bwatford Posted May 1 Clone Share Posted May 1 OTARI GAZETTEER Otari is a thriving, diverse lumber town and trade port with a storied past and its fair share of sinister secrets. Founded by a group of adventurers over 400 years ago, the town has weathered attacks from kobolds and strange monsters, economic woes and windfalls, and cycles of prosperity and strife. Today, the town is a prosperous community and one of the largest settlements along the island’s southern coast. Otari is nestled in a coastal valley between two looming cliffs. The Osprey River flows into the sea through the middle of this valley, and the sturdy stone to either side of this river supports hundreds of buildings and a deep harbor. Otari rarely floods, but the numerous caves, warrens, and channels dug beneath the town do so regularly. Though day-to-day life in Otari resembles that in any small town, its skyline stands out due to the enormous waterwheel at its eastern edge, the ingenious and enormous flume that brings lumber down the cliffside for easy transportation, and a stunning domed temple to Sarenrae to the west. The town’s location near a major highway and its long history as a home to various adventuring parties draw many visitors. Lively trade passing through means unusual wares (and even magic items) aren’t too difficult to find. Just over 1,200 people live in Otari. While most of its residents are humans, some dwarves, elves, and other ancestries also live here. The majority of its residents work in the local fishing and lumber industries. For the most part, people in Otari are friendly and welcoming, though they prefer its small-town feel and make lighthearted fun of visitors from big cities. Coffee is a mainstay, a favorite drink among the hardworking and early-rising townsfolk. Oseph Menhemes, a descendant of one of Otari’s founders, has served multiple terms as the town’s elected mayor thanks to his easygoing efficiency and the townspeople’s general deference to tradition. He also runs one of the town’s main lumber companies, making him wealthy as well as influential. OTARI Unaligned Town Diverse lumber town and trade port with a storied past and its fair share of sinister secrets. Government Mayor (elected leader) Population 1,240 (60% humans, 8% halflings, 7% half-elves, 6% elves, 5% dwarves, 5% gnomes, 3% half-orcs, 2% goblins, 4% other) Languages Common, Dwarven, Elven, Halfling Religions Bacarous (the Merry Wanderer), Aeliana (the Greenwood Sentinel), Erdan (the Verdant Heart), Solethius (the Radiant Beacon) Threats aberrant horrors, eerie hauntings, kobolds, smugglers Lardus Longsaddle (CN male human soldier) foul-mouthed and short-tempered captain of the town guard Oseph Menhemes (N male human mayor) current mayor and patriarch of one of three local lumber companies Vandy Banderdash (NG female halfling cleric of Solethius) chatty priestess of Solethius and unusually knowledgeable town historian Wrin Sivinxi (CG female tiefling elf oddities merchant) eccentric occult items dealer, artisan, and collector of stories and rumors Name xDiceName xDiceResult xDiceString xDiceRolls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwatford Posted May 1 Author Clone Share Posted May 1 The Giant’s Wheel An enormous waterwheel that powers the lumber equipment in the Otari Mill. Loading Flume This long wooden chute takes lumber from the Giant’s Wheel down a flume into the harbor. Stone Ring Pond A mysteriously clear pool surrounded by ancient standing stones. Wrin’s Wonders A peculiar curio shop run by an eccentric woman who collects rumors. Gallentine Deliveries A delivery service always in need of fast, reliable help. Blades for Glades Otari’s primary smithy, which sells armor and weapons in addition to saws and axes. Odd Stories A bookstore run by a fiction-loving wizard. Otari Garrison A squat, bunker-like stone building that houses Otari’s civic guards. Crow’s Casks A brewery and tavern popular among local farmers and merchants. Crook’s Nook A sailors’ tavern built as a bridge across the Osprey River. Otari Market The one-stop shop for food, tools, and other everyday gear. Otari Fishery Fishery and shipyard by day, gathering place for games and entertainment by night. Ruins of the Thirsty Alpaca Once the largest tavern in town, until it suddenly collapsed in a recent disaster. The Rowdy Rockfish A surprisingly calm and quiet tavern. The Radiant Bastion of the Sunscribe A large library and temple to Solethius, with shrines to many other deities. Otari Graveyard A clifftop cemetery that’s mostly quiet but has a sinister atmosphere. Name xDiceName xDiceResult xDiceString xDiceRolls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwatford Posted May 1 Author Clone Share Posted May 1 WHO'S WHO IN OTARI In addition to the tiefling curio vendor and stargazer Wrin Sivinxi, the heroes are likely to encounter some of the following individuals during their adventures in and around Otari. Lardus Longsaddle The Otari Guard keeps the peace in town, and their leader is the gruff and stout Captain Lardus Longsaddle. Any heroes who get in trouble with the Otari Guard should hope to deal with anyone other than the captain—his curse-laden tirades are legendary, and he’s inclined to issue short jail sentences for minor infractions. Conversely, heroes who catch criminals earn a rare (though often short-lived) position on Captain Longsaddle’s good side. Oseph Menhemes The current mayor of Otari is Oseph Menhemes, patriarch of one of three local lumber companies and owner of Otari’s massive Giant’s Wheel and Loading Flume. Though dedicated to his role as a public servant and a devoted family man with many children, Oseph is ambitious and wants to expand the town’s lumber-processing capacities. Vandy Banderdash The head priestess of Otari’s largest temple, the Dawnflower Library, is a chatty woman named Vandy Banderdash. Always eager to greet newcomers, regardless of their faith or vocation, Vandy has a surprising knack for recommending the perfect bit of reading to people she has only just met. Though open-minded on almost every subject, she has no patience for thievery, as her sister stole several valuable books from the temple and fled not long ago. Yinyasmera The shrewd Yinyasmera owns Crook’s Nook, making her one of the town’s most prominent business owners. The fact that she’s also the head of the Osprey Club, Otari’s thieves’ guild, only increases her influence. She’s loyal to her town and rarely permits her thieves to target locals, although outsiders are fair targets for con games or robberies. Heroes unafraid to step outside the law eventually come to Yinyasmera’s attention. Name xDiceName xDiceResult xDiceString xDiceRolls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwatford Posted May 1 Author Clone Share Posted May 1 GATHERING PLACES Gathering places are at the heart of every settlement, and Otari is no exception. Crow’s Casks A sign over the door to this two-story stone building depicts a group of drunk crows perched on a leaky cask. Crow’s Casks is more than just a tavern—it’s a brewery and a shrine to Cayden Cailean, the god of heroes, bravery, and ale. Its proprietor, Magiloy, is a retired pirate who enjoys experimenting with new drinks. She’s always looking for enthusiastic customers to taste her latest concoctions. Crook’s Nook Crook’s Nook serves several purposes in town—the large wooden structure functions as a bridge over the Osprey River, as a cheap place to get a room for the night, and as a tavern well known for serving the best seafood in town. Trapdoors in the tavern’s floor allow direct access to the river below for fishing, and foolhardy (or inebriated) patrons sometimes wrestle over these openings to determine who’s stronger and who’s getting wet. The building’s attic serves as the guildhall for Otari’s thieves’ guild, the Osprey Club—a function that’s perhaps the town’s worst-kept secret, as evidenced by the building’s very name. Otari Fishery Every night, from an hour before sundown to an hour before midnight, Tamily Tanderveil opens the ground floor of the town’s main fishery to sailors, laborers, and travelers alike, offering a comfortable and welcoming place to gather for games and entertainment. A small menu is offered for those who wish to have drinks or snacks while gaming here, the proceeds of which Tamily frequently gives back in the form of contests and prize money for various impromptu gaming tournaments. Otari Garrison The headquarters of the Otari Guard is a sturdy stone building hung with green-and-white banners that match the guards’ uniforms. These guards keep the peace in town and patrol the surrounding roads to ensure they stay free of banditry and trouble. They also serve as the town’s firefighters. Rowdy Rockfish Despite its name, the Rowdy Rockfish is the quietest and quaintest of Otari’s taverns. A sign depicting a rockfish with its fins up in a boxing pose hangs outside, but within, the calm demeanor of the tavern’s patrons might make someone wonder if it’s the only tavern in the Inner Sea to never host a barroom brawl. The Rockfish’s current proprietor is a dignified dwarf named Brelda Venkervale, a stoic businesswoman who took over the bar after her son, Lasda—the previous owner—vanished without a trace. She still seeks out information about her missing son, certain that he still lives. Name xDiceName xDiceResult xDiceString xDiceRolls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwatford Posted May 1 Author Clone Share Posted May 1 LANDMARKS Whether approached by sea or by land, Otari has several distinctive landmarks that everyone in town knows. Even newcomers to town soon learn to orient themselves by these structures. The Radiant Bastion of the Sunscribe Otari’s largest temple is built at the town’s westernmost edge, atop an upraised shelf that’s nevertheless far below the clifftop. The library’s position allows it to catch the rays of the rising sun, which transform its central dome into a glowing testament to the sun god Solethius — at least when the sky is clear. While principally dedicated to Solethius, the Radiant Bastion of the Sunscribe welcomes all non-evil faiths. The building’s two wings each contain shrines, and the center houses a wide range of books, including histories, satires, textbooks, and maps to innumerable exciting locales. The Giant’s Wheel This towering waterwheel is truly a sight to behold. With a diameter of 30 feet, the immense wooden wheel generates the torque needed to power a mechanized lumber mill and turn a treadmill that transports cut logs. The Giant’s Wheel has belonged to the Menhemes family for generations, but it isn’t exclusively used by the Otari Mill. The other two lumber companies pay to use the waterwheel, allowing Oseph to keep an eye on his competition. The constant noise of the wheel’s grinding and churning competes with the whine of the saws and the clatter of the loading ramp. At night, the busywork of the mill can be heard in the town below. Day-to-day operation of the Giant’s Wheel and its mill fall to its foreman, the heavily scarred ex-gladiator named Klorte Hengus. In his youth, Klorte made a name for himself as a gladiator in a distant metropolis, fighting with paired hatchets as “the Lumberjacker.” The serious Klorte considers that violent past behind him, and he fails to see any irony in the fact that he now works for actual lumberjacks. Lumber Flume This long flume sends water diverted from the Osprey River and timber from the Giant’s Wheel hundreds of feet south to the harbor for easy loading onto ships. The loading ramp has long been a draw to local youths who enjoy “riding the chute” from the clifftop above to the harbor below, but Klorte keeps a wary eye out for such foolishness. Stone Ring Pond A total of two dozen standing stones, each exactly 12 feet high, stand like sentries around the shores of a shallow pond. The site is usually occupied by polite but aloof pilgrims of Peregrine Pathlord (patron of travelers) or of Erdan, the Verdant Heart (patron of nature). A kindly nature priest named Worliwynn permanently resides there, and she helps the loggers work harmoniously with nature. Name xDiceName xDiceResult xDiceString xDiceRolls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwatford Posted May 2 Author Clone Share Posted May 2 GOODS AND SERVICES Heroes need quality equipment for their adventures, so your party might look to make some purchases while they’re in Otari. The following shops can serve as more than just places for heroes to spend their hard-earned wealth; their proprietors are interesting people who can aid the heroes in other ways. Blades for Glades The primary smithy in town specializes in crafting saws, axes, and other tools used in the lumber trade, but the skilled smiths here also produce quality armor, shields, and weapons. The owner of Blades for Glades is a misanthropic man named Carman Rajani, who’s as happy to sell a sword to split a monster as a hatchet to fell a tree. He’s descended from one of Otari’s founders and believes himself entitled to better treatment from the townspeople than his surly demeanor earns him. Crow’s Casks This brewery’s proprietor, Magiloy, creates magical potions in addition to delicious (but sometimes questionable) beverages—your GM will have information about what sorts of potions and dubious drinks might be for sale during any one visit. Magiloy might reserve special potions or good deals for those who fetch rare ingredients for her or for those who break up the tavern’s occasional bar fights. The Radiant Bastion of the Sunscribe Otari’s largest temple contains more than ordinary books; the clerics also sell scrolls, wands, and magic weapons. True to her reputation of being unusually knowledgeable, the high priestess Vandy Banderdash can often direct visitors to exactly the scroll or weapon they need. Gallentine Deliveries Oloria Gallentine is a seventh-generation citizen of Otari and the owner of the fastest and most reliable delivery service in the area. Oloria can probably acquire anything the heroes need that they can’t find in Otari, although the price for such orders might be steep. Odd Stories The wizard Morlibint specializes in fanciful fiction, but he and his husband also sell textbooks, teaching tools, and scrolls. Morlibint is incredibly well read and can help the heroes decipher tomes in ancient or unusual languages they might encounter in their adventures. He eagerly purchases rare books the heroes come across in their adventures, hoping to resell them at a profit (after reading them, of course). Otari Market Part open-air farmer’s market, part log-cabin trading post, the Otari Market is a one-stop shop for basic goods. Available wares include all adventuring gear, light armor, and simple weapons. The market’s owner is the dour, humorless Keeleno Lathenar. Keeleno pays handsomely for wolf pelts, as a wolf-like monster slew his wife years ago, and he hopes to one day acquire the skin of her killer. Wrin’s Wonders This odd, domed building is always open. The proprietor, Wrin Sivinxi, sells adventuring gear and magic items. Wrin is a bit unusual, seeing menace in every corner and truths in the constellations above, but she’s eager to get to know adventurers and show off the many magical trinkets in her collection. Name xDiceName xDiceResult xDiceString xDiceRolls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwatford Posted May 2 Author Clone Share Posted May 2 DANGEROUS LOCALES Even a town as small and comfortable as Otari has its fair share of dangerous places nearby that many locals know to avoid. Gauntlight Keep About a half hour’s walk north of Otari is a sprawling swamp called Fogfen. Ruined Gauntlight Keep lies within, overgrown with moss and overrun with vermin. Over the last several generations, hopeful explorers have poked around the ruins, but they’re generally considered unsafe and wholly picked over today. The most mysterious feature of Gauntlight Keep is a lighthouse that towers above the ruins, curiously far from the shore. The lighthouse hasn’t ever shone its light in living memory, but there’s nevertheless a vague unease about the structure in Otari—if its eerie light shines, sinister things must be afoot. Otari Graveyard High on the cliff above The Radiant Bastion of the Sunscribe, the Otari Graveyard holds crumbling mausoleums and groves of leafless trees. Few enter this ancient cemetery other than the acolytes who tend it, as it’s hard to reach even though it looms over the town. Rumors of undead roaming the cemetery at night persist among Otari’s most superstitious townspeople. Otari Hinterlands The old hills and forests around Otari have been inhabited since long before the town existed. Fallen fortresses of would-be warlords, dank barrows crawling with undead, and caves filled with monsters and forgotten treasure are all rumored to lie within a few hours’ walk of Otari. Name xDiceName xDiceResult xDiceString xDiceRolls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwatford Posted May 2 Author Clone Share Posted May 2 THE ROSEGUARD An adventuring party who made their name in Absalom, the Roseguard defeated the villainous Belcorra Haruvex and founded the logging town of Otari. Today, the people of Otari continue to respect and honor the Roseguard on Founder’s Day. The Roseguard consisted of the following heroes. Aesephna Menhemes: Aesephna was the party’s healer. She was a cleric of Aeliana who was always more comfortable in smaller towns than big cities like Absalom. Otari Ilvashti: Otari, the group’s rogue, was a charming optimist who kept the others hopeful with his charm and humor, even during their darkest hours. Vol Rajani: Vol was the party’s fighter, a no-nonsense swordswoman who claimed to be exiled royalty from Nidal. Zarmavdian: The group’s wizard was a well-educated diviner who pursued outlandish conspiracy theories and occult lore. Name xDiceName xDiceResult xDiceString xDiceRolls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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