Festival of Fools
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 3:42 pm
You have just arrived in Tydale, having been informed along the journey that youÔÇÖre arriving just in time for the start of the Festival of Fools. Another traveller informed you along the journey that the Festival of Fools is celebrated to commemorate the founding of Tydale; it was founded by a group of wandering performers who were tired of wandering around. More and more settled there, and they named the settlement Tydale, after Tymora as they credited her with the good luck they had in finding such an ideal location to settle. Since then the town has grown into a small city, and each year the Festival of Fools marks their beginnings as more performers and traders come to town.
It is crowded as you arrive, and the assortment of people and styles reminds you of a city much larger than it is. There are buskers performing along the road leading in to the town, as well as musicians lined up around the docks hoping for coin as the barges and boats arrive. There are temporary stalls set up as merchants try to sell their wares, and you notice a lot of things you might want to purchase. There are merchants of all races, and many of the stalls seem to be successful. ItÔÇÖs noisy, as most markets are, and you follow the crowd into TydaleÔÇÖs Centre; commonly referred to the Circle.
Inside the Circle one of the first performances is beginning, and you settle in to watch. The first act is an acrobatics performance; a set of redheaded halfing twins tumble around, culminating in a finale of one tossing the other through some flaming hoops which appear as if out of nowhere. As the visiting tourists gasp, they begin to clap as the flaming hoops are the opening of the next act; a fire-dancer. She is spectacular, her long blonde hair goes below her waist and seems to reflect the light of the fire she dances with. You have never seen a performance done to such perfection. You notice that many of the villagers closest to the front have tossed coins up on the stage, and you see a path closer.
As you make your way closer to the front of the stage you notice the Halfling twins going around with hats for collections, and you toss a few spare coppers into one of their hats as they pass. You spend a few seconds crowd-watching, but are quickly drawn back by a cheer from the crowd as the next act, a half-orc from your best guess, stomped a hole right into the stage. Someone isnÔÇÖt going to be happy about that; quite possibly the Half-Elf that just slapped his forehead off to the side of the stage. But the half-orc doesnÔÇÖt let the splinters in his leg stop him as he continues to drag the boulder he wants onto the stage. Compared to the fire-dancer the half-orcÔÇÖs feat of strength just isnÔÇÖt entertaining, and the crowd is beginning to get bored. Booing begins, but itÔÇÖs cut short when the half-orc easily tosses the boulder right back off the stage; the laborous dragging had been a deception. The crowd claps enthusiastically and the half-orc takes a bow. A few gnomes, with wood and tools, run onto the stage and begin repairing it.
As the gnomes are fixing the stage, some jesters and fools appear on the stage and in front, amusing the crowd with various antics in the meantime. As the gnomes leave the stage the crowd is greeted with a bang and smoke on the stage. The smoke hovers for a few seconds, and you can see some of the crowd wondering if the gnomes accidentally blew the stage up. The half-elf who seems to be in charge, even though heÔÇÖs dressed as a Fool and had been capering around in the crowd, has made it in front of the stage.
ÔÇ£Ladies and Gentlemen!ÔÇØ he booms in a voice much louder than expected. The crowd hushes, but the smoke is still thick atop the stage. ÔÇ£Ladies and Gentlemen!ÔÇØ he repeats, ÔÇ£be prepared to have your minds dazzled! This act is not one of Illusion, nor even Enchantment! The next act is one of magic, but is not performed by any Mage! Be prepared to be hypnotised by none other than the Magnificent Maeloraed and his assistant Lynthian!ÔÇØ
The smoke clears instantly, and there are two dazzling elves in its place. The crowd seems skeptical of a magic show without magic, but intrigued enough to watch and see what happens. The Magnificent Maeloraed begins by showing the crowd various metal loops that are unattached. He even gets someone in the crowd to pull on them to check that theyÔÇÖre solid. When he takes them back, with a deft move of his hand he links them and shows the crowd that theyÔÇÖre together as well as if theyÔÇÖd been melded together. There are a few claps, but not many and the crowd is getting bored again.
As the Magnificent Maeloraed begins to perform his next trick, the fools and jesters begin to move through the crowd again. Expecting another round of collections, you look at the jester nearest to you; itÔÇÖs the half-elf. He doesnÔÇÖt have a hat, and instead grabs onto your arm and pulls you up onto the stage no matter what you do.
ÔÇ£Just play along,ÔÇØ he whispers as you find yourself climbing onto the stage. You barely notice that the Magnificent Maeloraed has been explaining to the crowd that he will be hypnotising members from the audience using nothing but his normal voice and hands; there will be no magic involved. He claims he is being honest and admits that some minds are better suited into being tricked than others, and that it is it not always successful for this reason. You spare a glance towards the others who have been dragged upon the stage and look for their reactions.
Before you know it, Maeloraed is in front of you and is swinging something in front of you. Keep your eyes on the timer and listen only to my voice. When I count down from twenty you will do as I say. You will be aware of what you are doing but will only do as I say. 20, 19, 18.
It is crowded as you arrive, and the assortment of people and styles reminds you of a city much larger than it is. There are buskers performing along the road leading in to the town, as well as musicians lined up around the docks hoping for coin as the barges and boats arrive. There are temporary stalls set up as merchants try to sell their wares, and you notice a lot of things you might want to purchase. There are merchants of all races, and many of the stalls seem to be successful. ItÔÇÖs noisy, as most markets are, and you follow the crowd into TydaleÔÇÖs Centre; commonly referred to the Circle.
Inside the Circle one of the first performances is beginning, and you settle in to watch. The first act is an acrobatics performance; a set of redheaded halfing twins tumble around, culminating in a finale of one tossing the other through some flaming hoops which appear as if out of nowhere. As the visiting tourists gasp, they begin to clap as the flaming hoops are the opening of the next act; a fire-dancer. She is spectacular, her long blonde hair goes below her waist and seems to reflect the light of the fire she dances with. You have never seen a performance done to such perfection. You notice that many of the villagers closest to the front have tossed coins up on the stage, and you see a path closer.
As you make your way closer to the front of the stage you notice the Halfling twins going around with hats for collections, and you toss a few spare coppers into one of their hats as they pass. You spend a few seconds crowd-watching, but are quickly drawn back by a cheer from the crowd as the next act, a half-orc from your best guess, stomped a hole right into the stage. Someone isnÔÇÖt going to be happy about that; quite possibly the Half-Elf that just slapped his forehead off to the side of the stage. But the half-orc doesnÔÇÖt let the splinters in his leg stop him as he continues to drag the boulder he wants onto the stage. Compared to the fire-dancer the half-orcÔÇÖs feat of strength just isnÔÇÖt entertaining, and the crowd is beginning to get bored. Booing begins, but itÔÇÖs cut short when the half-orc easily tosses the boulder right back off the stage; the laborous dragging had been a deception. The crowd claps enthusiastically and the half-orc takes a bow. A few gnomes, with wood and tools, run onto the stage and begin repairing it.
As the gnomes are fixing the stage, some jesters and fools appear on the stage and in front, amusing the crowd with various antics in the meantime. As the gnomes leave the stage the crowd is greeted with a bang and smoke on the stage. The smoke hovers for a few seconds, and you can see some of the crowd wondering if the gnomes accidentally blew the stage up. The half-elf who seems to be in charge, even though heÔÇÖs dressed as a Fool and had been capering around in the crowd, has made it in front of the stage.
ÔÇ£Ladies and Gentlemen!ÔÇØ he booms in a voice much louder than expected. The crowd hushes, but the smoke is still thick atop the stage. ÔÇ£Ladies and Gentlemen!ÔÇØ he repeats, ÔÇ£be prepared to have your minds dazzled! This act is not one of Illusion, nor even Enchantment! The next act is one of magic, but is not performed by any Mage! Be prepared to be hypnotised by none other than the Magnificent Maeloraed and his assistant Lynthian!ÔÇØ
The smoke clears instantly, and there are two dazzling elves in its place. The crowd seems skeptical of a magic show without magic, but intrigued enough to watch and see what happens. The Magnificent Maeloraed begins by showing the crowd various metal loops that are unattached. He even gets someone in the crowd to pull on them to check that theyÔÇÖre solid. When he takes them back, with a deft move of his hand he links them and shows the crowd that theyÔÇÖre together as well as if theyÔÇÖd been melded together. There are a few claps, but not many and the crowd is getting bored again.
As the Magnificent Maeloraed begins to perform his next trick, the fools and jesters begin to move through the crowd again. Expecting another round of collections, you look at the jester nearest to you; itÔÇÖs the half-elf. He doesnÔÇÖt have a hat, and instead grabs onto your arm and pulls you up onto the stage no matter what you do.
ÔÇ£Just play along,ÔÇØ he whispers as you find yourself climbing onto the stage. You barely notice that the Magnificent Maeloraed has been explaining to the crowd that he will be hypnotising members from the audience using nothing but his normal voice and hands; there will be no magic involved. He claims he is being honest and admits that some minds are better suited into being tricked than others, and that it is it not always successful for this reason. You spare a glance towards the others who have been dragged upon the stage and look for their reactions.
Before you know it, Maeloraed is in front of you and is swinging something in front of you. Keep your eyes on the timer and listen only to my voice. When I count down from twenty you will do as I say. You will be aware of what you are doing but will only do as I say. 20, 19, 18.