Where is the Hut?

The Animate Dream attacked with many fear type spells, Amadeo and Casia tried to run away from the creature but were blocked and began to cower.

 Fanara had a vision of a terrible monster but her will was enough to overcome the phantasmal killer.  Jorgen was staying out of the battle as he was still processing his previous death.

That left a large sized Fanara, Santrel and Milos to fight the monster.

While a difficult battle was at hand as the Dream could deliver much damage. In the end the party was successful in defeating the monster.  After more healing by Milos the party returned to the entryway to resolve with the raven.

Fanara reported the desires of both the party and of Yelizaveta.  When she related the desire of Yelizaveta to escape her dungeon and wreak vengeance on Baba Yaga, the raven gave Fanara another iron amulet.

"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."

The raven crowed three times and then flew into the pool. There was no splash when she touched the surface. Instead, she seemed to pass into another world and winged off into a glorious sunrise, her form growing smaller and smaller until it disappeared.

As the amulet glowed with magic, Santrel identified its properties and found that it functioned as a Chime of Opening.  The symbol inscribed on the amulet was Iobarian word Artrosa.  A Knowledge check indicated that this as the name of a trio of giant, carved figures in northeastern Iobaria, also known as "The
Three Who Watch."

The party then continued to walk north along the exterior hallway and found themselves back at the door to the original cauldron room.  How did this hallway, which had no turns or curves loop back on itself.  Milos said that was a question for another day.

While Fanara was trundling around the cauldron room, Casia noted that the wall opposite the existing doors looked unusual.  Further exploration found a secret door in the wall.  Jorgen found the door unlocked and not trapped so he opened it revealing a five foot section leading to another door, which was locked.  Jorgen, using great skill unlocked the door and saw a spacious room that resembled the interior of a wooden cottage. Stairs to the right of the entrance climbed to balcony atop which rested a wooden table. A wooden walkway continues around the room to a small landing and another set of stairs to the left of the entrance. A third staircase leads down from the walkway. Crates, boxes, barrels and other mundane materials crowded the space.

Exploration of the room found a ladder leading to a trap door in the ceiling.  This led to a dusty, unused loft.  The table had the familiar cracked clay bowl and brownish, speckled hen's egg.  Fanara spend time moving the egg around.  Santrel mended the bowl but within an hour it reverted to its cracked form.

Jorgen passed down the staircase and found window peering outside into a snowy forest clearing.  The landscape was far different than the Market Square of Whitethrone. Further in a door led to the porch of the hut and a burly man was standing watching the door.  He saw Jorgen and was momentarily confused.  

"Who are you and where is Baba Yaga?" he asked in Draconic.

Only Santrel understood and he shouted back, "We are on a mission to find Baba Yaga. The rider in black commissioned us with this task."

"You came from inside the hut?  How did you get there?"

"We used the cauldron," Santrel answered.

Further discussion with Ratibor led to the fact that he was set here by Baba Yaga to guard the entrance and not allow anyone to come into the hut. He related that in stood among the most powerful barbarian warlords of central Iobaria until plague ripped through his battalions.  He then enlisted Baba Yaga's aid and finally was imprisoned by her in the hut.  When asked who was Irrisen's queen he responded Betyrina.  Fanara and Santrel realized this was the queen from 200 or so years ago.  Santrel inferred that the party had time traveled to the past. 

While the discussion with Ratibor was ongoing, Casia saw a giant that looked like a thick, muscular human stride out from the forest. It had frost-white skin and long, light blue hair that it wore braided. It stood about 20 feet from the porch gazing at the hut.  Fanara opened the door and fired an arrow at the giant who then retreated to the woods.

Under questioning Ratibor said that he would attack anyone coming into the hut from outside, this was his mission. Even with long, protracted negotiation his attitude never changed.  After much debate the party, except for Casia, left the hut to the porch.  Jorgen began to edge out into the snow and the giant charged to attack yelling "Intruders, everyone attack!"

The party began to fight back but every round an new giant emerged from the forest.

"We will be overwhelmed if this continues.  They are too strong and there are too many for us!!" Fanara shouted.

Not wanting to re-enter the hut the party continued with their efforts.  Suddenly the hut stood up and then began to attack the giants.  Sometimes it grabbed the enemies other times it just trampled them.  Even though a total of eight giants appeared the hut was not overwhelmed.  Even when it was injured it healed the damage quickly.  With the help of Santrel's fireballs, some well placed Fanara and Amadeo attacks the party, plus the hut, were able to overcome the giants.

DM's Notes: The party earned 3467 XP above the previous total and now have 28562 XP on their way to 8th level.