You are traveling on a hiking trip in the land of Landilandia when you encounter a forest. The map in your guidebook tells you that there's a safe route here leading into the woods -- but when you approach, you discover that there are actually *two* paths to choose from. Beside them are three men sitting outside of a tent, engaging in sort of friendly card game.

The first man looks up as you approach. He immediately hails you, cheerfully saying "Be aware, traveler! If you enter this forest, you take your life into your own hands, for at least one of these paths leads to great peril!"

You thank the man uneasily for his helpful advice.

He then adds with a wink: "If you're hoping to find out which path -- if any! -- might be safe to travel, you should know that one of us always lies, one of us always tells the truth, and one of us alternately lies and tells the truth."

What an odd custom! You had thought that such people only existed in logic puzzles. But you re-check your trustworthy guidebook, and it confirms that this is indeed so: men in this particular region of Landilandia always travel in groups of three: one liar, one truthteller and one who alternates between the two.

However, your guidebook also notes that there are strict social rules on foreign visitors such as yourself interrogating the locals. You could probably get away with asking yes or no questions without starting a fight, but the fewer you ask, the better.

How can you find a safe path into the forest with the fewest questions possible? And how can you find a safe path into the forest *and* correctly identify all three men's roles with the fewest questions possible?