Life in Sandpoint is generally quiet. Nothing much exciting happens, unless you consider interesting the sermons of the old Desnan priest, Ezakien Tobyn, or mayor Kendra Deverin's meetings on mercantile politics with Magnimar. The most exciting times are when Ameiko, the rebellious and adventurous daughter of local nobleman Lonjiku Kaijitsu, returns from one of her travels and sings of the lands she has visited.
Our story begins in an apparently calm day of the sweltering summer of 4700. As you wonder how to spend the day, heat and dampness sapping energy out of you, you hear some commotion coming from the city gates. You move towards the source, almost crashing into Shayliss Vinder, the young daughter of the general goods merchant Ven. The red-headed girl, her early bloomer body precociously showing a few curves, is visibly excited. "What are you doing still here? Haven't you heard? The circus has come to Sandpoint! Come on!"
"Circus?" James' head comes up like a cat seeing a bird. Desperately he tries to see through the trees and people, though he lacks the height, even on tiptoes.
He turns around to find his sister. "Hey Sammy, want to see the circus? You can get up on my shoulders."
Sammy's eyes grow wide. "Oh man, the circus? That sounds awesome! Where is it Shayliss? Where is it where isitwhereisit?" Her voice accelerates rapidly as her excitement swiftly rises to critical mass.
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Lucy looks up from the thick volume that she's reading, "The Spectres, Or, Lord Oswald And Lady Rosa, Including An Account Of The Marchioness Of Cevetti Who Was Basely Consigned To A Dungeon Beneath Her Castle By Her Eldest Son, Whose Cruel Avarice Plunged Him Into The Commission Of The Worst Of Crimes, That Stains The Annals Of The Human Race" (It's shorter in its native tongue.) standing and patting the dust away from her dress. She follows along behind James and Sammy, and comments off hand.
Father took me to the Circus back at the capital. It was maaaarvelous, I bet it was soooo much better than the circus here...
She looks at the two and flounces her hair for a moment before looking away.
.... We should go see it. Just to see if it is good as the one I remember. It's important to compare such things, even if it's doomed to failure.
A bit tall for her age, she is still too short for the adults in her way. Giving a look that could curdle milk at the adults, she calls out to them.
EXCUSE ME. You should really let CHILDREN who want to see the CIRCUS go to the FRONT!
Your not entirely sure if it is the girl who is scary, or the rabbit on her shoulder who's eyes seem to be glowing red at the adults who look back at her...
"Circus? I've heard about such things from my grandfather. All the things animals and the grownups can do!" he says gleefully as he moves a bit away from the crowd and towards a alley way
"Ill meet you there. Just need to go tell my folks!"
As he vanishes from site, he gives Sammy a knowing smile and a wink
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Ileyna peers at Shayliss with big brown eyes, almost as if from behind someone. After a moment, she shakes her head, pulling on a brown pigtail. "No, I don't think I want to. I have to meet my-" She stops suddenly, turning her head to the left.
"But...but you said we were going to explore Junker's Edge!" Another pause, this one shorter.
"Are you sure it's okay? You'll tell Mom where I went, right?" One more pause.
"Okay, see you later!" Ileyna runs after James, scarf flying in her wake. "James! Sammy! My sister says it's fine if I go, she'll even tell my mom where I went so she doesn't worry." She stops running and puzzles about how to get through the crowds of people.
Tark peeks out from the hollow log he's curled up in, looking at Shayliss. His mouth isn't quite formed into a scowl, but looks as if it's hiding one, ready to spring out at a moment's notice. "I bet they have animals all cooped up at the circus..."
He clambers out from the hiding place, his slender mongoose scampering after and hopping onto his shoulder. "Still, I bet they've got some cool ones. I wonder if they have a giraffe! I've always wanted to see one for real!" His scowl retreats from behind his face, making way for a big, dumb grin as excitement overtakes him, causing his short legs to speed toward Shayliss. "What are we waiting for!? Let's GOOOO!!!"
Shayliss rolls her eyes at the youngest children's antics, but gestures. "Just across Tanner's Bridge, at the large clearing! Come on!"
Oncve the initial excitement is over, the way is not exceedingly crowded, and you swiftly cross the bridge. The clearing is indeed occupied by a colourful caravan, workers setting up stands. You see people frying greasy and unhealthy but delicious food, fire-eaters, fortunetellers, peddlers of oddities, even a man handling a snake far longer than he is, and more things are being unloaded. The paint on the wagons is somehow scraped, but this still looks like a proper circus, not a common occurrence in the sleepy town.
"Oh, I want to get my palm read!" says Shayliss, hurrying towards a fortuneteller's stand.
Sammy, being Sammy, needs to take a moment before deciding on what to do, but decides that eavesdropping is something she can do any time, but just how often are there fire-eaters in Sandpoint? And so she rushes off into the crowd, taking in the sights, sounds and smells.
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Lucy tilts her head in curiosity. She licks her lips for a moment, wanting at first to go out and play with the other children. But... the bad boy, the sheriff, and the circus talking? It would be too good not to!
I wish you could talk already Mara. That would make this easier.
Instead, she opens the book and pretends to read it as she slowly walks over to where the adults are, trying to lean against a nearby wagon or even the one the adults are next to if she can, and listen closely to see if she can overhear something juicy from the adults.
James lurched forward to grab his sister's arm before she can get lost completely. "Sam! Stay with me! I'll walk you in, if you want to go. I don't want to have to explain how you got squished by a giraffe!"
He craned his neck over to Ileyna "'Leyn - you'd better stick with me or Tark as well..." 'Damn. She'll say her imaginary friend is - no, she "sent her back"' "...'least till your 'sister' gets back from telling your mum."
A small fox kit sniffs around the place. Ears alert as it scampers from one side to the other. It has been seen around town a lot. The kids by now are use to seeing him.
Ruuki tries to get to and into the circus tent. Free entry was always a good thing. Plus he didn't have to ask
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Sammy wriggles free with the expert slipperiness of a small child and dashes off, looking over her shoulder and blowing her brother a smiling, impish raspberry as she goes.
Tarketh dashes across the bridge into town, darting side-to-side to avoid the larger crowds of people.
As he nears the caravan, he notices a trio of folks gathered around a wagon. He skids to a halt, eyeing the enormous snake, and yet, he's still drawn to the wagon, to see what these folks are up to.
Ileyna, for her part, only has eyes for the big snake. She hears James, but doesn't exactly listen, instead stepping a bit closer to the snake-handler. "Excuse me, sir! My sister's gonna want to know what kinda snake that is."
The trio doesn't pay attention to the children running around. From your tentative eavesdropping, you pick up the gist of the conversation: apparently, Sheriff Avertin is unhappy with the caravan staying near Sandpoint, once or twice dropping the name "Sczarni", while Jubrayl and the third man are arguing that the caravan is a legitimate activity, swearing that they have no intention of stealing from the city or its folks.
After several reassurances by Jubrayl, Avertin allows the travellers to stay for two weeks, and the conversation soon turns boring, with the grownups speaking of occupation taxes and wholesale deals for grains.
Ruuki manages to sneak into the tent, although it's still under construction and there is no show yet.
As for Tark, the snake handler starts spinning a tale. "It came to me from the Mwangi Expanse, from a hidden city in the forest. It was once a great city, until a snake just like this one slithered inside. Within two moons, everyone had been devoured by these vicious beasts, who grew larger and larger with ever bite... But fear not, for my power holds the creature slave to my will! You are in no danger, not as I hold her!"
Anya's gunna kill us!" screamed James at his sister's retreating back - then broke into a run, pushing his way through the crowd.
Sammy snickers at James' distress, attempting to blend in to the crowd after finally deciding to check out the fortune teller.
Tarketh stares, wide-eyed, at the enormous serpent, and though he's not entirely certain this handler knows what he's talking about, he's willing to indulge in the spectacle. He reaches out with one hand tentatively. "Can I....can I touch'er?"
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Lucy tried not to become bored with the adults, but even as prim and proper of a child as Lucy would get bored to death with tax rates. After a moment, she walks away, closing her book and looking about the place selling oddities. She looks at them and tries a spell she's learned, concentrating and biting her lip.
ickrak'ey arcaniss...
The spell cast, she looks at the oddities, looking for that special glow... not that she REALLY expected to see any, but her tutors had said she always should. Her minds drift, looking for toys, or books, or baubles that might interest her.
Ileyna listens intently as the man with the snake starts talking, though her heart drops a little as the snake moves a bit, showing off familiar-looking markings. When he's done, she starts up. "Mister, I don't think you're..." As she's about to keep going, she takes a look at Tark and stops. "Nevermind. I hear my sister calling."
She turns and leaves, heading over to where Lucy is. "Why do boys always want to touch stupid, slimy snakes?"
A green and blue eyed desert fox joins Sammy in a gentle trot next to her. It's tail flicking in excitement
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Tark frowns at Ileyna, his voice apologetic. "I...I'm sorry, Il! I just wanna know how it feels! I bet it's not even slimey."
The tent of the fortune teller is apparently occupied right now, the entrance closed by two velvety drapes. Trying to escape her brother, fox trotting at her feet, Sammy bumps into a tall woman in foreign clothes. And clothes aren't the most exotic thing about her, as her face is a cat's. "Ah, what do we have here? A lively kid?" she says, her voice purring.
"Of course you can! It is safe, as long as I am here!" says the snake charmer jovially. The snake's scaly skin is warmed by the sun, and Tark can feel the bones within, shifting and slithering as the reptile moves.
As for Lucy, the basic cantrip doesn't show much. A few minor charms have been placed on the wagons, making them waterproof and warmer than usual, but the trinkets on sale are as mundane as can be. There are, however, cheap brooches and jewelry in the garish Varisian style, shiny brass and copper surrounding colored glass beads as if they were gems.
Sammy's eyes grow wide at the strange woman in front of her. "Your face looks funny. Are you a cat or a lady?"
"Sammy!" James calls, the annoyance in his voice just starting to pick up a hint of fear "Sammy! Where are you?"
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Lucy can't help herself, the jewelry is so pretty and shiny. She holds one up after another, wishing her allowance was bigger to let her buy some of the gorgeous jewelry. She sighs and looks at them all longingly. As Illeya walks up to her, she snorts and shakes hear head.
Because. She states with a certainly only a very smart stupid child would have. Boys are a kind of vermin, and so they want to spend all their time with snakes, rats, and mangy things so they feel at home.
She pets her rabbit and smiles as it flips it's ears and nuzzles her.
That's why girls like cute, beautiful things, like bunnies and cats and pretty birds. Tutor Gonoruth says we should
She puffs up her cheeks and deepens her voice as much as she can, clearly mocking.
"Suffer our lessers, for only with them can we build ourselves up! A rose with no stem to stand on cannot be seen."
"Huh." Ileyna listens to Lucy's explanation, turning it over in her head. "I dunno. Anyways, I think I hear James yelling. Do you think we should go see what's going on?"
James throws up his hands. "Sammy. She's run off and decided to hide. serve her right if they..." James' voice trails off into mumbles before he starts shouting again
Ruuki goes to sit at Sammy's feet eyeing the female in front of them. His head cocked to one side, both ears fixed on the woman. His tail flicking from side to side
"Yip!" he squeaks in response
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James manages to see Sammy just as the woman leans towards the girl, an amused smile on her feline face. "Why, I am both!" she chuckles. "What story would you like best? A wizard's cat, turned humanoid by arcane experiments? Or a beautiful woman cursed to become a cat? Alas, the truth is simpler, back where I come from, the faraway Qadira, there are many like me, just like there are elves and halflings around here. And there are many people who look just like animals, all around the world: the Vanara look like apes, the Kitsune are foxes who can look human, and the Gripplis are large, smart frogs. Not to mention the ratfolk! You wouldn't have seen one of them, by the way, would you? Looks like a rat, but tall as you, wears clothes and walks on two legs. I'm looking for him and I think he may have passed from here."
"There she is, the little brat. Right, quick and quiet, while she's busy."
"Woaaaah," Sammy oohs in awe at the woman's descriptions. Reflexively, she looks down at Ruuki when she mentions kitsune, but doesn't say anything about him. "I haven't, no, sorry." She wants to keep talking to the cat lady, but spots James trying, and failing miserably, to sneak up on her. "Good luck chasing your rat Ms. Cat Lady!" she snickers, before dashing off.
James darts after Sammy "Samantha Vestrana!" he yells "You stop right now."
Yipping in excitement, he darts along with her. Enjoying the thrill of the chase. Even if it wasn't him being chased
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While the chase is continuing across the people, some more stands are opening. The folds in the cartomancer's tent open, letting out Koya Mvashti, the local, aging healer and fortune-teller. The woman chuckles and heads back towards the town.
Most of the other stands are simply shows. A man is surrounded by a murder of singing crows, while a sign promises, for just two coppers, the extraordinary sight of a Bearded Elf Woman.
However, there are some more usual games, promising trinkets as prizes.
For three coppers, you may try to knock out a pyramid of cans with a softball; for two, you may try to carry a flaming twig through an obstacle course without having it go out; again for two, a tall, lanky man in desert cloting will challenge anyone to a game of riddles. Finally, for just a single copper, anyone may enter a raffle.
Tark scampes over to the riddle-man, a grin on his face. He plops two coppers onto the countertop, baring his teeth in a wide smile.
"I love a good riddle, whaddya got, old man?"
"What do I have?" The man Tark is addressing pulls down a headscarf to reveal black eyes and grey moustaches on a face that sun and age turned almost leathery. "Let's see, I have something that is lighter than a feather, but even the strongest man alive couldn't hold it for long. So I ask you, what do I have?"
Meanwhile, Lucy's ticket fails to win her any prize, and her throw knocks all the cans but one. "Ah, young miss, you were close! Do you want to try again? I have all sorts of trinkets that you may win!" The man at the softball stand is something of a dilemma, as he is either a short human, or a slender dwarf.
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Lucy bites her lips. Her intellect says she shouldn't, because it's probably rigged, but her competitive streak won't let her back down. She looks in her purse, relatively full of copper and a few choice silver pieces, and puts her coins down to try again.
Seeing her miss, she slams down 3 more and launches a ball again!
Still close, but worse than her first through, she looks angrier, her eyes wet with frustration. She slams another 3 coins down on the first, and shoves her familiar away from her as it tries, in vain, to get her to settle down.
She looks into her bag, seeing it slowly start to deplete, and tries one last time.
This time, fueled by a combination of rage and anger, her eyes seem to filter slightly to black, a few tears of frustration running down her face, also black as running masquera as she launches a blazing throw that she's SURE will knock down those cans!
Before she can even see the results of her throw, her familiar nips her on the ankle, HARD. She yelps, her eyes switching back to normal as she glares down at her rabbit.
Mara! What has gotten into you!
The red eyed rabbit twitches it's nose, looking for all the world like a innocent rabbit.
Tark giggles at the man's riddle, shrugging for a moment, his brow furrowed as he ponders. At his feet, Orvis the mongoose takes a deep breath and then holds it, pawing at Tark's ankle. When the young boy looks down to see what Orvis is doing, he guffaws loudly. "A BREATH! That's a great riddle! I like it!"
Chuckling between himself with every copper sent his way, the short man finally cheers as Lucy manages to knock the cans over with her last throw. "Well done! You don't surrender, eh, love? Now, what would you like as a prize? Some fancy, shiny jewel? Or are you one of those adventurous gals who could use a pocket knife for going in the woods?"
As for the man in the desert attire, he bows at Tark until he reaches his height, amusement in his eyes. "So it is. Now for you to pose one to me."
"'Scuse me" James shouted, as he pushed past a curious farmhand on his pursuit of his renegade sister.
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She sniffs and flips her hair.
"I'm a lady of refinement you know, jewelry is far more appropriate than a knife."
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As she runs, Sammy pauses at the raffle stand and drops in a copper for a ticket, before dashing off again in a fit of giggles.
She slows down though when she hears the desert man and Tark exchanging riddles. "Ooh, ooh, can I do one?"
Tark jumps in fright when Sammy appears beside him. He hadn't been paying much attention, as he was trying to come up with a riddle. "Oh, please do! I love riddles!"