Side quest The Old Svalich Road Level 4

Stanimir's Fire

Summary

Stanimir has bet his cask of plum wine that nobody can tell a better tale at his fire than he can.

Walkthrough

Getting the quest

Stanimir keeps the bonfire in the middle of the Tser Pool Encampment, at any hour. First ask him "Tell us a story." He tells the old tale of a prince, his brother and the bride. After that a new option appears: "We have a tale of our own." Choose it and he heaves a cask of plum wine onto the log. Beat him two rounds out of three and the cask is yours. Lose and you pay the camp's forfeit. The quest starts at Challenged, and the contest begins right away, in the same conversation.

Step by step

  1. Round one: a tale of the road. Stanimir tells how he sold a blind mule to the burgomaster's tax collector twice in one rainstorm. Answer with one of these:
    • [Performance DC 12] "(Tell a tale with all the trimmings.)"
    • [Deception DC 12] "(Tell a tale that is entirely made up, and swear it is true.)"
    • "(Tell it plainly.)" needs no roll.

    A pass wins the round, and tin cups start knocking against the logs. A fail or a plain telling doesn't win it. You get one try, and the contest moves on either way.

  2. Round two: a true tale of the valley. Answer with one of these:
    • [History DC 12] "(A true tale of the valley, from what you have read.)"
    • [Nature DC 12] "(A true tale of the woods and what lives in them.)"
    • "(Tell it plainly.)" needs no roll.

    Again, a pass wins the round, and anything else doesn't.

  3. Round three: the camp's vote. There's no choice here. If anyone in the party has the Entertainer background (Wren Featherfoot does), they leap onto a log and work the crowd, and that wins this round too. Stanimir calls it shameless cheating and loves it. Win two rounds and the cask is yours.

Choices and endings

There are two ways it can end, and both give the same prize:

  • You win (both rolls passed, or one roll and an Entertainer in the party). The camp hammers its cups, and Stanimir bows so low his beard brushes the grass. It's the first time anyone has beaten him at his own fire in thirty years, and he hands over the cask.
  • You lose. The camp roars for Stanimir, and the forfeit is a dance. Lavinia pulls you onto her plank stage while Stanimir fiddles faster and faster. When you stumble off, he rolls the cask to your feet anyway.

Either way the quest ends at Done, and you get Stanimir's Plum Wine, a small cask. Wren (+1), Kip (+1) and Thistle (+1) approve.

If you're stuck

  • "We have a tale of our own." only shows after Stanimir has told you his story, and you can only take up his bet once.
  • Before you answer each round, press Tab (the "Speaks" button under the portrait) to hand the roll to the right teller: your best at Performance or Deception for round one, and your best at History or Nature for round two. Anyone who can cast Guidance is offered it before each roll.
  • If you took from his strongbox, Stanimir confronts you about it before anything else. Settle that first, and his usual options come back.
  • If you've drawn steel on Madam Eva he won't sit with you. After a fight with the camp, he's gone.

Rewards

What your companions think

  • Wren Featherfoot: +1 you told your tale at Stanimir's fire
  • Kip Smudgewick: +1 you told your tale at Stanimir's fire
  • Thistle: +1 you told your tale at Stanimir's fire

Journal

Every journal entry and hint

Challenged: Stanimir has put his cask of plum wine on the log and says nobody has told a better tale at his fire than he has. Three rounds: a tale, a true tale of the valley, and the camp's vote. If we lose, we dance on Lavinia's stage.
Hint: Talk to Stanimir at the bonfire in the Tser Pool camp and take up his challenge.

Done (the end: success): We told our tales at Stanimir's fire, the camp banged its cups, and one way or another everybody laughed. Stanimir says it was the best night the camp has had in thirty years, and he'll be gracious about it for exactly one night.

Every skill check in its conversations
  • Performance DC 12: (Tell a tale with all the trimmings.)
  • Deception DC 12: (Tell a tale that is entirely made up, and swear it is true.)
  • History DC 12: (A true tale of the valley, from what you have read.)
  • Nature DC 12: (A true tale of the woods and what lives in them.)