"I understand your concern. In this case I hardly feel like Thunder would have trapped his own wagon, but there's no reason to not take care. Here, let me have a look," Dendillion goes up to the wagon and gives the door a once over. He peers into the keyhole, looks at the latch mechanism, then at the hinges. Lastly, he picks up a nearby rock and sings in a piercing falsetto. The stone illuminates, and he uses the light to look through gap under the door.
Dendillion then retrieves two small, bent wires from a kit in his backpack. He inserts them into the lock's keyhole and begins jiggering them around.
Dendillion finds no traps, so he gets to work. After a near disaster he pulls it together and makes some progress . He finally gets the lock open. A soft yellow, everburning torch lights the wagon. Myron’s wagon is filled with many personal belongings gathered from his travels. There’s no indication that Myron was expecting any kind of violence based on your first glance.
The professor speaks up from the ground, "By rights and through effort, anything in there is yours. Thunder would want it that way.... The Show Must Go On."
"B...But why us?" Charlie looks back at the Professor and then back at the contents of the small wagon. Slowly he looks around, eyeing each item and taking inventory, mainly to look to clues as to what the heck is happening.
"Friends, please feel free to search about in there. In the meantime, I will entertain our fey guests."
Dendillion heads over to the two grigs. "Tarisia! Cannano! I must admit it's a pleasure to meet you both. It's not often that I encounter such musically inclined folks. Not since I had the chance to meet the Great Starlight Tulia," the bard's smile goes from ear to ear when the topic of his muse comes up. "Perhaps you've heard azatan music before? It's hauntingly beautiful. I, myself, have been studying it for some time. Perhaps you'd like to compose something with me?"
He uses this as an opportunity spend at least ten minutes getting to know more about them through idle chatter, and relishes the opportunity to learn more about their brand of music.
When Dendillion steps away for Charlie to look inside he immediately sees a strange flower that doesn't look like it belongs. The flower is quivering and looks ...dangerous.
"That is a strange flower..." Charlie tries to see if he recalls exactly what it is. He stays a little clear for those with far steadier hands to take a look.
Charlie and Chark are at a loss on how to get this flower out of here, or even what it would do if it... went off.
"Ideas?" Charlie looks around for suggestions as he looks back from the flower to the door. If none arise Charlie tosses a pair of leather gloves on, sighing deeply he enters the wagon and grabs the plant to toss it out into the woods.
Tiny steps up "I think I can move it safely..."
Tiny gets close, but can't seem to get it into his hands...
"Just a little bit longer" Tiny nervously stage whispers as he tries again to smoothly dislodge the plant.
Tiny cracks his knuckles and preps his stance. This time he gently, deftly, gets his hands around the flower and removes it. He safely dumps it into the water.
"Now that the pretty plant is gone , let's s..s..see what is in here." Charlie takes a look around, sifting through everything for a clue.
Myron’s wagon is filled with many personal belongings gathered from his travels. There’s no indication that Myron was expecting any kind of violence. Among Myron’s mementos are a clearly marked lesser bravo’s brew in a crystal vial, an everburning torch engraved with the phrase “See what you want to see,” a bearskin hat marked with a golden leaf worth 7 gp, and a cape once worn by a skilled animal trainer named the Great Fortunato worth 5 gp.
From the ground below (at a safe distance in case something else happens) the professor speaks up, "By right and tradition, those are yours now."
Unfortunately, there's noting here to help solve the mystery.
"Where do you think that plant came from?" Charlie asks glancing at the bearskin mat. "P..p..professor, have you seen strange tracks anywhere else around the camp. We found some leading into the woods." He rubs his eyes and yawns. "Maybe a bit of sleep would help clear our heads."
At Charlie's comment Tiny feels the fatigue of the long day hit him "I hadn't realized...YAWN... how tired I was... I think you're right, although I'm not sure I could sleep after everything that happened today."
"I'm not a trained tracker. You lot pointed out the tracks. Looks like there are some that go elsewhere though."
Tiny goes "Oh ya, what about the tracks to Bardolph’s Wagon? What if there are more rats with snakes?"
Chark chuckles quietly at Tiny's apprehension. If there are, I'm sure we can run faster than the snakes can slither, she says with a smile. For now, let's try and get a little shut-eye.
Although, she adds after a heartbeat's more thought, we should probably take some precautions tonight. Anyone who wished harm to Thunder might have it in for the whole circus. And family means we all stay together, no matter what.
"True, let's rest. We can keep a watch on the wagon." Charlie helps guide Goliath back to his wagon for the night before settling in for the night, curling up near the fire as he chews on a piece of straw picked from the ground.
The circus comes together as the new heroes sleep. Each of your watches includes companions from various acts, rope and tent men, and groupies. Everyone sleeps soundly and safely.
On the morning of 6 Calistril 4720 you awake, fresh, and ready to go. The only disturbance through the night was a report of a strange silhouette near the rocks at the southwest of camp, but that's it.
Charlie wakes up, stretches and begins to cook breakfast links over the fire as he scratches his patchy stubble. He watches as the group stumbles in one by one. "Not a peep in the night, just someone standing on the rocks over there but not closer."
Once everyone is ready, Bor will head towards the wagon with Goliath in tow as he tosses a handful of bacon to the bear.
Tiny stretches and gets his thunder bracers on as he heads over with Charlie to the wagon.
Charlie heads over to Bardolph's wagon. He tosses some of the camp bacon for the bear, and then immediately regrets it. The bear bursts from the wagon with a crazed look in its eyes! It immediately flies into a rage and prepares to maul you all to death.
(T, LLV)
(T)
(E)
(T)
(T)
Round 1:
Chark: Go
Haldan: Go
Bardolph: TBD
Charlie: TBD
Dendillion: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Not wanting to hurt Bardolph, Chark lets fly a sparkling black-blue line of fire from her palm.
The fire isn't hot, or even really warm, but it washes over Bardolph harmlessly.
”Animals are not really my thing. Sounds like more of a Charlie thing to me. Perhaps you should have put on that cape we found that belonged to that animal tamer. We should have also seen if any of those items were magical I suppose... In any case, immediate issue at hand, please accept my guidance.”
Haldan casts Guidance on Charlie and then moves back.
”He’s not wrong. Most animals do not care for him. It’s almost like someone’s been spreading rumours about him to the animal kingdom...”
Chark can tell only that something has addled the bear. It might go away on its own if the bear gets this unnatural aggression out of its system. . The bear seems to shudder a bit, but its rage continues!
Haldan buffs Charlie as he steps back. Bardolph closes with Charlie and tries to snare him in a big bear hug!
for
and grabs Charlie!
Round 1:
Chark: BOOM
Haldan: Guidance
Bardolph: Hug
Charlie: Go (Grabbed)
Dendillion: Go
Tiny: Go
Bardolph: https://2e.aonprd.com/Conditions.aspx?ID=13Enfeebled 1 You’re physically weakened. Enfeebled always includes a value. When you are enfeebled, you take a status penalty equal to the condition value to Strength-based rolls and DCs, including Strength-based melee attack rolls, Strength-based damage rolls, and Athletics checks.
Charlie looks into the bears eyes to try and figure out what is going on with him.
Charlie sees the glassy eyes and strange mannerisms. Bardolph has been charmed! He knows his ursines, and knows that with its rage engaged it'll likely snap out of it in a few seconds... a few very dangerous seconds.
Round 1:
Chark: BOOM
Haldan: Guidance
Bardolph: Hug
Charlie: 2 Actions
Dendillion: Go
Tiny: Go
Bardolph: https://2e.aonprd.com/Conditions.aspx?ID=13Enfeebled 1 You’re physically weakened. Enfeebled always includes a value. When you are enfeebled, you take a status penalty equal to the condition value to Strength-based rolls and DCs, including Strength-based melee attack rolls, Strength-based damage rolls, and Athletics checks.
"Everybody back, let's wait it out!"
Tin repositions and draws his clan dagger and holds it up defensily to keep the bear away.
"Something has C.ccc..charmed Bardolph. Scatter and run! I'll try to hold him b..back." Charlie tries his best to escape the bears hug.
... ◆⃟ ID Bear
... ◆⃟ Escape
... ◆⃟ Escape
HP 6/19
AC 18 (20 w/ shield)
Wooden Shield [AC Bonus +2] [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)]
Hero Points 1/3
Goliath
HP 13/16
AC 15
"My friends, if this is a normal charm spell, it can last 1 hour or longer if cast by a more powerful mage. This is longer than you'd usually like to hold off a bear."
Tiny moves back to a defensive position
Charlie tries his hardest to escape the grip, but can't break free.
Round 1:
Chark: BOOM
Haldan: Guidance
Bardolph: Hug
Charlie: 2 Actions
Dendillion: Go
Tiny: Defense
Bardolph: https://2e.aonprd.com/Conditions.aspx?ID=13Enfeebled 1 You’re physically weakened. Enfeebled always includes a value. When you are enfeebled, you take a status penalty equal to the condition value to Strength-based rolls and DCs, including Strength-based melee attack rolls, Strength-based damage rolls, and Athletics checks.
Action 1-2: Charm
Action 3: Stride
Dendillion wastes no time in strumming a few notes on his lute, beaming a smile as he lets a magical charm settle upon the bear.
"Easy there, Bardolph! Good boy! Down!"
If it looks like the spell hasn't worked, the bard do as Charlie suggests as move back.
Dendillion weaves a spell which clearly and obviously takes hold of Bardolph's bear-brain. The massive creature immediately lets go, and calmly shuffles over to the bard. Dendillion doesn't think the magic holding onto him was that strong. The bard is confident that even when his own magic wears off, Bardolph will be his normal self.
”I say, way to go Dendillion. But what could have caused this bear to become charmed? Who is trying to kill or harm us?”
"I wish I knew, Haldan. Honestly, I'm not sure yet whether this is targeted at us, or simply targeted any anyone who tries to figure out what's going on. But yes, something is going on."
He then looks to Charlie. "Are you alright? You're bleeding!"
Charlie, kneeling down on his knees from being released, shakes. His eyes look scared as what happened finally hits him all at once. The blood runs loosely from his wound as he is scared. Scared that he was just nearly mauled by a bear.
He stands, holding onto the cart for support and grimaces in pain. "I...it hurts."
Tiny will take a few moments to clean off and bandage Charlie's wound.
"Alright now, we gotta use some fresh water to get the dirt out first, don't want it gettin' infected now. After that with a clean wrap it should 'eal up on its own."
The other circus members give the party a wide berth. While danger and injury are part of The Life, this is something different. There's also something different about the party; an intangible and abstracted feeling permeates the space around you. In the muttering crowd your ears pick up a singular word that, despite its weight, travels freely and easily, "heroes."
"Thanks," Charlie grimaces as it still hurts but is at least manageable. He looks about the wagon to see why the tracks could possibly be around it.
The tracks to Bardolph's wagon go right up to the window. It's as if the bear was charmed by someone sneaking by.
Tiny looks to Dendillion "A spell like yours would have worked through the window, right?" Lets thank our lucky stars you were able to bring it back, lets check the wagon while the bear is still our friend."
"I suppose it would have. Although I'm still not sure if it was the same kind of magic at play. We've still a lot more to learn,'" Dendillion strokes his beard in thought. "The tracks go up to the window. Do they stop there, or do they lead elsewhere? Can you check Charlie? I'll see if there's any clues in the wagon."
Dendillion proceeds with care as he looks over the door to the wagon. He remembers the traps from before, and searches for more.
Assuming that things are safe, he'll try the door. And if it proves to be locked the bard will take out his cousin's kit and see if he can open the lock.
Charlie takes a look to see if the tracks lead elsewhere or stop at the wagon. "L..l.l.let me take a look." He holds his whip close by as he searches the grounds.
It looks like the tracks head to the main tent from here. It's beginning to become to difficult to read them. Wind, morning dew, and other traffic is rapidly erasing them.
Dendillion looks in the wagon and finds only one interesting thing (though it's not a clue.) An owlbear claw hangs from a dream catcher.