Horatio:

"Oh... that didn't even occur to me. Yeah, if there's a way to return the memories that would be awesome." He looks down at the fire and warms his hands a moment. "I don't know if any of you remember, but a few years back an actual Bard - not one of those traveling minstrels - came through the area. I was working on the roof of the Misty Dew Tavern at the time, and when she setup downstairs we were told to take a break so as not to disturb her performance. Turned out to be a day off as she kept going late into the night. In between singing and performing tricks, she told stories. I remember. One of those stories was about a Dragon attacking some faraway kingdom. Soldiers would fire arrows or use sword or spear, but nothing harmed the Dragon. Then a knight came and he possessed a magical spear. Something the Bard said during the telling of the story sticks out to me now. She said, 'It takes a magical weapon to harm one such as that Dragon.' So.. whatever else that thing is, or however it might be used, that knob is magical and solid as brass. I say we do what we can for the trapped memories, but the things itself may be the only weapon we have if this Hag can't be harmed by normal means... We can beat her to death with it if needs be."

Cadwallader: Cad's spell worked! He felt the knowledge of the gourd's nature and its use just suddenly there in his mind. He looks at the gourd, grinning like a fool, until Horatio and Ben interrupt his reverie. "Return them? Yes, it's quite simple, really. But this gourd belongs to Jebbek's boss, this Longscarf fellow. He seems like a bad person to be on the wrong side of. Now we've already run off his goons, but that was simple self-defense. If we release these memories, which he surely considers his property, no matter how unlawfully gained, he's going to be considerably more upset, I'd imagine. We're already up against this hag; I don't think we should go making any additional enemies. Maybe we can hold onto the gourd and its memories, and keep them as surety for our safe passage through this band's territory?" His stomach rumbles, and he remembers that he never did find those... FUNNEL CAKES! That's what they're called! Fortunately someone has foraged some food -- nothing fancy, but better than he'd expect to find in a swamp by himself -- so he takes a bit for himself.

Ben:

”You may be right, Cadwallader, but it just seems wrong somehow to keep someone else’s memories trapped, regardless of who lays claim to them besides the original owners,” responds Ben, “especially as it is likely they were stolen or coerced under threat of force,” but he seems unwilling to push the matter further.

The party gains the benefit of a short rest. You are tired, but fed, and not yet in immediate danger of exhaustion. And you have enough substantial food to get you through the rest of the day (in addition to whatever carnival snacks you may have pocketed.)

So the party moves on in the direction of the downed balloon, and (unless you have other plans) leaving Jebbek and her snail behind. The fog is thick, but occasional glimpses of the highway will keep you from deviating too far from your planned trajectory.

(Is everyone's intention to move on in this manner? If so, we will proceed...)
(Random die roll: 3)

Matilda looks at Cad with a sad expression, " Open it. All of us know what its like to lose something precious, and what is more precious than memories. For some of us it is all we have left."

"I agree," Titaani says, uncurling herself from where she had fallen asleep against Tiny. "I think we can handle whatever Jebbek's boss throws at us. Besides, those memories must mean a lot to those who have lost them."

Edgardo 

"Trapped memories?" Both Edgardo's ears stand at attention at the words. "Whatdya mean trapped? And they'll go back to their thinker? Maybe the where bouts of my tail is in there!" He stomps a foot in excitement. "Let them free Ben! Let them free" he holds his ears back with one hand as if opening a direct channel to his brain. His anticipation evident by the shrill of his voice.

Cadwallader:

Looking around at the others, Cad he's the only one in favor of holding onto the flask, at least with its memories in it. "All right, but if this Longscarf gets mad about it being emptied, don't say I didn't warn you..." With that he points the mouth of the bottle away from everyone, scrunches his eyes half-shut, and pops out the cork.

((After the memories are out)) Cad tosses the bottle to Horatio. "Here. It's about worthless to anyone besides its owner, but maybe you'll get your chance to clobber a dragon with it. Are we just leaving the snail? Might come in handy if we have anything heavy to move."

Titaani shrugs. "I mean, do we really need to? We have Tiny," she smiles petting the rabbit, "Who is already the best mount anyone could ask for."

Ben:

“If nothing else, we could set it free.  Given the way they were treating it, the snail deserves that much at least,” says Ben as he prepares to head out.

Nodding at Cad, he adds, “Thank you—somewhere there are people who have been robbed of their memories being made whole.”

Cad unstoppers the gourd. A faint mist escapes, but you can somehow sense that there was much more than the visible vapor within. You can almost see the memories that are released but like a dream upon awakening, it is tantalizingly close and yet you are unable to grasp anything. Whose memories they are and what they are remain a mystery, but you can sense them invisibly finding their way back to their owners, wherever they might be.

The giant snail is slow. Unlike the snails at the carnival, this one can only move at, well, a snail's pace. (Speed 10 ft., climb 10 ft.)

The party moves on, making slow progress toward the direction of the balloon. (The sticky mud of the exposed swamp bottom is difficult terrain.) The temperatures remain comfortable; the light and weather are good. The swampy ground looks recently flooded, as if by a high tide. The party is forced to circumnavigate a few ponds and slog through wide, open, muddy marshes.

Benjamin and Matilda notice it first - a strange splashing sound, and the smell of something delicious. Moving toward you, you spy a squat, three-story structure with a slate-shingled roof, crawling through the swamp on a score of fleshy legs. Dozens of tiny orbs of pale light buzz about the exterior like flies. The structure rocks and heaves as it slogs through the swamp.

Horatio:

Once Horatio becomes aware of it, he will turn and gape at the oncoming structure. "It's... walking?" His eyes are like saucers. He looks at the others, "if I were a Hag who abducts children, I'd live in a place that smelled like that. Should we continue on to the fallen balloon or follow the house... assuming it isn't trying to follow us."

(( Is it? ))

Matilda stared in wonder at the walking building, " I don't know. Maybe we should check it out? Just in case."

The structure walks at a brisk pace (30' movement), seemingly unimpeded by the swampy terrain.
(The party, on the other hand, slogs along slowly through the muddy landscape at a 15' pace, or 10' if the snail accompanies you. ...Did you leave it or bring it?)
At first, it appeared as though the dwelling was approaching you from ahead, but then you see it cross your path and move on. 
But just as it is about to vanish into the fog again, it stops, and then lowers itself, until its foundation rests upon the ground.
The smell of a hearty stew wafts from its open windows. You see smoke rising in cottony puffs from its stone chimney. All is quiet.

( I believe the snail was released into the wild.)

Matilda begins moving towards the now stationary building.....

Titaani follows Matilda, too in awe to speak. Her curiosity has gotten the better of her, and she feels she must inspect the structure. 

Ben:

Unless prevailed upon otherwise by the party, Ben frees the snail and let’s it choose its own path…to stay with its abusive former master, tag along with them, or go its own way and do snail-y things.

Awed by the traveling hut, Ben says little until Matilda starts heading over to it, saying, “How close are we to where the balloon fell?  Shouldn’t we check that out first?”

Concerned that she seems strangely tempted by the hut and its enticing aroma, Ben considers if she may be ensorcelled somehow.

Insight:  22

(The snail drifts off into the swamp, contentedly hunting for more shrubbery to snack on.)

The party is a little more than halfway to the balloon, by their reckoning, although long distances seemed very hard to judge from atop the raised highway.

Ben examines Matilda for signs of charms or other arcane influence, but she seems her usual curious self.

A set of stairs lead up to the double doors leading within, the only doors it appears to have. They remain closed. There are many windows, but you can see no movement - nor much of anything else - within. 

Ben:

Shrugging, Ben follows after her (and now Titaani as well), but he remains very suspicious of this walking hut and what powerful being might be inside.  

He does give one last warning, though, “If we go inside and the hut gets up and walks again, we will have no idea how to get to the downed balloon basket.”

Horatio:

"Yeah, things being what they are here, that hut is actually more and more frightening as we approach it. So far things here are like things back home, but not that. That thing could just be a giant monster trying to lure us into its mouth. How about this..." He picks up a rock. "If it's just a harmless house that has legs, it won't mind." 

Horatio hurls the stone at one of the house' windows.