Overview
Chapter 6 turns the circus quest from a dangerous scouting detour into the start of a major elite storyline. The chapter expands the Grimaldi circus space, introduces the corpse-looting economy among crawlers, shows the circus preparing for a scheduled battle, and reveals Tsarina Signet as a high-level elite tied to the conflict. The ending traps Carl, Donut, and Mongo between Signet and the circus forces, making retreat much harder than it seemed at the beginning of the chapter.
Plot Summary
- Donut kills a sleeping lemur lookout, letting the group approach the three dead crawler markers outside the circus area.
- Carl identifies the dead crawlers as Grace, Nica, and Lea Bautista, all apparently killed by former circus lemurs and already stripped of most inventory.
- Carl takes two strength-boosting rings from one corpse and gives Donut the Enchanted Anklet of the Fallen Oak despite her dislike of the style.
- The party scouts Grimaldi's circus from a ruined building and sees tents, cages, wagons, clowns, lemurs, giraffe-like launchers, and a sideshow poster marking Tsarina Signet as a traitor.
- Mordecai warns Carl and Donut that they are outmatched and need to retreat before full darkness.
- As the circus sentries return home, the group tries to run back toward the saferoom and kills a few remaining mobs on the street.
- Magical mortar fire from the circus destroys part of the street and collapses a building, dropping Carl, Donut, and Mongo into a basement below the Over City surface.
- Donut uses Puddle Jumper to scout above the rubble and sees Tsarina Signet waiting nearby as a white map dot.
- Carl examines Signet and learns she is a Level 60 half naiad, half high elf summoner and an elite, earning the Meet an Elite achievement.
- Signet's overwhelming charisma affects Carl and Mongo until Mordecai tells Carl to break his own finger to snap out of the effect.
- Signet claims it is too late to leave, and the circus releases monsters from the cages, surrounding the party as the chapter ends.
Characters Appearing
- Carl
- Princess Donut
- Mongo
- Mordecai
- Tsarina Signet
- Grace Bautista 3
- Nica Bautista 3
- Lea Bautista 3
- System AI
Mentioned or Recalled
Locations
- Over City Ruins
- Grimaldi Circus Area
- Grimaldi's World O' Freaks
- Collapsed Over City Basement
- The Belly-Rubbed Pug
Items, Equipment, and Loot
- Strength Ring
- Enchanted Anklet of the Fallen Oak
- Big Top Ticket
- Clown Meat
- Goblin Smoke Bomb
- Dungeon Locator
Skills, Spells, Races, and Classes
Skills and Spells
- Magic Missile
- Double Tap
- Heal Critter
- Puddle Jumper
- Puppy Dog
- Protective Shell
Races and Classes
- No major race or class entries identified.
Monsters and Bosses
- Former Circus Lemur
- Stilt Clown
- Round Circus Clown
- Circus Giraffe
- Mortar Acrobat
- Caged Circus Beast
- Tsarina Signet
Achievements and Quests
- Meet an Elite
Major Events
- Bautista crawler bodies are discovered: Carl, Donut, and Mongo find the dead Bautista crawlers and realize the bodies have been used as bait near the circus.
- Carl and Donut recover crawler loot: Carl takes strength rings and gives Donut the Enchanted Anklet of the Fallen Oak.
- Grimaldi circus defenses are scouted: The party observes the circus preparing barricades, cages, and magical artillery for a night battle.
- Magical mortars collapse a building: The party is blasted by circus artillery and falls into a basement under the Over City surface.
- Tsarina Signet is revealed as an elite: Carl examines Signet, learns her level and elite status, and receives the Meet an Elite achievement.
- Carl breaks Signet charisma effect: Mordecai tells Carl how to break the charm-like pressure by injuring himself.
- Circus cages open around the party: Signet announces it is too late to leave as the circus releases monsters and surrounds Carl, Donut, and Mongo.