Extinction Curse- The Show Must Go On!

[Gwynfrid]

"Well, Thwack, the truth is... We're trying to find out, but we haven't got much of a clue yet", Keshkaru replies. She pauses to think. "You remember the attack on the circus, the Thunder's murder, of course. We managed to make peace with the guilty person, Nemia. She wanted to retaliate for attacks against nature by the local folk. We were hoping we could all put that behind us." She stops again.

"Then Abberton's mayor came to ask for our aid. There seem to be several wrong things happening in the village. A disappeared family - we found their home taken over by a giant nest of wasps. A boar attacking citizens - Vorgrok put an end to that. And the temple of Abadar, taken over by demons, who came to destroy things and desecrate tombs! And the sheriff, just gone, that's the one we came here for. We did get a lead at least, even through means that were, er... A little unexpected."

"The short of it: Nature is not behaving normally around these parts. We need to find out why, and hopefully put an end to it. This, for the safety of the circus as much as that of the people in Abberton."

[stack]

"People are looking to the circus to save them. What a strange thing." Thwack shakes his head, bewildered.

[JWallyR]

Vorgrok's hopeful smile turns a little wan, and he grunts his acknowledgment of Pruana's dismissive answer. Clearly at a loss, the dwarf's eyes scan the barroom, and he quickly notes his companions' steady trickle out the door. With awkward abruptness, he waves a coin at the barkeep, making sure to meet the man's eyes before placing the coin on the bar, and with a muttered "'Scuse me," the stocky dwarf stumps toward the door.

Taking a spot as rearguard allows Vorgrok to shuffle along, looking exceptionally dour, particularly in contrast to the short moments of optimism displayed in and around the tavern.

[Farmerbink]

Walking through the main street of Abberton, the unlikely heroes stumble upon a small crowd gathered in front of town hall. A gout of flame erupts from within them, casting long, tendrilous shadows in the growing twilight. From the middle, a voice rings out: "Prepare yourselves and your souls, people of Abberton, for a cavalcade of celestial marvels! For sights so spectacular and so marvelous, that you shall speak of them forever after with awestruck tears in your eyes! Prepare for the show to surpass any you have ever seen, either yesterday or in days before! Prepare for the dawning of... Mistress Dusklight’s Celestial Menagerie!"

A tall, broad-shouldered woman with a whip in hand stands on the steps of town hall, her left hand resting comfortably on the thick mane of a magnificent lion. Many of the townsfolk are openly ogling either the speaker or her companions. A bare-chested man covered in tattoos stands a few steps above and to her left. As you approach, he spits another mouthful of some potent spirit over the white-hot tip of a baton, casting another scalding glare over the gathering. To her right, a brilliantly-dressed clown dances on his hands, leaving the crowd to wonder both at his upper body strength and the means by which his tiny purple top had remains affixed to his red-haired scalp.

It's the shirtless fire-breather who first notices the heroes. With a comically over-stated gasp, he grips the woman's shoulder and points with a baton. "Be not deceived! See, these cheap imposters are among you already!" he shouts, gesturing to you now with both hands. "Soon you'll see a real show, not some amateurish parade of feeble animals and struggling charlatans!"

Spoiler: OOC

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Any of your characters who are refugees of Mistress Dusklight's Celestial Menagerie (entirely at your discretion, for newcomers especially) immediately recognize Daring Danika, the lion tamer, Viktor 'the Volcano', a fire-breather, and Jellico Bounce-Bounce, a clown specializing in juggling- usually knives or heavy bowling pins.

None of them was especially hostile to you, when you were a part of their circus. They seem.... unfriendly at best, now.

[DarkOne-Rob]

Giggles stops mid-wave, as the joyful greeting he was about to shout dies on his lips. His usual enthusiasm and energy seem to suddenly die out, and it nearly looks like his pale blue skin grows a bit more wan and gray. "That's not very nice...I was about to say hello and ask how they were doing...Why would someone be mean like that?" he mutters, turning to ask the question of his friends and companions with a sad expression. "I know we left, but it wasn't really because of those three..."

At his master's distress, the little blue snake Sssss seems to grow agitated, hissing angrily at the three performers and flicking its tail back and forth as it remains wrapped around Giggles' arm. With a grimace and a tear, which Giggles angrily wipes from his cheek, the little gnome seems to take some strength from his familiar before glaring back towards the three on the steps of the town hall. "It really show's a person's character, what they say about companions who have gone their separate ways! I was about to greet you three like old friends, but you insult us, right out of nowhere? I'm pretty little, but even I'm bigger than that!" he snaps, loudly enough to be heard by the three newcomers and anyone nearby, but not loudly enough to be really yelling.

Louder, he continues, "Mistress Dusklight's Celestial Menagerie is an excellent circus, with some fine people and clever acts. Go see them if you like - you will probably have a good time. But don't wander backstage or expect friendly smiles from the lot...and watch your wallets! The Circus of Wayward Wonders - our circus - may be cheap to attend, but that's a good thing! And besides - we like what we do and won't try to steal the shirt off your back!"

Spoiler: Mechanics?

Show

Giggles is trying to shame the three newcomers for their unwarranted rudeness and making clear the different kinds of circuses in town - one that is a family of people who care, and another that is all about the show at the expense of, well, everyone.

All social skills are at +4, so use whichever makes the most sense. If it matters, he doesn't want to start a fight or scare anyone - his feelings are just hurt.

(1d20+4)[12]

[Gwynfrid]

Spoiler

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I occurs to me that I never took the time to write a backstory for Keshkaru. We'll say that she never met Mistress Dusklight or her menagerie, but she may have heard about it from her companions who where members before.

The tall, strong iruxi stands erect in front of the heckling newcomers, silently staring at them. Only those who know her very well get a hint of her feelings at this moment: Her lower dorsal spines shiver in nearly imperceptible motions, a strong indication that she's offended and angered, but still in control of her reactions.

[stack]

Thwack ostensibly speaks to his companions, but makes certain his voice carries, "Now now, let us not begrudge our former companions a bit of verbal animosity. It is natural that they feel a bit put-out, having been reduced to the level of street performers, haranguing crowds for coppers. Clearly they have been cast from the line-up of the actual circus."

Spoiler

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Thwack knows and worked with them. He also knows that a public insult contest works as publicity for both shows, so lets do some kayfabe.

[JWallyR]

The dour-faced Vorgrok gives little notice to the flames and handsprings from the members of their circus's competition, but one lip curls up in a silent snarl. He sidles up to Giggles, interlocking fingers and cracking them in the universal gesture of 'squaring up'. "We'll see who's 'feeble and struggling', iff'n ya got spine b'hind 'em words," he rumbles softly.

[Farmerbink]

If the representatives of Mistress Dusklight's circus are cowed by Giggle's efforts, they hide it well. Unfamiliar with Keshkaru, they don't respond to her slight shift in body language, either.

The fire-breather smirks, recognizing Thwack's ploy, and goes so far as to meet the monk's gaze for a long moment and nod in a manner that the pair recognize as encouragement. Finally, the truly hideous clown jeers at Vorgrok. Giggles remembers him as being decidedly unpleasant, in the best of times, and occasionally more than a little suspiciously cruel in the worst.

Spoiler: Image

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Jellico Bounce-Bounce:

Daring Danika and Viktor the Volcano don't have images provided in the source material, but imagine a bunch of thematic scars and tattoos on less-than-pleasant expressions, and you're on the right track.

"Of course! We would not make these claims lightly!" cries the fire-breather. "Watch, here and now, as we show our skill!" With no further preamble, he spews a massive gout of flame into the air, scorching eyebrows and sending a noteworthy blast of hot air radiating from the steps. Jellico actually has to beat out a few tongues of flame that begin to dance among his orange hair, the heat is so intense. He begins an impressive display of agility and focus, bouncing batons from one hand to another frenetically, leaving small pulses of flame each time they strike the stone steps. It's not truly juggling, but nonetheless the man's skill is undeniable. Within moments, the impromptu crowd has begun cheering, clamoring for more.

When he finishes his act, several moments later, he points a smoldering baton at Thwack. "Can you match that?"

Spoiler: OOC

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You have just been challenged to a performance duel! The challenged hero must respond with a DC 18 performance check, or else... well, face steeper penalties on some skill checks to come. In this case, Viktor has challenged Thwack.

Another hero can step up, but must first succeed at a DC 18 bluff check to mask Thwack's reluctance or take a -2 penalty on the performance check to win over the crowd.

The other two rivals will (obviously) have their own challenges to come, once this one is resolved.

[DarkOne-Rob]

Giggles looks at Thwack with an expectant expression. "You want me to play ringmaster and announce something for you? Or give commentary as you do your thing?" he asks quietly, wanting to help but confident that the other is capable of a worthy counter to the dark-clown's fire show.

Spoiler: OoC, both for stack and FarmerBink

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@stack - What exactly would Thwack do? As colleagues I figure Giggles would know and be capable of some verbal support while Thwack does the actual performing.

@FarmerBink - How creative can our description be? Yours is very impressive, but we haven't exactly detailed out our respective tricks to that degree...

[stack]

Thwack turns to wink at Vorgrok, launching into a back-flip and hoping for a boost into the air...

Spoiler

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acrobatics (1d20+8)[10]

[JWallyR]

Vorgrok squints in momentary thought, but as the goblin launches himself upward, the dwarf reaches forward with two broad hands, placing them where he expects the latter's feet to be...

Spoiler: Actions

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Athletics check to catch/boost Thwack? (1d20+6)[7]

[Farmerbink]

Almost as soon as Thwack begins his movement, Viktor begins jeering. It quickly becomes apparent that the opportunity has taken the Goblin by surprise, and that his action has taken Vorgrok by surprise. A series of uncoordinated attempts later, and Viktor is laughing in apparent open amusement. "As I thought, I see you cannot!" he crows, to some applause from the gathered townsfolk. He snuffs his batons with a victorious flourish, and lays them on the stone steps at his feet to cool.

In the same moment, Daring Danika barks a short command. Responding to his master's cue, the lion rears to its feet, raising his fore paws high above her head before resting them on her shoulders. With another command, he leaps, muscles rippling, and lands his hind feet where his front were a moment before. Precariously balanced, the grand animal raises to another stand on her shoulders, and lets out a quite (for adult lions) roar of elation. The trainer pumps her legs, to provide just a bit of force, and her lion leaps to the building's facade and springs off of it to alight on the ground with astonishing grace for such a large animal. Danika begins casually twirling the stool she carries on a finger, and points to Keshkaru with the handle of her whip. "Let's see your lizard do that!" she hollers, mockingly.

Spoiler: OOC

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Same story, different chapter.

So Thwack lost his duel, conferring a -2 penalty on the totally unanticipated surprise twist to come. Danika has now challenged Keshkaru, though once more anyone can respond with the appropriate deception (my bad) check.

[Gwynfrid]

"Very well." Next to Keshkaru, Ozkrak shows her razor-sharp fangs, then closes her maw with a loud snapping sound. "Eager, are you?" the iruxi says affectionately as she pats the raptor on the feather-covered head. "Let me tell you this..." Her voice changes as she bends down to address the animal face to face, in a very close whisper.

"Si de toi ici l'on se moque
C'est là, sottise profonde
Et donc, que jamais ne te choque
Car du feu l'esprit nous seconde!"

She stands up, tall and erect, and without any warning or preparation, the dinosaur jumps straight up in the air to land on her right shoulder. Her skin protected by the thick crocodile leather of her vest, she barely seems to notice the claws, or Ozkrak's weight. A mere shrug sends the raptor flying, in a high jump and somersault over her master's head... and she lands on the other shoulder. Then she jumps out, a somersault to the side this time, and as she jumps back Keshkaru changes her stance to receive the raptor on two joined fists. And again and again, with longer and longer jumps, over the heads of the spectators, over the body of the lion, the iruxi shifting her posture every time, culminating in a handstand, and Ozkrak ends up triumphantly standing on the soles of her master's feet.

Spoiler

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First, Keshkaru casts Guidance. The leaping part is easy with the Leap action at a range of 15 feet without a roll. The rest of the description is hopefully plausible enough. Then: Nature (1d20+9)[20]

[DarkOne-Rob]

Giggles stifles a sympathetic groan as Thwack and Vorgrok fail to perform well, but smiles, cheers, and applauds as Keshkaru and Ozkrak perform so well. "Hooray! Well done, you two!" he says as he laughs at the final pose, his pleasure genuine (and quite in contrast to his recent despondency at the other performers' criticisms).

[JWallyR]

Vorgrok glowers at nobody in particular, equal parts embarrassment and frustration at his failure to react in time to assist the goblin acrobat. Fortunately, the crowd seems to quickly divert their attention to the feats of training and agility exercised by the animals and their masters, and even the dour-faced dwarf finds himself nodding in grudging appreciation at the first display, before grinning broadly at the second, delivered by his Iruxi companion and her reptilian companion!

[Farmerbink]

The crowd applauds both performers, but it's obvious to any objective onlookers that they're more swayed by Ozkrak's stunts than Leandrus' (the lion's). Before the situation gets out of hand (for them), the clown suddenly starts cackling. "Bahahahaha! That was good, that was good! But watch this!" In a sudden flurry of motion, almost too fast to see, his comically-cowled sleeves flail about in the near twilight. Blades glint in a mesmerizing display as torches and setting sun alike reflect off their rapidly-twirling surfaces. At first, three blades flicker about, but the clown rapidly adds another trio to the cycle, making it difficult to watch and even harder to focus upon.

After a moment, the display takes on a gruesome twist as it becomes apparent that this clown's act isn't purely one of skill. He slowly scans the gathered townsfolk and opposing carnies alike, a steady, uneasy gaze as his hands flash blindingly. Drops of blood begin flying interspersed with the blades, drawing gasps of shock and surprise, as his own blade occasionally nick his own fingers and arms. Undoubtedly, the performance becomes more difficult, with wetted hands, but the clown refuses to stop, until his gaze has passed- slowly and deliberately- over the entire crowd.

Finally, now with reddened forearms, the clown lets out a terrifying squeal and spins in a rapid pirouette. Seemingly ignoring the six blades, the clown dances grotesquely on the steps as they fall from the sky all around him. Equal parts stunning and disgusting, the six blades land around his poofy waist, each blade hooked by a loose ring of fabric to one of six small butcher's hooks hanging from his belt.

In the aftermath, a stunned silence seems to rest on the crowd. The clown smiles, a nasty, wide-lipped thing, and turns to Giggles. "Learn any new tricks recently, little Gnome?" he demands, between ragged breaths.

[JWallyR]

Vorgrok's nose crinkles in disgust, and his brows furrow in evident... disapproal. He turns to watch Giggles expectantly.

[Gwynfrid]

"The answer to that question is easy enough. We take pride in our circus and we always want to make it better. So we are always training for new tricks." Keshkaru's voice is calm, her scaly face unreadable as ever.

"But not the kind of tricks you just demonstrated. Our show is meant to make families and kids happy. Your skill is impressive, but the Circus of Wayward Wonders doesn't offer such gory spectacle. Ours is exciting, but joyous and wholesome."

Spoiler

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Here, there's a Diplomacy element, I think. The Make an Impression action can only target a creature. Keshkaru looks towards an audience member that looks like he or she might be a parent.

Diplomacy (1d20+6)[9]

[DarkOne-Rob]

It takes several breaths before Giggles is ready to respond to the grotesque display and challenge, but when he does his reaction is big, bold, and completely different. "Whoa! Hahahaha! That is the grossest thing I've seen all day! My friends, methinks he doth protest too much!"

Stepping away from the bloodied man, Giggles walks up with a smile to one of the townsfolk, removing a single, bright blue ball from his pack. "You see," he begins, his voice a dramatic stage whisper intended for all to hear, though his expression is more conspiratorial, "Sometimes you have to begin simply, and then make things more fun. Take this ball for example. If I juggle one ball, no one is impressed." the blue gnome demonstrates, tossing the ball up into the air and catching it with the same hand repeatedly without looking at it. "I mean really, a child could do this, right? But if you add a second, red ball..." he continues, tossing a second ball in his other hand, deliberately timing it so that only one ball is in the air at one time, "It's still not that exciting. Hmmm, maybe I'm doing this wrong..."

Walking over to Vorgrok, who conveniently looks confused as Giggles slowly "bumbles" through his routine, the gnome pulls a third ball from behind the dwarf's ear. "Now this one, this one will make it impressive, right? Here, Vorgrok, toss this in the air with me," he says, so that both of them are tossing balls, not to each other, just to themselves, in a thoroughly unimpressive display of "dexterity." Looking around at the crowd with a wink, he looks for their responses. "Oh, that's not it either, hmmm...Of course, we don't have enough! Here everyone, take a ball!" continues the the little showman, walking to each of his allies and giving them brightly colored juggling balls - all pulled from thin-air - and having them perform the same "trick" as their dwarven buddy.

As the crowd watches, Giggles smiles knowingly, enjoying the slow build. Some of the more observant townsfolk begin to note that Giggles is still juggling his two balls, the same way, with his quick little hands pulling the additional balls out without dropping his original pair. The gnome never looks at his original two, seemingly forgetting them entirely as he hands out additional balls.

With a nod, Giggles looks at the party, each "juggling" their one ball and seems disappointed for a moment. "Wait a minute...something's wrong. What am I missing?" he asks, as he begins juggling the two balls in his hands in a more traditional manner, swapping them from one hand to the other as he thinks. At some point, a third ball, this one bright yellow appears, though he doesn't mention it or react in anyway, in spite of the cry of surprise from someone in the crowd when they notice it. "What? Oh, of course, we cannot leave out the other performers!" he says, cheerfully walking to the three carnies from the Dusklight Celestial Menagerie. As balls appear and are dropped into their hands, Giggles makes it a point to look very serious for a moment. "Now, no fair cheating and dropping your ball, guys. You've got to help me with this trick!" he says, as more balls begin to appear.

It becomes apparent that Giggles' juggling is as much comedy as it is dexterity, as with each of the new balls, more of his own appear. By the time all of the collected performers, including the three opponents, have balls, Giggles is juggling at least seven of his own. When inevitably Jellico tosses his ball away Giggles also drops his balls, allowing them to bounce around chaotically. "Oh no! That's no good! Here, you dropped yours," he says as he hands him a totally different ball and starts again, with only two balls in hands and the others rolling away. "Can't have anyone losing anything, right? All your fingers still there? It was probably all the blood - it makes things really slick, hard to hold onto anything..." he continues with a wink to the crowd.

As the giggles and laughs come from the crowd, Giggles gets more flamboyant and silly, deliberately making the audience laugh with his antics. Never does he highlight his own skill, silently letting his juggling speak for itself, but instead giving balls to anyone who looks friendly (especially children), until it seems impossible that the little gnome had so many juggling balls on his person this entire time.

When he's done, he finishes by making his juggled balls disappear, just as happy if his sleight of hand is noticed as if it isn't. "You see, the point of a clown is to make people smile and laugh! Sometimes the best way to do that is to be flashy and funny. Other times it's to Fa-aa-aa-all!" he says, as he deliberately steps on a ball on the ground and pitches forward, flipping and landing on his rump with a flourish as juggling balls fly out in all directions again, a big smile on his face as he invites everyone to laugh at him.

Spoiler: Mechanics and OoC

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The goal is to for an act similar to that performed by Michael Davis - self-deprecating, funny, and focused on amusing the audience.

I am deliberately rolling several skills, because this act couldn't possibly be summarized with only one. Please apply the rules how you will!

Acrobatics: (1d20+7)[14]
Deception: (1d20+4)[17]
Lore (Circus): (1d20+5)[21]
Performance: (1d20+8)[23]
Thievery: (1d20+7)[12]

[Gwynfrid]

"Now that, my friends, is what I had in mind!" Keshkaru refrains from flashing her toothy smile, instead offering a deep curtsy at the audience, with a wide flourish of her clawed hand in Giggles' direction, to emphasize the gnome's performance as a response to the challenge.

[Farmerbink]

After only a few moments (and a handful of largely unnoticed bobbles), it's clear that the crowd is more amused by Giggles' antics than they are impressed by Jelico's skill and determination. Before long, a chorus of cheers grows in favor of the colorful little Gnome.

The rival clown's already somewhat disturbing face grows increasingly unpleasant as Giggles makes a mockery of the trio by "forcing" them to play along. By the end of the little jester's skit, more than a few of the villagers scramble to his aid, some not realizing he had planned the fall all along. In the hubbub that follows, the Celestial Menagerie trio makes themselves scarce.

Plenty of the villagers flock about the crew, glad for the free entertainment (and perhaps glad to see the other freakish clown leaving the square). Even as you watch, a handful of villagers scamper off, talking and gesturing to each other animatedly- no doubt spreading word of your antics and abilities throughout Abberton.

Finally, the crowd disperses enough to let you press on to the camp, and none too soon! You arrive with just a few minutes to spare before getting ready for tonight's show! The Professor is visibly relieved to see you stroll into camp, and hurries over. "Oh, thank the Gods!" he rasps. "I was starting to worry. Yes, yes, I want to hear all about what you've learned, but it'll have to wait! Hurry along to your places, we don't want to disappoint the crowd! Word around town is that last night's success has inspired even more excitement!"

Spoiler: OOC

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Please feel free to post what your character does in the show (or doesn't, I guess? XD). I'll post the next morning when I have the time

[DarkOne-Rob]

Giggles graciously and happily accepts the villagers' help and congratulations on his performance, smiling with honest joy at their responses. "Please come to the show tonight! Speaking of which, we have to run! Bye!" he exclaims as he notices the late hour, suddenly dashing off. To several of the children he hollers, "I'll race you! Come on!"

Panting as he arrives at the circus grounds, it takes no small amount of effort for Giggles to avoid telling the entire story. Several of the better "handlers" step in, though, ushering him off to get into his ring-master outfit and ready for the show. When it's time to open for the night, the little blue gnome is looking good again, and enters the spotlight casually juggling several oversized balls (to be easier seen by the crowd). "Tonight you will see sights to make you laugh, hear stories to make you weep, and leave tonight happy that you came! Let me introduce, the CIRCUS OF WAYWARD WONDERS, led tonight by..."

[stack]

Thwack's routine is interspersed between other acts, he and the other clowns providing interludes. In each, he portrays a character, dignified but subjected to the antics of those around him, inevitably resulting in taking pies to the face, pratfalls, and other slapstick.

[Gwynfrid]

That night, Keshkaru puts a few new twists in her number, inspired by Ozkrak's athletic success that day. She now puts two rings on fire, with herself in between them, and Ozkrak jumps through one ring, on top of her mistress, then through the other ring, and then back a number of times, the iruxi changing her posture every time. The climax is still a pretend confrontation between the two, ending with the dinosaur jumping though a succession of rings, but this time, she lands on the soles of Keshkaru's feet as she's in a handstand position, in a reminder of the trick she turned in the street. If they like it, it could become a signature move...

Spoiler

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Rolls based on the same premises as the first time, except with another +1 since she's now 2nd level.
Nature #1 (1d20+9)[15]
Nature #2 (1d20+4)[10]

[JWallyR]

Vorgrok raises an eyebrow at Giggles' antics, reluctantly accepting his role in the gnome's skillful and comedic routine. Smiling despite himself at the crowd's evident appreciation of the distinctly more pleasant juggling display, the dwarf nods approvingly when Giggles's eyes happen to meet his own.

---

As the troupe arrives at the circus grounds, Vorgrok wastes no time with pleasantries, brushing past the others to lend his considerable strength to the final riggings of platforms and equipment before stepping back to just outside the rings for the acts themselves, quietly and efficiently stepping in as the acts complete to reset for future acts.

[Farmerbink]

As they largely expected, the show that night goes well. More than a few of the faces in the crowd are familiar from the incident in the town square, and Giggles especially is pleased to see how quickly word spreads through the town. Of course, live performance is not without it's own haphazard troubles. A few of the acts go noticeably (to the performers) worse than the night before, and one of the Feather-Fall Five actually loses her grip on the trapeze! It's uncommon enough that many of the riggers have taken a very lackadaisical approach to the anchoring of the net, but fortunately Vorgrok's vigilance ensured the young woman's safety tonight. A little shaken, but no worse for wear, she hurries backstage as the rest of her family finishes their act.

The clown's antics and Keshkaru's show prove to be some of the greatest highlights of the show. Undeniably, Ozkrak's additional display of complicated acrobatics seems to inspire the audience to greater praise than the night before.

Ultimately the ticket sales prove even better than the first show, and the professor makes the official call that there will be one more show- in three days time (to give the carnies rest and more importantly drum up even more word of mouth). He plans to extend the show by one act- functionally an intermission- wherein he will take the stage as a storyteller rather than the fire breather he once was. After a short talk with a few amateur arcanists, he confirms that they can enhance the volume of his voice, and perhaps embellish the story with lights that won't risk burning down the tent.

Please and encouraged by the last two nights, that night in the camp is much like most after the final show- that is to say that the vast majority of the carnies get rip-roaring drunk and stay up much later than they probably should. Some of the less prudent members of the Wayward Wonders can be seen sneaking off to private (or more private, anyway) encounters with one of the locals. Generally, the reverie is all in good fun, though.

---

The next morning dawns as it usually does, with utterly no regard to the ample hangovers and generally unprepared-for-daylight carnies.

For the heroes, the Lindell farm awaits, along with the knowledge that neither of the brothers nor the sheriff have been seen since they were all together there, some four days ago, now.

[DarkOne-Rob]

Giggles, known for drinking too much and causing trouble with his mischief, is actually well-behaved after the show. Well, technically he is unconscious. Shortly after the last of the crowd leaves and the little blue gnome stumbles off, he finds a safe, comfortable place to sit down and closes his eyes. When he wakes up in his hammock Giggles sees his friend Vorgork quietly slipping away and rolls over to sleep some more. He doesn't wake until daylight.

---

The next morning Giggles can be found running from wagon to wagon and bedroll to bedroll, looking for the others who have been investigating the problems in town and excitedly waking them up. His enthusiasm is horribly matched with the early-hour as he physically shakes them, enthusiastically hollering their names, and puts his own face within inches of each of theirs. "WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP! The sun is up and we need to go to the farm! Let's go! Hurry up!

Ooh, breakfast! Yummy!" he says as he's distracted by the smell of eggs, cooking bacon and sausage, and sweet breads.

[stack]

Thwack is already eating a hearty breakfast, face a bit swollen from a fellow clown's mistimed slapstick. "Yes, yes, the matter you were looking into. I suppose I can come along."

[JWallyR]

Vorgrok opens one eye, barely, beneath a bushy orange eyebrow, as his only visible acknowledgment of Giggles' enthusiastic wake-up call. Once the gnome has lost interest, the burly dwarf stretches his short, thick limbs before lumbering up to his feet and stepping out of the short sleeping-tent.

He makes his way about the camp's perimeter, observing only expected departures from camp decorum after a successful show; satisfied, he makes his way to breakfast, joining those of the camp's "inner circle" that has formed, with him as one of the chief protectors. Helping himself to a generous portion of breakfast meats, he chews thoughtfully, gaze aimed out toward the edge of the clearing.