"Thank you, sir for the gold. Who am I to thank for this money? I am Denessrael, a priestess of the Lady of the Moon and a fortune teller."
ilKhan cooly takes the reward offered by the man with large ears. Durnim's question is met with a look of confusion and then the barbarian's eyes rest on is paper crown.
"<Grunt> "
The barbarian takes the crown off his head and tosses it to the dwarf.
"Nice flanking."
Durnim catches the crown and shrugs at ilKhan. "Thanks." He puts the crown on his head to get it out of his hands. "I'm Durnim. You?" he says looking up with his hands on his hips. He would offer his hand, but ilKhan doesn't seem the type.
However ilKhan responds, Durnim shakes Gareth's proffered hand and says, "Hornblower, Durnim Hornblower."
After the introductions, Durnim suggests, "I was checking out the wonders in that tent over there. They have a fire giant and a choker. Do you want to check them out?"
"Waitin' fer the Sphinx, meself," Gareth says. He looks down, as if he's checking his boots for cracks in the leather. "I'll have a look. I'm here, after all."
Talgil gives a single good shake of the hand, "Talgil. Nice to meet you."
Turning to Durnim, "I don't believe we've been properly introduced after bumping into each other now three times. Talgil." He offers a hand.
Taking Durnim's invitation as an open one, Talgil follows along when they go.
"Thank you for the gold, sir."
"The tent of monsters sounds intriguing. I am Azubah" he says to the others as he falls in step with them to see the giant and choker. "This carnival is proving more interesting than I had expected."
”ilKhan” With the conversation clearly over, the barbarian follows the others.
"I think it would be best if everyone would leave the carnival for the day," a voice shouts from near the big top. "The loose dragon caused a lot of commotion, and the day's events were nearing anyway. Please come back tomorrow for more amazing wonders."
The voice belongs to a pretty woman with a commanding presence, dark-haired and wearing a dark blue bandana with stars scattered across it. At her words, the guards scattered around the carnival begin ushering people out.
"That was quick. So much for the wonders." Durnim says with disappointment in his voice.
"Let's go back to the Witch's Brew. I'll buy the first round," he says to the other player characters feeling the weight of the 10 gold in his pockets.
"Shame, that," Gareth says, as he tugs his hat down to shade his face. "I was looking forward to meeting the sphinx."
"Shame, that," Gareth says, as he tugs his hat down to shade his face. "I was looking forward to meeting the sphinx."
"Why?" the dwarf asks in all sincerity.
"Do you think she is a real sphinx?"
"Dunno," Gareth replies to Azubah's question first. "That's something I wanted to find out."
To Durnim, he says: "I heard about sphinxes, growing up. They're said to be masters of riddles, the smarter ones. Riddles ontain kernels of secret knowledge from the ages. It sounded interesting."
Eyeing the woman in the bandana, "I'd like to get some of her kernals of secret knowledge."
Realizing he said that aloud, Talgil turns back to the group embarassed, "Know what I mean guys! Second rounds on me!"
"Woe had better get to the tavern quickly before there is no more food or drink left."
To others he says: "You seemed unafraid of the lizard or dragon, or whatever it may be. Have you encountered such things before?"
"Woe had better get to the tavern quickly before there is no more food or drink left."
To others he says: "You seemed unafraid of the lizard or dragon, or whatever it may be. Have you encountered such things before?"
To the first part, Durnim nods and curtly replies, "Yep."
To the second part, he replies. "Not me."
Denessrael looks at the woman in the bandanna, memorizing her face, features and clothing.
After a moment she says "A meal might be nice." and follows the men.
You spend the evening in the common room, enjoying the drinks and company. You all agree to meet back there in the morning to share a meal, and then retire to your respective beds.
The next morning, while eating in the common room, a bronze-skinned man in workers clothes approaches the group.
"Mistress Delisan wishes to see you. She would like to talk to you about a job opportunity.
"She already has ...Oh, she wants to offer us a job?" Azubah, it seems, is not a morning person. He takes a few sips from his tea and then looks to the others in a questioning manner. "I am interested in seeing what she wants. But it sounds as though she wants to see all of us together."
"Good morning, sir." Durnim replies. "May I ask who is Mistress Delisan?"
Denessrael ate her apple methodically, peeling it then expertly cutting it into slices which she ate, neat, off a knife.
Now that is fortunate! Instead of begging for an interview she's asking me, or rather us. The Luck mistress is indeed with me!
"Thank you good sir. May your travels be ever blessed!" And with that Dennie blesses the messenger.
I wonder if that carni I paid said something...I better be careful about this. Play my cards right and it will make my job all too easy. A little too easy..." Talgil's thoughts roll back and forth between paranoid and opportunistic.
"I'd like to meet this Mistress then."
"I'm not sure who this Lady is, either, but I wouldn't want it said I'm ill-mannered," Gareth says. "Where'd she want us to meet her?"
"My apologies for being vague. Mistress Delisan is the head of the Carnival. You may have seen her yesterday, asking folks to leave after the baby dragon got loose. You were the ones to help with that, yes?" he adds, almost as an afterthought.
"She is waiting for you in her tent over at the carnival grounds. I can take you there now."
"Well, alright then. Lead on, kind sir." Durnim replies and finishes his coffee with a final swig.
"A-yup," Gareth says, with a tug on the brim of his hat.
Talgil quickly wolfs down the last of his bread, dons his backpack and stands ready to go.
Denessrael stands and waits for the others.
Azubah pays for his breakfast and stands ready to leave. "Let's hope things are as exciting as they were yesterday."
The ” king” tags along
As you approach the circus, you notice that it has still not opened for business. Mistress Delisen waits beside a large private wagon with an adjoining canopy, and chairs are arranged around a nearby campfire.
"Hello, I am Almara Delisen, the leader of this carnival," she says with a kindly but businesslike air. "I appreciate your efforts yesterday in the regrettable incident with our dragon. I have more regrettable news, however. It appears that there has been 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."
Durnim approaches the leader and continues to casually stand. "Well met, Almara Delisen." Durnim replies. "My name is Hornblower, Durnim Hornblower."
[b]"While we volunteered to corral your dragon, why would you want to hire us, complete strangers to you, to investigate a murder?"[b] He asks.
Denessrael stood behind Durnim and listened quietly. At Almira Delisen's words she cocked her head and studied the woman intently. She narrowed her gaze.
Murder is serious. If there was a murder, then why the Carnival? Nothing could be worse for their business
Durnim's question strikes Azubah as very perceptive and he waits for Almara's answer.
Talgil listens intently.
This carnival just keeps giving me reason to lose my benefit of the doubt. Well I guess investigating this murder is what I would be doing anyway.
"Have to agree with my new mountain-born friend, here," Gareth says, mildly taken aback.
"You are certainly right to wonder why I would ask this of you. In addition to proving yourself capable yesterday, you may have noticed that our carnival does not have many friends here. We are worried that we may not be fairly investigated, and I was under the impression that none of you were from around this place. I hoped that you could be impartial investigators, because I am sure that no one at my carnival could have had anything to do with this."
"I see." Durnim replies. "How much would you propose to compensate us for the service of representing you and the Carnival in this investigation?"
Durnim nods in understanding. "How much would you offer for our time and expenses in addition to this bonus payment for success?"
Gareth whistles between his teeth. "That's mighty generous, already," he says. "Question, though: who was killed, where were they done in, and who's investigating for the town?"
"Also, does your carnival have enemies that might have followed you here from another town?"
|
"I know little of the murder, other than it was of a man named Archivin Walder, the local town moneylender. Sheriff Kyra Feldane is handling the investigation for the town. I suggest you go see her first, and she can fill you in on the details. If you choose to help, of course."
She holds out a sealed piece of parchment.
"Here is a signed letter to Sheriff Feldane denoting you as my chosen team of investigators. This should allow you access to the crime scene and any information that she has.
"The Umbra Carnival rarely makes enemies, and I cannot think of anyone who would have followed us from another town.
"Finally, in terms of compensation, I could offer each of you 50 gold now, and 100 more upon completion. That would be 900 gold total, which has to be my final offer."
That sound more than fair. Whatever small abilities I have are at your disposal.
I wonder if I should try a reading now or later?
Gareth whistles between his teeth.
"Ye're in big trouble, ain'tcha?" he asks. "People who offer big money for representation with their troubles usually are. Don't fear I won't do the job, 'cause it's worth doin'. But if I find out whodunnit, I'll chase 'em down, no matter who it is. If ye agree with that..."
Gareth spits in his hand and holds it out to Almara.
Durnim nods and accepts the sealed piece of parchment. He detects magic, chaos, and evil on it... and the area. If all clear, he opens and reads it.
"It's an intriguing proposition, I would like to see it played out. I accept." This must be the terrible occurrence that the harrower spoke of.
Then as if the thought just occurred to him Azubah asks "Did anyone in the carnival have dealings with the moneylender?"
That's more than I'd make for a month of the same work!
"I don't mean to impress that I'm suspicious of your carnival but I have to ask, were any of your carnival members in town last night? It would be a great help to ask if they saw anything."