Gadron approaches the dais and kneels. He is about to begin speaking, when Archie sweeps past him.

The man sat besides who Archie presumes is Lady Lelfaer smirks in entertainment at Archie's antics, accepting the handshake and remaining quiet as he watches the situation unfold. The Lady, on the other hand, also permits the kiss and simply waits until Archie has run out of steam.

"Well met, master gnome," she responds with the slightest inclination of her head towards him in greeting. Listening to her voice provokes a sensation of soothing cool.

"Hello Dorno," she adds with a warmer smile for the childlike Firbolg.

"I am Lady Lelfaer Fairfax and this is my Lord Keltin. It is true that I tasked Irithiel with procuring raw materials from your mine for the forging of weapons. We are beset by a force that chokes the trade on which our Glade relies and our warriors are spread too thin to protect all roads. I am glad to see that your people wish to honour our friendship in Hyarantar's time of need, but the news that this threat has also befallen Irithiel is both saddening and concerning. Irithiel was a mage of respectable skill and power. If they have captured him then they have grown stronger than I feared."

She pauses and turns to exchange a look with Lord Keltin, who shrugs noncommittally in response.

"Do you truly believe that you can return Irithiel to us? Do you even know where he is being held, or if he is alive?"

Gadron visibly stiffens at the idea of this task being handed to outsiders and begins to open his mouth, but Lelfaer raises a hand to silence him as she waits for a response from the party.

Archie bows in response of being called a “master gnome.  He walks back and forth and eventually stops and puts his hand on the shoulder and leans on Gadron while he is kneeling. We believe we are a very talented group and if anyone here is going to be able to bring him back it is is.  I can not guarantee his safety, but once we find him we will do everything in our power to bring him home.  There was a trail of tracks we noticed at the scene of this horrible event.  I also have in my notes a location on a map which points to a logical location where they would be.  Up until now he has been his normal chipper self.  He turns and becomes a little more serious.  “You mention a fighting a force.  It’s. It just the bandits is it?  It’s the kind of force that would fill a mans eyes with smoke as it sniffed out the last remaining life without this monster ever being scene.  A force that brings the hairs to stand on the back of the neck that stinks of demons and devils.  We also saw that force on the way here.  Do you know anything else about the source of that wretched power?”. You have my word as a Swiftstep.  Focus on this horrible power, he can handle getting Irithiel back.  Archie sneaks out the last little piece of bread he had Saved from the generous elf and begins to nibble.  Not caring about the crumbs falling on Gadron’s cloak

Lelfaer's eyes darken at the talk of fiends.

"We have not encountered any such force ourselves... but something aids these 'bandits. Something dark. They are stronger than they should be and where our warriors have been defeated their remains have been touched by shadow. If you truly seek them out on their own ground, be wary."

Gadron rises ignoring the fact that Archie is leading upon him and brushing the crumbs from his shoulder.

"If there is nothing else, I will take my leave. My Lord, my Lady."

"By all means, Captain," Keltin replies with a nod, speaking for the first time. His voice is rich and mellow.

Gadron bows and departs, leaving the party alone with Lord and Lady Fairfax.

"You made it through the pass, so I don't doubt you are capable," Lord Keltin begins, now addressing the party directly. "However, this task may require more than merely skilled warriors, or our own would have dealt with it already. If you wish to vanquish a fiend you will need the power of the divine on your side." His eyes come to rest poignantly upon Thurston. "Some gifts can only be bestowed by the Gods."

Bründir had remained silent until now, not really knowing how to handle foreign leaders. At the question of competence, he tried his words, "Seems that whate'er's helpin' them doesn' come out much. Had a man puff some smoke, an' we were fine."

"And Thor will provide such aid mylord " replies Thurston speaking for the first time " First I thought I was helping to solve a bandit problem, now I am commited to vanquish that evil from this land. As my friend said we cannot be sure that your mage is still alive, but if he is we will do whatever in our power to bring him back. " he hesitates for a moment. " But if he has been infected by this fiendish power... I cannot guarantee his survival." 

A sombre silence envelops the room at Thurston's words, until Lelfaer breaks it.

"Irithiel's spirit is strong," she intones simply. "Do not give up hope. Rest and recover your strength. You are welcome here as friends of Hyarantar until you depart."

"May Thor lend him His strength " says the paladin and nods thankfully for her words. "Thank you mylords" 

Valaith has remained quiet during the meeting, allowing the other who were better suited to such tasks work their verbal magic; however, when the Lady mentions rest she glances around at her companions. "Rest? I do not know about you all, but I'm prepared to go now. The longer we wait the better prepared these bandits will be. We should go now."

"I agree" says the paladin. "Every hour htat passes thins the chances for the mage. Anyway is getting late. And we could miss a clue or path in the dark. Plus, I am out of mead. Let's find an inn and recover our strengths. Allow me " he says to Vart and Dorno " May Thor's vigor fill you and heal those wounds. " 

 "Now let's raise our horns in Thor's name and be grateful to him!" he says looking for a place to stay.

Vark still stays quiet, feeling very out of his element. At the talk of rest, he finally chimes in "It... it might be hard to find their camp at night. Maybe.... it'd be best to go just before first light." To Thurston's healing he nods gratefully.

Valaith sighs a bit as Vark's words makes a good deal of sense. "You are right, Vark. We do not know the woods as they do." She nods. "Let us find somewhere safe to stay."

Hearing that the oarty isn’t heading straight back into the night Archie peeks up and is excited at the chance to make life a little more comfortable.  First looking to sell his old equipment (shortbow, 2 daggers, rapier, and arrows) to make enough money.  He heads off into the treetop city in search of a blacksmith/general goods store.  Once finding it “Good evening sir/madam, My name is Archibald Swiftstep and I have collected a few things in my travels and am looking to depart for the right price.  I see a fine store here that may be in need of fine equipment”. He displays what he has and eagerly awaits what they say.

Bründir walks in behind Archie as well, "Had the driver bring the wagon up. Too much in there for us t'make use of, but these folks may fin' use."

As Archie enters the shop he sees what appears to be an elderly forest gnome stood behind her counter. Her eyes fly wide as he announces his name and she grabs a broom and glares at him.

"Swiftstep?!?!" She exclaims in aurprise, shock and anger. "Out!!!"

She chases Archie out of her shop, battering him with her broom as she goes.

 "Well that went well." Bründir chuckles at the scene while waiting patiently for the owner to return.

This is the first time the group has seen Archibald speechless.  He storms off without a word.

He doesn’t partake in any shopping.  Keeps low and essentially disappears.

a little while later Archie resurfaces with a bound letter and hands it to Brundir.  Please give this to the store clerk we met earlier. And he walks away.

As funny as the scene was, the gnome pursuing his ally with a broom, Thurston asks him “ everything alright? Are you ok? “ after his reply ( if any ) he says “ I should look for logging for tonight while you do that business... I will check that inn on the other tree... “ 

He goes that way, asking for directions if needed. 

After a few moments the gnome returns to her counter, harrumphing as she goes. Only then does she notice Bründir there and stares at him fiercely.

"Well what do you want?"

Meanwhile, Thurston finds a tall elven drinking establishment on one of the platforms amongst the trees. It looks like what might pass for an inn here with several stories of the same impressive vaulted wooden arches. Inside, patrons are drinking a golden, sparkling liquid out of wooden cups. A skinny elf with lanky brown hair stands at the back of the room, behind a smooth pale wood counter rinsing cups with an unusual contraption of funnels and pipes that draws water from somewhere above.

Archibald spends some time to himself catching up his journal and searching his grandfathers for any mention of  hyarantar, elves, shop owners wronged, etc.

The human approach the skinny elf and introduces himself

”Good evening good sir. Are you the owner of this fine establishment? I wonder if you would have some rooms for me and my mates to spend the night. We have arrived to your beautiful city and are wary from the road. “