Meanwhile, in the Westwoods...

Quote from Astalda >>

"I wouldn't keep that mouse on your shoulder much longer, young Adiyodi...."

Feeling Oroman twitch, Elwin quickly placed the mouse onto the ground and stepped back enough to give him room to return to his normal horse size.

Petting his mount's head, he smiled. "So, hope you didn't go through too much trouble, eh?" Suddenly curious, he patted the horse down to his saddlebags, then peered through them to examine the contents.

(( I presume everything is accounted for. ))

As the mouse grew into her mount Raven finally understood.  She wrapped her hands around her mount's neck and gave it a huge hug, then brought it over to the stables  to introduce her to the two foals.

((Yes, they have all the gear you left on them.))

The two little foals--one black, one golden, each with a crescent-shaped patch on its chest--take to Rose right away and start showing off, bucking, rearing, snorting, and running around the stable.

Oroman and Alcari nuzzle their newly-refound friends affectionately.

Rufus, somehow still as wet and mud-covered as he was as a mouse, happily shakes a deluge of filthy rainwater over everybody and bends his head down to munch sugar chunks off the ground.

Prince Lintelér puts his arm around Quentin's shoulders to steady himself as they go into the house.  Sereth is already dishing out big bowls of savory stew.  The red-haired druid is quietly muttering to High Druid Talos to remember his digestion, and offering to cut the stew meat up smaller for him,  and the high druid is telling him "Buzz off! I still have teeth!  Pereth, you're an even bigger fusspot than the last boy, something I did not think was possible."

After settling Rose with the two foals, Raven comes inside as well, taking her normal place at the table and smiling at the high druid's grumbling over his aid.

Quentin uses his magic to clean everyone off as they head inside chuckling at his horse, too happy to care right now, as they start to eat he resists the urge to, as the high Druid puts it, be a fusspot over the Prince. However, he does spend the time explaining to him everything that happened, leaving out his emotional outbursts. 

in the course of Q's relating of the events, Del wants to talk to the High Druid about teleportation and planes We can show you the materials they are made of - we liberated everything we could carry, Holiness, with a laugh but the hoops are hard to figure out. I had thought locations in the Material, Feywild, and Shadowfell were tied to each other, but the hoops seem permanently linked to particular places rather than just transferring between them. The way our friend Lord Mindartis disappeared, seems to show that. The mushroom circle that brought us to the Feywild - near, I wonder if you know him, a tree called Galathir, did he have anything to do with saving our horses? - is so far from where the hoop brought us back. Since we have to probably visit yet another place to rescue the children, I need to know as much as possible about these transits

The High Druid nods. "Galathir was very upset when you did not come back. He let the Naranda tree know what happened, and I took a side trip out there to speak to your horses and collect them, and to look into the Prince's safety. The royal carriage was destroyed and abandoned on one of the farms. I fear the carriage horses and Rusco were taken away with the livestock by the gnolls.  Galathir decided he was no longer content to stay rooted, and he is now walking, and gathering the dryads and other fey of the wilderness to form a patrol against the gnolls. Between your inconveniencing them, and Galathir's actions, I think the gnolls will no longer find access to the western freeholds so convenient. Prince Kalrondo has engaged a gnoll force in the hills, as well, and sent them packing."

"King Celairatar was extremely worried.  He will be glad to hear that Prince Lintelér is unharmed. The king wishes Lintelér to return home as soon as possible.  He feels that the situation in Lomalos is under control now, though, and wishes the rest of you to travel to the Hall of Courts, and share your information with the rest of the Elven Courts of the Westwoods. I have brought some compensation for your work.  We can deal with that and have a look at these hoops you speak of...after lunch...and possibly after a nap."

“Perhaps you should stay for a day or two. Give the Prince some time to rest up and Raven’s Dad to return. I’m sure he would be upset to have royalty in his home and not have had the honor to see to them himself.” Quentin suggest, hoping the others don’t mind the idea of staying here a few more days. “We have others that need to be freed from their crystal state as well.” 

"Oh, it will take several days to free everyone," the High Druid says. "I don't think I can manage more than five per day. So we not be leaving any time soon. I thank you for your hospitality," he adds to Raven.

Raven nearly chokes on a mouthful of food at the mention that her dad would be upset about missing royalty in his home.  She couldn't imagine a thing her father would be more happy to miss out on actually.

"You are welcome." She manages to get out though as the High Druid thanks her for the hospitality.

Elwin ate quietly, with an occasional response or comment. He'd been itching to delve into the workings of the hoops, and was a bit anxious about having to wait. Truth be told, he wanted to rush to save both Mindartis and the other children, but for now he'd force himself to have patience.

He was also a bit disappointed that they were tasked with a seemingly mundane new mission from the king, but his ears perked up at the mention of compensation.

After the meal is finished, Master Talos calls on Pereth to open a large bag strapped to his back.

"The king has sent 300 gold pieces for each of you," the High Druid says. "He also had the High Priestess do a little divination magic to determine what items from the royal armory or treasury you might find most useful..."

He starts pulling objects out of the bag and handing them out.  (Each of you may choose either one +1 armor or +1 weapon of your choice, or one uncommon wondrous item. If you have something else in mind that you would prefer as a reward, let me know. Homebrews and special things will be considered.)

"I also have three scrolls of Greater Restoration for you, since it seems you may need them in the future," he adds. "I have a feeling that your encounters with these Barleymen and their masters may not yet be over." He adds some rolled parchments to the table.

Del warns the High Druid that the rescuees may emerge charmed. It was pretty powerful, at least on those that were awaiting crystallization. They were sure Barleyman was saving them. I can be with you, using music to Countercharm - I'd like to be near anyway, Holiness, listening to the weave and learning a bit

(( Elwin will receive a pair of Winged Boots. ))

"You are too generous, thank you!" said Elwin, addressing the High Druid (and accidentally ignoring his title, out of habit.) With a glint of curiosity in his eye, he continued, "I spent a bit of time constructing various hoop-portals from the wooden material we found. Whenever you're ready, I can provide the material, and the constructions."

Quentin happily takes the Cloak if Protection saying, “Thank you. Rewards aren’t necessary but they are nice to receive. Please send our thanks to the king.” He then looks at the Prince and gives him a shy smile. 

Raven accepted the Stone of Good Luck and gave a nod of thanks.

The High Druid doesn't seem to care about Elwin's not addressing him with a title (though the red-haired attendant druid glowers at him.) "All in good time," Master Talos says.  "I am quite interested, but of course, my first priority is our people."

He puts a pair of boots on the table. "For your absent companion," he says, and rummages in the sack a bit more.  "We have something rather special for you, my musical friend. This has been sitting in the treasury for quite a few centuries, and it was decided that it might be of great use in the current situation."  He pulls a wooden stringed instrument out of the bag and slides it across to Del.

Just touching the wood Del can feel the resonance Holy Mysteries this is old! he taps, plucks and draws his bow across the strings very quietly, and feels a little pain but potential This is going to take some practice. Thank you Holiness.

Finishing his lunch Quentin looks to everyone and then the Prince as he asks him, "Are you tired after being like that for so long? Do you need to rest or was it like sleeping? I'm...well..I'm sure theres a room you could use here to rest."