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  1. - Top - End - #91
    Ettin in the Playground
     
    Planetar

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Twilight, Day 1
    Complication Dice: 5 of 6

    There was no difficulty in finding warm places. Though some of the domovoi choices in furnishing did seem a little odd -- a table and chairs had been upended and placed carefully in an impressive-looking tower, and several ancient-looking plates were balanced in an anxiety-inducing house of cards -- the large room glowed with warmth, as did the three individual bedrooms just off the main commons. The floors had been wiped clean, and there wasn't a single spiderweb in any crack. Whatever the sooty look of their hosts' clothes, not one speck of dust appeared on the floor; and there seemed to be far too many candles and too large a fireplace to explain how there had only been a faint-ish glow visible from outside, nor a lack of any actual smoke from the chimney.

    Maxis's boots were thick with snow when she took them off. But when she looked at them a few moments later, they were sitting completely clean and neatly set out by the door, a grey-bearded domovoi whistling as he dusted his tiny hands off and walked away from them.

    There also turned out to be more of the domovoi inside the house. Roland counted eight of them, if indeed he hadn't counted twice given how similar some of the "male" domovoi seemed to be. They didn't seem to actually walk between places; you just turned around and the one you'd seen in front of you would be sitting on a shelf nearby. Or fossicking under a table.

    The one who welcomed them in called himself Stavro. Although most of the adventurers had the feeling that was more for their convenience than because he actually had a name. In any event, after they had come in and looked around and realised how inviting and pleasant the warmth and the light of the room was, Stavro eventually wandered over to them, absently chewing a thin, red stick of kindling. Small chips of red escaped his mouth and fell, though they never seemed to reach the floor or lodge in his beard. "So! You velcome here, trav'lirs. Long time no visits here. You kno if ranger Vindarek, he komm back soon?"

    The name - if it was a name - wasn't familiar to any of the adventurers.

  2. - Top - End - #92
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    SwashbucklerGuy

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Roland

    Roland very much wanted to lie down, just for a minute, just to see how it would feel, but from years of experience he knew how hard it would be to pick himself back up if he did so. Instead he started peeling off layers of armor, the cold steel like ice to the touch, but warming quickly in the cozy outpost. The clank of metal did an admirable job of hiding the grumbling in his stomach, but only temporarily.

    At the Candle-man's question, Roland could only shake his head. "'fraid I don't know, Stavro. Never heard the name before. Any of you?" Roland asks the rest, grabbing a piece of jerky to munch on as he pulls out a few other ingredients for a stew. "Was he stationed out here?"

    The question seems to break Roland out of a fog as he starts to look around with fresh eyes. "Come to think of it, are all of you? No," he says, thinking aloud, "no, that can't be. Lord Hardwalker would've mentioned you were here. Besides-which, can't imagine what you folk would have to gain serving him. What brought you out here then? Was it this ranger, Vindarek?" Laughing aloud at himself, Roland shakes his head and holds up his hands. "Begging your pardon, Stavro, you opened the floodgates now and I've got too many questions. We're actually out here looking for Lord Hardwalker's kin. Do you know of the Lady Lyssa, his daughter? Has she passed this way, by chance?"

  3. - Top - End - #93
    Ettin in the Playground
     
    Planetar

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Twilight, Day 1
    Complication Dice: 5 of 6

    Stavro shook his head. More little bits of wood shaving fell from his lips and never reached the floor. "No lady komm this vay for season on season. Last man here ranger Vindarek. He save son, brother, from icevulf," and the domovoi gestured to two more of his companions, who didn't look any younger than Stavro himself. "Ve promiss to pay life debt to him. Can give vunce only, he ask us care for thiss place. So ve do. He leaf somm small tings for ven he comm back. Say he muss meet wi' a Hardwalker lord." Stavro scratched himself. "Don' tink was dis Lady Hardwalker, tho. Time ... diff'rnt for domovoi. Vindarek call him Lord Yarland."

    Spoiler: Ethron
    Show
    Ethron at least recognised the name from the stories and history he knew from his former life. Yarland Hardwalker was Lord Rowan Hardwalker's grandfather, long dead at least sixty years. Yarland's son, Breland, had been dispossessed of the Hall by order of the Highmark's king, and Rowan had only recently won the title and the demesne back.


    Stavro shrugged. "But he nev'r comm back. Ve stay. Is good home for domovoi. Ve raise family. Not of'n haf raidings here. More lately, tho. More icevulf in hills, stalkink round housse. You komm, stay night. Not safe for mens in mountains at night."

  4. - Top - End - #94
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    DruidGuy

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Ethron

    Following the others inside, Ethron had been rather surprised of the housekeeping and maintenance that these little people had of this place - these weren't any snarling beasts or tricking fey (at least, he hoped it wasn't the latter), just a bunch of... honest folk, but tiny? An acceptable discovery, he figured, and Ethron certainly would rather risk it with these guys than the... "icevulfs" supposedly outside. At the little man's response, Ethron noted "I wouldn't want this 'Vindarek' to come back myself... surely it has been nearly one-hundred years since, and a live Vindarek would be nothing short of an abomination by now!"
    ...
    "So, either way we're staying here, thanks to the kind welcoming of these people. Where should we unpack? Can we bring the horses inside, or will they be safe in the stables from the 'icevulfs'?" He asks in speed, hoping to have reason to be outside as little as possible with wild wolves out and about! He doesn't ask nearly as much as Verglas would, but he still sounds quite eager to get unpacked and bar the door whenever possible.

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    Ethron would also ask who would keep watch for monsters overnight, buuut
    1: He's scared of the responsibility being placed upon him (which runs the risk of him succeeding/making another terrible mistake, which could run for character development)
    2: These people have gotten along well so far, so maybe they don't need an adventurer guard...?
    Spoiler: List of Things You Don't Need To Know
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    Quote Originally Posted by Venger View Post
    killing and eating a bag of rats is probably kosher.
    Gosh 2D8HP, you are so very correct (and also good looking), and your humility is stunning

  5. - Top - End - #95
    Titan in the Playground
     
    DrK's Avatar

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Njal

    Reaching the door Njal's eyes widen in surprise as he see's the tony fey like creatures. "Domovoi, we are blessed." He glances at the rest of his companion. "I guess there is nae wee girl here then? No sign of cats in the stables."

    Seeing the roaring fire he walks across to it, gratefully holding out his hands to warm them after the day of hard riding and the avalanche. "It seems we'll have to be pressing on then to the end of the valley. Catch wee girl at the neck if storms don't get her."
    Thanks to Emperor Ing for the nice Avatar

  6. - Top - End - #96
    Bugbear in the Playground
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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Maxis

    The warmth and the company of these creatures clearly help to make Maxis comfortable. She is only half-focused on what the Domovoi have to say, and it feels more like a dream then anything. When the life-debt is mentioned, she starts to follow it more closely again, and when the others have posed their questions, another comes in her mind.

    "What things did he leave here?"

  7. - Top - End - #97
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    SwashbucklerGuy

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Roland

    Roland pays close attention as Stravro reveals how his family came to owe Vindarek a life-debt and settled here as a result. As the others start to question him further, Roland's stomach grumbles audibly. In response to Ethron's question, he starts to unpack his own things off to the side of the door they came through, searching for his iron pot. He tries to keep his things orderly, but soon he's got a pile of gear to rival one the Domovoi's furniture towers.

    "Where in Her name did I put the damned thing," Roland mutters under his breath, trying to keep one ear on the conversation even as he's preoccupied with dinner. Then he finally realizes. His iron pot is back in the snow, lost on the mountainside with a thousand pieces of wagon to keep it company. Trying to think back, Roland can't remember a single story about Domovoi that also talked about food. What if they didn't have one? As he stares down sadly at a small pile of stunted onions, carrots, and potatoes, Roland just catches Maxis' question.

    Quote Originally Posted by Niobaran View Post
    "What things did he leave here?"
    "Did he leave a pot?" he asks, freezing for a moment as the question hangs in the air. "Or, uh, anything more important?"
    Last edited by Riggdgames; 2020-05-29 at 04:49 PM.

  8. - Top - End - #98
    Ettin in the Playground
     
    Planetar

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Twilight, Day 1
    Complication Dice: 5 of 6

    "Yoor horses stay in stable," said Stavro to Ethron, frowning in a way that would have looked more severe if it wasn't coming from someone two feet tall. "Komink in here, all mess up floors, leave gifts everyware. One off my kossins watch over. Safe as anyware in mountens, less somethink follow you here, track you here. Anyway! Stay in any of thees rumes for night. Domovoi not mind, not bother. You not even knowink we here."

    He turned to Maxis and Roland. "You needink pot, domovoi have one here. My family not savages! Cook up soup in there," and he pointed to the fireplace and a grill and rod for hanging pots above it. "Makink fire in hearth no problem for domovoi. Although if trav'lirs wantink what ranger Vindarek brought, pleased be takink. Only consumink space here."

    And he brought them to one of the cupboards, and with more strength than his tiny form led one to presume he had, he pulled the cupboard to one side, revealing a hidden space behind it, no larger than a cupboard itself in height, width, and depth.

    A cupboard space that held nothing that belonged in a cupboard. Three sets of armour stood inside, hanging on their racks, and a beautiful-looking bastard sword in its scabbard hung from a hook. And on the floor, almost forgotten, lay a small felt pouch in which two pearls had been carefully placed along with a good 630 gold pieces, inscribed from the Coracle Throne mint. Alongside it lay a scroll that Mundstock and Verglas could both tell at a glance was magical.

    Spoiler: Maxis, Ethron, Roland, and Njal
    Show
    The suits of armour were a set of full plate, a set of banded mail, and a chain shirt. They had no dust on them, but that was likely more due to domovoi maintenance than any magic at work. And on examination the bastard sword was a beautiful piece, balanced superbly; this was a good masterwork quality at least.


    Spoiler: Roland only
    Show
    Roland could tell the sets of armour were old. That certainly was consistent with the story of them being placed here the better part of a century before. The general design was enough to identify them as plate, banded mail, and chain shirt. However, he could see at a glance from his own experience armorsmithing that the stuff lacked the great Delsander's innovations, common as dirt now, but as glaring in these suits of armor as ... well, an arrow without all three fletchings. They'd work well enough, but he pitied the poor people a hundred years ago who'd had to wear these things for long hours on end. The chafing in the armpits! And even more chafing at the groin, in the case of the full plate!


    Spoiler: Verglas
    Show
    The arcane scroll was an older design, lacking some of the more ... clever innovations in disguising scrolls' intent that the Mountain had introduced in these years. The scroll had several spells on it: Alarm, Endure Elements, and Reduce Person.

  9. - Top - End - #99
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    SwashbucklerGuy

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Roland

    Opening his mouth to speak when Stavro shows they clearly have a pot, Roland clamps it shut instead, thinking better of it. As they move on to more important things, he watches Stavro push the cupboard aside with hardly a grunt.

    Peering inside with the others, Roland lets out a full-throated laugh of delight, grabbing the full plate off of its rack to examine it closer. "Gods above, would you look at that!" he exclaims, standing aside so the others can get by and tracing his fingers over the armor. "Spaulders with besagews," Roland says, shaking his head. "Good luck swingin' a hammer all day in that." Looking at the others, it dawns on Roland that one of them might actually want to put some of this armor on for themselves. He wouldn't blame them. It was hard to imagine anyone wanting to march into danger with just a bit of chain over their chest or naught but leather.

    "Might be I could rig up a pauldron with a gardbrace if one of you wanted to use this." Delsander's liable to roll over in his grave if I don't try to do something before you put it on, he didn't say.

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show

    Not sure if anyone wants anything, but my tools are still intact so I could probably 'update' a piece of armor to be more comfortable--after dinner, of course. Just let me know if that's not the case Saintheart.
    Last edited by Riggdgames; 2020-05-30 at 06:53 AM.

  10. - Top - End - #100
    Titan in the Playground
     
    BlueWizardGirl

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Verglas

    The slender gnome has been content to simply soak in both the the warmth and the conversation. She perks up a bit at the prospect of some bit of ancient wisdom among the makeshift shrine to the old warrior, and she takes a cautious glance at the scroll. She stares for a couple of minutes, and pronounces judgement, rolling it up again.

    "This certainly checks out - old but not ancient, inelegant but serviceable design. There are magics here to keep you safe on your travels, and to help conceal you from view."

    She pauses, about to expand on a principle that, as magical research continues, it will be possible to halve the size of scroll paper needed to contain the incantations required every decade, until the magical pathways will be containable in a dot that could literally be placed inside the eye. Looking around the room, she sizes up her audience, and shuts up.
    "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." Kurt Vonnegut

  11. - Top - End - #101
    Titan in the Playground
     
    DrK's Avatar

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Njal

    The dwarf bows to the strange little welcoming fey folk. The he looks at the armour and nods in appreciation, looking at the others. "Fine craft. The work is good, if old and outdated." He handles the sword briefly, feeling the weight and the heft and nods. "Good workmanship" Studying them further he mutters a few words, his senses attuning to magic as he seeks to discover magical natures of them.

    Enjoying the stew from them he looks to the others. "Shall we rest here for the night and press on a first light? It is not wise to travel in the darkness or in the cold."
    Thanks to Emperor Ing for the nice Avatar

  12. - Top - End - #102
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    SwashbucklerGuy

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Roland

    After a last look, Roland hangs the aged full plate armor back up in its space and pushes the cupboard back into place. There was just no sensible way to carry an extra 50 pounds worth of steel for no good reason when their survival was at stake, no matter how interesting it appeared.

    After enjoying an extra helping of stew from his place on the floor, Roland nods over at Njal. "A warm fire and a full stomach," Roland says, letting out a belch. "You couldn't get me back out on the road tonight without the Firekeeper herself to push me out the door. Let's get some shut-eye and we can get moving again at first light."

  13. - Top - End - #103
    Ettin in the Playground
     
    Planetar

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Spoiler: Njal
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    For what it was worth, the armour didn't appear to have been touched by the Spirits, and not perverted by the elves. Nor was there the lingering whisper of magework, from the Mountain or anywhere else, to it. There was no hint of magic to it. Nor indeed was there any magic to any of the suits of armour. And the bastard sword, beautiful work though it was, was simply well=made, not magical.

  14. - Top - End - #104
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    BlueWizardGirl

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Verglas

    As if by way of response to Njal, Verglas has already found a corner by the fire, taken off her travel cloak and used it as a blanket. While she is indeed hungry, mostly the cold has simply worn her out, and she already looks half-asleep.
    "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." Kurt Vonnegut

  15. - Top - End - #105
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    DrK's Avatar

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Njal

    Examing the articles of war he nods, running a hand through his thick beard. "It is well made, crafted by a Master, one likley now dead unless it was one my kin." Ho bows to the strange fey creatures before eating his fill and looking to the others. "Aye, we'd best eat, sleep and be up at first light to continue our hunt."
    Thanks to Emperor Ing for the nice Avatar

  16. - Top - End - #106
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    SwashbucklerGuy

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    Roland

    Nodding at Njal, Roland tries and fails to stifle a yawn. He turns to Stavro, thanking him once more before pulling his equipment into an empty room. Satisfied, warm, and full, Roland barely manages to lay out his bedroll before passing out for the night.

  17. - Top - End - #107
    Bugbear in the Playground
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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Maxis

    As much as she wants to protest, say that they cannot waste more time, that it is wrong to sleep here comfortably while the other young woman might be somewhere freezing in the snow... it is not only so comfortable but the presence of the domovoi makes it feel so right. In the end, the darkness becomes the deciding factor. Going on blindly was madness that could well cost them their horses or worse. Sometimes the gods sent aid that often went unnoticed..

    She shortly confirms and asks the Domovoi if they know more about the place's history, half out of curiosity and half out of searching for the bliss of her attention being drawn somewhere else.

  18. - Top - End - #108
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    DruidGuy

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Ethron

    More relaxed, though still slightly unnerved at the thought of sleeping outside the safety of the city walls for the first time, Ethron also unpacked his belongings and set down his bedroll. From the gear avaliable in the cupboard, he took out the Bastard Sword and switched it out for his club, the latter of which he threw out into the snow - it was just a cool-looking stick he picked up along the way, anyways. It'll cost him an additional 3# of weight... but the difference between a stick and a finely-forged length of iron was immeasurable to Ethron.

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    Attack Roll to throw the old stick as far as I can! : (1d20+5)[19]
    Spoiler: List of Things You Don't Need To Know
    Show

    Quote Originally Posted by Venger View Post
    killing and eating a bag of rats is probably kosher.
    Gosh 2D8HP, you are so very correct (and also good looking), and your humility is stunning

  19. - Top - End - #109
    Ettin in the Playground
     
    Planetar

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Predawn darkness, Day 2
    Complication Pool: 6 of 6

    Spoiler: Ethron
    Show
    Ethron had dreamed, strangely, of the club arcing end over end into the air before disappearing into the snow. He'd felt it to be a right sort of throw, a good one that made quite the distance before it was gone into the twilight...


    Spoiler: Maxis
    Show
    Stavro had started telling Maxis something about the house's history; in his accent, the domovoi was saying how the valley back in Vindarek's time was a place of blood, where the Hardwalkers and the Darkstones fought over it, and how the giant crows had feasted well out of the mountains. But sometime as the candle-man was telling his story, her eyes had grown heavy, and she found herself dropping into sleep with the rest of the story untold...


    The adventurers had slept, and their rest was warm and comfortable.

    At least until sometime in the deep darkness well before dawn, when all of them were woken up by the noise of Stormrir snarling and barking, Mundstock's mount howling, and the remaining mounts screaming outside. The domovoi were around them, at the windows, a cry of dismay going up from one or two of them as fire flared from outside the house, as if a torch had been lit and then extinguished.
    "Icevulf!" Stavro was blurring towards the nearest window, face grim as he shouted. "Icevulf pack!"

    And then a bone-chilling noise, as something large, canine, and wild howled in the cold night air outside.

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    What do you do?

    For clarity, the Firekeeper's clerics pray for spells at dawn. Verglas also hasn't had 8 hours' sleep as yet, so no new spells memorised yet. Druid spells also haven't ticked back over for the new day, that takes a time of placating or inviting the Spirits that Njal hasn't had an opportunity to do yet. Can be assumed nobody's in armour unless they had a Restful Crystal I've missed.

  20. - Top - End - #110
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    BlueWizardGirl

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Verglas

    The gnome struggles groggily to her feet, snatching up her cloak and whirling it around her. She looks down, trying to figure out where she put her crossbow.

    "Sounds like everyone's hungry tonight. Do we need to go defend the horsies?"
    "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." Kurt Vonnegut

  21. - Top - End - #111
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    SwashbucklerGuy

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Roland
    AC 14 (shield-only); HP 36/36
    Condition: -


    A few moments pass before Roland crashes out into the hall, strapping his shield to his arm over a hastily thrown on undershirt that appears to be on backwards. Reaching back into his room, Roland grabs his maul and stomps towards the door in boots, trousers, a thin shirt, and nothing else.

    "Stavro! Verglas! Can you do anything to light our way?" Roland asks, his eyes wild as he stands torn between waiting for an answer and darting out into the snow. "I can barely see a thi--" A cry from the horses cuts him short as he fancies he can hear Ember's squeal of fright. He opens the door and hesitates for just a moment longer as a wall of cold air and darkness hits him in the face before he runs out towards the stables.

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show

    Putting on some boots and a shield only, then moving as directly as possible towards the horses unless he can somehow tell there's a wolf right on top of him that's going to get attacks of opportunity. I'm narrating through a few actions that Roland wants to do to save time, but let me know if his actions are cut off by new information.

    Listen: (1d20-2)[-1]

    Edit: Blind and deaf
    Last edited by Riggdgames; 2020-06-06 at 03:56 PM.

  22. - Top - End - #112
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    DrK's Avatar

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Njal

    Nestled against the warm flank of his massive husky Njal awoke sharply, jerked back into waking by the snarls outside and the shouts inside. He stumbles to his feet, grabbing the massive tigerskull club from his waist. As he hears shouts of icewulvs he curses under his breath before opening himself up to the spirits, drawing the power of the mountains into. He felt his muscles strengthen as the dog beside him also grows!

    Spoiler: Njal
    Show


    Move: Stand up drawing tigerskull club
    Standard: Cast Bullstrength (sharing with Gromnir)


    Hps 26 / 26 Saves +6 /2 /6 (+2 Vs cold)
    AC: 11 (no armour or shield currently)


    Stormrir
    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

    Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
    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
    Thanks to Emperor Ing for the nice Avatar

  23. - Top - End - #113
    Bugbear in the Playground
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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Maxis

    "Wh-aat?" She asks, startled, as she wakes surprised by the sound. She darts up, leaping towards hammer and shield, and then towards the window. "What's... What's happening? Where is it?"

  24. - Top - End - #114
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    BlueWizardGirl

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Verglas

    The little mage grunts an affirmative to Roland's question.

    "Yes, yes. I can light our way, but the lights won't last long, so make it count."

    She snatches up her crossbow and, straining, manages to set it and slide a bolt into place, and then stumbles a bit toward the door.

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    Move action - pick up her Crossbow.
    Standard action - load the crossbow.
    5' step toward the door to the cabin.
    Last edited by Toliudar; 2020-06-08 at 01:21 PM.
    "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." Kurt Vonnegut

  25. - Top - End - #115
    Ettin in the Playground
     
    Planetar

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    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Predawn darkness, Day 2
    Complication Pool: 6 of 6

    The adventurers tumbled out the back door of the house in various states of undress. The cold bit hard; Ethron, Njal, and Maxis gritted their teeth against it, having encountered such an icy chill before and being inured to it, but for Mundstock, Verglas and Roland it was like being hit in the face with icicles. Cold breath tumbled down their lungs, beginning the inexorable process of pulling warmth from their bodies ... if they didn't resolve this quickly. Stavro was right behind them, the domovoi screaming at the others in the house to close the door and light candles everywhere.

    The stableyard was full of wolves.

    3 of them were by the stable. The white-furred, red-eyed creatures darted backwards and forwards, snapping at the lone domovoi by the door, who was producing flames from his empty hands and feinting at the creatures, occasionally throwing a little gout of flame that lighted on the snow outside and hissed into darkness. It was immediately clear to the adventurers that the wolves were trying to draw the domovoi out, or perhaps draw Stavro out; there was no way the single candle-man by the stable could stand if the wolves decided to rush him.

    10 more white-furred wolves were in the yard, snarling, drawing back as the adventurers came out, clearly getting themselves in the most advantageous positions to attack, slowly inching around to flanking positions, though they seemed to be keeping a 20 foot distance between themselves and the adventurers. There was enough reflected light from the half-moon on the snow to see clearly enough.

    And behind them, crouched on the remains of a broken wagon, was one more. Not a wolf ... not quite. Larger; stronger; a greater look of intelligence in its eyes. And this one's fur was mottled white and black, with a look of real evil in its eyes, and a smile on its snout that didn't seem to be wholly derived from the canine shape of its face.
    "Tarak," said Stavro, the hate clear in the domovoi's tone.
    "Little man," said the wolf, in a snarling, accented, but entirely clear Common. "Bring out your clan now, or your spawn by the horse-house dies."

    Spoiler: Njal
    Show
    Njal recognised the configuration in play here, and therefore identified what they were facing. The domovoi had called them icevulf, but the dwarven name for this furry pack of death was Wargsakh, a type of mountain wolf that was in most respects the same as normal animal, but instilled with the cold of the mountains and the snows. They fought and behaved mostly like wolves except for the fact their bite seemed to cause freezing around the wound, causing greater injury as it partially froze the blood. And invariably a wargsakh was led by a creature of the kind that had just spoken: a dire wolf, more intelligent, which provided the fighting will of the pack.

    Some druids speculated (when there was time to worry about that sort of thing) that some sort of minor Spirit lived in a dire wolf's mind, giving it power to communicate with others; either way, the enmity between domovoi and dire wolf was entirely understandable. Dire wolves lived to dominate their territories and thrived in the cold, in the outdoors; some facet of the way the Spirits had touched them left them unable to cross the threshold of a constructed dwelling like a house, though they could still raid stables where animals were. Domovoi lived to watch over such places and were little Spirits of the spark. Likely, Njal realised, the thoughts coming in a blurring rush, they'd inadvertently given the wolves the perfect opportunity: the wargsakh could never have crossed the threshold of the ranger house itself, but both their mounts and one of Stavro's kin were outside in the stable. The domovoi capability for fire was, under normal circumstances, more than enough to match a determined wargsakh and its leader; these wolves could harm more than a normal animal with their cold, but that crystal of ice in their blood was correspondingly vulnerable to fire.


    Spoiler: Everyone else
    Show
    They had all heard stories of mountain wolf packs, but both the number and the fact one of the things was communicating with Stavro was a distinct surprise.


    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    The temperature out here is fairly south of zero, so Mundstock, Verglas, and Roland are all going to need to make Fort saves in 10 minutes' time if this isn't over before then - they aren't affected until then. Everyone else has Cold Endurance or similar and so don't have to make Fort saves for an hour.

    It's about forty feet from the back door to the stable where Stavro's kin is standing.

    No real impediments to vision here by combination of both the reflected moonlight on the snowy ground and such light as there is from the ranger hut's windows.

    Otherwise: what do you do? Anything else you guys need to know about the physical environment that I've missed?

  26. - Top - End - #116
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    SwashbucklerGuy

    Join Date
    Apr 2020

    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Roland
    AC 14 (shield-only); HP 36/36
    Condition: -


    "Look no further, beast. We are his clan!" Roland shouts, raising his voice loud enough to carry to the lone domovoi by the stable. Desperately trying not to ruin the effect by shaking or shivering, Roland raises the maul in his outstretched hand, pointing directly at the talking wolf and trying to meet its eyes. "You'd do well to find easier prey," he growls. "Begone Tarak! Go while you can! I swear to you, if any of our clan fall this day, I will put you to sleep and you'll dream of feeding crows," Roland promises, dropping the maul to his side.


    Spoiler: OOC
    Show

    Intimidate: (1d20+8)[14]

  27. - Top - End - #117
    Titan in the Playground
     
    BlueWizardGirl

    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Edmonton, Canada

    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Verglas

    AC 17, HP 20

    Verglas channels all of the assurance she doesn't actually feel into her voice. She lifts her small crossbow to firing position.

    "Indeed. Imagine having to explain how you lost an eye to such a small and ineffectual little creature.

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    I was hoping to have Verglas cast Mage Armour before we head out. If necessary, she'd cast now. As they rush out to the wolves, she will cast dancing lights, and spread them out so that there's lots of light on all of the wolves.

    Intimidate - Aid another for Roland's efforts (1d20+1)[2]
    "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." Kurt Vonnegut

  28. - Top - End - #118
    Titan in the Playground
     
    DrK's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    UK
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Njal

    The dwarf, strong with the strength of the mountain in him looks at the wolves with a sneer. "Leave now beast lest we make a rug frae your hide." He spits into the snow lining up beside Roland, the tigerskull club in his hands and the snarling husky by his side.

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show


    Move to Roland
    Ready to club / bite

    Readied Tigerskull club: (1d20+8)[11] damage (1d8+7)[15]
    Readied Bite : (1d20+8)[27] damage (1d6+7)[9] and Trip (1d20+5)[16] vs (1d20)[18]+??

    Hps 26 / 26 Saves +6 /2 /6 (+2 Vs cold)
    AC: 11 (no armour or shield currently)

    Stormrir
    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

    Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
    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

    Thanks to Emperor Ing for the nice Avatar

  29. - Top - End - #119
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    SwashbucklerGuy

    Join Date
    Apr 2020

    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Roland
    AC 14 (shield-only); HP 36/36
    Condition: -


    Roland stares daggers at Tarak, his feigned arrogance a little less hollow with a friendly set of voices crowding in behind his and a sturdy dwarf at his side. Pitching his voice just loud enough for his companions to hear, he speaks quickly and admits, "seems like he brought a few too many pets to be backin' down without a fight. And even if I liked our odds, I don't think the candle-man can hold out long by himself. If we can get Stravro's kin and the horses back over here, might be we could hole up in the house and pick 'em apart from in there or just frustrate 'em until they leave," Roland says, keeping his eyes front as his breath turns to mist in the cold.

    "If it comes to that, I'll draw as many as I can. If a couple of you can punch through or sneak around to the stables while they're busy, Ember and Stormrir should be able to get you back safe to the house."

  30. - Top - End - #120
    Bugbear in the Playground
    Join Date
    Aug 2018

    Default Re: A Gathering Storm

    Maxis

    While the others speak, she readies her shield. She then steps forward herself to stand at Roland's and Njal's side, nodding to each of them in affirmation, before addressing the wolves. As she speaks, flames start to swiftly emerge from the holy symbol on her chest, engulfing her body and weapon, until she stands ablaze -- a lonely torch in the dark, cold night, bathed in the confidence of her goddess.

    "You came to the wrong place, creatures of the dark. Begone now, or meet the Fiery Lady's wrath."

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show

    Using Fire Devotion (swift action) to cover myself in flames.
    As she can sleep in light armor without penalty, and sees herself as protector, I assume she slept in the chain shirt. She also has blindfight, btw, so while she prefers a fight at daylight, she believes she can also fight at night.

    I'll also roll intimidate, if only to help the previous rolls.
    (1d20+1)[20]

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