Whispers at the Fire
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_The Norwick Guards are seen passing around a crudely drawn wanted poster of a elf-lass named "Hen".
Word has it that she is wanted for attempted assault on Lord Dolvak himself when he tried to politely bring her in for questioning one evening._
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Rumour has it that the former militia trainee Ezachiel can be seen visiting Norwick again from time to time, though not often, and usually not for long.
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Word has begun to spread about an elf who speaks with a noble tone asking around about creatures he calls "Fey'ri" or "Daemonfey"; half-elf, half-demon. Apparently, he believes some may be in Narfell and is trying to find them. He says that they would have an "unhealthy" interest in magical artifacts or demon-related lore and areas. He has started his search in the Rawlinswoood, apparently trying to find areas that the Fey'ri might be hiding.
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Seems the rains have stopped giving Norwick a much needed respite. Though the weather isn't exceptionally warm, the mud dries nonetheless much to the chagrin to the half orcs who are seen carrying buckets of water to favorite mud spots.. A moderate blowing wind from the west even grants the citizens some fresh air.
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Some might remember the Norwick Militia kicking out someone who has risked his life in the defence of Norwick many times, and who was doing alright in the training.
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Word of the cheeky Rhistin and his uninformed remarks makes it back to Dwin and the Senior officers of the Militia.
Funny, them druids all but abandon their own home and then criticize how we defend ours. Somebody ask that Rhistin lass if he wants to join the Militia ranks and show us how its to be done!
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Rhistin is seen cursing near Norwick South gates. "If those brave Militia men were just a bit more into guarding Norwick and less into filling their pockets, such box nor trap would never have been laid before the gates." Sloppy guards…
Earlier that day she was seen aiding Albryanna in the incarsenation of two dwarves that left the gates wide open and were "hesitant" to follow Albryanna's instructions to properly close them. The stiff dwarven talk back made Rhistin's cones turn a high crimson.
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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?
