Once back in town, Mouse just moves out of the way, and sits down on the ground, pulling out her book, and beginning to quietly write. She watches the others, face moving through different emotions as they speak of different things... but she doesn't offer her own tale, by any means.
Oddly... despite all of the happenings, she feels like something is still off. Wrong. Finding their princess in the first castle didn't feel right. Especially with no dragon... the dragons showed up more after they left said castle.
Truth be told, she wouldn't be surprised if more dragons showed up in short order to interrupt any plans they might have. Finally, she looks up from her writing, "We should also try to prepare for Fey... they won't be happy with what we did."
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"I hope that didn't hurt," says Eirikr as Tiferet hands him the spear. He gives the spear a spin before strapping it to his back; it feels much more natural in his hand than the sword had. "This--means a lot to me. I'm not sure what I'd do without it."
After Morgraine finishes her healing, Eirikr pokes at where the bruise had been; it still stings but seems mostly better. "Thanks," he says to Morgraine. "And Ashen says thanks too.
Eirikr takes the cloak from Tacey without hesitation; Rokhar said it was magical, and if he had been wearing it, it was probably the good kind of magic, right? At least, it was the kind of magic that wouldn't hurt whoever wore it. He can't resist looking over at Rokhar and smirking as he puts on the cloak.
"I don't think so," Eirikr says in answer to Nathara's question, glancing at Lady Argentea. It was bad enough that so many people had seen them shift, but most of them were bandits. The lady was a noble--and they couldn't be trusted. "Not with the princess here."
As soon as Eirikr puts on the cloak, he can barely feel the cold anymore and feels significantly more comfortable. It seems even better than an average fur cloak. Tacey nods to him slightly and continues to walk along with the bandits, keeping an eye on them for any signs of escape attempts.
"Erastil's Horns, you've been busy," the sheriff says, looking at the group of bandits. "I... I think I need to send my deputy to Zimar to arrange someone to pick them up. I don't have the resources to keep them here long term. I can keep them in the jail for now though. And..." He turn to Lady Argentea. "It is truly a pleasure to see you unharmed my lady. Your man offered to ride to Cassomir to inform your relatives of what had occurred once he recovered, though it will be several days before he is well again. I'm sure he'll be most relieved to see you well."
He seems to recognize that the wisdom in Tif's words. "Of course. Let's go to the town hall. The jail is in the basement so we can lock these brigands away and the council head is in her office. I believe Elder Natharen is either at the inn tending to Yuln or at the temple, if you wish me to send someone to fetch him."
"We know what's causing the snow. Doors open, doors to other places, places where witches are. The fairies opened the doorWe have to go back, find the door, and close it shut, but first we have to rest. Should've stayed in the forest, but we have prisoners for some reason. One of them's a necromancer. Might want to do something about him. Others don't matter. Door matters. Can you help us?" says Eirik once they reach the townhall. He isn't really talking to anyone in particular--it almost seems like he's talking to himself, or just saying whatever comes to mind.
"A bit" Tiferet responds sincerely. I've seen him at his most vulnerable. No reason to keep the tough woman façade up. she thinks. "Luckily, nothing Morgraine's magic couldn't handle."
She smiles approvingly as Eirikr tests its balance before putting it away. "Think nothing of it. I'm confident it will be an investment well paid back in fey's blood."
"I had half a mind to pay their price back in gold" Tiferet says to Eve as she reminds them of their debt. "From now on, it's going to be ice fey and, apparently, trolls. And we all saw how ill-fitted we are at dealing with flying foes" she elaborates. "And then, the portal – and a land of endless winter on the other side. Who knows when our next chance to resupply will be? Those little flasks might spell the difference between life and death there."
"Please do" she says to the Sheriff. "And any village elder who isn't too busy at the moment. There's a correlation between this strange weather and the attacks – one they won't be too happy to hear, but must be informed about nonetheless."
She points at the prisoners. "This lot isn't likely to put up a fight any time soon, but keep an eye on the sleazy-looking one. He's their leader and a necromancer. Put him in a separate cell if at all possible."
"About half of them are sick, as well. I'm not sure with what." Inire adds, snapping her book closed, and holding it under her arm as she follows along. "One of them had some nice lock picks... they don't anymore, but that still suggests at least one will be able to work you locks." she says, though doesn't fight to make herself heard as she falls into step with the others.
The sheriff looks a bit confused for a moment, then nods. "Err, I think all this magic business is starting to get beyond my understanding. I'll get Elder Natharen and see if I can round up the councilors while my deputies lock up the bandits." His eyes drift to Rohkar and he scowls. He turns to a pair of younger men that have come down to the square while the group was talking. "Make sure their leader has private accommodations where he won't cause trouble. And make sure there's nothin' around that might let them try to leave early." The two deputies begin escorting the bandits inside, one making sure to stay near Rohkar while the other gives each bandit a quick pat down to make sure they're not hiding anything important.
The sheriff hurries off to the inn and returns to the town hall a few minutes later with the priest from the temple. Two more people join you in the hall shortly, a dwarf man and a human woman. The woman clears her throat. "Now, why don't you fill us in on what exactly is happening out there?"
"There are fairies in the forest. The fairies opened a gate, to somewhere else. That let all the snow in. The bandits were helping them, but they said they don't know what the fairies plan was or how they made the gate. They kidnapped the princess because the fairies told them to, but they didn't say why. Now we need to go back. But we need to rest first. We're tired. At least, I am. I got pushed in a river. By an ice monster," says Eirikr, unfazed by the sheriff's earlier confusion.
"What Eirikr said, basically. The fey, the cold – they're both pouring out from a portal deep in the Border Wood. A portal leading to the northern land of Irrisen, where spring hasn't blossomed in more than a thousand years now. A winter witch by the name of Nazhena Vasilliovna is responsible for that. What her intents are, we don't know, but I wouldn't hope they're too benign" Tiferet states matter-of-factly.
"This has been independently confirmed by both a captive fey and the bandits' leader, Rohkar. Apparently, he was in league with the trespassers. For money, or power, most likely."
"Actually... we know he traded it for power, if we believe Vosi. It explains his cold skeletons. I don't think skeletons normally chill a room... though I've never met any." Inire adds to help explain the situation.
The woman sits down and takes a moment to think. "So... these bandits are in league with these witches from... Irrisen, correct? And they're creating this winter weather with some kind of... portal. How? And why? We're on the other side of the continent. What could they want with us?"
"Don't know. Why do witches do anything?" says Eirikr. "We weren't able to find out. Nobody we asked seemed to know. Whatever they're doing, can't be good. Need to close it."
"The only way to know is either by asking the witch... or asking Teb. They say he's a troll." Inire offers from near the doorway to the room, her mouth twisted into a grimace.
The priest looks slightly startled. "A troll? Truly? This witch must have sent a rather brutal agent to enforce whatever plan she has. The beasts are notoriously violent. I'm not certain how you can make one reveal information."
Nathara remains silent for a while, deep in thought. The Gate. Insanely powerful magic. A winter witch mistress. A plan to abduct a woman seemingly of no consequence. Nathara was inclined to believe Lady Argentea that she had no idea why she has been abducted, but there must be a reason.
What Tiferet said was true. As long as the gate remained they were all in constant danger of being overrun. And then there was the matter of Fawfein having escaped and Vosi in constant danger of being exposed now. Many fey who had no choice but to follow the winter witch's commands died.
She nods absentmindedly as Eirikr mention that they need to close the portal.
"I believe we need to find a way to throw the troll back through the portal through whence he came from. And we may have to close to protect this realm. But I will have to be on the other side when we do. I have a promise to keep and must take something back that the witch has stolen.
The magic of portals is beyond me, but in most cases it should be possible to destroy the physical item in which it manifests. If there is such an item.
It is frustrating that we have not the slightest idea of the witch's plans. I fail to see how we could acquire such knowledge, thus we must act on whatever little knowledge we have. If you can call aid, good sheriff, such as the army or knights, it might be a good time."
Tiferet listens silently through Natahra's analysis of the matter. The witches' motives are as unclear as ever. Such a monumental display of magical power just to grab a single noblewoman? Hardly worth the effort, and Fawfein himself seemed to scoff at the idea. A bridgehead for a larger-scale invasion? But why in Taldor, of all places? Are they looking for something in particular? In which case, wouldn't it have been more efficient – and less obvious – to send some undercover agents?
"It seems that both answers and solutions lie at the other end of this portal" she eventually says after appearing lost in thought for a while. "We had a talk about the matter earlier. We're willing to carve a path up to the gate and through it, after we've rested and resupplied. Our small number trying to succeed where a larger force would probably fail. But Nath has the right of it. Should we perish in the effort, or get captured, it wouldn't hurt for Taldane forces to start mobilizing. At the very least, should the worst come to pass, you should be prepared to defend the village against these intruders."
"There's a good chance, I think, that they did send people this way. I've never heard of an open portal that didn't belong to elves that opened to another place on Golarion. Most likely it had to be set up from both ends... I think. But magic is definitely not my subject." she says, shaking her head, "Assuming I'm wrong - and I probably am - if they can simply open doorways between Irrisen and here, breaking their door from this side... might not be enough."
Eirikr tries to remember anything he knows about trolls, but all he can think about are stories of them hiding under bridges and frightening goats, as well as a few riddles that his father swore he heard from a troll. Since none of these things seem particularly helpful, he resists the urge to recite these riddles unprompted to the rest of the party.
"If Vosi is still alive he could be able to provide more information about everything that's going on but we need to head back to meet up with him, we should be able to rest on the way back as well."
"Yes, Vosi seems our best, or at least easiest, source of information.
"Though I hope otherwise, I don't think the little guy was told much more than 'go through this portal and do what the troll tells you'... Still, in any case it seems our path leads back to the Border Wood. If the portal must be closed, the why is less important than the how, however" Tiferet says wearily. "Though I, for one, am exhausted... We haven't slept in a full day and I don't think I can make it to the lodge again without resting in the meantime – we might as well enjoy what is presumably going to be the last roof over our head for quite a long time."
"Wait, who's Vosi?" the sheriff asked. "And we don't exactly have a lot of warriors here. I'll have to request a full garrison from Zimar to support us if there's some kind of attack coming."
The councilwoman nods. "If you are willing to help defend our town by hunting down the source of this unnatural winter, then we would greatly appreciate your aid. I'm afraid that you may be the only ones capable of stopping these fey. With the imminent threat, we will do our best to equip you and provide you a place to rest of course."
"We need fire. Fire to burn them with, the fey don't like fire and--and iron, but not regular iron, the kind that bites cold--the kind like this," says Eirikr, tugging at the sword still strapped to his hip.
"Vosi is... a fey, truth be told. One we defeated and captured and whom Evelyn tricked into offering his services. When the façade dropped, he knew he was punishable by death for his apparent treason, so he struck a bargain: his loyalty for our help in recovering an icy shard from the Witch's clutches, a shard on whose integrity hangs his very life" Tiferet answers the sheriff's question.
The sheriff looks at Eirikr and nods. "I don't know if there's any real cold iron in town, but I'm sure Tessaraea has plenty of alchemist's fire in stock. I know she's always sure to have plenty on hand."
The councilwoman looks curious. "Are you certain you can trust this fey? He may simply be trying to lure you into a trap. Fey are known to be tricky and dangerous."
"He seemed abated enough for his change of heart to be genuine, Lady Councilor" Tiferet replies tactfully. "Though a promise made in distress rarely outlasts the removal of its cause. It might be he'll try to lead us into a trap to regain his masters' favour. Or perhaps, be it by fear or hope, he will despite all odds prove a loyal ally. Either way, I've heard that sometimes the best way to avoid a trap is allow oneself to fall straight into it. We'll be wary."
"We have more reason to believe him than he has to believe us." Inire says quietly from her position near the back.
Nathara nods to Eirikr's list of things they might require. That all sounds like a reasonable precautiion.
She honestly doesn't know whether or not they can trust Vosi, particularly after he feels betrayed in turn. But she is willing to try and help him, as well as the other fey, out of their misery in every way she can. Trust has to start somewhere and she is willing to prove her own trustworthiness and that she is not indifferent towards the fate of the fey.
She nods as Inire brings her thoughts to the point. "If we could break the witch's influence over the fey altogether they might very well be willing to take revenge for their enslavement. Fey are difficult to predict, however, their society is complex and their actions can seem erratic to outsiders. Which includes anyone who's not fey."
Nodding to Eirikr. "One step at a time, though. We need to rest and then take on the gate. There is one fire spell I could prepare. What do we know about trolls?"
"That they're nearly impossible to kill unless their wounds are immediately cauterized with fire or acid. So yes, fire spells seem a safe bet" Tiferet replies to Nathara's question, suddenly shaking her weariness away. Though fatigue threatens to finally overcome her at any moment, there's something within her that stirs as battle plans are hatched.
"So the fey and the troll share a weakness then. Perhaps that's for the best. It saves you the trouble of trying to confront them with separate tactics," the sheriff says. "Though I know little of the fey themselves. They're not exactly common around here."
"They do. It seems we'll need a lot of fire then. Also considering how once we've stepped through the portal, our chances to resupply will be slim to none."
That's exactly what the witches would be expecting! Once we get to Irrisen, mark my words it'll be fireballs and fire storms everywhere!
Nathara thinks about this. At least some basic concepts of a plan seems to forming. "We will need some equipment and maybe an animal to carry it then." Which hopefully would be funded by the village. "But that's something for after we had some sleep. You..." she looks into the round. "You're all into this? I... I must confess I enjoy fighting by your side and would not want to miss one of you."
She seems a bit insecure, but it is apparent she means what she's saying. There is a feverish rush in her, the desire to prove herself, that she can use her learned skills to commit heroic acts. Yet that is also a very fast past into the next life for most who try it and one must be aware to not succumb to pride or let a minor victory fool oneself into forgetting one's own mortality. Or that not everyone is willing to follow that path.
Her tired mind is weary with the impressions of the past few days which blends more and more with stories and fairy tails of her childhood.
"I don't want to fight... but I can. Which means it would be wrong for me not to, and leave other people who can't to do it." Inire says, holding one arm with the other as she watches the others. She chews on her lip, and manages to stifle a yawn.
Tiferet doesn't speak at first when Nathara asks her question. Instead, she fixes her gaze on the dark-skinned elven warrioress, a fierce determination gleaming in her eyes. Her answer has been implicit since the first time she has bared her steel at her newfound sister's side. The sunlight's shadow and the sunlight on the snow, the crow's cryptic words now come back to her mind, only now echoing with a glint of a portentous future laid in front of them.
"When I first entered this very village not three days ago, I was a mercenary without a cause. A recounter of tales with no story of my own. Thanks to you, all of you, I am no longer lost." A deep breath. "So yes, I will fight - by your side, if the fates allow. I will fight for the honour of my clan. I will fight for a spring yet to come. But more importantly, as Inire reminded us, I will fight for those who cannot."
"Has to be done. Not supposed to snow in the summer. At least, not here. And I guess we're the best ones to do it. But I'm going to take a nap first," says Eirikr with a shrug of his shoulders and a ywan.
Morgraine smiles wryly, though there is a determined gleam in her eye. "Best? Or only ones here crazy enough to try? I too will go. I'm not sure how useful I've been so far, but it may be that my healing will be needed again."
..and perhaps I will see a glimpse of what your little tart of a pet Nazhena has been up to, Lydillia.
"I got Vosi into this and I promised him I'd help, I think my lies have done enough to him I owe him to follow through. If we can help free the other fey they might even come to our aid dealing with things like trolls."
"Sometimes being the best at something is just a matter of choosing your competition wisely" Tiferet finds the strength to joke. "Or lack thereof, in our case."
"And don't sell yourself short, Morgraine" she adds with a warm smile meant to reassure the fair enchantress. "I counted at least three bandits you put down, not to mention we wouldn't have stayed in the fight as long as we did if it weren't for you."
"Creatures hailing from the First World are usually mercurial and unpredictable rather than outright malicious, though most of those who pledged their loyalty to the Witches manage to display both qualities" Tiferet says turning to the others, slowly and drowsily. "Those fey whose shards are kept in a Witch's custody accepted that fate willingly, welcoming the power of Winter into their hearts. It's a symbiotic relationship that's existed since the founding of Irrisen. Merely acquiring their shards won't break it, as it was not enforced through magical compulsion." A bitter smile appears on her face. "Unless, of course, we threaten to sunder them if they don't turn upon their former masters. Though I'd be hard-pressed to call such a thing 'freeing' them." The tone of her voice makes it abundantly clear how reluctant she would be to even consider such a despicable solution – a solution which basically amounts to enslavement.
The sheriff looks slightly confused, like he only really understood half of that. "I... I believe you're the only one who has any really knowledge of these beings. I must ask you, please, will you try to stop them. It will be days before reinforcements arrive from anywhere. With how fast the cold is spreading, the town will be snowed in by the time my deputy reaches Zimar and the fey will likely have overrun us by the time he gets back. You may be the only ones that can stop this sorcery. We'll do what we can to equip you, but we don't really have the resources to fight them. At least you'll have a place to rest the night though. Please, stay at the inn and be ready in the morning."
With that, the council dismisses and the heroes head off to the inn to rest after their long day. The inn is almost silent tonight, as the tale of what happened in the woods has spread. Everyone seems to have headed to the relative safety of their homes. It is a very quiet night for the party. As you wake in the morning, Morgraine and Inire still feel exhausted and their bodies ache. A simple touch reveals that they both feel slightly warm to the touch. Morgraine's fever seems significantly higher though.
Inire awakens early... though not by choice. The sickness she doesn't even know she has leaves her restless, tossing and turning. She can't be under the blankets or she grows too hot, outside, too cold. The early fits of tossing and turning had left her aching. She eventually gives up on sleep and just huddles in the corner, half-covered in her blanket, far away from the fire. Her already narrow eyes look slightly puffy, perhaps from rubbing them too much, and her nose seems even worse for wear.
Eirikr awakes in the morning after a restful sleep; though he would've preferred to sleep outside, the snow and his desire to draw as little attention to himself as possible made him decide to stay in the inn, though he did opt to sleep on the floor beside Ashen regardless. When he awakens, he looks around the inn and sees Inire, huddled up in a blanket, very obviously ill.
"You're sick," he says, biting his tongue a bit after he realizes that he's stating something she probably already knows. "I'll get a healer."
Morgraine too had tossed and turned during the night. The few times she was coherent enough to think, the mental picture of the sick bandits coalescing in her mind as the aches wracked her. She was afraid she knew what was wrong.
Morgraine stirs at the sound of voices and rasps out through chattering teeth before Eirikr leaves, "It will t take... sstrong caster to remove the sickness. Else, have to run its course. Antiplague or bodybalm tea may help. Rrrest of you should n nottt be here w..with uss."
Inire stays huddled in her blanket, only her eyes and part of her nose showing, and nods to Eirikr. "Think I should have left the bandit- she sneezes under the blanket, a tiny 'chu', and winces. "sick bandits alone." she says, sounding miserable. "Never been really sick. Chicken pox when I was little. A few colds. The lodge made sure adventurers were taken care of between trips; so I never really- she sneezes again "They never really brought sickness in."
Tiferet awakes on the Silver Stoat's wooden floor to the sight of Eirikr looming over Inire's huddled form, shivering and shaking. Besides her, Morgraine isn't looking any better – possibly worse. It looks like a fever has just accomplished what fey and necromancers could not; she hoped to be ready to depart first thing in the morning, but with the two young women in such conditions, this option seems now out of the question.
"Tessaraea Willowbark, the apothecary who treated Yuln's wounds, is the only one who might have such concoctions. The only one I can think of, at least. You go talk to her while I fetch Elder Natharen?" she says addressing Eirikr.
Eirikr heads in the direction of the apothecary to seek out her assistance in treating Morgraine and Inire.
The apothecary is found in her shop, tending to the injured Ulfen man who seems to have taken up residence on a small cot she keeps for just such an occasion. "Yes?" she asks as she recognizes Eirikr. "Oh, it's good to see you. Did you need something? I can't really provide any more free supplies, but I can give you some items at a premium if you need something."