The Red Brick Road

Glenda the Witch of the North has a problem- the other members of her Cardinal Coven are very much alive and well. The problem is she really most sincerely does not want them that way. And she's sure they feel that way about her.

The Cardinal Coven was always contentious but since the arrival of the mysterious (and yet potentially non-magical) Wizard, alliances have formed. The witches of the East and West seem to pal around even more than they used to. Reports are they even fly about the lands together! On separate brooms- they are close but not that close.

More troubling are the rumors that they are both working on magical talismans to use against the Witch of the North. It seems that the Witch of the West is creating an all-powerful broom. Reliable sources tell her that the one in the East is on the verge of perfecting some magic shoes.

Really.

A more immediate concern is the Witch of the South who has successfully created a powerful crystal star jewel. Safe in her snowy realm, she is just biding her time waiting for the chance to deal a deathly blow to the Witch of the North. Glenda is sure of it; a flying monkey told her.

As Glenda knows all too well, if you can't trust a flying monkey, there are bigger problems at hand! So that's all the reason she needs; the time for action is now- and more lethal the better!
When a tornado brings a Kansas (non-singing) Newsie to Oz, the Witch of the North sees a way to rid herself of her troublesome Coven sisters without drawing attention (or at least any legal proceedings) on herself.

Seeing an opportunity to decrease the surplus Witch population and not have the incident implicate her, she sends the young man to retrieve the star jewel. By any means necessary...but hinting strongly that a lethal method would suit her just fine. So the intrepid Kansas newspaper crier Honus sets out across a colorful and sometimes confusing land, looking for the castle of the Witch of the South.
Along for the ride is a pushy rooster who thinks he's the leader of the group; Marren, a Lollipop Guild Enforcer who wants the talisman for himself; and the famous chef, Gertie the Goat who's just looking for work since she was fired by the Witch of the South.

Prepare yourself for a whimsical, barreling trip through Oz as they follow the Red Brick Road to the icy land of the Witch of the South, setting the Ozmonian wheels of political change in motion.

Honus gets those wheels rolling. Then only about a week later, those same wheels of change roll over two more witches and a Wizard thanks to a young and meek Kansas gal who finishes the job.

All according to Glenda's plan.