The Big Top; A Meeting with Management; Mime Time

Thanks to I.S. for joining and helping play as Vera!

☕ Start of session

The party has entered the big top for the big top extravaganza!

The Big Top Extravaganza!

Mister Light is the master of ceremonies, and the show starts off with small dragons flying through the air with confetti and flames.

Acrobatics and Burly’s feats of strength (thanks to Vera and Elmer for volunteering) are next. Clowns help set up and tear down stage settings, and perform clowny acts in between sets.

Mister Light asks for volunteers for any further shows before the final act. A handful of volunteers come down, including Vera.

Vera sings a song from way back in the mountains called Golden, which wins over the crowd and impresses Mister Light. The dragons even help out with golden confetti.

The final act is another singing act, by the mermaid Palasha. It’s a sad and captivating song. Michael notices the mime from the Hall of Illusions paying close attention and looking longingly at her from the corner - the mime hurries away as the song is wrapping up.

Now what

The party splits up after the big top:

• Vera goes invisible and follows the mermaid to her carnival event
  • The mermaid is singing a song in another language; Vera insightfully suspects that she’s just as lovelorn as the mime Michael mentioned
• Michael checks out the Swan Gondolas, but only to keep an eye on Vera
• Elmer and “slugger” scope out Mister Light’s wagon behind the big top
  • Elmer eavesdrops

Elmer’s Eavesdropping

Elmer hears conversation from Mister Light and Mister Witch. Some bits about potential new acts.

They also mention, in hushed tones, Burly’s brother Hurly - he’s gone missing, and one of them suggests that they wish it hadn’t happened, but neither says anything further.

Finally, the following conversation is heard:

Mister Witch: “You need to find a way to calm down.”
Mister Light: “I’ll calm down when that kenku pest is gone.”
Witch: “She knows nothing. She’ll get frustrated soon enough and be on her way.”
Light: “I hope you’re right.”
Witch: “Trust me.”

What now

Elmer meets up with Michael and Vera (now visible) outside the big top.

They all head back to the Hall of Illusions.

The mime (Candlefoot), after much miming and some writing on paper, tells the party that a bird, a kenku, took his voice. The party realizes they didn’t meet Kettlesteam and head to the big top to find her.

They eventually find Kettlesteam near the Lost Property booth. Everyone catches up on the latest. Elmer convinces Kettlesteam that letting all this random love stuff happen throughout the carnival is quite a chaotic thing to do. Kettlesteam pulls out a corncob doll, unties a thorny vine from the throat, tucks it back into her pocket, cackles, and darts off.

A VOICE

The party heads back to Candlefoot, who has regained a booming voice and says he’ll go propose to the mermaid as soon as he gets his next break. He teaches the party some sweet miming acts.

The Boss wants to see you

Burly approaches the party and says that Witch and Light want to see them. Perfectly normal stuff.

The party meets with Witch and Light. They congratulate them for a lovely performance at the big top, and note that they’ve heard they’ve helped out a lot during the carnival, like with the dragonflies and the halfling proposal.

They ask why the party is visiting and takes their vague answers/lies without question.

The party asks some questions of their own:

• Have you been to the Feywild? Is it nice?
  • The feywild is somewhere they have been before but it’s a big place with good and bad.
• Are they the original owners of the carnival?
  • They used to manage a different carnival but made a deal with an elf of some kind to manage this one instead
• Are there corn dogs here?
  • No, but there’s cotton candy. Burly! Get our guests some cotton candy
• What’s your favorite kind of cookie?
  • Mister Witch’s favorite cookie is vanilla; Light’s is chocolate sandwich

Misters Witch and Light wish the party well and mention that they might see them at the crowning of the Witchlight Monarch in a few hours.

After leaving the wagon, the clown Thaco appears to make balloon animals for the party:

• Elmer: Teal bear cub
• Michael: Grey giraffe
• Vera: Red Puppy

Burly

Once out of sight of the circled wagons, Burly re-approaches the party. He mentions that he got a good impression from the party; that they’re actually a group who might be able to help. His brother went missing months ago and he’s concerned.

Not just that – carnival attendees sometimes disappear, and sentimental items carried by carnival-goers occasionally get reported as missing. Not a lot of people or things, but enough that it’s weird. Started happening maybe 8-10 months ago.

Burly believes Witch and Light know something about this, but isn’t sure, and they aren’t saying anything. He thinks there needs to be some leverage to get Witch and Light to spill the beans. Light’s vane and Witch’s pocketwatch are powerful carnival-related items and, if somehow temporarily stolen, the pocketwatch may be the leverage they need. But Burly must have no involvement.

Finally, Burly mentions that other carnivalhands may be able to help. He recommends asking Palasha, Candlefoot, and Dirlagraun. Stay away from Thaco, though. Can’t trust him.