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3 days ago
Current ...Ok. But why does he keep it in a salt mine?
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28 days ago
I just came out from watching The Last Act at my local cinema. It was something. It was really something.
1 mo ago
BUILDING KICK! EXPLOSIOOOOOOOOON!
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4 mos ago
27 years old today. Only three years of my 20s left. Where did all that time go?
11 likes
4 mos ago
So apparently, if you use a tooth with a filling in it to chew toffee, the toffee can become sicky enough to pull the filling out.
3 likes

Bio

*Insert adventurous back story of adventure here*

Most Recent Posts

As Flicker stepped out of the tower, they would quickly notice that the elements in the world around the tower were no longer as tense as they once were. The earth had ceased its uneasy shifting and the air was in the middle of breathing a long sigh of relief. Over in Willoughby's Wood, there were already signs of nature returning to the forest. Birdsong could once more be heard in the treetops and if they squinted a little, Flicker could make out squirrels running across the branches and deer walking among the foliage.

Meanwhile, the rest of the party would soon set about searching the tower for items of value or clues regarding what had been going on here. Between the thirteen copper pieces, thirteen silver pieces, and thirteen gold pieces all the cultists carried; along with their weapons, armor, robes, foodstuffs, and arcane materials; the ground floor alone had provided a decent haul all in all.

Those searching for clues on the ground floor would find a good amount among the cultists' journals and research notes. From reading these journals and notes, the party would learn that Nanna May had spoken true when she said the cultists were evil. Many of the journals kept track of how many people the cultist who owned the journal in question had slain, sometimes even vividly describing every gory detail of a killing that a cultist took particular pride in. Also, all of the latest entries in each journal expressed some form of frustration in regards to being ordered by Nanna May to let the hunter who came knocking at their door escape. The research notes were little better. Every note was about some kind of depraved arcane experiment that one of the cultists was conducting. A few of the notes also mentioned plans to abduct women and children from Ennton for use as test subjects.

Though there wasn't much to be found on the upper level, there was still something. On the table where the black bags once lay, ten bottles of a familiar red liquid could be found. Any party member who came upon these healing potions would recognize them right away and any magic used to examine them would confirm that they were indeed what they appeared to be.

Just as Nanna May had said, the party would indeed find 'all sorts of lovely goodies' in the basement. Within the chest, they found 30 gold pieces, 300 silvers, and 3000 coppers; and the glass case contained six shining gemstones of decent value. The truly interesting finds would have to be the ceramic ball, the small painting, and the sealed jar. All three of them radiated strange divination magic and a casting of Identify on each of them would yield interesting results. The small painting was enchanted to show tomorrow's weather on its canvas. The ceramic ball was enchanted to roll towards the nearest source of water when placed on the ground. And whoever opened the sealed jar would gain three happy memories from the life of a long dead elf lord. The basement also had ten empty and completely mundane burlap sacks that the party could use to transport their loot.

Once the party had finished their searching and looting, they hefted their sacks and trekked back to Ennton. Upon reporting their success, all members of the party were rewarded in the time-honored tradition of being made kings for a day... That is to say, the elders of Ennton gave each member of the party one platinum piece, enough to allow them all to maintain an aristocratic lifestyle for one day. The party would be able to gain further wealth by selling their loot. And after doing the town a good turn, it was a trivial matter to find buyers among the tradesfolk of Ennton.

The local leatherworker could find a use for both the rough leather of the cultist robes and the boiled leather of their armor.

The town blacksmith was always willing to buy anything made mostly of metal.

And as luck would have it, a traveling arcanist was in town and willing to purchase most of the party's more magical findings, as well as food supplies for a long journey.

@Birdboy @Cao the Exiled @Lurking Krog @XxFellsingxX @LostDestiny @Bartimaeus

Would anyone object to me speeding things up a little now? Nothing else is going to happen at the tower and I don't want to keep Haruki waiting to join in for much longer.
@rush99999How big is the sealed jar, too big for Hawk to grab and fly out with or would it be able to pick than up and carry it to Aura?


Yeah, Hawk would be able to pick up the jar.
Brutrumukk, Gabriel, & Jub the Peculiar

Ft. The Dungeon Master


The trio make their way from the Pixie Kingdom to the Hall of Illusions. There, they see Candlefoot at the entrance once again. The mime, upon seeing Brutrumukk and Jub, gives a joyous smile and a wave in greeting.

"Oi oi!" Brutrumukk call out in greeting as he and his companions approached Candlefoot. "You been alright since we last saw you? No one else 'as made off with yer voice, yeah?"

Candlefoot greets Brutrumukk, "Hi! Yes, I've been doing great. And as you can hear, I still have my voice!"

He then asks the group, "How can I help you?"

"We're tryin' to get one of us crowned King o' the Carnival." Brutrumukk said. "An' to do that, we need to put smiles on faces. You seem like yer the sort who's good at doin' that, so we was wonderin' if you knew a good way to make folks 'appy."

Candlefoot smiles at the compliment and he answers Brutrumukk with a shrug, "I mean...from the looks of things, everyone seems to be happy already. I know Palasha is for sure,"

He then suggests, "Why not just enjoy yourselves? Maybe there are some attractions you haven't enjoyed yet?"

Jub's ears drooped slightly upon hearing that Candlefoot couldn't think of anything for them to do, though he quickly realised this was probably not the appropriate response to finding out people were happy and quickly feigned a smile... not entirely convincingly. "I mean, he has a point," Jub said to Brutrumukk. "If anyone does need help, we're likely to stumble across them just going about our business. That's how it worked last time..." He glanced at his companions. "What attractions haven't we been to yet? We could start there."

"Hmm..." Brutrumukk hummed in response to the words of Candlefoot and Jub. "Well folks do seem pretty 'appy 'round 'ere. An' after stoppin' that kenku git an' gettin Candlefoot's voice back so 'e could ask Palasha to marry 'im, I think we've got good chances of winnin' as it stands... Yeah sure, let's go enjoy ourselves. If we 'appen upon some way to make others 'appy while we're at it, all the better"

"What attractions haven't we been to yet? We could start there." Jub then suggested.

"Y'know, now that I think about it, I'd rather 'ead somewhere we've already been than 'ead someplace new." Brutrumukk replied. "The stuff we ate an' drank at the Pixie Kingdom weren't as fillin' as I thought it'd be. Especially now that I ain't the size of a pixie. I dunno 'bout the rest o' you, but I 'ear the Feastin' Orchard callin'. While we're there we can tell that bard we met all 'bout our adventures at the carnival. Nothin' brings joy quite like a good story, yeah?"

"Sounds good to me," Jub said. "Though I doubt I can each that much after our last meal, I will certainly cheer you on."

"Alrighty then! To the Feastin Orchard!" Brutrumukk exclaimed before turning to Candlefoot one last time. "See ya next time, Candlefoot. Come find us if ya see that kenku git, yeah?" With that said, Brutrumukk led the way to the Feasting Orchard.

Candlefoot nods to Brutrumukk and he waves them off happily, remaining at his position at the Hall of Illusions.

Upon arriving at the Feasing Orchard, nothing much else has changed, other than the presence of a few small stands that offer some carnival games to those who are in the Feasting Orchard. The Eating Contest for this hour is going to start soon.

Ellywick Tumblestrum is still at her seat in the Feasting Orchard, smiling at the trio as they appear.

"Oi oi!" Brutrumukk called out in greeting to Ellywick. "Don't go nowhere! I got fer ya that ye'll be wantin' to 'ear, but first I gotta win this eatin' contest! Wish me luck!" With that said, Brutrumukk took a seat at the contest table, waited for the contest to start, and began eating. Brutrumukk was in fine form at first. He did a lot better than his last attempt. But as he devoured his fourteenth cupcake, Brutrumukk swallowed a large piece of it without chewing it well enough, causing him to begin choking. Brutrumukk fell from his seat clutching at his throat as he struggled to clear his blocked airway. By the time he'd managed to cough up the piece of cupcake that had been choking him, the contest was over.

Jub had been cheering pretty loudly throughout the contest until Brutrumukk suddenly started choking. "Uh oh!" He quickly started patting the bugbear on the back as hard as his little goblin fists could manage. "You alright?" he said once Brutrumukk had coughed up the cupcake. "Still breathing? How many fingers am I holding up?" He waved his hand in front of his friend's face.

"I'm alright." Brutrumukk said after gasping down a few breaths of fresh air. "I'm breathin' now at least. An' yer 'oldin' up two fingers... three if we're countin' yer thumb as well." After a moment, Brutrumukk pulled himself back up onto his feet and looked around. "So... did ya see who won?"

Suffice to say, Brutrumukk didn't win the cupcake eating contest this time around either. A large, rotund dwarf was still standing, with his beard caked in custard (not so different than Brutrumukk, whose fur is also covered in custard).

The trio can hear Ellywick Tumblestrum speak to them jovially, "That was a great effort! Maybe next time, yeah?" She then asks Brutrumukk and Jub casually, "So, how're you guys doing?"

"Next time. Yeah. Definitely." Brutrumukk said with a confident nod.

"Other than that loss at the eatin' contest, Jub an' I 'ave been doin' pretty well I must say." Brutrumukk said happily. "Remember 'ow you said we'd go on to do some 'eroic things? Well you turned out to be right. So Jub an I figured we'd come tell you about it like I said we would when we last saw each other. So if ya got time, fancy 'earin' about 'ow Jub an' I saved Candlefoot an' Palasha from a shapeshiftin' kenku voice thief?"

Ellywick nods at Brutrumukk's question about what she said, and she chuckled at his words. She answered Brutrumukk smiling, "Oh, I heard all about that already! Nice job in helping Candlefoot and Palasha!" She then looks to Jub and she congratulates him specifically, "Especially to you, for the expert arcana work in giving Candlefoot his voice back!"

She then winks at Brutrumukk and Jub, "But that's only the beginning, friends,"

Jub actually blushed when Elly complimented him, pulling slightly at his hood in a bashful manner. "Oh, err, it was nothing really," he said, but the toothy smile show he really did appreciate the praise. "Wouldn't have even known Candlefoot needed my help without Brut here." He motioned to the bugbear. However, when Elly spoke again, Jub's grin subsided slightly, instead raising his eyebrow in curiosity. "What do you mean by that?"

Her smile remains as she answers Jub, with a finger raised her mouth in an almost shushing motion, "I mean that your adventures will continue beyond the Witchlight Carnival. You, Jub, will have a chance to retrieve what you lost here,"

She then strums a few strings for a simple melody, and she continues, this time speaking to both Brutrumukk and Jub, "Ah...But a little bit of advice: Don't forget the things you've learned here in the Witchlight Carnival. Violence is not always the answer, and a little kindness can go a long way,"

After a little more strumming, she advises them next, "Whether the plan works or fails...Stick around the Carnival after the Crowning ceremony. Don't worry, I'll help you guys out if you find yourselves in a pinch,"

She then hops off of the stump, and she speaks in realization, "Ah, The Seventh Hour is almost upon us. I better go look around the Carnival while I still can, only one hour left to enjoy the festivities before they start the conclusion to the night,"

For the most part, Brutrumukk listened thoughtfully to Ellywick's words. The phrase 'violence is not always the answer' confused him somewhat, but Brutrumukk understood the rest of it. When Ellywick then mentioned that the seventh hour had come and suggested the duo go enjoy it, Brutrumukk thought for a moment before speaking. "Got any other places you'd wrecker-mend we visit." Brutrumukk asked Ellywick, remembering that the livelier events of the night so far had come from following the bard's suggestions.

Ellywick shrugs as she answers Brutrumukk, "Unfortunately, not this time, Brutrumukk. Really, the next exciting thing I sense happening next is the Crowning of the Witchlight Monarch, so be sure not to miss that at the eighth hour,"

She then waves to the trio as she hurries off, "See you later!"

"Eh, it was worth a shot. See ya 'round!" Brutrumukk said as Ellywick hurried off. Once she was gone, Brutrumukk hoisted Jub into his shoulder and questioned his shoulder goblin in their native tongue. "So where d'ya wanna go next?" Brutrumukk asked. "Personally, I'm leanin' towards either seein' if there's anythin' goin' on at the Big Top or seein' if there's any truth to those rumblin's o' trouble at the 'All of Illusions. 'Ow 'bout you?""

Jub opened his mouth to question how Elly knew about his condition, but she had already run off before he could speak. The goblin watched her leave before giving a little sigh. "Can I just say I really don't like this feeling that everyone at this carnival knows about me?" he said. It wasn't directed particularly towards Brutrumukk or anyone for that matter, more like Jub just wanted to complain to anyone who would listen. "And not in a 'Oh Jub, we've heard about your many feats, you're so amazing' kind of way that a showman wants to be known, more in a 'Hey Jub remember that time your life became irrepairably screwed up eight years ago' kind of way." He crossed his arms and gave annoyed huff. "Sorry," he said after a moment. He gave a little shake of his head. "How about we head to the Big Top? We're gonna be headin' there anyway and I guess we can scope out the area. If we're gonna do this whole snagging Mr Witch's watch thing, we probably should get the lay of the land." He paused before adding, "Who knows, maybe that kenku will be there. I'm surprised we haven't heard about her causing any more trouble around the carnival. I find it hard to believe she'd go through all that trouble to steal Candlefoot's voice and then just... give up."

"Maybe we frightened the kenku git off after nabbin' it at Palasha's show an' stealin' back Candlefoot's voice." Brutrumukk theorized when Jub mentioned Kettlesteam. "I 'ope that ain't the case. Me time 'ere just won't feel complete without clubbin' that bloody bird to death and mountin' its 'ead on a spike... Either way, the Big Top, yeah? Let's go see if there's anythin' worth seein' there before they crown the King o' the Carnival." With that said, Brutrumukk made sure his shoulder goblin was seated properly before heading off in the direction of the Big Top.
I reiterate my prior statement; this carnival is straight up not a good time right now. [in Character, at least].


Has Zavakri encountered things that give mathematics the middle finger again?
As Jørmund and Flicker spoke, Nanna May took a third bite out of the cultist heart as she listened to them. When Rala called for an end to the conversation, Nanna May swallowed her third mouthful of heart flesh and nodded in agreement. "Yes, I think there's been enough rambling for now." Nanna May said as she pulled a forked metal rod out of her satchel. "You have a tower to loot, I have souls to sell, and I see no reason to prolong this meeting. Emmyth, Elnaril, come along."

The two androgynous elves moved to stand behind Nanna May at her call and each placed a hand on one of her shoulders.

"Until next we meet, adventurers." Nanna May said as she began to make Arcane gestures with the rod, causing the rod and the floor beneath Nanna May, Emmyth, Elnaril, and the black bags to start glowing. "Toodle Pip!" With those words, the world around the party was briefly consumed by a bright flash of light. When the party regained their vision a moment later, all who had been standing on the glowing floor were gone and the two surviving cultists were no longer as surviving as they had previously been. Each of them now had a dagger sticking out the tops of their skulls, the points of the blades sticking out from the bottoms of their chins.

While all this was happening, Aura watched through the eyes of her hawk as the familiar flew down into the basement. The basement was illuminated by torches on each of the walls, so aura would have a good view of Arkisz's Steel Defender clumsily fumbling its way through a task it had not been designed for. In its search for danger, the Steel Defender knocked over pots and pans and upturned every table it came across. It hadn't broken anything yet, but Aura would notice some interesting things standing in its imminent path of destruction. These things were a wooden chest, a mirror polished glass case, a ceramic ball on a velvet pedestal, a small painting of a placid field in the rain, and a sealed yet seemingly empty jar.

Most of these items didn't look particularly sturdy. If something wasn't done to stop the Steel Defender, the items would most likely be broken.
"It would indeed be possible for me to do such a thing." Nanna May readily admitted with a nod as she idly watched the Steel Defender pass by and head into the basement, an amused expression on her face as the construct descended the stairs to begin its investigation. "But it wasn't the case this time. Make no mistake, poppet, the sway I held over them was entirely mundane and the evil they committed was entirely their own. When the hunter came to ask their business, I merely instructed them to deal with the man as they saw fit... which they did."

"Don't listen to that bitch!" The one-armed cultist exclaimed angrily. "She's lying! She had us all under her spell!"

"It's... true..." The severely beaten cultist chimed in with pained desperation. "Never... would've... done those things... willingly... The hag... The hag made us do it..."

However, Arkisz's insight would inform him that Nanna May spoke the truth and the cultists were lying to live.

Before anymore could be said, several loud clangs could be heard from the basement. Nanna May then let out a wicked cackle, her face now adorned with an expression of sublime schadenfreude. "Oh yes, send your big clumsy contraption that clearly isn't built for investigation to go investigate something. What could possibly go wrong?" Nanna May jeered before letting loose another mocking cackle as more clangs echoed up from the basement. "I suggest you call off that bumbling brute of yours before it breaks something. Some of the more valuable goodies are also quite fragile."
"What makes you think I'm trying to dissuade you, sweetie?" Nanna May asked Aura with a curious arch of her eyebrow. "You were sent here to see us off, yes? Well with our work here done, the time has come for us to leave. The goodies I'm leaving behind are merely a token of my appreciation for making things easier on little old me. As for what made these souls evil enough to be worthy of death, did you see what they did to that hunter? All he did was come asking who they were and what they were doing here. By the time the poor man made it back to his horse, they'd carved him up so much that it astounded me to hear that he survived. And that hunter was just the latest in their long line of victims. Most folk weren't fortunate enough to survive their encounters. And believe me when I say they've done much worse than kill the innocent."

As Nanna may spoke, Plasm pushed deeper into Emmyth's mind. As the elf's eyes widened with the realization that an intruder was still present in their head, Plasm began plundering insights. Her first discovery was that Emmyth's reasoning was guided by selfishness, hedonism, and paranoia. Next, Plasm learned that Emmyth's current emotional state was a mix of anger towards whoever was probing into their mind and fear that the intruder might discover the secrets that Nanna May had entrusted to them. And finally, Plasm learned that a constant and all consuming dread of outliving their usefulness to Nanna May and ending up like the cultists loomed large in Emmyth's mind. This was all Plasm had time to learn before Emmyth spoke up.

"Nanna May, one of the adventurers is snooping." Emmyth said.

"Oh they are, are they?" Nanna May said as she fished a small cylindrical vial out of a satchel that hung off the opposite side of her belt from the wood carving and ice sculpture. "Well we can't have that now, can we?" With that said, Nanna May unscrewed the vial's lid, revealing a small wand with a looped head attached to the underside of the lid. Nanna May then blew into the wand's head, causing a large bubble to emerge from the wand, float over to Emmyth, and envelope their head, cutting off all mental connections between Plasm and Emmyth and preventing any contact from being re-established. Once that was done, Nanna May slipped the vial back into her satchel and looked back at Aura. "As for what I trade these souls for, I don't really trade them for anything in particular." Nanna May finished. "I just pick out whatever they have on offer that catches my eye, and then I trade for that."
Once they had opened the trap door, Emmyth moved to rejoin Elnaril. However, the sudden interjection of a second voice in their mind that was most certainly not their own caused the androgynous elf to pause. Their surface thoughts shifted from attempting to remember a song to surprise and confusion regarding the sudden appearance of the new voice. After a moment annoyance seeped into both their surface thoughts and their facial expression as Emmyth realized that this was the doing of someone in the party.

Emmyth proceeded to flood their surface thoughts with nightmarish visions of eldritch abominations in an effort to clear their mind. But since Plasm already had her fair share of experience with eldritch abominations, she was undeterred. After a moment, Emmyth stopped thinking about otherworldly horrors and eyed the party warily as they searched for any trace of an unwelcome visitor in their mind. When they could detect nothing else out of place, Emmyth started moving again. 'Bothersome pests.' Emmyth thought to themself as they rejoined Elnaril. 'What Nanna May sees in them I cannot fathom. I could think of far better uses for the treasures down below than as gifts to win the affections of these fools.'
As far as I've understood, he/she would know regardless unless I've read it wrong.


Surface thoughts can be read undetected. Pushing deeper will get the target's attention though.
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