The whole town of Ilsurian is bristling with excitement about the arrival of the Umbra Carnival, a traveling circus which travels all over Varisia showing off its exhibits. The mood in the Witch's Brew is no different, and the Carnival is the main topic of conversation.
Many of the tables are surrounded by patrons, some arguing loudly, others playing cards, most drinking mugs of the local mead.
"I'll out-talk you, I'll out-gamble you, and I'll out-drink you!" yells a robust dwarf jovially, cigar hanging out of his mouth.
"I can't wait to play some of the games at the midway," says a smiling local woman with strong features, pale skin, and dark hair. "And the traveling zoo!"
"I'm not so sure about these Varisians," says a man with tanned skin and dark black hair pulled back into a ponytail. "As far as I'm concerned, they're all thieves and layabouts."
The door to the Witch's Brew swings open, and what appears to be an old man walks in; white-haired, pale-skinned and stoop-shouldered, he makes his way to the bar. His long duster and trousers are sun-bleached, his boots are dusty, and he has a broad-rimmed hat jammed down on his hat.
"Fair even to you," the man says as he arrives at the counter, his voice rough with road-dust. "I'm in town for the carnival. Looking for a room."
A tall, white haired elven woman pushes her way through the throng. She looks as though she's been on the road for an eternity. Her skin is beige, but whether it is tan or dust from the road it was hard to say.
"A small beer, please" she says to a harried bartender.
When the man delivers it, she tosses it off in one long swallow then hurries off to see about a room before they all go.
Denessrael was relieved to find her mule, Murry, still standing where she had tied him. Securing a stall was easier than a room, and at the rates the inn was charging, Denny decided she would sleep with her mule in his stall. Unless another woman wanted to split a room, she would likely get to know the stables well.
Once Murry was lodged and unloaded, she returned to the common room, found a seat against the wall and ordered another small beer. It sure was busy here. She felt bathed in the sound and smell of other people. It was nice to be back amongst others. With any luck, and she smirked at that thought, she might get a job tomorrow. Desna had definitely blessed her. She offered her patron a quick prayer of thanks and leaned in her chair against the wall.
She spotted a tall, older man talking to the innkeeper. With a start she realized that he was not as old as he appeared. Is he ill? she wondered.
The man at the counter glances at Gareth before returning his eyes to the mug he was toweling.
"Well, things are rather crowded 'ere, but we can probably find something for ye, as long as ye don't mind that it's small."
"Ye feeling all right, mister?" he adds after looking Gareth up and down.
"Wouldn't mind a cup of tea," Gareth says, lowering his eyes. "Could really murder some hot food, I reckon. Small room's fine. Hard pallet's best for me back. Been travellin'."
"Tea and some food, coming right up."
The innkeeper walks to the back room but returns shortly.
"It'll be out in a minute. 'ere for the carnival, you say?"
"Yee-yup," Gareth says, his eyes still lowered. "Heard some folks talkin' 'bout it on the road. Figgered I'd come an' see. Never seen me a proper carnival. Figgered I'd see what it's all about."
Gareth raises his eyes slightly, enough for the innkeeper to see they're pale blue. "Beggin' yer pardon, innkeeper, but would ye have any honey for that there tea? Been a while since I had me anything sweet. It's a sinful indulgence, I know, but a man ain't perfect until he is, and it'd soothe my throat a treat."
A dwarf pushes through the front door into the common room of the Witch's Brew. He stands 4-foot 1-inch tall and is about as wide weighing 220-pounds in his birthday suit. Although, what you first notice about him is his carefully managed, ruddy orange hair that envelopes his weathered face with many metal decorations woven into his beard and hair braids. Beyond that, he appears to be a typical dwarven explorer encased in chainmail that peeks out from under his tartan wool layers and equipped with a heavy wooden shield and a couple weapons: battleaxe, light crossbow, and a double size bolt quiver. If you stare, you may see a silver holy symbol of Irori on a necklace.
The dwarf makes his way to the bar. "Ale, sir," he orders from the innkeeper. Upon delivery
"Thank you, sir." he replies and continues quietly to himself, "may the Master of Masters bless our way." the dwarf casts Guidance on himself.
To the innkeeper, "You look busy with the circus in town. It's my first time in Ilsurian and to see the carnival. I'm am an honest pilgrim in need of accommodations. I've very few coin and would prefer to work for you in exchange for some food and shelter. Sleeping in the common room would suit me fine. Do you have anything that I might be able to do for you?"
An odd looking man steps into the doorway of the tavern and pauses. He is looking over his shoulder and says "No, I'm not part of the carnival. What makes you ask?" to someone in the lane. Just as he finishes the door swings back and hits him in the chest. For an instant he flinches with surprise but then he makes his way to the bar.
His gait is awkward and he appears to mumble to himself for a moment. His skin is nearly chalk-white except for some patches of olive at his neck. This makes a sharp contrast to his black great-coat which seems oddly clean compared to his muddy hands and forearms. His head is egg-bald and his eyes are unusually dark with little white showing.
He addresses the bar-tender "Do you serve food here"
Another interesting looking man wandered in. The Carnival is definitely attracting some different folks Dennie mused.
And they keep ordering food! she whined to herself. Her belly rumbled. It would be nice to have a hot meal. She rose from her chair and slid her way through the throng to the bar.
"Excuse me sir, but what are you serving for food today?" She smiled brightly at the innkeeper and nodded to the two men and the dwarf clustered around.
"Blessings of Desna to all of you, good sirs"
"Blessings of the Whisper in the Bronze, the Master of Masters and the Dawnflower be with you," Gareth mutters, inclining his head to Denessrael and briefly kissing his fingertips in a religious gesture of some sort. That is all the reaction he gives the Elfmaiden, however, and he keeps his eyes lowered.
A tall white-haired half-elf in a rumpled shirt that's obviously been slept in pokes his head in for a moment before deciding to stroll up to the bar.
He sits there listening idly to the tavern's conversation before ordering an ale.
"Blessings of the Whisper in the Bronze, the Master of Masters and the Dawnflower be with you," Gareth mutters
While waiting for the innkeeper to return with his ale, Durnim replies to the elven maiden and the white-haired, pale-skinned, and stoop-shouldered man, "Blessings be to you as well," inclining his head and performing a hand gesture blessing to Irori, Master of Masters.
"Oh, uh, thank you." Azubah initially thought that the greeting was to him alone. He recovers after a brief moment, though. "Good to see the gods honored properly"
Unidentified Dice Roll
Once again, the tavern's door creaks on its hinges indicating the arrival of another patron. A massive dark-skinned man stands in the doorway. ilKhan's head has no hair. The man seems to be traveling light as his possessions consist of his torn peasant's clothes, a chain shirt, a sack and belt pouch and... a greatsword. ilKhan found an open seat at the bar, but did not order anything. Nor did he look particularly talkative. Instead the barbarian just seemed to be waiting.
Bluff DC 12
Azubah's comment about honoring the gods was insincere.
"Are you all here for the carnival?"
ilKhan nods in the affirmative.
"All 'ere for the carnival, eh?" the innkeeper says as he brings food, ale and honey out to those at the bar. "I'd be careful around those Varisians if I were you. They steal yer money before ye know what hit ye. I don't trust 'em as far as I can throw one of their finely crafted daggers."
He chuckles, and then turns to the dwarf.
"Work, ye say? I can likely find something for ye. Cleaning out the stables or somesort. But relax for now--no need for anything at this point in the evening."
He chuckles, and then turns to the dwarf.
"Work, ye say? I can likely find something for ye. Cleaning out the stables or somesort. But relax for now--no need for anything at this point in the evening."
"Much obliged, sir. I greatly appreciate the generosity." Durnim replies to the innkeeper. He turns his back to the bar and starts to nurse his ale.
"So where are you travelers from?" He says to the player- characters gathered at the bar.
"Around," Gareth replies curtly as he pours himself a cup of tea and stirs in a spoonful of honey. "E'rywhere and nowhere, of late. Just... travelling."
"I made my way from Ustalav." In response to Gareth he adds "Like you, I am mostly on the roads now."
"I sure hope the beef stew'll be enough for ye. With so many people, we surely can't get too fancy. And a bit o' bread and cheese, o' course.
"Ustalav? How far is that? What's its history?" Durnim replies nursing his ale.
Well, the tea fellow has a history he wants to hide.
Wonder about this Ustalavian. Is he running away, running toward, or just wandering?
This ale is weak. Wonder if there is a proper dwarven alehouse in this town.
To the innkeeper, Durnim replies, "Beef stew sounds wonderful, kind sir."
"Sir innkeep, 'tis a meal fit for a king by my standards," Gareth says, his gratitude evident as he accepts a bowl of stew and some of the bread and cheese.
He mutters three quick blessings over the meal -- Brigh, Irori and Sarenrae again -- and tucks right in. It is evident that he built up an appetite somehow, but he still keeps his face lowered while spooning stew into his mouth with the heel of bread.
Dennie peers at the pale man. She is unsure, but he is acting odd. Is he wanted for something? she wondered and mentally shrugged. His legal woes were none of her business. She rather hoped he was fleeing from a disastrous romance.
With that she began to eat methodically, enjoying the taste of food that was neither trail rations nor cooked by her.
"Is everyone here for the Carnival?
"Is everyone here for the Carnival?
"Yes, I want to see the fortune tellers. I have never met an elf before, where are you from?" Azubah's demeanor seems awkward.
"I'm from Riddleport, but I've been traveling for over three years now. I came up this way on personal business then heard about the Carnival and thought I'd apply for a job. Even if I don't get it, they may let me travel with them.
Dennie took a breath, then resumed eating. After a few bites she asked,
"What about yourself?"
ilKhan said nothing, but took his portion of the food and ate silently.
"I'm keen to see what the carnival seers can tell me. Supposedly the best harrowers are to be met at the carnival."
Also, something bad will happen there. It always does when people gather in large numbers. I hope something bad happens because a harrower on the road told me it would. She also said there will be wiser readers than she is there. So if something bad does happen, and it is like the way she described it, that means she was right about the wise readers."
Azubah then has a few more spoon-fulls of soup. You can see his badly yellowed teeth and cracked lips as he eats.
"Well, I hope nothing extraordinarily bad happens." the dwarf contributes. "I'm here for the Carnival too, which should be a celebration of life."
He continues to nurse his ale and enjoy his stew.
The fires dim, the conversation dies, and the mugs empty before too long, and the Witch's Brew empties for the night with the anticipation of the carnival still in the air.
"Follow us and be amazed at the wonders that can be found at the Umbra Carnival, the greatest show in all of Golarion!"
The sun hits your eyes as you open them, signaling the start of a new day. Voices, music, and drumming can be heard out in the main square.
When you look outside, you see a parade of carnival workers. Banners and streamers herald a procession of clowns, stilt walkers, and tumbling acrobats, all of whom wave toward the gathered townspeople.
"Come for thrills, come for chills, and come for delights for people of all ages ... All for just a few coppers!"
Townsfolk have begun lining up behind the parade and are following it out of town toward the carnival.
Slightly less rumpled looking than last night, Talgil follows among the throng. He turns to the nearest patron among the crowd,
"So what have you heard about the carnival?"
Azubah searches for harrow readers and/or fortune tellers. But if there are any acts that look dangerous, like knife-throwers he will become distracted by them.
To the first interesting looking carnival member he sees he will ask "What do you do? Is this carnival all that it is said to be?"
Slightly less rumpled looking than last night, Talgil follows among the throng. He turns to the nearest patron among the crowd,
"So what have you heard about the carnival?"
"I've heard a Harrow card seer said that something bad is going to happen. I certainly hope they were wrong. You?" The explorer dwarf replies to the half-elf looking no different than last night: outfit, weapons, shield, and no hang-over. You are sure he never left the common room.
ilKhan joins the crowds following the parade, but he seems to keep his distance from others, not letting himself get surrounded.
Gareth wanders around the carnival, wide-eyed like a young child. He will gradually gravitate towards the Harrow readers or the games of skill, whichever he finds first.
Dennie watches the parade with a great deal of enjoyment. The people, the clothes, the costumes and the exotic creatures are all very exciting. When the parade passes, she joins the throng to see what the circus itself is like. She takes a walk around to see where everything is and taking in the sights. Once she has her bearings she heads back to the fortune tellers.
As you enter the carnival grounds, your eyes are drawn to the gigantic tent standing in the middle of the area, erected on tall poles with a stage curtain pulled shut across its front.
To the east, local merchants have set up stalls in a snaggled, disorganized knot of tents and walkways, selling their wares. Smaller than the big top, another tent stands in this direction, advertising a number of wonders, including a sword swallower, a fat lady, the carnival's orc, a fire giant, and a choker for those who dare to approach.
Most, however, are drawn east to the midway. A path runs north from the midway toward the traveling zoo, but to the south are booths with pavilion tent tops that provide shade for the games of skill and chance played beneath.
A heavy, long-handled mallet leans against a 3-foot-wide and 12-foot-high wooden tower crowned with a stuffed lion's head. At the base is a level attached to a puck that slides up and down a pole running the length of the tower up to the lion's head. A huge Ulfen man invites passersby to compete.
"Demonstrate your power and passion! Tame the savage beast on yonder pole!"
Farther along, three raised runways meet at a point like an 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 crowd has lined up around the runway, seemingly waiting for someone to come out of the tent.
To the north, a portable fence of wooden posts and rope cordon off this section of the circus. Several wagons constructed to serve as animal cages line the perimeter, with an occasional haystack piled between them. In the center of the area is a large tent whose wall flaps have been lifted up and tied off to allow easy viewing.
Nearby, for those looking, you can see a ragtag tent near the traveling zoo with a sign that reads "The All-Seeing Hajeck."
Finally, dominating the midway area is an enormous tent that is dwarfed only by the big top itself. The southern side has no wall, just a tall curtain pulled across its front. A sign posted outside advertises that this area has been set aside for meeting "Jherizhana, the miraculous sphinx" at limited times throughout the day.
"Wow. A fire giant. I always wanted to see one of them." Durnim says to himself and wanders toward the smaller than the big top tent that is advertising wonders.
"I hope they're wrong as well. I heard that as strange as they seem, the carnival people, harrowers and all, are just actors."
After a brief pause and a thoughtful look, " Did I see you at the Witch's Brew last night?"
That rumor sounds a little specific to be townfolk gossip; I guess that means I should keep an eye on the carnival. Hopefully spreading my own rumor will keep suspicions against the carnival down until I figure this out.
Denessrael pops in to see the All-Seeing Hajeck. She peers around at the interior, then addresses the person there (assuming there is one).
"Hello, the Moon goddess' blessings be upon you. May I ask what it is you do?" Dennie smiles benignly at everyone inside the tent.
Trying to avoid the bigger crowds at the midway, Talgil wanders over into the zoo.
Azubah makes his way directly to see Hajeck.
The challenge issued by the Ulfen catches ilKhan's ear and the barbarian stops as if he thinks the challenge was meant for ilKhan alone. Approaching the pole, ilKhan grabs the mallet and hurls the weapon directly at the lion head.
"I hope they're wrong as well. I heard that as strange as they seem, the carnival people, harrowers and all, are just actors."
1d20 + 7
** spoiler omitted **After a brief pause and a thoughtful look, " Did I see you at the Witch's Brew last night?"
"Ah, yes. You probably did." Durnim replies. I wonder if that half-elf is following me.
As you approach, the man at the front of the tent says, "Ah, good sir. Have you come to see the wonders inside? That'll be a single silver."
"A silver? What do I get for a whole silver?" He asks.