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

"Animal life gatheres at the fringes of the forest. Spooked. Gnoll warbands wander freely, disrupting the tradeways, all while a menace is growing in the heart of the forest. The undead has awakened in yet another location along the Sword Coast"

(ooc comment removed by poster)

/// this point we need to split up
undead or gnolls

// Didn't anyone tryed to negotiate with gnolls? It is clear they do run and suffer from the same menace that human settlements do. Scots did saw them dieing from plagues etc.
// Other way surely that we can scare gnolls more then undead do, for them to be forced to run back and fight the horde. And die between us and them. And prob-ly be raised.

// Video is awesome!

/// Rebuke!

/// Ok you really want cela to speak to the gnolls?
love the video

InsaniD wrote:/// Ok you really want cela to speak to the gnolls?
love the video

// Nor Cela, as far as I know him, nor any of mine toons qualifies for that. They only good for scenario two.
// But is there no good diplomat who could do it? It would be greater feat to turn them then just slay them. OOCly I pity their situation, humans have the Gate and our adventurers, but gnolls have no place really to evacuate to.
// Sorry about this OOC talk in RP thread, btw.

Members of the Tenth ventured north along the River Reaching following in a trail of death left by cavalry not a tenday prior. Undeath was eventually found seeming to be collecting heads of the dead. Those within the ranks of the Army of the New Dawn would hear murmurs of close skirmishes of undead and might catch eye of their kill being dragged back into camp, a 800lb patchwork zombie.

A report is left at the Army of the New Dawn's Headquaters available for the allies of the New Dawn to read.

The Tenth
Mission report,

Tracking north along the river the Tenth came upon the undead scavenging the mass piles of gnolls left dead by cavalry not a tenday prior. Particularly of interest the undead sought to collect heads, severing them from the corpses and leaving the bodies behind. It is believed they are carrying these heads back to the main force to use in the construction of more flesh constructs, or Tolanite ritual.

It is likely the undead are scavenging all battle sights left with the gnolls for such heads. With the carnage left in their march south the undead will likely soon follow after the Gnolls scavenging the battle sites left. It is advised horses be sent south with means of pyre to set any large piles of dead alight to render them useless to the undead.

In small skirmishes we took with the scavengers the undead proved their strength, our band suffered wounded on even numbers again the undead. Their strength is not to be underestimated. Of note we came upon a giant flesh construct weighing nigh a tonne, its corpse has been brought back for examination at the camp. In battle against it it displayed spell casting abilities. About it a noxious cloud loomed capable of inducing momentary paralysis, rendering it difficult to fight. Attempts to lure it out of the cloud were only momentarily successful as it retreated back into it displaying some level of intelligence.

Tracks of both gnolls and a single humanoid, likely human or elven, were sighted leading west over the river. The tracks were believed to be two days old when the gnolls lay slaughtered for a tenday. It is likely a necromancer raised a small force from the dead gnolls before continuing over the river. Should any hold information upon what lays west, and what the Talonites possible stand to gain there it needed be reported to command immediately.

Reports tell of the march of the Gnoll's continuing south, overrunning an elven outpost in their way. They have since exited the forest and it is believed they intend for the Woods of the Sharpteeth. Whatever it is brewing within the heart of the forest the Gnoll's do not wish to be anywhere near of it. I believe by this time attempts to convince the Gnoll's to join forces and reclaim their homes has passed.

Primary focus should be set to:
- Hindering the undead's outreach, stopping their scavengers and rendering any dead left by skirmishes with the gnolls useless.
- Assessing the size, strength and how we might best combat the main force that was divined within the heart of the forest.
- Fortifying our position within the forest against the undead. While strong the undead have proven to be slow, staggered levels of defense should be used to fall back from, and take advantage of their slow movement.

Secondary focus upon:
- Keeping an eye upon the Gnoll's movements and their effect upon the paths leading south from Elturel. Advance warning will be needed to be sent to the city. It was not said which side of the river the Gnoll's travel.
- Scouting west across the river to see what purpose a suspected necromancer was sent.
- Scouting south to see if any Fey survived the gnolls. It is possible the Fey have knowledge of how the Talonites comes to be within the forest.

Helm's guidance,
Sveta Asperan
Head Watchknight of the Everwatch

After an arduous, but successful battle the Southern Forces return to camp seeming battle worn and have taken a few casualties. Most notably of the casualties Garrack Stonefist, murmurs within the ranks might tell that he was slain before the battle, assassinated by an elven fanatic and that Sveta Asperan is acting in his lead of the Black Lion mercenaries. Upon arriving to camp Sveta leaves immediately to the General's tent to make report, a written version for the wider army is to come.

The following report has been left to the central command of the Army of the New Dawn for their allies to read.
(To be treated as IC information for those who have been considered allies to the army in Bloodlusts campaign only)
The Southern Forces
Mission report,

The Fey Circle
Our contingent of men scouted ahead of the Black Lions into the Fey Circle once visited by the Tenth during the Gnoll conflicts. Fighting our way through sparse groups of undead we came upon only remnants of the Fey Circle, destroyed by the desolation of the undead. Approaching a lone Fey that seemed to have survived the carnage Amin quickly learned on approach it was kept alive through necromantic magic as a lure into a trap. It was not shortly after she spoke undead begun emerging from all sides of the charred remains of the circle. Taken at surprise we suffered wounded in the fight that ensued, however had enough strength to continue on south. Amin at that point left us to contact her circle.

Marching south we encountered more disorganised groups of dead that were dispatched in our march. The desolation of the land grew thicker, a sense of unease filled many of our band as we drew near the main force. Terri scouted ahead of our band reporting a force of over a hundred dead, with seven of the larger abominations. At that point we returned to the Black Lion's encampment to prepare to engage the army.

The Prophecy
Upon returning to camp we reported to Garrack Stonefist immediately. Before us he was slain abruptly by an elf shouting fanatical remarks about the fulfillment of a prophecy as he was himself cut down.

It has since been learned that this prophecy is believed to be detailed in a book written approximately two hundred years ago, titled the devastation of Waterdeep. The book prophesies the fall, and destruction of the cities of the Western Heartland in 1351DR. It has spelled some events which have come true, denoting the plague and attack of undead within the book. However despite what the name of book implies these events have taken place to Baldur's Gate, not the City of Splendours.
An excerpt of the book above mentioned.

It has been indicated that the Virtuous Soil have connection to this. Their notes left hold strong similarities to the prophecy above. My thoughts of their organisations drive of personal power to instill themselves as leaders of Baldur's Gate may prove wrong. In this light they could be considered cultists attempting to cause distress within Baldur's Gate to weaken for the march of undead prophesied to destroy the cities of the Western Heartland, or even caused that destruction on their own.

The enemy of my enemy
With Garrack Stonefist's assassination a void in leadership of the Black Lions was left to which I took upon. Preparations were followed through with and we marched upon the dead as intended. We engaged with split forces on foot and cavalry which formed a rear flank.

As the battle progressed armored undead that were not scouted prior to the battle emerged. To the surprise of the company these armored undead engaged against our enemy. A member of the Black Lion's noted that in the chaos he striked against armored undead and was ignored, seeming to have a determined focus upon slaying the Talonite undead. The battle closed to a victory with causalities to fifteen men and three horses.

As the battle wound down the armored undead formed up, and departed without word to my attempts at a hail. It is uncertain the motives of the armored undead, or who created them. Their strength was shown in the battle, it should be investigated how we can use this to our advantage.

Helm's guidance
Sveta Apseran
Head Watchknight of the Everwatch

////OOC: Pardon the delay. Someone correctly pointed out to me this is the appropriate thread for the post. ///



The cowled figure stood, silent and motionless as the nightmarish creatures closed in, black mist and shadows wearing time-eaten armors and ancient blades. He waited for the creatures to be within arm's reach, and right when his companion took a step towards them he sharply raised a gloved hand slightly above shoulder height. The slim figure behind him and the revenants stopped as one, hollow eyes fixed upon him. A question unspoken, yet louder than roaring thunder.

When he broke the silence, his voice was a soft whisper, devoid of emotion:

"You kept your side of the bargain. Time has come for me to keep mine...

The dark summoner raised his other hand, and began tracing glyphs of power into the air. As he chanted forgotten formulas in a long-dead tongue, the glyphs blazed with arcane power:

"The Battle is Won
What You Promised, Done
Time has Come
For You to Begone

Those who Invaded
Tainted and Desecrated
With Vengeful Hatred
Are Now Destroyed, Faded

The Battle is Won
What You Promised, Done
Your War is to Cease
It is Time for Release

As the litany drew towards its conclusion, the spirits began to fade, their weapons and armor pieces falling on the cavern's rocky bottom with loud clangs before dissolving into dust so fine it quickly became invisible even to his sharp eyes.

Hours later, once his companion had covered any last trace of their presence, the black-robed arcanist turned towards him and whispered:

"My work here is done. I have been away from my people long enough, and helped these fools more than they deserved.

Time to relocate..."

Grinding a gemstone to dust with his right hand and dispersing its crystals on the runes encircling him, he willed the Weave into the desired shape before murmuring a single word of power:

"Travel"

As the brilliant white light dissipated, it brought with it any trace of the sinister duo

Shocking news reverberate across the lands, among those who are listening for such news. The Army of the New Dawn has been decisively defeated in the Reaching Woods, its few remaining survivors hunkering down in Scornubel. The Undead threat is real.