Ered grasps his weapon even more tightly, as he also approaches the Rider.
"He...is a servant...of the Witch Queen? The Lady of Ice and Winter?...And he needs our help?"
His free hand goes to the sheath holding his scimitar, the other hand remaining on the hilt. "I doubt it is a good thing that he is in need of our help...Nothing of the Winter Witch's realm is trustworthy..."
As he has not yet attacked, and Muscles and Legs appeared to be allies, Vashti will move in and try to ease his pain in whatever way she can.
She casts Guidance to aid her.
Let the others worry and debate morality, this person needs help. Now.
"We'll hear your request, but don't strain yourself." Zses will say as he taps his own shadow, producing four little lights () to help Vashti to aid the man.
Oh no. Not me. Babba Yaga! Regular witches are bad enough! Why would we help the queen witch?
"Yea, why should we?"
The red headed fey spirit hates witches too. Good to know.
Yagi Baggy who?
He said tail lashing completely confused. This was beyond his ken. The others seemed afraid of this witch person, the rider certainly seemed guided by duty even past death, and the feline samurai could certainly respect that.
"Are you responsible for this winter where it doesnt belong Harbringer? He asked not caring about the man's politics but the root of why they were here freezing their furs off.
"How could we possibly help you? You battle against the Witch Queen?" Sigrun asks incredulously.
The Black Rider sighs. "Every hundred years, Baba Yaga returns to place a new daughter on the throne. This time, it seems Queen Elvanna had other plans. Baba Yaga hasn't appeared as planned, and everyone loyal to her is being hunted down. The Red and White Riders have already been slain; I'm all that's left.
"Queen Elvanna seeks to rule all of Golarion and is using potent magic to transform the entire world into a land of endless winter - like the nation of Irrisen. While closing this portal might save your kingdom, it is but one of many. Through them, Elvanna is spreading a new ice age across the land. Until she is stopped, nobody is safe."
Ered shivers from something far worse than cold. The story of the Winter Witches and their Queen...that was a story he never really forgot. One that he could never leave behind.
"The Queen of Winter's...daughter...is wanting to create a world of winter? Permanent winter? Dear gods...we're in trouble..." He shakes his head, looking deep in thought for a moment.
Percy frowns. Her worst nightmares are coming true. She actually has to help a witch to keep all the world from going to ice.
Well, no, she doesn't. And she won't.
Percy crosses her arms while the reasonable side of her so rudely awakened at the lodge by her sister and Vashti and Sigrun assaults her need to destroy all spell-slavers. This was the World! Covered over in ice! Noone deserved that! Well, almost noone. She eyes the man with the burd that doesnt know its own language and the magus. They deserved it.
...
Fine! She suddenly yells, I'll help your stupid witch queen as long as I get to wear her upstart daughter's skin as a cloak!
He blinked at the rider... more of these portal thingys exist? They must be stopped yes yes.. A land of winter is not good for anyone, we cant all have wonderful fur! He began his ears lying back and his tail lashing to and fro violently. His claws unsheathed instictually for a moment before he caught some control of himself.
Zses will stay silent for some time before talking.
Well, we have to stop the incoming ice age. That's obvious! Beside, I heard that those ice witches use a particular kind of magic, different than those of wizards, sorcerers and the like... Could be useful to understand the exact nature of my powers...
"You said Baba Yaga 'returns' every hundred years: return from where? Also, I don't see what we can do against a century old witch like Elvanna..." Zses will turn and look at his companions: a grumpy halfling, a red-headed gnome, a forty-something lady, an elf that Zses wasn't sure was there two minutes ago and a giant cat with half a dozen horses. Really, the only ones that looked like they could stop an ice age were Lyosha and that huge woman.
"Do you have any idea where Baba Yaga is? Could she fix this mess?" Zses will ask to the Rider.
"You are correct: Elvanna is much too powerful for even myself to defeat. Only the Queen of Witches can undo what her daughter has done. What's happened to her is not completely clear, though. Her Dancing Hut may be able to follow her, but it's been stolen."
Her what-ing hut?! Wait, nevermind, do you even know what you want us to do? Or are you just going to stand there and die on us?
"Direct, I like it." Hobbes smirks.
"Yea, we can't help ya buddy unless ya tell us what we need to do. And what in the world is a Dancing Hut?"
"You want us to find Baba Yaga?" Sigrun shakes her head,"Are you mad?"
At this point as the current information washes over his brain all Neverhome can laugh out loud at the absurdity of the situation.
Vashti remembers the cold, misery, hunger and sickness of winters to long. The thin faces of survivors as they dug up the frozen ground to bury the dead. Often times, she was the one to dig and place them in the ground, as the others had been to weak. Friends, family, children and a husband. Gone to the cold.
An entire world turn to that?
That eternal winter should consume our world, no. No, it will not come to pass, not as I walk and breath.
She looks him directly in the eyes, face perhaps no more than inches away, as she had been working on his wounds.
What is required, Rider of the Dark Nights?
"The Dancing Hut is a powerful artifact that can cross great distances - even travel between worlds. If you can reclaim and control the Hut, it can take you to Baba Yaga. Elvanna has it on display in Irrisen's capital city of Whitethrone. This portal can get you close; the rest is up to you."
You want us to Steal Babba Yaga's Hut from a 100 year old witch, then go VISIT HER MOTHER! ARE YOU INSANE! I am a traveling Gome who just wants to keep her sister from burning down the world! How in the name of Imbrex!
Percy pulls on her hair and stomps about in a little circle. Did noone else see how absolutely insane this sounded!
A blank look begins to glaze over Neverhome's face. "So we have to go to the worst place in existence, to save... her... in order to save the world." He nods briefly at his own assessment before promptly collapsing face first into the snow. Through muffled slush those around him can make out "It is the end of the world. Or I'm already dead. Makes sense actually. Just leave me here in the cool comforting embrace of the ground. It has been nice traveling with you fellow lost spirits."
Percy motions with both hands at Lyosha. Thank you! My sentiments exactly!
"Get up." Sigrun says quietly. "If this is the only way to save the countless people who will freeze to death otherwise, then it is what we have to do." the statuesque barbarian's expression is simultaneously grim yet reflects her youth.
"Or prolong their suffering." Neverhome does not budge as mumbles a reply back up to the taller redheaded lady.
"Look, you cowards, I don't think any of you quite understand how bad this is, so let me put this in perspective." Ered speaks up, having really and truly lost his cool for the first time that his group has seen.
"I know what one of the witches of Irrisen can do, so I have a pretty good idea that, dead or alive, this is our only chance at any sort of survival. Being dead won't save us from this cold, and I doubt anything will. So let's get our asses into motion, people, or else you'll be seeing everyone you've ever loved be cursing you for being a coward."
A slight smile creeps across Sigrun's lips.
You shut up Spell-Slaver! You're just as bad as the Witches! She resumes stomping in her little circle.
... Everyone you've ever loved...
Neverhome lays motionless for a moment after Eredhaias' rant, almost corpse like. All the thoughts of the current situation mingle with the memories before boiling over. A scream that reaches the trees erupts from the snow as Neverhome pushes himself to his feet. "Fine! We'll help Dearest Grandmother! Fine! We'll claw our way back into the frozen nightmare I tried so hard to forget! Fine! Are you watching, Alma! I'm still alive! I'm still here! And I'm about to go kill some witches!" Heavy panting courses forth from his body and mouth before turning to look at the rest of the group. "So what now?"
"We stop acting like children and fight! Sigrun says, turning to face the portal.
Percy freezes in her tracks. Fight and kill witches! Well why did no one say that! I'm in as long as I can bring my sister.
A wicked smile creeps across her face.
A blank look begins to glaze over Neverhome's face. "So we have to go to the worst place in existence, to save... her... in order to save the world." He nods briefly at his own assessment before promptly collapsing face first into the snow. Through muffled slush those around him can make out "It is the end of the world. Or I'm already dead. Makes sense actually. Just leave me here in the cool comforting embrace of the ground. It has been nice traveling with you fellow lost spirits."
Grabs Lyosh by foot, drags him out of snow, rolls him over with foot and pulls a Chocolate chunk chip Chocolate Muffin out of pocket and places it on forehead.
Eat this,it will help.
"No. It smells sweet."
Grabs muffin,Nom nom nom.
Well, we're all gonna die." Hobbes shrugs. "But we might as well do it while takin' out some witches." He then smiles.
Offers Hobbes a muffin.
Zses will be absorbed in his thoughts while Lyosha dives into the snow.
How are we supposed to break in and steal this 'Hut'? Beside, did he just said 'on display'? Where everyone can see it?
Zsestrian's doubts will melt away when he hears Eredhaias. A big grin will stretch on Zses's face and he will laugh loudly "Oh, why did I even hesitate for a second on what to do! He's right" he will point to the elf "staying here means certain death. Going trough the portal and trying to retrieve this hut means probable death. That's certainly better: also, I bet that the Rider here has some sort of plan, or something. And hey" he will smirk "worst case scenario, we'll die the most flashy way possible and have a neat story to talk about while we're in line in the Boneyard!"
He will rub his hands and start to turn to face the portal "Aaaaaaand, eternal winter means no other Swallowtail festival. No swallowtail festival means I'll probably not get my memory back. No memory means I wont ever find my family again..." Zses tone will drop abruptly as he stares at the portal.
Thinking about it, didn't I walk trough a portal before? No, no, not walk was I...running?
A series of images will flash before his eyes.
He was running toward a portal much akin to this one, only as black as a moonless night. He could feel himself panting heavily from fatigue and, for a second, he turned to see his pursuer.
A huge cloud of black smoke was moving closer to him, buzzing wildly. No, it wasn't smoke, they were...
"...Black Moths?"
Shaking the images away from his head, the witch will force a smile to the party and the Rider "So, Sir Rider, can you help us in any way?"
Hobbes, unlike some people, will do the right thing and take the muffin.
Offer Zsestrian, Percy, Eredhaias and Sigrun muffins as well.
Side steps next to Zsestrian, looks him in the eyes as she tills her head and arches and eyebrow.
He may notice her scarf has changed, from the one he asked her about in the inn.
Muffin promptly disappears. Percy is lightly tapping her foot, waiting for an answer as to her condition for helping: her sister.
The little bright spot? Oh dear...Well, she did like to burn thing a lot, and I'm certain that there would be many bad people to burn... what will happen if we leave her here!!!
Vashti mental weighs the pros and cons in her head, anding weight to each side of the scale. When finished, it is clear to her, even in the few days she has known bright spot, if left behind the destruction would become awe inspiring. Better to focus such energy against their foes.
Heh heh heh, I have no qualms with her coming.
He stared at the others for a moment, unsure of what to say or do, this indeed was beyond his ken. Winter everywhere for all time was bad. That was for sure. The little gnome was certainly wearing a path into the snow.
Can you offer any more details Sir Knight person?"
he said lowly drawing his katana again. If the fellow was beyond saving then at least they could put him out of his misery. He defended his friend Erika yes yes, he deserved an honorable ending.
"I will put you out of your misery if you would like friend rider, yes yes." he offered simply giving the man a bow.
The Rider grows weaker as he speaks again. "Thank you, friend Catfolk, but that will not be necessary. My task here is not quite at an end yet. You ask for help; there is little I can offer. My best advice is this: go to Irrisen. Find the Pale Tower. It controls this particular portal. By shutting it down, you'll attract the attention of Elvanna's minions and possibly draw some of her forces away from Whitethrone - making it easier for you to steal the Dancing Hut."
He reaches into a pocket and produces two items: a plague doctor's mask and hair from a Frost Giant's beard."To control the Hut, you'll need keys. Elvanna's taken most of them, but I was able to save these. When you reach the Hut, drop these into the cauldron. It'll take you where you need to go."
By "shut it down" do you happen to mean "blow the pale tower into the Abyss"? Because I think that'd be fun.
"I agree with the Fey child. There are very few problems that can't be solved with the proper amount of explosives."