The bullywug heads croak loudly and enthusiastically in response to Clapperclaw's story, and then fall into quiet muttering as they discuss quietly with their neighbours on the merits (or lack thereof) of the storytelling skills of the scarecrow. However one of the nearest heads speaks up poshly in response to Flynn and Faelan's comments:

Oh, no no no! Longscarf doesn't keep such trophies. All the choicest acquisitions go to Her Ladyship, Bavlorna Blightstraw. That was the term of the deal, you know. The deal that Her Ladyship made with Longscarf, to free him from Zybilna's punishment. You do know that story, do you not? If Master Longscarf acquired your head as a trophy, you can be sure it's up there - in her cottage!

The poor scarecrow's gourd-like head slumps forward with a loud rattle, as he sighs despondently. The echoing voice of the child bemoans: Oh dear! I can't go in there! She'll send me back to Granny Nightshade for sure!

"Yes, when we finish here, we can go back and speak with Faelan's new people.  Maybe they know where it is?" Zeg answers to Flynn's question. Turning to Clapperclaw "You sound like our kind of people.  These witches have been stealing kids and stuff for quite some time and we are here to put a stop to it.  If you come with us we can help you out and maybe find your lost head.  It sounds quite magnificent." He looks around at the others for approval at what he has proposed.

Oh no no no! No, please, I can't go in there! Slack-jawed Lorna would have my head... well, maybe she already does, but what I mean is... she'd send me back to Granny for sure! And Granny would rip all my stuffing out! For certain! Clapperclaw's head is rattling furiously now as he quivers at the thought. I'd do anything but that. Anything! I'd even take you to Thither if you wanted. Show you the way! I'll help you get my head back, just don't let me get caught, please. Finally with some encouragement the scarecrow calms down once again. I think I'll just wait here, he says at last. With nothing further to offer, the group continue on their way.

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It is only a short distance before the shape of a grand marble gazebo looms through the mist. It stands atop a mound of soggy earth, its white stone streaked green with algae. The support pillars have sunk into the muck unevenly so that the domed canopy now sits askew. Short steps ring the gazebo, leading to a raised floor where eight bullywugs dressed in shabby clothing lounge on threadbare pillows. Among them, a harpist sends forth delicate notes that mingle with the murmured croaking of the gathered nobles. On a dais, a flabby bullywug wearing a crown of woven lily flowers sits on an ornate throne with his legs folded under him, and a small juvenile crocodile curled at his side wearing a frilly ruff of its own. He has a large leather-bound book open across his lap and is reading from it...

How doth the little crocodile
Improve his shining tail
And pour the waters of the Nile
On every golden scale!
How cheerfully he seems to grin,
How neatly spreads his claws,
And welcomes little fishes in
With gently smiling jaws.

The kingly figure looks up from the book as the assembled bullywugs applaud this croaky rendition, but when he spots the newcomers in view, he slams the book shut and exclaims:

Have ye no herald to announce thy presence before King Gullop the Nineteenth?

Two sleepy bullywug guards standing around their monarch snap to attention and ready their spears.

Flynn steps forward and bows

" my apologies your eminence. We were waiting until you finished that brilliant rendition of the crocodile" bowing again.   "I present Faelan vanquisher of the Longscarf, and party"

There is a murmuring and low croaking from the assembled courtiers at this introduction, as eyes turn toward the harengon with the multi-coloured scarf and his unusual retinue. The king puffs out his throat and ribbits loudly, bringing the audience to silence and then responds with his poorly-constructed noble-speech:

Hail, Faelan the Vanquisher. These are grave tidings, forsooth. For what cause did thou vanquisheth Longscarf, if this be so. Will thou or thy herald relate to us this tale?

"Vanquisher of the Longscarf..." Faelan smirks. "Ha! That was a good one doc." Faelan says quietly to Flynn with a wink and elbows his friend for a good joke, then he looks around for the said person. Slowly he realizes that everyone is looking at him, specially the King. "Wait.. Whut?" Faelan tries to step back, but he's stoppped by Flynn, which pushes him forward towards the King, then gives him a good shovel so the Harengon gets closer.

"Well, err, ya majesty. Ya know. Humm. It was more like a group effort, ah did get him pretty worked up during our scuffle, if ya'll know whatahm sayin'. But he ain't dead, dead. No sir. He ran away with his short little tail in between his legs, and all. So, his fellas decided to follow me, instead of him. Anda, we went to his place, didn't find nothing, and then kinda here we are." He looks at Zerg. "Ah believe that my friend over there even got a hold of Agdon's Branding Iron!" He looks back at the kind. "Truth be told, ah... Ah mean, we, didn't wanna fight the fella, but he's being a jerk. Well, actually a sore loser, that's what he was..."

"Ah yes, that nasty branding iron of his. I threw it in the swamp.  It'll never be used by that Longscarf the Fleeing ever again." Zeg says, puffing his chest out and trying to look taller than he was.

There is another round of low-volume croaking from the courtiers as they softly converse with each other about these tidings. The King doesn't silence them this time, but leans forward with curiosity and continues his questions:

And Longscarf's gang... hmmm, they follow you now? Hmm, that will put you in favor with Her Ladyship in his stead. Hmmm.

Suddenly the King strikes his hands together in two wet claps and cries out: Leave us! I would speak with this Vanquisher and his retinue alone.

Immediately the eight courtiers rise, still croaking to each other in their bullywug language, and file away, glancing often and approvingly at the group of four. The guards are also waved away out of earshot, leaving the group alone with the corpulent king, who beckons them closer. He throws an openly covetous look at Navi's newly-acquired horsefly brooch, but then addresses Faelan...

We are in need of thy services, Vanquisher, for - ah - for a diplomatic matter of some delicacy. We have acquired this book (the king waves the book that he was reading from in Faelan's face. The title on the cover is ornate and highly cursive, and difficult to make out, but Zeg's sharp erudite eyes can read it: "Big Book of Bad Blood") which we are certain belongs to Her Ladyship. We would like it returned to her hastily, with the assurance that we have apprehended its theft and ensured its safekeeping. Thou can tell her this from us, yes? But of course only duty-appointed members of the Soggy Court may be granted audience with Her Ladyship, so we desire thee to make haste to palace to be fitted with the proper attire. This is our will...

And with that the King simply holds out the book expectantly, and waits for a response....

The little fairy is so enthralled back at the spiked heads it's as if she blipped processing all of the different voices and not because her player swore she wrote something but maybe never pressed enter ;.; . Navi was tempted to revisit the kingdom for a fly thing however that claw person was really interesting too and her attention bounced. She buzzed along excitedly atop of Flynn and snorts at Clapperclaw's pun. Listening to their story her expression softens. A lot of people were missing things and she didn't recall their head amongst the items she packed.

When one of the heads speak up, Navi pats it to thank it for the information and reminding them about Longscarfs story. That Bavlorna Brightstraw has lots of things that need to be returned to the right people at Longscarf's expense. The little fairy would then buzz up to Clapperclaw and give them a quick hug to help calm them. "We'll keep an eye out for your magnificent head, Clap. I'd like to learn how one guides another to this Thither, so I'd like to take you up on that when the time comes." She smiles. "It'll be okay." She reaches and gently touches to bloom two daisies as eyes for them and one for their lapel. "Stay safe okay!" She flits off to catch up with the others.

"Whoah." Navi stares in awe at the grand marble gazebo when it comes into view. Fluttering along with the others, she starts to sway to the music of the harpist when it comes into hearing distance. That's a pretty lily crown! Maybe she can make one for herself- The slamming of the book closed breaks the little fairy out of her thoughts. She blinks and floats close to the others as they start the conversation with the kingly frog and friends. She nods along to the boys recalling the story to the court.

"Right! Her Ladyship! We can make a delivery for you." Navi nods remembering that Clap called her Ladyship Bavlorna. They needed to go there anyways. And why not with some new threads?

Faelan doesn’t take the book from the King right away. “About this ‘thief’ of yours, your majesty. We heard from this Duke back in the factory that you guys captured a traitorous saboteur? While another one escaped? We would like to… Humm, ya know, interrogate that dastardly fella. Find out their devious plans, and what not. Maybe, after we assure their lot won’t be doing any further harm to your lovely kingdom, we can definitely deliver the book for ya. What about that?”

Seeing his friends speak up and are willing to take on this task for the king Zeg reaches for and takes the book.  "We most certainly will convey your assurances to her." he says, trying to sound all courtly.

The king wiggles excitedly in his seat at Faelan's suggestion, muttering something to himself about "defenders of the crown" and "putting down the rebellion", then agrees with a loud croak: Yes yes! Of course, as members of the Soggy Court it is thy entitlement to seek out traitors of our royal-ship and bring the treasonous knaves to our justice. Go with our blessing. We shall dub thee: "Knights of ... er ..." and then seeing Navi's large brooch, he lamely finishes: "...of the Fly". Yes. Serve us well. Guard! Escort our new friends to the Palace! One of the bullywug guards leads the way across another thin stretch of damp ground that leads along the lakes edge to another island - not large but larger than most of the others so far seen in Downfall. Without the thick fog from the lake it is easier to look around, and the guard politely points out the features visible:

To the right is the Palace, a ramshackle hall built around a big tree. Two of the tree’s limbs reach out through the walls like enormous welcoming arms. The interior of the hall is roomy, with an open floor plan that allows occupants of both the lower and the upper storey to look out over the surroundings. Bullywug courtiers crowd into the space, filling it with their guttural croaks - their clothing faded and stained with mud.

Immediately ahead, rising from the soggy earth is the Prison, a sturdy wooden hut with an open doorway on one side of it. Visible through the doorway, at the back of the hut are two holding cells. Thick mangrove roots serve as bars, with a small round door closing off each cell. The floor of one cell is covered with several inches of stinking water. The other cell holds a figure in rags slumped against the back wall. The guard also points out that the area between the palace and the prison is known as the "Proving Ground", where prisoners are given the chance to prove their innocence by fighting to the death in single combat.

Beyond the prison is a most impressive sight. Above a short dock, a big black balloon floats over the lake, tugging at its moorings. The balloon itself is not made of fabric, but rather appears to be a roiling, dark rain cloud that has been contained somehow with lines and netting. Beneath it hangs a basket made of black wicker and wood, which serves as a merchant’s stall. A large pane of gray glass is drawn closed across an opening above the counter. A sign mounted above the window reads, “Wondrous Wares & Fair Fares!”

The guard politely asks the newly-appointed courtiers where they wish to go first...

1. Raft moored here, with Mercion (faerie dragon) waiting. Balloon tied up nearby, being repaired.
2. Burned-out balloon factory
3. Clapperclaw at the Procession of Former Lords
4. His Majesty King Gullop at the pagoda
5. current location: Palace, Prison and ... Merchant Balloon?

Looking at the Ballon.  "Would you look at the size of that thing"

Even from this distance, Flynn can see two diminutive figures in dark cloaks, about the size of halflings, inside the cramped merchant stall that forms the gondola of the stormcloud balloon. 

“Wow indeed doc.” Faelan replies to Flynn. “Whatabout we go check on the merchants first? Ah reckon the prisoner ain’t going nowhere anytime soon.”

Navi would have puffed out her chest in pride. They are the Knights of the Fly!

Now that was the most impressive cloud she ever did see! Navi could totally be dared into going to touch the butt boat cloud.

The little fairy buzzes along with the group, 'ooing' and 'ahhing' at all the things. Upon all seeing the holding cells, one of them with a slumped occupant, she'd zip on over if she could. Navi wanted to say hi to the prisoner, offer them a flower and ask their name before running off to shop with the others.

The guards ribbit respectfully as Navi floats over, and make no effort to prevent her approaching the prison cell. A heavy head rises slowly from between the knees of the figure slouching sadly in the muck as the proffered flower is presented. The bullywug is dressed in the ragged and stained remnants of an orange surcoat that bears the sigil of a great helm fashioned to resemble a frog's head.

Seeing the little fairy in the air nearby with a flower and a greeting, the bullywug rises shakily to its feet. It then makes a courtly bow, and with a decidedly feminine croak, she says: Sir Wigglewog, Knight of Warts, at your service. Forgive me this most dishonorable presentation in which I am forced to appear. The manner is most unlike the other bullwugs that the group have met so far, with none of the faux pomp and regal presumption seen at the Soggy Court. This bullywug gives the air of one with a true sense of chivalry. [Passive Insight]

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While Navi is thus occupied, the others head over to where the small gondola-shop sits on the end of the jetty below where the cloud-balloon is moored. A sign hangs below the stall's counter, which reads:

AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY:
Very good thimble (fingertip not included)
Mug of Bumble Beer (has a nice sting to it)
Duskmallow pie (with decorative bite marks)
Bundle of dry wood (great for starting fires)
Ink portraits (if we have to look at you, so should you)
Moonlight monocle (no more fumbling in the dark)

Two creatures lounge on small chairs behind the counter... those who are at least passing familiar with the Feywild recognise what these creatures are, even if they've never met one... they are darklings! Halfling-sized and always cloaked in black, these cursed fey are notorious for their employ as thieves and assassins. Both the darklings behind the counter barely acknowledge the newcomers, and with a droll whine call out: Whatdya want?

(except without the blades)

"Awe well aren't you a kind one!" Navi Beams, courtseying in the air to their bow. "I'm Navi!" She twirls and strobes her light. "You still look knightly to me!" She'd reach through the bars to tug and adjust his attire to mend it. "Are you hungry, thirsty, hurt?" She pulls out some rations and her water to offer. "Why did they put you in here?"

With a stoic expression, the bullywug knight claims that she is neither hungry, thirsty, nor hurt. As for her reason for imprisonment, she boldly states her case, apparently without fear of the consequences, or whether Navi is a spy or not... 

There is a hag that resides in yonder lake. Cruel are her ways, and many her victims. Too long I turned a blind eye for fear of her. However, it came to pass that a new captive was brought - a noble human, a paragon of truth and virtue. The wicked hag turned her into a fey dragon and imprisoned her in a magical cage. Summoning my courage at last, I stole the cage away from the hag and with the aid of a faithful friend, aided their daring escape. For that I am imprisoned, and gladly will I remain so, as long as that fellow knight is made free...

Looking at the two strange fellas behind the counter. Faelan puts an elbow on the counter, takes out a carrot, and starts to munch on it. "Ehhhh... What's up docs? Whatdaya guys doing here? Cool lookin' errr balloon y'all got up there, ah must say." He uses the carrot to point to the storm above his head.