So My PCs Are Starting A Circus...

[MortalPlague]

I'm running a 19th level 4th Edition D&D game, and my characters are an assortment of folks who are larger than life, and more neutral than good or evil. Driven by fun and money, they are currently on a quest to take down a criminal organization that spans the north part of the country, and is currently trying to incite civil war.

Time is not a big factor in their quest, however. The war is brewing, but it's a long way off; their goals are more in line with cutting off the head of the snake by assassinating the lieutenants, and then the leader herself. But they're in no big hurry. They are, after all, paragon-level PCs.

Two of the characters have a retinue following them around, including a motley collection of weird and wonderful NPCs from across the planes. They recently left the entourage behind to delve into a cave and hunt down one of the lieutenants. They emerged a day later to find that Montgomery (one of their NPCs) had hidden the entourage from soldiers by pretending to be a circus. And, well, one thing led to another, and the entourage is actually drawing a crowd. They're situated about half an hour's ride from the front lines, so plenty of bored soldiers are hanging around, eager for something to do.

Upon learning about this at the end of last session, my PCs were delighted. They want to encourage it. Jaski, the rogue, wants to play ringmaster. And so for the first part of next session, we'll have ourselves a bit of a circus. If they have fun and run with it, perhaps even longer.

Basically, I'm looking for ideas. Some of the NPCs in the entourage would be a shoe-in for performing, but others would be less so. The acrobat troupe, for instance, will clearly be performing. Likewise the tiger tamer. But the lawyer? What could some of these NPCs be up to in a circus environment?

These are the NPCs who make up the entourage:

Catherine - Deva Butcher
Noddil - Deva Baker
Sephestro - Deva Candlestick Maker
Quira - Eladrin Tailor (and her assistants)
Antonio - Purveyor of Alcohol (modelled on the Most Interesting Man In The World)
Moller - Fire Genasi Apothecary
Xialla - Shadar'Kai Dancer
Lixle - Half-Elf Tiger Tamer
Montgomery - Human Treasurer (who they allow nowhere near their precious treasure)
Pear - Tiefling Chronicler
Portmouth - Dragonborn Lawyer
Eclaire - Lightning Genasi Painter
Jannoxel - Drow Ex-Slave (rescued in a previous adventure)
Fizzban Whistlesnout - Gnomish Alchemist
Tallera - The Boy (who is, in fact, a 12 year old girl)
A Troupe of Halfing Acrobats

 

[Kaodi]

If there is anyone in the troupe that can become invisible or otherwise disappear, perhaps the lawyer could do an improvised comedy routine where they argue that character "out of existence" . You know, something kind of Monty Pythonesque. Otherwise, they would easily be the most qualified person for managing the whole affair and dealing with officials, papers, and permits.

 

[GSHamster]

This sounds like something that should be player-driven. Instead of asking us, ask your players, and make them come up with ideas for using their crew.

As for the lawyer, maybe he once wanted to be an actor, but his family was horrified at the idea of him treading the boards. So he went into the law, and used his oratory talents to persuade juries.

Also, a circus does need workers, not just performers. People to count the money, to sell tickets, to put up tents, etc. Not everyone has to perform.

 

[MortalPlague]

This sounds like something that should be player-driven. Instead of asking us, ask your players, and make them come up with ideas for using their crew.

What I'd like to do is have their characters stroll back into camp at the start of next session and find the various entourage members already engaged in their chosen pursuits. This diversion will likely just involve one show, so I want to give the NPCs a bit of life by having them already doing something.

I like the idea of Portmouth being an aspiring actor, though. The thought of him delivering a dramatic reading tickles my fancy.

 

[Thunderfoot]

Catherine - Deva Butcher
Noddil - Deva Baker
Sephestro - Deva Candlestick Maker
Quira - Eladrin Tailor (and her assistants)
Antonio - Purveyor of Alcohol (modelled on the Most Interesting Man In The World)
Moller - Fire Genasi Apothecary
Xialla - Shadar'Kai Dancer
Lixle - Half-Elf Tiger Tamer
Montgomery - Human Treasurer (who they allow nowhere near their precious treasure)
Pear - Tiefling Chronicler
Portmouth - Dragonborn Lawyer
Eclaire - Lightning Genasi Painter
Jannoxel - Drow Ex-Slave (rescued in a previous adventure)
Fizzban Whistlesnout - Gnomish Alchemist
Tallera - The Boy (who is, in fact, a 12 year old girl)
A Troupe of Halfing Acrobats

Well, let's do a quick run down -
The acrobats, tiger tamer and dancer should have no problems playing themselves.
The painter could easily be running a paint your portrait booth similar to boardwalk painters.
The Butcher, baker, alcohol purveyor, apothecary and alchemist could set up food booths and the like. Maybe the alchemist comes up with potions that do wondrous things like change your skin color for a very short period of time, or makes your eyes glow or what not. Think very straight line here.
The ex-slave may have a torture routine in the "freak show" area, or possibly billed as the "scarred drow".

That leaves the Chronicler, the Lawyer, the Treasurer, the tailor, the candlestick maker and the boy/girl.
You could go for a bit of comic relief and make the lawyer a clown (sri DannyAlcatraz), the chronicler should easily be a story teller, or more "mystically" a fortune teller (using past stories as "fortunes") The treasurer should be relegated to ticket booth sales, a task he shouldn't mind. The other three(+) are kind of up for grabs, so far you have no magic act, no singers, no game hawkers or "rides". Let your imagination run wild with the rest and flesh out the good start you've already given yourself. Maybe the Tailor and entourage have set up the fantasy equivalent of the souvenir T-shirt booth.

 

[Filcher]

Also, maybe one or two of the "non-circusy" folks get thrown into weird, pinch-hit situations, only to realize they have hitherto undiscovered talents that deepen their sense of character.

 

[Stormonu]

Catherine - Animal Wrestler
Noddil - Sells sweets
Sephestro - Waxworks creator (wax museum pieces)
Quira - "Tapestry Weaver" storyteller/fortuneteller
Antonio - Medicine Man's Procurement Artist - "These tonics contain extracts of the Jub-Jub fruit, hand picked by myself from the deepest Jungles of Chult, obtained only by guile and spear from the bowels of fantastic beasts who much rather feast on my fair flesh than consume the life-extending fruit of the Jub-Jub tree."
Moller - Palm Reader
Xialla - Exotic dancer, of course
Lixle - Tiger tamer, of course
Montgomery - Weight Guesser
Pear - Predicts fortunes by reading folks handwriting, works with Eclaire to create on-the-spot advertisements while the crowd watches.
Portmouth - Barker - "Come one, come all..."
Eclaire - Speed Portraits
Jannoxel - Strongman - "One man breaks his bonds..."
Fizzban Whistlesnout - Fashions the 'Snake Oils' for the Medicine show
Tallera - Midget man
A Troupe of Halfing Acrobats

If you want some inspiration, I suggest watching "The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao" (Or "Something Wicked This Way Comes" for a more sinister version).

 

[MortalPlague]

I had the circus session, and it went very well.

Catherine and Noddil (butcher and baker) were running a concession outside (Noddil baked a special loaf of bread containing a pepper, the customer who found it got a prize).

Moller (apothecary) was selling tonics, draughts, elixirs, and cure-alls.

Jannoxel (the drow) was running a rigged game of chance in a side tent.

Eclaire (the painter) was doing cariactures. The best part; she prefers to paint nude subjects, so she insisted that the cariactures be done in similar fashion.

Antonio (the alcohol purveyor) showed up with a coffin, containing Corpsemead from the Shadowfell.

Montgomery (the treasurer) was running around, managing the whole show.

Xialla (the dancer) was the fair maiden who had an apple shot off her head (by our archer ranger PC).

Overall, it was tons of fun. The whole session went very smoothly, particularly the circus bits once we got under way. The cleric of Kord had a chance to wrestle a minotaur (a contest he won handily), which was a blast. Our rogue was the ringmaster, introducing the acts and heckling some of the audience. Much enjoyment was had by all.

Thanks for the suggestions!