Jadrenka's page

"Kostchtchie's soul has perhaps found purchase within your companions' body," Jadrenka mumbles, fascinated and completely unafraid or ashamed of the scene before her, "Or perhaps this is simply what happens when one is restored to life by the blood of a demon-god of giants. I've never done this before... but something is clear, your words touched something, some soul from beyond. Your love for your friend brought life to this... whatever it is. It cannot all be Kostchtchie. You friend is there somewhere."

Jadrenka taps her chin thoughtfully. "And he looks scared."

Jadrenka hobbles over to the ageing oread with a thin smile on her face. "A bargain well made and a bargain done," she says as she draws a thumb-sized golden nugget from her robes. It looks unremarkable in every way. Its purity isn't even particularly notable, and Ice Melts Quietly in Sunlight later estimates that it would be worth barely 25 pieces of gold in most cities.

Meanwhile, the corpse of the floor sits up suddenly and its blue-glowing malevolent eyes pop open. Just as quickly as it sat up, it suddenly straightens, causing Jorvik's still-dead head to crack alarmingly on the stone ground. The eyes remain open, however, and stare blankly at the ceiling.

"Something is happening," Jadrenka notes ominously, "For good or ill."

”Is this the price, Jadrenka? Is this the price of service to Baba Yaga? We each accepted this quest as a means to our own ends. Yet it threatens to consume us. Why were we so blind to think that… that… That there would be no other cost… Why was I so blind?” Ishbaad trails off, staring at his hands, then to Jorvik’s body, then back to Jadrenka with moisture rimming his eyes.

Jadrenka looks amused as Ishbaad struggles with his new situation.

"Price? No, this is not the price," Jadrenka solemnly shakes her head, "But you should not expect to find the Queen of Witches, traveling as you are across the planes and all of reality in her legendary Dancing Hut, and remain completely unchanged by the experience!

"Baba Yaga left that dragon scale in the pit for you," Jadrenka says with certainty, indicating the silver sliver that Ishbaad holds in his hand, "But why there? Did she mean for you to go down into the pit and suffer the effects, or was it ever your destiny to do so and simply a place for her to leave the scale where she knew you would be and none would follow?"

A low groan can be heard from the side of the cavern. The philosophical discussion is cut short as Jorvik's body releases the breath it drew a minute ago. A spasm overtakes the corpse and its eyes flicker open momentarily. All, even Jadrenka, are taken aback by the sheer frosty malevolence evident in those glowing orbs. The whites are gone, replaced by a pale, deathly blue. Just as suddenly as they opened, they close again, but the occasional jerk wracks the corpse.

"Hmm," the old crone looks casually - too casually - over to Jorvik's twitching corpse, "The Blood of the Deathless threatens to overwhelm him, even as it works to return him."

"He is still dead, child," Jadrenka says simply, "And it will take a little more time to rectify that. His body is ready for him to return, but sometimes the spirits of the dead need a reason to come back. Can any of you offer that to your friend, Jorvik the Bloodspeaker?"

The corpse on the goblin's lap twitches slightly and then remains still.

Jadrenka simply reaches into her robes and retrieves a silver chain. At the end of the chain is an spiral silver medallion, encrusted with white gems around a central deep blue ice diamond. Kostchtchie's eyes and mouth go wide.

"Yes," Jadrenka answers his unspoken question, "A fragment of your soul - the fragment that was your mortality... and can be again. I need only release it." Jadrenka strokes the torc at the end of the chain lovingly, grinning cruelly all the while.

Kostchtchie holds very still, unsure what to do. In the end, however, bloodlust wins out and he pulls back his hammer to strike, hoping to end Jadrenka before she can do anything.

Jadrenka holds the necklace up to her lips. "Be free." These whispered words are simple enough, but carry with them power formed by Baba Yaga herself. A swirl of ice trails from the medallion and strikes Kostchtchie in the chest.

His mortality returned, the spear wound dealt to the demon lord by Ishbaad suddenly explodes in a fountain of blood. A veritable geyser of frosty liquid coats all nearby moments before Kostchtchie falls to the ground with a deafening thud, quite dead.

"Too soon..." Jadrenka mutters, looking at the crumpled form of Jorvik, coated in the blood of the giant-god.

Slowly, she hobbles over to the man, still holding the torc aloft. Almost imperceptibly, she begins a chant over the half-elf's corpse.

"Standing up so tall,
But still he fell.
The demon lord fought,
And died as well.

"Rise up Blood Speaker,
Sleep here no more.
Your task is not done,
No peace before."

With that, Jadrenka breaks off a piece of the crystalline torc and crumbles it to powder. Slowly, she sprinkles the stuff over Jorvik's chest. Suddenly, the corpse of the half-elf, lying upon the cold, blood-drenched stone of the Chamber of Eons, takes in a sharp breath.

Jadrenka smiles as Kostchtchie crests the lip once more. "Quite the wound you have there," she grins, "A mortal wound for most." Her musing is quite pointed, and she doesn't even try to suppress her chuckle.

The crone enters the chamber of the Eon Pit in the wake of Vsevolod's death. A tear falls from her eyes as she regards the dead half-elf.

"I am sorry, truly, for your loss," she remarks, "But it will not be in vain. Here, this is yours, I believe." Jadrenka retrieves a large nugget of gold from the tattered remains of her robes and passes it to Kuragin, the closest of the now four heroes.

The companions do not have time to formulate a response, however, as mighty footsteps can be heard reverberating from somewhere deep within the Eon Pit.

*THUD THUD THUD*

"Sweet Baba Yaga, did Vsevolod complete the ritual?" Jadrenka looks to the eviscerated corpses of the two frost giants and gulps nervously. It is the first sign of human frailty the heroes have glimpsed in the typically overconfident guardian of Artrosa.

*THUD THUD THUD*

"He is close now, beware! Artrosa has been Kostchtchie's prison for millennia, I do not intend for him to escape now," a staff appears as though from nowhere, and Jadrenka brandishes it before the pit. Her movements are suddenly smooth and lithe, though her body still appears old and frail. "Stand with me, bearer's of Illarion Matveius's mantle, and let us put this upstart demon-lord back in its place."

*THUD THUD THUD*

"Caigreal's coup began years ago," Jadrenka waves off Ishbaad's assertions, literally waving her arms in the air, "As you say, Vsevolod is here to release Kostchtchie. My mother believes that if he succeeds in this endeavor, she will be vindicated and prove to Baba Yaga that I was unworthy as appointed Guardian of Artrosa. Kostchtchie was banished here until the end of time. Only through the Eon Pit beyond those doors can that condition be met, and Kostchtchie returned from the Artrosa that must never be."

Jadrenka listens intently to the kind words of Marislova. "You perhaps speak true," she says softly, pursing her lips, "But who can tell in such times what is what? Kyrisjana is a skilled deceiver, this much is true - but a truly great deception has roots in truth. Perhaps when you emerge victorious, I shall visit Marislova personally and hear her story unclouded by the emotion of the moment."

Jadrenka ignores the disbelieving questions at hearing Baba Yaga's voice. It is obvious to her that it could be none other, so she does not waste her time explaining it. She does, however, address Jorvik.

"Test? This is no test but a foe that fate has placed in your way," Jadrenka snaps at the skald, "I say you may be worthy because I do not know. Only when Baba Yaga is freed will your worth be truly told. By 'prove' yourselves, I meant in battle - you have nothing to prove to me.

"True, though, I will not give up the key to Baba Yaga's cauldron until you have fought Vsevolod," she continues, perhaps anticipating Jorvik's rebuttal, "But that is simply because I do not wish it to fall into the hands of Vsevolod should you fail. This key is also a bargaining chip for me to use to get you to do what I want... and what I want is for you to kill Vsevolod and prevent him from doing whatever it is that he has come here to do. I believe that you have likely already figured his mission out for yourselves.

"I understand that my manner and words could easily be interpreted in the way that you have, so I hold no grudge. I am too old for such silliness. I need to point out to you, though, that many things on your journey will be different to what they appear. Baba Yaga will not have made her trail an easy or apparent one to follow. You must look beyond the obvious if you are to succeed - and I sincerely hope that you do."

Other than responses in Jadrenka's voice, I'll probably only post one more GM post today, and that will be with a description of the room past the doors and initiative for the first round of combat. Please make sure your buffs are all sorted before you post your first combat action. You can retro-buff after my first combat post, but not after your first one. Also tell me how you would like to enter the room.

"So, as all things end, you have come to the end of your own journey," states the crone simply in an old, tired voice, "Well done I suppose. You may indeed be the worthy ones my Mistress foresaw. You will need to prove yourselves one final time while here. The so-called Centaur Prince, Vsevolod, has taken the Eon Pit. Destroy him for me and retrieve the key that Baba Yaga left there. Only then, will you get the final piece from me."

The ancient woman points to a massive set of double doors to the south of the cavern and then moves in the opposite as though to walk away, but then seems to remember something. "A message. For you, perhaps."

She removes a simple empty and corked bottle and unstoppers it.

"If you hear these words, my own blood has betrayed me," whispers a voice from within the bottle. The voice is at once warm, inviting and stern. "This much I have foreseen. You are the keepers of the Mantle of my Black Midnight. I have left keys throughout all of existence, in places only the Dancing Hut can go. Follow my trail!"

The woman shrugs and stoppers the bottle again. She looks once more at the doors to the south and this time waits expectantly.

"Oh, so you know more than you let on!" Jadrenka waves a stern finger at Kuragin, "You have everything you need, and yet you pester a pregnant woman who has her hands full with her 'children'." It is hard not to miss the air quotes implied by the sardonic way she says the word 'children'. "They neither imps nor goblins, but you will see what they are soon enough."

Jadrenka thinks a while on Kuragins words. "Graves? No. Burning is our way to deal with the dead. The place where 'time catches up to us all', though, I wonder if this refers to the Eon Pit. There is a dark pit in the womb of the Crone aspect of Artrosa. Those who enter it are irrevocably aged by the experience. What kind of key are you looking for exactly? There are many items strewn about Baba Yaga's halls, but you had best have some idea of what you are looking for, else you would need to loot the place to find it. Searching for my mistress is a fine task, and you may take that which you need, but I will not allow looting.

"As for this 'changeling'," Jadrenka muses, "It could well refer to any number of Atrosa's residents. With a Hag coven here, we do not lack for changelings. Without knowing what it is, though, any one of them could be holding the key and not even know it.

"I wish you luck... and take care not feed the 'children'," she says casually as the very air beside her seems to open up as though it were giving birth, with this cavern as the womb and beyond as the birthing place. With a smile, Jadrenka steps straight through and is gone.

True to form, the children no longer appear to be playful younglings. Replacing them are tiny little men with thick beards, leathery skin and gnarled fingers. They lick their lips and approach the adventurers.

"Hungry," says one.

"Hungry," the others agree. It is obvious what they wish for their next meal. The words of Jadrenka become suddenly clear: 'Do not feed the children', is synonymous with 'do not let them eat you'!

"Scold?" Jadrenka raises a slightly wrinkled eyebrow. Ishbaad can see amusement in her eyes. "My dear, you would not dare to speak to me so if I had actually scolded you. Think no more of it."

Jadrenka places her hands over her swollen belly and screws her face up as though bearing through some pain. She leans on Ishbaad for support. "A sturdy shoulder you have there. And an astute mind. These children are indeed not what they seem. But if you have more pointed questions before I leave, I will answer as best I can."

"Such a lovely display between the two of you," she says warmly, "You take very good care of your young charge." It is unclear if Jadrenka is talking just to Jorvik or the group as a whole.

"Aid? I cannot find Baba Yaga for you," she notes, "But you know that already, or you would if you listened. What else is it that you would have me do?"

"I am impressed," Jadrenka notes, nodding solemnly and ignoring Kuragin's question, "You have all found each other and accepted this grave responsibility despite differing goals. I appreciate your motivations, and wish you luck in Artrosa. You must make your own way, though, but I will not hinder you. In fact, here is a key that might help."

Jadrenka reaches down into the feathery folds of her cloak and produces an aged iron key. "It is not the key you are looking for," she begins, "But it will perhaps be of use." Jadrenka dismounts and moves over to Aoife, ignoring the others. The witch hands Aoife the key personally. She looks up at the card the girl is holding aloft and smiles a warm smile.

"Vengeance does the heart good," Jadrenka puts a hand on Aoife's shoulder, "But do not let it blind you to your surroundings." The warden of Artrosa taps on the reverse side of the card, where the indecipherable symbols are written there. This time, though, they seem a little more familiar. Like she's seen them before now, but since the last time she looked at the card.

"Be careful as you travel these halls," Jadrenka notes, returning to the bull and laying one arm affectionately over its broad neck, "Not everything is as it seems. I regret that as I depart, more of the true nature of the world will be revealed to you. Best to draw your weapons."

With that, a golden nimbus surrounds Jadrenka. It seems to consume her and then both the nimbus and the maiden are gone. Turning to the bull, the five heroes see the meaning in Jadrenka's words. In pace of the placid farm animal is a mighty, black beast. Flames flicker out of its flared nostrils and its skin seems to have hardened into ebony armor plates. It looks around at the companions as though also seeing them as they truly are for the first time and then charges.

Just before the horns tear into his robes and his soft skin beneath, Kuragin has time enough to wonder what this hell-bull perceived them to be before Jadrenka disappeared.

"A noble quest, finding the Queen of Witches and creator of Artrosa," she says solemnly and without a hint of sarcasm, "As for who left the breadcrumbs, perhaps Baba Yaga did. After all, who better to find Baba Yaga than Baba Yaga herself?" The beautiful woman looks each over in turn.

"Only one of you is a witch," she notes with confidence, "And one of you is not even of the North of your planet. I know why you are here now, but why did you accept Illarion's mantle? What motivates you to find Baba Yaga?"

"My name is Jadrenka," she says simply, as though stating a fact that were already known... and it is known. Somehow, the truth of that statement is burned into the minds of the companions. Perhaps it is their mutual connection to Baba Yaga, or perhaps something more direct. "What are you doing here in Artrosa... and what have you already done? What sees a child, an oread, two Jadwiga from Irrisen and a snow goblin come to the First World and explore these ageing halls?"

While the companions do not feel compelled to answer truthfully and without hyperbolae, Jadrenka's keen eyes and calm demeanor while seated atop this mighty steed suggests that it would be in their best interest to do so.