The Fey, the Far, and the Ugly Space In Between

[Binks]

Saerie can have all of the Goodberries.

I'll consume one of the primal-magic infused berries and let their power invigorate me.

[sblock]1 + 1d4 HP returned. Rolled 2. 3 HP. Back to 21/21. 3 berries left.[/sblock]

When I return with Exel and Xanob, Saerie will be sitting on the boulder up top, knotting the rope to anchor it to the large rock for our climb up to her. I'll walk to the base of the severely pitched slope and greet her. I'll tell her what I've found down below. Once I do so, I'll say "I get the impression that this site may have been a mine where the Winter Fey harvested the ores for their weapons. The goblin slaves. The framing made of ice. The long dead Fey Knight.

Something calamitous happened here in a hurry to change that. The goblins took their own lives rather than face whatever peril befell them. Perhaps that was the grizzly fate of being eaten alive by the giant spiders?"

Then I'll go into my hypothesis that the giant ice-spiders likely mean that there is more wildlife up here than we had initially guessed at. When she relays her tale of the Wyvern I'll point that out as a second bit of evidence. "Tracking down all of the creatures in these upper reaches may be futile. However, if we're going to try at all, cleaning out this den of spiders is the place to start. The shaft must empty somewhere up top. If you could find it, we could bottle them in, attacking on two fronts."

If Saerie wants to steer clear of a likely dangerous encounter with these giant ice-spiders, I'll relent without any protest. If that is what she wishes, then I'll hold the rope for everyone to climb up top and head up when the others are finished.

I stand up on the stone and look around up top, my eyes scanning for the snowy terrain for a boulder that is large enough to do some damage to these spiders and their webs, but also small enough that it could be moved.

[sblock]Discern Realities (Wis)
3, 3 + 2 = 8

1 question and + 1 forward when acting on it.

* What here is useful to me.[/sblock]

Per Manbearcat
One thing this place isn't short on is boulders of varying size. You find what you're looking for, but it will take more than just you, even you and Rawr, to move it.

[sblock]Roll +Str. 10 + and d8 damage on a couple of spiders and Forceful tag on the spiders and webs. 7-9 and its just Forceful tag on the webs.[/sblock]

"No, I agree. We should clean out this den. There is a boulder up here that could be rolled to the top of the shaft and dropped over the edge. However, I'll need some help moving it." I see Rawr navigating the slope with relative ease, soon to be spilling out up top near me. "Once I locate the top of the shaft, of course."

I don't want to verbally acknowledge it and affect morale, but I look up in the sky that once housed the Wyvern and whisper under my breath "...you may be right...attempting to track down all the creatures on these upper reaches is likely futile."

 

[Tecklenburg]

"No, I agree. We should clean out this den. There is a boulder up here that could be rolled to the top of the shaft and dropped over the edge. However, I'll need some help moving it." I see Rawr navigating the slope with relative ease, soon to be spilling out up top near me. "Once I locate the top of the shaft, of course."

I wave Exel and Xanob forward toward the rope and instruct them in goblin. "You two, Saerie, and her bear will attack the spider den from above. I'll attack from below. We'll meet in the middle."

I look up to Saerie. "When you're in position, kick some snow over the edge so I can triangulate my positioning in the shaft."

With that, I head back toward the ancient, seemingly Winter Fey, mine. Once I get back to the vertical shaft, my aim is to to deftly navigate the webs while moving up the spiraling ramp on the perimeter. This will obviously take extreme balance and some acrobatics to do so without disturbing the webs or alerting the spiders to my, Invisible, presence.

Right as the boulder crests the edge and begins its free-fall, I want to be in position, Near range, to simultaneously Fireball the swarm of spiderlings as they consume the corpse.

[sblock]Defy Danger (Dex)
6, 3 + 2 = 11[/sblock]

 

[Binks]

I give both Exel and Xanob a hand and pull each of them up to the stone I'm perched upon. We quickly take the final step to the frozen wilderness just below the mountain's peak. I instruct everyone to spread out and look for the shaft's opening up here.

Per Manbearcat
In a few minutes time Rawr locates it. It is tucked away, well off the trail, with several boulders (far too large to move) adorning its perimeter. Hefting the rock over the rocky-crown will certainly be quite the task.

Peaking over the side of the gloomy shaft, you can see the eerie blue light bathing features far, far down. Amongst those features are webs and at least one huge arachnid form.

As we're rolling the rock over to deposit it over the edge, I tell them "...once done, back off immediately. Otthor is going to fill the shaft with fire. Hopefully this will send them scurrying out to us where we can finish them off." As I'm saying this I'm looking around for a boulder of sufficient size that is within Near range of the shaft. I'll sprint off to hide there after the rock goes over. I'll snipe the enemy for as long as I can until I have to engage in melee.

I look up to Saerie. "When you're in position, kick some snow over the edge so I can triangulate my positioning in the shaft."

With great effort, we crest the top of the crown of rocks that surrounds the perimeter of the shaft. The large rock looms like a Sword of Damocles over the area that I could see the huge arachnid shape. Remembering my friend's words, I make sure to cast some snow over the edge that corresponds to where the rock will be falling. I give him several moments to adjust his positioning if necessary and then mouth three, two, one and we all put our back into shoving the rock over the edge.

Per Manbearcat
One thing this place isn't short on is boulders of varying size. You find what you're looking for, but it will take more than just you, even you and Rawr, to move it.

[sblock]Roll +Str. 10 + and d8 damage on a couple of spiders and Forceful tag on the spiders and webs. 7-9 and its just Forceful tag on the webs.[/sblock]

[sblock]Its Rainin' Rocks (Str)
6, 3 + 0 = 9

Forceful tag on the webs.[/sblock]

Per Manbearcat
All hell breaks loose as the great rock crashes down onto the top part of the webbing, tearing its anchoring points from the wall. It heavily rebounds with a great noise off the frozen shaft and continues its destructive descent. The spider up top is in free-fall...

I'll update things fully on Tecklenburg's next post as this is going to be taking place concurrent with Otthor's Cast a Spell for Fireball.

Assuming the Cast a Spell works Otthor, you are able to get either (a) all of the spiderlings in the Fireball AoE or (b) half of the spiderlings and one of the large spiders. All of the webs in your AoE will be incinerated.

 

[Tecklenburg]

Remembering my friend's words, I make sure to cast some snow over the edge that corresponds to where the rock will be falling. I give him several moments to adjust his positioning if necessary and then mouth three, two, one and we all put our back into shoving the rock over the edge.

Seeing the snow trickle down not too terribly far from might right, I carefully shimmy several paces, spiraling upward and to my left, to stay clear of the direct impact of the rock or any collateral that might rain down upon me.

Per Manbearcat
All hell breaks loose as the great rock crashes down onto the top part of the webbing, tearing its anchoring points from the wall. It heavily rebounds with a great noise off the frozen shaft and continues its destructive descent. The spider up top is in free-fall...

I'll update things fully on Tecklenburg's next post as this is going to be taking place concurrent with Otthor's Cast a Spell for Fireball.

Assuming the Cast a Spell works Otthor, you are able to get either (a) all of the spiderlings in the Fireball AoE or (b) half of the spiderlings and one of the large spiders. All of the webs in your AoE will be incinerated.

One of the huge spiders is in free-fall as the top layers of webbing is destroyed by the rock. Everything explodes into action then. Webs make thin, rubber-band like noises, as the spiderlings and other two huge spiders flex to spring away from the falling rock. I explode into action as well, not far from them, and come into view as the Invisibility fades so the Fireball can ignite.

[sblock]Cast a Spell (Int) Fireball on the spiderlings
1, 3 + 3 = 7

You evoke a mighty ball of flame that envelops your target and everyone nearby, inflicting 2d6 damage which ignores armor. 1 + 6 = 7 damage. The spiderlings and the webs around them are fricasseed.

I'll choose danger as my complication.[/sblock]

Per Manbearcat
The center of the shaft erupts with a momentary, contained inferno. The residual heat bathes all around it. The flash of light and disturbance of the air is easy to see by the good guys waiting up top.

The two remaining giant spiders climb the wall with amazing agility and speed. Spiders don't like fire and "ice-spiders" likely doubly so. Their huge forms abruptly emerge from the shaft. Exel and Xanob bang their shields with their spears and Rawr rears and bellows mightily. They look like tasty morsels to the massive arachnids. 8 legs (* 2) carry them with haste toward the would-be meals.

Saerie can see her allies respond to the cold coming off these creatures. Frost immediately forms on the goblins and the proud bear. They shudder, but fight on despite it.

As for Otthor...

The final massive spider catches on the bottom layer of webbing. Its weight tears through it but the webs are sturdy. Instead of making a hole and plunging to the bottom, like sinew holding a mostly ruptured tendon still in place the web partially maintains its integrity and flings the spider hard against the wall right near you Otthor.

[sblock]Roll 1d6 damage less 2 armor against the spider.[/sblock]

The creature slams into the wall hard but its amazing agility has it back on its 8 legs in a flash, vertically straddling the landing right next to you. In its flailing maneuver to reorient, its extremely long legs threaten to take you from the spiraling pathway, leaving you to fall onto the webs below. Worse still, the intensive, spine-chilling cold that you felt when the spider crossed your path earlier is back upon you.

[sblock]That is a pair of discrete dangers to defy; 1 from special quality and 1 from your spell.[/sblock]

[sblock]1d6 damage to the giant spider. 3 - 2 = 1 damage.[/sblock]

Are there any strings of webbing above that are still attached to the opposite wall that are fluttering in mid-air after my Fireball on the main webbing above?

Per Manbearcat
Sure thing Indiana Jones. Seems fair enough that there would be.

With quick thinking, I dive over the creature's sweeping legs as the deep-freeze of the beast numbs my legs. I'm reaching for one of those suspended filaments, looking to swing across to the other side and put some distance between myself and the huge arachnid!

Cue the music!

[sblock]Defy Danger (Int) vs the spider sweep
6, 2 + 3 = 11

Defy Danger (Con) vs the aura of freezing suck
2, 4 + 1 (-1 ongoing) = 6

Mark 1 xp[/sblock]

Per Manbearcat
You pull off a dashing leap, grab the remnant of the web and swing to the far side of the vertical shaft!

...but the sticky filament isn't so inclined to letting you go and it throws off your timing and balance as you attempt to land on the other side...and when you do, you find your frozen legs utterly uncooperative! You can barely feel them. You land in a heap with the spider sprinting down along the wall to the lower webs. A very short transit later and he will be upon your prone form with frosty, venom-laden fangs!

[sblock]Take 1d6 damage less your armor and you can't stand right now. Your legs are almost completely without feeling and it will take them a bit of time to recover! What are you doing to do about that?

And you aren't doing any fancy swordplay (eg combining sword and spell) in your current predicament.[/sblock]

Roll the damage against you and we'll pick this up after I resolve some stuff topside.

[sblock]1d6 damage to me. 3 - 2 = 1 damage.[/sblock]

Spiders...why did it have to be spiders?..I hate spiders...

 

[Binks]

Per Manbearcat
The center of the shaft erupts with a momentary, contained inferno. The residual heat bathes all around it. The flash of light and disturbance of the air is easy to see by the good guys waiting up top.

The two remaining giant spiders climb the wall with amazing agility and speed. Spiders don't like fire and "ice-spiders" likely doubly so. Their huge forms abruptly emerge from the shaft. Exel and Xanob bang their shields with their spears and Rawr rears and bellows mightily. They look like tasty morsels to the massive arachnids. 8 legs (* 2) carry them with haste toward the would-be meals.

Saerie can see her allies respond to the cold coming off these creatures. Frost immediately forms on the goblins and the proud bear. They shudder, but fight on despite it.

Hidden behind the Nearby boulder, a pair of arrows strung on my readied bow, I exhale and let fly.

[sblock]Camouflage + Called Shot + Blot Out the Sun; 1 Ammo spent. I'm just going to deal my damage rather than name my target and roll.

d8 damage on both spiders. Rolled 4 - 2 armor = 2 on the spider engaged with the goblins and 5 (+ 3 Rawr Ferocity) on the one engaged with Rawr.[/sblock]

Per Manbearcat
The two arrows find their marks, penetrating both spiders' thick exoskeletons. The splash of blue ichor from the spiders' wounds onto the goblins and Rawr is like liquid nitrogen, causing them to recoil at the burning cold.

Rawr is too Huge and Ferocious (Ferocity tags) to get around, but the other spider clearly sees you as the most dangerous threat. It easily steps over the small protesting goblins, raises up on its (not so) spindly legs and arches its abdomen under its body so its spinnerets can fire a barrage of thick, freezing filaments at you!

As the creature rises up, I know what is about to come. I dive and roll out my sniper's nest...

[sblock]Defy Danger (Dex)
5, 5 + 3 = 13[/sblock]

...draw another arrow from my quiver, string it and fire it into Rawr's spider...

[sblock]Volley (Dex)
4, 5 + 3 = 12

d8 damage + 3. 7 - 2 + 3 = 8 damage.[/sblock]

Per Manbearcat
Gravely injured from the bear's mauling and the deadly draw of your bow, the spider engaged with Rawr pushes the bear away and begins to retreat down the shaft...back toward Otthor...

On frozen legs, Exel and Xanob try to give chase and fall to the snow due to their inoperative limbs. The second spider cuts the distance between you and it with amazing speed and leaps for you, pedipalps and fangs leading...the cold that comes with it promises hypothermia in short order...

[sblock]You're going to have to defy that cold danger and then figure out what you're going to do about those pedipalps and fangs...[/sblock]

Can I use my bow for a Close melee exchange with the spider's pedipalps? H&S with an Awkward tag?

Per Manbearcat
Sure. Exel and Xanob are not in range to take advantage of their Hireling abilities and neither is Rawr for his Ferocity. But hold off on that and the DD until I move Otthor forward.

 

[Tecklenburg]

Per Manbearcat
You pull off a dashing leap, grab the remnant of the web and swing to the far side of the vertical shaft!

...but the sticky filament isn't so inclined to letting you go and it throws off your timing and balance as you attempt to land on the other side...and when you do, you find your frozen legs utterly uncooperative! You can barely feel them. You land in a heap with the spider sprinting down along the wall to the lower webs. A very short transit later and he will be upon your prone form with frosty, venom-laden fangs!

Ooooooh, this is such a bad idea...

Appears that these guys really, really don't like fire? Check.

I need my frozen legs thawed out and now? Check.

I have neither the time nor the space to get a Fireball off on this guy and this guy alone...? Check.

So...

Right as his spindly spider legs crest the top of the vertical wall to where I am on the ramp, I'm going to cover my face with my hood, utter some arcane words while drawing some arcane symbols in the air, curl up in the fetal position...aaaaaaaaaand nuke. He and I are ground zero.

Yup.

[sblock]Cast a Spell (Int) Fireball
6, 1 + 3 = 10

You evoke a mighty ball of flame that envelops your target and everyone nearby, inflicting 2d6 damage which ignores armor. 3 + 4 = 7 damage on both of us.

I'm at 7 HP.[/sblock]

Per Manbearcat
[sblock]Add the Foreceful tag to your attack.[/sblock]

The huge spider emerges over the edge, rears onto its hind legs to deliver a killing bite...

The detonation is heat and noise like you've never experienced before. The flames wash over you and free your legs from the grip of the cold by scouring your exposed flesh and burning your cold-weather cloak. Your blood is pumping like crazy now and you're fully able to move as the control of your lower limbs returns.

The predator recoils violently making what you can only describe as a "screeching" sound. Every hair on its legs and its body burned away, the thing flees in panic, skittering back down the shaft toward the webs below.

You feel a presence above you and the soft light of the gloom is interrupted by a great shadow. One of the spiders from above, clearly injured from the fight, is about to set upon you. You do have time to get to your feet and bring your blade to bear.

I do just that. Adrenaline coursing through my veins, I kip up to my feet as I draw my sword from my belt. As its pedipalps reach for me, I rend them to pieces with a dazzling display of sword and spell.

[sblock]Master's Bladework (Int)
5, 3 + 3 = 11

d8 damage and 3 techniques. 4 - 2 = 2 damage. Dead.

Soul Siphoning * 3: Your attack heals you for 1d4. Heal 1d8 instead if this attack kills your target. 3d8 healed. 4 + 1 + 7 = 12 HP returned.

Bladesong (Int)
1, 4 + 3 = 8

1 Bladesong for:

* Void Note - Teleport somewhere nearby within your line of sight.
* Guarded Flourish - When you have no weapon or shield in your offhand and you take damage, take + 2 armor.
* Blade Crescendo - When you deal damage to an enemy within your melee weapon's range, gain 2 piercing.
[/sblock]

Per Manbearcat
Your blade eviscerates the creature, blood spatter hitting the wall in a freezing sizzle. Nethermantic magic invigorates you as the creature upturns, limbs twitching due to its ebbing life-force. Your will is steeled by the unconscious warrior-trance of the Bladesong.

The ice-spider reaches the webs beneath you and seems to recover from your fiery assault. It rears and from the spinnerets on its abdomen come a pair of projectile, icy, sticky filaments with your name on them!

Sit tight as I move Saerie along.

 

[Binks]

Per Manbearcat
Gravely injured from the bear's mauling and the deadly draw of your bow, the spider engaged with Rawr pushes the bear away and begins to retreat down the shaft...back toward Otthor...

On frozen legs, Exel and Xanob try to give chase and fall to the snow due to their inoperative limbs. The second spider cuts the distance between you and it with amazing speed and leaps for you, pedipalps and fangs leading...the cold that comes with it promises hypothermia in short order...

Can I use my bow for a Close melee exchange with the spider's pedipalps? H&S with an Awkward tag?

Forget this here above. I've got a better plan.

Feeling the bitter cold of the magical beast before me, my mind is unconsciously drawn to the warding amulet I wear around my neck.

[sblock]Defy Danger (Con)
2, 5 + 1 (+ 1 Amulet) = 9

Success but a worse outcome, hard bargain, or ugly choice.[/sblock]

Per Manbearcat
If there is any pain associated with the deep freeze that surrounds the ice-spider, you don't feel it. However, a sheathe of frost manifests on your lower half, inhibiting every joint. You can feel them "locking up."

[sblock]Take - 1 forward to any movement related move[/sblock]

A perfectly evolved hunter, equipped to slow a prey and then quickly take it down, the arm-like appendages that flank its maw set to the task of keeping you still while its fangs deliver a killing payload.

The growing ice on my legs cracks and protests as I crouch and violently spring back with all of my strength, hoping to break the sheathe of ice so I can run away.

Remember this?

1) A series of boulders are chaotically strewn about near the terminating point of the avalanche's leading edge (not far from you). These hold up a mass of heavy snowpack that would all but love to continue its onward march down the mountain. Perturbing even one of these boulders would trigger a continuance of this mass, thus leaving the trail above you a mess, but a passable one.

My intent is to sprint over to the rope, quickly rappel down it and run to the other side of the avalanche zone. I'm hoping the creature follows me into a trap!

[sblock]Defy Danger (Str)
6, 4 + 0 (take -1) = 9

Success but a worse outcome, hard bargain, or ugly choice.[/sblock]

Per Manbearcat
With brute strength you shatter the ice on your legs, simultaneously turning to sprint off. While you get away, the powerful pedipalps grasp more than just air. They get a hold of your weapon belt and between the creature's strength and your own vigorous effort to get away, the buckle snaps. The huge spider tosses the belt, with your short sword still on it, to the ground as it heartily gives chase to its fleeing prey!

You skillfully fast-rappel down the line with the spider right on your tail. It easily navigates the face that you worked hard to climb not long ago. You get to the other side of the avalanche zone with the creature not terribly far behind (Near).

Alright, as I was running, I drew an arrow from my quiver. As I wheel back around, I set it to string and pull. I'm looking to fire into the ice and snow in front of those precarious boulders that are keeping the avalanche from continuing down the trail full-force.

Per Manbearcat
Let's go with an Int world move. This is more MacGuyver/Hannibal quick thinking on your feet/"love it when a plan comes together" deal rather than an archery one.

[sblock]Let Loose the Avalanche! (Int)
10+ and BEHOLD...the fast-flowing wall of snow, ice and boulders...and the spider that rode on it was dead...and "that was pretty awesome" followed with it.

7-9 and the spider takes 1d10 damage (no armor) but you put yourself in serious danger...[/sblock]

Time slows for just a moment as my thoughts turn to the irony of this episode of predator turned prey...lured it right into my web. I smirk and the arrow is released.

[sblock]Let Loose the Avalanche! (Int)
6, 3 + 1 (+ 1 from earlier DR) = 11[/sblock]

I watch the spider get swept down the mountain under several tons of rock, snow, and ice. Once the flow settles, I head back. Surely my allies will have finished things by then...

 

[Tecklenburg]

Per Manbearcat
The ice-spider reaches the webs beneath you and seems to recover from your fiery assault. It rears and from the spinnerets on its abdomen come a pair of projectile, icy, sticky filaments with your name on them!

I feel the pull of the Bladesong. It is almost a living thing, a symbiote. It wants me to step through worlds, disappearing and reappearing as the spider's filaments futilely strike the wall where I just was.

But I trust my instincts and quickness to carry me through. I through my body back in a bridge at the last moment...

[sblock]Defy Danger (Dex)
3, 2 + 2 = 7

Success but a worse outcome, hard bargain, or ugly choice.[/sblock]

Per Manbearcat
Your agility, flexibility and instincts see you through the worst of it. The freezing spider silk doesn't touch any of your flesh, which would inevitably cause burns, nor does it pin your whole body in place. However, when you come back upright from your bridge, your offhand doesn't come with it. The spider's filament has pinned your left arm to the wall from the shoulder down. You won't be able to weave any magic while it is stuck, neither raw spell nor bladespell.

And the spider rushes back to the wall, sprinting the vertical surface toward you with preturnatural speed.

I use my elven blade to - hopefully - hack the webs from my other arm so I can bring sword and spell to bear against the creature when it closes to melee.

Per Manbearcat
Just roll your damage. The sticky filament has 3 HP, 0 armor.

By the by, you don't have to DD versus the spider's cold aura this time.

[sblock]d8 damage. Rolled 1...[/sblock]

...

Alright, as the spider closes, I scowl. Feeling the pull of the Bladesong, I step through worlds, disappearing and freeing myself from the webbing, reappearing from the momentary portal on the other side of the spider. I unleash...

[sblock]Master's Bladework (Int)
3, 4 + 3 = 10

d8 damage and 3 techniques. 7 - 2 = 5 damage.

Burst * 2: Your attack deals an additional 1d4 damage and gains the ‘forceful’ tag. 3, 2 = 5 damage. Dead spider.

Soul-Siphoning: Your attack heals you for 1d4. Heal 1d8 instead if this attack kills your target. 4 HP returned to me.[/sblock]

Per Manbearcat
The spider is barely able to wheel before you tear into it with a tempest of blade and magic. It attempts to block with a foreleg. You sever it. It attempts to grasp at you with a pedipalp. Its head disappears in a blade flurry and its body splatters against the wall in a torrent of force magic.

Everything grows suddenly quiet. The only sound to be heard is the wind playing off the top of the shaft. The overcast sky barely cuts the gloom of the dark tunnel. The only thing that seems alive is the pale blue glow of the sword, its luminescence cascading off the icy walls in terrific patterns due to the shattered webbing.

I shout to those above “…we’re clear” as I sheathe my sword. I navigate the ramp down to the web where the treasure lies and retrieve the body with the elven armor and the potion. The husk of the desiccated corpse is barely held together by clothes and armor. I delicately bring it to the ramp and lay it down thinking of the long-dead Winter Fey elf in life and death; a beautiful warrior such as this doesn't deserve such an unfitting and ignominious ending. I then carefully crawl to the magical sword and grasp its hilt, bringing it over to the ramp and lay it down beside the body.

Per Manbearcat]
There is a pervasive solitude and stark emotional distance that assails you when you grasp the hilt. The blue runes on the curved elven blade mark this sword, unsurprisingly, as a Winter Fey heirloom.

You guys can post about what is to follow and how you wish to handle this transition period (eg it sounds like you guys are going to hunt for creatures on the peak and displace them or slay them). Let me know what happens her and your course of action and I'll move things forward.

Treasure

[sblock]1) The potion is a Healing Potion (NO WAI?)

2) The armor is Elven Chain Mail just like Otthor's armor (2 armor, ignores clumsy tag)

3) The sword is:

The Prince of Frost's Brand
Close, Precise, Piercing 1

This beautifully elegant blade of subtle curve is ever-sharp. It radiates soft blue light in the deep cold and sweltering heat alike. It protects its wielder from burning fire (+1 DD), as the flames retreat from the blade or are snuffed outright when touching it. A Winter Fey heirloom adorns the hip of only the most worthy noble. Possession by the unworthy is punishable by death.

When you take your Last Breath, the Pale Prince is watching from his distant domain with interest. He will sponsor your return from Death's door (take +1), but the price is steep...you must forsake something that emotionally connects you to your life. You lose 1 Bond, the GM will choose which, and you can never regain it forevermore.[/sblock]

 

[Binks]

I shout to those above “…we’re clear” as I sheathe my sword. I navigate the ramp down to the web where the treasure lies and retrieve the body with the elven armor and the potion. The husk of the desiccated corpse is barely held together by clothes and armor. I delicately bring it to the ramp and lay it down thinking of the long-dead Winter Fey elf in life and death; a beautiful warrior such as this doesn't deserve such an unfitting and ignominious ending. I then carefully crawl to the magical sword and grasp its hilt, bringing it over to the ramp and lay it down beside the body.

[sblock]Lucky's Fetch returns the 1 Ammo I spent so I'm still at 4 Ammo.[/sblock]

Lucky, Rawr, and the goblin brothers fall in line behind me as I circle my way downward around the perimeter of the shaft toward Otthor. I my friend delicately, almost lovingly, handling the Winter Fey elf's remains. "I know that look. I'm sorry your master perished by your hand in a wasted death, my friend. I'm sorry the beauty he once possessed and the legacy with which he lived was forever besmirched. I know you cherish the aesthetic of the dance of battle, steel clashing with steel, warrior's virtue honed in the crucible of battle. But not every warrior, no matter how pleasing to the senses they may be in their craft, deserves remembrance. Some, perhaps most, are wicked."

I force his eyes to meet mine.

"This Winter Fey, like your master, surrendered whatever grace he earned when he abandoned the noble path for pride and wickedness. I would bury all the goblins he and his kin enslaved before I spent one moment being haunted by his bones."

I extract the elven chain armor from the corpse. "But the fine Winter Fey smiths can see their legacy endure."

---

So Saerie will take the elven chain mail. That would give me 2 armor instead of 1, 3 with Lucky's buff.

Otthor takes the sword.

I have the 3 remaining Goodberries which are 3 + 3d4 healing, so why don't you take the Healing Potion?

As far as our next course goes? Are there any cages or any barracks or any actual doors in this complex? I figure they had to keep the goblins in pens or something and surely the Winter Fey had their own quarters. We're at the upper reach now so we should have a short walk to the black tower. We need to go up there and scout out the territory. The most important thing we need to do is try to track down and capture any life of medium size or larger up there. We can bring whatever we trap or capture back down to this shaft and stow them until we defeat Piscaetches. Hopefully it is just some stray musk deer and some snow leopards that den up here.

Also, we may want to think about slaying that Wyvern.

 

[Tecklenburg]

I see my friend delicately, almost lovingly, handling the Winter Fey elf's remains. "I know that look. I'm sorry your master perished by your hand in a wasted death, my friend. I'm sorry the beauty he once possessed and the legacy with which he lived was forever besmirched. I know you cherish the aesthetic of the dance of battle, steel clashing with steel, warrior's virtue honed in the crucible of battle. But not every warrior, no matter how pleasing to the senses they may be in their craft, deserves remembrance. Some, perhaps most, are wicked."

I force his eyes to meet mine.

"This Winter Fey, like your master, surrendered whatever grace he earned when he abandoned the noble path for pride and wickedness. I would bury all the goblins he and his kin enslaved before I spent one moment being haunted by his bones."

I extract the elven chain armor from the corpse. "But the fine Winter Fey smiths can see their legacy endure."

Otthor looks at his friend, smiles sheepishly then looks back down. Of course she is right he thinks.

"Forgive me my shallowness. Some lessons are easier learned than unlearned."

So Saerie will take the elven chain mail. That would give me 2 armor instead of 1, 3 with Lucky's buff.

Otthor takes the sword.

I have the 3 remaining Goodberries which are 3 + 3d4 healing, so why don't you take the Healing Potion?

Otthor will insist that Saerie takes the potion. Through the power of his bladespells he has at-will restorative capabilities. He would rather her have the potion.

As far as our next course goes? Are there any cages or any barracks or any actual doors in this complex? I figure they had to keep the goblins in pens or something and surely the Winter Fey had their own quarters. We're at the upper reach now so we should have a short walk to the black tower. We need to go up there and scout out the territory. The most important thing we need to do is try to track down and capture any life of medium size or larger up there. We can bring whatever we trap or capture back down to this shaft and stow them until we defeat Piscaetches. Hopefully it is just some stray musk deer and some snow leopards that den up here.

Also, we may want to think about slaying that Wyvern.

Otthor will follow your lead here. His only input is to wonder aloud whether or not a Wyvern-turned-mutate is actually less deadly than assaulting a Wyvern in its lair!