Quest for the Frozen Flame - PF2 AP by DM Doctor Evil

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

The ledge that Ardissa and dwarves occupy sits high above the very narrow pass between the Grandparents. The lines of sight are clear to anyone passing below, perhaps intentionally so.

It does not seem feasible to guide the following into the area between the mountains without the lady and her porters noticing.

"Upon further reflection, it does not seem feasible to guide the following into the area between the mountains without the lady and her porters noticing.

"Maybe we should just hide out and keep an eye on them and make sure they don't hurt anyone or take any of our mammoths when we come through?"

"I still think we need someone who speaks this ..civilized tongue to explain to them peacably." He tries to think of who speaks such

Any NPCs speak common ?

You don't know the language the stranger are speaking, so its hard to k now what language to ask those in the camp about. There are no dwarves in the following. You did rescue Harbinna Farwanderer earlier, did she join you in the following? You also recruited Shaggy Shemven the dwarf-like korred earlier. Could he be of help?

Yes, Harbinna joined us. "Let us try Harbinna. She is far traveled." And he will seek her out

"I will stay here and keep an eye on these strangers while you go for Harbinna."

Kheyji will try to hide herself from the strangers' view.

Her Stealth is +6 and she'll use Guidance to help find a good spot, if applicable.

Harbinna is with the following which is behind where you have scouted, so it will take some time for Hurik (and any who join him) to go and fetch Harbinna and return her to the campsite on the ridge overlooking the pass.

While Hurik hurries off, Kheyji tries to find a suitable location to keep the dwarves and their southron master in view, without being seen herself.
Along the opposite escarpment, Kheyji finds a small overhand, not really a cave, its too shallow for that, but she feels like she can sit in this space, and still see those above with some measure of cover, she thinks.

The rest of you can join one group or the other, or perhaps make your own way while waiting.

Diurn stays with the observation group.

While under observation, the group on the cliffside don't really seem to do anything interesting. They are purposefully making camp on a high observation point that covers the entire pass between the grandparents, and then apparently content to just sit and wait.

Kheyji makes it back to the following without incident, and Harbinna is happy to return and help translate should they have matching language skills.

Within a few hours, the small halfling woman is back with the scouts at the base of the cliff once again.

any thing different in approach this time?

Kheyji nods to Hurik when he returns with Harbinna. ”They are still up there. Haven’t moved.”

"We need to find a way to get everyone around without incident or stop them. Maybe something like creating smoke to obscure their vision of the following?"

"I cannot thank you enough, Harbinna. Perhaps I should learn this south tongue of yours. I am concerned these hunters will mistake the great beasts we rely on for open prey." A hunter himself he does not begrudge some hunting if one is hungry or needs to use the materials for their tribe but these folks came here to hunt and that ...complicates their reasons to Hurik's mind

Bounce it around as much as you like. LMK when you climb back up, if at all.

"Well, shall we go back up?" Kheyji asks, before setting off.

Diurn nods and continues up.

"Up yes." And he helps the halfling do so

Diurn invited the halfling to help and translate or help with the diplomacy.

Diurn heads up the hill. He felt being honest was the best way to proceed. He mimes that the four of them is with a 'large group' that includes 'large four legged animals' and pointing to his heart that these animals are very dear to the four of them and the large group.

He mimes that the hunters and the four of them should be 'smiling and happy together' rather than (shaking his no) 'fighting and mad at each other' as he mimes conflict.

Diurn makes it clear they will be with the hunters until the following passes by and they can share a good time together.

Hidden check I think Diplomacy +8

The group makes their way back up the switchback trail to the camp atop the overlook. The woman, Ardissa, is surprised to see them again. When it is apparent you have brought Harbinna to translate, she smiles and nods. When Diurn starts to mime anyway, she looks a little puzzled, and she verbally asks Harbinna a question.

"Why are you acting it out? I can talk their talk and translate, silly." says the halfling in jest. After more conversation with the lady, she says, "She wants to know if you have seen mammoths? She seems to think you have, after Diurn's performance."

"There are mammoths that are part of our following that are not to be hunted. They are coming soon, and after they pass you can resume your hunting. We will wait with you until this happens."

Diurn tries to be as diplomatic as possible.

When ARdissa hears the translation, that you do in fact know where mammoths are she beams, her whole countenance changing. She hurriedly speaks something to Harbinna, who tries to interrupt her, but the human woman moves insistently on.

Harbinna shakes her head and translates. :"She is pretty excited that you know where mammoths are. She mostly ignored the rest. She said she absolutely must have one as it will make a fantastic ornament in her manor. She is offering to buy one from you. She seems very pleased that Desna led you to her."

While Harbinna is relating the conversation, Ardissa moves to a strongbox in her encampment and begins pulling things out of it. When she returns, she has a small glass mirror, a lace handkerchief, a few copper coins, and half-full bottle of what looks like ink. She shoves this motley collection of things at Diurn, nodding and smiling in the most patronizing way possible. "This is more than enough payment," Harbinna translates crossly. "Likely more than these savages have ever even seen before."

Diurn emphasizes that no mammoths are for sale. In fact, hunting mammoths that are with them is not allowed. As a former shepherd of large mammoths, he will not allow any mammoths he has watched grow up be harmed.

He speaks to the group.
"This may get rough. Some do not understand our way of life."

Miriani rolls her eyes. "Tell her that savage does not mean stupid." But she holds out her hand almost immediately. "No, tell her that this wondrous bounty has earned her the rights to a squirrel."

Hurik frowns at this, He IS a hunter and sees no shame in hunting but... when he learns what a manor is, he blinks "Wait. They merely wish to kill it for... some ornament? They're not going to use every part of the mammoth? What kind of fools are these?" He asks his compatriots. Then a sly thought enters "Of course, My father, Horok, if he were still alive, would tell them of the GREAT Mammoth, the one five days travel 'that way'" He points to a direction that will be a colossal waste of time and will take the strangers far from them "The one that is 3 times bigger than anything we have? Great tusks bigger than..." He makes an expansive gesture.

Now, Horok was a notorious talespinner and often played a bit fast and loose with the truth for a good story. Hurik is not his father, but in this he wonders if Guile and sharing one of his father's old yarns might be better.

Diurn was not used to lying, but in this case it could avoid bloodshed.

"My huge friend here tells me of a great mammoth that would make an excellent trophy three days travel in this direction."

It is truthful, but probably a bluff Hoping Diplomacy +8 hidden but probably +4 deception untrained

Kheyji puts her hands on her hips. "Just tell them the truth! We don't want her junk and they cannot have one of our mammoths. If they want to hang around and try their luck with the burning idiots chasing us, that's their business. But our following is to cross unmolested, and we will defend ourselves if this group attempts otherwise."

Serenrae is a goddess of truth, so Kheyji's preference is straightforward.

Diurn looks from one of his new friends to the other. He sees the value of keeping his word. Once lost it is hard to find again.

He shrugs his hands at Hurik and tells the truth.

"Our mammoths are off limits, and you do not want to try us. We would much rather be friends and not get violent, but this is VERY important to us."

Diurn sides with their moral voice, he was good with people. The message they wanted to tell was Kheyji's to decide.

Hurik actually gives a most contrite look to Kheyji

As you are discussing, the outsider woman speaks again, this time with an obviously irritated air, waving her hands and frowning. Harbinna translates. "She says that you would be lucky to take what she offers or she will just find her own mammoth without you. She says she already found one, but she lost it somehow -- she says turned to stone -- and it killed one of her pets. I don't know what that means, do you?'

"You want me to tell her that she is not allowed to hunt here? I bet that won't go well..."

”She is not allowed to hunt OUR mammoths here.”

Diurn reflects on the arrogant attitude and his fondness for the mammoths he watched. He looks for confirmation and support from the others after saying:

”She won’t be hunting ANY mammoths here. Get ready for action Hurik. This is one we don’t let go.!!”

Hurik readies his maul and narrows his eyes. Perhaps the woman speaks THAT language. Then he remembers "There was a cockatrice and a stone mammoth before you joined our scouting party, Diurn." That he speaks of freely "We might want to warn this stranger of that. I doubt she wants to be turned into a statue herself."

Kheyji pats Hurik on the arm. "No harm done big guy. They annoy me, too."

When she hears about the mammoth and the cockatrice, Kheyji stiffens.

"That was her?!" Kheyji exclaims. "Oh, Goddess, this fool doesn't realize her pet was a damn cockatrice!"

To Harbinna, Kheyji says, "You're welcome to stand back with us when you deliver the news. But, yes, as Diurn says, we are saying she cannot hunt here if it's our mammoths she's hunting."

"I'll be ready if she takes the news badly." she says with a smile.

Harbinna translates, and you can see the venom spewing from the woman's words even if you can understand it exactly. "She says if you won't help her, then just leave it to your betters. She says she'll have you dragged off this cliffside if you don't leave now. I think she means to fight."

You can also at a signal the dwarf-porters stop their work and all begin to approach, hands dropping to picks they all seem to carry. It certainly looks like a fight breweing.

There is one more chance to de-escalate, but if you want to fight now, then roll your initiative. It might not be avoidable.

"You don't want any of this!!"

+8 diplomacy

Hurik readies for the fight but hopes for peace. And he makes sure he can't be 'Pushed' off the cliff easily.

Being playing too much Baldur's Gate 3. A lot of deaths by cliff side pushes! ;)

Diurn will attempt to get his bardic song started early now that combat seems likely. Flute in hand he wants his group inspired as soon as he can.

Kheyji shakes her head. "Oh, you vain and silly woman. Perhaps we can avoid killing them?"

Despite Harbinna's best efforts to relay the group's words diplomatically, you can see the lady boss is getting quite frustrated with the whole situation.

At a sharp word from her, Harbinna pulls back behind you and says, "She told them to attack....I am backing up. Sorry...."

True enough the dwarves close ranks, drawing their heavy picks and moving to interpose themselves between your group and Ardissa. The lady has a determined look as a fight breaks out.

Hunters Blind - Round 1

23 Yellow Dwarf
21 Blue Dwarf
20 Ardissa
20 Kheyji
15 Diurn/Wolf
14 Red Dwarf
9 Hurik
9 Miriani

Yellow Dwarf, pick in hand, advances and makes the opening attack at Hurik, quickly following up with another strike aimed at the barbarian. Both hits pierce Hurik, but the damage is relatively mild.

Blue Dwarf also steps forward, attack Diurn from one side with two blow from his pick. The bard takes one hit, but the other misses him by a wide margin.

Ardissa draws her rapier, and then begins casting a spell that sends bolts of force flying at both Kheyji and Wolf. Two strike each of the targets.

Hurik takes 7hp dmg, Diurn takes 3, Kheyji takes 8, and Wolf takes 4. Kheyji and Diurn/Wolf are up now.

Yellow pick: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Yellow Pick, 2nd attack: 1d20 + 7 - 5 ⇒ (16) + 7 - 5 = 18
Combined dmg to Hurik: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 2) + 4 = 7
Blue pick: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Blue pick, 2nd strike: 1d20 + 7 - 5 ⇒ (17) + 7 - 5 = 19
Piercing dmg to Diurn: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Kheyji force dmg: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 2) + 2 = 8
Wolf force dmg: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 1) + 2 = 4

23/26hp
Diurn continues to use a lingering song to inspire his friends.
perform: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
> inspire courage
Diurn then sprays colors hitting two of the dwarves.
Using top left corner as origin to use cone to hit dwarves yellow and red, hoping they aren't level 3 for triggering incapacitation

"You hunted your last mammoths."

You inspire your allies with words or tunes of encouragement. You and all allies in the area gain a +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects.

Hurik is wounded, but his concern is not for himself, "Get to safety, Harbinna! You've done all you can!"

Kheyji will cast Command on blue (2 actions), and Shield (1 action).

Kheyji looks at the dwarf in front of her and fire blazes in her eyes. ”Flee!” she commands.

DC 17 Will save.
- Success The creature is unaffected.
-Failure For the first action on its next turn, the creature must use a single action to do as you command.
-Critical Failure The target must use all its actions on its next turn to obey your command.

Regardless of whether that works, Kheyji conjures her translucent Shield, which shimmers in the air like heat haze on a hot day, in between her and harm.

Her AC is up to 18. She will use Shield Block (hardness 5) next time she's hit.

Hunter's Blind - Round 1 - continued

Diurn reacts to the dwarves assault by shouting at the invading hunting woman, inspiring his allies in the process. Then he triggers a spell on the nearby dwarves, trying to incapacitate them with swirls of color and pattern. Both the dwarves seem to shake off most of the ill effects of the Color Spray, but seem to be rubbing their eyes with the bright lights for a bit.

Kheyji spins up a spell that tries to take over the mind of the remaining dwarf. It appears she has charmed the dwarven servant, at least for a moment. Then Kheyji spins up a defensive force shield to protect herself from future attacks.

Filled with the urge to run, Blue Dwarf flees the battle, moving slowly across the plateau, then after a few seconds, it regains its senses, and Steps back into the battle line, swinging at the nearest foe, which is now Hurik. However, its attack misses badly.

Red and Yellow Dwarf are dazzled for 1 round. The rest of the party is up now.

Yellow DC 18 Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 Success
Red DC 18 Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 Success
Blue DC 17 Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 Fail
Blue Pick: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Miriani lashes out with her words at the one on the end, "Gazpacho Soup!" then follows it up with a blast of water.

intimidate vs red: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
attack, hydraulic push[dice: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
damage: 3d6 + 1 ⇒ (2, 5, 4) + 1 = 12

"Fine, fine, the dragon for you then..." Hurik is offended. These people kill just for trophies? They would ignore herd rights? They think a person's integrity can be purchased with coin? If this is civilization, he's glad to be a savage!

And maybe, just maybe, these people deserve to face his 'curse'.

Once more he draws forth the Dragon allowing it to fill him, his often stoic features growing cold, cruel, and eager for the pain he is about to inflict.

Action 1. RAGE! Icy dragon rage at that! -1 Penalty to AC, +4 Temp hitpoints, +4 Cold Damage to dmg caused

And now, surrounded by an icy aura , his maul comes crashing down on the foe before him.
Second action, first strike on Blue. Bardic bonus included 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
If that hits, Damage (Bard bonus inc) is: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13 (Plus 4 Frost damage)

Sweeping the maul around as if it were lighter than it is, he then brings it towards the dazed fellow in front of Diurn.

Third action, second strike on Yellow. Penalty included 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Dmg if that hits: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14 (Plus 4 more frost damage)

"You're soft!" He mocks them while the curse holds him, "You're weak! You're not hunters, you are mirror admiring southern doxies playing pretend! Now die for your vanity!"

Hunter's Blind - Round 1 -concluded

Miriani shouts at Red Dwarf, which spins to look at her with alarm and fright. She then pummels that dwarf with a blast of high-energy water, that completely mashes the dwarf, killing him outright.

For his part, Hurik has had enough. Instead of trying to be mild-mannered her releases the dragon, and icy crystals form in the air around him. His maul lashes out smashing the middle dwarf who looks pretty bad off. The second anger-fueled strike just misses braining the one on his left.

End of Round 1

One foe down, a few more to go.

Hunters Blind - Round 2

Bardic Performance active - 3 rounds

23 Yellow Dwarf (dazzled 1 rd)
21 Blue Dwarf (17hp dmg)
20 Ardissa
20 Kheyji (18/26hp)
15 Diurn/Wolf 23/26 hp; Wolf 5hp dmg)
9 Hurik (31/38 (+4) hp; raging 1 round)
9 Miriani

Despite not being able to see well, Yellow Dwarf doubles down on its attacks against Diurn after side-stepping a bit, but both attacks miss.

Blue Dwarf has taken a serious beating from Hurik, and looks quite anxious to be there suddenly. He takes one poke at Hurik, then steps back towards Ardissa, trying to put some distance between himself and the raging icy barbarian. Hurik bats the pick aside in his fury, and is undamaged.

Ardissa smiles. "Feisty! I like that!" She puts her fingers to lips and whistles sharply. The whistle is answered by a cry that sounds like a rooster being strangled from off to the party's right. She then casts another spell sending two unerring force missiles into Miriani.

Miriani takes 9hp dmg. With the Red dwarf dead, the entire party is up now to finish the round.

Yellow Pick vs Diurn, dazzled: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Yellow pick vs Diurn, 2nd strike, dazzled}1d20+7-5[/dice: 1d1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Miriani force dmg: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 3) + 2 = 9

Diurn sees the battle turning and steps five feet to the left.

He fires another wash of colors as he continues to inspire his friends.
>Step >>Cast color spray DC18 Inspiring courage 2 rounds left
23/26 hp Wolf at 4 damage suffered 2 level 1 slots expended

The colors wash over all three foes as Diurn lines then up.

As the colors from Diurn's hands wash over their foes, Hurik is aware of only one thing really. His prey is retreating. Hurik OUGHT to be concerned about Ardissa's confidence and whatever that whistle means, but while the dragon is upon him, he's more interested in the fear he's causing than tactics.

He pursues the one who fled, and attacks him.

Stride for first action.
Strike #1 for second action, on Blue. 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
If that hits. Dmg is 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 (Plus 4 frost damage)
Next action depends if blue dies or not. If blue dies, he strides on square over where blue was to be in Ardissa's fast. If Blue does not die, he gets a second strike. To hit would be: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Dmg would be 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16 (Plus 4 frost damage)