House Vale - Rumors & Roleplay

[wangxiuming]

Credit: Marc Simonetti

During the early months of 1356, construction begins in earnest on an estate within the Palace District of Baldur's Gate, near the Temple of Gond and not too far from the Lewd Lyre and the Wide. It is not long before the foundation and support structure is completed, and the lower floor furnished. If asked, the guards stationed within the estate would respond that this is to be the estate and headquarters of House Vale. Indeed, those who watch for such things might note that several members of the House - including Osric Vale himself - have moved their possessions from their previous lodgings and taken up residence in this new home.

Not long after, it becomes known that the estate itself is open to visitation by the general public. The House particularly encourages pilgrimage to the small Shrine to Siamorphe it has adjoined to its halls. Further, the House makes it known that its doors are open to those within the city - from peasantry to gentry to nobility - seeking arbitration, conflict resolution, and negotiation services. It welcomes hearing the troubles of local persons of influence, as well as those plights that affect the commonfolk at large. Any beggars that show up are offered enough coin to afford a few hot meals before being directed to local charity houses.

Those who visit the estate with frequency may learn that House Vale is currently investigating how best to aid in maintaining post-war morale and reconstruction efforts related to damages sustained by the city and its people during the conflict.

House Guards would politely detain and inform known members of the following factions that they are not allowed within the estate proper:

The Zhentarim
The Red Wizards of Thay
House Blackrose
The Ebon Blades

\\ This thread is intended to be predominantly IC. For OOC information about the guild, please visit our guild page! If you are interested in joining, please feel free to make an IC post to this thread or send a PM to me.

[wangxiuming]

Members of House Vale gathered recently at their headquarters for a meeting. The Vale estate was aflutter with activity as both old and new faces made their way to the council chambers. An opportunity was seized by all to meet new members and put faces to the names of old ones.

Not long after, the group voyaged to the Fields of the Dead in order to face an unusual threat: a force dragon that had defeated several Flaming Fist patrols. Though they managed to dispatch the creature (with the aid of various adventurers - as well as House Blackrose, who had reached the fields prior to House Vale's own arrival), it appeared that the the dragon had been controlled by an unknown entity. Efforts to communicate with the great wyrm were foiled by a rushed charge, and soon the beast's wrath was such that none could abate it.

Afterward, the mysterious appearance of a woman clad head to toe in dark armor served only to punctuate the entire event's peculiarity.

[Kiran]

A letter was left with the guards at the Vale Estate by a courier, the parchment would have a seal of Mystra on it and would be for the attention of Osric Vale.

[wangxiuming]

Once more, members and allies of House Vale congregated within the Vale Estate at the Palace District. For several hours, the council chambers (dubbed "War Room" by some) saw a flurry of activity as minds were spoken, voices heard, and counsel offered. By the meeting's end, those close to Osric would note that he seemed satisfied with the day's work.

[wangxiuming]

A commotion started at Mudd's consignment shop before traveling from the Wide to the Palace District into the estate of House Vale. An elven woman could have been seen being carried within by a red-haired Luskar, flanked and protected by a procession of armed adventurers that looked ready to do battle. Those with business with House Vale might note that from then on, magical wards blocking teleportation are cast daily and refreshed on the hour.

The estate is temporarily closed off to the general public due to security concerns. Guards are instructed to use True Seeing before allowing guests, friends and members alike within the manor proper.

[Shadowspinner70]

The golden-eyed elven woman who was carried into the estate is no longer golden-eyed; her orbs have been replaced by dark dragon-like ones that she covers with a blindfold whenever she moves beyond the locked doors of the estate.

A black feline with dimly glowing eyes never strays from her heels. He yowls and butts his head against her leg whenever he sees anything unfamiliar or a person, familiar or unfamiliar.

She rarely leaves the estate and if she does, it's never for more than a few moments and she is never alone. Still, she never allows for herself to appear distressed in expression, tone, or word.

[Nyssis]

A folded envelope that bears little fanfare and even less decoration is delivered in person to the doorman at the Vale Estate, presumably by its author. This questionable elfin woman --- who names herself an old acquaintance of Osric's --- asks that it be handed to the head-of-household at their earliest convenience, then leaves after saying a quiet word of thanks.

The face of the letter is marked for one Osric V, which lends the bare minimum of credence to her claim. However, the 'V' is scratched out to mirror a dim memory that only he would have.

Osric of House Vale,

In the quiet moments of your later years, when all the wold you have ever known is winding down around you, man will come to spend a lot of time thinking. The faces of people long lost to memory and nightmare too can resurface in these moments, and they remind you of what experiences led you here: to this.

Do you remember when I met you beneath the arbor nearest the bards' theater, with the spring rain having soaked your threadbare clothes through? You were dressed in once-finery that lost its luster, yet you wore it still; you clung to whatever life you knew in those shedding strings and dulled metals with a hope, perhaps, that it would one day return with enough endeavor.

I gave you my fain promise that you were a man worth service when Ser Blackburn proved wanting, for he had nary the ambition to judge the evils found in the common man, nor the care. His was a simpleton's existence of following orders that I know too well. It is so much easier to listen and do than it is to consider, but a young man from the Gate has since taught me the value in considering.

I am still finding myself without a goal or place or dream in my life. I have cast a thousand-thousand wishes into the Firelord's censer and received guidance for none, for surely in His omniscience He sees my floundering and deems me unworthy. And so I must surrender to my weakness, alone and troubled as I have always been.

Have your hopes come true in the years since we met? You are become a leader of men now, and strangers have spoken of a brilliance in the way you have guided yours. This belief that you are a good man who wants to do good things is reflected in their eyes, but I want to see it in person.

Be assured that this is no offer of service or promise renewed, for I would not wish to tarnish your organization's reputation with my presence. I simply want to have your face restored in my memory and be reminded of the hope I saw within you. I want to be reminded of the life I once knew that has since left me behind.

Will you do for me, a stranger still, this kindness? I will look for you anew at the arbor.

Honorably,
Batz. Borte-Suul
The Northern Wat

[wangxiuming]

Upon receiving the letter and retreating to a private space, Osric reads it with no small amount of curiosity. His interest is doubled as his eyes flit by reflex to the bottom of the parchment, in search of the message's author. Memories of three years past grow stark and defined even as he speaks the name he reads aloud: "Suul." It is a mostly accurate utterance, neither butchered by Osric's Illuskan accent nor his unfamiliarity with the Tuigan dialects and made imperfect only by the infrequency of its use.

For some reason he cannot explain, reading the words written by this old friend - turned almost to a stranger by the simple passage of time - quickens the beating of his heart and forces a sharply drawn breath. This was the first person to place their faith in him, all those years ago, the first person to make him believe that he might possibly climb out from his utterly ignoble descent.

Knowing her to be alive and well filled him with relief; knowing that she wanted to meet filled him with dread. Could he live up to her expectations for him? Would she be able to see the years of ardor, of labor to achieve all that he had said so long ago?

Regardless, there was no way he would not answer the request written before him.

[RagingPeace]

A halfling introducing himself as Theadric Trickshot shared brief words with the entrance guard and handing him a letter.

// PM sent

[wangxiuming]

Word spreads that House Vale has filled one of its long-vacant Council positions: Azariah Haladar has been named House Vale's Master of the Arcane to both fanfare and the likely chagrin of at least one member of the House.

Osric offers words on the appointment to those who seek it:

"Archmagus Haladar has long been a devoted agent and mage of superior ability within House Vale. There are none in our eyes who could be more fitting for this role. As House Vale turns its attention from the wars of the last two years to rebuilding and growth, we have no doubt that our new Master of the Arcane will continue to serve her house, the Gate, and its people with dedication and excellence."

[wangxiuming]

Image Credit: missclick

The Vale Estate was once more a flurry of activity as rumors spread that the sister of one of House Vale's members arrived to the Palace District home in dire straits. Not long after, a ruckus shook the foundations of the estate, starting from the upstairs portal room.

What happened after, one can only guess, though it would have been noted that of those that went to aid the endeavor, one fewer returned when all was said and done.

Hidden: show

Image Credit: missclick

[wangxiuming]

House Vale's latest council was once again interrupted by the appearance of strange activity nearby, with the infamous purple mist appearing from out of a nearby sewer grate. The House was quick to assemble and dispatch an investigatory team, accompanied by Michael Dunn and Grand Knight Lyonaler of the Radiant Heart, but it seemed the source of the purple mist - and the accompanying shadow creatures - had long since escaped.

[Kiran]

A courier arrives by foot at the Vale Estate, they would be dressed in mostly blue clothing with a amulet bearing the symbol of Mystra upon it, in their hand would be two letters, also sealed with the insignia of Mystra.

[GaretAthran]

A courier arrives at the Vale Estate with a letter bearing the mark of Tempus.

((PM sent

[Nyssis]

An old friend of Osric's has recently taken up residence in the guest wing at his behest, though she spends hours cloistered away before becoming comfortable in this uncomfortable new circumstance. Eventually, her presence is seen more commonly in the main gallery as days go by.

The Tuigan can typically be found staring as if spellbound through the many windows of this place, sometimes alone; forever not. Her furtive eyne train upon the thoroughfare and its blurred passersby, upon the comings-and-goings of the manse, and upon too her cruel ghost made manifest in the uneven glass panes.

This one is not the talkative sort, to be true, and engages with people laconically when she is present. Visitors and adherents alike are oft rudely ignored in favor of minding her own business, and she is wont to vacate an area with all due haste when the hum of colloquy threatens to include her.

But a thing yet keeps her. When all is at rest on the rare gentle eve, the strangeling is found waking in the training hall adjacent the barracks. It is here that she hones her skill for murder, marked so with determination: practicing her stance and guard and accuracy until fatigue conspires against the stubborn wish to go on.

Even as she fights against it, the reverberation of steel and arrow echoing throughout the chamber gives reason for her being there at all. Even as she fights against him, a thing yet keeps her.