Rumors of the Southern Sword Coast

[JustAnotherGirl]

Late in the evening of 14 Mirtul, the High Ranger may have been seen exiting a portal deep in the Cloakwoods. She was accompanied by several others. She looked pale and haggard, her eyes red and her cheeks stained with tears. She crumpled to the ground silently amid the confusion. After just a moment she stood and walked away without a single word. With barely audible words punctuated with a sob, she stepped into a tree.

She wouldn't be seen again for several hours, and when she was seen again she was not alone. She seemed to be supporting a certain green haired druid, her eyes rarely leaving him. She was very attentive to his every need and not her usual self when it came to noticing things going on around them.

[Sigrid Trygg]

A very tall blonde woman, with intricately braided hair and a worn blue scarf, stood at the edge of the Cloakwoods. She worried her bottom lip and appeared to be listening and searching for something. She slowly made her way deeper into the woods as her eyes spotted things unseen by others. She smiled at the newly growing grass and the clear water. She spent some time simply walking through and enjoying the woods and was careful to avoid any remaining blight. She stopped and seemed to have quiet conversations here and there before she headed back out and away from the forest.

[zhazz]

18th of Mirtul, DR 1358
( May 20th, 2022 )

A small group of five is seen departing from the Bladestone Foundation early in the afternoon. All of them, bar one, a member of the school. The group travel along the Lion's Way for a short while, before turning for the wilderness south of Candlekeep. Passers-bys travelling to or from the ship landing on the beach carry rumours of a small group entering the nearby lighthouse, and not coming back out. What their business might be in that small space is their own, though the air around the lighthouse is briefly disturbed by a burst of magic that leave no lingering trace.

A few hours pass before the group is sighted again. This time looking worse for wear. Weary bodies carry large stones and small boulders inside the lighthouse, and curious travellers are warned to stay away. While four of the group leave the area, one remains behind, bearing the markings of the Bladestone foundation. In due time guards in official Bladestone uniform arrive at the lighthouse, bringing with them tools, pieces of lumber, stone and mortar, camp supplies, and provisions. A perimeter is quickly established, and the lighthouse appropriated as a guardhouse.

Curious travellers and passers-bys are informed that the Bladestone Foundation is there for protection, and advised to stay out of the lighthouse or be forcibly removed. Anyone taking issue with this are directed to the Bladestone Foundation school along the Lion's Way.

(( Event by DM Winter — Guard presence by the Bladestone Foundation overseen and authorized by DM Winter. ))

---

Edit: Added screenshot

[selhan]

*A woman burden with multiple clues , accompanied by a friendly companion set off through the Sharptooth Woods to reach a Temple in Gullykin. They speak with a halfling who grew agitated from their prying. Later in the day, they pursued the route to Greenest that lead them to some Hamlets. Strangers share conversations with warnings and advice. Were the advice heeded? Nay..*

*The pair bold enough pressed on up the hill to reach a ruined Castle. Words of play and trickery allowed them beyond, but just who was it that was tricked?...*

*Deep within the ground following a trail of spilled gold lead them to an encounter. Bold the pair was, or perhaps a mishaps? Towering before them with a blood flaming weapon in hand stood a nine foot tall Horned Devil nearly 900 pounds if not more.*



*After threats, after conversation and the game of words, the pair manage to leave alive, so close to death they were, yet they held resolve and composer standing bold and tall with defiance. However later when it was deemed they were safe, only did the woman collapse to the ground overwhelmed with emotions and fright. The man taking in a deep breath feeling quite lucky he was able to do so.*

[YourMoveHolyMan]

A series of freshly inked posters are placed in a few conspicuous locations within Nashkel, particular the gates entering and leaving north and south, and the bulletin board close to the towns epi-center.

While adventurers and travellers alike are targeted, the primary focus would be centered upon the citizens of Amn looking to broaden their horizons.

[? ? ?]

A murder was committed in the south.

Three bodies hang on a hollow tree south of Gullykin - a human, an elf, and an air genasi. The human was stitched together, as if she was sliced apart before.

There are no evidences of who the murderer was.

[renshouj]

Hidden: show

A murder was committed in the south.

Three bodies hang on a hollow tree south of Gullykin - a human, an elf, and an air genasi. The human was stitched together, as if she was sliced apart before.

There are no evidences of who the murderer was.

Except...

No more than a day later, after the rumor spreads, a human man with dark skin spreads word around Gullykin that he saw the one who committed such act. Though he didn't see her face, he spreads word of a couple descriptors: the one that did such heinous act was a woman, young sounding. Relatively short and fit, though wearing clothes that covered her well. Her face seemed covered by a sack, and by her side, a heavy duty crossbow capable of splitting a body in two.

The man doesn't give his name, but tells the halflings of Gullykin to be careful of this crossbow wielding woman. Though the fact that she didn't kill him as well is a strange one.

"If I am to see her again" - He says - "I could likely recognize her"

[Kitunenotsume]

Well away from the scene of carnage, a simple letter is left at the Bladestone Foundation addressed to the Captain of the Whitewood Vanguard.

Mister Dunn,

I have information to be brought to your attention, at your earliest convenience.

May your training prove ever as fruitful as a hundred acre vineyard.

[DaloLorn]

Not long after they were hanged, the three corpses are removed and taken to the temple of Kossuth by a tiefling and an elf, both in blue robes.

The two women are promptly brought back to life, but the dragonblooded elf remains dead by the time the group teleports out.

[YourMoveHolyMan]

Days pass since the posters were put up, and a jacketed man with a wide brim hat enters the Belching Dragon. He drags a chair over to the stuffed troll in the corner, leaning upon the back of it. He studies the room and its various patrons for a little while. Eventually, calling to the familiar face of the barkeep and raising his voice he proclaims,

"Please, a round for my friends and honored folk of Nashkel. And none of the cheap stuff - you can even bring out the nice mugs - there aren't any Balduran's here, after all."

Hoping the joke hits the right crowd, he smiles, and if well received he gives a nod here and there and waits for the noise to die down, before carrying on, standing up on the chair, and leaning a hand upon the stuffed troll in its corner.

"I tell you, this was an ugly one - they were even uglier, when they breathed." He remarks, examining the troll and then looking over the room.

"But they bled, and they died by the dozens, or the hundreds. They were set loose upon our Nashkel, and our Amn, by Kossuthian cultists and the foul lich that empowered them. They bled and were killed and they were stopped from their foul task, which was razing your towns and villages in the Cloudpeaks here. But it wasn't charity work, that did them in - though our House of the Guardian damn sure did their part and they did it well. It was the foresight of Mayor Ghastkill, that slew these beasts. You see, our Mayor looked to the future road, and he looked to the Whitewood Vanguard to secure it."

He fixes the room with a lopsided smile, "But the future isn't free, and there are other roads, than these. Nor should anyone's hard work or labor be free."

He unfurls a poster, similar in make to the one tacked up days before,



He passes it to the nearest hand that would take it, then passes out a few more in other directions.

"We need you. The Lord's Alliance fights in the north and they fight a damn good fight - against Zhentarim, against Blackrose, against drow, werewolves, orcs, the undead. The Zhentarim blight and they curse the very land good, hard working folk would feed on. The Whitewood Vanguard pays. Give us your strength and your labor and we'll win over the northern roads. Pad your pockets with salvage - if we win it from the enemy camps well that just shows we want it more than they do! To the nine with the Zhentarim and their black hearted tyranny!" He says with a defiant fist raised, then, to any ears still listening.

"A place to lay your head at night, steady wages for work completed, training - ah but do we train. Because we don't act like the other armies or knightly orders - and we fight to win. The unconventional is our bread and butter. We'll show you how its done. Come work with us, and we'll pave the road to a brighter future, on the winds of fate, the sweat of our work, and the blood our blades take from those that would terrorize and have us be subservient."

He hops down from the chair, ending with;

"Enjoy your drinks! Then come see me, Captain Michael Dunn - we'll get you signed up and to work straight away - there's a war to win up north!"

[YourMoveHolyMan]

Three villages were visited, not long after the tavern's scene. Magic aided in the journey as otherwise cold mountain trails and a great deal of distance would separate the travellers from their intended destinations, places that had seen battle in the bitter cold of winter now celebrating the lukewarm summer of the Cloudpeaks. Last but not least in this journey was the village of Bekkregard.

Several of the company made appearance, including Captain Dunn, the gifted magi Mizzrym, the deadeye archer Vilchi, the augur Maevyn, and their skinchanging ally Hoot. They brought gifts, and passed out fliers (The same as which had been passed around Nashkel just earlier that eve), with talks in each village of recruiting the willing men and women that wanted to see the world, that wanted to fight to make it a better place, or just wanted glory or coin to pad their pockets or build a future of their own by. Assured wages, the offer of training, and the ability to work alongside the men and women that lead successful campaigns against the trolls hordes of months past were amongst the spiels laid out.

Only well after introductions were made, the crew made available sweet treats made fresh earlier that tenday in the Warrior's Rest tavern, teleported in by demonstration to show the gifted magic of Mizzrym. Later, an offered demonstration of Hoot's abilities, as she took a favored skin of an owlbear. Only after further reassurance, was the offer for anyone that wanted to come and pet or feed the owlbear made. Surely later she would take less feral form, and enjoy further attention as a mouser. Maevyn might share her gifts in fortune telling, laying out cards to detail the futures of blushing young maidens or curious boys alike. Vilchi would set up a demonstration, where Dunn would throw out clays for her to shoot out mid flight with terrificly crackling explosions of clay dust, followed by long distance archery. All showing off their talents to the villagers to further the recruitment drive, while Dunn made his way through the crowds looking for the willing and able to hire on.

[Almarea90]

*A tiefling in blue robes bearing the symbols of Candlekeep can be seen attaching the following page in the noticeboards of Candlekeep, Baldur's Gate, Soubar, Beregost, Nashkel and Greenest*

Coastal Chronicles - Mirtul 1358 DR Year of the Shadow


Trade flourishes for the House of Cards, who focuses its efforts in the south and avoids the northern and eastern routes threatened by the war. Coastal and river trade increases, albeit amidst the fear this might draw the attention of pirates and raiders.
The Wyvern Hills are plagued by undead and some claim to have seen a dracolich.
Local laws are passed in Triel in order to limit hostile infiltration.
The war between the Lords Alliance and Darkhold starts to show its consequences further away from the walls of Darkhold Vale. While the joined forces of Elturel, Berdusk and Iriaebor lay siege against Darkhold, sparks of conflict start close to their homelands. Drow raiding parties have are spotted attacking the farmlands around Triel and Elturel as well.

Greengrass, Hilltop Ruins - A group of adventurers encounters a fiend in the Hilltop Ruins. The creature orders them to offer their blood, but the group refuses and is attacked by the creature. The group prevails, but a masked figure, clearly the master of the fiend, thanks them for the sacrifice.

Greengrass, Triel - A meeting about the war is held in Triel. Shortly after, the soldiers of the Radiant Heart stationed along the Chiontar relocate to protect the supply lines up north.

Greengrass, Candlekeep - For the first time in ten years, the library fortress opens its doors to a drow visitor. The aforementioned visitor is Aunrae, an oathkeeper to the Seldarine.

1st Mirtul, Baldur's Gate - The leader of the Night Hag Coven responsible for the murders of four children in Ducal Land is killed by a group led by the tiefling Szarilana.

1st Mirtul, Lion's Way - The drow raider Urfindir, who had been executed in Fort Prominence in the months prior, is found tied and eye-less near Candlekeep. The drow is killed by the elf Kethelis and buried in an unnamed grave. The identity of the one who left him there is still unknown, although according to Micar'myzzrym Iliathor it is an half drow woman, against whom the raider allegedly lost on purpose. The Whitewood Vanguard lieutenant also believes that Urfindir was part of a larger scouting force.

2nd Mirtul, Troll Claws - An army of between 500 and 600 dwarves have marched out of Kraak Helzak to take up defensive positions, bottlenecking a small cave.

2nd Mirtul, Darkhold Vale - Propaganda fliers with the symbols of the Zhentarim are dropped on the sieging camp of the Lords Alliance and consequently burned at the order of Lord Dhelt.

2nd Mirtul, Serpent Hills - A long lost recipe of the chef Hill Ramsi is uncovered on the Coast. This is apparently the second of the lot. The previous one was found by Squire Valduil in the remains of an ambushed caravan.

3rd Mirtul, Hluthvar - Many in the settlement and the Lords Alliance camps fall victims of vampires attack. Their lair is stormed by holy warriors, although the vampires are found to be lesser spawns.

4th Mirtul, Fort Prominence - The fort bolsters its defenses.

6th Mirtul, Bridgefort - The Whitewood Vanguard attacks and sacks Bridgefort.

8th Mirtul, Wyvern Hills - A group of adventurers cleans the area from undead and defeats a dracolich.

8th Mirtul, Nashkel - Goods are stolen by some mysterious tricksters, whose tracks are lost in the hills despite the efforts of a group of adventurers. In the nearby mines, a group of people attempted to track a mage who allegedly stole a treasure from a passing wagon.

8th Mirtul, Baldur's Gate - Disk Leen, a City Guard, is arrested for plotting against the Guards with an unknown third party, although the charges are dismissed after a hearing. The accuser's identity is still unknown and only referred to as F.

9th Mirtul, Baldur's Gate - A True Resurrection ritual is performed by Sister Ashenie on the children that were slain by the Night Hags, after their soul were freed. According to Sister Ashenie, two are back to their families while the rest ascended to Cronia, in Mount Celestia.

11th Mirtul, Baldur's Gate - The Captain of the Whitewood Vanguard, Michael Dunn, turns himself in to the Flaming Fist and is charged with violence against his wife. Eyewitnesses claim that he entered the premises without any of his possessions, except for a pillow and a blanket.

12th Mirtul, Cloakwoods - A mysterious corruption spreads across the Cloakwoods and the bodies of water that cross it, causing the animals to raise as undead and those who get in contact with it to become violent.

13th Mirtul, Northern Tradeway - Few days after the Zhentarim retreat from the tunnels near the Trollclaws, forces flying the flags of Darkhold, Sshamat and Uruk Lurra are seen on the surface in the north.

13th Mirtul, Troll Claws - After the Zhentarim forces appear on the surface, the army from Kraak Helzak returns to their city.

13th Mirtul, Rockrun - The last battle between the Company of the Blue Lantern, aided by the forces of Kraak Helzak, and the mindflayers of Mindlord Scpexatl takes place in Rockrun. The forces of General Morex prevail, albeit at a great cost.

14th Mirtul, River Reaching - The bridge west of Hill's Edge is attacked and destroyed by the black dragon Vuthai. The area is filled with a strange black and green mist and those still within it are all left as fragile statues.

15th Mirtul, Cloakwoods - The Blighter, a creature responsible of the corruption spreading in the Cloakwoods, is defeated by Guardian Emmanuel Venandi. This causes the blight to recede, allowing the woods to heal.

15th Mirtul, Northern Tradeway - Between Fort Prominence and Soubar, a trade caravan falls victim of traps set on the road by unknown third parties. A guard is killed and the horses injured. The Blackrose men disarm the trap but two are wounded in the attempt.

15th Mirtul, Bridgefort - The Blackrose forces retake the fort, meeting no resistance. The bodies of Sir Amos Thistle's daughter and son are found among the dead.

15th Mirtul, Baldur's Gate - Leaflets signed by Gerhard Van Faust are placed in the Eastern District. Those claim that Carah Evenwood is accused by Solaris Cult of being a practitioner of Eldritch magic and that the temple of Helm raised an inquiry on this. Replies were quickly issued, labeling the claim as false.

18th Mirtul, Lion's Way - The air around the lighthouse is briefly disturbed by a burst of magic, after five people from the Bladestone Foundation accessed it. The five are seen leaving the lighthouse some time after, in bad condition. A perimeter is established immediately after by the guards of the Bladestone Foundation and everyone is advised to stay away from the premises.

20th Mirtul, Baldur's Gate - The stolen painting is recovered by House Divine and returned to House Anjinson. The theft is attributed to a consortium of merchant guilds. A trade agreement for the purchase of House Anjinson's silk by House Divine is currently being discussed.

20th Mirtul, Western Heartlands - A number of raids is perpetrated by the forces of the Black Network between Berdusk and Iriaebor. At the same time, a powerful ritual causes a storm of acid and thorns. Miles of farmlands become a corrupted mire of vicious vegetation, while undead and maddened villagers cause further destruction.

21st Mirtul, Lion's Way - All members of the Black Abbey and House Blackrose are banished from Warrior's Rest.

21st Mirtul, Near Triel - A small group of highly specialised Drow attacks the farms around Triel, destroys the farms and a supply caravan, and manages to escape before a real response from the Lords Alliance arrives.

22nd Mirtul, Gullykin - Three bodies are strung on a hollow tree south of Gullykin - a human, an elf, and an air genasi. The human was stitched together, as if she was sliced apart before.

23rd Mirtul, Gullykin - A dark skinned man claims of having seen the murderer and describes her as follows: a woman, young sounding. Relatively short and fit, though wearing clothes that covered her well. Her face covered by a sack, and by her side, a heavy duty crossbow capable of splitting a body in two.

25th Mirtul, near Gullykin - After a communication from a mysterious woman in red, the three deceased people are taken off the tree by Scribe Edelgarde of Candlekeep and Arcanist Sirion Te'dwa and brought to the nearby temple to be raised.

25th Mirtul, Western Heartlands - After the recent attacks against the Lord's Alliance, reputable adventuring groups are being hired in all the cities and towns of the Western Heartlands. Particularly vocal are the Churchs of Chauntea and Tempus.

26th Mirtul, Lion's Way - Necromantic activity is witnessed on the bridge, where a man identified as Sel is hit by a finger of death by two figures who teleport away. Shortly after, a patrol of the Whitewood Vanguard and the Bladestone Foundation witnesses a figure surrounded by animated skeletons who teleports away immediately.

26th Mirtul, Near Beregost - An elven dragonblood of metallic heritage starts nestling in the area.

26th Mirtul, Western Heartlands - Aunrae passes her last trial as oathkeeper and, by the grace of the Seldarine, the ancient curse of her race is removed from her, effectively making her the first known dark elf in thousand of years.

27th Mirtul, Western Heartlands - The Order of the Radiant Heart issues a call to arms against the Zhentarim and their allies from the Underdark. Those who heed it are invited to gather in Triel.

27th Mirtul, Western Heartlands - The Church of Lathander announces the passing of Dawnknight Tobias Goldenshield, Paladin Knight of the Order of the Aster, and his companions. The group fell in the attempt of stopping a Zhentarim attack on the caravans moving between Berdusk and Asbravn.

28th Mirtul, Baldur's Gate - A ghost-like figure is seen floating above the city. Shortly after, numerous leaflets signed by Vigilator Barristan Schultze fall from the sky. Their content is an accusation towards the Lord's Alliance, claiming that they started a war of aggression against the Zhentarim and that they are entirely at fault for the casualties of the war.

29th Mirtul, Baldur's Gate - The temple of Ilmater declares its project of building a charity kitchen and welcomes any effort to help in the endeavor.

29th Mirtul, Amn - The Whitewood Vanguard renews its recruiting efforts in Amn.

Author's note: if anything is incorrect or missing, do not hesitate to contact me.

In faith,
Scribe Edelgarde Spades

((OOC Disclaimer: If you would like something added in future works feel free to send me a PM or poke me on discord. In order for me to avoid involuntarily metagaming I kindly ask that the request is delivered as follows:

- Either IC (missive or in game if you prefer)
- Or OOC with a link to the relevant rumor post in the forum
))

[DaloLorn]

THIS RUMOR HAS BEEN RETCONNED AS REQUESTED BY THE DM TEAM. MOVE ALONG.

Hidden: show

Identical posters sporadically begin to appear in areas across the Sword Coast, neatly written in Common, Elven, Draconic and Chondathan:

I am in need of assistance with a matter of the utmost importance. I need to conduct archaeological and arcane research in a number of hazardous locations, and would benefit from the following:

• Bodyguards
• Healers (hopefully only for the bodyguards!)
• Research assistants (preferably literate in one or more ancient/magical languages, particularly Netherese, Draconic, and Elven, and/or well-versed in arcane theory, and/or proficient with divination magic)

My funds are somewhat limited at present, so I am not currently comfortable offering a daily wage of more than twenty-five Waterdhavian dragons (OOC: 2500gp) per person, in addition to a share in any treasures recovered during my expeditions.

If this is nonetheless an acceptable arrangement, seek out Vilmar Dall in the outskirts of Baldur's Gate, the Friendly Arm Inn, or Candlekeep. You'll recognize me as a lanky, dark-haired male half-elf, typically wearing brown-and-red robes and bearing a crystal-tipped staff.

[Eliasz_Kowalski]

Horror in the quarry

Something ghastly has recently happened in the abandoned quarry just south of the Inn. Several unsuspecting adventurers who had been saved on the road from a fiend by two travellers were apparently lured into the quarry by one of them — a treacherous rogue — who left them to their deaths by the hands of a dark wizard. "Forgive me! He gave me no choice! It was either our lives or yours", he uttered while backing away to the entrance. Yet, the horror he was to witness left him questioning himself whether his life was worth it, after all. The body of one of the adventurers who had earlier been slain in battle and was brought to the quarry by the betrayer — it was to be delivered to the priest in the Inn for the fallen hero to be brought back to life. Instead, it ended up in the hands of a necromancer who was behind all the misfortunes the heroes of this story had recently experienced.

Scared out of his wits, the rascal watched the body come back to unlife as a ghast. Deformed and defiled, the undead creature addressed the second, terror-stricken adventurer by her name: "Help me, Rhiana... It hurts... So much pain..." And then whatever little was left of her dead friend in the mind of the creature was gone, and it attacked her. The traitor who orchestrated the demise of those two adventurers, pale like a parchment and having flattened himself against the quarry's wall, had to watch in horror the ghast hungrily consuming the flesh of his former companion. With his legs betraying him in their turn, the rogue uttered: "Is it finished? Will you leave us alone now?" "You've done well, brother", the voice was heard from the darkness. "You are free to go and live with what you have done."

Later, that man was seen in the Inn gulping down one pint of ale after another trying to drown at the bottom of the mug the betrayal he had committed and the horrors he had witnessed. Dead drunk, he couldn't keep his mouth shut and, thus, came the final treachery of that night as his tongue betrayed him, too — that is how this gruesome story that was supposed to be buried down in the quarry and drowned in a mug of ale was learnt by everyone willing to listen to the poor muttering soul unable to bear the heavy weight of what he had done.

From the accounts of eyewitnesses and stories circulating around the Inn, written down by a humble unnamed traveller.

[JustAnotherGirl]

A brunette ranger accompanied by a gray wolf might often be seen at the shrine of Mielikke. Occasionally a large white wolf is spotted with her. On one such occasion, she took a break from her work to toss a rather large stick as far as she could. She is most often seen tending the plants around the shrine, cleaning the shrine itself, and often takes on a position of prayer and meditation. If spotted leaving the Shrine, she looks peaceful and relaxed.