The ticket goblin shrugs and accepts Benjamin's money, and then Horatio's. "Suit yourself! Suit yourself! Come back after your eighth punch," he adds dismissively, before attending to new arrivals. (3 silver for Ben; 12 for Horatio.)
Cad examines his new wings. He doesn't specifically recall wearing wings last time, but then he doesn't remember much at all about his last visit. It was almost as if it were a surreal dream he just remembers a few scraps of.
The old goblin looks at Bob. Perhaps sensing that the group may split up more, he points a thumb at the party. "Extra help!" he says. While Bob doesn't usually work security, he knows Nikolas' signal. He wants Bob to join Colin and keep an eye on the group ...just in case they cause trouble.
The push of the crowd moves the whole party deeper into the carnival, next to the calliope. A merry tune spills forth from an instrument on the back of a brightly painted wagon. A monkey wearing a cloak covered with buttons turns a handle at the wagon’s rear, sending music into the air from rows of golden whistles. As you watch, a goblin dressed as a ladybug toddles up to you, rattling a tin cup.
"Extra help!" Bob knew he shouldn't have mimicked Nikolas but it came so naturally to him. Avoiding what he assumed was the resulting glare, he grabs Primrose to the side. "Oh boy!", he whispers a little too loudly, "surveillance, my dear Primrose. Most elementary."
Reaching into his large satchel, Bob pulls out a pair of large magnifying goggles; he pops them over his break, they are incredibly ill-fitting. If I am to properly monitor these malfeasants I need to blend into the background. With my dearest Primrose at my side, I shall easily see an end to any tomfoolery or jackanapes.
"Let us off, sweet Primrose,"Bob declares, "I tire of this locale." He proceeds to give Nikolas an overt wink before heading off after Colin.
Grumbling a bit at their escort, Ben says, “It seems there are some strings attached to our free tickets,” as they are swept along with the crowd. He looks curiously at the ladybug goblin, wondering if a tip is required for the music.
Insight: 8
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Alyeira approaches the young human Nikolas had pointed at, bending down so the two came eye to eye. “Hello there.” She offers the girl a grin, which widens upon seeing the butterfly wings attached to her back. “You want to go to the Hall of Illusions?”
Cad smiles at the fearsome little mouse. "You be sure to keep a close eye on us villains. It's hard to say who's the most dangerous, the little girl there or the old graybeard." He laughs at his own joke, their ridiculous escort dispelling some of his anxiety. He plinks a silver into the goblin's cup -- Can't take it with you, after all! -- and asks the other craftsmen, "Is there food vendor on the way? I would enjoy one of those pastries -- what are they called? The ones where they dribble the batter into the fryer oil? Looks like a twisty pile of rope." He surreptitiously studies the fifth member of their troupe, the short, hooded figure. He can't place that one. Not that he knows the girl, but youngsters all seem to blend together to him now. But the other one, if they're from town, should be familiar.
Alyeira approaches the young human Nikolas had pointed at, bending down so the two came eye to eye. “Hello there.” She offers the girl a grin, which widens upon seeing the butterfly wings attached to her back. “You want to go to the Hall of Illusions?”
Matilda looked up, slightly dazzled by the glamorous Eladrin, though she immediately tried to cover it by replying gruffly, " Want is....I need to go there."
Almost unconciously she raised her hand for the woman to grasp as they moved off....
The sprightly goblin’s cup has no coins in it, Ben notices, but rather a handful of mismatched buttons rattling about. The monkey begins to sing a tune to the jolly melody he is cranking out of the calliope.
“Spare a button if you please, I’ll sew it next to all of these. I offer nothing in its place, Besides a smile upon my face.”
Still rattling her cup hopefully to the group, the goblin (dressed as a ladybug) extends her other hand to Horatio. “Dance!”
Cad’s nose identifies a snack stall further down the path (to the left of the Big Top) and although it does not smell like pastries, it does smell temptingly sweet.
Alyeira begins to lead Matilda in the general direction of the snack stalls. They pass a small stall showcasing a tiny red dragon fluttering about. “Prizes! Prizes! Prizes!” calls out the old woman in the stall. “Catch the faerie dragon by the tail and win a piece of its hoard!”
But the Lost Property booth, according to the map, is in the opposite direction.
Alyeira looks down at the young girl, absentmindedly swinging their interlocked hands as they pass the carnival stalls. Tebego limps behind the two, keeping a close eye on the Eladrin as if supervising her. A look of surprise crosses Alyeira’s face as she notices the girl's indifference to the dragon "Are you sure you don't want to play a few games? Normally that's all humans your age want to do."
She pauses for a few seconds, watching the tiny red reptile fluttering too and fro. "Oh! That reminds me. I never caught your name!"
Alyeira looks down at the young girl, absentmindedly swinging their interlocked hands as they pass the carnival stalls. Tebego limps behind the two, keeping a close eye on the Eladrin as if supervising her. A look of surprise crosses Alyeira’s face as she notices the girl's indifference to the dragon "Are you sure you don't want to play a few games? Normally that's all humans your age want to do."
She pauses for a few seconds, watching the tiny red reptile fluttering too and fro. "Oh! That reminds me. I never caught your name!"
" Matilda. You are Alyeira. its a pretty name.", she said venturing a smile.
" I don't have time for games. i have to find my brother.", she said matter-of-factly.
Cad smiles at the fearsome little mouse. "You be sure to keep a close eye on us villains. It's hard to say who's the most dangerous, the little girl there or the old graybeard." He laughs at his own joke, their ridiculous escort dispelling some of his anxiety. He plinks a silver into the goblin's cup -- Can't take it with you, after all! -- and asks the other craftsmen, "Is there food vendor on the way? I would enjoy one of those pastries -- what are they called? The ones where they dribble the batter into the fryer oil? Looks like a twisty pile of rope." He surreptitiously studies the fifth member of their troupe, the short, hooded figure. He can't place that one. Not that he knows the girl, but youngsters all seem to blend together to him now. But the other one, if they're from town, should be familiar.
Colin's eyes narrow for a moment, but then his ears droop and he holds onto his tail a bit bashfully.
"I may - perhaps- be a bit out of sorts, and overzealous at the moment. I have been here for some time, and I can never shake the feeling that this place is more dangerous than it seems."
"Perhaps you are a good lot, but I would hesitate to judge anyone here by their appearance."
He begins to lead the group towards the Hall of Illusions, but passing by a food vendor on the way.
Wings? I need no wings! His disgust most likely evident on his face, albeit hidden by his hood. He snatches the wings and makes less than a half hearted attempt to fit them to his back. With the ticket paid for Edgardo moves rapidly to the front of the group and beyond. He darts from one side of the path to the other. Each time he approaches a new stall or stand he knocks twice on the timber frame - tap, tap - and then moves on. Anyone watching him closely, like a security mouse or a keen eyed leatherman, might notice his hood bulge in time with his knocking.
As the group nears the Big Top an involuntary shiver grips Edgardo to the point the poorly fitted wings start to fall from his right arm. In a flash he grabs at them but misses and the brightly coloured prop falls to the dirt. Without missing a step he scoops them up with a dexterous foot offering up another glimpse at grey fur, definitely fur, poking from the top of his boot. The chill fades as the group is guided away from the main tent.
"Take this down," Bob hisses to Primrose. She rolls her eyes and takes out a sheet of paper and a pencil. "Initial observations - the group seems polite and innocent enough," Bobs clears his throat before continuing. "However, one must always be prepared for the unexpected," he dips his feathery hand into his satchel. "'ere we go, wonderin' where I put 'im."
Bob withdraws a small, clockwork bird from his satchel, winds it up, and sets it on his shoulder. "Ne'er 'urts to 'ave another pair of eyes... especially when it comes ta espionage," he says by way of explanation to a very confused-looking Primrose. "Anyway, where was I. Oh boy! Yes, initial observations seem promising, however, one of the group - a young girl - appears to have misplaced her brother. Are shenanigans afoot? Could her brother, at this very second, be summoning forth a demonic army hell-bent on destroying the Carnival? Only time will tell."
Looking pleased with himself for spotting a potential threat, Bob grins at Primrose. "If there is any trouble, we'll be the first to know! OH BOY!" he declares proudly and with a little too much gusto.
(('Dunstable'- Bob's clockwork bird in the spoiler below))
”A button for a smile…not a barter one makes everyday, but why not?” thinks Ben. Expertly pulling out a very small blade from his tools, Ben frees his spare button from the tail of his shirt. Putting away the blade and moving towards the goblin, he drops the button into its cup and smiles himself, still feeling a bit embarrassed by the absurdness of it all.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Horatio, feeling clumsy and embarrassed that he cannot give any buttons, slinks behind the others. Something about this place, being here again, fills him with insecurity. He had been angry for so long, but all around him were happy people doing happy things. He grips his fists.
Then why the escort? What do they fear us discovering?
Resolve melts away the insecurity as he adjusts the way he sees the people around him. The carnival goers are having fun, but likely the staff are just acting. The entry fee is a pittance for so many to share... what is the real cost of this place? The Goblin at the ticket booth, and now here another Goblin... He slinks closer to Cad (and anyone else who overhears).
"We shouldn't let them lead us. We need to go to the lost and found first."
He can tell by the mouse's wilted expression that his joke had hit harder than intended. "No, Sir Mouse, the fault is mine. I shouldn't mock someone for being zealous in their duties, and while the carnival seems all fun and games to us, I'm sure you get a number of unsavory troublemakers looking to take advantage of strangers."
"We can wait on the treats; my friends here are anxious to get to the Lost Items tent. I'm Cadwallader, by the way -- Cad, to those who know me. May I ask for your name?"
Cad, Horatio, Edgardo, and Ben – escorted by Colin and Bob – make their way toward the Lost Property wagon.
“Strong folks!" calls out an overweight dwarf in a top hat from a small stall nearby. "Test your mettle in a goblin wrestle!” You can see two goblins in tights eyeing the crowd for challengers.
The giant walking tree and his squirrel companion lumber by. Spinning sycamore seeds rain down from the emerald clouds above. (DC10 Dexterity check to try and catch one.) The squirrel (whom Colin and Bob know as "Red") hands out dandelions to everyone who will take one. "Make a wish!" chitters the squirrel.
You can see the Lost Property wagon ahead. Outside is a large feline creature with midnight-blue fur. It has a pair of tentacles extending from its shoulders and wears fake butterfly wings. Hanging from its collar is a small wooden keg. The creature roughhouses with two young boys.
--
Meanwhile, Alyeira and Matilda are nearing the Hall of Illusions. (See post #34 above.)
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The ticket goblin shrugs and accepts Benjamin's money, and then Horatio's. "Suit yourself! Suit yourself! Come back after your eighth punch," he adds dismissively, before attending to new arrivals. (3 silver for Ben; 12 for Horatio.)
Cad examines his new wings. He doesn't specifically recall wearing wings last time, but then he doesn't remember much at all about his last visit. It was almost as if it were a surreal dream he just remembers a few scraps of.
The old goblin looks at Bob. Perhaps sensing that the group may split up more, he points a thumb at the party. "Extra help!" he says. While Bob doesn't usually work security, he knows Nikolas' signal. He wants Bob to join Colin and keep an eye on the group ...just in case they cause trouble.
The push of the crowd moves the whole party deeper into the carnival, next to the calliope. A merry tune spills forth from an instrument on the back of a brightly painted wagon. A monkey wearing a cloak covered with buttons turns a handle at the wagon’s rear, sending music into the air from rows of golden whistles. As you watch, a goblin dressed as a ladybug toddles up to you, rattling a tin cup.
Colin scowls at the newcomers and leaps forth. The tiny mouse let's out a sharp whistle to gather attention.
"Alright, you customers, time to move along. An escort will be provided, but you will stay together and be polite during your visit."
Coljn flourishes the red cloak and gives a tiny bow, his eyes never leaving you all. "I am Colin, and I will be watching over you."
Paladin - warforged - orange
"Extra help!" Bob knew he shouldn't have mimicked Nikolas but it came so naturally to him. Avoiding what he assumed was the resulting glare, he grabs Primrose to the side. "Oh boy!", he whispers a little too loudly, "surveillance, my dear Primrose. Most elementary."
Reaching into his large satchel, Bob pulls out a pair of large magnifying goggles; he pops them over his break, they are incredibly ill-fitting. If I am to properly monitor these malfeasants I need to blend into the background. With my dearest Primrose at my side, I shall easily see an end to any tomfoolery or jackanapes.
"Let us off, sweet Primrose," Bob declares, "I tire of this locale." He proceeds to give Nikolas an overt wink before heading off after Colin.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Ben:
Grumbling a bit at their escort, Ben says, “It seems there are some strings attached to our free tickets,” as they are swept along with the crowd. He looks curiously at the ladybug goblin, wondering if a tip is required for the music.
Insight: 8
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Alyeira approaches the young human Nikolas had pointed at, bending down so the two came eye to eye. “Hello there.” She offers the girl a grin, which widens upon seeing the butterfly wings attached to her back. “You want to go to the Hall of Illusions?”
Cadwallader:
Cad smiles at the fearsome little mouse. "You be sure to keep a close eye on us villains. It's hard to say who's the most dangerous, the little girl there or the old graybeard." He laughs at his own joke, their ridiculous escort dispelling some of his anxiety. He plinks a silver into the goblin's cup -- Can't take it with you, after all! -- and asks the other craftsmen, "Is there food vendor on the way? I would enjoy one of those pastries -- what are they called? The ones where they dribble the batter into the fryer oil? Looks like a twisty pile of rope." He surreptitiously studies the fifth member of their troupe, the short, hooded figure. He can't place that one. Not that he knows the girl, but youngsters all seem to blend together to him now. But the other one, if they're from town, should be familiar.
Matilda looked up, slightly dazzled by the glamorous Eladrin, though she immediately tried to cover it by replying gruffly, " Want is....I need to go there."
Almost unconciously she raised her hand for the woman to grasp as they moved off....
The sprightly goblin’s cup has no coins in it, Ben notices, but rather a handful of mismatched buttons rattling about. The monkey begins to sing a tune to the jolly melody he is cranking out of the calliope.
“Spare a button if you please,
I’ll sew it next to all of these.
I offer nothing in its place,
Besides a smile upon my face.”
Still rattling her cup hopefully to the group, the goblin (dressed as a ladybug) extends her other hand to Horatio. “Dance!”
Cad’s nose identifies a snack stall further down the path (to the left of the Big Top) and although it does not smell like pastries, it does smell temptingly sweet.
Alyeira begins to lead Matilda in the general direction of the snack stalls. They pass a small stall showcasing a tiny red dragon fluttering about. “Prizes! Prizes! Prizes!” calls out the old woman in the stall. “Catch the faerie dragon by the tail and win a piece of its hoard!”
But the Lost Property booth, according to the map, is in the opposite direction.
Ben:
With his demanding vocation, Ben is pretty hard on his clothes, and he sometimes brings spare buttons with him…but does he have any today?
Pocket Check, higher is better: 10
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Matilda took note of the stall, but continued on.
Alyeira looks down at the young girl, absentmindedly swinging their interlocked hands as they pass the carnival stalls. Tebego limps behind the two, keeping a close eye on the Eladrin as if supervising her. A look of surprise crosses Alyeira’s face as she notices the girl's indifference to the dragon "Are you sure you don't want to play a few games? Normally that's all humans your age want to do."
She pauses for a few seconds, watching the tiny red reptile fluttering too and fro. "Oh! That reminds me. I never caught your name!"
" Matilda. You are Alyeira. its a pretty name.", she said venturing a smile.
" I don't have time for games. i have to find my brother.", she said matter-of-factly.
Colin's eyes narrow for a moment, but then his ears droop and he holds onto his tail a bit bashfully.
"I may - perhaps- be a bit out of sorts, and overzealous at the moment. I have been here for some time, and I can never shake the feeling that this place is more dangerous than it seems."
"Perhaps you are a good lot, but I would hesitate to judge anyone here by their appearance."
He begins to lead the group towards the Hall of Illusions, but passing by a food vendor on the way.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Edgardo
Wings? I need no wings! His disgust most likely evident on his face, albeit hidden by his hood. He snatches the wings and makes less than a half hearted attempt to fit them to his back. With the ticket paid for Edgardo moves rapidly to the front of the group and beyond. He darts from one side of the path to the other. Each time he approaches a new stall or stand he knocks twice on the timber frame - tap, tap - and then moves on. Anyone watching him closely, like a security mouse or a keen eyed leatherman, might notice his hood bulge in time with his knocking.
As the group nears the Big Top an involuntary shiver grips Edgardo to the point the poorly fitted wings start to fall from his right arm. In a flash he grabs at them but misses and the brightly coloured prop falls to the dirt. Without missing a step he scoops them up with a dexterous foot offering up another glimpse at grey fur, definitely fur, poking from the top of his boot. The chill fades as the group is guided away from the main tent.
"Take this down," Bob hisses to Primrose. She rolls her eyes and takes out a sheet of paper and a pencil. "Initial observations - the group seems polite and innocent enough," Bobs clears his throat before continuing. "However, one must always be prepared for the unexpected," he dips his feathery hand into his satchel. "'ere we go, wonderin' where I put 'im."
Bob withdraws a small, clockwork bird from his satchel, winds it up, and sets it on his shoulder. "Ne'er 'urts to 'ave another pair of eyes... especially when it comes ta espionage," he says by way of explanation to a very confused-looking Primrose. "Anyway, where was I. Oh boy! Yes, initial observations seem promising, however, one of the group - a young girl - appears to have misplaced her brother. Are shenanigans afoot? Could her brother, at this very second, be summoning forth a demonic army hell-bent on destroying the Carnival? Only time will tell."
Looking pleased with himself for spotting a potential threat, Bob grins at Primrose. "If there is any trouble, we'll be the first to know! OH BOY!" he declares proudly and with a little too much gusto.
(('Dunstable' - Bob's clockwork bird in the spoiler below))
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Ben:
”A button for a smile…not a barter one makes everyday, but why not?” thinks Ben. Expertly pulling out a very small blade from his tools, Ben frees his spare button from the tail of his shirt. Putting away the blade and moving towards the goblin, he drops the button into its cup and smiles himself, still feeling a bit embarrassed by the absurdness of it all.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Horatio, feeling clumsy and embarrassed that he cannot give any buttons, slinks behind the others. Something about this place, being here again, fills him with insecurity. He had been angry for so long, but all around him were happy people doing happy things. He grips his fists.
Then why the escort? What do they fear us discovering?
Resolve melts away the insecurity as he adjusts the way he sees the people around him. The carnival goers are having fun, but likely the staff are just acting. The entry fee is a pittance for so many to share... what is the real cost of this place? The Goblin at the ticket booth, and now here another Goblin... He slinks closer to Cad (and anyone else who overhears).
"We shouldn't let them lead us. We need to go to the lost and found first."
Cadwallader:
He can tell by the mouse's wilted expression that his joke had hit harder than intended. "No, Sir Mouse, the fault is mine. I shouldn't mock someone for being zealous in their duties, and while the carnival seems all fun and games to us, I'm sure you get a number of unsavory troublemakers looking to take advantage of strangers."
"We can wait on the treats; my friends here are anxious to get to the Lost Items tent. I'm Cadwallader, by the way -- Cad, to those who know me. May I ask for your name?"
Cad, Horatio, Edgardo, and Ben – escorted by Colin and Bob – make their way toward the Lost Property wagon.
“Strong folks!" calls out an overweight dwarf in a top hat from a small stall nearby. "Test your mettle in a goblin wrestle!” You can see two goblins in tights eyeing the crowd for challengers.
The giant walking tree and his squirrel companion lumber by. Spinning sycamore seeds rain down from the emerald clouds above. (DC10 Dexterity check to try and catch one.) The squirrel (whom Colin and Bob know as "Red") hands out dandelions to everyone who will take one. "Make a wish!" chitters the squirrel.
You can see the Lost Property wagon ahead. Outside is a large feline creature with midnight-blue fur. It has a pair of tentacles extending from its shoulders and wears fake butterfly wings. Hanging from its collar is a small wooden keg. The creature roughhouses with two young boys.
--
Meanwhile, Alyeira and Matilda are nearing the Hall of Illusions. (See post #34 above.)