|
"Boss, you gotta heal up. Here, lemme use the wand on you."
[b"That was one nasty plant. Boss, if you gotta check something like that out again,my out send one of your magical,summoned critters. Much safer. Me no worry so much then. Remember you old... not great hero like Ice Melts Quietly in Sunlight. You do good, but you let strong heroes like me and Uncle Ishy and Eefie d the hard fighting. Mebbe we get you wand of pew pew and you always help."[/b]
"If we have moment, we should check everybody for helping things, use their weapons against them. We should search all the bodies, the library, and the plant room. Maybe something good to fight with there. Maybe not,
Coramus nods, hiding a smile at Ice Melts Quietly in Sunlight's words. "You speak wisdom, my friend. I shall endeavor to let you younger folks take the brunt of the glory, and the hits, as well."
The wizard chuckles before turning to Ishbaad. "Battle plans are ever changing, good Ishbaad. Let us go to the top and deal with the mistress of this Tower." The wizard will follow close behind Ishbaad, should everyone agree.
"Coramus, I am .. what? What is going on? Afoie why are you on me?"
A moment later, "Child, I cannot thank you enough for saving me back there. You are truly what heroes are made of. Always be you. Always be you."
After they have looted the corpses, Jorvik holsters his hammer, and takes out his bow. 'Upwards? Let's go. I do not want to be trapped here."
Coramus helps the others gather anything worthwhile off Hestrig and the others, using his magic to determine if any of the items radiated with arcane or divine might.
Ishbaad turns back around to help quickly loot the bodies at both Jorvik and Ice Melts Quietly in Sunlight's suggestion. It should only take a few moments anyways.
In the back of his mind, horrible thoughts creep at the edges of his concious, and his worry grows for the battle in the courtyard below.
how fares Nadya and the townsfolk? We must be done with this... and soon.
"To the witch. I am surprised she hasn't shown her face yet..."
With detect magics active, the companions quickly survey their fallen foes for the choicest of their equipment...
Mierul has two potions of cure moderate wounds and one potion of undetectable alignment, along with an ice floe elixir. The rest of her gear is mundane.
Hestrig greatsword detects as magical, but Coramus quickly realizes that it is but the work of a magic weapon spell and the enchantment will fade. She has an elixir of fire breath, three potions of cure moderate wounds a scroll of magic weapon and a magical key that is likely to be an activate key for a gate or teleportation circle of some kind... and the shrewd wizard guesses this means it will activate a particular ice teleporter. Which one, he cannot say.
With the bodies quickly looted , the companions move over to the teleporter that would take them to the top floor .
"Take wing, soar and fly, let me view the winter sky!" they say when everyone is on the transportation pad. Unlike transporting from the ground floor, nothing happens. The six friends wait a little while longer, before it becomes obvious that the teleporter's phrase has changed, or it is no longer active.
With little other option, they move to the one that will take them to the aerie. Quickly, they cast any buffs they need and then - luckily - Coramus steps onto the pad last. With the key from Hestrig in his pocket, he activates the ice teleporter without the need for the command phrase and everyone is shifted up to the Aerie...
.
Aoife is beyond relieved when she is able to wrap Jorvik in her arms, and hold onto him just long enough for the others to wrestle him down, and more importantly, for his wits to return. She stares at him unblinking for a moments once the familiar twinkle is again behind his eyes, and her stare, returning his, is laced with concern as if she were looking with utter love and painful uncertainty. As Jorvik compliments and thanks her, the youth cannot respond and remains watching intently, as if she is afraid the half-elf will vanish from existence if she looses sight for even a moment.
Even as he steps away with the others, as the group searches the room and pushed further into the Pale Tower, Aoife plucks her greatsword from the stone floor and follows quickly at Jorvik's heels. She stay close to his side during the first attempt at using the strange transporter, and sidles closer still when the second succeeds.
I will not let anything happen to him, she pledges to herself, constantly looking up toward the half-elf and catching glimpses of his pointy-ears peeking through the curls of his hear. He is precious to you. You already lost dad... You almost lost Uncle Ishy... Stay by Jorvik's side and help get him through this alive.
Even if you must fall yourself...
She tightens her grasp on the greatsword and prepares to let her building rage release in a torrent of slashing fury in order protect her beloved friends.
The wizard's eyes widen for the split second it takes the teleporter to vaporize him and materialize him on the higher floor. Patting his pocket, he nods to himself more than anyone else, thinking that their luck had a divine aspect to it. Not having anything to add at the moment, the wizard hangs back behind the front line of the party, ready to cast in support if needed.
Ishbaad tosses the ice elixir and the scroll to Coramus. "You may benefit most from this old man." He says with a wry smile.
"And this elixir is right up your alley my blue goblin friend." he says, tossing the elixir of fire breath to Ice Melts Quietly in Sunlight. The potions of cure moderate wounds are passed out to everyone, with Ishbaad being the only one not to receive one.
Just before the group goes through the portal, Ishbaad reaches down and places his hand on Aoife's shoulder, and another on Jorvik's.
"Iomedae blesses you this day. Fight with honor. Fight with Courage. Courage is not the absence of fear, but doing what must be done in spite of it. Evil cannot stand in the face of courage, and evil will not stand in front of you."
"Thank you for blessing me my friend. Odd that we call upon Desna and Iomedae to restore the evil machinations of Baba Yaga. Odder yet that they see fit to honor us. Come, let us battle valiently. I for one long to be reunited with Heafoc."
Turning to Aofie, "Little one, the gods smile much on you. May Desna guide your steps, and bring you to safety."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Well, that went well!"
Kuragin blinks a few times as he is trying to get used to the static world, the one without numerous probabilities obscuring his vision. Just as he said, he is quite surprised they managed to get this far so easily, and defeat Hestrig. Maybe he was worried for nothing.
He sheds no tears for the captain of the guard, but Mierul's demise was a sad thing. He felt attracted to the odd creature, although he sensed from the beginning they were on different sides of this conflict. Affectionally, Kuragin strokes Meirul's hairy skin, and checks her pulse. Maybe the singer wasn't quite dead yet?
Then he realizes this is the first moment of respite since bursting out from the crate. And who knows what await them in the Aerie, so best use this time well. Kuragin takes his wand of Mage Armor, and uses it to conjure magical force field to protect him from harm.
"I'm ready. Let's go up"
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Nadya wipes blood and sweat from her brow. Dead guards were everywhere, along with a few townspeople. Too many... but blessedly few, Nadya notes. If not for Rolf, the priest of Pharasma, his goddess would have far too many souls from Waldsby this day. As it was, all he could do now was staunch bleeding with his spells. His throat was dry and his prayers were tapped.
The red-headed ranger thinks back to when the very waters of the fountain itself began attacking her and her friends. The shudder she feels is all the stronger for the cold seeping in to her now drenched clothing. Many of her comrades are feeling the same way.
"Well, Grigor, I think this level's secure," she says to the big man where he is, lying on the ground, his breathing shallow, "You can rest now... but not too deeply. We're getting out of here with our skins intact! Oh... shît..."
Nadya looks up to the aerie. She sees a gathering cloud of purest black. No, not a cloud... ravens! The birds swirl around within the ice spikes marking the border of the aerie above, but they do not come down. I wonder what they could be doing up there? Why doesn't Jairess throw them at us?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The companions exit the ice teleporter to a chaos of feathers, claws and biting fury. Jairess, it seems, had prepared for their arrival by directing her birds to fly around the teleporter itself.
"Peck the intruders eyes out!" she screams, "Yes, my darlings, you must feed! Why should they have eyes when your bellies are empty?!" Jairess may not be evil, according to Hatch, but she is clearly more than a little insane.
As the companions tumble out of the ice transporter and attempt to figure out what is going on, spreading out so they can swing their weapons, the ravens dive and swoop, attacking mercilessly with beak and claw. Aoife, Jorvik and Ishbaad being in the lead suffer the worst from the pecks and claws.
As the ravens attempt to consume his orbs, Ishbaad somehow cannot seem to keep his eyes shut and they severely damage his corneas, leaving him unable to see!
Beyond the sea of feathers, beaks and talons, the companions (save for Ishbaad) see a crazed, white-haired, blue-skinned woman with an enormous spear barking orders at her ravens. An image in the mirror behind her fluctuates and goes away. Apparently, she has been in communication with a white witch... though exactly who is uncertain.
"My friends, clear out!" The wizard screams instructions before pulling out a scroll, reading the words, holding back while his companions clear the swarm area.
The child grips the enormous sword in one hand, while having the opposite in a futile attempt to keep the flocking creatures from her face. Around her the light is suddenly snuffed out by swarming black shapes blotting out all sight, and accompanied by a deafening whir of flapping wings and the cacophonous cries of madly gathering birds. Her massive leather gauntlet pushed aside the storm of flapping wings and piercing beaks just enough for Aoife to break from their clutches. From amidst the squadron of ravens the child explodes and skids to a stop beside the raven queen, her sword already drawn and ready to strike.
Ishbaad grunts, nearly panicking as the ravens swarm the group coming through the portal. Stubbornly, he conceals his emotions, and focuses on the raven mistress, which turns out to be a poor choice. The birds peck and claw at his eyes, leaving pools of blood and gaping wounds in his eyes and on his face. Unable to see, he flails his hands in front of him, pushing towards the direction he knows the woman to be, and shuffling his feet until he can no longer feel the prescence of ravens around him.
At least we have occupied the ravens and their mistress, instead of leaving the villagers below exposed, if they are even still alive...
Once free from the birds, Ishbaad reaches in his bandolier for where he normally keeps his curative potions. Flicking the cork out in practiced fashion, he tilts his head back and drinks, hoping that in his blind state he isn't too close to the woman to leave himself open to an attack.
Ishbaad grips his spear, ignoring the bloody visions in his eyes, and stabs forward blindly in the direction he knew the woman was in, hoping she is still there.
for
As the companions take stock of their surroundings, they see the rest of the room :
A triangle of crossed steel wires runs between three wooden posts in this crescent-shaped room that smells strongly from the bird droppings scattered across the floor. Along the south wall, open windows look down from a dizzying height, admitting a brisk, cold wind. Two doors exit this chamber, one next to a large mirror to the west and another standing between a pair of wooden chests to the northeast.
Coramus readies some arcane words for when his companions get out of his way, and Aoife strides out of the blinding cloud of birds to deliver a near-crippling blow to the sylph bird keeper.
"My birds will feast upon your innards for that, child!" cries Jairess, pain making her voice even more shrill than before.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Ishbaad strides out of the area of ravens, allowing Coramus to squeeze past Kuragin to basically sit on the wooden chest there. He casually twinkles his fingers and a burst of flame incinerates over a score of ravens, their already black bodies falling to the ground in a pile of ashen feathers.
"Noooooo!" wails Jairess, incensed.
With the pain of Jairess screaming in his ears, Ishbaad aims straight for her mouth. His spear explodes through the back of her skull and she falls limply to the ground, not breathing and unmoving.
With half of their number in flames and their mistress gone, the raven swarm flies up and out of the aerie. The birds rapidly become indistinct black dots agains the white Irriseni sky.
Kuragin blinks, his hand prepared for the spellcasting gestures. Is it over already? Or am I seeing probable futures?
But the vision stays still, the ravens and their mistress slain. No enemies in sight, but two doors. The witch stays still and waits for someone else open the door.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Fending off the raven swarm, Jorvik sees Ishbaad and Aofie combine to slaughter the ravens' mistress. That was the way of the north, if you were to pick a fight, you better win.
He whistles shrilly for Heafoc to come to him. Circling high, Heafoc dives down pecking at a few stray raven or two on her way down.
"Anyone know to to find out who she was talking to in that mirror? Do we use it or smash it?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Ishbaad shakes the lifeless skull from the end of his spear and looks around at the rapidly dissipating swarm. Moving over, he rifles through her pack to see if there is anything useful, such as a key like the one that brought them to this room.
"I say smash it, but Kuragin is the expert here." Ishbaad offers as he picks through the important stuff.
"We must go back down before we can go up. If the portal doesn't work, we will need to find a more industrious way up to the top. I wish we knew how Nadya fared below..."
After grabbing whatever is useful, Ishbaad peers over the balcony to see the courtyard below. In a flash of an idea, Ishbaad grabs the body of the raven queen and throws it over the edge.
At the very least, it will bolster the resolve of the townsfolk that we have pressed so far and with such success. Iomedae watch over them.
"Are we ready to press to the top? Now is the time to shut down this portal."
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
"What the fūck?!!" Nadya cries, leaping out of the way. Her coat is covered in blood and gore as the body of the falling sylph veritably explodes when it hits the hard, icy path just beside her. Worried, she looks to see if it is anyone she recognizes. At first she thinks it might be Ice Melts Quietly in Sunlight, but then she realizes that - despite the blue flesh - there is way too much of it for it to be a goblin. "Jairess," she notes with grim satisfaction.
Nadya looks up at the aerie and gives a silent nod to the unseen heroes fighting above.
"Well, Borsk, Mika, load up the wounded on the ice teleporters. If they've made it to the aerie, they've cleared the hall. Let's make sure these brave souls stay warm at least," Nadya then looks to the remaining townsfolk in the courtyard, looking to her for direction, "Close those gates, and don't open them for anyone!"
Nadya looks once more to the aerie and then to the very top of the tower. I just pray that Radosek is not too much for them.
Ishbaad considers talking into the mirror. Kuragin knows that it will likely be precious minutes before Radosek - or another winter witch - looks through it again. All that it do would be to give the witches an insight into what happened on the aerie. Deciding that it would be more tactically sound to give their enemy less information, the companions smash the mirror.
Meanwhile, one door at a time, the brave invaders open the doors to the other rooms.
Two bookshelves, a chest, and a comfortable-looking bed heaped with thick blankets furnish this bedroom. A mobile of ice crystals carved to resemble birds hangs from the ceiling, glinting in the light from frost-covered windows.
The heroes find nothing of value or use in this room.
Dozens of stacked crates fill this angular storeroom. Several miniature dollhouses stand atop high shelves.
Following Coramus's directions from his detect magic spell, Ice Melts Quietly in Sunlight notices a small treasure trove hidden rather well in the corner behind some crates and under a hessian cloth. It includes:
- A magical jewelled dagger whose hilt resembles the head of a blue-eyed winter wolf.
- A jade bracelet with oriental designs.
- A pair of porcelain dolls.
- A sapphire encrusted silver medallion.
- A gold signet ring that Kuragin identifies as belonging to the family of Queen Tashanna, whose rule ended some 500 years ago.
- Three blue quartz crystals (commonly known as ice diamonds).
After the companions loot her possessions, Ishbaad throws Jairess's body off the aeirie. They find:
- A potion of fly.
- A scroll of returning weapon.
- Silver necklace with an ice diamond pendant.
- Masterwork shortspear.
Additionally, they notice two small keys that radiates faint magic. One is identical to the one they found on Hestrig's body, but the other is is of a slightly different style.
As the anger and rage coursing venomously through her veins begins to dissipate, the child drops to one knee and braces herself with an outstretched arm. She pants for breath, taking in long, ragged gasps, as the weight of her greatsword suddenly feels unwieldily and heavy. For a few moments she remains, until her breathing steadies and, at last, Aoife rising to her feet. The blade still feels heavier than it did mere seconds ago and the enormous leather gauntlet holding it shudders slightly from the effort, which she hopes the others will not notice.
"I don't know if my strength will last, she thinks, still trying to catch her breath. Her eyes focus on her free hand and she knows her failing strength has set it to trembling. "I can push myself for ten seconds more, maybe twenty... and then my strength will be gone..."
I must protect the others while I still can.
"The key," she says aloud, pulled from her thoughts, and seeing the two new keys. Her eyes focus on the one with different styling. "When we held a similar one and stepped on to the last transporter, we didn't need a password... it just worked. Could that new key work the same for the other level of this tower?"
She turns to Jorvik before the others can respond, and adds, "If you have any more words that will give me strength, I may need them."
Coramus nods, smiling at the astuteness shown by Aoife. "Yes, I believe you are correct! Let us be off at once! Maintain aggression!" Such a comment seems laughable coming from the skin and bones old man, but his brow is knit in a fierce determination all the same as he makes his way to the other teleporter.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Turning to Kuragin, "Two keys. If I understand correctly, we need to ascend to the top of the tower to dismantle the portal's focus. The child speaks correctly."
Jorvik inwardly sighs, the fact that not only did they allow the child to accompany them, but she has saved his life on more than one occasion is something that he must deal with. Trying his best to push those thoughts aside and focus on their task at hand.
"There is not a level of this tower that has not been defended nor has not been notified of our presence. I hate to suggest this, but I worry that our village friends have been left to slaughter. Should we split, some go to assist them and others head towards the portal? Mayhaps an even better idea might be to descend, grab them, and ascend and finish this task."
Different than before, his words had helped stir the populace. Now he and his companions are responsible for them. Each slash, every ounce of blood, every death, would somehow be connected to him. No longer did his decisions only affect him. Anther thought to be contemplated, but not yet. So much to do before then.
Shouldering his bow, he removes his hammer, thinking that in the tight confines of the tower he would be better served to sing his songs of courage and bravery while wielding his hammer with force and accuracy.
"I know where you come from by your suggestion Jorvik, but we must trust in Pharasma, Desna, and the justice of Iomedae that the villagers have succeeded in their fight. Our job is to make sure there is nothing to overwhelm them from the tower. We have moved swiftly so far, let us go to the top and finish this." Ishbaad puts his hand on Jorvik's shoulder.
The Oread prides himself on not letting his feelings be evident. A stone face with no window into his soul. But it is not his face that betrays the Oread's similar desire to rush down and lend aid to the villagers, but the tone in his voice.
"Let us finish this, then we can go where our hearts lead..."
Ishbaad looks over his shoulder to the seething Aoife, "She cannot keep this pace much longer, we must finish this while we can, and before our enemy has much longer to prepare. As you well know from your battles in the north, there is no such thing as the perfect advantage, it is all relative. We still hold some from our initial assault. Let us not give our enemy more time to prepare for us."
Nodding his head, Jorvik responds to Ishbaad, "What level have we been on where we did not encounter organized resistance? Entering this level, we were beset immediately by the ravens. I fear the next level will be more of the same. This tower is supposed to garrison close to forty able bodied defenders, and as of yet we have not encountered any of them."
Exhaling sharply, "Yet I will follow you up. I would rather spring the trap than have it sprung upon us. Is there not an alternate means of egress up? And once we reach them, if were are over matched, one of us should retreat, gather the villagers, and bring them up. The increased numbers might be enough for us to win the day."
Jorvik looks over his companions, "Many of us have taken wounds, and our supplies and resources dwindle. If we are to disable the portal, we need to find the path of least resistance, and do so quickly."
"Someone could fly up... using that," the child calls to the others, motioning to the potion Icy had identified only moments before, and then she turns and steps toward the transporting device. "Maybe Icy could use it, fly up, and draw their attention for when we arrive on the top floor. He could even use his exploding pots to hit belt our enemies from the safety of the sky."
"I don't have long before my strength is gone," she says, concern clearly lining her voice. "The magic of my father's gauntlets is running dry. I'm making for the top floor, I hope you will bring the key and follow me."
Within a few steps, Aoife is to the transporter, calling out as she steps on the device, "Down a level, to the halls, leave this cage without walls"
"The townfolk's purpose was to aid us to defeat the Baroness, and close the portal. Wouldn't we be betraying their sacrifice if we turn back to aid them? I am with Ishbaad, let us move swiftly upstairs. So back down to second floor, and a teleporter from there?"
Ishbaad moves with the others to the portal, first back to the second floor, then to the other portal, hoping that the key works to take them to the unknown top level.
"We are as ready as we will ever be. Let us finish this, and save two towns in one fell swoop."
|
|
Ice Melts Quietly in Sunlight thinks about the offered solution, but decides that he has to be near to his friend to protect her... probably from herself. She is still young, and while strong, not nearly the mighty hero as Ice Melts Quietly in Sunlight.
"Me will go with you all. No good happens when party split up, that what they tell novices at Grand Lodge, right Boss?" he asks Coramus.
"Ice Melts Quietly in Sunlight think we strike fast and hard... catch them on their toes. Me not always think most goblin tactics are good... but this one has its advantages!"
The companions step back onto the transporter and head down to the second floor once more. As their stomach's catch up to the rest of their bodies, they hear movement. They recognize Nicolai's booming voice as he orders cots made for townsfolk. The heroes breathe easy knowing that the bottom level must be secure and hurry onto the teleporter, Aoife coming in last with the key. It is a tense second while they wait to see if the key works as they suspect it will.
The mirrored hall melts away and leaves the six adventurers - and their furry or feathered companions - staring at a very strange scene.
A translucent image of a globe hangs suspended in midair, slowly rotating in place, above a summoning circle in the blue-tiled floor of this large chamber. Lines of arcane energy glow across the globe’s surface, faintly humming with power as they connect multiple endpoints in a radiant glow bright enough to illuminate the domed ceiling overhead. Many tables and shelves covered in books, maps, and large scrolls line the room’s circular walls, and a large ornate mirror hangs between two open windows to the west. Twin ice sculptures of demonic fiends flank a bubbling cauldron in an archway leading into a deep alcove in the southern wall.
Turning from the cauldron at the far end of the chamber is a wild-eyed man with dark brown hair, a goatee... and a goat! The man is clearly from Kuragin's same bloodline, as they appear almost identical. He has one hand on the cauldron and seems to be in the middle of casting some kind of spell. Rather than an evil monologue, the companions are instead treated to an evil stare.
The child sees the man and takes in his strange gestures toward the cauldron, and a twinge of fear washes over her briefly. She does not know what the man is doing, or what will happen should he finish his action, and before she knows what is happening, the child has already crossed the room. Aoife's feet carry her on an arcing route, moving just out of the way enough that the odd goat will not be able to strike out at her.
As the distance between Aoife and her mark decrease, the blade of her enormous greatsword draws back in deadly preparation...
Aoife rushes forth to deliver her blow, the goat lashes out with what appears to be an action it had readied just for whoever came to attack its master. To Aoife's shock, it isn't trying to gore her. Rather, its horns drip with arcane darkness that seeps into her skin.
Aoife feels the witch's power seeping into her bones from the bite delivered by the goat.
The poor girl nearly drops her greatsword as she sends it arcing towards Radosek. Luckily, she puts a massive amount of concentration in at the last minute, and it strikes true.
"Fie to you, child!" Radosek curses in a surprisingly deep voice as Aoife causes him to lose his spell!
"Yes Aoife! Masterful!" Ishbaad shouts his encouragement he hopes the girl can hear above the rage in her mind.
Ishbaad is torn with both targets in front of them, but knows the more dangerous one is the man at the cauldron. He steps up close to the goat, lunging over it's small frame with his magical spear.
for