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Runtime Break start 4h 22m 2h 6m
Episode 2: A Show of Scrutiny
Last we left off, our slowly gathering band of adventurers had begun to have their stories intertwine in the city of Trostenwald, on the southern reaches of western Wynandir on the continent of Wildemount. Here we had Nott and Caleb who had been traveling southward coming and meeting, in the center of the tavern, the Nestled Nook Inn, with Jester, Beauregard, and Fjord. They were invited to a nearby carnival that had begun preparing for their performance later that evening, in which they met Yasha and Molly. After swapping some stories, earning and losing some gold, they began to gather at the outskirts of the Ustaloch, the lake right on the eastern edge of Trostenwald, for the first opening performance of the Fletching and Moondrop Carnival of Curiosities.
Upon entering the tent, they saw a number of performances. However, during a musical performance by this young dwarven girl whose voice was this mysterious, magically enchanting experience, a member of the audience rose up and began to transform into a terrible undead creature that began to lash out, killing another member of the audience, who then began to become one of these same creatures.
You all, grabbing your weapons from Yasha, who had been keeping them stashed away, leapt into the fray, slaughtered both of these terrible beasts, just in time for the crownsguard to rush in and ask you what the hell happened. After information had been gathered of who was immediately available and responsible for this carnival, Gustav, Bo the Breaker, and Molly were marked to be arrested. One of the guards was escorted outside of the tent by Yasha, who was going to show him where this young dwarven girl was currently resting, and upon being led astray to the wrong tent, she just ran into the distant hills and vanished.
With the crownsguard and with Watchmaster Jossyd. The crownsguard that had left naught but a moment before comes rushing in, his breath huffing, sweat dripping from his brow, his eyes wild. He goes, “Watchmaster! The big woman is gone! She’s gone!” The Watchmaster turns to him and says, “You three, go with him. Search for her.” They all immediately run out back out the performer’s flap and he turns to the rest of you in the group, “Shackle and drag those three down to the stockade.”
About five guards approach and begin to press Gustav, Bo, and Molly to the ground and begin to put chains and shackles on them.
Previous Episode “Curious Beginnings”
I like to think that the names of the members of the Travelling Carnival of Curiosities are composer references:
- Desmond Moondrop being a reference to a famous saxophonist and composer named Paul Desmond of the infamous Dave Brubeck Quartet.
- Gustav Fletching being a reference to the Bohemian Romantic composer Gustav Mahler (Though more likely a nod to Prince Gustav).
- Ornna being a reference to composer Leo Ornstein
- Molly being a reference to American composer Molly Joyce.
- Bosun being a reference to a shanty (okay not a composer) from the game Sea of Thieves, called Bosun Bill, sung by “The Crooning Corsair.”
- Mona (Mona Rejino) and Yuli (Yulia Petrova)
- Lestera could be Lester Albert Trimble. You can tell the designer for her character is a fan of Ruby from Steven Universe.
- Toya being a singer would probly fit Toyah Wilcox more than a composer.