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The nameless, pink-winged back takes the full force of the fire, and when it fades, the poor creature is covered in soot except for her big white eyes. "Oh my gosh! Like, you totally just !@#*!# fried my friend! You're a BIG JERK!!!" The grippli points ahead, and her calls are answered as a bolt of lightning strikes the linmorn.
The grippli then moves just a little closer, while her pet attacks again.
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Luurg looks up from his latest snack and catches a face full of flames "Yowsers, I like my fruits raw, not cooked!" He looks around confused as the fire is absorbed by Tiffany's spell. "Oh, gud one Tiff, fire don't hurt!" He pulls out one last fruit, an ugly fruit, chewing it carefully he quickly starts to grow... and grow... and grow...
Out from under his cloak spreads a beautiful set of butterfly wings as Luurg the worlds largest butterfly flaps over towards the dragon with a look of graceful glee on his face.
Wings (Ex): The alchemist gains bat-like, bird-like, or insect-like functional wings, allowing him to fly as the fly spell for a number of minutes per day equal to his caster level. These minutes do not need to be consecutive, but they must be spent in 1-minute increments. An alchemist can select this discovery multiple times; each time he does so, he adds his caster level to the number of minutes per day that he can fly with the wings. This flight is an extraordinary ability. An alchemist must be at least 6th level before selecting this discovery.
The linnorm avoids both the bites of Tiffany's bat as well as the worst of the lightning she calls down upon it. It still suffers some strikes from the bolts, however, and it roars in fury.
Omar charges the linnorm with a furious cry, but his hammer goes far wide of its mark and crushes some loose rocks at the foot of the craggy hills.
Luurg does something truly incredible and sprouts beautiful wings large enough to bear his great girth. He goes airborne to match the dragon's tactic.
Spackle tries to recall more about the dragon, but is unable to summon up the knowledge in the heat of battle.
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Sheela's glad she's no longer getting burnt. She shuffles over a few feet and begins casting Summon Monster 2.
She will try to conjure a Small Air Elemental to harass the dragon.
Clay doesn't want to be stuck in the Entangle zone and double moves out, towards Sheela.
With a roar, the linnorm once again shakes the glitter from its eyes. With a rumbling voice, it calls in the common tongue, "Your spells are weak, mortals! I would leave this accursed place behind, and you with it, so that I might regain my full strength, but you have invoked my wrath. Now...DIE!" With a resounding crash, the linnorm settles back down to the earth and lashes out with its might fangs at Omar!
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Luurg's face lights up as the ghosty dragon thing slowly and clumsily sets itself down to the ground. He takes the grossly overpowered axe and hacks at the form. Then he does it again...
"Woah! Dis ting chop real gud!" He swings it again after flying over a bit more.
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Sheela feels the winds of change kick in. Especially when Luurg lands those nasty chops.
Aerie, the Air Elemental forms next to the linworm. She slams into the beast, but it's on the ground, making her strafing maneuvers difficult. At least Omar and Spackle's music inspire her to fight!
Sheela moves up carefully, noting her burnt skin. Hey, if I die at least this stupid curse goes with me.
"So we invoked your wrath, but not your ire? Well thank goodness!" Sheela's sarcasm applies a layer of magic, hoping to send the dragon into a fit of Hideous Laughter.
Too late, the linnorm sees the axe of Alvard the Wolf in the hands of the oversized and metamorphosed half-orc. "No," it screams, "Not the axe! He died! That woman said she had killed him. How can you have the axe?!"
Two strokes with the mighty weapon is all that it takes to behead the immense creature and bathe the crags with its blood.
In the skies overhead, the cloudy image of Kolvi imitates Luurg's fierce attacks and beheads the cloud-linnorm with a thunderclap. With her long-time enemy defeated, she turns toward the earth and salutes you all as the storm clouds dissipate. You are certain that the sight must be visible for miles around, perhaps even to those living on the outskirts of Frostbreach.
As Kolvi's image dissolves with the clouds and flecks of linnorm blood rain down on her, Sheela feels the curse melting away and finally disappearing.
In addition to seeing the strange phenomenon in the clouds, Luurg and Tiffany see that the linnorm they just brought down was covered in hard scales, razor sharp fangs and claws, and all sorts of other materials that a sufficiently skilled smith could turn into incredible armor, or maybe even a really cute pair of boots! Unfortunately, the head is in such rough shape that it would be impossible to take it to the villages and become linnorm kings and queens yourselves, but at least you'll have some really great stories to share.
Now that the linnorm has been slain for good and Kolvi's spirit has been laid to rest, all that remains is for you to share what you know with the people of Frostbreach and work to clear her name!
To this end, you begin to make your way back through the Snow Elk Wilds toward Frostbreach. The trail twists, turns, and eventually crosses a small frozen creek. Two large rock outcroppings jut from the chilled earth, overlooking the nearby surroundings.
As you approach the stream, several figures emerge from behind the outcroppings and stand on either side of the stream, while yet another stands atop the further rock, an impressive looking bow in his hand. All of them are armed and have weapons and shields drawn, the crest of the Coalbraid family painted on each shield's boss.
"That's far enough, outsiders," calls the archer standing on the rock in the back of the group. "You southern folk've been puttin' yer noses where they don' belong. Now, we know you been askin' 'bout that witch--that one what showed up in the sky and all. Well, we figure yer out ta rub the Coalbraid name down in the dirt, an' we're not gonna let ya, are we boys?" The other warriors shout their agreement and shake their weapons in your direction.
"Now," the archer goes on, "We Coalbraids are an honest and honorable lot, so we'll give ya a chance ta do what's right. Hand over anythin' ya found ta do with that witch, and lay down yer arms. Try anythin' funny, and let's just say the snow has a way of makin' southern folk lose their way."
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Luurg points to all the nice dragon scales, claws, and leather hide "Nice stuff dis dare stuff! Be real gud fer someting like armors right?" He starts collecting what he can, using his fruit slicer dagger to help with the chore.
Before this though Luurg pulls out a small stick "Dis my apple stick, heal hurts real gud. Who needs hurts fixed wid apple med'cin?"
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The trek back is light hearted. Luurg carries a heap of scales and claws from the dragon's corpse and has that dreaded axe across his back. "Dem people in town, dey gunna be real happy we fixed dare curse up gud right?"
As the Coalbraids stop them Luurg looks across and counts their number, keeping quiet for now. Deez guys not gib up. We more den dem. And I gut dis chopper n dey don't! Luurg holds his ground while he waits on the good talkers to negotiate peace.
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Sheela hands Luurg a wand. When he applies it to her, it doesn't sting.
"Wow, that's much better. Thanks."
"Colbraids. We just slew a linworm that has cursed your village. I felt the energy leave me. That's why you're here, isn't it?" She steps forward, unarmed.
"It's time we put this silly blood feud to an end. The feud that cursed this town for hundreds of years. We have given you a clean slate; an opportunity to avoid the mistakes of the past. What I wouldn't give for such an opportunity."
"Put your weapons down, and begin the healing process. It's overdue."
"Wait...YOU killed a linnorm?" one of the warriors exclaims, astounded. That's when he sees the scales and fangs practically overflowing from Luurg's pack, not to mention the enormous and menacing axe he carries. A few of the men murmur to one another and seem to back up a step from you.
The archer stands firm, though, "Ya've got no proof! Ya probably just picked over the body of real warrior's kill! Look here, no one enjoys the feud with the Trolltooths, but that Kolvi was a witch and she killed the king with her magic! Yer just a bunch o' outsiders lookin' to stir up trouble and commune with that witch. That's what we heard."
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Luurg smiles once he sees them looking at his prizes. "Heh, dat big dragun no match fer Luurg n friends. Not dis axe too!" He scratches his head a bit trying to think of something else they learned that could sway the crew.
"Nope, Kolvi no witch. She just real gud boss lady. Only magiks were from forest fey tings. Dat King guy not gud to dem Fey's. Dey you'st frosty magiks. Bring you to talk to dem if you want ok? Big white stag guy... Eats Moss on Sundays his name I tink." Luurg rubs his large gut in thought. His powerful fruits no longer working.
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"Olissara!" Sheela yells into the forest. "You said you would help set the story straight! Now's the time for a third party!"
The Coalbraids continue to look impressed. The archer turns his keen eyes on Luurg as Tiffany describes the half-orc's increased size, and the thought seems to sink in. You may not look quite as exceptional now, but there is definitely more to you than your first appearance suggests.
The tide truly turns when Omar chimes in mentions that the Coalbraid name could be part of his song about the tale of the Jarlsblood Witch, and that they could have a place of honor in it by helping to end the feud. "It's been centuries of our tales against theirs," the archer says, "I think ya might be right. It's time for the songs to come together and end well. Lads, stand down." The rest of the warriors lower their weapons and move toward you, their hands extended in a gesture of peace.
The Coalbraid warriors accompany you back to Frostbreach, giving Omar suggestions of how he should include their family in the story and particular lines that they think would give them proper honor. As they talk with him, they also notice the chainmail and hunting horn Omar carries (taken from the bodies in the catacombs). They recognize the make of them, and say that their ancestors were said to have had gear just like that in King Alvard's days. They insist you hold on to them, though, at least for now.
As you make your way back toward town, Sheela feels a presence lingering just behind the party. She turns and sees a flurry of snow fall quickly as Olissara makes herself seen for just a moment before disappearing once again. It seems the huldra is indeed honoring her promise to testify about the events of Alvard's death.
When you finally reach Frostbreach, the small, sleepy town is absolutely buzzing with reports of the strange combat in the clouds, and rumors of the five warriors from the south who arrived and went to destroy the Jarlsblood Witch. Or was it to commune with her? No no no, it was to bring her back from the dead! Needless to say, the rumormill is running at full tilt, and no one seems to have a clear idea of what you've been up to. Worse still, all the unrest seems to have stirred up the old feud between the Trolltooths and the Coalbraids, and there's a fair deal of nasty glances and ill remarks flying around as well.
With emotions running high, the town council calls a meeting and summons you to learn what you were doing. Both feuding families and many other interested citizens attend in force, anxious about what you might say and how this could cause the other family to lose face.
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Luurg smiles and waves at the gathered townsfolk and the Council "We did it, we win!" He happily tosses a few spare pieces of fruit to the gathered crowd as he stuffs his face with some frosty apples. Luurg lets the others, much better at public speaking than he, to explain the details delicately.
Luurg brings up his favorite Elk guy to show the crowd how Kolvi was no witch. "Elk who walks on Mossy Snow, or erm.. real big white Elk, very proud. He erm, ruler of the forest out there. King Bossguy not doing things right. Paid for it wid ice magiks.. teh end." Public speaking not Luurg's strong suit.
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"Kolvi. Her name, her legend. Her story has been lost to time. And yet, you saw the clouds, did you not? Linnorm" Have I been saying it wrong all this time? "Linnorm and Kolvi fought in the clouds above while my companions and I fought its revived form below. We met her spirit, fighting the spirit of the very same linnorm. She has kept in check for over three hundred years, away from you despite the events that took her life."
"Kolvi's spirit told me herself. She was hunting a linnorm for herself. King Alvard was upset that anyone would hunt such a creature before he did, so he confronted her. Moss-on-south-tree saw the confrontation and produced an ice storm that blinded the king's men. With his help, Kolvi laid the killing blow and the Jiraq tore off the king's head as proof."
"But details always get lost in stories, don't they? People believed Kolvi caused the ice storm, accused her of witchery and... well, you know the rest."
"This is the truth. She handed us her axe, her boots and a ring she wore on the fateful day. Preserved by time, we used them to help slay the linnorm and put this curse to rest. Frostbreach, it is time to end your battle. Unite and work as one. Use this story as proof of forgiveness. If Kolvi would continue to protect the town even after losing her life, why can't you move on?"
The crowd murmurs in amazement behind you, and the council members mutter to one another. "You tell incredible tales," one of the council members says after a moment, "And we are inclined to believe you and reconsider the tale of the Wi- of Kolvi Trolltooth. Yet, there is still much to think about and some of the details of your story do not seem right to us. You say the king did not want Kolvi to slay a linnorm before he had, but this is impossible! He was king because he had already slain a linnorm. Explain that, if you can. Why would the king concern himself with the exploits of another warrior?"
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Omar nods in agreement with Sheela and Luurg.
Alas, it is all true. Incredible as it may sound. The stuff of legends.
He pauses for effect and to recalls in a slow chant what he can of the curse.
As Valosi had tried to help those who have suffered the 'witch' curse before. And knew healing spells don't seem to work. Or...they do at first, but then the wounds seem to reappear.
(or perform song +9 if needs to be different)
Once mighty Luurg slew the ghostly beast, the curse was lifted. Certainly some of your own townspeople saw the sight of Kolvi's farewell.
It must be visible for miles around, perhaps even to those living on the outskirts of Frostbreach? Can anyone come forth as a witness?
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"Ta answer yer question 'bout the king, seems he made a deal with the fey fer some help. Afterwards he had...difficulty keepin' up his part o' the bargin. When Kolvi went out inta the woods ta find 'er own linnorm, he tried ta stalk 'er down. He 'n his ran afoul o' the fey he dealt double with while tryin' ta keep Kolvi quiet. Seems he thought ifin word got out that he had some help it would violate the rules 'n put his crown in jeopardy."
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Murmurs of agreement course through the crowd as the townspeople talk about seeing Kolvi's final battle and her parting salute.
The murmurs intensify further as Spackle talks about King Alvard's deal with the fey, and erupts into outright alarm when the huldra, Olissara materializes in the midst of the longhouse. After the council members get the crowd to settle down, they address Olissara. "O mighty guardian of the wood, is what these people have said of our ancient king true? Did he indeed fail to honor his word to you and seek to silence the one who would reveal his failure?"
Olissara looks around grimly at the people of Frostbreach, who had honored the man who betrayed his word for so long. "Yes, it's true," she says at last, "The king came to our woods when he was young, seeking glory and a crown for his head. We gave him passage through the woods so that he could hunt his linnorm, and he vowed to...well, it doesn't matter what he vowed now. All that's important is that he broke his word after he got what he wanted. Decades passed and a new warrior, Kolvi, came to the Wilds to seek her own glory. She paid proper respect, though, so we were glad to allow her to pass. Alvard came after her with a posse of his men, though, to keep her from gaining a crown of her own to challenge him. It was not his place, but he had been driven to it by the linnorm's curse. He was haunted by its spirit, you see, so he could not abide another to supplant him, even if they were worthy to do so." Olissara moves toward the doors then, ready to depart, but turns and adds, "The rest of what these ones have said is true. Trust them, and remember us. We are watching." With that the huldra vanishes, leaving a flurry of snowflakes in its wake.
The council meeting doesn't last long after that. With your testimony and that of Olissara, the entire assembly is soon in agreement that Kolvi was no witch and that, even if she had killed the king, her punishment should have been banishment. The Coalbraids and Trolltooths come to terms with one another at last, and the story of the Jarlsblood Witch is rewritten to tell of Kolvi the Linnormguard, who protected the town from the return of Alvard's linnorm for centuries.
With the story finally rewritten, you are invited to be honored guests at a reconciliation feast. The wounds of the generations-long feud are difficult to heal, but the process begins with your work to bring the truth to light. Likewise, the centuries-old Jarlsblood Witch Saga resists revision at first, but the equally dramatic addendum of your exploits quickly gains traction with bards and skalds throughout the Lands of the Linnorm Kings.
Venture-Captain Bjersig Torrsen is pleased to learn of your success and congratulates you on a job well done when you return to report to him. He books you all passage back to Absalom (or wherever you're bound next) and provides each of you a glowing recommendation to take back to Lady Gloriana Morilla. He also ensures that she receives a shorter report through magical means so that she can act on the Ulfen Guard informant's intelligence as soon as possible. The response she sends is troubling, though: various factions and organizations in Taldor are mobilizing for something big, and the Society may discover what that is in the coming days. Lady Morilla does advise, though, that she will need some of the Society's finest on hand to mange whatever chaos results.
TL;DR - you win!
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"Hi Olisarra! Love your cloak!" Sheela waves to the fey in an effort to get recognition and to calm everyone down a bit. Just keeping it casual.
Sheela's glad to sing along with the bards and skalds. And she does take that innkeep's offer for the night. At least it's warm.
Satisfied with her report, she hands the Venture-Captain her card. He proceeds to stamp another slot, and she grins. "The more community service I finish, the sooner I'm out of here. I guess!"
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Luurg smiles and gives big hugs all around as the council and the warring families mend their differences. At the celebratory feast he unleashes his magical fruity blender and spends the night mixing up the bestest fruity drink with a kick. "Bring more rum! N whatever dat udder stuff is, dat gud too! We got lotta time to party!" Luurg slings out half coconut shells all around, mixing up the best concoctions.
The big man ends the night snoring loudly in his hammock, one end tied to the bar, the other tied to a piton he put in the wall. A stack of apple cores and banana peels piled high nearby.
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Before leaving, Sheela speaks to Eigma Trolltooth, and gets to know her a bit better. "You know, Eigma, I'm glad things worked out and your family honor has been restored. My family- the Kolphans, have dealt with bad rumors in one way or another. Some people think we're demons in disguise, others think we're too flighty and unfocused to make a difference."
"But did you see how everyone bonded together once the truth was revealed? Beautiful. I am part of the Pathfinder Society, and Cooperation is one of our primary values. But am I part of a deeper group, called the Sovereign Court. We believe the greatest of families should help the others to glory. I think you and the others here can do a lot now that the town knows your proud pedigree." Sheela's Unseen Servant hands her a cup of tea. She sips some tea herself, she hates how clumsy the servant is and it burned her face once and made a mess of her dress. Terrible.
"If you and the family Patriarch would be so kind, I'd love to get in touch with some of the higher ups. I'd be glad to deliver any correspondence you may have." Sheela grins as the Trolltooths think things over and agree to hear more.
Seems to be working. Phew.
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At the Kolphan manor, Sheela flops her shoes and tosses them towards the manor, where a few servants catch them and run off to return them to the proper closet. She walks barefoot through the gardens before reaching Grandmama and Brother Sigurd. He asks what mission she completed, and Sheela's ready this time!
"I slew a dragon! A linworm! I mean, Linnorm. Also, I didn't do the slaying, but this half-orc did, but I helped!" Grandmama uses her tail to nudge Sheela in and begin her tale.
And what a tale it is.
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And finally my ballad can be completed! Omar smiles in relief.
He sings.
At early dawn we wakened
Warriors true and tried:
‘ With cheerful heart will we depart
To tame this Dragon's pride! ’
Our group we lead from shelter,
Those warriors bold and free;
The tall tree shakes, the white cloud breaks,
When the linnorm takes the sky.
They heard the Dragon roaring
Or ever they came upon;
But Luurg and his merry band
The dragon we sent yon!!!
He smiles
Long feud ended, Frostbreach peace shall have.