A New Year Was Come to the Twilight Age

The Twilight Age gasps on as another journey around the bloated red sun has begun without the dying star filtering out. While tale of the last adventuring expedition of that now passed year waits to be told, the adventuring community of Orm sorts through some year end business.

Several among the adventurers that have moved to Orm in the past year have contributed to the city-state by investing in one of its existing institutions and starting several others. Here is the returns and losses on those investments along with what tax they are required to pay to the Impossible Fortress:

• Few have heard of Riverborn Scamandros' new concern: Riverwine. The Magician claims Yellow Fever and capture by the Imperial Mother held up his plans of selling some of the finest libations in Orm. Regardless of the reasons, the project has already devalued by 50gp sinking even further away from being considered inconsequential among the residents of Orm. As a tax, Riverwine must donate wine to Orm's year-end celebrations.
• The donation-based Golden Googles actually lost 12gp in the prior year due to several of the gnomes drinking away a sizable portion of Brian's Miracle Moonshine. Golden Googles remains an inconsequential institution in Orm. Like Riverwine, Golden Googles must contribute some of Brian's Miracle Moonshine to the festivities honoring the passing of another year.
• PakPak's ShopShop makes most of its money in direct transactions with the adventuring community in Orm. As a result, it stands of inconsequential in status among the general populace of Orm. Regardless, a few of Orm's general citizenry stumbled upon the institution and end up buying the odd jar or some mead earning the store's kobold proprietor PakPak an additional 10gp in profit. As a tax, this year the ShopShop must convert 3 strange brews to potions with the Potion Roulette for the Impossible Fortress.
• Hate Pit's half way house for fellow children of the vats, The Container, is that concerned about the acquisition of wealth yet this did not stop it from growing a little in value as a very modest 15gp have been found lying in its coffers at year's end. As a tax for the Container, Hate Pit must spit into the mouth of each of the three daughters of the Rani of the Impossible Fortress.
• The illusionist Willow the Wisp revived the neglected shrine to Danu, the Mother of the Primordial Waters with 500gp and tales of resurrection in the pool of life. While most find Danu's shrine to be one of the most inconsequential along the Alley of the Gods, this did not stop Willow from earning 25gp in profits from donations at year's end. As a tax, Willow must spend one down time in the coming year watching over the Old Gods of Orm.
• Financially, it can not be said that the duelist Wolfgang's Wolves Den is a success. Dragged down by weekly extortions of 100gp by the halfling gang known as the Rashers, he is bleeding money. Sadly, if it wasn't for this expense, the school would be sitting in the black as Wolfgang's star disciple Lady Elyn Hiley was brought in 52gp in what would have been profit through the hiring of her services. Her efforts aside, the weight of the extortions by the Rashers keeps the Wolves Den stuck at inconsequential status. As a tax, Wolfgang must donate his services towards aiding the Dame Galatea of the Order of the Dragon in preparing a contest of arms to honor the Vernal Equinox and the ascension of the Overlord Zotul.
• In probably what will be the only year of earnings for the Athenaeum of the Dying Sun, its founding members did quit well from themselves. It seems that the services of new library drew some interest  among the few knowledge seekers remaining in the Twilight Age with its large collection of ancient texts earning 1,524gp as a group off of the collective 13,855gp assorted investments the library members made on improving the Athenaeum and acquiring texts for their collections. Still, with all the gold spent, the Athenaeum still stands only as an inconsequential institution to Orm at large. Each founding member of the Athenaeum must donate a copy of one book of their choosing to the libraries of Impossible Fortess as a tax.
• Bors Redbeard's investment in his cousin Lefty's tavern the Drinking Crow proved provide the greatest gains of the year for investing adventurers. The improvements funded by Bors along with the safe reputation the Drinking Crow during the Yellow Fever outbreak earned the dwarf 400gp off of his 2500gp investiment. Currently, the Drinking Crow is the only institution to step out of inconsequential status as it achieved minor status among the citizens of Orm. To meet the Drinking Crow's obligations to the Impossible Fortress, the tavern must donate kegs of their mountain ale to the year-end celebrations in Orm.

Gold was not the only investment adventurers made in Orm this last year. The Dragon Slayers of the Drinking Crow planted a crystal fruit in the earth near Orm's butcher. A strange plant with almost stone-like bark did grow from that blood-soaked ground but struggles to thrive.

In the days from the Winter Solstice to the end of the year, the peoples of Ur-Dun celebrate the passing of the year and the birth of another with endless feasting, gambling, telling of ghost stories, drinking, and other merriments. In the waning days of the Empire-That-Was, they sacrificed their Emperor every year so that they could fend off the growing red Sun form the devouring the World for another year.  Participants wear vibrant dinner clothes of a color corresponding to what they desire for the next year. These days, the events begin with sacrifices to the Sun of live stock on the Solstice. Participants don vibrant dinner clothes (which color corresponds to what fortune they wish to find in the new year) and are then sprayed with the blood of the sacrifices to symbolize their bathing in red rays of the failing sun for another year. During the festival season, participants wear masks and social norms are loosened representing how all are at the equal mercy of the dying sun.

Those choosing to actively participate in the festivities must spend 1d4x25gp on their festive attire and customary gifts. Those that do gain XP equal to 100 x PC level and make a Save vs Death/Poison roll. Those that fail roll on the mishap table while those that succeed make a throw on the table of boons.

Failed Save vs Poison
2d6 Roll	Mishap
2.	Bad Health- Wandering home from the festivities at some unspeakable hour, you drunkenly insulted a spirit you encountered on your way. They cursed you with bad health. Reroll all your hit die. Keep the worse out of that result or your current HP total.
3.	What a Fool- Somehow, you ended up at a festival celebration thrown by one of the local gentry. Your drunken antics saw you banned from their estate and owing 1d6 x 100gp in damages.
4.	How Dare You- You drunken lewd behavior during the festival made an enemy. Roll 1d6 to find out how they are: (1) A member of the Orm Civil Defense Force, (2) One of the thieves in the Crooked Hand. (3) A Midnight Marauder, (4) A member of the Society of the Corcusating Seal, (5) A hireling in the 111th Company, (6) A tuff from the Burning Witch.
5.	Fortune Does Not Favor the Foolish- You lost 1d4 x 100gp on seasonal games of chance. If you lost more than the gp you have, then you owe a debt that needs to be paid off soon...
6.	Oh...Have This!- Too focused on revelries, you forgot to get someone a gift and were caught unprepared when the moment came to exchange presents. Number all the items in your inventory and roll randomly with that list as a table. You gave away the result in a moment of inebriated panic.
7.	Bah!- All of this celebrating just causes you to drunkenly brood. Whether it is over lost loved ones, being away from home, or dredging up bad memories; you spend the next session in a sour mood causing you to be -2 on reaction rolls.
8.	Where are They?- You forgot about a promise to spend some of the festival with someone you have a relationship clock open with. Move the clock one step back. If you have no clocks open, who did you disappoint and what trouble does it bring you?
9.	The Wrong Crowd- You ended up making merry with some unsavory folks from the Burning Witch. Rolls 1d4 to see what trouble they got you into:  (1) A foolish dare saw you take a spill causing you to start next session -1d4 HP (min. 1), (2) they convinced to you get a scandalous tattoo that you definitely feel like you need to keep covered up, (3) they conned you into paying for all their celebrating which doubled the amount you spent on the festivities, (4) they made off with your backpack which left you with only the clothes on your back and the items on your belt.
10.	Treat Yourself- After a healthy dose of drink, you decide that you deserve to buy yourself a present, too. Spend 1d4x100gp on one of the following 1d6 things: (1) a gaudily decorated weapon, (2) a piece of tasteless jewelry, (3) an exotic (but not adventuring useful) pet, (4) to commission a performer to create a piece  for you, (5) an impractical mode of transportation, (6) shoes. What are the details of the gift? If you cannot afford it, you took out a loan from the loan bank to cover the difference.
11.	A Curse on You!- You were visited by a spirit of someone from your life and they were not too pleased with you. Reroll the next saving throw you succeed at and keep the new result.
12.	Blacked Out- You “enjoyed” yourself a bit too much. You don’t remember a thing after the Solstice and gain no XP from participating.

Successful Save vs Poison
2d6 Roll	Result
2.	Good Health- You brought good cheer to a despondent being (perhaps a wayward being from the Twilight Shores?). As a reward, you have been blessed with good health. Reroll your all your HD and keep whichever is higher: your result or your current max. HP.
3.	Well, That Went Well- By a series of completely random events, you ended up spending the festivities at the Impossible Fortress. You can open a relationship clock with one of the 1d6 following people: (1) The court magic-user The Enchantress, (2) The Rani’s Chief advisor Merdinus, (3) the up and coming knight Sir Yann Sharpe, (4) Lady Valoris, the youngest of the Rani’s wards, (5) Dame Galatea, the Bronze Dragon of the Order of the Dragon, (6) Emissary Volver of the Free City of Barbasso
4.	First to be Blessed- You were chosen to be the first blessed with the sacrificial blood on the Solace. You begin your next session still feeling the fleeting favor of the dying, bloated Sun. You are +2 to all saves and attack rolls until you fail one.
5.	Quite the Haul- You did well for yourself in the seasonal games of chance. You won 1d4x50gp.
6.	Just What I Wanted- A friend or loved one gave you a present that was just what you wanted. Pick an item worth 25gp or less to add to your inventory.
7.	A Merry Time- You enjoyed yourself thoroughly.
8.	Quality Together Time- You had a meaningful visit with someone during the festivities. Advance a relationship clock one tick or open a new one if you currently do not have any clocks open.
9.	You Don’t Say-You spent the festivities amongst the down and out souls at the Subtle Chateau. From your time with them, you remember one rumor related to a subject of your choosing.
10.	Too Kind- An act of kindness during festival season earns you an unexpected gift. It is a piece of art or jewelry (for you to describe) worth 1/2 of what you spent to participate in the festivities.
11.	Beeeeware!- The spirit of a departed loved one warns you of an ill fate that will befall you in the new year. You may choose to reroll ONE failed saving throw of your choice. If it is not used in the next year, it is forfeited as you chose to consign yourself to whatever tragedy you were warned about.
12.	The True Spirit of the Season- You encounter a series of spirits that reveal to you great wisdom that opens your eyes to new ways of thinking. If you can tell your DMa little  about them and what you learned, then gain double the XP from participating in the festivities.