We take our time crossing I70. The entrance to the dungeon is just outside the level thirty zone, and though we’re armed to the teeth, the monsters are still double our level. While we might be able to handle one or two at a time, if we pull an Alpha and their crew, it’ll be bad news.

From the outside, the fairgrounds look as they always have: long, narrow buildings in the distance surrounded by grass and parking lots. The shimmering barrier surrounding it gives the space an odd appearance.

Stopping at the dungeon’s entrance, I look at the floating text.

The Grand Carnivale (Level 25 Dungeon)

Can be run once every 12 hours.

0/3 ten person groups inside.

“Huh, I wonder if that’s concurrent or parallel?” Brian strokes his beard as he looks through the barrier.

“Good question. I’d imagine it’s parallel.” Justin, with much less impressive facial hair, scratches at his scruffy chin. “Otherwise, why say that multiple groups can go in at once?”

Jennifer, with her enormous broadsword resting on an armored shoulder, says something interesting. “Maybe it’s like an actual carnival. Ya know, with games and stuff. Multiple teams can go in and you do challenges.”

“So, what, the three different groups fight each other?” I give the Asian woman a confused look.

“Maybe. Or you only win the dungeon if you win the most games.”

I adjust the twin axes in my hands nervously. “Whatever it is, let’s get in there and get it done.”

I step through the barrier and the fairgrounds change from an empty ghost town to a lively and well populated medieval night time carnival. Hundreds of people mill about as they play games and wait in line for food, tickets, and rides. Strings of colored candles illuminate the space in an assault on our senses.

“Holly shit.” Andy, never one to mince words, looks around with wide eyes.

“We won’t have to fight all these people, right?” Sarah, holding her shield and mace at the ready, watches the crowd with suspicion.

“I don’t think so.” I point to a slew of game booths a few hundred feet ahead. “Looks like Jennifer was right.”

Walking ahead, I weave through the crowd. None of them pay us any attention, even with our obvious weapons. We ignore them as much as they ignore us, and within a few minutes, we’re standing at a game booth. A fancifully dressed man in a red and white striped vest and black top hat smiles wide and gestures to us.

“Welcome! Are you new to the carnival?”

No sense in lying. “We all are, yes.”

“Ah, then allow me to offer you this first game free of charge. Please, step up to the counter.”

The game is one of the classics: throw bags of beans at stacked objects. Nine wooden bottles stand in a pyramid and I have four bags to knock them down. I fail miserably.

“Too bad, friend! Who’s next?”

It’s no surprise the two Rogues, Andy and Jamie, win with ease. Brian almost gets it, while everyone else fails, much like myself. The prize is five tickets.

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With our round of gaming over, and lack of tokens to play again, we’re asked to move away so another group can try their luck.

Andy looks at Jamie, then at me. “Wonder where we turn these in?”

“Yeah, and where do we get tokens to play more games?” Jamie, a skinny young girl in the most stereotypical Rogue outfit you can imagine, looks around. Seeing the ticket booth, she points with enthusiasm. “There!”

A rather ugly man dressed in a plain set of peasant clothes occupies the ticket booth. He looks us over with a sleepy gaze.

“How many tickets do you have?”

“Five, sir.” Jamie sets them on the wooden counter.

“You can get one Tier X Healing Potion.”

Jamie frowns. “That’s it?”

“You only have five tickets, miss.” The worker gives the Rogue a look like she’s stupid.

Andy sets his on the counter. “What does ten get us?”

“Tier X Mana Potion.”

“Do you have a list of prizes?”

The worker sends a document to Andy’s menu.

“Wow, these get really good.”

With the list forwarded to the rest of us, we step to the side and spend a few minutes reviewing the selection. There’s anything from potions, to weapons, to armor, even non-combat equipment like tools. There are, of course, many random knick knacks and toys. At the top, with a cost of 10,000 tickets, is the player’s choice of a Tier IV weapon.

“Yeah, ok, I’ll be in here a lot.” Brian looks at his sledge hammer. “I want that grand prize.”

“No kidding.” Jennifer eyes her great sword.

Unfortunately for me, I use two weapons.

“Excuse me.” Sarah gets the worker’s attention. “What’s the best way to win the most tickets?”

“Best bang for your Credit are the skill games. If you’re good enough, that is. But the fastest way is the tournament.” The main points down the main thoroughfare towards a large four post tent. “That’s if you don’t get killed, of course.”

Sarah looks back at us, smiles, then heads that direction. We follow.

The path is a straight shot to the tent. Along the way we pass more games, food stalls, and people. It’s weird how they move out of our way, never make eye contact, or acknowledge our existence in any way. Several of the rides seem interesting, especially the one with dire camels.

As we approach the massive tent, another vest and top hat wearing man greets us. This individual is quite overweight and speaks in a nasally voice.

“Welcome, friends! Are you here to watch or participate?”

Jennifer walks up with her head held high. “Participate.”

“Excellent! This is your first time, yes?”

A head nod.

“Then allow me to explain the rules. First, you may do so as either an individual or a team. Second, you choose the number of rounds you’ll be fighting. If you make it to the specified number, you win! If you don’t, you lose!”

“What happens if I lose?”

“Unfortunately, that will be the end of you. The monsters you’ll be fighting are not for the faint of heart, I assure you.”

“What happens if I win?”

“Each round you progress increases the tickets you win. First round provides one ticket. Second round provides two tickets.” The worker makes a rolling motion with his hand. “The trend continues until you either make it to your specified round, or lose.”

“How many rounds can I go?”

“As many as you’d like! So far, the System wide record is 176 rounds in the team category and 97 in the singles category. As your planet is new to System, this instance of the carnivale is limited to twenty rounds for singles and forty rounds for teams. These limits increase over time.”

the other Cleric, lets out a low whistle. He wears light armor, in the form of chainmail and leather, and carries a shield and sword. He’s a little older than Jamie, but looks to be, at most, in his early teens. He’s a competent fighter, has a great sense for the flow of combat, and isn’t afraid to get into the thickest of fighting.

“What sorts of monsters does one fight at the top levels?”

“Dragons, leviathans, shadow banes, and the like.”

“Right…” Lewis blinks a few times and shakes his head. “What’s a good number of rounds to start with?”

“That depends entirely on your class, equipment, and Feats. What’s easy for a Cleric, like yourself, might be very difficult for a Rogue.”

I chime in. “Are there restrictions on the number of times we can enter the tournament? What about the cost?”

“Excellent questions! You may enter the tournament once per twelve-hour period, each, as a single fighter or team. As for cost, it’s one token per entry.”

“What’s a token cost?”

“Five Credits.”

“Last one: is each round the same for each person?”

“It is! There are specific monsters for each round, with quantities increased for team battles. While the lineup changes from time to time, it’s advertised well in advance.”

With no other questions, we move to the side to discuss.

“Ok, do we go for it?” I meet everyone’s eyes. “Want to try, maybe, five rounds to start?”

“I like it.” Jennifer and Justin give each other a fist bump.

Brian once again strokes his beard. “I think that’s a good number.”

“It’s settled?”

Everyone nods in agreement.

“Let’s do this.”