ISSUEDATEPRICE

395

3 Copper

With the arrival of Pippington Betterbottom’s Wandering Jollies Circus into the city, a time honored tradition has also returned to the city walls. For those who are unfamil-iar, during the festivities, the Strong family hosted the 64th Multi-Annual Strong-Arm Arm Wrestling Competition. The event has been running since the creation of Alivast, and al-ways pops up whenever a major event happens within the vicinity of the Strong Family; ‘tis why it’s Multi-Annual.

Over the years some have claimed that the competition is rigged. Within the 63 past events a member of the Strong family has always walked away with the trophy, a belt that is dubbed the Strong-Arm Championship. This year Delbert Strong, one of the sons of Daniel Strong and part owner of Daniel Strong and Sons Penny-Farthing Repair Shoppe, took the helm to represent the family in this competition. It was a very impressive run. Delbert took on an assortment of challengers, from a goliath to dragonborn to even 3 drunk dwarfs at the same time! Everyone fell to the might of the Strong family strength.

Be it ego or the adrenaline rush or the calls from the crowd, what happen next caught everyone by surprise. Delbert called out challengers from the crowd. A few attend-ees jumped up on stage and took the challenge, but failed one after another to the pure strength of Delbert. However, during one of his call oust, a lone Goblin appeared on stage to call Delbert. No one knows where she came from, or when she got on stage, but she claimed that her friend was going to walk away with that belt. Delbert, amused by that claim, took up the Goblin’s challenge and called out to this “friend” that was going to end the “Strong Family Streak”. Slowly a large orc woman approached and climbed onto the stage.

A Strong Upset

The city of Alivast sees the opening day of Pippington Betterbottom’s Wandering Jollies Circus, the first of its kind to brave the ocean transit and visit our fair continent. The circus promised to wow and astound, and is hopefully the first of many such visitors as our fair nation establishes herself within the global skein.

The circus offers a variety of oddities and marvels, from an elven family engaging in aerial acrobatics upon a trapeze to eclectic orc clowns, to exotic animals and strange freaks of nature. They pride themselves on the dispensation of “jol-lies” to audiences of all shapes and sizes.

So far, they seem to be delivering on their lofty promises. The turn-out for the traveling circus has been astounding, rivaling Alivast’s most anticipated festivals at times. The circus has of course been popular among the youth of Alivast, who’ve taken more glee from the name of the circus than the diversions at times.

“We were at Peter Butterbutt’s house today. I saw a tiger and it growled at a man! But it was a really nice tiger. It even let the man put his head inside its mouth. It was scary. But only a little.” Said Susan Cooper, a human girl who saw the circus with her family.

Not everyone was please with the circus. Some citizens felt unfairly excluded from some of the activities, due to restric-tions that were deemed “race-sensitive.”

“A height restriction? A height restriction?” Said Cecil Crumpusboom, a gnome sewer grate repairman. “I take my chil-dren out for a day, and we can’t go on a rubbish giant wheel with carriages attached to it because of a height restric-tion? Excuse my language miss, but what a bloody load!!”

Overall though, the reception has been positive. City leaders have elaborated upon the value of the circus visiting the city, stating that the willingness of such a broad and labor-intensive enterprise to cross the ocean to Alivast was symbol-ic of the country’s burgeoning wealth and importance. While none could be reach for comment, there have been reports of Lady Aila enjoying the circus, eating fried cheesecake on a stick.

There was a flip side to this as well, however. Some reports and rumors have indicated that the arrival of the circus in Alivast coincides with the travelers being placed under investigation in other nations due to mistreatments of animals and ensuing citation by multiple Druidic guilds. These reports were - (Continued on page 8)

Wandering Jolly’s Circus Scintillates Citizens!by Saeryn Rasmer

The elf begins the act, spotlight upon her, at the very highest point of an elevated platform more than a hundred feet above the ground. In her hands is a peculiar device – a bar of weighted wood, strung to the roof of the tent with strong ropes.

“There is no net or magic involved in this death defying act!” shouts the ringleader. “Will Al’Niari the sky elf fly her last tonight? Blink, and you’ll miss this breathtaking performance!”

She steps off the platform and swings into the open air. The elf spotlight follows her, and the audience gasps as she stops in the air, her momentum spent, and swings back. The air is heavy with held breath as she swings again and – lets go.

There’s a scream from the crowd as women goes into a swoon and children refuse to avert their eyes. For a mo-ment the elf truly does seem like she’s flying. And then her hands grasp and a second spotlight reveals her twin Al’Idani, taking her hands and swinging on a second trapeze. Relief and shouts fill the audience.

Such was the scene last night at Pippington Betterbottom’s Wandering Jollies circus, which featured the high-flying acrobatics of the twin “sky elves” Al’Niari and Al’Idani.“The routines are not the difficult part,” Al’Niari reveals. “Anyone of sufficient ability could learn and perform our ma-neuvers. The real trick is in appealing to the audience. To make flying so far above the ground seem effortless, like a dance, and to make a real show of it. That is the thing that cannot be taught so easily.”

“To have the boldness to execute the moves and weather the strain with a smile on your face – that is the true mag-ic of trapeze.” Said Al’Idani.

The elves reveal that their style of performance is called “swing trapeze”, which was developed –(Continued on page 8)

Aerial Acrobaticists Astound Audiences!

By, Finnegan Eastaughffe

Saeryn Rasmer

Pippington Betterbottom’s Wandering Jollies Circus is a traveling circus, known for providing great en-tertainment and “jollies” to all who visit. The performers, festive decor, and the exotic performing animals make for a wonderful show. The members of the circus love their jobs, but can the same be said for the animals? After some investigation, this may not be the case. The fantastic outfits the animals wear adds to the festivities, but hide a darker secret.The amazing flying gryphon, Zellos, that flies through fire rings appears to do so willingly, but this is not true. The outfit it wears covers up scars from whips, that the animal tamers use to train the gryphon. In its off time from performing, Zellos is kept chained in a small cage. The same can be said for the rest of the animals. Bobo, the knife juggling owl bear, is muzzled and kept in a cage barely big enough to move around in.Worse yet, citizens have suggested these animals are possibly the victims of poaching. There are reports of exotic pets and animals going missing in the city of Alivast, something that seemed to coincide with the arrival of the Wandering Jollies circus. These exotic animals are kept in miserable conditions just for our entertainment; Is the price they pay worth it?

Written by: Ben Ironwood. Ben Ironwood is an investigative reporter with the Alivast Oracle newsletter.

The Price of Entertainment

Letters to the Lady of Livrosea(Note: the Alivast Oracle newspaper is now legally obligated to inform readers that the contents of “Letters to the Lady of Livrosea” do not constitute, religious, financial, or legal advice.)

Dear Lugubrious

I love you! Something to consider is how close you are you your friend. If either of you pursue a relationship with this man will it drive a wedge between you? Sometimes a good friend you have right now is better than the possibility of a romance in the future. It’s hard to weigh friends versus romantic part-ners. Another thing to consider if you are close enough with your friend, perhaps the three of you form a mutual agreement. Setting boundaries and expectations early will allow you to love everyone involved, and you may find yourself growing closer to your friend, perhaps even intimate. And if things don’t work out, you could always get a dog. A dog will love you no matter what.

Dear Lady of Livrosea,

I have produced for myself quite the conundrum, fair lady. A good colleague of mine and I have become smitten with the same man. I extrapolated this over an enthused brunch as I was speaking with him, and I took notice that in our gossips we were describ-ing the same individual. I do not know if my friend has parsed this yet, and I admit I am torn on how to convey my revelation to him. It has been some days and I have since parlayed with the subject of our mutual affections, and I am concerned I may lose a friend should I expound to him, as he may fear I used the information to gain an untoward advan-tage.

Signed, Lugubrious Linguist.

Dear Lady,

I’m worried that because I work nights that I’m miss-ing out on meeting people and making friends. I’m not shy, but I’m not the best at being outgoing. It seems like most of the folks I like work or go to school during the day and so I only have a couple of hours in the late afternoons and early evenings when schedules overlap. It seems like I just start getting social when I need to leave a gathering and get to work. I’m kinda lonely, and would like some-one to talk to.

Signed, Late and Lonely

Dear Late,

I love you! Have you considered getting a dog? Dogs are great companions. They are there when you’re sad, they listen to you when you’re needing someone to talk to, they enjoy it when you scratch their tummy and tell them how good they are. They are especially good about noticing when you’re really anx-ious and needing to calm down so you don’t accidentally hurt yourself again. When you’re spinning out of control and you feel so over-whelmed he’ll come over and lay his head on my lap and when I feel his fur it really helps me calm down because he is very soft, espe-cially around the base of his ears and touch-ing him is very soothing.

Dear Lady of Livrosea,

My husband travels a lot because he is a sailor on a freighter and I am worried that he might be having an affair. I don’t have any evidence, but I think that there’s not much to keep him from getting with some other women when he’s away for months at a time. He could easily be meeting mermaids or sirens, or sea hags or whatever else is out there on the ocean and I’m not sure that I can trust him. Why, out of our five children, I’m pretty sure only three are his, and the other two products of his infidelity.

Signed, Worrying Wife

Dear Worrying,

I love you! Stop worrying. Your husband is faith-ful, all the children are his (please talk to the Seamstresses about how babies are made) and you have no reason to be concerned. I’m wor-ried about Butterscotch, he hasn’t been around since the other morning when I asked him to go look at the circus for me because I can’t leave my apartment. I’m feeling really nervous and I tried playing my cello to calm down. I had to stop af-ter about nine hours when my fingers started bleeding but he wasn’t back yet and I’m getting really worried that something has happened to him he always comes when I need him and helps-mecallmdownwhenmyheartcanttakeanymoreof theoverwhelmingfeelingsIgetfromlovingeveryo-nepleasehelpmeImnotsurewhatodoImreallyreally-scaredeventhoughiloveeveryonesomuchthaticants-topandistartlosingmyselflivroseapleasepleasehelp-mewhydidyougivemethisgiftimissmydogsomuchilo-vehimsomuchwheresmydogineedtohughim

Society Notes A Day at the CircusDespite my disinterest in such a crude past-time, I was presented with complimentary tickets to Pippington Betterbottom’s Wandering Joliles Circus. So, I rounded up the ladies, Mildred Gravelgouge, Madame Blackbri-ar, and the Baronettess and we spent the day down at the field where the spectacle was taking place.The dress for the day was fall casual with walking about fashions that would suit the cool weather yet still ex-ude an air of sophistication. Mildred and I sported some lovely tweed walking suits with long skirts and match-ing jackets, each topped by a dashing little cloche hat. Mme. Blackbriar, consistent to a fault, did not stray from her usual blacks. She did opt for some high-yet-severe-looking boots over the heels she so frequently wears. The boots being necessary for the field was a little marshy in places where tramped down by the crowds. This was a little trouble for the Baronettess who tends to sink considerably into any soft earth even on a good day. Her chassis was adorned with fall colors in warm earth tones and ornamented with accents of winter squash and oak leaves.The costuming of the acrobats was most intriguing. Gauzy fabrics that often left little to the imagination adorned the performers and were highlighted spectacularly by their graceful movements as they sailed through the air on ropes and trapezes. The costuming was further accentuated by magically enhanced lighting and effects that kept the viewer’s eye on the performers. There were animal acts too, and their costuming was also most chique.Despite being billed as entertainment for all sorts, there was an abundance of creepy mimes and harlequins. I wasn’t scared at all, Mildred was. Mme. Blackbriar told us that these “clowns” were meant to make children laugh, and she pointed at how the little ones clustered around the ghastly painted performers. I had never heard of such a thing, and I wonder what this new generation is coming to when they regard such beast-ly creatures as ‘entertainment’. The Baronettess was so upset that she needed a few moments to reboot, though she insisted that it was simply because one of the butternut squash she used as accessories had got-ten crushed and smeared on her runes creating a thaumaturgic short. Either way, clowns are most terrifying, and a suitable match for this season approaching Hoketh’s Harrowing as their faces are painted like death, their lips red like blood, and their countenances a rictus grin of terror.

The newly established Alivast Girls’ Intramural Diquekycking League has begun its games. Notable debutante Syntha Strong led Abif Academy to a narrow victory over the girls of Eve’s Meadow Academy. This sport teaches grace and poise for young women and I must praise whoever taught these young angels the art of kicking balls.

Corningale Hetmur apparently has started breeding pygmy hippogriffs. They are supposedly easier to maintain than pygmy gryphons, and are also of a racing variety. She is hoping to bring the art of pygmy hippogriff racing to alivast and is working with a stunningly dressed man who was a fight promoter until just recently.

To the architects and craftsmen of Alivast: Balconies are in this year. There’s no better place to enjoy the finest tea and scones from Dolly’s Pastries than on a balcony. It also presents the most romantic location for meeting a lover. Crafts-men, build more balconies!

Society Briefs

A circus is in town, and I love kettle corn! Lorzab tells me that it makes me too hyper, but what does he know? It is just the greatest thing in the world! So I thought I should share the recipe with you all here.

What you’ll need!

1. 1/4 cup oil 2. 1/2 cup popcorn kernels 3. 1/3 cup sugar 4. 3/4 teaspoon salt

Your Directions!

1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the popcorn and sugar. Give the kernels a quick stir and then cover with a lid.

2. Once the popcorn starts popping, carefully pick the pot up and give it a quick shake every few seconds until the popping slows down, between 3-4 minutes. Remove immediately from the heat and pour the kettle corn into a large bowl.

3. Sprinkle with salt and serv er the popcorn it will caramelize and perhaps burn.

Circus Treats: Kettle Corn!By Kilyn Valen

The following interview is one in a series provided for the Alivast Oracle. For the sake of their privacy, all interview subjects have requested to be left anonymous. I’m helping mommy do work. She said I’m too little, so I’m doing it without telling her. She said if we can get enough money we get to go in the city. So I’m carrying buckets for people. Sometimes I get a copper for it! I’m gonna wait until I get seven, because that’s a big number and it should be enough. My sister Orlinda said the streets in Alivast are made of candy. Doesn’t that make it sticky when it rains?

Tales from Tent Town

With the circus in town, there are bound to be carnival games to come with them. Howev-er, most carnival games are rigged, and not worth spending your silver on them. This article will help you spot those money thieves from the games that are actually winnable .

Look out for the easiest games. While most games seem they are too easy to make the circus money, you are probably wrong. Most carnies use that as a trick to take money from unsuspecting people, and sometimes they get the same person multiple times by making them think that they almost won. Look for games that have been won more than once.

Avoid the games with the best prizes. Games that have really great prizes, such as a re-ally big stuffed animal or magic trinket, are usually there just for show. They try to lure people in, trying to get them to spend a lot of money for a prize they may never win. Look out for these and steer clear.

Cast a detect magic bubble. In a world of magic, who knows if the the device you use in the game, whether it be a ball or ring, is enchanted to never land in the bowl or never go around the bottle. The person running the stand could be using mage hand to cause the ring or ball to miss, or the bowl or bottle is enchanted so it can’t be done. Using a Detect Magic spell could help prevent this, and save you from wasting money.

Advice For Alivast By Crakoa Tiamet

Hortense Rocksberry

I do not write these from a place of passion for the sake of it. I write in this style to help invoke that same passion in my fellow Construct for the chance to see them as focused on improving their own condition as, perhaps, they can then improve the condition of those around them. As such, it gave me great heart to see how many impassioned responses this column received from it’s last piece, and more so when I was told to visit a specific side-show at the circus in town. It was not a main attraction from Betterbottom’s show, but a side-show attraction and addition to the main cast. It had no tent, it had no proper advertisement. Just a wooden booth to sit in, and a small stage hammered together from similarly cheap wood. And then, she stepped out on stage. Before the crowd was a Construct, with dashes of clown makeup on her face. Her outfit was simple, her stage shabby, but she approached the crowd with a confidence that came across in her movements. And then, in a turn I did not expect… She began to juggle. Balls, at first, one, two, three in simple fashion, higher and higher. But then, as she seemed ready to finish… Her left arm flies up and off into the air. She has to shift her weight to catch just the balls, but the arm. The crowd is shocked, assuming something went wrong. She simply tries to re-attach the arm… Fails to do so… And then, juggles anyway, now one-handed and juggling her own arm alongside the balls. From what I could tell? What small audience she had was ravenously overjoyed by this performance. She was a star in the making… Or so I was told. So I spoke to her afterward about what would have her openly losing limbs and performing in such a fashion. I was, at first, worried she was inviting herself to a lifetime of deg-radation by using her body in such a reckless fashion, but… She told me without question this was her choice. “This is something I can do few others can, and as such I want to do it the best I can.” It was a turn, to be sure. But, as she explained, given she is attempting to join the circus at all, that much effort seems needed. There is no baseline for our wishes, after all. And if what she wants is to create joy in those around her, this is a way to be supported. This is what integration into society works as, and is to be commended. An effort made on both parts to find a compromise. I wish you the best of luck, Joseph. May your journey to join a posse of clowns be as fruitful and insane as it appears to be. I can only imagine it as fun a journey for you as it will be for those watching you.

Side-Show - Construct Editorial

INTELLIGENCE CHECK!

If you see a snowcone vendor that only has lemon flavor at his booth HE IS NOT PART OF THE CIRCUS! CALL THE GUARD IMMEDIATELY!

Words of Wisdom from FinneganWritten by: Finnegan Eastaughffe

Alivast Explorers’ SocietyWeekly Lecture Series Thursdays

Finding the JolliesF B M M F N U R O A E E T C I M S M G V S I L J C S E P G AZ J R P W M C E L Q B J Z C A I D Q Q W O M F D C C T P P FY X K S I T O K D Q O V C Z U R Z Y V F R E D K W N U N B LK Q Y R I P D W Q L M T Z U T D Y N B T A M X E U E A E P TA R F H M B P A L M L C G P P H O B N I C E V O A J T L I XO P Y F Q R Y I U I R D W F U R U R G G E D T K D T F V L JY R E V I L E D N O P U T N E M Y A P V R F L U E B I W X NE Q B S O S S O M G V H S M M O B O N E N U T R O F Y V V GL J G H X O D J Q W T I R Y V V C X J C R W B B P Z P V N LC L M L U U Q S Y J S O D A Q T R Q E J N O O G E B N W Z SH M L T E C D G G K F Y N D A Y V Y G Q T A M L T Z G B J DE N U Z P O X C V R C N O W D L F D A T Y J L D C S L Q T MJ E O Z G Q Y X E S X M K C H O R R O R H O U S E K H I P BY W Q J B H B P C W C H U A I N A M Y H S U L S E E S A U VB R J P K W I I L D P P Q Z F P H D M R O D N W I Y N W V T

Weekly Poetry Readings King’s Foot Tavern,

Fridays 8-12.

The Circus is still in town for a few more days, so let’s find out what treats and snacks are on offer so you know whats worth your coin. About a full blocks worth of land has been tak-en up by the tent and a surrounding carnival that opens up about an hour and a half before each show starts, has some neat little amusements, carnival games, and food stands. Not much to say about the atmosphere beyond it being quaint, crowded, and amusing.

Let’s talk food, we have good variety here so lets get through as much as we can. Popped corn, both the salty buttery kind, and the spiced or sweetened kind, made for a great light snack, perfect for munching on while watching a show, the kind that had caramel was sweet, but messes with your teeth worse than normal. Next, the Zeppoli, careful with these, they look light and fluffy, but they sit in your guts like a boulder. They’re wads of dough with cream injected in them and dusted with powdered sugar. The rich smooth cream and soft fluffy dough compliment the slight crisp from the frier. Last up, a surprise for me, Takoyaki. An Eastern Isles treat, little balls of dough with chunks of octopus grilled till they’re just a little mushy on the inside, topped with crunchy bits, fish flake, savory salty sauce, and a little drizzle of mayo. Might not sound appetizing but once these suckers cool enough to pop um in you’ll tear though um like nothing.

Already getting long in the tusk, so here’s the score: 7/10. This one was a real tough tough call since the circus ran the gauntlet from 9-scorers to disappointing 6’s, but there were more hits than misses all at a reasonable price. See my full breakdown on page 12.

Mercenary Meals: Circus Treats

BETTERBOTTOM

BOBO

CLOWN

FORTUNE

HORRORHOUSE

JOLLIES

PERFORMER

PIPPINGTON

ZELLOS

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