Whispers in the Woods

"Veinia" Moryana murmurs when Will mentions an 'older crone' "She’s my grandmother"

She recoils slightly when he suggests she joins them to confront the witches, looking behind his back as if she expects to see them appearing out of the shadows "I... I’m not sure about that" she stammers. "I don’t want to hurt anyone. I just want to leave."

She continues to fidget restlessly, more so the more she realizes they haven't quite delt with the witches "We need to get out of here. Before they come back," she lowers her voice to a whisper "There are potions in their ritual chamber. One of them… it can dissolve the hedges."

When they come back, if they come back, they’ll fall by my blade. But very well, we’ll get you and the boy to safety first. Take us to these potions, por favor!

Boudica nods and follows, keeping her guard up.

Miyana follows at the rear of the party, fully expecting trouble, bow at the ready.

Without saying another word Moryana leads you to a dark, bare patch of floor near the entrance on the first floor. At first glance there's nothing unusual about it; just a stretch of twisted bark like the rest of the tree. But then she reaches down and presses her hand into a hidden knot within the wood, and the bark groans and begins to twist, splitting apart to reveal a spiral tunnel descending steeply into the earth.

"Through here" She hesitates as she stands at the edge, clearly reluctant to go in. But staying behind, and risking the hags' return, seems like the worse option. Swallowing hard, and trembling, she steps forward and begins to walk down the tunnel.

The passage is tight. The walls are lined with tangled roots, the floor is uneven, and in some spots, spongy, like walking across old, wet moss. You have to duck as the tunnel narrows, brushing past strands of hanging moss and the occasional bone charm swaying in the stale air.

At the end, the tunnel opens into a vast, hollow chamber beneath the heart of the tree. It wasn't carved by tools; it feels as if the tree itself hollowed and rotted from the inside, then was repurposed for darker needs. The chamber is dimly lit by the same firefly-filled lamps seen upstairs, casting a cold, blue glow across the interior. The centerpiece of the room is a massive cauldron - wide enough to submerge a grown man. The tables around the cauldron are stacked with grim materials - open jars of body organs, dried animal parts, strange powders and bottles filled with swirling liquid. A heavy ritual tome sits open on a plinth nearby, its pages inked in what looks like blood.

And then there are the cages.

They dominate the perimeter of the room, maybe a dozen of them, woven from twisted roots and reinforced with bone. Each one holds a wild creature stolen from the forest above: foxes with matted fur and lifeless eyes, wounded badgers licking old scars, ravens with clipped wings, and even a pair of snakes coiled in tight, sluggish knots.

As you pass, a few snarl softly or hiss, but most are too weak or broken to react, not able to do much besides blink at you with hollow, hopeless stares.

Boudica looks sadly at the collection of creatures here. Any that would not pose a threat to her or her friends she will release, hoping they find their way up the stairs and out to freedom—if they are strong enough to flee at all. As she moves around the room, she keeps her eyes open for anything useful that might be lying on these tables.

Our fighters fellow assists his clerical friend with releasing captured animals, and then Will also checks the table for interesting items.