Whispers in the Woods

"Hold, friends!" Miyana calls out. "What goes on here?"

Boudica draws up next to Miyana, a concerned look on her face. "Is someone missing?"

Will sets his magical swords down, and gazes emerald eyes stoically upon the armed men. All while striking a very heroic pose!

Boudica looks to her companions and says, "What say you, friends? Let's see if we can help. We can go talk to this Humphrey."

Yes. Yes, to Humphrey.
Will leads his party to go speak with Humphrey.

"Poor Humphrey, of course we should help" Anton felt a kinship with Humphrey, being both scholars, and having met with him multiple times now for potions and scrolls. He could definitely understand why he would be worried sick that one of his charges had gone missing.

"Yes, we should help!" Miyana is very anxious to assist.

You find Humphrey a few minutes walk down the road, his hands are shaky and his eyes dart toward the road every few moments, as if he hadn't yet lost hope that Stefan would suddenly arrive. His posture stiffens when he sees you, trying to gather himself for a few moments.

"Oh. you've come… you've come to help too?" His eyes drop to the ground as he sighs "I shouldn't have sent him alone. Not with the goblins on the prowl, and... not with the killer still at large. What was I thinking? If something’s happened to him..." he left the rest of his words unspoken.

"You HAVE to help" he addresses Anton in particular "He is a member of the guild! We have to find him, before it gets dark"

"Of course Humphrey, we will help. For his sake, and the guilds. What can you tell us about where he might have been headed? When did he set out? Were there times in the past where he might have deviated from his normal paths or where he told you stories of discovering new areas to gather from?" Anton had his journal out once more, ready to take notes.

"He usually sticks to the outskirts of the Black Woods, west of the farms. He left early this morning, and mentioned something about checking the northern edge of the woods today. That's all I know" the old man rubbed his hands together as he tried to steady his nerves
"I... I knew goblins were raiding the area these past few weeks. But they never attacked during the day. They're cowards, hiding in their caves, afraid of the sun. They usually come out at night, when they can skulk around and do their damage without being seen. I don’t understand this—why would they attack Stefan in broad daylight? It just doesn't add up." he shakes his head "Goblins are stupid, sure. But even they know that killing a human like this... it’s not the kind of thing you do if you want to stay hidden. They know what’ll happen. Every able-bodied man in Threshold would be hunting them down"

Maybe Humphrey was trying to justify his decision to send Stefan to the outskirts of the woods that day, but maybe there is something in what he is saying too.

Boudica nods sympathetically, trying to calm the man. She looks to her companions and comments, "Well, we don't know yet that goblins had anything to do with this. He could have tripped and hurt himself or something more benign. We'll find him."

"Boudica is right, this could be nothing more than a sprained ankle or perhaps a long afternoon nap." He tried to catch Humphrey's gaze to reassure him. "Rest now, we will find him for you"

Miyana says nothing, but her face betrays her feelings that this is more than they are trying to reassure Humphrey with.

"He wouldn't be so irresponsible as to nap out in the woods" he shakes his head, not much relieved when Anton said they would find him "I fear the worst. There isn't that much time before the sun sets, and once it does, it is going to be dangerous outside, with the goblins on the prowl. We must hurry"

Just try to relax, Humphrey. We will find him, do not fret.
Will turns to his companions. A shrug and a look upon emerald eyed face seems to say, Well I guess we’re up and moving again!

Boudica nods in agreement and says, "Lead the way. I do not know these woods."

Will checks with the guards for a map or for general information about trails through the woods. He eventually steps to the forest’s edge, stoops low, and checks for tracks or likely paths of travel.

"We have to continue, we cannot leave Stefan alone tonight, better to find a fight than a dead body" Anton knew what he was saying, urging his new companions into a combat where he would be nigh useless, he ached for more power, he wanted to be able to lay goblins low in order to assist in these matters, but for now he had a trusty spell, and a full set of daggers to try and chip in.

"Agreed."

Boudica nods and says, "Onward."

"We need to keep going," Miyana says solemnly. "Our best hope is that they have stopped for the night and we will run into them."

Boudica nods in agreement and says, "If he is truly in danger out here at night, we should press on."

"Agreed" Anton was worried that they would become too fatigued to fight, but the others seemed ready to press forward and he wasn't about to raise concern when they were being so brave.

Shall we try climbing over?
Will looks for ways to climb over the tree line.

"Maybe if we follow it's perimeter we will find a way in?"

Miyana nods at Anton's suggestion and begins to skirt the perimeter.

Boudica follows Anton and Miyana around the perimeter.

You skirt around the edge of the palisade, searching for an opening, but there is none. The brambles are thick and twisted, rising taller than a man's head, and the thorns look particularly nasty, each one as sharp as the edge of your swords. The impenetrable wall of living barbs goes on for the entire circumference - a full fifteen-minute walk with the deathly silence of the Black Woods pressing around you.

You find yourself back where you started, but this time, the wall of brambles has parted, and a narrow archway opens before you. Standing in the arch is a grotesque figure: an old, round woman with sagging jowls, warts blooming across her face like fungi, and small beady dark eyes. When she opens her mouth to speak, she bares her rotten, yellow teeth to you in a disturbing smile:

"Well now," she croaks "we rarely get visitors out here. Who might you be, and what brings you sniffing around my grove?"

Flanking her are two men, or things shaped like men. Their skin an unnatural, smooth gray, completely hairless, with long limbs and eyes like polished obsidian. They watch silently, unmoving, their expressions unreadable beneath the inhuman sheen of their faces.

We’re looking for a missing young human named Stefan. He entered these woods, probably a bit over a day ago, early morning, and hasn’t returned to his village as expected.

The old woman doesn't answer straight away.
She tilts her head, as if considering something.

Then she sniffs.

Once. Twice.

Her nostrils flare wide as she inhales deeply, leaning forward just slightly, the tip of her nose lifting toward Anton like a hound catching scent of something familiar. Her eyes narrow with sudden interest.

For a long moment, she says nothing at all as she watches him.
Then she stands upright again, as if she has made up her mind.

"Oh yes. Stefan arrived here just a few short hours ago. He’s my guest."

Behind her, the gray men remain still as statues.

Can we see him, please? His family is worried about him.

Anton feels, uncomfortable, but stays silent letting Will! take the lead on the situation for now. That arch hadn't existed before though, so either there was a mechanism to move part of the wall, or there was magic afoot.

"He's sleeping now, and I wouldn't like the disturb his rest" the woman says "I hope he will be up in time for dinner. Or breakfast tomorrow. If you would like to stay until then, I can extend the invitation to you as well"

Like most Traladarans, Boudica was raised with a healthy respect for nature and its magics. She wonders if this crone isn't a hag, or a fae of some sort, or perhaps an old witch. Regardless, this is her grove they have entered, so Boudica will behave like a polite guest.

She bows slightly and says, "That is most gracious of you, my lady of the grove. May I ask how we should address you, my lady?"

I gladly accept!

Miyana is a bit taken aback that her companions would accept an invitation from the strange old crone so readily. She keeps her reservations to herself, however, and follows the others inside, murmuring a word of thanks to the old woman as she passes.

"Call me Magda, dear" the old woman reveals a row of yellow, rotting teeth as she smiles at Boudica. She waits for you to pass through, and as the last of you steps through the archway she lifts a gnarled hand and gives a lazy little wave. Behind you, the brambles rustle, and then move. The throned vines slither inward, knitting themselves back together. Within moments, the entrance is gone. The wall of thorns is whole once more, as if it had never parted.

"And how shall I call you?" she asks as she leads you into the dark and gloomy clearing. All around you, gray-skinned men move in silence: hauling water, scraping hides, stirring cauldrons. Each one is identical. Same smooth features, same obsidian eyes. None speak. None look at you.

The woman ignores them, walking on, unhurried, toward the massive hollowed tree at the center of the clearing, gesturing for you to enter. The smell inside is the first thing you notice: sweet, like dried flowers and honeyed herbs… but beneath that, something else. A faint, sour, almost pungent smell. Almost subtle enough to doubt it's there.

"My mother and my daughter are indisposed right now, but we will all meet at dinner. Would you like to rest in the meantime? Your travel has been long, and you look exhausted."

Miyana remains silent for a moment, then answers the woman's question. "Call me Aleeta," she replies, unwilling to give her true name to a stranger who is potentially an enemy.

Boudica watches in amazement and concern as their path out of this enclave closes, leaving them trapped behind a formidable barrier. She walks along with the hag woman and tries to be polite. She notices that Miyana gives an alias, which might be wise, given that names are said to hold power, yet she cannot be dishonest so soon after being chastised for falling short of her ideals.

"It is nice to meet you, Magda. My name is Boudica, of Traladar. I am happy to stay for a time, but I hope not to tarry too long, as Stefan's friends are worried about him, and we promised to find him and return him to them when we could. Is there anything I can do for you and your family to help facilitate that, and to reciprocate your kindness and hospitality?"

Boudica does not believe this woman has the best of intentions, but she suspects that they might be able to bargain or barter with her for Stefan.

William, replies our fightery fellow. Call me Will.

"How lovely to meet someone so polite" the old woman seems buoyant, or perhaps amused, as she walks next to Boudica. She leads you up the stairs, which creak under heavy weight, though she herself barely seems winded as she climbs.

"You will see Stefan at dinner, if you decide to stay. He’s been quite content here, actually. It's sweet of you to be worried about him, but I doubt you will be able to change his mind into leaving"

At the top of the stairs, she pushes open one of the wooden doors and gestures you inside. The room is plain and somewhat cramped, clearly used more for storage than hospitality. A couple of soft mattresses have been laid out with woolen blankets. A small table holds a bottle of water, a chipped ceramic cup, and what looks like a bundle of herbs drying on a string. In one corner, a stack of wicker baskets and an old iron coat rack suggest the room sees many purposes.

"I must apologize. I don’t have enough mattresses laid out for all of you at the moment, but if you decide to spend the night, I can make arrangements. It's no trouble."

She nods at you, and stares at Anton in particular "Would you like anything to eat while you wait? A bit of stew? some bread and cheese, perhaps?"

"No, thank you," 'Aleeta' replies.

No, I’m good, our fightery fellow replies. How long until…dinner, you said?

"A few hours from now. Once the sun has set" she replies to Will "I will send someone to fetch you when it's time"

Will waits while watching. Once Magda departs, our fightery fellow begins looking for exits into what might be rooms where Stefan may be kept.

Boudica follows Magda up to the "guest room." When asked if she would like to eat anything, she demurs, but thanks her for the offer.

Once the strange woman leaves them, Boudica says, "So… this woman is not human, right? And do you think that Stefan is under some spell?"

Right, and yes. I say we find Stefan, grab him and go. Or find out how to break this spell.

Anton tried to gain the attention of all in the hut, "Magda has been very courteous, offering us to stay in her...well furnished hut" Anton's word 'furnished' was punctuated by his looking around the hut, hinting to the fact that he and the party were in her domain.

"Hopefully Stefan will listen to us about his affairs back in town, and return with us. Hopefully he'll see reason" once again two words punctuated oddly, listen, and see. He was worried there might be magics here that could allow Magda to spy on them. He had begun to study a spell in the tome from Mistamere that would allow just that.

"Don't be fooled," the ever-suspicious Miyana reminds him. "We know nothing about who or perhaps what this Magda is. She and her minions could turn on us in a second. And Stefan may have been unwittingly charmed... or worse."

Will nods agreeably. Our fightery fellow runs vaunts.te hands along seams of the closed door. He checks for signs of air or light seeping through, and tries determining if he might be able to simply pull it open.

Boudica follows the others in the exploration. She listens at the sealed door, but does not try to open it beyond that.

We’re not getting into that room the normal way,Will says, gesturing at the solid dark-wood paneling intended as a door. Shall we check upstairs?
Will begins fighters ascent upstairs. Unless someone has another idea.

Boudica whispers, "Going in there could antagonize our hosts, I think. If we have reason to believe he is within, then we must. But perhaps we should peek upstairs and downstairs first?"

"I have a bit of magic that can help with this, if we are in agreement that we want it open" Anton offered.

Will gestures at the door, Anton room to work.
I’ll cover you, Will says to Anton, readying Icy Bronze.

Miyana readies her bow, pointing it at the door. "Open it."

Anton nodded and spoke the words, did the gestures, and then ended with a light rapping on the door to finish the spell. He then stepped aside to allow Will!, Miyana, and Boudica to investigate ahead of him.

Anton wants nothing more than to rush to the boy and check his health, but he instead speaks up to inform the others of his suspicions, "There might be wards, magical or otherwise, we should advance carefully." He began to move forward seeing if he could make out in magical wards or traps.

Will walks slowly, steadily and carefully behind Anton, approaching Stefan.

Will approached the circle, and stoops low just outside it it. He pauses, and if nothing happens, then he shifts a little of the salt out and to his right.

Boudica, who had been keeping watch in the hallway, hears the bell and runs inside. Seeing what has happened, she announces, "You've found Stefan! Oh, but bad news -- apparently you set off some kind of alarm. I assume they now know we have found him. I don't expect them to be friendly about it. She rushes to Stefan and tries to rouse him."

Miyana, heeding Boudica's words, turns to face the door, bow at the ready.

Stefan stirs beneath the blanket, but doesn't open his eyes

"...Is it time for dinner already?" he murmurs. He doesn’t move to sit up. Just lies there, groggy and dazed, as the bell rings again from somewhere deeper within the tree. And above you, the slow creak of footsteps descending down the stairs.

Boudica looks over the boy to make sure he's OK then he begins to get him awake as fast as she can. "Stefan! Pay attention! Why are you here? Why did you come here? Who brought you? Do you wish to go or stay? Reply quickly, before our hosts arrive!"

Stefan blinks slowly "I met... Magda," fatigue makes it hard for him to focus "She said her daughter was sick. That only I could help her." He shifts slightly beneath the blanket "She said it would only take a couple hours" His eyes move to the window, narrowing against the light. "It’s still afternoon, right? I only just got here..."
It looks like he is completely unaware that he walked for the entire day, and the night that followed "My legs are killing me..."

Miyana, who is standing outside the room with her bow ready, now sees the bloated Magda walking down the stairs, behind her follows another figure: an ancient, hunched woman in a black robe, her face mostly hidden beneath the cowl, though a few strands of bone white hair spill down over her shoulders.

Boudica shakes the boy and says, "You fool, you've been gone for two days! And that is no woman, and her daughter isn't either. They are some kind of wood fey, or witches, or hags. We are all in danger! You must get up and come with us. There will be danger, but there will be much more if we tarry. Now move!"

You’re about to be used for a ritual, Stefan. We need you to come with us, please, and we need to leave right now.
Will gestures at the door, and readies Icy Bronze.

"Too late! Is there another way out?" Miyana points her bow at Magda. "Don't move! I don't want to hurt you!"

Stefan blinks "Two... days?" he rubs his eyes with both hands "No, it was just this morning... wasn't it?"
He looks around the room, the alarm in Boudica’s voice failing to register. "I don’t... I’m so tired..." He swings his legs over the side of the bed, but his movements are slow and clumsy. "I just need a minute... everything’s spinning..."

From outside the room, Boudica can hear the sound of an incantation...

Magda’s smile never falters, but her eyes narrow, and the warmth drains from her voice.

"My daughter is not to be threatened" comes a brittle voice from behind her.

The robed crone lifts one trembling hand, fingers curled like claws, and begins to chant in a voice full of old spite
Magda mirrors her mother, raising both slightly, wrists bent, and whispers

Boudica relies what is happening and decides to wait within the room for the spells to go off. She'd rather not have the entire party fall to a single spell! Once it sounds as if the spells have gone off, she runs out into the hallway and closes with the old women, shield up, mace swinging.

Will charges the old woman and attacks.

Miyana lets fly an arrow at Magda.

Anton stays with Stefan, "Stay behind me, let the warriors do their thing, we only fight if we absolutely must" he grabbed a dagger and handed it to Stefan, "...only if we must"

"YEEEEEOW!" Magda screeches when Miyana's arrow buries itself deep into her swollen shoulder. Her incantation unravels before it could take shape, and clutching the wound with her sausage-like fingers, she glares at Miyana with eyes full of venom.

The hunched crone stands behind her daughter. Her gnarled hands trace invisible runes in the air, And then... you feel it. A pressure builds behind your eyes. Muscles tighten, your breath grows shallow. The desire to move remains, but the connection to your limbs is slipping, and it takes every ounce of your willpower to remain standing on your feet.

Stefan takes the dagger from Anton with trembling hands. He looks to the door, hearing the mumbling of spells from the two hags, then back at the window above his bed. Jumping out of the second-floor window was starting to look more and more enticing by the moment.

Boudica knew she might be out of her league here, fighting two hags. So, rather than trying to beat them to death, slowly, with her mace, she pointed at the older woman in back and attempted to cast Light on her eyes, blinding her!

Miyana feels her muscles locking up and tries to resist. Slowly, painfully, she manages to overcome the effects of the evil magic. With supreme effort, she manages to load another arrow into her bow and draw back for another shot, this time at Veinia!

Will swings Icy Bronze at the older hunched drone once again!

"HA---EEEEEEEEE!"

The light burst detonates like a miniature sun, an unnatural radiance that burns though the gloom of her cowl and clings to her like a brand. She shrieks and claws at her own face, reeling backward, trying to put as much distance between her and the warrior brandishing the sword.

Miyana smells the metallic smell and feels her hair standing up. Knowing what that means, she attempts to get out of the path of the incoming spell.

Anton watches as the fight breaks out, arrows, swords, sorcery, flying about. He quickly looks at Magda and speaks a word of power and summons a brightly purple glowing dart that fires unerringly at Magda!

He then took the opportunity to heave a dagger at Magda s a follow up!

"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."

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?"

"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.

Miyana watches approvingly as the others release the captive animals. She remains alert, bow every ready.

It’s sad, but none of the animals are in any condition to survive out in the wild. The fox flinches when Boudica moves to its cage, and its limbs actually tremble from fright, as if it was expecting her to hurt it. It is emaciated, shaky, and could merely blink at her in the low light with one of its eyes, as the other one is nearly swollen shut. The badger growls at her, but doesn’t attack, before huddling in the corner of its cage. The only animal that dares leave its cage is the raven with the clipped wings, who hops on its legs and tilts its head to look at her.

Moryana stands still amid it all, looking dejected at the pitiful menagerie. She only snaps out of it when she notices Boudica walking toward the tables.

"I...I think we can save them" she turns and joins them. Hands trembling she leans in closer to inspect the row of bottles on the table "That would dissolve the hedges. And anything else it touches" she warns Will, before handing him a vial filled with black ichor. Then, with a relieved sigh, she reaches out for a bottle with a pinkish swirl "It’s a potent regenerative potion" she looks back at the animals "They’re small. Maybe if we let each of them drink a little...."

Out the Raven back in its cage. We’ll regenerate them outside, then release them. Let’s dissolve the hedges, then we’ll deal with the crones.
Will gently picks up the wounded raven in gauntleted hands, and places it back in the cage.

Anton looked over the ingredients, and the assorted liquids as Moryana points them out, he still doesn't trust the young lady. He tries to work through it and see if he can glean some truth to her words backed up by his own knowledge of the arcane arts.

"But how will we get all these cages up there?" there were a dozen of them, and she didn't think she could carry even one. Especially not if there was also a wounded animal inside "- I'm sorry" she immediately corrected herself, almost as a reflex "I didn't mean to speak out of turn"

Let’s go deal with the witches, and then we’ll pack these cages out as time allows.
Anyone not ok with that?

Boudica says, "We had decided to get Stefan and now Moryana out first. Let’s take that potion, go dissolve the hedge, and get them to safety. Then we can return and deal with the hags and save the animals.

Very well, I think that’s an excellent way to go. Keep the boy and the girl close, and safe.
Will takes the potion, and heads over to begin dissolving hedges.

"What about the raven? It could fly away once we healed it. And I can carry the fox on my arms..." Moryana tried to negotiate. Asking someone else to carry the toad, or the two constrictor snakes, was probably pushing her luck, but maybe one of them would volunteer to take the squirrel, or badger, or any of the others...

Ho, there! What’re you men doing here?

Boudica agrees to carry as many animals as she can, knowing that she might have to drop them if it came to combat.

When the emergency from the tree and see the gray skinned men, she looks to Moryana and asks, "Can you control them?"

"Yes Moryana, can you control these gray skinned men?" Anton looked questioningly, nearly accusatorily, to the young woman

Seeing the men, Miyana merely glares at Moryana through narrowed eyes, keeping her bow trained on the closest of the men.

"They’ll only listen to Magda" Moryana voice strained from holding the fox in her arms, her face pale with exhaustion. "I... I don’t think they want us to leave." As she spoke, the gray-skinned men moved closer, forming a half-circle around the front door. They don't attack just yet, but they stand so tightly together it would be impossible to squeeze through.

Nope.
Will quickly estimates 24 grey-skinners. Emerald eyes glance at his four friends, and he adds, Unless we each want five of them, I think we need to return into the Tree, and find a way to break the spell keeping them guarding sentry.
Our fightery fellow looks at Moryana and says plainly, I think we'll have to deal with mother and grandmother.

Boudica nods. She turns to Moryana and says, "Where can you and Stefan hide that is at least someone safe, or out of the way? We need to ascend and deal with them. OH! And do you think that potion that can burn through the hedges could burn through their webs?"

"I just want to get out of here" Stefan, looking more dejected then before, lowered his head with defeat. He slowly stepped backward into the house, until they figured out what to do

"They're not particularly bright" Moryana murmured. The men continued to stare at her blankly. None seemed offended, or even aware, that she was talking about them "- They follow orders to the letter."

The fox in her arms was growing heavier by the second, and it looked like it was running out of patience of being carried by someone. With a reluctant sigh, she crouched and carefully set the wounded creature down.

"The potion will burn through anything, yes" she replied to Boudica. She had no idea what kind of 'web' she meant, but if the ichor could eat through stone and steel, it would likely handle a web just as easily.

"If we defeat the two hags, what will happen to the gray men, I wonder? Well, in any event, we have decided. Back upstairs with the potion to dissolve the webs and to pursue them up the stairs. Moryana, is there anything you can tell us about what to expect up there? And is there anything we can do to prepare, or weapons to bring? Can you help? Please."

After heartfelt discussion is completed, our fighters fellow leads his compaions back upstairs, with the potion, to dissolve wickedly wound webbing.

"I… I don’t know" Moryana stammers as she looks away. "They warned me never to open the doors to their rooms. Said they were protected by magic" she crossed her arms tightly, swaying slightly from side to side "Grandmother’s staff can become a venomous serpent. And Mother… she turns people into animals. Pigs, mostly"

She paused, and glanced up
"Some of the potions in their lab… maybe they can help you. But they are dangerous. All of them"

Before we go up, let’s get those potions. We’ll need all the help we can get.
Will helps secure the potions from the lab. Then, eventually with his friends, he goes upstairs.

While Will fetches the potions, Boudica makes sure that Moryana and Stefan can be tucked away safely while the rest of them fight.