::New rumours heard in the Mermaid::
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Of all the places in the city, Taria can be seen prowling about the orphanage near the docks. Wearing her armor and cloak with her hood up as usual, she nonetheless spare a few giggles for the orphans. From time to time she gives them a few coins or little tin soldiers she's crafted.
Those that take the time to watch her would notice she is weary, possibly stressed. the giggles don't come as free as usual, seeming a bit forced even. She keeps a wary eye on any adults approaching the orphanage, and tenses whenever she hears the word party.
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Caling will happily recount (for the price of a decent elven wine) the brief tale of how this Woman of Dark Intent and Grim Demeanour called upon the darkness itself to lay the Gondar low. It was only her forbearance that allowed him to rise and heal himself after the smothering and insidious ravages of Dark Energies had crackled over his form.
Later embellishments feature the Gondar's lack of eloquence in challenging Zara followed by much whimpering and crying after the experience, and a (slightly inconsistent if carefully compared) description of Caling's vantage point as unconnected observer.
Zara the Dark also froze the hapless minor adventurer (maybe a man called Ludo? Shudo? Something like that) in his tracks, when he attempted an ill-advised solo assault upon her person on the ramparts.
She will conclude this frightful tale with an uplifting observation that Selune's light will banish all darkness, as it did at the Creation, and we shouldn't be too concerned for jumping at Shadows.
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_Shadows once more appeared in the city, creeping out of every dark corner of the commons. It began in the dead of night with noted Black Sail Sabre Seesaw stumbling into the Mermaid, spreading wild stories of the ghastly creatures popping out of thin air outside. The wild-eyed sailor lass found few to take her seriously until priestess Daisy showed up. After a private chat with the Tyrran, Sabre left the inn looking in a dreadful state, face pale and worn and her step heavy.
Not long after the first incident, shadows once more filled the nooks and crannys around the Peltarch commons, this time witnessed by several townsfolk, including Sabre, Mercy, Dentin Strauss and a male adventurer of lesser renown. The shadowy creatures did not appear openly hostile, yet filled many with dread and repulsion. Attempts made by the Gondar priest to banish the shadows proved futile, and after some time a large shadow distinguished itself from the rest. Pointing to Sabre, it beckoned her. She followed, the group trailing after her until they reached the city's outer wall. Here the shadow vanished and angry words were exchanged with a mysterious woman in black standing ontop of the ramparts, before a compact darkness fell and powerful magic crackled. When the darkness lifted, Dentin lay on the ground near lifeless and the mystery woman was nowhere to be seen. Cursing loudly at the Gondar, Sabre and Mercy left the scene, joined by the elf Caling._
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A spectacle was made in the commons when a loud old half-orc refused to present documentation of his citizenship to a Magistrate during a transaction upon a routine check in the Commerce District. The rather loud interaction continued for some time and after a near-arrest made by a guard, the half-orc finally presented the papers, however was still fined for the mispronunciation of Peltarch whilst making his case. The argument continued for some time after.
Rumor also circulates that the half-orc was wearing Divine Shield regalia.
Some time afterwards, guards come to the commons with a wheelbarrow and haul of a huge sum of gold apparently left by the half-orc. Instructions then follow that the half-orc can reclaim said gold by stopping by the guard house.
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_Rumor on the docks is that a ship drifted to shore near the city, running around and ripping open its hull. Those who investigated found the pale, twisted bodies of the crew strewn about the deck… but before they could find more, they were startled into flight by a black-armored vampire that appeared from belowdecks. They ran for their lives, and shortly afterwards flame consumed the ship.
Supposedly the undead fiend is now stalking the land, seeking to lure away travelers to some lonely spot in order to feed on them._
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The purple hin is seen every so often hanging around the taverns and inns casually asking for information on the recent murders. He seems curious though all questions are asked in a friendly manner, rather than that of an interogation.
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Shadows and a masked woman in black have been spotted in the commons and the Civic District. At least one guard as been killed during the disturbances. The Knights of the Cerulean Star have been called into protect the Jewel from this new threat. While little is known about the woman by the general populace - "Shar" is not too far from the lips of the tavern-goers telling of the incident.
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MURDER IN PELTARCH!
Rumors - hushed and shouted alike - are bandied about in the taverns. Four lives have been taken in all, and each that of a Bloodspider. Three were found dead in the docks; one killed in plain view in the marketplace. But what's this? The proported killer seems to wear their colors as well. Guards can be seen walking with hurried gait from the docks to the jail and back as investigations are directed by magistrate.
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Jeremy has been seen struting around town in a very exquisite and expensive looking suit of full plate. Any veteran travellers to the east would recognise it as Thayan Full Plate, a very well designed and made one at that.
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It's unsubstantiated as yet, but apparently the Headmaster of the Bardic College has added once again to his distinguished career by slaying a dragon!
Obviously it's not as impressive a dragon as the Rass the Magnificent. However, stories of how Sharn the Wily has bothered the less impressive urbanizations of the south Nars pass with an accumulation of goblin and giant warbands have been filtering north for a while.
((Thanks to Nilla, Andelas, Scutum and Coann for DMing and the many many players that slogged through the mammoth and rather tense expedition))
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Rumour spreads that Mecizq has been looking into the Libraries for information on Dragon Hordes. Regardless of the Truth of the rumour or not, Mecizq certainly has been seen about the city in any library open to the public investigating something.
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_The foreign priest known as Micah Shilon has been spotted recently in the docks district. It seems he was reading a notice outside the Morticians, and afterwards headed into the building, not emerging for some time.
Those in the area say that when he did eventually leave, he was muttering excitedly to himself in that strange garbled tongue of his, and then headed off to the Civic district for gods knows what purpose._
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*Guards at the western gates are informed that a creature that looked like a giant floating eye, a beholder, was spotted northwest of Peltarch.
It is reported that it was headed in the direction of the Menhir, but the witnesses didn't stick around long enough to find out what it was doing…*
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People talk of kobolds attacking the town for the first time in years. The assault, however, was met by several patrol groups of Military personel and it's said that the kobolds were fought off without any losses. People also mention a huge kobold, as tall as a giant making demands on the city and then walking off in a huff with the word destruction on his lips.
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A group of weary adventurers, just recently returned from the underdark were most shocked by the sudden and unexpected sight of the ghost of Frago Tilldock in the Peltarch commerce district.
Assumed to have fallen in the capture of Norwick, he had not been seen since that unhappy day. Obviously his spirit has some unfinished business…
Unable to communicate with him, he soon disappeared in a bolt of lightning with more questions left behind him than answers.
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When Grubrod nips into the Mermaid for an evening tincture of elf wine, he passes quietly by the boisterous crowd, finding a free corner. He eyes then with a slight frown, he clears his throat and smiles ever so slightly if any catch his eye, but he fidgets with his glass clearly feeling uncomfortable in their presence for some reason. Those watching him will see that he stares at the more prominent patches of filth on them, as if willing them to disappear. He leaves his seat sooner than usual that evening, leaving his glass half finished, muttering something about washing his hands.
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A group of adventurers is seen entering the Mermaid and ordering stacks upon stacks of pancakes. They are covered in dirt, exhausted, and obviously famished but all seem in very high spirits as they are overheard cheering and laughing often.
Shortly after they part the Mermaid, a hunter comes in commenting on how he was out hunting in the Eastern Plains just outside Peltarch and saw the strangest site!
_"Dere be dis huge flyin creature, most likely a Griffin cause it was a lion wiff wings and a eagles head, came outta da skies and landed nay more than fifty strides from meh! On da back O'it was dis ghostly looking person.. wearin a ghostly dress so I figures it prolly a female. Well den dat Griffin lands and dat ghost lady dun get off O'it I see's it start to change… a hideous sight until finally dis short skinny man, prolly one of dem elves is left standin dere puttin on armour wiff Legion colours! I dun know what dey was up to but dey heads together into Pelt!"
"Aye, I let them through the gate", says a Peltarch Guard as she sips on a warm cup of tea. "Apparently the ghostly woman was in trouble and needed help. She said her appearance was due to a spell and ye know, with all the things we see round 'ere I nay thought much of it and let em through."_
"There was an elf here earlier eating pancakes.. wore Legion colours as well. I recognized him as the Healer from Norwick. A good man he is… ate a couple stacks o' pancakes he did! Seemed pretty happy bout something.. perhaps that be the same guy.", stated a burly fellow slopping at a mug of beer in the corner.
"Well, if they needed safety here in the City they didn't need it long as I saw a group of them all head South not long after they finished their pancakes. That's good, we don't need trouble here in Peltarch, they can take their trouble down South where the trouble needs to stay!" exclaimed a bartender stocking bottles behind the bar.
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Telli smacks Bagnar in the chest after hearing said rumour…Oi... yuh hears dat... more kobolds dens normals... deys must knows abouts our plan ta open un tavern... we gots some more cleanings outs ta do...quickly drags him off into the plains to look for lizards to whap
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Defender Lieutenant Scott Tyloran issues a public warning to all who travel west into the spires that Kobold activity has increased alarmingly lately, and that while the city walls have not been assaulted, travellers in the spires are far more in danger of being ambushed and robbed of their lives than usual. In the Taverns some hillwanderers who used to go out for morning strolls grumble that the kobolds are behaving far more intelligently than the little pests usually do, some talk about the couple of strollers who haven't returned with grim faces.
The Lieutenant goes on to assure folk that he is stepping up patrols in the spires, to hopefully curb this problem.
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In the light of the recent acquittal of the Black Sails, a stouty turd-faced Umberlite dwarf has been seen taking a gloating turn about the Docks district, laying her blessings and threatening storms to come on the Lake's fishing fleet to all those to fail to pay the Maiden mete respect tae be worthy o' her sparin' yer filthy flea bitten hides, de ye savvy ye git-faced troll worrier? To any asking about her crew's judicial finding, she slaps on a grin and barks:
"Argh, well, it just done goes to show, don't it, that the Bloodie Spiders be as rum a band o' coves as e'er put in our filthy excuse fer a port, an' Umberlee ha' they buggers in her beady eye fer ripe destruction, says I wi' a wanion. Mark me word an' the kraken else, says I!"
In the more salubrious parts of the Jewel, Grubdrod Scudd, advisor to Senator Mariston Thel is growing a familiar, albeit diminutive face in the market. Busily purchasing his morning fruit supply, Grubrod is keen to bend any ear that he may, commenting on the acquittal:
"See what good justice Peltarch disposes? Even a band of wretched lawless scallywags like the Sails are treated fairly. If they are not guilty, we set them free. What a blessing to live in such an upright and law abiding state."
Responding to any questions regarding the absence of the Talon Guard, and Peltarch's weakened military position, Grubby's eyes twinkle and his partial smiles become avuncular.
"Not all Peltarch's forces march in regiments. You mark my word, lad, the city is well protected by more than it's thick walls. The Senate have seen to that."
Pressing the pennies into the seller's paw, Grubrod tucks his fresh fruit in a small, somewhat feminine bag, arranging them so as not to bruise the small but perfectly formed loaf he purchased further down the market way. Soberly, and without haste, he strolls back to his lodgings, and breaks his fast with a respectably small feast, with a pat of butter and a scraping of jam before embarking on the work of the day.
