Whispers at the Fire
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_Lieutennant Cyrian of the norwick Militia was heard to have been spotted in the near east wood fighting off a number of minitaurs like creatures, along with some very feral looking goblins, he was severely wounded, and it appeared he had been doing battle for a long time as the forest was littered with corpses, a group of people arrived at the scene and immediately came to his aid, shortly after thousands of goblins rushed from the deep east woods and attacked the group, everyone fought bravely killing the goblins by the hundreds, eventually more minitaurs and tougher goblins joined in the battle, including clerics, casters, and very heavily armored goblins and minitaurs, Cyrian was able to stand up the the masses despite the goblins efforts, he was able to take down many of the minitaurs and tougher goblins being forced to consume many potions and berries used for healing, as the odds became overwhelming the group began to fall back until it was just Cyrian, the sorcerer Ronan, and a large Black Panther (Tindra) eventually everyone had fallen back to safety with many goblins in persuit, Cyrian was flanked and his escape cut off as he fended off two of the minitaurs, as his last bit of strength failed him and all his healing consumed he drank an emergency invisibility potion and fled the battle limping heavily, as the battle moved on he slowly made his way back towards town while concealed magically. . .however luck was not on his side today, as the caster Ronan ran around the corner towards where Cyrian was last seen a minitaur cleric appeared out of nowhere casting a hammer of the gods on the sorcerer, Cyrian standing near a patch of trees nearby and still invisible was caught in the blast of the spell and was killed instantly…
rumor has it that his body was either never recovered, or that after it was recovered somehow it managed to go missing again..._
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Albryanna, along with Lieutenant Locrian Danister and several other militia-men, were seen taking the familiar face of Keiji Kusari to the Norwick jail. He was charged with persistant mocking of the militia and planned attemps of assaults on the militia trainee Vescar. While in the jail, Lilin informed the militia that a painting had been stolen from the Chancellor's personal quarter. Shortly thereafter, Locrien led Albry to the Great Hall. Those who followed, or perhaps heard from his raised voice, witnessed his accusation on Albry for forgetting to lock the Chancellor's quarters door leading to the reason for the stolen picture, only to be informed , to his surprise, that is was in fact Ronan Redralen and Amy (Beautiful Woman) who has left it open. Followed by the trainees, they were seen marching towards all possible areas of which Ronan might be. They returned many hours later, seeming unsuccessful in their search.
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A mighty storm draws over Norwick, axes, cows and other items fall from the skies, forcing people to take refuge indoors. After the storm a gnome and a hin come into town asking that any stray axes that have been dropped by the storm be gathered. "Mustn't let the children play with such dangerous object"
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Rumour has it that the militia trainee Ezachiel hasn't been seen in Norwick for over a week now. Other rumours say that he has been pressed into service as a guard in the Gypsy Camp for some offense, and that he's been standing on a ridge overlooking the Nars pass for all that time, not being allowed to leave the spot he's standing on. No one knows when he might return, even though it looks like Norwick might be able to use his magic, with the recent attacks.
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The grape is overheard telling the guards to watch for goblin assassins. It would seem they are out in large numbers. He makes sure to emphasize the power of assassins, especially when in groups of five. He seems to be talking from experience, or perhaps he's overrating himself as a sneak? Eh, doesn't really sound like him…
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After a closed door meeting in the Town Hall between the Chancellor, Advisor, and Commander of the Militia rumours abounded of a seemingly pleased Advisor and Commander exiting the Chancellor's office and the Chancellor himself seeming a bit distraught but otherwise calm.
The town herald Fendon mentioned seeing a servant girl entering the hall just after the meeting came to a close. Apparently Calendel confronted the servant who indicated she was there to clean the windows. After letting her proceed with her chores Calendel shortly came back out of his office and, running into the Chancellor re-entering the Hall indicated to the Chancellor that the servant girl was cleaning the windows in his office. The Chancellor replied "Oh good good" at which Calendel further stated "Sir, your office doesn't have any windows!". Fendon then saw them along with Harmony run into the office. Right behind them a young girl ran into the Hall bleeding and bolted straight into the Chancellor's office, shortly thereafter the Chancellor, Harmony, the girl and a bark covered Umberhulk emerged from the office at full speed. Citizens recall seeing Harmony, the girl and the Umberhulk run out the South Gates and after meeting Juster there the even larger group headed out into the East Rawlins.
Rumours have spread that upon the parties return along with a new member, Briar, that Briar and Calendel were knocked unconcious and captured by goblins and nearly cooked in a pot full of water before managing to escape!
Rumour also has it that before they were captured and the reason for the party running into the woods was to recover the body of Locrian Danister who was killed while battling an Umberhulk. Some wonder if it was the same Umberhulk that left the Town Hall or if that was just the Advisor taking unusual forms around town again.
Upon his return to town, people say, Calendel carried a small red servants dress that is rumoured to have been left out in the East Rawlins. He also was overheard mumbling to himself something about a Goblin Order or Cult or something…
Any way you look at it, the town has had much to talk about lately.
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_Howls were heard in the western woods one beautiful day. Soon after the howls, four figures came from the west to the southern gates. One was a badly scratched noble woman in fine red robes, her face with a look of shock on it. Another was a young elven woman, carring a badly wounded and unconsious white haired male mage. The last was the militia woman, known as Albryanna.
Thanks to the healings from a cleric of Tempus, the ones who were injured are still alive. Though, the white haired mage and the noble woman seemed to be missing some of their fingers. The male sorcerer, after he was healed, looked incredibly angry and upset, stomping off to the healers with a quick pace.
What happened next is unknown to onlookers._
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_Norwick is seen, to be facing the ravages of time in this period of unrest. Already the morale of the commoners of Norwick are at their lowest point for after the war ended, a moment of respite and peace they are unable to savour.
Undead and goblins remained a threat to the town currently, in the midst of rebuilding. But it did not end here.
Demons.
People whisper in tone, one of recognisable fear that the demons had return to to haunt Norwick. For one faithful night, it all began with an encounter of gnomes attacking Norwick, with reasons unknown to all why they did. Pursued the gnomes the brave Legions, militia and adventurers did, into the northern rawlins.
Once the gnomes were slain, the group returned to town, only to be followed quickly with a horde of demons attacking Norwick out of nowhere!
Cries of horror.
Cries of death.
Cries of courage.
All the kind of cries one would made, in the face of death, all can be heard.
It was indeed a bloody battle, with many fell onto the onslaught of the horde, the horde that came from the darkness of the woods. The horde that do not belong in this world. The horde that only exists, in the imagination of many. The demon horde.
But the bravery held by the defenders of the town, be it the Legions, be it the Militia or be it simple adventurers. The blood they shed, the fear they were willing to embrace eventually returned with victory.
Victory it was!
The demon horde were slained and pursued the brave men and women did into the rawlins where the demons came from, in form of a endless flood they were.
Days passed, nights came. The time spent by the defenders who stayed behind the mostly defenceless Norwick be a moment of unease and uncertainty. Waiting they did, for the return of the brave adventurers from the rawlins, or simply the return of the demon horde.
Bless them in the end! Bless them all, for no demons returned, only worn and weary, but brave and chilvarious men and women stride back into the town, from the dark rawlins they had entered days ago. A victory! But one that is not without a sacrifice. One had fell amongst their rank, a fine hunter he was.
With an air of somberness, all returned into the town with their fallen. A victory, but one that is not without heavy costs. Many fell, and their sacrifices managed to buy Norwick, at the very least a moment of peace and respite for the time to come.
Norwick now as we see, falls into a dark future. One of uncertainty in the times to come._
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Rumour has it that the Banite halfer Grak was beaten into submission by militia trainee Ezachiel, and tossed into a jail after, according to some, Grak pushed Ezachiel, though not very hard. Some say that Ezachiel first gave him multiple chances to go peacefully, though others might say that he attacked Grak out of nowhere with no warning, letting out an evil laugh all the time, before chopping him into pieces and tossing him outside the gate. Such is the way of rumours about a former Banite.
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The elven Lady Rilia Dedralle was seen at the most recent fight night. Apparently she arrived in high style fit for any court ((cha 27)). She was escorted by one elven male by the name of Celebring. She spoke politely to all there offering encouragement to the bards and smiles of and kind words to others. Rumor has it that many of the men folk were left staring and to keep from distracting people from further festivities she left early.
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Rumour has it that an undead creature of some kind grievously wounded Selene near the north gate, before delivering a cryptic message to Militia Trainee Ezachiel, something about a mistress and a fifteenth Tarrot, before being destroyed by the trainee and the others there.
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_The sign outside the former Boarshed inn that read "For Sale" had been replaced under the Secretary of Norwick's instructions. A pair of militias were seen removing the sign from the ground and hammering in a new one which reads clearly "Sold".
It is not known who had successfully purchased the building for an announcement had yet to be made. Expression of worries were seen on the faces who once worked there, now their future clearly uncertain._
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_Following tremors, a massive explosion centered around the Menhir at southgate, and waves up undead attacking the town, a bedraggled group of citizens led by militiamen Elyl and Wren (with three color-coordinated mages) take the corpse of a local ranger to the Friar's.
Shortly afterwards, the procession (minus the corpse) races out of town to the north.
Rumor quickly spreads than Elyl and Wren have arrested a fugue succubus for Unlawful Corpse Seduction and Crossing a Planar Boundary With Intent To Commit A Felony._
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Z warns folks to keep an eye out for diseased gobbos to the west.
We came across a cart that had been attacked and looted (or someone would have us think that).
When we investigated, we found some vials that caused a disease ta folks that touched 'em. This disease is VERY contagious and seems ta be transfered just by touchin', whether the carrier is livin' or dead. Most of mah group got sick and headed back to Norwick.
Fearin' spread of the disease or, worse, gobbos usin' some of them vials of the disease against the town, I went to Gobbo Hold to destroy the vials and any gobbos I could find, sick or otherwise.
After each kill, I burned the corpse, without lootin'. Sighs Lost a lot of coin there…
Anyway, I searched all of the first level of The Hold and I got rid of all the gobbos I could find. I hope that was enough to stop the disease from spreadin'...
Be careful in the west Rawlinswood and, for now, folks might think about not lootin' gobbo corpses for a while.
Oh, and if you do get diseased, do NOT touch anyone or get near anyone until you're cured. We cannot let this disease spread.
Z
P.S. Hmmm... I wonder who was sendin' those diseased vials to Norwick in the first place??...
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_Rumor has it that a band of adventurers were seen coming out of the West Rawlins, but stopping short of entering Norwick. It could not be heard what they were discussing, but they eventually wandered off to the east, bypassing the town completely.
A little more than an hour later, a cleric of Kelemvor was seen running into town and going into the friar's. It is not known at this time if the two events are related._
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Strange occurrences abound, as a lone girl fleeing Norwick in the dead of night reports that the strange fog plaguing the town seems to have caused at least one half orc to develop cannibalistic tendencies…
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Travellers and foragers in the northwest Rawlins report a slightly diminished goblin presence, and signs of messy carnage. Half-chewed limbs and carelessly flung bits of the corpses are strewn around, until the usual woodland scavengers and carrion-eaters start the cleanup.
Prompt and competent trackers might note large paw-prints, probably wolf in origin.
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:Maythor looks at Mercy then at Lucid: Pasteeeclam's fer kids? :drops his ale and walks out of the boarshead:
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_For reasons unknown, your favourite dwarven priestess of Mercy has elected to make several conspicuous visits to Norwick of late, installing herself in the Boarshead bar. In addition to her garish seashell armour, Mercy seems to have acquired a helmet to match.
The purpose of her trip, however, is not to show off her snazzy duds but to boast of the Chancellor, Lucidious' accomplishments. Whether to lift the mood after the collapse of Lathander's shrine - which seems unlikely - the bloated, toad faced priestess entertains listening locals by reiterating "The Saga of Rando's Throat" presenting the Chancellor as a heroic, fell-handed figure, Rando a snivelling ingrate who begs for his life before the elven official, a sneer upon his cherry lips, casts the villain into hell.
Naturally, the tale is filled with significant unnecessary insights - including a torrid romantic liaison between Mercy and the Chancellor as a significant subplot.
For some reason, telling it once seems six times too little and she returns every day of the week, reminding the remaining locals of the dashing and heroic cut of Lucy's gib._
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_Heard the words of announcement Norwick did,
of one a secretary she becomes to the Chancellor it is.
One whom recently returned to Norwick,
since many months she had left.Since then Harmony could be seen at times,
one that is often so in the days to come,
her presence be found near the Chancellor's side.Despite her new role to serve in Norwick,
the modesty and humbleness of hers still remains.
Smiles softly she often does,
one of a blooming flower in spring it resembles,
to all who enjoys her company she will freely give._
