Theobald's Travelling Puppet Theatre

When they hear the jiggle and jingle of the bells on his cart, children's hearts will leap, followed closely by them leaping up themselves to run to the street. True, not only the children will be excited; several parents won't be able to control a smile either. That is the effect Theobald has when he rides his Travelling Puppet Theatre into town.

No one really remembers when Theobald first started performing with his magical theatre. Throughout the years he's been all over Rohsk, from the smallest village to the capital, Risha. Usually his theatre stays in town for a few days, after which he packs it up again and rides along, whistling as he rides. Though saddened by his departure, the children will usually ban all negative thought once they think back about the fantastical shows he gave during his stay. Many new young 'knights' have risen after Theobald has passed through town, chasing their friends around town with a wooden shield and stick. Many new desperate 'ladies' would also emerge, calling out through their missing milk teeth for a brave hero to save their young selves from the fiery dragon that besieges them in their tower.

Theobald's shows are indeed truly magical. His puppets seem to have no strings, although Theobald still uses his hands and fingers to control them from above. Carved out of wood in great detail and dressed in beautiful clothes, they hobble along his journeys on the windowsill in the back of his cart.

But the captivating spectacle is not only created by the puppets, oh no. When Theobald performs, it is as if all the world fades away and all his spectators can see and hear is the cart's little stage. Upon that stage they'll be taken on travels to faraway lands, deep dark caves, over mountains and hills. Places many of them will never go, or have never even heard of.
Yet the magical effect of his show goes further than that. Not only does his audience see and hear the show as if they were present in those locations themselves, they can also smell them and feel the effect of the elements on their skin. Frosty wind near icy lakes, or the searing heat of the sun in a desert. While watching his show, they experience it all.

And then there are the stories... different each time he comes around, they grab the attention of not only children but also their parents and other adults. Theobald hides many puns and jests in his stories that only adults will understand, while keeping it entertaining and proper for the children. It is with good reason he is considered one of the best storytellers in Rohsk, often being the envy of a local, less successful bard.

So next time you hear a jingle and a whistle, accompanied by the rattling of cartwheels, it is worth sticking your head out the door. It might just be Theobald's Travelling Puppet Theatre that has come to town...