This adventure begins with the heroes together in the Central Market around Adayenki Pavilion, at the heart of Kibwe. They have come to an open-air shop belonging to a seller of rare wood named Kendi Laughs-Long, who stocks some of the city’s most intricately carved darkwood. The heroes might be looking for weaponry or carvings made from the rare material
The sharp-featured sprite leans forward on his handsomely groomed corgi, holding up his face with his hands as his elbows rest on the dog's head. The sharpness is due to seemingly... batlike features, including pronounced ears that angle directly outward and to the side.
They rest in the middle of an acoustically designed "speakers circle" on a plaza at the Magaambya academy, and around him sit three students with rapt attention focused on the story he's telling.
So there I was, in my secluded grove in the jungle, when this eager, doe-eyed young gnome wanders in looking for the "Great Forest Spirit" or some such nonsense. So... he gets a guilty look. I kind of let her think that was me.
The three students get horrified looks on their faces. You didn't! What happened next?
Ah, ah, ah! You remember the deal. I only continue the story if you share one of your spells! the sprite admonishes.
The young arcane student frowns and flips through her spellbook. How about...
Naatalu does this for days, entertaining students and making them late for their classes in exchange for their time as he takes notes in his own spellbook.
Desnus 3, 4719 AR
The City of Escadar on the Isle of Erran
Sunrise
Your wagon begins to fill with light as the sun rises over the city of Escadar. As you slowly begin to wake, you remember that today is a big day for your circus, Mistress Dusklight’s Celestial Menagerie. Today, there would be a performance for the Lesser Council, comparable to the Grand Council of Absalom, as well as some of the many captains of the Absalom Navy. A successful show here could mean getting to perform in Absalom itself, maybe even getting a permanent show and being able to quit life on the road.
Unfortunately, you also know what's coming from Mistress Dusklight. With such an important performance, you know she will be pulling out all the stops, whether it's safe for her performers or not. Many a performer have suffered a broken bone, bruises, burns, or other injuries to make their tricks seem even more exciting and dangerous.
Putting all that away for the moment, you focus on your job. Do what you need to do, perform well, and you'll survive the day and earn your pay. Eager to start your day and get a nice breakfast at the campfire, you step out of your wagon and into the day!
Campsite
As you step out of your wagon, you see preparations already underway for the big show. The "Professor" is already quizzing various performers around the campfire on what their performance will be, any changes they made, and how they will build excitement for the circus. He approaches Eliza and her anaconda, Mr. Tickles.
"So, what are you and Mr. Tickles doing for the day?" The Professor asks Eliza.
"I think today..." she says, looking face-to-face with the anaconda wrapped around here, "We shall need an assistant...maybe something small. Any halfling willing to Enter the Beast!?" she says, chuckling a bit.
As she notices The Professor thinking about it seriously, she waves both hands in front of her, "No, no! I'm kidding!" for a moment, it seems as though the anaconda laughs as well, "I'll be doing Wrapped Up! Escaping the deadly clutches of Mr. Tickles as he squeezes me up!" she says excitedly as Mr. Tickles nods by bobbing its head up and down.
The Professor laughs for a moment as well, "Of course, of course. I would never seriously consider putting someone inside Mr. Tickles. I doubt they would even be clean enough to avoid the risk of him getting sick."
You're well aware that part of The Professor's job in the circus is to regale the audience with tales of each performer, their acts, and their history. Prior to this task, you remember, he had been a fire-breather for the Celestial Menagerie. Combining magic and skill, The Professor could breathe fire into fantastical shapes and create strange illusions with the shimmering heat. Tragedy struck, however, when Misstress Dusklight demanded he attempt to catch the fire from a captured flame drake in his own mouth. Unfortunately, the trick went poorly, causing severe damage to The Professor's throat, leaving his voice hoarse and low. The flame drake remains with the circus; however, no master or trick has been assigned to it since.
You listen to other conversations as you grab some breakfast from the communal gathering spot around the large campfire. As you eat, you can tell The Professor will be coming around to you soon as well. Better eat quick and decide on what trick you'll be performing today before he gets to you.
The sharp-featured sprite leans forward on his handsomely groomed corgi, holding up his face with his hands as his elbows rest on the dog's head. The sharpness is due to seemingly... batlike features, including pronounced ears that angle directly outward and to the side.
They rest in the middle of an acoustically designed "speakers circle" on a plaza at the Magaambya academy, and around him sit three students with rapt attention focused on the story he's telling.
So there I was, in my secluded grove in the jungle, when this eager, doe-eyed young gnome wanders in looking for the "Great Forest Spirit" or some such nonsense. So... he gets a guilty look. I kind of let her think that was me.
The three students get horrified looks on their faces. You didn't! What happened next?
Ah, ah, ah! You remember the deal. I only continue the story if you share one of your spells! the sprite admonishes.
Naatalu is quickly run out of the Magaambya academy, being seen as a pest. Instead of returning home he continues North to the inner sea.
Absalom won't likely provide any warmer of a reception than the academy, so he continues North and makes his way to the Isle of Erran where he joins the Celestial Menagerie.
May as well play down to the expectations of those that see such an odd individual. I might just make sense to them in a circus and performers tend to get around and perhaps gain access to new and wondrous spells and devices...
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The sprite quickly learns of Mistress Dusklight's ruthlessness. Any and all cost to performers to get that result in front of the audience. Injury costs were to be absorbed by the performer and kept quiet (or else you could be easily replaced).
And so Naatalu begins building a profile of tricks that puts him at the periphery of the show. The spotlight was most dangerous and costly, but thankfully he finds that the cruel Mistress values polish of the overall show and his ability to add delight in every last detail to help create a seamless experience for paying customers.
The sprite and his corgi, Clovis, are quickly made visible and recognizable at the beginning of the main show but then appear randomly in the audience to aid reactions, or amongst the vendors and secondary wagons as a de-facto guide to the many attractions of the circus. They become something of minor mascots to the show.
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Naatalu joins the breakfast campire, mostly diverting attention to avoid being called on early. He and Clovis maintain a low-key business-like demeanor, but the mention of "entering the beast" catches him off guard.
Looking down at his own appropriately small size, he jumps behind Clovis with his full, wooden breakfast bowl to further avoid relevant notice...
He sighs in relief when the trick is confirmed as a joke and returns to gathering breakfast for himself and his corgi.
Rhoxl finishes licking the thin porridge out of his bowl and sets it down beside him. He slowly blinks a few times, trying to get the sleepiness out of his head after staying up late last night to double-check all his knots in the rigging. I do not want anyone to fall because of me. Carefully he pushes himself to his feet. Several large bones of some unknown animal strapped to his back clatter with the movement, but the large iruxi does not seem to notice as he heads towards the coffee pot.
As Rhoxl stands in line behind a short scaleless, another thought rises to the surface. Or if anyone should fall, it should be me. He shakes his head, but the idea persists. He drinks some coffee, but still the idea remains. He washes his bowl and tosses it atop the others in the kitchen tent, but the idea won't let him be.
Finally, he gives in. "Professor, Rhoxl performs today." The scaleless words are difficult, the order of the sentence mixed up. But the iruxi doesn't let that stop him - Anything to get this idea some resolution. "Rhoxl practices balancing on the bones. Rhoxl is ready today. Professor tells the crowd that Rhoxl draws strength from ancestor spirits to do impossible things. Rhoxl holds positions for a long time. Rhoxl will not fall." He folds his hands behind his back and waits with a blank expression for the smaller man's response.
It's not on the ropes - not yet at least. But hatchlings learn to swim in the shallows, not the deep.
The Professor loses his upbeat attitude for a moment, "Uhh, Rhoxl...I'd love to see you in the show, but you know that's up to Mistress Dusklight to decide."
As The Professor finishes, Myron "Thunder" Stendhal approaches as well,"If the lad wants to be part of the show, I say let'em! I've seen him practice, and he's good enough for one of the side rings for sure!" his voice lowers a bit, "If I had my own show, I'd give him a chance." he says with a quick nod to The Professor.
The Professor nods back and moves to shake Rhoxl's hand, "Well, anyone Myron likes is good enough for me, but you'll still need to convince Dusklight to put you on."
As The Professor moves on, Rhoxl notices a scrap of paper in his hand, Hallowed Wheel at 5. A few minutes later, The Professor snaps his fingers, and the words are gone.
The Professor moves on to a male tiefling with long horns and facial tattoos that make him look reptilian. "Aives! Good to see you! What smoke show are you putting on today?" he asks
The tiefling blows a cloud of green smoke that takes the form of a small dragon, "Flight of the Green Dragon." Aives replies as he manipulates the smoke dragon to fly around the campfire for a moment.
"Excellent, excellent! You know the crowd always seems to love those dragons!" the Professor exclaims.
At the same time, you notice someone walked straight into the fire at the center of camp. "There goes Matchstick Flynn again. Just because fire doesn't harm him as much as the rest of us because of his tiefling blood, you can tell from the scars that it still isn't an enjoyable experience."
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Daak, a young tawny catfolk barely out of boyhood, approaches the Professor and waits patiently for a moment of his time.
"Mostly I've been working the crowd before the show, but I can work the ropes if there is an areal act that wants another performer. A little more money than I've been getting for working the crowds would be nice."
He pauses. "Sorry. I'm Daak. My shipmates called me Drake." He extends a carefully not-clawed hand. "As long as you don't ask me to work with 'Matchstick' - I like my fur too much."
The Professor nods, "Want to be part of the show too, huh? You'll have to join Rhoxl in petitioning Mistress Dusklight for a spot in the rings..." he leans in to whisper to you, "Mind what you say in front of her, the last performance you want to be part of might be the first one you get stuck in."
The Professor then sneaks a scrap of paper into your hand, Hallowed Wheel at 5. Then, as he walks away, he claps his hands, and the words vanish.
The ground shakes slightly as a mammoth walks by carrying Evora Yarket, burly kellid half-orc.
"Is Gigi ready yet, Evora?" the Professor calls up to Evora.
The half-orc grumbles, "No, not yet. She's still got some fight in her." he replies.
The Professor nods as two hill giants walk over to their own personal breakfast tables. Each lifts an entire table of food and slants it towards their mouths, devouring their whole buffet in a series of gulps. Jasmaile, a dandasuka rakshasa, snaps a whip near them, "Breakfast's over Kreel and Pidkin. Time to get back to work!"
The Professor notices the sprite and corgi and attempts to make his way over, though the crowd of circus crew is growing thicker as the camp wakes up.
Noticing the professor approaching, Naatalu chuckles sheepishly, rubbing his head before straightening up and preparing for "business."
Ah, yes. As you know, Clovis here isn't so much as a main attraction but rather a nice accent on the introduction of the big show. We can make ourselves present around the circus after that as a nice thread of continuity. Smaller children in particular tend to love her. Are there any stalls or wagons you'd like me to emphasize to the guests today as they stop me to ask questions?
A young and scruffy hobgoblin quietly approaches and looks at the remains of breakfast. They subtly put together a small plate of leftovers before sitting in a corner, hunching in on themself. The sticks of straw and a slight smell of fresh dung are evidence that this person has been tending the animals, those who are not bonded with specific others.
Anyone watching closely notices that Clovis perks up and responds favourably to Zek's presence. Even the anaconda dips its head in respect.
Zek listens to the conversation but stays quiet, thinking to themself, Them and their fancy acts, I'll never give that evil woman the satisfaction of seeing what Ash and I can do together. We need to get out of here as soon as we can and take as many of the other animals with us as want to go.
The Professor nods, "I can definitely make you part of a sideshow! Later tonight, hang out by the Hallowed Wheel and try to drum up some business for the thing. It's a bit magical, and kids tend to love seeing the adults spin it."
A male satyr drops his plate of food on the table, "A dog and a sprite part of my sideshow? I doubt they can compete with my dyrad, the talking pegasus, or the manticore. We need BIG acts in our sideshow." he says as he stomps over to the Professor.
The Professor snaps his fingers as the satyr walks over and the satyr's path towards him becomes oddly winding in response to the point that he ends up back at the table, "Wha-Would you quit it with the illusions!"
The Professor holds his hands up, "No worries, no worries. They don't need to be part of your sideshow, but you can't argue that kids love dogs! I think your show is a bit scary for children anyway."
Noticing Zec, the Professor's cheerful mood fades for just a second, but the man is too experienced with putting on a face to let it show, "Zec! How's Ash doing? Ready to be part of the show yet? As long as I'm part of his act again, I'm all for it!"
Naatalu confirms, nodding at the professor. We'll be there.
He can only grin as the satyr lays into him. Finally he replies. Those are all marvelous creatures, but they can be somewhat intimidating to children, like the professor says. Remember, children are best at spending their parents coin!
The Professor nods in agreement, "Alright, well, Rohxl, Drake, if you want to be part of the show, you should go see Mistress Dusklight before noon so she can fit you into the schedule."
He gestures towards the most extravagant-looking wagon in the camp. Based on its size, you can estimate that it easily has multiple rooms, almost like a home on wheels based on its size. "I'm sure you know where her wagon is by now, eh?"
Assuming the two of you walk over there, and possibly Zec-Ec if they want to join the show, you easily find the wagon.
As you approach, you hear a man's voice speaking inside the wagon. "We don't have any competition right now, and we keep the people happy. Andera is cutting us a good deal on the taxes we pay, especially when we estimate our profits."
A chilling female voice responds, "Yes, good. Well, keep it up. We make more here than we ever did on the road. These people couldn't hold onto their coin if it were sovereign glued to their hands."
You hear laughter for a moment before the main door opens, and a man wearing a purple suit walks out. He glances at you, "Your turn! Don't keep her waiting if she is expecting you." he says with a charming smile before heading over to the breakfast table.
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The large iruxi man stares at the wagon door. What had seemed like a good idea before, in the warmth of the Professor's cheer, now felt more and more like stepping barefoot into a spiked den of snakes. This is a mistake...
Abruptly he turns and walks away, back towards the hubbub of the main tent. "Drake tells Mistress Dusklight that Rhoxl is watching the crowd," he calls over his shoulder. If he were scaleless, he might have felt his face becoming warm and flushed, or his breathing strained. Thankfully, he is not. Only a brief flap of his folded frill betrays any sense of discomfort during the long walk back to his usual station at the entrance between the big top and the sideshows.
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Drake nods to Rhoxl and then steps forward to keep the door from closing completely. At the threshold, he executes his swordmaster's very best bow.
"Greetings, Mistress Dusklight." He pauses, taking a moment to see if he is going to get thrown out instantly before continuing. "I am Daak - called Drake - son of... well no one important, really. I was hired last week to help work the crowds, and while I will continue if that is your desire, I was wondering if you needed another aerialist."
"I admit that I am new to the circus, but I did spend a few years at sea, and know the dance of the ropes well enough. Do any of your aerial acts need a supporting performer? Or do you need a sideshow aerial act?"
Realizing he has been babbling, he subsides for a moment before remembering his chore.
"If you were expecting Rhoxl to be here as well, he has gone back to watching the crowd. Good... man, that"
Drake bows again and stands silent.
As the professor addresses the hobgoblin, Zec shrinks in on themself even more. Why did he have to notice me? How does he know the name I gave Ash? How does he know we are working on stuff together? Know one is meant to know that!
As soon as everyone's attention is diverted, Zec skitters away, back to the animals and making sure each is well cared for as well as ready to perform if they are on the schedule.
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The Professor smiles at Zec, "You think I don't keep an eye on the drake? He may have been the one to scar my throat, but I don't believe the creature is malicious. In fact, I'm quite hopeful you'll prove to be effective at partnering with the Drake. Don't worry; no one else needs to know about it. Illusion is my specialty after all; how else do you think no one noticed an entire drake goes missing?"
With a wink from the Professor, Zec realizes that this conversation had been private the entire time via Message.
Mistress Dusklight sits at her desk in the first room in the wagon. Nearby sits her lastest admirer, an aasimar and devout follower of Shelyn, Mazael.
Mistress Dusklight folds her hands at the table, "Another aerial act you say? You may know by now that, with us no longer traveling at the moment, I am constantly looking for new acts to entertain the people of Escadar. But, obviously, they can't see the same show every week, can they, darling?" she says, looking at Mazael.
The Mazael looks up from their cross-stitching, "A soul experiencing the extravagant daily will soon be tortured by monotony. Therefore, we should always seek ways to improve our craft." they say as they return to their work.
Dusklight nods, "So, of course, I'd love to welcome your act." she says as she slides a contract across the table, "Simply sign this here, and you'll be part of the show, just an opening act for now, but entertain the people, and you can move up to."
Drake glances over the contract, and it seems pretty standard. The only things that may stand out are that the pay is a flat rate rather than a percentage of the profits, that you may not work for another circus while contracted by Mistress Dusklight, and that, should you be injured, you will not lose your job here, but medical costs are out of pocket should the on-hand medic be unable to assist you. You're also obligated to make your performance as "exciting as possible" and may be assisted by other circus workers to accomplish the level of excitement requested.
Zec provides a weak smile for the professor and a slight nod before they depart. It is clear they are unused to being the recipient of kindness and a little flustered by this new experience.
Mistress Dusklight looks almost offended by the question, "Of course! We have acts going up all the time, so the space is checked constantly. Remember that you're still a small part of the show, so any large changes are out of the question for now. However..." she says as she pulls out a work-order form and signs it. "Give this to the Professor if you want to make any small changes such as setting up ropes and such. He'll know whom to get it to."
She then assumes your conversation is over and waves to dismiss you from her wagon.
The rest of the day passes uneventfully. A show is scheduled to start at 8 pm, with the gates to the circus opening at 6 pm. By now, you have all been invited to a somewhat secret meeting at the Hallowed Wheel game at 5 pm by the Professor.
Naatalu nonchalantly makes his way to the Hallowed Wheel at just the right time, after a winding path through the various stalls and areas as he prepares for the show later on. He likes to see what's new around the wagons that he might point out to customers.
Zec attends their duties diligently throughout the day, sneaking a little extra time with Ash when they can.
"Ash, that professor character knows about us. They seem ok and even maybe kind. We'll have to be extra careful though to make sure no one else finds out. I would want Mistress Dusklight to know, it would make it harder for us to get away."
When the time approaches, the scruffy hobgoblin sidles up near the meeting place, hanging back in what cover they can find and observing who else arrives.
One of the menagerie’s more popular attractions is the prize wheel called the Hallowed Wheel, which patrons can pay to spin and win prizes. The wheel isn’t rigged, but the valuable‑looking prizes are worth less than the game costs to play, so the circus always makes money.
This booth contains a large prize wheel decorated with eight wedges, each with a different rune. Several prizes, such as angel dolls and crystal goblets, rest on shelves in the booth.
Gathered around the wheel are various circus workers such as Elizia and her anaconda, the Kanbali family, also known as the Feather-Fall Five, Mordaine the Magician, and the Dwarven Throwers, and the Flamboni Sisters.
Standing on the stage of the Hallowed Wheel is The Professor and Myron "Thunder" Stendhal. The Professor begins casting a spell, "Alright everyone, this meeting obviously isn't Dusklight sanction, so I'm casting an Illusion. Prepare to ignore everything you see in a moment..."
With that, a Phantom Crowd appears around you. No one in the crowd looks especially interesting, but it is easy to blend in the circus workers with such a large group of people. At first, the crowd is loud, and it becomes hard to differentiate the phantoms from reality, but with the Professor's warning, it only takes a few moments to adjust to the auditory and visual input.
The Professor then holds a finger up to his throat and projects his voice out to the rest of the circus,
Myron then claps his hands together, "Alright, now on to the real business here. I'm starting my own circus, and I want everyone in this crowd, phantoms not included, to join me."
The crowd goes silent for a moment before expressing various emotions, from frightened to confused to ecstatic.
One of the dwarves is the first to speak up, "Finally, you old bastard! Last time I got shot out of a cannon, that damned cat filled the cannon with alchemical fire. Took me a month to regrow my beard." he grumbles
The mother of the feather-fall five speaks up next, "Remember when she lit the nets on fire? We almost died!"
Mordaine silences everyone with a flash of light, "Look, I don't care about all of you and your 'problems,' but Dusklight refuses to make me the star of the show, and I clearly am the best performer here. I'd be happy to join you, Myron, so long as I'm the star! We can call it Mordaine's Marvels, and I'll be the most famous magician on Kortos." she says.
Naatalu is unsure at first. One self-centered tyrant for another? Still, it might be better conditions in the end. He waits silently at first to see what some of the others say. He is rarely one to speak up first.
Myron asks for silence for a moment, "Yes, I know many of you have experienced undue hardships under Dusklight's management. She will do anything in the name of excitement, even if it means risking the lives of her performers." he says as he looks around the crowd. "Many of you know me, though some of you are new. I hope those I have worked with over the years know the kind of person I am and can help save those that are new."
The Professor nods, "I wouldn't be up here with just anyone; Myron is good folk and is likely the reason many of you are still performing today, despite, what it seems, are Dusklight's best efforts to burn through your acts. Quite literally at times."
Myron continues, "I can promise you the things you want to hear, safety, family, belonging, fair pay, and an act in the circus. However, there are things I can't promise you. I have been in this business a long time, and I know the ins and outs, but I can't promise we will have an audience. I can't promise we will ever be as big as this circus. Even so, I know that if we work together, we can give Dusklight something to be worried about, a circus that actually cares about its performers."
Myron waits a moment for his words to soak in, "I'm not asking you to make a decision this second, but you do need to make it today. For this to work, I had to keep my plans under wrap until today's show. However, I will be making my grand exit during tonight's performance and will be bringing anyone that wants to join."
Some in the crowd gasp while others simply looked shocked. Elizia, however, smiles, "I'm with you, Thunder! Let's ditch this snake den."
With one starting the trend, the rest slowly follow suit, and many sign on board with Myron's plan. Some still seem unsure and haven't decided, but you know that something big will happen tonight that will change the lives of everyone here.
Zec hesitantly creeps forward, "What about the animals, can we rescue them too?"
The hobgoblin wants desperately to depart but wants to save as many of their friends as they can and will not leave without Ash, the drake. They are also wary of trusting anyone.
Naatalu gasps when Myron explains this has to be done during the show.
In front of the audience?! She'll have us killed. Her vengeance will know no end!
The sprite's fretting worsens, and he tugs Clovis tighter when Zec mentions animals.
Zec doesn't seem to sense any falsehoods here.
Myron gestures to the crowd, "If the animals are part of an act, or you want them to be part of an act, let me or the Professor know so we can get those out with us. We can't take all of them right now; we don't have the manpower or wagons to do so, unfortunately."
The Professor winks at Zec as he continues to concentrate on his Phantasmal Crowd. You see some other circus workers walk by and glance at the commotion but seem to accept that this level of showmanship of starting the games early to draw a crowd is par the course for The Professor.
Myron nods after Drake's point, "Yes, we know Dusklight draws big crowds, and the circus here is quite profitable due to Dusklights...methods. However, you may have noticed that your contracts are always a flat payment, no matter how much money the show generates. IF you work for me, your contracts will have a flat rate PLUS additional bonuses depending on how well we do. Unlike Dusklight, I'm not out to pocket the profits; I want to invest it back into all of you." he then adds, "And no, I'm not making any acts more dangerous than you want them to be. You want fire? Use it. You don't want to get charred? Don't use it. The circus is about your acts, not mine and not Dusklights."
Rhoxl listens and watches from the rear of the real crowd, one eye watching for any Dusklight loyalists paying too much attention. Slowly he raises his hand to catch the Professor's attention. "How will the Professor keep everyone safe when departing? Will Mistress Dusklight be distracted with other things? For example, if the crowd becomes rowdy, Rhoxl cannot promise to be able to control the crowd." He grins, showing many teeth. "Rhoxl is very sad about this."
"I have been wanting away from here since I arrived. As long as I can ensure there will be proper treatment for all who come with us, then I am in. I will be sad to leave any innocents behind but will rescue who I can." It is fairly clear that Zec mostly refers to their animal friends during this speech, the longest any have heard the hobgoblin make.
The Professor gestures at the Phantasmal Crowd, "Distractions are my specialty, and this wheel has some hidden magical properties I can make use of. Regardless, Mistress Dusklight will likely be busy showing off during the show while also trying to raise excitement as much as she can."
With that, the meeting has served its purpose. Those that want to sign on with Myron, or at least leave Dusklight, gather around to meet with the Professor so he can take note of what needs to be ready. "Make sure anything you want to bring is ready for transport; speed will be of the essence."
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On to the Circus!
Anticipation: 30
Prestige: 15
Starting Excitement: 10
Zec: Animal Handler?
Rhoxl: Crowd control (Any rolls of hecklers or scalpers Random Events are negated and have no effect on the performance.)
Naatalu: Sideshow (normally this is +1 excitement per sideshow, but since you are a PC, I'm going to count as your trick.)
Drake: Aerial Act
Opening Trick: Drake's Aerial Acrobatics (Acrobatics +7, DC 15)
Build Up 1: The Dwarven Throwers (Acrobatics +7 or Athletics +10 with a costar to Aid, DC 15)
Build Up 2: Elizia and Mister Tickles (Intimidation or Nature +7, DC 15)
The Big Number: Mordaine the Magician (Fortitude save +8 with Injury or Thievery +7, DC 15)
The Grand Finale 1: The Smoke Dragon (2 checks of Deception +8 or Thievery +12, DC 20)
The Grand Finale 2: Fidget's Fireworks (2 checks of Acrobatics +10 or Performance +10, DC 20)
The Grand Finale 3: Dusklight's Imaginary Walls (automatic success)
Naatalu rides around the general circus tent and wagon area. From time to time he leaps up off of Clovis and attempts to land seated back on the Corgi.
The choice presented by Myron earlier that afternoon jarred his mind significantly and he has immense trouble focusing on tricks.
The animals break loose from their cages! Not to fear, Zec wrangles them together and herds them all back to their positions for the show!
The Professor takes center stage as the crowd takes their Assigned Seats. He uses the Bullhorn cantrip once again to amplify the sound of his voice for the crowd, "Welcome! Welcome one and all to the Celestial Menagerie! Today, we have tricks to amaze and astound you! We have dwarves in cannons, snakes and magicians, dragons, fireworks, and even the cat-in-the-hat herself, Mistress Dusklight!"
Naatalu and Clovis enter the performance floor! "Tonight, we’d love to start by showing you the newest member of our sideshow making their first-ever debut. Say hello to Naatalu and Clovis!"
Naatalu's trick goes off without a hitch! The crowd eats it up as the excitement for the show grows!
"Right, I’m glad you enjoyed that! Now on with the show! Up first, we have Drake, the catfolk acrobat. Watch as he swings and sails through the air! He sure is going to catch a lot of birds that way!" The Professor adds, getting a bit of a laugh from the crowd.
Naatalu exits the stage as its ropes, poles, and netting get set up for Drakes Acrobatic Act! As he climbs to the top rope, he watches as Mistress Dusklight fires a crossbow with a flaming bolt at the netting! The net catches fire, and Drake risks injury to himself should he fall! Brave of heart, he continues his act anyway. Occasionally, Dusklight fires off additional blunted bolts, intentionally missing Drake but adding to the danger and excitement!
Even with the bolts and flames, Drake carries on! His trick is a great success, though his fur may come out a bit worse for wear!
The stage is reset, now with a cannon and a pair of Dwarves! "Up next, we have the Dwarven Throwers! Watch as one loads himself into the cannon while the other tosses him a shield mid-air! That’s no ordinary shield folks, that right there is their proprietary glider-shield!"
The dwarves' glider-shield trick is also a success! Again, the crowd is eating up the performances!
Elizia and her anaconda replace the dwarves. The circus is filled with the sounds of the mighty jungle where the lion sleeps tonight!
"And now we have Elizia and her Anaconda, Mr. Tickles!"
Elizia charms her snake, it wraps her up, and she tickles it to escape!
A critical success! The Crowd goes wild for the ticklish snake!
Elizia and her snake leave. They are replaced by a glass container and a marvelous magician! "And now, the main event here tonight at the Mangerie! Mordaine the Magician! Tonight, she will be locked inside a tank of water that will fill completely full! Without using any magic, she will escape the watery grave before she runs out of air!"
Another critical success! The crowd is infatuated with the showboating magician!
The stage is cleared completely! "And now for the Grand Finale! I give you The Smoke Dragon, Fidget’s Fireworks, and Mistress Dusklight herself! Watch as Dusklight makes invisible walls to direct the green smoke into whatever pattern they desire! Watch Fidget battle the mighty dragon with alchemical bombs! Who will win!? What will happen next!?"
Duslight generates two automatic successes! The other performers add-in with a perfect showing!
The crowd cheers as the show was huge success! They give a standing ovation, clearly loving everything they've seen today!...but wait, why are some people screaming!?
The Professor is nowhere to be seen, but you still hear his voice, "Wait, what is that!?"
Naatalu rides around the general circus tent and wagon area. From time to time he leaps up off of Clovis and attempts to land seated back on the Corgi.
The choice presented by Myron earlier that afternoon jarred his mind significantly and he has immense trouble focusing on tricks.
Purple smoke fills the crowded tent as shadowy forms of creatures enter the show. Writhing tentacles, masses covered in eyes, the creatures arriving are not formed in any Earthly fashion. Even concentrating on their image for too long proves difficult as the constantly shift under your gaze.
You hear the Professor's voice once again, "IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE CALMLY EXIT THE TENT...I BELIEVE IT IS TIME TO GO!" he says.
Realizing this is your cue, you exit stage left and head back out the Hallowed Wheel. Waiting for you there are a handful of wagons filled to the brim with belongings and caged animals, Ash the Drake included.
Mistress Dusklight exits just behind you and glares daggers the The Professor whom is now standing atop one of the wagons next to Myron "Thunder". "What is this!?" she hisses.
The Professor jumps to the Hallowed Wheel and flips a switch, "I believe its our curtain call, Mistress No-show." he says as he gives the wheel a spin.
Click, click, click...click...click.......click
The wheel comes to a resting place on the black segment and suddenly the ground begins to shake. Black Tentacles race out of the ground and grab everything in sight, but your wagons are already slowly getting away leaving Dusklight and her cronies behind to deal with the illusions and tentacles. She glares back at The Professor, "You'll pay for this! You'll never work in this business again! I'll kill you if I have to!"
The Professor takes a bow and Dimension Doors back to the top of the wagon, "Well, time to go if you're coming!" he yells back to you.
Naatalu, seeing what's happening, aggressively looks away from Mistress Dusklight and hops aboard Clovis to follow the professor's wagon. He doesn't carry that it isn't safe to hop aboard a moving wagon along with his corgi, he'll happily ride alongside it until they're at a safe distance for a break.
With a bandolier in place across their body and their hands wrapped in strips of cloth, Zec clambers up on one of the moving wagons, talking quietly to the animals secured there, calming them down. They make their way from vehicle to vehicle to ensure all the animals are safe and comfortable, throwing a treat to Clovis as the corgy moves past with Naatalu astride. Zec eventually settles next to the drake, "Well, this is it Ash, our big break. I am glad to be rid of that awful woman."
Rhoxl ushers performers to the wagons while "accidentally" getting in the way of the audience trying to leave the tent. Once everyone who needs to leave has left, he runs after the departing caravan and deftly pulls himself up into the back. He frowns at the corgi, debating whether to pull it (and its tiny passenger) up as well. "Does the dog run fast enough?" he asks at last.
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7 Months Later
Abadius 12, 4720 AR
Abberton, Eastern side of the Isle of Erran
The new circus’s leaders, an elderly circus veteran, known only as the Professor and a bombastic showman named Myron “Thunder” Stendhal, lead the Circus of Wayward Wonders out of Escadar and across the Isle of Erran.
After several months of practices and performances for homesteaders and farmers, the circus is ready to perform a big show in a sizable town. Abberton isn’t what many people would consider a destination for performers, but it’s where the Circus of Wayward Wonders must start. The people of Abberton are excited for the circus if only to take their minds off of recent troubles. On the night of the circus’s first performance, nearly every resident of the town—including Mayor Jae Abber— crowds the tent to experience the magic of the big top.
The Circus of Wayward Wonders performs in an enormous tent capable of holding hundreds of people—and that’s a good thing, as it seems the entire population of Abberton has turned out for the show. Many of the town’s most prominent citizens, including the mayor, are among the throng jostling for seats, peering at the three rings that fill the center of the tent, and waiting excitedly for the show to begin.
As the lights go down and the audience settles onto their seats, the circus’s performers take their places backstage, awaiting their cues. Suddenly, several of the performers closest to the curtain that separates the three rings from the rest of the tent leave their assignments, gathering in a small crowd to exchange frightened whispers and hushed gasps. Amid the group, his body contorted as if caught forever in the throes of terrible pain, . Everyone in the circus knew Myron for his amazing, powerful voice that could bring instant silence to the largest crowd, and he knew everything there is to know about putting on a successful performance. Now he’s dead, but the crowd is still out there, and they’re expecting a show.
The performers’ livelihoods depend on the spectacle they create; if they don’t perform, they don’t eat. One of the older members of the circus, a sideshow barker named Professor Zarlian Kyosophus, covers Myron’s body with a silk cape and addresses the group backstage. As the other performers stare at the corpse, whisper to each other, and anxiously peer around the curtain, the Professor—a thin and frail veteran of the circus—looks up. “Well, what are you all standing around for?” he asks, his weak voice barely audible in the hushed silence. “Have you seen that crowd? We haven’t ever had the tent packed this full. There’s a show to put on, and we have to find a way to do it. So finish your makeup, get into your costumes, and send in the clowns!”
Quick to follow the Professor’s advice, the circus’s clowns immediately bound through the curtain and into the three rings. This buys time for the Professor to approach the four of you. While many of the circus performers know their jobs and don’t need to be told what to do, there are still several important decisions to be made before the opening curtain. The order of circus acts isn’t yet set and many of the circus’s most talented performers are too stunned by Myron’s death to go on. "I'm putting the four of you in charge for now. Myron likely decided the order of the show already, but didn't manage to tell anyone before he died. You'll need to get everything organized and quickly."
Axel the Unproven: Issue has arrisen
Kanbali Family: Issue has arrisen
Mordaine the Diva: Issue has arrisen
Elizia and Mr. Tickles: Issue has arrisen
You check in with Eilzia to determine if you can use her trick in the show. Unfortunately, there seems to be a problem that she explains to you, "Mister Tickles is sick! He won't eat or drink anything! I can't possibly make him perform like this!"
Mister Tickles has contracted Goblin Pox, a non-lethal but sickening disease.
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Drake looks at the list, trying to work out how the show should progress.
"Something flamboyant to open. Perhaps open with the Dwaven Throwers, to hint at danger? Acrobatics are always a spectacle."
He considers. "Perhaps then build anticipation with my aerial act and the fire jugglers. Real risk in both acts, which will make the crowd ready for the Kanbali Family's aerial act as the main event. He looks downfallen for a moment.
"We need to check with them and make sure they're ready. And have something good for the finale."
When they visit Elizia and she mentions her snake is feeling down, Naatalu advances forward on Clovis, one eyebrow raised in curiosity.
You don't say. May I?
The dog inches forward until the snake can drape over her back, and the sprite takes its head in his hands. Being somewhat smaller, it takes both of his.
He gently coaxes its mouth open, flicks at its fangs, inspects its gums, and finally looks into its eyes for a bit.
Hmm, yes. You were right. It's Goblin Pox. Nothing that won't pass. Lots of rest.
Elizia lets the sprite check on Mr. Tickles, "Oh, thank goodness! If he will be alright, then I'm willing to do our act tonight. Though if you can do anything to make him feel better and drink some water, I'm sure we would do a lot better!"
I'm sorry, I don't believe that I can make him feel better right this moment. At least we know it's not serious!
Naatalu chuckles sheepishly, rubbing is hands together nervously.