Hi everybody.
Um Well welcome to the Naturals.
This is not your normal voice that you hear greeting you when you start out.
I'm Reanth.
I'm your guest GM as we uh do our side quest from our normal
uh adventures.
So we'll everyone will be playing different characters today.
And uh as we go through our one-shot, uh the Spring Fling.
And um just go ahead and introduce ourselves and and what characters we'll be playing in this uh adventure
Uh so my name is Mick and uh my pronouns are they, them.
I am going to be playing Violo Arlac, the underborn dwarf brawler.
And they are a lovable oaf that thinks that they're a spy, but are actually really terrible at it.
So
Hi, my name is Eris.
My pronouns are she they.
I am going to be playing uh Sir Keah Thornfound, an assassin from uh the Shaded Grove.
Um, she's in the in the in the village, um, looking for information about her sister.
Jen, you want to go next?
Go ahead.
Okay.
Uh I am Michael.
I go by revealing too much online, and I today am playing
Best at a Katari wizard who likely thinks that she is better than everyone else.
So we'll see how that plays with a group of friends that hopefully don't think that I think that.
Uh Qataris are though so cat-like ones.
Correct.
Yeah.
A little a little inspiration.
Uh I kinda base my character on um Bagira from
the jungle book.
So I just uh that was kind of kind of what I was going for.
So um I'm Jen and I'm playing Rowan Comp today.
So she is a wildborn halfling guardian.
And I think uh
I I I think that she would normally um come from like maybe surrounding forest or woods to to the Equinox festival.
So maybe maybe m I plan to be there anyway, but then I heard heard about uh
some trouble and I cannot stop myself from trying to solve problems
Whether they want to be solved or not.
I got plenty of problems for you to solve, so that that works out well for this friendship.
Okay.
Okay.
Yeah.
For my own benefit, and I and and I know there's not a lot of we haven't had a lot of time to coordinate backgrounds and other stuff.
Is there anyone planning on being from the village proper?
A local, so to speak?
I wasn't planning on it, but if you if you would like me to, I'm not committed to anything.
So there's some different reactions and things that would happen if you are, so I needed to know that as we were going.
Okay.
So if if that's can you tell us a little bit about the village?
Like is it what kind of Sure.
Sure.
Hold on a sec.
Okay.
Um
So you all are um approaching the village of Perea.
And well well
Well you might be there or whatever, but this is this is, you know, we'll we'll set up the yeah.
It's um south of Savinia, below the walls and towers of the academies
There's a large village of Piraeus.
It's home to some of the best farmlands in the Shatterlands.
It's known far and wide for its Spring Equinox Festival, Dahi.
The time of the festival is rapidly approaching, and after the disaster of the Hundred Year Peace, some of the villagers are very concerned about something similar happening here.
The nobility leaders have tried to downplay the danger and ratio of the populace, but a group of sharecroppers called The Concern has heard concerning whispers about a group called the Jagged Knife that will disrupt the festival and ruin the spring planting.
Uh left without official recourse, the group has pooled their money to try to hire adventurers to investigate the rumors and stop any disruption the Jagged Knife had to plan.
Um
The uh word has gone out through word of mouth, leaflet, messengers calling for those interested to meet at the Temple of Ardea the day before the festival.
And it's a sprawling village.
Uh there's lots of tenement houses, noblemen, noble groups, shops.
Um a barracks, there's one large stone building which is a sp the keep, mm-hmm.
The manor of uh the local lords
And it's surrounded mostly by farmland on three sides.
To the south, there's a rather large forest and a river cuts through it.
um both the forest and the village proper.
Um yeah.
So if you look at our map of the Shatterlands, it's actually based upon that little cluster village down at the south end, not quite at the shore.
I don't believe my character would be from somewhere with farmland.
She's she's too dignified for such
Trifling.
So here's a question because my character Bio Violo is an underground dwarf who grew up underground and basically they were forced underground because
somebody else took over their like city or village or whatever.
Is Piraeus that village that forced us underground and therefore are we trying to, you know, gain
our Piraeus back because I'm trying to figure out like if I'm gonna be helping Piraeus, I don't want to actually be against Piraeus.
Um
Piraeus has been around for a long, long time.
So if it if it happened I don't know when when your thing happened, it could have been, I mean, hundreds and hundreds of years ago, maybe before the hundred-year piece.
Um the village was founded.
So if you want to have that be that way, you can.
But I think, yeah, you might have a you might have some some conflicts going forward specifically with
Um the leadership of Piraeus the nobility, um, who would have been the ones who conquered this space.
I think it could be interesting because it could
create some drama for my character and some I don't know unrest of do I help this village or do I help my civilization underground?
Um so if
And you'd at least have the excuse of going there to find out what's going on and see if your folks can benefit from it.
I I am like a terrible spy though, so I am not like committed to actually like taking over Perea.
in my role here.
I'm mostly going to just use that as a bit.
Just as a side note, Jen, you might appreciate this for the fear counter I'm using a certain die.
Oh, I remember that one.
I do I do appreciate that.
It's a Rickroll D twenty, for those of you who are wondering.
All right.
Um so yeah, there's there are four there's three main approaches, or four technically main approaches to the village, one from each direction.
There's a main main roads basically that are used to take the produce, the f the the uh the farm the farmed farmed goods
mill things and then ship them out th throughout the rest of the Shatterlands.
This is not a small village.
This is a very large village.
Not quite a town.
Not quite a city, right?
Not it's not walled.
It's not fortified.
Um
But it's kind of spread and sprawling.
Mm-hmm.
Not fortified, you say.
It is not fortified.
Go to
Yeah, the only the only thing that has stone walls is the manor the manor house.
You said on the map is it the air so below Svinia and then past that lake past the wall it's the area below that?
Yeah, the little farmland area with a little little building structure.
Does the the part over the mountain to like the if we're calling this map
West.
Kind of northeast is that also a part of it?
Past the past the mountains or is that not
Oh now you're gonna make me look at it.
It's not a huge deal.
It I'm just trying to get a sense of scope in terms of it being sprawling.
Uh I think that's kind of the borders of that those mountains are kind of the borders of the farmlands in that direction.
So the there's no buildings that way.
But um that's where the the farmlands kind of start in those foothills and go all the way over.
Also, in case you're everybody's wondering, uh kind of like southeast of Cogsburg.
is vaguely like along that along that body of water southeast of Cogsburg.
Like
Past the circle southeast of that is is where uh the other party is currently playing.
It's where the town of Mooring Song is.
We need to mark that on the map.
Oh, okay.
Yeah, we need to we need to update the map with the correct spelling of Skyland.
We need to add all of their locations because they have places they came from too.
So Right.
Oh yeah, I wonder why you said that.
Fate claimed like one of these like arches out in the water.
I want to say it's southeast again of where we are today.
I think it's I think he claimed one of these arches out there.
Just as an FYF for you all, I'm theater of minding this for the most part.
There's not a lot of maps.
There's not a lot of um
I mean I have a map of the village actually, but since there's no reason for you all to have one, right, uh we'll just describe where we're going.
Um unless unless one of you really loves maps, in which case I can send it to you, but um
We'll just kind of do it that way.
I I uh having edited a lot of episodes of this, I am absolutely okay with not maps.
Ignore the fact that in the latest episode I released, I got my my east and my west mixed up for about 10 minutes.
That was pretty fun.
Related to that.
It's fine.
I don't know.
Even even just now when I was trying to describe where I was looking, I definitely got east and west mixed up.
I don't know what's going on with my brain.
I don't know.
Alright, so um how do you all want to proceed?
Do you all want to
Talk about how you've met.
Some of you said you might have met outside of here and are traveling behind.
So I know that Violo grew up underground.
And they are part of a secret underground society called the Path Skyward.
Um their civilization was pushed downward many years ago before the Hundred Years Peace
And they are constantly trying to rebirth their civilization on land or
in the in the above ground, uh, and they're trying to take over Piraeas, uh, which is the city or is the village that pushed them downwards
And so the Skyward Path is is part of this training program of spies to go and gather reconnaissance and um potentially find ways to
bring this village to its knees so that they could take it over.
So I
I have been training for this my whole life and my best friend Arlo was just sent on a mission to gather some intel uh specifically on the spring fling that will be happening soon.
They think that this is, you know, a good time to
uh gather some intel because no one's gonna notice a few extra people lurking around.
And I was pretty upset that Arlo got to go and I didn't get chosen to go.
Something about
you know, me running into things all the time and not being very uh sly.
But I did manage to sneak out of the village without anyone noticing and follow Arlo
And I only got lost after 30 minutes and don't know where Arlo is anymore, but I am headed to the village of Piraeus.
following the sounds of raucous laughter and uh a good time.
And uh I currently am am going into an alleyway where
I see some trash cans and I may bump into one.
Oh, oh, you know, you see a bunch of uh I don't know.
sounds escaping from from the alleyway as I walk through it
As VLO's walking through this alley, a side door opens and this phone comes bloody.
Yeah, it comes out of it quite quickly.
Yellow runs directly into the door.
And that is that would be Sukair
Uh trying to Well oh well hey there You You good hot stuff?
Uh I'm sorry, I didn't know there were any doors here.
Uh what?
What?
Bumped your head a little bit.
Um No?
Uh I'm a little lost, to be quite honest.
Um where am I right now?
You're in the Bach Alley.
Well, I gathered that much, but do you know what town this is?
Is this Yeah.
Is this Perez?
Oh.
Okay, well uh then I'm I'm in the right place, I guess.
Uh no, I've never been here before actually.
Um
I've actually never been above ground before.
Um it's quite bright up here.
Um I'm not quite used to this.
My skin feels a little hot and red.
I Is that normal?
I don't think it should be hot and red, but
I've not really met many of your folk.
And I spot I spot the the M
I spot an emblem on Veela's clothing.
Hi folk, what is that supposed to mean?
Which um I recognize
And I I quickly m my eyes now and I quickly push uh push Viola down to like kinda hide hide them.
That
That is a very dangerous symbol to to wear around here.
This old thing?
This was What does this mean to you?
It's known.
It's known for turning up on corpses.
Um But it's what we all wear.
You bet you might wanna hide it.
And take it off.
It's it's probably a a little um velcro patch that's just stuck onto my shirt and so I just thr rip it off and put it in my bag.
Is that better?
Yeah.
Anyway, what brings you this far up?
Uh
Yeah, that's a good question and one that I'm not sure I know the answer to.
M my best friend Arlo came up this way and
I to be honest, I don't really know where he was going or what he was supposed to do.
They don't really let me in on that kind of stuff down there
But I figured, you know, I could make my way up and follow him and I'd I could figure out what was going on, but I may have lost him along the way and now I have no idea where I am and
I don't know what y'all do up here.
Uh I've been underground for so long.
I was born there.
Um What do you you eat normal things?
Do you
Are you guys just like us?
Well I d what's normal for you
My diet tends to be vegetables and potatoes, fruit vegetables.
Oh yes, vegetables.
But the ones that grow underground.
Oh, so like
Like potatoes and carrots.
You eat these too?
We do, we do.
Oh, so we're not so different after all.
I was worried you guys would be eating I don't know, other humans or something up here.
The way they talk about the people above ground, it's
You all seemed a little scary to me.
Uh Suke makes a a little face like, well, some not here they don't.
The humans depends on different cultures, you know.
I hope I don't meet those cultures.
Anyway, you asked me about me.
What about you?
What are you doing here?
Is this where you live?
I just got in the I just
I I only came by the city a couple of weeks ago.
Um just working here and this uh
This here establishment.
In this alley?
She points towards the the back door.
It's kinda dark.
Oh.
What is that place?
It's a lot of there's a lot of drink, there's a lot of substances.
I don't think it's your type of place, if I'm being honest.
Oh, okay.
Well I I guess I'll trust you.
I have no reason not to.
Anyway, uh sh she looks she looks behind her quickly.
Where are you headed?
Anyway, doesn't matter
And grabs the grabs Fiola's arm and just starts.
Walking the opposite direction down the alley.
You're coming with me.
So nice to meet new friends and new places
I don't know why everyone told me that the above ground was so scary.
Are there other friends up here?
No, well
For a spy you're very trusting.
I'm just gonna say that.
I mean, I'm the best spy that I know of, so
I don't I don't know what you're talking about.
This is what all spies do, right?
Well
Friends like though I suppose some some have them here.
I'm I'm kinda new, so
People know me, but you know not close.
Well, I as we're walking, I'll be I'll have a eye out looking for more friends to make.
Um
I wanna see if I guess I'm trying to test all of the things that I've been told growing up about uh Piraeus and the world above and see if it's really as vicious as I've been told.
Um, I'm starting to question everything that was told to me as a kid.
Um, because as far as I can tell, there's just a lot of people laughing and running about and there's
good smells in the air and music and it's nothing at all like I was expecting.
So I'm looking out for additional people that I can
watch and figure out what their motivations are.
Do I see anybody of interest?
I think Vio is providing the opportunity for others to join to to run into the party here.
Not not related to seeing people of interest, but I haven't played halfling before and everybody gets one hope at the start of the session.
I I just read that again and was like, oh right, to say something.
I would be excited, but hey.
No, unlucky for you.
That does remind me actually, I do have a thing during a rest.
I roll a number of D6s.
Do can I consider that we had a rest before this session?
Yeah, I mean this is the morning of the the Equinox festival, so you you you've you've rested overnight wherever you happen to have been, probably in a field somewhere.
Okay, so um so I got a six, a six, and a four.
So I gotta figure out what I do.
I guess that's a
That's a good mechanical note.
Does anyone else have anything they're supposed to do once per session starting out that they want to take care of?
We don't have any paradise today, which is weird because I feel like we have that in every Um Bestet needed to choose a number between one and twelve as a wizard.
So um in case you don't know in case you don't know wizards wizards have a class feature strange patterns.
Choose a number between one and twelve.
When you roll that number on a duality die, gain a hope or clear a stress.
And you can change that number at any long rest.
So I chose that number, but I think that's all I have to do as my character.
So basically my feature was focus and I rolled the D6s and the highest number on that was a six, so I add that to my
Focus tokens, and this is to be used in my martial artists subclass, my Artial form, Marshall form
And I can select a form using one of those focus tokens to get basically an additional trait.
So I'm not gonna activate that
um martial form just yet.
I'll probably wait until we have like combat or something, but yeah.
I now have six tokens I have unstoppable.
It just says once prolong rest you can become unstoppable.
So do I just.
Do I initiate that separately or is it
It looks like Is it running from the start?
From what I've heard other people using that, um, they usually activate it during combat.
And I'm not sure if it has like does it have a condition on which it ends?
When you when you've done damage
then you increase the value and when it it's uh the maximum it goes away and you drop out of unstoppable.
So it looks like it's mostly use usable in combat.
Okay.
Um but there's nothing that says you can't
Start unstoppable now.
It just doesn't seem to help.
Oh, um.
Because you can't be restrained or vulnerable when you're unstoppable.
So if you're worried about being restrained as you're walking around, that might be, you know, useful.
But other than that, I don't I don't think it's if you're worried about being vulnerable with your allies, as in like telling them about yourselves.
Maybe I'm just worried about being stoppable, okay.
There you go.
I would say that uh Rowan is
headed for the that temple, right, where she heard people were to meet too.
solve problems.
Okay.
Also, I edited my experience on the fly.
It wasn't Audible.
Uh oh.
It's now called.
If there's a problem, yo, I'll solve it.
I think uh everybody else would kind of hear a bit of a commotion and
If they looked over, they would see a regal looking cart pulled by like.
Nice horses pulling up.
And the door would open, and um essentially a black jaguar would
Spiral out.
Like she had been curled up on the inside of the cart, resting.
And as the door opens, um, she steps out
She is a jaguar, so she does have spots, but she is black, so the spots might not be super noticeable unless you're up close.
And you say they're hard to spot?
I would.
I would.
Um, and so she would be stepping out of her her transportation and
Um at least in my mind, this level of like showmanship might be a little bit out of place in this area in terms of
Upstaging even the nobles that are here.
And so I think I think a lot of people would be watching and she would step out of her
her transportation and just kind of her sharp yellow eyes would be would be scanning around looking
Oh for sure you would be unusual.
Uh the only horses that you've seen so far have been plow horses on the approaches as you've been coming in.
Like in the city, it's it's wide enough
The the road is the main roads are wide enough for your cart, because they do ship things at other times of the year.
But at the moment, yours is like one of very few carts and the horses are very nice.
And as you pull up, um you see like villagers, locals, people that like wandering around with large bundles of wood and they're bringing them to a large bonfire area.
which is right in front of the the town center, so to speak.
Um there's a a a large government looking building there.
It's all brick and uh solid wood doors and it's got some ornate uh columns um that
you know, give you the impression that that's a important place of some kind.
And there's some older gentlemen and ladies out front directing people.
Um
And one of them points at you and like you can't park there.
Move along.
Uh Bastette would turn around and just nod to the
the driver of the cart and the cart would just move on without her
And the the the the village elder um kind of nods like that's right and goes back to directing some of the people around and
piling up these stacks of wood.
Some of them are going into the pit, some of them are going nearby into kind of a stack to keep the bonfires going overnight.
But uh they aren't lit yet.
I think Basset would follow the crowd, but be very conscious of not touching them.
Like she is not used to being in this type of setting.
She's used to royal courts and
High society, I guess, is maybe the right word.
And so she would be very carefully, like people walking with the bundles of sticks, she would be using her
her lithe muscles to kind of like make sure that she's she's not being touched and if someone bumps into her she would like brush it off with with a paw and things like that
But she um for the most part you've you'll actually notice that the villagers give you a really wide berth when they see how you're dressed.
Like they're used to, you know
Stepping aside for nobles, it's more of the other visitors that you're you're you're seeing in the space, people that have different clothing than the the farmer, homespun farmer look that a lot of these folks have.
um that they kind of might bump into you.
But the villagers, like, they kind of nod and and go around.
Okay.
Yeah, I think I think she would just follow towards where it seemed like people were filtering.
And uh
You're at the biggest spot that most people are coming to at this point.
Like I said, this is the center of the party that they're trying to prep for.
You see some ale barrels being rolled in.
on the side over there.
So this is this is the the place where things will happen eventually
And uh if you for those of you who who are aware, um have heard of this, you'll know that the real party doesn't begin until sundown.
This is all just prep and leading up to that.
Actually the party doesn't start till I walk in.
Who's at home?
Can't see how GM's currently dancing.
Michael, how how well known is your house?
Like your royal house?
Oh Bastet comes from a seat in
Skyland.
She is maybe not the most well-known character from Skyland in terms of
If you if you think about the the royalty there, like she would be towards the lower end of it.
Um
You might be able to recognize on the kind of like purple robes with gold stitching that she noticed.
Like you might be able to notice some of the the insignia of Skyland.
nobility on her robes.
But I don't I don't see a lot of people knowing who she is outside of that.
But do you would have definitely noticed this carriage coming in?
Um if you were anywhere on you anywhere near one of the main roads, you would have seen kind of the people parting and
And again, there's very few carts.
There's been a few other people that that arrived in carts, but uh most of them came were days ago.
Not like this one.
Yeah, no.
She is she is lower nobility where she's from, but she is she is
probably higher nobility than than most of a a farming town.
Okay.
What is that thing on four legs?
What is it beautiful?
It's pulling that box.
Oh.
I think so.
The animal pulling the the box?
They're delivered creatures.
On wheels?
You should go say hi.
What is it?
I need I need to uh head in this direction quickly, but you you stay with these horses and I will be right back.
Wait, wait, wait, you'll come back, right?
Of course I will
Can't leave Can't leave someone like you hanging around.
You're too you're too handsome.
Uh-huh.
And I I blush a little bit and then I go over to the horses and ask if I can pet them, thinking that they're gonna talk to me.
While Viola does this, um Serkea is going to move in the direction of Bastit.
Seeing that she's so finely dressed, maybe she has connections.
Which could help her locate locate someone
Uh she she comes up from behind Bastet.
Just um and just lays on charm like Hey beautiful or brings
What brings someone as gorgeous as you to backwater play a place such as this?
How how and I I I run run my finger along her cheek
Whoa.
Whoa.
Um forward, I like it.
I think best that would probably pull away from being touched.
And then she would she would hold out a paw and like just hold it out like
pads, I guess, facing down, um and just expecting the the same type of cord cord cordiality, like that sort of thing that she's used to.
And
She would say, Do I know you?
Not yet, you don't.
As you respond.
Sorry.
As you respond, could you give um
Oh no, Bastette, an idea of your look and like what you're wearing and and like uh because that might uh might affect how she uh uh responds to you.
So
Suke has like this long, long like um auburn hair
with like with trinketed up horns.
Like goats horns.
She's wearing a
low rise stop with like silver embroider embroidery.
The majority of it is like a dark brown.
And she's she's wear wearing like a shu a shawl uh the a shawl like in the crook of her elbows.
Um
She's got this like long flowing skirt which just lets her her hooves peek out underneath
She's got these like black nails and
lipstick that compliments her hair.
And and then you said you then you s you responded to their question, do I know you you said not yet you don't.
I can change that.
I think you would see one of Bastette's eyebrows go up in curiosity.
I don't think she would be used to being
spoken to this forwardly where she's from.
And um she would still be holding out her paw and she would say, I uh
Embastet and I imagine
It is a pleasure to meet me.
The honour is all mine as I take Bastet's paw and kiss it.
Um And you are My name?
Sukea
It is a pleasure to meet you.
I imagine it is, Serkea.
What brings you to town?
For a moment you see a kind of cloud pass over the
The otherwise like regal appearance of Bestette.
She like I'm not saying she's smiling necessarily most of the time, but she looks very put together.
And for a moment, that
is covered by almost a scowl.
And in a moment again, it's gone.
And she as she takes her paw back, she just says.
Business.
Business brings me here.
So no room for pleasure in that.
Come, I've got someone I want you to meet.
I take her by like the crook of her arm and like, come.
They're they're a lovely being.
And I bring her towards Viola
I'm trying to talk to the horns.
Do you want an apple?
Why are they not responding, Serkea?
Oh, hello.
Have you looked?
Who is this?
Uh I I'm Violo.
Um I s I hi.
You're beautiful
I do.
I I know too.
This we can agree on, I guess.
Um
Sorry, I'm kind of a new around here.
Are these your your creatures?
These are my horses.
Yes.
They were Horses, yes.
meant to leave.
And Bestette kind of throws a look to the driver who apparently stopped slightly after she nodded to him to to move along.
I think probably because I walked in front of the horses to try to cut them and so they didn't want to run me over.
Um oh, I I'm d I sorry, I didn't mean to uh cause an issue, I just
They're they're so pretty and and soft.
What what are their names?
Names?
They are
They they are not those sorts of creatures.
Their names are horse one and horse two, and if something happens to horse one
Then there is a new horse one.
We save the names for the people we can communicate with
But uh and I have friends who can communicate with with creatures.
I I don't know if they can communicate with these ones because I've never seen them before, but
They've been able to communicate with the the moles and the bulls and the rats and all all kinds of burrowing creatures, so
I I'd expect we'd be able to to communicate with them too.
I'm sure they have a name if you just ask them.
I'll tell you what, if you find someone who can find their names, I shall call them that from then on.
But until then.
Horse one and horse two.
And she throws another look to First Mission.
Find a person who can talk to horses.
Do you always recite your missions out loud?
I this is how I learned to write.
Um unfortunately I
My schoolmates made fun of me before that too, but uh I I just need to say it out loud as I write it, otherwise I forget my letters.
Interesting.
Anyway, um The driver clears his throat and and kind of motions with a whip to, you know, it's not he's not cracking it, he's just motioning it to have
uh VO move aside.
Oh that's so loud.
Oh oh okay sorry.
He just motioned like like he's holding it like just pointing.
Yeah he's not cracking it over your head or anything.
Sorry, sorry.
Thank you for letting me pet your horses.
I'm curious actually, if you believe
That the horses have names and can be communicated with.
Who else here would you pet?
We always pet each other.
Don't you like being petted?
It feels nice.
It's a nice form of uh a friendly hello.
I I think best that would just kind of stare unsure.
For a while.
Just a quiet withering.
Note number two.
Do not pet Bastette.
That's a good note.
Thank you.
I've been known for my observational skills.
Anyways, where are we going now?
Uh I have why why don't we go this way?
I motion
towards another alleyway.
I I know of spot where it's where where we can watch the proceedings unimpeded.
And I Is it hard?
I'm sorry?
Is it a a dark place?
An alley?
Perhaps?
The alley can be, yeah
But I've got it I I've got a route.
Don't you worry.
Push your majesty here
Justify spot.
Um and I I say I don't know that Bestet would follow anyone down an alleyway.
Uh, she might if she uses her bold presence on you.
Well, and and and keep in mind those of you who are here because of a missive are supposed to be meeting up at the Temple of Ardea that you have that is not here.
This is not a temple, this is a government building that you're standing outside.
But uh the place we're going is you know it's it's really close to the temple
But not so close that it's crowded, you know?
Come on, let me show you.
And I take take Bast Bastet by the arm again.
You can't say is there any way that does not involve
Philth.
And she kind of takes a a paw and kind of kicks some trash on the ground.
Oh.
Well how do you know this is one of the cleanest alleys in the city?
I don't doubt that.
Come on, your majesty.
Does Bassett look Is she gonna vo I think she looks she looks intrigued and I think she would take a minute
Kind of think about it, and then she would follow.
But hesitantly.
Now to be fair, the um the city the the whole village has cleaned up and picked up the alleyways are not quite spotless, but they're way better than any other alleyway you've ever seen.
Um in the larger like in Skyland, for example.
The only time the Skyland has ever been this clean was for the preparation for the celebration, um, where they literally had street sweepers out
you know, hourly.
Um these folks don't have as many people going through and they're really only picking up after the the tourists, right?
The villagers really care about their space, so that you know, this is
It's an alley, it's not clean, but there's not as much random stuff.
There's dirt.
There's lots of dirt.
Most of the the spaces between the main roads are packed dirt and walkways.
Um there's very few stone paths.
Um so the alleyways are mostly dirt on that.
But uh, you know, you're not rucking through rubbish.
If it makes you feel any better.
I think after she crossed through the alley, um
Out from under her her robe there would be a little creature that would uh would come out with a little brush and kind of like brush all the dirt off of her feet
And then I don't know if anybody would necessarily see what it was, but the little creature would like brush the dirt off her feet and then scurry back into the robe.
Adorable.
Adorable.
Wow.
Alright, so you all are walking off in a direction.
Jen, I apologize.
I needed to be reminded your character's pronunciation.
It's Ro Rowan.
Rowan, okay.
Rowan Comp.
Rowan Rowan was at the temple at sunrise because
She's ready to sort some trouble.
As early as on time and on time.
Potential trouble.
Yeah.
Well, I wouldn't want to miss my chance to stick my nose in it.
All right, thank you.
So everyone who's uh the the rest of the group is approaching the temple and the you see the when what what um
So Kaya already knows, because they've been there a few days, is this is not an above-ground temple.
There's a large mound.
here that you're approaching.
Um it's like kind of like a park almost.
The ground is covered in a kind of a green ground cover with purple and blue flowers just beginning to bud uh as an early spring uh
sign of early spring.
And uh unlike most of the village, like I said, there is actually a path of slate paving stones leading around the mound into an entrance.
on the west east side.
Um oh I'm sorry, the south side.
Uh and the entry.
The other east
The uh entrance is a series of stone pillars and lintels on the top, basically receding into the mound like a tunnel, uh forming a corridor wide enough for two or three beings to walk through uh next to each other.
Can I interrupt really quick?
You said stone pillars what on top?
A lintel.
That's the part.
Definitely heard a lentil and I was like, what are they doing?
I was like what?
I guess it's it's enough.
I guess it's a farming town, so maybe they're really proud of their beans.
I don't know.
Lin Lin Lin Lin.
No no no.
I learned a new word.
When I wrote it in my notes, I wrote it with the spelling of lentil like L-E-N-T-I-L-S.
So
Uh okay.
No, that's that that one's 100% my bad.
I just I was like, did he did he say lentil and no one's gonna address that?
All right.
No, I just thought I didn't know what I was hearing.
I legitimately was just like, I guess they just have bean statues on top of their pillars.
I don't know.
That's a weird thing.
But hey, be proud be proud of what be proud of what you make.
No, no, it it's the crossbar atop the columns, basically.
Right.
Farming the archment.
So we're approaching that.
Yeah, so you're approaching that and it the doors it's wide open.
There's no door on the front.
It literally just extends into the mound underneath the the little park.
I could get at home here.
And you have home handsome.
Yes.
Well, I mean, there's still more light than where I come from, but it's nice.
Is this that would be looking around, kind of taking everything in?
She'd be looking at the people, she'd be looking at the presentation.
Um
I don't want to oversell it, but I think like part of her thing is she's just gonna like be looking at things a lot with a pretty judging eye.
So
Meanwhile, I'm looking at things with a non-judgmental totally like wow.
Non-judgental eye.
Bringing it back.
It's um it's a it's um it's a lot less busy in this area.
There's not a lot of preparation going on here.
Um but you'd have seen a few um acolyte looking people passing out from the temple um and kind of going by you and uh
Uh Rowan, who has been waiting inside, um, has gotten a really good view of these pieces, people kind of running back and forth um on some sort of errands um for the
Uh presumably for the celebration coming forward.
Are we going in?
So Rowan's actually Yeah, are you going in?
Besta would wait until other people went in.
Like, I think she would be suspicious and um just kind of stand at the entrance a bit as this like
at the mouth of this tunnel or cave and she would just wait and then watch and then follow.
Assuming other people assuming uh
Uh Violo and Serkea went in.
I'm following Serkea.
You might hear you might hear Rowan inside.
Uh look over and see the little halfling with spectacles and uh a notepad.
Now is it concerned or concerned?
Uh I'm gonna assume for the moment that uh Rowan is actually talking to the high priestess who is the only, you know, the the
the person who's been you've been asked to contact.
And uh the priest the the person this halfling is talking to is a goblin.
And um
She she kind of shakes her head like wondering what in the world that has to do with anything.
But she does answer.
Uh concern head concerned.
Not head.
Concerned.
We're we're writing that down in in our notes.
Yeah.
Concerned.
Um
Like there there's like for this this is a huge room.
This is uh the room's like uh almost a hundred feet in diameter and they're standing kind of it the the roof slopes down.
There's like pillar uh stuff not wood logs basically
Throughout you can see at an angle.
So at the top of the the the dome of the mound, there's a small opening, a hole where smoke and things can go out.
And the roof slopes down.
It's uh all the way so that where uh the Py Priestess and uh Rowan are standing, they can stand, but uh
full-sized human would have to like kneel or bend down or sit up, you know, it's that short.
Um and there's rings of pillars, stone pillars that are supporting these logs and the roof.
And on each of the pillars there's a number of glow globes.
Creating a nice, well-lit, homey environment.
Cool.
Um and the floor of the temple is uh clay.
It's just packed clay.
So um
This goblin priestess dressed in green silks, long white hair and a ponytail, and with lots of jewelry in her ears that keep twitching as she keeps talking to uh Rowan.
Um looks re like in real good finery.
Yeah, yeah, and and she's in her she's in her her Sunday best, so to speak, you know, being being
in her temple being the high priestess.
But you notice that the clay has actually stained the the hem of her dress because it just drags along the ground um as she walks.
So those of you that are concerned about dirt and such things might find that uh your fur is picking up some clay dust as you walk in.
The little creature that
hides in Bestett's robes would be constantly kind of scurrying down her legs, cleaning off dirt, back up, like almost like it's a
There's no communicate like verbal communication going on between Bestet and the creature.
It's just like a a little spot of a little spot of fur gets uh some clay stuck on it.
Or maybe just the the hem of her robe touches the ground and this little creature scurries out and kind of cleans it up and then back in.
So
How high up are the glow globes on the pillars?
Are they like super high up?
Um they they they vary because some of like there's there's two there's there's two different sizes of pillars, um but most of them are at like human reach up height or higher.
I think um Viola is like looking around at the different glow globes and the construction of this temple and trying to figure out if this was
made pre-100 years peace by their people or if this was has been constructed um recently
Ooh, why don't you give me our first roll of the day?
First roll.
Um, I I would I would say that's probably a knowledge roll, unfortunately, for you.
Or or um or maybe it should be a perceive.
I don't know.
Just do not.
I mean I'm terrible at it, but it's just funny anyway.
Okay.
All right.
Ten and then a minus one to knowledge the nine with hope.
A nine with hope?
Um
You actually think this is really old.
Like this is older than your civilization old.
Like, um, whether or not you're right or not, that's that's what you think.
Alright, so I'm going around, I'm like feeling things, I'm like, you know, examining things and probably bumping into things in the process and knocking things over.
Well there's not a lot to knock over.
There's like no there's no like benches, there's no anything.
There's there's a raised platform on one side of the room, but that just means the clay is in a mound.
I'm gonna trip over that
Um Okay, there you go.
Okay, there you go.
Looking at the glow globes up, I don't see that there's a raised uh part of the floor, and so I'm just gonna fall over myself.
Don't attend that beautiful face of yours.
And at at this point, with all the noise and commotion, the the high priestess does notice you.
Hello.
Now, you might
Are you a are you a you might think that in a in a round mound that I couldn't corner this priestess, but you'd be wrong.
Yeah, she's got her back up against one of the pillars.
And but she does try to she does try to wait like wave to the other group.
Are you here about the flyers?
I wouldn't hear about the flyers, Zerkea.
I I think I've seen some flies around, but never paid much attention to them.
Yeah, we haven't paid much attention.
Like you you you visibly see her ears droop.
Like she was excited for a moment because the only one so far who's showed up has been this halfling and she's been explaining for hours.
Um
Any question that this halfling has, she's been answering.
Um But she was really hoping that there would be more than just a halfling.
And so when when when you guys say that you your ears kind of drop, I think seeing the ears root.
I think she seeing the ears root best that would take a step forward and say, we are
Here to help if you need us.
We are?
Oh uh yes, of course we are.
Bastette would like shoot like such a sharp look at Serkea at that question.
And then back to the look back to the the high priestess.
So K just smiles back uh sweetly.
Uh Rowan looking over the top of her spectacles, checking out these people approaching
So you are here about the leaflets?
You see Riola just kind of shrug and look at Serkea.
Uh
Well if this beauty tells us we are, then yes.
Yes we are.
She nods at Bastette
Has best at seen one of one of these flyers or leaflets
Oh yeah, they they've been sent far and wide, like if Cogsburg, even the Endless Forest, might uh would have had time to get some word of this at this point.
So Skyland's really not that far.
Um and and
It was probably the source of some uh a derision from the noblehood at Skyland, like, oh really the Jagged Knife's gonna go to this dumb little village and deal with stuff, really.
Um
But perhaps you had a different reaction.
I think that derision is likely why they sent Bestette
Oh, so she was officially sent.
She was sent from scarce.
She did not choose to be here.
Excellent.
Okay, that's good to know.
arrived after appointed time.
There was an appointed time.
I'm sorry.
Appointed time.
Carry on.
Uh Galicia actually like eyes Bastet and kind of looks to Rowan and shrugs, you know, like, nobility, what are you gonna do?
Um
Alright then, what what questions you got?
There are so many questions.
What what do you guys eat here?
Food?
You eat What else would you eat?
I mean come on now.
What?
You don't eat people, right?
I'm a vegetarian.
Oh, that's even better!
Okay.
Good good.
We can be friends then
Um what other questions do I have?
Let me check my notebook.
She pointedly turns away from video at this point and looks to um
Bastette to save her from more questions from Rowan.
But I'm sure Rowan has to have.
No no one here eats people.
I mean, what kind of monsters do you think we are?
I'm just saying if someone asks if you eat people, I'm a vegetarian only answers
For you.
It doesn't account fungals.
You know, I don't think we have any fungals in the village, but that that doesn't mean we ate them.
That's that's ridiculous.
Like she's like now she's doing this and she looks back to Rowan
Now, now how about you?
Did you please do you have any other questions?
Because she's like already done with these newcomers questions.
What?
Uh what am I trying to say?
What
What evidence do you have that the jagged knife might be in the vicinity and intending to?
Interfere with the Equinox Festival.
She she kinda she kind of shakes her head, rolls her eyes a little bit.
But if we had proof, the leading lady would have done something about it.
We've heard rumors.
We weren't in Uendo.
Oh, so-and-so saw a knife, so-and-so saw a symbol, it was on a stranger, da da da.
We need somebody to actually
Produce the proof and or stop them.
You need spies?
Uh at the same time, Violo says that Bastet says
You brought me here on Innuendo?
You hear the same rumor enough times, you treat it differently.
We can't just ignore this like some people
And, you know, she gives you a a significant look.
Your kind can afford to ignore it.
The concerned can't.
And they are offering payments.
When Suke heard uh Violo mate
Say the thing about spies.
She she quickly shot them like a concerned look or like a warning look.
What did I say?
Don't I'm gonna pull him to the side quickly.
So your majesty, just give us give us one second.
No no no no majesty here.
I'm not I'm not a noble, she says.
Wasn't talking to you.
Ow!
Oh!
Oh
Um pulls Bast pulls um Bastard no pu pulls Viola to the side and it's like you're not meant to advertise yourself as a spy
You know this this is why I told you to take the insignia off.
Oh okay, okay, okay.
But then what I I assume you all are whispering over there?
Is that is that what's going on?
Yeah.
Actually trying to be quiet.
But that's that's what I'm saying.
That's that's my uh career.
I that's what I'm good at.
And I mean I isn't the whole point of spying not to be known that you're a spy?
Oh, that's what mentorment.
Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Okay.
Yeah.
I'm I'm on the I'm on the same page.
Let's go.
Let's go.
Okay.
I won't tell anybody.
Mm-hmm.
Wander back to the group.
Sorry, um you you were saying oh high pre-sult need spies.
Yep.
Mm-hmm.
We'll take anyone, to be honest.
We need some assistance here.
What
We need someone to find if the Jaguatnife is here and stop whatever they have planned.
Where do you recommend I interview people?
Witnesses who may have seen the symbol of the giant knife.
Oh, oh you mean locals?
Okay.
Well
Most people are getting ready for the for the festival.
You'll see most of the locals coming in and out with wood and and and
Getting prepped for the for the festival.
Um we have a number of uh actually uh a number of our merchants have heard and seen.
Um
People in their stores that looked shady.
Um or you can check the uh one of our taverns, right?
Um
The the Radiant Goblin is uh is where most of the uh strangers live.
It's a bodier place.
I don't recommend going there for, you know, drinks, but for information
And uh What was the name of that the The Radiant Golden Oh da I know that uh yes.
I
Familiar with the place, yes.
She looks you over.
You would be.
I
So Key is kind of speechless, like Are you familiar with the place?
Hey, thank you.
Wait.
No, I I would never go there.
No, I I would go to the Bear's Sun perhaps.
But but honestly, I don't partake that much.
I mean the the the the Bariston has its clientele
I don't know if you if you if you've been working at one of these places, those the the those are the two the main bars, the main taverns in town.
Uh you do know there's another one that you would not have been able to work at.
Uh in fact you need a uh
a membership or an invitation to enter.
It's you know for the highborn of the of the area.
Of course it is.
But you haven't been in that one.
And she doesn't mention it.
Row Rowan's looking back over her notes.
So to summarize
You want me to talk to somebody and find something
Well, I mean you put it like that, it doesn't sound very good, but you know yes, basically.
I mean, okay, um so
Yes, or you could search the forest, which is where people say they would be.
I mean, they could be in plain sight, or they could be in the forest hiding, waiting, waiting for tonight.
Yeah.
So w we're very concerned.
You see the the violence the night of this would would taint the festival.
All but guaranteeing we would miss out on our day as blessing.
I mean I'm familiar with Jack and Knife.
Um, but why would they come to a backwater place such as this?
It doesn't feel like it would do them what would they gain?
Ruffians like that, who knows?
They disrupted the Hundred Years Peace.
What would they get from that?
That was a wonderful celebration.
But it was I couldn't go myself.
But I heard it was lovely.
Aside from the explosions, but you know.
What what do you mean by Ardea's blessing?
Ardea makes the plants grow
Uh, is this a person?
I believe it's one of the gods of your god.
So, you can't get it.
So our Ardea is one of the names of the plan the world you're on.
And obviously some people have created a goddess from this.
I don't know if you would know this.
Um being from where you are, I don't know what the dwarves religious things are like.
Um but she she
She like takes a moment to explain the basics of this to you, um, including, you know, the the the story of the Equinox, which is also a celebration of Kor's return to Ardea.
Um as as things get warmer and uh and uh blessed by both both of the deities
She's mostly concerned about Ardea because she is a priestess of Ardea, of course.
So she's she's you know trying to explain it to you like you're simple
Damn simple, so that's good.
Um yeah, our I think at least our civilization was atheistic and didn't really have any
sort of connection with deities or gods, so this is all like brand new to me.
I'm like, there's something that is not physically here.
that's taking care of you all, like it's it's a brand new um experience for me, so it's kind of boggling my mind a little bit.
Hmm.
Well, it sounds like this uh equinox is very important to you and your people and
I wouldn't want anything to happen to your celebration.
Um So yeah, I I'm in to help out with this this uh
Finding the dragon knife and figuring out what they're up to.
It it kind of sounds fun.
Uh Serkeya, are you in?
Um I mean I have an inner tavern so I could help you I could help you there
But the right price obviously.
But do I have to pay you?
I don't know that I brought anything with me.
I have some potatoes.
You're not our You know our patron.
Their priest is WS Oh oh uh uh I only represent the concern.
To be fair, they have put a mistake.
Um and it's um, you know, it's actually a small chest of gold is what they've we've managed to
to scrape together between the various families um that are that are there with it.
It was all in the flyer.
She she
Looks back is like looks at the C you know but be discreet the lady won't like strangers poking about
Do you have an extra of these flyers?
A nice squint at the priestess.
She she is she literally looks around going, um no, but the uh you know the the courier and notary might uh we sent them out through them.
They keep copies of everything.
Find a copy of the flyer for my records.
Thank you.
Although although come to you know for the priestess spoke, bastet and uh
Rowan may uh may have copies if they want to offer them
Best at absolutely is not carrying something like that on her.
Maybe maybe her her carriageman had it, but she is not carrying it.
Ah
I Rowan uh rifles in her pouch and pulls out a crisply folded flyer and shakes it.
open, hands it out to Vio, and then flicks her finger and turns a page in her her notebook.
So about the Daily Stipend Priestess.
Mmm.
Uh uh Yeah, that's what what what have it?
Just wanna make sure our expenses will be covered.
Uh, within reason.
I mean, you you'll need to document them, of course, and and uh justify.
We have a form for that
Rowan's Jottontown forms.
When do they have to be submitted?
Uh upon completion.
Mm-hmm.
I love how bureaucratic this uh session has gone.
To be honest, the flyer, right?
In my head the flyer didn't have that, so I'm like, I don't know, let's go.
Hi Priestess, can I talk to you quickly?
also pulls her to the side without her say without her saying yes or no
I don't need that much in monetary value.
I was wondering if you could find some information for me.
In return for us doing this.
Whatever.
That's the princess or the priestess?
Priestess.
Okay.
I'm sorry, I th I I got confused.
Um
Um she she kind of nods.
Um okay, well if if we have it, of course, we'd
W what kind of information?
I need to know if there's been anyone from If there's been any
Anyone bearing the Ashbourne Academy insignia room through.
Hmm.
Um
I I can put su put some discrete inquiries out.
There's been a lot of visitors lately with the festival.
How long how long ago would this be?
Um it could it the last two months, I believe
Alright alright, well let me see what we can find out.
Thank you very much, you are a gem.
And I I walk back to the little gathering.
And and she she kind of like cocks her head a little bit scratching it, wondering what in what in the world you're up to.
Um
People don't turn down money, you know, generally speaking.
So the the idea that you're like, I need information in lieu or in in addition, um, you know, makes her pause.
But she does waddle over and got you know.
And uh, well, oh, um, we'll also pay for your masks, of course.
Mask?
Well, for the festival.
You'll want masks.
Only the heretics don't wear the masks.
You just buy the mentality talking about because that in you you know the what was it, something of the goblin?
Well, I call him the name of the place.
The Radiant Goblin, yes.
The Radiant Goblin.
You know that there's
I mean there's selection of masks in Radiant Goblin, but I don't think they're the type of masks you're after.
I mean, th they'll have some too, but it's it's a festival of masks.
Just just any store will have them.
You can make your own out of twigs if you want, I mean, but we'll pay for them.
Whatever speaks to you, you know, something festive.
Well, if I want a mask that speaks to me.
I'm scary.
No, not allowed, dude.
Just we don't we don't we don't like that's all it means such and she kind of pats your shoulder like There
We don't want to cover their beautiful face, do we?
Should we go?
My time is not unlimited and best I would start walking out.
Oh hold up your highness.
And I I I speed up next year to catch up and
Take your arm, I guess.
And the high priestess calls out, remember, remember the the the festival starts at sundown.
You have you have to stop them by then.
I mean it's it's in the morning still.
You've got all day basically.
It's not sunrise, as as uh Rowan pointed out, it's it's been a couple hours and you all are very late.
And and so Rowan's learned all about the history of the festival, various people that are that are in it, out and about.
Yeah.
The princess is really delaying.
Really delaying.
A little bit of that and a lot of Rowan was very thorough.
Yes.
Just trying to uh f flag down the fawn that's leaving with the Qatari.
Uh excuse me, pardon me, pardon me, excuse me.
Did did you say that you
are familiar with the taverns hereabout.
Am I too?
Yes.
Could I persuade you to uh introduce me to to people you might know there
so that they will know that I am asking questions with with the most noble intent of determining
the the source of these rumors.
I mean I can help you get in there, but I'm not sure now seeing that you're there with Noble Inten will do you any favors, all things considered.
Blood pay.
Do they not like nobles here?
Should I
It's not that they don't like different well, uh actually do they or don't they do GMs?
Oh so the the town that
View on nobility.
So so the town, like from what would you been in, like you haven't seen a lot of nobles in that area, right?
But that part of town.
That's that's not a part they frequent.
Um but um
As a whole, uh you've seen nobles wandering about and people defer to them quite clearly, um, but do not seem to hold any animosity, so to speak.
I mean there's there's no building in this town.
It's just as same as anywhere.
I don't think you have anything to worry about.
You're too pretty.
If you say so Well, actually Rowan holds up our finger.
I used the word noble to indicate an honorable pursuit, not necessarily
a standing caused by birth order.
I think best that's fur would stand up for a second.
And then she'd keep walking.
Yes, yes, I I know what you meant.
Um I just I think maybe should check the other one of the other
you know, hubs of interest.
I think uh you might be out of place in um
Wait.
My accomplishments.
Are we not all going together then?
I thought we were a team.
Oh.
And actually, well I don't even know your name.
Oh that's right, handsome.
We I didn't introduce introduce myself
Wait, were you talking to Sir uh I'm so sorry, I jumped in there.
Were you talking to Sir Kell or uh Rowan?
I was talking to Rowan, but I actually don't did we introduce each other?
I don't know if we did when we ran into I just immediately touched you.
Yeah, just babbled all her information.
I think Vio has introduced herself themselves several times.
Yes.
The most well known party member.
Who are you?
I I am Rowan Kamp.
Who are you?
Oh, I'm Vio.
Um, yeah, I'm Vio.
And this is actually I don't know your name.
The name is Sukia.
And I I nod.
Great.
Um Sukeya Thornfound.
Thornfound.
That's pretty.
And this is Bastette.
They're little prickly.
She doesn't respond.
I bet she's the biggest tweetie under that that cold demo uh demeano.
Also, in case you are wondering, Bastette does not like petting
So, in case it comes up.
Um, alright, let's let's go to the first tavern then.
How about we go to the Radiant Goblin since you already know some people there.
Is is that the one you were trying to dissuade me from?
Oh, how about we go to the bear sun?
I like bears.
I've seen some cave drawings of them before.
Sorke, do you know the way?
I certainly do.
Please follow us.
And I I stopped pulling bastard.
Um
Gently obviously uh towards where the uh God the bear would be.
Bear
Uh bear sun.
The bear sun.
I'm so bad of the names.
Not to be confused with a bear moon.
And uh yeah, you you approach as you approach this tower, you see the sign, so you know you're at the right building, and there's a large bear with a small baby wearing a little hat.
And the bear's like patting its head.
Is it a human baby or is it a bear baby?
Yeah, it's a human baby.
It's it it's that's just like thematically
It makes no sense.
Why would a bear raise a child?
A human child.
Rowan's busy crossing out S-U-N, writing S-O-N.
I've seen plenty of, you know, druids.
Druid druids, you know, they shift all the time.
An excellent point.
I wonder if that bear's famous.
The sign has no indication.
It actually doesn't have any words.
It's literally just a carved-in, like, you know, iconography, like the bear with with its paw on the the small child.
Um we'll call him Paddington.
And then I just walk through the Delegally, we won't call him Paddington.
We'll call him
Teddy.
And then I walked at the door.
Pudding Puddington.
Of all of the things to get cancelled for.
Naming a tavern after Paddington, you know?
Okay, maybe Poddington or There you go.
Didn't Winnie the Pooh just go public domain?
It's right there.
Yeah, literally literally did.
We'll call him Winnie.
Perfect.
First track.
So yeah, as you enter, this is the I I will say the sleepiest tavern that most of you have probably ever seen.
Uh I would say most of you because I don't think that Theo's actually seen anything outside of the Dwarven tavern and I don't know that they've even seen that.
It's
Got a it does have a barred like strumming on a a a stringed instrument, you know, just playing kind of what I would say is a classical guitar feel, you know, just with
But it's it's not like trying to hype the crowd, it's just mellow vibe music in the background.
And it's morning, so it's mostly empty.
Uh there's a couple there is a person behind the bar and there's a couple of people like chattering in the corners and they don't look like locals.
They look like they're people of some wealth, kind of chatting at the bar.
There's a couple of people at the uh um the booths on the sides.
Um but it's really like quiet.
But the the um man behind the bar waves in greeting and appears to at least recognize um
Oh no.
Zirkea?
Oh no.
Zirkeia.
If by reputation, if nothing else.
And you know.
What I know of the bartender's name.
Oh sure, sure.
The the bartender's name is Slask.
Flask.
Cool.
Uh and uh Slask is an Infernus.
Welcome, welcome, about time you came.
Greetings lask and I I I wave um I Are they expecting us?
I I wave lightly.
Are they expecting us?
Ron nod gently nudges Sarkeya.
with a fake smile, introduce us.
So hasty
Um Slask, I was wondering if you could get uh get get these fine folks uh a drink or something.
Of course, what would you like?
And he looks straight to Vio first.
What do they serve here?
Alaska Cerkeya.
Safest bet would be the ale.
Alcohol I say like super loud.
Um
Can I get a non-alcoholic alcohol?
Like, Slask kind of looks over at Cercaea.
Is that why you brought them here?
We'll talk in a minute.
Does it have to be business first or can we not just sh share a drink?
He he he writes something he he like writes something on a little wax tablet, like okay, we'll bring you something
Thank you, honey.
I think best that would be would still be by the door with arms full of just kind of looking at everything.
Not really with the rest of the group.
Like nothing for me, thanks.
I am actually here on business.
The high priestess at the temple of Ardea has
personally requested that I interview the locals and find out if there is any rumors about the jagged knife.
And you know, I'm willing to pay for your time.
With the receipt, of course.
Can I get you to give me uh boy, what do you want let's see.
Um you're trying to con to convince him, right?
To negotiate with you.
So let's let's go ahead and do a presence role for that.
Spilt spill the lintels as or can uh while this is happening, Bestat wants to look at it anybody else
in the in the tavern and see if anybody reacted when Rowan said the jagged knife.
Ooh, so I I'll need a uh instinct roll from you as well.
Um, okay, so I rolled 13 with hope.
Take a hope.
But if that's not good enough, I can also
Spend a hope and add my strength to it to make it fifteen.
Wow.
Okay, so hold on, let me take a look here.
Let me look at his actual stab block for a second.
Um so what did you say it was?
It was a thirteen
Mm-hmm.
With hope?
Yes.
Yeah.
Uh he he kinda he kind of starts to like, really, you're not gonna buy anything?
He kind of squints at you a little bit.
Um
And then basically if you if you if you don't spend your hope to add your strength to it, he's he's not convinced.
Okay.
Then I will spend my hope and add my two strengths.
So now it's fifteen and also uh offer that I I will
I just don't want to drink any alcohol at this point in the investigation, you understand?
But I'm willing to pay for a beverage so that your your time is is
fully compensated.
Oh, why didn't you say so?
Okay, well that's uh that's two then and he looks over it
Pastad hasn't actually approached anything and he kind of looks expectantly at
Um Sakeah seeing what her order is.
Their order?
She they.
Um She They.
Yeah.
Um she just goes, something strong if you have it.
He he nods and gives you a wink.
I I I've got I've got what you like there.
And he he actually wanders off to the back room uh bring out some stuff for you.
Meanwhile, what was your role, Michael, for the Oh, you're gonna love this.
Uh-oh.
That was uh 21 with hope.
Hi roller.
Twenty one with hope.
Mm-hmm.
Hi roller.
Um y you know, I really could would just wanna pop in here that normally you guys are just rolling with here at this point.
Well, mine mine must be malfunctioning.
No?
I'm not willing to do that.
Oh, okay.
All right.
Y'all need new dice.
So you do notice that that there were two people kind of talking at the bar who kind of glance over at the
Barkeep when he mentions the jagged knife.
And you also notice there's a there's the one local local person in the bar
At least they they don't seem to have kind of the they they have finer clothes than what you've seen on the peasants.
Um, but they're they're by themselves.
They're not looking like they're partying.
They're just literally like
relaxing to start their day and you intuit that they're this is this is where they just normally go.
He shakes his head um at the at the mention of the jagged knife and the priestess
And uh a few minutes later he actually uh like a few seconds later he starts moving towards the door.
Where Bastet
is waiting.
Where Bastet is where Bastet is kind of blocking the way.
I was gonna say I think Bastet who had been off to the side would step in front of the door.
Arms still folded.
She's very she's a very tall creature when she's standing at her at her full height on her hind legs.
And so I think she she would be fairly imposing.
and just stare at this person walking towards the door.
So this person as as as as they get up, and I I didn't mention it, this person as they get up is actually a galapa.
Yeah.
And as you block the way, they kind of shrink into their shell a little bit.
You kind of see them ruffle like this.
What?
What?
It's time for me to open my baths.
Please, please remove yourself.
I notice you're in a hurry to leave all of a sudden.
Is there any reason why
I said I've got to open my beds.
Do I believe him?
Uh, you wanna give me some kind of roll to see whether you think he's lying?
I assume that would be an instinct.
Uh yeah, yeah, let's do that.
Well the great news for you is that is a lot worse.
Uh that is a eleven with fear
A level of fear.
Well I thank you.
You're welcome.
You actually like this this person seems to be honest.
Like he his drink is empty um at the at the the thing there and
At least from your impression, you believe he actually is going to open up his baths.
And he he looks at you and then is like, I I'd offer you a discount to get in, but
I've I've never had a Qatari in my take a bath there.
Best that would You all do that.
Best that would like lick the back of her paw and then rub it along her her like the fur on her head.
And then step out of the way.
He kind of glances over to the the the the ob the more disheveled of the group, the Fio.
Um
Because Vio slept into your own.
Right.
So it goes Oh the come you're welcome to you're welcome to come to the feather baths.
Uh it's just at the uh what uh
West end of town.
Uh darn it, I did it too.
Darn it, Michael, you curse me.
The East End of Town
Is it warm or cold?
Feather?
Yep, feather feather baths.
We have all we have all pools.
Yes, we have we have hot warm.
It's all there.
It's all great.
Come on by
No, no, no.
That's it's a it's a water bath, the name of the uh hmm.
Yeah, Eddie
He kinda never and he kinda kinda sidles s sidles sideways past bastet uh to go out the door.
Bastet since you did roll pretty well earlier, you notice that um
He is actually moving somewhat in the uh easterly direction um as as he goes by, but not down the main road.
I think she would just catalog that.
The the bartender takes that moment to return and uh he has two mugs that he sets on the on the bar.
And a large snifter of a snifter, I hardly know her.
And he and he he he looks around he looks around and goes, oh did Colin Lus leave
Must be time for the baths.
Hold you, right?
Alright.
Uh it it'll settle up tomorrow.
It's not a big deal.
In in the two mugs are actually it's milk.
Is this strange white click?
So you both know.
Ugh smells.
What is this?
Malk?
Milk
It's non-alcoholic.
Where does it come from?
The dairy?
Is this something you make here in town?
I mean yeah
Kinda.
The the the cows are in town.
It's fresh, if that's what you're asking.
He's okay with a cow.
I think best that would shoot a look to Violo and be like to the bartender.
Hmm, do you name the cows?
Oh it's an animal.
Before you milk where does it come from on the cow?
And I I just kind of look down at it, kind of like grimacing.
Picturing like that they're secreting this
Either from some orifice or their skin or It's from the from the petting.
This happens when you pet a cow?
Nope to sell.
Never pet a cow
Yeah, y'all are gonna break the petting habit really fast.
Oh my goodness.
Um, like the bartender kind of looks at y'all and is like Sokia's like, don't
Don't worry about it.
I know.
I know.
Taps the the bar s not too subtly, saying, You should probably pay now just by tapping.
They're tactical?
What you're saying?
Pretty advanced.
Pretty advanced for a farming town, but that's cool.
See, fortunately, you know, uh, y'all acquit on me.
Uh fortunately, Sakeah knows knows that sign.
They they've seen that before.
Shit, yeah, you're right.
Um, I'm just gonna produce a few coins from my pouch and just set them on the table.
Thank you, Han.
I do appreciate it.
That's what that means.
Oh okay, okay, okay, got it.
Got it, got it.
You said you said Bastet saw two like other patrons kinda get quiet at the mention of the Jagged Knife, is that right?
Mm-hmm.
Yep.
And they're at they're at the bar.
So they're they're like right next to where um the bartend Slerk Slart.
Slask.
Flask.
Flask.
Slask.
Yeah.
If you forgot his name, you can just slask him.
Tips the flask.
You can just slask him.
Yeah.
Um ask him slask him no question until slowly no lies.
Editing mode, remove that.
Uh
Yeah, uh yeah, so there were there were two other people at the bar, um, not the other end of the bar from where uh Vio and Rowan are at.
I think best that would just go stand.
behind them, like maybe slightly uncomfortably close with arms still crossed
Suress I can't even what does it call myself?
Sur Serkea Sareste.
Okay.
The spirit of teacher is learning well.
So here notices Bastet.
Do this.
I'm gonna make a note of my own name.
Um
And she saddles up next to the two pain two patrons.
Patrons.
Are they wearing fake hair?
Two patrons.
Toupe.
Toupe.
Trins.
Two patrons.
I never I never want to have any of you complain about Hilo's puns ever again.
Sorry.
Right.
Um
So Kay's gonna saddle up next to the patrons and go like, hi beautiful.
You're lonely.
Like
Like the these two folks who've been who've been kind of you know like shoulder to shoulder together.
Um like they're obviously they know each other and they've been visiting this this like in low voices this whole time.
Um, but they both like we're just kind of looking back to Bastet, like, what in the world are you doing this close to us?
kind of and then you sidle up and they both kind of turn together and you realize they're siblings.
Like they look so r they look related.
And uh ex excuse excuse what what?
Huh?
Like they were they're just totally distracted by what you said.
Both like you could use some company.
And I I I
Pick one of the one of their faces between my uh thumb and forefinger.
What do you say?
The the the the sister uh nudges the the the the guy whose face you're grabbing
And the guys, I thought you said this wasn't that kind of bar.
We didn't go to the other place.
How do you find these people?
And and the brother's like
Kind of like, um I'm company?
No, what we're we're just here for the festival?
Our masks are gonna be ready in a couple hours.
I'm just
Uh no, no, no, th thank you.
I can't I I can't afford uh I mean, uh I'm sure you're nice and all, um, but no.
It's a pity.
I mean I I I'm sure you wouldn't I mean money is not the only thing I trade in.
So just to be clear information is also good.
So so so just to be just just to be clear.
He uh basically hinted that you are a prostitute and and and instead of like being offended, you're like, ah, okay.
All right.
Okay, not not what I was expecting there.
Alright.
Um are you trying to convince him to give you information at this point?
Yeah.
Yeah, give me a presence roll to see how well that goes over.
Go.
While she's doing that, um, is the bartender still in front of Viola?
Uh yeah, the bartender's like, you know, watching you in particular with a very sharp eye because uh he's afraid you're gonna walk off of his mug.
Oh thank you very much.
I I'm not sure that this is for me, but my friend
She paid you already and I'm very thankful for your hospitality.
I'm just not sure that I can drink this.
Um very sorry.
But maybe you could answer some questions about
If you've had any suspicious people around here that you've noticed in the bar, I'd I'd be willing to pay you one more milk coin.
Coin.
I love it.
Um okay.
Uh so so um Go ahead and go ahead and hit me with uh a presence roll as you're trying to convince him to give you more information.
Uh he might have been re reacting better to Rowan uh at this point than than to you.
Um but uh I appreciate your your uh Sir Kaya, what what did you get?
Uh thirteenth fear.
Thirteen with fear.
Uh b hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on.
Don't say anything yet.
Um as
Uh Serkea leans in.
Fastad is also going to unfold her arms.
And on one paw, a single claw is gonna pop out.
And she is going to say to these siblings
This one likes to touch and the difference between me and them
Because when they touch, they touch nice.
And Bastette is gonna run her claw along the countertop of the bar between them.
And I am using reassurance, which is once per rest after an ally attempts an action roll, but before the consequences take place, you can offer assistance or words of support.
When you do, your ally can re-roll their dice.
Uh-huh.
Clear my dice for this one.
Hang on.
Okay.
Oh, it's fifteen with fear.
Fifteen with fear.
Thank you.
I will take that fear.
Can I combine both an ability and an experience on the same role?
Um probably if you can justify it.
What do you what are you trying to do?
Okay, so in my trying to get information out of the bartender, I'm going to try to use my experienced lovable oaf.
um so that he will just feel like, oh, it's just a stupid little dwarf and like they're so cute.
Um I'll give them whatever information they want.
Um, and then also using my bold presence ability to add my strength to the role so that I like I seem a little bigger and like
I could handle myself.
I could handle any information that he gives me.
Um, I could take care of this jacket knife problem if if there actually is a problem, um, kind of thing.
So, if you're down, I would spend two hope to add those.
I would say that's fantastic.
Go for it.
Awesome.
So that's a 14 plus 15 is presence plus two for my strength
Uh is that 17 and then plus two for my lovable oath, so that's 19 total with hope.
And what was your new role, Harris?
15 with beer.
Uh yeah, it was fifteen.
Okay.
So these things kinda happen at about the same time.
Right.
The the brother and sister kinda gasp at
um fast tets thing, um announcement, basically, and that that like they're imagining that claw like slowly curving into them like it did into the the furrow into the b into the uh
bar.
And they both start to like try to to slide off the stools.
Oh, thank you very much, bartender.
Yeah.
And uh at the same time, the bartender who who was like aw-ing at Lil Vio over there.
Child, we don't have jagged knife problems here.
That's that's there's a bunch of peasants concerned.
It it's nothing.
Nothing to worry about at all
Um at as he starts to like, you know, reassure you, he like snaps his fingers at Bastet.
Hey, that's my bar.
Like he's offended now.
So he was he was he was happy with Vio.
He's very offended that you're harassing his patrons and scraping up his bar
And I'm I'm I'm afraid I'm gonna have to ask you all to leave if this yeah to just this is this is unacceptable.
Well I'm sorry.
Here, take a take another milk coin for your trouble.
And I will uh out of my pouch take a little coin.
N no, sorry.
I I'm I'm not with them.
I am here on official business from the the High Priestess.
Wait, you're not with us?
Who are you?
I'm Theo, remember?
We went out on the street.
Just on the street meeting people, are you?
Oh.
Yeah, that must have been somebody else.
Okay, bye
And then I go out the out the door and I just wait.
Sorry about this Slask.
I owe you one.
Yeah, yeah you do.
He agrees.
That would also sh sh shrug and and leave.
As a as you're the guys are leaving the the c the the brother and sister like kind of decide to stay, like it's gonna be safer to stay here than than to go out in the out in the street with with that strange uh panther lady.
And
He hit the the flask oh another round on on on the house uh and he gives them another you know uh mead um each for their uh troubles
Yep.
Basically he's VO's ended up paying for their drinks, so he's not that concerned.
Are we not getting any more information out of these people now?
He he looks over he looks over at Rowan and he is like, listen, there's the there's not nothing here.
For you, I haven't seen anything.
Um
That's a bunch of nonsense.
The the the the lady's already taken care of it.
She's hired extra guards.
There's there's no problems.
I I don't know what the priestess is on about.
Some of us here believe in in in in core and and thank you for your time.
Slask, right?
Yes, yes, thank you.
Writing his name down in my book.
And he he knows that he knows that you're writing this down as like
And um about that receipt oh for for the
And he like he like looks around like no one's ever asked him for a receipt in in forever.
For milk in the tavern.
So he he like looks around and eventually he comes up with like a
uh a little slip of paper and he has to blow dust off of it.
Um takes out a charcoal uh pencil and you know pencils in one milk
to milk one port and hands it to you.
He doesn't believe that you actually were uh not with the other group basically.
Wow.
That was so convincing and all.
Well, Vio kind of blew it.
Uh say come back, but
I'd say come back, but I don't think you'll find what you're looking for here.
And he kinda shakes his head and looks at the like the un like Vio didn't even drink her milk, right?
So he looks around and it's like, well, I'm not gonna waste it.
And he just shrugs it down as as uh as uh Rowan turns the lead.
Rowan bids him a good day, head heads out to the street.
Why don't we go ahead and pause there and we'll continue in another session of the Naturals Spring Fling adventure.
It is obviously no longer a one-shot.
And um we'll see you all next time.
Hope you all can join us.
Thanks.
