Fain put his hands on his hips, "Well it's not a' actual baby dragon now, is it?! It looks like a middlin' sized monitor lizard. Just a' animal confused by the crowd. If books are to be believed - never actually seen one. If that's what it is, it's not gonna' just pack it up, it's gonna' have to be wrangled! and watch out, she's a meat eater! Does anyone have a sack to put over it's face? ...ahem, and the gumption to do so? Sirra! You got it's attention - maybe with some 'elp from the Queen? Trouble shared is trouble halved, as they say.
Umm, everybody get back! It's OK! It's just a scared animal."
Fain tried to do some crowd control, his arms up in the air, his hands open. Hopefully he can get peoples attention from down there
Thrym was taken by surprise when a little slip of a woman suddenly barged between him and the lizard who’s attention he had managed draw from the fleeing Carnival-goers. What did the woman intend? And why in the name of spirits below was she spouting nonsense to him, and acted like he should understand?
”Knasig kniv! Komma bort! Vill du bli dödad?” Thrym growled to the woman, noticing a halfling moving to flank the lizard.
Unfortunately, this newcomer wasn’t any more helpful as he babbled in another language the shaman could not even recognize – what was it with bloody Southerners? Why couldn’t they just speak the common trader’s tongue like normal people? Were they intentionally trying to annoy him?
At least this one seemed to have a level head as he assumed a guarded stance, not attacking the lizard but ready to retaliate. Perhaps he could be worked with, herding the beast back to its cage. But first he needed to see to his own protection – if he was to be a shield between the lizard’s claws and defenceless civilians, he needed to make sure he could withstand it.
”Bröder, till mig! Låna mig din sköldar!” Thrym called, gesturing with his axe at several spirits who carried large hide shields. One of them, a red-haired braided-bearded giant of a man nodded briskly. The spirit walked to Thrym, took his position on Thrym’s left, and raised his shield with both arms, eyes alert as he followed the lizard’s movements, ready to interpose his shield to aid his mortal descendant.
Shouldering his way past the babbling woman, Thrym slammed his axe against his shield in a loud clang of steel on steel, hoping to draw the beast’s attention back to himself before he started to walk backwards, step by step, heading in the direction the lizard had come from, hoping it would follow him.
Despite Fain's best efforts, a large crowd of onlookers began gathering to watch, clearly curious to see how events would unfold. Some, perhaps, were still not clear that this wasn't some big show. While others, just looked curious to see if the beast would be taken down. The lizard, clearly agitated with the clanging noise, took out its anger on the elf standing in between it and it's mark. It snapped its teeth towards Luk Luk's extended arm, but she was quick enough to pull away.
Jenni ran towards the dragon with several others. She was ready to put herself between it and danger, but a youthful looking elfmaid had already done it. Still, the dragon was angry and scared, and needed to be kept from the rest of the people.
Moving towards the growing crowd, Jenni cried out, "My royal subjects! My pet has gotten loose, and he is not safe! Please, get back! Everybody, back!"
When the majority of the people ignored her, Jenni drew her greatsword, held it aloft, and roared,
Vard maintains his readied stance, watching the creature carefully and keeping an eye on the elf to follow her lead. Yikes, it nearly bit her - I hope she knows what she's doing.
Alenka was fairly confident that Mistress Delisen must be the woman she had observed earlier in the crowd. Chances were that news of this predicament had reached her already. The main thing to do at the moment was to keep these ignorant gawkers safe from the lizard.
Even though Alenka is relieved that an actual dragon wasn't in peril, she admittedly was a little disappointed. It would have been amazing to be this close to a dragon.
She moved about the perimeter that the crowd had formed and pushed the eejits back who refused to listen to Queen Jenni. Part of her wanted to let them get mauled by the lizard because it would immediately raise the intelligence of the crowd but then the lizard would have to be put down and that would be a shame.
As more armed and armoured people began gathering - including the half-blooded woman whose strength had so impressed him a little while ago - and with none of them trying to hack the lizard into little pieces, the shaman began to hope the gambit might actually pay off. If only that daft woman would leave well enough alone... it had looked like she had been trying to communicate with the beast of all things... if she had been trying to calm the beast it hadn't worked, that was obvious enough.
"Försvinn!" he growled at the woman - and elf, he now realized, not that it made a difference. "Du ska endast bli skadad!"
The shaman kept back away, step by step, his shield and that of his ancestral ally held ready to block the lizards claws or teeth were it to strike at him again. Every other step he slammed the flat of his axe against his shield and roared a wordless challenge to keep the lizard's attention on him.
When the majority of the people ignored her, Jenni drew her greatsword, held it aloft, and roared,
Fain craned his neck up, "Uh, thanks your majesty. Now, why didn't I just do that."
Clearly confused and agitated the creature snarled and hissed back and forth between Thrym and Luk Luk, until it noticed Vard behind him for the first time and responded violently to the new threat. Turning around the creature lunged for the halfling with its teeth bared. Vard was able to deflect the creature's fangs away from him with his weapon, but it was the closest call yet and clearly more than just a warning bite.
The crowd backed nervously away from Jenni as she yelled at them, leaving only a few determined looky loos, who were still giving the lizard (and the scary half-orc) far more distance than before. Through the thinned crowd, the woman from before could be spotted far off in the distance barking orders at several carnival workers. The exact details of their discussion could not be heard, but at its conclusion, all of them took of running in different directions, as if searching.
Oh jeez! Oh Jeez! No bindings! No trainer! What do we do? "Whoa!" It just took a real snap at Master Pendengas!
Fain ran over to between the elven woman and the man who called himself Thrym earlier and yelled to help Thrym get the monitor's attention away from Vard. "Umm, all of you form a circle, form a circle...", he made a semicircle with his arms gesturing with the lizard in it's centre, "If it starts to lunge at someone then the people on the far side call out! Give it lots of room though! and slowly move clockwise. Don't let it fix on anybody!" Fain pushed at Thrym to start circling - Is this guy listening at all! or does he only know how to fight?
Satisfied that none of the bystanders were about to be devoured, Jenni turned around and moved closer to the dragon. Hearing the pie-halfling's plan, she nodded her understanding. "Yes, that might work! But let's keep moving - I think the cage is that way."
She spread her arms out, looking big and menacing, and trying to encourage the motley lot of them to step forward together.
Alenka shrugged at the halfling's plan, "Your idea is the best so far. Let's see if we can keep it relatively contained and herd it back to its enclosure. But honestly, I'm better with dead animals than live ones."
She looked over and spotted Mistress Delisen motioning frantically at the workers. Alenka shook her head sadly, "A place of business should have standard operating procedures to deal with any issue and contingencies in place for emergencies. Apparently they don't."
Alenka moved over next to Jenni so that she could be directed by the half-orc better. "Tell me what to do and I'll do my best to help."
Well, Luk-Luk certainly felt like an idiot for not recognizing the species sooner. Her face got redder and not from adrenaline as her ears drooped down at her own foolishness. What had Duran told her? Think and act is better then one or the other. She yelled over her shoulder at the halfling, "Mistake! I just heard baby and reacted, Luk-Luk didn't want to express she'd been thinking too Andoran at the time. Be rude to the carni folk. Then the elf shot a glare at Thrym before grumbling out, "Tokhel molkac. A druun khruur taash dar duukuun! The elf assumed he knew as much of her language as she did of his.
Luk-Luk took a quick step back about 5 feet, to get out of the lizard's range, and was about to let the magic flow. Then she saw what the others were doing. Well, she didn't like animals much but if Jenni was going to be upfront she'd try to help, "Good idea queenie!" Luk-Luk moved up on Jenni's left side to try and help with herding the lizard.
Thrym scowled back at the elven woman sprouting yet more nonsense and growled. "Tala allmänning eller håll käften!"
At least now there were more people around the lizard to help... if only Thrym could make them understand what he was planning to do. It was frustrating, the way these outlanders refused to communicate even if they somehow seemed to understand the gibberish they spoke.
"Tillbaka till buret!" he shouted, gesturing with his axe - in vaguely the same direction the half-blooded woman had, he realized.
Vard took a half-step back to counter the force of the lizard's bite and adjusted his stance to a more defensive one.
"I'd like to do this without harming the creature - but if we can't get it to stop biting at us, it's going to be safer to put it down somehow - preferably knock it out or tie it up."
The party began circling the lizard and for a moment everything seemed to be going to plan. The lizard hissed and slowly followed Thrym, clearly viewing him as the biggest threat. Jenni and Luk Luk capitalized on this, subtely nudging the creature from its rear flank. As Thrym backed way, the creature slowly followed, while the others formed a protective circle to keep the beast contained. Through the thinned crowd, the party moved north towards the zoo and finally caught their first real glimpse at it. Towards the center, about 120ft away a large empty cage sat, its door hanging slightly open.
However, as they moved northward Fain's handling of the creature was not quite as careful as Jenni and Luk Luk's. Nudging the lizard's front leg must have tweaked it the wrong way, as it angrily turned and leapt at the halfling. Blood splattered as teeth sank painfully into Fain's chest.
Onlookers screamed loudly, and the bandana wearing woman who seemed to be in charge started making a beeline for the scene. "I'm so sorry! I've sent for the guards! Please! Knock it out if you can! Kill it if you have to! Run if you need to! That thing could kill him!" She shouted, still a distance from the scene. She looked around the zoo angrily, "Speaking of killing someone...WHERE THE HELL IS BERTHOLD!" The elephant eared man flew out of a barn nearby holding a pile of chains, "I have no idea Miss Denisen! He just disappeared and left me here all alone! I don't know how to handle no dragon! I'm so sorry!" His eyes were filled with tears, both from the stress of the situation and the suggestion that the creature might need to be put down.
It's working. Wow, Jenni is really good with her. It's working. Oops, I'm getting a little too close. "Ahhhh! Yondallass Kinder!", spittle sprayed from his mouth as Fain screamed, his face went instantly white.
"I have no idea Miss Denisen! He just disappeared and left me here all alone! I don't know how to handle no dragon! I'm so sorry!"
Even in his pain his stubbornness against ignorance persisted, "No' a ragon ... juss a' fused animal.", though it wasn't loud enough for many to hear.
Alenka was content to corral the creature until it almost kills one of the halflings. "That behaviour will not be abided." Hoping to draw the lizard's ire and by association its attention, she picked up the largest rock she could find and threw it at the creature's head.
Seeing that Mistress Delisen had shown up she points at Fain and commands, "Have someone help him."
Jenni felt a familiar rage rise within her as the friendly, pie-wielding halfling was nearly bitten in two. Jumping forward, she yelled, "NO! BAD DRAGON!"
Looking up, she saw the strange-eared creature hovering nearly overhead, carrying chains. Bellowing at him, "CHAINS! NOW!" she held out her hands to catch them.
A frown flashed across Vard's face as the lizard lashed out at Fain.
"Ok, time to knock it out. Can't risk that again." As Fain staggered backwards, Vard ducked nimbly around to stand between the other halfling and the lizard.
Reaching the spot where Fain had been standing, Vard swung his hammer around in a careful arc at the lizard.
Half smile and half grimace, trying to put up a brave front, “First Master Pendengas then me ... wha-what do they feed her when they can’t find halbmentshn ”
He might not understand the words spoken, but it didn't take a genius to see the people herding the lizard begin attacking it, and using the flats of their blades - still trying to take it alive, but after it almost bit out one of the halfling's heart, it was clear the stakes were high and they might not survive the rest of the way to the cage... even if it was so tantalizingly close.
Uttering a wordless war-cry to again catch the lizard's attention, Thrym swung his axe in earnest, twisting his wrist at the last moment to strike the lizard with the blunt end of his axe, hitting it right in the head but unfortunately in a way that the lizard's skull deflected most of the force of the blow away.
After seeing the lizard take a chunk out of the halfing, Luk-Luk was done with trying to play nice. But she couldn't really do much damage with such a crowd around the lizard. "I need more accurate spells.
Luk-Luk takes 5 foot step back and tries to hit the lizard with magic. Fireworks would probably make it much worse.
"Stop biting you foul lizard!
The woman finally arrived at the scene, breathing heavily. As carefully as she could, she grabbed Fain by the shirt and began dragging him away from the lizard. Gesturing to her belt, she said, "That is a healing potion. Please take it!"
The elephant eared creature flew awkwardly over to Jenni, dropping a pile of chains and leather leashes, still looking extremely panicked.
As Vard, Thrym and Luk Luk all circled the creature, hitting it with blunt ends of weapons and a splash of acid, it let out a shriek of fear and began making itself small.
With territorial creatures this kind of behavior is usually a sign of submission.
From the east a Taldane man in circus clothes wandered casually into the area, before freezing. "Oh...*beep*..." He exclaimed with horror, earning a murderous look from the presumed Mistress Denisen. "Well don't just stand there! DEAL WITH THIS!" She screamed at him.
"Uh right...Let me just" He approached cautiously with a stick. "Um...down boy! Bad dog! Let me just." Reaching for a harness he nervously wrapped it around the lizard and began dragging it back to the cage.
This guy doesn't actually look confident handling the creature and even seems a bit surprised that it actually cooperates. Also, he looks a bit inebriated.
After making sure that Fain is set down gently and given her potion, Mistress Denisen stormed over to Berthold and began to shout at him using all manner of colorful language, calling him incompetent in every way she knew in both common and Varisian. He apologized, claiming that someone paid him a gold to put on a private show near the parade grounds, but the leader did not seem convinced. "I'm tired of your half-assed excuses! This is the last straw! I let you run your zoo near my carnival and you thank me by doing everything in your power to ruin our reputation! You don't have enough guards here! Apparently neither you nor your workers can handle these creatures! You abandon your post! And even if your story is true, it's no excuse! I shouldn't have to clean up your messes!" Silencing any attempts the man made to defend himself, she just shook her head. "Consider yourself shutdown until you can get to the bottom of what happened here and set up some proper security! Otherwise get out of my sight and go run your show elsewhere! But not under my carnival's good name!"
Catching her breath and trying to regain her composure, she approached the party. "My sincerest apologies for how this was handled and thank you for keeping the creature under control and away from the crowds. My name is Amara Denisen and I am in charge of Umbra carnival." She turned back to glare and Berthold. "The Master of Beasts will pay you for your trouble." He wandered over begrudgingly and offered the party 25 gold pieces. However, upon seeing that Amara was not appeased by this, he grumbled and reached into his pocket. "...and an extra 25 for returning the beast alive..."
Continuing to try an appease them, Amara added, "Here. Let me give you these passes too. Free entry into all the carnival's shows. Just talk to me and I will make sure you get the best seats. Let me know if there is anything else I can do.."
Fain must have been woozy from blood loss, as he sat behind the circus instrument he yelled with not much minding of his own business, "HAY! Don't pull it like that! Can't ya' see it curling up? It's giving in! It's going submissive!..., he's kneeling now and almost sloshing the potion he was handed, Let Jenni do it! She's really good with her - at least she likes animals!".
Fain looks to Jenni, makes his eyes go goggly, pretends to tip the potion to his mouth a couple of times, and then nods his head toward the animal handler. He might have done it well enough for some of the party to get his meaning. It is also his best attempt at not trying to ruin a person's reputation openly.
He then seemed to realize the potion was still in his hand and started to drink it, "Ohhh, that burns."
Jenni was relieved that the dragon's master had returned - she hadn't really been able to make heads or tails of the harnesses, and wouldn't have hated to harm the poor baby dragon.
She glanced over at Fain, to make sure the tiny person was okay. He seemed to be indicating to her that the dragon needed a potion too, but she shook her head - it would be bruised the next day, but hadn't been badly injured.
Holding her nine gold pieces, she grinned excitedly. "Wow! Goggles, what a great day! Can you believe it! First I'm queen, then I win this," she swished the fancy scarf around her neck, "then we see a baby dragon and rescue it, and now we're rich! I love this carnival!!"
Turning to the strangers who'd helped, she said, "You guys were great too! We should team up, and do this professionally! Dragon herders! Except you," she said to Fain, who at least was back on his feet. "Next time you should stay back and throw a pie at it or something."
"I'm Jenni," she said, "and I'm not really a queen. Who are you?"
Watching Berthold she sighed in exasperation, "It's submitting, you dolt! You could at least be a little gentle. Unless you're trying to harm your livelihood."
Alenka found the show between Mistress Denisen and Berthold much more entertaining than anything she'd seen so far at the Carnival. A bark of laughter actually escaped her at one of the Varisian insults, although it never translated well into common. At the end of the bout, Alenka couldn't help but admire the woman as she laid down the law.
The vivisectionist awkwardly accepted the offered rewards. "Um, glad we could help. Should a specific need arise, where would we be able to find you within the carnival?"
She gave Jenni a small smile but her voice remained a monotone, "You're having quite the day. Baby dragon and riches, indeed." Then her eyes displayed panic as Jenni suggested to the others that they all team up, "Hold on a minute, let's not do anything hasty. I have a profession and it isn't dragon herding."
Almara let out a sigh, "During open hours I try to be everywhere, so I could unfortunately be anywhere. But I try to stay near the Big Top right before and right after each show. When there's not a show, I usually wander the Midway to keep an eye on things. See which games people are enjoying..." She turned Thrym and Jenni, "Impressive work with the King of the Carnival game, by the way. Most days we go without anybody winning the crown. Two winners back to back is basically unheard of. It's not often I see Narthi get thrown off his game! I was happy with how he handled it though and he recovered like a professional." She took this opportunity to shoot Berthold another dirty look. ""Anyway...Off carnival hours, I'm usually around my private wagon. The guards don't usually let people through to the crew wagons, but if you let them know you need to speak with me, they will come fetch me..."
Luk-Luk looked over at Fain, "You doing alright there? I'm sure there's a priest we can get if the bottle doesn't do it for you." The halfling had spared the sorceress being the focus of the lizard's lunge. So that put him a step up from the bearded human with the funny language.
Luk-Luk doesn't notice how badly the drunken carni is handling the lizard, rather she is laughing at Jenni's excitement. She didn't know if it was an act or not but she had to voice her opinion, "Yahoo, I was right about you Jenni. You are most certainly fun." the elf offers her hand for a shake to the half-orc, "I am Luk-Luk Eaglfin. Of Almas University. And Hell yes, but with a little siding with your friend," Luk-Luk nods her head towards Alenka but then lowers here voice as she leans in toward Jenni. And stands on her tip toes to whisper, "That wasn't a dragon. Just a big lizard. Real dragons can talk. However," now the elf stood normally. There was a massive grin on her face as she stopped whispering, "I speak dragon. So it'd not herding but well, hatchling sitting. With fire breath. Fu~un," she waves both hands beside her shoulders, fingers outstretched and shaking. "So yeah, I'm in with that Queenie Jenni."
Still smiling she turned to Almara, "I've my own question Almara. What are the chances I could meet your master of fireworks? I study them and would like to learn from masters to see how everyone does them a little different. Please?"
Vard bowed to the carnival head. "Vard Pendengas, paladin of Kurgess. You have a fine set of games here, the lion's head is most ingenious. I'm looking forward to seeing if the shows are as good."
He stepped over to Fain as the others spoke. "How are you holding up?" he asked. In a lower voice, he added "Is there something wrong with the trainer?"
After the reply, he announced "I think I will see if Master Berthold needs any assistance."
He headed over to where the Master of Beasts was locking the lizard away. "Hello there. I'm Vard. Can I help you with anything? It must be difficult to manage all these creatures, even when they're not getting out. Do you know how this one managed to break loose? Vard looked over the cage speculatively for any signs of sabotage.
Turning to the strangers who'd helped, she said, "You guys were great too! We should team up, and do this professionally! Dragon herders! Except you," she said to Fain, who at least was back on his feet. "Next time you should stay back and throw a pie at it or something."
"I'm Jenni," she said, "and I'm not really a queen. Who are you?"
@Jenni"Ha! Yes, a hearty meat pie in the shape of a little man. Oh, but look at my shirt? Well, I can afford another it seems.", Fain excepts eight pieces of gold but notices Jenni's lingering concern, "Don't worry, I'm going to be fine. Medicine will do it's work, and I may be small but I'm sinewy as an old leather shoe. Pain is a good teacher.", he rubbed his sore chest and kept speaking but more to Jenni's friend with the goggles, "Speaking of which, you noticed how the animal shrunk? That's never a good sign for how a creature's treated. Sorry, I'm Fain. I've lived here about two years now. I'm working as an under gard'ner." Fain waited around for everyone to introduce themselves - especially the Ulfin, he was acting strange ... a little too focused or something.
He stepped over to Fain as the others spoke. "How are you holding up?" he asked. In a lower voice, he added "Is there something wrong with the trainer?"
Fain followed Vard withholding the answer like he was waiting for a little private space. This, of course, gave him an unconscious excuse to 'tag along'. <halfling>"I'm fine, I'm fine. The medicinal seems to be doing something. Tastes like aniseed and treacle. Did you see how the animal recoiled when Berthold arrived? I bet he is cruel to them. And the next time you're near him smell his breath. He has a problem with his elbow, that one."<Halfling>
"What are you looking for?", Fain copies Vard, curious to see what Vard is trying to see, but also looks for strange tracks, close to the cages where the crowd had little opportunity to tread over them.
Ever as the excitement of the brief battle passed, so too did the voices of the spirits fade from Thrym's ears, allowing him to understand the words spoken by others. He didn't quite come around quickly enough to catch what the animal handler said, nor most of what the formidable woman who berated him did, but he could read the man well enough to notice his insecurity in dealing with the lizard. If the beast's own handler didn't trust in his skills, this Carnival was in for problems.
"I'm Jenni," she said, "and I'm not really a queen. Who are you?"
"Thrym, son of Thyr. Shaman of the Ulfen," Thrym grunted, having for a moment considered merely leaving but recalling the Harrowing's promise of companions. "It was brave of you to challenge the beast, even if some of you were ill-equipped for the task," he said, casting a glance at the very much unarmored Luk-Luk who hadn't let that stop her from getting up close to the lizard.
At Luk Luk's request, Almara gave an uncertain look. "Master of Fireworks? I guess that would be Tibal. I suppose there would be no harm in him giving you a demonstrations...."
Vard approached Berthold, who shook his head. "He's back in the cage now...No need for everyone to make such a fuss. I've got it under control." As for how it escaped, he shrugged, "I dunno. The cage seems fine. Probably one of the feeders left it open by mistake." Neither the lock nor the cage seemed damaged to Vard, as Berthold pushed it closed and pulled on it a few times to test it was secure. "Whatever. It's closed now...Just like my damn zoo..."
"Pain is a good teacher.", he rubbed his sore chest and kept speaking but more to Jenni's friend with the goggles, "Speaking of which, you noticed how the animal shrunk? That's never a good sign for how a creature's treated. Sorry, I'm Fain. I've lived here about two years now. I'm working as an under gard'ner."
Alenka nodded, "Pain isn't given the credit it deserves. It's good to meet someone who recognizes its benefits. As for the lizard, it's hard to say if its submissive stance was because of us or because of its incompetent handler. But yes, I've spent a large part of my life studying fauna and can recognize behavioral patterns." She turned to go and then added as an after thought, "My parents named me Alenka. I'm with Jenni but we're not from around here."
Before Amara left Alenka asked, "Does your carnival have specimens on display who have unique properties? I would very much like to see and speak with them if they exist."
Luk-Luk watched the halflings interact out of the corner of her eye. She wasn't sure if under gardener meant a kind of apprentice or was a mushroom expert. But it looked like Fain was doing fine and the other was a actual paladin. Luk-Luk would have to remember that in regards to behavior and lawful conduct around Vard. "Glad to hear you are fine godo Fain," Luk-Luk traced the claw scar down her face, "And I am certainly no stranger to pain."
As for Thrym's introduction that got the elf to reply with, "Luk-Luk Eaglefin, first half from a forest second from a college. Next time Thrym I'll actually prepare better."
Luk-Luk then refocused upon Almara. Excellent! Where might I find Master Tibal? I'd love to discuss coloration formulas with him." She then turned to Jenni, "Oh so that is why Alenka said her name had weight with you? Good to know. Mayhaps we can still hang out until I meet with this Tibal?" Luk-Luk was sincere.
"Or perhaps all the heroes of the carnival should travel together? Ha ha," she laughs out the suggestion.
Before Amara left Alenka asked, "Does your carnival have specimens on display who have unique properties? I would very much like to see and speak with them if they exist."
Amara raised an eyebrow, "I am guessing you're not referring to the animals? You'd be looking for the sideshow then..." She pointed to the south east section of the carnival. "It's that way. Near the entrance, next to the Big Top."
Luk-Luk then refocused upon Almara. Excellent! Where might I find Master Tibal? I'd love to discuss coloration formulas with him."
"He's usually back in the crew quarters making preparations and doesn't really stay out in the public area. I'll let him know you want to meet with him and I will arrange for a demonstration after the main show tonight, but before the fireworks go off."
With that, Amara excused herself. "Sorry, there is much to see to. I will arrange that meeting with Tibal, though."
The show contains an eccentric collection of trinkets and biological oddities. It is part museum and part freak show. The sideshow boasts ancient artifacts, foreign costumes and jewelry, and a variety of magical artifacts and technological innovations. The freak show portion contains a variety of characters. The headliners are a sword swallower, the Fat Lady and a tattooed man. However, it also includes an orc, a choker and a fire giant. However, the biggest draw seems to be the elusive "Saggy Man" a famous Varisian boogeyman played by a man with a very rare and unsightly skin condition.
The show at the Big Top includes the best of the smaller shows found on the parade grounds. Traditional clowns perform all manner of mischief. Acrobats swing from the heights and walk across narrow tight ropes, performing breathtakingly dangerous stunts. The crowd's favorite part of the show is quite clear though. Jhezrihana "the ferocious performing sphinx held barely under the ringmasters control". This creature, both beautiful and horrifying as she parades around the ring, leaping through fire and performing tricks. For flickering moments she seems to break free of the ringmasters control, moving in to terrorize the crowd. However, a few quick magical incantations and she is restrained once more, earning cheers from the crowd.
The ringmaster's "fear" at the escapes is being played up and its pretty clearly part of the show. It's fairly obvious that the crowd is never in any danger. However, the creature is ferocious and impressive enough to warrant the audiences gasps regardless.
Once their is total cover of darkness, a whistle can be heard in the distance, followed by a boom. Fireworks light up the sky, each set of bursts eliciting gasps and hoots from the crowd. "Best job in the world..." Tibal says to Luk Luk with a grin as he prepares the grand finale. Lighting dozens of fuses, with the help of his assistants, the rockets take off and the sky explodes with color, earning a round of applause from the crowd.
With the fireworks show complete, the audience slowly comes to the realization that the day is done and a procession of people begin making their way towards the carnival exit.
"That's some mistake!" Vard exclaimed. "You've got to be careful with wild animals and the public."
He glanced around to make sure that only the three of them were in earshot, then turned to face Berthold directly. "If I might be blunt, it looks like you've had a drink or two already today. Now, when a fellow drinks in the morning, then he's got a problem. Now if that problem is a drinking problem, then I agree with Mistress Denisen - better to close down than risk people's lives. If it's some other problem, then it's better to solve it. I'm not with the carnival, but I'd like to see the whole place working well together - let the people see the big monsters without getting bit like Fain here. So, what's troubling you?"
"That wasn't a dragon. Just a big lizard. Real dragons can talk.
Jenni's face fell. "Are you sure it wasn't a dragon?" But she supposed it made sense; everybody knew that dragons could talk, and that lizard hadn't said a peep. Still, Luk-Luk seemed nice, so that was good.
"Thrym, son of Thyr. Shaman of the Ulfen," Thrym grunted, having for a moment considered merely leaving but recalling the Harrowing's promise of companions. "It was brave of you to challenge the beast, even if some of you were ill-equipped for the task," he said, casting a glance at the very much unarmored Luk-Luk who hadn't let that stop her from getting up close to the lizard.
Jenni gaped in amazement as Thrym introduced himself. "You speak common?!" She'd been just about to mime an introduction to him, accented with some loud, slow instructions, and was surprised that she didn't need to. "Why were you spouting all that nonsense before?" She shook her head - clearly men of the north were nuts. Still, there weren't many humans that she had to physically look up to, and his biceps were mighty, so she supposed she could allow him a little leeway.
"So, where to now? I know Goggles is going to want to see the freaks - anybody want to come with us?" She linked arms with Luk-Luk and said, "Come on, one time we found a dwarf with two extra arms, growing out of his back! Thrym, do they have some good freaks in the north? People who are part-bear or anything like that?"
The side-show was everything Jenni hoped for. The Saggy Man was delightfully grotesque, but she was disappointed that he wouldn't talk to her. The sight of the orc made her uncomfortable, and she avoided coming into view of him. Of course, Goggles got way too engrossed, and eventually she left her friend, hoping that the fireworks guy would be more interesting.
However, Luk-Luk talked fireworks the way Goggles talked alchemy (she supposed they were much the same), and eventually Jenni's eyes glazed over. So she spent an hour or so playing at the midway, though she didn't win any more big prizes. Finally, it was time for the main event to begin.
***
The sky was dark and the Jenni sighed in contentment. It had been a truly wonderful day. The big top show had been wonderous, and her eyes still danced with the afterimages of the fireworks. She'd had as much honeycake, rumpunch, and icepops as she could handle, and that was quite a lot. Draping an arm around Goggle's shoulders, she said, "I told you it would be great! Now, where do we sleep tonight?"
Jenni gaped in amazement as Thrym introduced himself. "You speak common?!" She'd been just about to mime an introduction to him, accented with some loud, slow instructions, and was surprised that she didn't need to. "Why were you spouting all that nonsense before?" She shook her head - clearly men of the north were nuts. Still, there weren't many humans that she had to physically look up to, and his biceps were mighty, so she supposed she could allow him a little leeway.
"I am a shaman, the voice of my clan's ancestors in the mortal realm, a lodestone around whom their spirits gather," Thrym said, frowning as he considered how much it would be reasonable to explain to virtual strangers, yet he felt he owed those who had stood with him against danger some measure of answers. "When faced with danger, the spirits stand with me, urging me on, giving advice," he went on, for a moment locking his gaze with something unseen past Jenni's shoulder and nodding his head to the invisible apparition - a barrel-chested bear of a man with twin mauls hanging from his belt, who was observing the half-orc woman with obvious approval. "Their voices fill my ears, leaving me deaf to anything but my native tongue, and the nature of the curse prevents me from realizing it while it affects me."
"Come on, one time we found a dwarf with two extra arms, growing out of his back! Thrym, do they have some good freaks in the north? People who are part-bear or anything like that?"
Thrym allowed himself to be led away by the half-orc, but at the mention of freaks Jenni could make him making a warding gesture with his hands. "The broken are given to the sea or the spirits at birth," Thrym growled. "The North is a hard place to live in, even if the Winter Wars have subsided. There is no room for those unfit to fend for themselves. If neither the sea nor the spirits claim the newborn, it is usually taken by the clan's shamans and raised as a mystic."
Something was bothering Fain. It was that voice in his head that came from time to time, the voice that told him to weedle a knife's point into a crack and pry it open. The voice had him turning over stones and watching animals from duck-blinds. It was nearly impossibly to ignore when it spoke and it was telling him something was wrong now.
With earnest curiosity, "So how was the show ...", Fain paused to see if Berthold had to remember, "You know the private one near the fairgrounds.", Another pause. "A gold seems reasonable if it's for a group. I can't imagine paying that much if it was just for one person." He breathed in belaboured-ly and rubbed his chest but tried to be subtle about the guilt trip.
He was very interested in the animals and made a mental note to bring ink and his journal next time. He was trying to get better at drawing you see, but for now he didn't want to be rude and rushed back to the group before they broke up.
Jenni's face fell. "Are you sure it wasn't a dragon?" But she supposed it made sense; everybody knew that dragons could talk, and that lizard hadn't said a peep. Still, Luk-Luk seemed nice, so that was good.
Fain's face was kind of screwed-up like he was trying hard to remember something. Speaking tentatively, "It was a monitor lizard ... but there are some breeds called komodos. They are actually called 'Komodo Dragons'. It may have been one of that kind. Maybe think of it as a grandchild of a dragon with the magiks sort of 'turned off'. Listen, if any of you need anything I'm on Apian Way. I have a little room rented there. I know Ilsurian a bit and I'm happy to be any sort of help. If you do drop by I can show you my razorback, of whom I'm prodigiously proud."
Fain then went to look at the Varisian vendors, particularly any leather workers.
Next he took in the big top show.
He kept laughing through the dangerous parts and anyone seated near him surely thought him very odd.
Before the fireworks he ate again at Ethyl Jangral's booth and chatted her ear off about the adventure, about nearly being killed by a Komodo Dragon (forgetting to mention that it's just a lizard), and how mean the animal handler was to his animals (not revealing his drunkenness), but weren't some of the 'from-aways' quite nice. There was even another Halfling and a kind of wandering judge at that - very forthright!
He found a spot on the green to watch the fireworks. They seemed like magic to him, having little understanding of how they worked. If he noticed any of the adventurers from this morning he gave them a wave but didn't invade their quiet time. If they came to him he welcomed them warmly.
He almost fell asleep under the tree he was leaning against so he headed home, disinfected the last of the sixty little dagger marks on his chest, put out his hunting leathers for tomorrow - the circus was dangerous, and slept very heavily.
QUOTE="Thrym Thyrsson"] "I am a shaman, the voice of my clan's ancestors in the mortal realm, a lodestone around whom their spirits gather,...Their voices fill my ears, leaving me deaf to anything but my native tongue, and the nature of the curse prevents me from realizing it while it affects me."
Fain is a simple Haldmenshn, a Halfling, he understood the growth of perennials and the mating habits of swallows and that nature has a way about it. That way he called Yondalla and he sort of believed in her manifestation. However, this ancestral talk was over his head. "Hmm, that answers a lot.". it really didn't for him, but he believed Thrym and was genuinely trying to 'get-it'.
Putting the wealth of coins they had earned and the status as the King of the Carnival to good use, Thrym spent the night feasting on the many strange and exotic dishes sold by the vendors, never letting his flagon run dry of ale or mead. But it was only when the storytellers came forth that the shaman truly found himself captivated - the oral traditions were still strong among the Ulfen clans, and the many new tales he heard kept him well entertained until wee hours of the night.
Berthold gave Vard an offended look, "I ain't no drunk! And nothings ailing me! Actually, I was having a great day until this mess happened!" He also narrowed his eyes at Fain. "I don't know who you've been talking to, but I see you giving me those eyes...like you think I'm telling tall tales. Like everyone always says I do! But it's the truth this time! A man with a red beard payed me a whole gold to give him a private show with my dogs and talk with him a bit about how I train 'em." He gave Vard a side glance. "...And yeah...I shared a couple of drinks with the guy. His idea, though. Not mine. Didn't want to offend a paying customer."
While Berthold is probably underplaying his own irresponsibility, you don't think he is lying. A man probably did pay him a gold piece to put on a private show and buy him a few drinks.
Vard eyed Berthold, but couldn't get a good read on him. "I apologise, sir. In that case, you'll want to speak to your crew to find out who was responsible for leaving the cage open."
"It does strike me as convenient that someone kept you away this morning. Are the cage keys well secured? If someone did want to cause trouble, then they could have used your absence to take the key to let the beast out."
"<'It's the truth this time!' I wonder how many times he's claimed that before. I don't suppose you know anyone in town with a red beard and an interest in dog training?>" Vard chuckled, then pondered a moment. "<I seem to recall you were saying just before all the excitement that the stallholders were splitting themselves up. I'd heard some rumors of racial tensions in Ilsurian, although I hoped they were not true. Carnivals should bring people together, and a Varisian carnival should help to lower prejudice against them. Although not if a monitor lizard breaks free and attacks the townsfolk.>" He frowned as he considered what that would mean. "<Hopefully it is an unhappy coincidence.>" He shook his head as if to clear the mood. <"I also recall before the affair I had one bite of a very nice pie, although I seem to have misplaced it since. You'll have to tell me where you got it.>"
Luk-Luk smiles widely, "Thank you Mistress Amara. I hope the rest of the festivities go well for you." As for Jenni's question that gets a nod from Luk-Luk. Then Fain took care of the details. Luk-Luk simply points at Fain, "Yeah I'm gonna go with his explanation. I never paid attention to the zoology professors. Plus, that lizard monitor didn't react to Draconic at all." As for his offer of guidance, "Apian Way? I might come a knockin' unless you can suggest a good inn beforehand. Have fun," she waves as the halflings go do their thing.
The elf can't help but chuckle at Jenni's response to Thrym speaking common. Many people spoke multiple languages. Or was that just common at a university? Luk-Luk might as well ask,
"Don't a lot of people speak many languages?"
Thrym's explanation of what is done with unwanted children got a scoff from Luk-Luk, "Harsh and wasteful," then the elf shrugs, "I mean, I thought being raised by gobbos was probably worse but your people are certainly harsh Thrym."
Luk-Luk does tag along with Jenni in hopes of more shenanigans happening. The sideshow was nothing of note to Luk-Luk. The zoological department at Almas Unvirsity had stranger creatures, like that duck mammal thing that laid eggs. The fireworks talk was indeed quite engrossing for Luk-Luk. She and Tibal did do a little comparison of star candles, each lighting one to display the difference.
Luk Luk didn't even notice how little interest her new friends had in the debate. It was amazing to Luk-Luk that dried toad dust mixed with a edible mushroom could produce purple explosions. And Tibal was glad to learn about the sulfur mix for Chelish red.
Finding Jenni in time for the main even was easy given her height. It was comforting to have some new friends so early in her journey. Then there was the Big Top Show.
Luk-Luk was trailing behind Jenni and Alenka, giving the two space. "I don't know about you two but I think I'll be saying hello to Fain. I'm curious what a razorback is and he probably knows Illsurian 's good inns." Luk Luk really didn't pay attention in zoology. The elf bowed to the ladies with a smile on her face, "But, if this be where we part ways for the night then I must say you two have been grand. I hope you did too and that we might do it again."
Luk Luk shall be taking Fain up on his offer and heading to Apian Way to pay him a visit. She shall wait to see if any others are of the same mindset.
Thrym's explanation of what is done with unwanted children got a scoff from Luk-Luk, "Harsh and wasteful," then the elf shrugs, "I mean, I thought being raised by gobbos was probably worse but your people are certainly harsh Thrym."
"We are our mother's children, and the North is a tough parent," Thrym said, not the slight bit insulted nor was his tone apologizing - he was merely explaining a truth as he saw it. "If the spring comes late... if the wild beasts drive the herds too far from clan lands... if ice blocks ports from trade... if there is not enough to feed every hungry mouth, it is cruel to the other children to feed one who might not survive to adulthood nor could make his own living and contribute to clan's welfare even if he did. Those are some of the reasons the clans turned to raiding, and why only those with the promise of a future are given food, warmth and shelter. Because it means everyone else will receive less, and for someone that less will turn out to be not enough."