Return to Tellenor, Winter's Faire

Tellenor Stories

Abyssal Knife - Olmed Hashan / Fire Genasi
New business for Cog - Gears and Cog Magical Emporium. The building is finished but the business is just starting out. Currently they are looking for more items to improve the testing facility. They need a few pounds of anti- magic dust. At least 5 shards of varying sizes and some glands from local monsters. When should we have the grand opening? We should be able to open up in the next couple of weeks if we get the magic license from the Duke. We have a meeting coming up in the next couple of days.
New distillery and Tavern for Hops - Blizzard Hops Tavern and Distillery. The business is up and running but Harv Leder wants to do some promotional stuff for Winter's Faire. He is looking for a few hundred gold for an extra menu, hiring musicians for the season, and doing a barker/handout campaign to bring in more revelers. Also if Blizzard Hops can get a hold of some Dragon Mouth whiskey he has a new drink idea. Note that Hops has actually accrued 342 gold as owner of the new distillery and tavern.
Burt Oberton - Chief of staff. Burt was one of the captives of Mr. Nyx in his dark carnival he was abducted by the imp in the year sf 2735. Initially disoriented and frightened, he now is exploring the city of Tellenor and has fulfilled the role of majordomo for the headquarters. A human male of about 50 years old he was a tavern owner in his old life and may have some knowledge about the past. He looks a little like Coach from Cheers, and wears a leather apron with a pocket on the front. A bar rag hangs from his belt and a piece of chalk is over his right ear. “Ah, Master Cog can I go over some expenses with you?”
A half elven woman named Belba Caraway is the maintenance chief - abducted by Mr. Nyx in the year sf 2754, in her previous life she was a carpenter and a silver smith. After being freed by the adventuring party she was almost catatonic after her ordeal, but working with Burt she has begun to recover and in the last month has regained her speech and skills. Yorus Carobelt a Halfling man is the chef and bartender - The last rescue from Mr. Nyx’s dark carnival freak show he was captured in sf 2726. At first he was also in severe shock and not responsive. In the last month he has regained his speech and abilities by cooking and working with food. Always his first love, he finds comfort and control in cooking. Yorus is originally from Kierkewoode in the west of Tellenheim.

Rumors and News - Vellen Falls has sworn allegiance to Lamborginus, this is upsetting to many of the local townsfolk. Penthaheim is subtly ruled by the five Houses of Penthos, but they maintain peace on the continent. Having a city begin to directly threaten war and conquest is quite upsetting.
A creature has been seen on the outskirts of town with bright red eyes. A few murders have been linked to this creature as well as several head of livestock.
A visit from Head office! Trusilla Fane should pop in for new missions and payment as well as info on their last few missions. Payment should be 3000 gp for each member. Mission ideas: There is a strange golem that Agrimor wants to study. It is trapped in a dungeon somewhere in Penthaheim. The catch is if you agitate it it transforms into rage golem three times it's size. But if you placate it and keep it calm it should be easy to obtain. Other idea, The Arcanist's Circlet has been located! somewhere but Helle's adventuring and trading company is on the move to get there first!
Two members of the Adherents of Iron show up and demand to reclaim Cog. Though they insist that they are paladins of Eigeralon Blizzard Hops can determine that there is no divine presence near them Need to redraft their PACT magic items, new stats
Helleficks Kristalinn and his rival company are acting up again, they may show up at ATG's next objective.
The crew of the Wet Dream needs to be paid and re-outfitted with supplies and materials for repairs. Total is 1500gp
Possibly a citizen of Corralon Township will be in town selling Druid moss, now grown in the forest near there.  Pericos Gancho is the salesman.  A tall halfling man he works with Plankton Verhoof to grow the moss and then sell it. He can offer information on Karnac's Mother and her husband Archie Frisson.  Clanching Stoat the brewer there is busy setting up the new franchise of Blizzard Hops Distillery and Tavern.

Plot points/Scenes

Tellenor Stories -

After a few days of travel on the open sea in the distance you see the great Goliath mega structure of Pentholos. This statue is over a thousand feet tall and has stood on that island for thousands of years. As the Wet Dream sails past you see the great capital city of Penthos to the east and the Urgolos Dwarven Hold to the west. Eventually you see the delta of the Archon River as it spills into the Placid Sea. Several fishing boats are scattered in the area and some crab boats closer to the rocky shore. As the Wet Dream gets closer and closer to the river a small fishing skiff gets close enough for the sailor to yell "Ahoy! you can't sail a ship that size into the river! You'll run aground!"
Once more you activate the new shallow keel modification. The hull shifts and pulls up your submersible and you watch as the fishermen all look on mouths agape. As you sail up the Archon river things begin to look a little more familiar. Past miles of farmland and wooded areas. Eventually you see the area of the river where you fought the group of bandits all those months ago. On one of the large rocks you can still see pieces of splintered wood from the makeshift gibbet the bandits had constructed for their trap. After another 30 minutes you see the town of Tellenor and the Plurius docks. The crew gets to work on preparing to dock. Captain Eltera Ro barks out orders and Cog and Hollefernes secure the sails and run up and down masks tying ropes. After several minutes the Wet Dream is secured at the Plurius Docks of Tellenor and you all depart the ship. As you all pick up your belongings Eltera Ro descends the gangplank and walks up to you. "All right you lot, don't forget to pay my crew. We thank you for the save back there but I would like to remind you that it's you that got us in that trouble to begin with. I need 1500 for crew's wages and another 250 for supplies and materials for repairs." Eltera Ro tells you that she and the crew are spending a few days here in Tellenor to enjoy the Winter's Faire. After that we need to decide where they will go or what you want them to do.
After securing the ship and the crew you ascend the stairs up into Tellenor proper and see the Void Omen off in the distance. The sights and sounds of Winter's Faire surrounds you as you walk. Snowflakes drift down lazily from the sky and magical lanterns bob slowly around dozens of little kiosks and tables throughout the city streets. Hot buttered pastries and salty meat skewers abound as street barkers and wandering musicians mingle with hundreds of tourists. Small groups of people sing with costumed characters and street performers put on puppet and magic shows for the gleeful crowd. As you approach the old boat run aground that makes up your headquarters the door swings open and a smiling Bert Oberton screams your names. "Welcome home! It's been many a month!" As you enter you see Yorus, the halfling chef, set the bar with several plates of grilled steak. Belba the half-elven woman looks more with it as well. She has a toolbelt on with several tools dulled with oil and use. "Welcome back, I never properly thanked all of you for taking me in. This whole ordeal has been rather jarring but Bert and Yorus have helped me settle in to this time period. Having this job and a place to live has been a godsend. Thanks to all of you."
[DM Note: Things going on in Tellenor. A monster with red eyes has been spotted attacking people in the woods. A group of bold bugbears has been seen approaching the city, robbing and injuring people. The Kerra guard is looking for assistance in this manner. The new businesses for Blizzard Hops and Cog. Both of which are looking for more investing money to boost profits.]
Wandering out into the streets of Tellenor the sun begins to set and magical lanterns glow brighter, hovering among the wooden stalls of street vendors. Tourists and townsfolk mingle and dance together holding warm drinks and watching new snow accumulate on the ground. The nearest kiosk to you has a Firbolg man with long white hair handing out Fried dough encrusted with sugar and cinnamon. The sign says Sugar Fried Pauldrons, 5 coppers. The next cart has a halfling couple pouring spiced wine into leather skins painted with winter imagery for a silver apiece. You all wander through crowd getting some stares from the tourists but only smiles and greetings from the townsfolk who know of you. Anything you'd like to do in this festival? Cog - Cog as you ignore some of the looks from strangers you see Morchu Hammarash, the weaponsmith, sipping from a mug of ale. He waves at you to come over and have a drink. Just then you hear a ceramic mug shatter and a loud oath "By Corsun's Beard! Everyone back away We will deal with this!" You turn to see what the voices are talking about when you see to human men in full armor approaching you. They pull their warhammers from their backs and enter a battle stance. The crowd hushes and gasps at the sight of the encounter. One of them shouts " Battle golem shut down immediately and remand yourself into our custody!" The other loudly tells the crowd "No need to fear sheep, this is property of the Adherents of Iron we will protect you!" The crowd parts and forms a wide circle around the scene as you stand confronting the two Paladins. [DM Note: If Blizzard Hops is there he can do a religion check, anyone else can do a history check to see if they know anything about the Adherents of Iron. The Religion check is a DC 16 a success reveals that though these are worshippers of Eigeralon, Hops can sense no divine presence of his god.] Though the team may want to throw down with these two the Kerra Guard will intervene. [Maybe allow a few hits]. Arfred willowhorne and Krin Birch (the captain of the Kerra Guard and his partner) leap into the fray. Arfred shouts "Oi! Enough of this! What right do you have to attack a citizen of Tellenor!?" The Adherents explain that Cog is a prototype of an automaton peace keeper and was lost a year ago. Arfred points out the badge on Cog's chest from Agrimor and explains that Cog is no such thing. He is a citizen of Tellenor in good standing. The end result is the two zealots will be expelled from the city and sent on their way.
After dealing with the confrontation Morchu makes his way over to Cog and greets him warmly. "My friend! The store is almost ready! you must come over and see the testing range, what Gazza has accomplished is incredible. We are currently filling out our stock but we may be able to open by next week!"
Karnac -
As you wander the Faire sampling some of the treats available and sharing some Druid Moss with those that are willing you spend some of your time flirting with some of the attractive ladies visiting town. As you head to an outdoor Ice bar to purchase some spiced whiskey drinks for an attractive Firbolg woman you come upon a strange sight. A black and white furred Pandaren man sits in front of several children putting on a show with live chipmunks. The tiny creatures are acting out the children's play "In a Dragon's Hat". The final scene requires a big monster to threaten the hero and to your shock and surprise the Pandaren man changes into a green and blue glowing owlbear. The children all scream in mock terror and the man changes back into his furry self and bows. As the children are pulled away by their parents the man rounds up his tiny troupe of actors and tries to get them to enter a wooden box. [DM Note: The Pandaren is Sun Paw Kong, he is a Pandaren man from Ventenheim. He is an animal master and can act as a mentor for Karnac. He can add new wild shapes but that requires finding one of these creatures in the wild and interacting with it non-violently. He can also offer instruction on curing Mew's Vampirism.]
Mew -
Finally back on dry land in the familiar location of Tellenor you begin to feel more like your old self. Being amongst a thriving population means a constant cash flow and plenty of opportunities for a clever psionic rogue. Unfortunately you are experiencing some strange physical and mental ailments lately. The dreams are getting more and more nightmarish and that itch in the back of your throat is getting more prevalent every day. Each time you use your psionic powers there is a the potential for painful side effects. As you walked by Yorus in the Void Omen there was an urge to slit his throat. Being in your home the Void Omen acts as a balm to all of this and you begin to think about asking the halfling man Crowe to get something to eat with you. [DM Note: She needs to start making random rolls on the vampirism table because her condition is worsening. ] As you decide to approach him a pain in your stomach causes you to double over in pain. You throw up the ship rations that have been in your stomach and your head begins to throb. Your heartbeat pounds in your head and you feel like your blood begins to get hot. Just then a chime goes off in your communicator earpiece. "Lady Mew, This is Trusilla Fane. We have been notified that you are back at your headquarters. I ask to set up a meeting, I can be there at 9am is this acceptable?" She continues " There is the matter of your payment for the last two jobs completed for PACT and some new missions that have come in." [DM note: Let Mew decide what she wants to do with the rest of her day.  If she is around Crowe or anyone else to long have her roll on the vampire table to see if she attacks anyone. ]

Themes

Vom Fass - Back in your personal quarters in the Void Omen you relax and think to yourself how much this feels like home. Even with all of the travel and how little time your team gets to spend here, this is the one place that feels comfortable. As you drift off to sleep you begin to dream. You walk down a cavernous stone hallway, clearly carved by someone. Every few hundred feet an ornate archway spans over head. Strange glyphs can be seen wrapping around pillars and carved into keystones of the arches. Eventually the path splits and two identical pathways appear before you. The left passage is lit with a turquoise blue, runes on the ground glow dimly as they stretch down the floor into the dark hallway. The right passage has a reddish orange glow to it. Neither feel ominous or uneasy. A strange voice echoes around you, it alternates between masculine and feminine then it shifts from whispery to a mechanical echo. "You child of the weave must choose..." The left path flares with the bluish green light, strange shadows move like statues coming to life. in the foreground a bipedal dragon like figure flexes it's wings and blue and green sparks fly around it's body. You can't make out any features but the energy flares and flies around it. 50 ft. behind it another larger version flares as the first goes dark, this one raises it's arms and commands the energy. These figures get larger as they move off into the distance and the light show gets stronger, finally ending in an enormous dragon in the middle of a colorful electrical storm. Next the right path flares to life. A shadowy figure spins a circle made out of geometric shapes which multiplies and rings around it's body. Another 50 ft. beyond lights up as the figure now commands a tron like golem made of energy and metal. More figures light up one by one, one after another each getting larger and more elaborate with brighter light shows and more complex geometric runes. The final is a dark shadowy figure standing atop a metal goliath sixty feet tall which has thousands of geometric patterns flaring with orange, yellow and red light. It fires eye beams and blasts of pure power out of it's hands. Then all of the images fade to black once more. Each path is reduced to a dark hallway with a bright rune in front of it. A square of Turquoise energy with a point stretching towards the Left path. The same shape in reddish orange pointing towards the right. The voice once more says "You must Choose..."
[DM note: If Vom Fass asks questions the answers are as follows. Is Bullfinch my father? "Your father he is, but know that even though he gave you life you are not his to command. Your power and your path is your own." Who are you? Are you Azurat? " No, we are shepherd of the weave. We hold allegiance to no God. We are guardians but not deciders. We are Iridescent Warden." After Vom Fass has chosen his path he will receive 2 sorcery points either way as a gift from Iridescent Warden.
Blizzard Hops -
As you stroll the streets of Tellenor your thoughts as always turn to your next drink. The memory hits you like a brick through a window, didn't you invest in the Wyvern's End? Sure enough your old watering hole is buzzing with revelers. As you get close to the entrance pushing your way through a small crowd of men and women drinking and singing with wooden tankards in their hands you see the sign. "Blizzard Hops Tavern and Distillery" in Bright blue letters and a white background. A line drawing of yourself with your right foot propped up on a barrel and your hammer across your shoulders. After months of sailing, fighting, and interdimensional travel the feeling of a tavern of your own is overwhelming. For the first time in years a tear forms at the corner of your eye and the warmth of the tavern beckons you forward. As you enter you see dozens of patrons talking loudly and sipping on glasses of whiskey. After about 30 seconds a man swings around in recognition. " Can it be?! finally? Blizzard Hops has returned!!" All eyes swivel to you as a roar goes up and tankards and glasses clink together. [DM Note: Clorthos Crom - Bartender / Half Orc Man Parna Eve - Barmaid/ Wood Elf woman with Bard Experience. Harv Leder - co-Owner / Human man 55 years old Blizzard Hops - Owner] The familiar face of Harv Leder the former owner comes closer as he slaps his hand down on your shoulder and hands you a bottle of branded whiskey. "Welcome back my friend! Just in time for Winter's Faire too!" [DM Note: Harv has saved Hops' profits from the last couple of months totalling 358 gold. But he is asking for a small investment of 50 gold to hire musicians and street barkers to drum up more business. He is also going to hire several local lads to place broadsheets and hand out drink chips.]

Structure

Exposition

Side Quests in town - They can look into the Mothman mystery. Apparently there is a creature on the outskirts of the city that is murdering farmers.
Trusilla Fane Meeting 9 AM At the Void Omen any of the characters who are awake in the 8 o’clock hour hear the sizzle of bacon and smell the goats milk and butter pancakes being prepared by Yorus. He puts on some coffee and pours you a cup in a small metal cup painted blue.  "Nice to have the team here for breakfast!  What's it like sailing the Wyvern sea?"  At 9 oclock sharp a knock can be heard on the door.  Trusilla Fane stands outside in the crisp winter morning air, her breath visible.  She stands there with her jade colored skin and wearing a fur lined jacket and brown leather breeches.  She carries a leather messenger bag over her shoulder.  "May I come in?"  Her cold placid demeanor reminds you of your first meeting with her when you assembled as Adventure Team Grimm for the first time. She sits at the large table in the middle of your common room and begins to take out paperwork and scrolls.  "Your individual payments for the successful completion of two missions will be transferred to the Void Omen as we speak.  I would like to commend you on a job well done in securing the Sarcophagus before Vaconto could awaken it's contents.  I assume the resulting bloodbath being investigated by the Wardens was the result of an unrelated event?"  Karnac, gulps audibly and replies. "I would also like to congratulate you on the rescue of Adventure Team Bugbear from an independent pocket dimension.  Vestal Vorrin gave you a glowing review in her report of the events.  Agrimor himself wanted me to tell you of his admiration for your display of courage and inventiveness in traversing the Gem of Amara.  He was very impressed.  Now before we get to new missions available to you is there any other business we need to discuss?  Lady Mew, I believe you mentioned upgrades to the communicator?  What were you thinking for improvements or added features?  Vom Fass I believe we can add some space to your bag of holding as well as a refrigerated space if you would prefer.  Karnac you should have seen the improved range of your mapping device, and Cog would have noticed the healing spike changes as well.  Blizzard hops we are improving your belt as well."
Trusilla Fane continues " Now on to new business, two opportunities have shown up in your region.  A strange golem has been detected with magical properties.  Also the Arcanist's Circlet has been rumored to have been found.  Which would you like to take on next?"  She explains that in the Aerodon Steppe an ancient tomb was uncovered.  A small group of raiders entered to pillage and only one came out.  He was found three days later wandering without arms and telling a story of a golem that tore apart his group.  Our research team has a theory that this may be the fabled Hydellical Mechanoid that once guarded the arch mage Polemicus.  The second job is a tip from one of our informants about a powerful artifact known as the Arcanist's Circlet.  Rumor is that Helle's adventuring and trading company has found the piece and is taking it to Lamborginus to sell it for a large profit.  Why the Archos Divinus would want it is a mystery but can only be bad news for the peace of Penthaheim.  Your standard fee applies for both missions, PACT is offering 1500 gold each for successful acquisition.  Take a day or two to decide and let me know."
A strange figure walks into town and traps the team in a snow globe! The christmas special!

Conflict

Food, Drink and Entertainment available at Winter's Faire

Food -
Honeyflame Bread - Fried Dough, soaked in Honey and coated in spices. 3sp
Cod Pieces - Breaded fish chunks fried in oil 1 sp
Torsin Cheese Dumplings - 1sp
Tentacular Noodles - Sea Anemone Tendrils coated in honey batter and fried. 2sp
Dampfknudel - Steamed Roll served in sweet custard-3sp
Pork Skewers - Chunks of roast pork with peppers and onion - 1sp
Ryuzkiall - Sauteed Rice Noodles, hearty Mushrooms, and giant spider legs 5 sp
Fried Dough - Dough rolled into long loaves and then fried and coated with sugar. 1sp.
Corsa Cakes - Small round cakes made with strawberry and Rhubarb 5 cp.
Baked Goat Flank - 5sp
Flavor Ice- Raspberry, Elderberry, Lemon lime, Honey, Kettleberry (similar to blackberry), Rosewater, wine. 2cp.
Drinks available - See drink menu for the Blizzard hops distillery. 
Spiced Wine - A winter favorite in Penthaheim it is a Merlot style wine warmed and spiced with a blend of herbs. 2sp
Posset - An alcoholic nog made with milk eggs and bourbon and vodka. 4sp.

Rising Action

The Mothman -

Alfred Willowhorn and his partner approach you that afternoon. “I take it you’ve heard the rumors. Some creature with red eyes wandering the woods and killing livestock. Well the truth is three farmers have gone missing in the last three weeks. We kept it quiet but we found the remains of Ulik Carrodon. He was mauled and the blood was drained from his body.” He looks at you and waits for a response. “Your team was effective in investigating the scarecrow mystery and I was wondering if you would look into this.” Payment : I can offer you 500 gold in payment. But I would like to count on your sense of citizenship and loyalty to the town of Tellenor who have taken you all in and made you feel welcome.
Willowhorne explains that on the road to Onsalm their is a small farm and a cemetery. The creature was last seen in that area. They found the body only a half mile away from there.
As you set out on the road to Onsalm the air is cold, an icy breeze stings your cheeks but the sun shines brightly low on the horizon. A deep blue cloudless sky can be seen overhead and the trees that line the road are bare and skeletal. You walk or ride down the road towards the vineyards and farms of Onsalm.  you travel for a couple hours into the late afternoon, the wind dies down and sun gets lower in the winter sky.  Ahead you hear a small cart pulled by a mule moving towards your direction.  A human man sits in the seat holding the reins “Greetings to you travelers, I don’t want no trouble.”  He glances at Cog, Vom Fass, and the weapons you all carry.  [DM Note:  He is a local farmer heading in to Tellenor for the Faire. He plans on staying at the Owl bear’s Egg inn and tavern.  He has heard of the creature and he knew of Ulik Carrodon but not of his death.  He mentions a strange humming sound he has been hearing in the middle of the night.  He also mentions that some of his metal tools have had some strange warping and even breaking.  In the back of the cart he has several that he is bringing in to town to be smithed/repaired.]. He points them in a direction where he has heard the humming deep in the forest.

Plot type

Main Story