I. Rumors speak that the Ancient Oak in Feywood has regrown. No longer required to guard it, the celestials that had been called to protect Feywood while the oak recovered have left this realm. A few remained, however, to protect the forest from evil. Last night these remnant celestials were destroyed by a hooded assailant, likely an elf. Not one celestial survived.
To investigate, poke Rose/DaveTG.
II. Some of the Taur'otharie protecting the fringes of Feywood, especially the Gerdamlath (Gerdamish Moor), have not returned from their patrols. Rumors speak of virulent red crystals emerging here and there, coughed up by the very earth itself. The same rumors say demons are often encountered in the vicinity of these crystals.
To investigate, poke me whilst I play a certain tiefling.
Registered Member #2049
Joined: 12:00:00 am GMT 01/01/70
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Lately, the guards patrolling near Hamley have reported finding more and more dead spiders with bite- and clawmarks that seem to be made by a large bear. Some of the guards also say the spiders seem less active than usual.
Registered Member #1145
Joined: 8:28:45 pm GMT 08/30/07
Posts: 823
Feywood elves are talking about an elf that spoke with the Council after finding the severed head of one the Feywood guards near the Feywood campfire. It's rumored that he reverently placed the head on the floor of the Council chambers and told the Council of blasting a pile of Rift corrupted crystals near the same spot as the head was found with enough divine energy to neutralize the negative energy that was radiating from the crystals, and destroying the crystals as well. His name was not mentioned but he was described as wearing green and gold heavy armor with the symbol of Corellon in the center of the breastplate, and carrying a very ornate longbow.
Forum Admin Registered Member #623
Joined: 6:43:48 am GMT 10/01/05
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Rumors spread from a pale elven woman at the Trade speaking to any who will listen.
She is offering pay for the identification of strange black-fetched arrows and the whereabouts of her brother. Both the arrows were taken and her brother was captured in 'the southern wood.'
((PM me if you want to follow up on her offer or any related rp!))
Registered Member #787
Joined: 8:48:31 am GMT 05/30/06
Posts: 1761
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There may--or may not--be talk of demons having been seen, and battled, within Steinkreis. For those that speak of it, rumor may have that it's all due to a gnome with a blue crystalline staff. A small troupe of people were seen giving chase, but outside the Steinkreis gate, and out of guard's sight, can anyone say for sure the gnome was dealt with?
'Lupi made me do it Registered Member #175
Joined: 5:49:41 pm GMT 07/23/04
Posts: 4286
Corlupi wrote ...
[ image disabled ] Steinkreis Times, Volume 22 WAR EDITION
RAVEN'S WATCH ANNEXES FORT CRATER OVERNIGHT
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Last night, whilst the bulk of the Kresian army was deployed to fortify own borders against a perceived threat from foreign raiders, a large number of Vandal soldiers moved to occupy Fort Crater. The foreign raiders, now identified as a mercenary company by the name of One Thousand Sons, are suspected to have been employed by Krel Twistback to obfuscate the Kresian militia whilst the Vandal army could move to overtake the fort unimpeded. Initial reports estimate the number of Vandals to presently occupy Fort Crater to nearly exceed a thousand.
The presence of the Thousand Sons has displaced hundreds of farmers from hearth and home from their dwellings in the Grauerlands. Under decree by Lord Telmoran, temporary refugee camps have been enacted to provide food and shelter for the refugees. Parts of Lowtown have been utilised as a temporary refugee camp. The northern Kresian training grounds have likewise been repurposed to serve as shelter for the refugees.
Lord Telmoran and Sir Rittermark are presently speculated to be enroute to meet with Krel Twistback to deliberate on the future of Fort Crater. The old fort ruin is strategically located at a crossroads between the trade routes that cut through the Grey Mountains, the Grauerlands and the Craterlands. Occupying the fort gives Krel Twistback a formidable means to stagnate all trade that runs through these areas.
Qui Vive and Hamley whose trade uniquely depends on those roads have yet to comment on the annexation.
Is this war? Asked to comment on the severity of the situation, Sir Rittermark had only this brief remark: "Steinkreis endures. Always. If the slum-harbour dogs from the Watch think they can press the Kreis with wanton military aggression, the Kreis will respond in turn."
As this issue is being written the Kresian militia, under the supervision of Sir Wilfried von Grauerberg, is fortifying its presence in the Grey Iron Mines.
Within a run-down house of Lowtown a group of hooded people sit around a burning brazier. All their eyes lay upon a figure, who is reading a copy of the Steinkreis times, his own hood withdrawn down to rest about his neck. A golden necklace clings tightly to him, almost too tight that it would not allow him to eat, to breathe, to speak: perhaps to call it a choker is a better description.
But speak he does as he stands, coming to the end of the article, beginning to pace the room:
"What the good old Steinkreis Times forgets ta tell you o' course, 'midst all its talk o-brave soldiers defending the realm, ... is the simple and overlooked truth… truth that, rises from the rubble o-what is left behind.
People are displaced from their-omes, aye, correct, well done observant and well-paid inquisitor for the paper. But that is not the end o-the story. That is not the end o-the sufferin'.
People lose their jobs, aye." The man screws up the parchment in his hands.
"People go-‘ungry, families starvin'. " He returns to the gathered few before him.
"People. Get. Desperate." He slowly smirks and looks directly to the shadowed faces giving him their full attention.
"An-desperate. Suits. Us." A full grin now sits across his face as he idly tosses the parchment into the flames, the inks of the page hissing and smoking.
"I smell… opportunity… there's good to be had, 'midst all this sufferin’ ... just takes someone to reach out and grab it! Let it be us to take that advantage, says I. Let it be us who benefits from their bloodshed, who celebrates their sufferin’!"
The group hoon and cheer together, slapping each other on the shoulders and enjoying the revelry at their leader's decision.
”Ye all know what ta do. So tomorrow, we git to it. People are desperate, an’ we are their answer!”
Again the group cheer but then break into a chant, a word: a name. The figure grins maniacally, sucking up the attention, feeding his growing ego:
”Len-i-o! Len-i-o! Len-i-o!”
All bar a shorter figure, easily half the size of the others, who simply jumps up from her stool and makes for the door. A pot of a black oily substance in her hands, she dabs a finger and applies it to already black skin.
"Not you!" comes a call that cuts the clamour and the woman stops, knowing he meant her. With a click she closes the pot and looks over her shoulder – her actions, or perhaps the cry, enough to silence the reveling.
"I've a special task for you," come the words she had suspected, dripping in a malicious intent and hinting that she would be doing a bit more than just reaching out to the desperate dogs of the stone city’s slums.
* * * * *
Within the week the down-trodden and forgotten of society begin talking in hushed whispers amongst themselves. Whispers of a salvation in the form of a group of people offering quick gold to folk unafraid of getting their hands dirty. And promises of bigger rewards for those that really excel. They talk of taking valuable items to 'pawn' to a man dubbed "Fat Fred", who might set them on the path to a brighter future. If one doesn't mind a future in a life of crime that is, that and the rather large risk of being caressed by a headsman's axe or a hangman's rope should one fail in their tasks. . .
'Lupi made me do it Registered Member #175
Joined: 5:49:41 pm GMT 07/23/04
Posts: 4286
Rumours circulate low-town of an assault by Kreis guards in a tavern, on no legal grounds whatsoever! The stories range from 1 to 5 by number of guards, but always one consistent factor - a huge and muscle-bound Kreis guard, bulging from his armour like a freak of nature, demanded tavern patrons to hand over their gold - it was a new tax from this corrupt figure of authority, seeking to suck the last copper from the pockets of the city's hardest-hit in the ongoing crisis. The people in the tavern though'd had enough of being pushed around and trodden on: they stood up to the oppressors! Again, the stories vary here, depending on who you ask. From a bar brawl to a war of words, all the way up to the evil guardsmen being put to the blade, never to trouble the Lowtowners again...
Stories circulate too amongst the nobility of the city. Fearful whispers of riots and tavern fighting, on a weekly basis apparently. Of figures working in the darkeness, in the dead of night, uniting vile villains unto a single criminal force. One factor is consistently spoken of however - the tale of a single, brave guardsman, in gleaming armour and with righteousness in his voice. He tried to stop a fight before it could happen: walking into the middle of a shady deal as he had, in one of the darkest city taverns. He did his best to smooth over the situation, so they say, he was reasonable and honesty, kind even to those undeserving scum-bags. Some say he barely escaped with his life, others that he sacrificed himself to ensure the survival of innocent bystanders.
Stories circulate and the rumour mill works overtime. The wisest of people would only trust what they know and perhaps the words of people they hold close. But believe what they may, with so many guardsmen having been drafted to the Grey Iron Mines, there are evident lapses in the security of the city.
One thing seems certain: trouble lies ahead for the city of Steinkreis, a trouble within its own walls.
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Joined: 7:42:25 pm GMT 06/05/16
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Rumours circulate about the tall guard in gleaming armour returning to the streets of low-town. Offering gold and food to the needed a group of thugs wanting to stop him started killing people, placing brutal messages around the town that anyone who get money from a kreis guard will die. The guard singlehandedly stood against the thugs, fighting with raw strenght seldom seen, as more and more of them poured into the streets he pushed them bravely back into the back alleys. Some peasants have died in process but the guard keeps comming the streets to watch over the people swearing to stop any more hostility from the gangs. Some says he works alone, some says he was send by rittermark. who knows for sure, but a new day has arrived in low town.
[ The Island of Thain ]
Curious Rumours IV ((the 2017 remake))
