The Snows of Summer ❄️ ❄️ ❄️Reign of Winter 2E ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ (Inactive)

Game Master Reckless

"To Glor-" Noemy's about to cheer to Maq'la's jest, but remembers she's supposed to be staying quiet to not draw attention to Yorah. She instead whispers "Bet you one silver I kill more zombies today!"

"You're on!"

I like Ai's ice/snowdrift shield idea, definitely something you could do over time with base kinesis.

Yorah, followed by Noemy, moves forward cautiously, hopping to and fro as squirrels do. Just passed the clearing, she and Noemy spot a tripline hidden beneath the snow. It's easy for the tiny ones to avoid the line and follow it back to the porch, where a crossbow sits cocked and ready to fire in the direction of the tripline. They also note that the crossbow is tied to several pots and pans and that it would likely fall after firing, dragging the pots and pans to clatterous uproar.

The well, while covered in snow, seems to be perfectly functional still, and shows signs of traffic, bootprints in the snow leading to and from it, somewhat obscured by the falling snow, but still visible.

As the scouts confirm the presence of the traps, Vhekk actually seems to relax, moving forward himself to join his allies.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

"If there are traps, there likely aren't sentinels as well - there's no cause to have the one with the other. We should be able to approach unseen."

Noemy checks a few things - first where the trap's tripline has been strung so that the group can avoid it, second where the bootprints that stopped at the well lead to, and third, she takes a peek down the well in case there's something interesting there.

Perception +8 if needed.
Depending on how the trap is set up, it's probably better to avoid it than take the risk of disabling it. Noemy does have thieves tools and thievery though if needed.

In her squirrel form, Yorah leaves the others behind while they deal with the trap. She carries onwards to the lodge proper to check out the interior and the number of threats.

Squeak, squeak.

It's fairly easy to avoid the tripwire once it's pointed out, so you all easily bypass it. Noemy thinks the best thing to do is cut the pots and pans from the crossbow and then either attempt to disable the line or just fire the crossbow of into the wilds and then disable the line.

The bootprints around the well are back and forth, from people drawing water from the well.

Yorah finds that the short of actually opening the doors or windows, there is no way of entering the building that doesn't involve the chimney of an active fireplace. The residents have stuffed whatever the could into the door jams in a vain effort to keep the cold out.

High Sentinel Map

Fortunately, she can scamper around and peer through the windows as a way of scouting and scoping.

H1. Eastern Trailhead (CR 1)
After climbing at least a hundred feet into the hills, the snowy trail finally levels off. In a clearing among the trees, a large wooden lodge overlooks a ravine spanned by a long rope bridge. Smoke rises from the lodge’s two snow-covered chimneys, and large woodpile is stacked against the outer wall.
A small outbuilding stands east of the lodge, and a stone well nearly blanketed by snow is barely recognizable to the north. Several tracks lead southwest toward a detached stable.

H2. Outhouse
The door to this small outhouse is frozen shut. A small hammer hangs by a rope from its upper eaves to chip away the ice and provide access. Unfortunately, the weather has made the outhouse much less functional, and the stench of its recent use is somewhat overpowering

H3. Stable
Twin doors open into this low stable, where five stalls hold three horses and a mix of loose straw. A rack of riding gear hangs on the east wall, and a cast-iron tub sits empty in the corner.

H4. Bridge (CR 3)
A bridge made of rope and wooden planks spans a narrow ravine. It’s already covered in ice and snow, and it sways alarmingly in the icy winds blowing through the gorge. The turbulent waters of a fast-moving creek surge through a couple of waterfalls far below.

H5. Tool Shed
The Sentinels stored most of their tools for the construction and upkeep of the lodge here.

H6. Porch
A wooden roof extends over this wide porch. Double doors provide access to the lodge itself. Two small glass windows are set in the walls to either side of the doors.

H7. Trophy Room
A bearskin rug dominates the floor of this trophy room, and the heads of several deer have been mounted on the walls. Doors lead north and south, while two hallways go farther east.

H8. Kitchen (CR 2)
A large fireplace takes up most of the north wall of this room, its radiant heat providing palpable relief from the cold weather outside. Cabinets and shelves line the remaining wall space, and four windows look out on the wintry landscape surrounding the lodge.

There is female half-orc in the kitchen cooking a pot of soup with a horse hoof sticking partway out of the pot.

H9. Corner Bedroom
None of the bandits have claimed this room for their own. It remains dark and silent.

H10. Small Bedroom
A single rumpled bed occupies this room, with a heavy winter blanket.

A human male lies shivering under the blanket, sweat dripping from his exposed head.

H11. Large Bedroom
Three doors open into this room. A sturdy bed heaped with blankets sits near the only window, and a large maple chest occupies the southwest corner.

The room is currently unoccupied.

H12. Bedroom
A bed and chest sit across from one another in this small room. Two doors serve as exits, and a window looks out on the north side of the lodge.

The room is currently unoccupied.

H13. Great Room (CR 2)
A large table and two benches run the length of this hall, and a twenty-foot-high vaulted ceiling rises into the rafters overhead. To the west, a roaring fireplace provides a welcome heat and light while to the south, a flight of stairs ascends to a wooden balcony overlooking the room. A set of double doors stands in the wall to the east.

Three humans (two female, one male) sit as close to the fire as the can without catching fire themselves. Their outfits and armaments mark them as bandits, part of Rhokar's Raiders.

H14. Sickroom (CR 1)
Four beds, two large chests, and a single table with four chairs occupy this room. Three windows look out to the east, west, and south, providing a grand view of the snowy gorge outside the lodge.

All four beds are occupied by shivering, sweating humans. Two of the beds have two occupants each, meaning there are six sick bandits in the room.

H15. Planning Room (CR 3)
An L-shaped table with many chairs takes up most of the floor space in this loft. A second smaller table sits near the entrance, and several windows look over the snowy grounds of the lodge. In the southwest corner, a large map hangs on the wall, opposite another door in the northeast wall.

[i]Based upon his better-looking gear, healthier physique, and other characteristics, you would guess the single living occupant of this room is Rhokar. Watching over him as he peruses a map upon the table are three skeletons, their bones coated in unmelting ice.[/o]

H16 Storeroom--no windows--

H17. Cellar- no windows--

Noemy listens intently as Yorah explains what she's seen of the interior of the building. "Oh, that's it?" She's obviously a little disappointed from her tone "Where are all the zombies? I can't win my bet like this."

"So if I was a bandit, I'd put my meanest trap around the porch, considering its the only easy way in. But we could make our way around the back and break in on one of the windows to an empty room. (like H11) We could put a blanket or something so breaking the glass isn't so loud, right? And then sneak in and Bam! Take out the bandits."

The squirrel returns back to the party, and trns back to a dromaar form in a puff of cold fog.

"I saw 12 people. 7 of those seemed down with some sort of illness. I also saw 3 undead. Those were either protecting or keeping an eye on the potential leader on the second floor."

"If you all are good climbing, I could drop a rope from the roof, and we could break in from the top, take out the leader and the undead. Then go downstairs and subdue the rest. Most of them are half-out, so... It's an idea."

As the dromaar herbalist reappears, Vhekk remains silent, his obsidian claws clicking against his staff as his onyx gaze seems to bore into the stable. After a moment, he speaks. "This dry weather calls to mind a tale from my homeland. A thief set a fire in a caravanserai owned by the Imperial Bank to hide her theft of a rare Osirian artifact - it was the dry season, so the flames spread, and in the blink of an eye, half the building was gone and a dozen people were dead in the blaze. The trade masters complained for days about the lost items."

He turns to Yorah before continuing. "Yorah, your idea is a good one, but I think we could improve it. You said that the bandits were eating their horses, yes? If that is so, they are likely almost out of supplies, and the three horses left in the stable represent the remnants of their food. If we were to set the horses free, climb to the roof, and set the stable ablaze - with a flaming arrow, perhaps, or a spell - then the bandits would have no choice but to respond, and in this cold, I doubt they will be able to bring water from the well. With the thieves in disarray, we can strike - with them outside and their food and their sick inside with us, I don't see how they can do anything but surrender."

"Уучлаарай... адуугаа идэж байна гэсэн үү?!"

You have no idea what she's saying, it's decidedly neither Russian nor Taldane, but she has a very pained grimace on her face as soon as eating horses comes up. "As long as we take out the cook, I'm fine with whatever plan you go with," she says with unmistakable venom in her voice. "Just set me up with a bank of snow beyond where they'll egress, and I can snipe them from there. "

The Tian-La of Hongal have a very strict code of honour that requires absolute loyalty to the tribe, although some claim that they honour their horses above all else, even above their own family.

She's lived in Hongal for a while, from what I remember of her backstory. Suffice to say she doesn't take well to eating horses. At all.

"Just... don't harm the horses. Maybe we can take them back to town after this is all over. What methods do we have to set the stable on fire?"

"As long as we take out the cook, I'm fine with whatever plan you go with. Just set me up with a bank of snow beyond where they'll egress, and I can snipe them from there. Just... don't harm the horses. Maybe we can take them back to town after this is all over. What methods do we have to set the stable on fire?"

Vhekk nods tersely, his tone clipped and full of anger. "I did not wish to say anything, as I was told that such blasphemies were customary in these Northerner lands. Still, my intention was indeed that the cook should perish. As for the stable, I have some flint and steel - I think that if we set the horses free, I may be able set one of my arrows ablaze."

"Northerners? North of where you were from? Or northerners of Avistan in general? I don't know of the northern reaches of Avistan," Lilyana replies.

"Northerners? North of where you were from? Or northerners of Avistan in general? I don't know of the northern reaches of Avistan."

Vhekk glances at the half-elf warrior. "My apologies, I meant north of Qadira - Taldor to the Crown of the World. In Sedeq, I served a representative of the Imperial Bank who had all manner of wild tales about these lands. She saw them as lawless backwaters compared to the might of the Padishah Empire."

Noemy listens to Vhekk and Yorah's suggestions and then wobbles her bobbly head from side to side "Hrmmmmmm... right now they don't know we're here, probably. If we light the stables on fire, they'll be all alert. Maybe they'll come outside and try to put out the stables but they'll also know someone's here. If Rhokar's smart, he'll start preparing."

"If we do that plan, we have to hit Rhokar at the same time as the others go investigating what's going on outside." She hoists her needle out of the snow "Fill him with holes fast, before he can start organizing!"

"You said that the bandits were eating their horses, yes?"

"Uh..." set aback, the herbalist thinks for a second as she looks at the Kelesh man. "Nevermind." she stops herself from talking as the conversation between others moves on. She waits her turn, and jumps in.

"Two things on my mind." she whispers to the bunch. "One - we probably want this person on the upper floor restrained, not dead. They might know things?" she shrugs. "Second - I know something about fire. Large fires are visible. Very much so. From long distances. If they are large enough, they are loud as well. Also..." she sighs "Can't believe I have to say this, but - let's not start a fire in the middle of a forest?"

Ai listened to the descriptions of the building and the suggestions of what they should do. She looked to Vhekk and nodded as she said, "Yes, I can create a bank of snow if needed and I think I may be able to make some slick patches to trip them up as well." As the conversation continued there were possible flaws pointed out and she said, "I do not think a fire in the forest is a huge concern with all of the snow around. Snow is simply a different form of water so it is likely to prevent the fire from spreading much, which may also be a problem with starting a fire too. As for putting them on alert," she paused to think a moment before agreeing, "Yes, that would put them on guard because it is unlikely the fire will start without help unless they were dumb enough to leave a lantern or fire going inside the stable to keep the horses warm. It would be necessary to hit their boss at the same time to avoid that and catch them out of range to help him."

Ai looked toward the building the bandits were in and then added, "We also need to think about the noble woman we are looking for. If they have her in there we need to know where so we can keep her safe as well. If we bypass the goon squad downstairs somehow, they can grab her and use her as a shield later."

Yorah drops her jaw. "That's not how fire works. Simple presence of water in the form of either brief mist, flowing water, or ice is not a factor."

"There's also the hostage question. What if they're in the stables? I didn't see anyone odd-looking in the building."

"That's not how fire works. Simple presence of water in the form of either brief mist, flowing water, or ice is not a factor."

Vhekk glances at Yorah, his brow furrowing. "Ai can create water with her magic, yes? After we create the fire and draw out the bandits, she can quench it with a thought."

"There's also the hostage question. What if they're in the stables? I didn't see anyone odd-looking in the building."

The young swashbuckler shrugs. "You didn't see them in the stables, either, I thought? The noblewoman is almost certainly within the lodge - she's worth more to the bandits alive than dead, and there's no warmth in the stable from what you said. I think you are seeing problems where none exist, my friend."

"Oh, right!" Noemy pops up "Where are all the fey? And the witch? And everything else that was supposed to be here? They can't ALL be hiding in the basement, right?"

Yorah squints her eyes, slowly making eye contact with everyone. Her voice is calm but stern. "I feel like, in your heads, you're exaggerating the effects of snow. Snow on the ground does -not- help with stuff that spreads through treetops."

"No. Fires."

"I should probably mention... my fluff probably burns really well. So especially no fires on Noemy please!"

So if we avoid lighting the stables on fire, we *could* still create some other distraction that lures people outside. Tie a rock to a string and swing it over from the roof so it knocks on the front door?

You could use the pots and pans to lure out some....

"Could use the pots and pans to lure some out, along with freeing the horses before they get eaten. Is there anyway to reach the roof? I could dispatch a few of them from up there if necessary," Lilyana replies. She gives a cursory glance of the building from her spot behind the created bank of snow, seeing if there is any way to climb up the building, without being seen, to get to the roof.

Any climbables?

"Simple plans are best. Least amount of things to go wrong. Someone waits at the door, we make noise with the pots, lure a few out, the heavy hitters smash their heads as they walk out, then we charge in and clean up?"

"Simple is good, but being in a good ambush spot's even better! If we can get up to the roof before we lure them out, we should."

Yorah looks at the buildings. "Fine. Who's useful on a roof? And if so, hall or stables?"

"I can shoot this thing pretty far," Lilyana says as she taps her trusty arquebus. "I'd be better on the hall, as I can move around to fire at anyone who comes out. If I were on the stable, might get blocked by the hall," she says as she continues her line of thought. Lilyana gives a quick glance over of the two buildings before giving her opinion on who else should be on the roof. "Ai and Vhekk have ranged options, I know that. I have to ask you two though: how comfortable are you aiming from a distance?"

"Oooh, me, I'll also sit up top." Noemy brandishes the giant needle she has that's balanced for throwing. "Pin them from way up there! If we're going to lure them out to investigate the stables, we should have all our smashing power where they can't easily retaliate, with only enough people on the ground to chase them out if they take cover."

Vhekk shrugs, his obsidian claws moving down to the end of his bow staff as he re-strings the weapon. "My eyes are good. I can see them from atop whichever building you care to name." He nods towards the stables. "I think I might be better up there - I can hold my own in a battle up close, and I am skilled at avoiding notice, so it would be best if we saved the higher space for those who need it, whether for battle or for stealth."

"It's one or the other, guys. Make a pick." Yorah starts making knots on her own rope.

Lilyana points to the larger hall building in reply, "Hall. It's closer to any egress of the building where the people are actually... you know, in"

"Alright." Yorah continues to make knots on her rope. "One more rope, just in case? Anyone an volunteer theirs?"

Ai shook her head at Lilyana's question about attacking from a distance and said, "I can only reach about thirty feet with my blasts, any further and they dissipate into nothingness. I am sure I can reach further eventually but for now that is all I can manage."

Ai looked thoughtful for a moment and said, "I can try to create impediments to funnel or confine their movements if I build up some snow banks to either side that will hem them in, and I might be able to make some ice patches given a little time." Ai suddenly grinned wickedly and said, "I bet I can also force them to come out only one way too. if I built of snow mounds against the other exits, they would have to come out one way when the fighting started"

So are we splitting up here or all trying to lure them out here to deal with?

"I can lend you mine, since I'm going to be the one up there," Lilyana says as she pulls approximately 50 feet of rope out of her backpack.

If we can get up there, Lilyana is presumably going to get up there first to rain lead from above.

Yorah continues to make knots every two feet on her own rope, then buts both her own and Lilyana's rope into her backpack.

"Give me a few minutes."

Again, she shifts her form into one of a gray squirrel and runs towards the lodge, using various little indentations to get to the roof. She pushes herself against the chimney and switches back to her humanoid form again. Looking around, the druid ties one end of the rope around the chimney, and tosses the rest off the roof. The rope lands in the snow, and waits.

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Getting into your places, you ready to ambush anyone who comes out at the sounds of the clanging pots.

The three bandits who were hovering around the fireplace come streaming out the door, bows at the ready to strike the people who fell for their insidious trap. Then, they realize that they're the ones who have fallen into a trap.

Everyone goes before the bandits. They have AC 15 and 6 HP. I don't think they're going to be able to go, but stranger things have happened. If you are set up for range, you have them in your sight. If you have set up for melee, you are one step or move away from them and the second person acting in melee can be assumed to have flanked them. Theater of the mind for this one.

BOOM! BOOM!

Lilyana, already having loaded her arquebus with its ammunition, decides to fire at one of the bandits twice, but sadly only one of the shots lands as she fires from her perch from atop the roof. She grins madly as the second shot lands, as this is something she's never really done before, firing from the top of a roof.

1st Arquebus Strike: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
2nd Arquebus Strike: 1d20 + 10 - 5 ⇒ (16) + 10 - 5 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 That's one down

"Привѣэээээтъ~" Lilyana teases as she watches the sickened bandit fall to the ground in the snow.

We will have a map once we actually get inside the hall, right?

◆Strike ◆Reload ◆Strike

Yorah walks up to the side of the roof to get a visual and slashes at the air in front of her twice, sending sharp waves of air to cut up the bandits.

◆ Stride, ◆◆ Slashing Gust

Attack 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 142d4 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6
Attack 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 212d4 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7

"HWAH!" Noemy surges with power as she teeters at the edge of the roof of the building. She hurls her weaving needle at one of the bandits below before spinning the weapon's silken tether back and retrieving the needle.

◆ Stride, ◆ Strike w/ weaving needle, ◆ Retrieve via tether

Weaving Needle: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 Damage (P): 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Lol, poor bandit.

That's also a critical hit. That bandi is outright dead.

HP: 6 Damage: 24. Result: Dead as Dickens. One each for Lilyana, Yorah, and Noemy.

The three bandits are quickly dispatched, their blood painting the crisp white snow crimson. There is no way anyone else in the house is unaware of your presence after those shots.

End Combat

Question being do you let them come to you are do you go after them....

Yes, for indoors there will be a map.

Extra Hero Point to the first person who can tell me the movie I took the phrase "Dead as Dickens" from. Hint: A highlander and a rapper meet in a prison.

Noemy chirps up with "Nows the time to swing in through the windows, smashing the glass, and take them by surprise while they're expecting someone through the front door!"

Vhekk glances down at the little poppet, concern written on his features. "There is an old saying: 'one does not fight the lion in its den.' If we enter the house, we fight on their terms - we are safe out here on the roof, and we can see them from wherever they emerge. When they come out of the building, they will waste valuable time seeking us, and I doubt they will be able to strike at us up here as easily as we can shoot them."

I suggest we stay on the roof - everyone with a ranged weapon Drops Prone and Takes Cover. We'll get -2 to attacks, but it will also give us +4 to AC and Stealth, allowing us to ambush the bandits as they exit the building.

Seeing Noemy down a foe before she can, she replies, "Not a bad start, no lie, but the next one's mine!"

And with that Maq'la is about to charge through the door the three bandits just rushed out, when Vhekk urges caution.

"I'll tell you what. Some of yall wait here to snipe. I'll flank the door and bop whoever comes out next."

Move up beside the door, and ready flurry of blows.

Aq'lakh: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Aq'lakh: 1d20 + 8 - 5 ⇒ (10) + 8 - 5 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

"Maybe they'll be empty-headed enough to rush out here Vhekk, OR you're giving them time to prepare. And if there's a witch hiding in there, she'll be plotting and scheming all sorts of bad things for us." Noemy scuttles along the roof and checks to see how sturdy the nearest window into the top floor is, to see if her plan makes any sense.

"Don't think they'll come out. Most of them were covered in blankets, shaking with a fever." Yorah joins in.

The fight was short and brutal, over before Ai even got involved, and she considered what was said about their next actions. "I think it is time we go inside. If anyone else could have come out they would have. We should go in, especially if there is a spell caster in there. The less time they have to prepare the better."

"Little pigs, little pigs..." Yorah whispers under her breath. "Top to bottom or other way around? We have the rope here." she points towards the center of the roof.

"Don't think digging is a good idea."

Is there a way in from the top we could use?

There are windows in the smaller upper floor- H15 the mentioned "turret room". Swinging in to them would also put you in the room with the boss and his undead minions, which might prove beneficial in cowing any remaining raiders. If there is a witch in the place, or invisible fey, it might spell trouble.