Loukas reads the road sign before him.

Loukas read and as he did so his face somehow managed to convey both humor and foreboding simultaneously. Taking a breath he turns glances at Miroslav, but since his Captain does not seem to have comprehended them, or to evince a commander's opinion he turns back to the party, "I shall read them to you...

The first says:
If you follow the first road, you will live but your horses will be slain.

The second says:
If you follow the second road you will be sated but your horses will be hungry.

The third says:
If you follow the third road you will be slain."


Shrugging, "At least she gives us options. Were I alone I know which I would choose. What say you?"

"I say follow the third," replies A'kos, a gleam of excitement shining bright in his eyes.

"So she gives us a choice that is no choice? Kill your horse, kill yourself or let your horse go hungry? Only a head strong but lovable Magyar could get that one wrong." Cuivi looks resigned to his fate as he mutters shaking his head. "Naturally it makes little difference which path we choose, we are playing her game. She lies as often as she tells true, perhaps the last path would be best, we would expect the worst and things can only get better. Obviously she has use for us so that route may not lead to death"

"Perhaps none of the above is an option.  Wait here."  Balthazar casts fly and invisibility and flies around to scout ahead.

Loukas's laugh barks at Balthazar's comment as he turns invisible, "We have already done her bidding and killed Vikhor. She no longer needs us, no? We have only so much food and it is more likely we'll starve here before she notices we have arrived at this point.

"I think we shall have to decide a path. Horses are wealth and by Volos I can not willingly see wealth squandered even if I have no need of it. A starved thing is not killed is it? It can still be fed after it has starved for a while, no? (No, really, this is a question I do not know the answer to.)

"If we feel strongly enough about it, and if we are good people, then I suppose we ought to take the third path. This is life, friends. We shall be slain eventually, if not by an opponent then by illness or old age, so it seems the most obvious choice. It is the path of responsibility -- responsibility for our actions and if we will not stand for ourselves and each other, who are we?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:02, Fri 17 Dec 2010.

"To some, friend Loukas, a horse is far more than wealth. If the witch harms Donnerhuf then there will be no peaceful discourse between us. Either she or I will die."

"I would wager the Falcon feels the same."

A'kos smiles his approval at the Frank's words.

"Aye, I'd sooner die than let harm come to Storm's Wind."

Miroslav watches as the Hedonite vanishes...

He leans forward and strokes his mounts neck..."Unlike the Frank of the Magyar, I have no great attachment to my mounts but I cannot see the sense if letting our mode of transportation be slaughtered. I cannot say which to go down but I do not think the first road is a wise choice."

"There is a riddle here," notes Dyanna thoughtfully.  "A trick to see within the words if we but look closely enough."

"Such verse rarely is read at face value."

The others note then her mouth's movement as she silently speaks the words to herself.

Loukas turns to Dyanna, "Is there? So, looking closely what do you see, Dyanna?

"To my mind it is a test of what we are willing to risk or harm to get to the end of this quest. Our horses -- and to what extent are we willing to sacrifice or harm these innocent beings -- or ourselves."

Yaro steps forward, "I am young and inexperienced compared to most of you. So please take my words with that in mind. Baba yaga , in the tales, is not always evil, in fact she does help some who truly deserve the help or shows that they are brave and strong. Letting our horses die will not show here this nor will feasting while our horses go hungry, Only the brave forwardness of youth will be respected by her."

The young archer looks to the sky for a moment and then says, "We should probably hear from Balthazar before making any decisions though."

"It would seem that through our various means we are all arriving at the same decision. We should take the third path."

"I see no reason why we should not give Dyanna until Balthazar returns to see if she can discern some further wisdom from the signs."

Alright, I'm back.  I really couldn't see much.  The first and third roads connect, and where they do so, there is a mist.  The second road leads to a cabin.

Growing frustrated Dyanna shakes her head, noting Balthazar's swift return.

"I am touching something, but not seeing it," she says in exasperation.  "My thoughts center on the first two roads offering apparent succor at the expense of our mounts.  The third offers no apparent hope in it's simplicity.  Yet, 'tis spoken almost in gleeful challenge."

She pauses a moment before adding, "It seems to me the wisest course to accept the challenge, noting, like the Magyar and our newfound friend, that such a riddle would seek to separate the wheat from the chaff in those who seek to harvest the old witch's wisdom.  I am sorry, I have no greater knowledge to share."

She shakes her head in exasperation.

"Think nothing of it Dyanna. This Witch is a master of confusion with centuries of practice frustrating mortals like us."

"That said I see no reason for further hesitation."

The Knight then wheeled Donnerhuf about and began to ride down the third path.

Loukas nods his head in agreement and moves along with Sir Jean.

The party follows Sir Jean's lead and heads down the third road...the canopy of trees is thick over head and the fog becomes heavier the further you travel, after at time, be it long or short, it is hard to say, you come to a clearing and the fog lifts.

Spinning before you  is a small hut on hen's legs, one at each corner. Surrounding the hut, forming a fence is a series of stakes topped with human skulls. The yard surrounding the hut is littered with bones an offal from several animals...none of the remains seems to be human. Vegetables and weeds grow together in a cacophony of foliage. 10 large ferocious looking hounds with burning red eyes patrol the small yard.

The hut itself appears to be dancing.

"Mmm, this I recognize from tales," murmurs Dyanna.  "So who wishes to knock upon the door to see if anyone is home?"

"Yes, it is the fabled home of The Baba Yaga. I am willing to approach the hut, but I think we all ought to go forth. We have a better chance of making it through her guardians if we must fight them, if we approach as the unit we have been. After all, it was not one of us who defeated Vikhor, but all of us."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:16, Mon 20 Dec 2010.

Before the party can make it to the hut they need to get though the gate, then past the hounds guarding the yard. The gate itself looms larger the closer you get to it and seems small again the further away you go, the same with the fence. The lock on the gate seems ot be a mouth full of teeth, only a fool would try to pick this lock...or Loukas:)

Cuivi dismounts and approaches the gate,"If we are expected, perhaps the lock will not bar our way? I certainly expect the hag has more in mind than just not letting us in."

"Maybe she is not home?"