Tavern Rumors of Peltarch
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Rumour is that ex-senator Marty has been seen very actively helping the city by helping reduce the impact of the plage on the residential district thanks to her blessing of restoration and remove disease.
Fresh pure water seems to be also making it to the city, although in small quantities, and some people claim to have seen ex-senator Marty by the Ashald Park, praying often and constantly in order to keep the water comming.
Some people, the first and second day, offer some prayers to nature gods, but as the days go on, they forget about this and just keep living their difficult lives.
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Rumours from the Commerce district also revolve around a strange magical storm - some citizens may go so far as to claim it was raining blood and that lightning danced all around the Commons before obliterating the sundial. From the debris rose a beautiful womanly figure, winged and most scantily clad. It is said she was soon jumped by one of the Ceruleans on the scene - though whether he was overwhelmed with desire or considered the newcomer a threat is a subject of some speculation.
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A gruesome scene was revealed at first light, at the farmsteads just a stone's throw from Peltarch's walls: the skeletal remains of more than a dozen children lay sprawled out in a ritualistic spiral pattern, while five adult corpses slowly sway in the morning breeze, hanged in the adjascent tree. It is said both the Knights of the Cerulean Stars as well as lady Varya Tiller and a number of volunteer investigators were quickly on the scene, entering one of the houses and leaving about an hour later with a wrapped object.
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The Nars Pass thundered with hooves and the rythmic beat of marching feet - but contrary to any doomsayers cry of war, the large contingent stopped shy of Peltarch proper. Not only that, but the gathering outside the Witch and Seer soon turned out to be a celebratory one, with raucous cheering and a feast lasting long into the small hours of the night. Rashemi warriors, witches, and even commonfolk appear to linger for the following days, all in high spirits and lauding the saviors of Tinnir!
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The situation in the Residential district indeed seems to be getting worse, with a riot nearly breaking out a few days ago. A gaggle of guards appeared on the brink of having to restrain the increasingly agitated masses, when focused efforts from gathered adventurers and city employees saw the mob disperse peacefully. Then again, perhaps it was simply the rain's doing, wreaking such murder on fine silks and laces. Rumour has it that the plague, thus far contained, now seems to be spreading throughout the district, though word of a cure is also on everyone's lips. Hope is alive - for now.
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Rumor has it that the new elven chick with the fancy hat, the priestess of Corellon, is seen spending a lot of time by the residential district. Offering blessings of remove disease to as many people as she can. She doesn't overdo herself, and rests in duely time, letting other priests take over when she's out of blessings.
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*A loud explosion rocks the commons; the freshy constructed and replanted sundial is little more than smoldering shattered stones, none larger than a man's fist. This loud explosion is followed shortly after with a similarly loud 'bang'.
Those few witnesses tell tale of a tall man clad in dark blue, wearing a dark blue hood throwing some kind of handheld grenado-bomb, and paying for his nonsense when Cormac Randolph shoved the barrel of his Lantanese pistol into the assailant's ribs and blowing his guts out into the commons.
Rumor suggests the man actually got away on foot, retreating with is hand holding the big bloody wound, yelling insults and swearing vengeance through his pained screeches.*
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A new trend? That is certainly what Isolde Garibaldi, author of "The Mystery of the Eye" appears to attempt to spread with a public event at the Commons. The novelist reads snippets from her best-selling book, but also signs autographs. She does so not on paper, however, but rather insists upon horse shoes, of all things, a stack of which she has brought with her. These are prettily painted jade green and with a depiction of a bright orange eye at the middle of the arch - but are, for all that, in all other respects seemingly normal iron horse shoes.
"You might recall in the book, there were dreamcatchers, handed out city wide... oh you still have one? Wonderful, do keep it hanging over your bed for sweet dreams, my good woman, but the ~horse shoe~ is the hot new household item for warding off wicked things! They're not only stylish, but will keep your children safe in their beds at night - yes, do hang one up over their window, and no, no charge necessary! Where to find more? I recommend the excellent Samwell Ward and Gnarl of The Edge as your go-to smiths for quality goods!"
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A few tavern rumors spread of a particularly nasty and sleep deprived looking individual absolutely tearing into Peltarch across bars and establishments, most of which he proceeded to mock for their shitty service. While jerks who like to talk big and talk rough aren't uncommon in Peltarch, the rumors mostly focus on the fact that the guards almost seemed to begrudgingly be giving him distance, and never tried to interrupt him no matter how much he barked at those around him. Why? Who is he? Can somebody just punch him in the face already?
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Rumours from the Commerce district make vague mention of a vampire playing peek-a-boo during the small hours of the night, though the biggest gossip point is assuredly the sudden vanishing act by three of the would-be vampire hunters, a mere stone's throw from the guards perimeter. A flabberghasted Mildred Dunderstone called on the Knights of the Cerulean Stars, and some hours later a bruised and battered Nate Wingates returned to the city, lost damsels in tow.
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About six to midnight a deep rumble is said to have disturbed the streets of the merchant quarter, just south of the commons main. Excited rumors suggest the rumble was met with a report - an angry snap, bang, or roar. Then silence. By two minutes to midnight the alarm bells were sounding their merry music. By midnight all that would be found is a dead man; a seafarer, who lay dead in the streets...
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Rumors swell of a duo of strange individuals that rode into Peltarch on horses and have begun to question, almost interrogate, the people of Peltarch. One, armed with numerous blades, and the other with a shining hammer and a gnomish blunderbuss. The duo never directly state who they are after, but rumors state they appear to be searching for someone, and that some nosy individuals have overheard them talk about "the hunt" which seem to indicate they are, perhaps, assassins or bounty hunters.
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*Rumor suggests that Cormac, who had been running tournaments out of the Residential District has foregone payment from the Crown, and has rather publicly recommended that the coin instead be used to provide relief to those who are suffering within the city. He himself footing the bill for the last games. He of course is very discrete, and yet somehow it is widely known publicly and loudly...
He has also made it known that until the plague has been suppressed or eradicated his semi-regular tourneys will be postponed.*
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@mcplay said in Tavern Rumors of Peltarch:
She also makes it a point to denounce the gods' work, claiming that humanoidkind can fix this crisis on their own without the so called gods' meddling.
Marty, who has been busy removing diseases from as many as she can with divine magic, takes a certain offence to the denouncement.
"Hey, I think at this point humanoidkind can use whatever help it can get. I don't think your blasphemy is going to do anyone much good!"
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Three other newly arrived healers take vastly different approaches to the aid they render:
Baird, clad in the characteristic Ilmatari robes and bindings, spends most of his time comforting the afflicted and their families, attempting to ease both the symptoms of the ill, and the suffering of the relatives of those who have fallen.
Maximilian, wearing the grey-green robes that mark him as a Talontar, offers his services to those who need to dispose of the dead, or to test the food and drink the nobles consume to ensure it bears no illnes.
Hanna the black robed scholar spends her days taking notes of the symptoms on her journal, drawing schematics and brewing tinctures and concoctions that she hopes will serve as a proper cure for the plague. She also makes it a point to denounce the gods' work, claiming that humanoidkind can fix this crisis on their own without the so called gods' meddling.
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@caoimh An experienced healer herself, Anna Tiller offers to devote her time to help ensure that the problem doesn't spread to the farms by screening and using her blessings to do what she can. At some point she would like to speak to anyone who may have a better understanding of what's going on to assist with a possible collaborative effort to help create a cure. (Healing 33+) Productivity in the mean time as she saves her blessings to help the ill would decrease slightly as natural blessings she'd normally use to tend to the farm would be diverted to the efforts of keeping the plague at bay.
Furthermore, her daughter Varya will be willing to offer to walk between the zones to help administrate help and communications due to her divine blessing that wards off the ailment.
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Plague! But this time it's not the densely packed Docks, but rather the gilded manors of the Residential District that are reportedly afflicted. The Peltarch Times story leads with the following description of the disease's symptoms:
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Headache
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Fever
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Coughing
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Weakness
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Cold hands and feet
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Delirium
The Times also reports a heated bit of politicking within the Peltarch Guard, with Senior Officers from the Commerce and Docks pushing for a prompt quarantine to prevent the disease taking hold in their much more populous and difficult to control districts. Eventually the majority won out, and despite protests from several noble families, Captain Garand ordered a quarantine into effect such that residents of the Residential may not leave the district without special permission.
The Times also reports that the Guard are working closely with the Order of Saint Sollars the Twice Martyred, who have arrived from neighbouring Damara to curb the plague and stamp it out before it takes root. They have set up a field clinic in the Tournament Grounds, and are also making house calls to residents (many of whom prefer the privacy of their own estates when taken ill).
Rumour suggests a group of Adventurers was allowed to enter the district, but were not allowed back out again until they had been given the all clear by the Order of St. Sollars. Rumour also speaks of an altercation between the group and the local guard detail enforcing the quarantine; future groups of adventurers may find stricter barriers on entry due to the ruckus caused.
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Rumours abound surrounding a strange occurrence at the Gaol!
In the dead of night, two Defenders broke into gaol to execute all inmates.
No, no. A Defender and a gnome went in to kill the guards.
No, no. The gnome was the culprit, everyone knows those guys can't be trusted. The Defenders went in after him.
Pish posh. A Defender blew the lock off the door to get at yet another traitor trying to help convicts escape, the gnome being one of them.
One thing is certain. A dozen guards worth of reinforcements went down there, and the name Sam Brine was on their lips.
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A quiet rumor surfaces, woman with bruising around her nose like she had tried to dive into pavement, and wet like she'd taken a bath in full adventuring gear, trudges south on the road to Norwick. When a passerby to Peltarch inquiries she forces a smile and claims with a uniquely positive voice, "Lovers quarrels! Oh dont worry, I won, carry on.."
A much less quite rumor circulates originally from Norwick's Grapevine Inn but spreads north. Raazi drunkenly talks results of the recent tournament with the locals. Eventually the tournaments host, Cormac becomes the center topic. "He brought a couple nice ladies from The Maid the other night to th' commons in Peltarch to try to get a reaction out o' me. Normally I'da just make him feel silly and take his girls but, I got all jealousy and melted his brain like any woman would do. I Raazi-fried him- hope I never see him again.." which like, super kills the, like, vibe at the inn and Raazi leaves town for the night shortly after.
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*Rumors abound within the city commons as famous warrior-skald is set straight. It is whispered here and there that after his advances were rejected by the woman Raazi, that Cormac had grown impatient and violent - perhaps owing to his newfound sense of entitlement after being touched by the hand of King Thalaman himself - and that he struck the woman down with a sharp blow to the face and left her bloodied on the ground. They say he only withdrew once a kindly Legionnaire stepped forward and drew her sword on him; sending the big woman-beating coward to flight where he crashed into and destroyed the sundial.
Various reports make their rounds on what happened next, though each concludes in Cormac being splayed out with his arms outstretched, a dagger through each hand to pin him down and Raazi standing on his back screaming down at him in some Devil/Witch speech with the barrel of her blunderbuss pressed against the nape of his neck. KABLAMM!! The blast throwing her back into the mud, and when the smoke cleared - misfire? The shot that was supposed to blow Cormac's head off had instead left a bloody stump where his talented hand used to be. Raazi is reported to have been in the process of reloading - no doubt to finish the job - when the merciful Legionnaire Thau'lira grabbed the dazed man by his shoulders and dragged him from harm's reach... perhaps some lucky Cormac-fingers being retrieved from the wreckage, the rubble, and the carnage...
Another version of the story tells of Cormac complaining in recent days passed about being assaulted on his way to the city by a pack of werewolves. Animated tales of how he bit Thau'lira's leg after stumbling into the sundial make the rounds, of how he left teeth marks and crushed her plated shinguard with his unnatural lycanthropic bite. And aren't there teethmarks on her shinguard? And wasn't the dagger that pinned his hand made of silver? And didn't they drag the mad beast to the Moonmaiden's temple afterwards?
Another version of the story suggests Raazi had started out the evening making fun of Cormac, that she'd been poking and probing at him and calling even his 'blood' worthless, to the point where the man finally snapped and went berserk as his ilk are wont to do, thus leading to the events that transpired.
Whatever truly occurred, Cormac hasn't been seen since. Some say he's locked in a cell beneath the lighthouse temple where he's being cured of his werewolfs disease. Others claim he's simply in hiding, embarrassed at Raazi's rejection. One or two whispers tell of how he actually died of his wounds and was dumped in the lake to cover the murder up, that it's a conspiracy bred by those jealous or fearful of his closeness with the Crown....*
