The spirit sounds proud. "I put it inside a porcelain doll and sent it in a different Hut layout. There's no way she'll bother searching every room in the Hut. I'm so clever!"
Even though it hurt his mind so very much he was not just going to run so quickly away even if they held the information they needed, while his friends withdrew he politely finished the conversation.
Thank you so very much for your aid Queen Yelizaveta, we will take this information and certainly get some measure of revenge for you, please rest in finality well.
He offered her his most stoic and serious of samurai bows before leaving the room too, his tail limply hanging as he rubbed at his ears with his paws. That room had been very not nice.
Hobbes and Hila walk out with Percy, the former rubbing his head.
With her arm around Lyosha, Sigrun heads out of the room.
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The ravens look pleased as they nod in understanding. "Well done. You have completed all three Trials and are now free to proceed. The hallway opposite the kitchen hides a secret doorway. Now that you hold all three amulets, it will reveal itself." Each of the birds then gives you one more piece of advice before flying away.
"My amulet reveals the first ingredient for Baba Yaga's kettle. Look for this key where time catches up to us all. Look for the Mother when the moon is full!"
"You have taken upon yourselves a great burden. For that which you desire, the changeling holds. Know this as well - you will find the Crone only when the moon wanes."
"So be it. Seek now the sisters three who are one: Mother, Maiden, Crone. But know that the Maiden is elusive, and may only be caught with the waxing moon."
"Hey, those are the names of the three statues that are supposed to help warn against that demon lord guy, Kostchtchie."
"That was way too cryptic to be useful." Zses sighs to himself, nodding to Hobbes "I think those are in Iobaria, too. Don't really know how we'll get there..."
"Well, we'll check this secret hallway, first." Crow chirps (metaphorically) "It's nice to be the only talking bird in the room again."
This spacious room resembles the interior of a wooden cottage. Stairs to the right of the entrance climb to a balcony atop which rests a wooden table. Sitting atop this table rests a wooden bowl and a brown speckled hen's egg. A wooden walkway continues around the room to a small landing and another set of stairs to the left of the entrance. A third staircase leads down from the walkway to an alcove opposite the door. Crates, boxes, barrels, and other mundane materials crowd the space.
Standing facing the hut's outer door is an armored man holding a large axe. As you enter, he turns in surprise and furrows his brow in confusion. "Prisencolinensinainciusol Ratibor. In de col men seivuan. Uis de seim cius nau op de seim?"
Seeing the armored and armed man speak an unknown language, rather than attack them, Neverhome holds up his hand towards in a slight wave.
Unsure what to do he simply says hello in the four tongues he knows, pausing inbetween each one. First in the common tongue, second in the harsh tongue, third in the song tongue, and finally in the sibilant tongue he only recently knew he knew.
Percy frowns at him. She should really ask Imbrex for a spell of languages...
She adds a greeting in Sylvan, just in case.
The man assumes an arrogant expression as Neverhome speaks.
Agitated at hearing the man speak back in that language Neverhome nonetheless responds in it as well.
Turning to the others his brain effortlessly switches back to the language he uses with them. "Show him amulets. He is guard."
Nodding Sigrun holds up one of the amulets for the man to see.
The man shrugs his shoulders disinterestedly.
Nevrerhome mouths an "oh" before getting a thoughtful look and speaking.
Nodding Neverhone will turn to his companions. "He is bound by Dearest Grandmother's curse to slay any who attempt to enter through door. We are okay, since we are already in, but if we leave and attempt to return he will be forced to do as he is bound. Ritual containing curse is in Dearest Grandmother's cookbook."
Turning back to the guard Neverhome all too easily slips into that other tongue.
"Well that's unfortunate...for him if we have to leave here and come back." Sigrun says assessing the warrior.
Neverhome simply nods without looking away from the man. "I am asking him now why he was cursed. If he brought curse upon himself, he will be most unfortunate."
"Well that is not good for him considering at some point we will have to leave."
He said softly his tail slowly coming to a halt. . .
"Well he's got his job and we got ours."
Again Neverhome nods to the man before speaking. "He was Warlord whose fighters were devastated by plague. He promised to slay Dearest Grandmother's enemies if she cured them. She did, and he did, and he also conquered many others before she betrayed him and bound him here.
"
Shrugging he simply adds "Nothing to worry ourselves with."
His fault for not putting a time limit in his pledge. Percy comments under her breath.
Allie sighs. "We should just kill him and get it over with. When we come back in he is going to try to kill us anyway."
"Nyet. That would be rude."
Then tell him friend Neverhome, we are agents of the queen, indeed we are the black rider, What we do is of the greatest importance and we will need to leave this hut, and return. We will not let him bar our progress.
He paused his tail lightly starting to lash again.
Would you prefer we handle this now yes yes when we are healthy whole and hale, or would you rather perhaps run the chance of having to battle him when some of us are wounded or hurt or worse. I do not like it, but if he is cursed to attack us now, it is far better to deal with the problem now than leave it for later.
He said softly, it was clear the felinerai did not like the options laid before them.
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Killing him now would be murder, simply because of his assignment. Killing him when we return, if forced to, would be self defense. If he has been warned and still battles us, because the curse forces him to, then his death will not be on us." Sigrun says quietly.
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He frowned at friend Sigrun's words. Put that way it made the sick feeling in his stomach even worse. If it wasnt for the threat of eternal winter everywhere back at home he would have some very serious serious words for this yaba gaga... as it was, he was liable to have sharp words with her nontheless anyhow.
"I am not saying we must attack him now, only that perhaps it might be prudent. I know nothing real of curses... will salt thrown at him while hopping on one foot help break it? That is said to work when an Oni lays his misfortune on you.
Then tell him friend Neverhome, we are agents of the queen, indeed we are the black rider, What we do is of the greatest importance and we will need to leave this hut, and return. We will not let him bar our progress.
"I already did."
"I'll kill someone only if I have to or if I want to, nyet because of convenience."
"Perhaps between leaving and returning we will come up with some way to break the curse. If not, then we do what we must, but only because we must." Sigrun suggests.
"That was my hope as well." Neverhome agrees.
Who knows, maybe we'll find a way to break it! Let's go! Percy chirps.
Nodding to the little redhead Neverhome turns back to the man.
Finishing with the guard he turns to the others. "He will only attack us if we enter, not for simply opening door. Possible he won't even attack if we strike from outside, as long as we do nyet try to enter Hut."
"Of course, he could very well be lying... but if he is not, have arrows and spells readied for when and if we return to this door." he continues, perfectly calm.
Another thought striking him turns back to the warlord, his neck starting to annoy him with all the back and forth.
The man rests his hand on the haft of his axe and scowls.
Neverhome just smirks.