>Collaboration done with [@Ms Ravenwinter][@corneredbliss]

>Both make their DEX saves.

Evlynne tumbled aside, one of the sanguine tendrils sweeping just short of her only to thrash at the air in vain. Once grasping her bearings, she squeezed at the arcane crystal dangling from her wrist as she reached out for her companion. Fingers clutched the druid's hide with urgency as Eve's eyes pleaded with her to flee. With a sweep of her hand, focus glowing faintly with magical energy, she forced a projection into being. Floating over, just out of reach of the reddened vines, was a still image of herself in a shocked stance, as if petrified. Only glimpsing back long enough to see the air bend into her image, Evlynne turned away and darted in the opposite direction. 

>Evy uses Minor Illusion and full movement to get the hell outta dodge.

Ynaxandra stared stoically up at the guard, unfamiliar yet recognizing an echo of herself in some past life. A mixture of resentment and hurt bubbled up in her gut, so distracting that the nudge at her arm might have caused her to jump were it not for the lack of energy to do so. With her eyes still on their new threat, she murmured back to the mage, [i]"What thing? I have no thing... Didn't exactly leave on good terms, remember?"[/i] She cleared her throat before answering the solder's question. [i]"We come in peace, seeking refuge from the forest."[/i]

Not exactly the most social of people, she gently nudged Evlynne back and muttered, [i]"Your turn. Be sweet, or something."[/i]

With a sigh, Evlynne responded by slipping a hand under the neck of her dress. Fiddling around as minimally as possible until she fished out an ornate brooch with her company's symbol emblazoned upon it; with the emblem affixed to a silver cord about her neck. Her hair tucked under the necklace as she removed it and raised it high toward the city wall. [i]"I'm an agent of the Harpers, not a beggar!"[/i]

[i]"Harpers, eh?"[/i] The bowstring slackened a tad, as undecipherable whispers pinched the sky's hot eye belching its radiance upon the frozen pair. [i]"Approach, please."[/i] The gates opened to allow a merchant's horse and its rider through, only to close soon after.  As the baker's carriage traveled by, he spoke plainly to the duo, "[i]Open travel is not allowed into the city after mid-day unless you possess the seal or documentation."[/i] He tapped his herald demonstrating he was one of many guilds within Waterdeep. His horse neighed, then headed south, away from the forest line.

>Yna recognizes this harsher protocol as well. It suggests something must have happened in the city or recently outside the city to cause the momentary lockdown. The smoke in the horizon clues her in.

Yna's eyebrows furrowed back up at the guard after spotting the smoke. [i]"What's happened?"[/i] she called up to him, momentarily forgetting her lack of position and speaking as a worried familiar.