PATHFINDER: ERA OF THE LOST OMENS
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Chapter 1 - The Light of the Lost Coast
Year 4707 Absalom Reckoning. Ten thousand years after the fall of Thassilon.
"Hmmmm! Gotta admit, it sure feels strange, to come back here after a long time! How long has it been... five years, now?" A chestnut-haired young man in his early twenties, his face surprisingly clean despite a couple of scars - one on his right cheek and one on his chin - stated to himself as he boldly walked up to one of the two wooden bridges across the great river that separated Sandpoint from the rest of the mainland. Shortly after the end of the bridge, a colorful procession of stalls, acrobats, festons and attractions began, hinting at the joyful occasion that was being celebrated. Already from such a distance, cheers of celebration could be heard, a thousand voices mingled in a pleasant cacophony of happiness.
Yan stretched his shoulders, a little fatigued from the long journey back to his hometown. Who could say how much had changed in those five years? His last memory of Sandpoint had been the atmosphere of sadness and anger that reigned in the streets - the small town on the west coast of Varisia had been hit hard by the unfortunate period that was now known among the locals as "The Late Unpleasantness". Several horrific events had taken place within a few days, starting with the still unclear death of a Tian woman who had lost her life falling from a great height, on the cliffs near the Kaijitsu household. Since that night, Sandpoint had been devastated by a series of terrible murders, culminating in the burning of the local church dedicated to Desna. The elderly priest, Father Ezakien Tobyn, had perished in the flames, plunging the small town of just over a thousand souls into an atmosphere of fear and suspicion.
Of course, Yan noted with an hint of nostalgia, the atmosphere was much more relaxed now. The news had circulated. Desna's church had been rebuilt in record time, and while it certainly wouldn't have been the same, at least it was an important symbol for the community, a place that for the people of Sandpoint represented more than just a place of worship. It was a comforting presence, as if Desna herself had come to protect the town from the horrors of the world around it. Besides, it would not be just a place of worship for Desna... all of the commonly accepted deities of the Inner Sea pantheon - Erastil, Iomedae, Sarenrae, Abadar and so many others - would have their own dedicated wing inside the new sanctuary.
Not that much had happened around Sandpoint, lately. Apart from a few disorganized raids from the goblins living in the nearby wilderness, no major problems had befallen the town after the shock of the Late Unpleasantness had worn off.
"Yan? Are you daydreaming or something, now?" his companion asked. Right behind him, a girl about four or five years his junior, of clear Tian ethnicity - her pale complexion, black hair and almond-shaped eyes being a dead giveaway - walked up, looking enthusiastic and eager to get to their destination. The young man sighed happily and turned to his companion, who smiled in a gesture of companionship. "Confess, you've been fantasizing. Well, can't blame you. Returning to your hometown after so long is such a... nostalgic experience."
Yan shrugged in amusement, albeit with a hint of melancholy. His equipment, which consisted of a steel breastplate over a dark blue robe, with matching trousers and travel boots, was further complemented by a pair of greaves and two bronze cuffs that protected his forearms, and a well-made longsword was hanging by his side, placed in its sheath.
By contrast, his female partner was dressed in a way that favored freedom of movement, with light-colored robes, tight black trousers, and a pair of reinforced boots. Her long black hair was tied in an elegant ponytail behind her back, and even though her clothes didn't show much of her body, it was clear that the young girl was well trained. A long and robust bo staff was tied to her back.
"I can't help but agree, Reji. Desna weeps, it's been five years now... and I still remember this town as if it were yesterday. Many things have changed... but the feeling is just the same as I remember." he commented as they walked into Sandpoint. From where he and his partner were, he could see the main square, where the celebration was taking place - the Swallowtail Festival, they had called it, a full day of games, celebrations, good food and happiness.
Yan sighed. Truth be told, there was one person with whom he would have loved to see the festival. Unfortunately, life can sure get in the way of what people have planned. She was gone now, and all Yan could do was look to the future and keep memories of her in his heart.
"Hm? Are you okay, Yan? You looked so gloomy, all of a sudden..." Reji stated, noticing her traveling companion's darkened expression. The messy-haired young man started a little, then ran his hand over his face in an hasty attempt to hide his emotions. He did not seek to burden his friend with his own problems... and besides which, he did not want to pick at old scars.
"Oh... no, it's nothing... I was just thinking about what happened five years ago... when the shrine to Desna burned down in that damn fire." he assured her. "But... it's all in the past now. Now... Sandpoint is a new city, and we're here to enjoy the Swallowtail Festival, right?"
The brunette smiled and spun nimbly around herself. Even such a jaunty gesture, managed to show off her agility and coordination. "That's right! And I, for one, can't wait to try out Sandpoint's specialties! I've heard that the Rusty Dragon Inn is known for some truly delicious dishes!"
"Hahahaa! That's always been the case! I just hope that the Kaijitsu daughter is as good a cook as they say!" the young man laughed, then ran after his traveling companion as she headed towards the main square...
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"And as the Mayor of Sandpoint, I want to welcome everyone to our city, and wish everyone to enjoy the Swallowtail Festival to their heart's content!" The jovial voice of a middle-aged auburn-haired woman dressed in green rang clear in the town's main square. Mayor Kendra Deverin had opened the festivities with a short but heartfelt speech, and her friendly demeanor had proved contagious. "It will certainly be a day of celebration and joy. Suffice it to say that even good old Larz has taken a break from his job at the tannery for once, in order to take part in this!"
The audience laughed at the mayor's joke... and a little to the side, a young half-elf woman with long dark red hair sighed as she leaned back against the wall of the nearest building. These opening speeches were always the most irritating part of any official celebration. If it weren't for the fact that she had to accompany her friend, she certainly wouldn't have bothered to mingle with all these people, in such a chaotic and noisy place.
"As far as I'm concerned, I would have gladly stayed in Magnimar to continue my studies..." she said to herself, adjusting her glasses on her nose and shifting her wide-brimmed hat on her head, a dead giveaway of her status as a wizard. Under her dark green cape, she wore dark robes, and her travel boots had a bit of a heel, while in one hand she held a slender iron staff that ended in a crescent moon-shaped pommel. "Well, since we're here now, let's at least try to find something interesting. Even if I don't know exactly what I could find in a small town like this ..."
The mayor of Sandpoint had completed her short speech, and after she had withdrawn before the cheers of her fellow citizens, someone else walked up on the stage: a tall, dark-skinned man with a sharp expression and a completely bald head - both of which were hallmarks of a person of Shoanti descent.
"Our esteemed mayor... has quite eloquently spoken. And I wish you a good day too." the dark-skinned man said. Unfortunately, as much as he tried to be agreeable, his stern tone wasn't exactly putting the audience at ease. "However, as your sheriff, it is my duty to remind you that safety rules must be observed even during the festivities. If you observe them scrupulously, this occasion will be a happy one for everyone. First of all, do not get too close to the bonfire to be held this evening, and pay the utmost attention to sharp and pointed objects of all kinds. Furthermore... "
"Aw, Sheriff Belor always does that... don't be too intimidated." said a shrill male voice, belonging to someone who had suddenly popped up next to the half-elf woman. Amazed, the young wizard looked around her without seeing anyone...
"No, no, look down!" the voice continued after a short laugh. Looking down abruptly, the bespectacled half-elf saw that the one to talk had been a young male halfling with short an messy black hair, athletic but relatively slim by the standards of his race, wearing a dusty white shirt and brown trousers. held in place with a pair of braces. Unlike most halflings, this one did sport footwear - a pair of black knee-high boots, which for some reason looked newer than the rest of his outfit. "Good morning, Miss! My name is Jolan, and I am a guide! What do you think of Sandpoint's welcome party for its guests?"
The half-elf woman blinked in amazement at that halfling standing so casually in front of her... then, she adjusted her glasses and answered. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Jolan. I'm Eli Clays, apprentice wizard from Magnimar. I'm here to... accompany a friend of mine who wanted to see the celebrations at all costs."
"You don't really seem too enthusiastic, Miss Clays." the halfling stated, getting only a little more serious as he studied the half-elven wizard's reactions. Eli tried to keep her gaze on the stage, where the sheriff kept making his recommendations on what to do during the party. "Don't you like the celebrations?"
"It's not that I don't like them. It's just that... well... I would rather have stayed in Magnimar to continue my research." Eli said, not paying too much attention to Jolan. She fell silent a moment later, hoping that the lively guide would understand and let go.
Unfortunately for her, Jolan was not the kind to be discouraged that easily. "Well... I guess the celebrations have yet to get to the best part. As soon as Mr. Belor has finished lecturing us like so many children... it will be Mr. Kaijitsu's turn to say something, and then the competitions will begin. I think you'll be able to see something interesting! Or you might find something appetizing among the stands, or some junk to buy! "
Eli sighed. "If it's not some manuscript on ancient Thassilon, then I don't care." she stated. "But thanks for your concern."
This time, Jolan seemed to get the hint at last. "Oookay, my bad. I'm going to leave it to your thoughts. But... if you do want to take part in some competition, you're still in time to do so." he replied. "I'll see you around, okay?"
"Okay..." the half-elf answered in disinterest. Jolan waved and hurriedly disappeared among the crowd, thanks to his small stature allowing him to blend in with the inhabitants of Sandpoint, which were human for the most part.
"Having said that, I don't think I have any other recommendations for you." the sheriff had come to the end of his speech, which many Sandpoint residents were grateful for. It seemed like it would never end... "Remember to take your safety into account, and let it be an auspicious day for everyone. Thank you. Now I'll let our esteemed fellow citizen, Lonjiku Kaijitsu, take the stage."
The Sandpoint townfolk cheered as the sheriff nodded and walked off the stage. Even Eli, despite her lack of enthusiasm, found herself giving a short round of applause before she went back to looking around in the hope of seeing her friend return. The audience was now waiting for Lonjiku to take to the stage and give his speech... but the wait was getting longer than expected.
"Hm? So, is this guy coming or not?" Eli wondered. A small movement beside her drew her attention, and the half-elf turned her gaze in that direction. Next to her, the very person she had been waiting for had appeared - a pretty female gnome clad in elegant white robes edged with blue, with a funny headdress over her long blond hair and wearing a pair of blue ankle-high boots. She walked briskly, but at the same time with a certain circumspection, as if she was afraid of dropping something... and as soon as she reached Eli, she looked up to reveal a pair of intensely blue eyes, which seemed to change hue from one moment to the next, going from the clear blue of a sunny day to the dark blue of deep water. "Misia? You came back sooner than I thought! Did you find what you were looking for?"
The female gnome nodded vigorously and showed her friend a pretty glass sculpture, representing a brightly colored butterfly. "Of course! Just look how pretty this one is, Eli! This glass sculpture would certainly look great in my collection!" she exclaimed almost gleefully. Eli couldn't help but laugh briefly - just like Misia to pick up such a weird thing, being a devotee of Desna. Especially since glassworking was one of Sandpoint's specialities.
"Glad you found something nice in this backwater town..." Eli answered, before her attention turned back to the stage in front of her. "Now... Mr. Kaijitsu should be here to speak at the celebration, but I see he's taking his time."
"Oh, yeah, about that... I've heard that Mr. Kaijitsu is indisposed somehow, so he won't be attending the festivities." Misia answered, getting a little more serious. She carefully placed her glass sculpture in her saddlebag, and put her hat back in place. "I don't know the details, but... honestly, it sounds like an excuse coming from him. I heard that Lonjiku Kaijitsu has always been the... unsociable type, for lack of a better word. It's more likely that he just doesn't like these noisy celebrations."
"Can't say I blame him ..." Eli snarked. "But, okay, since we're here, we might as well make the most out of it. By any chance, have you seen if there is anyone selling some magical stuff around here?"
"Hmm... I think I have seen some interesting stalls. We might as well take a look at them, since I think there is no one here to listen to..." the blonde answered, checking the stage with a quick look, just in case someone had arrived just then. No dice - the stage was still empty, save for the Mayor Deverin who stood near the center of the elevated platform, looking embarrassed and slightly annoyed.
"Um..." Kendra sighed and looked around, hoping to see old man Kaijitsu somewhere. But the old grump was nowhere to be seen. A pity, she had hoped to see him join the festivities, for once. Lonjiku had never been a friendly person, but since his wife had mysteriously died long ago, he had become even more withdrawn and unsociable. Perhaps those malicious rumors accusing him of having murdered his wife were to blame too...
"Won't Mr. Lonjiku Kaijitsu step up and address our fellow citizens?" Kendra asked. The crowd had become silent again out of respect for whoever was about to speak, but now they were whispering again in a mixture of confusion and annoyance. Some had expected old man Lonjiku not to show up... while others expressed their disappointment, calling the old man a misanthrope and a weirdo. Finally, Kendra gave up and shook her head in frustration. "Okay... ladies and gentlemen, I regret to say that our esteemed citizen Lonjiku Kaijitsu has decided not to attend the opening ceremony of the Swallowtail Festival. Too bad. I was hoping the festive atmosphere would do good to his mood. But we can't force anyone to have fun."
"In the end, that's all his loss. Stubborn old fool." someone was heard speaking up among the crowd. A female voice, which Eli's sharp ears barely heard in the midst of the shouting and murmuring. The half-elf woman looked in that direction, just in time to see a young woman in her late teens, of clear Tian ethnicity and dressed in stained kitchen clothes, walking away and weaving her way amongst the crowd. Eli noticed a striking detail about the young woman's appearance - a pair of wisps of white hair falling across her forehead in two elegant bangs, in contrast to the rest of her black hair.
"Yeah... it looks like some people don't really like this festival. Other than me, of course." Eli thought to herself. "Too bad though... That Lonjiku guy could have stood to distract himself for a while. Well, his funeral."
"Eli? Hey, Eli, are you even listening?" Misia asked. The female gnome checked her clothes and saddlebag once more to make sure it was all right... and her friend managed a smile, genuinely glad that at least her best friend was enjoying the day. She might as well loosen up a bit as well... It's not like she was one of the top students at her academy in Magnimar at the moment.
The half-elf adjusted her hat and looked around as the citizens of Sandpoint began to disperse through the streets and begin the celebrations. "It's okay, Misia, I was just pondering." she stated. "You know me... Having said that, I think we could take a look around as well. Can you show me those stalls you were talking about?"
"My pleasure!" the blonde gnome jokingly answered. "Now, Eli... follow me! I'll be your guide for today! Special occasion!"
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"Hello there, gentlemen! Who's up for a little competition! A battle of tug-of-war with my champion!" A man of clear Varisian descent, dressed in garish and colorful clothes, was urging onlookers to compete in his challenge... which consisted of a muscular, square-jawed half-orc who was showing off his mighty biceps and pecs. "No tricks there! No sort of deception! Anyone wants to put themselves to the test?"
"Daaamn, have you seen just how large that half-orc guy is?" a bystander commented ion the half-orc's over 6 foot tall, muscular frame. "Who would be crazy enough to try his luck with him?"
"And for no sort of prize either..." a young woman commented.
"Well, it does look like a fun pastime and a way to test oneself." the auburn-haired young man commented jauntily as he turned his gaze to the hardwood stand on which the half-orc was waiting for his challengers, a younger black-haired girl trailing behind him. "Reji, can you wait here for a moment? I'd like to see how well I can do!"
"Make him eat dust, Yan!" the Tian girl cheered, giving a thumbs-up to her traveling companion. Yan nodded confidently and stepped forward, raising a hand to the half-orc, who was cracking his knuckles already.
"So far, so good! We have a competitor here, ladies and gentlemen!" the man exclaimed, throwing a rope to his champion. With a grin, the half-orc passed one end of the rope to Yan as soon as the latter was on the stage, and the young man caught it wand stood on the opposite side of the square. "Both are ready! Both are warmed up, determined and willing to do their best! Therefore, let us begin our competition! Ready ... set ... GO!"
"Go, Yan! Go!" Reji exclaimed, standing on her tiptoes to cheer for her companion.
Both contenders immediately began pulling, staring at each other in defiance. Yan immediately found himself having to plant his feet on the ground in order to keep himself from being pulled, and he gritted his teeth as he tried to resist the half-orc's amazing strength. His opponent's pull was remarkable... if he wanted to emerge victorious from this confrontation, he would have to put all of his skill to good use and counter his opponent's raw power with a mixture of skill and strength.
Yan gave a brief yank, putting all his strength into it and keeping the opponent from pulling him in. Surprised, the half-orc seemed to let go of his grip for just a brief moment, but he quickly grabbed it back and tried to drag Yan to his side once again. This time, the young man was prepared and managed to keep his grip on the rope when his opponent pulled once more towards him... then, with a series of short but intense tugs, he tried to tire out the half-orc.
"Amazing, ladies and gents!" the stand owner exclaimed as the people began cheering louder and louder. "This is the first time ever since we got to Sandpoint that my champion is actually struggling! But he isn't going to be beaten that easily! Will he find a way to get out of this pinch?"
After a brief moment of amazement, the burly half-orc grinned confidently and resumed pulling with all of his might, trying to cause Yan to lose his balance. The young man grit his teeth and tried once again to anchor himself to the floor, then pulled inwards and managed to slow down his pull. Sensing the half-orc starting to tire, Yan increased his efforts and was able to catch up.
"You can do it, Yan!" Reji exclaimed.
Both contenders were now completely immersed in their struggle. The only thing on their mind about was the stalemate they were both in, and after a few moments in which things could have gone eitherway, Yan managed to drag his opponent a few inches towards him! The half-orc widened his eyes in surprise and tried to regain the advantage, but the prolonged confrontation had tired him, and after resisting for several seconds, he was finally dragged to Yan's side, spelling victory for the young man.
"Superb! Truly, an hard-fought and exciting match!" the stand owner exclaimed. "And I honestly don't remember the last time my champion was cornered like this! A big round of applause to our challenger! What's your name, young man?"
Yan blinked in amazement as the colourful man suddenly approached him, but he answered his question without hesitation. "Huh... my name is Yan. Yan Gudril. I was... born here in Sandpoint, but I've been away for a few years now..."
"Well then, a round of applause to Sandpoint's newfound son! Hahahaaa!" the half-orc exclaimed, giving a friendly pat on Yan's back - which was still strong enough to almost topple the young man! Luckily, the massive green-skinned half-orc was a graceful loser. "By the way, you're a tough guy! My name is Kodon! Nice to meet you!"
"My... my pleasure!" Yan stated with a hint of embarrassment. Reji chuckled to herself, before turning her attention to a food stand displaying some of Sandpoint's specialities.
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Misia pulled back her hair, intently listening as Sandpoint's spiritual leader Father Zantus told one of his favorite parables: the one according to which Desna, the goddess of dreams, she had one day fallen to earth in the guise of a mortal woman, and had been helped by a seemingly ordinary human child...
"You should know, that child, had the misfortune of never being blessed with sight, which many of us rightly consider to be the most useful of our senses. Yet... that seemingly insignificant blind foundling was the first to realize Our Lady In Dreams' true nature, even as she stood before him as an ordinary woman. It is therefore true that sometimes sight, the most useful of our senses, is no longer a useful tool, but an obstacle to knowledge." Father Zantus was explaining. Sandpoint's spiritual leader was a man in his fifties, or at least his late forties, with a peaceful expression and a thick greying moustache and beard, and itseemed that his gentle manners and down-to-earth personality had already endeared him to many.
Misia nodded quickly, while Eli sighed and shrugged beside her. The half-elf wasn't exactly religious, apart from a few invocations to Nethys, the god of magic, from time to time. And to be honest, the wizard girl found religious matters to be boring. However, she was still more than willing to indulge her friend and companion.
"And then... what happened, Father Zantus?" a child eagerly asked.
The priest chuckled gently. "Be patient, little lambs. I will tell you everything. You see, this child helped our protector as she regained her strength, without expecting anything in return. When, some days later, our lady Desna resumed her divine form, she rewarded this little hero by transforming him into her herald - a wonderful butterfly gleaming in all the hues of the rainbow, forever watching over us mortals along with her, so that the cruel hordes of the Abyss and the merciless legions of Nine Hells wouldn't make slaves of us."
"That's such a great story, father!" a little girl exclaimed in admiration. As for Misia, she had lost count of all the times she had heard that story... but as she was a devotee of Desna herself, she never got sick of it. She especially enjoyed hearing how different devotees reinterpreted thestory or added details, embellishments or episodes. It was something that fascinated her...
"Glad you agree, dear. It perfectly reflects our lady Desna's mercy and compassion." Zantus answered with a warm smile, while some altar boys dressed in white silk robes carried a cart covered in an elegant cloth, embroidered as to resemble a starry night sky. "And now, my little friends... to celebrate our protector! Young ones, go ahead and take the cloth off!"
"Of course, father!" one of the altar boys answered, and then pulled the cloth off with a quick and jaunty gesture. A sound not unlike the fluttering of wings was heard... and the cargo turned out to be a wooden cage filled with colorful dovetail butterflies, some of them as large as a human hand, which took flight in a kaleidoscope of bright colors! The children cried out in delight and began to applaud, with their parents and Misia following suit. Even the rather unenthusiastic Eli found herself standing up and cheering!
"Hey, mate! What happened to your straightlaced act?" Misia turned to her in a friendly ribbing.
Eli closed her eyes and turned her head in embarassment. "Well... I can't help but appreciate it when something is done right!" she replied. "And I heard that there will be a fireworks show tonight... fireworks brought directly from Tian Xia, to boot!"
"Yep! Tian Xia's traditions are felt deeply around here!" the diminutive blonde gnome answered. "So try and stay awake tonight! You don't want to miss the show!"
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"Hmmm! Wonderful! I did hear good things about Sandpoint's curry salmon, but to actually taste it is a whole other matter!" Reji spoke with her mouth still partially full as she and Yan enjoyed Sandpoint's food at the stand belonging to the Rusty Dragon, the most popular inn in the small coastal town The black-haired girl tossed a couple gold pieces to the stand owner, who caught them and smiled in gratitude.
"Thank you! And I must say, I'm glad to see a fellow Tian around here!" the young woman at the stand answered cheerfully. Ameiko Kaijitsu, the famed owner of the Rusty Dragon - as well as the daughter of the infamous Lonjiku Kaijitsu - has similar lineaments to Reji, but her dual-colored hair made her stand out all the more: they were mostly dark brown, but a pair of white bangs fell on her forehead. "As rumors about Sandpoint's new sanctuary began spreading throughout Varisia, visitors have greatly increased in number, which also means more business for my inn! But to be honest, I have never seen that many Tian people around here."
"To think that Varisia is rumored tobe such a melting pot of cultures..." Yan stated, his attention drifting away for the lobster-flavored crackers placed on the stand before him. "Anyway, the important thing is, that the festival is going well,and above all, that the new sanctuary doesn't end up like the previous one."
The young man looked at the newly-built sanctuary once again and sighed, his melancholy never quite going away. He still remembered those afternoons he spent playing far from the old church, chatting and joking with that sad-looking white-haired little girl. It was amazing to think that so much time had gone by... at times, he felt like he could still hear Father Ezakien's harsh voice calling out to them...
"Enough, you two! Get away from her, vagrant child! And you, Nualia! You have your duties to attend to! Stop wasting your time! Desna disapproves of you straying from the path of virtue!"
Yan sighed again. For being a cleric devoted to Desna, Father Ezakien was so unbearably strict and harsh at times...
The young swordsman willed himself back to reality and turned his attention to Reji, still busy enjoying the Rusty Dragon's specialities. "Hmmmm! This is amazing! All of this!" the brunette girl gushed. "You're such a great cook, Miss Kaijitsu!"
Ameiko chuckled in amusement "Now, now, just Ameiko is fine!" she answered cheerfully. "To be honest, while I'm not really too fond of it... I'm still the daughter of one of Sandpoint's most prominent men. For what it may be worth..." Her joking tone hardened towards the end. Evidently, relationships between Ameiko and her father were quite frosty. "But let's not think about it now. There's a celebration going on, and it's the best time for everyone to be happy and have fun! And I will do my part to make sure it's an unforgettable day for everyone!"
"Great! Thanks, Ameiko! If that's the case, then I'll be helping myself!" Yan stated, and then headed straight for a piece of curry salmon he had spotted earlier...
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Among celebrations, performances, parades, and all kinds of entertainment and curiosities, that afternoon went by in a flash for the people of Sandpoint. Now that the evening was descending on the sleepy seaside town, many had gathered in the main square, not far from the recently-rebuilt sanctuary. Although many were tired from the celebrations that had been going on the whole day, one could read joy and hope all over their faces. It was clear that almost all of them regarded the Swallowtail Festival as a new start for everyone.
Jolan sighed, feeling exhausted but satisfied. Between all the attractions he had attended, and all those tourists he'd offered a guided tour of Sandpoint to (for the modest sum of three silver pieces per person - hey, a halfling needs to eat, after all!), he could safely say he was quite satisfied with his job. And now, as he lay quietly on a pile of straw in a corner of the main square, the easygoing halfling relaxed, confidently awaiting the moment in which Father Zantus would take his place on the stage and would start the ritual prayer - The Prayer of the First Dream.
"Well, one thing's for sure. Father Zantus sounds like he will be much more popular than Father Ezakien, Desna have mercy on his soul." Jolan thought to himself. He looked around, imagining that many of the people of Sandpoint would agree with him. Father Ezakien, the priest who died during the Late Unpleasantness, was not exactly popular, due to his rigid, self-righteous and inflexible personality. Jolan had known him personally, back when the aging priest was alive... truth be told, he was a bigot who cared more about the letter of Desna's teachings than their intent. Always criticizing someone for drinking a pint of beer, indulging in a little more food than he should, or sleeping with someone. If one were to listen to Ezakien, one would think that the goddess of dreams would smite anyone who wanted to enjoy life a little.
The halfling grew somber as he thought back about that dusky-skinned, white-haired little girl Father Ezakien had adopted. All traces of her had been lost after the fire that had destroyed the previous sanctuary. It was likely that she had perished along with her "father" in the fire, even though her body had never been found.
Truly a sad story. That white-haired girl... Nualia, if her memory served... had always been so lonely and sad. The idea that her adopted daughter could decide for herself what to do with her life must have been abhorrent to Father Ezakien, who wanted her to be a priestess of Desna, not caring about what she truly wanted...
"Ugh, what am I thinking..." the nimble halfling thought to himself. "Man, Father Ezakien sure wasn't the virtuous man he thought he was. Well, let's hope his successor does a better job of it. He already seemed nicer, at least."
Jolan put his hands behind his head and absent-mindedly stared at a stray dog that was greedily devouring some pieces of meat left on the ground next to a hay cart. Finally, as Father Zantus finished up the First Dream ritual, he cleared his voice and drew attention to himself, holding a small glistening pebble in one hand.
"I thank all those present at this important event, and once again, I offer prayers to Desna that she will allow our city to overcome all the adversities that it undoubtedly still has to face." the kindly priest stated. "Now, people of Sandpoint... I officially declare the new sanctuary to be open for public use!"
With a firm movement of his arm, Father Zantus threw the thunderstone onto the wooden platform, upon which it crumbled and emitted a violent, rumbling sound, like distant thunder. Officially, that was the signal that the celebrations could resume...
The scream that tore through the air a moment later, however, had nothing festive about it.
It all happened in a split second.
There was a scream of terror from a woman close to Jolan, and the halfling jumped to his feet with a choked-off gasp, completely blindsided by what was happening! A second later, another frightened scream was heard... then another, and another... as the crowd dispersed in panic, and numerous green figures just over three feet tall popped out of the most unexpected places and proceeded to attack amidst mad shrieking and insane laughter! From under the benches, from under the straw mounds on the roadsides, from the gutter, from sacks... like a raging river, those beings launched an onslaught on the town, plunging everything into chaos!
Horrified, Jolan widened his eyes, finally focusing on the creatures: small, ungainly green-skinned humanoids, with exaggeratedly large heads, clad in rags and armed with rusty knives and strange improvised glaive-like pole weapons, throwing themselves into the crowd, on the stalls, on the people and on everything that happened to be within range! Their screams of evil glee were deafening, and as they lashed out, many of them sang catches but creepy chants!
Jolan saw the stray dog near him collapse to the ground in a pool of blood, his throat slashed open from ear to ear... and from behind him, one of those creatures emerged, holding a curved and rusty knife, still dripping with warm blood! The creature screeched and burst into insane laughter as two others approached Jolan, still laughing madly and wielding their rudimentary but lethal weapons!
"Oh, shit..." the halfling whispered. With hesitant movements, he reached for a small scabbard hanging at his side and drew a dagger. Then, he slid into a fighting pose, pointing his weapon at his unimpressed opponents who kept approaching and giggling in cruel delight "Goblins..."
Within seconds, all joy and levity was gone as the people of Sandpoint found themselves having to fight for their lives against a horde of murderous goblins!
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TO BE CONTINUED...
