Mukluk, who had been waiting patiently, agrees that speaking to the halfling is a good idea.
"Yes, maybe the Rat Lady can explain things to us. She seems angry about something," he grunts.
Prism nods. "Let's gohave..a quick chat onwhy..shekilled..Thunder." She says angrily drawing her dagger.
The Professor leads you over to one of the cargo wagons, currently empty while the Big Top is set up. He unlocks the door and wishes you good luck.
Rova puts on her fiercest scowl, pulling out a filcher's fork, and enters, ready to get some answers about what this woman knows about what's happening, and how long before everything ends.
Nemmia is awake when Rova enters. "Ah, the elephant friend. You understand nature, don't you? You must see that the land is dying? The land must be saved!"
"Yes, Groetus is coming to destroy everything! Or maybe to release Rovagug to do that -- it's not really clear. The signs are definitely out there. But why are you attacking us?! I'm trying to let people know what's happening, but they don't understand. But killing them won't help!"
Rova completely understands what the halfling is talking about, but doesn't quite understand how that led her to murder. Unless maybe she was a herald of the Incarnate Moon...
Hearing Rova getting somewhere with the halfling woman Prism hangs around the side of the cargo wagon, out of sight. Mostly out of fear that if too many of them pile in she will shut down and they won't get anymore out of here. She motions the others a bit away from the wagon out of earshot. "What arewe..doing withher..after. Turning herintothe..authorities? Letting the circushave..their ownjustice? Let hergo? We can'tjust..keep her inthe..wagon."
Mukluk follows on Rova's heels, trying to help if he is needed.
"The hand must be waved!"
Mukluk makes the crazy-crazy gesture to Rova, then points at the Rat Lady.
"Yeah, Lady, hands *are* meant for waving, also for shaking, but ain't no reason to start killing people, you know?" Mukluk tries not to be too confrontational despite how non-nonsensical the halfling is. "Now, let's talk about why you attacked us! We're not against hand waving, or anything like that. So why attack us!?"
"You really don't see it? The droughts? The blights? The storms? Something is wrong with this land. I tried magical rituals, but they did nothing. I finally realized: it's because of civilization! I had to scare off the town so that the land could finally heal. And then the circus came. You were the perfect opportunity!"
Niksi paces back and forth in front of the halfling, humming a children’s bedtime song. Not to be threatening or anything, but to help her focus and remain calm.
”I understand your worries. However, I have doubts in your conclusions if you have just been working on this on your own. I am certain you are hardly the only person to have noticed and others may have different theories.”
She is naturally less interested in the actual specifics of her theorizing and more hoping to bait the druid into revealing any possible collaborators.
"The people at the Hermitage knew. They knew! They could see the land was dying. But they weren't willing to do what it took. Balenni understood. She showed me what it would take."
”Salami understood. She stewed meat and spit wood steak.”
Mukluk’s stomach growls. ”Oh, I do love me some salami, let alone good wood steak, but not sure what you’re talking about.” Mukluk pauses, trying to let others chip in if they have more questions.
”Now, is all the salami gone?”
"It's not the land," Rova disagrees. "It's the gods. Groetus is coming, and he will free Rovagug, and then everything's dead. It doesn't have anything to do with civilization, though! Where did you ever get such a crazy idea? And how did you think hurting us would scare away people from the town? Are you trying anything else that's so silly."
Unable to help it, she starts getting worked up at this halfling's crazy ideas.
"Wait, is this hermitage where they're teaching that? Is it Milanite? Because that sounds like the kind of wrong-headed hopeful thinking they're always going on about! Or is it Balenni? I don't think I've heard of her."
Prism groans and steps into the wagon now as well. "She said Balenni Muk! Not salami. B-A-L-E-N-N-I" She spells it out for him. "What dowe..have todowith..the land dying? We aren't evenfrom..here!"
"No, but if the people saw the slaughter of the circusfolk, they would leave for sure!"
Niksi smiles to herself under her mask. A name. That's something. Even if they can't get anything else out of her, they have that. "Hold on, who is this Balenni?"
Mukluk waits for forthcoming answers, trying to listen hard if the topic is more meats.
"Milani? Of course not; she's in cities. Gozreh! The Wind and the Waves! Ugh, you people don't know anything."
Mukluk looks on, shaking his head. But, it’s true, he doesn’t know anything.
”The lady is mad. Angry. Hateful. And for no reason. We don’t deserve hate like this,” he utters even though he is used to being booed. And rarely, occasionally cheered. ”I don’t have to take this from her.”
He puts his hands on his hips, trying to make a decision...and after a time, decides to go outside and be indecisive out there. He lets others finish up.
"Leave her be..We can either turnher..into theauthorities..in Abberton orlet..theCircus..haveit's ownjustice. Either waywe..were headedto..Thunder's..wagonright?" Prism gleefully bounds from the wagon, using 3 points of contact so as to not get injured, and begins dancing over to Thunder's wagon.
Mukluk follows the dancing rainbow over to Thunder’s wagon. He tries to keep track of her twirls and jumps, both linguistically and of movement, but loses the threads in the overwhelming flow of show.
”Yeah, Thunder’s wagon. Of course,” Mukluk gets the key and open the wagon doors so that they can peer within.
Perception
"Onwards and inwards, then." Niksi produces the key and dances it through her fingers. She always needs to practice more dexterous and deft movements in her costume. Not being able to directly feel the weight and pressure of objects on her skin has made her have to relearn quite a great deal.
Myron’s personal wagon is parked very near the pond, right in front of the meeting fire. A colorful banner on each side of the wagon advertises the Circus of Wayward Wonders in large capital letters, surrounded by images that depict some of the most famous acts in the show (including all four of you, the Feather-Fall Five, Elizia and Mister Tickles, and Mordaine the Magician). Three steps affixed to the wagon’s rear lead up to a red door with a golden knob.
Niksi unlocks the door and Mukluk cracks it open to peer inside. He spots four 2-foot tall plants with large stalks that droop heavy with pollen pods. The air inside the wagon is thick with sparkling golden pollen, and one of them immediately sprays at him!
I also need a Will save from Mukluk.
DC 18
This is a dream pollen pod. The pollen spray can cause confusion.
Initiative
Prism
Mukluk
Niksi
Plants
Rova
Dodging the spray Prism skips up the stairs and carefully tries to grab ahold and turn the plant towards the wall.
Will
"My eyes! My eyes!" Crit in the face with painful pollen, Mukluk's eyes begin to hear up.
Prism deftly disables one of the pods, but not before Mukluk took a pound of pollen to the face!
With a head full of pollen, Mukluk can't tell who his enemy is, and unfortunately, he settle on Rova.
Niksi draws a blank on what these plants are, too distracted by the chaos of Mukluk getting sprayed and acting strange. She falls back into instinct and rushes after Prism to also begin disabling the pods.
Rova's not sure exactly what these plants are, but rushes in with her friends to help stop it.
"Hold on, Mukluk, we'll help!" she calls.
Unfortunately, her confusion about what exactly it is makes it hard.
Niksi can't quite remove the pod, in her effort not to disturb them too much.
Round 1
Action 1: Strike.
Action 2: Strike.
Action 3: Strike.
Suddenly very angry after being attacked by the plant, Mukluk spins on his heels to face Rova.
Mukluk punches at Rova.
to hit;
lethal damage
to hit;
lethal damage
to hit;
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 - 12
Focus: 1/3
Hero Points: 1
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
Mukluk has pollen in his eyes as well as his head and he swings wildly over the halfling's head.
The plants all release another burst, seemingly in unison. The air is heavy with pollen and it's becoming difficult to breathe.
and a Will save
and a Will save
and a Will save
Initiative
Prism
Mukluk
Niksi
Plants
Rova
Everyone is up, though I'm afraid Niksi might be down.
Well, the Bad News is that Niksi is terribly confused. The Good News is that she is unconscious. The Bad News 2: Worse News is that she is dying. The Good News 2: Not As Bad As It Could Have Been is that the crit was not what took her down, so she’s only at dying 1.
Prism chokes and gags on the pollen as it covers her face. She rubs her eyes with small fists, trying to get it out.
HP 9/18
AC 18
Hero Points 1/3
Vibrant Display 1/10 minutes
Prism sees Niksi go down and is so mad!
Prism leaps over and begins slashing at the plant with her sickle. "Is Niksi okay?"
HP 9/18
AC 18
Hero Points 1/3
Vibrant Display 1/10 minutes
Round 1
Action 1: Stride.
Action 2: Strike.
Action 3: Strike.
Mukluk moves in to attack plant #1.
to hit;
damage
to hit;
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
Focus: 1/3
Hero Points: 1
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
"Hey!" Rova yells as Mukluk swings wildly at someone who would be about twice her size.
She about ready to kick him in the shins when she sees him dash into the wagon and attack the plant. She follows suit -- trying to turn the pods away -- hoping they can stop this thing whatever it is, and whatever it's doing in the Thunder's wagon!
Rova darts in and disables one of the plants!
Prism in her confusion stops trying to disable the plants and just starts whacking at one, though she can't seem to connect. Mukluk, though no longer confused, does the same thing and hits once! Not all the damage goes through, but most of it does.
The remaining plants blast more pollen!
and a Will save
and a Will save
Round 1
Action 1: Strike.
Action 2: Strike.
Action 3: Strike.
Will
"AH! THESE PLANTS MAKE ME ANGRY!" Mukluk roars. "I HATE LEAFY GREENS!"
to hit;
damage
to hit;
damage
to hit;
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 - 12-9
Focus: 1/3
Hero Points: 1
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
Rova tries to get the other plant to stop spraying.
Prism shakes free as she sees clearly for a brief moment. The pollen really gets in her lungs causing her to choke. She slams into the plant to try and get it turned.
HP 3/18
AC 18
Hero Points 0/3
Vibrant Display 1/10 minutes
Rova tries to remove the pod gently but can't quite do it. Mukluk smashes the plant in front of him directly, but plants are harder to kill than people. It barely hangs on. Prism almost stumbles as she tries to cut the pod off the plant in front of her, but then she perfectly slices through. Niksi lies unconscious and closer to death.
The remaining pod blasts at Mukluk!
Initiative
Prism
Mukluk
Niksi
Plants
Rova