Rules

The objective of Finder’s day is simple: Find the best thing and with the best story about how you found it. The winner of Finder’s Day, as judged by the Great Finder, is crowned Great Finder for the year and gets to keep all the things found!

The following are the accepted rules of Finder’s Day:

1. Findings must be found. They cannot be stolen. While this rule sounds simple, many Hoblings protest that the definition of “stolen” is subjective. #According to most Hoblings, the items they “acquire” are never stolen; they are simply holding onto them for safekeeping.
2. Findings cannot be take from a corpse without the corpse’s permission.
3. Findings cannot be already owned by the Finder. They must be found during the festival.
4. The story of how something is found is as important as the Findings themselves. Lies are not permitted, but embellishments for effect are encouraged.
5. The Great Finder is not permitted to play and must act impartially.
6. Finders, and even the Great Finder themselves, may be of any race. All are welcome to participate.

It is important to note that most Great Finders value Findings with a good story over more valuable or powerful Findings. While a magic sword capable of slaying demons may be powerful, it may outdone by a fancy ribbon received from a fae who was wooed by the finder’s dancing.

When it comes time to judge the Findings, the Great Finder is expected to adorn themselves with the Findings of previous years, partly to look sage and partly to give everyone a laugh.

Cheating

Those found cheating or lying to win Finder’s Day will often wish they hadn’t. Should the Great Finder discover their misdeed, they will be disqualified and their Findings will be confiscated. On the rare occasion that the cheating Finder wins Finder’s Day, becomes the Great Finder and their cheating is later discovered, woe be to them. In such cases the previous Great Finder will label them “Bittercut” and spread the tales of their misdeeds. For a year they are to be shunned by any and all Hoblings. In addition, their name will be used in as many insults and taunts as possible, mocking them at every opportunity. For example, “You are the second ugliest person I know and you better hope Thulson Bittercut doesn’t die.”

History

In the year 1011, the first Mayor of Teris, Tassilo Rumblebully, had just established the Town of Teris at the base of Mount Dracos. Unbeknownst to the Hoblings of Teris, high in the mountains snowy peaks was the lair of the Firstborn Dragon, Styphon the Black Wyrm. Styphon, slumbering at the time, paid no heed to the mortal creatures setting up their little town at the base of his mountain… but he was not the only one in his lair. While the Black Wyrm slept, his recently acquired Orb of Power, Thade, was wide awake and well prepared to defend his master’s territory. The newly formed Hobling nation found itself besieged by Undead, sent by Thade, not long after construction of the main community buildings was complete. It quickly became apparent that something must be done. Mayor Rumblebelly knew his citizens were not capable of fighting Undead, so he reached out to his friends, the Grey Elves. The Grey Elves, perhaps out of pity, or perhaps out of irritation, gave Rumblebelly an invisible ring of invisibility. The ring, when worn, would turn the wearer invisible. The ring itself was also invisible, so Rumblebelly was warned to be careful where he left it. Rumblebelly returned to Teris with his newfound prize and devised a plan with his son, Marmadoc, to enter the lair of the Black Wyrm and steal the Orb of Power from the sleeping Firstborn.

It was decided that, since the ring would only make one person invisible, Rumblebelly would go alone. Before he left, he told his son that the ring he was wearing was also the key to a vault that he had created, inside of which were all the riches of the Hobling people, including a magical book that held every recipe known in all the realms. With that he left his slightly confused son and began an arduous journey up to the highest snowy peak of Mount Dracos.

Along the way, Rumblebelly stumbled upon a Kobold and fearsome Ice Troll engaged in battle. It was not going well for the Kobold and Rumblebelly’s gentle heart could not bear to see the slaughter that was about to occur, even if it was a disgusting, pitiful Kobold. Rumblebelly stepped forward to aid the helpless creature but was forced to jump back when the snow gave way, revealing a hundred foot chasm below. With no way to reach the Kobold in time Rumblebelly did what only a Hobling could do in this situation. Summoning the best insults his weary mind could muster, he shouted to the Ice Troll, “Hey! You’re so ugly that when your parents birthed you the Grey Elves charged them with littering. If your brains were cindamite there wouldn’t enough to blow your helmet off!” Infuriated by the biting taunt, the Ice Troll abandoned his victim and charged with rage-filled abandon towards the Hobling. His screams echoed throughout the mountain range as he plunged down through the weak ice to the chasm depths below. Rumblebelly took the long way around and healed the Kobold with some magic berries he had prepared before the journey. The Kobold introduced himself as Bittercut and soon a new friendship was formed.

The friendship did not last. When they reached the lair of the Black Wyrm, Rumblebelly slipped the ring onto his finger and told his Kobold companion to wait by the entrance for him. The power of the ring was great, and Rumblebelly easily passed the sleeping dragon to reach the raised pedestal where Thade rested. He placed the Orb in one of his many pockets and turned to make a hasty retreat. Thade, however, had other plans. The great eye of the Black Firstborn opened as Thade called out to his master. Styphon, confused for a moment, scanned the area looking for the intruder. Rumblebelly took the opportunity and ran to the exit. He grabbed his Kobold friend by the hand and pulled him from his hiding spot. Unfortunately in doing so he gave the covetous Kobold the chance he had been waiting for. Bittercut pulled the ring from Rumblebelly’s finger and placed it on his own, fleeing down the mountainside to freedom. Rumblebelly was immediately consumed by the Black Wyrm. Styphon returned the Orb of Power to its pedestal before returning to his slumber.

Marmadoc waited for months for his father’s return. Eventually, rumour of the Kobold’s betrayal and theft made its way to Teris. The Undead onslaught increased in intensity and Marmadoc was forced to take his people and flee north. In memory of his father and in an effort to find the one magic ring that would unlock his vault of treasures, Marmadoc founded Finder’s Day. Finder’s Day would be a holiday when all work was cancelled and any able bodied person would set out to search for the ring. Since that time the holiday has evolved into a more joyous and festive day celebrating the curious nature of Hoblings and their knack for finding wonderful things

To this day neither the ring nor the Kobold called Bittercut have ever been found.