[PFS]GM Dennis - Heroes for Highdelve - Table 4 (Inactive)

Game Master Dennis Muldoon

As a player I understood what race but played him as focused on the task at hand. :-)

"Oh well, if you Brialla will also be here. Yes, let us race!" Trogen shouts out.

"Funnel cake would be fine, thanks."

Taking the food she wanders around the festival, mostly aimlessly, looking for something to strike her fancy.

@Meraina:

You see Torgen and Brialla lining up for a sack race. You think you have time to join in, if you'd like, and prove once and for all who the faster cousin is.

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@Brialla and Torgen (and Meraina, if you wish):

Yarla lines you up at the starting line along with two other townsfolk (or one, if Meraina wishes to join), handing each of you a burlap sack. She raises her hand, all eyes on her, then drops it and shouts "GO!"

Anyone participating in the race, please make me five dexterity checks.

Dex 1: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Dex 2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Dex 3: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Dex 4: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Dex 5: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

When the signal is given, Brialla gets off to a great start but quickly looses some of her speed- culminating in a near wipe out halfway through. She struggles to regain her form and mearly limps across the finishing line.

Making it to the start of the race, and having so much fun, Meraina joins in the race even knowing she isn't that capable. But hey, why not!

Dex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Dex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Dex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Dex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Dex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

dex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

dex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
dex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
dex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
dex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Mother's name is Gilda. Gilda Korgen

@Kiliuk:

"Hm, I don't recognize the name, which means she probably doesn't live in town. I'd suggest talking to Yarla, she's over there running the sack races. Her business has dealings with all sorts of people in the surrounding towns." If you head over there, you could join in your friends' conversation and ask her before the races get going again.

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@Brialla, Meraina, and Torgen:

Lined up with the three of you is a particularly speedy-looking townsfolk, with a determined look in her eye. She gets out to a slow start, however, allowing Brialla and Meraina to jump out ahead of the pack, neck-and-neck. The cousins both start to fade, however, allowing the woman to catch up down the stretch. Torgen lags behind, though he keeps pushing, for pride if nothing else. As the three front-runners near the finish line, Meraina and the townie both surge ahead of Brialla, both eager to win. At the very last moment, Meraina leans forward just enough to cross the finish line ahead of her rival and win the race!

"Wow, what a race! What a finish!" Turning to the crowd, she announces "Alright everyone, let's take a break. Races resume in five minutes." She turns back to you, a smile on her friendly dwarven face. "So, what was it you were asking about? Oh yeah, the axes! I certainly remember that shipment. It's not every day we get anything as fancy as a shipment of Skyforgers passing through here, after all. I'm afraid they've already headed off to their next stop, however, and I'd have to look at my records to remember where that was. Tolwin, my apprentice, keeps those records. Unfortunately he's not here today, or I'd send him off to look it up right now. The damn fool boy got himself banned from the festival. Still, if you come by my shop tomorrow morning I'll gladly have him look it up for you."

„Thank you very much, this shipment is very very important for me. If you find something out today please come to me and I will surely pay you for your inconvenience. Also thank you for the race. That was fun!

"I will, but don't get your hopes up. I doubt I'll see hide nor hair of him today."

"What exactly does someone have to do in order to be banned from a festival such as this one? It seems like the whole of the village is here!"

"Oh, he and that Richelle girl--Carth's apprentice--conspired to rig the Bloomgivers election in their favor. The mayor was livid, and banned them from the festival. She even had little flyers made up to remind people to turn them away."

Tuckered out from not only the race but the puppet show she assisted with, Meraina fines a table and chair and sits down to rest and recover from such an eventful day.

"Bloomgiver? Is that some sort of honorary position in Highdelve?" asks Brialla. Glancing over at Meraina, she continues. "When we were kids, there was always someone planning or campaigning to win the town vote at the winter's crest festival. Is what they did that bad?"

The half orc thanks the mayor for her help. He heads over to the sack race and looks for the lady the mayor talked about. Greetings. I am Lilliuk. I was told by the mayor that you might know of my mother, Gilda. Gilda Korgen

"The Bloomgivers are a ceremonial position, chosen from among the young people in town every year. They go up Dendra's Slope during the festival and fill a wagon with Brightblooms, then come back and distribute them to everyone in town. If they had only been campaigning for the position, I think it wouldn't have been a problem. They took it a bit further, though. I didn't get all the details, but the mayor made it sound like they had done something to the actual votes. This isn't the first time those two have gotten into trouble, either, and I think the mayor was just fed up."

Yarla turns and looks up at the big half-orc as he approaches. "Oh, hello there! She did, eh? Well, the name does seem familiar. She may be someone I've done business with in one of the surrounding towns. I'm afraid I'd have to look through my records for that, though. Like your friend here" she says, gesturing to Torgen, "you'll have to come by my shop tomorrow when I can have Tolwin dig through the records. If I've done business with her as I suspect, I can probably get you an address."

"Well that seems to be quite different. It's sad what people will do for a little bit of notoriety." She pauses for a bit and then asks about more about the town itself. "Will Highdelve return to normal business tomorrow? We are looking for a specific jeweler... only, we don't know which one". Brialla continues on to lay out the story of the signet ring and her and her cousin's desire to have it replaced.

"Hm, that sounds like the kinda work Carth does. He's over there running the puppet show today, I think."

Getting back up from her break, and her enjoying the fair, Meraina heads back over to the puppet master. "That was a great show we put on, and, now that I have sampled and enjoyed the celebrations, time for business. Maybe you can help me. I am here in Highdelve to find a jeweler who at one time my aunt had commissioned to make a ring for my grandmother. The problem is my aunt doesn't remember the jewelers name. I'd like to try and find the jeweler and have another ring commissioned. Can you help or have any advice?"

Torgen does not like to wait but he does not want to be impolite either.
"Thank you for your support Lady Bowhammer."

Torgen then walks to the Barrel game to see what is going on there.

Brialla quickly follows her cousin over to the puppet master, though staying somewhat behind and quiet. Back in her shadow again...

@Meraina and Brialla:

"Well, if your aunt had a custom ring made in Highdelve, it was probably me who made it. If so, then I'm sure I still have a copy of the design in my files; I never throw that sort of thing away. My apprentice does all my filing, though, and as I mentioned she's not here today. If you come by my office tomorrow morning, though, I'd be glad to have her search through the files for you."

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@Torgen:

Shouts of surprise and delight echo from a strange contraption at the center of the crowd's attention. Axles of hammered metal connect the bottom halves of several large wooden barrels, each of which holds one or two shrieking occupants. After the next group of riders climbs into the barrels, a burly woman in a black leather apron gives the entire rig a heaving spin. Nearby, a short line of people await their turn to ride.

What do you want to do, now that you’ve gotten a look at it?

Torgen will observe this for a while and then step to the burly woman.

"Hello lady, what do I have to do to be able to participate?" Torgen asks.

"Thank you sir, I will happily visit you at your shop promptly in the morning."

I can do that! Thank you so much for your help, ma'am he says, excitment in his voice.;

@Torgen:

*Ungh* She grunts with exertion as she brings the current group of riders up to speed, then wipes her brow with a weary look. "Just get in line over there."

Where would the rest of you like to go?

Torgen gets in line!

He will watch to see what the rest of the group is doing.

When Torgen's turn comes, he can easily climb up into the barrel. With a sigh and a heave of effort, the burly woman spins the entire contraption, pushing three more times to quickly bring it up to speed, then about once every other rotation to maintain its speed. As the arms spin around the central axis, each barrel spins freely on its own mount, and Torgen's vision of the square becoming a brightly-colored blur. The ride lasts a few minutes, powered entirely by the strength of the woman running it, before she allows it to wind down slowed by its own friction. riders climb out, and the woman wearily calls "Next." as the next eager group clambers in.

As Torgen recovers his equilibrium, murmurs of alarm from the western end of Protectress Square soon become shrieks of shock. Two people stumble into the square--a young dark-haired man and a light-haired woman, half walking and half relying on the shoulders of friends. Winces of pain cross their bloodied faces. Somewhere, someone shouts, "The Bloomgivers have been attacked! Someone get Aurelliax!"

The crowd around the Bloomgivers hushes and parts, and a tall, authoritative woman strides purposefully toward the injured youths. A grim look on her golden-eyed face, she reaches a hand lovingly toward the Bloomgivers. Aurelliax addresses the Bloomgivers in a commanding voice that carries across the square. "Kameer. Kara. Young ones, what has happened here?" The Bloomgivers pause to catch their breath before answering. " We' re so sorry, Aurelliax," Kara says. "We were picking the brightblooms when those bullies set upon us. They took us completely by surprise, and they stole the Golden Pendant right from Kameer's neck! We barely got out with our lives!” Kameer nods. "It was Richelle and Tolwin! They're up on Dendra's Slope, and they've still got your amulet!”

At this news, several individuals, including the proprietors of the jubilee's events- emerge from the crowd. Turning to Aurelliax, a white-haired woman-the town 's mayor, from the crowd's whispers-visibly bristles with anger. "I've had enough of those two! Clearly we should have punished them more harshly!" she says. "Aurelliax, would you be so kind as to retrieve these villains? We'll get your amulet back, and those two will get the justice they deserve in our stocks."

The golden-eyed woman looks at the mayor ruefully. "These bullies are two of your own, yes?" The mayor gives a regretful nod. "I'm terribly sorry," Aurelliax continues, "but I'm afraid I can't directly help. You see, I promised your forebears that I would never interfere in the town's interpersonal matters. I cannot turn my wrath against any of your town-not even if they might deserve it."

She turns to the crowd. "Are there any among you who are willing to be heroes for Highdelve? Could you retrieve these bullies and my amulet? I assure you all that I will reward those successful most generously!”

Meraina, overhearing the conversation, stands up and raises her fist into the air. "I, Meraina, will join on the quest to retrieve your amulet. It isn't why I came to Highdelve, but I will help out none the less."

Added artwork for Kameer, Kara, and Aurelliax in human form to the maps deck.

Brialla hears her cousin speak up, and is cought off guard. "Meraina agreeing to go off into the wilderness? For no reason? Now I am quite surprised!.

"Then I must go as well... Someone has to keep a close eye on Meraina as soon as she steps outside of a village."

Torgen just nods and starts following the two volunteers.

I can lend my strength to this cause he says.

”Thank you, visitors! Please, travel up Dendra’s slope, directly west of town about 3 miles," Aurelliax says gently. "It sounds like the bullies are still there. The brightbloom patch is just past an old abandoned shack-that's where you'll want to start looking."

”Find these wayward youths, and return them along with my amulet to the people. I'll bring back the brightblooms to the square, and Kameer and Kara here can hand them out as planned. We'll commence the Brightbloom Ball and put all of this unpleasantness behind us!" Do you have any questions for Aurelliax or for Kara and Kameer?

"Can you please Aurelliax or Kara and Kameer tell us more about the amulet? And also about Richelle and Tolwin?"

"There names [Richelle and Tolwin] have come up before today. I understand there were some unfortunate circumstances that resulted in them being barred from the festival" Brialla mentions, recounting what she knows. "However, I believe this turn requires a little but more information about these children and their antics."

She looks up into the mountains, attempting to visualize in her mind the route that they are supposed to take- already getting her bearings and preparing to be back home in the wilderness.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

No questions, the group asked those I was thinking of asking.

"Can you please Aurelliax or Kara and Kameer tell us more about the amulet?"

Kameer speaks up, though he seems on the verge of tears. "The amulet belongs to Aurelliax, it's called the Golden Pendant," he says, looking at the dragon then quickly away. "She loaned it to us to keep us safe, like she does for the Bloomgivers every year, and those bullies took it from us. I'm sorry Aurelliax!"

"There, there, child" Aurelliax comforts him. "Don't worry. I'm sure these brave travelers will have no problem getting it back. I'm just glad that you and Kara are alright." Turning to you, she says "The Golden Pendant does indeed belong to me. I do loan it to the Bloomgivers every year, though I'd prefer not to go into exactly what its function is. I ask you to respect that wish and to not examine it magically, once you have recovered it."

------

"There names [Richelle and Tolwin] have come up before today. I understand there were some unfortunate circumstances that resulted in them being barred from the festival" Brialla mentions, recounting what she knows. "However, I believe this turn requires a little but more information about these children and their antics."

"Those two-it's just such a shame," the mayor says. "I hate to say it, but they're bullies. Always picking on other kids and even getting into fights. Their peers don't like them, and so we thought it was strange when we first counted the votes for this year's Bloomgivers and they had won. We dug a little deeper , and it turns out that Richelle and Tolwin had stolen the ballot box, pulled out all the real votes, and replaced them with votes for themselves. To punish them, we disinvited them from the jubilee today."

How old are these cretins? he asks.

"They're both 17."

He nods.

"It is a big step from bullies to assault. Perhaps there is more here than we can originally see. Are there others in the village who might have encouraged this activity from the kids?"

"Cousin, does it matter? Thats not for us to determine. We were asked to bring back the locket and the kids. Why they did it isn't really our concern, is it?"

"I suppose it's possible, but none that can think of. I'm quite sure the merchants they apprentice for didn't teach them that sort of behavior. Still, it's an angle that's worth exploring when you bring them back here and we can ask them."

"I am less concerned about reason, than I am about additional threats that we may wish to prepare for. I doubt these kids would cause the four of us any trouble... but if someone else is involved that could change things...

She looks around at all the people watching her as she speaks, and a blush crosses her cheeks. Quickly she adds "Well, might as well head off before it gets too late. I don't want to deal with the darkness too."

Let us retrieve these misspent youth and what they may have taken he states.

If there's anything else you'd like to do before leaving town, we can flash back to it.

Following the directions you received in town, you soon reach the area where the Bloomgivers were attacked. Before you, you see a dilapidated shack on one side and an extinguished campsite on the other. Behind the shack is a field of small, white flowers which you know from the description to be Brightblooms. Further back still is the entrance to a cave.

Map deck updated. Where to?

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Survival, Track: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 If needed

As they approach the field, Brialla begins to get her bearings. She quickly scans the surroundings for potential threats or things that seem out of place. As she moves up between the campsite and the cabin, she crouches low to the ground- looking for tracks or other signs about what occurred here earlier.