Tavern Rumors of Peltarch
-
As days pass by, the rusty good looking man seems to have found something. He speaks nothing but instead he laughs. When asked, by curious farmers perhaps, what he actually found, he just laughs back and throws a gold coin to them. He throws one, rather than toss, so maybe they get hit by the coin.
Yelling out the "I am rich, I'm gonna buy all the fireball-necklaces of this world" (from Shady, he means) phrase, he runs to the city rather to the nars crossroads. Throwing gold coins to the people passing by, no matter if citizens, adventurers or guards (but he's more careful with guards as he actually tosses them a coin for no reason).
And so the madman gets lost in the middle of the city.
-
A rather good looking man, yet leaving always a trail of rust behind can be seen from time to time outside the city walls digging up many holes. Randomly, sometimes ruining up some crops yet fixing them afterwards as he swears and demonstrates he knows how to use a hoe (this is but a rumor, though some say he's actually using an odd looking serrated halberd, yet this crazy good rusty looking man keeps digging up the holes, looking for something).
When asked why so many holes, he'd just reply that someone actually told him there was a reward hidden underneath outside the city walls, some where around the outskirts, maybe even across the nars pass, probably even near the gypsy camp. That it was his right to claim it as he rescued someone or something or some children from a kiddo-eater demon prince or lord.
Anyways, the guy keeps digging up from time to time outside the city walls. Maybe he's actually looking for nothing, maybe he just does this for mere fun. The truth is he keeps digging and laughing (madly? Who knows and cares), and also he keeps lighting some candles he swears were made from human fat, very legal, that the city approves, that even Lady Varya approved too... But that's a matter for another rumor.
He'll just keep digging up those holes.
-
The latest rumors of Peltarch relate to Louis du Lorraine, subject of many statues and merchandising. First seen teleporting in in a busy street with Scott Grimm and the giant metal manifestation of tetanus, folks were shocked, horrified and even a bit curious when the giant golem grabbed a hidden assassin and squeezed them until they broke. That same golem was later seen, rather cleaned up and repaired, in City Hall, where it remains decorated with the banner of du Lorraine's family banner. Supposedly, or so they say, this is Louis du Lorraine's new bodyguard. A big metal... thing.
-
A day later 4 figures limped into town, covered in ash and blood they made their way silently through the city and down to the farmlands, one figure supported by a large warrior in scorched plate. If any followed they would witness one fall to his knees in the damp soil and after a short conversation he collapsed and did not rise. They gathered up the fallen and made their way into the wood....
-
People came out of the taverns and residences and up onto the ramparts as the sky to the west of the city glowed orange and red and then darkened with smoke. For leagues around ash filled the skies and rumbles and flashes could be seen and heard from the city walls as the eerie glow waxed and waned through the night. And then like a stoked furnace the glow intensified and the temperatures climbed along the walls, even the heavy rains could not subdue, what was obviously fires raging beyond understanding in the foothills of the Giantspyres. Mists filled the air as nature itself seemed intent on fighting the unnatural blaze, rain slashed down and lightning danced through the sky and slowly, ever so slowly the glow lessend as the sky seemed to weep.
-
I HAVE RETURNED FOR WHAT IS MINE
Those words so brazenly painted on the side of the City Hall, in red dripping paint.... well you'd hope it's paint. Nobody really knows who has returned or what it is that is theirs, some say it's some forgotten heir to the throne or maybe a forgotten Nars demon or other such outlandish things. The patrons continue to guess, but honestly, who can say?
-
This one is really hard to believe! Cerulean priestess Shesarai was seen running through the town all bloody and battered, yelling for a skinning knife. She entered City Hall and returned a few minutes later brandishing one. Lady Varya saw her and followed. She claimed a Stegadon chased her all the way from the Gypsy Valley and nearly killed her three times before she finally defeated it with a Sunbeam spell. It's body was blocking the south gate. No one else saw it, however. Shesarai then led Varya to the south claiming there were giant wasps near Nars Bridge. Maybe she had too much to drink and was seeing things. The waitress said that was unlikely as Shesarai rarely drank anything.
AubreyMaturin
-
Rumor has it a pixie's been assaulting people in the docks district by literally raining coins on their head, possibly garnering mixed reactions by all people outside in the district. No one was left unmolested by coins
-
Rumors around Peltarch talk of the strange colorful foreigner who appeared in Peltarch recently, and has popped up at random without warning in various districts. He speaks to random people out of the blue, "Tell me something interesting" is what he always says. Most sputter in confusion, and of course he just sort of... leaves. But rumor has it that every so often someone will give him a trinket, or tell him something interesting, and occasionally he will react with a big grin.
What do these people who amuse him get? Weird trinkets, of course! The Guard is less than pleased, of course, since one such trinket was a strange device packed to the brim with smokepowder given to a curious child hanging around the Commerce district. Hardly the gift most parents would give to their child, and showing a surprising lack of forsight. Still, the stranger's constant appearing and disappearing has led to many theories whether he's some sort of trickster avatar. Or maybe he just has a lot of time on his hands.
-
Rumor has it that Verika and Varya encountered a dragon cultist and defeated it. A note which they read mentioned that some cultists were located at Hark's Finger, and their members were raiding people for treasures.
After the body burned, things escalated quickly when Ky demanded to know more information about what transpired, to which the paladin challenged him to a duel under the conditions that she was allowed to ward. The dragon outright attacked her and defeated her as she attempted to prepare herself, though didn't slay the Paladin.
They made their way to Norwick in the end
-
The recent rumors travelling through the taverns relate to the recent "midnight execution" that happened recently. In the dark of night, with but a small crowd of adventurers, the one responsible for the Massacre of the Clear Water Festival was tried and sentenced to death. It was a surprisingly rushed state of affairs, but such is life in a busy city most suppose. But the talk of the tavern isn't the execution itself, which did ultimately result in the "masterminds" death. It was the fight.
Nathelin the monk, who now has his face on the towns notice board, suddenly attacked the Sergeant on Duty. He took him down, as well as two other guards, though no deaths were reported. The bells rang loudly as Nathelin made his escape from what seemed to be half the guard force in the Commerce District struggling to catch up with him, the racket was incredibly loud. The Sergeant on Duty, and the Prosecutor who claims to have garnered the confession of the now deceased, both have stated that this man must be brought to justice for his crimes.
Some however wonder why the monk attacked them, spit balling theories of corruption, with their evidence mostly relating to just how sudden and quiet the trial and execution had been. Still, most don't really care about the truth. It's just fun to imagine what you'd do with the money if you brought the monk in.
-
So soon after the Festival of Clear Waters, a new disruption has occured. In the streets of the commerce district, brawls erupted here and there. Citizens turned against citizens, beating each other for reasons currently unknown. Many blame the sudden heat that appeared over Peltarch, some blame the usual conflicts that cause violence, though some blame sorcery and magic and what not. Official word isn't out yet on what the Ceruleans have to say. At least not publicly. Most of the fighters received no worse than a few bruises, and a short stay in the gaol, but some lives were lost in a particularly brutal brawl near the bardic building.
While nobody is really quite sure what happened, the tavern gossipers speak of some guards dying in a fight against... something. Nobody is quite sure what. The survivors speak of a strange red thing, and being saved by a colorful (almost eye-sore like) bard and a very plain looking brown robed monk. They even speak of a voice on the wind, telling them to "give in" to their hatred... but, well, these are just rumors and there isn't any real evidence any such thing actually happened. It'll surely be some time before any guard reports are released, right? What can you do until then?
And so the gossip continues.
-
The recent talk of the taverns is the Festival of Clear Waters, some sort of happiness feel good tripe where most people only really go for free food and drink. And more importantly, the slaughter at the Festival of Clear Waters. Nobody is quite sure why it happened, some say the drinks were spiked by a third party, others say it was demons (it's always demons) and some say that the troupe itself lured in those poor revellers for the killing. Either way, the only survivor from the troupe appears to be its leader, Shadel, who is now rumored to be behind bars and awaiting trial. Some call him the mastermind, some don't.
What isn't a rumor is the loss of life. Most of the revellers present, and some guards from Peltarch who were watching over the event, butchered in a chaotic mess.
-
Scholars of military history as well as retired lieutenants are seen remarking that the size of Jorino's regiment is growing unwieldy and too large for proper military efficiency. Some have noted that she was, once upon a time, Talbot Anderson's lieutenant, who also recruited from the docks and bloated his regiment with the unemployed and the destitute. Others remark how her father, the Regent, has taken a cold, distant hand with regard to the poor of Peltarch -- effectively creating the demand for his daughter's recruitment drive.
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
-
The Ignismons Veterans company of the Peltarch Defenders has been drilling almost non-stop outside the western walls of late, going through a wide variety of military exercises as well as occasionally ranging out to the foothills to harry Orcs, or to the beaches to test its mettle with the Giants and Manticores there.
The company is also growing noticeably in size, due to an ongoing and active recruitment effort targeting recently unemployed workers from the Docks and Commerce districts, offering them regular pay, lodging and three square meals a day. "The boys and girls in green look after their own", is a phrase commonly thrown around as well, the implication being that if you're good enough to get into the Ignismons Vets you'll be welcomed as if into a new family.
Newly promoted Captain, Reyhenna Jorino, can be seen personally leading the drilling most days, as well as occasionally liaising with High Hold logistics officers on the joint patrols of the trade route between the two realms, still in its infancy and prone to the occasional teething problem.
-
The adventurer from the Duchy of Velen, Ravos Calchais has been seen shut in his room in the inn for long periods of time, occasionally calling down for food. Other than his observation that perhaps the rooms should have been named after famous individuals from the past, perhaps senators or noblefolk, nothing else is heard fom him in a tenday or more. Other than he was seen heading in with a number of volumes on what some say was an investigation, or trade papers, or theology. Waitresses may report seeing books of the faith of Azuth, Savras, Helm, Kelemvor and Siamorphe among his work area as refreshments were delivered to him. Although he is often heard to call Roslyn "Detective" he has been observed in saying he wouldn't mind that job... The Waitress's would quash any rumour that Roslyn had been seen in his room however.
Other rumours persist of another woman manging to persuade Ravos to leave the inn. This time it was Rika, the Uthgardt axe-warrior with news of Creel warriors missing deep in giant territory. Certainly he was seen returning from those lands with her and Simon, a priest of Torm covered head to foot in giant blood, pledging to celebrate the fallen warriors recovered from the cave with many ales, toasting the prowess of the party as well as the glorious deaths of the creel. He's developing a taste for Creel wine, though he is mainly seen with his dark stout in his tankard.
In unrelatred matters, Ravos was seen returning from the icelace beach area, with the equipment of a drunken adventurer along with Rika, Nord and Simon again. With reports that pirates seemed to have incredible summoning powers, with the prevention of the summoning of a demon by a mere whisker achieved by Ravos, Rika, Simon and Nord, viglance is urged for any adventurers heading beyond the lands of the wild cats near to Peltarch. There seemed to be an explosion of polymorphing insanity following the incident, with a Dwarf, turning into a giant spider, and Nord turning into a cow without bothering the wavebreakers too much. Ravos does note however that the guard enquiring about the huge creatures transformed into by this Aurilite Druid and the Dwarf, failed to apprehend the "cow", seeing that it managed to sneak away from him. He shakes his head in disdain and returns to the inn wondering about the competence of the guard and the lack of viglance, making a pledge to locate a temple of Helm in the region, and writes a proposal to the Captain of the Guard that they should be equipped with magic to detect invisible creatures.
-
Some farmers briefly and drunkenly discuss the weird wagon that appeared twice in the farmlands. It almost seemed like some elves, and a human, were being carted around by goblins in a goblin wagon. But that's impossible, goblins don't ferry elves in wagons. Clearly they were just really ugly gnomes.
-
A loud explosion echoes through the Commerce district one evening, followed by an eruption of strange red mist. The sound of combat follows, though soon dies out. As peace settles over the Commerce once more, a group of adventurers can be seen emerging from somewhere near Ashald park, along with a pale-faced woman in red and black plate armour. Whatever ruckus occurred, there seems to be no lingering trace of, afterwards.
-
Piles of broken weapons and armour have been piled up as offerings to Tempus in the shrine in the Nars. Rumour around the taverns point to some warnings to local nars farmers on the outskirts of Peltarch that kobolds were seen skulking around their farmhouses. A local warrior of the Abordabe, knocks on the doors of the farmers, ceoncerned that they may be attacked in their sleep, and having been seen around Peltarch often of late, notifies the Defenders of these kobold sightings
-
Two Elven corpses and some other items were delivered to the guards at the Peltarch front gate by Samwell and a large earth elemental. Apparently, they were found somewhere along the Nars Pass.
