Autumnleaf waves. "We seek to dole out some just desserts to those in need, and on the way spotted your shinyness which acted as a lead. What, if I may ask, is happening here? Hopefully nothing nefarious that we'd need fear."

Karib will follow the others as best he can until the water becomes too deep. If he is in earshot of the question, he shouts an answer in frustrated tones, "A boat would be mighty handy, right about now."

(( Pretty sure Karib would not float in chainmail, or is the water not that deep? ))

Speedwell is not in a good mood about this water. He can swim, but not particularly well. "I agree with the new guy," Speedwell says. "I would love to not be wet right now."

((at this point the entire area has mostly filled with water. Other than the occasional random shallow point it's ~5' deep everywhere. Fortunately, RAW there is no problem with swimming in heavy armor, you're just slower if you don't have a swim speed. That said...))

As you all begin floating the wisps look to Autumnleaf and, flitting excitedly around, say, "oooo and who do you plan to go against here?" The rest of you begin to occasionally catch the smell of a hearty stew wafting through the air.

"Our target is Agdon Longscarf and his irreputable bunch. Beg pardon if we've interrupted your lunch." Autumnleaf says, sniffing about for a moment. "All that aside if you wouldn't mind, they could use a floatation device of some kind." She gestures at her companions.

The lights flicker in amusement at the mention of their lunch and flit up and around the tall well, now only dripping water below, as if looking for something. As they come back down you can now can see a small flume of smoke, and as you talk, only a couple hundred meters away you see a building walking along over the water on a base of legs, slowly passing by.

Inif calls out to the moving building, "Hello in there. I don't suppose we could bother you to get out of this water and dry off?"

As Inif calls out, the building slowly changes direction and moves towards you, stopping just a short swim for each of you, and lowers down on it's legs so that you can all easily climb in. As you get in, an elderly human woman comes up and kindly says, "My my! what have we here? You got caught out in the waters didn't you? How lucky it was that we were passing by! Please come in and dry yourselves. You must be hungry. I've just got some stew on, have a seat and I'll bring you some." Not long after you've had a chance to get in and make yourselves comfortable she comes back with bowls of a hearty veggie stew and slides of plum pie which she places in front of you at the table and asks, "So what brings you all here?" talking to the group as a whole, but definitely more curious of the non-fey locals most.

What would you like to do?

Karib, still coming to terms with the place, takes a step back when the tree alters course. His hand grips his staff firmly, and his shield moves slightly to the front, but he soon settles himself. I am perhaps as strange to them as they are to me.

He bows slightly, then speaks loudly, as one used to addressing crowds, "I am only lately arrived here, and come in search of precious knowledge that I have lost. I also seek understanding of the ways of this land, and what has befallen it of late. As for my new-found friends, their stories are their own to tell."

He gestures to them, while keeping a wary eye on the tree.

Autumnleaf hums a little, eyeing the woman with a grin. "Dry ground would be helpful for the rest, and a good meal would simply be the best. Though, new friend, if you were to feed us and give us a lift, what might you ask of us in return for such a gift?"

"I am Inif.  I have traveled across the planes, but perhaps this place is the strangest of all.  Please tell us of your home here.  We have heard it is taken over by a coven."

Inif takes the stew, but does not yet eat.  He eyes the old woman cautiously.

"Inif! What a unique name. Call me Tsu." The woman replies, adding with a chuckle, "You all are a suspicious bunch though." as she notices no one touching the soup yet, at which none of you notice any reason to distrust her. "And yes, I have heard that rumor as well. Poor Zybilna. I do hope she's ok." she then adds to Autumn, "For the soup, and a bed if you all are tired, just any old trinket will do. It's good that some still hold to the old Rules."

"Apologies, we mean no disrespect.  I have heard tales of hags taking the guise of old woman.  With talk of a coven, I expected we'd be running into one soon enough." 

Inif relaxes a bit and starts eating.  "Yes, my full name is Inif' Itum.  I am a githzerai monk from the plane of Limbo.  I have traveled long in search of the Feywild.  I'm afraid I don't carry many trinkets with me, except for coins which I'd call trinkets.  I don't suppose you have need of gold here?  We can also offer our services in exchange for your hospitality and some information about the land.  We are seeking Barvlorna by the way of the Tollway and expect to deal with the haregone bandits there."

When the conversation seems to wane, Inif further asks  "You mentioned 'rules'?  Whose rules?  Could you elaborate?"

Autumnleaf makes a noncommittal noise at Inifs question. "Kindness among the Fae must always be repaid, unless the path to woe you wish laid. A friendly warning I should have given you all, take caution when bargaining lest you bring about your own downfall." At that, she digs around in her backpack, pulling out an older deck of cards. "They're well cared for though they've been with me for a long while. If any trinket will do, perhaps you can take this with a smile?" She holds the deck out.

Tsu nods and says, "Your friends from here can explain the Rules to you it seems." Then looking to the fairy smiles and says, "Ah! What a history these cards must have. How many hands have they been through." It is also at this point that you notice the Inn has again stood up and resumed it's trek through the area, splashing water as it goes.

Autumnleaf nods, taking off the fake wings attached to her front for the first time since putting them on at the carnival, and settles down to eat as well.

Karib nods and smiles at the description of the customs, feeling relieved, "Aye, I have heard of such customs before. They come from simpler and -- dare I say -- better times." He considers the few things he carries, then turns to his hosts. "There is little I have to offer that matches your generosity and kindness. But what I can do is  make things -- simple things of metal, for the most part. If you have a forge, I can work it, but if not, I can still fashion things for you. If you have items that need repair, then I may be able to help, I have tools for smithing, though my tinker's tools were lost some time ago."

He looks around at the other clientelle, pondering. "Others might offer tales and teachings of the wisdom of Gond, but such things are not really my calling -- nor, I suspect, your need. Sweat and toil, and honest labour, that's my true calling."

He finishes with a smile, and looks up at Tsu, to see if she has any interest in his skills.

((Autumnleaf taking off her wings reminds me that Inif and Speedwell are still wearing theirs as well ;D ))

Looking to the Human Tsu smiles and says, “I do have some old pots and pans that are all dinged to heck! It’d be nice if they were smooth again. But please enjoy your meal and have rest. My Inn here just keeps walking all night. I can drop you off in the morning wherever we happen to be. Hopefully the waters will be low by then, but it’s hard to know for sure.”

Karib will do what he can to make repairs, and as he does so, ask if anyone has heard tell of beings here who are stealing things -- or people -- from outside.

Autumnleaf finishes eating and speaks up to Tsu while she watches with interest as Karib works. "Well, this has been a pleasing and pleasant diversion indeed, but we do have a task that we're ought to accomplish with speed. Agdon Longscarf, it seems, has been running about doing all manner of bad, and since the Queen is indisposed our group aims to bring reprisal to the long-eared lad."