1 - The Carnival

From The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
Session 1
◀◀▶▶
Ashira
Brolin
Frostbite

Lets enjoy ourselves, and then find that portal

Played on 10-11-2024
Day 0-9
by Ashira

While walking through Waterdeep with Brolin, a street urchin handed us an invitation to a pumpkin farm from someone named Madryck Roslov. He claimed to know about the carnival and, more specifically, my lost smile. Brolin received a similar note. I couldn’t shake the feeling that it might be a trap, but we didn’t hesitate. If he knew something, I had to find out.

The Pumpkin Farm

After a week, we arrived at Roslov’s farm. The pumpkins there were as large as houses. It was nearly midnight when I spotted a small figure behind one of the pumpkins. It called our names, and I recognised the voice immediately. Zephyr. It had been eight years since he left Baldur’s Gate with the circus, but there was no mistaking him.

Before we could even speak, a tall Dragonborn appeared. His scales gleamed faintly in the moonlight, and he dismissed us with a cold "I’m not here for you" before heading toward the farmhouse. But Brolin, ever impatient, didn’t hesitate to knock on the door first.

Madryck Roslov, the old man who opened it, welcomed us in. While we drank tea, we learned that the Dragonborn was named Frostbite, and a graceful Elf named Maeve arrived soon after. Madryck told us the Witchlight Carnival would appear in two days, and he knew its exact location. It would have a portal to the Feywild, a place where our lost things would be. For more details about the portal he said we should seek out Witch and Light, the carnival’s mysterious owners.

I didn't trust him, so I asked how he knew all this. Madryck explained that his patron, an archfey named Zybilna, had told it to him. When he described her, long white hair and a chicken-foot tattoo under her eye, something stirred within me. I remembered her from my childhood, when I struggled to speak. She had appeared then, placed her hand on my head, and afterward, the words came easily.

Before we left, Madryck made one more request. He had lost contact with Zybilna and asked if we could search for her in the Feywild. Zephyr, of course, wanted a reward, but I wasn’t interested in that. All I wanted was to find my smile again.

Frostbite, who was a guide, knew the way to the Neverwinter Woods. Brolin and Maeve agreed to pay him, while Zephyr and I decided to follow them at a distance for free.

The Carnival

Two days later, we arrived at the supposed site, only to find no sign of the carnival. But then, at sunset, the sky began to shift. Carts pulled by winged horses and foxes flew down from the sky. A big tree commanded the other trees to form an open area. A blue ribbon spread across the clearing, twisting and turning until it became a river. I stood frozen, watching in awe. It was amazing and magical.

At the ticket booth, we found that someone had already paid for our tickets. When I asked who, the attendant only replied that it was anonymous. Along with the tickets, We were handed a pair of fake butterfly wings and a map of the carnival. Zephyr and I were eager to explore, but the others insisted on heading to Lost and Found first.

There, we met a strange creature named Dirla, who had lost her child, Star. Zephyr promised to help her find the little one, probably hoping for a reward. We then encountered a barrel organ played by a monkey. The monkey asked for buttons, so I found one I could spare and gave it without much thought.

Maeve had heard that she might be able to perform in the Big Top, so we made our way there. A Tiefling fire-breather was practicing, and we spoke to two drunken guards. They told us the performance wouldn’t start until midnight, but at the end of the show, Witch and Light would ask someone from the audience to perform. They also mentioned that the more people smiled, the more time Witch and Light would have. So having fun could increase the chance we could talk to them and find the portal?

With no clearer idea of where to find the portal, we decided it was time to enjoy the carnival, even without a smile I loved this magical place, even better then in my memories. Our next stop: the Bubble-pop Teapot!

Session 1
◀◀▶▶
Ashira
Brolin
Frostbite

Updated on: 06:31