1351 Campaign - Act 1: Warlock's Crypt and the Plague in BG

[Memento Mori]

[right]BALDUR'S GATE RELIEF EFFORTS[/right][/color]

[/b]

The Foreign Exchange Committee has received permission from the Council of Four to help coordinate Baldur's Gate's relief efforts. They have been promised the protection of the Flaming Fist for a number of "healing and supply camps," which they intend to establish throughout the city in concert with the many volunteers and temples of the city to distribute curative measures and life-sustaining supplies.

"The plague can be beaten. But only through coordinated support and cooperation will we topple this sickness once and for all," is the battle cry. "The Dukes of Baldur's Gate have given us their support -- we only ask the same of the temples and peoples of our fair city!"

It's being further circulated that additional supplies are expected in the near future from both southern and northern sources.

The aim is clear, however: Taking the plague out through a maintained counterattack, and a strategy of "taking the healers to you" (as a consistent, reliable backdrop against the humanitarian efforts of individual temples and adventurers, and divorced from the quarantine strategy).

Additional information, to include camp locations, is expected to be released soon.

[DM Dialectic]

The Lords Of Waterdeep Answer A Duchal Call For Aid

A large armored caravan of supplies and victuals routed for Baldur's Gate is rumored to approach Baldur's Gate from Waterdeep, one of the greatest polities of the Lord's Alliance, carrying items from other more northern and eastern members of the Lord's Alliance in its carriages and wagons as well. Gossip quickly spreads that it is being personally commanded by renowned archmage Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun as well as Piergeiron the Paladinson, Warden of Waterdeep and Commander of the Watch of Waterdeep, in light of recent security concerns with other supply caravans from Lord's Alliance members and the large Waterdeep caravan's importance to the Lord's Alliance, Waterdeep, and Baldur's Gate.

((Please PM me or post here IC with your IC attempt at involvement.))

[DM Theophanies]

Over the past tenday, the quarantine of the docks has been removed. Flaming Fist still patrol the docks as usual now. The illness in the docks is on the decline, due to both it's natural progression and the aid of adventurers and resident temples alike.

The winter storm has long since past but the rat populations in the docks seem to have taken a hit, knocking back their numbers significantly.

There are still instances of the illness in the Eastern Gate and Palace Districts which are exaggerated due to the lack of food and healing supplies in the city. The citizens eagerly await supplies from the Lord's Alliance.

Other troubles seem to be arising in the city in the aftermath of the sweeping sickness. Whispers of unrest stir in the back corners of the city, people still remain hungry and the instances of crime are on the rise in these desperate times.

[Layla0340]

The Lords Of Waterdeep Answer A Duchal Call For Aid

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A large armored caravan of supplies and victuals routed for Baldur's Gate is rumored to approach Baldur's Gate from Waterdeep, one of the greatest polities of the Lord's Alliance, carrying items from other more northern and eastern members of the Lord's Alliance in its carriages and wagons as well. Gossip quickly spreads that it is being personally commanded by renowned archmage Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun as well as Piergeiron the Paladinson, Warden of Waterdeep and Commander of the Watch of Waterdeep, in light of recent security concerns with other supply caravans from Lord's Alliance members and the large Waterdeep caravan's importance to the Lord's Alliance, Waterdeep, and Baldur's Gate.

((Please PM me or post here IC with your IC attempt at involvement.))

Sani and friends would attempt to meet said Caravan before it entered Duchal lands.

[DM Dialectic]

Battling at Sea, The Convoy Breaks Through (February 27, 2015)

It is rumored that knights of two knightly orders allied to the Dukes met briefly with General Scar of the Flaming Fist inside of the Radiant Heart chapter house in Baldur's Gate, before being seen heading for Captain Deudermont's ship in the docks and quickly setting sail out of the harbor at high speed.

Much time later, gossip explodes across the Western Heartlands region that a large naval battle took place in the Sea of Swords off Ulgoth's Beard, between a Lords' Alliance supply fleet of 10 cargo merchant vessels filled with supplies for the plague recovering Baldur's Gate and 8 worships, mainly of the Waterhavian Navy, but also including supplies from the Lords' Alliance cities of Sundabar and Silverymoon, and a fleet of pirate sloops and ships set aflame sent into the supply convoy. It is said that the pirates only destroyed one of the cargo vessels, but took one of the warships to the deep, and heavily damaged three warships of the Lords' Alliance, with a not-insignificant amount of sailors and soldiers of the Lords' Alliance losing their lives. As on the advice of Captain Deudermont and those with him on his ship, the warships of the fleet, minus Captain Deudermont's vessel, engaged the pirates and their fire ships to screen the cargo vessels as the cargo ships and Captain Deudermont's ship made way for safety on land at Ulgoth's Beard. Ultimately, the pirate fleet was mostly destroyed or scattered.



The 9 surviving cargo vessels were then seen beaching around Ulgoth's Beard as their soldiers and crews dismounted and hastily unloaded their precious supply cargo onto the shore and docks of the small fishing village as locals curiously looked on. It is then said that some knights from Captain Deudermont's vessel, also dismounting and aiding in the unloading of cargo and securing the area, helped to break an ambush of Baldurian opponents of the Dukes along the caravan route from Ulgoth's Beard to Baldur's Gate along the River Chiontar, allowing for a Flaming Fist company of Captain Beluarion to get through to Ulgoth's Beard and secure the supplies on shore. It is also said that a dragon shaped druid captured a gnome pirate of the pirate fleet, who was later seen taken into custody by the Flaming Fist. It is not clear yet how much of the supplies from Ulgoth's Beard have been shuttled safely to Baldur's Gate.

[Carski]

Battling at Sea, The Convoy Breaks Through (February 27, 2015)

It is rumored that ....

A man dressed in bardic fashion, wielding a drum...wielding a beat that vibrates the core of those caught in its undulating rhythm, walks through the harbor district, half-singing a spoken word of resistance, and blame, against the foolish lords of this City....:

• 
  I am not the first to sing it
  But possibly maybe the last
  That states in clear and plain fashion
  How the lords of this state fail at their task...
  
  For hear how the rumors do say
  How ships that travel and use the sea
  About battle and death that occurs in our bay
  But have done NOTHING to appease our Queen, Umberlee...
  
  The Water Queen's House has reached out
  In word and drum and call
  For the lords, the merchants and the faithless
  To make tribute where due for the sake of us all
  
  But what do your lords continue on?
  How is it that merchants and leagues remain deaf?
  This one ringing drum can but guide you
  But only so far...if those that rule you...in ignorance, subject sailors—your people—to death...
  
  O people of this harbor, this Gate
  Who toil that others may satiate
  Do not fear mercenary blade, the ruling fist or the power of coin
  For your strength will grow, as you tribute the Water Queen, with your faith
  
  So here I end my small song
  That reflects clearly the plain stubbornness, hubris and blasphemous ways
  Of the lords, their servants and faithless
  To the Queen, her City, her domain...that is here for the people, and to stay....
  
  

Those that see the truth in the drummer's spoken word, who have heard the rumors and seen the power of the Water Queen to drown the rats, to reward those that make tribute, and to whip the blasphemous with her sea-born power, are led by the drummer to the Water Queen's House, in order to be given space to make their own tributes, tributes to be made by the people...tributes which grow her power and influence, not only in her Harbor district, but throughout the entire Gate!

/// forgive the dramatic words faith!

[DM Dialectic]

Rumor spreads that the Flaming Fist, acting on multiple informant tips of seditious and treasonous activity, raided the estate compound of Lady Katherine Vernosa east of the Eastern Farmlands of Baldur's Gate, apprehending multiple persons in the Lady's company, including some merchants, nobles, and adventurers that were seen by many being marched to the Flaming Fist Headquarters in the Docks District after the raid. It is said that Lady Vernosa was able to escape the raid, however, and is now fugitive of Duchal law wanted on crimes of sedition and treason.

[DM Dialectic]

Adventurers are possibly seen stockpiling two extra-large wagon-full sums of healing supplies, food, and bread in Beregost and then caravan shipping these wagons north to Baldur's Gate, braving assaults by waylaying bandits along the route. These goods are then said to be unloaded at a loading dock outside of the east gate of Baldur's Gate and then carted or carried by the adventurers to the temples of Ilmater, Tyr, and Mystra in the city.

[Carski]

Outside the Water Queen's House, played to entice the ears of the denizens of the Harbor District, as well as inspire those that have already put their tribute and faith in the sovereign Queen of the Gate, the Drummer of the Undulating Beat lays forth these words:

• As soon as you're born they make you feel small
  By giving you no time instead of it all
  'Til the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
  
  A faithful of the Bitch Queen is something to be
  A faithful of the Bitch Queen is something to be
  
  They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
  They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool
  'Til you're so fracking crazy you can't follow their rules
  
  A faithful of the Bitch Queen is something to be
  A faithful of the Bitch Queen is something to
  
  When they've tortured and scared you for many odd years
  Then they expect you to follow their derriere
  Rise to this station, you have nothing to fear
  
  A faithful of the Bitch Queen is something to be
  A faithful of the Bitch Queen is something to be
  
  Been kept away from Queen, the faith of Umberlee
  Been fooled with illusion, they tell you your classless and free
  But you're still fracking peasants as far as I can see
  
  A faithful of the Bitch Queen is something to be
  A faithful of the Bitch Queen is something to be
  
  There's room at the top they are telling you still
  But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
  If you want to be like the folks on the hill
  
  A faithful of the Bitch Queen is something to be
  A faithful of the Bitch Queen is something to be
  
  If you want to be a hero well just follow me...

After he finishes his spoken-word song...he grins, wildly.

**borrowed and heavily edited lyrics.....

[mangel]

A woman in grey robe adorned with bones and wearing a macabre bone mask can be seen carrying the bodies of the people brought low by the plague and were spared the cremation fires, into a cart, aided by two simularily dressed people.

Once full the cart travels towards the cemetary where each body is laid into and burial rites and blessings commited over each. Each fresh grave is marked by a simple marker denoting a name if known or simply a number if not.

All of it overseen by a member of the curch of Ilmater.

Later in the same day a stack of scrolls is delivered to the Duchal palace listing numbers and names of the deceased.

[kleomenes]

A woman in grey robe adorned with bones and wearing a macabre bone mask can be seen carrying the bodies of the people brought low by the plague and were spared the cremation fires, into a cart, aided by two simularily dressed people.

Once full the cart travels towards the cemetary where each body is laid into and burial rites and blessings commited over each. Each fresh grave is marked by a simple marker denoting a name if known or simply a number if not.

All of it overseen by a member of the curch of Ilmater.

Later in the same day a stack of scrolls is delivered to the Duchal palace listing numbers and names of the deceased.

Ameris can be seen as one of those overseeing this process from time to time.

[DM Theophanies]

A New Homestead

Rumors spread of prospective work through the seedier taverns and back allies of the Gate. After a time, a small group departs from Baldur's Gate in a caravan heading towards the Fields of the Dead. Hours later, they return to the farmlands, a new tale to tell and their pockets lined with gold. Chad the Drummer departs after them and with a comment on the plowshares promise to the driver, departs for the city.

Participants:
Disclosed

Rewards:
2000xp
More potential work.

[DM Theophanies]

A Plague Update in Baldur's Gate

With the supplies from the Lord's Alliance and other factions penetrating through the cities ranks, it appears that the sickness is finally under control. Although there are still cases of infection, by far the worse is over for Baldur's Gate with regards to the sweeping sickness. The busy temples finally start to see a dramatic decline in their work, their exhausted priests taking a well deserved reprieve.

Unfortunately though, many dead lay in it's wake and the city itself is far from recovered. The economy has suffered greatly from restricted trade. Much of the healing supplies and food that are being poured into the city are being used up as they come. Agricultural crops were abandoned from lack of laborers or picked early with the shortage of food. The high death rate from the sickness has left many without work while others do not have enough hands to finish their jobs. Many also turn to banditry and crime as a fast way to get food and coin, to provide for their families. The overall morale in the city is low at the moment, the whispers of conspiracy continue to sound in the darkest corners and forgotten shadows.

[DM Dialectic]

Some may have heard that a large wyrm of bone ridden by an ancient looking undead landed in the Fields of the Dead before both undead creatures were destroyed by a group of adventurers after a brief exchange of words.

[Iomhar]

The newcomer form the norths jaw is almost on the table as the guardsman recounts the story at the Elfsong.

"Wha' the hell yo mean 'a group of adventurers' !?"

"Your talkin' about an bloody undead dragon AND some blighter strong enough t' be in control of it by The Rider! You telling me just 'some adventurers' killed it? I don't think so lad. This is the Sword Coast not, a war b'tween the Planes"

He licks his lips.

"I heard something about the Blackstaff and Paladinson being here abouts. Maybe if the Duke took em on a hunting trip then maybe....there aint too many bigger names on the Coast than theirs after all?"

He looks at the guard almost hopefully for some confirmation thinking to himself 'and I decided to move here...'