Planning for the Siege of the Rift (G2 Part 3)

[Magnus]

Date: Autumn, 432 ca., Campaign Day 14
Time: 15:00
Weather: 34 degrees (f), moderate wind, heavy snow, visibility ~60'
Location: Safe House

*********************************
As they bunkered in the safe house, the original heroes were joined by two others, a Pyromancer and a Child of the Forest, each of whom followed words of the Wildlings, Greenleaf, King Stark, and the Watch to find the party in the safe house. Trust was forged quickly in the fire of these desperate circumstances, and their new fellows were recognized as powerful allies. Much as the lost were missed, it was clear that the party was more powerful than ever.

And so the heroes turn to their task on the morrow...the next assault on the Rift. Various divination spells, additional scouting (despite the mishaps of a few hours ago), and the plans for the actual assault, were discussed.

But now was the time for preparation, concrete planning, and action...

[Cwreando]

Andor says,"Those that wish to commune should do so and seek their deity's guidance to better focus our assault planning and spell preparations."

Andor Continues, "It is saddening to hear of so many dead after fighting here. I say friends of new, Let us plan our battle wisely."

Andor sorts out the information concerning the ring and adds Fire Elemental and Protection from Evil if the other wish."Whoever wields the ring should remain within 30' of the elemental and concentrate on it. Even then it can break free and return to kill the ring wielder." This adds 6 levels if the others so desire.

Andor shows the others the potions he has. "Some of these I can share with you to better our chances for the assault."

Andor imparts his Warcraft training with the group in hopes of providing a benefit to them in the coming assault.
While this is for role play, this may impart some benefit such as +1 to Attack, AC, Saves or all or some other benefit if the DM desires.

"I can bolster 2 fighters with increased strength tomorrow morning, I can cast invisibility 10' R on the group and have several walls I can create to keep the giants back possibly. I will plan my spells as we learn more from the commune spell."

Updated to define the Elemental type cast into the ring.

[Storm11]

Jinx watches the new strangers eagerly, fascinated and yet wary with their weird ways.

He will move out into the outer ledge of the lair and squat down, taking the snow and the earth beneath into his palms and casts commune with nature, melding his consciousness with the land in order to try and sense the rift and it's particulars, the cave entrances within it and the animals and people that dwell there, mineral deposits and such like, tracks and trails that lead to and from it and any animals that surround the rift itself or dwell within, plants close by and any guards posted.

He will recommend adding call lightning into the rift, incase we have to flee with Giants upon our tail, once we reach the open ground a 5 segment storm would be most welcome to blast pursuers.

Jinx will memorise animal summoning II as well the day before we are due to enter the rift and try and summon any animals he senses close by when communing with nature.

[GreyWolfVT]

Brax "Jinx eh? Heck of a name. I knew a fella named Jinx once he was a burglar. Funny thing he lived up ta that name too when it came ta traps."

[Storm11]

The child of the forest turns his head to the side and looks confusingly at Brax.

[GreyWolfVT]

Brax "Sorry just my way of biding the time when there aint nothin ta kill with me giant killer." the dwarf holds his magical war hammer in hand admiring it's splendor.

[Zhym]

Arqos stares into the fire in prayer.

Gaerys paces impatiently.

[Magnus]

Andor says,Andor shows the others the potions he has. "Some of these I can share with you to better our chances for the assault."

Andor imparts his Warcraft training with the group in hopes of providing a benefit to them in the coming assault.
While this is for role play, this may impart some benefit such as +1 to Attack, AC, Saves or all or some other benefit if the DM desires.

1. The potions are a party items. Please each partake. Perhaps you can list them in the thread, Chris?
2. The Warcraft training rules are not in OSRIC, so they are not in play here.

[Magnus]

Date: Autumn, 432 ca., Campaign Day 14
Time: 16:00
Weather: 34 degrees (f), moderate wind, heavy snow, visibility ~60'
Location: Safe House

*********************************

The sun starts to set, and a cold, slow wind picks up from the East...the Wildlings call it "the Breath of the Frozen Shore". Tomorrow will be cold. Winter is coming.

Hollis casts commune, imploring the Old Gods for further information to aid in their quest.

The questions and answers:

Does the rift have more than one level?

YES

If we summon a plague of insects to cleanse the upper level of the rift, will we kill anyone we should not kill?

NO

Are there still any entrances to the rift that we can access and have not discovered?

Yes

Would we be more likely to succeed in our mission if we attacked at night instead of during the day?

NO

Are there traps protecting the entrances to any of the caves?

NO

Is there a better than a 1 in 10 chance that we could sneak into the rift and free any captives without being noticed?

NO

Is there more than one dragon-rider on patrol?

YES

Do any of the giants' patrols venture more than about an hour's travel from the rift itself?

NO

Does the rift have more than two levels?

NO

Would our quest be better served by attacking the caves in the east side of the rift, or continuing our attack on the west side?

UNCLEAR

Jinx peers deeply with his greensight into the energy of the local area. With each breath, he sinks his perceptions deeper and deeper into the soul of the cold mountains around them.

Nature speaks to him:

1. The Glacier is ancient river of ice that has seen millennial of blood and strife, as it sits high above twin passes that connect the Haunted Forest with the great expanse of the Frozen Shore, great migration grounds for mammoth and other megafauna -- and those that hunt them!

2. At the South End of the Rift, the Glacier sits on an even older primitive fortress keep carved into the mountain side, where the Jarl holds court.

3. The fortress is accessible through the sinkhole on the floor of the Rift, or a sharply sloping downward tunnel at the south end of the first level.

4. Most of the upper level is ice, but the caves at the south end are a mix of rock and ice.

5. A pack of Winter Wolves, evil, magical creatures in service to the Jarl, roams the Rift. They hunt and scavenge on the Rift floor but have a den in the upper caves.

6. A few other horrid monsters dwell on the Rift floor.

7. But a few items of great power also lie down there as remnants of battles in ages gone past.

8. Ice toads scavenge the dark corners of the Rift caverns.

9. Frost Giants rule the Rift, lead by the Jarl, but many other breeds of giantkind come and go from the Rift. Not all serve the Jarl...but all respect him at some level.

10. There is a dead end passage in the Rift that bores deeply into the Glacier, beyond the light, and touches the Shadow...it awaits the warmth of life to awaken...enter this place at your peril, as even the Jarl fears its darkness.

Hollis and Jinx wakes from their trances, ready to make use of all this information.

[saalaria]

Hollis shakes his head and drinks deeply from his waterskin. He then imparts what he has learned to the group.

"There is much to think about here. It seems a plague of insects would be a good way to cover our renewed assault."

[Storm11]

Jinx blinks as his consciousness returns to his small frame, and he gasps aloud at the loss of his connection to the land around.

He scratches his shadow cat companion and leans upon him to clamber back to his feet. Returning to the others he clears his throat and relates what he discovered from him oneness with the land.

"What say you all to that?" he asks in his strange accent tilting his head questioningly.

[Computer +1]

Vorsyin begins to ponder the new information the party has acquired. HE also asks the group, Who has the ring of Lorath's. I woud seek to examine it as we decide upon our final strategy. Perhaps it should be loaded with an Elemental of Fire as it takes significant time to summon. He looks around the area, And what of Lorath's other possessions? Did he take everything when he went with Gaerys or did he leave his pack behind?

[Cwreando]

"Vorsyin, Here is the ring", Andor says. Andor Hands Vorsyin the ring. "I've already put a fire elemental and a protection from evil spell inside the ring. I'd suggest casting out the charm monster spell from the ring and add your elemental and a protection from evil spell into the ring. That would be 12 levels into the ring. Perhaps another 1st order spell be added if you like. Someone who is not planning on engaging in direct combat should wield the ring to minimized any distractions or interruptions while controlling the elementals."

Lorath took all his stuff but the ring.

Potion list
1 Potion of Diminution
2 Potion of Fire Resistance
1 Potion of Invisibility
1 Potion of Flying
1 Potion of Gaseous Form
1 Potion of Polymorphing
2 Potion of Extra Healing
3 Potion of Wildfire

[Storm11]

Jinx will request the invisibility potion, though he understands that used conservatively there may be as many as 8 measures of the magical draft.

[Magnus]

[NB - I don't allow partial doses of potions, as I do not want to do the bookkepping in a pbp game.

Lorath left only his spellbook and ring.]

[Cwreando]

Add 3 Potions of Wild Acid to the potion list that didn't make the copy and paste.

Potion list
1 Potion of Diminution
2 Potion of Fire Resistance
1 Potion of Invisibility - Jinx
1 Potion of Flying
1 Potion of Gaseous Form
1 Potion of Polymorphing
2 Potion of Extra Healing
3 Potion of Wildfire
3 Potion of Wildacid

Andor explains the effects of the Wild potions.

"These 6 here pointing to the 3 Wildfire and 3 Wildacid will detonate on contact and explode like a fireball doing 6d6 Fire or Acid depending on the type they are."

[Computer +1]

Vorsyin takes the ring with a nod of thanks to Andor. He also retrieves Lorath's spellbook and moves to a quiet corner to do some studying.
He feels a bit bad to be already using a fallen comrades gear but he knows that any small edge may mean the difference between life and death for the entire party.

[Magnus]

Add 3 Potions of Wild Acid to the potion list that didn't make the copy and paste.
Andor explains the effects of the Wild potions.

"These 6 here pointing to the 3 Wildfire and 3 Wildacid will detonate on contact and explode like a fireball doing 6d6 Fire or Acid depending on the type they are."

The range of explosion is not quite a fireball...more like 10' radius.

[Zhym]

Gaerys would take potions of gaseous form and diminution if he could.

Arqos would take a potion of extra healing.

[Magnus]

Date: Autumn, 432 ca., Campaign Day 14
Time: 16:30
Weather: 30 degrees (f), moderate wind, heavy snow, visibility ~60'
Location: Safe House

*********************************

The sun sets as the party plans, contemplates and studies.

Potions are distributed. Gaerys, in typical un-charismatic fashion, tries to hog the "escape" potions.

If it is not on your sheet, you don't have it!!!

Vorsyin learns those of Lorath's spells he deems useful, not without considering the fate of his fellow mage. Grim work, the study of the arcane can be.

What would the final plan be?