A symbol carved upon the door to this chamber resembles an upward facing half-circle resting on a horizontal line. Several arrows point outwards from the circle. At the center of the half-circle, a single extended arrow points upwards.
Mr Whiskers and Hirah recognize the symbol as the Iobarian witch symbol for "dawn".
Flowering vines drape the walls of this chamber. Winding, pebble-strewn pathways weave through a magnificent garden of honeysuckle and lilac. A pale, warm light fills the room, emanating from a stone lined pool of water in the center. The purple and orange reflection of the early morning sky glitters upon the pool surface.
A raven with yellow eyes flutters to the pool edge. On seeing Rokum's amulet, she caws. "I am Tryva, guardian of dawn."
"Before I aid you, you must first convince me you have the resolve to fulfil your desire. To prove your mental fortitude, you must face what I, hearld of the coming day, cannot."
"Each night it vists--
sometimes horror,
sometimes wonder,
sometimes prophet,
When dawn wakes, it flees."
"When you face this thing, you shall know its desire. In its desire, you shall find your own. Only by sharing this desire with me can I bind your fates. Once they are found, I will be able to see your destiny."
"More riddles? I wonder who the changeling is?" Mr. Whiskers sighs. Looking at Einar, he says "It seems we both had an opportunity to try the wine. Strange taste!"
Looking around at the rest of the party, he smiles widely and then says "We still haven't found the pantry, nor the new library!"
Puzzling a bit, Mr. Whiskers looks to the others and asks "Sleep or perhaps dreams? Sounds a little more like dreams."
This small, candlelit bedroom is empty save for a plain wooden bed and a night table where a pale candle burns in an iron candleholder. The bed is perfectly made, but the sheets display an omnimous, crimson stain in the middle of the bed.
A indistinct Jadwiga woman in a tattered black dress, with cold, dead eyes hovers over the bed. Where her legs are supposed to be, there are only black tendrils.
Mr Whiskers has no idea what the creature is, but Hirah recognizes it as an animate dream. It is undead, incorporeal, has SR 19 and a whole slew of nasty, nasty spell like abilities.
After conferring with Hirah and the others, Mr. Whiskers decides to allow Crummock to try and talk with the thing first.
More about animate dreams:
An animate dream can find satisfaction and sustenance by passing one of its ghostly limbs through a mortal’s body—the act infusing the mortal with negative energy that sates the animate dream’s unnatural hunger. But by forcing a creature into a state of sleep, terror, or both, the animate dream can gain a much more satisfying meal, feeding on the emotions released in such states. It uses its spell-like abilities to this end, for each creature it harms with its nightmares, drives temporarily insane with confusion or fear, or outright slays with phantasmal killer provides the monster with more nourishment. An animate dream forced to go for a long period of time without feeding does not starve to death, but does grow increasingly feral and violent in nature.
"Why do you of the living step into the realm of the dead?" The animate dream asks.
"We came upon this place by not knowing that we were trespassing." Crummock replies.
The animate dream gives Crummock a cruel smile. "You lie. I can hear your heart beating faster."
Caught in the lie, Crummock answers, "Milady, we seek your august presence."
"No, its not my presence that you seek...its something else, and I'm not telling you."
"Milady, truly your beauty is a sight to behold." Crummock flatters her.
Falling for his blatant flattery, she answers, "Of course. I am a fragment of Yelizaveta, the thirteenth daughter of Baba Yaga and former queen of Irrisen. Wait, what?! I told you my name?! Noooo you tricked me you tricky creatures! Rarrrrrghhh!" Then she moves to attack the party.
Hirah tries to stab the undead thing, while shouting out curse words to it in Alko, trying to hold its attention.
All attacks land on the animated dream but it doesn't seem to be doing as much damage as usual. Einar's bite passes totally through it.
Mr. Whiskers casts haste on the group.
Crummock continues to try fish information out of her. "Ni fyddem yn meiddio droseddu chi drwy wneud rhywbeth fel 'na.Byddwn ond yn dymuno siarad â chi."
We would not dare to do something like that. We only wish to speak to you.
Crummock furrows his brows, while shaking his head and right hand, when the party starts attacking. Then he moves his right hand back and forth."Rhowch i mi rhai mwy o amser!"
Give me some more time!
"Þú virðist í uppnámi þegar þú getið um Iobaria og Hoofwood. Er eitthvað sem við getum hjálpað þér með?" Crummock asks him politely.
You seem upset when you mentioned about Iobaria and Hoofwood. Is there anything we can help you with?
Ratibor shakes his head and looking resigned. "
Heyra söguna mína vei. Þegar ríki mitt bilinu frá Vestur landamærum Fangard frá Ardshrod River til Syrzemyan hálendinu. Enn einn dag, hræðileg plága stóð, að shamans mínar voru ekki að lækna. vitrir konur minn bað mig að leita aðstoðar Great Crone, Baba Yaga. Ég byggði heimsveldi með blóði og svita. Ég myndi ekki svíkja traust mitt fólk hafði í me.Had ég ekki verið swayed með orðum sínum um daginn ...." His voice trails off.
Hear my tale of woe. Once, my kingdom ranged from the western border of Fangard from the Ardshrod River to the Syrzemyan highlands. Yet one day, a terrible plague arose, that my shamans were unable to cure. My wise women asked me to seek the aid of the Great Crone, Baba Yaga. I built the empire by blood and sweat. I would not betray the trust my people had in me.Had I not been swayed by their words that day....
"Svo ég fór að leita út mikla Crone, og bargained fyrir aðstoð hennar. Hún bað mig um að koma henni á höfuð frost risastór Jarl Utgaardt, sem réð Icy sléttunum. Ég treysti aldrei norn fully..all þeir vissu voru Wiles og galdur. Utgaardt á hinn bóginn væri öflugur bandamaður með her sinn af frostgiants. Ég sagði Utgaardt áætlanir Baba Yaga, og Utgaardt og ég hefi hafið samsæri áætlun saman. Við viljum gefa henni höfuð traitorous halfbrother hans, Laapdt, þannig að fólk mitt myndi vera vistað."
So I went to seek out the great Crone, and bargained for her aid. She asked me to bring her the head of the frost giant jarl Utgaardt, who ruled the Icy Steppes. I never trusted the witch fully..all they knew were wiles and magic. Utgaardt on the other hand would be a powerful ally with his army of frostgiants. I told Utgaardt of Baba Yaga’s plans, and Utgaardt and I conspired a plan together. We would give her the head of his traitorous halfbrother, Laapdt, so that my people would be saved.
"Því miður, það var ekki að vera. Baba Yaga vissi um blekkingar, ég veit ekki hvernig það wicked witch vissi, en hún gerði. Hún kallaði skrímsli ómögulegt villimennsku og krafti og sendi þá til að eyðileggja ríki mitt. Við börðumst fyrir lífi okkar, en kalt stál gerði ekkert á móti þeim hörmungum sem voru send á okkur þeim örlagaríka degi. Hún felldi þá alla ... bjarga mér." He buries his head in his hands and weeps.
Alas, it was not to be. Baba Yaga knew about the deception, I don't know how that wicked witch knew, but she did. She summoned monsters of impossible savagery and power and sent them to destroy my kingdom. We fought for our lives, but cold steel did nothing against those horrors that were sent at us that fateful day. She slew them all...save me.
"Hún sagði að svíkja hana, ég skilið frekari refsingu. Hún hefur bundið mig til að gæta Hut hennar fyrir enternity, aldrei láta neinn fara yfir þær dyr sem sjást þar ríki mitt notað til að vera. Ég hef þekkt enga hvíld, engan mat né drykk síðan bölvaður dag. Aðeins trúarlega finna í bókinni hennar Bogagöng augmentation geta frjáls mig frá eilífri nauðungarvinnu mínum."
She said for betraying her, I deserved further punishment. She has bound me to guard her Hut for eternity, never letting anyone cross those doors that overlook where my kingdom used to be. I have known no rest, no food, nor drink since accursed day. Only the ritual contained in her cookbook of arcane augmentation can free me from my eternal servitude.
Crummock realizes for a proud man such as Ratibor to admit to others the wretched situation he's currently in, is a hard thing for him to do.
"Na Nid wyf yn credu eich, eich bod newydd anfon i poenydio fi!"
No I don't believe you, you're just sent to torment me!
"Flee screaming!" Yelizaveta's fragment howls and a wave of fear sweeps over the entire party, with only Mr Whiskers successfully managing to fight it off and stand his ground.
Mr Whiskers doesn't know what the heck she used.
Seeing the fear overtake his companions, Mr. Whiskers pulls a scroll of Protection from Evil from his pack and quickly uses it on Crummock before he can run. He then steps up 5' and tries to block some of the others from leaving.
"That wasn't very nice. How is anyone supposed to talk to you when you do that?"
The spell has no effect on Crummock, he's still visibly scared.
As Einar and Hirah drop their weapons and flee from the room, Yelizaveta fragment crows in delight, "Pity it wasn't Baba Yaga I just did that to. If only I could make get my vengeance on her for killing me, and trapping me here." The party can hear her evil laugh echoing behind them.
Greta moves up and shoves the door shut with her shoulder. There is a sound of a clicking lock, then the door fades into a blank wall. "I think we've heard enough."
Now that the source of fear is gone, Crummock, Hirah and Einar turn back to their usual colour.
Greta then whistles for Zorka, who looks mildly disgruntled when she sees who has called, once she pops out of a wall.
"My friends dropped their weapons in that room. There's an animate dream in there and it isn't friendly. It would please me if you could go retrieve their weapons." Greta asks Zorka politely.
"Ah I see you have some manners," Zorka nods. "I shall do as you request, since it amuses me." She then dissappears.
Mr Whiskers recognizes that Zorka used invisibility.
"Got them." The party hears an invisible voice in the air, then Hirah and Einar's weapons drop to the ground.
Shaking his head in sadness, Mr. Whiskers points to the room they came from and says to Tryva "That dream knows only of the vengeance it seeks against Baba Yaga. I doubt it even remembers how it got in that situation."
Given what else we have seen, it seems likely she got there by betraying Baba Yaga. I'll have to check the library later, see what I can find out about Yelizaveta.
"That was...interesting." She raises an eyebrow as the party runs helter skelter out of the room.
To Mr Whiskers words, she answers, "You have passed the trial of endurance. Congratulations."
"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."
Tryva bestows her iron amulet upon Mr Whiskers, crows three times and then flies into the pool. There is no splash when she touches the surface. Instead, she seems to pass into another world and wings off into a glorious sunrise, her form growing smaller and smaller until it disappears. If anyone touches the pool’s surface, the water ripples and the sunset reflection immediately fades to reveal a shallow and ordinary pool of water.
Using his spectacles of understanding, Mr Whiskers reads the word on the amulet as "Artosa". It also functions as achimenof opening(9charges left).
Mr Whiskers recognizes this as the name of a trio of giant, carved figures in northeastern Iobaria, also known as “The Three Who Watch.”
Mr Whiskers places the "Tome of Knowledge" against the wall, flipping it to the middle page. It opens a portal in the wall leading to a chamber where tall bookcases stretch from floor to ceiling in this chamber, flanking a row of tables standing in the centre 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.
Searching the library, one topic conspicuously absent is about anything on Baba Yaga's daughters. He however manages to find out more about the ravens they have just met. They are Baba Yaga's intelligent raven allies who sometimes serve as her prophets. Three in all, they are said to guard the mysteries of the auspicious times of Twilight, Night and Dawn, when the boudaries between the worlds blur. Legend often call the birds "The Liar Seers," for they shroud their wisdom in tangled riddles and rarely offer any insight without demanding some sort of favor or task in return.
He finds books in many foreign languages, and finds spellbooks in Iobarian, and Triaxian, and Russian.
Nonetheless, with the spectacles of understanding, he is able to read them.
There is a table filled with crafting supplies and writing implements(including any magical inks).
Greta and Nivean have been making themselves comfortable in a corner, pouring over a book reading labelled, "Lonely planet - Iobaria". The book comes in with translations of multiple languages.
Mr. Whiskers asks Greta to see what she can find on the Howling. He is interested in when Winter Wolves could first transform there, where the border is, and anything else that might be available on the topic. "Although Crummock's plan will certainly work, there may be an easier solution. Anything we can find out about The Howling might give a clue as to what is special about that area." He will have Nivean help her.
He asks the group "So, how do we want to handle Ratibor? It seems we must travel to Iobaria --- specifically northeastern Iobaria where the figures are. Unless we can find some way to work around his vow, this will present a problem when we return." Unless he is tired and wants to die.
Researching on the Howlings reveals that it lies between the intersection of several leylines, which can be tapped to create a permanent magical effect. Even so, it'd take a lot of knowledge and arcane power, as well as a lengthy ritual in order to create such an effect.
And without the intersection of leylines, the effect cannot even be created.
A book in the library labelled "Iobaria -A History" states that 200 years ago, Baba Yaga captured a barbarian chieftain named Ratibor the bold and bound him to guard her hut as punishment for deceiving her. The details on the binding can be found in the book of arcane augmentation.
There is no book of arcane augmentation to be found in the library, nor anywhere in the house. Asking Ratibor on where the book may be found, he mentions that he last saw Baba Yaga headed to the northeastern mountains with the book, then she returned to the hut without it.
Nothing happens to Einar when he touches the water.
Mr. Whiskers takes his turn bathing in the pool. While he is at it, he takes the time to properly trim his hair and groom himself.
He checks with Zorka if there are any tubs or such big enough for Ratibor that could be moved into the room he is in. "His odor is rather alarming. If we can do so, I wouldn't mind giving him a chance to bathe."
If there is such a tub, he would then bring Ratibor some food and try to convince him to bath.
"You would keep your weapons within reach. If something comes through that door" pointing to the door Ratibor guards "[b]I promise that I will gird you in your armor as soon as you ask or you get out of the tub. I would be using a scroll to do it. If there is no danger, I would keep the scroll and you could gird yourself normally."
In the library, when Einar asks about it Mr. Whiskers would prefer using the ritual to free Ratibor from his geas.
"Let's talk with him, tell him that it seems we need to go into Iobaria in order to find the Maiden. Ask him if he wants free of his vow via a ritual or would prefer combat against us." Looking directly at Einar, he says "Although I don't feel that way, I've come to realize some would prefer to be released by combat to the death."
"He seems a mostly honorable man, but his distrust of Baba Yaga caused him to betray her. I would prefer to deal with him honorably, but that doesn't mean we don't need to be wary."
"Einar makes a good point that it would be bad if we are getting chased back to the hut and have to fight him while injured. We don't know what dangers await us out there. Hopefully we will be able to just camp outside the hut and recover -- coming in at a time of our choosing."
"Shall we plan for coming in when we are ready or plan for the worst case -- needing to rush in while injured?"
Further reading of "Iobaria - A History yields the following:
Following the collapse of the empire of Old Iobaria, a barbarian warlord named Kostchtchie claimed Iobaria’s wild northeastern territory, the Dvezda Marches, as his personal kingdom. To consolidate his power, he sought out the Queen of Witches, Baba Yaga, and demanded she give him the secret of immortality or face the full might of his barbarian horde. Baba Yaga granted Kostchtchie his wish, but only after stealing a part of his soul and transforming him into a twisted giant. In shame, Kostchtchie fled, and with Baba Yaga’s counsel and aid, a coalition of Kostchtchie’s rivals fell upon the warlord’s armies, driving them from the region and forcing the scattered remains deep into the Ice Steppes of the frozen north.
Baba Yaga expected that some day Kostchtchie might return, however, and so she created a secret stronghold somewhere in the mountains to watch over the land. She appointed a chosen warden who would be responsible for the stronghold's day-to-day upkeep. Since that time, Baba Yaga has appointed 11 wardens, in most cases a powerful hag or witch devoted to her service.
The water is cool and clear and Mr Whiskers feels refreshed after his bath.
Ratibor takes a few bites out of the food offered out of politeness then he shakes his head. ” Er ekki bragðið eins og allt, en aftur, bindandi styður mig.” As Zorka pulls out the bathtub and Crummock fills it with water, he looks at the tub longingly. ” Ég hef ekki haft einn fyrir svo lengi ... og já, áætlun hljómar eins gott eitt. Setja öxina við hliðina á mér, og ég get tekið í bað. Ég hata galdur notuð á mig,” he gives a sardonic grimace, ” En ég ætla að leyfa henni þetta einu sinni.” He orders the bathtub to be placed near the door, so that he can stop any intruders from the door, if need be.
Doesn’t taste like anything, but again, the binding sustains me.
I haven’t had one for so long…and yes, your plan sounds like a good one. Put the axe next to me, and I can take a bath. I hate magic being used on me
But I’ll allow it this once.
He takes out his armor, clothes and starts scrubbing of several months of accumulated dirt, while whistiling contentedly to himself. "Ég ætti að gera þetta oftar. En ég er ekki alltaf að fá hlé."
I should do this more often. But I don't ever get a break.
After his bath, he wipes himself off with a towel, then dons his blueish chain mail, then pours the grimy water out of the door. He then picks up his battleaxe and shield and stands guard at the door again.
Mr. Whiskers responds "Fyrirgefðu galdur viðhalda þú truflar bragðið af matnum."
"Eins og fyrir baðið, það tók nokkur hugsun um hvernig best sé að ná því. Ég get vel skilið að vilja ekki vera veiddur án verndar herklæði."
Mr. Whiskers gets a thoughtful look on his face when Ratibor mentions not liking magic.
His voice and manner is very serious as he opinions "Ég geri ráð fyrir flest galdur sem þú hefur komið hefur verið barátta galdur, notað af óvinum þínum. Því miður margir sem læra galdra eru dregin þar af tálbeita af afli. Vinur minn Einar sér það aðeins sem vopn."
A smile breaks out as he starts talking about his own reasons for studying magic. "Ég njóta galdur sem leið uppgötvun. Það er hægt að leyfa á að upplifa hluti sem annars væri ekki hægt, svo sem hvað það er eins og að synda eins og fiskur eða svífa eins og örn. Ég hlakka til að fljótlega reyna það út!"
Once the bath is done, Mr. Whiskers waits for him to resume his guard position before taking the tub away. "Ég er feginn að ég var fær til að gera þetta litla miskunn fyrir þig. Láttu mig vita ef það er eitthvað annað sem ég gæti veitt."
As for the bath, it took some thought as to how best to accomplish it. I can well understand not wanting to be caught without the protection of armor.
I suppose most magic you've encountered has been battle magic, used by your enemies. Unfortunately many who learn magic are drawn there by the lure of power. My friend Einar sees it only as a weapon.
I enjoy magic as a means of discovery. It can allow one to experience things that otherwise wouldn't be possible, such as what it feels like to swim like a fish or soar like an eagle. I look forward to soon trying that out!
I am glad that I was able to do this small kindness for you. Let me know if there is something else that I could provide.
Ratibor shudders at Mr Whisker's casual mention of magic. "Ekki reyna að sannfæra mig galdur er eðlilegt.Það var galdur sem fékk mig til þessa óreiðu í fyrsta sæti." He wipes his hands on his chainmail, as if he touched something unclean.
"Eina Magics sem eru ekki vafasöm eru þeir sem auka færni þína í örmum."
"Því fyrr sem bindandi er hægt að brjóta, því hamingjusamari ég kem."
Don't try to convince me magic is natural.It was magic that got me into this mess in the first place.
The only magics that aren't so dubious are those that enhance your skill at arms.
The sooner the binding can be broken, the happier I'll be.
Chuckling, Mr. Whiskers admits "Ես համաձայն եմ, կախարդական բնական չէ: Ես ասել եմ, որ դա կարող է լինել հաճելի միջոց է փորձի բաներ." So dour! I suppose that is to be expected considering his position.
In a much more serious manner, he promises "Ես կանեմ այն, ինչ կարող է լինել վերականգնել այդ գիրքը եւ ազատում է ձեզ:"
I will do what can be to recover that book and release you.
"Ég hef haft ekkert annað en slæma reynslu frá galdur."He mutters darkly. "Ég myndi vera mest þakklát ef þú gætir losa bindandi."
"En mundu, ætti ég að sjá þig aftur inn í kofann án bókarinnar, ég neyðist til að drepa þig." He states regretfully.
I've had nothing but bad experiences from magic.
I would be most grateful if you could do so.
But remember, should I see you re-enter the hut without the book, I will be forced to kill you
The day passes uneventfully, with Mr Whiskers scribing his scrolls and Crummock working on his Greater Hat of Disguise. Crummock takes most of the night watch , with Einar taking the rest of the night watch.
The party finishes the rest of Greta's dumplings the following morning, and then set about their daily tasks.
Around late afternoon, Zorka pops out of the wall with a warning. "Ratibor said he saw a whole bunch of giants gathering. This can't be good news."
The party goes to the windows and has a peek. They see eight blue haired giants in chain shirts, each battle axes at their belts surrounding the clearing the hut currently is in, looking intently at the hut, like a cat might watch a mouse.
"Ez Baba Jaga táncoló Hut. Elpusztítani a Kostchtchie nevére!" One of them howls.
That's Baba Yaga's Dancing Hut. Destroy it in Kostchtchie's name!
They take up rocks and start hurling it at the hut, with most of the rocks bouncing harmlessly off the Hut's walls and roof. Though for the size of the rocks the giants are using, they seem to do remarkably little damage to the hut.
One well-thrown rock makes a dent on the roof tiles.
Mr Whiskers can't for the hell remember what the heck these blue haired giants are...
"I don't know what they are but they said they wanted to destroy the Dancing Hut in Kostchtchie's name. Also they're rather big.. and big is usually bad news." Greta adds.
Mr. Whiskers asks Ratibor in draconic "Որքան է այս չարաշահման կարող է խրճիթ դիմակայել:"
In Skald he says "If any of us leaves, we will not be able to come back in. Let's try firing from the windows first!"
With that Mr. Whiskers goes over and opens one of the windows.
"The Hut getur tekið mikið af refsingu.Ef einhver vissi hvernig á að stjórna Hut, gætum við tekið hjörð 10 sinnum þessari stærð!"Ratibor answers.
The Hut can take a lot of punishment. If only someone knew how to control the Hut, we could take a horde 10 times this size!
"Ratibor says the hut can take a lot of punishment, and could defend itself if someone knew how to control it. Zorka, would you know how it can be controlled?"
"Use the egg and the cracked clay bowl! But you'll need to figure out how!" Zorka swipes the cracked clay bowl and the egg off the table and hands it to Mr Whiskers.
Mr. Whiskers looks at the egg and bowl with a puzzled expression, then places the egg in the bowl and attempts to spin it.
"Like this?"
Crummock gives Mr Whiskers a little divine guidance from Desna, and Mr Whiskers sees the light!
Congratulations, you're temporarily in control of one of the most powerful artifacts in the universe!
N Huge construct
Init +12;
Senses blindsight 120 ft.; Perception +8
Aura frightful presence (60 ft., DC 30)
DEFENSE
AC 34, touch 20, flat-footed 22 (+12 Dex, +14 natural, –2 size)
hp 169/188 (27d10+40); fast healing 20
Fort +9, Ref +21, Will +17
Defensive Abilities evasion, immortal structure; DR 15/adamantine;
Immune construct traits, gaze attacks, visual effects and illusions, sight-based attacks;
SR 28
OFFENSE Speed 60 ft.
Melee 2 claws +38 (2d6+13 plus grab), slam +38 (2d8+13 plus grab)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Special Attacks constrict (2d6+19), fast swallow, swallow whole (see below), trample (2d8+19, DC 36)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 15th; concentration +22)
At will—dimensional anchor, freedom of movement, irresistible dance (DC 25)3/day—blink, dimension door, incendiary cloud (DC 25)
STATISTICS
Str 37, Dex 34, Con —, Int —, Wis 27, Cha 25Base Atk +27; CMB +42 (+46 grapple); CMD 64