Faery's Tale Deluxe - Etud

excuses himself and suggests the faeries rest
up, so they can be ready for the long journey
to Wheatvale when morning comes.
Bob Carter
The journey to the outskirts of Wheatvale
should be uneventful. Describe the trip,
though, to give the players a chance to interact
in character, making plans and discussing the
situation.
According to Dribble’s instructions, the
directions tell them that the village is on the
other side of the Singing Brook. They can
get there by crossing its gently curving stone
footbridge, by flying, or by swimming (it’s too
deep to wade across).
Before you set eyes on the bridge to
Wheatvale, you hear a loud braying noise.
Then you see a curious figure making his way
across the bridge. It’s a tall, gangly mortal with
the head of a donkey. “Whoaaaa is me!” he
cries, in his mulish voice. He peers down into
the clear waters of the Singing Brook. “My
ha-a-aa-a-andsome face, go-o-o-o-o-oo-ne,
repla-a-a-a-a-ced by this ho-o-o-oo-o-orible
thing!”
This is Bob Carter, who, as his name
suggests, transports goods for a living. He
fancies himself a handsome fellow and a gift
to the young ladies of all the nearby villages.
Bob finds his new face completely distressing
— Tales of the Fey —
Wheatvalites and Faeries
— 81 —
and will cooperate fully with the faeries if he
thinks they can get his old chiseled features
back.
Ideally, the faeries should have to work a
little to get him on their side. Having heard
him moan about his lost handsomeness, they
can convince him to help them. In the case
of a young or less aggressive group, though,
he might have to propose the arrangement
himself.
Wheatvale
Wheatvale is a sleepy little farming village
along the river bank. It boasts a mill for
grinding grain into flour, and the operations
of several craftsmen, including a blacksmith,
tanner, and barrelmaker. About three dozen
thatched cottages, their walls made of stone
masonry, nestle around a bare patch of ground
used as the village square. A new well sits
in the middle of the square. Chickens peck
around the footpaths. Occasionally pet dogs
rush at them, sending them squawking away.
The Suspects
Investigation-based adventures can be
challenging even for experienced players and
Narrators. If the faeries fail to discover an
important clue, or find it but disregard its
importance, mystery scenarios can grind to a
halt. When this happens, you can have a hard
time getting the story back on track.
The people of Wheatvale know about faeries and believe that they exist. Some will be
scared of them, others may like them, but they won’t be reduced to stammering shock
by the sight of one.
The main challenge confronting the faeries in a village full of mortals is getting the
people to take them seriously and cooperate with them. Everybody knows that faeries
play tricks on mortals. The folk of Wheatvale will accuse the group of being behind
the mischief. The guilty party may be especially vocal in pinning the blame on them
(although the faeries shouldn’t be able to solve the mystery simply by listening for the
loudest blame-passer).
For this reason, they’ll be smart to work through an intermediary, either Bob Carter
or somebody else, at least at first. He can ask questions, provide information, and take
action on their behalf.