3. New Whispers at the Fire

New Whispers at the Fire


  • _A passing rumour about a disturbance in the crypts seems to make its way into the town of Norwick. It would appear that a monstruous undead creature known as "Vilewight" had been found there.

    This creature seemed to prey on druids, be it by choice or circumstance, as at the moment of being found it was indeed devouring the remains of a druid. The two that found it, also druids, confronted the vile abomination, managing to destroy it after extreme struggles in which at least one of them, a mostly unknown quiet and tranquil druidess of Silvanus, was knocked unconscious to drift into death. However, she was saved in time by her partner at the time, the more known druid Varyn of Nobanion.

    It would appear that afterwards, Silvanus saw fit to bless the crypts at the druidess' request, even if for just a moment as verdant vines crept through the stone and earth to retrieve the body of the half-eaten druid, and return it to the earth while its spirit was freed to reincarnate into another being in a new turn of the wheel._


  • After witnessing an unusual and heated conversation near the central campfire, a somewhat concerned Z is seen visiting the temples around town, the guards, and the Dwarven Hold to spread the word about a potential "situation" - something about a very powerful demon lord and a possessed warrior lass.


  • Grim word spreads that Elvadriel has been slain.

    The rumour goes that she fell in the crypts South of the village in an attempt to save the young Tormite paladin and local lad, Arnie Arnesen and a less well known Rashemi warrioress down there. Whether or not this is true isn't clear though. After all, she's one of them magicky types and had a trick up her sleeve… right?


  • Rumor has it that a cranky old Dwarf has been seen making helms in the Union Hall as well.


  • The Union crafting hall has been very busy as of late ((Woot summer vacation!)). As a result, many new items are for sale in the Union Store.

    Shoppers are also reminded that, if they don't see what they are looking for, custom weapons and armor can always be ordered.


  • _Meanwhile, the work to get the Warrior's Soul Tradeskill Hall has progressed steadily. With Nuwairah often being needed in the north, it has been Cormac who has been seen helping around in his free time.

    The opening of free-for-all crafting facilities in the south appears imminent now._


  • _A young, pale-ish lady of freckled cheekbones, dotted emerald eyes and platinum hair appears a little upset as she speaks by the fireside of the events that she had witnessed the night before.

    It would seem that while she was by the south, an ominous mist began to rise, the atmosphere grew eerie and the moon was tinted in blood. Little red dots in the darkness soon cried and yelled as they revealed the numerous goblins behind them, who assaulted the young warrior as if craving for her blood. Afraid of leading the goblins into the town and the havoc they could cause, she decided to hold her ground the best she could, right by Norwick's south gates.

    Although taking wounds and burns from the goblin blades and spells, she resisted until eventually a leader emerged amongst the goblins, who spoke threats, or perhaps a rallying cry mentioning the goblinoid god Maglubiyet before the final showdown between the contenders.

    Fortunately, the first lights of dawn revealed the young lady to be victorious, although bloody and exhausted. The blood moon passed, and things returned to apparent normality in the quiet town of Norwick._


  • Sergeant Alvaniel can be seen speaking to Eric the Lumberjack and giving him dimensions for a new gate.

    "I will supply you with the elm or oak for the gate," she mentions to him. "It will be prepped against weather and attacks."

    He looks at her after seeing the dimensions. "These are not the gatte dimensions for the gates in Norwick, what are we looking to build a gate for?"

    "If you must know, I want to put a gate on Fort Ormpur and see if the fort can be revitalized and saved," she tells him.

    "Now those are bold plans there Sergeant, let me speak to dad and you work on getting us the wood, it will take quite a bit I assume you want double reinforced if not triple reinforced."

    "Triple," as she heads south handing him 1,000 gold, "that should be a nice down payment."


  • Rumours speak of darkness suddenly descending over the center of Norwick, a shadowy figure emerging from it to battle Cormac. There's speculation of some type of curse at play, the Chauntean priestess Anna Blake reportedly performing a ritual at the Morninglord's temple to deal with it afterwards.


  • Legion Sergeant Alvi was attacked by a barbarian of some sort as she was securing her horse up at the Inn in Norwick. The man, foaming at the mouth first attacked her horse and then Alvi. Caught off-guard she then was able to eliminate the threat.

    She was then questioned by a Norwick guard as of the other three present, none saw the attack as was said by Cormac, Nuwa and Arnie.


  • Much wine, food and fun was indeed had in the wedding.

    For some the fun continued long in the morning, as loud grunts coming from Uljas' tent scared off the birds at the crossroads.


  • Norwick's fairground recently played host to a beautiful and joyous wedding, that of Legionaire Akseli of Norwick and the radiant dancer Orianna. Tears were shed, music played and much fine wining and dining took place before the festivities rounded off on the dancefloor and the happy couple departed to the nearby inn.


  • _Meanwhile, Nuwairah and allies have kept working diligently on the new Tradeskill Hall, to have it ready for the public as soon as possible. It appears she also intends to use the field attached to the farm to plant flax, and other textile seeds.

    She seems uncaring on whether the attempt for extortion and murder was orchestrated by members of the Union or otherwise, and she does not seem interested in the least with giving speeches or rumour mongering. Her point was made - the Warrior's Soul is going to be opened, unless someone can walk over her dead body to prevent it._


  • The townspeople of Norwick murmur and whisper of the attack. The dwarf who intimidated and bullied Nuwairah and her friends is named Grimdak Gavelhammer, that much is clear. However, there are several rumors floating around about its exact nature.

    One version of the story claims that Gavelhammer represents the views of the overall crafting union. This version is quickly scoffed at and rejected by the majority of Norwick's population.

    Another version of the story, which appears to be more accurate as it is confirmed by the guards who arrested Gavelhammer and who were apparently nearby when the attack happened, is as follows: Gavelhammer is a not a member of the crafting union. He acted alone, with three of his own personal lackeys who were not members of the union, to bully and intimidate a foreign woman. He claimed to be a member of the union for intimidation and threatening purposes. He is a spiteful and bitter dwarf who does not accurately reflect the views of the crafting union.

    Rumor has it that the crafting union intends to punish Grimdak Gavelhammer, who is currently sitting in jail.

    [DM Xanatos Gambit]


  • @e713adaf25=Emerwyn:

    _More a cry than a rumour, the voice goes around that there was a fight right in the middle of Norwick between two factions. In one side, four dwarves from the Union, who apparently attempted to threaten, extort or bribe the other side - Nuwairah, Cormac and Lunia.

    In the centre of the conflict, the new Crafting Hall that is being opened by Nuwairah herself. After words were exchanged, the resounding voice was "I'm not for sale", which broke up the fight. Nuwairah was quickly aided by Cormac and Lunia, managing together to take down the assaulting dwarves, who were knocked out, but not killed, before the guard appeared and dragged them away, warning the standing party that they had picked the wrong enemy.

    It appears that the Union is not going to play nice about the new Crafting Hall being open, and unfortunately for the Shieldmaiden, the odds stack against her when being marked as an enemy by the most powerful and influential guild in Norwick_

    Upon hearing the rumor, Z responds vocally to any and all who will listen.

    This is a complete lie.

    First of all, who were these mystery Dwarves? All of our members are well known and respected members of our community. We don’t even have 4 Dwarves in the guild anymore. Most of them have retired or…pauses a moment passed. So, whoever they were, they certainly wasn’t Union members.

    Second, we have rules that specifically prohibit our members from harassin’ independent crafters. It ain’t good fer business and it ain’t good fer recruitin’ new members. So, whoever they was, they wasn’t Union.

    Finally, the Crafters Union is a business, and we work hard to be helpful, upstandin’ members of our community. We have built an impeccable reputation over the years, and I ain’t gonna stand here and listen as these false rumors spread like a foul disease. With the exception of folks standin’ too close to Brumir when he’s eatin’ eggs, the Union harms no one. And y’all know it.

    But, that said, we ain’t gonna stand back while these newcomers enter our town and stage a false fight in order ta trick y’all and gain yer favor by playin’ the innocent victim to the big mean crafters guild. Please… scoffs

    Y’all know me - I’ve lived here many, MANY years. Ya know what I stand for - what the guild stands for. Please do not let these newcomers waltz in and, within a matter of days, taint what took the Union years to build.

    And think about this… If their first action is to come into town, take ya’ll for fools, and pull a stunt like this, what does that say about their integrity? Are some of these other "rumors" that are being spread accurate or are they staged, as well? Do you really want to do business with them? Think about it.

    Earthmother be with you all. blesses


  • _More a cry than a rumour, the voice goes around that there was a fight right in the middle of Norwick between two factions. In one side, four dwarves from the Union, who apparently attempted to threaten, extort or bribe the other side - Nuwairah, Cormac and Lunia.

    In the centre of the conflict, the new Crafting Hall that is being opened by Nuwairah herself. After words were exchanged, the resounding voice was "I'm not for sale", which broke up the fight. Nuwairah was quickly aided by Cormac and Lunia, managing together to take down the assaulting dwarves, who were knocked out, but not killed, before the guard appeared and dragged them away, warning the standing party that they had picked the wrong enemy.

    It appears that the Union is not going to play nice about the new Crafting Hall being open, and unfortunately for the Shieldmaiden, the odds stack against her when being marked as an enemy by the most powerful and influential guild in Norwick_


  • _It's a quiet day in Norwick when three leave through the south gates - Lunia, Cormac and Nuwairah set off into the forests, towards the Ostromog mines. But a day later, six return - the same three, and three Norwickian villagers in tow.

    The story as told in taverns and rumours, speaks of an ambitious bugbear demonologist seizing control of the duergar forge in Ostromog's mines with plans for striking a coup upon the bugbear leadership and proclaim himself as their new leader. To achieve that he brewed concoctions that made his warriors extremely powerful as well as kidnapped several Norwickians to perform a sacrifice, possibly to some demonic entity, that would grant him the charisma and grandeur of a true leader.

    His plans were thwarted by the bold trio who not only defeated the bugbear demonologist before he managed to escape via teleporting spell, but also were in time to rescue the three villagers before the ritual could be completed, mostly unharmed and well. There are versions of the story that speak of Cormac buttkicking the bugbear demonologist into a furnace head-first, filling the air of the whole place with a less than pleasant stench.

    After the grateful villagers were returned safely to Norwick, they were left on their own to reunite with their families and loved ones._

  • ?

    @9fc07658a1=Emerwyn:

    Another batch of crated goods arrives in a cart to the old Biswan Farm, this time it appears like it's furniture mainly. Amongst the things the things, there is one large banner that reads in sharp, steely letters "Warrior's Soul Crafting and Tradeskill Hall".

    Somewhere in the memory rich halls of the Union, over the faint sound of a hammer banging against an anvil, a true warrior's soul takes notice of the banner and snorts a laugh.


  • Another batch of crated goods arrives in a cart to the old Biswan Farm, this time it appears like it's furniture mainly. Amongst the things that are piled up there is one large banner that reads in sharp, steely letters "Warrior's Soul Crafting and Tradeskill Hall".


  • Shieldmaiden Nuwairah Zarah'kifa has been seen the last few days down in Norwick's east valley bringing in carts with large tools, furnitures and machinery into the farm that belonged to old Norwick's Chancellor Biswan, which has belonged to Nuwairah herself for a few years.