Rumors & Events of Baldur's Gate

[LivT]

Farmers might call it a miracle, but those who spoke with High Lady Alyssia would learn it was the work of three druids: Iolanna, Rowan, and Sylvia.

At dawn the trio had met in the very heart of the sweeping farmlands, singing a ritual in the name of Chauntea and Eldath. Witnesses from afar would describe sunlight blooming from where they worked, and as the hours crept on, the farms and crops began to grow lush and green...

First the fast-growing spring crops bloomed, a bounty of leafy greens, spinach, beans, radishes and turnips. But then the magic spread further still, reaching out in tendrils; fields of corn and grain, orchards, even pastures were nourished by the sacred Druidic magic.

The three cast their spell for a full eight hours, and by the end of it, over three square miles of farmland were healed and blooming, as if never touched by the storms. The land is sure to provide twice their usual harvest, and the magic will endure a full year from the day.

Lady Alyssia helped direct the hungry and eager farmers, providing light for them as they harvested their spring crops even into the night; the first great bounty of food begins to abate the famine, and promises a great Greengrass to come.

A few merry farmers could be heard singing a little prayer overheard from one of the druids as they harvested:

We call the Mother of the Earth,
And welcome spirits of rebirth,
Let this land now thrive and grow,
So we might reap what we sow!

Thank you DM Spectrum

[EhpicFellure]

Chips tries to care for her fellow hin, Lynx, whose life ebbs away with fatal wounds suffered during a drow ambush in the troll claws.

---

She kneels just inside the gate to Soubar, mixed feelings of anger, sadness, and loneliness on her face as she silently cries. No one offered to help her or her kin in that place when they stumbled in through the gate. "Lynx, I'll get ya tricone and that little letter inside to Vino, just as ya asked." She picks up Lynx over her shoulders... barely able to carry the Hin and makes her way out of Soubar towards the Gate.

After a harrowing evasive journey through Thunder's Ride, she makes her way through the farmlands into Baldur's Gate to the Temple of Illmater. Exhausted, she gratefully accepted help from a farmer who paused his work in the fields to carry Lynx the rest of the way to the temple.

Presenting Lynx's body to the priests for life restoring blessings, she is seen pleading with priests, "You have to help her! She can't be gone!" Later, Chips is seen sitting alone in the temple silently mourning the loss of one of her own. After a long while, she slowly gets up to seek out the one known as Vino.

To any who inquired during her travels and later to those around the campfire, she'll share the tale and a warning.

"The drow killed Lynx in da Claws, just north of the burnt-out village close to the caves full of trolls. A lone drow.. vicious and evil with a patch over one eye cut 'er down. It was not enough to gravely wound her, he followed us, taunting as we fled with her life ebbing from her. Her wounds were too grave and she was unable to make it beyond the gate's entrance. If'n he had two eyes and wasn't half blind, he might 'ave cut me down too. If ya travel in the Claws, be wary of Drow."

[sweetlikesplenda]

A patrol through the Fields of the Dead came across a large grouping of Spiders that seemed to be guarding around one of the crypts. These spiders are similar to ones seen in other recent spider attacks. All large, with a few all the larger and stronger then the others. Once put down, a search around the crypt was conducted. After a time, and being unable to find any hints or fully enter the crypt, the search was left and the patrol moved on.

[Xorena]

A stall of Thayan goods does brisk business despite a local knight's attempt to slander their name. Wines and tea sold out, and the merchants with Mulhorandi accents say more may be coming from Thay in the coming tendays.

Several wands exchange hand for coin, with assurances that more will be on offer soon.

[Truthiness]

As talk of the Murder Mystery being postponed is spread, old posters are torn down to be replaced by new flyers, announcing another event. There is still talk of doing a Murder Mystery on some day in the coming weeks.



//Saturday, April 17th at 4pm EST.//

//Murder Mystery had to be postponed due to player unavailability at the time, it will be done later as it's own standalone event, so look forward to that!//

[Alexander Holgart]

An armored figure can be seen frequenting the local Temple of Helm.

He would offer his prayers to the deity and keep in touch with the local priests and clerics for rumours in the city about anything that a former mercenary could help with, or any requests from the Temple itself.

[Torvald Goodmane]

[LivT]

Many farmers encountered the druidess Iolanna today, wandering through the miles of lush farmlands. She would stop to speak with many of them, sometimes accepting small gifts of produce, or giving pouches of healing herbs to the workers. It's not clear what was discussed between she and the workers.

[Alexander Holgart]

The Observing Mercenary.

A tall armored man in his thirties can be seen watching the Temple of Torm from a bit of a distance.

He observes the faithfuls, the clerics and the knights coming in and out of the Temple without saying a word, thoughtful.

After a couple of days of simple observation, probably when starting to feel some mild concern caused by his presence, he seems to approach the clerics but changes his mind and leaves.

He does not show up again the next day.

[Torvald Goodmane]

BEWARE





Beware of Charlatans

Written by: Skye Le'Quella
Illustrated by: Arthur Webber

In the past few tendays an increase of charlatans have been observed in Baldur's Gate. The Ivory Herald was able to interview one of the such. This scoundrel went by the name of Sister Agatha, an "Ilmatari" from the east and sold an assortment of "Divine Air". Her claim was that these meaningless empty bottles were collected from the "Church of the Yellow Glove" where they could do everything from cure baldness to grow hair. When pressed by simple questions including "What is the oath taken by most church members?" The woman became flustered and angry. She stood up and proclaimed "I need to go home and flog myself." As you would imagine this wasn't very fitting to an Ilmatari. This visage was thinner than this piece of parchment you read today. If you ever want to make a donation to a church or clergy, you may always visit a local shrine. Be careful, stay advised, and travel safely.


Production: The Ivory Herald

[Torvald Goodmane]

The Cost of Quality Goods

A Short Perspective Featuring:
Khazark Soni'vaphra Anishtep

Written By: Sky Le'Quella
Artist: Arthur Webber

Since last writing our piece on the rise of charlatans in the area of Baldur's Gate, I was given the opportunity to speak with one of the regions most reliable merchants: Khazark Soni'vaphra Anishtep of the Thayan Enclave. Admittedly at first I was intimated by the red robes and the sheening golden circlet, but as our conversation went on I began to appreciate the integrity the Red Wizard carried in every piece of equipment she sold.

I asked the Khazark how she felt about the recent increase of low quality or falsified goods in the area, and how it has effected sales. She informed me that there has been no loss in sales since the two of them are incomparable. She went on..

"As the Khazark, I have personally assured the quality of the merchandise that our talented artisans produce at the Thayan Enclave of Baldur's Gate. You can tell it was produced here by the sigil upon it"

She showed me the sigil and the craftsmanship was there; a far cry from some of the bottles of air or inept scrolls I've seen promising a miracle. I asked her about the average adventurer and what they could do to buy responsibly in these uncertain times. The Khazark offered some advice:

"For now until the culprit is apprehended, I suggest using merchants they trust. We never sell tampered merchandise at the Enclave."

She went on to donate to the solution with a generous offer in the pursuit of justice.

"I am willing to pay 5,000 gold toward a fund that rewards any who come forward with information that leads to the capture of this person who is selling tampered goods."

And there you have it, Khazark Soni'vaphra Anishtep offers five thousand gold pieces to anyone who may come forth and help bring these charlatans to justice.

I want to thank the Kazark for their time this morning and giving me the chance to do a quick interview. As a reminder the Writer's Showcase Competition is judged on Mithul 10. Thank all of you for your submissions thus far.



Produced by: The Ivory Herald

Hidden: show

Written By: Sky Le'Quella
Artist: Arthur Webber

Since last writing our piece on the rise of charlatans in the area of Baldur's Gate, I was given the opportunity to speak with one of the regions most reliable merchants: Khazark Soni'vaphra Anishtep of the Thayan Enclave. Admittedly at first I was intimated by the red robes and the sheening golden circlet, but as our conversation went on I began to appreciate the attention for detail the Red Wizard carried in every piece of equipment she sold.

I asked the Khazark how she felt about the recent increase of low quality or falsified goods in the area, and how it has effected sales. She informed me that there has been no loss in sales since the two of them are incomparable. And informed me..

"As the Khazark, I have personally assured the quality of the merchandise that our talented artisans produce at the Thayan Enclave of Baldur's Gate. You can tell it was produced here by the sigil upon it"

She showed me the sigil and the craftsmanship was there; a far cry from some of the bottles of air or inept scrolls I've seen promising a miracle. I asked her about the average adventurer and what they could do to buy responsibly in these uncertain times. The Khazark offered some advice:

"For now until the culprit is apprehended, I suggest using merchants they trust. We never sell tampered merchandise at the Enclave."

She went on to donate to the solution with a generous offer in the pursuit of justice.

"I am willing to pay 5,000 gold toward a fund that rewards any who come forward with information that leads to the capture of this person who is selling tampered goods."

And there you have it, Khazark Soni'vaphra Anishtep offers five thousand gold pieces to anyone who may come forth and help bring these charlatans to justice.

I want to thank the Kazark for their time this morning and giving me the chance to do a quick interview. As a reminder the Writer's Showcase Competition is judged on Mithul 10. Thank all of you for your submissions thus far.

[Truthiness]

Word spreads around the docks and the rest of Baldur's Gate that the Red Wizards & those associated with their Enclaves are now banned from entering the Siren's Song.

If any were to try to find out about the recent ban, the Captain of the Siren's Song would be quite open about it. He would freely talk about how one of their members creepily offering to buy a tavern patron as a slave.

[Alexander Holgart]

The Training Squire.

Althalous Fenwick' Squire, Alexander Holgart, can be seen in the Northern Farmlands Arena sparring with a couple of Mystran Knights.

The sparring goes on for long and it is evident that they are not going easy on the young squire.

At the end of the training session Alex is covered in sweat, blood and bruises.

He reluctantly goes back to the Temple with the Knights, to wash and rest.

[Heretic]

The following parchments are posted along the Tradeway between Baldur's Gate and Candlekeep

[Ashenie]

A hooded Sister of the Temple of Ilmater has been seen close to the Headquaters of The Flaming Fist. After watching the soldiers routine and without disturbing them, she enters with a basket full of poultices and herb, oils and ointments to be offered to the soldiers with the care and respect she seems to vow them.