Wrath of the Lich King session five: The Executioner's Showdown

Last session, the players arrived at Halstaff, the city that is home to the Vrykul Pillar of Community, and were offered a deal by King Ymiron's two Lieutenants, Svala Sorrowgrave and Skadi the Ruthless: bring the traitorous Jarl, Ulrah, to them dead or alive (preferably alive) to Utgarde Keep to make an example of her, and the party will gain their support.

Fish detected something off, and the party 100% planned to kill them instead. Upon going to Mistward forest to search for Ulrah, they overcame the forest's trials (a place filled with the power of the ancestors) and met the accused Jarl - to which she told the party that it was Skadi and Svala whom framed her.

The players decided to bring her with them, to face the lieutenants, along with Executioner Ingvar themselves. This was a very interesting situation - because originally, they could have faced Ingvar and his drakes alone, and Svala/Skadi separately. They wanted all three.

Ingvar, Skadi (though with the wrong armor), and Svala.

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On their way, they had the important discussion with Solessa about what exactly the spirit meant when asking "Do you think you'll have to kill them." 

They decided on a question-by-question basis, so she could ask her own to them in exchange. 

She inquired about Magnus and Soren's marks, where they got them, how they got them (to which the players were rather vague in their responses). She told them some of the truth - the 'who' she may have to kill is her father - a Man'ari, which is an Eredar corrupted by demonic energies. (Draenei are a word for Eredar not corrupted). 

They found out she's killed him once before, but the demons come back, unless they're killed in the twisting nether/abyss. She protected her mother by killing him, since he tried to kill the both of them before they could escape their homeworld of Argus. 

Yes, this is Kil'jaeden, but a good example of what a Man'ari looks like in comparison to Draenei.

One or two players made a couple racist comments accusing her of being a man'ari. (that's extremely racist and insulting, by Draenei standards)

Her father had become a disciplinary figure of the Lich King's force, which is peculiar for a demon to do such things. She also said there are other reasons of why her father's here, and what else she is here for, but specifically said she was hiding that, and she wasn't telling them.

She also inquired Soren about his father, since he was so inquisitive about hers. She probed about why he left home, why he never went back, and tried to figure out exactly what Soren was like.

After enough questions, they went on to Utgarde Keep. On the way, Ulrah sent sendings to the other Jarls to attend (among others...)

She also stated that the day of the trial, she could request a trial by combat. (classic) The players definitely agreed to this, since they got to initiate their plan to fight Svala and Skadi - possibly more, since Ulrah stated the two prefer to carry out their own sentences.

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Utgarde Keep - Executioner's Platform

(I played Scavenger's Den from the Destiny 2 soundtrack here. Loved it for Vrykul-esque stuff)

Had some narrative.

“As you’re escorted onto the large stone platform leading down to the ground, where it is clear that there are a vast number of vrykul that have come to view the event. Hundreds of vrykul in stands above surrounding the forum, you notice the high stands far above where four individuals sit, with one seat empty - two you recognize, Algriff sits leaning over with not a look of concern or fear, but resolve. Jarl Jorg sits with a smug smirk across his stubbled face, watching.

As the crowd goes dead silent, you see a large Vrykul walk out from the door far above, who wears full plate and a great axe strung across his back, and a stag helm with large antlers upon them. He nods to the distance, and the attention draws back toward the end of the path, where six smaller platforms lie. 

Two Vrykul guards stand at the entrance to the larger circle, while Skadi stands with his dark armor, insignia of the Lich king upon the shoulderplate, and his great sword out in front of him, resting upon the weathered stone, with others sheathed at his sides. Svala stands smiling, hands behind her back and in the same simple robes as before, with the same glint of armor beneath. A third large Vrykul you don’t recognize stands between them, wearing full plate covered in burns and dents, and a large jagged lance held in his left hand with several weapons at his sides and across his back. The screech of drakes above circle the platform like vultures, circling with various colours: blue, red, and black.

Svala speaks up first with a broad grin. “Welcome, I see you brought our little traitor back with you! My, everyone, these outsiders have shown themselves to be great allies of the vrykul.""

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At this point, the players noticed that there are six executioner's spots - one for each of the party members, Solessa, and Ulrah.

She waved her finger, and continued. "However! Our little friends here are truly traitors! Trying to gather an assault on the Lich King's merciful rule, and creating chaos throughout the Fjord. For that, each of you are sentenced to death! How do you plead?”

They pled guilty - and demanded trial by combat. To which Svala smiled, and enacted their trial immediately. 

The gate crashed closed behind them, and a veil formed around the platform.

---

"Svala seems to squint and snarl under her words, and with a deep breath, she slowly lifts into the air and waves of black, white and blue swirl around her. As the mist explodes, she lets out a shrill, ear-piercing screech that nearly deafens you all. You see the Svala, floating with ethereal, black wings upon her back, and blue light where her eyes once were. Her neatly-tied braid is now lays as a ruffled mass of hair pouring down her back, her skin pale as the snow, and a vile, chilling grin across her face, and a subtle, icy mist swirling around her.

Ripping two blades emanating frost from scabbards at her side, she twirls them playfully, and says, “I will shatter you like the ice of the north, stupid child! Come forward then, and embrace the chill of death!”"

She looks like a mix of these; more armor than the right. It was difficult to find the right one to represent her.

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Now, I botched the last part. I get kind of anxious sometimes and I stumbled my words. Oops.

And the fight began! Svala and Skadi both rolled super high for initiative (Ingvar did not) so they moved up first.

For reference, Svala and Skadi are Frost and Blood death knights, respectively. Ingvar is a Dragoon. All three are Vrykul, and are undead.

The initiative started with Svala's screech having the 'surprise round,' which was a will save or be panicked for 2d4 rounds. All of the players made their will saves, luckily.

Svala came up and used the frost deathbringer ability called winter's wrath, which is like sindragosa's fury and cone of cold - 60 ft. cone, 1d6 damage per level (and at level 11, which she was, 1d4 dexterity damage) reflex saves halved the cold and dexterity damage.

Ouch. Good start. 

Along with that, the drakes from overhead periodically breathed fire, acid, and cold on the party from Ingvar's training and commands.

Skadi moved up as well, beginning with death and decay. he was setting up for his heart strike build. however, throughout the battle, the players kept him almost exclusively on the ground through very high trip rolls (Soren has a trip build), as well as Fish's targeted strike piracy against his legs. 

Very, very smart move, as Skadi can be really dangerous if left alone - especially because he's the 'tank' of the three. He can heal himself - and his health is linked to Svala's.

Ingvar was far more dangerous than I expected him to be. I mean, I knew the jump ability hurt, but I did make him focused on that. He had three jump powers:

Short jump - which means he attacks right away with it, rather than the next turn

Improved damage - short jump does double damage with a reach weapon such as a lance

Impale - which allows him to make a grapple check, and if successful, can rip his lance out (due to the bladed attachment) as a swift action for the base damage dice after the hit. 

In short, the dragoon has a supernatural jump that allows them to choose a spot, leap into the air (distance based on level), and come down the following turn on that spot. they deal 2x (or 3x with reach) damage against flat-footed AC. 

But this is if they still hit something. The enemy can move. The dragoon can, if the target moves, take a -1 attack penalty for every 5 ft. they change direction up to their movement speed. 

Short jump halves the jump time (to the same turn), while increased damage made the jump still hurt (2x damage rather than 1.5x normally)

During the battle, he would basically plummet specific targets' health, focusing whoever he expected to be the greatest threat. This tended to be either Soren and Fish (who did a lot of damage, and tripped people), to Rosalia (the caster/pack lord/healer) to Ulrah (the healer). 

There was a point where Rosalia took a jump hit, got knocked out and reduced to -13 hp - one hit point from death. Better yet, Ingvar rolled a 1 on his impale check - completely losing that damage - almost any other roll would have been a success. So that was a miracle survival moment. Her two animal companions were still ripping away at the enemies though, so she was still dealing a lot of damage while knocked out/trying to survive.

Just showcasing totems here. Obviously that's not Ulrah, it's a Tauren by Peter Lee.

During the fight, Ulrah, being a shaman, dropped something the players hadn't seen yet: totems! I was really excited to see totems in action. I mistakingly gave one of her totems a bonus +1 to attack (total +3) by mistake, but it happens.

Totems work like bard performances, but they have a radius (usually 30 ft. for buffs like in grace of air totem) and they can be killed by weapon attacks. They can activate up to four at oncem(one of each element) - but it's like spending four performance rounds per turn - and can get spent veeeeery fast. 

Ulrah is a pure support character almost, and she really served her purpose in the fight. She gave them attack through the grace of air totem, fast healing through healing stream totem, and a bit of natural armor though earthen shield totem.

When Rosalia went down, Ulrah activated her ascendance, which enhances her healing totem, and her healing spells. She used chain heal, a spell I made! She boosted a few people up health wise, and got Rosalia back up off the ground. 

To stop Ingvar from almost killing someone else, Solessa drew her seven-branced sword and disarmed him. I totally forgot he had quick draw, but to be fair, she wouldn't know he had it anyways.

At this point there was a fight-turning moment, where Soren got a critical strike with his scythe, dealing a massive 80+ damage in one hit to Skadi! This drew Ingvar's attention, which made him leave Rosalia alone and jump to Soren to nearly knock him out. Soon after, Solessa ran over and grappled Ingvar so he couldn't jump even if he had quick draw.

Fish continually shot both Svala and kept using targeted strike on Skadi's legs, so he couldn't stay on his feet. This really kept him under control and stopped him from healing himself and svala/killing people. Very turning in the fight.

Magnus went to attack Svala, who had been casting cold abilities on the party. He channeled energy to damage them, and went to melee attack her as well with his dervish enchantments up. Sadly for him, she turned and used her main focus strike of frost death knights, obliterate, and she got a crit. With a whopping 68 damage (not nearly as impressive as Soren's face-wrecker) he almost went down in one hit. Though she didn't roll high...funny enough. 

Magnus channeled to heal and Ulrah continued to keep them up, and with one last burst of damage, Svala used her Winter's wrath once more after it came off cooldown (1d6+ rounds) and nearly killed the party. With more strikes from others, especially Shining Diamond and Killer Queen (the names of Rosalia's large companions) They took down Skadi and Svala, who were linked by health! 

At this time, Solessa rolled to pin Ingvar, and he was unable to escape. With a final shot from Fish, he took the final kill, and the battle was over! Their innocence was won.

Though he carries a revolver! Much better than a flintlock or something.

After their victory, they were, by law, able to keep the equipment of the one they defeated aka the gear from the three. 

After Soren almost getting knocked out three times, Rosalia one hit point from death, Magnus almost going down in one hit, and Fish getting knocked out mid-fight, they made it! It was a close and grueling fight that made us go a bit over time.

But, after combat ended, there was shock and appall after the cheers rang out - dead silence flew over the crowd as attention drew to King Ymiron's chair, where a gear-less skeleton lay in his chair - an illusion, somehow!

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Does the party gain the Vrykul support? Is the King dead? Who is in Utgarde Pinnacle now?

The party has to wait til our next game to find out what's next, this Friday! 

I'll be posting the Dragoon information tomorrow! Stay tuned. Soon these posts will be far rarer now that I've caught up - Probably one session post per week, and one class/race post per week or so.

Thanks for reading!