Whispers at the Fire
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_Word around the area is that a bunch of adventurers, including Vescar, Mareann and Melidian, after returning from battling goblins in the East Rawlins, came back to find a trap laid in front of the Norwick gates. It is rumored that while keeping watch to find out who laid these traps, a goblin scout was chased off, only to return a short time later, leaving an unmarked crate outside the gates. On investigation, a strange bird struggled out of a small hole in the crate, only to suddenly attack Vescar and turn him to stone.
While trying to keep the creature from damaging the stoned Vescar, Melidian was also chased down and stoned. Thankfully, Mareann and two other adventurers who were not recognized, succeeded in killing the bird, (identified later as a Cockatrice), and then securing help from the Norwick healers to return the two stoned men to life.
Deciding then that the crate needed destroying, the group was seen arguing about how to do it, when Mareann had enough and destroyed the crate with a swing of her weapon. Unfortunately, this released another of the cockatrices. However, luck was on their side and they succeeded in killing this one before it turned anyone else to stone. Rumor has it that Vescar has swift legs indeed.
Because of this incident, it is obvious that the goblins are still up to something, and are turning to more devious tactics than open attack. A situation that has people wondering if all of this will ever end._
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Albryanna, Devlin, Vescar, and Kresha were seen entering the deeper woods, reporting to Mord before they departed that they were planning of scouting the goblin cave in the Western Rawlins for Nickel ore. Some hours later, after encountering numerous goblins and beetles, they came fleeingly from the caves, goblin archers, elites, and beeltes in close pursuit, them looking like they had been cast into the deepest pits of hell. After their safe return to Norwick, they were seen heading straight for the Friar's shed, a look of determination upon Albry's face. Some time later, they emerged from the small house, their wounds seeming to have disappeared, though signs of exhaustion upon their bodies. Emidiately, without the company of Devlin, still pouting of being "ripped off for the price of healing", Albry, followed by militiamen Vescar and Kresha along with citizens Abel Nightrode and Kalienah Summerbloom, marched back into the woods withs strong souls and spirits. Hours later, they returned, burdened with bags filled of possessions, Abel carrying an elven body over his shoulder: the body of Celebring. After some time in the care of Tristina, a tired looking and exhausted Albry was seen entering the barracks, looking for a good nights sleep.
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Khory and Albryanna returned to Norwick bloodied and battered after an excursion into the Rawlins. The few who asked were told in Khory's traditional un-verbose manner of an expedition into a cave network in the deep Eastern Rawlins, where the two came across umberhulks near a vast underground lake, and spotted a large group of hook horrors deep within the various tunnels and caverns. They even stood toe-to-toe with one before beating a hasty and well advised retreat back to the surface. As her wounds could attest, the encounter with the savage subterranean beast did not go in their favor.
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Dwin hears of the Tree-Huggers' return and shakes his head, mumbling something about "too little, too late."
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_Lana Ogden is said to have experienced a rude awakening, when her tent was slit open and she was kidnapped during the night… A Drider is whispered to be the Culprit, as was mentioned by three people who witnessed the creature fleeing eastward into the Rawlins.
The witnesses, Norwick folk well known to the townspeople, Harmony and Wren, set out for her after realizing what happened. The two women were in the company of a tall and dark-haired elven man, who was also present for the commotion. The three of them did not return until early the next morning, but Lana was returned safely, unconscious, yet alive. They took her to the healers, where not one of them left for the entire day. When they did, they seemed worn and exhausted...
Lana seems to be recovering, although understandably shaken by the incident.
Some have been wondering at the presence of the aforementioned elven man. He seems to have been spending a lot of time in Norwick lately, working with Harmony. Those curious enough to ask find out his name is Celebring and that he has been tasked with aiding Norwick in certain matters, through research, insight, and 'other' means at his disposal. Whatever his role, it's clear that it is only a minor one at this time... And he does not wish to step on any toes._
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_Two familiar faces walk through Norwick one afternoon. The former archdruidess, Raisa and her husband, Wolf have returned. Though, the two did not seem happy as they arrived. They were seen looking about the decayed Norwick with nervous expression. As for New Norwick, they seemed to look about the new construction with disdain.
As they walked, they seemed to be debating something or perhaps even arguing. They left out the southern gates, heading toward the east, unaware of the new danger that lurks there._
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Heavier than normal rainfall over the last week has brought new misery to the citizenry of Norwick. Constant rain has made the earth turn into a deep marsh of foul smelling mud and dead vegetation. In most areas the mud is no deeper then ankle deep, making travel annoying but doable, but in other areas it goes suddenly as deep as knee deep causing trouble for children, animals, gnomes, and halflings. Numerous short folk have had to be rescued from the quagmire as the mud traps them. Some consider it bad luck, others blame several laughing half orcs for the seemingly random 'deep spots' yielding their mud covered and distraught victims. The constant mud leads to much cleaning in buildings and an almost universal surrender of bathing as the mud seems to get everywhere. Between the smell of unbathed people and foul mud the aroma of Norwick becomes quite poignant. Nonetheless, most agree that the sooner the rain stops and the mud dries the better.
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Jerr breazes through the town with a grin on his face a mile wide. Those who know him say that he looks years younger and has a bounce in his step (as well as his belly). He spends a bit of time by the fires and touching base with folks in town before doing a quick 'east sweep' as he likes to call it.
The goblins are found neatly piled in one corner of the Rawlins as though he gathered them all together before going to work. When he returns he stops by the militia to jot a quick note then continues north.
One of the guards is heard to remark. "If that is what you get by drinking sisterhood wines, buy me a case."
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_Dwin and several of his guards are seen returning from the Rawlins with several hunted deer and a couple dozen birds of all sizes.
The group sat at the fire, and carefuly plucked the feathers out placing them in their helms while they roasted the poultry.
They then skinned the deers and roasted the meat. Dwin started sewing the hides into bags. After the bags were sewn, he and the guards (who thought Dwin might be losing his mind at this point) stuffed the bags with a helms-worth of feathers. The bags were then sewn shut and placed in the cooking pot, one by one.
The feather bags were then boiled. As they cooled, the feathers would expand and the hide would shrink, making a compact ball.
Dwin carefully inspected the balls once they had cooled and threw a couple into the fire as they "weren't round enough."
He placed the rest in his bag and then headed off towards the smitty, mumbling something about irons._
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Those passing through Norwick hear talks of a small attack led by none other than the evil, murderous gnome Droido. The details change depending on who you ask, but it is said that somewhere between two and ten gnomes assisted Droido with traps and ambushes.
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Rumor has it that the imprisoned banite attempted a hunger strike in the Jails, which ended when guards shoved some boiled rat down his throat.
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If the one or two people wondering about Ezachiel's militia training happen to wonder "out loud" within earshot of any guards or scouts, they will hear a variety of tales, most of them ending the same way… Eza has been released from the Recruitment program based on crimes alegedly committed in the Romani camp.
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Some might notice that the wizard known as Ezachiel has not been to Norwick, even though other rumours say that his guard duty at the gypsy camp has been suspended. Others might remember that he was a militia trainee before he left, and wonder why he hasn't returned to his training?
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Rumor has it that yet another Norwick-bound caravan has been found slaughtered.
-Lagermane
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_The passings of the nights in Norwick, had been one of unease.
But the recent appearances of driders terrorizing Norwick, had only made atmosphere of dread Norwick had been clutching, grow bigger and more obvious than a person holding such fears in their heart.
The weak willed ones are probably in state of paranoia as we speak.
It happened in the middle of the night, driders raiding the northern site of Norwick, leaving the scene with captives with them. Some dwarf workers who were tasked in building the new Norwick and the other a notable individual, a Romani merchant by the name of Selene.
A group of brave men and women pursued the driders they did, to rescue the catpvies in distress. Some notable from the Legions, some notable from the Norwick militia while the rests are simply notable, for their bravery as a passing adventurer.
So entered the underdark they did, the darkness where it blacker than the piercing night itself, relying onto their brave hearts as their source of beacon of light. Follow they did, the trails left by the driders, with hopes that the captives were still amongst the living.
Alas but sadly, the group emerged from the underdark with only a weakened Selene in their grasps. The fate fo the dwarves were unfortunate and most of the adventurers, were reluctant to speak of their ill fated end.
The brave ones then gathered in the Friars, letting Kira to tend to the weakened Selene, whom everyone thought she be poisoned. But the results shared by Kira, of her findings on Selen brings a series of revolting gestures from even the most loudest and hot blooded adventurer amongst the group.
The details for such gestures were not clear, for not many were able to stomach the news and willing to speak of it.
For an entire day and night, the Friar was closed as both Tristina and Kira, informed Norwick that they were performing a dangerous surgery upon Selene to remove 'eggs' within her.
One wonders, what would happened to Selene, if she was not rescued in time? What about these 'eggs' that all speaks of in town in form of gossips means? Whether an answer is given or not, or just as uncertain rumour, it is enough to bring a sense of dread amongst the hearts of Norwickens._
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Lately, Keiji has been seen sprinting the length of Narfell, meeting with merchants of all shades and inquiring about healing balms, saying that there is a batch out there that has gone bad and is as effective as water at this point.
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Jerr was seen dragging four corpses into town and heading for the town healer just before sunset. his sundown song was especially poignant that eve.
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an elven woman with flaming red hair is freqently seen to enter the town hall .. when she leaves the floors are always wet; apparently she doesn't have a towel
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_Words in forms of rumours gossiped by the maids, tasked with cleaning the Chancellor's room, managed to find its way into the gossips amongst the town locals.
The gossip involved about the Chancellor's impressive bathtubs that seemed to be free for public use, or so claimed one maid who witnessed a couple in Norwick entering the Chancellor's room freely to use his bath tub that almost turned into their own private love nest.
Amongst the gossiping discussion involved about one cannot help but wonder in the near future, if the Chancellor's room will be converted into a quick love hotel as a form of Norwick's expanded business?
The gossips rages on and possibly gets more exagerrating as the time goes by._
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Rumors pass through town of a drowning incident which almost led to the death of a dwarven fellow. On asking one would hear that the dwarf is alive and well, but did have a hacking cough once recovered from the south lakes grasp. Others joke about dwarves spending too much time in the mountains they never learn how to swim.
