Game thread being put up for dotting purposes.
Dot
Another Dot!
Zing.
creampuff!
Dot!
Patiently awaiting gameplay!
If everyone is ready, I will get the game started later tonight when I make the festival post for the other game.
I'm ready!
Basic intros for Morstralla and Wyren; you won't start out with the rest of the group, but you'll have reason to join them soon enough, I promise. The rest of you already know each other from the Rusty Dragon common room conversations.
Morning comes and the big day of the festival finally arrives. The sun is bright and cheerful, and the breeze coming off the Inner Sea is just perfect, as though the gods themselves were smiling down on this celebration. Banners, flags, and ribbons of all kinds adorn most every building on the main square and throughout town. The market square is full of stalls as local and visiting vendors ply all sorts of wares, mundane and seemingly exotic. Minstrels, sideshows, and carnies find whatever open spots are left, and vie with each other for the attention of those passing by. There are carnival games for those willing to part with their coin, as well as dozens of food vendors selling their wares. It's hard to find a frown, and all of the locals are out in their best clothes. In all, it's all you would expect such a festival to be.
One of the best things about living in a port town, and the best things about the festival, is the people watching. Spectacles, intrigue and oddities abound. Talon has managed to avoid the sunlight breaking through the closed shutters and has slept off about all of last night's bad decision making. Well into the morn its finally time to rise and he makes his way down to the street and weaves thorugh the vendors and onlookers alike. In search of something greasy to help vanquish his hangover he follows his nose as it leads him to a collection of food stalls. Since its festival time and the work has been steady he treats himself to a hearty turkey leg that has been basting in a pit since dawn. He sits on a ledge overlooking a coupld of cross streets and admires the goings on. The turkey leg hits the spot perfectly.
Wyran has spent the last few days in quiet meditation, making sure to thank both his host, and his deity for providing him this space of peace amidst the chaos that his been the festival. The libraries had also been a great space to pass time well into the night, reading up on all manner of history, but specifically looking into ancient Thassilon. Having spent all his time indoors, he believes that it's likely past time to head out and see what the festival has to offer. He stops to listen to the minstrels, enjoying their tales and music. Not looking the part of a festival goer, Wyran stands out like a sore thumb. Well over 6 feet tall, with skin that shines like polished steel. No hair can be found on his body or head. All that Wyran wears is a simple dark blue monks robe.
Wyran is specifically seeking out scholars, as well as tomes and grimoires on ancient cultures. He rarely stops to speak to anybody, and dismissing them quickly if he is approached.
It was nice to spend the night in a real bed, as opposed to a cot inside a rocking ship. Rohan wakes up and realizes that he has the whole day to himself, sort of. He gets dressed before he summons Copperscale to join him for the day. The plucky little golden ball of energy wants to hit the town immediately.
The pair race down to the common room of the Rusty Dragon, Rohan quickly waving hello to Ameiko before he makes his way out the door.
They both grab a piece of roast boar, the sight quite comical as it's bigger than Copper's head.
After they finish their breakfast, the golden one suggests some games. At first, Rohan declines, not wanting to waste money. Then some teasing from Copper about winning a prize for Ameiko or Magnihlidr ensues which just elicits a glare as a response. But ultimately, he acquiesces and plays a few games. He even wins a few wooden toys that he gives to some local children.
Hi, I'm back. I'll catch up in a minute.
Magnhildr groans in protest as the first light of day lances through the window of her room and blast her in the face.
"Bare noen få minutter Momma. Stjernene var ganske i går kveld."
Realizing the sun isn't going to go away and that the festival was starting, the ulfen woman pulls herself out of bed and sighs as a tangle of coppery-red strands falls in front of her face.
Right, drank too much again...
She washes her face and combs the tangles out of her hair while chiding herself on her lack of restraint. After about five minutes, a long shimmering braid runs down her back and she's fully awake. She gets ready, putting on armor and grabbing her shield, her sword, and the rest of her gear out of habit, not realizing she was staying another night until she was well on her way into town.
Crud.
After dropping off her pack, and deciding to keep her the rest of her gear after peace-bonding the weapons, she finally makes into the festival and takes in the sights and sounds. She listens to a few stories and songs, samples some of the food, and gets lots of questions about what she is and where she's from. After a while she finds a less crowded place in the square and begins to tell stories, letting young boys look at, but not touch, her sword and shield ("These are tools, not toys."). Soon she has a fair sized crowd and a favorite tale seems to be the time she and her uncle fought a couple of Frost Trolls along side a group of Black Ravens. She's enjoying herself and the kids look like their enjoying the stories too, but by lunch her voice is going and her throat is parched, not to mention her stomach is growling.
"Thank you for listening to some of my tales. I'm afraid that I am not as used to talking as I am walking or swinging a sword, so I hope you'll forgive me of giving in to mortal needs as I get something to drink and eat."
"And that should do it."
Stralla pinned the drapery to close off the clerical area of the cathedral to the visitors to Sandpoint.
That should keep those light-fingered Sczarni honest, she thought.
"Now to make the trip to Savories for some morning fresh bread and a warm cup of tea to beat last night's chill and then check out the revelry at the market," she says aloud to herself.
"I'll be back this afternoon, Abstalar."
His muffled reply showing that he was preoccupied with something pressing.
The mood of the town was upbeat even at this early hour, she noted as she walked towards Savories.
So much work goes into setup and takedown, but enough of that for now. It's time to enjoy the moment.
The morning passes by quickly in the excitement of the moment.
Wyren is able to find his way to The Curious Goblin, the local bookstore, and finds a knot of the local scholars gathered around outside watching the festivities. Sabyl is there and introduces you to the others. Chask Haladan, a older human gentleman, is the owner of the store. Ilsoari Gandethus, another older human, serves as the local schoolmaster, and keeps a small private museum in the basement of the school. Brodert Quint is younger than the others, but still comfortably middle aged, and is a scholar of the Thassilonian Empire with some radical theories about the Old Light on the edge of town. Interestingly enough, few people really take notice of his strange appearance, apparently chalking it up to the monk robes he wears.
Morstralla makes her way to the Savories for fresh bread. She finds a good line, and is able to catch some good conversation while she waits as well as some fresh bread.
Magnhlidr manages to make 5 gold from her story telling, though most of it is in silver and copper pieces handed to her by the children listening to her story.
Copperscale gets noticed, but again, not as much as he normally would have, given the nature of the festival. Rohan easily finds some cheap games and wins some cheap trinkets, making several children pleased when they receive them.
The others see a lot of people dressed in great finery. Nothing amiss seems to happen as they wander around, taking in the sights and sounds.
Once Magnhildr finds Ameiko's stall she grabs a plate of salmon and a mug of mead ("When you've got some free time, I'd love to hear where the name 'The Rusty Dragon' came from."), she finds a cool place to sit and enjoy her meal. Though she could only have a single helping of the fish, she did get another cup of mead to sip as she walked about the town. As she does, she runs into Rohan and Copperscale.
"Well, hello! I see you're enjoying the festival. Have you tried Ameiko's fish yet, it's really good."
If not she drags the two over to get them in line before Ameiko runs out.
"Yea, I love it. Ameiko is such a great cook. I especially like that spicy stuff she puts on it. What's that called again?"
"Curry. So umm, how are you enjoying the festival?"
"Greatly! I told stories most of the morning, so now I have some spare coin. Care to join me in seeing all of this wonderful festival?"
Enjoying what he would deem "fulfilling intellectual stimulation", the steel monk spends as much as the afternoon with the men in the Curious Goblin. He is especially interested in Brodert and tries to get some stories out of him about the Old Light.
"Of course we would! Isn't that right?" Copper looks towards his much bigger friend. Rohan just gives a slight smile and a silent nod.
Aimless wandering has taken Talon on a tour of Sandpoint, few of its streets have not met his gaze by late afternoon as he arrives at the town center. Its been a while since he had something to eat and the familiar smell of Ameiko's cooking is impossible to resist. As he weaves his way through the crowd he spots Rohan and Copper engaged in a conversation with an exotic looking Aasimar warrior. He pats Rohan on the back solidly, "Making friends as usual eh fellows?"and extednds a hand to Magnhlidr, "These boys aren't bothering you are they?" he says with a sheepish smile, "They're mostly harmless. Names Talon, its a true pleasure."
"Yep! Just having fun! We're not bothering you are we?"
Copper stifles a giggle and instead counter pantomime Krojun when he arrives. "Hi Krojun!"
"Hail Talon and hail Krojun. The festival has been just fine. The food is good." Rohan is able to respond without too much difficulty.
"What he said. So you guys wanna join us? We're gonna explore more of the festival!"
"Of course! Maggie's leading the way!"
"What? No we haven't..." Rohan's face turns a bright red.
Copper bursts into laughter and starts rolling on the ground. "He thinks that... You? And she?"
"Magnhildr, and I wouldn't be so sure of that," he voice drops into a stage whisper, "Dragons are very dangerous, and only dangerous men would keep one around."
A grin breaks out over her face as she hears Kojun call out.
"It's been great. The people here are very generous to storytellers." She doesn't elaborate, although she did drop a big hint as to what she's been up to this morning.
When Copperscale calls her "Maggie," she opens her mouth to protest, but Kojun cuts her off, and manages to get her to blush.
"If you mean getting dru-" she begins at the same time as Rohan before Copperscale burst into laughter and Krojun removes any doubt about what he meant.
Magnhildr turns bright red, obviously embarrassed.
Great my life is becoming a low-brow Chelian comedy.
"O-okay."
It's quite comically actually, to see her get even redder than Rohan when Krojun wraps an arm about her shoulders. In a very unladylike manner, she proves her heritage by downing half a mugful of mead in a single gulp.
And now it is one.
Feeling a little less foolish, she continues to enjoy the festivities and cheers the others on as they participate in some of the games around. When she passes by the cathedral, she takes half of what she had earned and places it in to the offering plate. She chats with the others telling her some about herself, and the symbol of Desna on a thin chain about her neck. Although she is excited to travel, she looks to the north wistfully when talking of home.
"I hope everyone back home is alright. Some of my cousins had nightmares about an ancient linnorm, Fafnheir, attacking the keep. Most of the older members of the clan didn't dismiss these dreams as idle fantasy either."
Wyran thanks the men at The Curious Goblin for a wonderful conversation, and wanders out into the streets deep in thought. He stops dead in his tracks to stare at what can only be another of his kind. He spends a long moment looking over the red-headed figure, who looks so alike and so different from him in so many ways. His trance is broken by a fluttery draconian, and the roaring laughter of one of the Shoanti tribesman. He had heard of some Ulfen-Aasimar telling stories in the streets but had yet to see her.
The steely monk approaches Magnhildr somewhat tentatively, still somewhat enamoured by the fact she bears angelic features. "Pardon me, I am Wyran, devout worshipper of Irori, and scholar of many things. I had heard that you'd been telling stories in the streets and I was hoping to hear some of them myself."
You all continue talking, and as evening approaches, the two squares are cleared of stalls and long tables are put up along the side of both. Benches are collected from their previous spots around town and set in front of the main stage set up just outside the cathedral. All of the PCs find themselves sitting by each other for the final speeches and the consecration. There is a brief ceremony as various notables get up and give their own brief speeches and such as would be expected at such at event. Most of them are about as inspired as one would expect as well, giving the audience plenty of time to talk amongst themselves and/or nap. Finally, after nearly an hour of droning politicians, Father Zantus takes the stage and his actions indicate that the consecration is about to begin. Despite the numerous prognastications that something would interrupt them, they go off without a hitch, and before long, torches are being lit, and the long tables are being buried under a heavy weight of food and drink for the taking. The next couple hours see the party atmosphere amped up even more than before as food an alcohol are freely imbibed, as though to proclaim that not even darkness could stop this town and it's residents.