[Pathfinder] BrOp's Burnt Offerings IC Thread

[Branding Opportunity]

The Dedication

The afternoon progresses in a fine manner, and everyone enjoys the free food and drink that the taverns have so generously provided. It soon becomes apparent that the darling of the lunch is once again, Ameiko Kaijitsu, whose remarkable curry-spiced salmon and early winterdrop mead easily overshadow the other offerings, such as the Hagfish's lobster chowder or the White Deer's peppercorn venison.

Finally the sun begins to set, and Father Zantus takes the central podium flanked by visiting representatives of the other faiths. The Varisian knight of Shelyn named Sivan draws particularly favorable comments from the women in the audience, who think that he looks particularly in his gleaming mail.

Since most folk are still busy enjoying each other's conviviality, not to mention their fourth or fifth ale, Father Zantus uses a thunderstone to attract everyone's attention. The staccato crash and rumble of the stone draw the eyes of even the farthest gone reveler as the High Priest clears his throat as he prepares to recite the Prayer of First Dreaming. As his sonorous voice intones the opening song, “Oh blessed be she who wanders among the stars,” a second, discordant melody can be heard wafting above the crowd. Sung in screeching, high voices the words are the worst broken Taldoran:
“Goblin chew and goblin bite.
Goblin cut and goblin fight.
Stab der dog and cut der horse,
goblin eat and take by force!”

A woman's scream slices through the air, and a few moments later, another scream rises, then another. The crowd parts and something low to the ground races by, giggling with disturbing glee as the a stray dog gives a pained yelp and then collapses with a gurgle, its throat cut open from ear to ear.

(OOC: Visual Perception checks, Arahmid 18 + 5 = 23, success! Sivan 17 + 0 = 17, success! Mellisande 1 + 0 = 1, failure, Saktouk 4 + 7 = 11, failure; Everyone rolls initiative: Mellisande 15 + 2 = 17, Arahmid 14 + 2 = 16, Sivan 7 + 1 = 8, Saktouk 3 + 4 = 7; This is a surprise round, but only Arahmid and Sivan may act in it)

[sblock=Arahmid and Sivan]You see the shape that raced by and killed the dog was that of a goblin, who now hides under a nearby wagon, licking the blood off of his dogslicer and searching with glee for a new target. This is the only goblin you see. OOC: You may act in this surprise round. Please post all actions to the OOC Thread[/sblock]

OOC: The "C"s on the map below are meant to designate crowds. Moving through a square occupied by a crowd costs double movement.

 

[Branding Opportunity]

An Interrupted Dedication, Surprise Round

INITIATIVE:
(OOC: Note that only the Goblins, Arahmid, and Sivan can act during the Surprise Round)

Goblins 20 + 1 = 21
Saktouk 14 + 4 = 18
Sivan 12 + 1 = 13
Arahmid 10 + 2 = 12
Mellisande 7 + 2 = 9
Crowd = 1

The insane, high-pitched screetching sing-song continues as the crowd starts to grow more and more panicked, even though most of them still don't know exactly what is going on.

"Goblin race and goblin jump.
Goblin eat and goblin bump.
Burn der skin and mash der head.
Goblin here and you be dead!"

A goblin to the north of the speaker platform jumps out from underneath a food tent and waves his hole-ridden dogslicer threateningly at the crowd as he jumps back and forth from one foot the other. He is dressed in ratty leather armor and seems to have dozes of metal rings piercing his body in seemingly random places.

The goblin who killed the dog just to the south of the platform stays under wagon hacking the animal's head off and laughing so hard he start to choke a bit. He is covered in the dog's blood as he slashes again and again with his crude weapon.

A third goblin jumps up onto a stall between Mellisande and Saktouk and begins grabbing handfulls of Venison in both hands, shoving it into his mouth and pockets. He is dressed in similarly tatty leather armor and seems to be wearing a turtle shell as a helmet.

"A Goblin! What is the little bugger doing here?" Arahmid says to no one in particular. He knows that goblins rarely act alone and, with a crowd between him and the goblin, he knows there isn't much he can do. Arahmid rathers grabs his bow, and pulls out an arrow. He looks for a nearby hiding spot and waits for things to develop. All his senses are alerted and he looks for any other goblins. His experience with these nasty buggers tells him that this is quite an unusal occurence, as goblins are generally much too cowardly to attack a settlement the size of Sandpoint during daylight hours. Most prefer overwhelming odds and/or nasty subterfuge to help them. OOC: Draw weapon; Knowledge (local) 13 + 5 = 18

Sivan moves towards the vile little creature, his glaive ready in hand.
"Don't panic. I will take a look at the creature." Sivan calls. Most around him don't know quite what the paladin is referring to, as they have not seen the goblin.

 

[Shayuri]

With a goggle-eyed expression of utter surprise on her face, Mellisande watched the sudden additions to the festivities. The goblin on the cart proved especially bizarre, and just as she was thinking maybe this could be sort of fun...she heard the death cries of the dog, and saw the goblin burst out to threaten folks with its sword.

And something clicked in Mellisande's head; in her heart. Something cold. Something that belonged to winter.

"No!" she shouted, and her breath puffed out in front of her as if it was a cold day. "You're ruining EVERYTHING!"

Acting on instinct, Mellisande raised her hand. From it sprang something white and blue, that streaked through the air leaving little sprinkles of snow behind it. Streaked directly at the goblin that was threatening the crowd!

(Ray of Frost! Target is the goblin to the north of the platform. Hopefully Sartouk will get the one on the wagon. +3 to hit with ranged touch, for a big 1d3 damage. Does Mellisande have her crossbow? It seems weird to think of her with it at a party...but on the other hand, I dunno where she'd keep it if it wasn't on her.)