The adventure takes place in Scallion’s Wrap, where the heroes recently arrived for some reason, a small hamlet of little repute between the Hollow Hills and the Fangwood in the nation of Nirmathas, in the Eye of Dread region. As they approach the center of the village, they see Kupyn Baro walking toward them. Kupyn, the old halfling woman in bright clothes, quickly approaches, a large golden wolfhound at her side. She places herself before the heroes with a glint in her eye and grins.
“I don’t suppose you’re looking for any work, by chance?!” she asks.
You find yourself meeting the other adventurers and Kupyn Baro as well. This is your chance to introduce yourselves.
M Versatile Human Fighter 1: Spd:20 AC:18(20) HP:20/20, Fort:6, Ref:7, Will:3, Per:5
Looking for work, yes Maximas gently puts the palm of his hand out below the dogs mouth to lick or sniff. If the dog seems to like him, Maximas will give him a few pets.
Psychic 3 / HP 32/32, Perc +6, AC 19, Fort +6 Ref +8 Will +8 / Active conditions: Darkvision, Toughness, Quillcoat shisk, Surprise Attack
The Shisk looks at the old woman. Yes, we can say I am looking for work. I usually work on a ship but I think there aren’t so many of them around here.
He is wearing explorer’s clothes without carrying any weapon.
Summoner 1 AC 12 | HP 19/19| F +6 R +2 W +7 | Init +5 Perception| Speed 25 ft. | Exploration Mode Investigate
Gorhdan is a small and thin human from Minkai with black hair and a friendly face. He has no armor and wears a leather jacket that makes him look like someone from Alkensar.
Numerous tools sprouts from his pockets and backpack.
He bows to the halfling woman and says As it is, I'm looking for work. It will be my honor to help you. I'm Gavan son of Tamiko Ichijouji but you can call me Gorhdan.
LG Male Catfolk | Back-Alley Doctor | Investigator Lvl 1 | ◆◇↺ | Exploration Activity: Avoid Notice | HP 17/17 | AC 15 | F/R/W: 4/7/7 | Perc +7 Lowlight | 25 feet | Class DC 16 | Arcana/Crafting/Occultism/Society/Lore (PFS, Underworld, Catfolk): +6, Acrobatics/Stealth/Survival/Nature/Medicine/Religion: +5, Diplomacy: +4, Athletics: +3, Thievery(U): +2, Performance(U)/Deception(U)/Intimidation(U): +1
A tall catfolk approaches. He seems serene with a corncob pipe in his mouth, but his eyes dart about the scene, taking in everything.
"You arrre looking forrrr people to do worrrk? Purrlock Holmes at yourrrr service. I am an investigatorrrr from Absalom seeking my way in the worrrld."
I guess the best description of his speech would be that of a male version of Catwoman...
"If by 'work', you mean coin? Then, the answer is: 'always'," smiles a hooded Varisian man. Pulling back his hood, revealing a series of blue-tinted tattoos on his face.
"Greetings," he nods to the woman and the others. "Costolian Milotti is the name. Acquisition is my specialty."
Female goblin paladin 1 | HP 17/17 | AC 18, resist fire 1 | F:+6, R:+5, W:+5 | Perc +3
A very clean, happy little goblin approaches you. She wears a holy symbol of Sarenrae. She introduces herself as Areeza. She nods to the question, ready to help in anything good.
"Glad to hear that!" the halfling tells them happily as she claps her hands. "Oh, why, so disrespectful of me. My name is Kupyn Baro,” says the halfling. “Me and my pup Darb need your help to make this rock into a stew that will feed our village.” she adds, in which the pup responds to Maximas' patting with a lick on his hand.
"I have just the task. Doesn’t pay much, but you’ll get full bellies and a place to stay, along with the joy of helping an old woman on Winter Week!” She holds up a small cobblestone with great reverence and a slightly crooked facial expression.
"You see, you are just in time for the Winter Week actually." she tells them. "How is that so? If anyone knows the tale, I will tell you again." she continues.
"Not a long time ago, after the town of Scallion’s Wrap lost all their crops and sheep to a roving band of wolves, the townsfolk met in the village green to figure out where they should move now that they had no food.
"The witch, Tulyn Baro, my great-grandmother, mind you, questioned why moving was necessary. “What would you have us do,” the mayor asked, “eat rocks from the Hollow Hills?” Some laughed at that, but Tulyn picked up a gray rock and said, “Do you not know this little rock is magic? Why, with it I can make a stew that would feed the whole of Scallion’s Wrap through Winter Week!”
The villagers allowed Tulyn the chance to prove her boast. Thus began Tulyn’s plan. As she poured water into her cauldron, she began to wheedle small things from various folks in the area, “just to help the magic of the rock along.” From the farmers, she finagled carrots and celery. From the dwarf miners in the Hollow Hills, she received bags of deep-root potatoes. From the brownies in the surrounding glade, she procured five bundles of scallions. After this, Tulyn grimly left the town to see about meat for the stew, bouncing the “magic rock” in her hand. Where she found the meat, none dared ask, but wolves never troubled Scallion’s Wrap again.
"Upon returning, Tulyn placed the rock into her cauldron And that is why we have rock stew every year for Winter Week!" she ends her tale.
Seconds later, she begins to sing, as if she doesn't want to be interrupted.
"Rock stew for me, rock stew for you!
It’s the soup that helps us in all that we do!
If you want to make it, you need a few things,
Potatoes, carrots, celery, and
FIVE SCALLION RINGS
Rock stew for me, rock stew for you!
It’s the dish that helps us see winter through!
Some salt, some pepper,
a cauldron of bounty,
a few cuts of mutton
and a magic rock or three!
Rock stew for me, rock stew for you!
Have a Happy Winter Week, let’s eat some stew!"
She then ends her song with a bow, as if with the audience around her.
"So yeah, every year I place a special rock in the stew. The one who finds the rock is said to have good luck throughout the coming year.” she continues. "I can pick up the mutton myself, but I will pay you a nice bounty to help me by collecting: 1) carrots and celery from Farmer Greetle’s farm, found in the southwest part of the village; 2) a bag of deep root potatoes grown by the dwarves at the foot of the Hollow Hills, just a bit west of the village; and 3) a bundle of scallions from the brownies who tend them in the grove just north of the village." she counts with her fingers as she enumerates the things she needs for the stew. "So do you have any question, before I can send you off?" she asks with a wide grin.
"Yes, yes. I'll just need: 1) carrots and celery from Farmer Greetle’s farm, found in the southwest part of the village; 2) a bag of deep root potatoes grown by the dwarves at the foot of the Hollow Hills, just a bit west of the village; and 3) a bundle of scallions from the brownies who tend them in the grove just north of the village." she recites again the ingredients as she counts them with her fingers. "Well if curry and catnip would make the stew better, I suppose we can add them, but I will not oblige you to get them. Hihi." she adds. "If you have no more questions, I will send you off to the task and you all get back to me with the ingredients. I'll be just in that hut over there." she tells and points to a cottage that is brightly colored, with a thatched roof and tall chimney merrily puffing smoke into the brisk air, standing out among the others in the town. Kupyn looks and waits with the same grin to see if the adventurers will ask more questions or decide to begin moving out to the different places of the town for the ingredients.
"I have just the task. Doesn’t pay much, but you’ll get full bellies and a place to stay, along with the joy of helping an old woman on Winter Week!” She holds up a small cobblestone with great reverence and a slightly crooked facial expression.
Costolian fights back a flinch in his smile as he listens to the woman. Once she concludes her song and instructions, he nods. "Sounds simple enough. Any suggestions as to who to approach first?"
Rinshu wrote:
So I think we proceed with method: first carrots and celery. Is it all right?
"I have more experiences with carats, but your method seems sound," concedes Costolian.
Female goblin paladin 1 | HP 17/17 | AC 18, resist fire 1 | F:+6, R:+5, W:+5 | Perc +3
The little goblin nods, happy to go to the farm for carrots first. 'Is this really what being a great adventurer is lije? I thought it would be more exciting... she thinks.
"If you can't decide, you can begin with the carrots and celery in the southwest, then potatoes in the west, and scallions if you keep moving north." Kupyn tells Costolian. "You are all big guys to decide which one you will get first. Anyway, gotta go." the witch tells them and signals the pup to go with her and leaves humming the same song she just sang.
Moving to Farmer's Grettle farm to collect carrots and celery.
Following Kupyn's directions, the adventurers easily find their first destination without even asking anyone. As they arrive, they find that from the new paint and fine wooden carvings of the farmers’ god Erastil lining the gate, it’s evident the farmer has been doing well. Bunwol Greetle, an elderly human, sits on the front porch with his grandchildren, shelling peas and singing about rock stew. Far from unfriendly, when Farmer Greetle sees people approaching, a smile breaks over his face. “Hail and well met, strangers! What can I do for you on this fine day?”
As you obtain ingredients from every location, I would like you to note that only one PC can attempt a check at each location, though other PCs can Aid them. If the PC fails this check, a different PC can attempt a different solution, though they receive a –2 circumstance penalty on their attempt.
Bunwol eyes Rinshu with suspicion, his mood changing from friendly to somewhat not welcoming. "'Sent to get carrots and celery,' you say? For sure, and I believe it is Kupyn that sends you here. Hmmp! That woman! Winter Week is a fun season to celebrate. But I overheard that she's is grumbling about it and it hurts my feelings! And now she's sending you to get carrots and celery while complaining about the festivity? If that be the case, I would rather be charging her for that." Bunwol tells them with his arms crossed and giving the same suspicious look at Gorhdan and Purrlock.
At this point, you have options to change Bunwol's mind about Kupyn complaining about the Winter Week such as Diplomacy, Deception, or Performance, or any appropriate skill depending on how you respond to him by your roleplay. Just a reminder of the note above.
I'm sorry Bunwold sama. We were not aware of the woman reputation. But we have been tasked to find those ingredient. And by looking at your farm it seems we will not find better place for carrots and celery!
Please, like you, we need to make a living.
Bunwol ponders the words of Gorhdan. He looks at his farm and considers Gorhdan's compliment. "You know, I really love Winter Week and I have always been keeping an eye of our village, donating whatever I can give so that the same incident never happens again. I will be giving you the carrots and celery you need, not because for the Winter Week, but you will promise me to tell Kupyn that there is nothing to grudge about the festival. I think she still has that spirit to believe about Winter Week." he explains. "Having said that, please give me a second," he quickly rushes into his storehouse and return with a bag full of carrots and celery. "Here you go!" and gives the bag to Gorhdan. "I hope you all enjoy the feast!" he says, now back with a welcoming smile.
That attempt is a success. Where do you want to go next? 1) carrots and celery from Farmer Greetle’s farm, found in the southwest part of the village;(Successfully obtained)
2) a bag of deep root potatoes grown by the dwarves at the foot of the Hollow Hills, just a bit west of the village; and
3) a bundle of scallions from the brownies who tend them in the grove just north of the village.
A small mining compound sits just at the foot of the Hollow Hills. Several dwarves sit outside eating lunch. Hanging above the entrance is the sign
“Steim Mine: Our Roots Run Deep.”
At the head of the table sits a venerable dwarf with a flowing white beard spilling over his mining leathers and sees the incoming adventurers.
“Hello there. Here for ore or potatoes? If it’s the former, you’re in luck. If it’s the latter, there might be a problem.”
”Well, the potatoes are already reserved for Kupyn.” the dwarf responds. ”I am actually waiting for her to get the potatoes in exchange for a joint pain tincture I requested. Working in the mines everyday really is a pain on my joints.” he adds. Jaget Steim, anyway. I am the head of this family.” he says proudly.
For sure, Kupyn did not give you any tincture in exchange for potatoes. However, you have some options. A PC trained in Nature or Medicine and possessing healer’s tools can mix a tincture with a successful DC 16 Crafting check — multiple PCs can work together if one PC is trained in Nature or Medicine and the other is Crafting, with one directing and the other mixing the tincture. A PC can also treat his symptoms by succeeding at a DC 15 Medicine check. A PC with healing magic or a healing item such as a healing potion or elixir of life can use either to help Jaget. As usual for this task, take note that only one PC can attempt a check at each location, though other PCs can Aid them. If the PC fails this check, a different PC can attempt a different solution, though they receive a –2 circumstance penalty on their attempt.
Since nobody rolled skill checks and Areeza used Lay on hands to heal the dwarf, I will count the healing as your attempt to help the dwarf.
Jaget hesitates at first as the goblin approaches her but soon lets her touch him. Areeza places her hand on the dwarf's shoulder and he feels a warm sensation and a relief, not only on his shoulder but to all his joints.
"Ohhhh... That's better, thanks!" he says as he stretches his arms and legs. "We are mining metal ores, of gold of course." he answers Costolian. he then motions some of the dwarves to get the bag of potatoes and give it to the adventurers. "Here are the potatoes and I hope to see you at the Winter Week Feast." he tells them. He then reaches for his pouch and retrieves two vials of ore solvent, made from the distilled essence of deep-root potatoes and used for special mining operations. (The two vials work as lesser acid flasks)."And please, take these also as a gift for helping me with my joint pain." he hands over the vials to Areeza.
Moving on to the location for the last ingredient...
The adventurers travel northward for the remaining ingredient. As they approach the grove, a multitude of twinkling lights begin dancing about in the shadows beneath the ancient trees. Giggles and whispers fill the air, but you see nothing. Upon reaching the center of the grove, where scallions, garlic, onions, and chives grow in thick clumps amid the dark soil, the whispering stops and the twinkling lights fade.
Several diminutive fey wearing leaves and flowers emerge from their hiding places from within the wood. One, taller than the rest, wearing a crown of woven scallions and holding a purple onion flower (several times her height) like a scepter, steps forward. “I am Nelia Starsister, the Grove’s Grand Garlicia, and Alliumic Empress. Who are you to set foot in our domain?”
