Despite Raven's weak performance, the information she is giving them is shocking and important enough that they listen with riveted attention.

When the timekeeper calls for responses, several ask questions about details. Raven is able to clarify a lot of the details she rushed over in her time limit and nervousness. A few mention thair own local child, gnome or small fey disappearances, and gnoll raids on remote homesteads and farms.  Some say that, with the gnolls able to travel anywhere through the strange woven hoops, that it is more important than ever for courts to call their own soldiers out of the communal army to defend their own lands. 

The representative from Lolopath mentions that a young child from his tribe saw a creature that fit the description of the Barleymen.  "He ran and reported it back to the elders," Ambassador Roctalas reports. "The Gûr Tâk Mountains are dangerous. Our small ones are taught to run and to hide from any creature they do not recognize, until they reach the age when they can catch a wild horse on foot. We sent a scouting party to the area he spoke of, and found nothing but some odd boot tracks that seemed to come from nowhere and end nowhere. We have been patrolling that area since. Our tribe is not that large, and we have only few of the very young ones. We have lost none of them yet. The creature has not been seen since, though we continued to find its tracks for a while. But not recently. Perhaps it has found us to be poor prey and has moved on."

The meeting continues, but in a state of disarray, the timekeeper often having to ring his bell for order and silence. Many of the representatives confer with their assistants, paying little more attention to the proceedings, and you even see sending stones being used, probably to communicate to the representatives' home courts. Your news has been a bombshell, and many of the representatives who only had gnolls and missing children to report, pass quickly on their turns to speak, as if hoping to end the meeting as quickly as possible.

Some do still speak, though.  The barbarian woman seated next to Raven, introduced as Rese Baraz, Second Axe of the Deer Clan of the Wilding Court, stands. "All of the Westwoods are the home of the Wilding Court. For the last few moons, wherever we wander, we meet anger and attacks by those who claim we have been stealing their children.  We have met the halfling gypsies on their usual spring trade rounds, and they tell us that they meet the same treatment. In the lands of Kalaine, we honor the birds and spotted forest cats of the Wizard of the Great Tree, but he no longer guides our path. The friendly sprites and pixies in the fey west dwindle and hide at our approach. I have not come here to  trade soft words with you house elves. I have been sent to warn you.  Our people will no longer rebuff these attacks gently. When we are next attacked, we WILL strike back, with all our power." She swings her axe down into the table and leaves it embedded there, her fellows following her out of the hall.  There is a long silence.

One of the Kalaine representatives stands,  Sir Tennet Thaniel, the elf with the scarred face who traded Raven his spot at the table. "Although the Second Axe has departed, I would like to comment that the Court of Redleaf Dale has also been completely out of communication with the wizard Zanderfell.  It has only been a few days, but our forest people have noted that the birds and cats have been behaving oddly.  Has anyone heard from Zanderfell recently?"  The Timekeeper permits time for open discussion, and it is soon ascertained that nobody has heard from the wizard who watches over all of Kalaine for at least six days now. Sir Tennet asks then, "Does anyone know where his tree was last located?" Nobody is certain...the last known location was in Eastern Kalaine, "But that was over six months ago...and he always moves as soon as anyone finds him." 

The Timekeeper calls an end to the discussion, and goes on with the meeting.  The next delegate to address the company you recognize as the young elf whom you saw when leaving Cranes, the one with the strange gliding apparatus strapped to his back. He is introduced as The Honorable Rambon Tindapilin of Noldar, West Broadleaf. He stands and says, "My friends and colleagues, lords and citizens: I hear many of you speaking of withdrawing your warriors from the communal army.  I would remind you that the gnolls are not the only peril to the south which the Westwoods Army holds at bay. In Noldar and Lolopath, with the aid of your brave soldiers, we hold back the orcs, goblins and other threats from the Gûr Tâk Mountains, and to the west, that communal army also patrols the border of the Bolgen Hills, in tandem with the Hill Dwarves, to stand against incursions of Drow. Do not be too hasty to draw all your defenses home.  We are stronger together, and our enemies are many. In Noldar, we fight mainly against the orcs. Considering the other information that has been discussed here, I should let you know what our spies have learned.  Hags have approached the orc tribes, and are in negotiations for an alliance. We don't know what their aim is, only that they spoke of their association with the gnolls being unsatisfactory, that the gnolls were too violent and uncontrolled for the hags' purposes, preferring to slaughter or torture victims, or to convert them into gnolls, rather than bringing them in undamaged."

After taking comments, the Timekeeper moves on to Councillor Raitha Dathar of the village of Fladweth Turu, the worried-looking red-haired woman Elwin noticed before the meeting. She seems a bit breathless and flustered, and you get the idea that she is not used to addressing the council, any more than Raven was. "Honored ambassadors," she says. "In recent days, hunters ranging from Fladweth Turu made a horrible discovery.  A small army of gnolls and other creatures have made an encampment in the heart of the Kalaine forest! We counted at least a thousand of them. I know the southern border needs to be defended," she bows slightly to Rambon of Noldar, "but it seems that this is also a dire threat.  The horde is foraging in the forest for now, but we are certain it is only a matter of time before they find and plunder our village.  We are less than 600. There is no hope of resistance. As I speak, our people are packing their belongings, preparing to evacuate our homes and farms.  We lack only a destination." She holds out her hands. "I beg of you, our neighbors, take us in. If any of you has room in your lands for the people of Fladweth Turu, let us come to you. We will leave again as soon as it is safe to return to our own village."

Lord Picres Flaume is the first to stand. "Slate City is always in need of mine workers and servants for the high houses. Those who can work are welcome to pay for our hospitality with their labor. The rest of your debt to us can be settled once you return to your village."

Guildmaster Viggo of Yonpinagel says, "We certainly have room for you, but at the moment there is no industry or resources to support you. If you come to us, you will have to find a way to survive in a very stretched economy."

Lord Fiskel of Ellantar says that any with magical abilities would be welcome in his land. Several others speak up, offering to take a certain number of refugees.  A few say that they would be willing to take all of them, with various conditions attached. You can see in Princess Anarórë's face that she's dying to invite them all to Lomalos, but Lady Naehice seems to be whispering cautions into her ear. In the end, Councillor Dathar thanks the company, saying she must consult with the village council before deciding where her people will go.

The next to address the council is Fleetmaster’s Mate Ethas Halatirno, of the Court of Duirro, along the riverbanks above the falls. "I have little to report, compared to the many terrible things already discussed, but those of you whose land lie along the upper Arasrok will wish to hear this. Our people on the river report that a large, reptilian beast of some sort has been seen in the river, nosing about the fishing boats and fouling the nets.  Some of our fishermen threw harpoons at it, and it struck their boat violently, nearly capsizing it, and swam away.  I have had a message that only this morning, several sailors have been found floating down the river or washed up on shore. They say their ship was sunk by a scaly beast from the depths as they drifted from Nandezel into the Fens."

Nobody else has urgent matters to report. Princess Anarórë speaks praise of the band of heroes who freed Lomalos from the Barleyman (which might have caused more of a stir if they hadn't just heard the story from Raven) declares that the fighting forces of Lomalos will remain in the communal defense force, and promises to speak to King Celairatar about the possibility of taking in the refugees of Fladweth Turu.  Lord Fiskel of Ellantar speaks his entire fifteen minutes about the construction of a new magical college and urging the other kingdoms to send their most talented young mages to Ellantar to be trained properly.

The Timekeeper eventually declares the meeting closed, and the representatives get up from their seats to discuss the meeting's many bombshells.  Several come to Raven to ask for more details and to discuss methods of hunting down the Barleymen and their hag masters.

Del goes back to working whoever hasn't fled home, with three goals:

Catching Guildmaster Viggo from Yonpinagel, since he's hoping for help, he's probably sticking around asking, to tell about our 1500lbs of sugar to trade, and our interest in the Great Pixie Tree and its other-plane counterparts.

And telling everyone, including Viggo, about the things that are not certain, Del's vision, the theory kids and smalls are being put to work mining, someplace called "the splinters", possibly the Three Great Trees. He is going to use language that draws obvious parallels between the hags' methods and Flaume's attitude - "Offering debt bondage to escape captive slavery" might be brought up when he feels like the audience is simpatico. Del is one of those rabble rousers now.

Third, making the point that half the problems mentioned at the meeting are people mistaking evils caused by the hags for slights by each other Joining together in freedom and friendship is twice as powerful since it addresses both kinds of ill. As much as he's trying to build unity, that includes the least helpful courts (Slate City and Ellantar for example) getting their kittens together.

Del has no problem catching Viggo, as he is taking every last opportunity to remind people that Yonpinagel is still a tourist trap destination. His eyes widen when you mention the sugar.  "I'm not sure what we can offer in trade, apart from entertainment and hospitality," he admits. "The actual site of the Pixie Tree is jealously guarded by the Restorers, and they are not likely to let you dig down among the roots, or even enter the site of the restoration. That's a true pity, I bet we could get people coming in to watch the rituals. They have spell barriers protecting the tree site, too, so we couldn't even burrow in...although...there are always rumors.  Maybe someone among the mages and oldsters could help you search for the Elder Deepings. It's said that the ancient burrows wound about the deepest roots of the tree. Although...you and your friends would be a bit tall for gnome byways."

People are quite interested in discussing and theorizing about the hag plans with Del. Few have traveled to other planes, and those who have know nothing of the great trees there. Though most people remain neutral and aren't drawn by Del's political remarks, he does find several who are also appalled by Flaume's exploitative opportunism. "It's the way Slate City has always been run, sadly," says Sir Tennet. Rambon of Noldar adds, "The nobility--if the word even applies--and the wealthy have all the power there, and seem to feel nothing for the workers and common people."  Councilor Marian Longbridge of Nandezel, a half elf with an eyepatch and greying hair, who did not speak up during the meeting, says," All we can do as outsiders is attempt to encourage some sense of decency and moral responsibility in the young. I know for a fact that, even among the city's aristocracy, there are many who want things to change. Let's hope it can happen without a bloodbath in the streets."

For promoting unity--roll a persuasion check.

Quentin quickly makes his way to Sir Thaniel telling him, "I've spoken to Zanderfell within the past month. He's visited me while I was trancing and has been helping me with spells. I didn't know he was missing. I can attempt to contact him. I don't know if it'll work since he always takes the form of a bird with me. But I can at least try and get your message across." With so much to do with everything going like this he'll visit the Princess next, "I'm sending a message to your brother tonight about everything that happened here. I know you wanted to help the refugees, let's see if your Dad says the kingdom can take a couple." He turns to talk to the gnome but see's that Del is already taking care of it. 

Sir Tennet Thaniel thanks Quentin. "All of the small courts in Kalaine rely on Zanderfel's information. In the troubled situation we are in now, with enemies able to appear anywhere, his silence is very troubling."

The princess is also grateful. "I know that the king would want to help. I just don't know where we would PUT six hundred people. The royal lands aren't extensive. The Simul lands are covered by the Thamasaille, and the Naicas have even less land than we do. The Vithans could take them in, not to say ANYTHING bad about the Vithans, but so many of them are...well, if you depend on their charity, they do demand that you be frantically grateful for it ALL the time. And honestly, the peasants on Vithan lands have such a very low standard of living. The Aldalires would take good care of the refugees, but when they do a favor for the crown, they tend to use it as leverage to get something else they want. Apart from the fact that they already have more privileges and wealth than is good for them, any time we give something to the Aldalires, the Vithans get offended unless we balance it with something for THEM, and we don't dare offend the Vithans because they provide the bulk of our soldiers and clerics, and they are so very loyal and dependable when we need them. You would not believe what a feat of balancing it takes to keep both families content. It's possible that the Free City would take in the refugees, but I don't have the authority to speak for them. They really ought to send a representative themselves."

Del agrees with the hope for peaceful change, his hand moving to his reliquary in prayer to The Lady Whoever-She-Might-Be. In general urging of unity, Persuasion 14.

Del  Messages Elwin

 And Raven

 In general using his new trick to keep everyone informed

Del's message of unity and friendship holds sway with most of the delegates, who promise each other mutual support and to keep at least some of their soldiers in the communal Westwoods army.  The most angry and frightened ignore him or bicker back, saying they are responsible only for the lives of their own people, not every elf that walks the woods.

18  17

7  1

To your surprise, Flaume listens to what you have to say and changes his opinion, agreeing that being caught between pirates and drow would be far worse than dealing with the pirates alone, and saying he believes that spreading the news of the Barleyman among the peasants seems like a good way to redirect their rebellious anger and ease the city's danger.

Lord Fiskel, on the other hand, barely pays attention to you and goes on a rant about how Ellantar can take care of itself, and if the rest of the Westwoods can't, it is their own problem. 8

Pretty much only the already-disgruntled listen, though, and he makes himself and Ellantar very unpopular with the rest of the company. He does not bother to stay for dinner or the night, teleporting back home as soon as he's realized he can't count on the other representatives to see reason.

As soon as Fiskel is gone Quentin let's out a huge sigh of a relief, "No wonder we're so unpopular. He makes us all out to seem like uncaring bigots. I need to undo his damage. And to think I was starting to get a little home sick, not anymore." Quentin spends a great amount of time introducing himself as someone from the Ellentar court and apologizing on behalf of it. Spreading his news of working with others and how he's been in contact with Zanderfell and will attempt to recontact the wizard tonight. He's hoping to at least sway a couple people to thinking that his home court isn't full of uncaring people like Lord Fiskel. 

Persuasion: 8

Glad it is over with, Raven moves to her companions and listens in as they talk with the various members of the assembly.  She would answer any questions particular people have of her, but would be trying not to do anything bad as a representative of the Court of Whispers.

Quentin does good work improving the image of Ellantar and smoothing over the mess Lord Fiskel left behind him. The Kalaine representatives are very interested in his claim of recently being in contact with Zanderfell, and in his promise to try and contact him. Several make the decision to spend the night at the hall, asking you to let them know in the morning whether you succeed in the attempt.

Raven answers the questions she is able to, though the delegates seem insatiable, asking things about the plans of the Dark Sisterhood, and whether the Queen of the Night Court might be involved, and what spells were involved in the making of the transportation hoops and Barleymen, and other things she has no way of knowing.  Several delegates congratulate her on her first appearance in the hall and her appointment as Ambassador, assuring her that she did well, and expressing hopes that the Court of Whispers will take part in the meetings more often.

The delegates who have quick ways to return home leave shortly after the meeting, to take the news home as quickly as possible.  Those with longer journeys, and those waiting for Quentin's news of Zanderfell, are offered rooms.  You join those who are spending the night, and the diplomats who remain at the hall full-time, for a much less formal dinner, where the conversation is pretty much a continuation of the same subjects as before.

Finally, a servant of the hall leads you to a suite of rooms, where you can relax. Before leaving, she bows and says, "If you need anything or if you have messages to send, merely ring the bell, and once of us will help you.  The diplomatic messenger service of the hall is the fastest mail delivery system in the Westwoods, and perhaps unrivaled in all of Talaveroth."

Quentin just needs paper and ink as he quickly get to writing his letters, sending each other them with Galder’s Speedy Courier having to take a short rest in-between casting though and paying the small air elemental the fee of 25 gold each time. 

Del has a letter for the Abbey, and also should send some money if the diplomatic service or a bank can do so. Another 50 gp if possible, and the letter:

((Paper and ink is available in your rooms, and yes, they can also ship money and/or packages.))

Mindartis stares at the paper and ink in his room, trying to find the words to put on the paper for a letter he'll never get to send. After a while, he leans over and starts writing.

Letter finished, Mindartis folds it up and tucks it neatly into the pocket of his shirt. He sits back and starts to write another letter, but halfway through the first sentence and crumples it up. He's about to start again, but stops. He had a lot of things he wanted to say to Arania, but the right words just weren't coming to him. At least, the words that he wanted to say weren't coming to him. He sits back in his chair and starts thinking. About Auntie, the Barley Men. Eclipses eventually eclipsed all his other thoughts. He wasn't sure where to start with that, and he didn't think now was a great time to be asking Quentin about where he could find the information. Places like this always made him uncomfortable. He eventually pulls out his Dragonchess set, the only thing of value he brought out of the Feywild, and sets it up, playing himself while trying to sort out all of his thoughts.

Since they do it, can Del will send 50 gp as tithe / guilt deflection for the luxuries he's getting

Once retired in her room, Raven will let go the illusion from the hat of disguise and be in just her normal every-day studded leather and tunic.  She would call for a bath, if one is available here, and soak for a while as she gets over the stress of speaking in front of the assembly.

Baths are available. Servants bring a tub to your room and fill it with hot water and soap bubbles.

(However Raven may dress or disguise herself, I can't help thinking of her as being in black leather with weapons strapped on everywhere. XD )

Elwin leaned on the door to his room as it closed behind him, letting out a long exhale. Sooo many concerns, and from so many directions all at once. His head was dizzy with the information--and he hadn't even offered a solution of his own! (Of course, he was just recently knighted, and wasn't an elf--so he hadn't even been sure how much he would be able to influence the others, particularly considering the years they seemed to have had on him.)

Suddenly finding his fine clothing stifling, he quickly undid his collar and then stripped, almost ripping off the clothes in--irritation? Frustration? Anger? He wasn't entirely sure. But it certainly felt good to be free from those tight, confining pieces of delicate cloth. Feeling as though he could breath again, he sat on his bed and fell back onto it, hands behind his head as he thought through the day's engagements. Sometime in the future, an older version of himself would chide him for his thoughts at that moment... "How is being a noble so $!!#^$ hard?!"

He had half a mind to simply find the nearest tavern--presuming one existed--and just start a brawl with the first chap who seemed willing and tough enough to take it. Or to just grab a blanket and march to the horse stables in his undergarments to sleep on some hay, daring anyone to speak anything of it. In his youth, such an opportunity was to be relished, especially over hiding in some muddy, dirty back alley. Yeah, joining the horses would almost be... what was the word? Nostalgic?--at this point.

"These silk sheets are going to make me... grow soft..." he murmured to himself as he started to doze off.

You spend a quiet night relaxing from the stress and tumult of the meeting.

In the morning there is a knock at the door.  You open it to find a servant of the hall carrying letters for you! Behind him stands the one-winged aaracokra you met briefly yesterday, backed by two fully armed and armored warriors, standing at attention.

One letter is marked for all of you. It has come from the Free City.  Opening it, you read the following letter:

To the party of adventurers including Raven Blackwood, Elwin Cold, Mindartis Liadon, Galanodel Tosh and Quentin Adiyodi:

I thought you would wish to be informed: Lemmet Naica, after allegedly violating the terms of his probationary sentence by tipping over one of the student dormitories and setting fire to a sausage cart, evaded capture by the Queen’s Guard and made his way into the Free City. After thorough investigation, we have found indications that he left the city with the intention of clearing out of Lomalos altogether. His current destination and whereabouts are unknown, but witnesses in both the Thamasaille and the city spoke of the grudge he holds against you, and the possibility that he may seek revenge. Please be cautious. If you encounter the fugitive, deal with him as you must, but there is a 500gp reward offered if he is returned alive to Lomalos. We thank you again for the services you have done for the Free City and Lomalos, and also for the police station.  The coffee is a little less poisonous, thanks to your generous donation of sugar.

Lieutenant Hooleran, Free City Police Dept.

Tucked inside is a dirtier, raggedy piece of paper.  Most of it is filled with a picture of five stick figures fighting a much bigger stick figure with large, pointy teeth  The following message is scrawled across the bottom.

Deer Mol Wakkers, I am going to skool evry day, even tho it stil sux. Remember you are going to teech me magic. Huark sais I can not have a pony cuz we liv in a tree butt when I am a wizerd I will have a flying pig pegas pegglesis. I do not no how to draw mols so that is the candy man. Haff a broken cup

There are more, individual letters.  Raven has one from the Free City, and one from the Fens. Mindartis also has one from the fens. Del has a package form Lomalos and a battered-looking letter that seems to have wandered from Slate City to Lomalos to the Fens chasing after him.   Quentin has two letters from Lomalos, one marked with the seal of the royal house, one marked with the king's seal. Elwin also has a letter marked with the king's royal seal.

Quentin smiles as he reads the letter from the royal house his day obviously already made with that simple piece of paper. As for the king's letter he simple tells them, "Let me quickly reply to him as it is of importance." Taking some time to reply to the King in a short letter.