Rumors of the Northern Sword Coast

[Zeikari]

The morning of 22 Eleint saw a gathering of dark knights assemble once again in the swamps north of Soubar. The group proceeded north-east, marching around the Boareskyr Bridge and into the Troll Claws. Sentinels from Karaak Helzak would not them plow through some of the local trolls with spell and blade, whilst keeping their distance from the dwarven hold.



The group was later spotted in the afternoon marching towards the North-West Trade Post. They would examine the destroyed stables and discuss about likely causes for the outpost's pillaging and subsequent abandonment. The company lingered until sundown in the area, making friendly inquiries to the few squatters still inhabiting the broken town, then discussing the various potential strategic and political implications of the Trade Post's apparent state of abandonment.
Seemingly in very good spirits after their conversation, the group dispersed afterwards, one of them trailing southward, and the others scattering south-east.

[Zeikari]

Following seven days of apparent quiet, an even larger gathering would appear by the ruined stables of the North-West Trade Post. Starting at sundown, and arriving by means both mundane and arcane, the black knights continued to pour in since well after midnight, their mere presence scaring off the local wildlife and squatters.



Much like in past occasion, despite their menacing semblance, the strangers spent the night at the abandoned tavern, talking amicably. Though difficult to say from the distance, it would appear that their conversation would touch upon strategic concerns, and the history of the region.
By the coming of the sun, the group once more dispersed, some heading South, others East, and some merely disappearing in a flash of light.

[MissClick]

A steady hand, diligent and discreet, tends the Thundar's shrine of Thunders Three. Whence free of leaves and debris, a single flower, Summer's sun, is laid thereon. Shaped as tear, red as the bloodied, a small gemstone rests beside, symbolic of faith's favor; the stalwart companion. Soft-spoken prose echoes in the silence of night, and all falls quiet once more.

[RedLancer]

In the north, unkind, host to the gray, a sight a while unseen is spied in saddle, astride a resplendent white steed. Clad in black and crimson and steel, the mounted man's visage is obscured, kept beyond a well-worn mask of surreal beauty and something trepidatiously abstract, its old imperfections lashed with leather thread. The lance he bears crackles with lightning, and though no thunder answers, the sentiment seems the same.

By no coincidence, the lands about where offerings to Vengeance are buried seem to be stirred with else than goblinkin.

[Kaybrie]

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A tenday passed, and a shock of crimson strode back into the heart of it all, knives of grass and shards of leaf breaking beneath snow and leather as she trudged across hills and through stygian brush. A mask worn, bark and flesh, antlers decorated with azure flowers blooming bravely against the cold, perhaps even fed by it. Trotting down a hillside where boots from afore had long since been blanketed again and again, the barest traces of three who came, four who left, two paths set.

At the base of an oak, deflowered and murdered a moon past; the errant knight fell to one knee and spoke a prayer for the departed. Three trinkets were scooped from her bag and deposited there; a wooden carving shaped to a dragon's likeness, a broken axe, and a doll set with a pair of antlers sprouting from its head. These three she laid at the base for those who deserved or were undeserving, for those who might have been redeemed and those who would never consider, for those who were lost, and what could still be saved.

The knight in red then turned, departed without another breath of prayer, leaving the tomb chilled to stillness.

[YourMoveHolyMan]

In two hidden places of the coast, to the east and north of Baldur's Gate. A visitor made his way between two shrines. At the first, a tithe and offering of potions and vials to aid adventurers.

At the second, two stones, from two men who are as brothers, a white pearl from the man named Dunn, or Dune if you're of a more southern persuasion. And a black pearl for the knight who had taken the vagabond in as family. Along with the stones, a sheaf of parchment of protective spells and a walking stick of healing were left, along with several marks of prayer in thanks.

[Febriel]

On the North-western Trade way at the ruined stables a figure clad head to toe in blue plate mail takes up residence in a burnt out building. A highwayman approached the figure demanding coin, and levied his blade threateningly at the armored figure. He demanded an unreasonable toll. The woman told him to leave her be. What ensued next was a repeat of the demand but with a higher amount of coin. the highwayman took a step forward. The one in armor raised her helmet. The last thing the bandit saw was a pair of crimson eyes leaping forward and a strange tongue being spoke "you should have walked away"

[MissClick]

Toward the North, stopped by none, trot then canter, candor reserved, a magnificent warhorse of pious white did bear the burdens of two riders wreathed in night. Depart from metropolis amidst the flickering shadow of riotous flame, tendrils of violet hair strayed from the hooded astride, taunt by the whipping wind and rescind of welcome.

The trail of thund'rous hooves turned cold in approach of Thundars Ride, whence fulminate levin shattered the star-spangled sky.

[Steve]

The Trollclaws experience change — the mountains, the stones themselves gather up in form...—rise and begin to crush and punish Trolls and their kin, relentlessly, fists of hardened earth delivering final blows of fiery touch.

The calm that arises from the cleansing violence is most notable nearest the Dwarven Kingdom of Kraak Helzak, specifically along said pathways most direct to the surface-side gates.

The passageways for the Stout Folk upon the surface—to both depart and arrive to the Kingdom—are said within the Kingdom to be blessed by actions in the name of the Watcher over Wanderers....

[Zeikari]

A few months of quiet had gone by, and it would almost look as if the dark riders had permanently dispersed, and would no longer gather at the abandoned Stables of the North-West Trade Post. But such was not to be! For in the night of 24 Flamerule 1361, an ominous yet familiar group of black-armored people stopped by the broken statue, to discuss various matters in cordial and hushed words.



Though not quite as large as in the past year, the group once again spent a few hours discussing political and strategic affairs as if no time at all had passed from their last gathering. After all subjects had been exhausted the riders moved northward, disappearing in the High Moore.

[RavenCredale]

Recent activity in the Reaching Woods, speak of a Kossuthan Tiefling with burns cutting through the gnolls as she makes her way to the mouth of their cave Den. However she does not enter the cave. Instead, she plants a banner of her faith outside the dens entrance and rests the Sever head of a Half-fiend of Yeenoghu at the base of the banner. A simple but crude message is left in the dirt:

"You're next, Saint of Yeenoghu."

[YourMoveHolyMan]

Volunteers from Triel arrived, some dug graves, others buried the dead and said prayers to the departed. Some patrolled against threat. For even as the loss of Winding Waters was mourned, before the dead could even be buried. More attacks came. Fish-people from the surrounding waters, and drow.

[blowuup]

The Myradon Vindicators' latest recruit Larael [aka Queen Veronica] ]arrives at the Winding Waters with two others, Nevarra, and . . . Solaris Cult . . .
[aka Lady Knight Solaris Cult of The Kingdom of Laurels, in the Scrubbery Woods ("It's Shrubbery!" Larael tries to correct Solaris to no avail), right past Herring Lake] three days after the attack for an investigation . . .

Larael offers to help the lone armored figure with digging graves, but the smell of the angelica plant laid upon the graves causes her to have an allergic reaction.
She leaves huffing and sneezing . . . leaving Nevarra to complete the investigation alone.

[Riddance]

At the night of Maprenoth the 7th two figures appears seeminlgy out of thin air not far from the gates of the village. Man in the brown coat and with a scythe on his back strolled through ruined settlement, observing few living souls performing burials at the spot, counting fresh graves and bodies yet to be hidden in a soil, not as cold as it should be in the middle of autumn due to massive fires erupted at the place. Few words were exchanged with Kelemvorites as he was examining remains of buildings, looking for only he and his white-haired ally know what. Named ally, an elven woman with somewhat neutral and relaxed expression of face, at the time simply stood nearby, being a witness to occuring events. Those, who were close enough, could catch some "records" mentioned, but what were the records and for what purpose they were needed remained a mystery

After spending several hours, man sit at the bench and started scribing something in his book, with no word spoken. As he was finished and writings were covered with dust he brought with himself and inked dried, he and his dark-clothed friend ventured out of the village, disappearing from sight shortly after

Credit: Aurelie Bouquet