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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
As far as Dorrin is concerned, the furs he is shown are complete cold weather gear - other than the furs themselves, they also include thick tunics and shirts, padded boots and gloves and fur hats. He also notices some thicker, but less complete fur sets to a side. Vivian notices his glance and adds. "Oh, I have these as well, I'm selling them for five a set. They are thick and certainly striking, but this is what I would recommend for the kind of weather I am told there is in the forest. Colder than it's been in anyone's living memory, I'm told. Even that man from the lady's guard had horrible frostbite, and you know those big northerners don't freeze easy!"
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
"No, no, I agree -- the full sets are what we need, you're right. Here's the money. We really appreciate this -- it means one less thing to worry about on the way. But we really ought to be going sooner rather than later, I think. No sense waiting for it to get even colder."
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
Road to Demgazi, roughly 6 miles south of Heldren
With Yuln's instructions and a bit of help from the townsfolk, you get a very good idea how to get to the ambush site. It lies along the road to the south, and you manage to get there in just over two hours.
Near the forest, you notice the air growing a fair bit colder and a light snow starts as you get closer to the trees. The forest itself obscured by a mist - or more likely, heavy snowfall. The road ahead of you is littered with debris and corpses of humans and horses. A derelict carriage leans to one side in the roadway, its horses missing or cut free, while another lies overturned and broken next to the treeline. To the sough, more bodies have fallen around what appears to be an ice-covered statue, and to the east, a snowy trail leads to the treeline. Apart from the odd snowflake, the scene is entirely still.
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
Dorrin had kept up well enough with his larger companions on the trip, despite stopping occasionally to take in the wintry scenes along the way before scrambling to recover his pace when they didn't stop to look at ... whatever thing had caught his eye this time. His cheeks and the tip of his nose were by now a deep rosy red, contrasting with otherwise pale features, but he seemed otherwise unbothered by the frigid weather.
His legs ground him to a halt again at the edge of the scene, as he paused to use his sleeve to wipe the drizzle of snot that had bubbled once again to the edge of his nostrils. His gaze traveled first from the path leading into the woods, back toward the scattered corpses in the snow, and for the first time, he began to shiver almost uncontrollably.
"I... I suppose we ought to check to see if anyone's alive?" he squeaked weakly, with the air of someone that was utterly certain that nobody was alive. His legs kept him firmly rooted to his place; if he was going to be the one to do the investigating, he was clearly going to need some encouragement.
Spoiler: OOC
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Um, Perception I guess? [roll0]
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
Kira hums a tune on the way, eyes on the trees in a way different than Dorrin's staring. Occasionally, the musket on her back shifts, her grip on the strap changing as she watches some bit of distant movement or simply adjusts the position of her hand. As the group arrives at the scene, Kira looks over it once, hms, and stops to set her musket against the ground. With a soft hum, she carefully opens the powder horn at her hip, pours black powder down into the barrel of the musket, and closes the powder horn again. Taking a single musket ball from her backpack, she rams it down into the weapon and then, content with her work, lifts it into her arms. "First shot is always the best," she says. "Don't have to worry about doing it quickly, so you can make it elegant."
"Let's give it a look-over," Kira says with a nod, stepping forwards. "Who knows, maybe they left a note."
Spoiler: OOC
Show
If possible, take 10, otherwise: [roll0] Perception
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
Vilgeirr, hefting the added weight of the new gear, ate up the distance at his usual walking gait. Even the light snowfall set him to smiling; it had been years since he had felt anything other than hot. As they came upon the scene of carnage, he stopped and crouched. Better to be a small target against any ranged attacks. He grasped the cold iron spiked round shield and brought it to bear. His other hand went to his hip and loosened the falcata from it's sheath. Listening to the others speak, he replies, "No one left lying here two days is alive."
He very slowly looked around them alert for any signs of danger.
Spoiler: OOC
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Perception [roll]1d20+1[roll]
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
Kira and Dorrin can't hear or see anything out of the ordinary, but Vilgeirr is pretty sure that he hears something from the trunk of one of the coaches (the one still standing), to his own great surprise.
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
Upon seeing the scene of the wreckage, Shira pulls her dual axes from her back and readies herself in case any danger reveals itself. She steps closer to the ice statue to closer inspect the statue and the bodies littered around it.
Spoiler: Perception
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[roll0] assuming this terrain satisfies as cold, if not then the +2 is not added.
I'm also guessing it's not a Knowledge [geography] check to see if the statue is natural or not.
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
"There is something moving inside the carriage." The Ulfen advised as he nodded towards the overturned conveyance. "Be alert for anything. I am going to move in to the carriage. Someone with a free hand should move in as well to open the door." The viking stated as he began to slowly walk toward the wreckage, shield in one hand and his old fashioned curved blade in the other.
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
Kira looks between Shira and Vilgeirr, finding a position from which she can give aid to either, should the carriage or the statue suddenly turn out to be home to some threat. If Shira's investigation doesn't seem to cause any response, she will turn her musket to the carriage door, ready to send a ball of lead into whatever might clamber out.
Spoiler: OOC
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Kira's gonna stay at range to give covering fire here...Maybe have someone open the door and duck back right away? Shira would be a good candidate I think, once she's checked the statue, but I won't complain if Dorrin does it.
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
"Someone with a free hand go help Vilgeirr!" Dorrin passed along the message helpfully, looking at Shira with her two axes and Kira with her large boomstick. " ... oh. I suppose that's me, then."
He picked up a large stick, the longest he could find, as he approached the carriage. "Hey, anybody in there?" he asked, hoping for any kind of a civilized response as he rapped three times on the trunk of the carriage with the stick from as far as he could. "It's safe to come out now." He listened carefully for any sort of response.
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
The ice statue appears to be of a man, frozen solid. From what's visible in the ice it appears to be a Taldan soldier - or possibly an officer - who was frozen with one hand lifted, apparently to protect himself. He appears to be wearing a metal armor, but the uneven ice makes it hard to see any insignia or marks on it However, one of the hands and various other bits of him - the front side of his left boot (and the foot inside it), the right arm, and a part of his neck appear to have been hewed off. By his expression - more shocked and frightened than anything else - the mutilation was done after he was dead. A few of the still frozen chunks of ice around have most of the missing parts, a bigger one has his arm, still clutching a longsword. Shira also notices several other bodies in the vicinity, who were cut down with multiple wounds each. They also bear remnants of uniforms, but the torn clothes, missing weapons and the lack of boots show they appear to have been looted.
From the chest you can hear thumping and muffled sounds. It does not open, however, and appears to be held fast.
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
The Ulfen slowly shook his head at the halfling's attention seeking antics. After the diminutive manling was apparently finished, for the moment, Vilgeirr made ready at the front of the trunk, his round shield up and falcata raised slightly over his head to bring down on anything nasty which might spring forth.
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
"...Open it," Kira says to Dorrin, if the shuffling inside doesn't seem to cause the door to open on its own, weapon still trained on the door. "Better shoot whatever beastie or skellie or whatever they've got stuffed in there now, than have it wander around and find us when we're camped out."
Spoiler: OOC
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Based on the post, I'm guessing it won't open if we leave it alone.
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
Dorrin sent the stick cartwheeling back over his head with a two-handed flourish, then opened the doors to the carriage with a smile on his face.
Spoiler: OOC
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If they're locked, I'll take 10 then take 20 on a Disable Device check (for a 13 and 23 respectively).
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
"Someone, or something, froze this poor man in ice." After checking out the statue, Shira moves to join the others in inspecting the noise from the carriage. She positions herself next to Vilgeirr, ready (hopefully) for whatever might be in the trunk. "It could be a survivor of the lady's entourage hiding from whatever attacked. Let's be sure it's hostile before we start swinging. Although it never hurts to be prepared for the worst."
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
The trunk is locked, but not all that well and Dorrin manages to get the hang of it fairly quickly, despite the disturbance from inside. He flips the lid over and quickly jumps back as a whiff of stench hits him in the face, and something else makes him jump far back, surprisingly athletically for what he has shown so far. As it happens, a pair of hands lunge where he used to be and a mishmash of limbs and torsoes falls from the trunk on the ground.
Spoiler
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Knowledge:religion to identify, and Kira and Vilgeirr can have a surprise round.
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
Kira is silent at the inhuman, unnatural...thing tumbles out onto the ground, taking aim and exhaling slowly, letting a small cloud of her breath blow over Lyubimaya Sestra. Then she aims, and fires, grinning as the spark turns into a flash in front of her, and a brief explosion of fire, lead and smoke erupts from the barrel of her musket. A moment later, she shifts it to one hand, pulling a dagger from her belt and looking intently at the monstrosity that spilled out of the trunk.
Spoiler: Actions
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Firing the musket! Then drawing a dagger.
A: [roll0] vs flat-footed touch
D: [roll1]
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
Vilgeirr chopped down at the creature as it emerged from the carriage trunk wildly flailing at Dorrin, the forward curving blade flashing in the sunlight.
Spoiler: Action
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Falcata melee attack [roll0]
Falcata melee damage [roll1]
(If necessary, Falcata melee critical confirmation attack [roll2]
Falcata critical damage [roll3])
Spoiler: OOC
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Status
AC 19; HP 13/13; Init +2; Speed 20' (medium armour); Perception +1
F +5; R +2; W+1
Combat Stamina 3/3
Shield Bearer 1/1
Throwing Axes 4/4
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
The ghastly beings stop moving for a moment, then jerk upright, reaching for the weapons - or much better, the flesh - of their assailants. Vilgeirr's falcata strikes a hefty blow at one of the things, but when the smoke clears,the one Kira short did not seem too inconvenienced, seemingly protected by unnatural sorcery.
((Two of them will stand from prone, the third was not prone and takes a move towards Dorrin. Vilgeirr takes his AoO on whichever he likes, then it's your turn)).
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
The satisfying crunch of bone under the axe-like blade caused the grim northerner to break out in a death's head grin. Loksins óvinur að drepa! As the form dropped at his feet, he reared back and cleaved it again when it began to rise. Connecting again with the meaty flesh, he yanked out the blade and made another overhand chop at the foul creature.
Spoiler: Ulfen
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Loksins óvinur að drepa! = Finally, an enemy to kill!
Spoiler: Actions
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Falcata melee AoO [roll0]
Falcata AoO damage [roll1]
If needed, confirmation [roll2]
If needed, critical damage [roll3]
Falcata melee attack [roll4]
Falcata melee damage [roll5]
If needed, confirmation [roll6]
If needed, critical damage [roll7]
Spoiler: OOC
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Status
AC 19; HP 13/13; Init +2; Speed 20' (medium armour); Perception +1
F +5; R +2; W+1
Combat Stamina 3/3
Shield Bearer 1/1
Throwing Axes 4/4
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
Dorrin shrieked the shriek of a teenage girl when the zombies -- yes, definitely zombies, no doubt about that -- emerged from the carriage. His scramble out of the way was fairly adept at least -- it was clear that he's spend a fair amount of time training to not get hit by strange things. If it wanted to chase after him, it was welcome to do so; he was at least confident that he could outrun the creature, maybe keep it distracted whilst the others did their work...
Spoiler: OOC
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It's not clear if this thing is right on me in melee range or not. If it is, I'll withdraw 60' away. If it's not in melee range yet, I'll move 30' away from it and draw sling.
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
If not adjacent to one of the undead Shira will move into melee and strike with her axe. If she is in melee she will just attack it. If there are any good ways to flank with Vilgeirr then she will try to get to that better position.
Spoiler: OOC
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Is there any kind of map that I've missed? Or are we just going on descriptions?
Spoiler: Rolls
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Attack: [roll0] (adds another +2 if flanking is possible.)
Damage: [roll1]
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
Kira lets Lyubimaya Sestra settle on the ground and rushes forwards, bringing the dagger in her hand down on the formerly-human beast closest to her.
Spoiler: Actions
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Chaaaarge!
A: [roll0]
D: [roll1]
AC 14 'till next round.
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
One of the dead things crumples under Vilgeirr's afterstrike, and Shira's blade sinks all but passes through another, but it stays on its feet and swings back. Kira's attack is sadly off as she underestimates her momentum and nearly crashes into the zombie, but at least Dorrin manages to get himself to a safer position.
Enemy turn:
Spoiler
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Attack 1: [roll0] at Vilgeirr
Damage if any: [roll1]
Attack 2: [roll2] at Shira
Damage if any: [roll3]
Map attached in the discord chat
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
Vilgeirr laughed as the foul creature fell at his feet for a final time. Turning to the one that Shira has just engaged, he cleaved into the monster with his falcata.
Spoiler: Actions
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Step over to the 2nd zombie and make falcata melee attack: [roll0]
Falcata damage: [roll1]
Confirmation roll, if needed, [roll2]
Confirmation damage, if needed [roll3]
Spoiler: OOC
Show
Status
AC 19; HP 13/13; Init +2; Speed 20' (medium armour); Perception +1
F +5; R +2; W+1
Combat Stamina 3/3
Shield Bearer 1/1
Throwing Axes 4/4
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
Kira continues her dagger-offensive, moving to flank the zombie if possible.
Spoiler: Actions
Show
5' Step to flank, if possible, then attack.
A: [roll0] +2 if flanking
D: [roll1]
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
Dorrin, relieved that the zombie's path of attack had been cut off, scrambled to retrieve his sling from his pocket, loading it carefully with a bullet and looking to line up an a safe shot at one of the creatures.
Spoiler: OOC
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Move action to draw sling, standard action to load sling, 5' step forward to get to 55' since I withdrew to 60' last time.
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
Shira repositions herself so she is right next to both of the zombies, saying a quick prayer asking her ancestors for strength. She attacks each zombie, the one between her and Vilgeirr with her battleaxe, and the one next to Kira with her handaxe.
Spoiler: Actions
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Free move to move 5 feet
Free action to start rage
1st attack with battleaxe against Z1 [roll0]
damage against Z1: [roll1]
1nd attack with handaxe against Z2 [roll2]
damage against Z2: [roll3]
-1 round of rage
If either zombie dies she ends her rage at end of turn as a free action, fatiguing herself for 2 rounds
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Re: Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer IC
The zombies continue their strong, but lumbering strikes, and are met with a flurry of attacks. Some of them don't find their mark, or the decaying flesh of the unfortunates is too tough for your blows to find purchase. Some, however, do, and Shira's battleaxe finishes one of the things as she lops off parts of its head and shoulder. The magic seems to give in, and the dead thing collapses just as it was about to strike back. Kira and Vilgeirr chop at the other, but while bits of it are hacked away, it does not seem hurt - yet. It, in turn, lunges towards the Linnornian.
In the meantime, you notice that the snowflakes get a bit more frequent.
Spoiler: Actions
Show
Zombie 1 is down.
Zombie 2 attacks Vilgeirr
Attack: [roll0]
Damage if any: [roll][1d6+4[/roll]
Crit confirmation is appropriate: [roll1]