(Whoever rolls last- Perspicacious or Kyo- can apply advantage from Jean's Help)

Perspicacious would like to convince some people to cause a distraction, perhaps turning on a little charm, and blocking the view of the guards just in the nick of time (a la minority report or some such)

Persuasion: 7

(Edit: That's not supposed to happen...)

Advantage: 7

Tony, Lil' as he is, weaves through the crowd like the wind. This may be a perfect world, but goblins will never be fully trusted in any reality. A life spent avoiding notice served him well tonight.

Amaruve did nearly as well as Tony. Drawing upon Gaia's strength, he notices that he has a strangely difficult time feeling her presence. There is a sudden surge of natural energy that illuminates his path through the crowd, but he is left feeling a little... empty by the end. 

Utilizing a combination of hedge maze corners and excellent timing, Cordelia manages to find her way to the princess ranch without falling into the hands of the Iron Guard. (I think that the weight of the adventure has started to weigh on her since Gordra's death. How is she doing tonight?)

Jean watches Perspicacious' back, keeping her safe as she has done since before this nightmare began. The tower blade hangs lightly at her hip, filled with its slumbering power until it is called upon. 

Perspicacious, though, is off her game. Maybe Tony got in her head, or maybe she hasn't had a chance to slow down for a while. Whatever the case, a guard turns to another one as the tiefling stumbles through an (honestly embarrassing) attempt to schmooze her way through the throng. The second guard nods, and a hardened expression appears on their faces...

 Kyo spots the guards heading in Perspicacious' direction, he quickly drops down on all fours and gives a low guttural feline growl to try to Intimidate the doberman-like canine that one of the guards is walking with, hoping to draw there attention for a moment.

Intimidate: 20 (+4 more if I'm allowed to use Animal Handling instead)

**guess not...**

 (Shaz, AP gave you advantage! I've rolled for you- 14 total for intimidate)

The dog-like creature prowling at the Iron Guard's side hunches and whimpers at Kyo's growl. It bolts away, and the resultant distraction of the two guards is enough to allow Jean, Kyo, and Perspicacious to slip through the crowd.

One by one, the six of you make it to the Ranch, although it occurs to you that there could be a better name for this place. Far removed from the events of the fair, this structure is large, flat, and relatively unadorned. There are large striped markings along the close-cut turf outside, as well as regularly-spaced small glowing orbs arranged like short pathways. As you draw nearer, you can see inside the main building. 

Cordelia, the word you would give this place is "hangar", or maybe "airstrip". There are numerous crafts of steel and glass resting dormant in the darkened building. Just inside the large sliding door, you see Fiorello talking urgently with the tall, white-haired eladrin (Tæsn) from the steam darts tent...

"Some ranch. Shouldn't there be horses or something?" Jean murmured softly to the others when she caught sight of the place.

Tony notices the woman and whispers to the group, “Hey, check it out. It’s the chick that was flirting with me at the dart tent. Seems she’s connected to this.”

"They probably keep planes here, Jean, or airships..." Cordelia remarks in monotone. After a half second, she adds, "You know, like, a metal bird...?" Cordelia isn't sure what Jean does or doesn't know about these things.

"Know anything about her other than her good looks, Lil Big?"

Tony shakes his head, “Nah, was focused on winning the game, not the dame. Jean, you were chatting with her, you know anything?”

"Skyships? Like the wizards in Halruaa make? They must have powerful magic to not need actual sails in the sky."

Tony scoffs, “That they would. It would be expensive and extremely wasteful for something that big, which is why they don’t do it. These things run completely off of mechanical ingenuity. Steam keeps them aloft.”

"Probably..." Cordelia nods, "though these could be magic too. Not sure just yet!"

Fiorello and Tæsn turn their heads toward you as the party approaches. The librarian gestures quickly with his wing/arm waving you closer. The eladrin, though, crosses her arms, and an uncharacteristic scowl appears on her face. 

Fiorello addresses you all, "You made it! I thought I saw a bit of trouble there for a moment; I worried that you might be delayed. We have very, very little time," he turns to Tæsn, "...as I was just explaining to our lovely ranch-master here."

Tæsn adjusts the steam rifle slung over her shoulder. "Again, bird, the answer is no. It'll take four to carry everyone, and you ain't taking half the herd on one of your hare-brained, would-be adventures."

Fiorello sighs. "Tæsn, please. I promise you, this is serious. You left before it happened, but surely you can hear the commotion at the fairgrounds? An untold number of children have been taken from us, and I have only minutes left in which I can follow their abductors." Tæsn looks resolute, and the aarakocra turns to you all, "Could one of you please explain why we need to borrow her steam skippers?"

Perspicacious grows impatient. Why are so many worlds full of such unhelpful people? "I'd hardly call it hare-brained. If you doubt our story, then go to town, and listen. What you'll hear is wailing. The sound of dozens of parents, maybe more, now childless due to some unknown abductor.  We're new around here, as may be obvious, but we've been sent to help. Please don't stand in our way. Do as our friend Fiorello asks, so we can get to work, and find these kids. We'll compensate you any reasonable amount for the rental." The tiefling puts on her best pleading look, trying to appeal to the compassionate side of the Eladrin.

Tæsn blinks at the frustration and earnestness in Perspicacious' voice. "Kids, huh?" she says, still a little unsure.Then she notices the amulets glimmering on your chests and the tension dissolves from her stance. "Well, shit. Y'all didn't tell me that you won some fair games!" She looks at Fiorello, considering. "Way I see it," she says slowly, "The council asked me to give riding lessons to anyone what managed to win one of those medals. I don't see no nevermind about doing it tonight 'steada tomorrow." She grins, then looks into the hangar and places two fingers between her lips. You hear a high, piercing whistle and she shouts, "C'mon, now! You lot know the drill: We've got some contest winners looking for a ride!"

In the darkness, you see an array of lights twinkle into existence. You hear bursts of steam, as well as what sounds to Cordelia suspiciously like a number of hydraulics systems working hard. The lights begin to lurch toward you, and you see that they're attached to four enormous, awkwardly stepping metallic contraptions. They're bipedal,  wreathed in steam, and each has two large steel wings extending from its rear section. (They look a little something like...)

Cordelia, usually quiet and reserved, seems to suddenly squee for just a moment as she mouths, "MECHAS!" The festival didn't lighten her mood, but this certainly has. Her excitement appears to faze as she recalls herself with a cough. "Well then... I look forward to learning how to ride one of these."

Cordelia, one of the skippers cocks its... head? Cockpit? It reacts to your outburst and trundles up to you, one ungainly step at a time. It reaches out a delicate metal arm from under its cockpit and lifts the slime medallion (that you won just a short time ago) off your chest to observe it. You hear a series of whirring clicks and buzzes, and the glass of the cockpit glides open. You see two seats inside. One is in the front and appears to be in the pilot's position. The second is directly behind the captain's seat, and seems to have a number of triggers and dials in place...

Tæsn holds up her hands and says, "Whoa! Hold on there, Duncan, you big mooncalf! They need some training before we all go tearing off into the night!"

The aarakocra raises his hand and says, "Ah. Well, as to that, I believe I can be of some assistance there. Tæsn, would you mind if I use your mind as reference material?"

The eladrin looks super unhappy about this, but steps in front of the owl. 

"Alright, then," says Fiorello. "I'll need you each to place a hand on either myself or Tæsn, here. Unless there are objections to a brief meeting of the minds?" The aarakocra gives a wicked grin.

Tony looks creeped out by the matter, but shrugs, “Hey, whatever we gotta do to get this done.”

Perspicacious puts her hand out as well, albeit a little hesitantly, and places it on the aarakocra. "As long as I don't have to drive..."

Jean doesn't hesitate, apparently airplanes are weird but mind-magic isn't.