VileThings Event: Ghosts and Phantoms (ON HOLD)

[DM VileThings]

First my general event thoughts/rules etc can be found here:
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=36634

This thread is for short in character descriptions and write ups for the benefit of those involved in the related events and those interested in becoming involved. As such please keep to a few simple rules as follows:

• Keep it short- Posts should be two or three sentence long without follow up. It is to notify others of what has happened, who was involved and any general rumours now pursuant to the ongoing events.
  
• Do not have conversations here- As per above, this is not a message board to discuss with others, please message one another or catch up in game. This should be an easy way for players to see who else is doing things and who they should speak to to get involved/team up.
  
• Keep it in character- Simple short rumours about what happened or what your character is up to is all that is needed. OOC stuff is for messages.
  
• Do not post if you are not involved- If you are interested in getting involved, MESSAGE a player that has posted here first as a point of contact.

I will try to keep the first couple of posts updated with the most recent rumour/event/notifications for those interested in getting involved as well as the currently booked times for planned activities.

Current Planned Activity
None. This event is ON HOLD

[DM VileThings]

Current Rumours

Random Happenings
A small fire in the palace district was quickly extinguished by locals. Apparently starting in the merchant collective, it was believed to have been started by a cursed artifact being mishandled in a neighbouring store.

Deirdre's Jemcutting was heavily damaged in the fire and while there was limited valuables on the premises nothing appears to have been taken in the subsequent chaos. Unfortunately, several years worth of jewellery and custom accessory designs were completely destroyed in the fire. Rumours indicate this may have been a noble covering up the purchase of items for their lover or even rivals seeking to put her out of business. Law enforcement has dutifully done the minimum amount of investigation as no one was harmed.

When asked a half-orc who worked in the collective told authorities "Fire was not a woman. Was not a ghost". No one else had anything more useful to offer.

Distant Stories
The story spreads slowly from the far East of Faerun, told by loremasters, bards and explorers, carried on ships and caravans while changing much from one teller to the next.

The story is of a devouring book. It appears like any other, bound in red leather with a sigil of knowledge upon it. It appears to learned scholars and mages without rhyme or reason, sometimes appearing in areas of powerful magic or lost lands. It is a document that promises its reader knowledge equal to decades of study and the central tenets of rewriting reality on a whim. When one reads this tome they become so engrossed in its enthralling knowledge that they are literally consumed by it, with no evidence to show their passing save that the now mundane book.

The tale also tells of an elven woman, intimidating and cold with a militaristic and noble bearing. Mirthless but true. Ever exhausted, she follows tales of these books and the hidden place of learning they take mortals to. A staff formed of mist and ice floats behind her, turning those who oppose her into vacant eyed fools or distant memories.

[predrag]

*Word may spread that a group of five , along some canines of theirs , went to the basement of the Phoenix Company Lodge , the barmaid would call them by name as Natariel Alastrara , Emmanuel , Ashling and Sane Fensen , as they seem somewhat well known in the region , along with them was also a hooded Elven girl .

Visitors to the inn at the time report of strange unearthly howls and growls coming from the basement , though some dismiss it to the wolves seen to enter it with the party , others claim they couldn't have been made by regular animals .
A barely detectable scent of morning dew and minor sounds of rushing water , barely audible , were also reported by more observant guests .*

[DangerMouse2]

A young elven woman wearing a grey hooded cloak could be seen emerging from the basement of the Phoenix Company Lodge to head upstairs.
She could be heard muttering about dangerous illusionary hounds from another plane.

[Heretic]

At the local Inn in Beregost Lady Netanya and Drakosa N'drax of Phoenix Company would be seen speaking to a Shaman who identifies himself as Daniels Weller. They would be overheard speaking on the topic of the Ethereal and Dreamwalking. After some minor diplomacy he would ultimately agree to assist Netanya in her proposed endeavor.

[JustAnotherGirl]

A ranger with long brunette hair was seen leaving the Phoenix Company with the new Archdruid. They looked to be deep in thought as they spoke quietly. The words sun, water, and mist may have been heard by anyone very nearby.

[Heretic]

They had unwittingly stumbled upon a long forgotten path into a dream realm that has mysteriously persisted for far longer than one would have anticipated. Nonetheless it brought them one crucial step closer to unraveling the secrets of the City of Mist.

[Heretic]

It was clear something was amiss as the travelers entered Drael and Bardre. While everything would seem normal to the casual traveler, it was likely a façade for something far more nefarious.




A benevolent entity would direct the travelers to a concealed library which held potentially critical clues to their investigation.

//Thanks DM Vile Things!

[Ashenie]

The activity around the Thayan Enclave seemed on the rise. Countless crowds have been seen waiting, debating what the Enclave might had to offer. On their way to the docks, an indimidating barbarian and a hooded Ilmatari are said to have been around strange mists, phantasmal presence and ghosts. An unlikely pair to be seen, do they say. Joined by an homeless man and a strange druidess, they found their way towards the East. Around the rapids of a cave; echoes of a lost tale drew them deep...

[Heretic]

Upon returning to Drael the investigative team unlocked a riddle that had plagued them their prior visit, thus revealing more secrets about the City of Mist. Their investigation efforts would return to the “Mourning Bride”.

[Heretic]

Just outside the walls of Baldur's Gate, in the Eastern Farmlands, Lady Netanya and Sister Ashenie would be witnessed conversing about a matter of seeming importance. Lady Netanya would be seen diligently scribing notes to her ledger as Sister Ashenie amicably addressed her inquiries.

[Heretic]

The activity around the Thayan Enclave seemed on the rise. Countless crowds have been seen waiting, debating what the Enclave might had to offer. On their way to the docks, an intimidating barbarian and a hooded Ilmatari are said to have been around strange mists, phantasmal presence and ghosts. An unlikely pair to be seen, do they say. Joined by an homeless man and a strange druidess, they found their way towards the East. Around the rapids of a cave; echoes of a lost tale drew them deep...

With the aide of Sister Ashenie, investigators from Phoenix Company would retrace her steps from that fateful day. With that the investigative team would finally locate the entity that had eluded them for months ... namely Rose's long lost cousin, twice removed.

[Heretic]

A a group of investigators from Phoenix Company were recently witnessed scouring banks of the Chionthar. Were anyone to inquire they would simply claim to be searching for Kaisi Autumnweaver’s lost wedding ring.

Their search would eventually lead them to the Island off of Ulgoth’s Beard where they would find the object of their pursuit in the possession of the Sahuagin who mistook it for a sacred idol. After some aggressive diplomatic measures the investigative team was able to eventually absolve them of the item, to the delight of Madam Autumnweaver.

[OSG]

As Uzzrella takes in the pageantry and glamor of the Winter Gala a chill rolls over her, a chill not borne of the lovey snow falling throughout the White Mask. Directly behind her on the Lord's balcony leers an odd phantom figure, glowing eyes in robes and cape, not quite real, not quite corporeal. Sensing something amiss Uzzi shuffles up the steps to the balcony, her fine white gown trailing behind her- but the phantom is gone, nowhere to be seen. Scanning the room both revelers and guards appear not to have noticed or cared about the strange guest. A single scrap of red cloth matching the visitor's robe hangs from a chair, caught on a loose nail.

Applying what limited knowledge she's gathered about the weave, Uzzi reflects on the odd red fabric. The threads are not quite real, with qualities of etherealness perhaps, but subtle. Divination reveals the weave's influence, Thay influence?

Maybe a more experienced wizard could reveal more- perhaps Candle Keep?

[Heretic]

As Uzzrella takes in the pageantry and glamor of the Winter Gala a chill rolls over her, a chill not borne of the lovey snow falling throughout the White Mask. Directly behind her on the Lord's balcony leers an odd phantom figure, glowing eyes in robes and cape, not quite real, not quite corporeal. Sensing something amiss Uzzi shuffles up the steps to the balcony, her fine white gown trailing behind her- but the phantom is gone, nowhere to be seen. Scanning the room both revelers and guards appear not to have noticed or cared about the strange guest. A single scrap of red cloth matching the visitor's robe hangs from a chair, caught on a loose nail.

Applying what limited knowledge she's gathered about the weave, Uzzi reflects on the odd red fabric. The threads are not quite real, with qualities of etherealness perhaps, but subtle. Divination reveals the weave's influence, Thay influence?

Maybe a more experienced wizard could reveal more- perhaps Candle Keep?

Uzzrella would eventually find Lady Netanya to speak with her about mysterious phantom figure she witnessed at the White Mask during the Winter Solstice Gala. Lady Netanya would subsequently invite Uzzrella to accompany her to Candlekeep the next day to have a bunnily conversation with her and Seeker Lucia. It's likely cake will be involved.