DM Rumors of Baldur's Gate

[DM Soulcatcher]

Dead Magic

Early morning in Baldur's Gate, another magical anomaly caused a small part of the City's wall to turn into a writhing monstrosity of flesh. It is said that it spawned some monsters that adventurers and the Flaming Fist have fought off.

Supposedly, Grand Duke Eltan himself appeared at the scene, as it was happening in the Palace District. Before any further actions were taken, however, the wall returned to normal and the beings spawned simply disappeared.

...It was then that the realisation hit every magic user, both of the Art and the Power. The Weave was absent.

No spells nor magic items- be it swords, wands, potions or trinkets, had any magic in them anymore. As it turned out, it was only on the premises of the city. The surrounding land had experienced the same, albeit unstable, magic as before.


Sages of all things magical have no answer save for one: Due to the duration of Mystra's absence as the Keeper of the Weave, it began to unmake.

[DM Ink]

Just Outside the City

The morning sounds with a group of lumbermen gathering and mapping of lines around trees outside of Ulgoth's Beard. A few soldiers can be spotted keeping watch and protecting the men as they do their work. Those asking around the worksite would be informed the trees are being marked for removal in the next few months in efforts to gather lumber resources for export. Currently the land clearing seems to be at its initial stages, only a couple have been cut down by a bored lumberjack to test the edge on his axe.

[DM Ink]

In the next few days, a message is passed down to the lumberjacks from the Ducal Palace. The lumberjacks cease any cuttings or gatherings of the lumber from the area. Those who inquire will be told, the additional logs will no longer be needed as ordered by Grand Duke Belt.

[DM Ink]

Word to the Wide

Months after the Common's Courtesy has been enacted, dozens of homeless and other vulnerable citizens have received the much needed aid from the stipend. While the funds have come as an expense, the stipend has not come without its difficulties. Some of the more vulnerable populations have struggled to fill out the paperwork required to receive their stipend. Many of the city officials offer to assist those who may require it, but there are a number of homeless uncertain of the process.

"The process is simple." Says Secretary Isengale of the Ducal Palace. "Those who require the aid of the Grand Dukes may fill out a few documents and specify their monetary needs. When the document is evaluated and any requested proof is submitted, the citizen may speak with the chambers just outside of the palace where they will receive their stipend with proof of their finalized documentation."

Several of the citizens speak of the discomfort of seeing ill dressed sometimes sickly citizens walking through the market. Some of the local merchants have increased their prices as to avoid taking what they see as unsavory customers.

A local merchant is quoted saying:

"There is no telling what they're carrying. We aren't dealing with the most educated people of our city. When this stipend inevitably ends we'll be forced to endure another wave of criminals and highwaymen. This is what happens when you give the poor a taste of the good life"

While Fancis Avalar, a textile merchant reflects on the times.

"These are grave times we are living in, where the value of a grand profession is replaced by the laziest few. For shame those who would enact such a burdan. It is no wonder the gods abandoned us"

In response to the stipend the price of goods has steadily gone up, while some merchants have stayed entirely the same. Some of those that receive their stipends are escorted to their homes in the eastern district as criminals of opportunity are said to attack them and steal their gold.

[Ghost]

Announcement of High Court

The Grand Dukes of Baldur's Gate hereby announce a High Court shall be held on the 12th of Uktar, starting at the 8th hour past midday.

Each organisation with courtly access will have one speaking participant and one silent. Members of the public are invited to observe in silence from the gallery.

---

(( Duchal Court event to be held Saturday, 12th of November at 20:00 GMT at the Duchal Palace in Baldur's Gate. We are trying our best here to make this accessible across the world, and as this would be late evening for europeans, it is around midday for west coast america and quite early morning for oceania and east asia. Those legally allowed in Baldur's Gate may observe the Court from the public galley, but may not participate as a delegation in Court. ))

[DM Ink]

A Wise Few

In the coming Tendays, the wide would observe an increase of poor folk looking to buy goods with their stipend. The reports of rogue criminals of opportunity would recede as the system seemed to be working itself out. One criminal taken in by the Flaming Fist felt obligated to turn himself in. Offering no answer when questioned by Flaming Fist, he responded: "Its just not worth it. I'm safer in here."

The prices for goods and mundane items begins to climb again. Some merchants seem to be increasing the amounts out of necessity, while others out of spite. Its hard to tell the difference in some cases.

[DM Ink]

Wails from the Flaming Fist Prison

On a cool autumn evening, Flaming Fist soldiers could be seen rushing from each district towards their headquarters in the harbor district. Screams of panic and shouts of blood lust could be heard throughout the prison cell as soldier's worked tirelessly to stop the recent prison altercation. Reports from soldiers and jailors point to a half orc who had snuck a piece of wood into his cell and killed a guard peacefully delivering the man's food. While the other prisoners were interviewed for a motive, each of them refused to muster a shred of information. While some were less cooperative, others were downright violent in their answers. In a response the Flaming Fist have sentenced the ravenous individuals to death by hanging.

[DM Ink]

Whispers throughout the Eastern District

As a man dressed in long robes preaches the name of the Black Sun, some of the peasants around the city take notice. A few can be heard in taverns and the city market discussing the promise of power spoken in Cyric's name. As the days get shorter and the leaves begin to change color, a small number of merchants in the wide can be seen with trinkets of a Black Sun on their stands. Those few brandishing the imagery of Cyric are not selling the symbols, they regard it as a personal valuable.

[DM Spartacus]

Rumours around the docks report that extra wealth around the docks among the poor mostly has seen small dubious trading pitches created out with the norm. This has drawn traders and rogues alike. Some newly empowered robbers got involved in the robbery of a visiting trader Fylion Glastonferry who was said to have lost a quantity of very rare gems. The gang was driven from the docks by local 'good citizens' apparently.

Rumour has it a bounty was put on the head of the leader Sylas, a follower of Cyric. He was later reported among a group of dead robbers deep in the sewers.

[DM Soulcatcher]

During evening prayer, it is said that the Revered Father Marcus of Ilmater had passed away to the Broken God's paradise. It is said he did so in peace, with a content smile on his face.

Any word about his funeral is forthcoming.

[Ghost]

(( This just to serve as a reminder. The court will start in 2 hours and 22 minutes from this post ))

Announcement of High Court

The Grand Dukes of Baldur's Gate hereby announce a High Court shall be held on the 12th of Uktar, starting at the 8th hour past midday.

Each organisation with courtly access will have one speaking participant and one silent. Members of the public are invited to observe in silence from the gallery.

---

(( Duchal Court event to be held Saturday, 12th of November at 20:00 GMT at the Duchal Palace in Baldur's Gate. We are trying our best here to make this accessible across the world, and as this would be late evening for europeans, it is around midday for west coast america and quite early morning for oceania and east asia. Those legally allowed in Baldur's Gate may observe the Court from the public galley, but may not participate as a delegation in Court. ))

[DM Ink]

The Stilling Tremors of the Sewers

As the tendays move past the number of addicted homeless people is said to have gone down until it has nearly vanished. A number of the homeless recall men and women from the local Ilmater shrine offering aid to tend to the people of the sewers. A red haired bardess is recalled from some of them, who mentioned their interest in helping the small addicted population. Salzar a local homeless man is quoted telling those who walk through the sewers. "Just waiting here for Susan to arrive back from her nap. Susan always wakes up."

[DM Ink]

An Execution in the Farmlands

Today marks the end of another assassin who attempted to kill one of the Council of Four. Lazlo Kern and his his conspirator Bartlot Edwards were put to death outside the city walls. Their deaths were met by hanging and died as unceremoniously as they lived. Flaming Fist Investigations have concluded Edwards impersonated a Flaming Fist soldier as well as helped facilitated the set up between Kern and Grand Duke Belt.

A statement following the executions was released by Grand Secretary Merigold Isengale:

"Assassinations against the Grand Dukes are rather common. Today marks the end of Kern and his associate, the twenty third assassination attempt of this year. Your Grace Grand Duke Belt marks the occasion of his attempt and his death as: "Underwhelming"."

The investigation has officially been closed.

[DM Spartacus]

The city they say is well guarded well patrolled and enjoys the presence of powerful guilds. The wide then is an attractive place to gather and trade. Nonetheless with the recent changing wealth in the city there have been changes to trade too as described in this very marketplace. (See above entries) Those often described as poor and in need of charity have it seems gained some wealth in recent times. Traders have treated this as good and bad as individually they adapted. Some took to greater guarding of their profit. But change there has been, and with-it opportunity.

Briefly there was another attempt by criminals to move into the city generating some crime right there in the heart of the wide almost in plain sight of the many interested guards protecting their respective interests. Some citizens even complained of being ruffled by these self-same extra guards. Some irate victims of crime took the matter swiftly to the authorities and a city-wide enquiry was promptly launched with wide ranging powers.
The troublemakers slipped away ahead of a gathering army of hunters.

[DM Spartacus]

With the city alert to reports of increasingly bold crime and the forces of the city, mercenaries, and even rumour has it the so-called Thieves Guild hard on the heels of newly arrived criminals it was little wonder to learn of the downfall of one wanted rogue.

A bounty recently offered by the city was swiftly claimed by a small party of adventurers deep in the sewers below the city, driven there by the forces of law and order.