Typical.
Letitia tears her eyes away from the cookbook when Llewellyn suggests leaving Grishelmuk with her life. She straightens to stand over the hag as her eyes bore into her ominously.
"I am Jadwiga, and we are not known for mercy. You are therefore receiving the rarest of gifts. But know this: should thoughts of revenge or retribution creep into your mind and you make any move against us, death will NOT be your fate. I will stitch your lips shut, render your intellect to that of a snuffling beast, and turn you into the basest and most vile things and you will BEG for the sweet release of death."
Grishelmuk flinches visibly at Letitia’s words, her terror mounting as the Jadwiga's gaze holds her frozen in place. With a shaky, stammering voice she responds "I-I understand... I won’t cross you, I swear it. You won’t see me again."
She bows her head, "Please, just... go. I’ll disappear."
"Well, you heard the witch. You've been given a rare gift. You are at the Warden's mercy now. But just in case you were thinking about popping up again..." he points his musket toward the hag's direction, cocking it for emphasis, "I'll make sure next time it's not just your lips getting stitched"
With that, he chuckles lightly and waves her off "Disappear, or I'll show you how fast I can make things vanish"
When the hag leaves, he looks over at Letitia "So we have it? Can we get out of this damned place? Or you need to study it here?"
Callix watches with a smirk, Good warden, bad warden... Really, we should start threatening with fates worse than death now.... She takes a pull from her aleskin, Still, it worked, so what do I know?
When the hag leaves, he looks over at Letitia "So we have it? Can we get out of this damned place? Or you need to study it here?"
Letitia spares one more glance at the fleeing hag before her eyes are drawn once more back to the treasure in her hands. She flips through the pages some more, eyes widening at the alchemical secrets within. Finding the notes on the ritual, she nods.
"I don't believe it will be difficult to discern a means of lifting Ratibor's curse. We need not tarry here any longer."
If the ritual requires any components that is in the storeroom, she collects those before setting out. She does look with reverence on the oversized pestle, but the actual words in the book was far more important to Letitia than something Baba Yaga used to crack heads.
"Let's see about this magical broom, and then be off."
"Good. The sooner we're out, the better" Samuel says, rubbing his hands together to shake off the clammy feel of the place "Been around enough ancient curses for one day. Let's hope that Ratibor sees sense and doesn't give us more grief"
The High Sentinel gives a nod to Callix with a grin "Seems our 'bad enforcer' routine did the trick. Maybe we'll give the next villain a lesson in warden justice too"
Callix chuckles, "Who'd have thought it works on more than just brigands and raisers.."
"Shall we see if we can use that cookbook to free Ratibor from his servitude?" asked Llewellyn who was keen to be gone from this witch haunted place. Granted the irony them heading back to the hut after was not lost on him.
Callix nods, "Unless there's something more to be learned from it first - as much as it would amuse Himself to have us carry around the answer to the next problem and not know it, that doesn't seem wise to me."
"If you do not need anything else from here..." Samuel momentarily gazes at Letitia "...let's get moving. It is time for some fresh air."
With all the eyes upon her, Letitia takes a moment to make sure there is nothing else needed besides the cookbook in order to lift the geas off of Ratibor. "This is all that's needed, from what I can tell," she informs the group.
"I believe, however, that we should barter with the man before I attempt the ritual, to ensure that we will not have to fight him regardless. I wonder what it might be worth someone to have the yoke of servitude thrown off of him?" She arches an eyebrow.
"I'm in agreement. We should leave this place with all haste." She points to the body of the frost giant. "If our means of egress is through the Maiden, we will have to move past the witch tree. We had promised a meal to the plant in exchange for our passage. The dead giant would be good enough, don't you think?"
Callix shrugs, "I think we'd need to be careful how we approach that, as we don't know the limits and terms of the binding and what might trigger an attack... or that I'd trust any bargain." She pauses, then adds, "Not saying we shouldn't try to speak first, just making sure we're all on guard if and when we do."
She then shudders at the reminder of the tree, "I certainly hope so... Honestly, I'd rather just destroy the evil thing, though I know we don't have time to smash every evil thing we encounter...." ...or that there'd really be much left around us if we did...
Llewellyn replied, "I for one would not lose any sleep if we destroyed the tree. Still I won't complain if we avoid a dangerous fight either. I assume a giant corpse would fulfill the bargain."
"Aye, it's best we try to speak with Ratibor first. He's had enough time under Baba Yaga's thumb to know what freedom would mean to him. Might be he's willing to walk away with a new purpose instead of swinging his axe" Samuel glances down at the frost giant's hulking form "And as for that wretched tree... let it take its fill and keep our path clear. Not worth spending powder if we can avoid it" he pads his musket with one hand "It does not come cheap"
With that, he shoulders against the fallen body and helps move it back to the entrance where they bartered with the tree.
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After her surrender and brief interrogation, Grishelmuk casts one last look at the party, her eyes flashing with resentment. But with Samuel’s musket aimed at her and Letitia’s ominous threats hanging in the air, she bites back her retort slips away into the shadows without further comment.
The party gathers themselves, pausing briefly to bind their wounds while reviewing their prized cookbook. With a shared effort, you turn their attention to the frost giant’s massive corpse and begin the arduous task of dragging the giant’s body through the winding corridors and passageways of Artrosa. The journey is slow and grueling given the many narrow passages and winding, creaky wooden steps, but eventually you reach the top of the mesa.
As you exit, the air changes, thick with an eerie quiet. There, looming before you stands the ancient witch tree, twisted branches hung with bones. The tree’s ghostly white trunk seems to shift as you approach, its hollow eyes watching their every movement. Its eerie voice breaks the silence, resonating with the power of an ancient curse.
"Servants of Baba Yaga, you return as promised..." the tree murmurs, its tone an unsettling blend of welcome and hunger. "And I see you’ve brought... a worthy offering."
"Indeed," Letitia responds to the tree. "This will barter us passage beyond your boughs now, still as worthy as we were when we proved ourselves days ago. You have served your position as guardian well, and when we find Baba Yaga we shall report to her your steadfastness."
She motions for the others to drag the corpse into the reach of the witch tree, but stays wary in case the tree decides it wants something bloody.
If allowed past without incident, Letitia smiles to her companions and steps off the ledge!
"We kept our end of the bargain, tree" Samuel says, eyeing the twisted branches "Your belly's filled, now we take our leave"
He waits, tense, as the tree assesses their offering, prepared to fire if necessary. But if it accepts their tribute and the way opens, he exchanges a quick, relieved glance with the others. Watching Letitia glide off the ledge, he grins and mutters, "Well, I have to confess I would love to turn into a bird and share the sight from there to down"
Callix watches the witch, Aye, she's showing off now.., then chuckles at Samuel's wistful statement, "Could always try the broom," she suggests.
With a heavy sigh Llewellyn said, "Well I climbed a rope up here, assuming you still have it Samuel then I expect I can climb back down."
"Oh, yes, it feels like we were years inside this fortress, I barely remembered about the rope. Let's set it up" Samuel helps set up the rope "I prefer to test that... thing... when there is not a whole sky between me and the ground" he adds in reference to the broom.
After studying the broom for a short while, you seem to confidently determine that this is a magical broom of flying. You're about ready to pass that off too your allies, but there is something that bugs you. There is an underlying dark thread that seems to pull just beneath the handle of the broom. As you delicately study that, unraveling it, you see there is more here than meets the eye.
This is in fact a cursed broom of animated attack, meant to pose as a broom of flying for those less aware than yourself.
The party’s journey back to the Dancing Hut is met without any additional fanfare. As you approach the hut, its familiar structure looming out of the surrounding Iobarian wilderness, a sense of weary relief washes over you.
The air is still, the cold biting at your skin. A soft creak of the hut’s wooden porch answers your approach, where you spot Ratibor the Bold just as before. His tall, imposing frame grips his greataxe with the familiarity of a warrior bound by fate, not choice.
His eyes narrow when he sees you. He does not move to attack but stands vigilant, the weight of his duty evident in every line of his face. Win a deep weary evident in his voice, he says speaks.
Letitia's lips curl into a scowl when she unlocks the secret within the broom. "Feh. This is a cursed item. It acts like a broom of flying, but will animate and attack its rider instead."
When they reach Ratibor, Letitia casts comprehend languages, mindful of the language barrier the last time they'd met.
"We are back, and though we do not have Baba Yaga with us, we have some of her own writings that speaks of the curse she has laid upon you. Know that I have deciphered the terms and that I can release you from this unending servitude. What is it that you will offer us for your chance for freedom?"
Llewellyn let the Granddaughter speak. He was was a keen student of humanoid nature so he watched Ratibor closely to be ready in case he was going to be trouble.
Ratibor’s eyes widen slightly as Letitia’s words reach his ears. His fingers tighten on the haft of his greataxe, the weapon that has served as both his tool and shackle for nearly two centuries.
A long silence follows Letitia's proclamation.
The warrior shifts his stance, lowering the axe slightly. His voice, once flat and resolute, now carries a tremor of barely restrained emotion.
"Forgive me for not falling to my knees. So long has it been that I have been here, that it will take moroe than words too convince me of your declaration. For two centuries, I have guarded this place, bound by magic older and crueler than most living memories."
"However."
"If you truly hold the means to sever these chains, I offer you what remains of my honor." He straightens, the old warrior's pride flickering through the shadows of exhaustion. "In exchange for my freedom, I will pledge my axe and loyalty to your cause. Whatever quest you follow, whatever enemy you face, my strength shall be yours until I have repaid this debt."
Callix pauses, then chuckles at Letita's pronoucement, "Maybe we can trade it to someone we don't like much that isn't as astute as you."
She watches the exchange with the guardian, surprised to see it fall to his knees, Well, now... maybe this will work out.... Of course, every time I think that, You get an even better laugh, don't you?
Letitia's eyes glitter as Ratibor professes fealty to their cause in exchange for his freedom. The corner of her mouth lifts in a slight smile. "He has sworn to aid us in our quest," she translates. "All that's left is for me to perform the ritual."
Switching back to Iobarian, she tells Ratibor, "Acceptable terms, Warrior. I accept your pledge of service." She pauses for a moment, thinking. A flash of uncertainty crosses her face and then she adds, "the means by which I lift your curse was obtained through the efforts of myself and my companions. So long as we all share the same quest, you should be bound to them as well. Understood?"
Assuming he agrees, Letitia conducts the ritual to lift the curse.
Callix whistles, "Well, now.... that's... ", she trails off as she thinks about the implications for a moment, then forces out, "...useful." A good thing we don't have a Paladin with us, I'm thinking...
Ratibor inclines his head solemnly. "Understood, If this freedom is shared, then so shall be my loyalty. I will guard and fight for all who share this cause, as long as it burns within your hearts."
His gaze sweeps across the gathered party, taking in their worn faces and the shared determination reflected there. For the first time in an age, Ratibor the Bold dares to hope, no longer the guardian bound to a forgotten servitude but a warrior reclaiming purpose.
"Let it be done, Jadwiga. And may the threads of fate twist anew, not in chains, but in freedom."
Letitia begins to chant, her voice steady and commanding as the ancient syllables roll off her tongue. Her eyes flicker with arcane energy and each word seems to reverberate as if the hut itself were listening.
A sudden, sharp sound splits the air like shattering glass. The golden chains hanging from his armor burst, sending shards of magical energy dissipating into the room. Ratibor stumbles forward with wide eyes and body shuddering as the chains that held him for centuries fall away. He gasps and falls to a knee.
For a moment, the warlord is silent, the weight of his liberation sinking in. Then, with a voice that quivers with awe and emotion, he lifts his head and whispers, "I am free."
Samuel watches the exchange between Letitia and Ratibor silently. He crosses his arms and glances between the two, his expression a mix of curiosity and frustration "What's going on here?" he asks, clearly puzzled "I don't speak whatever language you two are using"
As the chains shatter and Ratibor stands, free for the first time in centuries, Samuel's eyes widen in surprise. He chuckles and pats the warrior on the back "Welcome to the freedom life, my friend! It's not all it's cracked up to be, though, spend enough time working for the witches and their riddles and you'll start to wonder if you're better off back in chains!"
He then looks at the hut door "I guess it is time to get there inside and find out if all this quest has been worth for something"
Llewellyn sketched the scene in his folio, this would likely be a pivotal moment in the play he was writing. He considered how he could choose to portray Letitia in a heroic light or he could emphasize selfish motivation and as yet he was undecided which course to take.
When the geas was broken he asked Ratibor, "What will you do now with your freedom? I assume you have a homeland you wish to return to?"
With the ritual complete, Letitia allows herself a satisfied smile until it falls on her to translate for her companions. Though she leaves out Samuel's comment about working for witches and riddles.
"You will let us into the Hut now, yes?" she asks Ratibor in Iobarian.
Then she addresses the group in Common. "We have the keys to take the Hut to our next destination. But we have spent days in a dangerous place and while the Hut is not the safest of sanctuaries, I would like to rest and reflect on what we've learned thus far. I'd like to see how Ariadna has fared in our absence and if she's learned anything on her own. I would like to study the Hut's library to see if there is any clue as to our next destination."
"I hope my sister is doing fine" Samuel quickly adds as Ariadna is mentioned. With resolved steps, he makes it into the hut. If he doubts Ratibor might stop him from entering, he does not seem too worried about it.
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Ratibor turns to Letitia and gives a single, solemn nod. "Yes, the path is open to you now. You have earned that right." His voice, now free of obligation, carries a tone of respect and determination.
He glances at Samuel, offering a slight smile.
Turning to Llewellyn, Ratibor's eyes narrow slightly, thoughtful. "My homeland calls, and there are old debts to reckon with. But for now, my path aligns with yours, for I owe you my freedom. I will see this quest through."
Llewellyn nodded, "As you like..." before heading inside the hut.
As he did so, to the others he remarked, "So I guess the real question is where to next?"
"That is an appropriate question, Llewellyn. However, unlike our last use of the Dancing Hut's cauldron, we knew we were going to Artrosia even if we didn't know exact where that was. Now, I suppose we just blindy allow the Hut to take us where these keys will. But the alternative is worse: staying here. The Hut cannot take us anywhere else without keys."
She takes out the dragon scale and the gold nugget. "I wonder if there is some clues in the objects themselves. A dragon scale is significant. As with gold. Perhaps we go to a place of dragons and wealth."
Callix says, "We could use magic to try to divine an answer to that question, but then we risk staying here for days, leaving ourselves and the Hut open to attack -- as I can't help but think what happened here is being relayed out."
Letitia considers Callix's idea of divining their next destination. "While divination is useful, I think you are right that the longer we delay, the more likely our foes could catch up to us. We spent far longer in Artrosia than I anticipated. We should ever be mindful that Elvanna's gates will continue to pour Winter into the south."
Sighing with an unnatural weariness, Letitia appears to stoop as if she were an old woman even though she looks youthful as ever. Once she enters the Hut she greets Ariadna and discusses with the younger witch about her time spent in the Hut.
Samuel gives Ratibor a quick nod, accepting him on the group.
"Dragons and wealth, huh? Sounds like the kind of trouble that always makes things interesting" he smirks, his tone playful after so much troubles.
With that, Samuel turns toward the Hut, resting his musket over one shoulder "I'd love to figure out where we're headed next, preferably somewhere warm for a change. But first, I'm with Letitia. Let's rest up, check in with Ariadna, and see what we've got in this library. Maybe the witches left us some useful notes to crib from"
perhaps... we're overthinking it ... Maybe the hut just needs the scale and nugget... Like they're keys or something
Llewellyn shrugged, "Could be, hard to say where witches are involved." although he did keep a wary eye on the granddaughter.
Letitia freezes, one eye twitching. "Overthink--? Keys or something?!?!" She sighs in exasperation.
"Yes, they are keys. Were you not there with me when the crows gave us the clues? The first key was in the place where time catches up? The second in the Changeling's possession?!?" She throws her hands into the air in frustration.
"What we do not know is where the keys will take us next. Although," she adds, fuming, "the one thing we do know is that there will be witches involved."
and we have no way of knowing the will of Baba Yaga... We have fought a dragon once before and that itself was not easy...meeting dragons with wealth doesn't exactly narrow our search, so why try to figure out where when we can prepare for what...dragons mean danger. Ashling has her calm veneer, her tone uncaring at the moment, Do we know for certain witches will be involved in the immediate? We could end up in another of Baba yagas trials or puzzles. How many of Elvannas hench people could even make it this far. That said... The only witch we should be trusting Letitia, is you. Any who claim to work for Baba yaga cannot be readily trusted she puts emphasis on this next part, We will be betrayed once we are no longer useful to either side
Callix takes a pull from her aleskin to cover the smile at Letitia's exasperation, then shrugs, "Then we're back to what I said before, either we use the key and go in blind, or we take time to augur and divine." She holds up a hand, "And, no, not be totally blind - we spend the time travelling to try to figure out what the next challenge may be."
She stops, and blinks, then says, "Too bad we can't use the hut to go somewhere safe - at least temporarily so - to give us the time to use our magic for insight...or to find whatever clues we may have missed... or both."
Letitia pauses as she calms herself from her earlier frustration. With that moment, she recalls their one clue, given to them from Baba Yaga's own voice. "We are not blind, and we do have a clue. We are to follow Grandmother's trail to the Thrice-Tenth Kingdom. If you wish to augur that name, please do so. Ariadna and I will make use of our time in the Hut's library."
She turns to Ratibor and switches to Iobarian. "In your years of servitude, had you ever heard of the Thrice-Tenth Kingdom?"
"You know that's not a bad idea Callix. We found a lot of stuff we might trade, if we could travel to somewhere civilized with a market we would be better prepared for whatever trials await at this Thrice-Tenth Kingdom." mused Llewellyn.
Ratibor eyes sweep over the impossible vastness of the Baba Yaga's hut as the party discusses their next potential location.
His weathered face shows disbelief, his lips parting as if to speak but no words come. Finally, after a long moment of silence, he says "This... this is not possible. I have guarded this doorway for centuries, yet I never once imagined what lay within. It is..." He pauses, searching for the words. "...a fortress, a library, a palace of magic, all contained within the shell of a mere hut. How did she build such a thing?"
When questioned, he shakes his head solemnly, "I have not heard of this Thrice-Tenth Kingdom you seek, but if it is tied to Baba Yaga, it is likely veiled in legend and peril."
"Guess the old witch knows how to decorate" Samuel quips at Ratibor's reaction, before turning serious "Legends and peril. Sounds like her usual style. At least we know we're not chasing something mundane"
Samuel shoulders his musket, eyes scanning the group "Once we have got all the clues and gear sorted, let's make sure we are well rested"
He then moves toward a nearby corner, idly checking his musket's mechanism while keeping an ear on the ongoing discussions "Dragons, witches, and Baba Yaga. Just another day..."
Letitia grows quiet and introspective when Ratibor says that Baba Yaga never let him out of this single room of the Hut. She'd assumed that he at least had the diversity of the myriad rooms of the Hut's interior to alleviate what had to be intense boredom. Her mind rebels against the cruelty exhibited by Baba Yaga and feels a sudden doubt as to how much gratitude the Mother of Witches will truly feel when they finally find her.
She breathes a tremulous sigh as she ultimately concludes that this is still her best course of action, as there will be no mercy from Elvanna. Their hope must lie in finding Baba Yaga, dangerous as she is.
"Well, the library may provide us knowledge. I will see what it has for us," Letitia says, using the book to open the doorway to the Hut's library and entering.
As the discussion continues, the house-spirit emerges from a nearby wall, broom in hand and begins to attack the melted snow and pine needles the party has tracked into the Hut. "Can't be bothered to wipe their feet, coming into Grandmother's home! Tsk...tsk...tsk! " she mutters, clearly pitched so that those nearby can her her clearly.
Though the library is voluminous in it's scholastic offerings, you only manage to find a few mentions of the Thrice-Tenth Kingdom, all of which are rather oblique and contain no meaningful information about where or what it may be.
"I have not heard of this Thrice-Tenth Kingdom you seek"
Llewellyn replied, "Mmm. I'm both surprised and not. I've only heard of it once, a child's tale of a thrice tenth kingdom beyond the thrice nine lands. A world full of immortal soldiers, shimmering firebirds, talking wolves and capricious fairies. It is said to be either the home of Baba Yaga, or a land created to mirror whatever her true home might be. Naturally the story didn't have much in the way of useful detail so we'll have to find things out the hard way."
When the house spirit emerged, Llewellyn visibly flinched. The trauma of his capture in this accursed hut was far from healed.