Malavarius puts his arm around Nadya's shoulders and leads her out of the room and before the gagged and trussed Radosek. "There, there my dear. I want you to know, we're all still here with you, hmm? Ask him your questions." As Nadya moves forward, Malavarius plucks Radosek's wand up and begins examining it.
Pems creeps slowly down the wall, moving with his spear butt out. He gets to the bottom and feels his way toward the others. "Um, guys? I seem to be blind. Can someone please help me? Please?"
"Hektir, keep a blade on this one's neck." when the threat remains on Radishmuk, Quinn moves to help Pems. "You gotta blink a bunch of times, rub them real hard as well, that's the best way."
Hektir takes away the man's spell component pouch, if it had not already been done.
Kneeling down to the man (who I don't think is awake yet), Hektir grins angrily.
"You're going to talk to us. You stole my summer...and you stole her daughter. And we're going to find out how we can get them back."
Nadya pulls out her axe but hesitates, especially as the party cautions her to wait. "You are right. He will tell me what happened to my daughter. And then I shall have a mother's vengeance."
Quinn, you think Pems has been magically blinded. You suspect you'll need some sort of magic to cure him. Unlike with the blindness caused by the ravens, there's no wounds to heal.
Mal, the fragile-looking icicle wand appears to be nothing more than a sharpened icicle nearly a foot in length, though it seems to be as sturdy as any wand and the ice never melts. It seems to be a wand that creates those spears of ice that nearly killed Quinn (with 40 charges), though you'd need to study to figure out exactly what that spell is. In addition, you think it would make a good weapon .
Tsin beckons to Nadya with a bloody hand, holding a goat's horn. She points to the floor, where she has written 'witch' in horn-thin scrawl on the floor.
"How do you spell this word in your language, Nadya?"
Tsin waits patiently enough for Radosek to be dragged from his forced slumber.
"H-E-K-S," she replies.
"What is it, Quinn? Will I see again? Am I cursed forever?" Pems sounds frightened, but he's trying to hide it.
H-E-K-S," she replies.
Tsin nods her appreciation. "Excellent. Thank you, Nadya." That should be easy enough to remember.
She turns to Pems and Quinn as they sort out the trouble at hand. "Quinn was wonderfully good at restoring my sight, Pems. Don't worry overly so."
Tsin stands to join the others in their consideration of next steps with Radosek. "I'm ready now to have our answers. Is there any reason to wait? We do not know if there are more soldiers returning to their posts here, so we might choose to strike while the iron is hot."
Hektir yawns, waiting for Rado to wake up naturally.
"You know what? This guy ain't going no where..and I don't fear him. Let's get some rest and question him in the morning. We'll be fine."
Hektir looks to his bed and the watch schedule that is still up on on the wall.
"We'll be able to ask so many better questions on the morn."
Tsin turns to Hektir, then to Nadya. "What do you want to do here, Nadya? Of course, we can wait, as Hektir suggests, but we also understand that time is of the essence in learning of your daughter's fate. What would you ask of us, you, who have been an exemplary host and guide to strangers in your homeland?" Tsin looks back at Hektir briefly.
"No, Tsin's right. He talks now." Pems uses the spear butt as a cane and taps his way to the bound witch. In a cheerful voice he starts chatting in Skald. "You don't know me, witch, but you're going to. You see, you blinded me, which makes me angry. But you also sent winter upon our lands and stole this poor woman's daughter. So I'm going to offer you a simple choice: either you start talking and tell us everything you know, or I'm going to introduce you to a small friend of mine. You see, this is Flash." The winter hare pokes his head out of Pems' backpack and sniffs the air. "He's normally a friendly sort, save when Hektir's trying to eat him. But you know what rabbits do, witch? They chew. And he doesn't much care what he chews on. Maybe it's a root, maybe it's your man-berries there. So you're going to answer our questions or Flash gets dinner. Understand? And no nonsense about so and so being angry with you, because whoever is angry with you, they're not here. Flash, on the other hand, is right here." Flash begins chewing and gnashing his long incisors together...
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Malavarius chuckles as he looks up from the icicle wand, "Oh ho, quite the dreadful and masterful performance there young master Pemsworth. But you should know the man you threaten is rather asleep at the moment." Shaking his head and chuckling to himself he focuses once more on the wand in his hand. Zeno then flits over and alights on Pemsworth's shoulder.
"Old walrus?! Well I never-"
Quinn calls upon Cayden for the power to wake the slumberful, the somatic gestures ringing in the aerie as he slaps Radishmuk across the face repeatedly, "WAKE UP!" slap "WAKEY WAKEY!" slap "The RABBIT is READY to FEAST!" slap, slap
"Pems, don't worry about those eyes, I'll have you seeing again by tomorrow morning!"
Before Radosek is woken, Malavarius searches the warlock's person for magics . If any items (such as rings or headbands or cloaks or whathaveyou) reveal themselves as such, Malavarius points to it, "Oh, we'll want to take that off the slippery snake. Mmmhmm. Mmmhmm. Any more magics hiding about you, oh great and terrible unconscious one?"
In addition to the wand and his spell component pouch, he has two potions and a scroll, as well as an amulet, cloak and ring that all radiate magic.
You also notice that the small cauldron that he had earlier radiates magic.
Pems will use his healing hex on the sleeping man.
Before Pems brings Radosek awake, Tsin takes her rope and binds Radosek in a kneeling posture, his hands pulled behind his back, and tied to one of the bird wire posts. Hopefully, his hands will be elevated when she pulls the rope tightly.
The bound man suddenly gasps, muscles straining as he regains consciousness.
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Pems sighs and repeats his speech, adding the appropriate hare-raising moments.
As the interrogation begins, Malavarius busies himself off to the side, pouring over the magical items liberated from Radosek. Mumbling to himself, he carries on a conversation with Zeno, seemingly unaware the whole time that Zeno isn't even with him.
The man, despite Pems' small stature, seems suitable cowed. Looking left and right for a moment, he finally gives a defeated sigh and begins talking.
"The girl is gone. She insulted Nalzhena, who took offense. She took the girl's soul and bound it into a guardian doll, sending it to the south to watch over her work spreading winter."
As he speaks, Nadya begins crying softly.
In addition to the wand, you find 2 potions of cure moderate wounds; a scroll of animate objects; an amulet of natural armor +1; a cloak of resistance +1; and a ring of protection +1.
The cauldron is a cauldron of overwhelming allies:
CAULDRON OF OVERWHELMING ALLIES
PRICE 4,500 GP
SLOT none CL 8TH WEIGHT 5 lbs. AURA moderate conjuration
The artistic scrawls on the dark surface of this small bronze cauldron depict an array of exotic animals, legendary beasts, leering fiends, and hosts of elementals. Once per day, if used as the focus or divine focus for a summon monster or summon nature’s ally spell, the cauldron automatically conjures 1d3 additional creatures of the same kind from the next lower level list. For example, if a user casts summon monster III to summon 1d3 wolves, he could also summon 1d3 additional wolves (or other creatures from the 2nd-level list).
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS COST 2,250 GP
Craft Wondrous Item, Spell Focus (conjuration), summon monster IV or summon nature’s ally IV
There's also a spell component pouch.
Pems's face sets into a stony mask. "Where is this Nalzhena now?"
"This guardian doll. What happens to the girl's soul should it be destroyed?"
Hektir's fists clench as what happened to Nadya's child is explained. His eyes go to Nadya, completely understanding if she takes Flash's place as the remover of scrotum.
That ain't good.
Hektir looks over the crying Radishojerk and ponders.
Would I be crying so easily over the threat of a de-balling by a rabbit?
Hektir looks over at Entree (Pem's rabbit's name in Hektir's mind) and shrugs.
Maybe...but only after he'd eaten through the sack. I'm better than this piece of @%#@ and would have lasted longer. I think.
"Why did you steal our summer with your portal? How do we close it? Who build it?"
After asking his questions, Hektir spits.
Teardrops roll down Quinn's cheeks when they learn the fate of the child. Silently, he moves to Nadya and tries to embrace her, offering the bereaved mother a moment to drop her stony shell and release her sorrow upon a sympathetic shoulder.
should I tell her that I smashed a flask of fire into the soul doll's face? nah...
"Nalzhena has gone to Whitethrone, to report to Elvanna," he responds.
"The soul would go to Pharasma's Halls, and who knows from there."
"Elvanna is following in the footsteps of dear Grandmother, and expanding Irrisen’s eternal winter to cover all of Golarion, which she shall rule from her icy throne.
"The portal depends on ley lines that cover the plant, but it can be closed from the ritual room in the tower. You must find the connection between the portal you wish to close. Then, if you understand the magic, a properly cast spell should break the connection."
You will need a successful DC 15 Knowledge (geography) check to identify the site of the portal in the Border Wood in Taldor and ascertains the connection between the Pale Tower in Irrisen and
the portal in Taldor.
Thereafter, the PCs must succeed at a DC 22 Spellcraft check to fathom Nazhena’s witchcraft, which powers the portal’s magic. (Witches gain a
+2 circumstance bonus on this check, while witches with the winter witch archetype gain an additional +2 circumstance bonus.)
Once the PCs fully understand the winter ritual, they can finally attempt to close down the winter portal by casting any conjuration spell and making a successful DC 15 concentration check. Alternatively, a PC can close the portal without the need for spellcasting with a successful DC 20 Use Magic Device check.
Hektir looks at the understandably crying Nadya and really doesn't know how to comfort her, glad that Quinn is filling in, playing the nice guy.
That's how he scored with Lucy 'No-teeth' Fleebeengobbin, Hekitr recollects from the good ol' days. Hektir tries to offer some words of condolence to Nadya.
"Nadya, whatever you want done to this man for he's done to you, we'll do if it's in our power. If you want a horde of bunnies to eat his flesh, we can do that. If you want the butcher here to make him a walking mockery of his past form, we'll do that too. You just say the words," Hektir says with a spit.
Women dig vengeance.
"And if you need a stronger, manlier shoulder to cry on once you're finished with Quinn, you let me know. My strong arms will help you both forget and remember."
Hektir turns to Mal.
"Say Mal, do you think you can close the portal tomorrow?"
Tsin keeps a close eye on Radosek, and his bonds. She listens to what is being said, and what goes unsaid. Telling Nadya about our encounter with the doll serves no purpose. It will likely drive her over the cliff's edge, and we will lose our local support in what is to come next. Radosek has told her enough to allow for grieving, at Nalzhena's hands. Not ours... the witch's...
"Radosek. What would you be willing to do for us to avoid losing your life this very hour? You strike me as an intelligent man, and we are not unreasonable."
"No," Nadya interrupts. "He is in part responsible for what happened to my daughter. If I could give him the same fate, I would, but I can not. Let his blood soak the snow outside. I wish to be gone from this place as soon as we can."
Radosek shrinks back from the mother's wrath, a look of fear crossing his face at his likely fate. He glances toward Tsin to see what she makes of Nadya's outburst.
"Pharasma's Halls, you said? What a coincidence." Tsin looks at Radosek, a morbid amusement touching the corners of her mouth. "I do not envy your position, Radosek. Nadya's pronouncement is quite final, and you have offered very little in your defense. If you have nothing more to say, I suggest we adjourn to the outdoors." Tsin waits.
"You at least have the girl's body somewhere, do you not? Something for Nadya to bury, to put to rest?"
"Say Mal, do you think you can close the portal tomorrow?"
Hektir leans over to Zeno.
"Hey Zeno, does Mal sometimes go deaf? I asked him a question. Can you peck his head and try to get his hearing back?"
Malavarius waves his petulant familiar off with a grumpy grunt. "I'm trying to study these items, Zeno! Can't you see that? You don't want Radish-head or whatever his name is pulling any tricks, do you? I should hope not! Honestly, travel half way round the world and I still can't find half a moment to work in peace. These are dark days. Mmmm mmm. Dark days indeed."
Rebuffed, Zeno sticks his tongue out at Malavarius' back as he returns to Pemsworths' shoulder.
Tsin looks from Radosek, to Nadya. "We could burn his eyes out first. Very difficult for a witch to target you with his magics if he can't see you." Tsin arches an eyebrow at Radosek.
"Nothing to say? Nothing to... see here? Well, then let's be done with this."
Tsin draws her falchion and grabs a handful of heretic hair.
Quinn fully understands why she's The Butcher and not just a butcher.
Hektir watches Tsin line up her shot.
This will be interesting.
Pems bows his head as the witch dies. Flash nuzzles his neck, and he sighs loudly. "Nadya. I am truly sorry for your loss. At least this man will trouble the world no longer. And Hektir, if you eat Flash I will learn how to turn you into something small and furry and MAKE you my next familiar."
He leans on his spear. "Let's find that room and do what we came for: shut down the Winter portal."
"Do what you will, butcher, but now that you shall pay for this. Nalzhena will hunt you down and make you suffer for what you have done to her tower and apprentice."
Nadya sighs as the deed is done.
"I have done what I came here for. If you wish to explore more, and see if you can help your homeland, though, I shall help you."
Malavarius looks up from the magic items he's been studying as Radosek utters his final words, "Do you know, I think these trinkets will be quite useful! But did I hear someone talking about nasal hyenas? Do they have respiratory problems in the cold? That's a fascinating thought. Oh! Radish-head the blubbery is dead now, is he? Hmpf. Serves him right for waking an old man in the middle of the night." He nods at the sight of Tsin's grim work, his beard wagging with the motion, then turns his attention back to the room they'd boarded themselves up in. He asks with a surprisingly big yawn, "Can we go back to sleep now?"
Tsin approaches the others, nodding wearily in agreement with Mal. She looks down slowly, while raising her hand, the decapitated head still clutched tightly in her offhand.
She leans her bloody falchion against the post of the birds' wire roost, and brings her attention full round to what was once Radosek.
She extends a finger to the forehead, and whispers in a deep, guttural tone. "Let it be known..."
Tsin traces first an 'H', then an 'E', then 'K', and finally 'S'. She walks to the aerie's open space, and hurls the head from the tower. She turns back to the others, wiping her hand, and retrieving her falchion.
"Yes, sleep would be most welcome."
In the morning -- though Nadya doesn't sleep, her eyes bleary and red when you set out again -- you explore the rest of the tower.
Taking the transporters, you arrive in a massive room near the top of the tower, 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.
A door to the southwest leads to an empty bedroom.
The one to the north contains a large bed, reading desk, padded chair, bookshelf, and storage chest. Two windows provide ample light, and several paintings of winter scenes hang on the wall.
To the east, a large bed, wardrobe, reading desk, and bookshelf take up most of a circular bedroom. A carved ice statue of a striking, robed woman with an owl on her shoulder stands next to an alcove of crystalline tiles. To the south, a white curtain hangs in a doorway.
Behind the curtain, you find a door made of ice that appears to be locked.
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As the group enters the room, Malavarius' looses a loud and surprised cry of surprise. "Would you look at this? Why, I've never seen the like! Zeno! Zeno, look at it! Good grief, this is impressive."
The old man excitedly walks around the circumference of the globe for some minutes, closely scrutinizing the device and the glowing lines.
"Ah! Ah ha! There's Taldor, I'm sure of it. Just you wait, wonderful sunny Taldor, we'll be stopping winter soon enough. Ha! Oh but this is exciting and marvelous."
He continues to move around the globe, tugging on his beard and scratching the crown of his head as he studies the glowing device.
"Mmmmhmmm! Yes! I've figured it out! Fascinating. Not very elegant, but impressive in scope at least. Now then, is it time for lunch yet?" Satisfied with himself, he seems completely oblivious to the fact that the portal's not yet been shut down as he looks inquisitively and expectantly to his younger companions.
Pems leans on his spear, using it to feel his way along. "I'll be happy to see my workshop again and finally be able to sleep somewhere where no one is actively trying to kill me."
He looks in the direction he thinks Nadya is in. "Nadya, you're welcome to come with us. It's not perfect, but it's safe. And you'll be out of the reach of the witches. Well, not out of the reach of Hektir, but he's a good soul once he's bathed." Pems says in Skald.
Quinn trails da...Malavrius!...as he walks around the globe, pride swelling in his chest as he finally understand where his appreciation of travel and worldly culture stems from. "Beautiful isn't it! And a finely projected coordinate system at that, you wouldn't believe the troubles that academics have in Taldor in representing the globe on flat maps."
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"Bah!" Malavarius waves his hand dismissively, "That's because those ninnies keep insisting they flatten the globe onto a scroll and it stretches everything out! If they had half a lick of sense they'd have listened to me when I said an icosahedron would keep the scaling in check. If you ask me, those flufferfoodles have cotton for brains."
From his perch on Pemsworth's shoulder, Zeno pipes up,
"Was it you, Zeno? Honestly I can't remember. Maybe that's why they didn't listen? I mean, you are a bird after all aren't you?"
"Well now, what self respecting academic is going to listen to a bird? Certainly not any one that I know. Hah. Can you imagine? 'Talking bird revolutionizes cartography!' What a silly thought!"
Zeno opens his mouth to retort, but shakes his head and instead sinks into a quiet rant that only poor Pemsworth can hear.
Hektir whistles as he walks into the globe room, taking a long looksee at the translucent image.
"Yar, that be Gozreth's gift to us all...nature itself in globe form," Hektir spits, disgusted by the growing snows. "I sure do hate them summerstealers and those that would do this to the poor dire bears and timbersnakes. They need heat and warmth to survive. It ain't right, it ain't right at all." Hektir's fists quiver with anger.
If given time, Hektir will gather up some of the maps for later perusal. He might need to venture to some of the locations and deliver nature's wrath upon those who would aid the witches.
"So, Mal, can you close the portal?" Hektir asks for the 3rd time, looking at Zeno for help.
Tsin watches with increasing curiosity as Malavarius brings his ancient wisdoms to bear upon the globe. "You've figured what out, Malavarius? Are we ready to be done with Irrisen? Do what needs be done, so we can return to warmer climes." Tsin doesn't seem to speak with the same frustrations as earlier. The cold doesn't seem to irritate her overly so, Cloak and all. Her frustration lies not with the cold, but with the creators of such.
"I think I can at that, Hektir. Yes indeed. It's quite likely, in fact." He looks at Tsin then, his bushy eyebrows bouncing up high on his brow in mild surprise, "Why, how to close this frosty cross-continental window of course. Honestly, it's like you young folk can't keep a thought in your heads for more than half a minute sometimes. Here now, step back, step back." At this, Malavarius rolls up his sleeves, which only fall back to their full length as soon as he takes his hand away, and begins to manipulate the magics woven into the floating globe.