A quick recap

When the air turns to ice the return of the hollow ones illuminates the way and sow great misfortune.

Winterton and the lands to the west are in a perpetual snow storm. Is this just Gelid’s wrath, or, as Gabriella Alonia, Abbess at the Monastery of the Far Mountains believes, the work of a malevolent and powerful Necromancer who has returned from beyond the veil.

Abbess Alonia also believes that the bones of St Agnus will help the save the Monastery from the Necromancer and his legions of the damned, and she has requested their return from Winterton where the bones where once kept.

Five young village hero’s, Culdus the devout acolyte, Hew a would be knight, Karina, the local bard and entertainer, Rhian a young woodswoman, and Strawberri the fae foundling, having found the cask containing the bones are now charged with the task of taking them to the Monastery in the far mountains some 100 miles west of Winterton.

Aided by Crea, a priestess from the Monastery, and magical gifts from the fox fairies, the companions must battle not just Gelid’s Wrath but Redcaps, undead and other beasts which roam the snow swept lands.

Taking refuge in a remote shack and barn, the companions are currently sitting out a blizzard along with the ranger Nessa Ridgerow.

Weather.

To determine the weather I use the weather chart given in ‘The Lost Loot of Sculpin Ann’, a low level adventure for 3 to 6 players by Roan Studio.
This is a d12 chart and its suggested you roll against it every 6 hours of game time.

The adventure continues.

The blizzard shows no signs of abating as darkness falls, and it seems the companions have no choice but to spend the night at the remote shack.

I check to see if there are any wandering monster encounters, (1 in 6 chance, d6 roll = 5, No).

In the barn, Rhian and Hew sit next to the moose in an effort to keep warm in the bitter cold, Crea, still wearing the cloak of warmth, stands looking out of the partially open barn door, hoping for the storm to ease. Rhian, remembering the cloak Elzbeth the witch gave her, removes it from where she packed it and hands it to Hew who wraps it around himself, he notices tiny figures of undead creatures are embroidered on it.

“What is this?”, he asks Rhian.

“just a dull cloak, the one Elzbeth handed to me”, Rhian replies. Neither Crea or Rhian can see the embroidery on the cloak.

“It’s more than just a cloak, can you not see the undead which now adorn it?”. Hew asks, both Crea and Rhian shake their heads.

Hew removes the cloak, “What witchcraft is this. I’ll not wear it, nor should any of you”.

Rhian packs the cloak away again and the three settle down for a long cold night.

Inside the shack, its a little warmer. Nessa has a small fire burning and in the blizzard it is unlikely the smoke rising from it will be seen. Culdus, Karina and Strawberri are with her and all four make themselves as comfortable as they can for the evening and get some rest.

The morning of Tuesday 3rd January 1513CY.

Weather. d12 roll =3, Overcast/Light Snow

The companions are glad to see the blizzard has blown itself out and only light snow is falling. Nessa Ridgerow offers to accompany the party to the far mountains but with only limited food and Nessa being so close to her home at Winterton, the party decline her offer.
Keen to take advantage of the lull in the snow fall, the companions quickly load up the moose and continue on their way towards the Monastery of the Far Mountains.

Roll for random encounter during the day(1 in 6 chance), d6 roll = 3. No encounter.

The companions make good time in the light snow fall. Their journey is without incident but by mid-afternoon the light begins to fade and they decide to camp for the evening. With no place to hide from the winter weather they decide to construct three snow shelters each with room for two people, which takes them about two hours.

Check for a random encounter, d6 roll = 3. No encounter.

A lantern gives off enough heat to keep a shelter cozy and warm, the party only have two but Rhian has some torches with her and Crea is still wearing the cloak of warmth so they take one shelter, (although Crea and Rhian take turns watching over the moose ) with Culdus and Hew in a second, Karina and Strawberri the third shelter,

Roll for random encounter in the night (1 in 6 chance). d6 =4. No encounter.
Roll for Weather. d12 = Blizzard/Heavy Snow.

The night passes quietly and without incident, further heavy snow fall covers the shelters they have built while Crea and Rhian take turns outside keeping a close eye on the moose, handing the cloak of warmth to each other when they change shift, (without the cloak its unlikely either would survive in the bitter cold).

The morning of Wednesday 4th January 1513CY.

Weather, d12 roll = 7, Sunny/Cold.

Random encounter roll. d6 = 1. Encounter. 5 skeletons & 1 Captain of the Dead. 100 yards from the companions camp when spotted.

Question. Who is outside with the moose, 1-2 Rhian, 3-4 Crea, 5, Crea & Rhian, 6 everyone. d6 roll =5.

Rhian and Crea are both tending to the moose, both pleasantly surprised that the sky is clear. Both are busy putting their equipment and the casket on the poor creatures back when Rhian spots something moving (Wisdom check, needing 13 or less Rhian rolls 2). Rhian stops what she is doing and taps Crea on the shoulder.

“Over there”, she points towards the skeletons which are moving silently and quickly towards them,

Crea stops and looks, “Skeletons, I think its time to get the others out of their beds”. Crea casts a Friends Call spell to alert Strawberri Cottoncloud of the imminent danger.

Strawberri and Karina are quickly out of their shelter, Strawberri loads up a stone into her sling whils Karina has her short sword drawn and alerts Culdus and Hew by rapping on their makeshift door.

Rhian is the first to react and fires an arrow (not enchanted), at one of the skeletons, needing 13 or higher on d20, she rolls only a 7, a miss.
Cursing to herself she places another arrow in her longbow.

Strawberri is moves beside Rhian, “what until they are closer, I can loose a stone or two at them along with your arrow”, she points to the Captain of the Dead, “aim for that one, he is the leader”.

As the skeletons close in to about 50 yards, both Rhian and Strawberri loose missiles at the Captain, Needing 15 or more, Rhian rolls 18 this time, a hit for 7hp, Strawberri rolls 12 and has +3 to hit = 15, a hit (just), causing 4 damage.

Rhian, not wanting to waste any more arrows, puts her bow down and draws her magic sword. Strawberri has time to let fly with another stone from her sling. d20 roll = 9+3, 12. A miss. She puts her sling away and draws her dagger, poor weapon against the dead she thinks to herself.

Crea shouts out that she has no weapon to defend herself with, Rhian takes her staff and offers it to her, “can you use this”, Crea nods and thanks her.

The 6 companions advance towards the oncoming undead.

Combat. Round 1

Strawberri is the first to attack on of the skeletons, she rolls a 1 on d20, a miss, luckily the skeleton also rolls 1 on d20 and misses Strawberri.

Crea is next, she rolls 17 a hit against an oncoming skeleton for 5 damage, the blow with the staff is enough to shatter its bones.

Rhian charges towards the captain of the dead with a flame shooting from the tip of her sword but it does no damage against undead as she now realises. The captain of the dead fights back but rolls only 7, a miss.

Karina attacks a skeleton, she rolls 17 on d20, a hit for d6 = 3 damage. Not enough to destroy her foe. It fights back but rolls only 7, a miss.

Hew attakes a skeleton too, using his longsword. He has +3 to hit and rolls 19, a hit causing 8 damage, a second skeleton falls to the ground.

Culdus id last to attack, but his adversary is quicker than him and attacks first, d20 = 10+1, 11. A hit, culdus takes 5 damage. Culdus fights back with his staff, he rolls 15 but has -1 to hit, 14 is a hit though and the skeleton takes 5 hits. A third one crumples to the ground.

Combat. Round 2

With the highest initiative, Strawberri is the first to attack again, rolling 19, she makes sure the skeleton will no longer ne a threat this time, casing 4 damage, it drops to the ground.

Rhian strikes at the captain of the dead, rolling 4 she misses. The captain of the dead strikes back, rolling 6 +3, 9. Rhian is quick to dodge its attack.

Crea comes to Rhians aid but cannot attack this time round.

Karina rolls 2, she fails to get a hit on her attacker. The skeleton figts back, rolling 8 it too fails yo land a blow on the bard.

Hew moves towards Karina, ready to help her next combat round.

Culdus, wounded, leans on his staff and retires from the fight.

Combat. Round 3

Rhian and Crea strike at the captain of the dead, Rhian again fails to hit but Crea rolls 17, a hit for 6 damage, her blow with the staff is enough to destroy the undead warrior.

Karina and Hew both roll 16, both land blows on the last remaining skeleton. The fight is over.

The 6 companions are weary after the combat but think it best to move on whilst the sun shines. Culdus casts a healing hands spell on himself but its not as effective as he had hope, he regains only 3 hp, he is down to only 5hp now.

With snowshoes attached and the moose loaded, the six continue the journey towards the Far Mountains.

To be continued.