Rumors & Events of Baldur's Gate

[IdealCitizen]

Noises of fighting and struggle is heard from a dark alley in the harbor district, after which an elder lady can be found lying in a pool of her own blood, stabbed through her heart. Shortly after a tiefling with red hair is seen running into the sewers.

[Hidennka]

A rumor, shocking in nature, spreads like wildfire through the streets of Baldur's Gate. Those who share in the gossip question it's liability, expressing disbelief. Some seemed to support the notion, whilst others scoffed and sneered at the thought; the general consensus being mixed in reception.

Had Cecilia Lafayette, Knight of the Order of the Radiant Heart truly resigned from the Auxiliary?

[stevebarracuda]

Just before the dawn, a foreigner to the Gate…but no stranger to it's streets…disembarks from a newly docked vessel, flying southern sea flags of merchant import. Naeus Therao has returned…and without much fan fare, nor any to greet him. Unfazed, he immediately hires a reputable transporter to take under their protection a number of large and sealed grates. "Gold…," he replies to the transporter, when asked the contents. "And take care to see it deposited in the Gate's known Bank…all of it. I know the count, to the copper…and it will do you well to see it arrive in full."

Tossing the transporter a small pouch heavy with coin, he does what any must do when needing security: he buys it. Seeing his crates off in the right hands, he follows behind the delivery until his own two feat reach the Helm & Cloak Inn and Feast house.

"No finer wine…and no finer bath to be found inside these city walls…," he regards as Naeus passes the bald bruiser always on guard to the entryway of the Inn. Once inside, and after ordering a room for the foreseeable future, he turns his back to the Innkeep, and looks out amongst the many that liven this Inn, daily.

"Time for business…" escapes from his lips, as he slowly moves through the crowd, possibly stopping to chat, possibly stopping to ask for recent rumors amongst the more pliable…as he eventually makes his way upstairs to the private quarters.

[Storm Munin]

A dwarf after much consumtion of beverages rise to perform at the Elfsong tavern, in a steady barytone he proclaims:


Gimval's poem, by Glarin Silvertongue.

They seek him here,
they seek him there.

Those orcs seek him everywhere!

Will he be slayin,
or will he wear scarf.

That rooster ridin dwarf!


Fortunately the singer sits down to drink again giggling mightily.


//original lyrics taken from the movie Scarlet Pimpernell - 1982, then slightly twisted to fit.

[The Herald]

A fresh notice would be seen hanging from the bulletin board in the Eastern Gate district of Baldur's Gate.

"Dreamed of writing? Want your voice heard by the masses? Do you have a nose for news? If so, the Baldur's Gate Herald is looking for people like you, and this is your opportunity to get in from the ground up. We are seeking a few skilled, full-time reporters to send on investigation and write articles for the newly founded newspaper.

Interviews will be scheduled to be held in the Helm & Cloak as we are currently seeking office space.

If you are interested, write Jon Arrington at the Helm & Cloak or find and speak to Endelyon, the bard in blue, or write her at the Merchant's League."

(( Feel free to PM either "Endelyon" or this account on the forums if you are interested, or seek Endelyon or Jon Arrington out in game to inquire further ))

[Lyrewyn]

An Open Letter to the People of Baldur's Gate

Ever since the War between the nations of Baldur's Gate and Amn, our great city has fallen into a slump. Waters we once controlled we no longer control, making piracy something to expect. Roads we patrolled we no longer do, and so caravaneers must invest in more security to barely make profit. There are hundreds of thousands of examples and reasons on why our economy continues to slumber, and any single suggestion will only ever amount to being a part of a process to address a problem one at a time. But fixing a key issue will burst open a dam of solutions.

The First Bank of Baldur's Gate should be used to serve you. Not a small minority of you, all of you. A bank has so much more potential than being the place where the wealthy and the privileged can hide their wealth. It can use money to create more money. It can be used to help merchants from taking losses against travel misfortune. It can be used to store precious items found in your adventures. The First Bank of Baldur's Gate would be strengthened by opening its business to you, the people. In return, not only do you immediately benefit from investing in the bank, your city benefits as well. Coin begets coin. Traders take less losses from danger, allowing them to expand their trade further. More buildings can be bought, built, and warded to properly safeguard valuable items and relics.

Trade is the measure of life in a city, and coin is power made physical. I do not propose that our ideas for the bank will solve all our problems, but it is my hope and expectation that it will bring a cascade of new solutions to address the neverending list of little problems. We can bring Baldur's Gate to greatness again. We can be the jewel that rivals Calimshan. Athkatla. Waterdeep. All we need is for the Dukes to listen.

Bene valete ac me vobis prodesse spero,

Proprietor of the Sword Coast Commercial Exchange

Bank Letters
Open Letter to the Grand Dukes and Nobility of Baldur's Gate
An Open Letter to the Travelers, Adventurers and Organizations of the Sword Coast
An Open Letter to the People of Amn
An Open Letter to the People of Baldur's Gate

[Daeva Diablerie]

I saw that rooster ridin' dwarf!
I spied him from a wharf
As he chased and tangled
Wrestled and wrangled
Bridled then boarded
His efforts rewarded.
Twas such a curiosity,
Mine own eyes did see
This tiny dwaren rider
Be makin' me smile grow wider.

~Flurra Fawkes

[Ricastle]

These fliers appear in various places near the elf song, blades and stars, helm and cloak, merchant league building, and near various non-evil aligned temples all about baldur's gate

[TheKai]

A fresh notice would be seen hanging from the bulletin board in the Eastern Gate district of Baldur's Gate.

"Dreamed of writing? Want your voice heard by the masses? Do you have a nose for news? If so, the Baldur's Gate Herald is looking for people like you, and this is your opportunity to get in from the ground up. We are seeking a few skilled, full-time reporters to send on investigation and write articles for the newly founded newspaper.

Interviews will be scheduled to be held in the Helm & Cloak as we are currently seeking office space.

If you are interested, write Jon Arrington at the Helm & Cloak or find and speak to Endelyon, the bard in blue, or write her at the Merchant's League."

(( Feel free to PM either "Endelyon" or this account on the forums if you are interested, or seek Endelyon or Jon Arrington out in game to inquire further ))

A hin sees this notice, eyeing it with an appraising eye. "Perhaps it is time to earn an honest day's wage?" He muses to himself before smiling and walking off.

[stevebarracuda]

Rumor eventually winds its way from the Helm & Cloak Inn throughout the Gate, that the one known as Naeus Therao…is interested in acquiring a sailing vessel. A Caravel, to be precise. A vessel able to sail into the wind, highly maneuverable, and the right size to sail both in ocean and upon the Chionthar.

Rumors on the rumor form, saying the buyer speaks about this purchase with the tone of man with definitely enough coin of the realm, to pay. He seems to also be offering sales of magical wares, to further increase his purchasing power.

Surely there must be a trade house or shipbuilder guild within the Gate, that could provide such a vessel, should no single adventure or merchant have one, themselves, to sell…or, if no other options present themselves, for hire.

[virtualangel]

Eon Fawkes settles himself down at the Elfsong tavern and after a good meal and a glass of wine he gathers a few patrons before telling his story.

You see my wife, she be Flurra Fawkes, tells me of a rumor she heard about some strange magical gate located below the sewers of this here city. She then tells me that I need some exercise and she doesn't want to go slogging through the muck alone.

Well, I tell you! I says to her; Honey, my dearest love... I have no intention of putting these here boots *points down to his feet* into the filth of this... um... fine city's residents!

She done looked at me in a way that made me sort of feel like squirming... you know the way women can, and she says all nice like, 'My love, you would want some'tin awful to happen to me down there, would ya? '. Now I tell it straight, I can't abide by my dearest love looking at me like that, with those beautiful emerald green eyes o' hers.

So like the gentleman I am *looks at those patrons about him with a wink* I said, 'my dearest pedal flower, I would walk to the end of this world fer you.'

Well enough with all that, before I knows it I was lifting a grate up out of the dirt in the Docks district and yes, I say it was so.

So I jump on down, helping the little lady of course, as I said I be a genial soul. As we started trudging, now I tell you true; I't don't smell like the farmlands down there! No sir, it smell ripe and foul. I ruined a pair of my fine leather boots I did.

So you all listening, because this is where things get interesting *pauses for suspense* we found another way... a deeper way... into a forgotten place. I tell you true! Don't ye be looking at me like that master dwarf, I am no lier!

The tunnels were dark and I could smell the unholy stench of the dead, I have seem my share of the undead in my travels, Aye I have, but you never get over that feeling like ants walking on your skin. *shakes his head*, no indeed.

So I take me scimitar out *grabs the hilt of his sword as if to draw it* and bless it by the grace of Mielikki as we move deeper into the tunnels. It was damp and I fought a few small water elementals. Yes you rude dwarf, they was NOT just water sprites! They would form up as we crept along right before us and take shape like a man with no head... arms of water to drown ye if your not careful!

As I was saying... *glares at the dwarf* My wife, she has excellent vision, spied two poor souls laying in the muck up ahead. We approached, yes *rolls his eyes* we were cautious master dwarf... now shall I continue or would you like to take over? Yeah, that's what I thought.

We searched them and found a page, perhaps ripped from a journal, that a Lady of Umberlee was separated from her sisters and beset by the foulest of Shadow Adepts! Now lads, if you have never fought with these evil devils you have seen nothing of fear... they cast the foulest of dark magics and summon Shades from the hells themselves!

Well as you can imagine we were getting a bit worried and I suggested we head back to alert the Fist, but at that moment a great beast of a dog attacked us followed by his master... a shadow adapt! *looks in to the eyes of his audience and nods*

Yes, it was a fight for our lives! My dearest heart cast a missile storm of magic while I held them at bay, shadows, mastiffs and the very undead beset us! After the fight was done we pressed on down another tunnel chasing the retreating cowards into a deep room where we were ambushed by more of the foul cultists!

My arms grew weak from battle and I shall admit to you here my friends, I was at the brink... yes I was... I fell to a knee, sword and shield dripping with the blood of the fallen, my dear wife, *his eyes get misty* bless her beautiful heart, jumped right over me cleaving the last ghoul's head down the very center! *takes a deep breath* I tell you boys, as you are my witness, I have never known a woman like her.

Now, where was I... oh yes! So there we was, deep in the heart of the enemy's lair! Exhausted, dented and covered in grime. We looked about the rooms, pulling levers and opening hidden doors to find their secret ritual of magics they had been evilly planning right here below your very feet!

There before us was a portal, black as sin, darker than ink, a black that makes your soul scream for a little light. *looks around* Yes lads, I was scared... I wanted to run home and crawl under me bed! But, yes... ye guessed it... me wife, what's she do, she strolls brave as day right into that portal of evil pitch!

*leans back and sighs deeply* What's a man to do? *shrugs* So I jumped in right behind her! That's what!

*chuckles* Now you boys are thinking, this mans had a few too many ta drink and you know... normally... you would be right! *He takes out a stained waterlogged letter and a necklace bearing the Shadow mark, placing them gently on the table* This here be the letter I spoke of. Yes me boys look at proof!

Now, you might think this story may be over, but I am standing right here... am I not! Yes, I went in and I came back... but not after facing the most evil and vile creation I have ever known! For this portal of ill dread led us into none other than a shadow of the Gate itself! It was like standing in a living nightmare! I tell you there were shadow peoples like the ones you see here, but not them... an evil shadow of your very friends. I knew the moment I stepped through that there was a great evil here... *pauses for effect, then whispering low* a singular darkness yearning to get out.

It was all I could do to keep me knees from knocking as we ventured fourth... slaying shadow spawn and mastiffs when before the very gates of the Palace district we faced our dreaded foe...

No damn you dwarf, not a dreaded TOE a DREADED... FOE! What do you think? Toes of evil are going to come into our realm, looking to dominate silly dwarves? *glares*

Um... yes, well... lets see... So the dreaded foe... This was no wraith nor shadowed man, but a lord of shadow! A dreaded shadow dragon! Half as tall as the buildings about it with an aura of dread and fear thick as you like! Did it see us poor fools that we are? Why yes friend, it did!

In our confidence, or shall I clarify... our OVER confidence we ran forward not heeding what could be around the corner and stopped nearly at it's very claws! I threw my shield up and forward to take the brunt of its attack while my dearest drove her sword, deftly I might add, into its neck!

Now.. yes I know this is the good part, but I must say here that if you have never fought a shadow dragon like myself, you might expect the beast to bleed, but strangely it did not. I just thought you should know.

Now, as I was saying, the beast howled and fought mightily, cleaving my dear love with its claws! I grew enraged and in vain tried to draw its attention to myself, but the beast was dead set on destroying the love of my life right before my very eyes! In a panic I prayed to Mielikki to give her healing, laying my blessed hands to her wounds as best I could! Still the two great ladies fought, my love a beacon of light against the dragon lay of shadow!

At her knees, weeping with effort, bleeding from terrible wounds my love did strike true and deeply into the beasts breast, driving her dragon foe to it's final doom! Vanquished and driven out of its hope to enter our world and wreak its havoc upon you all!

*leans back, drinking deeply* Yes lads, you look upon your very saviors and heroes... now someone buy me another drink!"

By,
Eon Fawkes

Special thanks to the DM who set up the Sewer crypts and left them for us to find.

[Lyrewyn]

After the ninth of Marpenoth, traders, partners, and associates within the Merchant's League gossiped about a severe woman who stormed out in anger after a meeting with the Sword Coast Commercial Exchange. Elad himself went to the office soon afterwards, but it appeared his meeting went far more amicably.

[stevebarracuda]

// Or PM me.

[The Herald]

In the Palace district, an establishment rarely visited by adventurers known as The Shelf of Many Books has been seeing increased activity the last few days. One afternoon, a man dressed in an elegant and stylish outfit and a woman wearing a blue dress so loud it was painful to the eyes have been seen entering and leaving the library several times. Workers could be noticed carrying chairs and a table inside along with some decorative paintings (one or two noticeably worse than others). One morning when the sun crept up over the horizon, the sign in front of the establishment would have a smaller one underneath it with the words "and Baldur's Gate Herald" painted on it in a plain but legible script.

[Zanniej]

Two men were talking for a long time in the palace district of the Gate. While walking by, phrases like "... gathering a crew" and " ... getting a ship" could be heard.

As the man part ways, it is clear that their business with each other is not yet over.