|
Being a Pathfinder is hard work. No one said it would be easy, but they never said just how difficult it can be. The only worse than barely surviving an assignment is the downtime between assignments.
To this end, the enigmatic Osprey has approached you with an offer from respite. He presents sealed orders from your superiors granting you some time away from Absalom. Indeed, they have already taken the liberty of paying for your passage, room, and board in a Varisian town named Ilsurian. "In a few days' time, a circus will arrive in Ilsurian where it will stay for several days. Enjoy your time there, engage in local festivities, and experience the quaint flavour of a more rural setting." You honestly cannot tell is Osprey is envious of your adventure or mocking. Possibly both. "If there is any trouble, do your best to represent the Society in the best light. Relations in Varisia have gotten a bit strained as of late. Be diligent ambassadors for your little club."
Without another word, he turns on his heel to depart before transforming into a large bird of prey and flying off into the cloudy sky.
-----------------------------------------------------
Upon arriving at the docks, you meet the other agents who were also given leave for this event. Over the passage of days on ship, you get to know each other a little bit.
|
Before you stands a man that could be discribed as a true aussie. Heavy accent, big floppy hat and tanned skin covered with tattoos. However you also notice some peculiar things. Ridges under his clothing, face and hands, a ridged tail under his cloak and his legs are oddly shaped like those of a predatory dinosaur. He wairs wooden armor and besides a scimtar sling and shield, he carries a large lucerne hammer on his back. Next to him stands a human sized dinosaur with an alligator like face and a huge ridge along its back, a spinosaur. The man pets his companion affectionately and speaks with a heavy aussie accent.
"G'day mates. Name's Castiel. Pleasure to meet ya. Don't be afraid of old Betsy here. She won't bite ya unless I tell her too. And if ya scratch her behind the ears like so, she even purrs like a kitten. Ain't she a beauty?" he says as he scratches "Betsie" behind it's ear. True to his word the dinosaur starts growling and tilts his head to give Castiel a better angle of her ear.
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
Teric nods at the Aussie. "Castiel, good to see you and Betsy again. So we're being sent on holiday, eh? Smacks of needing to get rid of us for a while. What did the rest of you do?" He smirks, clearly implying that he had done something to earn his forced absence.
He nods to Borax and introduces himself to the others with an overly dramatic bow. "Teric Cain, master of spells and falsehoods, at your service. Of course, that could be a lie too..." He smirks again.
|
As Osprey flies away, the burly human mutters "Fitting name... I wonder if his parents planned that..." Torg is a tall, stout human with long, disheveled blonde hair and beard. He carries a backpack bulging with gear. Hooked to the outside of the backpack is a large, round shield made of darkwood. The shield is emblazoned with a wooden keg.
He turns to the group. "I am Torg Icebreaker. Master of...the pub. I had to deal with a noble to get this vacation, I think I earned it. Never been to Ilsurian. Wonder if it's nice. You all know each other then?"
|
|
Zinkyudo watches enviously as Osprey flies away, flexing the wings on his back in frustration and wishing he could do the same. He then studies his companions silently, his large, amber eyes looking on them without emotion. He is a most unusual-looking young man, slender with a smallish set of wings sprouting from his back, covered in feathers of a dusty brown. He holds his head completely still, then moves it quickly, like a bird of prey scanning for a meal. This predatory aspect is reinforced by his hooked nose, like the beak of a desert hawk.
The avian hunter look, however, is undone the moment he speaks. ”I’m Zindo!” he almost squawks, his voice sounding both startled and scratchy. ”It seems like all the Society has tried to do is get rid of me. I came from Osirion to Absalom, excited for my first mission, and they sent me into the sewers with a bunch of veteran Pathfinders! I could barely keep up with them, and nearly got killed a handful of times!”
He looks quickly over both shoulders, as if there’s some threat hidden there, then returns his gaze to the other Pathfinders. ”There were so many goblins, and tough ones, like I’d never imagined! So maybe they really are sending me off on a vacation, to rest up a bit? I set out wanting to search for ancient treasures and spread civilization, but there’s neither of those with goblins in the sewers, I’ll tell you that.” His beautiful amber eyes take on a resigned look and he concludes, ”And I’m betting there’s neither treasures nor civilization in this little town we’re headed to either.”
|
|
A dwarf with a shaved head and (gasp!) no beard dressed in simple robes approaches the rest of the party. He carries a bow, a quiver of arrows, a backpack and not much else. He simply nods a greeting to the group as a collective and stands quietly, preferring to listen to what the others have to say instead of speaking himself.
|
Borax pauses and gives each of his comrades a look over his spectacles offering a frown at the new comers and snort at the familiar faces. The investigator is fastidiously dressed with an array of potions and vials along a bandolier. He walk with a cane and a has a whip on his left him and light crossbow on his right.
His satchel floats behind him and appear to be stuffed, papers with arcane formulas and various alchemical agents.
"Very well, what is it we are to be doing exactly?"
Borax seems annoyed and his tone is tinged with condescension, making him imminently dislikable .
|
|
"Well I believe it is relax on this ship until we get there mate. Should take a couple of days. Best make ourselves comfortable." Castiel says as he drops himself somewhere comfortable and flips his hat over his eyes to protect them from the sun.
Betsy walks over to where Castiel is and curls up near his feet.
|
|
Upon arriving in Ilsurian, there is one thing on everyone's tongues: the circus is in town! It seems that all day yesterday, the excitement kept building as wagon after wagon after wagon started to arrive at a clearing just outside town.
As you make your way from the docks, a loud spectacle assails your eyes and ears. Circus folk are holding a parade that marches through town in a spectacle of sights, music, and drumming. Banners and streamers herald a proces sion 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).
Not everyone is in a cheery mood, however. For every ten men, women, and children excited for the festivities, you hear at least one voice hushed down with concern telling their mates to "hide your purse when talking to these damned gypsy scum."
You are free to explore the town or make your way to the circus or whatever you opt to do.
|
|
Teric saunters off the boat and smiles at the circus. He rubs his palms together. "Borax, my friend, why the grumpiness? This should be music to your ears! It is to mine. A circus means fools parting with their coin for the most simple of reasons. As long as the carnies don't see us as competition, perhaps we can work something out."
"They're probably Varasian too. Who else would work in a circus?" He rubs his hands together. "Ha, a holiday indeed!"
|
|
"Well for me something spicy. Cute Betsy wouldn't mind a bit of old sourpuss as a change in diet. Hahaha" Castiel says to Borax when he jokingly hits him in the shoulder with his ridged fist.
As he walks towards the carnival area the Spinosaur waits next to Borax, her head tilted to the side looking at Castiel and then back at Borax, sniffing him a little.
"I was joking Betsy you can't have him!" Castiel yells back.
Betsy hangs her head in disappointment and follows after Castiel making jipping noises.
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
|
Following the throng to the circus, you see that it is set up in a manner which wastes no time bringing you into the midway. A path runs east here from the midway toward the traveling zoo. To the south are booths with pavilion tent tops that provide shade for the games of skill and chance played beneath. Behind them are circus wagons, some clearly only for transportation and equipment while others are attractions and portable shops for merchants. To the north is a gigantic tent erected on tall
poles with a stage curtain pulled shut across its front.
The fare is simple and mostly snack foods. You hear talk of the townsfolk to ask the butcher to bring salted meats to sell for people to eat on further days of the circus, or for the baker to bring tasty morsels. For now, however, it is popped corn and sweet floss in all colours of the rainbow.
Barkers call from every tent and booth.
- Step right up and test yer strength! We will not rest until we find the strongest of the fair!
- Take the ball! Knock them down! If you can, you'll be talk o'th' town!
- Ring the bottles! So easy a child can do it!
- Beauty! Mystique! Come see if you can solve the mystery that is the Lovely Madame Masque!
- Come one, come all, to see the best collection of magical beasts this time of the Land of the Linnorm Kings! Come see the fierce manticore and our very special baby dragon!
- Come back just before sundown when we reveal our most prized member of our circus: the mythical sphinx!
|
|
"Hah! A sphinx?" comments Zinkyudo as they make their way through the fair, "That I doubt, we're pretty far from my home, where they live. But we should come back and see what they are selling as a sphinx, and what their baby dragon really is." He purchases a lemon-yellow candy floss and enjoys it greatly, oblivious to the fact that he's getting bits of it stuck to his feathers as he gestures with it, pointing to the various attractions and games as they come upon them.
"Hmm, I'm a decent shot, maybe I'll try one of these toss games." He approaches the booth where the ring toss is and says, "How much to play?"
|
|
"Well I think I am quite strong, I will try that strength challenge!" Castiel says.
"Well let's make this interesting shall we..." He says.
Castiel cracks his neck and his knuckles and before everyone eyes he appears to grow, taller and broader. His horns extend, his claws grow longer and his tail even spikier. He appears to have become even more like a spinosaur in appearance.
"Heavy ho!" He says in a lower and coarse voice with a grin on his face.
As he gives the object in question a mighty blow.
|
|
There is a man before you who seems to only half-heartedly swing at the lever with the mallet. Needless to say, the puck barely moves off the board, inciting a rowdy chuckle from the gamemaster. Turning from the attraction, the man drops the hammer with boredom and mutters something about "done with this sham of a faite"
Undetered, the large man picks up the hammer and motions to you. "What about you fine gents? Care to give it a try? Only a copper piece per swing! What say you?"
Three raised runways meet at a point like 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 barker then gathers everyone's attention before introducing Madame Masque, who emerges from the tent to wave silently at the crowd. Madame Masque struts down the center runway and poses for 1 minute, flirting silently with the crowd. She then 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, but one wears a single piece of jewelry, item of clothing, or flower only the original wore, tells the barker to you. You have one minute to call out the matching item before someone else does.
|
|
"Care to what my whats?" Zinkyudo asks, momentarily stumped by the carny's accent. "I don't know about that, but I'll try your game." He lays a copper piece on the booth's counter, then picks up the stack of rings. His first one flies true, and he smiles confidently. Not so hard, this...
He lets the next four rings fly and misses every one, the last three being truly sad attempts. "Hmmm, maybe I'll try the ball game."
|
|
Teric smiles as he sees the woman come out and only grins harder as she splits into three. "Well, quite the scene! Turn one lovely lady into three!" He nudges Borax who is deep into his formula book. He is looking at the crowd's faces as they watch the women walk down the aisles and misses any details of the women themselves.
"Yes, like sheep come to slaughter." He says under his breath as he watches the crowd's memorized looks.
|
|
In awe, whether genuine or feigned, the carny drops to the ground and cowtows to you. "Such great might,you can only be one person! The King of the Carnival!" "All hail, King of the Carnival!" the rest of the circus folk join in. With five hurrahs and twelve hip-hips, a small procession nears you, the lead person carrying a crown on a pillow which is presented to Castiel. Sure, it's only made of paper, but the audience is taking it in with relative enthusiasm. You get the feeling that being King of the Carnies might not be too bad a gig.
|
|
Castiel bows deeply and plays along with the show. He dismisses his transformation and lets himself be crowned King of the Carnival.
"Thank you my loyal subjects. My first degree is for everyone to have fun today!" He shouts out.
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
|
At King Castiel's royal decree, the carnies all shout "Hail, King of the Carnival!" before going about their duties to ensure it is carried out.
You still have the rest of the afternoon to explore the carnival grounds and circus.