A Gathering Storm

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" As the meaning of the Fey's words hit Njal he paled in horror. Nodding to the gnome he whispers, "Aye wee one. We have tae find the girl. These gates must nay'er be opened. No matter the cost." The last sentence betrays his concerns as he starts to consider if it may be necessary to do what is needed to make sure such a gate could never be unlocked and that no-one could attract back the elves of old. Casting his eye around the chamber one last time, a lingering look at the pulsing light of the horrific alien pool that is sure to give him nightmares he claps the gnome about the shoulders. "Aye, we must get the others, we must leave this place and catch her now." He pauses looking in the empty rooms. "We'll need all of us at maximum strength, we should rest in one of the chambers by the entrance. Let the others recover and then set out first thing. It'll be a long day tomorrow till we catch her."

[Toliudar]

Verglas

The gnome woman stares at the portal, saying nothing in response for a long while.

"If she has come into her power we'll only catch her if she wants to be caught."

Verglas turns to the task at hand.

"We're safer here than anywhere else we've been on this trip Ramiro, how about we get you rolled up in some blankets?"

[Novabomb]

Ramiro Sanda (To Verglas)
You do not need to say that twice. (He already has his bedroll unfurled)

[Toliudar]

Verglas

The gnome is unusually gentle with Ramiro, helping him bundle up and ensuring that he has water close at hand. Then she turns back to the guardian spirit with renewed vigor. Again, she makes a laborious effort to slow her speech, especially in these circumstances.

"Please let me know if my questions offend, but I am very excited to speak with you, as the time of your creation is an era I have studied at some length. If I may ask, what is your name? When were you shaped? Have you been here your entire time, or did you relocate here? What was the facility like when the Old Ones were still here? What was this used for?"

[Saintheart]

Late afternoon, Day 4

Complication Dice 1 of 6

The yuki-on-na seemed to consider the gnome afresh, tilting its head. I WAS NOT HERE, AND THEN I WAS. THIS PLACE WAS A WAYSTATION. A PLACE WHERE THINGS CAME BEFORE THEY TRAVELLED INTO OR WHERE THEY RESTED ON ARRIVAL, WAITING FOR COLLECTORS, FROM THE GATE. MANY THINGS I SAW COME FORTH. NONE MAY I NAME, BY THE WILL OF THOSE WHO BADE ME AND WHO BIND ME STILL. ONLY THOSE WHO CAME HERE BY THE PASSAGE, AND LEFT BY THE GATE. MANY CHILDREN CAME. MANY CHILDREN OF THE TUNNELS. SOME OF THE GNOMISH. MANY MORE OF THE HUMANS. MANY LEFT THROUGH THE PORTAL. MANY OF THEM WAITED IN ONE OF THESE STOREROOMS. THERE WAS MUCH NOISE WHILE THEY WAITED. TEARS. PRAYERS TO THE FATHER, THE MOTHER, THE FIREKEEPER. CRIES FOR PARENTS. AT TIMES, SINGING, AMONG THE BRAVEST CHILDREN, TO SOOTHE THE FRIGHTENED. The creature hovered in the air, hair still dancing. ALWAYS THEY CAME WITH A MASTER OF THE KITH'IN'SHERILLINAR CIRCLE. ALWAYS THEY DEPARTED WITH THE MASTER. AND THEN THERE WAS SILENCE. THEN MORE CHILDREN. AND THE NOISE WOULD BEGIN ONCE MORE.

THEN THE MASTER CAME NO MORE. THERE WAS SILENCE, AND NOTHING CAME FROM THE PORTAL. BUT I SENSED OTHER PORTALS OPENING AND CLOSING, AS SPIDERS SENSE MOVEMENT IN THEIR WEB. I FELT STRANDS BREAKING. COLLAPSING. FELT THE HAND OF THOSE WITH THE ABILITY, THOSE OF THE INFERIORS, UPON THE DOORS. BUT NONE CAME HERE. THIS PART OF THE WEB WAS ... NOT KNOWN. AND AFTER THAT NOISE, AFTER THAT CACOPHONY, SILENCE AGAIN. SILENCE WHICH HAS REMAINED UNBROKEN. UNTIL THE YOUNG WOMAN CAME. AND LEFT BY THE PASSAGE.

The creature turned and floated away up the hall. YOU SEEK THE YOUNG WOMAN, AND SO YOUR PRESENCE IS ... TOLERABLE. REST. ALL THE ROOMS ARE EMPTY, AND ANY WILL SERVE AS HOSTEL FOR YOU AND ANY MEMORIES THAT REMAIN IN THEM. THOSE WHO BADE ME BIND ME STILL, AND MY BINDING IS TO KEEP THIS PLACE FROM ENTRANCE.

[Toliudar]

Verglas

Verglas nodded. She settled to sit cross-legged in front of the yuki-on-na, clearly hoping for a more in-depth conversation.

"Your wisdom and kindness in sharing your memories is unparalled. Perhaps literally. Thank you.

"May I ask more about the young woman who passed here? We were as panes of glass to you, our thoughts and motives open to you. Was it the same with her? And were you able to sense the earth-connection in her untouched, or is she able to make use of this power? And can you tell us anything of her goals and actions from you saw in her?"

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" Choosing a pair of rooms near the entrance he leads the horses into one room spreading out some blankets on the ground to let them lie and hanging a large bag of feed on the wall, eyeing the remaining 3 days food with some concern. Patting the steaming flanks of the horse he mutters. "Aye good lad, have a rest in the nice ancient ruin of the slavers...." Shuddering again at the surroundings he heads to the adjoining room and gets a small fire going with some wood and feed and fetches out a hunk of meat from his saddlebags. With meat sizzling on the flames in his small bivvy tin he looks at Ramiro and Roland. "An unusual place. The gnoe, she be liking the fey. I dinnae care for her. This place, smells of death and misery eh? Get you warm lad" he adds, wrapping Ramiro in another blanket, "Then we get out o'here. Be rid of this place and death it holds." With a wary eye he knows he will not sleep easy here, Gromnir growling and hackles raised at the unnatural nature of the place.

[Saintheart]

Late afternoon, Day 4

Complication Dice 1 of 6

The yuki-on-na turned to Verglas one last time. THE GIRL DOES NOT KNOW WHAT SHE IS. SHE COULD NOT. BUT SHE HAS THE ABILITY, AND SO I PERMITTED HER ENTRANCE. HER THOUGHTS WERE PLAIN. MUCH DESPAIR. MUCH FEAR. BUT OVERRIDING ALL ... DESIRE. HOPE. THESE SHE TIED IN HER THOUGHTS TO A YOUNG MAN. AS SHE DRIFTED TO SLEEP, SHE SAW ONLY HIS FACE. AND WITH HIS FACE, SHE SAW A PLACE, A PRIMITIVE PLACE OF CRUSHING SEED AND GRAIN. A PLACE WHERE A WALL LIES ACROSS A RIVER. SIMPLE THOUGHTS. PRIMITIVE THOUGHTS. NOTHING OF WHAT SHE IS, OR WHAT SHE COULD SEE HAD SHE ONE WHO COULD TEACH HER.

The creature's smile was unsettling in the sunset light. YOU HAVE INTERESTED ME, GNOME. BECAUSE YOU SEEK THE GIRL, I HAVE ALLOWED YOU AND YOUR COMPANIONS PASSAGE. NO MORE I SUGGEST YOU ASK. THOSE WHO BADE ME BIND ME STILL, AND YOU RISK REACHING TO THOSE WORDS AND THOUGHTS THAT TELL ME TO DEFEND, TO SEND YOU ON. YOU SHOULD HAVE A CARE TO WHOM YOU TELL OF MY EXISTENCE. THEY WILL NOT FIND ME, AND IF THEY DO, THEY WILL FIND DEATH. THEREFORE, SLEEP, DAUGHTER OF THE GNOMISH. DAUGHTER OF MAIDSERVANTS TO THOSE WHO BADE ME. FIND THE YOUNG GIRL. BRING HER TO HER HOME. IF THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE BOUND TO DO, AS I AM BOUND STILL. AND CONSIDER CAREFULLY WHAT INTERESTS YOU SO ABOUT THOSE WHO BOUND ME. PERHAPS YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID A PRICE YOU DO NOT KNOW.

[Toliudar]

Verglas

Rising stiffly to her feet, Verglas bowed deeply to the guardian.

"Again, we are in your debt. I will hold your secret, and those of this place, close in my heart. Thank you for your insights, and your for this opportunity rest safely here. If I have paid a price, it is one that I give freely for this opportunity, this insight. I will go now to rejoin the others."

In the vacant corridor, it's not hard to find the only area that's occupied, and soon Verglas rejoins her companions. She begins to lay out her bedroll, and has a sip of water.

"How has Ramiro been faring? The spirit reports that the girl slept here, dreaming of her let's call him a fiance for the sake of romaniticism She was also dreaming of a place of crushing seed and grain suggesting that they might be meeting up at a mill of some kind Also it has become clear that the girl is a natural magical talent, and probably a very powerful one but with no awareness of who she is and how to tap into that power safely I believe that I've been clearly told that the window for me to ask questions has regrettably closed and so I believe that I'll be sleeping soon enough unless there are any questions."

[Saintheart]

Morning, Day 5

Complication Dice: 3 of 6

The night had passed in blissful silence. Indeed, it passed in almost disturbing silence. Whatever power the Yuki-on-na had used to conceal the presence of the portal and indeed the entire facility from the outside world also served to keep wind and snow out as well. There was not even the noise of rodents here, in this square chamber whose vault had to be a good thirty feet up and whose floor was made of clean flagstone - tiles so expertly and tightly fit that even Njal with his natural tell for stonecraft could not see where the join actually was. The only noises were those of the party's own: as they turned in sleep, or the horses' occasional whickering in the darkness, the sound of their hooves echoing away down the long corridor that ran below the mountains.

Njal had set to work on Ramiro shortly after they'd chosen and settled in the chamber. The exposure to the elements had done him no good at all, and the boy's courageous attempt to weather the fierce cold of a Horizon day had left him with severely reddened fingers, the first sign of the death of extremities that came with accursed frostbite, enemy of all travellers in Horizon. But the shelter of the chamber was Njal's ally, and the dwarf fought fiercely against the slow creep of cold in the boy's fingers, massaging, heating, cooling, providing water (such as they had) and slowly, ever-so-slowly, pushing back its force. It took the better part of an hour, but Njal's druid skills and all the pathsmanship he had learned over the years prevailed: the boy would make a full recovery with a night's rest. Which, to be sure, the young monk dropped into happily and without complaint; he was exhausted.

Indeed they all got a full and restful sleep. Verglas managed to calm Njal's mistrust of the accursed spirit guarding the portal, and it ultimately was a result of pure reason; the Yuki-on-na was guarding the facility, and anything that was able to enter the place without its consent would likely be nothing that Njal or any of them could deal with. And the very fact the place was an elven facility, with no less than a genuine portal, that had remained undiscovered and unseen for so long was potent record to indicate nothing was likely to enter in the next eight hours or so either. Not to mention that counterintuitive reason also applied to any fear of the ultimate nightmare, an elven contingent arriving through the portal: the elves had been gone for fifteen hundred years, and there was nothing to suggest they were on their way back, now or any time in the future.

So all of them slept. And slept well, apart from the occasional dream. By morning, both Ramiro's exposure was under control, and indeed Verglas and Roland's sicknesses had resolved as well; in particular the young hammer-bearer was in better shape than he'd been since they first set out.

Njal led them to the far end of the portal. There was no sign of the Yuki-on-na at the north end of the long passage, which was a mirror image of the southern one: an elven archway, blowing with wind and snow. Verglas, though, had a feeling that once they stepped from this portal and turned back to where they had been, the doorway below the Spear would be no more visible than it had been for the centuries it had been before they arrived.
She did wish the guardian had left them something to eat.

For his part, Roland was scanning the terrain. South of the Spear the land had been rolling hills mixed with copses of dying trees. Here, the landscape was similar but with no vegetation. Only a rippled white blanket of snow and frost and rugged hills. And once more he was reminded of the inhabitants of the terrain: Frost Folk, enough to dominate all the land north of the Spear from this end of the valley to the Tower of the Moon far off to the east. Navigating these lands would not go uncontested, he was certain of that. And the signs of Frost Folk south of the Spear gave him no confidence that any would be amenable to reason. Njal and he had briefly discussed the subject of how they should proceed, and came to a rough consensus that there was little for it but to set out as fast as they could for Northmill Dam and hope for the best. Whether they could really go unnoticed through this alien-looking land ultimately was a moot point: the more worrying question, one Roland hoped they wouldn't have to answer, was whether Lyssa Hardwalker could and had gone unnoticed ... or whether her greatcats had been able to bear her with enough speed to make detection moot. Against some of the better hunters and trackers in this part of Horizon.

There was, at least, one small mercy: the weather seemed to be far more agreeable today. Still cold enough to freeze the water in their skins, of course, but nowhere near the punishing temperatures they'd run into south of the Spear. The question now being how long that weather would hold and who might take advantage of such conditions.

Roland checked Ember was still reined in, and looked across at his companions. "Well? Anything before we go?"

Spoiler: OOC

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Ramiro's exhaustion is done, and his nonlethal damage is healed. Roland and Verglas's diseases are fully cured. You're setting a fast pace as I understand it, which on rough projections should get you 75% of the way to Northmill Dam if your navigation goes right and if nothing interferes to slow you down. The weather's such that Level 1 Cold Protection is enough, i.e. everyone including the animals are fully protected, i.e.e. if you want to shift spell selections given the weather now's the time to do it. Roland and/or Njal would have warned all of you that confrontations with Frost Folk are very likely north of the Spear, so that might affect your preparations. Otherwise - acknowledgment and 'ready to go' from any player will do for me to advance things on.

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" Njal woke, his skin still crawling in unatural Elven ruins. The stones were wrong, the gate was an abomination and even the curved graceful stonework seemed to twist his eyes. Shaking his head he helped fix breakfast for his companions. "Weather be less harsh today, no worries for you today Ramiro, how be the hand?" he asks, before, after waiting for a nod, inspecting the fingers. "Aye laddie, all be grand now, ye be good to punch through brick walls now." He checks on the animals, calming them both as he makes sure that the heavy leather bardings are tight and secure on both, a look at Verglas of "North of the Spear beware the frostfolk. Like as not have tae fight our way through." He grins, tapping the tigerskull club. "Be good to see more 'em put to the earth." With horses and dog happy he leads his towards the door. "We'd best be quick eh? Set a fast pace to catch this lassie who be causing these problems." OOC: Njal is good to go

[Toliudar]

Verglas

Verglas does a very poor job of hiding her disappointment that the Yuki-on-na is nowhere to be seen. It went without saying that she would very much like to find a way to return in less lethal times, to press her luck further with the guardian spirit and come with more preparation to examine this portal. In the meantime, she smiles with something like real gratitude when Njal shares his food with her, and tries to take as little as her growing hunger permits.

"Gentlemen I feel that I must stress that this place is a precious repository of knowledge and perhaps the only one of its kind left on the continent It offers an opportunity for the young lady we seek and others who share her gift to be able to seek their full connection with the earth Further and if I do not overreach myself if there is a broken quality to our world's connection to this Firekeeper and other sources of warmth I believe that this place has the best chance for us to reverse magic so to speak the harm that has been done and better understand the magics that were used thereby making it more likely for the leading minds of our day to try to undo this damage I mention this not only to impress upon you the need for discretion in days to come in sharing your knowledge of this place but also I hope to forestall any thoughts of trying to destroy this precious spark of hope."

As they reach the entrance to the cave again, Verglas shivers despite the milder day. She lays down her protection against the elements for herself, the horse and one other who might need it, but if it is not needed will save it in the hope of using it for the young woman they pursued. She clambered up onto the horse.

"I confess that I don't know much about these frost folk Njal What are the reasons you have for wanting to kill them?"

[Novabomb]

Ramiro Sanda

To Njal:
Thanks, that's much better.

To Vergal
I would guess them being murderous cannibals would have something to do with it?

[Saintheart]

Noon, Day 5

Complication Pool 4 of 6

Whatever Njal might have replied was lost as the dwarf nudged Stormrir with his feet, and they ventured forth from the gap in the mountain and the gap in What Was that it contained.

The dwarf set a quick pace. They were moving as quickly as was possible, but the rugged hills north of the Spear were tougher going and more difficult to traverse than those to the south. Great shags of rock like walls loomed up before them as they moved. Many times they were forced to move down minature canyons with ice and snow threatening to fall as dangerous as anyone who might be watching them. Wind moaned through those canyons, making it difficult to hear. There was some smell on the air that none of them could identify, a tangy but foul scent that seemed to pervade even the ice itself. The sky above remained grey as a steel shield.

Still, they made good time, even allowing for heavy snow that slowed them as though it had an intellect and a desire to do so. One advantage of all the canyons and rising and falling landscape was that it was easy to conceal their presence, or seemed easy at any rate. There were no simple vantage points to be found and Njal was already turning all his skill in direction-finding to keeping them on course. There were no tracks left of Lyssa's greatcats. Either the wind blew harder here overnight and erased them or she had chosen to vault over small canyons that they all had to navigate around or through. All he could do was take faith in the poorly-drawn map of the Valley they still had, try and keep their course north by northeast as he best guessed Northmill Dam's location, and hope. Hope that they'd get some distance before they were ambushed.

His hope was answered. They made it to midday before they turned a corner around a broken-down wall of rock and found themselves all but face to face with two Frost Folk outside a small dip in the rock that might have been a cave several hundred thousand years ago but now was just a little alcove in the rock.

There could be no doubt. Grey skin, slight glow to the blue eyes, leathery-looking armour that Njal doubted was needed for protection from the cold. The Frost Folk were doing something with the remains of, incredibly, what had to be the skeleton of a wyvern or (surely not?!) a young dragon. The Frost Folk seemed to be ... working on the massive, fifty-feet-long skeleton, in some strange way. They were raising it with sticks, placing cheap blue gems in its eyesockets. They spun and went for their weapons -- not battleaxes, as Njal had been expecting, but the fearsome metal and wood intersections that were their large crossbows...

Spoiler: Tactical Map

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Spoiler: Tactical Notes

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No surprise round, everyone was unaware of one another. To my immense surprise, the Frost Folk did not pass a single Spot check, and neither did your party including Gromnir.

Couple of notes about the map - the lines of rock delineate a series of ledges, which are basically five feet higher with each ledge from north to south. So Frost Folk 1 is 5 feet off your height level, while Frost Folk 2 is at ground level.

There's thick snow all through here, which means this is all difficult terrain: double movement cost, no charging or running without some other ability to deal with it.

Rolled initiative already. Here's how it turned out:

Gromrir: 20
Frost Folk: 20
Roland: 5
Ramiro: 5
Verglas: 4
Njal: -4

As said, I'm botting Roland for the time being. Happy to discuss if needed, folks, but it's over to you.

[Saintheart]

Noon, Day 5

Complication Pool 4 of 6

Gromrir hesitated for a second, glancing at his master. In that time, the Frost Folk exploded into motion.

One hurled itself up the rocky crags next to the skeleton, leaping lightly from handhold to handhold with inhuman grace and motion. At the top of the rise, now fifteen feet above the adventurers, it turned to face them again, unlimbering the great cross of iron and wood it held. Not just a crossbow, but a heavy crossbow, or so Njal and Roland recognised, with some sort of mechanism attached to it to allow quicker reloading of the weapon than usual.

The other creature held its ground, emotionlessly and with dancing grey fingers loading its crossbow and sighting with complete assurance and accuracy. There was a chunk sort of noise in the stillness. A second later, Gromnir yelped in pain, a long, wicked-looking shaft protruding from his shoulder, blood marking his white fur.

Roland threw himself forward, cursing at the thick snow that was impeding his movements. He didn't know how long he'd last out here being turned into a pincushion, but all he could hope was that his armour and weapons and skills held out or distracted the Folk long enough for the others to take them out.

Spoiler: Tactical Map

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Spoiler: Tactical Notes

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Gromnir takes 7 damage, bringing him to 22/29 by my count. Roland just double moves at half speed forward.

Initiative Order:
Frost Folk: 20
Roland: 5
Ramiro: 5
Verglas: 4
Njal: -4
Gromnir: -4

Getting up those crags requires Climb checks, incidentally - DC 10 in accordance with the usual rules on Climbing while moving in place.

[Novabomb]

Ramiro Sanda races up the the hill at an obscene speed, it is as if his feet do not even touch the snow.

Spoiler: OOC

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Swift Action: Windstride (+10 ft enhancement to speed)
Move action H3-G4-F5-E6-D7-D8
(1d20+6)[7] DC:10
(1d20+6)[11] DC:10
(1d20+6)[23] DC:10
If any fail, he will use a second move action to continue the ascent
(1d20+6)[10] DC:10

If he makes all his Climb Rolls
Att (1d20+6)[20] (+2 if the opponent is affected by the terrain)
Dmg (1d6)[4]

CAtt (1d20+6)[8] (+2 if the opponent is affected by the terrain)
CDmg (1d6)[3]

[Toliudar]

Verglas

The little gnome starts by doing what she spends most of her day avoiding: falling off a horse. Landing heavily in the snow, she stays prone, but takes a moment to pull out her crossbow - trying hard not to mentally contrast its sleek and elegant but by the standards of their opponents child-like - scope to the massive fast-loading monstrosities they faced.

After a moment to catch her breath, Verglas quickly curls a hand in the snow and uses it to fuel her spell. She hurls the snow forward as a kind of silvery bomb toward one of the frostfolk, hoping to blind it long enough for her companions to take it down.

Spoiler: OOC

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Yay! Verglas' feats finally come into play!

Because of the extreme cold weather, Frozen Magic means that her spell will last an extra round or two. She's using Snowcasting to turn Glitterdust into a Cold spell. With Cold Focus and Greater Cold Focus, she'll get +2 DC on the attack.

Free action: fall off horse and stay prone to get bonuses vs missile filre. (say, into square N3, but really anywhere she won't get trampled if the horse moves forward)
Move action: grab a handful of the snow that she landed in
Standard action: Glitterdust. If it's possible to reach both, she does, but otherwise will focus on the one at H13. Will DC 18 or blinded for 4 or 5 rounds, depending on how cold it it.

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" Njal snarled several vile oaths in dwarven as the bolt slammed into his trusty companion and Gromrir howled with pain. Digging his heels into Stormnir's flanks he pushed the massive horse rapidly through the snow, huge clods of snow erupting from around their feet as they both closed on the nearest frost folk, his tiger skull club clutched in hand. By his side the husky, trailed through the snow racing to savage the man with the crossbow

Spoiler: OOC

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Double move to I J 10-11
Gromnir to H12 to threaten the frostfolk

Mounted combat ride check to negate a hit on Stormrir if needed (1d20+5)[19]

Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 3, Init 1, HP 26/26, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 6, Ref 2, Will 6, Base Attack Bonus 2
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club +6 (1d8+3, x4)
Quaterstaff +5 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +3 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate , Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition
Dwarven Racial bonuses

Endure Elements



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
22 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 21 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +2 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: Leather barding

[Saintheart]

Noon, Day 5

Complication Pool 4 of 6

The Frost-man closest to Ramiro shrieked ... or seemed to hiss ... as Verglas's spell exploded over the two of them. It pawed at its face, springing away - impossibly quick over the snow and rocks. It scrambled backward, withdrawing back to the bluff above its companion.

Gromnir surged forward despite the bolt protruding from his side, blood spattering the snow, snarling at the other Frost-man. It calmly stepped back, hands blurring over the great crossbow it was carrying. Two quick, heavy chunks sounded in rapid sequence, but both buzzing shots went wide of Gromnir, the potentially lethal shots disappearing into the snow.

Njal and the rest of them surged forward. The fact they'd retreated, the fact Verglas had managed to blind one of them - they weren't invincible. They weren't invulnerable. Perhaps they could be beaten.

Spoiler: Tactical Map

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Spoiler: Tactical Notes

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Frost Folk: 20
Roland: 5
Ramiro: 5
Verglas: 4
Njal: -4
Gromrir: -4

Frost Folk 2 is blinded, but it can still move damned fast, these creatures don't have any of the problems moving through the snow that (most of) you do. You're either close enough now to, or have figured out, that the Frost Folk are carrying heavy repeating crossbows. Roland keeps on pushing forward through the snow. That brings us back to Ramiro.

Over to you!

[Toliudar]

Verglas

The little gnome's mind raced. She tugged her crossbow free, rolled onto her back and quickly loaded her crossbow. Rolling back onto her belly in the snow, she fired at the blind frostfolk.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move action to load her crossbow.
Standard action to fire at the blinded frostfolk.
Attack: (1d20+4)[10]
Damage: (1d6)[1]

[Novabomb]

Ramiro Sanda presses his advantage, coming up next to his foe, first visibly (to others) glowing with fire as he goes for an uppercut.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move E14, Swift Action Burning Blade, standard attack

Att: (1d20+6)[7]
Dmg: (1d6)[2] Physical (2d6+3)[11] fire

Conf: (1d20+6)[19]
Crit: (1d6)[1]

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" Dodging the crossbow bolts and snarling both mounted dwarf and husky leap forward and aim to savage the frost folk, their hatred palpable for the pale skinned demon of the wastes. Njal swings the club at its head with a "Aye, eat it, I'll have your ears as a trophy"

Spoiler: OOC

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Gromnir to H13 and savage the frostfolk (1d20+6)[25] dam (1d6+4)[5] and Trip (1d20+3)[15] vs frot folk (1d20)[1]+???

Stormrir and Njal move to I13
Hoof from the horse (1d20+6)[15] dam (1d6+4)[8]
Tigerskull club (1d20+6)[15] dam (1d8+3)[9]

NOTes: +4 to attack if tripped by the husky, +2 to hit if he's blinded one


Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 3, Init 1, HP 26/26, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 6, Ref 2, Will 6, Base Attack Bonus 2
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club +6 (1d8+3, x4)
Quaterstaff +5 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +3 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate , Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition
Dwarven Racial bonuses

Endure Elements



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
22 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 21 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +2 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: Leather barding

[Saintheart]

Noon, Day 5

Complication Pool 4 of 6

Ramiro's blow went wide against the Frost Folk he was facing. The creature stumbled, blind, and dropped its crossbow, instead pulling an old, archaic-looking longsword from a black leather sheath by its side. Ramiro slapped a jab into its side, which hardly seemed to phase it at all.

One of Verglas's bolts went shrieking off into the cold, missing its target entirely.

Gromrir, Stormrir, and Njal were more successful. Their blows smashed into the Frost Folk, though they didn't seem to do much damage either; the Frost Folk hardly seemed perturbed by the white ichor leaking from its wounds and turned quickly, gripping into the rockface with long nails, and scrambled up the rockface. This was not the time for the niceties of Chalician chivalry; wolf, horse, and dwarf rained blow after blow as the creature climbed ... and despite the fluids pouring from it, it still reached the top, turning and aiming with the crossbow it still somehow held ... and loosed a bolt at Ramiro. The bolt thunked into the young monk's side, sending a bomb of fire up his flank. And where it now stood, that Frost Folk was out of Verglas's line of sight. And Roland still came cursing, thrashing through the snow.

Spoiler: Tactical Map

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Spoiler: Tactical Notes

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First, very sorry about the delay. It's been busy times out here and this took a bit of calculations...

Anyway:
- Ramiro takes 4 damage from the bolt.
- From AoOs, Njal and his friends did about 19 hitpoints of damage to his target. Trip didn't succeed I'm afraid. Ramiro does 5 damage under an AoO to Frost Folk 2. So the Frost Folk are pretty beefy.
- Verglas at least prone is out of line of sight of Frost Folk 1, but if she stood up she'd have a shot on him.
- Roland has already moved.

Initiative Count:

Frost Folk: 20
Roland: 5
Ramiro: 5
Verglas: 4
Njal: -4
Gromrir: -4

[Novabomb]

Ramiro Sanda having bad luck against one so blinded takes it as a sign from the Firekeeper to go after the other one first.
He blitzes across the shelf, trying to flank his foe, the lets out his firey breath.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move action I18 (Provoke AOO from the blind one)
Standard Action: Hatchling's Breath. (He can catch both in the cone of fire). DC 15 reflex save for half.
Desert Fire feat applies: Dmg (3d6)[6] (fire)

Well the dice clearly hate me.

[Toliudar]

Verglas

When Ramiro moves away from one foe to tackle the other, Verglas sees her opportunity. She again loads a slender bolt into her crossbow, takes as careful aim as she can on the Frostfolk, and lets fly.

Spoiler: ooC

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Move action: load crossbow
Standard action: shoot at Frostfolk 2
Attack: (1d20+4)[12]
Damage: (1d6)[1]

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" Njal leaps from his horse into the snow, a puff of powdered snow exploding up around his feet. "Aye, get back here he shouts waving the ichor stained club as he trudges up he slope after the fleeing frost folk

Spoiler: OOC

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Dismount then move to K17 with Gromrir

Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 3, Init 1, HP 26/26, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 6, Ref 2, Will 6, Base Attack Bonus 2
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club +6 (1d8+3, x4)
Quaterstaff +5 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +3 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate , Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition
Dwarven Racial bonuses

Endure Elements



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
22 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 21 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +2 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: Leather barding

[Saintheart]

Noon, Day 5

Complication Pool 4 of 6

Seeing the commotion further across the rocky outcrop, Ramiro saw an opening and decided to take advantage of it. The blinded Frost Folk wasn’t much of a threat at this point, and the young monk impetuously whipped away southeast – but not before, against all odds, the blinded Frost Folk lashed out blindly with its old, archaic-looking longsword and opened a long, ugly cut down the adept’s back. Ramiro gritted his teeth against the pain, skidding into position, turning and calling on the gift of the Firekeeper they’d taught him …

… and was surprised by the effect. Both Frost Folk were caught in the roar of flame that issued from his hands, and they burned harder and wilder than he’d normally seen with the use of the technique. Their screams were high-pitched, dreadful sounds, blue eyes wide and gleaming, the smell of burned flesh drifting in the wind.

The creature next to him threw its crossbow down and dragged its own longsword from its scabbard. It took a hard bite from Gromnir for its pains. But the Frost Folken snarled with rage and lashed out at Ramiro…
…where its sword smashed right in through his ribcage, sending him reeling, blood thundering in his head...

Njal and Roland cursed and swore and whispered to the Gods and Spirits as they tried to scramble up the escarpment to where the fight was taking place. Meanwhile, the other Frost Folken came dancing across the snow, though its swing at Gromrir went wide.

Spoiler: Tactical Map

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Spoiler: Tactical Notes

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FF1 is definitely on its last legs, FF2 isn’t far behind it.

But Ramiro takes a critical hit from FF1, and combined with a really unlucky AoO from FF2 that passed blindness concealment, he takes a total of 15 damage which puts him at 1 hitpoint. Nobody else takes any damage. Roland has already spent his round getting up the escarpment to the level of the fight.

Initiative Count:

Frost Folk: 20
Roland: 5
Ramiro: 5
Verglas: 4
Njal: -4
Gromrir: -4

[Novabomb]

Ramiro Sanda
What just happened?
He looks down in confusion just as the blade comes out. He slides back, putting his hands to his chest to keep the blood in, and coughs a word, flecks of blood coming out as he does so.

Spoiler: OOC

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5ft step back to J19

Standard action Healing Belt self using one charge
Heal (2d8)[9]

[Toliudar]

Verglas

Verglas winces as she sees the frostfolk's sword skewer Ramiro. She realizes that she has never been closer to dying than at this moment - and apparently to being eaten as well. She began to understand Njal's tremendous dislike of these creatures.

Once again rolling over to load her crossbow, she rolls back onto her stomach, taking advantage of the fact that Ramiro has stepped back to attempt to bury a small bolt in the frostfolk's eye.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move action: reload
Standard action: shoot at FF1
Attack: (1d20+4)[17]
Damage: (1d6)[4]

[DrK]

[QUOTE=DrK;24974672]

Njal "Stormcaller" Seeing Ramiro savagely cut Njal curses, "Hold on me lad, i'll get to you!" He scrabbles at the snowy bank trying claw his way up, using the head of the tigerskull to try and get some purchase. As he does Gromrir barks and howls as he tries to tear at the legs and middriff of the nearest frostfolk with the his sharp teeth.

Spoiler: OOC

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Njal climb (1d20+3)[14]
Gromnir Bite F1 (1d20+6)[18] dam (1d8+4)[12] if hit TRIP (1d20+3)[5] vs (1d20)[9]+?


Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 3, Init 1, HP 26/26, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 6, Ref 2, Will 6, Base Attack Bonus 2
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club +6 (1d8+3, x4)
Quaterstaff +5 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +3 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate , Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition
Dwarven Racial bonuses

Endure Elements



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
22 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 21 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +2 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: Leather barding