Extinction Curse - Chapter 1: Murder in the Center Ring

Come one, come all! Humble performers become leaders of the Circus of Wayward Wonders when tragedy strikes. But as these heroes lead their motley band of performers and roustabouts around the Isle of Kortos, they uncover a sinister plot to exterminate life from the Starstone Isle. The dead god Aroden may be gone, but his legacy lives on, as do his old enemies who would destroy the wonders he raised from the sea. Spectacle meets savagery as the heroes strive to stop the Extinction Curse!
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Re: Extinction Curse - Chapter 1: Murder in the Center Ring

Post by Muskrat » Wed Mar 23, 2022 5:57 pm

Gorrick breaths a sigh of relief as Grong intervenes. He hadn't been sure what to do about the children. He looks around to make sure there aren't any stragglers who haven't followed Grong.

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Re: Extinction Curse - Chapter 1: Murder in the Center Ring

Post by ManWithDoor » Mon Mar 28, 2022 12:02 am

The children stare in awe at the majestically-dressed goblin that invites them over rather than yelling at them. One of them point and blurts out "It's Grong the Great! He's real!" The magician is almost immediately surrounded with happy and energetic youths. They move to whatever space he walks to, and squeal in excitement at even the basic tricks and cantrips he warms up with. It's entirely possible these kids have never seen real magic, or at least not magic designed to delight and entertain.
I'm imagining the large Profile picture you showed in your first Post as an eight foot tall poster hanging on one of the outward facing walls of the Circus Tent. There are others showing the other acts as well, but evidently you get top billing with these kids. :D
As final preparations are made backstage, the lights go down and the audience settles into their seats, and the circus' performers take their places awaiting their cues. Suddenly, several of the performers closest to the curtain that separates the three rings from the rest of the tent leave their assignments, gathering in a small crowd to exchange frightened whispers and hushed gasps.

Only once you come closer yourselves to see what the drama is, you see a body contorted and strained as if forever caught in the throes of terrible pain, and worse - it is the corpse of Ringmaster Myron "Thunder" Stendhal! The leader and central voice of the Circus, a man with an amazingly powerful voice that could bring instant silence to the largest crowd, and knew everything there is to know about putting on a successful performance, is dead right in front of you. But the crowd is still out there, and they're expecting a Show ...
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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Re: Extinction Curse - Chapter 1: Murder in the Center Ring

Post by Muskrat » Mon Mar 28, 2022 5:18 pm

Gorrick freezes for a moment, then looks at the crowd. He wants to do something to help, bu the crowd terrifies him. Much more than a dead body. So he whispers, "Let me take him. I know a little medicine. I can see if he's beyond help. And ... maybe I can tell what happened."

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Re: Extinction Curse - Chapter 1: Murder in the Center Ring

Post by silverfoxdmt73 » Tue Mar 29, 2022 10:11 am

Leclerc wondered how the goblin could cope with all the noise and clamour around him as the children crowded around him, a little jealous of the attention. He was more of an introvert, though for some reason he envied those that could deal with the attention.

A shout and the startled gasps of some of the other performers drew his attention from the goblin’s showmanship and Leclerc quickly made his way over to the circle of people just behind the curtain.

“Thunder?” He gasped, seeing the big man contorted on the ground before him. “What has happened?” He said, kneeling beside his idol, “Did anyone see anything?” he asked, looking around those crowding around the circus’ ringmaster.

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Re: Extinction Curse - Chapter 1: Murder in the Center Ring

Post by Grimbold » Sun Apr 03, 2022 8:37 am

Grong leads the kids to a safer area and then tries to "disappear" behind some smoke and fireworks. As he moves back into the direction of the stage, he notices the commotion and comes closer to investigate. When he sees the body, he gasps. "What happened? Gorrik, can you find anything? Was it an accident?" He will also examine the body and try to put his knowledge to use to find any information.

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Re: Extinction Curse - Chapter 1: Murder in the Center Ring

Post by ManWithDoor » Tue Apr 05, 2022 4:37 am

One of the older members of the circus, a sideshow barker named Professor Zarlian Kyosophus, comes over with a silk cape to cover the body while everyone gathers around backstage. With the bad lighting and the noise and the movement it's hard to see much about a cause of death, as there simply isn't time to death with this right now. If you don't perform, you don't eat. And if the show is delayed any longer, the whole thing is liable to end in disaster. All you get before Thunder is covered up is that his legs look swollen, and there are strange small tracks all around him. The Professor cordons off the area to preserve the evidence for later.

As the performers stare at the covered corpse and whisper to each other, anxiously peering around the curtain at the crowd, the Professor - a thin and frail veteran of the Cirucs - looks up. "Well, what are you all standing around for?" he asks, his weak voice barely audible in the hushed silence. "Have you seen that crowd? We haven't ever had the tent packed this full. There's a show to put on, and we have to find a way to do it. So finish your makeup, get into your costumes, and send in the clowns!"

Quick to follow the Professor's advice, the Circus's clowns immediately bound through the curtain and into the three rings. This buys time for the Professor to try to bring a big of order to this disaster, but it is clear he isn't up to the task. He is skilled and cunning, but he is clearly getting exhausted trying to organize this chaos, and in a minute is leaning on one of the tent-poles wheezing loudly. He calls you three over to him with an imploring look. "I - I just can't. Please, the others know their business, but Thunder was the heart of the operation. They need someone strong to take over, at least for tonight. Just send in the acts as you see fit, and I'll help you to try to get these people shocked back from inaction into their best form." He gasps to catch his breath. "Please? In Myron's absence, we need to give a performance the audience will never forget!"
There are full rules for running the Circus that we will use in future Books, but the first one is relatively straight-forward. All the preparation work ahead of time (Circus upgrades, advertisements, etc.) have already been completed, so it's just up to you to run the show itself.

There are 7 Tricks that you can send in over the course of the Circus's four Acts. One Trick for the opener in the center ring, two tricks for the build-up in the side rings, one trick for the big number in the center ring, and three tricks for the finale in all three rings. There are 6 NPC Tricks that are ready to be performed, so at least one of you will have to do your Signature Trick. Although more than one of you could do a Trick, or combine to do a joint Trick, etc.

The Professor can explain the details of the NPC Tricks and make recommendations, but he will leave the final decisions to you. He will admit that Myron had likely already decided on the Tricks and the order, but didn't have the opportunity to tell anyone before he was killed. Sounds like he was the type to run things by the seat of his pants, rather than an established plan beforehand.
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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Re: Extinction Curse - Chapter 1: Murder in the Center Ring

Post by Muskrat » Wed Apr 06, 2022 6:52 pm

Gorrik helps the Professor cordon off the Professor's remains, then kneels down to try to make sense of what happened. He looks carefully at what is left of the tracks, then examines Thunder's swollen legs, looking for clues as to what caused this condition, whether it is an assassin's poison or a venomous animal.
Survival +6
Medicine +6

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Re: Extinction Curse - Chapter 1: Murder in the Center Ring

Post by Grimbold » Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:10 pm

Grong looks at the others and sighs. So sad for Stenhal. Ok, so now he had to do something to get everything going. He nods to the others and says. "We need to put on the show, that is right. If no one else will do it, I will have to do it. Let's start with something funny, for the kids, then you bring in the animals and then, Leclerc, you do your acrobatics. Then... hmmm, what else have we got?"

He looks around if everyone agrees, ready to take any suggestions.

If no one else does it, Grong the Great will assume his persona and introduce the first act, the clowns.

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Re: Extinction Curse - Chapter 1: Murder in the Center Ring

Post by ManWithDoor » Tue Apr 19, 2022 10:09 pm

In the small amount of time that Gorrik has to perform an inspection, all the additional information he can gather is that the small marks on the puffy legs appear to be fang marks. Likely from very large insects, or more mundane-sized snakes.

The Professor gives you a rundown of the available performers as they stand. He anticipates drama to ensue no matter how you arrange the acts, given the egos involved and the trauma found just moments ago. He will help as best he can to keep the wheels of the operation running smoothly, but you are the most competent and unshaken leadership available.
Issue: There are 7 Tricks that you can send in over the course of the Circus's four Acts. One Trick for the opener in the center ring, two tricks for the build-up in the side rings, one trick for the big number in the center ring, and three tricks for the finale in all three rings.

List of NPC Tricks available:
1) Axel's Amazing Aviary - See him produce birds from underneath his cloak! They fly, they sing, they deliver sweets to children in the audience!
- Skill Check(s) = Nature

2) The Dwarven Throwers - See these tumblers shape themselves into a living ballista and launch themselves through the air!
- Skill Check(s) = Acrobatics, Athletics

3) Elizia and Mister Tickles - See her handle deadly vipers of many kinds, and dance with a 16-foot long anaconda!
- Skill Check(s) = Intimidation, Nature

4) The Flamboni Sisters - See feats of juggling from these two brave sisters. Can they juggle fire? Will they set themselves on fire?
- Skill Check(s) = Deception, Fortitude Save

5) The Feather-Fall Five - The Kanbali family balances on tightropes with bounces, flips, and aerial feats to delight!
- Skill Check(s) = Acrobatics, Athletics

6) Mordaine the Magician - Acts of illusion performed with skill, not magic! See Mordaine escape from shackles, locks, and a water-filled tank!
- Skill Check(s) = Thievery, Fortitude Save
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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Re: Extinction Curse - Chapter 1: Murder in the Center Ring

Post by Muskrat » Wed Apr 20, 2022 5:52 pm

Gorrik leaves handling the performances to the others. He wants to see what clues her can gather about Thunder's death before too many of them disappear in the chaos of the performance. It's also a way at keeping his own horror at the murder at bay. He quickly returns to his quarters to fetch Ozo, his bear companion, both for the comfort of his presence, for the extra security he can provide--and for the beast's keen sense of smell.

He leads Ozo to the backstage area and whispers to him, "Now see if you can find any scents that don't fit in. Someone did something bad--and I want to see if it was someone from outside the circus."
Ozo: Wisdom +1, Perception: Trained, scent (imprecise, 30 ft.)

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