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Darzus joins Sabah at the wooden boxes, near where the youths are playing a game. He would tell any party member that he does this to be present if her music would increase opportunities for chatting up locals. Really, he's interested in how they receive her performance and wants to help indicate to her when some might be trying to shout at her from the side and she may not notice their lips.
Just outside of the common house, Darzus looks around at who is nearby and politely, discretely asks about the whereabouts of Winette Qarl.
[dice=Gather info (dipomacy)]1d20+6
One of the festival guests can help Darzus.
"Look over there! Yes the mayor, she is ... eeehmmmm ... I think at Protectress Square where the statue is."
Sabah finishes off the last of her tankard soup. Picks up her belongings and excuses herself with a short bow. As she turns for the door, a last message appears on the table.
"I'll be checking out the games if anyone needs me for something urgent."
As she steps out onto the crowded street she gives Darzus a friendly pat on the shoulder with a nod, and strides in the direction of the youths game.
Darzus joins Sabah at the wooden boxes, near where the youths are playing a game. He would tell any party member that he does this to be present if her music would increase opportunities for chatting up locals. Really, he's interested in how they receive her performance and wants to help indicate to her when some might be trying to shout at her from the side and she may not notice their lips.
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
A1. Youths on crates
Sabah and Darzus arrive at the storage boxes.
Tall wooden storage boxes are haphazardly arranged everywhere here except for a grouping of four, which form a diamond.
Rowdy youths pump their fists and cheer on four kids who each stand atop one of these boxes. The standing youths kick a bean-filled sack back and forth.
Each time a youth kicks the sack, they all shout a word of the following phrase: "The! Devil! Man! Knocks! Don' t! Let! Him! In!"
You see a leaflet on the ground that 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.”
Three of the kids really like the performance and approaches Sabah.
"Hey you, wanna play? It's fun!" they ask Sabah and Darzus.
One of the kids hops down from their box and offers Sabah a spot in the game.
The night before, Malluma slowly warms up to the group and the setting. At the mention of her serpentine facial structure, she cocks her head to the side. She's quiet for a few minutes, working out how she can better support her teammate. Perhaps I need to exaggerate my tongue movements? Warm-skins use their tongues quite a bit to pronounce their words... no, maybe it's too long... Eventually she rejoins the conversation and gets back to normal.
---
The next morning, Malluma checks on her beast before joining the group. "I overheard some stable boys mentioning the Bloomgivers have been late returning today. Hopefully they didn't run into trouble on the slopes."
[dice=Knowledge Local]1d20+5
She heads to the barrel go round, hoping to find more information about the locals.
Malluma moves on to the barrel go round.
A4. Barrel-Go-Round
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.
This is a homemade amusement ride that the locals refer to as a barrel-go-round. Rides last only a couple of minutes each and rely on the strength of the woman attending it.
A young boy with curly blonde hair runs over to the strong woman. "Mathilde, Mathilde, the food is soooo good!!" he says and has treats in his hand.
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Kinet wonders around the festival, taking in all the sights and smells. The barrel-go-round looked like a good way to get sea sick on land, and while he would have had fun playing with the kids on the blocks, it probably would have required a lot of climbing and jumping, which he had his fill of while at sea. But something that he never saw at sea was a puppet show.
Finding a seat, the little gnome was hard to pick out among all the kids, especially since some of the kids were actually bigger than he was. He was also almost as excited to see the play, and honestly, maybe he might have been a little bit more excited than the kids he was sitting with. While they were waiting, he asked around if any of them knew a couple of kids that came to town a while back named Richelle and Tolwin.
One of the kids is a little shy when he sees Kinet but he takes out a piece of paper from his pocket and hands it over to him.
"Look here! It is really sad. And ... and the mayor."
Upon taking the leaflet 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.”
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Malluma walks around the Barrel-Go-Round, starting with the woman. "You're quite strong! Impressive! Did you build this yourself?" She makes small talk for a little while, before asking, "You must care about the Jubilee quite a bit to be participating in making it happen. How is this year compared to previous?"
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Darzus is too busy intercepting the boys from bothering Sabah to notice the leaflet that he steps on (and over).
Hey, let's return to the game and keep enjoying her performance from over here, okay? She gets intensely into it and we shouldn't disturb her. But I can try to play your game! What do you say?
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Watching as the kids play, Sabah smiles and plays something with a faster tempo, trying to keep the players on their toes with tempo changes and rests in the music.
When a pause comes in the game Sabah places a message against one of the larger boxes.
"Anyone who can find Richelle and Tolwin for me, earns a fried treat, I'm buying."
The crowd really enjoy the performance!!!
Then two kids that are a little frightened when you ask the question approaches.
”I do not know if we can really talk about it because we actually have no idea but maybe Richelle and Tolwin are in trouble because of this horned guy! And Tolwin is really a bully so ...“
Aother youngster jumps in.
”Stop it! Tolwin is not a bad guy! Of course he was really talking to the Tiefling a little longer than I liked! And somehow Tolwin managed to convince Richelle to follow the guy ... but I would not worry that much! Appearances are not important! Tieflings can be kind persons too!“
[dice=Perception]1d20+6
Darzus is too busy intercepting the boys from bothering Sabah to notice the leaflet that he steps on (and over).
Hey, let's return to the game and keep enjoying her performance from over here, okay? She gets intensely into it and we shouldn't disturb her. But I can try to play your game! What do you say?
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+6
A girl smiles and takes Darzus to the boxes when also he overhears the conversation that Sabah started.
Malluma walks around the Barrel-Go-Round, starting with the woman. "You're quite strong! Impressive! Did you build this yourself?" She makes small talk for a little while, before asking, "You must care about the Jubilee quite a bit to be participating in making it happen. How is this year compared to previous?"
Mathilde is a little surprised to see a Nagaji… and obviously not the most talkative or diplomatic woman.
“Yeah. All the same. More kids misbehaving maybe. But you’ve got to play a game for me to spend time with you!! Here … eh .. “ she says and is suddenly interrupted by a female dwarf approaching.
“Excuse me for a moment!“ she says to you.
Then the woman walk away a couple meters and after greeting each other they start chatting and you are perceptive and overhear parts of the conversation.
”Well ... but Richelle and Tolwin cheated!" the strong woman says silently. You cannot hear the dwarf's response but you see the the woman reacts harshly and says a little louder than she she should: "You know that they rigged the bloomgivers election and therefore are not allowed to attend the festival. This discussion is over!"
The female dwarf looks disappointed and retreats in the direction of the sack race.
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Darzus keeps himself busy as they teach him the game, keeping the kids generally light and fun so they can relax and talk to Sabah.
Beginners luck gives way to revealing his true starting skills.
But then he really hits a stride, perhaps even starting to impress the kids.
Finally, as Sabah starts getting her answers, he tanks the last round, smiling at them as he excuses himself.
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Malluma overhears the conversation, but decides to mind her own business. Hmmm... this festival is a bigger deal than I thought. Why cheat just to go pick flowers all day? She walks back towards the rest of the group. I suppose rituals are an important aspect of any culture. I will respect them, thought I do not understand.
Darzus keeps himself busy as they teach him the game, keeping the kids generally light and fun so they can relax and talk to Sabah.
[dice=Dexterity]1d20+3
[dice=Dexterity]1d20+3Beginners luck gives way to revealing his true starting skills.
[dice=Dexterity]1d20+3
[dice=Dexterity]1d20+3But then he really hits a stride, perhaps even starting to impress the kids.
[dice=Dexterity]1d20+3
Finally, as Sabah starts getting her answers, he tanks the last round, smiling at them as he excuses himself.
Some of the kids applaud, some just don’t care.
Sabah kneels down with the child defending Tolwin and Richelle. She writes a message on the ground for them.
"If you could take me to them perhaps we can bring them a festival treat as well and I'll see what I can do to help."
The kids don’t know where they are and shrug.
Two youths are raising their hands, though there’s a bit of fear evident in their eyes.
“We all saw him; he had skin as pale as a sheet and these freaky little horns!“ a girl 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. But later he was with the two bullies!! Richelle and Tolwin are the worst!”“ one of the girls says.
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The elf's face falls into a more serious expression and his eyes narrow on hearing the fearful account of a pale man.
Oh? How recently did you see this man? Do you know what direction he fled to? Even if you don't like Richelle and Tolwin, they could be in great danger if they are with a stranger such as this!
He carries a stern tone, meant to temporarily assert enough authority to get some plain answers out of the kids.
Before the dwarf and the kids can answer suddenly you hear turmoil at the center of town!!
When you arrive at the statue with almost the whole town, 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."
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."
The dwarf next to Malluma looks at the ground and shakes her head.
A man in the crowd shouts "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. "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!”
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If we retrieve the amulet, perhaps we would get to meet Aurelliax!
Before he can look over his companions to see how eager they are, Darzus raises up his hand. When the crowd's attention turns to him he speaks out.
We... were asked by our Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng to check in on them. By name. So we, I mean my party, should go.
Realizing that he's jumped ahead a bit, he grimaces and glances at his companions to check for dissent.
The mayor looks surprised when you mention a venture captain and almost grimaces.
She looks at the crowd for any further volunteers but eventually turns to Darzus when no one comes forward.
Reluctantly, she says, ”Thank you, visitors! Please, travel up Dendra’s slope, directly west of town about 3 miles."
She looks at the two hurt kids.
"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." she says.
”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!"
Yarla Bowhammer, the dwarven lady that was about to talk to Malluma, eyes him curiously as if she’s seeing the Nagaji in new light.
The mayor also notices Malluma and nods slightly.
Turning to the assembled townsfolk, the mayor asks "Do any of you have things you might loan to this group?"
Yarla 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 you don’t want to hurt the kids."
Looking at you, she adds "I might even have some blunt arrows, too."
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With everything going on, Kinet felt like a kid amongst a sea of adults as it was easy to overlook his short stature. He wanted to join in on the conversation, but it looked like the others had everything well in hand. And while he did not want to hurt the kids, the non-lethal options were not ones he was familiar with, so he would just have to be careful and hold back if a fight did break out.
You get the items that you requested and everyone waves you goodbye!
~
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.
The mayor is greatly appreciative after seeing Sabah healing the kids.
“You might need all the power that you have but we thank you!!“
~
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Malluma nudges Sabah on the trek up the hill, getting her attention. "It appears the gods have blessed you with a shard of divinity. Please, take this and use it if the need arises." She hands over a wand of Cure Light Wounds.
Malluma stays to the front of the group, riding her enormous snake. "Kudrilo, hold." She heads over to the hut, peering inside.
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.
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Sabah lights her lantern staff and proceeds closer to the hut. She examines the ground along the trail to the hut, and proceeds carefully to the door.
Sabah points to the tracks leading up too and away from the hut.
Looking over the outside of the hut from 10 feet away she makes a gesture over her eyes and they begin to softly glow.
You detect some residual of magic inside the hut. You enter to find it unoccupied, a dirty bedroll in one corner along with three daggers and 6 days' worth of trail rations.
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.
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Kinet follows the others and quietly muses to himself, like a kid playing a game in his head to keep himself occupied. While being on land required a lot more work to get from one place to another, it was still interesting to all the new sights in the countryside. As they approached the wagon full of already-picked blightbloom, Kinet could see a dilapidated hut, a nearby slope covered in flowers and a cave entrance a little ways away. Pointing to the slope covered in flowers, the gnome makes an obvious observation, "Looks like that is where they picked the flowers."
Then looking over at the hut, he asks, "Should we peek inside that hut?
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Sabah steps into the Hut and stoops near the bedroll, fishing out the three items. She sets the scroll and potion aside and examines the contents of the journal.
She makes a few gestures along the floor leaving a softly glowing message.
"it appears we have a note from the accomplice to the two children."
She points to the scroll and potion.
"If anyone has the experience with these things, I am not much of an expert in potions or scroll work."
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Malluma reads the note and gets back on her snake, leading it outside the hut. "In my experience, potions usually reveal themselves when you drink them. Or the shopkeeper tells me what it does. Pack 'em up, the Society will know what to do." She chuckles, fully aware of her own ignorance. "Now we get two jobs. Find the pickers, and take out the cultists. Sound right?"
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Darzus gingerly steps into the hut and looks around at length before proceeding. He's curious what his companions have found, but he's concerned about traps or... even touch too many things and leaving behind signs of their presence.
Let's not touch too many things in here... But, what did you all find?
He asks to see the journal for himself. It appears that the kids are pawns. And... what is this beast being harbored in a cave nearby? I suppose we should at least get a look at it before we call on the gold dragon for help.
Hearing Malluma he turns to her. I can no better identify those than you, but I will say be careful of drinking unknown mixtures. They could heal you or they could make your scales fall off! One can never leave it to guessing!
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Sabah watches Malluma and Darzus debate the items.
She picks the potion from the floor rolling it over in her hands, using the light from lantern on her staff to try and identify its contents.
She sets the potions on the floor again and leaves a message.
" these are four healing potions. We should each take one."
She adds one to her pack before passing one to each of the others.
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As Kinet follows the others into the hut, he sees a message appear on the floor from Sabah (at least he assumes it is her), mentioning something about a note from an accomplice. Then she mentions something about potions and scrolls. When Malluma says something about finding out what the potions do by drinking it, the little gnome walks over to where one of the potions are with the intent to drink a little bit of it. But before he can pick up the potion, Darzus warns that we do not touch anything. Then he mentions something about a beast in the nearby cave. But it is the last warning he gives about drinking unknown mixtures that causes Kinet to imagine what it would be like if all his hair fell out after taking a sip.
Kinet was feeling a little lost, but felt confident the others had a firm grasp on what was going on. It seemed like the next step was to go to the caves they saw outside. "So, are we heading to the caves next?"
Next to the hut you notice the 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.
The cooking pot is indeed warm.
You spot some movement behind the big rock across the valley from the flowers, in front of the cave entrance.