Whispers in the Woods

Our villains went up, so I say we explore the first floor, then see if the webbing is clear after that, and finally explore the basement.

Boudica nods and says, "Agreed." She heads down, checking in each room as she goes.

Miyana heaves a heavy sigh and steels herself, following the others. "Would anyone mind if I partake of the potion of healing to recover a little?"

Boudica nods and says, "I think you should, yes."

Miyana drinks the potion down.

She sighs again as the potion takes effect, leaving her feeling only slightly better. "Okay, ready as I'm ever going to be."

You begin your descent to the first floor, when turning the corner in the spiral staircase you nearly collide with an unexpected figure. She is a young woman, strikingly beautiful, with lustrous hair that flows all the way down to her ankles. Her eyes go wide with shock as she takes a look at you, and once she notices you are all armed, the wicker basket she is holding slips from her fingers, scattering bright red apples across the floor.

"Wh-Who are you?" She takes an instinctive step backward "What are you doing here?"

I’m Will, these are my associates. We’ve come to rescue Stefan. Who are you, and what are you doing here?

"Who's Stefan?" she looks at your suspiciously "I'm Moryana. I live here"

He’s the person we’re rescuing, Will replies simply, gesturing at Stefan. What do you mean, m’Lady, when you say you live here? Were you born here, or did the elder lady of the house take you in from elsewhere?

The young woman looks to Stefan, then back to Will.
"I… I’m Magda’s daughter. She's...." she stammers, looking for a moment at the apples at her feet, as though she regrated saying anything at all. She clasps her hands together, fidgeting nervously, then looks up at Will again.

"You’re here to take him away…" her voice drops to barely above a whisper "Can I come with you?"

Why do you want to come with us? Are you ok?

Boudica's eyes narrow as the young woman appears. She had heard tales that hags work in covens of three. "Careful, Will, Magda had mentioned a daughter, and we have no reason to believe this girl is here against her will. Remember, someone lured Stefan here... She would likely do well for that, yes?"

Will asks the girl warily, Why do you want to come with us?

Miyana merely regards the girl with a careful stare.

"Aye, a Maiden, a Mother, and a Crone. Answer Will!'s question Moryana" Anton still stood in front of Stefan, in case Moryana wasn't as innocent as she appeared.

The young woman begins to panic as Boudica’s suspicion grows "I didn’t lure anyone!" she insists "It is all my mother's doing" she pauses, her face blushing slightly, and her voice trembles as she averts her eyes "She wants a granddaughter"

Her hands fidget again as she looks up "Please. You have to get me out of here. I don’t want to end up like them."

We intend to explore the lower levels, and then we intend to confront your mother and her older crone once again before we depart. Will you help us?

Boudica glances at Stefan and then asks Will, "I thought we were getting Stefan to safety first?"

She sizes up the girl and sighs. "I'm ok with bringing her along if everyone else is. I would rather err on the side of compassion than suspicion." She turns to the girl and asks, "We will try to get you to safety. Can you tell us how to pass the hedge wall outside?"