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Didymus: As you come up to a small clearing, Didymus becomes aware of a creature--in the clearing. In fact, he thinks he just barely detects the scent of two more creatures, much like it, currently mostly immersed in the water of a stream here.
Kvothe: You detect the presence of magic in the area as you enter the clearing.
Noatuk and Lady Al: Everything's great!
This small clearing—no more than a widening in the path through the thick woods—contains a small pile of leaves a few feet in diameter with a thin blanket. Next to the leaves rests a small backpack emblazoned with a green patch. A stream burbles merrily nearby.
A small, odd-looking creature with blue skin, wings, and a wicked grin is standing near the back pack with an armful of stones. He is carefully loading the backpack, his tongue sticking out in concentration.
As he hears you enter the clearing he yelps, dropping his rocks in a clattering pile.
It barks out something in a language none of you can speak.
"Oh no you don't. You're not going anywhere! We need to know why you killed, poor Mr. Thunder! Get 'im, boy! But gentle, like in the ring."
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Round one
Didymus (-5)
Yellow
Orange
BumBum
Noatuk (-5)
Red (-3)
Kvothe (-10)
Lady Al (-5)
Didymus' first shot hits, but his second, and Ambrosius' chompers, miss.
Two more of the creatures burst out of the water, chittering in their language.
The first flies toward Ambrosius, droplets flinging from its wings.
It claws at Ambrosius
Both claws miss the agile little dinosaur.
The second flies up in front of Noatuk and breathes a cloud of acidic smoke at him.
Noatuk takes a reaction as the little thing spits acid and uses Retributive Strike for Kvothe
He roars and swings again on his turn.
And again.
And again.
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Round one/Round Two
Didymus (-5)
Orange
BumBum
Noatuk (-9)
Red (-3)
Kvothe (-10)
Lady Al (-5)
The creatures don't seem to understand BumBum.
Noatuk's retribution is swift and unforgiving, sending the little mephit sprawling into the earth.
His second attack misses.
The mephit turns and breathes a cloud of acidic steam at Noatuk and BumBum.
BumBum avoids the blast entirely, while Noatuk is only slightly singed by the blast.
Lady Al is quite surprised when she looks up to see her friends engaged in combat. She shakes her head and clicks her tongue.
With some arcane gestures the summons a creature of the wild to her aid. A massive eagle dives down, talons bared, viciously attacking the strange blue-skinned creature.
Didymus and his pet continue to try to bring down with nonlethal attacks.
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"What's is going on round here? So many fighty creatures, so close to circus. We should be checking on others and circus if no more creatures. Someone maybe trying to keep us occupied while they do bad stuff? "Everybody hurt but BumBum, we should get back and rest. Maybe pack up show, get out of this town before more beasties show up. Me gonna look around here real quick, who wanna check backpack?"
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Besides the simple makeshift bed and the backpack, there is not much to be seen here.
The backpack here contains a number of wet, smooth stones pulled from the stream. Beneath the rocks a slightly soggy but still legible map, drawn on rag paper, detailing Abberton and the surrounding area. There are scribbled notes all over the map, mostly seeming to relate to the Circus of Wayward Wonders, including some disturbingly accurate notes on the movements of various members in the Circus, including Myron's efforts to build up excitement when the Circus arrived near Abberton a few days back.
A couple of other locations near Abberton are marked as well--Oldlin's Orchard, and Hawfton Mill.
There are several handfuls of edible nuts in the bag, along with an odd feather token, and a rolled up scroll sticks out from one of the side pockets.
”Hmm, this is a scroll of pest form. Lady Alhambra, is this your type of magic? Or you, Kvothe?”
”Meanwhile this map is rather worrisome. It looks like somebody puts these devils up to this! Well, we’ll have to ask him when he wakes up. Let’s tie him up and bring him back to the circus. I’m sure we can hit him into one of my animal cages.”
"Hmm, good points, BumBum! I bet Myron could have talked to them. He was a great talker." Didy takes a moment to compose himself after getting a little choked up. "Let's gag this guy just to be safe and we can check to see anyone in the circus speaks their language or has magic to help them do so. We can check in with everyone at the same time to make sure they are all safe. Somebody really has it out for us, that's for sure!"
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While any number of the members of the crew are known to enjoy tree nuts, you do know that both Boy the cook, Lou the Roustie, and Akivar, the story-teller, are particularly fond of them. Akivar, an oread mystic that performs in the Sideshow, doesn't partake of meat and thus gets a good deal of his nutrition from nuts. None of them are small size, however.
The mephit is tied up and gagged easily enough.
In the time it takes Didy to heal two people (20 min) Noatuk prays, casts lay on hands on himself (6HP), prays again and offers to heal Didy or Lad Al.
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After healing up, you return to camp, emerging near the center of the camp.
The sound of pipes, fiddles, and horns echoes across the camp from the meeting fire, where many members of the Circus of Wayward Wonders have gathered. As you arrive, you see that everyone has formed two concentric rings, with the musicians on the inside, and everyone else dancing on the outside. Their energetic prancing seems incongruous with the weariness on their faces.
“Help us!” the Professor pants, sweat pouring down his frail face as his limbs jerk in time to the lively jig.
"Well dats a bit odd..."
what could be da cause o'dis den?
Didymus rushes up to help as soon as he hears the Professor call out. He and his pet look and sniff around, frantically searching for the source of whatever magic is plaguing his friends.
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Kvothe tumbles through the dancer ably.
Inside the inner ring, of musicians, a tiny creatures--winged humanoids from the waist up, but with the lower body of crickets--bounce happily on a plate set beside the fire. When they spot Kvothe, they applaud.
"Oh, the musician from the show!" one exclaims happily, his cricket-like legs emitting a sound like a fiddle as he rubs them together.
"Indeed! Indeed!" The other says, clapping with his tiny hands above his head. "Bravo, master Kvothe! Bravo!"
"Truly gifted!" The first says, effortlessly changing his tune to match yours.
"Oh, indeed! Take the lead, Master Kvothe, and we shall follow!" The second says.
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The little creatures seem disappointed by the change to a speech, but they soon become wrapped up in the tale. Slowly, they stop fiddling, taking seats on the plate. As they do, the other circus members stop performing, some of whom collapse from exhaustion. The others turn and sit, listening to the tale and resting from their exertions.
As Kvothe brings the story to a close with a dramatic flourish, the carnies clap tiredly.
The Fey creatures, however, leap to their (many) feat, applauding loudly.
"Well done, well done!"
"A tale is proved in the telling, indeed, good sir! A virtuoso performance once more!"
The two survey the exhausted but grateful carnies.
"Very good! Our little shindig--and your own masterful oratory as the coda--have brought life to these sad mortals. We saw their great sadness, and fear, and wished only to bring them joy through song and dance. We are most pleased with our handiwork!" One says, hands on hips, surveying the mass of sweaty, panting carnies around them.
"Oh, yes, indeed! Thank you again, Master Kvothe!" The two bow deeply.
"And thank you, all, for the lovely entertainment this evening. I wish circuses came more frequently to the mortal village! The woods here can be a dreadfully boring place. No offense to your own musical talent, Tarisia."
"None taken, Cannono! We both know the same songs! But, at least, we have added one more to our repertoire, thanks to Master Kvothe here!"
The two beam happily at the rest of you.
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Taking a bow, and winking at the nearest carnival member, Kvothe feels the rush of performance.
thank you, thank you! Now we should all retire to our beds, it's been a long day for us all and we have another big one tomorrow. turning to the creatures and squatting down your very welcome for the entertainment tonight, so, friends, what brought you to our fires?
Didymus rushes forward and eagerly licks the faces of his collapsed friends to cheer them up.
He then pats Kvothe on the back for a job well done!
Turning to the fae, he greets them as new friends. ”You should join our troupe! Master Kvothe needs a backing band!”
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"NO!" several weary carnies shout simultaneously.
The fey open their mouths to respond, but a curious look passes over their faces as they turn their heads, listening.
The rustling of leaves can be heard as hundreds of redeyed rats scurry about the foliage. The rats surround a halfling woman wearing a headdress in the shape of a rat’s head, its open mouth framing her face.
“Isn’t this a pretty sight,” she cackles, twisting her grip on a gnarled staff. “I had hoped to murder more of you while the whole town was watching. That would have frightened them away from here for good! But a
bigger slaughter might be even better; the foolish farmers and poisoners of Abberton will discover your rat-chewed corpses. No one will know how it happened, but everyone will whisper that nature is taking its revenge. And it is, through me! I’ll wager most of the town will be gone in a week, and the rest will fall easily. Then, perhaps, the land can heal from the cancer known as Abberton.”
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Round One
Halfling?
Noatuk (-14)
Didymus (-5)
BumBum
Kvothe
Lady Al
Horde of Rats
The halfling points a finger at Noatuk and utters several guttural syllables.
Noatuk catches fire
However, the flames quickly burn out!
The carnival folk around the table are far too exhausted from there forced dance to be able to help. They get up and quickly flee the combat.
Didymus snapped his head in the direction of the cackling halfling, a string of his slobber briefly stretched between his face and the Professors before the exhausted human turned and fled. The ranger squinted his eyes angrily at the woman.
"You? You! You killed Mr. Thunder! Get ready for the finale!" he shouts as he sizes up his prey and looses an arrow at her.
"Now, get 'er!"
Ambrosius eagerly obeyed the command rushing toward his new prey and circling around to the rear like the clever boy he is.
Noatuk takes out the minor healing potion and drinks it.
Then strides over to provide flank with Ambrosius.
"The only slaughter I foresee is your own."