Horatio:

Horatio doesn't quite know how to feel about being admonished in this situation. On one hand, he does sort of feel like a kid getting caught red-handed with the cookie-jar. On the other... the cookie jar is an evil gateway that steals people. He doesn't fight the others as they pull him away, but at the same time, he yells back at them. "What are you talking about? That magic mirror opened up like a door and that guy was about to get suckered into going through it! Don't you see, that's probably where the other missing people are! We have to get it open!"

Still arguing, Horatio, Cad, and Edgardo exit the tent into the dark night. The ticket-taker is gone, and a sign reading "Closed - back in 30 minutes" is in its place. The crowd is relatively thin. Colors appear especially vibrant, and shooting stars sweep across the clear midnight sky.

Bob, Ben, Matilda, Alyeira, and Colin:
Meanwhile, the Big Top show seems to be coming to a grand conclusion. A tiefling fire-breather summons capering magma mephits and smoke mephits that eventually vanish in a puff of smoke, while an elven ballerina dances with animated costumes that spring from a magic wardrobe. A troupe of eight clowns launch themselves from a magic cannon, while a goblin juggler catches and juggles objects tossed to her by the crowd (as many as eight objects at a time.) The pale mime - whom Matilda and Alyeira recognize as the ticket-taker from the Hall of Illusions - plays silent games with audience members. The music is reaching a crescendo. 

Bob felt invigorated, he had long wished to be part of an act and had now fulfilled his life-long dream.  'Good folk, these,' he thought merrily to himself, 'ain't wrong'uns if they can perform like that!'

He beams with pride as both Mr Light congratulates them all.  "Most fun I’ve had in years!” he agrees, mimicking Ben.  The burly gentleman had summed up the night's events brilliantly.

Disappointment momentarily hits him as he realises the show is coming to an end.  To Bob, it had seemed as though the evening's task had gone well.  He had saved a patron from potential injury and performed in The Big Top, all the while keeping a close, but respectable, eye on the Carnival visitors.  All things considered, the day had been a roaring success.

Colin attempts to find his way "backstage" and catch up with Witch and Light

Big Top:

The show ends with a bang (as all eight clowns are launched together out of the magical cannon to thundering applause) just as Colin tries to work his way back to the dressing room. The crowd begins to stand and move, and performers begin to exit into the dressing room.

The backstage area is a smaller, circular tent adjoining the Big Top. The curtained doorway between the Big Top and the dressing room is guarded by two Witchlight hands bickering over the appeal of the acts while sharing a bottle of pear cider. Colin knows they allow only performers and other Witchlight hands to pass through the curtain, so they pay no mind to him.

This dressing room scene is a scene of colorful clutter: tables strewn with makeup kits and glass jewelry, mirrors trimmed with glowing orbs of light, and chests of drawers and wardrobes spilling over with garments. It's a hive of activity as the clowns begin to scrub off makeup. Witch and Light, however, are nowhere to be seen. They must have slipped out the back entrance or by other means.

Meanwhile, the bugbear, still carrying his jack-o-lantern helmet, waves sternly at Matilda and Alyeira from near the exit, gesturing them to follow him.

Ben:

At the theatrical conclusion, Ben stands and cops enthusiastically, then starts heading for the exit with the other spectators.  As wonderful as this has been, the night feels like it is approaching a close, and the sense that so many things amused him is starting to fade.  His wings, which had started to take on vibrant hues, start dulling back towards gray as he leaves.

Cadwallader:

Cad, having missed Rubin's interaction with the mirror and the pig-masked girl, looks at Horatio askance. "Are you feeling all right? Maybe the fair's too much for you. It is a bit overwhelming. Perhaps we should find someplace calmer than the Hall of Illusions -- that was probably a bad idea anyway, given your... condition." He sees the crowd leaving the Big Top and sighs with regret. But then he spots Ben. "Ben! How was the show?" He looks around. "You appear to have lost your Kenku 'escort.' Are we trustworthy now?"

Ben:

A mixture of spent exuberance and a sweet sadness that the entertaining evening is coming to a close, Ben perks up at Cadwallader's greeting, responding, "Aye, it was a fantastic show -- and we even got to participate a bit.  I didn't see you in there, though...did you run into some trouble along the way?  Most of us sat together during the show, but I lost them in the crowd as I was leaving."

“Best not keep management waiting.”

Alyeira follows the bugbear, brow furrowing as she wonders what the higher-ups want with her and Matilda. 

Quote from 3aeros3 >>

“Best not keep management waiting.”

Alyeira follows the bugbear, brow furrowing as she wonders what the higher-ups want with her and Matilda. 

 " Are we in trouble?"

Horatio:

The young man almost wells up with tears of frustration at Cad's remarks. The girl had swifted away the fellow, and with neither about to corroborate what happened Horatio was at a loss for words. And the mirror was magical. His tool didn't leave even a scratch. A numbness washes over him. A fatigue and sense of loss all too familiar. 

"Perhaps you're right.. perhaps you always were. I need to leave and never return. This place... this place is pure evil... and everyone is willfully blind to it. At least... at least it didn't take my brother from me way back then." But it did. He knew it in his heart even as he spoke the words. The curse. 

Edgardo 

The "tailless" rabbit-folk leads Horatio from the mirrored Hall. Cads suggestion feels like it should be accurate, but the sense of adventure and amusement that had enveloped Edgardo earlier still has not abated. "Perhaps something substantial to eat will sort you out. I saw some feast tables over beyond the Lost Property cart." While he did have concern for the young man, his real motive for suggesting the Feasting Tables was the Carousel across the way. "Come on. A good meal 'll get your mind off things". He grabs at Horatio's hand and scampers towards the other side of the carnival.

Alyeira and Matilda follow the bugbear, who has now put on his pumpkin helmet. He leads them toward the staff area, behind the Big Top and the row of snack stalls nearby. "There’s nothing to worry about. The bosses are in high spirits," replies the bugbear to Matilda. Alyeira knows him by sight – he seems to be a close assistant to Witch and Light. The staff refers to him as "Burly" although she doesn't know if that's his real name.

Ben and Cad are nearby – in front of the snack stalls. They can see Alyeira and Matilda departing. (Is Bob nearby, too?)

Horatio and Edgardo are outside the Hall of Illusions. They can see Ben and Cad, not far away. Horatio heads toward them, and toward the Carousel and Feasting Orchard, which are in the same direction.

Colin is in the Dressing Room behind the Big Top. A casket of costume jewelry sits nearby. The front and rear halves of a two-person unicorn costume are draped over the lid. The tent is crowded with performers changing out of their costumes.

It's well after midnight now, but the carnival is going stronger than ever. Colin, Alyeira, and Bob know that there's another big event in the Big Top scheduled just before dawn - the "Crowning the Witchlight Monarch". But that's still a few hours away.

Huffing and puffing, Bob moves as quickly towards the snack stalls as his little feet will take him.  He had momentarily, in the jubilation of the show, lost his charge.  Sure, he trusted the visitors, they had been both courteous and good fun since they had entered the Carnival.  Nonetheless, the little kenku had been told to keep an eye on them and he was currently failing in his duty.

He spots the burly man known as Ben, speaking to the older gentleman known as Cadwallader, and gives a small hop of joy at his good fortune.  "Mister Ben!  Mister Ben!"  Bob says, waving his feathered arms and almost knocking his clockwork bird, Dunstable, from his shoulder.  "You mustn't stray too far from the Big Top!  You'll miss the "Crowning the Witchlight Monarch", it's only..."  He digs into his satchel and pulls out a thingymajig, cranking its metal arms and blowing gently across its surface, "a few hours away!"

Looking up at the array of snack stalls, he scratches the bottom of his beak as though contemplating.  "Or perhaps you fancied a bite to eat?  A capital idea!  Wha' did y'fancy?"

((Based on his knowledge of the Carnival, is there any particular snacks that Bob would recommend?))

Ben:

”You mean that wasn’t it for the night?  The carnival is still open?  What else fun is there to do here?” asks Ben enthusiastically, reinvigorated by the news.

Looking at the expressions on some of the others’ faces, he adds, “But I can help try and find the lost people and items  first, if you like.”

Cadwallader:

"I think we're going to grab a bite before hitting another attraction." Leaning close he says quietly to Ben, "Horatio is acting strangely. He went into the Hall of Illusions after a young man -- I'll explain that later -- and when I followed he'd removed several mirrors from the walls. Then he tried to break one! I'm not sure we can leave him alone. I'd help look for his reflection, but I have no idea where to start -- can one's reflection be taken, and if so by whom?" He then sees the Kenku -- Bob, I think -- heading their way. "Looks like you've been spotted. Care to join us for some feasting?"

Bob swells up with pride, he'd never been asked to join in by a Carnival guest before.  "Y-yes.  I mean, yes please!"  Bob answers Cadwallader.  "What takes your fancy?"

"No, no, the Carnival is just getting started," chimes Bob in response to Ben's question.  "The "Crowning the Witchlight Monarch" is quite the event and should be," Bob wets a feathered finger and sticks it up in the air, "around dawn.  If my calculations are correct."

"Thar be much t'do in the meantime, laddie," Bob says, a new voice emanating from him.  "Bes' yer 'ave a bite t'eat, then we'll 'ave a looksie abou' wha' t'do next.  a'right?"

Ben:

"I have already had a snack, but I could go for something a bit heartier at the feasting tables...though it may be fun to take a ride on the carousel on the way, do you think?" responds Ben to Cadwallader, though his face scrunches up in concern at Horatio's behavior.

Insight on Horatio:  12

Pumpkin-helmeted Burly the bugbear leads Alyeira and Matilda behind the Big Top. With a wave of his hand, the bugbear creates an opening in the wall of thorns that surrounds the circle of staff wagons, and leads you through it. Leaning against a particularly ostentatious wagon is an aging clown with a painted grin. He puffs on a bubble pipe and glares at you as the bugbear, ignoring the clown, opens the wagon’s door and ushers you inside.

Colin continues to nose around the dressing room. He finds a chest full of (harmless) detractable daggers, as the last of the performers change out of their Big Top outfits.

Bob catches up to Ben and Cad. (Bob has a strong sweet tooth – he has a bottomless appetite for the blue-frosted cupcakes available at many stalls.)
They head toward the Feasting Orchard. (Presumably joined by Horatio and Edgardo?)

They pass more snack stalls, together with a "Guess the Number of Feathers" stall. (“Birds of a feather? How about feathers of a bird? Step right up and guess how many feathers festoon this fiendish fowl!” crows the gap-toothed old barker.)

They pass a shimmering lake, ringed by a thin crowd. Mist gathers at its banks. Near its center, a mermaid lounges in a giant bowl, singing a glorious, haunting song that captivates spectators on the lakeshore. In response, the lake water coalesces into magical sculptures that whirl around her as she performs.

From a jetty protruding in the lake, enormous swans glide through the water, pulling ornate wooden gondolas draped in flowers. The swans disappear into banks of silver mist as they wend their way down the river.

The carousel catches Ben's eye. A procession of wooden unicorns stands motionless on a circular wooden platform. A female centaur seems to be in charge. 

Finally, they see the feasting orchard ahead – a pretty park filled with musicians, acrobats, and picnickers at tables.

Horatio:

Feeling totally dejected and uncertain, Horatio sees the mermaid singing and the apparent serenity of the pond and walks away from the others. He makes his way to the dock and sits at the end, watching the singer and her birds. His mind is a mixture of racing thoughts. On the one hand is the inevitability of the carnival coming to a close for the night with nothing accomplished, and then the reality that he did see a malevolent person using some kind of magic to lure a man into the mirror. The things he learned this night validated all of his years of frustration about the carnival, but also challenged his childlike notions of coming here now and confronting this place. Who is he confronting, and why does no one else see what he sees?

He is reminded of an old man who lives in town. The man is addled and sees things that are not there, having conversations with no one at all. Perhaps the carnival stole his mind? Perhaps some people are just crazy... it is that thought above all else that haunts Horatio. What if nothing he saw is real? What if he really is the only one who feels the way he does because he is the only one who can - a crazy person? A shiver runs up his spine as he sits alone. He tries to let go of his anger as the wrestles with the weight of this night and the stinging apathy of everyone around him.

"Always alone." He reminds himself. Not even a reflection to keep him company.