The doppelganger is left extremely bloody after Summer's attacks, and it lashes out in a final, desperate attempt to dispatch your companion.
Summer resists some of the impact of the attacks, but it still hurts him.
Serael picks her shortbow, now with the doppelganger properly hexxed, to give covering fire for her bird, after studying the creature.
Although your shot misses , it distracts the doppelganger long enough for Summer to finish it off.
Serael approaches Summer and heals him.
Serael analyzes the situation. We are still in good shape, but those hits from the doppelganger were scary and I'm approaching the point where my use of magic is straining. But if we clear this floor, outside of maybe the mandragora and that guy who we ended up not fighting, they might have a hard time readjusting their defenses and might be spread too thin for my second inevitable approach. I cannot forget the troll at the entrance as well.
She looks around the room and, if nothing picks her interest, decides to explore the next room, at the very least, taking care to check for traps or noises coming from the other side of the door.
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.
A familiar-looking pattern is etched into the floor of the eastern alcove, but when you step on it, nothing happens.
So I don't have the key for this one yet...
Serael stretches a bit, the tension having been built up by exploring this place, and goes through the door to the northern side of the floor.
Tiles of ice cover the floor in this recessed alcove, beneath a large window overlooking the tower's northern exposure. When you step into it, ice swiftly rises to cover you before melting away, leaving you in a new location.
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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 blue-skinned woman with pale hair is tending a large flock of ravens when you appear. She looks startled at your presence, and with a whistle, she calls her birds into a protective swarm that bars your path. "This bird isn't one of mine - and I don't recognize you. Who are you?"
"What beautiful birds!" Serael says as she sees the flock around the woman. She is not faking her reaction, they are indeed beautiful, but Serael hopes this is enough to make them not engage in battle, she would hate to fight against other birds, even though she knew the possibility since the swarm she saw with Nadya.
"My name is Serael, what is yours? I'm a trainee witch from far away. Here" she points to her bird "This is Summer and this" she allows Winter to peek from inside her coat "This is Winter."
"Jairess," the sylph replies warily. "I'm the tower's raven warden. Radosek didn't tell me he was taking on an apprentice."
"I was sent here recently and just arrived. I've had... previous mentors, but they were not a good fit. I fear this is my last chance." Serael tries to keep her story as close to the truth as possible.
"I was looking for Radosek, but I cannot get to the upper floors."
Jairess picks up a spear and glares suspiciously at you. "You're hiding something. What is it!"
Serael tries her last resort "...I was kicked out by my witch trainers. I was hoping another one would accept me. I'm trying to meet with Radosek for that reason."
"Why'd they kick you out? More importantly, why should Radosek take on a failed apprentice?"
"I disliked the way she treated my birds... We got in a fight but I was kicked out. I think Radosek would appreciate my abilities."
Serael hoped the appeal to the animals would touch Jairess.
Jairess thinks for a minute before sending a raven flying towards you. In its talons is an icicle key. "This'll activate the locked teleporter on the lower level. I don't know how skilled you are, but Radosek will likely appreciate your ... other abilities."
What does she mean by that?
"Thank you!" Serael shows her gratitude very quickly so she can leave the room as soon as possible. She returns to the teleporter on the lower level and teleports up.
As you return to the lower teleporter and wait for the ice to cover you, you feel a surge of power from the Black Rider's mantle, strengthening you for what's to come.
Serael thinks about her journey so far as she feels the surge com the Black Rider.
It's still unreal if I stop to think about all that happened. I cannot fall here.
Now there she was, the weakest "Black Rider" to ever possibly exist, climbing to hopefully the top floor of the tower, about to slay a witch.
A translucent image of a globe hangs suspended in midair, slowly rotating in place, above a summoning circle in the blue-tiled floor of this large chamber. Lines of arcane energy glow across the globe's surface, faintly humming with power as they connect multiple endpoints in a radiant glow bright enough to illuminate the domed ceiling overhead. Many tables and shelves covered in books, maps, and large scrolls line the room's circular walls, and a large ornate mirror hangs between two open windows to the west. Twin ice sculptures of demonic fiends flank a bubbling cauldron in an archway leading into a deep alcove in the southern wall.
An arrogant-looking Taldan man stands near the cauldron. When you appear, he turns to you with a sneer. "You're the foreigner who gave my guards trouble in that pathetic town earlier. If you beg, maybe I'll spare your miserable life."
"And you must be Radosek." Serael quickly scans the room trying to find more people, but Mierul had mentioned only Radosek was in the tower at the moment. I hope no one comes from these doors Serael says remembering her fight in the lodge near Sandpoint.
"Tell me, are you the one that killed Thora?"
Radosek gives you a sinister chuckle. "The little doll girl? No, that was my master. She isn't here, though, which means you're all mine." He draws a long icicle from his belt. "Tell me, have you ever been frozen before?"
Serael readies her shortbow.
"So she will be next, then." Serael does not deign to answer Radosek's scare tactics, but she does remember her horrible lessons under Winter Witches that would punish her by freezing.
Serael steps closer and lets loose one of her arrows aiming true at Radosek, while Summer charges in!
Radosek's sneer vanishes as your arrow strikes him in the chest. He stumbles back and waves his hand at the bubbling cauldron behind him - which promptly vomits out several Small Ice Elementals!
"Summer, destroy the elementals!"
Summer focuses on the elementals in front of him, while Serael tries to focus on Radosek.
Your arrows strike Radosek as Summer destroys one of the elementals. As the others move to attack, Radosek points his wand at the window behind him, and a spear of ice shatters it. The witch promptly leaps out - it looks like he's floating towards the tower courtyard.
I cannot let him get away.
Serael keeps focus firing Radosek, while Summer tries to distract the elementals.
Summer manages to take down another elemental, but your hasty shots fail to strike Radosek, as the broken window frame limits your field of view.
"Let's open the way, Summer!!"
Serael supports Summer in dealing with the elementals.
Only a single elemental remains after this series of attacks, but it refuses to yield.
"Summer, come after me!"
Serael stops attacking and just moves toward the broken section of the wall where Radosek flew through.
Serael scans the area for Radosek.
Summer dispatches the last elemental as you fire a shot at Radosek that barely misses. He glances up at you and then points his wand at the dragon ice sculpture in the courtyard - which animates! Radosek points his wand at the top of the tower, and the ice dragon flaps its wings and takes off!
By Desna... Even if I win this, what chance do I have against his master?
Serael orders Summer to intercept the dragon mid air, so she can try to focus on Radosek.
Radosek ducks behind one of the buildings in the courtyard before you can fire, placing himself safely out of sight. You quickly redirect your fire to the dragon.
Summer flies to intercept the dragon and quickly discovers that - despite its fearsome appearance - it's nothing more than an animated ice sculpture.
Despite opening himself for counterattacks in his charge, Summer deftly dodges the "dragon's tackle. Serael clicks her tongue as she notices Radosek hiding and decides to concentrate on the sculpture.
Both you and Summer manage to strike the construct once, leaving cracks in its icy form. Ignoring the wounds, it attempts to bludgeon Summer out of the sky!
It then charges the window, attempting to grab you in its jaws and throw you out of the tower!
Summer is thrown back by the dragon sculpture and rushes back to try and save Serael.
Serael ducks just in time and is not caught by the dragon, stepping back and letting two arrows fly.
Your hasty attacks miss as the dragon begins forcibly squeezing itself through the broken window, shattering the frame and sending chunks of ice everywhere. Fortunately, it's going to take a bit longer to make it all the way through.
Serael almost falls back on impact but manages to stand her ground.
I cannot take many more of these.
She steps back and unloads more arrows as Summer hacks into the ice sculpture as well.
You and Summer carve out more ice, but neither of you manages to get to whatever piece is keeping the sculpture animate. The 'dragon' continues to squeeze its way through the destroyed window frame, chomping at you all the while.
Serael keeps stepping back with Summer keeping the pressure from the rear. I'm running out of arrows quick and I've still got to snipe Radosek, but...
Fortunately, Summer manages to destroy the ice dragon before you need to continue shooting.
Serael wipes her brow, somehow sweating in all this cold. She almost forgot Radosek was still free roaming and walks to the edge of the tower, scanning the distance for him, starting from where she last saw him.
Radosek remains out of your view. Based on what you recall from your short-lived witch training, he's probably taking some time to heal himself and otherwise prepare for a fight. He's clearly capable of some manner of flight magic, so the real question is whether it's better to wait for him to return and attack ... or take the fight to him.
He cannot be very far...
Serael orders Summer to scout starting from where she last saw Radosek and draws an arrow just in case he appers in view, she'll shoot.
Summer reports back that Radosek is by the shacks in the courtyard, standing protectively behind the troll guard while he casts spells on himself.
Serael nods to Summer and heads back to the entrance, in the meantime spending some of her magic to increase the potency of her remaining arrows.
Interestingly, you merely need to think of your destination for this icy teleporter to transport you directly to the southern alcove on the ground floor of the tower. It seems Radosek's personal teleporter has a greater amount of functionality than the others.
He's waiting for me, so I doubt I'd be able to catch him by surprise.
Before leaving the inside of the tower, she once again touches Summer, enhancing his defenses.
She orders Summer to separate from her, she goes from the north side and he from the south, trying to go for a pincer attack. She tells Summer she plans on focusing on Radosek, since he was hurt, even though he probably healed, but trusts Summer to swap target to the troll if he is too dangerous.
They position themselves and start their attack!