Stalker, though untrained in healing, stops eating. He pounds her back saying around his stuffed mouthful, "Fees Chokin, Fees Chokin <gulp> She's choking!" If the pound on the back isn't enough, he stands her up, stands behind her and, arms wrapped around her middle (above belly button, below breasts) squeezes sharply to try to expel the food causing her distress.
Oblivious to the struggle of the other contestant, Halei pays no mind. She is too wrapped up with pride at actually holding her own in the competition. She grins and sends a thumbs up at the people watching.
Wildred returns to the table and places his order, "Griffon Pastries, coming right up, Sir."
The Dragonborn server turns to Balliol, "Yes, Sir! We have the best black carrot gajar ki kanji this side of the feywild. I will fetch you some."
"That's Tumblestrum", she replies to Balliol's question about the bard, "I suspect her charm is in her music".
You both spy the commotion and goings-on at the competition table. You see Halei, cheering herself on with her arms and thumbs-up held high in the air and Stalker hugging and thrusting Jadduna while the remaining two competitors and the Jackel watch on intently as the two dwarves scuffle.
Stalker thumps Jadduna on her back as she appears to be going bluer and bluer. He strikes her again, her face taking on a very round and pained expression as she tries desperately to breathe. The Jackal runs back and forth across the front of the table, panicking and seemingly clueless to what he can do to help. Stalker, in a last-ditch, frantic attempt to save his new friend from the fate of her hastened cupcakes, reaches his arms around her stomach and, with a great heave, squeezes her belly, lifting her feet from the ground. The lodged cupcake shoots out of the dwarf's mouth, hitting an unsuspecting onlooker, splattering them in soggy cake.
Jadduna slumps down, puffing and panting as the colour drains back into her face. Stalker comforts her with his hand on her shoulder as she looks up at him. Struggling to form the words, she delivers him a thankful look. The stunned expressions on The Jackal, Nuunk and Kronmil dissolve, and they all start to laugh.
"You lads got any ale?" Jadduna finally manages to spit from her mouth, and she joins in with bellowing laughter.
The server returns to place a large omelette and green salad accompanied with a dark purple fermented carrot drink in front of Balliol and Griffon Pastries and Ale before Wildred. "Enjoy your meal, Gentlemen", and the delightful Dragonborn trots off to find another hungry table.
Stalker joins in with the laughter once the trouble is over. He calls for an ale as well and joins Jadduna (if she doesn't mind).
He asks her is she's okay. Once attention is off of them and the pair have some ale, he asks her, "Have you seen any strange things around this fair? I mean the whole fair is strange, sometimes delightfully so, but have you noticed anything that seemed 'off' to you?"
Once she realizes what's going on, Halei looks sheepish. She feels a bit embarrassed and guilty at having been so wrapped in her own relative success in the competition that she completely missed Jadduna choking. "Remember to chew first next time, friend," she jokes, chuckling awkwardly and scratching the back of her neck. (If the competition is over she'll run back to rejoin the other two).
Balliol picks up the black carrot drink and sniffs. He swirls it around a bit in the cup and wafts a bit of it towards his twitching nose. He is engrossed in looking at the color. Eventually he takes a sip, being sure to swirl it around in his mouth a bit. He wants to savor the flavor. Black carrot gajar ki kanji.Kanji typically meant a spiced and fermented version. He was shocked to find it served here. He sipped again and allowed the flavors to swirl in his mouth. Black carrot had not always been his favorite, but this was . . . special. And the best this side of the feywild? With this drink he was tempted to just sit here and enjoy for the rest of his days, but it seemed that he now had a reason to get to the feywild! The kanji was even better there?! It seemed he had a quest! To find the kanji!
Well, in addition to his current quest, of course. There was always that to consider. He put down his drink and looked around a little sheepishly. He had been so caught up in his beverage he hadn't been listening to his surroundings. He hoped he hadn't missed a clue. Looking up he saw that there had been some sort of commotion at the eating competition. Stalker seemed to have acquired a friend. He wondered who won.
Balliol took the time to eat his meal and truly savor his drink. But this time he did not get lost in the experience and kept his eyes and ears open for anything going on around them.
Halei puts her celebrations aside after Jadduna's rescue. "Remember to chew first next time, friend," she remarks before running over to join Wildred and Balliol at the table.
Stalker calls for ale as Jadduna recovers and Nuunk and Kronmil calm their nerves. The Jackal pulls out a bottle from under the table, possibly his secret stash, and passes the bottle to Jadduna. After a hearty swig, she regains composure. "Hmm, Red Rum", she delights before handing the bottle to Stalker.
As the attention and competitors dwindle from the contest's deviation, Jadduna looks over yonder at Halei as she takes a seat with the others and jests to Stalker, "So, you planning on introducing me to your friends?"
Stalker and Jadduna make their way over and join Halei, Widlred and Balliol at their feasting table.
Our prominent adventures are together again, enjoying each others' company and the great food in this beautiful orchard.
Sometime later...
A buzzing sound gently crescendoes, gradually capturing the attention of everyone in the Feasting Orchard. One by one, the fair-goers look up to the northeast of the carnival to see a synchronised squadron of giant dragonflies making their way to fly over the entire festival. The crowds express their enjoyment audibly as the mob perform breathtaking feats of acrobatics and skilled flying manoeuvres over and around the carnival. Coloured smoke trails illuminate the night sky as they dart in and out, zipping over and under their winged companions in a spectacular display of precision flying. Just as the giant dragonfly flyby retreats from view, the sound of ten bugles bursts across the festival, crashing the atmosphere with a triumphant chorus of brassy brilliance—the ensemble luring all at the carnival to the Big Top for the Extravaganza.
Stalker makes introductions around the table as he and Jadduna join the group's table. "This is Jadduna. We all just got here today. When did you get here?" Stalker hopes some small talk will draw more information about her forth (where she's from, maybe something about her skill set, etc.)
"Well, guess it's time to head to this Big Top Extravaganza and see what it's like before our meeting." He keeps an eye out for pick pockets if the group joins the crowd moving to the big tent.
"Yeah, I guess we should hurry ahead. This place seems hellbent on distracting me" Halei says, watching the giant dragonflies in the sky. Eventually she turns to Jadduna, "Hello! What brings you here?"
Balliol works on his meal and listens as the newcomer is introduced. When an opening allows he takes off his bright red heat and dips his head a bit. "Balliol Bugglesworth IV. It is a pleasure to meet you." As the others continue with introductions he listens and watches those around them closely. Something sinister it seems had happened to the one they were supposed to find. Information was now more important than ever.
A short time later his meal (and his beverage, alas.) were done and the sky suddenly became the playground of a giant dragonfly. Balliol glanced at it a little, but tried to stay focused on the others around them. Distractions sometimes gave information away. Giant dragonflies rarely did in his experience. But then, how much experience with Giant dragonflies did he have? Not much, but it was still an assumption he was willing to run with. So he watched those watching the dragonfly. When the show was over Stalker commented that it was time to go to the big tent. Bugs nodded his head in agreement. "Yes, lets go."
Stalker introduces Jadduna to his companions, who welcome her to their table. Jadduna reveals that while stopping over at Triboar on her way to Mirabar, she heard word of a unique carnival nearby and decided to see it for herself.
The squadron of dragonflies and the following call of bugles seems to have sparked the crowds' interest. The majority of fair-goers are now migrating toward the Big Top. Our adventurers concur and join the flow of folk heading that way.
Halei remarks, "This place seems hellbent on distracting me."
Jadduna laughs a hearty laugh, "It sure has a way of doing that! C'mon, let's go."
You make your way out of the Feasting Orchard and follow the thoroughfare to the right toward a small wooden bridge adjacent to the Topple Tower attraction. The crowd has slowed here, where a queue has formed to cross the bridge. Folk are halted in front of you, and you are being pushed forward from the people banking up behind. The five of you find yourself stuck in the bridge's centre, unable to move forward or back.
The bridge begins to shudder and creak as the sound of stressed wood becomes increasingly prominent over the voicings of the surrounding crowd. You look down between the wooden panes at the creek flowing eight or so feet below the bridge and you question the integrity of the structure under the weight of so many.
Halei makes a grimace at the people squishing her from both in front of and behind her, bringing her arms up close to her body to brace herself. She usually doesn't mind a long queue with good company, but with being so short, crowds can be a bit uncomfortable and people tend to step on her. She looks for a possible way to squeeze through either underneath everybody or maybe even towards the railings in case there was some way to get around the crowd. Though she isn't completely sure if she should try and weezle her way through since she doesn't know if her friends could follow. Regardless, she wants to gather her options.
Stalker bellows behind, "Back up! The bridge is going!" Being short, he hopes he can yell this loud enough to be heard. If Halei is successful in getting to the rail or sneaking forward, great. If not, Stalker tries to guard his friend from the crush. "Back up, you fools, Back up!!!"
Hopefully we can get off the bridge before it goes down!
Bugs stood in the center of the bridge waiting as the line stood still. He hated lines. They were boring. He knew that as a monk he should put on his patient monk face and relax but some things in life were just drudgery. What was he supposed to do, sit and contemplate the sound of one hand standing in line forever? That didn't seem like the sort of meditation that would last very long.
When the crowd starting getting pushy his harengon ears went up and his already rather pathetic attempt at monkish patience hopped away. Then the bridge groaned and so did the giant rabbit. He grabbed the railing and looked around. He was both tall and had good hops. How far was it to the edge of the stream the bridge spanned? He had hops. Could he leap from the top of the railing and reach the edge? It might be fun to try. And it would lighten the load on the bridge by one skinny bunny.
(OOC: As a harengon he has the rabbit hop ability allowing to jump quite a ways a couple of times between long rests. If it looks like he could reach the edge of the stream - I'm guessing, I don't actually know what the bridge spans or if there is a railing to jump from - Bugs will climb to the top of the railing and make a hop for it. If that seems unlikely under the circumstances he will sadly forego the plan.)
The crowd closes in, and the bridge seems unlikely to withstand the weight of all those on it.
Stalker calls out to those behind the bridge, "Back up! The bridge is going!"
Halei looks frantically around for an under-toe escape route, and Wildred seems unphased by the goings-on around him.
Balliol, Taking advantage of your powerful hind legs, you leap up and forward, toward the edge of the crowd off the bridge to escape the crush. Just as you clear the folk below, a giant eagle swoops down and surprises you. It grabs your shoulders in its talons and lifts you high above the crowd. Now, this is traditionally not where a hare or rabbit folk would want to find themself. But, you see the crowds streaming toward the Big Top with a birds-eye view and when you realise what is going on, your initial concern that you are about to become a meal subsides. Many other winged creatures and flying objects are moving around the sky above the carnival. Relieving the congestion by picking up fair-goers and dropping them on the far side of the enormous tent, which looks much larger than you had previously been aware. After only a few seconds of flight, you are gently landed near a back entrance to the Big Top.
Wildred, Stalker & Halei, Shortly after Balliol is whisked away, a large hot air patchwork balloon with a wicker basket lowers from above. Several inhabitants lean over the side and drop ropes. They encourage you to grab a rope and hold on. You wrap the twisted yarn around your hands, holding firm as the balloon picks you up, along with several others and gently rises above the crowded bridge.
Jadduna calls out to you as you float high above the carnival, "Enjoy the Ride, Friends!" With a parting wink for Stalker, she dissolves back into the crowd.
The balloon lowers at the back entrance to the Big Top, where you are reunited with Balliol, and the four of you make your way into the gigantic oval tent.
Wildred taken a back by the goings on,shakily go's to follow stalker....he has never been keen of heights and quite frankly feels a little shocked at being whisked in to the air without so much as a how do.
He motions to the group some proposed seating,still shaking.
"I never thought I'd say this but this fair is becoming a bit more wild than I had anticipated, I'm beginning to think we have bitten off quite alot more than we can chew by undertaking this assignment,if you get my meaning,the sooner we find our key to the puzzle the sooner we can be done with it all....I have studied the fey and the wilds my entire career,but this fair is quite something else and we aren't even close to the wilds yet!!if this is a pattern of things to come then I'm afraid I won't be in any way inclined to continue without due caution"
Wildred is rambling and muttering to himself clearly still in shock from his unwelcomed assent into the air,he never did enjoy the high towers in Candlekeep or in his school of learning in Waterdeep.
"Still willy what goes up must come down a bit of sleep and I'm sure you'll be all set for what lies ahead"
He smiles at the others and then shakes in to his seat with his jelly legs feeling for the seat awkwardly.
Bugs looked at Wildred of the colored spectacles as he muttered about wild rides through the air. "Bit off more than we can chew? Thankfully that eagle didn't do any such thing! Snatched and carried to safety by a giant eagle and speeding along on a giant snail. You are right about one thing Wildred my friend, this place is pretty wild." He looked around at the goings on inside the huge tent. "If we see a giant octopus my bet is that it will be flying and if a lion it will be selling lollipops!"
His gaze now passed to Stalker. "Back, I would say. Somehow I think we might be less concerned with the show itself and more concerned with the goings on. Not that I really know what I'm looking for, but it is an answer to your question anyway." He indicated some seats at the back near an exit.
Relieved to escape from the crowd, Halei rather enjoys her little trip in the sky. Once back on the ground she nods to Balliol, "I would say front, but he's right, the back is probably smartest. Can't forget why we're here."
Aisle seat back row. Striker is tired of the subterfuge. A dwarf almost died in his hands!
He agrees with bugs...we aint here for fun. There is darkness afoot...a bait and switch for a circus...easy pickings. Keep your hand on your purse and the other on a blade. But beyond that...if any of you sense something lacking...point it out. Helei, you can scout about. But if there is trouble, back off. We can plan from there.
I don't mean to be crass, but there is evil afoot. Don't trust anything. I spent my life fighting - and while I'm fond of you all, I don't think you all are taking this seriously. We may have to bring our skills to bear.
Top level aisle seat...
D
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Stalker, though untrained in healing, stops eating. He pounds her back saying around his stuffed mouthful, "Fees Chokin, Fees Chokin <gulp> She's choking!" If the pound on the back isn't enough, he stands her up, stands behind her and, arms wrapped around her middle (above belly button, below breasts) squeezes sharply to try to expel the food causing her distress.
Oblivious to the struggle of the other contestant, Halei pays no mind. She is too wrapped up with pride at actually holding her own in the competition. She grins and sends a thumbs up at the people watching.
Wildred returns to the table and places his order, "Griffon Pastries, coming right up, Sir."
The Dragonborn server turns to Balliol, "Yes, Sir! We have the best black carrot gajar ki kanji this side of the feywild. I will fetch you some."
"That's Tumblestrum", she replies to Balliol's question about the bard, "I suspect her charm is in her music".
You both spy the commotion and goings-on at the competition table. You see Halei, cheering herself on with her arms and thumbs-up held high in the air and Stalker hugging and thrusting Jadduna while the remaining two competitors and the Jackel watch on intently as the two dwarves scuffle.
Stalker thumps Jadduna on her back as she appears to be going bluer and bluer. He strikes her again, her face taking on a very round and pained expression as she tries desperately to breathe. The Jackal runs back and forth across the front of the table, panicking and seemingly clueless to what he can do to help. Stalker, in a last-ditch, frantic attempt to save his new friend from the fate of her hastened cupcakes, reaches his arms around her stomach and, with a great heave, squeezes her belly, lifting her feet from the ground. The lodged cupcake shoots out of the dwarf's mouth, hitting an unsuspecting onlooker, splattering them in soggy cake.
Jadduna slumps down, puffing and panting as the colour drains back into her face. Stalker comforts her with his hand on her shoulder as she looks up at him. Struggling to form the words, she delivers him a thankful look. The stunned expressions on The Jackal, Nuunk and Kronmil dissolve, and they all start to laugh.
"You lads got any ale?" Jadduna finally manages to spit from her mouth, and she joins in with bellowing laughter.
The server returns to place a large omelette and green salad accompanied with a dark purple fermented carrot drink in front of Balliol and Griffon Pastries and Ale before Wildred. "Enjoy your meal, Gentlemen", and the delightful Dragonborn trots off to find another hungry table.
Stalker joins in with the laughter once the trouble is over. He calls for an ale as well and joins Jadduna (if she doesn't mind).
He asks her is she's okay. Once attention is off of them and the pair have some ale, he asks her, "Have you seen any strange things around this fair? I mean the whole fair is strange, sometimes delightfully so, but have you noticed anything that seemed 'off' to you?"
Once she realizes what's going on, Halei looks sheepish. She feels a bit embarrassed and guilty at having been so wrapped in her own relative success in the competition that she completely missed Jadduna choking. "Remember to chew first next time, friend," she jokes, chuckling awkwardly and scratching the back of her neck. (If the competition is over she'll run back to rejoin the other two).
Balliol picks up the black carrot drink and sniffs. He swirls it around a bit in the cup and wafts a bit of it towards his twitching nose. He is engrossed in looking at the color. Eventually he takes a sip, being sure to swirl it around in his mouth a bit. He wants to savor the flavor. Black carrot gajar ki kanji. Kanji typically meant a spiced and fermented version. He was shocked to find it served here. He sipped again and allowed the flavors to swirl in his mouth. Black carrot had not always been his favorite, but this was . . . special. And the best this side of the feywild? With this drink he was tempted to just sit here and enjoy for the rest of his days, but it seemed that he now had a reason to get to the feywild! The kanji was even better there?! It seemed he had a quest! To find the kanji!
Well, in addition to his current quest, of course. There was always that to consider. He put down his drink and looked around a little sheepishly. He had been so caught up in his beverage he hadn't been listening to his surroundings. He hoped he hadn't missed a clue. Looking up he saw that there had been some sort of commotion at the eating competition. Stalker seemed to have acquired a friend. He wondered who won.
Balliol took the time to eat his meal and truly savor his drink. But this time he did not get lost in the experience and kept his eyes and ears open for anything going on around them.
Halei puts her celebrations aside after Jadduna's rescue. "Remember to chew first next time, friend," she remarks before running over to join Wildred and Balliol at the table.
Stalker calls for ale as Jadduna recovers and Nuunk and Kronmil calm their nerves. The Jackal pulls out a bottle from under the table, possibly his secret stash, and passes the bottle to Jadduna. After a hearty swig, she regains composure. "Hmm, Red Rum", she delights before handing the bottle to Stalker.
As the attention and competitors dwindle from the contest's deviation, Jadduna looks over yonder at Halei as she takes a seat with the others and jests to Stalker, "So, you planning on introducing me to your friends?"
Stalker and Jadduna make their way over and join Halei, Widlred and Balliol at their feasting table.
Our prominent adventures are together again, enjoying each others' company and the great food in this beautiful orchard.
Sometime later...
A buzzing sound gently crescendoes, gradually capturing the attention of everyone in the Feasting Orchard. One by one, the fair-goers look up to the northeast of the carnival to see a synchronised squadron of giant dragonflies making their way to fly over the entire festival. The crowds express their enjoyment audibly as the mob perform breathtaking feats of acrobatics and skilled flying manoeuvres over and around the carnival. Coloured smoke trails illuminate the night sky as they dart in and out, zipping over and under their winged companions in a spectacular display of precision flying. Just as the giant dragonfly flyby retreats from view, the sound of ten bugles bursts across the festival, crashing the atmosphere with a triumphant chorus of brassy brilliance—the ensemble luring all at the carnival to the Big Top for the Extravaganza.
Stalker makes introductions around the table as he and Jadduna join the group's table. "This is Jadduna. We all just got here today. When did you get here?" Stalker hopes some small talk will draw more information about her forth (where she's from, maybe something about her skill set, etc.)
"Well, guess it's time to head to this Big Top Extravaganza and see what it's like before our meeting." He keeps an eye out for pick pockets if the group joins the crowd moving to the big tent.
"Yeah, I guess we should hurry ahead. This place seems hellbent on distracting me" Halei says, watching the giant dragonflies in the sky. Eventually she turns to Jadduna, "Hello! What brings you here?"
Balliol works on his meal and listens as the newcomer is introduced. When an opening allows he takes off his bright red heat and dips his head a bit. "Balliol Bugglesworth IV. It is a pleasure to meet you." As the others continue with introductions he listens and watches those around them closely. Something sinister it seems had happened to the one they were supposed to find. Information was now more important than ever.
A short time later his meal (and his beverage, alas.) were done and the sky suddenly became the playground of a giant dragonfly. Balliol glanced at it a little, but tried to stay focused on the others around them. Distractions sometimes gave information away. Giant dragonflies rarely did in his experience. But then, how much experience with Giant dragonflies did he have? Not much, but it was still an assumption he was willing to run with. So he watched those watching the dragonfly. When the show was over Stalker commented that it was time to go to the big tent. Bugs nodded his head in agreement. "Yes, lets go."
Stalker introduces Jadduna to his companions, who welcome her to their table. Jadduna reveals that while stopping over at Triboar on her way to Mirabar, she heard word of a unique carnival nearby and decided to see it for herself.
The squadron of dragonflies and the following call of bugles seems to have sparked the crowds' interest. The majority of fair-goers are now migrating toward the Big Top. Our adventurers concur and join the flow of folk heading that way.
Halei remarks, "This place seems hellbent on distracting me."
Jadduna laughs a hearty laugh, "It sure has a way of doing that! C'mon, let's go."
You make your way out of the Feasting Orchard and follow the thoroughfare to the right toward a small wooden bridge adjacent to the Topple Tower attraction. The crowd has slowed here, where a queue has formed to cross the bridge. Folk are halted in front of you, and you are being pushed forward from the people banking up behind. The five of you find yourself stuck in the bridge's centre, unable to move forward or back.
The bridge begins to shudder and creak as the sound of stressed wood becomes increasingly prominent over the voicings of the surrounding crowd. You look down between the wooden panes at the creek flowing eight or so feet below the bridge and you question the integrity of the structure under the weight of so many.
Halei makes a grimace at the people squishing her from both in front of and behind her, bringing her arms up close to her body to brace herself. She usually doesn't mind a long queue with good company, but with being so short, crowds can be a bit uncomfortable and people tend to step on her. She looks for a possible way to squeeze through either underneath everybody or maybe even towards the railings in case there was some way to get around the crowd. Though she isn't completely sure if she should try and weezle her way through since she doesn't know if her friends could follow. Regardless, she wants to gather her options.
Stalker bellows behind, "Back up! The bridge is going!" Being short, he hopes he can yell this loud enough to be heard. If Halei is successful in getting to the rail or sneaking forward, great. If not, Stalker tries to guard his friend from the crush. "Back up, you fools, Back up!!!"
Hopefully we can get off the bridge before it goes down!
Bugs stood in the center of the bridge waiting as the line stood still. He hated lines. They were boring. He knew that as a monk he should put on his patient monk face and relax but some things in life were just drudgery. What was he supposed to do, sit and contemplate the sound of one hand standing in line forever? That didn't seem like the sort of meditation that would last very long.
When the crowd starting getting pushy his harengon ears went up and his already rather pathetic attempt at monkish patience hopped away. Then the bridge groaned and so did the giant rabbit. He grabbed the railing and looked around. He was both tall and had good hops. How far was it to the edge of the stream the bridge spanned? He had hops. Could he leap from the top of the railing and reach the edge? It might be fun to try. And it would lighten the load on the bridge by one skinny bunny.
(OOC: As a harengon he has the rabbit hop ability allowing to jump quite a ways a couple of times between long rests. If it looks like he could reach the edge of the stream - I'm guessing, I don't actually know what the bridge spans or if there is a railing to jump from - Bugs will climb to the top of the railing and make a hop for it. If that seems unlikely under the circumstances he will sadly forego the plan.)
The crowd closes in, and the bridge seems unlikely to withstand the weight of all those on it.
Stalker calls out to those behind the bridge, "Back up! The bridge is going!"
Halei looks frantically around for an under-toe escape route, and Wildred seems unphased by the goings-on around him.
Balliol,
Taking advantage of your powerful hind legs, you leap up and forward, toward the edge of the crowd off the bridge to escape the crush. Just as you clear the folk below, a giant eagle swoops down and surprises you. It grabs your shoulders in its talons and lifts you high above the crowd. Now, this is traditionally not where a hare or rabbit folk would want to find themself. But, you see the crowds streaming toward the Big Top with a birds-eye view and when you realise what is going on, your initial concern that you are about to become a meal subsides. Many other winged creatures and flying objects are moving around the sky above the carnival. Relieving the congestion by picking up fair-goers and dropping them on the far side of the enormous tent, which looks much larger than you had previously been aware. After only a few seconds of flight, you are gently landed near a back entrance to the Big Top.
Wildred, Stalker & Halei,
Shortly after Balliol is whisked away, a large hot air patchwork balloon with a wicker basket lowers from above. Several inhabitants lean over the side and drop ropes. They encourage you to grab a rope and hold on. You wrap the twisted yarn around your hands, holding firm as the balloon picks you up, along with several others and gently rises above the crowded bridge.
Jadduna calls out to you as you float high above the carnival, "Enjoy the Ride, Friends!" With a parting wink for Stalker, she dissolves back into the crowd.
The balloon lowers at the back entrance to the Big Top, where you are reunited with Balliol, and the four of you make your way into the gigantic oval tent.
...
Stalker seeks out an aisle seat for ease of exit. "Do you want down front? Middle? Back?"
Wildred taken a back by the goings on,shakily go's to follow stalker....he has never been keen of heights and quite frankly feels a little shocked at being whisked in to the air without so much as a how do.
He motions to the group some proposed seating,still shaking.
"I never thought I'd say this but this fair is becoming a bit more wild than I had anticipated, I'm beginning to think we have bitten off quite alot more than we can chew by undertaking this assignment,if you get my meaning,the sooner we find our key to the puzzle the sooner we can be done with it all....I have studied the fey and the wilds my entire career,but this fair is quite something else and we aren't even close to the wilds yet!!if this is a pattern of things to come then I'm afraid I won't be in any way inclined to continue without due caution"
Wildred is rambling and muttering to himself clearly still in shock from his unwelcomed assent into the air,he never did enjoy the high towers in Candlekeep or in his school of learning in Waterdeep.
"Still willy what goes up must come down a bit of sleep and I'm sure you'll be all set for what lies ahead"
He smiles at the others and then shakes in to his seat with his jelly legs feeling for the seat awkwardly.
Bugs looked at Wildred of the colored spectacles as he muttered about wild rides through the air. "Bit off more than we can chew? Thankfully that eagle didn't do any such thing! Snatched and carried to safety by a giant eagle and speeding along on a giant snail. You are right about one thing Wildred my friend, this place is pretty wild." He looked around at the goings on inside the huge tent. "If we see a giant octopus my bet is that it will be flying and if a lion it will be selling lollipops!"
His gaze now passed to Stalker. "Back, I would say. Somehow I think we might be less concerned with the show itself and more concerned with the goings on. Not that I really know what I'm looking for, but it is an answer to your question anyway." He indicated some seats at the back near an exit.
Relieved to escape from the crowd, Halei rather enjoys her little trip in the sky. Once back on the ground she nods to Balliol, "I would say front, but he's right, the back is probably smartest. Can't forget why we're here."
Aisle seat back row. Striker is tired of the subterfuge. A dwarf almost died in his hands!
He agrees with bugs...we aint here for fun. There is darkness afoot...a bait and switch for a circus...easy pickings. Keep your hand on your purse and the other on a blade. But beyond that...if any of you sense something lacking...point it out. Helei, you can scout about. But if there is trouble, back off. We can plan from there.
I don't mean to be crass, but there is evil afoot. Don't trust anything. I spent my life fighting - and while I'm fond of you all, I don't think you all are taking this seriously. We may have to bring our skills to bear.
Top level aisle seat...
D