Tavern Tales and Rumours

[Lokan]

Inexplicably, copied parchments of the enigmatic news publication called "THE GATE" have appeared once again throughout the city. The initial frenzy of the lavishly ornate parchments appearing throughout the city had died out some months ago, and it is said, among the poor, that the parchment has only been circulated to the very wealthy. But today another large batch of parchments can be found in every tavern, inn, and street vendor area.

Welcome to another edition of THE GATE:

VAMPIRES ATTACK THE RICH; MASSACRE AT THE BATHHOUSE!

A gruesome and vile attack lead by a powerful vampire name Jeneleth was brought to the heart of our fair city. The attack lead to 13 citizens killed and 5 injured. The attack began in the early hours just as the renewing power of the sun brought light to our own city bathhouse, just across from Baldur's Gate castle itself! The bathhouse disturbance caused the city watch as well as the ducal guard to rush to the scene. A number of high profile folk were at the bathhouse during the attack. Luckily some of which are very skilled and powerful individuals. They were able to chase the vampire from the bathhouse. It remains to be seen if the vile creature was destroyed or not.

As of this morning, the city watch and the Flaming Fist have no comment, but this writer was personally involved in the incident and I can confirm that the vampire was there, and that the damage could have been worse if some of my personal guests had not been there to defend us. I have also learned that among the dead where two of the cities most successful gold and silver mine owners. Their families had no comment, and their identities will be withheld until the families wish to come forward. With the recent trade issues in the south, the gold and silver mines near Baldur's gate are one of the few things keeping some of our population feed and our economy moving. It is hard to say what the loss of these men will do to the city.

Through an anonymous source I did learn that the men were settling a deal in the bathhouse that very evening, and a very large sum of platinum and gold trade bars were taken from the scene, possibly by thralls of the vampire herself.

Lastly, I would like to make commentary. One of those defenders is known throughout the noble community of our city, and lately it has been unpopular to defend her. She was once seen as a threat to order in our city because of her grand power and disregard for the law. We among the nobles feared her ability to enter our city and destroy whomever she sees fit as judge jury and executioner, even right under the noses of those that line up to defend us, but that isn't the woman I met last night. She seemed fearful, careful, angry but demur. We may be cushioned from the evil that exists in our realm by such as she, but evil is ever present, and I for one thank her for saving my life, and possibly many others.

Until next time...THE GATE

[Ithildur]

A rather shocking scene supposedly took place in the Castle Ward of the Gate a few nights ago, with several scantily clad figures bursting from the Baths with some kind of violence ensuing. Two of them apparently chased down a Watchman for some reason; one was a rather famous Selunite wearing nothing but a steamy damp robe, and the other was said to be a Gold Elf running about near naked while waving around his longsword.

Two others, both human females, apparently lingered by the doorway to the Bath for a while before returning inside. An unnamed noble who got a good look at them standing there is rumored to have claimed he would die a happy man after that day.

[Zelknolf]

Though the tale may indeed have become more salacious in the retelling, the Selûnite was actually fully and modestly dressed in the variety of wool clothing typical for the region's cold damp weather, and wearing leather boots-- surely some of the retellings would include how odd that seemed, given the state of the others.

[Mikayla]

While the Selunite may have been fully dressed in wool clothing, there is no doubt that one of the women by the bath-house was naked save for black knee-high boots, a baldric slung over her shoulder, an assortment of holy-symbols dangling from a necklace, and a silver belly-chain and pendant. The raven-haired woman was splattered with gore, carrying a long black knife in one hand, and a bloody, burned arrow in the other. The most striking thing about the naked woman, however, were her tattoos - seemingly endless lines of Thorass script wrapped around the young woman's body and limbs from her neck to her hands, down her torso and hips until disappearing under the tops of her boots. Keen eyed observers may have noticed a wyvern with its wings outstretched inked on one forearm. Bloody, singed, naked and inked, the black-haired beauty lingered by the path to the bathhouse after the fighting with a surpassingly beautiful blonde woman before they both returned to the baths.

[kid]

On other news: Boobs.

[kiyoti]

A local of Gullykin known as the Prince of Cats was seen heading into the Wood of Sharp Teeth on a hunting expedition. While some of the hunters of the village joked of his fancy silks and finery, their laughter was short lived. Ever few days for many weeks the Prince returned with more meat then seemed possible for one hin to carry. The High Priestess herself was seen thanking the well dressed hin for helping to support Gullykin during this tradgic and troubled winter.

[HEEGZ]

A local of Gullykin known as the Prince of Cats was seen heading into the Wood of Sharp Teeth on a hunting expedition. While some of the hunters of the village joked of his fancy silks and finery, their laughter was short lived. Ever few days for many weeks the Prince returned with more meat then seemed possible for one hin to carry. The High Priestess herself was seen thanking the well dressed hin for helping to support Gullykin during this tradgic and troubled winter.

[HEEGZ]

*A group of intrepid adventurers delves into the sewers. Their goal? Assist a down on his luck dwarf with the recovery of his family blade. They fight through a dark mist and stench exuding zombies as they successfully recover the artifact.*

[orangetree]

The halfling Sophia, Songstress to Sheela Peryroyl sings to the apple-tree in Gullykin, before taking an apple for herself.

"She asks if you could scatter the pits around, but close enough that the tree can see her children."

[kiyoti]

Amazing shot HEEGZ!

[HEEGZ]

*Two guardians defend the prime material plane.*


*The holy warriors lay many of the fel beasts low.*

[Lokan]

NEWS FROM THE SWORD COAST:

An earthquake tremor lasting only a few minutes was felt along the sword coast in the area of Baldur's Gate and north to near the Winding Water river. It caused a slight rise in the tides, but no tidal waves were produced. Sea captains report of a newly active volcano in the seas just west of the city between the coast and the island of Mintarn, scholars believe that is is part of an active chain of volcanoes that links the Moonshea Islands, the island of Mintarn, the Korinn Archipelago, and the Whalebones islands to the north. There has not been any large explosion from the volcano, but sea captains claim that the lava and smoke oozing from the various openings in the ground can be seen on the horizon to the west just as they leave port

.

[orangetree]

Sophia the Songstress, starts to arrange flowers and things in Gullykin to try and make things look more cheerful. Her expression shows she's been very troubled by all the deaths that have plagued the town, and is trying to get over it now.

[shad0wfax]

In the last four nights in the lower quarters of Baldur's Gate, seemingly focused near the eastern docks district, three children have gone missing. Two were street urchins, missed only by their ragamuffin peers, but the third was one of the Lamp Boys who was a bit more easily missed.

On the fourth night, an attempted kidnapping of a Lamp Boy was interrupted by a Halfling in a bright pink gown. The City Watch in the eastern harbor is taking notice and keeping a tighter watch.

[shad0wfax]

A large bar brawl broke out in the Blushing Mermaid two nights ago, over a pale man with a disgusting smell and a bad limp, who came in aboard a ship from Calimport. Rumor has it, the man was accused of stealing by some of the ship's crew, and the man was caught with a silver hair comb owned by one of the sailors on the ship. During the fight, the man's skull was cracked by an angry sailor wielding a belaying pin and the man died.

Bork added a freshly severed hand of the thief to the wooden carving behind the bar.


Further rumors abound regarding the Calishite ship as well. A dusky skinned and hook-nosed man was found belowdecks with his pants around his ankles, multiple stab-wounds in his body, and his belongings nearby. The sailors speaking about it seem to be most vociferous about having to clean up the reeking mess the man made in his makeshift chamber pot, and the fact that he was found dead seems less important to them.

The general consensus of the sailors is that the pale man with the limp and rotten toe was a thief and a murderer.