Where we left off:
Simon, you recall, and get a tingling sense of guidance, that your two of your friends have been charmed. You can't tell if it was the berries or the dryads themselves, and you have no clue how long this may continue. It seems they are powerless to stop it though.

The Rules Say: The Charmed creature regards the dryad as a trusted friend to be heeded and protected. Although the target isn't under the dryad's control, it takes the dryad's requests or Actions in the most favorable way it can.

So Corlack and Gork technically aren't being controlled, they are actually enjoying it.
Boris is now immune to the charm. (While technically you are only immune to the dryad that cast the charm, I'm just simplifying it by not having a different dryad attempt to charm him)

Half of the dryads run off into the darkness, leaving four dryads dancing with Corlack and Bork. They try to get Boris to dance but it seems their charms have failed against him, and now they turn to Simon and Davik...

"What am I doing? Taking notes when I should be dancing too! Let's boogie!"

The gnome tucks his spell book into his robe and gets up and joins the dance.

Simon succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be magically Charmed.

---

Corlack
Corlack makes room to let the gnome into the circle.

---

Boris
"Snap out of it you dunderheads, we got places to be." Boris barked to the others. "Excuse me ladies, I know that you are rather impressive to look at, even though you do not have beards like our womenfolk. Is there there something that you need help with? Maybe some orcs that are burning down your forest you want us to take care of?" he asked.

---

Da Professa
The four dryads shrug and shake their heads "no" and make it clear they just wanna hang out and dance the night away.

---

Gork
Gork danced the dance of his life!

You all finally stop dancing, only Simon and Boris aware of the passage of time, and even they are not quite sure if it was minutes or hours.

The sky is still night, the stars bright and beautiful between the pines. The trees seem much much more alive.

The dryads wave at you and motion for you to follow them north. But you are supposed to head west.

Davik, "Friends! This may not be a good idea. I fear we may have become lost in this forest. I fear we might have slipped into the FEYWILD!"

"Huh? The what wild?" Corlack says as he comes to his senses. Corlack waves at the dryads. "It looks like the nice ladies want us to follow."

Davik rubs his head, "Yeah. It's like another dimension where all kinds of magic creatures exist and sometimes things go really well, sometimes not so much."

Suddenly he looks scared, "Where did the donkey go??? Aghh!"

The magic of this place...you feel it so strong. You feel strong!!!!

Everyone level up! Level 2!

Corlack slowly turns in a full circle, taking in his surroundings. "Uh. Can't we just keep walking and end up at the Candlekeep?"

"And here I thought we were going to get more quests from Candlekeep monks to retrieve books." Gork sighed then turned to Davik and patiently started to explain. "Look, Corlack's right. I'm not sure what the fay wilde is but if these ladies were evil they were already trying to kill us. Rest assured we are fine. And we could always retrace our steps if you left some items on our way wherever we were going."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:27, Wed 09 Feb 2022.

"Gork smart," Corlack says plainly. "If we are lost in fey wild, then we just turn around. We took one road here. Take one road back."

"That's the spirit!" Gork patted Corlack on the shoulder then turned to Davik. "See nothing to be afraid of! Where to now ladies?"
He grinned a bit maniacally.

The dryads continue to beckon you on to the north as they make they way deeper into the night-shrouded forest.

Glancing back the way you believe you came, you can't find signs of any trail. The trees press close, branches hanging low, and underbrush thick. Not even a game trail to allow passage of any local fauna seems present here.

Davik looks after the dryads, "The Feywild is the plane of faeries and fey. You see, there's planes, like alternate dimensions. The Feywild, Shadowfell...well, there are a lot. Each is different and each extreme, at least according to my studies. They Feywild is a place of unrestrained emotions, where those here are creatures of whimsy and follow their desires. It's not a place to be taken lightly. It's also not a place that was on the way.

"Though, I'm unsure how well turning around will work. I don't remember really how we got here," he blushes a bit though it's difficult to tell too easily in the moonlight, "what with the dancing and all."

"We had better get back on track and find out where we are." Boris said, looking to the sky.  "We need to find a clearing and get our bearings. The trees are making it hard to see the stars."

06:46, Today: Boris rolled 8 using 1d20+4.  survival Direction to Candlekeep

"Like I said we just turn around and..." Corlack booms out as he turns around himself and takes in the wild forest. Unable to move his head much, his entire body flounders around as he tries to figure out where the trail has gone, after awhile he slouches forward. "Not good," he says in a far quieter, dejected voice.

Assuming I'm still charmed

Gork sighed again.

"No worries, once we get some rest we just simply ask the ladies to go back. Sheesh why are you guys so scared?"

The charm fades, along with it all sense of direction until Davik spots something in the thick grass.

He picks up a tiny dreamcatcher. "Hmmmm. This is interesting. I suppose someone has been this way."

Just a bit further that direction Gork spots Spectacle frames in the shape of butterfly wings. The glass has been removed.

Just a bit further that direction Boris finds a Tiny beehive wig made for sprites or pixies. It wont look good on him. Won't fit anyway.

Then, further still, Corlack finds a Wooden pan flute. Wonder how it sounds?

Davik strokes his beard, "Weirder and weirder my friends. We have come quite a ways this way, what do you think? One direction is as good as any other when you're lost."

Corlack holds the pan flute up to his good eye and tries to peer through it. "Strange thingie," he says as he tries to see through each hole.

The holes are a bit dirty from lying on the forest floor, but there does not seem to be anything that would keep them from playing notes. You do not see anything out of the ordinary.

Davik explains what it is, but then realizes that anything in the feywild could be anything, and he gets very excited. "Oh, Corlack, that's a flute, my dear boy, you blow in it to make music. Not a telescope by any means. Unless it IS! Of course it could be! Why wouldn't it be?!?!?! What do you seeeeee?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:39, Wed 09 Mar 2022.

"Being lost in the woods can be a slow way to die. Maybe one of you can climb up a tree to get out bearings? There might be enough light from the city to point us in the right direction." Boris suggested, looking at the tiny wig and shaking his head.

"I just see dirt," Corlack replies to Davik before covering as many of the holes as possible with his mouth and blowing it as hard as he can. "It's a strange sounding horn," Corlack says before offering it to Davik.

Corlack nods to Boris and begins climbing up the sturdiest looking tree nearby.

09:03, Today: Corlack rolled 17 using 1d20+5 ((12)).

"I ain't climbing no trees." The wizard gnome says, touching the one painful callous he has on his poor left hand from the last time he had to do the slightest physical labor.

The flute doesn't sound great.

Davik puts up his hands, "That's yours Corlack, I got my own special trinket and that's fine with me. Plus now your mouth has been on it."

Corlack easily gets 17 feet up into a tree and sees many lights in the direction we have been travelling. In the glow he sees colorful tents and well kept wagons. It looks like a travelling carnival.

"Looks like some kind of a strange caravan," Corlack calls down from the tree. "Bright tents and wagons and lots of lights. Maybe they can tell us how to get to Candlekeep."

Corlack quickly climbs down.

At that moment some rustling in the leaves and two new faces step into the light.

I will allow them to introduce themselves.

Dominic is tall and reasonably muscled for a human, with brown hair and brown eyes. When traveling he wears studded leather over hard wearing clothes, with a rapier and dagger at his belt, along, of course, with the obligatory pouch full of whatever he wants easy access to.

On his back is a half filled pack with a waterskin attached.

He stops and raises an eyebrow when he sees the crowd gathered in front of him. He starts walking around them quietly.

Niruk is od average height for an Elf, sharp featured with violet eyes set into a face ringed with auburn curls. He is dressed in leathers and woolens and also carries a rapier and dagger as well as a bow strapped to his pack.

Looking around at the group he has encountered he looks them over for a few seconds before a friendly smile sprouts on his face. "Well hello there, what have we here?"

"Hey! I see you!" a booming goliath voice calls out as the human flanks the group. His left hand reaches for a warhammer, and his left eye -his good eye- briefly glances at the large piece of wood he's been using as a shield which he had to take off the climb the tree.

"We're lost.  Looking for Candlekeep. Do you know where?" he replies to the elf. "You weren't watching us dance were you?" he asks a little bit sheepishly.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:31, Mon 14 Mar 2022.

Dom nods, "That's good. I see you too."

With very little motion in his neck, the hunched over goliath turns his body to look at the human, "Well, uh ok then..." he says sounding perplexed.

The gnome wizard sneezes into his hand "MGLGHT!" and two balls of warm orange light float over to Dominic and Niruk so he can see them better.

"They look friendly to me! We're friendly! I mean, that is to say, we are completely lost and were considering heading toward that carnival. Are you lost too? We know where we are. We are in the feywild and are going to that carnival."
Not for one moment does he seem confused about how little sense he makes.

"Join the club. They had a ball dancing in the Feywild and the forest made it hard for us to get our bearings." Boris said, looking over the elf and gnome.

Corlack straps the makeshift shield to his ruined right arm in case any fighting might occur. "What's a carnival? I don't want to dance again."

Dom looks up from where he's going around the crowd of strangers, "it's a collection of confidence game on wheels. Which reminds me." He stops, takes off his belt purse and puts it in his pack, working it down to the bottom. "Oh, and sometimes some entertainers to distract you from the pick pockets working the crowds."

"I don't want to dance either."
Gork seems to have fallen asleep as new people arrived.
"So how did you guys get here?"
He seems a bit suspicious.

Davik the gnome wizard also stuffs his coin purse deep into his backpack then adds, "How indeed! We ourselves are not too sure about our arrival, did it happen before after or during our charmed dance influenced by the dryads???? What is more important is, do you care to join us? Much easier to watch each others backs when there are more of us. General trustworthyness implied."

"They aren't Fey Wildians?" Corlack asks.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:39, Wed 16 Mar 2022.

"Oh good question. Are you guys feywildians????"

Dom looks puzzled while he works out the syntax, "No, I'm not a local. And, if this is the Feywild, local humans are called Tuathan."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:31, Wed 16 Mar 2022.

Gork sighed.
"Fine. I'm Gork. A member of the Luters, a semi-secret organization dedicated to promoting good, preserving history (including art and music of old), and maintaining a balance between civilization and nature by keeping kingdoms small and the destruction of animal and plant life to a minimum. Who are you guys?"
It didn't really help that he pronounced his organization as "Looters".

"I'm Corlack Bearfrightener," Corlack offers after Gork. After strapping the shield onto his arm he tests to make sure the leather thongs he used are secure.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:50, Wed 16 Mar 2022.

Dom looks wistfully to the far side of the group from whence he'd started and shrugs, "I'm Dominic."

"Why are you two lurking about? Flanking us even. Speak your intentions."

Dom blinks and his eyes narrow. "Dear boy, keep perspective. You lot were lurking. I was merely trying to walk around you when I stumbled upon you lurking here in the woods. Would you have preferred I just walked through through you all? Please. I, at least, have a modicum of manners."

"Corlack is no boy!" he roars and bangs the warhammer against his shield. "Dominic lurk, not Corlack! Carts can't lurk!" he yells as he bangs the warhammer against the cart, jostling Davik from the impact.

He calms down a little bit and says, "Next time call out if meet someone in woods. Being sneaky almost put you in danger. Off you go. On your way. No more lurking." He clearly is not trusting of the two.

Dom blinks, "You find walking in plain sight to be sneaky? How very...peculiar. Nonetheless, I generally don't interrupt strangers in mid conversation merely to tell them I'm walking by. It's rather intrusive, impolite, and self centered, wouldn't you say?"

"This no busy city road. This forest." Corlack waves his warhammer around as if his point needed to be accentuated. "Bandits. Robbers. Outlaws. Need make intentions clear."

"This why Corlack say we go to Candlekeep. Still don't know where you go. Maybe bandit. Maybe look for eye doctor, help with blinking."

He turns to face the elf. "Can you speak plainly? Why greet us while friend flanks? Are you bandits?"

"Given that they did not announce their presence by filling us full of arrows or tossing a few spells at us, I would hazard to guess that they are not what you think Corlack." Boris said with a chuckle. "Welcome, where are you heading?" he asked the new travelers.

Dom give Boris a puzzled looks and points the way he's been going (or trying to) the whole time. "That way." It is, as it happens, the general direction of the purported carnival.

"Let me rephrase that. What part of the Western Heartlands are you heading to?"  Boris asked

Corlack lets out a roar of laughter as Boris encounters the same frustration he had.

Dom shrugs, "No idea. I wasn't in the Feywild when I started my hike this morning. I don't know the area. I'm going that way." He points in the same direction as before. "Because I've already been that way." He points in the direction he came from (the opposite direction).
This message was last edited by the player at 23:39, Wed 16 Mar 2022.

Niruk does his best to hide a smile and laugh at the upset half-giant, laughing at something that big and strong selfdom ends well. "Bandits? No, not bandits. You were talking, we were walking, and you were on the way in front of us. Why, are you bandits? I know the short one said you are on your way to...some keep, but perhaps you are on your way to loot it? Perhaps, best to simply see we are just passing through the forest and encountered you, and seeing such a fearsome warrior were hesitant to announce ourselves? And as for this Feywild, I didn't know that's where we were, though the few stories I have heard make that not uncommon. What of you new friends, are you from here?"

As he talks to the new group, he keeps his hands in clear view making no sudden moves.

Corlack nods along as Niruk speaks. "Candlekeep, not sumkeep. And he's the looter, not me." Corlack points towards Gork with his warhammer, then, as if just realizing that it's drawn, stows it away in his belt.

Corlack completely turns around to face his group. "I think theys lost but don't know theys lost. Maybe we all go to carnival together."

"It is actually pronounced as 'Luter'."
Gork helpfully adds before finally getting a chance to react to the near-violence outbreak.
"So what's there is to know about this carnival?"

"You keep mentioning a carnival, and I do hear some music that way,". Niruk points towards the noise, "But I don't recal hearing about any carnivals traveling near us. What is this one doing in the forest and not on the roadside? You claim we are lost, where are we then?"

Corlack nods to Gork to show he understands and repeats, "Looter. I don't know. Lots of colorful tents, people moving about, music. That's all I could see from the tree I climbed."

After Niruk speaks he replies, "The Fey Wild," clearly without really comprehending what that means. [Blue]"Davik here says we can't go back now."[/Blue]
This message was last edited by the player at 17:15, Sun 20 Mar 2022.

Dom shakes his head, "If you can get somewhere, you can leave it, too. It might not be easy, but it can be done. And, frankly, Fey do it fairly frequently."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:28, Sun 20 Mar 2022.

"That's what I said!" Corlack exclaims as he throws his good hand up in the air. "If want go back, turn around and go back. But when I looked back it's all different. I think Davik right."

Davik sighs and starts arranging magic components on the ground for a ritual.

"All right, sounds like some of us are interested in checking out the carnival, but seems most of us are worried more about getting out of this feywild place and getting back to Candlekeep. I will perform a detect magic ritual and perhaps be able to find the path to get us out of here and back to our normal plane of reality. But before I do, I need to know for sure that's what everyone wants. So who votes carnival, and who votes Candlekeep?"

Dominic looks at Davik and shakes his head, "I doubt you'll find any portal or gate within range of the spell. It's fairly limited in that regard. I've already walked nearly that far snice coming on you people. And the trees will further limit it. Still, if it will make you feel better, by all means, cast it. After I'm heading to the only known source of locals: The caravan. Which seems to be where I was pointed originally in any event. An odd coincidence, come to think on it."

So if we walk backwards then we won't get out. Then we might try walking forwards so that we might find the way out!

Davik the gnome wizard scoffs, "My dear Dominic you do not know my power! After all, I teleported all the way to Elturel from Candlekeep by pure accident! Er, I mean, it was entirely under control, but, er, that seems one vote for carnival and one vote for trying to leave, Gork?"

Corlack tries to follow along with the conversation, but clearly struggles. "If Davik cast spell to save wizard but end up in cheap tavern, then maybe cast spell and up in bad feywild place with bad feywildians. I think try carnival first is best, and if they cant help try spell."

If this is a major decision I am fine with being railroaded a bit to get into a module that you're prepared for. It seems like youre doing more work than originally planned already.

Looking back and forth as the others were talking, Niruk started to develop several small wrinkles in his forehead along with a slightly pained expression before slowly letting out a breath and shaking his head. "All right, this part of the forest doesn't look familiar, and there are lights and such ahead. At the least we can get directions and perhaps an update on where we are. I have heard fairy tales of this Feywild, and if that is were we are .......well best to get the local view perhaps?"

I'm realizing that trapping players in another dimension usually isn't a good hook for "Let's go explore" and is more like "How do we get home?"

Curiosity gets the better of you, you proceed toward the carnival. Magic lanterns glow in different colors dangling from lines stretched tree to tree. A stream naturally borders the entire grounds, which are spread out neatly with care and planning. A giant swan floats toward you and honks at you, on it's back sits two gnomes who smile and wave as they float under a bridge that takes you up to the ticket booth.

In front of you two human girls, about 10 and 12 years old, in face paint (a lion and a hare) squabble over a painted wooden crown that their mother won at a stall. "Back off girls, I won it, I'm keeping it." The two girls seem shocked that the prize doesn't go to either of them. All 3 are wearing cloth butterfly wings on their back.

Finally it's your turn at the ticket booth. TA silver statue of a dancing faerie is mounted on the roof and surrounded by fluttering butterflies. The booth is decorated with an animated depiction of the night sky, with shooting stars arcing across it.

An elderly goblin perches behind the ticket counter, peering at you quizzically through a spyglass. He lowers the spyglass and calls out to you: "Greetings, fair fairgoers!"

An adult's ticket costs 8 sp, and a child's ticket costs 3 sp. "You know, I've been expecting you. Call me jolly ol' Nick, heh heh."

Nick reaches under the ticket counter and picks up an ornate wooden box with a silver clasp and the monogram N.M. It contains one prepaid ticket for each visiting character. "HERE."

After giving the characters their tickets, Nikolas hands the group a map of the carnival and gives each character a pair of colorful cloth butterfly wings to wear. Nikolas explains that the butterfly wings must be worn to show the staff that the characters are paid attendees. They are now free to explore the carnival at their leisure.

Nikolas explains that each ticket is good for eight attractions; characters who want to sample more of the carnival's offerings must buy another ticket. Most attractions in the carnival have a cost of 1 ticket punch. After the eighth punch, a ticket becomes a worthless keepsake.

Davik frowns at the wings but puts them on, then a smile slowly spreads across his face like his inner child is coming back.

Dom fastens his to his pack and puts the pack back on. He slips the ticket into his purse.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:58, Thu 24 Mar 2022.

Corlack's jaw falls open as he takes in the carnival. He grabs a fistful of silvers and holds it out for the goblin to grab however many 8 is. Once he has his wings he struggles to get them on with since only his left arm has enough range of motion.

With a defeated look on his face he asks, "Can someone put these on for me? I hope they don't make me dance again."

Nick starts to take Corlack's coins, "Oh sorry, I didn't explain well, someone already paid for your tickets. Keep your coins my dear boy, enjoy the rides, I think you should be able to fit on everything, everything is magical after all."

Davik, "Hey, who paid for us, by the way?"

Nick, "Ahhh she said not to say anything. Oooops. Well, it's a her!" He smiles but won't give any more info.

"I thought tree woman charmed us. But look like Gork charm her!" Corlack says with a laugh as he slaps Gork's back. "She must have paid since Gork dances so good."

Boris scowled at the notion of having to wear cloth butterfly wings but sighed when he realized that he had no choice in the matter. Looking over the map of the place, his eyes lit on the Feasting Orchard. "I do not know about the rest of you but something to eat might not be a bad idea to start things off." he suggested, pointing out the location on the map.

In reply to Boris (msg # 67):

Dom clears his throat, "The stories say that eating food in fairyland traps one in fairyland. So you know."

"The fairylands...feywild...It all seems so unlikely. Like we are part of some old story. You are right Dominic, some of the stories they say eating food here is a bad idea, but others they seem to have no problem. "
As the breeze blows by the fait sent of funnel cakes and some meat, probably on a stick, blow by making Niruk's stomach growl. Looking around at the sights and the other patrons he shrugs.
"I think my stomach says to take the chance. "

"Oh no!" Corlack exclaims after listening to the conversation. "We ate some berries that the tree-ladies gave us!"

"If we are going to get stuck here, it might as well be with a full belly." Boris said.

Corlack nods at Boris's sagely advice. On the battlefield you have to accept where you are, who you're with and how the conflict is. There's not wishing for things to be different. "Smart dwarf. We should eat all the Feywildian foods."

An ear twitches and an eyebrow rises for a moment, then discression overcame Niruk. Looking around for a few seconds at the various people walking around with cloth wings and at the tents and such he shrugs.

"I would say be polite and moderately careful but the only way to find out what is going on here, maybe find a way home, that is going to take interacting with people here. Unless someone has a better place in mind to start, people talk when eating and enjoying themselves. Food should be a good place to start unless someone is truly opposed to that."

Dom shrugs, "Oh, I don't mind if you eat the local food. It might even be safe. I won't be for a bit however, just in case."

Davik, "Hmmm, purify food...nope, nope I do not have that spell prepared, so yeah, eat at your own risk. I probably will eat. Not sure. I usually regret eating once I'm full. Trying to get rid of this dad bod." He slaps his belly.

You walk toward the Feasting Orchard, suddenly 3 giant flowers burst up out of the ground and serenade you. "It's a fey world after all! It's a fey world after all!" This continues indefinitely as you leave.

EVERYONE make a charisma save dc10, on fail, you can't get the song out of your head, but that's not a problem, you continue to sing or whistle the tune, much to the annoyance of the others.

Davik, "It's a fey, fey world! It's a fey world after all...it's a fey world after all..."

Dom rolls his eyes at the flowers and steps to the side, to walk around them.

OOC:
10:57, Today: Dominic rolled 21 using 1d20+4.  Chr save.

Corlack instinctively reaches for a weapon before realizing what the flowers are. He lets out a grunt and keeps walking.

12:36, Today: Corlack rolled 11 using 1d20+2.  Charisma save.

A twitch of the hand towards his rapier is the only sign that the appearance of the flowers startles Niruk. After a momentary paus he steps around them and continues on his way with the others.
"Rather annoying little song, but impressive flowers. Training them to sing...that probably took a lot of work."


OOC 15:53, Today: Niruk rolled 14 using 1d20+1 ((13)).

"Humph! Not a good song for drinking." Boris said as he started to sing a drinking song from his Clan, looking for some strong ale.

16:46, Today: Boris rolled 21 using 1d20+1.  CHA save.

Gork doesn't bother with the flowers as he is far more alert than before - not even the slap on his back made him lose his cool. He followed the others to have something to eat.

19:17, Today: Gork rolled 19 using 1d20.  cha save.

Davik continues whistling the song as you enter the Feasting Orchard.
Music and mirth radiate from this park. The heady scents of flowers, mead, and berry pie waft through the air. Stilt-walkers pluck fruit from trees; musicians drum, pipe, and strum; and everywhere there is singing, dancing, and an inordinate amount of custard.

The Feasting Orchard bustles all through the night with the activity of storytellers, musicians, and acrobats. The feasting tables are lined with merrymakers, and dances spring up at the drop of a hat.

To prove this point, a man stands up, asks everyone for their attention, then takes off his hat and drops it. As soon as it alights upon the grass the band strikes up and people begin dancing.

Davik stops whistling, "Oh rats, I don't think I'm interested in dancing. Hey look, a cupcake eating contest! You guys wanna play?"

The cupcake eating contest is about to begin and costs 1 ticket punch to enter. The contest table is piled high with small, glazed cupcakes, each filled with a dollop of berry custard. The goal is simple: eat as many cupcakes as you can within 60 seconds.

A contestant can swallow a cupcake in about 3 seconds and safely eat as many cupcakes as 3 + its Constitution modifier; for each additional cake eaten, the contestant must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or take 1d8 custard damage. Subtract custard damage from the contestant's hit points as normal. Any contestant reduced to 0 hit points by custard damage is unable to continue, loses the contest, and has custard splattered all over them. At the end of the contest, all contestants regain the hit points they lost from taking custard damage.

Boris heading to the table of cupcakes pounded his chest, ready to start the fun. He inhaled five of them without a fuss. The sixth one quickly followed the others. The next two were a problem as custard started to leak from his lips. Taking a quick breath, he inhaled a further half dozen without stopping. Starting to look a bit green in the face, the fifteenth one did not want to go down as a small dollop of  custard exited from his nose. With fifteen seconds left on the clock, the next three followed the others with minimal fuss. The second from the last was his undoing as one exploded all over his face, causing him to lose the contest, with much laughter from the crowd.

"What is cupcake?" Corlack asks while he holds one up to inspect it. With a shrug he sits down and joins the competition.

He takes a large bite out of one, gives it a nod of approval then starts wolfing them down. After 8 he struggles a little bit on the ninth, but powers through. He takes a look at Boris wolfing them down and gets inspiration to power through another half dozen before getting custard all over himself with an especially messy muffin. Afterwards he continues eating until he's packed away 20 and the timer stops.

"well, those cupcakes do look tasty. Why not!" With that vote of enthusiasm, Niruk starts eating. Wolfing down the first couple before slowing down. Giving the others a side glance he soon realizes he is falling far behind the curve and gives a little smile to the others bedore slwing down as starting to savor the treats in front of him. With a nod to the others and a smile for those running the contest he steps away from the table slightly indicating he is yielding the contest. "These are tasty indeed and a nice treat after being on the road, but I don't want a tummy ache and it is obvious the competition is ahead on this one. Enjoy my friends. " With that he takes his time enjouing the last cupcake.

Dom shakes his head and watches everyone get their faces covered in cream.

Davik stuffs his face with an appropriate amount of cupcakes, after three he is full and wiping his beard. "Wow look at Corlack go! I can't believe it!"

But an orc woman is putting him to the test...

Until in a hurry she grabs 3 cupcakes too quickly and they explode in her hands.

"GAhh! I was going to win. This game is rigged." She pouts, almost on the verge of raging.

The master of ceremonies-a female gnome bard-tries to calm her down, "Woah there, take it easy, here, clean yourself up and take a consolation prize."
She hands the orc a napkin. It seems the napkin is the prize.

Then she turns to Corlack, "Well well big sir! You really take the cake! Here you go sir, a magical cupcake that will turn whomever eats it invisible for a full hour. Use wisely! You must eat the entire thing for it to work."

When the contest is completely ended and the people finish applauding they go back to partying at the Orchard. Davik sheepishly approaches the gnome bard, "Er, hello, you are very pretty. My friends and I arrived here by accident and we are having a great time but are a bit concerned about how to get back to Faerun, specifically Candlekeep."

She smiles and plucks her lute, "Hiya. Thank you for the compliment, you aren't so bad yourself but you have some cream on your face. My name is Elly Tumblewick...uh...why don't you guys come over this way...?"

She leads you out of earshot of everyone else, "OKay fellas listen up. I'm not supposed to be letting you know this but I think you're the ones who are supposed to fix this problem. There are 3 hags called the Hourglass Coven and they have trapped us in this realm of the Feywild called Prismeer. The first thing you need to do is go to the Big Top and talk to Mr. Light, don't let him know you know about the Coven, but help him with his problem and you'll be on the right track to saving our world. You're welcome to enjoy the festival while you work, but I hope I can trust you. You can find me here again if you have any questions."

Davik has finally gotten the last of the cream out of his mustache, "YOu can count on us! Right guys?"

He turns to you.

(You may also post where you would like to go next, big top is the quest, but there are plenty of activities at each location.)

"RRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Corlack cries when he is announced the winner. He grabs the victory cupcake and holds it high for everyone to see. "Behold! The spoils of my victory!" he yells before gingerly placing it into a sack.


He listens to Davik and the bard discuss a bunch of things he only partially understands before replying,"Uh... yeah sure. You can count on us lady. I'd like to check out the lake here too."

While most of the others were stuffing their faces with cupcakes, Gork quietly put some away into a small wooden box then into his backpack. But with the mention of hags his face lightened up.
"But why would a group of minced sheep dish enslave you? And more importantly how?! Is this another joke?
This message was last edited by the player at 17:49, Wed 13 Apr 2022.

Dom blinks at Gork, figures out what he's misunderstood, and replies, "Apparently they make bad decisions on full stomachs."

Davik: "Do you mean hagus???"

Elly laughs, "No boys. HAGS. Witches. Which is why this is WITCHlight carnival in the first place, but stuff went wrong. Mr. Light probably made a bad deal with the Coven and now they've cashed in on it."

Boris starts to laugh at the comment about haggis. "I think it might be a good idea to visit Mr. Light. No use going a place without paying a social call on the person that is in charge. Sounds like there be more places to check out and the quicker we get an idea as to what we are dealing with, the better." the dwarf said.

Taking a moment while the others are listening to the cute Gnome, Niruk uses a handkerchief to clean the last of the custard from his face and giving special attention to his moustache. " Well this all sounds interesting....well more accurately it sounds like something out of a childhood story, but I agree that making our way and talking to this Mr. Light sounds like a good start. With that said, there are one or two things on that map of the carnival that sound interesting as well. I don't mean to sound unenthused about dealing with witches or Hags, but dragonfly races might be nice as well."

Niruk shrugs and grins a bit embarrassed. "What can I say, I loved carnivals as a kid. "

"I want to see the lake and the big birds," Corlack repeats. "It might be magical water here."

OK so how about we go see this Lord of Light and if we see any sights in the meantime we check those out too?
If all in favor, Gork starts walking toward Mr. Light.

Corlack follows Gork.

Dom will follow the herd.

Boris belched out a bit of cupcake as he joined the others heading to speak with Mr. Light

"Bet the dragonflies would be more fun. Oh well, work first."
After a longing look towards where the races are Niruk sighs and follows with the others.
"Lets be careful about this, I don't know a lot about Hags, but the stories I remember don't sound to good."

Corlack nods. "Gotta be careful. I don't know how we tell Light we can help with hags without mentions hags though."

"Sometimes it is easier to ask what they can use help with and leave it to them. They might not be able to directly challenge a threat but they can use help to even the odds." Boris said

Corlack bobs his head, taking in what Boris said. "Smart idea."

Headed toward the big top to meet Mr. Light, you pass by the Gondola Swans.
Enormous swans glide through the water here, pulling ornate wooden gondolas draped in flowers. The swans disappear into banks of silver mist as they wend their way down the river. A jetty extends ahead, at the end of which a waiting swan preens its feathers.

As you pass, the giant swan waiting at the dock bows her head toward you and speaks, "Greetings fair goers, what a lovely eve! I am Feathereen and would love to give you all a ride in my gondola! It costs 1 ticket punch each, you know once you ride all of the rides and have your ticket completely punched you win a special prize, so how about it? Why not ride with me?!?"

Her gondola looks big enough to hold 8 people, so despite you big ones, you'll all fit fine.

Davik: "I don't think we are in too much of a rush, so how 'bout it fellas? I kinda wanna get my ticket completed. I am a bit of a completionist you know."

Corlack pauses by the river, and gives it a longing look before Davik brings him back. "Yes, we should ride," he replies to the gnome.

"Uh... hi bird. Are these magic waters? I would love to swim."

Feathereen is super chill, "Well, depending on how you think of it, the very essence of wetness is moisture, and that in itself is magical. You're welcome to swim, friend! There are some places that get quite deep, but right here you will only come to your waist."

Corlack gives the swan a confused look, clearly not comprehending some of what was said, but perks up when he hears the word 'magical'. A serious expression crosses his face as he strips and enters the water. "I'm no merman, but I shall swim with you, bird."

Dom says "Nixie. You're no Nixie. If this is fairyland, you want to reference the local mermen equivalents."

An intense focus crosses Corlack's face and he seems to be in another place, barely hearing Dom's words. As if by reflex he repeats what he thinks he heard, "I'm no pixie," before going under the water.

The water is cool and refreshing, dark though, because it is night. BUT, as Corlack treads water a few spotted fish around him begin to glow bright neon pink and green and yellow. They are about the size of his hand, which for the rest of us is likely the size of our arm.

Corlack goes completely under the water and swims around a bit. He can't help but notice the fish, although he doesn't allow it to break his focus. After a long time he returns to land. He tries to stand straight, but fails. He tries to move his right arm past it's normal very limited range of movement, but fails.

Letting out a big sigh of exasperation he begins putting on his clothes and says, "Sorry, I had to try." After he's dressed he adds dejectedly, "Oh, we can ride the bird if anyone want."

Feathereen sighs, "Oh I am so sorry for your aches and pains. We don't have much for a healer at our carnival, have you tried a temple where you hail from?"

"We could try the bird."
Gork nodded. Then puzzled he asked.
"Are these edible?"

(Is what edible? Fish? Bird? Corlack's big toe?)

Davik patted Corlack and prestidigitation magicked away the water behind the Goliath's ears. How he could see up that high is unknown.

"Sorry big guy, I didnt notice how stiff you walked much until now. Granted half the time my nose has been in a book but I will do what I can to help you get healed up! Of course, wizards don't ever really learn how to properly heal. A grave disappointment. Tut. Come now!"

He climbed into the gondola, ready for the ride!

His golden ticket magically formed a punched hole in it, right next to the hole from the pie eating contest.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:06, Thu 21 Apr 2022.

"Thanks bird," Corlack replies to the swan. "I can't go back to where I hail from until my arm work good. No great healers on mountain anyways. The Kind Man told me magic water help, but I can't find. Can't find Kind Man either now."


Corlack nods to Davik. "Thank you too." He gets his ticket stamped and hops on the gondola.

Dom follows into the boat, examining  Corlack's arm as well as he can without manipulating it.

OOC:
22:00, Today: Dominic rolled 10 using 1d20+2.  Medicine roll.
Trying to figure out what it needs to fix it

Corlack's entire right side is ruined. A thumb-sized, jagged scar runs from the right side of his jaw down to his pelvis. This causes his right arm to have severely limited movement, and he is forced to stand hunched over. He's still tall at around 6 feet, but if he could stand straight he'd be pushing 8. He has limited mobility moving side to side, and only the left side of his mouth opens.

Niruk watches the goliath strip and wade into the waters and then return. His eyes rove over the damage to the giant's frame. Shaking his head, he gives a low-pitched sigh. "Damnation friend. Who...What happened to this to you? You look like you tussled with a demon or a dragon! I don't want to pry but how did you survive and who is this Kind Man who told you how to get healed? They must be a powerful healer indeed!"

Giving another shake of his head he joins the gnome in the boat. "We would definably benefit from his being healed and in full possession of his fighting might. I would put a priority on that if we start negotiating rewards form this Mr Light."

"A demon of a dwarf," Corlack replies, giving a quick glance to Boris instinctively. "It was a solid hit. Left for dead, but Corlack strong. I found The Kind Man much later. He gives jobs, and then reads his book on how to heal. Nothing work so far." Corlack finishes the last bit with a shrug of his left shoulder. "It's ok. He mentioned magic waters, so I wanted to try. We can continue."

Ahem. Is the bird edible? It looks like everything is edible!
Gork licked his tounge, punched a ticket and got into the gondola.

Feathereen laughs and then gets very serious, "You look edible too bud."

When everyone is all aboard she begins paddling out into the stream and...(I will update again tomorrow when I have the book)

Taking a closer look at Corlack, Boris scratched his beard, dislodging a piece of a cupcake from earlier. "Hum, I think I might have an idea or two to patch you up. Not sure If I have the right items with me right now but let me ponder it a bit." the Dwarf said, as they boarded the gondola as his ticket was magically punched.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:02, Wed 27 Apr 2022.

The carnival fades away as you disappear into a bank of silver mist. It seems as if you stay within this, and soon illusions light it up, brilliant and beautiful of the things you found interesting when you were young. Each person's experience is unique to them.

Feathereen is erudite and haughty. She asks you several metaphysical questions as you travel, "What is joy?"
"How do I know you exist?"
"In worlds so full of magic, is time an illusion?"

---

Davik replies and feels quite confident he got the answers correct, "Gnomes love playing pranks on each other. You cannot know I exist, but since you cannot, you also cannot know that I do not. Time is a construct. Do I win?"

---

Feathereen giggles, "Sure little gnome, you win, you all win just for playing, but I would like to hear everyone's answers, I enjoy these debates and deep thoughts very much."

Dom considers, "Joy varies from being to being. What makes you joyful you must discover for yourself.

"You don't.

"Nope, time is simply another dimension, after Length, Breadth and Depth comes Duration."

Boris let out a belch as he was deep in thought, snapping out of it. "Well now, joy depends on the person or even a creature. Dogs express pleasure when their master returns home. Lovers beam when they are near each other. Many enjoy the pleasure of others in their company. Still others enjoy wading in the blood of their foes. Joy is based on the needs of the creature, at that specific moment." he said.

"As to how you know, or do not know, if I exist, that is based on your observations. While we might be ghosts, we exist currently since we are interacting with each other, by at least two of our senses. We each can hear each other, and our eyes believe that we see each other. In addition, our bodies feel the motion as we ride in this gondola, as we can touch the water." Boris said as he dipped his hand into the water.

"As for time being an illusion, Yes. I have heard of powerful spellcasters that can stop time itself, and yet still able to interact with their world." the dwarf said.

"Joy is middle of combat, striking your opponents with your greataxe." Corlack says as he looks down at his ruined right arm, remembering when he could wield such a weapon.

"Uh I'm here, so I'm real."

Corlack's left hand scratches his head when the third question is asked.

Feathereen is deep in thought to your responses, but before everyone gets a chance to reply she changes the subject.

"So how do you like the carnival so far? Where are you from? Have you run into the mime called Candlefoot? He's got a tragic backstory. He wasn't always a mime. No no. He was trying to propose to a mermaid here in this very river. He was so nervous that the words suddenly left him with a gasp! GASP! and then he never spoke another word since. HEY PALASHA??? YOU HERE????"

You see ripples in the water and soon enough a beautiful mermaid pops her head up out of the water. "Hey Feathereen! Hey guys in the gondola! If you happen to run into Candlefoot you could try telling him I won't say no, maybe that will give him the guts to try asking again, and maybe he will get his voice back."

I'm like from all over the place. Joined in with a group called Looters and we have been righting wrongs all over the sword coast.
Gork shrugged while he eyed the mermaid suspiciously.

"Carnival is nice," Corlack says as he adjusts his wings. "I'm from Icerim mountains, you?"

Corlack nods to the mermaid. "A voice is important. Carries your words, express courage. We shall help him if we can."

"Born and bred in the best city of the world, Waterdeep. You can have everything there if you got the right incentive you know."
Gork rubbed his left index finger and thumb together to prove his point.

"Waterdeep sound good," Corlack says, deep in thought. "Lots of deep water there? Why they like thumbs and fingers?"

Palasha begins singing and the water begins to dance, taking shapes into magical sculptures that whirl around her as she performs. A crowd gathers at the dock to watch it, everyone seems to enjoy it.

Suddenly from somewhere in the crowd, "Absolutely horrendous!" It sounds a bit like Simon Cowel.

Then from another spot in the crowd, "Get lost!"

And then a third heckler from another area, "Booo!"

You can see Palasha getting more and more nervous, but at the third jest she stops singing, all the water sculptures crash, and she dives into the water.

The crowd murmurs and frowns and begins to disperse, and you have no clue who the hecklers were. As you watch, flowers begin to wilt and the bright starry sky begins to darken with clouds. Feathereen sighs, "Oh no, do you see how the crowd's mood and the carnival itself suddenly lowered so visibly? This is one of the curses on the Carnival. Whenever something goes wrong it affects everything."

You better continue on to the big top and talk to Mr. Light before things start to get worse.

"Fingers? No fingers my man, but this means money. Now let's make this party better." Then he continued singing in a rap tone.
"
We just wanna party
Party just for you
We just want the money
Money just for you
I know you wanna party (yeah)
Party just for free
Girl, you got me dancin' Dance and shake the frame
We just wanna party (yeah)
Party just for you (yeah)
We just want the money (yeah)
Money just for you (ooh)
I know you wanna party (yeah)
Party just for free (yeah)
Girl, you got me dancin' (girl, you got me dancin')
Dance and shake the frame (ooh)
This is Pandemonium
Don't catch you slippin' now
Don't catch you slippin' now
Look what I'm whippin' now
This is Pandemonium (woo)
Don't catch you slippin' now
Don't catch you slippin' now
Look what I'm whippin' now"

20:12, Today: Gork rolled 23 using 1d20+3.  performance.

Oddly enough, the clouds part and the flowers bloom again.

The mood has been restored.

MOOD!

Corlack grabs his warhammer and hits it against his makeshift shift in tune with Gork's song.

"Great song looter!" He exclaims after it concludes. "It seems the Fey Wildians enjoyed it as well." He adds while glancing about at the blooming flowers. "Strange place this."

Boris nodded his head as he listened to the tune, impressed with the quick change of mood. "Maybe rework it in your mind for a good battle song." he said.

Gork bowed.
"Yes yes, gentlemen will do, will do. This fine tune bears the fine tuning of the Luters. Now I suggest we make our way to the Big Top to see the top hat.

"A feywildian who runs a carnival is sure to know the land well," Corlack says as they walk. "Surely he will know a way to Candlekeep."

Without further delay you continue to the Big Top. The roof of this tent reaches toward the night sky in three swooping peaks topped with spinning gold stars. Painted wooden panels on the tent walls whirl with colorful motion, displaying vibrant circus performances. The sound of music and laughter drifts out through the canvas door.

As you enter a clown dog barks at you, "Big Top Extravaganza tonight at midnight! Prepare to be delighted!"

Davik barks back, "Woof! What time is it now? Bark!"

"Why are you barking? It's 4pm."

You look up at the stars. "So it's always nighttime in the feywild?"

"Yeah. Duh."

---

You enter to see Colorful orbs of light dance in the lofts of the tent while magic spotlights highlight performers. Spectators watch the acts from rows of tiered wooden seats encircling the ring. In the middle of the big ring is a top hat just sitting on the floor doing nothing. Everyone holds their breath to see what's going on. It suddenly flips over, and a halfling contortionist begins climbing out to much applause.

Davik claps too, "I was expecting  a rabbit to come out but this is much much crazier! And not even magic, that halfling is really bendy. Come on, we gotta find Mr. Light, he's probably backstage."

Following Davik you find the backstage guarded by two stagehands who bicker over the appeal of the acts while sharing a bottle of pear cider.

They haven't noticed you yet, and there is room for even Corlack to sneak past them, or you could try something else. What do you do?

Dom blinks at the dog, "I don't think that's what they mean by 'carnival barker'. This place seems designed by someone that's heard stories of carnivals, but never seen one."

Corlack follows along with the group, often turning so he can face and take in a scene with his good eye. He follows the dancing lights as best he can, he laughs at the talking dog. When the contortionist comes out of the hat he slaps his thigh with his good arm and yells encouragement. He is loving the carnival and everything in it.

At one point he turns to Dom and says, "I've not seen or heard of a carnival before. Is this not good? How could it be more good? I think it could not be more good."



When they reach the backstage, Corlack attempts to walk straight in, completely unaware that this might not be allowed.

Dom shrugs, "Good, bad, it's all a matter of perspective, really. I'm just saying it's different."