"Then it appears that we'll need to deal with these brigands whether we want to or not," Speedwell concludes. "I'm looking forward to this." The bright blue-eyed harengone with mottled green colored fur smiles. "Honestly, I'm kind of in the mood to punch something."

Autumnleaf hums a bit, scrunching her face up. "My hands are not made for pugilism, as such. Still, though I try to avoid outright confrontation, these brigands clearly need a harsher touch."

Karib nods, "Agreed, violence should be a final option. Especially in a strange land with strange ways. Outsiders..." he looks at his companions, "...well, at least I, should be careful."

He pauses to look around the dim cave, then back to Jingle Jangle, "I heard tell of some strange and malign influence here that is upsetting the Carnival as well. We should be on the lookout for that -- have you heard tell of such things?"

Jingle Jangle simply looks confused when asked about the carnival, though Sir Talavar speaks up, saying, "I know little of the carnival itself, never really had time for frivolities, but if you were brought here from there, the Hourglass coven very well may have something to do with this 'influence'."

Inif thanks Jingle Jangle for her assistance and looks to his companions for any sustenance they might provide, "Honestly, we were not all that prepared for an expedition, I hope we have something for you."

"Any suggestions where we might find a boat?"  

"Sometimes boats float around when the water's high." Jingle Jangle says, and Sir Talavar adds, "I believe I saw some on the Tollway as well that the Bullywugs used when coming out."

Inif nods.  "Alright, shall we head towards the Tollway?"  The monk cracks his knuckles and stretches his lithe limbs.  "It's been a while since I've sparred.  I could use the practice."

Autumnleaf hums, her brow furrowed for a moment before returning to her normal expression. "Indeed, I suppose unless there is more to discuss, we do have some brigands to concuss."

As it looks like you’re all ready to leave, Jingle Jangle looks to the group and says, “Jingle Jangle wishes you luck and is happy to know those long ears will get what’s coming to em!”

Sir Talavar adds, “I too must be on my way. I thank you for your assistance, but I need to inform the Seelie Court of what has happened here, and that we cannot count on Zybilna‘s aid. Here, take this as a token of my thanks.” He then reaches towards his belt and holds out his well crafted sword*.

What would you like to do?

Inif bows to Sir Talavar.  "We will use it well, good sir.  Until you require it again..."  

Inif takes the faerie dragon's sword and offers the dagger-sized blade to Speedwell.  "This would be a good blade to wield off-hand and use with your hand crossbow".

Autumnleaf eyes the dagger but makes no move to take it, instead adjusting the false wings still attached to her front as she flutters in the air, waiting to head out.

Quote from Faux_Beau >>

Inif bows to Sir Talavar.  "We will use it well, good sir.  Until you require it again..."  

Inif takes the faerie dragon's sword and offers the dagger-sized blade to Speedwell.  "This would be a good blade to wield off-hand and use with your hand crossbow".

“Thank you, Inif,” Speedwell says. He reaches out to take the dagger/sword and moves it through the air, getting a feel for the weight and balance. Then, he places it in his belt. “Are you all ready to head out?”

((Assuming you all are ready to head out))

As you leave, the goblin seems happy to have helped, and knowing that you’ll be, in some way at least, dealing with the Harengone brigands. Sir Talavar bids you all farewell and flies off, quickly disappearing in to the mist. As you walk down the hill, the trees seem to almost be humming with the breeze, giving the whole Hill a somewhat happy feeling. At the bottom of the hill Speedwell, with his keen ears hears the light ringing of metal, and Karib, always on alert in this strange world, spots the glint of silver hanging from the tree in front of you. Approaching you see it to be a small silver key hanging from a branch over your path, almost as if the trees, or Hill itself, was giving it to you. Everyone also can just hear the sound of, what you think, is rushing water off in the distance.

What would you like to do?

Inif reaches out with his mind and pulls the silver key toward him.  

"What's that?"  Inif utters aloud.  "Let's get a closer look and find a boat to traverse toward the Tollway."

Autumnleaf clucks her tongue a few times, then flies up to try and get a better view of the area and their path.

Moving towards the sound, it doesn't take long before out of the mist comes a geyser of water, shooting up some 30 feet out of a 10 foot tall, 5 foot around well ((one of the O looking things on the map)). The marshy area around you appears to be slowly filling with water, making the trek slightly more clean, as at least you aren't getting mud on your shoes, but certainly no easier as you're all, sans Autumnleaf of course, trudging through shin high water.

Autumnleaf, from the air, and not needing to fret about the slow walk, can see a few objects floating atop the geyser, and the others, from the ground, spot a similar number of wispy light, bobbing and floating around the top of the well itself.

 What would you like to do?

Inif motions to head towards the lights near the well to investigate further.

“What in the hell,” Speedwell curses as he trudges through what is likely more than shin high water for his small frame. “I’m not a fan of water,” he says. “Does anyone see a boat?”

Shrugging, Autumnleaf gives a cursory glance around for a boat or raft of some kind. "It certainly does make travel inconvenient. Though, for those with wings it's much more lenient." She giggles a little at that.

As you approach, you all look around and see the entire land is slowly filling up with water; to the point that everyone needs to tread water to be able to make any progress, which is slowed even further by the water flowing out from the well. By the time you approach the well, the geyser has slowed significantly, and at this point is just burbling out of the top, spilling more water down its walls.

There are unfortunately nothing to grab on and float within sight at the moment other than small pieces of debris here and there. However the floating lights all circle around as you approach, constantly flitting here and there, and from one or another (it's hard to track their movement or voices) they slowly slightly brighter and you hear a slightly high-pitched etherial voice ask, "Oh outsiders! What brings you here?"