Bean Baby Bedlam | Part One
In the first half of episode 22, the party continues the fight against Mr Ebony Wood, the Carnival’s Puppeteer.
The fight proved to be a difficult one as William took the brunt of Mr Wood’s attacks. His ability to continue to charm Caithe and bend her to his will, left Caithe feeling compelled to follow Mr Wood’s suggestion. He pleaded with Caithe to cut down the ropes of the tent.
In a confused state, Caithe attacks Ever Watchful in defence of Mr Wood and then heads across the tent to a nearby ladder leading towards the trapeze, trying to reach the upper ropes. William dashes to the fray to sneak in a quick attack on Mr Ebony Wood.
In that time Zagreus uses his Warlock magic to cast an Eldridge Blast. During casting this he received a brief glimpse of a place he didn’t recognise and has never been to. Upon returning, he sees Ever swinging her sword whilst Decker becomes the victim of a heavy attack by one of Ebony Wood’s little Bean Babies, piercing her in the neck with some large needles.
As the fight rages on, Mr Wood makes good progress cutting through the rope. Seeing that Caithe had been charmed and now risked conflict with her own party, Decker casts Fairy Fire, lighting up the area with Ebony Wood and his beanie children. The spell creates numerous small motes of light to fall in the area, bathing everything in a warm glow.
With Decker aiding her allies, Nadya takes this opportunity to cast Mind Sliver on Mr Ebony Wood. Taking her psychic magic, she forms a spike with shadow and throws it through Mr Wood’s mind, causing him to fall to his knees. In doing so, Ebony’s sword draws through the last string of the rope suspending the canvas all around them.
As the party rush to dive for a safe landing, will they find Mr Wood and his little bean babies?
The Dragon's Vale | 22 – Part One | "Bean Baby Bedlam" – The Dragon‘s Vale Podcast
Bean Baby Bedlam | Part Two
After the tent collapsed, the adventurers cut their way out of the heavy canvas and reconvened within the carnival. Ever makes it clear that she must find Mr Wood, identifying an undead presence. She climbs over the fallen tent to find the body.
Caithe begins to wrestle with her conscience after she is charmed by Ebony and apologises to her friends for attacking them out of turn.
As the Iron Forge guards bear down on the Illume Saturnalia, Ever, Zagreus and William take Mr Ebony Wood’s body to Nadya’s wagon. Ensuring that the body remains hidden, Zagreus casts invisibility and they enter the workers camp. They deliver the body to Nadya’s caravan and decide to look through Mr Wood’s wagon, where they find puppet making supplies; buttons, doll eyes and small wigs. Upon further investigation they find a scene of carnival horror. Uncovering the true extent of Mr Wood’s ‘puppet making’ reveals that the puppeteer had been experimenting with crafting puppets from human appendages.
On this horrific revelation, Zagreus, William and Ever return to the tent of long rests, ‘Henrietta’s Hedonistic Dream’. They are welcomed by the Dwarvish woman Henrietta, to a calm and relaxing tent where bedrolls are laid out for everyone.
Rest comes easy for some, but for Zagreus, his dreams show eerie visions of some unknown time, engulfing him in flame and wrath.
The Dragon's Vale | 22 – Part Two | "Bean Baby Bedlam" – The Dragon‘s Vale Podcast
Sounds featured in this episode
- Stream Countdown (Intro & Outro) – Alexander Nakarada
- Fairy of the Forest, Woods of Imagination & Tranquil Fields – Alexander Nakarada
- “Living Puppets” – Nucky44 https://horror.ambient-mixer.com/living-puppets
- List of audio files used:
- Forgotten toys by foolboymedia from http://freesound.org +)
- hearth beat w reverb by sby strongheartbeat – freesound.org +)
- Clown laugh by scotcampbell from http://freesound.org +)
- Detuned piano impression by thanvannispen from http://freesound.org +)
- Howling wind by http://www.soundsnap.com *)
- +) Creative Commons Sampling Plus 1.0 License
- *) Soundsnap.com license
The Dragon's Vale Podcast 
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