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Fifteen minutes or so before high noon, people in colorful sashes marking them as volunteers for the festival begin moving everyone toward the Cathedral.  The sound of the noon bells over the City is is loud, but not harsh.  The people give up a cheer, and watch as the Mayor ascends to a podium on a temporary wooden stage.  She motions for silence, and the crowd murmurs and slowly quiets. 

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. Everyone’s but Larz, that is.

Sheriff 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 five years ago.

Fortunately, Cyrdak Drokkus is more than up to the challenge of bringing the crowd’s mood back up with his rousing anecdotes as 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 diva Allishanda from Magnimar!

Finally, Father Zantus steps up give a short speech thanking everyone for coming before declaring the Swallowtail Festival officially underway.  He motions one hand over the crowd, and several acolytes from the church wheel a large covered wagon into the square.  Father Zantus recounts the short parable of how Desna first fell to earth and was nursed back to health by a blind child who she transformed into an immortal butterfly as a reward for her aid.  The acolytes pull aside the wagon’s cover, symbolically releasing the thousand children of Desna—a furious storm of a thousand swallowtail butterflies that swarm into the air in a spiraling riot of color to a great cheer from the crowd. Throughout the rest of the day, children futilely chase butterflies, never quite quick enough to catch them.

The release of the Swallowtail Butterflies is also the signal for lunch!  Lunch is provided free, at the expense of Sandpoint’s taverns. Each brings its best dishes—this event is a marketing push by the taverns as much to win new customers as it is to feed a hungry crowd.  It soon becomes apparent that the darling of the lunch is, once again, Ameiko Kaijitsu of the Rusty Dragon Inn, whose remarkable curry-spiced salmon and early winterdrop mead easily overshadow the other offerings, such as the lobster chowder from the Hagfish Tavern or the peppercorn venison from the White Deer Inn. 

The afternoon is spent in revelry, eating, drinking, sports events, and competitions. 

The afternoon is for wandering and possible meetings.  The next event is at dusk, with the official Grand Opening of the new Cathedral.  I'll wait a little for everyone to make a first post, then we will move on to the big event.

How lovely. Illysium remarks to himself as the butterflies are released. Such poetic symbolism. I rather like it. After the speeches are over, Illysium, gratefully, makes his way to the nearest table for lunch.

After thanking his server, he's delighted to find his meal consists of some manner of venison. This must be a good sign of things to come. I do so love venison. With that, he begins his meal.

Donk has only ever been to one festival before in his travels from Hook Mountain, but one was all it took for him to learn what the best thing about festivals is: the food! Why at the Whistledown fair, he tasted the most delicious toffleberry pie, it just might have been the tastiest thing he's ever eaten.

Donk's been in Sandpoint for a while now, and it's been long enough to get really excited about the Swallowtail Festival. He claps loudly at all the speeches, chuckles at Larz, and stands dumbfounded, mouth gaping at the sight of the butterflies being released; emitting a long, low grunt signifying utterly mystifying fascination.

But as soon as one of those pretty butterflies flits past the tavern stalls his fascination is abruptly forgotten. Donk runs wildly to the closest one and waits impatiently in the queue for a bowl of chowder. Looking anxiously around at the other stalls, trying to decide which one he'll go to next, he spots a hooded man seated nearby with a plate of meat. Pointing excitedly in his direction Donk blurts,

"That-looks-good-I-might-get-that-next-where-did-you-get-it?"

Illysium is so involved with his venison that he fails to realize he's being spoken to for a moment. Mmmm... peppercorn venison. I... what? Get it? As the last two words are spoken, Illysium mistakenly hears it more as an order than a question. Pausing for a second from his delicious meal, he glances around to see what the commotion is.

What in the world is that? Knowledge Nature (1d20+11=26)

After staring for a brief second at the hulking creature pointing at him, Illysium asks in a soft voice, My apologies, but I did not catch what you said. Could you repeat it, please?

Illysium sighs with relief. Guess I misunderstood that initially.

Ah, it is quite good, sir. It is a delicious meal of venison, which I obtained from over yonder. He points in the direction of the venison and smiles softly as he turns back to his meal.