Round 7
”HOLD STILL NOW! IT’S LIKE YOU DON’T WANT ANOTHER HOLE IN YER HEAD!!” Mukluk yells at the carrot-stealing troll who, even in death, defies the noble dwarf.
Mukluk takes a moment from berating the corpse to examine the battlefield, and options to spit at orange before winding up again on the troll.
[ dice=Trepanator]1d20+3[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6[/dice] cold iron piercing damage
[ dice=MuleBite]1d20+5[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice=Divine]1d4+2[/dice] damage
[ dice=MuleKicks]1d20+5[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice=Force]1d4[/dice] damage
[ dice=Divine Mule Piss]1d20+5[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice]1d4+2[/dice] divine fire
touch to hit;
acid
With a spell, Mukluk offers the party 6 rounds of Moose-Zoomies.
touch hit;
fire damage
AC: 12/12/10 + 1 w/shield
Fort/Ref/Will: +3/+4/+10 +2 vs spells, poison
HP: 32/32
Resist 5 cold/acid
Focus: 0/3
Hero Points: 0/3
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
MuleFire: 0/7 used
"Enough of those tricks."
Durgan moves into the room and casts Invisibility Purge (30' radius, 2 encounters).
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Durgan starts the round by exposing the invisible in the room!
You see a most unusual creature (image), seen here with her melee weapon out - though currently she’s wielding a most destructive bow, with arrows aflame. She’s flying high, near the ceiling, in one of the upper alcoves, lining up her shot. She does not yet know she’s visible…
Though he’s insisting, he does not in fact challenge you. You may act freely.
- - -
Oni are a race of evil spirits, native to the Material Plane, that manifest physical bodies based upon the shapes and desires of humanoid mortals. In pure spirit form, an oni is nothing but a disembodied evil longing for the sins of the flesh. In this form, oni are harmless and invisible. The majority of these bodiless oni were once kami who failed their wards, or more often, who deliberately abandoned them. As punishment, they were stripped of their ability to form a physical body and then cast into the void. Rarely, a mortal creature’s soul can become a disembodied oni upon death, or in even rarer cases, after a truly evil individual has undergone a particularly vile ritual that ends in suicide. These oni are more often destined for positions of great power and strength than most.
- - -
vs DC 18 - and stuck!
Kisaiya’s eyes shoot up to the creature. She doesn’t recognize it herself, but Suishen’s voice in her head makes its identity clear: that’s an oni.
”Suishen-sama, I think now is the “later” for that air walk, should you feel so generous.” She calls to her comrades. ”It’s an oni!”
She calls down the power of the Empress of Heaven on the oni as she takes to the air, walking through the air up to meet the oni in battle.
HP: 51/58
AC: 25/13/22 (+4 all vs oni)
Saves: F9/R6/W9
Hero Points: 3
Smite Evil Used: 2/2
Lay on Hands Used: 0/5
Divine Bond Used: 0/1
Second Chance
Spells/Effects Active: Haste, campaign trait buff, barkskin, bulls strength, air walk, smite evil
[ dice]1d20+12[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+8+1d6[/dice] damage.
Durgan starts the round by exposing the invisible in the room! Rory attacks purple, and eviscerates the poor creature! Kisaiya leaps into the air, closing the distance and smiting the flier. She does provoke an AoO on her way out however. Mukluk sticks orange to the floor and severely hampers their combat abilities. Ameiko moves up on orange, still inspiring (+1) and swings with zoomies!
- - -
(inspire, haste)
(inspire)
(inspire, haste)
(inspire)
Ameiko hits twice, pleased she's doing well.
The ninja strikes back at Ameiko, unable to move effectively.
The Oni, faced with an angry Kisaiya, drops her bow and flaming arrows, drawing instead, Oathtaker - a clearly magical Tetsubo. It is banded in corroded iron, bearing brass studs that are embossed with wicked Tien characters of punishment and pain. She swings on Kisaiya.
Amazingly the opposition keep missing!
Oops! Missed a critical!
(inspire, haste)
(inspire)
Ameiko crits for even more damage!
Round 8
”What is that flying thing? It’s like a big ugly mule!” Mukluk notes the flyer when it can be seen.
With the zoomies wearing off and the party split, Mukluk tries to help in other ways. He offers the party the blessing of Moose.
[ dice=Trepanator]1d20+3[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6[/dice] cold iron piercing damage
[ dice=MuleBite]1d20+5[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice=Divine]1d4+2[/dice] damage
[ dice=MuleKicks]1d20+5[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice=Force]1d4[/dice] damage
[ dice=Divine Mule Piss]1d20+5[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice]1d4+2[/dice] divine fire
touch to hit;
acid
With a spell, Mukluk offers the party 6 rounds of Moose-Zoomies.
touch hit;
fire damage
AC: 12/12/10 + 1 w/shield
Fort/Ref/Will: +3/+4/+10 +2 vs spells, poison
HP: 32/32
Resist 5 cold/acid
Focus: 0/3
Hero Points: 0/3
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
MuleFire: 0/7 used
Durgan casts Shield on himself.
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Kisaiya raises Suishen up high for just a moment before slashing down upon the oni.
She swipes the sword to her side, the flames shooting off. ”You’re cooked.”
HP: 51/58
AC: 25/13/22 (+4 all vs oni)
Saves: F9/R6/W9
Hero Points: 3
Smite Evil Used: 2/2
Lay on Hands Used: 0/5
Divine Bond Used: 0/1
Second Chance
Spells/Effects Active: bless, campaign trait buff, barkskin, bulls strength, smite evil, air walk
[ dice]1d20+12[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+8+1d6[/dice] damage.
Shocked that anything could have survived that first blow, Kisaiya quickly resets her stance and slashes twice more.
Durgan shields up! Rory takes out the wounded ninja (though can he trip someone stuck to the floor by goo?). Kisaiya, in three painfully broad strokes, carves up the oni though it does take the third stroke to cause the large creature to fall from the ledge! Mukluk gives the blessings of Moose. Ameiko begins turning panels, seeking out other ninja. She finds one - whom the party easily pounds into the cold stone floor!
The oni, on the floor, still breathes. After a little time passes, she begins, again, to regenerate too. But the flames of Suishen can quash that, and I suspect the trepanater will be brought to bear…
Mukluk moves to coup de jerk both the oni and the carrot-stealing half-troll, just in case and so they don’t get back up.
coup d’jerk - Oni
coup d’jerk - troll
He will then look around at the rest of the ninja. ”So…I guess we can call the rest of these thugs ‘crONIes’, huh? Or Oni’s Cronies? Moose would know how to word it. He has a knack for things like that.”
And he will cast Detect Magic and give the area a careful search.
Perception
The oni had large masterwork armor, but aside from the difficulty getting it back is a bit tattered with age. Someone might buy it for a couple hundred gold as an artistic piece, but it’s likely not worth the hassle of dragging it back. If Moose were here he could haul it.
However, she also has a large Tetsubo +1, called the Oathtaker (link), which is very powerful in its own right (and worth 18,540gp, though you’ll likely only get half in town). You never questioned, well, anybody, so you didn’t get to see the results of the item in action. But it was there, thwarting you none the less!
She also had a very impressive large masterwork composite (+7) longbow. That for sure you’ll want to bring back, as unwieldy as it is (1,100gp). She also wore lesser bracers of archery (5,000gp).
Going back to the half-troll, Goti had little to call his own, sadly. A few trinkets of this and that, but nothing of real value. He died a pauper.
Still, Rory backs up and finds the door locked! Ameiko helps, and the two together find - a trap! The hard way… (sometimes taking 10 isn't enough!)
Reflex DC 17 for half
(heroism) for 12 damage
However, as the charred door swings slowly open, you see a veritable trove of valuables gathered into one place. Chests overflow with gold and silver ornaments. Crates hold trade bars of precious metals. Ornate, gilded drinking horns peek out of a burlap sack, and coffers spill forth gold and silver coins in quantities rarely seen in this part of the world.
Three chests, each weighing 50 pounds, hold gold and silver brooches and arm-rings worth a total of 2,100gp.
Five crates hold copper trade bars stamped with the rune of the Rimerunners Guild. There are 20 trade bars in each crate, and each trade bar is worth 5 gp and weighs 10 pounds.
A sixth crate holds 20 silver trade bars, similarly stamped. These trade bars also weigh 10 pounds, but are worth 50 gp each.
There are total of 23 gilded drinking horns of various beasts, each worth 15 gp, and one made from an aurochs horn and set with citrines worth 135 gp.
Then some random coffers hold a total of 850 gp, 1,975 sp, and 3,000 cp.
There is also some miscellaneous gear piled up here and there, but nothing magical. Nope! I lied, there's a chipped +1 longsword among the other piles.
You are going to need a cart.
Let me know what you do with the oni.
Suishen makes his opinion clear to all by speaking, in a silvery deep tone, ”You must destroy it. It is evil, and its very words will twist your thoughts. Nothing can be gained from questioning it but party discord and division.”
”Kill it!”
Kisaiya listens thoughtfully, but does not follow the sword’s instructions. ”Ameiko is the one who is being targeted by these assassins. If she wishes us to question the oni, then I think we should.”
"What offer could we possibly make?
Would we really offer the oni its life if it answers our questions? Or are we going to kill it regardless?
I do not believe that turning it over to the authorities is a viable option. It is a shapeshifter with magic of deception, extensive political connections among those same authorities, and perhaps some persuasive powers as Suishen implies.
I recommend killing it now, since I don't see what offer we can make and I don't think we can risk leaving it alive."
Durgan casts a spell and racks his brain.
"Onis are shapechangers. I think this was Thorborg Silverskorr. She went behind a screen and then we saw this thing, without seeing Thorborg escape anywhere.
If she did escape, we are in grave danger; I don't know how we would return to Kalsgard."
”Yeah, we’re gunna need a cart, or an extra mule at least, or two,” Mukluk says, not looking forward to having to deal with a jealous Moose around other mules. ”But we gotta get paid. Ain’t that right?”
He does wait to hear from Ameiko, but also thinks the oni needs some additional skull holes.
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”I think you are all thinking a bit too rationally. People might say something because they are offered something, or they may talk because people like to talk. Defeated foes may like one last chance to spit in the face of the victors, or to go out gloating about how their allies will make this triumph moot. There is just so much we don’t know right now.” She sighs and her remaining eye gazes off to the distance. She hates being the arbiter of someone’s life, even when they are a villain. It’s all so much easier in combat, when there is no time for thought. She knows death is not the end, but it also does not feel like a triumph either. Evil always comes back because the outsiders never die and the mortals just go to become outsiders. She always hesitates when there is a chance to talk because there is still some vain hope in her that something will stick, that perhaps she will say something that sticks with them, or even that they will see how sad she is to do this and give pause. She knows it’s stupid, perhaps even dangerous, but she doesn’t know how to be otherwise. It probably doesn’t matter anyways. She should save her energy for more important things. ”But the group seems to favor simple execution though, which I will honor should Ameiko also agree.”
Ameiko hesitates and considers thoughtfully, listening to the advice of the group before making a decision. "I think Durgan is right. The oni is apparently a shapechanger, uncontrollably evil, and has been Thorborg Silverskorr - possibly for some time. We might convince the authorities that this" she gestures to the ugly oni creature, "...is capable of great evil. But probably not Thorborg. It would be our word against hers. Outsiders against an established insider."
"I am also uncomfortable questioning someone we're going to kill anyway. Feels wrong somehow, you know? If we hope to prevail, and not be run out of town before resupplying properly and obtaining a guide for our journey, Mukluk should use his weapon and end it."
"Best be done with it." She adds looking to Mukluk and Kisaiya (for fire to stop the regeneration) to complete the deed.
She adds, "One of us, perhaps Rory as he's the swiftest, should summon one of our wagons here while we painstakingly shift these chests and coffers down the staircase. There may be others in this fortress or nearby who would love the opportunity to claim this hoard for themselves - or at least as much as they can carry."
”As you wish.”
Kisaiya takes a stance and slashes through the oni’s neck in one stroke.
”Oh good, Ameiko. You think like Moose does, you do. That’s for sure. Clear thinking.” Mukluk seems bouyed by her thoughts.
Kisaiya takes a stance and slashes through the oni’s neck in one stroke.
Mukluk moves over to still give the oni’s brain the benefit of an extra air hole, just in case.
He wretches his pick out of the hole and will help clearing out the last rooms and then load and store the goods.
”You have done well, and even in the short time we’ve been together.” There’s a pause.
”Yes, I think this will work. Ameiko didn’t want you to worry, but this has been a trial period. And you have succeeded. It will be my pleasure to work with you as we take out the Oni threat.”
Resist energy (cold) 3/day becomes protection from energy (cold) at will. Cast at 20th level, that’s Protection from Energy (cold) 120hp for a full dungeon. Suishen won’t replenish it every few hours, so it’s not always on, but you can certainly make it part of your preparations as much as you like.
- - -
- - -
The door across from the treasure room is also locked, but not trapped thankfully. Boxes and sacks lie neatly stacked in this chamber. Shelves holding orderly bins have been built into the walls. A wooden locker stands beneath the shelves. Despite the seeming order to this room, a faint charnel reek underlies the place.
Digging in a bit reveals hard loaves, fine cheeses, and dried fruits and vegetables - all really good stuff. The bins on the shelves hold quality spices and seasonings, many imported from Tian Xia too. The locker beneath the shelves holds the carcasses of game animals and even the limbs of a few humanoids in various states of decomposition—true delicacies for the oni’s palate.
The limbs aside, this’ll really set the caravan in good stead for the journey. You’ll still need more of course, but this is a great foundation. Better bring two wagons…
Oh, and you find a very fine case of Korvosan wine along with two flasks of aged sake imported from Minkai. Ameiko suggests, ”While these would fetch a heavy price on the open market, I suggest a party tonight in celebration of our good fortune! The whole caravan should enjoy some of the spoils I think - do you agree?”
- - -
The passage beyond the southeast door carries a noticeable chill. Around the corner stand two pairs of heavy wooden doors, both secured with large locks. You would have found keys on the oni.
Storm's hackles go up and the more perceptive of you hear a low growl coming from somewhere ahead - or maybe behind one of the locked doors. A low, menacing growl.
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"Abadar grants me the ability to cast either Floating Disk or Shield every day. I rarely would consider the former option, but now I am regretting my daily choice a bit."
Durgan appreciates the orderly bins of foodstuffs. Even nefarious guilds of assassins can understand the need for competent organization and well-designed storage solutions.
"Whatever you think best, Ameiko. A party is fine. I can conjure food and drink if needed, so starvation is not a high risk."
It sounds like a wolf to Rory, but in a lower register than he's heard out of any wolf.
” I suggest a party tonight in celebration of our good fortune! The whole caravan should enjoy some of the spoils I think - do you agree?”
”Oh yeah, that’s a swell idea your highmajesty. That’s a good plan. Moose will be delighted, indeed,” Mukluk brightens notably at the suggestion that Moose’s efforts might be appreciated and that the success would be shared. ”We’ll need to get all this packed up good. Good food will make the miles go by quickly.”
While exploring the rooms, Mukluk will occasionally cast Detect Magic and scan about, not wanting to miss anything of interest.
* * *
”Did you hear that, Roresy? Was that Stormsy or something else?” Mukluk asks, worrying that something else might be around to threaten the party. He readies his wand.
- - -
Inky darkness fills the inside of this chamber, along with a stale, fishy smell mixed with the stench of unwashed bodies. The sound of dripping water and a low moan echo through the still air.
Light is brought, and you see a northman, shivering against the cold, stripped half naked and lying, beaten, in the dark.
Now that you see Ulf in the flesh, beaten and starving though he is, you recall a little information about him. He’s served as a guide over the Crown of the World for several years now. He’s one of only a few to do that successfully, and possibly the only one not in the Rimerunner’s Guild, as he is somewhat independent minded.
- - -
"Ulf Gormundr! We are glad to have found you."
Durgan will heal Ulf.
"Although I lack the magic to protect you against the cold all day, this shall do for a while until we can find you warmer clothes."
He casts Communal Resist Energy (Cold) with Ulf as the only target.
"There are bread, cheese, and dried vegetables in the next room. Let us get you some food."
”Oh, is that Ulf? Very good. Very good to find him,” Mukluk moves in to help the man. He will offer some divine piss to help with the man’s wounds: healing.
”Don’t you worry, we’ll get you patched right up,” he says, adding what limited help he can. As Durgan offers, he will take Ulf to get food, if the man can eat.
”Can you tell us what happened to you? Why were you a target, Ulf?”
Ulf is in sorry shape, but the spells, and equally important, food and drink, revive his spirits. ”Well who are you now to be saving an old hack like me?” he manages a slightly bloody smile. ”And how do you know me?”
He sits up, no longer shivering and still munching on some hard cheese, though he has a tender tooth so he's careful. ”Thorborg and I don’t see eye to eye, and this is her payment for such a transgression I suppose.” He’s goes on to say that the Rimerunners Guild has been pressing people into service of late, and he isn’t interested in that sort of work. By remaining independent, he got some decent jobs from folks who were uncomfortable with the guild and how it operated, but it also meant hassles from guild members. He supposes that eventually they got tired of him and just stuck him in here. He expected to rot here, and so is rather appreciative of your releasing him.
Kisaiya offers the service of her cooking implements for use as plates and utensils. ”Would you believe me if I said we are adventurers traveling across the Crown of the World to Minkai in order to return a long lost heir to the throne?” She smiles her slight smile.
Kisaiya offers the service of her cooking implements for use as plates and utensils. ”Would you believe me if I said we are adventurers traveling across the Crown of the World to Minkai in order to return a long lost heir to the throne?” She smiles her slight smile.
Ulf laughs, "Well, no. But I'll not look a gift horse in the mouth. Say, where am I anyway? Been in and out of it for the last few days."
Smiling at the man, Rory let Storm approach a little closer, just enough to sniff but not lick. Chuckling at Kisaiya's comment, Rory adds, "Seems like a lot of folk may not have agreed with Thornborg especially if they see her now. I'm Rory and this is Storm, we were told you'd be on old Snorri’s funeral ship, but didn't find you."
Pausing for a second he nods back towards the other door, "You know any reason they'd have a wolf locked up across the hall?"
He nods by way of welcome when Rory shares his name. "Snorri's men is the ones that captured me I think. Wore his arm rings at least."
"I heard Thorborg tryin' to train it. But only through the door - I never did see it. Didn't sound like she had much luck though."
Mukluk doesn't have any additional questions to ask at the moment, but will introduce himself.
"I'm Mukluk. My friends are good. And then there is my friend Moose, who is very very good. He's back at camp guarding the caravan. I think he'd like to meet you, I do."
This dark cell is cold enough to cause breath to fog. Gnawed bones, animal waste, and tufts of white fur litter the floor.
”Boy, I won’t tear your flesh from your bones if you release me. My solemn promise.” is heard from the darkness. As your light pierces the cell, you see… a wolf. But a large beast the likes of which you’ve not seen before. This bear-sized wolf has white fur and a rime of frost around its muzzle. Its eyes are pale blue, almost white in color.
Winter wolves are larger, smarter, more ferocious variants of worgs with white fur and a deadly breath weapon. A typical winter wolf is 8 feet long, stands 4-1/2 feet tall at the shoulder, and weighs about 450 pounds. Winter wolves will often ally themselves with frost giants, hill giants, and other large humanoids, serving entire tribes of giants as both scouts and guards.
- - -
Mukluk moves back to give Rory room to get eaten by the wolf, as requested. He's somewhat hesitant, but also trusts his friend not to scream too much if it doesn't turn out well. And also to call for help if he needs it.
After a time when there are no screams coming, he will creep forward to see what is what.
Know (Arcana)
"Oh, that's a winter wolf. But it probably just calls itself a wolf and all the rest are 'hottie wolves' or some such, that is, if it calls itself a wolf at all, maybe it thinks of itself as a 'Robert' or 'Henry' or some name that is ridiculous to us, but means something to it," Mukluk opines, trying not to force his dwarvenview onto the clearly intelligent creature.
Mukluk will move out of the way to give the creature room to flee if that is what it wishes.
Durgan likewise makes some room for the creature.
"I've heard of such things. Despite appearances, this is no wolf, as evidenced by the fact that it speaks."
Durgan has doubts about the creature's trustworthiness, but will count on its intelligence and sense of self-preservation to avoid a fight.
Abadar forgive me for allowing this monster to go free in a settled land. But perhaps some Ulfen will cover himself in glory by slaying it.
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The winter wolf has little interest in the party, and bounds out of his prison readily. Upon seeing the deceased oni, he breathes on the body, freezing it in place - just to be sure. He then disappears up the stairs and, presumably, out.
Rory is able to ride back to town with some haste to obtain a pair of wagons from the caravan, to load up with the victuals and loot. The rest of the party checks the rooms one more time for any additional enemies before they begin the tedious and sweaty work of transferring the goods to the valley floor.
There are a handful of guards, and even another pair of ninjas to be found. However, the guards are not paid well enough and the ninjas are not tough enough, and so there is little to tell of those encounters.
Sandru Vhiski returns with Rory and two of his wagons. He, and his assistant driving the other wagon, help load the supplies as you make your way back to town. Between your haul and Durgan's blessings, you should not need much by way of supplies on your journey.
Ulf chats with you further, after obtaining his gear from one of the storage rooms. Oh, and that +1 longsword is his, or so he claims. It certainly fits the sheath found with his other stuff. Let me know if you do not release it to him. Geared up, Ulf (image) looks a little more impressive, though he still needs a few days to recover completely from his ordeal.
He’s curious about your story, and why you look to travel over the Crown of the World so late in the season. Most caravans have long departed to avoid the storms that occur there in the late summer. He seems to know something of the route and thinks you somewhat foolhardy for not waiting until next year to make the journey.
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"Ah Ulf, it seems like you're looking better," Mukluk comments as the man gets reacquainted with his possessions. "I'll not answer the question as to why we're going where we're going, but leave that to Ameiko if she wishes to share, or to Kiss'ya, because that's where the motivation is coming from. Mind you that Moose might have a different reason than the ones you'll hear from them, but that's not my business."
He will help load and pack, and look around for things to bring back to Moose, like some nice onions or the like.
Eventually, Mukluk will see to sorting and selling of the gear, in hopes he might buy something nice for himself and Moose.