Gror leaps with continued fury upon the nearest remaining giant, shredding him as he has the ones before him. When it falls, and as he sees the remainder of their foes dead or unconscious, he has to shake his head at the devastation that the Chosen have wreaked on these giants, even as he smiles at their decisive first victory.
His gravelly voice intones, ”Angradd, Torag,”...pausing, somewhat grudgingly, but paying respect where it's due…”Iomadae. You have gifted us well. This has been a stunning first sortee. I know this is just the beginning, that the demons and witches before us will try our mettle further, but I stand ready, a tool in your hands. The Torc will be recovered or I will die trying.”
________________
Lashing his roots against the snowy ground like whips, Cho'ankai's three-headed form lumbers towards the fire giant near him. Walls of flame roar in two planes nearby, boxing off avenues of retreat save for narrow gaps between the walls where the heat is less intense. Illuminated by these curtains of fire, the verdant form of Cho'ankai takes on the color of sunset, firelight reflecting off of ancient bark.
Staring into the approaching frost giant's eyes, Cho'ankai begins chanting a low and droning buzz of vocalizations, a throaty call that tingles at the back of the giant's mind. His orange eyes, glowing like that of the curtains of fire, seem to shate through the giant now, and that droning chant becomes a static hiss of fear, panic and rage.
Soon, like falling through clouds obscuring a more lush landscape, the giant's mind begins to reveal more secrets to the druid.
_____________
A very tiny fraction of Vega is impressed that this particular giant is still conscious... but not for long. Vega continues his assault upon the giants face, rapidly punching it into oblivion. As he does so, he notices the three-headed Cho'ankai gazing intently at one of the giants, and he raises an eyebrow quizzically. For the briefest of moments, Vega stalls his attack.
_____________________________
Dori sees that there is one giant still cowering near her.
Knowing their duty to be grim, but necessary, Dori floats over to the giant. It is inevitable, kneel, and I will make this quick and clean.
AC 35/18/27
Saves 17/16/15
CMD 33
improved Evasion
Resist Cold 5, elec 5
Shadow Blending 50% miss chance, concealment
Spells in effect:
Protection from Evil (10 minutes -5 rd)
Greater Evolution Surge: Large, Rend (10 minutes -5 rd)
Enlarge Person (10 minutes -5 rd)
Haste (9 rds)
Hide from Animals
Spells remaining: 3/6/2/4
Sensing that the slaughter below is coming to an end, Ophelia merely opts to stay put.
Meanwhile, her celestial dire tiger has taken quite a beating, but he still has plenty of life in him. In retaliation for the frost giant's painful slams, the feline jabs his claws into the humanoid's burns. The blurred vision in his damaged eye throws the first one off, but the second blow manages to draw blood. As the frost giant howls in pain, the dire tiger is able to assert control over the grapple once more and promptly plants his thick teeth into his enemy's side. The bite could not be any more perfect in terms of sheer damage.
Seeing yet another moment to strike, Lucero quickly lashes out at the closest ogre with his tail. He effortlessly catches the giant by surprised and swiftly hurls the brute into some barren plane. If only our battles against Kostchtchie were this easy! the feathered serpent thinks to himself as he readies to repeat the same tactic again.
_________________________
A very tiny fraction of Vega is impressed that this particular giant is still conscious... but not for long. Vega continues his assault upon the giants face, rapidly punching it into oblivion. As he does so, he notices the three-headed Cho'ankai gazing intently at one of the giants, and he raises an eyebrow quizzically. For the briefest of moments, Vega stalls his attack.
Seeing Cho'Ankai doing his thing, Vega decides not only that there is no need to ask him what he is doing, but that it is also rude for him to stare. Vega refocuses his attention to the current and real threat of the giant before him, and proceeds to rapidly punch it's face into a pulp. However, the moment's pause gave him a moment to think, and feel remorse.
While I have been given power and responsibility by the powers of the celestial realm, I am still a mortal. I am a mortal who holds life and love in my heart as virtues greater than all else. What right do I have to judge and damn others? I am turning into a tyrant! I... am becoming my cruel uncle, drunk with power. "Our's is the right"... well, no, sorry uncle, but it isn't, and I cannot throw away a lifetime of training and work to remove this arrogance from myself simply because I have more power coursing through my veins. The peace, happiness, and freedom I have worked to bestow upon so many others means nothing if I give into this lust now. I will not lose control of myself!
The first few punches still go towards to giants head, but a very subtle shift in Vega's hand position allows the punches to connect with the softer part, the sides of his palms, rather than with knuckles and bone. Then his blows go to pressure points on the giants torso and even legs, causing a temporary retardation in his bodies natural flow of blood.
_______________________________
________________________________
- Blur (20% miss chance)
- Cat's Grace
- Protection from Evil (+2 AC vs evil & +2 saves vs evil)
- Barkskin
- Evolution Surge: Supernatural Flight (perfect)
- Haste
Gror leaps with continued fury upon the nearest remaining giant, shredding him as he has the ones before him. When it falls, and as he sees the remainder of their foes dead or unconscious, he has to shake his head at the devastation that the Chosen have wreaked on these giants, even as he smiles at their decisive first victory.
His gravelly voice intones, ”Angradd, Torag,”...pausing, somewhat grudgingly, but paying respect where it's due…”Iomadae. You have gifted us well. This has been a stunning first sortee. I know this is just the beginning, that the demons and witches before us will try our mettle further, but I stand ready, a tool in your hands. The Torc will be recovered or I will die trying.”
Lashing his roots against the snowy ground like whips, Cho'ankai's three-headed form lumbers towards the last standing frost giant. Walls of flame roar in two planes nearby, boxing off avenues of retreat save for narrow gaps between the walls where the heat is less intense. Illuminated by these curtains of fire, the verdant form of Cho'ankai takes on the color of sunset, firelight reflecting off of ancient bark.
Staring into the approaching frost giant's eyes, Cho'ankai begins chanting a low and droning buzz of vocalizations, a throaty call that tingles at the back of the giant's mind. His orange eyes, glowing like that of the curtains of fire, seem to shake through the giant now, and that droning chant becomes a static hiss of fear, panic and rage.
Soon, like falling through clouds obscuring a more lush landscape, the giant's mind begins to reveal more secrets to the druid.
A very tiny fraction of Vega is impressed that this particular giant is still conscious... but not for long. Vega continues his assault upon the giants face, rapidly punching it into oblivion. As he does so, he notices the three-headed Cho'ankai gazing intently at one of the giants, and he raises an eyebrow quizzically. For the briefest of moments, Vega stalls his attack.
Dori sees the ogres still cowering near her. Knowing their duty to be grim, but necessary, Dori floats over to the giant. "It is inevitable, kneel, and I will make this quick and clean." The ogre who is already kneeling looks at the shadow cloud floating over it with no understanding in its eyes. Dori's flurry of shadowy claws tears its head off, killing it instantly.
Sensing that the slaughter below is coming to an end, Ophelia merely opts to stay put.
Meanwhile, her celestial dire tiger has taken quite a beating, but he still has plenty of life in him. In retaliation for the frost giant's painful slams, the feline jabs his claws into the humanoid's burns. The blurred vision in his damaged eye throws the first one off, but the second blow manages to draw blood. As the frost giant howls in pain, the dire tiger is able to assert control over the grapple once more and promptly plants his thick teeth into his enemy's side. The bite could not be any more perfect in terms of sheer damage.
Seeing yet another moment to strike, Lucero quickly lashes out at the closest ogre with his tail. He effortlessly catches the giant by surprised and swiftly hurls the brute into some barren plane. If only our battles against Kostchtchie were this easy! the feathered serpent thinks to himself as he readies to repeat the same tactic again.
Seeing Cho'Ankai doing his thing, Vega decides not only that there is no need to ask him what he is doing, but that it is also rude for him to stare. Vega refocuses his attention to the current and real threat of the giant before him, and proceeds to rapidly punch it's face into a pulp. However, the moment's pause gave him a moment to think, and feel remorse.
While I have been given power and responsibility by the powers of the celestial realm, I am still a mortal. I am a mortal who holds life and love in my heart as virtues greater than all else. What right do I have to judge and damn others? I am turning into a tyrant! I... am becoming my cruel uncle, drunk with power. "Our's is the right"... well, no, sorry uncle, but it isn't, and I cannot throw away a lifetime of training and work to remove this arrogance from myself simply because I have more power coursing through my veins. The peace, happiness, and freedom I have worked to bestow upon so many others means nothing if I give into this lust now. I will not lose control of myself!
The first few punches still go towards to giants head, but a very subtle shift in Vega's hand position allows the punches to connect with the softer part, the sides of his palms, rather than with knuckles and bone. Then his blows go to pressure points on the giants torso and even legs, causing a temporary retardation in his bodies natural flow of blood. The giant collapses before the flurry is even finished, unconscious in the snow.
Poppy finds herself mesmerized by the magnificent dire tiger destroying her enemy directly below her. But it's so fluffy! I wonder where it really lives? She is seized by a strange thought and her eyes grow wide. Maybe it lives with Lucero! She lets her thoughts wander back to the battle, and figures she might as well do something useful with herself as the chaos winds down.
Poppy joins the dire tiger in finishing off the frost giant. She rears up her resplendent head and snaps at the giant's neck. The bite sinks into his skin and she tastes thick, dark blood. She pulls back her head and stabs him in the shoulder with her rainbow horn, which goes deep enough to hit an important artery. When she pulls her horn out, nasty blood spurts out all over her nose. YUCK! She doesn't let up despite her disgust and attempts to stomp on his face with her right hoof, but her aim is wild and she misses. But, her left hoof connects with his skull shortly after and she hears a light cracking sound. She turns around swiftly and tries to slap him across the face with her tail, but it whooshes past, the rainbow hair barely brushing his charred flesh. Miraculously Rangar the Pantswetter still stands after the assault by Bob and Poppy.
For a few more seconds that is. Bob and Poppy make short work of Ragnar, while Lucero plane shifts the remaining ogres. The one remaining giant is quickly corralled in the north east corner of the camp and drops his weapons.
___________________________________________________
Whispering to the others, "Ok, here's my proposal. While Cho listens, Poppy asks questions sweetly. If we don't think we got all there was to get, I'll threaten with empty threats of a slow death in the wall of fire. Whether that threat succeeds or not, we give it a clean death, no torture."
Gror pauses to look at Vega, "Can you live with that? I fear we'll need any advantage we can manage going forward."
Kill him and then ask the corpse. Fewer complications. Pragmatically speaking Dori shrugs, or what he said.
She then starts scouting around the camp looking for anything useful.
"Poppy is this Kostchtchie-scum not answering your questions? Let me dip him in that wall of for a few times and see if he opens up."
"Thank you, Bob. I still am a little loss for words at your performance back there. These Kostchtchie giants are a cut above the ones we fought back in Varisia," says Ophelia as she strokes the celestial dire tiger's fur and tends to his wounds. Luckily, the big feline will completely heal over when he returns to his native plan and rests. Her summons always seem to recover very quickly. The elf thinks back to the time when Lily was Disintegrated by a stone giant wizard (of all things). It had been the first time she had "lost" a summon and left her horrified for days on end.
Next time the diminutive elf had dared to call forth an Azata Bard to Inspire Courage from her friends, Lily slithered into the Material Plane no worse for wear. The celestial had not even seemed to care much about her "death" and quickly began strumming her wondrous harp with as much enthusiasm as usual. Ophelia recalls spending much time searching for the reason behind this phenomenon, but even the collective minds of the Stone of Seers (understandable for an institution that had only established a Conjuration Department under her tenure) and the Acadamae in Korovosa (which had no such excuse) came up with nothing decisive on the matter. Heck, the answer and functionality of how Summons "died" seemed to vary between Conjurers and-
"你的朋友们都开始他们的审讯，欧菲," Lucero's deep, invisible voice whispers in her ear in Draconic. As Ophelia snapped back to reality, she had to admit that his ability to sense good and evil in a person's heart made working unseen much easier.
"让我们离开彭德尔顿女士," she suggests as she wraps her tiny arms around his neck (which takes her a moment to find). "虽然我有我的时刻，你必须记住，剑锋说话比我曾经就好多了."
"当然!" replies Lucero as he silently flies over with Ophelia in tow to where the giant is being "interviewed" by her comrades.
"...我要去搜索领主的帐篷。有可能是有用的信息。神知道我的敌人留下方便的文书工作。在那之后，我要帮助大道搜索阵营," says Ophelia just as Poppy asks the first question. The elf cannot help but note that her feelings seem to mirror that of the pony-gnome. As much as she detests ogres and frost giants alike (long story), some of the sights toward the end of the battle did start to wear her down.
"通过一切手段。什么有价值的东西可以卖，利润可以用来更好地走向世界。至于我呢？我觉得我要确保一定的石像鬼的威胁是真正的空," answers Lucero as he watches the unfolding events with great interest.
"无需造成不必要的痛苦，现在，我们赢了吗？" muses Ophelia rather solemnly.
"没错," Lucero pauses and ponders the tone of his summoner's voice for a bit before saying, "小一，我知道你总是百感交集作战。然而，即使埋伏是残酷的，我们的行动无疑是世界上最好的长远。较少的恶魔巨头将奴役和杀无辜Golarion。"
"...我知道了," whispers Ophelia as she away to begin her investigation.
LC: Your friends are starting their interrogation, Ophelia.
OG: Let's leave it to Ms. Pendleton. While I have my moments, you must remember that Janus was much better at talking than I ever was.
LC: Of course!
OG: ...I am going to go search the Jarl's tent. There might be useful information in it. Gods know often my enemies leave behind convenient paperwork. After that, I am going to help Dori search the camp.
LC: By all means. Anything valuable can be sold, and the profits can be used to better Golarion. As for me? I think I am going to make sure that a certain Gargoyle's threats are truly empty.
OG: No need to cause needless pain now that we won?
LC: Exactly. Little one, I know you always have mixed feelings about combat. However, even if the ambush was brutal, our actions were doubtlessly the best for the world in the long run. Fewer demonic giants will now enslave and kill the innocent of Golarion.
OG: ...I know.
Dorialis and Opehlia recover four barrels of fine red wine (frozen) , crates packed with 24 place settings of gold-and-enamel plates marked with the arms of Irrisen with matching silverware , and a total of 15,000 gp in assorted valuables and goods spread throughout the camp's tents.
The frost giant ignores Poppy, staring at her with open fear and hatred. Gror's threat however is something he can understand intrinsically. It is the way of Kostchtchie's servants to control through threat of terrible violence. He has no reason to call the gargoyle's bluff after what the Chosen have done to his companions. So the giant begins to talk. He tells the dwarf that their expedition is led by an avatar of Kostchtchie called Ferric. Ferric is inside the Veil with his ice troll cleric adviser, and nine more giants and winter wolves, including the other Jarls. They've been gone for more than three days with no word.
After he describes the party inside, he swears he knows nothing else and clams up. "Nú, senda mig til að mæta herra minn eðlilega, þú hani sogskál!"
_______________________
Gror nods to the Giant.
"Segðu okkur hvað þú veist um Gult og þú færð góða hreina dauða þinn. Hvað eru styrkleikar hans? Veikleika sína?"
____________
"Hann er Meðlimur Drottins, hann hefur ekki fleiri veikleika en veturinn sig."
Ophelia speaks in Celestial in an attempt to keep a new plan secret from their prisoner.
"சரி, நாம் கண்டு பொருட்களை ஒரு சிறிய அதிர்ஷ்டம் மதிப்பு. தனியாக இந்த மது இருநூறு தங்க துண்டுகள் (நான் வழி என்று சில இருக்கும்? நான் விரைவில் தர இறுதி தேர்வுகள் உள்ளன) மதிப்பு. பொதுவாக, நாம் சாத்தியமான அனைத்து செயல்படுத்த வழி இல்லை என்று, ஆனால் நான் ஒரு குறிப்பிட்ட விளக்கு அர்க்கான் முன் இரண்டு மணி நேரம் எல்லா இரகசிய மார்பு நடித்தார் நடந்தது என் காலாண்டுகளில் விழுந்து நொறுங்கியதில் வந்தது. அது பொருட்களை பன்னிரண்டு கன அடி பற்றி நடத்த முடியும். என் படை வீரர் உணவு முதலானவற்றை எடுத்து செல்லும் பை இணைந்து, நாங்கள் அதை மிக செயல்படுத்த முடியும்.
"இப்போது நான் ஏன் இதை கொண்டு? சரி, இப்போது நாம் ஒரு பேய் கடவுளின் அவதாரமாக இந்த ராட்சதர்கள் உண்மையான முதுகெலும்பாக போராடும் என்று தெரிகிறது. நான் மந்திரவாதிகள் தலைமை அடிப்படையில் ஒத்த ஒன்று என்று சந்தேகிக்கிறேன். நாம் ஒருவேளை கருத்தில் நேரம் காரணியாக இருக்கிறது, ஆனால் ...
"நான் இணைப்புகளை திரும்ப வேண்டும். நான் சில விற்க எங்கள் பக்கத்தில் சில கனமான ஃபயர்பவரை பாதுகாக்க முடியும். செதில் ஒரு சக்தி வாய்ந்த உள்ளது, மற்றும் என் புலி Jarl எதிராக வியக்கத்தக்க நன்றாக, ஆனால் அவர்கள் நான் என்ன செய்ய முடியும் என்ற நுனி உள்ளன. எந்த குற்றம், நண்பர் - - மேலும், திசோ மிகவும் ஆன்ம மற்றும் நான் ... ஒருவித நாள் புலிகள் அவுட். நான் எங்கள் பக்க மேல் கொண்டு வலுவான விஷயங்களை யோசிக்க முடியும். கவலைப்பட வேண்டாம். அவர்களில் யாரும் பேய்கள் இருக்கிறது. நான் ஒரு தேவதை படம் என்று."
Ophelia pauses as she thinks back to days long ago and then grumbles something lightly to herself. "கீஜ், நான் என் தம்பியை இங்கே விரும்புகிறேன். அவர் தனது ஊழியர்கள் உயர்த்த மற்றும் அவர், என்று-"
However, the little professor quickly gets back on track.
"அதை கருதுகின்றனர். நான் டெலிபோர்ட் முடியும், இந்த வெய்ல் செல்லும் முன் நம் கடைசி வாய்ப்பு. ஜோசியா நாம் ஒருவேளை அங்கு தொலைநகர்த்தல் வழியாக வெளியேற முடியாது, நான் அந்த விஷயத்தில் அவரை நம்ப தயாராக இருக்கிறேன் என்று கூறினார். நான் நேரம் சாரத்தை தெரியும், ஆனால் இந்த ராட்சதர்கள் என்ற தங்க இருந்தால், நான் பாபா யாக தான் பொறிகளை மற்றும் கூட்டாளிகளின் அவர்கள் பொறுமையாக ஒரு நியாயமான வாய்ப்பு இருக்கும் என்று நினைக்கிறேன்."
Ophelia talks highly vaguely in terms of people, places, and things just in case something else might be listening in on them.
"Well, the stuff we found is worth a small fortune. This wine alone is worth two hundred gold pieces (may I have some of that by the way? I think I will need it soon). Normally, there would be no way we could possibly carry it all, but I just happened to cast Secret Chest all of two hours before a certain trumpeter came crashing into my quarters. It can hold about twelve cubic feet of stuff. Combined with my haversack, we might be able to carry most of it.
Now why do I bring this up? Well, it now seems that we are fighting an avatar of a demon lord and the actual backbone of these giants. I suspect that the witches have something similar in terms of leadership. We do have the time factor to consider, but maybe...
I have connections back home. I might be able to sell some of it and secure some heavier firepower for our side. The Scaly One is powerful, and my tiger did surprisingly well against the Jarl, but they are the apex of what I can do. Moreover, TSO is very mortal - no offense, buddy - and I am... sort of out of tigers for the day. I can think of many strong creatures to bring over to our side. Do not worry. None of them are demons. I might shoot for an angel.
Geez, I wish my brother was here. He would just raise his staff, and She-
Just consider it. I can teleport, and this is our last chance before going into the Veil. Josiah said that we probably cannot exit via teleportation in there, and I am willing to trust him in that regard. I know time is of the essence, but if this was the gold standard of the giants, I think Baba Yaga's traps and minions have a fair chance of slowing them down."
To Ophelia, "Hold on."
Gror turns back to the giant. "Allt í lagi, illi andinn-peð, sýna mér hálsinn og ég ætla að gera þetta hreint og auðvelt." The giant trembles briefly but then raises his chin, baring his neck. Gror nods approvingly and then gives a swift slash across the throat, ending its life as quickly and cleanly as he's able.
As more hot blood washes over his arm and chest, he turns back to Ophelia. ”OK, the giant needed to die. Now, can you translate that conversation for the rest of us?
When she does, he opens a bottle of wine, takes a hearty slug and passes it back to her. "Good wine. Hits the spot. About heading out to sell things though, I don't see it. Is there something in particular you think it’s important for us to get? If not I say we soldier on. It's of course possible we need to make a tactical retreat once we're further in. If we do, it'll be at a point when we have more information...and if we can make it back outside the Veil then we may really appreciate your Teleport."
_____________
Wincing a bit at Gror's rather nonchalant execution, the Sapphire Summoner nonetheless translates her mini-speech, while using the time to defrost a couple of bottles of the wine with Prestidigitation. She hands one over to Gror as the Gargoyle, who really seems to enjoy it.
"If all of those economic courses they made me take in the Acadamae are still true, I could easily grab some really heavy conjuring spell scrolls with some of this stuff. I know that our victory against the giants was absolutely resounding, but as I watched, I soon found them to be a cut above the sort back in Varisia. It seems that their superior has enhanced them.
"However, while we should take what we just learned with a bit of salt, all signs indicate that this group was the weakest of the enemy forces. And we did ambush them. The news of a deity's avatar worries me, and we still do not know what the witches can do; Queen Elvanna herself could be in there for all we know. If a standard frost giant can wound us in our empowered state..."
She points to the injuries Gror has on his stone armor.
"...Then what could something worse do?"
The shimmering elf flies over to the wooden throne on Cho'ankai's back and takes a seat. From there, she places the druid's staff on her lap and begin tapping her fingers together. After a moment of thought, she begins speaking again.
"I am suggesting that it might be worth getting a bigger stick. A powerful celestial is what I envision. This would our last chance to do it before heading in too. After that, we are in the dragon's lair. Even with this power Josiah gave us, please remember that Baba Yaga created this place by essentially snapping her fingers. The odds that she put something truly terrible in there are high, and also recall that our patron archon was unable to tell us much about what lurks in there."
Ophelia quickly pours herself a drink of wine in one of the Irrisen silver teacups and takes a sip.
"Lovely stuff! Still, I agree with you on the time issue, Gror. We do not have such a luxury. If I was as skilled as my brother at summoning, I can certainly conjure something up in a mere twenty minutes, but as I said earlier, Lucero - specifically a Couatl - is the best I can manage. They are powerful, but certainly not enough to face a full-fledged avatar and/or Queen Elvanna. Lucero's role on the frontlines here was probably a one time deal. I would never put him in danger like facing a deity."
She gestures over to said feathered serpent, who flies over without word. Once he is by her side, Ophelia gently strokes the side of his serpentine head. The diminutive elf then looks at her reflection in the teacup and finds herself slightly frustrated. I really should ask Josiah why I was selected. Surely there was somebody in our group who was stronger.
Dori had thought about partaking of some of the wine, it looked like a fine vintage, but she remembered the wisdom of an old mentor, drink when the job is done, and the job will get done.
Some fire shield scrolls may be useful if we are going to see more denizens of like ilk.
Dori looks up to gauge the time of day, they had spent some time ransacking the camp, more time than it took to overcome the defenders. I think I'd like to rest up and recover my spells before venturing into the frozen falls.
Ophelia takes whoever she needs as pack mules and teleports them all the Magnimar, directly to fence she knows from her old adventuring days. He gives her a good deal for all the merchandise. Then their purses heavy, they fly a short way to her friend's well supplied magic shop to get the items they need. A couple of hours later the group is reunited outside the ruins of the giants' camp. Nothing happened outside the Veil during the shopping trip.
Approaching the Veil proper, the group can see that the steaming crater of a geyser has carved a jagged crevasse in the side of the waterfall here, creating a cathedral of dripping ice stalactites above. Barely visible through the steam to the right of the geyser spout is a secondary crevasse in which can dimly be seen a stair, rising upward into the obscuring ice.
Twenty feet up the stair are three suspicious lumps of ice.
Vega came to the conversation and into the scene too late. He frowns.
"I cannot say that I agree with this. But what is done is done. We must make our next move."
Upon seeing the wine, his frown softens. Should it come his way, he politely turns it away. "No thank you. I do not drink... and even if so, now is hardly the time."
Vega looks upon the camp and the destruction about them. The fires that burned both bodies and supplies - and the smoke rising from them into the sky - contrasting the snow and ice around them. Blood stains splattered across the snow. He then looks towards the veil.
Now, instead of a frown, his expression is mostly neutral with just a hint of worry.
"Any allies that can join us will be of aid, but we have already made our presence known. If we can acquire this aid quickly, then let it be done quickly. However, to stop and rest now would be foolish. At the very least we should test the defenses of the veil itself before making a tactical retreat to recoup and come back stronger and wiser. An attack to wear them down as much as possible as well as a reconnaissance. Of course, I still have hope to accomplish our task as quickly as possible, in one fell swoop. I do not plan to make this a multi-day venture. Strike at the heart of our enemies, fast and hard. The more we fiddle with other tasks - especially now that we have made our presence known - the stronger the veil's defenses become. The more time we give them, the more difficult it will be to accomplish our true task, and the opportunity for Kostchtchie's minions to beat us to the torc increase as well. A few minutes to recompose oneself and catch ones breath is always a welcome reprieve..." Vega glances at one of the rings on his own hand. "...but when most people rest, it is for may hours. I do not think such a divergence from our mission is warranted after such a short skirmish that is also this close to the veil itself."
_____________________________________________
While Ophelia is gone on the shopping excursion, Gror paces. I think she’s right, the scroll could make the difference, but this waiting grates me. He restrains himself from going ahead to scout, but keeps his Detect Evil active, methodically scanning around them with his enhanced senses.
Turning to his comrades before the approach, ”I’ll be scanning for evil auras as we approach. Who’ll be scanning for magic? Dori, I assume you’re the most skilled amongst us at detecting traps? And is there any other potential information we can gain to our advantage?”
I’ve only known these people for barely half a day, and here we go into the Veil together. I wish Uncle Dunag was here beside me but I must admit, Jorah made some fine choices. Certainly they’re worthy in battle. Vega’s discipline and focus are beyond the most dedicated Spellbreakers I’ve worked with; I know I have a lot to learn from him. Ophelia has seen her share of war and is clearly tested as well, and I have to admit the decision to summon another ally was brilliant, tactically. Cho’s still a bit of a mystery to me, but there’s a rock solid sturdiness to him as well. I still worry a bit about Poppy’s distractibility. Clearly she’s mighty despite her...unusual exterior, but there’s no room at all for error here, and I can’t afford to keep an eye on her with both Kostchtchie’s and Elvanna’s troops here in force. Dori still concerns me a bit as well -- no traditional discipline about her, but she's clearly canny enough to handle herself well, and it’s no doubt she’ll more than pull her weight as we enter the Veil and face whatever traps Baba Yaga left here.
While Ophelia was gone to perform the necessary purchases in distant Varisia, Cho'ankai was content to patrol the surroundings of the giant encampment, putting out fires that still burned on watch towers and observing the way the snow played off of the rocky terrain. The smoke from the fires likely had been seen for miles, if the snow did not cut visibility at that distance, and that revelation had not occurred to him until after it was far too late.
On Ophelia's return, Cho had advocated for rest before entering the Veil but found the voices in dissent stronger and more convincing than his suggestion of a patient -- but sometimes glacially slow -- pace.
"Natural beauty built upon a bloody history," Cho'ankai muses in regards to the sight, marveling at the way the geyser had cut a path through the ice forming the cathedralesque structure. "I have no need for preparations as yet. Caution dictates that I remain at the group's rear," but with that assertion, two of Cho'anki's bark-scaled roots burst up from the ground fifty feet away, then sink back into the snow. "I will not be far, though."
With that said, Cho'ankai offers some scrutiny to the suspicious piles of snow near the top of the stairs.
____________
As Dori's spells wore of, her size reduced back to medium, a smaller shadow than the tele she had been earlier. I leave the disposition of valuables to you. Dori cringed at the thought of leaving loot to someone else...
Approaching the ice caveDori slows down, taking time to study the area for magic and traps.
"When we first met, I know that I did not exactly help my image as an elf good with time (seriously, how exactly did I get two decades mixed up with five years?), but after running the calculations in my head, if I push myself, I think I can keep trip a mere two hours."
Any hesitation that the other Chosen might have had seems to largely subside upon hearing that tidbit. Cho'ankai simply turns one of his three heads to the tiny elf seated on his back and gives her a nod of approval. Dorialis is already in the middle of making a shopping list while Gror and Poppy jump back a bit in surprise at Ophelia's estimate and then rather heartily agree. The odd man out is Vega, but the monk once again defers to the groups' opinion. However, he draws the line with taking an extended rest, which Ophelia ultimately agrees on.
"I agree with Lord Surtova. We might be a bit worn, but we still have plenty of power and resources in us. While the Avatar and that troll cleric might be a problem, the other Jarls and the winter wolves should not be too big an issue. Anyway, time is light. Lucero, let us be off!"
The Couatl is already way ahead of his partner. During the entire debate, he took the time to stuff all of the loot into Ophelia's Secret Chest. Using his strong but flexible tail like an arm and hand, he promptly carries it over to the Sapphire Summoner, who wastes no more time in Teleporting them to her home city.
"I get so much done when you go off on tangents," the feathered serpent snarks with a friendly chuckle.
As she vanishes away in a beam of light, Ophelia gives her new friends a friendly wave goodbye.
OoOoO
Upon arrival back to her living quarters, the diminutive elf reluctantly sends "Queenie" back to whatever realm the former paladin resides in. Meanwhile, Lucero realizes that he might cause a bit of a stir in the busy streets of Magnimar, so he first turns Invisible and then jumps into the Ethereal Plane for good measure. After placing the remaining bottles of wine in her haversack, Ophelia adjusts her sandals before departing on foot for the first time in many hours.
As it would turn out, Irrisen silverware is all the rage with Magnimarian nobles these days. Along with taking quite a few other goods from her, the first shopkeeper Ophelia visits readily takes every last piece from her at a generous price per set. The elf contemplates keeping one for herself, but the thought is quickly buried when she recalls Lucero not only floating behind her back but the likelihood of Josiah watching from wherever. That and it would just be plain selfish and unfair.
The rest of the stuff is quickly distributed to another old friend of her adventuring party's store and a couple of other shops on the market. The haul is easily one of the nicest Ophelia has made in a while. Not nearly as much as her return from Xin-Shalast that took her and Janus' friends on a world tour to sell all of it, but it is still more than many people will ever make in their lives.
As she heads over to the best magic shop in town (in her opinion), the tiny professor pauses in midstep, and Ophelia briefly recalls donating most of her share from that long year's journey to various charities and churches.
"I really should have been a Diviner," the blonde jokes to herself as she plays with one of her braids. "I would have seen this entire mess coming."
OoOoO
Ophelia returns exactly two hours after she departed. Upon arrival, she quickly realizes how far north she is and how she is buried up to her waist in freezing cold snow while wearing nothing heavier than a rob and sandals. She immediately begins calling her Eidolon back.
"Sorry if I'm late!" says the Sapphire Summoner as she takes her cherub form again and takes to the air again. "Jacob gave me a great deal on the scroll, but I had to run to the temple of Iomedae to get the thing officially blessed."
Lucero looks at the position of the sun briefly.
"I think we're right on time, Ophelia," the Couatl observes as he returns to the world of the visible. He looks at the rest of the Chosen as they gather around and says, "But that might have been what caused any delay. We concluded that asking my Goddess for further assistance might be our best shot with the negotiations. Opa-Ophelia wants to call in a Planetar Angel. Rather ambitious if you ask me."
Ophelia rubs the back of her head sheepishly.
"Well, I figure if we're polite and respectful..." she pauses, glances over at Gror, and gives him a friendly smile, "And we explain the situation while carefully dropping Josiah's name-"
"And I put in a good word for you all. Finest bunch of giant slayers I have ever met!" interrupts Lucero with a hearty chuckle.
The Sapphire Summoner rolls her eyes but nonetheless finishes, "Then we might be able to work out a good deal with the Planetar. He or she isn't going to be working for free. By the way, I am asking one of them because they are immune to the cold, cast divine spells better than most clerics, and regenerate like a troll. All in all, the best choice we have."
With that said, Ophelia grasps the sacred scroll and begins activating it, once again slipping into the gibberish she recites when summoning something in.
After ten minutes of chanting and drawing a summoning circle in the snow, there is a loud crack and the air splits open into an unbearably bright green rift. Through it steps a ten foot tall, bald, muscular, winged woman. Her skin is the color of highly polished jade, and her eyes glow like neon green stars. She's naked save for the massive and clearly magical greatsword strapped in a sheath to her back, and the platinum and diamond studded holy symbol of Iomedae on a chain around her neck. Though her nude body is shaped like a humanoid woman's, complete with breasts, she has no hair anywhere. She has no nipples, no belly button or visible genitalia. Her skin is perfectly smooth, like a marble statue.
The planetar steps forward out of the portal. Her eyes blaze suddenly with a terrible green fire. She draws her greatsword and has it at Ophelia's throat in less than the blink of an eye. In a booming terrible voice she shouts into the summoner's face,
To her credit, Ophelia barely flinches, but otherwise, she freezes like a statue. Her sapphire blue eyes clearly show shock and fear. What has happened is clearly not what she envisioned. The Sapphire Summoner finds herself unable to speak for fear of cutting his own throat against the greatsword currently pressed against it.
That was Greater Planar Ally, right? The friendly spell?
For a wise, old Couatl, Lucero seems a bit... surprised by this turn of events. The feathered serpent is confused about what to do. He too has seen Janus Glinathir call up outsiders with far more friendly first contact, but then again, Lady Iomedae and Shelyn are two completely different goddesses. His first instinct is to protect Ophelia, but this planetar is also a colleague, his superior, and a being nearly as powerful as Lord Josiah.
He recognizes that Ophelia is abnormally charismatic for both a wizard and an elf, but even so, she did spend most of her life buried in books and away from other people. Most outsiders she has spoken to up to this point are ones she has had a degree of control over. She was never formally trained in the art of diplomacy like her brother Janus, who spent nearly thirty years of his life simply studying how the paladins of his temple spoke to others. While she could certainly make a good argument, Ophelia tends to leave out important details or occasionally forgot points that could easily make a big difference.
So Lucero lets his silver tongue do the talking.
"My Lady, I am Lucero Cortez, a fellow servant of the Inheritor. The little one is Ophelia Glinathir. As a wizard, she is not a formal cleric of Our Goddess, so perhaps the calling spell did not function normally. She used a scroll notarized by a temple of Lady Iomedae. However, she and everyone else present are nonetheless agents of Lady Iomedae. Lord Josiah the Star Archon has given them a mission: to find and secure the Torc of Kostchtchie so that it may be destroyed for good. As we speak, agents of Kostchtchie and Queen Elvanna of Irrisen race through the Veil of Frozen Tears to secure it. Lord Josiah has granted these six heroes each a great power to accomplish their task; hence their... unusual forms. However, they are all individuals of great personal character.
"We need your help. We have already started the mission and just learned that we will be facing an avatar of Kostchtchie himself. Even with her newfound power and my assistance, Ophelia is still rightfully concerned about fighting it, so she decided to call for a celestial ally. That is why we called you. She means no disrespect, ma'am; she was against binding and instead tried Planar Ally. Ophelia simply wants to make sure this mission is completed and completed in a way that is ideal on all accounts for our side. You, of course, will be compensated for assisting us. If my word is not enough, then Lord Josiah the Star Archon, Lady Mariah the Trumpet Archon, or the Inheritor herself should be able to confirm all that I have told you."
All though he is nothing but respectful, Lucero seems rather torn about moving any closer than he already is.
The Planetar turns her baleful gaze to the Couatl. She rises up to her full height, staring death at him well past the point of awkwardness. The only sounds piercing the frigid air are the muted inhalations and exhalations of the Chosen as they watch the tense situation. Then the great angel snorts. Her iron frown quivers, and mere moment later she is bent over laughing hysterically. "Ha!" She she exclaims, slapping her knee. After a few moments of mirth, she pulls herself upright again. "Did you pee your pants Ophelia?" she manages between giggles. "You should have seen the looks on your faces."
Glowing emerald tears are streaming down the Planetar's face from all the laughing. She takes a few deep breaths and manages to stop herself. "I know who you are silly snake. My name's Sapphira. I'm Josiah's girlfriend." She pauses to wipe the tears from her cheeks. "Anyway, I can help you out for a while, but only if you feed and clothe four hundred orphans for the next year. That's what I was busy with when you called. 16,000 gold should cover it. If you don't have it all now, I'll take what you do and then get the rest before I leave."
That wasn't very funny... grumbles Ophelia as she grasps her neck absentmindedly and gives a few rubs. Also, joke's on her. Ring of Sustenance, where would I be without you?
The shimmering elf glances over her shoulder as Lucero shifts... uncomfortably. The Couatl still keeps his reverent respectful tone and says, "It is an honor to know that you are aware of me. I mostly work with the Archons on the field. Oh, I see that the little one has... composed herself!"
The feathered serpent coils his body toward his summoner and adds, "How do you feel about the terms of agreement?"
With a deep breath, Ophelia decides to just keep focus on the mission in lieu of making any irrelevant comments. Her fourteen decades of discipline keep her on the negotiating path. "Thank you, Lucero, for briefing Lady Sapphire on the matter. As for your terms, that sum is certainly agreeable, especially for the cause. I have about two thirds of that on me right now."
The suddenly very stoic and composed little elf snaps her fingers and summons her Secret Chest. After digging around in it for a bit, she produces a hefty sack that clings rather obviously. "Other than the two scrolls I got for Dori, nobody else wanted anything from my trip, so factoring in my life savings, this should be about 11,610 gold pieces."
Ophelia promptly offers the funds to the Planetar. Despite her tiny size, the Sapphire Summoner really does not seem to have much trouble lifting it.
"If that is all, we should probably start moving. Kostchtchie's avatar and the Irrisen witches certainly draw closer to the Torc as we speak."
"I apologize for scaring you. My work is normally so serious, I couldn't help myself." Sapphira says, accepting the bag. She peels a small black circle from part of her blade and stretches it open into a hole. She dumps the gold in, shrinks the hole and replaces it in her sword's hilt. Sapphira rolls her head back and forth to crack her neck, and then grips her greatsword in two handed ready stance. "Lets go kick some evil ass," she suggests with a serious tone. Her face is all hard and scary again, and you get the feeling she's really not joking this time.
"It's alright. Sometimes we all have to live a little. Wait. Did I just say two thirds? No, that sum I gave you is closer to three fourths. Pardon the mistake; I'm a little out of it at the moment," remarks Ophelia (half) jokingly as she continues to rub her neck again. These celestials sure have a strange sense of humor... For a second, I thought I was better off calling a Pit Fiend!
With that said, the Sapphire Summoner takes her leave with a polite curtsy and flies over to her seat on Cho's back. Lucero bows to Sapphira and follows his summoner, turning invisible and then taking the rear with the giant nature cerberus. Both members of Team Glinathir make themselves comfortable as the group at last begins their trudge to the witch's lair.
OoOoO
As the group enters the Veil of Frozen Tears, Ophelia too cannot help but notice the strange lumps of ice.
Knowing that her outsider allies have all sorts of special visions, "LC, Sapphira, do you notice anything about those stalagsomethings?"
Provided nothing like the dread wraiths are present, Lucero calls for a little Guidance from Iomedae, shifts to the Ethereal Plane, and inspects the ice formations up close, though staying about fifteen feet away just in case.
Dori digs around in her haversack and pulls out a small sack.
Hefting it a couple of times, she listens to the clinking before tossing it to Ophelia. There's a 100 platinum for the orphans.
Sapphira moves to the front of the group. "Those lumps are frozen bodies," she says at the same time that Lucero opens his mouth to report the same. Now that its been pointed out, it's pretty obvious. "I can go up and break them free if you like," the Planetar offers. "There are no traps up there." she states confidently.
This Sapphira is a very worthy addition to our cause, for sure. Kudos to Ophelia for proposing the delay. I need to remember that there are tactics available to this group that I couldn't have imagined before.
"Sapphira, can you tell if the beings inside are alive?"
Sapphira turns to Gror and responds, "I seriously doubt it, but I'd have to break them free to make sure. I can't actually see them through the ice. Even planetars can't see through solid objects."