Since the Freaks are firmly behind the Ring Master, you might as well talk to the Normals, the problem is you have to talk to someone with some pull with most of them, and Remarkable Randal is the only one who has that in any great capacity and getting him to side with Charley is out of the question.

At least directly.

It’s possible you could talk with Madam Orbec and get her to convince Randal to change his stance since he follows anything she says; also she’s less likely to throw something at your head when she sees you approach.

You head towards Madam Orbec’s tent, which has an air of creepiness surrounding it. You enter the tent and immediately get your usual welcome.

“Geek! Begone from this place! Do not assault the spirits with your foulness!” Madam Orbec commands.
“They’re dead; I don’t really see how my smell can affect them.”
“It’s not your odor that offends the spirits, it’s your aura! We do not want you in our presence! Away with you, we have no wish to be involved in your underhanded dealings!”
“How do you know what I’m here for?”
“Fool! I am Madam Orbec! I see all that the spirits see! You’re working with that miscreant Charley in an attempt to take over the Carnival and you’re hoping to influence me so that I may in turn influence Randal to convince the normals to side with him.”
“Well since you know…Madam?”

Madam Orbec begins to clutch her head and writhe on the floor talking to herself.

“Yes. But no! Maybe? Perhaps. If he can pull it off. Is he capable? I doubt it. We must try. Whatever, just get him out of here!”

Madam Orbec suddenly stops and slowly sits up.

“You need to expose those of the small craniums.”
“What?”
“The Pinheads. You need to show their true nature to the public.”
“True nature? What’re you talking about? Why”
“That is all the spirits have told me, their reasons are not to be questioned, but I have been advised to help you in your treacherous endeavor if you accomplish this objective. Now leave and do not return unless you are successful.”

At this point Madam Orbec seems to go into a cationic trance. You take your opportunity to leave and ponder what the hell her cryptic ramblings were about. All you know for certain is that you have to do something to the Pinheads. Expose their true nature, though you can’t imagine what that could be.

You could try spying on them and see what you can find out, or maybe a more direct approach would work.
> You direct approach
You can’t think of anything else to do, so you wait around for the Pinheads to come running around the Carnival like they usually do. When you see them gleefully playing catch with a baseball with each other, you insist on joining in

The Pinheads look a little bewildered by your actions at first, and when you actually get a hold of the ball and toss it back at them, they start getting noticeably angry. A few of them start pushing you and attempting to trip you up. You continue to antagonize them by “playing” with them. Until one of them says something out loud surprising everyone.

“GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE GEEK! YOU’RE FUCKING STINKING UP THE PLACE!”

This one hostile sentence shows a coherency that the Pinheads have never displayed before, and shouting it in public for the rest of the Carneys to hear has outted them.

“Fucking Pinheads can talk!” someone shouts.

At this point the Pinheads start arguing with themselves and attempting to cover up their mistake, but its too late now. You slip away and head back to Madam Orbec.

When you get to Orbec’s tent, she’s talking to herself as usual (Or the “spirits” rather)

“No, I don’t like that. Well if you moved a little more. NO! YOU CAN’T FUCK ME IN THE ASS! Oh fuck it then.”
“Um, am I interrupting something intimate?”
“The Geek returns! And I see you have been successful in your mission. The spirits thank you and you can be sure the Normals will be on your side when the time comes. Now leave us we are discussing something important.”
“Wait, can you at least tell me why you…I mean the spirits wanted the Pinheads exposed?”
“I suppose. Does he need an answer? Probably not. Then why tell? You’re right.” Then Madam Orbec answers you directly.
“No, now leave before we change our mind.”

Not wishing to undo your work, you leave and head back to Charley, who you see walking around looking for you.

“Hey there you are Geek! What’s all this I’ve been hearing about you fucking around with the Pinheads? You’re supposed to be doin’ shit for me, I hope you’ve been making progress in that little endeavor.”
“I have. I got the Normals to side with us.”

Charley chuckles heartily and tells you to be ready after the show because the revolution is coming after the rubes leave. Not wishing to run into the Ring Master before hand you hang around Charley’s still which isn’t too pleasant since you have to endure Ajax’s abuse while Charley goes off to make his preparations.

Then show time arrives, everything goes pretty much the same except the Ring Master looks a little distracted the entire time and the Pinheads don’t show up at all, apparently their exposure caused some trouble with other Carneys (All of them Normals) who didn’t like the fake act they were doing just to get paid more and taking money out of the pockets of performers who had real talents. (Tricking rubes is one thing, but fucking over other Carneys is frowned upon… if you get caught)
> You but the real show begins aftterwards
A dark moonlit night.

Charley confronts the Ring Master with his army of midgets behind him as well as Ajax. The Ring Master has Atlas, and his usual allies, the Freaks are hanging in the darkness ready to strike if necessary. Most of the Normals though are nowhere to be seen.

“Your time has come Ring Master! No longer will you exploit us! I’m taking over!”
“And you all feel this way? You’d rather follow this criminal who’ll be corrupt? You really think he’s doing this out of some noble moral code? Obviously you must be blind if you don’t see that rule by this degenerate will be worse than anything you THINK I’m doing…but I leave it up to you…”
“It won’t work Ringy, I got more in common with my people than you do! Blood is thicker, and yours is going to run everywhere if you don’t peaceably leave…I’m giving you this one chance you pale she-male.”
“Not likely, I have my own friends as you know.”

The Ring Master whistles and his Freaks show up, but Charley doesn’t look impressed.

“Geek?”
“Sorry, Ring Master, but we made a better deal.” You say and show up with a bunch of Normals behind you, and then Randal shows up on the other side with a bunch of Normals behind him as well.
“I see. So you’ve all decided to throw your lot in with petty criminal activity. I’m glad to see your hypocrisy show its true face Randal, and Geek, I’m very disappointed in you. Very well, if I die this day, it’ll be beside those who are the true heart of Carnival! ATTACK!”

The battle ensues, though it’s not really a battle. A few of the Normals side with the Ring Master, but most of them are on Charley’s side. The only thing that makes the battle last longer is the fact that the Freaks are fierce fighters. Atlas and Ajax lock horns, and while Atlas nearly kills Ajax, Randal does a couple of his magic tricks and blinds Atlas with a bright light, giving Ajax enough time to kill him.

On the side lines watching, is Pervus and his clown gang masturbating to the carnage.

Finally in the last moments Charley laughs as he stands over the Ring Master’s body which is now lifeless with Charley’s sharp stick through its heart; the last “Freak” to die. Meanwhile you were hiding during all this, but Charley calls you out.

“Hey Geek! Come out you fuckin’ coward! We won!”
“Yeah come out, you fucking useless piece of shit! I’m too tired to do anything to you right now.” Ajax adds.
“…I’m here Charley.”
“Good, unzip the Ring Master’s pants.”
“What?”
“Unzip the Ring Master’s pants; I wanna see what the hell he or she was packing. I have a bet going with Ajax and we wanna see who won.”

You’re a little hesitant, but your crouch over the body and start unzipping the Ring Master’s pants. A crowd begins to form around you. Normal and Midget alike.

“Come on come Geek, we ain’t got all fuckin’ night!” Ajax says while kicking you in the ribs.

You pull down the underwear…

“EEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWW!” the crowd shouts in unison.
“Holy shit!” you say falling back.
“Ha ha, I knew it! I fucking won!” Charley chuckles.
“Shit! Fuck!” Ajax shouts and starts beating you to take his frustrations out.

“Alright you lot, I want all these bodies cleaned up and disposed of before we head out to the next town, and Salina I want YOU in my new trailer to help me celebrate this glorious victory!”

And so begins the reign of Charley the Ringmaster. Under his guidance midgets run everything and the Carnival doesn’t so much resemble a Carnival as it resembles a mobile grifting ring. While regular carnival activities still abound, they’re more of a cover than anything. In time though problems occur. Randal and Charley begin to come into conflict as Randal begins to regret his decision to side with him as well as his disapproval of what’s become of the Carnival. Another division begins to occur, but one on a smaller scale as Charley’s corrupting influence has infected most of the remaining Carneys at this point. Things really come to a head when Ajax suspects Sasha of having an affair with Randal. Eventually Randal, a few of his remaining “followers” AND Sasha are all killed in the middle of night and their bodies dumped in the river. Lacking any more “true talent” or even sideshow freaks, the Carnival is disbanded entirely and Charley and Ajax set up headquarters permanently in a sleazy small town where they primarily run the place. Proving that crime does pay.

You on the other hand don’t do so well. While the Carnival was still around, you were routinely abused by Charley or Ajax more so than you normally were. When the Carnival disbanded you didn’t really have anywhere else to go, so you became the town drunk. Not really needing you anymore and having moved on to more important things, Charley forgets all about you, which leads to one dark rainy night when Ajax comes across you sleeping behind one of his bars. Not being reined in anymore, he does to you what he’s always wanted to do.

He beats you death, laughing the whole time.


“Agh! Alright, alright! Stop poking me…what day is it?”
“Never mind all that geek! Get going you know how the Ring Master doesn’t like being kept waiting! Phew! You smell even more disgusting than usual! I guess that’s one way to keep Ajax from killing you, he’d probably vomit his guts out before he could lay a hand on you…then you could lick it up for the rubes! Ha ha! Move it Geek!”

Charley prods you with a sharp stick periodically on your way to the Ring Master’s trailer until you arrive at which point, Atlas stops the both of you.

“Stop! What business do the both of you have here?”
“Goddamnit you fuckin’ one eyed freak! We go through this all the fucking time and its getting REALLY old! You just saw me come out of the Ring Master’s trailer earlier today when he sent me to get the Geek, you know damn well what we’re both doing here!”

Ignoring Charley’s comments Atlas looks down at you and points.

“You may enter, but the Ring Master doesn’t need to see you again, so you may not.”
“Yeah, whatever enjoy the smell.” Charley says and mumbles something to himself while leaving the area.

You barely make it up the little steps to the trailer, but you do. You’re finally starting to gather your wits together; your head still hurts though and you’ve just realize you haven’t had a drink yet. What a terrible feeling. You open the door.

“Close the door, you’re letting all the sunlight in.” the Ring Master orders from behind his desk. She’s siting in his chair, but has her back turned to you.
“Uh you wanted to see me?”
“Of course…(Sniff sniff) you really haven’t been taking care of yourself. If anything you’ve become even more repulsive than when I first took you in. Remember that day?”
“Um, yeah I think…no, no I don’t. I mean kind of… I forget things.”
“I’m not surprised; you’re constantly drinking that swill Charley makes. I am surprised you haven’t gone blind yet though. Oh well what you insist on doing to yourself is of little concern to me, all I require is your obedience. You are thankful for all I have provided for you aren’t you?”
“Oh yeah. Sure I am.”
“You seem to be one of the few nowadays then. There are some though that are ungrateful for things I’ve done for them, they plan to betray me and everything this carnival stands for. They plan to change the natural order of things. Can you imagine what might happen to this carnival if I wasn’t here? What might happen to you?”

You attempt to think about this scenario, but instead you just stand there because you can’t really form anything in your mind because it hurts really bad, you’ve been sober too damn long, and it’s about to get even longer as the Ring Master seems intent on bombarding you with talk as he finally swivels around in her chair. That pale androgynous face of the Ring Master’s is displaying a look of seriousness as usual.

“Nothing good I can assure you. Which is why I’m putting YOU in charge of this task.”
“Huh? What task?”
“Why ensuring the survival of the carnival of course.”
”What!? Me?! Why? How!? I’m not qualified! Can’t you or Charley do it?”
“I fear I’ve done all I’ve can. I mean I’ve provided all of THIS to everyone here. I’ve given them purpose and a life. If that isn’t enough for them, then my words aren’t going to make a difference at this point. And as for Charley, well…I’m sure even in your usual state of drunkenness you’re aware that he has his own plans for this carnival.”
“I guess…but agh, it’s too early for all this…why me? I mean what am I supposed to do? I’m just the Geek.”
“Yes, and that’s exactly why I’m choosing you. You have no motive, you have no agenda, you have no friends, and as such you would probably be the best candidate to convince others to resist change and keep the status quo.”
“You have to be joking! Nobody’s going to listen to me! I’m the fucking Geek!”
“You might be surprised, you have far more potential than you give yourself credit for…perhaps you’ll even change some perspectives, or maybe not. The choice is yours, because the fate of THIS carnival is resting solely on your actions, you can no longer afford to hide from the world in a bottle and a cage if you wish to keep your current life. It is time for you to take some responsibility, its time to repay the debt you owe me. You have until show time.”
“But…”
“Now leave me, I wish to be alone.”

The Ring Master swivels his chair back to its original position. You head back outside, where upon Atlas blocks it again with his massive body.

Never before in your life have you been put in this kind of position of responsibility, (Not that you can remember anyway) but you’re going to have to do something, the question is what exactly?
> You do something else
This mission that’s been given to you by the Ring Master has gotten you all shook up. You don’t want all this pressure, yet you’re too scared to leave. This is the only place that accepts you somewhat.

You’re too distracted to even get a drink! You’d rather not have to deal with Charley or especially Ajax right now either. Sometimes you just wish you didn’t have to live an utterly pathetic existence.

While you’re attempting to find some place dark to crawl into and hide, you literally bump into Remarkable Randal.

“Oof! Watch it you smelly, ugly, Geek! Honestly it’s bad enough this Carnival has Freaks and criminal Midgets, but honestly having YOU here defies all logic. If I ran this Carnival things would be different! What are you doing out of your cell anyway? Doesn’t the Ring Master usually keep you locked up until show time?”
“Oh, um he wanted to talk to me about something.”
“She did? What about?”
“Oh about my act, and uh…doing…um…something.”

Randal’s normal distain for you changes to one of interest. He studies you for a moment before speaking.

“So the Ring Master has entrusted YOU to save this place? Hah! She MUST be desperate!”
“Huh? What? How did you know?”
“Madam Orbec has been teaching me how to contact the spirit world and read into people’s souls. And yours is an easy read indeed, such as it is…perhaps our meeting has its purpose however. After reading your soul I can see something within you that may be worth saving. I never thought it possible, but I think I may be able to help you and your situation Geek.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Yes you do. Maybe you try to block it out of your mind with that swill you drink from Charley, but deep down you hate what you are and your retched life. And you should. You’re a sorry excuse for a human being, in fact you aren’t really even human anymore, you’re sub-human. However, you have a chance to regain your humanity back, and even become a useful member of this Carnival again. And I’ll help you, if you help me.”
“How am I supposed to help you?”
“A simple task really. All I want you to do is go get Madam Orbec’s black book. She keeps it by her bed. You’ll know it when you see it.”
“What?! You want me to steal from her? I thought she was supposed to be your mentor or something!”
“Shhhhh! Keep it down Geek! Look. Madam Orbec IS my mentor and I’ll always be grateful for what she’s taught me. I’ve always believed in magic, but without her teachings, I wouldn’t be a magician, I’d only be an illusionist.”
“There’s a difference?” you interrupt.
“Oh yes, Geek. Oh yes. Anyway, you’re not stealing the book, I just need to borrow it for awhile because its time for me to learn more. I think Madam Orbec is afraid I’m not yet prepared to learn the secrets that lie inside her black book. But I know I am, and its time for me to prove it to her. She’ll be so proud when she sees what I’ll be able to do.”
“So what’re you going to do with it?”
“I’m going to use its powers to help me take over the Carnival of course.”
“What?! I’m not helping you do that! I’m supposed to be helping the Ring Master anyway!”
“Why? Seriously, what has the Ring Master really done for you? Given you a job? The Ring Master is exploiting you for his own personal gain. She cares nothing for you. He just saw a useless dreg of society and turned you into something that could somehow make money for her. Assuming you helped the Ring Master and were even successful, think about it, you’d just go back to your living your miserable life. Is mere existence just enough for you? Isn’t it time you wanted MORE out of life?”

You’re quiet. You don’t think anyone’s even asked you that question, even before you became a geek, and you’re really surprised to hear it coming from Randal. Someone who has nothing, but distaste for you.

“I dunno, I think I’m pretty bad off. I don’t think there’s anything I can do to improve myself at this point.”
“Nonsense, there’s always a way and your first step is by helping me. Look. Maybe you are what you are and I don’t like it, but I do see that underneath it all you ARE a Normal. You should be on my side anyway; I can help you be something more than a geek. With magic anything is possible! Retrieve that book for me and I’ll turn this Carnival into something much more than what it is and I’ll turn you into something much more than what you could’ve thought possible.”

Something about Randal makes you believe him. You can understand why people do tend to want to follow him. Maybe things would be better if he took over. He certainly seems more caring than the Ring Master and a hell of a lot better in general than Charley.

“Okay, I’ll help you, but I dunno how I’m gonna ste…I mean borrow the book.”
“Well I leave that up to you, but make sure you get the book to me before show time and don’t come back to me until then.”

Randal leaves you to it, but you’re still not sure how you’re going to go about this. If Randal can read your intentions then Madam Orbec will certainly be able to read yours. It occurs to you, that you might need some help from the less “moral” people here. And you can’t ask Charley to help you for several reasons.

You could go to Pervus for help. If murder and sexual deviancy is no problem for him then surely a little theft won’t be either. And he’s usually up for doing anything remotely illegal.

You could also go see Salina. Besides prostitution she’s known to be good at theft as well, though her helping you is a real long shot.
> You go see Pervus
You decide Pervus would be a better choice. Probably not the safest, but he’s more likely to help you.

You’re hesitant to go anywhere near the clown tent to get him though, however for once luck is with you and you see him around the animals talking to a horse.

“Hmmm, yeah. You’re a pretty filly. Yes you are. Let me tell you what I’m gonna do…(sniff) you smell different than usual.” Pervus then turns around. “Oh it’s you Geek. What the fuck do you want? Can’t you see I’m with a lady?”
“Hey um, Pervus I need your help with something.”
“Oh do ya now?”
“I need to borrow a black book from Madam Orbec, and I need you to distract her.”
“Hmm, normally I wouldn’t help you do shit, but I’m kinda in the mood for some OLD pussy right now. Yeah I’ll distract her, I know exactly how to distract her.” Pervus say while stoking his crotch.
“Um hold on, you’re not gonna rape and kill her are ya?”
“I won’t kill her…oh fine I won’t rape her either. Probably won’t be necessary anyway, I’ve always had a way with the ladies…sorry old girl, but I’ll have to be fucking you some other time.” Pervus remarks and pats the horse on the head before following you.

You both approach Madam Orbec’s tent which has an air of creepiness about it. Pervus has a look of crazed lust in his eyes. He’s starting to breathe heavily and doing a lot of slurping.

“Oh fuck yeah, this is gonna be soooooooo good.”

He said he wasn’t going to do anything excessive, but now you’re not so sure…
> You continue with the plan
All that really concerns you is getting that book, because if you don’t get Randal’s help, the Ring Master is certainly going to kill you when she finds out you’ve turned traitor.

Pervus enters the tent and you sneak around back and begin trying to lift up a small portion of it to crawl in.

You hear a lot of noise and some protesting, while you’re doing this, when you finally get in, Pervus is having his way with Madam Orbec, completely oblivious to you and Madam Orbec isn’t making a sound…you don’t like the looks of this.

You turn to your left and see you’re right by her bed, next to that is her dresser which has the book on it. You grab it and crawl back out as quickly as you can. You run and don’t look back.

When you get back to Randal he wonder’s why the hell you’re so worked up.

“(Pant) I got the book.”
“Phew! Well don’t breathe all over me, just gimme the thing! Excellent. I’ll study what I can tonight before show time and then afterwards we’ll see who the new master is! And what’s wrong with you Geek? Why are breathing so heavy and looking around…you didn’t let Madam Orbec see you borrow this did you?!”
“No, not at all. I’m just winded from trying to get out there without her seeing me!”
“Well you better make yourself scarce until showtime anyway. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to run into the Ring Master before hand. Relax, I will keep my end of the bargain. Now go.”

You leave and linger around the edges of the Carnival, staying out of sight until show time. What happened back at Madam Orbec’s tent still has you unnerved a bit. You know it’s only a matter a time before everyone finds out, before Randal finds out. She was basically like a mother figure to him. You didn’t think Pervus would kill her, unless he didn’t mean to and more likely he was just so overwhelmed with lust that he didn’t care at that point.

In fact you’re a little worried about being here by yourself with no one around. You half think Pervus is going to leap out somewhere and kill you too to shut you up. It would be exactly like him to do something like that. In fact now you think its weird to you that he HASN’T shown up to kill you.

You’ve got a lot of potential enemies right now, Pervus, the Ring Master, not to mention plain old Ajax who always wants to kill you. Randal is pretty much your only hope for survival now.

Eventually you wander back to the Carnival around show time. Everything goes as normal with a few exceptions. The Ring Master looks pre-occupied, Randal’s act seems to be a lot more spectacular than usual, the clowns nowhere to be seen and all throughout the show you have a dreaded feeling that something really bad is going to happen.

And you just may be right.
> You because the real show occurs afterwards
A dark moonlit night.

Charley confronts the Ring Master with his army of midgets behind him as well as Ajax. The Ring Master has Atlas, and looks around for his usual allies, the Freaks, and to the surprise of everyone Randal appears with most of the Normals behind him. You attempt to hide directly behind Randal figuring that will be the safest place.

“YOU? You’re attempting to take over? You must be joking! Go take your fairy dust and
prance off somewhere, this is between me and the she male freak!” Charley spits.
“No, you malignant midget! Your time and a criminal ways are at an end here today! And you too Ring Master! No longer will this Carnival be run by an exploitative tyrant!” Randal retorts.

The Ring Master sees you and shakes his head.

“I’m very disappointed that you decided to betray me here today Geek. You will learn to regret that fateful decision.”
“Enough, of this fuckin’ talk. Let’s see who’s gonna fuckin’ run this show once and for all! Attack!”

Charley and his midgets begin the assault, and the other two sides follow suit. The fighting is furious and brutal. All you do is crawl away and try to hide under a trailer and hope Randal wins, which he looks like he’s doing.

Randal has the upper hand in every way, he has numerical superiority for one thing, and the other thing is he’s casting actual magic spells. A couple of bolts of lightning fry Ajax and Charley. Another spell strikes down Atlas. All looks good for Randal…until Pervus and his clown crew show up.

When you first see them, they look like they’ve already been in a fight. They’re walking in a shambling motion and have wounds on them. When they get closer those wounds look like mortal one. In fact they are.

Pervus and the clowns are no longer among the living.

It takes awhile for anyone else to recognize this. Randal just thinks he’s got more allies until they start biting other Normals (as well as some remaining Midgets and Freaks). Upon seeing this, he tries to cast another spell to destroy them, but is stopped when one of the previously dead bodies on the ground rises up and bites his leg. When he cries out, he sees another familiar face. Madam Orbec, who while dead, looks obviously displeased by the theft of her book.

“I TOLD YOU NOT TO USE THIS BOOK! NOW SUFFER ALONG WITH THE REST OF US!” she shouts and bites a chunk of Randal’s throat out. He falls to the ground to be consumed by more of the dead and the book goes flying out of his hand.

All of the bodies have risen now. They’re attacking everyone living, you take this as your moment to escape, when you scramble from under the trailer you feel a very strong grip tighten around your shoulder. You look up and see the Ring Master.

“My poor sad Geek. I told you that you would learn to regret your decision to betray me. I have to thank you though, while my Carnival may be no more, perhaps it was time for a change, and with this book (The Ring Master shows you the black book that Randal lost) I think I can make a lot of them.”

You try to struggle, but its no use. The Ring Master has an unnaturally strong grip on you. He walks directly towards the zombie horde, dragging you along.

“Why?! Why aren’t they attacking you?” is the last thing you cry out.
“Silly Geek, haven’t you at least figured that one out by now? Zombies don’t attack other undead.”

With a sharp fang protruding in a grinning smile at you, the Ring Master hurls you to the zombies, who eat you alive.


You decide Pervus would be a better choice. Probably not the safest, but he’s more likely to help you.

You’re hesitant to go anywhere near the clown tent to get him though, however for once luck is with you and you see him around the animals talking to a horse.

“Hmmm, yeah. You’re a pretty filly. Yes you are. Let me tell you what I’m gonna do…(sniff) you smell different than usual.” Pervus then turns around. “Oh it’s you Geek. What the fuck do you want? Can’t you see I’m with a lady?”
“Hey um, Pervus I need your help with something.”
“Oh do ya now?”
“I need to borrow a black book from Madam Orbec, and I need you to distract her.”
“Hmm, normally I wouldn’t help you do shit, but I’m kinda in the mood for some OLD pussy right now. Yeah I’ll distract her, I know exactly how to distract her.” Pervus say while stoking his crotch.
“Um hold on, you’re not gonna rape and kill her are ya?”
“I won’t kill her…oh fine I won’t rape her either. Probably won’t be necessary anyway, I’ve always had a way with the ladies…sorry old girl, but I’ll have to be fucking you some other time.” Pervus remarks and pats the horse on the head before following you.

You both approach Madam Orbec’s tent which has an air of creepiness about it. Pervus has a look of crazed lust in his eyes. He’s starting to breathe heavily and doing a lot of slurping.

“Oh fuck yeah, this is gonna be soooooooo good.”

He said he wasn’t going to do anything excessive, but now you’re not so sure…
> You change the plan
“Hold on Pervus. I got a better idea.” You say stopping Pervus from entering.
“Geek, that’s the second time you’ve interrupted my dick from finding happiness. If you do it again, it’s gonna find happiness in YOU!”
“Um…well look, I was just thinking that it would be better if you got the book, I dunno if I’m up for it. I’ll distract Madam Orbec instead.”
“The ONLY reason why I agreed to this, was because of the possibility of getting some Granny pussy, and now you’re fuckin’ sayin’ no? Fuck you Geek! I’m doin’ this shit now!”

Pervus knocks you to the ground and enters Madam Orbec’s tent. You begin to hear some weird noises. Some of it sounds like screams, but not of the human kind. You sit in shock unsure of what to do, and then soon Pervus comes back out with the black book. There’s blood all over his clown costume.

“I’m not sure what the fuck you wanted this for, but you ain’t gettin’ it now Geek. See ya at show time.”

You don’t want to check, but you do anyway. You go inside Madam Orbec’s tent and see a gruesome sight. Something else is here though. You feel a force hit you several times. You see sheer depravity in your mind! It overwhelms you, you begin to cry, and laugh at the same time. You immediately run back out to hide somewhere utterly mad from what you saw.

You run off to the nearest town hoping nobody comes looking for you, and nobody does due to what happens at show time…

With the black book in his possession, Pervus goes back to his own tent and begins reading it, wondering what you wanted it for. Soon he begins to discover the power contained inside. The reason why Madam Orbec never wanted Randal to use it is due to the evil contained within and didn’t want that evil unleashed lest it destroy him. Of course Pervus isn’t a choir boy like Randal, he embraces the evil and the evil embraces him. It’s a match made in hell.

When show time comes around he and his whole degenerate clown crew begin chanting from the book unleashing horrible powers. Many in the audience are killed as they attempt to escape, the Ring Master attempts to restore order, but with one utterance by Pervus, a burning black light annihilates her. The next blast destroys Atlas.

Randle attempts some sort of cheap magic defense, but he’s powerless against the sheer destruction Pervus is wreaking. Eventually some of the clowns surround and capture him and do unspeakable things to him until he’s literally an empty husk.

Charley and Ajax attempt to escape, but are run down and torn apart by strange shadow creatures that were summoned up.

The ones that manage to survive that terrible night become part of this twisted new Carnival that now travels the night seeking to pull more victims into its dreaded den of wickedness and suck their souls dry, with Pervus as the new crazed ring master.

And while you weren’t there for the event, you SAW it all, in your mind back at Madam Orbec’s tent. One last curse by the spirits for your involvement in the death of Madam Orbec.

You are doomed to forever see the on going horrors committed by Pervus’ Carnival, and yet can do nothing about it. You’re eventually picked up off the street while during one of your screaming jags and thrown into a mental asylum, straight jacked and doped up with morphine.

But it doesn’t help.

You still see.

And you can’t stop the screaming.


This mission that’s been given to you by the Ring Master has gotten you all shook up. You don’t want all this pressure, yet you’re too scared to leave. This is the only place that accepts you somewhat.

You’re too distracted to even get a drink! You’d rather not have to deal with Charley or especially Ajax right now either. Sometimes you just wish you didn’t have to live an utterly pathetic existence.

While you’re attempting to find some place dark to crawl into and hide, you literally bump into Remarkable Randal.

“Oof! Watch it you smelly, ugly, Geek! Honestly it’s bad enough this Carnival has Freaks and criminal Midgets, but honestly having YOU here defies all logic. If I ran this Carnival things would be different! What are you doing out of your cell anyway? Doesn’t the Ring Master usually keep you locked up until show time?”
“Oh, um he wanted to talk to me about something.”
“She did? What about?”
“Oh about my act, and uh…doing…um…something.”

Randal’s normal distain for you changes to one of interest. He studies you for a moment before speaking.

“So the Ring Master has entrusted YOU to save this place? Hah! She MUST be desperate!”
“Huh? What? How did you know?”
“Madam Orbec has been teaching me how to contact the spirit world and read into people’s souls. And yours is an easy read indeed, such as it is…perhaps our meeting has its purpose however. After reading your soul I can see something within you that may be worth saving. I never thought it possible, but I think I may be able to help you and your situation Geek.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Yes you do. Maybe you try to block it out of your mind with that swill you drink from Charley, but deep down you hate what you are and your retched life. And you should. You’re a sorry excuse for a human being, in fact you aren’t really even human anymore, you’re sub-human. However, you have a chance to regain your humanity back, and even become a useful member of this Carnival again. And I’ll help you, if you help me.”
“How am I supposed to help you?”
“A simple task really. All I want you to do is go get Madam Orbec’s black book. She keeps it by her bed. You’ll know it when you see it.”
“What?! You want me to steal from her? I thought she was supposed to be your mentor or something!”
“Shhhhh! Keep it down Geek! Look. Madam Orbec IS my mentor and I’ll always be grateful for what she’s taught me. I’ve always believed in magic, but without her teachings, I wouldn’t be a magician, I’d only be an illusionist.”
“There’s a difference?” you interrupt.
“Oh yes, Geek. Oh yes. Anyway, you’re not stealing the book, I just need to borrow it for awhile because its time for me to learn more. I think Madam Orbec is afraid I’m not yet prepared to learn the secrets that lie inside her black book. But I know I am, and its time for me to prove it to her. She’ll be so proud when she sees what I’ll be able to do.”
“So what’re you going to do with it?”
“I’m going to use its powers to help me take over the Carnival of course.”
“What?! I’m not helping you do that! I’m supposed to be helping the Ring Master anyway!”
“Why? Seriously, what has the Ring Master really done for you? Given you a job? The Ring Master is exploiting you for his own personal gain. She cares nothing for you. He just saw a useless dreg of society and turned you into something that could somehow make money for her. Assuming you helped the Ring Master and were even successful, think about it, you’d just go back to your living your miserable life. Is mere existence just enough for you? Isn’t it time you wanted MORE out of life?”

You’re quiet. You don’t think anyone’s even asked you that question, even before you became a geek, and you’re really surprised to hear it coming from Randal. Someone who has nothing, but distaste for you.

“I dunno, I think I’m pretty bad off. I don’t think there’s anything I can do to improve myself at this point.”
“Nonsense, there’s always a way and your first step is by helping me. Look. Maybe you are what you are and I don’t like it, but I do see that underneath it all you ARE a Normal. You should be on my side anyway; I can help you be something more than a geek. With magic anything is possible! Retrieve that book for me and I’ll turn this Carnival into something much more than what it is and I’ll turn you into something much more than what you could’ve thought possible.”

Something about Randal makes you believe him. You can understand why people do tend to want to follow him. Maybe things would be better if he took over. He certainly seems more caring than the Ring Master and a hell of a lot better in general than Charley.

“Okay, I’ll help you, but I dunno how I’m gonna ste…I mean borrow the book.”
“Well I leave that up to you, but make sure you get the book to me before show time and don’t come back to me until then.”

Randal leaves you to it, but you’re still not sure how you’re going to go about this. If Randal can read your intentions then Madam Orbec will certainly be able to read yours. It occurs to you, that you might need some help from the less “moral” people here. And you can’t ask Charley to help you for several reasons.

You could go to Pervus for help. If murder and sexual deviancy is no problem for him then surely a little theft won’t be either. And he’s usually up for doing anything remotely illegal.

You could also go see Salina. Besides prostitution she’s known to be good at theft as well, though her helping you is a real long shot.
> You go see Salina
Maybe you just want to talk to Salina because you’re creeped by Pervus or maybe you want to talk to her because you think she’s pretty, or maybe it’s a combination of both.

Whatever the case the result is still the same when you bang on her trailer.

“PEEYOO! Geek! Get the fuck outta here, even if you did have some money I wouldn’t debase myself!” Salina says when she answers.
“No, its not that, I need some help.”
“I’ll help you get your ass kicked if you don’t get outta here! I’m sure Charley wouldn’t like seeing you here lingering around me.”

You just realized that. If Charley caught you here, he’d probably torture the shit out of you and then let Ajax finish you off (Nevermind the fact that Salina IS a prostitute, but Charley isn’t always logical when it comes to her, plus you’re a punching bag anyway)
You need to not remain here as long as possible.
> You try to convince her
“Look, I just need your help to ste…I mean borrow something! I heard you were good at borrowing things, so…”
“Go steal it yourself Geek! I’m not your personal thief! And it’s time for you to fucking go!”
“Listen! It’s…”

As you aggressively begin to step inside the trailer, you suddenly hear some hissing and a couple snakes appear by Salina’s foot. Before you have time to react, both of them dart their heads at your legs, giving you a bite.

You fall back on the ground, as the poison begins to take effect. First you feel paralysis set in then your organs shut down completely.

“Hey, somebody come pick up this Geek! He’s gonna smell even worse while dead!” is the last thing you hear Salina shout.


Maybe you just want to talk to Salina because you’re creeped by Pervus or maybe you want to talk to her because you think she’s pretty, or maybe it’s a combination of both.

Whatever the case the result is still the same when you bang on her trailer.

“PEEYOO! Geek! Get the fuck outta here, even if you did have some money I wouldn’t debase myself!” Salina says when she answers.
“No, its not that, I need some help.”
“I’ll help you get your ass kicked if you don’t get outta here! I’m sure Charley wouldn’t like seeing you here lingering around me.”

You just realized that. If Charley caught you here, he’d probably torture the shit out of you and then let Ajax finish you off (Nevermind the fact that Salina IS a prostitute, but Charley isn’t always logical when it comes to her, plus you’re a punching bag anyway)
You need to not remain here as long as possible.
> You beg and plead pitifully
Being pitiful has always been something you’ve been good at, sometimes it even works to your advantage. You collapse on the little piece of stairs you’re standing on and start pleading.

“Please Salina you gotta help me! (sob) I don’t have anyone else to turn to! I need to sneak in Madam Orbec’s tent and get a book from without her knowing (sob) or I’m gonna die! (sob)”

Salina doesn’t completely understand what the hell you’re babbling about, but she just wants you to leave and stop stinking up the place. Salina goes back inside and grabs a bottle and dumps the entire contents on you. The shit burns like hell on the sores you have on your skin. You roll off the stairs and on to the ground in irritated pain.

“I dunno what the hell you’re on about Geek, but you ain’t sneaking anywhere as long as you smell the way you do. I just dumped a strong perfume on you. Normally you’d smell like flowers, but with your disgusting odor all it’s gonna do is cancel out your usual foulness and even then only for a little while giving you time to do whatever it is you have to do. And this is ALL the help you’re getting from me! Now get outta here I got customers coming!” Salina says and then slams her trailer door.

Not exactly what you had in mind, but more help than you expected. You head to Madam Orbec’s tent. When you arrive there’s a distinct air of creepiness about it. You can’t afford to waste too much time so you head around the back of the tent and start trying to pull up so you can sneak in and get the book. You only hope she doesn’t happen to be looking in your direction while you’re attempting to do this.

As luck would have it, she isn’t, in fact when you crawl inside you see you’re right near her bed where she’s fast asleep. Next to the bed you see a small table with a black book on it. That must be it. You grab it.

Madam Orbec then begins to stir. She starts sniffing in her sleep. The perfume must be wearing off!
> You run out of the front entance of the tent
No time to mess around lifting and crawling you just need to get out of here! You run out of the tent and don’t stop until you reach Randal who wonders why you’re breathing so hard.

When you get back to Randal he wonder’s why the hell you’re so worked up.

“(Pant) I got the book.”
“Phew! Well don’t breathe all over me, just gimme the thing! Excellent. I’ll study what I can tonight before show time and then afterwards we’ll see who the new master is! And what’s wrong with you Geek? Why are breathing so heavy and looking around…you didn’t let Madam Orbec see you borrow this did you?!”
“No, not at all. I’m just winded from trying to get out there without her seeing me!”
“Well you better make yourself scarce until showtime anyway. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to run into the Ring Master before hand. Relax, I will keep my end of the bargain. Now go.”

You leave and linger around the edges of the Carnival, staying out of sight until show time. You just hope Randal does live up to his bargain and manages to take control, because if he doesn’t, you’re going to be in a world of shit with the Ring Master.

Eventually you wander back to the Carnival around show time. Everything goes as normal with a few exceptions. The Ring Master looks pre-occupied, and Randal’s act seems to be a lot more spectacular than usual.
> You but the real show occurs afterwards
A dark moonlit night.

Charley confronts the Ring Master with his army of midgets behind him as well as Ajax. It appears that Pervus and his clowns have also decided to join him. The Ring Master has Atlas, and looks around for his usual allies, the Freaks, and to the surprise of everyone Randal appears with most of the Normals behind him. You attempt to hide directly behind Randal figuring that will be the safest place.

“YOU? You’re attempting to take over? You must be joking! Go take your fairy dust and
prance off somewhere, this is between me and the she male freak!” Charley spits.
“No, you malignant midget! Your time and a criminal ways are at an end here today! And your too Ring Master! No longer will this Carnival be run by an exploitative tyrant!” Randal retorts.

The Ring Master sees you and shakes his head.

“I’m very disappointed that you decided to betray me here today Geek. You will learn to regret that fateful decision.”
“Enough, of this fuckin’ talk. Let’s see who’s gonna fuckin’ run this show once and for all! Attack!”

Charley and his midgets begin the assault, and the other two sides follow suit. The fighting is furious and brutal. All you do is crawl away and try to hide under a trailer and hope Randal wins, which he looks like he’s doing.

Randal has the upper hand in every way, he has numerical superiority for one thing, and the other thing is he’s casting actual magic spells. A couple of bolts of lightning fry Ajax and Charley. Another spell strikes down Atlas. All looks good for Randal, especially when he wipes out Pervus and all the clowns with a huge fireball and finally with one last spell he strikes down the Ring Master with a dark black light which completely disintegrates him.

Its over.

“Geek! You can stop hiding! We won!” Randal shouts.
“Yes, and with the help of MY book!” Madam Orbec says appearing from nowhere. “What the hell is wrong with you Randal? Didn’t I tell you not to mess with this book?” Orbec begins hitting Randal and takes her book back.
“Ow! I’m sorry Madam! I just wanted to prove to you that I was ready to…ow!”
“You’ll never be ready for this book, you hear me? You’re lucky you didn’t bring the dead back to life with your careless chanting!” then she points to you. “And YOU’RE lucky I didn’t catch you stealing this for him! I would’ve turned you into a worm which probably would be a step up for you!” Orbec decides she doesn’t want to dirty herself hitting you though, so she just leaves. After this embarrassing incident Randal regains his composure.

“Okay people get some rest for tomorrow, a new era of this Carnival has arrived and we have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but it’ll be worth it! Because with magic anything is possible! And don’t worry Geek, I still haven’t forgotten about you, thanks to your help, you’ll have a place in my Carnival.”

Time passes and Randal “cleans up” the Carnival of all remaining criminal activity, though without Charley around, it wasn’t really a factor anymore. Salina ends up leaving though as the Carnival has gotten too “Goody” for her liking. Without Ajax around, Sasha ends up falling for Randal and the two eventually get married.

There also aren’t anymore Freaks in the Carnival anymore; the few that survived ran off to eke out meager livings elsewhere. There were quite a few Midgets left, and were allowed to stay due to the fact that they were hard workers, but their status is severely diminished. In fact they’re pretty relegated back to second class citizen status again.

The Carnival flourishes though as it becomes a truly wondrous and safe place for entire families. And your reward for your help was a complete magical transformation into…

An animal keeper.

Having no other useful skills you’re relegated to have to look after all the animals and take care of them in Randal’s new Carnival.

Every day you take your life into your hands when dealing with the lions.
Every day the horses fart on you whenever you’re around.
Every day you suffer the indignities of the monkeys throwing their shit at you. Not that it matters since you smell like shit anyway after having to clean up after the elephants.

In fact you only smell slightly better than when you were a Geek, though at least you don’t have eat various parts of the animals’ anatomies and you don’t get beat up anymore.

It’s a step up!


Being pitiful has always been something you’ve been good at, sometimes it even works to your advantage. You collapse on the little piece of stairs you’re standing on and start pleading.

“Please Salina you gotta help me! (sob) I don’t have anyone else to turn to! I need to sneak in Madam Orbec’s tent and get a book from without her knowing (sob) or I’m gonna die! (sob)”

Salina doesn’t completely understand what the hell you’re babbling about, but she just wants you to leave and stop stinking up the place. Salina goes back inside and grabs a bottle and dumps the entire contents on you. The shit burns like hell on the sores you have on your skin. You roll off the stairs and on to the ground in irritated pain.

“I dunno what the hell you’re on about Geek, but you ain’t sneaking anywhere as long as you smell the way you do. I just dumped a strong perfume on you. Normally you’d smell like flowers, but with your disgusting odor all it’s gonna do is cancel out your usual foulness and even then only for a little while giving you time to do whatever it is you have to do. And this is ALL the help you’re getting from me! Now get outta here I got customers coming!” Salina says and then slams her trailer door.

Not exactly what you had in mind, but more help than you expected. You head to Madam Orbec’s tent. When you arrive there’s a distinct air of creepiness about it. You can’t afford to waste too much time so you head around the back of the tent and start trying to pull up so you can sneak in and get the book. You only hope she doesn’t happen to be looking in your direction while you’re attempting to do this.

As luck would have it, she isn’t, in fact when you crawl inside you see you’re right near her bed where she’s fast asleep. Next to the bed you see a small table with a black book on it. That must be it. You grab it.

Madam Orbec then begins to stir. She starts sniffing in her sleep. The perfume must be wearing off!
> You crawl back out the way you came
You figure you don’t want anyone else seeing you run out of her tent with the book or else they’ll only rat you out later. You lift up the tent and try to crawl back out. You waste too much time though; she wakes up when you’re halfway through. She’s not happy!

“GEEK! YOU DARE STEAL FROM ME! I CALL UPON THE SPIRITS TO CURSE YOU TO RESEMBLE THE LOWLY WORM YOU ARE!”

You don’t think too much of those words at first, until you get fully out of the tent and find that you can’t stand up to run anymore. You look behind yourself and to your horror you see that your legs have fused together into one fleshy mass. Soon the rest of you begins to transform. You gradually start to shrink as you try to crawl away in a hopeless attempt to escape your fate.

When you’ve fully transformed, Madam Orbec finally arrives to retrieve her book and sees you squirming around in the grass. She laughs and remarks how leaving you in that state is what you really deserve.

But she decides to show mercy for your plight by stepping on you and putting you out of your misery.


“Agh! Alright, alright! Stop poking me…what day is it?”
“Never mind all that geek! Get going you know how the Ring Master doesn’t like being kept waiting! Phew! You smell even more disgusting than usual! I guess that’s one way to keep Ajax from killing you, he’d probably vomit his guts out before he could lay a hand on you…then you could lick it up for the rubes! Ha ha! Move it Geek!”

Charley prods you with a sharp stick periodically on your way to the Ring Master’s trailer until you arrive at which point, Atlas stops the both of you.

“Stop! What business do the both of you have here?”
“Goddamnit you fuckin’ one eyed freak! We go through this all the fucking time and its getting REALLY old! You just saw me come out of the Ring Master’s trailer earlier today when he sent me to get the Geek, you know damn well what we’re both doing here!”

Ignoring Charley’s comments Atlas looks down at you and points.

“You may enter, but the Ring Master doesn’t need to see you again, so you may not.”
“Yeah, whatever enjoy the smell.” Charley says and mumbles something to himself while leaving the area.

You barely make it up the little steps to the trailer, but you do. You’re finally starting to gather your wits together; your head still hurts though and you’ve just realize you haven’t had a drink yet. What a terrible feeling. You open the door.

“Close the door, you’re letting all the sunlight in.” the Ring Master orders from behind his desk. She’s siting in his chair, but has her back turned to you.
“Uh you wanted to see me?”
“Of course…(Sniff sniff) you really haven’t been taking care of yourself. If anything you’ve become even more repulsive than when I first took you in. Remember that day?”
“Um, yeah I think…no, no I don’t. I mean kind of… I forget things.”
“I’m not surprised; you’re constantly drinking that swill Charley makes. I am surprised you haven’t gone blind yet though. Oh well what you insist on doing to yourself is of little concern to me, all I require is your obedience. You are thankful for all I have provided for you aren’t you?”
“Oh yeah. Sure I am.”
“You seem to be one of the few nowadays then. There are some though that are ungrateful for things I’ve done for them, they plan to betray me and everything this carnival stands for. They plan to change the natural order of things. Can you imagine what might happen to this carnival if I wasn’t here? What might happen to you?”

You attempt to think about this scenario, but instead you just stand there because you can’t really form anything in your mind because it hurts really bad, you’ve been sober too damn long, and it’s about to get even longer as the Ring Master seems intent on bombarding you with talk as he finally swivels around in her chair. That pale androgynous face of the Ring Master’s is displaying a look of seriousness as usual.

“Nothing good I can assure you. Which is why I’m putting YOU in charge of this task.”
“Huh? What task?”
“Why ensuring the survival of the carnival of course.”
”What!? Me?! Why? How!? I’m not qualified! Can’t you or Charley do it?”
“I fear I’ve done all I’ve can. I mean I’ve provided all of THIS to everyone here. I’ve given them purpose and a life. If that isn’t enough for them, then my words aren’t going to make a difference at this point. And as for Charley, well…I’m sure even in your usual state of drunkenness you’re aware that he has his own plans for this carnival.”
“I guess…but agh, it’s too early for all this…why me? I mean what am I supposed to do? I’m just the Geek.”
“Yes, and that’s exactly why I’m choosing you. You have no motive, you have no agenda, you have no friends, and as such you would probably be the best candidate to convince others to resist change and keep the status quo.”
“You have to be joking! Nobody’s going to listen to me! I’m the fucking Geek!”
“You might be surprised, you have far more potential than you give yourself credit for…perhaps you’ll even change some perspectives, or maybe not. The choice is yours, because the fate of THIS carnival is resting solely on your actions, you can no longer afford to hide from the world in a bottle and a cage if you wish to keep your current life. It is time for you to take some responsibility, its time to repay the debt you owe me. You have until show time.”
“But…”
“Now leave me, I wish to be alone.”

The Ring Master swivels his chair back to its original position. You head back outside, where upon Atlas blocks it again with his massive body.

Never before in your life have you been put in this kind of position of responsibility, (Not that you can remember anyway) but you’re going to have to do something, the question is what exactly?
> You run away!
This is all just too much for you; you don’t want to be any part of this. You do what you’ve always done all your life; run away leaving the carnival behind. Nobody goes looking for you, not even the Ring Master. Geeks like you are a dime a dozen. They can get another one.

You take up “residence” in the nearest town, begging for money for booze and sleeping in the park. The townsfolk are a little less tolerant of the likes of you than the Carneys were though and besides they already have town drunks that they know and love. You’re treated worse than you were at the Carnival if such a thing were possible. At least there you served somewhat of a purpose; here you’re just a drain on the community.

One night the town’s drain is solved when you’re beaten and set on fire by the local young punks.


Geek:

1. A person regarded as foolish or clumsy.

2. A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits, but is felt to be socially inept.

3. A carnival performer whose show consists of bizarre and disgusting acts.

Your breath stinks from the foul things you’ve been eating and the rest of you stinks from not bathing in who knows when.

Your head hurts from the cheap moonshine you’ve been getting “paid” in.

Rubes often throw stuff at you and spit on you.

Most of the other Carnies find you utterly repulsive and avoid you, a couple of them just abuse you for various reasons.

On a good day, only the Pinheads come to your cell and taunt you with their gibbering laughs and mongoloid chatter.

You have absolutely no worth as a human being, you get no respect from others, and you have no respect for yourself…and why should you? You are the lowest form of life in Carney society. You’re not a real performer; what you do can’t really be considered a skill. You’re not even a real freak. At least a deformed freak can evoke an emotion of horror, or pity, or even admiration for overcoming their condition. You weren’t born “this way”. You chose to do this. All you evoke is disgust and revulsion. At best you’re laughed at and not in the good way like those pervert clowns you work with.

Fuck all that “Wildman of Borneo” shit that the Ringmaster tries to tell all the rubes. You’re little more than a bum with a “job”. A degrading job that involves you to debase yourself, all for the amusement and shock value of others, but hey it keeps a “roof” over your head and you pleasantly drunk enough to just barely forget how utterly pathetic your life is.

You are the GEEK.

You wake up to a bucket of piss being thrown in your face. Not the first time and certainly won’t be the last.

“You like the taste of that Geek? Get up Geek! The Ring Master wants to see you!” Charley orders then he throws the empty bucket at your head. The comical sound it makes hitting your skull and the pain it causes makes Charley laugh. Then he jabs you a couple times with his pointed stick.

Midgets can be so cruel…
> You kick at Charley
You stagger to get up and attempt to kick Charley, but instead to trip over yourself and fall…right on to Charley’s pointed stick. The only good thing is you skewered yourself right through the heart killing you instantly.

“Aw hell. Hey guys! Someone get me another Geek! This one’s dead.”


Geek:

1. A person regarded as foolish or clumsy.

2. A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits, but is felt to be socially inept.

3. A carnival performer whose show consists of bizarre and disgusting acts.

Your breath stinks from the foul things you’ve been eating and the rest of you stinks from not bathing in who knows when.

Your head hurts from the cheap moonshine you’ve been getting “paid” in.

Rubes often throw stuff at you and spit on you.

Most of the other Carnies find you utterly repulsive and avoid you, a couple of them just abuse you for various reasons.

On a good day, only the Pinheads come to your cell and taunt you with their gibbering laughs and mongoloid chatter.

You have absolutely no worth as a human being, you get no respect from others, and you have no respect for yourself…and why should you? You are the lowest form of life in Carney society. You’re not a real performer; what you do can’t really be considered a skill. You’re not even a real freak. At least a deformed freak can evoke an emotion of horror, or pity, or even admiration for overcoming their condition. You weren’t born “this way”. You chose to do this. All you evoke is disgust and revulsion. At best you’re laughed at and not in the good way like those pervert clowns you work with.

Fuck all that “Wildman of Borneo” shit that the Ringmaster tries to tell all the rubes. You’re little more than a bum with a “job”. A degrading job that involves you to debase yourself, all for the amusement and shock value of others, but hey it keeps a “roof” over your head and you pleasantly drunk enough to just barely forget how utterly pathetic your life is.

You are the GEEK.

You wake up to a bucket of piss being thrown in your face. Not the first time and certainly won’t be the last.

“You like the taste of that Geek? Get up Geek! The Ring Master wants to see you!” Charley orders then he throws the empty bucket at your head. The comical sound it makes hitting your skull and the pain it causes makes Charley laugh. Then he jabs you a couple times with his pointed stick.

Midgets can be so cruel…
> You jog your damn memory to remember who the hell you even associate with (Cast of Characters)
Just because you’re all Carneys and united against the Rubes doesn’t mean there isn’t division in the ranks. You’re all like a big dysfunctional family, and you’re the scapegoat black sheep, you lucky Geek you.

The only good thing about being the GEEK, is that nobody considers you a threat or even a person! Plus you’re usually sprawled out someplace either drunk or asleep. This means while others assume you’re out of it and not competent enough to do anything except eat disgusting things, you’ve over heard some interesting information in your half conscious state of mind. Things that will probably come in handy in the ensuing power struggle you’re about to become embroiled in.

So if you keep your head down, use animal cunning, watch your ass and you might just come through this alive.

And maybe, just maybe you’ll finally get some respect.

Maybe…
> You cast of Characters (The Main Event)
The Ring Master

Nobody knows what his real name is and if they do nobody’s telling and she’s certainly not volunteering any information about himself. Of course everyone assumes she’s male, but there’s an “air” of androgyny about him leading to rumors that he may actually be female…or possibly both. He’s very pale, his voice has an unnatural melodic tone and he wears a traditional ring master suit with a top hat. The only thing she wants people to know and remember is that he is definitely in charge. Her main concern is to keep his carnival running and turning a profit; he doesn’t really care what any of his employees do in their spare time unless it interferes or hampers the carnival.

The Ring Master is known for being “Freak friendly” after all not many would have jobs at all if it weren’t for him, but by the same token he pays them fairly. Many see her as somewhat of a savior since he’s given many of them a place in the world where they can be useful. She doesn’t hold their hand or overprotect them he just gives them a chance. A chance that they can either succeed or fail in, but a chance they might not have had otherwise without him.

He tends to stay in his trailer until show time allowing her assistant Charley to do all his leg work. She’s rarely seen walking around anywhere; instead he just suddenly “appears” and he’s never seen outside at all during the daytime. There have been the hushed rumors and semi-jokes that she’s really a vampire, but most people just think he’s just weird and suffers from albinism which makes her less inclined on wanting to be exposed to the sun.

While not sadistic, (He doesn’t appear to get off on it like say Charley) he will make examples out of people that displease him and you’ll definitely feel it. Oh how you’ll feel it. When you have to see the Ring Master personally it’s usually not a good thing.

You met him when she found you wandering and vomiting near his trailer at night while in your usual drunken states. She saw how utterly hopeless you were. You had no job, no home, no loved ones, no future prospects, yet he saw potential where there literally was none. He made a deal with you. Become the GEEK for a place to call home and all the liquor you could drink.

Well gee how could you not pass up a deal like that?

Charley the Midget

Charley was a criminal long before he joined the carnival. The carnival just allowed him to flourish in those activities. He’s in charge of most of the illegal activities that go on at the carnival as well as making life miserable for anyone who displeases the Ring Master. Of course he takes great delight in making people miserable whenever it suits him. He has found a like minded partner in Ajax the Strongman who acts as his muscle when the need arises. He’s a first class sonofabitch, but he probably makes the carnival more profitable than it is.

Midgets represent most of labor workforce in the carnival and being the “Biggest” and toughest midget at the carnival makes him their unofficial leader which the rest of the midgets have mixed emotions about, but with all his connections and power there is little that they can do about it even if they wanted to. Charley constantly reminds them that they are the real backbone of the carnival and also reminds them how townies and rubes would often pick on them for fun and ever since he arrived they don’t do that anymore lest they suffer the consequences. Gruesome consequences.

Charley definitely harbors secret plans to take over the carnival completely one day, he likes to think of himself as the “Real Ring Master” and dresses like his boss except his suit is checkered and has an especially tall top hat. (To extend his height no doubt) He feels that with Ajax and “his people” behind him he’ll be able to launch a take over when the time is right. All he needs to do is get a few more of the others to side with him.

As for you, Charley likes to take any free opportunity he has to humiliate you, which seems rather pointless given you don’t have any self-respect to begin with, still it makes him laugh. Chances are if he did take over the Carnival you’d still have a “job” since Charley wouldn’t want to get rid of his favorite whipping boy.

The Remarkable Randal

Randal is the appointed spokesperson for the “normal” Carneys such as the acrobats, tightrope walkers and other performers that rely on their genuine skills rather than their genetic conditions. Randal himself is a magician, but makes no pretense that he actually has any kind of real magical powers, but he believes magic exists. He’s constantly acquiring old books hoping that someday that he can learn how to perform real magic one day. Randal is a bit of an optimistic dreamer, he believes the carnival is supposed to be a place of fun and wonder for the whole family. He IS that boy that ran away to join the circus in a sense as he did run away from his family who were fundamentalists that believed him to be dabbling in Satanic worship with his magic tricks.

He doesn’t really like the idea of the carnival having “freaks” for the sake of having them. He feels its pandering to the lowest common denominator and cheapening the other Carnies who actually have to rely on a learned skill and he really doesn’t approve of all the illegal activity that goes on (Especially in a place which is supposed to be for the children) he blames the Ring Master as much as Charley for this, since the Ring Master turns a blind eye to it when he should be stopping it.

Randal is a little more open about his rebellious nature than Charley and complains to the Ring Master whenever he gets the chance, (One of the few that gets away with it without consequences) to which his last response was if he doesn’t like the way things are being run, he can either leave or make his move. So far Randal hasn’t gone anywhere, so maybe he’s going to take the Ring Master up on his challenge. Charley thinks he’s a lot of talk and doesn’t think he really has the balls to do it so he’s not worried about him.

Considering Randal’s views, you might find yourself out of a job if Randal got things his way. Shock value and Freaks wouldn’t really have a place in Randal’s carnival. Unsurprisingly Randal finds you and your act disgusting and completely unsuitable for anyone, especially children. (Even though the kiddies really like throwing chickens at you)


Just because you’re all Carneys and united against the Rubes doesn’t mean there isn’t division in the ranks. You’re all like a big dysfunctional family, and you’re the scapegoat black sheep, you lucky Geek you.

The only good thing about being the GEEK, is that nobody considers you a threat or even a person! Plus you’re usually sprawled out someplace either drunk or asleep. This means while others assume you’re out of it and not competent enough to do anything except eat disgusting things, you’ve over heard some interesting information in your half conscious state of mind. Things that will probably come in handy in the ensuing power struggle you’re about to become embroiled in.

So if you keep your head down, use animal cunning, watch your ass and you might just come through this alive.

And maybe, just maybe you’ll finally get some respect.

Maybe…
> You cast of Characters (The Secondary Acts)
Ajax the Strongman

While Charley has delusions of grandeur, he is somewhat grounded in reality enough not to believe he’s invincible. Ajax on the other hand probably thinks he could catch a bullet in his teeth and spit it back at his assailant. The man is completely narcissistic. Undoubtedly he is in good shape, very strong and probably a lot better looking than most of the Carnies, and he takes every opportunity to let everyone know it. He sneers at all the other guys for being “lesser” than him (Save Charley, Atlas and the Ring Master) and of course shamelessly grabs at any woman that strikes his fancy. So pleased with his own body image that he basically walks around in a loin cloth at all times. Even when the Carnival is someplace cold and snowing. He’d probably walk around naked if he could get away with it.

Why he’s allied with Charley given his own arrogance and his “normie” status might cause some to wonder, but the reasons aren’t far fetched. Besides Ajax’s own criminal mentality, Ajax is an opportunist, and he’ll make more money under Charley and he thinks Charley is going to be on the winning team (Especially with him on his side) Not to mention Ajax doesn’t really like the Ring Master. Never has. His pale androgynous nature really creeps him out. And the Remarkable Randal is a pussy as far as Ajax is concerned.

Another person that Ajax definitely doesn’t like is you. While most others will simply avoid, taunt or abuse you for awhile for amusement, Ajax HATES you and has nearly beaten you to death a couple times. Presumably he sees you as a pathetic example of the male specimen that should’ve been killed at birth and while he may be right, he’s kept in check by Charley and/or the Ring Master from carrying out his desires. (As a rule Carneys are NOT supposed to kill each other…well unless there’s a good reason for it)

You’d be in a world of shit if something ever happened to both of them.

Atlas the Cyclopean Giant

If there’s one person that’s possibly stronger than Ajax, it’s Atlas. (He’s certainly scarier) He’s an eight foot Cyclops that wears a hood covering everything except a single unblinking eye. He stands outside the Ring Master’s trailer at all times not letting anyone pass unless the Ring Master wishes it. Atlas has been with the Ring Master even before the Carnival.

Atlas was personally brought up by the Ring Master and is utterly loyal to him. It’s commonly thought that the Ring Master found him abandoned as a baby and took him in, of course rumors also persist that he’s the Ring Master’s son. (Whether the Ring Master is the father OR the mother causes more rumors) Whatever the truth, Atlas might as well be his son as he certainly considers the Ring Master as a parental figure since he raised him.

Atlas’ sole job is to protect the Ring Master and to look intimidating. A job he does very well. Atlas rarely speaks and if he does it’s usually a one word response in a low voice. Charley hopes Ajax will be his counter balance when the time comes, of course Ajax feels he’ll be able to beat Atlas with no problems.

Atlas is one of the few people that has no opinion of you, he just sees you as another Carney who works for the Ring Master and aren’t allowed to see him unless he deems it so.

Madam Orbec

Madam Orbec is the gypsy fortune teller. Like most fortune tellers she claims to genuinely have psychic powers, but most likely she’s just really good at conning people. Still she always keeps in character at all times, so it’s possible she believes her own hype. One thing she does a lot is talk to “spirits” that aren’t there. Sometimes this results in her talking to herself for great lengths of time and often screaming to tell “them” to shut up. She doesn’t even appear to notice anyone else around while she’s doing this. All of which pretty much means most of the other Carneys consider her just mentally unstable and is listening to the voices in her own head.

Oddly Randal completely believes she has psychic abilities, this is probably due to Randal’s own naivety and his own desperate belief that magic is real. He consults her frequently about what she sees in the future for the carnival, it’s possible that’s why he hasn’t made any kind of move of his own because he’s guided by her visions to a certain degree. Madam Orbec likes Randal, but remains suspicious if he isn’t just trying to be friendly to gain access to an old book she has supposedly containing secrets to necromancy.

Because of this factor, unlike the Ring Master and Charley’s “right hand men”, Madam Orbec isn’t necessarily on Randal’s side. She believes a great change is coming in the carnival, but the spirits haven’t told her exactly what that is yet. Her visions and conversations have been increasing to the point where she can barely keep it together for the rubes anymore. Her sanity has been in severe question for years, but now her competency is as well.

Of course she still has enough sense to not want to be near you. Apparently the spirits don’t like you anymore than the living do.

Pervus the Clown

“Pervert” or “Pervo” is what he’s usually called and for good reason. Pervus is probably the next disgusting Carney after you, the only difference is he has a group of like minded “friends” and the other thing is he’s a clown. And clowns no matter how twisted and evil they are; they can get away with it.

He and his gang of equally demented red nosed fellows have to be the sickest bunch in the Carnival, particularly in the sex department. It’s not surprising that townie children start disappearing whenever the Carnival makes an extended visit somewhere and they certainly haven’t all run off to join, what ultimately happens to them is better left unmentioned and not dwelled upon too much. But it isn’t just children that disappear. Local farm animals will disappear as well (Strangely these poor creatures may be spared death, if the Carnival is in need of a couple new pack animals) and local graveyards may even be raided…

Of course Pervus and the clowns think it’s all a big joke on the rubes.

Despite being the symbols of utter depravity, they are one of the other “major groups” and as is fitting they are a wild card. They do their job when its show time and do it very well which puts them in good standing with the Ring Master. They often indulge in the prostitutes and liquor Charley provides. And while Randal barely approves of them (To be honest he probably isn’t aware of how bad they REALLY are) he does recognize them as having a talent and are an important staple of any carnival. (They also aren’t Freaks, though classifying them as “Normals” might be stretching it) Its unknown who Pervus will side with, but they see that there’s definitely benefits for any of them.

Pervus and his crew are the one exception concerning you. Instead of them avoiding you, YOU purposely avoid them! While they’d never kill you (They do still follow that one rule that you don’t kill a fellow Carney for no reason) that wouldn’t prevent them from having their way with you if the urge ever struck them. You have been known to resemble a rotting dead body (In smell especially) when you’re passed out after all.

Sasha and Salina

Sasha is the on/off girlfriend of Ajax. She’s not only a contortionist, but also an acrobat. She’s very beautiful, but her self-esteem isn’t really the best otherwise she wouldn’t be with Ajax. He pretty much treats her like shit, and she’ll put up with it, until he really fucks up and then she throws him out of her trailer. Upon which time he’ll continue to harass and stalk her until she takes him back for the umpteenth time and the cycle starts over again. She’s definitely the star attraction of the “normal” Carneys, besides Randal. (Who really wishes she wasn’t so close to Ajax.)

Salina is Charley’s girlfriend…or at least he likes to tell everyone she is. She’s the tattooed woman and also dances with various kinds of snakes. (Imaginatively called a “Snake Lady”) She’s pretty, but has a harder look than Sasha, its obvious by her demeanor she had a rough life before the Carnival. Charley is constantly hitting on her, but he’s unsuccessful for the most part though every now and then he gets lucky, though you suspect it’s his money talking more than his “charms” at work in those cases. In any event she isn’t particularly fond of him. She’s considered a normal, but her activities and lifestyle lean more towards the criminal mindset particularly prostitution. So she has more in common with Charley than Randal who looks his nose down at her.

Probably due to the partnership of Charley and Ajax, Sasha and Salina associate with each other more than they might normally would. As it turns out the two are genuinely friends and speak to each other frequently, one may wonder if they aren’t plotting something on their own together…

Of course you’d never know since the two of them avoid you like the plague because you’re just icky.


Just because you’re all Carneys and united against the Rubes doesn’t mean there isn’t division in the ranks. You’re all like a big dysfunctional family, and you’re the scapegoat black sheep, you lucky Geek you.

The only good thing about being the GEEK, is that nobody considers you a threat or even a person! Plus you’re usually sprawled out someplace either drunk or asleep. This means while others assume you’re out of it and not competent enough to do anything except eat disgusting things, you’ve over heard some interesting information in your half conscious state of mind. Things that will probably come in handy in the ensuing power struggle you’re about to become embroiled in.

So if you keep your head down, use animal cunning, watch your ass and you might just come through this alive.

And maybe, just maybe you’ll finally get some respect.

Maybe…
> You cast of Characters (The Sideshows)
Normals

Normals is really a generic term for anyone who isn’t a Freak, but its often used to describe Carneys who aren’t deformed in some way and make a living in the Carnival utilizing some skill. (“Normals” who aren’t Carneys are usually just called “Rubes” or at best “Townies”) The core of these include acrobats, tightrope walkers, game barkers and the like. Normals as always out number the Freaks, but they aren’t nearly as unified, though Randal’s been trying to, in his effort to gain power.

Nearly all Normals find you revolting and run you off if you get near, either verbally OR physically.

Freaks

This is a generic term for Carneys who have some sort of genetic condition that separates them from the rest of society. They can range from being very hairy, have no limbs, or have a few extra ones. In any case they are one of the major carnival draws. Some learn a few skills to go along with their deformities, but it’s mainly their horrific appearance that they rely upon. Despite all their different forms, they are very unified and support the Ring Master for giving them a place in the world. Jasmine the bearded lady tends to be the Matriarch of them all

Freaks are a little more tolerant of you, since they’ve also suffered scorn and ridicule too, but you’re not REALLY one of them and as such you’re still an outsider and aren’t really welcomed around them.

Midgets

Not quite normals and not quite freaks, but the midgets are the ones who get things done in the Carnival and keep it running. (Though everyone else refers to them as Midgets, they prefer to refer to each other as Dwarves) They make up a majority of the labor force of the Carnival, a thankless job to be sure, and one that went unappreciated until Charley arrived. Now they make a lot more thanks to his “extra curricular” activities. They are pretty much unified, though they have mixed feelings about their self appointed leader.

Midgets are overworked at the best of times, so when a smelly disgusting Geek like you is around they really don’t have the tolerance or patience for it. Bob is about the only one who’ll even talk to you, the rest tend to kick you in the shins and chase you off with their work tools while shouting obscenities.

Pinheads

An interesting sub-society within the Freak community. They all tend to hang out together constantly laughing and babbling nonsensical ramblings. Though they may appear childlike and carefree, those qualities can mask a mean spiritedness sometimes.

You’d know since you’ve experienced this meanness first hand.

Clowns

Pure evil wrapped up in the guise of something supposedly funny and harmless. While technically classified as “normals”, there isn’t anything normal about them. One wonders if they’re actually even human underneath that make up. All intelligent right thinking people stay away from them.

Even YOU stay away from clowns!


Just because you’re all Carneys and united against the Rubes doesn’t mean there isn’t division in the ranks. You’re all like a big dysfunctional family, and you’re the scapegoat black sheep, you lucky Geek you.

The only good thing about being the GEEK, is that nobody considers you a threat or even a person! Plus you’re usually sprawled out someplace either drunk or asleep. This means while others assume you’re out of it and not competent enough to do anything except eat disgusting things, you’ve over heard some interesting information in your half conscious state of mind. Things that will probably come in handy in the ensuing power struggle you’re about to become embroiled in.

So if you keep your head down, use animal cunning, watch your ass and you might just come through this alive.

And maybe, just maybe you’ll finally get some respect.

Maybe…
> Back to the story
Geek:

1. A person regarded as foolish or clumsy.

2. A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits, but is felt to be socially inept.

3. A carnival performer whose show consists of bizarre and disgusting acts.

Your breath stinks from the foul things you’ve been eating and the rest of you stinks from not bathing in who knows when.

Your head hurts from the cheap moonshine you’ve been getting “paid” in.

Rubes often throw stuff at you and spit on you.

Most of the other Carnies find you utterly repulsive and avoid you, a couple of them just abuse you for various reasons.

On a good day, only the Pinheads come to your cell and taunt you with their gibbering laughs and mongoloid chatter.

You have absolutely no worth as a human being, you get no respect from others, and you have no respect for yourself…and why should you? You are the lowest form of life in Carney society. You’re not a real performer; what you do can’t really be considered a skill. You’re not even a real freak. At least a deformed freak can evoke an emotion of horror, or pity, or even admiration for overcoming their condition. You weren’t born “this way”. You chose to do this. All you evoke is disgust and revulsion. At best you’re laughed at and not in the good way like those pervert clowns you work with.

Fuck all that “Wildman of Borneo” shit that the Ringmaster tries to tell all the rubes. You’re little more than a bum with a “job”. A degrading job that involves you to debase yourself, all for the amusement and shock value of others, but hey it keeps a “roof” over your head and you pleasantly drunk enough to just barely forget how utterly pathetic your life is.

You are the GEEK.

You wake up to a bucket of piss being thrown in your face. Not the first time and certainly won’t be the last.

“You like the taste of that Geek? Get up Geek! The Ring Master wants to see you!” Charley orders then he throws the empty bucket at your head. The comical sound it makes hitting your skull and the pain it causes makes Charley laugh. Then he jabs you a couple times with his pointed stick.

Midgets can be so cruel…


"You look like you could use a drink, Captain."

You turn to see Victoria, your first mate. Her purple hair is tied back in a ponytail. It always seemed to be tied a little towards the left side of her head. The thought came up to question why, but you've learned from experience not to question a woman on her hairstyle.

"Way ahead of you, V," you say raising your cup from the bar top for emphasis.

"I'll have what he's having," she addresses towards the bartender.

"Got any news on The Sanguine?" you ask.

"Yeah, boss, and it's not good. Procter is working on the repairs now. He said we might need the hull replaced."

"I sure hope not," you reply.

“We've been through worse, Cap,” Victoria replies.

You take another sip from your cup. The latest job smuggling cargo for an English merchant paid well, but the damage sustained fleeing from a Spanish Galleon could very well cost the entire payout, or worse, put you in the hole. The wizard on board the Galleon hit The Sanguine with more than a few nasty spells. If Victoria didn't fire back with a perfectly aimed fire bolt, the entire ship might be at the bottom of the Caribbean.

“I sent Freddy to find us some work,” you say to Victoria. “Did he come back with anything?”

“Nothing yet,” she replies. “Although knowing Freddy, he probably got distracted by the nearest gambling hole.”

“He always comes through in the end, despite his tendencies,” you reply.

“What's next for you, Cap?” Victoria asks.

You finish the cup and slam it back down on the bar top. Sunlight pours into the poorly lit building through several open windows creating rectangular beams of yellow. You're reminded of the Caribbean heat each time a wave of warm air floods in. Your crew had certainly seen better days. The last three ships you targeted weren't carrying anything substantial. Your most recent job would have been a huge payday if not for the Galleon's attack. At least you managed to escape alive and with most of your crew. Victoria's former life as naval mage certainly came in handy there.

“Cap?”

“Sorry, V. I must have zoned out for a second. My plan is to...”
> You check on Procter
“...check on Procter. I need to see the extent of the damage we sustained.”

“A wise choice, Captain.”

You toss a few coins onto the bar top, pick up your tricorn hat, and take your leave. The bright sunlight assaults your eyes as you enter into the open. The tavern is one of many upon a windy sloped path. Various vendors with small shops line the cobbled pavement. You pass by a group of marching soldiers and tip your hat towards their stoic, blank expressions. Tension between Nassau and the English occupation was at an all-time high. The governor's hold over the city had been steadily declining for years. Criminal activity only escalated with the diminishing control. Still, the English possessed the best firepower and wizards in their employ. Witnessing arcane power in addition to modern weaponry, you didn't think there would be much of a rebellion without outside help. Steel and gunpowder was vastly overshadowed by the power of the elements.

As you continue on the road down the hill, your mind drifts to your crew. Besides the common sailor, gunpowder monkey, and cannoneer, you have three main members to rely on. Each have their flaws, although they're the best in the business as far as you're concerned.
> You procter
Sometimes you weren't quite sure of Procter's sanity. Your quartermaster had an affinity for unconventional methodology. During one less-than-friendly encounter with a French brig, Procter had saved The Sanguine by impersonating the ship's captain, taking the helm, and shouting “arrête de poser tes bras!” The cannon barrage and fiery destruction from Victoria helped as well.

You had first met the sorcerer in Tortuga. The two of you shared a prison cell. He had been arrested selling watered-down ale to a group of French soldiers. Something about him had caught your eye, an obvious intelligence beneath the guise of quirkiness and social ineptitude. When Freddy broke you out, you took Procter along with you. His willingness to take the “smart” approach, despite the majority's disposition, is one of the many reasons you named him quartermaster.
> You victoria
There was no one you trusted more than Victoria, not even Freddy, when it came to getting things done. Your first mate had grown up among the nobility in London and attended the most prestigious schools. Her affinity towards arcane magic landed her a position within the Royal Navy as a naval mage, which is where you first met. You both served upon the HMS Eternity occasionally butting heads when it came to advising the captain. The two of you were considered Captain Newburry’s “right and left hands” and were the primary reason the ship survived as long as it did. You did find it frustrating that Newburry sided with Victoria more, probably since it’s hard to disagree with feminine beauty. Ironically, The Eternity went down under fire from the Spanish fleet, but not before you rescued Victoria’s unconscious body on a piece of floating debris.

The two of you had gone your separate ways and met later in Port Maje. Uncharacteristically, Victoria had threatened her superior officers after being placed under another incompetent captain. Things escalated, a building or two burned down, and she was dishonorably charged from the Royal Navy. Her expertise when it comes to naval warfare has saved The Sanguine countless times. Lately, she has been teaching you to master the arcane, which in combination with your roguish tricks has created quite the resourceful, and deadly, captain.


"You look like you could use a drink, Captain."

You turn to see Victoria, your first mate. Her purple hair is tied back in a ponytail. It always seemed to be tied a little towards the left side of her head. The thought came up to question why, but you've learned from experience not to question a woman on her hairstyle.

"Way ahead of you, V," you say raising your cup from the bar top for emphasis.

"I'll have what he's having," she addresses towards the bartender.

"Got any news on The Sanguine?" you ask.

"Yeah, boss, and it's not good. Procter is working on the repairs now. He said we might need the hull replaced."

"I sure hope not," you reply.

“We've been through worse, Cap,” Victoria replies.

You take another sip from your cup. The latest job smuggling cargo for an English merchant paid well, but the damage sustained fleeing from a Spanish Galleon could very well cost the entire payout, or worse, put you in the hole. The wizard on board the Galleon hit The Sanguine with more than a few nasty spells. If Victoria didn't fire back with a perfectly aimed fire bolt, the entire ship might be at the bottom of the Caribbean.

“I sent Freddy to find us some work,” you say to Victoria. “Did he come back with anything?”

“Nothing yet,” she replies. “Although knowing Freddy, he probably got distracted by the nearest gambling hole.”

“He always comes through in the end, despite his tendencies,” you reply.

“What's next for you, Cap?” Victoria asks.

You finish the cup and slam it back down on the bar top. Sunlight pours into the poorly lit building through several open windows creating rectangular beams of yellow. You're reminded of the Caribbean heat each time a wave of warm air floods in. Your crew had certainly seen better days. The last three ships you targeted weren't carrying anything substantial. Your most recent job would have been a huge payday if not for the Galleon's attack. At least you managed to escape alive and with most of your crew. Victoria's former life as naval mage certainly came in handy there.

“Cap?”

“Sorry, V. I must have zoned out for a second. My plan is to...”
> You look for Freddy
“…look for Freddy. No telling what he’s got himself into this time.”

“A wise decision, Captain.”

You flip a few coins to the bar and take your leave. The sudden sunlight in contrast to the dimly-lit tavern assaults your vision. You tip the point of your tricorn hat a bit lower to protect your eyes. The tavern is one of many upon a windy, sloped path. You pass by several street shops lining the cobbled pathway. A group of expressionless soldiers march by and receive a smile and tip of your hat. Tension between Nassau and the English occupation was at an all-time high. The governor's hold over the city had been steadily declining for years. Criminal activity only escalated with the diminishing control. Still, the English possessed the best firepower and wizards in their employ.

Eventually you end up at a table underneath a covered patio. The entire overhang is covered with a green ivy. Three men sit at the table along with a crowd eagerly huddled around the players. You see Freddy in the middle always with a perfectly trimmed goatee. You never know how he finds the time, especially at sea, to trim each hair to the exact desired length. He holds his cup of dice with the usual several rings upon his fingers.

“Not your lucky day, is it Freddy?” one man at the table speaks.

“No one can lose this many times in a row,” he replies. “My luck’s about to change… and your coin purse is about to get lighter.”

“Ha-ha, you’ve already lost several months of wages,” the other man chimes in. “Pretty soon you’ll be putting those fancy rings on the table.”

“Done,” Freddy replies taking a ring from each pointer finger.

“Call,” both his opponents say simultaneously and push their coin piles forward much to the amusement of the crowd.

The three players shake their cups, rolling their dice, and slam the cups upside-down on the table. Then, they carefully peak underneath to see the result being careful not to let their opponent see.

“Four fours,” one man speaks.

“Five fours,” the other one bets.

“Eight fours,” Freddy says. The crowd gasps at the sudden increase and start placing side bets with one another.

“You mad dog, no way there’s that many,” the man to his left speaks.

“Call me a liar then,” Freddy challenges.

“Liar.”

Freddy’s two opponents remove their cups revealing their rolled dice. Between the two of them, they have three fours.

“Ha-ha-ha it’s still not your day, Freddy!”

Freddy lifts his cup to reveal his roll. Each of the five dice shows a four. The crowd roars, threatening to riot. Freddy’s opponents stand up and knock their chairs to the ground in fury.

“There’s no way you could roll that without cheating.”

“Looks like my luck’s finally turned around. Thanks for the game, gentlemen,” Freddy says. Noticing you, he gets up to greet you.

“Captain, there you are! I was getting to know the locals,” Freddy says. Quieter he adds on with a wink, “and they don’t have quick eyes.”

“Yeah, well, they have quick feet,” you say pointing towards the table. As Freddy rose to greet you, his two opponents had taken their coin back and run off.

“Damn, and we still had several more rounds to play. Anyway, I bet you’re here wondering about potential work. Don’t worry, I didn’t blow it off. I found us something and it could be big."

“What’s the job?” you ask.

“You heard of Woodes Rogers?” he asks. Seeing you nod he adds on, “I ran into his man, Dampier. They’re in the market for a captain; a captain who’s lived a life of danger and romance. One who all captains dream about becoming. I told him if I find anyone like that, I’d tell him.”

Narrowing your eyes you reply, “Very amusing. What really happened?”

“Ha. They are looking for a ship. The job is very hush-hush at this point. You’re supposed to meet him tonight at his estate.”

“I suppose we don’t have much of a choice. We need money and a lot more than you were just playing for. I’ll meet with Rogers tonight.”
“If you need me, I’ll be here,” Freddy replies. Turning back towards the crowd, he shouts, “Alright, who’s next?”