Lord Quinn I presume

Before setting out on our journey to Latebra Velora, we had one final piece of unfinished business to take care of. Our delayed audience with Lord Quinn and his Fey Court.
 
Admittedly, we should have done this a lot sooner. But as you have already learned, circumstances beyond our control had repeatedly kept us away from the district during the full moon. But with the full moon right in front of us, we all agreed to postpone our departure for a few more days in order to ensure we didn’t miss yet another opportunity.
 
On the first night when the moon was high, we set out for the abandoned church at the district’s edge. As a token of goodwill, Liliana had erven gathered the rarest and most exquisite flowers from her own garden. Each one carefully cultivated by her own hand.
 
As we approached the ruins, we could already hear music drifting through the night air. Accompanied by warm lights flickering from the windows of the church’s crumbling walls. But when we reached its old gate, our path was blocked by a large troll that seemingly materialized out of nowhere.
 
In broken common, he proceeded to explain that we were uninvited and therefore unwelcome to the party. But having finally made it here after so many delays, we weren’t about to turn back with our tails behind our backs. So, we politely explained that we had simple come to pay our respects to Lord Quinn, ruler of the local Fey Court. And that we harboured no ill intentions towards him or his people.
 
The troll considered our words for a few moment before eventually relenting and allowing us to pass. On the condition of course that we left our weapons behind as he pointed towards an old fountain beside him. I hesitated. As leaving my weapon behind in a Fey stronghold felt like a bit of a risk. But as we were there to build goodwill we didn’t really have a choice. After all, trust is a two way street. So, one by one, we each placed our weapons in the fountain. With the troll assuring us they would be returned upon our departure. Granted I did feel a bit naked without my bow. And not in a fun way.
 
It probably won’t come as to much of a surprise that we weren’t exactly greeted with open arms. Something that was quite obvious as when we stepped through the gate, the music immediately stopped. And out of the corner of my eye, I could just barely see several small Fey, Quicklings and Meenlocks, scattering into the shadows.
 
Eventually, one of the Quicklings stepped forward and introduced himself as Genlamin, Lord Quinn’s Majordomo. With a polite but measured tone, he welcomed us to the court. We politely thanked him and explained that we had come to introduce ourselves and pay our respects to Lord Quinn in the hopes of establishing a peaceful relationship between ourselves.
 
Amused, Genlamin told us that while he was pleased we hadn’t come to cause trouble, he simply couldn’t allow us to meet Lord Quinn. At least not without proving ourselves first. With little alternatives available to us, we agreed to his terms.
 
Clapping his hands together, he led us to a small clearing where a pile of stones sat in a neat stack. He then proceeded to point to a nearby Fey standing at the clearing’s edge and instructed us to throw a stone at them. Naturally, Allistan hesitated a bit at this, asking him why he would ask us to do such a thing. Genlamin simply replied, rather matter of factly, “Because it will be funny.”
 
With little other choice, Allistan reluctantly picked up one of the stones. But sensing some form of Fey trickery at play, I decided to step forward and proposed that I would to take the poor Fey’s place.
 
Intrigued, Genlamin tilted his head and asked why I would do that. To which I simple replied, “Because it will be funny”.
 
With a twisted smile, he allowed it. Now mind you, I had no idea what he had planned. All that I knew for certain was that whatever it was, it would be best for us if it did not go as he intended. So when Allistan asked if I was sure, all I could say to assure was, "It’ll be fine," as I took my position.
 
The good news was that I was right, Genlamin had planned something. The bad news was that I was right. Which I painfully learned when the rock that Allistan threw transformed midair into a dagger. A dagger which then embedded itself deep into my shoulder.
 
Genlamin immediately shouted betrayal and urged the nearby Fey to attack, claiming that we had come to destroy them all. But because we had thrown a dagger into his plan, we were eventually able to reason with them. Afterall, If we had come to attack them, why would I then put myself in harm’s way?
 
Reluctantly, Genlamin conceded that it had most likely all been one big misunderstanding. and proposed that we simple proceeded with the second challenge, a test of intelligence. However, only one of us would be allowed to take it.
 
After a brief discussion, the choice came down to either Hayley or Luke. Both were strong candidates, but in the end, Hayley made the call by stating that "Luke should do it."
 
Full with his usual, and rightfully deserved, confidence, Luke stepped forward towards Genlamin. Who clapped once more into his hands, causing three doors to appear in front of Luke.
 
He then explained, "To pass, you must choose a door and walk through it. If you live, then you win. But beware, for behind each door lies mortal danger. The first leads to a pool of lava. The second to a cage filled with hungry lions that haven’t eaten in five years. And the last would drop you into a pool of alligators. Now choose."
 
I let out a quiet sigh of relief. For I had once heard a similar one. So I was certain that Luke would be able to solve it.
 
But just as he reached for the middle door, he started to hesitate. His gaze going from one door to the next. To our horror, it seemed that Luke had fallen into the most dangerous trap one could encounter when solving a riddle. He started to overthink it. I held my breath as he started to reach for the first door, before eventually turning and opening the second door.
 
Naturally, the lions were no threat to him. As they had starved to death long ago. But to be fair to Luke, given the number of undead creatures we had encountered in our recent travels, I could understand his hesitation.
 
With both challenges passed, Genlamin declared that we had proven our worth. And were thus allowed to finally have an audience with Lord Quinn.
 
As we entered the temple’s, seemingly abandoned, courtyard, I quickly noticed we were in fact not alone. Several redcaps were lurking in the bushes. A most unsettling sight, given our past encounters with their like. But what caught my attention most were the three large stones standing dead centre of the courtyard. Something about them just felt off. And I had a strong suspicion that they weren’t just ordinary stones, but rather Fey in disguise.
 
But as for Lord Quinn himself? There was no sign of him.
 
With little other choice, I did the only thing I could think of. Bowing deeply, I addressed the room at large, stating that we had come to offer our greetings to Lord Quinn.
 
Without missing a beat, one of the stones started to shift and transform before our very eyes. Revealing our most illustrious host.
 
"I am Lord Quinn," he announced, his voice smooth yet unreadable. "And I wonder, may I have you names?"
 
Before any of us could answer, Hayley, trusting in her keen insight, swiftly interjected, "You may address us by our names, but you may not have them."
 
A wise move. As names held power and she had just prevented him from using ours against us.
 
Though he masked it well, I could see a flicker of disappointment in Lord Quinn’s expression. Nonetheless, he moved on. "What brings you here?"
 
Not letting any disappointment mar face, he proceeded to ask us why we had come to disturb his feast.
 
We explained that we had come simple to meet him and show our respects. In the hopes of seeking a peaceful bond between our people and realms.
 
He seemed genuinely taken aback.
 
"You mean to say you did not come here to make war?" he mused, his tone tinged with surprise. "I must confess, I expected quite the opposite. Given your past dealings with my kin."
 
That was a fair barb. As, as you know, our previous encounters with Fey hadn’t always gone smoothly.
 
Still, he seemed pleased, perhaps even a bit impressed by the respect we had shown him. With a single motion, the music resumed, and the hidden Fey emerged from the shadows.
 
"Then let us celebrate," Lord Quinn declared. "For tonight, you shall be my honoured guests."
 
We accepted his invitation and joined in the revelry, dancing beneath the moonlight until the first rays of dawn. When the court, like a dream, vanished with the night.