"I guess we ask Griselda to stop... or.... make her stop" the squirrling would say rubbing his fuzzy chin. "We cannot allow this hag to destroy the forest" Kip would say more stern as he stands tall with his hands on his hips on the bugbears shoulder... his tail waving majestically behind him as if it were a billowing cape in the wind.

Vanyel gripped his axe and smiled a toothy grin. "We could kill the hag and rescue any surviving fairies I suppose."

"Yeah, I kind of think that is how this is going to go down" The squirreling would say turning his head towards Vanyel but keeping his super hero pose... although his tail does sag a bit.

 Penris looks at Glitter, then back at her companions.  "It's just this hag Griselda causing all the problems?  Or does she have help?" she asks Glitter.

Glitter looks sad when she says; "Those that escape always said that she'd 'appear and disappear out of nowhere'."

"Hmmm," Penris says thoughtfully, her eyes narrowing.  "Well, I guess it's up to us then.  Can you show us where this Griselda is? And where she is keeping the fairies prisoner?" 

"You will have to speak to the king on that."  Glitter replies, motioning with her hands deeper into the swamp.

Penris' eyes grow wide.  She clutches Vanyel's shoulder tightly.  "We get to meet fairies AND the fairy king?!" she squeals with glee.  "Kip, did you hear that?  We get to meet a real live king!  How exciting!  Oh my gosh, this is going to be soo much fun!" she says. 

After some time of slogging through the mud and muck, pass several stages of dying trees, you finally come to a region of green and growth; with countless trees and vines crawling out of the watery muck that surrounds it, like a massive circle.

"is this where the king lives?" Kip would ask with a look of disappointment "I was kind of hoping for a fairy castle or something...." The squirrlings tail would sag a little.

Vanyel would listen to his small companion with confusion. "Why do you sound disappointed. What better castle than growing green things when dealing with a creature of nature like this one is?"

"Don't get me wrong... I think tress are great! i love the forest and live in a tree... I was just... I don't know... I have never met a king" Kip will mutter almost somewhat embarrassed.

Penris chews her lips and nods.  “I agree with you, Kip, I expected something more - grand - for a king’s residence.  Unless his castle was taken over by the hag?” Penris looks at Glitter questioningly.

Glitter simply slips in through the vine curtain, parting it enough for you all to enter.  Once inside, it is like nothing you've seen.  The sun beats down, warming you from the cool and wet nature of the swamp around you.  Before you sits a structure crafted by guiding the, now ancient, tree.  Many fairies dart in and out, flying in all directions, though not as many as you would expect.  

The ground feels damp, but solid beneath your feet, the smell of life and growth fills your nose, and you are surrounded by the sound of twinkling fey.  At the peak of the tree is a large throne; upon which sits a male fairy in regal clothes.  Before he is able to address the party, a very tense looking fairy approaches, wearing more formal attire than expected.  He raises a hand; "Glitter, who are these strangers; and why have you led them to our most sacred of places?"  Before Glitter replies, he continues, addressing the group.  "I am Mimzy, the King's Advisor.  Please leave before you are punished for this trespassing, or suffer Glitter's punishment."

Penris, eyes wide, looks at Mimzy.  “We are here to help.  We’ve been sent by the gods.  Krythlynn sends her regards,” and Penris bows, though it is somewhat awkward, since she is still on Vanyel’s shoulder.  “I would hope that you would not punish Glitter for serving both the gods and her people,” Penris says, eyes narrowing.  

"Who in Pluto's name is Krythlynn?" Mimzy replies in arrogant ignorance.

"We are here to save the forest" Kip would say jumping down from his bugbear perch. "We ha e been sent by our gods to help you" the squirreling would say as his tail twitches behind him.

Mimzy begins to raise his voice once more, before he is cut off by the king.  The fairy king's voice seems to come from all around you; seeping out of every vine, bush, and tree.  "You are the heroes that seek to save the forest, stop the hag, and rescue my people?"

Penris narrows her eyes at Mimzy, then looks over at the king, her features sliding into a charming smile.  "We are, your majesty.  We have come to offer our assistance, and our blades, should those be necessary."  She smiles grimly at Mimzy as she speaks the last.  "Now, can you please tell us what exactly has happened here?  How did the hag come to be here, and how is she taking over the forest?"

"She had always been here, just at the edge of the swamp, north of the forest.  For several years now she has been capturing my people, and each time she does so, the swamp expands." The king explains.