Lem had worked with the clerics in Sandpoint for weeks, studying the word-covered body of the madman that had attacked Sandpoint with a slew of summoned monsters. Although much of the text was illegible, there was an unmistakable reference to "Runeforge" and "Rimeskull".
Lem
Male Halfling Bard Charlatan
Card Feats: Spell x2, Blessing, Armor, Item
Skill Feats: Charisma +4, Intelligence +1
Power Feats:
Light Armor proficiency
Once per check, recharge a card to card to add 1D4+2 to a check attempted by another character at your location
Add 2 to your check to acquire an ally or defeat a henchman
Starting Deck
Venomous Heavy Crossbow +2
Wand of Enervation
Sihedron Medallion
Robe of Runes
Toxic Cloud
Haste
Holy Light
Frost Ray
Lightning Bolt
Mass Cure
Hide Armor of Fire Resistance
Toad
Merchant
Acolyte
BoPharasma x2
BoGozreh
BoErastil
BoAbadar
BoIrori
The Rimeskull Mountains were located far to the north, on the banks of Lake Stormunder. Although Sandpoint's citizens had given them fast horses and ample provisions, it still took several days to reach their destination. Fortunately, it gave the duo time to prepare and rest up before facing whatever awaited them at Rimeskull's peak.
Valeros
Male Human Fighter Weapon Master
Card Feats: Weapon x2, Item, Blessing, Ally
Skill Feats: Strength +4, Constitution +1
Power Feats:
Hand Size 5
Add 1d4+3 to another character’s combat check at your location
You may use Melee in place of Ranged when using a weapon with the Ranged trait
Starting Deck
Fanged Falchion
Heavy Pick +1
Impaler of Thorns
Shock Longbow+1
Scythe+1
War Razor +1
Mokmurian’s Club
Magic Chain Mail
Magic Shield
Magic Half-Plate
Holy Candle
Emerald Codex
Staff of Minor Healing
Grizzled Mercenary
Burglar
Charmed Red Dragon
BoCalistria
BoGorum
BoTorag
BoAbadar
The climb was perilous, and freezing, but the pair managed. After all they had been through, it would take more than some snowy mountain to stop them. At long last, they reached the top of the Rimeskull. Awaiting them there were 7 stone faces, gigantic in size. The stone faces were long and ominous. Behind them, Lem could see the yawning skull-like face that must have given the mountain its name. They soon realized that they were not alone, however. Lem caught movement in his peripheral vision, and signaled to Valeros to get down.
They watched as a humanoid warrior patrolled the entrance to the skull-like cavern. Lem looked to his partner and nodded. Valeros nodded in return and watched as a blast of lightning flew from the halfling's fingertips, leaving only scorchmarks where the man had been. They moved cautiously forward.
Turn 1
Lem - BoG
Stone Head 1
Secret Stash - Wisdom + BoAbadar = 3D6 = 12 = Success = Mirror Image, Bracers of Protection, Mercenary = Shuffle Mirror Image into deck = Banish Secret Stash forever
Discard BoIrori explore - Mercenary - Lightning Bolt + Valeros = D10+5 + 3D6 + D4+3 = 29 = Success
Recharge Lightning Bolt = Success
Discard BoErastil explore - Bracers of Prot = Banish forever
The electricity that Lem had discharged did not dissipate, however. It lingered on the nearest statue, creating some kind of electrical field. A field that grew in intensity. Soon, lightning was flying from the statue in all directions, and a bolt struck Lem squarely in the chest. Valeros knew his partner would be all right, and ran towards the statue with his scythe at the ready. Would magic steel be a match for ancient magic stone? Valeros intended to find out. He swung with great force and was satisfied when chunks of stone flew from the stone face. He swung again, and again, ignoring the danger of the wild lightning that surrounded him. In a matter of minutes, the statue was reduced to rubble, and the lightning gone.
He walked back to Lem and helped the halfling to his feet. "Well," he said as he looked to the remaining statues surrounding them, "One down, six to go"
Turn 2
Valeros - BoG
Stone Head 1
Stone Head - Combat - Scythe+1 + Lem Recharge = D10+7 + 2D4+1 + D4+2 = 16 = Success
D4-1 Electricity Damage to each character
Lem - 3
Valeros - 0
Mirror Image - 3 = Damage reduced to 0
Recharge Mirror Image = Success
Location closed
Lem, careful not to disturb the area, inspected the nearest statue more closely. "I wonder what these are for. Maybe they guard the entrance to the runewell? Are they some kind of key to opening it?" The possibilities were endless.
Turn 3
Lem - BoDesna
Stone Head 2
Headband of Alluring Charisma - Charisma = D10 = 4 = Fail
Discard Toad explore - Half Plate = Banish forever
Valeros moved to join his comrade, but instinctively raised his scythe as he sensed movement near him. Spinning with his blade towards the movement, he saw a faceless aberration stagger backwards, falling bloody into the snow. Yeah, they must be close to this Runewell, if garbage like this lived here.
Turn 4
Valeros - BoErastil
Stone Head 2
Faceless Stalker - Fail wisdom check = Difficulty +2 - Scythe+1 + Lem Recharge = D10+7 + 2D4+1 + D4+2 = 29 = Success
Discard BoCalistria explore - Mace = Banished forever
Lem was still inspecting the stone head. He had already looked for a secret button or trigger. Convinced that there wasn't one, he tried pushing the whole statue instead. "Hey, can you give me a hand with this? I think we might be able to move it." Valeros steadied his feet on the frozen rocky ground and joined his partner in pushing the great carved stone. With the sound of grinding rocks, it began to move. The sound prevented the pair from hearing the mechanism that sent blades flying outward from hidden openings in the rock. Lem's halfling reflexes allowed him to avoid the blades, but not Valeros. Ancient steel bit into his flesh. He was more angry than injured, though.
Turn 5
Lem - BoIomedae
Raise Dead - Divine = D10+5 = 7 = Fail
Discard BoPharasma Explore - Slashing Blade = Fail dex check = D4 Combat Damage
Lem - 2
Valeros - 4
Lem recharge Hide Armor of Fire Resistance to reduce to 0
Valeros eats it
"You OK?" Lem looked to his partner. Valeros said nothing but nodded, staring daggers at the stone head. He began walking towards it with purpose.
"No, wait!" but it was too late. Valeros had already triggered the trap again, and blades once again swung in all directions, hitting both of them and sending them reeling.
Turn 6
Valeros - BoTorag
Lem Mass Cure - 1d4+1 from discard to deck for both
Lem - 3
Valeros - 2
Recharge Mass Cure = Fail
Slashing Blade - Dex + Lem Recharge = D8+D4+2 = 6 = Fail = D4 combat damage to each
Lem - 1
Valeros - 2
Lem Sihedron Medallion = reduced to 0
Recharge Medallion = Fail
Lem had to shut this stupid trap down before it did any more damage. It would be embarrassing for their epic journey to be cut short by a mere trap. Studying the movement of the blades, he was able to locate the source of the mechanism and dismantle it. He hoped that not every statue would be so annoying.
Turn 7
Lem - BoIomedae
Valeros Holy Candle - 3
Valeros Staff of Minor Healing - Lem
Slashing #$!%ing Blade - Dex + Valeros BoCalistria = D8 + 2D8 = 10 = BANISHED FOREVER
With the immediate danger resolved, Valeros wasted no time in charging the stone behemoth, tackling it with incredible force. The statue shattered upon the hard ground.
"Two down."
Turn 8
Valeros - BoShelyn
Stone Head - Strength + Lem Recharge + Lem Wand of Enervation = D10+5 + D4+2 = 18 = defeated without me even needing to roll the wand
Recharge Wand = Success
Stone Head deals 1d4-1 lightning damage to each
Lem - 1
Valeros - 1
Mirror Image - 4 = damage reduced to 0
Recharge Mirror Image - Fail
Location Closed
Lem spoke a quick prayer to heal their wounds before turning his attentions to a rumbling sound approaching them. An ogre crested the hill, no doubt summoned by the noise the pair were making. Lem let loose a blast of holy light and send the creature tumbling back from whence it came. He doubted that was the only monster to live on these peaks. They needed to hurry.
Turn 9
Lem - BoGorum
Exchange Haste for Mass Cure in the discard
Mass Cure - D4+1 to both
Lem - 5
Valeros - 3
Recharge Mass Cure = Success
Stone Head 3
Magic Leather Armor - Banished Forever
Discard BoPharasma Explore - Ogre - Holy Light = D10+5 + 2D6 = 18 = Success
Recharge Holy Light = Success
Valeros was certainly not wasting any time. While his partner went about his business, Valeros was already hacking away at the third statue. He watched with a grim smile as the stone head crashed back to the earth.
"That's three."
Turn 10
Valeros - BoShelyn
Stone Head 3
Headband of Inspired Wisdom - Fail
Discard BoTorag explore - Stone Head - Heavy Pick+1 + Lem Recharge = D10+7 + D6+1 + D4+2 = 21 = Success = Stone Head deals D4-1 damage to all
Lem - 1
Valeros 2
Lem Sihedron Medallion = reduced to 0
Valeros bury Magic Chain Mail = Reduced to 0
Medallion recharge = Success
Location Closed
It appeared that Valeros had the stone heads well in hand, so Lem turned to the rubble, searching for any clues held within the statues themselves. To his surprise, he found a staff in one that radiated with magical energy. What might the others hold?
Turn 11
Lem - BoIrori
Stone Head 4
Sling = Banished Forever
Discard Merchant explore - Wooden Shield = Banished forever
Discard BoIrori explore - Staff of Heaven and Earth - Divine = D10+5 = 8 = Success
Discard BoAbadar explore - Battered Chest - Banish forever
"FORE!"
Lem was shaken from his reverie by the shout from Valeros. He barely had time to dodge out of the way of the huge chunk of stone that flew through the air towards him, as the rest of the statue tumbled down nearby.
"Hey? watch it, will you?" Lem yelled even as he sifted through the rubble of the newly fallen statue.
Turn 12
Valeros - BoLamashtu
Stone Head 4
Stone Head - Reveal and Recharge Scythe+1 + Lem recharge = D10+7 + 3D4+1 + D4+2 = 21 = Success = D4-1 damage to both
Lem - 1
Valeros - 3
Lem Mirror Image - 2 = Damage reduced to 0
Valeros Bury Magic Half-Plate = Damage reduced to 0
Recharge Mirror Image = Success
Location Closed
Lem loosed a lightning bolt at yet another mountain-dweller come to prey upon them. So far, they had only attracted small, lone creatures. How long would their luck hold out?
Turn 13
Lem - BoPharasma
Stone Head 5
Sneak - Discard a card - Lightning Bolt = D10+5 + 3D6 = 25 = Success
Recharge Lightning Bolt = Success
Valeros saw the glint of metal amidst the rocky carnage he had loosed upon the mountain. He stooped to examine it and his eyes lit up like a child's. Weapons! He immediately began searching for ways that he might carry his newly found arsenal.
Turn 14
Valeros - Boirori
Stone Head 5
Large Chest - Melee + Lem Recharge = D10+7 + D4+2 = 21 = Success = D4 random weapons to hand = 4 = Returning Throwing Axe+1, Longsword+2, Longbow+1, Starknife
Discard BoGorum explore - Eyes of the Eagle = Banished forever
Lem had moved onto the next statue. Perhaps brute strength was not the only way to subdue these rocky giants. He raised his arms and muttered an incantation. The statue literally melted before him, leaving no trace on the mountaintop that it had ever existed. Wide-eyed, he turned to Valeros. Had he seen that?
No, of course he hadn't. He was still fumbling for a way to carry his fifteenth melee weapon. At least the guy had a hobby, he supposed.
Turn 15
Lem - BoG
Lightning Touch - Banished forever
Discard BoPharasma explore - Stone Head - Bury Toxic Cloud - Defeated
Location closed
Satisfied that he had achieved maximum weaponage, Valeros moved towards the sixth statue. Maybe this one would be full of armor! Before he had the chance to find out, though, he found himself tumbling into a pit concealed in the mountaintop.
"Aw, c'mon!" He shouted at the gods from the rocky hole he found himself in. All of his precariously packaged weapons were strewn about him, mocking him.
Turn 16
Valeros - BoG
Stone Head 6
Pit Trap - Dex + Lem BoErastil = 2D8 = 5 = Fail = D4 damage = 1
Lem moved to the pit and readied his crossbow as a swarm of rats emerged from tunnels in the rock. What did those rats eat when they couldn't get fresh Valeros? Lem would never know, as he loosed bolt after bolt at the vermin.
Turn 17
Lem - BoG
Stone Head 6
Rat Swarm - Venomous Heavy Crossbow+2 (+4 difficulty) + Valeros = D8+D10+2+D4+3 = 18 = Success = Banished forever
Discard Toad explore - Disintegrate - Arcane = D10+5 = 13 = :’(
Satisfied that the rats were dealt with, Lem helped his partner up from the pit and healed their wounds again, though no spells could heal Valeros' pride.
Turn 18
Valeros - BoShelyn
Lem Mass Cure - D4+1 to both
Lem - 3
Valeros - 2
Recharge Mass Cure = Fail
Valeros Emerald Codex - Fiery Weapon, Cure, Detect Magic
Valeros Cure - D4+1 = 4
Detect Magic - Dancing Scimitar +2 = Melee + Lem Recharge = D10+7 + D4+2 = 12 = Success
Breastplate of Fire Resistance - Constitution D8 = 7 = Fail
"OK, Val, check this out." Lem walked to the sixth statue and spoke arcane words aloud. The statue vanished much like the last one had.
"Neat. It's not as fun as breaking it into tiny pieces; but neat."
Turn 19
Lem - BoSarenrae
Exchange Haste for Mass Cure
Mass Cure - D4+1 to both
Valeros - 5
Lem - 3
Recharge Mass Cure = Fail
Stone Head - Bury Frost Ray - Defeated
Location Closed
Valeros and Lem moved to the last of the stone heads.
"All right, you want this one, or should I do it?" Valeros glanced down at his companion.
Turn 20
Valeros - BoG
Stone Head 7
Battleaxe - Banished forever
Before Lem could respond, yet another humanoid crested the peak. This one was a humanoid woman dressed in rags. Well, he certainly wasn't one to discriminate. He loosed another bolt from his crossbow.
Turn 21
Lem - BoG
Stone Head 7
Cure - auto-acquire
Cast Cure - D4+1 = 3
Recharge Cure = Success
Discard BoGozreh explore - Chainmail of Cold Resistance = fail
Discard Toad explore - Hag - Fail check (no spells) = Venomous Heavy Crossbow+2 + Valeros + Wand of Enervation = D8+D10+2+D4+3 = 20 = Success = no need to roll for wand
Recharge wand = Success
"Well, looks like it's my turn then." Valeros smiled. He pulled the emerald codex from his pack and read aloud one of the prayers to the phoenix lord. The status melted back to the earth as the previous ones had.
Turn 22
Valeros - BoTorag
Potion of Gracefulness = Banished forever
Grizzled Mercenary explore - Stone Head - Bury Fiery Weapon (can I do that?) - Defeated
Location Closed
For a moment, nothing happened. There was no sound or movement other than the whistling wind of the mountain. Then all at once, the skull-like cavern began to shudder. As it did, the earth beneath them quaked along with it. As they tried to steady themselves, a great shadow grew until it swallowed them beneath it.
Looking up, their mouths gaped in awe at the sight of a great white dragon descending with incredible speed. They dove to either side as it landed, shattering the ground beneath it. The long, serpentine head whipped around to gaze at both of them in turn with cold blue eyes.
"You shall not enter the Runeforge, small things. I shall freeze you here as a warning to any who would try." The thunderous voice boomed from the great beast.
Turn 23
Lem - BoDesna
"Oh, I don't know, we've gotten pretty good at killing your kind." Valeros shouted to the creature. "If you surrender now, I'll let you be my mount."
In a rage the dragon unleashed a blast of arctic air towards the pair. This was going to be easier than Valeros had thought. This creature was nothing but base instinct. Predicting its attacks should be child's play. They easily dodged the blast, circling the creature from either side. Attacking from both sides, the lumbering beast was no match for their agility. They clambered up either side even as the creature writhed and reared beneath them.
With a singular strike, Lem and Valeros attacked the neck of the beast with magic and steel. The dragon continued to thrash beneath them, but they refused to relent. Within minutes, the creature lie still on the windswept peak.
Turn 24
Valeros - BoCalistria
Sihedron Circle
Arkrhyst - Dex + Lem BoAbadar = 2D8 = 11 = Fail = D4 cold damage = 2
1st check - Longsword+2 = D10+7+D8+2 = 22 = Success
2nd check - reveal and recharge longsword+2 + Lem BoPharasma = D10+7 + D8+2 + D6 + D10 = 29 = Sucess
They turned their attention to the cave, which had long since stopped it's shuddering. Instead the black cavernous mouth was replaced with a shimmering vortex.
"Well, I guess that's how we get to the runeforge, eh?" Valeros said as he sheathed his newly acquired longsword. "Let's not keep this Karzoug waiting."
It felt good to finally be nearing the end of their long journey, Lem thought as they stepped into the portal.
Scenario Victory!
Reward - one random non-basic, non-elite boon from box of characters choice of type
Lem - Spell - Incendiary Cloud
Valeros - Weapon - Deathbane Light Crossbow+1
Post-Game Analysis
All right! That was a really productive session. Got something for everyone: new spells, new weapons, etc. That Slashing Blade trap in the beginning...man I hate that trap. I hated it just as much in my last playthrough of this campaign. I was really sad to miss out on that Disintegrate as well, but what can you do?
Something that will quickly become a staple of this playthrough is Lem swapping spells for Mass Cure in his discard. Without the ability to do that, all of these scenarios would be MUCH more difficult. It's worth noting that at this point, I've finished all but the final four scenarios. It's just a matter of typing them up. Lots of good stuff to come!
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