"That's an easy one, ma' boy! Only two churches here in town. One is to Erastil, and that is a little temple about a quarter-mile outside the town. Just head north a ways. Other one is a temple to Sarenrae. She's got her temple right square in the middle of town. That one is south of here, just a ways. I don't know if either one will take too kindly to a Callistran coming though, just so you know. Most good deities aren't fond of the Goddess of Lust and Vengeance."
Clyde recieves his prize with a smile and waves to the crowd. Thank you very much! He then ambles back hom t get cleaned before heading tot he circus.
Gavin looks back and forth from the two tents for ring toss and the fortune teller. Ring toss, now that is an easy round for me. Will need to stop by there after I determine if this fortune teller is a sham or not. Could be a good laugh...
He slowly approaches the fortune teller, curious to hear what mystical fate awaits him...
Miles is lost in thought for a moment. "I've never really though about what makes me able to do what I do. I guess my ability to perform. It's just something I can do. Can't really tell you how I am able to do it. I can't change what spells I can cast, I can just cast them."
After another moment in though he says "Looks like the big lug managed to make up for his bad start. Are you going to the circus tonight?"
"Perhaps I'll leave the praying for tonight. I'm sure they wouldn't mind if I sit in their pew for a spell if I give them a few coins for their collections. I may serve Calistria faithfully, but I am not above giving the other deities their dues. Can you point me in the direction of the nearest one?"
As Clyde walks to the circus, he can't help but notice the line. It wasn't terribly long, but people were moving rapidly toward it. Vendors were moving their carts to form a tunnel, enclosing the line in a loud walkway of food and trinket carts. The front of the line was moving steadily, and coppers were exchanging hands rapidly. A dull roar of excited voices fill the air.
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Upon entering the Fortune Teller tent, Gavin sees a young man, maybe 15 years of age, standing and shaking the Fortune Teller's hand.
"Thanks so much. I can't begin to thank you enough!"
He runs past Gavin, out of the tent. He's obviously giddy. Once he is gone, the Fortune Teller gestures for Gavin to sit at her table. She is a dark-haired woman, perhaps thirty years old.
"And what can I do for you, my dear?"
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"I am, actually. I was planning on leaving soon. Buy me a ticket?"
She smiles sweetly at Miles. Her gaze returns to the window, and she watches the end of the strength contest with thinly-veiled glee.
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Joram points to a sizable building, just past the large tent set up in the center of town. The tent is a large tent, adjacent to a much larger, massive pavilion that stretches all the way to the edge of town.
"If you can get around that massive canvas monstrosity there, the temple is just a building or two down from there. Good luck on your missions, and thank you for your service."
He extends his hand in a gesture of friendship.
Clyde took his place in line quickly and kept a firm grip on his ticket. He wondered just what might be showing tonight.
Suddenly, there was a chill in the air and the drums played by a musician sounded ominous.
"I'd be glad of such lovely company. Let's go an buy tickets and get some seats in the tent." Miles says as he stands and offers her his arm.
Gavin looks about the tent, trying to identify the origin, and perhaps authenticity, of this oracle of the stars. Sitting down upon the stool, he smiles at the raven haired lady. "My life has been one of twists and turns, of new directions and undiscovered alleyways. Yet I still feel something is lacking. What is it that lies before me? What am I supposed to do?"
Scylax takes Joram's hand and shakes it once in a very professional manner.
"Thank you for your help, Joram. It's good to speak with a fellow man of action. I hope our paths cross again."
After the quick farewell, Scylax adjusts his pack to sit a bit better on his back for navigating dense crowds and heads in the direction of the church.
After a moment, he realizes he's been in far less tame surroundings for too long and unties his coin pouch from his belt, slipping it under the chest plate of his armor. Festivals were far too busy for him to deal with the distraction of the crowd and the potential hands on his purse. After he is satisfied no one will rob him, he continues through the crowd past the giant pavilion and to the church.
As Clyde is waiting in line, he can't help but notice the oddly-clad jester who is sidling up to the line, and doing what only be best described as acrobatic-insult-comedy. He leaves his "victims" in tears, usually from laughing, but not so every time. He's currently a few people ahead of Clyde in line, making his way toward the back. He'll be upon the poor lumberjack soon!
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Meg stands, and gently takes Mile's offered arm.
"Let's go get tickets. I heard they were a silver each. It's supposed to be quite the grand show."
She pauses for a moment, and casts a quick spell with her free hand.
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The Fortune Teller smiles.
"You will do what you are fated to do. I do what is needed to help guide you along your future, by seeing truths about the present. Sometimes I see truths about your future, to guide you through the present. And sometimes, I see truths about your past, to guide you through both present and future. I'll let you pick my tools for the day."
She reaches to a small table beside her, and sets several items on the table in front of her.
"There is the crystal ball, always a classic. Perhaps you'd rather I looked into the cards? Or I can read your palm? I can cast the bones, or even look at tea leaves. Which method calls to you?"
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As Scylax nears the church, he can see it's doors thrown open wide. It would normally be a very impressive building, save for the usually massive pavilion next door. An older priest, and a young priestess are standing outside, chatting with passers-by. She sees Scylax approach, and gasps a little at the sight of him. The older priest looks up, and shoos her away, while waving at Scylax.
Gavin listens carefully to the riddles in her words, searching for truth or falsity dancing from her tongue. "While reading tea leaves is quite common among the midwives and hearthwardens of my people, I did not have what one could call a traditional upbringing and thus put little stock in this tradition. As to the rest, I must say, I am a bit surprised. The oracles, seers, and truthsayers I have crossed paths with in the past generally had once specialty for reading the future, a rare few two. But you embrace five different paths to knowledge? What do you consider your most introspective tool? That is what I would prefer."
Clyde was unsettled about the jester, he knew about jokes that poked at a person's pride and all but if people were really crying, then somethin might be wrong. Still, he had no proof and steeled his back for incoming insults.
Miles glances at Meg as she casts her spell.
"Interesting choice, letting me choose. My personal preference is for the Harrow. That's my poison, so to speak."
The Fortune Teller smiles, and clears the table of everything but a Harrow deck. She flips through the deck, and does a quick preliminary reading. She looks puzzled, and shuffles the cards. She does another quick reading, and looks even more puzzled. She sets the deck aside, and stands.
"I...I...um...I'll be right back."
She heads behind a curtain separating the room, and quickly comes back with a different deck.
She flips through the cards, and nods to herself. She shuffles the cards. She performs another reading. She looks even more confused.
"I...I...don't know what to tell you. This is unprecedented. Have you ever had your future read by the Harrow before?"
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Clyde braces himself for the insulting jester, and here he comes. The jester cartwheels to a stop in front of Clyde, and stares. As Clyde braces himself for the upcoming insult....he keeps waiting. The jester is staring at Clyde, and moving his head and torso from side to side, like a snake, while examining Clyde. He says nothing for a long while, just...staring. It is rather off-putting.
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Miles doesn't grasp what the spell is that Meg cast, but he manages to deduce it is some sort of illusion spell. The strange thing is, nothing about her changes upon completion of the spell. Upon it's completion, she nods, as if to herself.
"Ready then?"
Miles looks a Meg for a second confused and the smiles at her. "Ready."
She casts an illusion and nothing changes. Who or what is this woman.
Clydesteals a page from the jester's book and silently makes motions like he is raising an invisible wall infront of the jester. he raises another wall and 'hammers' nails into it and raises two more walls and nails them shut.
Ok fellas, take em away.
The jester is suddenly lifted up into the air in his invisible box and carried off by invisible portters.
Gavin sits back, and thinks about the woman's words for a moment. After several seconds, he comes to a startling revelation. "I spent many years of my life growing up in a traveling carnival much like this one. Yet, I never had my fortune told, despite the company having not one but two seers among us. In fact, the one time I brought it up, our troupe leader and my adoptive father Rodrigo expressly forbid it. It was the only time he ever said no to me, and given the freedom he otherwise granted, I accepted it without much thought.... so, what does it say?"
Scylax tries to ignore the girl's reaction, but it's hard to do. He raises his hand and waves back at the priest while approaching him.
"Greetings Father. My name is Scylax and I have been in the wilderness for a month without sight of another living person. All this ruckus has me tense. Though I am a follower of Calistria, I was wondering if I may take refuge from all the bustle in your fine church for a little while. I would, of course, respect your patron and not pray to my goddess. I would also remove my mask, as I do in every church. And I would be more than happy to donate a few copper to your collections for the bother."
Miles and Meg get over to the line, and are behind the lumberjack from the strength competition. As the walk up, they seem him deeply engaged in what looks like a staring contest.
Meg looks at the pair confused.
"What do you think is going on in their minds, to be staring like that. It's rather...odd, don't you think?"
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"Well, you my dear, are something quite special. I continually get the same reading from you. It's...eerie, to be honest."
She ponders for a moment.
"I wonder if that is why your father wouldn't let you look at them. Hmmm. Well, regardless of what the reason is, the cards don't lie. Mayhaps we delve into the deeper meaning of the cards?"[/b]
She lays nine cards out on the table before her, in three rows of three. She explains the first column of three is Gavin's past, the second the present, and the third his future. She begins looking at each one in turn, and pausing every so often to close her eyes for just a moment. After having studied the cards for several minutes, the Fortune Teller looks up from her musings.
"Well, the past doesn't detail anything outlandish, or even out of the ordinary. Its here," She points to the last card of the middle column. "That things start to get interesting. Your near future shows a journey, a quest, or perhaps some profound internal change within you. Something will be happening to seriously change the course of your life." She points again, this time to the three cards on the right column, in turn with her words. "This one says that you will make lots of new family, or perhaps form lasting bonds with complete strangers. This middle one...I'll come back to that." She pauses for a moment. "This last one says that your future will be hard, filled with persecution and distrust. You will be harmed, and people....creatures may try to take your life. But you must persevere,." Her hands move back to the middle card. "You must persevere because of this middle card here. It says that a large swath of land, perhaps the whole Kingdom, and maybe even beyond, will be experiencing some kind of massive upheaval. You will be at the center of it, and your actions will dictate the outcome. It will cause great sorrow, but inspire great hope too."
She gathers up the cards.
"Be true, and choose your allies wisely, for they will have a say in the days to come."
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The priest motions Scylax into the church.
"Oh, course! All are welcome here. Feel free to rest and relax. I appreciate the steps you are taking, but in truth, it is more important to feel at home. Ideologically, our Deities aren't all the different, though don't let them hear that!"
He smiles once more, and after guiding Scylax to a seat turns to walk back out. After a few steps, he pauses, and turns back.
"While you're here, I suggest you take in the circus! I hear it is remarkable. It's apparently the last show this evening. I plan on attending tonight's show myself."
ManBearPig Clyde howled as his fur turned golden and energy erupted from his paws. His arch-enemy Mimeman danced away with a smirk. Clyde growled and unleashed a flurry of punches to wipe the smirk off that silly painted face. He would not be mocked and children would not have to suffer nightmares about demented Mimes any more!
Scylax sits down after removing his pack and weapons. He sets them beside himself reverently, especially his whip, the chosen weapon of his goddess. He takes a long breath before removing his Silver Demon mask. What is revealed could surely scare children more than the mask. Underneath the shiny exterior of metal is a grotesquely scarred and marred aged man. He was certainly later in his life, although none could accurately guess his true age by the scars on his face. One eye is a bright crystal blue while the other is clouded and milky white from a wound that must've damaged the eye.
Scylax closes his eyes and takes in the quieter tones of the church from the festival goers outside. He decides he may have to follow the father's advice and attend the night's show after he recoups here for awhile.
The mime continued to sway, obviously trying to win the staredown. He seems perturbed that he isn't getting anywhere, and he eventually shrugs and cartwheels away.
Clyde smiles at his victory, now little children will be safe from mimes, if only for a little while. He then strides into the tent with his head held high.
"Well, the big guy won. Don't know if that's a good thing for him or not. I don't know that I'd be bragging that I beat a mime." Miles chuckles. "And I don't think there was much going on in their minds."
After spending some time gathering his thoughts, Scylax stands from the pews, returns his belongings to their places and moves to the collection plate, tossing in 4 copper. He then replaces his mask on his head and returns outside. He sees people milling into the tent for the evening show and decides to take the Father's advice and see it. Some entertainment might distract him from his moodiness. He moves to the line and forms up at the back of it to wait patiently for his turn to pay the entry fee.
Gavin leans back in his chair and takes a deep breath while staring at the fortune teller, trying to determine the truth of her words.
"Well then, that's quite the fortune... three times you read it, and got the same results? Not quite the grand forecast of love, wealth, and luxury I was hoping for. So, persecuted, harmed, attempted murder, and
some great upheaval... and the fate of the realm rests on my shoulders, and the shoulders of my as yet unknown comrades?"[He /b]
He pulls an apple from his pouch and takes a bite. [b]"You sure that whole 'make lots of new family' bit doesn't mean I will marry a beautiful princess and we will have lots of babies?"
He pulls a couple gold from his pouch and places them on the table. "A thousand blessings on you lady." With that he stands and departs the tent. He glances at the ring toss, noticing that the line is thinning. perhaps a game of chance will clear my head, and get me a ticket to the grand show tonight...
The carnival barker sees Gavin approach.
"Only a copper for five, count 'em five rings! If you get all five, you can win out Grand Prize! Of course, no one has been able to get all five yet today. Do you have what it takes?"
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Sclyax makes his way to the line, which has shortened considerably. It looks like the called out a second ticket seller to speed things up. He gets into a short line, behind a young man, an elven woman, and a lumberjack.
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Clyde and Miles are at the front of the line, and tickets are being sold. The two vendors each greet one of you, and say that tickets are a silver each, unless you want to buy box seats, in which case the price is five silver.
Still shaken more than a little by his fortune, he takes the five rings and throws them without so much as a joke or quip...
The carnival barker cheers for Gavin.
"Three in a row! That's pretty good. I'll give you a ticket to the big carnival tonight as a prize!"
He hands a small slip of parchment to Gavin.
"Well done, good sir."
Clyde hands over the ticket he won at the contest
Gavin looks down at the slip as he stuffs it into his pocket, then turns back to the rings. I could hit all five, it would not be hard, perhaps I could get the big prize... He ponders his next move....
You are all at the front of the line, and the man takes your tickets. He tears off the ends of the tickets in a zigzag pattern.
"Frederas, take these lovely folks to front-row seats inside!"
He pointed at a large, brutish man, done up with makeup to look less human. Frederas nodded at the group, opened the canvas flap to the pavilion tent, and held it open. He gestures for the group to go inside. He's polite, if a little intimidating.
Gavin welcomely accepts the front-row seat, ensuring an unobstructed view of the night's performance. Looking at the guest's seated beside him, he chuckles, "Guess I won't have to climb over anyone's shoulder to see the exotic performers and death defying acts!" Spotting a stand hawker selling snacks, he calls out, "Oy! I'll take a wine and some nuts!" He tosses the hawker a few copper for the treats as he settles in for the performance...
Clyde nods to those sitting near him. Best way to see a show, unless there are wild animals that might get loose at a dramatic moment.
Miles turns to Meg as they are seated, "Looks like we got the best seats here. I hope the show is as good as they say."
Scylax is rushed through the line. He's told the show is starting soon. He's seated between a halfling and a lumberjack. Meg and Gavin are seated next to the lumberjack they'd been watching.
"I hear it is quite good. Magical enhancements, apparently." Meg responds. Her attention is wandering, as her eyes take in everything.
You are all in good seats, ringside, sitting next to an empty box seat. The seats they had were a pair of long benches, made of handcarved oak. It would comfortably seat two human-sized creatures, and has a two-foot tall wall around it, offering the illusion of privacy. Frederas motions that you may feel free to sit in the box seats, if you so choose.
It appears that you are only a few minutes from the start of the show. A few acrobats and jugglers are warming up, and a few children are walking around selling candy and drinks for a copper piece each. Calling one over, Gavin gets his snacks, and is happily treated to a free bag of nuts and candies thrown in for purchasing the wine.
Around five minutes later, the ringmaster walks out into the center of the large arena. He is a tall, slender man, dressed in red and black. He introduces the circus, and as the various performers stream out, he introduces them as well. Obviously a charismatic fellow, he knows how to work a crowd. He tells jokes, stories, and as the show begins, starts to weave a tale that unites all the various acts into one coherent story.
First up is a group of acrobats. This portion of the show alone was worth the price of admission. After several minutes of tumbling and amazing feats of agility, the show began shifting into an exciting routine consisting of fire dancers, fire eaters, fire breathers, and an ancient drake flying near the top of the tent. As the old beast flew through the gouts of flame, his wings spiraled the flames into a whirlwind of heat. The transition was subtle, and it was hard to know where one act began and the other ended. Once the pavilion tent was reaching a near-unbearable level of heat, the drake flew outside. An elderly woman walks out, and begins using ice magic to draw frozen patterns in the air. The air cools rapidly, and soon the viewers were clutching themselves and shivering. The crowd’s attention is directed above, to a series of man-sized snowflakes that were dancing across the top of the pavilion.
When the snowflake’s dance was completed, the crowd looks down to find her replaced with the lion tamer, and his five lions. All were full-grown males, and one is the size of a bull elephant. This lion has bone armor plates on his shoulders, and wicked looking spikes have grown down his back along his spine. The tamer runs them through amazing tricks, and at one point even has the large lion juggle his smaller brethren. The crowd roars with approval, and the lions roar back. It is deafening. Eventually, the lions file out a side door, and were replaced by clowns. The clowns bounce around for a little, but were obviously just a distraction. Men are coming in to set up a high-wire, and lighting hoops on fire for them to swing through.
It was during this lull in the action that it happened.
A small bead of white light appears, so bright it hurts to look at. It is right in the middle of the group, slightly to the left of center in the box seats. Almost as soon as it appears, it exploded.
You are standing in a room. It is all white. The ceiling is white; the floor is white; the walls are all white. It is an empty room, full of nothing but bright white light. You can see yourself standing in the room, alongside the shades of a few of the other audience members. It is almost like you are watching from outside your body, watching yourself watch what is unfolding.
As the others trapped in the explosion fade into existence, the bright light begins to lessen in intensity. Once it reaches a more manageable level of brightness, more akin to a sunny day, the world around you begins to rush past. As you stand still, with the world rushing past, you see a distant castle. As it speeds toward you, you recognize the castle of the royal family. It isn’t as the castle appears printed on the currency of the realm, but rather much older, and newer. Parts of the castle are falling into disrepair, and other portions have been recently replaced with new, freshly-carved stone. It flys toward you, and you see the gates fly open at your approach.
When you enter the throne room, everything stops. The throne room is different than anything you’ve ever heard. It is filled wall-to-ceiling with gold plating, and there is a long table set perpendicular to you and your companions. It has nine seats all filled with shadows of people. Some the size of a grown man, a few the size of human children. Only the first, on the far left, is opaque. It is the figure of a Sea Elf, from the Inland Sea. He has a noble bearing, and is dressed in a regal manner. He has the bearing of a warrior, and the muscles to match. He is clad in functional, worn, expensive breastplate, with a cloak thrown over one shoulder.
He stands, and takes off the cloak draped over his shoulders. He opens it, and it becomes apparent it is in fact a robe. A robe made entirely of blooming flowers. He motions as if to hand it to you. Instead, he walks behind the second chair, and drapes the robe over the shoulders of the shade in the second chair.
This strange vision begins to fade. As it does, you hear a sound, similar to wind chimes, but with a musical lilt to it.
The vision fades to black.
Back inside the tent, it is business as usual. No one has even noticed the white light, although the audience members around you did give you a few strange looks, as you spontaneously dove for cover from an invisible threat. It appears a trapeze act is winding down, and only a few minutes had passed. The announcer’s voice rings across the tent.
”I know we have a few returning customers here. Obviously this is a much better quality show than we usually put on. We have to leave town, so this is our last show. We don’t want to leave you all without a special send-off, so we’re giving this show our all! If you would be so kind as to file outside in an orderly fashion, our Grand Finale will be outside, so the whole town can watch!”
The pavilion’s doors are thrown open, and the crowd begins filing out.
At being offered the box, Miles nods to Meg and then the box. "Shall we take advantage of the box?" He then moves into it with Meg. Miles gasps and claps as the show goes on. [b]"They do a really go job of putting a show on."
As the light appears and explodes Miles tries to jump out of the way, but get caught up on the wall. He looks at the others in the area "What in the world was that?"
Clyde enjoys everything and indulges in some drinks and snacks. He really likes the super duper lions and chatters his teeth a little when it becomes cold but soldiers through like a true lumberjack.
When the light goes off, Clyde's finely honed reflexes allow him to dive out of the way. What in tarnation was that?!
Scylax is enjoying the show when the light suddenly appears. His hunter instincts tell him this is not part of the show. He tries to determine what it is when it explodes, which he was not expecting. He is caught in the explosion.
Coming back to reality, Scylax looks around, mostly searching for the cause of the vision. Suddenly, he looks forward and down. Thinking hard, his whispers a prayer to Calistria. Of all people, Scylax is aware of the importance of visions. From the look of some fellow guests who seemed to have experienced the same, he knows he is not crazy.
He spots those who reacted to the explosion and as people start standing to file out he heads to each of them in turn, taking their arm and whispering in their ear, "Meet me at the Hare's Shanty immediately after the show."
He then stalks off, out of the tent and away from the show. He finds a secluded spot, looks side to side and closes his eyes.
"Vesma, my darling wife, are you there?"
Totally enthralled by the excitement of the show and the effects of his wine, Gavin is caught entirely unawares as the light explodes before his eyes and he is mentally drawn into the other realm....
Coming back to his own reality, he looks about the tent, seeing the rest of the patrons still enjoying the grand show.... except those few seated adjacent to him. By all the gods, this has been quite the evening. The fortune, this vision, what next....
As the masked man directs him and several others to meet at the Hare's Shanty after the show, he finds himself willing to comply. But first, he must shuffle outside to see the finale...
The crowd walks outside, all abuzz with excitement. They all agree, it is the best show they've ever seen. Even those who've seen the circus before say it was never that good.
It appears that the various performers who had been outside the pavilion had set up signs with arrows to lead the crowd. Many of the entertainers were shouting encouragement to the various townsfolk to get them to come and watch the finale, since it is outdoors and no ticket is required.
Eventually most, if not all, of the town has turned out, and all are walking toward a small hill outside of town. The ringmaster is standing atop the little hill, waving at the audience. He motions everyone toward him, and announces that the finale will be starting in five minutes.
Hmm.. I am getting a weird feeling about this.
"You and me both big guy.", Miles says to Clyde. He then looks at Meg, "Anything seem off about this to you?"
Gavin looks around the crowd and realizes that, despite the many people who have shuffled out to the edge of town, he is once again standing with his companions from the carnival tent. That is... interesting? "WHAT?! Weird Feeling?! Nooooo.... I mean, it's not like any of you had some strange vision... or... received a cryptic fortune.... right?"
I think..either we stay away or get closer so we can be ewady if something nasty happens.
The crowd moved forward, and began to fill the field around the little hill. Voices, raised in pitch with excitement, created a buzz in the air. Obviously this is something new, and new is always exciting.
It seems all of Dromtson is here now, clamoring for good vantage points, awaiting the finale with bated breath.
The little group finds an open spot, near the front. The retired paladin, Joram, waves you all over, and welcomes you with a smile.
"How are you lot doing? Did you catch the rest of the show?"
He turned back to the ringmaster, who was announcing that two minutes were left.
"Not much longer now, it appears."
"The show was interesting, especially the part most people seem to have missed." Miles says to Joram as they wait.
"Oh, what part was that? I was working, so I didn't get to see it. A new act, maybe?"