At noon, Father Zantus and his acolytes wheel a large covered wagon into the square, and after recounting a short parable of how Desna first fell to the 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 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. At any event, there is plenty of food for all, and the town spreads out on the long tables that were under construction in the churchyard yesterday, eating as much as they possibly can.
Rotomo heartily partook of all the offered food but is continually drawn back to Amekio's table. He is not sure if it because of the food or to catch a glimpse of the bewitching woman. The druid grabbed one last plate of salmon and tried to find somewhere in the shade to eat the delicious dish.
Of all three dishes, Claudia seemed to enjoy the Venison the most, eating two plates of it, although she did try and like both the others.
Claudia also was stuffing her pockets with any food that would keep for a while, like bread or potatoes.
Pris rolls her eyes and waves her hand dismissively at the loudly whispered compliments, "I know I might be as small as a child, but there is no need to patronize me." - But she smiles all the same. "Perhaps I could, but I would rather have the dashing Ser Alden come to my rescue." She winks at Claudia. "You seem to be quite the magician yourself, Claudia - changing your appearance, manipulating emotions. And traveling alone? You have some hidden combat skill, I'm sure of that."
Priscilla watches the proceedings of releasing the butterflies patiently, though she jumps a bit at the hundreds of flying insects suddenly taking flight - vague memories of falling into a hornet's nest as a child haunting her. Still, the food looked delicious and she partakes as much as she can carry. Taking one last bite in her mouth as she looks around for a free space for herself and any companions who might've followed her to the serving table. She easily spots the towering Rotomo, looking for a space himself, and trots on over with a mischievous smile to meet him. "Fancy meeting you here! Enjoying the festival? Mind if we join you?"
The Druid getured toward an empty seat and replied between bites, "The shade is always free." He continued while he licked curry sauce off his plate, "I have been enjoying the salmon very much. You should try it."
After the lunch many of the townspeople are stuffed, and are content to spend time just sitting and conversing at the tables. Some return to the fair activities or shops, and others head home for a quick siesta before the consecration which is scheduled for sundown, and the bonfire on the beach later in the evening. While they sit, the group sees a company of teamsters moving a wagon-load of wood and fuel next to the church which will be used for the night's fire.
When Pris mentions Claudia having magic, her brow furrows for a moment, then returns to her normal smiling face.
Claudia was shocked that Pris guessed her secret, but quickly realized that she had not.
"I was told that it was a good idea to disguise myself while I was on the road, as 'bad men' would want to 'have their way with me', according to the nun who ran the orphanage I grew up in. I mostly did it to make her happy."
With a laugh he shook his head at the halfling woman, "I may tease, but I don't patronize. I learned long ago that it's not the size of a person that matters most." After another moment he turns to Claudia with a drawn expression of surprise, "Now I'm dashing. Whatever did I do to earn such praise?"
As they make their way along the food tables he shrugs at Claudia's mention of her reasons for disguising herself, "She's not entirely wrong, I'd think. Some people, men and women both, have no self control, after all. But really I think your biggest worry would have been all the endless marriage proposals you would have had to endure."
As he strolled along with the ladies he couldn't help but smile kindly at the small revelation that she was an orphan, "Well she'd be happy to know you made friends who would look rather unkindly to someone having their way with you now. Though I suspect we can do nothing for the marriage proposals. Those you'll have to weather on your own."
"Why would anyone want to marry me? I have no dowry nor inheritance."
Rotomo is content to sit in the shade and relax. He can't help himself and he gets up for another plate of food. In between bites he holds up his plate and asked, "Want to try some?"
Pris laughs at Rotomo's offer and holds up her own partially-finished heaping plate of food (unable to finish eating it as quickly as Rotomo). "I wouldn't want to take any of the bear's food, lest he need the extra bulk for the winter." She tucks into it with vigor, feeling some comfort in the large amount of delicious food - something she did not get to enjoy much on her modest freelance salary.
When Claudia mentions the lack of dowry and inheritance he couldn't help but shake his head slightly, "I believe you underestimate the appeal to some men of having a beautiful woman as a wife. The more beautiful the woman, the more extreme some men act to gain their favor. Which is probably why the nun was so concerned with you cover yourself why you traveled."
The new friends spend the afternoon lounging in the shade and getting to know each other better. With good food and fellowship the time passes quickly and the stirring at the main stage lets you know it is close to time for the consecration of the temple. As the sun begin set, Father Zantus takes his place on the podium can clears his throat to prepare to recite the Prayer of First Dreaming. To get the attention of the rest of the crowd, Zantus triggers a thunderstone.
The 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 start awake, and the buzz of two dozen conversations quickly hushes as all heads turn towards the central podium, where the beaming priest awaits. He readies to speak, and suddenly a woman's scream slices 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 sounds not quite human. The crowd parts and something low to the round races by, giggling with disturbing glee as the stray dog gives a pained yelp and then collapses with a gurgle, its throat 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!"
Initial Assault - Round 1
23 Priscilla
17 Yellow Goblin
14 Blue Goblin
11 Alden
9 Claudia
9 Red Goblin
3 Rotomo
Priscilla, smiling widely, turns to listen intently to the priest speak - surely something interesting must happen now, given the display with the butterflies earlier. Perhaps fireworks? That would be quite something. Still holding a plate and occasionally placing pieces of food into her mouth, she suddenly stops halfway through chewing a bit of fish - a scream? Was it part of the show? A play or performance perhaps. She thought about asking Rotomo or Alden for a lift to see what was going on through the crowd, but thought that might be rude on only the second day of knowing them. Still, the screams caught her attention again, followed by lines - verses of a crude song. It was almost lost on her in the midst of the noisy crowd, but she could make out one word - maybe because they said it a half dozen times. Goblins.
Pris had only one encounter with Goblins before this, and though she was unable to make them out through the crowd, she knows how dangerous they can be. Reaching to pull her small bow from her back, she crouches to string it, trying to make out any sort of shape within the crowd, but her own low vantage point and the bubbling chaos was blocking any real view she could have of whatever was singing the song. Twanging the bow and satisfiedly nodding, she looks up at Alden. "Well, Ser Alden... it looks like we might need your protection after all." With one hand, she pulls the hood of her cloak up over her head, and scampers forward, looking for whatever killed that poor dog.
Initial Assault - Round 1 - continued
Priscilla hears the goblins and even from her low vantage point, can see the crowd start to panic as chaos breaks out in the churchyard. Stringing her bow, the halfling moves deftly to a hiding spot behind some crates of merchandise left near a vendor's tent.
It doesn't take long before goblins are seen in the midst of the panicking crowd. By coincidence, the cart the goblins hide under belongs to none other than the rotund Shoanti man you met in the queue to enter the town. The man, spying the little menaces, turns to run, but you see Yellow Goblin easily spring on the man, cutting his throat from behind, and taking a large bite from his shoulder as he falls dead, about halfway to where you sit.
Blue Goblin follows closely behind his ally, but rather than rushing around, he grabs an uneaten plate of food that has been cast aside in the riot, and eats it, plate and all, in one mighty bite.
As the crowd descends into chaos he hears Priscilla before seeing her as she calls his name. Moments later the parting of the crowd reveals a gathering of goblin, one of which brings a man down before much more than screaming and running can happen. Reaching to his side he grips his sword and dashes forward, pulling steel as he goes,"To the temple! Get the civilians inside!"
As he slides into place before the Goblin he brandishes his sword.
<<"Kave Unum E Vestros!">> intones Claudia in the language of magic as she points and a barely visible dart of force flies at the furthest Goblin away .
She then looks around to see if anyone noticed her casting.
Initial Assault - Round 1 - continued
Seeing the onslaught of goblins, Alden leaps into action, lowering his shoulder into the crowd and weaving his way through chaos to get near Yellow Goblin, who is still enjoying his kill.
From her position near the tent, Claudia chants a few magic words, and a bolt of pure force flies unerringly from her fingertips, striking the other goblin still near the pie-wagon. It smacks him upside the head, causing a stream of blood from its ugly mouth.
But the force bolt also gets the attention of the goblin, and his eyes squint in anger as he sees where the blast originated. Shrieking like a banshee, it rushes forward looking for revenge. It closes the distance between Claudia and itself but cannot attack.
Rotomo watched as the goblin attack unfolded. Slowed by all the food he has eaten he finally retrieved his club and stepped toward the maniacal goblin. Grim faced he swung his cudgel at its head.
Initial Assault - Round 1 - concluded
Moving slowly due to his over-eating, Rotomo finally takes his club to the goblin that has rushed over to attack Claudia, but his swing is lumbering and the goblin is quick. As a result the club swishes through the air harmlessly.
End of Round 1
Initial Assault - Round 2
23 Priscilla
17 Yellow Goblin
14 Blue Goblin
11 Alden
9 Claudia
9 Red Goblin (3hp dmg)
3 Rotomo
The havoc of a sneak attack of goblins is just being realized in the church square around the Cathedral. Goblins run amok, chasing small children, biting grown men, and laughing maniacally while they do all of it. Goblins slide across the long trestle tables or slice open vendor tents. Citizens scatter pell-mell throughout the area, and there is no organized resistance. Chaos reigns!
The creepy goblin chorus continues their shrill chant:
Gobins race and goblins jump
Goblins slash and goblins bump.
Burn the skin and smash the head,
Goblins here and you be dead!
Priscilla keeps low against the crates, wincing as she heard the shrill laughs and the dire screams - so far removed from the sounds of the pests she normally faces. So, when a goblin, oblivious to her hidden position charges past her hiding spot, she's struck with a brief flash of anger. She pulls a knife from within her cloak (still gripping her bow tightly in one hand), and keeps in step with it, stabbing deftly with the dagger and aiming for the grimy thing's throat.
Initial Assault - Round 2 - continued
Drawing out her dagger as stealthily as she can, Priscilla springs out of her hiding space, moving behind the goblin. As she moves, he catches sight of her, and is just able to avoid the killing knife stroke.
Yellow Goblin continues to chomp on the dead pieman, not realizing right away that Alden is upon him, ready to fight. When he does see the paladin, the goblin snickers evily - a large chunk of the pieman's tunic caught in his teeth, sliding to his right, and slashing at the armored paladin. The horrid little knife clanks off Alden's metal armor with a grating sound but no damage is done.
Blue Goblin circles Alden, trying to get behind him, slicing at this hamstring with his dog-slicer but the warrior is just able to knock the sneaky blow aside with his heavy shield.
Claudia will again attempt to call on her birthright in the hopes of slaying the Goblin next to her.
Should it fall, Claudia will move to assist Alden.
Even as he comes to a stop he hears another goblin shrieking as it charges past him. Through the crowd he's just able to notice it going towards where Claudia is standing, "Claudia!"
Even in the next several exchanges he's trying to steal glances back, but fails to do so and brings his sword around on the yellow goblin in an attempt to disrupt the deadlock.
Stepping back he shifts from the pair and steps back into his opponent where he can see the two more clearly.
Initial Assault - Round 2 - continued
Alden swings at the goblin in front of him, but the one behind divides his attention and his stroke misses. The warrior then side-steps the goblin's flanking maneuver.
Standing her ground stoically despite the raging onslaught of the slavering goblin, Claudia coolly delivers another force missile right in the face of Red Goblin, blowing it off its feet, stone dead. Seeing Alden getting pressed from two sides, she moves off in that direction, standing next to the paladin to prevent him from being surrounded again.
Seeing the closest goblin fall the large man rushed forward wildly swinging his club at one of the elusive goblins.
Initial Assault - Round 2 - concluded
After seeing Claudia drop one goblin, Rotomo rushes forward to where the other two still menace Alden. He swings his cudgel in a great round house, but has to alter the blow slightly as a townsperson brushes against him, and the attack fails to connect.
End of Round 2
Inital Assault - Round 3
23 Priscilla
17 Yellow Goblin
14 Blue Goblin
11 Alden
9 Claudia
3 Rotomo
Even as the odds turn back towards the group here, there are still goblins streaming all over the churchyard, wreaking havoc and killing, wounding, or terrorizing Sandpoint civilians. The shock of the initial attack is beginning to wear off, and somewhere you hear the silver whistle of Sheriff Hemlock blowing.
But that sound is cut off by the chanting of the goblins, which rises above the din of the fight as they continue:
Chase the baby, catch the pup.
Bonk the head to shut it up.
Bones by cracked, flesh be stewed,
We be goblins! And you be food!
The goblin before her lying dead from the force that Claudia exerts, she breathes a sigh of frustration before turning towards the other pair of goblins - Pris is a bit behind the others, dashing forward with the dagger still clutched in her hand, and decides to keep back an inch - she doesn't feel like getting caught in a melee clump and her small stature confused for a goblin, a mistake that would be at best insulting. Instead, she hurls the readied dagger towards the small monster. There were so many, and the voices... could the four of them put a dent into this tide of gnashing teeth?
Initial Assault - Round 3 - continued
Dashing out to meet the goblins that had engaged her new friends, Priscilla stops short (not a halfling joke, I swear) of engaging the goblins and their wicked looking daggers in melee, and instead hurls her own bodkin at one. The goblin ducks the throw easily and leers at her for a few seconds before shrieking in combat fury.
A large blue swallowtail butterfly lands on the nose of Yellow Goblin who spews a serious of brutal curses and then capers around trying to catch the lovely winged creature. Forgetting for a moment he is in mortal combat, the goblin chases the butterfly in a zig-zag pattern, and does not attack the party.
Blue Goblin takes a half-hearted swipe at the swallowtail then turns and makes a brutal cut at Rotomo, slipping to his right side, as he does so. The slicer cuts into the wood of the druid's shield which he just manages to get interposed to protect himself from the surprisingly quick slash.
Spinning her staff, Claudia will stop abruptly while pointing at the yellow (not a pun I swear) goblin and a glob of acid will streak out towards him.
Stepping around the distracted goblins he settles in where he can keep an eye on both and lines up a swing against the goblin on his right.
Rotomo corners another of the murderous goblins and swings his club again.
Initial Assault - Round 3 - concluded
Stepping up, Alden turns his attention to Blue Goblin on his right, and with a slashing cut from his scimitar, he dispatches that fell creature, cutting it down in one stroke.
Using her staff to channel the spell, Claudia fires a glob of acid at the goblin who is chasing butterflies, but her shot, which has to work around Alden, is poorly aimed, and the acid hisses harmlessly in the grass of the churchyard.
After seeing Alden cut down the goblin threatening him, Rotomo plods forward, he arm and club cocked and ready to strike. As he closes on the distracted goblin, he swings his cudgel into the over-large head of his foe, caving it in with one mighty blow.
End of Combat
As you stand breathing heavily from the exertion and excitement of life-or-death combat, you continue to see just how much chaos has engulfed little Sandpoint. Goblins race everywhere, running amok and singing and slashing indiscriminately. You see a handful of guardsmen making a defense on the Cathedral steps backed by a wounded Father Zantus. The silver whistle of Sheriff Hemlock continues to blow, and you can hear him barking commands somewhere in the maelstrom. Further off, you hear the sweet singing sounds of the lovely bard and innkeeper, Ameiko, rallying citizens to the fight and encouraging them to push the infesting goblins out of the village, but for now, chaos reigns.
Pris breathes a bit heavily from the scuffle, but has barely broken a sweat yet - failing to really effect the combat in any way certainly wasn't as tiring as earning a kill might've been. Still, with only a brief lull in combat, the halfling knows she can't let her guard down yet. She scampers past the defeated goblins to retrieve her unstained dagger from the ground, tucking it back into a sheath on her belt. "By Norgorber's invisible elbows, what are goblins doing here?" Keeping her bow clutched tightly in her hand, she looks around the chaotic battlefield, hood still keeping her eyes in shadow. "Is everyone okay?" she asks, turning her gaze back to her sudden combat allies.
Rotomo began to swing his club again and abruptly stopped as he realized his opponent had fallen.
He grunted a reply to Pris, "I be fine."
"Sigh, I guess I'll need to have that talk sooner, rather than later." mutters Claudia to herself. She then chants again and...nothing visible happens.
"So I feel I should say something. Yes, I can use magic, but I'm not an archmage by any means. As a matter of fact, that is what I came to Sandpoint to talk to Ameiko about. I would appreciate it if you didn't mention it where possible."
Looking around, Claudia finishes with "Although after this, it'll likely be a moot point."
He wanted to head for the temple and make sure the people inside her alright, but from the looks of things there was a good enough defense already in place. So as the others gathered he shook his head, "I'm fine, Miss Priscilla."
When Claudia explains her use of magic he nods his head a moment, "I'll keep your secret, Miss Claudia. But if we want to have a Sandpoint in the morning we need to get moving and help clear these goblins out. Is everyone else in?"
"Don't worry, Claudia," Pris smiled widely out from her hood - "Halflings are very good at keeping secrets." She pulls a small arrow from her quiver and notches it into her bowstring, still grinning - "Quite the impressive display of talent. I'd think people would be too afraid to mess with you if they saw this."
Priscilla nods to Alden - "I'll do what I can to help. Usually I'd hand you a price list, but considering the imminent danger..." She shrugs, and moves to look for cover to snipe from - "Let's just call this a free sample, eh?"
As the group catches their collective breaths for a few seconds, Claudia takes a moment to cast a protective spell that envelops her in a blue-white light for a split-second before fading away. Priscilla recovers her thrown dagger, sheathing it and keeping an arrow ready as goblins still caper and cavort around and about the small group.
Just as Alden thinks to lead them to the organized defense that is forming, the sudden bloom of fire from an unattended cart catches your eye. In the fading daylight, you can see the silhouetted shapes of a group of goblins which have found the cart full of fuel for the planned sunset bonfire, setting it alight. The shrieking and cackling goblins are soon armed not only with their vicious dogslicers, but flaming torches as well. With maniacal delight, the holy terrors seem set to burning everything within sight. Whipping these goblins into even more of a frenzy is the presence of a female warchanter, whose grating song spurs the goblins along.
Goblin Pyros - Round 1
22 Red Goblin
21 Yellow Goblin
17 Blue Goblin
15 Rotomo
11 Claudia
10 Goblin Warchanter
8 Alden
6 Priscilla
Flaming brand in hand, Red Goblin moves to the closest house to the burning cart, trying desperately to set the structure afire as well.
Yellow Goblin also has arson in his heart, as he throws his flaming torch onto the canvas tent of a merchant. Unfortunately, it appears the merchant, his wife, and small child are still huddled inside the tent...
Blue Goblin sets his eyes on the party, and with a fierce bellow, swings his torch once, and sets off towards the group.
Claudia will again draw upon her most powerful attack spell and fling a dart of force at the Warchanter.