Player Characters
The players come to and find themselves in the middle of a fish tasting. It's mid-afternoon, during—what is eventually surmised—the Festival of Frozen Facets at the southern edge of Varby. A small sampling of various fish from each fishery is presented in front of the players.
- Ci's Fish: Local specialty fish. Plate contained Powdered Greyling (snow-white, the meat is incredibly soft and "buttery", almost like a mouth full of powdered snow), Crystal Pike (meat is translucent/slightly blue, light refracts through it), Rock Eel (brown meat, tough and game-y for a fish, but an earthy taste as well).
- Mak and Rel - Schooled Anglers: Large fish, making huge steaks. Plate contained Shark, mackerel, and tuna.
- Fintastic Fjord Fishery: Specializes in smaller and common fish—and their preservation techniques. Plate contained anchovy, salmon, and oyster.
Each fish tasted different to everyone. The Paritet representative at the table suggests they decide the winner. There is a debate, and Left is able to convince the Paritet rep that the plate of fish steaks (Mak and Rel's) is the best. Mak and Rel win the contest.
As the crowd dispearses, Malik runs to Quiet of the Fintastic Fjord Fishery before she walks away and compliments her fish. She is appreciative.
The Festival of Frozen Facets carries on. There's a fish descaling and chopping competition, sashimi-eating contest, tons of fish-related snacks and dishes to eat. There's an ice sculpting contest, as well as an ice sculpture garden (western side of town).
Atani and Malik check out the ice sculpture garden. Left enters a fish descaling and shopping contest. He wins, but it's a very close competition. He goes up against Anik (young triton) and catches Anik's eye. They get drink together after left collects his reward of a few silver and all the fish he chopped.
The festival winds down with ice skate dancing on Krisha Lake under only the light of the moon and stars. It's a bit of a walk. Anik invites the group to go with him and his family. They agree and find that Anik's father is Ci.
Atani does not go skating, but hangs out at the shore. People set up camp at the lake, planning to return to town in the morning.
When the return, Mak and Rel (twin tritons) immediately approach Malik and demand justice for their sabotaged stock of fish.
The investigation begins.
The start with Mak and Rel's shop. Their fish are strung up in the cold shop, and they are completely frost-bitten. Brown, shriveled and leathery, smells awful. Chunks of ice still melting. They find nothing else of note. Mak and Rel suggest that Ci probably did it. But Ci was with them at the lake. Though, two of Ci's children were not present. They head to Ci's Fish next.
Anik sees them approach and invites them all in for breakfast. They meet the rest of the family, including five year old Desna, who looks like she just got done rolling in the snow. They don't learn much from here, but Atani catches a glimpse of Miki's book about elementals. She's unable to get any further information about it as Miki storms upstairs and Ci asks them to leave.
They head to Fintastic Fjord Fishery next. They talk to Quiet about her competition, but she doesn't seem to be bothered. Her secret? Her preservation techniques. It allows her to ship and sell her fish a lot further, so she has more business than the other two shops in town.
The group decides to stakeout Ci's fish for the rest of the day. Left catches Miki walking home and is able to talk to him and learns that Miki thinks his little sister might be part elemental. Miki pleads for Left to help him get Desna out of here. Left says he can't.
Malik is first to the ruckus outside Ci's Fish, as Mak and Rel start shouting hate and fear about Desna. Malik steps between the twins and Ci's establishment. He tries to get them to stand down, but inadvertently insults them. The crowd gathers and watches as Mak attacks Malik.
Atani tries to block the door and stop Rel from entering.
Left fires and arrow at Rel.
And they wake up.
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