Whispers at the Fire
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The scent of death has been slowly growing in the Rawlinswoods. Many of the animals appear to be very uneasy and skittish.
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It seemed a pleasant enough night, when a group of four… a lady paladin, an antlered man, a roguish woman and an elven wizard made their way into the woods. They returned much later, badly bruised and tired. They were apparently arguing about some stones and portals_. It seems the bard woman requested a stone be given to her, but the paladin and the wizard seemed adamant about not giving her one._
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Another bag filled with goblin ears was brought into Norwick by a skinny, pale wizard in green and black robes, and offered to Lucidious. Upon his request, it was incinerated, after which the two of them went into the Norwick Town Hall, where they spent some hours talking.
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Lucidious spends several days visiting homes and farms in and around norwick looking for the parents of a young girl who went missing several tenday past (( using a description given to him by William )). The girl’s body was found recently and he wishes to give his condolences to the parents personally. He also seems set on knowing the girl’s name so that proper burial rights can be performed.
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Rumour has it that Captain Deacon Sterr of the Black Sails has a new love in his life. Strange as it may seem, a colourful parrot turned up in Norwick and eventually settled itself on the captains shoulders. Presumably unused to the harsh climate, the exotic bird complained about the "farkin' cold" and ended up getting its own room at the Boarshead, curtesy of captain Sterr.
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The knight of Sune, Lady Caling, is impressed at the organisation of the Militia officers camped out on the hill and takes it upon herself to make frequent deliveries out there of sundry luxury items like spiced wine, pastries and her own scintillating presence to make the bleak hillside slightly more bearable.
'I can remember many's the time I was glad of lads like you at the gates to the Rawlins. I hope all who travel near the crossroads appreciate what you're doing for them.
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A teary eyed hin was spotted walking out of town. He was whispering to himself as he walks and by the appearance of him he must have been praying. But none of the people spreading the rumours seem to know why he was praying, or perhaps, for whom.
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Hearing of yet another repelled attack on the Jewel of the Rawlins, Dwin hands each of the involved Militia guards an extra little pouch of coin, and thanks all of the folks that helped defend the town by passing out ales and badger-jerky.
It truely says sumtin about Nor'ick that all these folks travel from far and near to help protect 'er. Tis a proud time in this history of our lil "mudhole".
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The heroic knight of Sune, Caling, was also steadfast in her defence of the town she more frequently calls a 'joyless mudhole'. With sublime archery, flashing blades and a startling facility with snares and traps once the gate fell, she held back off the bugbears with the aid of such stalwart warriors as Sgt. Kelben, Rando and Strauss.
Just don't ask her about the horrific mess that went on in the woods prior to that…
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_A somewhat strange sight was the Defender officer who, despite recent words in Peltarch, was fervently aiding in the defense of the south gate.
He seemed to bear no ill will to either town, citizens or militia, risking his neck several times to get a shot at the bugbear arcers which were far more than a nuisance, being responsible for 3 defender deaths.
Rumours speak that at one point, he even sacrificed bolts that had the power of lightning enchanted on them, saying "I too have my tricks" as he fired._
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*Rando is seen with other Militia members standing in amongst the dead Bugbears sword in hand, armour and sword covered in blood, but with a smile on his face.
He was seen laughing at one stage when contry to the orders given to hold the gates, the priest Dentin ran out of the gates only to run back shorty later near dead after encountering a bugbear.
After the battle Rando pats a few of the brave defender on the back with words of thanks for their efforts.*
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_The last goblin and bugbear attack was not like the others. They came in larger numbers, swarmed over the walls in some places, and left several of the heroic defenders dead.
It is also said that the force that traveled out into the east woods to investigate found goblins fighting each other. Clearly something is going on in the Rawlins._
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After rumours of a woman's murder in the Rawlinswood, and terrible screams, spread, a large group of adventurers headed out into the forest to investigate, only to be assailed by massive amounts of goblins. Details seem rather vague, though at one point the main portion of the group returned to Norwick, to arrive just in time for a large-scale attack on the town by bugbears and goblins. Some say that the goblins were fleeing something, rather than attacking. Other whisper of drow, and yet others speak of an incident involving Rando and an undead.
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Over the next few tenday, William and Lucidious spend a few hours each morning sitting on benches in the town square studying together. William at first seems a bit lost, simply reviewing text and listening as Lucidious attempts to explain basic semantics of elvish. After a tenday of lecture they begin to walk around Norwick each morning rather than sitting in study. As they walk, Lucidious motions to things they happen to pass … people, buildings, animals and the like, then speaks a phrase about them first in common, then in elvish. He has William repeat, then uses the example to explain a rule of semantics in the elvish language. In time, the two can be seen strolling about Norwick having conversations solely in elvish, with Lucidious correcting him less and less each day.
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During the recent town attack, the two helping Banites seemed to be as much of a nuisance as a help.
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_Zoma is often seen dropping by the Shrine of Dawn in a burnt out, exhausted state and remain inside for days.
One he leaves the place, he is usually found in a better looking shape but still exhausted nonetheless.
He is also often asking around for Rith's availability whenever he resides there._
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_Recently the Advisor came to the aid of a traveling merchant under attack by goblins just inside the walls of the south gate. The gates had been left wide open and the guards missing from their posts, allowing the goblins to wander into town unchecked. On seeing this, the advisor changed himself into a troll expecting to find a goblin army massing for an attack. Instead he and the merchant found only found a few small goblins who had strayed too close to the gate. Seems the advisor in his monstrous form had at them anyway with an almost childlike glee, leaving little more than a pile of goblin parts behind.
With the gate shut and the area safe, he shifted back to elf form only to be instantly stricken with a fit of coughing and then … uncontrollable drooling. Seems the elf could only calm himself by dunking his head in the nearby stream, dowsing himself with cold water. Afterward the elf seemed quite shaken and a still a bit ill as the two made their way to town hall to finish discussing business over a few drinks._
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A recent attack by bugbears ended on a somewhat strange note. After the adventurers had fought back a final wave of the beasts, a lone bugbear approached them. Adressing "the great pumpkin", apparantly a man known as Arandor, the bugbear offered peace to the town in exchange for Arandor agreeing to marry the chieftains daughter. Dismayed at the polite decline of said offer, the furry critter then stalked off to inform his boss of the answer. Any consequences of the refusal remain to be seen.
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_Once upon a night an elven bard was telling a story about the defeat of the Eastlanders and just when he began describing Atol a horde of undead corpses staggered through the southern gate of Norwick. Some of the present adventurers, apparently had taken the time of storytelling for a quick nap, while everyone else was listening curiously to the story and not paying them any attention. But a few were ready to grab their weapons and beat up the zombies.
After the initial small force, more and more corpses rose and attacked, falling to swords and hammers and arrows of the heroic adventurers. The battle raged for a long while through the night, a servant of a human god taking down bigger and bigger corpses, aided by an elf and a halfling, while a small group of two humans and two elves valiantly fought off the marching armies of smaller corpses. In the end, it was only an elf who fell, even before an extraplanar creature appeared, taking the form of a small girl, taunting those present and throwing powerful magic around. It wasn't until sunrise, that she or rather it disappeared again, leaving the tired heroes behind, wondering what it was or what it wanted.
The elven bard and his human friend shared little more information than that it was an outsider. Displaying their generosity they also brought back the fallen elf and then they disappeared._
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_It's the talk of the day. Many people bow their head in new respect to the guard standing quietly, and dutifully at the southern gate. Where others have failed, he persevered. After a half-hearted attempt of goblins to storm Norwick which was thwarted by a group of quick thinking adventurers, among them once more the lady knight and squire of the divine shield. But soon after the ladder had been destroyed, a drow snuck into Norwick. And where other guards would have fallen, this guard lived. And fought back. Aided by some adventurers he helped chase down that drow, even delivering the final blow that killed the vile beast.
Later the corpse of the drow was found burning to ashes near the small lake. Further drow activity is reported from the western woods, apparently a small force of goblins were brutally massacred while they huddled around a stone which had been enchanted to provide magical light._
