[IC] Chapter 2-4: You Hear Them Whispering in the Crowns of the Trees

[Shanna Rendin]

Mistletoe nods at Torin and Shanna.
"You can use divinations at my place but the rest of fancy magic, and espacially all kinds of arcane trickery, should be done beyond the boundaries of the Sheltering Oak. If you have no other questions then you may as well leave."

She looks at Cranberry who nods, showing the way to the party.
"Do you need escort to Koriolis' lair, or any other support from our side?"

Once outside, Portho addresses Cranberry,
"Elder, I get it that you lost your valuable minstrel in this case. If you don't mind, I would like to stay at your side so that I can learn about Crystal Grove, the community here, and serve as a minstrel for the time being. I've kind of-- well, lost the motivation to seek out my premature death."

The elderly woman raises her right eyebrow at this development of events but does not comment.

Shanna blinks, knowing that Cranberry could have simply told her what spells the walking-stick-wand would be able to cast...but supposes that would be far too easy and involve far too few possible tricks for a fey.

"Oh!...Well, really..."

She just shakes her head and shrugs, returning her focus to the walking-stick-wand and gazing at it.  Ever the student of her mistress, her eyes go slightly blank, briefly turning the color of her cornea, as she attempts to divine the nature of the magical item in her hand.  Magic was truly remarkable in oh so many ways that it was a wonder she had discovered it as she had.

((Detect Magic, Spellcraft))
Spellcraft: [1d20+17] = 7+17 = 24

Still, Shanna follows what the fey are saying and responds "You know the dragon far better than we.  You have had far more exposure to it.  Far more interaction with this one in particular.  Would we need escort under normal circumstances, or will it simply watch us approach for a time?"

Cranberry nods at the mention of food and drink.
"I shall see to it that you get that and a place to gather your thoughts undisturbed under the canopy of trees."

"As you wish," Portho replies to Giant, with a hint of disappointment glittering in his eyes.

The elderly woman then leads the party outside Mistletoe's place, back around the place where she first met the party, but instead of turning right from the treacherous path to her own place, she shows another path to the left, similarly slightly challenging to follow. Several creatures scatter at the party's approach, then return with small bags of food, water, and two wineskins of cider and ale each. As the party occupies the place, they can see four creatures standing guard at the edge of the small clearing. It is hard to tell whether they guard or ward those on the clearing, let alone how many may be hidden from mortal eyes.

Shanna spares a cursory look around the place and determines that this is likely both a defensive perimeter and a holding cell of sorts.  But are we being held here, for the moment, to protect ourselves or the fey?...