"Oh good, they haven't started yet. Why do you work so hard to become strong, anyways?"
Melanie looks at Kearra curiously.
"Well I started fighting 'cause it's fun so my mom dumped me in her old monastery to try to put some discipline in me. Didn't quite work but it taught me some sweet moves. After that, I became a pit fighter so being strong was part of the job. Miss those days."
Kearra lets out a long sigh. "So what about you? What do you do?"
Lotar watches the dancers prepare themselves and stifles a yawn. He then elbows his way toward the counter of the beer stand to get another round.
"I'm learning to be a wizard, but I'm not very good at it. Magic is confusing. Kulgan says it will make sense eventually, and he's been good to me. This is supposed to be my break, a bit of a trip to see more of the world before I build my own tower. So far the world is almost as confusing as magic."
She grins, then looks at the stage, her voice growing somber.
"Ever have that feeling that something big was waiting for you, watching? Kulgan says everyone gets it from time to time. I've been living with it for so long that I don't even notice it anymore, but you and I and Pasie are connected somehow. The dwarf and the smith too. Strange days ahead. It's good to know you can handle yourself. We might need it."
"Maybe; maybe not. Whatever happens, we'll kick some ass. I've always wondered what it'd be like to have a wizard at your back." Kearra grins as she claps Melanie on the back.
The dance competition is actually rather entertaining, especially the freeform stage, and the slow dance. Most of the competitors didn't know their was a slow dance in the single's competition, and you find it rather humorous watching everyone pair off suddenly. After it is all done, and the awards are handed out, the announcer invites the audience to attend the finale of the traveling circus. It is beginning in about five minutes just a few hundred feet from the square where you are all sitting.
"I hope they have a lion there or I'm gonna be disappointed."
Melanie leans forward interested at the mention of Lions.
"Kulgan wanted me to learn to conjure cats, he could summon these great glowing tigers. All I got was a kitten. Still, the projection isn't the same as the real thing. Lovable, but ephemeral. It disappeared overnight."
Lotar shrugs, then claps along with the smith. Should be somethin' interesting, or they wouldn't keep prattling on about how the "big finale" is coming. I'd reckon it beats watching mushrooms grow, and so as long as that's met I won't complain... much.
The group makes their way over to the line, and sees it filling up quickly. A man is calling out that tickets are selling quick, and are only a silver piece each.
A jester is making his way up the line, using a combination of acrobatics and insult comedy to entertain the crowd.
Lotar grunts disapprovingly at the announcement of tickets going fast and tries to subtly nudge forward through the crowd.
He is, however, only so subtle...
The jester walks up to the group, and pokes Melanie in the nose. He backflips away, and reaches into his pocket. He draws out what looks like black paint, and paints a beard on his face. Once the beard is lowered, bends down slightly to be face to face with Lotar.
"'ello dwarf! How're ye liking the show?"
"Say the word and I break his hand" Kearra whispers into Melanie's ear. "Hells, I may break it just for laughs."
"No harm, no need to foul him. I'm trying to cut back on random acts of violence."
Melanie jests then scowls at the jester.
"Ay! No need for violence! How's about I show yous a magic trick?"
He pulls a quarter from behind his own ear.
"See? Nothing but skill here, boyos!"
Lotar grits his teeth at the jester's mock beard. His hand goes to his knife. Ere, come closer and I'll shave ye, fool.
"Now, now, none o' that classic dwarven rage I be hearin' so much about! Aren't ye supposed to be a happy drunk, eh?"
He pantomimes drinking a large draft beer, and chuckles manically.
Lotar remains stone-faced, his eyes fixed on the jester. Better'n'a headless one. Got anything funny? Yer hat don't count.
The jester opens his mouth, and looks as if he is going to say something. He then shuts his mouth, and walks away in a huff.
After the jester leaves, rather than ignoring you all, most of the people in line give approving nods and smiles to the little group.
After a few moments, you all reach the front of the line.
"You there! Oy! Pay attention!" yelled the barker from behind his wooden podium, "Welcome to our little show, yeah? That'll be three coppers pieces for a ticket!"
The barker looks confused.
"You already have tickets? Well, show 'em to me then! Don't be shy!"
He accepts Varian's offered tickets, and looks them over.
"My apologies, young man!" He tears off the ends of the tickets in a zigzag pattern. "Frederas, take these lovely folks to front-row seats inside!"
He then points at a large, brutish man, done up with makeup to look less human. Frederas nods at the group, opens the canvas flap to the pavilion tent, and holds it open. He gestures for the group to go inside.
"Ha! Good one, friend Dwarf. Hope there are better things inside."
"Interesting things at least!"
She follows along, still smiling at the jokes.
Frederas guides the group to their seats. They are good seats, ringside, complete with even an empty box for the illusion of privacy. The seats inside the box are a pair of long benches, made of handcarved oak. They comfortably seat two human-sized creatures.
It appears that you were only a few minutes from the start of the show. A few acrobats and jugglers are warming up, and a few children are walking around selling candy for a copper piece each. One, a girl of no more than six years, spots you all sitting down. She eyes the party, and walks over with determination. She thrusts the candy box at you. It has little mint candies, and a few kinds of chocolate. Her eyes were large and wide, and her lower lip is stuck out, quivering.
"Buy one pwease?"
Her eyes go wide, as she is obviously fooled by the trick.
"Um...I think you have the wrong coins, mister. I only need the...brown...um...copper ones? Those are...I think those are gold! I've...never seen a gold coin before..."
She stares at the coins, fascinated.
Lotar grins---trying not to beam---at the crowd's approbation of his response to the jester.
He stacks a silver on top of the coins Varian gives the candy girl. And a mint fer me, thank ye
He makes an attempt at a grandfatherly wink - - and more or less carries it off.
"Best get those somewhere safe lass, no need to advertise our friend's generosity. Enjoy the festival!"
Melanie smiles encouragingly at the girl.
She stands in shock for several moments, trying to process what happened. Eventually she finds her voice.
"Thank you very, very much." She says in a somber voice, "You're very nice to me misters!" She is trying to be polite, but is obviously excited.
Around five minutes later, the ringmaster walks out into the center of the large arena. He is a tall, slender man, dressed in red and black. He introduces the circus, and as the various performers stream out, he introduces them as well. Obviously a charismatic fellow, he knows how to work a crowd. He tells jokes, stories, and as the show begins, he starts to weave a tale that unites all the various acts into one coherent story.
First up is a group of acrobats. This portion of the show alone was worth the price of admission. After several minutes of tumbling and amazing feats of agility, the show begins shifting into an exciting routine consisting of fire dancers, fire eaters, fire breathers, and an ancient drake flying near the top of the tent. As the old beast flys through the gouts of flame, his wings spiral the flames into a whirlwind of heat. The transition was subtle, and it was hard to know where one act began and the other ended. Once the pavilion tent reaches a near-unbearable level of heat, the drake flys outside. An elderly woman walked out, and began using ice magic to draw frozen patterns in the air. The air cools rapidly, and soon the viewers are clutching themselves and shivering. The crowd’s attention is directed above, to a series of man-sized snowflakes that are dancing across the top of the pavilion.
When the snowflake’s dance was completed, the crowd looks down to find the woman replaced with the lion tamer, and his five lions. All are full-grown males, and one is the size of a bull elephant. This lion has bone armor plates on his shoulders, and wicked looking spikes have grown down his back along his spine. The tamer runs them through amazing tricks, and at one point even has the large lion juggle his smaller brethren. The crowd roars with approval, and the lions roar back. It is deafening. Eventually, the lions file out a side door, and are replaced by clowns. The clowns bounce around for a little while, but are obviously just a distraction. Men are coming in to set up a high-wire, and lighting hoops on fire for them to swing through.
It was during this lull in the action that it happened.
A small bead of white light appears, so bright it hurts to look at. It is right in the middle of the group, slightly to the left of center in the box seats. Almost as soon as it appears, it exploded.
You are standing in a room. It is all white. The ceiling is white; the floor is white; the walls are all white. It is an empty room, full of nothing but bright white light. You can see yourself standing in the room, alongside the shades of a few of the other audience members. It is almost like you are watching from outside your body, watching yourself watch what is unfolding.
As the other trapped in the explosion fade into existence, the bright light begins to lessen in intensity. Once it reaches a more manageable level of brightness, more akin to a sunny day, the world around you begins to rush past. As you stand still, with the world rushing past, you see a distant castle. As it speeds toward you, you recognize the castle of the royal family. It isn’t as the castle appears printed on the currency of the realm, but rather much older, and newer. Parts of the castle are falling into disrepair, and other portions have been recently replaced with new, freshly-carved stone. It flys toward you, and you see the gates fly open at your approach.
When you enter the throne room, everything stops. The throne room is different than anything you’ve ever heard. It is filled wall-to-ceiling with gold plating, and there is a long table set perpendicular to you and your companions. It has nine seats all filled with shadows of people. Some the size of a grown man, a few the size of human children. Only the first, on the far left, is opaque. It is the figure of a Sea Elf, form the Inland Sea. He has a noble bearing, and is dressed in a regal manner. He has the bearing of a warrior, and the muscles to match. He is clad in functional, worn, expensive breastplate, with a cloak thrown over one shoulder.
He stands, and takes off the cloak draped over his shoulders. He opens it, and it becomes apparent it is in fact a robe. A robe made entirely of blooming flowers. He motions as if to hand it to you. Instead, he walks behind the second chair, and drapes the robe over the shoulders of the shade in the second chair.
The vision begins to fade. As it does, you hear a sound, similar to wind chimes, but with a musical lilt to it.
The vision fades to black.
Back inside the tent, it is business as usual. No one appears to have even noticed the white light, although the audience members around you do give you a few strange looks, as you spontaneously dive for cover from an invisible threat. It appears the trapeze act is winding down, and only a few minutes had passed. The announcer’s voice rings across the tent.
”I know we have a few returning customers here. Obviously this is a much better quality show than we usually put on. We have to leave town, so this is our last show. We don’t want to leave you all without a special send-off, so we’re giving this show our all! If you would be so kind as to file outside in an orderly fashion, our Grand Finale will be outside, so the whole town can watch!”
The pavilion’s doors are thrown open, and the crowd begins filing out.
|
As the bead flies, Varian's trained reflexes kick off and he jumps to cover.... or he tries to, because this time his legs aren't as quick as his reflexes and the big and burly man falls face first.
As the vision fades to black, the blacksmith regains composture and sits again simply muttering "What in the Seven Heavens..."
Kearra's buzz prevented her from seeing the bright light at all until it had exploded. She too stumbles after Varian's fall.
Melanie dodges backward, then mumbles an apology and a spell of detection.
Despite having a half-full tankard in hand, Lotar springs nimbly out of the box, rolls sideways across the balls of his feet, and comes to a stop just short of the stage. He has spilled but a few suds.
Lotar glances at his beer. Still there. Well played, laddie.
One audience member begins to clap, then realizes that no one else is clapping and that the rolling dwarf must not be part of the show.
Lotar looks up and sees that several other audience members are giving Lotar and his companions odd looks. Did they not see the explosion?
Lotar offers to help Varian and Kearra up, then returns to his seat and hides his face behind his tankard.
The crowd walks outside, all abuzz with excitement. They all agree, it is the best show they've ever seen. Even those who've seen the circus before say it was never that good.
It appears that the various performers who had been outside the pavilion had set up signs with arrows to lead the crowd. Many of the entertainers are shouting encouragement to the various townsfolk to get them to come and watch the finale, since it is outdoors and no ticket is required.
Eventually most, if not all, of the town has turned out, and all are walking toward a small hill outside of town. The ringmaster is standing atop the little hill, waving at the audience. He motions everyone toward him, and announces that the finale will be starting in five minutes.
Lotar begins to walk with the crowd. He mutters to the closest of the group, I saw ye jump at the flash, too. Why d'ye think no one else saw it?
He looks suspiciously at his empty tankard.
Magic.
Melanie whispers, then shakes her head sharply, looking at the dwarf.
Not here friend dwarf. We'll need some privacy later I think.
Lotar continues to saunter toward the hill. His eyes scan the hill for anything suspicious -- though at this point most everything is suspicious, after the jester, the light, the people who didn't see the light...
Perhaps I shoulda taken that left turn at Alburk on the way to the aboveground...
"Friend Dwarf, you know you shouldn't just barge in the middle of the performance, right?"
The crowd moved forward, and began to fill the field around the little hill. Voices, raised in pitch with excitement, created a buzz in the air. Obviously this is something new, and new is always exciting.
It seems all of Dromtson is here now, clamoring for good vantage points, awaiting the finale with bated breath.
The little group finds an open spot, near the front. The retired paladin, Joram, waves you all over, and welcomes you with a smile.
"How are you lot doing? Did you catch the rest of the show?"
He turned back to the ringmaster, who was announcing that two minutes were left.
"Not much longer now, it appears."
He gives Kearra and Melanie a wink.
"Do I know you?" Kearra says, still a little dazed.
"Not much longer 'til what?" Kearra narrows her eyes in suspicion.
Lotar keeps quiet, eyes skimming the little hill for more of the madness that befell them in the tent.