Vira furrows her brow, frustration flashing across her face as she takes the map from B'Reh and examines it closely, her talons brushing over the marked red circle. "I don’t understand how we veered off this much," she mutters, more to herself than anyone else. Her sharp eyes scan the surrounding swamp, searching for anything that might explain their disorientation. "I’ve walked plenty of trails in my time, but this place…it’s like it wants to get you lost."

She looks up at Kenna, her expression softening slightly despite the tension. "Kenna, calm down. We’re not going to leave you to fend for yourself, but running blindly will only get us more lost—or worse." Vira straightens, gripping her greataxe firmly. "If this is the swamp witch’s hut, then maybe she knows something about this place that we don’t."

(Sorry, I've been sick the last few days.)

B'Reh’s shoulders slump slightly as she stares at the map in Vira's hands, a deep sense of guilt weighing her down. She grips her amulet tightly, silently praying for clarity before speaking. "This...this is my fault," she admits, her voice low. "I was so determined to get us out of this swamp quickly, I pushed for haste over caution. Now we’re off track, and worse, we’ve stumbled into a place that even the locals fear." Her gaze shifts toward the distant hut, her feathers ruffling slightly. "If Kenna and her uncle believe this ‘swamp witch’ is dangerous, then disturbing her may only make things worse for us. For all we know, she could be a hag or some other creature powerful enough to thrive in a place like this. Whoever lives here clearly isn’t bothered by the dangers of the swamp, and that alone should give us pause."

She turns to Vira and the others, her expression resolute despite her self-reproach. "Perhaps it’s a misunderstanding and she’s harmless, but do we really want to take that risk? If we’ve survived this long without her aid, maybe it’s wiser to simply correct our course and find our way back. Now that we know we’re lost, we can be more careful—use the landmarks, check the map often, and move slowly to avoid more mistakes. Realizing an error is, as they say, the first step toward doing better."

Her gaze lingers on Kenna for a moment. "But if we do decide to approach, we must tread carefully. Let’s make sure we all agree before taking such a step."

[[ Totally fine, seems that's been a common thread recently. Hope you're recovering well! ]]

"Harmless? She's an evil witch! She uses her magic to lead travelers astray in the swamp! She'll use us as slime bait!" Kenna still looks very nervous as she pleads with you all to leave.

DC 12 Insight Check:

Vira insight: 7 (or 11 if passive)

B'Reh studies Kenna for a moment (Insight 17), her feathers settling as she speaks calmly, "Kenna, these stories you've heard—are they your own, or just what others have told you? Fear spreads easily, but we must base our actions on truth, not rumor." She glances toward the hut and tries to convince Kenna that now as a group might actually be the best chance to check that potential threat. "We’ll be careful, but running without understanding the danger could lead to greater harm." (Persuasion 16, incl 3 from guidance)

"Well, I mean, I've never seen her, if that's what you're asking. But Uncle Walden said never to go near here!" She appears stuck for a moment, caught between perhaps years of stories and her own naturally-inquisitive nature. "But...I guess you're right. You all handled those slimes, so I'm sure you could handle the witch too."

She lets out a sigh. "Okay. We can see if she knows a quicker way home, if that's what you all want to do." She puts on a brave face, reaching once again for her small sample-collecting knife.

"Here Kenna. This will be of more use in a fight, if that's where this ends up." Brynlee grabs one of the daggers at her belt, the wooden handle etched with fine carvings of leaves and flowers, and holds it out to the young corvum. "Keep it safe for me. It was a very special gift when I became a Tender." She then pulls her own amethyst shard from a pocket, and holds it firmly in her hand, looking to the two strig. "Are we sure about this?"

Vira watches Kenna take the dagger, nodding approvingly. "Good. If it comes to a fight, don’t hesitate. But let’s hope it doesn’t." She glances toward the hut, her keen eyes scanning the structure and its surroundings. She turns to Brynlee, offering a reassuring nod. With that, she takes the lead, stepping forward with steady confidence toward the so-called swamp witch’s hut.

(Sorry for not posting sooner. I hope many of you that are sick feel better soon. I was waiting to see where this was going.)

Aric will step up saying "I'll go talk to her and see if she can help us get back on track home."

He walks up towards the door of the hut and says in a calm voice "Hello. Is anyone home?"

B'Reh watches Aric step forward, her grip tightening briefly on her spear before she exhales and murmurs a quiet prayer. Holding her amulet, she channels a gentle pulse of divine guidance, letting it settle over him like a steadying wind. "May the Rhythm guide your words," she says softly, her eyes fixed on the hut, ready for whatever comes next.

Aric looks back and smiles with a nod to B'Reh for the words of encouragement (and guidance)

Kenna follows your group nervously as you approach. Immediately after Aric speaks, a somewhat crotchety woman's voice calls back from inside.

"Eh? Who's there?? Go away! I've told you not to come here!!"

[[ Guys I'm running out of unique colors that are actually readable it's a lot harder to do this for every character than just for your own PC. ]]

[[ LOL; It's ok, we do appreciate it but its not needed (in my opinion) ]]

Aric responds to the woman's voice as politely as he can "Hello. It's Aric. I'm terribly sorry to bother you, but my friends and I are a bit turned around. Can you please help us get back on the path to town."

The door cracks open the smallest bit, and the long thin nose of a hedge pokes out for a moment. "Am I supposed to know who that is? Go away, I'm busy. Path's that way," and she waves a hand dismissively in the general direction you came from, before going back into the small house. The door remains open a tiny crack, and you can smell something foul, yet herbal, wafting out from inside.

"Okay! Well, sounds like the path is back that way, so probably we should be going now. Please?" Kenna pipes up nervously from down on the ground off the porch.

Vira tilts her head at the so-called witch's response. She doesn't seem interested in doing harm to them, at least, and they have a direction to go in now.

"Alright. We shouldn't press our luck too much." She agrees with Kenna, not so much out of fear as not wanting to bother the woman further. To live so far out of the way, she must want her privacy.

Aric thanks her and heads in the direction of the path.

Vira will head into the vague direction and see if she can spot a path. The witch wasn't very specific.

Survival: 5

B'Reh hesitates for a moment, then steps forward, ignoring Kenna’s nervous fidgeting. She approaches the door once more and raps her knuckles against the wood, her voice steady but respectful. "I apologize for the intrusion, but we truly are lost. Your guidance would be deeply appreciated. If you could step out, even for a moment, and point us in the right direction with more certainty, we would be grateful." She pauses, then adds, "My name is B'Reh, servant to the Great Rhythm. May I ask who I have the honor of speaking with?" Her grip remains loose on her spear, making it clear that she means no threat, but her sharp eyes scan for any reaction from inside.

The door, still slightly cracked from the witch not closing it tightly, swings open wider as B'Reh knocks against it, the smell wafting out more strongly.

The same voice replies from within, "Can't step out, this is a delicate process!" She sighs, then says "Come in and shut the door. I'll help you when I'm finished."

As you enter the cottage and your eyes adjust from the bright light outside to the dim interior, you see bundles of herbs hanging from the ceiling, and rows of jars with different bits of organic matter suspended in liquid. The strange hedge woman stands before a giant snail shell propped up over a fire, which contains a bubbling liquid she is stirring with a long stick. A large beetle sits near her feet, occasionally fluttering its wings and hopping from side to side while she works.

"My name is Susan. This is Normal. I'm working on a summoning ritual, seeking answers about a vision I had. You all can wait over there, it shouldn't be too much longer." She once again waves her hand in a general direction away from herself, but with five people inside the cottage besides Susan, there doesn't seem to be much space to retreat away from her, nor to sit and wait.

B'Reh steps carefully into the dimly lit cottage, the rich scent of herbs and something acrid filling her senses. She inclines her head respectfully to Susan and her oddly named companion, Normal, taking care not to disturb anything in the cramped space. Folding her wings slightly to avoid brushing against the hanging bundles, she moves just enough to give others room while keeping her presence unobtrusive. "Thank you for your hospitality, Susan," she says in a measured, respectful tone. "I will not distract you from your work, but I must admit that your ritual is intriguing. Not long ago, I, too, had a dream that felt... significant. As though it carried a message I could not yet decipher. A ritual such as this would have been welcome to help make sense of it."

She keeps her gaze lowered, resisting the urge to examine the strange jars and organic materials in more detail. She does not wish to seem prying, nor to risk offense by appearing overly curious about the hedge’s methods. Instead, she focuses on Susan, watching for any sign of reaction—whether recognition, dismissal, or perhaps something more.

Vira remains near the doorway, arms crossed but relaxed, keeping a sharp eye on Susan and her peculiar setup. The witch doesn’t seem dangerous—at least, not yet. Her work, however, is another story. Summoning rituals could mean many things, and Vira has seen enough magic to know that ‘seeking answers’ doesn’t always lead to good things.

Still, there’s no immediate threat. She takes in the jars, the suspended herbs, and the strange bubbling concoction in the giant snail shell with open curiosity. This place feels lived-in, not like the lair of some wicked hag but a hermit’s home, full of oddities and mystery. Even Normal, the beetle, just seems...well, normal enough.

Perception: nat 20 + 3