Rime of the Frostmaiden - Adventure

Before they set out, Drift listens to Marva, to the uncertainty he’s felt in his own heart, or had felt, he realises. 

He nods for a while as Marva speaks, hums and mmms in the right places. After she stops, and asks her questions, he’s quiet for a while. Clearly they’re close to heading out, and he sees Torvus beginning to haul his own supplies up as if he’d not drunk more than a Goliath the night before. 

When they tromp out towards the staging point, Drift finds time to march beside Marva again. 

“Battered,” he says. “Bruised. Better than I’ve felt in a long time. I think you’re looking at things a little skewed, if I can be so bold and presumptuous. You might be wondering how a librarian came to be defending townsfolk from evil … but who of us came to defend these people from the evil of the god they are bowing to? Me, a failed cartographer? A guide? A wizard? An… Ophelia? Heck no.”

”Closest we come is Zuleikha, and she came to catch a very particular quarry. She may be a paragon, a paladin, a noble soul, but it’s a different nobility they practice down in Calimshan, compared to up here in the Icewind Dale.”

”None of us came for this. Kinder gods know these Ten-Towners have given us no reason to do it. But we’re doing it anyway, and that’s what I’ve realised. Maybe that’s why I’m whistling again. I’ve not been very proud of my life, my decisions, to date. But…

”I’m proud of this one. You should be proud too.”

Drift doesn’t wait for a response but falls back to his place in the marching order. Doesn’t have much more to say, and hopes it’s food for thought if he doesn’t linger. When they arrive at the staging point his eyes turn to Dvu, to Zuleikha, Ellora and Ophelia, waiting for their answers, almost without realising it. 

And here's the map. One square=5'. The duegar's lair is carved into the rocky base of Kelvin's Cairn. There are many arrow slits in the bunker that guards the approach to the big wooden double doors plus arrow slits on either side of the double doors. The small frozen stream (easy enough to step over) exits the lair through a narrow culvert with iron bars over it underneath one of the arrow slits.  

Dvu peeks around and looks at the situation.  “They are probably in that bunker, covering the entrance, protecting the doors.  What if we entered that culvert and crouched really low, sneaking our way to the entrance, or to wherever the stream leads?  Maybe then they wouldn’t see us.  We would need to be quiet, all sneaky like ..”. He looks up at the others to see if they like his plan -

Marva nods at Drift’s words and smiles to hear Drift’s sense of pride in what he’s doing. As he moves back in the line, she thinks, The fact that I’m even out here trying to help is something, even if I’m not much good at it. Yet?

When they arrive at the stronghold, she peers at the stream, worried that it isn’t big enough to provide much cover. (OOC: If it’s small enough to step over, I’m not sure that we could hide in it.) “We talked before about using an illusion to block the view from the bunker while we approached to attack those inside. I could try my breath weapon again, though it hasn’t seemed as strong as you would expect in the Frostmaiden’s lands. Or could we create some kind of distraction? Maybe those of us with armor draw their fire while the others sneak up to attack from another direction?”

(OOC: Was Marva able to find white sheets or blankets at the inn to use as camouflage? Could that give us advantage in Stealth approaching the bunker?)

@Karmoli, yes, Marva found white sheets. You can roll for Stealth and I will check on Perception as to whether it helps you get to or past the bunker. 

Ophelia peeks around the wall and gazes for a moment at the tableau of snow and stone before the party and townsfolk, relatively lucid for the moment.

"We could obscure ourselves, as Healer proposes or sneak as Guide suggests.  Another choice may be to hide in plain sight.  Do any of you know the incantation, which some of my elven kinfolk (not I) learned, to disguise self?  Might that one change their appearance to look like one of the duergar who assailed the town yesterday.  They could then lead the rest of us, seemingly bound by rope, though not bound in truth."

"We five, undisguised and downcast, would appear to have our hands tied, trudging as captives behind towards the bunker or fort.  If the remaining duergar here know not the results of the battle in town, they may let us in.  When we drop the pretense and attack, Trovus and the townsfolk rush in."

She looks ready to go with any plan, including sneaking and/or using Minor Illusion along with Ellora to obscure, and she certainly does not know whether any party member knows the Disguise Self spell, but if they do, well... she has stated her idea and now listens to her companion, murmuring quietly and gesturing to summon a lavender glow about her body (Mage Armor then beginning to cast and concentrate on Blade Ward).

"This place is as still as a scorpion lying beneath the sand." Zuleikha taps a finger on her full lips, as she considers the bunker, the culvert, the river and doors beyond. "We should assume all eyes within the stronghold are trained for unexpected visitors."

"The sense of daring in your idea is enticing indeed, Ophelia!" The pearl-bedecked woman grins broadly, but then shakes her head. "But I worry that they might speak to us in a tongue we do not know, and battle might commence when we are surrounded or outnumbered. Does anyone speak the language of the Dark Below?"

She turns her gaze to Marva and Dvu, evidently preferring their suggestions.

"Better that we skulk to the culvert, while a mirage is cast over the arrowslits in the bunker. These blankets that Marva acquired will surely be welcome as cover. However, we must be prepared to engage the bunker in the event that we are spotted. Perhaps we might ignite oil and throw them down the arrowslits if all else fails. I cannot imagine gray dwarves are any different to men - they will likely flee fire in a trapped space unless whipped to fight to the death." 

The Calishite woman gestures towards the frigid stream which blocks the way to their intended destination. 

"There is also the matter of the frozen river. Tread softly, and hold fast so that we might give one another support while navigating it."

When she is done speaking, she mirrors Ophelia's cantrip, summoning a whirling cloud of spectral scimitars to parry attacks.

Marva listens intently to her companions’ ideas. “I prefer the idea of creeping across the field with help from illusions and these sheets. I wonder if just a couple of especially sneaky people (not me) should go first to see if there is any hope of getting through the culvert at the stronghold wall. If they are successful the rest of our party could follow. If not, we could move to the bunker’s wall opposite the main stronghold’s doors and attack those within while protected from the main building’s view. I have four flasks of oil that we could toss through the arrow slits, but someone would have to light them once inside. From what I’ve seen, several of you could do that without issue. If we then crouch against the wall below the arrow slits, whoever is inside would have a hard time targeting us. We could pop up to attack and then take cover again. We’d have to be ready for them to come out of the bunker, of course. And this fight is likely to attract the attention of those in the stronghold.”

Finally, she adds, “By the way, I just remembered a trick I learned in the library that might get an antagonist on our side. I don’t think that will be helpful right now, but if we run across a single duergar later, I can try to get them to help us. Of course, they will be suspicious of us, so it may not work.”

Month: Hammer, 3, Day: III, Time: 1100

You have spent some time discussing the options. There seems to be consensus to sneak around the bunker with the assistance of sheets and illusions, along with the possibility of throwing oil or a spell into the bunker. You look closer at the frozen stream and estimate that it is about 2 feet wide and frozen solid; you do not notice banks on either side, so suspect that it ran wide and shallow when the temperatures were not so cold. You look at the arrow slits in the bunker, and they are the traditional slits you would find in any fortress - less than one foot wide and designed for items to rapidly exit rather than enter the defensive space. Trovus listens intently and periodically takes a sip of something from a flask but does not comment on the ideas. Garett, who felt strong enough to accompany the group, is back with the townsfolks, stomping his feet while waiting for decisions to be made and action to start. Speaking of the weather, you wonder if the winds are increasing while snow falls harder and the temperature becomes even colder or if it just your nerves acting up as you plan the assault. A black shadow flying high above the snow crosses the pale sun. 

Speaking of the weather, you wonder if the winds are increasing while snow falls harder and the temperature becomes even colder or if it just your nerves acting up as you plan the assault. A black shadow flying high above the snow crosses the pale sun. 

Ophelia looks up at the shadow with a shudder, feeling the chill in her bones.  Perception:  14

"Cold blows the wind which whistles and hums,
Hunters once, now we as hunted run,
For something wicked this way comes..."

Looking ready to enact a plan, any plan, as long as it gets the group under cover of the fort and away from whatever is flying up there, Ophelia gestures with her fingers and the image of a blank snow-field, when looking out from the arrow slits, forms in a five foot cube at E10 (Minor Illusion).

She only waits a moment for Ellora to perhaps follow suit to cover more arrow slits, for Marva to do whatever she wishes with the sheet (taking and using one if the dragonborn offers). and to see whether anyone else volunteers to go first with her, glancing perhaps at Zuleikha hopefully?  In any case, after the moment passes, she is off, advancing towards B8 where the stream vanishes into the culvert.  Not dashing, but taking the dodge action as she goes.

(Ophelia is concentrating on Blade Ward.)

"That talent sounds like it could come in handy! With duergar or cantankerous Speakers alike." Zuleikha chuckles as Marva offers final thoughts on the party's plan to breach the fortress. "Very well. I will venture forth and examine the culvert discreetly first. On reflection, perhaps the idea to pitch oil is a poor one - those embrasures look too narrow a space to successfully lob anything within, no matter how close we get. The best thing to do if spotted? Run!"

She takes one of Marva's sheets and cuts a pair of rough eye-holes in it, before donning the improvised camouflage. Amused by the outfit despite the perilous circumstances they find themselves in, she wiggles her fingers under the sheet and mimes a ghost. "Behooold, I-I-I am the spirit of terrible tactical decisions!" The theatrical paladin intones in a sepulchral whisper swaying side to side like some tavern bard's caricature of a haunting. The silly performance lasts but a moment and gives way to a snort of merry laughter.

"Ophelia and Ellora, if you would be so kind as to supply your beguiling magics, I will commence." The desert warrior requests, her manner shifting from playful to grounded once more. As she speaks, she secures the sheet about her waist with a piece of rope so that the eyeholes do not shift and leave her blinded. "And if there are any other boons anyone may grant, now is the time."

When she notices Ophelia making the same preparations, she grins and squeezes the mage's shoulder. "Ah, a fellow daredevil. Come, then. Let us make this foolhardy attempt together!"

With a steadying breath, Zuleikha crouches down and begins scurrying across the snows. Rather than risk losing her footing on the frozen over stream, the Calishite gathers herself and attempts to leap clean across it, landing in a low crouch on the opposite bank with as little sound as possible. Her heart pounds in her chest, knowing that somewhere beyond those dark arrow slits, there may be unseen eyes and loaded crossbows already trained on her. Yet there is no time to dwell on fears and doubts, for what will come will come, and now is the time for daring and action. Keeping low beneath the whipping wind of the dale, Zuleikha presses onward towards her destination - the culvert nestled to the east of the double doors in the duergar stronghold.

Stealth (Luck point for advantage, if Minor Illusion & camouflage is insufficient + Guidance if Marva grants it): (15, 12) + 4 = 19.
Concentration: Blade Ward.
ACTION: Dodge.

Marva would cast Guidance on Zuleikha, since Z is going ahead.

Drift would spend a minute during the staging winding his clockwork wonder for the next 24 hours, but not set it off yet, while stealth is needed. 

When it’s back on the hip, and if the others give the signal that it’s time to follow:

Drift stealth: 12 (14-2)

Ophelia's Stealth at advantage (using a Luck point):  (4, 3) + 5 = 9

=(

Ophelia keeps looking up for whatever dark shadowed shape passed in front of the sun as the temperature begins to get colder.  A cloud?  A huge bird?  A dragon?  In her distraction, she slips on a patch of ice and stumbles, making scraping sounds on the snow before she regains her balance.

Ellora would do her best to cover the team with illusiory snow covering necessary parts of the bunker.

(Casting Mage armor during planning, repeatedly cast Minor Illusion as the team advances, Lucky stealth: 19 Perception: 9)

As she watches the daring Zuleikha and distracted Ophelia cross the field, Marva whispers to Drift, "It might be nice to know how many people are in that bunker. Can your device find that out and report back to you? I don't really know understand how it works. I'm not sure if right now is the time, since it might be noticed..."

If/when Zuleikha and Ophelia signal for the rest to follow, Marva will hold up her sheet, crouching low to join them.

Stealth: 4 

((Sorry for the delay, a lot going on this weekend.))

Dvu snorts in laughter at Zuleikha's performance, then says with a stern voice, "Well, you aren't going to go alone.  Your guide will accompany you.  Give me one of those sheets, one sneaky abominable snowman coming up."  Dvu seems rather determined to accompany the crew across the field, ready to act if needed, but hoping their stratagems will be sufficient to get them to the door and beyond.  

Stealth : 21

Quote from Karmoli >>

As she watches the daring Zuleikha and distracted Ophelia cross the field, Marva whispers to Drift, "It might be nice to know how many people are in that bunker. Can your device find that out and report back to you? I don't really know understand how it works. I'm not sure if right now is the time, since it might be noticed..."

If/when Zuleikha and Ophelia signal for the rest to follow, Marva will hold up her sheet, crouching low to join them.

Stealth: 4 

 “It can,” Drift whispers, “but it can’t tell us the answer and it’s not very quiet. Its flight is a strange noise bound to draw attention. I dare not risk it.”

Ophelia reasons that the shadow crossing the sun must be a dragon since nothing else can be that big and fly that high but quickly resumes her focus on the here-and-now.

Trovus, Garett, and the 10 townsfolks stay put. Before you depart, Trovus says, Open the double doors and we will storm in like the howling wind to sweep aside anyone and anything that is threatening Caer-Konig. His eyes burn a bit brighter when he says this, giving you confidence that he has done this before and is willing and able to do it again.

Everyone safely makes it to the wall with the culvert after two rounds of running. The sheet covering some of the adventurers is not quite as helpful as you would like, with the eyeholes not necessarily staying in the correct place and it being long enough to trip some folks or fly out behind the running person. However, the illusions do cause confusion. Two bolts are shot at you while you run across the face of the bunker, at points very close to the bunker. The first bolt sales hide and wide of Ophelia while the second one hits nothing but sheet for Marva, possibly because whomever was inside the bunker was laughing so hard at the sight of a dragonborn with a white cape billowing behind her. You believe that no one can see you from the bunker.

You examine the culvert, which is about 3' wide and 4' tall. The top and sides are stone while the bottom is ice of unknown depth and likely stone at the bottom. However, there are 4 vertical iron bars spaced 6 inches apart that run from ice at the bottom to stone at the top. You see that the double doors are substantial wooden beasts with no carvings or adornments that look remarkably heavy. You do not see where it is locked but suspect the guard in the bunker could see you if you went in front of the doors.

Marva suppresses her own chuckle at their wild passage over the field and then whispers, "Ophelia, can you see into the tunnel? Does it look like we could travel it if we busted out the bars? Mage Ellora, can your owl travel through to see where the tunnel leads?"

The dragonborn also turns to look back at the bunker, trying to see any door from which enemies might pour out to attack us. If there isn't a door on the side closest to the stronghold (north?), then she would run over to D14 to check the east side.

(OOC: So the iron bars are completely blocking passage into the culvert, but if we were to somehow bust them out, we could try to scootch into the tunnel beyond?)