"How do we know that this is a rakshasa at all? We keep hearing the word thrown around but we've seen no evidence of it. For all we know it could just be something else entirely, claiming to be a rakshasa to make themselves sound more important. Maybe it's just a catfolk with delusions of grandeur? This entire situation seems... very odd. Our best bet would likely to be find this beastmaster for ourselves. And identify if Zinnath's cousins should be allowed to run wild in the city. I'm still not going to release something that might burn someone's home down."
Upon hearing Inyoni’s suspicion about the wolf being a rakshasa, Yumbulika purses her lips into a slight frown. “Because it’s a wolf?” she replies, confused. “Why would you think the wolf is a rakshasa? It looks and sounds and talks like a wolf. Do you think the other animals are rakshasa too? What about me and Baz?” The halfling shakes her head. “You speak strange strange. Your question is like asking how we know the sun is not the moon.”
She glances over at Kikina and nods in agreement before turning back to Inyoni. “Kikina is right. I think you’re the only one who knows anything about rakshasa, so we’ll be relying on you to positively identify it. Which might be hard if you can’t tell a wolf from a rakshasa,” the sorceress muses a touch glumly before quickly brightening up with an encouraging smile. “But we’ll try to help anyway. Especially if this is all just a big misunderstanding,” she adds cheerily. Evidently Inyoni’s cautionary words about inherent evil and hidden schemes have failed to make any dent in the halfling’s optimism.
Looking over at Kikina and Mongo, Yumbulika tries to soothe and reassure them both. “If those dragons really are Zin’s cousins, and not actually dragons, then we don’t need to worry about saving them at all. Summoned creatures like Zin aren’t really real. I might not have learned much from Magaambya, but I definitely remember that.” She beams proudly at having mastered that one fact. The kind-hearted halfling was aghast when she first learned that wizards would callously summon creatures to fight and even die for them, and it took a long, long time for her teachers to convince her that the summoned animals weren’t actually real to begin with. Even so, it wasn’t until she learned that Rafiki could die and come back the next day that she took this truth to heart. Ever since, Yumbu hasn’t paid much heed to summoned creatures, treating them as little more than imaginary beasts—and that includes Baz’s new summoned familiar.
Inyoni sighs and lays out the chain of events along with her reasoning to the halfling.
"I came here because the men in town said there was a rakshasa on exhibit. That sounded unlikely, but dangerous if true. Here, a wolf says the rakshasa isn't an exhibit, but a man who is the animal keeper. I don't know if either of those things are true, but it seems unlikely to me they both are."
"What do I know of rakshahsas? I know there is more than one type. I know that most, maybe all of them can assume other forms to disguise themselves. I know they are intrinsically evil and deceitful, like demons.
So, from that I have to ask myself some questions.
"First, why would the men in town say they have a rakshasa as an exhibit when they do not? I don't know."
"Second, would a rakshasa, who is not an exhibit but instead cares for the animals treat them kindly? Maybe, but only if it benefitted the rakshasa in some way. Rakshasas have no kindness in their nature, so what is behind the kindness?"
"Third, or does the wolf lie? Why would it? Perhaps it is the Rakshasa. It would be very much in it's nature to compliment itself, even if it were claiming the Rakshasa was someone else. Can some rakshasas take the form of a wolf? I don't know, maybe?"
"Fourth, can I identify a rakshasa? I don't know, maybe? Have I ever seen one before today, if I have today? I doubt it."
"So what do you think Yumbulika? Do I waste my time looking? Should I do nothing instead? I do know that if there is a rakshasa here, it is beyond our means to do anything about it except warn others, and find help."
You see the Master of Beasts walk in front of the cages. He's a little overweight, and he is wearing blue. His eyes are brown, and he has curls on his head. He has a mustache and his teeth are perfectly white. However, Inyoni sees that his eyes look threatening. Almost as if he is planning something.
"He seems to be not a nice man."
“Shh,” Yumbulika cuts off the discussion with Inyoni as she waves a hand for silence, “he’s right there.” The tiny halfling boldly approaches the Master of Beasts with a friendly smile and a gesture of respect.
“Hello, hello!” she greets the beastmaster in her softly hypnotic voice. “You look mighty fine today. We were told that this circus has a dragon, a werepanther, and a rakshasa. Could you please show me where to find them?” Her dark brown eyes briefly flicker into vertical amber slits as she intently concentrates her will on the man. “I was also wondering how the carnival came by such beasts? From what I’ve heard, they are rare rare.”
"Why thank you," said the Master of Beasts. "This carnival has many beasts. We do have dragons, a werepanther, and possibly a Rakshasa. Would you like to see them?"
“Yes yes,” Yumbulika replies enthusiastically, “I think we all would like to see them.” She glances around at her companions, then turns back to the Master of Beasts. “Please show us where they are.”
Kugu looks over at his friend Yumbulika and whispers.
"I don't like this Yumbi! Are you sure you know what you are getting into?"
The little frogman unobtrusively loosens his weapons in their sheaths in the possible need of them.
Nope.
"Why thank you," said the Master of Beasts. "This carnival has many beasts. We do have dragons, a werepanther, and possibly a Rakshasa. Would you like to see them?"
"How many Dragons did you say? I've had a fascination in them since I was small, so much so I manifested a red one as a familiar, you see?" he says looking up to the beastmaster,"I'm something of a beastmaster myself, what with Rafiki AND Zinn here now, We'd love to see the more, exotic things you have on display too."
Yumbulika quietly whispers back to Kugu. “It’s okay—he’s not going to do anything in front of all these people. Besides, I’ll be fine with you here to look over me. Just keep a close watch.” She reaches out to give the grippli a reassuring squeeze on the arm, then follows the beastmaster.
"Then come with me," said the Master of Beasts. He starts to lead you deeper into the Carnival. He shows you some of the beasts on display. Lions, tigers, elephants, and bears -- so far.
The Master responds, "These are some of the more regular beasts. People are safe as long as they are behind bars."
Inyoni doesn't like the situation but she can't think of any alternatives, especially with a conversation now started. She follows but hangs back to the rear so she can maintain a little distance.
Inyoni doesn't like the situation but she can't think of any alternatives, especially with a conversation now started. She follows but hangs back to the rear so she can maintain a little distance.
Nothing strange yet, except for a lioness licking her paw. Also, you can't tell he's up to something. But you do have a funny feeling.
Kugu gives his best 'froggie' smile but inside feels a growing tension. He grips his trident tightly as they continue walking through the circus.
"It's right here I keep the more exotic animals," says the Master of Beasts. He shows you cages which has been draped with drapery.
Zinnath coos appreciatively, and rolls his eyes.
He takes off the drapery on one, and it shows a caged red dragon.
"A fine looking beast! Is that a vulcano dragon as well or a plain red dragon?".
"A plain red dragon," the Master of Beasts explains.
Zinnath speaks to the dragon telepathically. "Hello brother, tell me how you came to be held, and how can I assist you to be free?"
"Marvelous! How did you come by such rare and dangerous creatures? Did you snatch dragon eggs or hatchlings from under their parents' noses? Surely such a feat must be worthy of a great tale in itself." Ukube exclaims with increasing (and seemingly quite genuine) excitement. It's clear that his fantasies of daring dragon acquisitions is distracting him from the task at hand.
Zinnath speaks to the dragon telepathically. "Hello brother, tell me how you came to be held, and how can I assist you to be free?"
The dragon responds, "I was stolen from my parents. The Rakshasa lulled my parents to sleep and he took me. I've been here, ever since. The Rakshasa has a key which can open this cage."
"Marvelous! How did you come by such rare and dangerous creatures? Did you snatch dragon eggs or hatchlings from under their parents' noses? Surely such a feat must be worthy of a great tale in itself." Ukube exclaims with increasing (and seemingly quite genuine) excitement. It's clear that his fantasies of daring dragon acquisitions is distracting him from the task at hand.
"Well, we all must keep our secrets," the Master of Beasts touched his nose.
"I am Zinnath, and you? Is this 'Master of Beasts' the Rakshasha? Where does he keep the key? Will the same key release other creatures here? What other sentients are kept here? I assume you wish to be freed? Would you prefer we notify your parents?"
As the Master of Beasts touches his nose, Kugu feels a shiver, having nothing to do with the temperature, run down his spine.
"I do not want to know what secrets he keeps!" he whispers to Yumbulika.
"I am Zinnath, and you? Is this 'Master of Beasts' the Rakshasha? Where does he keep the key? Will the same key release other creatures here? What other sentients are kept here? I assume you wish to be freed? Would you prefer we notify your parents?"
"Call me Vraksha," the dragon responds. "The Master of Beasts is a Rakshasa. He keeps the key on his person. He has many keys, and there is a copper dragon also locked up. As for being freed, yes. I wish to be freed. My parents are still alive and most likely worrying about me."
"Reds and coppers do not usually get along. Can the two of you promise to play nice long enough to fly your separate ways once released? Where is the copper? Ok, so two dragons. Any other sentients?"
"Reds and coppers do not usually get along. Can the two of you promise to play nice long enough to fly your separate ways once released? Where is the copper? Ok, so two dragons. Any other sentients?"
"Yes, I promise on my end. I don't have to like it, of course. The copper is in the cage opposite me. As for other sentients, I don't know."
"Vraksha, do you know the Copper's name?"
------------
Zinnath informs his party, "The Red's name is Vraksha. And yes, the Master of Beasts is the Rakshasha! There is also a Copper dragon caged here. The Rakshasha has the keys to let them out. Nbazi, can you walk to somewhere un-observed real quick, so I can re-do my coloring spell please?"
"Vraksha, do you know the Copper's name?"
Vraksha responds, "I believe it is Coradax."
If so, Zinnath will encourage Nbazi to ask what's in that cage next.
Yumbulika grabs a hold of Kugu’s hand and responds with another reassuring squeeze. “It’s okay,” she whispers back, “these kinds of secrets can’t hurt us. And knowing them might even help.“
She turns and approached the Master of Beasts. “That is a much much impressive dragon. But we’ve seen red dragons before.” The halfling gestures towards Zinnath. “Could you show us a dragon of a different color, if you have any?”
okay, the Master of Beasts throws off the cover of another cage, to reveal a copper dragon. His scales are a coppery color, mostly a greenish hue.
Zinnath communicates with the Copper, "Am I right that you are Coradax? I am Zinnath. I was speaking with Vraksha, and he told me you were here. What is your story? How did you get here? Do you have ideas for how we can break you out? And when we break you out, I need to know you and Vraksha won't fight and injure a bunch of the two legs, but go home."
Zinnath communicates with the Copper, "Am I right that you are Coradax? I am Zinnath. I was speaking with Vraksha, and he told me you were here. What is your story? How did you get here? Do you have ideas for how we can break you out? And when we break you out, I need to know you and Vraksha won't fight and injure a bunch of the two legs, but go home."
"Yes I am Coradax, and I've been here for a year. I was captured by a Raksasha and then placed into this cage. I've been trying to get out, using any method available. But to no avail. The Raksasha has the key that will unlock my cage. I just want to get home."
Zinnath relays all to the group.