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Message: <blockquote data-quote="seasong" data-source="post: 530610" data-attributes="member: 5137">Eh, okay, fine, I'll just amuse myself then!IngredientsCarnivalManticoreCrystal Hypnosis BallStirgesCon GamesGiant SnakesDark Feast (level 6-8)Summary: A plague of stirges afflicts a town, a carnival rolls in to offer solace. Problem is, the carnival is robbing those who seek escape in its distractions, the stirges are getting worse, and who is eating the peasants? This scenario can go a number of ways: the PCs may end up fighting the hidden mistress of the carnival, working with the hidden mistress to combat the stirges, or getting fleeced within a drop of their lives by a lantern oil con.A Plague of StirgesOnce every generation or so, the wilderness stirge population in the nearby swampy, cave-filled hills rises abruptly, and the filthy little beasts plague the town. The town usually just waits it out, but this year is particularly bad, and they don't seem to be going away.The townsfolk have developed a choking powder which, when mixed with lantern oil, produces a smoke that keeps the stirges away, but it's not a perfect solution.A Carnival In Town!A travelling carnival calling itself Muhamara's Enchanting Troupe has rolled into town, just as a plague of stirges has swung into full strength. Offering comfort and escape in a time of troubles, the carnival has gone into full swing despite the bloodthirsty little bastards, and although no one has ever seen the elusive Muhamara, the word is that she's a sweet and kindly soul, offering solace to the soul while the world goes to hell.Muhamara's Enchanting TroupeMuhamara is a sleek, femminine manticore who has survived to old age, a rare feat for such a beast, and consequently gained far more intelligence and wisdom than might ordinarily be expected. Muhamara has INT 13 (avg), WIS 18 (avg), CHR 18 (+3), and 6 levels of Rogue (the reason she survived), but has grown physically weak and unsteady (STR 14, DEX 9, CON 13).Some five decades ago, Muhamara encountered a wandering troupe of pickpockets, burglars and con artists posing as a small, tatty carnival. They were in the wilderness, resting up after a very long chase out of a kingdom, and the (somewhat younger) manticore was inspired to a new way of life.Taking over was rather simple, and since then, she has shaped the ragtag band of sad acts into a properly spicy carnival, with a general focus on mesmerism and mind tricks. She has acquired two items, in particular, which have served the carnival well in its focus: a crystal hypnosis ball and a dwarf illusionist/8 (Shawn Colin) of uncanny artistry and nonexistent morals.The crystal ball is used (carefully) to persuade people that they have seen some delightful event in their future, and to instill a suggestion of buying a number of cheap, useless trinkets while at the carnival. Shawn Colin provides most of the carnival's glamour, in return for a sizable portion of the "crowd take" (of the pickpockets). When not doing that, Shawn also runs a fortune-telling service that has a reputation for being more "real" than the carnival's Mystical Crystal Seer (he does use divinations, but primarily, he seeks to gather data about anyone in town that Muhamara should be worried about).One other item is two twin Huge, Awakened constrictors with 3 levels of sorceror (which they claim as part of their dragon heritage). The two serpents speak in unison and slither in unison, but constantly watch in different directions. Their spell lists both focus on the enchantment/charm school, and they are the most impressive con artists in the carnival.Muhamara uses the carnival to travel reasonably incognito, posing as one of the side shows, and eating the occasional peasant unfortunate enough to be out after hours while the carnival is in the area. Shawn warns her about probable adventurers (gleaned from his fortune telling), and she will avoid these if possible.Tactics of the ManticoreMuhamara has had to fight on a few occasions, and has worked up some methods of handling it. If she is completely prepared, she has Shawn provide a number of illusions to cloak her and alter the appearance of her tent rooms, then attacks spell casters from hiding with tail spikes (don't forget backstab bonuses), before attempting to invisibly assault the warriors.Whether prepared or not, the constrictor twins are almost always with her in a fight, alternately Charming and bedazzling opponents.Shawn will do what he can to buff his side, remaining invisible himself. He's no warrior, and if somehow revealed, will most likely simply flee.HooksThe PCs just have to be in the general area when the plague of stirges begins. The townsfolk have lantern oil that will keep the stirges at bay. However, the oil is limited in supply, and so during one of these plagues the town effectively shuts down to the outside world - people remain in their homes when they can, or run, lantern in hand, through the streets when they need something. There is not enough oil to get to the next town.The PCs are stuck, as travelling a few miles through the occasional swarm of stirges is not likely to end well.Once that's established:Hook #1: The carnival has tons of anti-stirge oil lamps, and they're working well. The PCs may want to arrange to acquire enough oil to get them out of town, and the circus will happily sell it to them... of course, the refills are just ordinary cheap oil, sold at a premium price, and will put the PCs in a real, ah, sucky situation. If the PCs return, of course, the seller will be horrified at the error, and will arrange for them to meet the carnival mistress to "make everything right".Hook #2: Muhamara has been going a bit hungry for more than a month now, due to some unfortunate placement of towns and lack of good prospects. Desperate, she stalked and killed two peasants, gorging herself and failing to clean up well afterward. She regrets the actions, but at the time, she simply wasn't herself. The PCs could be hired to investigate, or one of the murdered peasants could be someone they've met and have some fondness for.Hook #3: The stirges have developed some tolerance for the oil, and have begun to attack people (including some carnival performers). Muhamara, informed by Shawn about the adventurers, arranges a meeting with them to combat the stirge threat. Against a common threat, after all, even a manticore can work with PCs.Hook #4: The PCs do themselves in... they have some other quest, and they seek out Shawn for his "more real divinations", and he decides to use them for his own purposes. Perhaps he wants the carnival for himself, and has teamed up with the snake twins to get Muhamara killed. Perhaps he just wants out of his contract with Muhamara. Regardless, he sets them up.Hook #5: The PCs, hailed as famous adventurers (or perhaps secretly set up by Shawn with the local leadership), are asked to take care of the stirge problem. When their initial foray results in a vengeul swarm hitting the town and almost ignoring the lamps, switch to Hook #3.</blockquote>

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