A portal appears and you see the lights of the carnival behind the ethereal glow of the vortex

You appear on the other side of the portal outside the entrance to the Witchlight Carnival

Wow! Look! (Points to the carnival)

Hmm. Nice.

I heard the Witchlight Carnival has some sketchy tents. I'd like to avoid those.

As the group approaches the ticket booth. They are greeted by Mr. Witchlight.

Well, what shall we do first?

I have a feeling we're mostly arm candy. So whatever they're going to do I suppose.

For once I agree with you Gale, that's pretty much how it went last time I was here.... just.... stay away from any podiums..

Hey, no, what do you wanna do, Gale?

Podiums? Why stay away from Podiums?

For you Axel, it wouldn't do anything..

?????

...Anyway, let's go

As soon as you guys decide what you want to do.

I'd love to see a show! Or play a game? I heard they have lots of different games!

Carnival Food? Count me in

I've eaten worse.

Maybe I'll just sit on a bench and enjoy the music for now. I'm not sure what I want to do yet.

But as I've said before, do you have anything you want to do, Gale? I'm not just going to drag you around

If I see anything I'll let you know, but for now, go explore. I'll follow you.

Araavos and Axel approach a whimsical game called "Glimmering Starcatcher," where players attempt to catch enchanted stars floating within a magical barrier. The stars vary in size and brightness, making the game challenging yet captivating. Axel takes a deep breath, focusing her druidic instincts, and gives it a try. With steady hands and keen eyes, Axel manages to catch a particularly radiant star, its soft glow illuminating her face with a warm, ethereal light. The carnival attendant congratulates her and presents her with a small crystal vial containing Stardust Elixir. When consumed, the elixir grants temporary night vision, allowing Axel to see clearly in the darkness. Axel smiles, appreciating the useful prize she won at the enchanted carnival game.

You won your first game on your first try. Usually these things are rigged. I'm impressed.

Uhm, thank you. (Looks at the vial) Maybe this should go to someone who could use it. When am I going to need night vision?

Does it not get dark in the Faewild?

Yes, but I can see in the dark already

Do you want to play another game?

Sure!

Axel decides to try her luck at the "Ring Toss of Fate." With a confident flick of her wrist, she releases the enchanted ring, aiming for a peg with a valuable prize. The ring spins through the air, but unfortunately, it narrowly misses the target peg, landing on the ground instead. The carnival worker smiles sympathetically, and Axel gracefully accepts the outcome, acknowledging the whims of fate at the enchanted carnival.

Oh well. Better luck next time.

Hmm. What about that big tent? Might be something gun in there. (Points to the tent)

Hmm. What about that big tent? Might be something fun in there. (Points to the tent)

Gale and Rilith decide to try their luck at the "Mirror Maze of Illusions." Inside the maze, enchanted mirrors create illusions, making it challenging to find the way out. As they navigate the twisting corridors, they encounter reflections of themselves, distorted and multiplied. Rilith, with her sharp elven senses, manages to decipher the illusions and guide them to the exit. Upon successfully escaping the maze, a mischievous carnival sprite rewards them with a Glittering Token of Fate. This token has the ability to grant a small, random boon or create a minor magical effect when activated. Gale and Rilith share a grin, curious about the unexpected surprises the enchanted token might bring them during their carnival adventure.

That still wasn't funny....

Aww, someone a little hurt because he can't see how pretty he is?

It's not fair, when one looks as good as I do, It's simply wasted

Baracus can sketch people. Maybe that'll help you see your face again after so long?

You sure you want Astarion to be able to admire himself? He'd never leave his room

Fuck you Gale...... that's a low blow..

Hey, maybe he'd appreciate it.....Oh!!! I wonder if there's a tent here that already does drawings!!!

There's very little difference in personality between Fernessa and Axel

You approach a tent with drawings on eisel's outside and decide to go in

Oh there we go! Come on, I'll even pay for it, Astarion. (She smiles. Just wanting to do something nice for him)

In the heart of the Enchanted Portraits Tent, the group found themselves under the skilled hands of the tent's operator, Sketchwell. With a name befitting an artist, Sketchwell was known for his ability to capture the very essence of his subjects. Asterion, the enigmatic figure of the group, had become his latest muse. The tent, adorned with mystical tapestries and softly glowing orbs, provided an otherworldly ambiance, adding to the mystique of the portrait-taking process. Sketchwell, a figure cloaked in shadow and mystery himself, meticulously observed Asterion. His hands moved with practiced grace, charcoal dancing across parchment. The tent was filled with the sound of scribbling, the portrait slowly taking shape under the flickering candlelight. As Sketchwell's artistry unfolded, the portrait of Asterion emerged, revealing the depth of his character and the enigma that surrounded him. The tent seemed to hold its breath, the air charged with anticipation. With a final stroke, Sketchwell stepped back, presenting the finished masterpiece to the group. "There you have it," he declared, his voice carrying a tone of both pride and mystery, "an extraordinary portrayal of an extraordinary individual." The portrait stood as a testament to the carnival's enchantment, capturing Asterion's allure in every detail.

Oh! Wow, this is great! What do you think Astarion?

Astarion picks up the portrait, rolls it up and puts it away. Smiling!

❤️

1

Sierra

galaxybat64

❤️

Close

I told you he'd appreciate it!

You sure? He didn't even look at it.

Astarion, settle this. Did you like it?

He nods.

I told you!

Maybe we can try another game?

Rilith approached a colorful carnival booth, its sign proudly proclaiming "The Ring Toss Challenge." The game attendant, a lively gnome named Glint, welcomed her with a mischievous grin. The objective was simple: toss rings onto the bottles, and if she managed to ring three in a row, she would win a delightful prize. With determination in her eyes, Rilith picked up the rings and focused on her target. The atmosphere was charged with excitement as she carefully aimed and let the first ring fly. It spun through the air gracefully but landed just shy of the target. Undeterred, Rilith adjusted her grip and tried again. This time, the ring landed on the neck of a bottle, earning her a cheer from the crowd. Encouraged by her success, Rilith aimed for the next bottle, her concentration unwavering. The ring sailed through the air, twirling elegantly before landing perfectly on its mark. The crowd erupted into applause, recognizing her impressive skill. With one final toss, Rilith focused all her energy, and the last ring landed with a satisfying *cling*, completing the trio. Glint, the game attendant, grinned wider, acknowledging her victory. "Congratulations!" he exclaimed, handing her a beautiful, shimmering crystal amulet as her prize. Rilith beamed with pride, her success adding to the carnival's atmosphere of magic and wonder.

Awesome! An Amulet! What's it do?

(puts it on)

Nothing happens.

...Oh. Guess it's just pretty

Anyone hungry?

Ugh, definately

Mhm!

I could eat

Under the open sky, surrounded by the enchanting ambiance of the outdoor setting, the group was welcomed to The Enchanted Gastronome by the lively gnome, Zephyra Glimmerwhisk. With a warm smile, she ushered them to a beautifully set table adorned with twinkling fairy lights and fragrant blossoms. As they settled into their seats, Zephyra placed a whimsical menu before them, crafted from parchment infused with subtle magical patterns

!!Drink Menu: Non-Alcoholic Beverages: Stardust Sparkle: A sparkling blend of celestial fruits and effervescent stardust, served over ice. Feywild Fizz: A refreshing concoction made with feywild herbs, infused with sparkling water and a hint of wildflower honey. Astral Elixir: A mystical potion brewed from rare herbs, creating a soothing and revitalizing herbal tea. Moonlit Mist: A chilled drink made from moonlit berries, coconut water, and a splash of citrus, garnished with a lunar twist. Sunfire Sunrise: A vibrant blend of tropical fruits, orange juice, and a touch of grenadine, capturing the essence of a radiant sunrise. Alcoholic Brews: Celestial Sangria: A divine blend of celestial wines, fresh fruits, and a whisper of starlight, served over ice. Ethereal Elixir (Cocktail): A bewitching mix of enchanted spirits, moonlit liqueur, and a splash of elderflower, garnished with a floating edible flower. Astral Ale: A robust ale brewed with rare astral hops, imparting a unique flavor and a touch of cosmic essence. Nebula Nectar (Martini): A cosmic martini featuring nebula-infused vodka, blue curaçao, and a swirl of edible stardust, served in a chilled glass. Lunar Zest: A zesty cocktail made with lunar citrus, gin, and a splash of tonic, garnished with a twist of lunar peel.

I'll have the Bruchetta, The Pasta, and for dessert the eclairs. The drink...lets do a Nebula Nectar

I'm just gonna have what he's having...

(orders Feywild Forest Salad, Celestial Citrus Stir-Fry, Sunfire Soufflé and Ethereal Elixir)

(orders Stardust Spheres, Starfall Stuffed Bell Peppers, Aurora Borealis Ice Cream, and Nebula Nectar)

(orders Elemental Essence Soup, Dragonfire Curry, Sunfire Soufflé, and Astral Elixir)

I'll take....the soup, risotto, the souffle, and a sangria

Girl has taste. I'll take the same as Shadowheart

{sits down but does not order anything}

Keep the drinks coming!

You're not gonna eat anything?

He places his hands on the table and says nothing

Astarion, you okay?

No response

...(looks at everyone, then at Astarion) What's wrong with him?

With a flourish, Zephyra emerged from the kitchen, her hands gracefully balancing trays laden with tantalizing appetizers and shimmering drinks. The appetizers, a vibrant array of colors and aromas, were carefully arranged on enchanted plates that seemed to dance with ethereal energy. "Behold, the delights from the realms beyond!" she announced, her eyes sparkling with pride as she placed the dishes before the guests. Everything ok?

I think so. Thank you (starts eating appitizer)

Mhm (digs in)

(already eating)

No, but seriously. Astarion, what's up? You're all quiet and didn't order anything

{Looks at the menu and points to something at random}

Zephyra confirms the selection then departs to get it for him..

{Upon recieving it, just grabs small pieces with his hands and begins to eat slowly}

....Araavos, please figure out if something's up. I'm getting concerned

{Looking across the table at Astarion} There's no light behind those eyes.

Congratulations, Azel. You broke Fernessa's husband

What do we do?!? What did I do?!?!??

I'm not sure, the witchlight magic is it's own unique type.

All I did was give him a drawing...

Again, I'm not sure, you're gonna have to get the drawing first.

Give him the drawing, Astarion (waves hand)

His eyes begin to flicker as he stops eating his food... He takes some wine, and draws on a napkin. Just 4 letters... H....E.....L.....P.....the eyes eventually settle and he resumes eating

(waves hand to try and float the drawing to Araavos)

As the portrait begins to float, with "Astarion" with his speed snatches it mid-air and places it back in his satchel

(sigh) Okay. (tackles Astarion and snatches the satchel before giving it to Araavos)

Astarion rises and lunges at Araavos. Araavos surrounds Astarion in a sort of aura as he lifts him off the ground immobilizing him.!! #What am I supposed to do with this? I told you, this magic is some weird shit, defies everything. Even us gods have a hard time figuring this shit out

You said get the drawing

Well... I mean..... Fuck... I'm supposed to figure this out? Why me?

YOU'RE THE GOD!

Araavos, I promise, I'll make it up to you later, just....help him out!

As much as i'd love to take glory and be you're little hero, again, this magic isn't something I'm familiar with, yes my magic is more powerful, and I could override it, if i knew what IT was... I'm not a bookworm, I don't know about any of this. Hell out of everyone here i't would be Gale or Rilith that might have read about something.

(takes the drawing) Let me see the damn thing! (stares at it)

(studies it)

Drawing upon the wisdom gleaned from an ancient grimoire she had previously studied, Rilith deciphered the nefarious essence entwined with the cursed drawing. The arcane revelations pointed to a clandestine sect of sorcerers renowned for their shadow-wielding arts. This malevolent enchantment, a creation of their dark sorcery, granted dominion over shadows at the cost of the possessor's sanity and willpower. As Rilith delved deeper into the grim truths, she uncovered an even more insidious aspect of the curse. It wasn't merely a theft of the wielder's essence but a gradual replacement with that of an ancient entity, whose ominous presence sought to claim the soul held captive within the cursed drawing.

Astarion's soul is in the drawing!

How do you know this?

I recognize some of the magic from an ancient book I read

So what did it recommend to do to reverse it?

You recall that the ancient grimoire offered a glimmer of hope in the form of a complex ritual to reverse the curse. According to the tome's instructions, the process required a combination of rare ingredients and precise incantations, all to be performed under a celestial conjunction. Additionally, the ritual demanded the intervention of a divine being or a powerful deity capable of severing the ties to the malevolent entity embedded within the cursed drawing. Only through such a meticulous and spiritually potent undertaking could the cursed individual hope to reclaim their soul and break free from the shadows' insidious grasp.

It requires devine intervention...

Ok... tada... i'm here, and I don't want him captured..... there did it work? There has to be more to it Rilith...

It needs rare ingrediants and percise incantation to sever the ties

Under celestial conjunction

Ok... Give me the portrait, and I'll bring the pasty idiot and we'll be right back.

(hands him the portrait) Alright.

Araavos dissapears with Astarion. After a while he reappears but without Astarion

I'm back...

Where's Astarion?

About that..... he's fine.... but umm...there's something you might wanna know first.

AXEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Too late...

Heyyy Buddy....I think they're getting the main course....(nervous laugh)

{He slams the portrait in front of you} You turned me into a portrait, and not even a good one. He couldn't even get the nose right....

I don't know. Seems pretty accurate. Your nose is that big.

Eek!! (Tenses up) I'm sorry! I was just trying to do something nice for you!

Oh really Rilith, is that so. Araavos, you owe me one, i'm calling it in. Take us all you know where..

You sure you wanna?, all of us?

You said anything, that's what I want, now do it.

Suddenly you all appear inside the podium, Araavos managed to prevent it from summoning people, but you're still encapsulated within it's charm.

There..... now... before people start wasting time. What do I look like... honestly?

A Jackass, you know what this does

Like an asshole, for doing this

Physically. Rilith. What do I actually look like?

Beautiful. That the answer your looking for?

Oh come on, you can do better than that! Fluffy white hair that looks like a cloud on your head, pale skin, pointy ears, glowing red eyes that remind me of rubies, strong jawline, and cute dimples when you smile! You're quite handsome, friend.

(rolls eyes) I guess...what she said. But I'm still mad at you for doing this.

Thank you, see that wasn't so hard. Why must you be so hard Rilith? So.... distant..?

Because of two things. I spent years serving under a demon, and even though he's dead, trauma doesn't just go away. Also, my past may have been changed, but I still remember the previous timeline. Put all that in a cauldron, mix it up, and you have fear of vulnerability and abandonment!!! Is that what you wanted to hear?!? Can we leave now?!?

.....

....

So I haven't fixed anything..... you've only been pretending with me?

Of course that's not what I wanted to hear, Nobody wants to hear pain and suffering. I was just hoping it was something simple like well I don't know what else. but not that..

No Rilith, unfortunatly it won't let us leave until your darkest secrets are revealed or something.

Of course I've been pretending. I don't want you to worry about me....(gets angry and turns to Nazmir) Sister! Do you really not want a relationship? Or is it bullshit?

I do want a relationship, but I'm not interested in polygamy. I'd prefer one partner. Which is why I reject the idea of dating Araavos.

Ha! I knew it! I kind of expected you to be monogamous.

you know you can be Monogamous, married to a polygamist, right, axel is just that, one husband, so is shadowheart. But it's good to know im not good enough I guess.

Do you even love anybody Rilith

But you do love him though Nazmir. Right? I've seen the way you look at him.

......(just hopes nobody talks to her)

Of course I do. I love you, Gale. You've done so much for me. I don't want to hurt you....but I do wish you were better in bed....

Of course I love him. I just thought I wasn't capable of being in a relationship since all I do is spend time at the altar and people find me a boring stuck up prude.

I don't think you're a prude. I just wish you'd have fun once in a fucking while. You're always by yourself.

Because all you all ever talk about is sex! It's the only topic every. Fucking. Day. Maybe if you all talked about something else for once, I wouldn't disappear all the time!

Do you even like sex?

I do, but I don't want to talk about it 24/7!

I don't find you Stuck up, or a prude. I actually kind of find it endearing.

I'm trying, really I am.

Don't worry gale, you will eventually. I haven't forgotten

Then fucking ask him to marry you, make it intimate. I've already told him I'm okay with it, and we've already been together.

Honestly, i've been trying to score with the golden child too but, there's no way She's letting near her.

I love you too Rilith by the way, but sometimes I wonder if you actually feel the same way. It seems to me most of the time you prefer someone else. You don't love anyone else, do you?

Oh shit, he asked...

You stupid fuck

I don't love anyone else. Yes, I deeply care about Araavos, but the love I have for him is like a close friend. Nothing more. Sure, we fuck, and we hang out. But that's it. I don't have any romantic feelings for him.

I'd marry him if he asked

He didn't mention Araavos?

I assumed that's who he was talking about considering everyone keeps singing his praises including me

Also, Astarion, I have one simple answer.....NO!

Then prove it. {He kneels} Say yes. If I weren't stuck in this bubble I'd have a ring ready. But Nazmir. My sunspot. Will you marry me?

See. told you...

Rilith, Nazmir didn't mean anything, she was comforting, and honestly I was thinking about you when I was with her. I don't know about her, but I regretted it immediatly after.

Hm. Okay. Nazmir, do you regret it?

....Yes, I do....but he needed comfort! I was only trying to be nice too him.

(tears form in her eyes) I just don't want anyone, especially my sister, to take him away from me...because I fear my issues might already be driving him away...

Aww, Gale, she's scared of loosing you.

Axel, shut up. Honestly, you but in to everyone's business, and it's embarrassing.

Excuse me? You're the gossip girl! Can't keep a secret around you!

Oh? Like how the only reason you were a virgin this long was because you were too shy to make moves on your crushes? Especially that pitate?

Daniel Bluejay was a bit too intense for me. He clearly had experience...

He was also a smelly drunk with rotting teeth. You could've done better, and you did. (Looks at Araavos)

Araavos was amazing. Your first time was a demon.

(looks at Araavos kneeling down and clears her throat while looking at Nazmir) Sister?

(looks down and gasp) Sorry! I didn't- There was so many people asking questions! I'm sorry!

Rude.... but still here...

What did you want to ask?

I asked you to put your coin where your mouth is You said if I asked, you'd say yes. Well I'm asking.

Well, yes

{He stands you up and hugs you} We'll celebrate later, I know you're not comfortable unless it's intimate, and private.

Just then the bubble dissapates

Oh thank the gods....

Why you didn't have anything to worry about.

{nervously lies} Yeah, you're right.

Not like she has any juicy secrets

(kisses his cheek) That would be nice

I think we should go home...that was a lot....

Are you sure? There's more here

Of course I want to stay, just...the podium might have ruined things...People may be upset...

Of course people are gonna be upset. Not everyone wants to be exposed. But you gotta admit, it feels good getting it all out there, and most of the answers were positive, right? But perhaps you have a point. It has been a trying day for sure. Perhaps we come back another day. With a little more precaution next time?

Yes, please. I'd love to come back.

Yeah, I'm with Araavos. Come back with a bit more caution.

It wouldn't hurt to try again another day.

Araavos opens a portal, and the group return home to retire and reflect on the night