The wobble in the spinning egg stabilizes and Mr. Whiskers tilts the bowl so the egg moves towards the north.
"Might want to hold on, this could get bumpy!"
The hut stands up on its chicken feet and makes its inexorable advance towards the giants. They try desperately to fling themselves out of the way, but it brutally runs them down. The party finds the room they are in suddenly shaking violently, and feel two violent impacts, but manage to keep their footing.
"A kunyhó túl erős! Meg kell menekülni, és figyelmeztesse Vszevolod úgy tudja, hogy még több erősítést!" The trampled giants scream in panic.
The hut is too powerful! We must flee and warn Vsevolod so he can bring more reinforcements!
Ratibor drops his battle axe, clambers over some crates to get to the window and takes out his powerful bow, then fires a shot at one of the giants but hits only the chainshirt.
"They say the Hut is too powerful so they need to warn someone called Vszevolod to come with more reinforcements." Greta helpfully translates.
"I guess that makes the next question where can we hide the hut after they leave?" He pauses a moment, then repeats the same statement in Draconic. Hopefully there is a valley someplace close that would be difficult to find.
"Við gætum hugsanlega falið Hut í Hoofwood, eru trén alveg hár."Ratibor replies.
We could possibly hide the Hut in Hoofwood, the trees are quite tall.
They scatter and flee for their lives, after being taught a sore lesson in manners by the Weapon of Mass Destruction that is the Dancing Hut. One of them drops a bauble in the snow in his haste to flee the scene.
Ratibor looks at Mr Whiskers, awestruck, his mouth gaping open. "Ég hélt bara Baba Yaga gæti stjórnað Dancing Hut."
I thought only Baba Yaga could control the Dancing Hut.
Mr. Whiskers replies to Ratibor "Վերահսկիչ կարող է լինել չափազանցություն: Եկեք սպասել նշելու մինչեւ մենք պարզել, թե արդյոք, ես կարող է առաջնորդել այն hoofwood առաջինը!"
The egg quits spinning and lies quietly in the bottom of the bowl.
Looking to the rest of the group, he says "Ratibor suggested we may be able to hide the hut in something called the hoofwood."
He pauses a moment, then asks "How many of you can't speak Draconic? I can cast a spell that would teach it to you for a day, which would make communicating with Ratibor easier!"
"You can actually tell the Hut the location you want to go, and it'll try to get you there." Zorka remarks.
Mr Whiskers also realizes that he can't identify the bauble the giants dropped and since it's magical, mage hand doesn't work.
Surprised, Mr. Whiskers looks over and says "Thank you Zorka! I hadn't realized that. I really appreciate all the help you've given us!"
Looking around at the group, he asks "Assuming either I or Crummock can get control of the hut again, where do we want to have it march to? Should we go to the library and look at some maps before deciding?"
"Once it has been moved, we may want to leave and try to cover some of it's tracks."
Mr. Whiskers looks out the window and notices the dropped item. "Anyone good at fishing?"
Checking the book, "Lonely Planet - Iobaria, reveals that the region the party is now in is known as the Plaguelands. Plague appear frequently throughout Iobaria. Over the centuries, various diseases have killed thousands, causing the collapse of entire human populations.
There are no significant human settlements in the region, and friendly faces are few and far between. Most people live nomadic lives, never settling long for fear of contracting some manner of plague. Tribes in the region remain small; a tribe of more than a hundred is unheard of—even taboo among some—and tribespeople fear congregating in large numbers. They roam about, setting up large animal skin tents each evening, following herd animals and making do with what resources they can scrounge from the cold and barren lands.
The region has continental climate with little precipitation. In the most northern regions, winterlike conditions persist nearly year-round. Farther south, the climate turns more hospitable with snows lasting less than half the year, gracing the region with a 4-month growing season. Though it rains little overall, the evaporation rate stays considerably lower than the annual rainfall, and therefore enough water remains to sustain plant growth. Still, poor soil quality and permafrost in the northern regions limit overall vegetation.
Strong transmutation aura, 60 feet away.
Hoofwood is a dense boreal forest, composed almost entirely of deciduous conifers. Hoofwood is named for the dozen or so Rashalka centaur clans that shelter themselves within its forests. The trees in this forest—pines and other species of hardy, winter-resistant trees—grow in close-enough proximity that their branches weave together in the canopy, blocking much of the sunlight and transforming the forest floor into a world of shadow and gloom. With little rain and low light, plant growth within the understory remains scarce, and the hard, rocky soil is slightly acidic and nutrient poor. Hoofwood provides a home to the sole civilized population—the Rashalka centaurs. The four most populous centaur clans are Kraask, Phelor, Tsurvom, and Voaldyn. Most of the centaurs follow the Green Faith, or rather aspects of it, and practice both shamanistic and totemic rites. With farming nearly impossible in Hoofwood, the centaurs rely on hunting and foraging for the bulk of their food. White-headed pheasants sit at the bottom of Hoofwood’s food chain. The birds bring larger predators to the forest as well, such as hoarpanthers and occasionally polar kamadans, both of which the centaurs hunt. Centaur hunters leave no parts of their prey unused, and during tribal gatherings various clans frequently trade the cured skins, bones, and teeth of these creatures.
Due to their physiology and the lack of steady food sources, the centaur clans live nomadically for the most part, traveling the forest along ancestral paths. Each clan keeps its own distinct route. While circumstances (such as pursuing prey or avoiding natural disasters) sometime force a clan to deviate from its usual paths, for the most part the route does not change. During this time, the centaurs make numerous stops, setting up camp in favored locations or at spots they consider sacred. The most sacred of these stops is Vurnirn, a great centaur settlement built upon the ruins of an ancient cyclops city that lies in the northern part of the forest.
Vurnirn is known as a city of centaurs, yet this definition lacks accuracy. Vurnirn—or the Centaur’s Cliff, as it is also called—serves as a centralized location for holding massive clan gatherings. Throughout the year, centaur clans from all over Hoofwood travel through Vurnirn to trade goods, exchange news, meet with kin, and find spouses. Most nomadic clans stay for a few weeks, and then, upon wrapping up their business, pack up and move out. Therefore, while Vurnirn seems to have the population of a bustling city, it has few permanent residents.
Vurnirn also serves as a common ground to discuss political issues between the various tribes. Several times during the year, typically during the summer months unless matters of great importance affect the centaurs, representatives from the clans that call Hoofwood their territory hold conclaves to discuss important intertribal political issues, settle disputes, and reestablish shared alliances against outside invaders.
Standing, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, Einar watches, enjoying the humor, as Mister Whiskers attempt to get the door guard to take a bath. ’Wonder if I should garrote him while he’s soaking in the tub. It would solve the ‘can’t get in’ problem and I could claim his axe. Mister Whiskers would be really upset, especially after spending all this time getting the guy to clean up.’ Shrugging his shoulders he walks out of the room. ’Guess we’ll see how this plays out.’
As Mister Whiskers, works on different magical crafts, Einar watches and learns what he can, helping where he may; Whether fetching some gizmo or do dad, or getting a drink for his friend or bringing him a snack of dried cheese and crackers. While Mister Whiskers was taking a break, out of the blue, Einar points out. ”You seem to have developed an understanding with our ‘doorman’ I don’t see any reason we can’t find the book and set him free. But the bigger question is ‘do you think Baba Yaga will mind?’” Shrugging his shoulders and handing his friend some raisins and nuts from his dried rations. ”After all it is here house were in. Just food for thought” then he smiles broadly, ”Get it; raisins and nuts! food for thought! See I was paying attention to what you were saying.” Reasonably pleased with himself Einar sits quietly and enjoys if snack.
’I never minded night guard duty, sometimes I feel like I was created for the night.’ Einar happily wandered around the house during the wee hours of the morning keeping watch, occasionally attempting to move quietly into the doorway to see how long it would take Ratibor to notice him.
As soon as Einar heard there were giants outside, he quickly draws his bow and heading to the window sees the blued haired giants, smiling. ”We may not be able to go outside but we certainly can shoot through the windows." Shooting out the window at as many as he can…
Hearing Mister Whiskers and Zorka talking and then the hut begin to move and attack the giants, Einar smiles a toothy smile. ’Would certainly like to take this hut with me back home. It would make quick work of any army the Earls son can put together.’ Laughing and calling out the window
Hearing Zorka trell Mister whisker that he can tell the hut where to go, Einar leaves his window and listens more intently…”No, I couldn’t get that bauble without leaving the hut if I had too. Why don’t one of you call something and have them hand it to us through the window. That way we don’t upset the doorguard.” nodding at Ratibor.
Thinking for a moment. ”If we can tell the hut to take us where ever we want to go, why don’t we tell it to take us to “the sisters three who are one: Mother, Maiden, Crone” I believe that’s what the crow called it right?”
It doesn’t take long for Ratibor to notice Einar. He speaks to Einar in some incomprehensible language, then gestures for Einar to go shoo to bed.
Both arrows clang off chain shirts as the snow makes it hard for Einar to see what he is shooting. Hirah summons a medium air elemental who picks up the globe, then throws it over to her through the open window.
Mr Whiskers does understand riddles, though. ”Artosa.” Mr Whiskers speaks as he rolls the egg around, with Crummock giving him guidance.
His first try results in the Hut buckling like a wild horse, throwing everyone onto the ground. On his second try, he gets it and the Hut lumberers steadily onwards.
The Hut thrashes its way through the woods, toppling trees, knocking over log cabins, flattening tents, trampling grasses, sending frightened centaurs, humans, mundane and magical beats fleeing for their lives, leaving a wide swath of destruction and trampled bodies of those who did not manage to get away in time in its wake.
The party catches a glimpse of one of those corrupted princes of the forest, but even he gives the Dancing Hut a wide berth. Mr Whiskers has to adjust the course of the Hut a few times during the journey, heading towards the North Eastern mountain ranges, but other then that, the journey is uneventful, until the Hut suddenly comes to a stop at the base of a cliff.
Wispy clouds race across the gleaming blue sky overhead, but the floor of the crevasse lies in shadow, the sunlight blotted out by the massive cliffs on either side. Gray grasses and scraggly trees poke through drifts of ice and snow, weaving their way through black boulders that lie at the base of the towering cliffs.Crudely carved into the face of these cliffs, several miles apart, stand three impossible sculptures that each rise over half a mile in height.
Each carving depicts a naked humanoid woman holding forth a warning hand. The first resembles a young maiden with flowing hair, the second depicts a pregnant matron, and the third a stooped and withered crone.
The bases of the giant carvings reveal that both frost giants and centaurs have recently passed through this area, as well as the presence of an inordinate number of humanoid bones of varying ages in the area.
Einar looks at the base of the cliff, but sees no entrance to any kind of stronghold. An idle thought occurs to him. 'What if the entrance was on top of the cliff?'
The Hut functions like a robot. Give it simple commands, it'll follow them to the best of its ability. And it never occurs to the Hut to bypass an obstacle instead of going through it. Considering its potential, you can consider it a giant terminator robot.
Looking up at his friend, he asks "Do you think he has come to regret his betrayal? You could ask Zorka how long he has been here. Or, if you want I could temporarily give you an understanding of the dragon tongue and you could speak to him."
Thinking a bit, he says "It is a worthy question, but so far I have no answer. Not knowing her views, I can only be true to myself and follow my conscience."
Mr. Whiskers quickly realizes that there is no way he can do any writing while the hut is blundering its way through Iobaria. He decides to spend his time in the library reading. He does spend a little time looking for a book holder so that a book can be set up for Greta as well.
Looking out a window, Mr. Whiskers says "So, do you think we need a literal waxing moon, or is this another riddle? I am inclined to believe it another riddle."
Greta complains a little about having to eat dry rations the whole week, but her complaints are muted since she has the entire library to pore over...
Greta is grateful for the book holder and gives Mr Whiskers a through licking from head to toe.
Mr Whiskers wonders if the entrance could be on TOP of the cliff...
'Regret is a funny thing.' Einar shakes his head, "Regret is a funny thing, He may regret his betrayal, or he may regret getting caught, or more than likely he regrets the decision to betray her because he got caught. It matters not. Nor does it matter what he will do if we free him. Realistically since it is the magic that keeps him alive when the curse is gone he will die. Either way I do not want to speak to him. I may have to enter the hut in a hurry and kill him, so honestly I would rather not befriend him." Getting up he nods toward the door. "I am heading to the dawn room, I enjoy the smell of the Honeysuckle and lilac, I find it soothing. If you need anything I will be there."
Feeling the hut stop, Einar gathers his gear and joins his friends in the Entryway. looking out the windows, shrugging his shoulders, "Not quite my style but there is something to be said for advertising with naked woman. It certainly distracts everyone from what is actually going on." Nodding out the door as he makes eye contact with Ratibor. "I tire of this place. Can we leave now, or does someone have something they still need to do?"
Ratibor does not appear to under what Einar is saying, but does not stop him from leaving.
Mr. Whiskers gathers his things and gets ready to leave. He says his goodbyes to Zorka and Ratibor. He checks with Zorka "Should we leave the tome here?"
Gathering at the door, he responds "Yes, we can go. Hopefully we have everything we will need."
"Yes you should. Can't have people losing things out there, you know." Zorka replies,
The total distance between the base of a figure and the summit is approximately half a mile, or 2,600 feet. Climbing requires a DC 20 climb check, unless someone goes up, drops rope down then it's DC 10.
Crummock is quite impressed at Mr Whiskers' skill at manipulating the Hut.
"Are you sure you are not part Witch?", he says with a grin.
Satisfied that the Hut will take the party where it needs to go, Crummock settles down in the library, conducting research, and focusing his attention on crafting.
Over the course of the week, he spends essentially all of his time there, reading as much as he can, and spending a lot of time in a meditative trance, clutching the tiara that was taken from the witch. He also (with Greta's permission), takes a few small tufts of her hair, scorches them, and then grinds them to powder, which he infuses into the tiara.
The day the Hut arrives at the cliff, he emerges from his torpor, and gives Greta a triumphant smile.
"I told you that I could get it done. I am just glad Mr Whiskers was able to get the Hut to work - without it, I would not have had the necessary time free..."
He then gently places it on Greta's head.
"Remember the feeling from when you were able to change form in the Howlings...? You will need to focus in a manner similar to that. Of course, the magic will not produce clothing, but as part of the transformation, you can change the appearance of the tiara... you can make it as ostentatious, or as humble, as you like."
Mr Whiskers identifies the sickle as emberchill, and the globe as a globe of blizzards.
Emberchill has a wall of ice stored within.
When Crummock takes a break for the evening meal, Mr. Whiskers brings out Nazhema's journal. He slides it across to the man, saying "Perhaps I was wrong and you should read it, or at least the early entries. The ones where she was still an innocent girl, before her mother corrupted her way of thinking."
Mr. Whiskers looks up. "Somehow it didn't seem quite as tall while looking out from the hut..."
He ponders the distance for a bit.
"Does anyone think they can climb that? If not, is there any way that two of you could carry the rest of the group?"
Greta's ears flatten and she winces as Crummock pulls out tufts of fur from her, but otherwise gives no complaint.
When Crummock hands her the tiara, she looks at it in wonder. "Are you sure it'll work? It looks so pretty, doesn't it?"
She then goes into the Dawn room, after chasing Einar out of it. Moments later, Greta's squeal of delight shatters the silence. "ohmygodohmygoditworked!ihavehandsandfeet!"Sounding more like an excited gnome then a winterwolf.
Followed by a startled exclaimation,"And there's nothing on me!Argh! The party hears a door being slammed shut. Some time later an embarassed Greta in winterwolf form emerges from the room, with a pretty tiara on her head.
"Now, I really need to find me some clothes." Rummaging through the crates of the control room, Greta manages to find a brown tunic and a pair of brown breeches, and some white small clothes.She re-enters the Dawn Room, then comes out as a white haired woman with ice blue eyes with an owl feather braided into her hair, wearing the brown tunic and breeches.
"I mean if we could find a white dress, then I could dress up as a princess." She winks at the party mischeviously. Then she grows serious. "I didn't bring my human gear with me because I wasn't really expecting to be able to take human form so quickly. I don't have any weapons or armor. It might be better for me to take Winterwolf form if we are in dangerous territory, until I can get my hands on some human sized weapons."
Crummock eyes the cliff critically.
"I could summon somethin' to fly up, but I be nae sure that it would last long enough..."
He then turns to Hirah.
"What aboot ye? I recall your summons lasting a wee bit longer than mine..."
Crummock grins.
"We can look into the dress the next time we find ourselves in a town."
He then shrugs apologetically.
"We dinnae have much spare, in terms of extra weapons and armor, but there be a few odds and ends lying aboot..."
"Yup, we can definitely look into that dress once we get to a town. Nearest one was Vurnirn, according to "Lonely Planet - Iobaria". I don't think we can bring the Dancing Hut into town. The town was on top of the cliffs with a narrow path leading to it, no?"
Greta takes up everything Crummock offers her.
She pulls the bowstring experimentally. ”Not enough weight on it. I could use a more powerful bow. But I suppose it’ll have to do.” She remarks. ”Probably doesn’t matter anyway since I never trained extensively with a bow. Bit stupid to do so when most of the time you don’t even have the hands to use one, eh?”
”I prefer lighter armors, but this one is a little too light. I guess I’ll need to make do.”She turns to Mr Whiskers and asks, ”Could you put that whatever bubble you do every morning on me?”
”Now this one has potential. At least the craftsmanship is good.”
Mr. Whiskers says "Yes, but let's determine how to get up the cliff first. I normally use this" reaching into his pack to show her the rod of extend "so it lasts almost all day."
Continuing to look up, he puts the rod away and adds "We might need it today for a fly spell. That is a really high cliff! I can still use the other spell for you, but it would end after about seven to ten hours."
'Flying up, not a bad idea.' Einar nods, "Flying is not a bad way to go, can you cast so we all can fly. Or could you or one of Crummocks creatures fly and drop rope so we could climb? Even if we did it a section at a time?"
Looking at Greta's second hand armor, Einar smiles a toothy smile. Nodding at Ratibor."There's a perfectly fine chain armor and axe right there, we just need to fetch it." Looking from Mister Whiskers to Crummock, "Hey I didn't say kill him, we can knock him out, take his stuff and leave him here." Shrugging he continues. "If we don't find this book he will be a lot easier to fight if he is naked. And he can still protect the hut. And if we come back and he's dead we know someone has come in. I don't see a down side here."
"Chainshirt fine, his chainmail?" Greta eyes Ratibor speculatively. "Too heavy. Axe, looks good." She shrugs indifferently. "But of course I'd only be committing murder or cause grevious bodily harm only if the rest of you were fine with it."
"What?!?" Mr. Whiskers turns around to look at Einar.
As Einar is explaining how it didn't require killing, Mr. Whiskers is shaking his head.
"No. We aren't robbing him."
Gesturing at the cliff again, he says "How much rope do we have? I have a single coil of it." as he pulls a 50' coil of silk rope from his pack.
"Although a single casting of my flight spell should be enough to get a person to the top, that only works for four people at most. You might want me to be able to cast other things today." Gesturing towards Crummock's tiger, he adds "It also leaves the question of what to do about Geist."
"Anyone have other resources that might help with this, or see any evidence there is another way around?"
Looking towards the hut, he adds "We could ask if they have extra rope that they could throw out to us."
Zorka throws you a heapload of rope. The party notices she is very careful not to step out of the door even for a moment.
A low lying cloud floats over, carried by the wind. The party can no longer see the top of the cliff.
"What?!?" Mr. Whiskers turns around to look at Einar.
As Einar is explaining how it didn't require killing, Mr. Whiskers is shaking his head.
"No. We aren't robbing him."
Einar shrugs, "Interestingly enough, we would just be borrowing the gear till we get back and we could return it to him. Or we could charge him the gear for his freedom, tit for tat, as it were. Certainly a meager price to pay. Or we could just declare it 'Baba Yaga's' property since it is in her hut and us her legal representatives. So we would have every legal right to take it. Kings and governments do it all the time." Shrugging his shoulders, "I'm just pointing out options that you goodie-two-shoes won't admit exist."
Pulling the strap of his pack, "I also have a coil of rope and a grappling arrow for what it's worth." Hearing the rope thunk behind him Einar turns and quickly tosses it over his shoulder. "Thanks Zorka. At least someone who lives here can help us with the gear."
Turning back to Mister Whiskers, "Would you at least consider asking the doorman if he would loan us his stuff if we promise to free him or give it back. No harm done either way."
Hirah calls a medium air elemental to grab the rope and fly upwards. It attaches some rope on the first spur, second spur, third spur and fourth spur then flies into the cloud cover.
Half a minute later, 400 ft of rope tumbles down the cliff, as if hastily dropped and lands in pieces on the ground. The medium air elemental never returns for the rest of the rope.
Crummock looks thoughtfully at the pile of distressed rope.
"Huh. That probably isnae a good sign..."
"No, it isn't."
Moving over to Greta, he gets out his prism and a runestone. He then casts mage armor on her and then concentrates as he touches her arm. He puts the two items back in his pack.
He then goes over to the rope that is hanging down and try's to climb it.
It quickly becomes clear he will not be able to climb the rope without help.
Looking back at the others, slightly embarrassed he admits "That looks easier than it is... So, who wants to go up and clear the way? I can cause two of you to fly for up to twenty one minutes."
He then explains the calculations in detail.
"Oh, and have any of you flown before?" he asks.
"Thanks. I don't usually care for this, but I could possibly take someone with me if I go in wolf form..."Greta offers. "That way you get two people up for the price of one spell. The only problem is if that person would be able to stay on my back."
Zorka opens a window and hollers, "Oi! What was all that ruckus all about?"
'Well that can't be good.' Einar watches the rope drop back down and then looks from Hirah to Mister Whiskers without saying anything.
As Mister Whiskers attempts to climb the rope, Einar shrugs, "I haven't climbed a lot, but I can rig my pack to carry you, I'm strong enough."
Shrugging When Mister Whiskers talks about flying. "Never flown, but if I can get up there and land I'll be ok. I fight with my feet on the ground not flitting and fluttering about. What if we climb halfway up as far as the ropes go then use the fly spell."
Nodding to Greta, keeping a straight face, "I'm willing to ride you Greta, I mean, I've sat a horse. I should be able to wrap my arms around your neck and hang on. worst case scenario I fall off and cast feather fall."
"A large saddle please! And more rope!" Greta yells back. There is the sound of things being thrown around in the house, then a large, musty smelling exotic riding saddle flies out of the window, landing on the ground. Then many coils of rope fly out of the window."Thanks!"
"Please try to...you know, fly light? Otherwise my back will be one ache for the rest of the day." Greta stares at Einar, trying to determine how much he weighs.
Mr. Whiskers looks at the rope again, then up at the cloud.
"Something up there doesn't want us there. That probably means a fight."
He kicks the rope, then says "I can't climb up half way without help!" Then he looks to Einar and says "If you were defending the area, would you allow someone to get halfway up before doing something?"