"No, she's home," A'kos shakes his head, his eyes squinting and mouth grim.  "And she knows we're here.  I suspect she'll wait to see how we handle her pets before really throwing out the welcome mat."

Loukas nods in agreement, "Yes, she knows we are here. Shall we go forth?"

Turning he walks to the gate and addresses the lock, "Greetings, we come before you to speak to the venerable Baba Yaga. May we proceed?"

A pair of sleepy eyes open in the wood over the toothy maw of a lock and look at Loukas. The lock itself seems to speak..."Go away, she is not home!" it says in an angry and somewhat creaky voice.

THe creaky maw lock looks as though it is working out some of the rust as it speaks. It clearly has not spoken in a while.

Loukas looks askance at the gate, "Come now, Master Gate, surely the Great One is present. My friends and I have completed a quest for her. Certainly she knows this and is expecting us? Are you certain that she is not here?"

The creaking maw begins to move again...it almost seems painful for it to speak..."No, she is not here, do you think yourselves so important that she would wait for you?" the mouth creak closed again.

"Oh, no, I know that I am not significant enough to be waited upon. Did she leave any message for us, by chance? While I know that I am not important enough for much consideration I wonder if she did not know that once we completed the task for her that we could  not come here. Would you tell us how long she has been away or when you expect her return?"

The mouth painfully creaks open again..."She comes, she goes, she pays no attention to me at all. She tells me nothing and neglects me."

"Then were she to have flown back she would not have needed to make use of you, would she? And had she flown back and came through the back gate, you might not have seen her, no?"

The painful creaking starts again..."I am the only gate, she never uses me, I can't remember the last time I was opened. She flies using her stone bowl...as I sit here and rust away."

Jean says nothing but moving just behind Loukas (and in full view of the gate) he begins to inventory his armor kit.

Oil, sand, gravel, wire brushes, and many more tools for removing rust and corrosion can be seen. It is clearly a high quality kit and the shine of Jean's armor is proof of his skill in it's use.

The gate eyes the Frankish knight and what he holds. If it is possible for a gaping maw lock to smile, it just did.

As he is considering their options something comes to mind. Giving Sir Jean a significant look he turns back to the Gate, "Pardon me, Master Gate, but I can not help but notice that it seems to have been some time since anyone seems to have paid any attention to you. My friend here has some oil... Perhaps you would like a bit? I know that it is not often that you are bothered by visitors, but one should not have to feel discomfort in what must already be a trying life."

The toothy maw lock stretches wide...much wider than would seem possible as it says..."All these years, never a single drop of oil on my lock or even my hinges. The Baba Yaga is a harsh neglectful mistress. She garnishes no loyalty from me...I will tell you what, if you oil my lock and hinges well, I will pretend that she has left me unlocked and let you pass but beware of those Hounds on the other side, they are fierce and stay clear of the fence, it will do it's best to rend you with it's skeletal teeth."

Balthazar, still invisible, whispers, "Good job!"

Loukas grins and accepts the oil from Sir Jean. Taking a breath he begins to oil the Gate's lock and hinges, "Well, then, permit me to ease your suffering, Master Gate. And than you for your warning we shall be wary of yonder Hounds and the fence. May I ask if you know if the Hounds like a particular meat or may be distratcted?"

The gate creaks out an oily sigh as young Loukas works in the oil..."The hounds are as neglected as I am...in fact the whole house and yard is neglected by the Baba Yaga."

The gate swings itself open with an almost silent click. The hounds on the other side do not look happy but they have not charged out of the yard either.

Either the Hag is really home and setting us up to be her custodians or she is as unwise as she is epically powerful...

"The poor beasts! Tell me, if you will, Master Gate, what do the Hounds need? Is it food? From the bones scattered about it seems as if they get some food... Indeed, were we to 'take care' of them, the house, and yard what would we be doing for each? What sorts of things has The Baba Yaga not had the time to do that we might do for her?"

The gate is silently once the oil has worked itself in. It can no longer even make a squeak.

The Gate's silence was a tad frustrating and Loukas checked himself for thinking that Baba Yaga might be unwise... Hmph!

Glancing back to the party, "Well, you heard it... If we determine what the Hounds, House, and others need here, we might find going rather easier. I know little of dogs, and am unsure what meat we have, but if we have any food that they would appreciate let us get it ready for offering... If anyone has something that might suit as a doggie toy that might be useful as well. Perhaps they might respond well to a bit of attention as well as treats. Balthazar, what say  you? You are the hedonist amongst us."

"If the gate could speak then surely the hounds can too yes? Perhaps we should just ask them in what way they have been mistreated by the Baba Yaga? It worked well with the gate." says the young archer as he leans on his bow taking in the sight before him.

A'kos shakes his head and dismounts.  Approaching the squeaky gate he shouts to the dogs in the common (trader) tongue, "What harm may come to us if we approach the hut of the witch?"

The largest of the ten black hounds, nearly the size of a pony, walks forward. As it speaks, sparks and smoke come from it's jowly mouth..."We will do our best to kill you. It seems you are a formidable force and you may get past our guard but not without substantial loses."

Unlike the gate, the hound speaks with great intelligence. The other hounds wait behind him ever watchful.

"Is that it then? We will fight if we approach? This is not our purpose. Might we offer something in return for safe passage?"

THe lead hounds looks lost in though for just a moment then says..."Unless your goal is to break into the Baba Yaga's home when she is not here, then it is best you wait outside the fence for her return."

"We are not robbers. Are you certain that she is not home? Can you tell us when you expect her to return? We have fulfilled a quest that she gave our King. We have come to receive the payment she promised him -- his son, our Prince. I believe he is within."