30 - Chaos in Halloween Town

Previous session: 29 - Welcome to Halloween town

Showdown at Halloween Town
...

As the big Jack O'Lantern has their vines finishing to grow, the Mayor Roba fully finishes to remove his vampire costume, revealing a Warlock costume.
Furthermore, 6 werewolves, 4 Ghosts and 2 Cyclops gets in our way.
Persy is casting [Haste] to prepare for the confrontation.

Roba hits the ground while still being charged with electricity, sparkling around him. His body starts glowing and it surges towards the dark skies in a form of a light blue pillar of pure electricity. The humming increases from the gallows, and a white light emanates from the witches, and we're all blinded.

Suddenly, we're all standing in the Town Square, all our the backs turn to the pumpkin.

???
Aaaaaand... cut! That's a wrap, good job everyone!

We're all standing in some kind of set of a Theater. And the witches hop down from the gallows, and Sophie approaches us.

Sophie
Well, I guess we're too late. Halloween Town is fused with the mortal world.
Persy
Whaaaaat?
Nesvalyn
I'm not sure to understand what's happening...
Sophie
Well, it seems as the last surviving witches concentrate enough magic to conjure back Halloween town. We're not witches anymore.
Persy
Everybody lives at least? I mean for the ones who weren't hanged.
"Reylynn"
I enjoyed the hang at least. Do you have the names of the dead ones?
Sophie
You're too much into this. Look, I don't want to tell you.
"Reylynn"
Can I see the script at least? I need to brainstorm new names.

Coming from behind the lights, a young man comes to us.

???
There's no point to look at the script. Show's over.

And we realize it's Sprigg reaching us.

Sprigg
Good job guys. I transmitted the credits to your account, now go over before things goes wrong and they notice something.

We head back to our ship as Sprigg pressures us without losing time, and we're travelling back into crystal space. When we're in outer space, we notice there's a single planet now.
Now that we're back on the Astral Sea, we don't really have an idea where to head. Naus mentions that there is a Waypoint not too far from here, and it could be an idea to settle down and look for work.
We all agree to go there, as it could be the occasion to learn more about this whole new world.
It takes around 8 hours to reach this place.

We rest during the travelling...

The Waypoint Sinesteesa
...

When we arrive, we see this engulfing bubble of air with something inside. As we approach, we notice it's the station, shaped like an inverted pyramid with stairs.
From the information we get, the Waypoint Sinesteesa is quite popular among smugglers, and it contains many black markets and traders. It's far outside of the Federal Council of Astronauts reach, so there's not really much law enforcement in this sector.
We dock down, and are showing our (false) custom papers.

We see various creatures from different universes and undead, revealing a cosmopolite place. Due to the information we got before, Nesvalyn suggests that if we split, we should be at least a duo.
Persy goes to the library to learn more about the lore to refresh his knowledge, followed by Azzy and Balnorin.
Nesvalyn looks for information about Paildreo, and is accompanied by "Reylynn". On the way, he plans to leave notes in Draconic, in case he's the first one of the couple landing here.

Looking for Paildreo
...

Once the party is split, Nesvalyn is looking for his fiancé, helped by "Reylynn".
[Investigation - Pass ✔] The people he asks doesn't seem to care or to have seen them.
However, when they both pass a kiosk, Nesvalyn immediately recognizes the voice of Paildreo, appearing on an animated image. They seem to be facing in front them, with the following speech:

Paildreo
Hello, my name Admiral Paildreo of the FCA, and I'm here to tell you about the danger of the Minero Morphosis Virus.

Nesvalyn couldn't believe that. Seeing his fiancé alive and well, he was holding his tears, but the simple mention of the Minero Morphosis tied a knot in his stomach.
Paildreo then proceeds to explain more about it, starting to mention that the virus is a parasitic species. The Minero is the name of the species, aka Minero Spores infects its host, and once the conversion is done, the host becomes a Minero. It's a colonizing parasite.

Paildreo
The FCA, and especially myself, made it a personal mission to eliminate the virus to remove it from all the corners of the Galaxy. We're leading a war against the Minero, and eradicate all the infected, to bring peace again. If you wish to help us, you can enroll...

Nesvalyn can't listen more to it, and can't help to cry and sob. He overhears "Reylynn" and sees her speaking, but zones out again for a few seconds.

"Reylynn"
Never mind, I'll get some tissues.
Nesvalyn
It's... it's going to be fine, thank you.

He wipes his tears with his arm, takes many deep breathes to try to calm down, which works more or less, and proposes to rejoin the group.

Looking for the Library
...

During that time, the rest of the party (Azzy, Balnorin and Persy) searches for a Library. After a couple of hours looking for it, they finally find a Library (if not the only one according to Persy).
They are welcomed by an anthropomorphic Tiger Librarian.

Librarian
Welcome, how can I help?
Persy
I'm glad you exist, some people doesn't know that a library exist here.
Librarian
Yeah, unfortunately. Have you been to the library before?
Persy
I've been to a library before, just not this one.
Librarian
I suspect that the people here are plagued with Poo Brain. Anyway, I'll have ask you to take the Poo Brain test if you wish to enter.

The test is fairly simple: she shows a card with 6 different colors, and asking us to name them. It's really trivial to pass with the party intelligence.

Persy
Is it that hard for them?
Librarian
Yeah, they're frightened by the books.
Persy
Really? That's scary to hear.
Librarian
Not really, but they become more agitated around. You can get in.

The trio gets in the library, joined a bit later by the other duo, who also passes the test without any trouble. Almost everybody looks for information:

  • Persy looks more about the information of the Astral Sea world.
    ↪ He manages to find the books he was looking for. Persy feels he would be able to recall some Historic facts, or recognize some Religions, and even the Fauna and Flora.
  • Nesvalyn looks information about the Minero species.
    ↪ He finds a book, which basically repeats the facts he heard earlier, the Minero Morphosis transforms the host into a Minero to make them join their army, as it's a planet conquering world species reproducing through illness. There is no known cure.
  • "Reylynn" looks for some information about the Reborn.
    ↪ She can't find anything. However she finds a book of the known Fey nobility, with a sketch of Or. Every Fey nobility avoids them, but on their page, it mentions about how they're vicious.
    Or makes deals in such ridiculous and privy way to generate chaos, that it's recommended to never deal with this Fey Lord.
  • Azzy looks for Plasmoid lore.
    ↪ They find a scientific text book explaining the origin and the creation of Plasmoids. It explains how they're created in a lab, with the chemical formula and the steps on how to create one. One thing is sure, they were created to be labors.

Nesvalyn upon reading this information and learning more, can't help remembering what he just heard from Paildreo, and breaks down and can't hold his tears anymore.
Azzy passes by, finds a mentaly broken Nesvalyn.

Azzy
Are you ok?
Nesvalyn
I'm... I'm a monster.
Azzy
No you're not.
Nesvalyn
They already see me as one!
Persy (joining as he overhears)
Who? What are you talking about?
Nesvalyn
Pail... Paildreo, they said they want to eradicate anyone contaminated with FCA. I can't, I just can't...
Persy
Come on Nesvalyn, you know it's false, you're everything but a monster.
Azzy
That's true, at worst case, if they disagree, we'll fight all the members of the FCA and your fiancé, to show they're wrong about the monster.
Persy
Azzy, you'll have to learn to shut up. But the point is, Nesvalyn, you're one of the goodest people I've ever met. I'm pretty sure that Paildreo still loves you, and will be willing to listen to you if they have the chance.
Nesvalyn
I... you... you're right.

Nesvalyn stands up, and sweeps his tears as best as he can.

Nesvalyn
I think I need a drink. Or two. Or more. It's been a day too long.
Persy
Well I think everybody found what they were looking for? Let's head out.

And here starts the new adventure of the group to find a place to rest for the evening. On the way, we find a noodle stall, exulting an exquisite parfume, which seems perfect to begin the evening, with all the five seats available. We all sit down.

Ramen chef
Oh. Yeah, I'll be right with you.

When the chef turns around, we all see this familiar shape.
In front of us, stands Ludwig.