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"It does seem high time to investigate their whereabouts, and I'm not sure the festival will highlight that. They left, with a cart, to pick flowers. So they are either on there way to the field, picking flowers, or on their way back ... and carts are hard to hide. Let's ask directions to the bloom field they pick from."
You find a piece of paper on the floor.
You see that it bears sketches of a scowling human boy and girl, each about 17, along with the following message.
“Be advised: Richelle and Tolwin, apprentices to Carth Garenth and Yarla Bowhammer, are not permitted at the jubilee. If seen, please turn them away from your events.”
Torgen spots the interesting piece of paper as he is climbing onto the box and makes a mental note to show it to his companions once he’s finished with the game.
He turns to one of the nearby kids.
”What did these apprentices do which was so bad for them to be banned from the festivities?”
A teenage girls shrugs.
"I really do not know. They are not really popular anyway. We all saw them talk to this man; he had skin as pale as a sheet and these freaky little horns!” she says. “He was skulking around until the watch came and scared him away. Now people pretend like he was never here—don’t want to scare away visitors, I guess. Oops!”
She looks away for a moment.
"But you better ask the Mayor in case you want to know more about Richelle and Tolwin. But she is a pain in the a$$. Just so you know!" he says and seems to wait for Torgen to start the game.
”Thanks for the tip.” say’s Torgen with a smile. “Now lets see if I can get the hang of this game.”
Torgen takes off his armour and then indicates he’s ready.
The other six year old kid on the boxes tries to beat the dwarf!!
But after one kick the boy already dropped the box where Torgen was able to kick it twice!
"Okay Mr., you won! Now move on and let us kids play." he says with tears in his eyes.
Torgen feels a little guilty at having already reduced someone to tears. ”Thank’s for letting me play, you’ve got good technique, I must have just got lucky.” he says hopping off the box and retrieving his armour. ”Enjoy the rest of the Jubilee.”
Having successfully bested the 6 year old, Torgen goes in search of his colleagues to pass on the information he’d discovered.
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"It does seem high time to investigate their whereabouts, and I'm not sure the festival will highlight that. They left, with a cart, to pick flowers. So they are either on there way to the field, picking flowers, or on their way back ... and carts are hard to hide. Let's ask directions to the bloom field they pick from."
"Well, the food had to brought here from somewhere," nods Fascili as he heads over to the food stalls. In addition to potential places to obtain information, the cleric knows the food area usually draws insects and, perhaps, even cultists.
"I'm looking for a cart that I was told was headed to the bloom field," he notes. "Would you be so kind as to point me in its direction?"
He picks a pair of insect wings out of the order of fried dough that he purchased. "I would hate for your customers to learn of any food contaminants in your products."
Looks around for who might be the Mayor, and asks people ... no sense being a paladin if you cannot make people feel like you will help them.
[dice=DIPLO]1d20 + 4 Looking around (Gather Info)
[dice=DIPLO]1d20 + 4 Talking to people (Gather Info)
Evindyll moves to Protectress Square after asking for the mayor.
When you arrive at the statue, you can take in it's majesty up close.
Fully 10 feet high and twice as long, the centerpiece of the square is a gilt statue of a gold dragon with outstretched wings. A plaque at the base reads: "Highdelve dedicates this statue and all of Protectress Square to Aurelliax, Our Gilded Lady. Long may her golden wings envelop us, and may we never fail her when she calls."
You are pointed at a human woman: Standing next to the statue watching a group of children play is a cheerful-looking woman with white hair and ruddy cheeks.
You see that a female dwarf approaches the woman and after greeting each other they start chatting.
"It does seem high time to investigate their whereabouts, and I'm not sure the festival will highlight that. They left, with a cart, to pick flowers. So they are either on there way to the field, picking flowers, or on their way back ... and carts are hard to hide. Let's ask directions to the bloom field they pick from.""Well, the food had to brought here from somewhere," nods Fascili as he heads over to the food stalls. In addition to potential places to obtain information, the cleric knows the food area usually draws insects and, perhaps, even cultists.
"I'm looking for a cart that I was told was headed to the bloom field," he notes. "Would you be so kind as to point me in its direction?"
He picks a pair of insect wings out of the order of fried dough that he purchased. "I would hate for your customers to learn of any food contaminants in your products."
[dice=Intimidation]1d20+7
Toshi looks at Fascili and is quite frightened about your threats!
"Well, ehh … I … I am the proprietor and head chef at the Golden Wings tavern! As you see I have my hands full working the large crowd of customers and
can’t pause for long to talk with you. But this direction is correct! But please don’t hurt my business! Here is food for you!" he shouts.
A PC who eats it gains a +2 morale bonus to all Strength- and
Charisma-based skill checks for the next hour.
On returning to the group Torgen relays his finding and catches up with the recent discussions.
”Personally, I think it’s worth at least spending some time continuing to investigate the Jubilee. So far all we have on the Bloomgivers is a rumour from that they are late returning. If there is a genuine problem the chances are that the local authorities are already looking into it and the situation may well be in hand. Heading out of town on our own initiative, without fully understanding the situation, could end up with us causing more problems than we solve. Having said that, its certainly worth speaking to the mayor and offering our assistance if its needed."
"But in the meantime, I think there is plenty of useful information we could find out asking around the festival which could help us get a better idea of what is going on. In addition to the Bloomgivers, there’s also the plot against Aurelliax, the cultist, the missing cargo, the stranger with the horns and the two apprentices we should probably try and find out about.”
Torgen thinks for a moment. ”On the cargo front, maybe its worth taking a look at those barrels used on that ride over there?”
The Bloomgivers return
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 the mayor strides purposefully toward the injured youths. A grim look on her face, she reaches a hand lovingly toward the Bloomgivers.
Mayor Qarl addresses the crowd in a commanding voice. "Silence! Aurelliax left minutes ago due to an urgent matter. She did not trust me with the details."
She turns toward the Bloomgivers. "Kameer. Kara. Young ones, what has happened here?"
The Bloomgivers pause to catch their breath before answering. " We' re so sorry, Mayor Qarl ," 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 Aurelliax's amulet!”
At this news, several individuals, including the proprietors of the jubilee's events- emerge from the crowd.
The town's mayor visibly bristles with anger. "I've had enough of those two! Clearly we should have punished them more harshly!" she says. "We have to retrieve these misbehaving kids? We have to get Aurelliax's amulet back, and those two will get the justice they deserve in our stocks."
A man in the crowed looks at Grilgoth and shouts "Who are you? I do not know you!! We have to get Aurelliax to help!"
The mayor looks at the man ruefully. "These bullies are two of our own!"
The people in the crowd give a regretful nod.
"You all know the rules! I'm terribly sorry," Mayor Qarl continues, "but I'm afraid that Aurelliax can't directly help. You see, Aurelliax promised our forebears that she would never interfere in the town's interpersonal matters. She cannot turn her wrath against any of our town-not even if they might deserve it."
She turns to the crowd and also eyes Grilgoth.
"Are there any among you who are willing to be heroes for Highdelve? Could you retrieve these bullies and Aurelliax's amulet? I assure you all that I will award those successful most generously!”
A woman briefly gives Grilgoth directions to the slope.
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A man in the crowed looks at Grilgoth and shouts "Who are you? I do not know you!! We have to get Aurelliax to help!"
The mayor looks at the man ruefully. "These bullies are two of our own!"
The people in the crowd give a regretful nod.
"You all know the rules! I'm terribly sorry," Mayor Qarl continues, "but I'm afraid that Aurelliax can't directly help. You see, Aurelliax promised our forebears that she would never interfere in the town's interpersonal matters. She cannot turn her wrath against any of our town-not even if they might deserve it."
She turns to the crowd and also eyes Grilgoth.
"Are there any among you who are willing to be heroes for Highdelve? Could you retrieve these bullies and Aurelliax's amulet? I assure you all that I will award those successful most generously!”
A woman briefly gives Grilgoth directions to the slope.
"Lady Mayor, perhaps you would let my companions and I be the heroes you seek? My name is Evindyl, and I am a paladin in service of Yuelral; I believe together we can help with this."
Evin walks over to stand by Grilgoth so the other Pathfinder can be seen as an associate"I know my goddess would want me to respect Aurelliax and the covenant she made with your town. We would be proud to assist you."
”Thank you, Evindyl! Please, travel up Dendra’s slope, directly west of town about 3 miles," the mayor 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 Aurelliax's amulet to the people. We'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!"
The mayor smiles and nods at Belayneh.
Turning to the assembled townsfolk, the mayor asks "Do any of you have things you might loan to this group?"
Yarla, the dwarven lady that earlier talked to the mayor, steps forward with a concerned look on her face.
"I just so happen to have a crate of items in my inventory right now, bound for a bodyguard firm in Port Ice. I'm sure they wouldn't mind a little quality control testing on one or two."
Looking at you, she adds "I might even have some blunt arrows, too."
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Thank you for your kind offer, esteemed Lady, I am sure one of my comrades could make use of your goods the old Garundi man bows to the dwarven woman, then turns again to the Mayor and takes her hand in his Esteemed Mayor Qarl, Venture-Captain Dreng sends his regards to you and your fair village, our tasks include looking after your foster younglings Richelle and Tolwin. We will find them and bring them back to you, and see if we can understand why they are acting in such despicable manner Belayneh bows and brings the Major's hand to his forehead, then releases it when he gets back up.
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"Well, ehh … I … I am the proprietor and head chef at the Golden Wings tavern! As you see I have my hands full working the large crowd of customers and can’t pause for long to talk with you. But this direction is correct! But please don’t hurt my business! Here is food for you!" he shouts.
Fascili snatches the food from the chef and snarls as he takes a bite. Pleasantly surprised by the taste, he quickly downs the entirety of it.
"Much obliged!" he shouts to the chef as he heads off, but is soon diverted to the western end of Protectress Square by shrieks of shock.
The Bloomgivers pause to catch their breath before answering. " We' re so sorry, Mayor Qarl ," 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 Aurelliax's amulet!”
Fascili watches on quietly. He assesses the two youths, looking for any oddities or inconsistencies in their story. As he does so, he pauses to remove flakes of sugar and dough from his mustache.
Regardless of his assessment, Fascili volunteers with the others when the mayor makes a request for aid. "There may be more to this story than meets the eye, but I suppose the brightbloom patch is where we should begin. I happen to know the way--a kindly chef pointed them out to me."
”I agree Fascili, we should keep an open mind regarding the situation. Maybe these apprentices are just a pair of no good thugs, or perhaps they have been led astray, or even ensorcelled by some fell magic. Potentially they could even be entirely innocent and someone has just stitched them up, we’ve yet to hear their side of the story. There’s lots to find out. I’m also wondering about their relationship with that horned gentleman.”
He walks over to the lady offering the saps ”I’ll take two of those if you can spare them.”
Fascili believes that the two kids are telling the truth and their injuries really also show that they have been beaten!
You are starting your journey to Dendra's Slope
After a quick trip to Yarla's warehouse, you head toward Dendra's Slope, about three miles away.
As you approach the slope, you see a wagon full of already-picked brightblooms, and remember the mayor saying they would come pick it up once you've dealt with the bullies.
You see the brightblooms in more detail and know these flowers under a different name. But you know that crushed brightblooms confer a +2 bonus when used as part of any Heal check.
You can see a dilapidated hut, a nearby slope covered in flowers, and a cave entrance a little ways away.
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You are starting your journey to Dendra's Slope
After a quick trip to Yarla's warehouse, you head toward Dendra's Slope, about three miles away.
As you approach the slope, you see a wagon full of already-picked brightblooms, and remember the mayor saying they would come pick it up once you've dealt with the bullies.
** spoiler omitted **
You can see a dilapidated hut, a nearby slope covered in flowers, and a cave entrance a little ways away.
Torgen readies his saps and follows Belayneh towards the camp, keeping an eye out for potential threats.
Makeshift Campsite
A rusty metal pot sits over an extinguished campfire in this hastily prepared resting stop. Three logs are pulled near the fire, and in between are several marks scrawled in the dirt.
The marks scrawled in the dirt are crude drawings of a two-headed stick figure that’s shown emerging from a cave and running toward some houses.
The rock formations surrounding the cave are identical to the rock at the west end of the map (area C4).
The drawing’s meaning: This drawing is part of some sort of plan involving a monster in the cave to the west and Highdelve.
”Well that’s an unusual drawing.”
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Hmm, these scrawlings... They could mean there is a two-headed monster in the cave, and it is involved in some sort of plan against the village of Highdelve Belayneh strokes his white beard, Stay vigilant, esteemed companions, whomever drew these scrawlings could be still nearby, and could unleash this monster upon us the old man grips his quarterstaff tight, ready for anything.
”We should probably check if there is anything in that hut.”
As you approach the hut, you begin to get your bearings.
You quickly scan the surroundings for potential threats or things that seem out of place.
They look like they were made within the last 24 hours.
You see no other movement around the valley.
The outside of this dilapidated shack is moldy and has walls full of holes. Its rotted doors hang open on broken hinges. You cannot hear any movement from within.
You enter to find it unoccupied, a dirty bedroll in one corner along with three daggers and 6 days' worth of trail rations.
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Grilgoth is no ranger but it does not take a skilled tracker to see the obvious and recent foot prints left behind in a hurry.
"Clearly someone was here recently and left not too long ago."
She turns and notices that the cleric has come to the same conclusion at about the same time.
The witch is doubtful but attempts to detect any magical auras in or around the hut.
Detect Magic is cast.
The bedroll looks recently used.
You detect magic in the wall near the bed.
You find something in the wall near the bedroll after the detect magic ... nothing detects as evil.
You start searching and spot a suspicious hole in the wall near the bedroll. Upon examination, you find a small bundle containing a journal, a scroll, and four potions.
These are four potions of cure light wounds.
This is a scroll of scorching ray.
[spoiler]
The only entry, which bears today's date, says:
Oh my dear demonic god. These stupid kids are hated in town but the roots of mistrust were enough to convince them to join my mother's plan to attack the jubilee and circumvent the dragon's protection. They beat up the flower pickers, but they let them escape alive! But we retrieved the amulet and together with mother's sacrifice this will be enough to protect the beast in the cave from the dragon's wrath.
Torgen looks at the journal "Well this certainly sounds ominous. I'm guessing our apprentices may have got themselves into way more than they bargained for. I'm also guessing this diary could belong to the gentleman with the horns that they were talking to."
"Has anyone looked for magic at that campsite? We should probably take a look in the flower field as well. And then theirs that cave with the 'beast', do you think its still there?"
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Grilgoth has a quick look at the scroll.
"Hmm. I have a spell for that but it is not ready now. It will require a bit of time."
"Did anyone have the foresight to prepare it (Read Magic)?"
She also tries to determine the magical properties of the potions to confirm the Inquisitor's taste test.
"Right you are. These are potions of healing. Hopefully we will not be needing these."
Grilgoth takes one for now and passes the other three around to the rest of the party.
She waves around the journal entry.
"This is a fortunate find. We better get moving and find the person behind this all before their plan comes to fruition."
”Before we head into the cave it would be worth us seeing if we can pick up the apprentices tracks just in case they went elsewhere and also to see if we can find the site of the attack, that could yield some more clues to what we are dealing with.”
Torgen will go over to the wagon and have a search around.
You spot some movement behind the big rock across the valley from the flowers, in front of the cave entrance.
Torgen points to the rocks ”There’s something moving over there behind those rocks near the cave.”