[!]

Rumor has it, Kyrus has moved house to the flower valley! Something about a bigger plot of land feeling better to live on.

[!]

Some time during the afternoon, a duel between a the famed vampire hunter 'D' and a great warrior from Uul'san took place in the pit of the Slug Hole. According to some of the  warriors who were in the crowd the terms of the duel were the Uul'sanese warrior would give his blood to a fledgling vampire should he lose. It was soon interrupted by said vampire, a reportedly "uppity" Sanguifleurian elf, who lunged out and fed upon the grandson of the good Sir Radzig  thanks to his quick thinking. The duel was soon called off much to the warrior's disappointment with the promise of a rematch.

A new vampire is born.

[!]
A pair of pilgrims leave the city, for Albern's crossing. 

Late into the evening, just under a week later they pass through the Kawatare Shrine. A spot of light illuminates two figures against the northern side of the Spire. They climb and disappear up it, gone from ground view.

Merchants on the main road the next day speak of a plummet early this morning. Some winking flash of light below the clouds. A man with gold-and-silver wings, catching a woman with cresent horns as they both dove off the Spire.

One spectator, the supply-seller by the pit, claims the wings appeared with the dawn itself.
✧
Two new names adorn the wall outside the Kawatare Shrine. 

Raven Hoshimi and Percival Marcel Thelwen Le'Clerc.

[!]

Sightings of unusually large invasive crayfish around the spire have increased, while the population in the undercity have been put under control for now. Investigation into these craven crawlers shows a bizarre mutation allowing them to grow much larger then normal from having gorged upon Muisi in the undercity.

Late in the evening, a tired librarian and an even more tired giantling girl returns to the Spire.

Both seem happy. Fulfilled.

A new sense of belonging comes with the Dawn.

[ A Bat in the Rafters ]

In the late hours of the night, broaching the earliest of morning, a raucous commotion disturbs the peace of the tavern. Maarten is surely, at the very least, concerned.

In the wake of a dark-armored knight confronting a dangerous Tellurgist, a back-corner room of the undertavern is the scene of a large, audible explosion. The furnishings bearing marks of fire, the cushions and carpets burnt to ruin, and the smell of smoke still in the air. A Pyrebolt come undone.

A smaller explosion is said to have occurred near the fireplace, leaving marks of it on the floor. A Pyrebolt come undone.

The fight supposedly started in the undertavern before continuing up the stairs and ending by the bar. An unknown woman who was supposedly fighting both men is seen leaving, mostly unscathed. Then, the knight, his twin-horned helm held at his side, with a man in bright red clothing slung over his shoulder. The knight is bloodied, burned, staggering with each step. But at least he’s conscious, unlike the carnie he deposits to the guards.

With his duty complete, he retreats to the soothe of Brocéliande.

@BirdmanDean

[ A Clatter of Caravans ...]

In the early hours of the morning a large collection of gaudy caravans were spotted on the outskirts of the Spire, parking in a small collection in the woods. Colourfully clad characters could be spotted unloading circus equipment, while other members of the troupe began to investigate the Spire before the sun could fully rise. In the morning, there's enough evidence to attest:

A Circus is coming to town!

That being said, there's a quiet tension about them all... As if they have been shaken in some way. An odd woman was noted wandering the streets, injured after last night's tavern brawl, and could be seen talking to the carnies in a hushed voice... Then just like that: they've begun to operate like a well-oiled machine, in and out of the Spire gathering materials and returning like a hoard of wolves back to their collective.

Seems like they're preparing for an Extra Special Show...

[?]

Denizens of the underground will notice heightened DuGrois Prospector activity in the abandoned mines of the Undercity as of recent.
The smell of fresh o-zone wafts out from active excavation sites, followed by cart after cart of glistening magenta minerals.

What could they be doing with all that rock?

[!]

The Bloodtide left harbor in the morning.

And it returned in the evening, its namesake fulfilled.

The deck and sides coated with blood.

Blood and bodies.

Dozens upon dozens of necrophage corpses.

They return with treasure, borne of sin.

It is rumored that they killed 125 necrophages.

[!]

A Talent Show up in Smoke.

A loud explosion rang out from the festival grounds at Midnight of last night. A beloved member of Hospital staff was mauled nearly to death in the explosion, and many others were hurt in the proceeding scuffle. Flames rung out until the early AMs until they finally died down and the festival grounds were left in ash and ruin...

During the scuffle: four colorfully-clad carnies erupted into flame upon their deaths, bodies burnt to nothing but ash... Two survived. An Acrobat man and a Contortionist who had disguised herself as Tarvoch Canavan, both now having been taken into custody by the Guard.

Upon being interrogated, both hold firm: they allege that Tarvoch Canavan, their boss, is not kidnapped but rather is off masterminding more 'events' to come. They both claim not to be affiliated with the real Midnight Circus, but rather used their insignias as disguise.

That being said, contradictory whispering from the Contortionist girl indicates that Tarvoch was handed off to someone, and is not walking free... Seems someone is more susceptible to breaking than the other Carnies amongst town...

@kiiwiibird