Rumors & Events of Baldur's Gate

[mixafix]

The Big City

Baldur's Gate was bigger than Hamlet on the hill, a lot bigger. Why the camp fire outside the Gate seemed bigger. There was a large collection of bandits, rogues, and beggars assembled. Some had more weapons than the entire Hamlet guard. On closer inspection it seems these were in fact out of work adventurers telling tales of past adventure, and promising something for the future. The watchman, resplendent in the colours of Lathander asked a few questions and then shouted out in the off chance the subject of his reluctant visit to the big City was among the crowd. Two things happened. No one replied, fair enough they were perhaps a close knit group, who did not take to strangers. A woman was the subject of a pick pocket attack.

Ah welcome to the big City indeed! He set off after the culprit alongside the woman and her escort. He offered to help and demanded justice for the sake of law and order. To no avail, like no one heard him. The fellow took his chance and ran off, no one felt inclined to pursue him. The duo returned to the camp talking about slaying a bodak. His news could wait. Alone again at the Gate, he looked towards the city and the camp. He shrugged, smiled, "Not for me." he thought and promptly took the road south again.

[Mash]

Some posters are put up on house walls next to the most frequented streets of Baldur's Gate.

The posters feature a crude coal drawing of an elderly commoner man sitting on a richly ornated chair, leaning on one of the armrests in a thoughtful pose.

A text is written beneath the picture in big letters.

Come and hear the humble poetry of Mac, a simple man but blessed with a silver tongue. Every night in the farmlands.

[DivinityDelayed]

There is gossip around that the famed bardess, Iris Sorin, was disguised and competing at the open stage night at the local White Mask theater. Bringing forth a thoughtful poem to the event, she left with some votes, but three others won the crowd over with their more active performances. After the event, and the ruse was up, she was seen happily congratulating the top three contestants and White Mask troupe members before departing for the Helm and Cloak.

[Winterborne]

A blonde man emerges from the House Darius warehouse in the Harbor. He wears elaborate red and black finery, formally and ornately decorated with gold, a red billowing cloak trailing behind him.

He moves with escort of a small handful of House guards in similar finery with a determined stride towards the Duchal palace, a sealed scrolltube in his gloved hands.

He disappears inside the walls and later is seen leaving, looking nervous but hopeful.

[Balthomer]

The graveyard of Baldur's Gate was colder on Ches 19 1355, most of the graves were open and defiled, the air was dank and rotting, eternal darkness tormented the few souls of those who dared to brave the Graveyard that day, for none other than Morgan Blackrose and a mysterious cloaked figure, who called himself Necrolatotep, were there, raising hell and collecting servants for their purposes. Some adventurers were were encountered and watched in awe as they decided to spread the message of terror, some of them encountered Necrolatotep.
He spoke to Kip Bresnia before one of the zealots spoke to him.

"I cannot be caged, I cannot be held"

And teleported away.

[CommanderKrieg]

A blue tiefling with sissors can be seen skulking around the docks with a dish of fish. She feeds the local stray cats. Some would notice long haired cats with little elaborate haircuts walking about.

((DM Soulcatcher: Moved to Appropriate thread))

[Darradarljod]

Rumors begin to spread that a wealthy Zhentarim agent is hiring a band of mercenaries to assault a smugglers den north of Baldur's Gate. The man, Bueroza, had published a small article in the city-state;

The article informed the public that the agent would sign a contract with one man, who was then expected to raise and manage a small team capable of dealing to the task. The group would be awarded a sum of one bag of gold for their service to divide among themselves, a fifty gold bounty per bandit scalp returned...and the promise of future employment.

Those interested in leading or participating in the task force should leave their details for Bueroza at the Helm & Cloak Inn of the Palace District.

OOC: This is a player initiative "quest giver" to generate role-play and encourage party-building for new characters level 1-3. Please submit in-character interest via PM, along with OOC notes re: your GMT and playable times (or approach me in game).

[DaloLorn]

Something unusual has happened at the Blade and Stars inn in the East Gate District. Information may be hard to come by, as there were only a few witnesses, but some of the facts that Hesper could be willing to share (under the right circumstances) include the following:

• Two women were discussing some kind of staff in front of the fireplace. The staff was wooden, with magical carvings etched into its surface and a large crystal suspended in a claw-like structure at the top. Large spikes protrude slightly from its upper half, giving the impression that it has been only partially carved out of a thin branch. (I believe the base appearance is the Staff of Magic Missiles from Sorcerous Sundries; it's the one immediately after the default appearance of the related Staff of Magic Missile.)
• At some point in the conversation, shortly after the staff's owner read some kind of a magic scroll, the staff abruptly burst into flames. The fire seemed to have no effect on the staff or its bearer, and there does not appear to be any damage in the area; nonetheless, both women seemed profoundly distressed by the event, each in their own way. After a short while, the staff's owner retired to her room and has not emerged since.
• The owner of the staff had just checked into the inn the night before, claiming that her stay was - for the moment - being paid for by Pearl Myrlow of the Golden Wheel company. Further inquiries with patrons visiting both the Elfsong and the Blade and Stars may reveal that she had previously been staying at the Elfsong for the better part of the past tenday. (The stay was interrupted for a few days, but when she returned to Baldur's Gate, her clothes were bloodied and badly damaged.)
• Hesper recognized the other woman as Isabella Villame from Candlekeep.

OOC: Edited things a bit now that I've had a chance to check what happened after I logged off.

[Darradarljod]

Rumors begin to spread that a wealthy Zhentarim agent is hiring a band of mercenaries to assault a smugglers den north of Baldur's Gate. The man, Bueroza, had published a small article in the city-state;

The article informed the public that the agent would sign a contract with one man, who was then expected to raise and manage a small team capable of dealing to the task. The group would be awarded a sum of one bag of gold for their service to divide among themselves, a fifty gold bounty per bandit scalp returned...and the promise of future employment.

Those interested in leading or participating in the task force should leave their details for Bueroza at the Helm & Cloak Inn of the Palace District.

OOC: This is a player initiative "quest giver" to generate role-play and encourage party-building for new characters level 1-3. Please submit in-character interest via PM, along with OOC notes re: your GMT and playable times (or approach me in game).

This Zhentarim contract is complete. A small team of adventurers, all recent arrivals to the city-state, were hired and aggressively disrupted the activities of the outlaws.

Property stolen from the Baldurs Gate Merchant League was also seized from the smugglers and returned to its rightful owner by the team for a bonus reward.

Payment for the contract and the fifty-gold-coin bounty per scalp will be dispensed by Agent Bueroza out of the Helm and Cloak Inn.

[Zeland]

Two dark armored figures can be seen walking through the farmlands with a bloody cloth sack, heading into the forest.

For those who would vist Doron Amar a bloody elf head would be on a makeshift stake not far from the entrance.

[Darradarljod]

After the recent disruption of the smuggling ring operating in the Northern Farmlands by local adventurers Carrie, Yohann Lawstar, and Zeeta Thulkist, the Zhentarim wasted no time in raising a pavilion in the very same area. Advertisement of a Zhentarim recruitment drive came by criers in the Harbor district and posters near taverns and sewer entrances throughout the city at large. Travelers might have noticed identical posters recently nailed to trees on the Trade Way.

Zhentarim agents, quills at ready, sat at desks with printed contracts. They primed their tongues in small-talk among themselves, readying to recite expectations and persuade prospective interest into commitments of service. Handpicked foot-soldiers of matching height in impeccably polished steel armor were present. Some stood guard of the agents, and others patrolled to keep order, prevent any interruptions by dissenters and, most importantly, keep orderly lines of interest.

Seen to be seated within the pavilion itself was the herculean knight Bueroza - a wolf among dogs - clearly in command of the initiative. He poured over several scrolls on a table, preoccupied by writing letters.

[DaloLorn]

Another incident has occurred at the Blade and Stars. Once again, direct witnesses are limited, but this incident was more visible than the last:

• During a visit by Felino Fyne and Pearl Myrlow of the Golden Wheel trading company, there was an explosion in room 21 - the room of the woman whose staff had burst into flames a few days earlier. Hesper rushed upstairs at once; the room and much of the furniture had been badly damaged, but there was no danger of any further fire. There was no sign of the woman or her visitors, though.
• Less than an hour later, the trio teleported back into the damaged room, with the Golden Wheel members paying for the damage before departing.
• The young woman stated last night that she would be checking out of her room soon. What prompted this decision is unclear, but it has been accompanied by a noticeable improvement in her disposition; one which, as far as Hesper can tell, has not been completely undone by this latest incident.

OOC: As with Isabella and the last rumor, details are subject to change - especially anything obtained from Hesper, and especially the part about Pearl and Fel dropping Shali off - until I've had a chance to check with Pearl and/or Fel. Still, it's a pretty safe bet that Shali's fireball could be seen or heard through the window, and will therefore have attracted a greater amount of attention from the locals.

EDIT: Fixed Fel's surname. Where the hell did I come up with 'Frye'...? Also, the rumor seems to be quite accurate.

[DM Arrakeen]

After the recent disruption of the smuggling ring operating in the Northern Farmlands by local adventurers Carrie, Yohann Lawstar, and Zeeta Thulkist, the Zhentarim wasted no time in raising a pavilion in the very same area. Advertisement of a Zhentarim recruitment drive came by criers in the Harbor district and posters near taverns and sewer entrances throughout the city at large. Travelers might have noticed identical posters recently nailed to trees on the Trade Way.

Zhentarim agents, quills at ready, sat at desks with printed contracts. They primed their tongues in small-talk among themselves, readying to recite expectations and persuade prospective interest into commitments of service. Handpicked foot-soldiers of matching height in impeccably polished steel armor were present. Some stood guard of the agents, and others patrolled to keep order, prevent any interruptions by dissenters and, most importantly, keep orderly lines of interest.

Seen to be seated within the pavilion itself was the herculean knight Bueroza - a wolf among dogs - clearly in command of the initiative. He poured over several scrolls on a table, preoccupied by writing letters.

Not even two hours have passed since the recruitment drive began when a small Flaming Fist contingent, headed by General Scar, entered the Northern Farmlands. With an ever-present scowl fit to curdle milk upon his grizzled face, he glared ahead. The impeccable double-file formation behind him held its breaths. Finally, he moved again. The man's heavy and decisive strides led him straight to where the Black Network had decided to make an appearance. The sight of the pavilion that had been erected elicited a stream of grumbled swearing, his men shifting wordlessly on their feet in response to the veritable steam that seemed to issue from the General's reddened ears.

"Who in the nine hells authorized this rotting piffle?!" he bellowed, gesturing crisply with one hand in a militaristic way to signal to his men. Without hesitation, the soldiers began to fan out, ready to canvas the area in search of the one brave enough to dare it.

[Darradarljod]

Not even two hours have passed since the recruitment drive began when a small Flaming Fist contingent, headed by General Scar, entered the Northern Farmlands. With an ever-present scowl fit to curdle milk upon his grizzled face, he glared ahead. The impeccable double-file formation behind him held its breaths. Finally, he moved again. The man's heavy and decisive strides led him straight to where the Black Network had decided to make an appearance. The sight of the pavilion that had been erected elicited a stream of grumbled swearing, his men shifting wordlessly on their feet in response to the veritable steam that seemed to issue from the General's reddened ears.

"Who in the nine hells authorized this rotting piffle?!" he bellowed, gesturing crisply with one hand in a militaristic way to signal to his men. Without hesitation, the soldiers began to fan out, ready to canvas the area in search of the one brave enough to dare it.

At news of the arrival, the large Thayan was roused out of dictating his letters to the scribe.

"Mercenaries," he muttered contemptuously.

Taloned gauntlets seized the armrests of his chair to heave his armored body up from his desk where he had rest himself in the shade of the pavilion. Bueroza took a certain rolled parchment from his desk and moved outside slowly. It was needful that he bowed his dark head of hair to clear the tent entrance to present himself standing in the light of day. The knight might have struck an imposing figure, for his abominable physique and the proportionately grand burnished and ornate full plate-mail that dressed the herculean man. Muscles of his pit-bull jaw were clenched, pulsing with naked irritation, as the kohl-lined eyes of a primitive and warrior-like face located those of the master-tactician, Scar.

"Problem, General Harold Loggerson?"

[DM Chant]

At news of the arrival, the large Thayan was roused out of dictating his letters to the scribe.

"Mercenaries," he muttered contemptuously.

Taloned gauntlets seized the armrests of his chair to heave his armored body up from his desk where he had rest himself in the shade of the pavilion. Bueroza took a certain rolled parchment from his desk and moved outside slowly. It was needful that he bowed his dark head of hair to clear the tent entrance to present himself standing in the light of day. The knight might have struck an imposing figure, for his abominable physique and the proportionately grand burnished and ornate full plate-mail that dressed the herculean man. Muscles of his pit-bull jaw were clenched, pulsing with naked irritation, as the kohl-lined eyes of a primitive and warrior-like face located those of the master-tactician, Scar.

"Problem, General Harold Loggerson?"

General Scar's nostrils flared. He squared his shoulders, puffed out his chest and drew up his fingers into implacable fists. With a slanted gaze, the man stared Bueroza full in the face. The line of his jaw was more than firm; it was etched in stone. "Yes. We do have a problem," he drawled. "You lot must be thicker than the skin on a bugbear's arse to think a bleeding recruitment drive would fly without Ducal permission. Since when does the Black Network beg forgiveness instead of asking for permission outright?" Scar sneered. "You the one in charge of all this, boy?"