Session #18, Clock tower's bell rung, rest and move on to the hut in the Market Square!

From the journal of Sadobras:

Weren’t good.  Nope.  Thought we’d don most o’ the work… slayin’ the dragon and all them trolls.  Already had us a fancy opera singer an’ a couple young’uns in tow for the rescue.  But that’s where it hit the fan!  The rescue.  Once we found the exit, we figured it’d be safer to get the squishies to safety before clearin’ out the rest of the clock tower.  But lo and b’hold… no sooner do Zaaz and Yoska walk them squishies the door, that some statues come to life and separate the party.  Dalomar moves in to help them two leavin’ me alone in the hall.  I guess that’s better than bein’ out there with the statues.  Wait!  No ‘taint!!  Not now that more trolls and a festerin’ dog start comin’ outta doors and tryin’ to make a Sadobras sandwich.  One hit from the big, ugly one (well I guess they’re all ugly) and my dog is done.  Daggit!  I’m laid out and I can’t get up without takin’ another punch from the troll.  Hell, even if I could git up… turn’s out a sprinter I ain’t.  I’m not likin’ the looks of things in here, but it ain’t no better out thar.  I guess Zaza was really taking a beatin’ cause I see her tryin’ to fly away up the stairs, but that troll got other plans and jest swats her down like a pesky bug.  She goes limp and starts bleedin’ bad on the floor over there.  I wanna go help her, but I’m about one swat away from ending up jes’ like her.  Anyhow, I gotta do sumpin' cause that mangey mutt is trying to use ol’ Bras like kibble so I pull a patch off my robe an’ make a winder to crawl through.  Thought I was gonna be safer away from the trolls, but the statue moves over and starts to swinging.  No way we can take on both them statues and both them trolls so I gotta think fast.  So’s I take another patch off my robe and drop a big ol’ pit underneath that statue.  One down!  Yoska and Dalomar are whoopin’ on the other one and he ‘splodes into little bits.  Back ’n forth through that winder a few times and slingin’ stones at them trolls when I can.  Once Yoska gets his big electric sword a’swingin’ things start to fall away real quick like.  When there’s a break in the action, I sneak over and pour a potion down Zaaz’s gullet.  It’s been too long I fear.  I hope she’s awright.  Shoo… she starts to breathin’ again.  She’s still with us thank the gods!  Once we’re feeling better we have look ‘round.  We loot what we can from the tower and make our escape.

The opera singer and the kids ain’t nowhere to be seen.  No s’prise there.  So, we head back to Temple.  Yoska a good un, but I fear he’s a gettin’ cunnywhooped cause he brought the wolf-girl into the secret temple.  I know he likes her, but I don’ truss her one bit.  Yoska won’t believe me, but I done asked to the priest to keep an eye on her an’ he confirmed… she’s evil!  Nevertheless, we ain’t never gon’ steal Baba Yaga’s Hut without Yoska so I just tell Dalomar, “We gotta keep a close eye on her.  She’s upta sumpin’.” 

So, now we gonna steal Baba Yaga’s hut from the market square.  Ain’t that a hoot.  Actually, yeah.  A hoot is exactly what it is cause we use Dalomar’s new magic owl to scout out the forest and he lets us know there’s a clearin’ in there.  Gotta be where the Hut is at!  We head in and see the path guarded by three more ice trolls.  Ain’t no end to them things ‘round here and frankly, I’m tired of lookin’ at ‘em so we jest go right at ‘em.  I charge right in and the gang (and one wolf bitch) come right behind blades a’swingin’.  I dun like her much, but that wolf bitch can swing an axe.  Helped us take them trolls out real quick like.  Now we gon’ head into the bush to steal a house.  Ain’t that a hoot.  No tellin’ what we gonna find in there…

Caryatid Column

Greta in human form

DM Bullet points:

•  The group continued downstairs in the clock tower looking for any children or other captives.

•  The party walked into a room with 3 doors and found the one door lead outside.  After leading Bella Belvorica (the opera singer) outside into the courtyard Zaaz entered back into the clock tower via the front doors and the two statues sprung to life attacking Zaaz and Yoska.

•  The others were trapped inside the room with 2 ice trolls now coming through the door attacking from both sides flanking the party.

•  After the battle the party explored the rest of the lower level finding the quarters for the female ice troll leader, the prison where the children were being kept and fattened up prior to their feeding to the Trolls, an armory, barracks, and other living quarters.

•  The party rested back at the Shrine of Everbloom and were healed in part by Solveig.

•  Yoska brought his new “girlfriend” Greta to the shrine while the party was prepping for the attack.  

•  The area surrounding Whitethrone's Market Square is now overgrown with a thick forest that erupted almost overnight around the Dancing Hut. Every day, the Winter Guard chops down the forest, only to see it regrow overnight. The streets around the square are a wreckage of stumps and fallen trees, and many of the traders residing in the Merchants' Quarter have been evacuated. The Market Square itself has almost entirely vanished save for a few buildings that are now completely out of place in this sylvan landscape.

•  The party scouted the area from the air using their new owl artifact and they saw that it was densely overrun with very dense thorny bushes and foliage that made it appear to be very difficult to enter except through an opening that was being guarded by 3 ice trolls.  The rest of the area was pretty much covered with the growth of vines and thorns, even pushing some houses and structures up into the treetops.  A huge dead tree was spotted in the northern quadrant, a large pool of water in the southern region as well as some interesting rock formations in another area in the southern region.

•  The center of the square the owl could see a giant hut, but there was some sort of shadowy “force” sphere that surrounded that portion of the market square and seemed to isolate the hut from the rest of the area.


•  The party made quick work of the Trolls and now stand at the entrance of what used to be the market square, but now looks like a dense forested area with open areas/paths within the growth.

Reign of Winter, Session 17, Shackled Hut: Assault on the clock tower in Whitethrone

The party moves forward with a plan for taking out the dragon Logrivich, rescuing the opera singer Bella from the clock tower, and creating a distraction to pull the winter guard away from Baba's hut..... oh, but things never go as planned....

Frogicorn

Logrivich

Bella

Ice Troll

From the Diary of Zaaz Bloodfortune:

Six days of preparations, six days of worries and fears.   Six days of careful scouting of the tower.   Six days of the press of the voices telling me to get at it already.   Six days in the end for crap.   Why is it that no matter what you plan, nothing ever seems to come of it?

We finished our preparations and journeyed to the clock tower.   High and of stone it was, with one of the clock faces removed for the white wyrm.  Late in the night we came to it ready to sneak in when it went on its patrol and realized we had forgotten something important.   No place to hide had we to be close enough to go quickly up and in to the tower.   Making do we hid in the alley near the tower and waited and watched.   Yoska and I, pretending to be Stilyagi decided to brazen it out when the dragon did fly, stealth not being our strong point.   I hiked up my skirts and held him close like a wanton couple playing in the dark.   Dalomar and Sadobras picked out good spots and vanished into the shadows.   The problem in the end was the Frogicorn.   There just isn’t that much you can do to adequately hide a frog the size of a horse.   Spotted by the dragon, the Frogicorn burst into motion, hopping a few hops then up into the air.   Off the dragon went chasing the Frogicorn and off we went to steal into the tower while its occupant was away.   Somehow we thought it would last longer and off we shot towards the tower.   Hiking my spear between my legs to keep a good grip on it, I called on the spirits of the wind and air and launched into the sky.   Zooming low across the streets and then popping up towards the tower I went.  In mere seconds Yoska and I had both made the top of the tower, he on the ledge and I headed towards the entrance with a load of oil I had brought with.  Before I could do anything though, a blast of freezing cold slammed into me.   The dragon had finished off the distraction and returned faster than I could believe.   Not huge in size, but awesome in appearance the dragon stood beside me.   White and bitterly cold, with fearsome and terrible expression.   Truly, in that moment I did understand why dragons were so feared, revered, and talked about.  Even the constant din of voices in my head did seem to stop.   Staring up at him I knew nothing, but a primal fear inside and knew I was about to become a midnight snack.   Pulling myself together I called on the most powerful spell I knew and cast a lightning bolt at him.   It seemed to hurt him, but in the same moment he used the opportunity to attack me back, draining my life greatly.   Almost contemptuously, he lashed out again at me, hitting with claw and bite and tail till finally I was again down and near death.  

After I was down, good Yoska, thinking that perhaps I was no longer with this world, flew into a frenzy and attacked the beast with a mighty and powerful blow.   Electricity and fire ran through his weapon and the dragon let out a scream of pain.   Dalomar and Sadobras soon came on the scene as Sadobras used a magic item that suddenly made a massive tree grow.   Within seconds they too fought the dragon as the tree carried them up to us.  Summoning two riding dogs, Sadobras attacked followed closely by Dalomar.   With a mighty strike, Dalomar put an end to the dragon.   

Moments later I was awake again as Sadobras poured a potion of healing into me.  Coming to, I was greeted back into wakefulness by the attack of one of the white witches climbing out of a trap door in the floor.   Old and gnarled she was, giving truth to the old witches saying, as within so without.   Ugly of soul and full of lust for power she was.   Still hurt and wounded I was, but here I was in my element.   Calling again on the powers Grr granted me I cast a spell of blindness on the hag.   She continued to fight, but without sight we made quick work of her.   I healed myself and those wounded fighting the dragon and we evaluated what we had found.   A huge horde of coins, magic items, and more were found and awaited claiming.   Now more awake and aware of my surroundings I also noticed the gear works and clock bits we were surrounded by.   Loud it was in the tower and we could hope those below didn’t hear us.

Soon Yoska took it upon himself to scout below to see where the Witch had come from.  On the floor below he found the Opera singer and freed her from captivity.   At about that time we learned that no, the gear-works noises had not sheltered us.   Ice troll after ice troll ascended the stairs and each one after another we did slay.   Having them come one at a time on the stairwell actually made it much easier to kill them than to take them all at once.  After a time no more came up and we made ready to leave.   The opera singer and I gathered up the treasure, but a shocking news she told us.   Below there were children that were kept as food for the Ice Trolls.   Finishing our gathering, I handed her a potion of invisibility and told her, “If it all goes wrong, drink this and run.”  With that we went down to the next level.  Dalomar, Sadobras, and Yoska were soon in battle with a huge attacking oven.   The construct was filled with flame and hungry to eat us whole.   Recognizing that this was perhaps not something my magics would be good for, I investigated a pile of crates and vegetables at the end of the hall.   One can rarely have too many vegetables so this looked like a good chance to stock up.   As I approached the pile though a new set of voices and crying came into my head as a strange creature rose up.   Made of bits of string and buttons and cloth, leftovers and scraps, it seemed to be another haunt or construct of some kind.   An attack on my will hit me and I was able to maintain control of my fears.  Backing up I brought forth a web to slow the creature down and made my way back to the fight with the malevolent oven.   Calmly strolling up to it, I told the others, “Ok, I don’t think I’ll be much use against that thing whatever the heck it is,“ and then channeled forth positive energy into my hands.   I slapped the oven and within moments it did fall to pieces.   Ha, Zaaz Bloodfortune, killer of ovens, conqueror of cutlery.   To be fair, perhaps my companions did indeed weaken the oven up quite a bit first.   Yoska, Sadobras, and Dalomar made quick work of the strange patchwork creature.   All we needed to do now was find the children and free them, set off some fireworks, and then we could get back on with the rest of our quest….

Session #16: Into the Howlings district of Whitethrone

Through the Howlings entrance and on to deliver food for Ringeirr and then get papers from the forger.  Yoska has a date with Greta (bow chica bow bow), Mirror Man!!, drunken winter wolves pick a fight but get into a tangled sticky mess, ice trolls and more Mirror Men!!

Solveig and the Heralds of Summer's Return reached at the Shrine of Everbloom (shrine to Milani).

"You want us to fight a dragon at the top of the clock tower to help the Iron Guard re-take the city without a dragon breathing death down upon them, create a distraction to draw the Winter Guard away from guarding Baba's hut, oh, and just rescue some opera singer while we're at it!!  WTF Solveig!!???"...   "Yes Ma'am".

Diary of Zaaz Bloodfortune:

Raised in the north I was, but the cold of this land do be getting to me.   Not the cold of the weather, but of the people.   Most of the people we speak to here are cold and detached.   Mean spirited as the white witches who rule them.  Bits of warmth here and there like the dying embers of a cold fire, but largely the ashes and memories of a time of comfort before….

To town we came, stories all set, ready to dazzle the guards as Stilyagi and such.   In the end, our stories largely fell apart, but the wind of passion blew on one of the embers of this cold place and we met Greta.   One of the Winter Wolves in human form, Greta took a liking to good Yoska and waved us though with the promise of future warmth shared.   In we went with our cart, gear and hiding ones to deliver the food we had promised Ringeirr we would assist with.   Most of the way to our destination and we soon came across something strange.   Mirror-men they are called, and they work for the witches in control of this town.   Strange constructs they are with a face of a mirror and body of grey.  Lucky for us we saw inspection coming before it saw us, and we managed to get to safety before it inspected the wagon.   Ringarr made it through with him already having papers.   We dropped off the food and went to see Morton, the forger about papers of our own.   A close call on the way with Ice Trolls and a locked door, but Dalomar managed to get the door open quickly so we could slide in.  

Talking with Morton after digging him out of hiding, we managed to get him working on papers for us all.   He started with Yoska first so he could go out to pump his new she-wolf friend..   For information of course you voices.   What did you think I meant… ahhh.. hahaha… you think I phrased it blindly, ha.   Now shush, a story I be telling here.   The rest of us stayed and rested at Mortons.   I called a little favor from the spirits to help the quality of his work while Dalomar studied the art of forging with much interest.   

The next morning, after a bit of a hairy night, Yoska wandered back yawning and smiling.   Good for you Yoska, blow those embers to fire…  Greta is wanting to be able to stay longer as a human and not just in the Howling.   Yoska has promised to try to help her as she helps us.   Perhaps he be taken with her snarls in the night.. ha..   Yoska did find for us that the hut is chained in the main square.   The guards have difficulty as all around it a forest be growing most strangely.   From day to night they cut back the forest, but still it grows and grows quick.  

Soon we left Mortons on our way to visit a friend of Ringeirr, leader of the cult of Melani.   Fortune though is always strange lately.   Somehow, on the way, I came to buy a slave.   Owned by and running from his owner, Corgan, I saw the one in question quickly approaching.  Corgan told us the slave had stolen food from his master and in a right fettle he was to extract punishment from the slaves hide.   Unable to sit back and just watch, my heart being too soft for that, in a blink I found I had bought the slave.   One hundred and twenty five pieces of gold gone and owning another person.   It do be a lot of money, but is that really all the cost of one’s freedom and future?    A sad world this… Sad, sad world.   As we went along I decided for now to leave him with Ringierr for now with his papers and instructions to free him at the earliest opportunity.   For now, we can-no take the time to see to that.   

Onward we went till we encountered more Mirror-Men.   A pair of the shinny fellows we met and they waved us on.   I felt though that one of them seemed to be looking suspicious like at us.   Soon we realized they would quickly report in on us unless we took action, so action we took.   Dalomar sprang into action and slammed into one as Sadobras charged up on his cat.  Fighting back and forth we battled in the street.   Sadobras’s cat went down, it shook off my hex of misfortune as if it were naught, and the fight went on.   Finally spilling into a nearby bar we did finish the creation off and quickly left the scene.  

On to a bathhouse we went and down through secret ways we did go.  Finally to the House of the Heralds of Summers Return.   A good name I am thinking this.  With great respect and kind words we met the leader of the heralds and those who worship Melani, Solveig Ayrdahl.   Seeing to our comfort we then met with her to discuss our charge.   Nazena Vaziliovna is in charge of the defense of the hut.   Nazena again is our foe.  She leads a small army that guards the hut and fight the encroach of the forest growing strangely around it.  To get to it Solveig thinks we will need a good distraction.   She will offer the use of the Iron Guard to make such a distraction, but worries that without some way to deal with the White Dragon Drolavich, it will be a useless task.

So now here we sit, discussing attacking a white dragon in a fortified clock tower to kick off an uprising and rescue the opera singer Bella Belevrica (likely paramour of Solveig I am thinking) so we can steal the living artifact of a legendary Witch queen.  It seems mere weeks ago I struggled to use my hexes and plied the roads as a merchant, and now I and my wonderful companions be planning the death of a mighty beast and a caper of theft likely to be legendary in its own right.  Our lives have taken a turn into deeper waters and I pray to the jabbering sprits for our success….

Fire….. Ice….  Embers……

The Howlings

Ringeirr

Greta

Solveig Ayrdahl

Session 15 Reign of Winter, The Shackled Hut: Whitethrone reached

Patrol defeated, bridge Merrow bribed, Ringeirr Malenkov rescued from the corrupt fishcamp guards, onward to the howling district of Whitethrone for papers.

From the Diary of Zaaz Bloodfortune:

For once a warm night filled with happiness and laughter we thought, but oh the trials to come.  The day started out at Elsprin as we said goodbye to Nadya’s children and relatives.  Poor ones… The pain to come…

Not half a day out of Elsprin our eyes caught sight of birds ahead.   Different than last time, crows these did be not.   Cautiously we approached we knew what not, but soon we were beset.   An ambush of hunting birds and archers did attack.  And a mighty Winter Wolf did come with them, howling at us “those who cross Nazena will die!”   

Wheeling his cat to face the mighty wolf, Sadobras charged at the wolf.   Striking a mighty blow against it, he shouted back, “Those who cross Zaaz Bloodfortune will die a pointy death!”   

Even as my heart labored under the fear of the attack, it filled with Joy to know my companions held me in such esteem.   I will do all I can to be worthy of the accolade and take good care of them.   Soon all of us were to fray, casting spells and attacking.   Mighty Yoska took down the Wolf even as Sadobras went down.   I poured potions down him as Noname summoned his eagles to attach the archers targeting us.   Spells and flames and mighty blows we struck at the birds that did be attacking us, but just as the day seemed won, the ugly hand of fate did strike.   Concentrating their fire,  the enemy drew and let fly at Nadya.  Arrow after arrow struck the vitals, blood fountaining out of her, a last cry for her children.   Quickly in our rage the remaining archers were slaughtered, but a mother of two fine young ones cut down before any chance of healing.  The voices in my head sang a dirge of sadness.   They sang of her going to a more tranquil place, but their words don’t comfort me. 

Pain, sadness and doubt upon us we carried her back to Elsprin so she could rest with family.   As we walked, more determined we became that should the opportunity to bring her back presents, bring her back we shall.   At the relatives house we packed her in ice and snow to preserve the body.   Night had falled and we had not even the strength to tell the truth to the little ones.   Oh, what pain they must feel.

Morning again and away again, we must press on to our mission.   After long travel we came to a bridge.   As we approached evil Merrow three rose from the waters the bridge traversed.   Giant and scaly, green and be-gilled they demanded of us a tax of one horse each.  Sick to our core from the battle whence we had lost Nadya, this time we opted for words.   Strangely, my words held more power than usual and we were able to work towards a bargain.   In the end, Noname managed to get them to trade 3 minor potions of healing for passage.   Painful to trade my creations for passage, but less than we would likely spend come to battle.   

Soon we made it to the fishing village we sought.   A mean and cruel place this.   Did be a gang of strong arms and warf tuffs beating a poor man senseless for not paying taxes.   When the finished, a minor healing and help we gave him and an escort home.   He did tell us the local watch is taken to inflating the taxes to almost 4 in every 10 of coin or fish he lay hands on.  Recent it was that things had gotten so bad.   Certainly not when Baba Yaga was around.   Also he did tell us that Ringeirr Malenkov, the man we seek is in a cell, guest of those thugs.  After escorting him home, and with some coin for his help and more coin to his wife for watching our horses, we did go and scout out the Gaol.  Deciding to use a distraction to try to draw out the guards and sneak Sadobras in to free Ringeirr, Noname knocked on the door.  He spun a tale of a giant spider attacking to the Ogre that answered the door.  In moments it became clear the Ogre was too stupid to understand Nonames wonderful tale, so I gave him a weakening hex and then blinded him.   In moments Sadobras slipped invisibly inside and the battle was on.   Another Ogre and a rogue type defended against us.  Back and forth the battle raged till finally they were all down.   Freeing Ringeirr, we gathered his stuff and looted what other value we could from the guard shack.   

Then off into the town and to a hiding spot of Ringeirr.   We told him of our relationship with Nadya, her death, the fate of her two boys.   We told him of our need for papers to enter the town and soon a way was devised.  Earlier we had gathered the skin of the Winter Wolf and found with it we could make a Ryme coat.   With that shaggy vest, one can easily pass for a transformed wolf and get easy passage into the Howling district of the city.  Additionally, the Stilyagi nobles are known to not put up with the requirement for papers.   Bluster our way in we shall, while Noname and Sadobras hide within the load of fish we shall be bringing in.   

Will we get in safely?   I know not, but I know the curse of the Black Rider pulls me on.   The voices within cry me on. I must go on…

Reign of Winter, session 14, The Shackled Hut: the road to Whitethrone continues

Gifts, wolves like to eat little boys, big game, visions of past atrocities by Baba's minions.

Magical cookies from Sylgja

special gift to Sadobras from Sylgja 

Some quick bullet points:

•  The party headed back on the road after enjoying the hospitalities of Sylgja and Finngarth.

•  The “care package” they were sent off with included some cookies that made everyone’s tummy feel a little “tingly” when they were eaten.

•  Sadobras received a special package from Sylgia…a bit of religious propaganda.

•  On the first night while everyone was prepping the camp Orm, Nady’s son went missing while collecting firewood (Mjoli is her other son, they are 7 y.o. twins).

•  They stumbled upon a pocket of summer on the 3rd day, found the Megalosaurus in the clearing being stalked by worgs (unknown when the elk was first discovered).

•  The group came across an old ruined village, there an old churchyard had a “haunt” that was triggered when entered and the old clergymen turned into huecuvas.  They were telling the party to run along like they were children.  A “ghostly” battle erupted inside the courtyard: children were being killed by trolls and giants in what seemed to be a vision of something that happened 1400 years ago during the great winter war when Baba and her armies swept through the land killing all the ulfen and infidels in it’s path.

Thoughts from Dalomar:

We leave the hospitality of the odd couple of Sylgia and Finngarth and back on the road toward Whitethrone.  We stop for lunch and notice Sylgja had packed us a special treat of cookies.  Can tell they radiate a feint magic.  Trusting the goodness of our previous hosts we enjoy the treats that tingle when consumed.  "Little Bras" finds a special package that Sylgia left just for him.  Some sort of religious quotes as the two had a special connection in their last conversation.  

On the first night out, one of Nadya's twin sons, Orm goes missing while setting up camp.  Can't seem to turn your back on those rascals.  I pick up his trail easily with everyone except for Yoska and Zaas coming along with one new strange addition:  to replace Repent while he recovers from ability damage from the Mindslaver Mold, Noname has summoned a freakishly spawned creature "frogocorn" as his new mount.   A half frog half unicorn- head of a frog with a horn and unicorn hooves it is sure a strange sight.   About a couple hundred feet ahead I see little Orm standing with with a bunch of firewood petrified as he is surrounded by four wolves.  Noname on frogocorn leaps into action being able to navigate the cumbersome snow easier than the rest of us.  Draws the attention of the wolves by charging up and color spraying to mostly no effect except for one wolf.  Yoska decides to rush and join in as well as Zaas calmly states the happenings through message she has up with me all while brewing a potion at the campsite.  The battle ends fairly quickly when we all finally engage the canines with frogocorn absorbing most of the attacks.  Nadya scolds Orm for wondering off so far but is relieved he came out of the ordeal unharmed.  

On the third day of travel we come across a strange area where the weather is nice and warm and the harsh winter has been held back.  No doubt the cause of some rebellious druids showing their efforts in combating the unnatural never ending winter.   We make camp again and I head out to find some game to keep our food supplies full.  Usually Sadrobras and I always head out together, but I look over to see Bras snoozing comfortably after the long day of travel.  No sense bothering him I figure.  Enjoy a brief respite for once not having to slog through snow and let myself venture further out to get a chance of finding something. Couple hundred yards out I see a Megalosaurus- a giant elk out in the clearing grazing!  I crouch low and quietly move up closer to about 60 feet.  Find a tree for cover and take out my longbow along with a special arrow I've been saving just for this kind of target- the animal bane arrow found off the corpse of the giant weasel hunter from awhile back.   Take a few deep breaths and let it fly- the arrow hitting true.  The Elk rears up in pain and charges and I'm face to face with large antlers and hooves.  Take a hoof off the shoulder but come back with several slashes with my blade and bringing the beast down after dodging a couple more of its attacks.  As I start to dress the carcass and chop off one of its leg shanks out of the corner of my eye I see two large Worgs coming out of the bushes straight for me.  Only having seconds to react I hurl the leg towards them and scramble up the tree having no time to pick up my bow laying on the floor.  The Worgs relish in the large meal I provided for them as I yell insults at them along with trying to yell as loud as possible for anyone to hear at the camp.  Too far away I surmise as no one came.  Eventually the wolves had gorged themselves and drag away most of the remaining elk.  Finally come down the tree once it seems safe.  Retrieve my bow and haul back the remains of the head in spite to show the others.  It gave the kids a good story anyway.  Might not have been the best idea as that night  I could hear the Worgs out prowling the perimeter of the camp out in the distance.  They never came near though.  

Further along the cold and snow of winter gradually returns as we leave the mystery sanctuary area.  Come across an old ruined village.  One structure remains mostly standing from what appears to be an old temple of Desna.  Upon approach an old looking clergyman comes out through the front door and waves us away "run along children, run away!".  We ignore his warnings and continue up into the remains of the churchyard where upon a fearful sight materializes in our midst.  Ghostly images of young children and villagers are run down and slain by large giants and trolls from what seems to be a haunt from what happened centuries ago.  Most of us seem caught up in the fright and are surprised when the old clergyman then transforms into an undead creature known as a huecuva.  Two more emerge from the ruin and we are attacked.  Bras riding Typhoon shows off his deadly cavalier skills against the undead foes and we manage to finish them off quickly before much damage.  Though later on I feel my immune system fighting off a disease from the blow sustained from the huecuva.   Frogocorn doesn't fair as well and later succumbs to some ability damage.  After vanquishing the undead the haunt dissipates and we search the ruin.  Find a nice treasure stash hidden in the floor.

Finally come upon Nadya's relatives small village of Elsprin where we can finally get some temporary rest from the last several days of travel.

Session 13 Reign of Winter, The Shackled Hut, Pathfinder gaming group

Treasure found, portal closed, curses abound!  On the road to Whitethrone to free the hut and close more portals!

Statue watching over Nazhena's treasure with a glyphe of warding

Sneaky little bastards!!  Gremlins stole our stuff and spoiled our food!  Curses!

Sylgja

Finngarth the Moldy

Very brief bullet points below.  Please read Zaaz's account for a better detailed account of the session.

•  Magical globe floating in Radosek's quarters:  this is the key to the portals!  What power and knowledge within this device!  Ley lines detailed, magic revealed!  We can shut it down but now we're trapped in Irrisen....

•  The party explored the rest of the tower, found Nazhena's treasure room and avoided the trapped statue.  Some great treasure including a ring of regeneration!  Oops, maybe not.  Dalomar can't seem to get the ring off.

•  Party travels to Hoarwood but starts to feel sick the further they get away from the path they were on.

•  Gremlins in the night ripped the party off!  Food spoiled!!

•  This crazy lady wants us to find her husband...a troll?  This better be worth it!

•  Sylgja and Finngarth:  Wait, that's no troll!

From the Diary of Zaaz Bloodfortune:

Exploring this level of the tower, first we found Radosek’s room with a few odds and ends.  We then went down to the other door on this level.   Dalomar and Sadobras carefully explored, looking for traps and treasure.  There was a statue of the witch Nazhena.   Really?  Why does every bad one suddenly decide at some point they need a larger than life statue of themselves?   I mean there is no way she is that tall with boobs that big, seriously.  What do you mean you like it.. Quiet you.   You are my voices and you should admire me.   Back to the matter at hand…  Soon the two found a curtain behind the statue hiding another door.  Opening it they found another room with another status… really.. another statue?!   How many does she need…. And a bunch of boxes and crates radiating magic.  Showing caution, Yoska and Hatch tried to use mage hand and telekinesis to get some of the items from the room.  What they found was rich enough to encourage us to get the rest.   As I entered the room, the statue let out a blast of energy at me.   I felt my mind going, pain upon pain, forcing itself against my will.   Just when I thought all was lost I felt a touch on my brow just as mother used to and I came back to myself.   Focusing my will I threw off the attack.   Breathing heavily I studied the statue and used the second sight to examine it for power.   None was there any longer so I moved forward and began examining the contents of the boxes.   Soon we had them all open and inspected.   It was a rich haul.   I say that easily, but it was more wealth than I had ever seen gathered in one place.   For a moment my mind played on this.   I could have all of it.   Siding with the witches of the north I could kill Nazhena and claim this for myself.   Surely this was just a taste of the wealth and power I could aspire to?    Then I thought of that hand on my brow, the dire warning the witches had brought me, the face of Nadya so sad sometimes when I knew she thought of the horrors done to her little girl and I knew.   Down to my core I knew this must end.   This was the wealth of blood and death and we would bend it to the death and destruction of those doing these evils. 

Bars of silver, items of magical power, and much more.   We had the witch’s treasury.   To top it off was an item of special distinction, a ring of regeneration.  Thinking of it and the best use for us, I recommended it be taken by Yoska to help keep him safe, but Dalomar also wanted it.   Pulling a coin from the mass we had found, then left the decision to chance and in the end it was to go to Dalomar.   Such a treasure was worth more gold than can be imagined.   Other treasures were found as well.   Books of history, creatures of the north, and much more.   Knowledge is a valuable coin indeed.   All we found we loaded into a bag of holding and slung it onto my back.  Heady I was with what I carried, but the voices reminded me of work left undone…

Returning to the room we first appeared I put down all the wealth, all the weapons, all thoughts and distractions.   This globe floating before me was the key to one of the reasons why we were here in the north.   The portal to the south that allowed the winter to escape its bounds was before me and I must know how to end it.   Intent upon it Grr and I sat on the floor together and discussed what we saw.   I called to the voices and asked their advise, some of it was useful and others as usual fluff.    A map it was of portals and power and lay lines become tangled.   A dirty magic, a magic of tangle.   Why did this call to me?   Something on this thought tickled me.   Conjuration.  This was a portal and thus tightly tangled with Conjuration magic and thus conjuring was the way to break it.   My thoughts coalesced and I exclaimed, yes that’s the way!   Pulling energy I brought forth my own tangle directly into the globe of power.   The web spell I cast overlay its own pattern of energy onto the lines of the ball, bringing a bit of weight to one side of the symmetry required in a conjuration like the winter witches had made.    Weight to break the crucial balance of energies.   The spin of the globe got decidedly wobbly and then with a burst broke apart and dissipated.  I could feel a trickle of the energy bleed into all of us there and stick like the world rewarding our efforts.

The rest was mostly cleanup.   We looted the remaining bodies and burned them.   I took my time to destroy those damn statues.   We hadn’t killed the witch as she just wasn’t there, but we could still spit in her face a bit.   One last task awaited us before we could head for Whitethrone.   During the battle Radosek had managed to cast a blindness spell on Noname.  Poor soul was also afflicted with the feast of ashes or something very similar.   No matter how much he ate, more he would hunger.   We needed to get him healed and though not in our preferred direction the clear choice was to go to Hoarwood.   First to Waldsby to pick up Nadya’s two remaining children, then on to Hoarwood we went.   Farther south we went, away from Whitethrone and the voices mumbling got louder.   Something they were warning me, but what I couldn’t tell.   It is so difficult when they mumble.   We were finally almost to Hoarwood when I realized I must have a sickness or something as I felt weak.   Sure I would heal soon I made a point to take it easy after travel and read as much in the new books as I could.  Surely this would help.   Though it improved my mind, and that of all the party who read the books, it did nothing for my sickness.   In Hoarwood it became clear it was more than just me, it was all of us with the same.   Consulting a priest we learned we were under no curse or disease he knew, but soon we understood.   This weakness was becoming stronger the father from the path of our mission.   The black rider gifted us, but he also lay a terrible burden on our souls.   Finish his mission or we would die from the curse of obligation.   Quickly we arranged to have Noname’s blindness removed and by the next day we resumed our task, north we went.  

The day started as the one before, dawn and food and the journey, but by the end of the day we would know our folly.   As we made our way north later in the day we saw birds in the distance.   More of those accursed crows and they were headed for us.  Gathering together and preparing ourselves we awaited the birds.   As they got close, poof, Yoska hid us in an obscuring mist.   There we continued to prepare and plan.   I made myself invisible and stepped out.   Two of the bird swarms there were with many birds.   As the mist dissipated, I called upon the powers of summer and alit my burning gaze upon one swarm.   Fire shot out and blasted into them, damaging many and putting others on fire.   My companions also fought and smashed their way through the swarm and soon they were flying away, feathers smoldering.  I checked my companions for wounds and saw that Dalomars were serious.   I waited a few moments and looked again, still serious.   We had just given him a powerful ring of regeneration, any wounds he had should be closing quickly.   For the rink will even regenerate missing limbs and organs.   However, it was soon clear things were not as they should be.   Dalomar not only couldn’t take off the ring, but wounds that would have been minor on him a few days before seemed to have done more than expected.   The ring was cursed and could not be easily removed.   To his credit, Dalomar was quite stoic about this turn of events.   His confidence in us to get him safely where we needed to go and to help him get the curse removed was touching.   Hold on Dalomar I thought.   If we don’t find a way soon, I know my power is growing and I will remove it myself soon enough.

Onward we went.   Much of the travel uneventful, but one event stands out.   We setup camp and put our traps.  As I awoke for my watch I realized many of our smaller items were done and worse, our food all spoiled.  A small slit on the side of the tent showed where something tiny had entered while we slept.  Thinking on the books about fay I had read I realized it must have been a type of gremlin.  We made a cursory check, but it became painfully obvious that we would never find them and that trying was likely proving them good entertainment.   My cold iron spear, my main weapon was gone, but now that we had found much gold and silver, perhaps it was time for an upgrade.

Farther we went and soon had another interesting encounter.   As we approached a small hut in the woods we were spotted by a beautiful read headed woman named Sylgja.   She came up to us and begged us to free her husband Finngarth from the Moss Troll who had captured him or avenge him if he was dead.  Agreeing to take a look we went to the area in question and to the cave she had spotted near where her husband was taken.   Casting invisibility on Repent, I also gave him a potion of invisibility to get Finngarth out of the cave if possible.   In he went and Noname quickly related what was seen.   Not a moss troll, but Finngarth covered in some vegetation making a nesting place.  Noname dscribed it to me and I realized what it was, Mindslaver Mold.   A mold that takes control of sentient beings and makes them its slave.  Fighting the creature was tough as it was bound to Finngarth and often would hide behind his head making it more likely for us to damage his host than the mold.   Repent slapped at Finngarth with a sap to try to put him unconscious without killing him and Sadobras hit with a few sling stones.   Soon all of us joined in the fight and managed to free him from control of the mold.   Healing him and taking him back to his cabin we were received rapturously by Sylgja who was overjoyed to see her husband again.   Hugging us all she also passed some kind of luck to Sadobras.  Mentioning Dalomars curse, Sylgja in gratitude to us also tried to use a scroll of remove curse she had, but it was not powerful enough to remove the ring.  A fine woman I thought as we entered into the hut, but then almost froze in my steps as I saw her tail.   Certainly not human with that, but what was she.   Taking a closer look it became clearer.   Though well disguised, I could see her wooden skin and empty hollow in her back.   My studies had mentioned the Huldra to me, but certainly not said they were of the bad kind.   Thinking upon it I realized exactly why a human and Huldra were living alone in the woods far from society.   People are often cruel to those mixing the races.   Not all of us know that love knows no bounds.  Later as we washed dishes together and I could get her alone I reminded her to be careful with her tail.   Quickly I could see she was worried for her secret, but I reassured her there was no need for any other to know.   Relief flooded her face and I felt sorrow for a world that would make her feel such a secret necessary.  

In the morning the happy couple made us breakfast and saw us off- packed well and stocked with supplies for the road.   Onward we journey now to a village on the edge of Whitethrone.   There Nadya knows of person who may be able to get us into the city itself without attention we care not for.   What will be find there?   Is it really true the legendary hut of Baba Yaga awaits within?   Soon we will know… 

Session 12 Reign of Winter, Pathfinder gaming group, Pale tower clean-up

Pale Tower overrun by the heroes!  Radosak and Jairess defeated.

From the Diary of Zaaz Bloodfortune

…. The fight continued.   Just as I was starting to despair, Hatch blasted the bitch out the window and I thought at the time, out of this life.   Her body floated down to the courtyard and before we could be sure of the deal was swept up by a great bloody ice troll.   We took a few parting shots and killed off a few of the guards that came out with the beast, but the troll and bitch got away.   Taking stock of our party and strength, I begged my companions to pause the assault.   Inside I was filled with an emptiness of power.   The voices tell me facing the Witch and her apprentice will take all we have, to fight now would be to give them the advantage.  

We did our best to block the portal point and holed up in one of the rooms at this level.   Lucky for us Dalomar made a good search of the rooms and found a wee horde hidden in a dollhouse.   So after a few hours, well fed, well rested, and a bit richer we unblocked the portal and went down again to the level below.   I say that casually, we in fact we did dangle Hatch out the window like a minnow waiting a striker so he could peek at the level below to check if the coast was clear.   The level seemed empty so the only real choice was to go back down and clear the level below.   Dalomar and Sadobras went out the window on lines.   The voices in my head became a cacophony, all at once united in their speech and chanted together to me, getting louder and louder as they went, jump, jump, jump, jump!  Out the window I went and to my amazement my hair spread around me, slowed me, and I fell as light as a feather!   Oh thank you ones beyond, for it is almost like flying as a bird.

Once in the courtyard we discovered the door in to the first level was not locked.   In fact, it was not closed and the Ice Troll from before announced our arrival.   Soon the rest of my companions came down as we battled the beast in at the door.   Both of the bitches we found before in the Raven room were both back on their feet and fighting us along with a guard.   Lesson to be learned is leave no evil behind, me thinks.   Sly Noname realized that while all of us were fighting up front, the back might not be and sent repent down the portal to attack their rear.  There he found a fountain and Water elemental and eliminated them as well as did a bit of scouting.   Back to our battle.   We fought much better together.   I actually stayed back in cover where I could throw curse after curse at our enemies to sap their will to fight and cloud their abilities.   Yoska, Dalomar, and Sadobras fought to great effect destroying our enemies and soon the place was quiet.   Even Nadya, who had been struggling to do any damage in combat was somewhat successful.  Searching the bodies we found what we had hoped, the key to the upper level. 

Ready to finish the tower off we went up again to the second level and then chose an order to the top.   Up we went one at a time, starting with repent, then myself, and the rest did follow.   In the room at the top we were surprised to find Radosek, the witches apprentice, and his goat.    Floating above it all was a globe of magical power, spinning and pulsing, covered with lines.   Radosek immediately cast into a cauldron he had there and quickly out popped a large group of ice elementals.   Did he really have that much power to summon that many of them, or was there something special about that cauldron?  Repent immediately moved forward to attack the goat and I moved aside in the room to make room for the next to come up.   As I was repositioning in the room I heard a banging from a side door.   The voice of the one inside demanding to be let out was familiar.   I asked who it was and Nadya’s voice asked, “Zaaz?!”   This made no sense, how could Nadya be in there when she was downstairs awaiting her turn to come through the portal?   Before I could find the answer though, a lighting arc hit me hard enough to knock me out.   Why does this always seem to happen to me?!  After a few moments I was woken back up through healing and I took stock of the room.   All of our party was up and there were two Nadyas.  Radosek and his ice elemtentals still battled as well.   Having faith the Nadya from the room was the true Nadya I told her to talk my crossbow and fight.   Quickly she shot the fake Nadya with the crossbow and the two went back and forth.  The rest of the party in confusion fought as well.  Noname dazed the real Nadya, then the fake one attacked Yoska and make it abundantly clear which was which.  Soon through the valiant actions of the party, Radosek, his elementals, and the fake Nadya were killed.   The fake Nadya’s body went through a terrible transformation as it died, first from one form, then to another.  Even at one point it became Lady Argentia Malassene, hinting at some deep plot.   The reality had became painfully clear, this was a vile doppleganger.   The true Nadya was healed and told us her story that she had been taken from town when we went to get healing for our eyes before and had been held captive here in the tower.