Whispers in the Woods

"Die, Harlot! Die!!!"

Magda thrusts her hands forward, and a jagged bolt of lightning erupts from her finger. It slams into Miyana, the force lifting her off her feet and sending her flying backward to the ground. Her muscles seizes instantly once the electric current passed through her body, and for a moment, she can't move, or even breath. But before Magda can savor the moment, a streak of arcane energy slams into her chest. She staggers backward with a snarl, looking up at Anton who emerged out of the room.

"Fool! I would have let you live! Now you'll die here, with the others!!!"

Will takes a swing at the incapacitated hag, hoping to finish her off!

Miyana forces herself to rise, ignoring the lingering pain in her joints. The lightning bolt had hurt her badly, but she had no intention of letting Magda or her demonic mother know that. She knows that this day she may meet her end, but she will do her best to fell a foe before that happens! She draws back another arrow and lets it fly at Magda.

EDIT: Forgot my initiative roll.

Boudica steps forward and brandishes her mace, trying to strike Magda!

Will's sword strikes the blinded witch. The unnaturally ice-cold steel sinks into her twisted form, and as the blade makes contact, aa supernatural cold freezes the very life force in her vein. She gasps, as her very essence is stripped away from her. Her skin turns deathly white, whatever warmth still in her veins stolen away. She stumbles back, her hands clutching her side, looking upon the young warrior with genuine fear in her eyes.

The two witches didn't live to their ripe old age by fighting adventurers to the bitter end.

Will’s strike forced their hand. Veinia mutters a quick incantation, and dark shadows spill from her fingers, swallowing the light that had been blinding her. Magda, in the meantime, heaves with a gurgling, wet sound, and with a sudden lurch, hurls a mass of sticky webbing from her mouth. The webbing unfurls in an instant, coating the staircase in heavy, sticky spider web strands - but not before the two hags took a couple of steps up, retreating as the web blocks the only path forward.

Happy to see the hags retreat, Boudica says, "We should pursue them and end their evil once and for all! if they do not, we will be condemning the next child they steal to a fate worse than death. Besides, if we let them live, we will have made two powerful enemies today."

I don’t disagree. I’m willing to pursue them with you, but we must protect the boy.
Will looks at his other companions for their druthers.

Boudica nods and says, "you’re right…what do the rest of you think?"

While they decide, Boudica stows her mace and pulls out a tinderbox and torch, and begins trying to light it. She comments, "In case we decide to clear these webs…"

"I have to admit that I am in no shape to face them again. I say we let them go and return later to finish the task. We must get the boy home!"

"We could raze their lair here before we go, maybe that will force them to relocate. But it would also mean we wouldn't be able to find them as easily, if they choose to come back."

A good thought, Anton, but we are in a forest. I wouldn’t want the fire to blaze too out of control. And…as I consider the idea of exploring further…we may get more treasure, and perhaps even some items to help the village. And I agree with Boudica, we should try vanquishing this evil, hopefully while they are hurt and more vulnerable.

"I imagine they couldn't have gone too far then, maybe they have an underground lair beneath the roots of this tree?"

Keep the boy close, Will directs his companions. Then our fightery fellow begins to proceed cautiously upstairs in pursuit.

Boudica says, "If we ignite these webs as we leave, it could burn the tree. But there is a ring of cleared ground around it, as well as an imposing wall that separates it from the rest of the forest. I doubt we'd burn the forest down. But I understand your worry. I will defer to the group."

How about we explore a bit, and then burn the tree?

Boudica hesitates, saying, "But we shouldn't tarry. They are likely at this very moment recovering from their wounds and repairing to attack again. We might not be so lucky next time. But still, we can certainly glance around as we go."