(Everyone) The Swallowtail Festival
Everyone makes their way to the square before the church from differing parts of the village of Sandpoint. Here dozens of taverns, inns, merchants, entertainers and sundry folk have set up stalls, booths or just rolled out Varisian carpets to celebrate the Swallowtail Festival.
The square is crowded with residents of Sandpoint, farmers from the outlying homesteads in their rough homespuns, sailors conversing in strange accents, Varisian wanderers in their brightly-colored garb, local fishermen, and even a few city folk from as far away as Magnimar. All have come here to celebrate a day sacred to the goddess Desna and to witness the dedication of the new ecumenical cathedral.
The old Sandpoint church had burned down five years ago during a dark period known euphemistically as the "Late Unpleasantness". During this time Sandpoint had been plagued by a spate of violent crimes culminating in the dreadful atrocities committed by a mass-murderer named Chopper.
No one ever discovered who set the fire that killed Father Tobyn and his daughter Nualia and reduced the northern half of the village to ashes, but after Chopper was found dead no one really cared. Everyone was just happy that the horrible crimes came to an end.
Now memories of these dark times have been pushed aside and folk draw new strength in seeing their beautiful, new church. People mill about the square, friends call out to one another and the rest peruse the various items merchants have on display.
Mayor Kendra Deverin ascends the stair to the large platform decorated with bright garlands and cloth banners that has been set up before the cathedral's entrance. She holds up her hands and waits for the murmurs to die down, before welcoming everyone to Sandpoint and the festival. Her friendly attitude and excitement prove contagious as she jokes about how even Larz Rovanky, the local tanner and notorious workaholic, managed to tear himself away from his hides to attend. Friendly laughter spreads about the square, noticeably absent from Larz himself. She thanks everyone again and wishes them a joyous festival.
She is followed by Sheriff Hemlock, a Shoanti tribesman gone local, who brings the crowd down a bit with his dour mood and his reminder to be safe around the evening's bonfire. He then requests for a moment of silence to remember those who lost their lives in the fire five years ago. He leaves the stage and is followed by the proprietor of the Sandpoint Theater.
Fortunately 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 the construction of the new cathedral. He throws in a bit of self-promotion at the end, as is his wont, inviting everyone to stop by the 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 plaed by none other than the famous Magnimaran diva Allishanda! He is loudly cheered by the crowd and gives everyone a big stage wink before turning things over to Father Zantus.
This young-looking high priest of Desna is the last of the speakers this morning. He gives a short speech thanking everyone for coming before declaring the Swallowtail Festival underway.
Following this everyone resumes their previous conversations or activities as people mill about the square.
