Chapter: Centennial Celebration

Scene 1) A Perilous Parade

    On a beautiful spring morning the Royal City of Knotside begins its preparations for the Centennial Festival of the Freeing of Knotside. Every year for the anniversary a three night festival is held, with a Masquerade Ball to end it, but for the centennial they have decided to instead throw a month long celebration for the whole city. The Masquerade Ball will be bigger than ever, with multiple parades, performances, and feasts.   The characters are on the street in the crowd gathered to see what opening celebration parade. The parade begins with floats equipped with illusion magic show reenactments of the revolution of Knotside, and the famous heroes from their history. Around the midpoint of the parade a shout is heard down the street, barely audible above the din of the entertainment.    

Scene 2) A Royal Rendezvous

    After the surprising events of the Parade the Party is escorted to the Castle and left in an audience chamber as they are told that those in charge would certainly like to meet them, thank them, and most definitely reward them. This may be the first time any of the party have entered the Castle of Knotside, or even have entered the nobles districts except for passing through on travel. The walk to the audience chamber is a short one, but the castle is bustling with activity, servants rush about, vendors carrying huge bouquets of flowers and platters piled high with food run as they set up what appears to be a huge party. Even the audience chamber is in a half set up affair of streamers, flowers, lanterns, and piles of party supplies. The party is left to their own devices in the chamber as their escort hurries through a door in the back, assuring them that if they wait just a moment those in charge will be with them shortly.    

Scene 3) An Intriguing Investigation

    The Party is given their mission, and with the promise of great reward are given special permissions and access to the city as they begin their investigation. They are told to leave no stone unturned, as the protection of the city, the festival, and most importantly its citizens are left up to the Party. Anybody or anything could be a potential suspect, and they are to be wary of what might lurk in the shadows of the bright light of Knotside.