Well, to be fair, all that we were told about those witches was:
"Though the coven have not caused me any problems directly, I believe it to be the one they serve who is causing the swamp to spread. They practice their dark magics somewhere within the southern shore, among the caves that litter cliffs. Go and find them and if it is they who are behind the spread of the swamp....destroy them."
Azabik asks a further question of the Dryad, "how will we know for certain? I have some knowledge of magic but I fear it may not be enough."
The Dryad smiled gently at the dragon "If their master is who I believe it is, then you will know when you see him."
No one said that who the coven serves is "bad", the dryad was very terse and cryptic about "him".
We were told that they are likely to blame for the growth of the swamp, but trying to enlarge one's liveable environment is something most species do, that doesn't necessarily make them evil.
And even if the dryad outright had told us that the "master" was "bad", that doesn't necessarily make the witches bad, too. Often times (good or neutral) people serve evil rulers for a number of reasons. Like they don't know their leader is bad. Or they don't have a choice (e.g. hostile situation). Which is part of why Sapphire would have liked to find out more about them, before deciding to "destroy" them. Or not.
Another important part is, that we don't know that much about the dryad, either. She's a powerful magical being, and she doesn't like us killing the frogs (even threatened to kill us, if it happens again). She's not aggressive per se (might be tied to the fact that she's bound into one place) and she gives away free food, but avoids to answer the question if other creatures than the frogs are under her protection. For all we know she might just be an environmental over-activist nut and the witches or their leader might have pissed her off just by killing some (or a LOT) of frogs and that lead to her "dark magics" comment.
And I asked about burns' possible fumble at taking off, because it is important for me to have Sapphire make herself a better picture of the witches' behaviour. They say "leave, or be forced to leave", then make him stay forcibly. To me that doesn't make any sense, except if they were taking him to their leader (as per his request). I'm not saying they HAVE to make sense (some villains are just
bananas), but if they behave erratic and don't seem likely to be reasoned with, Sapphire will be much less hesitant to try the dryad's suggestion, instead (if she can find a way of making that work), whereas if they can be negotiated with, she won't attack them just on the behest of another creature.
So to sum up: I'm not entirely sure how we are to gather intelligence about them (which I definitely would prefer to have, even IF we will end up destroying them), if we can't see through the foliage, magic peeking doesn't yield anything useful (so far) and landing draws their attention & anger. But maybe you didn't mean for us to gather intelligence about them. Easily, or even at all. If so, we'll just have to deal with this challenge.
(Btw., I collected all the updates since we met the dryad together in the spoiler, if you'd like to see for yourself, maybe I have overlooked something.)
► Show Spoiler
*Hellooo, is anyone homeee?*
Azabik and Sapphire look around for somewhere to land and upon finding a branch encrusted around a half-broken tower of some long forgotten building that had been caught up with the tree. Having landed, the two of them made their way carefully to the trunk of the tree and as they looked about, a path seemed to create itself from the tree, as if something had felt their arrival. Intrigued by this sense of welcome, the two dragons followed the path as it wound up and around the trunk until they finally arrived upon a flat plateau of tree that felt almost like a courtyard. It was unique in that there were stones from whatever building once existed which protruded from the wood almost seamlessly. Within niches where tree and stone met there were flowers of numerous varieties which were in full bloom. As the two dragons looked around this open courtyard, they saw something moving beneath the bark of the tree and out from it slowly stepped a voluptuous womanly figure, clothed in bark not unlike the very bark that they stood upon. The figure stood there before them, unashamed of her nudity and welcomed them. "What can I do for you, my guests?"
*Like a Leaf*
Standing before the dryad that they had only recently met, Azabik forgot himself and the youngling who asked questions emerged. "hello dryad. My name is Azabik, what is yours? I would appreciate if you tell me how this magnificent tree is so much larger than the ones surrounding it. We also seek guidance to the ruined human castle."
Taken aback from a barrage of questions, the Dryad looked at this dragon with a measure of suspicion. "Greetings Azabik, my name is...or was...Willow. In time, the trees that dryads inhabit become large, though perhaps not this large. This tree came into being because of magic, how I cannot truly say. As for this ruined castle that you speak of, you have already arrived."
Sapphire to the dryad as well, but she spoke with a softer tone which reassured the dryad of the two dragons intentions. "Hello. My name is Sapphire and I heard about you from Shrak'ralæ, the purple one, you have met him earlier? I would like to learn more about you, about nature, about the frog creatures, about the swamp, about those witches and other things, if you don't mind. Also, it would be nice to have a safe place to stay and rest, and you seem the most peaceful and even protective of their own creature we have encountered so far. Maybe I could help you with any problems you have and in return, I will always be welcome here?"
The Dryad, removed from the tree, walked across the smooth wooden courtyard that the dragons found themselves in. She walked around each of them, looking closely and examining them. She walked with a certain amount of elegance, as if blown by the wind across the wooden surface. When her inspection of them was complete, she walked back to where she had met them. Up from the bark rose an elegant chair that looked as if it were as alive as she was. In this, she sat and closed her eyes, remembering fondly the dragon named Shrak'ralæ. "Yes, I remember the Lord of the Sky that was here, he was kind and gentle, he had a good heart. Puck took to him quickly, which is uncommon for a sprite to do so, especially with a dragon as your kind is often of a more fierce variety. This is indeed a safe place, and everyone that I allow to stay is protected by me. You should know though, young dragon, that my protection is something offered not something requested for. This is outside of the norm to request such a thing. Though, perhaps I do have something that you can look into for me, but I cannot promise you that it will be an easy task or a safe one. If you are willing to look into..a few matters for me, as I am stuck in my tree, then...I may become more willing to accept more dragons within my branches."
*Tree Kingdom*
Azabik responds with confusion "this does not look like the ruined castle the humanÔÇÖs spoke of, it looks more of a lush forest, perhaps that is why none can find it.
The Dryad tinkled with laughter "My home was born from the ruins of the castle that was once here. There are many pieces within these trunk and branches that can still be found, but largely, the ruins are this tree, thus you have arrived. Sapphire also wonders about what other dragons would have been here, but remembers that her purple nest-mate was here not too long ago, perhaps that is who the Dryad was referring too.
Sapphire relaxes a bit in the presence of the Dryad and both She and Azabik offer to their help to the her. The Dryad sits up in her chair, no longer lounging in its comfort. Rising, she struts over to the southern side of the plateau and points to the South. As she does so, the tree creaks and a hole through the foliage appears allowing both dragons and Dryad an unobstructed view in the direction of the south. Far to the south, the trio can see a thin line of black smoke rising from the swamp. "Though the coven have not caused me any problems directly, I believe it to be the one they serve who is causing the swamp to spread. They practice their dark magics somewhere within the southern shore, among the caves that litter cliffs. Go and find them and if it is they who are behind the spread of the swamp....destroy them." Her final words were said with such vigor that the entire tree shuddered.
*Queen of the Tree*
Azabik asks a further question of the Dryad, "how will we know for certain? I have some knowledge of magic but I fear it may not be enough."
The Dryad smiled gently at the dragon "If their master is who I believe it is, then you will know when you see him."
Sapphire shivered as the tree shuddered, "Yes, I will try to find the witches and talk to them. I hope destroying them will not be necessary, though.
In the meantime is there any way to communicate to the frog creatures which Shrak'ralæ said were under your protection that we don't mean them any harm, so they will leave us alone? I would not attack them on my own account, but I will defend myself, if need may be.
And... are you able to communicate mentally over great distances? Because in that case I could tell you what I find out about the coven without having to fly back here."
The Dryad stood and walked to the far side of the courtyard, to the tree that had been her exit. Here she stepped into the tree, as easy as a human might step through a doorway. A few moments later, she exited, holding what looked like a bag woven from the tree itself. Bag in hand, she approached the dragons and opened the pouch so that they could see inside. Within the bag were several seeds which glowed softly in the darkness of the bag. "These are a few of the my seeds, plant them upon a spot that is out of the swamp and they will swiftly grow into a tree, though not quite as large as this one. As I've told you, I cannot leave this tree, but the roots of this tree travel a great distance. These trees that you plant, will allow me to travel to the that tree in order to speak with you." She laughed to herself as she saw that they had no way to carry the seeds, but approached Sapphire hesitantly. With great care, the Dryad wove an armlet made of wood around the Sapphires Arm, above the elbow. The armlet was tight enough to stay, but not so tight that it didn't allow movement. The armlet had a wooden catch which was quite pliable for being made of wood, upon which the Dryad slipped the pouch onto her armlet.
(A dragons Talons can be used almost like fingers, allowing for the gripping and handling of small objects.)
*A strange fruit, but not untasty*
Sapphire tells Willow, the Dryad of their intent on looking into the matter at hand but that they are hungry and need to seek nourishment before trying to find the Coven. Sapphire asks if there are any creatures within the swamp that can be eaten other than the frogmen. Willow smiles warmly "If it is nourishment that you need, you had but only to ask." She reaches her hand up toward the tree, which bends a branch down toward her hand. Upon the end of the branch begins to grow a large fruit which by the time it is red and ripe is the size of a small goat. With a small shake, the fruit released itself from the branch and rolled over in front of Sapphire. Willow repeated her actions and in moments another fruit ripened before their very eyes and was sent rolling until coming to a stop in front of Azabik. "While this might not be the meat that you are used to, it is a magical fruit which will supply you the sustenance that you require." When sapphire expresses her interest in learning more about nature and magic and the balance of life, the Dryad smiles warmly. "Find out what is causing the swamp to spread and stop it and we will talk more about what I can teach you."
*Magical Fruit*
Sapphire and Azabik look closely at the strange and quite large fruit. Azabik nibbles at his gingerly at first, not knowing what to expect but more quickly as the tastes flood his mouth. Though the fruit is not an creature or fish which is his typical fare, he gobbles down the large fruit quickly smacking his lips when he finishes and looks expectantly at Sapphire and her fruit wondering if perhaps he can have a bit of hers. Sapphire, ever the cautious dragon, takes a magical peak at her fruit. With so much practice now under her belt, she is able to create "magical lenses" in which to see the world through, though they have a short range. Looking at the fruit through the lenses, she sees that it pulses with magical energy, as does the dryad, as does the entire tree. As she looks closer at the tree itself, she can see that the tree is pulsing with more magical energy than over a thousand dragons combined.
Once she finishes her meal and thanks the Dryad, she and Az leap to the sky, flying south. She wishes that she could use her magic to detect other magics from afar, but cannot figure out how at such a distance. (Range of Magical Lenses is about 100 Ft).
In a few hours of flight time, the two dragons reach the southern shore but find only beaches, though as South is a very general direction, its possible that the caves are either cleverly hidden, or elsewhere along the shore.
*Swampy Witches*
Sapphire and Azabik agree to separate in order to look for the coven's location, Azabik flies east and Sapphire flies west. Sapphire flies west for only a few brief minutes before she spots the land rising up into sea cliffs, which she signals Az about before he is able to get out of "earshot". The two of them begin to fly along this small section of cliffs and come up empty handed until finally Sapphire spots a very small sliver of beach tucked away in a small bay. Here, through the dense foliage, she can see movement, but she is sure that if she has spotted them, they have probably already spotted her.
*A fool's errand*
Azabik, sure of his dragon might, lands on the beach and speaks to the humans milling about "hello humans! I know not of human customs, but I do hope to know humans better."
The beach erupts into chaos as people run into the caves that line the seaside cliffs. As the chaos of escape finally fades and the beach becomes empty of life, 7 humans walk bolding from the center most cave and the center one speaks. "What brings you here dragon?" he practically spits the words out, as if disgusted by the very sight of him.
*A Concerning Demand*
Azabik truly had the best intentions as he kindly greeted the 7 women who stood before him, but the anger etched across the faces met his kind words with a wall. The middle one spoke again to him. "You are not welcome here dragon, leave or be forced to leave." There was an edge in the leader's voice as she spoke. Sapphire continued passing overhead and on one such flyby, she donned her magical lenses. Though there was no visible signs, the witches were beginning to glow with magic, as if building to some unknown crescendo.
*A Sandy Faceplant*
Sapphire warns Azabik about the magic that she senses as well as telling him off for being rude. Azabik, finally realizing that perhaps he landed in a somewhat sticky situation, apologizes to the witches and makes to fly away. "....Sorry I did not mean to intrude on your home. will you be willing to speak with me elsewhere?". As he attempts to leap skyward, the seven witches start chanting as one and the lead witch raises her hands at him. Invisible manacles wrap around his appendages and wings and as he turns to bite at one of them, around his snout as well. Thus trapped, the witches begin walking backward toward the cave-mouth that they had come from, dragging him with them.
Sapphire, still flying above, watches as Azabik tries to take off and then faceplants into the sand. Using her magical lenses, she can see that Az is bound by magical ropes.