Bugsby's eyes boggle as the strongest aura is a strong conjuration aura that surpasses his knowledge. He sees a robe of useful things, potions of 1 cure serious, 2 cure light, 2 enlarge person, 2 reduce person, 3 oils of mask dweomer, a bird feather token, a tree feather token, a bag of holding type 2, scrolls of 2 comprehend lang, 2 cure mod, delay poison, dispel magic, mirror sight, remove disease, remove sickness, threefold aspect, and youthful appearance. There is also an abjuration and 2 illusion he could not determine.
Kalt listens wide-eyed as Bugsby describes all the magic at play in the room with the ice statue. "So there is much of value there, that could help us in our quest. But I expect that ice woman will come to life just as the dragon did, though it may be some other magic, if we're to 'wither and die like a frost-covered bloom.' She's a poet of sorts, it seems," he concludes with a wry grin.
He peers into the room, looking more carefully at the ice statue and asking, "Does she look to you like the woman we saw in the mirror?"
As Bugsby enters the room to begin his searching, the ice statue crackles with dark energy similar to that which affected Kalt and Bugsby begins to waste away, his usual pep and energy vanishing as he becomes haggard and frail looking.
Those detecting magic can see the abjuration spell aura slowly dissipating now that its held spell has fired.
Sacking the room, in addition to all the magical items previously seen the group finds 50 trade bars of silver each worth 50 GP, and stamped with the seal of Taldor, and a number of other trinkets and valuables worth a sum total of 1600 GP.
"Aye, it can't come too soon," offers Kalt. "If you're feeling as bad as I am, Bugs, I know all you want is for it to stop."
After plundering Nazhena's rooms, using the bag of holding to carry the 500 lbs of silver bars, the group examines the other two rooms. The southern room is an unused and empty bedroom with nothing of importance, while the northern one contains a large bed, reading desk, padded chair, bookshelf, and storage chest. Two windows provide ample light, and several exquisite paintings of winter scenes hand on the wall. A goat paws in the corner, bleating sadly.
Looking back and forth between Bugsby and Kalt, Ankih shakes his head sadly.
" I cant fix what is wrong. I am sorry my friends."
Glancing over Sven's shoulder..."Maybe it's a pet? Do witches have familiars like wizards? I am not sure..."
Avora bends down to pet the goat. "We can't just leave her here, Sven! At the very least, she must be set free, though, given the option, I would take her back to the village and see if a farmer wanted to adopt her."
As they walk back into the wreck of the room where they fought Radosek, Kalt turns his attention to the translucent globe floating in the center of it. "I've never seen a map on a ball before, but that's what this seems to be. I wonder what the significance of these glowing lines is, they connect points on the map..."
"Hmmm, this may take a while to figure out, but it seems important that we do it. Radosek didn't just create this thing for his own entertainment, I'm guessing."
Avora studies the globe carefully. "I think you're right," she says after a moment, "This is a map. And I think that these lines may indicate where there are portals. But I don't know..." She lapses into thought as she contemplates the device.
Listening to Avora, Ankih also concentrates on the device. Following her and trying to add things she missed..
Lana examines the slowly rotating globe and memories begin to stir. Shapes on the globe remind her of familiar places and she is able to discern which light point represents the Pale Tower. A single line of light connects to that point, and heads far to the south, ending near a small village and within a forest.
Having found the proper locations, the group sets about pouring over the various tombs scattered about the rooms, and after multiple attempts, they find the correct sequence of actions and incantations to halt the channeling of power, closing the portal in Taldor. Once given the ok, Sven and Kalt set about ruining the arcane markings carve into the floor, ensuring that it cannot be restarted without extensive remodeling of the entire upper level.
Once the others sort out the globe, and how it can be used to close the winter portal in Taldor, Kalt awkwardly joins Sven in gouging out the witch's marks on the floor, pleased the he's able to do something useful in his current state. "Right," he says when they've finished, "let's get out of this damned place."
As the group decides to leave the tower, Bugsby downs a potion of featherfall and leaps out into the winter wind through the hole created by the ice dragon’s entrance. Cackles of glee can be heard on the wind as the Gnome slowly floats down some distance from the tower itself. The rest of the group decides on a less eccentric path, choosing to return to the ground via the transportation pads. Rejoining the sorcerer, who had been busy making snow gnomes, the group heads back to Waldsby.
Arriving in town, the group is viewed in a mix of awe and fear. Those aligned with the witches dash out of sight of the ones who slayed their master, praying they have not also earned the parties wrath. The ones who had lived under the oppression for so long are amazed that the group has returned relatively whole, but occasionally look fearfully to the northwest.
Nadya greets the group with a warm smile, pleased there was no further loss of life. Her house seems to be in turmoil, as crates and sacks line the walls and her house elf, Hatch, is grumbling as he goes about his tasks. ”Is it over?” she asks, stirring a boiling pot of stew while she tosses in a variety of herbs and vegetables. When the party nods in affirmative, she adds, ”So I’m sure there be an amazing tale. I’d like to hear how you killed that b##*& who took my Thora away from me.”
" Be wary friends. We killed the apprentice not the Witch. She might very well come looking for revenge!"
Ankih then spends his time helping Nadya where needed, and going though Gilganis things and putting his shop in order. He studies what magic scrolls and writings he can find, and further works on his studies of how arcane magic differs from divine...
I see, Nazhena isn’t dead yet… responds Nadya, slightly crestfallen, ”Did you at least end the magical winter affecting your lands to the south?”
" We believe so, Nadya, but haven't really checked. Nor am I sure we can check. But don't stress over Nazhena. We WILL end her reign of terror. Just not yet. Sorry."
"That we did, Nadya, thought they are not my lands," responds Kalt. "We all regret not slaying Nazhena herself, but I am not sure we would have survived the fight with her, truth to tell. As it is, I nearly died - again - this time by a dragon of ice, and my companions all took grave wounds as well. And Bugsby and I struggle under cruel curses laid on us at the tower."
He looks about at the chaos of Nadya's home and asks, "Did you lose something? Are you packing to leave?"
Da, we are leaving this town. Too many bad memories and we are outcasts from the others. Do you think after you are gone, the others will take kindly to the one who brought you into their midst? the boys have an uncle to the northwest. It is closer to Whitethrone, but it should be safer there. she says with a sad smile. If you are heading that way, I can lead you. What is your path now, Kalt Isson? Where do you head? she asks, her voice growing soft near the end.
"We have not yet decided where to head next, Nadya," Kalt responds in a gentler tone than most are used to hearing from him. "We must find a way to remove the dire spells the witches left upon us, and do not yet now where that can be done. From the look of things, you are not leaving on the morrow. Perhaps we can confer amongst ourselves, and seek counsel from you, and decide where our path leads. It may be that we have no choice but to go to Whitethrone, to finish what we've started."
After a thoughtful pause, he adds, "I should like to travel with you, for the pleasure of your company, and to see your boys safely to their destination."
The woman tilts her head slightly, surprised at being addressed. After a moment she nods. "It needs to be done, and... I think I'm not one to leave things to others. And," she adds thoughtfully, "perhaps as I use those talents, I'll discover their secrets."
And why they hurt so much...
" Eureka it works. Blessed be Milady, I have successfully cast an arcane spell....I believe my armor might be the cause of some of my grief..."
The group takes a few days to relax after their hard fought victory at the tower. Perhaps the being is such close proximity to potent arcane energies, but Ankih has found a spark of arcane energies within him, and spends much of his time pouring over tomes, practicing his spells, and scribing scrolls for later use. As the group travel around town, whispers follow them, growing more and more fearful as the week progresses. Ravens have been seen acting oddly in the woods, and the superstitious in town point to that as an ill omen, muttering that the town has been cursed by the witches and they’ll be coming to claim the towns souls in the night. Many try and wave the crazies away, but the threat of a vengeful return has taken root, and already, a few families have packed up in a hurry and headed out of town.
Nadya herself seems to grow more and more fidgety, but has held to her word that she would take you to see her family to the north, who may be able to help you if Whitethrone is your destination.
Nadya ponders a moment before shaking her head, ”Can’t say that I do, though I haven’t spent too much time near Whitethrone. My contact there would be the better one to ask. Can’t say it wouldn’t surprise me to learn there are people there who can do what you need, what with the city being the size that it is.”
The group informs Nadya of their decision to accompany her on her trip to Whitethrone, and the rest of the day is spent in the final preparations to relocate her family somewhere safer. The next morning, they set out into the crispy Irrisen air. Hours pass by without incident, but as it gets on toward dusk, the party notices black specs in the sky, acting in an unusual fashion for bird. They are spaced equidistant to each other, and seem to be passing back and forth across long patches of sky.