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!

The next morning at the Rusty Dragon, the group of four heroes is just finishing their morning meal. They are still basking in the glory of helping to defend the town when a breathless Father Zantus comes in. Near the Church, up towards the North cliffs is an old burned out Guard House. It seems some goblins have holed up there!

The group grabs their gear and heads across the city. All along the way, folk stop them to shake their hands and praise them. They approach the old guard house from holes in the west and south. The building shows its damage and age. In one unburned room, Alessio finds a locked door with footprints up to it. He has everyone gather and be quiet, though Grymar and Azalea are not the most stealthy. He picks the lock and Azalea bursts into the room to find a severely wounded goblin commando who she kills in the old bed. A search of the room reveals an old secret door in the floor. It appears not recently used, so the group decides to clear the upper floors before checking it.

In the northwest corner, three Goblins have secured themselves in the old armory, with two hastily erected barricades of wood. Standing in one of the two totally burnt out rooms, Alessio set fire to the eastern pile of wood, while Elinae, Selene and Azalea waited to the north. As the fire spreads, it can only burn into the unburned area on this fire threatens the goblins inside. Hearing yells and screams, the northern barricade is dismantled enough to allow the three goblins inside through. Unfortunately, they run into the blade of Azaela who kills two, and the jaws and claws of Selene. With the goblins here cleared, the group searches the building thoroughly, they open the door to head below.

Heading down a set of steep stairs, the heroes find a dark room, the far walls illuminated by their torches and El’s light spell. Two skeletons have seen them enter and immediately attack the group. Despite Skeletons resistance to slicing attacks, one of the skeletons falls to her sword, while Elinae bashes the other. Searching the room, it is clear this was a living area. The remains of a large hexagonal table and six hexagonal benches remain, though they are quite rotten and will collapse if sat upon. There is a hexagonal bed, also rotten, which will explode into dust if someone jumps on it or tries to tear it apart. An iron bound chest is in one of the alcoves. The chest has a trap on the lock. If it is not found and disarmed it will pour a vial of liquid into the chest as the lock is turned. Fortunately, Alessio was more than able to disable the trap. They leave the metal vial for another time. The contents of the chest include a belt buckle, an ornate dagger, some coins and a medallion making its wearer immune to sleep.

The resident rouge also finds a secret door to a hidden room. This room has a small chest in the eastern niche. Inside the chest are the following: 177gp, 210 sp, and a bag of 5 gems; 3 x 50 gp, 150 gp, and 200 gp. There is also a cloak made of feathers. It acts as a cloak of elvenkind, but if worn by a Tengu, it also provides featherfall. The door on the far side is clearly a secret door to the next room. Emerging into that room has more undead! A ghoul and a skeleton advance on the group. The corpse of a dire rat blocks the passage to the south. The group easily dispatches the ghoul and skeleton. They search the room, which appears to have been some sort of game room. A large, hexagonal table is in the center of the room surrounded by six chairs. A throwing dagger is hidden under the table at each chair location. The remains of a deck of cards are present that crumbles to dust when picked up - as well as six piles of copper pieces, numbering 40, 65, 23, 88, 99, and 31 respectively. One of the daggers is in fact a +1 Dagger of Returning.

With the noise of the fight, dire rates charge into the room to the south, however, they seem unwilling to cross the corpse of their fellow. To the northwest, the door leads to a practice range. This room contains a knife rack with 8 rusted throwing knives. There is a table and a single chair. Four practice targets are on the east wall. Otherwise, it is empty. The door out is locked, but Azalea forces it open. It is clear it leads to a long passage leading away. The group decides to leave it for now, and opens the other door in the room. Then things go south.

Immediately the two ghouls and two zombies in the room attack. The doorway creates a bottleneck. The ghoul adsorbs hits and paralyzes Selene. Grymar torches the ghouls and zombies through the door, doing maximum damage. Azaela swings her sword while El is attacking with her staff, but the ghoul attacks Grymar and he too falls. Alessio grabs the sorcerer and drags him away. A ghoul and zombie falls in the fight, but it rages on, as Azaela is bitten, and she two falls paralyzed. Alessio tries the returning dagger but misses. El is next to fall to the ghoulish bite, leaving only the Tengu standing. The remaining zombie mindlessly attacks the three near it, El, Azaela, and Selene. Ghoul lands its bite on Alessio as he lands one on the ghoul. He now is downed. The ghoul stands over the party planning to feast, but Grymar shakes off the effect and futilely swings at the ghoul. Azalea tries to swing from the ground and misses. The Ghoul and zombie both attack and drop Azaela and Selene into near death states. Grymar attacks with his crossbow and misses. Finally, the tide turns. Alessio unfreezes, the least effected from the ghoul’s attack, and he connects with the dagger, and Elinae recovers and stands with her sickle, slashing the Zombie. The undead are downed! Eliane rushes to heal her companion and then Azaela.

Alessio takes the time to check the room. This room has many storage shelves with food containers on them. The food is all rotten. A table and two chairs are in this long, curved chamber plus a small hearth (long since closed to the outside), a weapon rack with 6 rotting spears, and a cabinet with pots, pans, utensils, etc. There is a secret door to the south.

The group staggers out of the guard house into the afternoon sun. They receive shocked looks from townspeople as they walk the length of the city back to Rusty Dragon. They heal, bathe and have a decent dinner before all collapsing into bed. That next morning, Al takes their loot and both sells it and does some shopping. He pick sup a hammer for any more undead and a few alchemical fire flasks.

In the afternoon, the group returns to the guard house and decides to leave the doors for later and take on the rats. The dire rats swarm up from their tunnels to defend their nest. Azalea El, and Selene move to clear a side cave while Grymar and Al watch more rats swarm from below and another tunnel to the side. Grymar fills the passage to the south with his burning hands and takes down four of the dog sized creatures. Meanwhile Al struggles to hit any rat with his sword. The tiger and the ladies are easily clearing their cave, smashing the dire rats.

Al finally makes contact while Grymar steps back to be able to cast again. Al sees more swarms coming and calls for the ladies as Grymar burns more rats saying ”Fire’s good!”. The women move up to support the men, killing one rate after another. Al uses the first of his alchemical fire to burn and splash oil on rats approaching them. Azalea blocks the passage to the east, but this puts her in the way of Grymar who does not want to bathe her in fire. Azalea tries to hack her way forward to give Grymar room, as Al uses another flask. While the fighter is able to get forward, she is swarmed before anyone can help!

El and Selene move have finished with the rats from the south and move to support Azalea who is in dire straits while Grymar and Al fire arrows that fall ineffectively amid the chaos of the fight. El is able to get to her friend and heal her with glowing hands.

Finally, the swarm of dire rats is defeated. The group moves to explore the caves. Al finds baby rats that he quickly dispatches. They lower caves have several nests with the odds and ends gathered by rats, including some gold and other items. Tunnels in these caves lead to secret exits, one outside the city gates, and another to key locations within the city.

Healing up, the group heads to the secret doorway and enters the first of two rooms. Both have treasure forgotten from long ago. Both have traps of gas, only one of which Al finds, a poison dart on a door. He fails to notice the gas on the greatsword case and all four heroes hack and cough in the old gas. Fortunately, it is not fatal, as it has lost much of its potency. The greatsword within is a magical adamantine sword with Thassalonian runes upon it. They also find a feather token of construction.

The sun is setting when the group heads back out into Sandpoint. This time, they look much better than before. Azaela is eager to see about claiming the site for themselves and they discuss it as they return to the Rusty Dragon. All agree to keep discussions of the cave network a secret. They stop to consult with the local sage, Brodert Ouink, who confirms the feather token will allow for the rapid construction or repair of a medium sized structure. The excitement for the four grows.

In the morning they go to meet with the Mayor Kendra Deverin. Azalea takes the lead in asking if they can have the old guard house. The Mayor, clearly sensing and opportunity to “pay” the heroes of Sandpoint with something worthless, is eager to agree. She tells the group to return in the morning to get the deed.

As they eat dinner at the Rusty Dragon, they are approved by Alden Foxglove, inviting them all for a hunt the next day. He is coming on strongly to Azalea and the group can tell he is taken with her. The group says it will consider the hunt, and he promises to return with mounts at 10 tomorrow. Kissing Azalea’s hand he bids them adieu. Al then tells Azalea that while Aldern is a rich and successful merchant, he is married to a beautiful woman named Iesah.

As they digest that, an older Tian man bursts into the Inn and spies the heroes. This is Lonjiku Kaijitsu, father of Ameiko. He stalks over the group at the table and beings to berate them, accusing them of endangering the townsfolk with their ill-advised “antics” against the goblins, implying they should have left the defense of the town to the city guard and other “trained professionals.” Azaela stands up, followed by El and even Selene who jumps on the table. Azaela gets in the man’s face and makes him pause. Ameiko rushes into the front room, a ladle dripping with soup in her hand, to find out what all the ruckus is about and starts a yelling match with her father. He eventually issues his ultimatum that he is taking her back to Magnimar. She refuses and the old man tries to grab her, but she strikes him with her soup filled ladle spattering fish stock and potatoes all over his hair and outfit. This act of public defiance wounds Lonjiku's pride more than anything else, and after he sputters for a moment, he finds his voice and utters, “You're as dead to me as your mother,” before leaving the tavern.

Ameiko, nearly in tears with the comment at her mother bravely picks up her ladle as her father leaves, and inspects it. Pulling a hair out of the mess, she says,

”I’ll need a well-cleaned ladle now, since jackass stew's not on the menu.“

The resulting cheers and laughter from the tavern's patrons help her attitude immensely. She thanks the group and extends their free rooms another week, telling them their dinner's on the house.

The group goes to bed wondering what tomorrow will hold.