Matilda doesn't trust any of the food the Giant may have touched, as the others search the stupid things body she heads south then over to the double doors part way down the left hand wall and tries to open them.

As Titaani checks in with Pud, Horatio checks the fomorian on the floor. She has indeed left this world. The giant carries nothing of interest other than her massive and extremely unwieldy greatclub. Indeed her lumpy pockets seemed to mostly filled with mashed potatoes and gravy.

Ben crosses the length of the banquet hall to help himself to the soup. The tureen is half-filled with delicious-smelling meaty stew with dumplings. He finds that the wheeled tea cart’s drawers contain utensils, candlesticks, teacups, saucers, bowls, and napkins.

Matilda tests the doors to the east. They open up to a marble dining terrace with a stunning view of the mountains, forests, swamps, and shimmering horizons of Prismeer, bathed in cool twilight. Spaced about the balcony are tables draped in white tablecloths with chairs set around each one. The dining terrace is unoccupied.

Pud looks sheepishly at Titaani. 

“No, I’m not a servant of Titaania. At least…I don’t think I am.

I’ve been watching you. Studying your magic. Honestly, this was the first time I used it! I wasn’t even sure if it would work!

it took me a few tries to get it right, but I think I’m getting the hang of it”

OOC: Pud learned Eldritch Blast from a feature on his all purpose tool  

Ben:

"Ah, Matilda, you found the dining area," says Ben, rolling the tureen over to the terrace.  "We have time for a short break, surely," he suggests, planning to help himself to a reasonable serving of the delicious-looking soup.

Matilda went to the edge of the balcony and looked down....

"Oh," A flicker of disappointment crosses Titaani's face before she shakes it off. "I mean, that's amazing, Pud! You're really smart!"

"I wish I understood my magic better," She wonders out loud, moving towards Ben and Matilda. "Maybe when I get my focus back..."

Matilda looks down over the edge of the balcony. It's a sheer drop hundreds if not thousands of feet down into the beautiful, twilit, cloud-covered mountainous landscape below.

Looking up, she sees that there does not seem to be a floor immediately above the high-ceilinged banquet hall, but there is a second floor to the north, above the aviary containing the time-frozen owl. And to the south, a tower has been torn from its foundations and held high aloft by the growth of a coiled beanstalk. Monstrous vines cling to the palace walls and choke the promontory of rock on which the whole thing perches.

 Ben wheels out the tea cart containing the steaming stew and all the fixings. The tables are neatly set across the terrace.

Ben:

Serving several helpings, Ben sits down at the table and begins to eat.  He does not intend to use much time, but getting good food in the Feywild has mostly been a losing endeavor.

Ben helps himself to some stew and seats himself at a table.

At that, the tea cart careens closer to his table completely on its own. Cups, saucers, utensils, and napkins fly out of the cart’s drawers and arrange themselves before him. They are joined by the waddling cauldron of soup, a piping-hot tea kettle, and a pair of lit candles in candlesticks. A serving spoon hops onto the cart, bows, and politely introduces himself. “I am Demitasse, your head waiter. I believe a light supper is in order? I'm so glad you've found our stew. I am certain you'll find it quite tasty. Perhaps some tea?” The tea kettle springs to life and begins to pour Ben a cup. The stew, Ben finds, is quite delicious.

Ben:

Nodding as if this isn’t the strangest thing he has seen all day, Ben says, “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Demitasse, I am called Ben.  I apologize that we had to remove your previous guest—she was enthusiastic, if rather uncouth.”

Sampling the tea as well, Ben sighs.  as a stonecutter, he is not used to fine foods, and this is some of the best he has ever eaten.  “My compliments to the chef,” he adds sincerely, “This will be a welcome respite as we strive to return the Queen to her throne in the regular flow of time.”

Horatio looks in astonishment at the talking... spoon? Shaking his head in agreement with Ben's words he adds,  "Uhh... hi there. My name is Horatio. Ben's right, we are trying to help the Queen out. If you don't mind, can you tell us how to get into the locked room next door?" While talking, he is pulling up a chair to join Ben, eyes wide at the realization he can actually eat and relax. 

(( Anyone opposed to a rest? ))

Titaani joins the others. "Wow, a talking spoon! Can you sing as well?" She jokes, overhearing the utensil introduce itself. Glancing across at the beef stew, she gives the spoon a sheepish smile. "Um, not to insult your cooking or anything, but you wouldn't happen to have anything vegetarian, would you?"

((I'm definitely not opposed to a rest!))

Matilda kicks back in a chair and nods off....

"My goodness! Your manners are impeccable," gushes the spoon. "Yes, that giant could get a little rowdy. Thank you for thinking of our decorum! She invaded the palace three days ago. The bearded man - the one with the nasty disposition who's been watching over the palace – has been feeding her here in the banquet hall ever since she arrived. ...Oh! More guests! Soup and tea for everyone?"  Demitasse begins to orchestrate the filling of bowls and cups for anyone who sits at one of the tables.

"Returning the queen - yes!" continues Demitasse. "Usually mortals come to Zybilna to ask for aid, not offer it! That would be quite honorable. So many appear to be frozen!"

"Locked doors, eh..." the spoon continues sheepishly to Horatio. "I'm afraid my expertise as to doors is a bit limited. You should ask Zybilna’s butler, Thinnings. He knows more about the palace than anyone! He's likely to be found in the servants’ quarters behind the kitchen, if you can coax him out. He can be a bit reserved. It's so nice to have guests interested in the architecture here!"

"Beef?" remarks the spoon to Titaani hesitantly. "I'm afraid I am not so well-educated to know what 'beef' is, but I can assure you that our stew is quite pleasing to the palate. This is not meat. It's made of... well, let's just say that no animals were harmed in making our delightful dish. My goodness, you are so cultured!"

(Besides Ben, is anyone else trying the stew? How about the tea?)

Pud turns his head at the sound of an unfamiliar voice and peeks in to see what's going on. Worried that someone might interrupt their tea party, Pud asks Rizzo to stand watch near the giant's body. Pud steps in the the dining room.

His eyes bug out at the sight of a talking spoon. He looks at everyone to see how they feel about this situation and he decides to take a seat.

"Uh, sir. I'll take a bit of tea, please. 6 lumps of sugar. Lots of milk. Just a splash of tea.

Maybe a small bowl of stew.

Please and thank you."

"Oh, that's good!" Titaani replies, digging into the stew. "So this Thinnings guy isn't frozen? What does he look like?"

At Demitasse's quiet word, the tea and cups and saucers and bowls and silverware dance and fill themselves for Pud.

"Such a well-mannered boy!" gushes the spoon over Pud. "Unlike so many of these rude children these days, don't you agree? Children these days - so ill-mannered! But not you!"

Demitasse briefly glances over at Matilda, kicking back and nodding off. Then it turns to Titaani.

"Thinnings wasn't affected by the freezing phenomenon, no. He's – well, he's stick-thin. I can't get him to put on any weight at all. And he's quite timid. Here's a rhyme you can use to try to coax him out:

"Slip underneath the doorway,
Then fold and disappear.
That’s where you’ll be hiding
Whenever I am near.
But I have something for you,
A thing you don’t yet know.
I’ll tell you my great secret
If only you will show."

"Then, be sure to share a secret with him!"

"A secret? But my moms used to say that I'm an open book," Titaani replies in between mouthfuls of stew. Humming the rhyme to herself, she taps her spoon on her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm. Anything else you can tell me that we should know? Or rather, anything else you can tell my friends? If it's important, I'll probably forget it."

"My, you're inquisitive!" chirps the spoon to Titaani. "I just love inquisitive guests. Let's see... Anything else... Hmmm. Have you been upstairs to see the glass statues yet? Those mortals whom Zybilna aids she sometimes immortalized as glass statues in a room kind of above the banquet hall. Zybilna, as I'm sure you know, is a powerful archfey; she acts as a sort of fairy godmother to destitute mortals. Of course, frozen, she can't help folks much these days."

"Oh cool! I also have a fairy godmother," Titaani continues to yap. "Lady Titania. Have you heard of her? She's the absolute best! It's thanks to her that I can use spells and talk to Tiny over here."

Titaani pets her familiar lovingly, then turns back to the spoon. "Say, is this stew safe for rabbits to eat?"