The party has to be careful headed back to Solveig's hideout. Almost every street you pass through shows evidence of fighting - broken weapons, bodies, blood smears and so on.
Smoke is thick in the air and a fire burns merrily east of your location. It seems like the Iron Guard's surprise attack has worked and the Winter Guard have all their attention turn to rallying against it.
You make your way back having avoided any confrontation from either warring group - not an easy task with so many cold and frightened children in tow. Once back inside some of the Heralds greet you, now dressed in full battle gear, and usher the children into the warmth.
Solveig rushes up to the throng of people in the entrance and pushes her way through to her one time love.
Bella! she gasps, embracing the songstress her hugs her back just as fiercely. I feared I would never see you again!
Bella herself is too choked with emotion and simply clings to the woman's cloak like a child herself, weeping uncontrollably against her shoulder.
Thank you. For everything. Solveig manages between her own tears. What you have achieved in defeating Logrivich is something truly amazing. The Iron Guard rallied immediately. Come, get inside and warm, let us tend to your wounds.
Over the course of the evening Solveig describes how troops have been drawn away from several important sites within the city to deal with the sudden uprising. The Heralds have already managed to sack two food stores and a weapons cache to strengthen their own position and help the people starving in the Fishcamps. For your own purpose though, she tells you that the Shackled Hut is now much more lightly guarded while they deal with the immediate threat, although the strange fey forest that has sprung up around it is still an unknown quantity.
Del remains mostly quiet as the group returns to Solveig and the heralds, though he does devote most of his attention to the children, making a point to compliment them on their bravery and courage. Once safe at the herald's hideout, he sees to the children being treated for any injuries, laughing and smiling as Berta boasts about how she was like Ellevain the Clever to the cleric inspects her for physical injury.
Once the kids have been looked over, Del at last concedes to being look at as well. He sheds his long coat and armor, then peels a blood-stained tunic from his torso, the fabric actually ripping as he tries to pull it away from his body. A number of pale scars criss-cross his chest and stomach, with several fresh injuries now weeping as the scabs were ripped along with his tunic.
"Ah, it looks worse than it is, I assure you."
The old, wrinkled woman tending to him, a long suffering servant of the gods by the look of her, nods and remarks with teasing awe, "Oh? You don't say? I've seen children with scraped knees worse than this, you know."
Del exhales sharply in melodramatic fashion, as if terribly insulted, "I'll have you know I was gored to within an inch of my very life! And it wasn't until after that that we went after a dragon. A dragon! Breath like a blizzard, it had. It's a wonder, a marvel that I'm even alive let alone in such good condition."
Again, the cleric assumes a playfully patronizing tone, "A real dragon, you say? Oh my, you must be very brave."
"Your words to the bards' songs, my dear woman."
Not with Elvanna in power. She's not going to want to hear any takes of adventurers slaying her general. the woman answers with a chuckle.
Seeing Solveig reunited with Bella brings a warm feeling to the old Elf, he is glad they found her alive and the rescue of the children was an unexpected bonus, he just wishes they had gotten to them sooner.
As the others begin to tend to their wounds he feels somewhat guilty to be free from any harm, and so he puts his time to good use and attempts to make good on his offer to Sapphire.
let me have your blade SApphire and I will see what I can do with it. he says to her and as she draws the notched and cracked blade from its scabbard he wonders if this is beyond his abilities to rectify.
it doesn't look very good does it? But it is still in one piece so there is hope yet he says and finding a quiet corner of the room he sits with the blade before him and utilising all he has learned he begins to conjour a specific spell effect, utilising the power of his Scorching Ray spells that he did not have the opportunity to unleash upon Logrivich he u leashes them now but in a very different way.
The casting of the spell is long and extremely complex and he soon finds himself breathing hard, sweat standing out upon his brow as the blade before him begins to glow brighter and brighter, lines of incandescent power seem to write over the blade seeping I to the cracks and notches of the blade as he pieces it back together.
...instaurabo, emantur,coeundi...congregamini!
Completing the spell he watches with interest as the light fades from the blade to reveal its smooth unblemished surface, virtually all traces of the damage done to it erased.
Pleased with the results he hears the blade clumsily testing it awkwardly before he shrugs and hands it back to Sapphire.
it should be good enough to use again now, ready for you to channel your powers through it and cut is a path to the Hut he says with a tired smile, the casting taking more out of him than he thought.
[ooc]I'm pretty sure it is so that's fine. I'm assuming you are resting and then heading to the Hut tomorrow?[/b]
We'll look after the children. Solving says. Try and find their parents once the fighting has died down or at least some good folks to look after them.
Greyston settles down in a chair off to the saide taking his stachel off he winches at the pain of his sprained arm. Letting out a long breath one he felt he was holding since they left here this morning. He then smiles along at Del's playful words.
"We all did amazing today." He speak up as Solving speak to the children. "I'm surprised every time we get through something like that. How far we've all come and now we take a massive step tomorrow." He look around at the group. "I don't think i'd have it any other way, the people we've helped you all saved me when we decided to set off what feels like so long ago now." He smiles, feeling self conscious.
Entering the safety of the hideout Corum relaxes a little. When the offer of healing is made he smiles and nods. He watches Del also receives treatment and notes the scars he carries. With his easy way with words it is easy to forget that he is also a warrior.
"Nice scars Del. You'll have to tell me how you got em."
He then strips off his armour, revealing his own heavily scarred torso. Not an inch of skin remains that is free of any mark made by blade, flame, claw, tooth or whip. The healer comments on this and Corum shrugs.
"I've seen my share of trouble. I might see some more before all this is done with."
He stands steady while he is stitched, bandaged and healed by the cleric's divine power. After a couple of hours of this he is done and dons his armour again. "My thanks for this. You are blessed indeed."
He takes a sip of water from his canteen and eats some rations from his pack. Nodding at Greyston's assessment he laughs. "Yep. We did well. Our enemies lie dead and we still live. That's god enough for me."
He ponders what still lies ahead of them. The unknown fate the next day brings. " What's the plan then? On to the hut tomorrow. But are we going straight there? We need provisions and healing potions. Don't suppose you could provide those Solveig? After all we've gotten rid of the dragon and saved your friend. A few healing potions seems a smal price..."
Del laughs heartily at Corum's simple recounting of the day. "'We did well?' Corum, the only reason you're not a dragon's lunch right now is because Elleross here had the good foresight to make you too big for the wyrm to swallow!" Del slaps one hand to his thigh and shakes his head, still chuckling and enjoying the laughter that comes along with a flood of relief, "I was sure we'd be dragging your broken body back from the tower grounds after you shot into the air like that. How you weathered that monster's fury is quite beyond me."
As he turns away from Sapphire the healers are finishing with Dell and the others and as he hands back the sword one of them moves toward him and tries to help him out of his furs.
thank you but I am fine, just weary. I have no wounds for you to tend he says to the woman as he refuses her. Limping slightly he moves toward Corum.
we are short on time now Corum, we must strike whilst we have this window of opportunity, but we do need provisions.
Solveig, how much time do we have? Will the forces be drawn away for long?
If we could manage to re supply before we head for the Hut then our chances would greatly improve
He says as he draws out his pipe and filling it with some of his dwindling supply of tobacco he lights it and draws deeply on the sweet smoke.
@Greyston / Dell
i tried to be as prepared as I could be Dell, though when COrum flew outside my heart missed a beat. we seemed to have a hefty dose of Caydens luck tho and we worked well together. We did amazingly well as Greyston said we make a good team
...Although I was hoping to keep some of those for inevitable casualties. she explains.
the streets are going to be dangerous now more than ever. I don't think we will be anle to sell any of the things we found in the tower or purchase much.
We will have to make do with what we have, tomorrow we go for the hut.
It is chained up tight, so the adamantine weapons we have now will come in handy when we get there, the forest that surrounds it doesn't fill me with confidence. We have no idea what may lurk within.
Del inwardly wonders how much easier all this talk of supplying and provisioning might have proved if he'd been allowed and able to slip into the vacuum that was left when Mancien was taken out. He doesn't mention it though and instead simply shrugs and addresses Elleross' concern for the wood. "A magical fey wood that sprung up over night? Oh, I'd wager quite a bit of trouble awaits us within. I'm not all that well versed in the nature of the First World or its denizens, but what I have heard always adds up to, well, nothing good."
Solveig, we were only too happy to rid the land of such a threat, even better to do it in service to both our worthy goals! To be able to recover the children and Bella too, the gods must be smiling on our endevaours
The magus looks shattered, but smiles genuinely and happily accepts a seat inside as everyone gathers to trade stories and recover.
As Elleross works his magic, Sapphire watches in awe as her magical blade is reforged, the cracks and jagged edges smoothing over and the sword looking like it has just left the smithy's anvil. She claps the wizard on the shoulder.
You sir, are a marvel of magic!
She hefts the blade, finding a small corner away from the others and moving through a quick routine before sheathing the weapon next to the newer blade on her belt, then returning to the conversation.
I agree Del, I don't think you could write a tale more appropriate for a hero's journey, travelling leagues upon leagues, facing animated statues, witches and dragons, and now a dark and eldritch forest in the middle of the city, at its heart the renowned home of Baba Yaga herself!
She smiles again
We'd all be bored if it was easy sailing!
"When we get to the hut we need to be quick it's a traveling hut so that will be our escape if it comes to it. But i agree with you all we haven't had the best of time with fey and this wood that's sprung up sounds like another problem in our way." He smiles at Del and Sapphires words. "We never like to do things the easy way anyway."
The next morning the party rises and gears up to do the unthinkable, steal one of the greatest artifacts in Golarion lore from under the very nose of the Queen of Winter.
Still, if they can scale a tower and slay a mighty dragon aren't all things possible?
As you prepare to go, the child who has taken to calling herself "Ellevain" rushes over to Del and gives him a huge hug, wrapping herself around his waist in a surprisingly strong grip. She holds it for a few moments and then breaks off, rushing back into the rooms beyond as if either embarrassed to say more or content that her gesture said everything that was needed.
Solveig and Bella stand to one side, the diva idly wiping away a tear.
Whatever happens, you are real heroes. I want you to know that. Solveig says. And I can't promise we will do as good a job as the bards but the Heralds of Summer's Return will sing your praises wherever we go. Good luck. she adds. I mean that. I don't know what you will find in that Hut, but I just hope it helps and one day after this is all over, you can return home.
She embraces each of you and says her farewells.
You carefully pick your way between alleys and streets, avoiding both trolls and mirror men but far fewer than you had seen the previous day. It appears that the plan has worked and though there is no longer the sounds of fighting in the streets, the Winter Guard must be busy cleaning up whatever pockets of resistance there are to return their presence to the street.
The shops and homes of the Merchant's Quarter stop abruptly at a towering wall of evergreens that burst through the snow-covered cobblestones of the city's street. Ahead, the trees part to form a path winding into the dark forest that has replaced all sight and senses of the city around it.
At the entrance to the forest, you see four trolls diligently standing guard.
Greyston shifts unease at the back of the group checking he has everything ready for the fight ahead, as Solveig and Bella speak praise of their actions. He starts to edge to the door hoping the group moves with him as he waves at the kids.
@on the street
Peaking around the building he spots all four trolls, taking a step back he whispers."Any idea how far we are from the hut? We should maybe take this time to cast spells before we those trolls spot us." He then takes out a small pot of green swirling liquid and downs it in one.
@ the hideout
Elleross retires to bed early, cleaning himself up he finds an empty bunk and lays down and though his body is at rest within his mind he works relentlessly....
To either side of this larger orb several smaller crystal orbs hung dark and lifeless in mid air spaced out equally along the length of the rich mahogany table.
These smaller orbs had grown in number as his grasp of the arcane became more complete and with every orb added his power had grown, but most of them were cold and empty now, his powers almost depleted.
Finishing scribing the new spells he had developed into his book he could feel his mind expanding with new power and he smiled to himself as the great central orb suddenly shuddered and a small bubble formed inside, watching it rise to the surface It floated free and rose upwards, expanding as it went until it became equally as large.
Just as the music peaked, the orb blazed Into life, swirling and writhing with bands of multi coloured energy that matched its twin beneath.
pleased with his own progress he moved across the glass floor and seating himself upon the deep leather couch he rests his head back and closes his eyes resting his mind now as well as his body .... Tomorrow would be a difficult day
Rising early and feeling refreshed, almost like his life had purpose once again he found himself eager to be off. To get to the hut as quickly as possible and he wondered if it was the curse at work or his own desire to see this mythical powerful thing.
Lighting his pipe he gathered his spell book and began to draw out the arcane structures of the two new spells he had developed.
Completing this task he then begins to gather his power, storing the spells within his mind that he would utilise. He just hoped he chose wisely.
Acid splash, disrupt undead,detect magic, light
Enlarge person X1
Grease x 1
Magic missile x3
Create pit X2
Mirror image X1
Scorching Ray x 1
Aqueous orb x 1
dispel magic X1
Haste x1
Nasrin is quiet all evening, though not sulky. Sitting quietly eyes closed she sometimes sniffs the air, other times her ears seem to grow to triangular peaks then subside to their natural shape. Finally she falls asleep curled into a tight ball with Jagar, both of them kicking in their sleep as if dreaming of an hours long hunt.
Awake before the sun she makes her oblations and then gets her gear together. She says a prayer over herself and then leaves with the group to find out what awaits in Elvanna's last line of defense before her grandmother's hut.
The view around the corner of the last building is strenge: an old growth forest somehow directly adjacent to the city. That is less natural than the city itself... She ducks back, trying to stay out of the troll guard's view. Once in the shadow of the building she begins new spells.
Corum takes his rest that night and wakes refreshed. He helps himself to breakfast and readies his gear for the next ordeal. Moving through the eerily quiet streets, he watches their flanks. Suddenly they reach the forest. Corum is no druid or ranger but he can feel the unnatural nature of the thick greenery before him. He spots the trolls and duck back around the corner with the others.
"Nothing else for it. We have to go through those beasts. I could take two of them maybe."
Well we are somewhat lacking in the healing department, so let's try not to get hit this time eh!? Sapphire elbows Corum in his well-scarred ribs.
As they approach the edge of the forest, Sapphire's hand plays on the grip of the black metal sword, though when she thinks about it, she chooses to draw her magical blade instead.
I think we could take them down between us, I'll focus on one of them if you keep them busy Corum.
Del pats Berta on the shoulder as she embraces him and grins warmly as she slips away quickly afterward. He offers as an aside to Greyston as the group departs, "It wouldn't be a proper tale if the heroes didn't leave some admirers behind, right my friend?"
When the wood comes into view and the group spies the trolls, Del looses a low whistle. "That- hmmm. That is every bit as impressive as I was expecting. That's a bone fide forest, right there in the market square. Go figure." He shakes his head as he readies Ruby for the inevitable conflict with the trolls. "Witches are weird. Why make a forest like this?"
HP: 36/36
AC: 19 (15 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 19
F/R/W: +7/+10/+6
Grit remaining: 2/2
Hero Points remaining: 2
Regular bolts remaining: 65/80
Cold Iron bolts: 40/40
Tanglebolts: 4/5
Ongoing Effects
Vigilant Loading
Gunslinger Initiative
Greyston downs one more bottle. "Let's do it. We take them quick, lets try and focus fire." He moves behind Corum and draws out a small vial of black liquid ready to throw it.
Del whispers as the others prepare, "I'll try and lock one of the brutes down. Might be able to stagger their approach that way so they don't all surround," he glances pointedly at Corum though finishes his thought with, "us."
Peering out at the imposing forest and the trolls that block their entrance to it he wonders if they might be able to draw the trolls away from their posts.
we should avoid this fight if we can, I could try and lure the trolls away using the wand we found.
It casts a minor illusion but it may be adequate to fool these creatures.
If I create a group of iron guards creeping around the buildings opposite, they may move off to follow them.
Corum grimaces at Elleross' suggestion. "I prefer a stand up fight but it's worth a try. If your magic doesn't work we can use the old ways. Strength and steel."
Corum stands with axe ready to see what happens. If the trolls don't fall for the illusion he is going to be ready for them.
Nodding to Corum he takes the wand from his belt and hopes for the best.
Elleros uses the wand to create an illusionary squad of Iron Guards. He isn’t sure what the Iron Guard uniform looks like but he gambles and makes some assumptions and creates a number of men who appear and run across the Troll’s field of vision.
One of the Trolls spots them and points whilst saying something over his shoulder to the others. He makes several gestures and then hefts his spear and begins running after the squad. One of the Trolls goes with him whilst the other two grab up their spears and scan the area for any sign of other intruders.
As the pair begin running, Del pops out from around the corner and sends a bolt toward the remaining pair.
Hit
9.8 average +1 for improved initiative
11.25 average
Entangled and glued to the floor
The troll hit by Del's tanglebolt becomes ensnared by the sticky mass and struggles to break free.
Fail
The second charges forward and levels his spear at Del's chest
Hit
The others continue chasing the illusory squad.
Greyston moves to help Del against the troll lobbing his readied vial at the big oaf.
As the troll engages Del Corum takes charge. "Nas, Sapphire take that one. I've got this."
He lets his internal control drop and lets loose his rage. The red must descends and he charges into the troll that is attacking Del.
Pa rage charge
Dam
Del shoots the others a cocky grin and is about to say that was how it was supposed to go with the dragon when his eyes widen in alarm as the one troll still mobile charges at him in a fury. The half-orc grunts in pain as the spear rips into him before he clamber out of the way.
His movements are clumsy and hurried as he tries to get away from the troll's hungry spear while holding one hand to his gored side. Despite this, he's able to bring Ruby up once he's put some small distance between himself and the troll and he lets a bolt fly with a pained grin.
HP: 25/36
AC: 19 (15 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 19
F/R/W: +7/+10/+6
Grit remaining: 2/2
Hero Points remaining: 2
Regular bolts remaining: 64/80
Cold Iron bolts: 40/40
Tanglebolts: 3/5
Ongoing Effects
Vigilant Loading
Gunslinger Initiative
Sapphire wastes no time, charging the closest troll with a burning and crackling blade.
Miss
Surprised by the speed and fury of the Troll's advance, Del clumsy rolls away but the beast's thrust is even more clumsy and does nothing but bury itself in the snow.
Sapphire and Corum rush forward to hack into the monster while Greyston's bomb blisters the flesh around it's face and neck and it collapses under the fury of the assault.
He is surprised his illusion fooled the trolls, but then these brutes aren't the brightest of creatures.
take them out quickly! I will try and keep these others occupied he says as he draws out a scroll as he moves after the other trolls and calling upon the spell stored on the scroll he unleashes a storm of sleet and snow.
tempestasis , aequaliter nubila... completing the spell he releases the frozen parchment, it falls to the floor and shatters into a thousand pieces as the storm begins to rage.
Completing the unfamiliar spell, Elleross watches the storm erupt Before him.The raging torrent of ice and sleet blankets the area and he realises too late his miscalculation as the arcane energy continues to build as the storm grows larger and larger enveloping all of the trolls and cutting off their access to the woods.
Corum's rage ends with the troll's death. He watches in stunned silence as Elleross brings forth a massive winter storm that envelopes the other trolls. He takes a flask of oil from his pack and douses the troll. He fires the troll and considers the storm.
"We might not be able to see but we can pass through. Single file, right hand on the shoulder of the person in front, left hand in contact with the wall of that building. An old mountain trick for travelling the high passes which often see bad weather.I'll lead. It can't be far to the forest and if we're quiet the trolls won't find us."
As one of the trolls falls, Elleros reaches into his scroll case and summons a huge storm of driving sleet and snow. You briefly see the three trolls instinctively shield their eyes from the sudden flurry.
the footing inside the storm will be treacherous, I would not advise trying to walk through it.
Im sorry, I misjudged the magnitude of that spell effect. We will have to wait it out, keep an eye out for the trolls. They may find their way out of the storm
He says as he makes his way back to the group.