"So, we either go to the carnival and seek a gnome, or Gus can take us straight to this rat boss' lair... Hayle makes a good point that we are unlikely to receive much support going directly to confront the rats." Turning back to the Oracle, Delanra adds "Lady, in your divinations, were you able to ascertain a current location for the Worg Lord?"
The oracle lets out a bark of course laughter and replies, "Sorry. It's just that that one's a bit hard to pin down. And my gift is more divining truths and portents rather than drawing Xs on maps. Your guess is as good as mine when it comes to finding the Worg Lord."
Asparagus chimes in, "Indeed. He's prone to popping up when and where you least expect him. We can try searching but I think our time would be better spent pulling one of the threads that lay before us. It's possible that confronting the Rat Boss could turn up some clues even if the King isn't being kept there. But I defer to you as far as which way to go next. Rat Boss or Clockwork Carnival?"
"You want us to chose between visiting a venue of light and joy made to bring wholesome fun to families, or searching dank and rotting corners for the diseased residents of the sewers? Hmm... a difficult choice,"Halis says, clearly leaning towards the clockwork funfair. "Why ever would one want to spend their time in a pleasant atmosphere while working when one could be coating oneself in filth instead?"
“Agreed,” Hayle said in response to Halis’s clear sarcasm. “After a few weeks at sea I hardly want to be wading around in more bilge water. The carnival sounds far more appealing.”
Gus nods at the decision seemingly reached by the majority of the group. "The Clockwork Carnival it is, then! If you'll all follow me."
The dashing tabby leaps down from the crate where we had been perched and sprints off down the street. You give chase as he leads you through another maze of alleys and lanes to yet another part of Neverwinter but eventually end up back by the river but quite a ways away.
What you all know about the Clockwork Carnival from your own experiences in and around the city is that it was established a few years ago to help showcase and promote Neverwinter’s revitalized clockwork industry. The carnival opens at sundown every evening and is situated between the Bluelake and Tower Districts. Although only a recent innovation, it has deservedly become famous throughout the North.
The main attractions are a dozen clockwork rides, including a “big wheel”, two carousels, several clockwork trains and trolleys, and a clockwork gondola. There is also a clockwork puppet show, and a clockwork re-enactment of the famous sea battle between Captain Deudermont and the pirate Pinochet. Most of the amusements cost either 1 or 2 coppers to enjoy.
The carnival also offers more traditional fare such as clowns, acrobats, trained animals, jugglers, illusionists, bards and actors. Stalls selling a variety of foods are dotted all over the carnival grounds.
You know that the Watch usually has a visible presence on the carnival grounds in the evening to keep an eye on things. You can easily see a few walking amongst the crowd, doing their rounds. Once in a while you see a half-ogre pop up above the heads of the patrons as they go about their job of rewinding mainsprings of the various clockwork attractions.
Once you arrive and take in the spectacle of the thing, you glance around and notice that Gus has disappeared once more.
The funny thing about time in narration is that you can do with it what you wish. As such, you're welcome to run through the carnival in single-minded focus on the task at hand or you can poke around, explore, and check out attractions, food, rides...whatever you'd like! There are carnival employees everywhere you look if you need directions or information.
(OOC: because of the way you describe it and its prominence in the city I am taking a few minor liberties here. Feel free to correct me if needed.)
The sounds and smells of the carnival overwhelm and excite Hayle as she entered the area. This was one of her favourite places in the whole city, though she didn't get to come here very much. All around her she could hear the mechanical whir and click of the attractions. Sideshow Alley was not a section of the carnival she frequented, however, as it was the mechanical marvels that fascinated her. Still, she knew the general direction. "This way,"she called to the others and started to make her way through the crowd. They could ask for more precise directions when they got closer.
Somewhere nearby a band had struck up, the rhythm and energy were infectious.
Upon entering the carnival grounds, as if by act of magic, Thokk has materialized the following; On his head, a cardboard hat sized for a child, a mangled set of prize tickets in one fist, and, in his remaining hand, a funnel cake. All three take turns interrupting his ability to navigate, while doing nothing to impinge upon his sense of childlike awe.
A carnival wasn't exactly Syl's style, so he was happy to have Hayle take the lead. Eventually, he would fall a few feet behind the rest of the group, trying to blend into the rest of the crowd and keep a lookout for anyone acting particularly suspicious, perhaps trailing them or otherwise looking guilty.
Appearing from between the feet of a passing carnival-goer, Gus looks up at Thokk. "What...? How...? We just arrived. Where in the world did you get all that??"
Halis, out of his element in the color and life and excitement of the carnival, decides to follow after Hayle's lead. He trails along dreamily, soaking in the sights and sounds. He does, however, stop at the clockwork puppet show. "A moment, Hayle," he says. "I wish to see if we can find out a little more about this Sparkneedle before we confront him in his own domain. This seems as good a place as any..." He donates his copper coin and stands near the back of the crowd to watch the attraction. After a few minutes of the show, his eyes wander, looking for the people who might be running the attraction, intending to move purposefully in their direction.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"A moment Hayle."
Hayle pulled up short as Halis stopped to look at the puppet show. There were a number of people around, but she wasn't sure how watching the puppet show would help them out. This particular show was getting old now, it had been performed for at least the last 3 times she had visited the carnival. Then she saw that Halis's attention was not on the show, the but crowd and the carnival workers."Oh, right. This is a great show. We can stay here for a few minutes."As Halis looks at the people, Hayle looks at the area to see if there is anything that stands out as particularly connected to rodents.
Syl: Nothing in the crowd strikes you as particularly suspicious at this point.
The puppet show clicks and whirrs to life as triumphant, if not quite in tune, music bellows from the mechanisms beneath the stage. A cartoonish rendition of Tyndal's legendary boyhood battle with lizardfolk raiders to protect his family and their trade wagon while crossing the Delimbiyr River begins to play out as you scan the gathered crowd. It seems the only person paying any attention to anything but the show is the grizzled gnome in an ill-fitting, flamboyant carnival costume who took your copper. He mills about, adjusting his uncomfortable outfit, counting the coins in the till, scratching himself, looking around the enraptured faces. Then he locks eyes with you, clearly startled that you're just staring at him, and pointedly goes back to his other pastimes of adjusting, scratching, and reassuring himself that the money is still there.
Halis approaches the grizzled gnome with a smile. "Hello there, sir! A fine show you run here," he says, making sure to keep his voice from carrying so as not to disturb the on-going play. "The technical mastery and inventiveness of this fine gnomish craftsmanship continues to astound and amaze me," he says. "Your puppet show is both a work of art and a valuable vehicle to spark the interest of the youth of today in studying their history. Education and entertainment combined - a marvel indeed. You do good work here, sir, and are to be lauded for it. Please, take this as both a sign of my good will and appreciation for your hard work. It is truly well earned." He hands the old man a gold coin as he says this, before continuing smoothly.
"Tell me... might you know anything of Sparkshow Alley? It was to be my next destination, but after seeing this marvel of a production, I would so hate to be disappointed. I've heard that one Sparkneedle runs that particular attraction. Is he nearly as talented and high-minded as you are, my good man? I've coin to spread at this marvelous venue, but I'd rather grant it to those deserving, who use their skills to bring good to this world, as you have."
Delanra saunters through the crowds, affecting a aire of nobility that manages to part most of the press of people from her path, though the odd few that stop to gawk at Thokk were clearly awestruck and nothing short of a crossbow bolt to teh chest would have turned their attention elsewhere. "A truly ingenious place this... There is a cleverness to making all the pieces, cogs, springs, gears, work together in such a fashion as to acheive the overall greater effect. Something truly wonderous acheived without a hint of magic. Yes, truly ingenious." Her musings, posed out loud though to no-one in particular, had a tone of apprecitation for the sights and sounds that now surrounded them.
As the group stopped in front of the puppet show, Del leaned towards it inspecting the pieces on display and trying to peer at the machinery behind the scenes. As the gnome lowers his gaze, she picks the moment to press him. "Do be a good little fellow and open it up for us. The engineering behind these smaller attractions is far more intricate close up. Maybe you would know, are they made by someone at the carnival?" She gives the gnome a very convincing false smile, and her demeanour seems a lot warmer than usual.
"Wot...this?" croaks the old gnome clearly confused at being addressed directly rather than just tossed the requisite copper and passed by. "I di'n't make it or nufin'. Don't even fink it was gnomes what built the fing. I jus' stands 'ere an' counts the money, see? An' I can't go openin' it up whilst it's runnin'. Come to fink of it, not rightly sure I can open it up. I just flips the switch and Blorg over there comes to wind it between shows, see?" He jerks his chin beyond the crowd and you can see one of the half-ogres walking between attractions with an oversized clock key swung over his shoulder. "I fink most of the attractions was made by elves or dwarves or summat but I'm not rightly sure."
He happily accepts the gold coin and moves to put it in the till before stopping (pieces, cogs, springs, and gears clearly turning in his brain now), glancing back at you, and sliding it into his pocket with a wink.
"I s'pose you mean Sideshow Alley. 'S a right freakfest, init? Wonders to boggle the mind an' all that. See the tents o'er 'ere?" He motions with his head again. "That's it. But how'd you come by the name 'Sparkneedle' anyway? Not many what comes to enjoy the ol' razzle-dazzle of the Carnival knows the names of the impersarios therein, now do they?" He chuckles gruffly. "Don't know 'bout 'high-minded' an' all that, but Balink sure is...talented. Man could squeeze electrum an' make a diamond come out, he could." He laughs himself into a coughing fit before taking a deep breath and righting himself.
You hear a discordant fanfare from the show signaling the end of the battle scene and the gnome straightens up. "I fank you for your patronage but if you don' mind, I mus' needs prepare for the next show. There's switches to flip and coppers to collect, aren't there?" He smiles, looks past you, and waves to Blorg over the crowd, signaling that his services would soon be needed.
"So, we either go to the carnival and seek a gnome, or Gus can take us straight to this rat boss' lair... Hayle makes a good point that we are unlikely to receive much support going directly to confront the rats." Turning back to the Oracle, Delanra adds "Lady, in your divinations, were you able to ascertain a current location for the Worg Lord?"
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
The oracle lets out a bark of course laughter and replies, "Sorry. It's just that that one's a bit hard to pin down. And my gift is more divining truths and portents rather than drawing Xs on maps. Your guess is as good as mine when it comes to finding the Worg Lord."
Asparagus chimes in, "Indeed. He's prone to popping up when and where you least expect him. We can try searching but I think our time would be better spent pulling one of the threads that lay before us. It's possible that confronting the Rat Boss could turn up some clues even if the King isn't being kept there. But I defer to you as far as which way to go next. Rat Boss or Clockwork Carnival?"
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
"Let's go ruffle this Rat King's fur," Syl some quick boxing motions.
DM - Above & Below
"You want us to chose between visiting a venue of light and joy made to bring wholesome fun to families, or searching dank and rotting corners for the diseased residents of the sewers? Hmm... a difficult choice," Halis says, clearly leaning towards the clockwork funfair. "Why ever would one want to spend their time in a pleasant atmosphere while working when one could be coating oneself in filth instead?"
“Agreed,” Hayle said in response to Halis’s clear sarcasm. “After a few weeks at sea I hardly want to be wading around in more bilge water. The carnival sounds far more appealing.”
"Tokk want go to carnival..." trailing off wistfully, Thokk is likely motivated less by the utility of the decision then by which one sounds more fun.
Gus nods at the decision seemingly reached by the majority of the group. "The Clockwork Carnival it is, then! If you'll all follow me."
The dashing tabby leaps down from the crate where we had been perched and sprints off down the street. You give chase as he leads you through another maze of alleys and lanes to yet another part of Neverwinter but eventually end up back by the river but quite a ways away.
What you all know about the Clockwork Carnival from your own experiences in and around the city is that it was established a few years ago to help showcase and promote Neverwinter’s revitalized clockwork industry. The carnival opens at sundown every evening and is situated between the Bluelake and Tower Districts. Although only a recent innovation, it has deservedly become famous throughout the North.
The main attractions are a dozen clockwork rides, including a “big wheel”, two carousels, several clockwork trains and trolleys, and a clockwork gondola. There is also a clockwork puppet show, and a clockwork re-enactment of the famous sea battle between Captain Deudermont and the pirate Pinochet. Most of the amusements cost either 1 or 2 coppers to enjoy.
The carnival also offers more traditional fare such as clowns, acrobats, trained animals, jugglers, illusionists, bards and actors. Stalls selling a variety of foods are dotted all over the carnival grounds.
You know that the Watch usually has a visible presence on the carnival grounds in the evening to keep an eye on things. You can easily see a few walking amongst the crowd, doing their rounds. Once in a while you see a half-ogre pop up above the heads of the patrons as they go about their job of rewinding mainsprings of the various clockwork attractions.
Once you arrive and take in the spectacle of the thing, you glance around and notice that Gus has disappeared once more.
The funny thing about time in narration is that you can do with it what you wish. As such, you're welcome to run through the carnival in single-minded focus on the task at hand or you can poke around, explore, and check out attractions, food, rides...whatever you'd like! There are carnival employees everywhere you look if you need directions or information.
Now...what would you like to do first?
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
(OOC: because of the way you describe it and its prominence in the city I am taking a few minor liberties here. Feel free to correct me if needed.)
The sounds and smells of the carnival overwhelm and excite Hayle as she entered the area. This was one of her favourite places in the whole city, though she didn't get to come here very much. All around her she could hear the mechanical whir and click of the attractions. Sideshow Alley was not a section of the carnival she frequented, however, as it was the mechanical marvels that fascinated her. Still, she knew the general direction. "This way," she called to the others and started to make her way through the crowd. They could ask for more precise directions when they got closer.
Somewhere nearby a band had struck up, the rhythm and energy were infectious.
Upon entering the carnival grounds, as if by act of magic, Thokk has materialized the following; On his head, a cardboard hat sized for a child, a mangled set of prize tickets in one fist, and, in his remaining hand, a funnel cake. All three take turns interrupting his ability to navigate, while doing nothing to impinge upon his sense of childlike awe.
A carnival wasn't exactly Syl's style, so he was happy to have Hayle take the lead. Eventually, he would fall a few feet behind the rest of the group, trying to blend into the rest of the crowd and keep a lookout for anyone acting particularly suspicious, perhaps trailing them or otherwise looking guilty.
DM - Above & Below
Syl, roll a perception check.
Appearing from between the feet of a passing carnival-goer, Gus looks up at Thokk. "What...? How...? We just arrived. Where in the world did you get all that??"
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
Mouth full of funnel cake, Thokk replies, "If ghood. Ah, me come 'ere alda time." Nodding enthusiastically he adds, "Gonna win huge teddy bear."
Gus rolls his eyes and disappears into the crowd once more as the DM laughs on the other side of the fourth wall.
Does the group follow Hayle's lead or do you explore a bit first?
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
Syl perception: 13
DM - Above & Below
Halis, out of his element in the color and life and excitement of the carnival, decides to follow after Hayle's lead. He trails along dreamily, soaking in the sights and sounds. He does, however, stop at the clockwork puppet show. "A moment, Hayle," he says. "I wish to see if we can find out a little more about this Sparkneedle before we confront him in his own domain. This seems as good a place as any..." He donates his copper coin and stands near the back of the crowd to watch the attraction. After a few minutes of the show, his eyes wander, looking for the people who might be running the attraction, intending to move purposefully in their direction.
Hayle pulled up short as Halis stopped to look at the puppet show. There were a number of people around, but she wasn't sure how watching the puppet show would help them out. This particular show was getting old now, it had been performed for at least the last 3 times she had visited the carnival. Then she saw that Halis's attention was not on the show, the but crowd and the carnival workers. "Oh, right. This is a great show. We can stay here for a few minutes." As Halis looks at the people, Hayle looks at the area to see if there is anything that stands out as particularly connected to rodents.
Investigation: 20
Syl: Nothing in the crowd strikes you as particularly suspicious at this point.
The puppet show clicks and whirrs to life as triumphant, if not quite in tune, music bellows from the mechanisms beneath the stage. A cartoonish rendition of Tyndal's legendary boyhood battle with lizardfolk raiders to protect his family and their trade wagon while crossing the Delimbiyr River begins to play out as you scan the gathered crowd. It seems the only person paying any attention to anything but the show is the grizzled gnome in an ill-fitting, flamboyant carnival costume who took your copper. He mills about, adjusting his uncomfortable outfit, counting the coins in the till, scratching himself, looking around the enraptured faces. Then he locks eyes with you, clearly startled that you're just staring at him, and pointedly goes back to his other pastimes of adjusting, scratching, and reassuring himself that the money is still there.
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
Halis approaches the grizzled gnome with a smile. "Hello there, sir! A fine show you run here," he says, making sure to keep his voice from carrying so as not to disturb the on-going play. "The technical mastery and inventiveness of this fine gnomish craftsmanship continues to astound and amaze me," he says. "Your puppet show is both a work of art and a valuable vehicle to spark the interest of the youth of today in studying their history. Education and entertainment combined - a marvel indeed. You do good work here, sir, and are to be lauded for it. Please, take this as both a sign of my good will and appreciation for your hard work. It is truly well earned." He hands the old man a gold coin as he says this, before continuing smoothly.
"Tell me... might you know anything of Sparkshow Alley? It was to be my next destination, but after seeing this marvel of a production, I would so hate to be disappointed. I've heard that one Sparkneedle runs that particular attraction. Is he nearly as talented and high-minded as you are, my good man? I've coin to spread at this marvelous venue, but I'd rather grant it to those deserving, who use their skills to bring good to this world, as you have."
Delanra saunters through the crowds, affecting a aire of nobility that manages to part most of the press of people from her path, though the odd few that stop to gawk at Thokk were clearly awestruck and nothing short of a crossbow bolt to teh chest would have turned their attention elsewhere. "A truly ingenious place this... There is a cleverness to making all the pieces, cogs, springs, gears, work together in such a fashion as to acheive the overall greater effect. Something truly wonderous acheived without a hint of magic. Yes, truly ingenious." Her musings, posed out loud though to no-one in particular, had a tone of apprecitation for the sights and sounds that now surrounded them.
As the group stopped in front of the puppet show, Del leaned towards it inspecting the pieces on display and trying to peer at the machinery behind the scenes. As the gnome lowers his gaze, she picks the moment to press him. "Do be a good little fellow and open it up for us. The engineering behind these smaller attractions is far more intricate close up. Maybe you would know, are they made by someone at the carnival?" She gives the gnome a very convincing false smile, and her demeanour seems a lot warmer than usual.
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
"Wot...this?" croaks the old gnome clearly confused at being addressed directly rather than just tossed the requisite copper and passed by. "I di'n't make it or nufin'. Don't even fink it was gnomes what built the fing. I jus' stands 'ere an' counts the money, see? An' I can't go openin' it up whilst it's runnin'. Come to fink of it, not rightly sure I can open it up. I just flips the switch and Blorg over there comes to wind it between shows, see?" He jerks his chin beyond the crowd and you can see one of the half-ogres walking between attractions with an oversized clock key swung over his shoulder. "I fink most of the attractions was made by elves or dwarves or summat but I'm not rightly sure."
He happily accepts the gold coin and moves to put it in the till before stopping (pieces, cogs, springs, and gears clearly turning in his brain now), glancing back at you, and sliding it into his pocket with a wink.
"I s'pose you mean Sideshow Alley. 'S a right freakfest, init? Wonders to boggle the mind an' all that. See the tents o'er 'ere?" He motions with his head again. "That's it. But how'd you come by the name 'Sparkneedle' anyway? Not many what comes to enjoy the ol' razzle-dazzle of the Carnival knows the names of the impersarios therein, now do they?" He chuckles gruffly. "Don't know 'bout 'high-minded' an' all that, but Balink sure is...talented. Man could squeeze electrum an' make a diamond come out, he could." He laughs himself into a coughing fit before taking a deep breath and righting himself.
You hear a discordant fanfare from the show signaling the end of the battle scene and the gnome straightens up. "I fank you for your patronage but if you don' mind, I mus' needs prepare for the next show. There's switches to flip and coppers to collect, aren't there?" He smiles, looks past you, and waves to Blorg over the crowd, signaling that his services would soon be needed.
Now what?
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age