"We will find Hal and recover the Hearthstone," Ella vows. "What sort of corruption has befallen him?"

Listening to the strange entity’s story, Preston tries to remember what they’ve discovered back at the farm. Looking back on it, the mysterious woman’s words seem to match with what they’ve learned from Hal’s journal. Still, the soldier is not convinced how much they should trust this ‘Queen of the woods’.

"Do you know where Hal is then? Where we can find him?", he asks, his hand still resting on his weapon.

The woman regards Dracor with an impassive expression, her luminous eyes as if boring into his very soul, before she turns her gaze to the cleric. In response to Ella's inquiry, she speaks with a voice that resonates with the weight of centuries.

"For the longest time, the forest had two queens, two protectors," she begins, her voice tinged with a hint of melancholy that you all suddenly feel, as if it's your story that she tells. "But one craved more power, desiring the hearthstone's ancient magic for herself. This greed consumed her, corrupting her very essence, transforming her into a twisted being. A hag."

As she tells this tale, a sense of foreboding settles over the chamber, the shadows seeming to deepen with each of her words. 

"The hag was banished from this sanctuary, cast out into the darkness beyond," she continues. "But she did not fade into oblivion. Instead, she sought to reclaim what she believed was rightfully hers, using her dark powers to manipulate and deceive."

Turning ever so slightly to look at Preston, the entity's eyes hold a steely resolve. "The hag has made her home in the northern reaches of the woods, spreading corruption and chaos wherever she treads," she reveals. "Hal has fallen under her sway, his mind clouded by her influence. She was banished to never hold the hearthstone in her own hands, so she is using him, the human instead."

"How do we release him from the hag’s influence?", Preston asks, meeting the woman’s resolved gaze.

"Yes, and can you lead us to the hag? Or at least point us in the right direction?" The dragonborn would ask, looking up towards the powerful creature.

The woman tilts her head ever so slightly as she responds to Preston. "You will need to find a way to get her out of his mind."

Then she turns to Dracor, giving a small nod to nobody in particular. Suddenly, a couple of small creatures appear hovering on each of her sides. They are both male and look very similar in their features, the only difference being their hairs - one has a short auburn hair and the other one shoulder-length blond one. They don't seem particularly happy as their wings flutter quickly in the air, but they don't say anything. "Chook and Pook will lead you to her part of the forest, so you don't waste any more time."

"Oh Wow... I've never seen creatures like that before... " Dracor would say with a look of surprise as the small creatures flutter on to the scene. "Hello... My name is Dracor Shimmerscale. Perhaps even here in the wilds you have heard of my family?" He asks before quickly waving his hand as though wiping away the question. "If you havn't it isn't a big deal, I am sure you all don't get many visitors from outside the forest. I think we are ready to depart whenever you are." He says with a smile as he stands up straight and moves towards the two pixies. 

Wulcrath blinks a few times as the little pixies appear to the group. These were... Fae right? Or Fairies? He wasn't quite sure, but he finds himself wary of them regardless. ("This is... a lot.") The Dragonborn thinks to himself in lieu of a better descriptor in his mind. From all he'd known, The Fae were... bad news. He finds a thought crossing his mind. He could just take a cut of the coin they'd already gathered. And simply break away. Whether that will be wise... remains to be seen. This is ALOT more than he signed on for.

He stays silent for a moment as he watches Dracor approach, feeling afraid to speak... But he finds himself strangely protective over the other Dragonborn. Did the Noble know what this could mean? "Dracor. Be careful. We don't know what they're capable of." He says simply, hoping his worries are unfounded. Yet he shares them anyway. 

Preston is still unsure whether to trust the word of this creature. He can see the same doubt and confusion on Wulcrath’s face. However, with Hal’s life on the line, the young soldier feels like there’s little choice to be had. He wants to rescue his uncle from this supposed hag. So he’s willing to take a chance on this lead provided by this woman.

"Chook and Pook, was it? Lead the way. Show us the way to this hag’s forest.", he asks in a commanding tone.

Dracor turns to look back at Wulcrath and grins. "Look how small they are... you worry too much friend." The dragonborn whispers towards his much larger brethren, holding up a hand to his mouth to better muffle his words.

Assuming the pixies don't hear him and murder him, he would follow closely behind the two guides.

Chook and Pook exchange a glance during Dracor's display, but otherwise say nothing and react in no way. At the same time, the woman lifts her hand a bit, and speaks again, "I can feel the doubt in you... and I don't blame you for feeling this way. Consider this as an additional token of my good will, sincerity... and gratitude, besides what you've already secured for yourselves...," she says, as she makes a small movement towards you all.

A good feeling washes over all of you, removing any sign of fatigue, hunger or any other discomfort. If you weren't already healed, you are now in full health, all your clothes and weapons have magically been cleaned and mended as well. 

With that and a final nod, the woman disappears just as she had appeared, and Chook and Pook flutter quickly towards the exit. Despite their small sizes, they move quite swiftly, and clearly have no intention to wait for any of you.

Dracor looks back to the Pixies and quickly realizes that he is  being left behind. With a small huff, He quickly jogs after the pair, hoping to catch up to the party's guides. "Hurry up! No time to waste! Don't make me save Hal all by myself!" He shouts back towards his companions.

Quite impressed by the display of magic, Preston gives an approving nod to the mysterious woman. Without waiting much longer, Preston goes after the two pixies. Hopefully, they would indeed lead him to Hal, and he could bring him back into town.

"Come on, Dracor and Ella. This could be our chance to find Hal.", he beckons the dragonborn and the dwarf.

Wulcrath doesn't have much time to react to the de-rusting of his armor and weapons, before Dracor and Preston simply waltz off, seemingly fully trusting the little Faeries.

"W-wait... don't just-!" The Dragonborn lets out a tired grumble in his throat as he's pretty much forced to follow the two. Hopefully Ella can keep them alive if anything happens. He fast walks after them, somewhat regretting letting Hal's wife pull on his Heartstrings at this point.

It isn't clear how long you have been following Chook and Pook (Constable Alena managed to point out they are actually sprites, so likely you have been observed and followed during your whole forest and cave explorations), but finally as you are all out of breath and on the verge of collapsing from all the rushing, they stop. 

In front of you, twisted, gnarled trees loom overhead like silent sentinels, their barren branches reaching out like skeletal fingers against the darkened sky.

"This is where we leave you, " the blond sprite says as his wings flutter rapidly behind him. "We can't go any further."

I forgot to mention it in my previous post, but you can now level up your characters!

OOC: OOOOOooOOOOO LVL UP!

Dracor looks from the sprites to the trees... and then back to the sprites. "Wait what? Why can't you come with us? You're just going to leave?" He asks... looking very concerned in spite of him trying to look tough. "I... I suppose it is for the best. Better to leave all the danger to those more capable warriors like myself." The golden dragonborn boasts, puffing out his chest. After exhaling a deep breath, he begins to trudge forward. The noble fails to notice the dirt collecting on his feet and minor tears in his fine clothing as he moves forward. An expression of both determination and fear spreads across his face as he mutters to himself. "Come on Dracor... you're a dragonborn, you can do this... You NEED to do this..."

The Gang's movin up in the world already?

Wulcrath follows along well enough, Finding himself thankful for the conditioning traveling in his armor has provided him. Though sprinting after the fairies leaves him huffing and puffing a bit regardless. An annoyed growl of sorts escapes the larger Dragonborn at the Blond Fairy's tact though. "Really...? Your just going to-" He stops himself though with a slight roll of his silver eyes as he looks up at the dark, looming trees and darkened sky now overhead. Faeries. Ugh... They really ARE that bad. "Tch... Well, thank you for your... 'help.'" 

The Fighter turns his attention to Dracor though, seeing him muttering to himself. Feeling for him once again, Wulcrath just places a gloved hand gently on the Noble Dragonborn's shoulder, giving the Sorcerer what he hopes is a comforting nod. "Are you going to be alright friend?" He asks him gently, Silver eyes peering down into Dracor's own. Frankly, this was all becoming a lot for the Vagabond himself as well.

(Huzzah)

Preston stops to catch his breath. These sprites were as quick to lead them here as they were to leave them here. The young paladin wanted to make them stay and lead them through these twisted woods but he knew that it would prove futile. Before they leave, he tries to ask them a question.

"What should we be looking for in these woods?", he asks, not wanting to end up lost.

Once he has his answer, he goes to check on the pair of dragonborns. 
"Are you alright? Are we all ready to head in?", he asks, a hint of concern in his voice.

 Ella looks up at the trees, hazel eyes wide, clearly unsettled. She takes a nervous breath in, then out, and puts a hand to her amulet, murmuring a prayer in Dwarvish. "Everyone stick close," she says, voice steady. "We don't want anybody getting lost in here."

Wulcrath nods to Preston as he walks up to the two, though he keeps his attention mostly on Dracor. "I'm... ready. Just checking on Dracor for the moment."  The Larger Dragonborn really doesn't sound so sure himself, putting on a brave face. But... it hasn't been TOO dangerous so far. How far it could it possibly escalate? They'll probably be in and out before the sun goes fully down. ...Right?

"How are you three holding up?" He says to the Humans and Dwarf as well.