Head right
Duardlara finds a quiet place to study the scrolls she has recently obtained, hoping to add a spell or two to her spellbook tonight.
When they reach the magical forest, Duardlara casts a spell, causing a glow to surround her momentarily before it 'soaks' into her form and disappears. Mage Armor
Venja performs a similar ritual movement though uttering slightly different words, and her own glow soaks into her form armoring her as well.
Moving up to the right you see a bit mor of the opening to the north as well. Looking east you are startled to see precariously perched 20ft above in the branches of the trees here is a small house, apparently lifted in the air from its foundations. The branches creak as the house teeters and sways with the movement of the branches.
You hear faint cries of help from what sounds like children in the house.
Venja whispers to the others, "I hear children crying... it sounds like it's coming from the house in the trees."
I hear it too, be careful though. Jetro keeps his bow ready.
We'll have to get them out. . . unless it's some other kind of thing that's not a child mimmicing a child's voice. If that's the case we'll likely have to fight it.
Beck moves up straight north to the trees and takes a good look around for anything to the north or west that may attack
Also, for beck
"We cannot dally - if there are indeed children at risk, we must make haste" - the paladin adds, impatient - "Who will go up to take a look? Jetro?"
I could give it a try. Jetro holsters his bow and gives it the old academy try.
*WHUD!
Ow
Jetro makes his way over to the treehouse and looks at the branches holding it up. Grabbing a branch he tries to make his way upwards but all he gets for his troubles is the house shifting gears around ready to fall at a moments notice. Screams are heard inside as the house moves around.
You know that another failed attempt will cause the house to come crashing down more than likely killing the occupants and severely harming the climber. Once up there you could use rope to tie the house down making it easier to get the children out but you still need to get up there. The climb DC is 15 currently.
Venja flies up to the house and peers in a window if there are any.
Beck calls sheelah to himself, and loads up a slingstone to cover Venja
Jetro mumbles and steps away
"Venja, if we get you some rope, do you think you can anchor the building into the tree to make it more stable?"
Looking through the window Venja you see 2 small children and what appears to be a man lying on the floor with his leg at an awkward angle and blood pooled beneath him.
20 ft
Venja speaks through the open window. "Hello, no need to fear, little ones, I'm going to help you.. Please let me get you down from here... Is this man your father? I can help him too." She grows her hair out to 10' long and reaches in, touching the man and healing him with her hex.
"I'm going to help you down to the ground, grab onto my hair and let me lower you gently to the ground."
Once that is done, if they will allow, she wraps a strong lock around each of the children and the man and pulls them, one at a time out the window, then holding them up close to her, she lowers herself down to the ground.
With some finely skilled witch work Venja is able to get the children and the man out of the house. The man's leg is still broken and requires a heal check DC 20 to set but other than having fainted from blood loss he will survive.
The children at first scream as the hair wraps around them but the softness of the hair combined with the fact that they are getting out of the house alive keeps them from being too much of a problem. Once on the ground they return to Venja holding on to her legs sobbing in thanks. They also look up at her to see if she can wake their father.
Venja sadly is not a great healer... but does her best... truly she is hoping Helgash might be better at this than she is.. or maybe even Beck... though she is willing to assist either one of them...
Jetro keeps watch
here, lemme git a looksee! Ooch, needs some work, just gotta... he says the leg and wakes the fella.
Howdy mate. Feeling better? Wotcher name and wotcha doin inna tree'd house?
Once it's clear that Venja has things well in-hair, Duardlara keep watch on the other side of the house.
The man come to and immediately lets out a loud scream in pain. He reaches down to his leg gripping it tightly before the realization kicks in that the leg is set and no longer broken. His leg is whole and healed. Looking around he sees his children first clutching Venja dn picks them up in a bear hug. Kissing them on the foreheads he looks at you al. I don't know how or why but thank you. Thank you so much. Please take what ever you find in the house. It is yours. I am leaving and not coming back. The trees took me by surprise and knocked me over. In the process my leg got busted up something good and I could not climb down. We called out for help but no one came. It is a miracle you arrived when you did as I don't know how much longer we could have made it.
Gathering his children once again in his arms he looks at them. I think it is time we went to go see Aunt Gertrude. What do you think of taking a small trip to see her?
The children react with cheers of delight and start tugging their father away towards the entrance. You can here them chatter on about the 2 day travel not being so bad once they stop by and get some warmer clothes and provisions. Clearly the man was well off as he has the funds to purchase those items and make a journey. The funds must be in the bank as otherwise he would not be leaving the house to you.
Jetro and Duardlar can both see passages running north from their respective locations.
Well that ended well, I guess we can look in the house and see what wa sleft.
Venja wishes them all well and waves bye bye to the children...
Once they are gone, she turns to her companions and asks, "Want me to fly up again and see if there is anything worthwhile to salvage from the house or should we just go on and leave it for now?"
Sure, check it out.
Helgash bids the children and the man goodbye with a wave - "Stay safe" - he offers, then turning to Beck and Venja - "Well done my friends, you do me very proud"
Venja flies up to the house and in the window,but doesn't set down on the floor, staying just off it with her flight. With detect magic active, she does a very quick search of the house for anything of value - magical or not.
Helgash stands guard, keeping an eye also on Greta every once in a while, to try and garner how she feels amidst the group.
Staying above the wreckage Venja is able to find a magical amulet and 400gp in coins and other valuables. After longer deliberation it is determined that the amulet is an amulet of natural armor +1.
Greta remains quiet for the time being taking in the group and trying to decide how she fits in. It seems that everyone else has screaming skills but what is her gifts to use? When Venja saves the children and heals the man and Beck sets the leg without any promise of payment she gives you a questioning look Helgash.
She asks, "If I can ask, how do you approach combat, Greta? Do you face off with a single foe by yourself? Do you prefer to work with an ally to bring down a foe?"
Perhaps responding a bit gruffer than she would to someone with a bit more tact Greta still answers but with short crisp responses and a growl of annoyance. If you must know, you take out the leader of the pack first. Simple as that.
After she answers she moves a bit closer to Helgash looking for the familiarity of his presence.
Sensing her hackles rise, Beck takes care to act respectfully, but is less certain how to approach her than he would were she a regular beast; Intelect overshadowing Instinct.
So is yer natural state more comfortable or ya like fightin wit that big ol' axe ya got there, shift if ya need to?
Perhaps responding a bit gruffer than she would to someone with a bit more tact Greta still answers but with short crisp responses and a growl of annoyance. If you must know, you take out the leader of the pack first. Simple as that.
After she answers she moves a bit closer to Helgash looking for the familiarity of his presence.
Nodding and oblivious to the irritation she's caused, Duardlara replies, "Focus on a single foe. Simple as that. I can work with that."
Jetro arches an eyebrow.
Greta turns to Beck and gives you a sniff even though she is in human form. Apparently liking your demeanor enough to relax a bit you can almost imagine her hair calming down if she was in wolf form. It depends really. I like this form for the freedom it gives yet I am not stuck on it. If I feel like it would aid me to be in one form or another I will do so. I can get more power with the axe yet more attacks as a wolf so it depends on the foe as well.
Not willing to speak to the offending elf Greta just nods at the agreement made.
Let us go north from the entrance
"Sounds like pragmatic wisdom, Greta. I'm sure however you choose to fight and in whatever form, you will be most a most welcome addition to our company." Venja slips into the middle of the party, keeping strength and armor both before and behind her as the group chooses a direction and goes that way.
Moving back a bit and to the north you come to another clearing with a passage to the east. Yet attracts your attention immediately is the swirling vortex of darkness before you. The trees nearest bend at awkward angles as they are pulled towards the vortex. Swirling wind picks up snow and sucks it inside only to have the snow disappear from sight. Faintly through the gloom you can see a large hut resting on 2 gigantic chicken legs: Baba Yaga's Hut!
Knowledge arcane or planar checks appropriate here.
Great perks up when Venja speaks and her piercing blue eyes linger for a while on th winter witch. I have dealt with winter witches before and found them to be troublesome at best. Yet you helped the children and the man at risk to yourself. Your words ring true and seem sincere but old habits are hard to break and are there for a reason. I accept you for who you are as an individual but don't trust you quite yet. In time I hope that I am wrong but we shall see.
Venja you are well aware that winter witches are quite arrogant towards winter wolves in that they flaunt the fact that only by Baba Yaga's grace are the Winter Wolves even allowed in the Howling District and Whitethrone as a whole. While there has never been a revolt to date there have been some minor skirmishes between the 2. Some winter wolves accept their position and look to find favor among the winter witches by serving readily (the winter wolf you fought a ways back in the ambush on the way to Whitethrone for example). Others like Greta apparently wish more independence and acceptance as equals.
Studying the portal for a bit Venja is certain of a few facts but many of the details are still beyond her.
The vortex is some sort of extra planar portal or gateway that seems to be siphoning away real ity itself. As such, it can not be passed through or bypassed. The vortex is not a spell effect, but rather a form
of ritual magic. It is unlikely that the Dancing Hut created it-something else surely did. The vortex will take some time before it completely drains reality away from the area, taking everything nearby with it, including the Hut. You figure you have more than 2 days but less than a week.
"I understand your reticence to grant me trust, and I accept that, but you should know that I failed as an apprentice winter witch, and only retain what I learned through my own stubborn application of my training. I was turned away and turned out into the cold as what was essentially still the age of a child. Luckily I made my way to warmer lands and back home, where i lived on the fringes of society, as they were mostly unwilling to fully accept me too. I hope in time I can earn some of your trust through my actions more than my words, as words are cheap, and easy to use to deceive. Thank you for your honesty, Greta. It is most refreshing."
After speaking, Venja notices the hut and points, though she's sure the others have noticed it as well. She whispers, "There it is! Baba Yaga's Hut!"
She looks carefully through the gloom and swirling ice to see if there are any guards set to watch it.