(IC) Quickleaf's Rime of the Frostmaiden

[Quickleaf]

GM POST

GM: @VLAD the Destroyer Logrim is surprised like rest of party. Only your Steel Defender is not. So, we'll resolve your action to heal Garret when the middle group (initiative +2) comes up. Disregard - Logrim was already ahead with Jack to heal Garret. Yeah, 40 speed for Ludo, gotcha. Ludo's awesome! For everyone: The AC of the crag cats is 13. That way if you hit with an attack you can roll damage in your post just like VLAD did.

Already, the pallor of Garret's skin improves under Logrim's touch, and he takes a long shuddering breath in as the wound beneath his clothes seals itself. A moment later, however, he ducks down behind the rock as the crag cats attack!

In a flurry of snow, the steel and bronze construct following Logrim sprints forward past the party, intercepting the massive white cat lunging at Jack's exposed flank. A loud thump resonates as Ludo swats the crag cat across the nose, followed by a loud hiss like winds whipping over a cornice. The crag cat's black claws scrape along Ludo's armored frame, failing to find purchase.

However, the vanguard group is sent scattering by the other crag cat tackling Russet, slashing with blackened claws through a gap in his armor. Your breath is knocked from you as the crag cat tries to topple you over, teeth biting for any exposed fur, threatening to send you sliding down the steep slope!

GM: Crag Cat attacking Ludo crag cat claw vs Ludo AC 15: 1D20+5 = [8]+5 = 13 miss (technically the crag cat should have had advantage for being hidden, but GM mistake is a GM mistake ) Crag Cat attacking Russet crag cat claw vs Russet AC 17 with advantage from hidden: 2D20.HIGH(1)+5 = [18, 5]+5 = 23 hit @domminniti Take 7 slashing damage from its claw, and you must make a DC 13 Strength save or be knocked prone and bitten for 8 piercing damage by the pouncing crag cat. IF you fail this save and fall prone, you'll also slide down the steep slope, forcing the closest PC tied to you (Corse @Kobold Stew ) to make a DC 8 Strength save or also get yanked off her feet. The pitons will catch both of you, however, so not to worry about falling over the edge. NOTE: Because of your higher initiative, your surprised state was short-lived and you can still take a reaction if you wish.

GM: @Steve Gorak @Neurotic @domminniti @Necropolitan Your turns! Go in any order you like. INITIATIVE ORDER >>Fast Group (+3 initiative) Aric Lumrolur Russet Zeth Middle Group (+2 initiative) Alma Corse Logrim (and steel defender) Crag Cats (+2 initiative) AC 13 cat fighting Ludo & Jack (hp 24) cat fighting Alma, Corse, Russet (hp 34) Slow Group (+0 initiative) Jack

 

[domminniti]

OOC: Russet holds firm against the onslaught of the cat. str save agaisnt prone: 1D20+5 = [11]+5 = 16 Russet instinctively grabs his spear and blocks the cats claws. Parry: 1D10+3 = [8]+3 = 11 [Using feature Iron Guard: Parry and a reaction - note it should have been 1d10+2 not +3 but outcome is the same - fully parried]

 

[Steve Gorak]

Aric Bear growls and moves to interpose himself between the closest cat and his companions.

I bear you no ill will brother he thinks to himself but I cannot allow you to hurt my friends

Once in position he relentlessly attacks and both the bite and the claws dig deep into the cat’s flank.

He then stays in front of the animal to limit its movements.

OOC: the dice gods smiled upon Aric this turn Action multi attack: Bite attack: 22, piercing damage: 12 Claw attack: 24, slashing damage: 14 Bonus action: none

 

[domminniti]

Russet's turn
As Aric bears down upon the cat, Russet hops back with surprising nimbleness. If only he could get the high ground on the cat, he could try and push it downhill and over the sharp rocks below, but the ropes holding him to his allies make it impossible. He considers cutting the ropes, but keeps attached to help arrest any allies that may fall.
He grabs his spear with both hands, his shield still on his back for the climb, and thrusts it into the beast. The instant the adamantine tip pierces the cat's hide a coldness grips its soul, like no other it has felt before.

OOC: 2h Attack : 1D20+5 = [19]+5 = 24 2h Attack damage plus sup dice fearing attack: 1D6+3 = [3]+3 = 6 1D8 = [7] = 7 Total 13 damage and the cat must make a DC13 wisdom save or be frightened of Russet as per Menacing Attack Bonus action: rabbit hop backwards to get out of melee (not sure if required as cat probably does not have a opportunity attack Then move such that the cat can't advance to attack him, and probably the rest of the party apart from Bearic Damn, forgot to use deep slash instead of normal attack - should have mentioned before roll as there is a downside to missing.

 

[Quickleaf]

GM: Fyi, that will kill the crag cat attacking the vanguard group! At this point only the one attacking Jack / Logrim (and his steel defender) remains.

 

[Necropolitan]

Even with his wariness from Zeth's perspective the giant cats came out of nowhere.

Yet another reason to hate this place: the snow gave perfect camouflage to the predators that lived here.

"You're going to be a pair of new fur coats!"

Shaping arcane energy with his hands and spitting out a command in Infernal Zeth unleashes an Eldritch Blast at the remaining cat.

(OOC: 1D20+6 = [11]+6 = 17 hits AC 13. 1D10+4 = [1]+4 (Agonizing Blast adds Int modifier to Eldritch Blast damage) = 5)

As his spell strikes Zeth seriously considers the coat idea. If another party members knew what these things were he could probably determine the worth of their pelts. No sense in leaving money on the table, especially since there being two cats meant he could keep one coat for himself and sell the other. Warmth, camouflage, and the smugness that came of wearing clothing made from something that tried to kill you.

 

[Quickleaf]

Entangled with the crag cat, Aric-in-bear-form rises up on his hind legs, the two wrestling for a moment, each trying to find purchase on the other's fur, until Aric overpowers the attacking cat. As it falls back to four legs, the bloodied cat snarls, making a desperate lunge at Aric's side only to receive the tip of Russet's spear artfully thrust in a gap between the two entwined creatures, piercing its ribs and into its heart. Its body slumps into the snow.

Hurtling between Aric and Corse, a bolt of eldritch energy flies from Zeth's fingertips, striking the face of the last remaining white cat as it circles Logrim and Jack. Barely perceptible ripples in the air emanate from its bristling fur, like an invisible aura made by frost in the same way you can see winds whipping the silhouette of the nighttime mountain.

GM: @happylace @Kobold Stew @VLAD the Destroyer Your turns! Go in any order you like. INITIATIVE ORDER Fast Group (+3 initiative) Aric Lumrolur Russet Zeth >>Middle Group (+2 initiative) Alma Corse Logrim (and steel defender) Crag Cats (+2 initiative) AC 13 cat fighting Ludo & Jack (hp 19) cat fighting Alma, Corse, Russet (dead) Slow Group (+0 initiative) Jack

 

[Kobold Stew]

Corse has no intentions of disentangling herself from the rest of those in the party. But she wants to help A flame appears in her hand and she lobs it towards the cat, as she shouts, "Gowawn, shoo!"

OOC: Attack (assuming within 30'): 1d20+7=27 -- crit! Damage = 2 plus 7 = 9 fire.

 

[Neurotic]

Lumrolur reacts to danger the way he usually does to threatening things. He shoots first and thinks later.
Small bolt jumps from his hand crossbow and disappears into thick fur hitting surprisingly strong for such a small weapon.

Still, the cat is big and he is not. Moving behind a snow pile, he tries to hide from direct attack, but snow is tricky, it is not dependable stone. It keeps the trail of the creature and as a cover it is soft and vulnerable.

Still, the cat may be distracted enough or dead enough depending on what he hit of the insides.

Spoiler: Actions

Action: Hits AC 17 for 6 piercing + 9 sneak attack if applicable (i.e. if there is threatening ally next to the cat)
neurotic: D20 + 5#lumrolurattack → 17(12 + 5)#Lumrolur attack
neurotic: D6 + 3#lumrolurdamage → 6(3 + 3)#Lumrolur damage
neurotic: 2D6#lumrolursneakattack → 9(4 +5)#Lumrolur sneak attack

Move: some cover
Bonus: Hide 12 neurotic: D20 + 7#lumrolurstealth → 12(5 + 7)#Lumrolur stealth

 

[Quickleaf]

GM POST

The spout of flame launched from Corse's hand momentarily dazzles the crag cat, giving Lumrolur the window to fire a whistling bolt straight into its neck. With a strangled cry two shades too close to a human cry, the great white cat's body slumps over the steel defender Ludo which just manages to scramble out from underneath it.

The danger is over! Or is it...

With barely time to take a breath, you hear a sharp snarl as a third crag cat slinks from behind the jagged rocks, its head lowered in the manner of a stalking predator about 20 feet from Jack, Logrim, and Garret. Its eyes are fixated on the wounded Garret. However, its ears are oddly pinned back. Were it not for its reflexive snarl at the death of the other two cats, you would never have noticed it until it was leaping on top of you.

GM: @happylace @VLAD the Destroyer Your turns! INITIATIVE ORDER Fast Group (+3 initiative) Aric Lumrolur Russet Zeth >>Middle Group (+2 initiative) Alma Corse Logrim (and steel defender) Crag Cats (+2 initiative) AC 13 hidden cat near Garret, Jack, and Logrim (hp 34) cat fighting Ludo & Jack (dead) cat fighting Alma, Corse, Russet (dead) Slow Group (+0 initiative) Jack