No Cages

There's a fair bit of commotion outside the city today as there's something unusual - particularly given the season - parked outside it. A small circus has set up on the side of the road, welcoming those that are curious to pay a few copper pieces and come see what they have inside. One can't see much from the road. Just signs promising elephants, a tiger, and dancing horses. It's getting late, which means that the crowd of people gathered to see what's going on has gotten quite large and they've started letting people in now that they've gotten official permission from the city to perform.

It's seldom enough that Aimarra comes to town these days, but it's her turn to do the shopping, and this time she needs a few things that cannot be had in Wilderness Pointe. So, she has undertaken the longer journey into the city, and her steps carry to a stop at the crowd gathered around in the road. She listens to the barkers, and her lips purse. _Elephants and tigers? Best go see what they're doing with them._ After all, the Huntsman bade her look after all of his creatures.

She steps up and hands over her five copper.

Faranth stands outside the ring of carts and fences. One had rests on the trunk of the young bull elephant that she is rarely seen without. The elephant is shifting its weight from one side to the other as it waits with her. "I know Mal-Gein. I can smell them too." Faranth tries to calm her companion. "I suppose you will be wanting to go and say hello." Her attention shifts to one of the attendants collecting money for entrance. "Do you charge for my friend also?" She asks the gatekeeper while she removes a handfull of coppers from one of her pouches.

Vibrant blue eyes darted around the scene of the tent and back at the commotion as a wide gleeful smile spread ear to ear on her face, she was bouncing with excitement trying to hold in how thrilled she was to be here this was the best place to find inspiration nonetheless she's with a good friend to enjoy this with her. " This is going to be so fun! I can't wait to get inside! What do you think the tigers will be doing? Do you think they'll be in costumes? What if the tigers are jumping through hoops of fire?! That would be so cool! I can barely hold in how happy I am to be here with you!" Percy pulled out her wallet to see if she had enough copper to pay for herself and Auranar, and put her hair up just in case she ends up in a crossfire. Nobody wants burnt hair.

Auaranar admittedly is slightly less enthusiastic than her friend Percy, but she's glad to find some time to spend with the other woman. She fends off Percy's attempt to pay for her, rolling her eyes and finding her own purse to pay for herself. Of course she can't help but notice the elephant by the front gate, her eyes widening at the sight of the animal. "Wow. I didn't think they'd put one of their elephants out front." She steps past the entrance after paying looking around with interest.

The circus is laid out so that the wagons are in a circle. This is largely to prevent anyone from circling around and getting a peek at the carnival itself. The wagons themselves are actually large 'cages' holding various animals. In the center of the circle of wagons are the 'dancing horses', beautiful white animals who are currently making circles with acrobats on their backs. A small dog joins the parade wearing a little uniform that matches the acrobats's outfits.

The woman at the gate smiles at Faranth and takes her money. "No, your... pet is welcome." No surprise there, Mal-Gein has a small following of wide-eyed people hoping to get close to the elephant. Even the adults are pretty excited to see him.

Close examination of the animals will prove that they are... rather sad looking. The elephants are chained together to keep them from running off. They look morosely at those observing them from beyond a fence and a wall that has been erected to keep sight of them from being seen from the other side. The tiger of course looks the least happy. He is currently laid in a circle with his back to the people, trying his best to ignore the excited stares of those that observe him. A man in a top hat and bright purple coat stands beside his cage keeping folks from getting too close to him.

Something flashes in Aimarra's eyes as she spots the chains, and the general state of the animals. She doesn't do this often, but that doesn't mean she doesn't know how! Her eyes rove the setup, from the placement of the wagons to how they are secured, to the people near them and the chains they wear. Looking for keys on belts, who holds them and who does not.

When she gets to the tiger, though, she just has to stop. "It's miserable," she says quietly, letting her Tashraani accent slip through.

A circus was something that Seyardu had never heard of before, so the curious nature of the event brought her out to the gathering as well, when she had free time with which to do so. So she reached the entrance, and offered the necessary payment with which to enter. The cleric looked around curiously at everything going on. She pauses near the animals, and blinks. Suddenly, she was quite happy to not have invited Sjach out there with her.

Faranth pays the woman the handfull of coppers, her face tilting to the side as she does so. "Pet?" She secures her pouch and reaches a hand back to take Mal-Gein's trunk "I think you're mistaken, we're only friends." She goes to move forward, but Mal-Gein's trunk stops her from moving. Her head turns around to see the crowd gathering around her companion. "His name is Mal-Gein" She answers one child who is brave enough to touch the elephant's leg. "It means little brother in the common tongue." She answers a few more questions about her companion before managing to squeeze the both of them inside the circle of wagons, thereby no longer clogging the entranceway. Once inside, her gaze sweeps around the circle of wagons, and the smile from answering the younglings questions drops immediately from her face.

Percy, after paying was still bursting at the seams with overjoyment, skipped as she followed alongside Auranar, already getting some rather creative ideas on what to paint next and after that. She brought her sketchbook out of her satchel to start on the sketch layer of a drawing of Auranar by the elephant even if she was near it for a minimum amount of time she continued to of she bumps into either a wall or Auranar every few moments due to her being so sucked into this image in the making. After she was done with the sketch stage she moved to sketching the tiger, trying to catch its true sadness. She was concerned for the poor feline and in response she brought Auranar's attention. "H-hey uh, Auranar? Would you look at this tiger with me?...Something isn't right with them.. Could it be possible that they are not being fed properly? I've never seen an animal in such a depression." She fidgeted with her pen, twirling it in her fingers uneased and her sketchbook placed back in her satchel.

Auanar has to admit to some curiosity about the animals, but the enjoyment is cut short by how... sad the animals look. She pats Percy on the back and turns to look at the tiger in question and though she knows nothing about animals really she has to admit that it looks miserable. "I don't know... Maybe he's tired?" She looks at the man beside the animals and gears herself up to talk to him. "Excuse me sir? Is there something wrong with the tiger?"

The man in the purple coat perks up at Auranar's question. "Not at all ma'am! Taj is just a lazy cat." He smiles and looks at the tiger, rattling the cage with a tap. "Taj! Say hello to the nice lady." The cat... doesn't move. Save to turn slightly and peer between the bars of the cage tiredly. Something there seems to catch its attention however and it doesn't turn back away.

Distantly you can hear the sound of someone humming a song. You're not sure where it's coming from however.

Even inside the circus itself Mal-Gein has drawn some attention, with various people getting cautiously closer and closer to the elephant. "Can I ride it mommy?" Asks one child, tugging on their mother's sleeve insistently.

For the moment, Aimarra ignores the song, shaking her head. "I don't think so. You're not lazy, are you." she asks it, appearing to address the tiger directly. "You're beautiful, and you're unhappy."

GAME: Aimarra rolls 1d20+charisma+7: (6)+2+7: 15

Seyardu blinks, and steps off to the side as others seem to be investigating. "They do not appear to be not wishing to move, just tired." The silver sith-makar notes. "Have there been problems with things of late? It seems something is bothering many of the animals, but I am unsure what."

Faranth ignores the attention Mal-Gein is garnering for a moment and steps with the elephant up to where the circus' herd is collected. Her eyes scan across the chains connecting each member, and her face just darkens. Those unfamiliar with Sith-Makar might miss the pheremones that she's releasing, but her face shows enough outrage that those perceptive enough might pick up on her mood anyway. "Hello little ones." she says as she reaches a hand out toward the closest elephant to the crowds. Mal-Gein puts his trunk to his forehead and lets out a small trumpet of greeting which is immediately but meekly answered from the herd.

GAME: Faranth rolls 1d20+charisma+2: (7)+3+2: 12

Percy now hugging Auranar's arm, slightly clinging to it. Percy watches the tiger in a sympathetic gaze, Her eyes begging to find out what's going on inside the tiger's mind, although her eyes brighten when she sees Aimarra's interaction with the tiger. She tripped over her words trying to get them out. "You can talk to them? Do you know what's upsetting them?" Percy began thumping her foot lightly, eager to help this tiger who could be seen as put in the shade of the dark, There for Percy has already made it her mission to find out what's putting this pretty cat in such a bitterly mood.

Auranar pats Percy. "I don't think she can talk to the animals. I think... she just knows what they're feeling by looking at them." She says carefully, watching the odd interaction between these people and the animals. She's a little uncertain what's going on.

The man in the purple coat colors slightly and he shrugs. "No really miss, the tiger-" He is cut off as the big cat rises ponderously but gracefully its feet. It makes a growling noise at either him or Aimarra and rubs the side of its cage with its body. The crowd behind Aimarra oohs and aws to see the cat actually in motion and the man spreads his hands. "He is a lazy but very good cat." A humpfh from the tiger.

The keeper of the elephants hurries forward as the sith-makar makes to touch one, waving her backwards. "They are not safe... ah... Mister? You should stay back!" He has a row of keys on his belt.

"He is a good cat," Aimarra agrees, although the words have an edge to them. "Will you stand for me?" She pointedly ignores the man, turning her attention to the tiger. No, it probably doesn't understand her, but her body language is neither predator nor prey, merely that of an observer, like a bird in its home might be, and she tilts her head at it. "Would you like to show your beauty?"

Seyardu stops, and sniffs at the air for a moment, before she steps over to where the other makari was to investigate the elephant. This continues for a moment, before she looks to Faranth. "Peace on your nest, though something is troubling you, kin." She greets. "What is the matter? Something to do with the animals?"

Faranth stares at the man blankly. "Not.... Safe?" Faranth stares at the man, letting herself simmer for a moment. "What kind of beasts do you think they are?" She turns, indicating the young bull beside her, a crowd continuing to gather around them both. "Mal-Gein wouldn't hurt anyone." She pauses, adding after a dramatic pause. "At least not anyone who didn't deserve it." She locks gaze with the elephant trainer, but her words are obviously to the makari beside her. "Peace on your nest also, friend."

Faranth adds to Seyardu "I believe these people are incapable of treating their animals correctly." <draconic> Percy looks at the floor and back at the tiger. After that she looks back at Auranar calmly, fidgeting with her hair strands in front of her face; they weren't able to be pulled back into the ponytail anyway. "Do we have plans for after the show yet?" She avoids eye contact with the tent and the rest of the show's attractions, trying to distract herself from stressing about it or making some kind of life or death mission; then again the concept of death is limited to her. She turns around to face Auranar and hugs her tightly. "Okay! Well if the tiger feels bad the best way to fix that is to remind them of their worth and how much they mean to you and those around them!" Facing the man by the tiger she holds a small smile she asks if the tiger has a name, not a stage name, but a name they were born with.

Auranar looks at Percy then shakes her head. "I'm not so sure that I want to see the show." She eyes the man in the purple coat. "Actually... maybe we should go." She seems less and less certain about this circus.

The tiger grumbles at Aimarra and rises to his feet, stretching languorously and yawning. He turns a circle in his cage, proving once and for all that it is - much - too small for a creature of his size before eyeing Aimarra as if to say 'am I not the most beautiful'? The man gapes at this and grins, flashing his arms out to the crowd. "Is Taj not wonderful? Yes, yes." He eyes Percy. "His name is Taj, that is his only name."

Meanwhile the man over by the elephants looks at Faranth like she has two heads. "Elephants are dangerous to those they do not know. And these do not know you." The elephants seem to think to the contrary though, gathering near the edge of their fence as best as their chains will allow and reaching their trunks out for Seyardu, Faranth, and Mel-Gain in a friendly manner.

GAME: Aimarra rolls 1d20+charisma+7: (12)+2+7: 21
GAME: Faranth rolls 1d20+charisma+2: (15)+3+2: 20

"They can be dangerous, yes, like any animal can be. That is a respect that needs to be managed. Swiftclaws are dangerous too, but that does not stop one from working with them." Seyardu chuffs. "I do not know if incapable is the correct word. It is an unknown if change is a possibility at this moment." She replies to Faranth. "My people spend time working with animals as well, perhaps we could help you to sort things out. Would you be willing to tell us more about your feeding and training schedules for the animals, and care in general?" She asks curiously. <Draconic>

GAME: Seyardu rolls diplomacy: (20)+21: 41

"You _are_ the most beautiful," Aimarra agrees. "And in a cage much, much too small to see your beauty." She folds her arms across her chest and turns her eyes towards the tiger's keeper. "He is not lazy," he says firmly. "He does not have room to move. I do not fear him, for he is of the Beastlord, mighty and majestic. If you do, who knows him far better than I," there's an edge in that, "maybe you deserve his wrath."

Her right hand rubs at her left forearm, folded against her. "Taj ..." she draws slowly. "Tell your keeper what you think of your enclosure."

Faranth reaches a hand out and touches the trunk of one of the circus' herd, but Mal-Gein was already ahead of her and his trunk was intertwining the eldest female of the group before Faranth even raised her hand. Faranth listens quietly, waiting for the 'trainer' to answer Seyardu. Pondering as she does what she might be about to do. Her gaze flicks quickly around the circus, suddenly like a predator of the wild, assessing its surroundings. Her outer demeanor however remains unchanged, and seems to be waiting patiently.

"...I see, if you are uncomfortable being here we can go elsewhere. Um? How about I buy us a nice late lunch?" Percy rubbed Auranar's back lightly enough to comfort her friend. Again, Percy takes out her sketchbook to look for restaurant names she listed before when she first arrived. When she reaches the right page she hands it to Auranar to view the names of in hope she will choose one for them to go to and sit to eat at, meanwhile she takes her ponytail down. There will be no burnt hair for Percy today.

Auranar nods, but she's standing still. Transfixed by Aimarra's suggestion to the tiger. She's compelled to see what will happen next. "You don't think the tiger _can_ understand her... do you?" She asks Percy.

The tiger doesn't actually _understand_ Aimarra of course. It can't speak the common tongue, but it understands enough. It understands her look. It understands her tone. It understands a few of those words. Swift as a bolt of lightning the tiger is across the cage, one paw reaching out and grabbing the man by his shirt and roaring loud enough to terrify those left standing watching the cat 'obey' the woman who stands before its cage. The color drains from his face and he lets out a horrid yell that startles the elephants a little bit.

The man by the elephants seems like he's been _waiting_ to unburden himself. He admits instantly that the animals are not treated well. That they endure strict training and little food. Particularly this winter has been harsh on them given that the caravan hadn't been able to move around enough to provide them food. The man who runs the circus is in his humble opinion a tyrant. Akmiel treats people and animals like little more than burdens upon his pocket book, and he has no interest in either unless they're making him money.

This explanation is broken off as the tiger attacks however and the Elephant trainer goes to rescue the other man. Meanwhile the keys on the man's belt mysteriously drop to the ground and start scooting along the ground toward the elephants...

Meanwhile, Aimarra strides forward towards the cage. "Get out of here, if you value your lives," she warns the bystanders crisply. "The Beastlord will not stand for such treatment of his children, and neither will I." As she moves, she searches for the lock that holds the cage enclosure shut. "Taj will not harm you if I ask him not to. I think."

Faranth lets a grin spread across her face as she hears the conversation over at the tiger cage. Her gaze had already seen the keys crawling across the ground, she decides to assist them. She steps forward, having coiled herself for this already, she springs into action, snatching the keys off the ground and fumbling with them slightly to unlock the elephant matron's chain. She then tosses the keyring over toward Taj's cage, hoping that the keys would unlock both cages. Also hoping that someone over there has the presence of mind to grab the keys. "Mal-Gein!" Faranth states firmly. She grabs the matron's chans that are now unlocked, and slips the chain from the lock. "Break the locks." She pulls the chain away as if she had just then broken the chain, and sits waiting for her companion to do the rest.

Percy is a bit surprised by Auranar's qwerty but smiles. "I like to stay open minded, though I don't think the tiger understands her fully, just more than enough to respond accordingly. Oh! Do you know what sounds really good right now? A salad with a poppyseed muffin!" Percy toons her hearing back to the tiger and Aimarra after hearing 'I think' and almost chokes on her poorly hidden laughter. "We should really go now, aha...I mean I didn't plan to get run over by an ocean of terrified bystanders, I'm not exactly in the mood for a Percy pancake."

Seyardu listens to the woes being laid out plainly, and she nods to them slowly. "I understand it is no good for the animals to be kept in these conditions, but we can not act too rashly in the process. It sounds like they are not being cared for properly, but that means that they will need to be rehabilitated if that is the case. Elephants and tigers running wild in Alexandrian forests will not go over well, and they may not be able to provide for themselves at the moment."

"We can take them to the druid's circle nearby. They will help us determine the course of action to be taken, and care for them in the meantime."

Auranar's eyes narrow, but she nods to Percy. "Yes, lets go." She'd stay and help them rescue the animals, but she doesn't want to be left behind by Percy... or separated in the chaos. She grabs her friend by the hand and starts to make for the exit with the crowd.

The keys go... Flying. Literally. A little golden dragon appears atop the key ring as its thrown and it makes its way to Aimarra, helping her catch the little jingling ring. The little dragon in question noses one of the keys out from the rest and then wings her way to the top of the cage. "NO CAGES!" She declares to those that might be listening. Which at this point is very few people actually.

The crowd is clearing out, fearing the tiger and the elephants who are peering down at Faranth with trust in their eyes. They're ready to follow her. Taj lets go of the keeper once he's passed out, nosing at the exit to his enclosure eagerly. He clearly wants out. The elephant trainer picks the keeper up and yells for someone to come help them with first aid. The keeper is clearly _not_ dead, but his pride later will be sorely wounded.

Aimarra's eyes go wide at the little golden dragon, her entire assured demeanor utterly shattered in the space of a breath. But - it seems to be on her side? And - it nosed a key out? Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, she immediately grabs the key ring, takes the key indicated, and roughly stuffs it in the lock to the cage, hoping against hope as she turns the key. "Taj, I'm letting you out. Please don't eat me."

"Ah, hello, Tanith." Seyardu chuckles as she sees the small gold dragon. "It is good to see you well. I believe them no longer being in cages is correct. If they can not treat them properly, then the suffering will just continue."

Seyardu looks at the others, and chuffs. "Does that sound alright to bring them to the circle?"

Faranth breaking the chain was all Mal-Gein needed. He untwined his trunk from the matron and grabbed the chain from the next nearest elephant in the herd. Puling with his trunk against the chain, the screeching of cheap iron could be heard all around the circle as the weakest link in the chain started stretching before giving way. The first chain broken, the young bull reached for the next. The other elephants were surprised slightly at the ease with which Mal-Gein broke the chain. A few of the bolder elephants grabbed their own chains, trying to mimic Mal-Gein's success.

Faranth turned to regard Seyardu. "Perhaps. Or we should let them decide their own fates, but that is a discussion for when we are free from this circle of torture." In the direction of the tiger cage she calls out. "Bring the keys when you leave. It will make things easier. And any other animals that are displeased with their treatment, should follow us." She pushes against the side of the cart next to her, hoping that the elephants will help her push it out of the way so they don't have to take a herd of elephants through a crowd to get to the exit on the other side of the circle.

GAME: Faranth rolls Handle Animal: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL)

Percy's smile widens as she runs in the direction of the muffins, sweet little muffins. "Weeee!!! Running! Oh! We should take a left here!" The wind in her face and hair was thrilling and definitely perceived as fun, at least in her point of view. Although Percy couldn't help but think, how is this going to look in the news? Are the animals gonna be okay now that they are on their own, they are domesticated by quite a bit? Have they even been on their own before? Turns are made a lot on the way both at the tent and the path to where Percy was taking Auranar to get a bite to eat, at least something good will come out of both of them.

Auranar can't help the smile that spreads across her face. Percy is... infectious that way. She shakes her head though, following the other woman away from the animals. She feels a bit guilty to leave the others behind... but... Sometimes it's the better part of valor to exit stage left when other actors are better than you.

The tiger waits all of three seconds before nudging his way out of the cage. He bumps Aimarra on the shoulder, thanking her silently for his freedom. At least he doesn't seem inclined to eat her. His presence urges the elephants on, and they push over the back wall. Which means you have a quick means of egress from the circus. The tiger sees this, and follows the elephants out the back, stalking after them with deep _wuff wuff wuff_ noises. None of the other animals however seem inclined to follow after you.

Tanith of course takes flight and follows the animals toward the forest. The elephants themselves will follow anyone that wants to lead them _away_ at this point, and the tiger is inclined to follow them.

Aimarra had tossed a look Seyardu's way at the question, but only after the tiger is safely out and past her does she turn to follow. "The grove is fine, I will speak for us if that is needed," she calls, turning to jog after the tiger and elephants.

"All of you here with us, please follow us. We will bring you somewhere safe, with much more space, and food to spare for all of you." Seyardu advises the elephants. "You need not stay here with them, trust in us to help."

It was, odd, to say the least, but hopefully her demeanor got the point across.

Faranth was disappointed that the horses and the dog did not respond to her call for escape, but she took the elephants and the tiger as a win as she ran across the field toward the forest in the direction of the druid's circle, the herd, tiger, and golden dragon following along behind.

-End