Dot in.
Sipping ale at the Rusty Dragon, Thumparr looks around the inn at all of the patrons before wandering over to the "Help Wanted" board to see if he can find a way to replenish his rapidly dwindling coin purse.
Boo steps in to the Rusty Dragon. She heads straight for the 'Help Wanted' board to see if the demand for magic and magical goodies has improved. She winds up behind the back of a burly dwarf and peers over his shoulder at the board.
The Dragon is empty tonight. Everyone has gone to the festival. Outside you can hear children squealing, running through the night with sparkler's in their hands. Families shepard their children west along Market Street, where they will turn North toward the Cathedral. There is a roar of music coming from that direction.
No one even tends bar tonight but the keg appears to be tapped. An honor box nearby says 1 pint for 1sp. Merry Swallowtails! -Ameiko
The only other soul in here is a sad looking farmer tacking up a 'help wanted' add...
"Village of Hogsborg in Brinestump marsh seeks assistance in solving the dissapearance of 12 year old Leisle Sogbottom. Seek Leisle's father, Farmer Colyen Sogbottom at the Rusty Dragon for details.
Stairs also lead to the upper rooms of the inn, and a service door behind the bar leads to the kitchen.
Thumparr sniffs loudly, turns and flinches at the elven woman standing close behind him. "Dang it, woman! Don't sneak up on a feller like that if'n ye don't wanna git whacked!"
The dwarf sniffs again, quickly looks the elven woman up and down and turns back to the help board. Then, just as quickly, turns back to the woman and whispers (rather loudly), "Wouldn't happen to know what that sign says, would ye? Not real good with me letters."
Tinuviel apologizes to the dwarf "Oh, I am so sorry"
Boo traces the words with her hand as she reads, so the dwarf in front of her can follow along if he desires.
"Village of Hogsborg in Brinestump marsh seeks assistance in solving the dissapearance of 12 year old Leisle Sogbottom. Seek Leisle's father, Farmer Colyen Sogbottom at the Rusty Dragon for details.
That's so sad." she adds softly.
Boo turns to the sad looking man.
"Are you Farmer Sogbottom?" she asks.
"I am Tinuviel Surana, and I am a wizard. If I can help, I will."
"Thankee, lady elf. The name's Thumparr Ironfist. And if'n it be yer daughter who be missing, he says, turning to the man, "I'd like to help as well. Where did ye last see her?"
Eyotah tops a rise and sees Sandpoint nestled in a quiet bay, the famed Old Light and the much newer cathedral rising above the smaller buildings. Smiling to herself she knees her piebald horse "Pacer" down towards the town, riding confidently even without a saddle.
As she passes over the Curandarok River she nods a greeting to one of the small children that are watching the stream of visitors arrive, snarling playfully at them as they run past. She rides slowly down Market street until she reaches the stables of the Rusty Dragon where she is in habit of staying in whenever she is in town. She drops her belongings in the corner of a stall and tells Pacer to guard them, knowing that the sleek horse won't wander.
Taking only her bow and dagger she turns and walks into the barroom, thinking to grab a quick pint and a wash before heading up to the festival.
Eyotah is tall and thin, standing 5'10", and weighing 110lbs. Her skin is tanned and ruddy but her height and worn appearance are softened by her rounded face with large piercing eyes and pointed ears. As a Shoanti her head is shaved bald, but, even though she is clearly old enough (appearing to be in her late teens to humans), she lacks the tattoos that all adult Shoanti wear. Eyotah is very obviously a half-elf, but exudes an air of self-confidence bordering on recklessness.
She wears an odd mix of Shoanti nomad clothing and more modern clothing from all regions of Varisia; a traditional Shoanti hide shirt is worn over a white linen collard shirt, Varisian-style pants, and well-crafted leather boots. Eyotah generally carries only her dagger and bow when in town, but when traveling also carries two spears.
After a few stormy days on a ship from Riddleport, Menelei is happy to finally have her feet on dry land. The Swallowtail Festival is just beginning in the town of Sandpoint, and Menelei thought the event would be the perfect way to mark the end of her old life, and the beginning of the new. Though she had felt the Desna's power before, and studied her lore, it was tonight that she would truly become a servant of the goddess of dreams and wanderers.
The sailors on The Osprey had advised her to stay at the Rusty Dragon if there was room, and she found the place quiet, though the streets were a riot of celebration. Finding her way to the bar, she smiled to see the open keg and the note, and she dropped a silver in the box and poured herself a mug of crisp ale.
Taking it with her, she set off for the cathedral. Though the streets are crowded, she was able to thread her way through, past the musicians and into the open courtyard at the church's heart. A strange place, she thought, before stepping into the eastern wing of the cathedral and kneeling before Desna's altar.
A drunk peeking in laughed and called to her, "She ain't in there, girl. She's out here under the stars, in your dreams, on the road. Come have a drink and a dance and you'll see...."
Menelei smiled. Whether the man was sent by the goddess or just spoke his own thoughts, his words echoed her own feelings. Desna did not need her to pray, tonight. Desna needed her to celebrate the Swallowtail Festival. She picked up her pack and her mug of ale and walked out into the night.
Dairkal rises early on the day of the festival, heading downstairs to help Ameiko around the common room as is his habit. The two of them have become rather good friends, and she's been helping him Minkaian.
By noon, the little acrobat finishes helping out, then gets ready to go wander the festival. He changes into his 'work outfit' with is a pair of comfortable, loose pants that he's able to easily tumble in, a shirt with ties up the middle that he can take off easily if needed, and a cloak with a multitude of colored patches, which he tends to twirl when making an entrance or to get a point across. He hides a pair of daggers up each sleeve, another in each boot top, then straps his rapier to his waist. Finally, he hides his starknife at the small of his back.
So armed, he grabs his dice and juggling balls, and heads out to entertain children and adults alike attending the Swallowtail Festival.
--------------
Menelei
--------------
On the steps of the Cathedral: The festival is in full swing in the square before you...the sights and sounds of laughter and life, everything Lady Desna stands for. Suddenly you notice a butterfly fluttering over the crowd. Strange that it should be flying here at night. You know that each year a swarm of swallowtails are released from a box with great fanfare as part of the festival. Perhaps this is an early escapee. And yet...
Go to "in the festival square" (next post)
--------------
Eyotah
--------------
No one tends the bar, there is only an honor box in which one might pay for a shower, room or drink. The most rough and tumble dwarf you've ever seen and a tall beautiful elven-maiden that smells of lavender (the maiden, not the dwarf) stand before a 'help wanted board.' They are talking across the room to a sad looking farmer. They seem distracted enough for a rouge to 'explore' the unattended room if that's your intent.
You overhear them...
Go to "Thumparr and Tinuviel"
---------------------
Thumparr and Tinuviel
---------------------
Desna bless you! says the farmer. I am Colyen at your service. I came to town hoping Sheriff Hemlock could spare a few men-of-the-watch to help me find my Daughter. But he said all hands were needed to keep peace at the festival and suggested I come to the Rusty Dragon in search of adventurers to help. You see my Daughter Leisle disappeared 3 days ago. The mayor of my village made inquiries but found nothing, and the border watchers say nothing made it through the border from the swamp. Please, if you can help--my village has been taking donations for a reward...We are not rich, but we are generous! Hogsborg is just a half day's ride southwest of Sandpoint on the edge of Brinestump Marsh. I can take you there tomorrow? I know the stories you've probably heard about Brinestump but we Hogsborgians have been living with the marsh for many years. Surely mighty adventurer's such as yourself would not be put off by such tales!
----------------------
In the Festival Square
----------------------
The Swallowtail Festival is in full swing tonight. Fireworks light up the night sky as families enjoy the attractions under the mid-summer stars.
Attractions shown on the map:
right now…
---------------------
Thumparr and Tinuviel
---------------------
Desna bless you! says the farmer. I am Colyen at your service. I came to town hoping Sheriff Hemlock could spare a few men-of-the-watch to help me find my Daughter. But he said all hands were needed to keep peace at the festival and suggested I come to the Rusty Dragon in search of adventurers to help. You see my Daughter Leisle disappeared 3 days ago. The mayor of my village made inquiries but found nothing, and the border watchers say nothing made it through the border from the swamp. Please, if...
"I ain't from around these here parts, so I ain't heard o' no Hogsborg afore, but I have heard o' the swamp - bunch o' nasty goblins live in there, so I've been told, and mayhap a witch! But no matter - I'll gladly accompany ye back to yer town and look fer yer daughter."
Thumparr then turns back to the lavender-smelling woman behind him. "What about ye, elf lady? You trust a dwarf enough to work with him in this mission?"
------------------
Dairkal
------------------
On the top Cathedral step you see a beautiful lady looking up at the sky above the crowd...
Perception Check DC10
Eyotah listens to the conversation as he moves over to the keg and draws herself a pint, dropping a silver piece into the honesty box as she does so. The poor man's lost his daughter. Tomorrow ill see if those others need any help. She downs her drink and then moves behind the bar to give her face a quick rinse. Turning, she nods at the elf. Looks familiar. Have I seen her before? as she leaves to join the festivities, standing on the outskirts and observing (for the moment).
Tinuviel blinked [i]I know that woman, or do I?[/] She shook her head unsure.
She turned to the dwarf. "I think we'll need all the help we can find, don't you?" Searches were tricky businesses at best, and this one had some peril to it.
"We'll need to find a tracker, at the very least, and a cleric would not go amiss either. I have some magic, but I'm no mighty wizard."
Tinuviel turned to the hapless farmer.
"We'll see who else can join us and then meet you at your farm. We will do all we can." She gave the poor man an encouraging look and then headed for the festival. They would be able to do nothing today except recruit and the festival would be where everyone was.
"Are you going to see the festival, Mr. Ironfist? I'd be happy for your company if you are."
Dair notes the young lady looking at the butterfly. Maybe she's a fellow follower of Desna. He'll have to try and find out later.
He wanders over to the gopher game and attempts to win the bear for the little girl.
"On the morrow then. We'll set out first thing for Hogsborg," Thumparr tells the farmer. "We'll find her."
Then he refills his tankard, leaving a silver piece for payment, and follows Tinuviel out into the street and the festival.
She paused on the cathedral steps to watch the butterfly flying overhead. The festival includes a release of dozens of the brightly colored creatures as an offering to Desna, but it is still far too early in the evening for that to happen. For a moment, she thinks that this one must have escaped. What better tribute to the goddess than for one of her butterflies to escape ahead of schedule and fly through the night sky.
Then it lighted on a stone projection on the cathedral, and spread its wings, and her smile faded. The butterflies wings were as unique as elven faces, and she knew those wings. She had seen them a few days' hard travel earlier, in Mierani. She had saved it from Nuanui, and felt the touch of the goddess for the first time.
There was no natural way that it could have made the journey to Sandpoint so soon, she thought. It could only have been brought here, and nobody knew she was here. Nobody except the goddess whose festival this was, whose symbol the creature was. Who Menelei had dedicated herself to. Could it mean anything other than that she had come to the right place?
"Thank you for your blessings, Starsong," she said in elvish, holding a hand up to the butterfly. "Let your stars continue to guide my steps."
----------------
Dairkal
----------------
. Golthar hands you the mallet and takes your coin with a toothy grin. The little girl is wide eyed with anticipation...
---------------------
Thumparr and Tinuviel
---------------------
Bless you again says Colyen Here is a Map to help you find Hogsborg and my farm. . I will leave tonight and wait for your arrival at my farm tomorrow. I'll show you where I last saw her and prepare the town for your arrival! Bless you, Bless you!...
---------------------
Eyotah, Thumparr and Tinuviel
---------------------
You walk up the narrow streets to the Cathedral square. As you step into the festival lights you see a lovely elven-maiden standing on the top step of the Cathedral. A swashbuckling Halfling with a Rapier hanging from his hip swings a mallet at a mechanical gopher game.
---------------------
Everyone
---------------------
Thumparr turns to the ranger as if seeing her for the first time. "What do ye make of this place? Folk chasing a bunch of butteryflies - maybe I ain't had enough to drink to understand it all..."
So it is natural that he stops near the beer tent (G20 on map).
Boo heads for the butterflies. Pretty!. She lets Kvothe loose for a nice flutter and stands by the pretty insects (s7)
Perception
and
Initiative
"Well met, short one" Eyotah replies to the dwarf with a small formal bow of her head. With that she drops into a less formal tone. "The town people seem to be having a good time, but the ways of settled folk can be confusing. The butterflies I think are for the goddess of the night sky - she of butterflies and travelers. Though it always seems odd that one would cage such as she in a temple. Though it seems she graces us with her presence." Here she indicates the butterfly fluttering above the crowd. A drink, however, sounds like a good way to join in their festivities. I will join you."
As they drink Eyotah turns to the dwarf, "I overheard you offering to help the farmer to find his daughter. I would offer my help also. I am a tracker and you may find my skills useful in such an errand. Yes?
The nimble little halfling has no problem easily whacking five gophers in a row, thereby winning the little girl the bear she so desires.
"Here ya go little lady. I hope you pick out a good name, and give him a loving home" He says with a big grin as he hands her the bear.
Menelei watches the butterfly for a few moments, and then begins to walk down the steps. To her left, a halfling is giving a bear to a little girl. To the right, a half-elf is attempting to explain the Swallowtail Festival to a surly looking dwarf, as they head for the ale tent. With a wry smile, she realizes that it is probably her duty to explain the importance of the festival, and that the point of the butterflies is that they are released. As she caught up, she overheard another snippet of their conversation.
"The Festival commemorates Desna's transformation of a blind mortal child into an immortal butterfly, that he could be free to explore the world," she said, catching up to them "Forgive me if I intrude, but I could not help overhearing you. If you are going in search of a lost child, I would like to offer my assistance. I am called Menelei."
Average = 16.25
Menelei = 22
Dairkal =
Eyotah = 13
Boo = 17
Thumparr = 10
Avg = 16
"I'm surrounded by elves," Thumparr murmurs to himself while the cleric of Desna explains the festival.
Thumparr squints and replies to her > "Now, why in the world would a feller want to be turned into a butteryfly? That...that just don't make no sense!"
Then he remembers what few manners he has and says, "Name's Thumparr Ironfist, by the way." He offers Menelei a slight bow of his shaggy head.
"I'm sure if the child had been a dwarf, she'd have transformed him into a rock instead," she says, nodding with apparent sympathy. "A pleasure to meet you, Master Ironfist."
Menelei = 14
Dairkal =
Eyotah = 13
Boo = 9
Thumparr = 12
Screams and the crowd begins to panic. Dark shapes dart among the people. A small green creature climbs up on the empty stage. A toothy, supernaturally wide grin spreads across it's face...and it begins to sing a shrill, ugly song.
In addition:
----------------round 1-----------------
MAP UPDATED
Goblin on stage: sings it's nasty bardic song providing +1 to all goblin attack and damage rolls for 5 rounds:
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! You be food!
Goblins 1&2 complete move action to fireworks, begin kicking over the rockets, aiming them randomly toward buildings and people in the square...They will figure out the detonator device in rounds.
Goblins 3 tugs for the bear, full round action, opposed str skill check: , against the little girl's . He rips it out of her hand.
SUMMARY:
Menelei HP(9/9) AC(18)
Dairkal HP(10/10) AC(14)
Eyotah HP(12/12) AC(15)
Boo HP(7/7) AC(13)
Thumparr HP(12/12) AC(17)
VS
Goblin Warchanter HP(9/9) AC(18)
Goblin 1 HP(6/6) AC(16)
Goblin 2 HP(6/6) AC(16)
Goblin 3 HP(6/6) AC(16)
Right, goblins! Nasty little creeps.
Boo runs to the middle of the area (m10), she wants to see what the chanting goblin is up and to able to reprove him for his nasty little song. Kvothe (familiar) returns to her mistress' shoulder. When she gets there, Boo gets the Alertness feat.
"Gotta stop 'em afore they set them firecrackers off!" Thumparr says, taking off at a run for the two goblins. As he runs, he'll take his throwing axe out of his belt. If he gets a clear shot, he'll hurl it at one of the goblins.
Menelei turns quickly upon hearing the goblin's voice. Seeing the vile little beast on the stage, she raises her arm. A swallowtail is embroidered on the sleeve. She kisses it, and holds her arm high, calling out, "Great Dreamer, guide our hands as we fight under your stars."
With that, she draws the bow at her back, nocks an arrow and take aim at the goblin on the stage, stepping towards it.
Bless
Eyotah drops her beer at the sight of the goblins, and, without seeming to even reach for it , has her bow in her hand and an arrow is streaking towards the goblin on the stage..
Attack: +1 for bless from Menelei
Damage:
Eyotah's arrow flies true. The goblin feels the impact before she hears the thud. She is not smiling any more. She wonders if you had a hunting tip on the arrow or if pulling it out would bleed her to death! She bravely keeps singing, but it's hard to sing with a arrow lodged in your tummy! (+3 str bonus to damage, cause it's a composite bow) Goblin Warchanter HP(3/9)
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Having just made the little girl's day, Dair is not about to let some rotten goblin ruin it.
He draws his blade and strikes out at the goblin
------------------round 2--------------------------
GOBLIN 1
Dairkal's goblin shreiks in pain as the dagger bites his soft green flesh. Fear fills it's eyes. what you powerful longshanks doing here? Tutso said this raid be easy, snatch and grab! He turns away, clutching the bear tightly, and runs full speed toward the chapel.
GOBLINS 2&3
Goblin 1 yells at Goblin 2: Big dwarf! stop big dwarf...I light sparkies! Goblin 2 grins and runs to intercept Thumparr. He attacks for . Goblin 1: [ooc] full round action kicking rockets over. 1 round till he lights them off
GOBLIN WARCHANTER
SUMMARY:
Menelei HP(9/9) AC(18)
Dairkal HP(10/10) AC(14)
Eyotah HP(12/12) AC(15)
Boo HP(7/7) AC(13)
Thumparr HP(12/12) AC(17)
VS
Goblin Warchanter HP(6/9) AC(18)
Goblin 1 HP(-1/6) AC(16) DYING
Goblin 2 HP(6/6) AC(16)
Goblin 3 HP(6/6) AC(16)
MAP UPDATED
PCs are up.
The goblin on the Cathedral steps on the map isn't there...Dairkal's goblin was going to run up there but Dairkal just layed him out.
"Outta me way, ye slimey gobbo!" Thumparr roars, chopping at the goblin with his hand axe (since he had it ready to throw anyway).
Tinuviel takes a quick look around as does Kvothe , taking the better of the two.
And Tinuviel casts Grease on the square k8, (the one with the fireworks) , so there's that.
Menelei glances towards the commotion by the fireworks, but can't see much past the wagons. She lets her eye turn back to the goblin singing and looses an arrow, then runs towards him, trying to get a better angle on the fireworks.
Eyotah moves forward to the bottom of the stage (P18), aiming carefully at the goblin as she slips forward through the running people. As she reaches the stage's edge she lets fly with a second arrow.
Attack:
Damage:
The little swashbuckler rushes forward, flinging a dagger as he does [ooc]moving to o17 for