"Then we have a plan... or at least an opening move. But we're good at improvising" says Tiferet with a grin, as she starts honing her axe.
Nathara merely nods. She stares intently at the map, then closes her eyes and tries to trace the lines with closed eyes as she tries to memorize it.
Nadya nods. "You're welcome to stay here for as long as you want. As long as you don't make any trouble around town, no one will bother you too much. Most of my neighbors don't like outsiders, but they won't bother you as long as you leave them alone. The shops have some basic supplies if you need to pick things up tomorrow and I'm sure that Father Halzberg will welcome newcomers if you need anything from the church." She yawns. "Now, I think we've talked for long enough. There's not much space, but I have plenty of extra furs that you can sleep on."
"One last question... if something happens to the witch... how does that affect your village? Positively? Negatively? Is it something we absolutely should avoid..?"
"As long as they think it was a group of outsiders who were responsible, we'd be beneath their notice. If they thought the village was collaborating, they'd probably respond... violently. I might have to leave town to keep anyone else from being blamed, but I have little left for me here anyway..."
"Except a home, friends, and children." Inire corrects. "Is it possible we could pull this off without involving you..? Or... do you feel the need to be involved?"
Nayda's fists clench. "The witch took my daughter from me. I can't just stand back and let you do this alone." She takes a deep breath and calms herself. "I stayed because it was safer to stay in one place while I was raising my children, but I'd rather take the boys and move before I lose another child to the witch."
"You have done much already, for which we are grateful. While we will not refuse any aid you still offer, I do hope and trust that you now keep the welfare of those that remain to you in primary view. Nadya, know that while I yet breathe, this witch will never be completely secure. Whether it take a day, or a decades, I will see that this woman pay for her deeds and see justice done."
Tiferet nods heartily at Morgraine's powerful vow. Oaths are not spoken lightly in the North, but she knows every word has been uttered with meaning and purpose.
"Your rightful revenge will never be taken away from you" says she says still whetting her blade. "Nor will your children. This I swear, as long as I draw breath."
"If you can get us in we should be able to handle the rest but I would suggest you take your family away for a while regardless of your actions."
Nathara wakes up early in the morning, when it still. It is almost like the darkness that is always part of this land since the witches control merely chooses to come true at night whereas the days are a lie.
She draws her fur cloak tight around herself and goes to clean herself in the snow, while her ears trace the sounds of the yet sleeping village. Something is not right here.
A strange mood falls onto her as she looks around, the details of the things within her darkvision and lingering shapes beyond. The whole sitation seems so unreal, like nothing she might have thought she would be doing merely a months ago. Not in her worst nightmares.
"What am I doing here?" she whispers to herself. But she knows, she still carries the mantle of one of Baba Yaga's riders, the witches still reach out for the world and even if they would not, the Irrisen is still in their icy grasp. It remains to be seen what she can do, but to oppose them is the right thing to do. The thought of the plan, the thought of freeing Baba Yaga, the hag that created a nightmare gone rogue, makes her shiver more than the cold can.
Silently she opens her spell book and studies her spell, able to read the symbols and marking only because of her own, blazing red demon eyes.
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When it is finally dawning she goes to the village, wondering whether is such a thing as a bakery selling fresh bread; the village is likely to small and folks bake their own bread, but it is worth a try. It may help to lift everyone's mood, including her own.
"Good morning." she says as she meets with the others. "So when will we start to... implement our plan? Is there anything more that we need?"
Nadya is up early, though this doesn't seem to be anything new for her, and she has breakfast cooking on the fire when the party wakes up. It's a simple meal, but the warmth of the fire and the smell fills the room. "As soon as everyone is ready to leave, I can hook up the dogs and get the carts moving. I simply advise that you conceal your weapons and armor inside the carts or somehow hide them on your person. I'm not nearly rich enough to afford guards, so they'll be suspicious if I show up with heavily armed help."
Evelyn takes Nadya's advice and takes her time hiding away her weapons on her person.
Once she'd secured her weapons she was ready to head out.
"Can you tell? I think I covered most of them."
Morgraine also listens to Nadya's suggestion and hides her dagger on her person. The crossbow was another matter entirely however, and she looks at it wistfully. "I suppose I shall have to leave this behind."
Inire eats her food quietly, before snapping her journal shut the next morning. As she's told to hide her weapon, she looks to it, then to Nadya. The weapon wasn't going to be an easy fit no matter where they decided to put it... and she didn't like the idea of having to reach it separately if a fight were to break out. It just didn't seem safe. "I'll keep mine... and just hide me, maybe?"
Tiferet has spent most of the previous afternoon deep in parchments and quills, only raising her eyes from time to time to mutter some arcane word or weave an intricate gesture into the air. Without armour or weapons on her person, her linen-clad figure offers a stark contrast to her usual warlike self, looking more like a mousy librarian lost in her work than a battle-forged mercenary as she moves aside the occasional silver lock that threatens to fall over her eyes.
Her work continues deep into the night, so she's among the last to wake up – the luxury of enjoying an uninterrupted night's sleep in a safe place for the first time after they've left Heldren playing no small part in it, and even outweighing her usual preference for resting under the open sky. As they prepare to leave, she quickly realizes there would be no way to conceal her armour, even under the heavy furs Nadya gave her – with her heavy axe being an even longer shot.
"This is going to feel weird – walking towards an enemy stronghold unarmed. My weapons and armour have long been some sort of second skin to me. I... kind of feel naked" she sighs. "There's really no other way, though. If I fight breaks out, I'll support you with spells – and try not to be too much of a hindrance."
"I understand that this is strange, but the tower is surrounded by enchanted walls. The only way in is through the gate.
"It's not nearly as powerful as your other weapons but you're welcome to mine if you take care of it." Evelyn offered Tiferet her wooden cane en carved with various symbols that looks more like a child had scratch on it than any real design.
"Does that mean the only way out is through the gate?" Mouse asks.
"Well, I think the witch can fly," Nadya says. "But for most people, yes."
With their gear tucked away among the fruits, the party sets out across the snowy landscape toward the tower. It's almost two hours before the tower even comes in to view. The wind is cold, but the snow fall is extremely light, making the trip fairly easy for the travelers.
Evelyn walks with a confidence that could easily look like an absent mind but knows to watch her surroundings carefully.
"I believe we're being followed." She whispers to her allies.
Tiferet holds the cane in both hands, weighing it with the utmost care. She notices the marks etched on its surface, but doesn't know what to make of them.
A graceful weapon she thinks, silently nodding in appreciation at the dauntingly alluring Varisian standing in front of her. [i... for a graceful woman[/i] she can't help but conclude.
Later, on the road, she strives to keep the unassuming gait of a simple Ulfen farmer, clad as she is in furs concealing her figure, pretending to lean on Eve's cane for support. She's pondering the implications of Nadya's reveal – the way out is going to be bloody, that's for sure – when she hears the Varisian's warning. She tries to get a glimpse of whatever Eve saw, but to no avail. Still, she instinctively goes for her axe, only for her and to grasp air in stead – a swift curse escapes from her lips as she clenches her grip on the cane.
Morgraine looks swiftly about at Evelyn's whispered warning, but whatever was following them must have been quite adept at stealth. She continues walking along the path, though was now even more alert than before.
Since the others didn't seem to spot the flock in time Evelyn would inform them in more detail. "Flock of birds was following us but they dispersed at the very least they know we're here."
"They, and whomever they are reporting to."
"Just keep your heads down," Nadya says as the group keeps moving. "They shouldn't do anything as long as they think we're just peasants." The group continues to walk through the snow, and soon enough the towering icy walls of come in to view as well.
"Halt! Who goes there!"
Nadya looks up at the battlements. "Nadya Petska, with a supply delivery!"
There's silence for a moment, then the large ice gates silently swing open. "Enter!"
Morgraine nods almost imperceptibly at Nadya's words and will follow the wagon inside, keeping her eyes downcast as much as possible.
Besides the wagon, an unarmed farmer wrapped in fur walks circumspectly though the gate and under the icy vaults, nervously fidgeting with her cane.
Once she's reached the courtyard, she casts a nervous glance around her and up the battlements. First the crows, now this. I don't like it. If a fight breaks out – no, it won't even be a fight for them. Just target practice.
As the group passes through the massive ice gates, they get their first look at the courtyard. A massive sculpture of a dragon dominates the center of the yard, standing with raised wings on a dais of solid ice. Several small building dot the perimeter of the inner wall, with several dog sleds stored outside them. Four ice chutes lead up to the battlements, with ladders visible inside each one. The doors to the tower itself stand closed on the far side of the courtyard. Eight guards are already present in the courtyard, four on the walls and four on the ground. One of the men approaches the group. "We weren't expecting a delivery today," he says. "What is your business here?"
Inire, unless she had been told otherwise, hides within the goods that they were told to deliver. It wasn't the best place to be, but she'd stick out much less - especially since too many people would be even more suspicious.
As they enter the gate Evelyn glances around to get a layout of the ground in search of the best place to flee if things go south.
"Supplies and produce delivered early, we'd appreciate it if your men could come help us unload it." whatever signal they'd worked out to warn Mouse that was hiding inside the cart she needed to move Evelyn would try to give it.
She considered using one of her spells but fears the risk being in the domain of a powerful caster so decides against it for now.
Tiferet looks at the guards for the briefest of moments, and quickly averts her gaze, keeping herself aloof. As uncharacteristic as such a low profile was for the usually stormy Ulfen warrioress, she can't help but notice that without her elven-blooded companions' natural nimbleness, or Nathara's defensive magic, the only thing standing between the soldiers' steel and her skin are a thin layer of furs, and Eve's words.
The former I don't put much faith into. Though the latter have always proved an abundantly robust barrier.
Morgraine remains properly subdued, yet surreptitiously watchful. The next few moments, and perhaps all their fates, would rest upon the efficacy of Evelyn's silvered tongue...
The officer gives Eve a careful glare, then finally nods. "Fine. Bring the cart over here and we'll unload the supplies. You will not enter the tower. We'll take things inside." He gestures for the two guards behind him to help move the cart and they move to start unloading the goods inside.
Tiferet heaves a sigh of relief as the guards appear to buy Eve's story. Luckily, her hood and furs do an excellent job at concealing it as she moves closer to the cart.
Now what? she thinks.