Doesn't specify land speed so I believe it would apply to all speed types. The 50 feet of flight will get you up to the satyr, though.
Round 1 (Continued)
Geedra rallies the group as the enchantment form them all fades and intones a spell to bolster them in the fight. Byakko immediately makes benefit of it and casts his own spell, conjuring a burst of burning wings from his back and taking to the air. He quickly shortens the distance between himself and the airborne foe. Enii, awash in the deep muck, backs away a bit, unable to fight effectively in such deep water.
Skäne (choosing also the +2 attacks/ac for Fervor), on the other hands, pushes forward, trudging through the deep water to get close enough to the plant creature to deliver blows. A double move through this quadruple move area will put him in melee with the plant
The plant lets out a thick, gurgling roar as it flops the tentacle holding Mithas towards its maw-equipped body, the long, gnarled teeth clamping down on the elf. Mithas lets out a cry as he is now mostly in the creature's mouth, perilously close to being swallowed.
The tentacles whip out once more; Skäne pushes the heavy appendage away with his shield, but the second finds purchase on Krosh, slamming into the orc's chest and coiling tightly.
Mithas twists and turns in the creatures maw, actually managing to push through the fangs of the beast and free himself from the jaws, falling down into the deepest of the water with a loud plop. The plant beast roars.
Krosh, bound, throws one hand towards the plant and it is then surrounded by a softly glowing red corona; it doesn't seem to harm the creature but does make it easier to see.
"Attack it...with...fire," Krosh says loudly while fighting with the tentacle around him.
Krosh hits it with his Wandering Spirit/Hex's Nimbus of Fire. Plant takes -2 penalty on saves vs fire and also cannot benefit from concealment or invisibility.
Round 2
The flying satyr gives a wide-eyed look at Byakko speeding to him, and goes on the defensive, casting a spell that wreathes his clawed hand in a grisly grey-green light. Reaching out, he puts a hand on the oracle, sending necromantic energy into his body.
Successfully defensively casts a poison spell and hits. Byakko please make a DC 19 Fortitude save or take 1d3 ⇒ 3 constitution damage.
Imgur is active up for me currently, so I will get an updated map up when it behaves.
It proves difficult to ascertain where precisely the source of the voice and music is located due to the echo in this earthen complex, but it is definitely coming from the next chamber, perhaps beyond.
Geedra protests the development as the rest of the group nonchalantly trudges through the wet vegetation and standing water, the algae and other plantmatter floating atop the warm pools parting before them. The wisps of steam are more concentrated near the center of the room, promising a lovely balm to sooth your hardened joints.
You do notice in the periphery in the opening larger corridor leading out of this chamber to your left a slain animal - an ox or a cow perhaps - in an early stage of butchering. How splendid - maybe after your relaxing soak you'll be treated to a hot meal!
As most of you near the center of the morass, Mithas leads as he has the quickest step. Just as he gets about waist deep, a huge, slimy vine suddenly explodes from beneath the surface, sending a spray of congealed swamp matter across half the room. The appendage writhes in the air for a moment before lashing out at the elf, laying hard into his chest and then quickly wrapping around him. The haze over the scout shakes loose and he lets out a yell, just as a body - the source of the vine which you see now is more akin to a tentacle - rises from the muck.
A huge plant beast emerges, rising to a height of 15 feet but some of it is still submerged in the center. It's body is roughly round and seemingly comprised of amassed foliage, deep green and coated in a sludgelike material. The center of the mass houses a great maw lined with hideous fangs that look more like sharpened stakes than teeth. Another great tentacle rises and whips around, searching for a target.
Round 1
From behind the butchered animal, another creature emerges, taking flight into the room as the wave of enchantment dissipates from the party. horned goatman - a Satyr, but twisted and perverted by something else as his batlike wings, blackened claws, and drippings fangs attest to. He laughs as he gains height, surveying the scene.
"Wonderful! More sacrifices!" he shouts, elated. Heinvokes a few words and moves his fingers, conjuring a grisly black sphere of pulsing energy above the group, which suddenly explodes into a nove of black, rippling light. He laughs as it courses across you, but seems to change his tune quickly when he realizes how little effect the spell has.
Casts unholy blight for 4d8 ⇒ (2, 2, 8, 5) = 17 damage to all of you, but this entire party is Neutral aligned, so you only take 8 damage. Also make a DC 19 Will Save in your post - success means you take a mere 4 points
The area between the blue square and the tan square is quadruple movement (very deep). The area within the tan square with the creature is swimming. Everything else is double movement.
Hey there Chaunce, just checking in to see if you are still with us and interested in joining. I did send you a PM with some info but I know those are very easy to overlook with the way this website is laid out. Let us know! :)
Leaving the lumbering giant to its own devices, you filter through the now-open doorway as Skäne covers the hall, the shouts of the giant still echoing through the stone corridor. As the Ulfen warrior passes through after the rest of the party, you close the door and Mithas resets the lock, and the noise of the frost giant is suddenly silenced.
The new stone hall you find yourselves in is noticeably different; a warmth and humidity clings to your flesh and the scent of wet vegetation and swampy water hits your senses. You can see a soft luminescence at the end of 80-ft corridor as it opens up.
As it is your only path, you move forward, the temperature and scents growing gradually. About ten feet from the end of the hall, you start to hear some faint music playing as you enter the room proper.
This large natural cavern is warm and humid and stinks of stagnant water. Wisps of vapor hover just above the floor, somewhat obfuscating a swampy morass of fungus. In some areas of the cave, large lumpy piles of the fungus rise from the slop like fetid islands, and long, rubbery strands hang from the ceiling and walls and across an opening about forty feet away that leads out of this cavern. The sound of the music here is also louder; pleasant and jovial, your ears are keen to it...perhaps a bit too keen..
A sly, soothing masculine voice, thick and sugary like honey, echoes out from beyond as the music quiets for a moment.
"Hello friends...so cold out there, why not come get warm in these lovely pools?" it coos as the music, a charming wind instrumental, swells again.
For everyone except Geedra, this sounds like an absolutely wonderful idea. Even Enii seems eager to warm her sinews in this luxurious water. Byakko and Enii, Skäne, Mithas, and even Krosh begin to move towards the center of the room where the warmest waters await as Geedra blinks and watches...
Mithas slides up to the heavy stone door as Byakko moves to scout down the hallway. "I'll see if I can break us into this passage while you see what's down the other."
He takes out his tools and begins to work the lock, muttering that it's surprisingly complex. Byakko and Enii slink down the hall, going a short distance before the passageway starts to descend in another portion of sloped stairs. The scraping noises grow louder and after about twenty feet of slight descent, a figure appears down the path.
A hulking frost giant lumbers slowly up the pass, the corridor much too small for him to move freely. He half crawls, half stoops, his armor and the tip of his spear the source of the scraping as they drag against the stone. Grumbling and cursing, he doesn't notice Byakko at first as his eyes are cast down, raises them when he is roughly sixty feet away and sees the half-elf and tiger coming down the hallway as both parties register one another. There is a brief moment of tension before the giant starts bellowing.
Giant:
"The Witch Queen's puppets are here! The Hut bearers are here!"[/b] he roars.
The giant begins crawl-walking backwards down the hall from where he came, holding his spear out as a defense as he yells and retreats.
1d20 + 18 ⇒ (15) + 18 = 33
"We're in," Mithas announces as he bypasses the lock on the door and pushes it open slightly to reveal another corridor. "Not sure what's going on down the hall, but if we want to get past this door and reset the lock we might be in the clear from whatever it is. Unless they have the key, of course."
Two paths here, whether you want to pursue down the hall after the giant or take the new path beyond the door. I'll roll initiative just in case but if you want to take the door and close it we won't need to be in initiative order for now.
The ettin, Gurragurra, laughs. It is not pleasant. "Ickle goblin come to learn too. Might be Jadrenka can teach to be most powerful goblin. Maybe even learn as much as Gurragurra. Maybe...stills, maybe best not tell anyone Gurragurra let you in...just in case," The four eyes of the ettin slowly and ominously move to the one hallway that exits this chamber. She shrugs. "Bye bye." And with that, she moves up the staircase that you entered from.
Your path unguarded, you proceed on, descending more crude stone steps that twist through a rough hewn passage. These steps aren't very steep, but long, making it an easy walk, though you notice that the temperature seems to quickly drop as you descend, complete with a rime of hoarfrost settling on the walls. You eventually come to a heavy stone door, locked, set into the wall of the corridor on your right. The carvings on the door depict a vine motif and a field of shrubs and mushrooms. The corridor continues on, descending into cold darkness, but from somewhere ahead you can hear the echoing of something shifting or scraping against the stone.
The ettin's heads slowly regard one another and the mouth of the left twists into a hesitant look while the other slowly nods. The sickles are lowered and both heads sigh., perhaps realizing that a fight against so many would be a bit foolish.
"Bah. Too many visitors. If you want to talk to Jadrenka, fine. She can be anywhere. This Jadrenka's house, after all. She'll find you, more like, if she wants. Don't cause trouble; already be hearing ruckus from other...guests. Jadrenka hopefully kind to us."
The ettin steps to the side and waves a sickle towards the pathway in the far corner. "Go if you want, but I don't why you here. Here to learn magic? Gurragurra learns magic. Maybe Jadrenka let you stay, too."
The ettin's heads look at one another and then back to Geedra and they both let out a grunting laugh before suddenly stopping and furrowing their brows.
"Tricky little goblin," says the left head.
"Not nice to try and trick Gurra," the right head agrees.
"Or Gurra" adds the left. The ettin clangs her sickles together and sniffs the air, taking a menacing step forward.
"If Jadrenka called yous, GurraGurra would know," they say in unison. "No no, what you doing here, small ones? And you be fast!"Ettin intimidates for 26 so I'd say you're a little shaken there, Geedra. This one isn't as dumb as she looks!
The boughs and roots of the tree churn fitfully, undulating through the frozen stone of the mesa, and crushing the bones that lie strewn about, darkening the area around you as the strange voice of the tree creaks out.
"I have stood here for centuries beyond centuries and claimed many sacrifices, Ulfe,'[b]it warns. [b]"Their bones are a testament to their foolishness in thinking they could win their way past me."
There is something in the tree's tone and aura that give you pause...there is a sense that this creature is perhaps more powerful than it lets on; more than you originally surmised.
The limbs snap towards Geedra. "Step up then, small witch, and let us see if you can carry the curse to the depths and claim what you seek."
As Geedra approaches, a single long vine-like limb descends from the canopy and approaches the goblin, moving carefully and purposefully as a snake poised to strike. It touches the top of her head and coils around it once; instantly Geedra feels a strong sense of dread and foreboding trickle down her spine, and then the limb retracts. This heavy sensation spreads, even feeling her mouth and ears, before slowly fading.
"It is done," the tree decrees. "The way is open."
With that, the rock wall behind the arch shimmers and shifts before your eyes to reveal a stone stairway leading down.
Geedra, you now bear the Curse of the Leaden Tongue. Any spell you cast is treated as having a 25% spell failure chance, so go ahead and roll a d100 whenever you cast for the time being, and we'll say a 01-25 result will have the spell fizzle. I am assuming you descend, but add in what you want here, interactions with the tree or one another or other preparations.
The flight of stairs is long and twisting, carved into a cramped passage of cold black basalt. Ancient carvings on both sides of the stairway depict fields filled with wildflowers and springing deer. After a final turn, which comes after some 500 feet down, you reckon, you spill out into a large rectangular chamber.
Hewn from the surrounding basalt, the walls of this large room have been chiseled into an incredibly intricate display that continues the wildflower motif the of the stairs. Thousands upon thousands of flowers in every direction on each of the walls. In the middle of each wall, the carvings show a wreath of pinecones that surround a life-sized depiction of a nude young woman. On the north wall, the figure washes her hair, on the east wall she sits staring upwards at a crescent moon, on the south wall she picks a bouquet of flowers, and on the west she points to a triangular, knot-shaped symbol. Across from you in the southeast corner of the room, an open archway beckons further passage.
Near the center of the room, not currently facing you, is a dirty giant some 14 feet tall, but not the frost variety you have seen since arriving in these lands. Her flesh is deep brown and she is clad in long mismatched robes that look as though they were stitched together from multiple sources - drapes, blankets, even rugs. most notable, the giant has two heads, each a pig-nosed, tusked visage though they appear differently enough to tell them apart. You hear both heads speaking to one another, and by the tone you guess they were arguing.
Giant:
"Shouldn't have let 'em through," the right head says. "Shoulda asked Jadrenka."
"Pahh," the left retorts. "Caigreal brought, we let pass. No harm. Stop worry. All fine."
"You don't know. Jadrenka might get mad. Her boss, no more Caigreal."
"Shut it."
"No you'
After a bit of back and forth, the giant seems to notice you, and hastily springs to its feet, pulling out a pair of large sickles from beneath the robe and takes a single step towards you.
"Who you? What want here? Go away," the heads say, going back and forth between phrases. They say this first in Iobarian, but shifty to Giant, Goblin, and Orc until they get a response.
The strange tree creature seems to have some sort of reaction to Geedra's reveal, though it is difficult to read the "body" language. You are unsure whether the tree is intrigued, skeptical, or somewhere in between, but it does appear to move with a touch more caution.
"Enough, dark spirit," comes the sudden, monotonous voice of Krosh. He takes a few slow steps from his normal position behind you all to put himself more in the perception of the tree. "You may desire a gift of flesh and bone, but your pact does not dictate it." There is a force in Krosh's voice, a coolness that gives him a strange air of authority.
The tree hisses, if you could call it that, though the sound is more akin to splintering or creaking wood. A breeze filters through the area, jingling Krosh's talismans and trinkets, and a long moment passes where nothing is spoken.
A rustling of leaves serves as the tree's sigh, and the churning boughs and roots slow.
"How...boring," it bemoans, shifting forward from the copse slightly. You see a branch lower that ends in a series of gnarled twigs that look like a claw. It points to Byakko. "Very well, if you must offer something else. But would you be willing to sacrifice something to achieve your goals? A part of yourself? Your skills or ability?" A vine drops from above and slithers across Byakko's shoulder. "Would you take on the burden of another curse to find the path below?" The voice inflects hard on "another" in a knowing way, as if this strange plant can sense those curses you already bear.
"If any of you would take on a malediction, the way will open. But be warned, an affliction from the architect of this place will be precise in its malady, for the magic here will know you. Indeed, there will be many times even within and below where you may find yourselves in need to stunt yourself to continue on. Such is the path to uncover hidden things...but the choice is yours; who among you is bold enough?" There is a light laugh, and the tree turns to gesture towards the dormant doorway. "Keep in mind, no magic or might may undo this curse until you leave this place or die, so do not go thinking you are cleverer than the Queen of Witches."
Krosh actually made his sense motive I rolled for him in the last post (just wanted to see if anyone else would pass), so your Diplomacy roll got used to full effect Byakko. The tree will apparently grant you passage if one of you steps forward to receive an unknown curse that will be the price of admission and stick with you throughout the foray within.
you know this entity as a Witch Tree; a creature largely of myth, you weren't sure they even existed until this moment. It is said that only the most powerful witches can conjure them - or perhaps grow them - and that they are bound to the service of witches through pacts, often serving as sentinels or guardians. Their motives for payment are likely varied depending on their pacts, but it would appear that this one thirsts for blood and flesh.
The tree's boughs snap curiously for a moment and then it almost seems offended. "No desire?" it says disapprovingly. "The last visitors granted me what I asked without hesitation. Why so adamant? You've come all this way, what is the life of a single being compared to what lies beyond...?" The tree's strange voice quivers as it trails off.
Sense Motive DC 20:
A blood sacrifice is certainly what this strange creature desires to accept, but you get the sense that it is hiding something.
Krosh looks down at Enii at Byakko's words and nods. "Hm. A strong spirit. Good." He gives the tiger a single path on the head before the ascent.
After
You muse over the hanging centaur, its body a grim sentinel to this strange place. Byakko and Skäne eye your new surroundings cautiously, not eyeing any notable enemies - no Tsolniva centaur, frost giants, or fey - until they both notice the limbs of the central womanlike tree of the small copse begin to move - and not in the wind.
The branches of the eighteen foot tall willow bend and fan out in a grand display just as the roots begin to churn and slither along the ground. As two massive vine-like tendrils suddenly emerge from the foliage, a maiden's voice creaks through the platform.
"All who seek to enter Artrosa must present me with a sacrifice, as those who pass before you have done," the voice calls. One of the tendrils slowly turns to gesture towards the dead centaur. "Grant this unto me, and I shall lay safe passage to the vaults within." The limbs and roots continue to slither and shift, though not menacingly or aggressively towards you. The tree merely stands and waits.
Before the ascent, Krosh approaches Enii and jingles a talisman before pressing it onto the white tiger's forehead, intoning a spell before looking to Byakko. "The beast can now fly for a time, if you can communicate that. The shaman also casts a spell upon himself and you see his muscles swell beneath his layers of hide and furs, his strength increasing.
You begin your perilous climb of the statue - a climb actually made much easier by the flying goblin ferrying ropes and pitons around you, giving her sly Geedra cackle all the while. Byakko makes spry work of the statue, sure-footed for much of the run until a misstep causes his feet to slide out from under him...but a quick cast of a spell keeps his grip sure. Enii is a somewhat comical scene, floating upwards with strange motions that betray the grace of a cat, but effectively nonetheless.
Krosh's enhanced strength and methodical pace sees him rightly to the top without issue, a result that even he seems surprised with. You can hear him muttering thanks to the spirits upon completion.
Mithas, surprisingly, for all of his agility, as quite the rough time with a straight strenuous climb. Three times do you see stones crumbled away under his fingers or a misplaced foot slide clean off the side of the stone, but each time, in a heart-dropping moment, he manages to keep hold and make a breathless recovery before moving on.
Skane's armor indeed takes a bit of a toll on his as he climbs. He too finds a few missteps, but the determined warrior does not give the earth below the honor of slaying him and anchors himself to the stone each time, trudging his way to the top.
By the time you all gather at the crest, those who climbed are heavy with sweat despite the cold, with muscles sore and burning from such an endeavor. Before even witnessing your surroundings you pull yourselves up and lie for a few minutes, gathering your senses and breath before standing.
You see vertiginous cliffs surround the statue's mesa-like top on all sides, though a rock wall backing the top of the Watcher's head rises above the plateau, creating some cover from the cold winds blowing at this altitude. From every direction the view is dizzying, offering a clear panorama of miles and miles of Iobarian wilderness. A small copse of bare, weathered trees stands in the shelter of the rock wall, their knotted roots clinging desperately to the cold, hard stone. Dozens of bones litter the ground before this strangely placed grove, some so ancient that the trees' roots appear to grow right through them. Most notable the central tree is a towering 18 foot tall willow with a trunk that is in the shape of a humanoid woman. Behind the trees, a shadowy arched opening in the wall leads deep inside the rock.
You also spy the grim sight of a gutted centaur hanging from one of the trees, his flesh pale and bloodless, frozen features twisted into a ghastly visage of shock and horror.
Sounds good, we will go with Krosh hitting her with the fly spell. That leaves Geedra and and her flying and the rest climbing. I was thinking other people seem spooked to climb as they hadnt posted until posting this I remembered Geedra was flying and I am controlling Mithas, lol. I'll get a post up today with Krosh and Mithas' attempts and we'll see if Skane gets his up.
I just realized that krosh has had Fly prepared the whole time, lol. He can cast that on Enii to make things a bit easier if you'd like. You're right about climbving a straight half mile on a stone statue isn't quite the same as climbing a tree, so this might be the best option lol.
Don't see any reason why Paragon Surge wouldn't work with share spells!
No worries, everything will line up soon. I've got Krosh leveled up now; not too much to report on his end other than getting his shaman's Greater Life Spirit which allows him to touch up to 6 creatures and stabilize them as a standard action, lol. You guys may also want to keep in mind that he's going to need a Wisdom buff to keep casting higher level spells in the coming levels so may want to divest a Wis item if you come across him or invest in one for him at some point.
With your direction - up - laid out before you, a plan comes to fruition. You notice as you discuss that Krosh, who often has a suggestion, is quiet as he stands and stares upwards at the monolithic sentinel, the strong winds seeming to barely ruffle his heavy furs and hides. The silvery ermine Khikezh as surfaced from deep within the folds of Krosh's many layers and the two are conversing.
As your plan gets settled, Krosh lifts his spirit companion to the statue and the wily stoat starts to ascend, clambering up the statue with ease.
"I send the sly spirit up to see what may wait for us. I will admit..." he lists his helmeted head slowly to look up again, the trinkets hanging from the antlers jingling, "I do not look forward to this. I will have to beseech the aerial spirits for their blessing later if we are to climb each of these Watchers..."
When you are ready, Geedra chuckles and flies up to tie a rope off at the first large piton so that the group make begin the ascent.
For this traversal, depending on how much rope you use (or if you have more pitons or if Geedra plans on ferrying rope back and forth as you climb, or however else you would like to progress, I will need a certain amount of climb checks from everyone. This is a 2600 foot climb, but using ropes will make the checks certainly easier, especially if you aren't in any sort of rush. If at any point you forsake the rope and go to free climb the statue, the DC will increase. Not sure how you want to go about having Enii proceed.. doesn't look like big cats get a climb speed innately. The ol' animal companion conundrum, lol. You guys can figure out the logistics between yourselves of how you actually want to do the full climb, but for now I'll have everyone give me 5 climb checks, 1 for every 500 feet, assuming you'll be using ropes in some capacity.
Welcome aboard indeed. Glad to have you, Chaunce. A ranger is a fine fit, and I am generally good with any Paizo-published subclasses/archetypes if you see one that seems interesting to you.
This campaign and subsequent replacement PCs have all done an 18-point buy rather than the standard 20 point buy, as over the course of the campaign they have taken up the mantles of Baba Yaga's riders (humorously down to 1 each for the three; Geedra the Black Rider, Skane the Red, and Byakko the White). There are no more riders to convey a special bonus onto you, but I don't want you to feel lagging behind, so you can also do the 18 point buy for stats and have an additional +2 you can put into any score. This would be in addition to the ability points granted for levels 4 and 8. So basically: 18 point buy, two floating +1s, and a floating +2.
Rather than do the standard wealth for a higher level character as put forth in the rules, I like to look at the average GP-worth of items the party has and grant you that, as by the rules a freshly made higher level character will have much better/more gear than a naturally leveled one due to the new PC having immediate access to character-perfect gear. I'll take a look over that and give you a GP amount you can use to procure your equipment.
Other than that, no worries if these mid levels are newer for you. Feel free to ask any questions or anything on board or in PM at any time. 80% of my playgroup offline is basically all brand new players so I have no problem giving time for people to get into the swing of things. And offline is 5e at that; pathfinder is a jump more convoluted with all of the numbers and modifiers, so there's definitely a learning curve as the levels increase.
Feel free to take a look at the player's guide for this adventure path for some ideas/basics. You get 2 traits, and 1 of them can be from this guide if you wish.
Other than that, go ahead and send me a PM with some character info and I can help get you plugged into the goings on.
Looking forward to playing with you.
Also, thanks for the reminder Geedra, I need to fix up Krosh as well, lol.
You make your way into the frigid shadows of the ravine, approaching the grand statue with caution. Byakko sets to work with his trusted companion investigating the path and surrounding area for danger or anything else, the oracle visually scanning the shadows as the tiger sniffs at the frozen earth.
Fortunately there appear to be no immediate dangers, a refreshing change of pace when compared to the journey across the Hoofwood. As you enter the area near the statue's feet, you are made keenly aware of how massive these statues are. The Maiden towers over 2500 feet above you, and this close to the Watcher you cannot even see its loftiest features when you look straight up. Each time you cross a new threshold on this strange journey after Baba Yaga, the immense and unfathomable power of the Witch Queen is reinforced.
Byakko's search does not turn up a door or entrance; nothing in the feet or legs of the statue, nor on the wall of the cliff face. You are beginning to think the rumors of there being dungeon complexes within the statues must be just rumors indeed, until you see the remains of a campsite and evidence of the passing of other beings. Both giant humanoids and hoofed creatures have been here recently, having made a short stay at the base of the statue themselves.
Further inspection shows you something on the side of the statue, in the darkest shadowy area between the statue and the cliff. Large pitons have been hammered into the Maiden's leg, three of them leading twenty or so feet up the side of the Watcher. Beyond that, you can spot a series of roughly equidistant holes in the figure, perhaps where further pitons were once set as well.
It dawns on you that perhaps the entrance to the Watcher is not at the base.
No worries. I'm finally recovered from the RSV or whatever I had and catching up on all my work I missed. I also cleared my cache/cookies and I finally get updates again on the threads. I'll find a spot to work him in. Might do the ol' prisoner angle.
You stand before the towering Maiden statue, the frigid night wind howling past you and deeper into the crevasse. Clouds of rime and crusted snow are kicked up in the gales, creating almost a rolling mist of wintry particles that swirl around you. Above, the rippling light of the waxing moon flickers its caress on the upper reaches of the massive statue, sweeping its cold illumination across the Maiden's weathered face. The effigy is obviously ancient, many centuries old, but its masterful make is still readily apparent despite the wear on the stone.
"The ravens matched a lunar phase with each statue in their riddles," Krosh says. "At first I thought this to mean a statue would be revealed only in the appropriate phase, but all three statues are here," he says, pointing out the Mother and Crone Watchers, miles in the distance. "There must be something revealed in some manner, however. The centaur spoke of rumors of complexes within the statues - maybe an entrance that can only be accessed with the right moon, or another clue or riddle may be seen. With the Witch Queen, many things are possible beyond the common."
The orc gestures towards the maiden with his palm. "There is but one way for us to find out."
Hey guys, hope everyone's holidays were good. I actually didn't get any updates to any of these threads until I logged on to my laptop instead of phone or PC...weird. Regardless, I'm currently laid out by a fun bout of flu that my girlfriend's coworkers decided to send her home with for the new year, so I will get us moving here shortly, by the weekend at the latest.
Also, looks like Mithas may not be with us anymore...Byakko had mentioned to me that he hasn't posted in his other game he is GMing in a while and I didn't hear back from the PM I sent him, so we might have to set sights on a replacement player. Byakko said he had a possible person, so if that's still an option I'd be cool with it.
The corpse has swiftly decomposed into some sort of blackish slush, suggesting this creature was not wholly of this world. Though it's enchanted icy armaments have similarly melted away, three items remain in its refuse - a handsome ram's horn embellished with silver and etchings of smooth, curved lines - a horn of fog. You additionally find 2 non-magical aquamarine gemstones.
Krosh moves about, tending to the wounds of those who need it. Anyone who wants it, roll 2d8+7 for Krosh's healing hex. Everyone can benefit from it once/day. He can also pump out a few more channels if anyone needs.
Erdija looks warily around the area. "Best to move on before the ghostlights decide to return...they are usually persistent.[/ooc] Once you are ready, the centaur scout leads you on again, on your homestretch to the mysterious watchers.
The night grows cloudy and windy, but Erdija is insistent that you make it to the canyon by nightfall. She quickens her pace, and eventually you spot the crevasse in the distance. The thick clouds race the dark sky overhead in the heavy wind, creating a rippling cascade of moon and starlight that fades in it and out, but the floor of the crevasse lies forever in shadow, any illuminations swallowed by the massive cliffs on either side. Grey grasses and scraggly weeds poke through the drifts of ice and snow, weaving their way through the black boulders that lie at the base of the towering cliffs ahead.
Crudely carved into the face of these cliffs, several miles apart, stand three impossible sculptures that each rise over half a mile in height, looming over you with an awe-inspiring authority. Each carving depicts a naked humanoid woman holding forth an outstretched arm and warning hand. The first resembles a young maiden with flowing hair, the second depicts a pregnant matron, and the third a stooped and withered crone.
[b]"Well, here they are..." Erdija says. Her usually brazen voice is cowed in the presence of these massive sculptures. "This is the closest I've ever been. These things are right out of a ghost story. Can't believe you're going to go galloping about them, but hey, better you all than me. Unless you have any other questions, my job here is done, and I'd like to put some distance between me and whatever Tsolniva, giants, demons, or whatever else is lurking around. Not that I haven't enjoyed the company, of course." She gives a half hearted smile and after any farewells or questions, departs.
Krosh looks up at the nearest statue, the maiden. "Remember the words of the raven. The Maiden is elusive, and may only be caught with the waxing moon." His gaze then drifts up to the moon, which when espied through the shifting clouds, beams in its waxing gibbous state.
You've made it to Artrosa and have reached Level 8!
Skane fortune reroll:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19With the Rider still suffering a -2 AC penalty for charging...that reroll just hits. Good looking out Geedra. That second damage roll of 10 applies.
Skäne, no spear in hand, brings his shield up and throws his weight behind it, smashing the cold iron bulwark into the front of the cold rider; a heavy hit that further cracks its armor. A second ferocious bash sends the edge of the shield into the fey's face, a reouding crack resulting in deep, blue-black blood raining down from the wound.
Byakko and Enii go into a dervish dance, kicking up snow in a miniature cyclone around them as claws, fangs, and blades slice out into the chill air...but alas, they they seem to find nothing but air, as the strange form of the ghostlight has shivered and shuddered away from every blow in an astounding defense. Just made the mark in your attacks last round, but just missed the mark this time around...Erdija was right about how difficult they are to hit after all, it would seem!
Krosh eyes the cold rider carefully and maeuvers himself into a flanking position with Skäne, his conjured flame blade hissing in the cold, moisture-laden air.
The fiery sword connects, melting through the back of the cold rider's armor and pushing down into its pale flesh. The creature writhes, clawing at itself as it screams its eerie scream. The blade continues to carve through as the creature begins to deteriorate, its strange, otherworldly armaments melting into blackened water as it falls into its final throes before falling over in a mound of wet ash.
Round 4
The ghostlights, their master destroyed before them, shiver and disappear from sight once more. They do not return with any further shocks.
Erdija breathes heavily. "You lot better do well taking care of the enemies at the Watchers. I don't want to ever see another one of those."
Krosh looks down at the fallen fey and shakes his head slowly. "A dark, twisted thing from the bowels of the spirit realms. Elvanna's call of eternal winter spreads ever onward. We have not yet come to the end of such evils, I fear."
As the cold rider sweeps past Skäne and delivers it vicious glaive-blow, it is wholly unprepared for the sudden, ferocious thrust that the Ulfen warrior counters with, the head of the enchanted spear cracking through the icy armor. With a hideous shriek - a spectral wail more than any worldly noise - erupts from the creature as blue steam hisses from the crack in the glacial plate. A trail of deep azure blood cascades as the strange elk carries through the charge.
Round 3 Continued
Pressing his advantage, Skäne follows the foe's trajectory and hurls the fey-bane weapon, scoring a second hit as it strikes in the back, chipping armor away again and impaling the frozen fey right beneath the shoulderblade.
Geedra hops a bit out of the path of the cold rider and uses her manipulative magics to bend Skäne's fortune. A rush of optimism and confidence surges through the warrior.
The rider turns, its burning ice blue eyes fuming as it glowers at Skäne. With another ominous wail it thunders forth, bearing down on the viking with another charge, though rather than moving in an arc to sweep past, it seeks to meet him head on. As it barrels down, you notice its grievous wounds begin to slowly knit...
The glaive sweeps down to carve another trench through the ulfen, but Skäne's mastery of the shield proves the better. The bulwark slams into the cutting edge, and the resulting clamor and subsequent scrape of metal on metal fills the air.
The terrible antlers of the elk prove no match for Skäne's blockade either as they scrape against his breastplate and fail to find purchase. The cold rider screams and hisses, enraged at the overall failure to skewer the human. That 27 AC coming in clutch!
Erdija continues to fire arrows at the elk, putting two more in the creature's flank, forcing it bugle out in pain.
Mithas follows Erdija's lead, eyeing the heavy damage the elk has sustained. A longbow shot sends another arrow into the flank of the beast, and it collapses, unable to withstand anymore. The cold rider goes down with it, but this creature's supernatural prowess as a mounted combatant aids it as it quickly springs off the falling mount and it lands on its feet in front of Skäne
Oh, also, Skäne, your readied action went off, but you still get to take your actual turn as well, since your readied action was your 1st turn action!
Round 2
Enii lets out a bloodcurdling roar as she bounds through the snow and dives at the strange flickering light, her enchanted fangs clamping down on something surprisingly solid. An incredibly high pitched hiss erupts from the creature, nearly straining your ears. As Enii lashes out with a flurry of paws and claws, the strange entity is able to flicker and flit around some of them, but one claw finds purchase and conjures another hissing screech.
No confirmation on the critical but two solid hits there.
Byakko engages the orb as well, working in tandem with his companion in a distracting dance that proves all too effective as a sudden swipe of his katana slices into the pulsating light-beast and the glow is abruptly snuffed. A semi-translucent mass of spongy material falls off of Byakko's blade into the snow beneath with a wet plop.
Krosh stays his own flame for now, opting instead to warm the bones of his compatriots. The familiar shower of silvery motes whirls around like soft snowfall on the breeze, rejuvenating your vitality. Channels to heal for 4d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 1, 4) = 10 to everyone.
Round 3
The remaining ghostlights seem to react to Byakko's slaying of one of their own, shifting to swarm the oracle with their electrical pulses that seem to find his form with unerring accuracy... two shocks hit, dealing 7 and 8 for a total of 15 points of electricity damage to Byakko.
Back to Geedra, and Skane gets his Round 2 still as well.
With your weapon currently under the effect of a Bane enhancement, the enhancement bonus of it vs fey is increased by +2 (total of +3), so that couple with the -2 ac from its charge, your attack does indeed hit! So you can do your double damage brace attack, and remmeber the +2d6 damage from bane.
I'll update tomorrow with a proper post. Holiday weekend got away from me but it looks like we are having a big round shaping up here!
Geedra quickly hops away from the strange manifestation assailing her, and then vanishes completely with a sudden pop, reappearing on the other side of Skäne and Byakko.
The cold rider breaks into a breakneck charge, its strange, eerie elk mount tearing through the snow, sharing in the crackling shriek of its rider. The sinister fey comes barreling down at Skäne, seemingly eager to take the challenge of the readied spear.
Your readied brace attack triggers, so you can make that strike in your post. Remember Krosh gave your spear the bane property vs fey if you choose to strike the rider.
In a blue-white blur, the rider stampedes northeast, just out of Byakko's reach and right past Skäne, the arc of the glaive painting an azure line across the night. The wicked icy blade of the weapon drives hard and deep, the force of the blow amplified by the momentum of the mounted charge, and as the head of the weapon emerges from Skane's shoulder, a thick wave of blood is sent spraying into the air. A heavy hit, dealing 28 points of slashing and 5 points of cold damage.
The rider continues on, wheeling beneath the branches of the nearby tree and up at an arc on the path ahead.
Erdija eyes the rider as it draws nearer to her, and snaps off two arrows at the mount it rides. As the first arrow nears the steed, the rider attempts to deflect the blow with the haft of its lance, but fails to intercept. Both arrows thud into the side of the elk and it howls out in a ghastly tone. [ooc]21 total damage to the strange elk. Rider attempted to use the Mounted Combat ride check to negate, but failed.
Mithas reappears, an arrow freeing itself from the bowstring. It cracks into the cold rider's frozen armor, sending splinters of ice spattering into the air and filling the area with a loud crack. 23 [points of damage
Skäne and Byakko take up defensive positions, ready to meet this cruel creature head on, while Enii dashes off from the magical storm to get a different angle of attack.
Krosh trudges out of the field of hail as well and holds out his hand, a flickering spectral flame appearing in it.
Round 2
Suddenly flickering into visibility, soundless in their amorphous hovering, the three ghostlights appear, energy pulsing around them. One manifests near Byakko, one at Skäne, and one at Geedra, each releasing a sudden jolting arc of electricity. All three strike with unerring accuracy, caring not for any of your armor or other defenses. Byakko in particular feels the coursing pain of the shock behind his eyes as the creature assailing him strikes a vital point in his neck.
All three hit their touch attacks, with a crit on Byakko. Byakko takes 18 electricity damage, Geedra takes 14, and Skane takes 6.
Doesn't look like anyone has any investment in Knowledge (Dungeoneering), so you'll have to go off of what Erdija knows for the ghostlights.
Upon seeing the creatures shimmer into sight, Erdija curses. "Watch out! These things are harder to hit than a wasp with an arrow! And the elders say that most magic has no effect on them!"
Geedra alerts her allies to the weaknesses of this new enemy as she produces a flask of alchemical fire and prepares to throw it.
The rider raises its icy glaive to the sky and lets out some manner of eerie incantation that is a mix of a shrill howl and the sound of a frozen lake cracking and splintering. The air above your group suddenly darkens and an ill wind flows across the trail just before a storm of hail, ice, and freezing rain suddenly drives down from overhead, pummeling everyone with magic-infused cold and heavy chunks. Casts ice storm, dealing 3d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 1) = 11 bludgeoning and 2d6 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4 cold to everyone with no save. The surrounding area is now also counted as difficult terrain.
The rider then lowers its icy glaive and lines itself up for a charge.
Erdija curses and gallops out of the driving hail, snapping off an arrow at the rider as she does. The shot lands true and the projectile sticks into the fey's shoulder, but it doesn't seem all too concerned.
Mithas cloaks himself in invisibility and also makes his way out of the snowstorm, preparing a forthcoming surprise strike against the enemy.
Byakko and Skane are up. Having a bit of trouble with an image right now so I'll get the map up when I can. Only Erdija and Mithas have moved so far, though. The difficult terrain extends in a twenty foot radius from the corner met by Skane and Krosh's squares.
The Cold Riders are an echelon of near-legendary fey, once righteous princes of the great forests and known as the Willow Kings. At some point they were brought before an icy Witch Queen - whether that was Baba Yaga herself, one of her daughters, or a powerful fey matriarch is uncertain - who sought to make them her own. They had icicle nails driven into their chests and their hearts ripped out, replaced with the rotting hearts of slain stags, before finally having new, unnatural life blown into them with the Witch Queen's kiss. They were reformed as the cold riders, who served her as her emissaries of cruelty in the eternal war against all things warm and green. This was long ago, but the cold riders still sweep across the frozen lands atop their strange stags, seeking to snuff all warmth and delighting in perversion, slaughter, and corruption. They and their mounts can move across any snowy or icy surface, even completely vertical ones, without error, and the riders are capable of casting spells of cold and ice. They are immune to cold but vulnerable to fire and sonic effects due to their icy, somewhat crystalline forms. Their forms can constantly repair damage while they are still alive, they resist spells, and their glacial armaments melt into smoking ruin when they are dead.
Preparation
Byakko conjures divine strength from the shimmering moon, enhancing himself and Enii for the battle to come. Geedra summons up recollections of this malicious fey, studying it for weaknesses and abilities. Skäne, Erdija, and Mithas take up positions to ready themselves for the attack. Krosh stands next to Skäne and holds out a hand wreathed in silver energy. He touches the Ulfen's spear and the aura transfers to it, limning the weapon in silver flames. Krosh uses his Bless Equipment feat to give Skäne's spear the Bane property against Fey for the next 4 rounds.
Round 1
The Cold Rider and its orbiting ghostlights reach the ground at your level, moving from the vertical ridge to the hardened, frost-fallen earth, 50 feet away from you. The spheres - those glowing globules of pale white-blue light - suddenly disappear, their glow extinguished.
"Stay alert!" Erdija calls out. "The ghostlights can become unseen, only to move and strike out from nowhere!"
To Geedra. The Cold Rider and its strange elk are fifty feet off of the trail at the base of the ridge. The 'ghostlights' are currently invisible.
I'll ping the other two but if I don't hear back tomorrow I'll kick off the combat and DMPC them for now. Hope all is well and we see them return soon!
Hey all, sorry for the infrequency as of late. Making a long story short, I've had some real life stuff resolve itself recently so moving forward should be a bit more action. I feel like a broken record sometimes with that but hey, we're still moving. Looks like Skäne and Mithas may still be wrapped up in some things as well? I'll keep things going for now, hope you guys can make a return. I'll ping ya in a PM just to check in if we don't hear from you soonish. Hope all is well.
Erdija stops and looks back at Byakko, arching a brow. "Glow, you say?" Her face sinks slightly as her gaze rises to the ridgeline. "Careful," she advises. "Could be the ghostlights...strange monsters that lure the lost into traps and dangers. They say they can feed on your minds, or souls, or emotions, depending on who is telling the tale. Lucky for you, I'm here, and you won't get lost to begin with," she adds with a smirk. "Still, don't go chasing one for fun."
As you travel on, you notice more of the strange globules of white-blue flickering in and out of sight along the ridge. Some even appear to your left, in the thicker woods, their eerie auras glimmering through the dark spaces between the boughs and trunks. Erdija keeps you focused and on the trail, however, and for whatever hope these entities have of luring you away, they do not seem to possess any sort of ability to magically compel you to follow them. Eventually, they cease their appearance, and it seems you are clear of them, or they have given up in their attempts to draw you someplace dangerous.
That is until a fiercer glow appears on the ridgeline, this time ahead of you. This figure is much larger and has a form beyond that of a floating sphere. A humanoid figure, at that, gaunt and almost withered, with skin the pale blue-white of a frozen corpse. Its body is clad in glacial armor, pale blue semi-transparent ice that glows in the moonlight that cascades onto the ridge. The frozen gear covers its torso, arms, and head with a breastplate, greaves, gauntlets, and an imposing helm from which dark blue antlers of ice protrude. It carries a long glaive similarly constructed of solid ice, angular and faceted as if chiseled from the heart of a glacier. The creature sits astride a massive elk, itself a pale specimen of its kind, with rime infused with much of its hide and icicles hanging from its antlers. Both the elk and the riders' eyes burn with fierce blue fire. Three of the "ghostlights" that you have seen on your journey slowly rotate around the figure, flickering in a spectral wreath.
The rider lets out a shriek that sounds like the surface of an icy lake shattering all at once, and spurs its elk forward. The mount turns ninety degrees downward and breaks into a gallop straight down the sheer surface of the ice-limned ridge in defiance of gravity. The three orbiting lights break off and start a descent towards you as well.
"A most malicious fey spirit," Krosh intones. "A cold rider..strike it with fire and sound, and be wary of its magic."
The creature is far enough away to give everyone time to do one round of preparation before initiative begins. Go ahead and give me your action for the pre-fight and you can roll initiative in your post as well.
I'll assume you guys decide to finish off the demon before it has a chance to rise.
As you take in the preceding moments, Byakko moves over to the unconscious demon and tests his blade, looking over to the others before following through.
"Best to end it" Krosh intones. "Creatures like this can simply disappear and reappear on their home plane in a blink of an eye, it wouldn't do much good to converse, I think."
Byakko's blade flashes in a downward crescent arc, cleanly cleaving the fiend's flesh. The icy black sludge sprays from the wound and the body immediately begins to decompose into similar matter, leaving a messy pile of viscous refuse amongst the pine needles.
With the threat away, you are able to get back to rest, taking a bit of extra time in the morning to make up for the interruption and Erdija leads you onwards through the forest, taking you on seemingly random zig-zagging paths that she claims will actually make the overall journey quicker.
You stop for rest at a small waterfall where a creek descends from a ridge, giving to a place to drink fresh water and take a moment to recuperate.
"Other of my kind have been here," Erdija says, pointing out some marred hoofprints around the area. "Within the past couple of days. Could be my people, other scouts, but this far, more likely to be Tsolniva bastards. Don't look to be any signs of giants, however."
After a break, you continue on, and Erdija, after squinting into the distance from atop a small ridge, informs you that you should reach the Watchers by nightfall. Sure enough, as the sun begins to descend and the evening haze just starts to permeate the sky, she looks back and gives you a grin.
"Nearly there. We just follow along this ridge and we'll see them soon enough," she explains, inclining her head towards the earthen wall to you right about fifty feet off. The top of the ridge is about forty feet above and the forest continues out of sight atop it. Thick roots can been seen breaking through the ridge wall at different points. To your left is a thicker bit of forest at your level, the trunks of the trees huddled close together and the pine branches intertwined in a knit lattice. The hoofpath you are on, however, that runs parallel with the ridge seems reasonably well traveled and the path onward looks easy enough, even as dusk starts to take hold.
After ten minutes or so, Mithas and Byakko both notice something out of the corner of their eyes..a strange, pale glow atop the ridge. It disappears, however, but flickers back a moment later, and then it floats out of sight...
No that's my fault, I think I just confused myself with who was presently active and who needed a bit of DMPC and wanted to get the round polished off since I myself had been lagging behind. Sorry Skane, didn't mean to guide your spearhand out from under you!
Byakko moves from one fallen demon to a standing one, and joins his companion in bringing the fiend down. The first swipe of the katana fails to bite through the demon's abyssal hide, but the follow-up blows more than make up for it. The silver flashes across the dark hide, carving a sanguine path down from its throat, across its chest, to the stomach. A sputtering howl swiftly becomes a wet gurgle as black-blue blood surges from the wound, raining down to the forest floor as the demon itself dematerializes into icy sludge...
Think you may have had a type there for the 11d20 damage, Byakko, but the other strikes were enough to finish the job.
Erdija wipes her brow and slowly stows her bow. "Never seen these things before...but the giants and our rivals are both known to make strange allies. Seems they'll work with any monster they find." She gives a disgusted look to the decomposing goop, but then turns her gaze to the unconscious fiend. "And what of this one?" She asks, trotting a bit closer to it but still giving it a fair breadth.
Geedra smirks as she winds her fingers out in front of her, conjuring a strange rippling greyish pall around one of the demons, probing the web of fortunes and fate that surround it. Despite the savage oafishness of the demon, it surprisingly seems to gather enough mental fortitude to resist the intrusion. Unfortunately rolled very high to resist!
The demons continue their furious assault, the one set against Skäne wading in with another trio of blows. The first heavy fist pushes past Skäne's defenses and lands a shattering blow on the Ulfen's armor that reverberates into his core, the pain of the strike evident beneath the layers of metal and furs. 10 points of damage to Skäne
The fiend embattled with Enii finds similar success to its fellow, landing one slam of its fist as it tangles with the tiger. 10 points of damage to Enii as well.
Skäne retaliates once more, planting a firm foot behind him as he recoils from the slam attack and pushing forward with a sudden quick thrust with much of his body weight behind it. The spear skewers the demon in the belly, and cold steam and icy mist pours from the wound as the brute hisses and sputters, its body quickly deteriorating into a frosted sludge. Dead.
Krosh casts a shower of silvery motes across the field, the little granules of celestial energy swarming your wounds and tending to them, giving a rejuvenated warmth. 17 HP back to everyone.
Mithas fires another arrow at the demon fighting Skane,
Mithas:1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 1 + 1 = 14
but fails to find his mark this time as the melee between the two warriors grows fiercer. Looks like I ruined Mithas's streak :(
Erdija works in tandem with Enii, putting arrows into the demon as the tigress savages it in melee, one arrow goes wide as the cat and fiend whirl about, but the second strikes true.
Forgot that your post was for this round, Byakko. Geedra can take the delayed action, then I'll finish off the round once our goblin goes and take it round 3 and get a new map up.
Sorry everyone, had a bit of a runaround the past week and this is the first time I've gotten a chance to turn my computer on. Seems as though I wasn't the only one at least. I'll give another day for Mithas and Byakko to post up but will continue things regardless tomorrow evening and we can get back on it.
Skäne meets the demon's challenge, and does the fiend one better. Changing his grip on the spear to get better leverage on the demon bearing down down on him, the Ulfen warrior punches hard twice with the weapon, driving it deep into the abdomen. Black blood and ichor sprays forth with each retrieval of the weapon, sending something akin to an oil slick across Skäne's furs and armor. Icy spittle dislodges from the demon's jowls and spatters as it reels in pain, but still keeps on its feet.
Round 2
Yeah I think it's kind of dumb to have to be the same size in a game where both small and medium creatures are likely to be PCs so that's fine.
Byakko finds some sudden synergy with Geedra and the two simultaneously slide past one another so the oracle can join Mithas in combating the ambusher. A flash of the katana sends a spray of black blood across the forest floor and that blow coupled with Mithas's original nonlethal sneak-shot sets the fiend to staggering. With a heavy thud it falls onto its back, alive but well knocked senseless.
Enii bounds to the third demon and leaps, her flurry of claws and fangs descending upon the abyssal beast. Though her claws fail to penetrate the fiendish hide, her fangs pierce and pull flesh from its shoulder.
Mithas wastes no time in setting another arrow to string and drawing a bead on a second of the demons. The shot strikes true, the missile speeding past Skäne and burrowing into the fiend's throat. Black ichor bubbles up from the puncture as the demon hacks and sputters, acrid spittle flying from its lips. Mithas indeed on his sniper arc in this fight!
Geedra probes into the divine forces thinly veiled across the hoofwood, beseeching - or perhaps tricking - the old gods that still watch over this place to grant their boon.
Byakko and Enii rise to join the fray, the oracle spotting the demon that had leapt into the tree. He extends his arm and focuses his divine energy, reaching through the fiend to its abyssal bones. Its skeleton begins to vibrate and warp beneath its hide, forcing out anguished screams. The whole of the skeleton shifts and a moment later the demon is falling to the ground.
Failed save, taking the damage and falling. Also, moving forward, anyone casting a spell on these demons that is subject to spell resistance, go ahead and make a caster level check when you do. Forgot to mention it before, so I rolled them for the spells this round.
Enii roars out a challenge to the now-prone demon, an aggressive roar aimed to keep the demon cowed, but its current predicament seems to have angered it past the point of being threatened in such a way.
"Never seen these brutes before!" Erdija exclaims, taking up her bow with a sudden zest, almost giddy at the idea of engaging these monsters. "New quarry!" She takes aim at the demon squaring off against Skäne, looking to add more arrows to join Mithas's. She snaps two off, landing a shot each in the demon's chest and side.
The demons launch their counterattack in a flurry of howls and shrieks. The arrow-riddled one unleashes on Skäne, barreling forward with a fist, then another, and then a bite, but the Ulfen barks a laugh as he pushes each clumsy blow away with his shield. The demon screams in rage.
The prone demon stands, shaking snow from its greasy fur before taking a deep breath and blowing a frigid cone of icy energy over Erdija, Krosh, and Enii. DC 17 Reflex Save or take 3d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 1) = 8 cold, half on a successful save (or none with evasion)
The third demon, slightly staggered in its steps, breaks through the trees behind you, gunning straight for Mithas who had so grievously struck it with the blunted arrow. The charge ends in a heavy slam of the creature's massive fist, striking the elf hard. 15 points of damage
Krosh lets out a loud call to his allies, still in his trademark monotone. "Wary of the flanks, they enclose - keep together." He moves to aid Mithas, grabbing the scout by the shoulder and, with a surprising fluidity you haven't seen from the orc, switches places with him. Krosh now stands between the demon and Mithas, shield raised defensively.
Krosh picked up the Tribe spirit as his wandering spirit for the day, and the ability grants him a Teamwork Feat. He used his action to share the feat with all of you, so for the next 6 rounds you are all treated as having the Swap Places feat
Having detected the presence of the abyssal assailants, Mithas and Geedra react, the goblin witch dashing further into the cover of her allies and the elven scout seamlessly putting a blunted arrow to string and letting it loose with hairpin accuracy. The missile strikes the advancing demon square in the temple, sending a loud crack resounding throughout the clearing. The loping marauder staggers, nearly crashing into the snow, but sways on its gait.
Your foes seem perplexed, perhaps thrown off guard by the fact that they did not catch the entirety of you unawares. The easternmost demon leaps into the branches of the nearby tree, its powerful body sending it into an impressive bound that puts it in the foliage, granting it cover amongst the branches.
The northern demon leaps down from the ridge, roaring a challenge at Skäne, icy spittle spraying from its widened maw.
The injured demon wheels around the southern side of the camp, putting itself out of sight on the other side of the trees.
Round 1
Back to Mithas and Geedra, and Byakko as well. Everyone who didn't act in the surprise round is awake, but prone from having just woken up.
Geedra nudges Mithas with her foot, stirring the alert elf as she mutters. He rises quickly in a fluid motion, snapping to attention, eyes and ears trained on the surroundings, where he too sees a hulking form, veiled in the shadows. His ears prick to the left, and spots a second...In this time the others rise, alerted by Geedra, but are only able to get their eyes open and start to mutter as these assailants leap from the darkened wood, and only now does the third reveal itself.
Burly, primal looking creatures bound at you, their upper halves resembling muscular apes with pale white flesh and tufts of blue fur, but their heads are something much more fiendish, demonic horns curling backwards and gaping maws lined with gnashing fangs. Their lower bodies are that of goats, covered in azure fur and ending in cloven hooves. Their torsos are wildly disproportionate from their legs, much larger, causing them to move in a lumbering lope.
Knowledge (Planes) DC 16:
These beasts are andrazku, demonic thugs from a frozen layer of the Abyss. Like most demons, they are immune to electricity and poison, but they too boast a complete resilience to cold. They have limited spellcasting ability, but generally prefer to tear their prey limb from limb.
Knowledge (Planes) DC 20:
(Above info, plus) Despite being immune to cold, andrazku do not fear flame, and are resistant to both fire and acid. They are also resistant to spells, able to shrug off the arts of lesser mages.
Surprise Round - Only Mithas, Geedra, and the enemies act for the surprise round. Mithas and Geedra act first. Map
Erdija stretches by the fire, yawning loudly as she works the cold from her bones. "True, true. My people tell a lot of stories. Sometimes too many," she says, rolling her eyes. But all right, all right, settle in, I'll think of something to tell you.."[/b] She gnaws on the pheasant as her mind wanders, before snapping her fingers suddenly after a few moments.
"Many generations ago," she begins, shifting her voice to be more dramatic, lowering her tone and leaning forward so the fire sends shadows flickering across her face. "There was a mighty chieftain of a clan, the Rostovokan Clan. Her name was Koltaya of the Three Mountains. She was the first of all centaur to journey to the three sacred crags, spread across the land and filled with dangers. Atop each she communed with the ancient guardian spirits from a forgotten age. She met the Khan of Wisdom, and when asked what makes a great leader wise, she answered that wisdom must be heard among the whole of the clan and all voicesm within it, and the Khan smiled upon her and sent her away with his blessing."
Erdija looks around and smiles, nodding along at her own approval. "Koltaya went to the second mountain and found the Khan of Cunning. The Khan asked her what made a great leader cunning, and she answered that to be cunning a leader can never stop learning, never stop adapting, never stop sharpening her mind. The Khan of Cunning gave her blessing, and Koltaya descended the mountain. The third mountain held the Khan of Strength, who asked what makes a great leader strong. Koltaya told him that the greatest strength was knowing that the clan depending upon her and that she would fight to protect her people. The Khan of Strength smiled and sent her away with his blessing."
Erdija draws closer to the fire and stokes it, making the flames rise higher. "When Koltaya left the mountains and was returning to her clan, thrice blessed by the ancient Khans, a fourth spirit came to her. It asked her if strength, cunning, and wisdom were truly enough of a blessing. Koltaya told him, what else could be greater? These things would make a great leader, a Khan who could lead a tribe, bring it to greatness, and protect it. But the spirit told her, these things are all well and good, but mean nothing when the Pale Mare - that is, death - comes to take us across the fields to the beyond. As cunning as one is, as wise as one is, as strong as one is, none can stop the Pale Mare, and then what would become of their tribe, without their blessed Khan to lead them?"
"Now, Koltaya was cunning. She was wise, and she was strong, but she also was prideful. She believed herself the only one fit to lead her clan, and gaining the three blessings was proof enough of this. She stared at the spirit, this fourth Khan, and asked him how a powerful chieftain might take a different path. The spirit told her he could grant his own blessing, but it would come at a cost. Koltaya was unsure, but the spirit showed her a vision, a vision of a time beyond the end of her life, when her beloved clan was run down by enemies. They called for their blessed Khan, but she was gone, and none could help them. Koltaya asked this fourth Khan what the price would be, and the Khan smiled. He told her that she must bring his blessing, his blessing of the everlasting, to all of her tribe."
Erdija stares deep into the flames, sweat gathering on her brow. She exhales deeply. "Koltaya agreed, and the fourth Khan made her everlasting. A Pale Mare all herself, a thing living but dead, but with all of the power of the endless fields beyond. The blessings of the first three Khans withered away, falling from her like leaves, scattering to the wind, and her strength, wisdom, and cunning were replaced by an unbeating heart, unbreathing lungs, and an empty soul. She rode back to her clan and in her wake the grasses wasted away, the flowers shriveled, the trees shrank away, the waters grew poisoned. Her breath was green fire and her once lustrous coat was an ashen husk. She brought the Pale Mare's cold stare to all of her clan, becoming the enemies in the vision the fourth Khan had given her, and just as she rode them down, so did they rise, everlasting and unliving, empty shells of caged spirits in her thrall."
"Koltaya returned to the fourth Khan, who cried. He vanished, and the first three Khans appeared, pained and dismayed."You have failed," said the Khan of Strength. "You thought yourself to have the strength, the cunning, the wisdom to lead, but you gave them all away without a thought. You thought our gifts unworthy, and let a whisper and a trick lead you this. Now you are damned, and you will ride forever with the anguished souls of your people at your hooves, forever screaming."
Erdija leans back and stretches again. "That is the story of Koltaya Clankiller. Whether or not it is true...well, who knows?" She smirks.
Later, you sleep, taking turns keeping watch in this cold, unfamiliar land. Skane's watch passes and he wakes Geedra before turning in himself.
About halfway through Geedra's watch, despite her narrowed eyes mostly falling on the slumbering Erdija, perhaps wishing for a horsechopper, the witch's ears prick in the dead of night. A heavy footfall breaks through underbrush not too far from the camp, and as she looks, she sees a muscular, hunched form lumbering slowly through the foliage...
You chat with Voran Veig as you both work, him giving you access to his forge and materials in order to uphold your end of your trade. He gathers the pieces of chain, padding, and leather to reforge them into a new suit of barding, expanding on the existing protection Enii was already wearing. There is a rhythmic proficiency to his craft, one that is different but no less austere than the craftsmen you spent your time around as a youth. The muscled horse-man couples his great strength with the leverage and stability of his strong hammer swings with four legs, giving him an apparent edge in his work.
As you melt and temper the silver, choosing and altering a mold to suit your needs, you spin your tale of life, death, and rebirth, of losing and finding, of blessings and curses. Vorag listents intently, but remains focused on his work, and does not once open his mouth to punctuate your story with any comments of his own. At points his jaw stiffens, or his eye twitches, or his face tightens in response to a word or a sentence, but he lets you flow through the entirety. He is unflinching when embers dance on his forearm, where the tiny stippled pocks of a lifetime of little burns tell their own tale. At a few points he takes a piece he is working on and walks to Enii, holding it up against her and eyeballing measurements and sizes before returning, but never seems vacant in his listening. When you come to the end, he is quiet still for another minute or two, before he gently sets down his hammer and exhales deeply.
"You tell a fine tale, two-leg. Storytelling is of great import to my people, and you did not disappoint me. I thank you for the story of your life, for I do not often hear those of outsiders." He looks out across the tents and wipes sweat from his brow.
"I have encountered two-legs before. Many think us simple and savage raiders, or mystical fey-folk, or elsewise, but we are just people. People with stories and families to do not balk at the might of the wilds or its many dangers. I will admit that generations of these interactions have not made my people any more receptive or welcoming to other folk either, but perhaps if we all shared our stories, we would find ourselves not so different from one another."
He gives a half smirk and shrugs. "But I am just a smith, what would I know of putting two materials together in a functional way?" Now, let us see what we have made."
He goes to inspect the brooch and smiles. "The tusks! How fitting. Your craft is in measure to your storytelling. Well done. My mate will be thrilled, and with this I pray she will find my long hours of toil in this time of war easier to accept. And for you, or your companion, I should say..."
He presents the armor, and the scratched, dinged, dented, and otherwise battleworn mail that Enii had been wearing - uncomfortably as of late - is no longer recognizable. Supplemented by Voran Veig's materials and skill, this new chain barding appears brand new, bereft of blemish or defect, and slips on Enii like a second skin. She gives a low hum of approval, nuzzling into Voran Veig's hand once more.
"Well, Byakko Whiteclaw, we have shared stories and made trade in the crafts that are bound to our lifesblood. We are honorbound by custom now to never be enemies, lest our hands become lame and our voices silent. Even if we never speak again, I will tell the tale of the moon-touched two-leg to my children, and the piece he crafted will one day be theirs." He puts a hand on your shoulder and gives it a firm squeeze.
Voran Craft:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Well, I'd say that definitely earns you a masterwork.
You are unable to glean any more about this new sword beyond it being magical (+1), but when you focus on it through the divination spell, you feel a cool sensation, as if splashing your face with icy water.
The Celebration:
The archery competition draws many spectators, and is often the highlight of these celebrations, you learn. The rounds are heated and close. Geedra gets a slower start but ramps up at the end, drawing unexpected cheers from surprised centaur. Mithas gives the centaur quite the challenge, and in the final round, the scoring comes down to the elven scout and Gan Batu the Huntmaster himself. Both archers let fly at their target (a mock frost giant, not to scale), at 200 feet out, the longest shot of the competition, and both arrows mark the same painted ring, netting the same score on the final shots...which in all sees Mithas Aran narrowly defeating Gan Batu in the contest!
The centaur are in awe, collectively favoring their Huntmaster and expecting him to dominate these newcomers. In fact, when the realization that Mithas has won, there is a still silence for a moment as all eyes seem to go to Gan Batu, the long-time champion of this test,.. The Huntmaster grins and bows low, placing his bow gently on the ground in the customary sign of surrender, upon which the centaur rear up and give their cheers for a contest well fought. Many rush over to congratulate Mithas and express their astonishment, many saying they have learned not to underestimate a two-leg if they should come to blows with one.
Gan Batu approaches Mithas after the bouts and presents him with an object rolled in a piece of hide. "Should you face a giant again, put this between its eyes and tell them Gan Batu bids them a swift journey to the Hells." He unwraps the hide to reveal a pristine arrow, etched in sylvan runes and fletched with red feathers. This is an arrow of giant slaying.
Byakko does not fare so well in his competitions, the pungent valkyut perhaps getting the better of him. Voran Veig comes through and wipes the floor with all competitors in the spear toss, half-elf and centaur alike.
Indeed, Enii doesn't seem to quiet understand the concept of a race, seemingly content to have more fun chasing the centaur than trying to get ahead of them. A spry young centaur woman named Hulsari, incredibly nimble, takes the prize.
The next morn:
Erdija is quick to laugh and quicker to jest. "Oh ho, worried about harm coming to me? How sweet. I'm more worried about me looking after all of you and making sure the scary monsters don't bite you. I'm ready when you are."
Wen you finalize your preparations, Erdija leads you out of the camp and wastes no time in taking you quickly through the hoofpaths, turning at seemingly random intervals and directions to shift course. It is quickly apparent that you are quite fortunate to have this guide, as this region of the Hoofwood is densely packed with towering pines and everything looks so similar it would be no great feat to get lost. Erdija moves as if she could do this trek blindfolded, and sometimes disappears into the trees and foliage ahead, only to come up behind you after having made a fast circle, just to sneak up and spook you. She laughs and rides ahead again, giving you a big grin.
Though you move more swiftly with Erdija then you would alone, your progress is still slowed overall due to the terrain and the constant course corrections to avoid known dangers. Night falls, and the forest is swallowed by blackness, a haze of clouds obscuring much of the starlight. Erdjia finds you a clearing to make camp.
"Oof, I'm starving," she says, pulling a now frigid roasted pheasant out of her pack. "Come on now, let's get a fire on and rest our bones. Maybe I'll tell you a ghost story," she laughs.
Time to set up camp. Let me know a watch order if any as well, if you would.
Not sure if everyone is done with purchases... so I'll do kind of an overall post covering before/during/after.
A night of celebration gives you a warm welcome into the centaur clan, perhaps the high spirits of the day's victory has made them more amenable to your presence in the camp, and as whispers of your mission to make your way to Artrosa and possible deal with some of their rivals, these people take more of a liking to you.
Music fills the evening as the stars break through the cloud cover; leather and hide drums sound out percussive beats as other centaur play long, wide flute-like instruments that produce a deep, resonating sound that thrums into your cores. Centaur dressed in painted skins dance around bonfires, rearing on their hind hooves as the move in circles. Korak Kaag moves about the gathering, honoring specific tribespeople as he claps them on the back and pours wine on their heads from his flagon, drawing laughs and cheers.
Beyond the dancing, archery contests and races are held at the outskirts of camp. If you'd like to participate in a contest, go ahead and make three ranged attack rolls for the archery contest, three strength checks for the distance spear toss, and if you think you've the gusto to outrun a centaur, three constitution checks for the footraces.
The celebrations go late into the night, with the revelers drinking their fill of wine and a fermented milk they call valkyut, and satisfying their bellies with spit-roasted pheasants and cracklings of boar fat.
Voran Veig spends the next day piecing together some armor for Enii, using a base of some bits he had from a previous beast barding and refining it with additions and backing. You can decide what type of light or medium barding you want and go ahead and add it to Enii. To fulfill your end of the bargain, make me a craft check for your silversmithing. And you owe Voran Veig a good story!
Gan Batu escorts Geedra and whoever else wishes to go to Vurnirn (see above), returning late the next night.
On the second morning, Korak Kaag calls you to his tent.
"You've been fine guests, I appreciate that," he says with a grin. "But I trust now you are prepared to follow the train to The Watchers and get to your business." He says this jovially enough, but the hint that it's time to make your way out is there. "I promised you a guide, and I will keep my word. I know you have grown familiar with Gan Batu, but my huntmaster must return to his duties."
He looks over and nods to another centaur in the tent, a younger looking female with long dark brown hair, the back of which is tied very loosely with red rope. She wears a brown bears' hide as a cloak over chain armor and carries both bow and blade. She has a somewhat cocky grin on her face, that look of youth you all likely wore when you were younger as well.
"This is Erdija. Do not underestimate her by her nineteen winters. She knows the Hoofpaths and the Deeprun Crevasse Well, and she has looked out on the Watchers before. She will get your there swiftly and safely as far as the land is concerned, but I will not promise you that you will not run afoul of any enemies. Know this, I do not offer you one of my own lightly, and I expect you to guard her back as she will yours."
Erdija moves forward and tosses her hair back, giving your group a wave. "If they can keep up, Chief." She chuckles and shakes her head. "I jest. Don't worry, two-legs, I'll get you to the stone maidens in one piece. Their sculptors forgot to carve them any clothes, so I hope you're not bashful!"
Take care of anything else you need to at camp and we will head out!
Voran Veig looks up has he rummages. "Eh? Oh, that blade? We pulled it off of some Tsolniva bastard. Wherever he got it from, I cannot say. But look at that, a matching mark indeed. Peculiar.." When you produce the great boar's tusks, he widens his eyes a bit and looks quite impressed. "Now that is a trophy!" He strides over to inspect them. "You must be a fine hunter. My people prize items such as these, especially when worked into craft. For these, the blade is yours. Not quite my weapon of choice, anyway."
The blade is yours. It functions as a +1 wakazashi currently, but perhaps there is more to it to be uncovered..
Geedra wants to head south to make some purchases in the larger centaur settlement, so I'll incorporate that into this post to save some time. Convincing the centaur to take your there requires a bit of finessing, as it is definitely a place where outsiders normally do not tread, but your positive interactions in the camp and with a bit of leaning on the promise to kill as many giants and Tsolniva centaur as you encounter, Korak Kaag agrees to delay sending you north for a day or two and instead sends Gan Batu, a centaur of some station, to lead you south. Fortunately, Huntamaster Gan Batu's intimate knowledge of the hoofpaths through the forest expedites your journey to Vurnirn, the "centaur city" on a cliff overlooking the Myrfrus River. It isn't a city as you would call it, but definitely a much larger settlement, where most of the centaur clans of the Rashalka meet o exchange news, goods, and otherwise mingle. The steady coming and going of the many tribes give the place a feeling of a large town, though few are permanent residents.
The guards let you in without much fuss with Gan Batu's endorsement, though he keeps close to you as you move through the settlement.
Geedra is able to find a cloak of resistance and a headband of intellect for standard market price. In addition to these items, the following could be procured from the centaur:
Bracers of armor +2 (4,000 gp)
Wand of owl's wisdom (4500 gp)
Ring of climbing (1750 gp)
goggles of minute seeing (1250 gp)
lesser bracers of archery (2500 gp)
+2 light crossbow (8335 gp)
slippers of spider climbing (2400 gp)
+2 chainmail (4300 gp)
lesser empower metamagic rod (9000 gp)
ring of water walking (15,000 gp)
amulet of mighty fists +1 (2000 gp)
Sorry, wasn't updating the discussion thread for me for some reason.
Korak Kaag's camp isn't too rich with magical goods to trade, as most of any gear or armaments are in use by the hunters, scouts, and warriors in the camp. Though the smith does have some things...I rolled randomly for a small settlement and he does happen to have a +1 composite shortbow - perhaps the centaur think it is a little too small for them?
In all, as far as magic goes, you could procure the following in the camp:
+1 composite shortbow (2,375 gp)
+2 lamellar cuirass (4,165 gp)
arcane scroll of invisibility sphere (750 gp)
wand of ghoul touch (17 charges) (1530 gp discounted)
You do learn, however, that the main Centaur settlement 15 miles to the south, Vurnirn, would have a fair bit more in the way of what you are looking for.
"I haven't armored a cat in a while," the smith says with half a smile, patting Enii one more time before rising back up to his full height. "I could manage something, aye. Probably enough enough bits and pieces to put together something new." He strokes his chin as he looks at your jewelry. "Your work? Not bad for a two-leg. I'll tell you what, this armor of yours won't take me much time to get together. Make me a fine brooch clasp for a cloak that I can give to my mate, and tell me a good story, and we can call it an even trade."
He leaves you to mull that over, and goes behind his counter to start digging through some things. As he starts to rummage and move some things, something catches your eye, something you wouldn't expect to see here. A short blade, well made, in the fashion of your father's people, a smaller version of the sword you carry now. The real thing you take notice of, however, is the crescent moon carved into the base of the blade, its position mirrored to the one carved on your own.
In a rush, the words of the Spirit-Boar collide with your memory. Take my weapons to the camps in the galloping trees. Crescents for a crescent, you may find...
