Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Valan Luca's Marvelous Menagerie and Traveling Show!

I was traveling around Bandar Eban, looking for some healall root, when I happened to take a wrong turn right into a menagerie. Valan Luca's Menagerie, to be exact. The Menagerie can be found randomly outside Maradon, Fal Dara, Tar Valon, Cairhien, Caemlyn, Far Madding, Illian, Tanchico, Amador, Falme, Bandar Eban and Mayene. You'll know it's there because a room close to the city gates will have an exit that is not normally there.

I found Valan Luca's Menagerie by going "down" from a normal room just outside BE. This room doesn't normally have a down exit, but that day, it did. Standing at the gate to the menagerie is Valan Luca himself. He tells you that you need to pay a fee to get inside (I think it was 1 crown) and that you should check the Yellow Tent for the first performance. So I paid my fee and entered, excited to begin exploring.

The first thing I came upon was Thom Merillin. For a crown, he'll tell you the tale of Mara and the Three Foolish Kings.

Next, I found a souvenir shop, otherwise known as Hannor Grundel the Menagerie peddler. He sells quite a few unique items, though I think when you rent, they revert back to normal items. One thing to be aware of is that many items cost a certain amount of coppers and you must give exact change, so be sure to bring lots of coppers. Here is what the peddler sells:

|010 copper ..... a delicate feathered writing quill 
|020 copper ..... a tooled leather wineskin          
|025 copper ..... a clump of fine Two Rivers tabac
|030 copper ..... a black leather saddlebag          
|035 copper ..... bright blue leather suspenders  
|040 copper ..... an intricately woven leather pouch
|050 copper ..... a pair of fluffy bunny slippers    
|060 copper ..... a finely carved meerschaum pipe
|070 copper ..... a ring of pink gold                
|080 copper ..... an ornately tooled leather pouch
|100 copper ..... a special souvenir Menagerie shirt
|125 copper ..... a flask with 'badass' stamped on it
|140 copper ..... fine leather dancing shoes         
|150 copper ..... a belt with 'stud' stamped on it  
|180 copper ..... a whimsical glass cat              
|200 copper ..... a colorfully painted pottery vase
|250 copper ..... a short brass telescope with carving
 Scattered around the menagerie grounds are hawkers who sell food and drink. Again, you'll need coppers and they only take exact change. However, if you only have crowns, they exchange coppers for crowns. Here is what the hawkers sell:

|DRINKS                              
|02 copper ..... mug of cool milk
|04 copper ..... savory herbal tea
|06 copper ..... mellow ale         
|08 copper ..... claret               
|10 copper ..... Cairhien white wine
|FOOD                                 
|11 copper ..... mutton stew 
|13 copper ..... juicy turkey drumstick
|15 copper ..... venison steak        
|17 copper ..... meat and mushrooms
|19 copper ..... pork and potatoes    
|SWEETS                               
|01 copper ..... raisin walnut cookie
|03 copper ..... frosted nut roll     
|05 copper ..... traditional honeycake
|07 copper ..... fruit & nut pastry   
|09 copper ..... spicey apple tart    
|      EXACT CHANGE ONLY PLEASE 

Once off the Midway, there are three paths: The Golden Path, the Blue Path and the Red Path. I took the Golden path first to see what awaited me at the Yellow tent. In order to get to the Golden path, you have to go up the Blue path, then go west past the House of Mirrors. Once you get to the Yellow tent, Head to "An Extravagant Set of Rings" and clap to begin the performance. See the Chavana brothers do their acrobatics and Petra Anhill perform amazing feats of strength. If a volunteer is required, be sure to say "Pick me!"

After the performance, Valan Luca yells that the show in the blue tent will begin in moments. Before you leave the yellow tent though, be sure to check out the fat, bearded lady and the dagger toss. Another highlight between the Golden Path and the Blue Path is the House of Mirrors. I can't lie, I was lost in there for quite some time!

Once you get to the Blue tent, find a spot "Around the Ring" and clap to begin the performance. Watch Latelle Luca and her bears, Clarine Anhill and her dogs, Cerandin and her enormous boar horses and Baecar and his big cats. You can look around the tent and see the cats in their cage and the mighty boar horses. You can also climb up into the rigging high above the ring.

Once the performance is complete, Luca announces the show in the Red tent. Head back towards the midway and find the Red path to the west. Once you find yourself "Nearing a Stage", clap to begin the performance. Be dazzled by Bari the juggler, Adria the contortionist, Rumann the sword juggler, and a mysterious high-wire walker. You can also take your chances on the high-wire, but trust me: it hurts if you fall!

On the other side of the Golden path is the Illuminator's path and the performers wagons. There's also a free pony ride. All you have to do is say "I would like a pony ride" and he'll put you on a horse.

There's a lot to see and do at the Menagerie and the performances are a lot of fun. If it stops by your city, make sure to have a look!

(Thanks Khahliana, for your help finding the Menagerie!)




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