Tree Lords V

[Breila]

If there is any hole in the barn's wall that allows Babushka to watch the goings-on in the village, she will do so.

[Jenara]

Locky beams and gives Thuskar's arm a little squeeze. "Thanks to Paladine." Her head low She bounces up to Jerrard and hugs him. "I'm glad you are ok."

Her ears prick up at the sound of the guards, "I'm coming too Imani, remember." She says in a voice that isn't quite hers.

[Jerrard]

Breathing a sigh of relief Jerrard hugs the Kender back, before approaching Malkia, "My dear, we did not mean to leave you." he says with a frown. "Once we get out of this, we will move on.."

[HorizonsDream]

"There are six of them," Imani says as she backs away from the door. "I don't think jumping them is going to work out in our favor at this point."

[Jenara]

"Well no, we have no idea what's going on." Locky responds, her hand on her medalion. "Lets see what they want."

[JadedDM]

Hayloft
Babushka does find a loose board in the wall up in the hayloft, and manages to move it aside so she can look down at the road next to the building.

She watches as elves walk by, going about their days. They don't appear oppressed or upset; indeed, they seem very happy and peaceful. If she hadn't known any better, she'd never guess there were draconians running around kidnapping people. Elves smile and speak casually to each other, waving to each other, and so forth as they pass each other by.

Dungeon
The bozaks arrive and unlock and open the door. "Come along," says the first. "The Lord and Lady will see you now."

"Better behave, too," warns a second one, "if you want to get any food and water today."

The six draconians are all bozaks, armed with long swords.

[HorizonsDream]

Imani motions for everyone to follow her as she joins the bozaks.

[Jenara]

Locky goes to speak, but instead she moves behind Imani, her hand reaching out for the woman.

[Jerrard]

Jerrard keeps his eyes on the Bozaks and stands next to Malika, he moves as Imani does.

[JadedDM]

"Not her," the first bozak says, holding up a hand to stop Malika. "She's already been questioned. The rest of you, let's go."

Malika pauses, then steps back, remaining in the cell.

[Jerrard]

Jerrard reluctantly moves away from Malika, he thinks of arguing, but halts, moving instead with the others.

[HorizonsDream]

Imani allows Locky to hold her hand for the time being as she walks along with the bozaks. "What is all of this about?" she asks curiously. "How can you live in a village full of elves without being recognized?"

[JadedDM]

"Never you mind that," the bozak replies, ushering the group--sans Malika--down a stone hallway, and up the stairs. The draconains refuse to answer any further questions.

Once back on the ground floor, they are escorted to see the lord and lady. On the way, they pass by a large, ornate door guarded by four white robed Silvanesti mages. Should any of the party try and stop to linger here, they will be forcefully pushed forward to continue.

They are brought deeper into the tower, and eventually reach a large throne room. Inside are eight Baaz, six more Bozaks, two more white-robed Silvanesti mages, and of course, sitting on the two crystal thrones, are presumably the lord and lady Jadestone.

Both are downright gorgeous elves dressed in the finest clothes and wearing emerald amulets. The male has brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, while the female has long blonde hair and wears a tiara. Both have remarkably green eyes.

Lord and Lady Jadestone.jpg (112.69 KiB) Viewed 7465 times

The bozaks who brought the party here, push them down on their shoulders so they are forced to kneel. "Get on your knees, you are before royalty," one insists. Any who resist will be struck from behind, physically forcing them down.

Once the party is kneeling, the draconians will bow, as well, but they remain on their feet, keeping an eye on the party. The other draconians that were already in the room, as well as the two mages and the lord and lady, likewise watch the party carefully.

"So these are the trespassers?" the lord asks in Common. "Four more humans, a kender, and a dwarf. Dark times for such foreigners to brazenly walk our lands," he comments, looking disquieted.

"Speak," the lady demands. "For whom do you work for? What nefarious purpose do you hope to accomplish in these peaceful lands?"

Meanwhile, up in the hayloft, Babushka sits alone, watching the villagers walk by from her vantage point behind a loose board. It's then she notices something unusual--three elves, all wearing heavy green cloaks, the hoods pulled down to cover their faces. They nod in greeting to any villagers they see, but they seem intent on avoiding them whenever possible.

The three come to a stop outside the building Babushka is hiding in. Two look around, as if keeping an eye out, while the third squats down and examines a footprint in the mud. It's small, and Babushka realizes it may be her own. The squatting elf says something softly to the others in elven, then points to the building Babushka is hiding in. The other two nod quietly.

[Jerrard]

Jerrard waits for Imani to speak, they had agreed that she would speak for them.

[HorizonsDream]

Imani looks up to the elven lord and lady, as if she was trying to study them. "My lady," she says politely. "We do not have a nefarious purpose in your lands. We are only trying to get out of your lands, but our movement has been slow," Imani says. "And we have even lost some of our group due to the many dangers of this forest, one of who you actually captured yourself."