One of the reasons for Phileas’s choice of Cambete is that is a very easy run.   Cambete is about 12 miles from Basilea, and the whole trip is along the road that follows the west bank of the Rhine.  It is a flat, floodplain region- no slopes at all, and that is exactly what draft horses like.

(As does Tahra.  It is impossible to get any serious witchery done in a bouncing wagon on rough terrain, but this is a very gentle stretch)

Later trips will be harder, of course, but this easy jaunt is a nice way to start, and for the Argentos’s to see that all is arranged properly and in working order.

Once, the rural landscape between cities was populated.  Little villages of farmers were everywhere.  But in the last fifty years, since the fall of the Empire, everything changed.   In the world the characters know, these broad stretches of empty land are deserted, and people live in walled towns and cities where they can be protected.  Basilea’s farms extend north along this plain for about four miles, after that it’s not worth it to farm while going back and forth from the safety of the city on a daily basis.

During the trip to Cambete  with the caravan passes no one on the road.  This isn’t unusual.  Since the last battle at Cambete, the river between Basel and Cambete is safe.  It is simply easier and cheaper for farmers and artisans to move their goods by boat.

The caravan progresses at about walking speed, no need to rush the horses.  There is a stop for lunch on the road, and then another stop just outside of the town, to shift into “arrival mode”.

From here, the cast can see Cambete’s walls and buildings.  The town certainly shows signs that the past century has not been kind to it.  Cambete has literally retreated.  The outer areas of the town have been demolished to build the wall around the inner area, and turned into farms and groves- with walls and columns sticking up in odd places.

Even as they stop, they already draw curious looks from people out working in the fields.

Lindon pulled back the brake and tied off the reins before sliding down from the wagon.  He'd appreciated the road's lack of disrepair, but it was still nice to stretch after a long haul.  Just a short bit until they entered town.  Time to get into costume!

His consisted of a tight pair of colorful breeches, supple high boots, and a sleeveless top.  All in bright colors, easy to spot against the backdrop of the big top as he flew through the air or skittered across a tight rope.

He'd forgo the zucchini, however.  The last thing he needed was an orc maiden swooning while her hefty beau plotted his demise.

The last of it was a colorful feathered mask with a birdlike beak.  Sometimes he wore a feathered cape, but it was too hot for it today.

When they stopped before entering the town, Alayna quickly changed into her 'greeting' outfit, then got down so that she could ready Angel and mount to do her smile and wave.  The teenager's greeting outfit was a bit different from her performing outfit, and somewhat more daring than most might expect from a girl her age.  She now wore dark green skin-tight leggings and and a green dress trimmed in silver that barely covered her narrow hips. The dress itself left her shoulders bare and helped display her very modest decolletage to best effect, as well as to show the vine and leaf tattoos that adorned her arms and shoulders.  Her hair was down, woven through with leaves and flowers, hanging to her waist.

She had fastened a simple addition to Angel's bridle, a stuffed silvery cloth horn, making him look somewhat like a unicorn, completing the picture of the forest nymph on her mythical steed.

She easily lept to Angel's back and waited for the others.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:21, Wed 19 Sept 2018.

in his usual manner Esher stands up on the cart pauses for a moment and "falls" (hops down) from the cart. as he hits the ground his pockets "explode" as giant illusionary coins spill all over the ground always staying on their end as they roll around.
he stands up and begins to "try" to collect his props, which promptly roll just out of reach, making him fall over once again. Esher stands and then silently begins shaking his finger at the rolling coins and grabs his belly in a silent belly laugh. he then opens his tiny pockets and gestures for his "coins" to get inside. the coins "grow" legs and all jump into a pocket that is clearly too small to hold them.

If Ssasha had any fear of the romantic interests of orcs it wasn't showing. She was out in one of her more modest outfits low cut, and heavily corseted but with a full a-line skirt, she was handling Raenei a three foot long beautifully patterned saw-scaled viper with lovely red scales. Raenei was of course exceptionally deadly, but actually one of the best behaved of the snakes. her face was made up like a courtesan, this presentation, her dress the makeup, by itself wouldn't make anyone blush, but skinny Ssasha had a way of rolling her hips as she walked that got men's attention. She was a dancer and knew just how to move what body she did have, and she was there to sell tickets, and knew how she sold tickets. This act was an appetizer to get the rubes hungry, the main course would be later, and there would be no desert. She smile at Lindon's mask but it didn't last long as she quickly remembered where she was and course corrected where she was walking to keep Raenei well away from Angel.

Now on Angel's back, Alayna couldn't help but laugh at Esher's antics.  She gave a nod of appreciation to Ssasha, then turned her attention to the crowds lining the street.  She waved and smiled at all, then stood on Angel's back, displaying her bare feet with green painted nails.  She waved more, then dropped back into the saddle without using her hands.

In between similar simple tricks, she waved and smiled at the children, then winked and blew kisses at the men, clearly flirting.

Once the show arrives and her tent is set up, Tahra appears (refreshed by a nap) Clad in black with a red-fronted bodice, she walks the area, looks beyond, and enters the tent. A round table, three chairs, and a small table are within are within. The small table holds a pitcher of water and some glasses...and a drawer for money. Near the ceiling is a rod. The Bat Hyastenas flaps to it and hangs.

Nwofia helps put up tents, position the wagons, build walls and paybooths, all the little odd jobs a circus needs to do only then does she strip away her travelling persona and become full on carnie.  Dressed in her slinky, mostly translucent she joins the parade through the town, letting people (and orcs) see as much of her lush dark flesh as public decency will allow.

Until the time comes to leave, she'll be wearing this for the tightrope and the trapeze, and for everything else, a black, white and grey but somehow still gaudy entertainers costume for everything else.  She'll be on full time because that's what carnies do.

not being the strongest member of the troupe Esher was by no means not participating I  the set up, there were many small jobs that were just as critical as those that required applications of muscle.

Esher ran supplies to those that needed them, but also kept the local children entertained with ongoing illusion (duration concentration silent image.) effects ranging from funhouse mirrors to comical caricatures of local wildlife and plants.

he pauses and looks to the sun and makes a guess about the time and judges the amount of time until the show would be starting.

he makes a quick check of his puppets and weighs the various options on either to use the physical puppets or to do a more elaborate purely illusion based but larger produactio...perhaps he should get some input from the troupe leader. Esher continues his work while waiting for a moment when the troupe leadership was not otherwise engaged so that he could get their experiences opinion.

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edit (i did realize we are not in the town already)

as the caravan takes a short halt in preparation for their entrance into the town Esher continues to make moment to moment alterations to his ongoing illusionary effects. the one constant effect about his illusions is a "posting" of the troupe's performance schedule. so that the locals can plan their work around the performances they wish to enjoy.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:03, Thu 20 Sept 2018.