Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer

[Phantom Genius]

Raydine's attack strikes true and the snowman...does nothing. (Ruling: It's a piercing attack, so I don't feel like it would knock over a normal snowman...or a magical snowman...or the fey god of snow, which this is not.)

Those casting Detect Magic must be at sixty feet or less, but that doesn't trigger anything. You both detect the presence of magic in the area of the snowman. Does anyone do anything before or during round two when you get the "Number of different magical auras and the power of the most potent aura?"

[Alhallor]

Well the bolt had accomplished… Something at least. Raydine had hit and she reloaded almost automatically. At least she got a bolt-sized hole in it.

Well I heard a tale about monster-trees attacking woodsman once. We definitely have to share some story's at some point, well lets hope that doesn't happen here. They are way to many trees.

Raydine would keep watch, while the others were focusing on the snowman.

Spoiler: OOC

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In case I can make another one
Perception: (1d20+1)[16]
In case I can't it's 2. And Raydine would hold her action I suppose.

[Mr_CoffeeCup]

Erril says to the group, I wonder what playful scamp is making a snowman out in the middle of this dreadful cold.

Upon hearing that magic is detected in the area he recalls talk of the fey creatures and battle that ensued. He is immediately put on alert.

Spoiler

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Perception to find anyone planning to ambush us.
(1d20+4)[22]

Stampy's is generally under the Defend command (defending Erril) if nothing else was explicitly stated.
Stampy's Perception to detect threat to Erril.
(1d20+5)[13]
This is 8 higher for scent.

[dojango]

Hatano and the cat stare intently at the snowman, the area around the snowman, the air, and the ground. They both are concentrating intently with their arcane senses.

[DaOldeWolf]

Stepehn just keeps himself centerd on finding out about the magical auras and their possible meaning, especially if they could be a possible threat.

[Phantom Genius]

Stephen just keeps himself centered on finding out about the magical auras and their possible meaning, especially if they could be a possible threat.

Ok, moving forward...

Round 2:
Two magical effects around the snowman. Both are faint.

Looking around you count the footprints and note that Majid must have slipped away at some point. He had been muttering something about returning to the desert and now you think you know what he meant. (Sorry Raydine. I know you liked him. I did too.)

[DaOldeWolf]

Stephen remains focused on finding out what these auras meant. "I can detect some magical auras. I´ll try to find out more. Give me a bit more time." Stephen requests his teammates.

[Phantom Genius]

Stephen remains focused on finding out what these auras meant. "I can detect some magical auras. I´ll try to find out more. Give me a bit more time." Stephen requests his teammates.

Stephen and Hatano (plus the cat) study the snowman for another six seconds and then Hatano starts to shrug as Stephen's eyes grow wider.

Spoiler: For Stephen

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Stephen you detect a Magic Mouth and a Sound Burst, but you don't know exactly what sets them off. The crossbow bolt didn't.

[DaOldeWolf]

Stephen thinks for a second before deciding how to share the news with his teammates. "Well, I have good news and bad news. One of the two spells might potentially bring us knowledge but... the second spell that can be triggered could be a nasty and loud surprise. What should we do?" Stephen explains.

[Alhallor]

Raydine looks at the snowman. It seemed to stare, she could definitely do without the thing.

Regarding Stephen's words Hmm… Can we go around it? Or do we have to trigger the spells when we walk past it? Do you know what the loud spell is? Perhaps I can sing it down. Says Raydine not without confidence.

[dojango]

"The only think I want to know is whether killin' these things will bring back summer. And we can figure that out we find them. Let's just go around this obvious trap and hope there aren't unobvious ones around it."

[DaOldeWolf]

"I wish I could say but.... I dont know what might trigger them" Stephen admits to the others. "Yes. The second spell is basically a big exploion of sound. The kind that would hurt physically. I suppose we could get around this but considering the danger of triggering it by accident, we should probably try to have the least hearty members to stay back or at least away while we have the most resilient in the group move forward."

[Alhallor]

Yeah, let's try walking around it. I keep ready just in case. Raydine stays close to Hatano when the obstacle is surrounded but keeps readying herself.

Spoiler: OOC

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Readying my action to use Countersong, should the boom spell trigger. I use my Perform (sing) roll and anyone can either use they're saving throw or my Perform check against the DC of the spell. (1d20+8)[19]

[Mr_CoffeeCup]

I agree that we should avoid this.

Erril continues to look for the tracks to follow, giving the snowman a wide berth.

[Phantom Genius]

The road is ten feet wide. The snowman is exactly in the middle. So you don't have to touch it, but you have to come within a few feet of it or go offroad into the snowdrifts and trees. Five feet behind the snowman is a frozen stream, 25 feet across, to where the road and the tracks continue.

Please tell me who is moving forward, alone or in a small group, and who is going into the trees or staying back.

Spoiler: Theater of the Mind, Apparently

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I have an image, but I can only post a URL, apparently, so I need to work on that.

[Mr_CoffeeCup]

Feeling at home in the wilderness, Erril thinks nothing of going off the trail, through the trees. He and Stampy walk around the snowman, at a distance of 20 feet between them and it.

Assuming they don't die a horrible death from making a poor decision, Erril would like to inspect the stream to make sure it is stable enough to cross and can bear their weight.

Spoiler

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In case Erril's knowledge of nature would be tested...
(1d20+6)[19]

[DaOldeWolf]

Stephen decides to wait it out to see if there is any kind of reaction. There was no point in getting on the line if it meant he could be left in a pretty dangerous position.

[Alhallor]

Raydine follows Errik and Stampy, staying pretty close to them. Mostly using Stampy's trail that he provides, fixating the snowman as they go.

[Phantom Genius]

Nothing happens to Erril, Stampy or Raydine as they leave the road and trudge through the snow. Arriving at the stream, they see nothing of interest, but it would be a Survival roll to see if the ice is safe.

Stephen and Arcatek, watching from sixty feet, see no reaction from the snowman.

[DaOldeWolf]

Seeing that there doesnt seem to be any reaction. Stephen decides to follow after their teammates. Hopefully, they wouldnt have advanced much.

[Mr_CoffeeCup]

Using his wilderness survival skills, Erril checks to see if the ice is safe to cross.

Spoiler

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(1d20+10)[17]

[dojango]

Hatano watches as the mammoth and the others push through the snow around the obvious trap. She waits patiently with Stampy to see if any of them die horribly or not. Once it seems safe, she'll follow Stampy as they head over to the frozen creek. If it's safe she'll cautiously advance once the mammoth has gone over; after all, if it can cross, so can she. Probably.

[Phantom Genius]

Using his wilderness survival skills, Erril checks to see if the ice is safe to cross.

It looks strong on the surface, but it is hard to tell what lies beneath. It doesn't seem very deep though. Stampy would be the most at risk of falling through.

Arcatek follows Hatano up to the group. "Do you have a rope? This unit is the smallest and perhaps lightest, as well as being resistant to temperature. Perhaps this unit is therefore best suited to test the ice?"

Stephen and Erril Info, but everyone can read:

Spoiler: Arcatek

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Arcatek is a size small "construct" apparently and refers to itself as a unit and without the standard pronouns. "It" was my original character before the DM vanished. It is highly intelligent, but low on Charisma.

[Alhallor]

Raydine is somewhat relieved seeing the others also coming towards them, but the river that cuts in they're way may certainly be a problem. And of course brave Arcatek volunteers himself, she gives him a smile.

That's very brave of you Arcatek, but I think I should test it out. The cold doesn't bother me much and I can swim like a fish. Raydine spreads her webbed hands to drive the point home, disappears behind Stampy for a moment to release herself of her armor (while keeping the cold-weather gear) and either takes a rope one of the others has taken with them or gives one end of her whip to Arcatek.

She is concentrated on setting a foot on the ice and then try's to continue at least till the middle of the 25 feet stream when only the whip is available and try's to cross fully if a rope secures her.

Spoiler: OOC

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With the whip having a range of 15 feet, even if no one has a rope, I think Raydine should get at least till roughly the middle of the frozen stream. Should she break in, she hopefully can save herself with her natural swim speed.

Edit: Without armor and shield Raydine's AC would be 12, her flat-footed AC would be 10.

[Mr_CoffeeCup]

My, what a brave bunch. Erril looks at the team, proud to be a member. Feel free to use my rope. He ties one end of his rope around Stampy's midsection and gives him a reassuring pat.

Thinking that this may be a perfect opportunity to ambush the group, he looks across the water to see if there is anyone waiting on the other side.

Spoiler

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Perception
(1d20+4)[11]

[Phantom Genius]

Raydine tests the first five feet of ice...tap, tap, stomp...no problem.
Raydine tests the next five feet of ice...tap, tap, stomp...no problem.
Raydine goes a little farther and the ice cracks and crunches. She tries to back up, but is not quite fast enough and she falls into the water.

Let's use initiative for the next part, even though you don't see any opponents. Please state your action, roll any dice, including initiative, handle animal, etc.

Spoiler: Raydine Only. Please nobody else open this for a few days.

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Raydine thinks that a big chunk of ice is aggressively moving toward her. Please roll a Fort save as well as the above.

[Alhallor]

When Raydine involuntarily crashes into the ice it's damn cold. Bearable but still damn cold.

It seems that she swallows some water and gurgles heavily, trying to get out of the water.

Spoiler: Grgl brpff harglglglgl (DM and anyone who knows Aquan)

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Hey, are you a buddy or a pal? Could you help me out here? (Diplomacy in case it is a creature that can talk Aquan? (1d20+8)[24])

Spoiler: OOC and Initiative

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Initiative: (1d20+2)[14] Perception: (1d20+1)[20] To see more clearly whats coming towards her.

[Mr_CoffeeCup]

Oh no!

Spoiler

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Initiative
(1d20+2)[14]
The plan is to move 20' back from the ice stream (Move Action) and give Stampy a command to COME to me (Free Action), pulling Raydine out of the water in the process. Erril will also take a look around to see if there was any hostile activity in the area as a result.
Handle Animal (DC10 for known command)
(1d20+9)[27]
Perception
(1d20+4)[10]

[dojango]

Hatano watches with surprise as Raydine falls through the ice. She says, "Pull the rope! Get her out, she'll freeze!"

[DaOldeWolf]

Sephen goes to help and pull the rope to help. "Right!" he replies in agreement to Hatano.

Spoiler: OOC

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Not sure if I should roll here but just in case. making a strenght roll: (1d20+2)[5]