The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

She looks over the armour carefully.  The work's not too shabby, I suppose, she says grudgingly.  Needs some work, and some of the leather strips need replacing.  You sure you don't just want to buy something new?  We have some leather armor here, and some with metal studs for extra protection. 

She gives the man a look and he grins, puts down his work and goes to fetch something from inside the shop.  He returns and shows you some leather and studded leather.  It seems good quality and the right size for you.

Alton shakes his head, "I couldn't find it in me to do that with the sentimental value attached. I wouldn't mind paying to have it repaired and, if possible, have those metal studs added."

Silent would have accompanied Alton to the smithy and inquired about any potential upgrades to his current armour. You think there's anything here you can work with? Don't have enough coin for a full new suit. 

Balassar will always find his way to the smithy curious what he might have. He also has a short sword that he needed to get rid of. As he gets close he’ll stand silently waiting for Alton to finish as he admires the work being done, thinking back to his family’s smithy.

(OOC: is this a different smithy than the one Magnum works for?) 

Alton, the woman shrugs.  I can salvage a fair amount, put some new supports on, put the metal studs in.  I'm not going to lie, this is going to cost you more than if you just buy new armour but... well, that's up to you.

The smithy will charge you fifty gold for upgrading Alton's armour to studded leather.  It will take them five days, which is well within your downtime period.

Silent, the woman inspects your armour too, but aside from cosmetic changes, any actual improvement to the armour will cost the same or more than just purchasing the better armour, which would be splint for 200 gold.

Balassar, you can sell any weapons or armour here for half their purchase price in the PHB.  They don't have many items on display - you could ask, and they will bring you what they have to show you.

This is not the smithy where Magnum will be working next week.  This one is on the very edge of town and Geta is looking at you all and making impatient noises, keen to get you back into Felderwin proper and not upset her bosses.

Silent thanks the smithy for her inspection and will head out with the rest of the group. 

Alton smiles, "That's okay, I don't mind paying a bit more for the work." He hands over the fifty gold. "I'm staying at the Goldfield Tavern, if anything comes up and you need to get in touch." Alton waves to the smiths as he catches up with the rest of his group. "Did you want your armor worked on too, Silent? I don't mind letting you use some of the coin I have."

That's... well, all right then.  I mean, thank you.  We'll send it to the tavern when it's finished.  The woman takes your money and your old armour and checks that she has your name right.

In the last few days of downtime, the evidence of Harvest Close is everywhere; not just the increased chatter and signs of decoration in the streets, but also the last of the actual harvest coming through the town and into barns and silos, not to mention a dip in the temperature that shows winter is not far off.

It's the night before Harvest Close. Geta comes to leave a message, which she delivers to any of you she can find, to pass on to the others. The Lawmaster's investigation is nearly complete; he will have an interview with you all on the morning following the festival, but that you should relax and enjoy the day's events. She indicates that Art will also be allowed to go free from his arrest, though he will be accompanied by guards for his own safety, so you shouldn't be surprised to see him and you should avoid direct contact with him.

The next morning you awake. You already hear music coming from the streets outside, and overnight the last of the decorations have gone up - colourful flags criss-crossed the street above you, and every window is decorated with flags and flowers.  Crowds are headed towards the Sunset Hall and the large surrounding square, as apparently the party starts early.

It's up to you how much you want to join in; there's a wide variety of activities, including competitions of skill, strength and artistry, performances to watch, and lots of food and drink. Felderwin is a halfling town, and the halflings know how to have a good time. If you're partaking, let me know what interests you...

(Sorry, I did miss a Performance check from before.  Alton, you earned 13 gold and 93 silver pieces performing over the course of a few days.)

(OOC: Did Magnum earn anything working at the smithy?) 

Wow, I really thought I'd done on these.  Maybe I made a post and then failed to post it?

Anyway, yes Magnum made 2 gold and 151 silver working at the smithy.

Silent is keenly interested in watching some of the musical performances, and he'll bring his lute with him in case an opportunity to join in arises. He'll also partake in any contests of strength offering monetary rewards. 

(OOC: Earlier at the smithy he would have thanked Alton for the offer but denied it, saying he thinks the money would be more useful for other things.) 

Magnum will look around and take the festival in, but likely not participate in any challenges or activities. 

Alton grins from ear to ear as they get out into the festival and darts off from the group every so often, only to come back a few minutes later with various food to hand everyone. While at one of the contests of strength he will give Balassar a nudge saying, "I overheard Silent and Magnum talking and Silent was saying how he could take you in any of these strength contests." More just trying to start a friendly competition than anything. If there are any games of skill where the prizes are like toys or stuffed animals/creatures, Alton will try his hand at those.

(OOC: Passive stealth of 15 for when Alton just randomly darts off for the food.)

(OOC: Potion opportunity?)

Most of the games are for prizes, rather than money, as far as you can tell.  As you enter the square around the Sunset Hall, the first stall you see is a competition of strength.  The halfling running the competition demonstrates by taking a large hammer and swinging it, striking a device that causes a metal piece to almost, but not quite, ring a bell at the top.  The halfling man is muscular, perhaps in his early fifties, with a broad grin and the manner of an experienced entertainer.  Come one and all, and try your strength.  As you pass by, he calls out towards you:  Now here are some fine fellows come from afar, no?  Can you compete against the tough folk of Felderwin?

The prizes appear to range from small packs of candy to larger carved wooden toys and figures, depending on how high the metal piece rises; there are marks on the board to indicate what level wins what prize.  It's not clear what the prize would be if you succeed in ringing the bell.

If you want to try this competition, make a straight STR check.

Alton, the stalls in the market square are full to bursting with all of the pastries and candies that you remember from your childhood, many of which your parents are probably cooking and serving at your own village's Harvest Close festival today.  It makes you feel a little homesick, but not for long - there's no room for gloom on a day like this!

Silent spits on both his palms and squares up with the hammer. Check this out, gramps. 

18 

(OOC: Oof...) 

Aww, never mind son, says the burly halfling as Silent's effort doesn't even net him the most minor of prizes.

After the half-orc, a halfling teenager steps up and does a little better.  She takes a small bag of candy as her winnings, and offers one to Silent.  It's a small purple sweet seemingly made from some fruit you don't recognise.