Nasrin staggers to her feet, not willing to let Corum go into danger alone. She whistles and Jagar heels. Together they follow the barbarian and the sword-mage through the door.
Tall bookcases stretch from floor to ceiling in this chamber, flanking a row of tables standing in the center aisle. Numerous books are strewn upon the tables, along with blotters, vials of ink, sheets of vellum, and abundant quills. A fire burns merrily in a fire place built into the eastern wall.
Baba Yaga's library contains books in a variety of languages on nearly every topic imaginable. The entire room has a powerful divination, conjuration, and transmutation aura when you detect magic.
Zorka explains that this is not the entirety of Baba Yaga's collection, only the portion of it accessible from this configuration of the Dancing Hut. Each time a creature (or group of creatures) enters the room, new volumes are rotated into the stacks from extradimensional storage, while an equal number are rotated out.
Books and other items can be removed from the library, but vanish if
removed from the hut itself. These objects magically return to the library's stacks and may be available again at some later point, but not immediately.
Sitting on one of the tables is a pair of unremarkable looking spectacles that detect as magic when you concentrate on them. These are Spectacles of Understanding
In addition, several of the books strewn around are actually arcane and alchemical spell and formulae books.
There is a Tome of the Transmuter and a Lab Journal of Constance Inflix. (See Here)
Zorka also unlocks the only other door with a key taken from the folds of her dress.
A flight of steps leads to a cool, earthen chamber beneath the hut that by all rights should not exist. A grinding sound fills the air, emanating from a millstone in the center of the room that turns endlessly, powered by some unknown force. Several small bins sit along the north wall, next to a few bulging sacks in the northeast corner. A small wooden box wrapped in chains sits in the southwest corner.
The bins along the wall contain potatoes, turnips, onions, and other vegetables that require low temperatures and controlled humidity for safekeeping. The sacks in the corner contain several pounds of bone meal and dried grains.
Zorka explains that within the box is one of Baba Yaga's many familiars.
As the others head off to explore the library and cellar, Del rights the chair he'd been sitting in before Zorka startled him and plops down with a grunt. He calls after the others, "If you find any tea that isn't made from cremated cat powder or the like, could you bring some back? I spilled mine." His voice drops with this last admission, the tone sad and pitiable. "I'll, uh... I'll just stay here then."
Greyston takes to the library instantly, looking around the room calling out tombs he had only heard tales of. "A truly impressive library, so much we could learn from this place. It's a shame it will change when we move." He sighs continuing to look around the room spotting an open book with familiar writings. "A formula book! It has some I haven't even thought of yet or had the time to fully work out." He takes up the book reading thought it.
There's this. Zorka says. After all if you are going to try to save Baba Yaga you may be in this Hut some time.
She lifts one particularly large volume from the shelves and sets it down on the reading table.
The pages are all completely blank save for a detailed painting of the library room on its center spread.
This book is never rotated out of the library's collection. If the book is opened to its center spread and placed against a wall in any of the Hut's rooms a door appears in the wall that opens into this room so that my mistress could always access her library.
This is very impressive Zorka... and thank you for showing us the book, access to this extensive library will prove invaluable as we try to track down your mistress
she picks up the book reverently but passes it straight to Elleross with an apologetic smile.
Now I'm sorry for brewing tea earlier without your permission, is it ok to brew another pot? It would be good to bolster Del's morale if we can...
She sets to brewing another pot, mentally cataloging all the bumps, scrapes and wounds the party had accrued getting to the hut. She places a hand on the half-orc's shoulder and a still steaming mug of strong black tea in to the half-orc's hand without a word.
No I'm sorry. the odd fey replies. I have seen my mistress taken, my friends - the Riders - slain, my house intruded and chained. And all by that little harlot Elvanna! Seeking to usurp her mother... how dare she?
Please, help yourself. For as long as you are willing to help Baba Yaga this house is yours too.
"That's good, we can learn so much from this library. But now we need to leave before the guard regroup and we really need to rest I need to brew more vials."
When the house spirit apologizes to Sapphire, Del calls from the other room, "Does that mean I put my feet up now, Zorka?"
He offers the fair-haired magus a wan smile and a gentle squeeze of the hand she places on his shoulder when she offers him a new cup of tea. "It's much better for drinking than for wearing, you know." He raises the cup with a thankful nod of his head before taking a slow, tentative sip.
Corum has no interest in the books so he joins Del and Sapphire at the table. He sits and takes a handful of trail rations and stuffs it in his mouth. He chews the dry oats, fruit and jerky noisily and quaffs water from his canteen to help it down.
"Crom! I could do with some real food! Del, are you going to take this curse then? If it stops this hut blowing you up every time you go for a s@#t then that's got to be worth it." He smiles. Though hid words are crass and his manner crude he us genuinely concerned for his friend.
Zorka looks from Sapphire to Del to Corum.
You people are so odd. which seems rich coming from a duck-billed, donkey-eared old woman. Where are you from? Why did Midnight choose you?
"Del if your against even trying to get some protect from this, you have to stay in this room no matter what. I don't think any of us want to see you get hurt triggering any of these traps." He says placing the alchemist's formula book he found down.
He then turns to Elleross. "We've taken enough time already Elleross, maybe it's time we move the hut?"
From her place in a corner Nasrin says, "Because we were chosen by Pharasma. The Rider was dying and we were there at the end."
As they move into the library He is astounded.
what a storehouse of knowledge this is, this library has dozens of books I've always wanted access to and many more that I had no idea Existed he thinks to himself as he wanders along the shelves plucking books out at random and glancing at their contents
I must make full use of this place, if we have the time , who knows what may be learned here
Taking the spell book from the library he returns to the main room with the others.
he gratefully accepts the enchanted book from Saphire and he examins it, the level of power displayed so casually within this place was frightening.
Who knows what other rooms would materialise within this place once they activated the hut.
thank you Sapphire, I will keep this safe. Access to that library will prove invaluable to us. There is so much we can learn he says as he opens the book with wonder.
maybe it was Pharasma, maybe it was fate. Or maybe it was pure chance that brought us into contact with black midnight before he passed.
whatever the reason he had no choice but to choose us and now we are here.
It is time we got this hut out of here, we cannot stay any longer he says agreeing with Greyston
I cannot control the hut, it is pure witchcraft....the egg and bowl, I cannot even begin to fathom the mechanics of it. But the keys will take us away from here. he says as he moves across to the cauldron and picking up the keys he looks around at the others and places them inside the bubbling cauldron.
let us see what happens next, we have no idea where this hut will go but we have no other choice
Elleros takes the plague-doctor's mask and giant beard from his bag. How strange these items are, how weird to think of them as keys. But the Black Rider was insistent that they would be the first step in finding Baba Yaga and curtailing this dreadful, eternal winter that threatens to engulf the entire world.
He drops the items into the bubbling cauldron and immediately there there is a flash and it's smoke begins to billow out pale blue. It spills over the edges of the cauldron as if it were heavier than the air around it and crawls along the floor of the room like a swarm of rats.
The Hut stands suddenly in a stomach-churning wrench. To see through the window the trees falling away beneath the height of the Hut is both breathtaking and terrifying but the sight lasts only a moment as the walls of the room begin to morph and change before your very eyes. The doors are suddenly replaced by more wooden boarding as are the windows and a short set of rickety looking steps rises from the floor leading up to a set of double doors that were not there a moment ago. Outside, but deafeningly loud, the Hut clucks and screeches like an excited chicken and you have to cover your ears against the sudden din.
The feeling of tremendous speed and inertia pressing on your chest is frighteningly reminiscent of the sensation you had crossing through the Winter Portal but the light-headedness, almost to the point where you black out is new.
Your head spins, your stomach lurches and just as you think you cannot beare the sensation any longer..... it stops.
When you finally come to your senses you realise you are still in the same room... though, somehow not also.
A sturdy black cauldron sits in the middle of a rustic room with timber floors, log walls, and a high ceiling framed by long beams cut from whole trunks. A grand cobblestone hearth fills one corner, its dying embers feeding the room with a dull red glow. Various barrels, farm tools, crates, and other miscellaneous items clutter the remainder of the space. In the corner opposite the fireplace, a rickety wooden staircase climbs to a small wooden landing. A shallow alcove off the landing holds two thick oaken doors.
Greyston almost falls forward as the room stops spinning. His visual blurry but slowly starts to focus again.
"That was jarring.." He stumbles to hold onto a chair, taking in the familiar but new room they all stand in. "Everything has been sealed up but we have a new set of doors." He points up towards the double doors. "What's in there Zorka?" He questions the fey.
Corum watches Elleross approach the cauldron with more than a little concern. Who knows what will happen when the cauldron is used. The mage drops the items in and the smoke billows out of the cauldron. Corum rockets back out of his chair, rolling and standing with his axe ready.
No sooner has he gained his feet when the hut suddenly lurches up and the warrior stumbles to the side to regain his balance. He is about to let forth a curse when the nausea and mind bending sensations hit him. Hr again stumbles and groans as the room morphs around him. Then suddenly it is all over and he stands in a different room. But it is not just the room that has changed. Somehow Corum feels stronger. Feels more. He cannot explain it so he doesn't try. Seeing the others are ok he says.
"We need to find out if there are any other nasty surprises here like that bone thing before. "
I have no idea. Zorka replies calmly.
She does not appear to have been phased by the sudden shift in the Hut's location. In fact she continues to busy herself among the slightly altered layout of the Cauldron room, tidying and sweeping, concentrating in particular on her hidey-hole beside the fireplace.
She looks up;
Well the place has to be tidy for when you bring the mistress back.
Even I dont know every possible layout of the Hut though I should be able to move between each configuration even if you cannot. But it seems like she gave Black Midnight those keys for a reason, to come here. Wherever we are. Maybe she is leaving a trail of breadcrumbs...? I'm sure she said something about doing that once before...? I forget.
The old Elf stands still for a long moment as his head reels, he feels almost as if he will pass out at any moment, a rising tide of nausea threatens to overwhelm him and just as he feels he cannot hold it back any longer the sensation fades as rapidly as it came.
Raising his hand to his head he sighs as he looks around at this new configuration of the hut.
that was disorientating to say the least, I was close to blacking out for a moment there.
he says as he steadies himself, his normally pale skin seems tinged with grey and he looks very unwell.
The effect of the hut coupled with his injuries had left him drained and close to collapse.
we need to find out where we are, where has this hut taken us? he says as he moves to see what is outside.
Del nearly drops his tea a second time, and nearly tips out of his chair, but manages to keep both his person and beverage balanced. As things come to a rest and the others begin to inquire as to their current location, the bowman takes another sip of tea before noticing his chair and declaring with surprised delight, "Huh! My chair's different."
Corum scowls "Everything's different Del but we need rest and healing before we see where this thing has taken us. Who knows what's out there?"
The warrior spreads his bedroll out in one corner of the room and sits on it. He eats some more of his trail rations, drinks some water and then lies back. Within moments he is asleep. Like all warriors he knows that you grab food and sleep when you can.
Greyston nods. "We should rest. We've been in such a rush after the tower and then the fey forest." He takes one last look up at the double doors and then slumps down in a chair, excited to study the new book and pick up some new ideas.
"I'll brew some potions for you lot tomorrow, we need to get you all fully healed. We've all been running around wounded." He thinks for a moment looking at the cauldron in the middle of the room. "If i had a little time I could brew us a lot of potions, but time isn't on our side." Letting out a long sigh. "We are here for a reason, if it was only as easy as taking us straight to Baba Yaga.
The wrench in their surroundings takes Sapphire by surprise and as the floor lurches she loses her footing and collapses to the floor, slamming her head on the wood she loses consciousness for a moment.
In the blackness, whispers slither across her mind.
She bolts upright, gaze flickering over her changed surroundings as she scrabbles to get her back to the nearest wall. She sees Corum, Del, Greyston, Nasrin, Elleross, Jagar, even Zorka... yet something else is here too, something unfamiliar yet intimate.
She shakes her head violently to rid her mind of the intrusion. She turns her head to Zorka
Tell me, is there anyone el...
She spins around looking this way and that as she clutches her head.
Get out get out!
she's breathing hard now, as her eyes come to rest on the sword she carries on her hip, then one hand claws at her buckle, wrenching the belt from her and casting it in to a corner with a punishing clatter of tangled metal.
She stares, eyes wide, pointing at the sword
It.. it talked to me...
The black iron of the longsword the party found in Logrivich's lair gleams dully as it lies on the floor, looking like nothing more than a blade left too long in the forge. The dark carbon finish lies exposed, slid halfway out of the scabbard.
I... I think a night's rest here would be good... Sapphire ventures uncertainly.
Corum's eyes snap open at the clatter of metal. He is half up with axe in hand before he realises Sapphire has tossed her sword aside.
"What was that Sapphire? You seem shaken."
"Your sword, Sapphire? Your sword spoke?" Del pauses for a moment before shrugging with acceptance. "Wouldn't be the strangest thing we've come across." This last is offered with a brief but pointed glance and an amused smirk to Zorka.
Nasrin gives an almost yelp of surprise as the Hut tirns and slams it's path across possibility. At her side, Jagar whines, his ears flat against his head. When the sensation of movement stops the wildling girl stands shaking. She growls, "Witchery!" Then unexpected even by herself, she smiles. But it was fun, in it's way.
Nasrin's strange thrill fades as Sapphire screams. She growls in response to this unknown threat, looking for what her white-haired packmate is so frightened of.
The old judge moves across to sapphire his old joints popping as he squats down beside her.
take a deep breath Sapphire and gather your thoughts. What did you hear? he asks concerned, moving across to the sword he casts detect magic, studying it for several moments before he pushes the blade back Into its scabbard and offers it back to Sapphire.
The blade is just cold iron, it bears no enchantment that I can detect. We have all been through a lot an we are all hurt, I think resting here is our only option.
The main door to the hut has gone so it stands to reason that if another door exists it should lead Into rooms that are warded against intruders.
At least we have to hope that is the case. he says looking around at the group, his shoulder continued to pain him and the blood still flowed from the wound soaking his clothing.
I can replicate a healing spell but only one, my powers are all but drained.
Which of you needs it the most? Dell? Nasrin? he asks looking at them both.
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Eyes still fixed on the sword, Sapphire answers softly
Yes Corum... it's the sword... not the cold iron blade Elleross, the black blade from Logrivich's tower... I'm sorry for shouting like that, it was such a shock, it seemed to burst in to my head like a flood. Images and sounds and memories not my own...
She stands, more composed now
I think I've blocked it out somewhat, I can feel it there, pressing...
she picks up a cup and pours some water, sipping it and visibly relaxing again. She accepts the blade as Elleross offers it to her, strapping the sword belt back on in a practiced, almost ritualistic manner. Readying herself, she grasps the hilt of the dark-metal blade and draws it forth, taking care to point it at the floor. Her head tilts backwards and forwards as she frowns in concentration
What?...
the last word is directed at the sword as she stares with suspicion etched across her face. After a moment her eyes widen in surprise and she grins, before abruptly looking serious again
..no, no I wasn't laughing. I'll introduce you... yes, just like you asked..
she turns to the assembled group, glancing at Del and whispering so everyone can hear
You said it Del, this isn't the strangest situation we've ever been in, but I do rank it up there...
she glances at the sword
Yes ok
she clears her throat dramatically
Dear friends, I have the pleasure to introduce... she pauses and gets her words in the correct order "Requiem of Winter, Dusk's lament, Edge of night, the song of fallen snow..." she falters and stares at the sword again ok I've decided, I can't even pronounce your proper name, I'm not even sure humanoids are capable of making the right sounds...
she considers it for a heartbeat, then nods to herself
I think... I think I'll call you 'Snowfall'
her head jerks back as if she's been struck, and she glares full force at the blade
Now let's get this straight from the start, talkative you might be, and yes I'm very impressed with how many foes you have slain, you are sure to be very useful in the tasks we have set before us, but... and it's a big one... swords need to be wielded, and if you shout at me like that again i'll leave you in your scabbard to rust...
she waits for a moment, before nodding with satisfaction and sheathing the weapon once more. Glancing back up her gaze flicks between the others present. She shrugs
Sorry, I think this is going to take some getting used to...
The cauldron room is surprisingly comfortable. There is little to no furniture, but it is undeniably warm and there are dried goods aplenty to make the heartiest meal you have had in some time.
Zorka retires to her hidey-hole, disappearing into the arcane knot in a little puff of smoke.
Greyston jumps out of his chair startled at Sapphires outburst. "Sapphire?" He moves over to her looking down at the blade and then back at the woman again. "Come sit down, take some food and drink you've been pushing yourself a lot. I'd like to check over all of you before re rest with our lack of magical healing maybe i can set a few bones and patch up a few cuts." If sapphire allows it Greyston takes her over to the chair he was sitting in and begins to check her over.
Grayton looks at the other and then at Sapphire. "Sapphire... are you saying your sword is talking to you? It has a name?" He looks down towards it as he slowly moves towards her.
Corum looks confused and concerned in equal measure. "That witchblade talks to you?" he shudders and says "Be careful Sapphire. Enchanted blades are good for killing. One that thinks and talks makes me uneasy. Do you think it means harm or good?"
The old elf looks between Sapphire and the blade as she appears to have a conversation with the weapon and he frowns slightly as within his memory palace he is already moving from room to room, like a blur he streaks around his manse with the speed of thought as he dredges his memory for any reference to intelligent weapons.
As he moved around the central library re visiting his storehouse of knowledge he found little to explain this blade, undeterred his mind was suddenly drawn to one of the highest shelves in the western bookcase as a dim memory began to surface and as he strolled across the plush carpet and rose into the air he knew what he sought.
Reaching out for the large leather bound book that lay upon its side the title all but leaping out at him " Ancient Thassillonian swords and swordmaking : Kindi's treatise "On swords and their kinds"
The scholar and ancient weapon expert Kindi was widely regarded for his knowledge of exquisite and rare weapons, the gnome had translated many obscure texts and his reseRch was extensive.
Opening the book Elleross reached for the slender bookmark that lay nestled within, the bookmark was midnight black in colour and carved in the likeness of a curved blade that was most likely a representation of a Tulwar,along its length there was carved a single thassillionian word "EROTO" which in the common tongue meant simply "Ego" ....
Coming back to the present he gathers his thoughts and decides to keep his own council regarding this blade for the time being.
intelligent weapons are extremely rare, I would urge caution when dealing with such a thing, however they can be of great use to those that can... wield them effectively he says as he focuses on sapphire again taking his eyes from the strange blade.
conversing with it must be a little disconcerting, is it able to speak to us or does it only converse with its owner ? he asks clearly intrigued
@ Greyston
I will use the last of my spells to try and heal Dell, he took a hell of a hit from that trap, then I would welcome your help greyston, my shoulder is in agony, I can hardly lift my arm now and the wound still bleeds.
He says wincing as he reaches into his spell pouch and draws out several components.
come then Dell let us see what we can do for you
Drawing in a deep breath he begins the lengthy process of melding spells, drawing the strands of arcane energy apart , breaking them down only to to reconfigure them in a totally new alignment to achieve the effect he desired.
Sweating and looking totally drained he finally completes the spell and with a final flourish he unleashes it.
...sanaret, instaurabo, vivificabit
Once he had done all he could for Dell he limped painfully across to a stool and sat heavily.
He could not remember being in so much pain... Not since his leg was smashed in the prison all those years ago.
Drawing out his pipe he filled it slowly and lit it, drawing deeply on the smoke and letting its warmth spread through him.
nnnggg...thank you Greyston he grimaces in pain as the young elf makes his way over to him after tending the others and begins to help him out of his matted blood soaked furs.
His undershirt was soaked in blood and torn to rags where it covered his left shoulder and before he can object Greyston deftly begins to cut away his tunic to reveal the jagged deep bite that encircled his shoulder blade and the huge purple - black bruise that spread down and across his frail chest.
Del pats Elleross' hand gratefully as the old mage finishes his magics. "Quite a talent you have there, Elleross. Thanks."
It's ok Greyston, I don't think it means any harm. It took great pride in its accomplishments, sharing with me the battles it has fought before. It was rather... 'keen' to be awoken and wielded once more...
she nods at Corum
I'll be careful Corum, I've heard the same rumors you have about intelligent weapons. Let's hope it will work with us, and if not then I'll bury it somewhere dark and forgotten...
the last she directs towards the sword, evidently still a bit angry it shouted at her earlier.
Elleross, you are welcome to examine it if you like, it won't bite... to my knowledge anyway...
She sit down on the floor
I think we ought to rest now, it's been a long day and we should be fresh for whatever awaits us outside those doors.
she curls up in a ball on the floor, covered in her yeti-hide cloak, and drifts off to sleep.
Corum nods and returns to his own bedroll. The hut is warm and sleep comes quickly...
Nasrin does what she can for the others to ensure the others can rest easily. When she is done, she finds a place in a corner to curl up with Jagar and find what rest she can in Baba Yaga's strange and terrifying home.
Eventually the party is as rested as it can be before the inevitable pull that curse is felt strongly among those who bear it. It begins as an anxiousness and grows over the hours to an almost desperate need to get moving.
When Corum can take it no more, he makes sure his companions are ready and then reaches for the handles of the double doors.
Even as much as he tries to gird himself for the layout of the Hut to have changed, it is still jolting to see how completely it has altered.
A long corridor stretches out to both sides, the aged plank floors seeming to continue forever. Solid logs form the passage walls, intricately carved with knotted designs and images of lances, and centaurs, ravens, and female figures. Pale-winged moths and tiny fireflies flutter through the hallway, their flickering glows filling the corridor with dim light.
@last night
"Ok Sapphire." He looks up at her again as he treats her wounds. "But take it slow ok? We've seen a lot of strange things."
Grayston continues to move about treating each person's wounds. Then moves to Elleross. "Let me help you Elleross." He takes out his healer's kit and begins to cut away at his blood soaked clothes. That's when he notices the brand.
He continues treating the old elf's wounds but moves in closer and and whispers. "I always wondered about you Ellerross I never like to pry, I have things in my past that I don't like to talk about. But I noticed you have a prison brand, is it anything you want to talk about?"
@morning
Greyston stretches, sleeping on the floor reminding him of all the nights sleeping in the snow. "Good morning, I'll get to brewing some healing potions. I've also learnt a few things from that alchemists book we found yesterday. I'll have a few new tricks to try out today." He then moves about starting some tea and starting to brew potions after potion.
--
Taking out a vial and drinking it he bolsters his abilities, and begins to follow behind Corum.
As Nasrin fusses with the motherly affections of a wolf, Del fidgets under her ministrations briefly before a sharp jerk on his chin and a harsh jab into his side bring him in line.
Between her and Elleross' magics, the bowman finds himself in fine shape the following morning as they all make ready to explore the hut's new configuration.
"Soooo... I'll just stay here then? Or was there anything in any of those books for bringing trusted guests and allies along through whatever manner of halls and rooms this chicken-legged monstrosity can produce?
HP: 42/42
AC: 19 (15 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 20
F/R/W: +7/+10/+6
Grit remaining: 2/2
Hero Points remaining: 2
Regular bolts remaining: 57/80
Cold Iron bolts: 40/40
Ongoing Effects
Vigilant Loading
Gunslinger Initiative