Rumours of Sshamath

[K'yon Oblodra]

Once more disfigured creatures can be found in the tunnels of the Underdark, this time the victims seem less random, only the strongest of the Duergar seem to have withered away, in their compound, while many a duergar was simply slain, solely those of immense strength and fortitude were drained of their life force as other creatures had been cycles ago.

[kleomenes]

A figure familiar to some, although perhaps not to others, is seen walking through the streets of Sshamath. Small, clad in dirty, spiked, battle-damaged armour. A cleaver hangs from his side and his stance reeks of barely contained aggression, absent the swagger of his last period in Sshamath. Some may remember him in grander style, wearing an ornate helm fashioned in the shape of a snarling hellhound, in equally dirty and spikey, but much better maintained armour. Then he wore the emblem of Bregan D'aerthe, just as he does now, no matter what trials he has been through.

Those with longer memories still will remember this is not the first time Daug'aonar of Bregan D'aerthe has returned to the City in anger and apparent failure. He was charming company in those cycles, too.

[Druchii]

The heart of Sshamath has for, many years, been its Schools of Magic. To a lesser extent, those Houses of significant standing also enjoyed a say in the political direction, but the lifeblood of the city unquestioned flowed through the Dark Weavings Bazaar. Hundreds of tents and small shops can be found setup amongst the many giant stalagmites; a place where visitors could buy almost everything for the right price.

The Weavings is a constant tangle of merchants hawking their living or magical wares. Many are independents, but others band together into Houses or Guilds to better strengthen their positions. As with all things concerning Drow, fierce competition was rife amongst those who plied their trade here. Gossip and exchange of information flows freely between the avaricious Merchants, and the latest news concerns the meetings taking place between Agents of Houses Moolhyan and Selmiyeritar.

The potential for a shift in the flow of gold was first noticed when a large party of Selmiyeritar drow, led by the scar-faced Fang, met with an established 'fixer' of the Weavings known as Ell'fusei. After lengthy discussions, and an assembly of representatives from the ambitious and well-connected House Moolhyan, an accord was seemingly reached.

This cycle, space was appropriated in the Weavings and came under guard by the young House. Their role was clear: to ensure none attempted to subvert or sabotage the interests of their new partners, House Selmiyeritar. Silver and silk was purchased in bulk, loaded onto large, sturdy wagons, and eventually rolled out through Sshamath's portals into the Underways.

The convoy itself was always guarded by ten Drow mercenaries, and occasionally by more well-known Selmiyeritar retainers. Most of the former were armoured Drowess, but the company always seems supported by three mages who have the look of Necromancers and Illusionists.

Business it seems.. is booming.

For those with a finger of the pulse of the Weavings; it would become evident that House Selmiyeritar's expansion has grown from just bulk trading of silver and spider-silk. With a new stall managed by the Matron's agents to sell artifacts of power, it should be obvious to competitors and potential partners alike that Selmiyeritar has their eye on strengthening their financial assets.

The two merchants, who seem to handle the majority of the bulk contracts through the Selmiyeritar Master-of-Coin, now advertise their interest and demand for new products. Sshamath's mercantile community would soon become aware that the Merchant Clan were actively negotiating contracts with wholesalers for:

- Edible, quality aquatics.

- Seasoning: Fire Lichens.

- Preservatives: Salt & Moss (sphagnum-equivalent).

- Lizard Eggs.

- Basilisk Eggs.

The list and the meetings with various quarry bosses and fishmongers suggests that Selmiyeritar intend to add the local produce to their Exports, especially given the preservatives listed. Given these are common enough in the Underdark, some speculate at where they might find a market a good chance of profit.



//This is mostly flavor for some established RP between PC Factions - but if your PC would like to arrange private trades and deals feel free to contact Val'lyn and we can do some coin exchange. Maybe some social rolls to see which side ends up making a profit or what-not or simply RP for the sake of it.

[Druchii]

The Darkwoods - located at southern stretch of Sshamath's boundaries where the unruly and dangerous elements of the City congregate, scheme, deal, and murder. A place that the Conclave all but ignores and rarely, if ever, bothers to patrol. Every cycle someone is robbed, beaten, murdered or even tortured all without any hope of a magical intervention by the mighty Wards that protect the more valuable (and wealthy) districts. Here, the only law of the land appears to be that those with the means to take from those who cannot stop them. An activity all seem happy to ply in order to claw ahead of those perceived as their lesser.

The Nau'klar - a well-known establishment that caters to all sorts of reprehensible individuals and forms of employment. The patrons are a hard folk, having seen many bestial creatures come and go through the Maggot where bouts are fought in a large arena. Yet on this particular cycle, a fair few heads might have turned when a Drow dressed in red and black hauled in what appeared to be a dead female Drow - covered in the sewn skins of sentient creatures. The macabre scene would usually do little more than warrant some looks and maybe a little alarm. Closer inspect perhaps prompting interest among those who had never seen a Kanahraun before. Things only got interesting when the recognizable Master-of-Coin from House Selmiyeritar dropped his mask and gave the body a sharp kick in the ribs - and it groaned in protest. The word spread quickly of the apparent live capture.

Speaking with (bribing for a very high fee) the owners of the establishment soon led to the savage specimen of a Drow being trussed up in a cell. The chamber was literally rented out for the Master's use. It did not take much speculation before the rumors spread through about what was happening down there - the screams for a couple hours were evident enough. Eventually, after another fee and several bets were placed - the same barbaric murderess would be seen dragged into the arena to fight any and all comers until she was finally hacked apart to the bloodthirsty shrieks and howls of Gith, Tieflings and Drow. Despite the torture and having been clearly poisoned and paralysed, the vicious creature still managed to put up a fearsome fight and plenty of entertainment. The Master of Coin apparently stood to the side and watched the Drowess' ugly fate with detached expression upon his face - his finery soiled with the vital fluids of the victim he had lavished his attentions on. Naturally, some speculate at why someone like him would go through such trouble to bring back the admittedly impressive specimen - smuggle them into the Darkwoods, pay good coin for private torture, and then toss them into a pit to die fighting.

Regardless of the theories that spread about this, one thing seems evident enough: Despite a love for inflicting mental torture on others.. every now and then.. the truly base members of Drow society prefer to indulge in something altogether more visceral.

[Rinzler]

A one-eyed Faern has been seen wandering the streets of Sshamath after a long absence... has he returned?

[DM Bloodvine]

Rumors spread of a mysterious hooded stranger of masculine form visiting Sshamath.

He was seen sharing coin generously and inquiring about Sshamath customs.

[K'yon Oblodra]

Rumour spreads that a rather renown Necromancer has left the City with rather heavy traveling equipment, some say it looked like he might have planned a longer venture.

[Shadowspinner70]

A drowess, swathed in billowing black robes and masked, approaches the billboard in front of Gloura's festhall and wordlessly pins an inflammatory message to its surface. The pinned message can be found on scraps of parchment spread throughout the Darkwoods and Bazaar districts—distributed by messengers hired by the same masked figure.

Ilythiiri and noble mages of S’shamath, remember your power, and how for it, the Yath have exiled and persecuted you. Remember how if you lived in a city other than S’shamath, you would be abducted and forced to undergo a test of loyalty and strength—as though you never had it!

Remember how the most powerful of our people have been regarded by the Yath for centuries: with skepticism for the mere fact that you can change the fabric of reality and may desire such.

The Art is the province of males and the patron of this glorious city, not a ravenous beast that would gladly destroy our haven. More fitting is the Masked Mage, the patron of all males from assassins to mages and warriors. To boot, he is the patron of all Ilythiiri.

He did not send us into exile. He does not perpetuate the slow extinction of our people by calling for strength, then crushing it. He encourages the rise in power in our mages. This city and its mages are powerful entities, so I ask you this: will you continue finding power in an insect who is so fain to cripple you?

[Darradarljod]

Countless cycles gone Nargazul the one-eyed swordsman had fled the hostilities of Sshamath for those of Ched Nassad. For some time now the once controversial headman of the disintegrated drow raider party l'Orbb Glennen was understood to have come crawling back to the city - no doubt from another misadventure.

Always one to indulge in hallucinogenic Azure Wine it seems his addiction had accelerated. Since his quiet return Nargazul's wealth and skill was rumored to have rotted in the slums of the Darkwood District where he drank himself dumb, gambling and accruing great debts to shadowy figures. When once a drow reputable and infamous enough to meet with Matrons and Masters of the Conclave, for a long time now he has wasted away as scum, among scum, and as far as anyone could be rightly concerned might as well already be dead.

It is presumed the curse was broken somehow recently for the unwashed drow male dragged himself into the School of Mages, in an exercise of careful boldness, trying to grease his way to an apprenticeship with the faction of Divination. No longer consuming the blue poison, Nargazul is rumored to share his sobriety between the fighting pits of the Darkwoods - where he tries to reclaim his skill at arms - and at the School, taking classes among students of Divination.

Though his natural cunning is well suited to the pursuit of magic and his strength is returning, both pursuits seem to be quite desperate - Nargazul painfully aware of his vulnerability, in that he has by his own great errors fallen beneath and behind those once his peers.

[Xorena]

Five drow returned from a hunt and conversed as they appraised their haul of treasure. One found a bow, perhaps of quality, and presented it to their faern. He plucked the string and examined the stave it for a maker's mark. Finding none he offered his appraisal.

"Well, it's duskwood, obviously. Though perhaps not obvious to one who hasn't studied the surface world. A light wood, very good for bows. Perhaps if we had such down here we'd not favor crossbows so much, but we have better metal. This one is enchanted as well, though not significantly."

"A fine bow, but such a light enchantment is available at about any excuse for a city..." the wizard droned on and on.

The Yathrin known as Vlon'riia toned it out. She was pleased, though one would hardly know it. Beneath the permanently annoyed cast to her visage, an ever so slight smile -- at the edge just there. A gleam to her red gaze as she examined the trader's square.

[Rain]

Rumor has it that many members of the Temple of-All Seeing Eyes were seen traveling the streets of Sshamath in the company of High Necromancer Batibat Kasdeya. The group took steps from the School of Necromancy into the Darkwood District at a mild pace talking lightly among-st themselves...

The topic to keen ears had something to do with thralls and servants.

[Xorena]

Deep in the warren of tunnels beneath the Darkwoods District, a cocoon thick with spun silk hangs from the cave ceiling. Inside, the partially dissolved and bloated corpse of a jaluk. Nearby a slab of stone is covered in long-dried venom and blood.

[Rinzler]

It is rumored that a member of Bregan D’aerthe fulfilled the bounty posted on the Sshamath bulletin board.

[Rinzler]

An eclectic group gathers in Varalla's Passage.

[Deragnost]

It is rumored that a jalil from Qu'ellar Selmiyeritar passed a whole cycle in the library - inside the School of Mages searching for something specific in it. To those who questioned, she would have replied that she was making a research about Dead Magic and its applications - but she wouldn't have explained much else. From time to time, grumblings would have been heard... until those noises stopped all at once. Maybe she found what she was searching for?

((DM Foresight))