Tavern Tales and Rumours

[Darkmystic]

"Grim tidings! Foul murder and thefts strikes the streets of Baldurs Gate!"

These words have been heard alot more recently in the lands of the Sword Coast, espicelly in the city of Baldurs Gate. At least once per week does a person disapear, and few of them found but always dead, murdered by several blade strokes. The flaming fist and the guards have increase nightly patrols and warns people to travel alone in the dark, yet even so the murders goes on. Duke Eltan himself has promised a reward to him or her that can stop the murders but few know where to start.

(Send me a pm if you want to start investigating, anyone is welcome to join the plot but I can say its a skill heavy one and rp heavy plot that many a combat focused characters might find themselves lost and baffled in. This also aims more for low/medium lvled characters rather then high levels so if you are one of those epic heroes I sadly got to say I cant take you into the plot, I cant wield the tools to give you a challenge at all so find rp reason why you arent involving yourself. And by high I mean 10+.)

[dergon darkhelm]

*It was two hours after middle night. The dark clad halfling sat in the back of the tavern, chatting with a tipsy old cobbler and the travelling minstrel, the only patrons still awake in the Freindly Arm Inn common room*

"Yep. I ain' lyin' to ye. They were both gutted an' had their heads cut clean off. Whoe'er done it went and crammed some silver piece inte each o' their mouths too. We were out on the Chionthar south bank prolly not a long march outta the Gate."

I tell ye, it were sacrific plain an' obvious. Iwere lucky te keep my lunch in my belly when I stumble 'cross the poor-lucked basterds."

* the hin took a long draw from his duskwood pipe and mused a while, then let go a perfectly formed smoke ring that wafted away into the darkness of the rafters*

"Now I don' know shite 'bout ye long legger's gods, but that queer feller... ye know the one that call hisself "The Vessel".... ye don't? Well... anyhow.... there's this priest o' Kelemvor that calls hisself "The Vessel".... Oh wait... where was I? "

*another puff from the pipe*

"Oh! Anyhow. This Vessel feller sayin' it be a sacrifice fer some god by the name o' Bhaal. I were plannin' te ask 'round a li'l bit 'bout this Bhaal an' what he be all 'bout soon as I git a chance te git back te the City."

"All I gots te say now is te keep yer eyes open 'less ye wanna end up head-cut an' gutted by some creek."


* the halfling tapped out the ashes of his spent pipe into the hearth as the fire grew low. The final patrons headed off to sleep with that grim warning. Hully's own dreams were dark that night *

[boombrakh]

"Heed the warnings, do not venture into the cloaked woods! Servants, nay cultists of the Lord of Murder roams there! Deathstalkers! The Winding water near Boarskyr Bridge is especially bloody these nights! Heed my warning!"

((The grey-skinned man calls out every chance he gets and preaches to anyone who would listen not to go into Cloakwood. He continues to speak about the return of Bhaal unless the murders stop and then some things about how we should all embrace death together))

[Darkmystic]

The murders continues!

The great Duke Eltan has put one of his greatest men to work and investigate these murders. The sergeant Regor of the flaming fist has been put to rip these secrets and plots asunder, anyone wishing to join in the investigation may contact the sergeant just inside the east gate, opposite of the post works. (Anyone want extra information about Regor can roll a gather information roll or roll local knowledge and pm/chat with me when im online as a dm.)

The murders happens once per week (so once per irl day!) and if rumours are true they follow somekind of pattern. Commoners are talking about the "red death", a violent monster of a man who slaughters the wicked and the innocent just the same but if this is true or just rumours nobody can tell.

(Pm me if you want to join the investigation or poke me when im online as a dm on bg.)

[Sidhe]

Whispers spread that there is a group of mounted highway men attacking wagons as they pass along the Trade Way. Any within are brutally murdered and their belongings taken.

Both the Flaming Fist and Merchants League are investigating this troublesom news.

[Darkmystic]

The kobold threat rises! More kobolds are seen around then ever, all wearing the uniform of painted warpaint made from a pale mud. The kobolds arent much of a threat and mostly easily forced away but here and there are blood encounters or worse, kobolds winning the day. The merchant league most of all is crying out for heroes that will stop the kobolds!

[Darkmystic]

The red death strikes again, hide the children, the men, the soldiers, the dukes and the priests!

The butchers continue in Baldurs Gate and has recently gotten worse. Even flaming fist soldiers are found dead in the nights now but the murders only continue once per week. At least the ones that end up dead, without throats and bellies with their bodies wreaked by dagger stabs.

But Sergeant Regor of the East Gate succeds to spread some hope to the case, he has ordered many good men and women to investigate the matters. The most succesfull of them is the Endless Vigil. Many people nod in delight at the news but others shakes their heads at the news.

The adventurer party is said to be made up of a small tight group. Led by the infamous Bevan Tark, but stranger is that the man has three priests in his group. Two Kelemvorites and one... Sun priest. The famous dancer Deva Bishop is among the group to which makes many nobles actually support the group, why? Because everyone knows that Deva is a helpful person.

Theres also rumours about a foul demon in the party that spreads terror to the children of Baldurs Gate. His as foul as a troll and many say that hes armed with an axe sized of a tree while others say that he carries a door on his arm. All agree on that the dwarf should be avoided.

On other topics, the kobolds are still around stealing things. Bandits try hurting the trade routes but many speak of hope when the Selunite temple will be done over at Candlekeeps road. Its a good time to be an adventurer on the swordcoast.

[danielmn]

Tacked to the door of the Friendly Arm Inn, as well as posts entering and exiting Beregost, are parchments that bare the following message:

"Sought, the Preist Bastille of the Ilmatari. In accordance with needed Funerary Rights of one of his bretheren, being the known expert on such within the city of Baldur's Gate, the Father is asked to see Preistess Lucy within the Temple of the Nobles District. Father Bastille is also asked to speak with one Tormas, to be found at the Friendly Arm Inn, of the recent avenged death of his bretheren in service. Any whom may know the whereabouts of Preist Bastille please contact him forwith, and leave name so that appropriate award shall be given for the dispensation of such information."

The bottom of the parchment bares the signature of Tormas, as well as a drawn symbol of an open palmed hand, in the center of which is a circle with a two-faced head.

[danielmn]

Many parchments, with the same message as the above, are visible within the city of Baldur's Gate itself.

[danielmn]

Not more than a sun after the above parchments are put up, most are taken down again.

[Nuran]

Over drinks and laughter one night, word spreads from customers, merchants and the occasional caravaneer concerning a halfling seen in the market outside the Eastern Gate.

The halfling in question was dressed like a woodsman or an adventurer, in shades of grey and black. Some say the hin handed over a pile of gold in exchange for bags of raw bones. Others say it was an attempt to buy a night with the butchers daughter, and that the halfling is a little lecher. Still others say it was a fair sum traded for a large quantity of dried meat.

In the Blade and Stars, the barkeep Shawn clarified the rumours to some extent by saying that the halfling scout Liam Longshadow had been planning to begin some charity work, and that it was meat purchased to feed some poor orphan boys around the city.

[Regas]

[quote="MaxBogs"][/quote


Merrin quietly tugs the poster from the board before the Blades and tucks it his robes with a sigh - disappointment washes over his face as he shakes his head and walks into the Blade for a stiff drink.

[Sidhe]

[t-ice]

A large mercenary man is spreading a tale that dark things dwell in the depths of the Cloakwood. The darkness engulfs all who would poke in there, and it just wants to be left to its peace. There is nothing there but darkness and tranquility - unless the peace is disturbed by some poor, foolish soul who would turn the calm of death to an immortal wrath...

[Lokan]

THE GATE


*Fresh copies of the news parchment "The Gate" turn up at inns across Baldur's Gate*

Yes, ladies, gentlemen, and good folk of the forest and mountain. We are back with more exciting news!

BELLS GANG UPDATE: The once vicious and mysterious gang leader known only as Bell has been captured! Word has it that one of our own a nobleman, a human named Merrin Allister, lead his band of adventurers and a portion of the city watch in a raid in the sewers not hours before the inking of this parchment and defeated the gang lord. Congratulations Mr Allister, you make us proud!