Murder’s Mark, Pathfinder 1e Module

[ImperialOfficer]

Aronan enters the carnival. Never been to one of these before, and I have nothing better to do, so why not. The food seems interesting, so he checks out some of the food stands.

(OOC: Will post more info on my character tomorrow)

[Darcstaar]

A barker hands you a map of the Carnival.

They key reads:

1. Parade Grounds

2. Big Top: Come Witness the Great Jherizhana, ferocious Gynosphinx!

3. Midway (where you are now)

4. Magnificent Menagerie

5. Crew Wagons: Off Limits

6. Wondrous Sideshow of Fantastical Marvels

7. The Winding Market

 

Aronan samples a juicy bratwurst on a stick, a spiced mead, and a small funnel cake for 5cp.

[Dilvish the Deliverer]

Failing to gain implicit permission to find a place to tell stories in hopes of coin, Karl leaves the Midway to see what sort of creatures that the Menagerie contained.  One didn't often get a chance to see potentially dangerous animals up close; not without placing your life at risk anyhow.  Perhaps he can learn something about them, and work them into a story sometime?

[Darcstaar]

 

You don’t get charged admission to go into the zoo area.  However, once you enter the area you are besieged by “carnies” begging for coin.  Requests vary from helping pay to feed the animals, straw for cages, repairs, costumes, etc.

 

 

 

The zoo cages are actually quite impressive.  There are some animated skeletons, a bear, a jaguar, a wolverine, a small manticore with its tail spikes surgically removed, and a "Baby Dragon," which seems like a large monitor lizard.

[Dilvish the Deliverer]

Karl look appreciatively at the animals, and seems a bit unsettled by the skeletons.  Such creatures are simply unnatural and shouldn't be allowed to exist.  Of greatest interest is the manticore.  He spends some time contemplating the creature and picturing it free and fierce, composing verse about it's sharp claws and regal tail.

[ShadowRaven]

Leaving behind the midway, he made his way to the big tent to see what sort of show they had happening there.

[Darcstaar]

Darkaya is corralled over to another curiosity in the Midway known as the The Lovely Madame Masque:

Three raised runways meet at a point like an arrow beneath a brightly colored pavilion tent.  Where the runways meet sits a tall, rectangular box covered in mirrors.  Off to one side is a raised speaker's podium.  Posters on makeshift signs depict an attractive woman in a provocative gown and silver mask, with the words "the Lovely Madame Masque" in bold print.

 

The speaker cries out "Place your bets people! Who among you has the wits and memory to be victorious?  Simply observe the Lovely Madame Masque when she arrives.  Make careful note of her outfit.  For when she returns the first to shout out the correct answer wins the pot!"

 

(Do you go along with it and put money in for the bet?  Anything from 1cp to 1sp).

 

 

 

Kendrin approaches the Big Top.  It is roped off, and the flaps are closed.  A guard intercepts you.  "Please come back at 2pm, good sir.  At that time, the price of admission to the main attraction is 1sp."

[haldir]

I will follow Darkaya, but I will only observe the spectacle that is "The Lovely Madame Masque" for now. She wants to see someone else's luck before trying her own. (Any skills needed?)

[Dilvish the Deliverer]

Karl takes his leave of the Menagerie wanders past the big tent.  He sees that it is not open yet and continues onto the Wondrous Sideshow of Fantastical Marvels.

[Darcstaar]

7 minutes ago, haldir said:

I will follow Darkaya, but I will only observe the spectacle that is "The Lovely Madame Masque" for now. She wants to see someone else's luck before trying her own. (Any skills needed?)

OOC-I thought Darkaya was your character, Haldir?

[haldir]

21 minutes ago, Darcstaar said:

OOC-I thought Darkaya was your character, Haldir?

 

ooc, oh yah duh.......

 

I'll try my hand then. I'll hand over 1 silver piece.

[Darcstaar]

“Big spender!” Says the announcer.  He rings a cowbell and blows into a kazoo to get more attention.  “Maybe this otherworldly beauty hopes to have a more intimate look at Madame Masque, eh?”  He plays up the crowd, collects all the bets, and counts them up.  “Wow, 10 silver all told.  Ok.  I am pleased to present: the lovely, the mysterious, the alluring...Madame Masque!”

Madame Masque emerges from a tent and walks up a catwalk assisted by a guard.  She is a shapely woman in a provocative Varisian costume gown of red and black silk held together by ribbons.  She is adorned with all manner of scarves, earrings, necklaces, and other decorative costume pieces.  Her face is concealed by a finely crafted silver mask, hiding all of her face except her beautiful and playful brown eyes.  She remains mute, but nods, waves and motions to the crowd flirtatiously.

 
She struts and saunters down the central runway for a minute, then is guided into the mirrored box by a guard.  She shuts it behind herself.  The announcer makes a flourish and says some magic words as if he is casting a spell, then commands Madame Masque to re-emerge.  When the mirrored cabinet opens, three Madame Masques emerge!  Each is dressed completely different from each other and from the original.  The announcer speaks up. “Alright.  Now for the contest.  The first one to yell out which Madame is wearing an article of clothing or jewelry from the original, and what that item is, wins the pot.

 

(OOC make a Perception check)

[haldir]

Percep - 15 + 7 (22)

 

[Darcstaar]

Darkaya quickly and confidently shouts out "It's the pendant over her left breast!"  Immediately the other two illusions vanish.  The crowd collectively sighs their frustrations at being beaten.  The third illusion returns to the mirrored cabinet and enters.  When it reopens, the original Madame Masque and the winning illusion reappear to prove that Darkaya is in fact correct.  With a snap of her fingers, the illusion vanishes.  Madame Masque slowly and sultrily ambles down the catwalk toward Darkaya.  She bends over, and produces an embroidered ribbon from her outfit, and gently tosses it so it lazily floats down to Darkaya's grasp.  She blows Darkaya a kiss, motions to tie the ribbon into Darkaya's hair, and begins walking back to the center of the stage.  She flirtatiously looks over her shoulder one last time to the crowd, lingering her gaze on Darkaya, before exiting the stage with a guard.  The announcer takes over, clapping loudly.  "Alright, well done, well done everyone.  Let's have a loud round of applause for Madame Masque, and our clever winner!"  He rummages through the purse and hands you 5sp (the carnival takes its cut of half the coin).

[Darcstaar]

Karl is approached by an underling.  "Hello sir.  We heard you were looking to have a small space for storytelling.  My manager asked me to find you.  You can rent out a small stage for 1cp per hour.  One quarter of your earnings must be paid to the carnival.  For another 1cp per hour we can have a barker announcing your attraction.  What is your stage name, good sir?"

 

Karl proceeds to the "Freak Show."  Admission to the roped off area is 1sp.

Inside are a multitude of sights and smells.  Some booths peddle "artifacts," magic items, potions, incense, relics from forgotten saints.  There are curtained booths for a variety of deformed humanoids.  Some are legitimate, others are a "stretch" of the imagination.  There is a sword swallower, a fat bearded lady, a tattooed man.  There is an "orc" (really just a fat Galtan woman with a severely deformed nose), a "fire giant" (a 7'6" red-haired Ulfen), a Choker (this one really is a Choker) who lazes with droopy lids in a makeshift throne.  The biggest attraction is the "Saggy Man," which is a version of a Varisian Boogeyman.  This is a young farmer's son with a strange skin condition causing all its skin to droop down excessively.

 

As Karl meanders around, he overhears a hushed conversation behind him...

"Be careful Winston.  Mind your purse, you know how these Gypsies are..."

 

Does Karl want to rent a space to try his hand at storytelling?