IC III

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus

"So those ogres were up to no good after all? Newton - we might need to track them down. If I may ask, what does Percula look like...so that we can readily identify her when the time comes?"

[shaidar]

Newton

"Ogres aren't particularly known for covering their tracks, let's just hope the odd weather of this place doesn't make it too difficult"

[Rex]

Shmara

"I don't recall seeing anyone except Ogres in that group."

[thirdkingdom]

Moth

The herald licks his lips, tongue flicking in and out with disconcerting speed. "Come with me," he says, "Lord Mereldan will want to speak with you. You too, Tangleblossom."

[VonAlric]

Gardo

"So, those ogres may have taken some young woman? That sounds like enough reason for me to have a talk with them. Especially when I'm awake and readied." Gardo looks to the new guide. "Please, lead the way. I feel things will get entertaining."

Gardo looks to Feargus as they move onward. "It was probably a good thing I was so sleepy when those ogres showed up. As they left, I had half a thought to rush and attack them but then I realized I was still a bit undressed for that. Wouldn't have been the best thing to do. Granted, I started to move but Wulfka kicked me and made me realize that sitting there was the best thing."

[kalstone]

Svenn

"They have a fairly large head start on us at this point. We should meet with this Lord, then leave as soon as possible."

[Rex]

Shmara

"Agreed, we need to meet with the Lord and make a binding deal first."

[thirdkingdom]

The adventurers are led through the streets of Meraldan by the herald Moth, to the tower of blue stone they had seen from outside the community. Up close, they see it is built not of stone but of fused, semi-translucent blue glass. A pair of massive doors woven from what looks like living vines are opened by a pair of elfin guards, and the adventurers are led inside. At a brief glance the tower seemed to be a mere forty or so feet in diameter, but once inside it is clearly larger on the inside than the outside, through some manner of artifice or esoterica.

A long, blue velvet carpet stretchs down the center of an enormous hall, with a high, vaulted ceiling, lit by filtered blue light through the walls. A number of individuals are clustered along the sidewalls, talking quietly amongst each other. They fall silent as the group is led in, and Moth steps forward and addresses a figures seated at the far end of the hall, in a seat of what looks to be a single piece of green glass. "My Lord Meraldan, the eladrin Whifflespice Tangleblossom, son of . . ." and here the herald's voice falters slightly, "Prince Nacknosh, and his mortal companions. Tangleblossom swears that neither he nor his father had a hand in the kidnapping of daughter."

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus

Feargus whispers to Gardo, "You know, Whifflespice really doesn't share much resemblance with his father..."

He feels a kick at the back of his boot. Turning around he sees Mardan Cy's eyes imploring him to keep quiet. Feargus smirks and turns back to Lord Meraldan.

[shaidar]

Newton does his best to ensure his entourage looks suitably deferential to Lord Meraldan.

[Rex]

Shmara

Waits to hear what the others have to say.

[Atlictoatl]

Whifflespice Tangleblossom

Tangleblossom sketches the most skillful obeisance he knows.

"This is solemn truth, Lord Meraldan. Prince Nacknosh has been entirely occupied with entrapping these wayward Men, and I with keeping them from his table. I finally convinced him that their lives would be better served in reversing the ignominy I have earned in pursuit of his desire that I win your daughter's hand, by entertaining your court with feats of strength, endurance, and wit. He holds their vassals and steeds as collateral against our success."

"We first learned of Percula's abduction yesterday morning, tidings of a baryga. This very morning, we crossed paths with a group of nine Faunts on the outskirts of your territory, who seemed quite pleased with themselves. I would propose that giving the chase to them might reveal the location of your stolen kin."

[thirdkingdom]

Whifflespice Tangleblossom

Tangleblossom sketches the most skillful obeisance he knows.

"This is solemn truth, Lord Meraldan. Prince Nacknosh has been entirely occupied with entrapping these wayward Men, and I with keeping them from his table. I finally convinced him that their lives would be better served in reversing the ignominy I have earned in pursuit of his desire that I win your daughter's hand, by entertaining your court with feats of strength, endurance, and wit. He holds their vassals and steeds as collateral against our success."

"We first learned of Percula's abduction yesterday morning, tidings of a baryga. This very morning, we crossed paths with a group of nine Faunts on the outskirts of your territory, who seemed quite pleased with themselves. I would propose that giving the chase to them might reveal the location of your stolen kin."

Lord Meraldan stands and slowly walks towards the adventurers. It seems as though he covers the scores of yards in but a heartbeat, for he is within a dozen feet of seemingly instantly. After the size and barbaric crudeness of Nacknosh Meraldan is almost a disappointment. He is no taller than average, no handsomer than average, and dressed no more fancily than a semi-prosperous merchant. That being said, no semi-prosperous merchant ever wore breeches and a shirt made from what appears to be living silkworms, continuously excreting raw silk and making and remaking the garments. Also, no semi-prosperous merchant radiated heat like a house-fire, nor had eyes the color of molten gold.

"I already know where Percula is," he says, his voice as soft as a gentle breeze on a summer's day, "she has been taken to the castle of the Earl, in the middle of the Lonely Woods. Those faunts you encountered must have been the self-same ones that delivered me a message." He gestures to a table beside him, which the adventurers could swear was not there before. Upon the table is a mass of hair, the ends cruelly hacked off as if with a knife. The locks are a good five feet in length, and the color of cornsilk. He sits down in the massive oaken chair that is naturally on the other side of the table. "I will provide you each with a feresochi, to hasten your journey, and a guide." Meraldan waves his hand and a nervous faun steps out of the crowd of courtesans. "Bring me Percula back and I will give you my blessing, Tangleblossom."

[VonAlric]

Gardo

Upon hearing Lord Meraldan's offer of assistance, Gardo gives a small bow. "My thanks to you, Lord. Even though I do not have an offspring, I feel that her being taken is wearying to you. We shall do what we can to alleviate this. Were there any demands or threats that were delivered by those brutes?"

[Rex]

Shmara

"Yes, any information at all you can give us would help."

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus

"...also, what does she look like? And do you know what kind of resistance we may face?"

[thirdkingdom]

Feargus

"...also, what does she look like? And do you know what kind of resistance we may face?"

Lord Meraldan\

"Oh, Percula is a sunflower on a hot summer's day. Her hair is . . . was, like cornsilk", Meraldan's fiery eyes grow murderously cold, "she is lithe and cheerful. Tangleblossom here will no doubt be able to fill you in on the details. As to resistance? The earl is an upstart. A fancy man, who disguises a murderer's heart behind curly locks, rouged cheeks, and velvet and lace. He will just as soon stab you in the kidneys as share a joke. His faunts, his bully-boys, are jumped up ogres with deluded senses of grandeur. They shouldn't be much of a challenge to the likes of you."

[Atlictoatl]

Whifflespice Tangleblossom

"How was she taken, Lord Meraldan?" Tangleblossom asks. "I should think a few ogres would be no meaningful challenge for her."

[thirdkingdom]

Whifflespice Tangleblossom

"How was she taken, Lord Meraldan?" Tangleblossom asks. "I should think a few ogres would be no meaningful challenge for her."

Meraldan

"Treachery!" Meraldan's voice echoes off the high ceiling. "Base treachery!" Tangleblossom hears an edge to the Faery Lord's voice he has rarely heard, and knows Meraldan is close to as far as he can be pushed. "She was lured into the Lonely Woods by one she thought a friend, and ambushed."

[Rex]

Shmara

"We will bring her back Lord Meraldan. That is agreed upon and you have my word."