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30th of Erastus, Early Afternoon:
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The festival is in full swing, and the weather is fine. A bright summer day, with enough clouds to take the edge off. Music and laughter rings across the city. As for entertainment, there's lots to be found. Exotic and inviting smells waft from food stands, townsfolk roar in excitement as they watch people spar with blunted weapons, professional dancers draw the eyes to the stage. There's a fortune teller, and an illusionist who showcases incredibly detailed visages of exotic architecture and hilarious caricatures. There is even a Haidowshen Katana Demonstration later today.
Most of the festivities are still going for a few more hours, with the intention of ending at sundown. The day will end with a magic light show after full dark.
Acrobats and jugglers have been pouring out of the large, colorful pavilion tent. They are accompanied by people holding signs advertising the circus. The circus had been having shows all day, but the Grand Cryptic Extravaganza show was tonight. It is the talk of the town. Once this parade was spilled forth, many of the carnival games switched from their original prizes, to tickets for the big show.
You've left the Hare's Shanty, in some cases due to rambunctious nature of the massive bar fight currently happening, or perhaps because of the sheer volume, perhaps it is because your companion draws strange looks, and in one case due to your shift being over for the day.
The shouts of excitement and cries of dismay grow louder from the sound of sparring matches. Gossip and whispers fly as another roar goes up, this time accompanied by a series of hearty *THUNK*s and a shout of pain from the center of the ring. Peering over the top, one can see what the big excitement is: a kobold wielding a small wooden "sword" as a towering human nearly 3 times his size stands bent over clutching his stomach.
The kobold removes the ornate leather helm he wears, holding it in one hand as he flips his weapon in his other, stabbing it into the ground. "You are good, human! But you rely too much on your size. Practice technique, and I'm sure you--"
"Piss off, you scaly rat!" The human bellows, catching his breath as he straightens up and glares at the reptilian figure. A round of jeers ripples through the crowd. "Only reason you won is cause you cheated! Yeah! You're... you're too small to be in these matches! Only REAL men should be in here!" Draxwile stared silently back up at him, before placing his helm back on his head and moving to the ring's edge. "...don't cause trouble. I have no time to be dealing with bullies like you."
It was clear, in spite of his best efforts, Draxwile was having some trouble fitting in at the festival. A drunken patron attacked him earlier in the bar when he found that... evil. Whatever it was. He managed to duck out, but he lost track of the source. Hopefully, it wouldn't show back up. Since then, he'd tried finding something he was good at outside the bar, and thought sparring would be a good chance to inspire someone with his skill at arms.
Judging from the jeers and shouting from some of the bystanders he got as he left, that wasn't happening any time soon.
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Ho hum another day another bar fight, what is it with these adventurers
Daven yells out And you and you He points at two patrons Don't forget to leave some coin, no drinking and dashing
Daven cleans up and heads out, a fight between old joe and a...What looks to be the smallest dragon ever or a large lizard. His curiosity piqued he heads over to the dragon.
Hello...sir, I mean no disrespect but what are you?
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Meg settles her tab after her drinks with the elderly man, as she leaves her seat, Meg returns to her original size, just a little over five feet.
As she leaves, she seems to follow the general movement toward the circus--too polite to move against the tide of humanity. Meg was concerned about the smaller creature, but he seemed to be taking care of himself. A little concerned about drawing too much attention to herself, Meg is careful to see if someone is taking too much interest in her. At first she thinks someone was following, but recognizes the man from behind the bar.
Stepping into a shadowy area, Meg lets the man go by. As the bartender strikes up a conversation with the dragonkin, she steps close to witness the exchange.
With things in the tavern becoming more 'physical' than she seems happy with, Sunny slips out into the swirling crowds.
Soon the tanned lass is bouncing, twirling, spinning and dancing along with others to the merry tunes the assembled bards are playing.
(^_^)
Draxwile's fringes perk up as Daven speaks to him, snapping him from his thoughts. "Ah! Garson! A pleasure to see you again!" The kobold bowed before standing up and thumping his chest. "I am Draxwile, exile of the Rockskipper tribe, reformed kobold and proud champion of Sarenrae! I am on a quest to inspire others to the path of righteousness... and perhaps find my mentor who taught me how to be a paladin!"
"I also have a terrible sense of direction and am hopelessly lost in these lands!" He added proudly(?) before thumping his chest again. "Which means I can bring my message of mercy and redemption to new faces, and strike down evils who may have escaped the Dawnflower's distant sight!" Well, at least he's confident about it.
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Oooh a paladin, that is quite an accomplishment, The names Daven... Daven Durhurst. Full time bartender, part time lighting assistant for the entertainers. Daven says Fear not friend, while I am far from accomplished like you good sir, I do know my way around these lands. Was there any place specifically you were looking for?
"Oh, not really. I haven't done much to earn the title. But I will! As my hero and mentor before me, I shall inspire others to do good!" The kobold nods confidently. "I was not. Merely evil to face and people to aid! But..."
He grimaced as he looked back at the sparring ring, which apparently already had another match under way. "It would seem the folks around here have little need of what I sell, as the saying goes." Shaking off his grimace, he looked back up at Daven. "Should I need a guide, I will make sure you are the first man I seek! And if you need evil stabbed in the face, I hope you will seek me out!"
Sunny continues to skip and dance along to the tunes and music of the carnival/festival...
Weaving and dodging adroitly around, between and through the other festival goers. Waving back brightly to any who might greet herself.
(^_^)
Having escaped outside the bar and kept himself low, Norme was able to reintegrate himself and Jezebeth into the crowds again.
"That was close, Jezebeth. Let's just hope we don't have to do that again."
"The danger is quite fun though. You squirm when you need to explain yourself, so we should do it more."
Norme dramatically sighed following the statement, focusing his gaze onto the one skipping and dancing. It vaguely reminded him of the children he saw at the marketplace before he met Jezebeth. People always compared him to those kids, as he was about half a foot shorter then compared to now, though he remained 6 or more years older than them.
Jezebeth, to her credit, seemed somewhat bothered by Sunny's whole skipping and dancing thing, wearing a grimace. Her hair was hidden by her hat, but the fiery glow was still present at the very sides, and it seemed to intensify. No actual flame yet though.
"Harumph! People are simply too happy right now. We should at least find something to remove the cheer a bit."
Norme looked about some of the stalls nearby, hoping something or someone would be a worthy distraction, if only out of trying to teach manners to the Succubus he was stuck with.
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Randle grimaced as he jostled his way through the festive crowd. The music, laughter, shout and sheer volume of the chaotic noise was annoying to say the least. A brief moment of shame colored his cheeks as he remembered his own role in such festivities many years ago. Randle's thoughts were interrupted by the increasing sounds of mayhem pouring out of a tavern just ahead. A fading sign above the tavern proclaimed it to be the Hare's Shanty.
Only a fool goes into a hornets nets expecting not to get stung. That situation is best avoided.
Hurrying past the tavern, Randle found himself caught in a crowd moving towards one of the many fighting rings. Through the crowd he caught glimpses of a tall man being bested by what appeared to be a kobold. Surely, it must be some gnomes illusionary guise meant to draw a crowd. Judging by the angry mutters from the crowd that obviously placed losing wagers against the kobold perhaps it was one of the many scams working during festival. Randle watched the kobold have a friendly conversation with another man and was so focused that he did not see a dancing elf lass dancing right into him. He was caught so off guard that he stumbled into another woman.
Randle stammered an apology, "I am sorry M'lady. I lost my focus with all of the sights and sounds and for that I apologize."
Sunny amazingly spins and flips clear around the fellow who bursts from the crowd, though her motions of tumbling and wheeling leave no room in them for the dancing she's been happily immersed in. She grins, bows and waves to the bloke even as she looks around and takes note of the surrounding songs and tunes.
(^_^)
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"Oh, not really. I haven't done much to earn the title. But I will! As my hero and mentor before me, I shall inspire others to do good!" The kobold nods confidently. "I was not. Merely evil to face and people to aid! But..."
Well you have done more than I. All I do is hear these great stories from the occasional adventurer who comes through here...I sure wish I could go on some adventure and rescue a maiden from a tower or something.
He grimaced as he looked back at the sparring ring, which apparently already had another match under way. "It would seem the folks around here have little need of what I sell, as the saying goes." Shaking off his grimace, he looked back up at Daven. "Should I need a guide, I will make sure you are the first man I seek! And if you need evil stabbed in the face, I hope you will seek me out!"
It would be my pleasure to show you around and if any evil dares show it's face I will certainly seek you out
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Meg approaches the kobold, admiring his honesty and concerned for his naivete. She speaks to him: "Small paladin, you have the courage and the heart. You just need someone to make sure your talents are used to help others. I have some experience in these matters. Maybe we should start an adventuring company. The otherwise strange and unsettling appearance of small kobold and magical darker elf will probably be considered exotic and appeal to those needing the service of able adventurers. The name should imply strong character and determination."
Meg reflects for a bit..."I like the single word Dauntless. Maybe we shall be The Dauntless."
Draxwile nods back up at the barkeep. "You should go rescue maidens from towers... assuming they want to leave! Nobody need wait to start doing good for the world!" The kobold turned back as the elf approached, speaking to him. Cocking his head to one side, he listens carefully, before his eyes glaze over... or, more accurately, develop a sheen. After a moment of study, he smiles, nodding again. "Certainly! I would be much happier to travel with others. And our garson shall be our capable guide! And we shall be the Daunt--!"
Draxwile halted in his tracks as he perked up, but his expression much less pleasant. The sheen in his eyes starts to resonate as he twists his head around. "-!!! There is evil! I sense it! It is vast, astoundingly close! -the same evil I saw earlier!" Drawing his blade with a *SCHWING*, Draxwile's eyes lock in a particular direction, holding his blade over his head and charging over shouting at the top of his little lungs. "EEEEEEEVVVIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!"
After a moment of shouting and running, he comes to a halt behind Norme and Jezebeth, pointing his blade at the tall female before shouting again. "Found you! No evil escapes the sight of Draxwile!"
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Startled by the kobold's reaction Daven looks around turning his head side to side quickly Evil..where? He begins to scurry over to where Drax ran to but instead clumsily bumps into the dark elf female...I am so sorry maam I...What the... Daven says clearly befuddled having never seen a drow in person before. Having forgotten his previous purpose he addresses the drow. Pardon my curiosity mistress, but from my studies you appear to be a drow but all drow are evil yet the paladin did not go after you surely the books i've studied couldn't be wrong after all everything you read is true right Daven says rambling on in a run on sentence
A young man, perhaps sixteen years of age, approaches Meg, Drax, and Daven. He nods to the lady, and gives a quick bow to the two men.
"There you are! I've been looking for you Daven! Here are the complimentary tickets for you and a pair of friends. The circus was so taken with your service at the bar, that they sent me out to find you.'
He extends his hand, with several paper tickets in it.
"There should be three tickets there. Thanks so much for everything!"
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Elsewhere, a man begins drawing a crowd to himself, and people are hurrying over, excited. He's advertising the annual Couples Dance, and Randle, Norme and Sunny can't help but overhear. The stage is about fifty feet away from them.
"Come one, come two! It's time for the annual Couple's dance, and this year we have prizes for the top five couples! Come over and sign up, you've got two minutes left, and no, you don't need to be a native of Dromston to enter. All are welcome! Coincidentally, we are also have a band from the Capital play this year. It will be a terrific time!"
Sunny bounces over at the call of 'dancing', though she doesn't seem to quite catching on that there should be 'Two' doing the performance.
(^_^)
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There you are! I've been looking for you Daven! Here are the complimentary tickets for you and a pair of friends. The circus was so taken with your service at the bar, that they sent me out to find you.'
He extends his hand, with several paper tickets in it.
"There should be three tickets there. Thanks so much for everything!"
Thank you much good sir He hands a ticket to Meg and nods his head toward Drax I think we could get him a recurring part in the show
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A dance? I have not danced in so many years. What could it hurt to have just one dance? Perhaps the elven maiden will dance with me...
Randle impulsively decides to follow the dancing elven maiden trying to get her attention, "M'lady! M'lady!" However, the exotic elf continues her dance unaware of Randle's attempts to get her attention.
Randle manages to get close enough to put a hand on her shoulder and speaks softly in elvish.
Sunny stops and turns to the person placing a hand upon her shoulder. She smiles at the Elvish words,
(^_^)
"Found you! No evil escapes the sight of Draxwile!"
Jezebeth turns around and looks down at the creature even shorter than Norme was. Her expression soured instantly however as she clearly knew what she was looking at.
"Oh, boo, it's you again."
She huffed quite audibly. Jezebeth's orange-red skin was reminiscent of some variations of Tieflings, and she had the wings and tail to match. Horns, if they existed, were hidden by her fiery and active yellow and orange hair that somehow managed to avoid emitting heat.
She positioned herself to stand behind Norme, as if requesting his protection, a setup that was not entirely new to him from what he knew.
"Listen little lizard, light of frame you are! Go away from me, preferably really far!"
"Come one, come two! It's time for the annual Couple's dance, and this year we have prizes for the top five couples! Come over and sign up, you've got two minutes left, and no, you don't need to be a native of Dromston to enter. All are welcome! Coincidentally, we are also have a band from the Capital play this year. It will be a terrific time!"
After responding to the Kobold, she wrapped her arms around Norme's neck and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Norme, take care of him for me, and perhaps we can go and dance together. You do have the perfect girl with you after all~"
As Jezebeth retreated behind him in the face of the Kobold, Norme sighed loudly.
"Listen little lizard, light of frame you are! Go away from me, preferably really far!"
Norme felt a little fire seeing her genuine distress at the little Kobold Paladin. The word 'light' was their safe word, and that was the tip off that he was staring yet another Paladin down. It was then that Jezebeth wrapped her arms around his neck and placed her head on his shoulders in a borderline display of affection.
"Norme, take care of him for me, and perhaps we can go and dance together. You do have the perfect girl with you after all~"
While uncomfortable, Norme replied as naturally as he could. It was just another Paladin, so no need for concern.
"Yeah! We were just going to go dance. Maybe you're imagining things? Jezebeth is my traveling companion, and we're here simply to have a good time. No evil from us. Although we did come into contact with some sort of ancient demon during our last expedition. Perhaps his residue is what you're sensing."
A bold lie, but believable. He just hoped it worked.
Draxwile glowered back at Jezebeth, even as Norme spoke to him, his eyes still casting that sheen on them. Even so, his grip on his sword relaxed ever so slightly, but his eyes still locked on the tall female. "...were that so, why does SHE radiate evil, yet you don't?!" he declared, evidently intent on pressing the matter.
'Never forget, Draxwile: even the harshest evil should be given the chance to prove itself anew.'
Draxwile frowned as his mentor's words flashed through his mind. He stared between Jezebeth and Norme a bit more before growling and sheathing his weapon. "...I will relent for now. My teacher and Sarenrae would be sad to hear I offered no quarter without the chance to prove yourself otherwise. But know this: if you cause any trouble, my blade will be the first you answer to."
On those words, Draxwile turned back and headed for the circus with Meg and Daven.
Easily, deftly with a light touch, Sunny does take the fellow's hand in reply. She returns his smile with a bright one of her own and moves beside him as they begin walking towards the area being indicated as the place of the dance. At his comment she tilts her head,
"I admit, I was simply moving as the sounds washed over me. I'm not sure how well I shall be amongst every one else." Sunny shakes her head.
"Having only arrived not much earlier than this morn, I am finding things wondrously different that home."
She blinks and gasps,
"Oh! Sorry I am fer not sayin' me in-tor-duck-tons!" Sunny points to herself,
"I yam bein' called 'Suny', in'a speakin' of tha' peoples." She nods. 'I yam bin learnin' peoples speak!" She says proudly.
The announcer for the couple's dance had already began calling out to the couples dancing, goading them, teasing them, and generally making it much more of a spectacle for the audience. A few dancers were removed quickly enough, as it was quite obvious they had no coordination.
As Sunny and Randle began to dance, they quickly lost themselves in the sea of bodies. The music was loud, but entertaining, and the vivid colors of the festival whirled past them in an orgy of color.
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As the trio walk toward the circus, they couldn't help but notice the line. It wasn't terribly long, but people were moving rapidly toward it. Vendors were moving their carts to form a tunnel, enclosing the line in a loud walkway of food and trinket carts. The front of the line was moving steadily, and coppers were exchanging hands rapidly. A dull roar of excited voices fill the air.
There is a young human couple ahead in line, obviously in love, who only gave a single glance back at the elf and kobold behind them. A strange reaction, but this carnival seems to bring out the best in people.
Draxwile looked back on occasion at the duo behind them, as if expecting something to start up the moment he looks away. "...I am able to 'see' evil auras of other beings. More specifically, evil auras. The human boy was fine, but the female... she radiates malevolence like a slurk reeks of tunnel slime. Haaa... but! My mentor taught me that Sarenrae believes in redemption and second chances, so just as he spared me, I will pass over her... for now. But if she becomes a problem, I will stop her."
The kobold looked up at the moving line towards the circus, tilting his head to one side as he looked at the elf and human. "What is a... 'circus' anyways? My tribe only ever cheered that way when two of our warriors were fighting each other. Is it an arena?"
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Randle does his best to keep up with the fluid dance of his partner as they move through the crowd. It is one of the few times in many years that Randle has just relaxed and let himself experience the joy of a moment. But even this joyful moment does not overcome years spent in the wilds being ever alert.
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Meg follows Drax to the circus. She begins to walk around him inspecting him curiously. "We need to make sure you have a healthy diet. I will look out for you and make sure you eat the correct foods. Elves are beginning to see the value of this new vegetable, I think in common it is called Kale. The more you eat, the stronger you will become."
Meg watches the dancing curiously, somewhat interested in the graceful and the not so graceful.
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It's true Drax, Kale is one of the healthiest vegetables around and one way to be sure to enjoy the maximum nutrition and flavor from kale is to cook it properly. I recommend Healthy Steaming kale for 5 minutes. To ensure quick and even cooking cut the leaves into 1/2" slices and the stems into 1/4" lengths. Let them sit for at least 5 minutes to enhance their health-promoting qualities before steaming.
He then looks at Meg Did you grow up on a farm Meg? Not many folks know about the hidden benefits of vegetables
Having dealt with yet another Paladin, Norme sighed, one of relief.
"Geez, that was difficult... Jezebeth, I don't feel up to it anymore, not after that. Let's just watch them."
"Oh, fine. Killjoy."
As Jezebeth pouted, she and Norme sat to watch the dancers competing. There was plenty of talent, and he wasn't going to get in the way with his lack of skill.
The dancers whirled around, and a few were gently asked to leave. Sunny and Randle had made quite a showing, and were quickly becoming corwd favorites, largely due to Sunny's acrobatic dance style. Randle was holding his own, however, and it looked as if they were one of only a few couples left.
"Now we're down to our top five dancers, ladies and gentleman!" The announcer's voice soared over the crowd, inciting them to greater cheers. "Now comes the real challenge! Whoever can last during this final song, shall be crowned the winner!" He motioned to the band, who began a mournful tune, soft at first, and increasing in depth and scope. It was beautiful. It was tragic. It was a slow song.
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Elsewhere, the trio was almost at the front of the circus tent.
A man dressed like a jester cartwheeled his way up to the group, and began making faces at Draxwile.
"What manner of beast is this," He said in a sing-song voice,"that plays at being a soldier?" He turned to Meg."And this lady here, she's rather gloomy; did I hear a hiss?"He turned and looked at Daven. "What company do you keep, young man, are your eyes rather rheumy?
He cackled maniacally.
"Why the circus, of course,"he continued in the same slightly mocking sing-song voice,"takes me far from home, to work, to work, though you'd know not the source. My Liege-Lord bade me this way, made me this way, when I was caught doing my best duty-shirk!"
He grinned the grin of a man with nothing in his head.
Draxwile quirked an eyebrow, wondering if he should even dignify the clown with a response. "Plays at being a soldier? I do no such thing! I am a champion of Sarenrae herself! And I certainly don't 'play' at it!"
His eyes develop that sheen from before, before roving about the place, as if looking for something...
Sunny seems more used to a faster pace of music. Indeed as the new tune starts she even seems to be ready to give up, leave and watch something else. The dirge-full tone not interesting her at all. However Randle's presence, indeed his hold upon her waist, keeps her amongst the remaining couples and she now follows his lead.