Presents for Goblins: Beginning the Adventure
The adventure begins as the player characters first arrive in town, either on the eve of the holiday or the holiday morning.
If they arrive in Revelleschafte on the holiday’s eve, the PCs have the chance to enjoy the festivities, learn about the town and its people, and spend the night in the inn—and it is filled with happy travelers and good cheer. The next morning, however, they awake to the news that the town has been pillaged by goblins , and (if willing), they can answer the call to adventure and trek down to the Abandoned Mine. PCs that insist on staying up at night may have the chance to encounter a small goblin raiding party amidst the night’s chaos, or may be so drunk on mead and spiked eggnog that they sleep through the whole attack anyway.
If they arrive on the morning of the holiday, they enter Revelleschafte only to find a despondent scene, bereft of holiday cheer. The town has just been pillaged by goblins on the eve of All’s Giving Day, and people are struggling to find the holiday cheer without their food, drink, and presents. As soon as the PCs make their presence known, some townsfolk grow eager to retaliate. “Our stuff!” they cry, “Please save our stuff!”
The mayor of the town will offer a reward of 150 gp per PC if they return with most of their belongings and proof the goblins have been killed. The mayor will offer half as much if the PCs only return with one or the other.
All's Giving Day
The adventure is based around the winter solstice, recognized in the Allesund town of Revelleschafte as All’s Giving Day. This is an Allesund holiday where on the eve families gather together to drink, be merry, and sing carols and hymns about the importance of togetherness during the long winter. All’s Giving Day can, of course, be easily replaced by another setting-appropriate winter holiday.
The following morning, families and friends exchange wrapped gifts with each other in the spirit of altruistic giving. These gifts are often toys and chocolates for children, clothes and jewelry for adults, and sundries shared between couples. That evening, families share in a large feast of roasted poultry with a variety of vegetables and side dishes.
All’s Giving Day is a holiday that many townspeople prepare for months in advance, making sure their gifts are bought or made, and that enough food is readied for the feast.