Virgil grimaces at being referred to as a nobody, even if it is done with the best intentions. He quickly moves his hand from the hilt of his rapier with the guards arrival and nods along with Stian's comments.
"We'll be no trouble sergeant."
Thorgull nods profusely at the mention "nobody".
"Indeed! Just passing here in town. About to leave. Leaving this very instant!"
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You head back to apparent safety without further trouble, though you clearly feel the eyes of the local people set on you. Nadya frowns when you share the tale of your strange encounter with the innkeeper and the seargent of the Pale guard.
"This is not good. Most likely, this means that the winter witch knows of your presence here, or is about to. What do you intend to do about her, if I may inquire?"
"We need to take her out of power. And if she knows about us, we shouldn't give her much more time to prepare her forces or send word to the other Jadwiga. We should act now. Do you know the best way there? Can we beat her guards so she doesn't know that we are coming?"
Stian nods grimly, agreeing with Zadok. "Aye, I see no other way around it." Turing to Nadya, he says. "Any information, no matter how slight, will be much appreciated."
"Is there really no other way around? I don't think savagely killing guards in the open will do good to us... The village folks will just hate us more!"
Turning to Nadya, he asks "And the innkeeper told us something about not drinking what he offers... He seemed to be upset we didn't drink any of his "tea"."
Virgil nods along with the conversation.
"I'm not in favor of attacking local guards, we can still beat them back if we head off now. They're just doing their jobs."
On the subject of the tea, the duellist continues.
"If I was a betting man, I'd wager it was drugged."
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Nadya nods, a sour look on her face. "I suppose that can't be helped. After what she did to my daughter, I cannot possibly consider her fit to rule us anymore. She must pay, and she will. I'll lead you to the Pale Tower myself. In return, I would like you to avenge my daughter - I know I am no match against the White Witch, but you can succeed where I cannot."
A noise can be heard behind your back. When you turn around, the tiny house fey, carrying a spoon much too large for him, is standing on a shelf, revealing himself.
"Hello, I'm Hatch, proud protector of this household! Before moving here, I spent many years in the Pale Tower, in Nazhena's service. Maybe I could help you if you have any questions?"
Zadok smiles at the small fey and squats down to be more on level with him. "Hello Hatch. Yes, certainly, your help and knowledge would be welcome. Is that spoon all you have for protection? Perhaps we have some leftover weapons we can loan you."
Zadok looks down at his winter boots. "Sorry. I will try better next time. And there will be a next time, I hope. What can you tell us about the tower? Is there a best means of entry? Where will we find the Witch herself?"
Stian sits down, crosslegged, on the floor to get to eye level with the small fey. "Your help is most appreciated. Can you give us a general layout of the Pale Tower? How many guards are there? Is it possible to catch her alone? Is it possible to enter the tower unnoticed?" He asks, the questions in his head piling up on themselves.
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The story so far
It all started with that harsh winter that came unexpectedly to Taldor in the middle of summer. Drawn to it, you all met in the peaceful village of Heldren, located near the Border Woods. Setting up an expedition in the snow-packed forest was no small feat, but you proved every bit as able as proper heroes would be. However, the forest itself seemed to be alive and hampering your progression - or was it the wintry fey presence there?
There was also the matter of a Taldan noblewoman's disappearance - Lady Argentea Malassene. Upon investigating the case, you tracked the fair lady's abductors to a cabin in the woods, not far from the heart of winter. The bandits were no match for your skills, and thus you managed to free Lady Malassene from a dreadful fate. After returning her safely to Heldren - and thus receiving a handsome reward - you decided to venture once more into the Border woods to find out the truth about this sudden winter.
The journey was a harrowing experience, yet you succeeded where so many didn't. On the way, you encountered a strange doll inhabited with a little girl's ghost - one you will never forget.
You finally reached a winter portal, guarded by a hideous ice troll - Teb Knotten - and his fey henchmen. As you dispatched them, a ghastly knight clad in pitch black armor rode through the winter portal, only to live his last moments at your feet. He revealed to you that he was Baba Yaga's mythic Black Rider, one of the three herald in service to the Witch Queen. Baba Yaga was scheduled to return this year to Golarion, but her treacherous daughter Elvanna, leader of the Winter Witches in Irrisen, set her up and imprisonned her. He vested you with his mythic power, originating from the Witch Queen herself, so that you could find the strength to free her. This, as far as you know, is the only way to prevent Golarion from succumbing to the Endless Winter, brought by the winter portals sprouting everywhere.
Your mission became clear: step through the portal, find a way to close it, then find Baba Yaga's Dancing Hut in Whitethrone (the capital city of Irrisen), then use the two keys the Black Rider gave you - a lock of white hair from a frost giant's beard, and a plague doctor's mask.
After the Black Rider's death, you boldly strode through the winter portal and found yourself in Irrisen. There, you met one of your staunchest allies, the guide Nadya Petska, who turned out to be the mother of the girl imprisoned in the doll you encountered earlier. She offered to guide you to Waldsby, the town she's hailing from, so that you could rest and recover from the bitterly cold snow storms harrassing you and decide what to do next.
There, you quickly gathered that most townspeople were living in terror of the local winter witch, Nazhena Vasiliovna, and her ruthless soldiers. There were indeed few allies to find in Waldsby, but Nadya once again proved your strongest asset. Once you revealed her daughter's fate to her, she decided to help you through and through with bringing down the winter witch, and with infiltrating the Pale Tower, where the winter portal's core must be. Moreover, a tiny fey inhabiting her house, Hatch, has offered his invaluable help. He has worked in the Pale Tower for years, and desires nothing more than help those who would hasten her former mistress's demise.
Zadok awakens from his much-needed nap in Nadya Petska's cottage, his mind still a blur from all that has happened to shunt him to this far-away wintry land. He looks at his thin-fingered hand and flexes it a few times, feeling the strange new power coursing through his very veins-the Mantle of the Black Rider. Illarion Matveius, his mind echoes, a name I will never forget, now that we all share his burden and his oath to retrieve Baba Yaga from the treachery of her daughter the Queen.
Zadok stands up and wipes the long black hair from his face before straightening up his clothes. "I think it is time we made our way to the Pale Tower. Whitethrone is a long way away but before we get there we need to free this town from the terror of Nazhena Vasiliovna and close that portal to put Heldren out of harm's way. We should make haste for the tower and I am ready for the journey. Nadya, Hatch: can you show us the way?"
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Hatch beams a typical fey smile: half-happy, half delighted in bringing mischief.
"It'll be my pleasure to guide you there, and also to reveal some information as to how that place works. I've toiled there for many years, you see, yet Mistress Vasiliovna wasn't the grateful kind - I'll be delighted in returning the favor to her."
The tiny fey then draws a crude map of the Pale tower upon a piece of parchment. He makes many annotations showing how to navigate the tower. He also writes down cryptic sentences.
"You see, the whole place is magical - it is literally made of pure ice. You don't reach the higher tiers of the tower without a good graps of its magic, one that was woven by the winter witch. There are ice crystal teleporters here, here and here," explains Hatch as he points to various locations on the map. "You will have to use them to teleport up, up, up, to the mistress's chambers. Be careful though, the place is heavily guarded by both fey and man. The witch's apprentice, Radosek Pavril, also lurks there. He's a crafty one, don't underestimate him."
"Oh, one last thing - be careful about mirrors. They're a source of evil, especially if you break them. However, I always have the impression that they're watching."
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As you are debating on how to foray into the Pale Tower, there's a knock at the door. Immediately, a shiver is sent down your spine.
Is that destiny knocking at the door?
Virgil pulls himself from the seat he'd taken residence in while he considered the situation they all found themselves in, moving tentatively towards the door. The duellist hand falls to the grip of his rapier as he pressed himself up next to the door.
"Who goes there?
Zadok cautiously moves to the back of the cottage, not casting anything just yet but prepared in case guards or some of Nazhena's goons are here to rough them up.
Shaking his head to place his thoughts to their rightful places, Thorgull opens his mouth and tries to say something when he hears the tension in Virgil's voice. The wizard's mouth stays open as he looks nervously at the door. "Go ahead, Virgil!"
The door to the building opens as the cold, biting wind sweeps through the building. In the dark, snowy landscape seen through the portal, giant hulking man in a Tien oni helmet stands. Beneath the intricately masked face, rippling muscles and a pair of ripped linen three-quarters trousers sit a top a pair of feet in monk's sandals.
he bellows in a deep voice.
Realizing that he is talking too loudly, he takes off the helmet and you see a friendly looking face completely with short brown hair and hazel eyes. "Sorry. The helmet sometimes makes me talk too loudly as it is a little hard to hear sometimes." he offers as explanation as he sets down the helmet on a nearby table.
"I think that I am to join you if I have followed the signs of Yamatsumi properly." he tells you. "Is there to be a great quest undertaken? My master told me to seek out the greatest quest in order to eventually take control of the temple upon his passing. If I fail, then Yamatsumi has determined that I am unfit to be the next leader."
Strapped to the man's back, you see a large studded club that seems to be made of a type of reddish wood. The length of this club is etched with prayers to Yamatsumi in Tien.
As Giri approaches carefully, you also notice that his right leather bracer (the only article of clothing on his upper body) is the holy symbol for Yamatsumi with the Tien word for 'fire' etched over it and the left bracer is the same, but the word is 'ice'.
"Even if this is not the place, may I at least warm myself before venturing out into the cold once more?" he asks politely.
Virgils grip on his rapier loosens slightly as he takes a step back from the stranger.
"Exactly what quest do you think we are on? And how did you find your way here?"
There is a note of scepticism in the duellists voice as he appraises the clearly foreign attire. Allowing enough space to pass, Virgil gestures to the hearth, not keen to see anyone freeze to death in this frigid environment.
Still taking a defensive posture, the wizard mutters some words in his winter clothing and a piece of it seems to animate as two eyes peek at the tien. "Guili, stay in there!"
Not listening to his master's warning, the arctic hare jumps gracefully on the table next to him and sniffs profusely in the newcomer's direction.
"Yamatsumi? What does a follower of the Mountain Lord has to do in these snowy lands? There are no volcanoes around, sir."
Zadok's eyes narrow but this is just the random experience that he used to interpret as a sign from his own ill-defined deities of the void. "Indeed, you must be a long way from home. But then again, I think we all are. Tell us: what do you know of Baba Yaga and her Riders then? Are you aware of the situation in Irrisen currently?"
"I followed the direction that my heart led me and when I saw the entrance to your building, I knew that I had to enter." Giri explains as he moves towards the hearth, warming his outstretched, calloused hands.
"I know not of your particular quest, but if you have one, then I believe that Yamatsumi has guided me here to aid you." he adds to ease Virgil's mind.
As Thorgull chimes in, Giri smiles. "Yamatsumi may be the lord of volcanoes, but he is also the bringer of winter and champion of the ice."
"Baba Yaga is a name that is only whispered in Tien, so I am not entirely familiar with what is truth in regards to her, but I do know that winter is slowly encroaching upon the world and it is not of Yamatsumi's doing. Is this what you mean when you speak of the situation in Irrisen?" he asks of Zadok.
"Somewhat," Zadok answers. "Your god is the bringer of winter. Is he not then pleased by the winter taking over the world? We will tell you now: we seek to stop that trend, to stop winter from taking over where it should not, when it should not. If you can not ally with that cause, you have no business with us."
Giri carefully examines the man before him. "You appear to be touched by the gods, sir who had not revealed his name. " he states, clearly annoyed by the lack of respect by these people.
"You westerners may not understand the Tien gods, but Yamatsumi is a god of nature and this spread of winter is unnatural. Some followers may push for a longer winter or a more-encompassing winter, but all would agree that it would only be right under Yamatsumi's power, not the power of this Baba Yaga." he concludes as he still waits to be introduced.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Thorgull relaxes as he remembers the group indeed welcomed pretty badly the newcomer. He smiles at him and nods to signify he acknowledged the man.
"Indeed. Sorry about that, the latest events have gone on our nerves. I am Thorgull, trained in the noble arts of the arcane. And this is Guili, my guide..."
A shadow seems to pass before the ulfen's eyes.
"He leads my steps to find a particular someone." he ends abruptly.
Virgil steps forward, realising that the situation may get out of hand if not placated and moves his hand from his rapier and offers it to the man.
"You'll have to excuse our wariness Giri, but as Thorgull says these are strange times and we have already encountered more hostile forces than we anticipated."
Virgil looks down at the hand offered in friendship.
"My name is Virgil Ardelean, for my part I am a duellist from Ustalav, and like all of us I am far from my home. You are correct in what you say, this unnatural winter is not something that we can allow to happen and if you are indeed an ally in stopping that threat, then we welcome you and this 'Yamatsumi' you follow."
"And I am Zadok Allendil," the elf finishes, "together we have taken on the Mantle of the Black Rider, who has entrusted to us a most important mission. Every 100 years Baba Yaga returns to Irrisen to replace the current Queen with another of her daughters but this year Baba Yaga failed to arrive and the Riders who herald her return were beset upon by the forces of the Queen, the Queen who is causing this spread of winter. It is thus our duty to find Baba Yaga, the only one who can restore the order to this land and stop the spread of winter."
"I see..." ponders the man as he seems to have warmed a bit from the harsh chill outside. "Pleased to meet you all! I'm afraid that I must confess that I have fibbed a bit, but more so out of necessity, I promise!" Giri says with his hands raised apologetically.
"I have taken on a mantle as well, but mine is the Mantle of the White Rider. I'm glad that we seem to be on the same page as to who needs to be dealt with as, according to the White Rider, the Queen is the true enemy of my people and of your people." Giri offers shrewdly. "I apologize for any deception, but the White Rider told me to be wary of everyone before sending me in this direction. I'm sure she knew that I would find you." he surmises. "Sadly, she has perished, but I know that we must free a chicken-legged hut in Whitethrone. Is that what this Black Rider has told you?"
Virgil nods in response to the question, retracting the offered hand. The shamed nobles voice takes on a slightly harsher tone.
"That is what we were told, and what we intend to do. We stopped off here to seek some refuge, offer what aid we could and perhaps foster an alliance or two."
Turning from the conversation to check his pack and equipment, Virgil continues.
"On that note, perhaps we should prepare to make way to the Pale Tower. It is only a matter of time until these 'witches' learn of our arrival, and our presence here poses a threat to the innocents around us."
Slightly embarrassed by Virgil's shame, Thorgull claps his hands together.
"Yes, yes, we should go on and... seek this Witch."
Turning towards Virgil, he says, coughing. "Sorry to say that, Virgil, but I think she already is aware of our arrival. This, or she's a useless practitioner of the Arcane." ends the wizard, almost scornful.
Noticing the man withdrawing his hand, Giri blushes at the unintended slight. He hurriedly clasps the man's hand with his own and feels the rough callouses of thousands of hours of training. "Many apologies. In the rush of learning your names, I failed to see your extended olive branch."
With a firm shake, he nods to the man and then adds to the conversation. "Against a power that can bring the very winter across the land, I'm sure that our own strength might go unnoticed for a bit longer, though perhaps that is wishful thinking." he hopes aloud as he grabs for his helmet. "But, you are probably correct that we must hurry. Let us away!"
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Guided by Nadya Petska and Hatch, you leave the unfriendly town of Waldsby to cross the snow-packed miles separating you from the evil winter witch's Pale tower. Sharp winds whistle across this stark white plain, stinging the eyes along with the near-blinding rays of the reflected sun. A great eruption of frozen ice rises in the distance—an imposing pale tower crowned with icicles spearing into the sky. Seemingly born of the land itself, an unbroken circular wall of ice guards the tower’s base, with no means of entrance visible. High above, a large gash opens in the tower’s bowl-like crown, ringed in icy spikes and split by a massive plane of ice resembling an inverted crescent moon.
A trampled path of snow, heavily tracked by footprints and sled trails, ends abruptly at an opaque wall of ice. Carvings and ancient glyphs depict only the semblance of a gateway on its surface. From the cover of the trees, Nadya and Hatch bring your attention to the three human figures wearing the same attire as the guards you encounters in Waldsby that are posted on the battlements above the gate. "The guards control the icy gate - currently a wall made of ice. I'm not sure which is the best way to pass, but raw strength might not be advisable. As for us, we'll remain here and wait for your return. Good luck, heroes, and make that witch pay for what she did to my little girl." the mourning mother says.
Zadok stares at the walls from a safe distance. "Well we can't very well fly over or burrow under. Which leaves but one choice I can see: sneak as close as we can and take down the guards quckly before an alarm is raised. It is not the best option, but I can think of no other method of attack."
Giri studies the men from afar in the ice and snow. "Raw strength may be the only option of ingress..." the man says as he looks at the slicked walls.
Following the apology and shaken hand, Virgils mood recovers and the duellist returns to his usual composure for the following journey.
As he stares at the wall, Virgil taps his rapier in thought.
"Perhaps we scout our options before we make any solid decision?"
"If we wait for the new guards to come out, I could perhaps cause some infighting by turning one of their minds against the others. That might be our best chance of creating a way to distract them while we close in."
Before moving into position, Zadok performs a quick motion with his hands that seems to gather his own shadow around him. It looks as though his form has dimmed and is a bit harder to see with the darkness enveloping him.
Zadok moves as close as he dares, just close enough to see one of the guards and plant a dark thought in his mind...
Giri looks to the mystical Zadok as he pulls Eruption's Blaze from its holster.
As the shirtless man wields the tetsubo, he looks to the mystic and awaits his magical assistance. "This better work..."
At Zadok's proposition, Thorgull nods but adds "Let me try something before you try this..."
The young wizard waves in the guards directions and summons small particles of black dust, snowflake-like dust, that quiclky covers a patrol.
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Soon after you decide your plan, what Hatch told you comes true: a patrol of three guards leaves the tower. At that moment, the wall of blue ice disappears for a time, allowing passage. Zadok comes close and casts a spell, while Thorgull unleashes a cloud of crepuscular darkness upon the guards.
The first guard's will bends to listen to Zadok's honeyed words. Betrayal is now clear in his mind. At the same moment he feels a sudden fatigue and drowsiness, but remains awake, while his two companions fall asleep.
The Gate - round 1
1. Thorgull, Giri, Virgil
2. Guards
3. Zadok
The masked Giri quickly moves up to the nearby guard that still stands after the magical attack and draws Eruption from its leather thong. "Hiya!" he bellows as he takes a wide swing to drop the last of the ground-level forces.
Seeing the wall disappear and his allies make their move, Virgils blade springs into his hand and he dashes round the corner before their enemies can react.
As he sees his spell function, Thorgull sighs with hope. I shall reach arcane might! The Rider's blessing worked on my art!
He moves towards the gate and stops in Giri's back. He draws his crossbow while moving and loads it.