((The following is part 1 of the Valentines RP held by Three Graces, so proceed with caution - Xan's Humble Chronicler))
Bright one mid-February morning, the sense that something was horribly, terribly, desperately wrong permeated the island of Tol Lochul. No one could put their finger on quite what it was until suddenly Addie’s cries of anguish were heard echoing through the House of Three Graces. Had her mother come to visit? Had she accidentally on purpose raised the dead again? Had she lit one of her friends on fire again?'
Of course all those on the island who loved her rushed to help her, bringing Addie water, and smelling salts, and snacks (Finchley brought those), and a small rocking chair and some holy water…but she refused all of them (which was a great relief to Finchley who started to eat the snacks for her).
Through her sobs, her friends learned the awful truth. When she summoned him this morning for his usual Vegan Salmon and Seitan medley, he did not respond. In short…Rollo...was missing!
Carneryn raised a brow "How do you lose a bear on a small island?"
Addiela is inconsolable. "Bears can swim, Ryn!... They can SWIM.. and Rollo likes riding the boat back to the mainland."
Everyone glanced back and forth. Carneryn finally murmered, 'And... Would they let him onto the boat alone?'
Addiela was searching behind books in the bookcases now. “OF COURSE ON HIS OWN…he is old enough.”
Finchley nodded, 'I mean... he is kinda cute. Cuteness gets you anywhere.' She pulled the remaining bread rolls from her pockets (she still had about half of what she had brought). "Heeere Rollo! I have snacks! Good snacks, No more nasty Seitan..."
Carneryn sighed quietly, trying to think logically as Addie had reached the point of checking under rugs. "Then... Where did you last see him?
Finchley looked around for the bear…while she nibbled on the bread rolls.
Ellsabeth raised her hand. 'Sorry for being the new girl to the island but…who is Rollo?'
Carneryn explained, 'Addie's bear.'
Finchley exclaimed, 'The best boi.'
Nethrida whispered, 'The mightiest, most noble bear there is!'
Xan summed up the consensus, 'Rollo is our leader in combat...our most important enforcer. Many is the battle in which our foes lost all hope upon hearing one of their comrades cry out..."OH FECK they have an insane bear!!!"
Finchley nodded, 'All hail Rollo!'
Elsa looked down, murmuring. “…Sorry I asked.”
Addiela nodded to all those descriptions as she wiped tears from her eyes. "And he's never run off without letting me know where he was going."
Nimlindir the Songstress, but recently returned to the island, looked concerned, 'Did he leave a note Addie? Some kind of clue?'
Addiela just glared at Nim. "Elves...." she muttered to herself. “He is a BEAR…Bears don’t leave notes. Something is wrong... If he were close he would have heard my call and would have been by my side by now.”
Carneryn says, 'Surely we just split up and search the island first?'
'Perhaps....” Xan thought for a moment. “Addie, you can be honest...did you and Rollo have a falling out? Did the fur fly?'
Finchley looked serious, 'Oh, did you have a fight? How... em-BEAR-assing.'
Nimlindir smiled, 'Bear with us Addie, we just want to get to the bottom of this..If you can just give us the bear necessities i am sure we will find him quickly...'
Ellsabeth looked to Addie for a moment. “Grin and Bear it?”
Finchley gigglesnorted then looked guilty.
Addiela shook her head, her eyes showing some frustration at their jokes. "I hate you all. This is a serious matter.. what if someone took him?" A rather shrill caw from behind them sounded as Addie’s raven Morn swooped down and landed on Addie's shoulder. She looked to the bird and her expression became even more distressed.
Carneryn says, 'Alright... Does the bird know where he went?'
Morn reported the following to Addie which she then translated out of Raven for the others. He did not know where Rollo is either, but saw the bear walking towards the docks some hours before...what's more, the Bear seemed to be staggering as if drunk and would often pause to make loud MEERRRRWWWRRRWWRRRRRRR noises.'
Finchley frowned, 'Maybe he's sick? Or ate somethin' funny?'
Nimlindir sighed, "Sounds like he got into the Lotus honey!'
Based on Morn’s statement, the company made their way down to the Tol Lochul docks.
Addiela and Morn spoke back and forth on their way down to the dock in a series of caws, kraas, and almost croaking noises. To everyone else it would sound like they were arguing or were angry with one another, perhaps playing the blame game for not watching Rollo, but in truth they were both trying to calm each other. Whatever you say in Raven, it always sounds angry.
Finchley offered the last of her bread rolls to poor Morn, since Rollo clearly wasn’t coming for it.
Morn was mid-kraa when she spied the roll; fortunately Finch was used to Galvra's cries in her ears because Morn turned to face Finch to finish the rest of her squawking before taking that roll abruptly.
Finchley gigglesnorted as Addiela shook her head, "She would normally say thank you, Finchley, but apparently she's forgotten her manners and has taken to stress eating." Morn shook her body and fluffed her feathers out at Addie when she said that.
Finchley shrugged and smiles. "Better than Galvra's stress screechin'."
Somewhere on the island could be heard Galvra’s angry "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!" at being left behind.
Morn replied back with her own angry "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!" before Addie took what was left of the roll Finch had given the bird and stuffed it into Morn's beak.
And so the group made their way anxiously down to the docks as Addie loudly talked with the bird...which was somewhat amusing as Addie made flapping gestures and squawked loudly.
Finchley was not a perfect tracker but could find some animals in a pinch. "Well, looks like Rollo definitely came this way." She stooped down and picked up a few honey drop wrappers and wrinkled her nose at the random dead fish here and there.
Xanderian noted the traces as well. "And he prepared snacks for himself…”
As they all arrived at the docks, several different sailors were standing about while others were loading and unloading supplies from the sleek Gondorian ships that served the island.
Addiela walkd straight past the sailors and onto the boat to look around for Rollo, since she and Morn had stopped their chattering.
Nimlindir smiled, 'Look Xanderian! It is the sailor men who were waving to us yester eve as we bathed!'
Finchley strode on up to a sailor and tapped him on the shoulder. "Sorry to bother you. But, did you see a large bear come by this way?"
The sailors were used to Addie snooping around so they ignored her, but several looked at Nim, Xan and Elsa and elbowed one another, grinning a bit which made Elsa blush deeply. It seemed they remembered watching the women bathe as well. Nethrida and Ryn looked around just in case a bear was hiding amongst the boxes and barrels. The one Finchley spoke to nodded..."Oh yes...the bearish gentleman....he come through early this morning....'
Finchley smiled brightly and gathered the others around. "Really? Did you see which way he went?"
The sailor nodded vigorously at Finch....'O'course...he gave us directions...he come sauntering up with this in his mouth, so we took him to the mainland....' The sailor handed Finch a piece of paper.
The sailor handed Finch a crudely printed flyer, now a bit marked by teeth marks and bear spit as well as a bit of honey. On it was the image of a female bear in a large hat, sitting in a flowered swing. Long the bottom it read “See BONITA at Thwock’s Cavalcade of Wonders!”
Finchley took the flyer in hand and looked it over. "Uhhhh... Addie? You might wanna see this."
Addiela stuck her head out when she heard her name being called and she raised a brow in question.
Addiela motioned for Morn to retrieve the flyer from Finch while she walked back toward the others; Morn swooped down and gently took the flyer from Finch so that Addie could read it, landing back on her shoulder to hand it over to her. Addie's eyes widen. "What's this?"
Carneryn smiled a bit "Now we can find Rollo."
Nimlindir nodded, 'We know where he went.'
The sailor continued. "Cavalcade O’ Wonders…That is that show that odd little fellow set up outside a Calembel with a midway and everything. Took the kiddies there last week, had quite the time...the three headed troll is a special treat.'
Addiela stepped up behind the sailor that Finch was talking to. "Are you trying to tell us that my bear ran off to join the circus?"
Morn cawed angrily for emphasis.
The sailor coughed. "Join it? I can’t say, ma'am but from..well...the condition the poor boy was in, I would say he were lovesick...'
Addiela 's head tilted to the side in confusion. "What?"
The sailor smiled. “That bear on the Flyer is Bonita, the Dancing Bear...she sings too...quite an act...three shows a day, four on Sundays....Yer friend the bearish gentleman seemed quite taken with her....'
Addiela crumpled up the flyer and shook it at the others, still not wanting to believe that Rollo had left in search of this lady bear. "This.. this circus master has drugged Rollo, he probably wants another bear for his act! We must go and get him back!" Morn flapped her wings and kraaed angrily in agreement with Addie.
Finchley nodded to the Sailor and handed him a coin for his trouble. "Thank you, Mister!"
The Sailor smiled. “Thank ya kindly...ya want a trip ta the show?'
Finchley smiled still, though somewhat weakly, as if she were trying to fight an outright guffaw. "A ride to this circus would be much appreciated, Mister, thank you."
The sailor prepared to cast off. "Happy to oblige...be sure ta try the elephant ears....more than half real elephant. Or the rat on a stick, nice and juicy.'
Finchley’s eyes went wide. “Ooohhh….Xan can I get a rat on a stick?”
Xanderian boarded the ship. “No.”
Finchley frowned. “Awwww…Xandilif would let me have a rat on a stick.”
Xan nodded. “Yes she would.”
Finchley smiled. “So can I have a rat on a stick?”
Xan sat down and waited to sail. “No.”
Ellsabeth looked down at her casual attire slightly concerned. "Where is this circus right now? Somewhere dangerous? I fear I picked a bad day to wear a nice dress."
Xanderian smiled to their newest member. “Apparently near Calembel…do not fear, I doubt armor will be needed….hopefully…well, probably not”
Nimlindir did a little jig at the prow of the boat and clapped her hands like a child. She pointed towards the mainland and says, 'Onward!'
Nethrida raised her eyebrows and smiled broadly "Oo... I haven't been to those kinds of shows since I was a child!"
Carneryn led Neth onto the boat "Well... I've NEVER been to one."
Addiela stomped onto the boat, in a terrible temper. The talk of eating Rat on a Stick didn’t help.
As they traveled, the sailor explained that an odd little gentleman who called himself Mister Thwock had set up a few circus tents on the green near Calembel a week or two before, with all manner of fascinating acts. “Beyond Bonita, ya can see a Wild Man from Harad, a beaded lady, a spook house....they have the dead body of a rare three headed troll and even the left over bits of the Sword of old King Elendil. Seriously, a Cavalcade o’ Wonders!”
Addiela scowled, 'Thwock?.. I'm going to thwock him upside the head with my staff for taking my bear...'
Nethrida blinked a few times "Leftover bits of Elendil's blade...?" She asked with a frown.
After the short voyage to the shore, the sailor waved farewell as they rode towards Calembel. They knew they were going the right direction as flyers for the Cavalcade of Wonders had been nailed to most of the trees in sight.
As they arrived at the green, they saw three somewhat ramshakle tents and a few wagons...along the edge to the entrance gate were full sized posters of the star attractions. Several depicted BONITA, MOST BEAUTIFUL BEAR IN THE WORLD surrounded by hearts.
Finchley smiled. “Awww, that's kinda cute. I can see why Rollo's smitten.'
Addiela scowled, 'He is not smitten, he is deceived... You can see why Rollo's deceived by some hairy trollop...'
Finchley nodded slowly. “Umm..yeah….that was what I meant.”
The barker at the ticket stand call out to them..."Welcome, welcome to the greatest show in Gondor. Today only, one copper piece for midway admission!” He looked at Finch. “How old is the boy there, he may get in free. How old are ya, my lad?"'
Finchley sighed, 'I swear, I'm in my twenties!'
Xanderian sideeyed a sign listing the ticket prices and said "He is only 12....so he enters free with his family, does he not?"
Xanderian whispered to her."We may as well save a copper when we can...
Finchley nodded, 'I mean uhhhh, I'm 12. Sorry, get my numbers backwards sometimes, sir.'
Xan smiled. 'It tis' not the boy's fault..kicked by a goat when he was a wee babe..sometimes he talks backwards as well'
Finchley smiled, 'eya! ekil siht!'
The man nodded his sympathies..."Free the boy is....as for the rest, one copper each....from the look of some of ya, you will want to pay special attention to the Lover's Lane....nice spot to take that special someone with no questions asked.'
Xanderian paid for all of the group, considering Addie's temper.
Addiela was already looking around for Rollo while the man spoke and took the coins.
As they entered through the colorful gate, they passed a small area in which a fearsome corsair was waving a blood covered sword and growling at several children, who were vigorously booing him and throwing fruit.
The corsair was shirtless save for a neck piece made of human bones, and his long hair was frizzed into a cloud around his head. He was wearing an eyepatch with a horrible scar around his throat which was peeling off slightly.
Behind him he was a garish poster that said "Wild Man of Harad" while a barker was explaining how he was captured after killing more than 10,000 fine Gondorian sailors.....and how he personally slew Brathgy, the fearsome coral wyrm of the Hostin Sea.
As they came closer, the Wildman stopped mid growl and stared at Finch."It is she...the kindly girl from Linhir!!!'
The Wildman whispered to the barker, who did not look pleased. "OK kids, 10 minute break, the Wildman gotta go to the necessary....he'll be right back'
Moving off to the side behind a cloth, the Wildman gestured to you all of them come over. Finchley looked at everyone else and then shrugged, following the Wildman behind the cloth.
The Wildman smiled, lifting his eyepatch..."It is I...Farage!'
Finchley blinked then grinned! Then she squished the poor man into a hug! The last time she had seen him, he was on the run after being falsely accused of being the Linhir Ripper. 'Mister Farage, you made it all the way here... to a circus?'
Farage shrugged. "It pays. They needed a wildman....Hadar, Rhun, it is all the same to them. I wave a sword, I dance around....they pay me and I can keep all that the little Gondor children throw at me. I have had worst jobs, for one thing, it does not involve rowing, or fish. I am in your debt for your kindness in Linhir....if you wish, I give you complementary tickets to the big top...”
Addiela frowned, “But where is your employer? He has bribed a friend of ours to work for him I believe'
Farage looked at Addie. "What friend is this?'
Ellsabeth casually yet cautiously strolled the area, obviously not the first time she had seen a circus such as this.
Addiela was waving her hands to Farage, gesturing. 'He's large and hairy much like yourself, but more cuddly and fearsome....” Addie paused, her voice dropping low. “You really should wear a shirt you know, this is indecent....'
Farage shrugged. "It is just a costume...look, the bones are made of plaster... And who is this large hairy friend...the one eyed captain from Linhir?'
Addiela did not look, in fact she hadn’t looked at the shirtless man once after the initial recognition glance, but the thought of Captain Kraddock acting like Rollo almost made her guffaw.
Finchley looked sympathetically at her friend from Rhun. "But innit a little demeanin' for you? Fake bones an’ all…."
Farage looked serious for a moment. “Being hung is more demeaning, I think...here I make a coin and no one looks at me twice... But I know of no large hairy new employees...if you wish to ask Mr. Thwock he is in the wagon with the golden flags...'
Addiela nodded her thanks and Finchley said "Well, Mister Farage, I'm glad you're alive at least. And, if you ever need a helpin' hand, you can send a message to me at Tol Lochul if you like."
Farage bowed to FInch..."Of course, thank you again for all your kindness...and good luck finding your hairy friend.'
After having drifted around gathering fair food, Nimlindir mumbled with her mouth full, 'I have never seen anything like this. You humans go to great lengths to entertain yourselves. Look, they even put rats on sticks!'”
Morn let out a kraa and Addie's eyes turned to lock onto the golden flags in the distance that Farage spoke of. She whiteknuckled both the crumpled flyer and her staff and started to walk that way, sensing that Rollo was somewhere around in that direction while Xanderian scurried behind her, trying to calm her down
Carneryn watched Addie carefully and squeezed Neth's hand gently "Time to go."
Addiela looked back at Xan, nearly in tears, 'He's around here Xanderian... I can feel him.'
The huntress nodded, deeply moved. 'Then we will find him, Sweet Sister…I promise you.'
As the group moved through the fair, they passed a horrible poster of a truly spine chilling monster, a huge three headed troll battling a knight with long blond hair and a brilliant smile.
Finchley looked at the poster and made a face, looking at Nim who was debating tasting her rat on a stick or not. "You really think they've got a three headed troll?"
The barker called out...”One copper, just one copper to find out young fella. You wanna see the remains of the Horrible Three Headed Troll of Nagmar! Slain in terrible combat by the great Sir Gareth of Steelheart before the knight himself heroicly succumbed to his own wounds in order to slay the beast and save an entire orphanage!! Maybe even TWO orphanages!!"'
Finchley just burst out laughing and tried to peer into the tent. From what she could see, the “Remains” seemed to be a jury rigged human skeleton with quite a few extra bones bolted on, including an extra skull on each shoulder.'
Suddenly the barker closed the curtain..."That’ll be a copper kid....no payee no lookee'
Nimlindir smiled, 'I got a copper if you need it Finchley...Whats a copper?'
Finchley pulled a copper out of her pocket and handed it to the barker. She whispered to Nim, "It's okay, its a coin. I get allowance and errand money."
The barker smiled. 'In ya go kids...good ya got yer girlfriend with ya, boyo...they get all flutterly when they see the monster and then ya can touch their nonos when they ain’t lookin...just advice, one fella to another'
Finchley peeked into the room again to look the "corpse" over. Then she remembered the bit about Gareth Steelheart somehow being dead and just started giggling. Then she stopped to think, “These people are famous, and I know them…ta talk to and everything. Who would have ever imagined it.”
Inside the tent, the lights were low, torches burning with a strange reddish light, as they witnessed the giant skeleton of the Three Headed Troll....which was actually the amassed bones of three or four different people and one large dog thrown in. The effect was equal parts absurd...and chilling.
Nim pulled on Finch’s sleeve and nearly made her jump. 'Ahh Finch? what are no nos and why would you wish to touch them?'
Finchley turned pink. "Uhhhh... Xan could better tell you that one, Nim. Sorry…"
As Nim studying the bones and considered “nonos”, she heard voices outside the back of the tent. A man's voice muttering..."We tell him we are the new dancing girls for the finale...and when he comes out, we beat on him until he agrees to move these freaks away from decent folks...you all clear? If he makes too much trouble...use swords. Noone would miss the little freak anyway, am I right?'
Various men grunted ascent, then one deep voice said "I don’t know Dennis....does this skirt make my ass look big?'
Nimlindir gasped, 'Finchley! Listen, the monster speaks!' she cocked an elvish ear and listened. 'Those are men! They are going to hurt somebody, Small Finchley! What should we do?'
Finchley looked to the Minstrel. "Where?"
Nimlindir pointed behind the curtain... 'Back there! Someone's ass is too big and they have swords and no one would miss the little freak anyway.'
Finchley creeped toward the curtain and carefully peeled it back slightly with her fingertips to look behind the tent. She saw 6 ruffians, carrying swords and cudgels, one with a sign that said GAG HERE...and all six wearing charming little taffeta gowns and blonde wigs. The one who now seemed very self conscious about his figure was at least 7 feet tall, much of which was ass.
Finchley had to concentrate on not laughing and then looks to Nim, holding a finger to her lips as the men trooped off towards the golden flagged wagon. She took Nim's arm, guiding her back towards where they had left the others.
Addie had easily found the small, golden flagged wagon off to one side of the fair...over the door was a sign that read “Mister Prickellius Thwock, Sole Propriator, Ringmaster and Booking Agent.”
As they walked Carneryn had also been keeping an eye out for the supposed lovers lane, just... for future reference.
Addiela marched up to the door of the ringmaster's wagon and rapped on the door with her staff.
A voice from within, high pitched yet rough said "GO AWAY'
Addiela pounded on the door harder and Morn joined in with very loud squawks.
The voice spoke again. "I am not HERE...GO AWAY'
Carneryn squeezed Neth's hand in a little bit of worry. “Should Addie and Morn angrily harass the ringleader.”
Neth laughed. “Not Ringleader…RingMASTER. Not the same thing.”
Elsa shrugged. “I hope not….”
Addiela gestured for Morn to circle the wagon and search for an open window- if she found one her goal would then be to drive the ringmaster out. While Morn was doing that, Addie takes in a deep breath and tried the handle.
The door was locked....but after a few minutes of Morn squacking as the voice shrieked "BIRD!!!! BIRD!!!!! RABID BIRD!!!!" the door burst open and a goblin dressed in a tail coat and a top hat tumbled out'
Carneryn covered her mouth with her free hand and laughed softly into it "Is... that a goblin I see? Nethy?"
Nethrida blinked a few times, utterly dumbstruck. "I...I think... It is..." and struggled to keep a straight face and not burst to laughter
Carneryn pinched herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming "This is... Odd."
The Goblin bounced up, straightening his coat. "Welcome...welcome to the show....friends....ummm...maybe?'
Ellsabeth stayed well back, occasionally glancing around to watch her step for anything that would not come out of her nice dress.
The smartly dressed Goblin continued. '"I..I am sorry....Prickellius Thwock, Mister Thwock to my fans. Do you want me to sign your programs....I thought you were GAG.'
Finchley hurried up with Nim and saw the Goblin and paused for a moment. "A... Goblin? Leadin' a circus? Well..why not? I have seen stranger."
Morn flew over the goblin's head and perched again on Addie's shoulder as Addie looked down on the goblin with a menacing fire behind her crystal blue eyes. Even so, her voice remained calm and her expression was composed for the moment. "I am here searching for a bear that you have recruited for your..." she gestured her hand behind her, "...show."
The Goblin stared at Addie. “Who...Bonita? IS she trying to hold me up for a bigger percentage AGAIN? She forgets that I was the one who discovered her, pulling an ice carriage in Forochel for the tourists. You remind "Bertha" I know where she came from, ok?'
Addiela raised a brow. "I shall remind this 'Bertha' indeed... she doesn't wish to listen anymore, does she? Point me in her direction and I shall speak with her... along with the larger, male bear you just brought into your service."
Mister Thwock slapped his scaly forehead. “OOOHHHH...you mean her new boyfriend? Is he the one putting her up to this? Typical. Fine, you tell her 15 percent...not a copper more...least I can do if she is starting a family but I got a business to run, and GAG is making it harder every day'
Carneryn blinked a bit "Boyfriend... This just keeps getting weirder."
Addiela nodded. "And where are they?"
He was about to answer when a bad falsetto voice from behind them said "Oh mistah Thwocckkkkk....we are here to audtion for the dance finale...."'
Finchley’s eyes went wide. "Uuuuhhh oh."
The leader of the dancers, a large, scarred bruiser holding an axe and dressed in a fabulous emerald taffeta off the shoulder frock with matching pumps smiled. "OH good, you finally came out of your wagon ya sick little fink....We, as designated officers of Gondorians Appreciating Gondorians, known as GAG, are here to mash you into a fine paste and drive you out of these lands with your freaks.... Including these new freaks here if need be...'
Thwock sighed and looked at Addie. "Look lady, you seem like a nice rube…I mean citizen…I mean…lady. Help me, I help you...you and your pals deal with the dance troupe, and I will show you to Bonita's little family cave...ok?'
Ellsabeth shook her head as the six ruffians spread out. "Bad time to wear a dress…I knew this was a bad idea."
Finchley looked at Nim, 'You know... right about now I wish we had Rollo'
Addiela nodded once to the Goblin then turned and glared at the men; her crystal blues evaluating them from head to toe. "If you wished to call us freaks, you should have opted for better fabric choices...taffeta in winter? How gauche... and that color does nothing for your chest hair and it only serves to make one look... wider. Even worse…you are between me…and my bear."
The seven footer, dressed in lavender taffeta with am ivory tulle sash, looked at the leader, gripping his cudgel tighter. “Ummm…Dennis…is it getting warmer around here or should I have skipped the petticoats?”
