The tabaxi nods at Karen-Jan's question but doesn't say anything more.
The aisle behind the tabaxi does lead to the guidebook. In the glow of the orb light, the spine is clearly illuminated; "Welcome to Gheldaneth; A Visitor's Guide."
Opening the book and flipping through it, Karen-Jan sees general topics about the history, cuisine, culture, places to stay and eat and a map of Gheldaneth.
Marrin looks initially crestfallen but tries his best to hide it, which of course turns into a wide grin. He wipes the grin off, mostly, and gives a couple of nods.
"No, not in anyone's way. Thanks!"
He will then attempt to overly causally meander round the tent like only a teenager that thinks they are being inconspicuous can. Body language way to stiff and a very strong focus on a point not the direction he is heading. He keeps the nonchalant whistle to himself.
If the map seems to be of high enough quality and detail that it might be of use to them should the go there, Karen-Jan will take it with her as she heads to the next glowing orb. Fascinating use of magics for such a mundane purpose. Must really tickle the commoners.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Not wanting to ruin his/her disguise, Dave-a stands back a bit while Martin converses with the guards. As he leaves the tent, Dave-a heads off with him. Having overheard the conversation, "Well, that was unexpected. C'mon, let's find this opening."
The tabaxi quietly watches Great Aunt Gillian / Granny – Ethel, waiting to see if she needs any help.
In the bookseller's tent - Pocket 2:
MAP:
Go with this map for now - the guidebook does appear to offer more entries in each of the districts indicated below.
Staying on this level, the next lit orb leads Karen-Jan to an old, weather beaten bound tome. Carefully opening the book, Karen-Jan discovers what appears to be a government census from Gheldaneth from the year 1372 DR, from over 100 years ago. The names are almost too faint to make out. This book might be of interest to a history scholar but probably no one else.
Big Top – Dressing Room:
Martin-Marrin and Dave-A make their way around the side of the Big Top, laughter and music coming from the different lanes spoking off from the tent, music from the calliope setting the background tone, and find a smaller attached tent on the backside.
There are no guards at this entrance.
When the pair sticks their heads inside, the find a dressing room. It’s a scene of colorful clutter: tables strewn with makeup kits and glass jewelry, mirrors trimmed with glowing orbs of light, and chests of drawers and wardrobes spilling over with garments
The elven ballerina they just saw perform sits in front of a mirror, touching up her makeup.
A satyr struggles to get into a bright purple clown costume with fake wings.
Near the back, close to what must be the curtains leading to the Big Top ring, a handful of tumbling acrobats stretch and go through what must be a warm up.
The acrobats all wear the same uniform – a multi-coloured, checkered set of tights. You don’t need to be a forensic scientist to recognize that this is the same pattern as what Avaria found in the alley.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Dave-A walks in trying to stay out everyones way, but heads towards the acrobats. Once close to them, she'll try and see if any of their tights have a hole in the fabric.
Karen-Jan finds a spiral staircase leading up to the next level, which is where she discovers a slim, but surprisingly heavy volume entitled “A Brief History of Gheldaneth.”
Leafing through the book she gets the basics - the city is situated in the Menesankh region of Mulhorand, the southern coast of the Alamber Sea, where the mouth of the River of Spears emptied. In the old days one of the rulers was Tholaunt, who was said to be an incarnation of Thoth and was called a Divine Precept.
It goes on for awhile, and mentions that Gheldaneth is the only city in Mulhorand that existed both before and after the Spellplague. However, its population was decimated, falling from its high of 172,430 before the Spellplague to 22,000, current as of the book’s publication.
Karen-Jan starts to feel a bit sleepy with all the dry information in the book but near the end she finds a folded over and dog-eared page in the last chapter. About halfway down the page the author begins writing about a prophecy they’ve uncovered concerning a second catastrophe destined to destroy Gheldaneth again. But the rest of the page, and the handful following have all been torn out.
Big Top – Dressing Room:
Dave-A gets closer to the acrobats and confirms that yes indeed those are very tight colourful costumes.
The Tallest Acrobat, a lean and wiry woman, looks over at Dave-A and then past to Martin-Marrin.
“What are you two doing in here?” she asks. She’s not unfriendly but the tone does suggest you shouldn’t be in here.
Martin freezes on entering the dressing room, his jaw slowly dropping as he takes it all in.
"Wow. This is amazing!"
He gasps out breathlessly.
He doesn't even notice Dave-a is gone on before blinking away from all the wardrobes to see where she's heading. Martin looks over at the acrobats and their tights and then back to the wardrobes before heading over to the satyr and asking,
"Um. Hi, I uh, was wondering if you, um, needed help?"
((Cross post! Martin went the other way so Dave-a is on their own for the question!))
"Well, you see my son over there, he really wanted to help out. I hope you don't mind." Dave-a nervously scratches her muttonchops but is careful not to touch the makeup that Marrin did.
"And well, I couldn't help but come over here and admire these costumes you all are wearing, they are quite striking if you don't mind me saying." She keeps her eyes down as she talks to them, hoping she comes across simple.
The satyr nearly falls over once they get the clown costume on, but with Martin-Marrin's help, they manage to stay upright and get suited up.
"I don't usually do clown work," the satyr says. "I'm a fiddler. And a very good one at that. But someone didn't show up today."
The acrobats look over at where Martin-Marrin is helping the satyr, a couple of them laughing at the sight.
"Better not let him stay long though. Headmaster Noon doesn't like the guests to see behind the scenes. She says it spoils the magic," the tall acrobat says. She then does a quick spin for Dave-A, showing off the costume. "The tailors guild always do a good job. They work non-stop to keep everything in good shape."
Dave-A smiles appreciatively as the acrobat spins for her. "Now that is a costume!" Looking over to Martin she says, "Yes, I will make sure to get him out of here, we don't need any trouble, but thank you for letting us be back here for a moment, it means so much to him."
"Can't wait to catch your show in the bigtop, are you up soon?" Then Dave-A gives a little bow to the acrobats, and turns to the satyr and Martin. "When you're ready? We don't want to get these good folks in trouble."
The tabaxi watches Great Aunt Gillian - Ethel with growing concern as she has gone very quiet.
In the bookseller's tent - Pocket 2:
The tabaxi calls up to Karen - Jan "Did you find what you're looking for?"
In the Big Top – Dressing Room:
The acrobat shakes her head "No, we're heading out into the fair to do a traveling performance."
The satyr looks from Martin-Marrin to the acrobats and the elven ballerina and then leans in a little and lowers their voice. "Bit of a scramble today and it all gets backed up. it was one of the regular acrobats that didn't show, so the purple clown ends up joining them because he's not bad at it and that left the closest dummy without an excuse to have to step in."
"Oh I'll be fiddling again later," the satyr says as he pulls a bright blue wig on. "But Headmaster Noon says kids love clowns and there's always kids this time of day."
He hops around a little, shaking his arms and legs as he does until he's reasonable settled into his costume. He looks over at the acrobats again.
"Don't know. That lot stick to themselves most of the time. But I've friends in the Brigade and they said one of them came home really late last night." he says then laughs. "Probably sampled a little too much ale in town and is sleeping it off."
He grabs some balloons and heads for the exit.
"Enjoy the Lintoll." the satyr says as he leaves the tent.
The acrobats follow a moment later, leaving Martin-Marrin and Dave-A alone with the elven ballerina.
"I'm still sorry you have to be a clown. Um, break a leg?"
He waves as the satyr leaves and he heads over to Dave-a. He'll say to the ballerina,
"Um, your dancing was amazing miss!"
Before blushing and pulling Dave-a out.
Once outside and a little ways away from the entrance Martin's will let Dave-a know, quietly,
"One of the acrobats couldn't perform today, got in quite late it seems. The clown was filling in for them and the satyr was filling in for the clown."
Martin shakes his greasy head,
"Poor guy, should have been fiddling."
Martin shifts and turns to look around, his voice become far more assured.
"I got an idea on how we can find our guy. We find his boss, a Headmaster Noon, tell the Headmaster this acrobat caused some trouble at Ula's parents' place. Broke some windows, smashed up some furniture, you know, the truth. Some of it anyhow. Then we ask to see the acrobat to get compensation and an apology, from them directly, lest it besmirch the good name of the Lintoll."
Martin then blinks and turns to Dave-a,
"Sorry, sorry! Used to running a solo act lately, what did you learn? Anything useful? Anything that'd drop my plan into a cow patty?"
Dave-a smiles at Martin's enthusiasm. "Looks like you found out quite a bit and I think that is a good plan. But I did find out that if any costumes are damaged, which obviously the one we are looking at has a damaged outfit now, they go to the tailers guild to get it repaired. I thought it might be worth heading there to see if we might get a name or something? Or might even catch them there? I don't know.." she rubs the back of neck with her hand, this was obviously difficult for her to try and plan out.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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In the bookseller's tent - Pocket 2:
The tabaxi nods at Karen-Jan's question but doesn't say anything more.
The aisle behind the tabaxi does lead to the guidebook. In the glow of the orb light, the spine is clearly illuminated; "Welcome to Gheldaneth; A Visitor's Guide."
Opening the book and flipping through it, Karen-Jan sees general topics about the history, cuisine, culture, places to stay and eat and a map of Gheldaneth.
Marrin looks initially crestfallen but tries his best to hide it, which of course turns into a wide grin. He wipes the grin off, mostly, and gives a couple of nods.
"No, not in anyone's way. Thanks!"
He will then attempt to overly causally meander round the tent like only a teenager that thinks they are being inconspicuous can. Body language way to stiff and a very strong focus on a point not the direction he is heading. He keeps the nonchalant whistle to himself.
He does glance over to see what Dave-a is doing.
If the map seems to be of high enough quality and detail that it might be of use to them should the go there, Karen-Jan will take it with her as she heads to the next glowing orb. Fascinating use of magics for such a mundane purpose. Must really tickle the commoners.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Not wanting to ruin his/her disguise, Dave-a stands back a bit while Martin converses with the guards. As he leaves the tent, Dave-a heads off with him. Having overheard the conversation, "Well, that was unexpected. C'mon, let's find this opening."
In the bookseller’s tent – Pocket 1:
The tabaxi quietly watches Great Aunt Gillian / Granny – Ethel, waiting to see if she needs any help.
In the bookseller's tent - Pocket 2:
MAP:
Go with this map for now - the guidebook does appear to offer more entries in each of the districts indicated below.
Staying on this level, the next lit orb leads Karen-Jan to an old, weather beaten bound tome. Carefully opening the book, Karen-Jan discovers what appears to be a government census from Gheldaneth from the year 1372 DR, from over 100 years ago. The names are almost too faint to make out. This book might be of interest to a history scholar but probably no one else.
Big Top – Dressing Room:
Martin-Marrin and Dave-A make their way around the side of the Big Top, laughter and music coming from the different lanes spoking off from the tent, music from the calliope setting the background tone, and find a smaller attached tent on the backside.
There are no guards at this entrance.
When the pair sticks their heads inside, the find a dressing room. It’s a scene of colorful clutter: tables strewn with makeup kits and glass jewelry, mirrors trimmed with glowing orbs of light, and chests of drawers and wardrobes spilling over with garments
The elven ballerina they just saw perform sits in front of a mirror, touching up her makeup.
A satyr struggles to get into a bright purple clown costume with fake wings.
Near the back, close to what must be the curtains leading to the Big Top ring, a handful of tumbling acrobats stretch and go through what must be a warm up.
The acrobats all wear the same uniform – a multi-coloured, checkered set of tights. You don’t need to be a forensic scientist to recognize that this is the same pattern as what Avaria found in the alley.
She leaves the census and heads to the last tome.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Dave-A walks in trying to stay out everyones way, but heads towards the acrobats. Once close to them, she'll try and see if any of their tights have a hole in the fabric.
Perception 8
In the bookseller's tent - Pocket 2:
Karen-Jan finds a spiral staircase leading up to the next level, which is where she discovers a slim, but surprisingly heavy volume entitled “A Brief History of Gheldaneth.”
Leafing through the book she gets the basics - the city is situated in the Menesankh region of Mulhorand, the southern coast of the Alamber Sea, where the mouth of the River of Spears emptied. In the old days one of the rulers was Tholaunt, who was said to be an incarnation of Thoth and was called a Divine Precept.
It goes on for awhile, and mentions that Gheldaneth is the only city in Mulhorand that existed both before and after the Spellplague. However, its population was decimated, falling from its high of 172,430 before the Spellplague to 22,000, current as of the book’s publication.
Karen-Jan starts to feel a bit sleepy with all the dry information in the book but near the end she finds a folded over and dog-eared page in the last chapter. About halfway down the page the author begins writing about a prophecy they’ve uncovered concerning a second catastrophe destined to destroy Gheldaneth again. But the rest of the page, and the handful following have all been torn out.
Big Top – Dressing Room:
Dave-A gets closer to the acrobats and confirms that yes indeed those are very tight colourful costumes.
The Tallest Acrobat, a lean and wiry woman, looks over at Dave-A and then past to Martin-Marrin.
“What are you two doing in here?” she asks. She’s not unfriendly but the tone does suggest you shouldn’t be in here.
Martin freezes on entering the dressing room, his jaw slowly dropping as he takes it all in.
"Wow. This is amazing!"
He gasps out breathlessly.
He doesn't even notice Dave-a is gone on before blinking away from all the wardrobes to see where she's heading. Martin looks over at the acrobats and their tights and then back to the wardrobes before heading over to the satyr and asking,
"Um. Hi, I uh, was wondering if you, um, needed help?"
((Cross post! Martin went the other way so Dave-a is on their own for the question!))
Big Top – Dressing Room:
The satyr looks over at Martin-Marrin and smiles.
"These weren't tailored for hooves," the satyr says to Martin-Marrin. "Grab that side and I'll grab here and pull. One, two, three. Pull."
Martin does as instructed and pulls for all his scrawny arms are worth. Once it's on he'll ask,
"Um, why don't they get you one for hooves?"
He gives an obvious glance at the wardrobes overflowing with costumes,
"Do you have to share?"
"Well, you see my son over there, he really wanted to help out. I hope you don't mind." Dave-a nervously scratches her muttonchops but is careful not to touch the makeup that Marrin did.
"And well, I couldn't help but come over here and admire these costumes you all are wearing, they are quite striking if you don't mind me saying." She keeps her eyes down as she talks to them, hoping she comes across simple.
Big Top – Dressing Room:
The satyr nearly falls over once they get the clown costume on, but with Martin-Marrin's help, they manage to stay upright and get suited up.
"I don't usually do clown work," the satyr says. "I'm a fiddler. And a very good one at that. But someone didn't show up today."
The acrobats look over at where Martin-Marrin is helping the satyr, a couple of them laughing at the sight.
"Better not let him stay long though. Headmaster Noon doesn't like the guests to see behind the scenes. She says it spoils the magic," the tall acrobat says. She then does a quick spin for Dave-A, showing off the costume. "The tailors guild always do a good job. They work non-stop to keep everything in good shape."
Dave-A smiles appreciatively as the acrobat spins for her. "Now that is a costume!" Looking over to Martin she says, "Yes, I will make sure to get him out of here, we don't need any trouble, but thank you for letting us be back here for a moment, it means so much to him."
"Can't wait to catch your show in the bigtop, are you up soon?" Then Dave-A gives a little bow to the acrobats, and turns to the satyr and Martin. "When you're ready? We don't want to get these good folks in trouble."
Martin gives the satyr a confused look,
"Why wouldn't someone show up? Isn't the Lintoll the...um...best of the best? Even for clowns?"
He then looks over at the acrobats,
"And why would you have to be a clown if...um... You're a fiddler? I would prefer to a fiddler to a clown..."
When Dave-a calls over Martin's eyes widen,
"Oh, sorry! I, uh, don't want to get you in trouble."
In the bookseller's tent - Pocket 1:
The tabaxi watches Great Aunt Gillian - Ethel with growing concern as she has gone very quiet.
In the bookseller's tent - Pocket 2:
The tabaxi calls up to Karen - Jan "Did you find what you're looking for?"
In the Big Top – Dressing Room:
The acrobat shakes her head "No, we're heading out into the fair to do a traveling performance."
The satyr looks from Martin-Marrin to the acrobats and the elven ballerina and then leans in a little and lowers their voice. "Bit of a scramble today and it all gets backed up. it was one of the regular acrobats that didn't show, so the purple clown ends up joining them because he's not bad at it and that left the closest dummy without an excuse to have to step in."
Martin follows the satyr's glances and leans in too,
"Oh, I'm sorry! But, um, why don't they just let you fiddle? I mean, uh, why do you need a clown at all?"
Martin looks back over to the acrobats,
"Why wouldn't someone, uh, not show up? Aren't they going to get in trouble?"
Then a look of concern crosses his face,
"Will, they, um, lose their job and then they'll make you be the clown forever?"
"Oh I'll be fiddling again later," the satyr says as he pulls a bright blue wig on. "But Headmaster Noon says kids love clowns and there's always kids this time of day."
He hops around a little, shaking his arms and legs as he does until he's reasonable settled into his costume. He looks over at the acrobats again.
"Don't know. That lot stick to themselves most of the time. But I've friends in the Brigade and they said one of them came home really late last night." he says then laughs. "Probably sampled a little too much ale in town and is sleeping it off."
He grabs some balloons and heads for the exit.
"Enjoy the Lintoll." the satyr says as he leaves the tent.
The acrobats follow a moment later, leaving Martin-Marrin and Dave-A alone with the elven ballerina.
Martin nods along,
"I'm still sorry you have to be a clown. Um, break a leg?"
He waves as the satyr leaves and he heads over to Dave-a. He'll say to the ballerina,
"Um, your dancing was amazing miss!"
Before blushing and pulling Dave-a out.
Once outside and a little ways away from the entrance Martin's will let Dave-a know, quietly,
"One of the acrobats couldn't perform today, got in quite late it seems. The clown was filling in for them and the satyr was filling in for the clown."
Martin shakes his greasy head,
"Poor guy, should have been fiddling."
Martin shifts and turns to look around, his voice become far more assured.
"I got an idea on how we can find our guy. We find his boss, a Headmaster Noon, tell the Headmaster this acrobat caused some trouble at Ula's parents' place. Broke some windows, smashed up some furniture, you know, the truth. Some of it anyhow. Then we ask to see the acrobat to get compensation and an apology, from them directly, lest it besmirch the good name of the Lintoll."
Martin then blinks and turns to Dave-a,
"Sorry, sorry! Used to running a solo act lately, what did you learn? Anything useful? Anything that'd drop my plan into a cow patty?"
A Marrin smile crosses Martin's face.
Dave-a smiles at Martin's enthusiasm. "Looks like you found out quite a bit and I think that is a good plan. But I did find out that if any costumes are damaged, which obviously the one we are looking at has a damaged outfit now, they go to the tailers guild to get it repaired. I thought it might be worth heading there to see if we might get a name or something? Or might even catch them there? I don't know.." she rubs the back of neck with her hand, this was obviously difficult for her to try and plan out.