Rumors of Roaringshore

[Sierante]

By the docks, in the mess of lively chatter and the stench of gutted fish, stood a woman wearing heavy armor, packing a wagon full with crates, sacks and barrels. A thoughtfulness passed over her face when she drummed her fingers against the wagon’s side, as she seemed to count and recount the cargo. The deep purple cowl of the cloak that usually hid her features now rested softly upon her shoulders, and the wild black hair danced freely in the wind. She exchanged a few words with a man who then nodded reassuringly, and she pressed a few coins into his hand before he left.

As she turned around to watch the surroundings of Roaringshore once more, a bittersweet smile graced her lips. She stood there, immobile and silent, for quite a while. Finally she shook her head and simply heaved herself into the wagon and took hold of the reins, and with a click of her tongue she urged the horse to walk toward the winding, muddy path. People who possessed some knowledge of the local crews might have recognized her as Vicala, the former quartermaster of the Hellstorm crew, and rumors told of her leaving the pirates for good. Why she would leave her home of so many years, and where she would go, was still unclear.

[JCVD1]

As the sun rises, a small rowboat is seen leaving the filty docks of Roaringshores, heading toward the Seawolf, the infamous boat owned by the Hellstorm screw pirates.

On board, a blackhooded figure is seen to tend to the boat's sail and as it made its way slowly toward the boat, the hooded figure teleported away. Atop the boat's mast, the head of a half elf known as Mara, Is seen spike there, eyes and mouth wide open.

The boat slowly drifts away from the Pirate's Ship as no one seems to tend its direction and poor sail.

With a loud explosion, the boat later exploded from a safe distance, shatering planks flying around.

A loud thud is heard atop the Seawolf'S deck as Mara's head landed in a splash of blood and gore.

On her forehead, letters are carved all over forming a couple words.


"You have been Warned."

[Israe]

*Gossip begins of "Shadow" entering the Broken Goblet, covered head to toe in blood. Her dark skin and hair mixed with the blood red eyes as well as tattoos strike a gruesome picture, as she is saturated from head to toe and glistening with the blood of whatever her victim was. When asked, all she would say "A Hellstorm life was taken, caused by the Blood Moon. Now a Blood Moon has payed that debt with his life. I have a Thayan to visit next." After that she is seen having but a single drink, and moving back out presumably for her next target.*

[Sputnik]

Pairs of dark armored warriors can be seen all over the Coast searching message boards and anywhere else posters might be found. For those paying attention, they seem to be taking down old bounty posters.

Hidden: show

The men all wear black cloaks clasped with Ebon Blade brooches.

[DM Rosette]

After days of preparation and supply stockpiling, the well-known fearsome brigantine, marked by its black and blood-red planks, was seen setting sail from Roaringshore. Her course set south and to the west.

Two days short of a tenday later she returns, her high spirited crew unloading the newly acquired cargo in a boasting manner, flaunting it for all to see. It seems that the old Wolf is sailing under the black once more.

[Jepop]

((Deleted))

[Xorena]

// Compiled from logs and lightly edited for length

The Dread Wavecaller and her captain charted their next course at the Broken Goblet over cups of ale and rum.

"Captain, the last time I communed with Umberlee she ordered me aboardship," Priestess Perle Wynn said. "Perhaps it's time I communed with the Sea Queen again"

From the top of the stairs a man yelled: "Yaaargh! There be no point in speakin' to that Sea Bitch!"

Perle swiveled toward the sound with a scowl: "You must have extraordinary hearing, mate. The captain and I were having a private conversation." She rolled her shoulders and placed her mug on the counter.

The man, oblivious to Karn's towering bulk, stood next to them at the bar, Perle's gaze as as cold as the Sea Queen's depths. Her hand rested on the hilt of her curved dueling knife.

The man turned to Karn, "Ye stand between a man and his drink?"

With a wolfish grin, Karn set a hand on Morty's shoulder, "Hear that, Pike? Man wants a drink!” then to the man, “ 'ave a seat, mate. Round's on me, yeah?" Karn ushered Morty down to sit on a chair.

“Huh? Aye, thank ye!” said the man.

Karn fixed his blue eye on the bartender, “Pike, give us the bottle.”

Perle’s annoyance shifted to glee as she watched her captain manipulate this rube. Slowly she edged to his other side and flashed a dazzling smile at the unfortunate sailor. Karn slid his arm around the man’s neck and forced him into a headlock. Gesturing to the bottle, Karn said "Priestess, give this man all he can drink."

“How dare you insult Umberlee?” Perle fumed. She grabbed the bottle from the table and yanked the cork out with her teeth, upending it into his gaping mouth.

"Keep his nostrils shut, aye make sure nothing spills out. I paid for this wine, depths damnit."

Perle adjusted her grip on the bottle, closing his nostrils as her captain commanded. She pinned him and whispered, "Depths' embrace, 'mate'. Umberlee will reap from the ranks of the doomed. Looks like you're next"

Karn released the man when he began to turn a shade of purple. His head fell to the counter, wine spilling from his nose and mouth.

“Had enough lad? Now apologize to the lady.”

Perle grabbed the now-empty bottle and smashed it against the table. A wicked shard remained, gleaming in the Goblet’s dim light. Perle held it in front of his face as he fixed her with a baleful glare.

“Like that, is it?” Perle said, her voice dripping malice. "Women love scars, little man. Surely you will need all the help you can get."

"Shank him in the privy, don't bloody the counter priestess,” Karn said.

Perle grinned at the captain and grabbed the man by the cloak to drag him to the head. "Come along, you heard the captain. Pike doesn't want your blood on his counter."

“What're ye gonna do..? Shank me..? Ha! Bet ye couldn't take me on by yerself!” Morty coughs up more wine.

With her free hand, Perle issues a resounding slap, "How DARE you insult my queen! Apologize at once. Fall to your knees and beg Her forgiveness!"

“Let 'er apologize first! She killed me crew in a storm! Damn!”

"Insulting Umberlee in front of Her Dread Wavecaller will not get you on the Queen’s good side," her gaze turns dark. She places a hand on the man's shoulder and presses down. Several heartbeats passed.

“Tell ye what, I'll apologize t' yer goddess. Maybe it be our own damn fault we died!” Morty said.

"Sailors must pay tribute and pray. Captains must have a priest bless the ship. Without these protections you are doomed,” Perle snarled. "Kneel and beg forgiveness."

The man complied, and Perle’s strawberry brow lofted in slight surprise. She crossed her arms across her chest, awaiting apology, like a prayer, from supplicant’s lips.

“Sea Bitch. May ye always be a cruel mistress! Let yer trident puncture me ol' heart. I beg yer forgiveness fer trespassin' me, but perhaps it was we that did not honor you! We were young a'n foolish! I wish t' sail upon yer beauty agin!” Morty prayed.

The young priestess’ eyes gleamed in the dim light, a smile tugged from her pink lips. "There is hope for you yet, sailor." she motioned him to rise and holds out her hand, palm up. "What tribute have you for a Priestess of Umberlee this day?"

The man searched through his bag. Loose horns, skulls shoved out of the way. He grasped a shiny emerald and handed it to Perle. He also gave her a name, which she recorded along with his tribute in the notebook that never left her side.

[Xorena]

Some tendays back a priestess of Umberlee was deposited on the shore by a black dragon following some commotion aboard the Seawolf. She left in a hurry, paying the ferryman far more than necessary for passage to Baldur's Gate.

[kkrazlite]

Rumor would soon come into play about a man dressed in all blue bearing an insignia of Auril making is way down the slopes of Roaringshore with 4 or 5 of his clergy behind his steps . . . Those who got a good look at the man would say that he wore a mask made of pure sapphire and onyx and on his sheath of his belt lied the fabled sword. . . The Holy Excalibur. . . Known to only be in the possession of the most revered of paladins. . . But judging from the man's presence many know he was far from a paladin himself. . .

The sounds of whispers can be heard as he makes his way to one of the docked ships along the harbor. . . One of his clergy seem to leave behind a note on a town notice board. . .

The Maiden of winter and her subordinates grant their greetings. . . The winds grow strong and the coming storms even stronger. . . There is a presence here. . . A storm that we of the Maiden have not yet been introduced properly too. . . We leave behind our blizzard here and hope that those of the eye of the Fury's mighty storm will unveil. . . If you are to be reading this letter it would be proper if your storm's would begin a proper communion. . . We shall be awaiting those who wish to speak with us within our temple atop the mountain of the Cloud Peaks. . .

Be mindful of the Giants. . .

~Lord Cold Circle~

[Jepop]

Harjo steps off a newly arrived ship in the harbor. He looks around for a moment, taking in the familiar scenery of Roaringshore. He takes in a deep breath, then mutters to himself. It's good to be home.

[TheTwiste11491]

Many riders of the Ebon Blade. are sent our passing out and hanging up this notice along the coast.

[Planehopper]

---

Ebon Blade Daily - Recruitment Runs

Having returned from their first run, the Riders took few days to rest their steeds and tend to them. In that time some preparations were made.

This eve, shortly after sunset, the Horsemen could have been seen riding out again. Orders take them far and wide along the Coast. In each of the designated stops, they make sure to nail and secure posters to the local notice boards, inside taverns, and on the road signs.



The Riders tell anyone who asks that The Ebon Blade Mercenary Company is recruiting again.

(((OOC Credits:
Artwork: Planehopper
Content: Planehopper/MedalOfValor/TheTwiste11491
Please note: All characters are welcome. Preferably, however, we would like the recruits to be main characters of nonchaotic alignment. Any questions can be directed to Planehopper or TheTwiste11491

[Israe]

Rumors circulate about a scene outside of the Broken Goblet. Apparently a blood-bath took place, with a downed drow and Northern woman trying to get her aid as Knife-Ears appeared. Apparently the Knife-Ears demanded the dark elven womans death, and during the debate the Captain of Hellstorm as well as some orcs showed up, even mages and tieflings. The argument escalated to a Northern Woman punching an elf, at which point she was shot down by another elf. The Captain, having found his excuse apparently pulled out his axe, and started going to town on anything he had an excuse to, leaving the orcs and an elf on the ground in his wake, seeming to enjoy the violence. Afterwards, the elves departed, and the drow is seen leaving with the Captain towards an Inn as the crowd dispersed

[grymhild]

As the rumors begin circulate about the the happenings outside of the Broken Goblet, a large northern warrior woman sits sits at a corner table in the Goblet and drinks heavily. Her clothing stained darkly with blood, she glares at anyone who looks her way.

[The Whistler]

Karn of Holgerstead, captain of the Hellstorm crew and noble privateer of Amn lets it be known up and down the coast that he has captured the infamous drow sorceress Jys'Ssysynstra Sshamath and is willing to ransom her to the highest bidder. The auction is to be held at the Swordarm Inn within a fortnight; interested gentlefolk are requested to leave their weapons at the door and provide reasonable proof that they own at least a million gold in currency or assets.

//Interested parties, please PM me with your available times, so that I can start coordinating. Thank you