Thankfully, the wind isn't quite strong enough that it interrupts Ink's spellcasting. The little airship holds up okay under the gale, and rides out the worst of it for the next dozen hours or so, as you swap shifts operating the elemental-powered furnace and the rudder. 

You pass over the Rauvin Mountains by night and early morning. At the end of the next day, you reach the coniferous forests of Moonwood. The trees here are nearly buried in snow, but the elves tell you that they know of a way through the wood, where the snow never touches the ground. 

Princess Halani then asks for your assistance one last time: "We are almost there. A safe escort is all we need, back to the waterfall in the heart of the forest, where you will be able to rest for the night. The wood is home to werewolves and other dangerous creatures that come out at night, not to mention the barbarians who have become more active in these parts during the day hours; but the waterfall is a true haven. My people will find us there." 

Ink asks, "I have no issue ensuring you all safe passage to your home. I assume that the other, generally, would feel the same.  Could we take the ship in further? I fear that if we live the ship unattended, a pack of those werewolves might take our ship for a joyride."

"I do not believe so...your ladders would not reach anywhere near to forest floor, even if we could get through all the snow heaped upon the tree canopy." Halani gestures towards the vast, dense sea of pines, poking up out of the blanketed snow. "The only safe place to enter is here, at the fringes."

"Werewolves? maybe i can finally use these babies" Matrix comments while patting a pouch "Silver bullets"

Ink slides one of his adamantine scimitars out of its scabbard, it's cutting edge shining different than the rest of the blade. He comments, "I'm ready as well."

He replies to Halani, "I, and most of the others, will be accompanying you on the ground. We'll leave a skeleton crew on the ship to offer some aerial assistance. We have our ways to get them down to us in a hurry should we need them."

"Besides, we don't need the ladders to reach the ground - just to the treeline - most of us have had to climb many a tree in our time running around Faerun," he says with a weak chuckle.

Crownsguard claps his hands together as divine magic crackles around him, “I believe that I have a useful tool to this end.”

The light crackles and sparks for about 10 minutes, before Crownsguard separates his hands and slams them into the deck of the ship. Crownsguard casts Find Steed! (Using the Giant Owl steed that Away offered) As he does, a giant metal owl constructs itself out of the air. It stretches its alloy-plated wings and gives a shrill call before titling its head to the group.

Meanwhile, Crownsguard claps, “Proper nomenclature requires that I call this agent: Owl. However, in the spirit of creative ideology, I will name it: Quill 2. Other names include, Metal Quill, Cooler Quill, and Metal Quill Rex. I am unsure of the reasoning for the final name.”

"your reasoning may be unsure, but that last one is a solid name. It has my vote."

Halani and her retinue are dressed in warm clothes that they managed to manufacture from their slain yakfolk masters. Though the dwarves had no clothes that fit them, they were kind enough to supply them with boots. 

Halani leads you into the frozen forest, two elves traveling in front of her and two in back. The elves in front carry lanterns taken from the yakfolk for when you are under the forest canopy. Sure enough, just like Halani predicted, there are literal tunnels through the snow, sometimes as high as twenty feet, where the snow has gathered and crystalized, supported by the thick and massive pine trees. It's like entering a system of caves, rather than a forest—the only sign of the woodlands is the frozen forest floor that crunches under your feet.

// Ink and Crownsguard have elected to travel with the elves on the ground and maintain telepathic connections with their birds. We need at least two people controlling the airship, unless you'd just rather tether it somewhere nearby. Who wants to be with the airship, and who wants to walk? //

Marav will stay in the ship. 

matrix will walk

With the airship being coaxed through the frigid, but still, evening air, Matrix and Ayaci fly alongside ... ahem... Metal Quill Rex ... as Quill flies down below, brushing the snowcapped treetops in an effort to stay close enough with Ink to maintain the telepathic link.

Meanwhile, the traveling group beneath the snow is able to make good time over the frost-covered forest floor. The snow around you deadens sound, making the lack of echoes a little unnerving. Each rustle of gear, each footfall, disappears into the crystalline walls around you. 

Hours pass, but underneath the snow, it's hard to tell exactly how much time.

 Above the snow, the sun sets and the stars appear in the winter sky. Selûne, waning gibbous, provides just enough light to navigate by; and your owl friends' eyesight helps, of course. Off in the distance, Aya and Marav hear what sounds like a deep and awful roar, coming from direction of the Evermoors, miles to the west.  

Eventually, the party on foot reaches a wide opening in the tunnel. An icy waterfall, which is beautifully half frozen, trickles down into a deep pond. Here you can see glimpses of the night sky breaking through the forest canopy. The tree boughs here sag towards the waterfall, under the weight of the snow. All is still and quiet, save for the gentle rivulets running from the top of the frozen waterfall. 

"This is it. Our rendezvous point. My people watch over this spot, so a patrol should be along within a number of hours to bring us to our tribe," says the princess Halani. "We can rest here, if you don't mind the brief delay in your quest to rescue your friend."

"Very well," Ink responds. "While we wait, there's no need to lack comfort or extra security."

Ink pulls his spell book from its secure location beneath his armor and sets about performing a ritual. Upon its completion, a tiny hut appears surrounding Halani, her retinue, Matrix and Crownsguard.

He sends a message to Quill asking her to start poking around the canopy and near the waterfall for points weak points in the ice that could be exploited by Marav, or... Metal Quill Rex...

He muses aloud, turning to Crownsguard, "Metal Quill Rex?" 

Crownsguard shrugs, “The name struck me. I believe I read a similar name once in a story about a talking snake. Something ate the snake. I believe it was intended to be a sad story, but I did not understand it.”

Metal Quill Rex is going to be scouting out the area.

"Seems that the snake wasn't solid enough in its abilities and strengths if it allowed itself to get eaten," Ink replies. 

Crownsguard nods, “I agree. However. The snake did not die. It lost half of its body and experienced phantom pains for the remainder of its life. Literature has greatly darkened over the past few hundred years.”

Halani and her followers all sit to meditate and rest in the Ink's Tiny Hut. Though a tight fit for all, it is a welcome relief from the biting cold. 

With no need for a campfire, and the ease of transport between ship and ground here in this particular location, you are all able to benefit from a good night's rest. 

// If there's anything you want to take care of prior to taking a long rest, just let me know. Otherwise we can proceed with the long rest and we'll get you on your way! //

Ink and Quill will stay vigilant either leading or helping the dutywatch, with Ink helping below and Quill above. 

// Not sure of the timing here or the time of day; if it's just a short rest until the Moonwood patrol arrives, then, the above stays as-is. If this turns into a long rest, then Ink will ask that he be allowed to rest during the final watch shift (he only needs four hours of rest, plus an hour for spell preparation during which he'll be awake). While Ink rests and prepares his spells, Quill will be in her pocket dimension resting, as well. 

(per Discord chat)

Ayaci is able to swing down on a strong rope and anchor the floating airship to a nearby tree, if she wishes, so that those aboard the ship don't have to monitor the rudder while taking turns on watch & resting.

The elves take Ink's lead, and each of them will take turns keeping watch over the camp if needed. This is done over the course of a long rest.

At Night's End, right before dawn, half a dozen elven scouts appear over the edge of the waterfall. So silent and stealthy was their arrival, they could have ambushed you if they were hostile. Instead, they announce themselves. They greet the Princess Halani, and express that her parents will be overjoyed to have her returned to them.

After greeting each of the scouts in return and blessing them for their diligence, Halani once more thanks you all. "Would that I had anything of material value to offer you. You have avenged our tribe with your actions against the yikaria, and you have returned us safely to our beloved woods. I pray that the spirits of the forest will watch over you, brave heroes." 

"nobody deserves to be a slave, it was our honor to help. I hope in the future we can call upon you for aide if we should need"

Ink takes a formal bow, "We stumbled upon a wrong that we tried to correct - it was the right thing to do. No thanks are required, but it is an honor to receive the blessings of the Princess of the Moonwood - this is a moment to be cherished."

Ink looks around the snowy forest, taking in the natural beauty, then saying, "My family line has long lived away from the forests of our ancestors, but being here pulls on a long forgotten part of my soul."