The dark beach and the zombie pirates rolled out no welcome for our heroes. They fought back the advancing pirates that seemed to be intent on pulling a ship from the deep dark ocean, out in the distance. As they cut through the enemies, they worked to also cut the ropes attached to the harpoons. All the while, the lighthouse overhead seemed to blind them as it called to something below the waves.
It took time, but eventually they were able to beat back the zombies and sever all the ropes. Out at sea, the pirate ship was pulled down to the depths by a creature too fearsome to imagine.
The connection to the realm severed, and the fog and mists once again enveloped the group. They were returned to the Hall of Illusions.
The group was waiting until the end of the Carnival for Mr. Witch and Mr. Light to hold up their end of the bargain, and decided to explore the park a little more. Arawa thought the “Come find me in the Palace” message they received might refer to the palace in the Pixie Kingdom. Thissalus really wanted to try the flying bubble. And the rest of the group decided to check out the Snail Races.
Thissalus met some rhyming goblins running the booth, but didn’t engage in their rhyming game. He punched his ticket then flew up in a balloon. He quickly gained control of the bubble and took it off the course, where it would have safely placed him back on the ground.
Thala, Bother, and Bow participated in the Snail Races, with the latter two placing bets. The race was a real nail biter, with Bother and Bow contemplating cheating, but eventually decided against it. Thala ended up the winner.
Arawa joined the Pixie Kingdom for a spell, and quickly determined that the palace was more of a showpiece, rather than a true palace. Despite the disappointment, she ended up winning a game of hide and seek, and won a bag of Pixie Dust for her efforts.
The party engaged in some other games, winning a few more trinkets before the end of the night. At 4am, the crowning of the Witchlight Monarch took place.
Everyone piled into the Big Top, where Thala chatted up Diana Cloppington. The rest of the group waited with bated breath as Mr. Light’s scepter shot out a golden light that eventually chose Bow as the Witchlight Monarch. He is gifted a charm that can summon butterfly wings that grant him flight (an ability he already possesses) and increase his charisma temporarily.
Afterwards, as people are piling out of the park, Mr. Witch and Mr. Light hold up their end of the bargain and lead the group to the Hall of Illusions. Inside, at the same mirror that they were transported through before, they were told the rhyme that takes them to Prismeer.
“Hither, thither, here and there; wander yonder, show me where.”
Upon saying this phrase, the mist swirls into a bright portal, leading to the feywild. They step through, one by one, pulled into the magical world beyond.
When Bother is the only one left, she asks Witch and Light if they’re sure she can recover what was lost in Prismeer, as it’s very important. They can only confirm that everything that is lost in this carnival eventually finds its way to Prismeer.
Finally they leave the kenku with one more word of warning:
Witch: “Mind the Rule of Three: future, present, past.”
Light: “Find the alicorn and free the dormant queen at last.”
With that, Bother steps through the portal and they all journey to the wilds beyond.
