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

*Posters appear in various spots around Nashkel*

*Various advertisements are posted in public areas throughout Beregost and Nashkel*

"Seeking Expert Farmers

Seeking those with expertise in farming and/or those that follow the god Chauntea. Amnian farmers need your aid! Compensation and great appreciation will be offered for your expertise.

Please leave a note at the Temple of the Guardian in Nashkel for Paladin of Helm and Head Watchknight Wai Li if you are interested. Please include your title, name, profession, confirmation that you have expertise in farming, and your address."

"Seeking Participants in Commerce

Seeking an audience with merchants, merchant guilds, craftsfolk, and crafts guilds in Beregost and Nashkel. Compensation and great appreciation will be offered for your time. Craftsfolk of Gond are especially sought!

Please leave a note at the Temple of the Guardian in Nashkel for Paladin of Helm and Head Watchknight Wai Li if you are interested. Please include your title, name, profession, confirmation that you are a merchant or have a craft, and your address."

*An advertisement is posted in public areas throughout the Sword Coast, except for Nashkel*

" A Helmite Pilgrimage to the Holy Town of Nashkel

A pilgrimage to the Helmite Holy Town of Nashkel sponsored and protected by the Everwatch Knights of Helm will likely be leaving from Baldur's Gate at least once every tenday over the next few months. There is no cost to participate, but donations to the Church of Helm by participants are much appreciated.

If you wish to see the site where the God of Guardians came down to Toril to watch over the realm in an hour of dire need, please leave a note for Paladin of Helm and Head Watchknight Wai Li at the Temple of the Shield in Baldur's Gate."

Galvin Tummers responds to the advertisement for farming and ranching expertise -- of which he possesses both by background -- and meets Wai Li in Beregost to survey the various existing farming and ranching plots in the area before they will again meet in the next tenday to assist farmers and ranchers in improving yields and possibly propose expanding existing ranches and farms on the outskirts of town. They have yet to do the same in Nashkel, which should happen in the next tenday as well. Terri Lalani runs into the two of them and also presents a decent knowledge of farming and offers to aid as well. Unfortunately, Wai still has not found a priest or cleric of Chauntea to aid in the proper rites of blessing the land, an extremely important aspect of successful farming and ranching.

Rumors spread that Helmite pilgrims and a priest of the Temple of the Guardian gathered in front of the Temple in Nashkel for a sermon about how the Guardian god Helm came down to Toril on the very site in front of the Temple of the Guardian. Various local Helmites gathered as well, including one independent Helmite and two Everwatch Knights. Also, a few non-Helmites came to watch the religious proceedings and even got into a theological conversation about whether Helm really did come down from the heavens. After a while, a few of the gathered people went to go meet in the Temple of the Guardian about business regarding Northern Amn. Before leaving, however, some of the Helmites participated in this sermon:

"Oh mighty Helm. You came down to Toril to watch over us lowly mortals. Finding us worthy enough to do so is compliment enough alone, but that you did so with all your powers of the watch, all your vigilance, says volume about your honor and grace. You embodied the ultimate guardian that you are in a form all saw. You guarded us oh Guardian when we most needed it, in our hour of dire need. If you had not, then the fiendish abyss and hells would have overrun us. You were our Watcher, our Savior, then and for all time. Helm Protect Us, Vigilance Always."

Horrible murder happened today near Nashkel. Was killed human in bright armour, right between frost keep and Nashkel. Where just local powers look? In horrible time we live.

A red-coated woman wearing a fancy hat was seen the day before following the head watchknight into the House of the Guardian. She left later that night, her concentration elsewhere, her step purposeful, and would have left Nashkel by caravan the following day. She seemed to be headed North.

Rumors say that today at the Cloud Peaks were found few bodies, were not noted, who were they, but most creepy that on the bodies was written: "Coven's territory starts here and better for you to be a friend."

Deep within the cloudpeaks, rings of sharp, ragged iceshards can be found. Different sizes and shapes form patterns as some of them seem to have been placed randomly.

Any travelers that stepped off the road to the Nashkel mines about half a mile may have noticed a dark ritual taking place in the forest. A robed and masked figure burned a man, it was unclear if he was living or dead, and chanted into the night. The charred remains of the burned man may still rest at the foot of the hill where the ritual took place.



((Thanks for RP DM Eminence.))

With the influx of Helmite pilgrims into Nashkel sermons are increasingly held within the House of the Guardian. Today a face often seen patrolling the streets of Nashkel stood before the temples lectern. Her auburn hair tied back, dressed in her ceremonial armor. As she speaks her rich heavy voice echoes slightly within the halls of the temple.

I, Sveta Asperan, extend a warm welcome from the Everwatch to all who are gathered here this evening. Today I will be sharing words passed on to me by my stepfather. A man, should you hail from Waterdeep, that you may already know and well respect. Julien Chroster, a religious man, mentor to countless and senior member of Helm’s Hall.

It is with solemnity I recall the day I found myself as a pessimistic youth sitting among the benches of a hall just as this, vindictively cradling my late father’s tear soaked sword. The night was setting dark, stomach rumbling as my mother wondered frantically where I had taken our horse and if I would return in time for supper. Lone footsteps echoed down the hall, extinguishing the candles as the day’s work had come to an end. I kept my head hung low, budging from my spot nestled within the benches was the last though on my mind and I believed if I did not acknowledged the footsteps I could remain.

It was then I felt a reassuring hand upon my shoulder. Flinching I reclined deeper into my nest, a warmth drawing me into my lap. It was there these words were first spoken to me. In my stubborn youthfulness the words passed over me like a foreign language, not till many years later did I understand.

As my duty is performed these words always linger in the back of my mind, ever-present. With events of late they have grown in weight, with hope for the future. Today I share a variation of those words spoken to me that night.

She pauses for a long moment, her gaze drifting downward. It draws back up to the crowd gathered among the benches before continuing.

Anguish not for those who have done you wrong, those who have spoiled the land and those who seek harm upon the livelihood of others, for it is a dark path they walk. The sinners, the lawless, the miscreant. Men like those who butchered my father in his duty. Anguish not for them, for these men and women are the lost souls of the worlds.

It is my wholehearted belief that none that are born to this world are born miscreant. That immorality is not inherited. Those who are driven down these paths do not do so because it is in their nature to do so. It is that they mistake the dark path for the happiness they seek. Whether it be by corruption by beings not of this world, fellow wanders of the dark path, by desperation, their souls are lost to the path not made to be walked by man.

I do not pray for rain on a dry summer. I do not pray for fortunes, nor do I pray for Helm to grant me strength. My prayers are reserved for the lost soul, the wander of the dark path for it is they who are most in need. Many are driven to the dark path as a last resort. It is in my bedside prayer that I pray that a hand be extended to him. That rather he extend his hand out for an apple as the merchant is absent that a hand of guidance and aid is met by it. It is in my prayers that I beseech the wanders of the dark path to see the error in their ways, to realise that there is a fruitful light in this world that can be nurtured. A fruit that the men and women of the Everwatch fight to preserve.

I pray for those who ended the life of my father.

She spoke the last sentence solemnly. After a brief pause it rises in strength as she beings speaking again.

I am the left hand of the Great Guard, it is through this shield the realms of men are defended. Too often it is that my duty is to protect those of this world from itself. A reality that bring tears to my eyes.

Often you hear Ilmateri appealing mercy for those who have done wrong. Lathanderite’s seeking redemption, new light for those wanderers of the dark path. I implore these faiths for their actions and seek to uphold such ideals in my own duty where possible. It is a fine line I walk in my duty between idealism and duty to the realm and I am ever grateful for the wisdom of my senior peers and the Watcher himself to aid in my judgement.

Today I bear news of a triumph in those ideals, and in future hopes for a justice system that will not only strive to defend the way of life of the many persons of this realm, but also to seek atonement form those who seek it harm. Beseech by Wai Li and Drew Latonar of the Everwatch the Flaming Fist retracted the death sentence sentenced laid upon the subordinates of the gang brought to justice by the Everwatch. They now are to face years of labour for their actions. It is my belief with aid from the temples of Ilmater and Lathander that these men will once again walk the lighter path once their service is completed.

As my step-father said to me countless times helping out on my mother’s orchard whenever he could spare. There is nothing more humbling than a hard days labour.

She pauses again, allowing her vocal chords a brief rest.

I appeal to all here in your nightly prayer to reserve a short prayer for the lost soul. To praise the Flaming Fist for their decisions and to support any future efforts and systems proposed to seek atonement for those souls. Thank you for your time and may Helm watch over you.

Dipping her head the paladin makes her way from the stand.

/// Inspired heavily by quotes from Mark Twain and Mary Wollstonecraft

*After Sveta delivered her sermon, Wai Li was seen applauding enthusiastically and congratulating her on the true words spoken and their utmost relevance for our time.*

//
Saturday, 23rd of August, 20.00 / 8pm GMT (look at the clock on top of the forums!)