As Nadya pokes the fire, preparing a meal, she gestured to the party to make themselves comfortable. There is space for everyone in the igloo, although it is a bit cozy, and Nadya talks as she and her companions prepare a meal.
"Storm will prevent any travel for the night, so let us talk with time we now have. What are you doing in Irrisen, so far from Taldoor?"
Yagello haggardly drops to the floor of the igloo, eagerly warming himself by the roaring fire. He unsnaps his breastplate and watches the metal slab clang to the ground. Bone tired, he rubs his hands over the growing stubble on his face and head before slowly crawling towards Nadya.
"You have helped us a lot, and I trust you. We are here in Irrisen because your queen has overstepped her bounds. Through the use of a magic portal, she has brought Irrisen's winter to our land."
"Crops are dying, and villagers starving. We were but a group of strangers a few days ago, but now we have joined together to close this portal. Some of our number have fallen away or been slain in battle, so we know sacrifice and hardship. The way forward will be difficult, so please think of yourself and your family first. I do not want to see any misfortune befall you on account of ourselves..."
Cervin nods with Yagello and speaks up. "We come from a far warmer land, and a winter portal has wreaked havoc on crops and families. We have come through to put a stop to the portal."
Nevinia looks over to Arkady. "Well, to be honest, we were just passing through..."
She bites her lip, looks over the others, and Arkady a moment longer, before continuing, "Arkady decided he had to stop in Taldor. I didn't tell him this at the time, but... something told me I should stop, too. Not sure what. I was looking around the village when the snows came. But now... there's a village laying dying, and the storm comes from here. I can't let people just suffer and die. I'm here because I need to help."
The healer pulls out her kit and prepares some additional medicine for Arkady and Yagello.
Tzerny remains uncharacteristically silent throughout the exchange, observing and not interjecting.
Arkady, suffering through his second day of the chill, lets the others speak to Nadya. Around the shivers and coughing, he thanks Nevinia for her assistance, and gratefully accepts the warm food and shelter provided by their hosts.
Nadya frowns a bit at the story, relaying portions of it back to her companions in Skald.
"Is portal nearby How do you know portal caused by Queen?" She hesitates before continuing, in a hushed tone. "You should be careful of accusing Jadwiga inside Irrisen. They are very powerful in this land, with many watchers. I not am surprised that queen makes portal and freezes your land."
Nadya leans backwards, relaxing a bit. "I trade for Waldsby, bring us fresh food since no crops to grow. Trade with snake king country to the west. Travel back and forth many times each year, many days. While I travel, friends look after children. Three - Daughter Thora, sons Orm and Mjoli. During last travels, Jadwiga Nazhena, daughter of Jadwiga Queen Elvanna, come to visit Waldsby. Thora always have sharp tongue..." Nadya trails off, staring into the fire for a moment. She coughs softly and begins again. "Nazhena take Thora as punishment, held in White Tower. Only release if I bring extra food for her people." Nadya pats one of the packs that had been strapped into the sleds earlier. "I traded all I have for this food, hope pleasing to Jadwiga Nazhena. Normally white tower only take small portion of food, perhaps this food for Irriseni in Taldoor?"
Two of the Ulfen men work with some pots and rations, putting together a hearty meal. The sweet aromas permeate the entire igloo, creating a soothing effect. "Maten vil være klar snart, kaningryte!" one of them says.
Arkady considers Nadya's story and her question. "We have been tasked with a quest by one of the Black Riders to close the portals, and to find Baba Yaga to assist in her return, so that she can see to the proper succession to her throne. Elvanna seeks to usurp Baba Yaga and then use her power to control all of Golarion. The additional food is likely to help support the army she is gathering."
Looking around at his companions, he goes on. "If you can help us to heal and prepare, and give us any information you have, we will do everything in our power to find and rescue your Thora. Then you can keep your food for your people."
Reaching into his pack, he draws out his harrow deck. "I am a seer, blessed by Desna. Would you be willing to allow me to read the cards for you?"
To the men with the food, he adds,"Den kaningryte lukter fantastisk. Takk for din sjenerøsitet."
I... well we need to be more cautious with our stories, but she is obviously on our side with this. Arkady and Yagello read her properly.
Cervin nods solmenly, obviously upset at Nadya's words. "Their crimes are great and we are pledged to work against them both for my people and yours. Arkady is right; we will do everything we can to rescue your daughter. If you bring them food, then they know you will bring them more food if they keep her."
Yagello's response is far less measured that that of his companions. His hands ball up into fists, and his jaw clenches down hard. "Who are these people!? What kind of a monster takes a child out of the hands of her mother!"
He continues to shake his head in disgust. "Nadya, I consider most of Taldor's nobility to be contemptible, but these shameless acts speak of pure evil. I will do everything in my power to deliver you daughter back to you. Children should never be separated from their mothers..."
He retreats back into himself for a moment, coughing lightly into the night. Finally clearing his throat, he whispers to Navinia, "Be glad you have elven blood in you, my lady. The human taint brings nothing but misery and darkness..."
Nadya raises a hand to calm Yagello. "Denne mannen kjemper feberen, og må hvile, eller det vil bli verre. Please, sit."
Once Yagello calms down, she turns to Arkady. "Før du se min formue, kan du fortelle meg mer av denne Svarte Rytteren som du snakker om?"
The Ulfen men pay attention and repeat "Svarte Rytteren!" in hushed, surprised tones.
"Forgive us," Nadya says, turning to Cervin and Yagello, "We have stories of Black Rider, told by grandmothers. Black Rider tells of Baba Yaga's coming. Rider has strong witchcraft, can make people do things. Is important sign."
Nadya pauses for a moment, thinking. "You come to my home in Waldsby, get strong first. Nazhena is too strong to fight, will only make worse for Thora. Maybe food will be enough? Vareesen, maybe you cards can tell us the way?" Nadya half-scoffs at Arkady, clearly not a believer in divination, but willing to humor the harrower.
Tzerny looks at Yagello and chuckle-clucks. "You think the elf blood keeps her pure? Her deadbeat father left town before her mother gave birth."
Leaving Tzerny to spar with Yagello, Nevinia replies to Nadya, "I'm willing to help with medicine, if that will be of assistance."
Listening to the conversation, Nevinia adds, "Den Svarte Rytteren har gitt oss et oppdrag for å lukke portalene, ja. Jeg er redd jeg vet ikke mer på dette tidspunktet. Mye av problemene vi hører om er et resultat av et problem mellom Elvanna og Baba Yaga, og jeg tør ikke snakke stygt om dem på dette tidspunktet. Jeg tror Baba Yaga kan være ... andre steder? Uansett hvor hun går når hun ikke er her. Dette er utenfor min kunnskap."
Cervin looks grim, tired, and miserable. He looks uncomprehendingly at Nevinia before turning to Nadya.
"We will come to your home and thank you for your assistance. I agree with Yagello - this crime is too great to go unanswered. If she is too strong to fight, then we figure out other ways. Perhaps your food will work though." He takes a sip of some melted snow. "This black rider... why is he important? Who is he to your people?"
Yagello looks at Tzerny with a mixture of indignation and annoyance but says nothing.
I'm not going to debate the merits of the humanoid races with a BIRD!
The outpouring of negative emotion seems to have drained him, and he reclines back into rear of the igloo. His eyes grow heavy, and only the intermittent fits of coughing keep him awake at the moment.
The men look with surprise upon seeing Tzerny speak, but the talk of the Black Riders seems to distract them. Nadya clears her throat as they begin to pass the food around.
"Baba Yaga returns every hundred years, to take daughter on throne of Irrisen, replace with new daughter. One year before Baba Yaga, three riders come to prepare for Baba Yaga's return, punish her enemies and reward those loyal. Three riders, one white as day, one red as sunset, and one black as night."
A cough from the entrance interrupts Nadya. Everyone turns to see a strange creature peering into the entrance, with the blowing snow outlining her form. With pale blue skin, bare goat legs, and a horned head, the woman is obvious not human, yet she gives a small smile and inclines her head in greeting.
"I beg your pardon," the horned woman says in Common. "But I was traveling through the woods and I saw your campfire in this terrible storm. Might I trouble you for some food and company? I am a simple traveler, but I can sing songs and tell tales to pass the time in the storm together!" To make her point, the creature hums a few bars from a common Varisian folk song. "My name is Mierul Ardelain. I understand my form is frightening to many, but I only seek some company after a long day of walking."
"Greetings, Mierul. At the risk of seeming rude, I must warn you that we have recently had a great deal of trouble on our travel, and are wary. Would you object to me using a spell of identification to see if you are glamered or carrying any dangerous magic?"
Cervin starts at the sight of her, and takes a moment to accustom himself to her visage. His irises briefly turn a ghostly white as he looks to the horned woman.
Deadeye save me, I'm not sure I can handle this land.
"I am Cervin of Erastil and... I'm sorry. I have never seen one of your kind before." He looks to her with an expression of mingled fear and wonder.
The woman spreads her arms, palms facing forwards, showing she holds nothing in her hands. "Please, peer into me and see I have nothing to hide, only stories to tell! I do have a few potions," she indicates her pack, "Just healing and protective concoctions I use to get by on the trail."
Cervin does not detect any evil on the creature. Arkady detects a faint aura on the creature herself, as well a moderate one and two more faint auras coming from the horned woman's pack. Yagello recognizes the hoofed feet as a reliable indicator of fey origin, with the usual weakness against cold iron, and Nevinia further realizes that her horns tell of a fiendish origin, and that she likely has some inherent fire magics at her call, and yet her blue skin reminds Nevinia of the winter-touched fey back in Taldor. A creature with a complex background such as this woman likely lives a solitary life, unwelcome in many places.
Nadya interrupts the awkward apprehension, "Welcome, welcome!" Nadya continues in her native Skald, speaking quickly. Selvfølgelig kan du komme og dele maten vår med oss. Ikke vær redd, vi er alle slitne reisende, og vi har mat å dele. Har du lyst til å sitte i nærheten av brannen og varme deg?" She gets up and offers her own bowl to the creature as a sign of goodwill.
The creature takes the bowl with a smile, but does not stray far from the entrance. She replies in crisp Skald. "Takk. Maten lukter deilig, er det lam? Jeg er på ingen behov for brann, kanskje gjøre plass til de syke som er med deg ..." She gestures to Arkady and Yagello briefly with her bowl, and sits down near the entrance. Between spoonfuls, she continues to hum her song.
The other men appear nervous, not speaking much, but begin to eat as well. Birgir gestures to Cervin to begin eating as well.
Satisfied the woman is not an immediate threat, Arkady smiles and thanks you. "I apologize for our paranoia, but we've been badly hurt recently. I am Varisian, if you could not tell, and would welcome a good story and news from a fellow traveler."
He returns to eating his stew, and wraps the blankets around him to ward off the chill.
Upon seeing the unusual woman, Yagello rapidly loses the temptation to sleep,and he instinctively feels the cold steel of his blade. He calms down a bit after realizing she poses no overt threat and is welcomed by the others.
Something about her form is strangely alluring, perhaps even beautiful. He begins slurping down his stew but frequently looks up and stares at Mierul. He finally gathers the inclination to speak and does so in between spoonfuls.
"Miss, I have never see one such as yourself in my many travels. Are you from Irrisen or do you hail from somewhere else? Where does your journey take you?"
Yagello does not detect anything amiss with this strange creature. "My journeys take me far and wide, and I travel without aim, looking for stories to tell, and company to share. Although it has been lonely for the past day or so passing through the Hoarwood here," Mierul replies, somewhat evading Yagello's question.
She looks over at Arkady. "You're from Varisia? What takes you so far from your land, into the cold winters of Irrisen?" She sings aloud the Varisian song she had been humming before.
Nadya replies before Arkady can respond to the horned woman. "Man is not clear. His original family from Varisia, but he live in Ludovny. They are relatives, from my husband family. Long time no see!" It is not clear to the party why Nadya is lying to Mierul.
What the... well, Nadya and I have a common enemy. We can at least try to help. Also, she's a terrible liar!
Cervin nods and shoots Nadya a warm smile. "It's a pretty big family"
Yagello also arches an eyebrow at Nadya's deliberate deception.
I wonder why Nadya is being less than truthful with this woman. She must have good reason to do so, plus the woman was a bit evasive with my own questions...
Yagello decides to go along with the charade. "Aye Nadya, it's been forever since we had a chance to get together like this. Though we could have picked better weather for the reunion!"
Arkady smiles a gypsy smile. "As you know, my people are travelers. My clan often came near the lands of Irrisen, and I was enchanted by the beauty of the ice. I decided to spend more time here, and then I became enchanted again, this time by the beauty of a young woman. She enticed me to stay, and here I am now, surrounded by a new family with new stories."
While speaking, he gestures broadly; when speaking of himself, he touches his chest.
The raven clucks at the display of unconvincing statements, flies into the air, and calls out, "Ooh! I smell rabbit stew! Let's all have some stew!"
The half-elf sighs at her familiar's display, and approaches Mierul, extending her hand. "Call me Nevinia. Please, you've been welcomed in, let's just sit, relax, and get out of the snow for a while."
She takes the fiendish fey by the hand and turns to lead her to the fire and stew pot.
Mierul withdraws her hand from Nevinia, but smiles politely. "Thank you, but I'd prefer to keep my distance." she says in Common. "Although I appreciate the company and food, I don't appreciate a fire nearly as much, so I'd prefer to stay here, and perhaps sing a song or two for you?" She indicates the area near the entrance, where an occasional gust of cold and snow pushes inwards now and then. "Surely a family as large as yours has one reason or another to celebrate?"
Yagello looks towards Nadya for guidance before speaking up for himself. "We are all tired from the day's travels, but I don't see the harm in a song or two. Please continue."
He flashes a weary smile towards the fey but subconsciously plays with the pommel of his sword. He remains confused by this recent turn of events: Nadya welcomed the traveler without any reservations yet quickly became deceitful when Arkady spoke of Varisia. He stifles a yawn with his left arm and then turns to look directly into Mierul's eyes.
Cervin smiles easily and relaxes back, waving his hand.
"Please. Our travels have been exceedingly hard and music is good for the soul."
Mierul begins to sign aloud the Varisian tune, and continues to sing and tell tales for the remainder of the meal. There is no hint of the earlier suspicion on either side, although no one talks about Varisia again.
After the meal is done and before the party goes to sleep, the horned woman gets up and moves towards the exist. "Thank you so much, that was more fun than I have had in awhile," she says in Common. "I must be going, though, as I still have further to travel today." She repeats her thanks in Skald, and the Ulfen men do not respond. Nadya opens her mouth to say something, then stops, as if she has changed her mind.
Let's... not.
"Safe travels," says Cervin. He raises a gloved hand in goodbye.
As Mierul turns to leave, Tzerny exchanges a glance with Nevinia. The half-elf stands and speaks at the exit for Mierul, an odd poem in an ancient language:
"გისურვებთ უსაფრთხო მოგზაურობები. ფერიების ითამაშოს.
თოვლი და მზე, მათი ჰანგები ბედის მოშორებით
და დახურვა, როგორც შეყვარებული. მაგრამ მოდის რა შეიძლება
შესაძლოა თქვენი სიკეთე პირველი მსოფლიო გადაწყვიტოს დაფარვა."
I wish you safe travels. The fairies play.
In snow and in sun, their tunes twist away
And close like a lover. But come what may
Might your kindness the First World see fit to repay.
After Mierul has gone, Arkady looks at Nadya. "Is there something I should know about how my homeland is viewed here? You seemed rather upset that I mentioned where I am from."
I am a very long way from home...
"I'm starting to feel quite lost here. What just happened?"
Yagello shares Cervin's sentiments but is too tired to care at this point. With the sickness finally taking its toll, his eyes grow heavy, and he drifts off into a feverish, troubled sleep.
Mierul smiles and nods towards Nevinia before heading out it to the night.
Nadya shakes her head at Arkady. "Not Varisia. Everywhere outside, even Taldoor. Jadwiga are not welcoming outsiders into Irrisen, your clothes are not from here." She indicates Arkady's garb in particular, which appears to be not suitable at all for winter due to his magic.
"No matter now. Rest for night. You two," she points to Arkady and Yagello, "Sit over here, so fever does not spread." The Ulfen settle down for sleep, waiting patiently for the blizzard to break, the dogs sleeping together in one corner.
"Most of us don't speak the language and will have foreign accents - no matter what our clothing is. We're going to need to invent a convincing cover story, and quickly."
His faith resolutely keeping him strong, Cervin manages to sleep through the night without contracting the illness. During his watch he stares out miserably at the swirling snow, occasionally leafing through the Parables of Erastil, trying to find some comfort in this hostile land.
As the dinner comes to a close and everyone nestles in, Nevinia places her cauldron on the fire and spends the evening looking over her ill companions while she tries a new brew.
Once complete, she goes to sleep.
Nevinia wakes up fresh and healthy the next morning.
Arkady wraps himself in blankets, despite his magic keeping the cold air from reaching him. He sleeps fitfully, and awakens no more rested than he started. Despite his weariness, he reviews his spellbook and renews the enchantment against the weather. He does his morning devotions to Desna, reading the Harrow cards, but not learning much of help.
After having communed with Tzerny, Nevinia heads over to Arkady in the morning light. She checked his eyes and felt his forehead and shook her head.
"Arkady, I'd like to try something. I don't know if this will work. It is normally for malaise that is temporary, something that might only last minutes or hours. I don't know if it will work against chillbane. But it might give you a period of relief. Let me know if this makes you feel fresher, and let me know if the fever returns."
She draws a small sigil on Arkady's forehead with her finger, and speaks, "Bloom and float downstream."
Yagello awakens feeling better but is slightly disorientated by the strange surroundings. It takes him a moment to shake the sleep out of his head, and he runs his hands down his cheeks rubbing the growing bristles. He also feels the cold again as Nevinia's spell has expired, forcing him to draw his cloak close to his body.
Nadya works with her men to get the sleds packed again. Outside, the blizzard has broken, and the sky is clear and blue, although the wind is still biting cold.
"We make to Waldsby in few hours, by afternoon. Yagello and Nevinia, you take yaks and travel again with Birgir and Dagnar. Rest of us will scout ahead."