GM Frost's B05 Witch's Winter Holiday

Game Master Frozen Frost

Dot in and delete.

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.

Kindly introduce yourselves to one another.

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.”

"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."

”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.

"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 COLD!! 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!"

Finally the minotaur arrives in Scallion’s Wrap. He doesn't carry any metal weapon but wears a splint mail with a steel shield.

He begins to talk to the villagers: Oye, oye. Repaisos is here to repair your tools and help to anything. You can find me on the marketplace if you have some work for me.

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.

“Name’s Kupyn Baro,” the woman says proudly, giving a little nod. “And this fine lad here’s my pup, Darb.”

"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?"

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?

"You eat... magic rocks?" Goshki tries to hide his confusion at the concept. "Is that really something to celebrate?"

He looks down at the dog Darb as it sniffs at him and carefully holds still to let it gain whatever information it is searching for without being startled.

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.

Everyone begins with one hero point each. You can do the errand in any order, which one will you get first?

Darb looks at everyone, waiting to go with them to wherever they decide to go first.