Chapter Two

After a cross country trek from your hometown to Robellia, you look around you in wonder at the marvels of the Spring Court.

The weather is pleasantly balmy. Soft rolling hills pan in every direction with idyllic hamlets lining the countryside. An old Brownie woman hanging out her washing waves to you over the fence of her cottage. Vast, snow capped mountains dot the distant horizon and you spot a couple of deer grazing far off. A pair of peacocks cross the road, halting your procession for a moment before moving on. The hills and forests are impossibly green, and wildflowers seem to cover every inch of grass that isn’t taken by clover or bush. Speaking of flowers – they are absolutely everywhere. Daffodils, delphiniums, daisies, dandelions - it seems this Duchy has every type no matter big or small. A particularly large orchid sways in your direction and – SWOOSH – takes a swipe at your travel pack! As you hurry on, you think you hear it giggling behind you.

The simple dirt road you’re travelling on turns to stone as you approach the outskirts of Robellia – the city of flowers, and home to the Spring Court.

As you make your way into the heart of the city, the streets buzz with activity. You are now in a traditional German style city with multicoloured, multi-leveled slatted townhouses all around you. The streets are lined with vendors setting up carts, citizens putting the final touches on flower displays, and tourists rushing to and fro, vying for a place at taverns and inns that are quickly booking out.

Tonight is the Spring Equinox celebration, known locally as Ostara. It is the biggest party of the year for the Spring Duchy.

Knowing the fae and their love of parties, it promises to be a very good night.

“Oi you!” a voice calls from above you. You look up and see flower baskets, hanging from eaves across the laneway. They are filled to the brim with beautiful multi-colored pansies. As you look closer, one of the pansies turns to face you and you realise it's got two little eyes and a mouth. It says: “I’ve got a message for ya - so listen up, dunderhead! Bird Boss says he’s been caught up with something. Says you might as well enjoy the festivities while you’re waitin’! And see if you can find some of your fellow recruits!” The pansy turns back to his friends, and you can see them resuming a heated card game. 

Well, there’s nothing for it. Every Fae likes a good party, whether you spend it drinking mead in a quiet corner or in the thick of a fairy circle, dancing until your feet fall off. Might as well make the most of it, right? 

By the time you’ve cleaned yourself up and put on your festival clothes, the sun has begun to set, and the streets are coming alive with festivities. As you step out onto the main road of the City, a thousand chairs and tables have been lined up in the middle of the main street - all the way up to the Castle. Fae are starting to seat themselves at the mishmash of tables.

A leprechaun hoists himself up onto the table and stands tall, magically magnifying his voice with a wave of his golden wand. His voice booms out: “Welcome to the 22309th annual Spring Equinox!” A cheer goes up in the crowd. “We give thanks to the goddess Rhiannon, mother of this land and our creator-” A cheer goes up. “-and to our beautiful Lord and Lady of the Spring Court-” Another chorus of cheers. A hobgoblin boos, and the high fae sitting next to him slaps him over the head. The leprechaun continues: “-and to the Realm, which has sheltered us and provided us with power and prosperity for nearly 25000 years! Tonight, on the Spring Equinox – every Fae will eat for free! Dig in!”

The table in front of you fills magically with platters and tureens of food. You’ve never seen so much food in your life! Flagons of mead, jugs of thick creamy milk, tureens of porridge with edible flowers on top, slabs of cooked meat, pans of roasted vegetables, cakes and cookies piled high on silver plates. Some of it is classic fae food, and others seem to be human recipes, relatively new to the realm.

Ostara Festivities: Fae are making offerings at the Cathedral of Rhiannon, bobbing for apples, dancing feverishly in fairy circles, eating psychedelic mushrooms, haggling with vendors, having drinking contests, playing card games, arm wrestling, face painting, setting off fireworks, playing instruments, and listening to the live band of Fairies that are playing while flying up and down the street. There are activities hosted in storefronts if you go exploring, including art galleries (you’re not sure the exhibition of Satyr nudes is really all that tasteful), and a workshop on how to weave baskets. 

As these quests are part of the main campaign, there is no due date to complete them. Quests also do not need to be completed in order.

Stay tuned for Chapter Three!