3. Tavern Rumors of Peltarch

Tavern Rumors of Peltarch


  • Lucy Rhodes, former Defender Captain turn renegade, is dead. The news returning with the troupes under General Gom and alongside the adventurers reportedly spearheading the breaching of the bandit fortress is clear and the mood in general one of relief, if not much celebration. Rhodes is dead by Elizabeth Fisher's own hand, or Reyhenna Jorino as some might have taken to calling her anew, and the threat to the city successfully neutralized. So why no glasses raised in cheers and revelry?

    The answer may lie in those that did not return - in particular one man, disgraced and beloved both. Arch Weyland, who hung from the gallows for his involvement with the traitorous Smoke, accompanied the adventurer contingent to Rhodes' fortress in chains. Noticably, he did not return. Hushed whispers speak of some manner of doomsday device, the firing of which would've set the lands ablaze, stopped short by Weyland's skill with manipulating that element. His longtime partner and fellow Autonomist Berlinne Toews, has yet to comment, and is indeed a scarce sight on the streets in the days that follow.


  • In the midst of a mass of Defender and GFC forces surrounding the Fisher Estate and rumors that a private council meeting heard evidence of Elizabeth Fisher’s illegitimacy, the arrival of a delegation of Siamorphe was cause for a crowd. First guild leaders, then many common folk followed until the estate grounds were too packed shoulder to shoulder.

    After a brief debate on the nature of nobility, the visiting priestess revealed that Herald Thaddeus had fallen from grace with their goddess. She also produced a sealed missive from King Thalaman asking her to confirm that the Princess Elizabeth’s blood was noble through prayer. Though no spell was cast, the priestess declared the princess a fraud, and her delegation was consequently asked to leave the estate.

    Feeling confused and betrayed, the crowd of commoners became hostile, quickly dividing into factions as they demanded answers from all parties. It became clear something big had in fact happened in that private council session a tenday ago, but nobody present revealed more than the rumors already suggested.

    Bottles and more were thrown, tables overturned. A few fist fights broke out. Some of the Goldfish Company seemed ready to return the violence. Responses from royals, city officials, and adventurers varied. Whereas Sebrienne used a thundersome noise to shock the crowd into quieting and Prince Adrian was heard to threaten the crowd, Isolde and Aoth used their words to soothe.

    During the heat of it, the princess and Magistrate D’Arneau argued over who had caused Peltarch more harm, and the two appeared ready to duel when D’Arneau disintegrated a chair. This shocked the crowd, and they began to depart at last. Even the princess’s factionals were urged to return home by her companions. D’Arneau’s parting words were directed at those friends: You all knew.


  • A smattering of rumors briefly cross the taverns of Peltarch. An outlandish story of a public execution of some sort held in the Peltarch Commerce District in the middle of the night. That Raazi, that old nefarious possibly demon possibly not woman of chaos, was killed by Far Scouts within the city walls. But it's absurd. For one, Far Scouts can't be executing people in the streets, that's ridiculous. And for two, Raazi seems alive and well, and was even given a generous dinner by Prince Kasimir, who paid for it out of pocket. Plus, why would Prince Kasimir stand by and watch people get murdered? None of it makes any sense... oh well... the rumors will fade soon enough, like most do.


  • One day, seemingly out of nowhere, bright blossoms sprang up all around the commons, filling the air with a soft, heady floral scent. Butterflies danced, squirrels frolicked amidst rustling leaves and lovers gathered with starry eyes. Sune herself saw fit to smile upon this, the season of love, opinions one particular redheaded bard, but whatever the cause, it seems to bring smiles to just about everyone's faces.


  • "The princess is getting married!"
    "...probably to Cormac - everyone's marrying Cormac these days..."
    "... no, to that Thayan witch with the white hair and that cold stare..."
    "...these Fishers. I tellya, I shoulda stayed in bard college like my old man wanted and gone into the party planning business..."
    "...Thay doesn't have witches, that's Rashemen..."
    "...a cake the size of a mountain. a river of free booze..."
    "...like you're invited? Bess won't have cake anyway. She'll have the bank and the Black Sails in a fighting pit..."


  • *"...yes, but in secret. Married an Elf so they say in some woodland ceremony. Then straight off to Silverymoon..."
    "...a second wife? That's nothing - did you ever meet Uljas? No? I hear he had seventeen!.."

    "...a veritable MOUNTAIN of Winter Wolf hides. I wonder if he's taken up tanning?.."
    "...too soon for another contest I heard him say. But the next one's just around the corner. Yes! Entirely Bardic..."

    "...and then after the tornado, an arrow came out of nowhere - it almost pierced his heart!..."*


  • *"...the cleaning bill was gigantic I'm told. Oil stains, mud everywhere - and the puke? Gods preserve us!.."
    "...just how deep 'are' that beast's pockets anyway? Fully catered, even the most expensive booze. And the prized? Good grief, the prizes!.."
    "...mithral, I heard. Yes the finest imported mithral darts, totally wasted on those drunkards; I heard Elizabeth's is stuck so deep in the basement wall that anyone who can pull it out will be declared the Lord of the Docks District..."

    "...nothing but a loincloth..."
    "...seemed like self promotion. Half of the participants were Kingfisher crew..."
    "...the outfits were nice, but it looked like an excuse to get drunk and get laid..."
    "...and then the fat old scholar backhanded her, it was awful. I couldn't take my eyes off it!.."

    "...has anyone seen my crab?..*


  • "...I don't know what 'Foxy Boxing' is, but it sounds debauched..."
    "...Oooh! Prizes, I wonder if there'll be a ring that looks like an arse. Surely not!.."
    "...I heard there'll be a mountain of coin to the victor. I ought to sign up, Gerald. It's darts my man - darts!.."
    "...sounds like a farkin' costume party. That Cormac lads gone soft. ~Oo-ee, lets play dress up!~, soft git. Arse!.."


  • “Did you hear? That guy who goes by Totally Not Tomi Undergallows was sobbing at the Grapevine Inn! A giant land salmon ate his friends!”

    “Oh, but I heard it was a giant land shark, and a group of intrepid adventurers sold its head to a wealthy gnome couple looking to make a museum display!”

    “Does this have to do with the bounty put out by that creepy shop in the Rawlins? What are they going to do with a mythical land trout!?”


  • "...I heard the Opportunity brought back a cargo hold full of quality meat. Who knows 'where' all that came from..."
    "...Yes, that's right - leapt right out the water with a cutlass clenched in his teeth. Pol said he swung in on a rope just like on the cover of some trash romance novel..."
    "...outnumbered five to one, he slew every crewman and rescued the maidens fair; Gods save us! What a hero!.."
    "...have you seen that beat up old ship that is sharing the Opportunity's mooring? Bloody thing barely qualifies as a 'raft'..."

    "...and then the King stripped him of all his titles.
    Who, Cormac?
    Indeed! Right there in the Commons, right in front of 'everyone'. How embarrassing!
    How embarrassing..."

    "...well if'n ye ask me, which I know none o' ya did, puttin' a 'sir' on some'n like that were downright offensive in t' first place..."
    "...haha, yes! Outranked by a pig again, I wonder if the Crown will take his boat from him now; that's what the bastard gets I say!.."


  • “Hey hey, have you heard? Have you seen?

    That guy, Lancord, I’ve seen him heading toward the beaches lately with this big backpack. Must have one of his weird Gondar inventions in it too, because that bag was wriggling, and squeaking! I swear, I even saw what looked like a wing push through at some point!

    Do you think he’s working on some sort of flying machine? Is Peltarch ready for that?? Ugh, like we need more legislature right now…”


  • *"There's no such thing. Not in this lake, you're talking madness. Dragonturtles indeed! Whatever next?"
    "... and they say he rose up from the waves after hurling an honest to goodness lightning bolt, like some storm-god, and slaying it dead right there in the water!.."
    "Welp. Cormac's gone crazy again. Poor bastard thinks he's the god of thunder-and-sea now. If he's not mad, the sad git needs to grow the fark up!"
    "...shhh, keep it down -- there's a bowl in the hold of the Opportunity, its worth they say could buy a man a nice house to retire in. You didn't hear it from me!"

    "No no, no. It was the First Mate who cast a fireball right down its throat. Fishguts all over the deck, I heard."
    "The Elf, Juniper is the only reason that boats still afloat. I was told yesterday, from a 'reliable' source, that she guided that ship through that great storm out on the lake, 'and' brought those unworthy dogs home."
    "Valisha? Drunk? Never! She's sober as a judge, all of the time. The woman's a credit to her dirty foreigner homeland city".*


  • At another tavern, at another time, Elliott is slumped over a table, nursing what seems to be an alcoholic milkshake?

    “Nono… that’s… I don’t? I’ve never seen a gondola in Peltarch…? N-No! Why would I want to be a Milk Mogul??? …Cost effective advancement? Really, you think??

    Besides, Cormac said it might be a reclaimed Black Sails ship, is that why that guy was talking to the Queen? The Black Sails wanted their ships back, and the crown is trying to get rid of them instead of deal with it? Are we just collateral of some elaborate slight??

    ….Oh, I couldn’t tell you. You really think Thalaman wants Cormac to wear a wolf costume to his party…? Is that why he gave it to him? Captain Wolf, the… entertainment persona?? Oh dear…”


  • Reyhenna, listening to the rumours in the docks, is quite taken with some of them.

    "Two feets make swift fleets, I've definitely heard that one. Four hooved nags make the sails sag, I think that's something Captain Hresh tells every marine recruit," she nodded agreeably, before adding some choice tales of her own.

    "I have been told by the Gondolio himself that the new vessel is a prototype that runs on what he called 'Warmilk', which is any kind of milk that is won in battle. I predict in a years time Admiral Randolph will be the terror of cows across the lake and beyond as he plies the shores to satisfy his battle armada's unquenchable thirst for Warmilk...", she punctuates her remarks by gulping down a pint of milk she so happens to be drinking at the time.


  • An interesting sight for all the dockworkers or visitors to the district as a new ship pulls in. Perhaps the most striking thing about it is the mainsail, which has been stitched to show a likeness of King Thalaman's bust and face. The King appears to be holding up a delicious meat sandwich in one hand and has an expression of delight on his royal face.

    It doesn't take too much longer for the rumors to start trickling through the streets and reaching the ears of tavern patrons and market browsers.

    *"A wolf's head? He's wearing a wolf's head?! Captain 'Sir' Cormac Randolph you say?"
    "...but no horses are allowed on deck. Oh I don't know why for sure, but I reckon it's bad luck as the sayin' goes... two feets make swift fleets, but four hooved nags make the sails sag..."
    "I heard Kasimir call him 'The Wolf of The Sea', isn't that romantic Jenny! JENNY!! 'The Wolf of The Sea~ sigh"
    "They made the brute Captain, you know what that means - blood and piracy! spits into the dirt It'll be war 'fore ye know it. He'll go an' attack some ship - mark ma words!"
    "...the swabby 'and' the Quartermaster?!"

    "The First Mate is dreamy, his red hair - his suspenders, I hear he's an actual Gondsman priest."
    "I heard he wants to gut the boat and build a new shrine to Gond; a temple that floats. Those Gondarians are truly marvelous!"
    "...another bloody fishing boat? These Lantanese foreigners showing up - trying to take arrr jarrrbs?! Over my dead body!"
    "...I heard the King gave the boat to him. Why isn't 'he' Captain? Did that ruffian steal the young chaps boat? Good grief! Someone inform the Guard - nay - the Herald - NAY - THE KING!!!"*


  • "That Cormac's cursed again they say, dear."
    "Hardly newsworthy, darling. Seems every other week there's something wrong with that fellow."
    "Mmmmyes -- lycanthropy, they're saying."
    "Lycanthropy, darling? Surely not."
    "MMmmyes, dear. Turned his hair all white, too..."


  • "Is it just me, or is there more and more smoke coming out of the craft hall every day now?"

    "Well, I think there's been a lot more use since those Gondar showed up. Lambo and Elephant? Probably making kooky things."

    "Oh yeah, the one with the scar said he'd fix those kids' shoes, but I heard he ended up putting springs on them! Now those kids are jumping everywhere!! Beatrice said she saw Veronica bouncing on her roof!"

    "Hey, back on point, I don't think you're wrong. Billy at the docks says the place is louder than usual, and super hot!! That if you stand too close to the doors or windows, you'll be sweaty in an instant!"

    "Well, whatever, I don't want to go near it. Whatever band of misfits is gathered in there lately, It's not my problem. Hey, another round, please!"


  • Of all the mad things that have been rumored to go on around the city this past while, there seems to have been an actual rootin' tootin' gunfight in the Mule during the wee hours of the night. It's likely nothing but gang violence, and surely nobody well known could've been involved if it went down in that dive... surely...

    Perhaps unrelated, though in the same breath, Prince Kasimir and some of the remaining Knights of The Holy Witch might've been spotted rushing back to the palace around the same time.


  • After a very public and heated argument between Cormac and Varya, which drew a crowd in the Commerce District, many people who pass through the taverns talk, jeer and argue over this and that. It's clear there is fallout from their public airing of dirty laundry, and as more people seem to argue about it, the line between what was actually said or implied, and what those who have picked a side proclaim was said, is starting to grow blurry.

    "I heard that Cormac said the paladin has demon potatoes on her farm."
    "I heard that bastard Cormac works with shadows that were popping up all over the place."
    "They said his girlfriend was a demon... maybe that's why he's so angry all the time."
    "Working with the enemy, disgusting, why aren't they in jail?"
    "What if he was behind that big ol' thing that was eating people?"
    "But she's a paladin... who do we trust if not paladins?"
    "If they were involved... who else was?!"

    One can only hope the storm of rumormongering, muttering and arguing about who was right about what will pass. But for now, the talk of the town was that very... very heated argument.


  • In contrast to the children's games, the real Isolde looked considerably more grim as the time to depart finally arrived. She dodged both smalltalk and debates at the Commons, hastily filling her supply bags and walking off with Nate alongside her, her face seeming etched in stone. The party, word has it, gathered at the Witch and Seer for their final preparations. They were last seen heading south, to the Rawlins and the Abyss beyond.