Table 1!
Sandpoint.
The Swallowtail Festival.
It's been years since the Festival was held properly. Ever since the last Church burnt to the ground, the Festival was focused more on the town healing and rebuilding. Now, however, the Church is complete. The Church is dedicated to Desna, but all good and most neutral Gods have a place in the new cathedral. The town has come together for a Swallowtail Festival the likes of which hasn't been held for a hundred years.
It's 9:00 AM. Notable members of the community are set to give speeches to kick off the festivities. You all have decided to attend the Swallowtail Festival together. Some of this group, you are better acquainted with than others, but you are looking forward to making new friends, especially today.
The speeches are to be given in the square in front of the Church, and the turnout is respectable, to say the least. There are several carts that have been set up by peddlers of food and drink, though they've not started offering any yet, waiting for the festival to officially begin.
The four keynote speakers each deliver short speeches.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 amusement (except Larz's). Sheriff Belor Hemlock brings the crowd down a bit with her dour mood, her reminder to be safe around the evening's bonfire, and her request for a moment of silence to remember those who lost their
lives in the fire that claimed the town's previous church several years ago. The next speaker is scheduled to be local nobleman Lonjiku Kaijitsu, but a sudden illness has prevented him from attending the ceremony (this isn't something that surprises the locals, given Lonjiku's well-known dislike of frivolity and festivals). Sandpoint's own showman Cyrdak Drokkus is more than up to the challenge of bringing the crowd's mood back up with his
rousing anecdotes. 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 Avis era the harpy queen will be played by none other than the famous Magnimarian diva Allishanda! Finally, Father Zantus steps up to give a short speech thanking everyone for coming before declaring the Swallowtail Festival underway.
At this point, you are free to do as you wish. There are several games to partake in, such as tug-of-war, balance beam contests, weight-lifting, hide and seek, chess, and foot races. There is also a plethora of food and beverage, all for free. Several merchants have stalls set up, offering a variety of their wares.
At noon, the Swallowtails are scheduled to be released, but you have several hours until then to spend as you wish.
Lynleera smiles at the festivities, glad to have found the town on such a joyous event. While the road (and Zandu in particular) had been most kind to her in these last few months, the Elf was glad to be in a proper town and mingling with others once more.
Walking about Sandpoint, she looks around for a while before she begins to ask if anyone in the town may have some knowledge about the festivities as well as the large structure that looms over the town.
Walking towards one of the stalls, one selling some form of honeyed drink, she looks them over before smiling. "Excuse me, is there perhaps someone here who knows of... That?" She points to the large building that looks akin to a somewhat collapsed lighthouse.
The merchant, a stout man approaching his middle years with dark hair and an easy smile, gets a mug for you and fills it with an amber-colored beverage. He pushes it your way.
"Ah, you're asking about the Old Light? Near as anyone around here can tell, it's just some ruined old lighthouse. No one ever really heads that way. It's been a ruin since before Sandpoint ever sprang up!"
Calin paused in his rounds watching from near the food stands and only barely overheard the elven woman ask about the old lighthouse ruins.He had been lost in thought on what sort of regard gift he might buy to show Tessa he liked her. Nothing was coming to mind, She was after all the prettiest girl he had ever seen before, even if she worked at the Pixie's kitten.
He and some of the other militia members of course had somewhat volunteered to act as unofficial guides while the festivities were going on, They were after all familiar with the town's layout and shops, and would hopefully help keep the amount of problems (mostly petty theivery) that might occur from such a large gathering of people. While thinking of a good gift he might as well do what he volunteered for.
He had moved forward to explain to her about the lighthouse when the merchant answered her. He felt foolish now, standing there awkwardly until he saw Tessa with a groupd of the girls from the kitten laughing about something at a booth.
The merchant turns to Calin, smiling broadly and pouring him a tankard.
"Ah, one of our militia!" he says, recognizing Calin's garb. "I am grateful for all your help during the festival. So's everyone! Thinking of trying your hand at any of the contests? Strapping lad like yourself'd do well, maybe even catch the eye of a nice young lady!"
He colored at the words of the merchant and nodded simply. He hadnt planned to play any games but it wasn't entirely a bad idea. He paused and looked at the elven lady with the question about the lighthouse.
"after the festival you might want to go to "the curious goblin" m'am. It's our bookstore and has all sorts of really smart folk who visit it. Might want to wait till after the festival though." He offered glancing towards where the games were set up again.
"A ruin you say?" She could tell that though she was getting the feel this merchant fellow would no little else.
But then in that moment a town guardsman told her some more. "I see. Well, hopefully this "Curious Goblin" has some books or scrolls on the details. It's a big object, so I wonder if it has anything to do with Thassilon."
Giving a slight bow, Lynleera looks about. "It's been a while since I've been to a festival." Handing the merchant a gold piece she takes her drink and smiles. "I should relax some, yes?" Thanking the two once more she wanders off, sipping her drink as she walks about.
After a bit, she finds one game she thinks she might have a good shot at. "Potion tasting?" Walking forward, she looks it over before getting the patrons attention. "How do I do this? I find the one that is magical and I win?"
Selaros arrives to The Swallowtail Festival just after the mayor's speech. He had been at the Rusty Dragon since dawn, helping with the preparations for the lunch hour. Because of the festival, has he been given some free time to attend with his friends.
He walks around happily while thinking: "Having the festiaval back again is a nice change for the town, makes Sandpoint so much more alive. It's always been such an enjoyable time for me. I should look for Agustianna.". He starts to keep an eye out for her in the crowd, she would probably be soemwhere enchanting others with her magical abilities.
{b]"Ah! It seems we have the first contestant of the day! Welcome to Nisk's Extract Emporium! Taste a random potion! It could be a trick, or a treat! Magical abilities won't help, nope nope nope! They ALL seem to be magical! Did that m'self! NISK! Best potions ever!"[/b]
The merchant is a man approaching old age, with a long white mustache and spectacles. He talks excitedly, winking often.
"One gold piece to play! If the potion is magic, it's yours! If not, you won't like what you taste, nope! There are even super-special, super secret Nisk potions in there! Better than normal!"
You see Agustianna. She is entertaining a small group of children with some magical lights.
Raven walks along the festival grounds, taking in the sights of the city. His prominently displayed Desnan Holy Symbol, along with his clerical vestments, cause many of Sandpoint's citizens to mistake him for a new member of the clergy. "Do I really look like a formal priest? Not bad for a street rat!" he thinks to himself.
The promise of a free meal draws him closer to the market stalls. There, a nearby attraction catches his eye. "Potion tasting? As long as it's potable, I don't really care what I end up drinking." He shuffles forward to participate, lining up behind a graceful elven woman.
Selaros wlaks over close to where Agustianna is entertaining the children, he waits for her to finish while watching spread joy among them. "She can really enthrall the kids with those lights." Lost in thoughts he almost misses that she sends them off to enjoy other parts of the festival.
He walks closer "Ah I thought I might find you entertaining the kids, those dancing lights are as delightful as ever. Would you care to accompany me and partake in some of the games today?"
He didnt know why but he did find himself loosely following Tessa and her coworkers, the elven woman out of sight and mind for the moment. Maybe he should get her a ribbon? No she probably had plenty of things like that, I mean... He swallowed as he realized he was standing near the Axe throw, perhaps....
I would like to try my hand if I may?
He asked to the person running the game... silently praying sort of for perhaps Those girls to just happen to walk by.... well assuming he did well... throwing an axe had to be like throwing a dagger right? sort of... he hoped.
It had been at least two days since she arrived in town and Sizma was rather excited for the festival. She had never seen so many people all in the same place. When she had woken up for the day, her nose had been assaulted by all kinds of delicious smells of food being prepared for the days activities.
Going from stall to stall as she walked to the epicenter of the festival, Sizma couldn't resist sampling the many dishes being served. It was then that a sense of hunger came to mind not of her own. Smiling, she walked over a empty spot and put her hands forward. As she did this, a strange tattoo of old Varisan script morphed into a shape of a creature as it began to move from her back to her outstretched arm.
A black leopard leaps from her hands and turns to her as it lands, "You hungry Blake. I've got you some food," she says holding out some sort of meat on a stick.
Blake, the black leopard familiar purrs, sauntering up to the woman. The large cat happily eats the meat that Sizma pulls from the stick, "You can stay out for now, but stay close to me, there is rather a large crowd here today," she says to the familiar, motioning it to follow her.
"I would, but then who would regale these fine young citizens with the tale of the Desna Knight driving off the Ragtoe Goblins?";/b]
Her dancing lights immediately take shape, and before she begins with the story, she locks eyes with you.
[b]"But later, why not see if you can hit that axe target? Let's meet there around 10:30?"
[spoiler=Calin]Make a ranged attack roll!
"Of course the young ones would love a story about our fearless hero and goblin hunter." He is impressed with how good Agustianna has become with creating shapes with her lights, when he suddenly notices her looking at him again. "Sure, I think it would make for a good laugh to see if I can hit anything with that axe. I'll try one of the other games and come to the axe throwing game at roughly 10:30."
Selaros stays for a few moments listening to the start of the story. He got curious walking around the festival and learning he might be able to win a potion fra the taste-game, so he decides to get over there and try it. When he gets there he stands in line, and asks some of those already in line "How does this game work?"
Smiling, Lynleera sets a coin down before the old man. "Alright, I'll try. Can never have too many good potions yes? Now, I won't sprout feathers and start crowing right?" Giggling, she looks the potions over before lifting one up. Gulping, she brings it close to her lips and taking the smallest of sips from it.
"Miss Ameiko," Sizma says after swallowing some of the food that the Rust Dragon provided, "Would happen to know where if any if there is a music venue?"
Glancing about just in case half hoping to catch her eye half focusing on the target he hefted the axe and tried to get a sense of its balance. After a calm moment regulating his breathing he took the axe and gave it a good throw...
He gave a small smile and glanced back giving a nod to Selaros. A fellow he certainly knew by sight if not a word now and again. After all the Rusty Dragon was right beside The stables he worked at and there were not too many half elf's running about the town.
Whoo hoo! It's a party! And Mary was skipping nimbly along from stall to stall, scoping for prospective shiny things to snatch up. With her biggest and brightest smile on her face she politely chatted with the shopkeepers, each in turn. When she was done she'd curtsy and continue on, enjoying the day. in fact, she was having such a great time Mary missed what Cyrdak Drokkus had to say. It likely wasn't anything interesting anyway. Men like him enjoy blah-blahing about something or another just because it made them feel important, or something.
Then some thing new caught her eye. "Hide and go seek? Really?" Giggling, the half-elf rose to her tippy-toes and squinted her eyes for a better look. Hopefully, this was not just for kids. Quickly, she made her way over to discover what rules were being used.
Overhearing that the Potion Tasting costs one gold piece, Raven produces a coin from his pouch. "It is a festival, after all." He watches the elven woman in front of him sip her potion. "Well, what does it taste like?" he asks cheerfully.
The Elf looks up at Raven, though not knowing who he is. "Tastes sort of like... Mint? No it's not mint, but it has sort of the same... In any case, it's not good but it is far from bad as well.
Lynleera, you sample the potion, and for a moment your body becomes translucent. Nisk cackles gleefully.
"Well well well! Clearly Desna's happy with the Church because luck was with you! You found my potion of Invisibility! Only one in the whole batch!"
He leans over to you and whispers conspiratorially.
"I made that one special! It's better than normal. Because it's a NISK potion! All right young lady, let's make room for the next brave soul!"
"Nice throw! That's a ten percent discount off your next purchase at Savrah's Armory!"
Ms. Ameiko seemed rather busy, so Sizma and her familiar Blake leave to explore around and look for a possible music venue, trying out even more foods as they explored.
Blinking for a moment at seeing her hand change and become mildly see-through, she giggles softly. "By the Love of Shelyn, I won? I don't think I've ever won a contest before!" Turning, she hugs Raven momentarily before doing the same with Nisk. "Thank you!"
"Congratulations, friend!" Raven exclaims after witnessing the elf's good fortune. "The name's Raven. Raven Zarelli. It's a pleasure to meet you."
He turns to the merchant, Nisk, and offers him his gold piece. "I know the grand prize is out, good sir, but I'm still ready to tempt fate."
Her smile grew from ear to pointed ear and Mary leaned forward and raced onto the grounds for hide-and-seek. With a gazelle like leap she cleared over a hedge and spun around on her feet to dive and disappear into it like a rabbit. It was very hard not giggle, but pinching her nose helped even if it meant puffing out her cheeks some. And, with her grin now rivaling that of the Cheshire Cat, she peered through the branches in hope of spotting the seeker and others hiding.
Behind Raven and Lynleera, Selaros congratulates the elven woman on her lucky pick. "Looks like Desna smiles upon you miss, finding the grand prize in one go is no little feat." He is a little sad that he missed the best prize, but he knows there are still a chance for some other useful potions.
He hears what the cleric says and comments to him "Tempting fate is always good at this game, you never know what you'll find among Nisk's vials. Let's hope Desna smiles upon one of her most faithful."
Selaros finds one of his hard earned gold pieces and keeps it ready for when it's his turn to try his luck. "I hope Desna favors her knight also, in this game."
Lynleera nods at the human. "Raven. Like the bird I assume?" Giggling, she pockets the potion and sets her sights on the half-elf. "And best of luck to you too! Oh, my manners! I'm Lynleera. This is such a nice festival. What is it being done for? Someone said something about the temple or something?"
"Hi Lynleera I'm Selaros. If my memory serves me right, the festival used to be to honor Desna, but this years it's the first since the old chapel burned down five years ago. So this year it's both to honor Desna and celebrate that a new grand cathedral has been build. The new temple is mostly build for Desna, but other neutral faiths are also allowed within the halls." He responds pointing towards the cathedral
Thank you very much Mr. Savrah.
He began very much excited by the offer. He couldnt think of anything he needed from a blacksmith quite at the moment, but one never knew... He moved off into the crowd once more scanning it for any problems or anyone looking perhaps a bit lost. He eyed the arm wrestling competition as well, contemplating his chances there.
Blake the Familiar tries to listen for a musical venue....
... and seems only to listen a little better.
Raven grins. "Yes, exactly like the bird. It's the name my mother gave me. My real mother." He seems to notice that his statement might appear confusing. "That is, I consider my adoptive mother to be my real mother. She's Varisian. She says that I'm a Raven who will soar through The Big Sky, just like in the Varisian Harrow." He continues. "The Swallowtail Festival honors the Goddess, my Goddess, Desna. It's a happy coincidence that the first of Autumn falls in so closely with the town's Church being rebuilt."
You select a potion which looks no different than the one Lynleera drank, but the second it hits your tongue, you can taste nothing but mud. It's pretty awful!
Nisk speaks.
"Oh, it's no coincidence at all, young man! It's mainly Desna's temple, after all!"
Satisfied she was the last one in the game, Mary hopped up out of her hiding spot with a beaming smile on her face.Her blue-green eyes glistened with way too much pride. Twigs and spiny leaves stuck in her hair, but she seemed not to notice, or care. There was a prize to get and that took precedence.
"Thanks!" She giggled, and bobbed in a short curtsy after the ribbon was pinned. "It's an honor," She shared her smile with the rest of the contestants, judges too, and moved on to get something to drink. Thankfully her water hit the spot, and whatever left was pour over her head to cool her down. And as she wandered around raking the foliage out of her hair with her fingers. Suddenly, Mary stopped and her smile returned when her next game choice was spotted. With a confident swing in her stride she walked over to test herself on the balancing beams.
Raven smiles at the new contestant, appreciative of his comment. "I thank you, sir. Desna has blessed me all my life, though she is not above punishing me for my mischief." He winks, then selects a potion.
After drinking it, Raven grimaces at its awful taste. He coughs slightly, but manages to maintain his composure. "You're right Nisk, the timing of the festival is Divine Providence. Unlike that potion! Believe it or not though, I have had worse." Memories of the "cuisine" back in Rag's End flash through his mind.
Give me an Acrobatics check, Mary!
Before he had realized it he was there at the arm wrestling compitition, hand locked with another's He flexed his arm slightly as he started and tried to overwhelm his opponent.
Excitedly, Sizma begins to dance with the music. Her leopard familir playfully follows along as they sort of dance together in a fun way.
A large, muscular man witnesses this and less. He approaches you, and places a black ribbon on the table in front of you, a symbol of your victory.
At this point, the church bell rings twice, loud and clear. Wherever you are, people start to wrap up their activities and head towards the cathedral. It's easy to overhear talk of releasing the swallowtails.
"I got this!" Mary thought to herself and jumped onto the balancing beams.
Lynleera pauses from listening to the people around her. "Was that from the temple? Do you think something is going on?" She looks to Raven and Selaros for answers.
"And sorry the potion was not to your liking Raven. Mine wasn't too bad, but luck was on my side it appeared."
"Sounds like the Swallowtails are about to be released soon. I better go I promised to meet someone by the axe throwing before they are released. Lynleena, Raven see you around."
And with that Selaros leaves the others to go and meet up with Agustianna and try the axe throwing before the release. "Sorry I got a little delayed, I started talking with some by the potion testing booth while waiting. Do you want to try a toss alongside me?"
He almost felt bad for the young man, had it been another day perhaps he probably would have intentionally lost. As it was he looked at the ribbon and after a moment sort of tied it off around the wrist of his swordarm. He wandered the festival grounds mostly keeping an eye out for his interest when the churchbells rang so he made his way torwards the clearing for the release of the swallowtails. . .
Youll have the last throw, Selaros. Make a ranged attack roll!
Raven waves to Selaros as he departs. "Good luck with the axe throwing, friend!" Smiling, he turns to Lynleera. "Don't worry about the bells! It's a signal that they're releasing the Swallowtails; that is, the butterflies. It's a beautiful sight. We really shouldn't miss it!" He says excitedly.
"As for the potion... it wasn't all bad. Anything's bearable when you're hungry. Or thirsty, in this case."