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

*Outside the farmlands, near the Bandit Caves, more than a dozen heads of humans and dwarfs are hanging from near by trees, a bloody note left tacked to the cave enterance*

For to long have these bandits plagued this road and the forest. For now, silence remains and the forest returns to it's peaceful state and is allowed to grow and exist as it was meant to and travelers may pass unhindered

Those who stare at you lifelessly are to serve as an example to those who threaten the Balance and Plague travelers upon the Road. The Road is not a border, it is a path through the forests We will protect.

Those who dispoil the forest and whose actions threaten the Circle of Life will be dealt with.

There was no debate, no diplomatic iniatives, no mercy as I gave their Lifes Blood to the soil; a far better use for it than they had.

We are watching and We are here, all around you.

Lord Seorsa'ssr, the Forest Wraith

*rumors of the attack spread up and down the Tradeway and some wonder and speak in hushed tones of motives and intent. Most shrug and move on their way, caring little for the lost lives of Bandits*

Word quickly spreads from Nashkel and Beregost that the paladin, Jonas Rokranon, is behaving very strangely and at times, most unbecoming of a paladin. The Amnish soldiers witnessed him cursing and getting near violent with a group of other people coming down from the Cloudpeaks. After leaving that party, he ran through Beregost bellowing at citizens to get out of his way, then stopping suddenly and asking how an older woman's day was going. All the while, the aasimar's eyes were seen quickly shifting colors between lavender, gray, black, and purple.

"He's mad, he is," seems to be the common response.
"Someone needs to get him a priest!" is another frequently heard saying. "That does not sound like the paladin of Torm I've heard about. Something must be wrong."

Jonas was last seen headed into Candlekeep, where he has not come out of since.

Rumours Spread from Baldur's Gate to Bergost and beyond that no other then Christan Cross Battle Priest of Torm has returned from his unexpected Disappearance ( 4.5 months Real time ).

Rumors spread of a Mire the magical defeating Paladins.

She is described as being a Bluey Attractive genasi woman thats odd in the head.

Rumor spreads fast that the Knight known as Anderick Goodmane brutally beat a silver elven woman to death right outside the doors to the Temple of Torm.

What his reasoning was is unknown, but the female was virtually defenseless against him, suffering several harsh strikes to the face, one of which possibly broke bone beneath her pale blue skin.

Members of the church of Ilmater have been seen meeting in dark alleys with strange, shady characters. The reason for this is unknown, but the prominent theories range anywhere from prostitution to thieve's guild machinations.

Either way, it is certain that the Flaming Fist and the Watch will now be keeping a careful secret eye on them all.

The elves, farmers, and patrons of the Blade and Star begin to speak of a small druidic coven, or circle, that is emerging. They call it Shadowleaf. Credit of such a thing seems to be directed to a woman clad in the hide of a red dragon. Rumor still speaks of a twin armor worn by a great warrior in the same region.

Two members of the Order of the Morning Sun, in addition to an unaffiliated elf, were reportedly brutally ambushed and stepped into a mass in traps, creating a chain reaction which left a small crater by the road near Beregost. Reports come only from hearsay, but apparently the assailant was a single person, apparently seeking vengeance.

For the next few days at least Taerom "Thunderhammer" Fuiruim will relate to anyone willing to listen the exciting (to him at least) story of how a Halfling happened to aid him recently. Apparently some wild Elf had walked into his shop trailing a rather fearsome large black cat (a panther) while he happened to be trading with the rather sharply dressed Halfling adventurer.

His own meager pleas about the beast's presence had gone unanswered, so the Halfling fellow spoke up trying to be reasonable about it but the Elf ignored all his words on common courtesy and what not. In fact the Elf said nothing at all in reply but instead simply got up in the Halfling's face and glared at him. The last straw for the Halfling must have come when the Elf gestured with his longbow at him.

This good folk asked once for the Elf to get the bow out of his face and the Elf still rudely never speaking responded only by pressing his bow even closer. "Well here we go then" was all the Halfling said and quick as a lightning strike, he drew two wickedly curved blades and cut the Elven fellow and the cat down. Taerom proudly displays the sleek new black pelt that now adorns his wall.

Jonas Rokranon sits on his cot in the infirmary at Candlekeep recovering when news reaches him of the Wyndsouls' return. At first he is overjoyed at the news, but his pleasure quickly turns to dread when he hears who Dallenthel is asking about and why.

"By the gods, he'll kill them all. I have to find him and talk to him before it gets any worse."

When the paladin tries to get out of bed, his body - exhausted from the toll his recent insanity put it through - fails him and he collapses on the floor, unconscious. Nurse Abigail is forced to call upon several guards to lift the aasimar back onto his cot.

*Over the course of the last few days strange reports come in of "beams of light" coming from the heavens and bathing churches of Ilmater in a warm glow, for but a brief moment.

Whispers find their way into the cities across Toril that angelic messengers visited these holy sites, said a few words and left as quickly as they came. "Prepare children. Follow the one who protects you all from the Foul One's will. The boy's soul must be saved."

Those in the far reaches of the map mumble at the cryptic message. Those closer to the coast have heard a tale or two that "nods" to the true meaning of the message.

Reports filter through of Paladin's from the far reaches of Faerun making pilgrimages to the coast to pledge their swords to the "Beacon of Mercy". *