Grinless threw down his hood and stamped about in tantrum, "Me yes Grinless! Me no hero! NO HERO! Not do hero things, all accident or them's fault. Not me!" he huffed and glared at the witches challengingly.

Bonemaw curled its tail in amusement. The witches looked at each other. "Well, he did say we could keep the others tied up," said Tegra.

Fedra raised an eyebrow, "I wanna believe you kid, but you've got a reputation. Y'see how that's a problem, right?"

Grinless gnashed his teeth and smooshed his forehead in frustration, "But if me leave, me no can stop you. Me just wanna be alone! Or," he grumbled, looking particularly irked, "Or, you tie me up too—but away from them!—until you take over, then let me go. Or let me go now."

The witches thought some more.

Then Egra called out again as she pulled out Grinless' magic sword and shield, "What's this all about then?"

Witch eyes regard him suspiciously again.

Grinless sighed and shuffled over.

Fedra brought the glowing staff to bear, but Grinless ignored her as he grabbed a hunk of meat already uncovered. "Meat cooker! See?" he then expertly built a fire on the shield's underside, meat pierced with sword, and began roasting.

The witches stood gaping.

Fernfrick nodded, "Not into meat, but that's an appropriate use of weapons."

Goobdwib wept openly, "Why, master Grin? Such abuse of such lovely arms!"

Krigga jumped up and down with hand raised, "Make mine raw and bloody, boss-buddy! And bloody!"

Fedra chuckled, "Alright, I believe the goblin kid. I just don't have the heart to keep him. The others though-"

"Wait!" called Egra determinedly, "Explain these, huh? Seriously, explain what these are?" She held small amber-brown lumpy forms.

Grinless wiggled his bat-ears, "Those me ear-wax figure collection. Made 'em meself," he poked a finger into an ear to check on the current ear wax consistency.

"Ehh, that's a bit much even for my witchy tastes," said a grossed out Egra handing them and the pack all back to Grinless. "I'm not even gonna go into your mold collection. You goblins!"

Tegra, stirring the pot vigorously, looked at Grinless with inviting eyes, purring, "Ooh, your own ear-wax collection?"

Grinless shuffled his feet, put out the fire and packed up his things. "Well, me go now. Have happy takeover, keep them, we all even. Yes?"

Fedra looked at the other two and Bonemaw, who sniffed for the roasted meat. "I don't see why not..."

Then Krigga, sensing a cave-rodent near, squealed with delight, "Bloodybag snack! Mine!" scampered off even with hands and feet bound, zig-zagging around everyone.

Fedra aimed with her spell staff but couldn't hit the squirrelly goblin, blasting holes in the cave floor. Krigga tripped a fleeing Grinless whose pack flung out, spilling the ear-wax figures right into the air...

Which tumbled slowly, splashing down into the cauldron.

All three witches stared in horror.

It bubble furiously, changing colours rapidly.

Tegra's face dropped, "Well that's no good."

The other two yelled belatedly, "The potion, no!"

The cauldron steamed angrily, boiling over.

Tegra backed off, but Bonemaw was nearby trying to trap Krigga with its claw, so the cauldron blew up right in its face. It drew back with a bewildered expression.

Then it began to sneeze.