Shanya's heart tightens.
"...Ivan. His name was Ivan."
And of course she devoured at least one of them.
"Neither of us feel we belong," Kalt says to the hag, his gesture making clear he means himself and Shanya. With a broader sweep of his arm to encompass the whole party, all of his friends, he continues, "Which is why we belong together. For defense, companionship, aye, even love. You honor your daughter by honoring her choice."
When Shanya speaks her father's name, the sorrow is clear in her voice. He lays a hand on her shoulder and continues addressing the hag, "it seems you do not mean to fight us, and I hope the same holds for your giant friend. Will you aid us?"
The hag considers Kalt's words. "I would not call him... " but even before the hag can finish her words, the frost giant's patience finally breaks. It sweeps up the cauldron and throws it at Kalt - the large metal container hits the warrior painfully in the chest, knocking the wind out of him.
(Giant)"Enough talk! Vseveolod wants slaves and sacrifices, not these cattle!"
Initiative
(+2 in cold, mountains, underground from Kalt)
Ankih Tohep
Avora Teremocles (+3 in cold)
Greta
Kalt Ìsson (+4 cold, underground; +2 mountains)
Lana Shahakh
Shanya
Sven Bjornson
Giant
Hag
Lana thinks quickly, calling to the giant, "Hey! Come here!" in its own tongue.
The giant seems to look intently at Lana for a moment, but then shakes his head in defiance.
"Ouch!" Kalt exclaims, giving the hag a withering glare. "I guess that answers my question well enough." He strides forward, blade in hand, stopping where he can just reach the giant and extending his sword to pierce the monster's icy hide!
The giant howls with a deafening cry as Kalt's blade sinks into his ankle. He monster unslings an enormous axe the color of blue ice and swings downwards, intending to split the pale man like a log. The blade carves a great rend in the warrior's breastplate.
Ankih utters a prayer to Sarenrae - but it is the arcane power of raw magic the Katapeshi draws upon as he launches a fireball, the flames of which engulf the upper half of the giant thoroughly.
Snarling, Greta rushes in, with the fearless abandon of a warrior born and finally happy to have a straight fight. The frost giant whips his axe deep into the worg's side as she rushes in, leaving a deep gash in her side, but she in turn inflicts a deep wound and unbelievably pulls the giant to the ground. She smiles with bloody maw at Sven, beckoning him to join her for the kill.
Kalt reels a moment under the giant's massive strike, then steps up to Sven's side, laying into the fallen giant with his blade! "Nicely done, Greta," he says, with a nod at the worg, "just what we needed, was him not quite so high and mighty."
Avora closes the distance and stabs at the fallen giant with her spear.
Grishelmuk giggles at the sight of the raw violence being wrought against the frost giant in her now-raspy voice, but contents herself with watching the violence from the sideline.
Kalt's first swing goes wide as he overreaches, but the second lands solidly, joining Sven's own axe. Avora then solidly sticks the massive creature in its side. The monster howls in pain but continues to hurl giant obscenities at the heroes from the ground.
Shanya leaps into action alongside Kalt & the others, eying the prone giant as she runs forward.
Ideal. Prone giant is now vulnerable to injuries to face, neck and upper torso. Aim for neck. Try to find important artery.
She draws her rapier in one fluid motion and drives it towards the giant's neck!
Lana moves up beside Kalt and reaches out her hand to heal some of his wounds.
Shanya's quick jab to the carotid artery stops the giant as it begins to rise once more. The eyes of the creature roll back in its head as it slumps to the ground.
Grishelmuk giggles, a sharp and unnerving sound as the adrenaline of the battle fades. The green hag walks over to the still body of the giant. "Oh well done, well done my daughter Shanya." She runs her claws over still giant. "You'll go far in this life with such arts." She smiles, all teeth and wrinkles. She then briefly turns and batters her thin, greying eyelashes at Kalt in pure mockery of flirtation. "And such fine taste in lovers, my my."
She then clasps her clawed hands together briefly, as if in supplication to Shanya. "And if... no, when you free Baba, do put in a good word with the Queen of Witches for me. At the very least you can tell her how much her mother adores her daughter!" She reaches up and brushes four clawed fingertips across Shanya's cheek, the points sharp but not quite breaking the skin. "And how can your dear mother help you love?"
Shanya's toes curl inward when Grishelmuk touches her cheek with her claws. She barely feels how sharp her claws are... perhaps it's because of how thick her skin is, but it feels more motherly than she thought it'd be.
"Well, we're currently seeking out the witch Jadrenka again. We need to ask her what can be done to free Baba Yaga, and to do THAT, I have a feeling that we need to pass more of whatever trials await us in the Artrosa."
"And... I suppose I can give her your regards when we find her." Shanya looks down, blushing.
Frankly, I don't know if my taste in men is THAT refined... we did come together by chance, more or less. Then again, we were *both* touched by Baba Yaga's riders...
The hag smiles. "Jadrenka is the warden, and may come and go as she pleases. Such is her right, and her ring grants her power to step anywhere within Artrosa at will. But... she was staying in the statue of the Crone. She has taken to feeling old and miserable since the falling out with her lover, Marislova." The hag cackles. "I understand it was all Kyrisjana - the nymph's - doing. Such a delightful little play."
"There are two paths that lead to Jadrenka - each with its own... challenges, dearie. One path passes through the petrified forest, asura haunted these days I hear, and another of my sisters who I'm afraid I haven't talked to in quite. Another way may take you through the ratter's layer - a creature that hunts demons, but will settle with lesser creatures too.
"The second way though; do not walk it if you value your precious youth and beauty. It is the crone's path, and you must know the proper words or else it can kill you." This time the hag circles around, placing her face alongside Lana's beautiful features. "Even if you know the words to the ritual, it can leave a witch as old and wrinkled as I." The hag smiles, all teeth and wrinkles to contrast the Kellid woman's soft features. She stops her disturbing mockery and picks up a the cauldron's spoon, using it as a mirror of sorts to reflect her features. She grows somber.
"Of course, all roads lead to the Eon pit: the death of youth, the end of life, the curse of time. Nothing beautiful survives there, but even there is wisdom for a witch."
She pauses a sing-songs a little chant.
“I, Grishelmuk, sacrifice my youth to the Three Who Are One.”
“I, Grishelmuk, sacrifice my fertility to the Three Who Are One.”
“I, Grishelmuk, sacrifice my health to the Three Who Are One.”
“I, Grishelmuk, sacrifice my strength to the Three Who Are One.”
“I, Grishelmuk, sacrifice my life to the Three Who Are One.”
"I spoke those words once; my daughter. Such a strange thing, to stare into the eyes of death. If you want a trial, daughter, there is one for you."
"Hmm." Shanya carefully weighs the party's options and thinks.
...this croning ritual isn't permanent, is it?
Kalt shudders at the notion of Shanya becoming like the crone they face, and says with quiet determination in his voice, "The forest, I believe, is where our path lies. Petrified it may be, but the forest has long been my shelter and solace, and I'd rather you not follow the crone's path, Shanya, if it can be avoided."
Shanya looks up at Kalt. "I'm inclined to agree with you. The ritual can be reversed and its enchantment broken, but it'd take a caster who can overcome the strength of Baba Yaga's magic to do it."
"Choices, choices daughter. We'll see which path is the wiser" The hag smiles. "Don't worry child, if you do end up old and wrinkled, I'll be here with open arms." Grishelmuk rubs her hands together gleefully.
The heroes, having reached consensus, follow the path which Grishelmuk describes. Before they leave, however, they notice a few treasures among the bric-a-brac of the room.
[list]
COOKBOOK OF ARCANE AUGMENTATION PRICE
21,500 GP; SLOT none CL 17th WEIGHT 5 lbs. AURA strong (no school)
This book is bound in dyed goatskin, and its coarse, thick pages are stained in a variety of colors and covered in wavering script; rough sketches; and diagrams of various plants, mystic symbols, and animal parts. A crude wooden spoon serves a bookmark. A cookbook of arcane augmentation contains recipes that allow an arcane spellcaster who prepares spells to augment her spells with specific metamagic effects through ritual preparation. A cookbook of arcane augmentation contains recipes for Ectoplasmic SpellAPG, Persistent SpellAPG, Rime SpellUM, and Sickening SpellAPG, and can be used to augment spells of 6th level or lower. Once per day, the spellcaster can augment a spell by following a recipe as part of her normal spell preparation. To prepare an augmented spell, the spellcaster must succeed at a Craft (alchemy) check (DC 15 + spell level) while mixing the recipe’s ingredients in a cauldron. (The cost of these ingredients is negligible, and they are assumed to be readily available in a spell component pouch.) If the check succeeds, the spell is augmented with the recipe’s metamagic feat. This doesn’t change the spell slot of the augmented spell. On a failed check, that spell can’t be augmented that day, but the caster can attempt to augment another spell. A spellcaster can prepare only a single augmented spell each time she prepares spells, and apply only one augmentation from the cookbook to any given spell, but can combine an augmentation with metamagic feats she possesses. In this case, only the feats possessed by the caster adjust the spell slot of the spell being cast. The book doesn’t confer the associated metamagic feat on the owner, only the ability to use the given feat when spells are prepared.
The heroes continue turn down a branching path to the south. They soon come across a strange forest of dark and leafless trees fills this expansive natural cavern, twisting upward toward the ceiling high overhead. In the middle of this dead forest sits a strange looking creature in meditation.
It is a six-armed woman with three fanged faces on her head. She wears colorful robes, and several exotic weapons are shethed around her belt. She opens her eyes into contemplative slits as the heroes approach.
The creature rises, without hesitation drawing six blades as it does. It begins to speak as it moves, seemingly more for its own benefit then any listener.
Asuras are "divine errors", evil creatures that are purportedly mistakes of the gods. They both shun the deities and seek to undo their creations, although they can be killed, they are invariably reincarnated after a period of years to resume their missions of annihilation.
The Upasunda, the "Beatific Ones", are masters of blade and possess magic to speed their movements and affect the mind. They resist and regenerate all but good weapons (or spells, in the case of regeneration). They resist magic, and possess a variety of defenses (resist acid, resist electricity, immune to poison and curses, unflankable). They are known to dodge magic through superhumanly fast reflexes.
Initiative
(+2 in cold, mountains, underground from Kalt)
Ankih Tohep
Avora Teremocles (+3 in cold)
Greta
Kalt Ìsson (+4 cold, underground; +2 mountains)
Lana Shahakh
Shanya
Sven Bjornson
Asura
Lana curses the thing's fortunes.
Shanya eyes the monster before them, racking her brain to try and figure out what it is...
"Hmm. An Asura. Specifically, an Upasunda. They're resistant to and regenerate from injuries inflicted by all weapons and spells that aren't holy in nature. They also can't be flanked, though whether that's because of its superhuman reflexes or an anatomical quirk is unknown." She explains, holding her rapier before her. "Also, don't bother with acid or electricity--odds are, they'll just bounce off its hide. It can dodge magic with its sharpened reflexes as well."
Not going to do much to hold it off. Not a holy weapon.
The energies of Lana's spells seem to sparkle and harmlessly dissipate from the unearthly body of the asura.
In the creatures hands are a curved and wicked looking sword, a barbed spear, and a sharp kukri. It leaps forward and swings at Sven, choosing to lash out with the kukri, before retreating back and out of easy reach. As it does so, Shanya steps in to strike, but although the blow just manages to land, it cannot seem to penetrate the supernatural defenses of the evil creature. Meanwhile, the Upasunda's blade is turned by the warrior's armor, saving him from harm.
Ankih quickly moves over to bless Shanya's rapier. "May Sarenrae aid your strikes, Shanya!"
The worg moves to the edge of the clearing a breathes a blast of ice; despite the upasunda's quickness, it catches the full brunt of the icy blast, moving more slowly for a brief moment under the weight of the rime.
Seeing how little damage his friends are doing to the creature, Kalt draws on his limited magic to give added heft to his blade, then moves closer to the asura.
Avora moves forward, the giant-bane spear in hand.
Lana prepares to bolster Sven's life-force.
Despite the supernaturally cold ice and the closing circle of heroes, the asura smiles, reveling in the promised violence to come and unafraid of its impending death (and rebirth!).
Shanya nods her thanks at Ankih and keeps stabbing at the asura, for all the good her rapier does her.
With fire and finesse the Shanya manages to pierce the unnatural defenses of the asura, cause a thin slice of blood to flow from it's shoulder. Some of the wound heals however, as the asura knits blood and bone.
The asura begins to leap about; sword, spear and kukri flash about as the six armed creature lashes out in what seems to be more properly called a dance then a fight. The creature swings it's sword in an arc; the blade first slices across Sven's breastbone in a shallow cut and then arcs its blade at Avora
Greta heeds Sven's quickly barked commands; in a white flash, she circles around and attempts to play "fetch" with the asura's heel. She latches on the "demon", but it manages to both keep its feet and avoid the words of her powerful bite. Much of her attack is blunted by the creatures natural defenses.
plus cold
Kalt strikes at the asura with his magically hefty blade, hoping to carve her into bits!
Avora strikes with her spear, jabbing twice at the target in rapid succession.
Kalt's first thrust bite into the flesh of the Upasunda Asura, but the creature quickly dodges out of the northman's second swing. His brother in arms, however, comes just a hair's breath from a solid strike, but the Asura is very fast, and it bends beneath Sven's cleaving blow. Likewise, Avora's positioning and timing are just a bit off, and her thrusts fail to make contact with the nimble outsider.
Ankih moves up and calls forth the magic of another dweomer, this time sun blade upon Shanya's Spear.
Shanya refocuses and keeps striking!
There! Throat is vulnerable!
Lana reaches out and takes on some of Avora's wounds as well.
This time, Shanya's blade bites deep into one of the many arms of the Asura, and the wound begins to bleed black blood.
The asura begins to scream; only after a few moments do you realize the scream is not a scream, but rather some horrid, atonal battle song sung in joy. The creature lashes out with it's many arms at Kalt, Sven, Shanya and Greta, hitting all of them but the heavily armored Sven.
The upasunda's wounds slowly knit together.
Kalt
Sven
Greta
Shanya
Snarling and infuriated by the scent of blood in the air, the mass of white fur and teeth snaps at the muli-armed horror - but her bite fails to wound the swift moving asura.
plus cold
Kalt snarls in cold fury as the upasunda manages to hit nearly the whole party, but his wrath makes his strikes erratic, his blade merely whistling through the air near the agile creature!
Avora takes a step back and swears aloud, uncharacteristic for the shy, retiring woman. She stabs again with her spear, trying to inflict damage upon the ever-agile foe. To her surprise, the weapon connects, stabbing deeply into the creature's flesh.
Lana frowns and continues to concentrate on absorbing as much of the damage as she can.
The asura's grating battle song grants it strength for a time - it barely dodges Kalt's blade and easily avoids Sven's axe. The creature's luck ends as Avora's spear pushes into deep into its body.