Quentin gives her a few gold as he says, "Thank you, we're in a rush. Sorry to be rude." He then mounts his horse and is quick to to take off towards the entrance.

"Oh yes... Quentin took it with him..." Mindartis says. "Back to... the castle..."

He looks to Del, "Doesn't Quentin have that... spell... he can use to send things? Can you ask him about that?"

"Well, as long as it is in good hands, for now..." the druid says. "It looks as if there are more urgent things to attend to here.  For some time, our restorative ritual seemed to have little power, and we had no idea why the spell was doing so little good. Now all is clear. We are grateful for your discovery of this crime, and I'm sure the chief restorers will want to express their gratitude, but for now, I see gnomes and fey that need attending to, and roots that are in urgent need of repair. We can take charge of things here, if you have a wish to be about other matters."

Quote from Astalda >>

"Hey misters," she says. "These your horses?  I been watchin' them all day. They coulda been stole, leavin' em so long.  Wouldn't say no to a few coins, if you got em to spare. Do sewin', too, if you need anything sewed. Not many people needin' much of that these days, leastwise, not willin' to pay for it."

Elwin blinks at the young gnome, and smiles. "I do thank you," he said, honestly embarrassed at having left Oroman for so long. "I hadn't realized we'd taken as long as we did." He pet Oroman. "Still, I'm glad you were kind enough to help."

Still smiling, he cocked his head as he re-appraised the gnome. "Here, to show my gratitude in part." He quickly produced five gold coins and placed them into her hand. "Although, really, such initiative and character deserves more than a few coin. As you said, my mount could have been stolen. And that would have been a loss more than coin could correct. What is your name, young miss? It may just be in business opportunities, but I will see to it that you are rewarded more appropriately for your gesture."

Quentin:

The gnome woman drops into a curtsey, thanking you profusely for the generous tip as you ride away. Rufus is eager for a run, and you arrive quickly at the druid enclave.  There is no need to ring the bell: there is already a crowd of druids clustered around a table.  On the table sit the two pixies whom you met in the root chamber below.  They are surrounded by plates containing what look like several hundred times their own weight in food, and druids are bringing more.

The female pixie suddenly points to you, and through a mouthful of apple shouts, "THERE!  There he is!  The great wizard Quentin, who made a fiery wall appear across the room, and squashed gnolls and hyenas FLAT!"

"Hero, would you like some bread and fruit and ale?  There's plenty, and we would be honored to share with you," the male adds, just before every druid bursts into shouting questions at once.  It's hard to make out exactly what they are all asking, but every question starts with the words, "Is it true?"

Elwin:

Showered with even more gold, the gnome nearly squeaks, "Thank you, your honor! I am Jelli Merru Fiskins, and I have a little shop over the fudge store, there--" she points to one of the boarded-up buildings. "I'd be more than happy to do any patchin' or sewin' or suchlike for you or your friends, and if you need any harder labor, I have three brothers out of work, too!"

Quentin dusts himself off with a quick Presidigitation as he replies, "Yes. I'm sure most of what you heard is true. You need to send several druids down there at one though. And I must speak to the High Druid in charge here. Please. Time is still of the essence. Once all is figured out I'm sure all of you will be able to hear the tale from the mouth of our own Bard. But for now, I request an audience with whoever is in charge." 

The warlock smiled again. "I shall remember you, Jelli Merru Fiskins, and I shall be back sometime in the near future to thank you again." With a bow, he mounted Oroman and rode back to the Hall of Courts.

Del answers M and the druids Lord Quentin has the bowling ball - and he was headed to visit your camp, bringing the shavings we recovered and the tale. Apologies, Brothers, but we feared we would not be believed. The initial reaction we got from the first of you we saw was rather suspicious. We find that all over the Westwoods - nobody believes or takes seriously these events, even when it is their own children missing Del gestures at the assembled captives Remove Curse definitely works, based on what Lord Quentin uncovered I think Dispel Magic might also work Del casts Dispel Magic on a pixie, and tries to get them to cast on another if it works

Del catches M up on the other end of the supply chain and the Lemmet angle We'd not get back to the Halls until near midnight, but it would be easier to meet with Our Brothers. On the other hand, there is a mansion on the other side of this cavern which would make a more comfortable rest, and we could meet up in the morning

Raven would slink into the shadows, leaving the talking to druids to the others. She doesn't have anything to add to what is being said regardless.  Once things are settled she would help scout the path towards wherever they plan on spending the night. 

The druids thank you for all you've done, and cast any heals you might still need.  Then they get to work freeing the gnomes, sprites and pixies from their cursed labor.  As they are freed, the traumatized and exhausted creatures make their way to the east exit, where they gather in groups, trying to find members of their families and communities, and collapse into sleep in the hollows they used as beds while they were enslaved...as far as possible from the two giant hyenas tied at the door of the ancient mansion. The hyenas haven't been fed in some time, now, and they are looking hungrily at the gnome children, straining their leashes and drooling.

(Yes, the Dispel Magic also worked.)

Mindartis approaches the hyenas, growling back at them.

"What should we do about them?" he asks, gesturing at the hyenas

Poor little buggers, they don't belong here, probably hungry, can't hunt. Probably a mercy to kill them, but it seems wrong Del will Speak with Animals and feed the brutes ((is there a gnoll carcass outside the bubble? otherwise some rations)) hey calm down here's some food. those ones are in my pack, you can't hunt them. if you can be good you can join our pack and we will feed you for a while. are there gnolls or anything inside? how did they feed you before?

((btw I have a weakness for hyenas. like dogs with buff shoulders))

The battle happened away from the walls of the chamber, but try rolling a DC15 investigation

"Hungry. Hungry. That not food," say the hyenas, sniffing your rations. "Need meat to shred, need blood.  Gnolls bring us sheep, horses, cows, elves, humans, dwarves, deer, halflings, goats, gnomes. Best if alive, but okay if dead. Pack leaders bring animals to eat through a ring in the air. Behind is where pack leaders sleep. Maybe food. Let us go, we find food, plenty. Hungry, hungry. Where pack leaders?"

MIndartis watch Del talk to the Hyenas before looking up to the manor and going to open the door, more interested on seeing if anything was inside.

maybe a body fell near enough the wall, or got pushed in the fight or by the bubble? Investigation 20

((Mindartis still has the hoop, right? we could just send them into that corner of the Feywild, cause some havoc))

we fought old pack leaders and won, they are gone, the ring in the air broke. this is the food we have, will look behind to see if more

(You will have to get past the hyenas to reach the door...are you going to try?)

((He'll wait for Del, impatiently))