I would not worry about most of the 'things' here. They are abominations, but they are part of the ecosystem. I would not worry about them if you find a way to free me from this place. He pauses a moment then reaches a branch towards the south. There is a cat that way that is peculiar. I don't know exactly why but it does humor me. If anything try to keep from killing it immediately.
So maybe we can make friends with the cat
South!
"I'm sure there's something interesting about this cat.
"Nothing else seems to be ordinary `round here.
"So let's go see what the moggy has to say for itself."
Moggies are best cats
"Sounds like a solid enough plan" - Helgash nods and smiles.
Manos hums a little tune. "But the cat came back the very next day." Following the others and still wondering what was going on?
Duardlara takes the lead, as usual, moving quietly out in advance and watching for traps or ambushes.
Perception
The group heads to the south following the general directions of Mossbark. They pass the gazebo and head into with Several flat-topped tree stumps stand amid thick grass in this clearing, hinting that this place was once as thickly forested as the surrounding wood.
Duardlara quietly makes her way forward to scout ahead. Soon though she realizes that her efforts were not good enough as a set of dancing lights appea next to here forming an arrow pointing straight ahead. Looking in the direction of the lights she sees a cat sitting on a tree stump staring at her. The cat appears to be a very old gray cat with white paws. It makes no threatening gesture to you.
She smiles, straightening up, and then bows. ”In this place of wonders, I have to presume that you might be a speaking cat. Is that so?”
She reaches back to wave the others forward, if they wish.
Orgar comes forward to see the cat.
"Doesn't look out of the ordinary. As yet." he says to nobody in particular.
Probably will grow ten feet tall
The cat licks her front paw cleaning herself as she waits for all to arrive. When she is finally satisfied, and in her own time as only cats can, she finally turns to you and begins to speak in all the languages you know at once. Indeed I am no ordinary cat, I am Syvet and I was the personal familial to the Queen Yelizaveta of Irrisen. Strong in the ways of witches she was and strongly connected to her patron was I. A long time ago I left my mistress to explore the shack one day. Next thing I know I felt my connection to her almost completely severed. I can not find her but know that her soul is still on this side of the veil. Since that time I have stayed here in the shack exploring it.
The cat stretches slowly before continuing on, Now that you know who I am, who are you and what are you doing here?
Jetro remembers something about the world being a giant turtle with elephants on it's back.
"Oh yes, Queen Yelizaveta of Irrisen. Wasn't she...."
Duardlara snaps her fingers as she remembers, "She was queen many years ago. Time certainly seems to behave differently here. If I may ask, Syvet, personal familiar to royalty, what have you learned in your searches? Legend has said that after each queen of Irrisen has been in power for a period of time, Baba Yaga returns from wherever she wanders the multiverse and removes the existing queen and installs another. Knowing Queen Yelizaveta so well, do you know if this legend is true?"
Realizing she's gotten a little excited as possibilities occur to her, she pauses to take a breath and start over. "I'm sorry, terribly rude of me. I am Duardlara. My friends and I seek the answer to a mystery. The terrible winters of the northern lands encroach on the lands to the south, endangering all that live there and causing crops to fail. Thousands, if not millions, could die. It appears that the current queen of Irrisen might be the cause and that she has somehow prevented Baba Yaga's return so that she might remain queen forever."
"We have little interest in who rules the Land of Eternal Winter, but we must prevent the eternal winter from overtaking the rest of the world or many will perish. We seek the answer to Baba Yaga's absence. With your help, perhaps we can find Queen Yelizaveta, as well."
I wonder if our wizards could use a light spell to make a dot and lure it off.
The cat nods sagely as if much of what you say she knows or has guessed about. What you say is quite possible though difficult to comprehend. Yes Bab Yaga disposes of her daughters at intervals but what happens to them no one knows. As for what goes on out side the Hut I am unfamiliar with. I have been in the Hut now for decades and no little of the outside world any more. In fact I am forgetting much of the inside oft he Hut as well. That is to be expected with age I suppose.
As the cat is talking you see a small tic appear with her whiskers. It isn't much but you do notice it. It also progressively gets worse the more it talks to you.
There were times I could tell you exactly where we were just based on the configuration of the Hut. No longer is that the case. In fact I have no idea where or when we even are right now. I have never seen the outside of this place. Yet if you would happen to find and free Yelizaveta then I am sure all would be right again with me.
[spoiler=sense motive DC 20}Syvet is struggling to keep something in check almost like the madness of Mossbark.[/spoiler]
Manos nudges Duardlara slightly, "It seems your feline friend has something in common with Mossbark." He mutters quietly, trying to let her know without being rudely obvious.
"I don't suppose you can remember how got here in the first place, can you?" Orgar asks the cat.
I travelled with my mistress until Baba Yaga came for her. They went back to the cauldron while I stayed out here for a bit. As I said I wondered off and next thing I nkow I felt that connection grow strange. Now I know that if you are in the area whee the cauldron is and use the correct keys you will be transported to a new destination. However everything not in the room with the cauldron remains the same.
Nodding, ”I think we had begun to realize that. It’s the keys we struggle to figure out. Do you recall what keys Baba Yaga might have had when she and your queen went to talk by the cauldron?”
”Well, friends, shall we see what else Grandmother may have wished for us to find? Which way?”
"Might as well, I suppose."
I do not know exactly what the keys are that you seek. You see, Each location has a set of keys that seem mundane but carry potent but latent magics. If you know where you wish to go then I might be able to help find them. Then again the keys might not even be in the Hut any longer.
Well let us go check the others areas then. Jetro is ready to head out
"We may as well. That's all we've done since Cynehelm and I got here."
"Glad I'm not the only one who's completely lost." Manos says wryly.
"No. Wait friends! There is something very wrong here" - Helgash warns the others - "Syvet, are you feeling well? What is afoot?"
What is wrong? She going to attack?
"Everyone else we meet seems keen to attack us. So why not a cat?" Orgar thinks as he waits to see what happens next.
Orgar
Cynehelm
Helgash
Jetro
Duardlara
Manos
Wolf in sheeps(cats) clothing
Noticing a disturbing trend of behavior Helgash and Duardlara are not surprised when the cat seems to melt away leaving a tentacled horror behind. The cat manages a quick utterance before the tentacled thing attacks, I am sorry. I could not hold it back any longer.
Know dung dc 18 to identify
"What's new Pussycat?"
"Foul play!" - Helgash roars - "Always foul play. But we will not be deterred by this monstrosity! What have you done with the creature Syvet?!"
Well what a surprise
Special defenses are SR 21
Special attacks are constrict with tentacles d4+3 and hexes
"It's an unusual wolf in sheep's clothing, a predator that disguises itself as an unthreatening creature until its prey is within reach. It will likely be resistant to magic and we need to watch out for those tentacles - they can squeeze the life from a target as well as deliver curses by their touch. I don't know now how Syvet comes to be mixed up in this - was the queen's familiar always a wolf-in-sheep's clothing or did the wolf-in-shee's clothing absorb the familiar in some fashion?"
You got it!