Hello, everyone who signed up for this game on the convention spreadsheet. Please dot and delete, and we will start when the convention begins.
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. Throughout it all, the smell of fried foods weaves through air laced with the warmth of a summer that's just begun.
"Well," says to Meraina upon spying the colorful festival tents. Meraina, "We are here to find a jeweler, but I suppose there isn't any reason we can't have a little fun along the way. Besides, maybe we'll find a few jewelry stalls among the tents."
"Well," Brialla says to Meraina upon spying the colorful festival tents. Meraina, "We are here to find a jeweler, but I suppose there isn't any reason we can't have a little fun along the way. Besides, maybe we'll find a few jewelry stalls among the tents."
"I believe I could hold my own in a race," Brialla continues. "And if there is an archery range, the prize is as good as mine."
Torgen was in town looking for a missing shipment of ceremonial axes, and had intended to start with the handlers here in Highdelve.
It wouldn't hurt to examine any weapons for sale at this festival I suppose, and if there are any fried mushrooms to be had, it would be rude to say no. If there are fried mushrooms, then a spot of black beer to wash them down would be just the thing...
Wandering the food stalls and beer tents, the hungry dwarf seems almost to have forgotten the axes.
I'll make sure to cheer you on if there is a contest...but first, I'm going to have some of those fried foods..I'm starving... Meraina says as she follows her sister, looking all around and taking in all the sights and sounds.
A grin crosses Kiliuk's scarred face as he contemplates the happy crowd. Mom might be here...it's not likely, but there are a lot of people from around the area. He makes sure his weapons are well secured, then strides confidently into the crowd, trying to look unobtrusively at the people he passes on the way to the theater.
Please everyone give me a diplomacy check for what you gather while chatting with the crowds in general.
food tent: Buzzing about the multicolored tents here are townspeople eating fried dough and meat skewered on thin sticks. Rich, delicious smells permeate the air as a tall, broadshouldered man works the crowd, telling snappy jokes and offering friendly handshakes.
On second thought, that frybread smells really good. Kiliuk detours to the food stand.
That's my cousin, always thinking of her stomach. Brialla muses as she follows the others. She occasionally stops by a stall and checks out the wares, trying to get a sense of this place.
Torgen shakes the large man's hand happily enough.
Drunk Already? What a lush. Now where's the beer tent?
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 peoople 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!"
Kiliuk waits in line at the stand, trying not to glower at anyone (or look like he's glowering), and also trying not to show his teeth when he smiles. Once to the counter he nods to the man and addresses him in a surprisingly light tenor. "Fried dough, please. If it tastes half as good as it smells, I'll be a happy man."
Ooh...fried dough...excellent...and extra syrup, please... Meraina asks the vendor with a huge smile.
This place is bustling, that's for sure...
"Oooh! I'll take one of those!" Bralla says eagerly, pointing to some meat on a stick. As she prepares to take a bite, she hears one of the professionals mention having business in Highdelve. Suddenly, Bralla recalls her reason for coming to town and begins to inqiure. "Do you know of any jewelers?"
However, when the boy mentions an opportunity to meet a 'dragon', she quickly turns to her cousin and the others. "You don't think that we'd get a chance to speak with this dragon, do you?"
Not sure where to find a dragon, she begins by scanning the skies. Spying none, she turns her gaze over the tents, assuming that a gold dragon that protects even this small town must be sizable indeed.
The owner of the food stall points Brialla to the town jeweler, a man named Carth Garenth. He's running the puppet theater at the festival.
He also quickly fills your orders with delicious snacks.
Meditatively chewing on his fried dough, Kiliuk follows the others to the puppet theater.
Torgen has been asking around about ceremonial axes, but on having his fill of fried treats and hearing the young woman told about a jeweller, he decides to follow along.
Perhaps if they were stolen, a jeweller might be asked to remove the gems from their hafts. Sacrilege, but worth asking about at any rate
A dragon could easily hide in plain sight...using powerful spells to hide amongst us...or so I've heard...through stories and such...not that I'm an expert on the matter... Meraina says with a chuckle as she munches on her fried dough.
Brialla helps herself to a proffered snack and heads to the puppet show. "We should probably plan to watch the show before approaching the jeweler." She whispers to her cousin. "If he is the one we want, then we may be able to butter him up a bit with some praise for his performance."
She takes a bite of one of the warm, gooey snacks and adds, "And, if he isn't the one we want, at least, I'll have had enough buttering." She takes another two bites.
Strange voices and exaggerated accents ring from the front of a small performance stage, which is framed with a drawnback velvet curtain. On the stage, elaborate puppets enact a melodramatic scene of confusion and betrayal. All the while, a rapt audience sits on rows of stools pulled close to the action. After a few moments, the single puppeteer behind the stage holds up an "Intermission" sign, and the crowd begins
to murmur. The puppeteer comes out and is revealed to be an elegant man.
"A fine show, thus far," Brialla declares as she approaches the puppeteer. "But, if my suspicions are correct, you are skilled in more than simply puppetry. Are you a jeweler from this town? And, if so, have you any recollection of producing a commissioned ring for one Sivelle?"
Kiliuk licks the last of the syrup and grease from his fingers as he follows Brialla.
Yes..we need to know if it was you that crafted it...
"Normally, I'd love to chat," he says. "As you can see, I've got my hands full! My apprentice, Richelle, was supposed to help, but she's been disinvited from the jubilee this year. Unless you can help me put on the show, I'm afraid I can't talk!"
Kiliuk tentatively holds up a hand. "I think I can help."
Ooh..I'd love t help...just tell me what to do... Meraina says eagerly.
Brialla sighs. I should of known that it wouldn't be too easy.
"I'll do my best," she offers, trying to slip one of the puppets over her fingers.
With his belly full and waiting his turn to ask about his missing axes, Torgen sits down to enjoy the show.
This motley crue doesn't seem especially well suited to puppet shows, but there's something about them.
The scary half-orc is actually pretty good with puppets.
The puppet show goes quite smoothly. Carth sighs in relief, and thanks you for your help, reminding you that you had something to talk to him about.
"Quite the show. I am happy to have been of service in helping out. Now, I hope that you can help us too." Brialla says. "Do you have any knowledge regarding a ring commissioned for a woman named Sivelle?"
"I've got a question, too: have you ever met anyone from the Korgren family?"
"Why, yes, I did make a custom ring for Rhylene. I still have the design, because I never throw away such records! But my apprentice, Richelle, keeps hold of all of that information. Alas, she's not allowed at the jubilee this year. It's a long story, but she'll be around tomorrow. If you come back then, I'll let you see the designs for the ring, OK? "
Kiliuk:
"That name doesn't sound familiar, but then again I don't know everyone in these parts. I'd try asking the dwarven merchant Yarla. She has an ear for gossip, especially if it might impact her business dealings. Yarla's running the sack races today."
Oh that's fair...but...why is she not allowed at the festival? Is se grounded or something?
Dwarven merchant, that sounds promising thinks Torgen, listening to the conversation, but it can't hurt to ask
Torgen looks up at Kiliuk. "A fine performance, you have a way with those puppets. I also have a task with which a Dwarven merchant may be able to help, I'll join you in your quest if you'll have me."
But before leaving, he checks with the jeweller just in case.
"Well done sir, I don't suppose you've heard of any ceremonial axe shipments moving though town have you?"
"It was a little...messy, yes," Carth admits. "My apprentice, Richelle, and her friend got into trouble trying to rig the election in their favor. It's for the best that the mayor banned them from coming."
"Yarla would be the one who would know about any shipments moving through town."
Where now, team?
"Torag's beard! Rigging an election?!"
Torgen can't keep his indignation at the lawlessness of the idea out of his voice.
"But never mind that, let's seek this Yarla out. Thank you Carth"
Well, that's understandable... Maraina says.
Let's go see what she has for the records.. she says, the sugar from her fried dough kicking in.
Brialla is relieved to here that the custom ring for Rhylene is known to the jeweler, but is alarmed to here that its designs have been entrusted to one banned from the town jubilee.
Do you think it WISE to entrust information of value to one suspected--if not known--to have engaged in unsavory or fraudulent activities?! Brialla ponders. She is eager to interrogate the jeweler, but chooses instead to bite her tongue. No sense in making enemies if need to, especially now that what you have traveled for seems to be so close.
"Very well, then I will be back tomorrow." Brialla assures the jeweler. "I look forward to seeing the designs at that time."
She is prepared to tell the others that they should be looking for this Richelle, at least making sure that she is still in town, when the dwarf suggests seeking out Yarla. The young woman sighs. Yarla should be easy enough to find here at the festival. Let us get it done quickly to ensure that Richelle has not gotten far.
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 well-dressed dwarven woman standing confidently at the finish, her hands on hips as if she's overseeing the race.
Torgen goes to stand near the dwarf whom he presumes to be Yarla, but waits until all the competitors have crossed the finish line and Yarla finished with her duties before he broaches business.
"Excuse me Maam, are you Yarla? I'm told you're the best person to ask about shipments through town. I'm following a shipment of ceremonial axes on behalf of the Skyforgers. This crate left Port Ice bound for Silverhall you see, by way of Highdelve firstly. Do you know if it made it this far?"
"Before we get to what we want, is there anything we can do for you?"
"And do you happen by any chance to know Richelle?" Brialla mutters under her breath.
When you try to engage with her, she says politely but firmly: "I'd love to chat, but I've a job to do! I could spare a moment for my competitors, though, if you're inclined. Care to take part in a race?"
This might make her more amenable, and it looks like it could be fun
"Challenge accepted!" Torgen replies, despite the unchallenging phrasing. He starts looking over the available sacks with the same gravity one might choose an outfit for their own wedding.
Sure...can't hurt to have a little fun, right? Meraina says with a smile as she grabs a sack.
Kiliuk starts to grin in anticipation, but remembers in time to keep his teeth from showing. "Count me in!"
Yarla sends you to the south side of the lanes, where the last competitors have returned the sacks. When she screams "go," you must attempt three Dexterity checks.