Hearing Yumi ask about Mongo, he turns to the two of them, a big froggy smile spreading across his face.
"Well, he was not actually there, but he was someone who saved me once I stumbled my way into this place. I was set upon by thieves and Mongo decided to save me from them...along with Baz. Without the two of them, I would not be here today!"
Zinnath's head rounds on Ukube, "ummm, I'm a Volcano dragon. We're red, as you can see!" Zinnath spreads his mighty wings nearly two feet across to display his anything but white colored scales.
The strange men come over to your table. "We're looking for a white fairy dragon, have you seen one?" one of them asks.
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Zinnath quietly ignores the men and continues eating the fruit. Familiars don't speak to strangers.
Zinnath's head rounds on Ukube, "ummm, I'm a Volcano dragon. We're red, as you can see!" Zinnath spreads his mighty wings nearly two feet across to display his anything but white colored scales.The strange men come over to your table. "We're looking for a white fairy dragon, have you seen one?" one of them asks.
Nbazi looks around incredulously,"White? I didn't know they came in white, mine is red see?" he says nodding towards Zinn eating his fruit, "what do you need a white one for? Is it a friend of yours?"
Telepathically to Nbazi: "That's a good one!"
Telepathically to Nbazi: "That's a good one!"
I'd like to know who sent them, the imprisonment of sentient beings, regardless of being humanoid or not, is not something that sits well with me, or most of the city for that matter.
Kikina let out a small sigh as she lacked total self-awareness. The message was completely lost on her. Slowly placing her palm against her face, she let out a long sigh. Only to catch wind of whatever was happening in the rest of the bar. Her eyes flicked over to them from around her hand, trying to get a good look at the man looking for the little dragon.
Was it anything terrible? Bounty hunters? Poachers? The first seemed more likely than the second. Yet, still unlikely. It'd require a motive. Had this little dragon made any enemies? The second had a motive. At the least, they weren't going to find them instantly. They'd turned their scales red earlier with magic, so unless they had a way of detecting that. He was safe for now.
Or they would just walk up and ask. She squinted up at the men, ignoring Yumbulika being her usual friendly self for a moment. Her hand twitched, as she really wanted to reach for her bandolier. "A white fairy dragon's kind of a specific thing to ask after. Why in the world you be looking for one?"
"They're not nice people Nbazi! Makes me wonder who else they might have locked up!"
Or they would just walk up and ask. She squinted up at the men, ignoring Yumbulika being her usual friendly self for a moment. Her hand twitched, as she really wanted to reach for her bandolier. "A white fairy dragon's kind of a specific thing to ask after. Why in the world you be looking for one?"
"He's a carnival attraction," said one of them. "People pay good money to see our carnival's array of oddities."
To Nbazi and Yumbu: "Ask what other "oddities" they have in their carnival? We may need to rescue some other poor creatures!"
Or they would just walk up and ask. She squinted up at the men, ignoring Yumbulika being her usual friendly self for a moment. Her hand twitched, as she really wanted to reach for her bandolier. "A white fairy dragon's kind of a specific thing to ask after. Why in the world you be looking for one?""He's a carnival attraction," said one of them. "People pay good money to see our carnival's array of oddities."
"I'm sur any sentient being being paid a fair wage to be an "atraction" will return to you when they choose too. What other attractions does your carival offer?" Baz asks trying to gather some information and Rafiki studies them.
No fairy dragon here, fellas! This here dragon is a VULCANO dragon! That a whole other kind of dragon. Say, little guy, does that mean you live in a vulcano? I’ve never heard of vulcano dragons before, and I never miss a good tale.
As the men expand on their reason for looking for Zinnath, Ukebe cracks a big smile.
A carneval! Where are you set up? Do you have dancing and tests of strenght too? Man, I love the start of Dry season, always so much happening…” Ukube babbles, oblivious to any mounting tension.
"I'm sur any sentient being being paid a fair wage to be an "atraction" will return to you when they choose too. What other attractions does your carival offer?" Baz asks trying to gather some information and Rafiki studies them.
Diplomancy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Rafiki Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
The two men confer amongst themselves. "A werepanther, a rakashasa, and an oliphant," one of them said.
No fairy dragon here, fellas! This here dragon is a VULCANO dragon! That a whole other kind of dragon. Say, little guy, does that mean you live in a vulcano? I’ve never heard of vulcano dragons before, and I never miss a good tale.
As the men expand on their reason for looking for Zinnath, Ukebe cracks a big smile.
A carneval! Where are you set up? Do you have dancing and tests of strenght too? Man, I love the start of Dry season, always so much happening…” Ukube babbles, oblivious to any mounting tension.
"We certainly do have tests of strength, and dancing women," one of the other men says. "A vulcano dragon?"
When the grippli describes how Mongo helped save him, Yumbulika flashes the big man a warm, grateful smile. She opens her mouth to thank him, when the strange men interrupt. For a while she remains silently confused—her instinct to help the strangers is blunted by her companions’ feigned ignorance and stalling. Zin used to work at a carnival? Trusting in Nbazi, she lets the other, smarter halfling lead the way.
At the thought that someone might need help at the carnival Yumbulika leans forward with eager interest. However, the listed occupants don’t sound like they need to be rescued, or even should be rescued.
"A werepanther, a rakashasa, and an oliphant," one of them said.
“What are those?” she asks innocently, unsure if she had heard correctly.
"Volcano. Have you never heard of them? They're these great big mountains, which sometimes erupt in an explosion of fire. Very dangerous." She made a small show of talking really slowly like she was explaining the idea to a child. Mostly because she could smell something fishy a mile away, and the idea of riling these guys up a bit sounded good. Who needed to have a huddle when pressed with the question of what attractions were at their carnival?
No, odds are, they either were telling partial truths or just straight-up lying. They were just telling the big guy what he wanted to hear. She glanced over at Yumbu, suddenly feeling very cognizant of the fact that there were some people here who probably weren't the best in a brawl.
By the time Inyoni passes by the place in the market where food and drink is sold, Inyoni has everything she had come for. Her mesh bag holds a couple of breadfruit, a bag of millet, some plantains, a bag of lentils, some yams, and a bottle of palm oil.
While she's mostly interested in getting her load back to the house to drop it off, something catches her attention. Some men seem to be going from table to table. It wasn't what they were doing that seemed off though. It was the tension, perhaps worry, that she sensed among the people around tables or in chairs. She seemed to detect among the people the men approached that they did not want them there. Perhaps the men were unfriendly, or asking about things that put people of edge.
It just seemed odd to Inyoni. She slows down, then stops, watching what's happening and try to understand what's going on.
"I'm sur any sentient being being paid a fair wage to be an "atraction" will return to you when they choose too. What other attractions does your carival offer?" Baz asks trying to gather some information and Rafiki studies them.
Diplomancy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Rafiki Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10The two men confer amongst themselves. "A werepanther, a rakashasa, and an oliphant," one of them said.
"An Oliphant?? that sounds quite amazing, where did you say you were set up? I'd say I'm quite in the mood for a carnival, what do you say everyone?" he asks the table of old and new friends, while not taking his eyes off the 2 men.
By the time Inyoni passes by the place in the market where food and drink is sold, Inyoni has everything she had come for. Her mesh bag holds a couple of breadfruit, a bag of millet, some plantains, a bag of lentils, some yams, and a bottle of palm oil.
While she's mostly interested in getting her load back to the house to drop it off, something catches her attention. Some men seem to be going from table to table. It wasn't what they were doing that seemed off though. It was the tension, perhaps worry, that she sensed among the people around tables or in chairs. She seemed to detect among the people the men approached that they did not want them there. Perhaps the men were unfriendly, or asking about things that put people of edge.
It just seemed odd to Inyoni. She slows down, then stops, watching what's happening and try to understand what's going on.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
What you learn is the two men are from some sort of Carnival, where they have exotic attractions. Assuming its true, of course.
"An Oliphant?? that sounds quite amazing, where did you say you were set up? I'd say I'm quite in the mood for a carnival, what do you say everyone?" he asks the table of old and new friends, while not taking his eyes off the 2 men.
"Yes, a Carnival," said the same man of the two. "We are set up outside of town."
Zinnath climbs onto Nbazi's leatherclad shoulder, wraps his red tail around the summoner's neck, and acts like a right proper familiar.
"Mogumbo, he isn't here," said the other man.
Mogumbo, the first man, speaks, "He'd has to be here, his cage was sited nearby."
"There are more where he came from," the other man said.
Yumbulika likes carnivals as much as the next person, but something seems off--why doesn’t Nbazi even look at them when he asks his question? Why does he keep staring at the two men? Do they have lice? She herself peers at the pair of strangers, then answers with a little shrug. “Sure, carnivals are fun. I’d love to go. But how expensive is it?” She glances over at Kikina and Kugu, clearly more concerned on their behalf about the cost.
Mongo tries to follow the confusing conversation. He twigs on one phrase, "tests of strength."
"You need strong? Mongo strong!" He shows more pride than he has before.
Ukube gives the barbarian an appraising look before stiking up a laugh and slapping his thick thigh.
"Hah! You look strong all right, but I'll wager I'm stronger. Let's head to this carneval and find out who does best at these test of strength!"
One of the two men, Mogumbo said, "It only costs a silver coin for admittance. We are outside of town, out of the North Entrance."
Inyoni watches without seeing anything overtly strange. But, from what she's heard, she suspects the men are lying about something. She walks over and inserts herself into the conversation.
"You have a rakshasa as an exhibit? Did I hear you correctly?"
“Good good--that’s not bad at all,” Yumbulika responds to the reasonable entrance fee. “I can pay for both of you” she looks at Kikina and Kugo, then, grinning at the prospect of a contest between the two strongmen, offers an incentive to Mongo and Ukube beyond bragging rights. “And tell you what—I’ll pay admission for the winner.”
Turning to the two strangers, the tiny halfling starts bidding them a friendly farewell. “We’ll see you at the carnival later, after we’re done here. Good luck finding your dragon.” But when Inyoni intervenes, the sorceress asks “Why, what’s a rakshasa?”
After the men walk away, Zinnath will recast chameleon scales to keep his redness going. This he will do semi regularly, while he is supposed to be a "Vulcano" Dragon.
"Rakshashas are tiger demons! What's an oliphant?"
Inyoni watches without seeing anything overtly strange. But, from what she's heard, she suspects the men are lying about something. She walks over and inserts herself into the conversation.
"You have a rakshasa as an exhibit? Did I hear you correctly?"
K Planes (Raksashas): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
“I can pay for both of you”
"You don't have to pay for me. I can manage one silver..." She winced slightly at the mention of money, though not for the reason Yumbu might think. In reality, she was holding onto a fairly decent sum of gold. The savings she'd made from her job back in the Sargavan Guard. She was just... extremely reluctant to use it. She told herself it was meant for an emergency but in reality... It was just blood money to her.
It'd need to be spent on something important. Getting into a carnival that might have imprisoned people in it sounded important. "So we all can agree that carnival sounds a little fishy, right?"
It'd need to be spent on something important. Getting into a carnival that might have imprisoned people in it sounded important. "So we all can agree that carnival sounds a little fishy, right?"
"Oh most definitely, fishier than the wharf at dawn. Does anyone have any other plans for today or can we go now?" Nbazi said, wiping the crumbs from his goatee and dusting himself off as he stands up from his seat.
"Sounds good to me...let's go!"
"I've got most of the day free... So, yes, I can go now. Assuming of course Yumbu is wanting to go? I mostly came to thank you for all the help you gave me. If that means going to this carnival, then I'll go to the carnival." She looked over at Yumbu as she said this. Though some part of her did want to check it out. This entire thing stank of the sorts of things she saw back in Sargava, but well, she had a debt.
Yumbulika doesn’t seem entirely convinced that the carnival is fishy, but the naïve sorceress nods along anyway, trusting in her fellow halfling’s instincts. “Yes yes,” she nods to Kikina, “just let me finish my food and drink first and then we’ll go.” She unceremoniously slurps down the rest of her drink and shovels fruit into her mouth; a thin trickle of syrup runs down her chin.
“And no need to thank me” she mumbles through munching noises to the newcomer from Sargava, “or to come on my account. But you should definitely come. It’ll be fun fun. I can’t wait to see who’s stronger.” She glances at Mongo and Ukube, then looks up at Inyoni. “Hello hello, I’m Yumbulika. Do you want to come too, to see the rakshasa?”
Finally noticing the fruit juice on her face, Yumbulika’s brow furrows. For an instant her eyes pale into amber, while her pupils contract into vertical slits; in the next instant her face is pristine, as if magically scrubbed clean. “Okay, done done. Let’s all go to the carnival.”
Inyoni nods affirmatively at the faerie dragon's comment.
"Rakshasas are spirits of great evil born into physical form. They are shape changers and some have tiger aspects to their bodies, yes. But other animals can be rakshasa forms as well."
"They are powerful and clever, able to bend the minds of others to their will with crafty words and magic. They are absolutely not the kind of thing one finds on display in a traveling carnival."
Unless the rakshasa actually runs the carnival that is.
"I will go too. I must see what is really there. Hopefully they are lying. If not, those men are fools or slaves to it."
Ukube drains the last of his beer and pushes back his chair.
"Right! Off we go - we'll see what they have to offer, and if anyone are up to no good, we'll make them think twice before they try any sort of nasty business."
The two men blink at your initiative, but leave for other places to look and interrogate. It's their heads if they don't return with the dragon.
Inyoni nods affirmatively at the faerie dragon's comment.
"Rakshasas are spirits of great evil born into physical form. They are shape changers and some have tiger aspects to their bodies, yes. But other animals can be rakshasa forms as well."
"They are powerful and clever, able to bend the minds of others to their will with crafty words and magic. They are absolutely not the kind of thing one finds on display in a traveling carnival."
"I will go too. I must see what is really there. Hopefully they are lying. If not, those men are fools or slaves to it."
"I don't think you could have made me more interested if you had been trying... let's go!" Baz says before whistling for Rafiki to join him.
Zinnath emits a bit of a trill as the group heads out.
As they all head off to the carnival, Yumbulika’s face droops into pensive seriousness. “Oh, Rakshasa sound bad bad. We must hurry and help before it does any harm.” The tiny halfling scurries ahead, compensating for her short stride with quick, energetic steps.
It takes you some time to reach the Carnival. There are a lot of tents and cages -- with animals and monsters in them. There is a place where you could buy tickets. There are some people with leprosy a far off. They are not a part of the carnival, but they've come accepting any handouts and cry, "Unclean!" if anyone gets too near.
The carnival tents are made of a brilliant red fabric. The cages are made of iron and steel. The beasts all range from the mundane to the magical. You don't see any rakshasas yet, but you do know they are here.
What do you do?
Zinnath queries the entire group telepathically...
"Are we looking around a little, and then freeing everything in sight?"
It didn't really look that out of place to her. Tents, cages, animals, and monsters. She'd have to identify exactly what was what before she'd make a decision on what might need freeing. If they were imprisoning a fairy dragon though, then the odds are they have at least a few things they shouldn't... At the sudden voice in her head, she jumped, whirling to stare at the 'volcano' dragon on Nbazi's shoulders. How the hell does she... "We can't just do that. If there's a tiger demon or some other dangerous beast, letting it loose could hurt a lot of people. We search the place, figure out what should be in a cage and what shouldn't, and go from there."
”Ohhhh! Soooo, Kee kee naa will be deciding which sentients can be caged, and which ones are worthy of being freed!”
There are a lot of people at the carnival. Both young and old. Some of them watch exhibits, others go into the tents to watch the circus. "Come one and all, and see our magical beasts," says one of the workers.
Yumbulika grins at the brightly colored tents and makes her way to the ticket seller. “I think there’s seven of us altogether?” She turns, pointing and counting out the members of the group. “I don’t suppose we could get a group discount? Or at least half-price for me and the other halfling and the grippli, since we’re only half as big?” She flashes a friendly, joking smile, though she is serious about getting a reduced rate. “And could you point out where we can find the main attractions—I heard there’s an oliphant here? And even a rakshasa?”
Zinnath queries the entire group telepathically...
"Are we looking around a little, and then freeing everything in sight?"
”Ohhhh! Soooo, Kee kee naa will be deciding which sentients can be caged, and which ones are worthy of being freed!”
We take in the sights and wonders of the carnival for now, anything that is sentient and here willingly shouldnt need a cage for people to view them, but something like this tiger demon shouldnt be here in a civilized city at all, sentient or not. Baz projects back to Zinnath.
"5 silver should be fair for our group right? After all, 2 of us are applicants in the strong man games you offer anyways!" he shouts out, trying to help Yumbulika secure the discount.
Zinnath recolors his scales to stay red.
”Ohhhh! Soooo, Kee kee naa will be deciding which sentients can be caged, and which ones are worthy of being freed!”
"I"m not going to see innocent people die because we let something out that shouldn't be let out. We'll figure something out if we find something too dangerous to let run wild." She grumbled back at the dragon in her thoughts, crossing her arms as she waited to see if the two halflings convinced the clerks to let them in for cheap.