Having left Lyla, Chairo, and the other children in the care of Wheedon Village (with a parting gift of 100gp from Gatonio) the party headed back to Levoca Village to collect their 750gp from Mother Molvor.
Despite following the well worn road they'd traveled several times, the party found themselves on a smaller path going in a different direction. It became obvious that the Margreve had a different destination in mind for them.
That night a horse rode into camp, the rider dead but holding onto a silvered Unknown. Moments later wolves started circling, demanding the return of Wolf Killer. Several attacked, going straight for Dodgy Fromage who held the axe but the party was able to defeat them.
The next day the party arrived at an Inn. They quartered the horse and Sir Oink and went inside. Eluine had his fortune read by Mother Babushka, she was quite confident in her reading, Eluine not so much.
A local man, Hodel, asked the party to find his daughter who was lost in the woods. After some questioning it came out that she'd been chosen by the Margreve, given a red cloak, and had play some part in . . . something. The party came to understand the story of Little Red Riding Hood was being played out in the Margreve. Later they would understand this was a battle of wolves against humans (or really, humanoids) and the Would Be King of Wolves was trying to gain dominance in the Margreve.
Mother Babushka told Hodel to go home and told the party to head out in the morning on their quest to find the daughter, Red. When asked where they should go, she told them the Margreve would guide them.
In the morning the party left and were promptly attacked by some werewolf-looking men. And a werewolf. They were clearly trying to recover the axe that Dodgy had, adding to his quills with arrows of their own. Gatonio and Stevnar Warhoof took care of the men on the roof (yes, the centaur climbed to the roof) and the party turned their focus to the werewolf, killing him in the woods. A few party members were bitten by the werewolf and Eluine's wound seemed especially bad.
After resting the party began their quest to find Red. Some Children of the Briar told them there would be three trials of honor, pass all three and they would be sped along to find Red. The first trial was at a river, where they party respectfully asked some bagienniks (large tree like creatures in the water) if they could pass. The bagienniks were a bit surprised at the party's politeness and granted them passage.
The second test was given by two female Villa. After challenging Eluine to an archery contest, which he won and got some Sand Arrows and Bracers of the Wind they asked permission to slap each party member. This was allowed and the party came to understand, had one of them been an Oath Breaker, it would have been an extremely painful slap.
The last encounter was with an old woman, Stuhac. She gave the party the choice of three tests: skill, strength, and wits. They chose to do all three. Gatonio was given a balalaika covered in wasps and played a song. Stevnar wrestled a dwarf and was able to overcome him. Lastly, Lavaell played a game of gul bara (backgammon) against Stuhac. Unfortunately he lost, although thinking about it later, Dodgy was pretty sure the pieces must have been moving on their own giving Stuhac and advantage.
Having won two out of three tests, Stuhac gave them a Matrushka Doll set and sent them on their way. It was night, and the party rested and began their quest fresh in the morning.
Following tracks and using Dodgy's Nail of Pointing, they traced Red to a treant that was walking through the woods. Up in the top of it was a small shack. The party climbed up and knocked on the door. No one answered them but they heard Red say, "My what big eyes you have, grandmother," and Babushka answered, "All the better to see you with." The party burst in, unsure of what was going on. They'd been expecting to find the Would Be King of Wolves, not Babushka. It further confused matters when eight wolves appeared and attacked the party. But when Dodgy took out his axe, Wolf Killer, the Would Be King dropped all pretenses, dismissed his altered form of Babushka and revealed himself.
A difficult battle ensued in the cramped quarters of Babushka's house. Gatonio took Red and made his way out into the limbs of the treant. The party fought off the wolves and injured the Would Be King, who misty stepped his way through the party to reach Red. Just as he reached Red, Eluine fired an arrow killing the Would Be King, ensuring that for the next three generations wolves must bow to humanoids.
The party rescued Babushka from the belly of the Would Be King and (naturally) she was very grateful. As a reward and thanks for playing their part in this, she gave them her magical pot, Inushka's Pot. Sir Oink saw some distinct possibilities with this pot (think, traveling trough).