After the scene, Faelan takes a carrot from his pocket and starts to munch on it. “Ahhhh… Wouldya believe if ah tellya that we’re actually looking for this Bavlorna witch-lady? Ah guess we’re gonna have to find our way ta Downfall after all.” He scratches his head. “Ah wonda if that has anything ta do with the witch… Ya know, that the inn don’t go that way no more.”

Zeg listens to the rhyme of Aleksandr and smiles when it is finished and gives a few soft claps.  Enough to show appreciation but not loud enough to draw attention.

As the newcomers enter he eyes them closely.  They remind him of something but he can't quite place it.  He nearly misses the conversation as he thinks about it, trying to remember.

When Faelan speaks up he waits to see what the reaction is to her statement that they intend to find Bavlorna.

Madam Tsu pipes up from behind the counter, with more than a hint of anger in her voice. It has everything to do with the witch. I don't tell the inn where to go, but it is attuned to me and senses my feelings. Slack-Jawed Lorna is a blight on Prismeer, and the inn won't go to Downfall as long as she abides there.

The sight of the 'lornling' creatures stirs Zeg's memory of his first time at the carnival. The more he thinks on it, the more he realises that it was just such a creature that stole his precious few inches of height from him.

Aleksandr doesn't seem surprised to hear that Faelan and his friends are going after Bavlorna. I understand, and I would not try to convince you otherwise, only to caution you. If you are planning to negotiate with her, be wary: she doesn't give up anything without asking something in return, and the trade is never a fair one. If you are planning on confronting her, take greater care still: she and her sisters are powerful - and cunning. Enough to subdue Queen Zybilna and take over Prismeer.

(OOC: I had planned to delay a little longer, but since we are taking a long rest, and since a new player is about to join, this is probably a good moment to advance to Level 4. Woot!)

(Level 4 and a long rest.     Party on wayne)

Flynn took the actor feat

"What are these lornlings?  They stole something from me and I would like to know more about them.  We are here to try and help set things right.  We need more information to help with that." Zeg says

There was even more amazing things to take in! Navi was practically still vibrating in place in her excitement. Delicious food and drink, poetry by friend and feline, dramatic entry by Bavlorna’s hench creatures and revealing of Toasted Cheese! She kinda wondered if they had some… Blue hues pinged wide, the little fairy buzzes as the tea is dished, and sipped. They bounce between company, unsure of who works for who, but understands this is neutral ground. Oh she was listening to the ‘gossip’ and taking in all the information with every word spilled.

Navi just so happens to find herself floating over to the goblin at some point shortly after. “So, Toasted Cheese.” She starts as casually as a curious fairy who now wants toasted cheese can. “What chya searching for?” She asks. Maybe Cheese was looking for a mouse for Aleksander. “I’m looking for something too!”

(Notifications are not working for me.)

Faelan approaches the Goblin. “Yeah, whatchya’s story with those little fellas?”

Aleksandr looks to Madame Tsu to answer Zeg's question, and the old lady responds:

Bavlorna doesn't trust any servants that she doesn't create herself. The lornlings are miniature versions of herself, and do her bidding - in this world and in yours. They are excellent thieves and spies, both fast and nimble, although they might not look it.

------------------------------
The goblin finally looks up at the fairy and harengon approaching him. He peers at the two visitors warily for a moment, assessing them, before relaxing a bit and responding:

Bandersnatch. A creature what Bavlorna made. She likes making things - stitching bits of other creatures together, like. I find her the creatures, and she makes things out of 'em. But she don't take care of them, does she? Keeps losing them. So then I'm out looking for them all over again. This Bandersnatch is a right tricky one too.

He looks at Faelan then and adds: I wouldn't worry 'bout them lornlings. They won't do no harm to those who work for Lorna.

Navi and Faelan can see the map spread out in front of Toasted-Cheese, and get a good look at the main features.

"So, it looks like we're gonna have to go through the Brigand's Tollway to get to Downfall?" Asks Faelan. He remember his meeting with Jebbek, and her "merry" band. Perhaps he will finally get to meet this Agdon Longscarf, though he's not sure if he's looking forward to the meeting.

Walking up behind Faelan. Flynn peers at the map.  "So where's the queen?" He inquires innocently

Hmpf! Don't care for them harengon much, the goblin grumbles with another glance at Faelan, but they won't cross me so long as I'm working for Lorna. And aye, the Tollway is still the quickest and safest way to Downfall. 

Toasted-Cheese stabs his gnarly green finger at the very top of the map, where graceful towers are depicted penetrating the clouds. That's the Palace of Heart's Desire, that is. Zybilna will be there if she's anywhere. But you'll have a hard time getting through the mists. Lorna and her sisters have conjured them by the looks of it.

Zeg walks over to also look at the map.  "And what if we tried to come from the south, on the west side of the Queen's Way and bypass the Brigand's Tollway.  What then, lost in the swamp?" he asks

Navi buzzed in her own self pride of 'discovering' Toasted Cheese and sharing with the group. Look at that map! Listen to this brain storming session!

When Flynn would ask his question. Navi couldn't help but think, follow the Queens way silly! But by Toasted Cheese's response, and well, the brokeness of the way, okay so, it may not be that simple.

"Hey, the Slanty Tower! Would that be where we got Mercion!?" The little fairy chimes looking for her fellow fluttery folk (dragon?) briefly before looking back at the map. It's a good map. A really good map. A helpful map. Something a navigator should have! A good navigator. Hmm.

Navi zips over to Madam Tsu at the bar. "May I?" She helps herself to a napkin anyway. "Thanks!" She zooms back to the group.

Ploop. Navi dives into Flynn's bag, helping herself to his cosmetics with a few rustles and comments on the colours. Shwoop! She pops back out. Then with a flourish she opens the napkin and lays it against Flynn's back. She smooths it out. The little fairy gets to work. Her tongue sticks out in deep concentration.

"Those wells." Navi notes. "If you go in them, would you like, pop out of one of the other ones?" She adds to the questions, her head peering over Flynn's shoulder as she has been time to time.

(They probably could just ask but... lol Navi copy map?: 7 straight roll. No proficiency in any tools. +4 if her survival could apply in any way. +1 if guidance is applicable)

(LOL. We playing Mario Bros?? I am game.)

Faelan looks at the map. "What ifa we take the rivah that looks like it's west o'us? Are the rivers 'safer' here?" The Harengon does an airquote on the word safer.

ZEG: 

Lost? The goblin says, almost looking offended, but then shrugs and nods. Maybe. Mists are a fair thicker that side of the Queen's Way, and I 'spect it's harder to navigate mists if yer flying. And if yer not flying, well then you better have a water craft, and more than a paddle for fighting off the swamp critters. Maybe you been lucky so far, but the water level is always pretty high around Downfall. Magic is strong there too - used to be a battlefield once you know - elves and such. All dead o' course, but some haven't stopped fighting. Even the water currents run with magic. (Toasted Cheese shivers momentarily - evidently he doesn't like magic. Or elves. Maybe he likes dead elves, but maybe not the kind that don't stay dead.)

Take the Tollway - much safer. You probably have to deal with Agdon's lot, unless you can avoid 'em. But them causeways are worth the risk - keep you high and dry and on course.

Choice is yours, o' course.

The goblin mutters on about a few of the specific flora and fauna of the realm of Hither, and their associated features, which Zeg commits to memory, making them feel more confident about detecting such on the journey forward.

==================

NAVI:
Total roll of 9 on the mapmaking.

It's not a difficult map to copy, but still Navi seems to be distracted by the artistic embellishments, and ends up doing a better job of copying the cute little pictures and the pretty borders than accurately recreating the features to the correct location, scale and distance.

The goblin just guffaws at Navi's suggestion about the wells, but makes no other reply. Navi thinks that maybe he just doesn't know, and is too embarrassed to admit that it's a great idea and totally worth trying.

=====================

FAELAN:

That ain't a "rivah", ya hare-brain, the goblin replies to Faelan, slightly mocking his pronunciation. Those are just spots where the water pools stay deeper at low tide, or where the current flows a bit stronger at tide change. If we had any river, maybe the place wouldn't be such a cesspool.

His apparently rudeness was likely innocent enough, and Toasted Cheese seems to harbor no ill-will toward the harengon. In fact he makes the effort to point out a few other peculiar noteworthy features about specific spots on the map that Faelan is able to take mental note of (and hopefully recall with Navi's map), and Faelan feels more confident in his ability to help guide the group toward Downfall.

=====================

Finally, the goblin rolls up his map, quaffs the last gulp of his large mug, and tips his hat. Now if you'll excuse me, I got a long day tomorrow and I left me boots drying by the hearth upstairs. Don't want to see 'em cooked, now. Evening!

"Hey, thanks for the heads up doc. Ah guess we're gonna end up meeting this Agdon fellah after all then." He then suggests to the party. "Maybe we'll take a nice break here and head to the Tollway tomorrow first light?" He goes to Navi. "If ya don't mind, I would like to add some stuff to your beautiful map of this place." Faelan adds some noteworthy features that the Fairy missed on her map.

"We certainly do appreciate your time and knowledge.  Thank you." Zeg says to Toasted Cheese as he starts to roll up his map. After he leaves he sits back down with the others.

 "Better the enemy you know, than the one you don't." Zeg says in any discussion of which way to go.  "I think I'd rather face the tollway and the brigands than try and go through the swamp and face dead elves.  So yeah, rest here tonight and off in the morning." 

"Sounds like a fair enought plan" Flynn says. Straightening his shirt after Navis administrations

He goes.back to the bar.   "Madam. Another mead if you please"  pays and then settles into a chair near the fire

Navi flutters, "Just don't mess with my wells!" The little fairy hovers over Faelen's shoulder pointing out specific generalized smudges as he works to make real sense of her proud scribbles. She fully intends to, absolutely, completely, with certainty, be a willing participant in putting her idea to the test.

"Mmhmm mmhmm." Navi nods in agreement the whole time, to what direction they will go, in thanks for Toasted Cheese's wisdom, and to resting here for the night. With that, she suddenly remembers her tea, zips over, chugs back the rest of it and darts up in the air. Pouf! Pouf! Like little pompoms, she blooms two flowers, one in each hand. Then with a loop de loop the little fairy dives into Finn's shirt right after he fixed it, and settles by the fire. There's a little muffled fairy burp, scuze me! and rustling as she settles in her bed of flowers with the warmth of the fire. Not a second later... snort snooorrreeee.

Flynn falls asleep in the chair by the fire, with Navi nestled nearby. Faelan and Zeg know that rooms are available, and make themselves comfortable as they please, as the group takes a well-earned rest after a very long day.

The first thing Flynn hears as he awakens is the sound of excited chattering voices in the common room, and he looks around to find three satyrs seated at a table, trying to make room for plates of breakfast as well as a round of cards. Mercion the faerie dragon is by the counter, talking with Tsu the innkeeper, and snatches of the conversation are heard by all as they awaken and enter the room.

Mercion inquires with Tsu about any sightings of the infamous witch known as Iggwilv, the other members of Valor's Call, or any of the League of Malevolence, and describes them in as much detail as possible. The answer is no for all, except for when Mercion describes the villainous necromancer known as Zargash. Tsu states frankly that the person described stayed at the Inn not long ago, but left lot too long before the party arrived, and wandered off into the swamp.

With breakfast completed, the group bid farewell to Tsu, Aleksandr, and the Inn, and resume their journey. The Inn isn't in the same place as when the group boarded it, but with the new map information from Toasted Cheese, they are able to gain their bearings. The tide has risen and fallen throughout their slumber, and is just in the process of subsiding, with waist-deep water quickly dropping to knee-deep and then ankle-deep.

As the water flows along, each member of the party observes something curious. Certain that none have seen any such thing before in Prismeer, each is certain they catch a glimpse of a strange vision in the reflective surface of the water, and is seen for only a few moments before it is swept away in the fast-flowing current...

Flynn observes a tall, thin figure wearing a pointy black hat and a hooded black cloak climbing a rickety staircase leading up to a large, ramshackle house built on stilts. As the figure approaches the house, their shadow seems to detach from their body, move across the walls of the house, and crawl through an open window.

Zeg spies a satyr, whistling to himself as he reclines in a metal cage that dangles off the end of a boom over a lake.

Navi sees an image of rows upon rows of severed bullywug heads, all impaled on spikes, chattering at each other.

Faelan sees a short, mean-looking old woman wearing a crimson cap, a leather apron, and iron boots using a cleaver to chop meat in a drab kitchen.

-------------------

Trudging once more through the mucky marsh (or flying above it in the thick mist) the travellers come at last upon a thin wooden walkway, raised on stilts sufficiently high to rise above even the high-water level. The wooden planks are in poor repair, but with sufficient care to where they walk, the group can traverse the causeway which leads north across the swamp.