"Cousins in a spiritual sense, probably not physically. Our animating force, our souls, came from and will return to the same place. Our souls knew each other, before we ever meet. It is one of the reasons we should treat each new person with kindness and respect. We may have know them before, or may meet again in the next.
Kindness and meanness are contagious. You may wake up in a great mood, but meet a sour person that spoils the rest of your day. Then again the smile you give to a stranger may be the hope that makes them better. I wish to have a surplus of kindness for anyone that needs it."
_______________________________________________________________
Carl spends the time before the show quietly preparing. Rubbing water over his body to remove dust and give him more of a sheen. His hands and arms extend tendrils that are normally used to help climb. These extra 'fingers' help turn the orb as he gets used to the movement of the liquid.
As his time in the side ring is called, he slowly walks to the center of the ring. He stands rigid for a moment, gathering his center. From the wings, a wind instrument begins to play. It sounds of the wind, racing as it brings the storm. Carl slowly begins to sway and roll the orb in time to the music. It slowly increases in volume and tempo, Cymbals sound as surrogates for the crash of thunder. As the music fades, Carl sinks to the floor, balancing the orb overhead.
Sir Didymus waits in the wings, excitedly watching the acts, while making sure that all of the animals are prepped and ready to go for their acts.
|
Patiently awaiting his turn on stage, Kvothe goes through his performance plan again, beginning with the instrumental theme he came up with (the Mandalorian) while they were away he's then going to regale the crowd with a brief tale of their adventures at the Hermitage and the Aeon Tower. He thinks the local crowd will enjoy that tale....
Didy sits and listens intently to Carl, "Whoooaaa! That's amazing!"
"Huh. Ya know, you're right! Moods can be contagious. Although some are more stubborn in their moods than others," he says with a smile and a gesture at Pontypool.
"I'm super glad to have you join our family here at the circus. You seem like you fit in just fine! And I'm especially glad to get to adventure alongside you! The way that you fend off all those attacks like their nothing, is so impressive!"
Didy laughs as Ambrosius the velociraptor and Pinchy the scorpion both rub on the leshy's legs affectionately, "It seems I am not alone in my appreciation!"
The shoony's ears shoot up as he hears the familiar sound of lute strings being plucked beside him backstage. He cocks his head to the side and listens with a smile on his face as the dulcet tones calm his nerves.
"Ooo! Is that a new one? I like that! That crowd is gonna go nuts for that one! Man, I sure do love having you and your music on our adventures! Your melodies have brought be back from the brink more times than I can remember! Thanks!!" he says as he jumps up and gives the bard a giant lick on his cheek.
The shoony rapidly stomps his leg in response to the ear scratch, then looks around, mortified to see if anyone noticed.
|
Axel manages to make it through his set without freezing up. He didn't exactly cover himself in glory, but the applause at the end of his act was genuine, if not overwhelming, and he is flushed with pleasure as he returns backstage.
Eliza and her snakes draw appreciative oohs-and-ahs, and Carl's act plunges the audience into rapt silence before explosive applause.
The clowns come out and perform a a short scene, involving an absurd amount of people cramming into a cramped inn room.
The Feather Fall Five and the the Dwarven Throwers perform to gasps of excitement, while Kvothe nearly brings the house down with his performance.
Mordaine gives Kvothe a dirty look as she goes out to perform the closer, but she does well enough.
|
|
As the rubes start working their way out, and the jointees and rousties start closing up the booths and joints, the performers settle in around the campfires. Pontypool and the cooks send round bowls of stew and fresh baked bread. Songs can be heard sporadically around the campfires, popular songs, funny songs, sad songs, and secret songs only carnies know.
"Where to next, Professor" Grisamentum asks in his rumbling bass voice, and the call spreads to several others.
The Professor waits for silence and smiles.
"Escadar, I think. It's close, and there's money to be made in a city that big. And we all know they've been starved of quality entertainment."
This does elicit some muttering, but most everyone is riding high after that successful performance, and talk soon turns to other matters.
From backstage, Didy applauds louder than any audience member as he bursts with pride for his fellow carnies.
"Huzzah!! he cheers as he joyfully celebrates with the others and gobbles down the bread and stew.
Eventually he falls asleep at the campfire, his dreams filled with the images elicited by song.
After the show Carl can not keep the grin from showing. "Exciting. I do not think I have ever seen so many sentients in one play. Everyone just sitting around, drinking a brew with friends and enjoying the show. Gives people something to look forward to after a time of toil."
|
|
"Yeah, this is the life." D-Day of the Dwarven Throwers says. "We're not tied down, free to travel the world. Make a few silvers off the rubes, and you can spend your evenings relaxing with the brotherhood of the road. I'll take that over dealing some trade in a filthy, stinking city every day."
Gradually, the carnies start returning to their carts. The following morning, you awake to the smell of bacon, fried eggs, pickles and toasted bread. Most of the camp is slow to rise today, but a handful of the rousties are already at work tearing down the big top and packing equipment away and readying the wagon train.
"Breakfast, you ungrateful so-and-so's!" Pontypool calls. "Eat up, big day, we have a journey ahead of us, hon hon hon!"
Didy stretches lazily as he rouses from a late night.
"Mmmmmmmm! This smells yummy!" he praises the grumpy cook.
Sitting down with his plate of food next to Carl, he asks, "So do you need to say goodbye to Harlock?"
Turning to the other adventurers he asks, "Should we pop into town to say goodbye to Nellyn and the mayor? They're probably gonna miss us!"
Carl turns to Didy with his hands still stuck in the bowl of mashed food. Blinking slowly he replies, "I did not think we needed to do that. I have a job, he has a job. Someday the winds and tides may have us cross paths again.
But if we are going by there on our travels, and it is not a delay, maybe it is appropriate. But I believe he will understand if disrupting the lives of 3 dozens over something so small."
________________
|
|
The Journey to Escadar is only about 50 miles, but at the sedate pace the wagon train sets, the Circus of Wayward Wonders doesn't arrive until mid-morning on the fourth day.
Home to some 11,000 souls, Escadar may be the largest city many of you have ever set foot in. For those who were members of Mistress Dusklight's Celestial Menagerie, the sights and smell of the city are quite familiar. Street vendors sell their wares, and underlying the smell of pastries, fresh baked bread, and roasting meats, is the sharp tang of the sea to the south, where the docks harbor dozens of blue-sailed naval ships from the city of Absalom's fleet.
Most of the Circus is waiting outside the city, but our four heroes, the Professor, Stone, Ndonga Kanbali, and Angrava enter the city. Stone nods silently to the group and heads off, looking to purchase new tools, nails, and fresh paint. Ndonga Kanbali and Angrava accompany the Professor, off on some mysterious errand. Before he leaves, he speaks to you.
"Now, I know you are probably eager to follow up on your lead, this Moonstone Hall," he says, his hoarse whisper barely audible over the hustle and bustle of Escadar. "But please, help us get our first performance completed before you go rushing off. The first order of business is to get a a license for us to perform here. Head to Conclave Square, and speak with Andera Paldreen, the chief constable. Be nice, and get us the best deal you can."
The shoony dances excitedly from foot to foot.
"Oh don't you worry, Professor! We won't let ya down! The Carnie Coterie is on the job!" he says with a salute.
How do you guys like the name? I just came up with it. Nevermind, we'll discuss it later" he asks his fellow adventurers before recovering from the distraction to resume his conversation with the Professor with rapid fire questions, "Anything we need to know? Or bring? Do they want the money upfront? Where can we meet you afterwards? Should we get the extended warranty?"
A quick grin splits Creepy Carl's face as if he was a Gourd not Vine leshy. "Carnie Coterie? Short, descriptive, and same sound on all the starts. What is there not to like.
Uhmmm, Professor? Just so we don't seem to much like rubes... what would be considered a fair deal? And what price do we just turn around and leave?"
|
|
Spending his time working on his songs, Kvothe is generally just "around" as the circus comes down and travels. Heading into town with the others, Kvothe has pangs of nostalgia as they enter the city. Nodding to the Professor, he waits for his answer to the question before nodding and moving off to their assigned tasks.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"You got it! Concave Circle, Pantera Aldeen, check!" he says as he turns and skips off in a random direction, stops, looks around for signs, and eventually asks random passers-by for directions.
"Not to worry, we'll handle this ...and him," Al says with a shake of her head.
|
|
Entering Conclave Square, you speak with a Constable named Darricus Stallit. After a short wait, you're lead into Andera Paldreen's office.
This circular office, paneled with rich brown wood, contains a writing desk, shelves stacked with records, and a row of chairs positioned near the door for visitors. A framed painting of a kestrel in flight hangs in a place of prominence behind the desk. A metal stand to the west displays an ornate falchion and a battle‑worn breastplate polished to a brilliant shine.
A small, muscular human woman sits behind the desk, dressed in a dark‑blue uniform with a golden badge of office pinned to the left shoulder. The shield‑shaped badge bears an engraving of an osprey with a fish clutched in its talons. The woman listens intently to the individual sitting across from her, a smarmy human man in a striking, royal‑purple
suit only a few buttons and ruffles shy of garish. The woman’s hawklike gaze darts to the opened door, and she holds up a hand apologetically to the man in purple.
"Thank you, Delamar, for bringing this issue to my attention.”
Darricus Stallit steps into the room, standing behind the chief constable with his hands folded before him.
"Welcome. You are representatives of this new circus, I presume? I'm Chief Constable Andera Paldreen. Please, present your request."
Didymus wanders around the building in awe of the decor and craftsmanship.
As Andera addresses the group, the ranger is zoned put admiring the sword and armor on display.
"Huh? Oh! Sorry! Yep, we are The Circus of Wayward Wpnders! We'd very much like to perform here! The professor says we need to get a license or something. Can you help?" he asks excitedly.
|
|
Delamar snorts.
"Ah, such an innocent. They'd have you believe these ne'er-do-wells were all puppies and candyfloss. A bunch of thieves and liars, with crooked games and evil aims, travelling from town to town after they burn the lot behind them."
The chief constable looks at Delamar for a moment before turning back to you.
"Some serious allegations have been made about your outfit by Mr. Gianvin of the Celestial Menagerie. But I'll not run you off on mere allegations. Please, make your case for why your circus should be allowed to perform here."
Didy
Al
Carl
Kvothe
Delamar
Carl will go on with a short version of his floor show, explaining that with a bigger ring it really is more spectacular
"Oh. Do you mean when we rescued Father Nellyn from demons? Or perhaps you mean to refer to the rescue of Mayor Abber himself? Our circus did more than entertain the town of Abberton, we offered up our unique batch of talents to aid the downtrodden."
"Yeah!" Didy cheers on Al's point before adding, "Meanwhile, you can't trust the Celestial Menagerie! They employ pickpockets to steal from the audience during their own shows! I should know! They made me train monkeys to do it when I was stuck working for Mistress Dusklight!"
"Wow. I mean, wow. You can't take the argument of a racist, now can you?"
"Are you sure you haven't heard rumblings of a lot of Menagerie customers finding their purses missing on arriving home?"
After nearly putting slashes on the walls and spilling the papers off the table with his crashing around in the confines of such a small place, Carl straightens his gear and moves to stand quietly in the corner.
Soto voice to the group."Is this the group that was begging in the street? Or was it performing without a permit?"
|
|
this is going to be tough.....but we can get this Kvothe thinks to himself
oh, you mean the DEMONS that posseses those poor souls in the graveyard? Father Nellyn of the Church of Avatar thanked us for saving his Church and the community. I'm sure he would write us a letter of recommendation if needed, Ma'am
As he's talking, Kvothe curses himself for not thinking of bringing letters of recommendation from Abberton. Knowing the Celestial Menagerie was here, having some supporting documents would've been helpful.
"The Wayward is suited more toward kindness than your organization. For as uncommon as us leshies are, we prefer their brand of fairness to others in the business." As Carl mentions this, the depiction of Gozreh is shown on his shield.
Didy eyes Delamar suspiciously.
"You seem to know an awful lot about the demons we've encountered... Delamar was it?"
"I wouldn't be quick to trust the word of this guy, Madam Chief Constable. He seems to be trying awfully hard just to deny a competing circus a license to perform!"
"My adorable fuzzy friend here is right," says the gnome as she playfully rubs Didy's floppy ears, "All that we seek here is an opportunity to perform and entertain--and line the city's coffers with their cut of our profits of course!"
|
|
Reading his companions actions, Kvothe tries to build on Didy's point about how Delmar got his information.
you know, I don't recall you being with the Menagerie before, do I? How are you getting all this information about what happened in Abberton? I don't remember seeing you or anyone else from Madame Dusklights there while we were helping the village.
"My companions did not search out this mantle. It was placed upon them by the acclaim of the others. Not exactly what I would term upstarts.
But the wilderness is a dangerous place. So we have come to the larger city. But we have found some interesting things. Things that other, more timid, circuses probably do not have. Dinosaurs!
We have acquired a small selection of eggs. With luck, they should be hatching soon, and would make a wonderful addition to the petting zoo. Such exotic creatures should bring larger crowds, which means more revenue. This would also increases the governments portion. Nice for the administration to get their coffers increased, for very little work."
Growing even more suspicious, Didy inches closer to Delamar and gives him a good sniff.
"I can tell that you are starting to see that allowing us to ply our trade only means happy citizens and a tidy income for the town's budget."
|
|
Didy
Al
Carl
Kvothe
Delamar
Resistance Points: 2
"Come now, ma'am, these knaves may have silver tongues, but their nature is basest lead. An amalgam of all of the worst of man's impulses, gathered together to fleece your citizens of their hard-earned wealth. Rigged games, unseemly entertainments, and foodborne illness is all they have to offer! Have you seen those turkey legs? Disgusting!"
"These are all complaints made against the Celestial Menagerie, Delamar." the Constable says irritably. "Your baseless accusations are beginning to try my patience."