Ruinë sighs, "I said please." before raising her right hand and firing a searing flame of fire at him.
Ruine scorches Darricus with a ray of flame. Tom hurls three daggers, the final one scoring a critical hit! ”Argh! You’ll pay, filth,” the constable snarls. He steps up and swipes his bastard sword in a broad arc, slicing both Ashlion and Tasha. The bruiser grabs his club as he stands, then moves up and bashes Ashlion over the head!
Tom moves behind the bruiser, putting him between Ashlion and Tom's knives. "Don't worry Ash, I'll make sure this brute get's some witty banter too."
Tasha thrusts forward with her blade, drawing blood from the constable.
"It's hard to say which will be worse for you," she taunts. "Dying at our hand or being dragged back alive to face your contemporaries in the wake of your betrayal."
Grelda blasts Darricus with her big magic missiles, then Tasha finishes the constable off with a brutal thrust before seriously demoralizing the big bruiser.
Ashlion hits the bruiser with his maul, and the big man reacts by trying to shove the half-orc away. But instead he stumbles and falls back down, making Ash's job even easier as he bashes him twice more. Tom moves in and drives two daggers into the man's back, and he groans and lies still.
"And now we're here. Dusklight, do you want to come easily? Do you want to talk? Or, shall we find out what ANGER your actions have inspired?"
Tom pulls out a ceramic jar and makes a show of dipping a knife into it, and holding it up to the light to ensure it's coated evenly.
"We've been given permission to bring you in, or turn over your body."
Tom walks over to the door to the final room, ensures it isn't trapped, and then opens it up with a flourish.
This large room is decorated with colorful curtains and low, comfortable furniture. An exquisitely carved mahogany four‑poster bed stands in one corner, piled high with luxurious satin sheets, plump pillows, and a damask coverlet in midnight blue. Circus posters showing Mistress Dusklight’s acts over many years—as an acrobat, an animal tamer, and a ringmaster—adorn the walls in gilded frames.
Mistress Dusklight herself is here, tail writhing in agitation. “You,” Mistress Dusklight hisses, the corners of her mouth drawn back into a hideous snarl. A low growl rumbles in her throat as she narrows her eyes in anger. “You don’t know when to stop, do you? Do you think killing me will make you better performers? Will your Circus of Washed‑Up Wonders fare better without my competition?” Suddenly, her demeanor changes. Her eyes widen and she clutches at her chest, an expression of feigned terror on her feline face. “Help!” She screams. “Assassins!”
A handsome, golden‑haired young man in gleaming half plate bursts through a curtain at the rear of the tent, drawing a longsword. Dusklight smirks as her champion stands in front of her protectively. “Mazael, these villains threatened to kill me and force my performers to join their second‑rate show. Please, don’t let them ruin what I’ve built here!”
“I won’t let you hurt her,” the man says solemnly. “Leave now, or in Shelyn's name, I’ll end you!”
"They won't leave, Mazael. We're going to have to fight!" Dusklight declares. She casts a spell to try to rob Grelda of her mental faculties! As the witch groans, the amurrun gives her a captivating look, temporarily beguiling her.
Mazael raises his shield and readies his blade for the first of you to approach!
You present evidence of Mistress Dusklight’s guilt and attempts a Deception or Diplomacy check against a DC of 31 (Mazael’s Will DC + 5). The result of this check determines Mazael’s action.
Critical Success: Mazael immediately stands down, conflicted, and doesn’t interfere with the heroes.
Success: Mazael ceases attacking the heroes but still protects Mistress Dusklight to the best of his ability; the heroes can attempt this activity again, getting a critical success for any success rolled.
Critical Failure: Mazael becomes convinced the heroes are evil liars; they can’t attempt this activity again.
"Argh! I, uh... wha?" Grelda mumbles, captivated by Dusklight's charms.
She manages to focus enough to cast a spell to speed up her husband's movements.
"Stay out of this, Mazael," Tasha says, her eyes never leaving Dusklight's. "This woman is nothing but a bag of deceit in a pretty wrapper. We have the legal right to bring her in to the lawful authorities."
Knowing Tasha's words are going to fall short, the cleric steps up and launches a burst of flame at the pair
Tom, who looked perfectly happy to talk, is triggered by the spell Dusklight casts on Grelda.
Tom them tosses his flour bag as a distraction!
Tom’s first dagger misses, but his feint is successful, and the second one sticks into Dusklight. Mazael glares at the rogue, causing Tom to hesitate under the weight of his sins as visions of possible redemption play out in his mind’s eye.
The aasimar begins to waver as Tasha speaks. ”You defile her beauty with such coarse words! You are mistaken.” Stilll his face flickers with doubt and he lowers his sword.
Mazael turns away from the worst of Ruine’s fireball while Mistress Dusklight completely evades! Ashlion lands a solid blow on the catfolk, eliciting a yowl of pain.
The aasimar turns and lays hands on Dusklight, healing some of her wounds and briefly warding her from further harm. Dusklight gives Ashlion a captivating look, addling the barbarian still stupefied from the lamia’s strike. She then casts a spell, surrounding herself with a cloak of swirling colors.
Success The attacker is unaffected.
Failure The attacker is blinded for 1 round.
Critical Failure The attacker is stunned for 1 round.
"Mazael, we have proof that she has been selling circus workers," Tasha continues, holding her blade pointed at the amurrun, the word dripping with disgust, "To the xulgath with the full knowledge and intention that they be used as sacrifices to their vile gods."
She spits at the woman.
"You call her beautiful, but as a follower of Shelyn, you should know that true beauty comes from the inside. And all you'll find inside her is s#%% and hairballs - nothing but pure ugliness. She's using you like she uses everyone else. She takes what she wants and then tosses them aside."
Tom doesn't wait for permission and continues assaulting Dusklight.
"I won't let you go unpunished."
Tom's daggers don't come close to hitting Dusklight. Ashlion stands in a stupor, temporarily unable to attack the catfolk.
Tasha's words have their intended effect. Mazael gapes in horror before stepping aside. "By Shelyn's grace! I have been deceived! Her charms must have overwhelmed my senses. Such treachery will not stand!"
"Yeah, yeah, we all got problems," Dusklight growls. She easily resists Grelda's phantasmal killer spell, but Ruine's divine wrath blasts her with holy energy.
Hacking a bit from the sickening blast, Dusklight steps back and casts another spell, inflicting crushing despair upon Ashlion, Ruine, and Tom.
Success: For 1 round, the creature can't use reactions and must attempt another save at the start of its turn; on a failure, it is slowed 1 for that turn as it sobs uncontrollably.
Failure: As success, but the slowed 1 duration is 1 minute.
Critical Failure: As failure, and the creature is automatically slowed 1 for 1 minute.
The woman's armored hero out of the show, Tasha approaches Dusklight, her smile showing all of her black teeth.
"Justice is upon you, foul woman. You can surrender or you can die. But since I don't believe for a heartbeat that you'll surrender, I will take a pint of blood for every tear that Ruinë has shed because of you."
Tom is overwhelmed and begins to sob uncontrollably.
He still manages to throw his knives at the Catfolk.
Grelda gives almost all she has to overcome her impaired mind and dispel Dusklight’s cloak of colors, making it safe to attack her in melee.
Ruine zaps Mistress Dusklight with a beam of holy energy. Tom, Tasha, and Ashlion all land hits on the catfolk, leaving her terribly wounded. As blood drips from her body, the amurrun knows she has nowhere to run. ”Gods curse your luck!” she snarls at Ashlion before lashing Tasha with her whip. ”How about some fresh tears for me, infernal whore!”
Tom tries to pull himself together long enough to end Dusklight.
His emotions get the better of him, so he wipes his eyes clear enough for another small round of attacks.
"How did you trick this one? DRUGS?! SEX?!" He looks at the asimar. "Another boy being led to his doom by your lies. I'm glad you didn't come peacfully!"
Unable to stop the flow of tears, Tasha snarls at the woman. "And yet you continue to display your disregard for others. Whore's get paid and get to decide who they service; I was nothing but a slave."
Though Ashlion and Tom fail to hit, Tasha successfully demoralizes Mistress Dusklight. With a nudge from Grelda, the tiefling just manages to land her finisher. Ruine blasts the catfolk with more holy energy, and with a groan, the evil ringmistress goes down!
Seeing the murderous gleam in most of your eyes, steps forward again. ”Stay your blades. If you kill her in cold blood, you are no better off than she. She must stand trial and be held accountable for her crimes.
Tom turns slowly to the Aasimar.
"And who are you, strain? You let her lead you about, and you talk to us about accountability? What crimes did she lead YOU to commit, eh? What pain have YOU inflicted coated in her poisoned honey?"
Tom glares at him for a moment before saying; "Sef, it's your call. This man will not stand in the way of your decision. Count on that."
Tasha looks down at the still body of the amurrun. She stands there silently for moments before turning to the others. "Mazael may have been a blind fool, but he's right. We'll take her back to face whatever judgement she has coming. I won't stain our hands by sinking to her level."
It's clear that the decision wasn't an easy one for her as she turns to look back at the woman that's caused her friends so much pain. Her hand tenses on her blade more than once before she returns it to her belt.
"We shall also take a final walk through the rest of the tents and announce that Dusklight's reign has ended and that we will offer an ear to those that would like to join our family."
Mazael shrinks before Tom’s fury, but seems pleased when Tasha relents. As he binds Mistress Dusklight, you head back into the circus and into the darkened big top tent.
In the center ring, a burly half-orc woman with cropped hair and square features stands beside a towering mammoth. She quickly sizes you up. ”I am Evora. I was told you would come. I was told to eliminate you. This circus is my home. Mine and Gigi’s.” The brawny woman pats the flank of her shaggy mastodon. ”You will not take our home from us.”
With Dusklight defeated, it only takes a modicum of effort to convince Evora to stand down. She is happy to bring Gigi along and join up with the Circus of Wayward Wonders. She points out the spotlights in the big top that you can take for your own circus, including a magical inspiring spotlight.
You find the remaining circus peformers hiding in their wagons, as ordered by Dusklight. No longer under the cruel ringmaster’s paw, the performers and workers in the Celestial Menagerie scatter in search of other opportunities. Adrivallo the satyr and Verinnelle the dryad seek passage back to the Verduran Forest with Verinnelle’s sapling. Iolara promises to escort Hylda and Hera back to their village before embarking on her own travels with Arzo, whom she hopes to help overcome his addiction. Sump Sadie makes for the marshes outside of Escadar, resolved to leave civilization behind forever. Matchstick Flynn and Ufi the hydrokineticist are willing to join your circus, as is the pegasus. Able to speak Common, the pegasus introduces himself as Mistdancer. His only condition is that you not keep him caged and allow him to spread his wings and fly.
Once your business is concluded at the Celestial Menagerie, you report back to Chief Constable Andera Paldreen. She is espeically pleased that you managed to capture Mistress Dusklight alive. She promises that the ringmistress will receive a fair and speedy trial. When informed of Darricus's treachery, the chief constable’s face betrays a moment of shock before she regains her composure. Andera confides that she suspected ongoing corruption within her ranks but never distrusted Darricus. She had considered him a friend, and though she doesn’t want to see him publicly dishonored, she knows that she can’t make exceptions where justice is concerned. Andera rewards you a total of 300 gp for your efforts.
The closure of the Celestial Menagerie leaves a hole in Escadar’s entertainment scene that the Circus of Wayward Wonders is ready to fill. You'll definitely sell many more tickets for your next show! Most importantly, though, you have learned that you must visit the other aeon towers to gain the resonant reflections necessary to restore the network of aeon orbs. The xulgaths’ schemes are as yet unclear, but you are no doubt bound to encounter more of the brutal creatures in the future.
The next morning, Tom arrives at Ruine and Tasha's wagon with a basket of lavender flowers and a bottle of wine. He's also wearing a new vest and top hat.
"Sora, are you up? I found some more flowers! Sef, would you like to join us?"
It seems that at least Tasha wasn't up early, greeting Tom at the door holding a blanket around herself and pushing her hair into a semblance of order. One side of her mouth quirks up into a smile.
"Milaya," she calls out into the wagon behind her. "Your beau is here with flowers." She turns back to Tom. "I think I will let you have her all to yourself today." Her eyes flick down to the flowers and the wine. "Treat her well."
Without another word, she vanishes back into the wagon, leaving the doorway slight ajar.
Tom grins a mischievous grin.
"Your loss. I hollered and flailed around something fierce last time!"
Tom raps on the wagon again, much softer this time. "Sef.. I hope you've found some closure. If you want to be alone I won't harp, but we all have to let ourselves move on now. Your strength kept me clean these few months, now I know I'll be OK. Thank you, Tasha."
Then he sits around the cook fire, waiting for Ruine to join him.
In the morning, Grelda wakes up early to sort through her latest star charts. The witch's understanding of astrological portents has increased significantly, hearkening to the glory days of the Saoc Brethren in Lirgen before the Eye of Abendego destroyed the nation. Guided by Basil's teachings of her mysterious patron's designs, she is poised to be a great force for change in the world. And that change will start with stopping the xulgaths' from destroying the remaining aeon orbs and protecting the isles from devastation.
Ruinë arrives moments later, her finger stuck in a folded book as she peeks out of the wagon. "What's this?" she says, spying the wine and flowers with a smile.
"Ah. Right. Is it time again? What will it be this time, Tom?" she asks, putting her book down and closing the door of the wagon behind her as she moves out towards the other half-elf.
"I think these lavender flowers will look great on my other arm... bigger this time!"
Tom begins chewing the flowers eagerly and sipping wine straight from the bottle. As he carefully places the purplish pulp on his skin, in swirls and circles, he offers the bottle to Ruine.
"Can you help me get my shoulder?" He turns his back to his friend. "I'm going to ask the Flamboni sisters to join my act today..."
"Bigger? My, my. Alright then." she says, helping to move aside him and get the spot required. As she does so, she responds "OooOOoh. Tell me more. What's your plan? What are you going to say?"
Tom grins, "I have a present for Emma... Her sister too. But I want to take her out again tonight. The moon will be full and I've found the perfect rooftop for a picnic. We're going to dance under the stars! Then... I'm going to kiss her. A real kiss."
Tom looks at his arm and makes subtle changes to the layout before he stops and takes her hand. "Sora, are you ok? I woke up this morning with a resolve I've never felt before. I always feared she would get me back in her claws somehow. Trapping me again with her drugs. Now that she's gone.. I'm less afraid. Less angry. I do hope you feel it too."
The cleric works to spread out the paste while Tom drinks and talks about his plans. She smiles when he talks of dancing and kissing, a pang of jealous sweeping through her for only a moment before she steels herself that she does not need such trivial acts of the flesh.
"Am I okay?" she asks, considering the question. "Yes, I am convincing myself that I am okay now. A part of me, I don't know, I suppose I still fear she will return somehow. I know it's not logical."
She finishes and says "There. How's that? Are you ready?"
"Ready? no. But let's do it."
Tom pulls a strip of leather out of his pocket and puts it between his teeth, then he nods. When the fire ignites the paste, tom flails around with tears in his eyes.
When Ruinë returns to the wagon, she finds that Tasha is gone. There's a note on the bed that says, 'Be back by dinner. Wear something nice.'
When dinner time finally rolls around, the half-elf notices that some of the family's musicians have brought their instruments to dinner. While not unusual - music is a common accompaniment to the family evening meal - they seem to be waiting, rather than playing.
When Tasha finally appears, Ruinë is surprised to see that she's wearing a dress - something she's never seen her do. The color matches the great-coat she regularly wears - a lime green - but is thin and flows like water down her lean frame. The neckline plunges low down between her breasts and the sides are slit high up to her hips.
"Milaya, would you like to dance?" she asks with a smile and an extended hand. At an unseen signal, the musicians pick up their instruments and begin a slow thrumming melody.
That evening, Tom knocks on Emma Flamboni's wagon. When she answers, he bows deeply. He gasps at the sight of her; "I was was watching the sunset... but now I've forgotten what it looked like. Will you please accompany me to dinner?"
Tom offers her a small bouquet of flowers, a soft lavender that matches his new tattoo.
Emma blushes slightly as she takes the flowers. "For me? You are too sweet, Somber Tom." She breathes their fragrance and smiles. "It would be my pleasure to accompany you." She offers Tom her arm.
Tom, true to his word, takes Emma to the edge of town and they climb to the top of a building where a blanket has already been laid out. The venue doesn't lend itself to finery, so the picnic is a bottle of wine with some bread, meat, and cheese. Though, he splurged on some sweet butter for the bread.
Tom takes a sip from the bottle and hands it to Emma, and before she's done with her sip, Tom proffers a box with the Amethyst necklace they found wrapped up inside. "I thought it was beautiful when I saw it, but how could anything do you justice?"
Emma's mouth drops open when she sees the necklace. "My goodness! Now you're just spoiling, me Tom. I like it." She giggles and puts the necklace on. "I never knew you were so sweet."
Tom blushes, "Now that you're wearing it, I see it's beauty all over again."
That night, they dance under the moon. Tom holds her close and thinks fondly of violins being played around the fire in Varisia, allowing the music in his thoughts to float into her mind. I hope you don't mind, but I wanted you to hear how you make me feel Then he pulls her close and kisses her deeply.
Later, as they walk back to the camp; "I've been performing my act alone all this time, I don't know how to properly ask this. I have no intention of taking you from your sister, but I would like you to perform with me, if you'll have me... I've never known these feeling I have when I'm with you, but I want to know them more."
Emma melts in Tom's arms, surrendering herself to his romantic overtures.
"I would love to perform with you," she says later as they stroll through the circus camp. "Don't worry about Isabella. I'm sure she'll be just fine."
Indeed, across the way, Tom spots the other Flamboni sister chatting up Matchstick Flynn, the tiefling juggler flashing a charming smile. "What can I say? We have a type," Emma laughs.
Ruinë finishes with Tom and bids him good luck. As she departs, she giggles at his enthusiasm and infatuation. She returns to the wagona nd reads the note, placing it gently back on the bed where she found it.
Something nice? I don't have anything other than my performing attire.
Thinking nothing of Tasha's absence, Ruinë spends the day reading and checking on the health of everyone in the circus. Several times however, she stops to think about the wear something nice part of the note.
Would they be going out somewhere again? I will not go for spiced wine again! she thinks, putting the thoughts out of her mind. Still, she needed something nice to wear.
She heads out into town and picks up a magical garment that allows her to change its look into whatever she desired. For the better part of an hour, she sat in the wagon changing her cloths again and again and again.
When dinner time rolls around, she is wearing a Tian inspired tunic that covers her entire upper body and parts front to back with long slits from the thigh down to her calves. The material is based in reds with abstract orange patterns than are outlined in gold that makes the whole dress shimmer and sparkle and give it the appearance of a flame when the light strikes it at the right angle. Underneath of the tunic is a pair of silky trousers that are slightly sheer.
Anxious Ruinë in her new dress.
The cleric does a double-take when she spots Tasha, "Tasha, you're, you're in a dress!" A very revealing dress, I might add. Do not look Ruinë, remember the trials of the flesh are not what you desire.
The cleric quickly averts her eyes from Tasha's accentuated features and looks to the musicians before turning back to the tiefling "Why, I would love to dance!" she says excitedly, moving towards her and holding her hand out.