Heroes for Highdelve
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The door opens and you see the renowned Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng enter the meeting room.
He looks as if he did not have much sleep as he has a sleepy-eyed look on his face.
He has a violin and a meerschaum pipe in his hand and sets it on the table. He withdraws a small pouch from the slipper and opening it, removes some shag tobacco. He begins to pack the pipe with the tobacco before removing a hot poker from a fireplace in the room, touching it to the pipe bowl, and drawing on the pipe until the contents kindle an ember.
He stands eyeing the assembled group and puffing on the pipe for a long few moments before speaking.
"Well, well, so you are the team they sent here for this mission?! I heard that you all received a field commission recently. You look tough but are you the right people for this mission ... one of your first missions? You already heard that we are sending you to Highdelve, right?" he says with a stern look.
"First missions are usually less dangerous but our informant's reasons to ask for a team as well as the nature of the assignment were a little vague ..."
He eyes you again.
"I called you in tonight to discuss a problem I need you to solve." he says as clouds of pipe smoke drift lazily around his head.
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A young woman shrugs.
"Not my first commission, but I have spent enough time at the museum after hours," she says.
She's human, slight and wiry like a dancer. She wears a loose white tunic held in place by a leather harness/backpack, and a purple sash wrapped around her midsection like a belt with a conspicuous metal clasp. Her red hair is tied back in a pair of ponytails. Yet the most striking feature about her is a birthmark, a ragged purple ring around her left eye.
"Not afraid of vague assignments in dangerous places, though. Name's Copper Tam, and I'm happy to help!"
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Relaxing in the aromatic smoke filled room, Eranahu thinks to himself, I should take up pipe smoking. It seems very relaxing. And it makes Drandle Dreng seem a little less crazy.
"Ooh, a mystery! Tell me more."
Eranahu is also more slight of build than what he thinks the typical adventurer must look like. Of Varisian descent, he has an olive skin tone, and straight dark hair. He wears an easy, flowing type of pant with a bright green scarf tied about like a belt. He wears leather lamellar armor, with no shirt. as wooden holy symbol to Erastil hangs on his hip, next to a dagger and axe, with a longbow on his belt.
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The elf with light beigh color hair that has a pistol on her belt, walk straight to the Inner Sea map on the wall. Alchemical supplies under her red millitary trench coat clinks as she walks.
"Mhm, Elu thinks that means we will receive our actual mission briefing after we arrived at our destination, Highdelve. It's not the first mission that Elu get her briefing after the travel." Elu speaks while looking for the location ofr Highdelve.
Ahh, they are sending us way up north this time. Elu turns around and points to a certain location in the western Brevoy to the team. "Besides, the HR are smart enough to NOT send rookies for mission like this without having a few Pathfinders with more experience tag along, right?" Elu smiles at Copper Tam.
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I expected someone more...impressive for a Venture Captain; he looks like my grandpa after a three day festival.
A large, wild-looking Vudrani man wearing lamellar armor and carrying a large polearm leans forward in his chair, eager to speak although with an odd accent "Indeed this is my first mission and if you need tough, I'm your man. Tell me who this informant is and what they asked of you."
"Okay! You are not scared! Good!! I can’t tell who the informant is! But let me start. Well, more than two centuries ago, the humans of House Garess flourished in the foothills of the Golushkin Mountains in western Brevoy, where they founded Highdelve as a settlement of human artisans to work the dwarven ore their allies supplied. However, as the years went on, House Garess’s numbers waned, and the noble family scaled its business back. By this time, thousands inhabited Highdelve."
He looks at you to see if you are still listening.
"Rather than languish under House Garess’s neglect, the Highdelvers began to focus on self-sufficiency. It built a robust economy and 50 years ago, the leaders of highdelve approached the patriarch of House Garess in Grayhaven roughly 20 miles south. It wasn’t full independence Highdelve wanted as much as a release from any major taxes and military duties the town might owe its feudal overlords. Not in the position to fight the Highdelvers, House Garess acquiesced. From that day, Highdelve has been independent in everything but the strictest formalities."
He pauses for a moment.
"Have you ever heard of Aurelliax?" he asks.
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Being so far north, winters are long and harsh. The short spring and summer seasons require the populace to farm and fish just enough to keep food on the table.
* * * Separate check * * *
You have heard the stories of Highdelve's history in more detail ... what the Highdelvers didn’t know, however, is that benevolent eyes had been watching the situation that the Venture-Captain described unfold.
The settlement piqued the interest of Aurelliax, a gold dragon who had lived for more than a century in a mountaintop lair near Highdelve.
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The dragon admired the town’s tenacity, and its people’s generosity toward their neighbors warmed her kind heart. Shortly after Highdelve broke from House Garess, Aurelliax offered the humans her patronage and protection for free.
Elated and humbled, the townspeople accepted—provided that Aurelliax never involved herself in the settlement’s internal affairs. After all, the Highdelvers did not wish to simply trade one overlord for another. Her motivations genuine and pure, Aurelliax assented.
For the Highdelvers’ part, awe for Aurelliax quickly turned into true affection, as the dragon time and again has demonstrated her dedication to this settlement of about 4,500.
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Just after Venture-Captain Dreng asks his question and pauses for an answer, the clatter of hooves and carriage wheels can be heard on the cobblestones outside. A few seconds later, the door to the meeting room opens and a handsome, well-groomed man enters. His clothing is so white it almost gleams, and the decorative trimming testifies to how expensive it must have been to purchase. His hands and forearms are covered by long white gloves and he's carrying a beautifully-carved wooden folding chair and a silk pillow. Tapping his chin, he thinks carefully about the best position to set up the chair before unfolding it. He places the pillow on it and then sits down.
"You may proceed," he says.
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"Mmm, Elu might have seen that name somewhere..." Elu take out her Golarion EncyclopediaPathfinder Chronicle and look for the name.
"Elu think Aurelliax is the name of a gold dragon who lives near Highdelve. She is celebrated among the locals." Elu summerize what she read, and look up to the Venture-Captain, "Is it a dragon business this time?"
Dreng smiles.
"Good Elu! Yes! Aurelliax is a gold dragon who had lived for more than a century in a mountain top lair near Highdelve and the dragon time and again has demonstrated her dedication to this settlement of about 4,500."
He pauses again.
"I do not want to go into the details of why a gold dragon would do that but I can assure you that we had a hand in that story. This was just background information because your mission actually concerns two kids. Well, they are young adults by now. RICHELLE AND TOLWIN are their names. They are not related but they are the kids of two deceased Pathfinders. We placed them under the protection of the mayor of Highdelve 17 summers ago - Winette Qarl is her name."
The Venture-Captain sighs and looks at his feet.
"We received a message that they are misbehaving. I have to admit that this mission is personal for me and I want you to check on them. They know nothing about their parents' history but if you can find out what is going on I would appreciate that."
He looks back into your eyes again and smokes his pipe, sending smoke into the air.
"Of course we would never send you to Highdelve just because of two kids ... this is just a coincidence that I am using to my own benefit." he laughs.
"During one of our other missions we learned of a plot against Aurelliax. We do not know the details but we know that an agent of a cult of Kostchtchie, Gilda Korgren, traveled to Highdelve more than a year ago to craft a ring with special significance to the cult of Kostchtchie ... additionally, we learned about a Port Ice–based shipping company that is trying to track cargo that went missing between the port and Silverhall in southern Brevoy. We do know that the cargo included several Thassilonian relics that could also be of value to the Kostchtchie worshiper."
Born a mortal man of Ulfen stock before being cursed, Kostchtchie is now the demon lord of giants and biting cold.
Kostchtchie's main worshipers are giants who have turned from the worship of their traditional deities, particularly Thremyr, and instead embraced the demonic as being a more aggressive philosophy.
Dreng stops pacing long enough to knock some of the ashes out of his pipe and reload it with more tobacco.
"Go to Highdelve and see what you can find out!"
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"Richelle...Tolwin....cult of Kostchtchie...cargo with Thassilonian relics..."Elu quickly jot down the key words she heard, and then take out another Pathfinder Chronicle labeled <Faith and Religion> to search for information.
"Let's see...Kostchtchie, demon lord of giants and biting cold, usually worshiped by giants who turns away from their traditional deities." Elu read out the passage to her teammates, "Looks like some evil cult is involved in all these, and Elu don't think anything good can come from demon worshippers."
Elu close her book, "So we have two leads so far: the ring, and the missing cargos. If there is nothing more captain Dreng can tell us, then Elu think it's time for us to get ready for the trip.“
She put away her Pathfinder Chronicles, fix her collar, then look at her teammates "Did Elu forget to introduce myself? Silly me! The name is: *breath in* Snow White Paradise El Santo Flow Wasurena Pure Princess Livre Love Heidern Dokodoko Yattaze Valkyria Passion Alfr Noel Chakoboshi Eluaria Frosia Made-in Bloom . But Elu is ok with others just calling her Elu. Elu is good at alchemy!" Elu turn to the three handsome men in the back "And you are?"
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The man dressed in all-white finery stands up and gives a sweeping bow. "Nistivo Cirek, at your service. I see the Society has put on quite a production for us today! Dragons, giants, evil cults, and ancient relics! Well, I'm not overly familiar with Highdelve or shipping companies operating out of Port Ice, but I'm sure profitable business opportunities will be forthcoming. How far away is this town? I do hope the roads are serviceable enough for my carriage."
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Eranahu looks from Tam to Elu with a boyish smile as the conversation begins.
Oh look! I get to work with two lovely ladies this time. Not just stinky, sweaty men.
As the conversation progresses, his jaw starts to drop of it's own accord.
This chick's referring to herself on third person? And holy cow she book smart!
He nods to Ekadan as he enters, and squints suspiciously at Nistivo as He makes his unusual appearance.
It takes all kinds to create a healthy community. You may need to give me extra patience on this one, Erastil.
As Nistivo finishes saying his bit, Eranahu. Formerly is the Goldspear clan, not looking to make my own name now. I am a dead eye with this bow here and a devote tea to the god Erastil. Please to meet you all." He says, with his boyish grin returning.
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Addressing Dreng, Ekadan asks "Do you know how the kids are 'misbehaving'? Didn't eat all of their dinner, mugging locals, stealing, or something else?"
Speaking to the others and Dreng he says, "The name is Ekadan Joshi and I'm from Absalom. I don't know much but I do know how to hit things hard. Hopefully I'll get to do that on this mission."
"To be honest we know very little about what the kids did. Sorry Ekadan. One more thing on Gilda Korgren. She is a human follower of a demonic god as you know ... and we know that she has a son from a letter we were able to dispatch. But nothing else."
He looks at the whole group and tries to assess your level of comfort with this mission and continues.
"This is one of your first missions so be careful. Please make haste and travel to Highdelve."
With those words he turns his attention away from you, picks his violin up, opens the door and begins playing and walking out of the room simultaneously.
HIGHDELVE
It’s late when your caravan arrives in Highdelve.
Most of the travelers are only stopping for dinner before proceeding on to the next town, but you have a mission here, and so you remain when the wagons pull out again.
When you get to the inn you find it unusually crowded. The innkeeper only has one room available, what with the festival tomorrow.
If you’re willing to share, however, she has some cots she can set up and there should be room enough for the four of you. As you walk down into the common room for dinner, you find it, too, is more crowded than you would expect.
A four-top comes open right as you walk in, though, and almost as soon as you sit the waiter comes by with bowls of stew and mugs of ale for the four of you. You eat and have a chance to get to know your new comrades on this mission.
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Eranahu is very excited about the festival, the multitude of people, and the prospect of an exciting adventure! His family traveled constantly, and would try to plan their trips around festivals. Eranahu would try to talk to as many people as possible. He would share the tales of his few adventures before reverting to tales of his great grandfather, Goldspear, who was a great adventurer.
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After Dreng finishes the briefing, picking up his silk pillow and folding chair, Nivek picks up his pillow and folding chair before making his way back outside to where his two-horse carriage is waiting on the street. Noticing a caravan forming up, he tosses a coin to a likely looking fellow and points to the horses' reins before ensconcing himself comfortably inside.
"Share a room!" he responds to the innkeeper. "With these . . . erm . . . fellow field agents? I think not. Ask another guest to vacate the premises, and yes, I will compensate them for the inconvenience."
Later, at the table in the common room, he waves away the proffered food. He opens a small meal hamper and produces fine meats, breads, and cheeses. He eats it all himself, without offering to share. "Now then," he says, patting his lips with the napkin, "in the morning we should visit this mayor. Very promising opportunity, I suspect. And we can inquire about the misbehaving children."
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Rolling his eyes at the pretentious Nistivo, Ekadan asks the others "So what did you do wrong to end up a Pathfinder? I'm from a family of disinherited wanderers so a chance to make a name and fortune appealed to me. And might as well see what else is outside of the Absalom while I'm at it."
Ekadan takes the stew and mead Nistivo declines and consumes it all, looking for more to eat and drink after two meals!
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Making conversation on the trip, Tam reveals, "Most of my life has been spent here in Absalom, sailing with trading vessels between there and Katapesh, but I did go to Razmiran for training as a kid."
Shivering slightly, she adds, "I don't think I've been this far north before."
Once they arrive at the inn, Tam sets up her cot thankfully and completes a round of stretching exercises. She never missed her stretches first thing in the morning on this trip, happily waking early to complete them and not stop speedy travel.
Once Nistivo (Nivek?) comments on visiting the mayor, Tam straightens and replies, "Yes, although I bet if they're being a problem for the mayor, he's not the only one who knows what's going on around here. How about we talk to the innkeeper and figure out where the locals like to spend the evening?"
Looking at the hamper, she adds, gushing quietly, "Those hampers are so sweet looking. I love them."
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Being a member of a long living race and had traveled for more than a hundred years, Elu know how to kill time and avoid travel fatigue very well. She tuck herself in her big coat comfortably, and stay in a almost trance-like state for most of the journey, only open her eyes when she want to join the conversation.
"Elu received alchemy training for making gunpowder during Elu's travel in Tian Xia. But even though Elu can DIY most of the supplies, firearm is still too expensive for a hobby. Therefore, Elu got a part-time job here as a Pathfinder through my husband's recommendation to pay for the guns." Elu replys to Ekadan, while putting aside half of her meal on a bowl and push the bowl toward Ekadan.
Regarding the mentions of festival tomorrow, "Elu love festivals! Elu know that Tian Xia is celebrating their spring festival right now, but Elu didn't expect people in Brevoy to celebrate as well!" Elu suddenly switch to a cold, stern face and lower her voice, "But the chaos of festival celebrations might give cover to the evils lurking in the shadow. Don't let your guard down."
After Nistivo (Nivek?) made his speech, she seconds the motion of visiting the major, and add, "Elu agree that we should visit the major. Hopefully we can settle the business with the kids and receive new information about our mission from the major. One should always gather information so that she can use the intel to make good decision and avoid mistake." Elu turn to Tam, "But visiting the major will be tomorrow's Elu's concern. How about we go and talk to the innkeeper now? To ask about this town as well as pick up receipt for Society's reimbursement of our expenditure later."
You learn quite fast that the mayor only arrives tomorrow noon after at the festivities.
What is the Brightbloom Jubilee?
During the first evening and your first hour on the jubilee you learn that the Brightbloom Jubilee is a 2-day party with a distinct structure of events.
Before the jubilee, the town elects two young locals to serve as Bloomgivers — an enormous honor for those chosen. Early on the celebration’s first day, the Bloomgivers venture with an empty wagon up nearby Dendra’s Slope, where the largest field of brightblooms grows.
The jubilee then runs throughout the day, and it includes a full slate of amusements, games, and festive street food, all set up in the town’s main Protectress Square.
In the afternoon, the Bloomgivers return to town with the first harvest of brightblooms, and the townspeople fete the youths’ journey by escorting them from the gates back to Protectress Square.
There, the Bloomgivers hand out brightblooms to eager townspeople. The rest of the evening is spent as a public dance party known as the Brightbloom Ball. The jubilee’s second day is spent alternately removing winterizing measures from the town’s buildings and breaking into spontaneous rounds of song and dance.
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The mood is festive in the inn as the evening progresses. Eventually, weary from your travel, you head to bed.
The sun rises, and after a quiet breakfast, you emerge out into the town square. Beams of sunlight stream past the snow-capped mountains as a joyous scene spreads before you.
Overnight, the town's staid and utilitarian main square sprouted colorful tents, a pop-up theater, a spinning contraption made of barrel bottoms, some manner of race course, and more unexpected delights.
Laughter and boisterous shouts echo from all the square's corners as its quaint cobblestone streets teem with villagers sporting festive clothes and wide smiles.
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Throughout it all, the smell of fried foods weaves through air laced with the warmth of a summer that's just begun.
Activities in view:
A1. Youths stand on and around tall wooden storage boxes, playing some sort of game.
A2. Lanes have been drawn and sack races are being run.
A3. A large, gilt statue of a dragon.
A4. A Barrel-Go-Round ride has been erected.
A5. A small puppet theater has gathered a crowd.
A6. A stand sells delicious-smelling fried food on sticks.
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Several well-dressed professionals stand in a circle bandying about the lingo of seasoned traders. “What a time to be visiting!” one shouts.
“It’s the best time to catch important people in one place. If you’ve any business to conduct in Highdelve, now’s the time for it, to be sure!”
A teenage boy pushes through the crowd with a star-struck look on his face.
“Have you seen her? Have you seen Aurelliax? You know, the gold dragon! The one who keeps the whole town safe! She’s here, but she never stays in one place for long. Everyone wants to talk to her, and she’s so nice—she wants to spend time with us all!”
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For the past decade or so, the people of Highdelve have expressed some concern about sending their youthful Bloomgivers up Dendra’s Slope to collect brightblooms for several hours alone.
The brightbloom field is about an hour’s hike from the town proper, and the foothills are full of threats.
To quell their qualms, and to reinforce that Aurelliax would never suffer an outside threat to the town, the gold dragon has begun lending the Bloomgivers a special amulet called the Golden Pendant each year for their journey up the slope.
Not even the gold dragon has elaborated on exactly what the amulet can do, and she’s instructed the townspeople not to bother examining it much magically, but everyone knows that it’s a treasure that would make Abadar himself proud.
Two elderly women watch a group of adolescents giggle and shoot furtive glances toward the square’s western entrance.
“It warms this old granny’s heart to see those sweet kids,” one of the women says. “So young! So much energy! They just can’t wait for the Bloomgivers to come back from Dendra’s Slope so they can celebrate. But I wonder what’s keeping those Bloomgivers? They’ve usually returned by now!”
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Nistivo wakes in his private room feeling refreshed, and after an extensive self-grooming session, makes his way out to the common room to see that the festival is in full swing. He tries to strike up some conversations with the less-disreputable-looking among the locals, but for some reason they don't seem interested in talking.
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Elu wakes up in the early morning and goes to the bathroom to wash up and get ready for the day ahead. In the bathroom stall, she takes out a small flask and pour some green gen into her ears. She take out her trusty Pathfinder Chronicle and skim through it while eating her breakfast.
When the party meet up again after checking out the festive town "Elu is just surprised that our colleagues keep a detailed record of local customs for a town like Highdelve. That being said, Elu is grateful that the Pathfinder Society made these information available to us." She flips the chronicle to the page with detailed description of the Brightbloom Jubilee, and turn the book to show it to her teammates. "Apparently the gold dragon Aurelliax will participate the festival as well, and she is also responsible for the Bloomgiver's safety on their trip to the brightbroom field. It make more sense now, that the dragon is protecting the kids. Because Elu was kinda worried when townfolks told Elu that the Bloomgivers were two young kids who need to travel for several hours to reach Dendra’s Slope......"
Two misbehaving kids to look for...Two kids as Bloomgivers...This can't be a coincidence, can it?
Elu pauses for a moment, and suddenly frowns for a bit, "Elu's gut feeling is telling Elu that the two kids we need to take care of, *check notes* Richelle and Tolwin, might have something to do with the Bloomgivers. And the Bloomgivers *check the clock* should be back in town by this hour."she changes back to her usual smiles, "Anyway, did you folks find anything interesting? There are lots of activities for us to try! People said that you might even run into the mayor during the festival!"
If/After the group are done with the recreational facilities, Elu will say "Elu suggests that we can wait for the Bloomgivers at the gate with townpeople. You don't want to miss that part of the celebration."
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People said that you might even run into the mayor during the festival!"
If/After the group are done with the recreational facilities, Elu will say "Elu suggests that we can...
"What does the mayor look like? I can talk to anyone, I'm a people person."
Carrying a lucerne hammer around doesn't seem to be a bad idea to him...
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"Yes, yes. It all seems to be tied together. Except for this cult. If this gold dragon is protecting our two delinquents, they should also have gold pendants that the dragon gave to them. Keep her eyes out for that."
Eranahu is really interested in seeing what those youths are doing on the boxes, but can't resist Tam's joy.
"C'mon Tam. Let's ride a barrel! Maybe the others at the barrels will know something of the kids were looking for.."
Elu would like to visit the food stalls. Experiencing local cuisine is one of her favourite thing to do, or actually one of her primiary goals, when travelling.
"Elu won't say the food in the inn was bad...but Elu think we definitely deserve better food. Let's go check out the food stall!'
Elu and everyone who joins her go to the food stall.
A6. A stand sells delicious-smelling fried food on sticks.
The proprietor carries a batch of fried dough to waiting customers, he flags down and shouts. “Ah, visitors! Can I interest you in some fried dough? Fortifies the bones! Only 1 silver!”
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Elu search through every pockets on her trench coat and manage to fish out a silver piece from one of the inner pocket, then hand it to the merchant.
*Nom nom nom* "This is very good! Elu think you should all try it!" she says to the team.
After everyone is done with the food stall, Elu will watch her teammates try out other activities while eating her fried dough.
[dice=Diplomacy(Gather Information)]1d20
Tam's eyes go wide. "Is that a Barrel-Go-Round? I gotta try it out!"
[dice=kn. Local]1d20
"Yes, yes. It all seems to be tied together. Except for this cult. If this gold dragon is protecting our two delinquents, they should also have gold pendants that the dragon gave to them. Keep her eyes out for that."
Eranahu is really interested in seeing what those youths are doing on the boxes, but can't resist Tam's joy.
"C'mon Tam. Let's ride a barrel! Maybe the others at the barrels will know something of the kids were looking for.."
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.
Elu search through every pockets on her trench coat and manage to fish out a silver piece from one of the inner pocket, then hand it to the merchant.
*Nom nom nom* "This is very good! Elu think you should all try it!" she says to the team.
After everyone is done with the food stall, Elu will watch her teammates try out other activities while eating her fried dough.
The proprietor looks at you and is quite happy about your decision to take one!
"Well, I am Toshi, the 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. Next please!" he shouts.
You taste the fried dough and Toshi was not exaggerating about the fried dough’s heartiness!
A PC who eats it gains a +2 morale bonus to all Strength- and
Charisma-based skill checks for the next hour.
Tam's eyes go wide. "Is that a Barrel-Go-Round? I gotta try it out!"
"Do you think I can fit in one of those barrels?"
Ekadan wanders amongst the townspeople trying to be diplomatic - easy for a barbarian!
[dice=Diplomacy for Gather Information]1d20+0
Ekadan goes to the lanes for sack races and attempts to enter himself into a race!
A2. Sack Races
The cobblestones here are marked with four lanes drawn in chalk. Two men and two women hop like mad in separate lanes, their legs covered with heavy burlap sacks. The crowd waves scarves and paper flowers in the air as they cheer the competitors toward the finish line. The onlookers offer a respectful berth to a welldressed dwarven woman standing confidently at the finish, her hands on hips as if she’s overseeing the race.
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Tam's eyes go wide. "Is that a Barrel-Go-Round? I gotta try it out!"
"Do you think I can fit in one of those barrels?"
Ekadan wanders amongst the townspeople trying to be diplomatic - easy for a barbarian!
[dice=Diplomacy for Gather Information]1d20+0
Ekadan goes to the lanes for sack races and attempts to enter himself into a race!
A2. Sack Races
The cobblestones here are marked with four lanes drawn in chalk. Two men and two women hop like mad in separate lanes, their legs covered with heavy burlap sacks. The crowd waves scarves and paper flowers in the air as they cheer the competitors toward the finish line. The onlookers offer a respectful berth to a welldressed dwarven woman standing confidently at the finish, her hands on hips as if she’s overseeing the race.
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Tam laughs in joy during her turn in the barrel, jumping out slightly dizzy. Watching Eranahu turn on his charm for the ride runner, she decides to hang back slightly, hands behind her back and grinning, trying to let off the most "kid sister" vibes she can, so as not to ruin his chances, and takes in more of the woman's response.
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Nistivo watches the festivities but keeps well away from the participants with their sticky fried-dough fingers, dirt-covered clothes, and unkempt hair. He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, visibly attempting to stay calm despite all the chaos and impurity around him.
The gilt statue of the dragon catches his eye, and that sounds much more promising. After all, both dragons and gold are symbols of wealth! He moves closer for a better look.
A4. A Barrel-Go-Round ride
"Whew! That's some amazing strength you have there! You would've been a shoe in for a Bloomgiver when you were a kid I bet! Hey, you know who the Bloomgivers are this year?"
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20 + 2
Tam laughs in joy during her turn in the barrel, jumping out slightly dizzy. Watching Eranahu turn on his charm for the ride runner, she decides to hang back slightly, hands behind her back and grinning, trying to let off the most "kid sister" vibes she can, so as not to ruin his chances, and takes in more of the woman's response.
[dice=Sense Motive]1d20+12
As Eranahu and Tam approach her, "You come to me and do not ask for my name first!?" she grunts.
"My name is Mathilde Skalgit and I am a cooper in Highdelve. But you are charming ... normally I refuse to engage in conversation but as you asked so kindly. It is not Richelle and Tolwin! Those cheats! No it is Kameer and Kara. They should be back soon!“ she says.
Copper Tam believes that this woman just says whatever comes to her mind so there is no hidden message!
A2. Sack Races
Tam's eyes go wide. "Is that a Barrel-Go-Round? I gotta try it out!"
"Do you think I can fit in one of those barrels?"
Ekadan wanders amongst the townspeople trying to be diplomatic - easy for a barbarian!
[dice=Diplomacy for Gather Information]1d20+0
Ekadan goes to the lanes for sack races and attempts to enter himself into a race!
A2. Sack Races
The cobblestones here are marked with four lanes drawn in chalk. Two men and two women hop like mad in separate lanes, their legs covered with heavy burlap sacks. The crowd waves scarves and paper flowers in the air as they cheer the competitors toward the finish line. The onlookers offer a respectful berth to a welldressed dwarven woman standing confidently at the finish, her hands on hips as if she’s overseeing the race.
Ekadan and everyone else who is present is guided by the dwarven lady to participate.
You are sent to the south side of the lanes, where the last competitors have returned the sacks. When she screams “go,” you start the race!
~
Ekadan and everyone else that is near the sack races.
You see a cheerful-looking woman with white hair and ruddy cheeks approaching from to the golden statue.
The female dwarf and the woman greet each other and start chatting but are fighting over something.
”Well ... but Richelle and Tolwin cheated!" the white haired 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 while the woman with white hair retreats in the direction of the golden statue.
A3. A large, gilt statue of a dragon.
Nistivo watches the festivities but keeps well away from the participants with their sticky fried-dough fingers, dirt-covered clothes, and unkempt hair. He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, visibly attempting to stay calm despite all the chaos and impurity around him.
The gilt statue of the dragon catches his eye, and that sounds much more promising. After all, both dragons and gold are symbols of wealth! He moves closer for a better look.
Elu cast Create Water to thoroughly wash her hands, then join her fellow Exchange member at the center of the plaza. She wonders if our charitable gentleman would kindly do Elu a favor. Elu can smell business opportunities here.
Our Gilded Lady
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.”
Standing next to the statue watching a group of children play is a cheerful-looking woman with white hair and ruddy cheeks.
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"My name is Mathilde Skalgit and I am a cooper in Highdelve. But you are charming ... normally I refuse to engage in conversation but as you asked so kindly. It is not Richelle and Tolwin! Those cheats! No it is Kameer and Kara. They should be back soon!“ she says.
"Cheats, Mathilde? The name's Tam, by the way, Copper Tam, nice to meet you. I had heard rumors they were bad people, but we haven't heard why? Hope they haven't caused you or your family trouble."
Mathilde looks at the two of you and shrugs.
"Richelle and Tolwin aren’t allowed at the jubilee. Those two — it’s just such a shame,” she 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, they we disinvited them from the jubilee today.” she says and nods approvingly.