Prism smiles, hopping up and down. "Of course, can you take me flying sometime?" She grows more and more ecstatic.
Rova can't help hesitating. She wants to invite the other woman, and elephant to join, but she can't help but worry that they'll steal the spotlight from her and Thkrull. Which wouldn't be a big problem, except their show is so important. If people don't realize how close Groetus is -- she casts a quick glance to the sky to check on Him -- and that The End is approaching, who knows what will happen.
Still, she's sure she can get the point across. Maybe Gigi and Evora might even help? "Sure," she says. "My partner, Thkrull didn't want to come, but I'm sure he'd love to meet Gigi. He's a sweetheart!"
Mistdancer paws at the ground with emphasis. "OF course! Everyone shall admire you upon my fine back!"
Evora grins at Rova. "Yes, yes! I'm sure they will get along great!"
Carmine, keeping her expression serious, describes to Kennari a burlap sack woven with colorful thread and he remembers seeing it in Dusklight's chambers! It contains several mundane items of marginal worth, including several small family portraits, a tattered scarf, and a rusted hunting knife.
Unset forms a grin as he gets introduced to the circusfolk. "A fine lot of talents and gifts, ye all have, do you not?"
"Ole Unset, here, has been workin' for with Ringmaster Niksi Drugova 'n the Circus of Wayward Wonders for but a short time. But, many adventures have taken place since then, they have, and Unset owes his life to them, he does!" explains the fleshforged man. "If ye be lookin' for work in the circus, ye can find no better folk, ye can't!"
"Ah, Carmine, I do believe I saw your possessions among the many no-doubt-stolen objects in Madam Dusklight's chamber. If you'll follow me, I believe I remember where they are." Kennari leads Carmine in to locate the heirlooms.
Rova waits for the others to finish their conversations, eager to get back to the better circus and introduce Thkrull to Gigi.
Fireproof Flynn grins at Unset. "I've got a new idea for an act, too! I'd rather not light myself on fire anymore, but what if I juggled flaming knives?"
Carmine hurries into Dusklight's quarters alongside Kennari and bursts out a grin at the return of her family's items.
Fireproof Flynn grins at Unset. "I've got a new idea for an act, too! I'd rather not light myself on fire anymore, but what if I juggled flaming knives?"
"Aye! Aye! That'd be a spectacle worth some patron's gold coin, it would!" Unset replies. "You'll have a fine future with this lot, ye will!"
You return to the Circus of Wayward Wonders with your new acts in tow. Gigi and Thkrull size each other up and trumpet a little, but seem content to munch on grass next to each other.
Everyone wants to hear about your exploits, and the whole circus cheers when you recount the defeat of Dusklight, as even those who didn't work for her have heard the terrible stories.
The Professor finds you as you are relaxing for an evening meal and hands you a letter that just arrived.
Dear Circus of Wayward Wonders,
I am the head of the agricultural association for the Swardlands, and I would like to extend an invitation for you to consider your next tour here. The fine farmers of the Swardlands have had some tough times lately, and I am confident that your circus would be the morale boost that everyone needs! There are quite a few cities here, allowing you to easily perform in different places. I myslef would be happy to help arrange your performance in Kerrick, where I live.
Best regards,
Opper Vandy
Kennari would know that there are three aeon towers in the Swardlands.
Niksi welcomes the azarketi and the other new performers to the circus. More talent means more options for their repertoire. She begins considering how best to weave another show narrative from the new acts as well.
There is, of course, one performer that she gives special attention to. She approaches Daring Danica with a neutral mask on, making sure they have a quiet moment to speak. ”Daring Danica. Known as Dani to friends and intimates. I take it from your staying around that you desire to make amends. I will be first to admit that we did not part on the most auspicious of terms. I may even go as far as to say I laid some accusations that are, under hindsight, unfair. But I want you to know that should you join us, any complex feelings shall be set aside for all matters professional. I have always believed a circus should be run with integrity and respect for all involved. Nobody else will take care of us.” She begins pacing as she speaks. ”That is a lot of words to say that I forgive you if…a…you forgive me. Then all is forgiven. And such.” She spins back towards Danica and extends her hand.
Regarding the letter, Niksi sees it as an excellent opportunity. ”Our job and our hobby align quite nicely here.”
"Does that mean you intend to continue exploring the towers?" Kennari asks, unable to mask the hope in his voice. "I know you need to do what's best for the circus, but...well, I would certainly rather explore those towers with you capable folk than try to do so on my own."
Rova hesitates. The towers don't seem to have anything to do with a circus -- but Groetus wouldn't have set her on this track if she weren't supposed to follow through.
"Well, they're right there, so we probably should," she says.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Does that mean you intend to continue exploring the towers?" Kennari asks, unable to mask the hope in his voice. "I know you need to do what's best for the circus, but...well, I would certainly rather explore those towers with you capable folk than try to do so on my own."
"Explore with ye, Ole Unset would, of course!" he says with a grin. "But don't be thinkin' there not be plenty for ye to be doin' 'round the circus, Friend Kennari."
The fleshforged man retrieves two shovels from the corner. Holding one a pair of his appendages, he offers the other to Kennari with a third. "After all, there be another elephant amongst us, there be. And such leave heaps more behind 'em than jus' the happy crowds!"
"Yes" Kennari says, taking the shovel with a sigh. "I will do what I can to help around the circus, of course, though I'm afraid I'm unlikely to excel at tasks requiring physical gifts. Still, perhaps I can help in other ways." Sticking the shovel into a nearby patch of grass, he instead weaves a spell, the nearby soiled floor of the elephant enclosure magically--if slowly--becoming clean as he concentrates. "I know I took notes on some mending magic, which I can imagine being of use in a circus, though I'll have to consult my tome tonight before I can use it."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Prism smiles. "I am excited to see what is in the rest of these towers." She then scrunches her nose tight. "Unless its more Xulgaths."
"Yes" Kennari says, taking the shovel with a sigh. "I will do what I can to help around the circus, of course, though I'm afraid I'm unlikely to excel at tasks requiring physical gifts. Still, perhaps I can help in other ways." Sticking the shovel into a nearby patch of grass, he instead weaves a spell, the nearby soiled floor of the elephant enclosure magically--if slowly--becoming clean as he concentrates. "I know I took notes on some mending magic, which I can imagine being of use in a circus, though I'll have to consult my tome tonight before I can use it."
Unset claps multiple appendages together in applause. "A circus can always use magic, it can. Patron pay good coin for such shows, they would!"
Danica accepts the hand from Niksi.
"Things were...equally my fault. I am sorry, and I forgive you. I plan to remain here in Escadar, though." She looks around. "I think we can change this place into something different. Something much better. I'm going to make it happen. And there will always be a place back here for you if you'd like. It's never been the same since you left."
She brushes her hair back. "It will take me a couple of days to collect from all her hiding spots, but I helped Dusklight with her bookkeeping and she was socking away a lot of money from all her misdeeds. It seems only right that some of it should go to you and your new friends."
~~~~~
A couple of days later, a courier arrives for you with a bag with 3000 gold pieces and note simply signed "D."
Rova's eyes bulge as she sees the huge amount of gold. Dusklight was awful, but apparently the circus was far more successful than Rova had even realized. She can't help but think back to growing up, and the similar situation there, when her uncles would have to kill someone and then come back with a huge purse of gold. She smiles slightly as she realizes their continued legacy and is sure Groetus would be happy (if He cared about them at all).
She looks around Kerrick, eager to take in the sights and warn them all about The End. The place is bustling, and she wonders where they should set up the circus. Maybe the dockmaster can give them some suggestions on how to proceed? She looks around, to see who might be in charge, bringing Thkrull with her so he can stretch his legs.
Niksi bows and kisses Danica’s hand. ”Thank you, my dear. We have work to do, and this will be quite helpful.”
Niksi listens thoughtfully while Kennari talks about the aeon towers. ”I have been thinking on the subject, Kennari, and I have come to the conclusion that this business with Aroden and the aeon stones is not going to be handled by anyone else. I do not trust the authorities to begin with, and they have shown ample evidence that that mistrust is wise. Further, this situation with the xulgaths requires delicacy and neutrality, and how can I believe that the institutions of a human-led society would do anything other than look after their own self-interests and—frankly—mind-boggling dedication to the legacy of a dead god. To a human world preoccupied with one-dimensional, self-serving concepts of beauty and virtue, the only verdict could be that the xulgaths are vile troglodytes motivated by pitiful ressentiment. I find such presuppositions objectionable on both moral and aesthetic grounds. My ultimate goal is the cessation of hostilities in a manner that does not only suit those who have never lived in the sunless world below. I was born there and lived there longer than most of you will live in your wildest imaginings, even as I now reside above. I will make sure that all is handled even-handed.”
"I pride myself on being a scholar, not a zealot, and like to think myself above blindly defending the actions of Aroden or his followers. But I am only a person, after all, and certainly not perfect. I am glad you will be there to make clear when I allow a blind spot to obscure my vision of the bigger picture."
”I am glad to hear that, but I am not talking about you, specifically, dear. I mean institutions. I place little trust in them. And I have lived long enough to know better than to assume the best of humans as a rule. The project of my art has always been to make people stretch the limits of their imaginations, to challenge what they think is natural and beautiful. I simply consider this work an outgrowth of that project.”
You finish your time in Escadar, bid farewell to your local friends, and load the Circus of Wayward Wonders up on a ship headed for Kerrick. After an uneventful journey, you arrive to a busy dock.
Through the bustle of the town docks, a distinctive figure appears. He is a human of medium height and middling age with thinning salt-and-pepper hair swept back from his brow above bushy eyebrows, thick mutton chop sideburns, and a neatly trimmed moustache above a smooth-shaven chin. He wears the somber formal garb of a solicitor or an undertaker. The small flower pinned to his lapel is a sullen shade of purple. His eyes sweep the crowd as if searching out someone, only to alight on you, and he immediately smiles and raises his ornate walking cane in salutation.
"Greetings! I am Opper Vandy, the master of the Kerrick Grange and mortician to the good people of Kerrick and its surroundings."
He enthusiastically shakes each of your hands in turn.
"I am so pleased that your wonderful circus accepted my invitation! Times are bad enough lately that the chance for a little good, wholesome fun might be just the thing to put the spring back in people’s step. I've taken the liberty of getting things arranged for your stay here in Kerrick. I know it will take a little time to get everything set up for a show, but I hope you enjoy our wonderful city in the meantime! And please, I would love to have the five of you join me for dinner this evening at my home."
"Does the mortician usually greet everyone coming inot the city?" Prism asks curiously about this strange tradition. Though her mood instantly changes as she hears about dinner. "Of course, what time?"
Rova smiles as the master mortician greets him, feeling confident that they're in good hands. If anyone knows how to prepare for The End, it's a mortician. She hadn't thought of it before, but it's hard to imagine someone better suited to being in charge than a mortician. They've likely seen the worst that can happen to someone and know just how to cover it up. As long as he's not a Pharasmin, she can't help thinking, however.
"We would love to see the city," she says. "I'm sure it's lovely."
The man chuckles and mops his brow with a handkershief the same color as his lapel flower.
"Yes, well, the master of the Kerrick Grange part is probably more important there! It's our local agricultural association, and I'm sure you know how important the farms of this region are for all of Kortos! Let's say dinner at sundown?"
Rova agrees, looking around and seeing how she can help get the circus set up before dinner.
"Sundown it is!" Prism beams a smile as she heads out into the town to talk to as many people as possible. Well, rather as many people that will actually listen to her for any length of time.
Rova does her best to get to know the city, especially trying to get a sense of how much they understand about The End. Sadly, she spends a little too much time talking about her religious beliefs, with the usual, predictable results they bring. Perhaps she overestimated this place, what with its mortician mayor.
Kennari spends the evening studying his books for anything he can find in Aroden's history regarding this region of Kortos.
Unset offers a number of appendages to the master of the Kerrick Grange for the shaking. "Please to me ye, Ole Unset is!" The fleshforged man gives a big smile, still not quite used to be receiving warm welcomes from strangers.
While the others head out seeking information and, no doubt, promotion for the circus, Unset sets about moving supplies and unpacking at the circus' new location in accordance with any guidance given by the master of the Kerrick Grange.
Prism hears a lot of griping about how bad times have been lately for the farms. The weather is bad, the harvest is bad, and the priests can do anything but look concerned.
People keep avoiding Rova, but she does find one man who listens to her about the End and then tells her all about how dopplegangers have infiltrated the city's leadership, including Opper Vandy! He claims the real Opper Vandy died years ago.
Kennari finds an interesting reference in one of his books to the Liferoot Stone, claiming that it used to be "awake," with statues walking around.
Niksi, feeling a sense of purpose and riding high off their final defeat of Mistress Dusklight, is at the top of her game!
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
As they prepare to head to Vandy's, Rova makes sure her filcher's fork is in its hip sheath and that she can pull it easily.
"We need to be careful," she whispers to the others. "I heard that he's a doppelganger, which makes sense. Of course they'd go after a mortician or someone else who knows what's coming. We shouldn't let him know that we know, but just be ready in case he attacks!"
Niksi spends some time among the people of Kerrick, especially those who are easily ignored. She gradually gets people talking and in addition to a great deal of local gossip, hears two interesting bits of information.
“The Stump Festival’s starting up in Turpin Row soon. That’s the best party on this side of the island. wouldn’t miss it for all the sun orchids in Thuvia.”
“There’s a shoony—you know, one of those dog folk—in Castinlee who sings to the dead. He digs their graves, but apparently that isn’t enough for him, so he sings to them too… and their ghosts get up and dance for him!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At sundown, you arrive at Opper Vandy's house. This is a home of obvious wealth constructed of red brick with white granite accents. Wooden shingles cover the roof between three tall, brick chimneys. At the roof’s peak is a weather vane in the shape of a cockatrice. A path of crushed gravel leads to the front stairs as well as around the house. Wide stairs rise to a front porch between stately, inset windows. The base of the stairs is flanked by a pair of decorative stone urns from which grow small plants, and a stone font is set into the wall next to the front doors.
"Welcome, welcome! Thank you so much for accepting my invitation. Can I interest any of you in a little drink?" He offers up a small bottle of a local liqueur and six small crystal glasses on a try. After pouring a drink for anyone who wants it, he continues. "My house here serves a dual purpose. It is both my home and also my workplace. That room over there," he gestures with the hand holding his glass, "is actually the viewing parlor. I'm afraid I may have to step away for a few moments if someone comes to see the most recently departed. I try to accommodate the bereaved at any time of day if I can."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Rova glances up at the cockatrice and then down to the crushed gravel beneath her feet. Yes, that all tracks for a doppelganger. Clever; very, very clever.
She shakes her head at the offer of a drink, edging back to make sure he doesn't get too close.
Of course his home is his mortuary. He's even more clever than I realized before!
"Of course," she says in a flat tone. "That makes all the sense in the world."
Recalling suddenly that such creatures can read minds (and even insert their thoughts into other people's heads!), she tries to clear her brain.
Marshmallows. Stay. Men. Puffed. Marshmallows. Stay. Men. Puffed. Marshmallows. Stay. Men. Puffed. We're smarter than you are! Marshmallows. Stay. Men. Puffed.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Ignoring Rova's wild accusation, Kennari graciously accepts the man's offer of a drink. "Oh, why yes, thank you. A drink would be lovely." Sipping from a glass of local tipple, Kennari admires the elegant home as he looks around. "I'm sorry to hear that you have someone on display right now, for their sake. It's nice that you are so accommodating to their family, though."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Prism grabs a small glass of wine as well. "Thanks, for doing this!" She looks around. "I mean the dinner, not what you do for the dead." She giggles a bit, covering her mouth.
Vandy smiles and starts launching into a discussion of his work, when a middle-aged man walks in and announces that dinner is served. Vandy leads you into the dining room.
Laid out on the table is an excellent meal of goose roasted in a raspberry sauce, artichokes, turnip and barley stew, collard greens in goat cheese, and warm black bread served with fresh butter. A selection of good wines of local vintage as well as a small cask of ale can be found on the side table, next to a cooling pie made from custard and imported lemons. Everything is delicious and the servings are generous.
Is this your first time in the Swardlands?" he asks between mouthfuls. "Do you have any questions about the area?"
Prism nods wiha mouthful of freshly-cooked goose meat. "It is!" She says as she swallows. "We don't really know the area well at all. Though we did pass by some towers as we came in. What are they?"
Rova pushes the food around her plate, but manages to not eat a single bite, dropping a few bits on the floor just to make the plate a little less full. She warily eyes the "servant," wondering if he's another doppelganger, a minion, or an unwitting dupe. Two chances out of three is that he too is a danger, though, so better to not take any chances.
"Are you the only leader of the city, or are there other people too?" she asks. Does stuffed he man identify marsh the mallow real stay leaders mallow or stayed the puff other man doppelgangers?
"Ah, the aeon towers! Yes, they were all built by Aroden himself. In years past, people used to leave offerings to Aroden, though that practice has faded. They might be interesting to go see if you like history."
He turns to Rova, "We have several leaders, and we all work together. There's the mayor, Perivar Altrusi, and the dockmaster, Lartressa Toulune. Oh, excuse me..." He trails off as the bell rings. "It sounds like someone is here to see poor Homber Huttonfell.
You hear him greet some mourners at the door and show them to the viewing parlor. They stay for about ten minutes and then depart, with Vandy offering them him condolences. In the meantime, the servants keep your glasses filled, though Rova's remains untouched.
Soon, he returns. The mood at the table palpably dampens as Vandy takes a moment to swallow a bite of food while apparently lost in thought, his face marked by previously hidden lines of worry and exhaustion.
“You have all been such fine company,” he begins, “and I am so thrilled that you have brought your circus of wonders to the good people of the Kerrick Grange. But I suppose I must level with you.
“As you have no doubt heard, times have been hard of late for the Swardfolk. The grange has come together to try and ease everyone’s suffering as much as possible, but the weather has been poor and the crops aren’t growing like they used to; there’s lean times ahead, I fear. But that’s not all. There’re things happening at a much more personal level for me, yet that also seem to be afflicting my friends and neighbors. So you should probably know the truth of it.
“I think that I’m being haunted… and I think that whatever is haunting me is murdering folk of the grange to torment me. It has brought me to the brink of despair, and I admit that I find the thought of your wonderful circus a welcome distraction. Truth be told, though, I doubt it will help in the long run. Even with your circus here, I fear the hauntings—and the deaths—will continue. But I find in your company that you are much, much more than simple circus performers or business managers. You have in you the stuff of heroes, I believe, so I can’t help but allow myself to feel a little bit of hope. Hope that you might be willing to help.”
Kennari opens his mouth to ask a longwinded follow-up question about the Aronite practices in the region, but pauses as Vandy mentions his troubles. "Haunted, you say? What makes you think that? Please, tell us more."
Rova makes a mental note of the names -- leaning toward thinking those are probably more doppelgangers, or willing allies. She's ready to leap up to explore when he heads to the other room, but unfortunately the servant-spies stick around to keep their eyes on them. Stay curses! man is too marshsmart to mallow in them...
"Yes, I'm sure that sounds like a plausible story," Rova replies. "Some sort of thought-stealing face-changer maybe?"
She stares fixedly at him, waiting for him to reveal himself!
He seems confused at Rova's question. "I don't think it could be something like that. I guess I should explain. For the last 14 months, I've had vivid nightmares. Since the deaths of townspeople have occurred in conjunction with these terrifying visions, I believe they are more than simple dreams.
The nightmares always start the same: I awake late at night—or at least I think I'm awake—to find a hollow-eyed young girl standing in the doorway of my bedroom. She wears a funeral shroud, though I don't recognize her as any person I've ever tended. She always stands for a moment and then leaves the bedroom, disappearing from sight.
On the first few occasions, I was too frightened to follow her. After multiple occurrences, however, I worked up the courage to follow. Each of these times, the girl has always descended the stairs to the viewing parlor, where she stands beside the empty catafalque, silently pointing at it. I always wake up standing before the catafalque in the viewing parlor, drenched in cold sweat. The young girl is gone, and I am never sure if what I saw was real or if I just sleepwalked there. In any case, the next day there is always a death somewhere in Kerrick or the surrounding area; by nightfall there is a new corpse for the catafalque."
"Could be a night hag, it could," suggests Unset trying to make sense of the man's description. "Female viziter. Comin' at night. Dreams 'n all."
The fleshforged man pauses for a moment, before dismissing the idea. "But, then, ye be the one to end up dead, one'd suppose, rather than yer, er, clients." Realizing he may have inadvertently offended, he attempts a weak smile through his odd-shaped mouth.
"Have ye shared these tales with any o' yer fellow townsfolk?" he asks.
"I have not. I do not wish to worry them. Instead, I keep all the worry for myself."
"We should start by searching the house," Rova says, though I'm sure you will only allow that if you've hidden any clues to who you truly are!
Oh! I wonder if it could be the real Opper Vandy haunting this place! Maybe the dead villagers were other doppelgangers!
Prism continues to chew slowly, more interested in this meal. "You want to search a house for a hollow eyed dead girl?" She looks to Rova curiously before knocking the breadcrubs from her fingers and shirt. "Alright." She beams a smile.