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Baron's Airship, Fan Art Features, Mini Quests, Monthly Costume Contests, Store

Has Grapple-Pap Got the Baron? 👹🎁

December 21, 2022December 21, 2022 Slanted Fish

Happy Grapple-Pap, Poptropicans! 🎄💝☃️

We may be well into December by now, but the Pop winter tradition is officially on for the third year in a row. All players can find the old man on Home Island to play the Grapple-Gift Side Quest! Here’s our guide.

Just like before, you’ll be asked to deliver a gift to the shut-in, Clareta, in a short journey across a cold cliff. At the end, you’ll win a Grapple-Pop treat that can turn people sickly green! 🤢 Check out our review of The Grapple-Gift here. Cheers — we wouldn’t want ol’ GP to get us for a year!

You may have seen the winter wonderland of Home Island topped with Christmas garlands, but there’s another arrival on the homebase as well: the Baron’s airship! Except, well, the Baron’s still missing…

…and taking the throne inside the Cabin of Curiosities is her nemesis Amelia! Though maybe frenemy is a better word for their curious relationship, as the storekeeper comes with a peace offering of Grapple-Pops for her absent archrival, as she apparently does every year.

Also in the cabin, you can pick up a plethora of gifts, including half a year’s worth of the monthly player-designed costumes for free! The returning outfits were determined by popular vote last month, bringing us the Rockette, Jester, Spa Day (with slippers), The Hair, De-Man, and Boxing Barb (with shoes and gloves).

To the right, you can also purchase Grapple-Pap goodies: a tri-color lamp, totem pole, Christmas garland, gargoyle, and villager outfit.

But back to the case of the disappearing sky pirate. Talk to the detective Amelia, and she’ll share that the Baron’s ship just drifted in on its own.

She’ll also tie in worry for the Baron with the legend of Grapple-Pap, which states that if you don’t spread cheer, the fearsome monster (who shares a name with the holiday) “will get you for one whole year.”

We know the Baron is notoriously un-cheery, so does that mean they’ve encountered Grapple-Pap… whatever that means? Will we not see them for an entire year? Or is Rumpelstiltskin in on this too?

While the plot is only getting thicker up in the skies, down at Adventure Outfitters, Amelia is back to her smiley self with new gear for the holidays. In addition to the wintry wonders on the shop floor introduced earlier, don’t miss the fine fits for players and pets, including the Polar Bear, Slice of Pie, and Ornament costumes for the latter littles!

Last but certainly not least, enjoy these fan art features Poptropica shared on their Instagram stories last week! Feeling inspired? Share something “Grapple-Pap” for our Community Creations this month! ✨

Have a merry holiday season, however you celebrate. Come back before the end of the year for our annual rewind and let’s put a bow on 2022! 💝

~🐠

Baron's Airship, Fairy Tale Island, Home Island

Red Queen looking for a Green Fiend 😈

October 7, 2022October 8, 2022 Purple Paw

Red October is upon us! Board the Baron’s airship ~~unless you want the Queen of Fairytale Island herself on your case~~ — ahem, if you’d like to partake in some Halloween shopping. You know, casual.

That’s right. The infamous Red Queen, the very one mentioned time and again throughout this Fairytale Island extended story, has arrived at last, guarded by dark knights and cats. And she’s on a mission!

Things aren’t looking too good for the green weasel in question. Rumpelstiltskin escaped the airship before the Queen arrived — possibly taking the Baron and her faithful monkey Ack with him, but neither of their whereabouts are known. No Baron’s Crusade this time!

There’s also an interesting bit of dialogue from the Queen that mentions Astro Knights. Could this beloved lost island be reentering the plot?

In response to our question, “Where are you returning from?”

With these new revelations, we’re left with more questions than before. What are the 7 systems the Red Queen speaks of conquering? How exactly does she plan to defeat Rumpel with that hammer (and do we want to know)? Where’s Rumpel hiding? Is the Queen planning to save her daughter the Baron, or is she after Rumpel for personal gain alone?

It also makes us wonder if Rumpel may not have been Fairytale’s true villain all along. With the introduction of the Red Queen, he’s no longer a menacing shapeshifter but a victim on the run. Will we as the player end up helping him? Whose side are we on?

On a lighter note, the Baron’s absence isn’t hindering her shop’s success: as announced, six new fan-made costumes (one designed by yours truly) are now available in-game for free! Personally, I’m pleased with how my “Jellyfish” was interpreted. The other five look fabulous as well!

You might find these pieces useful for your entry in the PHB’s Halloween costume contest, which is open till October 29. Besides the Red Queen and green fiend, don’t forget to pop in a bit of blue as well. Good luck!

Besides the costumes, you can also pick up two styles of jack-o-lanterns for 50 credits each, and a Rumpel-ized Baron Plushie for 200.

By the way, while Ack is nowhere to be seen, you can still earn credits by playing the Clear the Skies mini-game on the airship, which has been refreshed with a new skin to match the Red October mood!

Meanwhile, Amelia is no longer dangling under the clutches of Baronstiltskin, but back down on Home Island operating an autumnal sale of her own. She makes no mention of what she went through, but you can pop by Adventure Outfitters for hoodies and Halloween decor!

Whew! It’s certainly been an eventful day. There are many different directions the story of the royal family could take, all of them equally intriguing. I’d love to read your thoughts and theories — drop ’em in the comments below! Happy Red October, everyone. 🎃

*The Queen’s Batman-like cats are watching…*

~💜

Thanks to Dizzy Feather for contributing to this post.

Baron's Airship, Fairy Tale Island

A Remarkably Red Rumpel-ween 🎃😈✨

September 28, 2022October 3, 2022 Gentle Dolphin

Greetings, adventurers! Yes, as teased in our previous post, the Baron’s airship just docked on Home Island — unusual timing.

Previously, players were concerned about the Baron’s well-being after she twitched with excitement for a Rumpelstiltskin-inspired collection then suddenly disappeared. Now, the Baron now bears a striking resemblance to Rumpel himself! I guess he couldn’t keep up the charade much longer. Baronstiltskin invites us little adventurers to climb aboard ~~her~~ his airship. Let’s see what awaits us this spooky season!

While the ship has kept its shape, the surrounding sky is purple and sparkly, like the appearance of Rumpel’s magic. Baronstiltskin is unashamed of their new identity, and Ack has followed suit!

The Cabin of Curiosities is full of surprises this month. Let’s ease ourselves in by checking out the two free winning costumes: Candy Girl by Fast Leopard and Jester by Blue Bones! 🍭🤡

Moving to the right, we see Amelia dangling from the ceiling while Baronstiltskin is eating grapes served by Rumpel-fied Ack. The three are surrounded by a pumpkin couch, candy bags, a jack-o’-lantern lamp, a black cat clock, and a cemetery painting. Despite being an aviator-apprehending antagonist, Rumpel offers all of these Halloween furnishings for the low price of 10 credits each.

Rumpelstiltskin reveals that he possessed the Baron and gave Ack an illusionary makeover. As for why he’s doing this, he alludes to how he became trapped on Fairytale Island then says that he is inviting the Baron’s mother over for tea.

Rumpelstiltskin confirms that the Red Baron has ties to Fairytale Island’s royal family, as shown in new dialogue options presented after completing the Baron’s Crusade quest (Thanks to Dizzy Feather for the screenshots!). Accounts from Rumpel and Fairytale’s prince paint the Baron’s mother, the Red Queen, as a destructive woman obsessed with cats and conquering. Why did the queen trap Rumpelstiltskin in the first place, and how can we fix this mess?

It makes you wonder if all of this was in Fairytale’s original pitch for the Create Your Dream Island contest. The Creators mentioned that the pitch had a full storyline and intrigue, two things that felt missing when Fairytale Island first released. Since then, the sheer amount of quests, clues, and cameos relating to Fairytale Island, Rumpelstiltskin, Amelia, and the Baron seem like they’re leading up to something big.

Will we finally get some answers for last Thanksgiving’s teaser?

I predict that we’ll see a new quest that will tie all of these storylines together. It’s hard to believe that it took almost two years to wrap up Fairytale Island’s story, which is bizarre to say the least. What do you make of all of this? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Thank you for reading, and have a good day!

—Gentle Dolphin 🐬

Baron's Airship, Fan Art Features, Fanfiction

Ack! The Baron Goes Missing 🙈

August 12, 2022August 13, 2022 Slanted Fish

Brace yourselves for a Baron airship landing, Poptropicans! But…

Right away, you may notice something’s not right — the Baron is nowhere to be seen! Not at the entrance calling you off the dusty rock, nor swinging at their usual spot on the flight deck. What’s up?

Head inside the Cabin of Curiosities and you’ll find treasures to pick up, including two free costumes: The Hair by Prickly Tooth, which is the latest design contest winner, and the Banana over on the right! 🍌

UPDATE: The submissions reel from July can now be viewed below, and August’s costume contest has kicked off! Enter by Friday, August 26 at 8pm PST for your chance to have your design in the game. More details on the Creators’ Blog!

Back in the cabin, you can also bring home some familiar wares: the Baron and Ack Painting (300 credits), Ack Plushie (200), Ack’s Litter Box (5), Wooden Mug (10), Chest of Scrolls (100) — lifted from the Baron’s headquarters, now curiously locked. Is the legendary sky pirate quarantining inside?

Baron backers may remember their last visit when the Baron was twitching suspiciously and offering Rumpelstiltskin icons for sale. This time, their first mate Ack has taken over the throne! Talking to the monkey doesn’t offer any helpful hints, as all he can say is “Ack,” but the doodles he’s waving of his boss and the magic man may be a clue. Was the Baron kidnapped by Rumpel, or are they in cahoots? Hmmm…

In other news, guest writer Dizzy Feather is back on the Pop Creators’ Blog with part two of her fanfic story, Poptropican Heroes. (You can read part one here!) There’s also a call to participate at the end for a chance to have your character featured in her future writing, as previously seen here on the PHB with another fanfic of hers, The Pink Knight!

Speaking of Dizzy Feather’s work, you’re invited for a bit of guessing fun in her latest PHB post, Pop Puzzles: What’s Missing? — and for more from this budding creative, check out Dizzy Feather’s Poptropica Blog!

Finally, take some time to enjoy the latest fan art features from Pop’s Instagram stories, including the conclusion of one fan artist’s island-based comics! You can catch up on this amazing series featuring scenes from classic islands @krazytalez on IG, including last week’s segment on the showdown with Mademoiselle Moreau from Mystery Train. Plus, enjoy the rest in full by clicking on the artists’ names below! ✨

Theories on the Baron’s disappearance? Enjoying all the Pop fanfiction lately? Share your thoughts in the comments! 🙉

~🐠

Baron's Airship, Clubhouse, Fan Art Features, Member Gifts, Store

Cloaked in Mischief: Baron’s Rumpel Return

July 6, 2022July 6, 2022 Gentle Dolphin

Hey, Poptropicans! Be on your guard, a suspicious sight has shown up…

The Red Baron has returned, but she seems a bit off this time. Her visible eye is twitching, which she claims is caused by the thrill of adventure.

Her Cabin of Curiosities is chock full of Rumpelstiltskin-branded… things. You’ll find gold statues, a lamp, plushies (including a cursed version of Amelia’s unicorn), and even a Rumpel-fied Dr. Hare costume.

Okay, Baron, what’s with all of this? You deny that something is amiss, and you’re suddenly a big fan of Rumplestiltskin. Look, we know you’re not the most morally upright person, but vouching for Rumpelstiltskin is insane! And why does Ack keep missing his shots, throwing grapes at your convulsing eye? Something’s definitely up. 👁⚫️

At least one thing hasn’t been corrupted by Rumpel’s influence: June’s winning costume, the stellar Star Kid by Busy Bee! 💫 Be sure to grab this free outfit before the Baron — err, Rumpelstiltskin?? — takes off.

Thankfully, Adventure Outfitters’s latest lineup is Rumpel-free. Summer styles are in season for the costume racks! 🌞

On the shop floor to the left, you’ll find the two costumes teased last month. The dark medieval garb is called Cloaked Rogue, and the fuchsia demon is called Demon Mischief. The Creators’ update post doesn’t mention anyone who correctly guessed the names. Meanwhile, on your right, you’ll find plenty of cabana goods for your clubhouse.

Member gifts have also flown in for July! Inspired by our recently rewritten fowl friend Ringmaster Raven, this month’s exclusive spoils are a Crow Cloak, Crow Mask, and Baby Crow Follower. 🦅

Wrapping up this post, enjoy the latest fan art features of curious characters from Poptropica’s Instagram stories!

Anyway, what’s your theory on what’s up with the Red Baron? Baronstiltskin? Are you twitching in excitement at what will unravel? Share in the comments!

Thank you for reading, and have a good day!

—Gentle Dolphin 🐬