Her summoned mephit sends a magic missile at Hirah, then flies down to defend Nazhema.
The snowy owl scoots out of the way.
[Dice=do we have a wall of thorns south of Nazhema?, 1 yes, 2 no]1d2
Combat order was Hirah, Earl, Einar, Mr Whiskers, Nazhema, Crummock.
Hirah=killed the Earl.
Einar= broke out
Mr Whiskers=cast haste
Nazhema=no action because stunned
Crummock=cast soundburst on Nazhema
Next round:
Hirah=??
Einar=??
Mr Whiskers=??
Nazhema=??
Get my drift?
Mr. Whiskers moves closer and magic missiles the mephet above Nazhema.
The mephit gives a pained squawk, but is still up.
'What about the witch' Einar moves forward, "Do we want the witch alive?" Drawing his hammer as he moves, he swings it at the Mephit,
"No reason I can think of to leave her alive." Mr. Whiskers shouts back to Einar. Especially given what she did to Thora.
Einar misses the mephit as it ducks out of the way on the last minute.
The lantern archon fires its twin rays at Nazhema.
Both of them miss as she is prone, and the lantern archon doesn't want to hit Geist. The lantern archon then dissappears.
Hirah summons a leopard next to Nazhema, and the leopard begins to tear into her. The first claw and bite rake bloody furrows in Nazhema but the second claw does not connect.
The leopard then grabs her fast.
Nazhema seeing no escape, grabs her wand from her belt and points it at Hirah, causing an ice spike to erupt on the ground, which Hirah manages to get mostly out of the way.
the ice mephit begins to claw at Geist.
One of its claws rakes Geist on the face.
Hirah then walks to the back, and stabs Nazhema as she lies prone, leaving her bleeding on the ground.
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Crummock casts Stabilize on the witch, then moves to gag and bind her, before stripping her of everything of value.
He then waves some smelling salts under her nose, and addresses the witch, his voice filled with loathing.
"Know that this is for Thora, and all that you did to her - you will die, and there will be no coming back, for I will keep your soul trapped with me, for all time. Nor will there be any remains to mark your passing, for you will be defleshed, your bones scattered to the four winds, and your skull turned into an eternally screaming undead..."
He then stabs her through the heart, grimly watching the life leave her eyes.
Crummock then quickly casts a spell, causing a pale blue mist to rise from the witch's corpse, briefly taking on a ghostly silhouette, before it is sucked into one of the ice diamonds encrusting Crummock's gauntlet, where the witch's screaming face is briefly seen, before it fades away, leaving the gem faintly glowing.
Satisfied, Crummock then lays out her corpse on a sheet, and casts another spell, causing her flesh and internal organs to boil away, leaving a perfectly pristine skeleton.
Crummock then pulls out two scrolls and several small onyx gems, picks up the witch's skull, and casts both spells in quick succession.
The onyx evaporates, pouring into the skull, forming two pin-points of darkness inside the eye sockets. The skull then floats up into the air, and lets out an ear-piercing scream of agony, before Crummock gestures for it to float into his Bag of Holding.
With a satisfied nod, Crummock then carefully rolls up the bone-filled sheet, before pulling out a club, and spending the time to thoroughly turn the bone to powder, before letting it float away on the wind.
On the Earl, Mr Whiskers realizes his polarbear pajamas is a +1 spiked mithril breastplate. He is also carrying 5 javelins, a greatsword, a morningstar, a dagger and a longbow, and 40 arrows and wearing snowshoes. His glaive of masterwork quality.
Mr Whiskers can't identify Nazhema's ice sickle, but recognizes her blue, bloodstained robes as a Hyperboreal Robe. Nazhema also carried a spell component pouch, blue quartz tiara worth 500 gp, ice diamond necklace worth 100 gp and two potions of cure moderate wounds on her, and there is also a journal.
Crummock flicks through the witch's journal.
Today my mother says she will take me to the Royal Palace so I can learn how things really work in Court. It sounds fun! And I’ll get to see my cousins! We’ll get along swimmingly together and have be the best of friends!
My cousin Inger asked me to go up to her room to bring down her towel. She said that since I was new to the Royal Palace, I would need to earn their trust by running errands. Then she tripped me as I was going down the stairs. I fell down and broke my arm. All the her friends laughed at me, said that I was a fool for believing what Inger told me, and there was no place for me down there. I’ll tell my mother, Lovita on them.
Mother said it was my fault. She said I was soft, weak and stupid for believing what others told me and I had it coming. Why? I can’t believe that she called me a fool, and praised Inger for her cunning. I feel betrayed and angry. I will have my revenge on Inger. Just she wait. And on Mommy dearest too…
Revenge is sweet. I literally iced Inger, by salting her favourite skating pool. She was one icicle when they finally retrieved her body. A pity I couldn’t see her expression when she fell in…
In order to have revenge on Mommy, I will need some help. And a golden opportunity just came today. She brought in a Taldan boy, one Radosek as a demon sacrifice. I can feel the magic in him. What a waste. If I can nurture that arcane potential, he will be eternally be in my debt…
I pleaded with Lovita to spare him, and she scoffed, saying that I was as soft as a marshmallow, but acceded to my request. Let her think whatever she wants. I don’t care. It will just make my job easier if she underestimates me, when we finally kill her.
Radosek threw a few tantrums at first being stuck alone in the tower. I summoned an ice elemental to spank him a few times. Sometimes you really need a stick to get people to cooperate.
He’s a quick learner. Luckily I know that his loyalty to me is absolute or I might be worried of him surpassing me someday. I’ve been training him in more of the advanced magics and he’s been absorbing them like the way a desert absorbs water. I am proud of my Taldan apprentice. Soon we’ll be ready to take on Lovita and claim the Pale Tower for our own.
It was much easier then expected. Mommy dearest never saw it coming. He readied his wand of ice spears to stop her spellcasting, then I summoned ice elementals to pound her into a pulp. It was also immensely satisfying. The Pale Tower is ours!
Great-great grand mother is impressed by my takeover of the Pale Tower, and has assigned me an important task – to turn Pale Tower into an arcane nexus for her great working of plunging Golarion into an eternal winter. I am proud to be of service to her.
I passed by the town of Walsby today. A little girl said right to my face that I was a white mean b+*~%, who should just stay in her tower. Oh really? I’ll show you what mean is…child. Radosek and I have decided to have her taken from the village, and made an example off. I think a soulbound doll to guard the Borderwood will be perfect. I’ve left Radosek to deal with the pesky details on how to accomplish it.
And he has done a wonderful job. He has made a doll with Thora’s features that will be the perfect vessel for her soul. Business, then pleasure. And he's such good company too...
Radosek is usually pretty reliable, but this time he has disappointed me. He has the fey armies at his disposal, yet is unable to capture one Black Rider? I need to explain all this to Queen Elvana, and ask her for more time to complete the task.
I’ve tried to contact Radosek, but he hasn’t been answering me. Like there have been other matters on his mind. And the next time I spied on the Pale Tower, I saw the girl’s mother and an Aasimar, and behind them, Radosek’s body, with his head separated from it. He’s dead. My Taldan apprentice is dead. I swear I will not rest until I have hunted them down and make them pay for what they've done to me.
Queen Elvana says I have one way to redeem myself after my failure at Pale Tower. I have to clean up fey incursion at the Market Square to secure the Dancing Hut of Baba Yaga. I wish I could go after those adventurers who have taken my love from me, but maybe Queen Elvana will grant me more resources for my personal vengeance.
Damn. The winter guard is short handed from having to split in sending an honour guard with Princess Cassiosche to the Norms. I will need to find my own troops.My contacts have put me in contact with a certain Earl. I've heard he's pretty reliable.
I've met and hired Earl Bynjar and his men. It cost me the town of Saarboten. We'll see. If he does a good job on this one, I may keep him on my retinue for further tasks...
Mr. Whiskers is shaken by the spells he sees Crummock cast. It looks for a moment like he will interceded, but he backs down.
When Crummock reaches for the witch's journal, he says "No!" and stomps his foot.
Going up to the man, he looks up and says "You've got enough bad ideas. You don't need to read the journal for yet more!"
"The magic you cast just now by it's very nature is evil, and taints any soul using it. I don't know where or how you came to have it, but you should never again use it."
Nazhema's eyes widen in shock, for a moment as Crummock delivers his proclamation, then seems calm, resigned to her fate. "I've expected that."
Then Crummock stabs her in her heart.
Mr Whiskers recognizes the bodies impaled on the fence outside the hut are those of a man with red hair, antlers, and hoofed goat legs, and a white-clad, pale-skinned woman with white hair, still crowned with the remains of a holly wreath. These are Baba Yaga’s other two Riders—the Red Rider, her “Red Sun,” and the White Rider, her “Bright Morning".
As the party approaches the Hut, the shackles holding the hut down melt away. The Dancing Hut sits down on its chicken legs like a tame dog, as if inviting the party to enter.
Crummock gives Mr Whiskers a look of indignation.
"Given all that she has done, all of the pain and suffering that she has caused both to those still alive, and to the dead, can you honestly tell me that she deserves either a peaceful afterlife, or the chance to be brought back from the dead?! I take no pleasure in what I have done, but I know of no other way to accomplish what needed to be done."
Nevertheless, following this declaration, Crummock willingly hands the journal over to Mr Whiskers.
Seeing the bodies of the other two riders, a chill washes over Crummock, before settling around his heart.
Gingerly, he lifts the corpses down.
"I knew neither of them, but at the very least, they probably deserve better than this - at the very least, a simple burial..."
Crummock pulls out a piece of paper from the journal, and quickly writes a note, before pulling out yet another scroll, and casting a spell, which summons forth a small owl from the midst of the forest.
Gently, he ties the note to one of its talons, using a pastel blue handkerchief, before whispering some directions in its ear.
Things have changed, more than you could possibly know. Whether it is the influence of the Black Rider, or something else entirely, I know not, but I am no longer the creature that I was when last I spoke with you, both figuratively, and literally. However, if you would still travel with me, come to the forest that has sprung up in the Merchant Quarter, to the Great Crone's Hut, and I promise that I will do my utmost to ensure that you have the ability to walk on two legs outside the Howlings.
Regards,
Crummgaeaf
He then watches it fly off, before turning his attention to the Hut.
"Locking away a soul to be eternally tormented is exactly the type of evil she did. You have just put yourself on her level -- what you did to her is little different than what she did to Thora."
Shaking his head in sorrow, he says "Such actions just cause more pain and misery. No good will come of this."
He accepts the journal, somewhat mollified that at least Crummock still listens.
Looking at the two other riders, he agrees with Crummock. "Yes, we really should do something for them. At very least, take their bodies inside the fence. We don't want to leave them here."
Looking towards the hut, he then asks "Shall we take them in the hut?"
He looks at the bodies and then the hut, stroking his chin as he thinks.
Crummock remains firm in his resolve.
"No, it is not the same. She did it to an innocent, who had not known such pain, misery, and terror in her life, until that woman got her hands on her. I am merely restoring the balance, by putting her through something similar, with the added bonus that she deserved such punishment."
He then pauses thoughtfully, before offering this opinion:
"Logically, therefore, to take your argument, and apply it to another area, does that mean you are against capital punishment, since, logically, it makes you a murderer...?"
"You are not restoring the balance. You have just cast evil magic, no good will come of it. Some magic is just evil and by casting those spells you have increased rather than reduced the amount of evil."
Puffing out some air, he replies to your second point "Killing is never good, but it is necessary at times. I am not someone who believes all evil can be redeemed. Note that when Einar asked, I saw no reason to keep that witch alive."
Looking around, he then suggests "If we get enough combustibles I could start up a pyre. That is probably the best we can do at this point for their remains." As he says this, he gestures towards the two riders.
Looking to Einar, he asks "Do we also burn the earl's body? Not doing so risks it arising as an undead abomination."
Einar chops down a couple of trees that magically regrow back the moment he pulls the fallen logs out.
As they are chopping the wood, they hear the sound of paws over snow. A winterwolf with a pack saddle bounds joyfully across the snow into the market square calling out, ” Crummgaeaf! I’m here! Next time, give me more time to pack up! Good thing I had most of the packing done beforehand! Hey, wait, where’s Crummgaeaf?” She asks as she inspects the entire party.
’This is a just ending for the witch. She lived using this kind of magic it is just that she end with it.’ Einar stands watching Crummock separate the witch from her planned eternity. As Crummock continues the spell, Einar looking at the Earls weapons and selects the mace, putting it in his belt as a trophy.
He then helps Crummock take down the bodies of the two Riders, As Mister Whiskers comments more on the magic, Einar shakes his head and voices his opinion. ”The witch was evil, not the magic, magic is a weapon, just like my sword or spear, It is the users that make it evil or not. What Crummock did was just. It was only an eye for an eye. In my culture we would have done much worse to her. For instance, the Earl was greedy, both in how he took my land and her pay here. But I will give him the same funeral that I do the riders, because I would have done the same as he. It is not that way with the Witch, what she did none of us would have done. So giving her the sentence she placed on others is only fair. She brought it upon herself.”
Einar then places the Earls body with the two riders and begins to cut down the trees for a funeral pyre.
Also, there's a nice large winterwolf next to the party now.
On the winter wolf's arrival, the Dancing Hut gets to its feet. It seems to be eyeing the winterwolf warily through its windows, it's beak poised to strike.
Mr. Whiskers is surprised when the winterwolf comes bounding into the area. Crummgaeaf? Oh! The name Crummock gave at the gate!
He looks over at Crummock, then looks at the wolf and says "You will want to talk to him!" as he points Crummock out.
He then moves over to the fence gate. He calls out to the hut in skald "Calm now!" In as soothing a voice as he can manage, he tries to calm the hut. "We will take care of this! I will not allow them to chain you again like that! Just stay calm!" The hut acts like it recognizes us. Let's hope it understands language!
Although he is trying his best to project a calm demeanor, Mr. Whisker's tail is moving in an agitated manner.
I will need to talk with Einar later. There certainly are magics that are evil, his belief that they aren't is dangerous!
Mr Whiskers recognizes that the Hut doesn't speak at all, and is more likely recognizing the party having something the Winterwolf does not.
Looking over his shoulder at the winter wolf, he says "Please back away from the hut! It recognizes us, but not you!"
"Oh gnome. I recognize your smell." She looks at Mr Whiskers. "And he's the weird smelling ice elemental." She looks at Einar."Why do you look so different now?"
She backs away from the Hut, which calms down noticeably as she does so.
"Crummgaeaf, the Hut won't let me anywhere near it. You'll need to do something. "
'Once we get the pyre finished we can start it and leave.' Piling the wood pyre as quickly as he can he eventually places the bodies on top of it, Making sure that all valuables had been removed, he nods to Crummock, "We are ready for the fire, if anyone has any last words to speak now is the time."
Seeing the wolf spook the house and then ask about a 'Crummgaeaf' he smiles, "I believe you may mean Crummock. He is our local heartthrob."
Turning to Mister Whiskers he nods toward the hut, "Do you think that the house is ok because with us because we carry the Geas?"
Einar nods his head in agreement with the winterwolf's assessment. "You are correct, the smell is always much harder to disguise than the appearance. I am Einar Bjornson branded 'Kin-slayer' by the Earl there." He nods toward the third body on the pyre. "We are here to take the hut and find the great hag, I believe our 'Crmmgaeaf' has convinced you to join us. What should we call you?"
Mr. Whiskers gives a brief chuckle when he is called a gnome.
Turning to Mister Whiskers he nods toward the hut, "Do you think that the house is ok because with us because we carry the Geas?"
He nods in response to Einar's question. Time to see where the wolf's loyalty is. Mr. Whiskers watches the winter wolf closely as he says "I am almost certain it can detect the mantle."
”My name is Greta. But you know, I am pretty sure the Hut doesn’t care for me a jot. And it’s a little hard to join you if you’re getting close to the Hut, but the Hut won’t let me get any closer. Those beaks and talons look mighty sharp, mind you. I’d rather not get impaled on them.” She stays a safe distance away from the Hut. ”Who you’re sworn to is none of my business. I’m here for my end of the bargain. Crummgaeaf promised that he would find a way for me to take on human form, out of the Howlings, if I were to meet him at the Great Crone’s Hut.”
Whilst helping to build the pyre, Crummock notes:
"I think that we can be expectin' to have a visitor soon - the Winterwolf from the gate expressed an interest in joinin' us. She is not sworn to the usurper queen, and was in fact quite incensed at the thought that someone might try to overthrow the Great Crone..."
Once Greta arrives (and after putting the robe on), Crummock steps forward.
"I am here. I did warn ye that I had... changed. At my core, however, I am still the same being that spoke with ye a few days ago, and my offer from then still stands. If ye would join with us, I believe that we will have to extend the shared weight of the Mantle to ye, as well. Do not accept this lightly - it will change ye, but it does have its advantages."
Mr. Whiskers is surprised by Greta's statement. He gives Crummock a quizzical look, then turns his attention back to her.
"Are you talking about you being able to transform yourself, or others being able to change your form?" he asks. "If it is the later, I'm certain that can be done. The former may be a bit more difficult -- especially if you want to be able to swap back and forth."
Crummock shrugs at Mr Whisker's question.
"There definitely is a way, one that I can even manage myself, with time."
"Bah you smell different too.I prefer your old smell." Greta complains.
"If it is needed, then I accept."Greta answers gravely. "With luck, it doesn't make me smell as bad as you do. What happened to the other human, anyway?"
Crummock sees the mantle slip from his shoulders, forming a shroud on Greta.
"Being able to transform myself to and fro, any place in the world. I miss having human hands. I miss getting to leaf open books without difficulty. I miss being unable to cook, because, paws?" She answers Mr Whiskers.
'Interesting another creature that would prefer to be something else.' Reasonably bored with the conversation Einar continues finishing the pyre. When the wolf mentions cooking Einar turns smiling, "Cooking is overrated, but eating and drinking, there hands come in truly helpful!"
He turns first to Mister Whiskers and then Crummock, "Would one of you like to start this fire or should I?"
She misses having human hands?
"Pardon my ignorance, but you said miss having human hands. Does that mean you were once human?" The curiosity is clear in his voice as Mr. Whiskers asks this. I had always thought their natural form was that of a wolf. Is it possible that isn't the case?
Looking to Crummock, he says "Please give her the full explanation. Do not trick her like the Winter Witches have so many of the fey!"
When Einar asks about lighting the pyre, Mr. Whiskers replies "I would like to light it, if you don't mind Einar. Everyone, please make sure you are at least 20' back!"
I've been wanting to see this spell in action!
Once the others are in position, he carefully positions himself 15' from the pyre and casts a spell. A ball of liquid fire forms in his hand, and he throws it into the stack of wood. In an explosion, the wood is ignited along with anything else within about 5' of where the sphere struck.
Mr. Whiskers smiles broadly as he steps back from the fire. Very nice! Too bad it is so difficult to target.
"That should do the job!"
"Gnome, I can transform myself into a human, which was as you saw me as a Gate guard, when I am in the Howlings District. Now I'm not, I'm stuck in Winterwolf form."