Ready for you to dot in.
.
(sorry, I forgot to set my new alias as default)
I am here.
Dot.
Dot
Dotting.
Dot.
It is the first night of the Umbral Carnival, the biggest event in the town of Ilsurian all year. This morning, the carnival members held a parade through town. The parade is 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.
Most of the town's residents follow the procession. They have come to be entertained. When you enter the carnival, the first thing you see is an area dedicated to games of chance. The main game seems to be run by an Ulfen strong-man who calls out to passersby. He sees your party and invites you, "Come, for only a copper, you can show the world your power and passion. Tame the beast on yonder pole. Hit the level with the mallet, and all will see your strength."
"I am always ready for a game, or two!" Belgor reaches into his pouch for a copper.
Viniana had come to town to view the fair as a representative of the church of Shelyn. There were any number of performers and artists in such places and it was always a goal for the church to seek new converts amongst the workers at such carnivals. She was wearing a form hugging violet dress, a pair of knee high boots, and had a holy symbol of Shelyn around her neck. Slantwise across her back was her glaive, it had intricate scroll work on the blade and was obviously fancier in appearance than it strictly needed to be.
She'd run into a small number of other travelers who'd come for the fair and decided to accompany them tonight, of particular interest to her was the handsome Belgor, a paladin of Iomedae. She always found Iomedae to be a bit on the stuffy side for her taste but she had to admit the Inheritor had good taste in Paladins. She smiled at him as he volunteered to play and said, "You can do it Belgor, ring that bell."
Last thing Malachai remembered clearly was drinking at a bar in Caliphas, who knew how long ago that was?, after that things get a little hazy , something about going to a better bar, a carriage ride. Next thing he knew he was sat in the dust at the side of the road wondering where his "night" had gone so awry. Still, could be worse, he still had all his things and his emergency bottle of wine was still intact. If only he knew where he was. It was at this point he'd heard the sounds of the carnival. Perhaps his "night" wasn't over yet after all.
He grinned to himself roguishly as he got up from the floor. He brushed the dust off the front of his silk shirt and straightened the tattered lace at his cuff before tucking his shirt in to his black trousers.He was a handsome man and his outfit would have looked quite regal when it was new but as it stood was merely a vestige of it's former glory. He slung his back pack over his shoulder and started for the carnival.
Upon arriving at the carnival his first priority was to find out where he was .This was when he met Belgor, Viniana and the others. He introduced himself shaking hands with each of them in turn, then explained his predicament. After learning his whereabouts Malachai decided to stick around the group, he had a good feeling about them, the looked like fun.
"Not too loud though" he pleaded as Belgor stepped forward for the game. He could feel the rumblings of a hangover starting to rattle around his skull.
Nelda eyed the mallet to the game uncertainly and shifted the pack on her back.
The mallet was taller than she was!
"We're all fer you Belgor!" she chimed in.
Kassam has been running with this group for a few days, now, partly from the lack of anything else to do. They're a likeable enough lot, though, and with an innate ability to entertain. He waits and watches as Belgor prepares to play, arms folded, a smile playing on his lips, only half insincere, while keeping a close eye on the carnival man to see how this particular scam is meant to work.
The townsman who plays the game just before Belgor hits the lever with the mallet. The puck goes up part way and then falls, and the lion's head at the top mews and licks its lips. Many of those watching begin to tease the man who failed the game.
The Ulfen man who is running the game takes Belgor's copper. Then he hands Belgor the mallet.
Belgor steps up to the game and clasps the hammer.
With a mighty swing, he sends the puck up the line toward the bell at the top.
The puck only travels part way up. The lion head mews and licks its lips.
The man who played the game just before you smirks knowingly. One of his companions can be heard remarking Borvius, it looks like this one is as weak as you! The Ulfen man who runs the game gives you a hard look and says, "Not like that, put your passion and all your strength into it!"
Belgor flips the man another copper then re-swings the hammer.
Well, watching all the going on shall be fun today. Hopefully Belgor succeeds at this game as well
"Come on Belgor, you should have it this time!" Geoff calls to him.
The lion head roars so loudly it can be heard throughout the carnival. The Ulfen strong man is impressed. He introduces himself as Narvi, and puts a paper crown on Belgor's head. He explains that the crown will give you a discount on seeing some of the sights of the carnival.
The one called Borvius glares at Belgor.
You walk on to the next game. 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.
The man who is recruiting players for this game isn't being very clear exactly what the game is about, but you gather it is a game that rewards sharp eyes and a good memory.
Belgor averts his eyes from the woman on the sign. "This seems not to be a place for me." he says.
"No matter how lovely madame Masque is, i'm afraid, I too will have to decline." Malachai said knowing his observational skills were a little lackluster.
Vinianna was curious about this particular game, something about it caught her eye and she was rather disappointed that her companions didn't seem interested. She walked up to the man trying to lure in players and asked sweetly as she laid a hand on the man's arm, "What exactly is this game Sir? How do you play it?"
The carnival barker smiles at Viniana. The players get a chance to look at Madame Masque. They try to remember the trinkets she is wearing, if they aren't too distracted by her attributes. Then they have to find one of her trinkets on one of three illusionary women.
With a smile and a quick peck on the man's cheek Viniana replied, "Why thank you for the information sir. Maybe I can convince my companions to try it now." She turned and walked back to her companions, putting a bit of extra sway in her hips for the man who had given her the info, and approached her companions. "The rules of the game are simple, the players go in and look at Madame Masque. You've got to look at the trinkets she's wearing and then find one of them on one of three illusionary women in order to win. Does anyone want to try it?"
"Just one copper? I'll try it!"
She shook herself, trying to clear her mind so she could focus on the game.
Kassam smiles, beneath his own mask. "I'll sit this one out," he murmurs, jovially. "I don't think I need the entertainment of the human woman. Watching you people is enough for me."
With Nelda's interest in playing Viniana clapped her hands in excitement as she said, "Great! I want to play this one too, it sounds like fun."
Caught up in the enthusiasm of the others, Geoff decides to try this game out.
"I shall join my companions in the game as well" he addresses the barker, as he tosses his copper to the man.
Viniana paid the barker the fee and entered the tent with her companions. She looked around the inside in curiosity and with a definite expression of excitement on her lovely face.
The barker escorts you and several others from the crowd into the tent. He then introduces Madame Masque with a flourish. A shapely woman in a provocative Varisian costume gown of red and black silk held together
by ribbons comes out. She is adorned with all manner of scarves, necklaces, earrings, and other decorative costume pieces, but her face is concealed by a finely crafted silver mask showing only her playful brown eyes. She remains mute, but nods and waves to the crowd.
She walks around for a minute, silently flirting with the men who are playing the game. Then she saunters to the mirrored cabinet, steps inside, and closes it behind her. After a flourish from the barker, the
cabinet is opened to reveal three different Madame Masques. Each figure walks down a different runway, while four guards prevent anyone from grasping at them. Each Madame Masque wears an entirely different
costume from the original. The barker explains that it is your job to see the one trinket from the original Madame Masque which is on one of the images.
Viniana watched Madame Masque as she sauntered through the crowd. The woman was very beautiful, and her outfit was quite interesting. She decided to make note of it, she might get something similar one day. She was so busy taking mental measurements of the outfit and accessories that she failed to pay truly focus on the accessories. As a result, despite getting as close to the illusions as she could Viniana was having a hard time identifying which trinket was carried over.
Watching the costumed woman, Nelda tried to ignore the obvious distraction of her risque gown. Gold, silver, silk, pewter painted as gold...
Nelda was fairly sure she had identified the correct trinket and signaled to the barker to tell him.
Belgor casually sits on a stump outside the tent, sharpening his blade and then closing his eyes and meditating while he waits for the others to exit from their festivities.
Well this is indeed an interesting game
Nelda points to a ceramic charm on a bracelet one of the images is wearing. The real Madame Masque comes out of the box and stands next to that image so all can see the item is the same. The barker smiles apologetically at Viniana, and hands Nelda a silver coin as her prize. He then gently hurries everyone out of the tent, saying Madame Masque needs her rest. As soon as you are all out, he puts up a sign that the game is closed.
The next tent you see appears to be a fortune teller's tent. It is also currently closed.
Continuing on, you find an area that is fenced off. The space inside contains several wagons that seem to be animal cages. There is no charge to enter the area. Do you go in?
" some sort of zoo?" Malachai looked around at the others "I'm game as long as it's free."
"Is't time for lunch? I suppose I don't mind seeing what beasts they have since everything else seems to me closing up." She nodded towards the shut up fortune teller's tent.
"Aye, I think looking at the beasts seems interesting too"
Viniana was down about failing to win the game but she found that she had come up with some new dress ideas. All in all it wasn't so bad, she could even argue that she won, from a certain point of view. As the group met up again outside the tent and talked of going to see the animals she said, "I'm not much of an animal person but it sounds fine to me."
"I am always up for food!" chimes in Belgor! "What are we having?" He sneaks a side long glance at the animal pen and cages, then follows his companions into the area.
Kassam looks on, still with an amused expression. This could go very wrong, he thinks, but nonetheless follows in line with the others.
When you enter, you see some mundane animals. Some of them are loose in the area, others are in cages. The 'star' cages are labelled 'manicore' and 'baby dragon.' The townspeople seem fascinated by these two animals.
Belgor looks at the animals with interest. I wonder if there are any beasts here that I could tame he thought to himself.
You notice that the manticore seems to have had its tail spikes surgically removed.