Miss Moss is still suffering from the disease, with a residual translucent skin and in pain from the acid damage, needing regular dousing with water. Miss Moss now knows everything with her keen mind. Leshanna and Miss Moss both have an underwater breathing potion and agree to meet the others where they found Arton. Leshanna and Miss Moss disappear under the water, through one of the vents they saw the merman and the creature go down.
The others are left standing inside the room, make their way out using the ladder, finding the hatch locked. It takes a great deal of force to remove it. Londer climbs over everyone, pushing them aside. arrogantly, and hangs from the ladder, pushing against the hatch, about 30 feet in the air. It takes a couple of goes but he manages to get it open. He sees the Kua-toa folk scurrying away and diving into the water, disappearing. There is a flurry of movement. As they climb to the top of the ladder where they came in, into the laneway. Emerging, they find that it is just before dawn and a steady rain falls over the streets, which are now completely quiet. Even the lamp lasses and revellers have gone for the evening. The sun is rising.
Miss Moss and Leshanna find themselves rushing down a pipe with tremendous force, in a downward water-slide way, jostling through pipes.
The others make their way through the empty streets, across the bridge and through to the shield tower.
In the pipes, the darkness of the sewer tunnel, Miss Moss and Leshanna are thrust out and suddenly in open space, they can see the surface of the water and the dim light of dawn. Spat out at the end, they fly out through bubbles and fish move away. At the surface, they realise they are in the middle of the Desarin River. The dawn sky still has stars and the sun is rising. The current is gone and they bob away in the water. There are no barges, no traffic – everything is moored. It’s not a long distance at all to see the outcrop where they found Arton. As they float there, they can feel the gentle current sending them towards it.
The water is not dirty, but heavily trafficked, so not crystal clear. Miss Moss swims down to have a look, it’s quite deep – a substantial river. There are bits and pieces under the water, no sign of treasure but pieces of wood, shells. This is a natural river, there’s nothing notable – no off shoots or continuations of tunnels. The current is moving away from Yartar and towards the ocean.
Miss Moss and Leshanna have a quick chat – they certainly beat the others there and it was much more fun this way but not really sure what they learned. It does seem that anything that’s come out of those sewers this way has headed towards the ocean, so maybe they should look for some other things. They make their way to the shore and see the others arrive. By this time the sun has risen.
They gather some water in the bag of holding and head off towards Rosalio Manor. The streets of Yartar are unexpectedly busy. There are people filling the streets with decorations – garlands of leaves and sign coverings. Outside the doors are fruit and vegetable offerings. There’s a festive energy, people are dressed in different clothes. In the excitement of the adventures, High Harvest Tide has arrived without the adventurers giving it a second thought. This is the last day of setting out on a journey before winter, a day of food offerings, pumpkins and autumnal celebrations. People rush from place to place, buoyant and happy. Miss Moss pours water on her back, yelling in irritation and pain occasionally.
In the market, they notice many more stalls set up all around. There are fortune tellers, archery contests, arm wrestling and eating competitions. This is an annual and continent-wide festival and they are very familiar with it. The produce is overflowing with fruits, vegetables, flowers and meats. Londer gets some bbq’d meats – a turkey leg skewer, beautifully glazed and absolutely delicious.
The first priority is getting Miss Moss healed. They head to the temple of Timora, a large foreboding building. It’s overgrown with grass and vegetation inside. A lady walks out who is clearly the high priest, introduces herself as Valentha Wadia welcomes them.
“Please cure me, I have a fish disease”, Miss Moss says.
After a lot of looking her over, Valentha says, “yes, this is powerful magic – this can only be removed through a spell of 6th level. It’s very very difficult and very expensive. 1000g”
They hand over the emerald, Londer explains that it is a very valuable gem and she accepts it.
She pauses, and says, “You know what let’s see if Timora’s fortune is upon you, as it is a festive occasion”
A whole lot of priests come out and she hands over a strange 20 sided dice.
“I will give you a roll of this dice and if you roll over 10, you will be cured.”
Miss Moss smiles and says, “And if I don’t, I’m unimaginably lucky so I’ll get to roll again.”
All the people in the circle say “Ooooh”.
Everyone falls to their knees – “She is lucky!”
“I told you, I told you that I was!” Miss Moss says.
The high priest spins around and lights fill the room. It doesn’t take more than a couple of moments for the colour to come back to the Albino’s skin.
Leshanna smiles and says “and I’ll just take this emerald back, thank you very much!”
On the way out, Londer asks, “Should we have killed the tentacle monster?”
“No, I think the mermen were going to kill him,” says Miss Moss.
Back in the market square, Miss Moss pours the water out of the bag of holding, decides to keep the jar of mucus. The rain has cleared up. Peering through the clouds, it’s a beautiful morning. The adventurers are very tired but Miss Moss feels much better now and they are all up for a bit of festival.
They head towards the fortune tellers – they found one that seems a little too classic. They give that a miss. They offer different sorts of fortune telling. Crystal balls, tarotology and tea leaves. Lia heads to a modest tent to find a lady sitting in there, she welcomes her saying, “Hello, I’ve been expecting you!” She laughs and says, “Sorry a bit of a fortune telling joke there. My name is Mrs Garnier Fructus.”
The adventurers listen through the wall of the tent. Mrs Fructus has a steaming pot of tea there, as she makes friendly small talk. After a while she pours some of the tea into a pot and stares into it.
“I have seen a pillar – it symbolises stability and holding things together. I see the whip, it means waiting for the right moment and conserving one’s power. I have seen the drum. It is about pacing oneself and stability. The last thing I see is a pot of cooking, meaning you will have your needs fulfilled and it will be very satisfying. It is a very appropriate thing for High Harvest. Thank you, come again.”
Miss Moss would like to get a more specific fortune, she’s listened at the door and is not happy with this one. She heads to the most ostentatious one, with a caravan. She is a Vistani, with a crystal ball. Just down the way, Miss Moss can see a stall selling crystal balls, so Miss Moss walks straight out and goes and buys one for 3 silver. She offers to do anyone else’s fortune for 1 silver each and chucks it in the bag of holding.
Londer suggests a café visit, pointing out “Ye Olde Café” nearby. A man with a waistcoat comes out and encourages them inside. Miss Moss would like to have an arm wrestle but they can do that afterwards. It’s not a bad café, if anything the bloke is a bit too attentive. Sitting in relative comfort, they can see a parade of people celebrating. Musicians and townsfolk stream by.
Gunther is feeling very bad about what happened with the fish people. He has been very quiet and now he excuses himself and says that he is going to go have a rest. He takes off, with his tail dragging on the floor.
The team has a chat, and decide to go to Rosalio Manor and Nestra to close out the nobles stuff, then onto Noanar’s hold to deliver the harnesses and then to Everlund to deliver the Triboar emblem near Silvery Moon. They also want to speak to Harshnag, it is very rare to have an opportunity to speak to a giant.
With that all decided, they settle up for the food and drink and head back into the streets of Yartar. It’d be good to have a bit of festival fun first.
- Competitions and prizes
- Arm wrestling – A wand of smiles
- Pie eating competition – a pot of awakening
- Axe throwing – cloak of billowing
- Archery – a tightrope of balance
Miss Moss signs up for the arm wrestling contest, three others sign up as well. The first is a blonde haired, 6’2’’ reigning champion woman named Little Nell. Another is a man, Fineous Draughtwater who doesn’t look like a threat. The third is a half Orc, the one who was telling tall tales about the under dark in Belldabar’s rest.
Miss Moss will be competing with Little Nell. A crowd gathers around as it is immediately a feature match. After the first turn, Little Nell has Miss Moss on the ropes. Suddenly Little Nell slams down Miss Moss’s arm and the crowd cheers. “Come back when you’re a little stronger,” says Little Nell.
Thoradin goes over to the axe-throwing contest, he loses.
A large crowd gathers around the trestle tables where the pie-eating competition is taking place. The competitors include Bauhenry a large dwarf and another guy, thin as a rake – Knackers McFarthing and Shau Ruth, an enormous orc woman. Berry pie first. Knackers McFarthing falls at the first hurdle and his mates cheer as he walks off. Lia and Londer also falls out at the first round. Another pie arrives.
Sheepishly, Thoradin leaves the stage. Miss Moss also bows out, patting him on the back. Bauhenry just completely loses it. Shau Ruth and Leshanna both look a little unwell. Shau Ruth falls down, the medics rush over. Leshanna wins the pie-eating competition and gets the shrub in a pot. She is crowded around by impressed fans. Knackers runs over to congratulate her. Looking into the crowd, she sees Nestra the water baron. Nestra walks over and invites the adventurers to a great feast.
They collect 500g (83g each) from Rosalio’s manor. Arton is looking much better. The butler nods with respect. Lady Rosalio is not overly happy or appreciative but very matter of fact. She mutters to Arton to be more careful next time.
They go to the great feast – there is meat and food everywhere. People from all sorts of backgrounds and stations are there. It’s a big old piss-up feast. They recognise a lot of faces in the revellers and some new ones. Nobles, peasants and people from everywhere are there. They tell Nestra all they have learned and she seems very concerned about it. She hands over the 100g, seeming grateful and saying that it seems that the threat has gone. “Let’s feast, let word spread of your heroism. Perhaps the days of heroism are returning. Do you go under a name like many old adventurers of old? (Perhaps you should think about choosing one). The work must still be a secret, but please know that Yartar is in your debt from this day. Should you need help, be-it in my power to help I will. Come to me any time. Lets drink and be merry and celebrate the High Harvest Tide.”
The adventurers drink into the evening.