Between Sven's nose and Bugsby's knowledge from watching ants build ant hills, the group determines there is an elixir of truth and 3 potions of feather fall.
As Kalt described the sights he saw in Pharasma's realm, she blushes slightly. She knew the affections she felt for Sven were obvious, but pair bonding was something she had never considered.
Bugsby eyes the potions of featherfall eagerly, and immediately begins looking around for a cliff, "Oncewe'redonewiththetoptower, doyouthinkIcould..." and bounces one such potion in his hand thoughtfully.
As you come in from the northern entrance, you see a long red carpet extend from the western doorway of this mirrored hall between ice sculptures of twin nymphs, ending in an open alcove to the east. Windows continue to look out into the courtyard, and another exit is seen to the south, following the contours of the towers outer wall.
Frowning in thought after Lana's answer, Ankih ponders some of the things he has learned and seen.
"Well, maybe when we have grown more wise in the world and the ways of magic, something can be done. It pains me to see someone so injured tho. DO you know how it happened? Was it a price of your magic? I mean, I am devoted to Milady, and she grants me the spells I use. A lot of people cant do this, so it makes sense that there is a cost of some kind."
makes me wonder about wizards and sorcerers. Especially the latter, what is their cost...?
" Be careful. They are more than likely expecting us, so stealth may not help. But! We should exercise caution. It seems TOO empty and quiet to me..." He seems worried, but still has to smile at Bugsby's antics.
" Falling from a great height, without fear of the sudden stop at the end, might be fun at that. Maybe I'll join you friend."
”No one else that I recall, Sven. Perhaps to be with me in that realm, people had to be important to me and present when I was killed. I had no opportunity to ask questions. In fact, I couldn’t really even speak or move. When I wanted to move, I was suddenly somewhere else, with no sense of moving, or even having a body to move. But I was glad you all were there, especially now that I have a moment to ponder it and understand it better. But perhaps we should focus on the matter at hand – and I’ll leave you and Avora to ponder life as a mated pair of bears.”
Kalt raises a hand in alarm, warning his friends to stop, then says, ”Wait! Those statues – the eyes moved, on both of them! We should scan them for magic, and be ready for a fight.”
Walking along with the others, the gnomes thoughts are clearly far far away... and likely very very high as well. He's eyeing the vials and bright eyes full of glee.
But Bugsby takes a step back at Kalts warning, stuffing the vials into his pack and scans ahead with his magic, searching everywhere and keeping one eye on the statues.
Lana shakes her head. "I wouldn't know anything about costs. I just... sense hurt, sometimes, and try to relieve it. And sometimes I can and sometimes I can't."
Lana frowns and focuses her attention on the statues, trying to determine what she can about them without approaching.
They appear to be non-magical ice sculptures.
At the hurling of a weapon the ice statues snap into action. The target snatches the javelin out of the air, frost immediately forming on the shaft where it was caught. The other forms a shield of ice on its arm as it turns to face the group.
"Damn, they move quick for statues! Made of ice, no less," says Kalt as he swings his blade at the nearest one.
"Whatacatch! ...You'dofthoughtthey'dmoveslower." he observes even as he tries to understand what they're facing
Relaying anything he recalls to the group, he moves back around the door in an effort to hide, peeks around the door frame and launches a crossbow bolt.
Kalt's blade scores the ice, sending chips flying. Bugsby and Sven's attack clatter harmlessly against the icy hide. Bugsby wracks his brain trying to figure out what they are, but beyond the obvious of being some type of animated icy sculptures, he is at a loss.
The icy constructs target the two northmen, with Sven earning two lacerations from the dryad's claws. Kalt is a bit more lucky and deftly parries the assault.
Kalt smashes the icy statue with his greatsword again.
Avora stabs at the statue closest to her.
"Ankih... step back," instructs Lana quietly, drawing off her right glove.
Startled by the speed of the statues, Ankih steps back 5' and looses a bolt of fire.
" Dawnflower starburst."
Lana takes a deep breath and nods once, then reaches out her blackened hand toward the creature and commands firmly: "Burn." Nothing happens immediately, but a moment later fire courses down her arm and shoots out toward the monster, producing soft sizzles as fire meets ice.
The battle with the ice sculptures is swift and brutal. After their first surprise attack, the party is better able to defend themselves and eventually destroy the pair with flame and blade. Examination of the remains does not help in determination of what the ice creature is. Perhaps an animated statue, or an icy golem, or even a strange ice creature crafted by the witchs. Further exploration of the room reveals nothing of interest beyond the teleportation pad and the exit to the south.
Kalt checks his blade for dings from smashing the icy statues to pieces, then nods back at Sven, glad to be on the move again.
Seeing Sven's injuries and not sure who else is hurt, Ankih gathers the group and channels a wave of healing energy.
" Blessed be, Milady"
Heading further south, Sven leads the group into another curved hallway with two doorways. Kalt listens at them both and finds only the near one has any signs of inhabitants. Examining the quiet one first, the party finds a bed, desk, and empty storage locker furnishing the small circular chamber. A five-foot-tall mirror hangs on the wall opposite the room's only door. A quick tossing of the room reveals nothing of interest.
In the other however, the scent of perfume fills the air of this small bedroom where several dresses styled for a Taldan noblewoman lie neatly arranged on the bed. A mirrored vanity and chair sit by the door next to a wooden chest, and a large mirror hangs on the wall between two windows. A beauty of Taldan descent looks up in shock, emerald eyes appraising the group as she quickly recovers. "How dare you just barge into a woman's room" Lady Argentea exclaims. "I would have thought better of those that rescued me before."
"Yes, but you did not see me accosted a second time, and this time dragged all the way through that frigid portal to this...place." she says, motioning to the tower, "At least they treat me a bit better here. I'm pretty sure Radosek fancies me, though I don't see what the others see in him. I assume you are here to rescue me?" she states, a single eyebrow arching at the question.
"It's true, my lady," answers Kalt, a faint glimmer of suspicion in his eyes, "we did not see you accosted and dragged here. Can you tell us where this terrible event occurred? Who was it that brought you here?" He eyes her closely as she responds, a little dubious in the face of such coincidence.
Ankih eyes the Lady with suspicion, saying not a word.
The timing is off here, it wasn't that long after we saved her that we went through the portal. I wonder if it is a disguise, or something else?
"Shortly after I left you, a band of sprites led by this spear wielding troll came upon my guard. They were slaughtering everyone when I was knocked unconscious. I came to in a cave and then sent through a cylinder of snow within a ring of icicles. Then I was taken here. My captors were a band of fae for the most part, but after seeing them slay my guards, I didn't try to run. Given the way Radosek has been carrying on for the past few weeks, I expect many of them to be dead from your skirmish tactics these past few weeks. Over a score slain wasn't it, or was he exaggerating?" she says, a slight smile at the angst she thinks your group caused. "Have you slain everyone in the tower? Will you be taking me home to Taldor now?"
Lana studies the woman, knowing nothing but what she's been told about her, yet knowing a thing or two about humans in general.
The group huddles up and begins discussing things, and through combined effort manage to piece together that the Lady has exhibited some unusual facial ticks that usually imply deceit.
With his usual tact and interpersonal subtlety on full display, Kalt turns from the quiet little conference with his friends and says to Argentea, "You're lying. Have you been lying to us since the beginning? Tell me why I shouldn't kill you. Now."
"Oh Kalt." purrs the Lady as she slowly saunters flirtatiously through the party and out into the hall. "You shouldn't kill me because You'd be killing an unarmed, non-threatening woman who hasn't done a thing but bend the truth. You can't kill every woman who's lied to a man, else you'd have no one left!" Turning toward Sven as she goes to ruffle the hair peaking out of the top of Bugsby's hat. "What's going on here? They needed someone in Taldor to distract people away from their portal, and they chose me." That said, she takes off at a sprint toward the teleport pad.
" Traitor! Dawnflower Starburst."