What Adventure Awaits?

[Mark Chance]

It's a crisp autumn morning in Gragmoor. The sun stains the eastern sky with fiery colors. Somewhere a rooster boasts of its presence. Another somewhere else responds in kind. A new day dawns ripe with possibilities.

 

[jkason]

Kaer Fegavas, human barbarian

"Kaer! Kaer! Kaer! Kaer!"

The large lumpy figure in the bed growled, but after another half-dozen excited repetitions of his name, Kaer finally rolled off his cot. He didn't bother to catch himself, falling to the floor on his back with a thump. He squinted up at the blurry shape of an older boy.

"Sleep now. Too. Much. Mead."

"Aw, come on, Kaer! Fandrake's been up a whole hour!"

"Fandrake's inhuman, Timit," Kaer returned, though he was standing. He needed to remember that going on a bender with a man who's whole act was about his immunity to toxins was ill-informed, to say the least. Kaer pulled a pair of trousers on and grabbed his tunic and boots.

"Okay. I'm up. What's the new trick?" he asked the circus' youngest acrobat.

 

[Aldern Foxglove]

The Marvelous Zantalus, Elven Wizard

Meanwhile...

The Marvalous Zantalus was being faced with one of the trickier dilemmas of his century plus of life. He liked children in the abstract, at a distance, but found the actuality of them rather disconcerting.

Three of them were now staring at him, like wolves that had scented weakness and were closing in for the kill.

"Why 'ave you gotten pointy ears?" Ask the smallest one, a creature he suspected was female due to the predominantly pink coloration of it's clothing - though this was hardly a given with show folk.

"I have pointy ears because that is how elves are made my dear, our senses are keener as a rule than humanities."

"Why are you an elf?" Chipped in the little snotty one, who Zantalus was fairly certain had a name like Angus - yes that was it Snotty Angus. For a moment he caught himself mulling over th deeper philospophical meanings of this question, until he caught himself.

"Because my parents were elves." I must act now or I shall never extract myself, "Now children Rupert here," on que the ferret emerged from his robes blinking sleepily and regarding the young humans dubiously, "was just telling me that he did not think any of you were quick or clever enough to catch him."

"Are to!" Came several indignant replies as grubby hands reached for the ferret. Zantalus raised a warding hand.

"No, no, children, you must count to twenty before you try to find him, and close your eyes tight while you do so." To Zantalus's relief they complied, scrunching their eyes tight and beginning a faltering uncertain count.

Setting Rupert down he gave his familiar an apologetic glance, feeling Rupert's betrayal through their bond. "Come now Rupert, I have faith in you. Surely you can outwit a bunch of children?" He whispered.

Whatever his feeling Rupert shot off between the carts vanishing from sight, Zantalus quickly following his lead and making a beeline for his own wagon where he intended to begin scribing another scroll he would need for the coming performance.

 

[Scott DeWar]

Berm was asked to wander around and ensure there were no trouble brewing, so he did so. He watches with intrest the exchange between the elvin wizard and the children. H watches carefully which way the ferret goes and when the children are at the requisite number he gets their attention and points them in the direction of the furry rodent.

He moves off to toher places after that , so as not to be blamed for the children's success. . ..

 

[Aldern Foxglove]

Rupert 1st level Ferret

Rupert scurries away at breakneck speed anxious to avoid being discovered and attempts to vanish into the shadows of wagons and gear.

 

[Herobizkit]

Shalaye, half-elf Oracle

Shalaye woke with a feverish start, her body covered in sweat. The voices haunted her even in her sleep.

She rose, crossed her tent to a bowl of water resting by her makeup table, splashed water onto her face. She wiped her face with a rough towel, then sighed as she sat on the small stool before her mirror. She stared at her reflection, absently began to prepare for another day's performance.

She heard the laughter and excitement of children outside the tent. Her heart felt the tiniest bit lighter knowing that there was still room for laughter within it.

After getting dressed, she took a deep breath and stepped out into the morning sun to see what was the commotion.

 

[Aldern Foxglove]

The Marvelous Zantalus, Elven Wizard and Stone Cold Fox

Entering his wagon Zantalus takes a fresh seat of parchment and sets it down upon the desk that takes up half of the space - as an elf he has no need of a bed afterall.

He spends a few minutes tweaking the tip of his right ear - almost permanently ink stained - as he considers what he needs to add to his array of scrolls. An Enlarge Person perhaps? Or maybe a Disguise Self? Hmmm.

There was a knock at the door and Zantalus sighed as Sheria - the matronly (human) bear tamer and the bearded ladies understudy - with the aide of some strong glue and artistry.

"Zanty darling! You really must let me take care of you more, you need more light, you will blind yourself squinting at those squiggles." She cooed placing a pie down upon his parchment. Confounded woman.

He sighed heavily, "Sheria I am an elf we see better than you humans, and I am one hundred and seven years old. I really do not need taking care of. Especially by someone young enough to be my granddaughter." And boosomy enough to suffocate one of her bears.

"Oh, Zantykins you old charmer you. You say the sweetest things." Sheria tittered. He buried his face in his palms. Zantykins? Infuriating woman. "Don't be shy now my love, I was thinking we could..."

"Actually I was hoping you could help me practice my act my dear." Curses I must refrain form offering anything that could even loosely be deemed a term of endearment, the fool woman will take it as a proposal of marriage. He withdrew the silly silver pendant he used in his act and raised his eyebrows in hopeful inquiry.

"Oh you devil! Of course you can practice on me, you can do anything you like wi..." Sheria replied fanning herself with her hand.

"Ah, splendid splendid, now close your eyes. Excellent, now listen to the sound of my voice, imagine yourself surrounded by clean white feathers staring up at a starry sky that sweeps away to infinity. Now Thgil Aekil Tuo! Sleep!" He intoned, pulling out a pinch of sand and rose petals and scattering it as he stood. Hmm, the rose petals might have been a mistake, but then they are far easier to keep on one's person than live crickets - besides Rupert always eats my insects.

As Sheria's snores echoed throughout the wagon Zantalus swiftly snatched up his lap desk and scribing supplies and fled to seek a secluded spot... Not my proudest moment.

 

[Mark Chance]

"Okay. I'm up. What's the new trick?" Kaer asked the circus' youngest acrobat.

"I'm not sure, Kaer," Timit replied as the pair started across camp to the sandpit. "I just know Fandrake is in one of his moods. Best not keep him waiting."

Setting Rupert down he gave his familiar an apologetic glance, feeling Rupert's betrayal through their bond. "Come now Rupert, I have faith in you. Surely you can outwit a bunch of children?" He whispered.

Whatever his feeling Rupert shot off between the carts vanishing from sight, Zantalus quickly following his lead and making a beeline for his own wagon where he intended to begin scribing another scroll he would need for the coming performance.

Berm was asked to wander around and ensure there were no trouble brewing, so he did so. He watches with intrest the exchange between the elvin wizard and the children. H watches carefully which way the ferret goes and when the children are at the requisite number he gets their attention and points them in the direction of the furry rodent.

He moves off to toher places after that , so as not to be blamed for the children's success....

The children waved to Berm as they hurried pell-mell in the direction indicated.

Rupert scurries away at breakneck speed anxious to avoid being discovered and attempts to vanish into the shadows of wagons and gear.

The children split up, surrounded Rupert's last known hiding place, and leaped for the capture with squeals of delight. Unfortunately for the children, the ferret had eluded detection and was safely skulking away with at least some pride intact.

After getting dressed, Shalaye took a deep breath and stepped out into the morning sun to see what was the commotion.

Shalaye almost bumped into Rorbi, one of the troupe's cooks. She was a plump, sweaty woman dressed in mannish clothes who wore her dark, thick hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. Worry stretched her thin lips into a frown.

"Beg pardon, Shalaye," Rorbi said. "Have ya seen Vandro? He went down t' the river t' do some fishin' just before dawn. I tol' him t' be back at sunup, but he's still gone."

Vandro was Rorbi's teenage son. He was not the brightest lad, but had a heart of gold and would never dream of worrying his mother.

As Sheria's snores echoed throughout the wagon Zantalus swiftly snatched up his lap desk and scribing supplies and fled to seek a secluded spot... Not my proudest moment.

Scurrying from beneath the flap of a nearby tent, Rupert slid into view, stopped, and gave Zantalus a pointed look.

 

[Aldern Foxglove]

Zantalus the Ferret Chastened, Elven Wizard

"Ah Rupert, see I knew you could elude them, you need to work on your self esteem. Now help me do the same with Sheria, can you you see a nice hiding spot?" Zantalus says genially, unable to meet the muscalid's accusing gaze.

 

[jkason]

Kaer Fegavas, human barbarian

"I'm not sure, Kaer," Timit replied as the pair started across camp to the sandpit. "I just know Fandrake is in one of his moods. Best not keep him waiting."

Kaer growled, but nodded. He hopped his way out of the tent pulling his boots on as he followed Timit, then hustled to catch back up, trying to clear his head as he tried to find the arm holes in his tunic.