Rumors of the Southern Sword Coast

[JustAnotherGirl]

Ashling continues her long patrols through the Cloakwoods, sometimes remaining out for days at a time. She remains quiet and hidden for the most part. She waits and watches, knowing she's unable to take any gnolls on by herself. She's careful to avoid the worst of the rot that spreads through the forest and if her mind starts to feel muddled or she otherwise feels "off" she leaves the Cloakwoods quietly through the nearest tree.

[DM Spartacus]

Ashling's patrols keep her well away from the previous recent conflicts. Even further out then there are signs and sightings of regular Gnoll patrols. Signs of animals moving away from the forest centre, and some corrupted signs of nature. Generally speaking though such scouting might reveal a small gap of opportunity as the Gnolls hold. More Undead than usual are sighted, but in the same places as before, the western end of the forest.

((OOC: Anyone or any group may post here with their own direction or send me a pm if planning an active move in the great game. otherwise it will move on as NPC play dictates and result in some mechanical changes.))

Need these in by Friday 17 September when plot will enter round 1 (this being a measure of time and IC group and npc energy to take an action or direction)

[DaloLorn]

A new visitor arrives from the east: A barefooted wood elf in worn-out clothes, bearing only a few pouches on her belt and a large branch for a walking stick. A large boar follows her without fail as she surveys the Fist encampment and dying forest with a mixture of disappointment and sorrow in her stance and expression.

Even without the use of magic, the young druidess would navigate through the woods at an exceptional pace. Should they come under attack or otherwise be obviously endangered, she and her companion would withdraw as quickly as possible, using magical means if necessary. (Yay, druid/monk!)

[DaloLorn]

A number of werewolf attacks occurred near the orc encampment in the Sharpteeth recently. A badly mauled aasimar bearing the emblem of Torm was dragged out of the woods by an unharmed wood elven druidess, but others have also been seen limping out of the woods, dragging fallen comrades to the temple at the Friendly Arm.

Something is lurking in the area... something sinister. Savage and monstrous, more powerful and malevolent than the werewolves that usually stalk the forest at night. It may be prudent not to enter the area unaccompanied...

[bharring]

An elf in a blue dragonscale breastplate could be seen from time to time throughout the Cloakwood, often disappearing into a whirlwind of air or a nearby tree.

He seemed to be studying the Fist and the Gnolls, but never came to either group's direct aid.

[LivT]

Iolanna's efforts remained quietly constant, the Eldathyn following her role as the Goddess taught. Animals that had crawled their way from the rotting heart of the woodland often found themselves under her guidance or care. Most often, she would attempt to heal them, to find them some temporary home to wait for the day the Cloakwood would be reclaimed. If some poor creature was beyond help, Iolanna's hands would bring a merciful end, the bodies returned to the earth.

But in all, her efforts seemed to be the patient actions of a woman... waiting. Waiting through those darkest hours before dawn, waiting through that last blizzard of the winter... Waiting, watching, for the hour they would take the woods back from the Bhaalists, and bring life back to the woodlands.

[Rain]

Upon the crack of dawn as the darkness of Shar began to subside and make way for Lathander's morning grace, new events and sightings would slowly begin to unveil themselves upon the Cloakwood forest. An un-natural looming mist would begin to befall upon the woodlands within the mornings bloom and an aura of something sinister follows suit as the magical mist thickens and shrouds the deeper parts of the forest. After some time the moans and grumbles of the dead echo in the misty Cloakwood center as sightings of what would be perceived as a small sized patrol of undead horsemen would take up a trot of a lead ahead of a moderately sized herd of undead soldiers. Banners of the Lord of Bones would be held high by standard holders organized at the front and the back of the moving group of the dead as they continue from the forest center and were said to have disappeared into the Lion's Way after their march. The un-natural mist disappearing along with them.

[DaloLorn]

A badly bloodied redheaded tiefling in tattered clothes staggered into the Friendly Arm, pale and struggling to breathe. From the amount of blood on her, and the places it was concentrated around, she had been impaled repeatedly through the abdomen, before being finished off with a strike through the heart.

Even as her broken flesh continued to knit itself shut, she offered no explanation, made no detours; every action was driven by a single-minded determination, to achieve one goal... getting a room. She made only the minimum effort required to book a suite, then vanished upstairs for the rest of the day.

From the trail of water leading from the bath to suite #4, one could infer that she bathed first, and drip-dried all the way to her room.


(She does, in fact, have a tail right now. She's too out of sorts to have morphed it away.)

[DM Spartacus]

The visitor from the East has good reason to be concerned for the forest offers little in the way of balance. In fact surviving is no small feat. There is little warning, no concern to quickly escape just lingering doubts about the need to flee, one more minute cannot harm surely. Gnolls encircle, the boar a reluctant witness, unable or unwilling to fight or flee. A bright eyed wolf breaks the spell driving east with magical prowess. It seems to shock the duo into action and a timely escape from the deadly gnolls gathering. They quickly follow the wolf to the east. A lesson learned then for it seems little more can be gleaned from watching the balance has shifted against the Druids. Some urgent consultation may be needed, something more than mundane magic likely.

The other watcher, more alert to the danger from previous encounters, dodges all contact wisely, skirting the more dangerous central Cloakwood, but learning nothing of movement save a rumour of Undead horsemen. Deadly Gnoll weaponry, corrupted woodland creatures, and an underlying Bhaal like curse to the forest calls for Druid consultation, stout arms may no longer be enough, relics, wisdom of the ages, or some refined magic may be the answer.

Waiting, watching, for the hour they would take the woods back from the Bhaalists, and bring life back to the woodlands a Druid of Eldath muses. But the time for waiting and watching has passed. An enchanted wold pauses before the Druid an unheard message passes. Nothing defined a sense of urgency of consultation, a gathering of magic, a sense of hope, of Druid held wisdom and relic, and yet there she stands uncertain, the wolf gone.

A consenus then that scouting may prove dangerous despite woodland skills, and the Gnolls may soon be on the move again. (next round of activity will generste events, small and medium sized)

((OOC: Anyone or any group may post here with their own direction or send me a pm if planning an active move in the great game. otherwise it will move on as NPC play dictates and result in some mechanical changes.))

Need these in by Friday 17 September when plot will enter round 1 (this being a measure of time and IC group and npc energy to take an action or direction)

[Blaze]

At the first light of dawn a figure in pitch black armor seems to teleport near the Friendly Arm Inn.

After observing the changes that have occurred since the last time he was there, he begins to walk towards Cloakwood Forest.

Hidden: show

Recently, a man in shining armor appears to be prowling around the Friendly Arm Inn, observing the Flaming Fist during various patrols near Cloakwood Forest.

Hidden: show

Approaching the tavern he asks for some provisions for the night and some water.

Hidden: show

During the night the man seems to enter the forest, some green lights can be seen coming from it in some scattered points.

Hidden: show

Who goes into the forest notices that no trees have been destroyed, animals killed but there are many heavy footprints left.

Hidden by invisibility, he enters the forest moving quickly, despite being in armor, looking for the gnolls.

After a few hours the same figure can be seen returning, no blood stain on his armor, his shining blade firmly in his right hand while in the other a fiery red glow is clearly visible (brimstone).

[Steve]

Rumors spread of sightings of strange beings who seem to blend into one form or another, at will, or, at random. These beings, at one moment a Human or a Halfling or a Dwarf...soon turn into beasts of various forms and demeanors—a pixie, an owlbear, even a werewolf—yet, these beings are not possessed by these forms, they ARE these forms, as long as they seem to will it.

The more learned who hear these rumors, suspect that there has risen, in population, that being or calling or even profession that is known as the Shifter.

Those with lesser will power may cower in a general fear of such a rising. What shall such beings bring to the Sword Coast, for, if they are no longer simply what they were born naturally as, what truly are these ever-shaping-shifters? Do their thoughts and ethics shift along with their outward form? The common man and woman, along with the greater adventurer type, continue to carry on the rumor, adding to it as more and more sighting and interactions of this new Being are experienced.

Some say, though this rumor gets the lesser of traction among the talkative, that these so-called Shifters are aligned to each other, and that many have formed or wish to form a parliament or faction, as it could be called. Usually, as it with most rumors, aspects are just as easily dismissed as they are taken as "truth."

[LivT]

Autumn Equinox

There's a change in the air as the days begin to shorten, edging closer and closer to equilibrium. Once lush green becoming gold and bloody red, inviting another breath of respite for the forest folk. They begin to ready themselves for the winter and the harvest of the spirit, with prayers, songs, feasting, and preservation of supplies for the coming winter. More activity is seen around the Shrine to Mielikki, as they begin to prepare for the Third Feast.

Monday, 20th September, 9pm GMT / 4pm CST (Tuesday, 21st September 7am Aus EST)
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[JustAnotherGirl]

In the early hours of the autumnal equinox a brunette ranger and a large white wolf stepped out of a tree near the shrine of Meilikke. As the white wolf kept watch, the ranger carefully tended the shrine, clearing debris and making sure the shrine was clean and in order for events later in the day. After kneeling to spend time in reverent prayer, she left a wood carving on the altar. Anyone who looks at it closely might make out the crude form of a unicorn, maybe. It does seem she at least tried to do a good job. When finished, she turned and smiled at the wolf before the two stepped into a tree.

[yyj]

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.

It didn't take long for the wolves of the Hunt to find their target, after a few days of tireless stalking, they found the goat horned red skinned woman on the road South of Beregost.

Small talk and banter turned into a bloodbath after another firebomb was thrown, although this time by a bedine man besides the goat woman.

The battle was short, as the wolves overpowered them easily.

Then, more people joined the battle, adventurers charged against the werewolves but the tide didn't turn and instead the malarite bloodbath continued.

Close to the farm, a single werewolf fought the goat woman, a fierce and long battle, the werewolf seemed to have the upper hand on the tiefling, but with patience and strategy, she was able to overcome him, finally cutting his head off, though that was only one, and a bigger group was south, she had to run.



The road remained dark after, with little evidence of a battle later on.

[DM Spartacus]

It turns out the lone warrior returned to hunt Gnolls is not the only creature in the forest. Hundreds of Gnolls are on the move scouting out from the centre, dominating the landscape if not every individual encounter.

The Flaming Fist react by hunkering down behind wooden walls. However this proves no safe haven for woodland creatures perhaps led by Druids, appear to harass the Fort over a period of three days. The fort is set fire, the fort returns fire into the forest setting trees alight. Both sides employ magic to put out fires as quickly as they start. The encounter keeps both factions occupied, and the Fist visibly unwelcome to some. Rumours persist that troubles at home and a lack of progress will have the Flaming Fist pull out any time.