Bread and Circuses

[GOALentertain]

Half an hour to the show, and the crowd is already packing tightly into their seats. The chatter can be heard anywhere in the fairgrounds area where the circus tents have been set up, but it's clearly loudest in the big top. Excited visitors discuss their anticipations of the show with their friends and relatives that have come with them. Food vendors walk up and down the rows shouting about their gourmet goods and hoping to make some extra coin. Back stage, Jocktan Shortenkinde, the ringleader and owner of the Shortenkinde Circus, paces back and forth.

Jocktan is a fairly young halfling man. His father ran the circus before him. Only a few years Alisha's senior, she's seen him grow up and knows him fairly well. He's dressed in his ringleader costume, a bright red coat, with tails that drape almost to his feet, black pants, nice white shirt, a long black cane, and a black hat that was almost twice as tall as Jocktan's own head.

What are you doing before the show?

[Llyarden]

Ulfr was getting dressed into his costume; a stupid gaudy thing; the cloak kept getting tangled up in everything he walked past. If real vampires ever wore cloaks like this, he wondered if they had to use some kind of magic to stop that happening. It wasn't as bad as the mask, though. He could hardly see out of the thing, and its fake fangs sometimes grated on his real ones, leaving a very unpleasant taste in his mouth.

He idly wondered if anyone would have the guts to jump into the ring and fight him when it was his part of the show, or if whichever plant Jocktan had inserted into the audience today would once again be forced to get beaten down to the floor. That said, the plants were good at their job. If he didn't recognise their faces he'd never know that they were trying to lose.

[jamieth]

For Alisha, all the hustle and bustle of the backstage is not just a simple part of life; is is her life, and was for as long as she can remember. Already in her colorful tights, she recieves a traditional hug from her father (adoptive father, but as far as Alisha's concerned, the very real one) and equally traditional kiss on the forehead from her mother; Alisha's insistance that she's too old for that already was ignored several times already, and she didn't really insist, honestly speaking.

Her parents' blessing recieved, the girl heads to the stage entrance and quickly peeks outside. It seems we're getting full house taday again, she smiles and retreats to the relatively quiet corner, where, sitting in a split, she takes a roll of rope off her shoulder and starts carefully examining it. Not that there's any real chance of it being damaged, but the rules are the rules; one must personally check all the equipment before the show. Performers are superstitious people after all.
Perception [roll0], because players are superstitious people, too :-)

[GOALentertain]

she smiles and retreats to the relatively quiet corner, where, sitting in a split, she takes a roll of rope off her shoulder and starts carefully examining it. Not that there's any real chance of it being damaged, but the rules are the rules; one must personally check all the equipment before the show. Performers are superstitious people after all.
Perception [roll0], because players are superstitious people, too :-)

Alisha notices a bit of wear and tear on the rope, most likely just from its frequent use. It doesn't seem like anything that would make it unsafe for the performance.

[Kintua]

Freedom checks himself in a small mirror, adjusting his hair, make-up, buttons, cape, cufflinks, belt, shoelaces, the little ruffles coming out of his sleeves and collar. Satisfied that everything is exactly as it should be, he furrows his brow. He looks like a fop. A fop with horns and a tail.

Finished checking his appearance, he moves to the prop box sitting backstage, and makes sure the manacles in the box actually are the false ones he brought when he joined the circus himself. It would be embarassing for him to mess up his second performance after nailing yesterday's, wouldn't it? He also checks the chains he's going to be wrapped up in, making sure that when connected to the manacles, they do loosen up when the manacles are opened. Everything checks out, and he moves to stand near the entrance to the stage proper, waiting for his cue and going over his monologue.

[Smileybastard]

Merick

Merick removes his shirt. He is well muscled, but he does not look like the strongest man in the world. He pulls his hair out of the pony tail and messes it up a bit. He then takes the first flask before him and drinks it. Visually there is not change, he then drinks the second and almost instantly his muscles bulge and he grows a few inches. Better, he picks up his chest and tests his strength against it. He lifts it easily and smiles a savage smile. He is ready to put on a show, to test all comers.

[Segrain]

Half of a hour is plenty of time. This is a lesson that can be quickly learned by travelling through lands of short living - although the perception of what is "quickly" and what is not gets altered in the process too. Nevertheless, it is plenty of time to prepare everything, even if you are rushing it the way humans do. Elves, on the other hand, had no need for such hurry - especially since the couple of elves that joined the Shortenkinde Circus only a month or so ago did not need a lot of preparation for their acts. It was a simple matter of being what they already were and letting visitors see it - although, of course, the real nature of maiden in the couple was kept a secret from outsiders, even if everybody in circus knew it already.

And so the elven duo spent their time patiently waiting. Hilimsur, already wearing his robe with bamboo flute on belt and whispering something soothing to the snake, hidden in its bizarre sack on his chest, adjusted his turban to cover the glowing tattoo on his forehead, but leave freely hanging his hair, for today's show woven in bunch of thin braids with knots on their ends that somebody with too much imagination - just the kind of person to enjoy the circus show - could compare to heads of snakes. Meanwhile, his partner just paced around, trying to get used to elf's hooded cloak concealing her features and garments until the show start and watching everybody else's preparations with widely open eyes. On scale of their long lives, everything around was still new and unusual...

At least they knew their own acts well enough to be ready at any moment.

[jamieth]

Content with the state of the equipment, Alisha gets up and heads towards the stage again, greeting everyone she meets on the way, "G'day, uncle Ulfr, g'day, uncle Freedom, uncle Merick, g'day, Mr. Shortenkinde, g'day, uncle Hilimsur - and good day to you, lady - g'day, uncle Fox..."

Since char sheet leaves Freedom's gender vague, and the post uses 'him', I went with the "uncle" as Alisha's address to him. And, yes, she calls everyone in the troupe "uncle" or "auntie", except for her adoptive parents (who, of course, get "Mom" and "Dad"), the ringmaster (Who goes by Mr. Shortenkinde despite his youth; tradition is tradition), and the fae, because, well, fae.

[Kintua]

"And g'day to you, Alisha. Are you as nervous as I am about taking the stage tonight?" He flashes her a grin and pulls at his ruffled collar, trying to get it to stop tickling his throat. But when he brings his hands up the ruffles on his sleeves just make it worse. Defeated by the lace, Freedom sighs and takes a seat.

[jamieth]

"Always", Alisha smiles, doing a handstand, "After two shows, or twenty, or two thousand, it never changes. And when you no longer feel nervous", she raises one hand and snaps her fingers, "That's the end for you."

[Smileybastard]

Merick

"I have never found myself being nervous after the first few times." he chuckles. "I guess I am but a figment of my own imagination."

[Segrain]

"Of your own?" - a discussion which one participant was leading while standing on one hand still could easily catch Hilimsur's attention even after any number of similarly unusual things happening in circus every day. Finally satisfied with turban's position, he interrupted his own sentence by taking few notes to test the flute, but another voice joined to finish it. - "Then you are a lucky man..."

[Llyarden]

Ulfr had been too busy trying to straighten one of his fangs to notice Alisha going past until she already had done so. "Eh? What? Oh, g'day Alisha." From somewhere amongst his belongings he produced a half-empty bottle of some amber liquid and proceeded to start struggling to get the neck of the bottle past his mask, muttering curses to himself all the while.

[Smileybastard]

Merick

Merick smiles, "Thank you."

[jamieth]

"Oh, you look fully real and solid, uncle Merrick", Alisha giggled, flipping back to her feet, "make sure to stay that way - oh, but I must go - still have to make sure the wire's fixed well." She almost added, And there's an idea I want to talk to you about, but didn't, of course. Making plans for after the show was a bad omen, too.

[Smileybastard]

Merick

"That is also good to know."

[GOALentertain]

The torches around the tent magically flicker indicating that she show is about to start. Any members of the audience who were still standing rush to their seats. The other performers all take their places to make their entrances.

Jocktan takes a deep breath. "Here goes nothing."

He steps onto the stage, and all the torches about the room go dim. Magical light focuses in around him as he waves his free hand about and spins his cane in his other.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" he proclaims, his voice amplified throughout the big top. "Welcome to my theater!" There are small puffs of smoke around the area as several of the small opening act performers (jugglers, minor acrobats, etc) appear through trapdoors in varying places around the room doing some of their minor tricks while Jocktan continues his opening. "I am Jocktan Shortenkinde, and I will be your ringmaster for the evening! Tonight, you will witness some of the greatest, most daring, most death defying stunts and performances that you have ever had the pleasure of encountering.

Tonight, you will see many acrobatic performances, including that of one of our own. A beautiful and talented young woman raised among us crazies here in the circus, flexible enough to...well...that's not really appropriate for small children." There are some chuckled laughs from the audience.

Tonight, you will see our escape artist. A man so cunning, he could get out of even King Nasserof's prisons. But that's not all. Oh no.

You will also see our gunslinger, a man who joined us in our many journeys abroad, from the wild and untamed lands of Pleen, he brings his exotic arts and fierce style for your pleasure.

But we have more than just grace and cleverness for you tonight. Our strongman and our wrestler will demonstrate their strength for you as some of the strongest talents in the world.

And if that isn't enough, you will see the mystical and foreign talents of our snake charmer.

These and many more acts will unfold before your very eyes tonight!"

He continues by introducing each act in turn. As he says your name, you take the stage and go on with your act.

Describe what your act looks like!

[jamieth]

As the ringmaster mentions her flexibility, Alisha appears on the ring with a series of walkovers and, standing on her hands, bends in half and blows the kisses to the audience with her feet. But that's just an appetizer, her main show today is completely different...

Slipping away from the lights, she swiftly climbs one of the pillars supporting the bigtop's dome and steps onto the rope fixed between the pillars. She walks back and forth the rope without apparent effort, taking her time to turn around and wave to the audience. Then, having felt the rope's response, she does a couple cartwheels and walks along the rope on her hands.

OK, now the fun part starts... Taking a deep breath, she launches herself into the air, for a brief moment seeing the arene below and the audience upside down as she somersaults through the air thirty feet above the ground, and...Acrobatics [roll0]

upd: I mistyped; Alisha has +14 Acrobatics, so it's 22, actually.
...just barely misses the wire on the landing - but its close enough for her to grab it with her left hand and swing herself back into handstand. Most of the audience would surely think it was supposed to be like that... and those more savvy would still applause her ample ad-lib save. But that's not good enough; she should stick that jump if she wants to keep self-sespect...

Once more! Another somersault, landed expertly this time - and Alisha launches herself into another, even higher jump, using rope's recoil as a springboard, and lands into a handstand; blowing the audience another kiss, she sits down on the rope, dangling her feet and waving to the people, her cheeks red even through the makeup and all her face displaying one big happy smile. "Uncle Merrick!" she calls, "Come here for a moment, would you!" Not in the plans for a show, but, in Alisha's eyes, she deserves a right to be a bit mischievous today.

[Smileybastard]

Merick

Jocktan introduces Merick as Brandok the Strong.

Merick walks out flexing his muscles dressed as a barbarian, making noises more like an animal than a man. "Is there anyone in the crowd who thinks they are as strong as ME?" He glares at the crowd as he speaks. There is almost always someone who thinks it is a gimmick and comes down to challenge him.

He always starts with something lighter. Barbells that weight 200 pounds.

Today a big farm worker comes to challenge him. Merick smiles and hefts the barbells easily. The farmworker follows suit, but struggles and barely lifts it. Merick smiles and nods and then lifts it with one hand. He then hands it to the farmworker to show him it is the same weight. He then brings out the bigger barbells that weight 1200 pounds on a cart. He asks the farmer to try and he struggles, but does not budge it. Merick grabs it in two hands and strains, but lifts it over his head. More volunteers are called for and it takes four of them to lift the barbells.

Finally a second barbell is brought out the same as the last on a cart. The four volenteers again struggle to lift it and then Merick bends his legs, grabs both, one in each hand and stands straight lifting them both off the ground.

He bows and walks off the stage before his potions expire and his muscles begin to shrink.

[Kintua]

Upon being called to the stage, Freedom walks in calmly, hands in his pockets, seemingly not a care in the world. His voice is smooth and low, just loud enough to carry to the back of the crowd without overpowering those in front. "Good evening, distinguished guests. I know you're used to seeing us trust in our balance on tightropes, and in the strength of our bones, lifting impossible weights for your entertainment. Tonight, though, I do not allow myself the luxury of trusting my body, not even my own lungs."

He gestures towards a stagehand, who drags out a box only barely large enough for Freedom to fit inside. Freedom opens the box and pulls out his chains and manacles. "I am going to force some poor unfortunate soul from the audience chain me up and stuff me in this airtight box. How about you, miss?"

The woman takes the stage, and Freedom instructs her in tying him up, making sure she is satisfied that he can definitely not wriggle his way out. She finishes by cuffing his hands together behind his back, and he has her help him into the box.

It slams shut, and the tent falls silent but for that sound.

The box shakes. Sounds of a struggle can be heard within as Freedom thrashes about, chains rattling. Then the stage falls silent again.
Just as the people in the audience have begun to whisper, "Is he dead?" "Did he suffocate?" "Has he given up?" the box bursts open, and the tiefling stands up, arms spread wide. He bows to the audience, and bows again at his volunteer, laughing, before packing up the box and taking it from the stage himself.

[Llyarden]

Ulfr's act occurs some degree after Merrick's - just long enough for people to start to suspect that there was a trick after all. If all the acts embarrass the audience in quick succession it's a lot harder to get volunteers.

Ulfr is introduced as 'Death's Embrace;' the reason is obvious due to his skin, powdered to be almost pure white, and his absurd mask and cloak. Nonetheless, in the dim lights, the effect, as usual, seems quite intimidating, given some of the gasps from the audience.

There is a bit of a pause when Jocktan asks for a volunteer; people are obviously remembering Merrick. But eventually someone comes forwards - one of the friends of the farm worker who had tried to test himself against Merrick, it seemed.

As the man is brought up onto the stage, Jocktan explains the - simple - rules; whoever was the first to pin down the other for a significant length of time would win.

The lights dim further as Ulfr makes the first move...

[roll0]

...and almost faceplants as his cape tangles up around his legs. Fortunately, his opponent takes the opportunity to try to tackle him, and Ulfr is easily able to shove him away, regaining both his balance and some measure of respect from the audience, before he manages to wrap his arms around his opponent and brings him to the floor, waiting for the stagehand to ring the small bell that had been brought out for the purpose.

After the fight is done and he takes his bow, he retreats back into the wings, and, out of sight of the audience, tears off his cape and curses at it quietly.

[Segrain]

Some performers require properly set expectations. They proudly announce their names, proclaim which feats of great strength or legerdemain they are going to display and deliver just the exact show that they announced. Some, instead, rely on doing something completely unexpected. They set up their stage for deeds that should be absolutely impossible and proceed to perform them nevertheless. But some... some acts are shrouded in mysteries until the last moment. Of course, Jocktan already said that there will be snake charmer in the show. Of course, it was known to visitors when they only considered going to see the performance. And yet, when his turn - some time after the middle of the show, late enough to have visitors already in the proper mood, but early enough to still have several more acts left - when his turn came, Hilimsur was not called by his name. The only thing that circus's ringleader told to his audience to expect was a dance likeness of which they never seen before.

To those words, the music started. Only few seconds, only several notes from behind the stage - just enough to underline the silence that falls afterwards. Briefly uttered words of magic - no need to let audience hear those during the act. With final preparations complete, elf walked in sight of visitors, sent them a short bow and sat in the middle of the stage, crossing his legs. Long and weird wooden stick - hollow bamboo, but not many would see it - was placed down, and even weirder sack followed, carefully removed from its place across Hilimsur's chest. Before visitors could start wondering when the promised dance is going to start, elf raised his head, looking over the audience, folded his hands in the praying gesture - and, obedient to magical words, bamboo flute floated up. Catching the instrument in the air, elf started playing the same melody: simple, but alien enough to capture attention and start the real act.
Perform (wind): [roll0]
Now that the audience was persuaded that what they are seeing is merely a prelude and the person on stage is just a musician with exotic clothes and little bit of sorcery, Hilimsur seen no need to disillusion them. He just kept playing, leading his simple tune towards not so simple parts, and with luck, even those who had noticed the bag starting to slightly move attributed it to the same magic. It was just big enough to put the flute in it, why would it even be on stage? Answer appeared soon enough. Raising his flute to a particularly high note, elf let sleeves of his robe slide down, revealing serpentine tattoos on his arms. And at the same moment, a real snake raised its head from the bag. Nodding to it as if in greeting and lowering his flute, enchanter kept playing. Snake rose from its hiding place, coil by coil revealing unusual colours of its scales, until it was fully in view. Eyes that could not blink met the elf's gaze - and snake struck, biting the air. It got closer and closer to fingers as they retreated down the long flute, never stopping the music, - and, freezing in the last moment, went through the same motions backwards. Under the final notes of triumphant melody, serpent returned to its hiding place, and elf sent another bow to the visitors.
Handle animal: [roll1]
But his music was not over yet, and neither was his show. Flute picked up the same pace again, but if this time audience knew to watch the bag, it was again misled. While all attention was drawn to the snake and its charmer, another figure appeared on stage, only now emerging from shadows. To the same notes that not so long ago awoken the serpent, figure threw its dark cloak over the bag. Maiden, standing next to still playing elf, looked like him so much that she could easily be considered his sister, but her clothes had more in common with snake's scales. Flute repeated the same melody, but now the show finally went the way it was promised: dance, that visitors just watched being performed by limbless snake, was repeated by elven body. Deceits and mysteries were gone and dispelled; audience once again knew what to expect, and it kept eyes on the dancer, hopefully paying no attention to the musician. By now he should had been out of tricks in his sleeves, and the bag at his feet already played its part.
Perform (dance): [roll2]
And then, when the final steps of her dance brought elven maiden back to her playing brother, a serpent struck once again, slithering from under the dropped cloak and aiming at dancer's bare feet. And, in inches from its target, froze again, falling on the stage under the sound of last notes. Carefully placing down his instrument, Hilimsur stood up, and, holding their hands, duo bowed to the visitors. Under their intertwined fingers, snake was finally calm, coiled around the dropped flute. The act was over, all tricks were done, and soon stage was clear and ready for the next performer.

[WeaselGuy]

Since I was incommunicado earlier, I'll put in my pre-show shenanigans here, assuming nobody minds.
Prior to the start of the show, Fox is putting on his old Parade Armor. This armor is a suit studded leather armor, the leather a clean, polished white, and the studs a shining silver. This suit is further adorned with polished silver greaves and vambraces, polished black boots, white leather gloves and a shining silver helm. A long white scarf hangs from his neck, embroidered with the national symbol of his home country, Pleen, which is replicated on the chestpiece of his armor.

Attached to his hip is his formal rapier, an elaborate basket-hilt affair, in a silver chased, white leather scabbard. Opposite the rapier is his battered pistol, tucked into it's leather holster, and hanging next to a powder horn and ammo pouch. A few other pouches hang from Fox's belt, and tucked amongst them can be seen the hilts of two daggers. A pair of daggers are also tucked into the top of his boots, one in each.

Straightening the fit of his armor, and giving his weapons a reaffirming pat to each, Fox gets ready to walk into the ring, towing a small cart of assorted bottles, cans and barrels.



When it is Fox's turn to take the stage, he comes out in his polished Parade armor, complete down to the rapier on his hip and his medals on his breastplate. Numbered among them are more than a few marksmanship badges from various foreign countries, although you couldn't tell it from his battered pistol that rides opposite his rapier. In the hands of any other, it definitely looks like it would fall apart, or even blow up in the face of whoever is shooting it!

Set up around the ring are number of barrels, bottles and cans, of varying sizes, set at different heights and all no more than 30 feet from the middle, where Fox paces, grinning at the crowd surrounding him.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls." Fox says, as he takes his shining silver helmet off. "I stand before you today to show you the wonders of my home country. There, we train to fight with more than just swords and bows, we train with guns. If any of you are startled by loud noises or bright flashes, well, it's too late for you to leave now..."

With his last words, Fox whips his pistol out of it's holster, spinning in a half circle and shooting a can from off the ground, sending it flying up into the air. On it's way down, Fox swirls down low, his scarf billowing out behind him, as he draws his dagger from his boot and sends it flying into the can before it has a chance to touch back down.

[roll0]
[roll1]


"Back in Pleen" Fox says, as he reaches into a pouch on his belt, "not only are our soldiers trained in marksmanship, we are trained in science, very similar indeed to alchemy. This training allows us to create our own gunpowder and ammunition while travelling, so as to be reliant on smiths and mages to supply us with our necessary tools."

Once again, as Fox finishes his sentence, he has also finished reloading his pistol, and lines up a shot on a glass bottle sitting on top of a barrel. On contact with his bullet, the bottle shatters into dust so fine, the colors of the rainbow shimmer through the glass, reflected and refracted from the torchlight inside the tent.

[roll2]


While holstering his pistol, Fox continues on... "But the sad truth is, that sometimes our precious firearms jam. Our powder becomes wet. Even our rounds can roll out of the chamber. And for that reason, we are also trained in the more traditional styles of combat, with sword" he says, as he pats his basket-hilt rapier, "and dagger."

With his final words, Fox reaches into another belt pouch, drawing forth and flinging a playing card into the air. With another twirl, he draws another dagger from his belt, and sends it flying through the air to transfix the playing card against the barrel that the glass bottle was sitting on.

[roll3]


"Nicked it..." he says, with a grimace. "If anybody would like to try their hand at a game of chance, feel free to join me at my table after the show."

With that, Fox gathers his daggers and his playing card, puts his helmet back on, and saunters out of the ring.

[GOALentertain]

As the performance begins to come to a close, and Jocktan gives his final closing statements, he is interrupted by an ear-piercing scream from outside of the tent. The audience looks to Jocktan for a moment, as if wondering if this is just another part of the show. And then, as if in response, another scream is heard, this one from among the crowd.

[jamieth]

Alisha, who, of course, watched entire show from the backstage - some performers considered their job done and went to change and rest immediately after leaving stage, but for Alisha, the circus was literally home, and she cared for each and every one here... including guests, obviously - Alisha focused, trying to see what was going on in the crowd. Clutching a wooden staff, she was ready to dash towards the accident should there be one... technically, dealing with it was certainly not her job; realistically, it was everyone's job - or so she thought.
[roll0]

[Smileybastard]

Merick

Hearing the scream Merick pokes his head past the curtain to look into the audience. "Whats going on?"

Perception [roll0]

[Smileybastard]

Merick

Suddenly Merick turns and heads to his room. "I need to make another mutagen, call me if something happens."

He heads to his room to make another STR mutagen. It will take one hour.

[Kintua]

At the first scream, Freedom tenses and dashes over to his backpack somewhere backstage. After the second scream, he addresses the white ball of fur sleeping on it. "Angel, I need to get my crossbow, please move."

The cat perks her head up and steps off the backpack. Freedom untangles his crossbow from the backpack's straps, then fishes around inside for a few bolts. He runs towards Alisha, Angel following behind him as he tries to pull the crank on the crossbow back to load it. "What's up? That didn't sound right."

Angel curls around his feet as he peeks out the curtain to get an idea of what's going on.

[roll0]

[WeaselGuy]

Fox was almost out of the tent, heading to his cart when he heard the screams. Drawing his pistol and ensuring it's loaded, he turns around and runs back towards the big top, asking any of his fellow circus members that he passes if they know what's happening.

[Llyarden]

Ulfr, no longer clad in mask and cloak, pokes his head out from backstage, a bottle of mead in his hand. "What? What's happenin'?" Without particularly waiting for an answer he jogs towards the direction of the screams.

[Segrain]

The show is not over until it is over for everyone. Even if their own act was already done, elven duo watched other performers with no less attention than any of the visitors. Some acts became only more interesting when you already knew what exactly is going to happen - and if somebody had a surprise in a sleeve today, the show was only better. At least, that's how it worked in theory...

In practise, today was different. That scream was definitely not a part of any act. Even for unexpected trick, it was too weird. Just to be sure, snake charmer and his partner exchanged glances with other performers watching from the backstage, but they seemed no more aware of what was happening. Some were either too uninterested or too cautious to react, but some were not - and standing aside certainly was not going to help anybody. One elf quickly grabbed his heavy staff, another once again threw a cloak over her noticeable attire - and, together, they hurried to join those looking for the screams' source.
Perception checks: summoner - [roll0], eidolon - [roll1].

[GOALentertain]

In the direction of the scream from within the tent you can see the crowd beginning to part and scatter in panic. They all seem to be running away from a small creature of hideous creatures. It moves with a hunched back, with oily hair that flows over and drapes around it like a cape. It's three blue eyes glow as it lunges for a nearby audience member with its claws.

Roll initiative.