Information

You stand there, looking at the blue-haired woman. She's wearing a dark-green blouse, brown breeches, a leather jacket, and a pair of thick, sturdy combat boots. She hasn't changed a bit since you last saw her.
"I can guess why you reached out. It looks like you've gotten yourself into quite the mess." She says, in an airy voice." She really hasn't changed. She still disregards the small-talk and gets straight to the bones of the matter.
"It wasn't entirely my fault," you reply, "despite that, though, I need to get out of this mess. The Dark Witch Keylara has taken over. She has some kind of vendetta against men, and goes out of her way to treat them poorly. I have to help rescue my people."
"What makes you think I'll help you?" Alysha asks. "Keylara is powerful, vindictive and cruel, I'd rather not tangle with her."
"You owe me, Alysha. Twelve years ago I saved your sister's life, and you said you'd owe me. Well, I need help, so I'm finally cashing in my chit. You help me, and I'll consider us even." You hate to bring up her sister, you know it's a sensitive subject for Alysha. She has a slightly pained expression on her face. Alysha is the only person you can turn to for help. She's a witch herself, but of a different kind.
"Fine. I'll help, but not directly. I'm not going to go head-to-head up against Keylara. Even among other witches she's uncommonly powerful. She's probably slightly more powerful than me, though not nearly as creative or cunning. Having said that. I am willing to provide you with indirect help. Charms, potions, amulets, things like that. Though the risk associated with using them is great. Just looking at that collar I would guess it doesn't just punish you when you're disobedient, but also nullifies any beneficial magic effects cast on you, to stop you from resisting."
"Right. So, is there anything you can do?" You ask, pleading.
"I can give you information." Alysha replies. "I can teach you how magic works so that you can find a flaw in it, and exploit that...but it won't be free."

"What? You want me to pay you? I don't have anything left. Keylara took it all." You cry, indignant. The last word turning into a groan as your collar sends a jolt of pain through your body. Curious. Why would it do that? You have a theory. You decide to test it.
"As I said, Keylara took everything I had." The collar punishes you again. This time the pain is sharper. You spend a full minute on the ground, doubled over before you can catch your breath.
"Mistress Keylara took everything I had." You say, wincing in preparation for the pain.
Interesting. The collar knows when you don't call Keylara 'Mistress' and punishes you. Alysha is looking at you with interest now. Well, your collar really. She's examining it closely, running it through her fingers. She mutters something under her breath, and the runes on the collar flash, then dim.
"What did you do?" You ask hesitantly.
"Simple." She replies. "I modified the spell on the collar to respond to orders from me, as well as Keylara. Now, if you disobey me or try to cheat me, it will do exactly what it does when you disobey Keylara." Damn. That's more than a little inconvenient. You really have **** now, but to pay whatever she wants.
"You still haven't named your price." You grumble.
"If you manage to defeat Keylara and regain your home and rank, I want a powerful position within your government. I want to be the leader of the Mages' Guild at least. If you can manage it, I want to be an adviser to the king. I want a position of authority, power and wealth. That is my price." You take a moment to think about it. That really is a fairly reasonable request. You were worried she would ask for something far worse.
"Fine." You say. "I agree to your terms. Now will you please help me."
"Very well." Alysha says, as she slowly sits on a large tree stump. She smiles slyly.

"What do you want to know?"