Tellior has the blanket out of his pack and moves cautiously to where the slippers landed.  "Here goes nothing."  He tries to be as careful as possible while placing the blanket over the slippers, then slowly working to completely wrap them up. 

Dexterity Check: 17

Having nothing better to do ember sat down and started sharpening his sword grumbling half heartedly about trees. "Tellme if anything happens"

Parolanta looks sharply at Triss as she suggests deception. Lydia exclaims, “You really would lie to Lady Daneliean for me? You don’t even know me! Why would you do that? It’s a terrible idea, but I appreciate the thought! And I don’t know how we would be able to remove the curse. I paid a lot for one that would stick. Honestly, I think only the Lady’s arcanist will be able to break it.”

Meanwhile, Tellior deftly wraps the slippers up in his blanket, making a neat bundle that keeps everyone safe from the curse.

Tellior breathes a sigh of relief.  "So far nothing's happening Ember!"  He laughs nervously. "Oh, you said if something does happen.  Sorry."

He heads for the doors to head out. "We quickly see Frendamus? Then on to the Lady?"

Celesta says-  “yes, let’s go.   I can’t wait to see that gnome’s face when we tell him we found them”

“It’s not lying, per se. I mean, we did get a little lost earlier.” Triss shrugs. They catch Parolanta giving them a look and grimaces. “Listen, I don’t like people being in trouble if I can help it, okay? And I only make good decisions, like, half the time. It’s a work in progress.”

They turn back to their friends. “Alright. Let’s go. Frendamus first.”

“Yes, let’s go put poor Frendamus’ mind at ease.  Maybe he knows someone who can remove the curse.” Kellen pauses for a moment “Parolanta, do you know someone to remove the curse?  I would hate to give them to the Lady like this”

He bounces along with the rest of the group back the way they came “And don’t forget, we still have pie!  We have to drop them off at the bakery at some point.”

Lydia stands up, stretching out her limbs that are clearly still weakened from hours of dancing. "I am prepared to face Lady Daneliean. I don't fear her so much as I regret the foolish choices I have made. She will be stern but fair. There is nothing to do to close up here other than lock the door."

Parolanta says, "I am confident that the Lady's arcanist Sinariel will be able to deal with the curse on the slippers. And they do look much better since Celesta cleaned them up with prestidigitation.”

You all head back out to the street and Lydia locks the doors once more. You proceed back the way you came. The hedges are just as tall and imposing, the sky is the same dim twilight, though a light breeze has picked up. Just as you reach the intersection with the main road where Tacktallows can be found, you start to hear a commotion: the sound of hoofbeats, wild cries, and screams of terror. Frantic people run past. Peeking around the corner, you see a group of some two dozen figures wearing bloodstained chain mail and animal masks riding up the street. They swing iron pikes and tridents at the citizens who flee before them. You recall Cindrahal at the Cultured Cow mentioning something about the Wild Hunt, a fearsome group to be avoided at all costs. Lydia and Parolanta react immediately, backing up and then reaching for a door in the hedge. “Quick! We must take cover!”

Tellior looks in the direction of the bloodstained and masked figures for barely a moment.  He then moves with Parolanta towards the door.  "Yes, getting out of the way does look like a very good idea!"

Still cradling the blanket which is wrapped around the slippers, he tries to be very careful.

Kellen gasps “the wild hunt!  We were warned of them!” he will attempt to follow the others through the door, but if it is too far away he will instinctively try to hide deeper within the hedge.

Stealth 18

ember heads towards the door pushing people past him farther inside and drawing his sword in the entryway

Celesta rushes to get through the door and into safety beyond.  She casts a minor illusion on the door to hide it to make it look like it is just hedge  

Triss freezes where they stand, staring down the road at the oncoming group. It takes the movement of their friends before the warning from earlier comes slamming back into their mind. Letting out a rather creative string of curses in Elvish, Triss joins the others in rushing for the door. Once they're through, they make sure to grab the back of Ember's shirt and tug him back with the rest of them.

"Get the door shut before they see us!"

You all make it into the shop, along with several other folk seeking safety. While Ember guards the camouflaged door, you all can hear the horses’ hoofbeats, screams of those caught in the chase, and the horrific yells of the hunters themselves. Everyone who has taken shelter here holds onto others in fear or stares out a couple of windows at the horrible sight. It seems to take a long time for the whole group to pass and quiet to return to the street.

After a few minutes, everyone releases the breath they have been holding and starts to babble about the experience. “Did you see the horses? They had weird distorted elven faces! I hope to never see such a thing again in my life!” And, “My cousin got caught by them once. Knocked down and poked with one of those tridents. Lucky to still be alive, but he was never the same, I tell you!”

As you look around, you see that you are in a candlemaker’s shop. A dryad with long silken robes is making his way around the shop, comforting people but also keeping an eye on his wares. “Oh, yes, most distressing experience! You’ll likely have nightmares for days. Now one recommendation I can make is meditation. That will calm you before you sleep. I happen to have the perfect candles for establishing a tranquil mood. Do let me know if I can help you find just the right scent.”

Once coming into the shop, Tellior tries to make his way towards the back and away from the door.  With his blanket-wrapped package, he just wants to avoid jostling into anyone.  He takes the time to look about at the merchandise, admiring the many colorful creations - and he presumes varying scents, though he doesn't take the time to check.  Once the commotion seems to have died off, he locates his friends. "We should probably be on our way.  Before something else happens!"  He laughs, trying to make a joke of it. 

Celesta replies to the dryad “I appreciate your offer, and you have a lovely shop, however we are in a bit of a rush at the moment, I am afraid”.   Taking a deep breath, she steps outside to ensure the crowd is truly gone..

Embers eyes glow with rage as the hunt passes he sheaths his sword as they leave.

Almost instinctively, Triss' eyes dart over each of their friends. Doing another head-count, just making sure that everyone's still here. Alright, good, they're all here. They're a little wary of the dryad moving about the shop, and they take a step closer to Ember. Y'know, just in case. The dryad seems friendly, but, well, so did the other one. Up until she charmed them and tried to kill them via tree smash.

Triss perks up and looks at Tellior. "Yeah, being on our way sounds perfect!" they say, bringing a bright grin back to their face. They head for the door, assuming the others will follow. "Let's go!"

You leave the candlemakers now that the street is clear and head back toward Tacktallows. Lydia is very quiet as she follows you. When the door to the shop comes into view, she stops for a moment, takes a deep breath, and says, “I made this bed…” She continues forward with you. When you enter the shop, you see Frendamus stop in his tracks. It’s clear that he has been pacing back and forth. “So?” he asks. “What news? Good news? Surely you found the slippers? Did this young lady help you?” He practically bounces in anticipation.

Celesta says “we have the slippers, but unfortunately they have been cursed with a dancing enchantment,  the Lady’s arcanist should be able to remove it..  the slippers are wrapped in cloth for now.   They are undamaged and clean”.  Shall we bring them to the Lady?  This elf, Lydia, has confessed and comes willingly with us to seek the Lady’s merciful justice”.