The Swallowtail Festival begins promptly, as scheduled, on the first day of autumn. 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.
For five years, the faithful of Sandpoint have attended church in smaller wooden structures rebuilt after fire destroyed the previous temple, and while their new pastor Father Zantus was helpful, kind, and wise, church wasn’t the same. Now, the new cathedral is finally done. All that remains is for the Swallowtail Festival to renew the site’s blessings from the gods and it will be as if the Sandpoint Fire had never occurred.
Earlier in the day, four keynote speakers each delivered short but well-received welcomes to the festival. Mayor Deverin’s friendly attitude and excitement proved contagious as she welcomed visitors to town. Sheriff Hemlock brought 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 blaze that claimed the town’s previous church.
Fortunately, Cyrdak Drokkus was more than up to the challenge of bringing the crowd’s mood back up with his rousing anecdotes and a not-completely-irreverent recap of the long process the town went through to finance and construct the new cathedral. With a bit of self-promotion at the end he invited everyone to stop by the Sandpoint Theater the following evening to check out his new production of The Harpy’s Curse, and revealed that the lead role of Avisera the harpy queen will be played by none other than the famous Magnimarian diva Allishanda!
Finally, Father Zantus stood up and give a short speech thanking everyone for coming as his acolytes wheeled a large covered cart into the square. After recounting the short parable of how Desna first fell to earth and was nursed back to health by a blind child who she transformed into a immortal butterfly as a reward for her aid. The acolytes pulled back the cover and released the Children of Desna. A furious storm of a thousand swallowtail butterflies swarmed into the air in a spiraling riot of color to a great cheer from the crowd. Throughout the rest of the day, children futilely chased butterflies, never quite quick enough to catch them. Some of the Children of Desna rested upon a few in the crowed, a symbol of the goddesses blessing granted to them.
Wren Chavali was dancing for the crowd when the butterfly landed on her, perhaps a sign that Sandpoint was indeed a place for a fresh start. The troupe she traveled with was talented, but they were content to roam the Hinterlands performing for farmsteads, and roadside inns. She wanted more and hoped that the Sandpoint Theater was the answer, besides their leader, Wesh, was becoming annoying and had already professed his desire to wed her on more than one occasion. Throughout the day she tried several times to get Master Drokkus to notice her talent, but he always seemed occupied with someone congratulating him on the opening of the new show. As evening comes, Wren is dancing among the crowds, twirling a crimson scarf and earning a good bit of coin.
Brock almost killed the butterfly that landed on his shoulder but paused with his hand but an inch from crushing it. Its silvery wings reminded him of a butterfly shaped charm that Father Tobyn used to wear. The half-orc was on edge trying to avoid the stares, and wondering if anyone recognized him. It had been five years since he had run off to Riddleport to join the Black Curs, a membership that he didn’t feel so good about now standing in shadow of the new church. After seeing Father Zantus at the start of the Festival, Brock has been trying to sum up the courage to speak with the new head priest. Father Zantus had been Father Tobyns most promising student, and had always been nice to the half-orc. Brock is staying in the shadows at the back of the crowd when night starts to fall, wondering what the priest would think of the things he had done over the past five years.
Eponine was thankful that the festival was going so well and was thrilled with how excited everyone seemed about the new church. When one of the butterflies landed on her nose, while stuffing her face with some of Amieko’s award winning curry-spiced salmon, she thought that Sandpoint just might be a good enough place to settle down for good. The people here were great, especially the owner of the Rusty Dragon. A kindred spirit, Amieko and Eponine had finished off more than once bottle of wine after the inn closed for the night sharing tales of adventure. When she needed coin she could usual find work at the Glassworks filling crates when they were behind schedule on a large order, or more often than not Larz Rovanky needed someone to run deliveries at the Tannery. As the consecration ceremony was preparing to begin as the sun set, Eponine was quick to find a seat close to the front where she could see the excitement up close.
Sunny Beanstalk was spending the day working, escorting several of Sandpoints orphaned children from the Turandarok Academy to the festival. When a butterfly landed on her head, the children laughed, and leaped to try and catch it. Sunny said a silent prayer that its luck would stave off the fits of rage she often felt. Since coming to Sandpoint the dreams had gotten worse, horrible violent episodes that frightened the Halfling. Ilsoari, was quickly becoming a good friend and he often stayed up late with her, sharing tales of his adventuring days when she could not sleep. The headmaster suggested a course of lessons that allowed her to teach the children without broaching subjects that triggered her wrathful fits. Since then her days were almost episode free, now if only she could only put an end to the nightmares. As night approaches, Sunny is sitting at one of the festivals large tables, entertaining the youngsters with a cultural lesson about Varisian dancers while they watch a lone woman dance and twirl with her crimson scarf.
As the sun begins to set, Father Zantus takes the central podium along with the mayor, the sheriff, and Cyrdak. He uses a thunderstone to attract everyone’s attention with a sharp retort that 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 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 slices through the air. A few moments later, another scream rises, then another. Beyond them, a sudden surge of strange new voices rise - 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 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 sounds of a strange song begin, 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!
Goblins race and goblins jump. Goblins slash and goblins bump.
Burn the skin and mash the head, Goblins here and you be dead!
Chase the baby, catch the pup. Bonk the head to shut it up.
Bones be cracked, flesh be stewed, We be goblins!
”
The crowd starts to surge southward away from an oncoming assault by a band of the blood thirsty creatures.
Eponine moves to AV83 and readies her rapier.
Standing alone in the back of the crowd fit Brock. He had always been an outsider. He could see some of the town's onlookers grip their spouses and children tight each time they looked at him. His fearsome demeanor was not something he could turn off. The fact that he carried a 5' long hammer on his back also did not help his cause. It had been ingrained in him for the past 5 years that fear was one's most powerful ally and he knew better than most how to make people afraid. But those days were behind him and he hoped fate would at last help him find peace. Try and relax, everything will be fine.
It was about this time that he heard the screams and the goblin song. He looked at the sky: I am really cursed, aren't I? He made his way through the crowd, sliding the hammer off his back, as he moved. Those goblins would pay for ruining his peace! He would make sure of that!
Description of Eponine
Dotting.
Look over here, dammit, Drokus, thought Wren as she whirled and twirled, spinning her crimson scarf expertly around her, appearing almost as a cloak of fire, it danced so quickly. The pretty Varisian had been dancing most of the afternoon, but had not been able to enjoy herself, as she focused her intensity on impressing him. She was determined to get a job at the Theatre. When Wren wanted something, she worked for it, and more often than not, achieved her goal.
Hearing the shrill sound of the goblin voices, she immediately shouted,"Away children," to the small copse of kids that had gathered around her. She always seemed to have a way with the little tykes, and her initial thought was to protect them. "Run that way," she yelled, pointing toward the south, away from the small invaders.
After seeing the children off, she moves to stand on the closest table, to get a better vantage point of the scene. "Look out, miss, trouble's afoot," she quickly warns the halfling sitting at the table as she scrambles to the top. Without even considering another option, she quickly reaches inside one of her interior pockets and pulls out her trusty lucky wand, never far from her grasp.
The butterfly was a good omen - a blessing from the White Lady. Things are looking up for Sunny. A new life in a new town New friends. Even the sunshine doensn't seem to bother her as much here - But who does this woman think she is to bark orders at her kids and frighten them? Sunny glimpses to the appraching goblins and her expression clouds over to one of grim determination. She addresses the kids in a sharp and strict voice.
"Children! Stay together and get behind the table! Be ready to flee on my signal!"
Sunny springs to the top of the table to get a better look.
“Goblins chew and goblins bite. Goblins cut and goblins fight.
Stab the dog and cut the horse, Goblins eat and take by force!
The goblins scurry forward inspired by the gruesome chant echoing through the square. The first crosses the square on its northern edge swinging its wicked looking Dogslicer at visiting merchant in the crowd. Goblins shrieks gleefully as the woodcarver falls to the ground screaming in pain, blood spewing from a wicked cut in his back. The second and third goblin rush at the largest cluster of onlookers also attacking with their Dogslicers. ; People scream as two more citizens are struck, a well dressed travelers arm now bleeds, and a local girl wearing the serving apron of the White Deer falls down dead. The last Goblin rushes the stage and starts to climb the six foot ladder up towards the festivals speakers.
Eponine pulls her rapier and charges towards the Goblins without any hesitance or fear. Wren leaps to a table top, drawing forth her wand and eager to protect the children and their governess. Sunny shepards her charges to a table farther back, away from the goblins and leaps to the top of it. From her vantage point she sees a small child calling out, "Mama Mama."
On the stage Cyrdak kicks at the climbing goblin. [occ]non-leathal[/ooc] Sheriff Hemlock draws his longsword and move along the stage yelling for the town guard, "Brigade to ARMS! Defend the people!" Father Zantus and the Mayor attempt to flee to the south.
Brock reacts to the attack by pulling his earthbreaker from his back and charging straight at the goblin attackers.
The crowd, panniced, all try to flee south and or west from the square.
Things slow down for Wren as she takes in the scene. Finding a hole in the crowd, she runs forward and leaps off the table, moving like the wind.
"Taste the flames you little monsters," she yells as she catches two of them in her Burning Hands spell.
Damage
Reflex DC 16 for 1/2 damage.
Eponine will thrust her rapier at the goblin in AX84.
To hit
Damage
"Excuse me, little elf woman!", says a gruff voice behind Eponine, as a towering half-orc moves past her. If still alive from the fire, Bones steps to AX82 and takes a swing at the goblin in AW83. If dead, he steps to AU81 and takes a swipe at the goblin within reach, but misses the runt, as his weapon slams into the ground with great force.