"Captain's" Log, Fourth Entry

We arrived in Willowdale a couple of days ago, but didn't stay. We went to the town hall, talked to the headman, and agreed that we'd start our investigation slowly, and speak with the locals after things had calmed down a bit... but that was before we picked up the trail. Rabbit tracks, but Caeli seemed to think they had the scent of people on them. They looked normal to me, but she's knowledgeable in such things, so I didn't think to question it much. It led into the Marshes, Caeli split up to pursue a different lead, which left the rest of us to blaze our own trail. It seemed like we were making good headway at first, but by the time the day was out we'd gotten turned around and, against all sense, went in a complete circle. That's not right, not natural. But that wasn't the worst thing that happened.
 
Long story short, we got separated. I met a copy of myself, and according to the others, they had similar experiences. While those two had the good sense to engage with their doubles like actual people, yours truly had the singularly genius idea to try to fight themselves, then thought to try and outsmart it by disguising themselves as a certain druid. For my own sake, I'm not going to elaborate too much on what followed, but needless to say, my idiocy got me singed, and I barely escaped. I found the others, we made camp for the night, and woke up to find Chuck's horn had turned up missing. Just our luck.
 
Our fortune began to turn shortly, though. Caeli turned up, and the shrub that Chuck and the kid had been cooing over the whole trip decided to wake up. To no one's surprise, he, too, is now named Chuck. Got to admit, I like the little guy, and I think he likes me.
 
We decided to head further into the swamp, and happened upon a cottage and a beautiful garden. Place like that in a horrible bog like this ain't right, and it gave me the fucking creeps right away. Caeli had words with some of the critters frolicking about and confirmed the suspicion that something fucky was going on. About sixteen of them around in total, matched up with our list of missing people, claimed to have dreams where they walked on two legs. We were discussing what to do when the owner invited us in.
 
Melody, her name was. Mage, apparently older than the war. Chuck seems to know her. I like her, but I really don't like her, if that makes sense. She's polite, or at least tries to act like it, and I don't doubt she must feel isolated out here, but something's very off about her. It's as if all those years made it hard for her to relate to ordinary people. She tried to get us to sit down and have tea with her before she started taking questions about the missing people, but got real angry when Caeli wouldn't go along at first, and had a bit of an episode. Whatever else she is, she's strong, and absolutely terrifying. I was eager to cooperate after that little display, but it rubbed me the wrong way. Coercion is one thing, but that was something else.
 
She had a friend with her - Morticia, was that it? - who had Chuck's horn, and claimed a piece of strange looking machinery from it for herself. Then she threatened us if we withheld any others like it from her, and left. Real charmer, that one. Don't know what all that was about, or why she was palling around with someone like Melody (though I have my suspicions), but good riddance. At least we got Chuck's stuff back.
 
As it turns out, Melody knows who's been getting the villagers to up and leave. It was Auntie Nettle, one of the witches further into the Marshes, one of nine sisters from the other side of the Gate. Some local lord - maybe the one Denthor the headman mentioned - went back on a deal with her, so she's taking it out on Willowdale. Melody's trying to protect the people she lures into the swamp by keeping them here, in the garden. She's unwilling to actually do anything more about the situation, because of course she is. She seems to think keeping them safe and happy as animals is enough, never mind considering what they might want. She's at least willing to take us to Auntie Nettle's residence, gave us some gear and potions too. The rest, of course, is being left up to us. She's cautioned us to try and deal with her peacefully, says Nettle can be reasoned with, but I'm not so sure it'll work out as well as she thinks it will.
 
We head out tomorrow. We'll see what happens then.