Meanwhile, in the Westwoods...

Wise, Lord Midartis, better now than when we are in a hurry holding Ziia, Del Speaks with Animals to aid in the training Animal Handling 10 adv if M helps 12

 

Mindartis is happy to help.

With the ability to explain to them exactly what is happening and why (and an excellent dice roll) the horses quickly get the hang of going up and down the steps. 

Once done with her conversation with the lady, Raven seeks out her father to say her goodbyes. 

Raven finds her father in the castle's training grounds, speaking to some officers, while soldiers drill and spar in the background.  Further back, you can see the royal stables, and a couple of familiar foals frisking around in a grassy paddock.

Sir Amnarel beams as he leaves his men to speak to you, holding his arms out.

"Have you heard?"  Raven asks as she hugs her father.  "I am to be the messenger to the courts." She whispers in his ear, not wishing others to hear.  "And I am to have land..." She hugs him tight, not wishing to tell him the news about his own raise in the ranks if he does not know yet, but figure the lady would not have told her if her father did not know yet.

"Yes, I am sure you will do an excellent job." he says proudly. "Make the Fens even prouder of you, child! It seems I am to be raised to Baronet as well. It's a pity you won't be able to attend the investiture ceremony, but duty calls.  Lady Resarra wants me to keep watch on that Arch Witch stronghold, in case anything else comes out of it, or tries to get into it, and to patrol the wilderness for enemies, now that the gnolls have found a way to appear anywhere, instead of all coming up from the southern border. It's not quite as compelling as having a terrible archrival, but it will keep me from getting bored."

"I admit, it was I who suggested to Lady Resarra to give you the Arch Witch's retreat," he adds. "Thami is the eldest, and will inherit my title and lands, and I wanted to be sure that you would have something of your own...and a place in the fens to come home to, whatever happens between you and your brother after I am gone. Since you and your friends captured the place, the Lady agreed that you deserved it.  With a bit of fixing up and redecorating, I am sure it will make an excellent stronghold for the future, and there's no saying whether you might not need a safe place at some point."

"Be sure you keep an eye for what might come out of the old hag's place."  Raven says.  "Remember, it has a teleportation circle inside of it, so, if someone knows how to get to that circle, they could just appear in the place without having to travel to it." She then gives him another hug.  "We are leaving shortly, so make sure you keep yourself safe while you do everything else you are doing."

"You keep safe, too," he says, returning your hug warmly. "Life is full of danger, but I know nobody better at handling it than you. Just...be careful."

"I'm serious, by the way," Mindartis says. "Is there something different about today? I feel..." he pauses, looking for the right words, "enthusiastic... that might be the right word..."

After leaving her father, Raven goes to find her companions.

When Mindartis sees Raven, he smiles, "Raven, so good to see you. How about a hug?" He asks, going to hug her before she can answer.

"Ok..." Raven says, giving a hug in return.

Mindartis squeezes a bit to tight for comfort. "I don't know why but seeing one of my friends has just made this day 10 times better!"

What's different? Del answers M Basically just you. I mean, Squinty's just a bit less squirrelly now he's kissed his prince and nobody turned into a frog oh my I could do that now that would have been funny lost opportunity But yeah just you.

Once gathered Del has a traveling song as we set out Everyone's beneath the trees feeding pigeons on the limb - But when Quentin the Eskimo gets here - The Prince’s gonna run to him

Raven awkwardly pats him on the back, then steps away as soon as he releases her.  "Well I'm glad for that." She says, not quite knowing how to react to this new behavior.

"I don't know what caused it though," Mindartis says, "I don't change, I haven't changed since I was a child."

Sir Amnarel and a rather forlorn looking Prince Lintelér, as well as some of your new acquaintances from the castle, see you off as you ride away from Castle Whisper with the hand-drawn map and traveling directions the castle steward provided for you. People stop to watch as you ride through the streets of the town and out into the fens.  A few people even wave...remarkable, for the area.

The main road west through the fens is an artificial bank that rises above the wetness (except for a few mud holes) and runs in a straight line.  Knowing that you have a tight schedule to keep, and that they will have plenty of time to rest later, you let the horses run.  Every farmstead you pass, Mindartis can't help wondering if it's Arania's home, but he does not see her.

In the afternoon, the land begins to rise and dry out, and in the evening, you pass a signpost letting you know that you are leaving the Fens and entering the land of Kalaine.

You hang the tapestry on a broad tree, and lead the horses inside.  Most of the party settle in to take a long rest as Del rolls up the tapestry and summons his eagles. 

The highway in Kalaine is not straight: it turns and twists around natural terrain features and farms, and makes side jaunts to interesting sites and small towns. Looking down, Del can see that the time being saved is not all about speed, but from cutting the slack out of the path.  When it gets too dark for the eagles, Del switches to owls.

Around midnight, the last summoning is nearly over.  Del needs to find a good place to land.  Will he look for a campsite?  A farmhouse?  A small town that might have an inn?

(Roll perception, stealth if you want to, a 1d6 and a 1d100)

 ((Sorry, were we all wrapped up?  If not, feel free to retcon more conversation before the departure/during the ride. BaconExpert982 posted while I was writing...))

((had planned that Del would not fly alone, and use the 4th level slot so M could try out being a quezelcoatalus))

Landing after midnight, with giant flying beasts, probably best to find a campsite. First move would be to find a tree of rockface to open the tapestry, to make sure the others are not trapped. He'll also ask trees and small creatures nearby for open spots that lack monsters. Not really consistent with being stealthy? but, the rolls:

a d6 1 a % 98  Perception 7 and jic Stealth 13