Avora also readies an action. If the woman comes within reach of her spear, Avora attacks her.
Ankih nearly faints as the huge woman's incredibly large sword sparks a crease in Sven's buckler.
" Milady save us from the wrath of these icy people. Dawnflower Starburst."
He fires another burst of fire at the giantess, less concerned about the books now, especially after seeing Gil lob a wave of fire into the room.
Ankih's blast goes wide, due largely to the inability to get a clean shot while the target is engaged. Gilganis again lobs his explosive flask at the enlarged woman, this time it explodes in her face, severely burning her. Enraged, she splits the elemental in half with a single stroke, and she seems unaffected by Bugsby's spell.
Avora continues to hold her position, but readies an action to attack, as above.
Bugsby looses a crossbow bolt at the large warrior woman, feeling less useful now that his more powerful magics have been used up. Once he's fired he quickly starts to reload for another shot.
Not sure what else to do, Ankih will again launch a bolt of flame at the daunting woman.
" Dawnflower Starburst. Sarenrae guide my aim."
Bugsby and Ankih's attacks fail to strike home, but Gil continues to rain death with his bombs. The woman staggers under the attack, barely remaining upright as she pulls out and quaffs a potion that revitalizes her a bit.
Though clearly frustrated the gnome can't help but cheer at Gils attack lands, the bombs the only thing seeming to harm her thus far. Lining up another shot he tries to get one off before he has to worry about hitting his friends. Shot fired he starts to reload again, "We can do it! he shouts encouragingly.
After striking Sven, his retalitory strike lops off her leg, sending her chashing to the floor. The backswing slices a deep gouge through her stomach, spilling her vital organs across the collection of books under her bulk.
Bugsbys bolt is lost in the excitement of lopped limbs and the splashing of vital organs, He makes his way into the room, stepping gingerly in some places, "Thebiggertheyare, themoreorganstheyspillaroundtheroom!" He pokes the dead giant a couple times, wondering if she'll shrink now that she's dead.
Heeding Sven he casts detect magic around the room, looking for less-obvious items of interest.
The gnome is picking out books at random and flipping through their pages quickly, only able to skim each page as it zips past his eyes. He finds a sentence describing some sort of exotic animal and sits down, leaning back against the giant corpse, pushing back against it to make it more comfortable and starts to read in earnest.
I don't really have an option do I?" she responds coolly. "You know, that's supposed to be bad luck."
Avora carries on with smashing mirrors until every last one is broken.
"Same way you got up here. Each platform only takes you to one other floor. Get on those platforms and say the command phrase." she responds, trying to suppress sounding too condescending when she does.
Bugsby see's the group is leaving, gives the book a sad look, then tosses it over this shoulder it a fluttering of paper. He starts running for the platform, stop suddenly, runs back to the book and rips out a few pages and throws them high into the air with a gleeful expression -just because- and rushes back all the way this time.
And the group appears on the first floor, staring at each other in the distance across the pool of water.
The gnome walks over to the mirrors, speaking loudly, "Let's get out of here before we lose our very lives!" his voice a trifle melodramatic. He walks up to the outside landing, and peeks outside to make sure the coast is clear, and there's no hungry crows waiting to eat his eyes.
No crows are visible to the wary Gnome.
Being sure to gather up any gear he may have dropped on the way in, Ankih dons his shield and light mace to shatter the big mirror.
" May the Lady's Light protect us from these evil omens."
He intones a quick prayer before smashing away.
After destroying the mirrors, the group makes their way out into the courtyard, wary of ravens from above. Pausing to wreck the door controls, the group makes their way back to Waldsby. Dusk is falling by the time they arrive back in town with many doors closed and much of the town at the White Weasel. Making their way around the outskirts of town, they arrive at Nadya’s cabin, a welcome fire warming the interior. She greets the returning party members happily, ”Welcome back, how’d it go?” she asks, her eyes darting through the group, where they land on Sven, and the bloody sack he’s carrying. ”Where’s Kalt?” she says, but the tears coming to her eyes already indicates she knows the answer.
Nadya's features harden as she listens to the tale, her tears falling from her cheeks as she turns to glare at Mierul, who is clearly unhappy over the idea of meeting another person she turned on. That unhappiness quickly turns to pain as Nadya slugs her hard enough in the face to lift the dainty fae from her feet and put whomever is holding her off balance. "What do you mean you aren't giving up? You five going back there tomorrow?"
Bugsby winces as Mierul is struck, but he's over her enough that he doesn't protest. When Sven suggests going back Bugsby steps forward, "We'reNOT!-" and his voice squeaks with emotion and he cuts off his words, regaining some composure. "We'renotlettingKaltdie!" he tries again with a little more control, "Weneedtofindsomonetobringhimbacktolife!! Nadya,doyouknowwhocandothisforus?"
Nadya looks a Bugsby a moment, trying to grasp what he said, then puts a hand to her chin as she thinks. ”I just might, but they aren’t close by, and they’d want a hefty sum for it. I’m on very good terms with a tribe of Halliti to the east, and they have an ancient wise woman whom I’ve heard can call back the souls of the dead. It’s a privilege they usually reserve for their blood brothers, but perhaps I can pull enough strings to get them to consent to do it for Kalt. How much money and trophies do you have for the barter?”
Nadya nods, "You may have enough to bargain with them. It's your fortune to spend as you see fit. I know if I had the ability, I'd trade everything I had away to get my Thora back. I'll leave you to decide amongst yourself." With that said, she retreats to her room. A few moments later, muffled sobs can be heard.
Bugsby latches onto Nadya's words like a drowning gnome, "Really!Wecansavehimandhelphimandbringhimbackandallwegottadoissellallourstu ffandthat'sitandwe'llbeafamilyagainandI'veneverbeensohappy-" he claps a hand over his own mouth, realizing he's rambling but unable to stop it, easier to plug the hole in these situations. But he's nodding in emphatic agreement.
"Indeed. We owe it to Kalt to make the effort." Avora says, head bowed.
Ankih is quiet and reserved on the trip back to Waldsby.
Alas Milady that I am not worthy enough to receive enough of your blessing to bring back friend Kalt. But I hope to be someday, seemingly farther into the future than first considered, if my visions are correct. Mayhap someone else in this region has the ability to do so...
He stands silent as Nadya hits the Fae, and his face brightens at the mention of someone who can revive Kalt.
" Aye Bugsby, it seems we have hope once again."
Taking off the Yeti cloak, he tosses it on the couch declaring
"Tho this does come in handy, I will gladly weather the cold if it means we get our friend back..."
Head bowed he whispers..." It seems we should garner more .., loot, I guess, and attempt to return little Thora to her mother as well. If its still possible."