Rose merely watched as the others went about looking over the area. She nodded enthusiastically as Victor suggested they visit the cottage, taking note of his not-so-friendly glare towards Luciel. Rose also took note of the fact that Gish did not pass on her warning to the boy who might have needed it the most, perhaps because the fish girl mistrusted her or perhaps because she didn't like Luciel. Rose shrugged to herself- if Gish wouldn't tell him, well, Rose would not either. Luciel, the forward thinker he was, elected to use his crossbow on the strange scarecrows in the feel. Rose would've advised against it but she quite frankly did not particularly care to. The bolt flew towards it, piercing it in the chest, but if it was alive it gave no indication. There was no visible reaction and it remained standing. "Well, perhaps they are just decorations? Maybe the owner of that cottage has a unique taste for lawn ornaments. Well, let's take a look." She suggested, trotting down the path, caring little for if the rest would follow.

She caught a whiff of something strange as she reached the base of the cavern. [i]The statues, or something else?[/i] She wondered to herself. She moved to examine the scarecrow that was now pierced by Luciel's bolt. She raised her staff and gave it an exploratory prod. When it remained unmoving she approached it for a closer examination. What she first noticed was there was still no visible mechanism to explain how it was standing. She attempted to push it but it remained firm, even when she put all her strength against it. She pulled the bolt out of it next. A black liquid gushed from the wound, a foul smell emanating within. She collected a small amount of the liquid on her fingers- it was warm to the touch. She moved it to her nose, taking a whiff. It didn't smell evil per se, but it did smell disgusting. It was evidently the source of the cavern's smell. She shook the liquid off. What was more surprising was the fact that a small amount of straw soaked in the black liquid poked out from the wound. She plucked at it, and it became evident that under the statue's shell it was made of straw. She turned to the rest of the group, "They're scarecrows! I think... very strange scarecrows." She then noted to herself, [i]Their composition is strange. They're made of straw but it's soaked in gunk... and their sturdiness is unexplainable.[/i] She shrugged. She wouldn't find her answers for now. She smelled something else, however...

It was then that the witch noticed the eldritch abomination that inhabited the field.

The creature slither along the ground, small fanged beasts skittering over its body. It was not the first of its kind Rose had seen, but it was certainly unexpected. Rose gave a cautious wave. "Uh, hi?" She said, not sure if the creature would be friendly- their like was fickle, sometimes they would tolerate humans, sometimes they wouldn't. Rose hoped it was the former but cautiously raised her staff, prepared for the latter.