Raven will spend some time of this trip trying to figure out the way to use the hat of disguise.  (Pretty much using the time to attune to it...)

"Home sweet home..."  Raven says as the core of the Free City comes into sight.  "Mother is going to be surprised to see me so soon..."

For his part, Elwin spent most of the trip engaging in small talk, and playing with Pim. He let the little mouse run over his shoulders and chest, giving him quite a bit more freedom than he had the last few days. Now that he was more comfortable with his companions, however--none of them had a hungry hawk familiar looking at Pim as a potential meal--he was far more open with his little friend.

Quentin spends some of the trip going through his spell book, a small little book that he keeps tucked away. When not reading he attempts to sneakily watch the mouse play, smiling at the little guys antics. 

Del wants to talk a little about plans for the city I could do with some shopping, in preparation for further adventures. Once I can afford it, I want to get some better armor. That is a bit off I guess, but a sword - I do not mean to use it, but if it comes to that I'd rather something longer than these daggers. And some travel gear, for when a bed and pub aren't on offer. And your advice Lord Quentin, on some clothes? The Naica's are the fun and games family, and they looked at Brother Elwin and I like we were sewer rats. If we are traveling the kingdom, the better to look like we belong wherever we are.

"Shopping?"  Raven asks with a raised eyebrow.  "As the daughter of a tavern owner, who is also a bard, I know quite a few good shops you can go to." She will list off several in each of the general item-types of what he is looking for.  "I can't say for sure my mom will have rooms available, her tavern is fairly busy usually, but you can always stop there and see if she has any rooms for rent..."

Quentin looks a little hesitant to answer the question but takes a deep breath and sighs, "Honestly. In the Ellantar Court you'd do best if you looked like you were my servants. I don't mean this as any offense. Those who have Elvish blood but are not full elvish will always be looked down upon there. No matter what you're wearing. If you look like a spell caster that'll get you some respect but not much if they know you're not fully elvish." 

"That is true of most of the courts."  Raven says with a shrug.  "We are not in the courts now though, so having pure elven blood is not nearly as important in the Free City as back in the courts."  She considers it for a moment though.  "You also probably don't want to dress like a lordling in the city here, since that is just marking you as a mark to get your pocket picked.  Dressing in slightly above-average clothing would mark you as someone of import, but, hopefully, keep you off the pick-pocket's radar."

Yes, that is what I meant, nicer than these, elegant not showy, higher quality than fashion. If we have to go to Ellantar I'll do the servant drag, but in places where people are treated like people, a person that counts. 

Quote from skuk >>

The Naica's are the fun and games family, and they looked at Brother Elwin and I like we were sewer rats. If we are traveling the kingdom, the better to look like we belong wherever we are.

At this, Elwin began to softly coo his pet, paying it an extreme amount of attention. Fact was, dressing up to appease noble sensibilities rubbed him so wrongly, he almost dismissed it outright. Yet, part of him also realized that, on occasion, to get ahead required appeasing those around you--even if only for a time. He remained silent as the others continued.

Quote from DragonDenn >>

"As the daughter of a tavern owner, who is also a bard, I know quite a few good shops you can go to."

Quote from JacWalke >>

"Honestly. In the Ellantar Court you'd do best if you looked like you were my servants. I don't mean this as any offense. Those who have Elvish blood but are not full elvish will always be looked down upon there. No matter what you're wearing. If you look like a spell caster that'll get you some respect but not much if they know you're not fully elvish." 

"Well, that settles that," thought the warlock with a sigh.

"Look," he began, "I understand dressing up. But if it's not going to help, then we might as well just go as we are. Because unless we're infiltrating an enemy base, one thing I will NOT be doing is dressing like anyone's servant!" He turned to Quentin, calming down a bit before adding, "No offense."

As the others noted how different this area was, Elwin added, almost in a grumble, "But, we can dress up if it actually helps some..."

"Mister Elwin. You could potentially pass as a delegate from a different court. Maybe even a sorcerer with some deception and tightening of your form. Raven and Del would be instantly dismissed. Marantis too once they found out he does not have control over the Arcane Arts." Quentin responds before adding, "As for when we get into the city, you all know what I'm searching for and would love to find. Though that seems like it'll take some time. I remember you seeming excited about being a Castle Guard Mister Elwin."

Elwin nodded. "Yeah, yeah, I already said I'd do it. Just... not the servant thing." He turned to stare outside the carriage, now intensely interested in the passing fields of grass.

I am sorry Lord Quentin, I do not really know what you are searching for in the city - except in the long term, old and forgotten magic, I seem to recall. Brother Elwin, there is no call to goad our friend because I asked about clothes. And you facing Q could be kinder explaining the level of hospitality we should expect. Can we play nice please?

Feeling a bit guilty at Quentin being singled out, Elwin turned back to the others. He shrugged, "He might well be right. Or Raven's recollections might be the norm. We probably won't know our own situation for sure until we see how they react to us in particular." He nodded to himself, concluding, "We can decide then how fancy we need to be. Of course--"

At this point he turned to Del with a mischievous grin, "If this is all just an excuse to go shopping so you can be the best-looking bard in the Free City, we might have to have words."

Quentin looks shocked as he says, "I thought I was being nice at explaining it." Quentin says before adding, "Now I'm searching for a way to contact that tree. And maybe some fun." 

Mixed Undercommon and Slater slang to answer E

Forgive me for instigating. What I need mostly from the City is what we have already - being of use, helping folk, working together - only keeping on further

"Well, would you all  want to accompany me to my mom's place?"  Raven asks as she takes in the back and forth between the group.  "I would imagine she has rooms available and can see if she will cut you a deal since you are with me..."

It isn't hard to find the livery stable Beezger spoke of: in fact, the ponies recognize it at once, and turn in.  A gnome stablehand comes over to take charge of them. "Sorry, my dears," she says as they nuzzle her.  "No sugar lumps today." She looks at you curiously.

Once you've explained that the rig was a loan, she introduces herself as Pogget, Beezgar's cousin. Pogget takes charge of the ponies and cart, and you are free to go.  The Free City lies before you!

((In the Talaveroth Wiki, under Westwoods/More info about Lomalos, I have added an entry for the Free City.))

After dropping the cart and ponies, Del agrees with Raven Yes, to your good mother's, seems like a good idea to have a base of operations. I need not get my equipage right now, nor all at once, just before we travel. But speaking of family, a post office and money-sender are other chores I could fit in.

"This way..."  Raven tells the others, leading them away from the stables and off towards Willow tree.

((Local mail for within the city costs 5sp, local mail within Lomalos, 1 gp. The Raven Post delivers anywhere else in Talaveroth for 2gp, and will also take small packages, including coins. If you prefer a banknote, the Royal Bank has a branch (no pun intended) at the base of Rosewood.))

It would take you quite a while to learn to navigate the city: fortunately for you, Raven is a native and knows her way around.  She leads you to a spot northeast of Willow. As you make your way on the ground level, you pass street musicians, musical performances, displays of paintings for sale, even someone offering to create your likeness in a stone bust while you wait. The public notice boards are full of advertisements for upcoming performances of dance, theater and music...and also a large edict proclaiming; NOTICE: Curfew is in session. Children are not to be on the street between the hours of sunrise and sunset. During daylight hours, please keep a watchful eye on your children, and those of your neighbors." There are also well-rendered drawings of missing children--thirty one of them, some elven, some gnomish, with a few odd members of other races--a halfling, two humans, a lizard child, a goblin.

Eventually, you enter a beautifully carved wooden structure that looks something like a gazebo.  When it is full, the lift operator signals, and vinelike willow branches drop from above, wrapping around the small building and gently lifting it upward. As the building rocks, moving in slight stutters and starts, a rather motion-sick-looking elf grumbles, "When are they going to finally put portals throughout the city, like we have in Rosewood?" In time, the lift is placed on a wooden platform on the seventh branch. From here, you can see all the ground level of the city, and many of the lower branches spread out before you.  You can even see the castle on the horizon, to the east.  Raven leads you to the outer branch and her home, the Lark and Swallow, its expertly painted sign depicting a lark with a lute and a swallow with pipes, dancing on the rim of a beer mug.

Although it's early in the day, music thrums from the building.  As you enter, your ears are filled with the sound of a band--two fiddles, a drum and a flute--playing a lively jig as the rest of the patrons cheer and clap along.  You see a human woman dancing with a grinning elf (one of the tavern's regulars, Raven knows, a bard named Ullethil) while holding a tray of filled tankards on a platter over her head with one hand--not spilling a drop.

Until she sees Raven. She clutches at the platter with both hands as the suds slosh, and places it on a table, where resting and out-of-work musicians gratefully take the drinks.

"Girl!" Raven's startled mother says. "What are you doing home? He can't have sent you back already unless--oh.  Oh, fiddlesticks.  What trouble HAVE you got into now?"