Unknown to each other, the four heroes of our tale are headed to Sandpoint the day before the Swallowtail festival and the investment of the new Cathedral of Desna. The old Shrine of Desna was burnt down in a horrible fire that took the lives of the priest and his foster daughter. Father Zantus has spent years to rebuild, not just a shrine but the magnificent structure to be consecrated. Ironically, none of the group of would be adventurers even realizes this is happening. Each is headed to Sandpoint for his or her own reasons.

Traveling on foot is the half-elf druid, Elinae Faelyn, accompanied by her faithful tiger, Selene. They are headed her because of dreams the young druid had. After talking with the city guard at the South Bridge, El (as she likes to be called) heads to the Rusty Dragon Tavern.

The other three are coming as part of a trade caravan. Azalea Castelle is working security on her way to Sandpoint to find giants to fight. The half-elf fighter is a tall and well built woman with an open smile and attitude. At the moment she is on break, riding along in a carriage with a halfing another half-elf and a Tengu. The halfing is making small talk with the Tengu, Alessio Prinzi, a rogue with connections to the Scarzni crime families, who is looking to lay low. It is the hafling who informs the others of the festival in town tomorrow. He is Hlodwin a devotee of Desna and wishes to see the consecration. He is wary of the male half elf in the carriage. Grymar is obviously touched by something non-human. His face has golden scales, like the most noble of dragons upon it, showing his lineage as a sorcerer. Grymar is reserved, knowing that he often is feared. Alessio and Azalea both talk enough for him and the trip passes well. Azelea heads to get a room at the White Deer, while Grymar decides to go with Alessio “Call me Al” to the Rusty Dragon. Al, however has to stop in at the Fatman’s Feedbag and meet Jubrayl Vhiski to check in. While Grymar has a drink at the bar, Al talks with Vhiski and learns the lay of the land. While the man does not have a job for him at the moment, but does tell him he will keep him in mind and what the local cut is (30%) for independent work. The two then head to the Rusty Dragon in search of lodging.

El is already there. She has met with Ameiko Kaijitsu, the owner and former adventurer. She welcomes El as a fellow adventurer and begins a nice discussion. She even brings some smoked pork to Selene who is content. It is around three hours later, as the shadows are growing long that Al and Grymar show up. Al gives the large cat a wide berth and sets at the bar, with Grymar following. Ameiko is her normal energetic self, but she is struck by the sorcerer and attempts to flirt with Grymar. The sheltered young man is not sure what to do with the flirtation and simply orders a wine. It is not clear Ameiko has given up, however. The three adventurers chat briefly before taking rooms for the night at 5sp each.

The Swallowtail Festival begins promptly, as scheduled, on the Autumnal Equinox. The square before the church quickly becomes crowded as locals and travelers arrive, and several merchant tents featuring food, clothes, local crafts, and souvenirs are there to meet them

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(andnotorious 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, (Amekio’s father) but a sudden illness has prevented him from attending the ceremony. This isn't something that surprises the locals, given Lonjiku's well-known dislike of frivolity and festivals, and the group hears many comments to this point.

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 self-promotion 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!

Numerous games and contests take place during the day, including sack races, games of hide-and-seek, weight-lifting challenges, balance beam contests, tug-of-war events, and the like. While the prize is nothing more than a circle of wood cut from a branch with a burnt brand and bragging rights for the day, this is a fine prize indeed for most of Sandpoint’s Residents. Azalea gives a try at balancing and fails, much to her own amusement and the amusement of others. She then excels at the lifting competition, beating out a somewhat surely looking man, who did not laugh along with the others. El does well in a knife throwing event, placing in the middle, but poor Grymar appears as nerdy as ever with a horrible showing. He makes up for it with an outstanding performance of prestidigitation to the delight of several of the townsfolk. The children warily approach Selene, and when given permission delight in rubbing and touching her. The tiger luxuriates in the attention she so rightfully deserves. Al shows off his skill with a bow, winning first prize.

The four get to know each other as they walk, with El seeking out the other woman, since she already knew met the two men last night.

At noon, Father Zantus and his acolytes wheel a large covered wagon into the square, and after recounting the short parable ofhow Desna first fell to earth and was nursed back to health by a blind child whom she transformed into an immortal butterfly as a reward for her aid, they pull aside the wagon's cover, releasing the thousand children of Desna-a furious storm of swallowtail butterflies that swarm into the air in a spiraling riot ofcolor to a great cheer from the crowd. Throughout the rest of the day, children futilely chase butterflies, never quite quick enough to catch them

Lunch is provided free, at the expense of Sandpoint's taverns. Each brings its best dishes-this event is as much a marketing push by the taverns to win new customers as it is to feed a hungry crowd. It soon becomes apparent that the darling ofthe lunch is, once again, Ameiko Kaijitsu, whose remarkable curry-spiced salmon and early winterdrop mead easily overshadowthe other offerings, such as the Hagfish's lobster chowder or the White Deer's peppercorn venison.

Finally, as the sun begins to set, Father Zantus takes the central podium, uses a thunderstone to attract everyone's attention, and clears his throat as he prepares to recite the Prayer of First Dreaming. As he recites the first few lines, Al’s new acquaintances notice him praying along.

A sharp retort, like the crack of distant thunder, slices through the excited crowd as the sun's setting rays paint the western sky. A stray dog that has crawled under a nearby wagon to sleep starts awake, and the buzz of two dozen conversations quickly hushes as all heads turn toward the central podium, where a beaming Father Zantus has taken the stage. He starts his prayer and utters the first few lines when suddenly a woman's scream slices through the air. A few moments later, another scream rises, then another. Beyond them, a sudden surge of strange new voices rises high-pitched, tittering shrieks that sound not quite human . The crowd parts and something low to the ground races by, giggling with disturbing glee as the stray dog gives a pained yelp and then collapses with a gurgle, its throat cut open from ear to ear. As blood pools around its head, the raucous sound of a strange song begins, chanted from shrill, scratchy voices.

Goblins Chew and Goblins Bite

Goblins Cut and Goblins Fight

Stab the Dog and Cut the Horse

Goblins Eat and Take by Force

Goblins Race and Goblins Jump

Goblins Slash and Goblins Bump

Burn the Skin and Mash the Head

Goblins Here and you be Dead

Chase the Baby, Catch the Pup

Bonk the Head the Shut it UP

Bones be Cracked, Flesh be Stewed

We Be Goblins! You Be Food!

Goblins are attacking the city! When the goblins attack, they shriek and leap and race and cackle, taking great joy in the panic and fear they spread among the humans (whom most goblins insultingly call “longshanks”). Some goblins wave torches and light tents on fire, while others chase children and pets with ill intent. The entire time, goblin warchanters sing a horrifically catchy and nerve wracking goblin song at the top of their lungs, further spurring their kin into murderous frenzy. Everywhere the heroes, goblins tear through merchant stalls, menace locals with their dogslicers, throw rocks through windows, and otherwise make terrors of themselves.

Al, El, and Azalea turn to see three goblins coming at them. Grymar at first mistakes them for dogs. Fortunately, they don’t target him, and instead go after Selene, El and Azalea. This proves to be a mistake for them as they are held off. Grymar notices the attack and moves to roast them with Burning Hands. El and Selene finish them off.

Al looks to find a Warchanter and heads to the south of the stage. Three goblins lighting fires see him and Azalea coming and attack them. While Al uses his bow on the Warchanter, it seems his skill was used up on the competition earlier in the day. Azalea on the other hand, slices a goblin in twain, cutting its head to his crotch. The Warchanter uses hideous laughter on the fighter, stopping her from fighting for a moment and taking a blow. Grymar and El move down and Selene engages two of the Goblins. Grymar, not wanting to hit an ally, grows golden claws and attempts to attack, but misses the small creatures. Azalea stops laughing and kills the goblin in front of her, slicing him in half. Selene also kills the other leaving only the Warchanter.

In moments all five combatants are around the bard goblin. It takes a moment and he is ripped apart by Selene, who chews on his rubbery body.

In a moment to take a breath, Father Zantus rushes to their side. He thanks them for what they're doing to help fight the goblins and cures both Selene and Azalea of their wounds with his divine magic.

Things at the festival itself have calmed somewhat. Here and there, the sounds ofbattle, clanging swords, calls of support by the town guard, and shrieking and singing goblins echo through the streets, but at the festival itself, most of the citizens have fled. One or two goblins remain behind to scavenge food, and many more lie dead (along with a few unfortunate citizens). It should be obvious that the fight has moved on, especially when the sound of a scream and a frantic barking come from the north. This fight is not over!