The roof of this tent reaches toward the night sky in three swooping peaks topped with spinning gold stars. Painted wooden panels on the tent walls whirl with colorful motion, displaying vibrant circus performances. The sound of music and laughter drifts out through the canvas door.
Customers can enter the @Big Top for free.
The Big Top is the setting for two main events: the Big Top Extravaganza and the crowning of the Witchlight Monarch, both of which are described in the “Timed Events” section. In the hours leading up to midnight, carnival barkers stationed throughout the fair declare, “Big Top Extravaganza tonight at midnight! Prepare to be delighted!” After midnight, these barkers shout, “Who will be crowned our Witchlight Monarch? Join us in the Big Top just before dawn to find out!”
Aside from those scheduled events, a variety of entertainers perform here. Colorful orbs of light dance in the lofts of the tent while magic spotlights highlight performers. Spectators watch the acts from rows of tiered wooden seats encircling the ring. You can randomly determine an act by rolling on the Big Top Acts table, or you can create new acts using the table’s entries as inspiration.
Tiny firefly circus managed by an ogre dressed like a djinni
Halfling contortionist who can fit inside a hatbox
Pixies racing chariots pulled by weasels (eight pixies and sixteen weasels in all)
Satyr fiddler whose music causes dancing plants to burst from the ground
Troupe of eight clowns launching themselves from a magic cannon
Tiefling fire-breather who summons capering magma mephits and smoke mephits that disappear after 1 minute
Goblin juggler who can catch and juggle any tiny objects tossed to her by the crowd (up to eight objects at a time)
Elf ballerina who dances with animated costumes that spring from a magic wardrobe
The backstage area is a smaller, circular tent adjoining the Big Top. The curtained doorway between the @Big Top and the @Big Top Dressing Room is guarded by two @Witchlight Hands (chaotic good), who bicker over the appeal of the acts while sharing a bottle of pear cider. They allow only performers and other Witchlight hands to pass through the curtain but are so distracted by their arguing that any character can slip past them unseen with a successful DC 12 Dexterity (Stealth) check.
This dressing room is a scene of colorful clutter: tables strewn with makeup kits and glass jewelry, mirrors trimmed with glowing orbs of light, and chests of drawers and wardrobes spilling over with garments.
If a character searches the dressing room for something fun, roll on the Costumes and Accessories table to determine what they find.
Wire headband fitted with a sparkling paper unicorn horn
Waistcoat with a chain of one hundred silk handkerchiefs tied together in one of its pockets
Casket of costume jewelry
Front and rear halves of a two-person unicorn costume
Retractable dagger (harmless)
Pair of stilts and long, bright purple trousers
Enough animated face paint for five applications; each application animates on the skin to create swirling patterns that last for 1 hour
Clown costume with fake butterfly wings