Many copies of the following paper are placed in high-traffic areas of Baldur's Gate. Copies are delivered to Candlekeep, Roaringshore, Ulgoth's Beard, Beregost, Gullykin, and Nashkel as well.
"Will you be able to do the catering, too?" Llywelyn asks, looking up from the contract of sale. "We'll have a number of dignitaries there, and you know how these committee meetings are. People get thirsty after talking for a while."
The one-eyed man smiles at the affirmative response, and signs the contract with appropriate flourish. As he rolls up his own copy of the document, he pauses, noticing a pile of papers.
"Ah, is that the latest Gazette?"
"Yes, m'lord, would you like one?"
Llywelyn makes a face at the innkeeper. He supposed it was a fair assumption that anyone renting out meeting rooms at the Helm and Cloak might seem important. But the title rubbed him all wrong coming from someone who actually worked for a living.
"Please. And 'Llywelyn's' fine. You've already got my gold, right?" He grins, winking his one eye. Taking the paper in hand, he briefly reviews the front page with a neutral expression. On turning to the second page, his face lights up. "By the Three -- the good Three and the bad Three!" He laughs. "This is great!"
The armor-clad man hurries out of the inn at a hustle, grinning from ear to ear.
"J'avais cru plus difficile de mourir . . ." I had imagined it was more difficult to die . . .
Aeili took up a copy of the most recent Gazette and read it through. However her eyes narrowed in a moment of intense concentration when her name suddenly appeared in an article on the front page.
"I only recall telling one or two others about that incident,"she murmured, furrowing her brow in consternation. "I... I guess that other terrified fellow must have told the Gazette about this."
She paused and then read the article over another time."Now I am not sure whether to be glad about such a broad public warning about this brazen orc or rather terrified that my name has been so broadly published with such a manner of association. Did it never occur to Ms. Vhaire to consult me about this first?"
Aeili frowned and blinked a great many times as she stared once more at the article, then briskly walked back to the Temple of Mystra.
Aviendha grabbed quite a few copies of the Gazette, reading the first one. As she reached one article, she smiled proudly, and promptly began passing out papers. ''New issue of the Gazette, everyone!" she exclaimed near the entrance of the inn, giving a paper to anyone willing.
*As Monty Hoffman attends to his weekly pilgrimage to the local watering holes attempting to peddle his wares word of the latest Gazette reaches his ears. The blind vintner asks one of the local street urchins to fetch him a copy, promising a silver penny for a swift return. When the boy returns the man passes over the coin in exchange for the publication. Later that evening Monty and his extended family listen attentively as his niece reads the entire Gazette to the gathering about the fireplace in what has lately become a weekly tradition. Ears are perked and spirits high as the article about the vineyard is read and then re-read. Words of praise for the editor and her hard work are plentiful and as the family members retire to bed a renewed sense of hope is apparent.*
There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter. - Ernest Hemingway The Fox's Bio Kellan Armstrong's Bio