::Rumors heard in the Lucky Ferret::
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It seems a new priestess of Umberlee has wandered off a ship into the city a few days ago, a small woman who seems to be a bit less scary than the previous priestess' known to frequent the docks. Only a few days seemed to pass before she was wearing the colors of the Black Sails and also seemed to have been tossed in jail for a short stay. Courtesy of Guard Captain Fortescue and his mean right hook.
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An evening of drinking and merriment at the Ferret was briefly interrupted by contingent of guards, headed by none other than the grizzled captain Fortesque himself. Tearing herself from the company of new recruit John Isle, and a male exotic dancer wearing nothing but a hat and a loin-cloth, Sabre Seesaw supervised as the captain made an arrest inside the gambling room. After an unconscious nobleman was dragged off by the guards, Fortesque shared a quick drink with the manager before briskly striding off into the night.
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After moving to the city sometime ago with his wife, the Cerulean Knight, Lycka, Aelthas can now be seen patrolling the docks district in full guard armor, organizing the patrols of three other guards as they cover the dark streets of the usually troublesome district.
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_Sabre Seesaw, Black Sails Lt and manager of the Lucky Ferret, catches wind of said rumours as she saunters from the warehouse to the Ferret and twitches, unleashing a long string of colourful sailor curses. In between cuss words best left unrepeated, the attentive listener can hear the black-haired wench muttering doomsday-like remarks about "the Norwick curse" spreading across the lands, adding a sarcastic, yet shuddering comment about spiders being the only thing lacking to complete the horror.
Extra work opportunities are soon available for the burlier of the dock population, as the Lt orders security tightened on both warehouse and the inn, as well as reinforcing window shutters and doors against a possible attack. Paranoid? You bet._
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Several people can be seen and heard talking loudly of bugbear designs on Peltarch, and how they've been seen not far from the city.
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_Word around the docks has it that a rather gruesome murder took place at the Pissing Goat recently, leaving one of the inner rooms scorched with fire marks, and the victim burnt to little more than a pile of ashes. The latter is rumoured to be none other than Windriders Captain Hresh's niece, and certainly the captain himself stormed into the establishment. He was followed shortly thereafter by a pair of Cerulean Knights, joining the Guards already at the scene. Guard Captain Fortesque arrived to the Goat later on, after which a fight seems to have broken out between the guards and a party of Bloodspider witnesses, leaving the latter dead on the floor.
The suspected culprit, described as a bald, foreign man, is by all accounts still at large, having fled the scene prior to the arrival of the guards._
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A certain commotion could be observed at the docks one late night, as an inspection of a ship by three blue-clad Cerulean Knights apparantly lead to a bit of panic. One of the ship's crewmen is said to have jumped overboard, and then to have run the streets screaming about some horrible affliction. Eventually several of the city guard came to the scene, lead by Captain Fortesque himself. After conferring with the knights, the captain launched into a loud tirade and stormed off, leaving his subordinates to settle whatever the real matter at hand was. In the end, one guard remained, restricting all access to and from the ship in question, while the Ceruleans left with brisk, determined steps.
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The slot machines at the Ferret were all out of order for a few days. Whatever was wrong with them seems to have been repaired.
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Rumor has it a boat came into port one night, loaded with foreigners who now seem to be competing with gangs for control of the docks, only these new lads aren't doing it with brawn, but deception and lies.
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Rumors are that a new group has been showing up on the streets of the docks in recent tendays. A strange group of men, typically in extremely fancy garb, wearing actors masks, and carrying fine canes have been showing up on 8th street, the south along the wall, of the Dock District. What exactly their doing loitering on the street either isn't known, or not openly spoke about.
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_Great commotion could be observed lately in the docks district, as large numbers of defenders rushed to the area near the Pissing Goat and the entrance to the sewers. The entire area past the bridge was cut off by the good men and women in green while battle raged in the sewers below. Word has it that large numbers of undead were trying to spill out into the docks proper, but after the first trying onslaught, the sounds of battle seemed to fade out and part of the forces dispatched elsewhere.
A group of five could be observed arguing heatedly with the guards before leaving the area with one of the captains. The same group emerged far later from the sewers, considerably worse for wear and carrying one of their own towards the temple of Tyr._
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A halfling covered nearly head to toe in red, keeping the hood of his cloak up, has been seen in several of the seedier bars in the Docks district, asking if there's any work to be had.
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Rumour spreads of a shipwreck to the north west of Peltarch, and a confrontation between those who sought to rob the survivors, and those who went to aid them.
The Seafarers, specifically one of their leaders May, got into a heated row with Micah Shilon which threatened to turn violent, until the Wavebreakers, led by Hadin turned up, and helped convince May that fighting would not lead to victory for her.
She left in disgust, and the former sailors, now merchants without a ship, entered the city safely.
Several others watched the negotiations, including the headmistress of Spellweaver Keep and several of her companions.
Micah was seen later on the site of the wreck, recovering bodies and shipping them back to the mortuary for embalment and interment.
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Rumors quickly spread of the red wizard known as Thazar has been heard asking many questions of the docks area. More than not whom runs the unions for the dockworkers and whom "controls" the action in the docks area.
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Rumours goes about of a commotion that happened earlier in the docks district. A group of guards was seen surrounding a halfling who identifies himself as Marcus. When asked to be taken in, the halfling struck one of the guards surrounding him and fled the city quickly, and was not seen after again.
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With the arrival of more tribal folk at the college as the days pass it seem that the Headmistress is rushed off her feet. She is often seen heading out organizing provisions for all the visitors, a serious look ob her face replacing the usual irreverant grin. If asked what is going on she manages a small smile and says "Nuthin' more than a friendly gathering of… those with an interest in drumming"
In fact said drumming seems to become a feature of the area close to the College, especially at Dawn and Dusk. The sound of hand and great drums pounding out simple tribal rhythms echoing occassionally in the College square. Being the Commerce district it is usually already well awake by Dawn and busy with business long after dusk, but anyone who -does- complain about the drumming is assured it won't be for long, and that when the drumming stops, there will be action of other kinds.
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Though accustomed to most things lewd and rowdy, patrons at the Lucky Ferret might still have noticed the recent and raucous bouts of near naked boxing down in the pit, followed by quite the drunken binge upstairs. Chief participants in these Ferret festivities are said to be Black Sails members Gurt, Sabre, Taria and Tsu Ma, along with young recruit Laura Arndt and Lucky Ferret Champion Rhyndar.
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A certain red bearded sailor, that some may recognize as the Ferret's door man, has retasked himself to loitering in and around the Bardic College in his free time. Those who frequent the Commons probably don't mind in the least.
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A large group of people consisting of the legion, adventurers of no factions, norwick and peltarch officials including the well known Shannon were seen stepping into a large ship and sailing across into the icelace lake. They were seen retuning days later, looking heavily battered but generally happy. Of note is Just'ene being spotted among the group, looking frail and weak, but generally safe and alive.
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_Sabre and the Ferret crew seem pleased with both the turnout and the activities during the Day of the Axe festival, despite the unfortunate death of Mikhail von Ulgath during the last event of the night. The amiable elderly adventurer seems to have left quite the impression on the staff, who all can be seen wearing a black armband of grief on the following day. A formal letter of condoleances goes out to the Von Ulgath estate, written by Sabre herself.
Results from the evenings contests report first prize in the woodchopping contest going to none other than Mikhail von Ulgath, with the gnome Apoc coming a close second. The main event of the evening featured paired axe fights with nothing but the skimpiest of leathers and simple weaponry. Many a fierce fight took place, loudmouths brawlers like Devlin and Rhyndar perhaps standing out in particular. In the end experience proved the vital factor though, as veteran fighter and Black Sails captain Drelan Ashire stood as the all out victor, having defeated his team mate Locrian for the title of Lucky Ferret Champion.
The flashy golden silk cloak that was awarded the victor seemed not to strike the modest sailor's fancy though, as he announced an all out brawl with anyone interested in winning it from him. After a messy and chaotic group fight in the pit, Rhyndar ended up the one wearing the Champion cloak on his broad shoulders.
The cloak grants the wearer free entry to the Ferret, bragging rights and the automatic skipping ahead of any cues to the bar or other facilities. On it's back, bold black letters read: "Lucky Ferret Champion - Axe Night". Grinning slightly, Sabre announced before the end of the evening that challenges for the cloak may be made with the following conditions:_
"It's gotta be an axe fight, an' it's gotta be held in tha ring right here. Rules are ta remain tha same as tonight - no healin', no hidin', an' no spells of any kind cast before tha fight starts."
//please post any fights for the cloak in this thread!
