closer.

Before the boy can speak, scream, run; the hungry and blood crazed dhampir latches onto him!

Rollo remembers the guilt, shame, disgust after that initial feeding.
We are all first timers at everything at one time in our lives. I did get better--and cleaner--at it!

He watches as his former self picks off a crude amulet from the boy. It's the same one he wears to this day: lapis-lazuli

Lyra's Dream Rewrite

Lady Lyra at the fire they had made. As she did it seem to become a point of light. That then started to wink on and off, then to her eyes, a Lab room came into being, the light being off on a counsel. She could see herself, on a gurney. The pre-activated replicant, that would become her. But there were others, two lab techs and the real her. The real her looking at this look-alike this Lyra to be. She turns to face one of the lab technicians.

Real Lyra
"And it will hold my full consciousness?"

Lab tech 1
"Yes, commander, it's our finest model and more than capable. With the slight removal of resent events that you asked for."[/b]

Lyra
"Good, then not my full memory set."

Lab tech 2
"Yes the errr, traumatizing events you have experienced, and the effects it had on you will be whipped."

Lady Lytra moves in and now sees the Real Lyra, she can see that she must have been crying. There were stress lines on her face. Unlike her body to be, that just had a restful look on its duplicate face.

Real Lyra
"So practical our ranks, if an asset is compromised don't help them just wipe them and move on. Basterds."

Lab Tech 2.
"They are well within their rites to do this, you agreed to this when you joined. Now if you would be so good as to sit in the Nural reader"

Real Lyra walked over to a thrown like device, she sat on it. The Lab tech stared fitting a skull cap to real Lyra.

Lady Lyra was shocked to see these events, she was there but not there and she should not have had any recollection, she had not been activated yet, but this dream meant she must have been aware somehow. She looked at the real her, this real Lyra looked older than she remembered and somehow warn out, jaded and in pain. She felt something, a sense of profound loss and empathy.

The lap tech done fitting the skull cap to real Lyra asks her to close her eyes and picked up a needle.

Lab tech 1
"Once we have the reading we can move on, commander.

Real Lyra
"No give me a moment with her, I want to see it activated.

Lab Tech 2.
"We do not normally allow this commander."

Real Lyra
"I don't give a fig what you normally do, in this case, I will talk to it do I make myself clear"

Lab Tech 2 bowed
"As you commander"

Then the thrown like device started to whine and throb. Real Lyra pulled a face and the process seemed to come to an end as fast as it started, she took a deep breath.

Lab Tech 2
"6538-xTRY-91 Please respond"

Copy Lyra moved, seemed to twitch, and then opened its synthetic eyes. They were a light blue color, the tattoo on its skin glowed. Lady Lyra was looking now at herself.

Lab Tech 1 now took the skull cap of real Lyra and helped her stand. She wobbled a bit.

Lab Tech 1.
"How do you feel commander."

Real Lyra
"Like someone has just scrapped my skull out and filled it with sawdust.
It's it ready"

Lab Tech 1 stepping back from copy Lyra.
"Yes, the activation code is Apple, door, book, seed"

Real Lyra moved to stand in front of her copy as that very copy looked on in dream form.

"Apple, door, book, seed"

Copy Lyra blinked three times then seemed focus on real Lyra.

Copy Lyra
"You look like me, are you the real me?"

Real Lyra, feeling odd that her voice should come out of this object.

Real Lyra
"Yes you are my duplicate, how do you feel"

Copy Lyra
"I am your simulacrum I feel what you would feel, odd, excited dist.."

Real Lyra shot a command too lab techs

"Reset it, and dial back the emotions. I don't want it to have that level of emotions. I don't want it to hurt emotionally understood."

They both nodded and copy Lyra went limp before walking up again.

Copy Lyra
"You look like me, are you the real me?"

Real Lyra
"Yes you are my duplicate, how do you feel"

Copy Lyra
"I am at optimum performance and ability to do my duties, what emotion would you like me to simulate?"

Real Lyra to the lab techs.
"Good that's better, deactivate her, and let's move on."

Lab tech 1
"At your command"

Copy Lyra went limp once more. And that was it, that was all Lady Lyra could remember of this day, she had come too in her offices some days later, but the dream kept on, there was more.

Lab Tech 2
"As per your request to make it a true copy, it will require the final stage. If you wish it is to be a full copy, it must take your soul. And you know what this means."

real Lyra nodded,
"Yes and I am ready, I signed the Euthanasia forms this morning. You may begin."

The lab techs nodded and led her back to the odd thrown. She sat down on it once more.

Lab Tech 1
"We will inject you with a toxin, once your body has died, your soul must find its way to the copy. That we can not help you with. This is your last chance to say no, do you wish us to proceed."

Real Lyra was crying, there was a real pain on her face, guilt, and heartache. She nodded and the lab tech injected her. After a few moments, she slowly closed her eyes. Painlessly she died.

Lady Lyra looked on, as the lab techs went and sat down at a desk, doing paperwork. Then from the body of real Lyra came a ghost-like form. It hovered up and started to move to the copy's body then stopped as it seemed to become aware of Lady Lyras dream form. It smiled a sad smile.

Ghost of real Lyra
"She was my love you see, and I had to leave her behind, There was no other way, it was that or the death of 1000s, but the loss, the pain every day the pain, seeing her the other side of the airlock. we kissed the glass and then, She was my life, my all and I let her die. This is a better way, forgotten, all the pain gone. Our love erased. And you will never have to feel such pain. Love, hate, loss will have no meaning to you. It's better this way I hope you understand"

Then another sad smile and Ghost of real Lyra moved and entered the new body of Lady Lyra the Andriod

Lady Lyra looked on and she felt a sudden heartbreaking pain for the 1st time she had a sense of unbearable loss. The loss of her humanity. She started to cry, sobbed she become aware of another. Looking over she saw Arlo looking at her, he was here in her dream, but how? Still the pain and more hurt racked her being. She fell to the floor.

Once the personal dreams resolve, the party walks into the dream plateau of the Oomsatta. Here, a significant portion of the tribe can be found each night, between 1/3 and 1/5 on average.

The various Oomsatta are quite struck by foreigners who barely arrived in the area now in the dream plateau, even with the Earth Speaker and the Hetman having announced the decision the night before. So party will receive as many friendly questions about themselves as they can take.

At one point, the beast speaker briefly speaks with the group, noting how the fate of dragons and Oomsatta are strongly interwoven.

Note any further discussions you'd like to have in the dream plateau. You may describe your plans or wait until they are more concrete.

Next, the party leaves the dream plateau and spend some hours in ordinary, restful sleep - except for Lyra, who goes directly into wakefulness. The rest of the party wakes and you proceed out on the hike to the Western Ice wall separating Oomsatta land from the mountains and glacial road leading to the kind lands. Your walk leads you past green grassland, thin ash and alder trees, around the steep hill known as "The Triangle" and past the Western-most village known as Kashnon - where you now know people, despite not having previously visited. On arrival at the Ice wall, you note that it is indeed melting fairly rapidly.

Between Rollo, Partitosh and Arlo, you find a hiding spot and Rollo is able to set the device to keep the weather colder and snowier, giving you four months to work with.
Could get a survival and a spell craft how well the device is hidden from normal and magical sense.

Retracing your steps, you go past Kashnon and back skirting The Triangle. As you do so, Arlo's sword once again tingles and he senses a spirit for a short time following you but now it fleeing up into the steep hill. The spirit has no visible form, you notice it through a slight distortion in the air, a hint of irrational panic or anger when you stare at that spot.

You may follow the spirit into The Triangle but everyone but Paritosh will have scramble up the steep, trackless hill (roll survival). Alternatively you can proceed back and make deal to join Armaund's expedition. As usual, any character can post a decision.

Rollo converses with as many of the Oomsatta in the Dream as he is able; concerning dragons and the Forge. The Sage has a theory.

Spellcraft (Int): 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (3) + 28 = 31
Investigative Mind Spellcraft (Int): 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (10) + 28 = 38

Western Ice wall

Rollo follows the ranger through the icy wilderness. The dhampir doesn't feel the cold, but he isn't foolish enough to traverse this terrain without their resident expert.

Having great confidence in their mission being completed here, the Sage prepares to travel back.

Once the more perceptive members of the group notice the Invisible Stalker? trailing them in the wilderness, the Sage recommends that Arlo and Paritosh begin to hang back to lure it into a false sense of superiority.
Perhaps, it will develop its own trap for us to spring?

The dhampir smiles.
I do have a spell to allow for us to see it more easily. I just need to know its approximate location.

Glitterdust

When they got to the dream plateau of the Oomsatta, Lady Lyra is more her old self. She talks to whoever comes to talk to her. Asking questions of the Dragons and Oomsatta.

Deplomacy 1d20 + 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (20) + (5) + 10 = 35

When the dream is over she opens her eyes and can see the others are sleeping. She does not move for fear of walking them so sits and thinks about what she or her prier self had done. Somewhere deep down pain and been removed, there had been a reason for being like this. Love and the pain of losing love had been that reason. She did not like it be she could understand it. And that gave her hope that one day she could find a way to really reawaken her soul and truly feel once more. She had in the dream and yes it had been painful but she had felt, really felt.

-----------

As they got ready to make their way to the ice wall she got her things ready, Her internal systems let her body deal with cold to a point. So she was not overly Burdened. If the plan worked they would get 3 possibly 4 mouths more protection from the ice wall. That time would be needed to find a way to save this tribe. The going was hard at times but with a guide, they made good time.

Survival 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Then Arlo spotted something, Rollo has a plan so she nodded, let's do it

She reached down and unclipped her holsters, while powering up she force Shield.

Slight of hand 1d20 + 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (3) + (6) + 8 = 17

Earlier, in the dream space.

The beast master describes a variety of details concerning the dragons.
They are the authentic sons and daughters of the earth, the wind and the fire. They willful, long lived, greedy, childish and egotistical. Still, each is unique. Some inclined to great evil, most merely live according to their own code. Their greatest rages and grudges can be with others of their kind, and they remember grudges from hundreds, maybe thousands, of years before.

They are naturally magical creatures and some learn much of the magic of the Oomsatta or the humans.

The Oomsatta try to maintain distant but cordial relations with the dragons that immediately surround their land. He can tell you of some these but later.

...

All of the party besides Rollo being notably comfortable in the wilderness, Arlo and Paritosh are indeed able to double back and lure the thing to approach - which it does, but in different direction, managing to approach the party from behind, maybe 75 feet behind Rollo.

The aura of the thing is disturbing (just below will-save levels, for now), a combination of fear, anger and stomach churning disorientation.

When Rollo casts his spell, the thing appears in outline, shifting from the vague form of Filaman to an outline resembling Rollo (back and forth). Despite the light of the spell, the thing doesn't seem to react - clearly, it is some variation of incorporeal things viewing the world through life sense. Arlo's sword has a soft vibration to it.

She opens up her revolver changing the rounds to blessed ones.

Kn ALL 1d20 + 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (16) + (3) + 10 = 29

"Now what have we here"

Arlo tries to follow Lady Lyra's eye-line to see where she's looking.
Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18

During the entire climb, Arlo noticed things off, he was looking at going out of focus and at the same feeling an approaching sense of dread. Noticing Lady Lyra's head turn, he looks behind his back to see ... nothing ... then to notice Rollo make a gesture and he can see a rough humanoid figure is illuminated in a shower of magical sparks, 75 feet behind the party, down the steep hill the group just climbed. The figure shifts from female to male and back again, the male version somewhat resembling Rollo.

Arlo gray sword is triggered, urging him to attack.

Now seeing the form she had studied it, then noting how Arlo's sword now acted.

"Alright, Let's take it, Ill Keep at rang"

She moved back and shot,

Revolver blessed round
RH RTA TH 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 11 + 4 = 23 DMG 1d8 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 4 = 6
LH RTA TH 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 4 = 31 DMG 1d8 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 4 = 11
RH RTA TH 1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 4 = 13 DMG 1d8 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 4 = 6
LH RTA TH 1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 4 = 23 DMG 1d8 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 4 = 9
Pos DMG 32 - All DMG is Blessed AC at 24

Her Revolvers blazed as she shot at the thing.

As Lady Lyra sets off her barrage, Arlo rushes forward and delivers a slice to the creature.
holy longsword: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 13 + 2 = 19
Dmg.: 1d8 + 3 + 2d6 ⇒ (8) + 3 + (4, 1) = 16

Not to be left out, Paritosh and Moonbeam charge, and swing left after their attack...

Lance +3 PA Mounted ChargeHit: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17
Lance +3 Damage: 3d6 + 45 ⇒ (5, 4, 2) + 45 = 56

Fighting through the gut-wrenching aura of dread, the party approaches the entity; Lyra fires, Paritosh sweeps past and finally Arlo with his gray sword wipes away most of the apparent substance of whatever this entity is.

As this point, the thing dissolves into something like a gigantic cloud. As is the standard pattern for such incorporeal suckers of souls, it momentarily looms menacingly above the party and then is swept away by a strong wind.

A bit of spellcraft might be able to extract some information about the thing, if done quickly.

Continuing the plan, the party then hikes all the way back to the village Merva to accept Armaund's offer of a place on his expedition. Arriving at Wolf House, you find two of Armaund's men playing darts. They introduce themselves as Regiald and Mortimor, big beefy freelanders, easily distinguished from the Oomsatta. They offer you some strong, spiced, stimulant tea and ask about your party in a friendly manner, Regiald comments, "You folks arrived yesterday from the East I remember yet rumor has it you're initiated into the tribe. And Armaund's quite eager to take you on the next trip. You folks make friends easily. Any trips you can share? Armaund should be back in half an hour, by the way" Looks at you with a mixture of admiration and curious.

At the fight

"Anyone has any idea what that was? Also, could it have been our shapeshifter?"

She walks around where it was, looking for footprints or any sign it could walk on the ground.
Perception 1d20 + 1d8 + 19 ⇒ (11) + (2) + 19 = 32

"My hope is, it did not follow us to where we were working on the ice. Right, once we are done here, let's keep on going, see what other surprises await us."

She seems a little less harsh since the dream fest, more dear it be said human. Whatever happened in the dreams seemed to have affected her.

------in pub---
Seeing the two
Perception 1d20 + 1d8 + 19 ⇒ (4) + (4) + 19 = 27

Then as she goes over.
Diplomacy 1d20 + 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (13) + (7) + 10 = 30

She sits with them. Takes the tea but drinks none.
She chooses to not respond to the questioning but the request.

"Well now my fine fellows, It's really not hard to makes friends. You just show interest in others. Look I will show you, A good start is to ask things like 'What have you been doing of late?'"

So she acts like they are starting from scratch.

"Hello there, nice to meet you, do you maid me asking, what have you been doing of late?"

She looks one waiting for them to answer.
Sence Motive 1d20 + 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (10) + (4) + 10 = 24

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (3) + 28 = 31
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (3) + 28 = 31

Post after work.

"My hope is, it did not follow us to where we were working on the ice. Right, once we are done here, let's keep on going, see what other surprises await us."

Arlo nods at the android's suggestion. "Yeah. Let's keep going."

At the icy wilderness combating a spooky, invisible entity, Rollo whistles in appreciation as the others make quick work of their stalker.

Once they arrive at Wolf House, Rollo relaxes. He eats, drinks the tea and makes conversation with the workers.

He does not divulge any important facts. But he will spin a fine and long yarn...lol.

Bluff: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24

On the foothills of the Triangle...(between G & E on the map)

As the creature vanishes, Rollo hastily analyzes the summoned creature, making a momentary link to its moment of summoning. Here, he sees a large laboratory with the functional architecture of a technological society - The Free Lands or The Kind Lands are where you know of. In the center of the building, alone, you see a large, lizard-like shape, scales nearly black but with hints of rust-red. Then the vision vanishes.

And at Wolf Cottage...

Regiald and Mortimor are happy to shift talk back to themselves. Since coming to Oomsatta land two and a half weeks ago, they've been training with Armaund for the mountain expedition, selling some of the goods they brought themselves and stocking up those Oomsatta crafts they expect to fetch a price back home. They've picked up rudimentary draconic in their stay. They're impressed by your obvious knowledge of dranconic and even ask you a few pointers.

Both the men are veterans of the Free Lands army and had some experience trading and exploring before Armaund recruited them. Armaund is legendary among trader and is very controlling and secretive. "He's sworn us to secrecy but then he's made sure we know no secrets to tell."

After about an hour of socializing around the tea, a loud rush of feet announces Armaund returning with four other of this men. He seem unsurprising to see the group and greats you all warmly.

"I'm glad you've returned. I don't know if you've decided to accompany yet but I would still be glad to have. Doubly since a new wrinkle has appeared. He takes out several pieces of shiny paper and shows the party the images of a series of tracks in snow. One of the pictures shows the half eaten body of one of the giant mountain goats you saw on your way here. I took the picture today, a couple of miles North of here. Any idea what it could be?

After that, he announces that he will be leaving in two days time and he hands you each walkie-talkies and compasses and asks you to learn how to use them in that time.

At a certain point, Elder Pantish, who you met when you first came to villages, also come to the impromptu party at Wolf cottage. After a drinking a bit of tea and trading pleasantries, she asks you to select your cottage and help get it ready. As new "associate" members of the tribe, you will be asked to learn at least of the tribes' skills (so hunting, sewing cloth and furs, cooking and other things).

...

You can ask Armaund more question, then ask around for tales of snow spiders if you don't make the roll. After that you can: ask talk with the Hetman or other notable a bit more, describe what tasks you'll do for the tribe, join Armaund when he sets off in two days or set off before him towards mount Folsh.

Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Arlo points to the tracks and asks, "Are those Irlgaunt tracks?"

----At Evil Spider----
She comes over and looks at he tracks

"Yes Arlo, they may well be..."

She takes some images of the tracks with one of her devices.

"Rollo, all I know is that Irlgaunt's are a kind of spider, do you know any more?"

She looks around here it died to see if it dropped anything.
Using her investigator talents.

Persepion 1d20 + 19 + 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 19 + (3) + 2 = 40

---In Wolf Cottage---

She waited as they talk about their boss but gives nothing out, changing the subject when they tried. Now she was intrigued. She heads to the bar to get them a round of drinks.

Whisper Rings
She tells the team what they said.

So it seems the guys working for Armaund know little about him other than he's reputation. But he has been training them, I think we should go on his little trip, he is a spy and we need to know what he is up to.

She heads back to the table and when Armaund makes his entrance she sits and informs him, that they would like to accompany him on his trip. Half cash upfront the rest in completion. She thanks him when he hands over the comms and Nav devices.

When he shows them the images she looks them over but also studies the means by which the images were made.

KN ALL 10+10+5=25
Kn Eng 1d20 + 1d8 + 17 ⇒ (9) + (1) + 17 = 27

As the night comes to an end she heads to their new accommodation.

Stealth: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19 +2 Urban

"A snow spider."

-------------

"Lyra, I don't mean to sound dumb, but I don't understand all of this 'tech' either. I'm not affected by dragons, at least I don't think I am!"

On the foothills of the Triangle

Rollo studies the apparition. The sorcerer nods at his estimation of its origins.
Summoned by either the Free Lands or The Kind Lands. I got a glimpse of a lab but nothing to point in which direction.

He then smiles.
Oh, and a dragon is there too. I wonder which side has a dragon?

And at Wolf Cottage...

Rollo enjoys the hour of relaxing and talking. The dhampir willinstruct the two gentleman a bit in draconic, as time allows.

At the discovery of the snowy Irlgaunt; Rollo frowns.
That seems to be a busy section of terrain.
knowledge?: 1d20 ⇒ 19
Knowledge?

In the Cottage later

Rollo is intrigued by the tech; but, he just listens.
Are we certain that both Factions have dragons? By the scene I seen; at least one does.

She looks at Paritosh and then the others, most looked at her as if she was talking in another language.

"I have changed this magic talking device. My hope is we can scry on the sound communications of others"

She replies to Rollo.

"I suspect that given Dragons have long lives, are highly intelligent and devoutly manipulative. We have been told some can shapeshift to humans like I suspect Armand did and some manipulative human. Both sides are in fact controls by dragons. That this"

She waves her hands to mean their mission.

"Is aimed at thwarting the plans of Dragons"

she thinks a moment

"The good news is I doubt they have Nuke or Anti-Matter weapons, then this really would be one hell of a blood bath "

A look inside the radios reveals an electromagnetic device functioning somewhat unusually - yet Lady Lyra's technological know-how easily converts the radios into a wide band scanner, capable of picking discussions on all channels that might be used by similar devices and determining their location.

The deal is made. Armaund offers the party a weight of gold equal to 2,000 gp total now and another equivalent when they return. Also, a share of all the mining proceeds from any deposits the party finds.

After the entertainment, the party makes an early night of it, having walked far, fought and discussed much. Elder Pantish sets you up in Hawk cottage, a cottage of similar size to Wolf Cottage and also often used by traders. It has the traditional Oomsatta arrangement; the roof is open in the center and the smoke of brazier goes. The brazier burns wood and is used for both heating and cooking.

Party goes to bed and sleeps dreamlessly (dream time is better not be to indulged in every day). The next day, Pantish seeks out the party and gives you a detailed course in the crafts, food and hunting styles of the Oomsatta. While you ca beg a bit of time for yourself, this and getting ready for the trip takes up most of the day. That night, Hetman Ranon visits the party in dreamtime. He says; "Rumor has it that you are leaving with Armaund tomorrow. We have great faith in your group to find a way to avoid the apparent war with our neighbors. Still, it would be good know your plans. Do you seek The Forge Of The Earth on this journey?".

However you answer, I assume the plans continue.

The next day, you get up and meet Armaund and his men and set to the edge of Oomsatta land, laden wit supplies. You will be crossing a wide plateau cut by a few hills and some deep chasms that lead to mount Folsh. It was in this general area that Armaund took his photo of the snow spider.

Going over the top of one small hill after a couple of miles, Armaund surveys the terrain, "It snow heavily, just yesterday. The going is going to be more heavy. This is where we will be grateful for our winged companion. Looks at Paritosh."Can you scout from above for us?" He asks also for help from Arlo in scouting and finding a safe path.

Meanwhile, as soon as Rollo catches sight of mount Folsh, he feels a magical presence. Is it probing the group? Simply there. Roll spellcraft..

spellcraft: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (11) + 26 = 37

Happy with her work on the communications device, she met with Armaund and the deal was none. It has come cavities like she ran her team.
She would judge what was a stable risk and she would say who got what of whatever they found.

She told the others what they had agreed.

"We keep the 2000 and we don't spend it, If I deem this venture, not to our liking, we hand him the coin back and we are out, agreed?

Then she spent the day getting ready with the others. Checking her pack and all the items in it. She did not need to carry as much food and water as them, but still, she had ingestible that helped her replenish her polymers and lubricants. She took out two cases and checked the contents. Her pack seemed miraculous as far more came out of it than could possibly fit in.

That night as the others slept she sat and went into power-down.
The others she knew would dream but for her, she was happy for them to come back and tell her what was said.

Then as they met up with Armaund she said.

"Armaund, May team, does what I say, You tell me I tell them"

Then she goes over and inspects each of Armaund men.

"Show me what you're armed with, so I know what resources we have?"
Those the show her she insects, those that do not she still checks out with a glance.
Perseption 1d20 + 1d8 + 19 ⇒ (14) + (4) + 19 = 37

When happy she sets out.

Going over the top of one small hill after a couple of miles, Armaund surveys the terrain, "It snow heavily, just yesterday. The going is going to be more heavy. This is where we will be grateful for our winged companion. Looks at Paritosh."Can you scout from above for us?" He asks also for help from Arlo in scouting and finding a safe path.

When the two do not move Lady Lyra says.

"Paritosh, if you please"

To Arlo she just nods to as if to say, if you're happy to.

She then stands next to Armaund and takes a scope form her pack, she holds it to one eye and scans the horizon.

"Rollo, what do you think?"
She hands him the scope.

That night, Hetman Ranon visits the party in dreamtime, asking questions. Rollo defers to Lady Lyra in these discussions.

That morning (and every morning they are out in the wilderness) Rollo uses his Wand of Endure Elements are the group.
Subtracted charges when we first arrived here....lol.

Rollo accepts the scope. He casts Levitate, rising 100 feet into the air to look around with it.
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
He relays his findings via Message/Rings.

It seems that Oomsatta didn't think about Lady Lyra not sleeping, so Rollo must relay the Hetman's message in the morning.

Armaund's six men well trained, maybe 3-4th level gunslingers, armed with WWII-level level guns, knives and hand grenades with a couple flame throwers.

Rollo senses the emanations from mount Folsh and analyzes them. They seem like a broad scrying device, a device that is not currently being used but could be.

...

When Rollo rises into the air, Regiald sucks in his breath and a man whose name you don't know crosses himself. Armaund looks his group and says "quite wondrous, you think? You'll see much more before this trip is done. Calm yourselves.".

Looking from on high, Rollo is able to see three paths winding along the wind-shadow of the hills in the plain. Once he gets down to the ground, Armaund questions Rollo carefully about the paths. He suggest the central path since it seems most open. This seems like the obvious choice and the group continues. The group alternates between the party keeping up the front and you taking the rear.

The going is fairly easy for a bit, you successful skirt most of the snow and only have to beat your way through six foot drifts on three occasions. Armaund suggests Rollo take the lead here - he won't risk falling in a hidden crevasse. Conviently, you find no crevasses here.

So early afternoon, you round the side of one hill and see ahead of you - a group of eight giant mountain goats browsing on the trail ahead of you. They give the group an unfriendly glare and assume the defense formation you saw earlier. At maybe fourteen feet tall at the shoulder and ill-tempered looking, they seem like serious barrier.

Armaund has his men ready their rifles and walks over to your group - "What say you? Would a volley send them fleeing or provoke a charge? Should we force them aside or beat our way through the snow around them? I know these animals have no fear of men. This is how things around in the mountains."

Lady Lyra Looks at the others

"Sugestions?"

Arlo gets up closer to see the dire goats, and a small smile rises from the dwarf's lips. "Ah! Haven't seen any dire goats in years. It would be a shame to engage them if we don't have to." The dwarf looks up to Rollo. "See any other way around?"

Knowledge Nature (Int): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31

Rollo studies the large goats from afar.

Well, I could--if a bit closer 45' cast a spell that would Slow them, so that we may pass without a serious confrontation?

The Sage then looks to Paritosh.
This outdoors stuff is more your area though. Can you Track us a safe way around?

Just I'll use "group" for everyone and "party" for just the four PCs.

Conveniently, the snow on one side of the wind-blown path is high enough to mostly hide Arlo as he approaches. One thing he notices is that the goats are very intent on eating whatever it is in the path; he'd guess either their favorite form of mushroom or some recent carrion. They're dug in, determined not to leave this spot until they've eaten their fill.

As Arlo moves for a closer look, the rest of the group considers their options. Armaund moves to the front to speak to with Lady Lyra.

"Do you folks have any variety of more showy magic to scare these creatures? I am thinking we could wade a short distance into the snow, move behind those shrubs next that rise and shoot at the stuborn beast till they give way. I assume you all have either guns or magic. It's shame to waste the ammunition, not to mention grenades."

Rollo recalls his text on interplanar megafauna; these seem like a particularly aggressive breed, omniverous and prone to attacking with little provocation. The defensive formation they've taken is a warning. They may charge.

She looks sideways at Armand

"You're men have grenades do they not? We can go to one side as you suggest and clear them with thouse."

Seeing his response was going to be negative she grunted.

"Thought as much, OK all of you stand well back and cover your faces, DO NOT breath the gass."

She opens her back and pulls put the parts to make this weapon

Taking a drum of some kind along with it, she checks it and clicks it unto what looks to be larger from of her revolver. Then attaching her scope she flips on a device at the front.

Standing back she checks the wing, then takes aim at the area the beasts are in.

"Once I hit them, they are not going to be able to see well, so watch out when they bolt."

She then raises her weapon to take into account the arch needed.

There is a low popping sounds as the odd large revolver shoots a canister up and into the middle of the circle. You can see it arch up and drop, gas coming out of it.

RTA 1d20 + 11 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 11 + 4 - 1 = 21 Range 200' so-1

Once forced she waits to see if she needs to shoot another.

Armaund nods, slowly "Move back enough and to the best cover this area offers, then spook them sufficiently. Mind you, these are ill tempered things. I'm not sure why they haven't charged already." His men are staying ready to shoot as they get ready to move - which would slow them down if they move.

I'm assuming the party has Arlo's observation, that they're staying where they are because 'cause they seem to really like what they're eating.

Assume Lady Lyra's last actions happened last, since only I read her previous post when I posted Armaund's action.

Edited action because of cross over post from GM

She holds and does not fire, looking at Armaund she says

"Arlo, Rollo, Paritosh, They may be protecting more than just food, they may have young or pregnant females. See how close you can get I want to know for sore, if they have young they will not spook they will fight."

Armaund directs his men to backup along the path, keeping a bead on the goats (his men will fire at the same target if the party opens fire ). The party studies the goats intently - some are feeding intently and others stare back at the party, stamping their feet and raising and lowering their horns.

After a moment, one of the largest, an older male goat with gray in it's main, steps forward and give a deep, echoing "Baaaa", aiming to intimidate the party but not charging still.

As it steps away from the group, you can see that the creatures are indulging themselves on a giant carcass ... of a dragon.

Perception 1d20 + 1d8 + 19 ⇒ (11) + (4) + 19 = 34

She does not react. She brings up her force fields to protect her and then fires the gas rounds into the pack, two one in front of them and one into the pack, to discourage them from coming their way.

"Pop,pop"

then a "HISSSSSSS"

As the chocking white gas comes out. She holds her weapon ready in case she needs to shoot some more.

Paritosh and Moonbeam gladly take on the role of scouting, as requested...

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26 +2 Urban, +FE Bonus

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Rollo saves the information for a less pressing moment. The dhampir begins to cast a spell; centered on the dragon carcass.

Cold and Bludgeoning: 5d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 6, 4, 4) = 18

The dhampir than moves 30' closer to the edges of the area.

Lady Lyra's grenade goes off, followed by Rollo's ice storm.

Through the haze, two goats, the old goat and another large male, come charging through. Arnauda's men fire but in the confusion, only one connects, with the older goat. The goats continue running forward, the old goat stooping to try to gore and knock down Arlo. The dwarf keeps his feet but takes 15 point of damage. The other goat charges with ten feet of the rest of the party and bellows angrily.

In the background, you can see the other goats 30 feet and again take their defense posture. They are about 20 feet off where the path continues but they seem quite angry still (naturally).

"Oof!" The dwarf gets rammed by one of the dire goats. Not really given an alternative, Arlo attacks his ramming opponent.
+1 Dwarven Waraxe: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
Dmg.: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

She stakes out the drum and fits a new one.

TH 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 11 + 4 = 33

"Over your eyes!"

This time a flashbang in the new formation.