Hengistbury is abuzz with activity—the weekend long Summer Festival is in a mere three days! The annual pie eating contest with Thornbury is one of the most anticipated events, and the smell of berry pies fills the marketplace. There are also a number of other competitions all of which the PCs are encouraged to take part in for a small entry fee.

If there are notable NPCs that the adventurers have grown fond of (or developed a rivalry with), make sure to work them into the contests. For example, Three-Fingered Jake and Freya could be in the storytelling competition, or any of the several hunters could be a stand-out in the archery competition.

Vendors. A wide assortment of food, drink, and toys are available. Sweet, salty, and fried items are usually sold at 2 silver each, and Granny Appleseed has special goodies as well.

Game Limits. Typically a contestant is no longer allowed to play a game or contest again after winning it once. The contestant may attempt to play one more time by making a DC 13 Deception check to convince the moderator that their win was a fluke, but otherwise they must move on.

Magical Cheating. Unless explicitly stated, magical enhancements (both spells and items) are prohibited from festival games in a city or smaller settlement. A contestant found to be using magical enhancements is stripped of all winnings and publicly shamed.

---

The air thrums with excitement as townsfolk pour into the festival grounds, the smell of fresh-baked pies filling your nostrils. Then the sound of popping firecrackers splits the air as Granny Appleseed appears on her wagon, setting off colorful light and illusion magic as she hollers, "I've got all the pies you could want—come and get "em!"

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Right Honorable Annual Pie Eating Contest

Entry: 2 gold

Prize: Winner's choice of a blackbird pie (provided by Freya) or the pot (up to 10 gold)

The highlight of the Summer Festival, the pie eating contest is a major point of contention between Hengistbury and Thornbury. All other victories are paltry in comparison—at least until the cheese rolling competition in the fall. If one of the adventurers seems particularly able to put it away, they are asked by the locals, young and old alike, if they'd fancy representing Hengistbury for the occasion. In addition to more tangible rewards, anyone who wins gets bragging rights until fall and likely won't have to buy themselves a drink for the next month.

During the contest each contestant eats the provided berry hand pies continuously for the duration, making a Constitution saving throw every minute (DC 12 + 1 per previous save), and the last gurgitator standing is declared the winner. On a failed save, a contestant is impossibly full and unable to continue. On a failure by 5 or more, they instead suffer a "reversal of fortune" and expel what they've already eaten, which disqualifies them.

Each of the 4 NPCs contestants (half from Hengistbury, half from Thornbury) have been training hard for this and have Constitution saving throw bonuses of +3.

---

Archery Competition

Entry: 1 silver

Prize: 64 silver

Not quite as hotly contested as the Right Honorable Annual Pie Eating Contest, the archery competition still always makes a good showing. Between the PC entries, Hengistbury, and those visiting from neighboring Thornbury, there are 64 contestants, meaning 6 rounds of competition. The winner of the final round takes the pot of entry fees.

Scoring Points. Each contestant takes 3 shots per round. Contestants score 1 point for hitting the target's AC, 2 points for hitting a middle ring by beating the AC by 4, or 3 points for hitting a bullseye by beating the AC by 8. In each round, the top half of contestants that score the most points progress. In case of a tie, each of the tied contestants have a fourth "sudden death" shot.

But There Are 64 of Them! Starting with the semi-finals, each contestant should be handled individually to increase the drama of the occasion, but otherwise the Narrator is not expected to roll attack rolls and tally the points for each of them. An adventurer progresses to the next round simply by scoring 4 points or more.

The Contestants. The Archery Competition table shows the number of contestants, their attack bonuses, and the target's AC at each round of a contest.

TIER	NUMBER OF CONTESTANTS	ATTACK	TARGET'S AC
Finals	2	+5	15
Semi-Finals	4	+4	14
Quarter-Finals	8	+3	13
Fourth	16	+2	12
Fifth	32	+1	11
Sixth	64	+1	11

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Caber Toss

Entry: 1 silver

Prize: 2 gold

This competition focuses on the precise tossing of a 20-foot whittled pole. Contestants wait their turn to heft the pole, balance it on one shoulder, and then run a short distance before actually throwing it. Ideally, the caber does a full revolution before landing straight in front of the contestant. Rather than measuring by distance, judges award points based on the angle and positioning of how the pole lands. Each contestant makes a ranged attack roll using Strength as the ability modifier, the person with the highest result winning the pot.

Many of those who enter cannot even lift the 120-pound caber properly, much less toss it, but there are 3 stand-out NPCs who can and have a +4 bonus on their ranged attack rolls.

---

Cabernet Toss

Entry: 1 silver

Prize: 2–8 silver

Starting as a pun made about the caber toss, the cabernet toss is a challenge of toasts that usually breaks out around wine, cider, or beer barrels (no serious contestant lets the actual variety spoil the fun). Two individuals make toasts of increasing verbosity to life, the gods, their opponent, or anything else that strikes their fancy.

Contestants make opposed Persuasion checks to bring the crowd to their side. This ability check is usually Charisma, but a contestant that improves their toast by throwing in related facts can use Intelligence, someone that carefully reads and responds to the crowd can use Wisdom, and a few people have managed to win with Constitution by liberally including long chugs of alcohol into their routine.

The contest is over when a contestant beats their opponent's check by 10 or more, and the winner takes the whole pot. Occasionally the loser may double the bet for another round, but this can only be done three times before the crowd demands fresh contestants.

NPCs contestants have Persuasion +3.

---

Catch the Pig

Entry: 1 silver

Prize: 2 silver

The lucky contestant is led into a muddy arena with a greased pig where they have 1 minute to catch and tie up the squealing animal. Each round that the pig is loose, the contestant makes a DC 10 Acrobatics to catch it. On a success, they must successfully grapple the pig (use boar statistics for Arnie, this year's contender). If the contestant successfully grapples the pig for 3 or more consecutive rounds, they win the contest—but if at any point the pig escapes, the contestant must begin the process anew.

If the pig dies or falls unconscious the contestant is likely ejected from the festival unless they deliver a truly remorseful apology, line a few pockets with coin, or convince everyone that it was an honest mistake.

---

Guess the Pig's Weight

Entry: 5 copper

Prize: The pot (up to 200 copper)

Anyone who wishes may make a guess as to the weight of one of Penner's prize pigs—this year it's a large black sow named Effie. Each contestant may make a Nature check to guess its weight (one entry per contestant). At the end of the festival Effie weighs in at an impressive 750 pounds, and the contestant with the highest result on their Nature check wins.

Most contestants are way off, but there are 3 NPC contestants worth rolling for (each has a +4 bonus on Nature checks.)

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Light Show

Entry: None

Prize: 1 silver

This is a casual, entertaining game judged by the local children after dinner on the first night of the festival. Any contestant with access to dancing lights , light , minor illusion , prestidigitation , or a similar persistent light or illusion effect may enter. Each contestant makes an Arcana check to craft a fascinating light show, and the contestant with the highest result wins (measured by the raucous applause they receive). Kalle Sirkesalo has notoriously spurned the event for years, despite pleading and cajoling to the contrary. Granny Appleseed also abstains, not wanting to "ruin the fun", but she watches every year.

There are only 2 NPC contestants, each with a +3 bonus on Arcana checks.

---

Raffle

Entry: 5 copper per ticket

Prize: Beautiful silver bell etched with the profile of a stag (worth 1 gold)

For the unskilled and worshipers of luck, raffles are an excellent diversion. One hundred tickets are sold at the start of each festival to anyone willing to buy, and individuals can purchase as many as they like. Each ticket is marked with a single number, from 1 to 100. At the end of the festival, a single ticket is picked from a jar (roll a d100 to determine the ticket picked).

---

Storytelling Contest

Entry: None

Prize: 5 silver, and until the next festival each night the contestant can tell a story at the Bleeding Heart tavern to receive a free meal

This event is mostly intended to provide free entertainment at dinner, though there are several locals who take it very seriously. Each contestant goes on the village green's stage and makes a single Performance check. The contestant with the highest result on their Performance check wins.

There are 4 NPC contestants, each with a +3 bonus on Performance checks.

---

<= Memories of Holdenshire | Party Crashers =>

When making a journey , follow these steps.

1. Based on the world map, the Narrator determines which Regions exist on the route.
2. For each Region determine the travel distance, travel pace, and resultant travel time.
   1. The Narrator determines the Region’s traits and task DC, and rolls 1d20 to determine the prevailing weather.
   2. Each adventurer selects one or more journey activities and makes relevant checks.
   3. The Narrator rolls for one or more encounters using the appropriate tiered table for that Region . These may be monsters, exploration challenges, social encounters, or scenery.
   4. Determine Supply usage and apply [conditions|fatigue] if necessary.
3. Repeat step 2 for each Region .
4. Arrive at your destination!

The order in which journey activities are resolved and when encounters take place is up to the Narrator, although we suggest that you resolve journey activities, and then run any encounters.

The adventurers will need to travel from Northminster to the Weirwood, where they will meet with Granny Appleseed. They will be pursued by Tariq Crestveil, who still believes that the adventurers kills dhis sister Annika.

Captain Tariq. The Narrator can have Northminster's captain of the guard catch up with the party while they're on the North Riding Smuggler's Route or when they're in Lanickshire. Refer to Encounter 2: A Persistent Pursuer.

---

Off the Path

The previous encounter spooks Belton, cementing his belief that the roads are no longer safe. Read or paraphrase the following.

Belton exhales a long breath he had been holding in. "That confirms the worst I had in mind. So, how about a change of plans?" The smuggler points out into the North Riding grasslands. "There's an old smugglers' route out there. It used to be a common way to dodge tariffs. Ever since that got lifted though, there's really no use for it left. I reckon it's probably an overgrown mess, but it will let us stay away from any roadblocks. What do you all think?"

---

The adventurers can inquire more before they take this route:

• Where does this path lead to? The smuggling route leads to Halfpoint, whose remote location makes it harder for news to arrive. The party likely will have a week from today before news of their "horrific deeds" spread there, which gives them some time to hide, plan, and stock up should they need to.
• What about getting to Weirwood? The PCs have two options after arriving in Halfpoint. They can continue following the smugglers' route through Lanickshire to Thornbury, then take the road to Hengistbury to enter Weirwood. The other option involves cutting across Crawley Hills straight to Weirwood, which will be truly off the road.

Belton can give a rundown of what the party can expect in each of the regions they might travel through:

• While North Riding can be quite dangerous at times, the smugglers' route runs a safe distance away from most monster lairs and criminal hideouts.
• Halfpoint's history with smuggling and its isolation makes its residents willing to turn a blind eye on suspicious activities.
• Lanickshire is a typical farming region where rumors spread quickly. Since many are just hearsay though, folks are not necessarily eager to act on what they are told.
• Thornbury is a very safe town, though being a frequent resting stop, they are bound to know about the escape and bounties soon.
• The roads are going to be chocked full of checkpoints and patrolling guards. The only stretch that might be safe is between Hengistbury and Thornbury, as there are not as many soldiers stationed there.
• Hengistbury is a mundane town with only a sheriff and ranger as its defense. Life there is simple, making it a great place to start anew.
• Lastly, the Crawley Hills are less dangerous than North Riding, though the lack of an established travel route makes journeys more difficult.

---

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Starting Logistics

The difficulty of a journey sometimes lies not in the dangers ahead, but in the logistics and planning of the undertaking. One wrong calculation of the amount of food available, or a sudden change of plans like the adventurers currently face, and a party might find themselves facing impending starvation.

Thankfully, Belton came prepared. The wagon carries 20 Supply for people, plus 16 Supply of feed intended for Rummynose (the horse drawing the wagon). For PCs that did not pick up any survival gear , the Narrator can have them come across an explorer's pack (with the rations replaced by 5 torches). The party also receives a map of the local area with the smuggling routes marked on them if they decide to part ways with Belton at any point during the trip.

Local Map (20 gold)

This map depicts an area that is well known to its makers and shows the full details as well as routes within the realm, including the names of hamlets, villages, and towns. When using this map, you may travel at a fast pace without taking a penalty to your passive Perception while within the area it depicts. If you also use a compass in conjunction with a map, you gain an expertise die on checks made to avoid becoming lost.

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Journey Checklist

When making a journey , follow these steps.

1. Based on the world map, the Narrator determines which Regions exist on the route.
2. For each Region determine the travel distance, travel pace, and resultant travel time.
   1. The Narrator determines the Region’s traits and task DC, and rolls 1d20 to determine the prevailing weather.
   2. Each adventurer selects one or more journey activities and makes relevant checks.
   3. The Narrator rolls for one or more encounters using the appropriate tiered table for that Region . These may be monsters, exploration challenges, social encounters, or scenery.
   4. Determine Supply usage and apply fatigue if necessary.
3. Repeat step 2 for each Region .
4. Arrive at your destination!

The order in which journey activities are resolved and when encounters take place is up to the Narrator, although we suggest that you resolve journey activities, and then run any encounters.

---

Method of Travel

Consulting the map the party estimates that the distance between Northminster and Halfpoint is approximately 50 miles (their destination is 10 hexes away and each hex represents 5 miles). The wagon, at its regular slow pace, covers 16 miles a day if nothing goes wrong. If the players decide to push the wagon into traveling at normal pace, they can cover 24 miles at the risk of a malfunction if they fail the daily DC 13 land vehicle check.

Belton will bring up that the wagon has a major drawback: they cannot cover their tracks as easily, and can never hide from ambushes. If the group were to proceed on foot at a slow pace, on the other hand, they would be able to use Stealth. While abandoning the wagon does greatly decrease the party's carrying capacity, avoiding getting jumped on might be worthwhile in itself.

If the adventurers somehow happen upon enough mounts for everyone—perhaps from knocking out some scouts—they can travel at a mounted pace. Much like the wagon they will not be able to use Stealth, and will also take additional penalties to their passive Perception and Perception checks, but they'll make it to Halfpoint in only a day and a half. 

---

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Belton's Wagon to Crawley Hills, North Riding

Region: Tier 1 Rolling Grasslands

These regions are filled with farmsteads interspersed by large swathes of gentle wilderness and the occasional grove of trees. If there are any paths they are only used by locals and not very well maintained.

Weather. 1–8 clear, 9–12 overcast, 13–16 rain, 17–19 mist, 20–25 snow.

Journey Activities. Adventurers gain advantage on checks made to Chronicle, Gossip, Harvest, and Rob.

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Halfpoint, Hengistbury or Thornbury

Region: Tier 1 Urban Township (tier 0 for Hengistbury or Thornbury)

Filled with polite and simple folk living industrious lives, these rural towns are centers of commerce and where most of the nearby region's artisans ply their trades.

Weather. 1–8 clear, 9–12 overcast, 13–16 rain, 17–19 mist, 20–25 snow.

Breakable Surroundings. A critical failure on a Strength or Dexterity check results in destruction of property, angering the owner of said property.

Journey Activities. Adventurers gain an expertise die on checks made to Busk or Rob.

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Hengistbury to Blackford, Lanickshire to Holdenshire

Region: Tier 1 Open Roads

These roads are maintained with taxes collected from the regions that use them, and all manner of folk tread upon them on their way from or to homesteads, towns, and locations of note.

Weather. 1–8 clear, 9–12 overcast, 13–16 rain, 17–19 mist, 20–25 snow.

Fast Travel. Adventurers move one mile per hour faster when traveling along open roads.

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Holdenshire, Lanickshire

Region: Tier 1 Country Shire (tier 0 for Holdenshire)

Idyllic glades, worked fields, and quaint homes mark out these areas. The lives of people here are nearly free of conflict and any greater struggle than dealing with pests damaging crops, seeing to the next harvest, or spats between neighbors.

Weather. 1–8 clear, 9–12 overcast, 13–16 rain, 17–19 mist, 20–25 snow.

Journey Activities. Adventurers gain advantage on checks made to Busk, Chronicle, Gossip, Harvest, and Rob.

Friendly Locals. Adventurers gain an expertise die on Charisma checks made against people local to the region.

Haven. The whole of this area counts as a haven. Travelers can always recover from fatigue and strife when taking a long rest, even when camping.

---

Weirwood

Region: Tier 1 Feywood

Ancient trees fill this forest, their leaves filtering the sun's light and masking the mystery that pervades the woods. Signs of fey and other children of nature are everywhere, and many say their presence gives the area a sense of magic all its own.

Weather. 1–15 clear, 16–19 mist, 20–25 rain.

Fey Promises. When an adventurer breaks a promise made in a Feywood they suffer a level of strife .

Natural Camouflage. Adventurers gain an expertise die on Stealth checks.

Journey Activities. When making a check to Hunt and Gather, an adventurer rolls with advantage .

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<= MEMORIES OF HOLDENSHIRE | A Persistent Pursuer =>

The last memories the party has from before the cult are from Hengistbury, but just being in the town isn't quite enough to bring anything back. The PCs must dig a little deeper and become more familiar with this place and its citizens to get the whole picture. Each adventurer must trigger at least 3 mundane memories to remember what brought them to the cult in the first place: being abducted by a mysterious figure into a covered wagon either by drugs, trickery, or violence. This realization, while unpleasant, gives the PC a feeling of purpose and they get a +1 bonus to their first initiative check every day until the end of the adventure.

The locations of such memories should be chosen by the Narrator, keeping in mind each adventurer's backstory. They can also be triggered by the people of Holdenshire, most likely by villagers recognizing the party and sharing an anecdote.

Unlocking a given memory requires a DC 12 Perception check (for locations) or a DC 12 ability check of the Narrator's choice (for NPCs, depending on the relationship). Each individual check can be attempted once per day. On a success, the adventurer relives the memory in question and gains a +1 bonus on their next ability check, attack roll, or saving throw, and they cannot regain another memory until they have finished a long rest. On a failure, the adventurer gets a brief but splitting headache and a sense of familiarity, but nothing else.

---

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Bleeding Heart Tavern

The tavern is owned by the Pembertons and staffed by a rotating selection of the town's inhabitants on their behalf—the building itself may not change, but how exactly it is run changes often.

Possible Memories. An adventurer might arrive here and suddenly remember sliding a pint across the bar, playing a game in front of the fire, or bringing up supper to one of the rooms upstairs.

NPCs. Freya Aeval, Meredith Jones, Three- Fingered Jake.

Previous Interactions

• Freya Aeval: "I remember you—you sang that song about the Queen. Do you have any more?"
• Meredith Jones: "Wait, were you the patron who tipped with that old medallion? I've still got it somewhere."
• Three-Fingered Jake: "Oh, you're the one that lent me silver after that bad run at cards. Thanks—those adventurers were getting nasty!"

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Fields

Penner's pig farm is the most notable dwelling here, but many in the town work the fields or raise livestock in part- and full-time capacity to supplement their household or make ends meet.

Possible Memories. Working the fields, experiencing one of Ugg's self-composed songs.

NPCs. Penner, Ugg (the hill giant ).

Previous Interactions

• Penner: "You going to try your hand at the pig wrestling again? Arnie's all ready to go for the festival."
• Ugg: "Ugg remembers you! You sang with Ugg!"

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Forge

Known as one of the best smiths in the area, Rorus Klain runs a tight ship here.

Possible Memories. Having a weapon sharpened or armor mended, having a horse shod.

NPCs. Rorus Klain.

Previous Interactions

• Rorus Klain: "Mm? Did you go and blunt that blade already? Wasn't a month ago I last sharpened it."

---

Hengistbury Keep

Home to Lord and Lady Pemberton, Hengistbury Keep is easily the most well-fortified and finest building in the area.

Possible Memories. Serving as an attendant to the Pemberton family, coming to pay respects.

NPCs. Lord Pemberton.

Previous Interactions

• Lord Pemberton: "Ah yes, I remember you asking to look at my libraries. Did you find what you sought?"

---

Market

Easily the center of commerce and society in Hengistbury, the market is host to several businesses, as well as the more unsavory elements in town.

Possible Memories. Manning a booth, purchasing goods.

NPCs. Kit Bartleby, Mylani Azalathellon, Nazid, Stedd Grimwold, Steffen the Baker, Temrus Clothbinder.

Previous Interactions

• Kit Bartleby: "If you're planning to stick around, I might have a job for you..."
• Mylani Azalathellon: "Oh, it's you again. Planning to follow the law this time?"
• Nazid: "Well if it isn't my best customer! Lucky you, I got a shipment in since you left."
• Stedd Grimwold: "Oh, hello there. Did you ever find out if harvesting the nettles under moonlight made them more effective? I guess I should give that hair growth potion another try."
• Steffen the Baker: "Oh, what was your usual order? Wait, don't tell me—one baguette and two of the honey wheat rolls, right?"
• Temrus Clothbinder: "You know better now than to touch one of the black-wrapped cheeses, right? I don't want any trouble."

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Moor-Run River

The river is a popular spot for local fisherfolk. Ferries frequently run between Hengistbury and Thornbury.

Possible Memories. Going out of the water for a day's work, picking flowers as a temple offering.

NPCs. Ariadne, any fisherfolk.

Previous Interactions

• Ariadne: "Weren't you the one who rescued my bouquet from the current? Thank you!"
• Fisherfolk (any): "You're back! Any chance you've got time to go out onto the water with us again?"

---

Old Temple

Once a temple to the goddesses of agriculture and hunting, this old building is now used as both a town hall and place of healing. It is maintained by Lady Pemberton who offers magical aid to those in need.

Possible Memories. Lighting incense to the goddesses, coming to request healing, or partaking in a heated debate during one of the town meetings.

NPCs. Ariel, Heinrich Krebs, Lady Pemberton, Prirkka Strongfist.

Previous Interactions

• Ariel: "Not planning on falling out of any trees again, are you? I told you I'd only fix that arm once if you were going to be a fool about it."
• Heinrich Krebs: "Ah, there you are. Were you ever able to find that calendula I asked about?"
• Lady Pemberton: "You've lent us your healing touch once before. Would you do so again?"
• Prirkka Strongfist: "Glad to see you again—I meant to give my thanks for your help during that rough birth—I don't know if both twins would have made it without you."

---

Sheriff's Office

Run by Brand Torek, the Sheriff's Office also doubles as his living quarters and the county's closest equivalent to a jail. While he himself isn't often in (preferring to spend his time on patrol) his presence lingers in the form of his old adventuring armor and massive warhammer on display.

Possible Memories. Being held in the makeshift jail for drunkenness, coming to check the job board outside.

NPCs. Ariadne Torek, Brand Torek, Jayel, Yara Bloodclaw.

Previous Interactions

• Ariadne Torek: "Hello again! Did you come back to help Uncle Brand with the wolf problem?"
• Brand Torek: "Hope you've learned to handle your liquor while you've been gone—don't want to deal with you in the drunk tank again."
• Jayel: "Where'd you get to? A good hand in the wood is hard to find."
• Yara Bloodclaw: "Might need your arm again; we've heard tell of some monsters prowling around. The wolves have been getting bad, too."

---

Sirkesalo's Tower

Kalle Sirkesalo is the local mage, and his tower is isolated from Hengistbury on a small island of its own downstream in the middle of the Moor-Run. He studies texts both arcane and divine, but is reclusive and doesn't often entertain guests for very long.

Possible Memories. Delivering a rare reagent, delivering mundane supplies.

NPCs. Kalle Sirkesalo, Redheaded Roland.

Previous Interactions

• Kalle Sirkesalo: "Oh, you're that mage that wanted a peek at my library, aren't you? Are you going to actually stay this time, or do you plan to disappear again?"
• Redheaded Roland: "Didn't we play dice at the Bleeding Heart? We should definitely go again— pretty sure I wiped you out."

---

The Hen and Filly

A boarding house popular with seasonal workers and locals in between formal lodgings.

Possible Memories. Arriving for a season of farming, staying during roof repairs.

NPCs. Myco Ferris.

Previous Interactions

• Myco Ferris: "Wait, I remember you, now I think on it. You told stories to rival old Three- Fingers!"

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Trading Post

A variety of mundane gear is on offer here as well as game purchased from local hunters.

Possible Memories. Bringing in a day's catch of game, discussing the dangers of the Queen's Wood.

NPCs. John-Francis Rainweaver, Logan Brokenbarrel, Yara Bloodclaw.

Previous Interactions

• John-Francis Rainweaver: "Haven't seen you here in awhile. Out tracking that ten-point buck again?"
• Logan Brokenbarrel: "Back again, eh? That offer for night guard at the quarry is still open."
• Yara Bloodclaw: "Good to see that you're back. We might have to offer a bounty for wolves in the Queenswood—there's been a lot more of them this year."

---

<= Memories of Holdenshire | The Summer Festival =>

Having now received the "lock and key" from Granny Appleseed, the party must travel to Hengistbury in hopes of turning over their minds until they find their missing memories. Belton will accompany them there, but afterwards he insists on getting back to Northminster and business as usual. For the return trip, use the same journey rules for their initial trip to the Weirwood.

Upon their arrival in Hengistbury (or their return, if the memories start stirring) Belton does the party a last service by introducing them to a relative who runs a local boarding house, a tidy building with a freshly-painted and memorable sign—a plump red chicken perched on the back of a young bay horse—proudly displayed out front.

---

With a solid thump on the door, Belton calls out, "Myco, I've got company for you!"

It's not long before a neatly-dressed halfing in a chicken-embroidered waistcoat flings open the door to wrap Belton in a rib-crushing hug before looking the party up and down.

"They're a bit worse for wear, but if they're friends of yours, cousin, then they're friends of mine!" They then proffer their hand, "I'm Myco Ferris, owner of this little place. Not quite as fancy as the Bleeding Heart, but more than a mite quieter. Less of the traveling riffraff, too—mostly house the farmhands from out of town, or locals like Old Sven when the storm took his roof off last season."

---

The halfling Myco Ferris is the proprietor of the Hen and Filly and he has a penchant for gossip and long, meandering stories. On the strength of Belton's recommendation, Myco offers the party a discounted weekly rate until they can find lodgings of their own or decide to move on. While it doesn't include food and drink like the inn does, the Hen and Filly is cheaper and, perhaps most important to a group on the run, easier to lay low at. A week's lodging here costs each of the PCs 8 silver.

His work now done, Belton stays in town long enough to resupply (and replace his wagon if the adventurers earlier chose to abandon it) then leaves the next day for Blackford, promising to come and check in when he's next in the area. He also plans to meet with Kit to see about restocking his illicit wares before he leaves town.

---

Word About Town

Hengistbury is known for being a sleepy town with few troubles, yet that hasn't been entirely true as of late. Kobolds in particular have been spotted recently, and there are even rumors of lizardfolk in Fogmoor to the south. The latter has been largely dismissed as fisherfolk having had too much to drink, but the former is well-attested. Even the Weirwood—a place the town has had peace with for some time—has become more active. Though the locals are trying to put on a brave front, there's an air of tension competing with excitement around the upcoming festivities.

---

Chain of Memories

Give the PCs some time to explore Hengistbury in relative peace as they attempt to regain their memories. There are a number of locations both in and near the town that should help with this, but the Narrator should feel free to add new places as feels appropriate to Hengistbury's size and culture. The timeline of this adventure assumes that the party will be here for just under a week, beginning just before the Summer Festival and culminating with the news of Belton's disappearance.

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<= Memories of Holdenshire | Places of Interest =>

When the party approaches Granny Appleseed's homestead, read the following.

You can smell Granny Appleseed's cottage emanating the aroma of freshly baked apple pies before you see the rustic, tidy hut and the picket fence around it. Surrounding the fenced yard about her home are several wild apple trees, many of which bear fruit even though it is not in season.

As you approach a plump and jolly elderly human woman emerges, wearing a frilly apron that is pristinely clean and a laurel of apple flowers on her head. Her nose is crooked and lumpy, and her teeth have a lot of gaps between them. "Hello, faces old and new! Come in, come in. I've just put the pie in the oven and the kettle will be boiling in just a minute. Make yourselves at home!" She beckons you all to join her inside.

Granny Appleseed is a friendly green hag  known in Hengistbury for her remedies, advice, and magical pastries. After hearing what the adventurers are seeking as they snack on some strangely addictive cookies, she says she has the perfect recipe for their predicament: a good old herb quiche. However, just making it for the PCs is boring, so she challenges them to a riddle instead to see if they can figure out what the right ingredients are.

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The old woman picks up a spoon from a honeypot and swishes it around. Threads of sugar float in the air as she rhythmically speaks.

"To set your lost memories free,
You must bring me these ingredients three:
A sun inside the sea, and found in the lea.
A coin you can eat, sometimes new and sometimes sweet.
What all soldiers need, but is hollow and empty.
My backyard or forest, go out and seek,
to help create the lock and the key!"

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The items Granny Appleseed is looking for are robin eggs, mint, and morel respectively.

After hearing the riddle, the party can make DC 13 Insight or Nature checks for each ingredient. On a success, they know the type of ingredient they are looking for (egg, herb, fungi). Alternatively, the players may decide to use their own wits to figure out the riddle, which can circumvent this check.

The PCs may then head out into Granny Appleseed's garden or the forest and make a group check to look around for items that might fit those criteria with a DC 15 Investigation or Perception check.

If the party fails the checks they find or deduce the "wrong" ingredients: namely forget-me-not flowers, currants, and the gut of a recently-butchered rabbit.

Whatever the group brings to Granny Appleseed, she adds it into a giant quiche for the adventurers to have as part of a lavish dinner of pastries and hearty dishes. For each correct ingredient, a PC gets to remove one condition , a level of fatigue , or a level of strife . If all the ingredients are correct, they also gain 10 temporary hit points that last for up to 24 hours.

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Ingredient Mishaps

Adventurers that got the wrong ingredients may be in for a difficult surprise! The Narrator can choose to have the adventurers make a Constitution saving throw (DC 12 + 1 per wrong ingredient). On failed save, a curse afflicts them until their memory returns.

Ingredient Mishaps (1d6)

1. Seeing a person with Charisma 14 or higher brightens your field of vision and fills your peripheral with a hazy pink border of sparkling roses.
2. Whenever you speak a word beginning with R, your head turns into that of a frog for 1 minute. You can still speak and use your senses normally.
3. For an hour after each meal, you suffer terrible hiccups that trigger every 20 syllables.
4. Your skin becomes vividly colored and changes at the end of each long rest. The effect temporarily goes away until the next long rest if you drink a cup of water.
5. Between dawn and sunset you have an irresistible urge to rhyme, forcing you to end sentences with nonsensical words to fulfill the requirement.
6. Your preference for smells is flipped— what usually smells awful to others smells wonderful to you, and vice versa.

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After eating the quiche, the party falls into a food coma for an hour, which can serve as a short rest .

After the adventurers rouse from their food coma, they wake to find...that they feel exactly the same! None of their missing memories have returned! Granny Appleseed explains that this is meant to be: as stated in the riddle, she has created the lock and key. It is up to the party to do the actual unlocking. The best way to go about this is to live a normal life in Hengistbury, where it all seemingly began. Hopefully spending time in town will ultimately jog their memories, and answer how or why they ended up in a cult.

Before they leave, Granny Appleseed provides the group with parting gifts. If they did not locate the right ingredients, she gives the PCs a choice of two items out of three:

• an empty  dreamscrying bowl
• a gossip earring
• or Perdita Ravenwing's True Name.

If they found all the correct ingredients, she also gives each of them a tin of Granny Appleseed's Signature Pastries. This special ration never expires, and after consuming it at the end of its next long rest a creature can remove 1d4 conditions , levels of fatigue , or levels of strife .

The adventure continues in Act III: Evil's True Face.

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<= Memories of Holdenshire | Beginning Act III =>

Highly upset by the party's escape, Captain Tariq—who still believes they murdered his sister Annika—personally tracks them down. Hearing about the wagon full of bedrolls, it does not take him long to deduce where the adventurers are headed and he quickly begins his own journey towards Halfpoint. 

If the party fails at an encounter on their way to Halfpoint, Tariq is their next encounter. Otherwise, he's the first encounter after they leave Halfpoint.

In his fervor Tariq did not properly prepare for the trip, nor did he bring backup. The adventurers notice both of these things right away when he makes his appearance.

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Ahead you see a lone figure leaning against a horse that grazes sloppily as it pants. Seeing you approach, the traveler's shoulders seemingly sag in relief. The person—a human man, it seems, from his haggard appearance—wearily trudges towards you.

"Pardon the interruption, fellow travelers. If you've a waterskin to spare—you!" Recognition sparks in both your minds and his. Though he may be without his bright red cape and full-body armor, the sight and sound of him mourning over his sister Annika Crestveil is engraved in your memories and you realize this is Captain Tariq. "You murderous zealots!" he screams, all the exhaustion gone from his features and replaced with fury as he unsheathes a greatsword from his back, "I'll see you hanged for what you did to my baby sister!"

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Although Tariq has drawn his weapon, adventurers with a passive Insight 12 or passive Perception 12 know he is posturing, mostly to ensure his own survival. As he hollers about how he will cut the party down one-by-one and haul them back in chains, the party can make a DC 15 group check  to convince him that they are innocent by using Persuasion, lie about their circumstance with Deception, or threaten him to back off with Intimidation.

On a failure, Tariq reluctantly lets them leave but only because he currently does not have the means to stop them.

On a success, the captain's resolve wavers—he lowers his weapon and voices that he is weary and doubtful of the party's claim, but if they are indeed innocent, there has better be evidence to prove it.

On a critical success, he realizes that there's no way the adventurers could have defeated his sister and promises to clear their names, but on a critical failure he becomes enraged and attacks (using the statistics of a knight with an AC of 15 from half-plate and one level of fatigue ). When engaged in combat, Tariq retreats after being damaged 3 or more times, using Disengage to flee, then mount his horse and ride off.

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The Weirwood

Once the adventurers safely arrive in the Weirwood, they may either take some time to recuperate or go straight to seeking out the wisewoman. 

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<= MEMORIES OF HOLDENSHIRE | Meet Granny Appleseed =>

Belton's fears are quickly confirmed when 3 scouts  approach, mounted on draft horses . They received word to return to Northminster for a briefing about some fugitives, but at the moment this is all they know—none of them realize that the people they are speaking to are the very criminals in question! The scouts ask the party about any rumors regarding what might have prompted their sudden recall.

If adventurers did not get spotted right away from being inside the wagon or hiding preemptively, the PCs can make Dexterity (Stealth) checks against the scouts ' passive Perception of 16. If spotted, they still get a chance to talk their way out of a violent confrontation.

During the conversation the party can make DC 12 Deception or Persuasion checks to sell whatever story they tell the scouts , but if the wagon suffered any malfunctions in the last act the DCs increase by 2. Belton goes along with the adventurers and says his leg wound came from, "a very nasty rabbit who has been dealt with," while patting his stomach.

If the scouts grow suspicious, they ask for each person's name and occupation. The PCs can offer up a bribe of 40 gold or more to get them to drop their line of questioning at any time. Violence— usually a last resort—is also a solution here, and should prove to be an easy combat encounter.

On the other hand, if the scouts think the party are harmless travelers they kindly remind the group that checkpoints are going up in the days ahead to catch the escapees, so they best move on before these blockades become a nuisance.

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The Journey =>

Granny Appleseed is a friendly green hag  known in Hengistbury for her remedies, advice, and magical pastries.

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<= Memories of Holdenshire

Tariq Crestveil, the brother of Annika Crestveil, is a dedicated and passionate guard captain (use knight statistics, but with an AC of 15 from his half-pate armor). While he is known to be righteous and compassionate, Tariq can get quite intense when things get personal. Tariq is convinced that the adventurers killed his sister.

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<= Memories of Holdenshire