Niksi begins stitching together the massive wound that Marilus took.
She continues taunting the Big Bad Wolf with her song.
Prism continues to smack the barghest with the pommel of her sickle. "Be nice!"
HP 63/63;
AC 23 (+1 Shield Spell | +1 Inspire Defense and 2/- physical)
Spells: 1st 1/1
Hero Points 2/3
Vibrant Display 1/10 minutes
Reflection of Life 1/Day 1/1
HP 60/73 (last round -25, +12)
AC 25 (+2 Parry | +1 Inspire Defense and 2/- physical)
Quickened (Haste)
Hero Points 2/2
Marilus grimmaces as the creature's giant jaws find his shoulder but feels a bit better with Niksi's healing and defensive magic. Undaunted, he continues his speedy attacks.
"Surrender!"
If the Barghest still stands, Marilus resumes his defensive posture.
Rova just manages to scrape the creature with her fork. Niksi heals up MArilus's wounds. Prism gets a solid stab in and Marilus gets a mighty blow at the same time, causing the creature to finally collapse.
Prism
Niksi
Marilus, -13 hp
Rova, -16 hp
"Well, that was horrible," Rova says, watching to see if the fiend ends up back in the Abyss. "What a jerk! Hopefully the wiolves won't bother us anymore now that he's gone."
She looks around to see if he was doing anything more than just being fiendish.
A small tear drops from Prism. She hadn't wanted to kill him. "He probably didn't mean it Rova....That menagerie caused that hate and fear in him." She slides her sickle back into her belt and turns to leave the body and be alone for a moment. Her hair darkens to a light gray as it shimmers down her body. She wasn't mad at anyone of her companions but rather the Menagerie that keeps causing so much hate wherever they go.
Kalkek had no gear on him, and without his influence, the wolves don't bother you anymore.
Back at the site, people work furiously at clearing roots and rocks from the space where the big top will go. People are starting to set up food, practice their acts, and let animals out to roam. It is starting to feel like home.
Niksi puts on her "serious" face. "Now, we have plenty of time to get started early, but I think it would be for the best to take the full time. I think spreading hype would do us good, and if the Menagerie tries another untoward trick to undermine us, we have more time to be ready. I want every safety measure we have double and triple checked. I want all of our people instructed to keep an eye out for non-Wayward Wonders members lingering about or coming to-and-fro and especially on the lookout for known Menagerie members. I have no doubt that Mistress Dusklight plans to sabotage us in someway, and I am not going to make it easy."
Prism eagerly nods her head. "Ican..headout..andsell..tickets." Prism grabs a whole stack of tickets and merchandise as she heads out into the streets to promote the show. This will help her keep an eye out for anything suspicious coming from the Menagarie.
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Rova nods at Niksi's instructions and joins Prism as the eager gnome heads out to sell tickets.
"No, that's a common misconception," she says for at least the third time to passersby. "Groetus isn't going to destroy the world. He is just signaling it. Like if someone yells for an archer to fire, that's not the danger. It's the archer that actually hurts you. But if you come to our show, I think it'll be really enlightening. I think it's the most fun a lesson has ever been that can also save your life!"
Marilus will do a lot of heavy lifting during circus set up and try to make some friends (and keep an eye on) those joining up for work. He figures if the Menagerie is going to make an appearance, sending a couple of double agents to ensure an accident on opening night might be the way to go about it.
Niksi will work on crafting another elixir of life (lesser) during the week.
With the others working on various jobs to hype-up and help around the circus, Niksi manages over the week, trying to settle into the leadership role and get accustomed to all of the intricacies of it.
At the end of the week, she hands Marilus the brand new elixir. "Consider it a joining bonus."
Prism earns an extra gp as her commission for selling tickets. Rova spends some time in town, getting people hyped up for the show. Marilus helps get the heavy equipment set up while helping Niksi with training everyone on who to watch for from the Celestial Menagerie. Niksi also works on crafting an elixir, and she attends to some of the administrative tasks of the circus.
Sure enough, on Opening Night, Axel comes and finds you.
"There's a group of people from the Celestial Menagerie here. They're causing a fuss and selling tickets to their own show, right in our tent!"
He checks a list. "It looks like Delamar Gianvin, Ruanna Nyamma, Aives the Smoke Dragon, and Danika the Daring."
"Shouldwe..callthe..guards? We are already on thin ice with the officials, if we make a scene we might be the ones getting arrested." Prism says a bit worried as she slows her speech for effect, not wanting to be misunderstood.
"No, they should know better than to come into our circus, and I don't think the guards will do anything anyway. A lot of times, they just help the people attacking you," Rova says. "We need to tell them to cut it out!"
She grabs Thkrull and begins making her way to the tent.
"I always thought Aives was OK," she says to the others. "Maybe we should talk to him. Niksi, maybe ... don't get in a fight with Danika?"
Marilus thanks Niksi for the elixer and the welcome.
"Oh, we'll cut them..." Marilus begins, standing and reaching for his blades.
As Rova continues, he pauses. "Are we only trying to get in a fight with some of them? If they're all Menagerie and they're all in our tent... well, we can still talk after they've gone, one way or another, right?"
While eager to begin "addressing" the problem, Marilus still looks to the rest of the group for confirmation before heading off. If there's anybody the group doesn't want attacked, or if you want to try something other than fighting, he's definitely willing to listen.
Niksi gives a displeased "hmph" at Rova's admonition. "I have been nothing but dignified with Dani. If she starts something, I will end it."
Niksi taps her chin. "I think they are trying to provoke us. They want us to do something untoward with witnesses around so they can go to the authorities and say 'see! we warned you!' We shall have to play this gracefully and politely. They are probably counting on our distaste for the authorities as well." She raises her head. "Prism, have one of the others go notify the authorities. Have them tell them that the Menagerie is causing a disturbance. We just have to keep cool heads until they arrive and let the absurdity of selling tickets to your own show in another circus's tent speak for itself."
She puts on her hat and begins striding towards the tent, but then pauses. "Do not mention to the Menagerie that we have notified the authorities. They will be extra on their guard, otherwise. We want them to make a mistake, and a mistake that everyone will see."
She freezes as an idea hits her. "Wait." She takes off her hat and weaves a spell, transforming herself wholly into the image of a nondescript potential circus-goer, a middle-aged human mother in this case. "Continue with the plan as normal. I will try gathering some intelligence."
Marilus sheaths his rapier.
"Got it, no blades yet. I'll stick back in the crowd and watch to see if they start a fight with us. It'd be bad for business if any paying customers got hurt."
Niksi, in disguise, sneaks up on Delamar.
"What kind of a side show is this, anyway? A tattooed lady telling stories? No, sir, what you want is the Celestial Menagerie! They've got a side show that will make your head spin! I've got some tickets right here."
He pulls out a handful of silvery papers marked with the ornate “CM” logo of the Celestial Menagerie.
Niksi moves up to the front, reaching for a ticket but holding back with trepidation. "What kind of side show is it? Nothing too scary for the kids, I hope...." She leans into the role of the anxious, overworked mother both because it is an expected "character" amongst the audience that can demand entitlement to extra attention and just be written-off. And if he refuses to engage with her, she can spin it her own way.
Figuring Aives has never been all that bad, Rova leads Thkrull in his direction, keeping an eye on the elephant to make sure he doesn't head off to confront Leandrus if he's there too.
"Hey, Aives," she says as she approaches. "What are you doing? I don't think these people are that interested in the Celestial Menagerie if they're already here..."
Thkrull follows his halfling, ready for their show to begin so he can again amaze all the things that have come to see him, but suddenly stops with a start.
He smells that horrible cat! Glaring around, he looks mutinous as his halfling continues to lead him forward instead of letting him make sure all the things at his circus are safe.
Where are you, Leandrus? Come try something, I dare you!
Prism runs off after Elizia. She finds the woman tending to her massive snake. "Elizia, Come with me, we need to head into town and find the guards. The Menagarie are here and it is likely up to no good."{/b] She drags her away. [b]"You go that way and I'll go this way." Prism points off in two different directions.
Delamar address Niksi, but speaks to the whole crowd. "Well, miss, it's wee bit frightening with the Mysterious Bat Bay and the Repulsive Frog Girl. But you'll really want to keep the kiddies away from the animals! We have a fearsome manticore!"
Aives puffs on his pipe, blowing perfect concentric rings. "Hey, Rova. YEah, I know, but you know how Mistress Dusklight gets. Do what she says, or it's the oubliette with you." He puffs again. "I can't say I feel good about this though. Can you believe she wants me to go blow smoke at your animals to make them sick?"
Prism and Elizia run off to fetch the constables.
Rova's face darkens. "You wouldn't!" she exclaims, as Thkrull tries to push past her, only his fear of damaging his halfling preventing him from getting to Aives.
"I do know!" she says once she's calmed the pachyderm. "Why don't you come join our circus? We have a new ringmaster, who's great, and I'm sure you'd get one of our top billings. Plus no one's forced to do anything here that they don't want to unless the fey come back and almost no one dies here!"
Aives ponders this. "Hmm. It sounds better than the Celestial Menagerie, that's for sure. If you can use a smoke artist, I'm in."
Two can play at that game, Delamar.
Niksi, still in disguise, folds her arms. She raises her voice, playing annoyed at him refusing to give her his full attention, as the particularly entitled woman she is playing might be. ”A manticore! Don’t those shoot spines? How do you protect the audience from that? That all sounds rather intense for children, don’t you think? I don’t want my children getting too worked up by monsters. They’re hard enough to get to bed as it is. You’re not one of those shock-jockeys, are you?”
"Yes! That would be wonderful," Rova says. "What are things like in there now? It doesn't seem like anything's changed. We met the Grinning Goblin the other day ... but he tried to kill us."
She decides not to finish the story, not wanting to scare their newest performer off.
From well within the crowd gathered around Niksi and Delamar, and while trying to stay as far from Delamar's line of sight as possible (preferably behind), Marilus leans to another member of the crowd and says "You know, that poor lady's got a point. Imagine trying to get your kids to bed after they see a manticore..."
Aives thinks for a moment. "All right. I'm in. Can't be worse, anyway. Danika, Delamar, and Ruanna are all here too, looking to start trouble."
Meanwhile, Delamar tries to play up danger for the crowd. "Ah, yes, it will be an experience the children will never forget! And of course, you can use it to your advantage, miss. Tell the kiddies that if they don't go to bed on time, you'll feed them to the terrible manticore!"
Unfortunately, when Marilus pipes up, Delamar immediately recognizes him. He makes eye contact with Ruanna while he keeps talking up the terrifying sights of the Celestial Menagerie. "Of course, we have a staff member to keep you safe from thebeasts. But be warned, he is a satyr, and he just might play his pipes for you!"
Ruanna finds Marilus in the crowd. "So it's true that you defected, huh? You know Mistress Dusklight wants you dead now? I never liked you, anyway." Marilus can see that she's brought weapons: a kukri and a shortbow.
Meanwhile meanwhile, Prism and Elizia reach the constable's office. Darricus Stallit, the man who brought you to Andera Paldreen's office for a meeting, is working. He listens to your story.
"Well, that's just terrible! The circuses shouldn't be fighting with each other. I'll come back with you and take care of these troublemakers."
"Oh, that's great. I heard they were here, but hopefully they're not getting up to too much trouble. Do you want to let them know you're not coming back with them? Oh! Or maybe you just disappear and they're left wondering. Maybe then they'd think twice about coming back!" Rova suggests excitedly.
Prism shakes her head. "Iagree! Please hurry, wemay...alreadybe...toolate." She grabs the Constable's hand, helping him to his feet.
Marilus lets his hand slide to the hilt of his rapier when talking with Ruanna.
"Yeah, I joined up here to get away from you all, but it seems even the Menagerie can't stay away from the new best show in town," Marilus retorts. "Don't you have your own circus to bother, Ruanna? Go home, and take whatever trouble you came here to cause with you."
Niksi scoffs at Delamar and his talk of danger. Time to wrap this up. ”You are not listening to me. Some kind of service! No wonder you have to do such galling things as try to poach audience members from another circus to fill your stands. You probably just want me to shut up and buy a ticket. You probably just want us all to shut up and pay you because that’s all you care about, you slimeball.” She makes sure to raise her voice enough that everyone nearby can hear, but she plays it off as just her character’s natural frustration. She turns to walk away. ”I swear, the people who run this circus must be saints for letting you grandstand like this on their own turf. At least one circus has a sense of propriety and professionalism.”
Having hopefully done some successful work discrediting the Menagerie, she heads away, taking a circuitous route to avoid suspicion. When she knows she’s clear and alone, she drops the disguise and returns to await the appearance of the authorities.
Her plan is to play it as though she herself has no ill will towards the Menagerie and simply is a performer who wants to put on a good show for the town. When faced with one group that is disrespectful and underhanded and another that is professional and sees no need for base trickery, the townsfolk will not help but be able to see Wayward Wonders as the superior option. The authorities will see a continuation of the pattern of behavior from before, another strike against Del and the Menagerie.
And the best part? It’s all true. Yes, she may have needed to lie and angle to get there, but what is being an artist if not using lies to tell the truth?
Aives puffs on his pipe a few more times as he answers Rova. "I'll head back with them to pick up my stuff and sneak off after the show. Dusklight won't be happy, so I'll keep the news to myself for now."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ruanna smiles wickedly at "Aw, but there's so much fun to be had here." Her hand grazes the handle of her kukri.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Delamar seems off-kilter from Niksi's scolding, and the crowd around starts to disperse, off to see the Circus of Wayward Wonders's more family-friendly sideshow.
When Niksi returns as herself, Danika catches her eye and gives her a wave.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darricus hurries back with Prism and Elizia. He spots Delamar immediately in the crowd, as he was in Andera Paldreen's office earlier. "See here now, I'm all for the spirit of competition and all that, but these fine people are complaining about your presence here. I'm afraid I have to ask you to leave and return to your own circus."
Delamar gives a big smile, as much to the crowd as to Darricus. "Of course, my dear officer of the law. I can appreciate that not every performer can hold up to the pressure of competition. We'll be on our way to get ready for our own show."
Delamar, Ruanna, Danika, and Aives pick their way through the crowd and depart as Darricus watches.
"Well, there you go, no more trouble! Good luck with the show! Or, I suppose it's supposed to be 'Break a leg!'"
Niksi, in a moment of weakness, waves back at Danika. She catches herself and slaps her own hand away.
Niksi approaches as Delamar is giving off his smile to Darricus. "I was happy to let you do as you would. I have every confidence in my family here and what we have built. I wish Mistress Dusklight had the same confidence in you."
She tips her hat to Darricus. "I am so sorry that you are still having to deal with our drama. I had hoped to not get you involved. I appreciate you taking the time for us."
Once all the Menagerians and authorities are gone, Niksi takes her friends aside. "My apologies for avoiding responsibility there. I am trying to maintain a certain narrative and it was necessary. I will try to give you better warning next time, though."
"Oh, that's OK. Also," Rova says excitedly, talking almost as fast as Prism, "Aives said he's going to sneak away after the show and join us. Though ... now I wonder if he was telling the truth. I hope so. He could be infiltrating us for Mistress Dusklight, though. I had a few uncles who would often go into homes as if they were servants and try to let everyone know that way about what was coming. They didn't usually listen, though, and then of course ... well ..."
She gives a bit of a shrug that seems to offer some grim finality to the situations she's describing, and turns her attention back to the present.
"But we should get back to our show! We have to get ready to let everyone know to be ready!"
"Can we trust Aives? How can we let him earn his trust?" Prism ponders as she tries to catch her breath from running back. As much as she would love to have more members join their family she wasn't sure she could handle another death in the family.
"Ruanna definitely was here for trouble," Marilus offers.
"We should keep our eyes open. I'm not convinced they've given up just because the authorities showed up and ask them to leave. I'll keep an eye out during the show. It wouldn't surprise me if they just doubled back and cut a rope or set a tent on fire right in the middle of a performance."
After the excitement of the constable rousting the rival circus, there is a moment of quiet as people take their seats. It's not a full crowd in the Big Top, but it is at about 50% capacity. A few of the performers who aren't on tonight walk around, doing minor tricks for the crowd to keep the excitement high. When Fidget set off sparks in front of her family, the ratfolk go wild with applause.
Soon, the lights dim, and the announcer speaks. "Fine people of Escadar, the Circus of Wayward Wonders is thrilled to present to you...the End of the World! We begin our story with Prism the gnome!"
The spotlight shines on Prism in the center ring.
"To get to the end we must start at the beginning. A time when there were Gods and mankind joined their ranks!" Prism tumbles out as she one by one goes through the sequence of her performance.
Test after test she winds her way through more and more difficult obstacles, and performing high-wire acts with open flames just beneath her feet. Just as she reaches the end of her performance many of the staff join her in a race to the Starstone itself. Reaching it in the final moments it seems as if she falls to her death, sacrificing herself for the help of others she rises with her skin and hair glimmering with every color of the rainbow before she shoots the same prismatic colors high into the air.
The crowd ooohs and aaahs at Prism's displays of acrobatics, and gasp as she looks like she's about to fall. They applaud when she shoots off rainbows!
The set changes for Rova and Elizia and Mister Tickles. Elizia coaxes the snake to rise up high above the crowd, and the audience members shriek at the sight.
The snake moves over toward Rova, looking menacing.
Rova gasps in mock horror as the snake approaches her. "It's Rovagug," she calls out, "and he's destroying everything!"
"How could we have known this would happen? If only there were something we could do!" she runs around frantically, but the snake follows her wherever she goes, seeming to get always closer. But then the other performers, like they did with Prism, join her, shepherding the snake away, until Mister Tickes is in his crate. Just as they did in reality, they have locked "Rovagug" away and everything is safe.
But lost in the chaos, Rova reemerges, face now painted white, descending from on high thanks to Thkrull's help. She is silent, like the moon, but she hints at impending doom!
The crowd applauds for Rova and cheers as "Rovagug" is locked away!
The Dwarven Throwers repeat their tribute to Mukluk, climbing on top of each other and tossing the smallest one high into the air, mimicking the dwarven cannonball.
There's a moment when one of the dwarves is almost dropped, but the group recovers nicely, and the crowd cheers!
Everyone sets up quickly for the big finale!
The Flamboni Sisters light their juggler's batons on fire, and quickly toss them back and forth, as the narration about Rovagug continues.
Mordaine sinks into her tank, bound by manacles. She easily picks the lock, and waits for her cue to arise from the water.
The center ring lights up for Niksi!
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Niksi arrives on the stage with a creepy, friendly mask on, carrying an oversized bundle of luggage overstuffed with instruments on her back. It actualy is nowhere near as heavy as it looks, but she carries off the deception with ease.
She slinks around Rova on the stage, keeping her movements looser than a person's are expected to be, as though she is a marionette on the strings.
"Oh, you've met with a terrible fate, haven't you? But what use is a terrible fate if no one knows of it? Such a shame." She shakes her head. "Luckily for you, little one, this pleasant instrument saleswoman has just the tool for such situations." She produces a bright, slightly oversized ocarina. "This instrument can give you another chance to get it right. To make what should have not happened, not, and what should not have not happened, happen. You just need to play the right notes." She then begins a lonely, haunting tune. The solo continues for several minutes as the spotlight shows various other performers from the previous acts moving slowly in reverse, as if time is rewinding. She stops right before the last note, and then everything suddenly goes back to as it was before she started playing.
She hands the ocarina to Rova. "You may have the song, and I will show you the last note, but I am a saleswoman, after all, and I will need something in return. I will only give it to you if you can prove to me that enough other people want this world of ours to turn back. If you can find any, that is." Niksi's lines are meant to encourage and hint at the audience that they are to shout out in support of young Rova. If they do not on their own, then Rova might plead for help directly.
When the crowd adequately shows their encouragement, she hands over the ocarina and gives her final instructions, then disappears off-stage.
The crowd roars with applause at the finale with the ocarina!
Other performers do small tricks as the audience leaves the theater. You hear a lot of murmuring about telling friends and family to come see the next show!
Each of you earns an extra 9 gp from the successful circus!
You have to wait a few days before your next show, to give time for the buzz to spread throughout town, so this makes an excellent time to start investigating "Moonstone Hall," a temple supposedly underneath the city that is connected to the xulgaths you fought earlier!
You might try to find out where such a thing is by asking around town (Diplomacy check), looking up historical records (Society check or a relevant Lore), look up religious records (Religion or Society), or you could ask the Chief Constable Andera Paldreen.
Prism stretches. "That..wentbetter..thanexpected!" As the buzz continues Prism's mind wanders back to Mukmuk and the Moonstone Hall. Sneaking away over the next couple of days she wanders around the town, speaking with people about what they liked and didn't like of the show, as well as slipping in curiosity of the Moonstone Hall.
She ends up making her way to the records as she is pointed in that direction.
”A great success, dears. And no nonsense from our Dear Friends.”
Niksi has great success with her efforts asking around in town, often making good use of her illusory disguises to appear less noticeable and more approachable. In fact, she is so successful that by the time she actually gets to looking up the records, she is tired and has difficulty focusing, instead imagining how much work she has left at the circus with her new position.