"If there are dolls around there it's best if Bromintate doesn't get to close to them. The last thing we want would be to climb him down by force. Well, at least we knew what the witch apprentice was doing in his spare time."
Blowing the dust from one of the books on the shelves he looks though it quickly before throwing it in the growing pile next to his feet.
"I don't think you should bother too much with the clothes, they're worn and I doubt they are your size. Which reminds me. "
He turns to Hjorleaf: "Hey big guy, I know that you aren't into jewellery, but that amulet isn't just for show." He says pointing at the enchanted amulet taken from the spellcaster.
Grim opens any drawers and looks on any of the shelves for anything else that might seem significant.
He uses his dagger to open the drawers and to move the dolls around as he doesn't want to lose a finger if he can help.
He looks at "We might want to use those clothes as bandages for when the two of you beat him senseless..." He shakes his head and smiles as the barbs and jests keep rolling in.
If nothing in here is of any importance he will move to the main chamber and look over the gear they found to see if there is anything he can use to help keep himself and his companions alive.
Porablum returns to studying the books in the room to see if they can find a way to close the portal.
after exploring two of the rooms connected to the main chamber, Easlis and Porablum feel that they have had some time to read through the papers in the lab and may have found some clues as to the workings of the ritual.
you understand the workings of the magic being used here and think you have figured out a way to shut it down without causing a massive reaction that could destroy the tower and everyone in it. at least you think you have it.
someone needs to cast a conjuration spell within the globe, while making a concentration check to disrupt the magic.
alternatively, you think you could mess with the summoning circle, very carefully altering it to make it inert, using a UMD check
"I think I know how to close the blasted portal." Easlis said, closing the book he was holding with a muffled thump.
"Miss Blumm, I would require your help. Could you create some water over the globe? It might be a bit more difficult than usual and it could react quite unpredictable. Actually I would advise if everyone would head for the connecting rooms and prepare to drink the potions I gave you earlier if you see something bad happening."
Distancing himself from the summoning circle, he opens the last remaining room carelessly.
Grim gathers up all the gear and stuff the group was going through and heads to the doll room...mumbling about the dangers of magic and witches...
"Be careful! No need in getting yourselves killed or worse!"
"I don't know how to use magic to create water. Desna hasn't gifted me with the ability. However, the magic used to stabilize a dying person is similar enough that I can use that."
Before casting, Porablum prayed to Desna for guidance.
you open the last closed door, half of your focus is on watching Porablum try to ruin the ritual, but you still glance around the room:
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.
Porablum focuses, Desna aiding her motions and she casts a spell into the middle of the sphere. the whole room shakes and the lines on the globe glow brighter, until they all stop glowing at the same time with a pop sound. the globes rotation slows to a stop, and the room goes silent. the ritual seems to have been stopped, and you assume that means the portal has been closed. of course that leaves you with no easy way back to Taldor...
Porablum breathes a sigh of relief, then says, "Well, that's done. Should we get out of here?"
"Well done miss, haven't doubted you for a second!" the magus exclaimed, looking more relaxed.
Easlis opens the door wide and enters the room examining it with different eyes now that the globe was not attracting most of his attention. Before leaving, I think you guys should see this. If she's the mistress of the tower I'm almost disappointed we haven't caught her at home. Easlis was pointing to the statue and starts casting detection magic.
Porablum gives Easlis a level look, and sarcastically says, "Thanks so much for your confidence."
you detect magic coming from the tiles in the room, which you recognize as another ice teleporter. the statue is not magical.
you also detect a large number of magical auras coming from the other side of that hanging curtain...
Grim walks out of the room and looks around and back to Pora and Easlis. He chuckles to himself..."Well, this place did fall on top of us and we are still alive. He looks up at the ceiling and back to his companions. I guess we are going to Whitethrone and by way of walking it appears. We probably need to gather up what supplies we will need and see if there is anything we can use as evidence to present to the mother of these witches. I am not sure this is going to end well for us but this burden is on us." He goes through the gear they found and picks up some of the alchemical items and stores them. "If any of you need these I have them." He looks at the amulet...made of some sort of hide or bone..."I do like this...if you don't mind I would like this as well."
If it is ok Grim will take the Amulet of natural armor+1 class boosting his AC to 17. I don't see where anyone asked for it. Also Grim will grab a potion of CMW.
From the alchemical gear:
1 flask of acid, 1 flask of alchemist fire, 1 smokestick (red?), 3 thunderstones, and if no one wants the 3 doses of cold iron weapon blanch Grim will carry them and use them for his arrows if needed.
"Are we sure we want to be walking to Whitethrone? It seems we have an extra teleporter and the keys for it should be..." He walks into the room pass the statue and cuts the curtain with the scimitar exposing what was hidden behind it like in a magic show.
"We don't know where that teleporter goes - do we really want to risk it by possibly teleporting into a room full of witches?"
"Didn't bother us when we used the others. If any of these teleporters lead to outside we will have a lot more on our heads really soon.
Hjorleaf waits patiently for the other tocready themselves for the trip to whitethrone.
Easlis slashes the curtain revealing a door made of ice behind it. the door is locked, but as it is made of ice could be broken down
Grim walks up to Easlis and looks back to Hjorleaf and back to the ice door. He stares at the door and back to Easlis...
"Magical I take it? Like everything in this damn place. He looks at the door and the area directly around it.
Looking a bit embarrassed Easlis tries to explain the situation while pushing on on the door with his shoulder.
"Doubt it. The magical items should be behind it. I understand why someone would want to keep them under lock and key, especially if it's the master's chambers. But it's also likely that with all the ice around here it could have gotten stuck. "
"Hjorleaf, care to give me a hand?"
"Hjorleaf, care to give me a hand?"
...no...
Brom...what is your take on the door. You do have a knack for seeing things that others do not see...
Grim steps back as he keeps a close eye on the door letting Brom and Hjorleaf take point as he moves to the side. Nocking an arrow and preparing for the worst.
the lock on the door looks to be high quality. Grim does not see any evidence of a trap on the door, however.
Grim calls out to his companions. "I didn't see anything that suggest a trap but my eyes are not as sharp to picking those things out compared to Brom...best he look before we go fiddling with it."
He looks at the handle and lock and back to Hjorleaf..."Looks like this door is protecting something important. Nice door handle and lock."
Brom inspects the door.
Anyone got anymore spells of a fiery persuasion?
"We have the alchemist fire...three flasks of it."
Anyone got anymore spells of a fiery persuasion?
"Not unless we wait, and plan on playing hide and seek with the relief force. The alchemist fire will do."
Brominate does find a keyhole, though it was not in a very obvious spot it does appear to be made for a normal key. Brom also does not see any traps laid on the door.
Brom, you want to give it a try before we put the flame to it?
As he says that he steps back and find a better angle to support Brom and Hjorleaf. Keeping his bow readied but now drawn.
Grim pulls out the three flasks of alchemist fire encase they need it and lay it to the side on the ground and resumes his stance to cover Brom and Hjorleaf.
"Aha, so that's where they were. Well, we have no time for painstakingly unlock a frozen door." Easlis says as he picks up one of the alchemist fire flasks and throwing it at the ice door. "If we are to set fire to the tower now is the time."
Grim steps back unsure if this little maneuver was the best course of action but keeps his aim on the door while also paying attention to any movement from the door.
Porablum perks up a bit and says, "Well, fire does do all sorts of fun things - plus it melts ice! Let's see what happens." Porablum takes another flask from Grim and prepares to throw it if the first one doesn't do the trick.
the door turns out to be rather thin and made entirely of ice. one alchemist fire is enough to melt it enough to swing it open or pull it down.
inside you see a large collection of urns, decanters and storage boxes. A mirrored vanity and chair sit next to the eastern window. an ice statue of a tall, imperious woman stands in the center of the room.
The half-elf kicks down what is remaining of the ice door. "Porablum, just don't throw that flask while we're here. We're not going to need it." Looking up at the second ice statue he adds. "I hope."
After gazing at the ice figure for a second Easlis starts emptying the contents of the smaller boxes in his sack or spell component pouch depending on the content. He also looks into the urns in search of the teleporter keys.
"Maybe you should hold off on dumping things into your sack until we make sure they aren't dangerous or trapped?" Porablum also takes time to study the ice statue, trying to determine if she knows who it's a statue of.
Hjorleaf stand in the back...waiting.
Brominate bent down, rummaging for his lockpicking tools, completely absorbed in his own thoughts. By the time he stands back up, an alchemist's fire has been thrown and people are looking through everything on the other side of the door.
Easlis kicks down the door and most of the group hangs back, watching.
the statue is certainly depicting a winter witch and her familiar. this statue looks very similar to the one in the previous room, likely depicting the same person. you make the logical conclusion that this must be an image of Nazheena, the witch who owns this tower.
Easlis walks in and starts poking at boxes and picking up anything not nailed down. as he walks in Porablum tries to call out a warning, but it is too late.
as Easlis touches the first box, the statue's mouth moves, and a sharp female voice says
"the univited shall wither and die like the frost covered bloom. you should never have ventured here, and you would do well to leave before my return!"
Easlis feels a cold pain in his arm that travels up his body and down his spine
he pulls his hand back and sees that the skin on his arm looks much older. the muscles of his arm have badly atrophied. his whole body feels weaker and... older.
Easlis triggered a glyph of warding that affected him with bestow curse
your con is permanently decreased by 6
looking around the room, there is a whole ton of stuff in here. much of it is magical:
12 scrolls
9 potions
50 bars of silver, each one weighing 10 pounds and worth 50 gold.
a locked chest
a small iron coffer.
Easlis remains still for a couple of seconds looking at his left arm as if seeing it for the first time. He then turns slowly towards the voice which seemed to have originated from the statue slowly realizing what has happened.
For once Easlis remains silent curses his brashness in his mind. He lets his the affected arm fall behind the cover of the white-furred cloak and tries to remain as composed as he could avoiding to show hints of his weakness.
The magus casts his magic detection once again and continues to collect the remaining items albeit at a much slower pace if no ward is detected and ask Brominate to open the chests if he thinks they are safe.
"Um...Easlis...your arm looks pretty messed up. What happened?"
Grim hearing the voice of the women brings his bow up and moves to the door quickly but just to the side of Brom to support Easlis. He checks on his companion and then the room and the statue looking for any sign of a threat but seeing the posture of his companion he decides there is no threat in the room. He turns back to Easlis and hearing Porablum. "Easlis what have you gotten yourself into now my friend?"
Hjorleaf chuckles and shakes his head
Easlis...the gift that keeps on giving...
...more chuckling.
Dumb ass.
"It seems the master of the tower has had the last laugh." Easlis said in a grim tone exposing his arm. "I thought the door was just to keep the curious apprentice out of her room. I might have been underestimating her cunningness: There is... was... a ward placed on the magical items." Using his good arm Easlis leans for support on the nearest wall looking up at the statue. "I don't know how you expect to steal the artefact when they have wards even on the undergarments stashed in a hidden yet guarded locked room at the top of an ice tower! And you, wipe that smirk off your face and help us with the silver."
"Do you know how she did that? I might be able to ask Desna how to fix it."
Easlis tries to brush off what just happened to him, but his companions are concerned. Grim is unable to tell what exactly happened to his friend, but the two of them finsih collecting the loot. Grim does not find any additional items.
Easlis identifies the magic of each fo the scrolls and potions in turn:
2 scrolls of comprehend languages
2 scrolls of cure moderate wounds
1 scroll of delay poison
1 scroll of dispel magic
1 scroll of irriseni mirror sight
1 scroll of remove disease
2 scrolls of remove sickness
1 scroll of threefold aspect
1 scroll of youthful appearance
2 potions of cure light wounds
2 potions of enlarge person
3 oil of mask dweomer
2 potions of reduce person
you also still have a locked chest and an ornate coffer
Grim looks around to his companions with a bit of concern.
"We should probably be on our way sooner rather than later. If this witch has been warned of our presence we could be in for a bit of trouble." He then looks at Easlis and Hjorleaf and then to himself and to Porablum. "We need to rest and tend to all of our wounds as well once we get out of this place. Especially Easlis... who is going to be of no help to us like this."