Episode 1: Festival and Fire

You are in the quiet coastal town of Sandpoint just in time for the annual Swallowtail Festival, celebrating the arrival of fall.

The turnout for the opening speeches is quite respectable, and the four keynote speakers each deliver short but well-received welcomes to the festival. Mayor Deverin’s friendly attitude and excitement prove contagious as she welcomes visitors to town and jokes about how even Larz Rovanky, the local tanner (and notorious workaholic) managed to tear himself away from the tannery to attend, much to everyone’s amusement (except Larz’s).

Sheriff Belor Hemlock brings the crowd down a bit with his dour mood, his reminder to be safe around the evening’s bonfire, and his request for a moment of silence to remember those who lost their lives in the fire that claimed the town’s previous church several years ago.

The next speaker is scheduled to be local nobleman Lonjiku Kaijitsu, but a sudden illness has prevented him from attending the ceremony. Sandpoint’s own showman Cyrdak Drokkus is more than up to the challenge of bringing the crowd’s mood back up with his rousing anecdotes. He delivers a not-completely-irreverent recap of the long process the town went through to finance and construct the new cathedral. He throws in a bit of selfpromotion at the end, as is his wont, inviting everyone to stop by the Sandpoint Theater the following evening to check out his new production of "The Harpy’s Curse," revealing that the lead role of Avisera the harpy queen will be played by none other than the famous Magnimarian diva Allishanda! Finally, Father Zantus steps up to give a short speech thanking everyone for coming before declaring the Swallowtail Festival underway.

Zahn:
Zahn, as you walk the outskirts you encounter a group of people gathered around a heavy rope. You can hear them discussing among themselves.

"It ain't fair. We are one short," one of them says angrily. He seems to be the leader of one group.

The one who looks to lead the other group one snorts. "Just afraid of losing again."

At this moment one of the other guys notice you, and calls you over. "Hey, you! Wanna help us win. Looks like you'd be good at tug-of-war."Butler:
Butler, you quickly find the Rustry Dragon, the biggest and most reputable inn and tavern in Sandpoint. Inside you can see several employees running back and forth delivering orders. Already this early in the afternoon it's hard to find an empty table. From the kitchen comes the unmistakable smell of good cooking that would water the most picky stomach. One man stumbles into you from the lack of space. "Sorry," he says weakly as the moves out the door. Drake:
Drake, you have found a table with great view at a shady little tavern known as the Hagfish. The beer is cheap, but it seems to be favored by the sailors of both the sea and sky sort. Your conversation is interrupted as a man comes running outside and starts throwing up big chunks. From inside you can hear great laughter. "Another one who's not as tough as he thinks," the voice of the barkeeper calls out. "Any other takers?"

One of the crewmen turns around with a quizzical look, when one of the locals pipes up. "Wouldn't do it if I was you. The challenge is to chug a pint of hagfish slime. Costs a coin and if you win you get all the coins that's been collected over the years. Only one have ever made it."Filgird:
Filgird, you are at White Deer dancing when you hear an commotion nearby. Two men are shouting at each other. "You stay away from her," you hear a middle aged man saying as he pushes a man young enough to be his son to the ground. Both seems quite inebriated. As the older man turns his back, you notice the younger man drawing something from within his jacket. You can't make out what it is, but it seems to reflect light. Could it be steel?

Butler:

You notice the drunk guys fingers entering your pouch. A low life pickpocket. He notices, that you notice him. There’s a whole lot of noticing going on. Turning around to get a better look at the crook, you bump into another bar patron and feels his elbow in your side. Before you have time to grab him he takes off running. You realize he couldn’t have gotten away with much, but you still could try to catch up to him.Zahn

You, and the rest of your team, pull all you can, and the other team is pulled forward with great might. You can hear muffled laughter as they all end up in the middle of a pile.

"Great work," the one who called out to you cheers. "Name’s Banny Harker. I work up at the mill. I get it you’re not from around here."

While he chats to you, the other team gets up. Most looks happy at the celebration, but the loud one that seemed to be in charge gives you an angry glare.

Drake

The crewman gives Drake a look that could cut glass. "Remind me never to play with you again," he scoffs. As you head inside you can barely make out his mutter: "Probably cheating anyway."

Reluctantly he pays up a coin and the barkeeper walks over to a large fish tank filled with hagfish. He scoops up a mug of slimy water to cheers from the crowd.

The young crewmember grabs the mug, takes a deep breath and starts chugging away. Gulp after gulp it actually goes down and while all color disappears from his face, he is somehow able to finish.

The barkeeper looks on in surprise before he starts clapping and laughing. "Hell. Never thought I’d see that again," he tosses a pouch at the crewman. "Here ya go. Well deserved."

The crewman looks over at Drake. "Hah!" is all he is able to mutter. He burps, looks like he’s about to chuck it all back up. Everyone goes silent waiting, and as he raises his hand to show he is ok, the room erupts into cheers again.Filgird

The young man rejects Filgird’s hand. "Tell this oaf I’ve done nothin’ wrong!" he exclaims as he gets back up.

"Hah!" the older man replies. "I saw you eying her."

He moves forward, pushing Filgird’s aside and punches the young man. He falls back into the barkeeper that’s been making his way over to see what the commotion is. This again, causes the barkeeper to tumble into another festival goer, who spills his beer all over a middle aged woman. "Hey. Look where you’re going fool!" the woman’s husband or boyfriend pipes in, he looks ready to let his fist do the talking for him as well.

The pickpocket is faster than you, and is able to widen the gap between you. It also looks like he did the usual mistake of starting to fast and tiring himself out, you know that slow and steady win the race. Especially when you realize that people actually move aside for you. Helps being big and brawny.

Butler, you are able to keep pace with the pickpocket. As you yell out, several festival goers grab at the thief, but he is able to dodge and weave, rounding the corner, away from the festival proper. He is breathing heavily, the "exercise" seems to take a strain on him.

Drake, as you make your way towards the theater, you can see Butler running after the pickpocket.

The tug of war'ers seems to dispersing. "Quite the festival right. Seems like our luck has finally turned," he smiles. He's about to say something when he's interrupted by someone yelling "STOP! THIEF!" not far away.