As Olvir’s moonsilver anima diminished he discovered the short claws of a tyrant lizard weren’t especially good for cleaning himself and opted for a quick dunk in the river to wash the blood and guts still clinging to him away. We waited a while as his anima faded before heading back to the city where an afternoon of library research awaited us.
Song introduced the others to the familiar Academy secretary and library staff as her ‘research assistants’ and sure enough they both assisted admirably as we consulted the gathered texts to find local deities with considerable purviews who may have come into antagonistic contact with the Censor of the East. Notes, rumours, texts and interpretations of writings led us to three potential candidates:
Steinthr: a senior merchant god with an interest in the cities and towns and trade routes of the East (amongst other regions).
Moriz: the god of foraging within forests, whose main area of focus was the East with its vast swathes of trees.
Azeri of the Grey Mind: the god of wisdom passed down through generations. Azeri had particular interest for Song but we also found suggestions she may have had dealings with the Eastern Censor which would make her someone to speak with.
It had taken us a few hours but we’d gleaned what we could from the library and needed to get back to the circus – we had a performance tonight. Back at the circus we discovered Selene’s search for new talent had already proved productive (or at least, there were new people... their talent had yet to be determined) and a couple of new wagons sat pitched up which we later discovered our new fellows had bought between them.
A woman was attempting to juggle and doing a passable job – though she wasn’t up to the standard even the youngest of the circus folk could manage. A rather portly and enthusiastic man claimed to be a sword swallower – though it transpired he’d experimented for the first time at the tryouts which struck us as overly ambitious... we knew a little of the skill involved and it wasn’t something which could simply be picked up as a trick without practice.
Nearby a man was making critical assessments of one of the semi-rigid tents we had pitched and he at least looked to have some skill as a craftsman. And standing a little way from the group was a man with a hummingbird which it seemed he’d trained to fly in tight movements around him. He didn’t notice us straight away, so intent was he on his orbital companion.
Afra had, perhaps unsurprisingly, decided she fancied the circus life too and engaged Caelan in a game of Chase the lady which had him both confused and impressed by her expertise. Song managed to follow the game but only just, and that was enough to leave her equally impressed. Selene introduced the juggler as Synn, the man with the hummingbird as Aart, the sword-swallower as Ler and pointed out the craftsman as Hadrian.
As Olvir talked to the newcomers and had Synn try to juggle some odd objects Song looked around, her essence sight noticing for the first time a mystic working laid across the camp. She was fairly sure it was Raksha in origin – Selene’s handiwork, she presumed, and it seemed to make it easier for performances to succeed, though the details of it weren’t clear. Perhaps it made everyone perform better? Or perhaps it aided the idea of the circus itself, enhancing the performances and making those watching more likely to fall under the spell the circus inspired.
By this point Olvir had Synn standing on his shoulders, juggling eggs. An enthusiastic Teela sat watching, her eyes tracking the movements of each egg (quite a feat in itself) as she waited for the slightest mistake meaning a tasty snack for her. Synn however seemed to excel as Olvir piled on the pressure and managed a successful display with 5 eggs, catching all of them before her dismount – the Raksha magic had definitely helped.
Song left Olvir getting to know the new people while she headed to her caravan and shifted to a bird form before taking to the skies to discover the effect covered all of Moonspire, nearby farmland and jungle: in all some 2 miles in all directions, centred on the circus.
Olvir and Caelan meanwhile talked to Aart who told them how he’d rescued the little bird as a broken-winged chick and nursed her back to health. She’d been with him ever since. He didn’t have a name for her – he just whistled, and she came. They left him talking to Selene about his act and went to find Song who reported on what she’d found. Olvir got to musing and recalled the night around the fire when Selene had told the story of the Balorian crusade and taken a little of the strength of everyone there to bolster her own and a surprised Caelan and Song wondered quite how often she’d done that and resolved to watch her a little more closely in the big top when they got the opportunity. For now there was a show to be had, and each had their part to play in what turned out to be – with the help of Selene’s magical effect – one of the best shows the circus had ever performed. Afterwards, Selene looked radiant. Song, Olvir and Caelan were a little less radiant and a little more suspicious.
Varten returned late in the night but Song had just dismissed her last fortune seeker and he made himself comfortable on the well worn floor of her wagon, wrapped in blankets, as she curled up in her hammock and leafed through her ancient book of lore. In the morning she had a batch of pancakes cooking as he and the others gathered around to discuss what might be offered to the gods we’d researched the previous day, in return for their time and hopefully their assistance in gathering evidence against the Censor. Varten had found a handful of ironwood trees – probably the last few descendants of the groves that would have been grown many centuries before when the Spire was fully operational. This was promising – we hadn’t expected to find any at all, and it gave Olvir an idea. While we’d need some for our own plans, it would also make an excellent trading commodity which might appeal to Steinthr and after breakfast we headed out to find them. Song realised the hearthstone she carried would come in particularly useful and she left the others to track down the ironwood trees while she found the best place to site a grove before rounding up the trees and settling them into their new location.
Back in town – and leaving Varten to his own devices - we went to the Moon Market where Song made use of one of the altars where offerings were made to various gods of trade negotiation, barter and money to offer up a prayer to Steinthr, introducing herself and her companions and inviting him to consult with us. And with that done, there was a coliseum battle to get ready for, so we returned to the circus where Song left Olvir and Caelan to their preparations. She went to her wagon where she took a scroll detailing a weaving pattern, handed down in her family for generations, and gave it as an offering to Azeri of the Grey Mind with the same request she’d made of Steinthr. Azeri she knew was rumoured to hold a wealth of knowledge and one theory held even she didn’t know fully how to divulge it, but Song hoped she’d be willing to speak to her on more than just the Censor, if she heeded her request.
She joined the rest of the circus who were heading en masse to the coliseum in jovial mood to cheer on Olvir and Caelan. It was hosting a few warm up fights... but there were really only two battles people were here to see: the semi-finals of the tournament.
First up was Olvir against Alik of the Streets. Kashlyk took centre stage to announce the rules and start the fight. Both combatants called on charms before moving in to tackle the other: Alik moving faster and punching Olvir in the face, but his blow barely raised a trickle of blood. Olvir tried to grapple him but Alik matched his moves and went to smash his nose into bits, but Olvir dodged quickly and Alik only struck his tough forehead. Olvir’s ears rang and he responded by using his trident to vault Alik and drop the net over him. Captured, the street fighter threw off the net but it slowed him down and the two turned to face each other again. Olvir’s swipe missed but Alik launched an essence fuelled attack as he ground sand into his face. Olvir staggered back to clear his eyes and realised his moment of hesitation could be turned to his advantage.
With Alik thinking he had his enemy weakened he didn’t react quickly enough as Olvir whipped out his trident and stabbed at him, each point drawing blood. Alik’s curse went unheard as he focused all his will into a solid punch to Olvir’s most sensitive area and followed it up with a flurry of solid blows to his gut. Olvir staggered from the blows but rallied and channelled his all into a furious blow with his trident and impaled Alik to the ground, his life blood gushing out onto the sand. It was over.
Olvir posed for the crowd before limping off to cheers. He exchanged a few words with Caelan before finding a quiet corner to heal himself where Teela kept him company, licking the splashes of blood off his skin.
Time for the next fight: in the wings Caelan sized up his opponent who gestured for him to precede him into the arena. He was facing Solmund of Orsha and before the two faced off Kashlyk repeated the rules once more before allowing both their preparation time. As the cry went up for the battle to commence, Caelan drew his daiklaive and with one blow cut him to the ground. Silence descended as he stared down, almost in disbelief at the crumpled body before the crowd erupted in cheers. He walked away still in shock.
Watching from the competitors’ area, Olvir watched Solmund’s student hang his head as his master fell and tried to offer unspoken reassurance before Kashlyk rounded him and Caelan up to take to the sands once more and rally the crowd for the final, but with the cheers over they both walked away a little numb.
The circus folk cheered for both, of course, and were ready to greet both men as they left the coliseum. After a moment though Olvir pushed his way back to find Kashlyk and ask about funeral rites for the two fallen fighters – but was reassured it would be taken care of either by their friends and family or by Kashlyk.
Song had gone on ahead to make sure there was ale and hot wine for the returning heroes and celebratory circus folk, and as she passed a large tankard to Varten who was helping her, Selene arrived and placed a little platter beside the drinks for Olvir and Caelan: two familiar looking rice balls. Song scrutinised them: to her sight they radiated wyld-like essence but didn’t seem to hold any threat for either fighter and they both felt refreshed after eating them. Tall cups of warmed saki were offered to wash them down.
Caelan spotted Afra amongst the crowd and took her to one side for a few words – he wanted to know what she was doing, if anything, for the children she’d be leaving behind. She looked a little awkward but shrugged, saying she’d left them the little money she had, since Selene had said the circus pretty much took care of food and board. She seemed to be pretty resolved to moving on and leaving them to their own devices but Caelan was still concerned and asked Olvir to look in on them. Nodding, the strongman found a place to shift to an aerial form and flew silently across the city to the run-down house he knew the children had made home, and watched carefully through a window. He was saddened to see some of the younger ones crying and a couple of the older ones trying to comfort them whilst a little tearful themselves. He shifted to human form to walk to the Moon Market and buy some sweet treats to leave at the door anonymously. Okay, it wouldn’t fix all problems – but it was the sort of thing which made him feel better if he was feeling low.
Back at camp he discussed it with Song. She suggested she could try talking to the head of the Academy – perhaps they would have use for a group of children who’d work for little more than food and board? Olvir let Caelan know what he’d found as well, and as they talked conversation soon turned to the upcoming final fight where they’d face each other. Olvir asked Caelan how he was feeling... and with a grin, asked if he was at all worried he’d kill him in the tournament? Caelan was still a bit surprised by the outcome of the earlier battle but of anyone, most up for banter with Olvir. They talked over the battles, their actions and the moves their opponents had used – concluding that when it came to a one on one fight, armour was a necessity. Since both wore armour it at least meant they had a fighting chance.
The night wore on but as we went our separate ways to sleep none had a restful night. Song stayed up talking to Varten about Selene: he didn’t think she’d done anything harmful and nor did Song, but she feared such acts may simply just too well hidden, or that her plan wasn’t yet developed. It was the risks, too, that she feared, not what Selene had already done. He offered to speak to the Jet Court about her if Song thought it would help, but she declined – no need to stir up a potential hornet’s nest for what (she hoped) was no reason.
Olvir’s dreams were full of blood and trident inflicted wounds and he woke gasping for air to find Teela lying across his face. The death he’d caused in the arena weighed heavily on his soul, unaccustomed as he was to taking life. Caelan was perhaps a little more hardened to such things but his sleep was equally disturbed as his worries conspired to gnaw at him.
The next morning was chill but bright as we set out to find truffles, spurred on by the need to find a suitable offering to Moriz. What better to find truffles than the wild pigs of the forest... and thus Song and Olvir spent an hour or so each hunting one so they could claim their shape. The male and female boar had a litter and so as to make the most of their catch the piglets were herded towards Caelan who swiftly despatched them for later eating, while pig-shaped Olvir and Song went rootling through the leaves for the precious truffles.
Olvir soon scuffed up a few fine specimens but Song combined two techniques to secure her prize. She nosed through the damp leaf litter which nature had gathered into uneven heaps amongst the tree roots until a wonderfully earthy and irresistible scent called to her, and letting her nose lead the way found herself excitedly nosing amongst the gnarled roots of an ancient tree. She shifted back into her human form and took out her hearthstone, laying it against the trunk and bidding the tree gently raise its roots and bring the truffle to the surface where she could reach down and brush off the remaining earth. Her prize was huge, a veritable mammoth amongst truffles and worth its weight in jade – but this wasn’t destined for any mere market stall or chef’s pot.
We had no need to go far – Moriz’s altar could stand anywhere his purview extended and the bounty of fungus made a spectacular offering for a foraging god. Song felt certain he had heard her prayer and hoped he would attend to them as requested.
We returned to the circus with a brace of piglets each and found the new recruits with Ittur practicing fire breathing. Ittur always kept his Dragon-Blooded origins quiet so they couldn’t know quite how much he outclassed them, but nonetheless two of the three were doing remarkably well. Olvir and Caelan, never ones to pass up a competition especially when taunted by Ittur to show the new recruits how it was done, were both pretty impressive though Olvir’s massive lung power did him proud as his fiery plume even equalled Ittur’s.
Caelan and Olvir went to pass the pigs to someone to have them gutted and the meat prepared, so Song was alone and busy mixing potions in her caravan when a hollow knock at the door called for her attention. She bade whoever it was to come in – not taking her eyes off the careful mix of alchemical ingredients she was measuring – and thus turned round with some surprise to find a plump looking Van-Oris hopping up and down from leg to leg. He’d returned as soon as he could and at her question somewhat awkwardly explained he’d had a frank discussion with Vanileth... and had been promoted. He was no longer simply a servitor of Vanileth but was now the god of airships from Moonspire – so, he said plaintively, we’d better hurry up and build one, so he could be god of it.
Caelan and Olvir were pleased to see him back and the Solar quickly took him outside to speak privately about the missive he’d asked him to carry before he left. The little bird god reported that Eloise had been a little surprised to see him, but she’d not allowed herself to panic and considering the source of the message, said she’d not been too surprised. Van-Oris reported she was safe and well and had said all would be okay – though she’d preferred things the way they used to be. She’d told him they’d moved out and were living in a smaller manse on the edge of the city – there was building going on and at least that meant people had jobs, and no-one was in immediate danger.
When Caelan returned with Van-Oris he told the others that while there’d been changes in Brightwater it didn’t sound like people were in immediate danger so not need to rush back – though he still didn’t want to leave it too long. Van Oris piped up that in which case, Moonbeam’s Flight would definitely help. We looked quizzically at him and he explained with no small hint of pride that within the Moonspire hangar was an airship – which probably only needed a little work – named Moonbeam’s Flight upon which his Sanctum would be based. Ruffling under his feathers he produced a ring of grey steel he’d been wearing around his neck and announced it was the door to his Sanctum which Vanileth had given to him.
Olvir asked to take a look and Van-Oris passed him the ring – so Olvir waved it over his head out of reach and laughed at how he now had his sanctum. Van-Oris could barely speak from spluttering by the time Olvir handed it back with a grin and told him he really ought to be more careful. Caelan managed to distract the panicked bird god by bringing the subject more immediate matters – the Censor, the Spire and how he could help us deal with all the problems which currently left Moonbeam’s Flight out of reach.