Unfolding and fastening her new cloak in place, Anara nods her agreement with Rennyns course of action and responds to Draeven I am, let's get going, nothing to be gained by stalling down here. Anara falls in behind the swordsmen, heading for the top of the rise but drops further to the back of the party as the other catch up.
Fenra disguises herself to look like Katiyana as best she can, asking the others to check the accuracy in absence of a mirror. She dons the cloak and amulet and with a wink at Draeven responds, I would expect a ring, something very ostentatious.
I will lead the way. If Katiyana was ostensibly going for help she would be in the lead. And even if she wasn't, Her being seen first will alleviate suspicion.
Shar takes up a rear position, counting on her bow to reach the fight first if necessary.
Rennyn and Draeven follow "Katiyana" up the path with Anara right behind and Sharadei bringing up the rear.
Land of the Linnorm Kings |The Crown of the World - Aganhei Path | Iqaliat | High Ice Trail | High Ice
Darkness consumes the trail and beyond as the group progresses. Not even starlight penetrates the layer of cloud looming over the region and the only source of light remains Anara's enchantment. For several more minutes the trail continues to meander upwards. Gradually, it turns in an eastward direction looping back upon itself as it leads up to a plateau. At the point of egress, even Anara could safely guess Iqaliat (300 ft below) isn't more than five or six hundred feet further east.
There is not much to see. High above Iqaliat a white plain of ice and snow stretches out as far as the eye can see. Devoid of trees or any naturally occurring landmarks, it is hard to imagine anything living in such an environment - but this is Golarion, dangerous creatures lurk everywhere.
A steady southerly wind draws whisps of snow twisting and weaving across the plain, filling in gaps and footprints indiscriminately. Following close behind Fenra, and despite the wind's attempts, Draeven has little difficulty noticing the partial filled footsteps of two people leading east, one set leading back to the trail. With no other outward signs Draeven can safely determine these to be the footprints of Katiyana and Tunuak. A nagging thought is the fact the wind has not fluctuated in the slightest. That small primal side, long mastered by the Big Man, screams this is unnatural.
Ahead, a tiny flicker of light shines like a beacon. The tracks continue directly for this point and it isn't long before man sized stone piles can be seen to the north of the tracks. Set roughly 40ft apart, several inuksuk have been lined up to form an arc spanning roughly the same area of Iqaliat's length comes into view. Drawing closer, three different piles of stones, simple stacks, are set before and to the side of a taller column (10ft high) at the centre of the line of inuksuk . Carved like a lantern, somewhere within this stone marker a candle still burns. At its base lies a prone fur clad figure - Tunuak. Judging from the position of his body, it looks as though his legs gave out from under him and he'd collapsed where he stood.
Rennyn begins to sweep the area for evil as they approach.
So these figures must be the Inuksuk that Tunuak spoke of. I somehow had them pictured as much larger. Anara speaks out loud but almost seems to be talking to herself.
As the party draws close enough, careful not to approach alone, the sorceress extends her mage senses, detecting for the traces of magical auras on the prone form and the dimly lit pillar near his prone form.
Land of the Linnorm Kings |The Crown of the World - Aganhei Path | Iqaliat | High Ice Trail | High Ice
The surrounding air seems fresh; the paladin does not detect the presence he is looking for. For Anara's part, she does find aura's of magic surrounding the prone figure each of moderate strength.
Rennyn continues towards the body, while maintaining his spell, with Draeven following along beside him.
Fenra not sure if the figure on the ground is dead or just unconscious, casts stabilize as she approaches, keeping her eyes peeled for any changes in the surroundings.
Sharadei maintains vigilance. The whole situation is unsettling to her and not finding anything tangible as they approach the summit only makes her more suspicious. She is ready to fire at any threat.
Land of the Linnorm Kings |The Crown of the World - Aganhei Path | Iqaliat | High Ice Trail | High Ice
Unlike Anara's efforts, Rennyn's divination does not as yet prove fruitful. Moving forward, the sorceress discovers transmutative auras as well as adjurations and faint conjurations. Of particular interest is the discovery that the stone lantern itself appears to have some magical property, also of a transmutative nature. Nearly all the auras are of moderate strength, several are upon the shaman and another upon the staff he carries.
Fenra's attempt to stabilize the old man doesn't go as she hoped as the fair oracle quickly realizes Tunuak is not injured but asleep!
As the sorceress is able to glean more knowledge from her probing, she quickly inform the rest of her party Almost nothing here is as it seems, Both the stone lantern and the fallen body have transmutation auras, changing their physical characteristics, among others. Anara steps near the lantern and Tunuak , and picks up the staff. Focusing her analysis on specific auras, one at a time, she tries to attain the exact effects applied. While I work on these, maybe someone wants to take a better look at the Inuksuk? Give me another moment here...
Draeven glances in the direction of one of the Inuksuks. Looks like a pile of rocks, he shrugs without moving, eyes returning to the prone shaman.
Rennyn steps closer to the prone figure he flaming blade flickering and hissing in the cold wind.
Is he wearing a ring like the one Katiyana had? the paladin asks of Anara.
Land of the Linnorm Kings |The Crown of the World - Aganhei Path | Iqaliat | High Ice Trail | High Ice
Turning her focus to the lantern, Anara calls upon her vast knowledge of the arcane,
Is he wearing a ring like the one Katiyana had?
The distraction is enough. Staff in hand, the sorceress draws a complete blank of what properties the lantern may have.
Rennyn repeats his question to Anara, Does he wear a similar ring?
Sound sleeper this Tunuak, Draeven states flatly.
As Tunuak sleeps, Anara continues to examine the old shaman's items. The staff in her hand she recognizes as a useful tool for travelers, a Staff of Journeys. She'd seen such an item before in Kalsgard but didn't quite have enough coin to even consider it. The next item which catches her attention is an embroidered capote just beneath his fur coat. Based on the pattern of the abjuration, she recognizes this as a kind of cloak of resistance. Heeding the paladin's repeated request, Anara concentrates on the man's gloved hands. No visible aura there. In examining the fur coat, Anara notes fainter auras beneath which had been partially masked by those more visible.
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Draeven removes his manacles from his pack, strides over and slips them, onto the old man's wrists, locking them tightly. He then removes the cloak and roughly rummages the shaman's belongings, removing them, and either handing off interesting things to Anara or Rennyn or tossing uninteresting things unceremoniously into the snow.
Draeven leans in face to face and growls out a warning. Do not move or speak until I tell you to.
Rennyn looks back at the group's tracks as he continues to scan the area for evil. Two sets in and one out until we arrived.
No indication the demons came from here. If Katiyana was the one who summoned them then she was indeed extremely powerful.
Land of the Linnorm Kings |The Crown of the World - Aganhei Path | Iqaliat | High Ice
Draeven's gentle treatment wakes Tunuak from his slumber. The shaman is dazed at first but quickly realizes what's going on and immediately protests, What do you think you're doing?! Unhand me brigand! How dare you interrupt my work! Tunuak resists Draeven's advances.
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Rennyn sees Tunuak's combative response to being searched or restrained, even against overwhelming odds and at severe disadvantage, as a sign he intends to resist, likely with lethal force, just as his "apprentice" did. Rennyn sees no choice but to call upon his holy connection to once again bolster his attacks and defence against those of evil disposition and respond with lethal force to prevent the spell caster from carrying out such an attack.
You have chosen poorly Tunuak. Consorting with demons? You should have listened to him, is all the paladin says before attacking the prone and shackled shaman with his flaming blade...
Yield and we may yet show mercy upon you!
Fenra, shocked at Rennyn's reaction jumps to place herself between Tunuak and Rennyn. Stop! What are you doing?
Land of the Linnorm Kings |The Crown of the World - Aganhei Path | Iqaliat | High Ice
Suishen cuts easily into the old man's flesh spilling a large quantity of blood, some of which is vaporized by the blade's searing heat. Tunuak screams in pain, his face horror stricken. It takes a second or two for his eyes to show some recognition of the scene; Rennyn from the meeting, Anara from the trail the big man who'd been seated with the caravan, Katiyana's pleas, then the as yet dark skies which seem to confuse him. Panting his words Tunuak replies through gritted teeth, I...I...don't understand. Kat..Katiyana! Chanting, the shaman raises his hands and begins making curious gestures .
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Seeing the caster begin to cast a spell Rennyn slashes again...
Your continued belligerence only confirms your guilt and thus you will be punished for your wickedness DEMON worshipper!
Blatantly disregarding Draeven's explicit and straight forward warning causes the barbarian's blood to boil. He drops the manacles and instead brings his own weapon down twice upon the shaman...
Sharadei is not sure why the other two are attacking the old man, but is sure they have everything under control and keeps her eyes on the stones. She has grown suspicious of stones after their last encounter.
Land of the Linnorm Kings |The Crown of the World - Aganhei Path | Iqaliat | High Ice
The paladin's admonishment sends the old shaman to the ground; no sound having been uttered from Tunuak's lips. The snow around the body blossoms red with blood.
From her earlier conversation with the Shaman, Anara wasn't as sure, as some of the others, that he was the threat he seemed a moment ago. Having seen the way he looked at the darkening sky also confirmed, for her, that he wasn't at the center of all of this.
The sorceress put a hand on Draven's arm Hold your blade and give us a moment please, I don't think he's much of a threat at the moment. She turns to Fenra Can you stabilize him? I think we need to see what's really going on here. I would say hold to being Katiyana, he seemed to think it was you earlier.
Seeing Tunuak cut down by Rennyn's quick blade work, sending the shaman to the brink of death, and hearing Anara's plea, Draeven indeed stays his own blade. Old fool, the barbarian spits. It was a simple request, but play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Before you heal him, let me finish stripping him of his magical items and see if he has the same unholy symbol as Katiyana had.
Rennyn stares silently at Tunuak as Draeven goes about his work. He paces a few steps, replaying the events of the day, trying to figure out just what in all that is holy is going on here.
None of this makes any sense.
Sharadei continues to scan the area for threats.
Fenra's shout to Rennyn to hold dies on her lips as the shaman is struck down in a matter of seconds.
Fenra stabilizes Tunuak without a word, keeping her back to the paladin and avoiding looking at him.
Anyone facing Fenra sees horror in her eyes and a look of disgust on her lips.
Having known Fenra for as long as he has, and after having spent so much time together these past months, Rennyn reads her body language. The paladin extinguishes Suishen and slides it into its scabbard.
Something the matter Fenra? he asks softly. You disapprove?
Still not facing Rennyn, Fenra replies, Disapprove? You nearly slaughtered a bound old man laying on the ground in the space of a few seconds. He had barely regained consciousness and had time to register the situation before you struck him down! You didn't attempt to knock him out, you didn't wait to disrupt any spells he may attempt to cast, you didn't even question him! You just immediately attacked with deadly intent.
Her voice had started low and measured but as she spoke it became more unsteady and higher pitched with distress.
Speak: In general, speaking is a free action that you can perform even when it isn’t your turn. Speaking more than a few sentences is generally beyond the limit of a free action.
Land of the Linnorm Kings |The Crown of the World - Aganhei Path | Iqaliat | High Ice
Fenra has no difficulty halting old shaman's journey toward the river of souls.
A more thorough search of his belongings turns up several potions which, between Anara and the fair oracle, identify as useful in healing the sick . Other than his furs, there is a pouch containing some mundane items; basic spell components and dried strips of meat haphazardly mixed together. Around Tunuak's neck tied by a simple leather thong is a jade token carved in the shape of a leaf with a single blue dot painted at the center. The symbol is instantly recognized as that carried by Gozreh's followers. Any other valuables the shaman may be in possession of may be assumed are kept in his dwelling.
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Rennyn sighs. Is he dead? Then he isn't slaughtered. He isn't bound. Draeven's manacles lay there in the snow. Is he an old man? Is he old? Is he a man? Is he evil? Can you say any of these things beyond the shadow of a doubt? Given we just met a young human girl who did not have an aura of evil about her. And yet she was neither a young girl, nor human, and was most definitely evil.
As Draeven went to restrain him for our protection he resisted with lethal intent. Given the levels of deception at play here, and ever since we left Sandpoint, I honestly find your naivety most alarming.
Instead of complying with Draeven's order, or explaining himself, he attacked us. What would you have me do? Allow him to potentially bring harm upon us?
Clearly he was not so confused as to not be able to conjure magic. If his wits were about him to do that, no simple task, then surely he had the ability to recognize the situation and react my appropriately. He chose his actions and they had consequences. I offered to stay my blade and he responded with spell casting.
I will not apologize for defending my companions against unwarranted aggression.
Quite honestly this series of encounters play like the Disney Star Wars sequel movies. :P
Not disapproving of actions taken so far, Anara gives the paladin time to warm Fenra to the current situation and retrieves, from one of the folds of her cloak, a small vial of liquid . Kneeling beside the Shaman, the sorceress cradles the old mans head in her left arm and, biting the cork free, raises the potion to his lips with her right. She trickles the potion down his throat slowly so as not to make him cough it out and she administers it all without incident. Continuing to support his head, Anara replaces the stopper, returns the vial to its pocket and turns Draeven's way, nodding toward his sword. Best keep that blade in hand for another few minutes.
Land of the Linnorm Kings |The Crown of the World - Aganhei Path | Iqaliat | High Ice
It takes but a moment for the potion to do its it work and then Tunuak inhales deeply. Blinking, he looks around taking in the group once more. A hint of confusion remains in his eyes, more so when seeing Katiyana standing nearby and the old shaman is about to speak, but quickly shuts his mouth.