Nera's hut

Located on a hill at the edge of Jullipher Forest this small hut appears deserted but is rumoured to be the home of a witch.

Architecture

This simple wooden hut has a thatch roof that is overgrown with plants and vines. The shutters on the windows seem permanently closed and while there are few drafts from the door, this is mostly becaues the wood has swelled making it hard to open.
Out front there is a simple wooden fence and two large metal braziers. The fence is covered in fines and the braziers appear rusted from years of exposure to the elements. The yard encompassed by the fence is littered with stones and branches though there do not appear to be any plants growing there.

History

Stories about the witch Nera and this hut date back to before the years of darkness. These stories were passed down in one of the shelters but unfortunately those who settled near the hut were unaware of these stories.
When the moon is high in the nighttime sky a light can be seen coming from Nera's hut. Those who approach the light find that the braziers are lit, burning a fragrant wood. Anyone foolish enough to move up the hill and into the woods will hear the howl of wolves, and may catch a glimpse of the pack moving around the hut. Those with some vestiges of sense turn back at this point, The more foolhardy may venture closer.
Anyone getting closer to the hut will find the wolves converging on them and will likely be torn apart unless they reach the safety of the fenced area with braziers in front of the hut. The wolves will not pass the fence though they will prowl along the boundary waiting for anyone inside to emerge. Those who reach the hut had best have come prepared as this safety does not come without a price. A gift of food and drink must be left by the door of the hut or the wolves will attack the visitor's home.
During the third age the forces of The Empire refused to acknowledge this, dismissing the local stories as the beliefs of naive fools, despite a number of patrols disappearing unexpectedly. The early settlers in the fourth age were unaware of the need for a gift and several villages fell victim to the wolves' attacks.

This was written for Spooktober 2022 for the Howling prompt. Other Spooktober articles can be found in the Tremanac Spooktober 2022 page.

Type

Hut

Nera is believed to have power to grant wishes and the ability to foresee the future. Those who reach the hut when the braziers are lit can leave a note inside describing what they want. An offering is necessary if a request is to be granted. The offering must be burned in one of the braziers. For a foretelling it must be burned in the left brazier and for a wish to be granted the right. These offerings can range from a fine rug, to a side of meat, or even a body part. It is up to the visitor to decide how much they will offer, with the only sign of whether their offering is acceptable being a change in the howling of wolves.