If you run into the Circus of the Last Days, you will encounter Dribbles the Clown performing in front of a crowd and he soon chooses you for a magic trick.
This turns out to be an ambush as Dribbles the Clown (who is a doppelganger) attempts to attack you in front of everyone.
There are beasts locked in cages and the other doppelgangers decide to set them loose to attack you, which makes the ambush more difficult to survive unless you act beforehand.
Saving The Beasts
Pickpocketing the keys to the cages from their keepers will allow you to prevent both creatures from being let loose but there are also other ways to keep them out of the fight. (Better lore too)
How To Save Crimson?
Crimson is a Chult Alioramus who was rescued as a youngling and taken care of when the circus adopted him, but his current state has him in a lust for hunger.
It is later revealed that he had been starved by the imposters (doppelgangers) and was taunted with bloody rags, which put him in a crazed state.
To prevent Crimson from joining the ambush that happens later, you may approach and offer him food (with or without Speak With Animals) to prevent him from joining the fight.
Even if you open his cage after the ambush, he remains loyal and does not attack anyone else since you have sated his hunger. (He thanks you if you have Speak With Animals)
How To Save Shadow-Whiskers?
Shadow-Whiskers is a tormented Displacer Beast, who lost her mate and her cubs to hunters, which leaves her hating every face that she sees.
Attempting to talk to her with Speak With Animals proves that her only intention will be to kill everyone and this gives you the option to damage the lock on her cage.
Even without speaking to Shadow-Whiskers with Speak With Animals, her cage may be destroyed after examining it (Ability Check required) or if you use a rogue character.
Damaging the lock on her cage will prevent her from joining the fight (she is released by one of the doppelgangers if the lock is not tampered with) but she remains full of hate.
Releasing Shadow-Whiskers before the fight will result in her running off instead of attacking anyone but this can be tricky to do since you need to pick the lock. (Use fog or invisibility)
Should You Save The Beasts?
We recommend saving the beasts locked in their cages as Crimson gives you somewhat of a hint about the doppelgangers, mentioning what they did to him.
This also makes the fight easier since you will have 2 fewer enemies to face and if you have a soft spot for innocent creatures, it will feel a bit better to spare them.
Verdict
Crimson and Shadow-Whiskers are part of the circus, where Crimson has become close to the family, Shadow-Whiskers is still in recovery after her traumatic past.
Before the fight, Crimson reveals that the “Other” wears Dribble’s face but has the scent of another, which is a hint that you are facing doppelgangers.
After the encounter with the doppelgangers, Lucretious will approach the area, and you may speak with her to get the Find Dribbles The Clown quest.