Menace of the Icy Spire (Ozymandias79 judging)

[JoeNotCharles]

[sblock=OOC]
So what exactly is the situation here? Is Balth going up the road alone, while the rest wait for him to report back? Or are they following him at a discrete distance? If so, about how far back are they?
[/sblock]

 

[renau1g]

[sblock=OOC]
I think we let Balth scout ahead, following about 100 feet back or so?
[/sblock]

 

[changer]

[sblock=ooc]
Yeh man, let Bishop go.

Seriously, let Balth scout ahead and we will follow at a discrete distance.
[/sblock]

 

[balth]

[sblock=ooc]that is indeed what I had envisioned, as well. Scout ahead, the others following at a distance. If something pops up, I'll wait for them to catch up, or run back, depending on the circumstance.[/sblock]

 

[JoeNotCharles]

As Balth continues down the road, the tower looms larger and larger on the horizon. After a half hour he is close enough to see details: it is encased from top to bottom in a shimmering cocoon of pure ice. The sunlight is reflected in all directions by the angled planes of the frozen barrier, which climbs to a single peak in the air at the top of the tower and widens as it plunges to ground level. A palpable sensation of bitter cold emanates from the tower and its icy prison.

Through the imperfect mirror formed by the ice, you can see that the exterior stone of the tower has been carved into a massive series of sculptures and reliefs depicting devils in flight. It is as if a huge swirling column of fiends had erupted from deep within the earth and was being pulled into the heavens. Their mouths are open, though whether they are laughing or screaming is hard to tell.

As it approaches the tower, the road emerges from beneath its dusting of snow to become a circular stone walkway winding around the tower’s base. It is paved with interlocking cobblestones which are frozen over with a slippery layer of ice. Beneath the overhang of the tower, squat statues of leering devils of all sorts line both sides of the path.

The tower’s only obvious entrance is a single door at its base, but a foot-thick sheet of solid ice stands in the way.

 

[Moon_Goddess]

"Ok, that is clearly the place. How do we get in? Which is safer? Chip through or build a fire?"

 

[renau1g]

"Hmmm...well I can keep blasting it, but maybe our resident magic-user can conjure some flames? I have heard tell of a minor evocation that creates bursts of fire, do you possess that ability Janus?" Murphy asks, drawing his rod in case.

"If not, maybe our keen-eyed scout can detect another way?" he adds

 

[changer]

"Hmm, I can easily start a fire using magic but I will need wood to sustain it and that will create smoke. I could also blast our way in using the mystic forces at my disposal but that would create alot of noise. Are we trying to be stealthy? I see no way to be if this tower is encased in this ice, perhaps it is not so further up?"

[sblock=ooc]
I suggest we search around a little more, up, down and around the tower.
The front door may not be the best option.
[/sblock]

[sblock=Janus stat block]
Janus Reinhardt - Male Human Wizard 1
Passive Perception: 13, Passive Insight: 19
AC: 16, Fort: 12, Reflex: 15, Will: 16 -- Speed: 6
HP: 22/22, Bloodied: 11, Surge Value: 5, Surges left: 7/7
Initiative: +4
Action Points: 0, Second Wind: Available
Powers: Magic Missile, Ray of frost, Thunderwave, Icy Terrain, Freezing Cloud, Sleep (Memorized)
[/sblock]

 

[JoeNotCharles]

You circle the tower on the cobbled path, noting that the demon statues are only clustered around the road leading to the door. The sheathe of ice encases the tower completely, and you can see no other exits, or even any windows.

As you search for windows you look straight up the side of the tower, and realize that the ice continues past its blunted top. Low grey clouds hang above the tower, but the column of ice continues right through them.

[sblock=Perception 15]
You notice that each statue lining the path, and from what you can see every individual sculpture carved into the tower walls, depicts a slightly different type of demon or devil.
[/sblock]

[sblock=Perception 20]
You can see nothing else of interest. This is only here to make low-rollers wonder if they missed something.
[/sblock]

[sblock=Perception 25]
You can see nothing else of interest. This is only here to make low-rollers wonder if they missed something.
[/sblock]

 

[balth]

Balth searches the areas around the door itself, looking for perhaps a trap or mechanism that might allow them entry through the ice. He takes his time, removing his gloves for a time, searching, then putting them on again as to not get frostbite. It is slow going, but he seems to be methodically working his way around the doorway.

[sblock=ooc actions]
Unless my guess is wrong, we've got time; so I'd like to take 10 searching around the door for traps and/or devices/ways to get inside the door.

Taking 10: Search:
Perception (taking 10) (1d20+10+11=34)
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