Anthusis, a village in the Mwangi territory of Vidrian. Tensions smoulder between Chileax colonists, descendants of the original colonists, indigenous inhabitants, and outsider traders. There is a fragile peace in the region.
The ship captain drops the plank ashore. "Welcome to Anthusis. I'll be leaving tomorrow, but there are plenty of other ships here if you aren't joining me." As you disembark from the ship, the captain laughs. "Tis a fine day to go fishing!" You notice the captain is holding a dark green rod in one hand and a bucket of worms with the other.
The docks host a thick crowd. Mechants shout over each other to sell bait, tackle, and fishing lines. Storytellers regale tales of catching The Big One, only to let it go. Some fishers argue about the proper technique, posturing their homeland's traditions as the "proper way." And of course there's plenty of smoked fish to munch on.
Crowds are outside The Broad Captain Inn. You've heard this inn is well suited for adventurers who treat Anthusis as a rest stop rather than a home. The food is cheap, the rooms are reasonable, and most importantly their bulletin board is well-maintainted.
As you enter the inn you bump into other adventurers, and a few of them catch your eye as potential teammates.
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A large Ulfen man, sweating in the heat of the territory shoulders his way through the crowd. As he overhears people talking about catching the "big one" he offers a loud laugh. "Ulvard has never been caught yet!"
Within the tavern he orders a beer and looks around for a seat near a window where he can catch a breeze.
"Hello Molly!" he rumbles.
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Oh, I think these are going to be my kind of people.
A wiry man with a thin, gaunt face approaches. He wears a black cloak with the hood pulled up over his head, but still his wiry long black hair falls out of the front in an unkempt mess. A hefty bastard sword is slung over his back along with a longbow.
Greetings Black Molly, Ulvard. My name is Nikma Odria, monster hunter.
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Severus enters the inn with his chin up, as always. He is a tall man with slick black hair wearing a black long-sleeved button-up coat with matching trousers and flowing black robes as a cape. He nods as the others introduce themselves to him. "Severus. Greetings to all." he slowly says in an ominous tone. "Have anyone heard about The Big One?" he adds.
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A large Ulfen man, sweating in the heat of the territory shoulders his way through the crowd. As he overhears people talking about catching the "big one" he offers a loud laugh. "Ulvard has never been caught yet!"
”Well then, this might be yer lucky day, fella”, Black Molly replies. ”Lotsa folk on the prowl in these parts”
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"Big what?"
It was a little goblin in a somewhat tattered robe. He had a little more coin now since working with the Pathfinders, but not enough that he was ready to spend it on something as trivial as clothing. He had a dagger at his belt, but no other visible weapon.
He hopped up onto a stool, but didn't really know what most of the bottles were. "I'm Zibini. I, uh, use magic!"
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"Ulvard is biggest!" rumbles the ulfen man, with no concern and total self assurance in his voice.
He offers a wicked grin to Molly. "Many try to catch Ulvard. But Ulvard always gets away."
He pauses to think for a moment, wondering if he was being completely honest.
"At least in the morning."
"Ulvard wonders if sea breeze and fishing might be more pleasing way to spend day than sweating in town." he says to the others in the area. "Ale only lasts so long. Breeze lasts all day."
You sit down at a table with these other newcomers. They don't seem too bad. Maybe it will be worth teaming up with them for a bit-
A tall Mwangi woman with dark hair and a red headband lets out a booming laugh.
“Think you can do better this time, Demed?”
“Better than you and your crew? Certainly!” retorts a slender Mwangi man, who pulls out a notebook as he walks to his seat.
The woman snorts derisively before joining him at a table. “If you can avoid falling into the water, that would already be an improvement.”
“I think you forget that my crew is the only one that managed two victories in a row, sis,” the man boasts. “This year we’ll do even better, and you’ll eat your words before the day is over.”
The siblings smile widely at each other, a fierce love for competition burning brightly in their eyes.
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This conversation was starting to sound like something that was none of his business, so he was glad for the boasting siblings.
"I thought the fishers talking about 'the big one' was just, uh, fish stories." He looked at Severus. "You thought it was... a creature? A monster? I think we're both wrobg; it sounds like a game!"
For a moment Zibini grinned as widely as only a Goblin could, but then looked concerned. He'd never fished--successfully, anyway.
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This conversation was starting to sound like something that was none of his business, so he was glad for the boasting siblings.
"I thought the fishers talking about 'the big one' was just, uh, fish stories." He looked at Severus. "You thought it was... a creature? A monster? I think we're both wrobg; it sounds like a game!"
For a moment Zibini grinned as widely as only a Goblin could, but then looked concerned. He'd never fished--successfully, anyway.
”A trophy, then? Braggin’ rights?”, asks Molly. ”Maybe even prize money?”
She turns toward the woman. ”Ahoy there!”, she says. ”Just came into port. Is this a private game, or can anyone play?”
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Well, what are we waiting for? Let's inquire about this competition...
The ranger gets up and heads over to their table.
Hello! Pardon the interruption, I'm Nikma Odria, monster hunter. My new friends and I...
He gestures back at the table.
...heard you speaking of an intriguing competition. Perhaps if you tell us more we can make it even more interesting!
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Severus looks blankly at Zibini until the goblin has explained what he thinks about the Big One. "That could be it." Severus says in agreement, now his face showing he wonders what the game really is. Hearing the conversation of the siblings and the approach of Black Molly, he awaits what could be the response of the two to her.
What exactly could this Big One here... he says to himself.
The siblings notice you as you approach and halt their banter long enough to draw you in. The woman smiles and pulls up a few chairs. "Sit, sit. We're talking about what my victory celebration would look like."
"Ha! My sister, you mean my celebration." He turns to Torrin. "This is my sister Deka, she is a bit, well, she loves an active imagination."
"Hmpf! And you see my brother Demed. He thinks he can get lucky again. We love participating in the annual fishing contests. I won two contests and then he won last year and the year before that." Demed smiles, but Deka smiles wider. "As he was bringing the haul back, his contraption exploded, sending his crew into the sea."
Demed snorts. "It was a minor setback, I assure you. The important part is that the officials knew I won." He smiles. "You have to be brave."
"Yes." Deka swirls her drink and focuses. "Dedication, bravery, ingenuity and collaboration. The values of Vidrian." She looks solemn. "You understand, don't you?"
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Ulvard enjoys this conversation. When it comes to an active imagination he is well equipped and as for getting lucky. Well, he is the luckiest man in the world.
"Ulvard brave!" he nods, understanding all that is needed.
"Ulvard also very good at catching things. You have likely heard tales of Ulvard already." he continues with utter confidence.
"Ulvard... that name is new to me. But you'll have to forgive me, I've only sailed the seas around the bay." Demed grins. "But you must be world reknown! Tell me more."
Deka smiles politely, and then turns towards Black Molly to take her drink. "Well, Anthusis has held a fishing contest every year. Catching fish is important, but so is creativity, distraction and a bit of performance." Deka seems quite friendly with Black Molly.
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"Is this competition related to the freedom of the peoples of Vidrian just a few years ago?" Severus chimes in, impressing the Mwangi woman with some history. "Did you know that Vidrian was once called Sargava?" he says as he turns to the others but lets the twin siblings hear him. "Which was a colony of Cheliax," he continues. "And the nation's capital Anthusis was called Eleder." That's all he can share for now. "You can call me Severus." he introduces to all with a slight bow.
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The big man nods sagely. "Ulvard is world renown. Ulvard will one day be so famous the Ulfen guard will seek him out to join them. In meantime, Ulvard see world with Pathfinders!"
He staes.
"Famous events you will soon hear about include Ulvard saving Golden Alpana of Druman. Ulvard also saved talky men heading to certain death in Ustalav."
He thinks for a moment before adding. "Ulvard also try saloon in Galt. Ulvard does not recommend Galt. They do no understand how civlised men use Saloons."
He orders another ale, and one for "Dashing Deka" as well.
"Ulvard would heard more from beautiful Deka about Big Catches."
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"You wish to lecture me on the history of my nation?" Deka listens to Severus's lesson with a bemused look on her face. "But yes, the Vidric Revolution ended Chileax's hold on this blessed land. Feelings are... mixed at best." She smiles when the bartender offers her and Ulvard another mug. "But a drink? Ulvard knows the finer points of diplomacy. Come, sit."
Demed relaxes as the bartender offers another mug, thanks to Nikma. "Right, Pathfinders. I've heard of the organization. Traveling the world and such. They must keep you busy."
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"Indeed, indeed!" said Zibini, scurrying over and signaling for another drink--he didn't know much, but he had more coin to spare than he was used to. "Whisked this way and that. I can't keep track of it all, honestly, but it's still fun to see so much. Creative and brave, sure, but... I am curious why those things are helpful for a fishing contest."
"Vidrian believes in dedication, bravery, ingenuity and collaboration. It's something we picked up after the revolution." Demed leans back, losing interest in the goblin.
The bar owner shouts "Bar's closin." He slaps a bucket of worms onto the bar. "I got a contest to win!" The patrons take this as their queue to leave, and so do you.
"The best of luck to you. Maybe you'll beat my sister." Demed quickly finishes his drink and breaks into a sprint. Deka has a wicked grin. "I'm certain you'll beat him. Good luck on your second place finish." She weaves through the crowd and onto the docks.
The docks creak under the weight of the crowd. Mwangi and Chelaxian citizens stand shoulder to shoulder in the midday sun, waiting for the excitement to begin.
The contestants stand in line with their teammates, waiting for the signal to claim their fishing spots. Some aspiring anglers seem to have already chosen their spot, while others are carefully scanning the waters for a glimpse of the glimmering scales that give the tournament its name. Tall and imposing, Deka stands out from the crowd as she inspects her reinforced grappling hook. To her right, Demed hurriedly jots down notes before telling his crew to be ready to cast.
A silver-haired Zenj woman wearing a judge’s colorful sash raises her hands to silence the crowd. With a warm smile, she utters a single sentence that unleashes a flurry of activity.
“Find your station!”
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”We’ll have to call in a professional”, says Black Molly.
The space beside her wavers. A greenish-blue apparition appears. It looks like a human pirate, with a long gray beard and an eyepatch. One hand holds a cutlass, while the other has been replaced by a shadowy hook. A skull and crossbones appear on his hat, as well as Molly’s.
”Avast, me hearties!”, he proclaims. ”Silverbeard walks again!”
”Time to shove off, Cap’n!”, Molly declares. ”We’ve got a rickety sloop, an’ a fishin’ contest to win!”
”So this is what you Pathfinders are up to now?”, he says with a ghostly sneer. ”Hard times, I’d say!”
”Weigh anchor, you old sea dog!”, she snaps, as she scopes out the fishing area.
Ulvard begins pushing people aside and makes way, with Severus not too far after. They spot fish! Zibini and Nikma slip around the crowds, only to realize they are surfing it.
Black Molly calls upon Captain Silverbeard and he tries to shove people away while his teammate scans the seas for a good spot.
Not many people. Some fish swimming actively. Enough room for a fishing ship. The team sets sail.
... And then they notice the smell. Oh, this is where the city's garbage piles up. No wonder no one wants to be here.
Black Molly
Severus Snape
Zibini
Nikma
Ulvard
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Ulvard eyes up the fish in the sea and the stink and sighs.
"Sometimes being biggest is not always best." he says with a nod of self enlightenment.
Then, he reaches over the side of the boat to just trail his fingers in the water. "Ulvard tickle trout in streams back home." he grins.
It seems fishing in the sea is somewhat harder than in a river...
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It doesn't seem like they were off to a great start.
As the shortest person, by a wide margin, in a boat otherwise full of humans--and very possibly the least experienced to boot--Zibini is not at all confident he can get the fish out of the water. But perhaps his first move should be to try to bring more of them closer to the boat so the longshanks could get them.
"Fish like shiny, right?" He didn't actually have anything shiny, at least not anything he could use to attract fish. But one doesn't need a sparkly object if one can create a shining light from nothing.
Smiling brightly, he reaches a hand towards the water. The aura of happiness around him is briefly almost tangible before it manifests as yellow and white lights in the water around the boat.
The lights waver merrily, moving slightly back and forth in the water as they first move away from the boat and deeper into the water and then sloooowly draw back towards them. Hopefully luring fish closer as they come.
The group tries to fish, but things were not going well.
Nikma and Severus try to fashion some of the least smelly garbage into a net, but it collapses as they try to pick up fish.
Ulvard spots somewhere promising but by the time he pulls out a fishing line the school of fish are already gone.
Black Molly screams across the docks, but it seems like the competition are more annoyed with her breaking their concentration, and don't pay attention to her words.
Zibini creates a pattern of lights and sinks it into the sea, hoping to manipulate the fish into following it until they reach the surface.
Zibini's magic does wonders, attracting some of the fish right into his hands. Of the group, he's able to catch some fish and earn some points.
“Deka, your lines!” shouts Demed. Four lines snap in quick succession, causing those nearby to yell in surprise and frustration. While the crew hurries to pull the remaining line, Deka points at a dark shadow in the water.
With a single scoop, Ulvard yanks a young tiger shark out of the sea and holds it triumphantly.
The judges stop to look.
The fishers stop to look.
Deka raises a curious eyebrow.
"Incredible dexterity!" An elven judge claps. "Two points for Ulvard!" The other judges nod in agreement.
Deka curses her luck, inspecting the damage. “Almost all of our lines snapped, and we’re out of spares,” she growls. With an angry sigh, she grabs her grappling hook and nods to the robust Chelaxian man holding the team’s only remaining line.
“Never give up, right?” asks the man with a grin.
“Never give up,” agrees Deka, hoisting her grappling hook.
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"Aw, that's no fun..."
Zibini waves frantically at other nearby boats. "No fun beating somebody who isn't at their best!" he calls. "Well, it can be hilarious," he adds quietly to himself, "but not when just one team gets knocked out and beaten by everybody else piling on. That's just mean."
Raising his voice again, he tries to rally the competitors. "Pitch in, and we can fix it real fast!"
He stays well away from actually helping. He's not entirely sure he understands what's broken or why Deka can't use a spare. Best to let others handle the work itself so he doesn't make it worse.