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

Even in wake of war, drinks are served in big quantities.
Great Elixir is bustling with life as ever, not surrendering to other taverns lacking as fine view as from their stalagmite. Hushed whispers are blaming an amateur musician for this, who stands near the steps and plays the flute no matter what customers say.
No one seen her getting any payment for this despite coming there every day. Rumors vary in their fantasy and preposterousness. Some say it is bastard child of establishment's owner, some think it is hired help. Some think that this drow is a pickpocket thief that hides under guise of musician.
The one truth remains - drow bard is playing out there with no payment and no real direct motive.

The posters claiming a warrant for the capture of Shur Silverblade is taken down by temple officials. Upon questions they will flatly say there is no longer any reward offered for his capture.

Storm Munin wrote:The posters claiming a warrant for the capture of Shur Silverblade is taken down by temple officials. Upon questions they will flatly say there is no longer any reward offered for his capture.

*unfortunately such slow dissemination of information may be too late for the one known as Shur, such individuals may be very disappointed when they drag his skin back to the Temple*

A newly arrived jalik traveling by the name Kaledor has been noted inquireig about appropriate permanent lodging within the city, finding the temporary lodging offered by the wings no longer suitable to his needs. He seems to be seeking a residence fit for use, with adequate quarters for rothe. If asked, he does not disclose much about his reasons, but from the nature of the inquiries, it seems he intends to secure lodgeing for more then just himself.

Rumours has it that the unarticulate and oft-farting duergar Glom Eigur has passed away in a fight against a mighty balor. The gossip of the city claims that the balor consumed his soul and now weilds his strong crossbow, ready to launch attacks on drow cities!
Meanwhile, another duergar with a red coloured face is seen in the vicinity, who claims to be Glom's brother. He is rumoured to eat mind-flayer's brains in order to increase his psychic powers. This duergar is also reported to have shrugged his shoulders when a street drow, with no visible rank, promptly and in a harsh manner asked him to identify himself.

After spending a small fortune on various tomes, folios, maps, and artifacts the mage, Guilhem has been seen in consultation with senior researchers at the School of Divination of late. It is rumored that he has procured a number of rare reagents for a powerful spell. Though no one appears to be able to guess at the nature and location of what the powerful mage is seeking.

Rumor has it that a slim figure, armored fully from head to toe, said a "war will come to these lands... both above and below" before making a hasty retreat from Varalla's Passage. Rumor also has it that a particular Imaskari frost mage heard the figure speaking what she believes to be elven earlier that cycle.

A strange rumor circulated from one guard who happened to see a strange scene. This rumor grew with lots of details, varying from humorous to sickening, but there is picture that happened can be drawn from repeated words and moments described which could not be thrown away to not lose the sense of the rumor.

It is known that someone saw a weird gnome, entering the surroundings of Underdark with few hired blades. It was not anything special, if he did not return after long time, carrying on his back decapitated drow corpse. On questioning, he said nothing on implications, carrying the body, by some observers claimed to be belonging to female. It still had dark chain shirt armor with marks of claws and teeth, most likely beasts trying to chew through the enchanted metal. Ignoring attempts of mercenaries, little figure not belonging to seasoned adventurer, but something described as typical gnome with short beard and bald head. He did not look like an important citizen. This procession with large bag and corpse was going into city.

Theories say three strongest ideas of what happened. Many think it was successful assassination hit outside city with body brought as proof of sealed deal. Some believe it to be usual scavenging hunt with body to be sold and big bag being a trove of treasures. Last opinion, being weakest, is ignored. Obviously, no one believes it to be a rescue mission, since there was nothing to gain from retrieving dead body of someone dying outside city, let alone resurrecting deceased drow. Few of rumormongers who believe in this idea say that they saw gnome with female drow body, carrying it to the slums of Darkwoods with tears on his face. This side of story is not ignored, but instead is used to make the rumor an opening for joke gag.

Headline:
Deals are struck in the Aftermath of the War

The 7th Circle has established an accord with representatives of the Conclave to occupy a newly created seat on the City Council. The exact details are kept strictly confidential but rumor is that it is a move ment to counteract the growing Lolthite influence in the City and placate those who are keen to point out S'shamath's "troubled" history under Lolthist leadership.

Traders, Faerns and foreigners of all races appear especially relieved with this turn of events, a development which is sure to strengthen the City's economic recovery.


Most of the Circle Leadership has been out of the public eye in recent times, messengers have been observed coming from Undrek Valanar with some frequency, likely using Teleportation Circles there. The exact reason for this is unknown to the wider public.

The Beaches of Undrek Valanar itself are still off limits for the public, being littered with the remnants of the Alhoon's failed amphibous assault. The local garrison commander has acted on concerns that there may still be undead lingering in the waters, or other undesirable remants.

A cleanup operation is said to be underway, meaning trade will soon resume here as well.


Other News:
A delegation has arrived in S'shamath from Ched Nasad, bringing with them spider silk and donating a sizeable amount of coin the City's Temple of Lolth. The leader of the delegation, a matron of house Aleandrahel, publically praised Lolth and House S'shamath for their timely intervention in our City's affairs. (praised in that order)

Several new priestesses came along with the delegation who will now reside at the local Temple. They are rumored to be new "graduates" of the Arach-Tinilith of Menzoberanzan.

With the arrival of the delegation the price of high quality Spider silk has plummeted on the great Bazaar. It never having been a very popular produce to begin with (except for exports), the local Spider breeders guild now publicly wonder whether or not it is worth continueing their business or to transition to breeding Giant scorpions for their venom and carapace.


Miscelana:
-According to reports from surface trading contacts a S'shamath based operation known as "the Maw" has bitten of more than it can chew. While conducting surface "expeditions" it appears to have attracted Darthiri attention and by all accounts is now subject to a vicious hunt by the surface dwellers - costing the beleagered group many resources.

Several prominent Circle members have publicly joked about the profitbality of this organisation, commenting that if a Drow bites of more than he can chew - it is only right that he should choke.

-Rumors of bloody Skirmishes and secret meetings in the Tunnels and Darkwoods have picked up this Cycle. Residents feel as though something is stewing, though few are interested in finding out what that might be. At several times groups of Circle Agents were spotted meeting, at the far, less trafficked reaches of S'shamaths domains.

Whispers say about lone shop that is located near the Z'orr'bauth Stairway Spire. This, despite talks about it's grandeur, is just a rented bench, not aligned with any merchant organization or guild.
Rumors say that the wares vary from exotic magic equipment and artifact to trash that peddlers would not sell. Some evil tongues say it is friendly with surfacers, but it is just rumor spawned by the strange habit of trader - the drow woman often wears ring of bright red light, which is very unpleasant to many visitors from other, less illuminated towns. It is said to harm the rate of visitors and customers, the number of which is already scarce due to bench being far from Bazaar.

Questions are being asked about the items commandeered by the school of mages from the corpse of the deathlord Tagmadus, some of the heroes from the victory at the Siege of Undrek Valanar apparently looking for answers from the conclave after risking their lives in defence of Sshamath.

The slow pulsing sound of drum beats echo softly if insistently through the caverns of Sshamath.
Unrelenting the drone continue as hours turn into cycle.
The origin to the sound obviously is the Temple of the Spider Queen.


As approved by DM Strahd.

Headline:
Novel Bestowal of a Seat on the Conclave

In the presence of Circle Agents Drem, Vier and Zilv'eari chaptermaster Ilphryssin was ceremoneously bestowed a seat on the Conclave of S'shamath.

Attending were Lord Castellan Raevirr, Emmisaries from the Schools and an Emmisary from the Conclave.

The Conclave seat has been tied to the position of 7th Circle Chaptermaster of the S'shamath chapter. Indirectly, this seat also gives the School of Mages influence in the Conclave, as the current chaptermaster is a member of said school.

There are persistent rumours that the Conclave is seeking to balance out the recent addition of a Lolthite to their membership by elevating an influeintial Faern into their midst.

http://imageshack.us/f/705/conclavecoronation.jpg/



Other News:
Preperations for the Siege of Darkhold commence

The Conclave has been informed that the siege of Darkhold will be commencing soon, led by the 7th Circle's militant arm. In order to secure the City from such attacks in the future the fortress must be held firmly in allied hands.

It is rumored that a powerful entity has stepped into the vacuum left behind by the Alhoon's demise. Scouts report many undead present at the fortress and in response the Circle has commissioned Sunbomb pallets at shops all over the City.

Miscelana:
-The Eye of the Circle was recently "involved" in the assassination of a low ranking delegate of Menzoberanzan. The delegate in question had secretly hired an Agent to assassinate the Circle's Trademaster but his employee turned out to be a double Agent on the Circle's payroll. No diplomatic fallout has occured with the cretin's demise - as the delegate was poisoned using the means she herself supplied to the would be assassin. The delegation from Menzoberanzan are "assumed" to suspect the activities of one of their own.