Check In Question: What are you dressing as for Halloween?
- Miranda: I am Bill Cipher from Gravity Falls. Lysithea would go as the main lead from Nightmare Before Candlenight.
- Kevin: I am a high school kid. Gobbles would go as Surina.
- Justice: I am Grunkle Stan from Gravity Falls. Mr. Mystery, the character, would go as Sardior, the gem dragon god.
- Cordelia: I am Mabel from Gravity Falls. Surina would dress as a Red Dragon.
When we last left the party, they were traveling through the infuriating Jorra’be Jungle, having finally completed their mission. They successfully acquired a magical seed, an artifact of Rhu, the evil Jackal chaos god. Each twist and turn they have taken has led them either further into or further out of the jungle, no one can say for sure which.
After hearing a loud roar, Professor and Octavia run off to investigate, leaving Surina, Gobbles, and Lysithea to travel alone. As they travel, a flier falls right in front of Surina.
Lysithea: Where did that come from?
Surina: It says “Circus at the Mystery Fair. Kids and Adventurers welcome. Free?”
Lysithea: Circus at the mystery fair… free?… Well this is a trap.
Gobbles: Or an adventure.
Lysithea: Should we walk into it? It may help us get out of the jungle. Wait, it doesn’t even say how to get there! At least we know it’s a scam.
Surina: Maybe we need a blacklight. There might be invisible ink to show the directions.
Lysithea: I could light it on fire…
Gobbles: That is your specialty. Paper is made of plants so Blight will also work.
Lysithea: Should I light it on fire and see if anything happens?
Surina: Yeah!
The paper does not burn as Lysithea lights it on fire, but the image fades and changes.
Surina: I knew it!
The paper now reads, “Directions to the Mystery Fair: 5 jumps and a hop.”
Lysithea: Okay, look, this has been… this has been a year… Do you think this literally means 5 jumps and a hop?
Surina: I say do it!
Lysithea: You first.
The proud Dragonborn Paladin takes 5 massive jumps and one little hop, then suddenly vanishes. Lysithea rolls her eyes into the back of her skull, then jump, jump, jump, jump, jump…. hop… vanishes. With eager excitement, Gobbles quickly jumps 5 times and hops before vanishing.
They find themselves still in the jungle, but now in front of them is a huge, big top tent, going as high as the tree line. There are also several smaller tents and what looks like a roller coaster. There’s a big question mark on the gate entrance.
Surina: This must be it! It’s the Mystery Fair!
A man dressed in a black suit, red tie, and a red fez stands outside the gate.
Mysterious Man: WELCOME TO THE MYSTERY FAIR!
Lysithea: Free? Question mark.
Mysterious Man: That’s the mystery!
Lysithea: Where are we?
Mysterious Man: At my Mystery Fair! We’re trying to attract more people to the circus. We’ve been losing staff and losing guests. Not many people have been coming lately.
Gobbles: I think it’s the location. Middle of the deadly forest that everyone gets lost in.
Mysterious Man: But we travel with it.
There’s not very many people walking around inside, with the majority of those there appearing to be staff.
Mysterious Man: I might have to shut this place down eventually. No one’s coming. But you all are here! I don’t know… But! Welcome!
He holds out his hand, as if waiting for a tip. Gobbles immediately begins shaking his hand.
Gobbles: Hi, I’m Gobbles the Goblin. Nice to meet you.
Mysterious Man: Mr. Mystery. Nice to meet you.
Gobbles: Alright, so what’s fun at this fair?
Mr. Mystery: Oh, we have all kinds of attractions! You’ve arrived just in time! We have the welcoming ceremony where we can welcome all of our… few… guests! We also have a variety of games, a variety of attractions. I have a joke for you, Gobbles.
Gobbles: Yeeeeeess?
Mr. Mystery: My ex-wife still misses me, but her aim is getting better!
Gobbles: That’s.. Horrifying.
Mr. Mystery: Get it? But her aim is getting better!
Gobbles: Haaa…
Mr. Mystery: But seriously, we have manners of all sorts of games and prizes you can win. Please look around and see!
Surina: Do you have any food?
Mr. Mystery: We have a lot of food! Some specialty food around here! If you really want something special, the Fairy Bar has this new game they made up where you eat the fairy muffins.
Lysithea: You’ll have to excuse me if I’m skeptical. We were just lost in a jungle after fighting off some horrific things, and now we’re at a fair in the middle of the jungle…
Mr. Mystery: You did the 5 jumps and the hop, right?
Lysithea: Unfortunately.
Mr. Mystery: Well there you go!
Lysithea: What is happening… Surina, do you want to go? I know Gobbles does.
Surina: Yeah.
Lysithea: Okay, let’s go.
Heading in, they notice the fair seems kind of empty. There’s mostly staff, with a few guests walking about. They see a wide variety of tents, worked by staff that seem very Fey-like: Fairies, Pixies, Goblins, Harengons, and so on. There are banners all about displaying the different acts that will be performing – Whistletop Praline riding a unicycle; Pythagoras Tabletoss standing in front of a big monster; The Daring Shrimpy Albatross walking on a tightrope with alligators snapping at him from below; Sir Horizon McWonderall and Sir Margo McGuffin are jousting; the great magician The Amazing Ostibath with his assistant Crumbalina Smalltooth; Wendy the Wonder Wombat is a clown making balloon animals. The few guests that can be seen are all filing into the big tent for the welcoming ceremony.
Lysithea: Surina, what would you like to do? At some point I would like to see the jousters because it will be nice to watch other people fight besides us.
Surina: Let’s go to the opening ceremony.
There are a few murmurs among the guests as the party enters the big top (Perception Lysithea 22, Gobbles 28, Surina 14). Surina notices that the guests appear to be from all over Corde. Some of them are carrying huge coats, talking about how they didn’t think it could be this humid anywhere.
Surina: Sounds like they’re from the tundra.
Lysithea overhears how this carnival has to keep getting new acts. A lot of the performers are walking out, claiming that the circus is haunted. Gobbles, who can smell time, overhears the fact that there is a clown that people are seeing all over the circus, the Ghost Clown of the Mystery Fair, trying to run the circus out of business. Gobbles relays what he overhears to Lyisthea and Surina, and tries to decide which part is scarier – the ghost part or the clown part.
Lysithea: Of course. We can’t go anywhere without something being something.
The lights inside the big top go out. A single spotlight shines in the center. The most stereotypical circus music you can imagine begins to play as a puff of smoke goes up, revealing Mr. Mystery, who is now wearing an eyepatch.
Mr. Mystery: Welcome, one and all, to my Mystery Circus! Be careful with what you’ll see! You’ll never be sure what happens!
His staff becomes a snake and he throws it into the air, where it turns into hundreds of butterflies. The small audience “oohs” and “aahs” in wonder.
Mr. Mystery: Have fun! Play our games! Win our prizes! But be careful, don’t lose too much money here *laughs*. And come back every hour for each of our new shows! You’ll see Whistletop Praline, Pythagorus Tabletop, the Daring Shrimpy Albetross, Sir Horizon McWonderall and Sir Margo McGuffin, The Amazing Ostibath and his assistant Crumbalina Smalltooth, and our newest performer, Wendy the Wonder Wombat!
Suddenly, the lights go out.
Mr. Mystery: Hey! What’s going on here?
A horrifying cackle can be heard in the darkness.
Disembodied Voice: But be warned! You should leave now or be trapped here forever!
The lights suddenly return.
Mr. Mystery: Ignore that, folks! Have fun and enjoy our games!
Mr. Mystery disappears in a puff of smoke. Underneath everyone’s seats they find a small bag. (Gobbles rolls 2 d6 – 6, 4) Gobbles finds a d8 and a d6, which disappear when he touches them. (Lysithea rolls 2 d6 – 2, 2) Lysithea finds 2 d4s, which disappear as she touches them. (Surina rolls 2d6 – 1, 5) Surina finds a d4 and a d8, which disappears when she touches them. The party can use these dice when playing one of the games. The games they can choose from are The Fairy Cake, Trebuchet, Pixie Hide and Seek, Almirage Ring Toss, Goblin Wrestling, and Out-Stare the Cyclops. Gobbles immediately perks up at the Goblin Wrestling.
Surina: Let’s go play a game! Let’s go to Goblin Wrestling!
The party enters the Goblin Wrestling Ring. There is a poster of Goblins wearing wrestling and luchador costumes standing on each other’s shoulders. There is a Gnome standing in attendance.
Gnome: Ah, welcome, welcome, welcome! Wrestling fans, I see. Do you want to test your might against the amazing Goblin Brothers?
Gobbles: YES!
Gnome: Who is first up?
Surina starts doing fisticuffs, indicating that she is ready.
Lysithea: Go for it, Surina!
Gnome: Come step up to the height chart!
Surina walks up to the poster of Goblins in luchador masks. Up come running some of the Goblin Brothers. One stands next to Surina, then another jumps on his shoulder, and another on his shoulder.
Gnome: We have three, ladies and gentlemen, three!
Surina and the three Goblins enter the ring. A bell rings and the match begins! (Opposed Athletics, Surina 24)
Lysithea: GO, SURINA, GO!
The Goblins begin to run around Surina. One leaps at Surina, but she is too quick. She grabs the Goblin mid-air, then pins him to the ground. (Opposed athletics, Surina 17) Another Goblin tries to jump onto her back, but she grabs him and pins him right next to his brother. (Opposed Athletics with disadvantage, Surina 21) The final Goblin also tries to jump on Surina’s back, but she whips her mighty tail and lands on the Goblin with a thud, pinning him to the ground.
Gnome: We have a winner!
(Surina rolls a d100 – 18) The Gnome presents Surina with her prize, a gummy Ogre’s tooth. Surina immediately bites into it, and a fruity flavor bursts in her mouth, like a Gusher.
Gnome: We have one winner! Can I interest the other two…?
Gobbles: Oh, me! Me, me, me!
Gnome: Stand up!
The Goblin brothers look at each other, then blow a whistle. A big, buff Goblin enters the ring and stares down Gobbles.
Gnome: Ah, the lucky Goblin will be facing off with Smally!
Smally: *really deep voice* Hey.
Gobbles: Hi, I’m Gobbles the Goblin.
Smally: I’m Smally. Also a Goblin.
The bell rings and Smally lets out a mighty roar! (Opposed athletics, Gobbles 14) Gobbles and Smally lunge at each other. Smally is strong, but Gobbles is nimble. Gobbles seems to have Smally on the ropes (opposed athletics 18 vs 18 – Gobbles rolls the magic d6, 2). Gobbles manages to pin Smally to the ground, but he’s still fighting. (Opposed athletics with advantage, Gobbles 18) Smally begins to push back at Gobbles, so Gobbles lifts him up and spins him over his head like a ballerina then throws him out of the ring.
Gnome: And we have a winner!
Lysithea: Wow, Gobbles!
(Gobbles rolls a d100 – 52) The Gnome presents Gobbles with his prize, a pair of Leprechaun boots tied together at the laces.
Gobbles: Is this food or are they just boots? I’m going to eat them either way.
Gnome: They’re just boots…
Gobbles checks to see if they’re magical and, upon discovering they are not, takes a bit out of the boots. They taste like boot.
Gobbles: I don’t know about this candy.
Gnome: That’s because it’s not candy.
Gobbles: Oh.
The Gnome turns to Lysithea.
Gnome: Can I interest you, young lady, in competing with the Goblins?
Surina: Go on!
Lysithea: This will not go well…
Surina: Come on…
Lysithea: …Fine…
Lysithea checks to make sure her Displacement Cloak is on before stepping up to the poster. Gobbles hears the Goblin Brothers discussing amongst themselves about whether to include Lysithea’s horns in her height.
Gnome: 2 of the Goblin Brothers will be your opponents!
They step into the ring and the bell dings. (Opposed athletics, Lysithea 6, Goblin Brothers 3) One of the Goblins jumps towards Lysithea, but completely misses her. Lysithea grabs him with her tail as he sails past her. (Opposed athletics, Lysithea 10, Goblin Brothers 4) The other Goblin Brother leaps towards Lysithea, but she grabs him by the hands and begins to spin around, then releases his hands sending him flying out of the ring.
Gnome: We have a winner!
(Lysithea rolls a d100 – 17) The Gnome presents Lysithea with her prize, a sheet of music written in alto clef titled “Goblin’s Elegy”.
(Wisdom saving throw, Lysithea 14, Gobbles 22, Surina 18) The party take their leave of the ring. They are having fun, talking about wrestling the Goblins, when Lysithea suddenly disappears.
Gobbles: Uhhhh….
Surina: Oh no!
Announcement: WILL EVERYONE PLEASE COME TO THE BIG TOP! YOU WILL SEE THE AMAZING OSTIBATH AND HIS ASSISTANT CRUMBALINA SMALLTOOTH!
Gobbles: Hey, Surina, do we want to go there –
Surina: LET’S GO!
Gobbles: – and hope we find Lysithea at some point?
Gobbles and Surina make their way to the big top and take a seat in the stands. Draggy shows up and joins his friends in the audience. The lights go down and a single spotlight shines down on a Goblin, dressed in a pinstripe suit with a big top hat. (Perception Gobbles 18, Surina 18) They immediately recognize the Goblin as Slogoth.
Gobbles: I thought he was on the ship! He must have gotten plucked like we did. Wait, but why is he working here?!
Slogoth: I am the Amazing Ostibath! Watch as I now pull a rabbit out of my hat!
He reaches into his hat and, instead of a rabbit, he pulls a string of clothing.
Slogoth: That’s not right…
He continues to pull as more and more clothes tied together come out of the hat. Eventually, the clothes run out and he pulls a giant rabbit out of the hat.
Slogoth/Ostibath: TA-DA!
The audience, including Surina and Gobbles, applaud.
Slogoth/Ostibath: Now I will introduce my amazing assistant, Crumbalina Smalltooth!
A light shines down right on Lysithea, who strikes a pose.
Gobbles: What’s happening?
Surina: I’m not liking this at all.
Slogoth/Ostibath: I will now do my amazing trick, where I throw things at my assistant! If she will stand against the board!
Slogoth pulls out a giant basket from out of nowhere that is filled with apples. He begins to juggle the apples, then throws the first one at Lysithea (attack 10). The apple sails past Lysisthea’s head and lands on the wall behind her. He tosses another apple (attack 8), which flies past the other side of her head and lands with a splat on the wall. Slogoth then throws 2 apples at once (attack 11, 7). Both apples go wide, missing Lysithea.
Slogoth/Ostibath: And for the grand finale…
Slogoth pulls out a giant apple and heaves it towards Lysithea (attack 17). The massive apple lands right on Lysithea’s horns and explodes, showering her in applesauce. The audience erupts in laughter and applause!
Slogoth/Ostibath: Give it up for my assistant!
The lights go out and the audience leaves, but Gobbles and Surina stick around. They see Slogoth head backstage, but Lysithea remains on the stage, still.
Gobbles: I guess she got a job at the circus?
Gobbles approaches Lysithea and starts poking her. She suddenly comes to, as Lysithea.
Gobbles: Hey there. When did you take a job as a magician’s assistant at a circus?
Lysithea: What are you drinking? Why am I sticky?!
Gobbles: You had applesauce and magic.
Lysithea: What?!
Gobbles: Was that not clear? You were Slogoth’s assistant in a magic show. And there were apples.
Lysithea: You lost me at Slogoth. What? I’m sticky!
Gobbles uses Prestidigitation to un-applesauce Lysithea.
Lysithea: Thank you, Gobbles. Okay, that was weird. Where’s Slogoth?
Gobbles: Do you not remember that?
Lysithea: No! I would like to light him on fire.
Surina: He’s gone now.
Lysithea: He’s gone now? Why is he here? I thought he was on The Vigilance!
Gobbles: He went backstage. Let’s go see if we can talk to him.
Lysithea, followed by Gobbles, Surina, and Draggy, starts to walk backstage when a burly Hobgoblin stops them.
Hobgoblin: Sorry, miss.
Gobbles holds up the partially eaten boots that he won from Goblin wrestling.
Gobbles: It’s okay, we’re good. *keeps walking by*
Lysithea: I was in the show!
(Deception Gobbles 19) The Hobgoblin looks confused at first.
Hobgoblin: Well… okay.
Gobbles: And they’re with me. *keeps walking*
Hobgoblin: *fumbling for words* Okay..?
They find Slogoth backstage in front of a mirror, straightening his tie and humming to himself. He does not notice the party yet.
Lysithea: WHY AREN’T YOU ON THE VIGILANCE?!?!
Slogoth/Ostibath: Wha..Who.. Who are you? Oh, you’re my assistant! Wait.. I’m the Amazing Ostibath!
Surina: What? What’s happening? You’re Slogoth! Not a magician! (Persuasion 24)
Slogoth: I am.. Wait.. Where am I? WHERE AM I? Every time! *points to Lysithea* Every time something weird happens –
Lysithea: Yeah, you’re there!
Slogoth: So are you!
Lysithea: You get yourself into your own messes. Why aren’t you on The Vigilance?
Slogoth: I was! We got to this port…
Lysithea: What port?
Slogoth: Right by the jungle. We were going to take a rowboat and row towards the jungle, and then I found this flier, well, Mateen found the flier…
Lysithea: Oh god, are they here, too?
Slogoth: We read it, thought it was weird, and then we found our way to this strange place. We played a game and then suddenly I’m here.
Lysithea: Mateen and Sabel are here, too?
Slogoth: They better be!
Lysithea: Ugh… we should leave.
Surina: The same thing happened to us. We played a game but then Lysithea disappeared.
Lysithea: So you weren’t aware that you threw apples at me?
Slogoth: Did I hit you with any?
Lysithea ignites her hand with fire.
Slogoth: I don’t know anything!
Surina: Okay, let’s get out of the backstage and go play another game.
Lysithea: Oh, okay. Surina wants to play another game.
Draggy: I do, too! Let’s play Pixie Hide and Seek!
The party makes their way to Pixie Hide and Seek. Outside the tent is a Fairy, fluttering around.
Fairy: Welcome! Welcome to our hide and seek game! It’s the best game in the circus! You compete and you hide, and we try to find you. Do you want to play?
Surina: Yeah! What’s the rules?
Fairy: The rules are you find a place to hide, and we try to find you.
They notice that Slogoth has tagged along with them, and will also be playing. Gobbles gives himself a Guidance pep-talk in advance. They all enter the tent, with an excited Draggy running in first. Inside the tent there are 5 objects they can use to hide: a chair, a bed, a keg, a small, circular table, and a treasure chest. As they enter they notice themselves shrink to a tiny size.
Surina: We’re now Pixie sized!
Music begins to play. They all run to hide behind or underneath an object. The music stops and the Fairy checks the bed first. Surina has been found! The bed disappears, and Surina is out. The music starts again and the remaining players can either stay where they are or move again. The Fairy checks the chair next, but no one was there. The chair disappears and the music begins again. Next, the fairy checks the treasure chest. Slogoth and Gobbles were both hiding behind the chest, but Gobbles thnks fast! He waves goodbye to Slogoth, then Misty Steps behind a different object. Slogoth is out! The chest disappears and the music plays. Last round! The Fairy chooses to check the keg, but Gobbles, Draggy, and Lysithea were all hiding behind the table. All three of them win! Their prize is delicious candy.
The game was so much fun that they decide to play again. This time the Fairy checks the table first, but no one was hiding there. Second round she checks the chair and finds Slogoth, who is now out. Third round she checks the treasure chest. Surina quickly Misty Steps behind another object. Gobbles tries to stealth away (Nat 1), but immediately trips and face plants. Gobbles is out. Last round the pixie checks behind the keg, but no one was there! Lysithea, Surina, and Draggy win!
Fairy: Great job! Since you played twice and had so much fun…
She hands the party a bag filled with dust.
Gobbles: What’s it taste like? *tries some*
It tastes like a Pixie Stick, which delights Gobbles, who doesn’t notice that he is now floating. The bag is filled with Pixie Dust, with now only 3 uses left. They all get a good chuckle at the sight, and wait for Gobbles to float down. Once he does they tuck the bag of dust away for safekeeping. (Wisdom saving throw Draggy 14, Surina 21, Gobbles 10) Gobbles suddenly disappears.
Surina: Oh no… no, no, no.
Announcement: EVERYONE PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE BIG TOP…
Lysithea: Is that what happened with me? Did I just disappear?
Surina: Uh huh!
Announcement: … AND SEE THE AMAZING JOUST…
Lysithea: Oh no!
Announcement: … BETWEEN SIR HORIZON MCWONDERALL AND SIR MARGO MCGUFFIN!
Assuming that Gobbles is one of the jousters, Lysithea, Surina, Draggy, and Slogoth make their way to the big top. They take their seats among the audience. Set up in the main arena is a long wooden post for jousting. The lights go out.
Mr. Mystery: Introducing Sir Horizon McWonderall!
A spotlight shines to the far right, and out steps Gobbles. Instead of his normal, orange Mythril plate armor he is wearing orange cardboard…
Lysithea: What happened to his expensive armor?
… and his weapon, instead of a lance, is a large pretzel stick. His steed is not a horse, but a camel painted pink. It is clearly a cheap knock-off of Sir Eagle.
Gobbles: Hello, I am Sir Horizon McWonderall! Nice to meet you!
Surina: It’s still like Gobbles, but what the hey?!
Mr. Mystery: And Sir Margo McGuffin!
Another spotlight shines to the far left, revealing a big, burly man that they instantly recognize.
Slogoth: Ah, there’s Mateen. I’ll put 3 gold on Mateen.
Lysithea: I’ll take that wager.
Mateen mounts a little donkey that is half his size, ala Looney Tunes.
Surina: Oh no! He’s going to crush the donkey!
The donkey is fine. Gobbles leaps up and stands on the camel, attempting to surf on the creature. (Animal Handling Gobbles 21) The jousters charge! (Pretzel lance attack Gobbles 19) Gobbles lands a perfect hit on Mateen, shattering his lance against the cardboard shield. Upon impact Gobbles activates Fury of the Small for a total 18 damage, almost completely knocking Mateen off his donkey. Mateen misses Gobbles completely. A Goblin rushes out to give Gobbles a new pretzel lance before the second pass. (Animal Handling- Gobbles Guidances himself and rolls the bonus d8 he has in reserve; however, unbeknownst to him he has to subtract the d8 from his roll, giving him a total of 0). The camel has decided he does not like being surfed on and begins to buck. Luckily Mateen is also struggling with his donkey. (Pretzel Lance attack Gobbles 9, Mateen Nat 1) Gobbles misses, but Mateen completely falls off his donkey anyway, landing flat on his back. The audience erupts into cheers!
Mr. Mystery: And the winner! Sir Horizon McWonderall!
Lysithea: Pay up!
Slogoth begrudgingly hands 3 gold to Lysithea.
Lysithea: Never bet against Gobbles.
The lights go out and the audience leaves. The party, however, walk over to wake Gobbles up. Lysithea gives Gobbles a gentle shake to wake him up.
Lysithea: Gobbles, you missed it.
Gobbles: Hmm?
Lysithea: You got to surf on a camel while jousting with a giant pretzel stick while wearing orange cardboard armor.
Gobbles: Yes!
Lysithea: And you won.
Gobbles: YES!
Lysithea: Against that dufus.
Mateen: What?
Slogoth: WAKE UP MATEEN! *slaps him across the face*
Gobbles: What is Mateen doing here?
Mateen: What? Last thing I remember was a weird clown…
Slogoth: Well last thing I remember is you lost me 3 gold.
Gobbles takes a moment to admire his cardboard armor before realizing his expensive armor is missing. After a quick panic he notices it on the ground by the back of the tent and quickly puts it back on.
Mateen: This creepy clown…
Slogoth: Whatever, Mateen. Let’s go get a drink.
Gobbles: Was it the same as when you did it? I was like a different person.
Lysithea: Yeah, you were Sir Horizon McWonderall.
Gobbles: So I got knighted. That counts, right? That counts.
Surina: Let’s play another game!
Surina and Draggy run out of the tent, ready to play more games. They run towards Out-Stare the Cyclops. This event is outside. There sits a giant Cyclops with her one giant eye. She’s wearing a fancy evening dress, waiting patiently for contestants. Next to her stands a Goliath, ready to bring in suckers.
Goliath: We have some challengers, I see.
Surina: Okay, what have we got here?
Goliath: Well, we have the famous Polythema, and she is the champion starer. So, if you want you can try to out-stare her all-seeing eye. Best 2 out of 3. Who’s first?
Draggy: Me!
Draggy excitedly runs up and puts his face close to Polythema’s. (Opposed Constitution saving throw Draggy 18) First round goes to Polythema, who laughs triumphantly. Second round (Draggy 16) Draggy is victorious! Final round (Draggy adjusted 20) seems to stretch on forever with both contestants seeming resilient, but eventually Polythema blinks. Draggy wins! His prize is candy!
Surina: Me next!
Surina runs up and plants her feet into the ground. First round (opposed constitution saving throw Surina adjusted 20) goes to Surina, who lets out a big “Woohoo!” (Surina 15) Surina almost instantly wins the second round! They play the third round anyway just for fun (Surina 19) and Surina remains undefeated! Because she won all three rounds she wins another trinket. The Goliath presents her with her prize (rolls a d100 – 20), a tiny toy coffin with a mini skeleton that pops up when she opens it.
Lysithea: I’ll do it. Why not. I love to stare at people.
Draggy: I love to stare at people, too.
Lysithea rolls up her sleeves and marches up to Polythema. (Opposed constitution saving throw Lysithea 17) The first round is a tie, with both contestants blinking at the exact same time. (Lysithea 25, Polythema 23) The second round both contestants refuse to blink. Their eyes become dry, but eventually Polythema blinks. Lysithea wins the second round. (Lysithea adjusted 20) Lysithea very quickly wins the third round. They play one more round because the first round was a tie (Lysithea 19). Lysithea’s dead-pan stare wins the day! (d100 – 2) For winning 3 rounds the Goliath brings Lysithea 2 yew rings linked together.
Gobbles: I will stare!
The tiny Goblin skips up to the fancy Cyclops. (Opposed constitution saving throw Gobbles 21) In the first round Gobbles’s innocent face causes Polythema to blink immediately. (Gobbles 7) Polythema collects herself and puts on a scowl, causing Gobbles to blink and lose the second round. (Gobbles adjusted 20) Gobbles puts on a silly, unblinking face and wins the final round! The Goliath presents him with his prize, a red cap that droops down to his shoulder when he wears it.
The party begins to head away from the Out-Stare the Cyclops area when Surina suddenly disappears.
Announcement: PLEASE MALE YOUR WAY TO THE BIG TOP TO SEE WHISTLETOP PRALINE.
Lysithea: I guess we’d better go see what Surina is doing.
The party files into the big top with the rest of the crowd. The lights go out and a single spotlight shines in the center.
Announcement: GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR WHISTLETOP PRALINE AND HER AMAZING UNICYCLE.
Lysithea: Wait, what?
Surine rides in on a unicycle, wearing one of the most ridiculous outfits the party has ever seen, including Gobbles. She is dressed in a polka-dot shirt with bowtie, striped leggings, mix-matched shoes, and 4 silly hats stacked on top of her head with a spinny hat on top.
(Athletics 26) Surina is riding in loop-de-loops, using her powerful leg muscles to propel her around and around and around! (Acrobatics 8, Surina uses her magical d8 which boosts her to a 14) She’s not the most graceful in her tricks, but she’s landing every leap and bounce. (Performance 17) Surina finishes her incredible performance with a very flashy “Ta-Da” and jazz hands. The audience erupts into applause!
Draggy: That was something.
The party moves to wake Surina up from her trance as the audience leaves the tent.
Gobbles: Surina, that was awesome! You had, like, a thing!
Lysithea: Surina, I didn’t know you could ride a unicycle.
Gobbles: It’s like a wheel of cheese but it’s not made out of cheese.
Surina gives Gobbles the confused puppy sidewise head tilt. The party begins to discuss whether they should play another game or try to solve the mystery of what’s happening, but Draggy exclaims he wants to play another game and dashes off towards Fairy Cake. The tent for the game is covered in beautiful, elegant flowers. The party enters the tent expecting to see another Fairy, but instead they are greeted by a very tall Half Orc Man with tiny fairy wings on his back. He speaks in a completely monotone voice.
Half Orc: Welcome to the Fairy Cake Eating Competition. Step right up. See how many cakes you can eat.
Draggy steps up first (constitution modifier +4). The Half Orc places in front of him a tray of little square cakes, with a frosting flower on top of each. He easily downs 7 cakes (constitution saving throw 17), followed by an additional 7 cakes. Draggy leans back in his chair and belches, satisfied. The party watches in horror. Gobbles goes next (constitution modifier +2). He starts by eating 5 cakes, (constitution saving throw 18), followed by 8 more cakes. Surina bounces up to go next (constitution modifier +3). She begins by eating 6 cakes, (constitution saving throw 14), followed by 4 more cakes. Lysithea initially begins to decline, but the happy faces of her party cause her to reconsider and she somewhat reluctantly joins in. Knowing that Lysithea will be last, Gobbles prepares to cast Detect Magic in hopes to find what is causing people to disappear. (Constitution modifier +3) Lysithea begins by eating 6 cakes, (constitution saving throw 14) then eats another 4 cakes. Draggy is the winner!
As the party congratulates Draggy, Gobbles’s Detect Magic detects magic! A spell has been cast, with elements of Dominate Person, Charm Person, and Suggestion all combined into it. (Gobbles perception 25) Gobbles sees a coin appear out of nowhere, spinning very quickly in front of Draggy’s face. Draggy suddenly walks off. Gobbles tries to snatch the coin (opposed roll 15), but the coin disappears before he can grab it.
Announcement: EVERYONE PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE BIG TOP…
Lysithea: Draggy’s gone. We’d better see what’s going on with him.
Announcement: …FOR WENDY THE WONDER WOMBAT.
Once again the party enters the big top tent. The lights go out and “Entrance of the Gladiators” begins to play. Draggy stands in the center spotlight, wearing a clown nose, giant, red roller skates, and big, poofy, red wig while still dressed in full armor, his giant battle ax on his back. Surina tries her hardest to hold back laughter at the sight of her brother.
Lysithea: He does not look like a wombat…
Announcement: PLEASE GIVE IT UP FOR WENDY THE WONDER WOMBAT, WHO WILL BE MAKING BALLOON ANIMALS FOR THE CROWD!
Surina: That’s not Draggy’s specialty… Wouldn’t he pop the balloon?
Draggy masterfully begins blowing up balloons and arranging them into hairy werewolves. The entire audience lines up to each claim their own hairy werewolf balloons, made entirely of black balloons. (Performance 10) To finish the performance Draggy begins skating around in a zig-zag before shouting a final “Ta-Da!” The audience leaves, very pleased with their amazing balloons, and the party goes to wake up Draggy from his trance. Gobbles holds up his balloon werewolf in Draggy’s face.
Gobbles: Draggy, you made these!
Lysithea: Can we figure out what’s going on now, please?
Gobbles: So I saw a little, spinny coin thing that was in front of Draggy’s face. I tried to grab it, but whoever it was got away. Like, an invisible person.
Lysithea: We’re being hypnotized?
Gobbles: Yeah.
Lyishtea: And this happened when?
Gobbles: This happened right when Draggy was disappearing. I think this is what happened to all of us.
Lysithea: Was it after we played a game?
Gobbles: I think so.
Lysithea: I think we should go play another game… Let’s go play another game and see if we can catch who’s doing this.
Surina and Draggy get very excited to play another game, and together they skip off towards Trebuchet. As they approach they see a small crowd watching a Bugbear practicing the game. He grabs a big bag and swings it backwards over his head, launching it towards a basket on the other end of a field. The Bugbear gets a big grin as he sees the party approach.
Bugbear: Ah, welcome! Here to play the game?
Draggy: No.
Surina: Yes!
Gobbles: Yes!
Lysithea: No…
Bugbear: So to play you get 3 bags. The point of the game is to get one of them in the basket.
Surina: What’s in the bags?
Bugbear: That’s a great question! It depends. Each bag is different. Some bags *lifts a heavy bag* are much heavier than other bags.
Lysithea: There’s not, like, living beings inside these bags, are there?
Bugbear: What do you take us for, monsters?
Lysithea: It’s a carnival, so yes.
Bugbear: No! One bag has sand, another has marbles…
Lysithea: Marbles?
Bugbear: Then we have a bag of feathers, a bag filled with rocks…
Surina: Rocks?!
Bugbear: A bag filled with cake, and a mystery bag. You don’t know which bag you’re going to get until you start to throw. So? Who’s first? Who’s first?
Lysithea: Draggy is first.
Draggy steps up to a line drawn on the ground (d6 – 1). The first bag Draggy picks up is filled with sand. (Athletics 18) He turns around and launches the bag backwards over his head and lands the bag in the basket! (d6 – 1) The second bag is also filled with sand. (Athletics 24) Draggy easily chucks the bag across the field and it lands directly in the basket. (d6 – 2) Draggy’s final bag is a bit heavier. (Athletics Nat 1) As Draggy goes to lift the bag his claws catch on to it, and marbles rain down as the ripped bag flies across the field.
Bugbear: Well… I’ve never seen that happen… CLEAN UP!
A squad of Gnomes rush in and quickly clean up the marbles and retrieve the two sandbags from the basket. For making 2 out of 3 baskets Draggy is rewarded with candy, which he immediately devours.
Bugbear: Who’s next?
Surina steps up (d6- 4). The first bag Surina picks up has a squishy feel to it. (Athletics 24) Surina flings the bag with all her might! The bag of cake goes flying across the field and almost goes too far, but just barely lands inside the basket. (d6 – 2) Surina can hear the clacking of marbles as she lifts the second bag. (Athletics 26) Surina lets out a triumphant laugh as she hurls the bag of marbles directly into the basket. (d6 – 2, Athletics 18) A little too confident, Surina doesn’t use as much strength to throw the final bag, which is also filled with marbles, but she still manages to make the basket! For making all 3 baskets Surina is rewarded with candy and Sprite’s skull covered in inky fingerprints.
Lysithea: Well that’s terrifying…Alright, Gobbles you want to play?
Lysithea is keeping an active eye for the mysterious being, Mage Hand at the ready,, and Gobbles has planned to Misty Step in to grab the coin as soon as it appears. Gobbles steps up to play (d6 – 1, athletics 17) and is able to hurl the first bag, filled with sand, into the basket. (d6 – 2, athletics 16) Gobbles tries with all his might to toss the bag of marbles into the basket, but it lands with a mighty THUD a few feet shy of his target. (d6 -6, athletics 6) The final bag rips slightly as Gobbles tosses it, spilling some of its contents onto his head. Gobbles slowly begins to rise off the ground and floats several feet in the air.
Gobbles: I’m flying!
The Bugbear tosses up a piece of candy to Gobbles as his prize. Gobbles then uses his floatiness to his advantage, now having a bird’s eye view to look out for the mysterious being. He casts Detect Magic, hoping to detect the controlling spell as soon as it’s cast.
Bugbear: *to Lysithea* Do you want to play?
Lysithea looks up at the floating Gobbles, knowing that he’ll need to come down before they can catch the culprit.
Lysithea: I guess so… This will be hysterical.
(d6 – 6, Athletics 9) Lysithea completely misses the basket with the pixie dust filled bag. (d6 – 2, athletics 10) Lysithea struggles to lift the bag to throw…
Lysithea: *grunting* Yeah, this is for the greater good, guys…
… but she’s eventually able to throw it a few feet away from her. (d6 – 1, athletics 15) Much to everyone’s surprise, including her own, Lysithea is able to throw the final bag straight into the basket!
Lysithea: Wow! I did it! I did a thing!
Surina: Ta-da!
She is rewarded with her single piece of candy, which she eats with pride.
The coin suddenly appears! Right in front of Draggy’s face. Lysithea sends her Mage Hand and snatches the coin! The sound of footsteps can be heard running away.
Lysithea: FOLLOW IT!
From the sky, Gobbles Misty Steps and attempts to tackle the being (contested roll, 18). Invisibility on the creature drops, revealing a screaming man in a clown suit. Gobbles has him grappled by the legs, but he’s still trying to get away.
Lysithea: Surina, go tackle him!
Surina runs towards the clown (strength 23) and tackles him to the ground, dealing 5 damage.
Clown: Let go of me! Let go, LET GO!
Lysithea and Draggy tie him up while Surina and Gobbles hold him down.
Clown: Let go of me!
The party can now see, from Surina’s mighty tackle, that the clown face is actually a mask. Lysithea rips the mask off, revealing an Elven man.
Lysithea: Who are you?
Clown: Let go! My name is Harry.
Lysithea: Why are you doing this?
Harry: Because I was fired and I wanted to ruin the show! It’s not my fault that everyone I hypnotized was actually good at it!
Lysithea: Why were you fired?
Mr. Mystery: Well, he was fired…
The carnival owner walks in at just the right time for some exposition.
Mr. Mystery: He was fired because he stole all my money!
Lysithea: Oh, he should be arrested!
Mr. Mystery: No, we just fired him.
Lysithea: *rubbing her temple* When someone steals money you have them arrested…
Mr. Mystery: This is the Feywild!
Gobbles: We’re in the Feywild?!
Lysithea: We’re in the Feywild?!
Mr. Mystery: Yeah!
Lysithea: THISTLE!
Thistle: I had a lot of fun. I was just going along with it. Usually they charge to come in. You should see his house. Mr. Mystery has a huge house, it’s amazing!
Lysithea: You know Mr. Mystery?!
Thistle: His house is the Mystery House! Yeah!
Gobbles: Do you know what “Free?” means?
Thistle: It means sometimes he charges. Or that he charges afterwards.
Surina: If you see things you call the police!
Mr. Mystery: But we don’t have police here.
Surina paces back and forth mumbling in a frustrated manner.
Lysithea: Well, do something with this guy! You fired him for stealing and he’s trying to ruin your business.
Mr. Mystery: Well now he’ll be a permanent act. Give me that coin!
Lysithea: Do you want me to light him on fire?
Mr. Mystery: No, give me that coin!
Gobbles tries to con the conman by switching Harry’s coin with a different one (sleight of hand 18), but Mr. Mystery notices immediately.
Mr. Mystery: Come on, real coin…
Gobbles: Okay… *reluctantly hands over the coin* Isn’t there a reward for catching him?
Mr. Mystery: Your reward will be getting to leave here for free instead of me charging you to get out.
Lysithea: You charge people to leave?
Mr. Mystery: Ha HA!
Lysithea: I want to light this whole place on fire…
Mr. Mystery: Listen, you get to keep everything you won for free.
Lysithea: Even the things that we won? We caught your criminal! We did shows for you!
Mr. Mystery: Yes, thank you. It was the best day we’ve had!
Lysithea: Yeah, no, I think a better reward is due.
Mr. Mystery: Fine. Fine. Let me see what I have in the back that’s actually good.
He brings out 2 wands, a Wand of Smiles and a Wand of Scowls, which Lysithea immediately grabs. He also hands over a rose.
Mr. Mystery: Every day you can change its color, and it will give you resistance to.. Whatever.
Surina: Let me look!
Surina takes the rose, which is actually a Chromatic Rose.
Gobbles: Worth it!
Lysithea: Thank you, Mr. Mystery. Here is your former employee turned criminal turned current employee.
Surina hands the tied up Harry over to Mr. Mystery. Lysithea looks around for Slogoth, who is sitting off to the side on a barrel. Lysithea tests the Wand of Smiles on Slogoth, whose lips curl up into an unnatural smile, like Jim Carry’s in The Grinch.
Slogoth: What’s this? These muscles shouldn’t be working!
Mateen: That’s a good look for you!
Lysithea doubles over in laughter.
Mr. Mystery: There’s one more show if you want to check it out.
Realizing that Sable is still missing, the party decides to go see what Harry had hypnotized her to do. In the Big Top they see Sable as The Daring Shrimpy Albatross, walking the tightrope over a huge vat of vanilla pudding. As she walks across the thin tightrope she begins to slip and falls into the vat, splashing pudding everywhere. Lysithea begins applauding, laughing hysterically.
Announcement: WELL FOLKS, THAT’S IT FOR TODAY. PLEASE COLLECT ANY BELONGINGS YOU HAVE. ANY ITEMS LEFT BEHIND WILL GO INTO OUR BAG OF PRIZES FOR TOMORROW.
The party immediately checks to make sure they have all of their belongings. Gobbles quickly downs some of the vanilla pudding to wash down the 13 cakes he ate earlier. Satisfied and ready to leave, the party begins to head towards the exit; however, Slogoth stops them.
Slogoth: Hey, before you leave we need to talk.
End Session. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Check Out
Spotlight on Another Player:
- Miranda: Cordelia for her amazing roleplaying today! She has not role played like that in a long time.
- Kevin: Justice for making this insane, ridiculous circus/fair thing.
- Cordelia: Dad for making this so much fun!
- Justice: Victor for coming over to role play and really getting into his character.
Challenge or Something Learned:
- Miranda: I learned that Thistle knows Mr. Mystery.
- Kevin: It’s difficult to surf on camels.
- Cordelia: Focusing was hard because the show I’m dressed as was on in the background even though I’ve watched it a million times.
- Justice: Coming up with this so that it’s fun, but also based on your levels.
Hope or Prediction for Next Session:
- Miranda: I would like answers from Slogoth and then to depart from Slogoth.
- Kevin: The hope is that we’ll be able to convince Slogoth to sink the ship that he’s on and use the balloons that Draggy made to help him float away.
- Cordelia: I hope we get out of the jungle!
- Justice: For everyone to continue to having fun.
Analysis: I think this was the most fun session we’ve ever played. I don’t just mean Corde sessions, I mean the most fun session we have EVER played! Justice created this Gravity Falls/Scooby-Doo themed session to engage the kids and give us something fun to do since we weren’t taking the kids trick-or-treating again this year. We were all dressed in costume as we played, which made it extra fun. On top of all the fun hijinks, we each got to spin an actual Wheel of Treats for real candy for each in-session game we played. Justice let us determine parts of sessions where our characters were hypnotized (picture below). Cordelia and Victor both were actively role playing the entire time, which is the most we’ve ever seen them in character. Adults and children alike were laughing the whole time! After a few stressful months this was the session that we all needed.
