Rumors of the Southern Sword Coast

[Halian]

Word is a large gruoup of undead were spotted in the Wood of Sharp Teeth, lead by a man in dark armor.

After some investigation a small group of adventures was able to deal with the threat, and drove the dark man and his hundead minions away.

Said group was lead by a Knight, who dueled the dark man, and prevailed.

[LivT]

Avery makes her way to Central Cloakwood, careful to not cross the river into the gnolls territory. After some searching, she finally finds the huge, ancient oak, bearing the complex design of Druidic runes upon it. She wedges a note into a hollow knot of the tree, the parchment addressed to the Green Enclave. (PM incoming)

[Kiran]

People claim that a loud horn was heard from the middle of the woods.

Some sort of confrontation occurred, and later that same day, a group of people were seen carrying an injured young man in plate mail, bleeding heavily, towards the Flaming Fist compound.

[Alexander Holgart]

=Holy Light=

The Tormtar Knight and the penitent Sister Ashenie would be seen approaching Sir Billy grave behind the Friendly Arm.

After a short time contemplating the grave the Knight would fall on his knees contorting in pain, as his ears and nose bleed violently.

The penitent young Sister would attempt to sustain and support the Knight before rays of Heavenly Light surround them.

The Knight would then pass out, rumours whisper of an angel speaking to the woman and vanishing, taking away the Holy Light with him.

The Tormtar would then wake up in pain, and limp north with the frail Sister of the Broken God.

[yyj]

Moving quietly across the woods, a figure wearing red robes and a hood strikes the orcs again, this time acompanied by a big bear, after no more orcs are seen about alive on the woods, the green robed figure disappears too into the foliage.

[JustAnotherGuy]

Once again, those traveling around the Lion's Way could possibly hear music coming from the Druid's Circle near Candlekeep. If one crept closer, they'd hear the sounds of a few voices laughing, and generally having a merry time. If one were to enter the confines of the circle though, they'd see only a green haired druid with his lute, who would claim that he is simply practicing a new song.

[Alexander Holgart]

---

=Violence=

The Tormtar Knight is spotted walking into the Cloakwoods by himself, despite his current injuries and overall health condition.

He walks into the woods killing every hostile creature using his old two handed sword, every kill is achieved with brutality.

Every swing of his blade brings pain due to his injured hands, but he endures.

He keeps walking into the woods leaving a trail of dismembered corpses of shadow druids and lesser creatures infesting the forest.

He retires back to the Trade Way after hours spent searching, hard to say if the man has gone completely insane.

[Penwize]

=Someone Should Clean Up After this Senseless Massacre=

The Talassan scout is likely not seen patrolling the Cloakwoods - it's her job and she's good at it.

She walks the woods avoiding conflict with expertise, moving to most scenes of abandoned carnage.

Not every stop is productive, sometimes there isn't even enough in one piece to truly tend to, but it's her duty.

She keeps walking the woods, raising murdered shadow druids and checking on ravaged animal populations.

She moves on to another patrol after a hard day's work, hard to say how she's affected - this sort of thing happens a lot.

[yyj]

*The last few weeks have seen a military buildup in the fort, defenses have been vastly improved with a palisade wall going up and semi permanent facilities being raised. The soldiers present are clearly on a wartime footing and always armed and armored when awake. Few patrols have gone out, but the Green Enclave scouts have been freely interacting with The Flaming Fist officers and scouts. Clearly they are planning and gathering information on what’s been happening in the forest.

The soldiers have also been drilling daily, preparing for small engagement and practicing a curious melding of swords and pole arms. Clearly not a ‘normal’ tactic, but one the sergeants are drilling day and night under a variety of conditions.*

An elven ranger acompanies the flaming fist forces providing scouting for them and sharing a meal of venison hunted in the Cloakwood a few times. When questioned, she answers that she does not belong to the Green Enclave but is friends with them.

[Penwize]

The dead of night is a great stage for mischief. Tonight's docket consisted of burning through several Grease scrolls, a wand of Invisibility, and the patience of every single Flaming Fist soldier garrisoned at their Cloakwood encampment. At the beginning, Ytarya was thrilled to finally be causing trouble again. By the coming of dawn the elven scout was flush with the giddy satisfaction of a job well done.

Creeping through the undergrowth was easy enough. Having the patience to press close enough to target the ground under a sentry's boots or a particular wooden stair took more effort. Ytarya's start was met with complacent soldiers – adventurers tended to not loiter around boring jobs when they could instead be out committing atrocities.

Her first scroll crumbled to dust and caused a pair of patrolling men to fall ass over teakettle. It drew commotion of course – laughter as the soldiers were harangued by the companions they'd awakened with their misfortune. The second scroll was destined for the palisade a sentry was leaning on. Like before, human fall down, but this time suspicion rose. The Fist began to realize that something was up.

From there Ytarya moved slowly, taking all night to enjoy her ten remaining scrolls. Men fell onto magically soiled earth, boots failed to catch stairs, and even a weapon drawn in frustration clattered to the ground when it slipped from its wielder's fingers.

That's not to say there was no response, no attempt to flush out the cause of it all. For that Ytarya had more magics and the underbrush. Wary of ways to penetrate invisibility, she did her best to take shelter in the underbrush while she waited for her next opportunity. With a camp that size, it was always possible to leave a surprise, slink away, and arrive elsewhere before her victim realized his downfall. Torches were lit, the forest illuminated for weaker human eyes. Even once a patrol of five men and a hound burst out the camp's entrance to tromp around their perimeter. The elf merely waited invisibly and shrouded until it was safe to move again.

For the camp, dawn was slow to arrive. For Ytarya, well time flies when you are having fun. Not every scroll yielded results but by the time the dawn sun peeked over the trees the camp had tallied a few minor injuries, numerous arguments, a few hilarious anecdotes, and precious little sleep. Self-satisfied, the Talassan scout melted away into the Cloakwood as the day began.

[mastajabba]

They made their way into the Flaming Fist Camp, lead by Lord Lyonaler and the Warden, the sassy elf known as Boots. Whom walked as usual to his left abreast and instep. Even their cloaks swayed in step. Guess over the years she had actually became like his shadow. The other Comyrian in this formation wearing drab Green and muted greens with only the red feather in his signature bycrocket cap giving him a splash of color. That enchanted quiver that just quite never seemed to run out of arrows to shoot and an old seldom used short sword. At his side walked his trusty Ol’ Comyrian warhound, squire Dusty and he lead by the reigns his packhorse Roscinante. A few nods and a boisterous ‘Tally-Ho!’ given in greeting to the Flaming Fist garrison as they made their way to an assigned spot where he off loaded his horse and set up his tent and set about organizing his campaign supplies.

Squire Dusty found himself a cozy spot to “go on watch” the almost decade old hound was happy to get some shut eye after the long March from the Charter House in Baldur’s Gate. He wore a green harness with a padded set of dog armor embroidered with the Radiant Heart’s Crest. Underneath it it read Most Noble Order of the Radiant Heart.

That keen half-elven eye scanning towards the deep green heart of the Cloakwood Forrest. Soon he’d report to Captain Norton and await assignments.

[LivT]

In the coming days, a druidess is seen walking the perimeter of the camp, casting protective entanglements around the palisade and offering healing medicines to the soldiers who are helping her fellow druids. She takes seeds and cuttings of plants that will need to be replanted once the battles are done and cleans up suspicious traps that seem to have been left by the Gnolls.

[Alexander Holgart]

---

= The Mute and the Caretaker - (Music) =

The Tormtar Knight Alexander Holgart and the young Ilmatari Caretaker, Sister Ashenie, can be seen entering the camp with the permission of the Flaming Fist.

The Knight walks with the young woman as she offers healing herbs and poultices to the soldiers while providing healing to any of them that would be in need of it.

Alexander escorts Ashenie back to the city and comes back by himself to observe the soldiers and their drills, he does not approach the leading figures actually discussing plans and strategies.

It is evident that the Knight hopes to fight side by side with the Fist in the coming battles and is waiting for orders.

[Ashenie]

*A strange procession approaches the camp. An escorted Donkey seems to carry a lot of herbs and healing supplies prepared by Ilmatari. Under Ser Alexander's watch, and escorted by Vanira of the Order of the Radiant Heart, the quiet Sister finally disappears among tents and soldiers.

She might be seen for some time, talking with the healers, and Elle Avery among them, sharing potent poultices. Pavot seeds and Henbanes are used to alleviate pain, Woundworts, Bloodstaunchs to stop bleeding, Bloodflowers and St John's worts to mend injuries, and Fleshworts to help the flesh regrow. She also seem to share ointments and remedies against poison and infections, spasms, muscles and joints pain and paralysis. She spends some time tending the wounded, talking to them, and sharing tales from Baldur's Gate. Some say she delivers and takes messages and intentions for the families of the sodiers.

She prepares some food for wounded soldiers, and brews to help recovering. She is not seen near the Officers tents, or only briefly to report and take her leave. As she is escorted out of the camp, bags and baskets are empty, her supplies warmly shared.*

[sweetlikesplenda]

Arriving with several other members of the Order of the Radiant Heart, Aaron would enter the camp riding on his silver haired, Elven bred, Courser, Rook. Once dismounted he would give word to the others to set up within the encampment in an open area. Shortly after he would report in to Captain Norton's tent. Once settled he would check in on the any new information gained on the Gnolls, their numbers, their lair, and any other new threats. The Grand Knight would then look over the current maps and try to offer any strategic aid to Captain Norton and his staff, based on what has been learned.