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Mukluk looks around, wondering who is up next in the big ring. First he looks at Rova, then at Niksi, then Prism, and then at Thkrull…and sort of sees them eying him expectantly. He’s about to ask Who is next? but then it dawns on him.
It’s time.
It’s really time.
Oh no, it’s really time.
He looks back at the quartet and nods, putting his hands in fists and beating his chest briefly. Time to get fired up!
Mukluk strides over to Moose. The mule is waiting patiently off stage, already in the harness attached to the cannon. Mukluk checks the buckles once more, then slips his friend a sugar cube before giving the animal an encouraging pat on the rump. Moose contently chews on the sugar, then slowly pushes his weight against the padded leather straps. The cannon inches forward; he’s done this many times before and knows the routine. The beast drags his temporary burden into the ring farthest from where his handler will be heading, and wait there to be un-harnessed and sent back to his stable with more treats by one of the helpers.
In the meantime, with the assistance of Rova and Thkrull, Mukluk easily stacks several wooden barrels in the center ring until they form a high (20') wall, while Dwarven Throwers erect another wall made from pile of straw bales (10') in the last ring. These will soon serve as barriers, and break his fall (his trajectory, rather) in the most extravagant and comical way possible. Once everything is set up to his satisfaction, he strides back to the cannon, counting his steps to estimate distances. He checks the amount of boom-boom powder one last time. Then he cranks a big handle on the cannon to adjust its angle and where exactly it’s pointing. He’s hoping his estimations of distance and angle are correct; he’s not much an alchemist and instead mostly guesstimates. Then, puts on his red-leathered padded helmet -- his only protection against the laws of nature. It’s emblazoned with big red Ms, one on each side, which he carefully stenciled over the helmet’s prior owner’s initials. A yellow cape, slightly tattered and with the occasional burn mark, completes the outfit.
He nods into the direction of Niksi, indicating that he’s ready. As the music starts to play, he waves to the audience, blows kisses to the ladies, and flexes his muscles for the kids. The music turns more suspenseful as he enters the cannon itself, positioning himself carefully. He pauses at the entrance/exit of the somewhat polished canon, and looks down at the name. Time for the Boom-boom, he reads the lettering, proud of the risk he is about to undertake.
He waves to the crowd one last time before slipping into the canon, and wedging himself in a tight ball, so that most of his mass blocks the tube, while not pressing to hard against any one surface. It’s a tricky feat, and one that he wasn’t perfect at.
He hears the sizzling of the fuse, an unmistakable sign that Rova has lit it. This should give him another eight…seven...six...seconds. As the music starts to sound more and more ominous, he once again feels a familiar panic rising in his chest. Each "flight", after all, has a decent chance of being his last.
But nothing happens. The hissing noise stops, the fuse must have fizzled out.
Oh piddlespot.
Oh piddlespot. Piddlespot. Piddlespot. Piddlespot.
His heart beats wildly in his cheek, blood pounding in his temple. He hardly notices the awkward pause, the whispers in the audience. He can do nothing but wait. There’s not much room for error… what if –
--goes the cannon, and Mukluk soars through the air as his body is catapulted toward the first barrier, the stacked barrels. He rolls himself into a ball, bracing himself for the connection.
Athletics
Athletics -
The barrels crash to the floor in a sudden eruption of sound that mirrors the cannon’s, but Mukluk’s already damaged hearing along with the padded helmet makes it sound to him as if it came from very far away, and not at all like the impact of his own body on wood. Inexorably, the sequence of events moves along, as he heads for the second barrier –softer, less rigid, perhaps, but no less startling. He smashes into the bales of straw, causing handfuls of loose straw to scatter all over the last ring and rain down on some audience members.
Athletics
With the straw scattered all around him, he hits the ground. His training and instincts kick in, and he rolls into a dwarf-sized ball, protecting his vital organs.
It takes a lot of practice to transform this tumble into any semblance of a proper landing, but he tries his best. After all, a smooth landing is more likely to keep him from getting hurt too badly. He might try to do a controlled roll, or handspring or something, but he hadn’t quite mastered that art yet. Maybe someday…if this trick doesn’t kill him first.
He finally skids to a stop on his knees/butt/back, his ears ringing and his vision blurred. As he tries to focus, he hopes the crowd erupts in roaring sounds – though whether in celebration of his successful flight or to revel in the spectacle of his body crashing through barriers and smashing onto the ground, he cannot tell.
He waits and hopes he can move his limbs, but mostly he awaits the clowns. This gives him time to recover and think and make sure he’s only somewhat dead.
The clowns, mostly distraction and humor, come out carrying a stretcher. They look aghast and worried, hurriedly running to and fro trying to reach Mukluk. Finally, after getting lost amongst the rings, make it Mukluk and place the stretcher very gingerly next to the smokestained dwarf.
Then they pick up a partially broken straw bale, place it on the stretcher, and rush it off to surgery.
And that’s Mukluk’s cue to rise.
He staggers to his feet, doing his very best to mask the blunt pain all over his body. With one last bow, he slowly staggers his way off stage to rest against a box of netting equipment that’s stored just out of sight.
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The audience roars with applause for the Dwarven Throwers, for Niksi with the clown entourage, and for Mukluk getting shot from a real cannon! The audience is riveted by the entire finale. They are holding their breath at the right times and cheering at the right times and eating popcorn and cotton candy and laughing when the clowns come out. As the last of the smoke clears from the cannon and the last note is played on Niksi's calliope, the house lights come on and people gradually take to their feet, excitedly talking about their favorite acts.
The performers grin and relax at a job well done, but the tone backstage soon turns somber as everyone recalls what began the evening. Celia Flamboni asks Rova, "What did you find out, looking at the body?"
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Niksi goes to her quarters while the audience crowds out of the tent. She needs to take that time she had denied herself. Once safely hidden in her room, she removes her mask, her eyes reddened and puffy, especially noticeable against her pale, gaunt skin. She lets herself feel what she needs to feel, then rests in the silence and dark. She rarely bothers with lights when she is trying to rest, preferring the black-and-white of her darkvision to dull the world and make it less overwhelming. She envies people who cannot see through the dark, how they can just turn off the world without even needing to close their eyes.
As she calms once again, she begins trying to make sense of the crime. Why would someone murder Thunder and sabotage the acts? Was it the Celestial Menagerie looking to punish the “traitors” and silence the competition? Some other malevolent force? This world is more dangerous than most give it credit for, and there’s little reason it could not be any number of entities from this-or-that plane of evil or even just a talented mortal villain who wanted to have some “fun” tormenting circus folk.
Satisfied she has given herself enough for the moment, Niksi redresses and heads back out to confer with the others about the investigation. There would be more time for her to rest later. There was still much to be done. She finds the rest of the performers just as Celia begins speaking to Rova.
Rova explains about the snakes, and Elizia indicating that they were vipers, but probably not hers.
"I think they were probably the ones in the stands," she says, "though Elizia said they were acting normally..."
"Maybe it was just some sort of accident, but I doubt it. I think ... it's probably the Rough Beast, exerting His influence. I don't know that there's much we can do about it," she concludes sadly, anticipating that the others will disagree (much as she's coming to love them, so far she hasn't been able to convince any of them of what's coming).
The Professor moves quietly around, handing everyone their pay from the event. "Not the best time, but everyone still needs to eat. Good sales today!"
As he reaches your group, he adds, "Well done taking charge, you four. There's a little extra for you." You each receive 5 gp, and he hands the group two minor healing potions. "It looks like you might have some trouble with those drunks. These might help."
”Knot the best line, but anyone kill fleas to eat?”
Mukluk looks confused at The Professor, trying to figure out what had gotten into the man. Mukluk, by virtue of being mostly hairless, wasn’t too worried about fleas, but does do a quick check of his arms to be sure there are no fleas around.
He takes the pouch, thankful, but then pauses. ”I like that we’re getting paid and all, but are we going to ignore the elephant in the room?” Mukluk glances sideways at Thkrull, wondering why the beast was always following Rova around.
”What about the ringmaster? We almost had a disaster out there. The nets? The snakes? What was going on?” Mukluk confesses with frustration with the events and his back still hurting from his landing during his act
”And we’ll need to hold a funeral too. The Ringmaster,” Mukluk pauses, giving himself time to grieve, ”The Ringmaster was friend and he was one of us. I wouldn’t be shot out of a canon if not for him. I may not even be here at all. Niksi, you two were friends, right? Where do you think he’d want to be buried? We should have a nice funeral. You know, with clowns, like he would have wanted.” Mukluk wipes away a tear now that his adrenaline is wearing off and the reality creeps back in.
Niksi was already wearing her sad faceplate when she arrived. She nods in agreement as Mukluk talks. She makes extra effort to show her reactions with body language given her hidden face, unless of course she is intentionally using the lack of typical body language as a way to unsettle someone. She would never consider such callous actions during a serious family affair such as this. "I hesitate to proclaim myself a friend to Thunder, for I would not want to claim any special arbitership over his wishes. Rather, I would say he was friend and family to us all, and we all have our special knowledges of him. I would suggest we confer amongst the entire group."
The animal-related cause of death pushes Niksi to the most logical conclusion. "I think the most likely culprit is one that many of us are quite familiar with, a figure that both has the access and ability to use trained animals and--most importantly--the malign will and seething resentment required to push someone to such an act. I of course speak of Mistress Dusklight. I cannot say I am even surprised. I believe that this attack was intended to send a message. She would know that we would make the connection to her while simultaneously having little evidence to prove it, which--along with our nebulous social status as circus folk--leaves us with little recourse. She wants those of us who were former underlings to die or leave, preferably both, I imagine."
Corkas wipes the tears from her eyes. "You think this was all targeted at us?" She looks worried as panic begins to set in. "What can we do, they will just keep coming if we don't do something right?" Her words carefully spread out as she was not excited in this instance at all.
"Someone in the tent tonight had to bring the snakes in though, right?"
Niksi is too distracted mulling over all over the various possible methods of entry to focus too intently on the search.
"Some onions spent for rice, bad tubes ring in the snakes, yeah, right?"
”Yep, yep, you’re right, Prism,” Mukluk agrees, but actually not sure what the walking rainbow was talking about. ”Let’s go see what we can see about the tube snakes.”
Now that he has time, Mukluk examines the ares where Thunder was kilt.
Perception
Survival
Rova joins the others in looking around, pointing out all the things they're missing.
You need to keep your eyes open. No wonder they miss all the signs...
Niksi and Mukluk have trouble finding much, but Rova sees that there are many, many footprints. Rat footprints, specifically, and hundreds of them. They obscure any signs of other tracks, even the Thunder's. Rova follows the mass of footprints outside, noting that the patterns are clearly rat, but aren't consistent with normal rat behavior.
Outside, the rat tracks lead to and from the performers’ entrance to the big top.
Rova continues to follow the rat tracks around the circus camp. Most of these tracks are near the Thunder’s wagon, Bardolph the trained bear’s wagon, the edge of the woods, and the Kanbali family's wagon.
Mukluk harrumphs as Rova easily finds what he does not. He’s proud of the halfling success, of course, as you can’t be jealous of everyone’s skill when you’re in the circus family, but moreso because he just missed it all. How did I miss all those tracks? They are plain as day now that Rova has pointed them out.
Mukluk follows the tracks to Bardolph’s wagon.
”Hey Bardolph, you there?” Mukluk calls out, and knocks around. ”You there?”
Perception - Bardolph’s wagon area
"Rats? That doesn't make sense," Rova mutters, mostly to herself, after pointing them out to the others. "Why would Hanspur be involved ... ?"
She theinks they should head to the Kanbali family's wagon next, afraid that they may have been the next victims of the coming End, but heads instead to Bardolph's when Mukluk goes that.
She glances at the sulfurous dwarf as he calls out, wondering if he really expects the bear to answer.
Bardolph is the circus’s bear, and he has been something of a beloved mascot ever since his previous owner and caretaker, the Great Fortunato, was robbed and killed in an alleyway in Escadar. Myron couldn’t stand leaving the bear behind in Mistress Dusklight’s clutches, and so he took the bear and the Great Fortunato’s wagon. Bardolph continues to live in Fortunato’s old wagon and still knows all the tricks that make up his act, so he can perform with minimal direction from the circus folk, who consider Bardolph part of the family and akin to a giant pet.
However, the sound that Bardolph makes when Mukluk knocks on the wagon door is unlike you've ever heard before from the friendly animal. The growl is guttural. Visceral. Wild.
”Uh oh. Did you all hear that?” Mukluk asks, pretty sure that others have because his own hearing isn’t too good. ”This don’t sound right at all.”
He looks to see if others have answers or thoughts. He doesn’t have many.
"Yeah," Rova agrees, sounding worries. "I remember one theory that says when the Rough Beast comes, all the beasts will become savage. But Thkrull seems fine. His usual cheery, accommodating self. And Moose too. So maybe it's something else..."
"Maybe, it is cause you are waking a sleeping bear." Corkas follows the tracks with her eyes. "Theyseem...togooff...intothewoods, we should follow them before they get too far out." Prism points off to the woodline.
Niksi sighs. Of course there would be more to this. Whatever has happened, they will need to find a way to calm their bear friend. At the very least, Rova is a skilled animal handler, and Niksi herself has some middling understanding of how to work with animals. She switches her faceplate to her "pensive" face and taps her finger against her chin. "If only Bardolph was the type of bear who could be calmed by a nice twink."
The wagon is large and decorated with faded paintings that depict Bardolph dancing, balancing on a ball, and menacing the Great Fortunato, who is armed with a whip. There is a large door in the rear of the wagon; it has no lock, and each side of the door boasts a thick and well-chewed length of rope (Bardolph clasps this rope with his mouth to pull the door open and shut).
There are no windows; you would need to open the door to see inside.
Unless people want to wake an angry bear, Mukluk will move on. ”Uh, maybe this isn’t the best time for the bear, huh? Probably in mourning after Thunder’s death. Maybe we should come back after the bear has had time to grieve. We’re all feeling it.”
If no one objects, he’ll move to Thunder’s wagon and give that place a good looking over.
Perception
Prism scowls a bit. "Should we be scavenging through his stuff?" She thinks about it for a moment as it is a hard pill to swallow. "Hejust..died...But Maybe it might have an idea why." She doesn't like the idea but she follows Mukluk.
"Under different circumstances, I would agree, Mukluk, but with the distinct animal-theme of these attacks upon our family, I think we need to confirm that Bardolph is safe. What if he has been attacked as well and needs our help? What if he has been affected by some animal-control magic?" She does not even want to begin considering the possibilities of them losing another family member, especially if it could be prevented. "You can carry onwards if you want. As soon as I can confirm his condition, I will join you."
The outside of Thunder’s wagon is covered in posters of the various circus acts, including all of yours! The door is locked. Mukluk sees no signs of disturbance besides the many rat tracks, which are plainly visible now that Rova has pointed them out.
Prism sighs as she is with Mukluk. A bit reluctantly, she pulls out her tools and works on the lock. "We are just looking." She says sternly.
Rova shakes her head as Mukluk goes to leave.
"That's not normal," she objects. "Niksi's right that something might be wrong. I can try to calm him down, and if it doesn't work, I guess we can physically try to stop him. But don't hurt him."
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Mukluk waits to see what happens with the bear.
Niksi takes up a spot at the door and carefully opens it.
"Easy, Bardolph, easy. It's just us. What's wrong?" Rova asks, trying to calm him.
Niksi pulls on the rope while Rova tries to calm the bear down, but Bardolph emerges angry!
Bardolph climbs down out of the wagon and then moves toward Mukluk! He snaps with his jaws at the cannonballer!
Bardolph is definitely acting quite unlike himself!
Initiative!
Bardolph
Mukluk
Rova
Corkas
Niksi
Round 1
Action 1: Strike.
Action 2: Strike.
Action 3: Strike.
Mukluk really doesn't want to punch a bear after making such a big deal about the jerk who punched an elephant, but doesn't feel he has much of a choice. "Someone get around its backside!?"
He delays for someone to move into flank, then gut punches the bear three times.
to hit; (+flank)
non lethal damage
to hit; (+flank)
non lethal damage
to hit; (+flank)
non lethal damage
[ dice=hammer]1d20+9[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=B]1d6+4[/dice] damage
AC: 18 +2 with shield action.
Fort/Ref/Will: 7/7/5
HP: 22/22 - 5 nl -11 = 6/22
Focus: 1/3
Hero Points: 1
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
"No, Bardolph," Rova yells, upset that he's acting so out of sorts.
She takes a moment to study him, trying to determine what's wrong, as she pulls out her sling staff and steps away from the enraged bear.
"Gotit!" Prism slides in behind the bear, drawing a dagger. She smacks her pommel into the bears backside just the same as she did with the hecklers.
HP 18/18
AC 18
Hero Points 1/3
Vibrant Display 1/10 minutes
Niksi begins a dramatic recitation of other times in which the circus members have succeeded in subduing someone nonlethally, encouraging her allies to not despair despite the unwelcome circumstances.
Critical Success The composition lasts 4 rounds.
Success The composition lasts 3 rounds.
Failure The composition lasts 1 round, but you don't spend the Focus Point for casting this spell.
Mukluk is able to land one blow on the bear, but the rest of the party is less able to connect. It whirls around to bite Mukluk and then claw Prism!
He then has Prism grasped in his mighty paw!
Initiative!
Bardolph
Mukluk
Rova
Corkas
Niksi
Round 1
Action 1: Strike.
Action 2: Strike.
Action 3: Strike.
Mukluk sinks to his knees, bleeding from wounds he never wanted in a fight he didn't want from a bear he thought best to leave alone.
flatline check
[ dice=hammer]1d20+9[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=B]1d6+4[/dice] damage
AC: 18 +2 with shield action.
Fort/Ref/Will: 7/7/5
HP: 22/22 - 5 nl -11 = 6/22
Focus: 1/3
Hero Points: 1
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
Prism gasps as Mukluk goes down. "Ohno..someone..helphim!" The clawed paw scrapes hard across her arm as she nearly falls into the dirt.
... ◆⃟ Feint
... ◆⃟ Draw Rapier
... ◆⃟ Attack 1
HP 10/18
AC 18
Hero Points 1/3
Vibrant Display 1/10 minutes
Niksi gasps as Mukluk drops. They need to knock that bear out. Now.
She circles around, her hand hovering near her whip, and reaches out for Bardolph’s mind, insisting that he stop this and apologizing for having to harm him.
Rova loads a stone in her staff and sends it flying to right between Bardolph's eyes, hoping she can shock the bear out of whatever's going on with him. Then she moves to Mukluk's side, hoping she can help him quickly, as soon as the bear's threat is gone.
Rova whacks the bear right between the eyes with a sling bullet. He stops and blinks a few times. He looks at Prism, grasped in his paw, and gently sets her down. He sees Mukluk on the ground and starts nosing him, growling softly.
"Are you OK, buddy?"
Bardolph seems like he is acting normally again.
Glad to see their companion is back to normal, Rova Administers First Aid and then Treats Muluk's Wounds, hoping to revive him.
Once she's done, she inspects Bardolph to try to determine what might have happened, checking him for any injuries.
Niksi switches to her "sad" faceplate and waits patiently with Mukluk as Rova treats him. When he finally rouses, she hangs her head. "I am sorry that my insistence to check on Bardolph caused you so much pain. At the very least, whatever madness had overtaken him appears to have abated."
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Mukluck coughs and sputters, regaining consciousness just in time to feel the angry bear's nose on his shoulder. He tenses, ready to get up and defend himself, though his muscles won't quite respond. First the cannon act, and now a bear attack - it's all been so much. He came to the circus to *stop* fighting, and here he was punching drunks and bears in the face.
Frozen in place, it's only then that he realizes the bear no longer seems so... angry. He blinks, trying to make sense of the situation. Rova's there, too, clearly having administered some sort of much-needed healing.
"Thank you, Rova!" he croaks tiredly but appreciatively. "What happened? What's wrong with Bardolph?" He slowly sits up as to not further antagonize or startle the bear.
Corkas helps Mukluk to his feet, extending a helping hand out to him. "Notsure..Rovaputa..stoneintothe...bearsforehead..anditjust...stopped."
"Knots? Sure. Rova’s puta. Tone the knee. Beers beforehand. Antitrust popped.”
Mukluk’s brow furrows as he tries to parse Prism’s quick speech, not quite sure what to make of it.
”I’m not sure what you’re saying Prism,” Mukluk replies, slowly standing up as he’s still trying not to re-trigger the bear. He looks at his two bite wounds, wondering they will scar and scab over like his wounds of old. He limps over to look into the bear’s wagon for something that might have instigated the trouble, like cubs that the party might have startled.
Perception