Ziva immediately moves through the corridor before taking a total defense action as she makes it into the room - aware she cannot strike and so relying on a defensive position.
Vernai on the other hand, has no such issues, soaring into the room and lashing out with a claw attack.
Vernai manages to rake the plant, and some sticky green sap oozes out of its stem.
The plant gives a horrible shriek.
Amazingly, no one is affected by the plant's shriek.
Crummock moves into the room, hugging the edge.
"Ystlys!"
He then readies for Geist to move into position...
...Geist then bites...
...whilst Nadya adjusts her position, and fires!
Crummock makes a deep cut in the plant's stem, and gets splatter with sticky green sap.
Geist takes a bite out of the plant, then immediately spits the plant stem in his mouth out, and gives Crummock a reproachful look and a mournful whine.
Nadya's arrows bounce off its thick stem.
"With it's resistances to fire, acid and electricity I think weapons are the best way to deal with this thing. Watch out for the poison!"
As he says this, he unslings his crossbow as he gets into position. Then he has to load it.
Einar steps through the doorway with the hammer in hand. 'That is either a truly ugly baby or a very strange plant.' Hearing the ear shattering scream and realizing he doesn't have the space to grow he attempts to rage without enlarging. Causing his Cambion ancestry to become very prominent he swings the hammer at the creature. "It's not an axe, but it should do fine!"
Einar squishes the plant with a mighty swing of his hammer, sending sticky greeen sap splattering on everyone. It falls to the floor, still twitching.
Harvesting the contents of the room yields 2 doses of barbarian chew, 2 doses of golden maple leaves, 2 doses of leechwort and 5 doses of twilight dagger.
With a shrug, Crummock finishes off the plant, then moves to the final unexplored area on this floor.
Floor-to-celling bookshelves line the walls of this sprawling chamber. An ornate wooden table, covered with open texts and lit candles and six chairs sit in the middle of the room. A massive mirror hangs on the western wall. An Ulfen woman of strong muscular build, a greatsword strapped on her back, with her hair braided sits on one of the chairs.
She is reading a book titled,”The Life History of Auburphex”
When she hears the party open the door, she puts down the book, stands, and stares at the party measuringly, ”I suppose you were responsible for the ruckus earlier. I don't recognise of your faces. What are you doing here?”
From Hatch’s descriptions, this woman is Hestrig, captain of the Pale Tower Guards.
Crummock gives the woman a long, measuring look.
"The rulers o' this place are responsible for murdering Nadya's daughter, binding her soul to create a construct, and then lying to her aboot it. Whilst ye have been readin', your soldiers are running rough-shod o'er the local populace, literally raping and pillaging wheresoe'er they please - I narrowly stopped them from doing the same to Nadya here less than a day ago. These crimes must be answered for! We come for vengeance, to bring death to those responsible! Are you with us, or against us?"
”I know nothing about anyone called Nadya, nor her daughter. There was a child down here, once,”She waves her hand vaguely, ”but Nazhema took her away, as it is her right to take anything within the Pale Tower. That’s Article 34 of the Pale Tower Guards Code of Conduct. Jurisdiction of the local populace is done by Volan. If you have any complaints, take it up with him.“ She pauses thoughtfully for a moment.”Yeah, he shouldn't have been doing that, but then again, there's nothing in his Code of Conduct that states he can't. Its really bad practice. I could have a word with him in the name of keeping peace, but he doesn’t have strictly have to follow by my recommendations. Now do you mind closing the door and letting me get back to my book?”
Crummock thinks that Hestrig might need something personal to get her motivated…
Crummock shrugs.
"There's no need for that; we've already had a thorough discussion with Volan (and his men, and all of the ones downstairs) on that very topic, and he (and they) won't be engaging in that sort of behaviour ever again."
Typical behaviour from an uncaring bureaucrat.
He then frowns, before continuing his impassioned oration.
"What about common decency? Does your lack of interest mean that you think that what happened was right? Surely, as Guard Captain, you should take a more active interest in what goes on around here; if you don't, what purpose do you serve?"
"Excellent. That saves me quite some trouble. I'll be getting back to my books, then. Technically, as the Captain of the Pale Tower Guards, I shouldn't be letting people wander around, but frankly, I've got too many things on my plate now."
To Crummock's impassioned plea, she gives a helpless shrug,
"Common decency dictates that I speak to Volan, and tell him about it. I can try to make my point, but at the end of the day, he doesn't have to listen. I can't compel his behaviour, only Radosek and Nazhema can. Mind you, both don't care as long as the tribute from Walsby comes in."
"Mind you, if I find any of my property missing, I'll know who to look for."
She gives the party a stern warning before attempting to close the door.
Crummock swallows his rage, shakes his head, and leaves.
He heads purposefully to Q15, and utters the pass-phrase:
"Take wing, soar and fly, let me view the winter sky"
How very curious, she doesn't care at all, I was hoping to test her metal.' Stepping into the eastern doorway, Einar looks at the woman, "Any of your property?" Motioning with both hands at the room she is in. "You mean za items here in zis room?' He then smiles showing his fangs and points over his shoulder with a fist and thumb. "Or do you mean anyzing from out zere?"
"Don't touch anything in the room saying "Dragon, keep out!" She gives a small laugh as if thinking about some secret joke.
'Curious' Einar smiles, patting the handle of his hammer."I am from za land of za linnorm Kings. Vee judge a kings ability to rule by za strength of za Linnorm he defeats. I vould like to meet zis dragon perchance test my metal or just my own strength." He reaches out both hands opening and closing both fists.
Seeing the book she is reading, Mr. Whiskers says "The book, isn't that the dragon whose defeat is commemorated in the courtyard statue? Must be a fascinating read!"
"Would you mind terribly if I look around the library a bit?"
"Look. I don't have any interest in a brawl. Maybe once I've sorted my own business, then we can find somewhere suitable." She gives Einar a glare.
Hestrig's eyes flash with unknown emotion as Mr Whiskers mentions the dragon statue. Doubt? Uncertainty? Anger?
Yeah, I don't understand why the Winter Witches slew Auburphex. He was just minding his own business. Unless they were after his loot." She actually growls a little.
"Oh, be my guest." Hestrig seems genuinely pleased to find another book worm. "Here's the collection on on Golarion History, this one's on planes.."She enthusiastically introduces Mr Whiskers to the collection, "This about Taldor culture.."She gestures at the books on the table. Noticing Mr Whisker's height, she asks politely,"Do you need any help getting any books?"
"Man, I miss Hatch. Books and Cocoa go so well together...he'd always make me a cup. Don't know what happened to him. And I was told, don't ask."
'a brawl would be fun.' Einar lifts one eyebrow, "A brawl vould be enjoyable. If zare is something vee can do to help you solve your problems..."
Realizing that the sword maiden had moved on to a conversation that she found more intriguing, Einar looked in the room, clearly bored, Until she mentioned Hatch. Smiling he asks "Hatch? Zee little house-elf, er house fey or vatever you call zem? He lives vit Nadya, Za voman zat Crummock told you about. He vas gotten rid of because he ran his mouth, He's vit us here somewhere, he likes to be invisible." Einar looks around a bit, "Hatch vere are you, zis Fräulein says she knows you, ya."
"No, a brawl is definitely NOT what I want today.” Hestrig states firmly.
"Hatch's here?" Hestrig questions Einar. ”Hey Hatch, it’s me, Hestrig. I promise I won’t tell anyone you’re here! You can hide in the library! You’ll be safe here!” She begins to speak to empty air.
A triangle of crossed steel wires runs between the three wooden posts in this cresent-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. A pale, waifish woman, her hair waving in a nonexistent breeze stands at the back of the room, her feet touching the ground lightly. She is making chirping noises at a large flock of ravens.
”Have we met before? You seem familiar.”She greets Crummock quizzically.
Not impressed with the apathy shown by the guard captain, Ziva decides to be a little less tactful and a little harsher than she would usually. Gesturing at the book slightly with one hand, she remarks in a dispassionate voice "That dragon couldn't have been that good, some fearsome beast it turned out to be - turned into a statue like a glorified garden ornament".
Einar looks around a little also, "Vell, he vas just here a moment ago, er, actually za last time I spoke to him vas down stairs." Shrugging his shoulders, he looks from the woman to Ziva, "Shall vee go look for zee little fellow?"
"You must be Jairess, the Raven Speaker. My name is Crummock-i-Phail. I don't believe we've met personally, but I think that I have encountered some of your friends - I fed a swarm of ravens the other day, which I have been informed you are likely to have been acquainted with."
He then pauses for a moment, before continuing.
"Now, I am aware that you are a relative newcomer to this place, and have little interest in petty politics; your primary concern is your avian friends, a viewpoint that I am somewhat sympathetic towards. That said, the people you share this tower with have been up to no good - the witches kidnapped the daughter of a friend of mine, and used her soul to create a construct; the guards run rough-shod over the locals, engaging in rape and pillage; and they have disrupted the natural cycle, opening a portal to another part of Golarion, and flooding it with unnatural cold. They need to be stopped. Can you assist us? We were told that you might have a way to reach the upper level."
"Don't worry about Hatch. He disappears and appears when he wants. Like a cat." Her eyes have a twinkle of amusement in it.
Hestrig draws herself up to her full height, infuriated. ”Right. You and me. No one, nothing else. Lets duke it out in the mirrored hall.”
Einar looks from one woman to the other, "Or I could go get Hatch on my own, ya." Einar continues to watch the two woman, waiting to see what Mister Whiskers would say. 'I wonder if Mister Whiskers will try and talk them out of it since Crummock isn't here.'
”Yeah..Longbreak, Blacky, and Shadow told me about someone who fed them. Thanks for looking out for them by the way, the distances they fly can be very far.” She thanks Crummock politely.
She listens to Crummock attentively, then speaks, ”You see, I have a problem as well. People everywhere view my friends,”she strokes one of the crows on her shoulder.”as pests.” ”They throw stones at the crows on sight. Shoot them. Chase them whenever they see them.“Her voice grows cold and bitter. ”I’ve spent my life on the road, trying to find someone who would ensure protection for my feathered friends. Nazhema has given us sanctuary here. What have the other locals done to us?” She gestures at all her crows. “Run us out of town? Use my friends as target practice?”
”And what will happen to my feathered friends once you deprive us of the protection the winter witches give?”
Ziva smirks in the guard captains face. "So you're the child of a gigantic icicle? Well, I wouldn't really brag about being the child of a weakling lizard that didn't have the strength to stay in the game, but whatever floats your boat I guess. I'm curious, does it make it easy having it as an ancestor - you know, not really having anything to live up to?"
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"Well, how 'bout this? Ye know that portal that I mentioned? If ye and yours go through it before we close it, you'll find yourselves in a lush forest in Taldor, one o' the Inner Sea nations. I be well acquainted with the local people of Heldren - in particular, a local lass by the name o' Cadence, who I adventured with for a time. If I gave you a letter of introduction, it would probably help smooth things over with the locals.
He then smiles, before continuing.
"More to the point, there is a Lodge several miles into the forest, where a group of Rangers keep an eye on bandits, and dangerous forest creatures. If ye and yours moved in there, ye could help out with the scouting - then not only would ye be providing a valuable service to the locals (which should reduce the chances of them wanting to harm ye and yours), but ye would be a fair distance out o' town - reducing the chances of there bein'... unfortunate encounters. What d'ye say?"
”That could work. Could you work on the letter while I make the travel preparations?” She replies as she calls her birds to her. ”The teleporter to the ritual chamber is in the mirrored hall, and the pass phase is, “Onwards, upwards in a tick. Don’t be late, just be quick.” She hands Crummock an ice crystal. ”This also works.”
After taking several sacks of birdfeed out of the storeroom , she waves her hands expansively at her surroundings. ”You can have everything down here. I have no need for possessions.”
He then sets about doing so.
Dear Cadence,
The bearer of this letter is one Jairess, a refugee from Irrisen, fleeing the persecution of her feathered friends (her flocks of ravens). I have suggested to her that she and her ravens could find Sanctuary with you and yours, by helping out with the Rangers at the Lodge, so as to enhance the safety net that keeps Heldren safe from bandits and savage beasts. The birds should not stray *too* far from the forest, but it will be important to remind locals not to attack them - they are their new friends, after all, but I am sure that everyone will eventually get used to their presence.
(signed)
Crummock-i-Phail
When she is ready to go, Crummock hands her the letter.
"Goodbye. I sincerely wish ye and yours the best of luck."
He then sets about searching the level for loot!
Jairess takes the letter from Crummock, inspects it a few times. ”It’ll do.” She then smiles, satisfied. ”Watch out for flocks of ravens controlled by Winter witches. I keep a rather light hand on my birds, but Winter Witches are more heavy handed. You’ll probably not be able to sway them with food.” She gives Crummock a wink then leaps out of the window and floats gently to the ground. Her flock of ravens follow her, like a dark shroud.
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 celling, glinting in the light from the frost-covered windows.
Dozens of stacked crates fill this angular storeroom. Several miniature dollhouses stand atop high shelves. Crummock finds in the crates a silver dagger whose hilt resembles the head of a blue-eyed winter wolf, a jade bracelet in the shape of a Tian sovereign dragon (worth 175 gp), a pair of porcelain dolls (worth 40 gp), a silver medallion decorated with sapphires (worth 300 gp), a gold signet ring with the signet of the Jadwiga Tashanna dating to the Witchwar 500 years ago (worth 250 gp), and three blue quartz crystals (worth 300 gp each).
"Thank-you for the warning."
He then waves farewell.
A bit of a queer creature, but I can see her point of view...
Gathering up the items that he has found, he heads back downstairs.
Back downstairs, Crummock turns the corner, and sees his party.
"I just had a chat with the gwraig gigfran up in the Aerie, and it was quite successful! Looks like we have our alternate route..."
He then realises that things are about to come to blows, and grins.
"Gleeping begorrah! I man cannae leave ye alone for more than two seconds, and ye get yerselves into trouble..."
Crummock watches with interest to see what happens.
As Hestrig acts like a paper-pushing bureaucrat despite Crummocks impassioned pleas, Nadya storms off into the dining room, swearing and cursing under her breath.
Crummock looks around, concerned etched across his face.
"Where did Nadya go?"
When told that she had headed in the direction of the dining room, he moves to investigate.
Nadya is throwing crockery against the wall. There are quite a number of shards on the floor, a testament to her early start and fury. "That's all we are to them. Merely a statistic." She sends a porcelain plate flying, which shatters against the wall into a thousand pieces. "I'll make my point, can't promise if he'll listen,"Nadya mimics Hestrig's tone, then throws another cup which shatters. "Useless, worthless platitudes said with as much feeling as an icicle. Just to get us out her room." This time she shatters a bowl. "So she can get back to her BOOKS!"
Crummock sits companionably with Nadya, listening to her blow off steam. Finally, he quietly speaks:
"Aye, it be neither right, nor fair. These hwliganiaid have been abusing their power, to the detriment o' the local folk. Worse still, they don't seem to understand the impact o' their actions, or if they do, they have the emotional range o' a chunk o' iâ. I doubt we can change them, but we can try to change the overall paradeim upon which the power-pyramid is based."
He then gives her shoulder a comforting squeeze.
"I be havin' no intention of backing down, at any rate. The current order is, at best, corrupt, venal and apathetic, and at worst, thoroughly du-galon. I promise to do me best to change things, to make it safer for ye and yours."
Crummock then grins at Nadya, with a twinkle in his eye.
"How do ye think she'd react if we set fire to the library? That might warm her frigid heart!"
Seeing Crummock go after Nadya, Einar waits a few moments to see what Mister Whiskers was going to say to stop a fight between the two woman with greatswords. Eventually he follows Crummock, interrupting their conversation. "Isn't Hatch za Fräulein's friend? Mayhaps vee can find him to talk to her. He understands vat is happening und can help her understand, ya."
She sobs into Crummock's shoulder. "I'm scared..Crummock. I want Thora avenged, but...after we kill Radosek and Nazhema, will more winter witches come to Walsby after Orm and Morjoli, when I'm out hunting? I can't be there to protect them all the time. And I failed to protect Thora." She gives a sad sniff."Will we have to spend our entire lives on the run after this?"
On hearing Crummock's suggestion on setting the library on fire, Nadya gives a weak chuckle. And squeezes Crummock's hand. "Yeah, I'm sure it would, if she had one to begin with."
"I can get Hatch if you want. Though I don't want to know what he's doing to the poor water elemental. He's quite the prankster, you know." Nadya volunteers.
Crummock sighs ruefully, and gently strokes Nadya's hair.
"I'm not goin' tae lie to ye - the world ain't safe. We heard from the Black Rider before he died, that Queen Elvanna has deposed her mother Baba Yaga, and seeks to cover all o' Golarion in eternal gaeaf; if she succeeds in doing so, the entire world will suffer the same way Walsby has. That said, if we *do* manage to free Baba Yaga, I am sure that she would be at least grateful enough to ensure the diogelwch of ye and yours. I be knowin' that is somethin' pretty hefty to be layin' on ye, and I would understand if'n ye be wanting to lay low, or move elsewhere (such as through the portal, before we close it); but I would surely miss ye..." he says with a wan smile.
When Einar wanders into the room, and makes his proclamation, Crummock pinches the bridge of his nose thoughtfully, then nods slowly.
"Aye, mayhaps Hatch *could* talk some sense into the lass..."
Mr Whiskers asks Hestrig about closing of arcane portals, and she points him towards another section, and he promptly buries himself in the books.
Nadya wipes her tears away, then replies, ”I know the world isn’t safe. Never has been. I just wanted to keep my family safe. Maybe I was foolish to think I could…”
”We’ll avenge Thora first. Then we’ll find Baba Yaga together, and see what we can get out of her. I’ve heard even though she is harsh…she is fair, and rewards those who help her handsomely.If it means the rest of my life on the run, so I can ensure a better future for my family,”She looks meaningfully at Crummock, ”Then so be it.”
Nadya goes down the teleporter and an embarrassed looking Hatch and Apa the water elemental come up in quick succession, then she pops back in, and rolls her eyes heavenwards and gives a long suffering sigh. ”Hatch has met his match. I caught both of them gambling downstairs. Hatch has been wagering with Apa, here,” she points at the Water Elemental, who appears completely oblivious at her words, ”And now owes him a trip to the theatre and to a dance recital. And a good time at the tavern. I have NO idea how we’re going to pay THAT one…”
Hatch on the other hand, does not wait for Nadya to finish lecturing him and dashes to the library.”Calm down, ladies, calm down. Could we talk things nicely over a cup of hot cocoa?” He tries unsuccessfully to placate both Ziva and Hestrig.
”Hatch! She insulted my Grandfather and called me the child of a weakling lizard!” Hestrig stomps on her foot the floor like a petulant child, as she points her finger at Ziva.
”You really shouldn’t have been saying that. I mean you don’t call people’s parents bad names, do you? It really isn’t nice.” Hatch looks at Ziva reproachfully.
”I demand satisfaction!” Hestrig takes a silver bracelet she is wearing and throws it at Ziva’s feet.
Seeing that both ladies are deadly serious, Hatch quickly runs to the extra guestroom and pulls off the blankets and bedsheets. ”Wait! Wait!” Hatches scurries back to the mirrored hall as Ziva and Hestrig are about to start fighting. ”You don’t have to duel to the death! I’m sure its all a misunderstanding!”
Nadya whispers to Ziva savagely, ”Get her good.”
”Blades please.” He ties both Ziva and Hestrig’s blades, with blankets and some rope borrowed from Einar.
”Ah good, Hatch, you’re here now. I want all of you down as my witness, on WHY NO ONE INSULTS MY HERITAGE!” Hestrig looks down her nose at Ziva. ”We’ll fight until one of us drops. As a gesture of magnanimousity, I have two potions of Cure Moderate Wounds here. Hatch, our umpire will be pouring them down anyone who falls.”
Hatch announces, ”Both parties have 30 seconds to do their preparations.”
"Hey, what does she want me to do, lie about her ancestor so she can feel proud of such awesome achievements like becoming a static object?" Ziva responds with a wounded expression in responds to Hestrig's childlike stomp.
]Are you sure you want to fight?" Ziva remarks, taunting Hestrig casually as she begins her magical buffs. [b]"Wouldn't you want to play something that comes more naturally to your dragonic ancestor...like musical statues maybe?"