DM-Nastics #148: Thank you fairy much!

THE PRISON FAIR OF AMBERWHISPER
A CONCENTRIC MUSHROOM FAIRY RING A MILE WIDE

1. What are the first warning signs? (These probably go unnoticed by the uninitiated, but their significance becomes clear later)

Increasing density of mushrooms, decreasing density of trees. Then increasing colour vibrancy of mushrooms.

2. What events make it clear something is afoot?

A single line of 6 inch high orange mushrooms crossing the PC's path. This is actually the circumference of the innermost fairy ring (say half a mile across, but this close it still appears to be a line. With high enough nature or perception a PC may detect the telltale curvature that implies the circle. The 3/4 mile wide circle is made up of inch high mushrooms but obscured by grass, undergrowth and other mushrooms. The mile wide circle is made up of 1/4 inch high mushrooms, similarly obscured, effectively undetectable. With a high enough check I'd let the character remember the middle circle, let them realise it's already too late.

3. What is the correct protocol for avoiding trouble?

Don't go in, back out completely and go around. Bearing in mind the characters are already two rings in just skirting around this circle, or even the one further back is ... insufficient.

4. What kind of trouble ensues otherwise?

The characters will find themselves drawn into the Craft Fair of Amberwhisper. The will think they are moving away from the ring but are in fact moving deeper into it. This will become apparent because the mushroom height and vibrancy will keep climbing. If they turn a straight 180 tell them the mushrooms are decreasing in height but then suddenly they are increasing again. We are aiming for the American Werewolf in London “stay on the path, keep off the moors” vibe.

Amberwhisper is a Greater Fey who has been exiled to this part of the Feywild for being too interested in mortals. They have been imprisoned here with a collection of mortal pets as punishment. They are running a craft fair and community theatre festival here in the mushrrom forest… for eternity. It’s populated with all sorts of over the top performers and craftspeople - as if a couple of Fey Lords snatched up random artisand and perfomers and stuck them here - because that’s exactly whay this is. Go mad with the kinds of performers because Fey Lords arent snatching up your standard juggler or card sharp, they’ll be snatching up the Blue Man Group equivalent, the “History through interprative Dance” troupe and the most edge case crafts you can imagine. No basketweavers or potters, think stained glass window makers who make boats out of stained glass, life size origami folders etc. There are also a handful of humanoid skeletons in a pile under a sign that says ‘no callback’.

Amberwhisper is super duper excited to have new artisans to join the fair! They will be openly joyous, cure any wounds they can and will otherwise tend to the party. Much the same way your off centre craft mad Aunt or Uncle would coo over a new puppy or particularly colourful caged songbird. They will offer food, water, rest. If any are accepted impose penalties on the performances to come.

5. How do they get out of the trouble?

Perform, well enough that Amberwhisper isn’t insulted but not so well that they want to add the PC’s to the Fair permanently. And everybody has to, not just the Bard. Perhaps the martial characters wrestle, or perform incredible Feats Of Strength or demonstrate the physical poetry that is Skill At Arms. You get the idea I hope.

In the lead up to their performance slots the party will be approached by a tall humanoid in a hooded cloak that appears to have no feet. It isn’t in fact a humanoid but 3 flumphs in a trenchcoat masquerading as Bob the Human. The Flumphs are keen to get out as well, they bumbled in here and have been living off the fey emotions they can scavenge up at the edges of the Fair. ‘Bob’ will tell the perty how it will go down and ask to be involved in the attempt. The three of them cannot survive here much longer.

I suggest running the escape as an extended skills challenge (I recommend Rodrigo Lopez’s skill challenge rules from Critical hit). The vibe is one of humour with a sense of dread beneath it. If the characters are just awful Amberwhisper will see them as an affront to art and beauty and attack, too good, then they are a precious specimen to be kept and curated for all time. The ‘Bob’ is meant to be a wildcard, riff off of what the party puts down and use your Three Flumphs in a Trenchcoat as your muse.

6. What prize is their for navigating the situation successfully?

Freedom and, if they do well, a new set of allies in Bob the Human. If they do extraordinarily well they may even recieve a boon from Amberwhisper directly.

7. You do you! AKA anything else?

Go big, go weird, go do it. Do art! Save Bob! Get new Flumph Friends.

1. What are the first warning signs? (These probably go unnoticed by the uninitiated, but their significance becomes clear later)
The encounter takes place with a old, secret archive, enveloped deep inside a trunk of a tree. In the archive, you can find books bound in the leathers of all kinds of creatures, scrolls with rods made of bone, and magic artifacts sealed behind a magical boundary. Players stumble across the archive in search of some information. They check for traps on all of the exits, there doesn't appear to be any at all. Use detect magic, and it'll be so dizzying it will make you want to puke. Still, there's no sign of a threat. At last, they'll peruse the texts. Gradually, the pages start to glow, until it's hot to the touch, forcing them to drop the items they are holding.

2. What events make it clear something is afoot?
Tiny creatures start to rise off the page. Their skin is tanned, glowing with a hot orange light. Their wings are papery, covered in pen ink of the ancient texts. Depending on what section the players are interested in, the fairies will be themed to that genre. For instance, if it's weapons, the fairies will be equipped with papery weapons that deal real damage. If it's on love and romance, the fae will be charming and suggestive (i.e. the spell suggestion ha). As they expel magic, their papery wings will burn away until their wings are pure fire.

3. What is the correct protocol for avoiding trouble?
After the players run into their first bout of trouble, roll perception. If they succeed they will notice a new marking on the interior wall of the tree trunk. It is burnt into the wall. The message translates to each players primary language, and says "Only that which you seek will grant safe passage." If they find the exit book/scroll/artifact they sought out to find (before the place is burnt down) the fairies will retreat back to their respective literature.

4. What kind of trouble ensues otherwise?
If they insist on trying to steal any other items, they will have to see the combat through. If they successfully flee with stolen material they will be called to testify in the Fae Courts at a random date.

5. How do they get out of the trouble?
They will leave (mostly) unharmed, if they ONLY take the single item they are looking for.


6. What prize is their for navigating the situation successfully?
They have obtained an invaluable piece of information (whatever that ends up being on their journey).

7. You do you!
They might make a tiny fairy friend that comes with the item they've successfully found. This fairy can be adopted as a familiar!

1. What are the first warning signs? (These probably go unnoticed by the uninitiated, but their significance becomes clear later)


As the players enter deeper into the forest they may not notice the breeze getting stronger, the songs of birds growing louder, and the vegetation growing larger.


2. What events make it clear something is afoot?


You would think it would be the ant the size of a dog, but that's normal right? We just fought giant spiders last week, dog sized ant is normal. But between that and the dragon sized hawk the players look up to see that the trees don't ever actually end. Oh boy.

3. What is the correct protocol for avoiding trouble?


Not wanting to kill every abnormally sized insect that you come across. Common sense and a lack of bloodlust will prevent you from going too deep into the forest and becoming sprite sized.


4. What kind of trouble ensues otherwise?


Aside from the face you are super small, you realized that all of the animals are super smart. If you're lucky, the mouse knights will find you favorable and let you into their sanctuary, carved out civilizations in the trees. Otherwise good luck keeping away from the hawks, or the snakes, or the foxes, etc. 


5. How do they get out of the trouble?

Earning good favor with sprites of the forest who serve as priests and priestesses to the Dryad who rules the forest and can send you home, for a price determined by the DM of course.

6. What prize is their for navigating the situation successfully?


Tomorrow. And potentially some dope artifacts that they got while super small that are completely unique when they grow with the players back to normal size.


7. You do you! AKA anything else?


My NPC: Ser Gerald
Ser Gerald “Braveheart” is the knight errant of the pixie queen, and is the noblest of all mousefolk. No challenge has ever been too tough, nor enemy too great. He uses his wit to defeat enemies, but is not a rogue like many other mousefolk need be to survive in this world.
Items:

-A sewing needle coated in stirge blood and magically enchanted by the pixie queen.

-Ser Gerald’s helmet, a thimble which has been enchanted by the pixie queen with incredible arcane protection
-Ser Gerald’s scarf/cape (the white piece of yarn).

-Ser Gerald’s mount, a blue jay.

-Ser Gerald’s shield. A golden coin dropped by a dwarven merchant that has been fashioned into a shield. Emblem of a blue jay painted on the front (with blue berries).