Matilda vaguely remembers Lamorna the unicorn jabbering on about Elidon's missing horn, but the details elude her.

The rocking horse continues to grin, unblinkingly, and position itself between the party and the exterior door into the Family Tree room (L11). It does not seem to listen or care about Ben's entreaties.

Nor does the rocking horse have any reaction to Pud, other than trying to insure that he keeps away from the building and the door.

But Pud's magical inquiry unveils high magic at work here. A powerful curse has turned a sentient creature into this obedient Construct. The exact spell or curse is well beyond Pud's knowledge or experience, but a powerful magical artifact must have been used to trap this creature in this state, and that artifact must be used to reverse its effects. 

" Pud? Is it him?"

(OOC: Pud will relay all the information he gleaned from the identify ritual with the party)

”Yes, it appears to be Elidon. There’s some really strong magic at play here. Definitely nothing I can fix right now.”

Pud looks back at the rocking horse and he’s struck with an idea.

”I wonder if I can communicate with him. Let’s see.“

He looks back at the rocking horse and cast the spell message. He points his crooked dirty little finger him and says “Elidon….can you hear me?  We want to help restore you to your former self. Can you give us any guidance?”

Matilda couldn't remember but she was trying, " Didn't someone say his horn was being kept somewhere?"

"I...don't remember...ugh, I wish I had my focus!" Titaani stomps her foot on the ground angrily. "I wish..I wish that this adventure was as easy as I thought it would be."

Meanwhile, Tiny will try to drag the rocking horse closer to the party, to see if it will resist being moved. 

Ben:

”Maybe one of those items from the Dollhouse is the artifact needed to transform him back—could we get that lucky?”  suggests Ben.

He also looks around for Elkhorn now that they are outside.

Perception:  12

After arcanely reaching out, Pud gets no response from the wooden horse. Whatever foul magic trapped this creature as a dutiful Construct also managed to remove or mask its intellect as well – it seems to have a wooden brain to match its wooden mouth.

Tiny finds that it indeed resists moving. (Make a strength check if you want to make a contest of it.)

Ben looks around. The garden and surrounding grounds are as peaceful as they are empty. There is no sign of Elkhorn nor of anyone else.

Tiny will pull a little harder. Strength: 17

"Dang it! No luck. Sorry, guys. I couldn't talk to it."

Pud steps back watches Titaani try to move the rocking horse. "I'd help but I ain't too strong. Never been, but especially not now with my wonky leg." He looks back at Ben and Horatio and asks "If it she can't move him, can you guys lift it up and carry it? Maybe we can get some wooden poles, run 'em through their legs and you guys can lift it up?"

Ben:

”Sounds good to me,” says Ben, “Let me get the dollhouse as well.  We might need the items in it if we can eventually get it open.”

Ben moves around the grappled rocking horse and tries to go inside to get the dollhouse.

Athletics if Needed: 11

The horse strains to resist Tiny's grasp. DC19 Contesting STR check: 13

Meanwhile, Ben attempts to access the door.

Tiny drags the horse back about five feet.

The animated wooden horse reacts instantly to Ben's movement. It swivels and charges, trying to butt him away from the door.

Head Butt Attack: 10. Hit: 2 bludgeoning damage.

Ben:

Avoiding the attack, Ben goes in the door.  He intends to get the dollhouse and carry it back out.  Not trying to keep it level or shut, he just picks it up however is easiest and comes back out.

”Maybe if we put a bag over the horse’s head it will become more pliable,” suggests Ben, “Do we want to take him back to the Wayward Pool to see if his mate can care for him until we find the cure?”

(Matilda will Help with whatever plan is undertaken.)

The wooden horse charges Ben again as he tries to walk away toward the door (opportunity attack):

Head Butt Attack: 14. Hit: 1 bludgeoning damage.

Ben finds the door locked. He'll either have to bypass the lock, climb back up and over the log to the kitchen door, swim underneath it again, or find some other entrance.

"Yes, we'll take him back to the pool," Titaani says, as Tiny continues to pull the horse away. Quick as a flash, the little gnome will cast disguise self and make herself look like Skabatha again. "Behave, Elidon. The door does not matter to me now, and that man you are attacking is my friend."

Deception: 7

Ben:

”Now that’s just tiresome,” says Ben, whipping out his spare cloak and moving towards the rocking horse.  “Let’s see if this helps, Matilda,” he adds as the two of them work to wrap the sturdy cloth around the construct’s head.

Athletics with advantage from Matilda’s help:  23

If the rocking horse attacks again, Horatio will prepare to grapple it to the ground. (Prepared Action: Grapple)

Titaani's deception is met with the wooden horse's unblinking stare. Ben's uses his spare cloak to cover its head (tied on with Matilda's help), but the rocking horse continues to try to ram Ben as soon as he turns to enter the door, seemingly able to sense his position just fine, even blindfolded. 

Yet Another Head Butt vs. Ben: Melee Weapon Attack: 14. Hit: 3 bludgeoning damage.

Horatio goes to grab the wooden construct. Horatio: Make a DC12 Athletics check to successfully grapple it. 

Ben:

(Ben is no longer trying to go in the door, but that attack just barely misses him).

On his turn, Ben helps with the grappling, especially since wrapping up the horse’s head seems to be ineffective for now.