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

[Rumours Around Baldur's Gate]

Earlier today, a large column of Lords' Alliance soldiers marched north from the Lion's Way, towards Baldur's Gate. As they approached the city, the parade picked up many curious followers who tagged along with interest, trading speculations about their destination. Upon entering the city, many common folk lined the streets to see the soldiers off.

They marched down to the docks, the onlookers in tow, destined for their home in Waterdeep. They were the last soldiers, boarding the last ship. The peacekeeping mission of the Lords' Alliance is ended.

[Rumours Around Beregost]

A grisly scene was reported around the lighthouse on the coast north of Beregost today. Several bodies, all burned and mutilated, lay scattered outside on the scorched earth. The lighthouse itself remains structurally sound, but sustained significant smoke and fire damage. There is not yet any clear indication of what took place here, though it is said at least one of the corpses bore the charred remains of an Amnian military uniform.

An incident north of the border so soon after the day of ratification has people on edge once again, especially in Beregost. The new guard there has been mobilised and they are patroling the town in force.

[Rumours Around Baldur's Gate]

There have been vague reports of thefts, robberies and internal strife within a Noble House (or Houses (?)) of Baldur's Gate. Further inquisition reveals troubling news within the minor noble House of Dagobar, and a spree of thefts within the estate of House Gauntyl which is a branch of the same House in Waterdeep.

It was a grisly scene that played out at the farmlands North of Baldur's Gate. Tamina Lightstep, known associate of the infamous deceased Kalma Hellstorm was fated to meet her end, again. When she was about to meet her fate at the gallows, members of the Hellstorm Crew disguised as various adventurers and some even posing as Fist Officers were mixed in with the crowd and leapt to action. A female tiefling dressed in red and black summoned a Bateezu, which did a number of the Fist archers atop the battlements.

The fighting itself was a mess but mericfully quick, in the end the pirates Alistair, Vicala, Krisaga, and Calithe were all struck down. In the ensuing chaos, the rest of the Hellstorm Crew snuck away, and Tamina herself managed to escape with the help of a magical item tossed her way in the middle of battle.

The bodies of the dead pirates were taken away to an undisclosed location. The Fist did not comment on their casualties, although they would like to thank the Order of the Silver Rose for providing healing to save who they could, for they were told to stay out of the fighting along with the rest of the spectators.

[Rumours Around Baldur's Gate]

Numerous eye witnesses in the Palace District today recount the arrest of Rysdan Syth, a notorious wanted murderer whose bounty has remained unclaimed for over a year. Somewhat anticlimactically, he was finally caught while on his way to the local fair.

It seems the memories of the authorities are not short to such heinous crimes as his.

[Rumours Around Baldur's Gate]

Word gets out that the elf Rysdan Syth was executed in secret today. It is rumoured that to avoid any repeat of the Tamina Hellstorm fiasco, he was taken quietly into the wilderness mere days after his arrest, and hanged for his crimes. No rescue attempt was made, and commoners and Fist alike are happy to be rid of him.

[Rumours Around Baldur's Gate]

Rumour tells of a horrible accident in the Baldur's Gate Docks District. A woman was burned alive when her wagon lost control and crashed on the dock, trapping her and spilling some highly flameable substances. She has not yet been properly identified, but that the accident occured metres from the docked Whistling Wanderess suggests she might have been one of the crew.

Despite the silence of the Fist investigating the matter, it does not take long for speculation to spread that this was not an accident. The word "murder" proliferates quickly, and some say the woman did not crash the wagon at all; she was tied to it.

Overpopulation of normally timid deer seems to plague the Sharp Teeth near Baldur's Gate. To the point of, sometimes the roaming band of animals seem to drive away or even kill the local wolf population. Strange stories of warg riders darting through trees and kobolds climbing trees are told amongst the farmers whose lands border the forests, and to make it worse, their sheep and other livestock seems to disappear on a whim. Thus continues the woes of the Sword Coast.

[Rumours Around Baldur's Gate]

A strange sound can increasingly be heard in the farmlands, splitting the quiet of night until very late hours on an almost daily basis. It is the twang of bowstrings and the whistle of arrow shafts hitting their marks. Every night, the peasants practice. Every night, they improve and more come to join their ranks. Bows are shared, sometimes as sparsely as one between six.

The two farmers from Ulgoth's Beard, Radly and Torsen, now make regular trips to the farmlands. Their distinctive and enthusiastically bellowed orders echo in the still evening air as they walk up and down the lines. The blonde-haired girl, Evey Winter, expertly demonstrates bow maintenance to all newcomers. She is particularly sharp in her aim, and can be heard to incessantly mutter "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast" under her breath, over and over.

The Renfrows take a particular interest in the proceedings but never participate, instead preferring to watch from a distance. The Broadshaws, on the other hand, jump right in. There is a distant fire in their eyes as they practice with focus and determination.

[Rumours Around Baldur's Gate]

A merchant by the name of Samson Hart has been invited to the coast by Duke Entar. He has been seen escorted around by guards meeting and greeting commoners, and asking how the feel about the current economic problems.

[Rumours Around Ulgoth's Beard]

There are rumours around Ulgoth's Beard of a terror in the woods this past tenday, and of several farmers and hunters having gone missing. Some say that following a great commotion in the hills and around the edge of town yesterday, the mysterious threat has been dealt with. But who can say for sure?

[Rumours Around Baldur's Gate]

A tenday ago, seven large wagons set out for Waterdeep. Today, eleven return, to mixed reactions from the local populace. The Merchant League wagons carry value-added iron goods, including tools, light machinery and crates of fresh weapons and armour. The four additional wagons, apparently purchased and stocked by James White on behalf of the City Relief Committee, carry food supplies.

To date the convoys have been shrouded in controversy. By now rumours that the outgoing goods from the first convoys were stolen and replaced with valueless counterfeits are widespread. Unhelped by such rumours, many among the merchant class were initially quick to dismiss these efforts as the foolhardy projects of well-meaning yet incompetent adventurers. However, upon the convoy's return there is a noticeable change in mood, attributable to a single, glaring development: the convoy was unmolested by bandits on the return trip.

Cautious optimism now spreads through the merchant class and bleeds over to the commoners they employ; perhaps the tide has now turned and a renaissance of trade is imminent?

Several small fishing villages along the northern rim of the sword coast have been raided of late. They all reported a sudden change in the weather, following by bombarding by catapult. The attacks culminate with raiding parties killing, raising, and looting. The savage assaults have been efficient, lasting but a few hours. The damage done and lives lost have far exceeded the value of any goods stolen.

[Rumours Around Baldur's Gate]

Rumor has it the Sewer has become a place of escape from taxes for the poor of the Gate

[Rumours Around Baldur's Gate]

Rumors spread that the guards where seen chasing an imp into the sewers.