Dear Family,
It has been a few days now and so much has happened. We are on our way towards a town named Oakhurst. We are in search of an artifact that is a magic apple that cures any ailment.
They wish to use it on the sick boy in order to restore him. If this is true I might be able to send it home to mother but I am not sure how the others would take that. But if it means mother is saved then it might be worth it. That’s if this apple even exists….
But with what I have seen recently I would almost believe anything these people told me.
We came among a smaller town in which we were flagged down by a local. He said there was a carnival in town that many of town folk disappeared into.
So I guess we are meant to solve everyone’s problems that we happen upon now…
But checking out a carnival isnt the worse way to spend our time, so we we went inside. They had all sorts of magic, a spectral minecart took us into this impossible small tent where we were transported to this massive interior.
We ran up and down this carnival looking for anyone but it was surprisingly empty. They even had traps set that hurt when triggered. I dont understand why you would hurt your guests but who am I to judge how they handle things in the material plane.
We participated in a few games with a couple of the employees we ran into that were all a bit off. There memory was sparce and they weren’t too helpful.
From ball pits to ladders to dunk tanks they had it all. Still no signs of the missing people. We went into a mirror maze where we were attack by a snake like beast. The group quickly dispatched of it and was quite impressive to watch.
I looked downstairs through Pebblewick and saw something horrendous. A mass of flesh like material and blood scattered in the halls. Something horrific had happened.
We got information on where this Laughing Jack man was who ran this operation. We made our way to his office where he had this contraption that asked what makes us happy.
I figured its fairly obvious I love gold and I put that in when I stripped into another place. A different realm maybe? It felt similar to when I was sent here.
A field with a massive tree surrounded me. Children danced and played around a tree where a ominous clown laughed with them. Luckily the group followed after me not leaving me to this place and we spoke to the figure.
I don’t wish to scare you all but he was a bad man to say the least. We realized we weren’t getting out without a fight. So that we did.
He created copies of us as children. We at least Carrick and Kol. Moses and I were not subject to this magic for whatever reason.
After he was dispatched the world began to deteriorate. We gathered the children and made an escape.
The tent was warped up in a instant and vanished as we left… Leaving no evidence behind. Something I had never seen before.
The town celebrated the return of the children but it didn’t feel like a win… 40 adults were still missing. 40… If that sight I saw was any indication of what happened then that Laughing Jack was much worse than we thought.
I cant help but wonder if there might’ve been survivors elsewhere that we couldve saved if we didn’t cause the tent to collapse in on itself. Every time we “win” it feels like it comes packaged with a loss.
That was a rough night, but I wasnt alone. I had the group and Sultan Genie reached out to me. He let me know the grace period was up and I should have my bearings by now. I fear I have done a lot except get my bearings but I know if I wish to perform well I need to stick with these folks. They have been more help than I could ask for.
But the journey must continue. We set off again towards Oakhurst but not without trouble. We spent the night in the woods sleeping in the rain on the ground.
Yes…. I slept on the ground. Those tattered tavern beds seem like a luxury compared to the camping we did.
Worse than that we were assaulted in our sleep. Undead Orcs snuck up on us. The same faction of orcs from that mountain. I think we may have muddled in something larger than us. Its like they know where we are.
The men made quick work of them though but I fear if we keep dispatching these groups they will send something stronger. But if they are up north here as well whatever cursed Tomas might be close as well.
Sultan Genie blessed me with a new boon. The ability to understand languages unknown to me. I used this on that book and learned these orcs succeeded in channeling the stars power into a stone that could be used on this blade Kol is in search of. It could give them powers no one knows of which might be why these orcs are rising.
We asked Moses about this since he studies the stars and learned a great deal about him. His adoptive mother was a druid of the stars. A part of a tribe of druids that feel this stars power from the land around them. Nessa, his mother, taught him these ways but he’s a bit different. He feels the stars power from the void, the in between. I am not quite sure what that means but its very interesting. He believes this is possible but doesn’t have any direct leads that may assist us.
We stopped on the second day in a town called Celes. Beautiful town with large marbled walls that reflect the sun. A town that looked to be more upper class that the ones we previously went to. With the added stress of the group we decided to take a night for relaxation. We went to the Golden Barrel a tolerable tavern that was full of bustling younger folk. Reminds me a lot of the Lotus back home in the Water District.
I bought drinks for the group as we enjoyed the night. Carrick seemed pent up so I tried introducing him to some of the local Huzz, as the material folk refer to them. It wasnt going well especially when a giant man walked in and everyone fawned over him. His name was Vroth and he was a captain of a runeball team. Some game these folk hold in high regard.
Trying to make name for us and bolster Carricks popularity I challenged this individual to a game of runeball for our reputation and pride.
The thing is that we need 9 players and we play tomorrow morning and we have no clue how to play.
Us four of course would be on the team but we needed 5 more. Luckily I found a two for one deal in the library. A gnomish man named Mipple and his roommate Veyren are going to participate. Peak specimens for what I imagine to be great teammates. The rest of the group are fairily displeased with me except for Kol surprisingly. He’s got some competitive spirit in him which will be excellent for our team. No matter though everyone will be gleaming when the town shouts our names tomorrow! But I must find our remaining players before tomorrow morn. Wish I and the Confluence Carricks good luck!
