<strong>Sybilene</strong><br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/Autocad-E/Deverin_zpsmdvehodc.png)</div><div class="floatright">(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/Autocad-E/Hemlock_zpswygvtswl.png)</div>Mayor Deverin, a professional-looking, clean-cut woman, led off with a friendly welcoming speech. "Esteemed visitors, welcome to Sandpoint! Citizens of Sandpoint, well, I see you all everyday, eh?" she joked, to friendly laughter from the crowd. "Still, I am glad to see everyone here taking time out of their busy schedules to celebrate the Swallowtail Festival. Even you Larz, what made you leave the tannery to come out here?" The crowd laughed again, apparently it was an inside joke, as a man who was presumably Larz shook his fist good-naturedly.<br/><br/>Next up was the town sheriff,<strong>Belor Hemlock</strong>, a serious man whose dour mood, even today, dampened the festive spirit - but only a little bit, and only for a little while. "I'll keep this short," he promised gruffly. "Try to keep the drinking in moderation, don't do anything stupid, and stay safe during tonight's bonfire. Let's have a good time today, but before that, let's take a moment of silence to remember those who lost their lives in the fire." There was a flurry of removed hats before a minute of silent contemplation was observed.<br/><br/>Glassmaker and local councilman<strong>Lonjiku Kaijitsu</strong>, was scheduled to speak last but there seemed to be some problem locating him. In the delay while the organizers of the festival sought him out, a gossipy old woman caught Sybilene's attention. She was speaking to a relative who had just returned to Sandpoint after spending a few years away. Her hearing must have been not so good in her old age, because her whispers were rather loud and easily overheard.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Perception DC 5</div><div class="spoiler_body">"Poor Lonjiku. While he was blowing glass all day, his cheating slut of a wife was blowing studs behind his back. Her first child was a half-elf, born in a marriage between two humans - no way to hide the truth after that. That was all twenty years ago, she died a couple years back, just before the fire. Slipped off the cliff behind their manor, an unfortunate accident, that's how the official story goes. But just between you and me, I don't buy it, not for a moment. Lonjiku's got one of the worst tempers in town - just ask any of his workers at the glassworks - and being reminded of being cuckolded every time he looks at the son that's not his, all that anger just builds up until it explodes one day."<br/></div></div><br/><br/>In the end, Lonjiku was nowhere to be found, so the speeches ended and the crowd eventually dispersed to enjoy the rest of the festival.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><strong>Vera, Eramis, Teela</strong><br/><br/>There were a selection of stalls, representing the inns, taverns, and drinking-houses of Sandpoint, all putting their best foot forward with their finest selection of food and drink for festival-goers to sample at the heavily discounted prices of a few coppers. Less heavily advertised but just as present were the prowess of the bouncers, to make sure nobody abused the great deals!<br/><br/><em>Cracktooth's Tavern</em>- Roast boar with single malt whiskey<br/>Owner:<strong>Jesk "Cracktooth" Berinni</strong>, with a prominently chipped smile supposedly from a close encounter with a wild boar's tusk - "We're right next door to the Sandpoint Theater, you can't miss it. Catch a play then catch an ale, as I always say!"<br/><br/><em>The Fatman's Feedbag</em>- Goblish goulash with orcish ale<br/>Owner:<strong>Gressel Tenniwar</strong>, an enormous thuggish sort - "Cheapest beer in town!"<br/><br/><em>The Hagfish</em>- Lobster chowder with anise rum<br/>Owner:<strong>Jargie Quinn</strong>, one-legged retired captain - "If you're feeling lucky, drop by and try your luck at the tables!"<br/><br/><em>Risa's Place</em>- Pear-lemon pie with apple cider<br/>Owner:<strong>Risa Magravi</strong>, old, almost blind Varisian sorceress, and her three children<strong>Besk, Lanalee, and Vodger</strong>- "Traditional Varisian style!"<br/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/Autocad-E/Ameiko_zpsjwmut2qj.jpg)</div><em>The Rusty Dragon</em>- Spiced salmon with meadowsweet mead<br/>Owner:<strong>Ameiko Kaijitsu</strong>, ex-adventuress and bard - "Do you like it? It's Nualia's recipe, although you wouldn't know her... well, best forget about it, pretend I didn't say anything."<br/><br/>If pressed, she was not entirely willing to divulge more about this<strong>Nualia</strong>, though a little friendly persuasion would loosen her tongue.<br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Diplomacy DC 15. If you fail the check, you can aid another person on their check, adding +2 to their own roll.</div><div class="spoiler_body">"Nualia, she was <strong>Father Tobyn's</strong> adopted daughter, an aasimar with the prettiest silver hair you could imagine. Don't be a boor and ask where she is now, though, she perished in the chapel fire with Father Tobyn. We used to play together as children, if she were still with us today, she'd be around the same age as you and me. "<br/></div></div><br/><br/><em>The White Deer</em>- Peppercorn venison with blackberry wine<br/>Owner:<strong>Garridan Viskalai</strong>, gruff Shoanti innkeeper - "Sheriff Hemlock's abandoning all his Shoanti customs and traditions... I tried urging him to respect his history as a fellow tribesman, but he's stubborn as a mule..."<br/><br/><br/><br/>Not only was it an advertising opportunity for the taverns of Sandpoint, it was a contest - each taster was given a token, which could be placed in one of the jars that dotted each stall as a symbol of favour. In short, whichever stall had the most tokens at the end of the day was the one voted the best food and drink, with all the bragging rights that ensued! The Hagfish, the Rusty Dragon, and the White Deer were almost evenly matched with one another and ahead of the rest by a thick margin, their jars nearly half full with tokens already.<br/><br/><hr/><div class="floatleft">(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/Autocad-E/Zantus_zpswcprmlhx.png)</div>At noon, Father Zantus and a number of his acolytes wheeled a large covered wagon into the middle of the town square. It was obviously quite an important event, as the festival-goers stopped what they were doing and gathered around. The priest recounted a short parable of Desna, goddess of dreams and of the starry night.<br/><br/><em>A long, long time ago, the gods and goddesses still walked upon mortal lands. One night, Desna was walking on the road by the light of the stars. She entered a small woods, and the leaves overhead blocked the light, and in the darkness she tripped over a root and could not get up.<br/><br/>Morning came, and a king passed by on the road. His thoughts were on great battles and conquests, and he had no time to spare to help an injured woman on the road.<br/><br/>Afternoon came, and a merchant passed by on the road. His thoughts were on trades and gold, and he had no time to spare to help an injured woman on the road.<br/><br/>Evening came, and a beggar boy passed by on the road. He was but a mere boy, too weak and too small to help, but he saw an injured woman on the road and offered her the only thing he had - a crust of bread, to ease her hunger at the end of the day.<br/><br/>Then Desna smiled upon him and said, "A king and a merchant passed by before you, but you have proven yourself the greatest of the tree. I shall clothe you in finery more beautiful than anything gold can buy. No longer shall you know the pang of hunger or the touch of cold. Go now with my blessing." In that moment, the beggar boy turned into a butterfly, leaving his earthly burdens behind forevermore as he took to the sky.</em><br/><br/>At that moment, the acolytes pulled the cover off the wagon, releasing a thousand swallowtail butterflies which swarmed into the air in a spiraling riot of colour. The crowd let out a great cheer and children ran through the streets, futilely chasing after the butterflies in a vain attempt to catch one.<br/><br/>"Remember, we will hold the consecration ceremony at sunset!" Father Zantus was shouting, while he still held the crowd's attention for a few more moments, "followed by the bonfire!" The crowd started to disperse, going back to their festive activities!<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">If you haven't already, pre-roll your <strong>perception</strong> and <strong>initiative</strong> checks and stick them somewhere in your post where I can see them.<br/><br/>Enjoy the rest of the festival. There're games, and music, and dance, and refreshments.<br/><br/>The next post will take us to sunset, and the consecration ceremony, and dare I say, some <em>action</em>.<br/></div></div>