Mukluk would not object to taking the Handy MoosesnackSack, and will leave the rest for others after identifying them.
"Ah, alright now, what's the next step?" Mukluk readies to follow others into the shadow lair (S8).
"I'd rather not loot the body of the high priestess on the bier.
But this apparent thief dead by the door? I think his equipment is fair game."
Nothing further creeps out of the priest's cell and final internment crypt. Ameiko eyes the clearly thieving tools - the googles and lockpicks. "Quite a combination." she says as her skills increase dramatically.
Where to next? There is a passage wide enough for the caravan to the north, but a side passage to the northeast that looks intriguing - though that would only be for the party as the wagons cannot traverse that path.
Do you, as an advance guard, investigate one or both passages? Or do you mount back up and head north as a caravan?
Mukluk hopes one of the thugs wants to explore the NE passage. He will move after them as they move up.
Durgan moves up to the passage that Mukluk indicates.
He stops and listens for sounds.
As you approach the tunnel, you see a watcher, or perhaps some sort of guard! She sees you see her, and she shrieks at you (image), turns tail, and runs ups the passage!
Mysterious and rarely seen (save by victims), the yeti is a towering denizen of the loneliest and tallest mountain peaks. Those who dwell upon the lower reaches of such storied slopes whisper tales of “abominable snowmen” who come down from the heights to raid, taking livestock or even humans as prey and leaving behind only monstrous barefoot tracks in the bloodstained snow.
Although yeti stories are accurate in their portrayals of fierce, stealthy, and immensely strong creatures, they are not when it comes to ascribing the yeti’s temperament and source. They dwell in small tribes atop their distant mountains, where they are sheltered from contact with most other races. Those with violent or cruel natures are usually forced out of tribes to live lonely lives as exiles, and without the support of a tribe such yeti are often driven to raiding lowlander settlements, thus perpetuating the myth of the yeti as a demon made flesh.
The source of such cruel madness can often be traced to a singular source—proximity to strange, eldritch dimensions. The yetis’ mountain lairs rise high in places where the boundaries between this world and others rasp thin. It is unclear if the yeti are invaders from these dimensions or Material Plane natives influenced by otherworldly realms, but it seems certain that whatever their origins, the yeti are no friends to those who dwell beyond, and may even act as guardians against intrusions from such strange worlds into the Material Plane.
- - -
Unk stops putting away the 50' of rope they just used to climb up.
"Oh- Uh- I foresee we'll want this rope again before I put it away." Unk explains as he offers the rope to Durgan.
"For someone oracular, you sure do mix up your chronology often." Snowball remarks, using bigger words than usual.
She pounces on Durgan to give him Guidance
Know (Nature) -
Mukluk looks at the abominable creature with interest, but not yet making any threatening gestures until he's clear what he thinks.
"You try juggling 50 different futures in your head!" Unk snaps.
"I foresee a yeti ahead of us!" he adds, using his more usual announcing tone of voice.
No DR, they're immune to cold, and mules make a tasty stew. Just gotta boil 'em a while to get that toughness out.
Unk will also know they're weak against fire, as you might imagine from a creature of the cold.
I think Durgan is still flying, but if not, the rise is just difficult terrain for 5' due to his longer than usual legs at the moment. Also, I think he can plant the grapple as he moves with a swift action.
Round 1
Mukluk delays, unwilling to attack into the unseen, unsure if violence is warranted (yet).
Unk prepares rope as Durgan receives guidance. Mukluk delays, unsure if friend or foe. Kisaiya GMPC requests air walk with respect, and then uses it to close with the yeti more easily, though it’s still a double move. She can just barely see a number of other yetis preparing for battle around the next bend.
The yeti woman is surprised at the speed of closure (and the air walking), but she does not remain to fight. Instead she lumbers along up the tunnel without attacking (withdraw). When she reaches the next ridge, she climbs it with speed and grace (she clearly has a climb move) and without slowing much at all! She stops there, at higher ground, and prepares to make a stand with her mates - a mixed group of a half dozen or so gathering their spears and rushing about in a chaotic mess.
They seem to be shouting back and forth at each other. You can't make out the specifics from this far away, but you can identify the language. Aklo.
Round 2
Mukluk double moves up. If the bad guys aren't bad, no need to attack. He waits to see what the others do.
Kisaiya continues airwalking upwards. She tries calling out in the languages she knows. ”This does not have to be a fight if you do not wish it so.”
HP: 66/84 (74)
AC: 24/13/21
Saves: F11/R6/W10
Hero Points: 3
Smite Evil Used: 3/3
Lay on Hands Used: 0/7
Divine Bond Used: 1/1
Resolve Used: 0/1
Challenge: 0/1
Second Chance
Spells/Effects Active: air walk, inspire +2, divine bond
[ dice]1d20+16[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+7+1d6[/dice] damage.
Durgan doesn't speak Aklo and doesn't have Tongues prepared.
He moves up.
"Good thought!" Snowball adds. She zooms up the tunnel past Durgan and addresses the yeti.
Unk fumbles his footing while trying to climb up, but eventually climbs the second ledge with the help of the rope.
"If you'd like to speak more languages, I foresee that my prepared Tongues might help." Unk announces from down below.
Durgan double moves to keep up with the front. Unk sends Snowball ahead with a message while he suffers on the small cliff face. Mukluk moves up. Kisaiya also moves up and tries to talk to them, but they do not understand her. Ameiko also double moves.
A flying, talking cat doesn’t have the sort of impact you thought it might. Or maybe it does. They do not react well to the strange creature - utterly unknown in their world. They point at the demonic creature and shout obscenities at it.
The yeti brandish their spears and shriek at you further. Several move up, filling the gaps so you cannot easily pass. The ceilings here are rough and tapered, but basically 25’ high - so Kisaiya could go over them, but not Durgan (they appear to have normal spears, not longspears, so normal reach).
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Round 3
Mukluk delays, hoping for a diplomatic resolution, something like what Moose might do. The mule might ease tensions by opening up with a nice fart to get people laughing, and then ask for treats, which is a pretty good thing to ask for. And then if Moose could get some side belly scritches, that's nice too. Then everyone would be friends.
Unk catches up.
"I foresee that there is no need for violence." he explains looking up at the yeti barring passage.
"Perhaps if we wait a moment they'll calm down?"
"Why don't I just go see if it's worth the trouble of passing these guys? We might want to simply turn around anyway." Snowball suggests flying up near the roof and off to the left as she begins turning into a purple cat-shaped cloud.
Kisaiya has an easy position to hold and no allies currently in danger of being attacked, so she hesitates. She glances back toward the dwarves, who seem to be making no move as of yet either. If the cat wants to try talking it out, she can hold a little longer.
HP: 66/84 (74)
AC: 28/17/21
Saves: F11/R6/W10
Hero Points: 3
Smite Evil Used: 3/3
Lay on Hands Used: 0/7
Divine Bond Used: 1/1
Resolve Used: 0/1
Challenge: 0/1
Second Chance
Spells/Effects Active: air walk, inspire +2, divine bond, total defense
[ dice]1d20+16[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+7+1d6[/dice] damage.
Durgan likewise holds position.
Durgan stays back, taking total defense. Unk moves up a bit while Snowball flies overhead causing screeching by the yeti’s and [I]great[/I consternation. Mukluk delays as well. Kisaiya also takes total defense. Ameiko points out that someone is going to need to say something because clearly a talking flying cat isn’t going to be your face person.
Though they could, they do not immediately attack, instead trying to intimidate you with their displays. They slam their spears on the ground, shout, make themselves look big, and generally try to dissuade you from getting any closer.
vs 16+wisdom or shaken 1r / 5 I beat the DC
vs 16+wisdom or shaken 1r / 5 I beat the DC
vs 18+wisdom or shaken 1r / 5 I beat the DC
vs 18+wisdom or shaken 1r / 5 I beat the DC
vs ?? HD+10 +wisdom or shaken 1r / 5 I beat the DC
vs ?? HD+10 +wisdom or shaken 1r / 5 I beat the DC
Let me know if you're shaken, and for how long so I can track it. :)
"I foresee that Durgan-" Unk starts, as he looks up at the dwarf and then looks around.
"Er- I mean- Kisaiya shall make an excellent interlocutor in Snowball's stead." Unk announces, casting Tongues on her.
He looks at her with a mixture of expectation and worry.
Spell-like Abilities
. 9/11 Diviner's Fortune
. 1/1 Stabilize
Spells Prepared
. 5th 2+1/day {S} Quickened True Strike, Summon Monster V, Wall of Sound
. 4th 4+1/day {S} Arcane Eye, Dimension Door, Resilient Sphere (DC 22), Summon Monster IV, Wall of Ice (DC 22)
. 3rd 5+1/day {S} Tongues, Fly, Haste, Summon Monster III, Summon Monster III, Tiny Hut
. 2nd 6+1/day {S} See Invisibility, Flaming Sphere (DC 20), Glitterdust (DC 21), Glitterdust (DC 21), Levitate, Levitate, Summon Monster II
. 1st 6+1/day {S} True Strike, Celestial Healing, Endure Elements, Enlarge Person, Fastidiousness, Grease (DC 20), Magic Missile
. 0 (at will) Acid Splash, Detect Magic, Message, Open/Close
Snowball flies slowly, sneaking as she passes by the yeti and down a different tunnel.
Mukluk begins to climb up, hoping to get the chance to be intimidated.
Climb
Climb
Mukluk makes no progress in his attempts to see what’s happening.
I betcha Moose could climb this no problem.
There's rope (thanks to Durgan and Unk) so it's a DC 5 climb. :) You made it Mukluk!
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Oh thank Moose, a rope!
Mukluk climbs up, barely.
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Kisaiya takes a deep breath, happy to finally have a way of talking. She steps back and holds her hand up, completely calm and unfazed by the displays of intimidation. ”Hi there. We are not looking for a fight. Sorry we scared you. We really just want to be able to pass in peace.” Struggling to think of something else to say, Kisaiya defers back to the one thing she knows she can always do well. ”Would you like some food? I’d be happy to share. Or prepare some if you have any around in need or preparation.”
Durgan waits to see the results of Kisaiya's attempts at negotiation with the monsters.
Durgan delays to see if talking will help. Unk casts tongues on Ameiko as Snowball rounds the corner to see two more, slightly larger yeti, preparing and moving past her with more dedication though they do not see her. Mukluk barely makes the climb and joins up with the others a bit. Kisaiya attempts to parley, and does indeed ratchet down the fears of your opponents. Ameiko moves up a bit further, but slowly so as not to unsettle anything.
The yeti, hearing their tongue from Kisaiya, relax a little and listen - though they continue to look menacing. They seem receptive to her, though they glance in the direction Snowball went uneasily. ”Food? We have food. None come to trade here, it is forbidden.” They look a little uncomfortable, ”You are forbidden. Go back.”
All of you see two new yeti closing from the north. They spy Kisaiya, having missed Snowball among the stalactites, and rush to engage! However, it takes a double move to close with her. They are equipped as the others, but have more regalia and seem a bit… firmer. They do not seem to be as hesitant to attack either - though they too are surprised by Kisaiya’s apparent understanding of their language.
The others shy away a bit from these newcomers...
Mukluk hopes to hear sounds of retreat, or further discussion, rather than combat, and pauses his climb.
"Battle it is, then."
Durgan casts Deadly Juggernaut and moves up.
Snowball sneaks around behind the wall of yeti before finding a nice ledge to hide behind past the main group.
"I foresee that they would like to forcibly remove us, but that a wall of ice might slow them. Kisaiya, mind stepping this way?" Unk says as he gets to the far wall, happy to retreat now that Snowball has snuck past.
Kisaiya steps back at Unk’s request, her air walking letting her stand in above the ground. She calls out to him in Common. ”Keep the smaller ones away. These large ones definitely want a fight, but the others seem to fear them. If we defeat the large ones, the others may be cowed.”
Round 5
Climb
Mukluk climbs up, ready to support the team.
"Maybe we can quickly retreat."
With a spell, Mukluk offers the party 9 rounds of Moose-Zoomies.
Durgan prepares further and steps up for a fight. Unk summons a wall of ice while Snowball continues sneaking around the stalactites. Mukluk summons aid for the party as he moves further up. Kisaiya steps back and readies to battle! Ameiko begins inspiring the party (+2) and moves up a bit - though careful to avoid any walls of ice.
The newcomers close with Kisaiya, or at least one does. The other is stuck behind in the narrow-ish space. The one who closes begins to smash, while the other starts going around - not seeing the ice wall as yet. The smaller yetis part like water before the brute.
Reinforced by their leaders (?) the other yeti seem ready to do something but the ice-wall blocks their actions. They continue to shout and gesture. Kisaiya hears them warn the blue brute about the wall. He turns around (after his move).