((Locust and Northoak are nearest Pitchpine. Northoak is another dead tree, a very poor neighborhood, but not disreputable like Locust.))

"Not sure if it's a great idea to talk to pixies where we plan to spring a trap," Mindartis says.

"Agree that doing it near pitchpine might not be a good plan.  Why don't we just use Hicory for the climbing?"  Raven suggests.

"Hickory sounds reasonable; I agree that doing it near Pitchpine could have issues."

You return to the Hickory Liftworks, the highest platform in the tree.  Inside the trunk, you can see Huark turning an enormous windlass on his own.

The foreman sees you arrive and comes to see you with a smile on his face, with Huark following. "You brought back our best worker!" he says.  "The Liftworks thanks you! Anything I can do to repay the favor?"

Huark says hopefully, "You find Cup yet?"

((I think we were waiting until Q finished finding familiar, so after that...))

to the foreman As the big guy says, we are looking to find his lost child. It isn't crystal clear, but possibly the pixies have information that will help us trap a suspected kidnapper. The street kids refer to a 'Candyman'. So the way up, as high as we can get, and any advice on the ways of the wee ones of this tree.

((Ah, yes, waiting for Quentin to proceed, then. :) ))

(Sorry. Here I am!)

Taking Elwin back to the tavern Quentin tells Raven's lovely mother, "I'm going to summon a familiar while in my room. A tiny bit of contained fire is involved. But don't worry. Nothing shall get out of hand." With her knowing Quentin takes Elwin's hand and drags him quickly to his room where he locks the door and says, "Alright. I'm going to explain as I'm doing. The find familiar spell is a classic that every Wizard worth their snuff should know. It is a basic summoning spell where I conjure forth a spirit, in this case a small fey, who takes the form of an animal and we enter into an agreement. They obey as I see fit and in turn are allowed access to this plane." Making sure that Elwin understands and repeating or rewording anything that is necessary for Elwin to understand Quentin goes about setting up the ritual. A brass brazier in the middle of a basic arcane summoning circle. "The circle will help keep the spirit here until the spell is complete and the brazier acts as a conduit for out material sacrifice, the charcoal, incense, and herbs. Now if we're ready we can being." Double checking everything before lighting the fire within the arcane circle, his spell book out, Quentin begins to channel small traces of his arcane power into the circle and, over the next hour as the material's burn and Quentin slightly rhythmically chants the arcane words the brazier glows. It continues to do so until in a flash everything is burned up and the magic stops. A smile on his face Quentin turns to Elwin and says, "It's done. May I introduce you to Henry." With those words out of the brazier fly out a white clean owl that takes perch on Quentin's shoulder and eyes the room and then Elwin with wonder and amazement.  

Arcane Circle and Henry:

Elwin eyed Quentin suspiciously as he grabbed the warlock's hand, but then just shook his head, muttering "Nobles," as the wizard dragged him into the room.

He watched the ritual with utter fascination, occasionally petting Pim who was pocketed comfortably under his armor. Then....

Quote from JacWalke >>

"It's done. May I introduce you to Henry." With those words out of the brazier fly out a white clean owl that takes perch on Quentin's shoulder and eyes the room and then Elwin with wonder and amazement.

"Amazing..."

The warlock was enthralled, but then a thought came to him and he turned to Quentin, suppressed concern in his voice. "He doesn't... um... have to eat rodents, does he?"

Quentin smiles and says, "No. He does need to and don't worry. He will not harm your own pet." 

The foreman waves as Quentin, Elwin, and a shiny new owl join their friends on the Liftworks platform.

"Well, this is as high as we go here," the foreman answers Del. "In the tree above is a sprite village.  They have an agreement with the management to keep pixies away from the Liftworks. A little prank can cause quite a lot of damage when you're hauling heavy loads and passengers up and down the tree all day and night. You could probably convince the sprites to get a pixie for you to talk to. And we kind of owe you a favor for getting the big guy back to us, so if you want to borrow some hickory helmets and safety vests, your climb might be a little less dangerous."

Raven stays below, figuring the less of them that go up the less issues it might cause with the sprites.

Mindartis noda at the offer of saftey equipment, "Saftey equipment would be a better idea than none. I'll go on up. Fey tends to trust other Fey. Anyone else coming."

Elwin followed Raven's lead. "Go on ahead."

 ((I think our plan is Q casts levitate so M can climb without the branches giving way, M does his feylord stuff, get info, or if need more time get one/some of them to come down, or a pixie to help M fly, Q ready with feather fall if needed. Q can also keep discrete contact using message))

Del will go up to the platform, but not climb. He plays a bit of Summer on his new spritewhistle granting M Inspiration (add a d6 to any check in the next 10 min) then shifts to some appropriate fiddle music It's alright, they says it's alright - Take anything you want from me - Anything - Fly on little wing

((You haven't asked, but the foreman tells you that the safety vests are good for one Feather Fall each. They are made for the Liftworks by scholarship students at the Thamasaille. The helmets are mainly good for warding off any giant acorns or hickory nuts or rocks that the sprites might be using for missiles...or accidentally drop.))

((Smart thinking))

"What's the likelihood of these sprites trying to drop acorns on my head?" Mindartis asks, starting to put the equipment on.

"Well," says the foreman, "That will depend on how much they like you..."

Mindartis doesn't reply, just looks up the tree and rolls his shoulders a few times. "I'm ready, let's see if they're willing to talk."