Maddy is reluctant to let Maggie go but in the end decides to trust her twin. It wasn't often that he used her full name. "I hope you're ready for the consequences if something bad happens to her, Matthew."
Not wanting to be a burden to the others and knowing she still has some healing tonics she could take later on, Maddy does her best to mask a limp as she moves away from the window and towards the unexplored areas. "I'm ready when everyone else is."
Maggie blends in with the tide of ravens flowing down the tower's side, and the guard is too shocked by the sight at his feet to look to the skies. After a few moments, she rushes upward again and alights on Matthew's shoulder, breathing heavily. As Martok and Freyja see to wounds with scrolls, wands, and potions in hand, she relates her tale.
He-ee-'s the one! Him and a lad-eeh, the one that promised me a new prett-eeh toy! They just - *sob* - just wanted to play a game first... Maggie's voice is tinged with pain and fear. I laid down there... She points with her head to the circle etched beneath the globe. They said to look at the floaty ball, and they'd make-kah the lights dance...sang funny *sob* words I didn't know...I got sleep-eee...and... She moves to hide her head under her wing, overcome, but the sight of the feathers only seems to agitate her further, and she descends into a long, heart-wrenching wail. I didn't meeeean to be so bad! I'm sorr-eeh!
The goat makes no further move to threaten anyone; it simply sits on the floor inconsolable, its wail blending with Maggie's. The stance is almost one of mourning.
With everyone seen to, the group fans out to quickly search the rest of the rooms as per Matthew's suggestion. Freyja returns to the north bedroom and looks a little more closely over its contents; nothing magical reveals itself, but a better look at the paintings reveals their quality and artistry. The scenes on the walls are all of wintry landscapes, but inside the chest she finds a variety of scenes, from a steamy Mwangi jungle to an Osiriani desert to an autumnal Taldor afire with the oranges and yellows of turning leaves.
The twind open the eastern door to reveal another bedchamber. A large bed, wardrobe, reading desk, and bookshelf take up most of the space in the circular room. A carved ice statue of a striking robed woman with an owl on her shoulder stands in an alcove of crystallized tiles; at the sight of the statue, Maggie shudders and buries her face into Matthew's neck. To the south, a white curtain hangs in what looks like a passageway to another chamber.
Cithembi and Evelina push open the third doorway to the south - and reveal a terrible sight. A small bed and wardrobe are pushed to the walls, freeing up space in the middle for two low platforms shaped from rough wood. On the biers lie two small, flaxen-haired forms, ice-blue pendants resting on their chests that beam with necromantic energies beneath Cithembi's magically enhanced vision. One looks familiar - in the still shape you recognize both the doll from the cabin and the spectral child from the ice pillars. And the other bears too strong a resemblance to the Kokko twins to possibly miss.
Nadya peeks into each room in turn - and when she peers over Evelina's shoulder, she crumples to the ground. No...no, no...
HEALING
Martok finally leaves the goat alone and starts looking at his own herd; some of his 'goats' were hurt, including himself.
He proceeded to bring his innate magic to bear and then continued with the spells he had memorized that day.
Evelina seemed hurt the most, "Here child, let me see to that."
------------
HP 37/37
AC 14, touch 10, flat-footed 14
Conditions: n/a
Melee (+1 spear): +5 = +1(magic) +2(base) +2(STR)
Melee Damage (+1 spear): 1d8+4 = +3 (str), x2
4/5 mythic pool, 3/4 touch of flame
Spell used: burning hands, spiritual weapon, CMW
Evelina takes in a deep breath after Martok heals her wounds and, to her surprise, feels no pain whatsoever. She looks up at the dwarf gratefully. "Thanks Martok."
Moving to open the door, she is horrified by what she sees beyond. Hearing Nadya cry out, her heart breaks a little as she sees the woman crumple to the floor. Oh..oh no...No....It's okay...we can...we can...." Evelina stutters, clearly not sure what to say or do. Instead she just kneels down and tries to comfort the woman, looking to the others with lost eyes, desperately hoping someone else was smart enough to fix this.
-Posted with Wayfinder
The catfolk's normally irrepressable cheer leaves him at the sight before him. He opens his mouth, but is at a loss for words. Awkwardly he reaches out and gently pats Nadya's shoulder, then lets his hand fall to his side.
Freyja heals some of her own wounds before proceeding.
When she catches up with the others after her search of the north bedroom she looks upon the scene with near despair. Oh, no... is all she can manage.
Recognizing the sight of a familiar in mourning, Matt said, "We should put that animal out of its misery. It will never recover from this. He made no move, however, to do so.
When he saw what was in the south chamber, Matt froze, his heart suddenly made of ice. Evelina's words suddenly bring him back to the present, and he turns on his heel and moves from the door. Taking Maggie from his shoulder, he handed her to Maddy and said, "Take her. Stay out of this room." Trusting his twin to follow his orders, he then returned to the chamber.
It took all his strength of will to enter through the door. Taking a shaky breath, he pushed his fingers through his long hair, then shook them out, as if releasing energy. Taking another breath, he stepped in. "Martok. You too. Examine them."
Taking care not to disturb anything, Matt took a long look at the girls (he didn't dare let himself even think the word bodies,) to see what he could learn about their state, or the evil magic cast upon them.
The dwarf, unsure as to what to do with the goat, stepped in the room. He was not ready for what he saw. The two children just... there had been too much. And even if his hope of finding either of them alive was weak, this confirmation was just too strong.
With a tear running down his cheek, he went over and cradled the children. He looked about, "Is this... final? Is this not reversible? Surely something can be done, right? I mean the bird out side and there's probably another bird for your child, Nadya."
-------------
Keeping her arm around Nadya, Evelina replies to Martok, "Maybe she ain't in a bird. We saw a doll and an' the image of a girl around it back in Taldor. Looks jus' like her." Turning to Freyja, she looks for confirmation, "You'd said that you thought there might be a someone trapped in that gem, right?"
Looking uncertain Freyja adds in a small voice Maybe even a soul, whatever that is. But how would we put it back? Its obvious that she is guessing and totally out of her element on this.
Maddy's brow creases in concern at her twin's command but she doesn't make any attempt to disobey. "Come Maggie, we'll go take a look at what's behind that white curtain. Don't worry. We'll have to walk by that statue again but I'll protect you."
Maggie's situation, however, is to the best of your knowledge unique. If the process of using a living creature instead of a doll as the subject required stripping a larger portion of the soul away, resurrection magics may not work as you're used to. What's certain is that the process of creating Maggie's new vessel was powerful magic - far more advanced than creating a soulbound doll would ordinarily be, and that's difficult enough.
I...I had to hope she was still... That Nazhena and Radosek would keep their word... Nadya trails off, momentarily lost for words. A...a doll, you said, that looked like her? Do you...do you have it with you? Ca- can I see it? Her hands tremble, uncertain if they want to accept such a clear sign of fate, but her eyes are set.
While most of the group examines the grim scene in the empty bedroom, Madison and Maggie search through Nazhena's chamber. There is nothing of immediate interest in the main bedroom, but a few feet behind the white curtain is a translucent ice door with a locking mechanism visible just below its surface. Beyond, the indistinct shapes of boxes line the walls, and a large, upright, pale figure stands unmoving in the center of the room. Reaching out to the door, Madison confirms that the handle is locked, but curiously she feels it give slightly under her effort; there are cracks in the ice around the handle's faceplate, and proper application of force could possibly break it free.
Martok waits to see if anyone has a gleamer of hope to offer to those currently in mourning.
He cautions Madison, "Wait to see if that's trapped or something. It's rare for doors to be open to intruders."
"Um...We didn't take the doll with us." Evelina says, feeling guilty that she cannot give Nadya the kind of confirmation she needs. "But, Freyja has the gem. The one that we think was making it work...That maybe has a piece of her soul in it..." She looks once more to Freyja for confirmation.
It's...that's all right. You've got no reason to lie about what you saw, from what I can see, and...well, there's little better proof than... Nadya's words are interrupted by a wracking sob, though she tries to choke it back. Those...those lying vermin, those wretched pieces of s#*#...you said I would get my daughter back! she shouts to the empty room. Her chest heaves for several more seconds with sobs, and she sags against the bedroom door, hiding the awful sight within. But soon, the fires of grief and anger subdue, overcome by the coldness and hardness of grim, icy rage, and her furor crackles almost as tangibly as the bright lines criss-crossing Golarion's face on the floating globe.
We've found the girls. We've sent the good-for-nothing rat - Stiffly she jerks her chin toward the window through which Radosek had fought. - to face Pharasma's judgement with them. Now we close the damned portal that brought you here, tear down whatever they were planning. That was one of the reasons we came, yes? But...how? Matthew, you're skilled with magic, yes? Can you see any sign of how they might have done it? Madison? she calls out to the other room. Did you find anything in there?
Cithembi generally considered himself an easy-going fellow. He liked meeting new people and seeing new places, and he prefered to give others the benefit of the doubt if they said or did something he didn't like.
But this was different. This... this was truly evil. It was just starting to sink in what kind of enemy they faced, what kind of people would go about freezing Golarion for their own power. And he was angry. Angry like he'd never been before.
But there was nothing to do about it just at this moment. And so he waited for the others, waited to see what Matthew said about the magic here, waited to see if Madison had found anything.
Freyja only nods in agreement with Nadya, somewhat ashamed that she can do nothing for her daughter.
Oblivious to what is happening in the other room, Maddy pushes against the door a couple times. "With the cracks already there, I think I can break it open. Well Maggie, shall we see if I can force the door?"
Maddy takes a few steps backwards and then runs forward to shoulder-check the door.
With a loudly satisfying crack, pieces of the door fall away which allows Maddy to push it open. She looks at Maggie, "I'll go first. If there's trouble, find Matty."
Just as she's about to enter the new room, she hears Nadya calling from the other room. She yells back, "Maybe. I'm going to check it out."
You said I would get my daughter back! The words may not have been directed at her, but the feelings of failure and guilt they caused hit Evelina harder than any enemy they had fought in the tower. What was all of this for, if not to save those little girls? All she could do was stand still and watch as Nadya's heart broke.
The sound of a crash, snapped Evelina out of her stupor. "Oi! Maddy, you 'kay?" she asked nervously as she headed to the other room. "Oh!" she exclaimed, clearly surprised to see a door busted off its hinges.
Matt said the words to change his sight, and carefully examined the scene. Then he closed his eyes and called upon his prodigious memory to provide him with answers.
After a few minutes, he opened his eyes and sighed. His hand trembling slightly, he laid it across Maggie's forehead. It was cold and still. "I'm sorry," he said softly.
At Nadya's question, he said, "Your daughter's body has been kept magically whole, even in death. If what I understand about soulbound dolls is correct, she may not be beyond hope. Martok, Cithimbi, can you work with your gods to bring back the dead? I believe Thora could be coaxed back to life, if we have the power to do so."
His thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of Maddy breaking through...something. Spinning on his heel, he ran towards the sound, hoping he wasn't too late to avoid losing another sister.
Cithembi shakes his head solemnly. "Desna has not granted me such power, no."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Madison pulls the door open with a crunch to reveal the room beyond as others come rushing to her aid. Behind the ice door is what appears to be a small vault, its walls lined with shelves. Several crates, urns, decanters, and storage boxes line the shelves and lie stacked on the floor, filling most of the empty floor space. Next to the east window is a mirrored vanity with a small plush seat next to it; the center of the room is dominated by a large ice statue of a tall, imperious woman with an owl perched on her shoulder.
As Madison enters, the ice sculpture's mouth suddenly splits open, and a high, clear voice echoes through the hall. The uninvited shall wither and die like the frost-covered bloom! You should never have ventured into my sanctum, and you'd do well to leave before my return. The long, curved blade in the statue's hand glows a bluish-white so bright that it stings Maddie's eyes, and suddenly she feels a strange, cold magic seeping through her bones.
The storage boxes contain an impressive collection of arcane spell scrolls; with Matthew's expansive knowledge of magic, he works through deciphering their contents easily. The hoard consists of two scrolls of comprehend languages, two scrolls of cure moderate wounds, a scroll of delay poison, a scroll of dispel magic, a scroll of Irriseni mirror sight, a scroll of remove disease, two scrolls of remove sickness, a scroll of threefold aspect, and a scroll of youthful appearance. The decanters hold varying draughts of potions not yet dispensed into individual vials—the equivalent of two potions of cure light wounds, two potions of enlarge person, three oils of mask dweomer, and two potions of reduce person.
The crates hold 50 trade bars of pure silver, each one weighing 10 pounds and worth 50 gp.
This heavy, metal-bound chest holds a bag, a small iron coffer, and a heavy blue robe. The bag is a bag of holding (type II), which contains 1,290 gp, 2,198 sp, and 2,787 cp. The robe is a robe of useful items (with extra patches for a bag of 100 gp, three 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). The coffer holds a pair of feather tokens (bird and tree), a wand of color spray (23 charges), and a ring of white gold set with a large green sapphire.
This vault, however, provides little in the way of clues as to how Nazhena and Radosek opened the winter portal to Taldor. The most likely source of that information, then, seems to be the charts and notes in the ritual chamber, as well as the huge ethereal globe.
Maddy's hand instinctively raises to shield her eyes but it's too late. She can already feel the witch's evil magic flowing into her body and trying to infest her mind. You are no good. You failed to protect those you love and so you deserve this. You will forever live your life as the curse that you are, weak and useless.
She begins to waiver, to weaken, and her sword slips out of her hand clattering to the ground.
Recognizing that something is wrong with her sister, Maggie squawks, "Mad-dy!"
Hearing her sister's voice, even in bird form, helps her steal her mind against the magic because it reminds Maddy that the witch is evil. This empowers her to shake off the effects. Maddy bends over to pick up her sword. "Thanks, Maggie. It was like her voice was in my head and I may have listened if you hadn't been here."
Evelina rushes into the room as she hear the booming voice and Maddie's sword clatter. "Gosh! What was that? Are you okay?" Looking around nervously, she remarks, "I know your brother wanted to get outta here quick...but...Maybe we should all stick together...This place is just...wrong..."
Looking around the room, she sees the chest and frowns. "That could have something important inside, right? Hmm...I ain't ever seen a lock like that before..." Evelina looks it over, "But maybe I could figger it out with time..."
Evelina leans down and works on trying to pick the lock. Trying to block out all the fears and doubts of the day and focus on the task, she begins humming the alphabet nervously to herself. Finally, after a few minutes of intense focus, she closes her eyes and makes the final tweak. ...now I know my abcs...next time won't you..." Click. Letting out a sigh, she finishes, "...sing with me..." Looking up, she says to the others, "Woah...There's a whole bunch of money in here...and some other stuff I don't even know what it is..."
Martok nears the warrior and hands her sword back to her, "You don't look so well, child. Here let me see."
He then examined the statue, "So it looks like we invaded her sanctum and she's coming back. I wonder if she knows who we are."
He added, "In any case, we won't be staying long enough for her to return. We can close the portal and get back to Taldor, right?"
--------
The dwarf neared the girl working on the chest, "You know how to do this? I wouldn't have thought you had 'long fingers'?"
-----------
Matt skidded into the room in time to see Maddy shake off the curse. Rushing to her, he cried, "Maddy! Are you okay?" He patted her down, as if checking for a serious wound, before checking her eyes and her pulse. He came short of making her stick her tongue out, but only just. "That was really dangerous. We knew she had some sort of trap in here. You were lucky."
After assuring himself that his sisters were safe, he turned his attention to the treasure. His eyes widened. "There are more magical items here than I've ever seen in once place. We should definitely take this all with us. This extra bag of holding will come in handy."
Looking over the scrolls and notes, he said, "We can't close the portal from here. I suspect it'll take me some time to decipher her notes in the outer room. Perhaps we should go ensure we won't be disturbed. The guards will likely be returning soon, if they haven't already. And I'd rather get anything from Radosek's body, and not let them have it. What do you think? Shall we go back outside, then return to finish the job?"
Maddy is still slightly shaken from what happened but they need to keep going so she brushes it off. "I...I think I'm okay. The statue was angry because I trespassed and said something about things withering. Then I felt all weird - kinda weak and sickly, which is when I dropped my sword - but then it passed." She further justifies her actions by saying, "It would have been dangerous for someone, better me than someone else."
It's then that she notices her twin's face is quite ashen as well as everyone else's. She's fairly certain that this reaction isn't because of worry over her. Concern causes her brow to crease and she asks, "What happened to all of you? Are you all okay?"
Freyja, understanding something of witches and their curses is also concerned about Maddy. Moving to her she asks in a concerned voice What happened? Are you ok? Then Lets melt that statue down to water.
After Maddy proves to be fine Freyja casts Detect Magic and tries to help Matt.
Evelina looks down at her fingers at Martok's comment. "I don't think they're that long... " She remarks aloud, not immediately cottoning on to the connotation. "Oh... Wait no it ain't like that! I just worked in a locksmith shop for a little bit, until... Well... It didn't work out." Clearly embarrassed, she continues, "I don't break into places or nothing... I mean maybe once or twice in the orphanage... But nothing illegal!"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Matt was torn - he wanted to protect his twin. But lying wasn't an option. Sitting her on the bed, he put his arms around her shoulders and said softly, "We found Maggie and Thora's bodies. They're dead, but in good condition. I don't know if we'll be able to make her right - it's beyond me right now. I didn't want her to see it."
"It is probably best to make certain we are not disturbed while ending the spell, yes?" Cithembi says.
"What!?!" Maddy stands straight up, "If she's dead, how can it be made right? If she's dead, how can she talk to me - to us?" Confusion and grief overwhelm Maddy as tears roll down her cheeks. Her legs give way and she sinks to the ground with a heavy thud. "That means that all of this was pointless."
In that moment, Maddy's hope is replaced by a desire for vengeance. Deep inside, a voice encourages her anger and implies it will bring freedom. Maddy brushes it off thinking that it's a side-effect of the witch's magic. But her eyes glint dangerously as she says, "The witch will die for this. There will be no where for her to hide." She stands up and squares her shoulders. "We close her portal and then we hunt her down."
"I won't be of much help in figuring out the magic to close the portal. I can help make sure you aren't disturbed by going down to deal with Radosek's body. Maybe the guards won't be so eager to fight with the witch gone and her consort dead."
With the vault's contents shoveled into the magically expanded bag, the group goes back to the transporter. As Jairess' key illuminates at Matthew's chest, everyone stands on the platform engulfed once again by crystals, and even before they disappear you hear a trio of worried voices overlapping each other.
You know what the Mistress says - we're not supposed to go up there, no matter what!
"No matter what" doesn't include the Master showing up dead at the southern wall!
We have to - wait! The transporter!
When the ice falls away, you see three of the guards from the gate surrounding you, brandishing spear points toward the platform. Though they stand their ground, their spears wobble visibly with the shaking of their hands, and the eyes behind their helmet slits are wide. Halt! In the name of the Witch Q-queen...
Come now. Can't we be reasonable here. We came for our friend's daughter. The witch queen promised not her hurt her, but she lied. A innocent girl is dead at the hand of the witch queen. Is that the type of person you would give you life for? You can fight us and die, or you could go home to your families and let us deal with the witch queen.
Maddy takes a step forwards. "Two! Two innocent girls are dead," she growls. Matthew grabs his sister's arm to hold her back as she goes to move forward again. There is something menacing in her eyes as she says, "I'd rather make the witch pay with her blood but I will settle for you. Your choice."
Evelina joins the room with the others with her rapier at the ready. She shakes her head at the guards and tries to help Freyja sway them towards surrender. "We've already beat your leaders. What good would fighting us do now? Your queen is a bad lady! You really wanna die for her here!"
Martok just gripped his spear tighter in one hand while allowing a flame to dance on the open palm of his other hand, "What they said. Just move away and live. Children's lives were lost and we are not in a very good mood."
Matt grabbed his wand and held it loosely, but threateningly, in one hand. "Indeed. We are here to destroy the murderers of children. Go now, and we will not include you in our vengeance."
Faced with the immediate threat of the people responsible for defeating their powerful master, the soldiers' resolve begins to wane. One eyes Matthew's wand nervously, while another can do nothing but stare at Madison's fearsome sword. You know what the penalty will b- one tries to sputter out, but Martok's dancing flame quickly dampens even his intrepid spirits. He gives only a small nod, and that's all it takes for the trio to bolt, breaking ranks and running full-speed for the transporter that will take them downstairs - and far away from the intrepid adventurers powerful enough to take down a winter witch.
Entering the dining room after the soldiers, you see their ice-encased forms fading away on the transporter platform. The room's only other occupant is Mierul, unbound and massaging her hands. I think they believed me - they let me free, at least, and didn't ask too many questions. Now, I'll be going... She glances sidelong at the party as she turns for the transporter. Is it true? Is Radosek...dead?
----------
The entrance hall's floor is still covered in water where its water elemental guardian had splashed from the pool. One new addition is in place, though - Radosek's still form, lying on the edge of the raised dais atop what looks to be a spare coat with its sleeves knotted together. A faint trail of snow and water droplets leading to the body suggest that the coat was used as an improvised travois of sorts to drag the body in from outside. The corpse is arranged in an attempt at a dignified pose, although it looks as if it was hastily done. Fortunately, it does not look as if the body was despoiled - perhaps the soldiers too greatly feared what Nazhena would think upon her return should she find out they had stolen from her consort.
Radosek's long icicle wand rests beneath his folded hands. A fine cloak of cloth-of-gold lies bunched beneath his head; on his finger is an ornate pewter ring with its face molded in the likeness of a shield. An ebony pendant in the shape of a bear peeks out from beneath a fold of his robe, and a pouch with various vials and bags sits at his waist, along with a small rolled scroll.
Cithembi nods at Mierul's question. "He is. But I must ask, where will you go now?"
------------
Cithembi is just as glad not to have to shed more blood. He simply hopes it won't cause them more trouble in the future. As Matthew (I would assume) lists off the items Radosek has, he looks back and forth between his companions.
"The ring, amulet, and cloak would help any of us, yes? How are we to decide who needs each more?"
Cithembi nods at Mierul's question. "He is. But I must ask, where will you go now?"
Martok nodded, "Yes, he was part of some really bad things. Children were being killed to fuel whatever foul acts they were doing."
He asked, "Is there anything else that we should know about him or this place? What do you know of this white witch whose statue we saw?"
Finally he also was curious, "WYes, so where will you go?"
----------
With Radosek defeated are you now free do to as you will? I'd be your friend and as a fellow bard even call you sister of the art if you would have it. Freyja says. We will let you leave us if that is what you wish but I ask again that you take no actions against us or our mission. We intend to close this portal next. She looks at Mierul closely trying to read her thoughts.
Matt was uninterested in the folarren's fate or answers - he still didn't trust her, as her mistress was still out there somewhere. He knew that his companions wouldn't stand for him attacking her, and truth be told, he didn't really want to. But he didn't trust her. Instead, he waited impatiently for her to take her leave, that they could finish what they came down to start.
___
As Matt stripped the body, he took time and care to identify each item properly. Holding up the wand, he asked, "Can anybody else use this?" Though he would have loved the protective magics, he knew that he was least likely to be hit, so he handed them to Maddy to distribute to the fighters.
It was time to head back up and study the portal system. As they went, Matt said to the others, "I think it's time to break the mirrors. We don't want her scrying on us. Presumably she'll have some witch way of knowing that Radosek is dead, so there's no way to hide what happened here. And it may take us some time to close the portals. Maddy, want to break some glass?"
Maddy doesn't have much to add to the conversation with Mierul. Radosek was dead and she was free to leave, the sooner the better. However, showing that there were no hard feelings she called after the folarren, "Don't forget all your stuff. You'll need it."
--------
Maddy looks at the items that Matty places in her hands. Immediately she's drawn to the amulet which she promptly puts around her neck. She then hands the ring to Freya.
Matty's idea of breaking the mirrors is appealing to Maddy. Seeing it as a cathartic way to work of some grief and anger, she nods enthusiastically. "The witch probably knew we were here the moment I broke the door to her vault. At least she won't be able to spy on anyone after the fact and it's not like I'll be of any help figuring out how to close the portal."