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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.
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 but Larz’s amusement. Sheriff 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 five years ago.
Fortunately, Cyrdak Drokkus is more than up to the challenge of bringing the crowd’s mood back up with his rousing anecdotes as he delivers a not-completely-irreverent recap of the 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 give a short speech thanking everyone for coming before declaring the Swallowtail Festival underway.
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Map of Church St within Sandpoint.
Feel free to ask about any of the locations on the sandpoint map, and visit them if you like. This is more of a getting to know the town and area section during the festival while the characters get finalized.
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Cyrdak Drokkus thanks you and offers you a free ticket to "“The Harpy’s Curse” if you will consider auditioning for a role in a play he is writing about the Stoot murders.
"I think enough time has passed, and the town is ready. You are a bit young, but you've got wise eyes...perhaps you could be the sheriff...with the right make up you could even be Ezakien Tobin...poor man...the play's not just about the killings, but the whole 'Late Unpleasantness'. That's what I'm calling it in fact, 'The Late Unpleasantness'. Folks around here keep saying it is to soon, but five years is a long time. With the Cathedral rebuilt, it seems the perfect time for the town to exorcise that demon through the arts."
As you speak to him, he points out that the playhouse is one of the largest in Varasia, despite the small size of the village, and that he built it himself after the riff raff in Magnimar who didn't understand his work ran him out of town. The playhouse truly is quite impressive, certainly competitive in appearance with the playhouses of nearby Magnimar.
Well sir, that's a generous offer and I could hardly decline. I can't say that I've had any specific training in any art at all, let alone in acting, but as a servant of Shelyn I feel obliged to try my hand when given such an opportunity! Ken grins wryly
As to the late unpleasantness, I can't speak to the local sentiment, as I'm new to the area, but I can speak to the power of the arts in cleansing negativity! I'm no priest, but if you can think of anyone in particular who is helping to cause discontent, I would be happy to discuss the value of the arts in spiritual cleansing.
Is there anything you can tell me about the Stoot murders? I have not heard the story.
If you can think of anyone, certainly let me know at your leisure, otherwise I thank you for the tickets and I look forward to trying my hand at your audition!
Anyway, DO I know anything about the Stoot murders? I'd assume that should be knowledge (local), but if it's history then here goes!
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knowledge (local or history) or Gather information (diplomacy) 10
Jervis Stoot was a murderer known as "the chopper" who killed a number of people 5 years ago, including the former sheriff in town.
Knowledge (Local or History) or Gather information (diplomacy) 15
When Jervis Stoot made clear his intentions to build a home on the island just north of the Old Light, locals paid him no mind. Jervis had already garnered something of a reputation for eccentricity when he began his one-man crusade to carve depictions of birds on every building in town. Stoot never made a carving without securing permission, but his incredible skill at woodcarving made it a given that, if Stoot picked your building as the site of his latest project, you seized the opportunity. “Sporting a Stoot” soon grew to be something of a bragging point, and Jervis eventually extended his gift to include ship figureheads and carriages. Those who asked or tried to pay him for his skill were rebuffed—Stoot told them, “There ain’t no birds in that wood for me t’set free,” and went on his way, often wandering the streets for days before noticing a hidden bird in a fencepost, lintel, steeple, or doorframe, which he’d then secure permission to “release” with his trusty hatchets and carving knives.
Stoot’s excuse for wanting to move onto the isle seemed innocent enough—the place was a haven for local birdlife, and his claim of “Wantin’ ta be with th’ birds” seemed to make sense. So much so, in fact, that the guild of carpenters (with whom Stoot had maintained a friendly competition for several years) volunteered to Sandpoint was no stranger to crime, or even to murder. Once or twice a year, passions flared, robberies went bad, jealousy grew too much to bear, or one too many drinks were drunk, and someone would end up dead. But when the bodies began to mount five years ago, the town initially had no idea how to react. Sandpoint’s sheriff at the time was a no-nonsense man named Casp Avertin, a retired city watch officer from Magnimar. Yet even he was ill-prepared for the murderer who came to be known as Chopper. Over the course of one long winter month, it seemed that every day brought a new victim to light. Each was found in the same terrible state: bodies bearing deep cuts to the neck and torso, hands and feet severed and stacked nearby, and the eyes and tongue plucked crudely from the head and missing entirely. Over the course of that terrible month, Chopper claimed 25 victims. His uncanny knack at eluding traps and pursuit quicklywore on the town guard, taking particular toll on Sherrif Avertin, who increasingly took to drinking. In any event, Sherrif Avertin himself became Chopper’s last victim, slain upon catching the murderer in a narrow lane—known now as Chopper’s Alley—as he was mutilating his latest victim. Yet in the battle that followed, Avertin managed a telling blow against the killer. When the town guard found both bodies several minutes later, they were able to follow the killer’s bloody trail.
A trail that led straight to the stairs of Stoot’s Rock.
At first, the town guard refused to believe the implications, and feared that Chopper had come to claim poor Jervis Stoot as his 26th victim. Yet what the guards found in the modest home atop the isle, and in the larger complex of rooms that had been carved into the bedrock below, left no room for doubt. Jervis Stoot and Chopper were the same, and the eyes and tongues of all 25 victims were found upon a horrific altar to a birdlike demon whose name none dared speak aloud. Stoot himself was found dead at the base of the altar, having plucked his own eyes and tongue loose in a final offering. The guards collapsed the entrance to the chambers, burned Stoot’s house, tore down the stairs, and did their best to forget. Stoot himself was burned on the beach in a pyre, his ashes blessed and then scattered in an attempt to stave off an unholy return of his evil spirit.
Drokkus says "Wonderful! Come by the theater after the closing ceremonies this evening and we can discuss possible roles." He winks at you before sauntering off.
Have a good day sir, and I will see you this evening Ken resumes browsing the fair
Looks for Sheriff Hemlock to offer him his services as a ranger.
Enjoys the festival and looking at the local crafts. Looks around for an official to ask if there's a magic shop in town.
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Looks for Sheriff Hemlock to offer him his services as a ranger.
You find the Sheriff, a tall burly Shoanti man with a dark complexion. He tells you that he has enough deputies at this point and isn't hiring, but welcomes you to town and tells you that you may be able to find farm work nearby, but it's a fairly quiet town these days. He seems quite busy keeping an eye on the festival crowd and politely tries to get back to work observing the festival goers and watching for pick pockets.
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Enjoys the festival and looking at the local crafts. Looks around for an official to ask if there's a magic shop in town.
You are told there is a placed called Bottled Solutions run by a Half-Elf named Nisk Tander that sells magical potions
Gather information/knowledge local 15 about Bottled Solutions
And you are also told Father Zantus sells healing potions in the cathedral. There is a general store and armorer that have a few magic items for sald and a couple of people in town have extensive historical and magical libraries (this area is of some value to archaeologists who come to study the nearby Thassilonian ruins), but no specific "magic" shops other than Bottled Solutions. You are told you would probably have to go up to Magnimar for anything beyond the basics.
You find the Sheriff, a tall burly Shoanti man with a dark complexion. He tells you that he has enough deputies at this point and isn't hiring, but welcomes you to town and tells you that you may be able to find farm work nearby, but it's a fairly quiet town these days. He seems quite busy keeping an eye on the festival crowd and politely tries to get back to work observing the festival goers and watching for pick pockets.
"Thank you for your time, Sheriff."
Approaches the large church on the east side of the square. Notices an attractive gnome to his right also looking at the church.
You are told there is a placed called Bottled Solutions run by a Half-Elf named Nisk Tander that sells magical potions
Gather information/knowledge local 15 about Bottled Solutions** spoiler omitted **
And you are also told Father Zantus sells healing potions in the cathedral. There is a general store and armorer that have a few magic items for sale and a couple of people in town have extensive historical and magical libraries (this area is of some value to archaeologists who come to study the nearby Thassilonian ruins), but no specific "magic" shops other than Bottled Solutions. You are told you would probably have to go up to Magnimar for anything beyond the basics.
Strolls around the square and walks toward the cathedral. Notices a hooded man to her right. "Are you enjoying the festival?" Trin inquires with genuine interest.
Jies leans back against the wall of the cathedral, hood drawn high to hide his face. These were good people, they wouldn't attack a half-orc on sight, but there was no need to frighten people. He sees a tall human in spiked armor bearing a glaive, and a smile almost as broad, come around the corner, and chuckles as a small group of children run off with a shriek. The cleric (judging by the holy symbol on his belt) looks as though he's been slapped in the face.
Well, so much for not scaring the children. I suppose someone was bound to
Ken feels awful for scaring the children away and looks down at the new spikes on his armor. I suppose they are a bit more intimidating than I'd like...I'll have to look for a craftsman who can paint them for me. My garments ought be beautiful, not intimidating
Ken begins to search the stalls for a merchant who has the skill and materials to paint over metal, hoping to leave his armor and have it painted in the vibrant beautiful colors of Shlyn
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Ken feels awful for scaring the children away and looks down at the new spikes on his armor. I suppose they are a bit more intimidating than I'd like...I'll have to look for a craftsman who can paint them for me. My garments ought be beautiful, not intimidating
Ken begins to search the stalls for a merchant who has the skill and materials to paint over metal, hoping to leave his armor and have it painted in the vibrant beautiful colors of Shlyn
You are told of a place called "Savah’s Armory". Savah Bevaniky is a well known local armorer of some quality. She gives you a quote of 150 gold (basically she can make it masterwork for you for the price of masterwork, doing the modifications as part of the process.)
Savah’s shop sells all manner of weapons and armor, including several masterwork items and exotic weapons like a spiked chain, a dozen masterwork shuriken, and a +1 repeating crossbow with a darkwood and ivory stock that bears the name “Vansaya.”
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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 who 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 a thousand 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 a marketing push by the taverns as much 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.
Strolls around the square and walks toward the cathedral. Notices a hooded man to her right. "Are you enjoying the festival?" Trin inquires with genuine interest.
"Yes, I am," I reply. I exchange pleasantries with the gnome and introduce myself. "I am Belor and am new to Sandpoint. What's your name?"
"Yes, I am," I reply. I exchange pleasantries with the gnome and introduce myself. "I am Belor and am new to Sandpoint. What's your name?"
"Nice to meet you, Belor. My name is Trin Sunwell, and I'm also new to Sandpoint." Having nothing else to do, and sensing that Belor would be a good companion, I ask him if he'd like to walk around Sandpoint and the festival. He agrees.
We spend a couple of hours looking at the various shops and noting what each of them are. (It's exciting learning about new places!) At noon Belor and I enjoy the Father's parable about the goddess and watching the children trying to catch butterflies. We even enjoy the free lunch offered; I loved the spicy salmon, but Belor preferred the venison from the White Deer tavern.
After lunch, we continue walking around the festival and getting better acquainted. Belor doesn't talk much, but is nevertheless a pleasant enough human. He seems intrigued about me being a sorceress.
Thank you so much for the offer Savah, perhaps someday I'll be able to take you up on it! for now my purse is a bit light. Perhaps I'll even be able to commission a set of breastplate from you!
Ken enjoys the rest of the festival and smiles at the sight of a child swinging fearlessly from the tusk of a half orc while he performs minor magic tricks to entertain the small horde of giggling kids in front of him.
After the children get bored and move on to the next game, Ken approaches the half-orc.
Jies is surprised when a small human child tugs at his sleeve Jies looks down and smiles at the child's remarkable lack of fear as he asks if the big teeth are real. Jies leans over to let him feel the tusks, and the kid grabs hold and starts to swing. The half-orc can do nothing but burst out laughing. He pushes his cowl back and instead of fear he's greeted by laughter. Jies entertains the children with prestidigitation, making the butterflies fly backwards through the air and into their eager hands as he encourages them to be gentle.
When the children have had their fun, the cleric who had scared the same pack off earlier approached Jies
you know I would have thought their reactions towards us would have been opposite. Quite a festival this. I'm Jies, what's your name priest?
Jies gives a toothy grin and the two introduce themselves, heading to the feast while conversing.
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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 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 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 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.
Perception
Initiative
Perception
Initiative
EDIT: *head-desk*
Trin casts Magic Missile at the creature that just killed the dog.
Belor grabs his bow and an arrow, takes a couple of steps, and shoots at the creature on the left.
Knowledge Nature:
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Also, im not sure how reach will work with ken now. I gave him a glaive and armor spikes(he's not proficient but he still has them) so he threatens ten feet and adjacent squares too.
Does the stand still feat work with a reach weapon? What about reach for being large? Does he threaten out to twenty feet or less when large?
I am guessing he doesn't have the glaive out since he was surprise, so it's moot, but he would threaten 10 feet, but not the area immediately around him.
Stand still allows you to stop them from moving through the threatened square, stopping the movement in front of you.
as for stand still it's more of a general question. If someone were to move through threatened squares not adjacent to him, would it still work? just curious about the rules because i never played with reach at all before.
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as for stand still it's more of a general question. If someone were to move through threatened squares not adjacent to him, would it still work? just curious about the rules because i never played with reach at all before.
Yes it would work on the non-adjacent squares. But I would rule it is an either or thing, not both. Either you are using the glaive or the armor spikes, not both.
Trin casts Magic Missile at the creature that just killed the dog.
Damage:
You would need to roll a knowledge check (local or nature)
You can't move and attack.
If you are attacking, roll the attack. For magic missile roll the damage.
Knowledge (Nature):
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The Goblins hit with the missle looks up and runs toward the gnome who threw the bad ball at him. The other goblins grab food off of the cart and begin to eat. You heard strange singing to the north ([ooc]it is in goblin if you speak it]/ooc])
Father Zantus yells to the crowd to come into the cathedral for safety, most of the audience moves toward him.
Balor is up (standard action only)
The Goblins hit with the missle looks up and runs toward the gnome who threw the bad ball at him. The other goblins grab food off of the cart and begin to eat.
Belor is up (standard action only)
Belor notices that the creature that Trin attacked is running toward her, so Belor grabs his bow and an arrow, notches it, and shoots the arrow at the vile thing.
Jies knows goblin!