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The groundskeeper starts rolling up his sleeves, just as he is about to shove Adoril, the manor door opens--there stands the mayor. Mayor Kriegler is a tall, lean man with a severe bearing, a keen stare, and an imposing mien.
"Leonard--just because you are my little brother does not give you license to lose your temper with travelers and guests."
The groundskeeper sulks and drops his hostile demeanor, shrinking into the background to go back to doing groundskeeper things. The mayor turns to Adoril, taking time to politely shake everyone's hands.
"Andretti Kriegler, local mayor, and pleased to make your acquaintance. Deepest apologies for my younger brother's behavior, Leonard's temper and hotheadedness have always been a burden on my family. I do hope you will forgive him."
He eyes your wayfinder.
"Pathfinders? To what do we owe the pleasure? I have only met a few of your order...yes...I remember they were a pack of entertaining Caydenites! The stories of their adventures can make a man's head spin. Are you here for the Founder's Festival? I would be delighted if you would join us--each of you may sit at my table during the feast. Have you a place to stay? I have many guest rooms. I can see the weariness of travel in your eyes--you sleep on beds tonight!"
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If you want to stay at the Mayor's house, he has several guest rooms that you can stash your things in(see information and tactical--Kriegler manor). Otherwise, he'll want to walk and talk as he is needed for some final preparations for this month's festival.
"Every month we have a festival and feast on the night of the new moon (easier to see the stars). It helps us pay tribute to the Dream Tender while also keeping the people's spirits up. Tonight is even more special, as this month we crown our annual festival queen!"
The mayor's expression turns grim, "Kyle came into town and wasted no time making a complete fool of himself--ordering townsfolk around and making ridiculous, unreasonable demands when he should have just come to me. Once he finally did, I assured him he would get the taxes in full. I even invited him to stay in my manor and enjoy the festival, but he had little interest...I believe his specific words were 'I have no interest in your backwoods hootenanny.' Kyle took me up on his offer of board. The next morning I gave him a locked coffer containing the taxes in full and he left for Magnimar just before dawn."
"I do understand that Ravenmoor has not paid its taxes for some time. However, I would like to note that if Magnimar had sent annual collectors this mess could have been avoided."
“Honestly, I’m not surprised to learn that. I’ve heard rumors that he lit out for Riddleport, in which case I fear the taxes are as good as gone. But the fact apparently remains that we still owe a payment. You strike me as much more trustworthy agents, frankly, but I’m afraid we don’t have the full payment available to pay the taxes again. I’ll extend to you the same offer I extended to Elias, though—enjoy the festival and tonight’s feast, stay in my home, and I’ll see what I can scrape together from what remains of the town’s funds to pay at least part of what we owe. Perhaps at a later date Magnimar might send you north to Riddleport to find out what became of that scoundrel.”
"When I returned from the festival that evening I found Kyle looting my private liquor cabinet. Such an offense to my hospitality! I stayed up all night gathering his payment and had him sent away as soon as possible."
It's pretty obvious to both of you that Elias numerous faux pas have stirred the locals' xenophobia.
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Although the villagers seem initially confused by the presence of outsiders at the festival, they begin to warm up to you (thanks to a combination of Viorec vouching for you and the joy of the event). Common amongst the gathered villagers are more domesticated stirges. Some of them play with children while others lounge about like insectoid housecats.
You are quickly swept up with invitations to participate in upcoming events! The first event is the Dreamer's Leap!
The fire is 10 feet in diameter with 3-foot-high flames; jumpers must succeed at a DC 12 Acrobatics check to clear it. Jumpers are allowed a 10-foot running start. A few villagers don't quite make the jump and get a little singed, but revelers are quick to pull them from the fire.
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"Ooh! This looks like fun!"
Ugly Kidd gets a running start, seemingly really anxious to jump this fire to the point that he doesn't really time a "jump" and kind of remembers to lift his legs off the ground a little later than you'd expect...
... but somehow barely manages to make it across, despite his excitement and enthusiasm.
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Corrin will express his distaste of the mayor and his brother, as well as his eagerness to fight the mayors brother, mano-a-mano.
He also expresses his lack of surprise that Elias was useless. Once he returns to Magnimar, he will be sure to chase down the thief.
Festivities seem silly to him and he would much rather watch and drink than show of his amazing halfling jumping abilities.
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Ugly Kidd sails across the fire, the flames licking at his heels, landing to villagers clapping and cheering! Dejat is less, successful, and he lands in the fire!
The villagers are quick to pull him the ifrit from the flames, swatting out any flames on his clothing. They seem to cheer even louder for Dejat, many in wonder at this creature that seemingly cannot be burned!
Meanwhile, Saul Lupescu produces an aged wooden box containing six old, rusty starknives. While he prepares for the contest, he explains with reverence their significance as weapons carried by the village’s founder, Iola Kriegler. He then points to an area on the side of the festival grounds that has the look of a target range. Hay bales are set up at three intervals. Some of the locals step up, throw some starknives at the bales of hay until all the starknives are thrown. None of the locals seem very good, as only a few lucky throws make it into the furthest bale.
The bales have AC 12 for the purpose of a hit sticking in the bale, but remember to account for range penalties for the 60-foot and 100-foot targets, as well as the non-proficiency penalty if you are not proficient with starknives (martial)
Meanwhile, on the other side of the festival grounds, people begin to congregate around a half-domed cage. Many people are nearby with various birdcages while others have large ravens perched on the shoulders, their eyes draped with blinders. In pairs, the townsfolk proudly display their ravens before engaging in some sort of bird fighting tournament. Once one of the birds goes unconscious, the fight ends and contestants help each other tend to the birds' wounds.
This festival's competitors are Clawfoot, Foolscap, Greediguts, Grizzle, Snaphaunce, Soot, Vinegar Tom, and Wormwort.
The bird fights continue here and there through the festival, with each fight lasting less than a minute and about 15 minutes of prep/downtime between each fight.
VOTE NOW WITH YOUR PHONES! YOU CAN'T GAMBLE BUT YOU CAN PICK A BIRD! IT'S THE RAVENMOOR CLASSIC AND ANY OF THESE BIRDS COULD WALK HOME WITH THE TITLE!
You might want to pick a partner--the 3 legged race is coming up!
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Dejat actually manages to hit the target 3 times, one of the starknives is just outside the literal and metaphorical bullseye. The smith pats him on the back in a hearty congratulations.
"Well done! It's not often we get outsiders in town, let alone ones that can throw a good starknife! Are your friends good as good at this as you? Speakin' o you, ain't never seen something that can't be burned like a....whatever you are." He clears his throat, aware of the awkward situation. "Uhhh......what...are you?"
Can you blame him? From what you've seen, Ravenmoor has a 100% human population.
After the first round of raven fights go down, Clawfoot, Grizzle, Snaphaunce, and Vinegar Tom advance.
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Saul shrugs, "Seems that way!"
Villagers start to gather near a small pen, and talk of a greased-pig chase circulates around the festival. You overhear someone saying that whoever catches the pig gets big-time bragging rights, as well as the choicest cut of the pig once it's slaughtered for tonight's feast.
That pig doesn't look too healthy...you're pretty sure it might be drugged and/or poisoned. If that's the case, it's probably not going to be safe to eat at the feast--people might get sick.
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Ugly Kidd is still a little confused at how he could do so poorly at the knife-throwing, but comes to term with not being the best competitor in every event, as he is no Kurgess.
"Ugly Kidd not so good with the throwing, but Ugly Kidd great at up-close!"
He is anxious for this greased pig competition!
"That thing doesn't look so healthy." Ugly Kidd says pointing at the pig.
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A few people hear Ugly Kidd, and a murmur goes through the crowd. People quickly become upset at the notion that someone would try to poison the pig for tonight's feast. One of the farmers who helped bring the pig into the pen goes over to give the pig a closer inspection. As he approaches, the pig lets out a heavy, rasping sound before falling over and twitching violently. The farmer leans down to help the pig to comfort it, when suddenly, the pig's back twists into a plant-like maw--biting at the villager.
The villager lets out a death rattle as fungal tendrils crawl from the wound and bind his corpse to the ground.
As you would expect from this kind of situation, villagers run screaming away from the pen.
Corrin
Dejat
Ugly Kidd
????
You've heard of these things. This is a Cythnigot qlippoth--a CE extraplanar parasite.
Adoril, Corrin, Dejat, and Ugly Kidd are up!
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Ugly Kidd clocks the....whatever....right in the...kisser?
Corrin scowls at the creature.
"Poisoning livestock with extraplanar parasites? ILLEGAL!" mutters the halfling as he hurls his sword at the creature.
Adoril lumbers into battle, drawing his greatsword and keening his resolve so that he won't feel bad if he misses.
After missing, he calls to Dejat "I wish you would hurt this thing with a spell or something, please!"
Meanwhile the pig-plant-thing whirls from the slain villager as flytrap-like appendages sprout from a point in its back. They begin to flap as the creature tries to begin hovering.
As it flys upward, it snaps at Ugly Kidd with one of the flytraps.
Vines quickly sprout from Ugly Kidd's wound, rooting him to the ground. Ugly Kidd is entangled!
Corrin
Dejat
Ugly Kidd
????
Adoril, Corrin, Dejat, and Ugly Kidd are up!
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Corrin throws his sword at the pig a second time, this time connecting and giving it a good slicing.
JUSTICE NEVER STOPS he thinks.
Dejat gets to double cast burning hands!
But he holds off on the second cast as the creature dies from the gout of flame, completely lifeless--this time for sure!
The villagers cheer and thank you for taking care of the nasty pig, the mayor naming you heroes of the harvest and offering you a primo seat at his table. They give a solemn prayer for the dead villager, and it seems apparent from the murmurs of the crowd that "things from the woods" sometimes get into the animals and drive em mad. The scene appears common for these simple folk as they have the man's body carted off to the undertakers to be taken care of overnight.
The mayor gives a rousing speech and everyone seems to return their attention to the festival. Several young women appear, each dressed in intricate homemade dresses with wreaths of flowers in their hair, in the contest for this year's festival queen. With much celebration, Shel Lupescu--who looks absolutely radiant--is named queen. The feast begins and you each get an amazing cut of roast venison (as the pig has been thrown out) and a wonderful selection of exotic foods exclusive to Ravenmoor (I can throw out a huge spoiler on them in another post--it's insane).
Strangely absent from the feast is the mayor's brother...
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Shel Lupescu doesn't seem too interested in Ugly Kidd. Sure, he's an adventurer and all, but he's not nearly as handsome as Adoril or Dejat. Both of whom seem to be receiving some doe eyed looks from Shel.
Another dish that seems to be popular are smoked tick legs. These hard, chitinous legs of giant ticks are first smoked, then boiled. Served steaming hot (think fajitas), villagers use small, two-pronged forks and small hammers to get to the succulent meat inside. It reminds you of eating crab, albeit much more gamey.
By far, the most popular dish seems to be stirge blood sausage. Locals tell you that you don't want to know how the sausage as made, but you can guess it involves twisting the blood sack off an engorged stirge. After the insides are mixed with spices and rye berries, they're sealed off and boiled in beer, causing the blood, grains, and spices to congeal, forming a briny sausage with an undeniably amazing flavor.
Meanwhile, Vinegar Tom is knocked out of the bird fighting championship--it looks like the finals are down to Grizzle and Snaphaunce.
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Dejat chats it up with Shel, but she's clearly more interested in talking to him due to his exotic origin. Before the conversation is over, she asks the Ifrit if his friend (gesturing to Adoril) is single.
After the feast is concluded, the smell of flayleaf hangs heavy in the air and the village is ready to settle into a night of deep, satisfying sleep in reverence to the Dreamer. Mayor Kriegler concludes the festivities with a rousing speech, once again thanking the PC's for their bravery.
As everyone is filing out of the festival grounds, the Mayor intercepts Corrin. "I do hope you enjoyed the festival! My brother is out gathering your taxes, and should have them for you on the morrow. I hope we can agree that missing the festival and fetching your taxes is enough to make amends for his boorishness earlier. Again, you and your companions are free to spend the night in my guest rooms. Having you as guests would be an honor!"
Shel Lupescu bumps into you and places a presses a piece of paper into your hand. It reads: Hayloft. Chenowitz farm. Midnight. Shel has signed the note with a kiss, the pink outline of her lips sits fresh at the bottom of the paper.