It is pretty quiet and lonely for Mindartis...all the enchanted creatures with him are too focused on their assigned tasks to want to chat, and more than half of them have fallen into an exhausted sleep, anyway. The ones not sleeping just sit and stare beyond the shield at the tree roots.

"Oh dear sister," Mindartis laughs, "if only you could see me now. Bet you never saw me watching over a bunch of children."

"Yes, we best get back so our companion can make it in time for his vigil."  Raven agrees, though she really wishes she could find a way to track that boat back to its source.  For now she had to be content with the fact there would be no more wood shavings coming from this tree. 

(To answer to the question, Where's Eggric, posted in the mail chat:)

As you chat with the strange elf, Eggric hangs back nearby, ignoring the conversation. He rummages in his pockets, finds a gold coin, and drops it on the ground. Then he puts on the ring, shrinking down to mouse size.  He grabs the now relatively giant slab of gold and hugs it to his chest, cackling madly. Then he takes the ring off, returns to his normal size, and looks with disappointment at the coin, which failed to grow up with him.  This disappointment doesn't stop him from trying again...and again...and again...

Quote from DragonDenn >>

"Yes, we best get back so our companion can make it in time for his vigil."  Raven agrees, though she really wishes she could find a way to track that boat back to its source.  For now she had to be content with the fact there would be no more wood shavings coming from this tree. 

 Lassilar shrugs and says, "If the wagon doesn't show up at the boat tonight, they may wait till morning.  Or maybe just come back the next night.  It wouldn't be the first time someone forgot to meet them at sunset."

Well, that variability is good news at least Del says to the others Should we head back now, or swing by and scare Lemmet from the camp?

A gleam enters Elwin's eye as he smiles, "While I'd love to confront Lemmet, I should probably start heading back."

His grin grew wider as he added, "But by all means, don't let me stop you! I'm eager to hear how he responds!"

(It's about three hours traveling underground through the tunnels to where Mindartis is, and three hours back. It will make you pretty late back if you make that detour. It's not really on your way, both tunnels end up in Yonpinagel, and you are just outside the city now.)

Quentin thinks for a moment before saying, "I think Lemmet should wait until tomorrow. Who knows what he has learned, and we're all pretty exhausted from the fight. Raven and Elwin should probably head back so El can stand his vigil and someone can write to the King. I will try and get the Druids attention tonight if Del wants to stand with Mindartis and make sure he doesn't do something stupid. Or we can switch that and I'll stand with him in a dome so we're better protected."

(( Ah, gotcha. Edited. ))

I trust Lord Mindartis' judgement, but I will join him to help the small ones recover, and bring him news. You could bring the shavings to - and inform - the druids on the way to the Halls. How about leaving the wagon here empty and untended to give the conspiracy a mystery?  Let them wonder for a change. 

I guess Q or R could also stay the night underground - E plus one other could probably talk to the druids and get back to the Halls. But as Q points out there is also communication to do. Del would agree with either 2-3 or 3-2 split.

Assuming we come to this agreement, Del will head back down the tunnels and join M for dinnertime rations. He'll have had a rest by then I suppose, so we can check out that building that was in better shape and where the evidence of habitation was on this side of the cavern. Del will try a dispel magic on one of the pixies that won't stop trying to bash their way thru the bubble - and get them to do the same to another and so on. 

The goblin could come with Del or with the others, don't care

(If the party splits, Eggric will tag along with Raven: she is the one he knows best, and the one Tagec will hold responsible for the rings.)

Raven would prefer to stay with those keeping watch, and not have to go back to the court if she can help it.  If the others talk her into going though she will do so, or if it seems that someone best go, then she will do so as well.

Del would find Mindartis grabbing hold of his longsword and rising to his feet before he realized who he was. "Sorry," he says, "just a little antsy I guess. Nothing interesting's happened so far." At his feet is his Dragonchess set, it's obvious he's been playing himself to pass the time.

(Okay, so Elwin is heading back to the Hall of Courts, Quentin is taking the Pixie Tree wood to the druids, and Del and Raven are heading back to Mindartis? Correct me if I'm wrong.)

Elwin and Quentin return to the city together to gather their horses.  Oroman and Rufus are eager to get moving again, having been tied to a hitching post all day...there is a water trough in reach, though, and you see that there are scraps of cut grass scattered around the ground near the horses and Eggric's goat.  A young gnome woman approaches with a bag full of grass, and starts dumping it in front of the horses.  "Hey misters," she says. "These your horses?  I been watchin' them all day. They coulda been stole, leavin' em so long.  Wouldn't say no to a few coins, if you got em to spare. Do sewin', too, if you need anything sewed. Not many people needin' much of that these days, leastwise, not willin' to pay for it."

Del and Raven are glad to see that nothing happened to Mindartis in their absence.  As they catch up, they suddenly hear a commotion among the little ones.  They may be too enchanted to scream and panic, but even in their state they know to avoid direct danger, and an enormous snake has just slithered in...followed by another...and more. In all, twelve huge snakes have entered the chamber, and coil in a writhing mass near the entrance, hissing and staring around them with cold, slitted eyes...

Initiative: 21

"Finally," Mindartis stands up and picks up his greatsword, "I've been waiting for something to happen."

As Mindartis descends upon them in all his barbaric splendor, the snakes' eyes go wide, and they hastily turn into a dozen nervous- looking druids.

(Though with that initiative roll, I probably should have let you behead a few first...)

"Oh... um..." Mindartis shieths his greatsword. "Sorry about that.... I've been sitting here for a long time... and um..." he's clearly embarrassed.

The leader of the druid contingent bows, "You must be the mighty Mindartis, who helped free the roots from hags and gnolls. Appletwig and Greenshoot have told us all about it, and spoken of the great battle you and your companions fought.  We could scarcely believe, but had to investigate." He prods the shield with a finger doubtfully, looking in at the shredded rootwood on the chamber floor and the corpses of gnolls and hags. "The pixies said they used a magical device to push the shield away, to accomplish this vandalism.  Do you have the item?"

((Did Quentin leave the orb with Mindartis and take his magic items back?))