Whispers at the Fire
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Some snow is collected upon the ground at the south gate, and the Rawlins near the town are lightly dusted, as it snows lightly for a couple days, seeming perfectly natural except to those with an affinity for nature magic, who can detect a subtle tracery of intent from the North.
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_The bugbears seem on edge lately, a recent attack by their hands seeing the longevity of the most recent south gates turn to nothing but a memory and splinters galore. A keg will do that…
Are the bugbears aggressive behavior why the more nature-aligned of Norwick's adventurers seem so concerned? Rangers, druids, various friends of the Rawlins seem to gather in small groups for discussion, and if the townsfolk didn't know better, some might be convinced even the trees were listening in._
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A large celebration was heard inside the Grapevine, people leaving later spoke that Young Squire Gian of the Forsworn was actually Knighted and now Tyal is serving as his squire!! Quite the cause for celebration!
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::A peculiar cougar with a reddish tint to her tawny fur has been spotted a few times stalking travellers in the Rawlinswoods, and doesn't even appear like she tries to remain unseen. While she watches from relative distance and doesn't act on any event, her silent, watchful presence can become rather unsettling and is enough to make nervous more than one woodcutter that would be simply gathering some wood for their chimney. Her motives are unknown, but whatever they are, they are harmless enough for now::
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Rumours swirl about an increase in bandit activity, with at least two reports of travellers being ambushed south of the Rawlins lake. An intrepid party of four return to the gates after investigating the second attack, bringing with them an assortment of stolen goods and news of the bandits defeat at their hands.
"We tracked them all the way to the Scar", exlaims a tall, reedy half-elf in green, "and took out footpads, big beefy half-orc warriors and their leader, a robed woman who luckily spent most of her spellpower trying to dispel me! And all the while the wyverns swooped and swiped, it was pretty thrilling!"
The same enthused half-elf continues to relate a tale of Cyricist graverobbers defeated within the Norwick family crypt, before suddenly lifting her face to the sky as a gust of wind tugs at her hair. Seconds later, she's bounding off through the woods, cloak snapping at her back.
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::Another crazy rumour begins circulating about a dryad or some kind of forest creature visiting Norwick south gates. It appears that she took some interest on a red-faced Andrew while Elaine and Rasuil commented the scene between giggles and smirks::
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Other rumours circulate, mostly revolving around the increasingly agitated bugbears of the Rawlins. Yet hope might be found in the fact that despite several onslaughts, the famously fragile south gates are still intact. A more curious rumour even claims a bugbear archer has decided to join the winning side, insisting he's a "oooman friend".
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An amused smirk crosses Raryldor mouth when he hears the rumors, several days after the battle.
_Ah, so the mighty defender swooped in and cleft the beast in twain, shooting fire from her arse and lightning from her eyes. The woman must be ten feet tall! Am I hearing that flowers are growing where she steps now?
It is a pity that one would feel that glory need by gained by twisting the truth so._
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_::Says the rumour that an undead creature of some kind came by Norwick's gates when an elf known as Raryldor shot a few threatening words to it, prior to attacking it. The creature defended itself with great skill forcing the elf to become invisible and use the safety of his invisibility to summon several huge earth elementals to attempt to destroy the undead creature. But one by one all the elementals were defeated by the undead, and eventually the elf saw himself knocked unconscious.
The elf was being tossed about like a rag doll and things looked grim for him, but just when the undead creature was about to deal its killing blow, the Peltarch Defender Shallyah came in leaping, saving the elf's life and destroying the undead creature with two quick cross cuts from her dark runed axe. The thin adventurer known as Willow quickly came in as well along with other adventurers to the aid of the elf, tending to his grave wounds best they could.
Meanwhile, out of nowhere appeared the undead's master. A necromancer of great power that sent several waves of shocking pulses towards the gathered group. Some of the adventurers were struck in place, paralyzed and spasming from the strong electrical attack. However, the white-haired Defender managed to avoid the lightning with her own lightning reflexes to remain unscathed, and dashed towards the necromancer that now turned on his heels, attempting to flee.
A pursuit began as the necromancer attempted to use his magic to avoid the warrioress' ceaseless chase. But where the necromancer used a Haste spell, the warrioress had a Haste spellcrystal for herself. Where the necromancer used an Invisibility spell, the Defender had True Sight.
Eventually, the warrioress' superior physical condition brought her to the vile spellcaster, and her axe met his flesh in a clean and devastating hit. At this point the mage saw himself cornered and bullied, and tried to desperately cast one last spell. As the Defender went in for the kill, the necromancer shrank, the axe just missing his head. This left the Defender out of balance for just one second which the spellcaster, now in the shape of a raven, utilized to fly away to safety into the dark sky and over the hills near Norwick's graveyard.
Unfortunately the necromancer escaped this time, but upon returning to Norwick it appeared like none of the adventurers assaulted by the necromancer and his vile pet were killed either - although some of them looked like they'll need some time to recover from the severe beating and shock damage that they were victims of::_
[Approved by DM Paella]
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Rumors speak of an explosion at the southern most gate, then Eilonna guiding a fevered and sick looking Elessar into the temple of Cheauntea, when checked the gate is intact and the guards are left scratching their heads.
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@748a361990=ClownBaby:
The loud music of kettle drums and dwarven shouts of celebration echoing in the Hold can be faintly heard through Norwick. The celebration lasts for several days. Anyone who stepped into the Hold may have noticed a drunken Brumir dancing half naked in the commons wearing a great helm.
While dancing like a mindless drunk, Brumir shouts something in the direction of Beorn
"Oy Beorn, ye have fun doin' all dat borin' paper work! Da only thing paper be gud fer is wipin' me underside!"
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The loud music of kettle drums and dwarven shouts of celebration echoing in the Hold can be faintly heard through Norwick. The celebration lasts for several days. Anyone who stepped into the Hold may have noticed a drunken Brumir dancing half naked in the commons wearing a great helm.
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There was some kind of ruckus in the Norwick trade hall. There were Dwarves shouting, a scantily clad female figure fleeing from the building, and a small red dragon flying away.
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Raryldor and young Eilonna are seen by the Grapevine arguing in common over the value of friendship, namely hers between Raryldor and the dwarves in general. Raryldor is seen going south while she is seen going North and was she….crying? Some say they spotted the young girl sitting on the dwarven battlements having a hushed conversation with one of the Dwarven guards.
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_The remains of easily two dozen undead dressed in ancient looking rags, hides and robes lie scattered by the south gate, most seeming to have been cut to pieces by a very large, very sharp sword. Not coincidentally, guardsman Cecil is coated with gore as he leaves the scene…
Rumours beyond the obvious remains of the battle may speak of darkness falling, of a headless axeman and a black lion._
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_::A beautiful cougar with big blue eyes and a reddish shade to her tawny fur is seen from time to time hunting in the forests. Rumours speak that this peculiar cougar has been spotted as a ghostly visage, and appears from thin air to kill her prey in the blink of an eye. This sophisticated technique makes her infallible, and some speak of a phase creature such as the known spider variants.
Obviously some folks begin to wonder if this is one of those "intelligent" animals in the forest, but this cougar has not been known to speak at all or even acknowledge the presence of humans in the forest, much as if she was used to them or just not bothered::_
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Prior to the great dragon fright, the more observant of Norwick's denizens may have noticed a large congregation of animals just outside the south gates, everything from wolverine to oxen, chicken and jaguar, deer and hound. A belligerent badger seemed to rally the assembled group with passionate… speeches? Wait, maybe everyone was drunk again?
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_It was a sunny day in Norwick (how unusual) when all hell broke loose. From what people could tell, a giant prismatic dragon swooped into town and landed next to the Shrine of Lathander, and then flew off, carrying off a small, spritely woman.
Maybe it was an illusion?
Maybe everyone was drunk?
In any case, there's no lasting damage to the town, but there sure is a lot of confusion.
The aftermath of this, is an increase in the sale of dragon detecting sticks (will burn up when a dragon is near) and anti-dragon boots (guaranteed to protect you from dragon fire, or your money back)._
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Willow side-steps over to the other guardsman, giving the first a peevish glimpse of a pink tongue-tip. She gives a nod as she listens, smiling brightly.
"I do know, thanks! Ride the wind, friend! Breying ass can stay grounded!"
With that, she darts out a long finger to tap the friendly guardsman on the forehead. A light breeze ruffles his hair as the Endurance blessing courses through his body, filling him with new energy. A second later, Willow is off to the northern gates, humming her tweet song again.
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The surly guardsman blinks hard, leaning back as far as gravity allows before giving the girl a wide-eyed snort.
"Vash't? Whatcha askin' me fer? He don't hardly pass these gates… an' when he does, he rolls in stinkin' 'o' tha woods."
He dares to learn forward just a smidge, giving a little sniff.
"….kinda like you, come ta think it. Prolly out with them Wolves 'o' his... strollin' in here like -they- be the guard-"
"That's enough. Breying ass." The opposing guard pipes up, addressing Willow.
"Excuse him, he's only been on post a couple weeks…. and hasn't encountered the luxury of the Wolves defending the town from whatever southborn scourge, just yet. Vash't gave implicit instructions to send anyone looking for him to the Den. He said that anyone he'd need to hear from would know where that was."
