(IC) Quickleaf's Rime of the Frostmaiden

[Necropolitan]

Zeth is hesitant to end the lives of sapient beings without even bothering to see if they're hostile.

"If we were able to negotiate with the toads I don't see why we couldn't try the same with the kobolds. We're the intruders here after all."

 

[Neurotic]

"If you show as you are, they will flre or attack, they won't try and negotiate. If you start talking appearing alone the will flee or attack. And we appear too strong, they will flee and bring the tribe. We're not at the surface. Enough talk. If you want to talk, give at least time enough to cut off their escape."

Lumrolur slinks into the darkness readying his crossbow.

OOC: If Zeth attacks, Lumrolur attacks too, sneak attack and nearby kobold would take necrotic damage. If he doesn't Lumrolur waits for about a minute before lunching his own attack.

OOC: Lumrolur would have no problem killing the lot of them, but if you want to make allies, he can just disable the lot (probably). At least keep one of them alive - in previous editions, you could not do non-lethal with sneak attack without some special feats or archetypes. Anyhow, we owe the toads some snack so let's kill two, keep the third for questioning?

 

[Necropolitan]

Zeth sighs. However much he dislikes it he can't argue with Lumrolur's reasoning.

"Fine. But knock them out instead of killing them if possible, we're intruding on their home. I lack nonlethal spells but I'll cast to kill if it looks like you're in over your head."

Zeth hates how often he's had to resort to violence on this trip, it's so undignified.

 

[Aethmud]

Alma nods. … She leans over to Jack, whispering in return, "Who is Spideraric?"

Jacks whispers back, “Spider-Aric, that’s the spider monstrosity that climbed up with Zeth and Lumrolr! Like Aric, but a spider. If you were a spider, you’d be named Spider-Alma.”

He starts humming, and sings softly under his breath,

“Spider-Aric, Spider-Aric,
Friendly goblin, who’s quite slick,
Spins his web, to and fro,
Catching prey, never slow.
… Look out! Here comes the Spider-Aric!”

 

[VLAD the Destroyer]

Logrim shrugs, he was not a violent person and did not want to hurt anyone for no reason. However these were kobolds and they would probably attack us on site if things were reversed. He waits patiently for whatever the group above decides.

OOC: I'm slightly confused where everyone is. I thought only Aric and Lumrolur went up to the second level. I know Jack can fly up to there but who is down at the bottom with the toads and who is up on the second level?

 

[Quickleaf]

GM: Yes, originally it was just Aric (as a giant spider) & Lumrolur who went up 50-feet to the second level. I think the confusion is Zeth has been conversing with Lumrolur @Necropolitan without anyone ever stating "Aric goes down to shuttle Zeth back up" or "Zeth climbs up." But it's safe to say that 50 feet is outside whispering range. We can back-fill whatever makes sense for you (Zeth actually down below still, or Zeth up above with Aric & Lumrolur), just so long as it's clear to the group.

 

[Steve Gorak]

OOC: fyi, Aric has no issue bringing someone else up. They just need to flag him since he can’t talk

 

[happylace]

Jacks whispers back, “Spider-Aric, that’s the spider monstrosity that climbed up with Zeth and Lumrolr! Like Aric, but a spider. If you were a spider, you’d be named Spider-Alma.”

He starts humming, and sings softly under his breath,

“Spider-Aric, Spider-Aric,
Friendly goblin, who’s quite slick,
Spins his web, to and fro,
Catching prey, never slow.
… Look out! Here comes the Spider-Aric!”

"Oh, I see. You've given him a new name to match his changed form," Alma observes quietly. "In such a case, do not change mine. I will inform you of my new name."

 

[Neurotic]

The longer the wait the greater the chance to miss the surprise. After he waited for what he through suitable period of time, Lumrolur decides that the group can discuss things endlessly and then get discovered.

He carefully aims and tags one of the creatures in the back. Susurrus surrounds surprised kobolds as whispers of the dead target the middle one.

Spoiler: Actions

neurotic: 2D20H1 + 3#lumrolurattackvsclosestkobold → 14(high 1 of 1; 11 = 11 + 3)#Lumrolur attack vs closest kobold
neurotic: D6 + 3 + D6#lumrolurdamagewithsneakattack → 6(1 + 3 + 2)#Lumrolur damage with sneak attack
neurotic: D6#lumrolurwhispersofthedead → 2(2)#Lumrolur whispers of the dead
Low rolls, but I'll do another set assuming they are surprised (and if not, this will be my first round)
neurotic: 2D20H1 + 3#lumrolurattackvsunhurtkobold → 7(high 1 of 4; 2 = 4 + 3)#Lumrolur attack vs unhurt kobold - yeah, right

 

[Quickleaf]

GM POST

Spoiler: Map

Tokens not on wooden platforms are down 50-feet below.

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Lumrolur's bolt drops the first kobold, and streams of whisper-thin white mist – like a breath from behind the grave – roll off its body towards the kobold leader wearing fake leather wings. Clutching its head, the kobold leader falls down as a hazy bluish translucent figure seems torn from the kobold leader.

The leader and the other kobold cower in fear as the spectral image of a man appears ahead of Lumrolur and Aric (OOC: and whoever else you managed to bring up, I'm still unclear on where Zeth is).

His ghostly robes appear torn by claws and his neck is severed causing his spectacled head to float inches above his body. For a moment his lips move and no sound comes out, then there is a voice garbled as if by the winds of Kelvin's Cairn, and at last you can hear him speak, "Eyes of frost took my head... Followers of frost bound me to this wretch... I must return to work unfinished... We could be of service to each other... I need a body and you need my help against the followers of frost who dwell above..."

GM: @happylace Alma can sense the sentience of a creature above with a morphic nature, as if calling to a distant memory she has, something vaguely familiar. @Neurotic Lumrolur, as a phantom rogue walking the line between life and death, recognizes that this spirit is asking for a body to possess in exchange for sharing some of its powers with that individual. Lumrolur might be able to benefit more from the ghost's powers than others in your party... but getting a ghost to vacate "the house" (so to speak) once it has settled in would not be easy.