Dim Carnival

You have begun your quest.
You are at a dim carnival, peopled by eerie figures. The rattle of rides filters through the haze.  The thick air smells like cotton candy and mildew.

Near you is a tall platform, with rickety steps leading up in a corkscrew.  At the top, amid a small cluster of tables and easels, a couple of artists scratch away at their craft.  A garish sign proclaims: “Gud Caricatures Heer.”

You adjust the collar of your overcoat against the light drizzle, and pull your instructions out of a pocket.  They are simple, just two sentences:  “Find the best caricature artist.  Give him the password and he’ll tell you what to do.”

You walk up the steps.

Continue