Del amends his answer to the offer, as aside to the page She may be too embarrassed to ask, but Lady Althaea lost most of her things, and needs outfitting by the morning 

((I think she's the only refugee with us?))

Raven takes Ethen, plus the hatchlings and Tressym, with her to the Lark and Swallow.

The page bows and says, "I'll see that we find her some useful equipment. There's bound to be something left over from the armies, if not in the armory, maybe in the treasury."

You all go your separate ways for the night.

The sun rises on a beautiful spring day...

Flitterbug flies up to Mindartis' shoulder, her face creased from where she fell asleep in her book Guess what guess what? I'm like a dozener more powerfuller than I knew! she makes a little person out of Dancing Lights, which turns into a bear. She looks very serious I will give Mister Sneedle some pixiedust.

Spring already? Or still? Del greets the day with squared shoulders, and the others at breakfast with suggestions Okay brothers and sisters, I am well banqueted and rested, and itchy to right some wrongs. You all as well? My thought is to try these hoops in turn, and see if we cannot find a path to get the Feylord and Feylady's folk to home, or at least headed near the right direction. If we scout through the hoops, and mess up whatever enemies we find, and return by Lord Mindartis' amulet, then we'll know where they lead and can decide where to lead the refugees. And maybe we'll save others and thwart some schemes and whatnot. But of course, there may be other ideas I am happy to entertain - I just feel a restlessness, and I envisioned Fair Ziia longing for the Feywild as well.

Del takes stock of the hoops, which I believe are (1) the one to the thorny clearing where we killed Barleyman 2 and M went off to alone (2) one from under Yonpinigel (3) a large one from the gnolls that were sieging Zanderfell (4) an extra large one from the warehouse. And it now occurs to me that we should be able to tell if it goes to Feywild or Shadowfell by the colors: drab, normal, or vivid - which two are which two planes

Mindartis smiles at Flitterbug, "You're picking up on that fast aren't you? Better than I ever could. And I'm sure that knowing you're getting stronger is a reward onto itself."

Elwin seems preoccupied at breakfast. As time goes on, he sighs. "I suppose Raven is spending time with her mother today, and Quentin is sleeping in. I was hoping to let you all know at once...I'm not going on with you. I'm a knight of the Westwoods now, sponsored by the kingdom of Lomalos, and the prince has asked me to go with Captain Tharivol on the eastern recruiting mission. It sounds as if there's nobody experienced to protect and defend the recruiting mission, and the nobles they'll be escorting on the journey. And someone needs to help train the raw recruits. Prince Lintelér asked me to think it over last night, and...well, my patron doesn't care how I go about defeating the hags as long as the Shadowfell is eventually cleaned up. And if there's one thing the seige on Zanderfell's tree taught me, it's that it's better to have aa strong an army behind you as you can get.

"You have been...the closest thing to a family I've ever known," Elwin continues. "Every one of you is a friend I would fight for, and I would trust any of you to watch my back. It's going to take more than just us, though. And I think I can help you most now by leaving. I know you are strong enough without me to handle whatever the hags throw at you, and maybe we will meet again when it's time to fight Satharas Indri'in, or theArch Witch."

Oh dear Brother Del reflexively plays Elwin's tune as he speaks Who could have guessed, when we met just five weeks ago in that skunked carriage. You have risen fast and far, Sir Elwin, but still a kind heart and Essy strong. It has already been epic and transformative, our time together. I will send, come evenings when I have the slot and have you know our conditions, and find yours and the Army's. You know I call folks "brother" and called you such since the first day, I don't know when it came to mean more in your case but it does. Peace and fortune be with you my brother my friend

After various tear-filled, uplifting moments of farewell, &or greedy grabbing of E's possessions while his seat is still warm, Del does want to get a move on. What do we know about the hoops as inspected? And, Del asks M I do not think, Brother Feylord, we ever heard much of the story about your skip back through the hoop from the Fens to the thorny clearing. Something about dragonborn and someone not happy, I think, but can you tell us details? Is it worth going there as a known starting point, do you feel?

After a late morning, having a relaxing sleep-in and then breakfast with the family, Raven heads back to the castle.

She would be sad of the news of Elwin's departure, but glad to hear he is following his heart in this matter.

"What can i do to aid in investigating these hoops?" Raven asks as they get down to the business of trying to find out where each leads.

Quentin arrives to the breakfast table late, at his side is a familiar little girl, Broken Cup. The tabaxi child is cleaned and dressed in simple robes a wand and spellbook at her side as she bounces around and looks around excitedly. As Quentin comes with a soft smile he asks, "Has the news been broken already? That Elwin is going to be helping the Prince, and he better be alive when I come back." He chuckles giving the human a playful warning before saying, "And everyone say hello to Cup again, starting from now on she is officially my first apprentice." 

Another distraction, but pleasant, Del gets on a knee as he does with kids, though she might be near as tall as the little quarter-elf Ah, young Mistress Half a Broken Cup. An apprentice of Lord Quentin now - you must have done well enough in studies - congratulations. Can you use a sling? Our Brother Sir Elwin - you remember? he, like you and I, grew up on the city streets - he left this very rare magic ((+3)) sling, perfect for the quick who use simple weapons. And frankly, Del removes and hands over his Cloak of Protection this might be better on you than me

Ethen joins the group. He is freshly bathed, fully geared up, and takes a seat, giving the small catfolk a smile of greeting. He pats both hatchlings as he taks a seat next to Raven. "So what is our next move?" He asks as he glances to the others. After getting filled in, he nods his agreement. "Like Raven has just said, let me know what I can do to aid you in learning where each of the hoops goes."

Examining the hoops, there seems no way to tell where the two points are that they go between.  Each is woven from at least two different types of wood. It's probably safe to say that the hoops woven with Shadowfell and pixie wood don't go to the Feywild, and those with Feywild and pixie wood would not lead to the Shadowfell, but even that much is not definitely certain. It's possible some just move between different points in the material plane. And the two you got in Slate City are woven from all three types of wood, so anything goes.

As you examine them, the young page brings Althaea equipment for her new mission.

"And the armorer sent something for the new apprentices," he adds. He hands Half a Broken Cup a child-sized Cloak of Protection and gives a pixie-sized one to Flitterbug.  He also gives each a Ring of Protection. "The sprites made the tiny cloak," he says a little doubtfully. "I don't know if the ring will shrink to magically fit. If not, maybe you can wear it on your head, like a crown?"

He turns to Sir Ethen. "I was told to ask if there's anything you need, since you are also new to the group. At least since they were here last."

Althaea smiles and takes the equipment, testing out the new instrument. "This is all so... interesting," she says to the group, "I'm excited to be along now."

Performance: 30

As Althaea plays, some of the castle denizens turn to listen or peek through the door. Del has some competition...

Ah, from Z's library I assumed it was more clear. We got 2 from SC? Does that make 5? Lets just tag them in order of acquisition, 1 being the one M traipsed off with. I guess we know #1 is Feywild wood, and the last two are triple wood - which wood would the other 1 or 2 be?

Del appreciates the lyre tunes - he has had bad luck with CHA checks of late so ain't thinking of competing. 

Flitterbug dons and attunes here new stuff. The ring, if it doesn't shrink to fit a finger, maybe like a wrestling belt? The cloak is at least sprite-made Not as drab as some armor, but still looking down at her fabulous pixie garb to be worn only when we face danger. We can take anything now, can't we? she brags from M's shoulder

I think we want to start with something at least potentially to the Feywild, let's start with ((holds up whichever of the one's asked about above has feywood)) this

we won't go until all are ready - I think we should leave mounts in the care of Mr Fiskins - But are dragons coming? kittywings? We should get to an open area once all have their stuff and then pass through

(Whoops, sorry, one of the Slate City ones was destroyed, wasn't it? My mistake.)

Of the two unknown ones, one is pixie and Feywild wood, the other is pixie and Shadowfell wood.

So everyone gets cool stuff, Del can keep his cloak. And maybe HaBC can take the Circlet of Blasting currently in our "maybe for sale" pile - maybe help her be happy away from the action if she can scorch a bit

With the above info, Del must be proposing trying hoop #2, the normal size Pixie/Everlost combo from under Yonpinigel

M have the tapestry? Dragons inside or staying behind? Whenever y'all are ready, let's step on through