The Swallowtail Festival begins promptly, as scheduled, on the Autumnal Equinox. The square before the church quickly becomes crowded as locals and travelers arrive, and several merchant tents featuring food, clothes, local crafts , and souvenirs are there to meet them.
WELCOMING SPEECHES: The turnout for the opening speeches is quite respectable, and the four keynote speakers each deliver short but well-received welcomes to the festival. Mayor Deverin's friendly attitude and excitement prove contagious as she welcomes visitors to town and jokes about how even Larz Rovanky, the local tanner (and notorious workaholic) managed to tear himself away from the tannery to attend, much to everyone's amusement (except Larz's). SheriffBelor Hemlock brings the crowd down a bit with his dour mood, his reminder to be safe around the evening's bonfire, and his request for a moment of silence to remember those who lost their lives in the fire that claimed the town's previous church several years ago. The next speaker is scheduled to be local nobleman Lonjiku Kaijitsu, but a sudden illness has prevented him from attending the ceremony (this isn't something that surprises the locals, given Lonjiku's well-known dislike of frivolity and festivals). Sandpoint's own showman Cyrdak Drokkus is more than up to the challenge of bringing the crowd's mood back up with his rousing anecdotes. He delivers a not-completely-irreverent recap ofthe long process the town went through to finance and construct the new cathedral. He throws in a bit of self promotion at the end, as is his wont, inviting everyone to stop by the Sandpoint Theater the following evening to check out his new production of "The Harpy's Curse," revealing that the lead role of Avisera the harpy queen will be played by none other than the famous Magnimarian diva Allishanda! Finally, Father Zantus steps up to give a short speech thanking everyone for coming before declaring the Swallowtail Festival underway.
FESTIVAL FUN AND GAMES: Numerous games and contests take place during the day, including sack races , games of hide-and- seek, weight-lifting challenges, balance beam contests, tug-of-war events, and the like. Winners of these games generally win nothing more than bragging rights for the rest of the day, but for many of Sandpoint's residents, this is a fine prize indeed!
SWALLOWTAIL RELEASE: At noon, Father Zantus and his acolytes wheel a large covered wagon into the square, and after recounting the short parable of how Desna first fell to earth and was nursed back to health by a blind child whom she transformed into an immortal butterfly as a reward for her aid, they pull aside the wagon's cover, releasing the thousand children of Desna-a furious storm of swallowtail butterflies that swarm into the air in a spiraling riot of color to a great cheer from the crowd. Throughout the rest of the day, children futilely chase butterflies, never quite quick enough to catch them.
LUNCH: Lunch is provided free, at the expense of Sandpoint's taverns. Each brings its best dishes-this event is as much a marketing push by the taverns to win new customers as it is to feed a hungry crowd. It soon becomes apparent that the darling of the lunch is, once again, Ameiko Kaijitsu, whose remarkable curry- spiced salmon and early winterdrop mead easily overshadow the other offerings, such as the Hagfish's lobster chowder or the White Deer's peppercorn venison.
CONSECRATION: Finally, as the sun begins to set, Father Zantus takes the central podium, uses a thunderstone to attract everyone's attention, and clears his throat as he prepares to recite the Prayer of First Dreaming.
"You, sir, would have much better luck with the ladies if you had a full head of luxurious hair!" shouts Torg Maran Gor to a passing man dressed in a soft brown doublet. He holds out a gloved hand containing a vial of sloshing blue liquid and offers the man a friendly smile that exposes his protruding canine teeth in a more menacing gesture than intended. Watching the man pass by without response, he mutters softly, the grey skin around his grey eyes wrinkling up in annoyance, before the half-orc next turns his attention to a common woman carrying a squawking chicken in a basket.
"My lady, does that chicken not burden you? How about this potion which will give you the strength of any man so that you can perform your chores without breaking a sweat? Your husband will find you much more attractive that way!" He hawks once again and sticks out his hand containing a pinkish potion before her. She too ignores his offers, and he retracts the potion, stuffing it into the inside pocket of his heavy leather coat.
Not seeing more potential customers, he fingers the ever lighter bag of coins on his right hip which were left to him by the aldermen of Rahadoum at his "departure" with a deepening sense of despair. He puts his other hand to his grumbling stomach and walks with an easy pace towards the nearest food vendor to search for something to sate his appetite, knowing that he cannot go much longer without some income.
Elena kept trying to catch Drokkus's eye throughout the day. The pretty Varisian with the colorful scarves around her neck had heard all about him and his position of importance he theatre community in town. She was an entertainer, and she was going to find work in this town. She had been a traveller recently, and she was tiring of the dusty road for a bit. She knew he wouldn't be immune to her wiles, if she could just get his attention for a minute, but he always seemed to be involved in another conversation, or walking away as she made her way to him.
Elena took a bit of time off her focus, when the butterflies were released. She couldn't help but smile as the vibrant little creatures swarmed all over. She sipped a couple glasses of Ameiko's wonderful winter drop mead as she watched the butterflies flittering here and there. "Miss Ameiko, this mead is delicious!"
Broon moves steadily through back alleys of the market square, wanting to avoid open stares and whispers at his strange cargo. He had come in from the eastern Lost Coast Road, crossing Sandpoint bridge, then skirting River Street to head for the garrison on the other side of town.
He is a serious looking man of stoic countenance, and likely, of little humor; the frown across his thick brows seems a permanent sculpture from rough years. His body is still strong and sturdy, especially for a middle aged man of late years, though a chronic pain in his right arm and a mid-back pinch occasionally makes him grimace with annoyance. His dark mid-length hair is the color of wet earth, streaked with unwelcomed frosts of grey, the thick jutting beard draped in the same color. The hide armor he wears over a simple tunic is ages old, a buckler shield rests over the left shoulder, a warhammer in it's baldric on the right thigh.
Reaching the garrison, he set his pack down, then hefts the sacked and lashed body from his shoulders onto the ground without much reverence. He gruffly declares to the bewildered guards and shoves a parchment at them, "Bounty collection - Halfdan the Black - dead"
Once the gold was in hand, Broon sets out to pay debts and buy supplies, with his last destination being the church to give tithe to Iomedae. Not swayed to excitement or difference, he looks around at the revelry when the scent of White Deer's peppercorn venison catches his nose. He was about to pay for a slab of meat and a mug of brew when he spots a pan handling half-orc near the line. Broon calls out, "These are common folks, they can't afford that stuff." After a moment's pause, he puts his plate and pint into the hungry-looking half-orc's hands, "It's your lucky day." Not needing a thanks, he turns back to order another set with his last gold piece.
Although he did not often visit the city, the feasts of the city folk carried such smells that they could keep him awake nights (or days, depending), and Dashuun had always been possessed of a hunger difficult to tame. While he indeed lived most of his life in the wilds, with his city clothes, he passed well enough for a commoner. After all, he'd spent his youth in this very city. Yet that was before the wild called to him, and since that night he's never regretted his decision to leave.
As he sat down at a table to enjoy the free fare, he noticed the brightly-colored woman standing near his seat. By comparison, his silvering hair and tangled beard laying haphazardly across his worn shirt seemed plain, perhaps even downright crude. "You must be a city woman." he observed aloud, seeking eye contact with Elena. "Else a wanderer." he added.
"My dear, I am a woman of cities, towns, and small villages alike. But, you were correct with your second statement. I'm indeed a bit of a wanderer. Desna and I perform all over this big world of ours," she adds with a wink. "I'm Elena. Pleasure to make your acquaintance. How about you? From around these parts? Try the mead...it's really good."
"From... yes, from. I could say as much. My friend, er that is, my pet... dog, Maze, and myself, we try to stay out of this city business." Dashuun says as he pats the head of what is clearly a wolf. He then puts away a tankard with startling speed. "But this is too good to stay away." he says as he drops the empty cup and it clatters to the table.
"Ive seen a couple dogs like that before. He is well trained enough to be okay around this many people, I assume. If not both dog and owner might get in trouble. Do you have an idea of what else is planned for the festival this evening? After the Prayer, of course."
Broon takes his food and finds a sturdy wall to lean on. Not minding any utensils or knife, he simply grabs the venison hunk and rips off a piece with a bite. The savory meat is a worthy prize for the last two weeks of stalking Halfdan; campless nights, dining on cold lizards and sap grubs.
"He's good. Doesn't bite much. Good with people." Dashuun reassures.
Torg's eyes widen slightly when the human hands him the plate of food and mead. He sputters out, "Er, thanks friend." He looks down at the food a bit warily, but the grumbling in his stomach gets the better of his judgement in this place still strange to him. Still holding the food, he follows after the man carrying a shield and weapon.
He stands at a comfortable distance, but still close enough to add, "Where's a man who can't farm, fish, or swing a blacksmith's hammer to find work around here?"
Broon nods a welcome then finishes another bite before answering, "I don't think that's your problem", takes a gulp of brew, "A man can find a job easily around here. A half-man will find closed doors before a job. -What's your profession?".
"Well, you two have a pleasant evening. I've got a certain fellow I've got to find, and business that simply won't wait," she smiles as she turns away from the man with a flourish, heading back into search mode for that Drokus.
He nods along with the man's comment on closed doors and responds,"I've been working on an alchemical formula to purge the half I don't want. I've found it to be an expensive endeavour. I'm good with potions and with the way people work. Life or death, the body responds to my touch just as well. Guess you could call me an alchemical doctor of sorts."
He sets the mug of mead down on the dusty floor beside him and tears into the food in the same manner as Broon. He continues, "Takes a fair bit of coin to finance the ingrediants I need, and the tests so far have been...inconclusive."
The festival is moving into full swing when Father Zantus throws down a Thunderstone. A sharp retort, like the crack of distant thunder, slices through the excited crowd as the sun's setting rays paint the western sky. A stray dog that has crawled under a nearby wagon to sleep starts to awake, and the buzz of two dozen conversations quickly hushes as all heads turn toward the central podium, where a beaming Father Zantus has taken the stage.
He clears his throat, takes a breath to speak, and suddenly a woman's scream echoes through the air. A few moments later, another scream rises, then another. Beyond them, a sudden surge of strange new voices rises - high-pitched, tittering shrieks that sound not quite human. The crowd parts and something low to the ground races by, giggling with disturbing glee as the stray dog near Torg gives a pained yelp and then collapses with a gurgle. It's throat is cut open from ear to ear. As blood pools around its head, the raucous sound of a strange song begins, chanted from shrill scratchy voices.
Goblins chew and goblins bite! Goblins cut and goblins fight! Stab the dog and cut the horse! Goblins eat and take by force! Two goblins leap from the rooftops near Elena, landing on a racked-up horse. Shoving their giant horsechoppers through its spine. The horse falling and crushing one of the goblins, while the other runs off into the crowd, chasing a crying child off toward the nearby pond.
Goblins race and goblins jump! Goblins slash and goblins bump! Burn the skin and mash the head! Goblins here and you be dead! Three goblins burst from under the stage, torches in hand. They toss the torches onto the bales of hay supporting the stage, setting it alight. They draw their dogslicers before running into the crowd to terrorize the commoners.
Chase the baby, catch the pup! Bonk the head to shut it up! Bones be cracked, flesh be stewed! We be goblins! You be food! Five goblins with dogslicers cut down a woman in front of Broon and draw the eyes of Dashuun, Torg and Elena. This group seems to be more focused on cutting down any opposition near the stage.
Initiative:
The goblins pull small, stitched bags of goo from their satchels and toss them randomly into the crowd. Dashuun and Broon are hit by the bags. The goo erupts all around them and begins to harden.
A creature that is glued to the floor (or unable to fly) can break free by making a DC 17 Strength check or by dealing 15 points of damage to the goo with a slashing weapon. A creature trying to scrape goo off itself, or another creature assisting, does not need to make an attack roll; hitting the goo is automatic, after which the creature that hit makes a damage roll to see how much of the goo was scraped off. Once free, the creature can move at half speed. If the entangled creature attempts to cast a spell, it must make concentration check with a DC of 15 + the spell's level or be unable to cast the spell.
This effect lasts for: rounds.
One of the goblins squeezes the bag too hard and it explodes on him. The goo coats his face and begins to harden. The goblin falls to the ground, twitching, asphyxiating.
1st Round:
1st: Goblins
2nd: Torg; Broon; Elena; Dashuun
Elena delays, waiting to see what brave crowdspeople would help her fight all those nasty goblins. She could help support whomever would be brave enough to take up arms. "Everyone, let's put those evil creatures down," she calls out in Common.
Dashuun becomes firmly affixed to the ground, quite unable to break free. However, he knows what needs to be done, and Maze is still available to do it. "Bite those goblins, Maze!" Dashuun calls to his pet wolf.
Maze gets the idea and runs off to bite the goblins.
, ,
Torg reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a metal flask containing a cork stopper. He pops the cork and downs a liquid infusion that leaves trails of red vapors pouring out of his nose and mouth.
This causes him to grow in bulk, his muscles expanding and pressing against his armor. Claws rip open the flesh on his knuckles and his fangs elongate into the size of small dirks. He then draws his great axe and looks for a nearby goblin to cut down.
Broon leaps back to avoid the goo, then grabs the longbow from his pack and shoots at the nearest goblin.
>>
Dashuun becomes entangled by the good and his wolf charges the goblins, but misses its bite attack.
Broon's arrow clangs off the scale mail of one of the goblins.
The goblins jump back, hissing at the wolf. Giant dog! Kills it! Two of the goblins swing their dogslicers at it.
One of the goblin's loses his grip on the sword and it flies out of his hands and hits another goblin, killing him instantly.
Another goblin runs at Elena, brandishing his dogslicer menacingly before stabbing her with it. Goblin song, best song! No more bad song!
The goblin hit by Broon's arrow looks at the arrow and his eyes meet Broon's, malice in the piercing stare, but then he becomes distracted as a small child runs by. The goblin chases after him and kicks him to the ground. Goblin eat tiny human! They is best food!
The child falls onto the ground and starts crying. The goblin screams. BONK DEM ON THE HEAD SO THEY SHUT IT UP!
Total Damage:
Elena:
Maze:
1st Round:
1st: Goblins (#1; #2-Disarmed; #3; #4)
2nd: Torg; Broon - Slowed; Elena @ 5 HP; Dashuun - Entangled; Maze @ 5 HP
Elena continues her stirring oration to support the combatants standing against the goblins. "Let's run these little monsters back to the forest from whence they came. Killing innocent dogs and babies...I'll not stand for it," she growls, even as she takes a shot from the dogslicer.
Elena moves back from the little bugger, and blasts him directly in the face with a magical bolt of force. "Chew on that, goblin!"
Dashuun struggles against the goo, but finds it quite strong. Since it appears to be dissolving on its own anyway, he takes a moment to try to scare a goblin. He summons a halo around his head and yells, "You sniveling green raisin, get away from that kid before I carve out your eyes!"
In the meantime, Maze returns the attack against his attacker.
, ,
Maze bites a goblin and viciously pulls his feet from under him.
Elena steps back and blasts the goblin who hit her in the face with some force damage.
2nd Round:
1st: Goblins (#1; #2-Disarmed/Tripped @ 7 damage; #3 @ 5 damage; #4)
2nd: Torg; Broon - Slowed; Elena @ 5 HP; Dashuun - Entangled; Maze @ 5 HP
Torg's grey eyes narrow and he studies one of the screaming goblins, watching their muscles tense and relax with each swing of their small hooked weapons.
With one powerful stride, he steps forward and swings his great axe down through the shoulder, cutting diagnally across the point he determines to be weakest in the anatomy of the small creature.
Torg cuts down the goblin who was attacking Elena.
Broon's arrow clatters off the goblin's armor!
Kill the dog! The goblins keep attacking Maze!
Maze drops to the ground! THE DOG IS DEAD!
The other goblins hurries to his feet while he grabs a tanglefoot bag from one of his fallen comrades and throws it at Torg. You stop moving so goblins can kill you!
Why you shoot the goblins! The goblin forgets about the kid and charges Broon.
2nd Round:
1st: Goblins (#1; #2-Disarmed @ 7 damage; #4)
2nd: Torg; Broon @ 5 HP; Elena @ 5 HP; Dashuun; Maze @ -4 HP
Dashuun approaches Maze with a healing spell in his hand.
"It's alright old boy, just some goblin nonsense." he says as he helps his loyal wolf to his feet.
Broon tumbles back and shoots another arrow at the goblin.
>>
Elena targets the closest goblin to her, and uses her spells to try and keep it from attacking the next round. "Thank you," Elena mutters to the large feral man thing beside her fighting against the goblin horde.
Dashuun heals his companion.
Elena targets the disarmed, injured goblin with a spell.
The goblin gets a far-off look in his eye and falls over.
Broon tumbles backwards and shoots the goblin attacking him, it cuts deeply into his chest, just above his armor.
2nd Round:
1st: Goblins (#1; #2-Disarmed/Stunned @ 7 damage; #4)
2nd: Torg; Broon @ 5 HP; Elena @ 5 HP; Dashuun; Maze @ 2 HP - Prone
Also, that damage thing makes more sense now. Thanks.
I get the +4 to intimidate from being one size category larger than goblins, as per the skill description of intimidate.
Move: to Maze
Standard: Alter Self SLA (Adlet--humanoid wolf)
Maze stabilizes while Dashuun moves forward and turns into a wolf-like humanoid.
Torg attempts to throw-off the tangle-foot bag and charges the nearest goblin, his heavy boots thundering against the worn cobbles of the square.
He then slashes down with his axe in an attempt to split the goblin clean in half.
Torg wrenches the axe free of the goblin and turns to bring it down with the flat of the blade against the prone goblin's legs in an attempt to shatter the bones, but not kill the creature.
Torg avoids the tanglefoot bag but is slowed for rounds. His greataxe comes down in a mighty swing, but misses the goblin and lodges itself into the ground, leaving a large gash in the cobblestones.
The prone goblin babbles on about fire while his "friends" try to slay the humanoid scum.
Yaaaaay! Longshanks run away, but Gobbles will catch you! The goblin chasing Broon cheerfully chases Broon down, hacking away at anything that falls in the way of his dogslicer.
The other goblin tuns to the big half-orc on steroids. You betray greenskins! We bash head! Bash head hard!
2nd Round:
1st: Goblins (#1; #2-Disarmed/Prone @ 7 damage; #4)
2nd: Torg @ 7 HP; Broon @ 5 HP; Elena @ 5 HP; Dashuun; Maze @ -4 HP/Stable
Elena keeps her rousing speech going, trying to spur on the defenders of the town. [b{"Keep pushing them back! We've whittled the little savages down to almost nothing."[/b]. She uses another Magic Missile, hoping to finish the prone goblin off, before he got back up and became another problem.
Damage
Dashuun notes the goblins' distraction and takes the opportunity to heal Maze.
"That one boy. Go!" he says, directing Maze to attack the goblin chasing the poor archer.
Maze stands up and moves in behind the goblin, ready to attack.
Elena kills the downed goblin.
So this instead...
Dashuun steps up to the goblin next to his wolf and attacks ferociously.
,
,
2nd Round:
1st: Goblins (#1; #4)
2nd: Torg @ 7 HP; Broon @ 5 HP; Elena @ 5 HP; Dashuun; Maze @ -4 HP/Stable
Broon backs up and lays down another arrow.
>>
Torg sidesteps around the goblin, wrenching his axe free from the cobbles. As he moves, he brings the axe across his body in a horizontal strike against his foe.
Broon tumbles backwards and drops the goblin with a single arrow. His dogslicer skids across the ground as the goblin crashes into the nearby stand.
Torg swings his greataxe mightily, but it glances off the goblin's scale mail. The goblin grins. New armor make mean longshanks not hurt! He sticks his tongue out at Torg from his vile mouth before trying to cleave Torg's face off.
He winds up and let's lose a mighty swing, but as he starts to swing he slips on some of his friend's blood causing him to lose his balance.
He stabs himself with his own dogslicer as he tries to stay on his feet. LONGSHANKS STABBED GRORKEL!
2nd Round:
1st: Goblins (#4 @ 3 damage)
2nd: Torg @ 7 HP; Broon @ 5 HP; Elena @ 5 HP; Dashuun; Maze @ -4 HP/Stable
Dashuun attacks twice more with his fists, snarling at the goblin with a wolflike maw.
,
,
>>
Elena moves closer to the goblin in the armor and casts Hideous Laughhter on it. Se continues to focus on her buffing the attacks of the others as well.