New Whispers at the Fire
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The Crafters Union donates tools, materials, and labor to help clean up the damage/rubble and rebuild.
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The Hollow Gut tribe made it's big debut to a chorus of Norwickian screams and death throes as purple worm's rumbled from the deep forest of the Rawlinwoods and emerged in an explosion of rock and stone directly within the walls of Norwick.
Scores of goblins followed in the wake of the exposed tunnel openings as the worms emerged from several locations before adventurers caught up with them and fended off both greenskins and purple worms. One of the worms opened it's giant maw of teeth and poison as a high pitched voice screeched and echoed from within. The beast then retreated into the hole it had emegered from just as the heroes closed in and the stone quickly filled the tunnel's place.
Patrols of Redcloaks filled the town to ensure it's security and assist the townfolk while D'Cameron swiftly called a meeting behind closed doors to determine the next course of action.
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As rumors of goblin activity to the south spread, it seems a new rumor is heard at the inn of goblins setting traps in the city, luckily a tough adventurer walked into one by the store so no civilians were killed.
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A small group of redcloak scouts returned to town after lumberjacks reported a series of rumblings coming from the woods. The scouts confirmed the consistent tremors and also reported an increase in goblins south of Maria's tower.
These goblins carry a new standard, a humanoid skull on a bloodstained green cloak as it's banner. Many goblins from various tribes have been converted or enslaved by this new force and even the bugbears do not challenge the goblin's movements further south in their lands.
Though the goblins keep to their territory, the tremors seem to be on the move through the forest, inching ever closer to town.
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Rumor has it that Norwick's local former N'Jastian warrior who had been living in Norwick for 10 years came back bloody and bruised. Cauterized scars visible through holes in his armor might have had a tussle with fire giants. He would tell the cautionary tale of how after fighting them himself for the first time, that they aren't an enemy to be trifled with or taken lightly, as they even gave a very experienced warrior like himself some deep trouble.
Thankfully they're far enough that they won't try to return the favor... he hopes.
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A traveling cleric of Torm is seen talking to the gate guards, then leaves out the South gates and coming back an hour later wiping green blood from his sword and armor. He talks to the guard again then can be seen later up on the hill praying.
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Reports of rumbling heard from the northern part of the city and then screams and yelling as the sounds of explosions and spells set off a panicked flight of residents. In the end, when silence fell, there was a gaping hole in the ground by the large tree just up the road from the Lumber yard. Blood and other fluids as well as dozens of goblin bodies, most riddled with arrows, littered the ground. It is said an old man and young woman had gotten caught up in the excitement.
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A tall man of strong build who bares the crest of Tempus on his back known as Ax who seems to mostly keep to himself that has lived in Norwick for the last decade looks to be making efforts now to help the community a little more. Often seeing bringing large quantities of exotic meats from massive creatures from his hunts, the crockpots and cauldrons that rest over the fires always seem to have fresh delicious food within them of late, filled with aromatic spices and herbs that tease and tantalize the locals and redcloaks alike. In turn, the actual cooking equipment near the fires seem to now be very well maintained, with extra care and effort being made to keep them clean whenever he's around.
Another overheard rumor about him thats made public of late was that the Chultan was a former citizen of N'jast. Rumors are that worked both as an officer in the army and then a debt collector for the city, having lost his family as a concequence of his latter work, and chose to resign from his position after the tragedy, having moved away since then.
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A relatively quiet day in Norwick was interrupted by shouting and threats of violence around the Mavalgard caravan. A foul odor was smelled by those nearby, followed by the sight of a dwarf being chased north by the caravan operators. A short time later the dwarf could be heard screaming back towards the caravan.
"OY! YE WEAK-STOMACHED LOT NEED TA LEARN TA APPRECIATE A GUD MEAL!"
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In an echo of the past, N’Jast once more stood at Norwick’s gate, demanding the return of a traitorous deserter who stole important schematics from them and ran for refuge in Norwick, else Norwick wholly be razed. Armsmaster Iona called their bluff, and Norwick’s forces, as well as a small contingent of adventurers, were able to drive back the waves of assault with no harm to the town or its civilians- though at the cost of the gate itself.
As they retreated, a venomous vow was made- so long as Norwick had what they wanted, N’Jast would be back.
A drunken Gondar is seen after, hiccuping while swaddled in his cloak by a barbarian in the Grapevine inn, with other adventurers grimly sitting about, spitting no good words about N’Jast’s audacity. Reportedly, a shattered mug had to be cleaned from the floor.
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Some strange rumors spread about Spellweaver. Apparently in the lobby a group of adventurers had a lively discussion which ended with one stabbing himself violently in the thigh, bleeding all over the place, while another adventurer then proceeded to fire a divine beam from his helmet into the adventurers bloody wound. There was blood all over the floor, it was a real mess. And why? Well... uh... good question.
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A shaking, familiar Gondar is seen cradling his own head, an eyepatch and bandages around where his left eye should be.
"It was, it was N'Jasti!! The whole operation! They had slaves down there, a battlemage from the Order of Jassa, a general of sorts- The snakes- in the pit, around a contraption of sorts, and a gauntlet- over pits of ravenous, magical snakes--
Th- It burned so badly!!!! I can't, I couldn't- My eye is gone! Cormac's regeneration didn't-- Cursed-- It, it won't grow back with magic-- They must have taken them! I couldn't see I couldn't feel it was just screaming and burning and itburrowedINTOMYSKULL--
Wh- what if it can get worse?"
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The rumors turn sour as a group of scouts find themselves halved, dragging the corpses of their slaughtered squad back to Norwick. Rumors even state that one of the deceased scouts was murdered with a common pickaxe, jammed through his skull. Red Cloaks at the tavern speak of a conversation with the Herald, of a hostile force in the Rawlins that have set up around a dig site. Human forces. On top of which, the earthquakes continue, leading to fearmongering and exaggerated rumors of terrible things.
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A variety of small earthquakes, followed by more mysterious holes popping up in and around Norwick, increase the rumors fluttering about. Though there are a few crackpot conspiracy theories about an earth elemental uprising, for the most part people just blame it on natural earthquakes. Sinkholes and what not. However a few speak of a group of scouts who returned from a venture into the largest discovered hole, somewhere in the woods. They speak of the tools the scouts carried back with them... excavation tools. And so some wonder if, perhaps, below Norwick even now, there is a shady group digging where they shouldn't be. But. Eh. That's just a rumor.
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The day after a huge storm, rumors began to pop up of a hole somewhere in Norwick's jail. Most dismiss the rumors as the talking of drunks getting tossed behind bars for the night by the militia, seeing things in a delirious hungover state. But some wonder if maybe there is some truth to it. If so, where does it lead? Probably nowhere... but what if it led somewhere neat? Like. I don't know. An underground tavern? Or... Rashemen.
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Tremors and little earthquakes have shook Norwick with increasing frequency over the past weeks. Rumour has it Herald D'Cameron was on the verge of issuing a public call for aid from the adventuring community when a group lead by prominent Peltarchian figures marched through the village, confidently declaring they'd deal with it. Although the same group was not seen returning, the earth grew eventually still a short while thereafter. But did they save the day or simply sate some tunnelling horrors appetite?
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While Martouscah Leaffall, a halfling from Peltarch, is a semi regular face around Norwick, She has been spending an extended amount of time in Norwick investigating the recent heatwave.
Most of her time is spent asking folks around the outskirts of town trying to determine the time the temperature began to rise, how far out the disturbance reaches, as well as it's border in order to determine it's epicentre.
After consulting with the guards, she summons a small fire elemental in the hopes that it may shed some light on the current disturbance to the natural climate. The small creature, composed of and wreathed in flame, steps out of the campfire after the summoning, looking about for enemies to set ablaze.
MARTY: "Hello ... um ... I was hoping to ask you a few questions..."
The fire elemental tilts it's head
FIRE ELEMENTAL: (Crackle blaze sizzle) Hissssss s s s
MARTY: Oh y- .. umm ... do you know common?
FIRE ELEMENTAL: (Pop) hissssssss s s s
MARTY: Oh ... okay .... never mind.
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The enticing smell of sweets wafts from stall no 2, now owned by one Caramella Bestefaren. Her trademark gumdrop bags have hit the market, each one a vision of confectionary delight, with frosting-styled stitching and gumdrop buttons in different shapes and sizes. Each one comes with a custom-made tag, shaped much like a gingerbread version of the big-hatted maker herself, with text in the same sugary style. Ontop of that, it's rumoured that each of these candybag delights holds… yes, an actual piece of candy. Caramella also lets it be known that customers may order bags with their choice of label text at no additional cost.
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*Cormac, who'd been in Norwick on business of his own is caught up in the unnatural storm in one way or another. In defiance of the situation he plays warm music in the Grapevine by the hearth and tells blood-stirring tales of his deeds and adventures, and similar (yet lesser tales, surely) of those adventurers that are too trapped in the town. Perhaps between the excitement he brings and Lathander's light, as well as the grace of Chauntea, in a few months there may be some living reminders of the men who'll surely not see another day after the battle that's likely to come.
Rumors may suggest that the echoes of Cormac's threat to bring vengeance down upon 'all' of the vampires still echoes in the deep forest from when he cried out his oath on another bloody field during another bloody time.
Others, that it's merely a show of strength to try and inspire more men and women from Norwick to join the scarlet hooded madman on his doomed 'crusade'.
Perhaps a small number of folk might have by now decided that Cormac Randolph still has designs that fancy himself sat upon the thone of Norwick, and this is his way of showing that he can be an inspiring leader of people should the rumor arise...*
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An unseasonable cold snap has swept over Norwick, causing the Chancellor to order families to bunk together at the Grapevine and the Shrine of Lathander, to conserve firewood and huddle en masse for warmth. Word spreads that a band of adventurers took to the Great Hall to speak with the Chancellor, and were thereafter seen leaving town for the Rawlinswoods. Perhaps the cold is unnatural, and they are seeking a solution?
((Conclusion to take place tomorrow, Tuesday the 27th at 8pm GMT, all welcome!))
