North by Northwest, Chapter 2.5: Caster and Mouse

[Thanee]

Zeegra

“...or we believe in second chances...”

 

[Starman]

Cellan grabs the medallion. "This might, uh, come in handy. We should, uhm, keep it."

 

[Thanee]

Zeegra

“So, what do you say? Will you help us a little? You know these lands and the schemes better than we do, obviously. Then, maybe, you could get your second chance. What is this what we want, even though we do not know about it yet?”

 

[Fenris]

"I doubt your mistress would treat you so kindly" adds Ghur

 

[Scotley]

Cian Dark Elf Bard

Cian watches, and can't help but smile at Zeegra's questions. He tries to keep a straight face and look stern as they question the wizard. He notes, "Perhaps he could open the chest?"

 

[Old Fezziwig]

The caster groans. "My mistress will treat me even worse if I help you. Of course, I'm not much for dying either." Pausing, he sighs and then says, "What is it that you want? I'll leave that to you to decide and figure out. Some advice, though. You want to be careful as you move into the north. No one from south of that canyon you call The Chasm — we have our spies, you understand — has been up this far north, never mind farther north, in two thousand years. Be careful who you anger. The troops of the other four generals are far less forgiving than we have been. Of course, the other four generals are far more powerful than the Frost Maiden now."

He looks at the party carefully before continuing; he seems freed by the situation and the information comes out in a rush. "You're currently underneath one of the towers of the...Old North Line. It's our main fortification. You're in no shape at the current time to assault it -- we outnumber you by at least ten to one here -- and it's devoid of any historical documents. If you go into the tunnel ahead of me, watch for a branch on the left side. It should look obviously fake to anyone with any experience in the wild. Pull it. It'll open a side passage that will surface in a thicket in the foothills of the mountains. You'll be safer there. If you want to find out more about the other generals and their troops, head up into the mountains. At the summit of the tallest peak in the southern range, you'll find the Mahatkata. The Ice Queen thinks he's a fool. I know better. You'll want to meet him. You can also look in the scrublands north of the towers for Coldfoot Willie. He's a nasty one, but he has no love for the other four generals. Finally, if you want to just talk to the Ice Queen herself, clear out Delzomen's Forge and bring back what you find in the depths. She'll grant an audience to anyone that can do that. Anything else? Aside from the chest — do I look like I could open a chest right now?"

 

[Starman]

Even defeated, the spellcaster still made the druid nervous. Who knows what tricks he might have up his sleeve. "Uhm...I think that we should find these two, uh, people that know something about these g-generals first," Cellan says. "That will, uh, make us better prepared for...for whatever else happens." Manakar nuzzles his leg in agreement.

 

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

I don't think he has something with the chest Ghur picked from the bottom of the pool.
He turns to the spell caster
I thought you said your queen will punish you, so how come you give us such valuable information

 

[Old Fezziwig]

"She's going to punish me anyhow. And I'm sure some of you would like to finish me off, too. You see my dilemma." He shrugs. "Besides, I think you might be more valuable to us alive later on. I'll take my beatings now and be rewarded later."

 

[Starman]

Cellan looks around at the others. "So, what are we going to, uhm, do with him?" He gestures toward their captive. "Uh, are we going to take him, uh, with us? Wouldn't that, uh, just slow us down and give us, uhm, you know, one more thing to worry about?"