Rumors of the Northern Sword Coast

[Darradarljod]

Black Worg Mercenary efforts continue in Thundar's Ride. The hired Islander and Northerner adventurers remove bugbear sentries, waylay small warparties, and intercept mounted goblin worg patrols in support of the main campaign waged by House Blackrose.

[Leramak]

Rumors have that an offensive against the Goblins supporting the bugbears took place in recent days. As the reports come in, they would tell of a victory for the Blackrose forces though not without casualties.

The operation itself involved the main host of Blackrose forces drawing the Goblin army away from their village and engaging them throughout the hills and valleys of Thundars ride while an elite strike team headed into the village eliminating the Goblin War chief. After eliminating the War chief and his guards they set the village ablaze only to be set upon by more Goblin as they hoped reinforcement would make it in time to relieve them.


**********

Amos Thistle: “This village won’t be supporting the Bugbears anymore.”
Blackrose Soldier: “What Village!” A small grin would rest upon his face.

**********

As per the Lord Regent’s orders the Calvary were kept in reserve and out of sight while the foot soldiers engaged the main host of the goblins. The fight was fierce and bloody: a fight between overwhelming numbers verses superior training and tactics.


As the fight went on the goblins began to rout, fleeing the battlefield. The Blackrose Forces gave chase but on the horizon war horns could be heard as a force of bugbears entered the fray, forcing the Blackrose soldier to retreat to the river crossing.

The Cleric’s tried their best to keep the men in fighting condition as mage’s and the rangers gave cover fire while the retreat was underway. The men were spent and crossing the river itself would only lead to more deaths: The Blackrose forces would make their stand there at the bank of the river bracing against the Bugbear's onslaught.


*********

As the bugbears charged towards them the corporal would smile taking out an amulet “I think it's time we sprung the trap.” He would say speaking into it.

*********

As the Bugbears clashed with the Blackrose forces at the river crossing their Calvary made its move: Riding down towards the river crossing they charged into the Bugbear’s lines from the rear. With no place to run and being attacked from both sides the Bugbear’s fell in defeat.




As the battle ended the calvary would ride toward the village to relieve the strike team.

**********************

The aftermath of the battle would see the Blackrose forces collected the wounded or dead. Clerics would attempt to revive some, but some were just too far gone and would be given a proper burial.



Though the day was won the Great Bugbear Chieftain still held his grip over the Region of Thundars ride.


((Thank you DM Mellifluous))

[Etran]

A young Ilmatari monk stops by the refugees in the Northern Tradeway to offer healing and aid (some food from Soubar) during his travels.

He would listen to the refugees' stories with an encouraging smile and pray for them.

[OrdinaryRift]

A caravan is seen delivering crates of goods from Darkhold to House Blackrose.

[Eternity]

A lake cleanup has taken place within Thundar's Ride. Heavy work done by well-guided golems from over on a nearby ridge, who seemed to retrieve a number of bloated corpses from its waters.

[Milluw]

A handful of fliers are applied to walls at the Friendly Arm, Baldurs Gate's city, Candlekeep and Beregost.

(( Lasts till the 5th of january. Either leave your rolls in the main thread or PM them to me and i will respond with the outcome. Roll 1d100 per slip your character buys. Good luck! ))

[Hakken2]

A group of Dwarfs is seen up at the serpent hills some week ago. Battling a mighty demon.


the beast is slain, great riches for the brave warriors.

[Leramak]

((This should have been posted weeks ago but holidays and I moved so I lacked internet for a bit))

A few week back House Blackrose pushed deeper into Thundar's ride with the help of members from the Phoenix Company laying claim to a supposed back door into the Bugbear's Stronghold.


The Strike team would enter the fray dispatching the bugbears while waiting for the main bulk of reinforcement to arrive and help establish a secure and defendable position while a laborer force cleared out the caved in route.


The Mission was a success but not without casualties and many a funeral Pyres would be lit honoring the fallen.

[darkestgott]

*the following flyers can be seen in the area north of Baldur's Gate*

Dear elves and half- elves of the sword coast,

we, the elves of En Dharasha Everae, welcome you to our festival to celebrate winter and learn to know each other at our village deep in the Misty Forest.
We hold the celebration at the 23th of Hammer after sunset. There will be food and drink to enjoy and performance of music and magic.
If you don’t know where to find the village, wait at Boareskyr Bridge after sunset to get fetched.

((OOC: 23th of january at 9pm GMT))

[Orfeas]

Parchments are left outside Baldur's Gate, the Friendly Arm Inn and Winding Waters:

Winding Waters and the House of Spades will be hosting a market on the eve of the 23rd of Hammer. Everyone is welcome to attend whether they wish to contribute goods, purchase various raw materials from the village, wares from those attending or simply for some company and amazing food! We may be having a secret -or not- guest cook with us so do not miss it!

(( 23rd of January at 9pm GMT - 4pm EST ))

[xEmeraldx]

*A cultist traveling through the Thunders ride heading to a meeting location referred as "the house of light", was met by a man who would be the last man he ever sees. A letter was picked from the cultist's corps, the words offered were like riddles but the one thing that really caught the mans attention was the words of a reward beyond wildest dreams. The man immediately set off to gather some men, and pursue to solve the hints of the house of light.

Upon reaching the Light house, trails of blood lead under the doorway. *signals and cants* Initiated the breach, they were met with a fierce group, however the signal of a whistle executed the attack properly and they brought down Assassins, Necromantic Thrall, and Brigands. Upon searching the bodies another note was found.



Which led the shady figures to the bottom of the Well in Soubar. The incoming shadows saw in the furthest corner some unholy display as their stood a dark alter and corps on the ground surrounded by a quad of foul creatures. Soon later a fierce battle echoed in the tunnels, blades cutting down undead flesh and Necromancers. However one undead creature seemed far too invincible, no blade, nor magic was able to injure it. However trickery won the night as the shady figures made off with bags of coins and various equipment and magical trinkets'. However as they made their escape, one man whispered to himself a name many may remember..."Lord Nightgale." He knew he had to return to the Guild and inform the other's. Darker days may soon come to the city once again.

Thank you DM Summerz!

[yyj]

A great winter Celebration is had in the Misty Forest, elves, half elves and those who are friends of Dharasha, namely the Order of the Silver Rose and the Green Enclave, come from all over the Coast to Celebrate the end of the Winter and the coming of Spring.

Great feasts of honey cakes and fruits, alongside elven drinks are had for everyone.

Deleniel and Mhaenal challenge the quickness of wit with an assortment of riddles across the festivities.
The lovely music of Rose gets everyone to dance and ready for the archery contest, that ended up with a tie breaker between Atria of Doron Amar, Nigel and Boots of the Radiant Heart, having Nigel as the final Victor just for a single point.

Merriment , dance and joy, the elven people celebrate together.




Special thanks to the DM Team for helping out with a few props

[zhazz]

Undead in the Moors
--- ( 13th of Alturiak 1357 ) ---

Disclaimer! — Artistic freedom has been applied for the sake of a more dramatic retelling of events.

Act 1 - A new threat reveals itself

A seasoned quintet, under the leadership of High Lady Alyssia of the Halls of Inner Light, ventured past the Boareskyr Bridge in search of adventure. Barely had they reached the borders of the Moors before groaning and shambling sounds drew their attention. A score of mummies descended upon them, intent on blocking their path further into the Moors.

Ranks were soon called, and the four of them managed to hold against the sudden uprising of undead. Clearly these undead did not belong here. Everyone in the group agreed to this, and the decision was made to further investigate. Alyssia called formation, and spear-headed deeper into the Moors. Behind her the priestess Levtari followed, flanked by Lylan'Synor and Adrian on either side.

What began as a score of mummies soon turned to a veritable sea of undead creatures. Every inch of ground was gained with blood, sweat, and the will to find the source of the uprising. Bruised and battered, but still ready to fight the quintet arrived at the source. A giant portal deep within the Moors. Their goal in sight, they redoubled their efforts for one final push.

As the last undead fell before the powerful group, a Balor stepped out of the portal to offer terms of their retreat. None was given, however, and another fight broke out. Already exhausted from the harsh fight to even get to the portal, the group stood little chance. They had no choice but to retreat. While Alyssia and Lylan'Synor held the balor at bay, Adrian and Levtari cleared the path for their retreat.

It was a narrow escape, and the two brave women had suffered greatly from holding the balor at bay. Both had succumbed to the balor, and was carried from the Moors by Levtari, while Adrian led the great demon on a merry chase.

Narrowly escaping disaster, the two surviving members of their group made it back to the Boareskyr Bridge. Whether by good fortune, or other distractions the balor did not follow them out of the Moors. With two downed comrades, and a long journey back to Baldur's Gate for aid, Levtari and Adrian were at a loss on what to do. Fortunately the roar of the balor had been heard all the way to Soubar, and a lone Blackrose cleric had been sent to investigate.

Tensions were high, and mistrust abundant, but in the end the offer of aid was accepted. A ritual was performed by the Blackrose cleric, and life returned to the fallen once more. With everyone back on their feet, albeit in need of some rest and recuperation still, the decision was made to call in reinforcements.

Act 2 - Calling in reinforcements

A call was sent out to Bhor of Kraak Helzak, who was fortunately nearby, and arrived with two other kinsmen. Lord Aaron Lyonaler of the Radiant Heart also received a call, and arrived in short order. While waiting for reinforcements the surviving group had now retreated past the Boareskyr Bridge, and allowed themselves some time to regain their strength.

By the time Bhor and Lord Aaron had both arrived, several others had also gathered to investigate the commontion. Now with a numerous force to assist them, the group lead by Alyssia debriefed their allies. Before battleplans could be formed, however, a dozen death knights emerged from the twillight to descend upon the group. Behind them more undead were shambling forward.

A call to form ranks was issued, and battle was joined.

By now the large group of adventurers had received a taste of what they would be facing. Some even cheered for victory. But the day was not so easily won. Alyssia once again called for a march into the Moors, and the group marched to her call. The quintet had faced at least a hundred undeads the first time. Those numbers and more awaited just beyond the borders of the Moor.

Rotting carcasses, severed limbs, and freshly spilled blood covered every inch of ground behind the small army as it pushed further into the Moors. Just past the first ruins, however, their zeal proved too great, and they became trapped between two undead forces. Axes chopped, blades cut, hammers crushed, and divine magic flooded the area. When the dust settled, none were seriously harmed, and the undead were but dust on the ground.

Everthing was going well, and the cheers of victory sounded once more. The members of the quintet shared worried glances, knowing what awaited them. Worries that soon turned real. Rounding a small hill they all came face to face with the balor. This time, however, it was no longer alone. While some rushed to hold the balor at bay, others picked away at the undead army at its command.

Frontline warriors took turns trading blows with the mighty demon. Each covering for those closest to them, and allowing a moment of respite for healing. Slowly the army of undead dwindled, but so did the strength of those engaging the balor. Divine energy once again flooded the area to destroy the remaining undead, and bolster the army. All focus thus shifted to the balor, and before long it too was defeated.

The death of the balor proved to be a short-lived victory, however. More undead were rising amidst the army's ranks. Called from their earthen graves by a trio of liches that chose that very moment to coordinate a strike upon the army. Spells were flung, while claws, teeth, and rusty swords tore at those too slow to react in time.

Once the initial shock had faded, the army roused once more to the rallying call of Lord Aaron. As one the army descended upon the undead, and churned them to dust. With Levtari and Alyssia destroying undeads by the handful at a time, Lylan'Synor and Adrian worked in tandem on the liches. Swift strikes, and carefully practiced maneuvers wore down the defenses of the liches, leaving them vulnerable to the heavy-hitters a few steps behind the duo.

With the liches now turned to dust, or splintered to tiny pieces, the army now forged ahead. They had yet to reach the bespoke portal, and already their clerics had expended considerable divine magic to even get them this far. No call to retreat was made, however, and thus the only way was forward.

Act 3 - Fight for the Moors

Step by step, battle after battle the army continued to push deeper in the Moor in search of the portal. Remains of undead littered the ground behind the trampling boots. Rangers and those light on their feet prowled the flanks of the main army, picking off lone undead, and lending their support to the main battle, when needed. Just like the fight with the balor, the frontline warriors now took turns to divide the undead forces, while others coordinated their attacks to destroy the scattered undead.

Now working as a cohesive unit the army made fast progress through the undead ranks. Suddenly the call was heard from one of the scouts that the portal had been sighted. Roused by their goal within reach the army made one final push through the winding pathways of the bog.

The closer the army came to the portal, however, the greater their sense of impending dread grew. Something did not feel right. As if the presence of hundreds of undead wasn't enough to cause that on its own. No, something else was there. Something familiar. As they drew closer the source revealed itself. Previously shielded from view by the glowing portal, another balor stepped into view. And with it came another horde of undead.

Bhor and his boys quickly stepped up to the challenge, and issued a battlecry. Charging ahead they plowed through the undead to meet the balor head-on. The rest of the army followed suit, and dispatched the undead pushed aside by the dwarven charge. Now was the time to fight. No more holding back. What had previously been a coordinated assault turned into a chaotic melee. There were simply too many undead in too many places to form any sort of cohesive battle line.

Mummies, liches, skeletons, and other undead were fought across the battlefield, while those able to, squared off against the balor. Victory seemed within their grasp. Just one final push, and the day would be won! There was still the issue of the portal, of course, but anything coming through could be contained. If only they could reach it.

That was when an ancient demi-lich stepped out out of the portal. A skeletal hand rose in the air. The air wavered. Down went one of those fighting for the living.

The death of one of their own only made the army fight harder than they had before. Untapped resources from somewhere unknown were called upon in each of them. Each wound sustained was shrugged off with a growl of determination to make any barbarian proud. For each undead stepping through the portal, or rising from the ground, another three were destroyed.

The tide was turning. The balor defending the portal had been destroyed. The ancient demi-lich was flickering in and out of existence as the energies holding it together began to wither under the onslaught. And yet more and more members of the hastily assembled army fell. Soon fully a third of the army lay defeated. Clerics were tending the wounded, and calling upon their respective deities to spare the dying, or bring them back to life in their hour of need.

The fight carried on. Sheer determination forcing weary and bruised bodies to perservere. What other choice was there?

Another balor stepped from the portal. No doubt sent to reinforce the undead scourge. Except that there was nothing for it to reinforce. Only a few undead stragglers lingered. If a balor could know fear, it must have felt it at that moment. Though beaten and bloodied those still standing descended upon it, and wore it down.

Had more reinforcements arrived to aid the balor, the battle might have been lost for the living. Yet the portal had shrank back upon itself soon after the mighty demon had stepped through. The balor fell. A thunderous crash echoed through the Moors as the large body hit the ground. The last sound anyone heard was that of another undead, the last one still standing, being blasted to pieces by divine energy.

Silence fell upon the Moors.

One by one the surviving members of the army began tending their injuries, and looking for fallen friends. With one last gathering of divine energy those that had paid the ultimate price had their fortunes reversed. Gaspings breaths of lungs drawing air once more brought relief to the mourning. The fight had been brutal. Much more so than anyone had expected it to be. For now the Moors were safe once again. But for how long?

Gradually the army began the long trek back to the Boareskyr Bridge, picking off remnants of undead that had wandered from the main battles. A few remained where the portal had once been. Talks of Orcus, and a plagued land was uttered. One by one they too began the journey home.

A dwarven hand dug into the soil, where the portal had loomed above. Fingers grasped crystaline shards, and carried them from the battlefield. A female voice, Levtari's voice, called out to the dwarf, asking that the shards be delivered to the Halls of Inner Light for examination. Whatever the reply was, it was lost in the wind as the two walked from the place of the final battle.

The day had been won, certainly.
But at what cost?




// Thank you to DM Spectrum for turning an otherwise mundane adventure to the Ziggurat into something much greater.

[Asterisk]

Those traveling near or along the river in Thundar's Ride would tell of the waters surging and rising with enough force to spill over and flood it's banks before settling once again into it's normal state.

In the coming days at dusk, offerings adorn the bank near the base of the waterfall in the form of flowers, herbs, and an aventurine.

((Thanks DM GrinningDeath))

[darkestgott]

*the following announcement can be seen around the area north of Baldur's Gate and the farmlands around the city*

We, the elves of En Dharasha Everae invite those of elven blood to an evening of story telling at our village in the Misty Forest at the 20th of Ches after sunset.
We will come together in the tavern to share stories, news and riddles by food and drink and enjoy each others company. If you don’t know where to find the village, wait at Boareskyr Bridge to get fetched.

((OOC: 20th of march at 8pm GMT, the transition from the High Moor to the village is broken, so you will need to come to Boareskyr Bridge to get teleported inside if you don’t have a key))