Letitia arches an eyebrow coldly toward Alec. "Are you certain of that? There are many places in my country far, far worse than here. What if this takes us to Whitethrone? Are you ready to meet my queen?"
She shakes her head and finishes packing her things for the push out of the tower. "It is very unlikely that it would put us inside her palace, but it could take us there. And even if it is merely -- and likely -- a quick means to the first level, we'd still not find Nadya's child."
Alec didn't bother to meet Letitia's eyes, he could feel her ice cold glare boring into him like an icicle.
Instead he stared down at the blade in his hand.
"Ready as I'll ever be."
We have few other options for places to go and we are rested. i say we take the chance
Callix says, "I think it's worth trying - though that's because I'm expecting if we end up somewhere bad, we'd be able to get back."
"Without a key or pass phrase?" Letitia snorts. "If I'm lucky. Very well. Everyone link hands. You too, goat. Someone grab its horns; we're not leaving it in the tower."
She then tries to blindly activate the ice crystal teleport tile in Nazhena's room.
Letitia tries but is not able to get the new teleporter working. luckily nothing bad happens, but the party does not go anywhere.
After the first unsuccessful try, Letitia gives everyone a look. greasy yourselves." She quickly casts mage armor on herself.
She then makes another attempt.
Callix nods, and directs some of the Holy power of the Drunken Hero into her axe, causing it to begin to crackle with an argent light before taking the witch's hand.
Samuel makes sure his musket is loaded, then smiles and succinctly adds "I am ready. I hope it does not require to much grease to go through this one" while holding Letitia on the shoulder with one hand.
on her second try Letitia has much more success, and the ice starts to form up her legs as it has done with all of the other teleporters. witht he group prepared (and suitably lubricated, apparently), the group joins hands and is encased in ice.
________________
as the ice melts, the group finds themselves looking up into the shape of a large dragon! after just a moment they can see the dragon is made of ice and is not moving. but it is certainly familiar...
shouts ring out There they are! get them!
the group realizes they are back in the lower courtyard of the Pale Tower, and have been spotted by the guards who are on duty. there are 4 guards on the wall and one large female ice troll in the courtyard.
bold may act:
Callix, Letitia, Ashling, Samuel, guards, troll, Alec
Global Condition: none |Party Condition: Hex Ward on all
Callix HP: 18/31 - AC: 18/13/15 Status:
Letitia: HP: 22/26 - AC: 12/12/10 Status:
Alec HP: 20/26 - AC: 18/12/16 Status:
Samuel HP: 25/34 - AC: 18/15/13 Status:
Ashling HP: 13/29 - AC: 18/14/14 Status:NPCs:
Yellow Guard HP: ?? | AC ?? |
Green Guard HP: ?? | AC ?? |
Blue Guard HP: ?? | AC ?? |
Guard Sergeant HP: ?? | AC ?? |
Ice Troll HP: ?? | AC ?? |
"I will take the ones in the wall. You can focus on the troll problem!" figuring out his melee companions can manage the troll, Samuel shots at the guard dressed in green clothing.
The Taldan quickly reloads his musket "The witch is dead. You are free men now. Surrender your prisoners and none else will die!"
"This is better, yes?" Letitia bites out. Then she quickly targets the troll with a spell to take it out of the fight.
Callix spins the axe in her hand, "Would have been ideal if we had the girl and just needed to get out... "
She steps forward, starting to move around the fountain even as she calls down the blessing of the Drunken Hero on her group. You really are laughing at us right now, aren't You?
Oh joy... Ashling draws her scimitar, moves a bit and casts Divine Favor, Afterward She activates the cloak.
Samuel shoots one guard before he can even react, blowing a hole right through his head and dropping him in the blink of an eye
Letitia tries to blind the troll before she can get into the fight, but the brute shrugs off the spell easily
Alec fires a shot from his bow at one of the guards on the wall
Ashling and Callix cast spells and prepare for the fight.
the ice troll walks towards Letitia and tries to hit her with an axe, though Letitia is a bit protected by the statue's stand.
the guards on the wall fire crossbows
The sergeant lands a very accurate hit on Ashling, who is again in the form of the Black Rider.
Kill the rider!! don't worry about the others, kill the rider!
The party may all act
Global Condition: none |Party Condition: Hex Ward on all
Callix HP: 31/31 - AC: 18/13/15 Status:
Letitia: HP: 16/26 - AC: 12/12/10 Status:
Alec HP: 26/26 - AC: 18/12/16 Status:
Samuel HP: 34/34 - AC: 18/15/13 Status:
Ashling HP: 15/29 - AC: 18/14/14 Status:NPCs:
Yellow Guard HP: -5 | AC ?? |
Green Guard HP: -47 | AC ?? | dead. Very dead
Blue Guard HP: ?? | AC ?? |
Guard Sergeant HP: ?? | AC ?? |
Ice Troll HP: ?? | AC ?? |
"Letitia get out of there!" Samuel starts shouting worried about his companions while he raises his musket towards the sergeant "Black Rider! Behind me and heal yourself!"
The Sentinel makes an step forward to close up, and uses his grit to extend his musket touch range "I will take that as a not surrender" then, he fires at the sergeant.
Quickly after, he reloads the musket with great skill.
Letitia's eyes glare and her face contorts into a mask of fury. "How you strike me!" she shouts. "I am Jadwiga! Fall and prostrate yourself!" she commands with all the authority and menace her mother instilled in her.
Callix blinks as the troll heads around the fountain away from her, Apparently, it's smarter than I thought... She turns on her heel and finishes her trip around the fountain, coming up behind the troll with her axe in hand.
for
Alec fire his bow again at the sergeant
Ashling moves up to the wall and into combat with one of the archers (double move)
the sergeant takes a gunshot from Samuel and reassesses who the threat is. he fires his next crossbow bolt at the musketeer
the guard next to Ashling drops his crossbow and draws a sword, swinging at her but missing, not expecting her to be up in his business so fast
the troll takes a hit in the back from Callix and spins to face her, cowering at the words yelled by the winter witch (shaken for 2 rounds)
he swings at Callix with multiple attacks, but is thrown off just enough by Letitia that most of it misses. you do see that the slice taken by Callix is rapidly healing itself
the final guard comes down one of the ramps, drawing a sword and getting as close as he can.
The whole party may act
Global Condition: none |Party Condition: Hex Ward on all
Callix HP: 21/31 - AC: 18/13/15 Status:
Letitia: HP: 16/26 - AC: 12/12/10 Status:
Alec HP: 26/26 - AC: 18/12/16 Status:
Samuel HP: 31/34 - AC: 18/15/13 Status:
Ashling HP: 15/29 - AC: 18/14/14 Status:NPCs:
Yellow Guard HP: -5 | AC ?? |
Green Guard HP: -47 | AC ?? | dead. Very dead
Blue Guard HP: ?? | AC ?? |
Guard Sergeant HP: -16 | AC < 23/ 13 |
Ice Troll HP: -7 | AC 19 | shaken 2 rounds
Letitia targets the cowed troll's mind, hoping to put it to sleep.
"Ouch!" Samuel growls when the sergeant's bolt lodges on his shoulder. The Taldan rises his musket once more and shots at the man in cold retribution.
Noticing the new guard in the courtyard he steps forward to protect Letitia's back while he reloads the musket "How is the troll going? We have a visit here!"
Ashling slashes with her blade at the crossbowmen
Callix takes a step to the side, trying to divide the troll's attention between herself and Letitia, spinning the axe in her hand, trailing the silver-white light before she strikes again.
for
Tossing his bow aside, Alec readied his shield and drew his falcata as he maneuvered around the ice structures to come up behind the troll.
Samuel shoots the sergeant, dropping him with a well-aimed shot
Ashling cleaves the last guard on the wall right down the middle, instantly killing him.
the troll falls asleep as Letitia's hex takes hold
Callix slashes the ice troll with a perfectly aimed swing, dealing massive damage! it falls the the ground, but is still alive and its skin tries to mend itself around the gaping wound in its side.
Alec runs over just as the troll falls, ready to stab it again if it moves.
the final guard, after seeing three of his allies fall within the span of seconds (including his sergeant and a very formidable troll) drops his sword and holds his hands out to his side.
My lady Jadwiga! accept my surrender. The tower is yours
The party may act
Global Condition: none |Party Condition: Hex Ward on all
Callix HP: 21/31 - AC: 18/13/15 Status:
Letitia: HP: 16/26 - AC: 12/12/10 Status:
Alec HP: 26/26 - AC: 18/12/16 Status:
Samuel HP: 31/34 - AC: 18/15/13 Status:
Ashling HP: 15/29 - AC: 18/14/14 Status:NPCs:
Yellow Guard HP: -23 | AC <22 | dead
Green Guard HP: -47 | AC ?? | dead. Very dead
Blue Guard HP: ?? | AC ?? |
Guard Sergeant HP: -27 | AC < 23/ 13 | dead
Ice Troll HP: -45 | AC 19 | shaken 1 round, unconscious and stable
Callix throws a flask of alchemists' fire on the troll.
Samuel nods, accepting the guard surrender, but aiming at him for extra intimidation "Good. Our Jadwiga requires the prisoners for her own. Lead us now to where they are hold"
The Taldan keeps an eye to measure the man response and to quickly react if he tries something.
"Wise," Letitia says to the surrendering guard just as Callix immolates the troll. Nodding to Samuel, she continues, "As the man said. Where do you keep your prisoners? There should be a girl in the tower somewhere. Lead the way."
Callix straightens herself up and says, in Taldan, "Let's bind all but our new guide, and strip them, too, now that we have that new sack.
Call it spoils of war.. or better still, their rank and gear are forfeit for attacking the Lady ."
Callix quickly douses the troll in flamable liquid, ending its regeneration for good.
the party quickly searches the bodies and gathers their gear
each guard had a chain shirt, light steel shield, cold iron longsword, light crossbow, 10 bolts, dagger, 10gp.
the sergeant had 2 potions of cure light wounds, chain shirt, spiked light steel shield, mwk cold iron longsword, 24 gold
the troll had a large-sized battleaxe, but nothing else useful.
the guard turns over his gear, but looks at you with a slightly confused look
"We have no prisoners here, m'lady. we have a few guests: a Taldane woman and a forlarren bard. we haven't had a girl here in the tower for a few months... but all of the guest quarters are on the second floor
A current of unease runs up Letitia's spine. She narrows her eyes. "The girl from the village. The one who insulted Nazhena. Does she still live?"
Ashling comes down from the wall after cleaving a man in two, What kind of base doesn't have a place to hold prisoners, seems a fool move. What is typical protocol for captured enemies?
Samuel takes breath deeply and frowns while touching the man's face with the tip of his musket while Callix picks up the guards equipment "Answer!"
"By the gods, no. Please be okay..."
Alec's face blanched, his shoulders slouched and his head hung low. His eyes closed and his knuckles turned white as his hand squeezed against the handle of his shield.
We seem to have made so little difference in any of this.
The guard's face turns white and he stammers, trying to figure out how to answer the question. when Ashling asks an easier question he answers her first, buying a little time.
When people are captured we often keep them in the barracks on the bottom floor until something can be done with them. prisoners that are of particular interest to the masters of the tower are kept in a room at the top of the tower next to our lady's. usually anyone perceived as dangerous or who refuse the 'hospitality' of the upper rooms are just killed.
he finally looks back at Samuel then Letitia. Yes, I remember that girl. Lady Nazheena brought her back to the tower in a rage over something that was said. she was kept up in the top of the tower for a time. I think Lady Nazheena was trying to decide what to do with her. after a while, the girl died. one of my companions, Garran, was sent to bring her body out of the room. he could barely speak that night, he had had a major fright. apparently when he walked into the room to get the girl there was a doll there that turned its head and watched him carry the body out. when he picked the body up, the doll let out a creepy wail. poor Garran killed himself three days later.
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Letitia stands very still, her face a mask, as she learns the fate of Nadya's child. Mindful of the eyes of their captive and her position as Jadwiga, she refuses to react.
"Well, then. There seems little need for us to return to the tower." She starts to leave, but realizes that something must be done with the Pale Tower itself.
She turns back to the guard. "I have business in Whitethrone. The tower shall be vacant unless and until I return to claim it again. The food stores within may be distributed to the village of Waldsby if there is need there. If Nazhena returns before I do, run."
She steps away, thinking back on their fight with the soulbound doll and the ghostlike apparition of a girl who had insulted a witch. She digs out the green gemstone that she had removed from the doll and stares at it in the palm of her hand.
"Let's find Nadya," she says to the others. "Then you can decide if you wish to come with me to Whitethrone or return to your southern lands."
"Good lad. You took the good side on this fight. Things will soon take a better sight in here, your new Jadwiga is a fair one" pulling back the musket and looking at Letitia he notes something is going on.
Turning to the others Samuel follows up on Letitia's orders "You heard that. We are moving back to Wadsby. Let's get us moving"
"Let's walk back to our sled out of the tower. The travel will be faster and more safe" and while the group walks back to the sleds he eyes back at Letitia "What's it. The doll thing struck something on you. Perhaps you found the doll up in the tower? Do you think... they trapped the girl's soul like in the Babba Yagga tales?"
"No. By the gods no!"
Alec turned his back to the others and fell to a knee. It was all he could to hold back his tears.
The corners of Letitia's mouth turn down in a tightly controlled frown as Alec nearly wept.
When Samuel approaches, she holds the blue gem up for Samuel to see. "Yes, and I think we already found the doll. The one who sat with the cabin with legs, that almost killed me. I now believe that doll was animated with Nadya's daughter's soul."
Something else occurs to her as she places the gemstone in her pocket. "The forlarren, Mierul, knew that Nadya had lied to her. She said she had sent soldiers to pick us up, just before we slew her."
She looks uneasy. "That was more than twenty-four hours ago. We should travel on the road, openly. Hopefully they took Nadya alive and are returning her here." She looks uncertain, and addresses the group. "Or should we wait here? Or set up an ambush?" She looks to the hunters to see what they feel is best.
We should get a move on. See if we can avoid combat more than necessary She drops the Black rider guise, they'll be looking for a group with the Black rider, not myself, it might work Ashling keeps a stoic look, showing little emotion as before, It is sad, but... more people will die before the end of this. We should focus on the mission ahead
Samuel inspects the gem, then he eyes Letitia "Surprisingly that has... sense, to me. If you are right, the girl soul has not even had the opportunity to find Pharasma's Boneyard. That's awful. Nadya helped us. Is there anything we can do for her daughter?" The Taldan hides the idea her own sister might end similarly.
"Good. Let's hurry up to the town then, because if they were coming to the Tower they would have arrived here already" the Taldan presses up his pace in the direction to the sled "And let's travel openly, it will save us time and might give us the opportunity to find the tracks of the soldiers in the snow if the flocks have not covered them already. If you are right... Nadya might be in real trouble"
Callix tightens her grip on her axe, relaxing only as her knuckles crack with a pop. These are the nightmare stories of my youth, come to life. And made... real.. because we know the loss... She raises her head at Letitia's statement, then, reluctantly nods.
Her voice has a clear edge as she speaks, deliberately in Taldan, "Let's go -- either we'll overcome them, or we'll catch them on the backtrail."
She turns to the surrendered and says, in Skald, "Как сказала леди, она вернется, и мы ожидаем, что эта башня будет готова принять ее возвращение. Вы бы хорошо, чтобы убедиться, что это правда ... любыми средствами необходимы."
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As you command, my Lady the guard replies to Letitia. You are now mistress of this tower, and we will keep it ready for you until your return. but before you leave, what is your name? I do not even know who it is I now obey.
He looks quite shaken by all that has happened. obviously tryign to find the words so as to not upset you any further he says I do not wish to get involved in a feud between the Jadwiga. until such a time as she is killed or releases her claim on this tower, Nazheena still holds a truer claim to this place than you. if she returns we will all turn to serve her with no hesitation. I know this is not the answer you would like, but no one in his right mind would do differently.
once satisfied with his response, the group decides on their next course of action: return to Waldsby and speak with Nadya. after making sure she is ok.
___________________________
the group arrives in Waldsby in the evening on the same day they left the Pale Tower. they receive possibly an even colder reception than they did the first time through here, and when people spot the dogsleds coming up the road most of them go inside and shutter their windows.
the group makes their way to Nadya's house and knock. they are greeted by their friend who ushers them all inside and immediately starts putting out food for them to eat.
I am so glad to see you all return safely! I am sorry to say I had little hope of ever seeing you again. I thought you would either be killed, captured, or have gone home after leaving Waldsby. some soldiers came the same day you left, looking for you. and for me. apparently someone tipped them off to us being together and they were very interested in capturing you. luckily there are enough people here who owe me favors that I was hidden and not given up.
but enough about that. please, tell me what happened. did you find my daughter? where is she? her voice sounds strained, like she is trying to be hopeful, but when she doesn't see her daughter with you she fears bad news...
With his sword sheathed and shield strapped across his back, Alec's hands squeezed each other out of simple nervous energy. His head continued to be lowered and his eye scanned the floor around his feet. He just couldn't meet the woman's gaze. He would not be the one to crush her spirit. He knew how much loss hurt, and he could only imagine how the loss of a child would be magnified.
"It is good you are safe Nadya" was all he could muster to say.
As soon as the sled approaches Nadya's house Samuel jumps out and runs to the door knocking there insistently. When the woman opens up, he cannot avoid smiling back "Nadya!" Samuel hugs the woman and kindly accepts her table.
"We were all very worried about you. We thought they might have taken you to Whitethrone or worse..." the Taldan goes dull quickly when Nadya brings the conversation to her daughter. Samuel does not see fit to hide the truth from her, but he does not want her to over worry about how she passed away "Nazheena killed her even before we set foot in Irrisen. She did not suffer, the girl found her own ways and courage to take her life before the witches did, there was no pain for her. I am sorry for your loss Nadya"
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Letitia pauses before giving the guard her name. If she failed and Nazhena returned, her mother and sisters would suffer the consequences of her actions. She had already made errors, but nothing so great (she hoped) that would fully incriminate her mother for letting her live. But giving out her name and claiming the Pale Tower as hers? It was far too dangerous.
"You are smart to stay out of the way of our conflict. Better for you to treat this place as Nazhena's for now. I shall only return here, if at all, once Nazhena is defeated. Then will you learn my name." Because if all goes well, Grandmother will have removed Elvanna from the throne as well, she adds to herself.
___________________________
Letitia doesn't say much during the trip back to Waldsby, unless spoken to directly.
At Nadya's home, Letitia is relieved to find their host still alive and free. They did not bear good news, but Irrisen was a harsh land and its people used to loss and grief.
Noticing that Alec did not appear to have the stomach to tell her, she decides to recount Nadya's daughter's fate but Samuel speaks up first. "We killed her apprentice, but the lady of the tower has gone on to Whitethrone. That is where we go next."
She glances to the faces of her traveling companions. She wasn't sure who all would be going with her. "Or at least, some of us."
To Samuel surprise he had already taken his decision before he thoughts about Letitia's question "Nazheena has taken my sister Ariadna to Whitethrone. I don't want her..." the man looks at Nadya and rephases his sentence "I am sure coming after with you Jadwiga. This Nazheena needs to be stopped and she must pay for its crimes. Count on my musket"