DM Rumors of the Northern Sword Coast

[DM Golem]

The Treaty

A troop of Zhentilar soldiers of the Loyal Hammer company arrive in Soubar, led by Imperceptor Vyshasa and his personal guard. The one-eyed priest of Bane presented himself and his men to Mag of Soubar, promising to comply with the obligations of the Zhentarim-Soubar accord signed to counter the devils.

A number of local faces were present to witness the meeting, including Captain Nightgale of the Ebon Blade, the Shaundakul healer Kazimir, and Michael Dunn. Others had travelled from further afield, including the Baldurian based monk Mi-Le and the Red Wizard Azymandeus Faustus.

The Imperceptor was accompanied by his bodyguard Lothar Steelsworn and agent of Darkhold Bob Thairo when Mag and the Ebon Blade took him to see the site where the Zhentarim troops would be camping. There, the completion of the fortifications on the south wall were discussed, before Vyshasa and Lothar went into a private meeting with Mag.

Imperceptor Vyshasa later got a tour of the northern fortifications with Captain Nightgale, before entering the Ebon Blade compound for a meeting.

The Zhentilar troops are camping just south of Soubar in the meantime.

[DM Arrakeen]

Soubar

More often these days, Mag could have been seen walking around her settlement and taking time to speak with the locals, the merchants, and a few individuals belonging to the monster races, namely the ogres and the were-rats. The leader of Soubar visited the construction site stretched over the town's walls where she spent quite a while inspecting the progress and discussing details with the architect and one of the stonemasons. Before returning to the Tavern, she took a moment to observe the Militia during one of their training drills.

[DM Golem]

Soubar

In the last two tendays, almost a dozen visitors came to speak to Mag, including the local traders Shifty, Harmony, and Mudd, the tiefling leader of Frilled Lizards Mercenaries, the local healer and Director of the Golden Wheel Kazimir Resnik, the Church of Bane's Dreadmaster known as Barristan Schulltze, Bane's priestess Brigitte Degenhardt, mage Kordren Ivatrix and the infamous necromancer Morgan Blackrose.

Meanwhile, the Zhentilar detachment of the Loyal Hammer company are settling in to their new camp in Soubar. Soubar lies on the southern end of a Zhentarim zone of defence culminating in a large camp at the confluence of the Winding Water and the Serpent's Tail Stream, from which patrols issue forth between there and the Trollclaws. Imperceptor Vyshasa, known as the Eye of Fzoul, is most commonly found among the troops in the northern camp, but he is now a regular visitor to Soubar too, always accompanied by his personal guards. Those watching such things would notice he is careful to keep the majority of his business with the Zhentarim troops alone.

Since the first attack on Boareskyr Bridge, a small number of Soubarians packed up their camps and left. Some say it was just the first wave and more will follow when the situation becomes dire, others speculate that things might be different this time around.As if the devils were not enough, the rumored sabotage of the Soubar's Wall turned out to be true. Time will tell who was right when the reality bites hard into Soubar's core.

[DM Golem]

Soubar

Rumours spread of some sort of summit held in the kitchen in the Winding Way. The meeting was hosted by Mag, with a attendees from the Spellsworn, Ebon Blade and the Church of Bane. Senior Zhentarim joined later, including the Lady Castellan of Darkhold and Imperceptor Vyshasa, the Zhentarim's western commander.

The meeting went on for some time.

[DM Soulcatcher]

A warband of orcs, led by a couple of devils and human warlocks, has supposedly raided the Boareskyr Bridge with efforts to set up some barricades. Through valiant work of some adventurers being nearby, the swathes of orcs were defeated. Some rumours speak that the entire wave of orcs was held off on the bridge for the longest time by one dwarf and one human- a feat that impresses some of the locals of the northern reaches of the Sword Coast enough to just stay out of their way.

[DM Foresight]

A group of adventurers were seen headed into the thunderride hills Heavily armored and warded to the teeth, a few hours later fire was seen rising into the sky from deep within the lands surrounding. Rumors begin to spread of a battle between two bugbear tribes, but by the time anyone can reach the area all that remains is smoldering dwellings, scorched earth, and a sea of dead bugbears. From the aftermath one can see that there were two opposing bugbear factions, ones wearing crude red leather armors, and the others black, some are scorched and burnt, and others savagely ripped to pieces, but one thing is clear, the red side won the battle. One whom looks upon the grizzly scene would come to know better the sheer ruthlessness and violent nature of these creatures with but a glance around the area. Savagery, brutish, and hatred, these are a few words that come to mind. Though the area is now silent, there is a uncomfortable looming feel in the air that is unpleasant to even veteran warriors.

It is clear that this event has lessened the attacks on travelers and caravans on the thunderride roads, some commoners report they even seen bugbears in crude red leather armors watching them from the hills around as they traveled the roads, a chilling feeling of being stalked.... oddly enough they report no attacks were made by the creatures, and as the days pass it continues as if a odd unspoken truce has been formed with some of the creatures..... but not all, attacks seem to still happen, but far less frequent than before the fires from afar were first spotted.

People chatter and talk in the area's around, and one thing seems to be common in all words surrounding.... its only time before whatever there up to ceases and attacks pick back up.

[DM Dialectic]

It is rumored that in recent days the Loyal Hammer company of Zhentilar based in Soubar during the infernals conflict left Soubar and may have been seen marching back in order towards Darkhold on a re-deployment. It is also said that in recent days Zhentarim patrols and escort of trade caravans and caravan routes to and from Darkhold from Baldur's Gate have seen increases in troop levels and security measures, rumored to perhaps ward off hostile Hellriders of Elturel based in Triel.

[DM Foresight]

Rumors have it that a large group of peoples were seen headed out of the farmlands around midday, the group was said have many nature walkers traveling with them. within hours of there departure trees could be seen growing from miles away, seeming to just sprout up and sore into the sky, those whom went to inspect the sudden growth return stating that the area is now teeming with life from the smallest plant to the largest tree. Animals aplenty now roam the area and a place that was destroyed in the devil wars has now returned, more vibrate then ever.

Shortly after the outburst of life, many peoples that have lost there homes in the war begin to pack up and head north, much of them stating this was a blessing from the gods, and that they will now seek to create a new life from what was just graciously given, most of them seem to be packing up hunting supplies, and materials enough to build small farmsteads.

Along with the departure of peoples north, the temples of nature have seen much praise because of it, and the shrines of many including the oak father, chauntea, and eldath overflow with gifts from the populace.

[DM Anansi]

Forces of house Blackrose have been seen entering the wolven den near their estate in great numbers. Hours later they returned clearly bruised by a battle that to many seemed to have been unexpectedly fierce, considering they only set out to kill a few wolves and by the marks these fights had left behind on them.

[The Colosaal Alpha Wolf as he gets ready to pounce]

//There is a neat journal entry giving more details on the happenings by requiem here : viewtopic.php?f=20&t=71812//
Thank you for this very nice view on the event. I will be trying to tie in people's stories to my events into these rumour posts from now on, so please contact me if you write something like you find here. Thanks DM Anansi. //

[DM Golem]

Armoured figures once familiar in Soubar during the devil war arrive in the caravan trading post. Zhentarim elite, escorting the one-eyed, imposing figure of Imperceptor Vyshasa to the Winding Way Tavern. Once there, the Imperceptor descends to the depths beneath the tavern, at the same time as a number of others.

Following a commotion below, the Imperceptor Vyshasa is seen attending the Barkeep Mag before they head to a private meeting.

The next day the Imperceptor's entourage is gone, but a public declaration is seen posted on a noticeboard within Soubar.

Let it be known that the Heretic known as:

MORGAN


once


BLACKROSE

Is a traitor to the majesty of Lord Bane and her soul excommunicated from his service. Should she cheat death by subversive means she is hereby barred on pain of death from temples of the Black Hand, including the ruins under Soubar. His clergy are to give her no succour or assistance or be marked as traitors themselves.

By Order of Imperceptor Vyshasa

Eye of Lord Chembryl

[DM Golem]

Rumours spread down the Chionthar of a bloody day amidst the low key skirmishes between Elturel and the Zhentarim. A reinforced patrol of Hellriders is said to have launched a raid deep into Zhentarim patrolled territory, clashing with and routing an inferior force of Zhentarim outriders with minimal loss, before withdrawing. Few cavalry can ride as fast and as hard as the Hellriders as Elturel, but the Zhentarim's response is rumoured to have been altogether of a different sort. Its said that a winged beast hounded the retreating column, before a dark cloaked figure on its back threw balls of fire down upon the Hellriders, only whirling away when its spells were spent. The speed and tactical training allowed the retreating riders to avoid too many losses, but what had been a decisive victory was now rather more muted.

[DM Dialectic]

*It is said that in the past tenday that there was an undead attack on the city of Hill's Edge from some of the tunnels below the city, in part being quelled by members of the Church of Bane in the city and some Zhentarim agents that happened to be visiting the church from Darkhold. In the fight, the head of the Church of Bane in the city was killed by undead and seemingly martyred as such protecting fellow citizens of the city. He was later replaced by his second ranking clergy, who also fought in the battle, it is so rumored. Further voices speak of one of the Zhentarim agents performing a resurrection of one of the citizens killed in the attack, impressing some locals with the power of Bane. It is spoken additionally that some leaders and citizens in the town seemed quite skeptical of the whole affair and Zhentarim and Banite involvement, while others seemed quite positive about the Banite and Zhentarim aid in the attack.*

[DM Dialectic]

*It is rumored that the doors of the Church of Bane were shut to the public for a time in recent days at the Zhentarim fortress of Darkhold, only to be re-opened after a black shrouded visitor came and left...*

[Vukodlak]

Anyone traveling along the northern Tradeway near Soubar would notice an increase in the militia presence stationed at the roadside outpost. They were stationed along the perimeter, remaining unusually vigilant and tensing any time someone stepped into view.

[DM Protector]

In the Thundar's Pass, several heavily armoured figures and some not so made their way through the land, cutting down the Bugbears in their path as they cleared the way forward. Some traders witnessed them travelling further up river only to return hours later with a wagon in tow filled to the brim with supplies as it was carted back to Soubar shortly after. As questions began to rise about what happened, word among those in Soubar says that House Blackrose salvaged stolen goods from a Bugbear encampment, avenging those who had fallen before the beasts.