DM Rumors of the Northern Sword Coast

[Vukodlak]

Soubar is abuzz with activity following the announcement of the House Blackrose Commerce Gala, with the locals running about to prepare for the expected influx of outsiders next week. The many merchants who occupy the center of town could be seen tidying up their tents, fastening colorful streamers and making additional changes to spruce up their tents and the town itself, while security preparations could also be seen being underway.

[Vukodlak]

Spirits were high and heads were pounding the morning after the full day of festivities in Soubar, following the House Blackrose Commerce Gala. Townsfolk, who had spent the entire day indulging in drunken revelry, woke up sporting brutal hangovers and only vague recollections of all that had transpired - other than it was fun! Various critters were seen darting about the walled town, picking at all the food that had been thrown, dropped, or spilled over the course of the day, and more than a few townspeople were trying to remember how one of the tents got burned down. Despite the few disruptions and other bumps along the way (including a handful of broken bones as a result of one alcohol-induced stupid decision or another), by all accounts the gala was a huge success, and as word spreads people would begin to see a sizable uptick in visitors coming into the town to trade.

[DM All Father]

In recent nights, merchants and caravans traveling along the northern routes have heard wolf howls of impressive power. While few will admit to worry, few are found wandering far from the warm of their fires.

[DM Dialectic]

Hill's Edge

It is said that recently a parade took place celebrating a group of Zhentarim lead by Dread Lady Victoria that aided the city of Hill's Edge from an apparent attack by undead from the city's catacombs earlier in the year as well as the rising congregation of Banites in the city's church of Bane under its local charismatic high priestess who also seemingly rendered defense to the city in the attack. A subsequent election for the Mayor of the city also was lost by an anti-Zhentarim and anti-Banite candidate with sympathies to the Lords' Alliance, with a new being elected as Mayor of Hill Edge's taking a more neutral line to Darkhold and the Lords' Alliance than the previous administration.

Cormyr

It is rumored that in the past tenday a forming confederation of goblins under a goblin known as Empress Magla in the Goblin Marches bordering Cormyr was defeated by a Baldurian delegation lead by Grand Knight Aaron acting under King Azoun IV of Cormyr out of Castle Crag in northeast Cormyr, as Cormyr was preoccupied with threats and missions related to the Zhentarim and securing the Stonelands and Tilverton as a Protectorate and reached an agreement for aid from the Baldurian group. In return for the aid rendered, King Azoun IV announced that Cormyr will send a troop of Purple Dragons to aid Baldur's Gate's defense if it is again under siege. It is also said that Cormyr may now be more freed to utilize its forces against the Zhentarim due to the newly disorganized goblin threat in the Goblin Marches.

[DM Mellifluous]

Over the past several months, the Northern Tradeway has been coloured blood red by raids, skirmishes and pitched battles.

On the one side, the bugbear hordes that long dominated Thundar's Ride are lead by a cunning bugbear chieftain from his mountain fortress and supported by goblin allies.

Opposing them, House Blackrose has enlisted the support of the Zhentarim and the Worgs of the Black Fang with intention to tame and claim the Northern Tradeway for their own purposes.

The majority of engagements between these combatants have taken place along Thundar's Ride where Blackrose raids have piled bugbear and goblin corpses along the walking paths.

A larger clash occurring several weeks past saw House Blackrose cavalry take the field against amassed bugbear forces.

Though this battle itself did little to change the campaign's status quo, travelers along the Tradeway around that time reported seeing large flames along the horizon in the rumoured location of a goblin settlement, and since this occurrence the bugbear hordes have been seen more often without their usual goblin auxiliaries.

Announcements made by House Blackrose allied forces have lead to rumors all along the Sword Coast that in response to the Blackrose aggression goblinoid forces had poisoned the waterways running through Thundar's Ride.

Though whispered widely, these rumors have yet to be confirmed by local authorities.

[DM Spectrum]

It is rumored that the Yuan-ti of Serpents hills have made a pack with Orcus. Adventurers tried to intervene but arrived to late.
Though the Queen and the Balor were slain the pact succeeded, though it would be some time before the Yuan-ti could aid the forces of Orcus.

[DM Spectrum]

Rumor would come from the north very grim and bleak. The Yaun-ti have amassed a army aided by the Demon forces of Orcus and have crossed over into the Highmoors. A attack would come across the Boareskyre bridge as the portion of the garrison within Soubar would hold the hill leading to the tent town while a group of adventurer coming to the towns aid would go on the offensive. In the end the army was pushed back but had left many wounded and with many more losing their lives.

Many noted that they were only testing the strength of the defenders looking for signs of weakness. A defense has now been set up on Boareskyre and preparations
have been made to withstand another attack.

[DM Spectrum]

There Yaun-ti and Orcus Alliance has been in full swing another attack in a series was launched across Boareskyre bridge. The Garrision forces at the bridge fort consisting of Ebon Blades, Blackrose and Zhent forces taking substantial casualties, many under the care of medics and cleric's. Rumors are the garrison could only withstand another assault before having to abandon the position and fall back to Soubar.
Scout's report that without the support of an army launching an attack to end the moor's would be futile and only lead to needless deaths.

Just another day on the Sword Coast.

[DM All Father]

A black clad courier departs Baldur’s Gate’s north gate under the cover of darkness.

[DM Dreamer]

Job offer in Soubar on billboard.

I'm willing to pay qualified assassins for dealing with vermin problem in Forest of Wyrms. Elimination of arachnid queen paid in gold. You will be criminally underpaid, so it would do you wonders to consider this opportunity as valuable experience in itself. For queen's venom as proof of murder each participant may expect to receive 5.000 gold pieces. Further medical treatment not covered. Each payee is responsible for their own tax deduction, I could not care less. Once the deed is done, please leave a message with local innkeeper.
L. H. T.

((OOC: Looking for group interested in one-off event that could lead to something more with player initiative. All levels welcomed. PvE to be expected, but not prioritised. Those interested are asked to hit me up via PM on forum. Please keep in mind that if there is much interest, I'll have to divide it between two different quests as I'm not willing to run for big groups at the moment. Thank you for understanding!

P. S. You don't actually need to pay any taxes.))

[DM Boo]

Recently, activity has begun to stir once more in the High Moors and surrounding areas. After a few months of apparent silence following the destruction of Orcus' portals by the forces of the Coast, the yuan-ti are on the move once more, accompanied by undead. Though nothing compared to when the demon armies were at their full power and roamed the land, the presence of the serpentine humanoids makes traveling through the shattered lands of the High Moors quite unsafe. What their plans are is as of yet unknown, but any who have gotten close enough will hear them hiss: "For the Broodmother!"



//Feel free to participate in the RP thread found here, or send me a message directly!

[DM Dreamer]

Hidden: show

A ceremony took place in Soubar today, atop the rocky hill south of the market. There, a witch and a priest called to Malar, the Lord of Beasts, to consecrate the hill to prepare it for the building of a shrine. The carcass of a stag, previously slain in a sacred hunt, was given as sacrifice in the Hunter's name.

So spoke the witch, "We call you, Malar, Master of the Hunt, Lord of Beasts, the Black-Blooded One! Behold our sacrifice, Wild Hunter! Hunted and tracked, run down by my hands! I have tasted its blood, and I offer that blood to you! We seek your honor, Lord of Fang and Claw! Mark this site, bless it with your scent, so that we might build a shrine worthy of your magnificence! Grant us your power and ferocity, Great Hunter, so that we might survive our trials and succeed in our hunts."

Then the priest, "Tonight is a night of glory, for the Hunt our Witch organised was a success! Malar! Bless this ground for it becomes one devoted to you! Bless this ground so that your pack may, fortified in faith, bear fruit to your Hunt!"



The witch then offered the remains of the carcass to the town. The heart would go to Malar himself. The rest of the meat would go to the werewolves of Soubar - who were working to assist in the consecration and building of the shrine - and, if anything remained, to the villagers of Soubar.

The ceremony ended then, but things turned violent afterwards. A large-horned tiefling threw a firebomb onto the hill, injuring the priest and possibly ruining the meat (and the consecration). The witch tried to retaliate, but was shot down by an unknown second assailant. She survived, and werewolves and militia quickly filled the scene, but the two attackers escaped.

Source: Rumors & Events of Soubar

Rumors of interrupted ritual in Soubar spread across northern lands, where sightings of angered werewolves are reported by those who travel the lands between Forest of Wyrms and Misty Forest. So far the encounteres seem to be brief, the pack moving quickly and with purpose, rarely stopping to sate their appetite.

[DM Dreamer]

Tarina, the Zhentarim Witch, was seen being lead southward from Soubar by a werewolf. Some say there was talk of a scouting camp.

[DM Dreamer]

What was undoubtedly meant as routine patrol of the Order lead to intervention on planar scale, when in joint forces the Hearties dispatched a fiendish intruder, negated the breach it tore into Faerun and consecrated the ground in the name of Red Knight, bringing temporary, fickle peace into the Reaching Woods.

[DM Dreamer]

The Malarites sought wisdom of their Lord to guide their hunt. With no resolution satisfactory, it is time to unleash wrath of the pack.