The Witch stepped forward, smiling pleasantly. The creature beside her was unmoving. It was disconcertingly still, unlike the Witch who moved much as one would expect from a living being in spite of the fact she was clearly a doll.

"My my, a Nem, I see?" she said, tilting her head as she spoke, "Seeing you reminds me I should make a nem doll~"

Placing her doll-jointed fingers to her mouth, the Witch giggled. If that was meant to be a compliment or a threat, it was impossible to tell.

Velvetica took a deep breath. Kayliss was correct, of course. There was absolutely no reason to start something here, even if they were facing a Witch. The doll girl, no matter how harmless she looked, was an incredibly powerful and unnatural practitioner of arts poorly understood even by the most learned of magi.

The Steel Princess had to confess she disliked even being near her. But, she was no fool.

Fighting her wasn't necessary. She wouldn't hesitate, even knowing her power was undoubtedly enormous, if it became so.

But striking without reason was foolish.

Still, Sir Roger was right. The absence of any of the prisoners was disconcerting to say the least.

"... You're right, Witch, this is only what we intended," she said, finally, "But this cult took prisoners. Where are they?"

"You don't have to refer to me as 'Witch' you know," responded the doll girl, steepling her fingers and winking, her tongue protruding playfully, "I do have a name."

Velvetica sighed heavily. It was clear the Witch would rather play games then give clear answers from the outset, but it was unlikely they had any other options at the moment.

"Then, what [i]is[/i] your name?"

The Doll girl curtsied, eyes shut, head bowed.

"Tabitha. It's very nice to meet you~"

Tabitha.

The Doll Witch.

Some said that when the Doll Witch took an interest in someone, she stole them away. She kept them. She made them into dolls themselves. Even her own body was a doll, no longer flesh and blood but an imitation, pale, jointed, unliving. And yet she moved like a leaving thing. Beyond the paleness of her skin and the joints, Velvetica supposed it would be impossible to tell the difference. Even her skin appeared, aside from an unnatural shine, to be more far more like human skin then she would have expected from a doll.

"... If you took-"

"I know what you're going to ask," replied the Doll Witch, "And I had nothing to do with it. There were no prisoners when I arrived. Not even their bodies. Curious, isn't it?"

She sighed.

"Perhaps they discovered something more valuable they could do with the still-living? Maybe someone left something behind here that would let you know? Alas, I haven't the faintest idea where they may have gone..."

Valuable?

They weren't among the dead. If it was something more valuable... had the cultists [i]sold[/i] them?

Or was she rushing to conclusions when the answer was already looking them in the face?

"In any case, as long as you don't plan on disturbing this tomb any further I have no intention of fighting you," the Witch continued, eyeing the demon briefly as she did, "There are simply some things that are better left alone, and you're far more likely to discover the clues you seek in the camp."

Velvetica's hand had not left Starshine's hilt, but she relaxed ever-so-slightly. There was little [i]reason[/i] for the Witch to bother hinting at possible evidence for the location of the prisoners if she was the one who took them in the first place. Someone that powerful had no reason to mislead them.

"... However... I wonder if you truly believe yourselves capable? Can you really defend the land and its people from whatever may threaten it?"

What?

"Of course. I am sworn to Velt, and so are my Lions," Velvetica responded, narrowing her eyes. The tone of the Witch's voice...

"Shall we test that?"

She stepped back.

The twisted doll beside her surged forward.

[@Raineh Daze][@Rin][@AzureKnight][@Psyker Landshark][@The Otter][@VKAllen][@Eisenhorn][@Crimson Paladin][@Conscripts][@HereComesTheSnow][@Octo][@PigeonOfAstora]