Meanwhile, in the Westwoods...

Mindartis waves, and eventually dismounts. "Remind me not to go horseback riding after swimming," he says. "That was freezing..."

"How the rest of you been holding up?"

Lord Mindartis, so happy to see you! We figured seeing your horse scamper off in mouse form that you could not be far, or I'd have sent another message. The High Druid has arrived and is restoring the encrusted people a few per day. As of today playing a bit of Summer on Ziia I can help a bit. You are wounded it looks like - care for a Healing Word ?

"i wouldn't say no," Mindartis says, "will this be before or after the lecture I'm bound to get?"

I take it you know what the content is? We can take it as read from me - if you were smaller maybe I'd have you write lines. But you can explain how the geography of the hoops work - like I said as you departed? or did you end up some third location in the swamp? Del uses his schoolteacher voice a little, but softens his tone to say  be well friend ( 8 hit points restored ) There are gifts and possibly leftovers in the kitchen

"Can you ask them where my father is?"  Raven asks, upset at the news her father might be in trouble.  "I have to go and help him..." 

"It was vaguely the same place we left from during that fist trip," Mindartis replies. "It wasn't the same, but close enough that i think it has a general area. I'd test it again, but I don't want to be attack by crocodiles again."

((sorry, that exchange was impossible - I read more carefully and see that M arrives while D & R are away from the house. Del will snap at and heal M when they come running back to head out. Instead...))

Del uses his new speaking to get a better fix on the elder Blackthorn's location, well enough that Raven knows where to go, then returns to the manor to gather friends.

"Good Mindartis!" yelled Elwin as he rushed over and threw an arm around the elf's shoulders. "Nine hells! Where have you been?! And what possessed you to--nevermind."

He stopped his chastisement long enough to give a smile instead. "It's good to see you safe again, friend!"

Mindartis shrugs, "I wanted to know," he says, which seems to be a good enough answer to him. "It wasn't that bad, all things considered."

"They are a bit vague about the specific location and circumstances," says the High Druid. "I get the impression that they saw your father swarmed by these 'walking brambles' and that they dragged him off out of their range of perception.  I would estimate four or five miles to the southeast.  Once you are closer, your friend Del ought to be able to ask the local plants for more detailed directions. My guess is that he ran into some blights or perhaps needle spawn."

"What have you guys been up to?"

Quote from BaconExpert982 >>

"It wasn't that bad, all things considered."

"Apparently not!" chuckled the warlock as he stepped back and appraised his companion. "You trapped yourself in another plane, yet somehow made it back here, and none the worse for wear! I'm sure there will be quite a tale behind all this..." Elwin couldn't help but laugh at the thought. "Good Del will likely pester you for a week with questions!

"Still, come inside... now that you're back, we can inform you of all that's been going on; there's quite a bit to go over! Oh, and you also should have a gift from the king--it should help us in any coming conflicts."

(( Elwin will fill Mindartis in on everything: the recovery of the prince and the other farmers, the new mission, the speculation on the hoop material, and the rewards from the king. Everything except what Del and Raven just learned. ))

Mindartis follows Elwin inside, "I will say one thing," Mindartis chuckles, "don't go horseback riding after swimming." After ensuring Caizanna is properly stabled, fed and watered, will follow Elwin to the house.

Mindartis looks at the boots, and pulls off his old ones, glade to have something dry to slip on. He sets his boots down and lets his feet dry off before slipping the new ones on. "So we're waking them up then. I'm guessing the rain helped with getting the sugar off of them. I wish I could be of more help but all I really know is that I saw an angry figure in a black cloak who seemed very pissed off that we've completely looted their house. I'm assuming they're Auntie, but I couldn't really understand what they were saying to the Dragonborn they were with. They left using once of the big rope versions of the hoop. No idea where they went, but they didn't leave anything behind."

Del comes running to the manor area ((assuming R is also, possibly handling instructions to the household?)) The trees say Raven's dad is in trouble, blights or something....oh, good you're back, you look terrible ((heal as above)) no time to yell at you. Pull Lord Quentin out of study hall, see if the Prince is coming, dry off....Raven's dad, 5 miles or so southeast, trouble. Everyone get ready to go. Shall we go by owl?

Mindartis just nods, and gets up, "I'd say I was exhaused... but that would be lying. Let's go save Raven's dad."

Raven rushes inside and tells the household that she has to go.  She grabs her gear and rushes back outside.

"My dad is in trouble." She tells the others.  "I am heading in the direction the plants said he was last seen.  Will you come with?"  She glances towards the stables.  "The plants say it is only a few miles, so I think we should leave the horses, what do the rest of you think?"

Prince Lintelér comes out of the room where he and Quentin were studying. "Can you lend me a weapon?" he asks. "I would like to go with you."

Raven knows her father has a small armory in the attic...and she remembers that there is probably a Rapier of Warning there, which might suit her current fighting style better than her current short sword, if her father did not take it with him. (Unlikely, he prefers a greatsword these days.)