"If we can get Wigglewog down without disturbing the snakes, I am happy for us to bury him. Bavlorna Blightstraw is one of the trio of hags known as the Hourglass Coven, along side her two sisters. Not that they get on at all. They used an artifact called Iggwilv’s Cauldron, to freeze time in Zybilna’s palace, trapping her inside, and splitting Prismeer up between them into Hither, Thither and Yon. This is Hither. As for avoiding them, she typically stays in her home at the heart of Downfall, a bullywug settlement, which is where I was captive until Wigglewog defied their king to try free me."

Fa'ame listens to this with interest, explaining... "Sounds very much like the hag who enticed me here in the first place... Though the brigands called her Lorna Lockjaw... If we ever needed to get close to her again, I might have some ideas of how we could go about it." 

"I have heard it as Slack-jaw Lorna. Lorna from Bavlorna. Slack-jaw as her jaw opens wide. She has been known to swallow her minions and other small creatures who disappoint her."

"Sounds to me that we owe Wigglewog that much. Defied his king to try and save you and it cost him everything, least we can do is give him the respect he earned from us. Not that I want to tangle with the snakes but perhaps we can trap them somehow and not have to come to blows." Barreknar didn't like snakes but he also felt he should only kill those who deserve killing, provoking someone into self defense isn't a good look either.

Moneo had been ready to leave, but pauses and says, "If the snakes didn't climb the tower to grab the good Sir, it seems unlikely that they'll do so for poor Wigglewog. But if it is important to you we can find a way to deal with them. Do you think we could talk with them?" Disappointedly remembering his 'failed' attempt at speaking with the wolf who turned into a person, Moneo would cast Speak with Animals again as a ritual if that is to be their plan of action.

Suprised it's a question, Barreknar realizes that maybe some don't follow the the same ideas as him and wasn't going to force his will on the group. "Well he didn't give his life to help me, so I would say those who owe him the most should make the call if the call to action out weights the rights of the fallen."

Fa'ame looks up at the basket... "A living thing deserves to be returned to the soil it sprang from... Even... Perhaps especially in a place like this."

Fa'ame eyes the snakes, trying to determine their intent... Do they seem to be actively guarding the tower, searching for prey or just having a nice little snooze?

Since it looks like they’re gonna have to deal with the snakes to retrieve the body, Moneo finishes his spell and walks forward slowly, staying out of the brambles, and says to them, “Hey sssnakesss. How’sss it going? Find anything interesssting in there? Need any asssissstanssce?”

The snakes are having a snooze. They do wake up when Moneo talks to them. "We were sssent to retrieve a ssssmall dragon in a cage in that basssket. But we don't feel like climbing if we don't have to sssso we are waiting for it to fall down. The fabric is ssslowly ripping."

Moneo, now careful to keep the cage hidden behind him, says, “Ah, I sssee. Though I’m quite sure the basssket is empty. If you’d like, maybe one of usss could go up and show you?” ((Persuasion 14))

Barreknar stands there behind Moneo, morning star still in hand but trying to hold it casually and lean on it a bit like a cane to try and show they weren't hostile, but not helpless either.

Fa'ame squats down on her haunches, watching the exchange between the snakes and Moneo with joyful fascination, but an utter lack of comprehension. 

Eliaanore is "silently" chasing crickets, though her frustration is getting the better of her. A slew of curses can be heard flying from her mouth as she nearly falls face first into the nearest muddy embankment. She's not silent.

(OOC: did anyone stay with our new caged friend?)

(sleight of tail? of 18 rolled in game log for Moneo) "Empty? Impossssible. We heard the dragon make noisssessss assss we got here, and no one elsssse hasss tried to come passssst. We will prove you wrong." and one of the snakes slithers up, seeing the empty basket "He essscaped? Guessss we have no reassson to return to Bavlorna now." and the snakes slither off. You are able to climb the stairs with no difficulty and with two of you, grab the bullywug. Assuming someone has a shovel or some way to dig you are able to make a grave, otherwise, it will be a very shallow burial in the mud.

As Barr and whoever helps deals with the digging, Moneo turns back to their new friend in the cage and says, “You mentioned that the Hags have frozen Zyblina in her palace?” He then turns back towards Barr and says, “Barr, it seems that we may have found our Warlock’s patron, though there may be more to this than ‘simply’ coming to the Feywild to find her… We may have to deal with some hags…”

Still laughing about how the ordeal with the snakes went, Barreknar says while digging, "I'm not sure we ever really thought this would be simple, though I didn't expect as much digging involved!"

"That is correct. It is why this place is so swampy, due to the influence of Bavlorna."

When they're all ready and done here, Moneo is happy to walk and talk towards the key holder. While going he says, "And who are your king and queen? Will they be able to help this place? Is it possible to free Prismeer from the hags?"