Otari

In the days after helping Tamily Tanderveil with her basement problem (and befriending a young dragon in the process) the Otari Misfits explore Otari and are shown around by Worliwynn, a spry gnome. For this we used this amazing video by Tower of Tomes.

Oh hey, over here! Greetings, strangers! I'm Worliwynn, and the town in front of you is Otari—it's my home. It's a wonderful place that has the potential to live in great harmony with the land, and that means a lot to me. Not because I'm a Gnome, but because I'm a follower of Gozreh —a druid, they call me.
And we can be good people, you know! We're not all lunar-struck crazies with vicious fangs and drool and fur and howls and—you don't know what I'm talking about? Well, maybe… maybe I'll just show you around like I meant to, if you'd like. Of course, your silence is answer enough.
Follow me!   You're the adventuring type, am I right? I could tell as much. Well, Otari was actually built by adventurers—even named after one! See, centuries ago, Otari was little more than a tiny settlement, a haven established by a group of adventurers known as the Roseguard. They were heroes of legend, consisting of the wizard Zarmavdian, the fighter Vol Rajani, the cleric Aesephna Menhemes, and the rogue Otari Ilvashti.
The group defeated the evil sorceress Belcorra Haruvex, who once sought to unleash a reign of terror from a magical lighthouse not too far away, known as the The Gauntlight. It was they who laid the foundation for the town, naming it after Otari Ilvash, who unfortunately died during their daring quest. The remaining three settled down, and the town prospered as a fishing village—until the last of the Roseguard died.   Then, the town started declining, so much so that the people living here started seeking their fortune elsewhere. Some decades after the town had been abandoned, a clan of Kobolds made it their new home. I suspect no one would have cared too much, but the stupid kobolds started luring ships to shore and stealing their cargo.
New adventurers came, led by Aesephna Menhemes' granddaughter, Maklanni Menhemes. The Kobolds were driven back into the wilderness, and Otari emerged stronger, with a renewed sense of resilience. As Otari grew once more, it became known for its thriving lumber trade. The Osprey River and the Immenwood are invaluable resources, and families like the Menhemes, Inkleholtz, and Chertel have built their legacies on the lumber industry.   The Otari Flume transports lumber from the woods to the place in front of us. And the place in front of us? It's my least favorite place in all of town—the Otari Mill, locally known as the Giant's Wheel. I understand its necessity, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Personally, I like trees.
They say that this is where the heart of Otari beats. Of course, the town doesn't really have an actual heart, but non-gnomes have a tendency to use such metaphors, so I suppose you know what they mean. I mean, the Otari Mill cuts the lumber that keeps our town alive, so I guess it being the heart makes sense… sort of.
The giant water wheel generates power for that machinery over there, which loads logs into the flume and transports them down to the loading chute you can see way down there. The loading chute itself descends down to the harbor, where the timber can be easily loaded onto ships. Along with the sawing and water and workers, this whole place makes quite a lot of noise, as you can hear.
Two of the local lumber companies pay to have their lumber processed at the Giant's Wheel. The day-to-day administration is run by Klorte Hengus, a rugged Half-Orc with a bark as sharp as his bite. I hear he used to be a gladiator in Absalom, and that his gladiator name was "The Lumberjacker." They say it's because he fought with a pair of hatchets. Quite amusing that he should end up working with actual lumber! Well, he doesn't find it amusing, but it is.   The large manor there is one of the oldest structures in town. It's the home of Mayor Oseph Menhemes. He lives with his wife, Emnala, their five children, and many, many servants.
As you can see, the manor is very big—much bigger than a family of seven needs. Well, that's my opinion, of course. But the entire west wing has been closed off for two generations, and the eastern wing has been converted into a public museum of Otari’s history. So, it's big.
Oseph is also the owner of Otari Lumber, one of the three local lumber companies and one of the two companies that get their lumber processed at the Giant's Wheel. He’s good at keeping his business and his role as mayor separate, though.   Miller’s Road will lead us into town, where the first thing to catch your eye is Gallentine Deliveries—Otari's post office. Ah, the lady loading packages onto that wagon there is Oloria, the owner of Galantine Deliveries. She used to be a ranger, but these days, she makes sure that packages and letters are sent out on time to destinations both within town limits and beyond.   Oloria: "Hello, Worliwynn. What can I do for you? I don’t suppose you have any post to send, do you?"
Worliwynn: "No. Most creatures I know don’t know how to read, and neither do I, for that matter—not unless some sort of magic is involved."
Oloria: "Well, there’s no magic involved in getting this wagon to Absalom, so I’m afraid I can’t entertain you for too long. Who are your friends?"
Worliwynn: "Well, these strangers are… strangers. And I thought I’d give them a little tour of the town, introduce them to some of the people here—like you! Then they won’t be strangers anymore."
Oloria: "Sounds great, Win! Well met, strangers. I’m Oloria Galantine, and if you ever need to send a letter or a package somewhere, Galantine Deliveries will see to your needs. We send out deliveries weekly, but if you want to spend a little extra coin, we might make an exception.
Well, got to get back to it. A good day to you all!"
Worliwynn: "And to you, Oloria. ..Always in a hurry, she is."   If you walk west down Ilvashti Street, you’ll come to Wrin's Wonders. There’s no sign on the building, but you’ll know it when you see it. That place is so out of place that you’d think it was a gnome’s place!
Ah yes, places. This place has a big wooden dome with pieces of triangular canvas covering the wooden beams. Around that dome stand smaller, similar domes. Around all of them are standing stones… though they aren’t actually stone. They’re made of wood, painted to look like granite.
Wrin's Wonders is named after its owner, Wrin Sivinxi. She’s from Kyonin, and while she clearly has Elven blood, she also clearly has some fiendish blood in her as well. She has the gift of foresight—, or so I’ve heard.
I actually heard that she foresaw the destruction of her village and convinced all of the villagers to abandon their homes before demons came and destroyed it. The villagers were able to resettle in empty buildings elsewhere. Isn't that nice?
Wrin arrived in Otari some years ago. She has a special ability to find lost things and strange treasures—so much so that she opened a shop selling them. She has a fondness for something she calls the Cosmic Caravan, which has something to do with the stars. I’ve also noticed that she becomes rather uncomfortable in confined spaces.   You’ll also find Blades for Glades down that way—the town’s blacksmith. It specializes in saws, axes, and other tools used in the lumber trade, but you can get swords, shields, and armor there as well. The owner of Blades for Glades is Carman Rajani. He’s not always—or always not—in a good mood. He seems a little sour. Might be because he ran for mayor four times… and lost four times.
He claims he’s a descendant of one of Otari’s founders. And while the Rajani name did belong to one of the Roseguard, there’s no one else but him to confirm the claim. And it was some 500 years ago, so people are… skeptical."   Now, the shop right over there is Odd Stories—an odd name, I know, but Morlibint is a little odd himself. At least, I think so. Thinking itself can be quite odd. I find many things odd, especially gnomes and their odd stories. But I didn't name the place.
Morlibint owns the place, and even though he's a wizard, his true passion lies in fanciful fiction and anthologies. I suppose that's where Odd Storiesgets its name because it's a whole library filled with them. Now, there are non-fiction books there as well, but Morlibint lets his spouse take care of that part of the business.
Odd Stories serves as the main provider of textbooks for Inkleholtz’s educational endeavors.   Who are the Inkleholtzs, you ask? Well, the Inkleholtzs are another of the three prominent lumber families in Otari, one of which gets its lumber processed at the Giant's Wheel. Alymora Inkleholtz, the head of Whistledown Cutters, is a shrewd and successful businesswoman. The half-elf has generously invested in improving Otari’s educational services, sourcing much of the learning material from Odd Stories.
Many residents hope she’ll run for mayor, but for now, she seems focused on raising her family and growing her business. You’ll find the Inkleholtz Manor at the western edge of town.   Captain Longsaddle:"And who do we have here?"
Worliwynn: "Captain Longsaddle!"
Captain Longsaddle: "These are… well, they look like strangers to me. Do you know any of these people, recruit?"
Recruit: "Sir, no, sir!"
Captain Longsaddle: "Well, what do you have to say for yourselves? Are visitors no longer allowed in Otari?"
Worliwynn: "Well, yes, they are explorers. Adventurers." Captain Longsaddle: "Of course they are, Gnome. I just can’t help but notice that these visitors are well-armed."
Captain Longsaddle: "I can see that. I'll have you know that I'm in charge of the town's safety, and I don't tolerate any trouble—not even the tiniest of bar brawls. Other than that, I bid you welcome. But no trouble!"   That was the captain of the guard, Lardus Longsaddle. I know he seems a little rough, but he truly cares for the town and takes his job very seriously. They’re probably heading toward the Otari Garrison, which lies down that way on Drake Street. From there, the civic guard patrols the town and Roseguard Road, keeping it clear of bandits and trouble.
The guard also serves as firefighters, a duty they typically take on after the age of forty. The garrison is also where the Otari jail is, but it’s usually only occupied by someone who’s had a little too much ale and needs to sleep it off.   That there is the Farmer's Guild. There, you’ll find stables, auction houses, livestock, butcher shops, and a guild hall for farmers in the region. There’s even a shrine to Erastil. The guild takes care of the distribution of goods from farms and ranches in the area and makes sure members get paid their fair share.
The guild has accommodations for visiting farmers—free of charge, of course. But even non-farmers can rent a room if they want to… though not free of charge, of course. The head of the guild is the Halfling Jala Highstepper.
She’s a nice lady, though from what the pigs tell me, she’s not much of a talker. So I sometimes wander about the livestock, talking with the animals. The cows aren’t too bright, but at least they’re good listeners.
Yes, I talk to animals!   Oh yes! Let’s turn down Shrike Street toward the western part of town. That will lead us right by Crow's Casks, the most popular tavern in @Otari. It’s also a brewery and a shrine to Cayden Cailean. You’ll hear songs to the Accidental God on most evenings in this place. Good place!
The proprietor is a Tengu—a tengu named Magiloy. She spent her youth on a dozen pirate ships, and apparently, that’s where she picked up her brewing skills. She enjoys creating new types of alcohol for her customers, like the popular spiced pumpkin rum or the sour blackberry ale.
Most of the time, she brews some fantastic drinks, though once in a while… well, just don’t mention the goblin pepper stout.   If we turn down Wyvern Street and cross Menhemes Street, we arrive at the Otari Market.
Here, locals come together to mingle and enjoy the lively atmosphere as they go about their daily shopping. You can buy everything from fresh produce and spices to handcrafted goods and daily essentials. The place is overseen by Keleeno Lanethar, and for that reason, I suggest you take the time to enjoy the market when you're not in my company.
See, Keleeno mistrusts me.
And don't misunderstand me—while there's no mistaking that his mistrust is misplaced, his misinformed view misrepresents who I am, and he really misjudges me. I do understand why.
It all begins with his misfortune—and my kind. Not our kind, but the faithful of Gozreh.
See, just outside Otari lies the Stone Ring Pond. The pond is unusually reflective, its glassy surface encircled by two dozen standing stones of equal height. These stones were erected generations ago by the Church of Gozreh, and the site has since become a sacred place for druids, rangers, and naturalists. Many druids incorporate the pond into their operations, often camping nearby for short periods.
But for the last thirty years, these traveling druids have largely avoided contact with the people of Otari—a self-imposed distance born of tragedy.
The mistrust began with a man named Jaul Mezmin, one of their own.
Unbeknownst to the druids, Jaul was a Werewolf. His attack on the town left six dead before the people of Otari drove him over the cliff and into the sea. Among the victims was Keleeno’s wife—a loss that left a deep scar on the town and seeded Keleeno's enduring mistrust of druids and followers of Gozreh.
I came to Otari with a singular purpose: to heal the rift between the good people of this town and Gozreh’s faithful, and to foster harmony between the community and nature.
In this, I've made some progress.
Yet, despite my efforts, I doubt I will ever mend the wound in Keleeno's heart.   Let's move on.   Behind the market, down by the shore, lies the The Otari Fishery. There, you'll find the jolly Tamily Tanderveil. She's the harbor warden, and she always has a smile on her lips. At night, she usually opens up the fishery grounds to sailors, laborers, and travelers for snacks and entertainment.
You should go one night—then you'll be able to see her collection of legs as well.
Not legs legs, but wooden legs.
She used to be part of the Gray Corsairs and was even offered a position as a captain. But wouldn't you know it—she lost her leg during a raid on a pirate ship. I guess she saw more longevity in retiring from the Corsairs and becoming a harbor warden instead of being a captain. She's a kind and jolly woman. Jolly, jolly.   The bridge in front of us is the largest in town and home to the tavern Crook's Nook.
Well, I suppose it's an inn, since you can rent a room for the night quite cheap. They also happen to have the best seafood in town.
Its name—Crook’s Nook—is very fitting as well.
Let's just say that shady, criminal types use the tavern for meetings, almost as if it was some sort of... guild. Know what I mean?
It's perhaps Otari’s worst-kept secret that the owner, a lanky woman named Yinyasmera, runs illicit operations from the place. However, it has yet to bother the citizens enough to become a real problem, so Captain Longsaddle usually turns a blind eye.   Up that way lies another tavern, or rather the ruins of what was once the largest tavern in town: The Thirsty Alpaca. In a tragic incident, the ground beneath it caved in, causing the building to collapse. Tragically, several patrons and employees died, including the owner's wife and son. The owner wasn't found among the rubble, and some believe he's still alive somewhere today.
The ruins are considered cursed, and people stay clear of the site. Stories of eerie lights and unnerving sounds coming from the ruins only add to its haunted reputation. I couldn't tell you how true those stories are; I stay well away from that place myself.   A place I don’t stay away from, though, is the Rowdy Rockfish. It sounds rowdy, but it's actually the complete opposite. It's such a calm and quiet tavern that I wonder if it ever saw a barroom brawl. The Dwarf Brelda Venkervale is the owner of the Rowdy Rockfish or “new owner,” I should say. The previous owner, Lazda Venkervale, was Brda’s son. He disappeared about a year ago while out on one of his customary pre-dawn walks. Some locals say that they saw L walking out of town with a hooded stranger, and that's the last anyone saw of him.
You can feel the sorrow on Brelda, but she does her best to keep it to herself and doesn’t like to talk about it.   Walk down Zarmavdian Street and you'll reach Chertel Manor. Wrab Chertel is the patriarch of Chertel Timber, one of Otari's lumber concerns. Unlike the Inkleholtz and Menhemes Lumber businesses, Chertel Timber does not get its lumber processed at the Giant's Wheel .
The business seems to be suffering from bad management, labor disputes, and poor finances.
Wrab tends to blame anyone but himself and hints at sabotage by the other two companies. But I know the Inkleholtzs and the Menhemes well enough to know that they wouldn't do anything of the sort.   Vandy Banderdash: “Hello, Worliwynn!"
Worliwynn:"Vandy! What a pleasure to bump into you on this fine day. This is Vandy Banderdash, my favorite halfling."
Vandy Banderdash: “The Dawnflower shines upon you, strangers. I’m Vandy, and besides being Worliwynn’s favorite halfling, I’m also High Priestess at the Dawnflower Library—the temple you can see down there. "
Worliwynn:"An impressive building, yes. You should see it at dawn as the rays of the sun reflect on the golden domes—a sight to behold."
Vandy Banderdash: "And a testament to the power of the sun and Sarenrae. You lot should come by. I’ll find you a book you like. That’s a promise. Got to keep going—see you, Worliwynn, and hopefully your friends as well.”
Worliwynn:“Yes, you will. I think so, at least. Vandy is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. She hates thieves, though. Really, I suspect someone stole something dear to her at some point because if she finds out you’re the stealing type, her kindness will turn to hostility. Just so you know."   The Dawnflower Library is not just a place of worship for the faithful of Sarenrae. While the primary shrine to Sarenrae lies in the eastern part of the temple, shrines to Cayden Cailean, Erastil, and Gozreh can be found in the western part. The rest of the building is mostly made up of the library. Everything from fiction to textbooks, satire to erotica can be found there, and Vandy has an almost prophetic ability to recommend books that seem specially tailored to your taste.
  The Acolytes of the Dawnflower tend to Otari Graveyard, which lies on the cliff above us. It’s mostly older families who value tradition that get their loved ones buried there. These days, burials at sea and cremations are the more modern way to leave behind this world and travel to the Boneyard.
    And there you have it, Otari: a town of intrigue and industry, where the echoes of history mingle with the hustle of lumber yards and the laughter spilling out from the taverns.
I hope I’ve shown you... Oh, there is, of course, the Gauntlight. I mean, it’s well outside of town by the Fogfen, but it’s part of Otari’s history now. It’s just a heap of ruins.
And yes, I know what you’re thinking—ruins mean treasure. But the Gauntlight was cleared many years ago, and whatever treasure there once was is surely gone by now. Now it’s known as a haven even for pests, so unless you like bugs and that sort, I'd stay clear of that place.
Ah, places.
Well, that’s all I’ve got for you for now. Should you ever want to talk to me again, I’m usually by the Stone Ring Pond or the Rowdy Rockfish. I hope you’ll find Otari as pleasant and welcoming as I have.   Farewell, friends.