"But of course," Halis says, as he hands over another coin. He pauses as Shath reaches for the coins and hangs onto it, staring deep into his eyes.
Just remember that in life, it's the successful people who ask how they can help others, and only the unsuccessful ones who ask what is in it for themselves,he tells Shath telepathically, before releasing the coin. "Pray tell us what you know,"he adds smoothly.
Hayle, the chain devil seemed legit. Flight may be a desirable course of action...
The World's Ugliest Boy
(Syl & Halis)
Shath takes the gold coin from you with a smile and gives weighs it in his hand before biting it to check for legitimacy (in the way everyone seems to somehow be able to check for counterfeits with their teeth in old movies...) before pocketing it and saying, "Thank you kindly, sirs. Mr. Sparkneedle resides at Mulberry Cottage in the Bluelake District. He may very well be there right now if you wish to call on him this evening. I'm certain any of the residents or members of the Watch who are about at this hour can direct you to it."
As if with the flip of a switch, Shath changes gears.
"Thank you both for coming to view my horrific visage for your idle pleasure and amusement. It's been my pleasure to entertain you with my sad story. If you will see yourselves back to the entrance, it would be prudent for me to get some rest. Still being a growing boy, I shouldn't neglect a good night's sleep and it's nearly my bedtime."
You look to the entrance and the barker pulls the flap back to let the noise and excitement of the Carnival flood back in.
"Well," Halis tells Syl. "That was productive, even if Shath was being somewhat less than truthful with us. I suppose he's satisfied with his place in life, and we shall have to be satisfied with his answers."
He steps out into the bright crowded carnival and looks around. "Where do you think the others have gone? I hope they're not getting up to any trouble."
Syl sees Hayle and Delanra standing in the open flap of another tent, confused or possibly concerned. Thokk still stands where you left him: licking powdered sugar from his now-funnel-cakeless fingers.
“Syl,” Hayle calls out. “Did you see where it went? The devil with the chains.” Hayle turns around, scanning the area, to see if there is any sign of it passage, possible due to a disturbance amongst the crowd. Perception: 9
"Let's pick up Thokk and make our way over,"Halis suggests. "The ladies look like they might have discovered something. And we should tell them our news!"
You see nothing out of the ordinary in the tumultuous crowd of Carnival-goers or your immediate vicinity that might mark the passing of a dangerous creature such as a chain devil.
The five of you reconvene and share your experiences, as strange and confusing as they are. After collecting yourselves, you see a few options for what to do next. Namely:
Search for the chain devil and/or warn the members of the Watch.
Explore the other attractions of Sideshow Alley.
Make your way to Mulberry Cottage in search of Balink Sparkneedle.
"Obviously, we must warn the Watch!"Halis says immediately, concerned. "This is no laughing matter! Those fiends are dangerous and there are children here! As much as we need to find Sparkneedle, the very least we can do is make sure that the populace is warned, and this sideshow attraction properly censured for such a terrible and dangerous sideshow!" He pauses, caught up by his own words. "In fact, if we can convince the guard of Mr. Sparkneedle's negligence in this matter -- he does run the place after all -- we could, perhaps, gain some leverage in our negotiations with him concerning the missing king. It's a detour not only morally and ethically imperative, but also beneficial to our greater cause!"
"Pffft, It was all smoke and mirrors. Though..." Delanra raises the back of her hand to her forehead and sways slightly, applying her most distressed expression and raising her voice to carry to the nearby crowds. "It was just terrible Halis, my life flashed before my eyes as I saw the stewards running for their own lives, not a thought for the safety of their customers! That attraction nearly killed dear Hayle and myself! The Watch you say? Why, yes, it would make sense if they were to ensure the area was safe." She checks to make sure that she has the eyes of the crowd before finishing her oration and falling into Thokk's bulk, hoping he has the sense to catch her without getting sticky fingers on her dress.
"It is not our concern to chase down this devil. It is not like we did anything to cause the problem." Hayle gave Delanra a pointed stare. "They should never have had such a dangerous creature in such a public, and family-friendly place. Surely they knew something bad would happen eventually. Maybe they even counted on it. Nothing draws a crowd like a little danger. Still, we probably should tell the watch what we saw. And if it leads to them applying pressure to certain individuals, who am I to complain."
(Delandra's passive deception beats Halis's passive insight by miles and miles and he wouldn't even think to check her, so...)
"Indeed, my fair lady!"Halis says, similarly raising his voice, though his loudness is laced with true sincerity. "To the Watch we must go, and demand justice and punishment to this criminally negligent Sparkneedle!"
A scattered handful of Carnival-goers pause at the loud proclamations and begin muttering to each other as they mill about in the crowd. A palpable concern spreads throughout the immediate vicinity and eventually an individual in the thoroughly-recognizable garb of the Watch approaches, chain armor clinking and boots clacking on the cobblestone. He hoists his shield at his side officiously, plants the butt of this pike on the ground, and looks around at the rabble.
Raising his voice above the din, he says, "What's all this, then? There a problem here?"
One person steps forward from the crowd, points at you, and shouts, "They're talkin' about dangerous monsters bein' loose and people fleein' for their lives! Is it true? Are there beasties on the prowl?!"
The guard looks around the area and then to you lot and snorts his disapproval and the ragtag group as he approaches.
"Is that true? I don't see any monsters. You aren't just yelling fire in a crowded amphitheater just to watch and laugh at the ensuing hilari... *ahem*... 'panic,' are you?"
He raises an eyebrow, expecting an answer as you see two other, similarly-dressed individuals slowly making their way through the crowd behind him.
Delanra moves away from Thokk's bulk as the officer approaches, she quickly waters her eyes, by holding her nose closed and trying to breathe out until the air escaped her tear ducts, the additional reddening of her cheeks wasn't an unhelp addition under the circumstances. Not her preferred practice, but needs must. As the officer introduces himself she smiles inwardly... Yes, that was exactly what she had done, though it hadn't quite gone the way Delanra had expected.
"Oh, Captain! It is 'captain' isn't it, such a way with the crowds... My friend and I were in one of these attractions when the vile creature somehow shirked its bonds and attacked us in a whirl of chains and blades. The carnival staff scattered for their lives. They left two women to the barest mercy of the creature they had kept against it's will." Delanra stroked a hand down the face of the watch officer before throwing herself at him and wrapping her arm around his torso and sobbing into his chest. "I am so glad you arrived, I feel so much safer already."
It was corny, cliched, and what most men expected a hysterical woman to act like, so that is what Delanra gave him.
The corporal blushes a bit as he sticks out his chest even further.
"Fear not, fair maiden! We'll take it from here and make sure the uh...criminals are...um...brought to justice!"
The more recently-arrived guards snicker quietly and he shoots them a dirty look before continuing.
"You and your friends will accompany me back to the Carnival entrance so I can see that you make it out unharmed while my men here," he glances back to the others, "investigate and set everything right."
He offers you his elbow and leads you back to the edge of the grounds and back out into the relative darkness of the bustling city street.
Thokk:
With the highest passive perception of the group, you glance back and notice the remaining Watch members entering the tent of the chain devil, laughing amongst themselves. You just make out the form of a human coming to meet them near the flap with a couple chains looped over his shoulder, wiping off makeup, and chuckling with the guards as he welcomes them in.
You all collect yourselves and get your bearings once again while decompressing from the overwhelming din of the Carnival. As you begin to walk away from the gate, you hear a familiar voice ring out from the darkness and Asparagus leaps into the road ahead of you.
"Well that was quicker than expected. I trust you were able to discover some sort of useful information...?"
You fill him in on the events of the past hour or so and that you discovered that Balink Sparkneedle lives at Mulberry Cottage in the Bluelake District.
"Let us be off then! There's no time to lose!"
The large tabby bounds off, leading you through streets and alleys once more. You make your way through several neighborhoods and closed business districts before finding yourselves on a dark and deserted main road. Gus stops to look around and reorient himself. Suddenly he sniffs the air, his head jerks to one side.
You hear a sound and your head swivels back the other direction. It's a low, gravely growl that slowly grows in intensity from being nearly inaudible to a point where you can almost feel it in your chest. Out of the darkness of an alley steps a huge, fierce-looking dog-like creature with teeth bared. Its shaggy, bristly shoulders are hunched and nearly reach the shoulders of most of the party.
"We need to talk," the creature states matter-of-factly in its deep, gruff voice as it sits on its haunches, effectively blocking your path forward.
Looking around, you see five more worgs step out of the darkness behind you, flanking the group. None are quite the massive size of the lead one in front of you but they are all quite large.
"Tell them nothing!" Gus hisses with his back arched and tail puffed out several times wider than you've seen it. He darts up a vine climbing the wall of a building and out of sight. You're left standing in the street, not knowing exactly where you are, and feeling a mixture of confusion, dread, and frustration that he keeps running off.
The lead worg sneers at the fleeing Gus and snorts before turning back to face you and standing back up to approach.
"I am Ungrulf, Lord of the Worgs," he begins in his rumbling voice. "My spies inform me you're searching for King Mopholemew. I must convey my disapproval of the cats involving your kind in our affairs. Our treaty is still new and precarious. It would be...unfortunate...for outsiders to spoil the tenuous alliance we've managed to achieve recently. Let matters of beasts be handled by the beasts. Consider this my fair warning to stay away. Give us what information you have and be gone. Trust that we will resolve this as a continued pact with Morpholomew and the cats is in the best interests of all the beasts of Neverwinter. Now...what have you found so far?"
He sits again, barely a pace ahead of you, and waits patiently, clearly accustomed to obedience.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"The best interest of the beasts?" Hayle steps forward. "You truly have the best interests of all beasts in mind? That is great to hear. The cats could really use your help right now. Do you know what chaos there would be if a whole section of the beasts suddenly became leaderless? The cats would be scrambling to find someone new, and others would reach out to support them if they agreed to work together in the future. Alliances would shift, and some would see it as an opportunity to grab for power, possibly even within your own ranks. I am sure you would hate to see that happen since you only want what is best for ALL beasts." Persuassion: 23
As Hayle speaks, one part of her consciousness slips below the surface of her mind and reaches out to the form waiting below. She had just stepped up to the Lord of the Worgs and she had no idea how he would respond.
"So since you have the interest of all animals in mind, how can you help us find Morpholomew?"
"But of course," Halis says, as he hands over another coin. He pauses as Shath reaches for the coins and hangs onto it, staring deep into his eyes.
Just remember that in life, it's the successful people who ask how they can help others, and only the unsuccessful ones who ask what is in it for themselves, he tells Shath telepathically, before releasing the coin. "Pray tell us what you know," he adds smoothly.
Arcana: 10
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
"Well," Halis tells Syl. "That was productive, even if Shath was being somewhat less than truthful with us. I suppose he's satisfied with his place in life, and we shall have to be satisfied with his answers."
He steps out into the bright crowded carnival and looks around. "Where do you think the others have gone? I hope they're not getting up to any trouble."
"Oh, if I know our friends..." Syl scans the area, seeing if he sees anyone familiar or if he sees signs of anything out of the ordinary going on.
Perception: 15
DM - Above & Below
Syl sees Hayle and Delanra standing in the open flap of another tent, confused or possibly concerned. Thokk still stands where you left him: licking powdered sugar from his now-funnel-cakeless fingers.
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
“Syl,” Hayle calls out. “Did you see where it went? The devil with the chains.” Hayle turns around, scanning the area, to see if there is any sign of it passage, possible due to a disturbance amongst the crowd.
Perception: 9
"Let's pick up Thokk and make our way over," Halis suggests. "The ladies look like they might have discovered something. And we should tell them our news!"
You see nothing out of the ordinary in the tumultuous crowd of Carnival-goers or your immediate vicinity that might mark the passing of a dangerous creature such as a chain devil.
The five of you reconvene and share your experiences, as strange and confusing as they are. After collecting yourselves, you see a few options for what to do next. Namely:
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
"Obviously, we must warn the Watch!" Halis says immediately, concerned. "This is no laughing matter! Those fiends are dangerous and there are children here! As much as we need to find Sparkneedle, the very least we can do is make sure that the populace is warned, and this sideshow attraction properly censured for such a terrible and dangerous sideshow!" He pauses, caught up by his own words. "In fact, if we can convince the guard of Mr. Sparkneedle's negligence in this matter -- he does run the place after all -- we could, perhaps, gain some leverage in our negotiations with him concerning the missing king. It's a detour not only morally and ethically imperative, but also beneficial to our greater cause!"
(OoC - sorry, returning after an unintended absence.)
Arcana: 4
"Pffft, It was all smoke and mirrors. Though..." Delanra raises the back of her hand to her forehead and sways slightly, applying her most distressed expression and raising her voice to carry to the nearby crowds. "It was just terrible Halis, my life flashed before my eyes as I saw the stewards running for their own lives, not a thought for the safety of their customers! That attraction nearly killed dear Hayle and myself! The Watch you say? Why, yes, it would make sense if they were to ensure the area was safe." She checks to make sure that she has the eyes of the crowd before finishing her oration and falling into Thokk's bulk, hoping he has the sense to catch her without getting sticky fingers on her dress.
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
As far as you could tell, Delanra, the creature was indeed a chain devil.
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
"It is not our concern to chase down this devil. It is not like we did anything to cause the problem." Hayle gave Delanra a pointed stare. "They should never have had such a dangerous creature in such a public, and family-friendly place. Surely they knew something bad would happen eventually. Maybe they even counted on it. Nothing draws a crowd like a little danger. Still, we probably should tell the watch what we saw. And if it leads to them applying pressure to certain individuals, who am I to complain."
(Delandra's passive deception beats Halis's passive insight by miles and miles and he wouldn't even think to check her, so...)
"Indeed, my fair lady!" Halis says, similarly raising his voice, though his loudness is laced with true sincerity. "To the Watch we must go, and demand justice and punishment to this criminally negligent Sparkneedle!"
A scattered handful of Carnival-goers pause at the loud proclamations and begin muttering to each other as they mill about in the crowd. A palpable concern spreads throughout the immediate vicinity and eventually an individual in the thoroughly-recognizable garb of the Watch approaches, chain armor clinking and boots clacking on the cobblestone. He hoists his shield at his side officiously, plants the butt of this pike on the ground, and looks around at the rabble.
Raising his voice above the din, he says, "What's all this, then? There a problem here?"
One person steps forward from the crowd, points at you, and shouts, "They're talkin' about dangerous monsters bein' loose and people fleein' for their lives! Is it true? Are there beasties on the prowl?!"
The guard looks around the area and then to you lot and snorts his disapproval and the ragtag group as he approaches.
"Is that true? I don't see any monsters. You aren't just yelling fire in a crowded amphitheater just to watch and laugh at the ensuing hilari... *ahem*... 'panic,' are you?"
He raises an eyebrow, expecting an answer as you see two other, similarly-dressed individuals slowly making their way through the crowd behind him.
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
Delanra moves away from Thokk's bulk as the officer approaches, she quickly waters her eyes, by holding her nose closed and trying to breathe out until the air escaped her tear ducts, the additional reddening of her cheeks wasn't an unhelp addition under the circumstances. Not her preferred practice, but needs must. As the officer introduces himself she smiles inwardly... Yes, that was exactly what she had done, though it hadn't quite gone the way Delanra had expected.
"Oh, Captain! It is 'captain' isn't it, such a way with the crowds... My friend and I were in one of these attractions when the vile creature somehow shirked its bonds and attacked us in a whirl of chains and blades. The carnival staff scattered for their lives. They left two women to the barest mercy of the creature they had kept against it's will." Delanra stroked a hand down the face of the watch officer before throwing herself at him and wrapping her arm around his torso and sobbing into his chest. "I am so glad you arrived, I feel so much safer already."
It was corny, cliched, and what most men expected a hysterical woman to act like, so that is what Delanra gave him.
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
Delanra: Make a deception check with advantage.
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
Deception: 14
(Sorry for the delay, this notification got buried)
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
The corporal blushes a bit as he sticks out his chest even further.
"Fear not, fair maiden! We'll take it from here and make sure the uh...criminals are...um...brought to justice!"
The more recently-arrived guards snicker quietly and he shoots them a dirty look before continuing.
"You and your friends will accompany me back to the Carnival entrance so I can see that you make it out unharmed while my men here," he glances back to the others, "investigate and set everything right."
He offers you his elbow and leads you back to the edge of the grounds and back out into the relative darkness of the bustling city street.
Thokk:
With the highest passive perception of the group, you glance back and notice the remaining Watch members entering the tent of the chain devil, laughing amongst themselves. You just make out the form of a human coming to meet them near the flap with a couple chains looped over his shoulder, wiping off makeup, and chuckling with the guards as he welcomes them in.
You all collect yourselves and get your bearings once again while decompressing from the overwhelming din of the Carnival. As you begin to walk away from the gate, you hear a familiar voice ring out from the darkness and Asparagus leaps into the road ahead of you.
"Well that was quicker than expected. I trust you were able to discover some sort of useful information...?"
You fill him in on the events of the past hour or so and that you discovered that Balink Sparkneedle lives at Mulberry Cottage in the Bluelake District.
"Let us be off then! There's no time to lose!"
The large tabby bounds off, leading you through streets and alleys once more. You make your way through several neighborhoods and closed business districts before finding yourselves on a dark and deserted main road. Gus stops to look around and reorient himself. Suddenly he sniffs the air, his head jerks to one side.
You hear a sound and your head swivels back the other direction. It's a low, gravely growl that slowly grows in intensity from being nearly inaudible to a point where you can almost feel it in your chest. Out of the darkness of an alley steps a huge, fierce-looking dog-like creature with teeth bared. Its shaggy, bristly shoulders are hunched and nearly reach the shoulders of most of the party.
"We need to talk," the creature states matter-of-factly in its deep, gruff voice as it sits on its haunches, effectively blocking your path forward.
Looking around, you see five more worgs step out of the darkness behind you, flanking the group. None are quite the massive size of the lead one in front of you but they are all quite large.
"Tell them nothing!" Gus hisses with his back arched and tail puffed out several times wider than you've seen it. He darts up a vine climbing the wall of a building and out of sight. You're left standing in the street, not knowing exactly where you are, and feeling a mixture of confusion, dread, and frustration that he keeps running off.
The lead worg sneers at the fleeing Gus and snorts before turning back to face you and standing back up to approach.
"I am Ungrulf, Lord of the Worgs," he begins in his rumbling voice. "My spies inform me you're searching for King Mopholemew. I must convey my disapproval of the cats involving your kind in our affairs. Our treaty is still new and precarious. It would be...unfortunate...for outsiders to spoil the tenuous alliance we've managed to achieve recently. Let matters of beasts be handled by the beasts. Consider this my fair warning to stay away. Give us what information you have and be gone. Trust that we will resolve this as a continued pact with Morpholomew and the cats is in the best interests of all the beasts of Neverwinter. Now...what have you found so far?"
He sits again, barely a pace ahead of you, and waits patiently, clearly accustomed to obedience.
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
"The best interest of the beasts?" Hayle steps forward. "You truly have the best interests of all beasts in mind? That is great to hear. The cats could really use your help right now. Do you know what chaos there would be if a whole section of the beasts suddenly became leaderless? The cats would be scrambling to find someone new, and others would reach out to support them if they agreed to work together in the future. Alliances would shift, and some would see it as an opportunity to grab for power, possibly even within your own ranks. I am sure you would hate to see that happen since you only want what is best for ALL beasts." Persuassion: 23
As Hayle speaks, one part of her consciousness slips below the surface of her mind and reaches out to the form waiting below. She had just stepped up to the Lord of the Worgs and she had no idea how he would respond.
"So since you have the interest of all animals in mind, how can you help us find Morpholomew?"