The Frigid Woe (DW) - Act 1

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Jan 25, 2022 5:49 pm
Teo reaches out to comfort the small red bird, as if to assure the bird that he is doing what they wish. But the bird flutters off before he can pet it.

As Teo and Byron spot the octopus untying the boat and trying to set off for new adventures on its own, Teo chuckles and smiles. "Looks like we have a stowaway, a brand new champin." Without explaining anything further, he gets down on all fours next to Byron before his form poofs into a cloud of mist, and when a chill breeze blows it away, suddenly a large brown bear with little antlers stands next to Byron.

Beor smiles and grunts at Byron before standing on his hind two legs, then letting out a fearsome roar and bearing his teeth towards the octopus, trying to scare it off.
OOC:
Using a bear's Intimidate move.
Last edited Jan 25, 2022 5:49 pm

Rolls

Shapeshift - (2d6+2)

(45) + 2 = 11

Narrator

Data Inactive for 7 months

Jan 26, 2022 5:27 am
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The ice begins to spear through Bonepipe's precious boot! To avoid being stabbed by the ice, the barbarian will need to kick off the boot - possibly leaving it to be caught in the ice - but the choice is that or getting a foot-full of the stuff.
OOC:
:( ugly choice
Out on the deck, the octopus startles at the sudden appearance of Beor. It seems to weigh it's options, before deciding it can find a better nest somewhere else. It grabs one of the fur throws in a tentacle before leaping back into the water, leaving the rowboat only loosely fastened to the half-sunken ship.
OOC:
What will you do?
Jan 26, 2022 1:43 pm
Quote:
but the choice is that or getting a foot-full of the stuff.
OOC:

Bonepipe figures he can take it. I think he's an idiot for thinking that, but that's the sort of macho bullshit that makes him tick.
Jan 26, 2022 2:53 pm
OOC:
Love that decision. These characters rule lol

Narrator

Data Inactive for 7 months

Jan 26, 2022 10:04 pm
Narrator
OOC:
Gonna post a quick in medias res post here.
The sharp ice fragments pierce through Bonepipe's like knives, and sink into his foot, but he manages to kick out of it without losing his boot.
OOC:
Bonepipe takes 5 damage from the piercing ice. Bonepipe, roll me a CON Defy Danger!
From the remains of the destroyed box, it looks as if it was filled with vials of gem-like crystals that, now exposed to the air, are beginning to coat the room in a shimmering ice. The entire boat begins to shift as the ice spreads along the back of the ship...

It looks like it may be time to go!
OOC:
I love Bonepipe's macho bullshit btw!

Rolls

Ice Damage (Bonepipe) - (1d4+1)

(4) + 1 = 5

Jan 27, 2022 2:23 am
As Mance waits for the away team to complete their exploration of the wreck his patience grows thin. The Frigid Depths between Eiselcross and the main land are not the sort of waters in which you want to loiter. The weather is volatile and can change to blizzard conditions without much warning.

The captain strolls over to the opposite side of the deck to look back across the waters looking for signs of storm clouds and other omens. He contemplates whether to sail back out into the strait before heading north on their original course or following the coastline to Syrinlya. As he contemplates his restless hands pick-up one of his dreadlocks. He absentmindedly blows out the flame on its tip and then re-lights it and then blows it out again and re-lights it, repeating this over and over in a meditative trance as his eyes scan the horizon, the smoke of the blown out flame shows him the direction of the wind, the flicker of the re-lit flame showing gusts.
OOC:
Discern Realities: regarding the weather and route
If 7+ ...
1) What is about to happen?
if 10+ ...
2) What should I be on the lookout for?
3) What here is not what it appears to be?
The sound of cracking ice and splashing, gurgling water pulls Mance out of his contemplation and he rushes back over to the other side of the ship to see the wreckage beginning to slide into the frozen depths.

He sees Byron and a bear on deck trying to get into the RAFT OF CHAMPINS but can't see Bonepipe anywhere. Mance feels the main refrain from the new concerto raising in his head, so he rushes to the flame-organ to let it out hoping to motivate his companions in their escape.
OOC:
Arcane Art - When you weave a performance into a basic spell, choose an ally and an effect:
I'll choose Bonepipe and "The next time someone successfully assists the target with aid, they get +2 instead of +1"
In case someone needs to help him escape.

Rolls

Discern Realities (+WIS) - (2d6+1)

(52) + 1 = 8

Arcane Art (+CHA) - (2d6+2)

(55) + 2 = 12

Jan 27, 2022 2:31 am
OOC:
Also, I've been really enjoying everyone's posts exploring the wreck and agree with Jabes's hard choice, it feels like what Bonepipe would do XD
Jan 27, 2022 3:17 am
OOC:
Quote:
Bonepipe takes 5 damage from the piercing ice. Bonepipe, roll me a CON Defy Danger!
Does Armor reduce the damage as normal? Or no?
Bonepipe sees the spreading ice and feels the shifting of the ship.

"Time to go!" he grabs his kit and makes for the upper deck.
Last edited Jan 27, 2022 3:19 am

Rolls

Defy Danger (CON) - (2d6+1)

(25) + 1 = 8

Narrator

Data Inactive for 7 months

Jan 27, 2022 7:08 am
Narrator
OOC:
Oops, yes! Armor still works, so 4 damage!
Bonepipe barely feels the pain in his foot as he charges up to the deck to see Byron and Bearteo waiting for him before the RAFT OF CHAMPINS. It's just as he reaches the deck that the ice beneath the Flying Remorhaz finally breaks and the whole ship begins to slide into the ocean, crashing into the water with a massive wave.
OOC:
The three of them can get into the raft (if they want) without a roll, but getting back to the Symphony will take a Defy Danger roll. The goal is to get back to the ship without getting thrown into the ocean or drowned by the massive wave the sinking ship is kicking up. I'll accept any Defy Danger roll, so long as it's justified by your actions.
Meanwhile, back on the Symphony, Mance is beginning to get a bad feeling about the clouds gathering in the sky, as he maps the wind direction and pressure. The wind was in the right direction, at least, but if they didn't get going - and soon - the wind direction wouldn't matter. The ocean would be too covered in ice to sail properly.
OOC:
What is about to happen? There's a blizzard coming! On the bright side, it will make a trip to Syrinlya faster (assuming we're still headed there), but on the downside it seems like sailing might be difficult after it hits if they don't have a way to get through the ice.
Once he's certain of the weather, Mance quickly starts up the chorus of Bonepipe's concerto on the flame-organ, hoping to spur them along.
OOC:
What will you do?
Jan 27, 2022 1:38 pm
Byron hustles into the rowboat, this time with no care taken to stay away from the quarantined. Breathing heavily, she grabs both oars—it never occurs to her the bear-elf might be a decent rower too—and begins propelling the small boat as fast as she can.

She’s not sure what she’s trying to outrow. The sinking ship? The Frigid Woe? A bad memory? But she tries her damnedest to get away, sweat turning to steam on her forehead.

Rolls

Defy Dangeeer…let’s go with Strength? - (2d6+1)

(62) + 1 = 9

Jan 27, 2022 4:17 pm
Mance sighs with relief as he sees all three of his companions jump into the RAFT OF CHAMPINS before the wreck breaks apart and sinks. They aren't out of danger yet, looking at the triggered waves, but Mance can't do more from here. Instead, he needs to make sure the ship is ready to leave as soon as they return.

"PREPARE TO SAIL!"
Mance commands causing the crew to jump to action.

"Kyvar!" Mance waves to the ice specialist to join him for a moment. The rugged sea elf was responsible for keeping the ice chimes carved for optimal tone as well as maintaining the ship's ice breaker. "I don't like the look of those storm clouds. I think we might have a blizzard bearing down on us. I want you to sharpen and reinforce the ice breaker as best you can, I expect thicker ice and more frequent icebergs than we're used to for the rest of the journey to Syrinlya."

"Aye Aye Captain," he says grabbing his tools and diving overboard without delay. How Kyvar tolerated the freezing water still amazed Mance even though the constitution of sea elves in cold water was widely known.
OOC:
I think this is sort of a combination between Aid and Bolster. The idea is to give the ship a +1 forward dealing with ice hazards during the next leg of the journey. Mance is motivating and commanding his crew to prep for the journey, so I'll use CHA, but if you think something else is more appropriate then switch it up.

Rolls

Aid/Bolster (+CHA) - (2d6+2)

(62) + 2 = 10

Narrator

Data Inactive for 7 months

Jan 28, 2022 7:59 am
Narrator
OOC:
Since it's been over 24 hours, I'm going to get the compulsory rolls out of the way. We'll say Bonepipe uses STR to hold onto the boat while Byron rows, and Teo uses WIS from his experience in this region to help maneuver the raft away from the sea ice.
OOC:
Edit: maybe not necessarily a 'worse outcome', but I think it would make sense in this scenario with 3 complications, but no failures.
Bonepipe leaps onto the raft, just as the other two take off - Byron rowing with all of her might toward the Symphony, while Teobear uses their weight to help evade the waves and ice.

The wave caused by the displacement of water when the Remorhaz crashed into the ocean lifts the entire raft up - sending them careening toward the much larger Symphony.

The RAFT OF CHAMPINS is thrashed against the metal sides of the Symphony, the hull of the rowboat shattering - though all three of the adventurers are thrown safely onto the deck. They've made it... but this is the end for the RAFT OF CHAMPINS, as the remains of it and the warm next of blankets and fur that were put within it, are washed away by the Frigid Depths.
OOC:
Mance also gets a +1 to that roll because of Discern Realities I think? The Symphony will definitely get a +1 to ice related Defy Dangers.
Finally, with everyone back on the Symphony, they are ready to set sail once again. Kyvar, the sea elf, returns from the sea, after reinforcing the ice breaker and gives the crew the all-clear.
OOC:
What will you do?

Rolls

Defy Dangers (Bonepipe & Teo) - (1d6+2, 2d6+2)

1d6+2 : (5) + 2 = 7

2d6+2 : (42) + 2 = 8

Jan 28, 2022 2:58 pm
"Whew, that was bloody close! What the hell was that icy crystal shite in the vials? Did you find anything out from the Captain's log?"
Jan 28, 2022 3:15 pm
Byron stands up and brushes herself off. She shudders a little against the cold.

"Oh, right. I actually haven’t checked it yet."

Logs are for captains, she reasons, and hands it over to Mance for a look.

In the meantime she heads to the furnaces to stoke the flames—the party is likely to need all the power it can get to outrun the encroaching blizzard.
Jan 28, 2022 5:42 pm
Once back on the deck of the Symphony, Beor shakes his thick bear hide to get water and the chill of the arctic off him, and when he finishes shaking he is back in his normal elven form. However, still paranoid that he might have contracted the Woe, he remains far away from everyone.

(I can't remember if Teo has already told everyone about his village having the Woe, but I'll just assume he did)
"Good job everyone. That... was the crew I purchased the tainted goods from. Looks like the Woe thanked them for spreading it by taking them too. The bird brought us here to witness that the Woe is still spreading, and it's not afraid to claim even its most loyal superspreaders. It wanted to keep us focused."

He looks to Mance, I'm sorry about the Raft of Champins. I'm still feeling fine, but don't want to take any unnecessary risks. I will be in the crow's nest keeping a lookout, if you need me." He takes off into the sky, then perches in the crow's nest.

He takes a few moments to look behind the ship where the wreckage was, before he hears the faint whistle of a tea kettle and a crotchety old voice, "Ah, quit your mopin'. You're doing fine."

Teo smiles, thinks, "You've been quiet, have you been busy on that side?"

"Oh yeah, got every afternoon just absolutely booked with dates with the finest dead bachelors and bachelorettes. Heh, nah, I'm just kidding. I'm still here, you just haven't needed me."

"Impossible, I wouldn't've even gotten on this ship if it weren't for you. Affecting destiny even from beyond the ashes, you didn't have anything to do with that bird, did you? "

There is no response to his question, just the feeling on the wind of an old smile, enjoying some tea.
Jan 28, 2022 9:46 pm
OOC:
Sorry for the short/rushed response, just about to head out of town for the weekend. I'll be back Sunday night to post. Feel free to NPC Mance as necessary before then.
Mance mourns the loss of the Raft of Champions with the others and listens carefully to their discoveries on the wreck. Taking the Captain's Log, he heads to his quarters to read it in detail. Before he leaves the main deck he orders the helms to take the coastal route to Syrinlya because he doesn't want to waste time retracing their course with the incoming storm.
OOC:
Studying the log seems more Int based than Wis based, so I'll do Sprout Lore.
Last edited Jan 28, 2022 9:46 pm

Rolls

Sprout Lore (+INT) - (2d6-1)

(54) - 1 = 8

Narrator

Data Inactive for 7 months

Jan 29, 2022 7:37 am
Narrator
The ship's log contains the records of the stops the Flying Remorhaz had recently previously - but, unfortunately several pages have already been torn out. One area that catches Mance's attention is part of a handwritten note beside a map of the region.
[ +- ] Red X is You; Black Xs are previous Anchor Points (order not shown)
The words start in the middle of a sentence: "goldmine of Aeorian treasures. Barely guarded - Urgon just slipped below the sheet, and the sages were none the wiser. Shields of unmelting ice on command - should fetch a pretty fortune, with or without Darktow."

Meanwhile, the Symphony catches the wind beautifully, and begins sailing toward Syrinlya at full speed, racing ahead of the dark clouds gathering behind.

Narrator

Data Inactive for 7 months

Jan 31, 2022 1:59 am
Narrator
OOC:
Going to go ahead and move along for now.
The Symphony makes excellent time sailing along the coast to Syrinlya, and the snow has only just begun to fall by the time they see the settlement's docks just a few hours after mid-day (on the 2nd day of their journey). The remainder of the trip was, thankfully, peaceful, but increasingly cold as the weather turned icy.

Bonepipe feels a bit of that frostiness creeping in through the small holes in his boots.
OOC:
Bonepipe, your CON Defy Danger was an 8 for the boot of ice, could you roll it again for me?
From the docks, the group can see that Syrinlya is a humble settlement, shrouded in snow - through the layers of white, the group can see dozens of fur-lined yurts arranged in a large camp, and various bonfires whipped about by the wind. From the size of the settlement, it appears that no more than 200 - likely less - people live here for any stretch of time. However, it's not a ghost town by any means, with several dwarves, elves, and humans all up and active this morning, clearing what appeared to be a good two feet of snowfall.
OOC:
Mance, if you've been here before, this might trigger your "A Port in the Storm" move!
Jan 31, 2022 7:12 am
Mance shares the map and locations of the stops made by the Flying Remorhaz with his companions as well as the interesting journal entry. He's particularly surprised by the fact it seems like the ship sailed along the lava flows and asks Byron if she has any experience traveling along lava given her relationship with fire. He plans to inquire about traveling along the lava flow in Syrinlya.

During the final leg of their trip up the coast to Syrinlya, Mance reveals to Bonepipe that he has finished the Flaming Bagpipe Concerto. He knows Bonepipe's style is improvisational (OOC: I'm taking an educated guess there, but seems like Bonepipe's style). The piece is really just an melodic background to allow Bonepipe to shine during his impressive solo.

He has visited Syrinlya on tour numerous times and always arrives in the harbor with a performance, so suggests they perform the flaming bagpipe concerto this time hoping it will help take the barbarian's mind off his ice-spiked foot injury. As he conducts the music, he looks out over Syrinlya at the reaction from the inhabitants and any differences since last time he was here (OOC: A Port in the Storm).
Last edited Jan 31, 2022 2:44 pm
Jan 31, 2022 12:49 pm
"Sounds good, mate!" Bonepipe is excited about this gig with Mance. He ignores the coldness creeping into his foot.
Last edited Jan 31, 2022 12:49 pm

Rolls

Defy Danger (CON) - (2d6+1)

(55) + 1 = 11

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