Chapter 1: Festival & Fire

Khel had been travelling for a long time. His studies and research had shown him the myriad of arcane styles existing all throughout the Golarion. But history speaks of a nation called Thassilon that had mastered powerful magic, which brought its downfall. Presently, it is close to the nation of Varisia and even if the old nation doesn't exist anymore, there should be records of knowledge in old libraries or even universities that might teach and help him know more about their magic. Maybe there are fallen tombs or temples present where he can try to do some archaeological study and potentially make a great discovery. However, he didn't expect it to be so far and expensive for him to reach Varisia. The long and arduous journey had drained all his resources and made him close to a beggar. Confronted with such a predicament, Khel had thought of taking a break from his travel and do some reputable work to earn enough in order to pursue his goals again.

His final journey left him to Sandpoint, a prominent coastal town in Varisia which he had found to be very pleasant and friendly. Maybe, he should stop here and plan his next move. Today being the momentous occasion for the beginning of Swallowtail festival, his spirits were lifted and his worry dulled by the celebrations that took place in the town. He could not help but indulge in the delicacies while loitering through the town and engaging in small talks with the people there. He even pondered talking to the clerics of the goddess Desna and joining in an intellectual discourse to learn more about the myths regarding her. But, with the cherry mood of the town, he became distracted from that as well. It was after a longtime, he felt somewhat relaxed.

Saldrina smiles and enjoys the feel of the sunlight on her face. She moves without real purpose, wandering slowly among the various booths, stopping to chat here or there with a merchant. She is in no hurry, seeking only to enjoy the morning and the festival atmosphere. She stops outside a fortune teller's tent, wondering if it might be worth the cost of a few silvers.

A head taller and a leg wider than most people in Sandpoint, Chigaru stands out like a goblin in a kindergarten. Luckily he has resided in Sandpoint for several years training as a monk in the House of Blue Stones under Jabyl Sorn. Finally he has finished his training just in time for the Swallowtail Festival and can experience the fun, not as an initiate with tasks and duties, but as a free monk. He smiles in the warm sunshine, his tusks made more prominent and making a few of the outsiders nearby look at him warily as they hurry past. He chuckles to himself. What a sight he must be, two meters tall and as solid as a thileu tree, tusks as large as his thumbs, and the green of his half-orc blood the color of moss. He shrugs. He can't help people's first impressions, so best not to dwell on those and do his best to convince them that looks are indeed on everything and he was a gentle soul towards the common folk.

"Some of these outsiders seem a little intimidated. What do you think, Chakra?" Chigaru asks in a deep baritone. A small black dog the the size of a loaf of bread yips in response. "Yes, I think so too."

Where to first? A gift to himself for graduation, he decides. He doesn't have much money (monks don't prize material possessions or coin) but today is a special day. Maybe one of those luck necklaces that were popular in this area. Chigaru doesn't believe they will actually work (although with magic, who knows?), but a pretty necklace would give him a little...character to balance the austerity of his simple monk's outfit. He heads towards some of the market stalls, nodding to familiar faces he's come to know in his few years in Sandpoint. His little dog trots after him, tail wagging, tongue lolling.

CLANG!

The bell exploded from the top as the puck rocketed into it, effectively breaking the strongman game. Angry retorts from festival-goers were cut short by the burly halfling's stony stare. Looking back at the attendant, "You should get that fixed.".

Grimwulf headed off to the food vendors to pick up some meats and pastries for his boss. He didn't think Bilivar would care if he was late, with the way he'd been acting lately, so decided to try some games first and take in the festival. He never got to experience anything like this growing up in Molthune, or his travels, and though he wouldn't admit it, it was nice just to see everyone enjoying themselves. He'd only been here a few months but the people in Sandpoint were a decent lot and he certainly didn't mind the local bars and gambling halls. In fact, maybe he even had some time to pop into Hagfish and try his hand at that new Dwarven rocks game that was getting popular.

Wess wandered into town wearing his full armor (it had an avian theme with ornate feather paterns all over) best to be prepared. He also has his trusty axe, Dawn's Light out. The axe had a bright sun on the center of the blade that didn't match his armors motif at all, but it's fine he had his reasons for carying the mismatched weapon around.
He was seeking great and glorious battles, not looking to start a fight mind you, and a fortune teller a few towns over told him this was the place to find what he was looking for. Seeing all the swallowtail decorations around town, he realized that fortune teller may have been lying. Or perhaps speaking metaphorically, which was worse in his mind. Blasted soothsayer and oracles with their rhymes and riddles.

'Ah well, I am already here. May as well take a break from fighting and see what this town has to offer. he thought to himself.

Amidst the gathered crowd, a swiftly moving figure of a middle-aged man could be seen. He was dressed in black robes and wore a round hat pulled low over his forehead. One didn't need to be a detective, or even particularly intelligent, to notice that he was not from the immediate vicinity. Indeed, one might bet a fair sum of silver that he hailed from very far away. It wasn't just his unusual attire that set him apart from the locals. His long tunic was entirely black, and a piece of white shirt peeking from beneath the collar only accentuated it. And this was the height of summer, during the Swallowtail Festival. The man certainly would have drawn more attention if everyone weren't so engrossed in what the local stalls had to offer.

Li Xingchi was clearly in a hurry. Despite his considerable height and rather lean, slender frame, his movements were incredibly agile, revealing excellent coordination. At the moment, it served him well as he navigated through the dense crowd.

"Bart... this is the last time I trust you. Why in the hell did you choose such a place and time for our meeting..." Li thought about his informant, whom he was supposed to meet today—at noon—in one of the town's side alleys. Over the past few months, he had begun to lose hope of ever finding any trace of his Daimyō's daughter, whom he had been searching for over three years. He had traveled half the nearby realm. He inquired, threatened, even killed when he had no choice. Once, he nearly begged for information from a local lord.

Nearly. The likelihood that this particular ruler had any information was too low to sacrifice the last shreds of his honor.

Li was about to turn into the nearest alley when his attention was caught by a girl juggling oranges while walking on stilts on a nearby stage. She certainly had Asian features and bore a striking resemblance to Princess Misaki.

"Idiot! She’s already 19! This girl is far too young!" he scolded himself in his thoughts.

Nevertheless, he continued his hurried pace, not taking his eyes off her. She really did look very similar.

He was stopped only by a green wall... of muscle? Which suddenly appeared before him just as he made a sharp turn into the nearest alley. As he began to rise—blushing with embarrassment—he realized that it wasn’t a wall but a tall, massive half-orc.

"My sincerest apologies, good sir..." Li stammered, quickly getting to his feet.

Chakra let out a series of adorable high pitched yaps in surprise and rebuke at the man who bumped into her master.

"Shush, Chakra, it was an accident." The dog ceased barking and did a short little hopping dance on her two hind legs as an apology.

Chigaru offers a hand to help the man up. "Quite alright. Even monkeys sometimes fall from trees. You are not injured, are you?"

Khel had already eaten several meat pies from the stalls when the gathering started to happen. He washed his hands and followed the crowd trail to see where everyone was going. It seemed that the dignitaries of the town had something to say and it would be a nice opportunity to learn more about the town council or rulers of Sandpoint. He noticed the Mayor Kendra Deverin and was surprised to see her jovial attitude. He wondered whether it was her fake personality or whether Sandpoint was truly such a cheerful town. When the people joined in on her joke, it definitely felt like later. Had he arrived in such a peaceful town, then? Perhaps, he could approach the Mayor and tell her about his goals and journey. Maybe he could request her to give him an opportunity to serve the town of Sandpoint, earn some coins in the process, and pursue his goals again. The sheriff looked quite professional and capable. Khel observed and kept the silence to pay respect to the departed. His interest piqued at the mention of the new cathedral, and when Father Avstalar Zantus came to give his speech, he finally made up his mind to visit the cathedral and discuss religion with someone.

Wess, not knowing what to do next, notices the hammer that broke a game earlier and tries to start a conversation with its owner.
"Hey now, aren't you the brute that smashed the game earlier? We'll done and we'll met sir! So, now that the pomp and ceremony is done, what's there to do at this festival? Assuming we dont want to get into any trouble eh" he ends with a heart laugh.

Saldrina listens intently to the speakers, making a mental note that she might like to see the theater production. She turns back to the crowd and the square and once more begins to weave among the tents and stalls. She once again gravitates towards the fortune teller and checks her purse. Taking out a gold piece, she enters the tent.

Grimwulf stops to listen to the various speeches. He's indifferent to the mayor, but respects Hemlock. The man put him in the clink for several disorderly conducts and they managed to strike up a conversation each time. Drokkus is a pretentious prick and he's never met Zantus. Grim gets a sour taste in his mouth as the new cathedral is mentioned, memories of his past threatening to intrude upon an otherwise serene day.

He continues on to the Hagfish as the priest speaks, only to be stopped shortly after by a strangely dressed dwarf. Giving him a once over, "Aye. I'd say you're a part of Drokkus's crew, but that axe says otherwise. There's drinking and gambling. If you're looking for either, I'm on my way to the Hagfish, but first have to drop off these goods."

Wess replies "I didnt take you for a delivery boy, ha! No shame, 'tis honest work. Ill take a look into the Hagfish, thanks."

Grimwulf bristles at the delivery boy jibe. His ice blue eyes lock on the dwarf. "Excellent, I look forward to taking your money."

He turns around and heads toward Wheen's Wagons.

"Not at all, kind Sir. It takes a little more to hurt me." - Li replied quickly, but in a pleasant, friendly tone. Although he did ignore the outstretched hand, answering to it with slight bow. Now he had a moment to take a closer look at the half-orc he encountered.

"I see that you are a man of faith or... at least of deep discipline. Am I right?" - though Li continued, without waiting for an answer - "That's very good, because discipline is one of those things that I value very much. My name is Li Xinchi. A traveler from distant lands, constantly on a mission... of fulfilling my duties. Which usually... evolve over time. And who do I have the pleasure to meet?"

While waiting for an answer, Li out of the corner of his eye, a little further behind the half-orc, noticed Bart, who seemed to be about to take a few steps back to hide around the corner of the alley he came from again.

Pretending not to notice him, he suggested:
"I'm sorry, but would you mind if we continued our conversation while walking? On the one hand, I'm in a hurry, but on the other hand, I don't want to get away without finding out who Fortune has put in my path. And as I always say: there is no such thing as a coincidence in life. Have you seen the interior of the cathedral after the construction was completed? Because that's exactly a direciton where I'm heading."

The lucky thing about this, was that was also a direction in which one could walk past Bart and see if he actually intended to run away. Of course: by complete coincidence...

'I might have some fun in this town after all' Wess thinks to himself with a grin as the Halfling walks off. He'll meaner in the festival for a bit before finding out what the Hagfish had to offer.

"I am Chigaru Goretusk. You have a sharp eye, Mr. Xinchi. However," he looks between Li and the skittish man who seems to be waiting for him, "I think you might have some business here that I should absent myself from. I was on my way to buy a necklace from the marketplace and then head to the cathedral. If Fortune indeed has a hand, maybe our paths will cross again there." Chigaru gives a bow with just his head and leaves the alley to inspect some vendor wares.

Khel stood in front of the cathedral, observing it's architecture and trying to understand the style it followed. It was an interesting mix and varied from the spires and temples dedicated to Dawnflower back in Qadira. He has studied that in the lands of north, she is known as Sarenrae. With a smile on his face, he entered the cathedral, ready to experience what it had to offer.

OOC: @Pedrop No problem; I will be waiting inside the cathedral then.