"You've no idea where that hut will go, Tsin. And I'd wager when we next step out of it we won't be hereany longer!"
Tsin rolls her eyes at Mal, before nodding with Pems. "The whole point of our locating this witch's hut is to locate the witch with the hut, Mal. Of course it's going to take us away from Whitethrone, and it couldn't be soon enough, if you ask me."
Tsin quickly strides to the door with Pems, shadowing him should something untoward open the door to greet them.
"Oh, Mal, would you come look at all these magical items!"
Pems moves into the room, his eyes wide at the clearly larger on the inside room. "This is... amazing." He murmurs, looking about the room. "Should we look around?"
"Bah! Look at them yourself for a change!" Malavarius' grumpiness gets the better of him as he paces in the space before the porch, arguing loudly with himself about entering the hut.
Tsin mutters to herself a light chastisement for allowing a patronizing tone to tinge her speech. She commiserates with Pems. "He's not always unaware, I'll grant you that..."
She is about to look about, but suddenly becomes hesitant, as the dawning realization of the proportions of the interior compared to exterior start to register. "Ah, yes. This is a witch's home. Not simply a hut. And we're traipsing about." She exits, and returns with each of the Riders' bodies in turn.
She takes a position near the door, and watches Pems and the others intently for their investigations.
Hektir takes the sickle, holding and testing its heft and weight. He stands a few feet back and swings the blade, tentatively at first, but then with more and more control and vigor.
"Ah, this blade reminds me of when I was reaping and sowing my wild oats!" Hektir says, happily. "Mal, Pems, does this have magic upon it?"
* * *
Hektir enters Yucky Babbi's hut, looking around.
Perception
He pulls out the chair at the desk and has a seat, waiting to see what the party does next.
"I would want to say goodbye to Nadya as well...it ain't right to leave without a goodbye when she might fear us dead," Hektir says.
You notice a small symbol inscribed on one of the stones of the fireplace.
Also, you think the bookcase along the eastern wall conceals a secret door.
"It's... it's.... perfect!" Quinn's eyes brim and his lower lip quivers as he beholds the fantastic spectacle. So deep is his trance that he finds himself standing alone outside and rushes into the hut to join his companions. "Do you understand the importance of this!" he yells to everyone, "It's momentous, amazing, outstanding, it will be talked about from the southern tips of the Mwangi jungles to this crappy frozen place we're about to leave!" Quinn flops on the floor, as if trying to hug the very hut itself. "I will never, ever, ever again have to hop from bar to bar! Now my bar will just hop to wherever we want to go!" Cayden's disciple continues gushing about the gift of his god as he pulls himself up from the floor and starts digging through every shelf and cupboard in the hut, sure that his lord has stashed a fine liquor to reward perseverance.
In the room, you discover a vast array of spell components and alchemical ingredients on the shelves of the room, as well as a small bead carved with a tiny pictogram of a rabbit; a malevolent-looking doll made out of cheap rags and embroidery thread and stuffed with straw or sawdust; several jars of liquid; and a container of tea.
"I would want to say goodbye to Nadya as well...it ain't right to leave without a goodbye when she might fear us dead."
"You risk our mission by returning into town, Hektir. We're here, the hut's permitted us entrance, and we have the means of following Baba Yaga now. We've just slain a local authority. Wise not to dawdle." Tsin finds a seat, and takes it.
You notice a small symbol inscribed on one of the stones of the fireplace.
Also, you think the bookcase along the eastern wall conceals a secret door.
Hektir spits as he looks around.
He points as he leans toward the fireplace. "Weird symbol there. That's neat."
He points again. "That there might be a secret door."
He watches Quinn as searches and *really* hopes the man finds something interesting to share as they relax.
"You risk our mission by returning into town, Hektir. We're here, the hut's permitted us entrance, and we have the means of following Baba Yaga now. We've just slain a local authority. Wise not to dawdle." Tsin finds a seat, and takes it.
Hektir listens to Tsin, nodding.
Women.
He gives a glance to Quinn, seeking the man's understanding as he ransacks.
He spits and gives acceptance to Tsin's words.
"Funny how that wasn't your thoughts when you were piking the witch's head, was it?" Hektir bemuses. "Nah, you don't need risk yourselves, I'll go alone and take care of things. You all can wait here in safety. If you want, I can sell some our loots too, get some provisions for travel in case we aren't back in town anytime soon."
Hektir's eyes go to the wand of CLW.
"Ain't no man or beast going to track nor stop me as I go, either," Hektir says confidently.
"Funny how that wasn't your thoughts when you were piking the witch's head, was it?" Hektir bemuses. "Nah, you don't need risk yourselves, I'll go alone and take care of things. You all can wait here in safety. If you want, I can sell some our loots too, get some provisions for travel in case we aren't back in town anytime soon."
Tsin continues to watch Quinn enjoying himself robustly as she answers Hektir. "Come now Hektir, the front gates of the Market Square are hardly town. Nazhena's head even serves as your goodbye nod to Nadya, for certainly, if her head is displayed in such fashion, Nadya couldn't mistake your victory. Where I come from, piking a witch's head in witch's country is called 'burning a bridge'. But, do tell, you mind reader you, what else am I thinking? Perhaps that provisions couldn't possibly be found lying around a powerful witch's home? My, you are good. I'm sure there's nothing to eat in here, so don't forget food while you tarry. We'll need wood for the fireplace too."
"Quinn, please tell Hektir how foolish he's being. Or just think it, and he'll read your mind, he's that good."
Hektir snorts, waiting for Pems and Mal, seeing if they need anything from town before anything gets too crazy.
Malavarius remains outside the hut, pacing in front of its porch, ranting at Zeno and waving his arms angrily in the air.
"This hut is BA-BA YA-GA's, Zeno! The old crone's very hut! I'll not use such a blighted thing. Her foul magics ooze from its every hole and crevice!"
"By some other blasted means, that's how! I'm sure the Thassilonians cooked up something that could do the trick!"
"Bad? Perhaps, but not half as bad as that wrinkled, crinkled old witch!"
"And if you and those hasty young fools thought about the fact that this is BABA YAGA's HOUSE, you'd realize how wrong it is to join with the crone through it!"
Zeno sighs, shaking his head. He hops from his perch atop Malavarius' staff and leaves him to argue with himself as he flits through the open door of the hut. He alights on the corner of a shelf and looks at the others, holding his wings out wide and dropping his shoulders in a gesture of helplessness.
Pems smiles at Zeno. He walks out to Mal. "It's alright, sir. Zeno explained it all to us, about how you're too afraid to enter the witch's hut. It's just that... Well, I'm pretty sure I saw a hat that looks like yours, only much nicer..."
Tsin debates what to do, regarding Hektir's delay. It's like herding cats... old tabby Mal, and mongrel Hektir. One wishes to remain outdoors, the other hopes Nadya's in heat. The Black Rider has seen us this far, seen us equipped to command this hut, and they mew in hesitation. Pharasma, give me strength.
She smirks as Pems wiggles a feathery idea in front of Mal, trying to lure him inside. She moves to the vicinity of the secret door, and looks for a way to trigger its release. Should this endeavor prove futile, she moves to the double doors, and opens them.
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"Quinn, please tell Hektir how foolish he's being. Or just think it, and he'll read your mind, he's that good."
Following Tsin's advice, though not at all in the way she had intended, Quinn places fingers to his temples and directs his thoughts at Hektir.
Where is the liquor? Where do witches hide their booze?
Then for good measure, Quinn makes the drinky-drinky sign with his thumb and pinky and shrugs while looking around the place.
His search was not completely in vain. Pems, look, this is perfect for you and Flash!" Quinn hands him the small bead carved with a pictogram of a rabbit. 'And Mal, look, is this your hat...oh wait, No, no, it's just some cheap rags with embroidery," Quinn props the doll up in a comfy looking position and tries to improve its malevolent demeanor to something more cheerful. Plopping down in the center of the room with the bottles of liquid and jar of tea, Quinn carefully checks out each of them.
"Well for starters, Zeno's foolish, even for a thrush and you shouldn't listen to him. Scared? Pfah. More likely I'm the only one with any sense left! Secondly, it would be just like that shriveled old bat to steal my hat and secret it or one like away in her blasted hut! We should burn the blighted thing down, Pemsworth, not dance about on the porch or dither about inside! Baba Yaga, these riders of hers, that very hut you're standing in - it's power we should've never aligned ourselves with!"
The bead, doll, three vials and tea all radiate magic. As -- painfully -- does the hut.
Tsin, the door behind the bookcase appears to be locked.
As Tsin moves to the double doors, she listens to Malavarius rant and regret.
"Now you want to turn back? You have sense now, but didn't when you accepted Illarion's Gift? What exactly did you think was going to happen, Mal? We're seeking Baba Yaga, directly. We're not braining pigeons and strapping them with little scrolls of paper. We're not setting signal fires, hoping she sees them from afar, let alone trying to burn down this hut, which will likely find a way of putting itself out. Find the hut, save the summer, wasn't it? Stop your tantrum, and let's ready the items the Black Rider gave us. We are almost done with this, do not squawk balk now."
Hektir gives Quinn the get-a-load-of-her hand gesture, repeatedly jacking his thumb at her back.
"She's right, Mal," Hektir confirms nonetheless. "But she'd be equally as right if she were less preachy about things. If you want to take your time getting used to the idea, you can come back into town with me so we can shop a bit before we do whatever happens here."
Hektir looks around, rifling through the desk.
Perception
You don't find anything beyond what Quinn found, Hektir.
The bead, doll, three vials and tea all radiate magic. As -- painfully -- does the hut.
Tsin, the door behind the bookcase appears to be locked.
Hektir spits and closes the desk, finding nothing of use.
Quinn scrunches one eye closed as the magic aura of the hut staggers him. "Ooowww! Ok, that pretty bead, ugly doll, and the vials all have magic, as well as this tea." Quinn continues sniffing at the tea, hoping that witches define 'tea' as four different liquors mixed together with a splash of sugar.
Malavarius' countenance darkens into a scowl as Tsin's chastisement wears on, and he seems about to offer a loud rebuttal of his own when Hektir's admonition cuts him off. He harumpfs grumpily, then huffs, "Very well then, Hektir. I think a stroll might do me some good."
Pems frowns as Mal harumphs away. Turning to Zeno, he mutters, "I tried, Zeno, but he's too stubborn for anything to land."
You're not sure what the bead or doll are.
The vials contain an elixir of love, restorative ointment, unguent of timelessness and universal solvent, while the tea is seer's tea.
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Tsin studies the front door of the surreal hut, and readies to close it to the world once Hektir and Malavarius, and possibly others, depart to shop.
"Who's staying? Oh! More importantly, who has the Black Rider's tokens? Those remain, no matter who decides to follow Hektir on his whim." Tsin stands quickly, and extends an open palm, not sure who exactly has the items.
"I have them and I will stay. I'd like to see this library!" Pems looks eagerly toward the library. "But shouldn't we explore a bit more before everyone leaves?"
Hektir sit and relaxes for a short while before jumping to his feet, gathering up the goods the party has decided to sell.
'But shouldn't we explore a bit before everyone leaves?"
Hektir looks around, watching Quinn fiddle-faddle with the teas.
"We'll have plenty of time to explore this place, won't we? This will be our new home while we find Baby Yacki, right?" Hektir asks with a spit, sticking Emberchill where he can draw it as needed.
"Mal and I will be back soon enough. Just need to get word to Nadya that we're safe," Hektir says. "Should we donate some cash to help care for those children too?"
Won't someone think of the children?
Hektir will go sell stuff, buy stuff, and send word to Nadya through the bard and whatshername.
"Yea, yea" Quinn waves a hand at Hektir while continuing to sniff at the tea, "Help those kids and noodle with Nadya, but let's get moving soon and leave this snowy tundra behind. I'm staying here, that last witchy tower had some good sherry, we just haven't found the summer wine hidden in this hut yet." Always hopeful, Quinn goes back to searching around with Pems, helping to pull any books of interest from the top shelf in the library.
"Hektir, the least you could do is secure some spirits for Quinn while you're at market. Don't be overly generous with the children."
Tsin selects a book at random, and pulls a chair close to the front door, where she takes up sentry duty.
Hektir nods at the party.
"Back in a bit. Extra booze. Got it." Hektir grabs Mal and goes.
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Malavarius' upset rant is picking up steam again as Hektir takes his arm and spins him slowly around to face the way they'd initially come. Sadly for the outdoorsman, Malavarius seems oblivious to the change in his direction and continues to bemoan and question the wisdom of joining with Baba Yaga or any of her servants, tools, or autonomous powers.
It's not until the pair are well out of the enchanted wood and back into the clusted avenues of White Throne that Malavarius realizes the hut is gone. "Good heavens, Hektir! The hut's gone! And so is the wood! Blast those hasty, impatient nincompoops! They've activated the hut and left us behind!" He tugs his beard in building frustration as his ears turn a bright crimson, "Hektir! The three of those young fools won't last half a day without us!" He spins in a circle and jabs his hat with his staff to rouse Zeno, "Zeno? Zeno! Wake up you sleepy starling! Zeno?" only to realize with startling dismay Zeno's likely whereabouts. "Egad! Hektir? Hektir!" The wizard grabs the tracksmage by the shoulders, shaking him slightly, "They've taken Zeno with them! Oh good grief, that vapid thrush won't know up from down without me there."
---
Zeno blinks at Flash, the rabbit having proved a rather polite audience for Malavarius' wintry origins, but the thrush sighs as the rabbit simply nibbles on another nub of carrot in response.
Mal and Hektir's journey through the enchanted woods and streets of Whitethrone brings them close to trouble a few times, but they manage to avoid the worst of the fighting taking the city as they make their way to sell their goods. That finished, they find their way back to the secret shrine of Milani, where they find Nadya waiting.
"Hektir! Mal! You have returned. But where are the others?"
"Egad! Hektir? Hektir!" The wizard grabs the tracksmage by the shoulders, shaking him slightly, "They've taken Zeno with them! Oh good grief, that vapid thrush won't know up from down without me there."
"Oh no, Mal, they went on ahead to prepare tea and food for us. We're going there right now," Hektir quips, continuing on.
* * *
Hektir struts up to Nadya, wrapping his manly arm around her waist. He unconsciously flexes his pectorals.
"The witch, Nasal Hyena, is dead," Hektir coolly informs. "The others...the others are guarding our prize: the Hut of Baby Yacki."
Hektir mentally surveys the available 'quiet space' options in the secret shrine of Milani.
"We dared risk coming out for supplies as we don't know where we are going and don't know when we will be back. It's going to be rough out there...but we have a job to do," Hektir say bravely. "I don't know when I'll see you again, Nadya."
Hektir looks deeply into Nadya's <<insert eye color here>> eyes.
"So. Pems. Quinn. What do you intend to do once we've notified the witch? I picture a return to Heldren, just to center ourselves, and assure summer's return. Then, who knows? I might enjoy a return to Oppara for a season. Oooo, or south. To lands that don't understand the word 'snow'."
She swings her backpack off, and rummages for a piece of something digestable.
Malavarius smiles at the sight of Nadya and seems about to speak when Hektir bulls past him and scoops the woman up. "I say, pardon me, Hektir." Brushing his robes flat again he looks to Nadya and smiles warmly. "It's true, my dear. The one who took little Thora from you no longer draws breath." His eyes grow glassy at this point and a tremble enters his voice, "I wish there was more we could do for you, my dear." He sniffles loudly but maintains his composure, "I trust you'll be well in the days ahead. Thank you again, for all your help."
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Pems sighs and looks wistful. "Well, before this adventure I always thought I would stay in Heldren forever, grow old there, run the shop. But now? I'd like to see them again, those lands, but..." He absent-mindedly strokes Flash. "I think, after all this, that I'll return to Irrisen. These people. These poor people, they live in fear of these terrible witches and I think I can help them. I think I can be of use here. And since whatever it was that gave me these powers came into me, I don't think the summer lands are for me anymore. I think I need to be where the snow falls and the lands sleep. I suppose I'll come back. Who knows? Perhaps I will make amends to Nadya for ruining her life!"
Quinn flashes a concerned look at Pems. "You all right lad, that witch didn't enchant you did she? Maybe a fey trick? Tsin has the right of it, let's find the warm sun on our shoulders and extend our journey to the southern lands. No rightful person would want to stay in these snowy northern lands, not unless they were...a...witch" Quinn's voice trails off and he subconsciously slides a step away from the halfling.
Pems smiles sadly as Quinn slides away. "I think that's what I am, Quinn. But I don't know if its the witchery that makes you evil or the evil that makes the witches bad. I hope it's their evil, for I don't feel evil. I just feel... cold. Deep inside cold. But sometimes I can make the cold do good things, like healing and the magic." Flash nuzzles his hand as he speaks and makes a soft chirrup sound. "And there's Flash. I can't really ever be alone now, since I have him. And that's definitely not evil."
Nadya steps back as Hektir embraces her.
"She is dead? Good! Perhaps then, my Thora, her spirit, it will find rest.
"I thank you for what you have done. I will return now to my boys. I wish you the best. If you should find yourself in Irrisen again and need help, you have only to ask."
"No rightful person would want to stay in these snowy northern lands, not unless they were...a...witch"
Tsin coughs on a piece of beef jerky, then laughs. "Our little locksmith has never..." Tsin looks closely at Pems, assessing him for his bent. "Ah, yes, as I thought..."
"I think that's what I am, Quinn. But I don't know if its the witchery that makes you evil or the evil that makes the witches bad. I hope it's their evil, for I don't feel evil. I just feel... cold. Deep inside cold. But sometimes I can make the cold do good things, like healing and the magic."
Tsin narrows her gaze on the halfling. "You feel... cold? Why would anyone choose to let the cold in like that? A matter of convenience, so you're not plagued by the cold?" Tsin sips lukewarm water from her canteen.
"As for your rabbit, you consider him a companion? I've never understood why anyone would want to befriend animals like that. Rabbits are for stew, it's simply the order of things. Men who relate better to animals than humans are likely closer to animals themselves."
Zeno looses a startled squawk at Tsin's proclamation, then harumpfs with indignation as he flits over to Pemsworth's shoulder.
He fluffs his chest feathers a bit before extending a wing toward the butcher and then to Quinn, He then offers Flash a subtle nod of solidarity.
"You obviously don't have any idea what you're talking about, Tsin. And while it might not be the same as it was for Pemsworth, you took the cold into you too when you accepted the power from Black Midnight. You all did! Neither of you are in any position to judge Pemsworth or Flash!"
Tsin rolls her eyes at MiniMal. "Really, Zeno. I merely inquire with Pems to get to know him better. I don't remember you accepting anything from Black Midnight, so you are the ignorant one here. Cease your lecturing."
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He frowns, as much as a thrush is able.
Tsin chokes up, as Zeno deigns to make such a comparison. "Aaahhh, well, I should mind my tongue better then. Flash is more than rabbit, of course. If it weren't for his bonding with Pems, it would be fair game. Is it the only furry servant for Pems? If Flash gets squished in the backpack by the club of an ogre, would Pems be denied another bond? For that matter, Zeno, are you the first thrush thrust upon Malavarius?"
He pauses for a second, rolling his eyes at remembered stories, now thankfully forgotten by the wizard, involving the cat. He then adds,
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Nadya steps back as Hektir embraces her.
Hektir gives a quick glance of irritation towards Mal.
Damn, I need better wingman.
Quinn!! Now there was a wingman!
I look much better in comparison when he's around.
Hektir doesn't press his luck with Nadya, letting her go quickly.
"She is dead? Good! Perhaps then, my Thora, her spirit, it will find rest.
Hektir spits.
"And if you have need of me, just let me know. I'll come," Hektir replies. "We have more work to do, but I am glad you will have peace."
Hektir looks around for the Milanian cleric.
"Soulfang! We were successful...how goes the war? What is happening with the children?"