Holding Sigrun tight with both arms his eyes began to glaze over as he watched the pyre grow, watched the Riders hopefully find peace. Leaning down he kisses her upon her neck before whispering "When we have time, I have something I need to tell you."
we have talked....about...you....and ...doors...haven't we?
"Oh, uh, right." Zses says, startled by Vashti's sudden appearance.
I hoped she had forgot about that..."But, I mean, I only almost got killed just two times after opening a door: the two may not be actually linked but just a coincidence..." Zses trails off as he tries to make up an excuse, shuffling away from the door with a defeated look "Okay, sorry..."
He watched the funeral in Silence, even Mule had the grace to stand still as he sat atop his friend silently and softly stroking his mane. He was baring a frown, his eyes somewhat vacant a clear frown on his face...
After a time his ears twitched a very slight smirk on his face as Vashti.... reminded friend Zses of doors and the peril of opening them. The mirth didnt last long. Quietly he moved forward slipping off of Mule and patting the young witch on the shoulder.
I was...unharmed by the battle, I will enter first.
He said simply gently nudging Zses to the side incase it was some massive death trap. He stood there for a moment studdying the door before he reached out with a paw like hand patting the door several times in a few places almost hesistantly like he was testing to see if something bad would happen. Next he batted at the handle rapidly a few times in case it two was ensorcelled... then he tried to open it.
The door opens easily at Silence's touch. As you enter, it feels like you're passing through a curtain, and your skin momentarily glows faintly. The Dancing Hit is quite a bit bigger on the inside....
N1
Bundles of dried herbs hang from the rafters of this comfortable-looking room, and along the walls are numerous shelves holding a bewildering variety of glass jars, bottles, and vials containing all manner of strange magical components and alchemical reagents. A massive cauldron sits in the middle of the room. No fire burns under the pot, but the liquid within it bubbles and churns, and white fumes rise and lap over the brim. A large stove, writing desk, bookcase, and fireplace complete the room, along with a number of crates, barrels, and sacks. A short flight of steps leads up to a set of double doors in the north wall, and a small ladder climbs to a trap door in the ceiling in the northeast corner. Two windows flank a door to the south.
Inscribed on one of the stones of the fireplace is a strange symbol that radiates conjuration magic. In addition, the bookcase along the eastern wall conceals a locked secret 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 fireplace built into the eastern wall. The entire room radiates powerful divination, conjuration, and transmutation magic. Each time you enter, the volumes in the room are different. On one of the tables, you find a pair of spectacles of understanding.
N3
As you pass through the double doors to enter this chamber, glyphs of warding briefly appear, but vanish without triggering as your skin glows again. Inside the room, you find five iron thrones arranged around a circular map in the floor. Translucent, three-dimensional images of cities and villages hover a few inches above their locations on the map. Behind the center throne, columns set against the wall form a semicircular alcove filled with a swirling mass of white mist. The map radiates moderate divination magic and depicts the nation of Irrisen. By crouching low to the ground, you can literally view the landscape of Irrison, from its snowbound wilderness to its cities and towns - although individual creatures appear as little more than specks. The door on the east wall of this room is locked .
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 northeastern corner. A small wooden box wrapped in chains sits in the southwest corner. The bins contain potatoes, turnips, onions, and other vegetables. The sacks contain several pounds of bonemeal and dried grains. The chest radiates moderate evocation magic and appears to be a migrus locker - although you can't be certain without opening it .
N5
The center portion of the floor of this loft is open, crossed by wooden rafters and overlooking the bubbling cauldron in the room below. Numerous barrels, boxes, and crates are arrayed around the room's walls. The south wall holds a large window. The containers in this room hold mundane supplies like blankets, buckets, candles, cooking utensils, extra pots and pans, linens, rope, and washtubs. The window looks out through the Dancing Hut's beak.
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A tiny shudder of enjoyment ripples through Sigrun as Lyosha kisses her neck."Of course my love. Whenever you are ready, I'll be right here."she whispers back.
She holds her breath involuntarily as Silence passes through the door, eventually following, and marveling at the soft glow that pulses over each of them as they enter.
"Thank you." he responds with another kiss.
Conflicted with unthinking instincts as they cross the threshold, one to step back as the magic makes it self known and another to stay by Sigrun's side no matter what the latter is what his body decides before his brain can react.
Stepping into the marvelous structure he was happy to not be disintegrated or frozen solid or cursed, to his immediate awareness anyway, as they entered.
Zses sighs relieved when no one is liquefied by any sort of magical trap, and steps inside the hut.
"Oh, nice!" the witch says, looking around the room and ezamining the bubbling cauldron.
"At least the cauldron is still here and working...we had to use this to go where Baba Yaga is, right?"
Zses freezes in place for a moment when the Glyphs appear, but soon relaxes when again, no one is liquefied.
"That's an ominous throne if I've ever seen one..." he comments, walking closer to the map and crouching down to observe it.
Hobbes will open all the doors!
He then hands the spectacles to Zses.
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Hobbes will open all the doors!
[dice=Disable Device on secret door]1d20 + 12
He then hands the spectacles to Zses.
[dice=Disable Device on not-secret door]1d20 + 12
[dice=try again?]1d20 + 12
[dice=try again?]1d20 + 12[dice=What's in the box?!!]1d20 + 12
Well, at least I can cook for us now. No bath tubs or private rooms, then..
Vashti looks unhappy, nervous and relieved at that statement.
Percy flits about the place once it's been cleared like a bird out of its cage. She babbles to anyone who will listen about uses for this and that and that over there, oh my gods!
"Woooooa!" Zses' eyes lights up as he enters the library, excited like child to the fair. He puts on the spectacles given to him by Hobbes, reading one of the tomes. The starts exiting and entering the room, each time flipping trough a book for a moment.
"These things switch each time you enter!" he exclaims like an excited puppy.
"Oh, this thing is interesting." Zses warily pokes the chained locker after examining it "If you open it up, usually a mummified cat with a human head comes out and starts following you around. It's not bad, but it's definitely creepy..." comments the witch with the creepy laugh.
"I don't think we should use that cauldron..." he points to the big bubbling one in the center of N1 "We were supposed to throw in there what the Black Rider gave us to get where Baba Yaga is, so I don't know what would happen if we threw veggies in there. On the other hand" he adds, going into the loft (), and the sound of clattering pots can be heard "We can use these! There's a bathtub, too!"
As Zses describes the occupant of the locked box Neverhome stares at it for a moment before turning to the others. "If nyet bad, shouldn't we let trapped cat out?"
Hobbes will listen to Percy, even though he himself isn't all that interested, he is just glad to see Percy as excited as she is.
As Zses describes the occupant of the locked box Neverhome stares at it for a moment before turning to the others. "If nyet bad, shouldn't we let trapped cat out?"
"They're smart, and they do what whoever opened the locker tells them to do. If something happens to them, they just reappear in the locker the day after." Zses scratches his head.
"I guess there's no harm in doing it. Anyone wants a mummified cat that looks like him?" he asks.
"They look like who? Whoever opens box?" Neverhome asks unsure while gently picking up the box and inspecting the chains, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that!" Zses exclaims "Yep, their head looks like whoever opens the box."
"Right..." Neverhome let out, not quite sure what to think of the idea of a cat with his head walking around.
There's no lock to undo the chains holding the chest shut, but that's nothing an adamantine weapon can't fix. Before you open it, however, you hear an unpleasant voice begin screeching at you from the main room. "INTRUDERS! TRESPASSERS! YOU'RE NOT WANTED HERE! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!"
There's nobody in sight.
"Your house? Dearest Grandmother?" Neverhome asks incredulously while drawing forth his Adamantine longsword to work on the chains. He had a feeling if it had been her, she would have alerted them to her presence... much differently.
"I'm not your grandmother! And stop touching everything! I already told that Elvanna woman that her people weren't wanted here. Don't make me hex you!"
We are not here because of a dead woman... we are here because of a dead man...We are agents of a certain dark rider and we will be taking control of this place.
He answered tensely his fur all raised up and prickly, it had been that way since he entered the hut to be truthful.
Ered looks on in awe, quietly exploring each and every room and looking over the various features. It seems as though he's moving like he's in a dream. Not sad, not freaked out, but pleasantly amazed.
"Never thought I'd see the inside of this..."
Ered grips the hilt of his blade and speaks loudly, the first time his voice has been raised out of battle.
"He has a name. His name is Midnight. We serve the Great Crone, and I act as the agent of the Black Rider. Show yourself!"
Neverhome gives both Silence and Eredhaias a side eye while he finished off the chains, because seriously, who stuffs a cat into a box and chains it up? Once done he speaks up. "What these two mean is we come along from Midnight to help Dearest Grandmother. We are no friends of Queen Elvanna."
"" Zses shouts to the other room, too ""
"" the witch adds ""
Sigrun can't help but chuckle at Zses' question though she keeps a hand on her axe.
After several seconds, a bizarre creature shuffles into the room, holding a broom up defensively. "And just how is a gang of hooligans going to stop her, huh? Traipsin' in here like you own the place! Ol' Zorka ain't helpin', that's fer sure!"
As Neverhome opens the chest, a terrifying-looking cat lurches upright and climbs out. Its movements are stiff and almost mechanical in their precision. It silently stares at Neverhome with unblinking eyes that look much like his own.
"Then don't help. We can handle this on our own."
Stepping up Neverhome nudges Hobbes to the side with his leg. "We mean you nyet disrespect Miss Zorka, and I apologize for trespassing. But we had to carve our way here through Elvanna's forces in order to free Dancing Hut. Are you unharmed?" Neverhome says calmly to the revealed woman.
Watching that cat like creature with his own face staring back at him curiously he will then crouch down and offer his hand towards the small animal.
"Of course I'm unharmed! You think Zorka can't take care of herself?" She sounds indignant.
Zorka appears to be a Kikimora. These mischievous fey serve as malicious house spirits who delight in tormenting their hosts with destructive pranks unless properly appeased with flattery and gifts. Zorka seems much hardier than your typical specimen, however.
------------------------------
The migrus stares silently back at Neverhome, unmoving.
"Well we did just meet, Miss Zorka. Dearest Grandmother's other servants were... not as lucky nor as resilient." Neverhome continues, looking between the woman and the Migrus while starting to pet it.
Ya, if I were here to invade the place I would have started cooking something already... We're here to help the Mother of Witches, not spy for her daughter. Percy states as she examines the door frame. Literally everything about this place astounded her.
Zorka frowns in thought. "You haven't had any trouble with the Hut's wards, so you may just be tellin' the truth. Just don't touch anything you shouldn't. Everything you need's in the kitchen. Be warned: if you aren't used to it, traveling is often ... unpleasant." She cackles maliciously as she waddles away.
"Oh, Okay. Thanks, Miss Zorka." Neverhome replies, somewhat confused. Picking up the Migrus he looks it in the eyes, seeing if the creature will ever do, well, anything. "Do you have name, little one?"
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Focused on the monstrosity that crawled out of the box, Vashti ignores the conversation in favor of assessing the...thing.
what the ladies breasts...is that thing.
"Zses says kitty. Looks like kitty. Kinda. Want to pet, Mamushka?" Neverhome says while holding out the Migrus towards her.
Silence tilted he head at the ...creature called Zorka. He wasnt sure what to make of it, nor was he sure what to make of the ... abomanation Lyosha and Zses claimed was a kitty. He stayed quiet and next to Mule, looking awkward with the horse in the huthold. He ... did his best to not touch anything to not offend the Zorka creature.
He was clearly distracted as he messed with the harness he had, not getting anywhere really, With a sigh he finally set it all to the side and merely watched.
"Of course!" Zses nods at Zorka, smiling.
If she doesn't specify it, how am I supposed to know which things I am not supposed to touch?
"Zses says kitty. Looks like kitty. Kinda. Want to pet, Mamushka?" Neverhome says while holding out the Migrus towards her.
"Yup, it shouldn't bite unless you tell him to." Zses says, with a slight pause "I'm ninety percent sure of that."
"And that's saying something, considering this place." the elf muses.
"I want to pet it!" The gnome reaches up to pet the strange kitty while keeping one hand on the talking one. "I WANT ALL THE CATS!"
Neverhome kneels down so that Allie can pet the Migrus.
Percy rolls her eyes at her sister. Allie! What did mom always say about Asking?
The Migrus continues to stare unblinkingly at Neverhome. It makes no sound or movement.
Allie: The cell door closes with a loud *clang*, and you realize that you're never going to be released this time. "Sorry, sis, but it's for your own good," says Percy as she pockets the key. "That's right," says Zses. "A freak like you is too dangerous to be out in the world." As they walk away, you see the two of them embrace and kiss each other passionately. Once they're gone, your cellmate gives you a wicked grin. "Looks like its just the two of us now. This'll be fun!" Her green eyes twinkle as she conjures a familiar flame....
Eredhaias: Your hard work has finally paid off. The betrayal is complete. The Queen of Witches lies dead at your hand. It was only natural that the foremost of her Riders would be the instrument of her destruction. Now, you just had to take care of the other Riders. Then you can finally take your place at Elvanna's side. Your mother be proud....
Hobbes: After months of tracking, you've finally located your quarry. "Just hang on, gorgeous. It'll all be over in a minute." With a trio of arrows, the job was done. Plucking out the corpse's weird eye as proof, you turned to leave before noticing the pup had died defending you. "Better you than me, that's for sure. The next cur I catch will have to be tougher." Retrieving the slave collar from around her neck, you whistle a jaunty tune as you make your getaway. The Spider would be pleased with you. This was certain to earn you your silver badge....
Neverhome: The redheaded warrior woman sank lifelessly into the frigid River. Raising your bloodstained claws in the air, you unleash a triumphant primal roar. Her puny hammer was no match for your bestial strength. Already, you were looking for the next challenge....
Percy: By Imbrex, you'd finally done it! Pure unadulterated chaos surged through you, forming maelstrom of First World power. Nothing could hope to stand against it. The halfling. The redheaded gnome. The midwife. The others. They stood in your way - and were obliterated. Now there was nothing to stop you from ending the Witch and the spell-slaving Elf....
Sigrun: The village was just over the next rise. Based on your scout's most recent report, they had no idea you were coming. Not that it would have mattered; simple peasants couldn't hope to stand against your troops. With a sharp motion, you ordered your warriors forward. It had taken a lot of work to seize control of this tribe of frost giants, but they were only the first of many minions to come. Soon, all of the Northlands would be under your thumb....
Silence: It was all your fault. Somehow, you'd missed the ambush, and now your friends were paying the price. First the two barbarians fell. Then the gnome sisters. Then Greta. It was inevitable that the others would be next. With a slap to his flank, you sent Mule rushing toward the battle. He was a trained warhorse, and hopefully he'd be enough of a distraction to cover your escape. Fleeing on foot would make you harder to track, if you were careful. Your flight was dishonorable, but as you always said, 'better a live coward than a dead hero.' With luck, you wouldn't be followed....
Vashti: The village burned behind you as you walked away. The loss of so much life was a tragedy, but it needed to be done. Such abominations needed to be purged. Pausing, you wiped your dagger clean in the snow. This way, your friends could catch up. They were much slower, now that you'd raised them. It was better this way, though. Bright Spot didn't fly off the handle anymore, after all, and there was no more arguing. You didn't have to worry about patching them up anymore, either. When one of them fell, you knew they'd reanimate in just an hour or two. So much more convenient this way. With a smile, you continued on your way. There were more villages to purify....
Zsestrian: They came in the night. Dozens of them. Winged insects that blotted out the moon. There was no time to react; already, your companions were succumbing to confusion and paralysis. You knew what would come next; the egg-laying. Before they could reach you, though, you were transported to safety. Your new home: the palace of Whitethrone. Rhokar and Nazhena smiled as you arrived. "We're so glad you've finally embraced your legacy. The aptitude's already there. With a little time and training, you'll truly be one of us...."
-----------------------------------------
As the vision fades, you realize that the Hut's layout has changed.
"What in the inferno was that? I already don't like this thing."
Percy laughs a bone-chilling laugh, then screams a blood curling scream. A short burst of blistering gnomeish curses burst from her and she shakes her head to clear the vision.
What was that! Rainbow fire ripples down her arms and audibly crackles with the wound where she had with drawn her Embers sparking dangerously around the edges like it was being welded by a miniature dwarf.
"You alright Gorgeous? What'd you see?"
Percy looks terrified and shakes her head. Something I would never do...
"I know the feeling." Hobbes says putting his arms around her.
She reaches up and holds his hand around her. It helped to know that he hadn't been torn apart, but the vision wasn't out of the realm of possibility. And That was truly terrifying.