Synapse17's page

Since you say you are also playing this AP, I will take it that you are aware of the big twist in book 3? If you are not, then stop reading this AP at once, books 1 and 2 will spoil it to the GM even if it isn't revealed to the players yet. You'll spoil it for yourself! (And the twist is very much worth it!)

Jorogumo will feature in an unexpected way later, and Ugly Cute being a spider will matter in a small way that relates to Jorogumo.

If you make Ugly Cute and Jorogumo both into toads or both into mantii, then that part is preserved, its cool.

I guess I was lucky. I drew attention to one of the statues early on by describing its decrepit state, and one of the players suggested they should clean it. They tabled the idea but came back a little later to follow through, from there I just had Zhi-Hui spell it out that it is what they should be doing.

Started GMing this last week, and ran some tutorial content that took place during the reenactment festival to help set the scene and give the PCs some local ties before they are expected to fight for them.
Here's what we know of the party in my game so far.

Xi (Female Ratfolk Toxicologist Alchemist)
Immigrated as a child and was adopted by a local farmer, she loves cooking and is known to make pesticides. She secretly makes moonshine.
A friend of Zataku who provided the fish that she used to win the Willowshore cooking contest.

Zhao (Male Human Thaumaturge)
A sage and a collector of knick-knacks, has his origins outside of town and was sent here to research local legends. Has been a "victim" of the reenactment multiple times before. Has a reputation in town as a bit of a knowitall, and it seems Luo was looking to knock him down a peg during a quiz.

Hikari (Female Human Redeemer Champion)
Is part of a line of "Guardians", what early Willowshore relied on for defense before it got a proper town guard. A defunct role that matters only to themselves and to the Matsuki household.
Ate the most pies during the festival -by far-, and handily won the tug-of-war by being the only contestant to take it seriously.
Worships Daikitsu.

Dal Geumsog (Male Kitsune Rogue)
A hunter, lives on the north edge of town and has a friendly competition with Sumika.