There's a woman exploring the beach out there. She looks so fiery and regal! Definitely not a pirate but she's being menaced by them! Let's help her out! Then, we could have a little chat. She might know something about the Ritual, the Sea Witch, and the treasure we're looking for.
That is the first time I've talked to a member of the Order of the Burnt Phoenix. And it just so happened to be an Archmage that you know really well. That means her knowledge and opinions aren't something we can ignore, even if she wants us to. What if the straw dolls weren't the only reinterpreted portion of the original Ritual? What if the Sea Witch is actually Neso, the Avatar of Water?