As the healing magic brings him back to consciousness, he sits up and doesn't move, waiting for the "smallness" to go away. When he finally notices himself "grow", he breathes a sigh of relief. He then looks to the ranger tiredly, "I am far from myself, Landwarden," and accepts his help in rising, fighting through the pain of the wounds that are still quite fresh but at least they no longer bleed. Taking in the fact he stands taller than everyone again, Droguk feels a bit more at ease now.
Nadya seems distant, slowly lowering her bow. "We should see this done and be gone." she says as she turns back to the tower.
Turning to Nadya, "I agree. But if I continue like this, I will not continue for much longer. My wounds are grievous. It will not take many more like them to see me at end."
Something then occurs to him and he moves over to speak to Natasza. Bending down, "I see you are one with the beasts of the land. You have the power to call them to aid you in battle. There are few who wield such power among my people. They are held in high esteem as you would be. But," he starts as he looks directly in the eyes of the gnome, "I do not possess the desire to ever be small," he says, and you notice something you've never seen on the barbarian in the time that you've know him . . . the slightest of grins.
Nodding in thanks to the druid, he rises back up, his typical demeanor quickly returns. "I am in need of healing. Do we have any more of the vials? If not, it matters not. We press on."
After gathering the items, but before looking at them too closely, Natasha lets out a sigh at Droguks request "Come here I'll fix you up." she slips the wand in her hand back into the sheath on her wrist and rumages through her satchel a moment pulling out another wand. She touches it to Droguk's various injuries until they are all but gone.
After the man seems mostly whole she sticks the wand back in her satchel and takes a closer look at each of the items found.
After examining each of the items she says to no one in particular "The wand is common here in Irrisen and is something I could use in the future to aid us. The amulet makes your skin tougher perhaps this one." she motions to Droguk "Could make use of this to avoid being beaten so badly. The claok aids your resitance to various ill effects, while the ring I will have to examine further."
Droguk looks to the witch with trepidation. He looks to the others a moment before turning back to the witch. With his axe still in hand, he tightens his grip just in case as he steps over to her, awaiting to see if it is a trick.
Flinching ever so slightly, he notices the wounds upon him healing up. When she moves to place the wand away, he continues to watch her a moment longer, as if expecting something sinister to happen before finally relenting and giving a slight nod of thanks. He then loosens his grip upon the axe, resting it upon his shoulder.
After examining each of the items she says to no one in particular "The wand is common here in Irrisen and is something I could use in the future to aid us. The amulet makes your skin tougher perhaps this one." she motions to Droguk "Could make use of this to avoid being beaten so badly. The cloak aids your resistance to various ill effects, while the ring I will have to examine further."
A low, guttural growl can be heard from the barbarian at the witch's comments as he looks at her through narrowed eyes.
"If Scar uses the amulet to avoid blows, he should use the ring as well. It will make you slightly faster, but only for the purpose of avoiding blows."
The gnome ponders for a moment, then continues.
"Like you get this tingling in the back of your neck when something is about to hit you? It will... enhance this 'ability'?" she says with her two fingers in the air.
Turning to Aelena "You know much of magical items. It is a useful skill to posses.".
She tries to sound friendly, she really does...
She is a good ally, and saved Scar.
I know.
But she's a witch?
"Glad we've got all that settled. Let's head back up and finish exploring the tower...I doubt we're gonna see a lot of resistance in there now." Cyrus replies, fully intending to go with Nadya back up to the room they were in before.
Before he rejoins her, he again approaches Droguk, lightly resting a hand on the man's back. With a slight smile, he says to him...
Still smiling, he claps his hand on the warriors back once more, then moves to re-enter the tower. "Remember, we still haven't accomplished our goal here. We gotta find out where Nazhena is. She's the end-game...for now, anyway." he says, memory of the geas placed on them tickling the edge of his mind.
Natasha swaps the wand in one of her wrist sheathes with the newly found wand before handing the items off to the gnome to look over. At Natasza's comment she nods her acknowledgement and then follows Cyrus and the others as they head back upstairs. "I believe I know how we can close the portal as well. But we should search the place and make sure there isn't anything of use before we set to that task."
At Natasha's mention of the portal, Cyrus seems to hesitate for half a beat, then keeps walking. "Eh...Heldren was gettin' to be boring, anyway..." he states.
"If Scar uses the amulet to avoid blows, he should use the ring as well. It will make you slightly faster, but only for the purpose of avoiding blows."
The gnome ponders for a moment, then continues.
"Like you get this tingling in the back of your neck when something is about to hit you? It will... enhance this 'ability'?" she says with her two fingers in the air.
Droguk looks to the gnome curiously a moment before nodding and taking said items. Although, he remains slightly skeptical about such things.
Bending slightly to hear the ranger, Droguk gives Cyrus a look of relief that could easily be read as: "You ain't kiddin'."
As they make their way back inside, Droguk listens to the witch speak and nods, unable to find anything wrong with her idea. "Do you know the location of this portal, Witch Queen?" he asks.
Kobad was content that the enemies were defeated, but a look of concern crossed his brow. something occupied his mind. he took no care of the items discovered, as others have taken over the task of identifying items of magic.
as the others leave. Kobad follows a few steps, the cold ground hisses with each step as wisps of steam rise from the evaporating ice under his feet.
a shimmer of heat still surrounds him, looking about checking that none are around him, Kobad pauses, claps his hands together and suddenly the shimmering heat about him igites in a small fireball around him, engulfing Kobad as well.
a second later the flames are gone as is the shimmer. the ground around him is dry and warm. despite the flame engulfing him kobad is unharmed.
he pats himself down to cool off and rejoins the group heading in. he yet hides the concern he has as best he can from the others.
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The party, weary but uplifted by their victory, makes their way back through the ice portals to the upper level of the tower. There the glowing sphere of Golarion still floats above the summoning circle and the cold wind still blows through the open windows.
Cyrus takes another breath as he states at the globe. "Well...I suppose let's find what we can. Then we'll try and get that portal shut down. This must be the link between here and Heldren. See the line connecting it to here?" he says, not recalling if he had pointed it out there first time through.
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Droguk looks on with curiosity and a bit of fascination. "You are telling me this portal will carry us back to Heldren?"
"I can't think of any other explanation for this line here. See? This is about where we are here and it connects to another point down here... and I'm certain that this is the Border Wood."
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Natasha shakes her head at the others. "There is no portal here. This is just the focus for the portal I came across, and from what you have told me likely that you came through. We can close it down here to stop the spread of wherever you are from. In case there are any adverse consequences though we should be sure we have searched the place first, before I shut it down."
Kobad looks over the focus. listening to what the others had to say.
there are other ways home, I came here to stop the winter back home before people starve. if this thing will end it, then lets end it now.
as he speaks his hand ignites with flame ready to burn the device.
"It wouldn't matter, even then... remember the wasting curse that's on us. If we ever deviate from trying to bring the old crone back it might as well be the end of us."
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While the others contumplate the device Natasha looks around the other rooms for any further clues or useful items.
During your investigation you also note a magical aura coming from the cauldron.
Natasha moves into the room a few of you had entered before finding things as you had left them. The bed makes the rooms purpose obvious though the statue of a woman with an owl on her shoulder seems a bit odd. To the south a white curtain hangs in a doorway.
Droguk follows the white witch a few steps behind, wondering what it is she might uncover. Taking a look around as he steps into the room, he takes note of the white curtain. Keeping his axe ready, he moves over to it and stops directly in front of it. He then jerks the curtain aside and quickly grabs his axe with both hands, ready to strike at whatever it is this time.
As Kobad examines the circle his eye catches something about the cauldron. he turns his attention to that for a bit seeing if that is a part of the key to ending the winter, and preventing its return.
unable to decipher much of that he returns to the circle and tries to weave the magic of his conjured ball of flame to melt the magic strands holding the circle together.
As Dorguk looks behind the curtain Natasha rumanges through the dresser and drwaers. If this was Nezhena's room or even the other witch there may be something useful here.
Cyrus stares at the globe for a few more minutes before he comes back to his senses; he looks around to see if there are any rooms that have not yet been searched. If there are not, he assists someone else with their search.
Cyrus steps into the room to the Southwest and finds another bedroom. While furnished it seems as if it has not been used in some time.
In the other room Droguk draws back the curtain and finds a door of ice. A keyhole and handle are the only items that break its surface.
Natasha searches through the drawers in the room but finds nothing of particular interest.
Relaxing, "There is a door of ice here," he tells Natasha as he studies it. "Did the flying man have a key upon him?" he asks as he grabs the handle and checks to see if it will open.
The door is locked.
Cyrus studies the door for a few moments when suddenly, inspiration strikes him. "Hey...if he didn't have a key on him...the door is ice, right? Can't we just..break it?"
While the party inspects the door of ice Kobad stands next to the summoning circle looking past the mundane world. Arcane words and gestures flow from his lips and hands. A steely focus rests upon his brow.
The task is no easy one, the ice magic of the witches is strange to begin with and the spell itself is the most complex and powerful you've ever seen. Beyond that the spell seems to specifically resist your fiery conjuration as if it fears it's touch. Finally you drive your magics deep into the core of the grand binding, strands melting away like window frost before the morning sun. One by one they disappear until, just as you begin to fear you can hold your spell no longer, the entire weave begins to unravel beneath its own weight.
Suddenly Kobad sucks in a heavy breath and his gaze, so long locked in space before him, breaks and jumps wildly about the room. Sweat soaks his forehead and he seems as exhausted as if he had been hours at the forge. You are quickly distracted from your friend when even those without magical aptitude can feel a great release of power within the room. The sense is only momentary but makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
Looking to the globe the points at the end of the line between Heldren and Waldsby fade away.
Kobad slumps to the floor, his task complete.
looking at thoses still there.. and in a tired voice. did it work? is Heldren safe?
he can barely speak, the magic having drained him.
"Yes, my friend. It worked. The portal in the Border Wood is closed now...or at least I assume that's what happened, since the line between there and here disappeared. You did good work, Kobad. How are you feeling? Gonna be ok?" he asks, looking over to his companion.
Droguk walks in during the commotion. Catching the ranger's response, Droguk nods. "Well done, Fireborn. Now, let us see what else the tower holds that may be of use to us before we move on. There is a door made of ice that may open with one of the ice keys. If that does not work, then I guess we break it down as Landwarden suggested. Or we could gather some wood and build a fire to melt it."
You take a few moments to try the various keys you have found but none fit the lock.
"Well, Droguk...you want me and you to take a whack at it? I'd just as soon Kobad save what magic he has left, just in case...and a fire would take a long time to melt it."
Before the others resort to brute force Natasha takes a look at the door seeing if anything comes to mind as to it's use or purpose, also detecting any magic around the door.
Kobad, breathing heavy, looks at the others and nods. indicating he will be fine.
He stands using a nearby table for support and takes a few more moments to catch his breath again.
finally as he regains his strength Kobad makes his way to the others now engaged at the ice door.
After more than a dozen visites the maiden told the lout that she would marry him but that he must first prove his worth by recovering the ring that had been taken from her great grandmother by a fey of some power. The Jarl scoffed at what he thought to be an easy challenge and, upon the doors next melting, produced the ring. Feigning delight the princess offered the band back to the barbarian as his wedding band from her. Placing it on his finger he immediately found old wounds beginning to bleed again, draining the life from him. Unable to remove the cursed ring he collapsed to the sound of the pale haired woman's laughter as she walked out the open doorway.
Despite the door bringing this story to mind you quickly realize that it has no such enchantments and is, in fact, merely a door most likely used to prevent ingress and egress from the room beyond it in the most typical of ways.
"We should find cover behind something, in case it shatters. Sometimes ice does that.
Ice is unpredictable, as are some.. People." she says while leading Tough away from the door and somewhere she can find some cover.
"Well, my friend..." Cyrus begins, looking over to Droguk,"...it seems the consensus is to try and break it. Shall we give it a go on three?"
Natasha stairs at the door obviously lost in thought as the others discuss. As Cyrus appears ready to work with Droguk on smashing the door she shrugs "It isn't enchanted. If we don't have a key I suppose that might be the best option."
She steps back out of the room and then goes to the cauldrun to unhook it so they can take it along with them. While not a benefit to her, they may be able to sell it.
While the others work on breaking the ice door she will give the main room a good look through and then check the other bedroom if she has time.
The main room provides no further discoveries. Looking through the books and documents you find that they describe the ritual that was used to link the two places. Had your own knowledge been less effective you suspect theses would have been of use in deciphering the magical effects in place.
The final room off of the main one reveals itself to be a bedroom but this one clearly lived in. All about the room are pieces of art, some quite impressive. Those on the wall all show winter scenes but you discovere further masterpieces in a trunk that depict other seasons. You suspect that to the right buyers these would be of some value.
Heading back to the room with the ice door Natasha looks to Droguk and Cyrus "Perhaps we should try this portal to see where it leads before we smash the door, who knows we may find the key."
"I suppose it's worth a shot...we haven't found any other keys though, have we? It's unlikely any of the common soldiers we've fought to this point would've had access to this room I would think. Still...what've we got to lose?"
I would assume that, since we have not actually met the proper "owner" of this tower, that person most likely has the key. so bashing is probably the best.
At Kobad's counter-presumption, Cyrus simply gives a shrug and a nod. "Smashin's more fun, anyway!" he declares, then attacks the door!