Rumors of Amn

[Hidennka]

Between the hours of midnight and dawn of the previous day, a number of small tremors were felt within the vicinity of Gullykin and possibly reaching the streets of Beregost; albeit faint. A number of hours later, a booming crash of thunder echoed through the sky above before all fell quiet once more.

[XyrisMourn]

*whispers travel alone, solitary rumours reaching the ears of those with a will to hear them. But when a number of whispers reach the same ears, when those rumours are fortified by repetition, they become something else. So it is that the dead mutes are not merely a rumour, but something more substantial. Something else the citizens of Beregost have to concern them as the Amnian troops fill their town.

The body of the first young man was found near the old cathedral north of Beregost. He stood out from the usual unfortunate travellers because he bore no weapons or armour, and had suffered some distinct wounds that had long healed; his tongue had been removed some time ago, and he wore upon the skin of his chest the symbol of the Lord of Murder, deeply cut and long scarified. Was he bound to the dark god? Was he a sacrifice? Or something else? The nature of his life was unclear, but what was abundantly clear was that his death was neither quick nor painless.

The second body was found to the west of Beregost, on the way to High Hedge. He bore the same wounds, long healed, though the nature of his death was less clear. Poison perhaps? Smothering? It looked to trained eyes to be an efficient killing by a trained assassin, rather than a brutal bloodletting.

The third appeared to the south of Beregost with the same mute mouth and scarred chest hiding the secrets of the man's life. His death was shouted loud by the cut, curved like a smile, carved deep into his neck. A fourth was found floating in the waters near the ruins west of Gullykin. Then another on the road to Nashkel, and another hidden in the winter stored hay on a farm outside of Beregost.

The last to date, the seventh, was left not far from the main road to Beregost, just east of the bridge. Like the others he lacked a tongue and bore the symbol of Bhaal. Was this serial slaughter a strike against the Bhaalists? Or were these Bhaalists themselves, sacrificed for some dark rite? What was the meaning of the missing tongue?

The dead mutes may not be rumour, for their deaths are manifest in the cold bodies their killers left behind. But the reason for their death is less clear. So it is that rumours spawn...*

[calvinus]

*Wai Li may be seen by some locals returning to the Temple of the Guardian in Nashkel, seemingly exhausted from a long journey from the south. Those watching her closely in the temple may notice that she seems to be preparing for a very long absence within the next tenday, yet again.*

[calvinus]

*Staying a day at the Temple of the Guardian in Nashkel, Wai Li, packed for a long journey, may be seen meeting with Sveta Asperan, then departing the next morning to the south, after spending time briefly at prayer in the temple. Rumors may say that she will not be returning for a very long time.*

[drafus]

A rumor is Spread around Naskiel by Paladins of the RH and the Helmite Temple.

(((Writen by Darkcloud777 Terri Lalani I just posted it.))))

what happened? "Mercury said as he awoke." Meteor Swarms is what happened. "I Replied with some concern as i used my ring to help heal the love of my life." "As I finished healing Mercury I heard a vague chatter from underground river. You heard it too? "Corvon stated just after i announced hearing the chatter." If we are to investigate then i will need to replenish my spells, this last battle against the Lizard shamans has burned me out of spells. Corvon will you stay close to here and keep a watchful eye out while i meditate? "Corvon nodded agreement and Mercury and I went to a safe spot for a quick Meditation. When we returned we found Corvon scouting out activity across the bridge of the underground river. About that time a wandering Lizard spied us and started to attack alerting a band of bandit and crossbowmen who immediately started to bombard us with bolts. Corvon, who is much quicker was able to rush forward across the bridge where i saw him fall with multiple bolts sticking out of him. Shortly after that my husband fell to the same bombardment. Making a hasty retread i found one of the rooms and hid in the strange plants and moss that seems to grow well in the humid cave.

"After hiding for some time i silently added my magical hiding gear to my fingers and head then went to the and listened." More idiot adventurers I think. You think she could use the body? "muffled voices from one of the crossbowmen. I snuck out the door and watched as the crossbowman kicked my husbands body." Alright, well let me get this kobold's body and we'll get back to base. "the vocal crossbowman said to the other who he he called Jim. Jim grabbed the body and started moving a dirty kobolds body across the bridge. Once he was some distance away i used a rock and tossed it up the hallway and prayed the noise would lure the vocal crossbowman further up the hallway so i could perform an ambush." Wait, what was that? "the crossbowman stated and began to walk down the hallway. Once he got far enough i pounced, unleashing my fury upon the man with multiple orbs and other magics." JIM HELP! "was all he was able to say before he swallowed my last orb. I quickly discerned that Jim was suspicious but Mercury's body was so close. I decided to chance it. I grabbed Mercury's body and started dragging it away. Bolts started coming heavy and hard from Jim the crossbowman and one lucky shot injured me critically and i began to bleed. I was able to get myself and Mercury's body to the high moss and safely stashed before darkness overtook me as i fainted from loss of blood.

"I awoke some time later cold and scared, It was dark and beetles were nibbling at my wounds. With a soft groan i called for the only healer i could think of. Muttering a spell i called for my sister Sylena. I heard noises outside the door and i snuck back to the doorway again to listen. i heard footsteps outside and some mumbling, i looked over at Mercury's lifeless body and wondered if i dared speak the words from my raise dead scroll with the bandits so close to my hidden location. Those fools, I will turn all of them into my thralls "I overheard" Finally the noise subsided and I used the scroll bring him back from the dead. It was at this time that the dark incantations began. Mercury awoke to me holding my hand to my ears as arcane words spoken in some evil language penetrated my head like stabbing daggers. As the chanting subsided i heard a very ominous hymn coming from the direction of the boat-launch. I knew we was running out of time.

*I whimpered as the chanting grew loud again and I covered my ears. Mercury as always when the pressure is on him performed heroically. He took my hands and I stared into his golden eyes" Focus on me love.....concentrate....."His voice calm and serious, I found my balance and nodded. I asked for and received wards from Mercury and then based upon my intuition we agreed to go against the group. I went in stealth to the crossbowman. Across the bridge was the source of the torment chants. An evil necromancer was summoning an army of ghouls. I kept his bolts off of Mercury while storm after storm crashed into the necromancer and his army of ghouls. The necromancer fell and i heard Jim cry out." i will avenge you master!. "He avenged no one as my blade went up the inside of his ribs to his beating hear. Sylena arrived and with the blessing of her God Corvon was returned to us. I spent some time searching the Necromancer and all of his gear. We made out way out of the cave and set up camp."

"A lady approached, her gear was of fine quality and shinyness. I knew immediately I was facing a holy warrior" Hello, "I said" Woah "Mercury said as behind the lady a large troop of armored warriors came into sight." I am with the Order of the Radiant Heart in Athkatla. I have been sent to investigate a necromancer and theft organization in this cave complex. "The Triadic Paladin Female said. I told her that trust had found a necromancer in the cave, but We had taken care of it." It is as we feared, troops prepare to enter the cave. I have his gear if you wish to look it over. "I handed the Paladin the personal possessions from the Necromancer. among the possessions was a marking with the symbol of a skull and blood around it." He has been turning poor Amnian farmers into ghouls for years, "the lady paladin admitted to us." Terri did it really, he is the hero. "Mercury boasted to the Knight causing me to blush." you could sweet the place to ensure its clear if you need assurance. "The noises of heavy armor treading on rock echo in the valley as the knights entered the cave faded as we teleported to the safety of our home and base for Trust."

[TeoDeathDealer]

Adventures report they found a mass of dead and completely frozen bodies of Xvarts within their village compound. On the one of the bodies was found a card. On it was the symbol of Auril in blue against a background of angel wings. Written on the card was "The Gelid Angel".

[Memento Mori]

Military-Style Drills Outside Nashkel

The Sword Coast Commercial Exchange was witnessed drilling mercenary soldiers just outside of Nashkel on the 17th day of the month of Hammer. The exercises continued for several hours.

Rumors hold that they will be protecting a shipment of goods from Nashkel to Waterdeep in the very near future.

[Endelyon]

Travellers headed headed into Nashkel from Crimmor would be heard speaking of several rough spots on the road winding up into the Cloudpeaks, where the earth appeared to have been scorched, leaving areas porous and rocky. A few others would speak of the local wildlife seeming terrified as they ascended into the peaks. The road was passable once more now, by all accounts, but one or two wagon drivers complained about having to stop and repair a wheel or an axle after trying to travel too quickly over the damaged patches. Most would speak of it only as a minor nuisance, but one man would be telling quite a lavish tale at the Belching Dragon later that evening, claiming to have seen it all with his own eyes.

As his story spread to others, many versions of the events would make their way across the lips of some of the townsfolk. Some would swear that it had been gigantic fire elementals that did the damage, while a few claimed it to be undead shadows that oozed across the ground like liquid. Whatever discrepancies the various accounts held, one fact remained constant: The fires they caused seemed to persist indefinitely, until the creatures were laid to rest.

[lexanna]

A rumor persists that a vile necromancer was slain by a group of adventurers and that the Amn military was seeking this necromancer out among these were a large contingent of Paladins. What the necromancer was up too no one knows but he met his end in the lizard caves in Amn. Even more a mystery was why so many paladins had been dispatched en mass for one lone necromancer.

[Deathgrowl]

// Sunday 8th of February, 17.00 GMT (Forum clock)

[paw]

Herran and several others answer a call for help from the Amn guard. It seems that a party of Giants has gathered and are headed towards the southern gates of Nashkel.

Each member of the party is offered one bag of gold for their aid.

Herran and 5 others answer the call and head out the south gate to try and intercept the giants. After several hours of hardened fighting of not only hill, but also frost giants. The group discovers a letter being held by the frost giant leader. The letter tells this frost giant to take a party of their weakest and to test the defenses of the city.

Seeing as the giants were defeated soundly, there is a debate among the group of 6 as to whether the giants will actually seek a second assault. They report all this to the captain of the guard of course and gather around the fire to simply talk of different matters, relax after all the fighting and prepare to move on.

Before they can, however, scouts had been sent into the hills where a fort is discovered filled with giants, both hill and frost.

As two scouts go to report to the captain, a third stays and talks to Herran and now 4 others. Herran and the other 4 decide to head to the fort to see what they can discover on their own, being told that the captain -might- follow, but would require much in preparation first.

Upon their arrival Herran tries to talk to the frost giant in charge to discover what he can of motivations. Talks quickly collapse when the giants decide to attack the group. Once again the giants are defeated soundly, but, the group hears a rustle on the winds and gather quickly so as not to be caught off guard.

A white dragon lands and the party teleports back to Nashkel without uttering a word to it.

When they get back they go to discuss the situation with the captain only to discover he and 150 men had headed to the giants fort themselves.

The group is split in their decision of their next action, Herran and one other rush to the gate in urgency, wanting to run down the captain and warn him of the dragon. The others gather and attempt a sending to warn the captain, but, get no reply.

The group decides that with no answer they went back to the fort, to try and save any they can. When they get there only the dragon stands. the dragon tells the group that he is upset with -any- who would defile -his- mountain, especially that dirty little village at the bottom.

The dragon is upset with Herran and the group that they have destroyed his minions, but decide not to eat the group and to send them away with a warning that the dragon will find another force to send against the village.

Herran and the group head back down the mountain to report to the mayor all that had transpired. The dragon had stood upon the captain and dropped what was left of the body on the group. Herran gathers a sword up that is dropped along with the body, to take to candlekeep to be researched for its history, promising to auction it and split the proceeds should it be found to not contain historical value of some kind.

[Kobamw]

Posters appear across the Sword Coast in various locales frequented by bards and travelling performers.

[Kobamw]

Posters appear across the Sword Coast in various palces where people tend to gather to learn recent news.

[DM Golem]

Rumours tell of a dark shadow and spate of murders falling over the port village of Longhaven, just south of the Cloudpeaks. Numerous residents went missing and a pall of fear fell over the town, connected to rumours of a dark artefact in the hills above.

Even the arrival of Sir Mevil, a paladin of Torm from the Radiant Heart Auxiliary in Athkatla, and his squire Layla, did little to alleviate the darkness. Sir Mevil received dire premonitions of danger. Unwilling to abandon his investigation but realising matters might be too much for him and Layla alone, he sent his squire to find aid. Sir Mevil soon went missing.

The first to answer the call were the paladins of the Radiant Heart Auxiliary in Baldur's Gate, namely Grandmaster Arkaine Halforken and the squire Erza. What occurred when they arrived is unclear, but it appears there was a battle against a cult of Bhaalists which had taken over the headquarters of the Longhaven Militia, during which Sir Mevil was rescued. Together, the three knights went up into the hills. They returned some hours later, telling of the defeat of a foul priest of Bhaal whose followers were responsible for dark sacrifices and missing villagers.

The three knights left soon afterwards, bearing a wicked object to the High Hall of the Radiant Heart in Athkatla.

[Kobamw]

Posters appear across the Sword Coast in various places where people tend to gather to learn recent news.



// OOC: the event is scheduled on Sunday (12.04) at 20:00 GMT in Baldur's Gate's Docks District. //