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Stepping sideways from the shade of a tree in a grove near a remote hamlet, a small, slender, spindly limbed and hooked nose creature emerges, and blinking it's white, pupilless eyes, takes in the quiet and lushly serene environment with it's sight and senses, the morning light dimmed somewhat by the collection of overlapping trunks.
He sits underneath a tree while, cross-legged and with arms open, wrist to knees, breathing steady, in, out, in, out, slowly and methodically, searching his memory for an important detail amid an entire forest of experiences.
Simultaneously at peace, and on a journey.
The adventurers arrive in Scallion’s Wrap, near the heart of the village. The air is crisp and cold, yet the atmosphere hums with festivity as villagers bustle about, busily preparing for something ahead.
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A woman brushes a few flakes of frost from her pale sleeves as she steps lightly into the square. The wizard cut an arresting figure amid the snow — her plum-colored coat trimmed in silver thread, a wide-brimmed hat shading her thoughtful gaze.
“A charming place,” she mused, eyes glinting beneath her hat’s shadow. “Almost enough to make one forget the cold.”
“I am Fleu Belacour, a scholar of the arcane arts. It’s a pleasure to share the path with you all.” Her tone is refined but not distant, her eyes scanning the festive surroundings with quiet amusement. “It seems we’ve arrived at a rather lively time.”
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"Almost enough to make you forget... Almost." The iruxi warrior holds himself proudly but pulls his simple clothing a little closer to keep out the cold air. His coloration is a mottled blue, green, and brown, and he wears armor that is crafted in a rustic style from furs and hides. His long tail is currently tucked close to his body.
"You may call me Goshki." He answers Fleur's courtesy with a stoic nod, and then curiously follows her gaze. "It does look like some tradition is underway here. I wonder what it is."
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”There”
Hoarse and a touch sibilant, the curious creature’s voice seems to awaken his outer sight - indeed, he opens his eyes once more to greet the visitors - and with a graceful, fluid motion, rises from his seated position, and introduces himself.
”Min” bowing ”I accept that it is here that our paths cross. And it seems that There is the direction of conjunction” he points a long, slender, unmanicured finger towards Scallion’s Wrap, the thin, jagged fingernail like a soft, flexible claw [b]”As for what, perhaps we shall see.
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"SQUAWK! Nobody told me it was going to be THIS cold!" complains a tall slender tengu. "Take a break they say! See the world, they say! This is a far cry from the sea and salt air I'm used to. It's !! Most of all, the one promised to me isn't here!"
The last statement ends in an almost heartsick wail as the young tengu suddenly realizes that he's not alone. "Oh!" he says, blushing slightly (though it's hard to see through brown feathers), "I'm practicing for a play! That's right! Squawk!"
"Mamoru Otome-Sosu is what I'm called, though you may just call me Mamoru!"
A tattooed Varisian woman, holding a bone-and-antler staff, nods to the others.
"I have travelled far, and learned the wisdom of preparing appropriately. Nevertheless, I acknowledge that it is a trifle chilly."
She then smiles, and bows her head.
"I am Seoni, by the way - I will be helping with your arcane and diplomatic needs on this particular venture."
An older halfling woman in bright, homespun clothes bustles toward the group, a large golden wolfhound trotting faithfully beside her. She stops before them, hands on her hips, eyes twinkling with good humor.
“Ha! I thought I heard strangers' voices,” she says with a grin. “Ain’t it a fine time of year? You’ve come right in the middle ofWinter Week here in Scallion’s Wrap! Guessing you’re not from around these parts, eh?” She speaks as though she’s just wandered into their chat, full of friendly curiosity. Meanwhile, the golden wolfhound circles them, sniffing each one with an eager nose but wagging its tail all the while.
You recall hearing that Winter Week is an old village holiday, a time for feasting and gathering when the year turns cold. Long ago, just before one Winter Week, a pack of wolves raided Scallion’s Wrap, ruining the crops and stealing the sheep. With their stores near empty, the folk thought the festival was done for. But a kindly halfling witch claimed she could use a magic stone to make enough “rock stew” to feed everyone. How she did it, or if it truly happened that way, is a tale you haven't heard.
“Name’s Kupyn Baro,” the woman says proudly, giving a little nod. “And this fine lad here’s my pup, Darb.”
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"Min Su Dao"
A recent arroval from the Netherworlds, our spindly hero lacks a context against which to compare one season to another - he responds instead to the query further down the salutation "Not from Golarion, no, but I have been told stories about it. Your trees are beautiful" he looks down at the critter sniffing about, warily at first, tracing a couple finger along rings of his ornate sword, but detecting no imminent attack, relaxes once again.
"May I ask. What is it the people of Scallion’s Wrap do for festivity?"
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The minotaure intervenes at this point.
In fact..., does he begin the story, Long ago, just before one Winter Week, a pack of wolves raided Scallion’s Wrap, ruining the crops and stealing the sheep. With their stores near empty, the folk thought the festival was done for. But a kindly halfling witch claimed she could use a magic stone to make enough “rock stew” to feed everyone.
Looking at Kupyn he continues: So I think the festival should include something like a rock stew, no?
Seoni nods.
"Correct, I am not from around here, but I am a wanderer... I always enjoy visiting new places, and experiencing local customs, festivals, and dishes!"
She smiles as she regards the pup.
"...and a mighty fine pup he is, too!"
"May I ask. What is it the people of Scallion’s Wrap do for festivity?"
"I’m glad you asked!" Kupyn claps her hands in delight.
"During Winter Week, we follow a grand old tradition! The witch of Scallion’s Wrap — me, just as my mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother before me — leads the whole village in making rock stew for the holiday. And of course, we’ve got a song to go with it! It goes something like this:" she goes into clapping and stomping while Darb playfully goes around her, as if going with the tune of her song.
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!
Kupyn ends the song panting. "I have a problem, though, I need the other ingredients. If you're not busy, I hope you don't mind helping me. 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 then reveals a small cobblestone with great reverence and a slightly crooked facial expression.
In fact..., does he begin the story, Long ago, just before one Winter Week, a pack of wolves raided Scallion’s Wrap, ruining the crops and stealing the sheep. With their stores near empty, the folk thought the festival was done for. But a kindly halfling witch claimed she could use a magic stone to make enough “rock stew” to feed everyone.
Looking at Kupyn he continues: So I think the festival should include something like a rock stew, no?
"Yes, that's true! It was my great grandmother who helped this village survived that Winter Week, and since then it has been the tradition to eat rock stew..." of which she then turns at Goshki's inquiry...
"You eat... magic rocks?" Goshki tries to hide his confusion at the concept. "Is that really something to celebrate?"
"But of course we’re not eating rocks, you silly!" she laughs heartily, amused by her own joke. Then she lifts the smooth cobblestone for them to see.
"This here’s my special rock. I always place it in the stew! Whoever finds it is said to have good luck all through the coming year."
"So, what do you say?" she asks with a hopeful grin. "I’ll handle the meat, but I could use some help gathering the rest of the ingredients. Care to lend an old woman a hand?"
Meanwhile, Darb the pup sits next to Seoni after the song.
Seoni holds her hand out for the dog to sniff, and assuming that it reacts favourably, gently scratches Darb behind the ears.
She then nods to Kupyn.
"I, for one, would be happy to help gather ingredients - a warm filling stew on a cold day is always welcome!"
Kupyn claps their hands together in excitement.
"I think that would be the same for everyone, I assume?" she confirms but does not wait for their response. "So, basically, I just need you to get me the following: carrots and celery from Farmer Greetle’s farm. The farm is just southwest part of the village. I also need a bag of deep root potatoes grown by the dwarves at the foot of the Hollow Hills, a bit west of the village. And I need you to also get a bundle of scallions from the brownies who tend them in the grove just north of the village. Collect and bring them to me in my house over there..." she points at a brightly colored cottage nearby, "so that I can cook them and make the rock stew! Ask them nicely, okay?" she adds. "My pup Darb can guide you to your destinations." Darb perks up upon hearing his name, while Kupyn leaves them to begin looking for the ingredients.
Darb looks at everyone, waiting to go with them to wherever they decide to go first.
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Well not that these tasks appear to be very dangerous but listen to drill. So you'll be able to respond correctly in case a fight breaks out. Do you understand?
And the minotaur explains the reactions to have.
Further: I think we can do the tasks in the order. So the first one would be to pick up carrots and celery at Greetle's farm.
Looking at his companions: Is it ok for you?
Seoni nods.
"That sounds perfectly fine to me. I could do with a pleasant stroll, and a nice meal at the end of it would be even more welcome!"
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"Walking would be better than standing around here in the cold, certainly." He agrees with their minotaur companion's plan, and holds up fingers to count off the steps they are tasked with. "Greetle... Dwarves... Brownies... Kupyn's house. Understood."
He turns his gaze toward their experienced canine guide, ready to follow its lead.
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If you want to make it, you need a few things,
Potatoes, carrots, celery, and
FIVE SCALLION RINGS
"What order"? Min questions his "commander" "The order that the ingredients were sung in?" There is is: a mischevious smile.
Not necessarily bothered by the proposed discontinuity - indeed, our lithe hero shines just a little brighter when faced with any amount of apparent disorder - he readies to leap into "the middle of the song" and start with the gathering of carrots and celery...
Darb barks and walks around them after hearing the words Greetle's Farm. The pup then leads the group as he sniffs the road toward their first location by going southwest of the village.
As they approach Greetle Farm, they see 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?”
Seoni smiles and waves a greeting.
"Hello! I'm Seoni. Kupyn said we should come here and pick up some of your fine produce - specifically, some carrots and celery!"
“Kupyn, you say? Has she mentioned she has to pay for them? I still wonder why she keeps cooking for the Winter Week if she’s always grumbling about it. It hurts my feelings, you know.” Bunwol says, as if recalling a distant memory.
“I remember when I was only six, I found the lucky rock in my stew one Winter Week many winters ago, and it’s still one of my favorite memories. But hearing her complain the first time about cooking for the Winter Week… it breaks my heart.” he adds, voice trembling as he’s about to sob.
Seoni smiles sympathetically.
"Well, she certainly seemed motivated when she recruited us to help. Why don't you give her another chance?"
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Spindly limbed, crooked and lanky, Min’s body finds animation by an unseen sound - the Rock Stew song! - but silent, gestural: walking over, he plucks a rock from the ground, rolls it along his long, thin fingers, and crouching suddenly, clasps it to his heart. And is “discovered”! When the grandchildren look upon him, he raises and eyebrow, feigning innocence, then brings his gaze upon the rock, as if seeing it for the first time, and startles like a clown!
One by one, he walks over to each child, and allows the child to hold the rock, giving each transfer a serious look, as if contemplating some profound thought, and with a swift flick of wrist, whisks it from one child, to his chest, and to another child, each in turn having their moment with the rock.
Once it has circled to each youth, he walks over to the old man, as if to share it one final time, and bending over, produces both his hands forth, displaying what ought to be set inside his dual grasp, but with a gasp, all is revealed:
The rock is Gone!
Bunwol watches Min’s playful performance, his hurt expression slowly softening. By the time the rock “vanishes,” he lets out a surprised laugh.
"Ha!Kupyn taught you that? That old Rock Stew song?" he says when he finds the performance familiar while wiping at his eyes. “I didn’t think she still cared… but if she shared that with you, maybe she really does still believe in Winter Week.”
He nods at Seoni’s words, calmer now. "You’re right. I should give her another chance. he adds and gets the bags of carrots and celery and gives them to her.
“Give these to Kupyn, and I’ll see you at the Winter Week celebration later!” he says, this time with clear excitement.
Darb pads over to the old man and gives a warm bark, earning a delighted laugh as the old man bends down to pet him. “I’ll see you later, Darb! And I hope Kupyn isn’t really grumbling about the festival this time!”
The pup gives another cheerful bark and trots back to join the group.
Following the ingredients to get in order, Darb leads them to their next location, at the foot of the Hollow Hills to get a bag of deep root potatoes grown by the dwarves.
Upon their arrival, they find that 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. “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.”
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Goshki cracks a small smile in spite of himself while watching Min's antics with the young ones. He is relieved their errand is going so smoothly and gives the farmer a slight bow in thanks as they depart.
When they arrive at the mine he addresses the elderly dwarf, "We are indeed here for potatoes. Kupyn sent us to fetch some for the festival. What is the problem? Something we can help with?"
The dwarf squints, wiping dust from his gloves.
“Yes, the potatoes are right here,” he grumbles, tapping a big bag with his boot. “Jaget, by the way. I have set them aside for Kupyn days ago, but she still hasn’t come around to pick them up.”
He crosses his arms, brow furrowing at their mention of her. “If you’re here in her stead, then where’s my joint-pain tincture? She promised she’d send it along. These old bones don’t mend themselves, you know.”
He looks between the party members expectantly. “So? You got it? Or am I to wait even longer?”
Seoni attempts to help with the actual crafting.
The commander takes the lead in preparing the tincture for the dwarf. With steady hands, he measures and mixes the ingredients, guided by the others as they assist with each step. Before long, the group finishes a potent concoction meant to ease Jaget’s persistent joint pain. When they present it to him, Jaget studies the mixture closely. Its color is different from what he usually gets from Kupyn, but the scent, a familiar herbal sharpness, is nearly identical, only stronger.
He opens his mouth as if to question its effectiveness, but decides against it and applies the tincture immediately. A warm wave of relief settles over him.
"Ah! That feels better!" he sighs. "Since you’ve eased my pain with your own tincture and not even one from Kupyn, I’ll still give you the potatoes." He goes for the bag and hands it to Repaisos.
"Take this, too!" Jaget adds, offering four small flasks. "Ore solvent… made from the distilled essence of deep root potatoes. Miners use it for special operations. What else you do with it is up to you." He ends with a shrug.
"Don't mention it! We'll see you later for the celebration!" Jaget waves them goodbye as they leave with the bag of potatoes.
The adventurers continue their mission, this time to get a bundle of scallions from the brownies who tend them in the grove just north of the village. The pup Darb leads them again to the location, and 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?”
Seoni curtsies politely.
"Greetings, Alliumic Empress Nelia Starsister. We have been sent by Kupyn to acquire a selection of your fine scallions. Would you do us the great honor of granting us some?"
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"Nelia Starsister, I am Min Su Dao, Traveler from the Netherworld, or as I also call myself: The Weaving Shade" he bows deeply, slowly, regally "This is a fine Grove, and you, a fine Grand Garlicia and Alliumic Empress" bowing to the others, more curtly though, and rising once more, he smiles "But as to your question. We, on a voluntary basis, are here on the eve of a Great Fall Festival, in service to a Winter Witch and her Faithful Hound, to gather, from the community, the means to make Rock Stew"
Searching their eyes for familiarity with the ritual, and perhaps the song!...
The pup Darb trots up to the brownie with playful barks. Nelia meets him with a courteous bow and a hush of reverent tones. “Sir Darbious the Glorious!” She straightens and continues addressing the pup.
“Are you with them? Is it true that Kupyn sent them for scallions?” she asks. Darb answers with two eager barks.
Nelia turns to the adventurers while giving Darb gentle pats. She offers each of them a polite bow in turn. “I like your hair,” she tells Seoni before offering a deeper bow to Min Su Dao.
“Hasn’t Kupyn ever mentioned that we adore Darb? We only wanted to make his golden hair look more noble! We braided it, added ribbons… it was perfect. Then Kupyn came by, and we thought she’d be pleased with what we did for Sir Darbious’ glorious mane, but instead she knocked down our castle in a huff!” she complains, as the shorter brownies shuffle into place to point accusingly at their collapsed fortress of logs.
“And now she wants our scallions for her rock stew?!” she adds, clearly upset.
Nelia watches in awe as the adventurers repair their castle of logs. At first, Mamoru impresses the brownie by attempting to lift one of the logs, but it proves far too heavy for him. Goshki and Repaisos swiftly come to the rescue, hoisting the logs together. Working side by side, they restore the brownies’ castle piece by piece. A cheer rises once the last log is set and their tiny stronghold stands proudly again.
"Oh, Sir Darbious the Glorious! Your companions are wonderfully strong. Our castle is rebuilt! They may have our scallions for the Winter Week! Expect us to join the festivities later." Nelia declares, as the brownies hand over the bundle of scallions they need. Darb responds with a cheerful bark of gratitude.
With all the ingredients they needed finally gathered, the adventurers make their way back toward Kupyn's cottage as she had described it. The small home is brightly colored, its thatched roof cozy against the brisk air, and a tall chimney merrily puffing smoke into the sky. But as they draw closer, the cottage begins to rumble and quake.
Without warning, the front door bursts open. A flood of tiny cobblestones spills out—yet these are no ordinary rocks. Each one sports an open mouth lined with gleaming, razor-sharp teeth.
Blue Cobbleswarm rolls toward the frontliners and bites twice those within their space!
Meanwhile, Red Cobbleswarm takes its time to reach those at the back and bites them too!
Map Link: ENCOUNTER MAP
⚠️ BEFORE YOUR TURN ⚠️
❗ Fleur Belacour: Two DC 17 basic Reflex saves vs 4+4 bludgeoning damage ❗
❗ Goshki: Two DC 17 basic Reflex saves vs 4+4 bludgeoning damage ❗
❗ Mamoru: DC 17 basic Reflex save vs 4 bludgeoning damage ❗
❗ Repaisos: DC 17 basic Reflex save vs 4 bludgeoning damage ❗
❗ Seoni: DC 17 basic Reflex save vs 4 bludgeoning damage ❗
❗ Min Su Dao: Two DC 17 basic Reflex saves vs 4+4 bludgeoning damage ❗
➤ BOLD NAMES CAN ACT; STRIKETHROUGH MEANS ELIMINATED.
Blue Cobbleswarm |
Red Cobbleswarm |
➤ Fleur Belacour
➤ Goshki
➤ Mamoru
➤ Repaisos
➤ Seoni
➤ Min Su Dao
Cauldron | |
Goshki: 1☘️
Mamoru: 1☘️
Repaisos: 1☘️
Seoni: 1☘️
Min Su Dao: 1☘️
"Ouch!"
Seoni hurries over to the cauldron, and attempts to stabilise it.