"Oh no, I'll stick with you to the end. A promise is a promise. Problem is with Crummock gone, who's going to be able to transport me to Axis?" Dimitri looks at Mr Whiskers, with a pained expression on his face.
"Well I was just speaking what I thought of him." She admits, ashamed. "But...you all have 8th level spells and I only have 5th level spells...if I were to come along with all of you like this it'd be like bringing a knife to a gun fight."Anastasia bursts into tears. "I'm not powerful enough to help..."
"Yes,power may not bring joy or friendship, but what if you need it to save your friends? " Anastasia asks Mr Whiskers. " If they were really your true friends, you'd do anything to help them, right? "
"I don't know about that. I spoke harshly to all of you in ignorance and grief..it might contributed to his decision." Anton replies broodingly. "I could try,I suppose... " Anton ventures tentatively.
"I've never been to Axis." Mr. Whiskers says. Crummock used Plane Shift I believe..yes, that is why the forked rod. Guess that is another spell to pick up out of the library later.
"Tell me, do you happen to know where the tuning fork he used to travel there went?" he asks, looking to Dmitri.
Not powerful enough to help? What has she been doing?
"The last battle was difficult because we didn't all have the proper protections from cold. Einar could have really used some protection from whatever that hag did with her staff -- can you create death wards?"
"Do anything for my friends?" Mr. Whiskers ponders that a moment. "No, a friend doesn't want another friend hurt on their behalf. I would certainly help as best I felt I could, but there are things I would not do for my friends."
"What is this ritual you are tearing yourself up over? You haven't said, only that the effects were very short term."
"I thought the note said that the planar fork would lead to his private Eden?" Dimitri answers Mr Whiskers. "As for Axis...look I don't know anything about magic, and he's never actually brought me there before, so I have no idea."
"Oh..." Mr. Whiskers answers, somewhat surprised. "My mistake, I thought he had taken you there once."
"The fork he mentioned in his note is attuned to his private plane. We will need a tuning fork attuned to Axis in order to travel there. If he already had one, I wouldn't need to make one."
With a good natured shrug, he says "Probably best I do it myself. Using the spell without knowing where the fork is tuned for could have some rather unpleasant consequences."
"Yes, I can - and it lasts minutes per level, so it's pretty unlikely it's going to be around when you need it, since by my estimate, your trip this time took half a day, the trip before took 5 days. " Anatasia replies.
"Well, I wouldn't do anything evil for my friends, but it looks to me you're trying to stop a great evil from taking place."
"The ritual, oh. I'll pray to Vildeis to grant me strength. Basically to temporarily unlock my full potential, which I would not be able to access without years of practice . Its for a good cause, after all." Anatasia answers in an off-hand, casual manner.
"Well, Crummock always manages to do what he sets out to do, and since he promised that he would take me to Axis, I believe he could." A shadow passes over Dimitri's face, "If he didn't pass on, that is. I hope he got to a place he liked, like how I ended up in Axis."
’No surprise we do what she asks, and there is still more to do.’ Immediately soaked in the storm Einar walks into the pool and dips the teapot in. Walking to the fort teapot and hand raised so the Rus-sian soldiers don’t accidently shoot him. Ignoring the questioning looks he quietly goes inside and plac-es the teapot on the fire. Soaked and dripping, he sits down on one of the bent-back wooden chairs and waits for the pot to boil. Once it does so he walks outside pours the water onto the doll. Still numb from Crummock’s death and not wanting to talk to the soldiers, he returns to the storm and waits under Vigils tree.
’A gift from Vigil, at what cost I wonder.’ Listening carefully to Vigil’s final explanation he ac-cepts the gold thread. ”Thank you Vigil.”
Then looking to Mister Whiskers he asks, ”What do we need to do now to go to Crummocks realm?”
Einar smiles a toothy smile as Greta confronts Anastasia but he keeps out of the woman’s conversation. Remembering the soldiers statute on alcohol, Einar finds the new Ivory jack in his pack and fills it with plum wine. He sits quietly for a time sipping the wine, watching the rain strike the pond.
After a time he joins the others just in time to hear Anastasia explain to Mister Whiskers how she will improve her powers. He shakes his head. ”That is all well and good, and we appreciate any help you can give.” He turns and then looks back, shaking his head. ”However, we will not take you with us into combat, and we certainly will not let you be drawn into the service of the great Hag. We four are too many already.” He looks from Mister Whiskers to Dimitri then to Greta.
Turning back to Mister Whiskers, ”What do we to do to go to Crummocks realm? I would like to put his body to rest before we finish this.”
"But why? You offered to let me join up the last time. " Anatasia demands. "And I'm not going be in the service of Baba Yaga. I'm just there to help you, my friends."
Vigliv nods gravely at Einar before vanishing into her tree.
"Yes, we should honor his last wishes for burial . We may not have another chance to. "
The party hears Baba Yaga's voice in their minds, "We have about a week before Elvanna's ritual is complete. Of course, I foresaw something like THIS would happen, that's why I was in such a hurry."The voice sounds smug.
"Not to mention communication was a pain in the @rse with so many layers of the prison in the way."Baba Yaga grumbles.
In response to both Einar and Dmitri's question, Mr. Whiskers points out "It would be nice to get restored and a nights rest first. Also, I'm not sure if Crummock set something up where the fork would just take us there or if I need to use it in a spell."
He then repeats his explanation of the plane shift spell and tuning forks.
Looking to Anastasia, he says "Yes, we will be providing the material components."
Rolling his eyes at the old hag's comment, he asks "It there anything unique we should know about when fighting Elvanna? We fought a few novice Winter Witches and then the former queens. The former queens weren't human any more."
He then thumps his foot, waiting to see if there is a response.
"Hey! I hired you for the job. You were supposed to be competent murderhobos adventurers."Baba Yaga snarks back."Instead I get people who don't know when they should use their heightened awareness to get fire protections up before the linnorms flame, would have run into an ambush if you didn't heed my warning, and were so loot greedy that they wanted to rest in hostile territory. Getting me out is paramount. Everything else is secondary. "
Then she relents some, and doles out some advice, " They are of my blood, so their powers come from ice and snow. Also, witches tend to focus on enchantments."
"Of course, as the Queen of Witches, I'm not subject to their limitations."She adds in a condescending manner.
Mr Whiskers realizes the fork is just an attuned fork for the focus of a planeshift spell .
"Einar, you look a little off color. Not your usual blue. " Anatasia looks at the drained and weary tiefling, concerned. "Pass the diamond dust, please." Anatasia stretches her hand out to Mr Whiskers. Then she chants over Einar for 18 seconds, and he feels his life energy restored to him.
"Anyone else needs my help? " Anatasia asks Mr Whiskers.
’I wonder if this is truly the last we will see of her.’ Einar nods respectfully to Vigliv as she disappears into the tree.
’Ah the earlier invitation, My how she’s grown, I didn’t think she would take that seriously.’ Einar smiles as sad smile. ”Yes, my assumption would be that it would be after we were done with your pa-ternal grandmother.” He then shakes his head. ”That’s not how it works. It seems that anyone who joins us is caught in her web. Stay in the shadows, do not let her see your potential or she will use you. Remember it was her own daughters that she was draining of their life’s essence.” He nods his head back to Vigliv’s tree. ”Notice, even her old friend and mentor has no desire to see her again.”
’rest would be nice, I’m so weary. Any way Mister Whiskers will need to prepare new spells so it cannot be avoided.’ While Dimitri reiterates the need to fulfill Crummock’s last wishes Einar pulls the fork out of his belt and shows it to Mister Whiskers. ”This is the fork, I assume that it is…”
He stops mid speech as The Hag’s voice rips through his mind. ’If I can hear her I assume she can hear us… He looks from Mister Whiskers to Dimitri then to Anastasia. As Mister Whiskers ask his ques-tions Einar attempts to keep his mind clear as possible so his thoughts do not give him away.
Breathing a sigh of relief when the Hag stops speaking, Einar tucks the fork back in his belt. ”let’s rest and take Crummock in the morning.”. As he turns to find a place to sleep, he hears Anastasia com-ment on his appearance, turning he nods, ”Off color is one way to put it.” He stands silent as she chants. When she finishes, he nods. ”Thank you princess.”
He then returns to the base of Vigliv’s tree. Taking what shelter he can from the rain under its boughs. Removing his armor, he rolls up in his blanket on the moss-covered ground. Sleeping fitfully dreaming of the night he killed his brothers.
”Wait…what did you say about Baba Yaga? Use me? She drained her daughter’s life essence? For what purpose?” Anastasia blanches.
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'She doesn't know, blast.' Einar shakes his head, looking from Mister Whiskers then to Dimitri. He looks off in the distance, noticing Geist laying in the rain beside the bag that Einar had placed the body in. He turns back to Anastasia. "She has extended her life by sacrificing her daughters. The final room we were in had fourteen thrones. On all of them were seated daughters of the Hag in different level of de-composition as some form of undead that we didn't recognize.”
He looks away for a moment and then making eye contact again. ”All the daughter who reigned as queens in Irrisen each for a hundred years, growing in power. The stories go that after their reign they are rewarded by Baba Yaga.”
He scoffs and spits. ”Rewarded? , their gift was eternal undeath. We killed them so we could cut out their hearts and caused Baba Yaga to be one step closer to being free again. Once we kill the present queen who has her imprisoned she will be free again.”
Einar shakes his head as he wrings his hands together. ”I’ll not pretend I am innocent, for I have done great evil. But this Queen of Hags…”
He looks away again this time staring at Geist. ”The things we have seen…“ his voice trailing to a whisper. That is why Crummock does not wish to return to life. Knowing that he helped her live again. He could not endure the hypocrisy.”
Looking back at Anastasia, smiling a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. ”That is why you should not enter into the fray. Everything she touches becomes affected by her evil.”
Pausing he takes a breath. ”You are young and innocent. While I have made an oath to free one of her servants, Jadrenka by name; and I fear it will cost my soul. If not, I would promise to adventure with you till your hearts content.”
Shaking his head. ”For now, all we can do is bury my friend and finish what we have sworn to do without harming as many innocents as we can in the process.”
”She extended her life by sacrificing her own blood? What kind of monster is she?” Anastasia turns pale at the pronouncement. ”I’ve been reading those books that Mr Whiskers gave me – it said that some undead rise because of unfinished business or due to the horrible circumstances they died in…that would certainly count.” She answers grimly.
”And in my blood lies her legacy? I will never be like her,” Anastasia declares, her eyes blazing. ”I’d rather DIE then let myself be used to fuel such evil acts. Is there any other way to save your world except by freeing her?”
”All right. I will say I misjudged Crummock. I thought he had no compassion, and only cared about getting his way in things. I guess maybe, like what he told me, that you need to accept the truth for what it is, and he couldn’t live with it.” Anastasia answers.
”I don’t care about freeing Baba Yaga – I just want to make sure that all of you stay alive while you’re doing what you think is the right thing to do. I mean each time you go out…half the time you come back with a dead body – I know it’s dangerous. “ Anastasia replies. ”My offer still stands, if you need my aid – I will perform the ritual and come along with you.” She gives a determined smile. ”Don’t worry – she won’t get a chance to get her hands on me.”
”Why did you make that oath to free her servant, Jadrenka? “ Anastasia asks, curious. ”And you misunderstand me Einar – I do not adventure for the sake of adventuring, I just want to protect my friends.” Anastasia adds in.
Dimitri looks troubled, ”I didn’t like what I saw in the Cottage either. I mean, children’s bones? Who would eat a child…but I thought maybe it was that Queen Elvanna who you were talking about who sounds like a nasty piece of work, got there before we did and ate the child.”
”But if she is the only way to save Golarion – then we still need to do what needs to be done. Vigliv hasn't lead us astray yet.” He heaves a heavy sigh. ”Greta said that Baba Yaga might grant us a boon..would it be too much to ask her to leave your world altogether?”
"And Crummock is gone because he could not accept that he was helping an evil witch," Dimitri answers sorrowfully."Crummock was a good man. I hope he found peace wherever he is now. I will come along to bury him, in accordance with his last wishes. I owe him that at the very least, for all he has done."
Nodding as Einar speaks, Mr. Whiskers points out "It seems that Baba Yaga warps her deals. Seeks to pull the types of tricks that infuriate her when she is the target. In our case, in order to free her we do exactly what we were originally going to ask Baba Yaga to do -- take care of Elvana."
Looking to Anastasia, he then points out "This Vildeas you were going to call on. What will they say to freeing Baba Yaga?"
In response to Dmitri's comment, Mr. Whiskers says "It is the only way I currently see to do it. I would welcome a different solution, but right now this seems the best option. I will be checking to see if there are other options I haven't considered."
"No idea. I haven't asked Her yet. She has lots of things to do. From what I know now, if I were to petition her, I'd just say I needed to help my friends and leave Baba Yaga's name out of it." Anatasia replies.
Mr. Whiskers tilts his head to the side and looks at her quizzically. "You are planning to withhold information from your patron? If you were the one being asked for that sort of favor, what would you think about that?"
Holding up his paw, he quickly adds "No, don't answer that immediately. Just meditate on that over night"
"That said, I am going to need to make an early start of it tomorrow. Good night!"
He then to the room they had set aside for the group in the fortress.
Anastasia looks like she is about to say something, but when Mr Whiskers holds up his paw, asking her not to answer immediately, she shuts up.
The next day dawns slightly overcast, but at least it is not raining. A subdued Greta is having fried eggs with kolbasa and dill on top for breakfast. "There's quite a bit in the kitchen," as she gestures in the direction of the kitchen. "You can go ask them for it."
Dimitri is also eating his breakfast in silence, right till he sees Mr Whiskers."I'm not sure why Einar chose to sleep under Vigliv's tree last night when it's raining and we have shelter in here, but that's his choice."
"Are we doing anything in particular today?" He asks Mr Whiskers.
’What kind of monster indeed.’ Einar Sighs a heavy sigh, ”She is the kind of monster we need to save our world from eternal winter. She has been satisfied with a small country in the north. Just powerful enough to grow daughters she can feed upon. The daughter we are going to fight, has designs on the entire world. Just as Rasputin did on yours.”
He shakes his head, ”These were no revenants, they were something else.” Then looking at the girl carefully he continues down the topic she brought up. ”Yes your blood is her legacy, So is your gift. Even preferring cold magic to other spells.” Shrugging his shoulders, ”But hereditary doesn’t dictate behavior. You are your own person. But remember power corrupts and those with power will naturally use it to benefit themselves eventually. It’s unavoidable, It’s human nature.” Looking at his own claws, ”Or nature of another sort.”
He nods toward Mister Whiskers ”My sword brother can help you decide how to use your power better than I. He at least desires to good with his. Mine is a weapon, that’s all I see it as.”
His eyes return to Geist, ”My debt? Jadrenka is the caretaker of one of Baba Yaga’s home away from home. She had helped us with a situation and was very frustrated with us. But we needed her help again. So I told her There must be something she wanted that she would trade for. What she wanted was her freedom from Baba Yaga. So when we see the great hag, and she passes out payment, my request will be to free Jadrenka. Normally, I don’t believe Baba Yaga will give up one servant without taking another.” He looks back to Anastasia, ”Perchance I will be fortunate and remain free, but I doubt it.”
’That’s not really what she asked is it.’ Einar could see the unasked question in Anastasia’s eyes. He smiles a grim smile. ”You want to know the situation.” He shrugs his shoulders and looks away. ”Crummock, in a hurry, had stumbled on a curse. He had aged terribly and lost his sanity. We needed a cure that was far away. We had the means to purchase the cure but not the means to get there. Jadrenka had the means to get us there. So I bargained with her to transport Crummock so we could cure him. Without him the mission would have failed.” He looks back out to Geist. ”As I fear it will fail now.”
His gaze returns to the princess, ”Friends, is that what we are?” He nods toward Mister Whiskers and Dimitri. ”They are my brothers-in-arms. It was the way of my father’s people. It is all I know. It is all I’ve ever wanted to know. The violence calls me: the money, the fame, the magic, the blood, to have the power of life and death in my hands.” He looks away again, shaking his head as if he just realized what he was. He smiles a sad smile. ”Be careful who you offer your friendship to, princess. Few are worthy of it.”
He quickly walks away, pulling the hood of his cloak up; more to hide his face than to keep the rain off. Finding a mossy spot on the other side of Vigliv’s tree, he removes his haversack, pulling several rations of dried meat out. He places it near Geist, hoping the tiger will eat. Then he returns to the solitude of the tree and eating a little prepares to sleep as best he can.
Waking before dawn, Einar washes in the pond and fills the ceramic container. Returning to his camp he dries off his gear and sharpens his glaive with a stone, working the new notches out the best he can. After check-ing to see if Geist had eaten any of the meat he provided he eats a quick breakfast of jerky, raisins and biscuits. Putting on his gear and fetching Crummocks bag, he leans on the tree waiting for the others to appear, so they can properly intern his swordbrothers remains.
"So you are siding with the lesser evil then? Choosing between a greater evil and a lesser evil? Does it not bother you that you have to let a lesser evil go free?" Anastasia asks.
"I will use my gift, my legacy, only to heal and protect those I care for. I will NOT use it offensively unless life is threatened." Anastasia answers firmly.
"I am not surprised this Jadrenka wanted to be free from Baba Yaga. I would offer you comfort - but it would be hollow. I speculate that Baba Yaga would probably make you take her place as caretaker. Substituting one for another." Anastasia comments."That sounds like something she would do."
"Yes, you're right, I wanted to know about the situation."When she hears about what Crummock did, she gives a sardonic laugh,"Is there a time where Crummock is not in a hurry?"
"Actually that's what unnerved me about him - he's so sure in his purpose that I don't know what he would do if anyone got in his way. Does everyone who gets in his way deserve to be killed? What if they were mind controlled, or someone held their families ransom and forced them stand in your way?" Anastasia asks Einar.
Then she heaves a sigh, "Now maybe it wasn't in my place to say that. Diplomacy is not my strong suit." She makes a face, "Earlier today was a prime example of that."
"You made a bargain with Jadrenka to help a friend. That was the right and only thing you could do." Anastasia replies."And my offer still stands. I can't promise I can do everything Crummock could - since our powers are very different to begin with, but I can try."
Geist is making low-pitched, mournful yowls.
"We see the world differently, Einar. I would resort to violence only as a last resort. What is money, fame and magic? As Mr Whiskers said, Baba Yaga has everything. Has it brought her any joy? No. And you may have the power of life and death in your hands - but have you thought about the consequences of your actions? How about the family of all those you slew - do they not grief? There is a saying, "In war there are no winners, only widows."
"I would offer my hand in friendship to everyone - to show them that there is another path they could take."
Einar finds that Geist has not eaten any of the rations of dried meat and is now crouching low in a nearby bush. His ears are pointed downwards, his whiskers are droopy and he wraps his tail around himself.
Mr. Whiskers does his best to get to bed early so as to allow him to get up early.
After taking care of all the normal chores and feeding himself, Mr. Whiskers goes into the library and starts copying the Plane Shift spell down. Then he checks the references and gets everything he needs to make a tuning fork tuned to the grotto. I want to make sure I can return us all!
As he is preparing his spells for the day, he also uses a measure of his power to recharge his staff.
Once he has all that ready, he goes out to check if the others are awake yet.
Once everyone who wanted to take part in the ceremony for Crummock has gathered, Mr. Whiskers takes out the note that Crummock had left for them.
In a solemn voice, he says "I think it came as a surprise to all of us that Crummock decided not to return to his world. He had left a note instructing us on his wishes should he die again. Today, we will carry out those wishes."
"He created a new plane of existence, someplace that he could safely retreat to when he felt that he needed to. Today we will go there to lay his body to rest. Assuming the plane is suitable, we will most likely leave Geist there."
"I can only bring seven other people with me when we travel to the realm that Crummock created. I have never been there myself, so I do not know what it will hold. Please" he gestures with his paw "join hands. Einar if you could get Geist between Dmitri and yourself so he is part of this too?"
Once everyone is in place, Mr. Whiskers takes out the tuning fork found with Crummock's belongings and says a few words filled with arcane power before striking it against his spiked gauntlet and quickly joining hands with the two on either side of himself.
The world fades out and a new world appears around them.
|
As Mr Whiskers completes the spell, and rings the tuning fork, there is a sudden... jerk as reality itself shudders. For a split second, the party feels like it is falling endlessly through a limitless void, and then normality reasserts itself: The party finds itself standing in tall grass (up to shoulder height on Mr Whiskers), at the edge of a 90'-diameter fishpond.
Taking a moment to take stock of its wider surroundings, the party finds itself standing in the middle of a large, vaguely rectangular clearing, surrounded on all sides by impenetrable, primeval forest.
Moreover, it appears to be a pleasant spring day - the sun is shining, clouds lazily drift across the sky, and the grassland the party are standing in is full of flowers, between which bees flit on a regular basis.
Looking further afield, the party notices that whilst one half of the clearing is idyllic, and largely untouched, the other half (separated from this one by a waist-high dry stone wall) shows signs of heavy industry - rows of trees bursting with fruit and nuts, raised vegetable and herb beds, a small vineyard, and a modest rose garden surround a simple (albeit large), log cabin, from the main chimney of which rises a faint wisp of smoke.
Whilst the party is taking all of this in, there is a rustling in the grass, and a small green creature, clad in a wing-like leaf cloak and pinecone armor, wielding a twig as a makeshift spear, pops out of the grass.
It makes a startled squeak (especially when it sees Geist), and high-tails it back into the grass; its progress, however, is fairly easy to follow - it is making a beeline for the cabin...
In sylvan, Mr. Whiskers says "Wait, don't run!"
Shaking his head, he then says "I didn't want to frighten it." Looking over to Geist, he says "I don't think Geist would hunt them." Looking up at Einar he jests "Must have been you!" then gives a short chuckle.
Casting overland flight on himself -- mostly so he can keep up -- Mr. Whiskers starts floating towards the cabin. "Shall we?"
"Yes, we're taking him home..."Greta murmurs.
"This place is so peaceful," Greta remarks as she stares at her surroundings in wonder, some of her grief easing out of her features. "I can see why Crummock called this his home."
"Yes it looks like a safe Haven from the dark world outside," Dimitri agrees, "I only wish we could have come here in happier circumstances." He makes a pained grimace.
’I guess he we will go where Crummock goes.’ As Einar nears the group, carrying the bag that has Crummocks remains, he watches as Geist follows along.
’Get Geist between us?’ Einar rests Crummocks bag on the ground waiting for Geist to move near. He motions to Dimitri ”When Giest sits down near the bag, reach out and take the other corner of the bags mouth and touch Giest with it, I will do the same.” Reaching out with his other hand he nods to Greta and takes her hand. Then reaching out to Geist, with the corner of Crummock’s bag in his hand. He says softly to the tiger. ”We’re taking him home, he would want you to come along. I’m going to rest my hand on you., so the magic will work.”
As Mister Whiskers strikes the tuning fork there is a sudden... jerk.
The falling endlessly ceases in the tall grass, Einar raises his face to the shining sun, quickly removing his hand from Geist, he turns to Greta. ”The rain was more appropriate.”
’That must be the vineyard Crummock spoke of.’ looking around Einar takes the view in, while trying to see what Geist would do. Nodding his head in agreement with Greta and Dimitri, he is probably the last to see the little warrior.
But he smiles a toothy smile when the little one squeaks and runs off at the sight of the tiger. Smiling wider and nodding in agreement with his sword brother. ”That is the appropriate response.”
Hefting the bag on his shoulder and nodding toward the cabin, he answers."Yes, I think we should.”
Greta instinctively draws her hammer when the leaf leshy pops out of the grass, but sheathes it when she realizes it is not a threat, and tells Dimitri likewise to lower Maggie.
They both follow Mr Whiskers to the cabin.
|
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Moving towards the cabin, the party spots number of other leaf leshies, watching them from a distance - one peeks from behind the corner of the cabin; another is crouched down between the tomato plants in the kitchen garden; whilst another almost blends into the leaves on a nearby almond tree. As soon as they think they have been noticed, however, they quickly run off.
All of the plants are extremely well cared-for, and despite the (apparently) spring weather, bear an eclectic mix of spring flowers, and summer fruits/nuts.
As the party approaches the door to the cabin, it swings open, revealing a cavernous chamber beyond - a long trestle table extends the length of the room, which ends in a massive fireplace, which dominates the other end of the chamber, in front of which are several comfortable couches, and several rug piles. Doors lead off on both sides, clearly opening into smaller rooms.
As the party's eyes adjust to the change in lighting, a figure stands up from one of the couches, and turns to greet the party...
"Ah, so ye did come. I bid ye welcome."
It appears to be Crummock!
Geist bounds forward, purring, but then stops short, sniffing 'Crummock', then glancing back at the bundle that Einar is carrying, looking thoroughly confused.
Seeing Geist's distress, the creature raises a hand hurriedly.
"Just to be clear, I ain't the original Crummock-i-Phail. I be a caretaker that he created, to look after this place in his absence, and to provide what succor I can to those who find their way here. Me full name is Crummock Beta, but ye can be callin' me Beta."
He then nods to the equally spaced doors along the right wall.
"Those be the guest rooms. Ye be welcome to be makin' use o' them if ye ever need them."
Beta then sighs.
"Now, as to why ye be here... I can see ye have Alpha's body, and I was left with instructions as to what to do if it ever showed up here... but it be worth notin' that things have nae gone quite as Alpha planned; when he died, he tried to carry oot his standing 'death-contingency', but found that his Petitioner form didnae allow him to do it. Instead, he was transported here, which gave him further time to think. Apparently, death really does sheer away all illusions, and he got to see a few things more clearly than mortal eyes had allowed."
He then nods to Dimitri.
"He wanted ye to know that he did hear when ye called, but due to the nature o' his current form, he wasnae able to respond at that time... however, if ye would like to speak with him now, to try and understand what has happened, he be willin' to do so; just say the word, and he will come. If not, we can conduct the funeral, and he will leave ye in peace."
'More of the little fey, I wonder how Crummock got them here.' Heading to the house Einar cannot resist calling to the hiding leaf leshies. "Մի վախեցեք փոքրիկներից, ոչ վագրը, ոչ էլ ես ձեզ ուտելու." looking then at the tiger. 'I hope.
'This is Crummocks home, there is no threat here. Anyway we seem t be alone except for the fey.' watching the door creepily open, Einar resists the urge to draw a weapon.
'Oddly enough it's much like my fathers hunting cottage.' Stepping in to the cabin he admires the furnishings and then freezes as he sees motion in the room.
What the blazes? Is that Crummock? Why did Geist stop? Beta? What the blazes is a BEta?' Einar looks suspiciously from the 'Beta' to Geist to Mister Whiskers. His eyes resting on Dimitri. "Dimitri did call him. What ever he is he knows us and what we did. What do we have to loose?' Not realizing he had grabbed the handle of his longsword, Einar releases it and answers. "Yes we would like to speak to him. Do we need to say his name thrice, or just inform you of our decision?"
"I've never had a door open for me before, " Greta stares at the door opening, suspiciously as if it was an enemy. "Again, Crummock wouldn't wish us harm, would he? And this is his demiplane."Greta says out loud as she enters the cabin.
"Crummock! You're back! " Greta bounds forward with a happy smile on her face and gives 'Crummock' an enthusiastic hug."See, I told you he'd have made preparations for it" Greta turns to the group triumphantly. Then she turns back to 'Crummock', lecturing him, "But really did it take that long for you to put yourself back together? Why didn't look for us when Dimitri Called?"
Dimitri grins at 'Crummock' and slaps him heartily on his shoulder. "Nice place you've got down here, Crummock. Next time, please don't scare us like that, just leave us a message saying you're fine, get it? "
Greta drops 'Crummock' like a hot potato, looking desolate as she realizes it isn't really Crummock. "Sorry...I thought you were someone else. " She mumbles the apology.
Dimitri, on the other hand looks warily at Crummock Beta. "I dont know what exactly you are to take my friends form, but if you could get the real Crummock out, I believe he owes us some explanations."
Not quite Crummock...and Geist knows it.
Mr. Whiskers is about to correct Greta when Beta does it himself.
Good. They aren't trying to trick us. I wonder if there is only the one?
Smiling as he remembers a song from his magical training, he asks "So, are you a clone now"
More likely a simulacrum, I wonder if it shares the memories of Crummock. Unusual for someone like him to do this. It is more what I would expect of a wizard. I hope he isn't using this as a way to avoid his mortality.
Mr. Whiskers says "Before we do that, if you don't mind are there more of you Beta?"
I am curious as to the new form, but also curious as to what preparations he made.
Beta smiles apologetically at Greta and Dimitri.
"No offense taken. I was deliberately made in Alpha's image, after all..."
A sad look crosses Beta's face.
"He had planned to create more duplicates such as meself, as he knew that he couldnae be everywhere at the same time, but still wanted to have a way to help his friends, who are scattered across at least three worlds. However, he didnae have time to do so... Now? It will be difficult, but we are workin' on solvin' that particular problem..."
Beta shakes his head.
"He would hear ye if ye did that, but there isnae any need for that - I am sure that he has heard this entire conversation..."
At that, the party is momentarily startled as a hazy figure drifts through one of the doors in the western wall.
On closer examination, however, it appears to be Crummock, and this time Mr Whiskers is certain that the mannerisms are correct...
...however, he appears to have faded slightly, the colors are muted, and the edges of his form constantly waver and shimmer, as if he was in danger of dissolving away.
"Sorry aboot that - I'd prefer to have used the door, but as ye can see, I dinnae have the corporeal form necessary to do so. I will admit, this came as a surprise; all the research that I had done suggested that souls retained a physical form in the afterlife, and I had made me plans accordingly. Needless to say, it looks like Pharasma got the last laugh, for I still exist, but I be powerless, and without the form necessary to properly interact with the physical world. I am just glad that I have Beta and the Seven, or it would be exceedingly frustratin'."
He then sighs.
"However, I be sure that ain't precisely why ye are here; ye probably want an explanation for why ye are here at all..."
He then gestures to the couches and rug piles.
"Take a seat, and I will see I can make ye understand. I kept me life fairly private when I was alive, but now that I be dead, I find that mortal hang-ups matter a lot less than we thought they did in life..."
Once everyone is comfortably seated, Crummock drifts over to the fireplace, hands clasped behind his back, and begins to talk.
"If ye brought Baba Yaga's prison with ye, I would appreciate it if ye could put it in an extradimensional space, before we continue..."
"Hard as it may be to believe now, I was once a very happy man, livin' in a croft that I had inherited from me father, as he had from his father afore him. I had a young wife, a beautiful daughter, and a fine strappin' son. Life was occasionally harsh, but where on Golarion wouldnae that be true? Me son was a good hunter, and me daughter was a beautiful singer, and quite popular with me friends' sons. I was ne'er happier than the day she married me friend Andras' son, and I later heard that I was expectin' me first grandchild. I thought that I would die in me croft, surrounded by me family, and that I would pass it on to me son, in the fullness of time..."
A wave of deep sadness crosses his face.
"However, fate, it seemed, had other ideas. When it came time for me daughter to give birth, there were... complications. Despite the local midwife bein' called (a hedgewitch o' Pharasma), there was nothin' that could be done; she said that the labor had just... gone wrong. I lost me daughter and granddaughter that day. After that, me wife was ne'er quite the same. She just lost interest in life, sleepin' a lot, barely eatin', e'en when I got her her favorite foods, until one morning, she just didnae wake up."
Tears are now streaming down Crummock's face.
"Me son was a pillar o' strength throughout all o' this, and helped me keep things together as I had to bury the one I had thought that I would grow old with..."
He then grimaces.
"It was at aboot this time, that I realised that there was somethin'... different aboot me. The passage of years did not weigh as heavily as they should have upon me; I hadnae noticed it at first, but then one day, I realised that me son looked older than I did. The others in the village where divided aboot this - some whispered that I was cursed, whilst others thought that it might be a blessin' from the Gods. Personally? I think it is the former.
I watched my son turn into an old man over the years, bent and twisted with age, whilst I remained practically unchanged. Then, one winter mornin', in his 72nd year, he just... clutched his chest, and dropped dead. No man should have to watch his son die o' old age before him!
After I buried him, I collected some gear together, includin' a few keepsakes, and just... left. Me croft was too full of memories, too full o' the ghosts o' the past. I went travellin', findin' mercenary work to keep body and soul together, when I wasnae able to live off the land, and that was how I met the lot o' ye..."
He then sighs.
"Now, I told ye that story to try and explain why I have done what I have done since we have met. To me, there is nothin' more important than family - I feel keenly what I have lost, and I didnae want others, children in particular, to suffer. That is why I moved mountains to restore Thora to her mother, and did what I could to provide her uncle with closure - the knowledge that his wife and child were actually dead, so that he didnae waste what remained of his life lookin' for them. I e'en paid the debt that that fisherman owed Einar, so that he could concentrate on providin' for his family."
A cloud crosses Crummock's face.
"It also be why I did what I did to Nazhena, Granny Nan, and Caigeal. Nazhena took delight in torturin' and murderin' a little girl, for no real reason at all, then bound her soul into a construct, to force her into service! Granny Nan was cookin' children, and feedin' them to trolls! Caigeal was wearin' the skin o' children! Those were things that could nae be countenanced, and deserved proper punishment. I took nae great pleasure in what I did, but I do believe it was the just thing to do..."
He then settles down.
"I was able to justify what we were doin', on the grounds that Baba Yaga keeps her influence on Golarion confined to Irrisen, whilst her daughter plans to freeze the entire world. Better the lesser evil, and all that; life in Irrisen may be cruel, but under the Great Crone's daughter, many millions would die, that would otherwise likely have a reasonable chance at peace, and happiness... but then just recently, we went to Baba Yaga's 'cabin in the woods'.
Cummock frowns.
"Before the rest o' ye followed me through, she told me that it was her refuge, the place she retreated to when she needed some peace and quiet; and then we found a kitchen, and in particular an oven, where children had been cooked, and eaten!. That made me realise just how evil she was, that she would do such a thing for relaxation. Coldly, logically, I still realised that more people would die if her daughter's plans came to fruition than if she was allowed to continue to reign, but I could not reconcile meself to the fact that I would be aidin' a creature that treated human children as if they were veal. It was at that point, that I decided that if she did grant us a boon at the end o' all of this, I would ask her to ensure that, once I had put my affairs in order, that, body and soul, I should be completely deleted from existence. I would have considered anythin' less to be a complete and utter betrayal o' everythin' that I believe in..."
He then gives a bittersweet smile.
"However, in all o' this, I didnae stop to think how this would come to affect me new family, for that is how I have come to think of all o' ye. After all, beyond blood ties, what is family but a group that stays together through a common bond, lives together, laughs together, sweats, bleeds, and suffers together? We are a family, and I apologise for not thinkin' o' all of ye."
A pained look briefly crosses Crummock's face.
"Death... strips away our illusions, and forces one to see the full, unvarnished truth o' what has happened, and what may yet still happen. In the first few moments after life, I was still so full of self-righteousness, completely assured in my purpose; but after the initial rush wore off, I was forced to think, to re-evaluate, and truly think about things, without allowin' me personal sense o' wounded honor get in the way."
He then grins ruefully.
"For example, I realised that we could ask the Great Crone to leave Golarion, and ne'er come back; that would certainly ensure that nae more children (on Golarion at least) were harmed by her; we could e'en set the wee princess up as a replacement Queen, so that the lands o' Irrisen didnae fall into complete anarchy. She may not think o'er much o' me, but with the right guidance, she would probably make a reasonable ruler..."
Crummock then sighs.
"I fear, however, that if I was brought back in me previous form, I would forget these lessons, and would simply continue upon the same path as I was on before..."
"Crummock, is that really you this time?" Greta asks the hazy figure. "What happened to you?" She exclaims. Then she remembers what she has read, " Oh ya, chaotic neutral souls are incorporeal petitioners."
"But how do you feel about your current existence, even with Beta and the seven helping?" Greta asks, concerned.
"Are you a ghost? I remember being still being solid and able to interact with the world with Axis after I died."
Greta dumps the matryoshka doll into the bag of holding.
”I am sorry about your family.” Greta says sympathetically. ”I’ve buried family and friends as well – such is the nature of serving as a Guard. My Father was never home much – he was part of the army…and died in a border skirmish against the Linnorm kings. I still remember the day they brought back his body. It wasn’t pretty. I was only seven back then. The Iron Guard said that I should be proud that my Father died in the defense of his nation…my foot.” Greta snaps. ”More like to fuel Elvanna’s expansion plans.”
”Anyway – without him – I wouldn’t say we were left destitute – but we weren’t very well off, despite his army pension. I would have wanted to study in the Whitethrone University of Arts, so I could travel the world – but we didn’t have the means to. Since for Winter Wolf without formal qualifications, the only open positions were those for guards, or manual labour(which didn’t pay well), I chose to take up a position at the Howlings. Figuring I could save up enough money to pay for my education, and possibly a hat of disguise so I could travel around the world.”
”I never knew my father. He died in an accident in the coal mines when I was little. My mother worked in a textile factory day and night just to keep me and my younger brother fed. My younger brother had an incurable disease – he’d keep coughing blood and he’d need to have expensive medicine to stop the episode. But if he didn’t continue his medicine, he would relapse.” Dimitri tells the party. ”So I joined up the army to provide for my family. “
He gives a bitter grimace, ”Not that it made much difference in the end, since when I came back on leave one day, my neighbours told me that both my mother and younger brother were dead – they died of pneumonia in the cold winter.”
He shakes his head, ”I don’t think any of us were created to outlive our children.”
A petitioner? Well, I'm sure that does make for a surprise.
"Though you make it sound like a cruel joke, keep in mind that you were allowed to come here where there are those who will help you."
Looking around, he asks "Given other things you've said, it sounds like you created this plane. Is it stable?"
---
Looking to Dmitri, Mr. Whiskers answers the question. "Ghost in our world indicates a very specific sort of undead. One that usually haunts a location and is connected to the plane of negative energy."
Gesturing with a paw in Crummock's direction, he explains "This is what some call a petitioner, a spirit form that still lacks a physical existence but is connected to one of the outer planes. The spirit is not twisted like a ghost's spirit usually becomes."
Looking back at Crummock, he adds "It is still Crummock's spirit, and he even retained his memory. That is not always the case."
---
Mr. Whiskers considers for a few moments after Crummock finishes his story. Might as well ask, see if his views on this have changed.
"Crummock, do you still believe that death is the worst thing that can happen to a person?"
”In Irrisen, you get to see a lot of things,” Greta muses. ”I mostly don’t bother to think about the moral implications of them – because you can’t do anything about them anyway. At least no one’s tried eating Winter Wolf pups yet.“
”Part of me would like to think I wouldn’t tell Baba Yaga on how to do her housekeeping,”Then a shadow passes over her face, ”But now, seeing the effect it has on you, I’m not so sure.”
”I thought that someone got to the cottage before we did and ate the child. But if she would drain her own daughters for sustenance – I don’t think my previous theory holds. I think the best thing to do is to banish her from your world – or even better – send her somewhere where she can no longer hurt anyone else.” Dimitri answers.