=== 102 Pen and Paper Adventure | Beta Age | The Man Without A Name === ====== SCENE 3c — NEW KOUROU FOOD MARKET ====== {{:new_kourou_food_market_scenic_2d.png?direct&400|}} ===== 1 | Scene Overview ===== * **Location:** Phoenix Square, Public Services Ring, [[new_kourou|New Kourou]] * **Type:** Supplies · Social · Light Risk * **Era:** [[beta_age|Beta Age]] * **Tone:** Lively · Crowded · Slightly chaotic **Atmosphere & Sensory Cues:** Drifting steam from cooking stalls · sizzling eel skewers · cries of vendors advertising deals · clatter of wooden crates on shuttle-deck flooring · ---- ===== 2 | Read-Aloud Description ===== Lantern sway above raised shuttle-deck walkways, casting light across the stalls that circle the central fountain. The air is thick with competing smells: steaming [[zelor_grain|Zelor Grain]] rolls, honey-glazed [[bilax_root|Bilax root]]-wedges, sharp [[mirel_leaf|Mirel leaf]] from the salad stands, sizzling River fishes brushed with briny oil. A voice rises above the noise — the same one you heard earlier on the street: * **“Tasty Tandora! Healthy Tandora! Smoothies one K!”** Children weave between legs chasing bots. A [[butler_bots|Butler Bot]] hums past carrying the purchased goods of his owner. Somewhere behind you, a Veyra snorts impatiently from its tether post. Whatever you need for the journey to [[firetown|Firetown]] — food, drink, warm clothing — you can find it here… if you keep an eye on your purse. {{ :read_aloud_scene_3c_new_kourou_food_market_1_.mp3 |}} ---- ==== Staged Read-Alouds (Progressive Descriptions) ==== | **Trigger / Timing** | **Read-Aloud or Narrative Insert** | | **PCs browse the stalls** | Vendors call out louder as the group approaches: “Fresh Zelor rolls! Still warm!” “Skyweaver skewers — grilled on driftwood!” | | **PCs hesitate or compare prices** | A sudden flare of smoke rises from the Arla River Grill. “Ten K a skewer! Only ten! Fresh this morning!” | | **PCs stop near Ira’s garments** | Ira snaps a re-fit rivet into a jacket, then eyes the group. “Looking for [[dark_side|Dark Side]] coats? ” | | **Pickpocket attempts theft** | A shoulder bumps one of you — light, quick, almost apologetic. The crowd shifts. A hand brushes your belt. Someone melts away into the bodies around you. | ---- ===== 3 | Scene Intent ===== | **Scene Type** | **Player Intents** | **DM Function / Story Link** | | Supplies · Social | Buy food and water · acquire warm clothes · explore market · react to theft attempt | Prepare PCs for Dark Side travel · test awareness · introduce risk of losing travel money | ---- ===== 4 | Key (N)PCs + Dynamic Cues ===== | **Name** | **Role / Affiliation** | **Motivation / Goal** | **Dynamic Cues — How They React** | **Wiki Link** | | **Sola Enu** | Tandora fruit vendor | Sell smoothies & fruit; build rapport | Warm, energetic; calls PCs “travelers.” Offers small discount if PCs buy in bulk. | [[new_kourou_food_market|New Kourou Food Market]] | | **Ira Venn** | Garment seller (second-hand) | Sell warm clothes for Dark Side | Sharp but fair; negotiates; praises quality of old Karabulut jackets. Will warn PCs about cold exposure near Firetown. | [[new_kourou_food_market|New Kourou Food Market]] | | **Finlay Hyden** | Pickpocket · Local troublemaker | Lift coin purses from distracted newcomers | Acts innocent; vanishes fast; panics if caught. | — | **Special Notes (PC-dependent):** * PCs native to the Dark Side (e.g., [[rogan_sokolov|Rogan Sokolov]], [[elias_kim|Elias Kim]]) already own warm clothing and only need food/water. ---- ===== 5 | Triggers, Actions & Consequences ===== === A. Supplies & Preparation === | **Trigger / Cue** | **Immediate Reaction** | **Future Hook / Consequence** | | 🍞 **PCs buy provisions** | Vendors describe rations (use [[new_kourou_food_market|wiki table]]). | PCs obtain food for travel; no penalties later. | | 🧥 **PCs approach Ira’s garments** | Ira inspects them, suggests warm gear. | Prevents cold-exhaustion disadvantage near Firetown. | | 💬 **Ask about Firetown** | Vendors exchange rumors: “Troopers caught someone strange last night…” | Foreshadows Nameless Man & Station plot. | --- === B. Pickpocket Event (Finlay Hyden) === **Finlay attempts theft if:** * PCs are distracted by vendor talk, OR * group splits, OR * someone rolls passive Perception < 13. | **Trigger / Cue** | **Immediate Reaction** | **Future Hook / Consequence** | | 💰 **Finlay attempts to steal** | Sleight of Hand +4 vs PC Passive Perception | If successful, PC loses 20–50 K (DM rolls 2d10×2). | | 🚨 **PC notices theft** | Finlay freezes, then bolts through crowd. | Chase begins (simple 3-step chase; DC 12 Athletics or Acrobatics). | | 🏃 **If PCs give chase** | Market crowd parts; vendors yell; crates fall. | If caught: Finlay returns money, begs mercy, reveals tiny rumor. | | ❌ **If PCs fail to catch him** | Finlay disappears down a service alley. | Lost money may affect ability to afford caravan/mounts. | --- === C. Travel Options Reinforced === | **Trigger / Cue** | **Immediate Reaction / Description** | **Leads To Scene** | | 🐎 **PCs mention mounts** | Sola gestures toward the stable road. | → [[tmwan_mandalas_mounts|Scene 3b – Mandala’s Mounts]] | | 🚚 **PCs ask about caravans** | Ira thumbs toward the station. “Caravan bells already rang — 30-minute warning.” | → [[tmwan_courier_station|Scene 3a – Courier Station]] | | 🎒 **PCs finish shopping** | The smell of driftwood-grilled fishes trails behind them as they exit the square. | Transition back to travel decision. | ---- ===== 6 | DM Notes ===== * **Tone:** Bright, bustling, and slightly chaotic. This is not a dangerous scene, but it should feel alive and full of small risks — especially the threat of losing money in the crowd. * **Pacing:** Keep the market moving. Use vendor voices, sizzling pans, shifting crowds, and passing bots to maintain momentum. The market should feel dense, with many small pulls on the players’ attention. * **No Resolutions Here:** * This scene provides supplies and social interaction only. * Travel decisions resolve in Scene 3a (Courier Station) or Scene 3b (Mandala’s Mounts). * The pickpocket chase, if it happens, ends *inside the market* — not outside. * **Focus the Stakes:** * Food, water, and warm clothing are essential for Dark Side travel. * Losing money here can complicate later choices (caravan tickets, Veyra rentals). * The pickpocket encounter adds tension without harming pacing. * **Continuity & Player Needs:** * Remind players from the Dark Side that they already own warm clothing. * Encourage preparation, but do not force purchases. Let the consequences speak later. ---- ==== DM Tutorial: How to approach the scene ==== **Short Version:** {{ :dm_briefing_scene_3c_new_kourou_food_market_1_.mp3 |}} ---- ===== Related Pages and Further Information ===== * ↑↑ **Start:** [[the_man_without_a_name|The Man Without A Name]] * ★ **Overview:** [[All Scenes of The Man Without A Name|All Scenes of The Man Without A Name]] * ← **Previous Scene:** [[tmwan_departure_debate|Scene 2 – Travel Preparations]] ==== New Kourou Hub Overview (Travel Options) ==== | **Location** | **Type / Activity** | **Primary Opportunities** | **Tone / Difficulty** | **Leads To Scene** | | **[[new_kourou_courier_station|New Kourou Courier Station]]** | Travel · Ticket Purchase | Buy caravan tickets · Check departures | Busy · Regulated | → [[tmwan_courier_station|Scene 3a – Courier Station]] | | **[[mandala_s_mounts|Mandala’s Mounts]]** | Travel · Mount Rental | Rent Veyras · Handle negotiations | Loud · Slightly tense | → [[tmwan_mandalas_mounts|Scene 3b – Mandala’s Mounts]] |