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The Swallowtail Festival has officially arrived at the town of Sandpoint!

This moment is of great importance to the citizens of this quaint town on the Lost Coast, not least because it brings closure to a series of events from five years past, popularly known as the “Late Unpleasantness.”

A half-decade ago, a seemingly-harmless eccentric named Jarvis Stoot snapped and embarked upon a savage killing spree.  Stoot’s actions would have been shocking and unsettling for the cosmopolitan citizens of Magnimar; it is hard to overstate how deeply they terrorized sleepy Sandpoint.   Stoot stalked and killed nearly two dozen people before “Chopper,” as he came to be known, died resisting arrest.

Stoot’s body had barely cooled before the townspeople faced another tragedy: an accidental fire that destroyed the northernmost quarter of town.  The fire started in the cathedral, where beloved priest Ezakien Tobyn, his daughter, and several acolytes perished.  The deaths were especially traumatic given how stabilizing and comforting Father Tobyn had been during Chopper’s reign of terror.

For five years, the faithful of Sandpoint have attended church in the smaller wooden structures hastily erected after the fire.  While their new pastor, Father Zantus, is both kind and wise, services just have not been the same.  In a community effort that has fostered a great sense of teamwork and togetherness, almost everyone in the town (with a few notable exceptions) worked, sweated, and sacrificed to build their town’s new place of worship.  Now, the impressive stone cathedral is finally done.

All that remains is for the Swallowtail Festival to renew the site’s blessings from the gods.  It begins on the bright, clear morning of the Autumnal Equinox . . .

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The entire population of Sandpoint, in addition to not a few persons from the surrounding communities (and even some visitors from Magnimar!) have gathered in front of the main doors on the western side of the town’s new cathedral.  The tall stained-glass windows flanking these doors honor Shelyn and Gozreh, the dieties whose worshippers share the western chapel.  Several merchants have pitched tents on a broad nearby avenue, the rather unimaginatively-named “Church Street.”  The array of goods available is striking for a smallish town like Sandpoint; a visitor could purchase food, clothes, local crafts, and souvenirs without traveling more than thirty feet.

Some detritus of construction still lies scattered about, but most of the old scaffolding and waste wood were repurposed into construction of the high dais that now commands the southeastern corner of the town square fronting the church.  Welcome speeches will begin soon; in the four chairs on the dais eager festival-goers can see a slender middle-aged woman with short auburn hair, a burly, bald Shoanti man in a Sandpoint Guard uniform, a flamboyant man whose bright clothing reflects the height of Magnimar fashion, and a pleasant-looking cleric with fine linen robes elaborately and tastefully embroidered in a repeating pattern of blue butterflies.  At ten ‘o clock sharp, the first of these individuals stands and the crowd, which must have numbered in the hundreds, quiets.

"It is so delightful to see so many faces here today, both new and familiar," she begins.  "To those of you from out of town, I am Kendra Deverin, mayor of Sandpoint, and you are most welcome!"  She pauses as the crowd shouts its agreement.

"To those who already know me, I'm glad you could all spare a day to celebrate.  I'm sure only Rovansky, our tanner, is too busy to . . . oh look!  Friends, even Larz is here! And in the first row too!"  Loud laughter ripples through the crowd, especially among those standing close enough to see the tanner’s unamused expression.

"Anyway, I can smell the lunch our tavern keepers are cooking already.  A round of applause to Ameiko, Garridan, Cracktooth, and Jargie for providing free lunch for all!  I'm sure Father Zantus can spare an extra prayer that they don't burn anything before we get to eat it."  More cheering erupts; the aromas drifting over the crowd are glorious.

"Now, since you have three more speeches to stand through,” she gestured to the other dignitaries on the podium, “I'm going to sit down. No business today!  This is my favorite time of year!"

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This message was last edited by the GM at 23:26, Wed 28 Aug 2013.

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The next two speeches go just as quickly as the mayor’s.  Sherriff Belor Hemlock’s dour expression seems permanently plastered to his face as he dutifully reminds everyone to be safe around this evening’s bonfire and requests a moment of silence to remember those who perished in the fire that destroyed the old church.

The ostentatiously-attired Cyrdak Drokkus brings the crowd’s mood back up with a hilarious recap of the long process the town went through to finance and construct the new building.  He spares no one from his rapier wit, even (much to the enjoyment of the audience) apparent pillars of the town community.

He throws a bit of self-promotion in at the end, inviting both townsfolk and visitors to attend the opening of his new production of “The Harpy’s Curse” next week, eliciting gasps when he informs those gathered that the lead role of Avisera the harpy queen will be played by none other than the famous Magnimarian diva Allishanda!  This is an astounding achievement for a theater so far from the city, and earns a standing ovation that brings tears to Cyrdak’s eyes despite the fact that the crowd was standing when his speech began.

Finally, Father Zantus takes the stage to officially open the ceremony.  A hush settles over the crowd as everyone strains to hear him.

“Today we usher in a season that many would call Autumn.  It makes summer give way to winter; it brings cool air and brightly-colored trees to the canvas of the world.  But others would refer to this season as Fall...and there is good reason for that as well.  For today also marks the day that Desna fell from the heavens after doing battle with Lamashtu.”

“Lamashtu gloated as she began to ransack Desna’s palace, laughing as her stricken rival's body fell to the sea below. Though the world wept for the loss of the goddess, and of dreams, it is said that she survived, wounded, washed up on the rocks of the sea.   A blind orphan, forgotten and cast aside, discovered her there on the rocks."

"Though the orphan knew naught of whom she had discovered and could do little for the wounded goddess, she stayed, holding a vigil on the beach, praying and tending to her as best she could. And though she tired and knew that the goddess had little chance to recover, she remained all throughout the night and into the week, praying and keeping faith.”

“Eventually Desna did recover, though the world thought her lost.  As a gift, she transformed the child who prayed for her health into an immortal butterfly who would forever remain with her in the heavens.”

Father Zantus motions toward the newly finished cathedral, the sunlight glittering off the stained-glass windows.  “This story reminds us that tragedy is merely a setback, not an end.  Though our place of worship was destroyed, and Father Tobyn perished in the flames, we followed Desna’s example and persevered, building anew.”

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This message was last edited by the GM at 02:48, Thu 29 Aug 2013.

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The smiling priest places his hand over his heart.  “We did not remain in darkness and sorrow!  We rediscovered joy!  Why, I myself just helped with the birthing of young Verah Barett.”  He shields his eyes as he peers out at the crowd.  “Alergast and Amele, are you out there?”  A happy-looking woman with a young boy and a baby waves and smiles.  “There you are, Amele!”  Father Zantus waves back.  “Where is Alergast?  Ah, there he is!”  The priest smiles and gestures to the edge of the crowd, where a man in Sandpoint Guard uniform gives him a jaunty salute.

“The birth of new life is a joy.  And just as the Baretts celebrated their love by bringing Verah into this world, so do we celebrate our love by building this edifice to our Gods.”

Father Zantus raised his hands with a broad grin.  “In celebration of our grand new cathedral’s birth, let the Swallowtail Festival begin!”

With that, two acolytes threw the canvas off a nearby wagon, revealing a thousand swallowtail butterflies...the Children of Desna.  The butterflies fluttered in every direction, causing the crowd to erupt in a happy bedlam as eager children futilely chased them.

The crowd began to disperse to partake in the festival activities. A sign near the podium showed a basic map of Sandpoint, with various attractions labeled on the map. In addition to the food stands provided by the taverns that dot the immediate area, the map outlined several games and even a fortune teller.  While many of the games are highlighted on the map with markers and painted signs, one near the stables is labeled with a pinned note simply reading “Tossin’ Goblins with Daviren Hosk.” (Near Area 38 on Game Map)

The map’s more official activities include the following:

Ven Vinder’s “Devil Hunt” Archery Contest (Near Area 26)
Das Korvut’s Ogre Stomp! (Near Area 15)
Aesrick Battlehorn’s Lighthouse Smash (Near Area 24)
Cydrak Drokkus’ Puppet Theater (Suitable for All Ages!) (Near Area 23)
Stump the Experts! - Historical Trivia with Veznutt Parooh and Ilsoari Gandethus (Near Area 27)
The Locked Clock with Volioker Briskalberd (Near Area 9)
Meditation with Sabyl Sorn (Near Area 19)
Reading From the Classics with Chask Haladan (Near Area 22)
Harrowing Fortunes with Nishka Mvashti (Near Area 28)
Drinking Contest!  (Beverages From Risa’s Place) (Near Area 13)
Hannah’s Herb Challenge (Near Area 45)
The Fatman’s Fisticuffs (Not For Kids!) (Near Area 42)

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This message was last edited by the GM at 04:56, Thu 29 Aug 2013.

OOC:  And here . . . we . . . GO!