By the third tenday of Deepwinter, regular snowfall blankets parts of the Western Heartlands. Adventurers and travellers take extra caution for ambushes in the trying conditions, with the harsh weather slowing down travel. Wealthier travellers rely on potions of Endure Elements, while everyone else wears as many layers as possible and treads carefully. Most severe are the conditions in the Cloud Peaks, with regular blizzards casting a constant cold front upon the ‘Sloping City of Amn,’ Nashkel, with the roads regularly caked by snow. In the higher parts of the mountain, spells of teleportation are inconveniently met by arriving with one's head poking out of layers of snow (or buried for the smallfolk).
Between the Cloud Peaks and the River Chionthar, snowfall is infrequent in this temperate climate and usually only occurs in the coldest of night. However, frost litters the ground in the morning, and the air and rain (sometimes sleet) is harsh, prompting a topic of regular complaint amongst folk in Beregost, Doron Amar, the Friendly Arm Inn, and Greenest.
North of the River Chionthar is noticeably colder and prone to heavy snowfall; animals and beasts alike hibernate, and as usual, the people of Triel are well stocked to survive the winter season. The cobblestone streets of Baldur’s Gate are icy, causing several injuries due to slipping (although this is a common enough occurrence throughout the year’s constant rain). Sea voyage feels all the more precarious, and the Umberlants delight to remind sailors of their dues. More bitter are the ramshackle structures across parts of the Roaringshore, and the many tents that litter Soubar offer little to no protection, with Mag's tavern crammed for warmth.
Still, none are as frosty as the clergy of Auril. The common folk across the Western Heartlands fear the visitation of the Aurilites, and many offer a small prayer to placate their cold fury. As the complaint often goes, the winter season is far too long and far too cold. With Midwinter approaching (also known as Deadwinter Day), the hard times are still to come.
No specific foreshadowing here, but a player requested a weather update which I've synthesised from a few sources.
"Limerence results from romantic feelings for another person, and typically includes intrusive, melancholic thoughts, or tragic concerns for the object of one's affection and a desire to have one's feelings reciprocated."
The 13th of Alturiak would offer a display of strange things upon the ocean west of the Coast.
In the mid day, a large celestial object of questionable origin was seen descending from the skies towards some uncertain location beyond the horizon.
Later that evening, a blinding flash and explosion rising up over that dark horizon was clearly visible from most of the shoreside locations of the Coast - from Athkatla to Waterdeep. Noted scholars of geography and navigation would quickly discern the direction of the phenomena to have occurred towards the location of the isles of Mintarn.
News would be whispered among sailors and investigators of the occurrence that one of the major islands of distant Mintarn had been utterly destroyed, an eternal supernatural pale fog having been set in it's stead. A fog said to bring comfort and calm to all who entered it, a sensation described as a mother's warm embrace. Tales were spun of a ship of ghostly beings travelling effortlessly through the nightmarish fog, at times offering passage to those shipwrecked or in dire need.
Further still, it is said that a strange plague of blindness had struck all on Mintarn who had observed the initial blast that fateful evening- with the affected numbering just under a third of it's entire population. The affected were described as being eerily calm and content, stating that "they saw all that they needed now".
So too is it said that the great red dragon Hoondarrh has risen from a slumber upon the nearby island of Skadaurak, taking flight to survey the area of desolation.
Though much rumor spreads over what has occurred, little is spoken of in regards to what caused it.
When town criers took to the street on the morning of the 26th of Alturiak, there were no joyous news to be delivered. Word broke over the city of Baldur's Gate that strange mists - that were said to swallow ships and bring madness to the minds of all who escaped from within - were slowly seeping forth from the isles of Mintarn towards the Coast in the east, already beleaguered by another demonic threat. Despair was clear on the populace as they listened to the ill portents brought forth by the equally unnerved criers.
Following the chilling news was the announcement of Wanted-posters to be ordained by the Dukes. For the alleged involvement in creating the phenomena of the demonic mists, the Dukes requested all information regarding the whereabouts of the trio of Rose Wintertal, Mathilde Wintertal and Oona Siofra - known entities within the city. They are wanted alive for questioning.
At that point, something snapped in the desperate crowds. Whether it was sheer disgust at having been sharing city walls with potential demonic collaborators or the sheer stress boiling over for the common man in the face of troubles regarding strange Planar events and ne'er-do-wells - enraged and frustrated mobs were formed, relentlessly roaming through the streets in their attempts to find these new targets of their outrage. Despite the City Guard's attempts to dissuade the city folk from taking action, the Baldurans proved too tenacious and intent upon letting lose their frustrations with the current state of affairs.
The second day riots were marked by the defacing of the White Mask Theater, whereupon rotten fruits and questionable foul-smelling substances were tossed, in some cases by people otherwise regarded as well-off and privileged. On it's doors were crudely written harsh and hateful words pointed towards the tiefling nature of the theater's Director. Before the defacing took on a more physically violent note, the group was displaced by the City Watch and escorted out of the Upper City, though the moral damage was done.
For days to come, the groups of angry townsfolk would roam the city in their fervent search, clashing often with both the City Watch and the Flaming Fist. While most encounters between them remained one-sided shoutingmatches, a few escalated into bouts of scattered violence - with the wounded being mostly upon the side of the enraged masses who thereafter sought themselves to the Ilmatari Temple for aid.
Duchess Liia Jannath wandered with heavy escort through the troubled areas, speaking to concerned citizens of all walks of life with a heartfelt compassion in her assurances over the city's future.
Elturel
[Art by 0BO]
News of the ruin off the Coast had seemingly reached even the stern ears of Lord Dhelt within the Western Heartlands. Missives were sent out to each of it's settlements in denouncing of the trio to become persona non grata. Within each town under Elturel's banner was made clear the banishment of Rose Wintertal, Mathilde Wintertal and Oona Siofra from the realm until further notice. Word soon spread of the increased preparations of the realm's defenses and patrols.
Day by day, the mists blocking access to and from Mintarn converged ever closer towards the Coast, heralding some slow and patient arrival.
As the cold nights of winter decline, the relief of Spring Equinox comes on 19 Ches, bringing with it a gradual shift towards a warmer climate. The people of Baldur's Gate celebrate one of the only formal city festivals: The Breaking, commemorating the last passage of ice from the harbor. This year is especially joyous in the wake of the defeat of the demon forces that destroyed Ulgoth's Beard. As part of the large festival happening across the city's districts, the Lower City sees its own portion celebrating hope, hosted by the Shrine of Suffering. With talk of demons fading, and the winter season over, trade can be properly restored, and one would expect, prosper.
Along the seas, The Mist is somewhere halfway between Mintarn and the coastline, and it would appear to be shifting direction north and away from Baldur's Gate. In Roaringshore, ships once again set sail, hunting isolated vessels to rekindle their reign of terror upon the seas, seeking gold and supplies. Meanwhile, onshore, sailors gathered in song, raise a litany in praise of the sea... blissfully unaware that unseen hands were already weaving their schemes.
Elsewhere, the fair folk venerating Rillifane Rallathil celebrate The Budding, involving a celebration and fasting, followed by a Sacred Hunt, which honors the bounty of the Wild One of the Seldarine. Followers of Aerdrie Faenya participate in the Dance of Swirling Winds. Where the Winged Mother's followers gather, the winds are strong, and the offerings of beautiful feathers and the playing of wind instruments bring forth flight across the winds (enchanting those without wings to fly), and performances of aerial ballet. As the celebration winds down, they are swept across the forest canopy for miles before settling gently in a safe glade. And the followers of Mielikki gather in forests for one of their four annual feasts, celebrating the sensuality of existence and singing praise to the Lady of the Forest.
In Beregost, the townsfolk gather in front of the Song of the Morning, where the Most Radiant of Lathander Kelddath Ormlyr and his bright clergy perform the Song of Dawn, praising the Morninglord with a blend of vocal harmonies and counterharmonies of beautiful complexity that induce awe-inspiring tears amongst attendees. Truly, the Spring brings with it a new dawn, and the hope for new beginnings and the renewal of that which is held most precious. If there is any reason to be uncertain, for at least one day the common folk of the Realms instead choose to be hopeful for the seasons to come.
"Limerence results from romantic feelings for another person, and typically includes intrusive, melancholic thoughts, or tragic concerns for the object of one's affection and a desire to have one's feelings reciprocated."
A rumor of a thundering ring from what was believed to be a Great Bell resonated carrying a sense of sadness that seemed to linger in the area. Shortly after, a beacon of moonlight appeared to merchants and adventurers traveling along the road, emerging suddenly from a forest west of the Tradeway. The purpose of this phenomenon was unknown, but the faithful of Our Lady of Silver, Selune, would have felt a brief flash of her presence. Just as quickly as it was felt, it vanished.
In the early days of Kythorn, the vast mists that had slowly crept closer from the ocean - rumored to having originated at the distant isles of Mintarn - appeared at last to be visible from the western shores of the Coast. Nary even a candlemark had passed before the otherworldly mists warped and shifted, contorting in on itself only to split into a collection of twisting and spiralling phenomenae that were launched far into the skies to then even out and begin a descent towards various targets over the Coast and further inland.
Turmoil spread over the lands over which the skyborne spirals writhed and twisted - great swaths of horrid beings of warped flesh and demonic entities spewed forth to wreak havoc. Though no settlements were reported as having been outright consumed during the night of terror, the death toll over affected areas would appear considerable not only among civilized folk, but also among the wildlife. Cattle had been utterly devoured, hunters reporting nigh extinction of life in forests befallen with the host of nightmarish flesh.
Though the vast majority of the skybound horrors made twisting spirals appeared to ravage the lands between the Winding Waters and Daggerford on their apparent journey further inland, a few seemed set to direct southwards. In scattered rumor and hearsay, tales were spun of a ghostly ship of frightening speed having come darting out of the mists mere moments after they had arrived upon the horizon - chased soon after by a singular spiral of unnatural energy to make landfall somewhere upon the beaches of the southern Sword Coast. What the results were of that clash, few could say - but later as morning broke, a faint silhouette of a ship was seen by many, travelling at great speeds into the clouds.
Baldur's Gate
In the time following of that dreadful night, the city of Baldur's Gate sees momentary bolstering of their garrisons - ships locked down and prevented from travel for a night and a day - before a hesitant all-clear is given in the afternoon to come. Several Flaming Fist companies are sent out to patrol the Ducal lands, curiously coinciding with small squads of bountyhunters being seen scouring through both the city and it's surrounding lands. Loose lips among the mercenaries began to circulate the rumor of a decorated, esteemed and indeed highly reputable Captain Sardeph Armstrong of the Flaming Fist as having either fallen to bouts of insanity, betrayed the city entirely or been entranced by some manner of demon. Seemingly nowhere to be found, the Fist had evidently made it a priority to find the man.
Amidst the many re-tellings of the story that would spread like wildfire through the city, something else had occurred that had been fuelled further by words shouted by town criers and announcements made on noticeboards in each district of the town - a storied and famed figure brought whole streets to silence as he strode by on his way to the Ducal Palace in an apparent surprise-appearance. The city had been graced by the sudden arrival of Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun. The stern-looking man had been reported stepping into the Ducal Palace, without having been seen leaving the premises.
Curiously; messengers were sent out en masse from the Palace - some pinning up new notices over the town's noticeboards, town criers being pulled aside to receive another set of news to report.
Effective immediately by Ducal decree; The city of Baldur's Gate withdraws and rescinds the earlier banishment of the following three persons;
Rose Wintertal
Mathilde Wintertal
Oona Siofra
It is with great regret that the Dukes admit to having been misled by previously trusted sources. These wronged individuals are to be welcomed within our lands anew, and may henceforth resume their lives and pursuits without restriction or prejudice.
Signed
Duke Eltan
Duchess Liia Jannath
Duke Belt
Duke Entar Silvershield
Following the announced decrees, the populace was baffled. A great many showed an increased wariness and even distrust of the Flaming Fist mercenary company, while others had grown almost desensitized to the madness and chaos that had held a tight grip about the collective throats of the common man.
In the temple of the Bitch Queen, the clergy of Umberlee are said to have been granted visions of their enraged goddess having battled with some invading entity and driven it out from her rightful domain.
In a temple to another goddess, the Mystrans within would be treated to a sight of erratic and almost ragefilled motes of energy rapidly swirling about the portals within - spreading rumor of agitation of the goddess in the wake of the trespassing strangeness at sea.
Northern Sword Coast
Desolation and chaos were among the rumors that descended from the northern Sword Coast. Vast swaths of the Trollbark Forest had been spoken of as having been almost entirely emptied of life as creatures of bared flesh and nightmare had descended from the utterly alien spirals of otherworldly energy on their path further inland.
As a figure seldom seen or heard of; it was a great surprise for many to hear of the ancient lich Larloch having sent out great amounts of his own forces to strike back against the encroaching beings. Seen as a boon by some; that no living souls were to be lost during such clashes of evil - it proved indeed to carry some degree of fortune. The hordes of flesh that had seemed as if meaning to take hold of the Trade Way between Daggerford and the more southernly towns. Though none had been present to report on the actuality of whatever battle must have taken place there, the results were clear. The roads were littered with skeletal remains and husks of countless beings of flesh.
Possessing evidently little care for holding the road for himself; it seemed as if Larloch and his forces had simply returned to their little part of the world - leaving behind a clear reminder for the living and demonkind; that the Shadow King would not see his domain stepped upon by invading force, no matter from which Plane they hailed from.
Strangely, Dragonspear Castle was entirely ignored by the invasive skyborne spirals on their journey eastwards - with a scant few travellers having spoken of a winged being with flaming blade seen in rapid flight northeastwards over the premises, whilst clutching onto another being winged - a great unending geyser of mistlike substance spewing from the carried being's face.
Over the course of the next four days, rumor spread of Lord's Alliance troops setting forth from distant Waterdeep to scour the roads and the lands clean of the bizarre threats that arced over the Coast. Entire companies were set to task in patrolling the roads and ensuring that the members of the Alliance were not cut off from one another.
Southern Sword Coast
Following various clusters of horrific beings being spat out into the Material by the strange, auroralike spirals in chase of a ghostly ship - a great number of desperate struggles erupted over the southern Coast, despite having been in the apparent minority in the grand scheme of the sudden force of invasion.
Over the Wood of Sharp Teeth following one such struggle, a vast dragon of Silver scale could be seen circling the forest, diving down now and then to visit destruction upon packs of unnatural monstrosities. In nights following, the large draconic being could be seen among the clouds - having apparently chosen to watch over the region for the time being.
After the fateful night of the mist's dispersal at sea, the elven settlement of Doron Amar would find itself in the midst of a booming of the forest's population of fireflies. Each eve carried with it beautiful displays of light over the village, the swarms of brightly lit insects at times flying almost as if choreographed in their elaborate patterns. After one particularly dazzling display, the swarm of fireflies descended into one particular spot before the bridge deeper into the village - a lone black sapphire left upon the stonework of the bridge as they all scattered.
Though not having been directly attacked, the people of Beregost were in a state of terror after hearing of incidents both northwards and southwards of their location. Still gripped with memories of undead hordes having laid their town to siege in year prior, some had fled town only to meekly return a day or two afterwards.
The wizard of High Hedge, Thalantyr had been seen in meeting with High Priest of Lathander - Kelddath Ormlyr. Murmurs were abound of some manner of agreement having been reached, something that would soon become verified truth for all. In mere days, Beregost's militia had found itself bolstered by half a dozen rather large Iron golems. While the township had a tense air about it, the sight of the sizeable protectors on constant guard eased the worst of fears for their safety for the time being.
The wizard found himself greatly dismayed as he was relentlessly pestered by the common folk, peppered with all manner of questions ranging from "How many cows can that one lift in one go?" to "Please take a look at this boil under my armpit, I think my neighbour cursed me with it." Managing only to stomach being about the general populace for a total of two days, the wizard soon returned with great haste to his old abode - leaving the golems under direction of the town's leadership.
