While the majority of the party traipsed back into the swamp, Miriam led Elise back to her house. The villagers who’d participated in the search for the children meandered back through the gate after Miriam. They murmured among themselves, expressing shock over the accusations against Sheila and wondered how the capable warriors and Wizard would handle her. A few indulged morbid speculations about the fates of little Phoebe and Pockets. They showed enough courtesy to voice such questions out of earshot of Phoebe’s mother, Clo, who’d helped the party earlier with a fair price on the ship supplies.

Miriam didn’t care for any conversation. She brushed through the few who tried talking to her. Connie walked alongside her, fussing over the woman’s well-being. She ushered he mother and daughter into the plain wooden house, followed by Sundos, who wasn’t deterred by Connie’s last ditch effort to shoo him away. He arched an eyebrow and smiled as he followed the women inside.

Unseen by the villagers, Lenelle trailed Connie at a discreet distance. The Sorceress delighted in finally gaining access to a spell that rendered her invisible. It was a spell highly valued among spellcasters of numerous classes, and it was finally hers! She wove in and out of the crowd, determined to keep Connie in her sights. She saw Sundos accompany her quarry into Miriam’s home.

Following at a distance, Lenelle watched as they made their way inside the domicile.

It was tempting to try and follow them in...but not a good idea.  She was new to being invisible, and becoming aware that making optimal use of the state required practice.  And, she'd have to hurry toward the doorway to get there in time. Which much increased the chance of being heard.

So she waited till they all had entered, and the door was closed.   And then approached and walked about the house, seeking a window or screen through which she could evesdrop on the conversation...

Lenelle sneaked up to a window on the left side of the door. As she approached, she saw Connie close the shutters. Lenelle could only see a sliver of a crash between the closed shutters. She could hear the conversation inside amidst  movement of settling in.

Connie spoke to Miriam in honeyed tones. “Sit down, Miriam. No, no. There’s no need to fuss over the child,” She heard more movement, like chairs being pulled from or near a table. “I’ll feed her dinner. In fact, why don’t I cook a stew for you all? If you’d like, I could also brew you a nice pot of tea.”
This message was lightly edited by the player at 01:18, Thu 09 Sept 2021.

I've got an hour with this spell --   while I realize I don't have a Rolex, hopefully a mage has some sense when their spell's about to expire?

My plan is to hang out for most of that time, and just listen.   In case you need to summarize & jump ahead, at some point.

Lenelle Toreth rolled 15 using 1d20+3.  Insight.

Paying attention to Connie's tone etc., as well as to what she says.

“Yes…I think a cup of tea would settle my nerves.” Lenelle heard the weariness in Miriam’s tone, if the woman could possibly sound more world-weary. The Sorceress also heard the meretriciousness in Connie’s voice. The woman’s practically dropped honey and molasses. It almost grated Lenelle’s ears with the solicitousness. “And you…Sundos, right? Would you care for some tea? There’s plenty of water in the tea kettle!”

This sounds awful! Lenelle couldn't help but think, suddenly afraid for Elise and Sundos, and even Miriam.

But -- Sundos was canny, and wise.  Wasn't there a prayer-spell, to ferret out the presence of poisons?   She was certain she'd heard the clergy of her homeland make mention of it, paranoid as those priests were.

Still -- a part of Lenelle wanted nothing more than to barge into the house, confront Connie now, and learn finally who she was, and what she really wanted...

Although Lenelle couldn’t see anything happening in the house, she heard Sundos’ answer. “That’s kind of you, but I really should join Sister Mercion soon.” However, the Priest considered this an opportunity to know these two villagers a little better. “On second thought, the Sun Father reminds us that hospitality is a reciprocal act. You shine on my with your kindness, and I would gladly show my appreciation in return. Please, I’ll take a cup of tea.”

Lenelle nodded her approval of the priest's thinking, guessing that he was planning to test it for himself.

Her thoughts wandered to the others.  She offered silent prayer, to any benevolent powers, that they would bring Phoebe home safely.  And that the group was at last drawing near to seeing an end to this evil.   Trying to uproot it had been like struggling with a noxious, super-resistant weed...

OOC: Are you taking any other action?

I'm not sure what I can/should do, based on a) what I've got (spell wise) and b) how this situation seems to Lenelle.

Connie isn't a great deceiver --  Lenelle is expecting Sundos to be suspicious -- I mean I could assume they're about to be poisoned, and barge in --   which reading it again looks like maybe it is the case.

 Lenelle Toreth rolled 9 using 1d20+3.  Insight.  On whether Sundos is buying this.    Well, that's not insightful...   hell!

Okay - I know how to go with this: 

It was too much for her.  She was unclear whether Sundos was really buying Connie's inauthentic words.   But, a mistake might be awful, in a fatal sort of way.

And so, Lenelle canceled the spell of invisibility.  And then made her way to the front door.   And knocked upon it...

Connie opened the door with a breezy smile. “Yes…? Oh.” The smile slipped. “Ah, Joshua’s Enchantress! I think your friends hiked into the Swamp, dear.”

Lenelle saw Miriam sit with her back to her, shoulders slumped. Elise sat on a bench, happily playing with her doll. Sundos saw Lenelle and gave a quick wave. Then, he sipped the cup of tea.

“Did you need anything, dear?”

Lenelle's eyes went wide at sight of Sundos sipping the tea.  No!

And then they narrowed, as they met Connie's.   By the stars, it's past time for truth!    Her magic had for years been able to affect the mind --  primarily in an oppressive way, that she'd never felt comfortable using.   But just recently, her approach had become refined.

Her fingers slipped over one of the crystalline foci within her belt pouch.   And her next words were more than speech:

"You'll be happier if you clear your conscience, and get to brag a little.  Tell me all you don't want us to know, all you've been working to keep secret."

Casting Suggestion on Connie
This message was last edited by the player at 20:38, Thu 16 Sept 2021.