Elleross' frown deepens as he watches the creature reveal itself and he chastises himself savagely as it attacks Nasrin , drawing blood and almost eviscerating the wild girl.
there is no fool like an old fool , you knew something wasn't right . You should have seen through that ruse! But it was damn convincing , It's lies were good, too good. There wasn't enough evidence to prove or disprove ....damn it! This isn't a courtroom and my skills are rusty. This must not happen again! he thinks to himself as he watches jagar and Nasrin engage the thing together, their savage attacks devastatingly brutal and efficient.
you will suffer the fate of your foul masters creature. Your life is forfeit. he says bluntly the agony you feel now will be visited tenfold upon Radosek and his mistress
...saeclum , liquescimus , adipiscing conjuring the small bubbling orb of acid he flings it into the creatures screaming mouth as it gapes wide in agony.
that should still your lying tongue he says coldly as he watches it being torn apart.
Nasrin's blade bites deeply into the creatures side and is swiftly followed by Del's bolt and an orb of magical acid from Elleros.
Jagar dashes around but the creatures claws are as sharp as any blade and it catches the wolf with a sickening rake across his back.
Bravely he manages to sink his teeth into the thing's leg and hauls it to the ground.
Though her attention is split and she feels the urge to go back and punish the creature impersonating the Lady, Sapphire sees Corum outnumbered and moves to assist him. She runs down the corridor but stops as the tip of the guard's spear threatens her.
Smiling, her tendrils of hair lengthen and rise up like cobras above her head, darting out to snap at the spear-wielder's face.
Greyston's new concoction completely immolates the guards, reducing them to piles of nondescript pulpy, blistered flesh just as Sapphire reaches the tangle and attempts to join the frey.
From it's position on the ground the creature knows it is in desperate trouble. Bleeding from multiple wounds it does all it can to fight it's way out.
Miss
Miss
But as the blood pours from it's body it gets weaker and weaker and the slashes of it's claws are this time do nothing more than paw at Nasrin before it loses consciousness, lying still in a widening pool of it's own blood.
Greyston prepares to draw another vial only to see all the guards fall to the ground his mixture more powerful than he expected. He turns away not wanting to savoir the aftermath of his creation.
"Is everyone ok?" He shouts as he moves back into the room. "More lies, more illusions. You were right to distrust this thing.. what was it?." He looks down at the odd grey creature.
Nasrin screams, a tangled unformed howl as she moves quickly to tend to Jagar's dire wound. Her call to the spirits is answered and most of the flaying wound Jagar took from the grey thing close up.
"Nothing here is at is seems. We owe you much, Sapphire."
Jagar snarls once more at the still thing laying out before him. He whimpers as the wound on his back bleeds heavily. The Girl comes to him. She always does now. He is calm as she touches his wound, easing his pain.
Del nods to Greyston as he enters the room and buries a bolt into the imposter's head as he smiles at the alchemist, "I'm quite well, thanks you. How're you?" He glances back down to the gray mass at his feet, then hops back two or three steps to avoid the expanding pool of blood.
HP: 25/25
AC: 18 (14 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 17
F/R/W: +5/+8/+4
Grit remaining: 1/2
Hero Points remaining: 2
Regular bolts remaining: 72/80
Cold Iron bolts: 40/40
Ongoing Effects
Vigilant Loading
Gunslinger Initiative
Con Damage: 1
Watching the half Orc fire a bolt into the creatures brain He cannot hp but wonder at what kind of man this bowman really is.
it seems your judgment wasn't so bad after all he says by way of apology
I knew something wasn't right but I am not good at acting upon my gut feelings, just cold hard facts. I guess old habits die hard he says The evidence wasn't strong enough for me. when I was younger, as a judge I could usually spot a lie with ease, but then your average criminal had none of the talents of this creature. he says looking down at the corpse.
I don't know what kind of creature this was Greyston. But it fills me with disquiet. It was extremely skilled at deception.
Are you and Corum ok? I heard the screams, are they all dead? If so we need to search this place. See if there is anything of use here. he suggests beginning to look around the room.
As Corum engages the guards a small pot flies over his head to explode in flame. The guards are covered in whatever liquid the pot contained and they burn with intense heat. The warrior watches with a feral grin as skin blisters and blackens. The screams of the guards echo in the corridor filling it with the sound of terror and agony. They gradually quieten as they sink to the floor dead.
Grey...he is getting better with those bombs.
He suddenly remembers the others and rushes back to the room. As he passes Grey he claps him on the back. You made short work of them. Thanks.
He bursts into the room to see Nas and Jagar bleeding but well enough. On the floor at their feet is a grey creature. Strange but very dead.
"So the b$%#~ was a fake? The guards are dead. Grey burned them. What was that?"
Know nature
Chain shirt x4
Cold iron longsword x3
Cold iron longspear x1
Dagger x4
Light crossbow x4
90gp
Potion of Clw x4
Seeing the guards blown apart before she even reaches Corum's side, Sapphire turns in surprised appreciation of Greyston's fine throwing.
Nicely done!
she dashes back in to the room with the grey-skinned creature, to find it lying in a pool of its own foul blood
I'm sorry I couldn't be more help, good work all.
she busies herself stacking trinkets in easy to manage piles for easy transport when the party is ready to leave.
Where next?
Greyston nods at Corum and Sapphire as they pass him thanking him for dispatching the guards. He then follows them into the room. "If everyone is ok let's head the way the guard came, we can see if there's more too and find out where they came from."
As he finishes talking he takes out another vial containing a fizzy yellow liquid but this time he opens it and drinks it down in one, enhancing his dexterity. A look disgust takes over his face as he forces it down.
Corum smiles as they find some more potions in the room. "They'll come in handy. Come on."
He strides from the room and, with the others following, moves to the next unopened door. He listens briefly at the door then alowly tries to open it to see what os pn the other side.
Del steps out of the room and past Elleross, clapping the man on the shoulder jovially. "All is forgiven, my good man. Just try to remember that we're trapped inside a witch's tower and surrounded on every side by her troops and agents - not in a courtroom, eh? You're not a judge here, friend. You're jury and executioner too. We all are." He claps Elleross encouragingly on the shoulder once more then jerks his head toward the direction Corum went. "Let's go." He bounces his eyebrows twice, cracks a mischievous grin, then takes off at a trot to catch up.
A long a red carpet extends from the western doorway of this mirrored hall between ice sculptures of twin nymphs, ending at an open alcove to the east. A ring of runes are carved into the ice all around the alcove.
A passageway continues north following the contours of the tower's outer wall, where windows look out over the open courtyard below.
You have already visited this room yesterday and Elleros discovered the teleporter in the eastern alcove had been disabled
Nasrin takes one of the potions and drinks it down, "We won't have to slow down when we catch up to Radosek." is her only explanation.
.... You're not a judge here, friend. You're jury and executioner too. We all are." .
These witches will face justice for what they have done and del is correct. There will be only one punishment.....death he thinks as the bowman moves past him.
They pass the disabled teleport once again as they move to explore the rest of this level of the tower.we need to re activate this teleport or we are stuck here he says as they head to the next room
Corum again leads the way as they move cautiously through the tower. He strides purposefully along the ice corridors, his bardic he held in both hands ready to lash out at any sign of threat.
As they pass doors to rooms and intersections with other corridors he makes sure to quickly check they are clear. He knows the last thing they need is to be flanked and surrounded. He is confident in his a ability to fight out of such a situation but knows there are some in then party who may not fare so well in a tight packed melee.
When they reach the door to an unexplored area he waits for the others to take position. Del, Grey and Elleross nearby with line of sight into the area beyond the door to use their ranged attacks. Has, Sapphire and Jaguar ready to charge in with him.
He pauses then grips the handle and pushed the door open, immediately gripping the haft of his axe with both hands.
A bed, desk, dresser and storage chest furnish this small bedroom. A large mirror hangs on the wall opposite the room's only door, and two windows look down to the tower's courtyard.
The dresser contains a collection of practical clothing sized for a woman and the storage locker is currently locked
Unless that's a mimic I'll call this room clear...
remarks Sapphire off-handedly.
Del...I don't suppose you have a rogueish set of picks to go with that smile of yours!?
Greyston moves along with the group, the tower has had extra time to prepare for them so he is just waiting for that advantage to take affect. "It's very quiet, i wonder why those guard came after us.. maybe they were a scout party? I'm not expecting it to be so easy when we get up a level."
He then kneels down next to the chest and begins to work on it. "Lets see if i can get this open before we just smash it up."
Del laughs lightheartedly at Sapphire's question. "I'm afraid not. As romantic as it would be for these hands of mine to finesse any lock into giving up its secrets, alas, that particular talent is quite beyond me."
The locker contains:
Four potions
A pair of silver bracers traced with figures of dragons worth 250 gp, a jeweled scepter worth 200 gp, an agate worth 50 gp, and three blue quartz crystals worth 125 gp each, as well as 256 gp, 473 sp, and 894 cp in coinage
Moving on from the bedroom there is only one other area left to explore on this level.
Just as cautious as before, Corum leads the way.
Tiles of ice cover the floor in this recessed alcove, beneath a large window overlooking the tower's northern exposure. Now familiar arcane symbols trace their way along the edge of the alcove but unlike the others, these glow with a dim blue light.
"We don't have time to play with locked boxes." Nasrin is not thrilled about waiting around while someone plays with toys instead of bringing the fight to the witches and their soldiers remaining in the tower.
Following the others Elleross suddenly hurries forward as he sees the teleporter.
this one appears to be active , now we come to the most dangerous ascent yet.
Radosek will know we are coming, we have no way of knowing what we will face when we travel up there
He says as he examines the seemingly active teleport
has he left this one active on purpose? It is likely a trap he muses out loud
Corum looks around the room at the strange symbols. Their glow bathes them all in an eerie light. more damned magic He quickly makes the sign of the protective horn above his heart and walks across the room to where Elleross is examining the teleporter.
"It works? Good! Trap or not it is the only way a up." He says.
Well we can ponder here all we like, it appears it is the only way up so sooner or later we must take it, so we should probably do so whilst our protective magics are still at full strength.
Sapphire makes herself ready.
"Its a trap... there no other way around it. But lets as Hutch first, if he knows anything about this teleporter." Greyston then turns around to Hutch and steps closer to him. "Hutch what can you tell us about this teleporter? Do you know what area it will take us too?"
Greyston fetches the small, bristly fey from the floor beneath and when he gets to the inactive teleporter he looks downcast.
That's where the boss lives. he says glumly through his beard. But he's turned it off. The other one is still on but that only goes to the Aerie.... Oh but wait! The girl who minds the ravens has a key! Radosek loves her I think, Oh yes he does!
You just need to know what to say for that teleporter. It's; "Take wing, soar and fly, let me view the winter sky"
"An aerie, you say? And Radosek's smitten with its keeper? Tell me, Hatch, do you know if she feels the same for him?" Del looks at the others and explains, "If she does, that's a rather marked blemish upon her character. If she doesn't though, perhaps petty little Radosek is keeping her against her will. If so, she may help us with our aims."
Hmmmmm.... Hatch no think so. the little fey says, hovering just before Del. She no really speak to anyone 'cept the birds. I don't know why she's here. he shrugs
"Well, it's something to go on at least. Thank you, Hatch." Del smiles at the fey. He stows Ruby, letting the crossbow hang comfortably across his back and looks to each of the others. "I'd say, give me half a minute. Then maybe come after me." As the others begin to shoot him questioning looks, he hops onto the pad, blurts the phrase with hardly a breath, "Takewingsoarandflyletmeviewthewintersky!" and vanishes.
He arrives at his destination with his hands held up before him harmlessly, his posture relaxed and non threatening.
"The idiot is going to get killed. We need to go now!" Nasrin moves to follow Del immediately.
I know he seems foolish, but don't we owe him the courtesy of at least trying it his way? If he can charm the lady of the aerie then that's one less fight we need to have. Let's wait his half a minute and then go up, and pray he remembers to tell the lady above that we're coming...
Sapphire cautions, but she doesn't get in Nasrin's way, understanding that if the she-wolf truly wanted to go, she did not want to stand in her way.
The others watch as the rime frost crawls up Del's legs, spreads across his body and over his head. It is a feeling that he doesn't think he could ever get used to but it is more difficult for the others to watch, like he is being slowly entombed before their eyes.
Still, after just a moment, both the boltace and the ice are gone. Unable to contain herself, nasrin follows just seconds later.
----
Del feels a blast of sudden cold air on his face and when he opens his eyes, he sees the vast, open vista before him.
A triangle of crossed steel wires runs between three wooden posts in this crescent-shaped room that smells strongly from the bird droppings scattered across the floor.
Along the south wall, open windows look down from a dizzying height, admitting a brisk, cold wind. Two doors exit this chamber, one next to a large mirror to the west and another standing between a pair of wooden chests to the north.
As he emerges from the ice, Del notices just the briefest flicker of an image on one of the mirrors but immediately his focus switches to the dozens of ravens cawing noisily in the rafters above him.
A woman stands before Del, spinning around quickly from the mirror. She has pale skin and silver-blue hair that wisps around her in the breeze but it is difficult for him to see much past the point of her spear.
Del smiles warmly at the woman, his hands still wide to his side. He takes a step off the teleporter and stops. "Why hello there, dear lady! I don't suppose you're here against your will too, by any chance? " He smiles and nods back toward the teleporter, "I've some compatriots that are likely soon to follow, but I was hoping we might be chatting when they arrive rather than fighting." He gestures to the bench beside him, "Do you mind if I sit? I confess, I'd much rather trade words than feel the sting of that spear. My name is Del, by the way." Provided the woman doesn't come rushing at him with her spear, he takes a seat on the nearest bench and assumes a comfortable posture with one leg crossed over the other. "It's quite a lovely view you have here."
HP: 25/25
AC: 18 (14 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 17
F/R/W: +5/+8/+4
Grit remaining: 1/2
Hero Points remaining: 2
Regular bolts remaining: 72/80
Cold Iron bolts: 40/40
Ongoing Effects
Vigilant Loading
Gunslinger Initiative
Con Damage: 1
Who are you? she says in a thickly accented voice. What are you doing in my Aerie?
"My name's Del and I've come to your aerie because it's the only functioning teleporter left in the tower. I'm here, and my allies will be along shortly, because it's the only route Radosek left for us to take." Del shrugs helplessly and shakes his head, offering the woman an easy smile. "Perhaps he wanted us to meet? If so, then maybe I'll have at least one thing to thank him for when this is all over. Do you-" the sound of the ice forming in the teleporter interrupts him and he turns to look. "They're early! Honestly, people can be so impatient these days, don't you agree?" As the ice clears, he offers warmly, "Ah! Nasrin! Worried for me, I see." He chuckles softly, "No need for blade or fang just yet. The two of us were just beginning a very pleasant conversation."
Corum watches as Del steps into the teleporter and vanishes. He is torn between trusting the judgement of a man he has known for a day or going after him. He decides to wait and see what happens but then Nasrin uses the device and that clinches it. He has travelled far with the feral woman. They are sword brother and sister. Nasrin would consider them part of the same pack. If she steps into danger then he will too.
"I'm going."
He also says the command words and follows the others to the aerie.
The freezing sensation hardly registers to the feral girl but the moving without moving stills churns her stomach. As she arrives, Jagar at her side, she sees Del calmly sitting on a bench near the wall, and the pale woman with her spear in hand. Del gives a flippant answer, something Nasrin will never get used to, and she says in a low voice, "I was afraid you had come into a trap." She lowers her sword but remains tense, "Is everything going well?"