Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

Strange happenings have occurred as of late surrounding the Nashkel Mines. Painful screams can be heard echoing through the canyon as the keep itself burns. The duergar keeping post were seen desperately trying to keep something inside the mines only to be overtaken by something described as otherworldly. Scouts report back to Nashkel with word of Demons deep within the mines. A small group of surviving duergar have been spotted in Nashkel without hostility. Their small group of vagrants request any support in exchange for a temporary truce.

A massive Half-Orc clad in black plate armor, red trimming, and with sinister looking spikes swaggered into Nashkel with his human female companion late one night. He looks to his companion and tells her to wait outside. Strudding through the front door of the inn as if he owned the place, he looks around briefly, only seeing the Inn keeper he strolls right up to the man. Not letting the man get a word in, He immediately throws him a sack of gold and tells him he's looking to get in touched with a merchant from this group called "The Golden Wheel".

A lead lined book lay in old Nashkel mines demanding justice for the fallen. However the fast moving follower of Hoar that chanced upon the scene was it is said too preoccupied with the routine of fast movement and other slaying to gain further insight. Nonetheless much of the mines were explored and evil put to rest.

A scandal erupts in the town of Nashkel over the previous night, with hushed whispers spreading like wildfire among the frightened townsfolk. The gossip takes many different (and often contradictory) forms, as gossip often does, but the common throughline is that a pile of dead bodies was found in the cellar of the Belching Dragon Tavern. No one can agree on how many, or anything else in the way of specific details, with wild rumors of all sorts of grotesque mutilation, the presence of demons, undead, cultists, or other malevolent entities being responsible, with each retelling seeming to grow the details to increasingly fantastical and alarming proportions. Suspicion immediately centered on the proprietor of the Belching Dragon, Aliela Falconsflight, who was reportedly seized by the guard as they arrived on the scene. The fact that she was so well-known and well-liked among the people of Nashkel, and the possibility that she could be a serial murderer stashing bodies in her basement being so outlandish, of course only made people more suspicious of her possible involvement, encouraged by the occasional village know-it-all muttering "I always thought something was off about that one..." to anyone who would listen.

With a crowd of villagers gathered outside its barricaded door with guards posted outside, the town Mayor, Adjutant Marcus and Watchpriest Amblecrown addressed the mob to quell the panic. They assured everyone that Aliela was innocent, having subjected the woman to questioning within a Zone of Truth, and that she was not aware of any nefarious activities going on in her cellar. They said the only two people who had access to the cellar prior to the discovery of the bodies was a romantically-involved pair, described as a moon elf female and possibly human male, who had moments before used the cellar for a tryst before disappearing into the night after the guards stormed the tavern. The Adjutant announced that despite the strange coincidence, the two lovers were not under any suspicion, either, given the advanced state of decay of the bodies. For now the Belching Dragon would be allowed to remain open, though the cellar was obviously strictly off-limits to all but the town guards and other official representatives of Amnian law enforcement. The investigation was ongoing, and anyone passing through Nashkel would notice a significantly larger contingent of guards posted at the southern gate leading into the Foothills.

Travelers will notice a strange phenomenon occurring in the rolling foothills beyond the gates of Nashkel, near the base of the Cloud Peak mountains. Much of the land there has become thick with mud, almost swamp-like, which is highly unnatural for the rather cold-prone and dry valley area. They would also note the unmistakable stench of decaying plant and other biological matter, with many of the hill giants and other native occupants carrying the visible signs of disease in the form of open lesions and gaunt, feverish appearances. Some form of malign corruption seemed to be taking firm hold in the land, though Nashkel itself was thus far unaffected.

Over the last couple months, a subtle darkness seemed to have fallen over the town of Nashkel, nestled along the untamed outer frontier of the nation of Amn. Travelers could sense something in the air, intangible but just out of reach, and see it in the detached expressions of many of the townsfolk. That came to a dramatic end rather abruptly with the arrival of the Cowled Wizards and a contingent of soldiers from Athkatla. Rumors spread of forced disappearances in the night by the authorities, with individual townspeople being taken away to some unknown location. Likewise, those keeping an eye on the foothills at the base of the Cloud Peaks would notice a large cordon and encampment set up outside of the ruins which have been the source of many dark rumors of late. Anyone venturing too close to the encampment would be forced away with an immediate and very violent response, indicating very high security related to whatever it was the Cowled Wizards were doing there.

Travellers through the mountains noted some strange groups moving along isolated trails and a number of destroyed and pillaged wagons. Signs of fighting were found but no trace of those involved.

In the cool fall morning the rhythm of boots and breaths of Amian soldiers can be heard marching through the streets to a tall burning fire on the outskirts of Nashkel. Upon arrival is found a body tied around a standing post in the ground. A soldier picks up a rag from his breastplate to cover his mouth from the ghastly odor as the body crackles in the still winter morning. Upon arrival of some of the citizens from the area, the soldiers take down the chained body after it has been put out. Steam rises over the scene as they find a metal amulet partially melted across its neck.

Recent news reaches those citizens of Nashkel as a large trade caravan headed to the city carrying firewood and grains has recently been lost in the mountains. Reports and investigations from local militias indicated the goods were lost by an avalanche. A timeframe has yet to be established on when the route may be cleared for travel.

A specially harsh blizzard assailed the Cloudpeaks the past night, and along with it came an uneasy feeling to all who inhaled the freezing air. The sounds of strange roars, howls and deep thuds echoed through the snowy peaks. As the night progressed, though, the uneasy feeling subsided, and after some time, so too did the snow storm.