Little Dream I: In Middle-Jack, Odds and Details
SESSION FIVE, INTRO
RECAP
Having sent the goblin bandits running and now reaching Middle Jack, the party moves up past the bleary gaze of two Imperial soldiers in their drink, up to a good night's sleep at the inn, Vertario's.Sauriosa is the Innkeeper on duty almost all the time, although the owner of the Inn is unknkown, even to him... Could it be Vertario himself?... Sauriosa has hired a second hand, a young man named Barto, who does his jobs efficiently, almost like he isn't there. The Tamadaria family, with their standard of black rimmed in bright orange, is generally prominent in this area of the district. They are the closest gate to Hightower. They bribe the Imperials to patrol the area, although the Imperials send only the lazier or less-valuable guard. Many of them drink heavily and don't care much to guard anything at all. [Vertario is a legendary Bandit--a trickster and a drinker, always in green--who settled on a more distinguished life toward the end. No one has seen him for 40 years or more.] After a breakfast with a Circus recruiter named Joseppi, accompanied by his his three gnome protectors? henchmen ?, our heroes don their fresh hempen clothing and head north, deeper into Middle Jack, under a low grey sky, with a chilly wind from the west. They head out in their simple garments, to find such things as a money changer, arms dealer, an open air market, and a stage where a storyteller entertains children with tales of fairies and fairy realms. The stories end, and a child, some ten years old, approaches the party (or Twig specifically), and tells them the story of Jalla'Harta, fairie queen. The Grey Men came and everything got sick, and Fairy Land was dying... Vartri begs that they rescue the fairie queen Jalla'Harta. "You are her only hope..." She knows where the story begins, and brings the party to the place. She brings them to an old garden, back behind an old abandoned house (more towards SMEDJ), where a Fairie Hole it seems emits "the Pink." Twig investigates the hole and comfirms a First-World Portal could well be near, down beneath the ground. Stiapo insists on meeting the "old man" Amanito, who filled VARTRI's (10 year old instigator's) head with these stories. VARTRI agrees to bring the old man to VERTARIO's the following morning, to talk with our heroes so they might understand more. 2.1.6
The "Old Man," Amanito, actually an amanita fungad in "disguise":
with a large, Amanita-cap-shaped-and-colored-hat, and two little beady eyes, with bright white fungus eybrows. Smells strongly of mushrooms. He is a little sneezy and coughie. Speaks softly and carries all of the remaining gold and jewels for level 1 dumps them out before the party.- "This is all I have. My brothers and sisters suffer; our forest faces total destruction in dirty black slime.
- It is my job to recriute those who might be able to help. You've seen the pink, Vartri told me.
- You know it's real.
- You can find the forest by following it, although the way is not easy.
- Seek the sick nixies and gain their far shore. Tread lightly at all costs!
- Our queen is grave danger! Please help us, before it's too late!"
TALISMANS
And, are those Talismans? I have an expertise... Distracted and oddly absorbed, Traumanito, examines your talismans and tells you their function.Circus Distraction
Soon, out in the streets outside of Vertario's, the noise of wheels on cobblestone, a wagon train is passing with a loud voice calling out, "Come one! Come all! The circus is coming to town! Yes, my friends, come see the grand spectacle! Get your tickets now my friends, a flag a piece! Come one, come all! Come see the Joseppi Grande Circus, the grand spectacle to beat them all!" Wagons clatter by, led by a horse-drawn coach painted in faded red, green, and gold, and a troop of goofy musicians with kazoos and toy drums are marching along in shabby jesters' outfits, somewhat halfheartedly, along with frowning acrobats doing handstands, tumbles, and bends. The wagon cars themselves are rusted cages on wheels, passing by slowly, holding- starved trollhounds,
- droopy ponies of pink and purple,
- a lion that may once have been proud.
- A unicorn even--could it be?--is lying in her own cage, horn half-wilted and coat shabby.
AROUND TOWN
- Emphasize wealth disparity
- GARDEN WHERE THE PINK ARISES:
- Untended garden is in a liminal space between north middle-jack and smedj, architecture made to cover and deny the poverty
- Imperial troops patrolling, sometimes ragtag and undisciplined, sometimes otherwise
- Sindar beggars
- Flocks of Tengu
- Some Catfolk, but quite feral and sneaking in shadows
- Mafia and Ogres
- Half Orcs in bands
- Ruffians / Bandits / Urchins
- Bands of Goblins, chaos in their wake; rarely with hobgoblins or bugbears
DISTRICTS
NORTH MIDDLE-JACK- Lots of cultural events
- Open air amphitheater(plays) and concert venues, large and small
- Bards come from all over town to play here
- Tamadaria run it all, patrons of the arts
- ESTABLISHMENTS in MIDDLE-JACK Vertario's; The Wine and Whiskey; The Golden Swing; Alabasters
- Hobgoblin thief lords, you're impinging on their space...
- start the Skummroad here, but pay them off first
- ESTABLISHMENTS on LIAR'S HILL Sario's Fist and Die; Swarthio's Aletank; The Crooked Gnome; The Slime
- Drow undertones, Drow in charge...
- Nightshade flag;
- Darker somehow; darkness seems to settle in the corners, a kind of shroud
- Things seem to be creeping in the shadows
- Goblins can run amok here, little imperial presence
- Have given up on this district
- Holes that lead to goblin hideout
- more rural, never see it from the road:>
- Little clusters of semi-urban sub-villages, many gardens
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