Saralas: The Feywild Chapter 3: Difference between revisions

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''Translated from the original Elvish by the historian Steve Block''
''Translated from the original Elvish by the historian Steve Block''


Translation is currently in progress. Initial bullet points captured during the translation process can be found below. This page will update with the full narrative when translation is complete.
Initial bullet points captured during the translation process can be found below.
 
= The Carnival Continues =
There were still a couple of hours to go before the coronation and the end of the night. Though Burly's plan still seemed our best opportunity to force Witch and Light's hand, the others still wanted to look for other opportunities. Or so they said. Resda clearly wanted to find another way, while Kaira didn't seem opposed to it but also not interested in helping. In fact that seemed to be the general attitude. Not really opposed, but not willing to help.
 
=== Goblin Wrestling ===
After we left the lost property booth Korag and Baerwin started off towards Goblin Wrestling, where a number of angry-looking goblins were standing around. Korag asked about the details and the goblins explained, laughing, that they wrestle, you lose, and they take your ticket.
 
Korag wanted to wrestle, and a goblin punched his ticket, dusted his hands with chalk, and got ready. He looked strong, but Korag managed to flip him over and pin him, winning a small spider as a prize. Baerwin was next, and was practically bouncing in anticipation of doing something like fighting. A smaller goblin punched his ticket, and then whistled over a true giant of a goblin. The biggest goblin there. Baerwin seemed unfazed by the size of his opponent, and managed to flip and pin him too until he tapped out. He got a small pack of pixie dust as a reward.
 
I figured I'd give it a go as well, though I am not the strongest and not much of a hand to hand fighter. Another goblin approached and made mocking gestures of standing upright and being superior like he must have thought an elf would behave. I was feeling good though, and managed to pin him. I won some magic face paint. Not of great use to me but I'll hold onto it.
 
After the match I stopped to ask the goblin how long he'd been doing this. He was vague, saying "It's hard to say, I grew up in the carny you know". He didn't really seem to keep careful track of time. An odd life.
 
=== Thunderdome ===
Done with our little wrestling show, I prestidigitated my fancy robes clean of grass stains, and then Baerwin started dragging us over to the Thunderdome marked on the map. The Thunderdome was a large, inverted metal dome with various goblins and other creatures hanging off it. There was a large, excited group crowded around, yelling.
 
Baerwin, visibly excited, exclaimed "This can only be good!" We pushed through the crowd to see an adventuring party fighting monsters. It looked dangerous. Baerwin was practically dancing with anticipation to join in. Wrestling that goblin only seems to have amped him up more. He talked to the operator for a while and came back, telling us that we needed a license to participate as a group of adventures, and that Mister Witch was the person we needed to talk to. While explaining this to us, one of the adventurers in the fight was stabbed and seemed to die. I am still not sure if this was real or not, but the crowd was loving it.
 
Bearwin really wanted to fight and the others seemed interested. I suppose it was one way we could have gotten another chance to talk to Mister Witch. We headed towards the staff area to see if we could find him, but the entire thing was enclosed in thick thorn bushes. When we visited before there was an opening in the thorns, but it must have been opened by magic. Instead, we went looking for a stagehand to talk to. We found one, who told us that to get a license to this most dangerous event we needed to pass an interview with Mister Witch, and set up a meeting for the following morning.
 
I was still preparing myself to implement Burly's plan even though no one else seemed particularly keen on it. If we wanted to get to the Feywild though it was the best plan we seemed to have.
 
=== The Mystery Mine ===
It looked like we still had about an hour until the final event of the night, and Karthos wanted to go to the Mystery Mine. I still wasn't seeing how this got us to the Feywild, but was pretty set on Burly's plan myself.
 
At the ride, we saw groups of people coming out. They seemed to be mixed between bewildered and afraid. We got our tickets punched, and the dwarf operating the ride beckoned us over to a contraption that looked like a mechanical eye. He gestured for us to look into the eye and see what we could see.
 
I looked in and saw a grell. I backed away in alarm, reaching for the sword that I wasn't wearing. Karthos looked in and backed away quickly as well. He would only say he saw "the eye". Resda looked in and walked away smirking, saying "I saw only myself." Baerwin shouted "Kobolds! NO!". Kaira looked in and then away, shaking, muttering about Bun. Korag, stoic, looked and returned, telling us about an undead yeti.
 
Then an empty mine cart, big enough for eight, rolled up. The dwarf beckoned us to enter the cart and we got in. As soon as we did he slammed the door shut, pulled a lever, and the cart hurtled into the dragon's mouth that was the entrance to the ride. Illusions of undulating hills, corkscrew trees, and prismatic skies appeared around us. Then the ride started to show us our worst fears, the things we saw in the mechanical eye.
 
We were first assaulted by a grell. I saw through the illusion, but Kaira started screaming. Soon after the sky went dark as if under an eclipse. Resda started screaming, and then we passed through into a fake town, wooden building facades propped up in front of us. The cart slowed down, and another Resda was there, her eyes dripping with black. She flew around the cart, hurling wild magic everywhere, and I started yelling in fear.
 
Next we plunged deep into the mines, besieged by kobolds. They were everywhere. Next we were suddenly in an ethereal forest, with huge spiderwebs coating the trees. Bun, covered in blood, appeared, flying around with daggers in hand. He looked possessed.
 
Then we were in another plane, hurtling through frozen tundra. A pack of undead yeti appeared, bashing at the mine cart and howling horrible howls. I had recovered somewhat by this time, and was able to stay calm at the illusion.
 
And then we found ourselves bursting out of the mine and back to the entrance in the carnival. The mine cart lurched to a stop and the door opened. As we got out, the other guests of the carnival were watching us curiously. Of our group, Resda and Baerwin looked shaken, Kaira and I were a little unsettled but OK, while Korag and Karthos seemed entirely unaffected by the ride.
 
= Finding the Portal =
 
=== Making Plans ===
The last ride was traumatizing and violent but didn't really bring us any closer to our goals. I asked the others whether they'de come up with any ideas other than the thievery of Mister Witch's watch. We had maybe half an hour to the coronation.
Bearwin wanted to spend the time asking around about the disappearances. I put on my hat and became a vaguely handsome human. We asked around, but the staff was mostly unhelpful. We learned that magic is used to shuffle the carnival around, and that this magic was controlled by Mister Witch's watch, which can pack up the carnival. Mister Light's weathervane was used to navigate. Without either, the carnival would be stuck.
 
We also learned that Witch and Light were not the original owners of the carnival, but details were not forthcoming. But the information about the watch and weathervane confirmed what Burly was saying; if we took one of these we might be able to gain enough leverage to force Witch and Light to talk. Kaira, though not keen to directly participate in a theft, said the coronation was probably the best time to get close to Mister Witch. The coronation itself was a ceremony that happened every night at the end of the night, and they crowned the person who had most contributed to the carnival and its mood that evening. She warned me that the watch was kept on a chain, and so I bought a pair of scissors from a vendor with which to cut it.
 
I wanted to give the others a change to offer options beyond the theft of the watch, which was rapidly approaching. I asked Karthos if he had any mushrooms that could make them talk, but he didn't. Asking around the carnival had gotten us a little more information but not much. The interview the next day was potentially promising but had no guarantee we'd be accepted to fight in the Thunderdome, nor any indication it would get us any more information about the portal to the Feywild. No one seemed to have any better ideas.
 
If I saw the opportunity I was going to take it.
=== Crowning the Witchlight Monarch ===
It was about time for the coronation, so we made our way back over to the Big Top along with most of the other carnival guests, and found seats inside. A huge displacer beast escorted Mister Witch from his trailer to the tent, quite theatrically.
 
Mister Light held up his weathervane, shaking it also quite theatrically. From the top of the weathervane a golden crown appeared, and started flying around the Big Top. After a few circuits of the tent it settled on Baerwin's head, to my great surprise. Bearwin was jubilant.
 
Mister Witch and Mister Light approached to congratulate Baerwin, who stoop up waving to the crown. A troup of clowns appeared, throwing glitter everywhere, and with Mister Witch so close I could clearly see the watch on its chain in his pocket. In the confusion I quickly and deftly snipped the chain and took the watch.
 
Witch and Light escorted a rejoicing Baerwin around the stage, while Burly the bugbear set off fireworks. Suddenly, Mister Witch was nowhere to be seen. After the circuit, Mister Light brought him back, congratulating him and wishing him the best.
 
When he was gone I told the others I had the watch, and how we might plan to meet up with them to return it and get the information we are looking for. I was thinking we might use the next day's planned meeting, but we didn't need to wait so long.
 
=== Talking to Mister Witch ===
Feeling eyes on me, I turned around. Mister Witch was standing there quite close, though I never heard him approach. "I think you have something of mine," he said. He must have traced the watch itself, as I know he didn't see me take it.
 
Before I could ask any questions or try to explain Baerwin blurted out once again "We want to go to the Feywild."
 
Mister Witch just laughed. "Why would you want to do that?"
 
Again before I could say anything Karthos launched into an explanation of the World Mushroom and that we wanted to get the Prismeer to investigate it. Feeling that we owed Mister Witch more than this I explained about Madrick, his concern about Zabilna, and his suggestion of looking for the portal at the carnival. I then apologized for taking the watch, saying it was a foolish plan.
 
"Foolish indeed," he remarked. "Well, we may as well get on with it," and he waved for us to follow him. I wish the others had not just jumped into tell him their desires before asking any questions, because we never got the chance to press him on the disappearances or their reluctance to speak on them.
 
We followed him to the Hall of Illusion, where Mister Light was waiting. They took us inside, and as we moved through the hall their reflections appeared as children. Ours appeared to show our true age.
 
We then stopped, and Mister Witch asked "Will you give me the watch?"
 
I agreed, and handed it over.
 
"Everything you seek and more his behind the mirror." He pointed. "If you wish to travel, say this rhyme: hither thither, here and there, wander yonder, show me where."
 
I stepped up to the mirror and spoke the rhyme, and it turned into a portal. At this point Baerwin started telling Mister Witch how much he loved the carnival, but before he could get more than few words out Mister Light shoved him through the portal. I already apologized, it was clear they no longer wanted to talk, and saw no point in antagonizing them further. I followed Bearwin through.
 
= In the Feywild =
On the other side of the portal we found ourselves at the bottom of a brick well with about a foot of water at the bottom. Though there was no ladder, Korag and Bearwin made quick work of climbing out and helping the rest of us out as well.
 
We found ourselves in a forest of seemingly ordinary trees, except whenever I looked away from them I found I couldn't really remember what I had been looking at. Somebody Else's Problem, maybe. It was day, though we had entered the portal late at night. There was a wooden sign near the well, scrawled in blood. It said "Do not stray from the path." This was a worrying sight, and I changed out of my fancy robes into my armor and equipped my bow and sword. I made sure my robes were clean and tidy and put them away.
 
It was time to face the danger and wonder of the Feywild.
 
Karthos, having done some research on this place, took some time to warn us before we set off. He reminded us that the Feywild is a plane inhabited more with concepts than with real creatures. Everything is half-imaginary, and half-remembered. Names and debts have tremendous power, and we needed to be careful of both. Names were especially dangerous. To respond to anything that tried to give you a name would be to accept that name, and doing so twice would give that creature incredible power over you. We needed to be careful.
 
=== Slow Travels ===
 
Looking at the path, Karthos told us he had heard of them before, and that they were exceptionally dangerous. Straying from the path would lead to consequences untold, for no one who did so had ever come back. Karthos made a show of peering around, but all I could see was woods.
 
So we started moving, following the path, tied one to another with a length of rope. Maybe foolish, after all given the seeming nature of this place I think if any hostile creature wanted they could probably until it without us realizing. Still, I didn't object.
 
We started heading cautiously down the path, Baerwin in the lead, Karthos at the back. We seemed to be moving forward but after around half an hour we looked around and realized we were only about 20 feet from the well. Another half hour later and we'd only gone 20 feet more. I couldn't account for the time, it seemed we were moving, but we weren't really going anywhere.
 
Resda suggested running, but after another half hour jogging we were only 60 feet from the well. Then we tried walking backwards. 80 feet. Karthos suggested we try walking in our minds instead, imagining ourselves making progress. Nothing happened though.
 
We were not getting very far. Travelling cautiously but normally got us nowhere. Running didn't help. We tried moving without looking around at all, just staring at the path. We seemed to get farther this time.
 
Baerwin scratched his chin and under his eyepatch. "Maybe it's in how we go," he said. If we walked without care, instead of with caution, maybe we'd go faster. Karthos wanted to keep staring at the path so we wouldn't get lost, but it was quite distinct and I didn't see any danger of straying from the path by accident. So we tried Baerwin's suggestion, moving forward without giving care to our surroundings. This seemed to work, and after 10 minutes we found we had traveled a significant distance, farther than we would have given our apparent speed. I suggested we keep going this way to see where path led us.
 
As we moved it was difficult to tell how much time had really passed. Our speed didn't seem coupled to how fast we moved, and the sun didn't seem to move in the way we would expect. I wasn't sure if I would easily adapt to this place.
 
=== Our Friend the Frog ===
While pondering this, we came across a table set across the path. On the table was an ornate table cloth, and setting at the table was a large frog, who bid us hello.
 
"Hello," replied Korag, and the frog offered us tea, which he had just brewed. Karthos declined.
 
"Well that is quite rude, refusing a gift," the frog said, frowning. "Where are you off to so rudely?"
 
"We're looking for a friend," said Resda, describing Min and Bun.
 
I thought about the frog's offer and his offense at Karthos' refusal. There must be rules or expectations of giving and receiving gifts here. There were other chairs at the table and so I sat down. The frog poured tea, which I accepted and drank. It tasted like fine tea, quite refreshing. Remembering Madrick's warnings about coming into debt, I asked the frog if he would like anything to eat. At his affirmative I pulled out one of the rations I carried and shared it around the table.
 
Karthos then also sat down and accepted some tea, handing over a mushroom in return. The frog seemed mollified.
 
"So, you're looking for your friend," he said. "I saw her, though it was some days ago that she passed."
 
"How was she faring?" asked Karthos.
 
"She looked in a rush," he said. "The path is quite dangerous to travel, alone or together. Do you know where it goes?"
 
"Hopefully to Prismeer," said Karthos.
 
"Well, the path will lead you where you seek, but you must follow it to the well."
 
"Which well?"
 
"Exactly."
 
An odd conversation, since we had started at a well. "Do you have any advice for travelers unfamiliar with this land?" I asked.
 
"Stay on the path," he replied, smiling, "and watch out for the rude one," pointing at Karthos.
 
Thanking him, we took our leave.
 
=== Following the Path ===
We continued down the path for a while. I was loosing track of time, and though I was pretty sure we were making progress, I couldn't be certain.
 
There was no choice really but to continue on. We kept going down the path, and eventually came to a brick well. Surprisingly, I couldn't be certain if it was the same well we started at or not. The rules were different here than in Faerûn.
 
I looked into the well but could not see the bottom.
 


= Raw Notes =
= Raw Notes =

Latest revision as of 17:57, 10 June 2025

The Feywild: Chapter 3

Translated from the original Elvish by the historian Steve Block

Initial bullet points captured during the translation process can be found below.

The Carnival Continues

There were still a couple of hours to go before the coronation and the end of the night. Though Burly's plan still seemed our best opportunity to force Witch and Light's hand, the others still wanted to look for other opportunities. Or so they said. Resda clearly wanted to find another way, while Kaira didn't seem opposed to it but also not interested in helping. In fact that seemed to be the general attitude. Not really opposed, but not willing to help.

Goblin Wrestling

After we left the lost property booth Korag and Baerwin started off towards Goblin Wrestling, where a number of angry-looking goblins were standing around. Korag asked about the details and the goblins explained, laughing, that they wrestle, you lose, and they take your ticket.

Korag wanted to wrestle, and a goblin punched his ticket, dusted his hands with chalk, and got ready. He looked strong, but Korag managed to flip him over and pin him, winning a small spider as a prize. Baerwin was next, and was practically bouncing in anticipation of doing something like fighting. A smaller goblin punched his ticket, and then whistled over a true giant of a goblin. The biggest goblin there. Baerwin seemed unfazed by the size of his opponent, and managed to flip and pin him too until he tapped out. He got a small pack of pixie dust as a reward.

I figured I'd give it a go as well, though I am not the strongest and not much of a hand to hand fighter. Another goblin approached and made mocking gestures of standing upright and being superior like he must have thought an elf would behave. I was feeling good though, and managed to pin him. I won some magic face paint. Not of great use to me but I'll hold onto it.

After the match I stopped to ask the goblin how long he'd been doing this. He was vague, saying "It's hard to say, I grew up in the carny you know". He didn't really seem to keep careful track of time. An odd life.

Thunderdome

Done with our little wrestling show, I prestidigitated my fancy robes clean of grass stains, and then Baerwin started dragging us over to the Thunderdome marked on the map. The Thunderdome was a large, inverted metal dome with various goblins and other creatures hanging off it. There was a large, excited group crowded around, yelling.

Baerwin, visibly excited, exclaimed "This can only be good!" We pushed through the crowd to see an adventuring party fighting monsters. It looked dangerous. Baerwin was practically dancing with anticipation to join in. Wrestling that goblin only seems to have amped him up more. He talked to the operator for a while and came back, telling us that we needed a license to participate as a group of adventures, and that Mister Witch was the person we needed to talk to. While explaining this to us, one of the adventurers in the fight was stabbed and seemed to die. I am still not sure if this was real or not, but the crowd was loving it.

Bearwin really wanted to fight and the others seemed interested. I suppose it was one way we could have gotten another chance to talk to Mister Witch. We headed towards the staff area to see if we could find him, but the entire thing was enclosed in thick thorn bushes. When we visited before there was an opening in the thorns, but it must have been opened by magic. Instead, we went looking for a stagehand to talk to. We found one, who told us that to get a license to this most dangerous event we needed to pass an interview with Mister Witch, and set up a meeting for the following morning.

I was still preparing myself to implement Burly's plan even though no one else seemed particularly keen on it. If we wanted to get to the Feywild though it was the best plan we seemed to have.

The Mystery Mine

It looked like we still had about an hour until the final event of the night, and Karthos wanted to go to the Mystery Mine. I still wasn't seeing how this got us to the Feywild, but was pretty set on Burly's plan myself.

At the ride, we saw groups of people coming out. They seemed to be mixed between bewildered and afraid. We got our tickets punched, and the dwarf operating the ride beckoned us over to a contraption that looked like a mechanical eye. He gestured for us to look into the eye and see what we could see.

I looked in and saw a grell. I backed away in alarm, reaching for the sword that I wasn't wearing. Karthos looked in and backed away quickly as well. He would only say he saw "the eye". Resda looked in and walked away smirking, saying "I saw only myself." Baerwin shouted "Kobolds! NO!". Kaira looked in and then away, shaking, muttering about Bun. Korag, stoic, looked and returned, telling us about an undead yeti.

Then an empty mine cart, big enough for eight, rolled up. The dwarf beckoned us to enter the cart and we got in. As soon as we did he slammed the door shut, pulled a lever, and the cart hurtled into the dragon's mouth that was the entrance to the ride. Illusions of undulating hills, corkscrew trees, and prismatic skies appeared around us. Then the ride started to show us our worst fears, the things we saw in the mechanical eye.

We were first assaulted by a grell. I saw through the illusion, but Kaira started screaming. Soon after the sky went dark as if under an eclipse. Resda started screaming, and then we passed through into a fake town, wooden building facades propped up in front of us. The cart slowed down, and another Resda was there, her eyes dripping with black. She flew around the cart, hurling wild magic everywhere, and I started yelling in fear.

Next we plunged deep into the mines, besieged by kobolds. They were everywhere. Next we were suddenly in an ethereal forest, with huge spiderwebs coating the trees. Bun, covered in blood, appeared, flying around with daggers in hand. He looked possessed.

Then we were in another plane, hurtling through frozen tundra. A pack of undead yeti appeared, bashing at the mine cart and howling horrible howls. I had recovered somewhat by this time, and was able to stay calm at the illusion.

And then we found ourselves bursting out of the mine and back to the entrance in the carnival. The mine cart lurched to a stop and the door opened. As we got out, the other guests of the carnival were watching us curiously. Of our group, Resda and Baerwin looked shaken, Kaira and I were a little unsettled but OK, while Korag and Karthos seemed entirely unaffected by the ride.

Finding the Portal

Making Plans

The last ride was traumatizing and violent but didn't really bring us any closer to our goals. I asked the others whether they'de come up with any ideas other than the thievery of Mister Witch's watch. We had maybe half an hour to the coronation.

Bearwin wanted to spend the time asking around about the disappearances. I put on my hat and became a vaguely handsome human. We asked around, but the staff was mostly unhelpful. We learned that magic is used to shuffle the carnival around, and that this magic was controlled by Mister Witch's watch, which can pack up the carnival. Mister Light's weathervane was used to navigate. Without either, the carnival would be stuck.

We also learned that Witch and Light were not the original owners of the carnival, but details were not forthcoming. But the information about the watch and weathervane confirmed what Burly was saying; if we took one of these we might be able to gain enough leverage to force Witch and Light to talk. Kaira, though not keen to directly participate in a theft, said the coronation was probably the best time to get close to Mister Witch. The coronation itself was a ceremony that happened every night at the end of the night, and they crowned the person who had most contributed to the carnival and its mood that evening. She warned me that the watch was kept on a chain, and so I bought a pair of scissors from a vendor with which to cut it.

I wanted to give the others a change to offer options beyond the theft of the watch, which was rapidly approaching. I asked Karthos if he had any mushrooms that could make them talk, but he didn't. Asking around the carnival had gotten us a little more information but not much. The interview the next day was potentially promising but had no guarantee we'd be accepted to fight in the Thunderdome, nor any indication it would get us any more information about the portal to the Feywild. No one seemed to have any better ideas.

If I saw the opportunity I was going to take it.

Crowning the Witchlight Monarch

It was about time for the coronation, so we made our way back over to the Big Top along with most of the other carnival guests, and found seats inside. A huge displacer beast escorted Mister Witch from his trailer to the tent, quite theatrically.

Mister Light held up his weathervane, shaking it also quite theatrically. From the top of the weathervane a golden crown appeared, and started flying around the Big Top. After a few circuits of the tent it settled on Baerwin's head, to my great surprise. Bearwin was jubilant.

Mister Witch and Mister Light approached to congratulate Baerwin, who stoop up waving to the crown. A troup of clowns appeared, throwing glitter everywhere, and with Mister Witch so close I could clearly see the watch on its chain in his pocket. In the confusion I quickly and deftly snipped the chain and took the watch.

Witch and Light escorted a rejoicing Baerwin around the stage, while Burly the bugbear set off fireworks. Suddenly, Mister Witch was nowhere to be seen. After the circuit, Mister Light brought him back, congratulating him and wishing him the best.

When he was gone I told the others I had the watch, and how we might plan to meet up with them to return it and get the information we are looking for. I was thinking we might use the next day's planned meeting, but we didn't need to wait so long.

Talking to Mister Witch

Feeling eyes on me, I turned around. Mister Witch was standing there quite close, though I never heard him approach. "I think you have something of mine," he said. He must have traced the watch itself, as I know he didn't see me take it.

Before I could ask any questions or try to explain Baerwin blurted out once again "We want to go to the Feywild."

Mister Witch just laughed. "Why would you want to do that?"

Again before I could say anything Karthos launched into an explanation of the World Mushroom and that we wanted to get the Prismeer to investigate it. Feeling that we owed Mister Witch more than this I explained about Madrick, his concern about Zabilna, and his suggestion of looking for the portal at the carnival. I then apologized for taking the watch, saying it was a foolish plan.

"Foolish indeed," he remarked. "Well, we may as well get on with it," and he waved for us to follow him. I wish the others had not just jumped into tell him their desires before asking any questions, because we never got the chance to press him on the disappearances or their reluctance to speak on them.

We followed him to the Hall of Illusion, where Mister Light was waiting. They took us inside, and as we moved through the hall their reflections appeared as children. Ours appeared to show our true age.

We then stopped, and Mister Witch asked "Will you give me the watch?"

I agreed, and handed it over.

"Everything you seek and more his behind the mirror." He pointed. "If you wish to travel, say this rhyme: hither thither, here and there, wander yonder, show me where."

I stepped up to the mirror and spoke the rhyme, and it turned into a portal. At this point Baerwin started telling Mister Witch how much he loved the carnival, but before he could get more than few words out Mister Light shoved him through the portal. I already apologized, it was clear they no longer wanted to talk, and saw no point in antagonizing them further. I followed Bearwin through.

In the Feywild

On the other side of the portal we found ourselves at the bottom of a brick well with about a foot of water at the bottom. Though there was no ladder, Korag and Bearwin made quick work of climbing out and helping the rest of us out as well.

We found ourselves in a forest of seemingly ordinary trees, except whenever I looked away from them I found I couldn't really remember what I had been looking at. Somebody Else's Problem, maybe. It was day, though we had entered the portal late at night. There was a wooden sign near the well, scrawled in blood. It said "Do not stray from the path." This was a worrying sight, and I changed out of my fancy robes into my armor and equipped my bow and sword. I made sure my robes were clean and tidy and put them away.

It was time to face the danger and wonder of the Feywild.

Karthos, having done some research on this place, took some time to warn us before we set off. He reminded us that the Feywild is a plane inhabited more with concepts than with real creatures. Everything is half-imaginary, and half-remembered. Names and debts have tremendous power, and we needed to be careful of both. Names were especially dangerous. To respond to anything that tried to give you a name would be to accept that name, and doing so twice would give that creature incredible power over you. We needed to be careful.

Slow Travels

Looking at the path, Karthos told us he had heard of them before, and that they were exceptionally dangerous. Straying from the path would lead to consequences untold, for no one who did so had ever come back. Karthos made a show of peering around, but all I could see was woods.

So we started moving, following the path, tied one to another with a length of rope. Maybe foolish, after all given the seeming nature of this place I think if any hostile creature wanted they could probably until it without us realizing. Still, I didn't object.

We started heading cautiously down the path, Baerwin in the lead, Karthos at the back. We seemed to be moving forward but after around half an hour we looked around and realized we were only about 20 feet from the well. Another half hour later and we'd only gone 20 feet more. I couldn't account for the time, it seemed we were moving, but we weren't really going anywhere.

Resda suggested running, but after another half hour jogging we were only 60 feet from the well. Then we tried walking backwards. 80 feet. Karthos suggested we try walking in our minds instead, imagining ourselves making progress. Nothing happened though.

We were not getting very far. Travelling cautiously but normally got us nowhere. Running didn't help. We tried moving without looking around at all, just staring at the path. We seemed to get farther this time.

Baerwin scratched his chin and under his eyepatch. "Maybe it's in how we go," he said. If we walked without care, instead of with caution, maybe we'd go faster. Karthos wanted to keep staring at the path so we wouldn't get lost, but it was quite distinct and I didn't see any danger of straying from the path by accident. So we tried Baerwin's suggestion, moving forward without giving care to our surroundings. This seemed to work, and after 10 minutes we found we had traveled a significant distance, farther than we would have given our apparent speed. I suggested we keep going this way to see where path led us.

As we moved it was difficult to tell how much time had really passed. Our speed didn't seem coupled to how fast we moved, and the sun didn't seem to move in the way we would expect. I wasn't sure if I would easily adapt to this place.

Our Friend the Frog

While pondering this, we came across a table set across the path. On the table was an ornate table cloth, and setting at the table was a large frog, who bid us hello.

"Hello," replied Korag, and the frog offered us tea, which he had just brewed. Karthos declined.

"Well that is quite rude, refusing a gift," the frog said, frowning. "Where are you off to so rudely?"

"We're looking for a friend," said Resda, describing Min and Bun.

I thought about the frog's offer and his offense at Karthos' refusal. There must be rules or expectations of giving and receiving gifts here. There were other chairs at the table and so I sat down. The frog poured tea, which I accepted and drank. It tasted like fine tea, quite refreshing. Remembering Madrick's warnings about coming into debt, I asked the frog if he would like anything to eat. At his affirmative I pulled out one of the rations I carried and shared it around the table.

Karthos then also sat down and accepted some tea, handing over a mushroom in return. The frog seemed mollified.

"So, you're looking for your friend," he said. "I saw her, though it was some days ago that she passed."

"How was she faring?" asked Karthos.

"She looked in a rush," he said. "The path is quite dangerous to travel, alone or together. Do you know where it goes?"

"Hopefully to Prismeer," said Karthos.

"Well, the path will lead you where you seek, but you must follow it to the well."

"Which well?"

"Exactly."

An odd conversation, since we had started at a well. "Do you have any advice for travelers unfamiliar with this land?" I asked.

"Stay on the path," he replied, smiling, "and watch out for the rude one," pointing at Karthos.

Thanking him, we took our leave.

Following the Path

We continued down the path for a while. I was loosing track of time, and though I was pretty sure we were making progress, I couldn't be certain.

There was no choice really but to continue on. We kept going down the path, and eventually came to a brick well. Surprisingly, I couldn't be certain if it was the same well we started at or not. The rules were different here than in Faerûn.

I looked into the well but could not see the bottom.


Raw Notes

At the Carnival

Goblin Wrestling

  • Resda isn't thrilled with the thievery option and wants to look for another way
  • The others want to go see the Goblin Wrestling
  • We make our way over and there are a number of angry-looking goblins standing around
  • Korag walks over to get the details and the goblin says they wrestle, you lose, and they take your ticket
  • Korag wants to wrestle. The goblin starts dusting his hands with chalk. He looks quite strong.
  • They wrestle, and Korag manages to flip the goblin over and pin him down. He wins! A toy spider is his reward.
  • Baerwin wants to wrestle as well. He's very eager. A smaller goblin comes over and punches his ticket, and then whistles. A giant of a goblin comes into view. Baerwin manages to flip and pin him until he taps out. He gets a small pack of pixie dust as a reward.
  • I decide to give it a go, but I don't necessarily expect to win. Another goblin approaches and makes a mocking gesture of standing upright and being superior like an elf. I'm feeling good though, and manage to pin him. I win magic face paint.
  • I ask the goblin how long he's been doing this. "It's hard to say, I grew up in the carny you know". He doesn't seem to keep careful track of time.
  • Baerwin wants to go to the Thunderdome, though I'm not sure what that is.

Thunderdome

  • We make our way over. We see a large, inverted metal dome with various goblins and other creatures hanging off it. Visitors are clustered around the thunderdome, yelling excitedly.
  • "This can only be good!" says Baerwin, approaching.
  • We push our way through the crowd to see an adventuring party fighting monsters. It looks dangerous, and Baerwin is practically dancing with anticipation, he really wants to fight.
  • He talks to the operator and finds that you need to buy a license, and Mister Witch handles these things.
  • As he does this, one of the adventurers is stabbed and appears to die, but it's not clear if it's real or not. The crowd is going wild.
  • Baerwin wants to fight but is not optimistic about convincing Mister Witch to let us.
  • The others seem willing and so we head towards the staff area. The entire area is enclosed in thorn bushes. We previously passed through an opening in the thorns which was opened by a stage hand. So we may not be able to enter.
  • We go looking for a stagehand to ask about the Thunderdome. License applications are a serious matter, as entertainment is the priority but injury and death are likely. To get a license you must pass an interview with Mister Witch. He'd be happy to set up an interview for the following day.
  • We agree and are told to meet outside the big top the following morning at 10 am.
  • There is talk about going to the Mystery Mine

Mystery Mine

  • We have about an hour until the final event. Karthos wants to go to the Mystery Mine
  • The ride costs 1 punch, and people coming out seem a mix of bewildered and afraid.
  • A dwarf is operating the ride, and beckons us over to a contraption that looks something like a mechanical eye. He beckons us to look into the eye to see what we see.
  • I look in and see a Grell. I back away in alarm, reaching for the sword that I am not wearing.
    • Karthos looks and backs away quickly. He says he saw "the eye".
    • Resda comes back smirking. "I saw only myself"
    • Baerwin shouts "Kobolds! NO!"
    • Kaira, shaking, says she saw Bun.
    • Korag saw an undead Yeti
  • An empty mine cart, large enough to hold 8 people, rolls up. The dwarf beckons us to enter. We do
    • As soon as we are in the cart the dwarf slams the door shut, pulls a lever, and the mine cart hurtles into the dragon's mouth.
    • We enter an illusion-filled spectacle of undulating hills, corkscrew trees, and prismatic skies. As the cart hurtles, we begin to see our worst fears.
    • First we are assaulted by grell. I see through the illusion, but Kaira starts screaming.
    • The sky then goes dark, as if an eclipse has occurred. Resda starts screaming. Korag is yelling.
    • As we pass through a fake town the cart slows down. The buildings are just propped up. A resda is there, her eyes dripping with black. She flies around the mine cart hurtling wild magic to and fro. I start yelling, it's awful.
    • We plunge into the mines, besieged by kobolds. They are everywhere, it's horrible.
    • We then find ourselves in an etherial forest. Huge spiderwebs coat the trees. Suddenly Bun, covered in blood, is flying about with daggers in hand. He looks possessed.
    • Suddenly we jump planes and we are hurtling through the frozen tundra. Out of nowhere a pack of undead yeti appear, bashing at the mine cart and howling. It's an illusion, I know this.
    • The cart bursts out and we are back at the fair. It lurches to a stop and the door swings open. Others are looking at us curiously.
  • Resda and Baerwin look shaken. The rest of us look OK. Korag and Karthos seem entirely unaffected.

Asking Around

  • I ask whether we've come up with any ideas other than the thievery of Mister Witch's watch.
  • Baerwin wants to spent the rest of the time asking around about disappearances.
  • I become a vaguely handsome human so I can limit my exposure.
  • The staff is mostly unhelpful. We do learn that magic is used to shuffle the carnival around, and that magic is controlled by Mister Witch's watch, which can pack up the carnival. Mister Light's weathervane is used to navigate. Without either, the carnival is stuck.
  • We also learn that Witch and Light are not the original carnival owners, but no other details.
  • So if we were to steal one of these items we would have leverage and might be able to force them to tell us more
  • I ask Karthos is he has mushrooms that could deal with this. "Do you have any mushrooms that could make them talk?"
  • The coronation is approaching. Kaira tells us that the ceremony happens every night and they crown the person who has most contributed to the carnival and its mood.
  • I feel like Burly's plan is still our best bet. Kaira says this coronation is the best opportunity to get close. Witch keeps the watch on a chain so to steal it you'd need to be able to break the chain. I purchase some scissors and prepare myself.
  • Kaira thinks she could probably do it but isn't really thrilled to be stealing from her former employers. If it comes to it I might try to do this myself, so I'm preparing myself.
  • Baerwin and Karthos seem OK with the thievery plan but don't seem interested in actually participating.

Crowning the Witchlight Monarch

  • We make our way over to the Big Top.
  • A huge displacer beast escorts Mister Witch, quite theatrically, from the trailer.
  • The monarch is selected by Mister Light holding up his weathervane. He shakes it quite theatrically, and from it a golden crown appears. It flies around the Big Top, looking for who to crown.
  • The crown settles on Baerwin's head, and he receives the Charm of the Monarch. He can sprout a pair of beautiful butterfly wings at will. He gains flying, and has +5 to charisma checks.
  • Bearwin is jubilant. Mister Witch and Mister Light approach to congratulate Baerwin. He stands up and waves to the crown. A troup of clowns appear, gathering glitter.
  • I see the watch on Mister Witch's pocket. I quickly and deftly snip the chain and take the watch.
  • Witch and Light escort Baerwin around the stage. Burly the bugbear sets of fireworks, Baerwin is rejoicing. Mister Witch is suddenly nowhere to be seen.
  • After making a circuit, Mister Light congratulates Baerwin and wishes him the best, returning him to the party.
  • We discuss how to meet with them to get what we need. We have a meeting set for the next morning, perhaps we can use that to set the meeting.

Talking With Mister Witch

  • Mister Witch approaches. I don't hear him approach.
  • "I think you have something of mine."
  • "We want to go to the Feywild" blurts out Baerwin
  • Mister Light laughs. Why do you want to do that?
  • Karthos explains about the World Mushroom, and wants to go to Prismeer to do it.
  • I explain about Madrick, and Prismeer, and Zabilna. And I apologize for taking the watch.
  • I say it was a foolish plan. "Foolish indeed," he remarks. Well, we may as well get on with it.
  • We follow him. He takes us to the Hall of Illusion, where Mister Light is waiting outside. As we move through the hall, their reflections appear as children. The mirrors now show everyone's true age.
  • "Will you give me the watch?" he asks.
  • I hand it over. "Everything you seek and more is behind the mirror".
  • If you wish to travel, say this rhyme: "Hither thither, here and there, wander yonder, show me where."
  • I recite the rhyme, and the mirror in front of me turns into a portal. Baerwin starts telling Mister Witch how much he loved the carnival, but before he can get more than a sentance in Mister Light shoves him through the portal. We follow.

In the Feywild

  • We find ourselves at the bottom of a brick well. There is about a foot of water at the bottom of it. There is no ladder.
  • Korag climbs out of the well. Baerwin follows. They help the rest of us out.
  • We are in a forest of rather ordinary looking trees, but oddly as we look away from things we tend to forget them.
  • A wooden sign, scrawled in blood, reads "do not stray from the path."
  • I change out of my fancy robes and into my gear.
  • The feywild is a plane inhabited more with concepts than with real creatures. Everything is half imaginary, and half remembered. Names and debts have tremendous power in this realm. Names are dangerous. Karthos has heard of such paths, and knows them to be exceptionally dangerous. Straying from the path leads to consequences untold, as no one has ever come back (untold, ha).
  • Karthos also warns us not to give things a name, or to respond to a name. To respond to anything that tries to give you a name is to accept that name, and doing so twice will give that creature incredible power over you.
  • We start moving, following the path. But before that we tie each other to each other using the rope, buddy system.
  • Karthos looks around. We are deep in the woods though, so there is not much to see. We start down the path. Baerwin takes the lead, with Karthos staying behind.
  • We head down the path for about half an hour, but we've only made it about 20 feet from the well in this time.
  • We travel another half hour, and again cover maybe 20 feet of distance. We're not quite sure where the time is going.
  • "Let's try running" says Resda. We jog for a while, and make it another 20 feet or so.
  • She next suggests walking backwards. After another half hour or so we make it about 20 feet.
  • Karthos closes his eyes, with a distant look on his face. He says he is trying to imaging himself making his way down the path. We join with him but make no progress.
  • We travel for a while while only looking at the path itself, not around us. After about half an hour we look around and feel realize we can no longer see the well, though we're not sure how far we've come.
  • Baerwin suggests it might be our mental state, maybe if we walk without care we'll make more progress. Karthos thinks just staring at the path is the way to go. The path is quite distinct, I don't see any risk that we will stray from the path.
  • We try Baerwin's suggestion, not giving any real care to our surrounding. After 10 minutes we find we have traveled a long distance, probably farther than we really would have given our speed.
  • I suggest we continue to follow the path to see where it leads us.
  • It is difficult to tell how much time is passing, as the sun doesn't seem to be moving in the way would would normally expect.
  • We forget about this when we come across a table which has been set across the path. There is an ornate table cloth, and sitting at the table is a large frog. The frog bids us hello.
  • "Hello," says Korag.
  • The frog offers us tea, which is freshly brewed. Karthos declines.
  • "Well that is quite rude, refusing a gift." The frog frowns. "Where are you off to so rudely?"
  • "We're looking for a friend," says Resda, describing Bun and Min.
  • I sit down. The frog pours tea, which I drink. It tastes like fine tea. I ask if the frog would like something to eat, and at an affirmative pull out a ration, sharing it around. Karthos accedes and accetps some tea, handing over a mushroom in return.
  • The frog seems mollified. "So you're looking for your friend," he says. "It was some days ago she passed."
  • "How was she faring?" Karthos asked.
  • "She looked in a rush", he replied.
  • He says the path is dangerous to travel, alone or together. Do you know where the path goes?
  • "Hopefully to Prismeer" Karthos replies.
  • "Well, the path will lead you where you seek, but you must follow it to the well"
  • "Which well?"
  • "Exactly"
  • "Do you have any advice for travelers unfamiliar with this land?" I ask.
  • "Stay on the path," he replies, smiling. "And watch out for the rude one," pointing at Karthos.
  • We continue down the path. We are losing track of time and if we are making any progress, though I think we are. We continue to travel, and eventually come to the brick well.
  • It isn't clear if it is the same well or not.
  • I look into the well and cannot see the bottom.

Punches

1. Bubble-Pop Tea Pot 2. Snail Racing 3. Guess the Feathers 4. Goblin Wrestling 5. Mystery Mine