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As you step onto the Midway you see people running from the iron cage where the "Baby Dragon" is kept. The creature is hissing and howling. It looks like it's flanks have been sliced by a knife. It menaces Jessa and no one seems to be helping you. You also see a funny humaoid carnival trooper flying by his big dumbo ears overhead. He howls: help, someone help me! Help me corral it back into it's cage!
Not really being skilled in the art of nonlethal, Estevan summons Dancing lights, and sends them towards the Dragon. Hoping that either it will chase them into the cage or it'll retreat from them and he can chase it into the cage.
"Would anybody wish to be made bigger?"
"That'd make more of a show for everyone wouldn't it."
Nori, still needing a drink, will just cut to the chase, flop on up, and give it a smack her ranseur. It could stand to have a good scar anyway.
"Back away from it, let me try something."
Dylan will attempt a bardic performance: fascinate (DC12)
Fascinate (Su): At 1st level, a bard can use his performance to cause one or more creatures to become fascinated with him. Each creature to be fascinated must be within 90 feet, able to see and hear the bard, and capable of paying attention to him. The bard must also be able to see the creatures affected. The Distraction of a nearby combat or other dangers prevents the ability from working. For every three levels a bard has attained beyond 1st, he can target one additional creature with this ability
Wave see's the lizard and runs towards it. "Everyone stay back, you might get hurt!"
Then he winds up an smacks the lizard.
Estevan walks forward determinedly, "النوم في أحضان التنين" attempting to cast sleep on the creature (DC16 Will to resist), unless it's more than 4HD.
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. The "baby dragon" stumbles, mumbles, hisses. It fights to stay awake, then collapses!
The big eared creature swoops down and starts trying to put pressure on the bleeding wound Nori gave it. What the heck! You could have gone a little bit easy on her - Almara will hear of this, mark my words!
Jessa collapses to her knees trembling. The crowd settles down and stares at you all in awe...
Ix Chal comes out of the main tent, his job of providing smoke and explosions for one of the more senior performers now complete.
No bad, but I need to get the smoke to hang lower if I am to be accepted.
The tension is thick outside and he finds his claws out and hair brisling. Seeing the cause and that it had been dealt with he forces himself to relax and approaches "Is the dragon dead?" He asks with a hopeful edge to his voice.
"Well, it's definitely not going to try to pop out of the cage around, you can't deny that! Plus a big nasty battle scar always make a beast look fiercer."
Dylan loses interest in the lizard and wanders over to examine the cage curiously, "I wonder how it got out in the first place?"
Estevan rushes to the girl, putting his arm around her and looking her over for signs of injury.
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Once the fight is over, Berthold Flavion, the circus’s Master of Beasts, arrives, winded and flushed. You did it *huff huff* you got her under control. Nice work, all of you! I will see that you get rewarded. How did the poor beast escape??
Some members of the crew carry the lizard back to its cage, and others help calm the big eared flying man, whose name is Phardaen, down and take him back to the sideshow. He mumbles something about being sorry, he was just doing a special flying act for a person who offered him a full gold piece!
Estevan speaks softly to Jessa, trying to calm her down, while looking over to Dylan to see his reaction after examining the cage.
Dylan will motion Berthold over and wordlessly hold up the lock to display the telltale signs of it being picked. He'll surreptitiously watch the crowd.
Well that all happened really fast. For shame, Kittea really wanted to slay the 'dragon', always one to prove she isn't anything to mess with. Ah, well...
Kittea will walk to Dylan and look at the walk as well, a small scoff at the look of it at first, maybe she could see something no one else could? She had a thing about picking locks.
"Well whatever it was we need to put it back before it wakes up. Still do not understand why we are allowing it that option, given its taste for flesh and fur," She offered to little of no help before shrugging and pulling out her dagger, letting it dance in between nimble fingers. "Still not too late to put it down, right?"
EDIT: Though at that time was when she noticed them dragging it back to the cage. "Ah, well, maybe next time...,"
Ix Chal will approach those still around the site of the battle. "What happened?" then noticing the crowd watching now that everything is safer he thinks quickly. Motioning to Jessa he whispers "Quick snap out of it, stand up and everyone take a bow." Then in his best impression of a ring master's voice he says "That right folks, the entertainment at the Umbra Carnival takes all forms from the spectacular to the fierce." at which he extends his claws and growls.
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The crowd pauses, processing Ix's suggestion. Then the crowd cheers clapping and hooting! The other Carnival folks quickly pick up on the idea and play along...
You notice among them Mistress Almara Delisen, the Carnival Master herself, a grave Varisian Gypsy women, flanked by her body guards. She claps without smiling. Clap...clap...clap...
Belatedly, the puppeteer finally makes his way from within his stage...
Only to realize the 'excitement' has already been dealt with. Noticing the Carnival Mistress response, he refrains from drawing undue attention to himself.
Wave walks over to Dylan, making sure that the dragon is returned securely. When he see's the lock and and the grim features on Dylan. "Who would do this?"
Estevan helps Jessa to her feet and tries to guide her into a bow as best he can.
He'll then try and lead her away to somewhere less public.
"Don't be expecting a repeat performance of that one any time soon! Ol' dragon's gotta lick its wounds and all."
Not particularly distressed however, Nori continues along in her quest to get a free drink out of someone.
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The crowds depart for the evening and you retire to your private tents In the morning you are greeted by a midget carny who says Mistress Almara Delisen requests your presence! Follow me please. He waddles on ahead through the tents, animal cages, ect. Estevan winks at all the girls as you go and they sigh and fan themselves. Finally you break over a rise and see Almara's wagon. The Carny points, then hurries back into the carnival.
Almara waits beside a large private wagon with an adjoining canopy, and chairs are arranged around a nearby campfire. She greets you kindly but with a businesslike air: Welcome friends. I know we have not had the pleasure of meeting eachother yet. I do make it a point to introduce myself to all the new members of the Carnival, but planning this trip and ensuring the safety of our troop here in Ilsurian has preoccupied me. Please sit. I have something important to discuss with you.
"Speak on Mistress, we are all ears." Estevan smiles.
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I appreciate your efforts yesterday in the regrettable incident with our dragon. I fear I could also use your help with another matter. There was a murder in town last night. The circumstances, I am told, implicate people from my circus—something I find very hard to accept. I’d like to contract you to represent the Umbra Carnival to determine who is really responsible and preserve our reputation.
Nori gives a pointed look and flick of her tail when asked to sit, but gives Almara her full attention.
"So just who was it that was killed how then?"
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Almara: It was a local man. Archivin by name. Murdered in cold blood on the streets of Ilsurina last night. I don't know anything beyond that accept that the rumor is spreading in town that it was our Sphinx, Jherizhana, that killed him. Ilsurins' Sheriff, Feldane, questioned me at length about the murder this morning. Said the body had been mauled. But I know for a fact it wasn't Jherizhana...
Ix Chal looks at the mistress suspiciously "Surely sending a bunch abnormals like us into the town is likely to cause more problems not solve them. Are you going to leave us at the mercies of the town while you make your escape?"
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Almara laughs. Dear Ix, this outfit relies on being able to buy provisions in the towns we visit. I have no intention of leaving! We need Ilsurian.
Listen, this isn’t just about lost revenue or personal reputation, or even protecting who they accused. I can’t let allow our ability to perform and obtain supplies to become compromised. I'll give you 600 gold pieces if you can find conclusive proof as to the identity of the persons responsible. And as a show of my good faith, I'll give you 50gp down payment. Almara reaches into her bosom and retrieves a purse bag, tosses it to Ix. Though you do make a good point about carnival investigators going in to town. I would talk to the Sheriff before you investigate too much. I truly don't want to raise suspicions beyond what they already are.
Ix Chal smiles At worst I get the blame and some money, much better than getting run out of town with only the clothes I was wearing. "Good, firstly how do you know it wasn't Jherizhana?"
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We've got that sphinx so locked down there is no WAY it was Jherizhana. We even use elven binding magic on it! The sphinx is one of this carnival's greatest attractions. It is beyond rare to see such a creature in captivity. Without her our sales would drop 30% and we've got innocent mouths to feed in this troop! You may find her aloof and unhelpful, but if you are that suspicious I can arrange a meeting.
"More curious than suspicious this point. I'd be interested in visiting the sphinx."
Kittea hadn't only been the newest of the trope, but possibly the most questionable, given she rarely showed off her race, and she brought little else than a strong arm when it was needed. Though perhaps the call this morning was just so she can make sure it wasn't any of them. Which is why she had been more keen on staying of out sight while she listened.
Though that changed in time, as the call for investigating came into mind. It seemed it wasn't that Almara was questioning them, but rather asking for help. So she would step out, with just her white shirt and a pair of small tight shorts as she stretched and scratched at her head.
"If I had to guess our disposition with the Sheriff will be less than friendly right? But fine, if you want to make it more official than I'm not one to question the boss lady." she managed out before turning to Dylan and shrugging. "Well if she's in camp that would be the shortest route, if you were so inclined. Can I get dressed and meet you all there?" Though she didn't forget her dagger, that much was obvious as she spun it between her fingers.
"If we are investigating a murder, I would like to look at the body of the victim."
Pointing at Ix and Kittea's general directions, Nori says "Quite the odd state of affairs letting those two wander about free while the sphynx stays locked away. Is it the wings that make the difference? I'd also suggest you maybe look into better locks between that rumor and this real incident just now."
"Slinky, this isn't the time to be be arguing over who gets to roam free, let us see what we can find out - I'm sure it's all just a misunderstanding."
"So Sphinx, Sheriff, Body - anyone have any further starting points, or shall we get moving?"
"I agree with you for what it is worth, I won't let myself wander around currently. But we aren't in charge. If you think it would help I can hide my features for a bit but it won't last more than an hour. Sheriff first to get permission then the body."
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Almara: Be careful about disguising yourselves. Sheriff Feldan is a reasonable women and will understand your race. But if you decieve her and are discovered we may find her much less cooperative. But you are right that the people of Ilsurian are wary of our troop, and Varisians in general. While you speak with the Sheriff and check the murder site I will prepare Jherizhana for your visit. You may meet her in her tent (A7 on the miday) tonight at 7 o'clock. Good hunting!
"So, off to see the sherif then. I can't claim to have said those words before." Dylan says dolefully.
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You find Sheriff Feldane at the town Jail. She is a no-nonsense person and does her best to rise above the stereotypes the community harbors toward travelers and ethnic Varisians so she can mete out justice fairly. Even so, the sight of Ix and Nori is slightly surprising to her.
Sheriff: Ah you must be the investigators from the Umbra Carnival. Almara warned me she would be hiring her own detectives. Well, I have no objections to you running your own investigation, but I will warn you...you are representing the circus, and thus any misconduct on your part reflects on the carnival. And I will take that in to consideration when determining the facts of this murder case.
"Thank you. If you have anyone you can spare and trust I would welcome them coming with us so that you can get reliable reports of any misconduct by us. Or if not could you do us the favour and writing a note or giving us some item that will let the people we talk know we are have your permission?" Ix Chal says in a strong but hard to place accent which certainly isn't Varisian, those particularly well-travelled or learned will recognise it as that of the Mwangi jungle but distorted by having the wrong shape of mouth.
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Hm. Yes, I will pen you such a letter and seal before you leave. She sighs. Sit down then, let me share with you the basic facts of the case.
called
Walder was found mauled while walking to his home after the circus last night. Walder’s wife, who went looking for her husband when he never came home, discovered the body.
Agnes Walder begged her husband’s four full-time guards (N human warriors 2) who lived at the Locked Box for help. Three of them left their post to search, and one guard stayed behind to secure the office.
Thieves, presumably in league with the creature that killed Walder, burst into the Locked Box, killed the remaining guard, and stole many easily carried valuables (such as gems and jewelry). The robbery was interrupted when the guards brought Walder’s body to the office
instead of his home, and they glimpsed two humanoid figures fleeing in the night.
Upon finding the guard dead and the building burglarized, the three remaining guards secured the building until the sheriff could be notified.
Well before they left Kittea did take the opportunity to dress, once again using as much of her apparel to hide the fact she was, indeed, Catfolk. If it wasn't one thing it would be another afterall.
So while not necessarily trying to hide who she was, it would be painfully obvious she just wasn't trying to attract attention to herself as she stood not too far off from Ix. Though when he started talking about 'sparing people to watch them' she let out a resounding sigh and shook her head. Clearly, she was plenty find without someone over her shoulder.
After being informed of everything she just shrugged. "Seems open and shut enough. Walder's wife a suspect? Can we see the scene? Can we talk to anyone present that evening?"
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Your investigation is completely up to you. You can of course visit Walder's wife at the locked box. My own investigation has not yet taken me there. The crime scene is roped off to protect it. You would do well to see it sooner rather than later as evidence of that sort, foot prints, ect, tend to not last long.
"Sounds good to me. Thank you for the letter. We'll be back if we learn anything useful or to find out if you have." Ix Chal says getting up and intending to go to the locked box.
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Look, before you go you should know...I'm not entirely convinced a creature from the circus is responsible for the murders. Nevertheless,the people of Ilsurian are fiercely independent and reactive. The mood in town is sour. There are stories all over the place about a great four-legged beast flying over town last night after the circus closed down, silhouetted across the moon. Of course, I’ll be damned if I can find a single eyewitness who actually saw the sphinx. Now poor Walder is left dead in some bushes. It’d be one thing if these deaths were accidental, but the robbery angle has people thinkin’ of a Sczarni heist. I’m not proud to say it, but this stirs a lot of unworthy opinions about Varisians.