Izolda grabs her cushion from her just-straightened out blankets and whacks Mal over his head as he laughs. She gives a harumph and exclaims, "You should know better!"
"Stop trying to cause mischief and go to sleep."
In the morning, you make preparations to travel to the Pale Tower. Several villagers tell Nadya that a patrol of soldiers from the tower came to town last night, interrogating people and asking about somebody called the Black Rider, but they left without any results. Since you were able to hide from the ravens, they didn't learn of your presence here.
Outfitted in Irriseni peasant's clothes, you board the dogsleds. Malkiel rides with Nadya while Izold and Natalya ride together. You travel across the snowy plains for about two hours before reaching the tower.
Sharp winds whistle across this stark white plain, stinging the eyes along with the near-blinding rays of the reflected sun. A great eruption of frozen ice rises in the distance—an imposing pale tower crowned with icicles spearing into the sky. Seemingly born of the land itself, an unbroken circular wall of ice guards the tower’s base, with no means of entrance visible. High above, a large gash opens in the tower’s bowl-like crown, ringed in icy spikes and split by a massive plane of ice resembling an inverted crescent moon.
A trampled path of snow, heavily tracked by footprints and sled trails, ends abruptly at an opaque wall of ice. Carvings and ancient glyphs depict only the semblance of a gateway on its surface. Three guards stand at the battlements atop the gate, 25 feet up.
Natalya feels a shiver deep inside her. This place speaks of magic, a kind of power which she knows, deep inside her, is evil. She tenses, one hand on her flail, stowed safely under the furs on the sled. She knows better than to speak however, turning her hooded face towards Nadya and Malkiel.
There are times to sing and dance and then there are times to melt into the shadows, this being the latter. Malkiel has no desire to be seen nor heard and does his best to remain unnoticed. He wasn't about to do something that would create trouble for Nadya's daughter.
"Halt! State your business," the guards call out in Skald as your dogsleds approach the tower.
"I am Nadya Petska! I have come with the promised shipment of food for Nazhena, and to speak to her about releasing my daughter!" Nadya calls out.
The guards look dubiously at the three of you. "And who are they?"
It wasn't his best bluff, but Malkiel barely pulls off the lie. "We are Nadya's traveling companions to transport the goods and operate the dogs, nothing more. We are expected by Nazhena, so do not hold us up further for fear of incurring her wrath."
Izolda remains quiet and unusually meek, not wanting to say the wrong thing and get them all into trouble.
She looks around at the food parcels, checking it is all still secured carefully just to reassure herself.
The guards peer at you for a few more moments before waving you through. One presses his hand to a panel, and a portion of the wall fades away to reveal a portcullis, which raises to allow you into the courtyard.
A massive ice sculpture of a dragon dominates this open courtyard, standing with raised wings upon a dais of solid ice. Seven squat shacks sit along the inner wall, with several dogsleds stored outside. Between them, four ice chutes descend from the battlements of the outer wall. To the west, large double doors studded with icicles lead inside the Pale Tower itself, just beneath an overhang of sharp icicles dangling from above.
A hulking female ice troll stands guard here, eyeing you warily as you park your sleds and head into the tower itself.
Steamy air fills this inner gallery, emanating in lazy wisps from a bubbling pool recessed into the floor of a raised dais surrounded by six pillars of ice. Four foggy mirrors hang from the walls near ice sculptures of helmeted pike-wielding warriors.
Several guards are here to meet you, lead by an Ulfen woman with a big greatsword strapped to her back. "You will wait in the library until your meeting," she says, her tone brooking no dissent.
Malkiel leans in to Natalya and whispers jokingly "Whaddya think? She'd give you a run for your money?" motioning to the large Ulfen woman as she departs.
Natalya, showing remarkable circumspection, simply shakes her head once and avoids saying anything. She doesn't understand the language that everyone keeps using and so stays quiet to avoid giving anything away with her accent.
Izolda shoots a look at Malkiel as he whispers to Natalya, glaring at him to be quiet.
She follows with the rest of the group to the library and waits until the meeting starts. Whilst waiting, Izolda can't help herself and peers at any books she can see, curious as to what a white witch might collect.
The guards lead you to an open alcove. Here, a glassy pattern of striated, crystalline ice covers the tiled floor, illuminated by a soft, blue light. "A gathering within the hall, take one, take us all," chants the Ulfen woman. The ice flares, and you find yourselves teleported into another room!
A crescent-shaped dining table occupies this Y-shaped chamber, while two large mirrors on the north and south walls create the illusion of an even larger space. Twenty feet overhead, an immense chandelier of ice crystals hangs from the ceiling. To the east, rounded steps access a short hallway, flanked by twin ice sculptures of dryads holding ice-carved tree limbs, creating an elaborate archway. Translucent, glasslike double doors are set in the hall’s north and south walls. To the west, two alcoves stand between three windows providing an amazing view of the wintry landscape outside the tower.
From here, the guards lead you into the library. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves line the walls of this sprawling chamber. An ornate wooden table, covered with open texts and lit candles, and six chairs sit in the middle of the room. A massive mirror hangs on the western wall.
The captain departs, leaving four guards behind to watch you while you wait. After twenty minutes or so, the image in the mirror ripples to reveal the scowling face of a bearded Taldan man. "I am Radosek Pavril, apprentice to great White Witch Nazhena Vasilliovna," he says. "My mistress is away on business, so you shall treat with me."
Nadya bows to the image, but you can see the anger in her eyes as she does so. "Radosek, I am Nadya Pestka of Waldsby. I have come to humbly beseech your mistress to release my daughter. I have brought the shipment of food she has requested."
Radosek sneers. "Ah, the little troublemaker. Yes, well, I am afraid you are too late. Mistress Nazhena has taken her with her to the capital of Whitethrone. She has plans for the girl, you see."
"Plans? She is my daughter! I... I did everything Nazhena asked me to do!"
"But she never promised to release the girl, did she? We are thankful for the food, peasant, truly. Now, return to your village. Be grateful my mistress has deemed it fit to spare your life. Goodbye."
The image wavers and fades. Nadya curses loudly, fighting back tears in her eyes. Unmoved by her emotions, the guards move to escort you back out of the tower...
"No." the rogue says as he steps forward, tired of sitting in the shadows. "Her daughter will be released! She paid the price! Get off your pedestal and get the girl back to her family, puppet!"
”Radosek has spoken. You will come with us,” one guard says, hand on the hilt of his sword.
"We will not!" Malkiel says, drawing his blades into his hands. "She is no peasant to be commanded as you see fit and her daughter is no game piece!"
"Where is Radosek? I wish to speak with him immediately!" he demands.
Natalya has both hands on her flail but maintains just enough composure to not start the fight yet...
Izolda takes a moment to assess the situation before trying to reason with the guard.
"Now there is a deal beneficial to your masters, that can be made that means we can also retrieve Nadya's daughter and then get out of your hair. I am sure that her daughter, a mere peasant, is not that important to someone as influential as Nazhena. Please, let us talk to Radosek and I' sure he could make another, more formal, deal this time."
She tries to be more rational than Malkiel, knowing you can draw more flies with honey.
As the guards draw their blades, it’s clear that talking your way out of this one isn’t going to work!
Natalya strides forwards and applies her flail to the first guard! She is not happy about how these men have treated the kind lady who was so nice to her!
"I'm sorry it's come to this!" Malkiel apologizes, not really meaning it. Sliding five feet to flank with Natlya, the rogue's blades slice through the air as they try to take down the guard as quickly as possible.
Nadya cries in fury as she draws her axe and chops into a guard’s arm. Natalya takes down one with her flail while Malkiel stabs another in the back, dropping him! The other two guards shout in alarm and swing at Natalya but she parries their blows!
Natalya hits one of the guards hard enough to make his head explode...
When the guard he stabs in the back drops, he slides over to the next one attacking Natalya and tries to slice at him as well.
Izolda stays where she is but her pupils begin to glow again and she murmurs, aiming to hex the remaining guard.
As Natalya pulps one guard's head, Izolda puts the other one to sleep, making him easy prey for Malkiel's knives to finish the job.
Nadya shakes the blood off of her axe and looks at all of you. "I will have vengeance for Thora. We find this Radosek and make him pay for his mistress's crimes."
Indeed, while you are here in the tower, you can try to find a way to close the winter portal to Taldor and stop the spread of ice and snow in your homeland!
Malkiel sorts through the gear of the guards, making sure their group is equipped the best they can be moving forward. He picks up one of the swords and holds it out to Natalya "It's cold iron. Maybe hold on to this just in case?"
Making sure everyone is okay, he nods to Nadya "We fight by your side. Let's go find this Radosek!"
”Thank you, Malkiel,” Nadya says. ”Lead the way.”
"Absolutely. We're with you Nadya."
Natalya takes a sword with a nod and follows along.
A long red carpet extends from the western doorway of this mirrored hall between ice sculptures of twin nymphs, ending at an open alcove to the east. Passageways continue north and south, following the contours of the tower’s outer wall, where windows look out over the open courtyard below.
The Ulfen guard captain stands at the ready here. ”I am Hestrig Orlov. The blood of a dragon flows through my veins. You shall not pass!” she declares.
"Oh s~@#." Malkiel says, taken aback by Hestrig's introduction. "Man, I like that! I'm going to do that to."
Malkiel puffs his chest out and says "I am Malkiel Laevinus. The blood of the righteous angels flows through my veins. Prepare to have judgment cast upon you!"
HE looks back at Natalya and Izolda with a quirky face as if to ask How'd I do? before stepping up and to the side of the guard so that Nattie can flank with him.
Izolda's stomach flips as she sees the Ulfen woman in front of them but she can't help crack a smile as Malkiel introduces himself. She shakes herself back out of shock and gets to business.
"Don't forget to introduce us two to your new friend Mal!"
Natalya introduces Hestrig to her friends 'Mr Smashy'.
Malkiel stabs the woman in the gut. Natalya runs up and almost takes her head off, but she twists aside at the last minute, saving her from a fatal blow! Still, she is badly wounded as Izolda hexes her.
Hestrig steps away from Malkiel so she is no longer flanked. Lacking the wisdom to flee or surrender, she swings her greatsword at Natalya, but the barbarian parries!
Malkiel follows dragon-blood lady and tries to reposition behind her again for Natalya.
Izolda continues taking advantage of her other-worldly abilities as her eyes continue to glow gold.
Natalya pounds the woman once more, proving which of them is the more fearsome warrior.
While Hestrig parries Malkiel’s attacks, Natalya smashes her in the head with her flail, cracking her skull! The woman drops like a ton of bricks, lying still.
Natalya nods firmly and turns to Malkiel.
"I win!"
"There was no doubt about it Nat, never judge a book by its cover - she was just a big softy really. Shall we keep trying to find this Radosek?"
Heading anti clockwise, you come to a small alcove. Tiles of ice cover the floor in this recessed alcove, beneath a large window overlooking the tower’s northern exposure. The tiles begin to glow as you approach, reacting to Hestrig’s icy key. Stepping on them will teleport you somewhere!
Izolda looks at her friends and Nadya, trying to ascertain their opinions.
"Now, Martha always said nothing good comes to those who wait, so what do you say, do we take this? I'm presuming Radosek wouldn't be on this floor anyway as he appeared so oddly."
She waits upon her group's response holding back from her driving curiosity to find out more about the teleportation tile.
"Let's go kick his stupid witchy arse!" Natalya declares, proving once again that she is a bastion of tact and diplomacy.
"What?! How do you win? It's not about hitting the hardest, Natalya. It's about being precise in your attacks!"
Deciding to let the barbarian have her win for fear of setting her sulking again, he holds up his hands in surrender "Alright, alright. You win Nattie, you win."
After the discussion about teleportation, Malkiel steps to the front and says "Right. As the leader of this troupe, I've decided Izolda should go first since she's the most magically inclined and trained." He promptly steps backwards and nudges her forward on her back with his hand.
The teleporter transports you to a new area of the tower. A triangle of crossed steel wires runs between three wooden posts in this crescent-shaped room that smells strongly from the bird droppings scattered across the floor. Along the south wall, open windows look down from a dizzying height, admitting a brisk, cold wind. Two doors exit this chamber, one next to a large mirror to the west and another standing between a pair of wooden chests to the northeast.
A pretty sylph woman stands here, tending to the flock of ravens that roost about. She gasps in surprise when she sees you. ”You should not be here! Intruders!” As an unseen wind buffets her hair, the ravens take flight, cawing loudly as they form a swarm!
Natalya legs it across the room and attempts to drop the woman.
Light on his feet, Malkiel dashes across the room rather theatrically and makes a show of spinning before he delivers his strike opposite of Natalya. "You're awfully beautiful. Please surrender so the world does not lose a true wonder and your beauty lives on." he asks, hopefully.
The sylph dodges Natalya’s swing, but Malkiel and Nadya both cut her, leaving her badly wounded. ”Gozreh will preserve me!” she gasps, defensively casting a healing spell. Meanwhile, the ravens descend, flying protectively around the woman while pecking at your eyes!
Natalya smashes some of the crows out of the air and then focuses on the witch!
Izolda begins to screech at an unnaturally high pitch, aiming to put the woman off.