On the way out, Tuuli takes a moment to a) look around the basement space, curious as to what it is used for and what might be kept here, and b) keep an eye on Knicknack, lest the girl be “curious” in her own way. ;)

Perception: 19 

Harrow stood still for a moment before leaving for the ladder, huffing and puffing in the wake of his sudden and unexpected exertions. He checked in with Walt before leaving, confirming that his friend wasn't injured. "Although I didn't see you fall, friend, I both heard and felt it! Let me know if there's anything you need."

The adrenaline was still draining from his system and leaving him feeling heady and loose-limbed as he climbed the ladder, even though he'd only been in the game for a moment. He paid his respects to each of the tut-krogh with a gentle stroke along each of their backs before saying goodbye to Madam Kulp.

Tuuli examines room 7, which seems to be filled with nothing but mildewed furniture and old empty crates and barrels. 

The party begins to regather outside Madam Kulp's golden tent at the center of the Night Market. The crowd is full of smiling well-wishers and shouts of encouragement at your win.

There are two other tents, and two other market games, going on nearby: the Aroon Family Pepper Challenge, the hot pepper-eating contest run by the Spicy Brothers, and Battle Prawn Challenge, the cooking challenge run by Sid Squid’s Trusty Leek.

A couple of young halflings nearby mention a small fire at Xungoon Family Seafood. It's out now, they said, but it caused a small scene.

One of the Spicy Brother’s assistants, a human in a garish red-and-green uniform, tries to catch your eye from the next tent and gesture you over.

Tuuli chaperones Knicknack out of the basement, the two of them coming out last, and missing much of the fanfare. "Those little guys are too cute," she tells Madam Kulp.

She steps out into the open, and looks around at the other challenges. Not really tuned to either, she turns when the halflings tell their story. "Is that right? Which way is Xungoon Family Seafood?" Then she turns to the party. "Hey, I'm going to go sniff around about this fire business. You guys see if you can pick up any clues at these games. It seems like everyone who is anyone is doing this."

She heads off to the seafood store, and is happy for company if any is offered.

Harrow nodded to Tuuli as she left before shaking his head at the news of further drama with the Xungoon family. "If I'm to be honest," he said after a moment's thought, "I'd like to play another game, I think. I haven't gotten the chance to participate fully, yet. If any of you would like to play together and have a preference, please do say so; otherwise, I may head to the Spice Brothers' challenge."

Walt waves to Tuuli as she walks away and shouts "We'll see you later! Keep an eye out for a nice cold drink! I have a feeling we'll need one after our next game."

Before joining Harrow at the Spicy Bro's challenge, he finds Madam Kulp and tries to make amends for the fiasco with her caterpillars.

Walt spots Madam Kulp and approaches her. 

 "Excuse me, Madam Kulp. May I have a moment of your time?"

"I'd like to apologize for how I treated the tut-krogh. It was not my intention to harm them. I have heard that some believe the tut-krogh to be messengers of the spirits. And I do not wish to anger the spirits, or you, for being so careless with these gentle creatures."

Walt bows his head slightly before continuing.

"If there's any way I can make up for my misdeeds...please let me know. I would do anything within my means. By any chance, do they have a favorite treat or food that I can fetch for them?" 

(OOC: Walt is being earnest and not trying to be deceptive. He genuinely feels bad and wants to make up for it. DM, feel free to roll any skill checks if necessary)

Rycroft is caught off guard by the energy of Walt tearing past him, and is stunned that they have succeeded! ”To whom God will, there be the victory!” he proclaims emerging from the building. 

“TiMe FoR pEpPeRs” he squawks, joyfully bounding toward the Spice Brothers stand.

Tuuli crosses through the center of the Night Market, past the other two tents, and off to find the Xungoon stall.

Harrow and Rycroft head toward the Spicy Brothers tent – a golden tent festooned with a banner, "Aroon Family Pepper Challenge". There are bleachers set up nearby. A game has recently ended with no winners. They need at least four contestants to start another round (but you can see some interested parties in the bleachers mulling over whether to enter or not.)

Meanwhile, Walt returns to apologize again to Madam Kulp. She smiles warmly and pats his shoulder with an air bordering on condescension. "No, no, the tut-krogh require a specific grade of food to produce our high-quality silks. They have anxious stomachs. They must be fed at the correct time and exercised at the right time and in the right places. They become nervous whenever I walk them around certain parts of the market." She adds in a stage whisper, "The Tyenmo or Xungoon stalls."

Finally, she shoos him out again. "You're forgiven. Why don't you go enjoy the Night Market now?"

(Where does Walt want to go next? And Knicknack and Calista?)

"Ah...I see. Thank you. For your forgiveness...that is..." says Walt as he winks, a not to subtle wink at Madam Kulp, all the while failing to conceal a smirk. Walt waves a goodbye to Madam Kulp and heads straight for the Spicy Brother's stall.

Walt shuffles towards Rycroft and Harrow just outside the "Aroon Family Pepper Challenge" and and leans in closely, sharing the information he received from Madam Kulp.

"Hello there boys, perhaps our new found 15 minutes of fame might be paying off already. It seems as though the tut-krogh caterpillar themselves are not too fond of the Tynemo and Xungoon stalls..."

Walt scratches the stubble on his beard while he ponders what he knows of the situation before continuing on in hushed tones.

"Now, I know that the tut-krogh are believed to be messengers of the spirits. If the Tynemo and Xungoon stalls are up to no good, perhaps the spirits themselves are voicing their disapprova..."

Walt pauses mid thought and looks at Rycroft.

"Did you not speak of some mystery fruit at the Xungoon stall? What was that all about?"

Rycroft cocks his head curiously. “SpIrItS lIkE pErSiMmOnS?” He cackles at the thought. “MaYbE wOrMs HaTe MaGiC fRuIt!”

“Magic fruit you say? Perhaps there is some connection there, but I think we’ll need to do some more digging to uncover some more clues.” 

Walt pauses for a moment, searching his mind for how this all connects before snapping out of it.

”Nonetheless, that funny business can wait for later. I have a hankering for something spicy. Let’s check out the spicy pepper challenge. I’m curious how this one works.”

Walt will walk over to the Spicy Brother’s tent and ask for a rundown of the rules.

Walt, Rycroft, and Harrow enter the Spicy Brothers' tent. The crowd applauds enthusiastically from the nearby bleachers as you’re led into the broad, open space of the event tent. Before you are four chairs and a square table bearing a massive basket of colorful peppers and several pitchers of milk.

"Welcome, challengers, to the Aroon Family Pepper Challenge!” shouts the bombastic announcer standing near the table and wearing a red, pepper-themed costume. “I’m your host, Vi Aroon! Is everybody ready to Greet. The. Heat?! ” You realize the announcer is, in fact, Vi – the outgoing brother you met earlier. "Our challenge unfolds over three rounds, with challengers eating their peppers one at a time. If you successfully eat all three peppers without reaching for the milk, you win! Magic is not permitted during the event. But first, we need one more participant!" He scans the crowd for one more volunteer. "And do our three seated participants have any questions, before we begin?" He glances back at Walt, Rycroft, and Harrow.

Meanwhile, Tuuli locates the Xungoon stall. The stall’s right leg has collapsed; the stall is now crooked. Kusa and Gammon are still there. Kusa looks sweaty and irritated. There are still stains on the ground from the earlier persimmon incident.

As Harrow, Walt and Rycroft took their seats in the event tent, Harrow contemplated the information that Walt and Rycroft shared. "I must agree with the tut-krogh's assessment of the Xungoon and Tyenmo stalls; if today's kerfuffle is any shade of typical for them, then I'd be getting worse heartburn near to their stall than I will from this challenge!" He thought for a moment, gazing at the peppers and milk before him. "Perhaps, though, we should be on the lookout for a persimmon peddler; they might have some further insight to glean. I'll keep an eye out. And while I do love spice, a persimmon may be refreshing after this."

Tuuli approaches Kusa and Gammon. “Hey, I heard about what happened, but I wanted to hear it from you. Is this the sort of thing that has been happening?”

”Oh, I sure hope I don’t need the milk. I’m not much of a drinker of milk. It sure knots of my innards. Persimmons…now that’s a fruit I do enjoy paired up with spicy food”

Walt will make some observations from the crowd to see if the mentioning of persimmons causes a stir. 

(ooc: DM feel free to make any requisite checks. )

“Anyway, no questions here. I’m ready when you are.”

A large-bellied halfling steps up to fill the fourth chair in the Spicy Brothers. He gives you all a confident nod, and a wink to Vi. "Call me Osborn," he drawls, and sits back to make himself comfortable.

"It's time to get started!" calls Vi in a singsong voice. "Remember - if you drink the milk or leave the table, you're OUT! When I give the word, I want you to randomly select ONE of our fine peppers from the basket and EAT the WHOLE thing. Are you ready to GREET THE HEAT? Ready? ROUND ONE! ...And GO!"

The peppers in the basket all look alike to your eyes. 

Walt, Rycroft, and Harrow should each roll a d20 to see what kind of pepper you select, and then make a CON save to see if you can get it down. (Note: It's a little more complicated than it seems - even a Nat 1 may not mean. fail - wait for me to resolve your turn!)

Osborn goes first. He picks out a large pepper, and pops the whole thing in his mouth without hesitation. Pepper: 7  CON Save: 1

Osborn shrieks with pain. He gets up abruptly and stumbles away from the table, tears rolling down his face. 

Walt, Rycroft, and Harrow should make their rolls next. 

(Postscript: Walt - Perception re: persimmon reaction: 19.)

--

Meanwhile, Tuuli finds Kusa in a black mood, her previously-impeccable purple-and-gold silk gowns seared and in disarray. "Our stove flared up! Nearly took our stall with it. Then Gammon broke the leg of the stall in the chaos. Too many coincidences! I thought Lamai was more honorable than this, but it's clear they're up to something! It's like the old days again. You and your group need to catch them in the act!"

(Walt's persimmon announcement seems to go right over the heads of the audience. They give a blank response - no reaction to that word that he can see. It's as if nobody is particularly familiar with that fruit, or at least nobody has a strong opinion about them.)

Rycroft

”Hot deeds is love!” He spies a particularly colorful pepper and gobbles it down quickly.

D20: 16

Con save: 16

Rycroft's pepper is... indescribably hot. Searing, intense pain in his mouth makes him nearly black out. For an instant, everyone's face at the table looks like a skull to you. It's unsettling and painful. Somehow, though, you just manage to choke it down. (You have disadvantage on your next CON Save.)

Vi cackles with good-natured laughter. "A little hot for you? This might be looking to be another short game, folks!" 

Walt and Harrow should make their rolls next:  one d10 (not a d20, sorry), and one CON Save.