Hearing the sounds of chanting, Mr. Whiskers ears perk up and he swivels his head up and towards the sound. He then quickly casts a spell, causing a large area to explode in golden sparkles.
A shiny, glittery and very irritated atomie appears right on the celling above Ziva. Unfortunately, it isn't blinded.
Einar swots the flying atomie out of the sky with one mighty swing of his lucene hammer, splatting it messily on the ground.
Vernai attempts to go after her last target, groping blindly at him.
Radosek stabs her with his icicle wand.
and 1 pt cold damage.
"Get off me you fat oaf!" Radosek curses, then tries to escape, without avail.
Crummock nods in satisfaction when the tiny creature is splattered like a bug by Einar.
"Swydd da!"
He then steps across to the window, and attempts to shoot the witch.
Crummock skewers the witch in his calf, and he gives a pained yelp.
Einar is trying to be careful not to hit Vernai and his shot goes over their heads.
Quickly taking stock of the situation, and hearing Radosek loudly complaining about the giant insect grappling him, Nadya hustles over to the window, and takes a shot at Radosek, her face a picture of white-hot anger!
Mr. Whiskers looks out the window. "What is wrong with Vernai?
Seeing the witch in the Mantis's claws, he pauses a moment. Now would be a good time to ask for surrender. He seems about to speak when he notices Nadia's expression. Right! There will be no quarter given to this one.
Instead he waits.
I have already deducted the spell and point from my header.
Vernai maintains the grapple and begins to pull Radosek back to the tower.
Radosek tries to wiggle free, but can't get away from Vernai's grip.
Mr. Whiskers continues to watch and wait.
Crummock takes another pot-shot...
...whilst Nadya keeps pouring arrows into the Witch, her face suffused with fury.
Bleeding from many wounds, Radosek sees the inevitability of his fate soon to come. Then a half crazed glint appears in his eyes. "I'm taking you with me!"
He points his icicle wand at Crummock and a spike of ice errupts from the icy floor.
He stares in disbelief as Crummock manages to dodge the wost of it.
Mr. Whiskers mutters something under his breath. "Nie spodziewałem się tego!"
Then he casts his spell at Radosek.
He twitches spasmodically as the magical missiles hit him, then passss out in Vernai's grasp.
On his body the party find:
An icicle wand (40 charges), potions of cure moderate wounds (2), scroll of animate objects, amulet of natural armor +1, cloak of resistance +1, ring of protection +1, spell component pouch, and a stone familiar(goat shaped), and a journal
On Hommelstaub's body the party finds:
potion of cure moderate wounds, scroll of remove curse, 3 vials of liquid ice and a thunderstone.
Mr Whiskers realizes the cauldron is magical, with a strong conjuration aura, but can't identify it.
In the room in the shelves there is a fully stocked alchemist lab, and some finished products.
The finished products consist of:
2 flasks of acid, three flasks of alchemist’s fire, two pinches of flash powder, three flasks of liquid ice, three smokesticks (each a different color), a sunrod, two tanglefoot bags, three thunderstones, 15 tindertwigs in a silver canister (worth 50 gp), and three applications of cold iron weapon blanch.
Mr. Whiskers looks to Nadya and says "Since it is you who they have injured the most, I will let you decide what is done with him."
He then starts examining the chamber to try and figure out what he will need to do in order to shut down the portals.
Its an empty bedroom with a large bed, reading desk, padded chair, bookshelf and footlocker.
A large bed, reading desk, padded chair, bookshelf, and storage chest furnish this long, angular room. Two windows provide ample light, and several paintings of winter scenes hang on the wall.
The chest holds more paintings of additional paintings of nature scenes depicting every season. The paintings in the room are worth 500 gp in total.
A large bed, wardrobe, reading desk, and bookshelf take up most of this 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.
Nadya, with grim satisfaction, cleanly lops his head off with her handaxe, then puts both head and body in a sack."He'll not be doing any evil any longer. And may the ravens feast upom his bones."
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Mr Whiskers flips open Radosek's journal in hope of finding out workings about the portal. Instead the following entries catch his eye:
Its been 6 years since I have been brought to the Pale Tower. Once I had found the towers cold and lonely, but now I realise there is a spartan beauty in the ice. There is no one to talk to here except for my mistress, Nazhema Vasilliovna, and nothing to do but study. It is better this way, for are no distractions here to hinder my arcane studies.The world is a place where the strong get their way, and the weak suffer under their yoke. I will be strong, unlike my father, Radovid, the weakling who indulged in his delusions of grandeur and sold me to the Winterwitches as a sacrifice to pay off his debts. I will do my mistress proud. She will have no better apprentice.
The Borderwood portal is up, Teb Knotten, Hommelstaub, and Izoze with a contingent of winter sprites have been sent to secure the portal.My mistress and I have furthered Queen Elvana's plan of covering Golarion with snow. Then her fey armies shall reign supreme she shall achieve her goal of world domination.
*There's quite a long list describing portals appearing all over Golarion, like in the Sanos forest, Nirmathas, Mwangi jungle etc.
I know the enormity of the task placed before me. I will not fail you, Mistress, my savior and mentor in the arcane Arts, and may I say, my heart? Once the Black Rider has been slain, we will gain the favor of Queen Elvana and she may finally bless our union.
The mewling brat Thora insulted my mistress. The gal! Such impudence must be punished. Nazhema has suggested the perfect plan. Now all I need to do is read up on the crafting of soul dolls....
It seemed some good has come out of taking Thora. Her mother, Nadya came begging us to Nazhema to release her daughter, saying she would do anything to get her daughter back. What an amusing sight. I got Volan to tell her if she gave us enough supplies, Nazhema might find it in her heart of releasing her daughter. Heh heh heh. We have no intention of ever doing so. I don't understand those sentimental peasants, whats a child to them? They could just breed another! Well, her soft sentimentality is our gain...
Bad news: I had to spend an hour in the presence of the brat, Thora. Her screaming on the Pale Tower being too cold, wanting to go home, and stomping petulantly on the icy floors really got on my nerves.
Good news: She's going to get her just deserts, and the Borderwood, another guardian. I've made the perfect vessel for her soul. Nazhema was very pleased with my work and we had a good bedroom romp to celebrate the occasion. Now I just wish I could catch the expression on Thora's face when Nazhema performs the ritual.
I've caught a glimpse of a tiefling in Thora’s mirror eye. I’ve tried to make contact again, but see only darkness before me.
Hommelstaub has reported that Teb Knotten has been killed and Izoze is likely dead as well. By some adventurers. A Tiefling, an Aasimar, a human and her mantis, and a rat. He said that only the heavy snows allowed them shake off their pursuers and come forth to warn me. I have enough matters on my hands already, chasing that elusive black rider, and now what, ADVENTURERS? Their timing couldn’t possibly be worse. Nevertheless, I shall take precautions. I’ve asked Mierul to keep an eye on suspicious travelers and asked Jairess to send her birds out. Its best not to tell Mierul too much, her true allegiances are to Queen Elvana, though she occasionally deigns to help out. And I will appear weak if Queen Elvana finds out I can't deal with a group of adventurers. We shall see.
Mistress, please, forgive me. I will not fail you. I owe you my life, and more. You were the one who saved me from being sacrificed to a demon after my father sold me to the Winter Witches. You were the one who tutored me in the arcane arts. Together we overthrew your mother, Lovita and claimed the Pale Tower for our own. Please, give me another chance. I promise the next time you come back from Whitethrone I'll have the Black Rider’s head on a pike!
There is a torn page in the journal.
Mistress, forgive your servant for being weak. I will not speak of that incident, nor think any of those thoughts again. I will remain faithful to you forever.
Mr. Whiskers calls out to the others "I've found a journal. It contains a list of all the portals!"
He continues skimming the journal, frowning at various points. Shaking his head sadly, he says "Madness. A cold and lonely child turned into a monster. At least we know who the statue most likely depicts."
Looking around, he mentions "I wonder where Nazhema is right now?"
Nadya looks at the journal, and turns red with rage."I shouldn't have granted him a clean death. It was too merciful for him. I should have had him drawn and quartered," she snarls.
She replies succinctly, pointing at one of the journal entries. "Nazhema's in Whitethrone. I've got an uncle there who can help us."
"It says when she returns from there." With a shrug, he adds "I suppose that could mean she is there now."
It probably doesn't matter either way. It is where we have to go because of the Black Rider.
Looking to Nadya "So you will join us on our trip to Whitethrone?"
"Yes. I've got a message to deliver to Nazhema. Personally." She fingers the tips of her arrows and gives a grim smile.
With a worried look, Mr. Whiskers replies "Please don't allow your thirst for vengeance to consume you, turning you into a monster."
Mr. Whiskers thinks a few moments, evidently trying to make a decision. Finally he says "We need to break or remove the jaws from any corpses. Hopefully that will slow down any attempt by the witches to gain information about us."
Nadya turns to Mr Whiskers, "Do you ratfolk have family? Don't you love your family? Would you do anything to keep them safe from harm?And what would you do to people who hurt them?"
At this moment one of the mirrors flickers and shows Nazhema's image. Her cold blue eyes are filled with rage as she takes in the scene around her. Then the image disappears.
"I've got arrows with your name on it, Nazhema!" Nadya declares, as she glares at the mirror. "Come...I'll be awaiting you in Whitethrone. If you ever get there...that is..." The voice from the mirror taunts, as it gives a cruel laugh. Nadya puts two arrows into the mirror, shattering it. "The winter witches use mirrors for scrying." She then methodically smashes every single mirror in the room.
"No. We need to return to Walsby to pack. And I'll bring Orm and Morjoli with me. I won't get Kashka into trouble in case Nazhema sends troops to search for us." She answers Einar.
Nadya turns to Mr Whiskers, "Do you ratfolk have family? Don't you love your family? Would you do anything to keep them safe from harm?And what would you do to people who hurt them?"
"Yes, I have six older siblings." He pauses a moment, then adds "Last I heard, four of them were still alive. How many do you have?"
"Generally, we protect the survivors by leaving our homes, finding a new warren."
"I have 4 siblings. My eldest brother died of a winter fever, the second was slain by a polar bear, my younger sister died during childbirth, and my youngest brother - he left home when he was eighteen and I haven't heard of him ever since. My parents died in the same winter fever the claimed my eldest brother."
"So your kind run away from your problems?" Then she realizes that she might have been a tad harsh. "That's the problem with Irrisen, everyone is too scared to take up arms to overthrow the Winter Witches. That's why the Winter Witches are just taking whatever they want."She answers.
Mr. Whiskers thinks a moment before answering. "I suppose you could say that. A home or possessions are not worth yet more deaths."
" I am sorry you have also lost so much family."
Vault IS trapped.
Mr. Whiskers is first startled, then angered by Einar's question. He yells at Einar "Really! Now that they have proven that they have scrying you want to give them a target for them to find us by?!?!"
Shaking his head in dismay, he says "Why should I assist in you killing ALL of us?"
Mr. Whiskers insists that Einar wear Radosek's cloak, saying "It will slightly improve your chances of staving off any magics or other traps."
He then casts detect magic and concentrates. He slowly approaches the vault, carefully checking for magic.
Mr Whiskers determines there is a Glyph of warding in the door.
Then Mr. Whiskers turns and looks at Einar, sadness clear in his eyes. "In case you don't survive, I will say goodbye now Einar. I do hope you succeed without injury or worse. I'm sorry you will not believe me."
"Let me know when it is over."
Then he walks over and uses the ice teleporter to go back down a level.
Crummock gives Einar guidance then stands in the ritual chamber, not wanting to get into trouble.
"The uninvited shall wither and die like the frost-covered bloom. You should never have ventured here, and you'd do well to leave before my return." Einar hears a voice, as the glyph blasts off. Einar feels his life force drain away.
After fiddling with the door sufficiently enough, he manages to get it open to find a veritable storehouse.
2 scrolls of *
2 scrolls of **
1 scroll of ***
1 scroll of ****
1 scroll of *****
1 scroll of ******
1 scroll of *******
1 scroll of ********
2 potions of *
2 potions of **
3 oils of ***
2 potions of ****
2500 gp worth of sliver bars
There's a locked chest that Einar manages to open eventually holding a bag, a small iron coffer, a blue robe. Inside the iron coffer there is a wand, a ring of white gold set with a large green sapphire, and a feather shaped feather, and a tree shaped feather.