Chapter 1: Festival & Fire

Eyeing the sludge, Grim wonders what he's gotten himself into, but quickly puts that out of his mind, steeling himself.

Grabbing the handle, he looks at Wess and in Dwarven says "Bottoms up." then begins drinking the unholy concoction.

The horrific smell greets his nostrils first, with the viscous liquid oozing its way slowly down his throat coming second. It almost chokes him, but the inklings of rising anger at losing get him through that first swallow. He continues to finish the rest and slams the tankard on the countertop once finished.

Pausing a second to make sure nothing decides to make its way out, he looks at Wess, smiles, and again in Dwarven, "Your turn."

Wess slaps a silver down and takes the mug, trying to pretend it's just a bad cup of ale, but the smell won't allow it. It's smells worse that any drink he's ever had, and there have been some bad ones. Suprised by the Halflings swiftness, Wess raises his own glass. He drinks from the cup confidently and steadily. At least that what he hopes it looks like to everyone else, because inside he is barely keeping it down.

He puts down the mug, and is about to let out a witty retort, but that is not what comes out . . .

Saldrina suppresses a chuckle. "Hey Wess, don't feel too bad, You drank it, that's more than I'd be willing to do! Besides, with the breath that that stuff gives him, he's not likely to score with the ladies... or men."

"Thanks lass, that helps ease my pride a bit. Now to see if something can be done about that aftertaste . . " he says as the bartender hands over a purse of silver to the Halfling.
"Hows about being a gracious winner and getting us a little something to wash that down eh? OH NO! Wait, I'm a honarable Dwarf, ya won fair and square, this rounds on me. Barkeep, we'll all have what my friend here is having." he says gesturing to the all too happy dart player.

The dwarf's initial confidence when he starts to drink the grog worries Grim, but it's quickly replaced by mirth as he fails to hold it down.

Looking over at Quinn, he nods at the hanging coin purse, "My prize money please."

Once in hand, he looks into the purse and nods approvingly.

Back at the dwarf, "Wess, is it? My name's Grimwulf. I respect a man that's willing to gamble, even if it means losing sometimes. After you're done paying, let me buy you and the lady here" giving the halfling a wink "something to drink."

Khel's quest for knowledge and the old history of Sandpoint had to be put on hold as the people he was looking for were not present in their house. He applauded the priests' release of the butterflies and the amazing variety of them that were flying all around. At sundown, he came back to the cathedral to watch the consecration. He had given word to Father Zantus and he was going to keep it.

Saldrina spends the day enjoying the festival and marveling at the hundreds of butterflies. At the consecration of the new cathedral, she is near the front, mostly out of curiosity, more than devotion.

Chigaru spends the day just walking around town, enjoying the sun's warmth on his green skin and the noise of crowds. With the release of the swallowtails, Chakra went into a joyous frenzy trying to catch any but without success. Her antics drew laughs from many observers.

During the consecration, Chigaru stays on the friges of the massive crowd. He feels uncomfortable with the press of bodies and he always feels slightly guilty of taking up so much space with his large body. Besides he doesn't want Chakra to get stepped on. Thinking of that, he hoists her up on his meaty shoulder where she perches, licking his face in thanks.

Grim makes good on his promise of buying the two a drink. That drink turns into two, then three. He can feel the purse lightening and decides to end the conversation early, wanting to play a few games of chance before the place empties for tonight's event.

Breaking even, he decided to head out and get some fresh air. He stops to watch the Desna reveal, remarking to a stranger next to him, "That seems like a crap reward, why not just cure his blindness?" as the butterflies are released.

He eventually makes his way to the consecration, staying along the outside edge of the crowd, when he spots the massive half-orc from earlier. Sidling up next to him, "Cute dog. It matches the necklace."

Wess leaves the bar, not sure if the ale of the slime was affecting him more. Either way, he thought the fresh air would do him good.
He's glad he made it to the release of the butterflies. It really was a beautiful sight. One of the butterflies landed on his beard for a while, and a few strangers swore to him that was a sign of good luck to come.

"Yes... good sir, your mind is as swift I can see. I come from very distant lands of Minkai. My name is Li Xingchi, roy... I mean just an investigator by education. Pleasure to meet you." - Li introduced himself as asked, now was waiting to receive the proper introduction from person on the other side of their conversation.

"A researcher... ! A Scholar... Always a well respected position in my home lands!" - Li claimed not showing in the slightest that he also noticed that the cloths of traveller are not the newest and a little worn out... maybe from distant travels...

"Good to meet a fellow spirit" - Li referenced to countless hours he has spent in the royal library, back in the day - "even though coming from completely different source. So how is your research advancing? Have you found a proper sources?" - in reality Li was semi-interested in traveller's research, but would be certainly much more interested if he wouldn't have proper lead right now, so the question was more meant to check if maybe the mysterious traveller had already meet some important people in the city. The more contacts, the better.

---

After few tries in the Rusty Dragon, Li finally understood that he will not manage to do any significant steps to his investigation during the festival. Everyone was too busy, having a lot of other things on their heads.

So he decided to wait. It was much harder then usually. But he knew that investigations are usually about waiting. For right person. Right information. The right moment...

He didn't care about seeing the butterflies. He was quite sure, that those one can meet in Minkai lands are much prettier. He hadn't time for poetry of nature right now. So he took this time to have a quick, regeneration nap in the inn. But he certainly was going for cathedral consecration - there could be some important people that he wanted at least to observe and form an opinion about.

Seeing a big Half-Orc he positioned himself that way he could be noticed by him, but not so close to be obligated to have some talk already. He was also looking for mysterious traveller from distant land, he have met in the cathedra itself, earlier.

Saldrina curses under her breath. "Goblins!" she hisses. She casts a spell of protection over herself with a gesture and an arcane word.

Khel's eyebrows twitched in disgust at the horrific cacophony as he turned to look at the source. Finding out that the goblins were running and attacking people, his face twisted in disgust. He spoke loudly, "This is a sacred ceremony! How dare you desecrate it?"

Pointing his finger at one of the goblin at the far end, he started to murmur and incant. The ring on the finger glowed, and smoke started to come out of his fingertip. A bolt of fire shot out of his fingertip and raced towards the goblin.

OOC: Firing bolt at the goblin (blue). Using -1 to conserve powerpoints.

Seeing ugly creature approaching Li had a fast thought:
"Although I decided not to delve into the poetry of nature right now, those... things... disturbs its beauty too much, even by my standards..."

Before he moved with small, precise steps towards the nearest goblin drawing his katana on the way. With a clear intention of beheading the little abomination...

Wess just sighs deeply. He was having a lovely day. After making sure the crowd was safe, he hefted his axe and headed to the nearest goblin. He didn't want to give them a chance to go on the offensive.

Grimwulf snarls and spits on the ground, "Goblins, filthy bastards.". He readies his maul but sees them quickly get taken down. In fact, that stranger dressed in black with a katana looks strangely familiar...

His thoughts are broken by sounds of more goblins to the south. Turning that way, he remarks to Chigaru "Time to get all punchy." Pausing for a second as he sees the animal companion, "Word of warning, goblins despise dogs. Better keep an eye on that thing."

He rushes south to meet the incoming attack.