Chapter 1: Festival & Fire

Chigaru


The saleswoman smiles at you. "Graduation? Good for you. Guess congratulations are in order."

She motions for some jewelry on her right side. "How about one of these butterfly charms. Supposed to bring Desna's luck."




Saldrina

The fortune teller nods at you. "Well, then. Come closer."

She waits until you sit down and then she takes out an old battered Harrow deck and shuffles it. She holds it out to you and ask you to pick a card. Turning over your chosen card, it is revealed to be the Unicorn. The old woman makes a hmm sound and continue with the reading.

She puts down nine cards divided between three rows. "The first row represents the past, the second the present and the third row the future," she explains and turns over the first card. Revealing the Trumpet. The next card below that one is the Rabbit Prince and finally the last card of the first column is the Idiot.

"You come from a powerful family?" it's as much a statement as a question. "The Rabbit Prince tells me that. You have power that much is clear. The Trumpet is a decleration of power. Someone who'll wade into the direst of situations without hesitation. Though be wary that you do it for the right reasons and don't be blinded by greed."

She moves on to the next row. The first card proves to be the Courtesan. The next the Foreign Trader and the final card the Lost. "Again a symbol of a powerful woman, the Courtesan. The Foregin trader is the card of spies and peddlers. You are seeking something. Your place in the world perhaps? The Lost is the card for emptiness and loss of identity. You may be alone now, but that can change?"

She finally starts on the last row, the row representing the future. The first card turns out to be Sickness, the second the Keep and the third the Winged Serpent. "The sickness is a bad card in most cases. But it is misaligned, meaning it represent great health. Or possibly children. The keep is a symbol of great strength and fortitude in hardships. You will prove to resist misfortune that will come. It is a good trait. The Winged Serpent is also misaligned, it represents seizing a moment. But in this position it is a warning to not seizing love or choosing wrong."

The lady starts gathering the cards. "I see love in your future, though the fates warns you to use your head and not be lost in your feelings."

Khel

"She is the goddess of freedom and luck," Father Zanthus says. "And she has seen our town through quite an ordeal. It is true the last church burned down with Father Tobyn and his ward only five short years ago. But this only part of the late unpleasantness. Desna has guided us the years since."

"Though we hope to leave that all behind us as we look to a brighter future."



Grimwulf

You make your way over to Ven Vinder. The general store is almost empty as you arrive, not many people after general goods while a festival is going on. Besides you know he has roped his daughters into helping during the festival, running his market stall.

A small bell chimes as you enter. A heavyset bearded man looks up at you from behind the counter. "Ah. Young Mr. Goodbarrel. How may I help?"



Li

Bart pockets the coins greedily. "He's the richest man in town or not far from it," Bart replies. "Owns and operates the glassworks. Lives up on the hill. Makin' a meetin' will be hard. But not impossible, so I'll get right on that."

"Though rumor has it he's taken ill, I figure it is just to avoid the festival right. He probably wouldn't want to socialize with the likes of us if you catch my drift."

Khel


"Through that door is an open door courtyard that the cathedral is built around," Father Zantus says pointing to a door to the side. "It's built around seven standing stones. They were a Varisian place of worship long before the town was settled. The seven stones representing the seven towers of Desna's otherworldly palace."

"Though we have altars for worship of Erastil, Abadar, Shelyn, Gozreh and Sarenrae as well. All is welcome here."

He pauses and thinks a little on your other question. "Sadly most writings and records perished in the fire. Your best bet would be either Brodert Quink or Madame Mvashti. Bodert is a engineer and a historian specializing in Varisian history. His theories is... how to put it..." he pauses again. "There's a reason he's here in town and not lecturing at a prestigious academy. But despite that he sits on a treasure trove of knowledge."

"Madam Mvasti has been here as long as there has been a Sandpoint. She was old back when I was a mere initiate. They say when the town was founded the Varisians demanded a mansion be built for her in payment for settling. The Mercantile League agreed, assuming she would pass within a few years. Yet these decades later she's still with us."

Chigaru & Grimwulf

"What about this one?" she asks and holds up a small charm in the form of a starknife. "Don't know how much you know of Desna, but it represents her home on the North Star. It is said to always bring you luck and always find your way home."

Just then Grimwulf arrive to see the wrong sister working the stall at the moment. She smiles at you.




Wess & Saldrina

The two of you arrive almost simultaneously to the Hagfish. Before you even enter you can hear the sounds from inside and the smell of seafood.

Entering the first thing that grabs your attention is a big glass aquarium that sits behind the bar. You realize why the tavern is called the Hagfish when you see the aquarium's solitary inhabitant, a Varisian Hagfish. Next to the aquarium hangs a pouch and in front of it an old man tends the bar, and you can see him limping back and forth on a wooden left leg.

Already early in the afternoon most of the tables are taken and it looks like you will have to share. The bartender calls out to you over the din of people. "Find yourself a seat and we'll be with you in a jiff."

Around you people are playing everything from cards to checkers to dice to darts. While two serving women darts back and forth between the tables and the bar.