The Northlands Saga - Spears in the Ice OOC

[Farmerbink]

Some relevant questions: What's our eta to nightfall? In my head, this is an early-to-mid morning outing, but I want to make sure I'm not misinterpreting.

Also, do we have any idea what to expect besides "cold" from nightfall? I mean, as far as we know, we're literally on a floating glacier somewhere in the arctic circle, right? Is finding firewood even a thing?

[Ghostfoot]

Some relevant questions: What's our eta to nightfall? In my head, this is an early-to-mid morning outing, but I want to make sure I'm not misinterpreting.

Also, do we have any idea what to expect besides "cold" from nightfall? I mean, as far as we know, we're literally on a floating glacier somewhere in the arctic circle, right? Is finding firewood even a thing?

Let's call it mid-late morning. But yeah, effectively a full day of adventuring ahead of you.

And yes you are literally on a floating iceberg on the cusp of the arctic circle. It's not dangerously cold right this second, but nightfall, a change in weather or more sorcerous blizzards would certainly be expected to bring chilliness. Firewood is not evident.

Lucky there's a not-at-all ominous castle ahead :-)

[farothel]

Lucky there's a not-at-all ominous castle ahead :-)

If it's called Don'tgonearthe Castle, then I'm out.

[Farmerbink]

Let's call it mid-late morning. But yeah, effectively a full day of adventuring ahead of you.

And yes you are literally on a floating iceberg on the cusp of the arctic circle. It's not dangerously cold right this second, but nightfall, a change in weather or more sorcerous blizzards would certainly be expected to bring chilliness. Firewood is not evident.

Lucky there's a not-at-all ominous castle ahead :-)

"Lucky," he says.

[DrK]

Mystery castle on a magical ice berg.... what could possibly go wrong

[farothel]

Just to let you know, I'll be on holiday from this Friday for a week. I should have Wifi but as I'll be doing touristy stuff, I might be slower in reacting.

[farothel]

Knowledge(planes): (1d20+2)[22]

Most important thing to know: what can harm these things.

[Ghostfoot]

Knowledge(planes): [roll0]

Most important thing to know: what can harm these things.

A very good roll. This is a degenerate ice mephit swarm.

On occasion when small populations of mephits are cut off from others of their kind and forced to exist in relative barbarity, they begin to devolve. They begin to procreate and, over a number of generations, produce in vast numbers offspring that are stunted and vile versions of the original mephits. These degenerate mephits are barely intelligent and form into tribal swarms of thousands of such creatures, possessing a malevolent instinct to hunt and kill. Though they need no sustenance, these misbegotten elemental creatures become strongly territorial and seek to slaughter any creature that comes within the bounds they have claimed, even if other mephits from other tribes.

Key immunities, lots! : usual swarm traits, DR5/ magic, immune cold, half damage piercing & slashing.

Key vulnerabilities: sunlight, water, weakness to fire, usual swarm traits eg AoE attacks

Sunlight Powerlessness (Ex) A degenerate ice mephit swarm is fragile and begins to melt when caught in sunlight (half of this chasm is in shade, half in sunlight). This does not immediately damage the swarm but makes it unable to attack and causes it to be staggered. A degenerate ice mephit swarm exposed to direct sunlight for 4 straight rounds is destroyed.

Vulnerability to Water (Ex) A degenerate mephit swarm is fragile and becomes clumped, cooled, and/or dissolved when exposed to water. If a mephit swarm comes in contact with water, it takes 1d4 points of damage per gallon and the swarm is staggered for that round. Making contact may require a ranged touch attack for a bucket of water, a spell effect, or even the slam attack of a water elemental. Damage from water-based attacks (such as an elemental slam) increases its normal damage by 50% rather than the per gallon calculation. Precipitation of any significant amount is considered 1 gallon per round.

[farothel]

Good info. I'll wait until my init before I share though.

[Starbin]

I think you can share immediately ... talking is a free action (within reason).

[Ghostfoot]

I think you can share immediately ... talking is a free action (within reason).

Yes, talking (within reason) is fine out-of-turn

[farothel]

I've done so, which I think is not too much talking. If it is, let me know. I'm not going to move in combat anyway, so I can sacrifice my move action if needed.

[DrK]

Freyja wisdom checks
(1d20-1)[9] (1d20-1)[14] (1d20-1)[11] (1d20-1)[16]

- Reflex saves if she (only) fails 2... [rol]1d20+2[/roll]

Signun Wisdom Checks
(1d20)[17] (1d20)[13] (1d20)[7] (1d20)[11]

- Reflex save if he fails 2 (1d20+6)[18]

[DrK]

Freyja Reflex save for (1d20+2)[3]

[Ghostfoot]

Could I please have a Survival check from Elissa in the first instance,
followed by Reflex saves from Elissa & Heltinne to round out the party rolls.

Might as well get 3x Wis checks from Elissa & Heltinne as well, just in case.

[Ghostfoot]

Survival
Elissa (1d20+8)[11]

Ref saves

Elissa (1d20+6)[19]
Heltinne (1d20+1)[16]

Wis checks
Elissa (1d20+3)[4](1d20+3)[16](1d20+3)[4]
Heltinne (1d20+1)[7](1d20+1)[18](1d20+1)[13]

[Farmerbink]

Oh my.

Maybe I should have made you wait for me to roll XD

[Ghostfoot]

Here's me rolling again...always a concern

Knowledge Nature to ID base creature

Signy (1d20+3)[15]
Elissa (1d20+4)[21]

[Ghostfoot]

Signy & Elissa recognise these as statues of taer:

Taer are shaggy, primitive, naked humanoids that may be related to the yeti. They resemble prehistoric humans but are more bestial and apelike. Their fur is coated with an oily, fatty substance excreted through the pores, which protects them from cold. Taer can see clearly even in heavy snowstorms due to a second transparent eyelid that protects the eye from blowing winds and heavy snow. Taer never wear clothing, although they do sometimes wear necklaces and bracelets of tooth and horn.

Taer do not have a formal language as such; they communicate with one another through grunts, hooting, and yelling, as well as a body language similar to that of apes.

Taer attack with their fists and bite, but occasionally use stone spears in combat. They are fierce creatures and very territorial, attacking any living creature that wanders into the area. Taer use their knowledge of the land to their advantage during combat by creating avalanches, burrowing under snow and attacking from surprise, and using snow-covered pits to trap their prey.

Immune to cold; vulnerable to fire.

[Ghostfoot]

linguistics to identify the language: (1d20+5)[22]

good idea, haven't used that skill like that before but it makes sense

the language is Abyssal ()

I hope to update IC tomorrow

[Farmerbink]

Fort DC 13: (1d20+4)[23]

[Starbin]

Fort save - (1d20+1)[2] vs DC 13.

EDIT: Sigh.

[DrK]

Yup, when they start saying "they speak abysaal" it was never going to go well!

I'll do the Fort saves now as I'll probably need them after the speedy Taer
Signun (1d20+4)[14]
Freyja (1d20+6)[26]

[farothel]

Anna is clearly still impressed by the attack.

[Ghostfoot]

Bjorn torch attack
Fort save DC14 or weapon shatters (1d20+5)[18]
damage (1d3+4)[7] (+3 Str, +1 bardic) +1 fire

[Starbin]

Whelp ... maybe a crit. Confirmation - (1d20+5)[9], Damage total - (1d8+8)[16]

EDIT: Sigh ... probably not

[DrK]

Signun and Freyja will wait to see what Elissa discovers before they start doing anything

[farothel]

I'll be away from the 6th of August until the 23rd. While I normally should have internet at my destinations, I will be slower in replying, especially the last 5 days when I'm at the Discworld Con.

[Farmerbink]

botched the perception: (1d20+10)[16]

[farothel]

I'll be on holiday from Saturday. While I will have internet (normally) the first days, it will probably not be all that good and from the 8th until the 19th or 20th, I will have no internet at all. From then on until the 29th (when I'll be back) it's probably spotty again. GM feel free to bot my character where needed during my no-internet period.