DM Rumors of Baldur's Gate

[DM Golem]

A body of soldiery marches into the city in the aftermath of the undead raid - a force of faithful of Helm and Everwatch Knights. They barrack themselves in and about the Temple of Helm, joining yet more faithful who are mustering there.

After a night's rest and victualing, the Crusade of the Watch sets off to march down the Chionthar towards Scornubel. Rumour has it they will halt at Elturel.

[DM Gogo]

Several people would begin spreading a rather curious rumor thorughout the city. Like most rumors it began as a trickle, building upon itself until it became a steady stream. A few people who had been present on the Elfsong's patio saw a small figure (most would say woman) appear out of thin air. Some would say she was wrapped only in cloak and mask but one or two seemed to believe that she was wrapped in the shadows themselves. Whatever the case, it was gone as quickly as it arrived, moving straight into the Thayan Enclave.

[DM Golem]

A ship arrives in Baldur's Gate during a clear dawn. Upon it, there are thirty individuals in heavy armour and with the symbols of the Morninglord emblazoned upon their chests. They debark their ship and march out through the East Gate, where they pitch their tents at a nearby farm. The same morning, a service is held, blessing the farmer's field. Part of the recompense, it seems, for their stay.

Rumour spreads that these are soldiers of the Order of the Aster, led by the renowned paladin Sir Javos Ivanaer and sent by the faith of Lathander from the temples in Amn and lands further south, to aid in the fight against the undead.

[DM Dialectic]

A Flaming Fist officer tells Michael and Kalma, after being arrested for impersonating Flaming Fist soldiers, in the Flaming Fist brig that they were likely going to be found guilty of impersonating Flaming Fist soldiers and severely punished until the Amnian government intervened, mentioning a debt to Captain Kalma Hellstorm, an Amnian war hero, from the war period. The officer tells them both that Amn, Tymora's luck upon them, negotiated their release based on terms not yet publicly announced.

They are then marched to an Amnian flagged merchant vessel in the harbor of Baldur's Gate, set free on the Amnian ship, and told not to return to Baldur's Gate, but that they are free to sail to where they wish otherwise. Somehow, Amn even negotiated that the two keep their equipment, to be held in escrow with an Amnian government official accompanying them out of Baldur's Gate, until they have left the city, then returned to them while on the departing ship. All of the above is also publicly announced in Baldur's Gate.

Many conspiracy theories are offered in local Baldurian taverns as to the non-public terms of the release agreement and how these two individuals avoided executions for their alleged serious crimes, but the Duchal Palace and Flaming Fist only offers "no comment".

[DM Golem]

Rumours circulate that the Flaming Fist has begun a recruitment drive to meet the rising threat in the north: and, it is rumoured, the Virtuous Soil's intermittent insurrection.

The recruiters are being very selective, only taking the most physically fit volunteers, of suitable temperment. Rumour has it that Duke Eltan would recruit more if he could, but the funds are just not available to recruit more widely. Until more money becomes available, any wartime expansion of the Flaming Fist will be limited.

The Dukes have received limited loans from the Lords Alliance and rumours circulate about this kickstarting a new recruitment initiative due to the shortage of high quality recruits and limited training time available.

In the wake of the suppression of much Virtuous Soil activity, in order to free up vital Flaming Fist veterans for the front lines, a city watch is being implemented to keep order in the city . Its taking able bodied men and women who might not have experience but are willing to learn. Flaming Fist instructors are being provided. Members will wear a distinctive black helm with red highlights.

Training is going on night and day, the first wave of recruits are likely to hit the streets imminently. At which point, Flaming Fist soldiers will be ready to join the fight against the undead.

[DM Dialectic]

A public announcement is made by the Flaming Fist Mercenary Company that the individual known as Belladonna has been officially banished on pain of death from Baldur's Gate and its environs for being found guilty by threatening a conspiracy to commit harm and violence against the city of Baldur's Gate as well as for disorderly conduct. Whether applicable or not, there is no publicly mentioned treason violation against her. It is said that Grand Duke Eltan was personally involved in magistrate the verdict and punishment.

[DM Golem]

Rumours spread of a particularly raucous evening in the Docks district a few days ago, in fact the day before Belladonna's banishment.

While barroom brawls are not uncommon in the docks, three particularly lively ones within the space of a few hours is unusual. Notable is the damage caused to each the premises, with participants speaking of the slab-like fists of a particularly drunk dwarf and a burly human who seemed to lay low all before them. Participants, and proprietors, also speak of having lost coin, although the barkeeps also speak of having it returned, and money to cover damages, by the Flaming Fist.

Rumour has it that a dwarf, a human and a halfling were arrested without incident by the Flaming Fist after the disturbances and spent the night in the cells.

[DM Dialectic]

A rumor spreads that a small group of Baldurians, mostly of older age, but one in his twenties, sickened by war and suffering, immigrate east via smuggler boat to the eastern Western Heartlands, after a stranger, some say to be a retired Zhentarim merchant turned sailor, talks them into exploring Corm Orp and Darkhold as alternative superior places to live to crisis-stricken and chaotic Baldur's Gate, their conversations taking place in the chaotic and temporarily guard-abandoned Docks District.

[DM Dialectic]

The defenders were hard pressed. The Palace District had been overrun, with the palace and a few lone mansions standing like silver towers in a tide of undead that washed over the district. The eastern wall had been well defended, and even fortified with elaborate and supercharged suncannons and a few artillery pieces by the Everwatch knights. The western wall, overlooking the Dock's District, was still holding, but so fractured, so damaged, that it would not hold up to another assault. The army of the new dawn fought on, finding itself having reached the city walls and entered it, pushed back by the undead. Forest spirits assaulted the rear of the undead hordes, until they too were overwhelmed. The undead could not be halted for long.

As the undead hordes washed over the Palace District, they spread into the Dock's district, the last remaining Angel of Decay Haram leading the assault vigorously. Adventurer groups fought alongside defenders of all kinds to stem the tide, and were for a long time successful. Even the twins, two undead abominations, rotten corpses on a grander scale, could not force the defensive positions to collapse. Then, the Blight appeared. A being few had laid their eyes upon, a creature few understood, and less remembered. Lord's Alliance soldiers ran, but even before the Blight could reach them, they fell down. Some withered, as if aging decades within just the span of a few seconds. Others became sacks of flesh, or felt their arms and legs fall off. It was as if death itself was always a step ahead of this creature. This plaguelord. A forest spirit dragon, Ghandiron, appeared in the Palace District, having killed hundreds of undead minions, and put itself in the path of the Blight. This mighty spirit too, fell.

Despite seeing the devastation the Blight caused in his wake and the mighty spirit dragon fall, adventurers rushed to him with raised blades and axes. They all fell instantly, like wheat cut by a scythe. For how could they hope to outdo what the dragon could not? As the bravest and boldest were no longer there, the defensive lines fell back. Word reached the Dock's District, and troops all over the city pulled back to the East gate district, before the great eastern gate, where all of the city's remaining artillery had been positioned inwards towards the city center itself. The Blight, and the undead forces, continued to push towards them, with men and women charging in only to fall like thousands before, sacrificing their lives needlessly.

As the creature reached the central plaza, the Dukes gave the order. The suncannons, fully charged up, blasted away with a pulse that was extremely harmful to the undead, but harmless to the living. Artillery, loaded with anti-magic ammunition, sunburst bombs, firebombs and anything destructive that had been supplied to them by the Thayan enclave, fired. The undead lines were ripped to shreds. More and more kept coming, and more and more were incinerated, but the undead pushed onwards, inch by inch they were getting closer to the artillery lines. The Blight was at its center, and as the suncannons exhausted the last sunstones in a terrifying volley that forced everyone to shield their eyes, something happened. As eyes were once again opened, the Blight had stopped. He appeared stunned. As if turned. Grasping at the opportunity, paladins, clerics, wizards of all walks of life, rushed in. The high priests of the city, in a combined effort, managed to deliver the final blow as the rest had weakened it further, and banished it.

In a brilliant light, the Blight disappeared. The artillery stopped firing. A rallying cry went out amidst the troops, and adventurers, Dukes and soldiers all, charged into the fray. The undead were dumbstruck. The will that drove them on, vanished. The tide had turned, and the undead were losing ground quickly.

One adventurer group spearheaded the assault all the way into the farmlands and to the fields of the dead, where many undead had drifted back towards. Half of them, under Eleanor, pushed through the lines to catch up with a fleeing Haram. The other, under Greil, stayed behind to hold the line, giving the others a chance to finish the powerful Angel of Decay. With much effort, blood and sacrifice, they were victorious but had no time to dwell on their victory. The ones holding the line were being overwhelmed, and so they rushed to gather the group once more. As they cleared the rear of the undead, they were soon met by hundreds of soldiers having done the brunt of the fighting within the city and the farmlands. The path to Baldur's Gate lay clear.

The undead threat was no more.

[DM Nephilim]

Rumors, whispers really begin to make there way around Baldur's Gate and the surrounding lands.

Candlekeep is being targeted by someone or some group. Details are vague and no one seems to have more information, or know where the rumors are coming from.

[DM Ninox]

Rumour quickly spreads forth from Baldur's Gate that renowned veteran of the Amn-Gate war, Lieutenant Sardeph Armstrong, lead a successful ambush upon the Toecutter gang upon the Coast Way. The no-nonsense officer and a band of four other adventurers laid a trap for the gang and killed at least 13 of them and captured one prisoner. It would only be a matter of time, he said, until the gang was wholly routed and punished for their crimes. Many of the refugees took comfort from these words and the swift response of the Fist to this threat to trade and safe passage upon the Coast Way.

[DM Ninox]

Lieutenant Armstrong has been seen passing on another message to the Town Crier. Soon the clang of bells announces that the Fist are again looking to hire a group of no more than eight specialist adventurers with experience in hostage negotiation and rescue. The party will prepare to depart to an undisclosed location at daybreak on the 13th of Alturiak.

[DM Ninox]

Rumour quickly spreads that Lieutenant Armstrong of the Flaming Fist returned successful from his mission to emancipate the abducted refugees, with nine in total being rescued. It is said that this act of gallantry has slated him for promotion, and the adventurers who accompanied him, Medals of Valour.

A separate rumour begins to circulate, sourced primarily from the rescued refugees, about the Gang working for drow slavers. They also insinuate that the Gang abandoned their stolen treasures in their haste to flee the wrath of the Flaming Fist. When asked why the Fist did not recover them, they say that Captain Armstrong said with the potential threat of drow coming to claim their slaves it was unwise to linger in the area, and that their safety was paramount over a few trinkets of gold or silver.

[DM Golem]

A band of eight rough looking men are seen in Baldur's Gate, both frequenting the taverns of the city with liberal coin, and purchasing arms and armour of ebon hue at Maltz' store.

Those who overhear them toast will hear them speak of the Generous Captain Greil.

[DM Gogo]

Rumors have been filtering into the city, by way of the Harbor, about the appearance of a triangular-shaped island about fifty miles off the coast in the Sea of Swords. Many of the sailors that claim to have seen the island speak of it as an ill omen, warning that shoals and crags make any approach almost in-navigable. A few would swear that any ship that approaches will be smitten by Umberlee and sent to its demise in the depths below. As a result there has also been a slight increase in visitation and donation to the Temple of Umberlee--mostly sailors, praying, before heading back out to sea once more.