"Yes, there is mention of a mysterious carnival that travels the Feywild.  See..." Inif shows Speedwell the Sylvan book and the lifelike illustrations.

"Something like that can't bode well for the realms that it touches," Speedwell says suspiciously.

The traveling extravaganza known as the Witchlight Carnival visits your world once every eight years. You have a dim memory of sneaking into the carnival as a child without paying for a ticket. That memory has grown foggy over time, though it still conjures a weird admixture of emotions—wonder and awe mixed with loss and regret. During this childhood visit, your character lost something. You tried to find it, but the carnival owners—a pair of elves named Mister Witch and Mister Light—were decidedly unhelpful.

“Silly little screeching cricket,” said Witch. “You forgot to buy a ticket.”

“The carnival goes round and round,” said Light. “The multiverse is our playground. Nothing’s free and nothing’s lost. Every visit has its cost.”

As time passed, your heart became less heavy, and you gave less and less thought to those childhood events. Now, for reasons you can’t explain, the longing to retrieve that which you have lost has resurfaced, as though an old spell has faded away, allowing you to feel the loss as sharply as if it happened yesterday.

The Witchlight Carnival has returned, and you find yourself standing near a ticket booth by the entrance at twilight, just as the carnival is about to open. There you meet others who look as troubled as you. Without knowing how or why, you sense that each of them has lost something as well. Perhaps fate has brought you together.

Since you were a child, you've often felt that something was missing, though could never quite put your finger on it. However, for most of your life, you've found it hard to find inspiration in normal things which seem to inspire others. ((for the time being, your characters are unable to receive, or use, DM inspiration.))

Autumnleaf: 

 Giovani:

Inif':

Speedwell:

Though you all have met recently, you may want to explain any differences now that you're back. 

You all find yourself in front of the ticket booth, likely together. A silver statue of a dancing faerie is mounted on the roof of this ticket booth and surrounded by fluttering butterflies. The booth is decorated with an animated depiction of the night sky, with shooting stars arcing across it.

An elderly goblin perches behind the ticket counter, peering at you quizzically through a spyglass. He lowers the spyglass and calls out to you: “Greetings, fair fairgoers! Ah! And if it isn't our little Autumnleaf! Back again are we?"

As you approach to give the tickets that you were given previously, Nikolas the goblin, looks at them and says, "Well these tickets are quite old! Wherever did you come across them? Unfortunately we cannot accept these old tickets. But no worries friends! I was given strict instructions to give these tickets to Autmnleaf and her one, two, three companions. Yes! You are all here!" He then reaches under the counter and pulls out a box from which he gives you each a crisp new ticket to enter the carnival, as well as a pair of fake butterfly wings that you are expected to wear (or at least carry around with you) while in the carnival.

As you first enter the carnival a twelve-foot-tall walking tree garlanded in golden ribbons marches down the thoroughfare. Emerald clouds swirl above the tree and rain down golden, spinning sycamore seeds. Fairgoers try to catch the seeds before they hit the ground. As the seeds gently fall, a chatty squirrel scampers along the boughs of the tree, handing dandelions to each of you.

Please roll a dexterity check, followed by a d8 if you wish to attempt to catch one of the seeds falling from the tree. You may also make a wish if you would like by blowing on the dandelion. If you do, please RP that you do so, and PM me your wish.

Please RP your arrival, being at the ticket booth if you'd like to ask questions of Nikolas Midnight, as well as entering the carnival and deciding where you'd like to go next. And have fun!~

Giovani looks uncomfortable as he draws closer to the entrance and blurts out: “I often feel critically judged by the rest of the people in crowds.” He continues through the ticket booth and attempts to catch the 7 seeds (Dex 5 ). He is grasping at them when the squirrel runs over with the dandelion. He holds it aloft before saying “I wish I could feel good enough.”  He blows out the dandelion seeds and holds it aloft. He then starts a swaying, lunging, dance around the carnival’s thoroughfare

Autumnleaf gives a twirl and a bow to Nikolas. "Indeed indeed, returned at last, and how I've missed it these eight years, passed." She gives the elderly Goblin a kiss on his forehead, putting the fake wings on her front so as not to interfere with the real pair on her back, giving her already odd attire an even more absurd look before fluttering deeper into the Carnival with the others, reaching to catch some seeds, giving a curtsy to the squirrel and blowing on the dandelion, a broad grin on her face as she looks around.

When you see Speedwell for the first time since we all separated, you wouldn't have recognized him at first if it wasn't for his always cautious facial expressions, and brand-new-looking ranger cloak, and traveling clothes. The last time you saw him, his fur was white and gray, but now, his fur has changed to a mottled red and orange-tinted earth tones, as if he could stand in front of a pile of autumn leaves with his Easter egg blue eyes closed and you would never see him. 

After exchanging greetings with everyone, Speedwell approaches the ticket booth and hands his old ticket over to Nikolas. He looks between the goblin and Autumnleaf quizzically at their exchange. But, he errs on the side of being polite to the goblin and just says, “Thank you,” as he takes his new ticket and butterfly wings. He doesn’t don them, but carries them at his side, strapping them to his belt on the opposite side from his sword.

As the group walks through the gate, stopping while the tree walks by, Speedwell asks Autumnleaf, “How do you know that old goblin?” Then, when the golden sycamore seeds fall, Speedwell tries to catch one. He grabs a dandelion, too, and observing Autumnleaf and Giovanni making wishes, he follows suit, silently. 

After the tree passes, and with the memory of having lost his stuffed faerie dragon flooding back, a sense of foreboding and loss starts to grow in the pit of his stomach. 

“Guys, I only just remembered that I’ve been here before. I lost something as a child. The memory is a bit foggy, though.”

Speedwell will then use primeval awareness to get an idea of the demographics of the folks in this area just to be aware. 

"Anyway," Speedwell says, "Where would you all like to go?" He notices that even though there is that hint of foreboding sitting in the pit of his stomach, he dismisses it at the moment as feelings of guilt for having snuck into the carnival last time. Despite himself, he can't help but feel a little excited about everything and all of the whimsical things happening. 

Pointing to the map, he suggests, "I wouldn't mind starting at the Dragonfly Ride and then, perhaps, working our way around counter-clockwise?"

Inif stops to chat with Nikolas.  "Any rules we should know about?  This is my first time to a Feywild carnival and I'm not quite sure to expect.  In writings, it seemed more myth but yet here I stand.  Do you have any recommendations what to see first?". Inif listens patiently Nikolas and thanks him for his response before joining the others

Inif calmly walks towards the seeds, reaching out like a crane to pluck the floating seeds.

Inif offers a slight bow to the squirrel and reaches out to pluck the dandelion gently from its paw.  Inif looks about, wide-eyed and smiling as he makes a wish.

Inif points out a location on the map.  "Here it says 'lost property'.  I know this sounds peculiar, but I get a sense I might find myself there, but taller...  Might we stop by there first before viewing the attractions?"

In response to Speedwell's question, Autumnleaf gives him a grin, raising her arms and twirling in the air. "The same way one might know another in any other case, by having met. As for where to go, the Carnival is full of fun, so wherever you'd like is a good bet.

Giving Autumnleaf a ‘thanks for a non-response’ look, Speedwell looks down at the map and then over to Inif, and says, “We can go to lost and found, first, if you’d like. It’s been years, but there’s always a chance that my stuffed dragon is still there, too.”

“Yes, I think the lost and found should be our first stop, before they pack up and leave while we galavant around. But dragonfly rides sound wonderful.” Giovani buffs his nails on his collar. 

Autumnleaf nods at that, swaying in the air in such a way that the fake wings strapped to her front appear to be flapping along with her real wings, giggling a bit.

At the questions for rules in the carnival, Nikolas replies simply with a grin as he looks the monk over, that "Politeness goes a long way here young man." 

Reaching out the grab at the falling seeds, everyone except Giovani is able to catch one. The knight being a bit distracted in his own thoughts. In Autumnleaf's hands it quickly transforms into a small pyramid shape ((The character gains a die, a d4, which it can add to one ability check it makes before the next dawn.)). Inif' and Speedwell's seeds both disappear in a small cloud of dust and an amusing whistle, causing each of them to chuckle to themselves, and then even more so when they notice the other smiling ((The character gains the following personality trait until dawn: “I am easily amused.” Any conflicting character trait is suppressed in the meantime.))

The first stars of night twinkle above the apricot sunset. Giant dragonflies whir overhead, trailing streamers, and a low mist curls over the ground. Looking around, you glimpse wondrous and vibrant creatures—elf stilt walkers, dancing faeries, and painted performers. Everywhere there is laughter, pixie dust, bubbles, and the wistful tune of a whistling calliope.

As you talk and take in the sights and sounds, Speedwell opens his sensitive Harengone ears focusing for sounds of different creatures. He easily picks out the melodies of Fey, the humming speech of Humanoids, as well as the groan of Undead.

Deciding to head towards the lost property sign, you round the corner passing by the Calliope where 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 passers-by, rattling a tin cup. Passing it by you approach the lost property wagon.

Outside the lost property wagon 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. One boy squeals, “Again, Dirla, again!” while the other hangs onto the creature’s neck.

Autumnleaf considers the object in her hand, shrugging after a moment and tucking it away before fluttering along behind the others, her usual rictus grin present, if perhaps a touch softer than usual, nostalgic even, as she takes in the sights of the carnival. Upon reaching the lost property wagon, she flutters up a little higher, staying behind the others, and gives the feline a wave.

Gio puts on his wings and laughs pleasantly. 

Speedwell, clearly more amused than even he would have expected himself to feel, points towards the tentacled cat in front of Lost and Found and laughs, “That is the funniest cat I’ve ever seen!”

Inif sputters out a laugh as his attention is drawn away by the sparkling pixie dust and bubbles.  "It is quite a sight to see, I must admit." 

He smiles at the children and looks towards the strange "butterfly cat" to try to ascertain (8) its attitude towards the children's play.  He knocks on the door of the wagon and calls out to the attendant, "Pardon me.  I know it's strange to have lost something when you've just arrived.  But could we look at your items?"

Turning to his companions, Inif returns to the conversation of where to go next. "Next up, dragonfly rides?  I'm also intrigued by the Hall of Illusions and the Mystery Mine."  Inif pulls out his copy of the map. "Did you notice the timeline in the left corner in the map?  Looks like the Big Top show is in a few hours."

Watching the feline play with the kids you can tell that its very friendly, and really seems to enjoy being tasked with protection of them. The children are also really enjoying their time with it.

As you approach, the large feline waves its tail at Autumnleaf floating up above, and then looks to Inif' who had walked past it towards the cart and says, "Many things go missing fr-r-rom the car-r-rnival and ar-r-re never found again." Trilling it's r's almost as if purring while it speaks. Just as it's speaking suddenly one of the children pulls a mirrored ball from the lost property wagon and the feline's eyes go wide and it swats the ball from the child's hands catching it as it falls. The child, surprised and a bit frightened bolts off, disappearing in the crowd.

About to dash off after the boy, the feline looks back at the other child in its care and pauses, looking to you all, and says with a sigh, "Ah... That should not have happened... Please help me find Vir-r-ro. I must stay here to watch Allowin. I'm sure the boy has not gotten far. Their parents will be most distraught to return to find one of their children missing." 

“Sure. I’ll track him down,” Speedwell says, stifling more chuckling. Then he starts looking in the direction the child ran off.