Well, we all gots (after $$$man) our upgrades down, so on with the adventure!
Right?
Sorry for the delay. Social drama.
The party travels until they come across a neigh-solid ring of trees. The shopkeep steps forward, and the trees move aside.
Welcome my children. I have been waiting for you.
"Praise be!" shouts the elf, dropping to one knee.
Arise my child, the Tree says with a warming grin, you have served me well.
I'm afraid I have grave news. News you do not understand. You cannot understand yet. I cannot trust you yet. Two of you assassins of death and darkness, one of you a devourer, one of you from my enemy, air, and all of you warriors. I cannot risk it yet. For I am threatened like I haven't been since the void. So I will ask you for protection. I hope you would except.
But I have another mission. Those to the south do not believe. I need the firefly king to listen.
"The firefly king?" asks the shopkeep.
Every queen has her king, as you'll understand soon enough. But the firefly king does not believe the return is at hand. So I will send two to bring him a message. Thrice, the most successful one, and Aira, the most likely to succeed. You will go see the firefly king. You will make him understand.
As for the rest of you, your pilgrimage will not be as far. The elven villages no longer to me. You will make them listen, one by one.
"But wait!" one of you shouts, "we came here to see the oracle!"
You mean me? OOOO hoo hoo hoo...
As you whirl around the oracle is gone, and you have a decision to make. Can you trust the tree?
