Tellior takes a moment to look at the moon carving on the column, then turns to Ember, seeming perplexed. "Ember, it's the same as the ones we saw inside." 

Triss stops with the others, their heart stopping in their chest as Ember actually starts acting afraid. He never does that. Their longbow is in their hands before they can even think twice, and they step between Ember and the carving. They quickly scan the rest of their friends; no one else is acting strangely. Just Ember.

"Oh, I don't like this at all."

Parolanta was just about to enter the palace when she hears Celesta call her back. “Magic in the carvings? Which ones? The moon? It’s just decorative. Surely you noticed the whole palace has beautiful carvings. These ones just depict celestial objects. Nothing harmful about it.”

Despite her assurances, Ember feels his heart pounding and his hands shake. He staggers back a step, certain that something terrible will come from that moon carving.

Celesta casts minor illusion to cover the moon sculpture with a illusionary carving of herself making a goofy face.  She says “Ember- I trust your instincts.  Let’s get into the palace and away from that thing- perhaps the Lady will know what can help?  In the meantime look at it now!”  

Tellior jumps in,  joking. "Definitely look!  Is that the first time Celesta had made such a silly face?"

Once the moon is gone from Ember’s view, he is able to calm himself a little. He is still feeling the effects of his bout with terror: some dizziness and lingering trepidation to come nearer. But with the encouragement of his friends, he feels like he could pass the threshold into the palace.

Kellen smiles when he sees Celesta’s face appear on the palace walls, but then grows serious as he takes a closer look around, searching for anyone who may be watching the group, or focusing attention on the palace carving.  He also looks for anyone who looks like the mysterious elf they saw running down the alleyway.

Perception 5

Still looking around, he reaches up to tug at Ember’s arm “It’s okay, Celesta has taken care of it.  Let’s go, now. We don’t want to keep the Lady waiting.”

Tellior steps towards the entrance, though glances back to make sure Ember is able to make it past now.  "Celesta, that was brilliant thinking there!" 

ember stomps through

"thanks guys. i dont understand why i felt that way. i was fine with all the others"

The further into the palace Ember goes, the better he feels, except for any lingering embarrassment or irritation from the inexplicable fear. Parolanta leads them back along the long hallways to Lady Daneliean’s central chamber. As before, the door is flanked by two dryads and their trees. “Good day, Aspen, Larix. We have returned from the mission on which Lady Daneleian sent us. Could you please ask her if she has time to see us?” Larix nods and steps into the chamber, closing the door behind her.

Celesta is saddened that she may never look at a dryad the same way again.  She looks at the two beautiful creatures with awe.   She wonders if they heard about the incident earlier.  

Walking back through the halls of the palace, Tellior lets out a long breath. "It is good to be back here.  I certainly feel a bit safer here - mostly."  Then as they wait outside the doors of Lady Daneleian's chamber, he turns to Lydia.  "So, here we are to face the Lady.  Would you prefer we let her know your tale?  Or would you rather tell her yourself?" 

Lydia takes a deep breath and responds, “I suppose I should be the one to tell the story, if I truly take responsibility for my foolishness. I would rather hide in a dark cupboard while you explain, but I don’t deserve that option. I will tell Lady Daneliean what I have done and you can fill in any details that I forget.”

After another minute or so, Larix returns and indicates that you may enter. Parolanta leads the way. Presumably a couple of you are dragging your prisoners with you (the satyr and darkling). They are not especially cooperative, but have given up any hope of escape for the moment.

The Lady’s chamber is as impressive as it was the first time you entered, full of beauty and learning. There are slightly fewer inhabitants at the later time of day and Lady Daneliean is sitting in a large chair made of stone and wood with richly embroidered cushions. She sets a book down on the table beside it and gives you her full attention, “Welcome, friends! I do hope you have been successful. What have you learned?” You are struck again by the high elf’s intricate braids, smooth russet skin, radiant orange eyes, and extraordinary grace.

Parolanta bows before her Lady and says, “Yes, milady, we have found your slippers and learned much. But first, perhaps one of the spriggan guard can take over the care of these two prisoners. They attacked us not far from the palace."

“Indeed? That is quite disturbing,” says Daneliean and she turns to one of the tree-like sentries. “Please secure these two and inform Warden Kylem that an investigation is needed.” The spriggan nods and two of them take charge of the satyr and darkling and walk them out of the room through a side door. Daneliean returns her attention to your group and says, “I am sorry that you have been assaulted. Hedgegrove is a beautiful place, but a certain wildness runs through it as well. Can you tell me more about this attack?”

Celesta steps forward, gives a courteous bow (or whatever is proper, she would know, I don’t!) and then addresses the lady.   “My lady,  indeed we have the slippers, but this has been quite the adventure in this place.   This battle with the Satyr and darklings was just the latest of our mishaps…”

.    She proceeds to tell a brief version of all the adventures and the battles they had,  allowing for others to fill in the details, and then gets to the part of the slippers being stolen and cursed.   (My apologies for not writing it all out, busy weekend!)

  ”We captured Lydia here, who stole and cursed them,  she is here with us now, and she has fully confessed to the crime and is here bravely and willingly to  tell her story and face your justice…”

celesta pauses here to allow Lydia to speak.

(Before we leave the chamber Celesta will ask about the carving that frightened Ember, what the elf that escaped who was dealing with the darklings and Satyr was possibly up to, and the evil dryad))

Tellior gives Lydia a smile as she offers to tell her own story. "Thank. I do think taking some responsibility for what happened will turn out better for you in the end."  He then enters the Lady's chamber when they granted entry.  Listening to Celesta recount their day, he speaks only to add a tiny detail if necessary.  At the end he took glances to Lydia, trying to give her a reassuring look. 

(He too would be eager to mention his missing teeth - although they did seem to be growing back.  In fact, as they wait, he would absently run his tongue over the spots to see what has happened with them.  But he does want to tell the Lady what happened and hopefully get her help to fix it - or assurance it will fix itself.) 

Working your way backwards through events, you all share what you know of the well-dressed elf and the satyr and darkling attack. Unfortunately, you were not able to see much of the elf before he disappeared. Lady Daneliean assures you that Warden Kylem will learn what she can from the prisoners. If no one else mentions that coin that was part of the trade, Parolanta does. She feels that it adds evidence that the package that the elf took was likely valuable contraband. Lady Daneileian accepts this information, but doesn’t ask for the gold.

When you mention Ember’s odd reaction to the carving outside the palace, she knows of nothing unusual about the ornamentation that would cause it. She calls for her arcanist, Sinariel, who arrives after a short time. She is a plump elf with one long black braid hanging down her back and bright golden eyes. Sinariel agrees that there shouldn’t be anything about the carving that would induce fear, but she will check it to determine if someone has enchanted it without their knowledge. 

When she hears about Tellior’s loss and regrowth of teeth, she nods and explains that the use of the leyline intersections by outsiders can have strange effects. In fact, this could explain Ember’s situation as well. Perhaps his travel along the leylines have caused a phobia of the moon. To test her theory, she finds a book with a picture of the moon and shows it to Ember.

(Make a wisdom saving throw, Ember.)

23

Kellen shuffles his feet nervously as the group recounts their adventures, never one to stay in one place long and still in awe of the different items on display in the room.  He lets Celesta and Tellior lead the story, but will add in some parts of his own when necessary. He shares the story of the crashed pie cart ‘And we were able to save a few pies from the wreckage, and hope to be able to return them to Myrin’s bakery when we are done here!”

He also adds details to the telling of the attack, especially how they stumbled upon the three figures exchanging something with the well dressed elf and how the one darkling exploded in a bright shining light when he died.   “While we were successful in recovering the slippers, even though they have a curse that needs to be removed, I fear we are answering one question and giving you another to solve.  I do hope the Warden can get to the bottom of it.”

"Speaking of answers, I do hope that we have made some progress in being able to help Lady Catherine, is she still doing well?”

"Strange effects?" Tellior says, his voice showing his concern. "I lost my teeth!"  He still seems upset over the whole episode.  (Not sure the status - the teeth still seem to be growing back I presume.)  "I suppose they seem to be coming back though."

He watches Ember to see how he reacts to this book with a moon picture.

Ember feels a moment of sheer terror when he sees the image of the moon, but this time he is able to control that fear. With a few deep breaths, he steadies himself and maintains control. Sinariel nods and says, “Yes, I believe you have picked up a phobia of the moon. Probably from your trip through the leyline intersection. It should eventually wear off once you have left the Truelands for some time. Maybe.” She cocks her head at Tellior when expresses his dismay at losing some teeth and says, “You do realize that you are in the Feywild, yes? A beautiful, dangerous, and unpredictable place?” The lights in the room dim a little as she says this, her golden eyes glow, a light wind picks up, and you have a strong sense of something very alien about her as she stares at you. After a moment, the room brightens again and she adds, “You will be lucky if you leave here with only a fear of the moon and lost teeth*.”

Lady Daneliean speaks now, “Now, now, Sinariel, don’t frighten them. Although a little fear is probably useful in the Everwood.” She continues, addressing the other incidents you have reported. She doesn’t seem especially surprised to learn of the rogue dryad and her tree who seemed to have gone bad, as though this is the sort of thing that happens at times in Hedgegrove.  She thanks you for protecting her citizens from the attack. She becomes thoughtful when she hears about the pies. But when she hears that you have found the slippers, she claps her hands with joy before frowning a little at the word cursed. “You have a story to tell, Lydia El’Ranatoth the Bowyer? Speak.”

Lydia steps forward, bows low, and while looking down explains her actions in a clear voice. “As you know, milady, I am an accomplished bowyer. My business has done very well and my customers are pleased with my craftsmanship. However, I have had fewer orders lately, as the trend seems to be turning to dancing rather than hunting. I ascribed this change to your example. Milady has celebrated the dance at the expense of the hunt and the citizens of Hedgegrove follow your lead. I confess that I was angry and desired vengeance. I came up with a most foolish plan: I bought a spell scroll, stole your slippers from Tacktallows, and cursed them. My recklessness backfired as the curse took hold of my own mind. I put the slippers on and danced and danced until my feet bled. And yet I danced still more. It was only when your crew here found me and dispelled the slippers that I was able to stop. To tell the truth, I am strangely glad that the curse fell upon me. I deserved it and it brought me to my senses. I am prepared for whatever punishment you deem appropriate to my crimes.”

Lady Daneliean follows all of this with stern, unreadable watchfulness, seeming to measure Lydia in her entirety. You get the feeling that it would be extremely uncomfortable to be the focus of this gaze. After a few long moments, she says, “I will consult with Arbiter Rendul. Meanwhile, Alleganee, please take Lydia to one of our secure rooms.” Another of the treefolk, a spriggan, steps forward and takes Lydia gently but firmly by the arm and leads her out of the room. 

Once they have left, Sinariel offers to remove the curse from the slippers. Frendamus sets them down carefully. The arcanist casts a spell, the slippers glow for a moment, and Sinariel nods. She picks them up and hands them over to Lady Daneliean. A bright smile has returned to the high elf’s face. She thanks Frendamus effusively, saying, “These are some of your best work. Well done!”

Finally, Lady Daneliean turns to your group and says, “You all have served me very well. You have completed the mission I sent you on and gone beyond that to assist Hedgegrove in saving some pies, ending the threat from the dryad, and turning in possibly dangerous criminals. You have come far in earning my trust. I would like to offer the hospitality of the palace. We can provide two rooms where you may rest for the night. And I invite you to dine with me this evening. We can leave the second task until tomorrow, after you all have rested. I have something in mind,” she says with a sparkle in her eye. She then adds, “I suspect that Myrin’s bakery is closed for the night. I recommend that we eat the pies with our dinner. I will make sure she is compensated well. Now, Parolanta, if you will lead them to the blue rooms, they can rest for a little. The bell will ring for dinner.”

*By the way, Tellior does feel a tooth in each gap, very thin and sharp. Kind of a triangle shape to them.