Aella and Doven head into the building and the main brightly lit hallway that connects the school. Across the way is an set of double doors that are open to the schoolyard. To the east, the hallway bends around a corner to the south. Signs hang in front of each door stating the name of the room. They mark them as different teacher's classrooms, the teacher's lounge, the lunchroom, and library.
Students mill throughout the area from room to room, some carrying cloth and tools while others use the available bathrooms to clean off remnants of pranks.
From the library to the east, the Pathfinders hear someone shouting directions. Through the open double doors to the south, there are screams and shouts.
Kit runs out into the schoolyard. There is a small, chalk-marked track runs around most of this area.
Statues on opposite sides of the track stand posed in unnatural stances, the better to display the garish paint splashed across their edifices. A magnificent maple tree sits in the corner of the schoolyard, bedecked in thrown spools of ribbon.
The source of the screams is evident as a wispy specter flies at Kit.
And lands face first on the ground several feet before her. As it lies on the ground it is easier to tell see the bits of straw poking out of the between the cloth draped upper torso. The students who were scream are now laughing as they realize they have been tricked.
Several older students are in the area as they sew and carry bundles of rope.
A goblin student, Vim Moneymaker, is quickly inspecting the constructed ghost as she notes, "mostly there! Has all the spook, just need to make sure the pulleys are pulling their weight!" She looks up at Kit and gives a salute. "Hello, how do you like the beginnings of our spooky project?"
From behind her walks up a dark haired half-elf, Hari, who pulls at a rope that moves the construct. "It is an effort that appeals on multiple merits for your consideration. We are basing our prank on one of the long held legends of the school, Student #19."
As other students continue work on the ghost, Vim leaps up and explains, "he is a ghostly halfling boy that haunts the halls to this very day. To some he grants wishes, but the foolhardy get taken away and are never seen again!" She waves her fingers for emphasis.
"A classical story," Hari notes, "one connected to the school's history. I predict that this combination of school nostalgia with a strong execution will make this a winning prank."
Now wearing a bed sheet Vim adds, "winning or not, a good scary story is just the best!"
Together they still ask for advice the Pathfinders have for finishing dressing the specter or rigging the pulleys so that the ghost can properly fly around the schoolyard.
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Kit smiles, saying “Oh, good. No one is injured.”
She nods at the explanation and says “This definitely looks like a good one. Connecting it to legends of the academy is a nice touch.”
Kit isn’t very good at crafting, but she can describe a variety of effects that real ghosts have including the sounds they make. She suggests if it were darker, a little glow would also improve the effect.
She also shares some candy with the younger kids that screamed. Makes sure that they are alright and asking if they have thought about their own pranks.
"I'm glad you agree," Hari responds with a smile, their confidence redoubled by Kit's support.
The students modify the appearance of the ghost to be more convincing and include spooky effects. Vim suggests weaving magical effects within the cloth to produce those perfectly frightening effects. One of the students asks for some guidance as they practice cantrips to produce the proper eerie glow and sounds.
The younger kids have easily bounced back and devour the candy. They all have a laugh and seem alright. They display a variety of plans thus far as they describe minor bits of vandalism to the school exterior. One of the students whispers conspiratorially to Kit as they say they plan to ask the cooking teacher for one of tonight's pies to create a mess for one of the faculty members.
The other students in the area are still working on adjusting the appearance of the ghost, including adding a long serpentine tail. Others work to try to review the pulley system.
Vim delights in working with Doven in embellishing the legend and emphasize details that make the story ever more terrifying. "I'll make sure to keep that in my mind next time we go camping. Spooky stories by the campfire are the best!"
Hari follows along with Shayna's make up, matching the application to the other side of the face as she follows along with what Shayna demonstrated. The changes make the depiction even more evocative.
With a quite a bit of math and engineering, the students are also able to get the rigging set up. The terrifying construct is soon flying above the yard, dipping below as it passes by the classroom windows to the sudden shock of some inside.
Vim is delighted with the works as she mimics the ghostly shrieks as it flies about the yard. Hari bows the Pathfinder group as they state, "I'm grateful for your guidance as well as your consideration for judging."
Students continue to shuffle around, but their projects look to be largely stable in this area. Some students have taken to egging one of the classroom windows. More students seems to be still coordinating projects within the school.
Heading back into the building rooms are checked for enterprising youths. The teacher's lounge is locked and there any obvious sounds of pranks inside.
The pair of adjacent bathroom stalls are empty, aside for a family of goldfish that has been deposited in the washbasin of the nearer of the two lavatories. Within Ms. Laforent's classroom on the north side of the western hallway, Geltra and Tels can be heard as they work their alternate prank within the room with lots of other voices among them.
From the Library on the eastern end you can hear the careful shuffling of feet as a student's voice directs movement and placement. "Move between those desks and place it there. Now you three grab that-"
Both are similar and both likely could use some mentorship and guidance based on the sounds from each.
While an unusual place, the goldfish are secure within the washbasin.
The library has a small crew of students moving around a startling number of one-way mirrors. While they block a significant view of the room, the number of books stored within the room is still evident of the prevalent musty scent of scores of tomes lining many shelves. Vision throughout the room is blocked by the multitude of one-way mirrors that hamper line of sight though the room as they come together to form a maze. Furnishings have been pushed to the side to make room for the construction.
Commanding the action her is a boisterous tiefling, Duaro, that bounds through the room. Their amber eyes glancing across the scene and their long ears perk up at your entry.
Smiling and giving a grand bow, the student introduces themselves, confirming your own records on the class registrar. "Judges! Welcome and salutations. Duaro, artist of the stage. I admit had hoped to have more of this set up already," they say gesturing to a room mostly filled with an extravagant maze and then to several more mirrors yet to be set up.
"I admit the scope has grown a bit since my initial plan, but with the resources, it would be a shame to create anything less." They pull out a set of plans that have a mixture of arcane and occult magical notes. Duaro takes a step and casts a light spell in front one of panes of glass as it turns into a reflection. "A maze that requires as much cunning and attention as many of the tomes one might find here. If I could have your assistance I would appreciate helping with the last bits of work setting up the pathways and lighting."
The details of Duaro's plans are meticulous and helping enact them and watch over the other students could benefit from magical skills Arcana, Occultism, or Crafting for other aspects of the construction.
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On hearing what Duaro has planned, Kit says “Jinglemane should be able to help with that, but I fear it is far outside my own training. It does sound fantastic and I look forward to seeing the finished maze!”
Kit then heads over to the classroom to see if there is any way she can help Geltra, Tels and the others there.
"I do hope that it does get some reaction from you," Duaro offers with their thanks to Kit's consideration. "I tend to like performances and installations that provoke a more emotional response. I can't promise you will find it pleasant, but I do hope it is memorable when you experience the full effect!"
Doven is able to help with the process as there is a lot to be moved, but the construction is confounding a bit as the maze is being built and it becomes harder to traverse. "The magic just leans more into my magical talents. I had briefly considered candles, but the stage has discouraged fire for good reason." Gesturing to the books they add, "and while I like to leave an impression, I rather not risk any sort of fire here."
"Magical light is just a good solution for making this one-way mirrors function here."
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As Kit goes the classroom, she is interrupted by Cass who comes running to intercept the Pathfinder. Cass's uniform has a few new stains on it but she otherwise is well. "Pathfinder-Judge! My apologies, but I have an urgent missive from J. I've been instructed to bring you to him at once."
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As Kit goes the classroom, she is interrupted by Cass who comes running to intercept the Pathfinder. Cass's uniform has a few new stains on it but she otherwise is well. "Pathfinder-Judge! My apologies, but I have an urgent missive from J. I've been instructed to bring you to him at once."
“Oh?” Kit says showing mild surprise. “Unexpected, but please lead the way.”
Being in the middle of a Prank War, Kit starts to wonder if she is about to be pranked. Considering how hesitant Cass initially was to get involved, she decides even if it is a prank, best to go along with it so as to encourage the young halfling.
Duaro responds enthusiastically to Aella's suggestion. "That is a wonderful addition, I had discounted it when setting this in the library, but there are some plants we use in stage productions that could be use here." They direct students off to gather the props while working at their plans and construction to identify good places for the plants. They ask for a few suggestions from Aella during the set up on places that would benefit from the placement.
Additional work from the Pathfinders would likely confirm the mirror maze is safely installed.
Kit does not get a good read on the Cass, she doesn't seem less serious than she was when the party spoke with her before, but it is certainly possible for her to have taken pranking to be a viable mission with the guidance of the party.
It is a short trip as Cass leads the group right across into Ms. Hirasara's classroom.
Cass announces your arrival to J before giving a vigorous salute and taking position at the door.
J is alone in the classroom aside a multitude of small baubles and minor magical knick-knacks floating in the air under numerous minor
levitation tricks.
There are a few echoes of minor illusory sounds from the corners of the room that J pays no mind. The exterior windows still have some egg stains, but have largely been cleaned by Bat-tilda. You see a brief flash as the Student #19 scarecrow flies by the window.
J's focus is on a pan of pie that has been splattered on the floor, which matches a large portion of the mess covering J's face.
As you walk into the room, you see the pie reassemble itself, pulling itself off the floor and J in order to become whole once more.
It then flies right off the ground and hits J squarely in the face.
*SPLAT!*
J gives an exacerbated sigh as he makes a minor effort to wipe the pie from his face and turn to you.
"I truly detest meringue." J says wearily.
The topping flits off Dacilane's face in flakes and drops, reconstituting into the pie pan and quickly reforming into an intact pie again.
As impressive as that display is, J's expression does not reveal any sense of novelty as he informs you, "as talented as I believe our students to be, I would think such weapons of mischief to be beyond their practical capabilities." Gesturing toward the halls he requests, "can you see about..."
*SPLAT!*
With a sudden blast of pie crust and filling, he's struck again by the ambushing regenerating pie.
He doesn't bother to even wipe it away this time as he begins again, "can you see about undoing this particular prank? It was funny the first few times, but it's hard to supervise the students when—" J gestures toward the pie, which is already on a collision course with his face once again.
*SPLAT!*
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Doven manages to stifle his laughter the first time J is hit, and holds himself to just a smile the second time, but is openly giggling by the third. "I'm sure--*hehe!*--it's much less funny when it's happening to you."
He grabs the pie plate the next time it clatters to the floor, holding on as tightly as his muscled hands are able, hoping that by preventing it from fulfilling its purpose the magic will be broken.
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Kit watches the pie hit J. When it starts reconstituting for another round, she tries to analyze it in hopes of understanding the magic involved. “On the good side, it isn’t a blueberry pie. Can you imagine the stains if it were?”
Kit also tries to remember which student she talked to about pies in the back courtyard.
Doven restrains the pie.
The pie struggles to free itself from the hold, chunks of the flaky crust fly out at J with far less devastating effect.
J takes a breath as they nod to Doven, "I do appreciate the reprieve, but the magic has been persistent. Other, mundane, methods have failed to stall the attack."
The pie jerks hard as it tries to pry free of Doven's hold. J flinches a moment before looking to Kit. J does not seem exceptionally appreciative of the silver lining. Kit's detect magic confirm the presence of magic, but the room is filled with minor magical effects as baubles float about the room and illusions speak from corners. The pranks make it more difficult to easily identify the magic.
The pie is almost certainly under a magical effect, but on bound to Arcane or Occult magic. Training with either of those skills could unravel those enchantments on the pie. A successful application of dispelling magic certainly would be able to do the same.
Before you do so, J offer, "I do appreciate the concern, but-"
He pauses a moment as the possessed pastry flings itself another way to loosen Doven's grip. It isn't successful, but does demand too much of Doven's attention for this to last.
"However," J continues, "I'm willing to take more of this if it means you can get to the root of the problem sooner. If there is another of these pies targeting one of the students, I rather you use your magic and time to help them rather than myself."
The pie makes itself known again as it shudders against the tiled floor, looking for a moment to free itself.
J eyes his adversary, the pie. "Once the school's secure, then I would suggest attending to this issue."
Kit is able to recall the student and find them fairly quickly in the halls. They are a bit distraught as they tell Kit that their prank didn't work out or worked out too well. They describe what you have seen with the regenerating pie, but have no explanation as to how it happened.
"No one else go their hands on it before I threw it at J." They gesture to the lunchroom at the end of the hall as they say, "Grenda, the cooking teacher, had plenty of pies, so I just asked her for one. I don't think she would have done this, but I don't know anyone better cooking at the school. Maybe she put a new ingredient in the pie?"
Their confusion still offers no better suggestion than heading toward the lunchroom to talk with Grenda.
Leaving J to the unfortunate state of pie leads you to the Lunchroom. Opening the door even a crack reveals almost unrestrained chaos. The teacher is yelling and there are a gaggle of tiny creatures. Some are three feet tall at the tallest, but the vast majority are less than half that. There are at least a dozen running about the room flinging pies in every direction with cackles and laughter. Moments later the pies are regenerating and being picked up once more. Their targets seem entirely indiscriminate as they fly at each other, the walls, furnishings, and the beleaguered cooking teacher. She holds out a knife to ward them away as she demands they leave, but her words are not getting through to the chaotic cacophony.
A pie slams near the door before the bits being pulled back off as it reforms moments later.
The chaotic nature of the room is apparent, but Aella can tell entering the room will almost certainly make any of you targets for immediate and constant pies at any and every opportunity. Although that attention would be necessary to convince this pie barrage this to stop in some fashion. At the moment nothing inside has noticed you in the middle of the yells and cheers.
Kit is able to sense magic within the room. It would likely to be able to disable the pies magically would just be as viable as what she was considering with the one harassing J.
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The library has a small crew of students moving around a startling number of one-way mirrors. While they block a significant view of the room, the number of books stored within the room is still evident of the prevalent musty scent of scores of tomes lining many shelves. Vision throughout the room is blocked by the multitude of one-way mirrors that hamper line of sight though the room as they come together to form a maze. Furnishings have been pushed to the side to make room for the construction.
"Oooh, mirrors!" Jinglemane pulls out his own mirror and roars, creating an entire string of fiercely roaring purple poppets peeking from every mirror. "You should include shadows and stuff, so that folks traveling through the maze can see lurking creepy stuff, and not know where it is coming from!"
The pie is almost certainly under a magical effect, but on bound to Arcane or Occult magic. Training with either of those skills could unravel those enchantments on the pie. A successful application of dispelling magic certainly would be able to do the same.
Jinglemane licks pie off his paws and takes a step into the room.
"I think that eating the pie could cancel the effect, and I'm definitely up for the challenge!"
Duaro is amazed and inspired by Jinglemane's insight into mirror and suggestions. They just their plans to try to work in more shadows with more proper control over the magical lighting. Working with Jinglemane's advice the maze of mirrors has a mixture of shadows and vines.
The work is complete with several people taking a long time to wind their way through the maze. Duaro is incredibly grateful, "A wonderful work and thank you for your guidance. I think I shall give it a once over for review before giving it over to the public. Thank you my mentors!"
As soon as Jinglemane enters the room, a pie is launched at him.
However there is a painful sting that cuts into Jinglemane like several needles. Looking at the pie tin there are several nails driven into the metal making the pie far more dangerous. However, Jinglemane also sees the magical runes within the pie crust. It is an easy matter to chomp those runes, ending the regeneration of that pie.
The various creatures within the room notice the crowd at the door and cheer, "more faces to pie!"
"Lemon, apple and cherry, toss them all and be merry!"
"Pick them up, make a new batch!"
"Too many pies to catch!"
They are too much into the jubilation to hear on Doven's initial threat. However they have slowed in pace with Jinglemane at least removing one of the pies.
When Doven runs in as well, a pie is cast at him as well.
Doven is able to get to the side of the dwarven cooking teacher, she has some relief having some aid as she holds her knife defensively.
The pie hits Doven, but this is a normal lemon pie that deals a far softer blow.
Kit
Aella
Jinglemane (17 damage)
Too Many Pies
Doven (7 damage)
Shayna Quickfingers
Pies are flying every which way and likely to see some coming at each of you!
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Jinglemane is shocked as his fur gets ripped by nails and stuffing spills out. "Still, the pie was delicious." Jinglemane squints at the fey.
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"I don't suppose you'd be up for a pie-eating contest rather than a pie-throwing contest? Though... I suppose your bellies might be smaller than mine, and not up to the challenge of serious eating. Too bad, because these pies are so tasty!"
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Jinglemane is able to identify the those with heavy beards as a mixture of domovoi and dvorovoi. The bipedal cats are ovinniks. All are fey generally known as house spirits that tend to live in the homes in villages or farms. Their relationship with the homeowners can vary greatly, but it is conventional wisdom that treating them with respect results in their aid.
While they can deal out harm, these sorts of fey have a better sense of humanoid sensibilities and wouldn't typically see throwing nail-filled pies as a funny joke. Addressing the wounds would likely sway them.
The cooking teacher reacts poorly to the suggestion of them eating the pies, but she keeps her grumbles to a minimum as she lets the Pathfinders reclaim control over the lunchroom. "I've dealt with ten times the children who still don't manage half this mess."
The fey consider Jinglemane's challenge as they look over the pies. The idea is appealing as many stop to consider it, setting the pies to the side as they discuss their favorite flavors.
"Eating is a delight," one of the fey contemplates as they stroke their beard. "But it is so much better to share!" While most of the others slow down, the cackling fey tosses pies with both hands, one at Jinglemane and smashes another into the face of another of the fey.
A custard pie hits Jinglemane with a heavy force, but without any sharpened metal.
What started with Jinglemane is finished by Kit as the fey continue to settle. The energy flowing during the food fight is dispersed and the house spirits are no longer in play as they debate food. "Well, pies are good, but there is plenty to eat still in the day."
Another nods in agreement, "tossing them is all well and good- you should have seen your face- but I don't want to fill up before lunch." They pat their belly as they set the remaining pie on the counter and make an magical gesture dispelling the enchantment on the pie. "Had our bit of fun, but best put them back for tasty treats."
They talk over one another as they smile and cackle about one another's aim. Grenda, the cooking teacher, has her knife in at the side as she takes a breath following the surge of madness. She starts organizing some of the pies being left haphazardly on the benches and floor.
They aren't too interesting in talking to you as they discuss what they want to do next.
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"Hey, could you turn off the pie magic on J, too?" Doven says, as he saunters over to check on Jinglemane. "Shake it off, little dude!" he says to the poppet, slapping Jinglemane on the back. Though the blow is a little harder than maybe Doven means it to be, the friendly feeling of Doven's encouragement seems to suffuse into Jinglemane, knitting some of his wounds back together.
"J? Whose J?" One of the house spirits look to the others as there is a barrage of various, some absurd, theories.
Eventually one gets close suggesting, "maybe the one that took that pie was J? Ah, yeah, I can stop that pie animating." They snap their fingers as they dispel the spell. Without missing a beat the go to debating the names of those at the school.
Grenda approaches Doven and thanks him for the help. "A lot of cleanup, but I'm thankful I don't need to deal with more pies being tossed at me. I think you should have this." She holds up her carving knife to Doven. "Made of cold iron for some of the cuts I need to make, but gave some of them the scare. Trying to use it as a weapon is bound to get me in more trouble so I like you to hold onto it."
"Aye. I admit more that I was frightened of what was happening." She looks to you all and affirms, "you managing to settle that with a few words was fantastic and better than I was hoping. You all will need to come back another day so I can set you up with a proper dish to thank you."
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Kit thanks Grenda for the knife and the promise of a meal later.
She then goes over to talk with the fey, hoping to get a better understanding of their part in this. “Hello, my name is Qitarah al-Tabib of Sedeq. May I know your names?”
She then complements them on the regenerating pies, but expresses her consternation about some of them being dangerous. She then asks what their plans are.
Conversation halts for a moment as the fey give some questioning looks to Kit. "Why do you want to know our names?"
"I bet they need our names to file a report," one offers with a sneer as he bends his head back in an attempt to look down on Kit despite being several feet too short.
Murmurs are abound. "That is just like a story, right?"
"Naw, worse than stories. Take all the life and joy out of the experience. I don't think they will do anything funny with what we give them. Just lots of boring and nothing I want my name a part of. Especially if they think pies are dangerous." The others confer with each other as they discuss.
As things settle the group may need to check back with J.
They have a sigh of relief and one nots, "we are just passing through, so too many names to pass and remember when there is fun to be had."
"We are travelers moving along with a fey caravan," another explains, waving their hands to elsewhere. "Word came through that we heard about this prank war being had here. Talked with everyone about it and the entire caravan was talking about joining in."
Another one picks up on that as they interject, "Yes, yes yes. We couldn't wait for the others so we headed out as quick as we could. Got here, found the pies, and that is where we are now." They give a twirl toward the room. "The pies were a delightful bit of fun to toss out. Everyone loves a pie to the face."
"Not sure what we might do next, but we want to make sure to come up with something better, which is hard." They stroke their beard in thought at they note, "pies to the face are pretty funny."
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Kit raises an eyebrow at hearing that a whole fey caravan is looking to join the prank war. She does nod agreement about the pies to the face.
She then says “My understanding is that the Prank War was for the students here. Given how much trouble even adults have competing with fey trickery, I fear the students might be overwhelmed by you joining as participants.”
“Perhaps you could provide guidance and help judge the student’s work? Have you talked to J about joining the Prank War?”
One of the house spirits crosses their arms as they shrug, "our understanding was no such restriction. Besides half the point of a prank is the surprise." They waggle their finger dismissively, "if someone declares a 'Prank War' I shouldn't be going about asking every person, [i]'oh if it wouldn't be a bother, may I prank you?'" They raise up a pinky as they mine drinking from a tea cup to the laughter of fey.
"We will slow our step a bit so you can talk a bit with this J, but there are plenty more coming and we aren't going to be the ones to tell them that we can't play just because the townsfolk never got a proper pranking practice." Overall, they had their fun, this group seems more fine with exploring the other pranks. They have a mixture of responses to mentorship, but seem open to the idea.
Jinglemane knows fey caravans are mercantile groups that focus on trade in fantastical objects and is one of the few places where you can trust in fairy gold.
Probably, at least, as that knowledge is a bit dubious.
It is either that or fey caravans are roving troupes of disparate fey from all corners of the First World that migrate around the Material Plane looking for fun and adventure to suit their whims. They are chaotic and often dangerous, as evil fey are just as welcome in the travelling groups as kindly fey.
Aella knows fey caravans are roving troupes of disparate fey from all corners of the First World that migrate around the Material Plane looking for fun and adventure to suit their whims. They are chaotic and often dangerous, as evil fey are just as welcome in the travelling groups as kindly fey. She doesn't know anything specific about this caravan though.
Returning to J confirms that he is no longer under the consistent barrage of the pie. J seems exhausted, but thankful. "It has stopped and I assume you were able to get to the bottom of the issue. What wat behind the incident?"