It’s the first day of autumn, and a light breeze off the gulf has blown away the remnants of last night’s rain. Today is a perfect day for a festival, and a festival is exactly what the town of Sandpoint is going to have. Most of the town’s citizenry is gathered in a cobbled plaza that is headed by the impressive façade of the town’s church. Before the doors of the beautiful stone structure is a wooden podium that is to be used for the speeches that will soon kick off the festival.
Pennants and streamers dress up the rooftops and faces of the surrounding shops, most of which are open for business. The doors of the White Deer Inn up the road stand open and a steady column of smoke from the house’s kitchens trails up into the sky. The smell of the roasts the inn is providing for the community feast mingles in the breeze with a dozen other savory smells coming from merchant’s tents and vending carts. The plaza is filled with a milling crowd and a babble of voices – locals, travelers, farmers in town for the day with their families, and merchants both local and exotic. Music can be heard from a dozen sources around the square and up the street in the direction of the inn.
In the traditional Varisian calendar, the equinox is always marked by the Swallowtail festival. It focuses on the myth of the goddess Desna’s creation.
The festival this year is special because it marks the opening of the town’s newly constructed cathedral. The previous structure and many of the surrounding buildings here were torched five years ago in a fire that claimed many lives. This festival is also a remembrance for that tragedy.
.
Knowledge Local roll 18 + 5 mod = 23
Knowledge Local roll 18 + 5 mod = 23
between #13 and #14 near the bridge in case I have to leave. Have a good view of #2 and Undercliff way. I'm watching for possible marks or some people who might be of help to me, been doing the same at night around town. Seen a few interesting charaters, I'll have to wait and see.
I am hanging out in a merchent friends tent eating and getting drunk. I started the day telling my friends that I had delived my spoiled charge back home and may be looking for a new job.
Spoiler for Yod.
Spoiler for Sari
Spoiler for Cha
Spoiler for Eberk
Make a Constitution Check.
Luke
spoiler for Eberk
For now, that new job consists of helping keep an eye on your buddy's merchandise for the price of the rounds of beer he keeps buying for you both. Luckily he pays an energetic gnome to run the tent's business while he rubs elbows with the townsfolk, so his advanced state of drunkeness has not hurt his profits.
His tent is on an outer ring of tents in the plaza and cannot directly see the podium. It sounds like someone's giving some kind of speech.
spoiler for Yod
I take it then that you want to remain a little distant from the festival.
The house you're hiding in appears to have been deserted for quite some time. Most people would not consider it livable, and you judge that it will probably fall down the next time a howler rolls in off the Varisian Gulf. Riddleport was littered with such places, but this town is appalling short of hidey-holes for ne'er-do-wells and vagabonds. Since you are plainly unsure how you'd be received in the light of day, you've chosen to only venture out at night. You gathered a few interesting rumors about the town from snatches of passing conversations in the streets.
- One of the richer fellows in town, the flamboyant proprietor of the theatre has an ongoing romance with the (male) head of the town Mercantile League. This is a town scandal of the first magnitude.
- There is another half-orc in town. His name is Gorvis and he lives in a shack up on the north rim of the town. He is the town dung-sweep and garbage collector. He has a reputation as a drunkard.
- The Sczarni, an organized crime syndicate that has a presence in most towns in Varisia is firmly rooted here as well. Like everywhere else, they are a largely ethnic-Varisian group, and are fairly territorial. You've seen more than one instance of their muscle on the street at night.
- The sheriff here has a reputation as a competent swordsman that is not prone to take bribes. He is ethnically Shoanti, though curiously does not display tattoos. His name is Hemlock.
spoiler for Yod
Your scouting has yielded the following info on the town...
1 Sandpoint Cathedral
3 White Deer Inn - run by a big tattooed Shoanti.
5 Jeweler
10 Garrison
11 Town Hall
12 Armory
14 Tannery - Stinky.
15 Red Dog Smithy - You've stared at this place alot out the dingy front window of the place you're hiding in. The smith is a big muscled guy with a shaved head named Das Korvut. You think he may suspect someone's living in this house.
17 Potion shop
23 Theatre
27 Some kind of Academy
spoiler for Cha and Sari
The first speaker is the mayor. Despite her evident youth – she looks to be no more than 40 – she wields authority naturally, and she seems genuinely excited about the festival. She speaks only briefly, welcoming everyone to the consecration of the church. She gestures back towards the structure behind her, elegant and gargantuan. She introduces the town sheriff, a ruddy-skinned, well-built man with a shaved head.
His name is Hemlock, and he is Shoanti in form, but Cheliaxian in dress and lack of tattoos. He begins his speech by calling to memory a date 5 years past, when a fire gutted this part of the town, including the previous church and the old White Deer Inn. He dedicates the cathedral to the memory of the previous priest who was killed in the fire. Once a silence is observed, his admonition to the crowd to revel in moderation is cheerfully overlooked by all, and the next speaker is introduced.
It is Cyrdak, master of the Sandpoint Theatre. If the mayor was magnetic on stage, Cyrdak is electric. His mature good looks, flamboyant style, and ability to project himself over the crowd seize the attention of the whole square – something neither of his predecessors had really been able to do. He ends his speech with a promotion of his newest production, ‘The Harpy’s Curse’, playing this very night. The part of the Harpy queen would be played by none other than Allishanda of Magnimar – a woman of widely renowned parts.
The final speaker is Father Zantus, High Priest of Sandpoint and chief caretaker of the new house of worship. As he speaks, the sheriff oversees several young men wheeling a low cart covered with a tarp out in front of the podium. Father Zantus recounts the parable of the Birth of Desna, and at the end, as Desna rises, reborn as a Swallowtail Butterfly, the canvas of the wagon is drawn back and hundreds of the flittering creatures are released to pass among and over the crowd.
With this, the speeches end. More carts begin to wheel into the plaza, this time from the various eateries in town conveying food for the feast. The crowd condenses around the wagons’ destinations, especially towards the Rusty Dragon’s tent and the White Deer Inn.
Mayor Deverin is pictured on pg 15 of the Player’s Guide.
Sheriff Hemlock is pictured on pg 16 of the Player’s Guide.
For Cha and DM Luke
For Sari and DM.
spoiler for Eberk
The speeches have certainly begun, but you cannot imagine wanting to leave the shade and comfort of your current spot - squarely in front of a fresh pint. There's some applause as one of the speeches concludes, then a new voice echoing around the plaza.
You sip your beer.
A pushed cart passes in front of the tent, trailing behind it the sharp sweet scent of curry, and suddenly your beer tastes lonely. As you reach your feet, the largest applause yet erupts from the gathered crowd. Suddenly a hundred interrupted conversations resume and the crowd begins to disperse to the corners of the plaza, where the food carts are arranged. You slip out of the tent just before the crowd and hustle down the lane ahead of the speech listeners.
Ha ha! First in line!
Spoiler for Cha, Sari and Eberk
The outlay of food is impressive. All the local eateries and some of the local farms have contributed items to the spread and there's plenty of food for the crowd. The first place to run dry is the tent erected by the owner of the Rusty Dragon, an inn located in the lower town (#37). Her curry Salmon and exotic good looks draw a large share of the crowd.
In the opposite corner of the plaza is a feast of peppercorn venison provided by the White Deer inn (#3). The owner's Shoanti heritage is obvious by his tattoos, hairstyle and the flavor and style of the dish he's serving.
The other food item of note is the clam chowder being served at the table laid by the Hagfish tavern (#33). This place is the sailor's dive in town.
All these tents are selling spirits and there's probably a dose of every inebriant under the sun featured somewhere in the plaza. Music starts up in a couple places again, as does dancing - both for leisure and in performance. Children chase each other through the crowd with high-pitched squeals and laughter.
Spoiler for Eberk, Sari and DM
With the White Deer Inn serving traditional Shoanti food, and its close proximity to our present location, I'll be herding my new young friend towards the venison. When we spot the rowdy dwarf bull nosing his way through the crowd towards the food, we slip into his wake and start making small talk...
spoiler for Yod
You’re intent on taking advantage of the town’s distraction to try and improve your circumstances with a bit of larceny. You have a short list of potential targets, and you figure that a little bit of scouting at each will recommend one over the others. The brilliance of the day makes you extra cautious. You stand at the grimy, broken front window of the hovel, watching carts go back and forth up the street to the fair. There is a period just before noon of extreme activity as the festival feast is laid on. Just after this intense activity, however, there passes about ten minutes where not a soul is visible on the streets outside the hovel. You gather your equipment and slip out the back door of the house.
Make a Spot check.
spoiler for Sari and Cha
There was a dwarf that drew your attention momentarily by his apparent haste. But he was moving in the opposite direction, ahead of the speech crowd and towards a different vendor.
You find that the innkeep from the White Deer inn reminds you strongly of home. He asks you several questions about your family and any news you might bring of the tribes. In exchange for whatever news you give him, he offers you a reduced board rate at the White Deer.
For DM and Sari
That sounds great. I order us both a mug of their house ale and start recounting tales of the forest and the family. Unless he has a policy about dogs, Ishah stays at my feet with a bowl of water if he doesn't mind. Somewhere in the conversation I'll drop the hint that I wouldn't mind a little adventure while I'm in the area. I'll also ask Sari about her destination and future plans.
for Cha
For DM
oh and http://www.atomfilms.com/search.jsp?search_text=Trey%20Stokes&by_artist =true
Spoiler for dm, cha,and sari
for Cha Eberk and DM
spoiler for Yod
Part way up the hill, High Street is joined by Tower Street, and there is a little grassy shoulder there. The wagon pulls off the road onto this shoulder and the figure rounds the front of the horse and disappears from view.
You find this interesting, so you cross the street well behind the wagon and follow up the hill nonchalantly. The canvas top of the wagon keeps moving like it's being pressed up by something - or several somethings - and they're moving around. You sneak up quietly to the corner nearest the wagon and pause. There are definitely whispered voices coming from the back of the wagon. There's no sign of the driver.
For all but Yod...sorry Yod.
Hi there young ens. Im bout to get me some good food to go with my pint. I hear they have great salmon curry.
Well met good dwarf. Curry's great and so is the company. Get your food and come join us.
spoiler for all but Yod
The meal is done. Each of you are sated, and you're now milling about in the center of the plaza along with most of the other folk here at the festival.
Father Zantus makes his way through the crowd back to the stage and begins waving his hands like he's going to speak again. Of course most of the crowd is pleasantly distracted by other things.
He digs in the pocket of his robes for something, then draws his hand out. Arm extended in front of him, he drops the object and there's a clap of thunder like the report of a great gun.
The somewhat startled crowd now focuses its attention on the stage and the father begins saying something about a prayer. His announcement is lost, however, as the respectful quiet is punctuated by a woman's scream. The sound is coming from beyond the northeast end of the plaza, back towards the White Deer Inn and the gate.
You turn in that direction and strain to see over the crowd (Eberk, you get a good look at as many human butt cheeks of whatever kind you prefer).
There seems to be some kind of major disturbance in the crowd in that direction, and you get the sense that a flight panic is spreading through the crowd towards you. There are now many raised voices and shouts from up the street. There's also a whiny drone of a noise underneath that you do not recognize.
spoiler for all but Yod
** spoiler omitted **
For all but Yod
For DM
trying to tell what type of persons or things are in there and whether they are there by choice.
Spoiler for all but Yod
For all but Yod
Ishah and I are running towards the commotion with Eberk and Sari. Ishas stays close to me.
spoiler for Yod
The voices are high pitched and scratchy, and the language is not Common, nor is it any language you recognize.
There's some kind of commotion inside the wagon. It rocks lightly from side to side and the voices raise momentarily. Suddenly its rear gate bursts open and a goblin flies out. He lands on his back with a loud oomph, and lays there for a moment, struggling to get his breath.
The crude weapon he carried flies from his grasp and lands loudly in the road.
spoiler for all but Yod
There's no way to really make progress towards the noise because of the rush of people. You really are only barely able to stand your ground against the tide. Suddenly the crowd parts and the three of you have a clear view of the street.
There are goblins swarming up the street at you. The freakish little monsters seem to be everywhere at once, and people are fleeing the chaos in a blind panic.
In one direction, two goblins chase a mother and two older children around a corner. In another, three goblins are squared off against a dog. On the porch of one of the buildings up the street, several of the little bastards carry burning torches. Two of them have managed to set themselves on fire and run madly through the streets howling.
Below the din of the battle is a continuing buzz of scratchy voices. For just a moment, the voices resolve into something in Common...
Goblins chew and goblins bite,
Goblins cut and goblins fight,
Stab the dog and cut the horse,
Goblins eat and take by force...
Cha unnecessarily points out three of the little brutes who seem to have singled you out. Roll for initiative.
For DM and all BUT Yod
FOR DM
Init roll 13 + init 3 = 16
Attack roll 15 + atk 5 = 20
Damage if hit D6+5 roll = 5 + 5 = 10
Sneak attack if possible D6 roll = 2
"let me know if this is ok"
For all but Yod
spoiler all but Yod
spoiler for all but Yod
Here's the initiative order:
Eberk
Ishah
Cha
Sari
Goblins
Eberk, I think you meant K14, as that's the first square you can get to without taking an Attack of Opportunity for leaving square K14 and entering J14. In any event, that's where the map update places you. You have two goblins in range.
You lift your waraxe from your belt and hurl yourself into combat (your shield was left at the tent you're supposed to be helping to guard). Goblins are traditional enemies of dwarves, and you get a +1 to attacks (p15 PHB).
Your attack neatly disembowels your left hand opponent. He drops to the ground and is dying.
CLEAVE!
Chris, the squares of the grid are 5', not 10'. I also missed placing the dog on the map last time. Map update is on its way...
spoiler for Yod
You race forward and brain the prone goblin with your sap.
You look up just as a little grey hand pulls back the tarp to peer out the gate. It is a female goblin of exceptional ugliness and she seems as perplexed by you as you are by her.
The sharp report of a cannot shot causes both your heads whip around to gaze up-hill, towards the festival. The gobliness seems to regard the hill for just a moment, then reaches behind her into the depths of the covered wagon and shoves another goblin warrior over the gate by his shoulder. She's calling out in her scratchy language, and there are many answering voices from behind her. The lot of them appear to be pressing forward to exit the cart by the rear gate.
Roll initiative.
For all but Yod.
spoiler for Yod
Two corrections. I'll use the initiative you rolled before - so no need for a new roll. Also, that should have been "cannon shot", not "cannot shot".
for Cha
Eberk has a feat called Cleave, which allows him to attack a second foe anytime his first attack kills, so technically it's still his turn.
Also, keep in mind that you can make free Handle Animal attempts with Ishah, meaning that giving her a command that she knows does not affect what else you can do that round. Trying to get her to do something that she's not trained for is a standard action, meaning that you can still move or perform some move-equivalent action in the same round that you make such an attempt, but you cannot attack or cast a spell.
For DM
for Yod
The gobliness is about 3 1/2 feet above the ground and would get lots of cover from the wagon's rear and the tarp. There's not much of her you can see. You're now directly behind the wagon - that's where you would have to be to clock the goblin on the ground. At the moment of initiative, the gobliness is standing inside the rear of the wagon, and there is a goblin warrior perched at the rear gate about to jump down directly in front of you. As I said before, there appear to be many of his little friends right at his back waiting for their chance to jump out. In your present position, you're about to be overrun by goblins clamoring to get out of the back of the wagon.
This will probably be more clear when you get the map update.
So, assuming you win init (I will roll for this when I get home), your choices of targets are the gobliness with alot of cover, the goblin in the gate with less cover, or you can delay your action until the goblin jumps, at which point you may gain some advantage.
Of course, you could also run.