The Golden Slips
Concocted as a lead-up to Medir's Drinkfest 450, the search for the Golden Slips was devised by Medir as a quiet way to reward curiosity, tip a hat to adventurer drink-makers, and hint at the event to come. It would be a scavenger hunt of sorts, barely publicized, and reliant on a slow simmering of people in-the-know to uncover them!
1. A Glimpse of Gold
At some point in the year 450 AV, then, Medir scattered nine golden boxes around Kermoria -- in Zoluren, Ilithi, and Therengia. Each box, hidden where only a particularly soul mind might find it, contained a Golden Slip and one of a selection of adventurer-made drinks. Each Golden Slip was customized to the drink it was paired with. The following is a glimpse into one of the golden boxes:
> look in box In the gold box you see a gold-edged ivory parchment and a bottle of deep garnet wine.
> read parchment in box
In Common, it reads:
Congratulations to you, most estimable and fortunate finder of this rare GOLDEN SLIP!
Wondrous things await! Surprises aplenty the very fates could not fathom. Indeed, your curiosity shall be amply rewarded. Oh, how the drinks will flow! Oh, how the coin shall drizzle down from the heavens like spendable rain. How the bards shall bellow your name!
Enclosed in this box you will find a special spirit fashioned by the charismatic Kaedan: a delicious bottle of Chateau Crystal Shore 378. I implore you to join me in a toast to your good health! Take a sip. Incredibly rich and robust, is it not? Fantastically flavoured, is it not?
Your instructions, dear friend -- for we are indeed the booziest of bosom friends now -- are to hold onto this GOLDEN SLIP. It is ONE of ONLY NINE hidden across Zoluren, Therengia, and Ilithi too. So keep it close! It is your portal. It is your admission. It is your very special and personal invitation to a happening the likes of which has never happened upon Elanthia!
When the time comes you will know what to do.
~ M.M.
2. A Selection of Drinks, Hidden Away, and then Found
Nine adventurer-made drinks were featured alongside the Golden Slips:
| Drink | Creator | Where It Was Hidden | Finder |
|---|---|---|---|
| bubbly peach cocktail sparkling with edible silver glitter | Allye | Harwell's Office, Riverhaven | |
| Smoked Bootlegger's bourbon cocktail garnished with an Ilithic cherry | Kamisama | Pereni Hunting Grounds, Ilithi | |
| electric-blue Zeng Tenra | Navesi | Wolf Clan, Zoluren | |
| private reserve Ilithic apple brandy | Miskton | Barracks, Rossman's Keep, Therengia | Nevali |
| deep garnet wine labeled 'CHATEAU CRYSTAL SHORE 378' | Kaedan | Gazebo, Shard, Ilithi | |
| hot cocoa topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings | Messica | Golden Phoenix, Shard, Ilithi | |
| Blissful Bard's bourbon | Vixonia | Cabin, Langenfirth, Therengia | |
| Rayner's esturi-infused rum | The Rayners | Gaethrend's Court, Crossing, Zoluren | |
| opalescent green and icy-blue louched absinthe | Aislynn | Lower Kaerna, Zoluren | Nawain |
The inestimable Finders were: Nevali, Jundara, Nawain, Rezzian, Istercal, Ysindre, and Anino.
3. But then the Jig Was Up
As the Golden Slips were slowly uncovered, Medir eventually came forward (~24 August 2024). The following is an excerpt from activities of that day:
The taverns of Kermoria never really change, and that’s no knock on them. You get what you expect. The same regulars, the same drinks, and the same barmaids seemingly destined never to lose their ageless charm. But if one happened to walk into the best of these fine drinking establishments today, they might chance upon something new. Something irregular. Something curiously out of place. There, upon the various bars (each different, each the same), propped upright and encased in a wooden frame, now rests a neatly written note scrawled upon a sheet of white parchment:
My friends! I fear the jig is up. The cup has been spilled. I think I must now confess that it is I who put forth this particular test. Scattered throughout Elanthia -- hidden in Zoluren, Therengia and Shard -- have been nine golden boxes.
Six have been found! Three remain. And to those that have found them: your lives may never be the same. Reach out if you have, and I’ll tell you more. The rest of you (curious?) keep looking and you’ll see what’s in store.
~ Medir al’Malik, The Tavern at Chelsea Overlook