Hide and Shriek

## Premise

It’s the PartyPlex’s annual Halloween Costume Party, one of the busiest days of the year! Unfortunately, in the chaos, it seems a child got separated from his parents and is now lost. Someone needs to track the kid down before closing - let’s hope our players are up to the task!

## Cast

* Zen (DM)
* Franky (Vegan Bear)
* Eli Mallory (CYM-K)
* The Harlequinette (MJ)
* Jacqueline "Jacky" Hyde (Doll)

## Notable NPCs

* Carter Robinson (the missing kid)
* Rainbow Rabbit "RaRa" (the kidnapper)

## Plot Summary

It's Halloween at the PartyPlex, and the annual costume party is in full swing. Franky has taken the opportunity to sneak into the PartyPlex and scrounge around for animatronic parts, but only finds some small bits and tools. Harlequinette is giving Eli a tour around the PartyPlex for his first day, but is also being followed by a bunch of kids because they're carrying a cauldron of candy to hand out. Eli is clinging to Harlequinette, jumpy and overwhelmed by the situation but trying not to show it. Jacky is leading a group of little kids from the daycare around to some of the Halloween party festivities.

An announcement comes on over the loudspeaker asking someone named Carter Robinson to come to the front desk or speak to an employee. Franky recognizes the name because Carter is a kid her age that she was friends with. Franky immediately changes plans and sets out to find Carter. She heads for the balcony overlooking the Atrium to see if she can spot Carter, keeping an eye out for kids that seem to be lost or confused. She watches the Atrium for a few minutes but doesn't see anyone that looks like Carter. Franky decides to find a staff member or animatronic and convince them to let her look at the security camera feeds and winds up approaching Harlequinette. Franky tells it that she's lost and wants to use the cameras to look for her parents, and Harlequinette agrees and takes her to a security room.

Jacky takes a chance to check the system for Carter Robinson's guest profile and looks through the crowd for anyone matching his appearance, but doesn't see him.

In the security room, Harlequinette flips through the cameras while Franky looks through them. Franky doesn't see Carter anywhere, but spots his parents in Archie's Alligator Golf talking to some security guards. Eli notices that Franky looks more focused than timid, and Harlequinette also notices she seems to be on a mission and her earlier timid nature was an act. Franky points out Carter's parents and claims they're her parents, leading Harlequinette to ask if she's Carter, and Franky panics and says she's actually his sister. Harlequinette is skeptical but agrees to lead Franky to Archie's Alligator Golf anyway to see how this will go, and Eli follows behind to make sure Franky doesn't get lost again. The three of them take the staff tunnels over to get to the minigolf, and along the way, Harlequinette notices some storage boxes that have been knocked over with some rainbow glitter on them.

As the trio are almost at the minigolf area, an alert goes out to the Razwatches and animatronics announcing that a child is missing and the PartyPlex is on lockdown, with some details about Carter, including that he was last seen wearing a ghost costume in Archie's Alligator Golf. Franky manages to peek at Eli's Razwatch and reads the message without being noticed. Eli asks if Franky knows where Carter is, and Franky says she doesn't and she's looking for him. Upon receiving the message, Jacky hands her kids off to a staff bot and takes to the rafters to get over to minigolf sooner. Harlequinette offers to let Franky help look for Carter as long as she stays in the public-facing areas, and Franky agrees with her fingers crossed behind her back.

Everyone arrives to Archie's Golf at the same time. Jacky is still in the rafters, and Harlequinette greets her while Eli hides behind them and Franky refuses to look at them. Harlequinette introduces Franky as Carter's "sister", but Jacky knows Carter didn't have any siblings listed in the PartyPlex system. Jacky goes along with this, but does confirm Harlequinette's suspicion that something is up with Franky.

Archie's Alligator Golf is a bit less populated than the atrium, and Carter's parents and some security officers are standing near the bridge over an indoor creek, looking through the fake plants nearby. Eli leads the way over to Carter's parents, who don't recognize Franky. A security guard comes over to relay more information to the other employees. Eli tries to return Franky to her supposed parents, who are confused. Jacky covers for Franky and says she must be one of Carter's friends who panicked when asked why she was looking for him. Eli is mortified and has the urge to throw himself into the creek out of embarrassment.

Harlequinette asks if there are any leads on where Carter went, and the security guards say they haven't found much but invite the party to take a look. Jacky sees nothing, but Harlequinette finds a golf score sheet with Carter's name on it, and Franky finds a toy Carter dropped and some rainbow glitter leading over to an employees only door. Franky immediately starts following the glitter trail and tries to find a way to open the staff door. Jacky and Harlequinette trail behind Franky. Eli weakly protests Franky going through the staff door, and Harlequinette asks why Franky wants to go through that door. Franky explains the glitter trail, and Harlequinette mentions the glitter they saw in the tunnels earlier.

The group open the door and take a look around the staff tunnels behind the door. Harlequinette notices that the camera near the door has been adjusted to point at the ceiling instead of monitoring the hall, and can gather that whoever left the glitter trail was trying to take out-of-the-way routes. Harlequinette tells the others about the camera being moved, and Jacky puts the camera back into place. The animatronics start getting nervous about the situation, and Eli notices and gets nervous himself. The animatronics discuss which paths through the tunnels are least discussed and decide to check out the path behind Lexy's Labyrinth, a not-very-popular maze attraction. Eli is very anxious, and Harlequinette tries to reassure them; Franky matter-of-factly says he won't survive long in the PartyPlex, which worries Harlequinette.

The group take the staff tunnels back the way they came, passing the spilled boxes Harlequinette noticed earlier, then enter the control room for Lexy's Labyrinth. The room is unstaffed, with the chair pushed back from the control desk and dusted with glitter. Jacky heads out to look over the maze and notices its layout was changed since her last sweep to reveal a vent with its cover unscrewed. Jacky tells the others, who leave the control room and make their way into the maze, passing by Lexy Lupine on the way. While the others walk through the maze, Jacky drops down to the vent opening and uses candy to get the attention of one of the triplets, Fink. Jacky asks if Fink heard anything strange in the vents, and she says there were people crawling in the vents to get to Parts & Service. As the other party members make their way to the vent, Fink scurries off.

Harlequinette notices the candy wrapper Fink left behind and picks it up, and Jacky signals to it that one of the triplets was here. Jacky tells the group they need to head to Parts & Service and can't all take the vents, and Harlequinette tells Eli to take Franky through the tunnels. Franky protests and tries to force her way into the vent, but the others prevent her from getting in. Harlequinette crawls into the vents, and Franky intimidates Eli in an attempt to get them to let her run off. Jacky pulls out a Jacky-themed Razwatch and gives it to Franky to mollify her. Franky eagerly grabs the watch and puts it on, and Jacky climbs into the vent and reattaches the cover while Franky is distracted. Franky tugs on the vent grate before giving up and leading Eli through the staff tunnels.

Franky and Eli talk about the PartyPlex as they walk, and Eli winds up telling Franky he's a robot (albeit in a more roundabout way), and Franky softens a little. Meanwhile in the vents, the animatronics notice that the path they're following has recently been swept clean by someone crawling through and there are rubber scuffs against the walls. The animatronics arrive at Parts & Service to find Eli and Franky are already there, and all of them take a look around the large room. Franky finds an empty light-up shoe wedged against a table leg, and Eli and Harlequinette notice a faint blue light coming from a doorway leading into a hall of workspaces. Eli panics a bit, and Harlequinette quietly draws everyone's attention to the light. Jacky goes up to the door and does a security scan that reveals two people walking down the hall, which she relays to Harlequinette with a message. HQ motions for everyone to be quiet. Franky slaps the shoe she found, which lights up blue, then pulls on a pair of night-vision goggles.

Jacky and Franky both run into the hallway, fighting with each other to try to get ahead of each other. Harlequinette takes the lead, with Eli in back of the group, and everyone except Franky is sneaking. Because the hall is dark, most of the PCs can only see the blue light from a single light-up sneaker, but Franky can see a Rubberhose child in a ghost costume being pulled along by a woman in a rabbit costume: the Rainbow Rabbit. Franky, who has been squirming and trying to fighting against Jacky, freezes and glares, and Eli bumps into her. RaRa turns around, and the group see two glowing white eyes; Franky presses against Eli. Eli screams out "Ghost!" and Franky tries to cover his mouth, but he caught RaRa's attention and she says she's excited to play. Jacky casts Heroism on Eli, and Harlequinette hits the Rainbow Rabbit with Toll the Dead. Franky tries to run towards RaRa, but Jacky stops her, insisting she let the adults handle it, but Franky argues that it's more important to save Carter than for her to be safe. Franky hits Jacky with Shocking Grasp.

RaRa flips the lights on, revealing herself and Carter to the party, and also revealing Harlequinette is clinging to the ceiling like a horror monster. Franky tries to push free from Jacky, and when Jacky refuses, Franky grabs her tinker's tools and messes with Jacky's internal workings to attempt to force her to let go. When that doesn't work, Franky casts Shocking Grasp again, sending Jacky into a rage but making her let Franky go, and Franky runs towards RaRa and Carter, pulling out her knife as she does. Jacky also runs in to punch RaRa in the face, cracking her mask. Harlequinette uses Catapult to launch a staff bot head at RaRa, but she dodges, pulling Carter along with her. Harlequinette closes in on RaRa. RaRa casts Crown of Madness on Eli, who fails the saving throw, but no one is within range of him so it does nothing. RaRa backs away from the others, pulling Carter along. Eli shoots a lightning bolt at RaRa, and she's hit but maintains concentration on Crown of Madness.

Franky runs towards Carter, then grabs RaRa's wrist and tries to stab her forearm to force her to let go of Carter's hand. Before she can, RaRa kicks Franky off-balance so the attack misses. RaRa fails to recognize Franky and offers to let her come along with Carter. Jacky's faceplate splits down the middle and she bites RaRa's arm that's holding onto Carter. Rainbow Rabbit's concentration drops and she lets go of Carter and drops Crown of Madness on Eli. Jacky also grants Franky Bardic Inspiration. Harlequinette hits RaRa with Chill Touch again. RaRa casts Dissonant Whispers on Jacky, forcing her to let go of RaRa's arm and run away. With her hand free, RaRa runs to grab Carter; Franky slashes at RaRa with her knife as a warning. Eli tries to hit RaRa with another lightning bolt but fails, then runs in closer to the fight.

Franky tries but fails to hit RaRa with Shocking Grasp, trying to put herself between RaRa and Carter in the process, but RaRa pulls Carter in closer, foiling Franky's attempt. Jacky runs back and tackles RaRa to the ground, grappling her, but RaRa manages to keep hold of Carter. Jacky gives Franky bardic inspiration again. Harlequinette's fingertips get sharper and it slashes at RaRa's arm with them. HQ backs up a little, and RaRa tries to slashe at their ankles with a knife but misses. RaRa pulls Carter in closer and holds her knife against his throat, and says she'll let him go if everyone else lets her go. Jacky and Harlequinette demand RaRa release the kid first, but RaRa refuses as she has no assurance that they won't keep attacking her. Eli says he'll hold the others back, and RaRa asks to be let up. Franky casts Shocking Grasp on her and tries to pull her knife away from Carter but fails, and she winds up cutting Carter, infuriating everyone. Eli shocks RaRa with a lightning bolt again, knocking her out, and she lets go of Carter. Franky immediately pulls Carter away and leads him back to Parts & Service.

Jacky stands up, lifting RaRa with her and holding her tightly. Harlequinette leans in and reaches to pull off RaRa's mask, but Jacky snaps at them and bites the air. Jacky is in rough shape, sparking and twitching, and HQ casts Sleep on her. Jacky collapses on top of RaRa, and Harlequinette tries to pick both her and RaRa up but winds up falling over itself. Harlequinette picks up Jacky and asks Eli to pick up RaRa. Eli and harlequinette try to figure out what to do next, and HQ asks Eli to tie RaRa up; Eli's knots are abysmal. Harlequinette goes ahead to collect the kids from Parts & Service, leaving Eli behind with RaRa.

Meanwhile in Parts & Services, Carter asks if he knows Franky, and Franky doesn't know how to answer. She eventually tells him she was an old friend, and takes her mask off to show him her face. Carter thanks her for saving him, and Franky asks why he was with RaRa; Carter says he saw her in Gator Golf and she claimed to be a special Halloween character who would take him to get candy. As Carter puts his dropped shoe back on, Harlequinette comes into the room, and Franky quickly puts her mask back on.

As Eli starts carrying RaRa back to Parts & Service, she hits him with Mind Sliver, causing him to startle and drop her. RaRa rolls back to her feet, the ropes around her falling off, and RaRa turns invisible. RaRa heads through a door and disappears; Eli spooks and yells about Rara being a ghost again and then runs back to Parts & Service. Harlequinette sets Jacky on a workbench and pages Ajax to come repair her. In the meantime, Franky opens up Jacky's chest and fixes some of the wires she fried earlier. Harlequinette takes Carter over to a first aid station to look at his cut. Eli asks how Franky is doing, and she initially snaps at them but then says they'll talk later. Once Franky is done working on Jacky, she takes Carter's hand and Harlequinette takes everyone to a nearby security room where Carter's parents are waiting. A security guard asks Harlequinette what happened and it tells him about the Rainbow Rabbit trying to kidnap Carter. Harlequinette says the PartyPlex needs better security and the guard agrees.

Another guard asks where RaRa is currently, and Harlequinette realizes Eli doesn't have her anymore and stares at him. Eli nervously explains how RaRa escaped, and Harlequinette immediately goes to get Jacky. Franky glares at Eli and tries to commiserate with a guard about new hires. The guard asks who she is, and Carter says she's his friend; Franky also flashes her new Razwatch for additional credibility. In Parts & Service, Harlequinette wakes Jacky back up and tells her that the rabbit is loose in a panic. Jacky stares at HQ for a minute before jumping up, and the two look around for RaRa. Harlequinette lets Jacky know the kids are safe, calming her down. The two agree they need more non-human security and Jacky suggests asking Ajax for help building something to help. Harlequinette is overwhelmed by the high emotions of the situation and not sure what to do. Jacky wants to give them a hug, and when they hug her instead, she hugs back. Harlequinette perks up and goes to hand candy out again.

Back in the security office, Franky warns Eli about the other employees having it out for him once they hear about what happened and shoo him out of the office. Franky reassures him that plenty of people have terrible first days and tells an exaggerated story of Benji's first day. Eli thanks Franky and then hustles away, and Franky sadly waves goodbye to Carter, then blends into the crowd and leaves the PartyPlex. Harlequinette very quickly returns to the show floor, but Jacky takes the opportunity to hide away in her room above the Daycare for a while. Franky heads into the alley behind the PartyPlex where she left Razzy's body and tells him about running into RaRa again.

## Notes

Harlequinette was the one to do Eli's Halloween makeup

Jacky doesn't want to wear a costume that will scare the children she looks after

Eli likes mazes and enjoys Lexy's Labyrinth

Eli initially asks the animatronics if Rainbow Rabbit is one of them

The Rainbow Rabbit's mask is made of plastic and she made it herself

Jacky gives Bardic Inspiration with a remixed version of the Daycare Theme

Carter finds Franky familiar but doesn't recognize her

Franky fixes the cuts in Carter's Halloween costume with Mending

Harlequinette briefly sees Franky without her mask on in Parts & Service

## Art Gallery

title card, drawn by ZenEli's Halloween costume, drawn by CYM-KFranky's Halloween costume, drawn by VBHarlequinette's Halloween costume, drawn by MJthe Rainbow Rabbit "RaRa", drawn by Zen