It is a rare day off for you pathfinders. It seems most of the missions are full up on agents. You are in Heidmarch manor in Magnimar when Aa messenger comes to each of you with a voucher for free concessions at an upcoming carnival. "Courtesy of Venture Captain Heidmarch." You raise an eyebrow until the messenger explains it's from Canavyen Heidmarch, Sheila's husband. The Umbra carnival's next stop is at a town known as Ilsurian.
The day you arrive to see circus folk holding a parade that marches through town in a spectacle of sights, music, and drumming. Banners and streamers herald a procession of clowns, stilt walkers, and tumbling acrobats, all of whom wave to the townspeople. Carnival barkers call out to people on the streets, promising thrills, chills, and delights for people of all ages (at the modest price of a few copper coins). The entire procession is a formal declaration of the carnival’s opening, and seeks to draw out the curious and idle to follow along to the procession’s end, the parade grounds.
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Mrachni's dark brows furrow in concentration as he studies the masses of people, listens to the barkers, and takes in the colorful procession. He shakes his head slightly as if to clear it, but follows nonetheless. How odd... what's going on here? I wasn't aware of any holiday; why are they all so excited? Francis once mentioned something about a 'carnival', but... is this what he went to see? Maybe if I observe, I can determine its purpose?
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Nikomedes is a tall man with a slight build. His sharp features bear Chelaxian features, while his piercing blue eyes and hooked nose faintly resemble a bird of prey.
Talking as much to himself as his companions, he says. "I haven't attended a carnival since my youth." His eyes scanning the entire scene, he finishes his thought. "Quite the study in humanity...."
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Youth is wasted on the young, the old northern man thinks as he watches children cavort throughout the festival grounds, feasting on sugared treats and laughing. The sight stirs memories of his own childhood on icy blood-soaked battlefields – a world apart from these warm southern lands.
His rigid military gait, unbowed by age, eventually brings Leif to a small square where he notices others that he recognizes from the lodge in Magnimar – Pathfinders like himself. They looked as out of place here as he felt. He clears his throat and calls out.
Leif is an old ulfen man, tall and broad-shouldered in a way that hints at the tremendous size and strength he must have been blessed with in his younger years. Although it visibly taxes him, he’s armed and armored for war, clad in stylized mail armor polished to a shine and with a worn two-handed sword strapped to his back. A ragged scar along his cheek mars his rugged age-worn features, causing his entire face to twist unevenly when he speaks.
”Hail!”
A path runs east here from the midway toward the traveling zoo. To the south are booths with pavilion tent tops that provide shade for the games of skill and chance played beneath. Behind them are circus wagons, some clearly only for transportation and equipment, while others are attractions and portable shops for merchants. To the north is a gigantic tent erected on tall poles with a stage curtain pulled shut across its front.
A heavy, long-handled mallet leans against a 3-foot-wide and 12-foot-high wooden tower crowned with a stuffed lion’s head. At the base is a lever attached to a puck that slides up and down a pole running the length of the tower up to the lion’s head.
Three raised runways meet at a point like an arrow beneath a brightly colored pavilion tent. Where the runways meet sits a tall, rectangular box covered in mirrors. Off to one side is a raised speaker’s podium. Posters on makeshift signs depict an attractive woman in a provocative gown and silver mask, with the words “The Lovely Madame Masque” in bold print.
A large rectangular box standing ten by three by three feet has nine holes in the top where a wooden grinning gnome head pops up every now and again. A smaller mallet lays to the side, while the overhang sports quite a few stuffed animals.
A portable fence of wooden posts and rope cordon off this section of the circus. Several wagons constructed to serve as animal cages line the perimeter, with an occasional haystack piled between them. In the center of the area is a large tent whose wall flaps have been lifted up and tied off to allow easy viewing.
This ragtag tent stands not more than a few feet away from the Traveling Zoo. The sign reads 'The All Seeing Hajeck' and has a carving of an all seeing eye.
The entrance to the traveling zoo is sectioned off from the rest of the carnival. Guests are free to enter but exit the same way. The first creature you see is in a heavy metal cage labeled 'baby dragon'. Inside is a rather big reptile. It hisses at you as you walk in.
To the right of it is a lion looking creature with giant bat wings. This creature's tail looks like it used to have things attached to it, but was removed.
The third creature seems to be a bear, except it has large horns sitting on top of its head and a tassel-like tail. It growls at your entrance as well while wrestling with a piece of meat.
The rest seem to be more mundane animals like birds and such.
While he is not sure of what these beasts are, he can at least tell that the 'baby dragon' isn't a dragon but some other lizard creature. Possibly by the lack of wings, lack of breathing energy, and lack of sentience.
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Niko follows along after his companions as they make their way toward the zoo. In response to Leif he say wryly. "I would not have thought you as old as your implying, perhaps there is booth where they guess your age. You could potentially win something."
As he begins to encounter the animals, he looks them over with a discerning eye.
You know that for a fact, the lizard is not a baby dragon. It is in fact a full grown monitor lizard. You are not sure of the lion looking creature. The last one is a very rare creature known as the Ursataur. It is so rare that this is the first confirmed sighting. There have been rumors around the lodge that a very large specimen was seen fighting a huge black dragon when the Society went up against the rogue Shadow Lodge a few years ago. But those rumors were quashed as silly.
You also recognize the Ursataur of legend, though you have no idea about the other two creatures.
You know that they are extremely rare and totally not made up. There have been rumors around the lodge that a very large specimen was seen fighting a huge black dragon when the Society went up against the rogue Shadow Lodge a few years ago. But those rumors were quashed as silly. They can grow to be huge and prefer to wrestle their prey into submission as well as anything else they encounter.
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Mrachni raises a black bushy eyebrow and grunts in response as he studies the other's lined face. Seeking death? What a strange idea... most of the humans I've met want to live forever. I wonder what 'faith' it is he's talking about... but asking could be misconstrued. I'll remember to try to find out later from others.
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Niko shakes his head at the "dragon" "I expected as much from these....gypsies. This isn't a dragon, just a reptile. A real dragon of this size could not be contained by these simple bars." Moving to the next exhibit, Niko furrows his brow. "I can't place this one. I have a guess, but suppositions get one nowhere."
At the last exhibit, Niko's eyes widen. "This is an Ursataur! Never has its existence been verified, let alone a live specimen in captivity!" He gets out some paper and begins to scribble furiously. "There were rumors around the lodge that a very large specimen was seen fighting a huge black dragon when the Society went up against the rogue Shadow Lodge a few years ago. But they were rejected as the alcohol speaking. We must find out who owns this creature."
It was on the pathfinder side and seemed to be sentient at least.
After thoroughly defeating its meal, it looks at the horc and waves with a grin.
You sense a level of understanding akin to a child as if this massive beast was just a cub.
As you leave the zoo you notice additional attraction!
This enormous tent is dwarfed only by the big top itself. The southern side has no wall, just a tall curtain pulled across its front. A sign posted outside advertises that this area has been set aside for meeting the sphinx at limited times throughout the day. Just inside is a large metal cage with no floor and bars running across the top. A single large door is set on the north corner of the west face, secured by a heavy lock. Strewn about the grass beneath the cage are silk sheets and piles of cushions and satin pillows.
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Mrachni nods slowly, taking a deep breath and thinking things through before speaking in his deep voice. "I have never seen such a creature, but I recognize it from... my training. Most people... humans, small folk, elves, all alike... believe those creatures do not even exist; that they are only legends. But now I have seen one, and I do not know what to think. It was... aware, as you or I, though that one was young, I think, and did not fully realize its position."
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The orc frowns, seeming puzzled. "It... is not just, to imprison a creature that has done no wrong. But I was not speaking of the prison... did you not hear me? The creature is... most think that it is only a legend. It is strange that it would be here, of all the places... but I am sure that is what it is."