So he was right...that really was Thora. It was Nadya's daughter that they had slain. Or at least, some twisted representation of her...the girl that Nadya had spoken so fondly of was definitely not some evil doll. Still...he couldn't imagine the pain of it, the last vestiges of hope ripped from your hands so cruelly. And he had been the one to deliver the blow. How could he ever atone for such a thing?
Licking his suddenly dry-feeling lips, Cyrus twisted to sit on the ground beside the grief-stricken mother. He made no move to touch her or to interrupt her mourning, but he felt that the very least he could do would be to let her see that if she wanted a shoulder, his was there.
To know more about the doll and the huts
At Droguk's question Natasha thinks back on her training and local knowledge. As the little gnome interupts her thoughts for a moment Natasha glares at her before responding "Don't judge a book by its cover. If I wanted you all dead I had plenty of opportunity just moments ago. We have aligned objectives so it would be wise for you to let go of whatever grudge you have."
After a moment Nadya regains control of her voice and speaks again.
"I wish I could believe that Kobad but I fear it is not the case. We were all raised in fear of the tales of the witches and their huts. They stand on the borders of Irrisen as guardians made in the image of Baba Yagas own hut. For each hut there is a doll and for each doll a...a child. Taken and slain to power the foul magics. I know nothing of how it is done but I know that those children taken do not return.
She pauses a moment considering something. "This hut you encountered...it was days, weeks ago...and it must have been built even before that. She knew....she had already done it!" Beneath the sorrow a spark kindles in Nadyas eyes. "My daughter was dead but she bargained with her life. Made me run errands and dance like a puppet." The spark grows to a flame drying the tears that had so recently flowed.
Rising, unsteadily at first but then with a burning resolve Nadya yells out at the ceiling, the walls, the tower itself, "YOU B@%@&! YOU KILLED HER! MY LITTLE GIRL! But now we're here, in your impenetrable tower. Your guards are dead and YOU'RE NEXT!"
Looking around the floor she stride to one of the shattered remains of a mirror. Grabbing one of the larger shards, it's sharp edges drawing blood from her palm, she looks into it and says, "Do you hear me Nazhena? I'm coming for you."
With that she whips the shard into a nearby wall where it shatters. Taking a deep breath she picks up her weapons and looks to the group. The trails of her tears remain but the only emotion on her face now is a smoldering hate. "I know you have your own reasons for being here but you have all risked your lives to aid me in seeking my daughter and I can not thank you enough. We have come farther than I dared hope, than anyone would have thought possible. Now we know she is dead" her voice catches a bit at the statement but she continues, "but I ask...beg you...to see Thora avenged. Will you travel a bit further with me?"
Natasza walks closer, and puts her hand on Nadya's knee.
"I will aid you, as will Tough. A mother shouldn't have to outlive her daughter..."
She then turns to Aelena.
"Not attacking and killing us does not make you a friend, but it also means you are not an enemy.. For now.
Should you chose to aid Nadya in getting vengeance on Nazhena, it will be a step in that direction, however. We would welcome the help, even..."
Natasza swallows the last word and prepares to leave.
"Just don't walk behind me. Tough is skiddish, and we have both learned not to trust Irrisen Witches the hard way.
I pray you are different."
Surprised at the sudden recovery, though he quickly comes to share the rage Nadya shows at the realization that she was simply being played the entire time, Cyrus gets to his feet, spinning the heavy falchion he carries in one hand. His face is set in stone and he gives a firm nod. The same rage is not in his expression, but it is as resolute and convicted as it has ever been.
"I cannot speak for the others, but I will go with you to the edges of Golarion if I must. I will do all in my power to help you see your daughter avenged."
Remembering the dolls Natasha adds "From the description Cyrus provided it sounds like you had been dealing with a guardian doll. These are beyond my skill but I know of them. Essentially, each doll is a sort of construct powered by the soul of a small child. They are used to guard the huts that watch over our borders. The mirror eye is commonly used for scrying through the dolls view. The gem is what stores the soul."
She thinks for a moment tapping her index finger on her lip then shakes her head "Though whoever made the doll did a pretty poor job. Usually the trapped soul can't reach out so there must have been some sort of flaw."
Seeing Nadya upset and knowing her footing is still rough with the group she adds "At least by destroying the gem you released the girls soul."
Cyrus' demeanor changes slightly at Natasha's addition. "Well...at least we know we did the right thing by destroying the doll and that gem. Thora will at least know peace and need no longer be bound within that evil thing." he says loud, though his desire for vengeance is nowhere near sated.
For remembering the layout of the tower and having an idea on where to head next to deal with the traitorous witch here helping Queen Elvana.
Natasha looks around now that things have settled a bit trying to get her bearing for the place.
Cyrus looks to Natasha, drawing in a deep, controlled breath of air.
"Perhaps our end goals are the ultimately the same, but you have no stake in this retribution. Will you still join us?"
You would also know that the guards you've faced, while many, do not represent the full compliment the tower generally houses. Rumor has it that Nazhena has had her forces scouring the area searching for something or someone.
Nadyas stare softens a bit at this news. Placing a hand on Cyrus' shoulder she says, "You did. Thank you."
"How do we proceed?"
Natasha nods "I will aid, not only to prove my intentions but also to expedite us toward our larger goal."
She looks back down the hall from where she came and then to the hall ahead. "While I haven't been here myself I know of the tower. My mother has visited before and from what I remember there should be two more levels to the tower. Though what is above I do not know. I assume you used the ice portals to get up here. We will need to use them again I believe to continue upward."
Looking over to Nadya, he offers a slight smile and nod, shifting his falchion to the opposite hand to reach up and momentarily place his atop hers before turning his attention to all present. "Then that is how we should proceed. Onwards and upwards. If there are two more levels to go then we should probably be ready for challenges. It seems unlikely that there will be as many guards from here on, since we're getting close to the top, but I'd imagine what threats there are will prove a greater challenge to all of us. Be prepared for it." he says aloud, as much to himself as to the others.
"We all ready to show the rest of these nimrods what we think of their people skills?"
Kobad is a little worried, but tries not to show it, his spell arsenal is nearly depleted.
He nods and looks to find all the ice keys he knows the group has. so which teleporter should we try first.
At the news of the child's life confirmed at an end - paired with the anguish of Nadya - Droguk's anger rises immensely. His desire to destroy is strong and as he quickly looks around, he finds no threat in sight. In an attempt to calm himself and hurt no one, he shuts his eyes and concentrates on the rapid beating of his heart. Finally, after a few moments, he manages to calm as he opens his eyes and looks to Nadya.
"We proceed as you said, Lady of the Tent ... with vengeance," he says with a tone of absolute finality, his jaw clenched. "I will search the fallen to see if they possess anything that might help tend to our wounds. When I am done, we move to the ice portals." Droguk first moves to collect his axe he dropped. Once collected, he sheathes it and then moves to inspect the bodies, starting with the fey creature.
During his search Droguk finds :
5x CI longswords
6x daggers
5x lt crossbows
6x potions with snowflakes on them (Endure Elements)
6x chain shirts
5x lt steel shields
60 bolts
2x potions labeled with the bent T (CLW)
1x Potion of Interrogation
2x Bolts that seem of much better make than the rest
A master worked CI longsword
A master worked lt crossbow
A lt spiked shield
A small mirror
6x cold weather outfits
69gp
Turning to the others, "I have found these." He shows them the multitude of potions. "Take these, Landwarden, and use them. Or give them to one of the others. They possess the same markings as the other vials so I would gather they should heal your wounds. And if any of you are in need of a various weapons, there are plenty here. Otherwise, it is time to move."
Natasha stands there slightly tapping her foot while the Droguk searches the bodies. Seeing some nicer quality items that no one identifies right away she volunteers "I can take a look at those if you like."
Recognizing both items she explains "These bolts are high quality. When shot enemies near their path become fearful. The mirror allows the holder to alert the owner when it is opened after a ritual is conducted."
Natasza inspects Tough, and stays silent for the rest.
Cyrus gratefully thanks Droguk for the potions and immediately drinks them both, knowing they have three more in reserve should they be required shortly...and almost certainly they would.
Once they are down, he nods in agreement with Droguk. "Take the quality things, but the rest we can leave. We have no need of them and they would almost certainly do nothing but slow us down."
Droguk looks over at the others, "How do the rest of you fare?" he asks, before looking directly at the gnome. "Is your beast wounded?"
"I'm ready to wrap this up." the ranger responds resolutely.
"It is wounded, but it will be able to maintain a little longer. My gifts are dwindling though, and I'm pulling from a deeper reserve than I had initially anticipated as a possibility."
She looks at Tough, and examines his wounds.
"Let's bite through. No other option anyway, right?"
Natasha smirks "As you can probably imagine I am prepared. Though I would not recommend resting here. From what I remember from my mothers talks of the place there should be many more guards than what you have left in your wake. Though I have heard Nazhena has had her forces scouring the area searching for something or someone. As such it would not be a good idea to rest here as more guards could return at any time."
"No, the middle of the enemy stronghold is not a place I want to take a nap. I want to finish this...and finish it now. The sooner we can be done with this place, the better."
Droguk nods at Natasza before looking to Tough again with what appears to be a look of concern for the animal - but it is difficult to tell with the large warrior.
"No, the middle of the enemy stronghold is not a place I want to take a nap. I want to finish this...and finish it now. The sooner we can be done with this place, the better."
"Agreed. Time to move." Droguk starts out and heads in the direction of the ice portal.
The party makes its way past where the statues of the dryads once stood. Though cramped you are able to squeeze into the alcove and all hold their breath a moment waiting for the expected creeping cold. A second later you realize something is wrong as nothing happens.
Natasha looks around to see they are all still standing where they were looking at the paltform she tries to recall anything useful in order to activate them.
Kobad looks over the ice keys he has and takes a look at the portal.
there is probably some command word to activate.
He starts to fiddle with the portal to trick it into thinking the command word was used.
Cyrus looks expectantly at the two spellcasters in the group, hoping that they might be able to shed some light on why the darn portal isn't working.
Kobad looks a bit confused, seems to have been deactivated.
Kobad starts to look for a way to re-activate the portal.
Natasha lets out a deep sigh "Seems we will need to find another method to ascend, or perhaps try another portal?"
Kobad has a concerned look, the portal has been shut down from the other side. it would seem that someone upstairs knows we are heading that way and will be prepared.
If this one's shut down, there are two other portal-arches on this floor of the tower. They may be trying to shut off our means of going back down to force a confrontation with whoever is waiting at the top. Which...y'know..we were gonna do that anyway, so I guess if that's the case they're doing us a favor by giving us directions?"
Looking to the others, "We will try the northern portal then." Droguk immediately heads that way.
Natasha nods to the suggestion and heads that way.
The party makes it's way down the curved hall and to the northern portal. There you repeat the effort of squeezing in with a mix of anxiety and cynicism. Just after Kobad enters the unnerving feeling of ice creeping up your legs and over your body begins. In a second you are completely encased and can only stare out as the blurred, translucent world shifts. As quickly as it appeared the ice melts away and reveals a large crescent shaped room dominated by a triangle of crossed steel wires that run between three wooden posts. The room stinks of the bird droppings that litter the floor. Along the south wall open windows look out at the horizon and admit a brisk, cold wind. Two doors exit the chamber, one next to a large mirror to the west and another standing between a pair of wooden chests to the northeast.
Ravens perch throughout the room and on the wire. Their heads all turn your way as they take notice of your appearance. Their raucous cries of alarm swiftly fill the room. Across the way you see a light blue skinned woman in leather armor, her white hair floating in the wind like a cloud. She looks at you in surprise for a moment before saying, "Who are...It's you! Defend the aerie my friends!" With that she gives voice to a cawing call that sets the ravens to flight. They swarm about the room a veritable wall of black feathers and beaks.
While traveling with the guards from the Pale Tower you recall some speaking quite vulgarly about their attraction to a new comer to the tower, Jairess, though none could or would confirm achieving their much sought after conquest. Further you learned that is was believed that Radosek himself had shown an interest in the woman.
"It's another murder of crows! These are beyond me to deal with, but I'm gonna make a go for the woman!" Cyrus calls aloud, skirting around the birds but stopping short of the woman, readying his sword should she put herself in range of his blade.
Kobad attempts to get a fix on the woman that seems to command the birds.
His hand begins to glow and soon in flames. it would be best for you to surrender now, I believe you have a burning desire to to stay alive.
Natashs puts her hand slightly over her mouth and whispers something then extends her hand as if directing the whisper at the woman.
The woman pauses for a moment raising her fngertips to her forehead unsteadily but then shakes her head and seems to snap out of whatever had distracted her.
Reaching to her belt she removes a small vial and drinks it.. "You should not have come to the tower."
The screaming, swarming birds push forward their bodies surrounding most of the group, clawing and pecking at your faces while their wings buffet you.