The aasimar pounds on the inside of the sphere, helplessly.
Dusklight bleeds.
Unset strikes the catfolk with a fist while Prism follows up with two stabs, the second cutting particularly deep.
Rova's shot goes wide.
Initiative
Prism
Niksi, Will save
Dusklight, -97 hp, 1d6 bleed
Mazael
Rova
Unset
Kennari
Niksi begins sobbing in exaggerated heaves, then suddenly stopping and returning to her confident calm. ”Your work remains as tritely emotionally manipulative as ever, Dusklight! A true artist has respect for their audience, something I know is impossible for you.”
She turns to the knight. ”Have you not seen the horrible things this woman has done to her workers? How she treats her patrons? We left her employ because we could not stand her abuses. She is a manipulator, Sir Knight, and has perverted the course of justice through bribing members of the guard.”
Pinned against the wall, Dusklight darts across the room.
She examines her bleeding wounds. "You're going to regret that, Prism. You count a lot on your friends, don't you?" She casts a spell.
You feel paranoid!
Critical Success The target is unaffected.
Success The target believes everyone it sees is a potential threat. It becomes unfriendly to all creatures to which it wasn't already hostile, even those that were previously allies. It treats no one as an ally. The spell ends after 1 round.
Failure As success, but the effect lasts 1 minute.
Critical Failure As failure, except the target believes that everyone it sees is a mortal enemy. It uses its reactions and free actions against everyone, regardless of whether they were previously its allies, as determined by the GM. It otherwise acts as rationally as it normally does and likely prefers to attack creatures that are actively attacking or hindering it over those leaving it alone.
The knight is his resilient bubble takes Niksi's words seriously, forced to listen. He looks thoughtfully at Dusklight.
Initiative
Prism, Will save
Niksi
Dusklight, -97 hp, 1d6 bleed
Mazael
Rova
Unset, AOO
Kennari
HP 32/32
AC 18 (+1 Mage Armor; +1 Shield)
Focus Point 1/1
Spells Used:
(1) Mage Armor
(2) False Life
Wand of Heal (1st) 1/1
Healer's Gloves 1/1
Drain Bonded Item 1/1
Hero Point 2/3
HP 110/110
AC 25 (26, plus physical resistance 1, when inspired)
Fort +15, Ref +18, Will +14 (+1 to all with inspire defense)
Focus Points: 1/1; Hero points: 1; Halfling Luck []
Battle Medicine: Rova [], Thkrull [], Kennari [], Niksi [], Prism [], Unset []; Reflection of Life []
Effects: Hunted prey (Mistress Dusklight)
"Oh no you don't!" Rova says as the catfolk tries to escape.
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Kennari pauses for a moment when he sees Dusklight casting her spell, wracking his brain as he tries to identify what she cast.
"Crap, that's not good. Prism, just listen to me. It's not true!" He closes his eyes for a moment, and a light flashes then dims within his satchel before he weaves another spell.
Niksi sees that she is getting through with the knight, and Kennari has already taken care of Prism, so she continues.
”Come, Sir Knight, help us put an end to this sorry affair. See that justice is done.”
Unset takes a swing at the darting Dusklight.
The fleshforged man pauses to tend to poor Prism, but is pleased to see her recover with the magic man's help.
"Ole Unset'll hold this one, if ye wish to be dealin' with Darklight," he suggests to the gnome. A trio of appendages menacingly snake out from beneath his cloak, threatening to entangle the "knight", should he fail to "see that justice is done".
Prism shakes her head as the fog seems to clear. "What was that?" She glares at Dusklight. "Get back here you crazy Cat. Help you out with those nine-lives."
Knife Crit: 1d6 persistent Bleed.
Knife Crit: 1d6 persistent Bleed.
HP 96/96
AC 26 (+1 Shield Spell | +1 Inspire Defense and 2/- physical)
Spells: 1st 1/1; 2nd 1/1; 3rd 0/1
Hero Points 2/3
Vibrant Display 1/10 minutes
Reflection of Life 1/Day 1/1
"Ole Unset'll hold this one, if ye wish to be dealin' with Darklight,"he suggests to the gnome. A trio of appendages menacingly snake out from beneath his cloak, threatening to entangle the "knight", should he fail to "see that justice is done".
"Let's be dealin' with Darlight," Unset nods to Prism. "After ye," he bows.
As Prism sicks her sickle on the sicko, Unset moves into a flanking position to strike.
Prism starts eyeing everyone suspiciously, but Kennari quickly realizes that she's fallen prey to a paranoia spell and he dispels the effect before she can act.
Unset strikes Dusklight as she leaves, but can't connect again. Rova and Prism similarly struggle to hit.
Niksi tries to convince Mazael to join the side of the Circus of Wayward Wonders, but he doesn't seem quite won over.
Dusklight moves across the room to Rova.
She touches Rova's cheek. "I hope you don't mind me borrowing a bit of your life force. After all, you believe it's all coming to an end any moment now, don't you?"
She bleeds.
Initiative
Prism, Fort save
Niksi
Dusklight, -119 hp + vampiric touch, 1d6 bleed
Mazael
Rova, -vampiric touch
Unset, AOO
Kennari
Prism gives chase as she slides on the central arpet, slitting her small sickle upward at Dusklight. "Your circus will finally be free after this. I will take your name onto my own and make it good once more."
Knife Crit: 1d6 persistent Bleed.
Knife Crit: 1d6 persistent Bleed.
HP 96/96
AC 26 (+1 Shield Spell | +1 Inspire Defense and 2/- physical)
Spells: 1st 1/1; 2nd 1/1; 3rd 0/1
Hero Points 2/3
Vibrant Display 1/10 minutes
Reflection of Life 1/Day 1/1
"Perhaps we'd better try and take her alive? Turn her over to the authorities and such?" Kennari sends a jolt of electricity, carefully tuned to be just short of lethal, at the advancing Dusklight.
HP 100/110
AC 25 (26, plus physical resistance 1, when inspired)
Fort +15, Ref +18, Will +14 (+1 to all with inspire defense)
Focus Points: 1/1; Hero points: 1; Halfling Luck []
Battle Medicine: Rova [], Thkrull [], Kennari [], Niksi [], Prism [], Unset []; Reflection of Life []
Effects: Hunted prey (Mistress Dusklight)
Rova hisses in pain as Darklight's spell hits her. "The End is coming for you first," Rova snarls back, face transformed to a rictus of hate.
She drops her bow, and in a flash pulls out her fork, stabbing into the catfolk monster twice before stepping away, her breath coming heavily.
"Tell Pharasma to be ready for Groetus' reward!"
With the battle going swimmingly thus far and the knight already cordoned-off by Kennari, Niksi turns back to Mistress Dusklight. "I believe the time has come to pay the piper, Mistress. Let us find out if the pipes on my calliope make me count."
Mistress Dusklight feels images of every single person who has suffered and died under her tenure as head of the circus crawling out of the walls, bursting through the ground, falling from the sky. All them clawing for her with hate in their eyes.
She sings a haunting background tune while the images do their work.
Prism gets in one good stab while Rova struggles to connect with her fork.
Kennari zaps.
Niksi conjures an impossible nightmare for Dusklight.
But the heartless catfolk doesn't seem bothered.
Initiative
Prism, Fort save
Niksi
Dusklight, -124 hp, 1d6 bleed
Mazael
Rova, -10 hp
Unset, AOO
Kennari
Unset again swings at the darting Dusklight.
He then turns and pursues.
Unset swings at Dusklight as she passes by. His other attacks don't quite make it.
Dusklight looks badly injured, but Niksi blocks her exit!
Dusklight moves, provoking from Unset again. Dusklight curses at Niksi, then attacks her with a whip!
She bleeds.
Mazael remains in his sphere.
Initiative
Prism
Niksi, Will save, -40 hp
Dusklight, -152 hp, 1d6 bleed
Mazael
Rova, -10 hp
Unset, AOO
Kennari
Prims begins to lose her breath running all over the room. "Give up already!"
Knife Crit: 1d6 persistent Bleed.
Knife Crit: 1d6 persistent Bleed.
HP 96/96
AC 26 (+1 Shield Spell | +1 Inspire Defense and 2/- physical)
Spells: 1st 1/1; 2nd 1/1; 3rd 0/1
Hero Points 2/3
Vibrant Display 1/10 minutes
Reflection of Life 1/Day 1/1
HP 100/110
AC 25 (26, plus physical resistance 1, when inspired)
Fort +15, Ref +18, Will +14 (+1 to all with inspire defense)
Focus Points: 1/1; Hero points: 1; Halfling Luck []
Battle Medicine: Rova [], Thkrull [], Kennari [], Niksi [], Prism [], Unset []; Reflection of Life []
Effects: Hunted prey (Mistress Dusklight)
"Yeah!" Rova agrees, dropping her fork and picking up her bow, then launching two more arrows to their former ringmaster.
Kennari sends another merciful jolt of electricity at the desperate Dusklight, hoping to knock her out.
"Stay still, will ye?" Unset cries as he again swings at the darting Dusklight.
He again turns and pursues.
The effort appears to be getting to him.
Niksi is feeling particularly unlucky now after that spell and shifts into full support mode.
Dusklight clearly thinks she has the upper hand as Prism, Rova, and Unset all miss.
She further avoids the worst of Kennari's blast.
Smug but still gravely injured, she Steps away from Unset and tries her best to clear a path for her exit.
"Leave my sight at once!"
Initiative
Prism, Will save
Niksi, Will save, -40 hp
Dusklight, -159 hp, 1d6 bleed
Mazael
Rova, -10 hp, Will save
Unset, Will save
Kennari, Will save
Prism feels an unnatural fear creep over her body as she flees the room for a brief moment. As her senses come back to her and she glares back at Dusklight. "Not sure what you did but you can't scare us away that easily."
Knife Crit: 1d6 persistent Bleed.
HP 96/96
AC 26 (+1 Shield Spell | +1 Inspire Defense and 2/- physical)
Spells: 1st 1/1; 2nd 1/1; 3rd 0/1
Hero Points 1/3
Vibrant Display 1/10 minutes
Reflection of Life 1/Day 1/1
HP 100/110
AC 25 (26, plus physical resistance 1, when inspired)
Fort +15, Ref +18, Will +14 (+1 to all with inspire defense)
Focus Points: 1/1; Hero points: 0; Halfling Luck []
Battle Medicine: Rova [], Thkrull [], Kennari [], Niksi [], Prism [], Unset []; Reflection of Life []
Effects: Hunted prey (Mistress Dusklight)
Rova can't help herself, turning and getting away from Dusklight, just as she had ingrained in her during her time in the circus.
Hey, wait a second!
Realizing what she's doing, she stop, spinning on one foot and rushes back. That's enough of that!
Kennari feels his mind filled with the desire to flee. As it clears, he finds himself farther from Dusklight--not the worst thing that could happen. As he shakes his head, he sends another jolt of electricity at her, though he's not able to focus well enough to take the lethal edge off it this time.
Unset nods and follows the command. Coming to his senses, he returns and heads straight towards Lady Dusklight.
"Rather unsportin', that wuz! Ye should know better 'n t'get inta people's heads!" Furious, the fleshforged man swings an appendage at the woman.
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Niksi would have been fine, but that bit of bad luck that Mistress Dusklight inflicted her with ruins it.
Spurred by anger at being manipulated, Prism comes back for a solid attack. Unset, however, is truly done with Dusklight and he connects with a powerful punch that finally drops the catfolk.
As Mazael's sphere drops, he looks sad and confused.
"She seemed so innocent and kind. I though she was my damsel in distress."
Prism leans back as Dusklight falls. She stares at the performers body for quite a while. "Is it over? She is actually gone?"
"Aye," Unset nods, as he rubs the appendage that struck Dusklight, now raw from the ordeal. "It's over. She's gone, Prism. She's gone."
"This is the first I've met this Dusklight, but from what I hear good knight, you were just the latest in a long line of people manipulated by her. She was quite the talented magician; it's a shame she put her talents to such ends."
"Yes, but why?" Rova muses, happy to have sent Dusklight to her fate. Let Pharasma have her, because clearly no one else wants her. And she deserves being stuck with the Lady of Graves and her awful priests.
Still, Rova's curious about what she was doing. It seemed like she was trying to hasten The End, but no Groetan would ever have been as ... evil ... as Dusklight. "We should look around to see if she left some clue. Why was she dealing with the xulgaths and demons?"
Assuming no one objects, she starts pillaging the dead catfolk's tent.
Rova finds a few of the books that were missing from Moonstone Hall, along with records of other artifacts being sold. As far as Rova can piece together, Dusklight had no particular affinity to the xulgaths or demons, but they were useful patsies to help her raid the temple of its treasures.
"We should let the rest of the circus know. Any that wish to join our family may as long as they mean no harm." Prism says still in a bit of shock. "If we sneak off and they find her like this we could have the authorities or even more retaliation coming after us."
"Yeah," Rova says. "They can help with my performance of Groetus' Arrival!"
As you exit Dusklight's bedroom, you find that a small crowd has gathered. You see people you know from your time working here. Tuscaonna Sprightly, who took your money when you came in, glares at you angrily. Adrivallo, a satyr who runs part of the sideshow and was one of Dusklight's most loyal followers, drinks heavily from a flask. The elephant trainer, a half-orc named Evora Yarket stands haughtily, while Daring Danica, the lion tamer and Niksi's ex looks at Niksi with a concerned expression. A boggard dressed in a child's pink chiffon dress, "Sump Sadie" as named by Dusklight, hops from one foot to the other. A Varisian woman covered in tattoos, Carmine Iolara, clasps her hands together with tears in her eyes. "Is it true? What they're saying? Is it over?"
"It's not The End (yet) but Dusklight won't hurt you or anyone else again," Rova announces.
"It's true. The Mistress is gone." Prism has a forlorn look on her own face as she is filled with mixed emotions. "We mean the rest of you no harm and if any wish the same you have a home in our Family."
Niksi raises her hands. ”Greetings, all! Some of you know me, but most do not, so I shall introduce myself as Niksi Drugova, the Living Mannequin, Ringmaster of the Circus of Wayward Wonders.” She removes her hat and bows before continuing. ”I take no joy from telling you that we were forced to end Mistress Dusklight’s life. Unrepentant ‘til the end, she gave us no other option to stop her attacks at our own circus. As one of her former employees, I do not need any explanation to know exactly how horrible she has treated you. From this point onwards, know that you are free to do as you will. If any of you desire to reform and run a new Celestial Menagerie, please do so. But we would also add that we would be happy to take as many of you as would be willing to come join us. We have a sincere belief in the rights of all who work for us, and we will make sure you are treated with dignity and respect. Further, in the spirit of reconciliation and new beginnings, we will offer anyone who joins us a one-time blank slate. We will not hold past actions against you. We will judge you only on what you do from now on. For those that may have thrived under Mistress Dusklight’s toxic management to the point of happily collaborating with her, know that we are an honest circus, and we do not tolerate cruelty of her sort. We are generous, but not foolish.” She adjusts her hat. ”You do not have to decide immediately. I have no interest in forcing your decision one way or the other. I would be no better than her if I was to do so.”
There is a stummed silence, followed by murmurs as members of the circus talk to each other.
The half-orc woman approaches Rova. "I hear you used to be the elephant tamer here? I am Evora Yarket. I'm the strongwoman, but, well, I really formed a bond with the mammoth that Dusklight bought. I named her Gigi. I'd like to do an act with her, but Dusklight wouldn't allow it. I don't suppose your circus can take a second pachyderm act?"
A heavily scarred tiefling seems to find kinship with Unset. "I'm Fireproof Flynn. Well, that's my stage name. I'm not entirely fireproof, as you can see, but setting myself on fire sure makes for a good show. Dusklight thought so, anyway. I want to make sure that everyone from the sideshow lands on their feet, but I do need a new gig."
Prism notices the sounds of hooves beating against a cage outside. When she goes to investigate, she finds a pegasus, kicking against its bars. "Hello! Gnome! I am Mistdancer! Surely, you have heard of my wonderful high-flying performances! All the people ooh and aah to see me fly! My job is wonderful...except for this blasted cage. I would happily fly for you and your circus if I am caged no longer! I also insist on my same salary: my weight in apples and oats and not a grain less!"
The tattooed woman approaches Kennari. "My name is Carmine Iolara. I do not wish to join your circus. I have my own quest, to explore the maps you see tattooed upon me in real life. But it requires my family heirlooms that Dusklight was keeping from me. Please, have you found them? Are they here somewhere?"
An azarketi with cracked and dried skin keeps splashing himself from a bucket that the boggard holds up. He wheezes out to Niksi, "I apologize; Dusklight kept me in the oubliette since last night as punishment for trying to escape. Too much longer and I would have dried out completely. Despite that miserable woman, I still love to perform. My name is Ufi, and I can make the waters dance." He gestures with a finger and a spiral of water forms out of the bucket, quenching his skin. "I need to stop by the Wet House, the azarketi embassy, to let them know I'm all right, but then I would love to join your circus."
As the azarketi speaks with Niksi, Daring Danica watches from the corner of the room, quietly petting the large cat at her side.
"A fascinating quest! Can you tell me more of your heirlooms? We were mainly focused on finding Dusklight, but it's possible that we ran across them (or that they are still inside)."