Ben:

”Well, Gleam just told us about her shadow, and Eldion’s horn was stolen as well.  The cat could refer to the Witchlight Carnival’s lost and found operator whose catlike child was stolen and now resides in Little Oak’s glade.  So, stick to talking about what was stolen, perhaps?” surmises Ben.

Ben:

Continuing, he says, “Lyn could refer to Endelyn Moongrave, so she might be weaker somehow during an eclipse—the moon blocking the sun so it becomes her grave?  Names seem to have more literal meaning in the fey realm, I have found.”

”As far as the fool’s scepter, well maybe we’ll find that when we go visit the palace,” he concludes hopefully.

"Look for a court jester who has a scepter and beat the hag to death with it at night while the moon is out?" Horatio looks thoughtful a moment, then looks at the goats, "Why didn'ya just say that!?!" 

"Well," adds Gleam, "Endelyn believes her demise will occur during an eclipse. Because there is no moon in the sky here, she assumes the eclipse will be some kind of symbolic display, rather than a literal one. Since my sister and I are the embodiment of the moon and the sun, the hag decided to separate us, releasing me while keeping Glister as her 'guest.' By keeping us apart, I think the hag hopes to forestall her doom."

The goats are no longer blocking your way, but they continue to look at you expectantly. 

“Uh…does anyone have something to give them? Lemme check my pouch.”

Pud digs through his leather bag searching for something to give as an offering. He finds several bits and bobs, but nothing special. Then he thinks of his elixirs. 

Pud walks over to the goats, arms outstretched, holding two glass vials in each hand.

“Hello there. Please accept these really special magical elixirs of my own making as a token of our gratitude.

The blue bubbly one can make you fly for a short period of time. The other one with swirling colors can help transform your body for a while. They’re kinda like bottled up magical spells! Quite unique and very valuable!

May these help keep you safe in your travels. Or maybe you can barter with them if you ever find yourself in need.

We thank you.”

Pud stands there with his arms out in awkward silence before setting them down in the ground and stepping away. 

"That's very smart to give them magical items, Pud. We could definitely use more allies," Titaani says to the Artificer encouragingly, before turning back to the goats. "You two are our friends now, right? We're allies, yes?"

Persuasion to convince the goats: 18

Two of the goats gingerly accept the two vials in their mouths. Baaaa-a-a-a-a-a responds the third to Titaani.

The three goats then wander off. In the distance, you see one lean down, pop the vial open, and with a lurch of its shaggy grey mane, drink the contents. It lifts off with a baaaaaaaaaaaa and drifts into the stormy sky over its two comrades.

You continue on your way.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Titaani asks, riding Tiny into the entrance of the mine. 

Ben:

Approaching cautiously, Ben asks Gleam, "So those aren't statues, those are fey with hair the strength of iron?  I wonder if we could make a trade and get some of that hair--it would sure make for some flexible but very protective armor."

Seeing the others move ahead, Ben moves forward with the rest of the group, though he keeps his eyes open for any hostile intent shown by the nearby fey.

Insight:  11

(OOC: Assuming the glass vial didn't break after the goat consumed the liquid, Pud would have retrieved the glass vial and saved it for future use.)

"Hey, Ben! That's a great idea." Pud turns to Horatio. "Horatio, you think you can make use hair like that and make us some armor?"

As Pud see's Titaani and Tiny darting towards the mine, he wakes up Rizzo and sends her to scout the entrance to the mine. "Rizzo, go check out the mine. If you see any danger, hurry back and chirp like crazy!" The clockwork hummingbird races off towards Titaani, swoops down low and buzzes around her and Tiny before heading off to the mine. 

Rizzo will flutter around the entrance peering inside in search of any threats. Perception check: 24 (20+4)

Ben notes that the korreds are perfectly still, and appear to be made of carved stone. 

"Just statues" whispers Gleam, noting Ben's apprehension.

Pud retrieves his empty glass vial.

As soon as Titaani and Tiny step inside the mine, the tapping noise stops. Ahead is an 8-foot-high, 3-foot-wide tunnel that appears to corkscrew down into the mountain. There are hundreds of tiny, pointed bootprints in the sand - evidently made by bipedal creatures the size of mice. You also find at least one set of medium-sized prints made by ordinary-sized boots, together with a scramble of tiny single-wheel tracks, and several shoed hoofprints from pony-sized beasts of burden.

But the mine entrance is empty of occupants at the moment, and silence fills the dark air.

Horatio nods, "Yep, I could make a very fine chainmail perhaps."

" Well.....this is decidedly odd."

Matilda regarded the 'statues' and the sudden quiet with equal suspicion, moving to Titaanis side.

Ben:

Moving into the cave mouth, Ben calls, “Golmo, are you here?  Lamorna told us you might be of help to us.”

Persuasion:  14

Pud makes a clicking sound and calls Rizzo back to his side. Unsure of who or what lies beyond that tunnel, Pud steps up beside Matilda and Titaani. He scans the room, floor to ceiling, making sure there's nothing lurking and ready to pounce.

Perception check: 6

DM: What is the lighting situation in this room and down the tunnel?

IF the tunnel is NOT well lit, Pud will use his Artificer's magical tinkering feature to make one of his sling bullets light up a 5 ft radius. He'll gently toss the bullet into the tunnel to light up the entrance.  

"You're right, sis, this is weird," Titaani replies to Matilda. "Should we send Tiny or Rizzo ahead to look for Golmo? I don't see him."

The tunnels are completely dark and unlit, other than whatever ambient gloom penetrates through the entrance. Pud lights it up with his tinkered sling bullet.

There is no response from Ben's call. All remains perfectly silent.

Matilda and Titaani can see that the narrow tunnels fork and twist as they descend into the mountainside, revealing a complex tunnel system below.

Distant lightning continues to light up the sky outside, illuminating the frightening statues, all built to face to mine entrance.

" Who has torches? Or magic lights? At least it will be dry if that storm gets closer.", Matilda said walking a little way in.

“I don’t have any torches.” Pud looks to the rest of the group before continuing. “I could make a couple more tiny objects Light fight up. That’s about it.”

Once the group decides to move on, Pud will instruct Rizzo to fetch the magically imbued bullet and light the way in front of Pud.