"Thanks Quasit... I'm looking forward to getting away from this place. At least I can still be a little useful even if it'll only being a pack mule for all the treasure they leave lying around her." He frowns and adds "Nothing fragile though, I'm bound to fall over."
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Nazhena keeps her accumulated treasure here. The storage boxes contain an impressive collection of arcane spell scrolls:
2 Scroll A
2 Scroll B
1 Scroll C
1 Scroll D
1 Scroll E
1 Scroll F
2 Scroll G
1 Scroll H
1 Scroll I
2 Potions of Cure Light Wounds
2 Potion B
3 Oil A
2 Potion C
50 Trade bars of pure silver worth 50gp
a locked chest
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As Quasit opens crate after crate and finds them just stuffed with treasure, he keeps expostulating quietly to herself.
"Holy cats!"
"Cripes!"
"Oh my gosh! You're kidding me!"
"Oh wow wow wow!"
And when she finds a crate packed full of BARS of silver, her hand goes to her chest as her weakened heart begins to palpitate wildly from sheer excitement.
She can't contain herself any longer. She runs back to the open doorway back into the ritual chamber, holding onto both sides of the door frame tightly, as if she's trying to hold herself back.
"GUYS! THERE'S -- LIKE-- DOZENS OF MAGICS SCROLLS AND POTIONS IN HERE! AND THERE'S A CHEST FULL OF SILVER BARS! AND ANOTHER CHEST THAT'S LOCKED THAT PROBABLY HAS EVEN BETTER STUFF IN IT!"
She has made herself short of breath in all her excitement, but she's still grinning ear to ear and bouncing up and down like a child during Yule.
"It's the witch's whole stash! Like, all of it!! There might be something that can sure Bull's eyes! And did I mention the chest full of bars of pure silver!?! Heeheehee!"
Then she gets light-headed and has to grip the door frame to keep from passing out.
"Whoa. I'm pretty much completely twitter-pated right now."
"Remember to check the chest for traps before going at it." Bulvi adds, hoping to be of some small use.
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Selena believes she has the information to close the portal, though she needs to cast any Conjuration spell and succeed at a concentration check, or someone can try to use UMD to disable it with a higher DC
Fin opens the chest and inside is the following:
a bag
a heavy blue robe
and a small iron coffer
inside the bag :
1,290GP
2,198SP
2,787CP
inside the coffer :
a pair of Feather Tokens
a wand
and a ring of white gold set with a large green sapphire
The Bag, Robe, Wand and the Ring will all detect as magical
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As the thousands upon thousands of coins pour out of the bag, Quasit whistles in wonder.
"This must be a Bag of Holding. I've heard of these. The inside is as big as a room. It's like, I dunno, a pocket in space or something. That answers how we can carry all the stuff out of here. Heck we can even take all the artwork over in that other room, I bet. This is so amazing!"
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Selena stops what she's doing by the portal suddenly, and actually laughs to herself.
"Of course! Ridiculously simple!" She looks down at her fox, who stares up at her noiselessly. She shrugs to it, as if it's questioning look means something more. "It's been a long day. I'm not at my best."
She straightens her sleeves and smooths the front of her dress, then addresses the group with a curious mixture of self-satisfaction and contempt.
"The magic that fuels the portal is quite powerful, but that means it must continue to draw energy in order to function. There is a powerful conjuration spell at work, drawing energy from the ethereal plane via the third parallel of the Vystokin ley line. We have only to disrupt the energy flow, and the portal will collapse for lack of energy. Any conjuration spell that draws upon the same energy will do the trick. It's merely a question of wresting the power away momentarily by a force of will. I believe I can do it. But I suggest you all stand back."
She turns back to the portal and blows lightly on her fingertips, then glances back again over her shoulder. "Once I finish, I can help you identify the items. In the meantime, I suggest you don't touch anything. This is a witch's hoard. There's no reason to be certain that she would employ only one trap to guard it. Some of the items may be cursed or warded. She may have employed Radosek as a lieutenant, but she wouldn't have trusted him. She would expect him to be tempted to steal." She looks pointedly at Quasit for this last bit, then smirks and turns back to the portal.
"Quiet please. I need to concentrate."
She begins to murmur in a low undertone, holding her hands before her, pointed to the portal, fingers tense and bent at strange angles. Her head weaves slowly back and forth, and she pulls her hands slowly toward her, still murmuring all the time...
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Selena casts and tries to concentrate, you can see she is struggling with the portal but within less then an hour the portal itself starts to close. In the remaining hours time, the portal closes. you are free to return to Waldsby, or shelter in the Pale Tower and recover.
However Nazhena Vasilliovna still looms about to deal with in the future, and will eventually return to the Pale Tower. You can also feel an urging from the Black Rider's compulsion to go onward to White Throne. Nadya volunteers to guide you all to Irrisen's captial.
The items are easily ID'd:
The bag is a Bag of Holding (type II)
The Ring is a Ring of Regeneration
The Feather Tokens are Bird and Tree
The Wand is a Wand of Colorspray (23 charges)
the Robe is a Robe of Useful Items
the robe has extra patches for a bag of 100 GP
3 Flasks of Alchemist's fire
a ladder
an open pit
a potion of cure serious wounds
a rowboat
a pair of war dogs
and a window
~~Concludes Book 1~~
"Is there any hope that you know of a reasonable cleric who'd be able to restore my sight with a suitable donation Nadya?"
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As the portal back to Taldor winks out of existence, Quasit just stares at the spot where it had been for a moment, then heaves a deep sigh.
"I can't believe we actually did it. I guess I should be happy, right? I mean, we just did our bit to save the world. But we also cut off our only way home, short of a very long walk. Why didn't it occur to us to go through the portal and go home first?"
She musses her hair roughly, as she often does when wrestling with a difficult concept.
"This is going to sound weird but... I mean, I hate this place, I really hate this place --no offense Selena-- but I don't feel like I can leave yet. That stupid Black Rider really got into my head about saving Baba Yaga, I guess. Which is absurd, right? I mean, I should be taking my share of this loot, going home, and buying my beach home in Jalmeray, especially before Miss Witch comes home and finds out we've rustled her panty drawer and ended her bid for world domination."
"Oh, and by the way, after we leave here, what's to stop her from opening the portal again? Maybe we should take all these books and maps too, so she can't."
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the remaining items are as follows:
2 scroll of Comprehend languages
2 scroll of Cure Moderate wounds
1 scroll of delay poison
1 scroll or dispel magic
1 scroll of Irriseni Mirror sight
1 scroll of Remove disease
2 scrolls of remove sickness
1 scroll of three fold aspect
1 scroll of youthful appearance
2 potions of cure light wounds
2 potions of enlarge person
3 oils of mask dweomer
2 potions of reduce person
Delighted Bulvi wraps his arms around Selena in a big bear hug... no doubt one she give out to him about.
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As Bulvi hugs Selena, obviously cured of his blindness, Quasit exhales an audible sigh of deep relief. She runs a hand through her hair and chuckles from sheer emotional exhaustion.
"Ya gotta love a happy ending!" she says in satisfaction. She walks up to Bulvi and slugs him in the arm, still smiling broadly. "Just remember who found that scroll, big guy. You owe me one." she teases.
"Now let's get all this loot packed into our lovely new bag of holding and get out of here. The sooner we get back to Waldsby, the sooner I can get a decent meal and the sooner I can sleep for about a day. Do they have steak up here? I could go for a steak. With lots of gravy. And fresh biscuits! Ooh, and a slice of pie!"
Once Bulvi releases Selena, Quasit approaches her tentatively. "Hey...um, I know we've ... well, we haven't seen eye to eye... on anything actually. But, you know, thanks for helping Bulvi. And all you did to close the portal. Friends?" She offers Selena her hand.
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Selena looks at Quasit's hand like she's being offered a dead frog, then she looks into the young rogue's face with a sneer of disgust.
"You act as if you've won. You think this is over? Elvanna and her coven will not forget this. She will quickly learn who all of you are and hunt you down like dogs. I rue the day I met all of you. We could have gone back to my family's land, taken the time to plan properly and gather allies, and perhaps persuaded Nazhena to abandon Elvanna's mad plot to usurp Baba Yaga. That's how things are done here. But no, we had to follow your wild, impetuous whim, race out here with no plan and no precautions, kill off everyone we encountered, and make a powerful witch into a mortal enemy. Irrissen is no longer safe for any of us. I plan to flee to Trollheim and hide among the Ulfen. If you have any sense, you'll forget the pie and do the same."
"And you can keep all the treasures you've found. I don't want any of it. Perhaps if they catch me and find that I have none of Nazhena's things, I can convince them I was coerced into helping you against my will. Which is nearly the truth."
She looks around at the group, then seems satisfied that she's said enough. She turns her back and goes to leave.
"May the gods have mercy on all of us." she says, then vanishes through the mirror.
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Seeing Quasit approach Selena, Sakitu starts to think that maybe she was too harsh on the woman. Sakitu joins Quasit and is about to offer her own hand in friendship but she pulls back at Selena's withering stare. Sakitu just stands opened mouth as the obnoxious woman gives her little speech. Sakitu remains stunned as she steps through the portal and then finally gains enough composure to stick her tongue out at the empty space where she used to stand.
"Well. That went well." She turns a wry grin to Quasit. "I'm glad we won't be having her around anymore."
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"Yeah." says Quasit as she stares toward where Selena vanished.
There is a 5 second pause.
She turns to Sakitu.
"I don't think she liked me. Just a feeling I get. It's gonna be weird not being scolded every couple of minutes by some chirpy teenager who thinks she's a princess. But I suppose I'll get used to it."
"I don't get it. First Ibona, then Selena. How could they not like me? Everyone likes me."
She wraps an arm around Sakitu's shoulder and leans on her a bit, resting her head on the amazing fox lady's shoulder.
"I think they were just jealous of us. Because we're so fabulous and gorgeous. Ah, the burdens we have to live with."
She looks down at the heavy blue robe.
"Who would wear that thing? It'd be like wearing a gunny sack. Not flattering at all. And blue is not my color."
"We journey on and grumble as we have to swallow whatever comes our way Findurel."
"I'm surprised how jealous you got when I hugged the ice princess Quasit!" He gave her side a playful jab with his finger.
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Looking at Quasit he nods. "I agree, Q, let's blow...where to? I'm not picky...anywhere but here is fine by me..."
"We should head back to Waldsby. Nadya has two kids to check in on. Plus she can put us up discretely. I'm not as alarmist as Selena, but we probably shouldn't be too conspicuous around here for a while."
Bulvi smirks "So you say now."
Pondering the situation for a moment he continues "I wonder if there's any ale or wine in that inn they keep hidden away from us foreigners? It'd be a shame not to have a celebratory drink."
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Quasit shrugs.
"Sure. If we can find one outside Waldsby. This country doesn't exactly seem to overflow with hospitality."
"Parts of Varisia are like that too. Sometimes you can walk for three days and never find a town or even a crossroads. I walked across it when I was 16. Talk about a crummy summer. And then half the time when you'd find a place it would be filthy and falling apart, and they'd be as likely to rob you as serve you a meal. But then I'm just a soft southerner, so what do I know?"
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as you continue talking and decide to return to Waldsby Nadya does mention that for the time being you will be welcomed by the townsfolk, if only until Nazhena returns and takes action.
when everyone is ready she leads those back to Waldsby, the soldiers are gone, the tavern produces ales to you all, and offers free stay for a few nights, as an apology.
"Theydon'tlookliketheyarefromaroundhereeither." Maka mumbled through a mouthful of food, staring at the newcomers as she did so. After her friend Hace and her's recent trials, she felt like she could eat a horse. The pile of plates next to her suggested that she just might. "Also, we should probably get you and Issky some warm clothes."
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Uncharacteristically, Findurêl ties one on in the tavern. Usually reserved, after all the death and near-death situations they've dealt with, he releases all the built up stress and tension with too many ales to count...
Q teaches him a drinking game where he comes away impressed with the woman's ability to imbibe. Sakitu giggles a lot but he's not sure if that's from relief or the drink. He thinks Q has accomplished her goal of getting Bulvi blind drunk as the Ulfen warrior looks like he's feeling no pain. Fin drunkenly ponders all that they've been through for a brief moment, happy to spend a stress-free night with them; he counts himself fortunate to be among such company. The moment passes quickly though as he hallucinates that a crocodile is eating at a table next to them. He knows then he's had too much to drink; but then Q tells him it's his turn to buy so he orders another round for the table...
He leans over to Bulvi, nudging him. "Where are all the Elf women at?"
"Look at us Maka. Not like we look like we are from around here. I mean, I'm wearing a chain shirt and so is my cold-blooded crocodile. Trust me, I'm making us stand out pretty bad here." Hace says between drinking water and eating with Maka. On occasion he tosses a piece of meat to Issalissk who snaps it up quickly, sometimes to the discomfort of other patrons.
"What kind of warm clothes do you buy a crocodile anyway? I should probably pick up a wand of endure elements to keep him comfortable until we get back." Hace says eyeing the crocodile. "If were going back...what's our plan anyway?"
I was thinking a sweater, bug yeah magic is probably a better idea. As for our plan...well we should probably figure out where we are and what was up with that portal. Why don't we ask them?" Maka said while pointing to the other group of outsiders.
"It's possible that they were also placed here by a portal, or they could be Pathfinders, Aspis, or any number of other adventuring companies. Can't hurt to ask though." Hace suggests while rubbing his chin.
"HEY, ANY OF YOU SEEN SOME MAGIC PORTALS AROUND HERE?" Hace shouts to be heard over the din of the tavern.
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Sakitu joins in the fun with the others and is mostly lost to the moment. Occasionally her form flickers between her fox shape and her human shape. At one point she notices the scaly crocodile on the other side of the room, points at it, and laughs. "Who would be so crazy as to bring one of those here?"
She sobers a little bit when she hears someone holler about a portal. She nudges Quasit. "Did you hear that?" she half whispers.
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Quasit has one elbow on the table and is leaning heavily on her arm, her cheek smooshed into her palm. Her cheeks are flushed and she's doing a lot of pointing with her other hand, and is talking pretty loud and heatedly, with a lot of conviction, although she doesn't quite seem to even be listening entirely to herself.
"...An' another thing I've always said, you can never trus' a Taldan to give you proper change... I mean *hic*-- 'scuse me, they always try to keep that extra copper an' hope you don'... "
"Huh? Hear what?"
She does her best to suppress a burp and looks around blearily. Then she gasps and exclaims and points.
"THAT GUY'S GOT A PET CROCOD- *hic* - CROCODI - *hic* - ALLIGATOR!"
This strikes her as extremely funny for some reason. She just starts snickering uncontrollably with a lot of sloppy snorts. She wraps her arms around Sakitu and Fin, who happen to be on her left and right, and hugs them friskily.
"Awwwwww, I love you guys! You're th' best! Don' worry, I'll protect you!"
Still giggling, she pushes back her chair with a noisy scrape, gets up, draws out her sword and takes a couple of staggering steps toward the alligator.
"Hey! What are you smilin' at buddy?!"
Again, she finds herself extremely amused with herself for some reason, and goes into a fresh expostulation of snorting humorously through her nose. Which she then has to wipe. She waves apologetically toward Hace and Maka.
"Sorry... sorry... don' mind me, I'm an idiot, jus' ask Selena, who I seem to have misplaced... so, you don't look grim and humorless and downtrodden, so ... not from around here? You picked a REAL crummy honeymoon spot, lemme tell you."
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Fin shakes his head back and forth, trying to clear it...but fails. "You see it too, Q? Either we're both hallucinating...or it's real...is it wearing...chainmail?"
He looks over at the folk sitting by croc, hearing the dude ask about magic portals. The Elf snorts, "Portals? Not any more...we closed the last one," before returning back to his ale...
"No the portals are gone! The black rider told us to close it or the world would end so that's what we did, we closed it. But I don't think there are any elf women here Fin, you can't go dancing naked in the forest and things when it's this cold. An don't give me that's a stereotype, why are there so many naked elf women statueots in treasure piles then huh?" Bulvi nods to himself and takes another swig of his ale.
"You see Fin this guy's got it sorted out, he's on his honeymoon. They're all married now like Quasit said, there's no confusion." He points at Hace and Maka. "They know what's what! An what is them being on a honeymoon, nobodies confused about that. But me?" Bulvi shakes his head emphatically.
"No, cause there was monsters and portals and things. An when we got a break I was all thinking about Yu and keeping everyone alive but Ibona she said Quasit and Sakitu was you know? Of course you know you were there. But I was talkin to Quasit and Ibona got the wrong end of the stick, they were just snoring and things. Now I didn't know that and I want my friends to be happy so I was like you be happy but she was like its not like that." Bulvi shakes his head once more.
"But then we're fighting monsters again. And Selena used the magic paper to fix my eyes so they was working again. I hugged her and I started joking with Quasit about her wanting a hug too, now I was trying to set it up and be like 'Oh maybe she's after a more than a hug!' test the waters like but I chickened out."
Bulvi turned to Quasit and Sakitu "You're both my friends and I don't want to ruin that. But you're also both bad ass beautiful women and that's like my type. Now if you want to be with whoever I'm like right on. Cause you're my friends and I want you to be happy. But you're both like I said earlier and I'm a good- I'm a pretty good man so I'd do right by you." Bulvi nods "And I'm not just talking about carnival pleasures of the flesh, companionship that's what I am also talking about. But at some point the carnival. One of you, hell yeah or like both of you sure but with the monster portals that might be stretching things thinly, I mean I just want ye to be happy whether its with me or-" Bulvi stops and frowns for a moment clearly going over what he is trying to say.
"-yeah you guys happy. But like I'm a romantic at heart, I want someone for Bulvi. I don't want to be alone. Am I greedy to want friends and companionship? Is that too much to ask for... I don't know. So yeah romance and maybe sometime the carnival but that's not for everyone. But like Fin said there's no elf women here! And she's married!" Bulvi points at Maka. "I will not destroy your love. I mean if your relationship is a polymophic one but no it's your honeymoon so it seems in bad taste so no."
Bleary eyed he turns to Quasit "You're far hotter than you think you are. When you stab monsters and are being all humble heroic it's like hell yeah."
His head swivels a little too much before compensating to look at Sakitu "You're hot in like two completely different ways and that's amazing but honest to gods you could stick a knife to my throat I can't recall what your race is called... and that's just awkward for me because at this point how do I ask? Your like sweet and kind and so is Quasit but you can do magic which is really cool. It's all deeply confusing."
Bulvi stands shakily to his feet lifting his tankard "To my friends, may you find companionship and romance... an the carnival pleasures of the flesh." He blinks at Maka and Hace "Congratulations on your wedding, enjoy the carnival."
Bulvi sits down heavily ale sloshing from his tankard. "Wait I said carnival... that should be carnal. Carnal like they'll be doing on this honeymoon." Bulvi points his tankard at Maka and Hace once more before giggling into it.