Trials, Tribulation, and Treasure

The sun had just begun to cast its first golden rays upon the provincial dwarven outpost of Floatstone, at the edge of the mountains. Within the quiet marketplace, Rhidon Axehorn, a seasoned dwarven merchant and adventurer, proudly reviewed his heavily laden wagon. He had served both as lead negotiator and guards on this trip saving the merchant house quite a bit of money. Having finished selling off the imported goods and purchased the local specialty. A local stone the town was named after that had an unusual water affinity. The merchant house had sent a junior apprentice merchant, Korgan, to help out on this trip. Hopefully the last would me a better traveling companion on the return trip.

Just then, a distraught woman with tear-filled eyes approached Rhidon's wagon. Clutched tightly in her trembling hands was a faded, crumpled parchment. Rhidon recognized her as one of the local merchants for a small company that had sold him the floatstone. "Please," she implored, her voice quivering with emotion, "you must help me. My daughter, Elira, has been taken by the Crimson Crone. I've heard tales of your bravery and your knowledge of the world beyond. I beg you, Master Axehorn, find my child and bring her back!"

Rhidon's glanced at the parchment she held, recognizing it as a map of the nearby Enchanted swamp, a place he knew to be fraught with both beauty and danger. He exchanged a knowing look with his loyal, burly assistant, Korgan, who stood nearby.

The trickster is known as Flit or Fade, with fade having a darker nefarious conotation. She is known to enjoy prnaking and teasing those who wander the wilds of the area but usually does not harm those she torments. There are a few who claim, quelty and only in town, that fade has lured powerful beast of monsters to those who displease her. It seems that Flit thinks it all a game and hates poor sports who "cant take a joke" or "go too far" . Apparently the Crimson Crone and Flit despise each other and go out of their way to interfere in each other's buisness and pleasure.

Rassaerra Gravelmane, the merchant and mother of Elira, aranges for a cart to take you down the road, saving you a half days travel. The driver ends up being Kokkik Beastfoot, Elira's companion, and is a vetran scout but obviously terrified of the hag. Getting on in years he is a welthe of knowledge but obviously more skilled at avoiding and escaping trouble than handling it direclty.
Kokkik tells yo uwhat happend as you ride along the small and bumpy road
We were following a 'hunch' Elira had, she being a a bit gifted with divinations, and were checking out a new area. I've bee roaming the area around hear for year and should not have been anywhere near the Crimson Crones teritory. But there we are climbing down into this gully to look at a particular rock formation when sudenly the earth opens up and out steps the crone. Scared me to death. I bow and start appologizing, knowing her to have a nasty tempter, but she just strikes me with that staff of hers then does the same to Elira. I move to grab Elira but the crone turns to me and says She s mine now, be off before I feed you to my pets and drags Elira back into he hole that shuts tight.

After several hours Kokkik pulls the wagon over and waves up the hill side. The ravine is up theres a way. Just look for a small stream with two waterfalls. Follow that up the hill till you rach the spring then head east a bit and you should find the ravine. I marked it with the rune "AiR"

Though Kokkik does not seem to enjoy the fey he does prove quite knowledgable.and explains
Now to get Flit, the best way I know it to set up camp and cook some good food and have some drink on hand. Set an extra place with a cup of drink. Do that and she should show up. If you play games while you wait, either riddles or games of luck, she will b in a better mood and try to join the games. That should make her willing to hear you out. Pulling a small sack he hands it to you bfore turning the cart around Flit don't like me much so I will be leaving less you have something else yo uneed from me
In the sack is a leather cup with some dwarven dice, a pack of cards, a small bottle of some ale and the fixings of a decent meal.

Hiking up the hillside for well over an hour before coming to the stream you stop for lunch and fill your water skins with the cool refreshing water. Helping Krogan, who is more familiar in a tavern than with a campfire, you chat and start playing Grudge as you eat and wait for the fey.
Finishing a game, having trounced Krogan soundly, you reach to gather up the pieces to start again when you see a slender hand beat your to it.

This looks fun! Mind if I join? the small fey asks. The wild looking fey is about 2 feet tall and currently eating and drinking the food set aside for Flit.

Ridon manages to persuade the fey to "repay" he debt for the gaming experience by aiding him in his quest for the girl.
Ok, what's the plan and who is the target of these nefarious activities the small fey croons with a delighted and mischievous smirk. It wouldn't be the Crimson Crone now would it? That hag has no sense of humor let me warn you.