Pearl - The Jewel of West Aratai
Across the Isen river from the city of Hamia , within the nation of Aratai , is a bustling fishing village called Pearl.
Despite it's poetic name, Pearl is in fact a sad, economically depressed village. Although many people travel through Pearl to reach Hamia, few choose to stay in Pearl.
Pearl is an important travel hub as it is located on the Aratai West Highway. It has a number of taverns, all of which are low cost and low quality. Ferries which take caravana to and from Hamia are the biggest industry in the village, ouside of fishing. The ferries are run by a high-wired cable tow with a large wheel at each side of the river that is turned by beasts of burden. Barges are thus towed from side to side. The cable is high enough to allow fishing boat to pass beneath it.
On a craggy sandstone cliff directly to the north of Pearl sits it's lighthouse. The lighthouse used to be massive with a temple to Nefasi - Goddess of Storms and Seas, at the bottom. The lighthouse of Pearl works in tandem with the lighthouse in Hamia.
Gumba, a well known dish that originates in Pearl, is found in all of the taverns. It combines shrimp, mussel, crab and oysters in a creamy sauce served over a bed of couscous. For some reason, Gumba always taste best in Pearl. Although many conjecture that the citizens of Pearl refuse to share their secret ingredients, the reality is that the taven owners of Pearl have use the same cast-iron cookwear for so long that the flavours are well and truly locked in.
NPCs
Djetek is the cook at Enchanted Catch tavern. They claim to creat the tastiest gumba in the world. Djetek a big burly type who is the spy for a local group of pirates operating on the two islands just north of the village? He was a pirate himself until an injury forced him into a life on shore. Bjorg Heiferhand is a stock yard owner that has animals for travel out of the village and runs an ostlery for looking after horses of travelers. She has been losing animals to something coming in from the country side.Adventure Hooks:
Haunted lighthouse
Lately, lights have been seen on the coast at night, giving the rumours of will o wisp and spirits... It's in fact a group of pirates who live on the two small island to the north. The pirates are actively looking to confuse ships to make them crash and sink, so they can steal the ships' content. The lighthouse has been sabotaged off recently by someone, which caused a large wreck just outside of Pearl.Water Snake
Reports have been flooding into the fishing village of a large sea serpent wreaking havoc on the coastal waters. The serpent's attacks have become more frequent and increasingly brazen, threatening the village's livelihood and safety.Missing livestock
There is a rumour of a large cat like beast that lives in the land beyond the village in the surrounding rocky hills. There have been sounds at night and travelling bands coming in giving reports of sightings. In recent days the Bjorg Heifhand has discovered some animals to be missing. The reality is that a wereocelot has set up home in the desert and is stealing cattle to feed itself, rather than preying on humans.Were-Ocelot CR: 2
Medium humanoid, any
Armor Class: 12
Hit Points: 33 (6d8 + 6)
Speed:
30 ft
STR
11 +0
DEX
15 +2
CON
12 +1
INT
10 +0
WIS
10 +0
CHA
14 +2
Skills: Perception +3
Stealth +4
Acrobatics +4
Damage Immunities: bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons that aren't silvered
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft (Ocelot form only), passive perception 12
Challenge Rating: 2
Shapechange. Can use an action to polymorph into a ocelot-humaoid or back into its true form. Keen hearing and smell. Advantage on wisdom (perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell. Pounce. If moves at least 15ft straight towards a creature and then hits with a claw attack on the same turn, the target must make a DC 11 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the were-ocelot can make a bite against it as a bonus action.
Actions
Multiattack (humanoid or hybrid form only). Two scimitar attacks. In hybrid form can make two claw attacks. Bite. +4 to hit, reach 5ft, one target. Hit is 1d6+2 Claw. +4 to hit, reach 5ft, one target. Hit is 1d4+2 Scimitar +4 to hit, reach 5 ft, one target. Hit is 1d6+2 Tailswipe: DC 12 Dex save or opponent is prone.
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