A Spring Court Quest

This adventure takes place on the Wedding day of Trenric, in Archimima and in Wandering Meadows of the Fae Brightlands.   Trenric wakes up on the morning of his and Yara's wedding. The couple goes out to the market for some shopping and Yara splits off for work. Rond who is nearby and the best friend of Trenric joins him in walking outside the walls to visit the traveling menagerie.   The pair arrive and meet the intrepid showman, Gavin Desantis, who approaches the party with a request that he’s willing to make well worth their while—for 3000gp, would they be willing to do him the small favor of traveling to the Fae Brightlands? Gavin specializes in exotic animals and their acquisition and display for his menagerie. He simply must, for this year’s tour, acquire the rare yet adorable pseudocorn. He’ll happily send his homunculus friend and business partner Squig along to assist. After Speaking with Desantis for a moment its revealed he was banned from returning to the Brightlands   The trapper of fantastical creatures explains that under any other circumstances, he would go and secure the creature himself, but his most recent trip to the Brightlands set him on the wrong side of a certain Queen of the Spring Court and he is, for the time being, persona non grata. If the party insists, Gavin demurs further and claims that a certain misunderstanding with a group of Satyresses was blown completely out of proportion and, as soon as he’s able, he’ll make things right with Queen Amaryllis. But for now, will the party help? he jingles a sack of 500gp in front of them, the weight of the bag nearly causing it to burst. Trenric accepts and desantis   After finally convincing the party to take on the mission, Gavin explains that in order to pass over to the Brightlands, they will need to venture into the forest and find a faery ring. They’ll know they’ve found it when they spy a 5-6 ft. diameter circle of perfectly white toadstools. Gavin requests to take Squig along with them to aid their search. Lastly, the trapper advises that the easiest way to find a faery ring is to not be looking for one. The Pair look around the menagerie and see all the different exotic animals. Trenric being a druid speaks to each of the animals to make sure they are being treated properly. The animals all seem very content with their situation as most of them roam inside fenced-off areas, the one exception being a lion in a cage. when speaking with the lion Trenric is visibly concerned he is being mistreated but speaking further with the lion he is in there for a good reason.   Before heading blindly into the woods the pair visits Jacoby in order to ask him if he knows where they can find this ring. Jacoby points them in a general direction but due to the mysterious nature of the fey rings, he cannot tell you a specific spot. The two leave town and head in the direction Jacoby told them about. About an hour in they stumble upon a ring of bright red mushrooms who then clears their throats before beginning to sing. During the song complex scents of the Brightlands filter through their nostrils and colors start to distort. They must be getting close to a faery ring! Coming upon the Faery ring, Squig explains that to pass into the Brightlands, they must stand in the center of the ring, pour a draft of spirits onto the ground, and then spin to the left in three full circles.   Though they are still in the forest is now remarkably different Rather than rustling together on the breeze, each tree moves its leaves independently, whispering to its fellows. The faces of flowers turn up to stare at the party as they pass by, swaying gently to observe them as they continue on their way. The bushes in front of the party bristle and Trish, a skiouro (squirrel-person), bursts from behind a nearby bush, shakes a few clinging pink flowers from her fur, and excitedly chatters a welcome to the Brightlands. On behalf of Queen Amaryllis’s court, she’ll be their guide! Trish continues, the queen is hosting a great festival in two days’ time! She’s hidden magical orbs all around the Brightlands and has invited any in her realm who wish to attend the opportunity to hunt for the orbs to bring to her as a gift! There are two different types of orbs—flora and fauna—and six of each type. If the party finds six of either type, Trish is almost positive that Queen Amaryllis will be so impressed that she rewards them with one of the Spring Court’s most treasured companions, a pseudocorn! They’re like fae unicorns, only smaller, cuter, and better!   Trenric casts detect magic and the group quickly finds many of these Fae Orbs. During the search, the party hears splashing and light laughter from a pool ahead. Investigating they find some stunning, beautiful nymphs having a water fight. Trenric and Rond quickly avert their eyes and offer apologies however Squib stricken with blindness as he did not look away. Gathering the last of the Orbs the party begins to make their way to the Queen's court. They pass through hallways dripping with thick green vines, flowers glowing beneath their feet, as they wind their way toward a massive tree in pink flower, with double doors thrown wide open at its base. Along the pathways, creatures walk arm-in-arm or stand with heads leaned on shoulders. There’s a spark of romance in the air. A riot of joyous sound greets the adventurers as they step into the tree’s central hall. Bioluminescent flowers shine across every surface and the clothing of many of the daemon wolves, ursine bears, and the skiouro squirrels (who are very impressed to see Trish lead you into the hall). The music reaches its crescendo, holds its breath, and then finds resolution as Queen Amaryllis sweeps into the hall. The queen’s bright green skin glows against her gown made from every pink, blush, and magenta flower of her realm. Strands of lavender and violet blossoms wind through her long, basil-green braid. A winged periwinkle horse with tiny floral antlers flaps just over Queen Amaryllis’s shoulder. Its hazel green eyes meet yours, and it whinnies in delight. “That’s a pseudocorn,” Trish whispers. Queen Amaryllis waves her arms, and murmurs rise and fall in waves around you. Everyone gathers their orbs to their laps. The queen claps her hands together, and explosions of light burst across the grand hall—the orbs are hatching! After a brief series of gifts from her subjects, Queen Amaryllis calls for the newcomers to pay their respects and bring her their presents. The party has the immediate sense that flattery would beappropriate in this situation as well. Pray tell, the queen asks, how have they found their time in the Brightlands? Don’t they find her realm to be the most beautiful of the four? If they present three or more fae friends, the queen sits back, impressed, and asks what they wish to be rewarded with from the myriad treasures of her realm.   The queen is happy to grant the party a pseudocorn when Trenric requests it. Her eyes sparkle as she directs the winged creature beside her to bless the travels of the daring adventurers and welcomes the party and the pseudocorn to return to visit her at any time. The pseudocorn whinnies once more and licks the PC’s cheek. Tiny motes of light and glitter fall from its faery wings. Trish guides them out of the hall and goes to great lengths to stress how special a pseudocorn is and how it will now be bonded with Trenric and it will become quite sad if given away. The Party bids Trish a farewell and returns to their plane. The party finds Desantis and instead of giving him the pseudocorn the queen gifted Trenric gives him one of the Fae Orbs and explains with this orb you have a chance for it to hatch into a pseudocorn and it's his only way of obtaining one. Desantis seems satisfied and rewards Trenric with what he promised 3000 Gp.   Back just in time for the wedding in the late evening the groom gets his suite and things together and heads to the temple. The wedding is a major event in the City of Archimima everyone attended. The Temple was decorated with a plethora of plants almost similar to how the queen's court looked. flowers in bloom everywhere and the pseudocorn dancing around the room with its glittering wings. Yara enters in her beautiful blue gown and the ceremony is relatively quick, they kiss and most everyone heads to the Tavern for a great night.