With a sigh, Mr. Whiskers says "It is beyond me, unfortunately."
Looking to Einar, he says "Might as well do it now."
On the good side, that should end the geas.
When the silver brooch is rubbed, the party sees a scythe wielding knight in silver armor appear, the very same one that stood beside Thora at Enda's funeral, except that on her armor and scythe are now runes that glow a bright eldritch blue. She handcuffs the spectral form of Elvanna.
”Elvanna – you have encouraged those under your command to commit untold atrocities of enslaving souls to create mirror men and soulbound dolls.” As she says the words soulbound dolls, the knight seems to clench her teeth, as if in anger. ”You will be brought to Pharasma’s court to be judged. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you say may be given in evidence.”
”Fine words for one who was under my service, Mierul.” The shade says tauntingly. ”What gives YOU the right to bring ME to Pharasma’s court when you have acted as a spy for my lackeys.”
The knight looks distinctively uncomfortable at this point of time, but retorts, ”Do not question my right to be here. If I were not worthy – Pharasma would not have sent me. Her judgement, not yours.”
Elvanna shrugs in resignation. ”Not that I mind overly much. My bid for power failed. Anything would be more merciful then the fate Baba Yaga would have had planned out for me.” Then both of them dematerialize from the Demiplane.
As Einar soaks the matryoshka doll in Elvannas blood, the doll cracks open and Thick white smoke pours from the broken door forming into a hideous, wrinkled old woman with disheveled locks of white hair hanging down her head.
”FREE AT LAST!” She howls with triumph, then chants a short incantation, causing the cauldron to go dark and still. All across Golarion, Elvanna’s winter portals close, sparing Golaroin its frigid fate. With another incantation, Baba Yaga shatters the mirror gate, permanently shutting the “back door” to her inner sanctum.
”I believe some of those items are mine, and I’ll have them back,” as she says that, Baba Yaga’s Mortar and Pestle, her Besom, the Icerown of Irrisen and the Tome of knowledge start appearing in her hands one by one. Then she revokes the mantle, breaking the geas that made the party seek her out.
”All of you have done me a great favour. This, then is your reward. You may keep in perpetuity all the boons I have granted granted you thus far, as well as any items you have gained during your journey. I will even add in a little extra. You may ask me, as a party for one boon that you desire – and if it is in my power, I will grant it to you.”
5 strong necromancy auras
1 moderate divination
1 weak transmutation
3 weak divination
When the knight looks uncomfortable, Mr. Whiskers answers for her. "She accepted her fate."
---
"I would like you to leave Golarian and never return. Give any there in your service the choice of following you or leaving your service." Mr. Whiskers says.
Looking to the others, he asks "Does something like that sound good to you?"
"What?! You're kicking me out from Golarion? After all the gifts I have showered upon you?! Ungrateful wretches." Baba Yaga is furious, putting her hands on her hips and glares at the party. "Fine. A boon is a boon, and so it shall be."Baba Yaga begrudgingly admits. "I will leave Golarion and never return. And those under my service will be given a chance of following me, or leaving my service."
Then she gives the party an evil smirk. "Had you asked for a Boon that was not detrimental to my interests, I would have given you a free trip back to Golarion. Enjoy my demiplane, because you're going to be here for all eternity!" With cackling laugh, and a puff of black smoke, she dissappears.
Mr. Whiskers doesn't seem worried.
"So, how was it that Rasputin got through the dimensional lock?"
Picking up Nivea, he then mentions "First thing we should probably do is go to the grove and get the soldiers and Anastasia."
He then sits and gets out a book and starts studying it.
After about fifteen minutes of study, Mr. Whiskers looks around. "Crummock? Einar? I am afraid that I really haven't been paying attention to what treasure we have picked up."
"We wouldn't happen to have a very large diamond, would we?"
Crummock shrugs modestly.
"I feel that I am on the cusp of unraveling certain essential secrets of the cosmos... in the morning I should be able to do something about getting us out of here, if Mr Whiskers does not do so himself."
He then nods to Mr Whiskers.
"Would you like the Queen's staff?"
"I do have a plan. I was planning to use a wish to make it so your" nodding towards Crummock "next casting of plane shift be able to break through the dimensional lock on this place. I believe that should be within the power of a wish."
"So, we have to decide if we use that to go back to the grove so we can rescue Anastasia and the soldiers, or to get someplace where we can get more diamonds. The grove was locked. I do not know how long before she will reset that lock."
Mr Whiskers takes the enormous diamond from Einar and concentrates, focusing on the enormous diamond in his hand for his casting of wish, invoking the primordial forces of the universe to alter reality to suit his desires. The enormous diamond in his hand shatters as he speaks the words, "I wish the party to be transported to the Mage's Private Sanctum in Grandmother's Cauldron's Grotto."
Then the entire party are whisked by the powerful magic of the wish to the Mage's Private Sanctum. Mr Whiskers steps out of his private Sanctum and finds Leo, whom he asks to gather Anastasia and the other soldiers in his Mage's Private Sanctum.
Within a short time, everyone is assembled in his Mage's Private Sanctum, which expands to allow everyone space.
"Nice place," Zakhar says laconically, admiring its interior.
"So, you were successful?"Anton asks Mr Whiskers.
"So what happened?" Anastasia follows up.
Crummock frowns.
"Actually... the eternal winter of Irrisen isn't ended; that wasn't part of the agreement, and I doubt she would be so generous as to end it, now. We did, however, stop it from being expanded to encompass the entire planet, and extract a promise that she would leave... there is, however, still an entire nation of Winter Witches left behind..."
Greta takes a swing from the plum wine, "I think we've all earned it," then she realizes it isn't Sake, and makes a face. "Sake please."She tells Einar.
The whole room erupts into cheers when Einar announces the party was successful.
"Does that mean we're done here and we can all go home?" Anton asks Einar. "We would like to go with Dimitri to Axis - if it would be possible to arrange the permits and transportation." Pavel, the appointed spokesperson of the Russian soldier troop, tells the party. "Being part of a new business venture sounds more profitable and more enjoyable then going back to Russia, it being in bloody revolution."
Anatasia wrinkles her eyebrows, "I'd have probably asked her to confine her attentions to a specific plane, maybe Abaddon. That way she would be able to cause less harm. But at least your world is safe from her. And you did manage to escape her dimension afterall."
"Those winter witches - you could go back to your homeplane, said that you banished Baba Yaga from Golarion and threaten to do that to them as well if they don't clean up the nation?" Anastasia suggests.
"So can we go to your castle in Triaxius now, right? Then I could start charging people for heals, right?" Anatasia asks Einar.
Mr Whiskers tells everyone to pack up their belongings as in his readings, he has read that Arum Kelisk has private discreet rooms for hire so they can discuss future plans discreetly.
"I'll miss Zorka."Anatasia remarks. "Are we allowed to tell her where we're going?"
The following day, he starts planeshifting the party and Anatasia and Anton to the Plane of Air, then greater teleporting them into the city. He finds one of these inns called The Golden Circle, whose exterior is made out of puffy solidified white clouds. The innkeeper, a cheerful djinn, is willing to rent out such a room to the party for a price.
Anastasia, whose eyes widen in surprise as Mr Whiskers does the planeshift, exclaims, "So that's how you do it. I can help too!"
Between both Anastasia and Mr Whiskers, with Anatasia doing the planeshifts and Mr Whiskers the greater teleports, they manage to get everyone into the room, which is fully white with puffy cloud cushions , with paintings of various cloud formations on the walls.
Everyone is now lounging around the cushions, being served by unseen servants bringing tropical lime barcadi breezers, barbecued chicken wings, and deep fried mushrooms.
Nodding towards Crummock, Mr. Whiskers admits "Irrisen is not free, however remember that the guard and the queen is gone. It should also be possible for spring to return now. Lastly, we have the crown so it will be difficult for any of the remaining Witches to make a claim for the right to rule Baba Yaga has the crown of Irrisen. With her leaving Golarian, I can't see any reason she would give it to any of the remaining Winter Witches."
"We have cut off a magic source of power and given that source a reason to withdraw much of what it brought."
---
"I agree, Einar. It is just a matter of time before she restores the dimensional lock here. This area just protects against scrying."
"Remember that when we left, there were rebels working against the Winter Witches. We might be able to get another meeting with Titania, who I suspect would be very interested in bringing spring to the country."
Looking to Dmitri, Anton and the other soldiers he adds "I don't think that should require your aid if you want to go to Axis."
"As for long term plans, I will be going back to Golarian. I have family there and I still want to see Kyonin."
Crummock listens carefully.
"They may be leaderless, but there are still a *lot* of forces remaining in Irrisen; remember, the promise we extracted was that those who wanted to leave her service could. I would not be surprised if a number of the more powerful remaining witches (such as Elvanna's daughter) decided to stay on... and history teaches us that people who are used to following orders, frequently continue to do so."
He pauses thoughtfully.
"I grant you, there were rebels, but when we freed the hut, I got the impression that a lot of them sacrificed themselves to enable us to do so, when they created a distraction..."
Crummock sighs.
"Still, at least there is now a chance for change, whereas there was, realistically, none before..."
He then turns to Anton and the other soldiers.
"I can Call one of the bureaucrats of Axis, and we can sort-out your paperwork; it shouldn't be too much of a problem to arrange your Green Cards."
He then holds up Elvanna's staff.
"Mr Whiskers? Were you wanting this, or should we sell it? We likely won't get full market value, but if no one wants it, something is better than nothing."
"Well, you know where to find us if you need any help, we'll be in Axis. If you need anything built, you can call us in as well."Dimitri answers.
"We would appreciate that, thank you. We don't want to cause the administration of Axis any problems." Anton answers.
Crummock nods.
"Well, in that case, there is no time like the present..."
He then casts Planar Ally, Greater to Call an Axiomite, to start the gears rolling on producing the appropriate documentation for the Russians.
A helpful, friendly Axomite pops up and starts interviewing each Russian on their purposes for wanting to live in Axis, then starts writing their names on each green card and chopping them. "You will want to avoid the western border. Blasted proteans. Always creating trouble." The Axomite makes a face.
"Bring these green cards to the Immigration Checkpoint Authority at the heart of Axis to exchange for your identification cards." The Axomite instructs the Russian soldiers.
"And no charge." The Axomite declines payment by Crummock. "We encourage immigration by like minded individuals."
"Crummock - I said I'd follow you no matter what fate has in store for us. If you wish to go back to Irrisen, I will follow you there, otherwise if we are not returning, what happens there...lets say it isn't worth the trouble."Greta replies.
"I don't know who is this Solveig or Titania you are talking about." Greta turns to face Einar. "But if there is to be any lasting change in Irrisen, it will have to come from the top level, flowing downwards."
"I don't think a fey queen would have any inclination to rule over mortal realms. Most fey I've seen, except from this trip, can't keep an idea in their head for more then 10 minutes."Greta sniffs disdainfully,"Those we met on this trip however, are singlemindedly out to murder us." Greta grumbles.
"Solveig - oh - you mean those who want to rebel against the Winter Witches. It never ends well for them, you know, I've seen many would-be revolutionions being crushed. Would-be revolutionaries generally end up impaled on a pike someplace." Greta answers.
"Maybe," Greta takes a swig of Sake and replies noncommittally.
Crummock shrugs.
"We have fulfilled the Geas, and freed Baba Yaga; in return, she has undone her daughter's nefarious scheme to blanket all of Golarion in an eternal winter, and we extracted a promise that she would never interfere with Golarion again. I have no vested interest in Irrisen; if the government is overthrown, so be it, but there is no guarantee that whatever replaces it would be any better. I have no desire to set up a puppet ruler."
He then chews his lip thoughtfully.
"Triaxus, on the other hand, certainly seems ripe for conquest, for a bunch of movers and shakers... there is also at least one tribe of Adlets there, that could do with some spiritual guidance..."
Crummock then sighs.
"Apart from that, I think I will go traveling, and focus on expanding my Eden; it needs more work, if it is to truly become a Domain..."
He then smiles sadly.
"Once upon a time, I might have wanted to visit some of those we have left behind in our quest, but the threads of fate that tied me to them have long since been severed, and I doubt that they would recognise me now... perhaps that is for the best."
He then holds up Elvanna's staff.
"Mr Whiskers? Were you wanting this, or should we sell it? We likely won't get full market value, but if no one wants it, something is better than nothing."
Mr. Whiskers spends some time considering the offer.
"It is a very powerful item, and the ability to put out fires is very nice. Still, I am hoping I will not have need of such powerful magics any more."
Looking at the others, he suggests "How about we sell it and give the money gained to the soldiers" waving in Dmitri's, Anton's and the other Russian's direction "to allow them to get their project started."
Looking at the instant fortress, he says "I wouldn't mind having this though. Cut down on distractions when traveling."
"I don't think a fey queen would have any inclination to rule over mortal realms. Most fey I've seen, except from this trip, can't keep an idea in their head for more then 10 minutes."Greta sniffs disdainfully,"Those we met on this trip however, are singlemindedly out to murder us." Greta grumbles.
"Solveig - oh - you mean those who want to rebel against the Winter Witches. It never ends well for them, you know, I've seen many would-be revolutionions being crushed. Would-be revolutionaries generally end up impaled on a pike someplace." Greta answers.
"Sorry, I wasn't clear. I hadn't meant that Titania should rule Irrisen. Only that she might lend advice and aid so that Irrisen would once again know spring."
"As for Solveig, even if they are no longer there I'm sure there are other followers of Milani who could be aided."
With a sigh, he says "All of this is speculation though."
Smiling, he says "It seems we will be heading our separate ways. Let's settle things and plan for how to get people where they want to go."
Nodding to Dmitri, he says "Axis," gesturing to Crummock "building their own private place" and finally at Anastasia and Einar "or to a world of dragons."
Gesturing to himself, he says "I will be picking up some tuning forks and making some inquiries, but likely can find my own way."
"I will come with you, wherever you may choose to go." Greta answers.
"I've heard that fey, if they mess with the affairs of mortals, prefer to work through a mortal." Greta speculates.
"Axis." Dimitri replies as he turns to look at Crummock."Then we can get our business started."
"That's extremely generous of you,"Dimitri answers,"We COULD use the funds, certainly, but would the powers of the staff be better in your hands?"
Chuckling, he replies "Your faith is welcome, but I don't foresee needing to battle any fire creatures in the near future. It would be better if the staff were in the hands of someone that could use it."
|
Cadence comes back into town, greeting local townsfolk and seeing her family's laughter. George's children toddled towards her, "Auntie Cadence! Auntie Cadence!" They leap and they clamor as she scoops them into her arms. "What did you bring us?"
Cadence laughs, and pulls all sorts of trinkets out of her haversack, letting them stare at the Wayfinder and the Venture Captain Insignia. Soon, it would be her responsibility to start a new lodge. She's tempted at the thought of doing one here, in Heldren. But would having Pathfinders in and out of it change the town?
She grins as she looks around. The town is bustling, and at least ten new businesses have opened since she was here last. Staying back a year to defend her home and all she loved... It was the right decision.
But she feels a stab in her heart as she thinks of the road not traveled, and a warrior with accented speech, a past of horror, and a kind demeanor. Where was he now?
"Mooning over Einar again, are we?" Like always, Freya had come up behind her with barely a ghost of a sound.
Cadence turns to her sister with a huge hug. Freya had grown tall, her long hair windblown and especially witchy today. The look suited her.
"I can't help but think of him, Freya. He was the one, and I let him go. Do you know that I once traveled somewhere where he went? The Pathfinders sent me to Whitethrone on a stealth mission. In Waldsby, I kept hearing everyone talk about the bold demon warrior who slew brigands and bullies with a rat by his side..." Cadence closes her eyes. "He and Mr. Whiskers had been there a scant 9 months ahead of me. Who knows where they are now?!"
Freya grins. "Stay in Heldren an extra week, Cadence. Visit everyone, even Dorcis."
"An extra week?" Cadence looks exasperated. "Valsin wants my decision in the next four days."
"Ken a spell. Send him an animal messenger. Tell him you're on vacation." Freya looks at Cadence, eyes gleaming.
"What are you up to, Freya?" Cadence asks.
Her sister only gives her a kiss and a laugh, disappearing into the crowd once more.