Clutching his cloak close to his body to hold back the chill, Ramious nods, "A spark. Sounds promising, let's check it out."  He points about until Leon indicates the right direction, and then Ramious starts that way. 

"Hey," Cinder says as the group walks.  "Just a thought.  If we're in the upside-down, you could maybe make the jump that things are reversed from normal in this place.  So... what's the opposite of a village full of live people?"  She taps the warpick she's carrying over one shoulder on her pauldron.  "I mean, I could be wrong, but let's just get be prepared for the eventuality that any natives we might find here won't be friendly, is all.  And that maybe the things that look like monsters here aren't."

This last part Cinder says unwillingly, as if reluctant to back down from a potential fight that might offer itself to her.

The place indeed looked and felt like something opposite of safe or trustworthy. But so far you did not see any living creature here. You can feel something is out there, but can not really catch it look.

Assuming the owl was still hoovering above, he reported disappearance of the sparkle, however, there was something moving towards adventurers instead. Eventually, owls eyes made out a tall humanoid figure, and soon all of you could see it for yourself. The figure turned out to be a tall young woman, dressed in an extremely well made armour and caring an equally well made sword. The initial impression she was giving - beautiful, of a noble origin, proud to the sin but not aggressive, definitely not an enemy.

For a while she stood at a distance studying colourful bunch of people in front of her, then finally she spoke in a melodical voice: "Greetings. An unexpected meet in such place. What brought you here, strangers?" 

"A lonely old knight, actually... and also a wayward flesh-eating hydra."  Cinder grins at the woman.  "I'm Cinder, and you're obviously old money."  She bows politely despite her frank words, following all the proper protocols of etiquette when dealing with titled individuals - at least those bits of her mother's lessons had stuck well.  "I'm sure we'd all love to be able to address you by your proper name, milady.  Care to share it?"

Leon has his owl do a circle around, to make sure no others are out there.  He stands back though, letting those better with people do the talking.

Young woman smiled politely, acknowledging Cinder's knowledge of etiquette and introduced herself: "I am known ad Princess Teya. But probably not in the lands you came from." "When you say "hydra" did you mean that monster?" She pointed at the old tracks on the ground, that by your knowledge indeed belonged to the Thessalhydra. "You must be very brave. She is not of my concerns, but when our paths crosses, we keep respectful distance. It is indeed a dangerous monster."

"She," Cinder repeats with a raised eyebrow.  "Oh, great.  She didn't happen to look pregnant, or like a new mother, did she?  Because that would explain a lot.  And also make this whole business quite a bit messier."

The Princess's smile become more natural (less official): "You are right, probably it would be more proper to call that monster "it". From the distance, the way hydra moved ... Somehow I assumed it is "she". Though I have not been near it's lair and can not confirm if it has an offspring. Hopefully, not."

"When you get to her you could see for yourself. The thessalhydra uses this place as a way to return to its lair without being tracked and to travel faster between it's hunting grounds. Like all of us who risks to explore that truly terrible place. Though I assume you know that."

Ramious looks displeased meeting yet another knight all high on their station and formality and 'honor'.... "Assume all you want. We have no idea what we're doing, and have no idea how to get out of this place assuming we survive battling the monster. How are you coming and going?"

"Yes, are you aware of ways in and out of this place?"  Leon asks, stepping forward.  "Our entrance to this realm was not of our own doing, nor do we know of a way back to the material plain from here."

The Princess looked tiefling up and down (he could be sure every rusty spot on the armour or weapon was noted, every smear of dirt observed and every scar or any kind of imperfection judged (needless to say, Princess was a very definition of perfection)) and answered with a cool even voice: "No, I do not believe you have any idea."

Then she looked at Leon regarding him - and his sword with more interest: "I am afraid my paths can not be used by anyone else. But there is something common in that place. Some call it "Upside Down" - a funny name. More suitable one would be "In-Between". This is a plane touching material plane in many points. The way to cross it - is a simple ritual. Though, you would need two things for it - a flower, that grows in caves here, and blood of a monster."

"I can show you the way to the closest cave. As of monster ... I spotted one some time ago in this area - a demogorgon. The problem is, it is very difficult to track. But it can be summoned - any creature here, and monster like that in particular - smell blood from miles away. A few drops - and it will come to you by itself."

"The ritual to cross is truly simple - find the spot, one where the planes touch, you will recognize it as everything around will resemble the material plane - put the flower on the ground and pour the blood on top of it. A few ounces of monster  blood is enough to open a gateway."

"Thank you." Leon says, giving a formal bow of respect.  "That is information we needed very much.  If you would be so kind as to show us this cave, then we will be half-way to attaining what we require for the ritual."

"Sure, that's very--- wait, what?  A demogorgon?"  Cinder's eyes narrow.  "That sounds a whole lot like a really, really powerful demon to me."  She turns to Ramious, the resident tiefling.  "Would you happen to know where one of those ranks on the Abyssal totem pole, by chance?"

Alyssa would get lost in writing her notes, trying to keep up with all of the fascinating information they were obtaining from conversing with the Princess that she would barely look up from her pages. In-between... touches... material plane... ritual... two things... flower... blood of monster... summon demongorgon with blood... ritual where planes touch... flower... blood... gateway... The elf would mouth the words as she went. Finally when she was done, she'd realize that she completely forget to introduce herself. Again.

Alyssa would look up from her notebook and bow in gratitude to the Princess. "My name is Alyssa. Thank you very much for the information you've already shared with us. Are there any specifics of this flower? Like where it grows and what it may look like?" She'd ready her pen to jot and sketch the response.

"Bloody flower power! Squawk!" Crows Hue.

Ramious looks at Cinder with a "not again" look on his face, "Yes.  I gotz wings. No, I'm not a demon.  No, I don't know about demons.  No, I don't know if my mom or dad was friends with benefits with a demon, or two, or three.....  So I ain't ever heard of a demogorgon.  Girl, your hair is on fire, do you know who the king of the fire kingdom is?  ....  wait....is that a thing?  Do you?  Anyway, I think we should follow this very polite and nice lady to a cave to look for flowers." 

"Tch, I was just asking," Cinder says.  "And yes, I do, his name's Kossuth," she mutters under her breath.

Princess appeared politely deaf to any sort of intense conversation, but did remark on demogorgon. "I do not thing that monstrosity is related to demons. Though, with creatures of chaos you can not be sure, it does look ... unpleasant. Still, I am sure you can overpower it, especially with that sword your polite friend is caring - do not know who made it, but can tell it is made from the metal mined somewhere around here, it has magic of this place and twice as dangerous for any monster". //While in the Upside Down, Winter’s Dark Bite acts like a +4 greatsword.//

Pleasant conversation made the road to the nearest cave much shorter - soon the party was standing at the big dark hole at the side of a small hill. There were no (big) tracks around, indicating a huge monstrosity inside and Princess confidently stepped in first. "Here is your flowers, Alyssa," called she the elf and pointed at the cave wall. In the weak light from outside (and in the light of Cinder's hair) you all could enjoy the local flora: sickly looking vines, crawling up the walls, covered with big - the size of a palm of a grown man - dark flowers. Even with the dark vision, it is hard to tell the color of the petals, but the weak smell of rotten meat and unpleasantly moist center of the flowers were killing any wish to make a bouquet out of them.

Princess made sure you remembered the instruction, once again mentioned that hydra's lair is somewhere outside Upside Down - you will have to track that point, and then said her goodbyes. "I wish you luck - even if doable, your task is huge. Stay strong!" She tilted her head slightly, smiled and disappeared in the darkness.

"Well, one out of two things to get out of here."  Leon says with a nod to the flowers.  "If the thesselhydra is not in the upside down, then I suppose we need to find this other creature to get its blood, otherwise we won't even be able to get to our true target."  He glances back to the flowers then.  "Maybe we should take a few of those, just in case we need to do this a few times."

Ramious nods to Leon, "Good idea....." he picks five and wraps them in a shirt, placing them deep in his pack.   After the woman is well and gone into the darkness Ramious sniffs, but you don't think he's sensing the smell of the flowers.  To himself he mutters, "Convenient she came along at the right time.  We're all saved."  Then, more loudly to the group he says, "Alright, so, sounds like we cut ourselves, draw a creature nearby, and then use its blood to open a portal out of here?  If it works, I'm not sayin we use it, just sayin, let's confirm the ladies story first.  Besides, then we'll have some creature blood too, in case we need it for later in a hurry."

"It is suppose to require the blood of a monster."  Leon says with a frown.  "While some might consider you and myself monsters, I do not know if our blood would satisfy the constraints."  as he speaks he nods to Ramious, clearly referring to himself and the tiefling.