"Yeah, this isn't going to end well, I suggest we not continue with this tribute. Let's get our stuff, I need my symbol to cast some stuff!"
Ventus frowns at their surroundings, "Siolad, get your spell ready, I'm going to give the ladies a chance to drop the pretenses and deal with us fairly. I'd rather not have to deal with a coven of angry witches."
Siolad nods. He keeps his eyes on the witches, searching for anything indicative of an illusion.
"Maid's likely an innocent. Mother & Crone?" Siolad whispers.
Ensu studies the women more closely.
"Maid isn't bad looking either, redhead, more orange than mine."
"Excuse me, ladies," Ventus calls out to the witches, "I believe we have been misled. Can we drop the illusions? My friends and I do not like being lied to or being bargained with under false pretenses."
As Ventus speaks, Siolad hastily grabs his gear and puts it on.
Jig's up. Jig's up.
The words for his teleport spell spring to mind again.
"Get ready to take my hands, guys. Or get ready to run like hell."
The Mother and Crone glare at Ventus with cold anger on their features and the Maid's eyes water with unshed tears. Suddenly filled with shame, she hides behind the other women.
"We see what we want to see", the Crone explains. "Some lies are told to as a mercy. Are you certain you know what you're asking?"
"I can already see you for what you are," Ventus said, "Some, it seems, are lucky or unlucky enough to see through your weavings. I am not one to break a deal though and I am willing to offer two pieces of my equipment to cover my friends tribute in their stead."
"Please don't take this the wrong way, but... um... isn't it better to bargain on the level, ladies?" Siolad says. He winces.
Pirknok frowns. "Hope they're okay," he mutters. "Witches shudint be messed with."
Silently he gets up and retrieves his armor, his sword already having been strapped to his waist. Still frowning, he begins putting on his armor. "Tea does sound good, though," he adds after a few seconds.
”Fine!” the Crone barks. ”I’m of the mind that we should turn all of you into field mice and let the hawks outside have their fun but this opportunity might still be salvaged. At least one of you has some decency.”
The Crone and Mother gesture briefly revealing their true forms - towering hunchbacked hags. Long limp greasy hair frames their monstrous features and they sneer at Ensu and Siolad. ”Out. Both of you”, the Mother growls.
The Maid continues to cower behind her monstrous kin.
"Hold on," Ventus goes to the chest and takes out his equipment, "One final request, I want to know if this is the path you have chosen for yourself," Ventus says, looking directly at the Maid.
Ensu gets dressed completely but stays.
With her arms strategically positioned, the Maid pokes her head out. ”Y-yes”, she stammers weakly. ”These women are my family and you’ve been very rude.”
”See granddaughter, it’s as I told you. Men are not to be trusted”, the Crone warns.
"Somehow, I doubt that." Siolad shoots back, clad in his robes and gear.
"And you're ones to talk, seducing and using men while clad in illusions." The elf glowers while leaving the cave.
”Men are shallow. Cowards. We mask our forms for your benefit. You cannot appreciate our true beauty”, the Mother adds.
The Maid nods weakly in understanding.
The Mother's words finally get Siolad to stop. He turns, his face blank. "Thank the gods above for that."
He addresses the Maiden. "Is this really the sort of life you want for yourself? I won't lie--there are countless men who are shallow and cowardly, but does hiding your true self from them make you any better? Are you doing this because *you* want to? Or are you doing this because you want your family to accept you? How far are you willing to go for that?"
He turns back to the cavern entrance. "Think on it. That's what a person would do, not a pawn." He leaves.
"They are my family and I do want to do this", the Maid manages with a little more confidence.
Siolad is able step back out into the cool mountain air without anymore harassment beyond a scoff of disdain from the Crone.
"So the others mentioned a benefit for aligning ourselves with you. What exactly do you have to offer us?"
”We had agreed to help you in your conflict with the ogres that have claimed the caves above but since you and the elf have betrayed our agreement, you should be grateful that I haven’t set my mind to picking the flesh from your bones with my teeth”, the Crone says with plain hostility. ”If you insist on staying and witnessing your companion’s coupling with my granddaughter, I suggest you remain utterly silent.”
The Crone is furious, on the verge of ending all civility and attacking. The only thing holding her back is the continued faith that the coupling between Ventus and the Maid will still happen. The Maid seems honest.
"If I may, I'd like to confer with my companion here before he does this. I believe he might need some pointers from someone more...experienced than he is. This is an important rite for the Maid here and I'd like to see it happen appropriately."
Without waiting for permission, Ensu steps over to Ventus and turning his back on the hags, he whispers. "I don't trust these things. In order to overcome them, we might need to get them out of their proper physical position. I wish the wizard hadn't left. What might you know about the hags?
Siolad pauses at the entrance of the cave. He racks his brain...
I shouldn't have left them behind. Maiden, Mother, Crone... smacks of hags. But what?
He keeps thinking as he starts back inside the cave. Can't leave them in there alone. They'll probably regret it...
He makes sure to cast his extended stoneskin spell before he goes too far.
The Crone is a Blood Hag. She can charge herself with fiery energy and literally explode if angered. She is also resistant to magic.
The Maid is a normal human girl, nervous and self-conscious. She does not appear to have any monstrous or otherworldly traits.
Siolad's eyes widen. "Oh no."
They definitely need help. Everyone needs to be there.