(IC) Quickleaf's Rime of the Frostmaiden

[Aethmud]

With a wry grin and a nod to all players, Jack shuffles the cards. His snowy wings flutter in delight, casting tiny, iridescent snowflakes that shimmer in the candlelight and disappear before touching the table.

Spoiler: Gaming skill check & card draw

DC10 gaming skill check to draw 2 cards and pick one (11: success)
Card draw rolls (choose one):
Brass dragon, strength 2
Brass dragon, strength 1

"Ah, cousins Ottar and Osvic, tell me, do you share a similar fortune as well as blood? We'll see if your tattoos do bring luck after all." As he deals the cards with an effortless flick of the wrist, each card spinning in the air before landing perfectly in front of its intended recipient, Jack leans back in his chair with a satisfied grin, folding his hands behind his head. "Alright, gentlemen, may the luck of the dragons be with you. Remember, it's not the size of the dragon in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dragon. Don't you think, Steingrimsson?"

Jack peeks at his own card and flips it over with a grimace, revealing a gleaming Brass dragon with an all-too-humble strength of 1. "Ah, it seems I've drawn a meekling. Just a meager strength of one. Barely enough to melt an icicle, let alone scorch a town. Still, it has its..." he gestures pendulously with both hands, "charms." He takes a swigs from his brass flask with a knowing wink.

With a grin, he reaches for his hoard and lifts up a single, shining silver piece. He holds it up for the others to see, before tossing it lightly into the pot with a clink. "Just a lonely silver, that's all this little one asks of me. No grand pile of wealth demanded. Just a humble, solitary silver." He chuckels, looking around at the others with twinkling eyes.

With a theatrical sigh and a dramatic hand to his forehead, Jack exclaims, "Oh, woe is me, Jack Everfrost, beloved of fey and friend of giants, dealt such a paltry card! Is this to be my fate? To freeze in the shadow of the mighty dragons that adorn these cards?" He eyes Thidrik and his card, as he interjects some banter, "Why Thidrik, with the frosty gleam in your eyes, I'd almost believe you were a white dragon yourself!"

 

[Kobold Stew]

Alma's brows shoot up at the name. There is a long beat of silence, like she's trying to decide something, before she replies. It might be the most expressive she's been so far. ''Yes. Right. I recognized your name from him. We are...related. He considered you very capable.''

"Thank you," says Corse. "That means a lot. I remember him." It's a simple satement, but it's meant sincerely. Now isn't the time to talk about how he was lost, or to offer false hopes. Corse knows that surviving so long on one's own is possible, but unlikely. It's clear Alma Osteergard is someone she can work with.

OOC: Alma startles as a cat suddenly shifts and grows, taking the form of a goblin. She rounds on him and stares, wide-eyed, a hand lifted, ready to cast. She makes a note to be more on her guard in this town. Too many things aren't as they seem. She hesitates. But like reciting a script says, ''Hello...my name is Alma Osteergard. I don't know their names,'' she tilts her head towards Logrim and Zeth. ''It's rude to eavesdrop on others' conversations.''

And there was Aric. The shifting goblin. He was a survivor, and would be helpful on the trails.

"We've all been eavesdropping, I'm afraid," says Corse, trying to deflect blame away from the shifter. Easier to take blame herself. "This is news in the Ten Towns, and it will attract attention. But this one, though a trickster with big ears, is trustworthy, and I'll feel safer travelling with him." She looks at the crowd.

She turns to Aric, "I am sorry for your loss. Morin was a survivor, and I hadn't heard that he was among the lost. Many are disappearing. This situation will continue until it is stopped."

 

[tglassy]

Mak feels the familiar excitement as he reaches for his first card.

_: 1D12 = [8] = 8

_: 1D10 = [10] = 10


Which is a Silver Dragon with 10 Strength! A potentially good start if he can keep up the strength level, but my, playing such a high card surely depletes his horde.

Current Horde: 40/50

(I hope I’m understanding this right).

 

[Steve Gorak]

She turns to Aric, "I am sorry for your loss. Morin was a survivor, and I hadn't heard that he was among the lost. Many are disappearing. This situation will continue until it is stopped."

“Thanks Corse”, Aric says laconically, as tears flow down his cheeks. He couldn’t help it, talking about his friend made the pain sting more.

 

[Neurotic]

As the group around the sheriff and the speaker enlarges, there is little chance of listening in on the private conversation. Yet, there still may be some chance. And Vorr is not one to show up unexpectedly such as this new...goblin! Little buggers show openly! It doesn't seem hostile or at least it didn't attack immediately.

Eyes shining, the halfling next to the wall mutters something and turns in his sleep. Only a very observant creature would notice that tossing ended up so that a shiny point of a hand crossbow bolt points directly at the goblin's heart,

OOC: no worries @Steve Gorak, I'm just role-playing I have no intention of shooting you

Spoiler: Actions

Sleight of hand: 1D20+5 = [14]+5 = 19

 

[Quickleaf]

GM POST @Aethmud @tglassy

The mercenaries survey their cards, chuckling at Jack's freewheeling charms. Thidrik Steingrimmson maintains a sly grin as he plays the dreaded Tiamat in the first hand! He adds 1 silver to the pot. "Well said, Blizzard Bluffer. Now, as is customary in Mintarn, as leader of this company I will also ante... this nimble thread! It was spun from the crest hair of a roc, or so I was told." He adds a whitish-brown thread bracelet with streaks of copper.

Ottar, not to be outdone, plays Bahamut. "Look out! I'm coming for you cousin."

Osvic plays a Brass Dragon 2, a mere wyrmling.
Rudolf and Sodt both play Green Dragons 3.
Johun plays a Gold Dragon 4.
Arnholt plays a Gold Dragon 7, with a sigh, "Not good enough to match your Silver Dragon, Mak. Nor your Bahamut, Ottar. Yet. I feel my fortunes rising."

Thidrik chuckles at Jack's dramatic display, leaving the mystery of his eyes a mystery, "That's not all that's rising. Just because you're a little fellow, jack, doesn't mean you can get away with betting 1 silver each round!"

After the cards are played, the pot for this round is at 44 silver pieces so far. However, the special effects of each card must be accounted for before the first round is over!

Those with Evil Dragon (besides Tiamat) steal half their card's strength from the pot (rounded up). Thus, Rudolf and Sodt each steal 2 silvers for their Green Dragons.

Not to be outdone, those with Good Dragons (besides Bahamut) choose to attack certain opponents with Evil Dragons, forcing them to ante up silvers equal to half the strength of their Good Dragons (rounded up).

Thus, Osvic winks at Thidrik, "I don't trust you with the Queen of Dragons, cousin. Pay up." Thidrik smirks, and casts 1 silver into the pot.

Johun joins in the attack, "My Gold Dragon may be small but it is fierce!" Thidrik maintains his sly grin as he tosses 2 silvers into the center of the table.

Arnholt nudges Rudolf and taps the table. Rudolf groans, "My fortunes wane more than they rise. Stealing never pays – unless it's to the table." Rudolf returns 4 silvers.

Now the pot stands at 47 silver pieces... and the "nimble thread"...

GM: Before the first round can end, each of you must resolve the special ability of your Good Dragon cards. Choose an opponent with an Evil Dragon – Thidrik, Rudolf, or Sodt – and that opponent must place Silver Pieces in the pot equal to 1/2 the Strength (rounded up) of your card. You can also roll for your next cards to kick off round #2, and devise whatever strategy/checks/magic you wish. Against these mercenaries, most checks are DC 10, unless you're trying to cheat which is DC 12. cards for Thidrik, Ottar, Osvic, Arnholt, Rudolf, Sodt, and Johun in order: 1D12 = [1] = 1 1D12 = [12] = 12 1D12 = [2] = 2 1D12 = [10] = 10 1D12 = [7] = 7 1D12 = [7] = 7 1D12 = [10] = 10 Osvic brass strength: 1D4 = [2] = 2 Rudolf and Sodt Green: 1D8 = [3] = 3 1D8 = [3] = 3 Arnholt and Johun Gold: 1D12 = [7] = 7 1D12 = [4] = 4

 

[Necropolitan]

Aric had been listening to many conversations in the tavern disguised as a cat. He was intent on finding clues on who or what had killed his friend Morin Littlebucket, the halfling trapper. Some folks were talking about constellations, others about caravans, and mercenaries. Aric was a bit overwhelmed, but his gut told him some of these folks were asking the right questions and really wanted to solve the mystery. He felt he could help, so he overcame his natural shyness and decided to appear in his natural form.

Seemingly coming out of nowhere, a cat appears and looks intently at both Alma and Corse. As onlookers are wondering whether this cat is actually smiling at them, it rather quickly transforms into a frail yet friendly-looking goblin.

Hesitantly and awkwardly, the creature says "h...hi. I'm Aric. My friend Morin the trapper was killed several days ago. If your goal is to find who did it, I want to help. I'm good in the trails too."

OOC: Hey @Kobold Stew, I'll leave it up to you if our characters know each other. I didn't want to assume they did, but I think it could make sense.

Zeth raises an eyebrow at the cat suddenly transforming into...he's going to guess a goblin.

Alma startles as a cat suddenly shifts and grows, taking the form of a goblin. She rounds on him and stares, wide-eyed, a hand lifted, ready to cast. She makes a note to be more on her guard in this town. Too many things aren't as they seem. She hesitates. But like reciting a script says, ''Hello...my name is Alma Osteergard. I don't know their names,'' she tilts her head towards Logrim and Zeth. ''It's rude to eavesdrop on others' conversations.''

Zeth doesn't extend his hand for a handshake but does incline his head in acknowledgement.

"My name is Zeth, it's good to meet you."

He'll leave his last name out of this for now, no telling if his companions in this will even survive their first adventure.

"Someone with tracking abilities will be useful, what else can you do?"

 

[Steve Gorak]

Zeth raises an eyebrow at the cat suddenly transforming into...he's going to guess a goblin.


Zeth doesn't extend his hand for a handshake but does incline his head in acknowledgement.

"My name is Zeth, it's good to meet you."

He'll leave his last name out of this for now, no telling if his companions in this will even survive their first adventure.

"Someone with tracking abilities will be useful, what else can you do?"

Aric childishly wipes the tears from his cheeks, temporarily distracted by the attention he is getting.

“Hi Zeth. Well , I can start a fire anywhere, and Morin was teaching me how to sing properly, but I’m still not as good as he is… I mean was.”

 

[Aethmud]

The mercenaries survey their cards, chuckling at Jack's freewheeling charms. Thidrik Steingrimmson maintains a sly grin as he plays the dreaded Tiamat in the first hand! He adds 1 silver to the pot. "Well said, Blizzard Bluffer. Now, as is customary in Mintarn, as leader of this company I will also ante... this nimble thread! It was spun from the crest hair of a roc, or so I was told." He adds a whitish-brown thread bracelet with streaks of copper.

"Ah, a nimble thread from the crest of a roc! Well, that’s a prize and a half, Thidrik!" Jack exclaims, eyes twinkling as he leans back on the pillow-top chair. "You see, I'm not sure I have anything to match a roc feather thread..." He strokes his beard theatrically, pondering on a suitable match for such a prize. "Well, maybe just one thing," as he produces from a pocket a small, shimmering ribbon, threaded with a tiny pendant of pearlescent petrified wood.

With a mischievous glint in his eye, Jack starts, "Now, this here is not an ordinary trinket. The ribbon was woven by the fey themselves, in the heart of the Feywild where the moon is always full. And the pendant is said to be a tear of a woodland nymph who fell in love with a mortal, but could not stay with him, frozen and then petrified over centuries into this small fleck of pearlescent gemstone.” He chuckles, continuing, "They say, on a clear night, under the soft glow of the moon, the ribbon will show you images that retell legends of the Feywild, each more enchanting than the last. And the pendant?" Jack's voice drops to a hush, "It whispers to the trees and the plants, and they whisper back. With this around your neck, you'd have more friends in the forest than any druid."

With a hint of worry on his brow, Jack drops the shimmering ribbon with the pendant into the pot.

Spoiler: Persuasion skill check

Persuasion skill check to convince the Mintarn mercenaries that the ribbon and pendant are valuable and magical. 1d20+7 = 11

OOC: In fact, the ribbon and pendant are nonmagical, the equivalent of a friendship bracelet from a Feywild summer camp retreat.

Jack pointedly turns towards Sodt with a mischievous smile. "Ah, Sodt, dear friend, my humble little Brass dragon has taken a liking to you," he begins, his voice dripping with feigned innocence. He pats his card fondly, "A wee brass wyrmling, but with a heart as large as the mountains. Now, it seems your Green dragon managed to sneak away with a couple of shiny pieces, didn't he? And we all know how much dragons love their treasure. But alas, Sodt, my Brass dragon believes in fair and honorable play. He's of the opinion that what goes around, comes around. So, in the spirit of fairness and good sportsmanship, my Brass friend would like one of your ill-gotten silver pieces returned to the pot."

Spoiler: Card draw for 2nd gambit

Gaming check: 1d20+5 = 7 (failure, draw one)
Card draw: 1d12 = 6 (Bronze), strength check 1d8 = 3

Revealing his card for the 2nd gambit, Jack rolls his eyes as he flips over a Bronze 3 Dragon. "Oh, woe is me! Once again the dragons seem to have misunderstood my innate charm and imposing stature," he proclaims, with a self-deprecating smile.

Turning towards Mak, he raises his brass flask in a salute, "And there you are, Mak, my friend! With your mighty Silver Dragon. A noble beast of grand power and beauty. As they say, 'Great dragons flock to great leaders'. This is clearly a sign of great things to come for you, don't you think? Or perchance your pet raven is a lucky charm?" he adds with a laugh.

Jack tosses his 3 silver pieces into the pot, "May the mightier dragons prevail! And may they remember that the lesser dragons tried their best," he grins at the table, spreading his arms wide in a lighthearted shrug, "But alas! The cards do not lie! So, here's to hoping for a little divine intervention in the next round!"

 

[Quickleaf]

GM: @Aethmud There's a mortal card in Three-Dragon Ante called "The Fool" which, for the purposes of this version, lets you swap one of your dragon cards with another player's card in a following round. Say it's a DC 12 Gaming check. That might fit what I think you're aiming for, so long as Thidrik's Tiamat doesn't get used in the second round.

 

[VLAD the Destroyer]

Logrim is taken aback by Alma's dismissal. These deaths did not seem random. They look to be some form of ritual to Auril. The Ice Witch was one of Auril's followers and tried to take over Icewind Dale for the Frostmaiden. Perhaps the Ice Witches followers are trying to resurrect her using these murders. Though it could be just as Alma believes and there is no connection. As others begin to join in the conversation Logrim lets the subject drop. He can always follow up with Mishann if the investigation leads that direction.

Logrim looks over the newcomer Corse and is about to introduce himself when Aric transforms from a cat. Logrim is startled and reaches for his wrench. He stops hand on the heft eyeing the goblin.

"Logrim, it's nice to meet you." The gnome says hesitantly.

 

[Kobold Stew]

Corse extends her hand when the gnome speaks with her. "Logrim. Nice to meet you as well. I'm Corse. You'll have to help me out. I don't know who all these people are."

 

[Steve Gorak]

Logrim is taken aback by Alma's dismissal. These deaths did not seem random. They look to be some form of ritual to Auril. The Ice Witch was one of Auril's followers and tried to take over Icewind Dale for the Frostmaiden. Perhaps the Ice Witches followers are trying to resurrect her using these murders. Though it could be just as Alma believes and there is no connection. As others begin to join in the conversation Logrim lets the subject drop. He can always follow up with Mishann if the investigation leads that direction.

Logrim looks over the newcomer Corse and is about to introduce himself when Aric transforms from a cat. Logrim is startled and reaches for his wrench. He stops hand on the heft eyeing the goblin.

"Logrim, it's nice to meet you." The gnome says hesitantly.

Aric stare goes from the gnome to its wrench. "Hi Aric. What's that?" He says, laconically, pointing at the wrench.

 

[VLAD the Destroyer]

Logrim looks at Aric's hand and releases his grip on the wrench.

"Sorry ya startled me." Logrim gestures towards the wrench. "This is my wrench."

Logrim then takes Corse's hand.

"Well then Miss Corse, we are in the same boat. I just met most of them today. We can get to know them together."

 

[Steve Gorak]

Aric tags along. He doesn't say anything, but it's clear that he isn't going anywhere and will stick around with Corse and Logrim.

 

[happylace]

Corse extends her hand when the gnome speaks with her. "Logrim. Nice to meet you as well. I'm Corse. You'll have to help me out. I don't know who all these people are."

''We are investigating the murders happening in Ten Towns,'' Alma explains. ''If you can offer assistance, I won't refuse. For now, I think we've exhausted our leads here. I intend to either find out where Torrga's caravan is headed or investigate the crime scene. Anyone who wants to join is welcome. It may save us time if we split up, but it can also be dangerous to have too few people.''

 

[Neurotic]

OOC: Splitting the party is a headache in PbP - timing of things, separate threads of conversations etc...that said, we're in a town and it would probably be better we split up, just to cover more bases - with one capable of speaking coherently in each group

Lumrolur is at a loss. On one hand, he cannot mask himself again today, on the other, if the group goes out, he doesn't want to remain hidden. And yet, the card players are still here. And one of them knows him. He decides to play dead drunk halfling for a while yet to see if the sheriff and the speaker say something relevant while they think they are not observed.

OOC: this assumes Jack and Mak remain behind to play cards

 

[Quickleaf]

GM POST

Candles flicker. Bright eyes survey the other players. Rudolf deals the hand for the second gambit, chuckling as Jack to his right draws a bronze wyrmling, while he himself draws a blue dragon (5). "We may both be on our way to flights of all chromatic or all metallic dragons, but your metallic dragons are babies, Jack!"

Arnholt plays a copper (3), grinning at Jack and Mak. "Steel I trust. Metal I trust. It's these rainbow dragons you need to watch for." This provokes chuckles from the other Mintarn mercenaries; it's an inside joke or lost in translation.

Ottar plays a red dragon (4). With each dragon card that is played, more silver is added to the pot.

In a stunning reversal, Thidrik Steingrimmson plays Bahamut (13), with a playful clink of his ale stein against his cousin Ottar's cup as now they both field the Platinum Dragon. Ottar gestures toward Thidrik, shaking his head, "He plays for both sides. Beware, this is how lucky Thidrik is all the time."

Osvic plays a blue dragon (9), sucking in his lower lip as he surveys his hand intently, eyes glimpsing at the current hoards of the others around the old table that looks like it has seen many a tap room brawl.

After Sodt plays a gold dragon (2) wyrmling, his eyes go wide as play continues to Johun who strokes his beard with a mischievous grin. Tiamat (1) joins Johun's flight, and the other players groan and playfully accuse him of cheating. "May the mightier dragons prevail!" he echoes Jack with a chuckle, slyly catching the fairy's eye. It would appear Johun is playing the same long game as Jack.

GM: @Aethmud @tglassy We've started the second round, but Mak still has his Silver Dragon 10 special attack from last round – target a player with an evil chromatic dragon, and they must place half your card's value (5) silver into the pot (which will raise it to 93 sp). round 2 cards for Thidrik, Ottar, Osvic, Arnholt, Rudolf, Sodt, and Johun in order: 1D12 = [12] = 12 1D12 = [11] = 11 1D12 = [9] = 9 1D12 = [4] = 4 1D12 = [9] = 9 1D12 = [10] = 10 1D12 = [1] = 1 strength for Ottar Red and Sodt Gold: 1D12 = [4] = 4 1D12 = [2] = 2 strength for Osvic Blue and Rudolf Blue: 1D10 = [9] = 9 1D10 = [5] = 5 strength for Arnholt Copper: 1D6 = [3] = 3

 

[tglassy]

I’ll target Rudolph.

_: 1D12 = [3] = 3

_: 1D4 = [4] = 4


Mak draws another card. White dragon, pl 4. Welp. Not as good as the last but not as bad as it could be. He tosses four coins in, then takes back two.

Current horde: 38/50

 

[Kobold Stew]

"I might head off to the kennels, to see if there is any sense of which teams have set out since the most recent killing," says Corse. "Even if they weren't taking sleds, it might be useful to know which trails have been passed most recently, and it's possible someone coming in has seen something too." She looks meaningfully at Aric. "Anyone is free to join me, if they wish. I'll let you know what I learn," she promises Alma.

Before she leaves, she says goodbye to the dwarven trapper she had been sitting with ("Stay safe Darlock. Stick close to someone for a while, yeah?"), and then she heads out into the cold, towards wherever sled-dog teams are kept (town stables; whatever.)