Charlie follows behind keeping his eyes open. "Following your lead Chark." He offers a warm smile.
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Under the shimmering glow of the circus tent, thick with the scent of popcorn and sawdust, the crowd's murmurs hush into silence. A drumroll begins—slow, deliberate. Then, from behind the velvet curtain, she emerges: Evora, the half-orc strongwoman, towering and proud, muscles rippling under a glittering scarlet-and-gold costume. Her tusks gleam beneath the warm lights, and her dark green skin glows with the sheen of effort and pride. Trailing behind her, like a mountain in motion, comes Gigi, her massive mammoth companion. Gigi’s gray hide is adorned with swirls of painted flowers and stars, her tusks wrapped in silken ribbons that flutter as she moves. Bells jingle softly from her braided tail, and a garland of marigolds crowns her great, wise head. With a single booming command from Evora, Gigi rears up—towering on her hind legs, casting a vast shadow across the ring. The crowd gasps. Evora, without hesitation, sprints forward, and in a breathtaking feat of strength and trust, leaps onto Gigi’s back as the mammoth pivots gracefully in a full circle. The music swells. Evora raises one arm high, spinning fire batons while balanced atop the mammoth's broad shoulders. She grins, tusks flashing, eyes locked on the crowd. Gigi trumpets—a proud, thunderous sound that echoes through the tent, shaking the very air. Together, they are legend—an unstoppable duo of brute strength and elegant showmanship. The ringmaster doesn't need to speak a word. The applause that follows is deafening.
The lights in the circus tent dim, and a hush falls like a spell over the crowd. A single spotlight flickers to life, casting a long, dramatic beam into the center ring. A voice—silky, booming, full of promise—echoes through the air: “Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves for the blistering brilliance of... Fireproof Flynn!” From a puff of smoke and a flash of scarlet sparks, he appears. Flynn, the tiefling with ember-red skin and curled obsidian horns, strides into the ring like he owns the flame itself. His eyes glint like molten gold beneath the brim of a wide-brimmed black hat, and his long, fire-trimmed coat trails behind him with every calculated step. The crowd leans forward. He gives a roguish bow. Then, with a dramatic flourish, he whips open a case at his feet—and out come five long knives, each one already lit with roaring, hungry flame. With a snap of his fingers, the music kicks in—fast, wild, drums and violins in a frantic dance—and Flynn begins. The knives fly. They spin and twirl through the air in a perfect, terrifying rhythm, the fire trailing streaks of orange and gold above his head. The heat radiates outward, and the front rows can feel it. He juggles faster, faster still, until it seems impossible that he's in control—and yet he never drops a single blade. Then, with a wicked grin and a wink to the crowd, he adds two more flaming daggers. The audience gasps. He tosses one behind his back, kicks another into the air, spins—and catches all seven, one by one, like it’s nothing. For the finale, Flynn flips backward in a full arc through his own spinning firestorm, landing with one knee down and all seven blades buried in the ground around him, still blazing. The crowd explodes. Fireproof Flynn rises slowly, tips his hat, and disappears in a puff of smoke—leaving behind nothing but scorched earth and a thousand racing hearts.
Charlie takes a break from his performance and decides to use Goliath to patrol in front of the crowds. This both draws excitement as people pull back in their seats as the larger bear strides past, but also keeps some of the hecklers and scalpers in check as they quickly disperse, not wanting a confrontation.
Charlie continues to spend the week passing out flyers as he gives small sneak peeks of his performance with Goliath to help draw in the crowds.
Broke, but a little higher in spirits Charlie is excited for the first show without the Mistress setting up nearby as well. He heads out inot the town and passes out flier after flier as Goliath even helps holding hime in a satchel across his back. His presence alone draws in a sizeable crowd.
Charlie looks to the others. "Might be a good idea? We could use a little relaxation now that Dusklight is gone." His voice seems a bit more relaxed, confident even. His stutter lessened eve after the stress of the Mistress chasing him day and night is now behind bars.
Charlie nods glancing back at the jail where Dusklight now resides. "Yes, l..l..lets put it all behind us." He is excited for a fresh start to everything. A chance to relax and take his mind off of things now that Dusklight isn't hounding him like the past several years.
Charlie grabs ahold of the rope. His hands shake greatly as he has to rework the knot several times. "That s..s..should hold her." He wies sweat from his face as he lifts Dusklight to her feet. "Let's get her into the authrities."
"You f..f..followed us and did all of this b..b..b..because you thought we wanted your circus!?" Charlie almost pitied Dusklight.
Status: HP 62/99 AC 24 (26 w/ shield) Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)] Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare x3 Focus 0/1 Hero Points 1/3 Goliath
"Give up Mistress. Come in for questioning. You are under a..a..a..arrest." Charlie aims his arrows sending in Goliath to press her further.
Status: HP 62/99
Goliath
Charlie freezes momentarily as Dusklight appears in front of him once more. He had hoped to never have seen her again. "Why must you make everyone a..aa....around you suffer." His stuttering is worse when she is around. It had gotten better for a bit as he got comfortable around his new friends.
Status: HP 62/99 AC 24 (26 w/ shield) Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)] Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare x3 Focus 0/1 Hero Points 1/3 Goliath
I already have one for this book so can't have it again I believe.
"She t..t..tortured us and those around her." Charlie pleads with Mazael. "I was lucky to have found Goliath chained by her and have been chased by her ever since f..f..freeing him." Charlie backs away as Goliath blocks the doorway with his powerful frame.
◆ Stride
Status: HP 62/99
Goliath
"There is still more room to search here. She couldn't have g..g..gotten far. We can pick up her trail." Charlie grimaces at the though of the MIstress out there eager to strike at them from the shadows. He nods to the door to the west, using his bow to slowly open the door and peer inside.
"Stallit, this is enough! S..s...stop already." Charlie flings another couple of arrows.
Status: HP 93/99 AC 24 (26 w/ shield) Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)] Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare x3 Focus 0/1 Hero Points 1/3 Goliath
Goliath continues to corner Stallit and Charlie flings an arrow in the direction of escape anytime Stallit tries to get away.
Status: HP 93/99
Goliath
Charlie and Goliath continue to press Stallit against the coner of the room giving him no way out.
Status: HP 93/99 AC 24 (26 w/ shield) Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)] Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare x3 Focus 0/1 Hero Points 1/3 Goliath
Goliath and Charlie stay on Stallit. "Pin him to the wall Goliath."
Status: HP 93/99
Goliath
Goliath and Charlie push past into the room, Goliath blocking the path to the exit and pinning Stallit against the corner of the room. Goliath stands on his hind legs and snarls biting at the man.
Status: HP 93/99 AC 24 (26 w/ shield) Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)] Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare x3 Focus 0/1 Hero Points 1/3 Goliath
Charlie gulps. "You really think she is just around the curtain? M..m.m..maybe she fled." He has a sinking feeling he will see her again but hopes a little that she ran away so he never has to.
Charlie reaches out, offering a small bit of aid to Goliath's wounds as he watches the bear leap onto Kreel. "Almost there big guy."
Status: HP 59/99
Goliath
"Goliath Help!" Charlie screams out as he flees. The larger bear rushes to block the path as Charlie makes an exit.
Status: HP 59/99 AC 24 (26 w/ shield) Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)] Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare x3 Focus 1/1 Hero Points 1/3 Goliath
"All this to be funny!?" Charlie and Goliath continue to assault the gnome terrorist.
Status: HP 99/99
Goliath
Charlie and Goliath keep their sights on Jasmaile. "Why Jasmaile?" He fires off arrows around Goliath.
◆ Command Goliath
Status: HP 99/99 AC 24 (26 w/ shield) Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)] Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare x3 Focus 1/1 Hero Points 1/3 Goliath
Charlie tries to get better coverage and line of sight as he pushes into the corner of the room. Meanwhile Goliath charges in with Tiny, slobber foaming around his mouth in anger.
Status: HP 99/99
Goliath
"Were you ex...ex..expecting us?" Charlie asks. "We are just here for MIstress Dusklight. No need to run off."
Charlie pulls his hands away from his ears as a trickle of fluid flows from them. "That's a name I c.c..c..could not hear again." He wipes the fuid on his cloak before nodding towards the enxt room.
"Thank you Moon Mole." Charlie gives a small sigh of relief as he urges the others onward before the creature changes its mind. "Let's hurry."
"You m..m..might call us customers. We are looking for Mistress Dusklight." Charlie looks around as the disembodied voice unnerves him.
Charlie nods, waiting just long enough for the fire to subside before rushing past. His heart pounds nervously as he has not faced the Mistress in quite some time.
With the snake dealt with Charlie rushes to the cage and tries to secure it before the Smilodon's get loose and cause more havoc. He looks around for a bar or something to jam across the doors.
"Th..th..this snake isn't going down too easy!" Charlie calls out as his breathing gets a bit heavier.
Status: HP 99/99 AC 24 (26 w/ shield) Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)] Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare x3 Focus 1/1 Hero Points 1/3 Goliath
Charlie watches in awe as the flame red electricity courses through and past the snake. He keeps his bead on the central coiled body as he fires more arrows.
Status: HP 99/99
Goliath
"My anaconda don't want none Unless you've g.g..g..got buns, hun" Charlie quips as he and Goliath target the large snake.
Status: HP 99/99 AC 24 (26 w/ shield) Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)] Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare x3 Focus 1/1 Hero Points 1/3 Goliath
With the meat distraction Charlie slinks into the shadows as he tries to quietly pad to the side of the door and stealthily shut the cats back into their cage.
Charlie slowly shakes his head not wanting to trigger the tigers into any hostile action. "I don't know much of a way to calm them down. Maybe I can sneak around and slam the cage door back shut in time?"
"Can anyone shed some light in here?" Charlie blinks his eyes trying to let them adjust to the darkness.
"You are willing to die for rejects it seems." He fires off another small volley.
Status: HP 99/99
Goliath
"Let them run if they want. We are here for Dusklight." Charlie grits his teeth focusing on the other godly being.
Status: HP 99/99 AC 24 (26 w/ shield) Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)] Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare x3 Focus 1/1 Hero Points 1/3 Goliath
Charlie and Goliath put all of their strength and resolve into taking the pair down. I just sure hope they are right about these two.
Status: HP 99/99
Goliath
Charlie gets nervous as the veil collapses on the creatures true nature. "Dusklight bound such good creatures to her side?" He raises his bow back up as he scoots back as quickly as his legs will carry him.
Status: HP 99/99 AC 24 (26 w/ shield) Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)] Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare x3 Focus 1/1 Hero Points 1/3 Goliath
"Explain on how we aren't on the s..s..side of good?" Charlie stammers nervously, mentally second guessing himself.
Charlie glances at the sign as he passes through inot the building. "Is sh.sh..she hiding?"
"Find something Chark?" Charlie glances over, staying defensive. "We aren't here to s..s..steal though. Just bring Dusklight to justice. "
"Let's give Dusklight a visit." Charlie hopes they can just talk her down, but knows it is probably too late for anymore of that.
Charlie listens hoping Dendillion is able to sway the Satyr to their side of rationale.
"We sh.sh..should hurry before Dusklight gets tipped off and fl..fl..fl....and runs." Charlie urges the others in action.
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