DM Rumors of the Northern Sword Coast

[DM Ink]

A Roaring Thunder from Fort Prominence

Echoing shouts of orcs were heard past Soubar. Fort Prominence was left overtaken by a group of orcs raising their flags of Gruumsh. The scene could be witnessed for a mile or so. Large pillars of billowing crimson smoke rose over the horizon, the history of the fort was erased in a ritualistic bon fire. Shouts and howls of orcs could be heard for the days after the fort's take over. Hanging from outside the walls are the bodies of inhabitants who wandered in, and found orcs before they found a way out. The fort was taken by the orcs. May Gruumsh's single eye be upon his mightiest beasts.

[DM Glittergold]

A Toast to Chaos

The past tendays have seen much activity within the limits of Soubar, too much activity, some would say. This lawless settlement only had one law - to not fight in the market.

Time has proven that even a single law is more structure than Soubar wants. So, the night comes to take it down. A place where anyone can do whatever they want, and power reigns supreme. Gang leaders and Mag herself sit atop the chain, but they hardly care what the lowly traveler does. Fight anywhere, kill those that slight you, there is no structure that protects those that can't either protect themselves, or pay someone to do it.

Now, this night at the Winding Way, the first drink is free

Text provided by the talented Renshouj

[DM Verjigorm]

DM Verjigorm :


It was a night filled with terror, gnashing teeth and boundless carnage. Daemonic entities had spilled forth in all directions from the Trielta Hills, terrorizing the roads, the hills, the wildlife and whatever they managed to come across in their aimless and chaotic rampage.

Ruined caravans and the unfortunate remains of those unable to fend off such attackers became a common sight after the night had ended. The Hellriders were seen setting out in force, doubling their patrols, and came into contact with scattered Tanar'ri more often than not.

DM Ink :

While a few of the Hellrider patrols have gone missing, those that return report what they've seen in some of their surrounding smaller hamlets, in particular the hamlet of Duskroot. Rumors circulate that villagers have been disappearing at night. It began with the arrival of a dense fog outreaching from the local forest. One that made it difficult to see even in the moon's light. The hunters who went past the hamlet's wooden gates in the night came back shivering unable to speak, and considered themselves the lucky ones.

The Hellriders reported it was difficult to gather any leads as those that know it best, aren't willing to speak on it. Some of the outsiders passing through say it's because those that speak of it disappear just a few days after. Most of them are taken with no sign of struggle. Just cold beddings and unanswered prayers. At night, the most of the villages in the region go quiet with several families huddling together to keep an eye on one another. Then by day, the outlook isnt any better for those who go past the village where the flies gather.

For those that had braved past the village, animals laid slaughtered and uneaten. Their twisted and mangled corpses left by something that killed for the joy of it. Witnesses speak of a swirling demonic creatures traveling in pillars of fire. They move and search through the woods, tearing apart any travelers in their path. Their screams of terror silenced quickly silenced.

Few have some to explain these frequent sights, but it all seemed to begin after reports came in of a summoning site in the Trielta hills.

[DM Verjigorm]

Some months after the Lord's Alliance set forth the ban against the trading company of Tarrenfeldt & Sons that would prevent them from operating within their territories, the organization in question seemed to nigh effortlessly resituate themselves within the territories of another host - the Zhentarim. Rumors claimed of their new headquarters slowly manifesting within the Sunset Mountains, close to the watchful eyes within Darkhold.

The ever jovial director of the company, Ambrosius Tarrenfeldt, was reportedly seen by commonfolk as he was with a group of his employees on their way down from the Sunset Mountains - claiming in vague words that a new era of prosperity was at hand.

[DM Faith]

Winding Waters

Travelers at the Winding Waters river after the 4th Marpenoth 1361 DR were shocked. They had expected a small village, warm beds and clean baths. A chance to stay for a while, to relax, before they continued on their treck. What greeted them instead were scorched ruins, blackened wood. Charred corpses roamed the buildings, others had been cut down.
Within the ruins, a armored figure was seen, dragging bodies, stained with ashes, digging graves. Most peculiar, the armored figure warned anyone to not cross the bridge. . . not that everyone listened.

Whatever had happened here, it had been a bloodbath.

[DM Verjigorm]

Within midnight hour of the 20th of Marpenoth, the night was set alight by a maelstrom of otherworldly energy erupting into the skies from some secluded place within the northeasternmost reaches of the Fields of the Dead - only to be halted and disrupted by some golden, gleaming force from above. Spectators from as far away as Scornubel could watch with terror and wonder the phenomena that lasted for but a minute.

[DM Smile]

BOOM!

Heroes of Triel at work

There's some strange rumors rumors going between the people in Triel...
"Did you hear that bang the other night? I thought it was the end of the world! The earth shook as if giants were walking beneath our feet!"

"They say it was that Dunn, that scout. Him and that bard, Maevyn. They blew up half a tunnel in the old silver mines! They only wanted to block a passage, but... by all the gods, it looks like they used enough explosive to destroy a fortress!"

"Old Gorman swears he saw the sky light up like broad daylight, and then a bang that knocked the tiles off his roof and hit him on the head too! And that wasn't all... the cave floor collapsed! COLLAPSED! I bet those people were hurled away like rag dolls!"

"But hey, at least the drow won't set foot in those mines now anymore and won't reach us from the Underdark... uh, although I doubt we'd be able to get anything either. The tunnel is sealed, and... sealed well, probably too well. Although... some say Dunn is already planning what to blow up next. Gods help us if that madman sets his sights on Darkhold!"

Another one raises a glass high and makes a toast with a booming voice.
"To Triel! May it resist those 'engineers', as it resisted the Zhents!"

[DM Verjigorm]

After the grisly events of the 24th of Marpenoth, travellers seeking to enter Corm Orp would find an abandoned village saturated in fell plagues and poisoned land. Cattle lay dead in the fields, crops rotted within their plantations. The buildings had been boarded up, the populace having either fallen or taken refuge elsewhere.

A sign stood in warning before the closed gates with it's message succinct and obvious to all.

BEWARE

PLAGUE

GONE TO GULLYKIN

[Goat]

*A dead body removed from the outer gates of Soubar - a hanging body had been cut down and taken.*

A tiefling had claimed the two had taken the body and had escaped with the body - failing to catch them. A wanted poster was placed on the bulletin board of a masked man who spoke like a snake and had a unique mask on their face.

After a few hours - an orc visited the bulletin boards himself, placing a second - crude - poster on top of the first - another bounty.



*The next day - another body was put up in replacement for what was lost.*

[DM Faith]

Posters were hung up in Zhentarim lands. Copies of the missive were sent to the surrounding lands and Lords of the Lords Alliance.

Krauzer Tzarkov is to be brought to 'The Pereghost' for his rogue actions against Darkhold and the Zhentarim.

His actions are not representative of the Zhentarim - who still uphold Article 1a of the treaty between the Lord's Alliance and the Zhentarim.

Any agent of the Zhentarim that has knowledge of his current location is to immediately bring forth any pertinent knowledge and to not pursue the Wanted in lands covered by the treaty between the Lords Alliance and Darkhold.

This supersedes any order given by Lord Castellan Zerros Ozmir.



By decree of 'The Pereghost'
The Zhentarim

[DM Verjigorm]

Ever since the last days of Ches, the signposts along the roads in the Trielta Hills had begun to see a change. Where there previously were directions displayed to the "Triel Village", there were now fresh signs directing to the very same place though under the name of "Antriera". Similarly new signposts could be found for Triel, which seemed to merely direct towards the ruined castle of the Barony.

Plans had been set in motion within the Trielta Barony after tendays most troubled, with the Hellriders dutifully guarding the routes and passages through the lands. An era of rebuilding had begun, with a flow of various craftsmen and laborers trickling into the region over tendays to come, in a bid to slowly but surely see to the undoing of the ruin that had befallen the Barony.

[DM Faith]

---

MISTY FOREST - WHISPERS

---

A message was relayed through the elves of the Misty Forest. A patrol of three rangers of a small village had met a group of Tel'Quessir and others in the woods, searching for caves in the north. Afterwards the rangers had followed them due to aroused suspicion, only to reveal they had been in the company of at least two traitors, dhaerow.
Unbelieving of this report, the rangers had been questioned, visited by priests multiple times, before they were finally believed.
At least one of the group had been confirmed to be an Ar'Tel'Quessir, to the surprise of many. The real identities were unknown. Anger and resentment began to grow in the villages, before the word finally reached En Dharasha as well.

[DM Verjigorm]

In the distant bustling citadel of Elturel, various listings were set up inside recruiting stations dedicated to the esteemed Hellriders. Upon parchments, pinned on noticeboards made of weathered wood were names of those recently accepted as recruits and trainees into the ranks of the Hellriders.

At one such station were the following names;

Accepted recruits of recruitment period Kythorn, 1362 DR:

Narol Kelles
Valerie Sattons
Piers Tommersett
Nicolas Lowes
Amelia Viciorelli
Natalie Corwin
Jerlan Grask
Victor Rohms
Erland Harkness
Marlon Aardlen
Eskil Villamp
Seiava Terion'cael
Gerhardt Mundsvelt
Vimpi Shortboot - Horsewhisperer

The last name had been scribbled on the sly by a different hand and later struck sometime thereafter by what was probably some recruiter in their frustration.

[DM Faith]

---

MISTY FOREST - BREWING UNEASE

---

As the colors of autumn began to descend on the lands, thick mists rolled through the misty forest, blanketing everything and everyone. The people of the village were preparing for the coming winter, storing vegetables and fruits, cooking jams from berries and sweetened with honey. Rangers brought in bounty, preparing and curing the meat.
And yet, there was an unease, a silence. Concerns rippled through the settlement, hushed words in anger and disbelief. As words were exchanged and tensions brewing, more than five dozen Tel'Quessir disappeared, leaving the village with their belongings. Most of them were of the Sy'Tel'Quessir, but two families of the Or'Tel'Quessir were among them as well.
Finally, a council was called forth by the Elders. . .