Erin sees and hears nothing, but as Pogug enters the tent, his darkvision allows him to spot a small figure with a bulbous head and pointed ears (similar to his own), sitting motionlessly, peering down from the platform above. If he knew she was there, perhaps Pogug could warn his halfling companion, but he lost track of her stealthy movements before she entered the tent, and can't see her from his current position.
Meanwhile, outside the tent, Ashak peeks cautiously out of his hiding place to see that Ashyr is nowhere to be seen. More raised voices confirm that she is inside the tent, so he takes the opportunity to begin climbing the nearby rope.
Semsephiel is unperturbed by the cut in his flesh, though the hole in his coat is somewhat annoying.
Some, the devil thinks to himself, would have deigned it appropriate to use the flat of the weapon, or one’s own hand.
Slowly, very slowly, Erin starts feeling her way up the ladder. She slips between the rungs to maintain cover from both above and below.
Pogug slides under one of the benches, keeping his eye the maybe-goblin.
Ashak continues his climb toward the flag, now almost close enough to touch it. While he remains exceptionally stealthy, this part of the rope rests against the tent's canopy, and Erin and Pogug can hear him brush against the tough canvas as he climbs. If only he were smaller...
Pogug sees the goblin guarding the top platform turn his head upward to look toward the hole in the canopy, and as he raises his head, it crosses between a faint beam of light from the dancing lights above and Erin's position as she climbs the ladder. She can't make out the shape, but she is now aware that something is moving up there as well. One way or another, this will be over very soon.
Seeing motion above her, Erin freezes in place. Her only move is to carefully draw her hammer.
Pogug makes his way to the other ladder, grabbing the first rung.
At this moment, the magic that's been keeping Ashak small for the last minute runs out, and the lump that can be seen where he sags against the tent's canvas gets bigger. Even so, his arm reaches out for the flag. If someone had managed to distract the goblin on the platform at this crucial moment, the flag would have been his, and the game would have been over. The goblin is not distracted, though, and is ready and waiting for this. A heavy, thick-bladed dagger flashes out from his hand, meeting the hobgoblin's just as it becomes visible through the hole in the top of the tent around the pole that the flag waves from.
Ashak cries out as the thrown weapon pierces his hand. He loses his grip on the rope and begins to slide down the top of the tent, landing in a heap at the feet of Gregor Maleffect.
In response to the commotion, the flap at the main entrance to the tent is thrown open, and lights flare to life inside the tent as the tiefling boy enters. In response, monkey's screech can be heard from the top of the eastern platform (the one Pogug is below).
While Erin has managed to conceal herself from the goblin between the rungs of the ladder, she is not prepared for the tiefling's entry, and from his vantage point, there is nowhere for her to hide.
the flag would have been his, and the game would have been over
Startled by the sudden light, Chi scrambles onto the platform with a squeak of fury and launches himself at the creature's bulbous head, filling its vision with a small bundle of flailing fur.
Seizing the closest thing to a chance she's seen, Erin climbs quickly past the creature and onto the tent roof, bracing against the pole.
Clinging to the canvas, she swings up with her polearm, trying to snag the banner on the tip of her weapon. If successful, she lets go, sliding down the tent to the feet of Gregor Maleffect with the flag hoisted wearily above her. If not, she drops prone on the tent roof, hoping to evade the onslaught of ranged attacks that will inevitably come her way.
Chi makes a jump for the goblin's face, but the goblin has good reflexes and tries to knock him to the ground below.
Though the goblin is a bit off-balance, and has to flail his arms a bit to keep his balance, he's clearly done this type of thing before. Chi fails to grab ahold of him and falls to the ground below (which has a layer of padding to protect performers from these types of falls.
Erin pulls herself the last few feet up the ladder, more jumping than climbing, then slips past the goblin while he's busy with Chi. Quick as she can, she shimmies up the pole until she is holding onto the flag. As she climbs the pole, her magic wears off as well, and she returns to normal size. Once she has a grip on the flag, she lets go of the pole and begins to fall backwards. When she puts her weight on the flag (which she now sees is just a strip of frayed cloth dyed bright yellow), it pulls taut and lets out a ripping sound. Erin is in freefall for a fraction of a moment before the tent's canvas catches her, bending and stretching under her weight just as it did when Ashak slid down, but to a lesser degree.
The canvas slips across her back, faster and faster as the air rushes up at her, then her path turns slightly upward before the canvas disappears from beneath her. She is launched away from the tent, right toward Gregor Maleffect, who is standing below looking down at Ashak, who is currently attempting to stumble back to his feet. He looks up just in time, and before either of them knows it, Gregor is holding the halfling, and (by the transitive property of holding things) the flag in his arms.
“Oh, dear goodly gods it burns! I’m covered in acid! Sweet merciful deities, I’m covered in acid! Why am I covered in acid?!”
In shock, Evalee looks around for an emergency shower or drench hose. Wait no that’s stupid, this isn’t a lab it’s a circus. She casts her eyes about instead for a body of water deep enough to at least roll around in. Finding none, she drops to the ground and rolls on that, figuring that if it doesn’t help at least it can’t hurt.
Erin looks around, blinking in a daze after the last eventful seconds. "Did we... did we win?" Then she sees Ashak stumbling to his feet, and hears Evalee's cries in the distance. "No, scratch that, first question: is everyone alright?"
At that, Chi pokes his nose out from under the flap of the tent. He's bleeding badly from the fall, and one of his legs is dragging on the ground. "O no," Erin murmurs involuntarily. She wriggles out from Gregor's arms and fumbles for her wand.
Pogug hustles over to where Chi is, fumbling with his hands. **"No worry, Pogug is expert both at music, sneaking, signing, playing Vween-maker, fighting..."** Pogug pauses, trying to recall his original point. **"Healing toos! Pogug cast big healing spell."** As his hand glows with positive energy, Pogug pokes Chi carefully.
Seeing that might not be enough, the goblin does it again.
"Here, let me look at that," Semsephiel says, worry evident on his face. The acid wasn't strong enough to burn through the sleeve Evalee's jacket (though it did discolor the fabric), so he waits for her to roll up the sleeve. Underneath, her skin is kind of reddish. More reddish than human skin is normally, anyway.
". . . Perhaps you'd best lie down."
As Pogug's spells take effect Chi relaxes and nuzzles the goblin's face. Erin stares at him in startled gratitude. "Thanks. That was... thanks." She takes a few deep breaths, looks around, and finally cracks a smile. "Hey, we got the flag! And we didn't destroy anything too irreplaceable in the process." A pause. "Speaking of which, where are the others?" She glances around for Evalee, Semsephiel, and Nathaniel.
Ashak stands up and dusts himself off. His embarrassment at falling on his face is softened by gratification at having finally succeeded at he carnival's test. The mixture of emotions shows on his face as an awkward-looking grin.
When Erin mentions Nathaniel, he remembers the raised voices he heard when he was behind the bigtop. Oh, no... He says, as his awkward grin melts away. Without another word, he begins to run around the side of the tent.
Evalee skips over to the group. Skipping is faster than walking, but less exhausting than running. Also, you bounce up and down, which is fun. But, skipping looks kind of stupid, so she stops as she gets closer. Darn societal norms, she thinks.
“Tonight we are victorious!” she exclaims, “all my friends were glorious, tonight we are victor-re-ous.” It appears to be some manner of rhyme or song.
Erin takes a few steps after Ashak, but stops and turns back to Maleffect and the others. "Any idea what's up with him?"
Looking into Maleffect's eyes, Erin sees the slightest of twitches. Is that his constant look of confidence, as if he owned all that he can see, momentarily slipping? Without hurrying, Gregor begins to follow Ashak, each deliberate step following the last, as if he walked this direction at this time every night.
". . . are you OK? Evalee will follow Maleffect.
From behind the row of smaller tents behind the bigtop, you hear Nathaniel's voice let out a prolonged wail of agony. As you approach closer, you can hear a sizzling sound, and you can taste the sickening smell of burning flesh.
When he rounds the small tent, Ashak stops in his tracks, then he takes a few quick steps backward. He looks down at the ground and hunches over, his grey-green hobgoblin skin draining of color. You can hear him retch inside his mouth.
Erin breaks into a panicked run toward the source of the sound.
When Erin rounds the corner of the tent, she sees why Ashak, in particular, would be sickened by what is there. Ashyr is standing over Nathaniel, gripping the flaming spike at the end of her chain as she presses it down over Nathaniel's eyes, searing the flesh of his face.
Zeera stands behind Ashyr, gripping the other halfling's arm and trying to pull her off the man. Her feet are bare, and her hair and skin are wet (which is likely the only thing stopping her from suffering minor burns herself). Her dress is unfastened in the back, and has slipped down from one shoulder, as if she had hastily thrown it on in the midst of the altercation.
Erin stares in horror for a moment, then her eyes narrow. "Get away from him!" She lunges with her lucerne hammer, but she's too far to intervene... until something odd happens. The polearm seems to stretch and warp as it moves through the air, elongating until it forms an arc that mimics the path of that fiery chain. Erin's eyes widen in surprise as the weapon lashes down toward Ashyr's legs.
Evalee is without words.
Ashyr falls to the ground. She looks up at Erin, her eyes flashing with anger. The look then softens and fills with unease as she looks up from Erin. Behind her, Gregor Maleffect steps into view, taking in the scene, and staring reproachfully at Ashyr. Halador and the bearded one are not far behind. Take him to Doc. he says without taking taking his eyes off of Ashyr's.
Both men walk over, but Halador clearly doesn't need any help lifting Nathaniel to his feet and carrying him away and the white-bearded man simply follows. Ashyr doesn't bother getting up, dropping her head to avoid meeting Gregor's disapproving gaze.
Don't worry about the boy, Doc will see to him. Leave this one to me. Gregor says. His tone leaves no room for argument. There's food and wine in my tent. Wait for me there.
Pogug looks around at the dreary silence. "Bitter." It's likely the least amount of words the goblin has said at once.
Don't worry about the boy, Doc will see to him. Leave this one to me. Gregor says. His tone leaves no room for argument. There's food and wine in my tent. Wait for me there.
Evalee watches the doctor go about his healing anxiously. I hope he's all right . . .
"There's food and wine in my tent. Wait for me there."
Evalee's head snaps up. "Oh! Wine! I'mma go get blitzed!"
"I wouldn't advise it, Ms. Ribbinz."
Semsephiel will lead the way into the tent.
As they carry Nathaniel away, Erin seems to deflate. "Go us," she mutters, scooping up Chi and starting to trudge toward the tent.
Then she stops. Turning, Erin rushes back to where Ashak stands hunched over. "Hey." She stands there awkwardly for a moment, unsure of what to say next. Then she tugs on her sleeve, and her clothes start to give off a strong scent of ginger, covering up the lingering smell of burnt flesh. "You coming?"
When you arrive at the tent and throw open the flap, you're expecting to find bread (hopefully with butter), maybe some meat, and a half-finished bottle (probably less, considering that you saw Doc exit the tent as you were approaching). Instead, you find a veritable feast. It seems the carnival members had been planning a bit of a feast to welcome you. There's a spit-roasted pig; roasted potatoes with vegetables that smell of exotic spices; warm loaves of fresh, aromatic bread with thick, flaky crust and soft, fluffy interiors; even little frosted cakes. Far from the typical watered-down swill most of you are used to, the dark burgundy-colored wine fills several bottles of green-tinted blown-glass, each slightly different in shape, and it smells...
Pogug helps himself to the feast, though doesn't touch the wine. Eating with his hands, Pogug devours more of the meal than he likely should be able to.
Erin stops short as she sees the feast spread out in front of them. Her eyes widen, and a whirlwind of emotions cross her face. Finally, she moves to a seat and wordlessly starts her meal, picking away at fancy breads and cheeses.