Tavern Knowledge (III) - post your rumours and gossip here

[rorax]

A small army of nearly hundred men, mostly from the legion but with few silver knights officers as well - fall into an ambush on the trail north to Fourthpeaks.


Nearly half of the forced was perished when huge boulders fall from cliff side down on the soldiers that were marching on the narrow trail. Again, the confused remaining forces had to retreat back to Rivermoot, losing valuable military equipment on their escape.

Later on, few surviving knight officers mentioned that the ambush was so brilliantly set, almost as someone knew they were coming. As a result, speculations about a spy within the legion forces were the talk of the day among commoners later.


Many hours later, few dwarven scouts arrived back to Rivermoot. The dwarves reported that the king increased the presence of soldiers near the borders of his land, but oddly enough the legion outpost in the Fourthpeaks seems to be deserted again.

[wvincenti]

*Gwindor reports to Sergeant Wilson in Rivermoot*

*gestures to the east*
Seems the giants on the march to the north aren't enough, that red dragon is still lurking by Marcus' Tower.
Warn anyone traveling towards Silverymoon.

*Gwindor then sneaks off to High Hold to report to the Legion there as well*

*Gwindor reports to Sergeant Wilson in Rivermoot, obviously shaken*

*gestures to the east*
Sergeant, you'll want to tell folk to be extra wary near Marcus' Tower for the next while.
A red dragon is sunning itself on a plateau just north of the road.

[gonz.0]

Massive force of giants, ogres and orcs assaulted the legion tower in Fourthpeaks once more. The high number of legion troops and dwarves from Settlestone gave the attackers a tough fight but eventually had to retreat from the tower when it was clear the battle is lost.

Dozens of legions soldiers and dwarves died in the attack and the giants force took over the tower.

Waking, battered and bloodied to the smell and sensation of a wolf dragging him down the hillside into some bushes, a woodsman started. Pain wracked him whose last memory was of a boulder knocking him clear of the wall atop FourthPeak fort. Horatio realized soon enough it was a friend he had made recently, and not a scavenger of the battlefield. His unconscious form had been moved in what seemed just in time, as what appeared to him to be a legion of giant kin and orc march past leaving ForthPeak fort on there way to who knows where.

Binding wounds and giving thanks for the luck of healing magics, the woodsman would sneak back to the trail toward Rivermoot. On his way, he passes an obvious ambush of many men, and he hurries to see if Rivermoot still stands, giving report to the legion office there.

((OOC: Please assume the tower is taken by giants and that they have presence there. I did not want to just leave spawns at the tower in case that anyone logged off from there and will be attacked straight when he logs back))

((OOC - MANY thanks for this))

[Gebb]

Rivermoot rumors:

Rumor spoken through the Rivermoot guard ranks over end-of-shift ales and while pulling duty about the grounds: "Whatever you do, get off the Sergeant of Arms shit list or you'll be dead of either wounds or broken nerves before your time. Being on that list gets you well more than your fair share of overnight guard duty at the cemetery where the Kobolds and Goblins will take glee in tossing arrows and worse into your guts the second you drop your alert, and where even wickeder creepy things happen about in the dark. Just last night two elf kin stood above me babbling in their tongue under the moonlight, so soft I thought it at first the wind, then about shat myself when they switched to the common and spoke to two others up by the bridge. I thought either the Sharan's were back to slit my throat or the Ogre company that trashed Fourthpeak was upon us. The only purpose of that cemetery posting is to let out a death gurgle loud enough for the bridge guards to have time to lock the gate I think. There's no hope out there when trouble strikes. That post's a death lottery and nothing less."

Also heard in the tavern is a moon elf asking around the more worldly looking travelers if anyone has experience in the High Forest. He continues after asking for strict discretion, that last night while meditating on mage lessons upon the bridge overlooking Rivermoot he was surprised by a female of his kind, who came upon him silently. She identified herself as Ishta of the High Forest Moon Elves and asked quite abruptly for news of a party of heavily armed and armored clerics of Shar (no question the same party driven from the crags above town a week or so prior). When he asked her motivation for tracking such a group she said that she was assigned the mission to track the group and then beat them to an item they quest for. She continued that she didn't know what the item is, but the same thing is sought by a Banite cult (likely the storyteller surmises, the same cult driving Ogres and their ilk against Fourthpeak). After telling her that he was amongst a group that observed the Shar war-party moving into the mounts toward the wizard's mansion some miles away, she passed him a pouch of 25 coin "for pardoning the interruption". Following that she moved silently off into the crags in direction of the mansion as swiftly as she had arrived, leaving the elf to suspect he'd been visited upon by either a Harper scout on secret mission, or perhaps a Sharan spy in search of information? Regardless he didn't think until after her departure to add that a trusted friend and fellow elf had also recently reported seeing a dragon newly roosted on a ridge overlooking the wizard's mansion. It seems a scavenger hunt race is underway, and the mounts near Rivermoot are the playing field.

(( Thanks to Zilvai, for the intriguing plot and successfully balancing the player level disparities! Great time! ))

[Galadorn]

Word around Rivermoot spreads slowly a healer from the Sword Coast named Bu is offering his services to those who endanger themselves when traveling from wandering monster or humanoid threat.

The rumour includes strong advice to not seek out enemies in the wilds outside the normal presumed boundaries of the human settlements... such would only invite suffering and thus become the seekers fault should injury or death result...

[Swift]

Rumors that hundreds upon hundreds of Argent Legion men have been killed off in recent troubles north of Rivermoot have been rebuffed. A memo seemingly circulated among Legion outposts to boost morale, said to come from Methrammar Aerasumé himself, re-assures Legion members that the losses are "far less than citizens are claiming, going on to state that "after the recent war against the orcs, we could scarcely afford to send the numbers claimed for any assault".

The memo goes on to call on the Legion members to "stay strong and continue to protect those that cannot protect themselves, for the greatness of Luruar."

Questions upon the whereabouts of the hin Steppi Fellowfire, a self described 'reporter' and known leaker of confidential information have grown recently louder. Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is asked to report it to their local authorities immediately.

[Swift]

Mystery surrounds the increasing number of dragon sightings being reported all across the north.

Residents in the western town of Rivermoot are said to be sleeping uneasily with a great, red dragon being spotted on numerous occasions just outside of town on the grounds of the esteemed Marcus Wands residence. Rumors run wild that Mr Wands has returned and befriended the creature, while others think the dragon is laying claim to the territory. The good Marshall continues to urge calm around the town.

Reports have also filtered down via merchants and travellers that blue dragons are taking to the skies to the north of the Gem. The Knights in Silver have sent a dozen more men to fortify the Hawks Nest outpost, though so far the dragons have shown no interest in engaging in battle.

Many murmured conversations in bars and taverns from Felbarr to Rivermoot and beyond claim the increased dragon activity is tied to the recent shooting star that streaked through the northern sky a ten day ago, though few state the same reason for this being so. Nonetheless the Argent Legion, weakened by the orcish horde and the rumbling of giants, has moved to increase its strength, recruiting many sons and daughters from all across the confederacy to boost its numbers to face any potential threat the dragons may pose.

Travellers are advised to avoid these creatures at all cost.

[Ithildur]

A tall, golden haired elf has been going about visiting several outposts of the Argent Legion; at each location he approaches the officer in command while displaying a time worn but well maintained badge of the Legion. He asks various questions about the recent threats and rumors of threats, though his demeanor remains calm to the point of almost seeming uninterested in the replies... It's as if he's searching for answers about something else entirely, though he does make a point to offer the services of his blade when needed.

Back in the Gem, the same elf has been seen visiting the orphanage, on a somewhat regular basis apparently.

[Swift]

Merchants travelling between Rivermoot and High Hold claim that a dark skinned, heavily armoured man was found dead on the outskirts of the High Hold. Whispers claim the death was unusual in that there was no blood around the body nor on the armour he was wearing. The Argent Legion is investigating.

[wvincenti]

*Gwindor, Merry, Aglaril and Toram walk up to the guards at Sundabar for the third time in one long day, this time Gwindor's shoulders are bowed under the weight of a fallen dwarf, Gwindor is covered in sweat and road dust as if from a long hike with the heavy burden*

*speaks softly, clearly upset*
Tis Hazerin, of Citadel Adbar. We found him slain in the Silverymoon Pass, west of the Hawk's Nest.
Please see he *pauses and collects himself* his body finds its way home. His folk deserve that much at the least.
Hazerin had a great heart and will be sorely missed.

*Gwindor lays the dwarf's body out in an empty cart near the guard tower and prays quietly over it for a moment or two*

*turns to the dwarven guards one more time before departing and speaks softly*
Kelnar Hammerstriker, he's likely in one of the taverns of Sundabar now, he knew Hazerin passing well. Twould be good if ye could get word to him, he'd want to know.

[dergon darkhelm]

The dwarven caravaners were snoring loudly in simple shelters just outside of the Sundabar motes, sleeping off a long night of drinking, fighting, laughing and story telling when the group of elfs and men approached in the predawn hours. Kelnar heard his name being called and rousted himself from his deep sleep, noting that nearly two hands of snow had fallen through the night.

Trudging through the knee deep wet snow to the guardpost noting the commotion, his pace quickened as the cold night air jarred him fully awake.

As he saw the fallen Shieldbrother he stopped as is hammerstuck. Hazerin, the Axe of the Barakor, truly stout and dutiful laid low.

He heard the elf speak his words of condolence but they washed over him without his attention. Kelnar only gave a slight nod, muttered a quiet word of thanks for the elven aid, and began readying a heavy cart to bear his fallen brother to Citadel Felbarr, then onward to Clan home in Adbar.

[gonz.0]

A hooded man was overheard asking about the temple (repeated stories vary for which temple) for information concerning undead, and the marks they leave if any on their victims.

He was heard asking about Vampires and shadows that walk and steal the strength of your very life. After being questioned as to why he asks, he directed the cleric to send an envoy to the legion post at High Hold, and look to the body found there, fearing the fallen man will rise again undead if not seen to his rest.

[Regas]

Rumors are heard that there is some light fighting in the hills and mountains in Silverymoon Pass. Several legion patrols have engaged clusters of Sons' seemingly degraded into roving raiding parties. Several frost giants have been seen with them. Their strength, numbers and intentions are as yet unclear.

[Ithildur]

[edit: retconned]

[Stormbring3r]

Merry report after a patrol to the tower in Silverwoods that something is killing off the horses. It left no visible wounds and she found only two kobold corpses. She reports it to the Knights In Silver.