Vostok squints his eyes and peers around
Vostok sees nothing. The group takes another step forward.
...is still not high enough to spot the glyph of warding, so...
to Hokkaido and Eiji as a blast of cold explodes from the icy inscription.
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Hokkaido draws his Wakizashi.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 7
Vostok raises an eyebrow. Hey, Nevermore, did you just draw a sword on a snowflake?
A cold wind blows through the valley, bringing a spray of sleet and broken ice. The sky ahead roils with thick, gray clouds and the sun is only a dim glow somewhere in the mist.
Suddenly, a giant weasel charges Hokkaido!
There we are, high on our recent creepy-doll smashing, just walking along in the snow when this weasel pops out of the snow like there's a surprise party, but it bites me! So, I bit him back. Now he's dead.
The ranger claims he can see the tracks still, so we follow him. The snow started coming down even harder, and this starts flitting around us. He breathed in my face, and I swear I was ready to vomit. He needs a tooth stick like nobody's business. Well, needed. I bit him. Now he's dead.
While I was busy tromping through the snow after the blue man, our birdman was stabbing on the ground Vos dropped with his magic. The ranger tried to shoot things, but he kept cursing that we were all in the way and the snow was getting his bowstring wet. Eventually he did the right thing and just used his sword. It's a nice sword; no curve, but weighty.
Pretty sure by now that the ranger lost the tracks, but we're still following him. I can't see more than an arm's length in front of my face, so the rest of these guys are probably blind.
Suddenly, I see a couple bursts of some explode in my face and the cold lady and the birdman drop like rocks. There's an awfully close thunderclap and Vos looks like he just walked in on mom again. I lost sight of him in the snow for a bit when I charged towards whatever made those lights. The ranger was around there too, and I think I saw the gnome on her little, woolly elephant running around (I wonder what elephant tastes like).
There were more around. Their wings were more like bugs than bats this time, but they're probably that other one's kin out for revenge. I tried to bite it, but I accidentally smashed it with this medium sword I've been forced to use till we can find a proper wizard.
About that time, the and blasts fire from her fingers into this little snow cave. For a moment, it looks like some over-sized lantern sitting on the ground, just glowing in the middle of a blizzard. That's what magic should do. Maybe she can give Vos a lesson or two.
The ranger starts complaining that someone's tossing rocks at him, but I only see pebbles. Seriously, this guy is complaining about pebbles. Well, it turns out he was right, cause when I move over there, there's this friggin I'm glad he was using pebbles; if he was using a proper rock, he might've taken off someone's head. He was super strong. I know 'cause he shoved a spear through me.
The ranger's behind me now, and he musta seen the point of the spear, 'cause he starts hitting me with that curing stick. Well, now I'm mad, and I kinda lose it on this giant. I'm swinging and biting, and I'm barely making a dent. Everything seems to slide off him, and the blows I land look like they're weeks old wounds just moments later. Meanwhile, he's stabbing at us with that spear and biting whatever moves around him (I know, right? That's my thing) when Vos appears out of the snow and tells everyone to burn it. The gnome musta heard him too, cause another fan of flames shoots out of the blizzard from my right to scorch the giant. Those wounds stick, so Vos must be right this time. I grab one of those fire flasks we found with my tail and flip it up to my mouth. One awesome fiery bite later and the giant's down. Everyone piles on him. I still have a mouthful of the fire flask, so I spit on him.
Long story short; He bit me. So, I bit him back with fire. Now he's dead.
The giant has a too big spear, but the cold lady says it's magic, we I hold onto it, and a key. Well, the key's gotta go to something. We look around and find a cave nearby. There's chest in there, and once the birdman (self-appointed god of all things boxy, doory, or floory) pronounces it safe, we open it up to find a whole horde of gold and shiny things. Well, this is coming with us, and there's even room in there to put almost all this other crap we've been hauling around. Vos tells us while we're gawking at our new found wealth that there's something magical nearby, and of the teleportation kind. So, rather than holing up for the night in a nice, dry, defensible cave, we go back into the blizzard and find a... .
It looks like someone dropped a really big rock in a lake and then froze the splash right at its biggest. Definitely magic. And then they went around and kinda sharpened all the water what got splashed. So, at the center, where you'd think the rock might be, was a blue, magic ball sorta thing, but really big, with a blizzard just pouring out of it nonstop.
Out of this ball, some comes charging. I mean he has the whole getup: Black horse, black armor, and black helmet. And not just black, but definitely fashioned into that oni sorta style. He looks badass. But then the horse just disappears into mist. I figure this is the kinda bull Vos might pull just to screw with everyone, but this rider falls to the ground when the horse vanishes.
I can see he's got a large spear of ice poking through his back armor. He's old, too. Way old. Human, I think. A sad, wrinkly, bag of bones lying half frozen in the snow at the center of a magical blizzard. He's going on about how this weather all comes from the land of frozen witches, and how he works for Baba Yaga. She's was late getting to the execution of the queen, and her supporters are being hunted down. The cold lady looks very interested in all this but tells us that the rider's definitely going to die. Vos and the ranger are asking a lot of questions while the gnome's arguing with her elephant, and the birdman's just shivering. I'm waiting for whatever uses icicles like spears come through that portal.
The man-cicle finally says something worth paying attention too. He offers me his badass armor or position or something. Hell yes. Only, I don't get it. One minute he's going on about a tower where cold comes from, finding a hut with legs, activating keys, and white thrones the next minute, he's nearly naked and I feel a sense of power, like I could break the world in two.
Vos claims to know a lot, but I know something too. I know I need to step through this portal and kill the queen of Irrisen... and I know the rest of you want to come with me.
Vos claims to know a lot, but I know something too. I know I need to step through this portal and kill the queen of Irrisen... and I know the rest of you want to come with me.
Well, Good Sir, that may be the case, but first we should stop this winter from consuming Taldor by breaching the pale tower. Also, when you step through the portal...exhale. First impulse on the other side is to breathe in.
This Barbarian does not know the dangers of Irrisen; we will surely all die if he attempts to kill the Queen now.
Eiji, I will go with you to kill the Queen, but first we should attend to Taldor's plight. We are not yet prepared to face what lies in Irrisen.
A surge of wind suddenly blasts from the swirling vortex in the ring of icicles, gusting outward in a stinging spray of snow and ice. Suddenly, a gaunt horseman with curling ram's horns and wearing coal-black armor lurches through the portal astride a black warhorse, surrounded by tendrils of cold, dark mist. The rider slumps in the saddle, a shard of blue ice jutting from his back. As rider and mount come to a halt in the snow, the horse suddenly dissipates into black smoke, and the horseman falls to the ground with a groan. As the horseman falls, his sinister appearance fades, and he appears in his true form, that of an old human man, exhausted, pale from blood loss, and close to death.
Upon being asked, "Who are you? How did you get here?' the man explains, "Once, I was called Illarion Matveius. Now, I am known as Black Midnight. I am Baba Yaga's Black Rider, harbinger of the Witch Queen's return. Something has happened to Baba Yaga. Every hundred years, she returns to Irrisen to place a new daughter on the throne. But Queen Elvanna has other plans, it seems. Baba Yaga has not appeared as planned, and Elvanna intends to slay everyone loyal to her mother. She hunted down those of us who would herald Baba Yaga's return, and I believe she slew my associates. I am the last of the Three Riders and a threat to Elvanna's plans."
At that, Catriona allegedly asks, "What do you know of Queen Elvana's plans?"
The Black Rider replies, She plans to take Baba Yaga's place, and to claim all of Golarion as her personal kingdom. Irrisen is a land of endless winter, created by Baba Yaga's magic. Elvanna seeks to cover the entire world in ice and snow, using portals like this one."
Ever conscientious, Ailmar inquires, "How can we close this portal?"
The Black Rider sighs and says, "You can find its source in the Pale Tower, on the other side, but this portal is but one of many. Through them, Elvanna will spread a new ice age across your world, consuming it for all eternity. Closing this portal might save your kingdom, but Golarion would still be doomed." "You must find Baba Yaga. Only Baba Yaga can defeat Elvanna. Only the Queen of Witches can undo what her daughter has done..."
Meanwhile, Eiji, oblivious to the gravity of the conversation, comments, "It seems Baba Yaga may need a new Black Rider soon. I might be interested... How can I find Baba Yaga?"
The man responds, "You must use her Dancing Hut to follow her. The hut is a powerful artifact that can cross great distances, even travel between worlds. If you can control the hut, it can take you to Baba Yaga. Elvanna stole the hut and put it on display in Irrisen's capital, Whitethrone, as a symbol of her power. The hut has many keys--objects attuned to the hut--that can take it almost anywhere. I managed to secure two of these keys, but Elvanna stole their power to prevent anyone from using the hut to find her mother. Once they are reactivated, placing the keys in the hut's cauldron will retrace Baba Yaga's path."
The Black Rider pauses for a long moment as he surveys the group. He continues, "I am no longer capable of carrying out my mission, to find and return Baba Yaga. I would seek to pass this task on to you. It is the only way that you can save Golarion from the grasp of Queen Elvana."
He produces the two keys to the Dancing Hut--a lock of white hair from a frost giant's beard and a plague doctor's mask. These two items appear perfectly normal and mundane in every way, but they are the literal keys to take the Dancing Hut to a new destination in search of Baba Yaga.
Looking each carefully in the eye, he continues, "I will reactivate these keys, if you all assent to accept the mantle of the Black Rider..."
As silences equals consent , the Black Rider slits his own throat, bathing the two keys in his life's blood. The spray of blood spatters on the surrounding party, and they feel some of the Black Rider's powers seep into them. Each party member feels a bit stronger and also feels a strong compulsion to step through the portal, to search for and restore Baba Yaga...
The party walks through the swirling cylinder that is the portal to find themselves instantly transported thousands of miles north to the Hoarwood Forest in the land of Irrisen. It is significantly colder here, but fortunately, the portal deposits the group on a forested hillside where they can see the faint and distant lights of a village miles away.
Stumbling through deep snowdrifts, the group soon happen upon a band of local travelers. The travelers have come under attack from a giant mantis-a monster that once made its lair in the Border Wood in Taldor, but crossed through the portal into Irrisen. Confused by the cold weather and voraciously hungry, the mantis attacked and grabbed one of the travelers, who now lies unconscious in its mandibles . The peasants are trying to drive the mantis away, but are no match for the giant insect. The mantis is unaccustomed to the severe cold, and is currently unable to fly.
Eiji, entirely expectedly, rushes forwards and bites the giant mantis.
Weakened as it was from the cold exposure, one quick snap from the savage is all it takes to bring the giant insect down.
The leader of the peasants approaches Eiji, clearly relieved, yet somewhat horrified, by his timely, toothy assistance, and
introduces herself as Nadya Petska. She thanks him for his help, and, recognizing the group as foreigners, explains the peril of wandering uninvited into the White Witches' territory.
Because of the approaching storm, as well as the Eiji's assistance in defeating the giant mantis, Nadya offers to lead the group to Waldsby where they can find shelter, food, and proper survival gear for the icy north.
As the group moves into the travelers' encampment, Nadya explains, "This shipment of food and supplies is just so important. I may have never had that opportunity to deliver it if you hadn't interceded when you did. Nazhena Vasilliovna, the White Witch who rules this area and lives in the Pale Tower, is holding my daughter, awaiting this ransom..."
You recognize Nadya Petska as the person who helped you escape from your own imprisonment in the Pale Tower.
You also recall the resemblance of the strange doll your party fought in the Border Wood to Nadya's daughter, Thora.
Knowing what you do of Irriseni witchcraft, you realize that Nadya's daughter is no longer being held in the tower. Her daughter's soul was extracted and used to enliven the the doll set to guard the path to the portal. You recall that the doll's soul focus gem has been destroyed so that at least girl's soul is no longer suffering a continued, tortured existence as a soul-bound construct doll.
Catriona steps forwards, pulling her hood back to reveal her face.
Well met, Nadya. Is there somewhere safe where we may speak?
We've been working on his table manners. At least he learned how to use a latrine...Finally.
That reminds me, there's only pine trees around here, and without any leaves.. well, luckily there were some blank pages towards the end of that book you stare at every morning.
Wait? You guys don't use the three seashells in the South?
Nadya stares as Catriona lowers her hood, stopping in her tracks. After a brief moment of shock, she exclaims, "You! I expected you to be long gone by now..."
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Call me crazy, but I was expecting all these guys to be a lot tougher. Vlad Schlad just tossed some glitter on them and his big bad bloodrager brother baloo just rolled them up like a taquitos. Those tiny fey things were kinda annoying, but this tower seems easy...a little bit TOO easy. But, I will say this tower is quite well decorated..you know minus the random savage plant. However, I feel like it could use a few more shiny things. What do you guys think?
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Oh, we should probably ask one of these guys where they're keeping Nadya. And yes, I promise I won't cut off anyone's fingers this time. I do feel ashamed about that. I have family back in Taldor and I....I just can't bear the thought of losing them to this winter hell. The whole world is depending on us..and well..I guess I let it get to me. My bad guys.
Nadya takes us back to her place, and, probably wisely, has the neighbors look after her kids. She has to go deliver that stuff she was hauling, presumably snow-mantis bait, when I rescued her to some witch tower. So, she takes off and I head down to the local general store. The people here are all quiet and really interested in their shoes. The storekeeper doesn't say much but he's willing to trade my army's worth of weapons and armor for a hefty sack of gold and most of his inventory. Or he was too scared to say no. Either way, I've got a backpack full of useful things and everyone else is carrying around weird coins with some angry lady's face on them.
Once we divvy up the stuff, we decide to head out to the tavern to really warm up. Our witch stays at Nadya's place, trying to be all mysterious. The barkeeper and his wife were just rude. They brought us weak, watery ale that tasted like poorly made tea, and then they drew a crossbow on us. They made some vague threats about things being destroyed and for some reason we all left instead of laying waste to the place. I blame Hoki for drawing the bad attention; everyone knows crows are a portent of doom (that's why we keep him around). And I blame Vos for the not laying waste, he couldn't if he tried, and doesn't like it when others show him up.
Instead of a fire, good cheer, and good beer, we ended up in a cold bedroom of a quiet house waiting for Nadya, who was late, and talking about witch things and towers. Oh, and our witch made us clear out all the mirrors. She thinks they're watching us. I'm not sure if she meant the other witches or the mirrors. She might be right too since mid-conspiracy, some guys burst into the house claiming we're under arrest.
Well, Vos does some wiggly-fingered mumbling and the only way out of the room and into something interesting disappears. There's a lot of shushing, and everyone shuffles around the room. Vos whispers something while his face is scrunched up like he's trying to actually pass a brick, and I ask him to repeat it. Whatever he said, the arresters must have heard him 'cause right then I hear them say they heard something. Turns out they're ghosts of some kind and one of them starts to just float through the wall where the door used to be!
Well, I ain't afraid of no ghost. I charge him and the wall. I bust it up like it's not even there and me and the ghost go flying into the next room. Must have been some ghost magic since this one's not really ghosty anymore at all. Hoki joins me and we proceed to re-ghostify that guy. Meanwhile the casters and the ranger are throwing all sorts of things down the hall. There's a thump like something falling down the stairs. Vos tells me there's more in the next room so I go to break another wall, but this one wasn't affected by the ghost magic and it fights back. I win the next round, and Hoki tags along to help the latest well met stranger to greet his buddy in the other room. Even the house hates this one, and it throws everything that's not nailed down at him. There's a proper door here, and outside it the ranger appears to have carried his weight, probably with help of the casters since there's a lot of goop and scorch marks around. There's another one just slipping around near the top of the stairs, so I do what I can to stop him from falling down again by pinning him there with that nifty boar spear we got off the blue giant on the other side of the portal.
The excitement's over and we start to clean up. The witch and a few others find a tiny dwarf they say is magical and ply him with booze, which is a bit of a waste, since we have a limited supply of booze. It was probably worth it since the magic dwarf and Vos are able to clean up the place while The Rock and I are field stripping the invaders. We left their bodies near the kennel; maybe the mammoth'll get hungry.
We all sat down to discuss what happened and what's going to happen. We figure either Nadya got arrested and ratted on us or just ratted on us without being arrested or maybe that barkeep ratted on us. Doesn't really matter. There's a rat problem. The more level-headed of us want to march on the tower now, while they're not expecting us, lay waste to the whole thing, and then maybe come back and lay waste to the town too. Some others want to sleep the rest of the night, have a leisurely morning full of book reading and animal staring competitions, and then prance down the road to invite the tower occupants to please be nicer. Unfortunately the prancers win. So, it's back to bed for everyone.