The Northlands Saga - Spears in the Ice IC

[Dexam]

Skorri dismounts as they approach the wooden walkway, doubtfully eyeing the path that leads through the swamp.

"Well, doesn’t this look like a wonderful choke-point for an ambush?" he asks with false cheeriness. "It might be better if we take the horses with us ? We might need them for the girls when we rescue them. Probably better to lead the horses rather than ride them, though."

Reins in one hand, axe in the other, he waits for his turn to step onto the path.

[Ghostfoot]

Freyja leads the way, the rest of you following leading your horses single-file and the wee dog padding alongside. The mist is cold and dense, limiting your vision to 50ft although thankfully a little starlight still shines through from above.

She checks ahead with her spear, mindful of being cast unsuspectingly into the frigid still waters about. In the end the journey is tense but uneventful. After about half a mile of slow progress the walkway ends at a small boggy island some 20ft in diameter. A lone dead half-rotten tree marks the low rise but otherwise it is barren of feature.

On the far side the walkway continues onward into the misty bog. Just barely visible as a dark shadow on the misty walkway, a large canine shape pads forward...

The size of a bull mastiff, this great beast has slimy skin and fur stained black with long years of being submerged in stinking, swampy mud. Its long teeth are rotten but intact, and a pale fire of vengeance seems to burn in the hollows of its eye sockets. Blade wounds mar its hide, it's clearly seen battle recently.

The fearful undead hound pauses on the far walkway, watching, as if to say "you shall not pass"...

Spoiler: Sceadugengan check

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Will DC14 vs bog hound or shaken

Gunnar (1d20)[19]
DDW (1d20+1)[15]
Freyja (1d20+1)[12]
Skorri (1d20+1)[4]
Signy (1d20+2)[8]

[DrK]

Freyja

Freyja pauses, "By the all father, its a vile creature." She gestures at the beast, "Come. Try our mettle vile beast of Hel." SHe levels the spear forward, bracing the end of if it the narrow planks and readying if it charges forward to destroy it. Even though the visage chills her faith in Wotan is strong and she readies for the fight...

Spoiler: Freyja

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Brace spear and ready an attack if it charges forward

[Dexam]

Skorri halts in his tracks the moment the fell hound pads into view. His mind races with all the horrible tales he knows about ghost hounds and cursed dogs, told to frighten children into returning home before nightfall; and a long-suppressed memory of one of his uncle's dogs turning on him as child flashes in his mind's eye.

"By the gods, the old mothers' tales are true," he mutters around chattering teeth. Shakily raising his shield, he starts a battle chant that is somewhat spoiled by the quavering of his voice, but he feels his courage return slightly nonetheless...

"Stand aside, accursed hound;
A warrior's heart will give no ground!"

Spoiler: Actions

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Move action: ready shield.

Standard action: start Inspired Rage: allies gain a +2 morale bonus to Strength and Constitution and a +1 morale bonus on Will saving throws, but also take a –1 penalty to AC. While under the effects of inspired rage, allies other than the skald cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except Acrobatics, Fly, Intimidate, and Ride) or any ability that requires patience or concentration.

Conditions:
Shaken: –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.
Inspired Rage: +2 morale bonus to Strength and Constitution and a +1 morale bonus on Will saving throws, –1 penalty to AC.
Skald's Vigor: Fast healing 1

[Ghostfoot]

Freyja braces, facing off against the fell hound. A sharp intake of breath from Signy behind you as she mutters half-reassuring folk charms to herself. Skorri's voice carries over the small swamp island, shaky but nevertheless defiant.

The creature pauses, watching for a moment as if to acknowledge the challenge. Then, with a glimmer of cold hunger and hate in its evil eyes it lopes forward, cracked teeth bared to attack as Freyja stands firm it lets out a ghastly and forlorn howl that fills you with dread...

Spoiler: rolls & info

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Freyja gets an AoO

then Will saves DC14 vs forlorn howl for all or fear

Spoiler: Map

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Bog hound is to the south.
Your horses are to the north, as is your friendly dog

1. AoO from Freyja
2. then Will saves for all
3. then => Party

[Ghostfoot]

Freyja's skill with the spear is evident. As the bog hound lopes forward she strikes, a nasty gash for 15 damage putrid slime oozing from the wound.

Dark Dreams Wanderer steps alongside, swinging his weapon but the creatures surprisingly tough hide turns the blow.

=> Gunnar, Freyja, Skorri

[DrK]

Freyja

Freyja's eyes narrow in disgust as her spear plunges into the creature's guts but it keeps going. She growls out an oath at the vile creature before praying for Wotan's guidance she plunges her spear again into the creature.

Spoiler: Freyja

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attack (1d20+5)[20] dam (2d6+5)[12]

[Ghostfoot]

Wotan guides her and her aim is true. The spear pierces the undead hound for 12 damage as it lunges forward, pinning it to the boardwalk. It struggles for a moment before finally expiring for good, its glimmering undead hate-filled eyes finally darkening as it slumps to a pile of putrid muck and bones.

Signy sighs with relief audibly from behind as you are left unchallenged to proceed onward though the fog from the muddy island...

[Dexam]

Skorri ceases his chant as the undead beast slumps to the ground at the end of Freyja's spear.

"Truly a mighty display of skill," he says in awe of the giantess. "No doubt that Wotan has blessed your spear arm."

Putting away axe and shield, he gathers the reigns of his horse and makes certain that the mutt Bogi is following. "Come along, dog; if you wander off, you might end up like that one!" He eyes the remains of the bog hound as he walks by.

[BelGareth]

Gunnar is assailed by the howl and it goes deep into his core, his hands loosed, and he was about to turn tail and run, leaving all notions of honor, family, behind.

But then the beast charged, and was slain, his dishonor covered up by a momentary lax of focus.

He gritted his teeth, tightened his grip, and moved onwards, silent as a spectre, and as angry as one too.

[Ghostfoot]

Signy shares a fearful, knowing glance with Gunnar, the two of them pale and shaking honour only preserved by the valiant actions of the others...

You skirt around the decayed sludge of the defeated bog hound. Its corrupted form reminding you of vague tales of how the ancient Andøvan who once ruled the region were rumoured to sacrifice bound captives and animals by casting them into stagnant kettle ponds to slowly sink to their watery death. Your mounts are nervous but you manage to coax them about the stinking mess to continue along the sodden walkway, the wee dog Bogi scampering about close, tail between its legs.

Thankfully after another half mile the ground begins to firm and the fog thins. The raised walkway continues for a few dozen more feet before ending at solid earth.

In the near distance, thunderclouds gather and roil as the huge unnatural storm builds in intensity unleashing its raging power upon the lands below. Unfortunately, this storm stays in one spot rather than moving with the southern winds, concentrating all of its fury in one location. In the continual flashes of lightning that lance down to the ground below, you can see beneath this gathering gloom a single tall hill some five miles distant. Multiple lighting strikes impale its peak, and from the crown of this hill can be seen a pale, muted glow. Dark magic is at work upon the Tor.

Immediately ahead a field of innumerable low mounds covers the dark terrain of the Barrow Lands. Built by the long-dead Andøvan tribes, the ancient barrows cover the highest points in the Moors. Some of the mounds are only waist high, others are as tall as a man, but all have a sinister air about them. Corroded weapons protrude awkwardly from the sides and tops of some of them, and a few have stone doorways marking their ancient entrances. Of these, a handful have no stone slabs blocking them, leaving them gaping open and revealing only darkness beyond.

Spoiler: Knowledge (history) DC10 - Skorri

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Skorri (1d20+5)[23]

You vaguely recall the tales of heroes long past, the warrior Kein the Bearsarker who some 400 years ago led the men and women of the Northlands into battle against legions of Andøvan who had risen from their graves, finally defeating the Longnight King at the Battle of the Barrow Lands and ending the Forgotten Wars.

Spoiler: You are here

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Your horses balk and will not enter this field of earthen mounds.

[DrK]

Freyja

Bog Hound

The warrior maiden kicks part of the hound off the tip of her spear and pushes it away from her and the others. "Disgusting beast, Hel take you." she snarls before nodding to the others. "Wodan is with us eh?" she says on a note of triumph as she looks to the others and pushes on towards the barrows beyond the marsh.

The barrows

Freyja pauses on the edge of the barrow fields staring out over the barrows and caves and caverns. SHe shivers, feeling the spirits of the dead wandering in the fields. Before steeling herself and walking forwards, gesturing to the rest. "Come on, the heroes of old shouldn't bother us."

[BelGareth]

Gunnar shares the muted look of knowing, and moves forward, ignoring the dog, and what it implied.

As they got to the Barrows, he noticed his would go no further, and he eyed the grounds before them, especially the barrows without stone blocks to guard the living from the dead. He noted too, the thunder.

"Mighty Thor beats his hammer against his anvil, he is not happy with this dark ritual, and is showing us his displeasure!"

Turning to the others after watching the mighty display for a few seconds, "We will need to leave our horses, they will go no further, and we cannot chance they bolt off with a rider. It is not far, let us be off with haste!" he turns back to his horse with affection, stroking it's head, and touching his forehead, then pulls his gear off, and slaps the horses behind, sending it running off, hopefully back home.

[Dexam]

Skorri mutters under his breath and makes a sign to ward off evil as they approach the Barrow Lands. He struggles to bring his horse under control, awkwardly dismounting and retrieving his gear once the frightened beast temporarily accedes to its rider's commands.

"As much as I dislike riding, I'd have rather passed through here as quickly as possible," he says, watching the horses make their way back towards the bog. "If heroes of old lie here, then they are certainly no heroes of the Hordalanders! These are Andøvan barrows, and this is not the first time their occupants have been disturbed," he says darkly, his words emphasised by the flashes of lightning from the unnatural storm clouds. "Many centuries past, the Longnight King raised legions of these Andøvan dead to march across the Northlands. It was the mighty warrior, Kein the Bearsarker, who rallied the men and women of the North against the walking dead, finally defeating the Longnight King in a great battle on the very same grounds on which we now stand. Bear that in mind - those we seek are more than willing to disturb the eternal rest of the dead, and it is very likely that the dead will harbour their grudge against us across the centuries. So, keep the courage of Kein the Bearsarker close to your hearts; and keep your axes, spears, and shields close to your hands."

Hefting his shield and axe, and with a look of grim determination on his face, Skorri walks into the Barrow Lands.

[Ghostfoot]

You make your way forward through the darkened Barrow Lands, eerie lightning flashing ahead. Truly this is a cursed place and you find the skittishness of the horses might have clung to you as your eyes play tricks on you, shadows maybe moving at the corners of your vision and pebbles or stones shifting in the gloom out of sight. Signy mutters a stream of charms under her breath as you travel on, a litany of invocations that from anyone but a cunning woman would be called out and put down.

A mile or so into the barrow field your fears are realised as the hollow sound of a battle-horn echoes from the blackness of a nearby barrow opening. Clinking and shuffling, a long-dead form emerges, the skeletal remains of an ancient Andøvan warrior. The faint moonlight reflects from his bronze armor and shield and the finely crafted, though somewhat corroded, sword he bears. Behind him comes his entourage, four more dead warriors armed with swords of green-tinged bronze array themselves a step behind.

The leader raises his sword and points it at you threateningly, hovering over each of you momentarily as it waits...

Spoiler: Intelligence check DC10 - Gunnar & Skorri

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Gunnar (1d20+2)[16]
DDW (1d20+1)[5]
Freyja (1d20)[2]
Skorri (1d20+1)[17]
Signy (1d20+1)[4]

This is clearly some sort of challenge and it awaits your champion to step forward!

=> Party

[Dexam]

Skorri, about to raise his axe and shield, gives a start of surprise at the behaviour of the dead warriors.

"It would seem that at least some small sense of honour persists across the realms of death for these warriors; I believe that we are being challenged to a contest of champions." He glances at Gunnar, then at the giantess Freyja. "So, mighty Spearmaiden, will you carry the honour of the Hoardalands on your spearpoint, and return this thing's spirit to Valhalla?" He reaches up and claps her on the arm for encouragement.

Spoiler: OOC

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Casting Resistance on Freyja - no harm in giving a minor buff, just in case!

[DrK]

Freyja

Freyja looks at the undead warrior and offers her own spear in salute, the loud clatter as she hammers it off her shield accepting the unspoken challenge. "Wodan grant me strength and Courage" she mutters to herself as she readies for the fight. At Skorri's words she nods, "You do me honour, I will earn it now."

Challenge accepted she strides a few feet forward and plants the spear readying to meet the undead beast.

Spoiler: OOC

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Advance to 30ft from the skeleton
Brace spear
Ready attack

[Ghostfoot]

The bronze-clad champion of old steps forward. It makes a strange gesture of honor, saluting Freyja with its weapon, then settles into a combat pose sword and shield at the ready.

Circling warily the two opponents face off, it's eyes glimmering with a cold blue light. Then, it advances, shield held high as it seeks to fend off Freyja's mighty spear and cut her down...

Spoiler: rolls & info

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Move action: advance 30ft (not charge)
then: AoO Freyja
then: Standard: longsword (1d20+6)[13] damage (1d8+5)[6]
then: Freyja's turn (note it's inside her reach weapon range now, so unlikely to be able to be attacked w reach spear)

=> Freyja

[DrK]

Freyja

As the skeletal beast advances she thrusts at it, trusting the oar like length of spear to fend it off as it advances at her before she meets its attack on the solid steel boss of her shield. The beast so close now she steps back, drawing her battle axe and hewing at the creature's helmed head.

Spoiler: OOC

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AoO: (1d20+6)[18] dam (2d6+4)[12]
Readied attack: (1d20+6)[16] dam (2d6+4)[13]

Then
Free: drop spear
5ft step back
Move: Draw battle axe
Standard: chop skeleton (1d20+5)[14] dam (2d6+4)[8]

[Ghostfoot]

The skeletal champion blocks Freyja's initial strike, and turns the second with it's sword. Advancing in close it swings but she blocks it with her massive shield even as she flings her spear down and draws her ax swinging wildly. It presses on relentlessly, slashing again but still unable to get past her defences.

Spoiler: rolls

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No action: 5 step
Standard: longsword (1d20+6)[12] damage (1d8+5)[13]

=> Freyja

[DrK]

Freyja

Freyja's eyes widen as the undead warrior parries the spear strikes and the axe blow, spinning she pushes back with her shield, the door sized chunk of wood blocking its return stroke. "by Wodan, it has some skill..." she mutters to the others as she steps sideways pushing it back before swinging a low blow under her shield to try and take out its legs.

The solid thunk of steel on on wood suggests that it saw her attack coming and dropped its shield in time...

Spoiler: OOC

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Attack (1d20+5)[15] damage (2d6+4)[9]

EDIT: as the 18 and 16 missed I've assumed the 15 misses.

[Ghostfoot]

The champion seems to smile in a rictus grin as it indeed drops its shield to block the blow its centuries of experience guiding it as it counters with a skillful slash. The corroded blade slips past her shield and cuts through her leathers deep into Freyja side for 8 damage even as the skeletal warrior resets its stance and looks for another opportunity...

Spoiler: rolls & info

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No action: 5 step as needed
Standard: longsword (1d20+6)[21] damage (1d8+5)[8]

=> Freyja & others...?

[DrK]

Freyja

Freyja stumbles onto one knee as the blade slices into her side, blood streaking down her side and soaking her long skirts and boot. Limping she sweeps the axe blade upwards in a desperate attempt to catch the beast in the face. "Gods, he is skillful." she cries, the pain leaving her grimacing and biting her tongue.

Spoiler: OOC

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AC 16
Hps 2/10!!

Attack (1d20+5)[20] dam (2d6+4)[9] +1 dam for Axe to Grind trait

[Ghostfoot]

Freyja swings her axe, the desperate stroke crunching into a pitted bronze pauldron denting it but the bones beneath protected. The ancient warrior swivels in his ancient fighting style. Shifting in he lunges Freyja realising that the blow will strike true. The blade punches through her abdomen a cold shaft of bronze for 11 damage bursting from the other side in a spray of blood from her drenched leathers.

Signy gasps in shock as the giantess slumps to the ground the skeletal victor standing tall Freyja's lifeblood dripping from his sword. But instead of proceeding to cut down the rest of you like so much wheat before him, it stands back, offering a salute to the fallen as its mouldering entourage backs away into the darkness.

As it melts away Signy stumbles forward in a daze to slump to her knees next to the fallen giantess. Hands slick with blood she tries to hold the wound together, poking back in writhing guts that threaten to spill across the barrow ground. "Truly the lass showed real bravery. If her wyrd is to die here, for the Norns to cut her thread, be assured she will be borne by the valkyrie's to dine at Wotan's table with our finest fallen heroes". Blood spurts again spattering the cunning woman as she wrestles with the leathers "Here, hold her together here. Tie this." She moves swiftly issuing orders as her world condenses to the body before her.

Spoiler: FTW

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longsword (1d20+6)[19] damage (1d8+5)[11]

Signy heal (first aid) DC15 (1d20+4)[22] => stabilized

[Dexam]

Skorri lets out a cry of shock and dismay as he sees the skeletal champion defeat the giantess, despite her most valiant efforts.

He rushes to assist Signy, dropping his axe and shield. "This cannot be her time," he says. "The gods surely have her destined for greater stories."

Skorri begins a low chant, a call on the bravery of warriors of old, as he presses down on the bloody wound where Signy directs.

Spoiler: OOC

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Surreptitious casting of Cure Light Wounds: (1d8+1)[6]

[DrK]

Freyja

The blow slides into her side, the steel cold like ice. Then the blood and pain hit and with barely enough time to theink "do not scream" she slumps to the ground, toppling at the feet of the skeletal warrior. Even as the fog surrounds her and she hears the clatter of hooves and a distant hunting horn pain blazes into her mind. Seconds later she opens blurred eyes and looks up from the marshy ground at Signy and Skorri crouched beside her, both with bloodstained hands knelt in the blood soaked ground.

Grunting she winces at the blazing pain in her side and the other in her leg where the first blow had landed. "Where did he go, after I fell did you best him?"

[PeacefulOak]

Mørkedrømevandrer

The wild-haired Nuk had been swift to act at the giant's fall, horn-backed bow springing to hand as he warily watched the noble shades take their leave. His eyes wary, he leans down next to the fallen warrior as she speaks. "These warriors seem willing to accept the results of their combat, and have retreated to the cave carrying with them their secrets. A worrying portent, if one believes in such. Are you well enough to continue?"

[Ghostfoot]

With the worst of Freyja's wounds patched you stumble onward through the barrow fields, mindful that all around you stir the restless dead yet resolutely determined to press forward to free the jarl's daughters from their witch kidnapper. Time begins to lose meaning as the storm rages ahead, until finally you feel that you must almost be there, the Tor now less than a mile ahead illuminated by the flashes of lightning.

With a loud crash, a stone rolls away from one of the barrow openings, revealing a gaping hole into darkness. Out of the shadows strides a long-dead hero from before the Northlanders first came to this land. His raiment is grand, clad in rotting silks and fine cloths, armored with a cuirass of bronze, and carrying a two-handed sword of gold-and-silvergilt bronze. The undead king mounts a nearby barrow and raises his hands in a silent command, a command answered by the hordes of undead crawling forth from the surrounding Barrow Lands. The way ahead is open but does not look like it will remain so for long as hundreds of decayed skeletons lurch forth in all other directions from the cold embrace of the earth.

Looming ahead at the far corner of the field of barrows is the 100-ft tall mound of packed earth known as the Tor. Crowning this hilltop is a ring of standing stones, tumbled down and long forgotten, built ages ago by the long-dead Andøvan that once inhabited what is now the Northlands. The Tor is steeply sloped, and the slopes are covered with grasses, herbs, and bracken. Two long causeways march up from the surrounding plains, one to the southwest and one to the northwest. The stones themselves are cracked and worn with age; green lichen and moss cling to the lower surfaces and run up these fissures, contrasting sharply with the dark grey rock. Thunderclouds roil overhead and lighting flashes down to strike the few stones still standing and illuminating faint silhouettes among the stones.

Spoiler: Map: The Tor

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You are about where the "S" is on the compass.

Undead approach from all directions except SW (ie the direction of the Tor)

400ft causeways lead up otherwise DC8 Climb to ascend the steep slopes.

[DrK]

Freyja

Still coughing and limping as she holds her still severe wound in her side Freyja looks with concern at the gathering hordes of undead. "We should approach the Tor then I guess..." Looking at the steep hill sides and the path she gestures with the long spear. "I do not think I can manage the slope I'm sorry. Shall I approach the path to distract whoever is at the peak. The less injured of you could skirt the tor and ambush them from the rear..."

[PeacefulOak]

Dark Dreams Wanderer

Bow held warily and eyes constantly scanning the slowly gathering horde of undead, the Wanderer turns to address his allies.

"Agreed in part, noble Freyja. Skorri and I can make our way quietly up the slope here and hold, waiting for you to arrive with the others at the far side. I will pull their attention with my arrows, turning their backs to you that you might engage them from the rear. What say you?"