Rumors of the Southern Sword Coast

[JustAnotherGirl]

Those passing along the tradeway south of the Friendly Arms Inn and toward Candlekeep would smell the aroma of a variety of meats roasting. The scent seems to be wafting from a small grove just off the tradeway.

[DM Spartacus]

Cloakwood snaps back into whatever passes for normality these days. The Knights have long since left to polish their armour elsewhere. The Druids resume their critical control of their part of the wild woods. Notwithstanding the missing letter word circulates the druids had facilitated some cult in a search for lost lore. But other explorers beat them to the search and made off with some ancient books. The cultists fell or fled, the Druids job done returned to their haunts.

The leaves blow in the wind once again.

[Almarea90]

*A tiefling in blue robes bearing the symbols of Candlekeep can be seen attaching the following page in the noticeboards of Candlekeep, Baldur's Gate, Soubar, Beregost, Nashkel and Greenest*

Coastal Chronicles - Ches 1358 DR Year of the Shadow


Ches

Triel passes some regulation to put authority in Civil hands.
The project of the Order of the Radiant Heart to build a bridge across the River Chiontar continues.
Despite the recent increase in the activity of Shadow Druids and Dopplegangers in the Cloakwoods, some of the forest seems to be reflourishing.
Rumors circulate about necromancers activity on the Wyvern Hills and their recovery of a necromantic artefact consequently brought east.

1st Ches, Ulgoth's Beard - A group of adventurers confronts the Aboleth that has been plaguing Ulgoth's Beard for the past year and its dominated thralls. It seems that some agreement is reached and the creature agrees to leave and never come back.

1st Ches, Baldur's Gate - Dreadlord Selengil Harkonis holds a speech to the people of Baldur's Gate, publicly condemning the acts of the previous Dreadlords and claiming his efforts were only aimed to bring prosperity to the common folk.

1st Ches, Baldur's Gate - The Dukes of Baldur's Gate return from their journey to Waterdeep. The events of their meeting with Lord Piergeiron are still unknown.

2nd Ches, Doron Amar - The elven village is looking for skilled trackers and hunters to investigate the changes in the monster population in the surrounding woods.

3rd Ches, Kraak Helzak - An agreement is signed between the dwarven settlement and the mercenary company of the Blue Lantern.

3rd Ches, Baldur's Gate - The City Watch opens its ranks to adventurers.

3rd Ches, Baldur's Gate - The Ducal Court takes place. The topic discussed are the famine in the city, workers rights, the security of the road, the expansion on the farmlands, the change in leadership of Doron Amar, the bridge on the Chiontar and, at length, the renewed treaty with the Zhentarim. It is notable the presence of Lady Alustriel Silverhand of Silverymoon and High Lady Dragonbreast of Berdusk, or representatives of the Commons and Chalice of Siamorphe for the first time at Court. Many are moved by the speech of sister Ashenie Darakh of the Temple of Ilmater and support the driven words against the Black Network of Ser Alexander Holgart of the Triadic Collective.

4th Ches, Baldur's Gate - By the order of Duke Belt, Gond's techsmiths are asked to aid in the new shipbuilding project.

6th Ches, Baldur's Gate - The campaign of the Halls of Inner Lights to recruit workers and guards for the expansion of the farmlands officially starts.

11th Ches, Baldur's Gate - A crowd of people gathers outside of the Halls of Inner Light to sign on for the new project for the expansion of the Farmlands.

12th Ches, Cloakwood - The Shadow Druids retreat to hidden caves in the area.

13th Ches, Soubar - A large amount of goods from Amn passes through Soubar on its way to Fort Prominence.

16th Ches, Wood of Sharpteeth - The orcs start fortifying their caves. It is rumored members from a neighboring tribe joined them to expand their territory. This is further corroborated by an omen shared by a priest of Selune about an imminent siege of the Friendly Arm Inn.

16th Ches, Cloakwood - People start investigating the whereabouts of the Shadow Druids.

17th Ches, Wood of Sharpteeth - A tentacled creature is seen while interrogating an orc. When the orcs attack, two men who are passing by fight side by side with the creature. After the orcs are defeated they go separate ways. A druid is found dead half way to the Friendly Arm Inn.

17th Ches, Cloakwood - Following the protracted defeats of the Shadow Druids at the end of a group of Knights, some creature of the woods ally with the former. These creatures as well fall at the hands of the knights.

18th Ches, Woods of Sharpteeth - The orcish army and their chief are quickly dispatched by a group of known figures. Rhaeg of the Commons and Oth Neren among them.

19th Ches, Lion's Way - The Equinox celebration held by the Green Enclave takes place at the local grove.

22nd Ches, Woods of Sharpteeth- The Knights seem to have left the woods. At the same time the druids, who now control the woods again, are rumored to have aided a cult for some hidden lore.

24th Ches, Reaching Woods - Statues of gnolls engaged in battle start appearing in the woods.

26th Ches, Baldur's Gate - Duke Entar Silvershield and Duchess Liia Jannath are seen leaving the city and travelling towards Waterdeep.

29th Ches, Baldur's Gate - An elderly man is killed during the night, his throat ripped out. On the same day, another man is stabbed by a robed woman after he delivered her flowers in the market district.

Author's note: if anything is incorrect or missing, do not hesitate to contact me.

In faith,
Scribe Edelgarde Spades

((OOC Disclaimer: If you would like something added in future works feel free to send me a PM or poke me on discord. In order for me to avoid involuntarily metagaming I kindly ask that the request is delivered as follows:

- Either IC (missive or in game if you prefer)
- Or OOC with a link to the relevant rumor post in the forum

A huge heartfelt thank you to the community for filling the server with wonderful stories))

[Ashenie]

Strange rumors attracts the procession of a hooded Ilmatari and a masked Paladin over the Grave of Ser William Billy Williams. The Ilmatari spends time washing the paved stones and gathering the dirt and dried flowers. Candles are lit to honor the dead, and a prayer of care, almost sung as a lullaby, vows attention to the dead. The two are later joined by travelers, stopping to hear the last words of the payers. The blessing seems renewed.

[Eliasz_Kowalski]

Dreadful rumours are spreading around the Friendly Arm Inn regarding the sacred grove in the Lion's Way. It seems the once tranquil place has been desecrated in the most foul of ways. A blood sacrifice was performed there by an unknown evil-doer for reasons yet to be discovered.

Three frightened adventurers claim they were made unwilling participants in this horror. They say they were lured into the sacred grove by a stranger with convincing promises of rest and solace. Oddly enough, he told them of some kind of offerings he was about to make. He also talked about the Crying God whose wounds never stopped bleeding for all of them. Yet, weary after an uneven battle with gnolls in the hills of the Lion's Way, the unsuspecting heroes of this story followed the shady figure into the grove to the stranger's promise to illuminate their path with the light of truth that splits all our lies.

And then the horror began. After a short rest in the peaceful grove, the hooded man told them the truth. They were the offering. While one of the party members managed to escape, the other two, a wise dwarven priest and a cheeky human warlock found themselves stuck in the grove turned into a nightmarish landscape in an instant with a menacing summoning circle under their feet and an altar clearly devoted to some evil deity in the middle of it. Worst of all, after an initial attempt to subdue the treacherous stranger, the unfortunate two, to their dismay, saw the mage disappear into thin air right before their eyes. Instead, a giant snake took his place, big enough to devour them whole as the mocking voice told them from the shadows.

When the duo of unlucky travellers thought things couldn't get worse for them, they were made an offer that made their blood run cold. The invisible figure gave them two options: they could willingly sacrifice a portion of their blood on the altar or have it all taken from them by force. The warlock rebelled against such a proposition and tried to fight the giant snake looking at him with hungry eyes. Yet, he was no match to the foul beast and only his dwarven friend's divine magic kept him alive after a swift, gruesome fight. Reluctantly, both adventurers agreed to participate in the offering as the stranger called it. They received a dagger from his hands and let their blood run freely on the sinister-looking altar. It was done. And once more, the words of the wicked mage made chill run down their spines. "The blood given willingly is so much more powerful than taken by force". Despite all his maliciousness, the stranger was ready to honour their deal and set the two free. Yet, the insolent human foolishly tried to defile the altar and almost got himself and his dwarven companion killed. All of a sudden, skeleton monstrosities began to rise from the summoning circle right in the sacred grove and made the unfortunate two run for their lives, screaming in terror.

More than that, having thoughtlessly returned to the Lion's way a day later, the dwarven priest and his other friend were puzzled when they discovered a snake following them. And when to the dwarf's utter horror it started talking to him, offering him to join the hooded stranger and sacrifice his friend's life in return for unimaginable power, this whole macabre endeavour once again sent him running as far away from the hills south of the Inn as possible. The dwarf nimbly managed to blow up the snake with a firebomb before he left, though. Yet it was a futile attempt to end the madness, as the two hastily leaving the Lion's Way were followed by a spine-chilling laughter and words that concluded that eerie story for them. "I want to see suffering."

And that is the disturbing story told by the group of unlucky travellers who went fighting gnolls and found themselves in the middle of a nightmare. The sacred grove desecrated, three seasoned adventurers lost in a horrific landscape painted for them by the hand of a blood-crazed madman, and the rumours of dreadful events transpiring around the Friendly Arm Inn growing wilder with each passing day.

From the accounts of eyewitnesses and stories circulating around the Inn, written down by a humble unnamed traveller.

[DM Spartacus]

More comfortable rumours circulate around Lions way that a small group of Druids on their way to the Cloakwood called at the shrine to plant trees and flowers. There efforts at dedicated the shrine appear to have had some success. Several animals were called from their hiding to be given food from the druids. If anyone was reassured by these actions though it is less clear hidden behind a growth of thorns.

These rumours barely reached the edge of the circle let alone the Friendly Arms Inn such is the way of things.

The druids moved on after to the cloakwood to discuss the latest developments with local druids there. There was a general consensus recent incidents aside the general state of the cloakwood was continuing to improve though it retained a wild and generous element to it. The Lions way shrine remains a more contentious issue and one that has seen many events over the years of strange and varied nature. The future there remains more uncertain, nonetheless the flowers grew.

[JustAnotherGuy]

If something can be desecrated, it can be consecrated. With this thought in mind, a green haired druid emerges from the Cloakwood, heading to the grove in question. There, he performs rites of growth, protection, and renewal.

While there, he also talks to the fey who are known to inhabit the grove, as well as the animal protectors of the grove, to ask why they didn't step in and to get a description of the perpetrator. The druid seems concerned that one could so easily walk into a protected area and perform such acts; and who would be so bold as to even try such an ignorant act. Maybe they were unaware that the druids could simply ask the denizens of the grove and find out exactly who did it?

After his rites are complete, he moves off; still pondering these questions as he readies himself for an upcoming meeting with the Green Enclave.

[RoseMiriel]

*In the last eve people in or near the deeper cloak wood could see birds fly off a towering treant with a blighted appearance of rot appeared towering over the smaller trees it was causing fires as it attacked the woods, a trio who appeared out of a rabbit hole fought the blighted treant and when it fell lava exploded out of its remains. As the lava and flame spread the three worked to suffocate the flames and entrench the lava from spreading digging made faster with shape and size altering transmutation magix. A dance one offered to and cleanse any blight from the area that same one spoke to the trees and animals to spread a warning of danger to the other woods of the coast.*

[Almarea90]

*A tiefling in blue robes bearing the symbols of Candlekeep can be seen attaching the following page in the noticeboards of Candlekeep, Baldur's Gate, Soubar, Beregost, Nashkel and Greenest*

Coastal Chronicles - Tharsakh 1358 DR Year of the Shadow


Tarsakh


1st Tarsakh, Baldur's Gate - Thorak (banditry), Matthew (necromancy), Ethis Samos (murder), Lynn Valma (poisoning and murder) are due to be executed in the upcoming tenday.

2nd Tarsakh, Fortress Westmarch - The Lord's Alliance marches in forces and easily takes the fortress, they then continue forward towards Darkhold.

2nd Tarsakh, Winding Way - Increased activity of the Whitewood Vanguard is witnessed on the Winding Way and in the lands north of Baldur's Gate.

2nd Tarsakh, Baldur's Gate - A child disappears from his house during the night. Before his disappearance, the child laments several times the presence of a creature with flaming eyes and antlers.

3rd Tarsakh, Baldur's Gate - The Breaking, a local celebration of the day the last ice breaks, takes place at the Harbor. The dukes attend with offers for the population, thanking those organization that provided vital support during the crisis of this winter. This year, the celebration also marks the end of the food shortage in the city.

4th Tarsakh, Along the Chiontar - The beginning of the works to build the bridge across the Chiontar East of Baldur's Gate is officially marked by the establishment of a worker camp with supplies and a meeting between the involved parties.

8th Tarsakh, Boareskyr Bridge - An altercation takes place between the Zhentarim skymages and likely a Black dragon, judging from the acidic breath wyverns and skymages were drenched in. Most of the bridge still stands.

10th Tarsakh, Northern Lands - The Hellriders and Red Shields cross the River Reaching, although the bulk of the army comes from Asbrvan is still travelling towards Hluthvar. A group of 500 orcs from Uruk Lurra attacks an outpost of Elturel and Scornubel but are quickly overwhelmed.

11th Tarsakh, Baldur's Gate - The Grand Knight of the Order of the Radiant Heart is seen at the head of his men heading towards Fort Triel. Rumors circulate of a deal between House Sashenstar and the Chiontar Charter & Seaward Supply. After the mysterious disappearance of two more children, the patrols of the City Watch are increased.

11th Tarsakh, Tradeway - Many signs are knocked down by something with hooves. Even though many suspect the local wildlife, traces of a partially smoked cigar point at a humanoid vandal.

18th Tarsakh, Tradeway - The perpetrator of the vandalism acts towards the signs on the Tradeway is identified as an awakened deer, known for its consumption of alcohol and cigars.

15th Tarsakh, Greenest - The Windride, Shaundakun holy day, takes place.

16th Tarsakh, Baldur's Gate - A work of art belonging to House Anjinson is stolen, however the thief is apprehended by a group of adventurers.

18th Tarsakh, Friendly Arm Inn - The tomb of Ser Billy is desecrated by an unknown perpetrator.

19th Tarsakh, Nashkel - The elves Antares and Elquendi save a family of the Western Heartlands from the Zhentarim occupied territory and bring them to safety in Nashkel.

20th Tarsakh, Friendly Arm Inn - The tomb of Ser Billy is reconsecrated by members of various churches. Ilmateri and selunites among them. Guards at the Friendly Arms are now taking shifts on the walls to watch over the tomb.

22nd Tarsakh, Baldur's Gate - A trade agreement is signed between House Divine and the Whitemask Theater that names the former their sole provider of textiles.

22nd Tarsakh, North of Baldur's Gate - A Zhentarim scout camp is attacked by the Whitewood Vanguard, who departs with a prisoner of war.

23rd Tarsakh, River Chiontar - Fourty soldiers of the Order of the Radiant Heart are now stationed at the construction site of the bridge to fend off any orcish attack.

23rd Tarsakh, Lion's Way - The druidic grove is desecrated by an unknown cultist accompanied by a giant snake. The cultist apparently lured two travelers and spilled their blood during an unholy ritual.

23rd Tarsakh, Corm Orp - The Hellriders and Red Shields occupy the village.

23rd Tarsakh, Reaching Woods - A black dragon attacks the lumberers of the Lord's Alliance with a spry of acid killing most of them and severely damaging the surrounding forested area.

24rth Tarsakh, Lion's Way - The druidic grove is soon reconsecrated by the Archdruid of the Green Enclave.

25th Tarsakh, Baldur's Gate - The dukes announce that the treaty with the Zhentarim is broken and that they will stand with the Lord's Alliance. The Black's Network replies accusing Baldur's Gate of breaking their commitments and requires they payment of 50% concession on taxes on the import and sale of all Zhentarim luxury items for a period of six months of the year of 1358.

25th Tarsakh, River Chiontar - A group of renegade orcs guided by a troll necromancer raids a caravan near the bridge construction site, but is defeated by the Order of the Radiant Heart. An ancient elven dagger and a recipe book are recovered.

26th Tarsakh, Baldur's Gate - John Smythe of the Chionthar Charter & Seaward Supply Co. is offered a contract by House Sashenstar but he, according to the rumors, refuses. The company however, appears now busy between Elturel and Iriaebor.

26th Tarsakh, Baldur's Gate - A giant crab is summoned in the Eastern Farmlands. The identity of the summoner is yet unknown.

28th Tarsakh, Baldur's Gate - A trade agreement is signed by House Sashenstar and a House from Elturel that will, according to the rumors, boost the influx of food in the city. House Sashenstar is also aiming to fit the newly developed ice breakers in their fleet.

28th Tarsakh, Cloakwood - A blighted Treant is defeated by a group of three people who allegedly came out of a rabbit hole.

Author's note: if anything is incorrect or missing, do not hesitate to contact me.

In faith,
Scribe Edelgarde Spades

((OOC Disclaimer: If you would like something added in future works feel free to send me a PM or poke me on discord. In order for me to avoid involuntarily metagaming I kindly ask that the request is delivered as follows:

- Either IC (missive or in game if you prefer)
- Or OOC with a link to the relevant rumor post in the forum
))

[Eliasz_Kowalski]

1st of Mirtul, DR1358

Travellers passing the Friendly Arm Inn share a troubling story. Apparently, a group of adventurers exploring the depths of the Hilltop Ruins encountered something they were hardly prepared to face.

Half a dozen or so of aspiring heroes stumbled upon a summoning circle deep within the ruins. While they were trying to figure out how it had got there, a creature suddenly appeared in the middle of the circle. It looked like a tall man with long white hair, clad in steel armour and holding two enchanted swords in his hands. "Welcome, brothers. Welcome, sisters. Have you come to honour the master and give the offerings?" were the outsider's first words. Someone obviously from the Planes, the group decided. A celestial, maybe? He seemed friendly. And then a frightening proposal was made. The creature was not from the celestial planes, after all.

The adventurers were given two options. To come into the circle willingly and spill their blood, thus, making the offering. "The master is generous enough to grant you your lives in return." Failing to comply, the adventurers still had another offering to give. The offering to the dead. After some hesitation, the whole group refused to obey the outsider's ominous commands. "The choice has been made", proclaimed the steel-clad warrior and raised his swords.

Then a tense battle ensued between the outsider and the adventurers. None of the group was a match to the fiendish creature, but together they finally managed to prevail. Amidst chaos, it was hard to say how many of the heroes were wounded, perished or managed to escape. Those who were still standing after the uneven fight, heard an eerie voice from the shadows. "The offerings have been made. The offering of blood. The offering of flesh. Thank you, brothers and sisters. You've done well tonight." Still shaken after the battle, the group failed to subdue the shadowy figure they'd caught only a glimpse of and were left with nothing but malicious laughter echoing in the ruins' halls.

After it was all over, the perplexed heroes had to tend to their gravely wounded companions and look for those who had scattered among the ruins. The mysterious masked figure that clearly was the master of the mighty devil they'd defeated was nowhere to be found. "He did get his blood, though..." was one of the heroes' clever remark that brought closure to the unexpected and unnerving adventure they got to experience that day.

From the accounts of eyewitnesses and stories circulating around the Inn, written down by a humble unnamed traveller.

[JustAnotherGirl]

The High Ranger could be spotted in the Cloakwoods with a beautiful peregrine falcon on her arm. The falcon had strips of leather hanging from around her foot. It seemed the pair were working together. Some time later Ashling and the falcon could be seen stepping into a nearby tree. The ranger seemed pleased.

[YourMoveHolyMan]

“I’m afraid to go to sleep. I’m afraid my dead friends will come to me, and that seeing them will kill me.”

— Stephen King

Dunn's head hits the pillow after a day of rambling roads and minding the logistics of the Whitewood Vanguard. No rest came that night however, someone, somwhere, had made plans against any hope of a restful night's sleep.

Next he knew, a woman of contrasting ideals stood at the foot of the bed. His usual companion no longer in the room. Instead, a terrible beauty wearing a dress of bone, a myriad of mismatched charms, and a fashioned skull mask. She looked at him coldly, red eyes shining in a baleful light, before removing her face's cover. She learned forward, removing her mask as she said, in acidic tone,

"Betrayer."

The light bled from the room then, the firepit in the corner losing all its warmth and its soft, orange glow. Until all was black, no real transition between being in his tavern to being back on the bridge, the darkness suddenly lit violently by the crashing of catapult's deliverance, sparks and embers littering the bridge around him. He was back in the battle and scrambling to get onto his feet attached to legs that didn't quite work right. The sounds of war raging rang with blurred faces and shapes moving all around, never really in focus or out, just that blurry dreamscape.

His sword was in hand, the memory of drawing it evaded him, but it was there all the same, and he was back in the fight, charging the line of defenders. He could smell the smoke and fire, the coppery scent of blood as it was spilled, the cacophony of sounds that was a battle in full motion. A defender's back was to him and he wasted no time in sliding the sword through a gap in the man's defenses.

And then the man looked at him, but was suddenly much shorter in stature than what he recalled in the flash of dreamtime. Wasn't that he was short for a man, average or just above so for a hin. He wore the trappings of an Ebon Blade mercenary, a rook's skull charm dangling around his neck. The blade had struck true though despite the not-quite right change in size between target, and the man dying on Dunn's blade point.

Blood trickled out the corner of the hin's mouth, as Dunn dropped the weapon to grab the dying man as he fell. The hin looked up at Dunn and said, "Do you remember what I told him? Aye, and I heard yer dad was a pig, dun make it true, does it? Was the Heart's blade that did me in. And then you fell for one, didn'tcha? Made up all nice and tidy and neat and forgot your partner. Did you think of me at all when you knocked boots? You might as well have swung the blade yourself, betrayer. How many did you get?"

The sound of battle was just ringing in Dunn's ears then, and he looked about. Dead Ebon Blade mercenaries littered the fort's grounds, scores of them, hundreds, piled atop one another all the way up the hill and toward the road to Soubar. Dunn looked back at Drogo dead or dying in his arms. The ringing in his ears turned to the howl of wind, and Drogo turned ashen gray, then began to crumble to dust, and blew away with the coming gust. All of it did, the dead, the litter of the battlefield, the fort and even the stones of the bridge all began to be swept away as the nightmare came to a crashing end.

He sit up sharply in his bed, breathing hard and sweating. No further rest came that eve. Later, over a mug of hot kaeth, he met with his counsel and discussed what he remember of what had transpired.

[YourMoveHolyMan]

“I think this story is about Hell. A version of it where you are condemned to do the same thing over and over again. Existentialism, baby, what a concept; paging Albert Camus. There’s an idea that Hell is other people. My idea is that it might be repetition.”
― Stephen King, Everything's Eventual: 14 Dark Tales

A few days of nightmares were taking their toll on the man, and he actively fought against sleep on the third evening, a kettle of kaeth having produced many cups for him, long after it had cooled. He was admiring the blue clay mug in his hand, remembering something he'd been told years ago about blue pottery, and pondering the next steps in a near drunken state of restlessness. That worn out, greasy feeling that comes when there isn't proper rest over the course of a few days. He didn't remember going to sleep sitting up in the rooms couch, but he did, all the same. Just before he did, the thought occurred to him, it was this tenday, two years ago now since....

"Reveal yourself, or watch in horror!" The two headed king loudly pronounced. Dunn lay flat on his belly in the low grass, a woman of the Northern Watch, and a second of the Radiant Heart perched in other hiding places near at hand, all transfixed on the sight before them. Cages filled with prisoners and refugees, caught by the Troll King Hewbert's forces.

"I'm over here!" Dunn said, giving up his position and lifting his hands, moving from behind some wreckage as Hebert plucked a young boy from one of the open aired pens. The troll king grinned a wicked grin that might have looked yards long, a great, hulking tower of green flesh, he held the dangling boy up near his mouth. "I'm here! Let them go!"

"You will come out and speak or I will start a feast! Do not think you have power of commands here human! I swear on the trolls themselves, if you play your cards correctly..... you will leave here alive, and with prisoners. Now, come here." The King bid, and Dunn obeyed, standing in the open between the pens. He could see Aesa, another prisoner of the King's court near.

"I wish to make you and your people understand, that I and my people will not stop, we will not give, until we have what we want, and as such, we will play a game.... what is your name human?" The dreamscape did little to obscure the foul king's features, he was yet a sharp image in the mind's eye.

"Michael Dunn." He replied, succinctly, his expression dour at the circumstances.

"Step forward, you will not be harmed, you will need a closer view for what is about to happen next." The King might have been a showman beggaring audience.

"You are the lucky savor today Michael Dunn... you get to choose who lives.... and who dies..... Those you deem to survive will, and you have my word, will be allowed to leave here with you." The King then plucked up an old man, the boy yet in his other and dangerously close to one head containing a maw full of misshapen but viciously sharp teeth. The quiet head with its visible hunger, while the other continued to speak.

"Now.... choose who lives."

Dunn was a spectator to this dream, this recurring nightmare, he'd been here several times in the years since. Though never with this much clarity. That younger Dunn chose the older man to die, allowing the boy to live, unable to look up at either as he made his decision. That is what happened that day. Only this time, instead of wails and fearul inarticulation, the man looked directly at Dunn, and spoke in simple clarity, outside the events of that wretched day.

"I had a family and three young children. Their mother passed last winter and I did all I could to support them on our farm. They were sent to Baldur's Gate well before the trolls found me, toiling the land to keep them fed, and in clothes." He said, before being consumed. The boy is let go to cower in fear nearby, and two more victims are chosen. A middle aged man and another young boy.

Dunn again, chooses the older of the pair to die. That is what happened that day. Though, in this hellscape of a dream, the man said, as troll teeth consumed flesh and bone with ease,

"I was a good man with a simple life, better than yours, betrayer."

"Ooo - I'm nearly full, Michael Dunn." The bottomless pit of a king cackled as he licked his fingers clean. The second boy placed down near the first. This time, the King picked up Aesa, Aesa of the Radiant Heart, and Farmer Thorn of Baldur's Gate. "Choose!" Hewbert crowed.

"I'm sorry." Dunn said, to one of them.

Aesa strained in the grasp of the mountainous troll, she cried out in defiance at the beast. "Me! Choose me! Eat me you sack of potatoes!"

Hewbert, matter of factly replied, "I wanted to eat you anyway."

"No regrets... one more for those I couldn't..." Aesa said, those were her final words, but then, she too, looked right at Dunn.

"No regrets except having you there as my failed savior. What friend allows this to happen? Do you even remember me? How quickly the dead are forgotten, Michael Dunn. They'll not mourn your passing either."

"They'll dance on your grave." The talking head grinned, twin sets of razor teeth set into Aesa, before the grip of dream was done with him that eve.

[Sigrid Trygg]

Sigrid stumbled out of the woods and fell to her knees. Blood soaked the neckline of her clothes and spotted her blue scarf. She buried her face in her hands and wept, the sound guttural and primal. Whatever it was she had just experienced, she felt it in the core of her being. After several long moments, she took a few shaky breaths and pulled herself to her feet. With tear-streaked cheeks and eyes that now carried a haunted look, she headed toward the Friendly Arms Inn. Her steps were heavy and slow, but she moved with purpose.

[wangxiuming]

With a deep breath, Osric begins to disassemble his armor.

The vambraces are first, the pauldrons next. Silver mithral glimmers under the rays of sun that pierce the Cloakwood's forest canopy. Leather straps are unbuckled and loosened. Dull thuds sound on the forest floor with each piece of abandoned finery. His chain shirt clinks against its own accouterments as the last vestiges of his carefully-put together ensemble are discarded to the dirt.

His favored dagger - Puck's Tongue - is thrown resentfully into the ground, barely any of its blade not buried.

He has only his smallclothes now. Even under the midday sun, goosebumps form on his skin. No one else is present, none that he can see at least. And even so, his cheeks flush with the thought of what he is about to do.

As he dances, arms flailing, legs tripping over himself in the most ludicrous performance that one could possibly imagine, he begins to sing his questions to the dagger before him:

"Tell me, my dagger, tell me where to find the Blighter, the Lady of Green's Blighter, the one that dared to escape her!"
"Open my eyes, my dagger, cast the light - where to find the Nellek, the Old Soul that can heal the blight!"
"Reveal to me, my dagger, I beg thee - how do we slay the Blighter, this being none seem able to find, to see!"
"Sing to my, my dagger, my patron - how do we heal the Old Soul, our hope to save us from destruction!"