Halei comes over to investigate the mannequin alongside Stalker. "You find anything useful?" Halei asks Stalker. When she sees Balliol she waves back and tries to wave them over. "Oh, look it's our friends!"
wildred runs over to halei and through his excitment trips up and rolls over double landing on his backside,glasses squint across his face with a suprised dumbfounded look on his face he expressions with a hand waving his fingers and falls on his back,feeling ever so dizzy.
"Well, this mannequin has a chicken foot tattoo, for one thing. I wonder if it does anything besides sitting here." He looks for buttons or instructions or anything like that. "Beware of her eyes - they kind of hypnotize."
Balliol follows up Wildred as he stands and dusts himself off after a spectacular stumble. The four of you are together again (ooc: Whew!), standing in front of a glass cabinet, peering at a wooden mannequin of Tasha the Wizard, evident by the text inscribed on the sign ahead of the cabinet, "Tasha the Wizard—Known for Her Hideous Laughter."
Both Balliol and Wildred, please make a Wisdom saving throw & also make a DC 16 Intelligence (History) check.
If you succeed on the History check, read the following spoiler...
You recall that Tasha was one of the names reputedly used by Iggwilv the Witch Queen, a legendary archmage who is whispered about, feared and admired. Beloved and hated of Graz'zt, Matriarch of Diabolists, Mother of Iuz, Daughter of Baba Yaga, Apprentice of Zagig, the Witch-Queen of Perrenland, author of "Demonomicon of Iggwilv" and renowned chess rival of Mordenkainen.
Suddenly, the halfling woman, rolling around on the grass in front of you, stops her laughing. She stands up, looks around and runs off toward the Hall of Illusions, calling out in a panic, "Rubin, Rubin, My love!"
For Stalker's eyes only...
As you investigate the glass cabinet, you hear a voice in your mind say, "What about the dark places between the stars? Don't you realise that's where the good stuff is?"
For Halei's eyes only...
As you look upon the statue of Tasha, you hear a voice speak in your mind. "The magic of both alchemists and witches relies on a powerful multiversal truth: mortals can't resist anything with bubbles."
The four of you are together again. There is still much of this mystery to unravel and you all know that your search for Zybilna has only just begun. But first, you must find the way into Prismeer. You have much to discuss and share with each other.
(ooc: I have updated your positions on the carnival map on the campaign page)
"Well met, friends. I hope you've been having some fun," Stalker rumbles, greeting all with the reunion.
"From what I can see, we have a few options. This Tasha thing, while strange, doesn't seem to be of help. We could check out this Hall of Illusions since we're here. Of course I think we really need to check out the employees' area. We may find Witch or Light there, or after the big show back stage, I believe."
(ooc correct me if I'm wrong, or add any other suggestions on where to look for Prismeer and Zybilna!)
"Ooh, yes! We were told by this big cat with wings that we need to try and sneak into the employee area to try hear anything useful. We'd decided that I would be the one doing the sneaking, but if either of you two are any good at snooping around you could come help me! If not, I'm sure you could make some sort of distraction plan.... anyways, I'm sure we'll figure it out when we come to that." Halei rambles on.
Balliol watches Wildred tumble and privately wonders how he has managed to survive as long as he had. Hopefully he'd bounce off of spiked pits if he ever truly ended up in a dungeon. Well, hopefully Bugs would also bounce off of spiked pits! Or, at least, hop over them. When he heard the comment about Tasha he looked closer at the case. "Tasha? Chicken tattoo and hideous laughter? This is actually a name used by Iggwilv the witch queen if it matters." (OOC: At this point he would share the information in the "For Balliol's eyes only if he makes his roll" bit above if you want the longer version.)
When Halei mentions sneaking into the employee area Balliol does have something to offer. "I'm willing to let others do the sneaking, but Wildred and I did find out that the Misters who run this place can be met after the big extravaganza this evening. We might have a meeting scheduled with him, if a bugbear wearing a jack-o-lantern for a helmet is to be believed." Seeing their odd looks he just shrugs. "Yep, that is what I said. Burly's a bugbear. And seems to be a nice bookworm to boot. And, I think, headed towards the employee area now."
Striker gives a wry laugh at his friends' antics. "Well, looks like agreement. Let's head to the employee area and see if we can dig up anything. If not, we can still catch the extravaganza and the 'Misters' later.
"When we get there, perhaps an opportunity for Halei to do some snooping will present itself!" He scratches his beard in consideration. "Between the Balliol and Wildred's potential antics, we may be able to provide her a distraction. I'll keep an eye open for nefarious types and pick pockets, you two do something 'interesting', and Halei can snoop away. Sound like a plan?"
You discuss and share what you have learnt, between you establishing that the person Madryck has sent you to find, Zybilna, is known by many names: Iggwilv the Witch Queen, Matriarch of Diabolists, Mother of Iuz, Daughter of Baba Yaga, Apprentice of Zagig, Witch-Queen of Perrenland and "Tasha the Wizard—Known for Her Hideous Laughter", and all of you have a memory of meeting such a person, albeit your minds recall is not so menacing as the picture some of her names conjure. At times, some of you have even intuited a sinister undercurrent bubbling to the surface of the carnival.
However, despite her figure, being right there in front go you and staring at you all, it seems you are no closer to honouring your quest than when you set foot in the carnival. You decide to infiltrate the staff area to interrogate Mr Witch and Mr Light on the whereabouts of this mysterious gateway to Prismeer. Some of you hoping for the help of Burly the Bugbear.
During your plan making, Wildred finds something amusing and starts to chuckle. His giggle becomes a haughty laugh. He leans forward as the rest of you watch him in amazement as he cackles, giggles and laughs. He throws his head back, and with bellowing laughter, he falls onto his back, arms clutching his stomach, legs kicking up into the air. What he finds so amusing is a mystery to you all, including himself.
Wildred, you are prone and incapacitated, rolling around on the ground laughing uncontrollably.
Balliol looks at the giggling wizard perplexed for a moment and then looks at the figure in the case. "Uh, lets get spectacles here away from the hideous laughter. This can't be a coincidence, can it?" He reaches down and tries to help Wildred to his feet and move him away from the booth with the text about laughter on it.
(Assuming they can move the mage.) After moving Wildred Bugs looks back at the booth. "So, that figure in the booth is who we are looking for, right? And now Wildred starts falling over laughing. Is someone sending us a message? But is it Zybilna or someone else? Anyone want to go back and talk to Tasha?"
Stalker helps Balliol move Wildred out of the general through fare. "Gotta be magic. Anyone able to dispel this?"
"The booth did it?"
He tries to calm poor Wildred. If he doesn't settle, and no one can break the spell, he wanders over to the booth. He is smiling. He stands beside it and - if Wildred is still in spasms of hillarity - puts an elbow into the side window, pulls the maniquin out and tears it's head off, throwing both parts behind the booth.
He continues to smile and helps Balliol move Wildred away from the main street.
Balliol and Stalker deduct that the Maniquen of Tasha the Wizard is the cause of Wildred's uncontrollable laughing. A likely assumption as she is known for her hideous laughter.
Balliol tries to stand Wildred, but he is a dead weight, and his constant movement makes it a futile attempt. Stalker attempts to stop the effects by inconspicuously striking the side of the cabinet with his elbow. His unlucky strike clumsily bounces off the glass, and several passing carnival-goers look alarmed at the sudden outburst of violence upon the seemingly inanimate object. Some passers-by glare at you with disapproval as they take a wide berth around the group.
You decide that proximity may solve Wildred's dilemma. However, he seems to be having quite a good time. Unable to get him up, Balliol and Stalker grab one of Wildreds legs each as they flail around and drag him away from the statue and back towards the main thoroughfare. He continues his bellowing and uncontrollable laughter.
Halei stands with her hands facing out, like she wants to help, but doesn't quite know how. She trails behind the group while they carry Wildred away, available to assist if they need her to. (Sorry, I didn't realize I hadn't posted)
Well, a dunking might be fun anyway, thought Bugs. But while it might be a fun to toss the mage into the river, it might not be the best choice either. He looked over the mage for anything that might get damaged if he were tossed in to the drink. "Most spells wear off, don't they? It can't last forever. If we are going to give him a dousing, help me make sure he isn't carrying anything that will get ruined. And I want to grab those glasses - if they came off in the river I think Willy here would get plenty upset. And he'd probably have a right to do so."
Before tossing anyone in the river Balliol looks carefully at the current and considers if a very, very clumsy mage might get into trouble if he went swimming. He had no intention of drowning his new friend. He turned back to the others. "Hang on for 10 minutes at least. I'm sure most spells wear off. If it takes more than ten minutes than Stalker's plan it is."
Stalker smirks. "I wasn't going to drown the fellow, just a head dunking or such. Maybe try slapping his face?" He makes sure their incapacitated comrade is safe from the foot traffic.
Halei comes over to investigate the mannequin alongside Stalker. "You find anything useful?" Halei asks Stalker. When she sees Balliol she waves back and tries to wave them over. "Oh, look it's our friends!"
"Hello Halei!!"
wildred runs over to halei and through his excitment trips up and rolls over double landing on his backside,glasses squint across his face with a suprised dumbfounded look on his face he expressions with a hand waving his fingers and falls on his back,feeling ever so dizzy.
"Well, this mannequin has a chicken foot tattoo, for one thing. I wonder if it does anything besides sitting here." He looks for buttons or instructions or anything like that. "Beware of her eyes - they kind of hypnotize."
Halei laughs loudly at the show Wildred is making in the background. While she watches she replies "Okay, don't look her in the eyes. Got it"
Together Again
Balliol follows up Wildred as he stands and dusts himself off after a spectacular stumble. The four of you are together again (ooc: Whew!), standing in front of a glass cabinet, peering at a wooden mannequin of Tasha the Wizard, evident by the text inscribed on the sign ahead of the cabinet, "Tasha the Wizard—Known for Her Hideous Laughter."
Both Balliol and Wildred, please make a Wisdom saving throw & also make a DC 16 Intelligence (History) check.
If you succeed on the History check, read the following spoiler...
You recall that Tasha was one of the names reputedly used by Iggwilv the Witch Queen, a legendary archmage who is whispered about, feared and admired. Beloved and hated of Graz'zt, Matriarch of Diabolists, Mother of Iuz, Daughter of Baba Yaga, Apprentice of Zagig, the Witch-Queen of Perrenland, author of "Demonomicon of Iggwilv" and renowned chess rival of Mordenkainen.
Suddenly, the halfling woman, rolling around on the grass in front of you, stops her laughing. She stands up, looks around and runs off toward the Hall of Illusions, calling out in a panic, "Rubin, Rubin, My love!"
For Stalker's eyes only...
As you investigate the glass cabinet, you hear a voice in your mind say, "What about the dark places between the stars? Don't you realise that's where the good stuff is?"
For Halei's eyes only...
As you look upon the statue of Tasha, you hear a voice speak in your mind. "The magic of both alchemists and witches relies on a powerful multiversal truth: mortals can't resist anything with bubbles."
The four of you are together again. There is still much of this mystery to unravel and you all know that your search for Zybilna has only just begun. But first, you must find the way into Prismeer. You have much to discuss and share with each other.
(ooc: I have updated your positions on the carnival map on the campaign page)
"Well met, friends. I hope you've been having some fun," Stalker rumbles, greeting all with the reunion.
"From what I can see, we have a few options. This Tasha thing, while strange, doesn't seem to be of help. We could check out this Hall of Illusions since we're here. Of course I think we really need to check out the employees' area. We may find Witch or Light there, or after the big show back stage, I believe."
(ooc correct me if I'm wrong, or add any other suggestions on where to look for Prismeer and Zybilna!)
"Ooh, yes! We were told by this big cat with wings that we need to try and sneak into the employee area to try hear anything useful. We'd decided that I would be the one doing the sneaking, but if either of you two are any good at snooping around you could come help me! If not, I'm sure you could make some sort of distraction plan.... anyways, I'm sure we'll figure it out when we come to that." Halei rambles on.
"What did you guys get up to? Find out anything?"
Balliol watches Wildred tumble and privately wonders how he has managed to survive as long as he had. Hopefully he'd bounce off of spiked pits if he ever truly ended up in a dungeon. Well, hopefully Bugs would also bounce off of spiked pits! Or, at least, hop over them. When he heard the comment about Tasha he looked closer at the case. "Tasha? Chicken tattoo and hideous laughter? This is actually a name used by Iggwilv the witch queen if it matters." (OOC: At this point he would share the information in the "For Balliol's eyes only if he makes his roll" bit above if you want the longer version.)
When Halei mentions sneaking into the employee area Balliol does have something to offer. "I'm willing to let others do the sneaking, but Wildred and I did find out that the Misters who run this place can be met after the big extravaganza this evening. We might have a meeting scheduled with him, if a bugbear wearing a jack-o-lantern for a helmet is to be believed." Seeing their odd looks he just shrugs. "Yep, that is what I said. Burly's a bugbear. And seems to be a nice bookworm to boot. And, I think, headed towards the employee area now."
Striker gives a wry laugh at his friends' antics. "Well, looks like agreement. Let's head to the employee area and see if we can dig up anything. If not, we can still catch the extravaganza and the 'Misters' later.
"When we get there, perhaps an opportunity for Halei to do some snooping will present itself!" He scratches his beard in consideration. "Between the Balliol and Wildred's potential antics, we may be able to provide her a distraction. I'll keep an eye open for nefarious types and pick pockets, you two do something 'interesting', and Halei can snoop away. Sound like a plan?"
Wildred brushes himself off hoping to regain some decorum..and nods in agreement as he straightens his glasses...
"yes balliol is right she must be the one and only,iggwilv the witch queen,I think stalker has a good plan"
he shakes the dirt of his shoulders and starts of with the group towards the employee area.
You discuss and share what you have learnt, between you establishing that the person Madryck has sent you to find, Zybilna, is known by many names: Iggwilv the Witch Queen, Matriarch of Diabolists, Mother of Iuz, Daughter of Baba Yaga, Apprentice of Zagig, Witch-Queen of Perrenland and "Tasha the Wizard—Known for Her Hideous Laughter", and all of you have a memory of meeting such a person, albeit your minds recall is not so menacing as the picture some of her names conjure. At times, some of you have even intuited a sinister undercurrent bubbling to the surface of the carnival.
However, despite her figure, being right there in front go you and staring at you all, it seems you are no closer to honouring your quest than when you set foot in the carnival. You decide to infiltrate the staff area to interrogate Mr Witch and Mr Light on the whereabouts of this mysterious gateway to Prismeer. Some of you hoping for the help of Burly the Bugbear.
During your plan making, Wildred finds something amusing and starts to chuckle. His giggle becomes a haughty laugh. He leans forward as the rest of you watch him in amazement as he cackles, giggles and laughs. He throws his head back, and with bellowing laughter, he falls onto his back, arms clutching his stomach, legs kicking up into the air. What he finds so amusing is a mystery to you all, including himself.
Wildred, you are prone and incapacitated, rolling around on the ground laughing uncontrollably.
Balliol looks at the giggling wizard perplexed for a moment and then looks at the figure in the case. "Uh, lets get spectacles here away from the hideous laughter. This can't be a coincidence, can it?" He reaches down and tries to help Wildred to his feet and move him away from the booth with the text about laughter on it.
(Assuming they can move the mage.) After moving Wildred Bugs looks back at the booth. "So, that figure in the booth is who we are looking for, right? And now Wildred starts falling over laughing. Is someone sending us a message? But is it Zybilna or someone else? Anyone want to go back and talk to Tasha?"
Stalker helps Balliol move Wildred out of the general through fare. "Gotta be magic. Anyone able to dispel this?"
"The booth did it?"
He tries to calm poor Wildred. If he doesn't settle, and no one can break the spell, he wanders over to the booth. He is smiling. He stands beside it and - if Wildred is still in spasms of hillarity - puts an elbow into the side window, pulls the maniquin out and tears it's head off, throwing both parts behind the booth.
He continues to smile and helps Balliol move Wildred away from the main street.
Balliol and Stalker deduct that the Maniquen of Tasha the Wizard is the cause of Wildred's uncontrollable laughing. A likely assumption as she is known for her hideous laughter.
Balliol tries to stand Wildred, but he is a dead weight, and his constant movement makes it a futile attempt. Stalker attempts to stop the effects by inconspicuously striking the side of the cabinet with his elbow. His unlucky strike clumsily bounces off the glass, and several passing carnival-goers look alarmed at the sudden outburst of violence upon the seemingly inanimate object. Some passers-by glare at you with disapproval as they take a wide berth around the group.
You decide that proximity may solve Wildred's dilemma. However, he seems to be having quite a good time. Unable to get him up, Balliol and Stalker grab one of Wildreds legs each as they flail around and drag him away from the statue and back towards the main thoroughfare. He continues his bellowing and uncontrollable laughter.
ooc - Having a peak at the map, can we pull Wildred between attractions to the river that surrounds the fair? If so, perhaps a dunking might help him.
Halei stands with her hands facing out, like she wants to help, but doesn't quite know how. She trails behind the group while they carry Wildred away, available to assist if they need her to. (Sorry, I didn't realize I hadn't posted)
Well, a dunking might be fun anyway, thought Bugs. But while it might be a fun to toss the mage into the river, it might not be the best choice either. He looked over the mage for anything that might get damaged if he were tossed in to the drink. "Most spells wear off, don't they? It can't last forever. If we are going to give him a dousing, help me make sure he isn't carrying anything that will get ruined. And I want to grab those glasses - if they came off in the river I think Willy here would get plenty upset. And he'd probably have a right to do so."
Before tossing anyone in the river Balliol looks carefully at the current and considers if a very, very clumsy mage might get into trouble if he went swimming. He had no intention of drowning his new friend. He turned back to the others. "Hang on for 10 minutes at least. I'm sure most spells wear off. If it takes more than ten minutes than Stalker's plan it is."
"Maybe just try splashing his face with water if you do decide to go to the river?"
Stalker smirks. "I wasn't going to drown the fellow, just a head dunking or such. Maybe try slapping his face?" He makes sure their incapacitated comrade is safe from the foot traffic.
"Hahaha...hehehe hahaha haha!"
(If wildred can) his eyes are screaming no!!