G'Reg frowns, this girl is avoiding the questions... she must be working for them, or is she just a normal person, someone G'Reg is going to have to explain things to like a child. He resolves to dumb things own for her sake and if she cannot get over this then she already knows that her name is forfeit "Me? no. I'm trying to gain some leverage to make sure that you aren't working for them. If I get what I want back from them then there is hope for you too, do you understand? I'm merely giving you the chance and motivation to act honestly and as stipulated before if you fulfil that request and answer my questions honestly then your name will be returned, if not I can walk away... think about it, this carnival and those two arrogant bastards that run the place, they dont need permission to take what they want from you, If I was working for them then I wouldn't be here giving you the chance to easily earn something back that was taken... Now, deep breath, you can do this, I believe in you"
Rowan realizes he's becoming a bit disillusioned about this carnival. He wasn't sure how he felt about playing somewhere where people were routinely losing their voices.
"The owners, Witch and Light, they know about these thefts?" Rowan asks, more to himself than anyone else. "That seems like a steep punishment for sneaking in."
He reflects on all the places he's sneaked into as he was growing up. Rowan's not sure how much would have been stolen over the years.
Rowan's quiet for a brief moment before speaking again.
"Is it midnight yet?" Rowan asks banjo hobo, Barria, and the Kenku. "It doesn't feel like midnight to me yet, but maybe your midnight has already come. I don't want to miss it. If it's not midnight then we have time to go ask your questions of the centaur."
He then pulls his lute from his back and begins strumming a few notes, remembering he promised to play Barria something.
Surprising himself again, the tune he manages to coax from the lute doesn't sound too bad. Despite the threats of voice loss, this place had definitely been bringing out the best in his playing.
The girl-horse whirls around and glares down at Greginald, shouting at him with her loudest voice.
Listen here, you horrible little man. You don't know what you're talking about. Witch and Light are not arrogant bastards. They are the best thing that ever happened to me. They're not stealing anything, don't you see? It's the h... POP POP POP.
While she is talking, mushrooms begin popping up all over her face and hands. As soon as she stops talking, they disappear just as quickly. The crying and shouting have attracted the attention of carnival workers and fairgoers alike, who glare at Greginald with disapproval. One staff member even calls out with an unmistakably stern tone: Everything all right there, Diana? but the not-centaur just waves him off before calming down a bit. With a quieter but no less stern voice, she continues:
Curse it! Look... First of all, you don't understand the Law of Reciprocity. Me telling you my first name doesn't give you control over me just because you asked for it. You'd have to offer me something in return, and I would have to accept it. That's how it works. Also, it has to be their full name, and it has to be their true name. And I don't even know if it would work for you if you aren't fey.
Secondly, nothing was stolen from me. I made a deal, okay? I asked to be reunited with my horse, and this is what I got. It's not nice, it's not fair, but that's only a technicality when you're dealing with a h... HRRRUGH!
Diana is cut short once more as she coughs up a toad and spits it out onto the ground.
You see...? It's not that I'm unwilling to talk about it. I just can't! And as for Gleam, she was my friend. I don't know what happened to her or Glister, but I've seen her shadow lurking around the carnival, and that can only mean she's fallen befoul of one of the h... MMMMmmmMM!
Diana's mouth is suddenly sealed up with some kind of brown sap-like substance, but it likewise disappears as soon as she stops speaking.
Curses!
Mulligan, Rowan, Barria
As if understanding Candlefoot's charades wasn't difficult enough, it's nothing compared to trying to make sense of a kenku's borrowed speech. Kettlesteam's beak opens, and doesn't close again until it has issued a rapid-fire series of snippets of second-hand conversation, often one over the top of the next, sprinkled with other noises. At the same time, the kenku's hands work quickly to conjure a liberal creation of minor illusory images...
IMAGE: Chalkboard with circles and arrows VOICE: I love it when a plan comes together.
IMAGE: Kettlesteam's own face VOICE: A diversion, that's what we need... VOICE: What's that over there?? SOUND: Slipping-on-a-banana-peel whistle sound SOUND: Mermaid singing followed by heckling SOUND: Crashing and yelling as a racing snail breaks loose VOICE: Some men just want to watch the world burn
IMAGE: Large furry creature with a pumpkin for a head (who Mulligan recognises as the guard behind the hedge) VOICE: I'll be back! VOICE: Follow me, men! VOICE: I have you now! VOICE: You're under arrest!
IMAGE: The faces of Rowan, Mulligan, and Barria SOUND: Plucking violin, reminiscent of tip-toeing VOICE: We're going over the hedge! VOICE: Be vewy vewy quiet. I'm hunting wabbits. VOICE: Well well well, what have we here?
IMAGE: The faces of Witch and Light VOICE: This is a stick-up! VOICE: Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? VOICE: We can do this the easy way or the hard way.
While this cacophony of sound and picture is happening, Barria also observes that the centaur by the carousel starts sobbing, and then stops and begins shouting at the gnome...
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Mulligan frowns at Barria's question then presses his hand over his mouth and shrugs to indicate that he did not find what he lost either.
For Barria:
How Small?
Mulligan then spreads his thumb and forefinger as far apart as they will go and slowly starts bringing them together, waiting for Barria to tell him to stop.
For Barria:
Frogs are small to begin with. The thief I saw was a young girl wearing a pig mask. I was told there was a frog and a shadow as well. I did not know they meant an actual frog. I was assuming another mask.
Mulligan then turns to the Elf and listens to them a moment.
For Rowan:
I believe they know about the thefts, I do not believe they are behind them. Sounds to me like they tolerate them but the way is unclear. But while I believe my voice was stolen for coming in without paying years ago, Candlefoot made a bargain to give his up. A bad bargain but there is a difference.
As for time, I believe we have time before midnight. I believe it was eight when I entered and I could not have been here for more than X hours so far... ((DM? Would X more likely equal 2 or 3? I do believe at one point you said an hour had gone by?))
When the Elf pulls out their instrument Mulligan feels the temptation to do so as well but restrains himself. No need to step on another performers shoes, so to speak... But then after watching Kettlesteam's performance Mulligan can't help but question them a bit...
For Kettlesteam: So you are offering to distract any guards in the Staff area so we three can slip in and question Mr. Witch and Mr. Light? How does this help you achieve your goals?
Mulligan can't help but be curious about whether Kettlesteam was just planning to betray them all for his own delight in cruel jokes. Mulligan eyes the Kenku closely when they answer... (insight? 21) Whether Mulligan believes the Kenku or not (and assuming there seems to be time) Mulligan looks from Barria to the turmoil at the Carousel and then back to Barria. He sight a bit. Shrugs. Then motions for the dwarf to lead the way...
As the trio, and possible the Kenku as well, seem to have thrown their lots in together, at least for the time being, Mulligan decides perhaps it is time to try something he's really not had much call to use very often. While they all walk towards the carousel he closes his eyes for a moment, pictures the Elf and the Dwarf and reaches his mind out to them. Not to put words in their head precisely but rather to open up a connection... For the next 1d6 (rolled a 2) hours there is a psychic connection between Mulligan, the Elf and the Dwarf which allows them to speak telepathically with Mulligan, and him to speak telepathically with them. ((To send or receive a message (no action required), you and the other creature must be within 1 mile of each other. A creature can’t use this telepathy if it can’t speak any languages, and a creature can end the telepathic connection at any time (no action required). You and the creature don’t need to speak a common language to understand each other. I don't think Psychic Whispers really makes it clear if it's a group chat or if it all must be sent through Mulligan... Or indeed if Barria could theoretically speak to Rowan without Mulligan "hearing" it? But unless DM wishes to clarify I will assume it is a group chat of us all telepathically hearing any words the others wish to say telepathically.))
Technically, Rowan and Barria can't telepathy to each other - everything has to go through Mulligan. Mulligan can relay conversations though, so for the sake of simplicity, let's just treat it like a group chat, unless I deem it relevant in a tactical sense.
Five separate voices speaking different phrases issue from Kettlesteam's beak simultaneously, overlapping each other, along with other sounds.
He won’t listen to me! <sobbing> I'm done talking. <a door slams> If you wanna try, be my guest. Please… ask him for me, would you? <sad music> I can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
There are a mix of emotions that cross G'reg's face as the girl gets angry and carries on. He takes his chance whilst she is distracted by vomiting frogs and growing mushrooms and such like to summon his mage hand 30ft behind the girl "Fair enough my ploy didn't work but I got exactly what I needed, you're under their spell just like the rest of them" he points out to the crowd of employees now looking on "you claim that they are the best thing that ever happened to you but they cursed you twice! You stupid little girl... I'm going to find Gleam, I'm going to help her so she can help me, so if you truly are her friend, if you truly do want to help her then you'll find a way to give me the information that you seem unable to say out loud. Who are the H...?"
For Kettlesteam You want us to ask them about Queen Zyblina and why she has been quiet. Will do.
For Barria and Rowan He wants us to ask them about Queen Zyblina.
Giving a confirming nod to the general situation Mulligan then turns to look up at the sky, towards the Carousel, towards the Big Top, then towards the others.
For Barria and Rowan I believe it is about an hour to midnight when the Extravaganza happens. The Staff Area, where Mr. With and Mr. Light should be, is just the other side of the Big Top. We could investigate the brouhaha at the Carousel but it will limit how much time we have with the two Misters before the Extravaganza.
Mulligan doesn't state what he thinks is best, just waits for the others to decide...
Rowan smiles at all of the telepathy and copied voices and images and general chaos of the carnival. It does have his own emotions bubbling just under the surface, but, for the moment at least, he's able to keep his in check and not let anything even more strange happen.
The others do notice the odd flower blossom when Rowan walks around.
"Ah, you are good at telling time then. That will come in handy. I've always found I'm a little off when it comes to time. The world doesn't really run at the speed it should. I'm envious of your skill."
Not quite getting the hang of speaking in his mind, he finds that when he tries he still speaks out loud.
"Brouhaha," Rowan says slowly, then again more quickly. "Brouhaha. That's a good word. Not emotional like Prismeer but still a good solid word. It's a good one to say. Brouhaha."
He looks over at the Carousel.
"We can at least take a look. It's right there. Takes but a moment to look." Rowan says and makes his way towards the Carousel to see what's going on.
Rowan does look back and call back to the Kenku.
"Is this one with you?" Rowan says, indicating the gnome who appears to have made the centaur cry. "He seems to have issues with the centaur just like you did with the mermaid."
Distracted by the centaur, she frowns as Barria notices that the centaur is crying and she wonders why at a place like this. Barria is then brought back to the group by the sound of music and smiles broadly when she sees Rowan playing a tune for her. Clasping her hands together, she exclaims, "Oh! Chauntea would be so pleased by this! Thank you for sharing your gift!"
Stealing another glance at the centaur, she sees that the creature is now shouting at her small companion and Barria's curiosity rises even higher.
She responds to Mulligan's question out loud, stopping his motions on the size of the frog when he his hands are about 2 feet apart. "Well, it was frog like... not sure if it was really a frog, but man did it have really bulgy eyes, skinny limbs and a smooth greenish like skin." she shudders, "What's your name by the way?"
All the words and images start to make Barria's head spin and when Rowan starts walking off towards the carousel she finds herself relieved even if they are just moving and not trying to decipher so much. What had she gotten herself into?
As they walk up, she catches a few words from the gnome and she scowls, "Little man, why are you calling her a stupid little girl? That is quite rude where I come from."
Greginald You're not listening! Mister Witch and Mister Light didn't curse me. With a deep sigh, Diana wipes her eyes, then softly says: I'm done talking to you, horrible gnome. You don't care about my friend, only yourself.
Turning away from Greginald, Diana is about to go back to her duties, but then turns back and says calmly:
You can try talking to the unicorns. They won't give you their names though - you'll have to find them out for yourself, if you want to earn their trust.
She points to the Carousel, and the eight wooden painted unicorns that form the main part of the ride.
The curious onlookers lose interest as the altercation fizzles, and return to their own festivities. However, an elf with a lute on his back and a female dwarf seem to have taken an interest and are approaching from the west.
==================================== Rowan (plus Barria and Mulligan)
Kettlesteam simply responds to Rowan's question by shaking her head in the negative, indicating that she doesn't have anything to do with the gnome.
The centaur seems to have calmed down and the shouting has stopped by the time Rowan and Barria arrive at the Carousel. The brouhaha has subsided.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
"oh I fully understand that it was 'the H...' who cursed you, but my point still stands Witch and Light seem fine and comfortable taking things from others, and that's without offering something in return!" G'Reg returns exasperated before the not-centaur calms down and offers a piece of actionable advice.
With the advice given G'Reg gives a nod and starts walking off toward the carousel but stops and looks Diana in the eye one last time, his face red and flushed with frustration which doesn't ease as he says "for what it's worth I'm sorry I tried to trick you, I'm sorry that you have to deal with this body that you were tricked into... I'd ask if you know anyone else who have been cursed by 'the H...' but I fear they'd have the same inability to discuss things as you have. I am trying to help Gleam, I think she took an interest in me for a reason and for selfish reasons or not I'm determined to get to the bottom of it. Good day to you!" And he marches off as fast as his stubby little legs will take him, which isn't very fast at all, and then some dwarf starts talking to him? He turns and looks at the oddball group. "I uhhhhh, I'm investigating a theft!"
For Rowan and Barria You can speak aloud like normal. I can hear just fine. I am Mulligan O'Menihan. Pleased to meet you.
Mulligan hopes the clarification helps after seeing Rowan have some apparent trouble trying to speak and send his words mentally both at once. Upon introducing himself he bows and momentarily as he does. He then follows along behind as they move toward the carousel and all, allowing Barria to take the lead with the Gnome and just observing for now.
Rowan eyes the carousel with interest but refocuses when Barria begins talking to the gnome and centaur.
He asks the gnome “Did someone steal your voice? Hmm. Maybe not since you just spoke. There does seem to be a lot of voice stealing going on here. And frogs stealing things. They should really look into having some sort of carnival guards to protect voices. But I am curious how a voice is stolen. Do you know?”
Mulligan rolls his eyes... He believes he has already covered this but perhaps he only told the Dwarf and not the Elf.
For Barria and Rowan: Candlefoot bargained away his voice, it was not stolen. Far as I know only my voice was stolen. I would guess by the girl with the pig mask as she seemed a bit familiar to me when I first saw her. The frog and the shadow, the other thieves, I do not believe I have seen. As for guards, I believe the owners of the carnival allow the thieves to do what they do but why I do not know.
"it's fey bullcrap!" The gnome snaps in frustration. "But it doesn't abide by the normal conventions when Witch and Light do it..." He continues looking the group up and down. "There was an acrobatic duo here before, one is gone the other only manifests as a shadow and I think she is the key, though she might also be victim of this thievery that's going on, I myself had an item stolen from me last I was here, a hoe, a very important hoe! Taken seemingly as a consequence to the most minor of indiscretions, completely unfairly! But you're all investigating thefts too? What have you found out? We should find a more private place to talk, unless you're working for them" the gnome squints his eyes as if focussing harder will reveal the groups allegiances.
The centaur's tear-streaked face softens as Barria offers a few quiet words of consolation. Perhaps it's the comfort of another woman’s presence, but after a few shuddering sobs, Diana finds her voice:
That little bully... He blames Witch and Light, but they care—they really do—even if they don’t show it. <sniffle> Then he tried to hex me or something, but I can’t talk about it—I literally can’t. The unicorns might, though. Let him try asking them—if he learns some manners first.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Mulligan gives a quick lookaround to be sure that Kettlesteam is still with them, though if they've wandered off he's not sure there is anything to be done about it. He then eyes this Gnome a bit cautiously. They seem quite perturbed... About their hoe, the carnival and potentially everything.
For G'reginald:
You are a pimp and are offended by the actions of others?
The words appear in your head without tone or inflection. They are as clear as words on a page and as lifeless.
For the others: This shadow he speaks of could be our third thief - The girl in the pig mask, the frog and the shadow. Candlefoot did not mention them as part of an acrobat duo though.
Mulligan glances around when the Gnomes mentions finding a private place to talk but does not immediately see such a place. Since he is glancing around anyway he does try to note if he sees any unicorns since the centaur mentioned them,
For G'reginald again:
We have just met but are all investigating, yes. I am not sure who this 'them' you refer to is. I know I for one am not working for anyone... We seem to know that there are three thieves - A girl in a pig mask, a frog and a shadow. Or so I have been told. It seems they operate without hinderance from Mr. Witch and Mr. Light but it does not seem they work for them. Though why they would allow the thieves to thus upset their carnival is unclear...
G'Reg's assertion.
G'Reg frowns, this girl is avoiding the questions... she must be working for them, or is she just a normal person, someone G'Reg is going to have to explain things to like a child. He resolves to dumb things own for her sake and if she cannot get over this then she already knows that her name is forfeit "Me? no. I'm trying to gain some leverage to make sure that you aren't working for them. If I get what I want back from them then there is hope for you too, do you understand? I'm merely giving you the chance and motivation to act honestly and as stipulated before if you fulfil that request and answer my questions honestly then your name will be returned, if not I can walk away... think about it, this carnival and those two arrogant bastards that run the place, they dont need permission to take what they want from you, If I was working for them then I wouldn't be here giving you the chance to easily earn something back that was taken... Now, deep breath, you can do this, I believe in you"
Rowan realizes he's becoming a bit disillusioned about this carnival. He wasn't sure how he felt about playing somewhere where people were routinely losing their voices.
"The owners, Witch and Light, they know about these thefts?" Rowan asks, more to himself than anyone else. "That seems like a steep punishment for sneaking in."
He reflects on all the places he's sneaked into as he was growing up. Rowan's not sure how much would have been stolen over the years.
Rowan's quiet for a brief moment before speaking again.
"Is it midnight yet?" Rowan asks banjo hobo, Barria, and the Kenku. "It doesn't feel like midnight to me yet, but maybe your midnight has already come. I don't want to miss it. If it's not midnight then we have time to go ask your questions of the centaur."
He then pulls his lute from his back and begins strumming a few notes, remembering he promised to play Barria something.
Surprising himself again, the tune he manages to coax from the lute doesn't sound too bad. Despite the threats of voice loss, this place had definitely been bringing out the best in his playing.
(Performance 17 - 1 = 16)
Greginald
The girl-horse whirls around and glares down at Greginald, shouting at him with her loudest voice.
Listen here, you horrible little man. You don't know what you're talking about. Witch and Light are not arrogant bastards. They are the best thing that ever happened to me. They're not stealing anything, don't you see? It's the h... POP POP POP.
While she is talking, mushrooms begin popping up all over her face and hands. As soon as she stops talking, they disappear just as quickly. The crying and shouting have attracted the attention of carnival workers and fairgoers alike, who glare at Greginald with disapproval. One staff member even calls out with an unmistakably stern tone: Everything all right there, Diana? but the not-centaur just waves him off before calming down a bit. With a quieter but no less stern voice, she continues:
Curse it! Look... First of all, you don't understand the Law of Reciprocity. Me telling you my first name doesn't give you control over me just because you asked for it. You'd have to offer me something in return, and I would have to accept it. That's how it works. Also, it has to be their full name, and it has to be their true name. And I don't even know if it would work for you if you aren't fey.
Secondly, nothing was stolen from me. I made a deal, okay? I asked to be reunited with my horse, and this is what I got. It's not nice, it's not fair, but that's only a technicality when you're dealing with a h... HRRRUGH!
Diana is cut short once more as she coughs up a toad and spits it out onto the ground.
You see...? It's not that I'm unwilling to talk about it. I just can't! And as for Gleam, she was my friend. I don't know what happened to her or Glister, but I've seen her shadow lurking around the carnival, and that can only mean she's fallen befoul of one of the h... MMMMmmmMM!
Diana's mouth is suddenly sealed up with some kind of brown sap-like substance, but it likewise disappears as soon as she stops speaking.
Curses!
Mulligan, Rowan, Barria
As if understanding Candlefoot's charades wasn't difficult enough, it's nothing compared to trying to make sense of a kenku's borrowed speech. Kettlesteam's beak opens, and doesn't close again until it has issued a rapid-fire series of snippets of second-hand conversation, often one over the top of the next, sprinkled with other noises. At the same time, the kenku's hands work quickly to conjure a liberal creation of minor illusory images...
IMAGE: Chalkboard with circles and arrows
VOICE: I love it when a plan comes together.
IMAGE: Kettlesteam's own face
VOICE: A diversion, that's what we need...
VOICE: What's that over there??
SOUND: Slipping-on-a-banana-peel whistle sound
SOUND: Mermaid singing followed by heckling
SOUND: Crashing and yelling as a racing snail breaks loose
VOICE: Some men just want to watch the world burn
IMAGE: Large furry creature with a pumpkin for a head (who Mulligan recognises as the guard behind the hedge)
VOICE: I'll be back!
VOICE: Follow me, men!
VOICE: I have you now!
VOICE: You're under arrest!
IMAGE: The faces of Rowan, Mulligan, and Barria
SOUND: Plucking violin, reminiscent of tip-toeing
VOICE: We're going over the hedge!
VOICE: Be vewy vewy quiet. I'm hunting wabbits.
VOICE: Well well well, what have we here?
IMAGE: The faces of Witch and Light
VOICE: This is a stick-up!
VOICE: Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
VOICE: We can do this the easy way or the hard way.
While this cacophony of sound and picture is happening, Barria also observes that the centaur by the carousel starts sobbing, and then stops and begins shouting at the gnome...
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Mulligan frowns at Barria's question then presses his hand over his mouth and shrugs to indicate that he did not find what he lost either.
For Barria:
How Small?
Mulligan then spreads his thumb and forefinger as far apart as they will go and slowly starts bringing them together, waiting for Barria to tell him to stop.
For Barria:
Frogs are small to begin with. The thief I saw was a young girl wearing a pig mask. I was told there was a frog and a shadow as well. I did not know they meant an actual frog. I was assuming another mask.
Mulligan then turns to the Elf and listens to them a moment.
For Rowan:
I believe they know about the thefts, I do not believe they are behind them. Sounds to me like they tolerate them but the way is unclear. But while I believe my voice was stolen for coming in without paying years ago, Candlefoot made a bargain to give his up. A bad bargain but there is a difference.
As for time, I believe we have time before midnight. I believe it was eight when I entered and I could not have been here for more than X hours so far... ((DM? Would X more likely equal 2 or 3? I do believe at one point you said an hour had gone by?))
When the Elf pulls out their instrument Mulligan feels the temptation to do so as well but restrains himself. No need to step on another performers shoes, so to speak... But then after watching Kettlesteam's performance Mulligan can't help but question them a bit...
For Kettlesteam:
So you are offering to distract any guards in the Staff area so we three can slip in and question Mr. Witch and Mr. Light? How does this help you achieve your goals?
Mulligan can't help but be curious about whether Kettlesteam was just planning to betray them all for his own delight in cruel jokes. Mulligan eyes the Kenku closely when they answer... (insight? 21) Whether Mulligan believes the Kenku or not (and assuming there seems to be time) Mulligan looks from Barria to the turmoil at the Carousel and then back to Barria. He sight a bit. Shrugs. Then motions for the dwarf to lead the way...
As the trio, and possible the Kenku as well, seem to have thrown their lots in together, at least for the time being, Mulligan decides perhaps it is time to try something he's really not had much call to use very often. While they all walk towards the carousel he closes his eyes for a moment, pictures the Elf and the Dwarf and reaches his mind out to them. Not to put words in their head precisely but rather to open up a connection... For the next 1d6 (rolled a 2) hours there is a psychic connection between Mulligan, the Elf and the Dwarf which allows them to speak telepathically with Mulligan, and him to speak telepathically with them. ((To send or receive a message (no action required), you and the other creature must be within 1 mile of each other. A creature can’t use this telepathy if it can’t speak any languages, and a creature can end the telepathic connection at any time (no action required). You and the creature don’t need to speak a common language to understand each other. I don't think Psychic Whispers really makes it clear if it's a group chat or if it all must be sent through Mulligan... Or indeed if Barria could theoretically speak to Rowan without Mulligan "hearing" it? But unless DM wishes to clarify I will assume it is a group chat of us all telepathically hearing any words the others wish to say telepathically.))
Technically, Rowan and Barria can't telepathy to each other - everything has to go through Mulligan. Mulligan can relay conversations though, so for the sake of simplicity, let's just treat it like a group chat, unless I deem it relevant in a tactical sense.
Five separate voices speaking different phrases issue from Kettlesteam's beak simultaneously, overlapping each other, along with other sounds.
He won’t listen to me! <sobbing>
I'm done talking. <a door slams>
If you wanna try, be my guest.
Please… ask him for me, would you? <sad music>
I can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it.
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
(missed a bit...)
Kettlesteam adds one more phrase in the voice of Candlefoot, so recently borrowed:
...my fairy godmother ... Queen Zybilna ... I've not heard from her ... Lost contact...
Then repeats once more:
Please... ask him for me, would you?
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
G'Reginald's frustration.
There are a mix of emotions that cross G'reg's face as the girl gets angry and carries on. He takes his chance whilst she is distracted by vomiting frogs and growing mushrooms and such like to summon his mage hand 30ft behind the girl "Fair enough my ploy didn't work but I got exactly what I needed, you're under their spell just like the rest of them" he points out to the crowd of employees now looking on "you claim that they are the best thing that ever happened to you but they cursed you twice! You stupid little girl... I'm going to find Gleam, I'm going to help her so she can help me, so if you truly are her friend, if you truly do want to help her then you'll find a way to give me the information that you seem unable to say out loud. Who are the H...?"
For Kettlesteam
You want us to ask them about Queen Zyblina and why she has been quiet. Will do.
For Barria and Rowan
He wants us to ask them about Queen Zyblina.
Giving a confirming nod to the general situation Mulligan then turns to look up at the sky, towards the Carousel, towards the Big Top, then towards the others.
For Barria and Rowan
I believe it is about an hour to midnight when the Extravaganza happens. The Staff Area, where Mr. With and Mr. Light should be, is just the other side of the Big Top. We could investigate the brouhaha at the Carousel but it will limit how much time we have with the two Misters before the Extravaganza.
Mulligan doesn't state what he thinks is best, just waits for the others to decide...
Rowan smiles at all of the telepathy and copied voices and images and general chaos of the carnival. It does have his own emotions bubbling just under the surface, but, for the moment at least, he's able to keep his in check and not let anything even more strange happen.
The others do notice the odd flower blossom when Rowan walks around.
"Ah, you are good at telling time then. That will come in handy. I've always found I'm a little off when it comes to time. The world doesn't really run at the speed it should. I'm envious of your skill."
Not quite getting the hang of speaking in his mind, he finds that when he tries he still speaks out loud.
"Brouhaha," Rowan says slowly, then again more quickly. "Brouhaha. That's a good word. Not emotional like Prismeer but still a good solid word. It's a good one to say. Brouhaha."
He looks over at the Carousel.
"We can at least take a look. It's right there. Takes but a moment to look." Rowan says and makes his way towards the Carousel to see what's going on.
Rowan does look back and call back to the Kenku.
"Is this one with you?" Rowan says, indicating the gnome who appears to have made the centaur cry. "He seems to have issues with the centaur just like you did with the mermaid."
Distracted by the centaur, she frowns as Barria notices that the centaur is crying and she wonders why at a place like this. Barria is then brought back to the group by the sound of music and smiles broadly when she sees Rowan playing a tune for her. Clasping her hands together, she exclaims, "Oh! Chauntea would be so pleased by this! Thank you for sharing your gift!"
Stealing another glance at the centaur, she sees that the creature is now shouting at her small companion and Barria's curiosity rises even higher.
She responds to Mulligan's question out loud, stopping his motions on the size of the frog when he his hands are about 2 feet apart. "Well, it was frog like... not sure if it was really a frog, but man did it have really bulgy eyes, skinny limbs and a smooth greenish like skin." she shudders, "What's your name by the way?"
All the words and images start to make Barria's head spin and when Rowan starts walking off towards the carousel she finds herself relieved even if they are just moving and not trying to decipher so much. What had she gotten herself into?
As they walk up, she catches a few words from the gnome and she scowls, "Little man, why are you calling her a stupid little girl? That is quite rude where I come from."
Greginald
You're not listening! Mister Witch and Mister Light didn't curse me. With a deep sigh, Diana wipes her eyes, then softly says: I'm done talking to you, horrible gnome. You don't care about my friend, only yourself.
Turning away from Greginald, Diana is about to go back to her duties, but then turns back and says calmly:
You can try talking to the unicorns. They won't give you their names though - you'll have to find them out for yourself, if you want to earn their trust.
She points to the Carousel, and the eight wooden painted unicorns that form the main part of the ride.
The curious onlookers lose interest as the altercation fizzles, and return to their own festivities. However, an elf with a lute on his back and a female dwarf seem to have taken an interest and are approaching from the west.
====================================
Rowan (plus Barria and Mulligan)
Kettlesteam simply responds to Rowan's question by shaking her head in the negative, indicating that she doesn't have anything to do with the gnome.
The centaur seems to have calmed down and the shouting has stopped by the time Rowan and Barria arrive at the Carousel. The brouhaha has subsided.
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
"oh I fully understand that it was 'the H...' who cursed you, but my point still stands Witch and Light seem fine and comfortable taking things from others, and that's without offering something in return!" G'Reg returns exasperated before the not-centaur calms down and offers a piece of actionable advice.
With the advice given G'Reg gives a nod and starts walking off toward the carousel but stops and looks Diana in the eye one last time, his face red and flushed with frustration which doesn't ease as he says "for what it's worth I'm sorry I tried to trick you, I'm sorry that you have to deal with this body that you were tricked into... I'd ask if you know anyone else who have been cursed by 'the H...' but I fear they'd have the same inability to discuss things as you have. I am trying to help Gleam, I think she took an interest in me for a reason and for selfish reasons or not I'm determined to get to the bottom of it. Good day to you!" And he marches off as fast as his stubby little legs will take him, which isn't very fast at all, and then some dwarf starts talking to him? He turns and looks at the oddball group. "I uhhhhh, I'm investigating a theft!"
For Rowan and Barria
You can speak aloud like normal. I can hear just fine.
I am Mulligan O'Menihan. Pleased to meet you.
Mulligan hopes the clarification helps after seeing Rowan have some apparent trouble trying to speak and send his words mentally both at once. Upon introducing himself he bows and momentarily as he does. He then follows along behind as they move toward the carousel and all, allowing Barria to take the lead with the Gnome and just observing for now.
Barria is taken a back by the red faced gnome and responds, "Well so are we!" but doesn't stop him as he storms by.
Looking up to the centaur, "Are you alright? Seems you've had quite the spirited conversation with that gnome."
Rowan eyes the carousel with interest but refocuses when Barria begins talking to the gnome and centaur.
He asks the gnome “Did someone steal your voice? Hmm. Maybe not since you just spoke. There does seem to be a lot of voice stealing going on here. And frogs stealing things. They should really look into having some sort of carnival guards to protect voices. But I am curious how a voice is stolen. Do you know?”
Mulligan rolls his eyes... He believes he has already covered this but perhaps he only told the Dwarf and not the Elf.
For Barria and Rowan:
Candlefoot bargained away his voice, it was not stolen. Far as I know only my voice was stolen. I would guess by the girl with the pig mask as she seemed a bit familiar to me when I first saw her. The frog and the shadow, the other thieves, I do not believe I have seen. As for guards, I believe the owners of the carnival allow the thieves to do what they do but why I do not know.
Rowan is happy for the explanation again but his questions were directed at the newly encountered gnome.
"it's fey bullcrap!" The gnome snaps in frustration. "But it doesn't abide by the normal conventions when Witch and Light do it..." He continues looking the group up and down. "There was an acrobatic duo here before, one is gone the other only manifests as a shadow and I think she is the key, though she might also be victim of this thievery that's going on, I myself had an item stolen from me last I was here, a hoe, a very important hoe! Taken seemingly as a consequence to the most minor of indiscretions, completely unfairly! But you're all investigating thefts too? What have you found out? We should find a more private place to talk, unless you're working for them" the gnome squints his eyes as if focussing harder will reveal the groups allegiances.
Barria:
The centaur's tear-streaked face softens as Barria offers a few quiet words of consolation. Perhaps it's the comfort of another woman’s presence, but after a few shuddering sobs, Diana finds her voice:
That little bully... He blames Witch and Light, but they care—they really do—even if they don’t show it. <sniffle> Then he tried to hex me or something, but I can’t talk about it—I literally can’t. The unicorns might, though. Let him try asking them—if he learns some manners first.
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Mulligan gives a quick lookaround to be sure that Kettlesteam is still with them, though if they've wandered off he's not sure there is anything to be done about it. He then eyes this Gnome a bit cautiously. They seem quite perturbed... About their hoe, the carnival and potentially everything.
For G'reginald:
You are a pimp and are offended by the actions of others?
The words appear in your head without tone or inflection. They are as clear as words on a page and as lifeless.
For the others:
This shadow he speaks of could be our third thief - The girl in the pig mask, the frog and the shadow. Candlefoot did not mention them as part of an acrobat duo though.
Mulligan glances around when the Gnomes mentions finding a private place to talk but does not immediately see such a place. Since he is glancing around anyway he does try to note if he sees any unicorns since the centaur mentioned them,
For G'reginald again:
We have just met but are all investigating, yes. I am not sure who this 'them' you refer to is. I know I for one am not working for anyone... We seem to know that there are three thieves - A girl in a pig mask, a frog and a shadow. Or so I have been told. It seems they operate without hinderance from Mr. Witch and Mr. Light but it does not seem they work for them. Though why they would allow the thieves to thus upset their carnival is unclear...