Quote from Tesservett >>

((OOC- celesta needs to make a knowledge check for this? Not sure-   if so-here’s a knowledge arcana check:: 22 in the campaign log.))

Celesta will tell the others if the food is safe to eat or not.  

 Celesta is 99% sure that this is a mere folk story. It may be difficult to shift back to the material plane from the Feywild, but not because of the food.

(Mobile)

Tender happily accepts the berries and eats them with little care and only minor hesitation. "Oh! A song, yes!" She agrees, grinning. "If any place we've ever been deserves such, its this one!"

Celesta tells the others she is  pretty certain it is safe.  In any case, she enjoys some of the delights herself.  

There is already an entire bread roll in Triss’ mouth as Ember gives his warning. Their cheeks all puffed out, they do freeze for a moment until Celesta gives the all-clear. With a thumbs up at the other elf, they swallow the bread before diving into the fresh fruit. Hands full of their spoils, they fall back into the bench alongside Tender now, resting their head on her thigh. 

Popping a piece of the freshest fruit they’ve ever had into their mouth, they give a little cheer and a clap. “Yes, music, please!”

ember growls remembering something said earlier. ¨we could stay forever¨ he mused we need to go meet that lady. One song only. Triss. What year is it? Tender what was the fey lady´s name?  Celesta. you at least should know better than to be beguiled by this place.

"Oh, relax, Ember," Tender tells him, passing Triss another half of a bread roll, stuffing the other half in her own mouth. "We're in a whole new realm! Didn't we always talk of going off and doing grand things?" She grins at him, tilting her head to the side. "Where's your sense of adventure?" 

The longer anyone looks at the carvings on the pillars, the more details you find: eyes peeking from behind leaves, baby birds in a nest, tiny mushrooms, a drop of dew on a flower petal. It is truly remarkable. The rose vines are indeed living. They seem to come through the floor and wind around the columns with orange and pink roses blooming here and there. The fragrance is delicate but intoxicating.

Tender cannot actually see through the quartz wall, though it does seem to glow a little as if lit from behind. The berries she accepts from Tellior are the perfect mix of tart and sweet, unlike any she has tasted before. The bread is clearly fresh, with a delicious aroma, crusty outside, and slightly tangy, soft inside. If anyone pours a drink, you will discover a golden liquid. It has a fresh, light sweetness that is refreshing. The food and drink are all simple fare, but of a quality you have never experienced.

(If Kellen and Tellior play for us, roll Performance.)

fought off by my self preservation, tender. What was the name of this lady we are supposed to meet. if I don't get my answer I will get us an interview one way or another. EMber threatens grimly hand on sword

Quote from willow_ivyleaf >>

fought off by my self preservation, tender. What was the name of this lady we are supposed to meet. if I don't get my answer I will get us an interview one way or another. EMber threatens grimly hand on sword

 Celesta says “The lady of Hedgegrove. Lady Daneliean, who I believe-is the same person our Katherine met with.  Please- your sword won’t do any of us any good here.  We won’t be able to get home without help from the fey.   Relax- enjoy the food, or not, as you wish.   This is a fun adventure- There’s nothing to fear from this lady while we are her guest. “

and I am sure the same will be true in fifty years when we think a week has passed. he stepped to the nearest fae. Excuse me, where would I find the lady daneliean?

Celesta gets more stern with Ember-  “we don’t have any choice but to cooperate-  we gave our word for one, and we also are trapped in the feywild with no way to get home for another.  I don’t know what is happening, but I suspect the Lady Daneliean needs our help to rescue lady Catherine  from something else.. please be patient!” 

Quote from willow_ivyleaf >>

and I am sure the same will be true in fifty years when we think a week has passed. he stepped to the nearest fae. Excuse me, where would I find the lady daneliean?

Your party seems to be alone in this room. And as you look around, you notice that there are no apparent exits either. Two walls have benches along them. A third has the side table with the food and drink. On all sides are the beautiful rose pink quartz walls.

Tellior watches the exchange between Ember and the others, grinning a bit as he tries to keep himself out of it all.  "How about this one Kellen?"  He starts playing his horn, beginning with a bright, triumphant sounding call before settling into a simple brisk tempo melody.  It is a song the two have played before in the taverns - a bit of a fugue between the two musicians as they trade the main melody line back and forth.  It is music that lends itself to a rather active playful dance. 

Performance Check: 10

Now Triss lets out a full blown cackle at Ember’s sheer determination. “Em, truly. This place is so different than anything we’ve seen before. Let’s enjoy it, alright, dear?” They take the roll Tender offers and wink at her before biting into it. 

Leaning back again, they kick their feet into the air, a true picture of relaxation. “Sides, like Celesta’s implyin’. We’re sorta at their mercy now, so let’s not offend them before we know what’s goin’ on round sure, kay?” 

They turn and wiggle their fingers at whoever’s still near the food and drink. “Who wants to be an absolute dear and pour me a drink? I’ll be our test subject for it.”

Eager to change the subject, Celesta says “I’ll pour!” And she pours a round for all who are partaking, while looking with wonder at the rose quartz beauty around her.    

“I thought you were all on board with this adventure when we started Ember?  Just please don’t get us stuck here for all time by ticking off our hostess, in spite of how nice this is, I don’t want to be trapped in this room forever!”.  She laughs, enjoying the music and the company. 

Kellen stands in silent awe at first, as the others trade playful jokes that go by him unheard.  He has never seen the likes of this place and doesn’t know where to look first.  He lies down on the lush carpet, soaking in the warmth of the room. 

Jolted out of his amazement by hearing the food is safe to eat, he shoves his mouth full of cheese and fruit, sneaking some bread in his pocket for later.  He gladly takes a glass from Celesta.  Finished, he turns to Tellior.  “Yes, a song would be perfect while we wait, although I fear our music will pale in comparison to the beauty of this place”

He pulls his violin out of his pack “Ember, just relax and j some food and drink for once.  You heard these fey, they are looking for our help as well.  They are not our enemy, save your smiting for those that need it”

With that, he joins with Tellior in a happy tune to match the mood of his friends. (advantage for the duet)

Performance 20

(Mobile)

"Seriously guys" ember shook his head "you have all gone mad!" He knocked on a wall "IS ANYONE HERE?"

Quote from willow_ivyleaf >>

(Mobile)

"Seriously guys" ember shook his head "you have all gone mad!" He knocked on a wall "IS ANYONE HERE?"

 (Which wall? Above a bench, above a table, or the empty wall?)

The closest wall. I was talking to sitting people so probably above a bench

As Ember knocks on the wall of quartz and the song winds down, Parolanta and Watcher applaud politely. The pixie says, “Delightful! Perhaps the Lady will ask you to play for her at some point. But first you have business with her.”

“Yes, please remember to behave respectfully and with honor. The same will be returned to you,” says Watcher. He gestures toward one of the walls and an archway appears. Parolanta leads the way and Watcher waits for you to follow.

Assuming you do, the pixie leads you to the right down a wide hallway. You make a few left-hand turns before you arrive at a large carved door. Here, the columns flanking the door appear to be actual trees and two graceful humanoids stand beside them with clubs at their sides. One appears to be male, with short, spiky green hair and very pale skin. The female has blonde hair with just a hint of green and light brown skin. Both have deep brown eyes. Parolanta says, “Good day, Aspen, Larix. Lady Daneliean is expecting these visitors.” The two dryad guards nod and pull the doors open.

This room has a similar frame as the one in which you waited: tall carved pillars and rose quartz walls. But it takes you a while to notice that as there is so much else to take in. First of all, it is a much larger room, with an open second floor all around the edges. The rose vines around the pillars are clearly much older, given their size. The profusion of roses in bloom gives off a pleasant scent of fruit. Many bookshelves stand against the walls, especially on the upper level. There are numerous cabinets and cases with glass fronts as well as wooden tables covered in all sorts of items: colorful stones, cut branches with oddly-shaped leaves, small decorative boxes, large shimmering beetles, cracked horns, and more.

There are several creatures around the room. Satyrs with shaggy legs and a cup in hand lounge on benches. A few elves examine books or objects. Some creatures are spaced evenly around the room with bark and leaves--at first they appear to be trees, but as you watch them, they have facial features and move now and then.

One particular elf examines a skeleton of some kind of winged creature that is laid out on a table. You hear her say in a rich, musical voice, “But do you think this discoloration on the bones happened before or after death? Is it mere age and deterioration? Or some disease that weakened the beast?” Noting your arrival, the elf stands tall for a moment. She has intricately braided brown hair that glints in the light and a gold circlet with orange stones. Her impossibly smooth skin glows a rich russet brown with freckles across her face. She studies you for a moment with radiant orange eyes that seem to see all your secrets. She wears a vest with complex, shimmering embroidery over a flowing silk blouse, orange velvet pants, and glossy brown knee-high boots.

In a moment, she has moved with incredible speed and grace to your side. Inspecting Tender up close, she says, “Blue? Freckles? Tail? You have it all, my dear! Delightful!” To Tellior: “What a beautiful instrument? You must play for us later!” She takes to one knee to study Kellen, peering into his blue eyes: “Another musician. Wonderful! Ah, but do not be tempted to pocket anything from my collection, friend.” Moving to Ember, she sighs a little, “You are strong despite your adversity. I honor you.” She gently brushes her fingers along Triss’ longbow, “A fine weapon. No doubt you wield it well.” And finally to Celesta, “Ah! A lost one comes home! Welcome, my dear child. But I forget myself!” She dashes up to a large wooden throne atop a rose quartz dais.

“Welcome to Hedgegrove! I am Lady Daneliean Lionbright, Leader of the Dance, Walker of the Maze, Protector and Final Word of the City of Hedgegrove, here in the Truelands. I believe I know your purpose here, but please introduce yourselves.”