Siegebreakers: The Brass Dragon Circus & Traveling Sideshow

Status: Space foe one player, 2.8.26

This text-only game runs Fridays at 7:00 PM Pacific (Currently Daylight) Time. Due to some real life interference, we usually only run two hours. This game uses 2014 rules and I have no plans to change that.

It is the year 822, Post Divergence. 822 years since the Primes - the elder gods - locked themselves away along with the Betrayers - the elder gods of strife. 822 years without their intervention in our lives. Sure, enough of their influence trickles through to offer guidance, to bestow the relatively minor miracles of the priests. But the horror of the Calamity has never threatened the people again.

That isn't to say everything has been perfect. Tal'Dorei's bloody revolution 300 years ago; The Border Wars against the Iron Authority 24 years ago; the Chroma Conclave 13 years ago; various small wars; the death of Eilistraee, God of Redemption last year; the resulting Time of No Mercy, the months of despair and death as people lost the capacity for caring; the Redemption, as a new Prime was imbued with Eilistraee's power and remit... life has been complicated. But the people have weathered trials before, and they weathered these. They are resilient, determined folk.

They need that resolve now more than ever.

As the last year closed, Yuan-Ti unleashed their hordes in Eastern Tal'Dorei. Soulless predators who see us as little more than occasionally clever food, they infiltrated our communities using a new and unknown power to adopt near-perfect disguises, and now strike from within in numbers which threaten to overwhelm. It began with an attack from within in Westruun, but quickly spread. Stilben, already half-destroyed by fire and rage in the Time of No Mercy, fell in the first month. Smaller town across the eastern side of the continent have disappeared. Westruun and Whitestone have staved of the threat for now, and Stilben has been liberated - if 'liberated' applies to a city half-burned now with fewer than half its population surviving, the rest lost to the hunger of the predatory chimeric creatures.

But the people will not go quietly.

Making their way through the world and these continent-spanning events are the many and varied folk of The Brass Dragon Circus and Traveling Sideshow. Founded about 13 years ago - about a year after the Chroma Conclave - by survivors of that dark time, The Brass Dragon Circus has traveled the land for 13 years, earning a solid reputation for fun, entertainment, and amusement, a family-friendly and affordable time for all the peoples of Tal'Dorei. Wherever the circus goes, good times will surely follow, even in these dark times. It's changed ownership a couple of times, most recently last year, but the show must go on...

But the Brass Dragon Circus is more than it seems. Bree "The Tempest" Stormdottir, one of the circus' new owners, is really the boss of an assortment of mercenaries, thieves for hire, and troubleshooters, all working under the cover of a colorful caravan of entertainers and roustabouts. These crews of operators perform services more rarefied but less amusing while cadres of clowns, acrobats, trapeze artists, high-wire acts, animal trainers, knife-throwers, and sideshow acts such as The World's Tallest Halfling, a snake-charmer, a strongman, a deft illusionist who happens to be a goliath, and many others keep audiences entertained... and distracted.

You are one of these operators. You are a mercenary, or a thief-for-hire, or a troubleshooter. Part of a larger crew, your jobs usually come from Tempest. Often you have your pick, though sometimes she'll assign a specific job. Between jobs you're free to pursue your own interests; we all have a past, and most of us look to our own futures.

The jobs aren't always legal, but we do have rules; a code of conduct by which each of us abides. We do not assassinate, or accept jobs where killing humanoids is the express intent. We do not kidnap for ransom. We do not rob or otherwise exploit the common folk, or those who cannot afford the losses. No strike-breaking (though last year we did help striking workers. While on a job, we avoid killing humanoids if we can. And while a job may be declined, once accepted, we see it through. We do not betray or turn our backs to our own.

We all have a cover job. It's usually something small, something we can leave at a moment's notice when a real job come up. But some operators aspire to the applause of the crowd. It isn't the focus here, but if you've the chops for it, it might make for nice flavor. Ringmistress Hezalba may hire you as a performer as well, but that entirely separate from your job as an operator. She was quite the performer in her day, and has quite an eye for talent. Now she performs a different role, ringmistress and talent scout, She's adept at nurturing the enthusiasm of the crowd.

This is a game for four to five players (currently seeking one more; one is on hiatus and we hope life lets him return). Text Based. Weekly sessions here on Roll20. We use Discord for reminders and between-session chat.

Familiarity with Tal'Dorei and events involving Critical Role's first campaign Vox Machina are a strong plus (Much of the events in Vox Machina form the history from which this series draws), but I accept anyone willing to look up stuff when needed so I don't have to spend too much time on exposition for things every PC should know. Characters must be familiar with the world; but players may fake it.

This is one of three sessions. Two other groups of PCs each pursue jobs for Tempest, and their own goals, other nights of the week. Your actions affect the world for all, as do theirs.

This game has lots of RP, and I welcome players who are not afraid to extemporize with me. As long as we don't contradict established facts, I love to roll with your ideas. There's also lots of opportunity to pursue personal side goals for those interested.

I tend to play smaller combats through narrative and die rolls. For larger fights, I'll break out maps and tokens. When not in a fight, I use the map area for illustration.