Edgardo, Bob, Cad, and Ben:

The elation over Edgardo's win fades as the sober weight of Ben's news hits them.
Cad perception: 18
... The savvy old wizard indeed finds an eavesdropper – the gnome on the swing nearby is clearly and intently listening in to your conversation.


Matilda, Alyeira, and Horatio:
The trio continues to discuss their next steps. Burly the bugbear does not reappear, and the hedge wall is closed. (Alyeira knows she can open it; her own sleeping quarters is within.)

Cadwallader:

Cad spots the listener, but not until Ben has told them all about the hag. After fretting about Horatio's reaction if he learns of her, he holds up a finger to the others. "A moment, please." He turns to look at the gnome and says, "If you're going to listen in on our private conversation, you might as well come over and introduce yourself."

Edgardo, Bob, Cad, and Ben:

"So sorry!" replies the gnome as she hops off her swing hanging from the branch of a pear tree. She puts away her lute. "Ellywick Tumblestrum, humble traveler and bard." She gives a small bow. "You were all so merry a moment ago, and now you seem troubled and serious. I couldn't help but listen in. A thieving hag is it? How do you intend to defeat or outwit such a powerful entity? Or find it, for that matter?"

Bob visibly shudders at the mention of hags; he had heard tales, perhaps flights of fancy, about hags that dwelt within the Murkendraw that used to whisk children off for nefarious purposes.  When Ben mentions Bavlorna, he attempts to recall whether he had ever heard the name.

"If it's 'ags what got yer stuff, tis as good as gone," he says with a hint of pity.  "Ain't nowt good e'er come from a-seekin' those sort ou', trus' me."

A little taken aback by the appearance of Ellywick, Bob takes time to consider the problem presented to him.  "Strikes me that we need some form of tracking-machine," he muses.  "Perhaps, with a couple of upgrades old Dunstable here," he takes a moment to pat the small, clockwork bird on its head, "might be able to help locate this Bavlorna."

((Does Bob know Ellywick?))

Cadwallader:

"Now hold on, the both of you! This is a -- powerful person we're talking about. What makes you think we even want to find her, much less defeat her?"

The night is growing long; dawn is not too far off. You can see some of the Witchlight Hands trudging back toward the Big Top for the final show of the night.

 Edgardo, Bob, Cad, and Ben:
Bob does not recognize the strange gnome; she does not appear to be a carnival hand. Nor does he recognize the name "Bavlorna".
"A tracking machine?" asks Ellywick Tumblestrum, raising an eyebrow and sitting down at the table with the four compatriots. She pulls her lute out again and casually strums a quiet chord. "Perhaps the hags should be left to their business and you to yours?"

Matilda, Alyeira, and Horatio:
The trio's conversation grows quiet. Burly the bugbear does not reappear; the hedge wall remains closed.

Bob looks back and forth despairingly between Ellywick and Ben.  "B-b-but if Ben has h-had something stolen.  Well, hadn't we best try an' get it back?" he asks, confusion in his voice.  "I mean, I assume you want to retrieve what you lost Ben."

His feathery hand scratches at his forehead.  Bob could not understand why anyone would not want to help someone in trouble, particularly if that person had something taken from them.  "'sides, seems like this 'ags bus'ness was ta get involved in others bus'ness.  If y'ask me."

Ben:

“The night moves on quickly—do we have time for a swan ride before the big top finale?  Perhaps as we circumnavigate the carnival we may see the swamp that was described to me,” suggests Ben.

Horatio: 

With neither replying, Horatio tries a different tack. He looks at the little girl directly. "By any chance did you lose your brother in the hall of illusions? If so, I think I know where he went."

 Edgardo, Bob, Cad, and Ben:

"No swamps here," replies the strange little bard. Looking out past the lights of the carnival, it does feel like the same dry, boring landscape of home, even in the brilliant starlight. (The lake seems new, as does the dragonfly pond, as well as the river that surrounds the carnival like a moat. How they appeared overnight is a complete mystery.)

"You really want to find Bavlorna's swamp? If I send you there, you have to promise to try to undo some of the damage caused by her cruelty. It will be very dangerous. But if you succeed, you'll be on your way to becoming heroes worthy of epic ballads..." She plays a bright, if twisted, note on her miniature lute.

Ben:

"You sound like you know a lot about her already, Master Tumblestrum, if you can get us to her swamp.  I only know what little I was told by the unicorns.  What can you tell us that might help us?  There are also others who came here tonight looking for lost people and items--perhaps if we all went together we would have a better chance," Ben says, losing interest in the Swan ride-amusing as it might be-given that their new acquaintance seems to know a more direct route.

Quote from VosBeyond >>

Horatio: 

With neither replying, Horatio tries a different tack. He looks at the little girl directly. "By any chance did you lose your brother in the hall of illusions? If so, I think I know where he went."

 ( Sorry, thought Horatio hdn't approached yet.)

Matildas eyes flashed, " Where?", she said forcefully.

"Follow me," says the mysterious gnome to Ben, before turning to the rest of the party. "And the rest of you as well, if you're looking to find what you're missing, and to right a wrong or two." She stands and again sheathes her little lute. "I did pay for your tickets, after all."

She begins to lead you past the swans and the lake and toward the Big Top. "The hag you seek, Bavlorna, lives in the Feywild, the Plane of Faerie" she explains as she walks. "In a domain called Prismeer, which is ruled by the archfey Zybilna, which happens to be this carnival’s patron. Although something has happened there that I do not understand."

As you approach the Big Top, you can see Matilda, Alyeira, and Horatio standing behind it.

"Anyone who sneaks into the carnival without a ticket is robbed of something precious. Whatever is stolen always finds its way to Prismeer.

"Zybilna used to insist on something called the Rule of Ownership, which is this: You must not steal from a friend, an enemy, or a stranger. To take something that doesn’t belong to you without the rightful owner’s permission is a crime and an unforgivable breach of etiquette.

"We're not in Prismeer, but this seems to be a mockery of that rule."

Cadwallader:

Cad catches Ben's arm as they follow the diminutive bard. "Come on now, Ben," he says in a low but urgent tone. "You can't seriously be thinking about following this... stranger into the Feywild? The Feywild, Ben! Who knows what dangers lurk there? I don't know what you've lost, but you've got a good life here! We can just go to the big finale, enjoy ourselves, and go back to sleep in our own beds!"

When it's clear Ben intends to follow the gnome Cad steps in front of her and puts his hands on his hips. "You! You say you paid for our tickets? Well here's a gold coin, and you can keep the change!" He flips a coin disdainfully at her. "There! We're all settled and I don't owe you anything! Honestly, asking us to go off into Faerie, taking on a hag -- why don't you go yourself, if you're so interested?"

Ben:

Carefully considering both Tumblestrum's words and Cad's warning, Ben waves over Matilda, Alyeira, and Horatio.  To Cad, he finally says carefully, "I'm not rightly sure still what it is that I lost, but I do know this--my life is good, but I have few if any to miss me when I am gone.  If I can take this opportunity to help those who have lost people they love and prevent others from suffering the same heartache, I will take it, whether I find what I myself lost or not."

"Maestro Tublestrum, what else can you tell us about the damage done by the hag's cruelty and how we might fix it, beyond perhaps finding who was stolen and restoring them to their family?  Oh, and thanks for the ticket.  I have had a wonderful night so far,"  says Ben respectfully.

Matilda leads the others toward Ben.

(OoC: apologies for not posting, it’s been a hectic week.)

Following Matilda over towards the others, Alyeira looks around curiously. “Is something wrong?”

The gnome named Tumblestrum continued walking unabated, stopping only to scoop up Cad's gold piece and put it in her pocket with a nod.

"There are things I can do and things I can't, things that I can say, and things that I cannot. And here's one more piece of information to give you pause: The trip I can send you on to Prismeer is one-way. Once you arrive, you must find your own way back."

Matilda leads Alyeira and Horatio to join the rest of the party.

Tumblestrum leads you toward the Hall of Illusions. You see a pair of customers enter ahead - a young gnome and a very large rabbit.

Horatio:

Seeing the others, Horatio tries to motion Matilda to gold back. He whispers, "They've been unhelpful all night. Too tied up in their own fun to care about what's happening here. If they see me try to enter the Hall of Illusions they'll watch like hawks. Best to let them go first, then make our way in once they've gone."

Cadwallader:

Cad gawps after Ben. Surely he can't mean to really go! He follows along, dumbfounded but not willing to let Ben and the others blindly follow this fool bard. Hearing her last warning he laughs with incredulity. "Find our own way back? Oh sure, I travel between the planes every other Tuesday!" Spotting Horatio lurking behind them he tries another tack. "Horatio! You've been saying all night that this place is dangerous. Surely you don't mean to let this vagabond send you off into the Feywild to fight the hag that has your--" It hits him midsentence: he hadn't wanted to tell Horatio about the hag. This Tumblestrum has got you all flustered! No, it's Ben following her that's addled your wits. Stolid, careful Ben!