"Yes please" Aric says to Susan as he tends to his wound. 

"I'm fine." Vira states as she ends her rage, glad to B'Reh up and getting the healing she needs. "You were trying to ask it about a dream you had, right? Seems a lot of people are getting troubling dreams lately."

"No not a dream dear, those are quite unreliable as I've mentioned. My vision was brought on by the spleens of a certain lizard native to the Mokk Fields, though further south than here. Even that's not to be trusted too deeply, which is why I wanted a second opinion. Sunfish is what you really want for good, reliable visions." She reaches back behind the first couple of rows of bottles and pulls a dusty pair of vials from the back row. As she wipes off some of the dust, you see a bright red liquid contained within. Holding them out to Aric, she says, "Here you are dear, two healing potions, as a 'thank you' for helping me deal with that pesky demon. You're welcome to take one now if you're still feeling under the weather, but they're quite handy in a pinch as well!"

"And if you're ever in the area and need more, those are quite simple to brew up! You bring me ingredients and perhaps an aller or two, and I can whip up any of a variety of potions for you all! Alchemy was one of my specialties during my time at the Avium, you know." Normal flutters up to sit on the table, its antennae curling in a way that almost seems happy, as Susan smiles at you all.

"Now, I believe someone was asking for some directions?"

B'Reh rubs her temple, exhaling slowly. "My apologies, Susan. I’m not at my sharpest after taking a hit like that." She glances warily at the last traces of red mist before shaking her feathers out and standing straighter. "Thank you for the potions, and for the offer to make more. That could be very useful to us in the future." Her curiosity piqued, she tilts her head slightly. "What other potions can you make? And what ingredients do you need for them? Not just for purchasing—I'd rather know a useful ingredient when I see one, especially out here in the swamp."

She folds her arms, refocusing. "But yes, first and foremost, we need to get back to town. We lost our bearings somewhere along the way." There's a hint of frustration in her voice, but she tempers it with a calm breath. "If you can point us in the right direction, we'd be grateful."

"Thank you" Aric says and drinks one of the healing potions. 

(Presuming standard Healing potion) Healed 9 hit points

"Much better"

Quote from GR_Mustang >>

"Thank you" Aric says and drinks one of the healing potions. 

(Presuming standard Healing potion) Healed 9 hit points

"Much better"

(I forgot to mention that but b'Reh still has all her spell slots and is more than willing to use them. She could do the same healing with a healing word and we could save the potion.)

(Sure; we can ret'con that and say it was from your spell since its the same roll)

You can add a healing potion to your inventory.

[[ Totally forgot I could do tooltips for items too, but fixed it now! Sounds like one for Aric, one for B'Reh (unless cyreon wants to give it to Vira instead). I generally use the variant rule of gaining the full effects if a potion is drunk as an action, and rolled effects for a bonus action, so if you did use one outside combat in the future, it would be 10 hp by default. ]]

"Oh, yes! I'll make you a little list, far too many useful ingredients to be committing them all to memory." She grabs a scrap of parchment and begins scribbling on it with a jet black quill. "I can make potions of healing, feather falling, animal friendship, and resistance with common swamp ingredients, as well as a couple of different oils, though those are a bit messier to use effectively. Here you are dear," she says, holding out a sheet of paper to B'Reh. "Of course, I learned many more recipes than this in my schooling, but most of them require far more specialized ingredients that must be more...carefully chosen."

 "Now, let's see about getting you all back on the road to the Reach. Can't have that dratted magistrate making up more tales about how I spend my free time." Kenna quietly gulps, and suddenly seems to find the floor very interesting, but says nothing, and Susan doesn't seem to notice anything odd as she opens the front door and leads you all outside.

[[ Feel welcome to continue roleplay, or we can just hand-wave the rest of this and get you all on your way back. ]]

B'Reh takes the note from Susan with a respectful nod (list added as an item to her backpack). "Thank you. This will be valuable to us." As her eyes scan the list, she notices shifting slime residue among the ingredients and subtly glances toward Kenna. With a slight shift in her wing, she tilts the parchment just enough for the young corvum to see, though she keeps her expression neutral so as not to draw Susan’s attention.

She waits a moment, then speaks again, her tone casual but laced with meaning. "You know, Kenna, if someone were looking to study alchemy—or even just the practical applications of different creatures and materials—the expertise of an Avium-trained alchemist could be invaluable." She gives the young researcher a sidelong glance, gauging her reaction. "Not to mention, it could make your research more efficient. Faster results, fewer risks."

B'Reh folds the note carefully, tucking it away for safekeeping. "At any rate, we appreciate the help. Now, let's find our way back before Magistrate Walden sends a search party after us." There's a hint of amusement in her voice, but also a certain finality—she's ready to put the day's missteps behind them and return to more solid ground.

Vira smirks at B'Reh's subtle approach, catching the unspoken suggestion in her words. She glances at Kenna, who still seems preoccupied with the floor, and nudges her lightly with an elbow. "B'Reh's got a point, you know. Learning from someone like Susan might be useful if you're serious about this whole slime research thing. Beats fumbling around in the dark and hoping you don’t end up melting your own feathers off." Her tone is light, but there's an undercurrent of sincerity—she's seen enough reckless curiosity to know that a bit of guidance can go a long way. Susan may be eccentric, but she clearly knows her craft, and Kenna could use some real-world expertise if she’s going to pursue something this dangerous.

As Susan steps outside to guide them, Vira stretches, rolling out her stiff shoulders, eager to be back on the road. "Alright then, let’s get moving. We've lost enough time as it is." She breathes in the humid swamp air, glad to be out of the cramped hut but keeping her usual vigilance as they prepare to depart. She adjusts her grip on her weapons, casting one last glance at the strange little cottage before stepping forward, ready to follow Susan’s directions back to the Reach.

Kenna smiles shyly at B'Reh and Vira's comments. "Maybe so. But Uncle Walden would never approve..."

With a few directions from Susan, you are soon on your way north-northeast back towards Winnowing Reach. After losing half an hour at the swamp witch's hut, nobody really expects to arrive before dark, but just as Ardea's sun sinks low enough to touch the horizon in the east, the town comes into view, and less than an hour later you're making your way through the streets towards the Magistrate's office. When you reach the base of the tree, the two birdfolk guards step aside to let you pass, recognizing your group and Kenna with you.

As you enter the Magistrate's office, he stands from his desk and moves across the room to embrace the young corvum. "Kenna! You're back, and you're safe!"

As Kenna loosely hugs her uncle, you all notice another figure in the room, seated across the desk from where Magistrate Krane had been.

[[ Swiftgale, if you could introduce your character! ]]

B'Reh raises a feathered brow at Kenna’s hesitant response. “Your uncle certainly didn’t approve of you wandering into those caves alone either, yet here we are.” She keeps her voice gentle but firm. “Susan seems far safer than the path you took. I only ask that you keep an open mind and consider the opportunity. Knowledge is best learned from those with experience.” With that, she lets the conversation drop as the town of Winnowing Reach comes into view, her thoughts shifting to their long journey and the relief of solid ground beneath her feet.

When they enter the Magistrate’s office, B'Reh steps slightly aside, allowing Kenna and her uncle their moment of reunion. She folds her arms and takes the time to inspect the room, her sharp eyes scanning over the unfamiliar figure seated near the desk. She watches their posture, their expression, their attire—anything that might indicate their purpose in this meeting. It’s been a long journey, but she knows better than to lower her guard too soon.

Seated there is a Mapach, with a sickle and a shield to his side, and a staff along his back. As you entered he was in the middle with talking to the magistrate, and looks up in surprise at his discussion being interrupted. He looks around the group and upon setting eyes on Brynlee his light up. "Brynlee! Finally I have found you. Magistrate Krane was just telling me about where you had headed. If you took much longer I would have needed to take a search party to look for you. Please finish the business you have here, and then I must talk to you. I bring news from Meadowfen and Ashbarrow." He turns to the rest of the party. "Greetings, I am Sherwin Lightfinger. You are welcome to be there when I talk to Brynlee. The news I bring will affect your journey to Alderheart." He then talks to the Magistrate. "With their return, there is nothing else we need to discuss currently. Thank you for your time" and Sherwin steps outside the office and awaits Brynlee.

Vira exchanges a glance with B'Reh before shifting her attention to Sherwin Lightfinger. His sudden arrival and urgent tone immediately set her on edge—news from Meadowfen and Ashbarrow? Good or bad? Despite her concern, she nods in greeting, sizing him up as she does. "Well met, Sherwin. I'm Vira, as you've probably heard."

Turning back to the Magistrate, Vira refocuses on the reason they came here. "Kenna’s safe, and she even managed to collect the samples she wanted. We ran into some trouble, but we handled it. Now, about that letter…" She folds her arms, keeping a careful watch on the room as she speaks. They needed to get this done quickly—whatever Sherwin had to say, it sounded like time wasn’t on their side.

Aric goes up to the new friend and shakes his hand with vigor (think squirrel on caffeine). "Nice to meet you Sherwin. I'm Aric, and these are my friends and party. Please join us. Please."

Sherwin goes to shake Aric's hand but ends up being shaken more instead. "I will be joining you, that is for sure. However I do not believe my presence is required here right now. Unless you have information I don't?"

B'Reh meets Vira’s glance and subtly inclines her head, already considering the implications of Sherwin’s arrival. She watches the mapach for a brief moment before offering a polite nod. “B’Reh, servant of the Great Rhythm. Well met.”

With introductions out of the way, she turns her focus back to the magistrate, standing patiently but attentively as she waits for his response to Vira’s request. They had done what was asked of them, and now it was time for Krane to hold up his end of the agreement. The urgency in Sherwin’s words lingers in the back of her mind, but first, they needed to secure their path forward.

A smile crosses Brynlee's face as she recognizes the mapach. "Sherwin! It's so good to see you, I'm glad you made it out of Ashbarrow. Yes, if you'd like to meet us at the Wrangler's Rest just down the road, that's where we stayed a couple of nights ago when we first arrived, and I suspect we'll spend at least one more night there before leaving for Alderheart. We'll come meet you shortly after we speak with the magistrate."

The magistrate watches everyone get acquainted with the newcomer, giving everyone a moment to talk and Sherwin a moment to step out. As he leaves, and Vira relays the short of things, he finally speaks up. "Samples? Kenna, what's this about samples? I thought you got plenty of samples when you went with that group a couple of weeks ago! Why do you constantly insist on putting yourself into danger? There's plenty of research and learning to be done in books, without stepping foot into that terrible swamp. I–" Beginning to get worked up, he pauses for a moment, and takes a breath before speaking again, more slowly and quietly. "Kenna, please go home. We'll talk about this later." The young corvum looks as if she wants to say something, but instead closes her beak and silently turns to leave.

The magistrate crosses the room back toward his desk, where a scroll sits next to a quill and ink pot. "Now, I believe I promised you all a letter of introduction should you see Kenna safely returned. I took the liberty of adding that young mapach's name as well, he seemed quite certain that he would be journeying to the great tree city with you all." He holds out the scroll, which has a seal of gray wax with a stylized imprinted K holding it shut. "Ah...I suppose I should offer you something a bit more substantial as well, for ensuring she got her samples. Try as I might to discourage that girl's dangerous interests, she always seems to have some new lofty idea. She gets it from my brother, I'm sure. Anyway, hopefully these latest ones will keep her busy for a good while. Here you are." He holds out a small cloth pouch with a few coins inside, before settling back into his chair at the desk. "It's getting quite late. Is there anything else before you go?"

[[ B'Reh, Vira, and Aric can each add 2 gp. ]]

B'Reh steps forward, accepting the pouch with a small, respectful nod. "We appreciate the additional payment, Magistrate. It was not expected, but it is welcome." She tucks the coins away and takes the letter of introduction as well, handling it carefully before securing it in her satchel (adding 2gp and a Letter of Introduction by Magistrate Krane of Winnowing Reach to inventory). "And we appreciate your trust in us to deliver this message to Alderheart."

She hesitates for just a moment before continuing, keeping her voice measured and neutral. "As for our journey back, I should mention that we might still be wandering the Mokk Fields if not for a hermit who resides there—someone with a keen knowledge of the land and its dangers. She was able to point us in the right direction when we realized we had lost our way. A herbalist, in fact, skilled in alchemy and remedies. She even provided us with free healing potions after we fought off a particularly dangerous creature." B'Reh pauses, carefully watching the magistrate’s reaction (Insight 20). "I know many in town have... certain opinions about her, but I would say that our experience did not align with those stories." She doesn't press the point further, instead allowing the magistrate’s own thoughts to fill the silence. Does he truly believe the stories, or does he have some other reason for painting the hermit as a threat? She remains still, her sharp eyes gauging his response.

It wouldn't take a seer to divine the magistrate's thoughts towards B'Reh's words. He leans forward in his seat, placing his hands on the desk and slowly rising to his feet as his voice shifts to a harder, angrier tone. "You...took Kenna...to her??? You have no idea how poorly that could have ended!! That witch is not to be trusted, and I'd be of half a mind to tear up that letter if I hadn't already handed it over. Experiences did not align...well of course they didn't, even she probably wouldn't have been a match for four adventurers like yourselves." He pauses for air, and then his face stills and his beak snaps shut as he points to the door. "Leave. Spend your night in the Wrangler's Rest, and then be on your way to Alderheart come sunrise. Otherwise you'll have the Perch Guard to deal with. I...thank you...for helping Kenna, but I think you might be entirely the wrong type of influence for that girl, and it would be best if you didn't speak to her again. Good night." He remains standing, face hard and eyes narrowed, clearly done speaking to your group.