Aporeu chronicles Issue 4: Circus in town
Stories from the adventurers
This week
Short introductionCircus in town 1
I have heard that the brothers Rongo are coming back to town. The last time they were here I helped them with an escaped ape of them. They payed me handsomely back then, so maybe I can earn some more money at the circus. There will surely be people that need my powers of clairvoyance, I can see it in my orb.And just as I predicted, the moment I got there there was a doctor looking for someone. Of course I already knew what adventure was going to happen to us, but he didn't. Still it was rude of him to ignore me and heed the call of some child calling for help. But I still needed money, so I went with him and some other people to heed the call for help.
The friend of the doctor just straight up jumps into the well, even I couldn't predict that. And before I can tell them that it is a bad idea they try and pull the doctor's friend and the child up from the well. Of course it failed, the only one with some kind of upper body strength just jumped into the well. So I predict that if we tied the rope to something sturdy that the fellow would climb out on his own strength, which of course he does. I predicted it.
Apparently the child we rescued was the child of the owner of the circus Marvolo Rongo and because we rescued his child we got invited over for dinner with him, his wife Arla, Mayor Kelcey Honeypot and reverend Ragelson. They ask if we need some time to put on some nice clothes. I was deeply offended by that, I'm always wearing fine clothes.
And with the introductions during the dinner party I learned the names of the doctor and his friends, who apparantly weren't all friends (yet). Doctor Vasilievski, The guy that jumped in a well Hallrûn, A tabaxi named River and a young lady named Cleo.
During dinner we talked about a lot of things and ate a lot of different things. Rongo and the Mayor seemed to be discussing the rumors around the city that every time the circus came to town there were a couple of children that disappeared. Rongo is of course a honorable man and is horrified by the thought that someone in the circus might be responsible.
But halfway through the dinner we get interrupted by the sounds of animals. Seems like it is a common occurrence for the circus to let their animals escape when they are in Arnheim. Anyway, we negotiate a deal to subdue and recapture the animals in exchange for gold. I use my powers of clairvoyance to give a situation report of the surrounding area. but the first thing that I see is that River has run to the other side of the tent, damn he is fast, and attracts a lion with the fish platter he took from the dinner.
I relay this information to the rest of the party and I get dragged along by Cleo towards the back of the tent. I stop using my powers of clairvoyance so Cleo doesn't have to drag me along. With my help the rest of the party subdue the two lions that came at us and we know that after Cleo tried to let the lions sleep the sounds of the monkeys died down a bit. So we probably know where the monkeys are.
But before we go inside the tent I'm going to "see" what is going on inside.
Or not, before I can do anything the always so impulsive River uses his claws to open a hole in the tent and goes straight in. Encountering 1 sleeping monkey from Cleo's sleep spell and 2 monkeys that are as active as ever. But the party easily dispatches those 2 monkeys as well.
And after we defeated these monkeys a guy cowering in the corner came out. Apparently he is named Baryen and he is, probably was, responsible for taking care of the animals. He also seemed to have lost his keys. So we asked him if he had any contact with anyone. The only ones he had contact with was Rongo and the reverend. This made the reverend look more suspicious by the minute.
We go back to Rongo to claim our reward, but he says that we missed a monkey and that we weren't going to get our gold until every animal was captured. That was a mistake from him. While the doctor presses Rongo for the money we go after the monkey. Well the others go after the monkey while is use my powers of foresight to guide them to where the monkey is. And with my help they easily find and chase after the monkey. But this monkey was pretty strong as the three that were chasing him had quite some difficulty to put it down. But they are successful.
We head back to Rongo and the doctor. And now that Rongo can't complain about our success and a little pressuring from the doctor makes him pay us our gold, twice. He should've given it to us the first time. On top of the gold he makes sure that we get a free stay at the local inn. And I'm not really persuaded by that, I live in the city, why would I stay at an inn. But then he also offers to pay for our drinks, now that does interest me. With our suspicion of the reverend I ask Rongo if he can get the mayor and the reverend to come for brunch tomorrow. He finds the question a bit odd, we just had dinner with them, but I tell Rongo that it is the perfect way to tell them how we heroically subdued the animals. He agrees to the brunch and we head to the inn to use the opportunity to gather information about the faith of Helm and the missing children.
We get to the bar and most of us go and do our own thing gathering information, making people soil themselves, drinking and I look for a table to make some money. But apparently there was only one patron of the inn that was interested to know his future. A shame really, especially for my coin pouch. A little disappointed I start looking for information. And because this is about missing children, I look for the one person that looks like he or she is drinking their sorrow away instead of just enjoying their drink. When I approach him, it seems like I wasn't the only one thinking this. As doctor Vasilievski also approaches him and together we question him for information.
After gathering the information we needed we took a good nights rest. It's a little weird sleeping in the same city as my own bed, but not in my own bed. Anyway, after resting we head off to the circus again for that brunch. But when we get there Rongo immediately starts crying. His kid is gone. Doctor Vasilievski tells Rongo that he is the worst father he has ever met, The doctor must not have met many parents. My mother is definitely worse.
But we use the information we have and the skills of the party to find out where the reverend is hiding. They go in and doctor Vasilievski, who can't see in the dark, and I stay back. the others encounter some traps and River falls down a pitfall that leads to a lower floor, where the reverend is hiding. Hallrûn runs after River, but as soon as he goes around the corner there are two disciples of the reverend blocking his path. A grueling fight ensues, Where at some point I got way too close for comfort and desperately try to throw my dagger, which almost hits doctor Vasilievski, and run away again. The fight goes on, but eventually we defeat the reverend. Apparently the sick bastard ate the children. But we ended this and got some nice rewards in return.
Now this little adventure has made me aware of a couple off things:
- Joining the adventurers guild can make me some serious gold.
- Joining the adventurers guild gives me a strong group of allies.
- Joining the adventurers guild can make me stronger.
- Joining the adventurers guild might keep me alive longer, with all the healers.
- Joining the adventurers guild might give me a fighting chance against my mother.
Circus in town 2
Doctors Log Entry 2:The Circus is in Town. This means great opportunity for those who are smart, witty and willing to work. I find myself in the company of Hallrûn, one of the members of my previous mission, and I have convinced him to work for me. We will sell many many elixirs and make a killing. There is no current assignment in the guild for me to work that tickles my fancy, so I might as well enjoy this circus, and make a bit of money while I’m at it.
As the circus is doing its rounds, making their presence known, many elders fear they will get a lack of rest, and my sleeping potions will definitely help these folk. There are also performance enhancers for sexual pleasures and other elixirs I could perhaps barter off to those in need. Shrewdness is after all, the best way to make a bit of money.
Through chance we find the owner of the circus, Marvolo Rongo, who is looking for new members to his circus. I try to help him with a girthreducing elixir, but it seems he is happy with the shape he has as it is. I find myself listening to the reasonable singing of a Tabaxi (not Jade on the mountaintop), who introduce himself as Coursing River, then watching Hallrûn fail miserable at throwing a stick at a target. However, the next lady, a half elf of only a tender 20 years of age calling herself Cleo, throws a dagger straight into a target at great distance. I was not the only one who was impressed, although I feel like some form of trickery was used. Which is of course perfectly fine. At this point, Marvolo points me at a business opportunity, I could offer some throat medicine to the Tabaxi, who has left the area as it seems. I ask for directions and another individual tells me he can help me… For free! He introduces himself as Quen, and he can see the future. He has also caught monkeys in the previous year for the circus. He will aid me in finding the individual I am looking for.
As it turns out, business opportunity knocks in the strangest of ways and at the weirdest of times. I hear a yelling for help, it is faint, but it is there. Without any hesitation, the half elf dagger lady Cleo and I rush towards the sound. Halrŭn dashes past me, and dives into the darkness of a well from which the yells for help were coming. As a healer I find myself thinking rashly diving into dark holes will not allow me to heal properly, so instead I prepare a rope and we (eventually) as a group manage to get a child and Hallrûn out of the water. It appears he is the child of Marvolo, and he brings us to a meeting between the Mayor, a halfling lady named Kelcey Honeypot, a clergyman named Ragelson and Marvolo himself.
First of all we are rewarded with a feast, a gold coin each and tickets to the circus. Not too shabby for a simple rescue. Then we are rewarded with some information. It would seem that the circus has always experienced issues in Arnheim, and there have been missing children, torn to pieces by some monster. There have also been a lot of pick pocketing and minor crimes around the circus.
My interest is piqued, but as I get ready to flash my badge for the issue at hand, I am after all an expert at saving children from dangerous situations now, when we hear animal noises. It seems somebody has released the circus’ menagerie, and now they are running wild. A quick negotiation leads us to another 7 gold pieces split between the 5 people at the table, as well as Marvolo’s gratitude, provided we save the animals. Hallrûn also gets a special ring of jumping from the circus owner.
We travel outside, and to the circus tent. Quen, our fortune teller uses a magical flying cat to send out to disrupt the lion and the monkeys from their business. Then he uses his foresight to see through the sands of time and explains to us what is happening in the future. I don’t know how it works, and I once again feel like somewhere I am being tricked, but his words are true. It would seem I am not the only one able to use a little skullduggery from time to time effectively. River took the a platter of river fish from the feast with him, and runs off exclaiming he can calm the big cat. This is very like the last Tabaxi I met, Jade on the Mountaintop. We quickly try to follow the rash man, and find him running towards us, with a bit more trouble than he could handle, just like Jade. It takes quite a bit of handling, but in the end we manage to subdue two lions, and we have located where (most?) of the monkeys are. In the middle, the halfelf falls to the claws of a lion, but as a doctor, I manage to get her back up without a problem. But I find myself thinking 4 things. 3 dangerous, very ominous things…And a plan
So, I mention what I think is happening to the party. They agree. This is a distraction to kidnap children. As we manage to capture 3 monkeys, taking a lot of damage as the animals go mad upon us, the ringmaster, Marvolo Rongo, tries to swindle us. I hate being greeded out of money. Especially when we risk our lives and limbs to actually help him, trying hard NOT to kill his animals.
The others chase the last monkey, and my blood grows cold. Slowly, I walk up to the male lion. I look at Marvolo. I mention, that it would be a darn shame if this Lion got a new haircut being a poster animal for the actual circus. I also mention it would be bad to swindle the adventurers guild out of their money, and even worse for us to risk our lives at nothing. The swine of a man tries to blubber and cry. But there are lines that need not be crossed, and he crossed them. At this point of my inner rage, the group comes in with the missing monkey. I force him to pay double gold for our services because he tried to skimp out. He cries more, but eventually gives in, and pays us 15 gold pieces if we return his precious ring. I also explain the situation of the kidnapping to Rongo, but he obviously knows nothing.
After this, we go to a tavern, paid for by Rongo, or the mayor. To be honest, by now I don’t even care anymore. I use this time to inform about any missing children or kidnappings. The others suspect the church of Helm, which I fully support. Those bunch of snobbist do-good-ers always seem to hide skeletons in their closets. As we wake up, Rongo comes at us. His son is missing. Again.
I ask him, where he saw him last. At dinner. We saw him at dinner. I snap. I told him what was about to happen. He has a son. He didn’t bother to check. His wife didn’t check. We slept a whole night, his child was GONE for a WHOLE NIGHT. Nobody checked. He comes NOW, to tell us his child is missing for a FULL day. This man is awful. I let him know he is the worst father I have ever met, and I have met some bad ones. Normally, I would do nothing more for such a slime of the earth, but this isn’t about a corrupt father. It’s about a kidnapped son. Though I doubt he will end up much better, I cannot assume such things.
Our hunter and elf track down a cave, where we enter. As I am not a stealthy man, I offer to protect our prophet, and the rest goes on ahead. I light a torch, apparently the rest can see without. Quen helps me with some dancing lights, and we slowly proceed. Eventually, I hear the sound of combat, and I speed ahead, to find Hallrûn passed out on the floor next to two unconscious guards. As I see the fingers of death clawing at him, I quickly use my magical aptitude to save him.
At this moment, I hear a dreadful noise. Spiders. What is it with spiders and children. Why are there always spiders when children are involved. And most importantly, why do the spiders want to be with me. I…Hate… giant spiders…. The sounds of fighting around the corner continue, as the prophet Quen and I heroically start taking care of the giant spider. Cleo rushes ahead to tie up the sleeping guards, and the others are still fighting by the sound of it. Eventually, I manage to kill the beast, mostly thanks to the amazing aid from the Drow, though I must say one eye does not help with throwing daggers.
With everybody captured, The elf lady kills the two we tied up. Swift justice is a thing in this group I notice. However, their boss, the clergyman that I felt was bad news from the start, Ragelson goes off his rocker. He starts exclaiming he wished he had taken more kids, and that he loves kids. He loves their flesh and how it tastes. I have no words, this Cannibal prick can just fall down and die for all that I care.
Thankfully the little boy is saved. Though knowing Rongo, we won’t get any gold to show for it. After all, we only risked our lives to save him….right? At times like these I remember, these are people that deserve the bad things that happen to them.
This train wreck is thankfully over, and no more children will suffer. I guess this report will be lying on Kathniss’ desk for a while before she hopefully realized that the adventurers guild stopped a catastrophe, a panic and a widespread mistrust of the circus. And All that for reward money of about 2 days of living in the city, or at least the way I live. Glory to Circus Rongo.. Right? Thank god the clerics had some stuff I could pocket as part of adventurers clause 16, any gains gotten from legitimately defeated foes henceforth belongs to the Adventurers Guild and it’s associates. Or something along those lines. That made this at least somewhat worthwhile.
As it turns out, business opportunity knocks in the strangest of ways and at the weirdest of times. I hear a yelling for help, it is faint, but it is there. Without any hesitation, the half elf dagger lady Cleo and I rush towards the sound. Halrŭn dashes past me, and dives into the darkness of a well from which the yells for help were coming. As a healer I find myself thinking rashly diving into dark holes will not allow me to heal properly, so instead I prepare a rope and we (eventually) as a group manage to get a child and Hallrûn out of the water. It appears he is the child of Marvolo, and he brings us to a meeting between the Mayor, a halfling lady named Kelcey Honeypot, a clergyman named Ragelson and Marvolo himself.
First of all we are rewarded with a feast, a gold coin each and tickets to the circus. Not too shabby for a simple rescue. Then we are rewarded with some information. It would seem that the circus has always experienced issues in Arnheim, and there have been missing children, torn to pieces by some monster. There have also been a lot of pick pocketing and minor crimes around the circus.
My interest is piqued, but as I get ready to flash my badge for the issue at hand, I am after all an expert at saving children from dangerous situations now, when we hear animal noises. It seems somebody has released the circus’ menagerie, and now they are running wild. A quick negotiation leads us to another 7 gold pieces split between the 5 people at the table, as well as Marvolo’s gratitude, provided we save the animals. Hallrûn also gets a special ring of jumping from the circus owner.
We travel outside, and to the circus tent. Quen, our fortune teller uses a magical flying cat to send out to disrupt the lion and the monkeys from their business. Then he uses his foresight to see through the sands of time and explains to us what is happening in the future. I don’t know how it works, and I once again feel like somewhere I am being tricked, but his words are true. It would seem I am not the only one able to use a little skullduggery from time to time effectively. River took the a platter of river fish from the feast with him, and runs off exclaiming he can calm the big cat. This is very like the last Tabaxi I met, Jade on the Mountaintop. We quickly try to follow the rash man, and find him running towards us, with a bit more trouble than he could handle, just like Jade. It takes quite a bit of handling, but in the end we manage to subdue two lions, and we have located where (most?) of the monkeys are. In the middle, the halfelf falls to the claws of a lion, but as a doctor, I manage to get her back up without a problem. But I find myself thinking 4 things. 3 dangerous, very ominous things…And a plan
- Somebody set free these lions.
- This somebody did this last year to kill innocent children
- This somebody isn’t from the circus because it only happens in Arnheim
- Animals are afraid of fire. We could perhaps avoid a fight with the monkeys by using fire to corral them back into the cages. This would save time, allowing us to hopefully save the children before they are little more than bones and shreds.
So, I mention what I think is happening to the party. They agree. This is a distraction to kidnap children. As we manage to capture 3 monkeys, taking a lot of damage as the animals go mad upon us, the ringmaster, Marvolo Rongo, tries to swindle us. I hate being greeded out of money. Especially when we risk our lives and limbs to actually help him, trying hard NOT to kill his animals.
The others chase the last monkey, and my blood grows cold. Slowly, I walk up to the male lion. I look at Marvolo. I mention, that it would be a darn shame if this Lion got a new haircut being a poster animal for the actual circus. I also mention it would be bad to swindle the adventurers guild out of their money, and even worse for us to risk our lives at nothing. The swine of a man tries to blubber and cry. But there are lines that need not be crossed, and he crossed them. At this point of my inner rage, the group comes in with the missing monkey. I force him to pay double gold for our services because he tried to skimp out. He cries more, but eventually gives in, and pays us 15 gold pieces if we return his precious ring. I also explain the situation of the kidnapping to Rongo, but he obviously knows nothing.
After this, we go to a tavern, paid for by Rongo, or the mayor. To be honest, by now I don’t even care anymore. I use this time to inform about any missing children or kidnappings. The others suspect the church of Helm, which I fully support. Those bunch of snobbist do-good-ers always seem to hide skeletons in their closets. As we wake up, Rongo comes at us. His son is missing. Again.
I ask him, where he saw him last. At dinner. We saw him at dinner. I snap. I told him what was about to happen. He has a son. He didn’t bother to check. His wife didn’t check. We slept a whole night, his child was GONE for a WHOLE NIGHT. Nobody checked. He comes NOW, to tell us his child is missing for a FULL day. This man is awful. I let him know he is the worst father I have ever met, and I have met some bad ones. Normally, I would do nothing more for such a slime of the earth, but this isn’t about a corrupt father. It’s about a kidnapped son. Though I doubt he will end up much better, I cannot assume such things.
Our hunter and elf track down a cave, where we enter. As I am not a stealthy man, I offer to protect our prophet, and the rest goes on ahead. I light a torch, apparently the rest can see without. Quen helps me with some dancing lights, and we slowly proceed. Eventually, I hear the sound of combat, and I speed ahead, to find Hallrûn passed out on the floor next to two unconscious guards. As I see the fingers of death clawing at him, I quickly use my magical aptitude to save him.
At this moment, I hear a dreadful noise. Spiders. What is it with spiders and children. Why are there always spiders when children are involved. And most importantly, why do the spiders want to be with me. I…Hate… giant spiders…. The sounds of fighting around the corner continue, as the prophet Quen and I heroically start taking care of the giant spider. Cleo rushes ahead to tie up the sleeping guards, and the others are still fighting by the sound of it. Eventually, I manage to kill the beast, mostly thanks to the amazing aid from the Drow, though I must say one eye does not help with throwing daggers.
With everybody captured, The elf lady kills the two we tied up. Swift justice is a thing in this group I notice. However, their boss, the clergyman that I felt was bad news from the start, Ragelson goes off his rocker. He starts exclaiming he wished he had taken more kids, and that he loves kids. He loves their flesh and how it tastes. I have no words, this Cannibal prick can just fall down and die for all that I care.
Thankfully the little boy is saved. Though knowing Rongo, we won’t get any gold to show for it. After all, we only risked our lives to save him….right? At times like these I remember, these are people that deserve the bad things that happen to them.
This train wreck is thankfully over, and no more children will suffer. I guess this report will be lying on Kathniss’ desk for a while before she hopefully realized that the adventurers guild stopped a catastrophe, a panic and a widespread mistrust of the circus. And All that for reward money of about 2 days of living in the city, or at least the way I live. Glory to Circus Rongo.. Right? Thank god the clerics had some stuff I could pocket as part of adventurers clause 16, any gains gotten from legitimately defeated foes henceforth belongs to the Adventurers Guild and it’s associates. Or something along those lines. That made this at least somewhat worthwhile.
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