Here's what you missed!
Episode 1: Entering the Revalia (Jan. 18)
The adventure begins with our merry band of performers meeting up to prepare to journey to find this mysterious circus mentioned in Otwin's journal. Journeying outside the walls of the great city of Galik, they find that the forest feels oddly different. Bosa in particular notices the high conifer trees and the dense air. This is not the forest she grew up in. The further in they walk, the stranger the forest becomes. They are convinced that they are completely lost.
Suddenly, a figure appears out of the gloom. Lulu waved to them unafraid and called them over. A lithe woman, dressed in a black and red leotard greeted them cheerily. She introduced herself as Bella Bells-On; an acrobat in a troupe within the carnival. She had been looking for the party to personally invite them to the carnival. Heckna himself invited them, hearing of their talents and wanting to see them for himself.
Bella leads them ever deeper through the forest. The trees around them twist into unnatural shapes. Strange plants grow and flourish in the ever rising mist. Eventually they reach the great iron gates of The Revalia. Bella shows herself to be a were-spider and leaps off into the carnival. The party hesitates outside the gates, leading to the discovery of a Moonbough; a type of awakened cursed tree being. They attempted to communicate with the being, but to no avail. Only the words "Steam... and... Fire..." being intelligible.
They leave the Moonbough and head into the carnival. It is a place utterly contrasted with the forest outside. Inside is full of light and laughter. Smells of popcorn drift through the air and tantalize the senses. The players are taken in by the wonder of it all. Their attention is soon taken by a mysterious figure beckoning to them from behind a brightly colored tent.
Their name is Conrad and they seem to be injured. They tried to warn the party that this place is dangerous, but many party members do not heed the warning. Their words are gruff, but they still give advice to Tiktik. Not is all that it seems.
Conrad is quick to vacate the scene as a parade pushes it's way through the carnival. in the midst of which is Heckna himself! He waves to the party and blows kisses amidst the cheers and fireworks. Lulu is quite taken with him as is Sear. During the parade, the party is approached by a cheerful clown named Pinky. She welcomes them and offers to tell them anything they wish to know. Her companion, a living map called Maphew "map" McNally, offers to be their guide because they seem more fun than hanging out with Pinky.
In talking to Pinky and Map, the party learns that you can't leave The Revalia. No one can. the party is stuck here forever. :D Dorian notices that Pinky seems cheerful, but strained and confused when asked about her life before the carnival. He believes there is trauma here. The party feels that things are not what they seem.
They take their leave of Pinky and follow Map's directions to the ticketing booth. An animated marionette called Polly gives each player a booklet of 10 RT. (See house rules)
The party decided to go to the food court. There they meet the proprietors of the 3 food stands available; Felix of "Felix's elixirs", Candy of "Candy's candy emporium and more", and Bab of "Bab's meatery". They purchase and consume mostly safe foodstuffs, including a box of popcorn. While tasty at first, the popcorn causes Otwin to choke and cough incessantly. He becomes sticky and gets stuck to whatever and whoever he touches. Seeing that Otwin is in trouble from something he ate, Sear casts Command and causes Otwin to vomit the popcorn into a nearby trash can. Sear then attempts to destroy the box of popcorn with fire.
Out of the burning box surges a popcorn swarm! ROLL FOR INITIATIVE!!
(To be continued on Feb. 1st. )
