Tavern Rumors of Peltarch
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The city is abuzz with rumours, following the grisly murder of a Calimport diplomat in the King's Chambers. A number of high-profile adventurers were supposedly caught red-handed at the scene, but released a few hours later. Who the murderer is and what their motive may be, remains unknown. This, along with possible repercussions from Calimport officials, is likely the subject of much speculation.
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A rather dull and unremarkable looking man in battered armor has been seen on multiple occasions taking 'green' adventurers to the Shrine of Tempus and clearing the undead from the surrounding fields with a large axe.
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An unseasonal snow fell on Peltarch one morning. Soon after it began, the druids Leena and Aoth led a group of adventurers through the tree in the commons: including Maria, Raryldor, Shesarai, Hannibal, and Allester Hollins. They returned hours later, delivered by a bone-chilling whirlwind, and they spoke briefly about towers, bugbears, and preparations before they dispersed. The snow stopped soon after.
It was difficult not to notice that Aoth returned two-handed once more.
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_A magical phenomenon has the city's rapt attention; a large and brightly glowing haze of purple and green, originating somewhere in the Giantspires. The western walls fill with Ceruleans, Defenders and curious onlookers, and scattered eye-witness reports mention horrifically deformed ogres and orcs pouring out of the anomaly, making their way towards the city. Battle is reported from the walls, the defenders successfully repelling the monsterous assailants to the glory of the Jewel!
But what 'was' the strange haze and why did it appear? There appear to be more questions than answers from the busy Ceruleans, but eventually the magic begins to dissipate and the light fades.
Largely overshadowed by the hubbub is a vague rumour of a scuffle in the Residential district or was that a break-in.. at the Hemway estate?_
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_Rumours circulate around the Bardic College, and not just for the usual claims of its waters 'special' properties. Recently, a group of Ceruleans stormed the building, blades drawn, to handle a magical disturbance. Whatever they did, one wonders if the job was quite complete as a massive earthquake shook the building but a few days later, sending terrified students flooding out onto the streets. Some say it was the traitor Anderson striking a final vengeful blow against the theatre, while the more composed brush it off as a natural phenomenon. Bards being bards, the speculation is bound to be both imaginative and rampant.
In other gossip, there's talk of a skirmish involving the controversial Defender Reyhenna Jorino, Cerulean Knight Sheserai Foutopolis and others, set upon by mystery assailants gutsy enough to ambush city employees less than a stone's throw away from the Jewel's walls._
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Daniel Sternecloude is missing from his manor in the Residential District. His old set of armor, his sword and his shield are also missing. No one has seen him for a week.
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
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A well built, middle aged man in battle scarred armor with a distinctive Red Cloak can be seen throwing a large pack over the hindquarters of a looming warhorse. He takes a quick knee on the rock south of the city and bows his head, letting his hair whip in the wind. After a few moments, he stands up and flings a handful of soil into the wind. With one last look at the city, he smiles to himself and mounts the steed rather gracefully before galloping to the East in pursuit of a caravan.
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_By now, few people could have missed the ongoing revelries at the Peltarch tourney grounds. Festive blue lights adorn the area and fast-paced music fills the air, mingling with the din of voices and the sweet scent of food both savoury and sweet. Lliiran dancers twirl and cavort, alongside a great many of the town's citizens, from dockside movers and shakers to the noblest of lords and ladies.
The star of this fabulous party, or so rumours say, is a heavy-set and jovial looking man with bright blue hair, going by the name "Big Alley"._
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The Cerulean cleric Shesarai Foutopolis returned to the Meremaid well after daybreak and was heard warning people that the road south is getting more dangerous. In addition to the usual rotting corpses and slow shambling zombies, which can be easily avoided if you run, she encountered a fully armed (and rather fast) gnoll warrior on the road southeast of the entrance to the Kuo Toa Cavern.
AubreyMaturin
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Rumors amidst the nobler and more blue-blooded crowds abound about new arrivals to the City of Peltarch. The currently conflicted houses of Whitedune and Finhund have apparently sent cousins to represent their family estates in Peltarch after the former heads of the family were hung for crimes against the city. Among the newcomers are Cecilia Whitedune, a blonde-haired, reclusive, suspicious woman, and Lianna Finhund, a brown haired woman whom few have seen much of since her arrival.
Additional newcomers to the city include:
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
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Inconsistent rumors flit between - and outwards from - the various watering holes throughout the city claiming that the renown ranger and Wolf, Rasuil, was taken forcefully into custody by officials on various charges of manslaughter. Surrounded and captured while brazenly lounging within the city's commons, the outlaw ranger put several armed and armored guards into critical condition before he could be subdued and dragged off to a waiting cell.
Other stories claim the commotion, which drew several columns of guards into action and temporarily sealed the city gates, was caused by a massive beast let loose within the city, which was ultimately brought down by.. an even larger bear.
Some of the more outlandish versions even claim that the two events were one in the same, that the ranger in question was in fact the beast that rampaged through the city streets before he could be brought down by a combined effort of arms and magic from guards and adventurers alike.
No matter which story is heard, it seems to hold little weight as the old Wolf could later be seen walking about the city, definitively -not- being held in a cell. Surely if half of the stories were true, the city wouldn't allow a murderous beast to roam their streets.. at least not without a heavily armed escort.. or a leash.
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Sergeant Danicen has informed the Legion is this conflict and encounter as well.
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Rumor around Peltarch is that a party of adventurers recently encountered a large drow force in the Underdark, past Kuo Toa territory. If rumors are to be believed, this drow force was attempting to command an army of tamed magic eaters. Whether or not this is true is up for debate, but other rumors indicate sightings of similarly out-of-place duergar war parties recently bringing arms and armor close to the surface near Norwick.
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The mysterious blue nimbus in the sky, familiar to the citizens of Peltarch and Narfell alike after many months presence, shone bright in the sky the other night - before it shot down like a comet, towards the western fields. Farmers living there may have noted a blue mist in the air, the nimbus' arrival soon followed by nosy adventurers and the din of raised voices. Strong winds whipped the fields as sounds of battle erupted, though when the mist cleared and the adventurers departed, no signs of the battle remained but for a few scorched patches in the dewy grass.
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With zombies shambling about to the south, vampires ever lurking and irate orcs assaulting the western walls, the Defenders are hard pressed. How fortunate then, that the adventurer population of Narfell can lend the city's defence a helping hand! Most recently, a disparate group including such famed names as Maria and Raryldor struck a hard blow against the orcish forces that had gathered, reportedly disposing of countless orcs and several pieces of siege equipment.
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Whispers abound that the last remnants from Talbot Anderson's half-machine half-man regiment have been captured and brought to the Gaol under the crime of robbery. They say that Peltarch's adventurers encountered a group of half-machine half-men that was not present during the final confrontations against the traitor. These individuals, so rumors have it, retain their plane-touched mechanical attributes and refuse any treatment to remove the metal and circuitry from their forms. They were led by "Prue Davovil" – those in the know of military matters recognize the name belonging to a former Defender spell-blade, turned half-mechanical during Anderson's treason.
More recently, an unnamed benefactor has paid Davovil's bail, and the woman once again walks free. She has not been seen since, however. Gossips wonder who paid her bail, and why?
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
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_Gossip from the King's Court starts to circulate. The latest petition hearings proved quite a spectacle. There's positive and hopeful signals regarding the Silver Valley refugees possibly finding shelter under Peltarch's wing, after Defender Anna Blake's plea alongside the Valley's representatives Theaon Thorn and Roslyn Underhill.
But there's also quite a few juicy controversies and scandals:
It is said that a female Cerulean Knight brought two suspects into open Court - vampire hunters Yulia van Dieman and Synara, accused of attempting to tear down an entire housing complex in the docks. The Cerulean not only argued for the pair's exoneration, but that the Cerulean Commander, Lycka Zomasdottir, be fired. Nate Wingates, one of the Ceruleans assigned to the vampire case, argued vehemently against this, with General Del'rosa and Guard General Velhar's firm backing. Though the plea was denied on both counts, it nevertheless generated quite a stir.
Juicier still, at least in sheer gossip potential, was an unnamed dock worker's ardent plea for harsh measures taken against Guard Captain Gerard Fortesque, for "plowin' the missus". The upset man accused Fortesque of fornication with half the womenfolk of the docks, and allegedly begged the King to at least "chop off his meat 'n potatoes".
Amused commentators claim that Fortesque himself was silent on the matter, but that the irate accuser lost his cool and charged at the guardsman - only to run nose-first into Fortesque's famous iron fist._
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"What's that in the sky? Is it a bird? Is it a dragon? Is it…
...a flying ~orc~?!"
Yes, wild rumour currently has it that orcs can fly - surely a sign that the end of days is nigh! More or less accurate eye witness accounts speak of battles on the western gates of the city and beyond, and an orcish snatch-and-grab of a terrified bovine.
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In other news, it seems the former Cerulean Knight turned traitor, Tristyn Sartori, has been granted the King's pardon after a last minute appeal before his hanging. Tristyn, the leader of a nightmarish cult responsible for both kidnappings and murder, is now a free man. Curiously, rumour has it he was seen leaving the Gaol in the company of the very same people who brought him into custody in the first place: Roslyn Underhill and Isolde Garibaldi.
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_Amidst talk of a contentious Cerulean effort to stop vampires, druids and cocatrices alike in the Bottleneck Alley Apartments, word spreads that the King himself is convening a special session of the Royal Council, to consider tough new measures to thwart these insidious enemies of Peltarch.
Rumour has it a former Lord of Waterdeep, turned vampire hunter, will be heard before the Council and that she has been meeting with Councillors ahead of the session. She is clearly lobbying for support, but for what?_
