The last ettercap goes down The trail of the Golden Stag is easy enough to follow with the cocoons of the herd of deer leading the way..

It leads deeper into the woods a shimmer of distortion happens when you pass under an ancient archway made of vines and Iron, where the trail ends.

Passed out in front of you laying on the ground naked is a golden, skinned male elf with white blond hair. Protruding from the sides of the skull of this fay creature are large gold antlers.

Thufir first stops at the archway and asks his companions, specifically his dwarven friend, if any of them have any idea what it may be. ((but considering we already 'went through'...)) Seeing the elf lay out on the ground, Thufir pretty easily puts 2 and 2 together, and says, "Hello friend! Sorry to disturb your rest... We were dealing with spiders and now find ourselves in your glade. Where exactly are we? What was that arch not long past?"

Regardless of whether the group stopped to pontificate over the arch or barreled through by accident, the fact remained that their prize passed through before disappearing anyhow, and none of the party were likely to turn away from the course. At best Nobody could say if/when asked about the structure itself, he'd look upon it curiously and have his suspicions, but otherwise simply shrug and finally answer, "Only one way to find out."  For what magic was available to him would not suit situation. Not without letting their "prize" get further out of reach.

"I... I-I don't think he can hear you, my friend. H-He looks pretty out of it." Nobody would soon find himself chiming in. "And while I'm not sure, uhm... I mean, uh... what do think?" He looks to Fargen. "He seem injured or unwell to you? 'cause if not, we should probably get back."

The elf stands up and looks at you. In an answer to Thufir's question he speaks in sylvan "Welcome to my kingdom, such as it is." He gasps and stumbles. Nearly falling, leaning on a nearby tree. "I'm sorry the change is taxing on me. You'd think after thousands of years of being cursed. I'd be used to it."  He hacks up some undigested leaves and grass. 

"Sorry... I do not speak that tongue." Thufir replies.

The elf looks confused not understanding you.

"Oh dear, I was afraid of this." Nobody rubbed at the bridge of his nose for a bit. "I... do possess a spell that would allow me to at least understand this fellow. But, I would need some time. About... ten minutes or so? Wouldn't exactly help getting our point across, but should make things a bit easier if you guys wish to try, uh... buying time, I guess." He suggests of the group.

If most agree after which, Nobody carefully sits down, pulls out his focusing rod, and began tracing symbols in the air for a ritually casted comprehend languages. 

(Waiting for the response to Nobody) 

"A divination to comprehend languages?  I believe Weld provided me with a scroll of such a spell.  Or one very similar.  I think it's a worthy idea, but we will still need to find a way to communicate from our end.  Perhaps one of my illusion spells could display to him a glamour of whatever we wish to ask about.  Such as the arch or the stag."  He produces his ritual book, "As long as you're taking the time to cast your divination, I should cast my own.  One to detect any magic in our vicinity."

Nobody's eyes expression immediately brightened at the mention of the scroll. "Even better. May I?" He holds out a hand to accept the scroll. "And not a bad idea regarding illusions. As they say in waterdeep, or so I've heard once, 'a picture can say a 1000 words'!" He added, almost sounding chipper in the moment. Turning to the others, Nobody says as well, "I-If any of you want to try, even if it might be a long shot, try speaking to our friend in other languages as well. Mayhaps they'll recognize enough to be able to hold at least a conversation without all these games of charade.... not that they'll probably mind either which way." 

(Remind me what the scroll was, I don't see it in any ones inventory.) 

Quote from Stormbringer4729 >>

(Remind me what the scroll was, I don't see it in any ones inventory.) 

 It was Comprehend Languages.  I'm not sure what happened to the other scrolls, since they weren't all that useful to Lorban.

Quote from Faux_Beau >>

Fargen shrugs at Lorban's life-saving comment, "We did what we could, don't feel much like a savior.  Those who stole from innocent folk and terrorized their land escaped justice.  But we intend to root them out.  The six wagons in the back are suspicious.  I purchased a few scrolls back in town that may be of use to disguise ourselves, listen in to secret conversations, or charm one of them to learn more.  I figured those of you with arcane gifts could use them..."

Fargen presents the scrolls of disguise self, comprehend languages, and charm person.

"Let's talk with the others and hatch a plan.  Until then, it's best we keep a low profile and keep tabs on that group.  We've had a run in with this group before, so it's probably best we uses aliases with others."

OOC: Did Fargen learn anything useful from his Insight/Perception? 

Seeing the spell casts the elf understands  "Welcome to my kingdom, such as it is."

Nobody awkwardly smiles and does a quick bow before remembering to translate for the others. He then looks to Lorban in particular, awaiting for the tiefling to pull out his illusions. Or for the others to mayhaps try out their known tongues. In thinking of those he knew at the time, the tiefling grimaced a bit but promptly wiped the expression off his face at any look of concern from the elf. 

Thufir gestures to Nobody with a smile as his companion translates what he had said before.

"Be aware that I can cast only three of these spells in a day.  Do you wish to show him an image of the archway?"

((Scratch that))

Thufir, frowning, tries to speak to the elf in Draconic and then Giant, not expecting either to work, but still hopeful. He then looks to his companions to see if any of them know any other languages.

The elf shrugs, for he doesn't know Draconic He speaks in Sylvan which  Nobody understans "I was so Isolated in my kingdom, I never learnt." He walks over to a bush and puts on some robes that were hidden there. "The curse I have, makes me turn into a Stag when I leave my Kingdom. If only I could get someplace somewhere that could remove my woe, and maybe help me restore my land. my people from this fay curse." He looks around for something or someone. "Has anyone seen the deer that were running with me?" He says knowing that only one person knows what he is speaking.

I'm waiting for you guys to speak to each other and for Nobody and Lorban to describe what they're doing.

(@all: I thought I made mention of it before, but I guess not. Feel free to assume that Nobody is actively translating during breaks in conversation for the sake of ease going forward, leaving nothing out even if it might be a bit compromising.)

At the question about the deer, which after mulling over it over a bit and putting two and two together, Nobody's eyes had went wide over it, he interlocks his thumbs, and with his already pretty spidery fingers, motioned them to simulate a spider crawling through the air. Another thought has him facepalming before ultimately conjuring in his hand and presenting some static illusions of first a small spider statue, then a dead ettercap, then of a web cocoon as if in partial answer to the fey creature's question. 

At any pointed looks from Lorben afterwards, he grins sheepishly and says, "I, uh... I forgot I could use this spell. A-al-although, we might still could use more lively illusions soon." 

The elf hangs his head and exclaims "Damn Ettercap's they've been a thorn in my side since, forever. If I could only step outside in my true form, I'd shoot them down! They're to cowardly to step in here."  

Tears fall from his eyes as a greatbow appears in his hand. But it disappears as he regains his composure.