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Post by shoonvii on Jun 10, 2004 14:35:22 GMT -5
Here's where I'll keep track of events in the Waterdeep campaign, starting when you guys returned from the South:
| MARPENOTH 2 |
Jero, Yulian (now known as Taman Kholarrn), Marisa, and Cyrus, a boy the group picked up in the south, arrive back in Waterdeep. Upon entering their manse, they find that Fenlan has returned and is cavorting with Korlin Haelstaryn and his friends, whom Jero left in charge of the palce while he was gone.
| MARPENOTH 3 |
Fenlan talks to his lads in the Sprawls about his current doings, including his interest in opening a brothel and investigations into the House of Seven Stars, the Red Wizard enclave.
| MARPENOTH 4 |
The Swords of the Lucky Lady, a company of adventurers sponsored by Lord Eremos Hawkwinter, returned to the city in triumph today, leading a dozen pack animals carrying numerous antiquities believed to date back to the legendary sorcerers' realm of Netheril. After being examined by several of the city's foremost sages, the items, recovered from orc-infested ruins in the Fallen Lands, were declared to be of exquisite craftsmanship and quasi-magical in nature, chief among them a glimmering chunk of some amber-like mineral, roughly the size of a man's head and carved into the shape of a roaring flame. The patriarch of House Hawkwinter has announced a grand gala tomorrow eve in honor of the successful delve, one that many of the city's nobles are believed to be planning to attend. Taman casts about for a link to the Sharran church and Jero attempts to seek information on the noble houses of Waterdeep in order to foster allies for his budding House Kholarrn.
| MARPENOTH 5 |
Jero and co. attend the Hawkwinter feast tonight, celebrating the return of The Swords of the Lucky Lady, gaining many contacts among the nobility. Upon returning home, they find Alreena, the local Rundeen agent, is already at their house. She asks Jero, a Knight of the Shield and therefore an ally of the Rundeen, for sanctuary against the depredations of Zzullk Ssarmn. Ssarmn has attemted a power play against her in a bid to be the only Rundeen power in the city. Shortly thereafter, the manse is sieged by Ssarmn’s ti-khana assassins. The velociraptor-like minions are all slain.
| MARPENOTH 6 |
Members of the Dungsweeper’s Guild arrive to dispose of the ti-khana carcasses and Jero has one taken to New Olamn for study. The group visits the Red Wizard enclave to scope the place out. Taman and Fen head to Skullport to gather information. The rest of the group stay with Korlis, mostly to hide Alreena.
| MARPENOTH 7 |
Jero interviews servants to be employed in his new manor. Knott returns as Grim, an undead servant of Ssarmn and attempts to destroy Alreena. After vanquishing this threat, the group retires to the Dripping Dagger for the night.
| MARPENOTH 8 |
Jero meets with his ship captains and oversees the move of some of his property to his new manor. Knott in interred in the City of the Dead. A note is sent to Ahmaergo the Horned Dwarf (a contact of Fenlan’s in his common employ with the Xanathar) concerning Ssarmn’s attacks.
| MARPENOTH 9 |
News from the Spires of the Morning today reports that Lord Eremos Hawkwinter has donated a number of his newly-acquired Netherese treasures to the temple of Lathander, including the flame-shaped amber stone that many have begun calling the "Healing Flame of Wonders," after its' recently discovered restorative powers. The Hawkwinters have long been patrons of the church of the Morninglord, and their largesse towards the temple is well known. The items, which also include a number of heavily-engraved roundshields and a hooded robe-type garment composed entirely of fine motes of shimmering energy, will be displayed in the temple's Hall of Reflections before being moved to the vaults for safekeeping. Jero, Marisa, and Alreena attend to opening to look at the artifacts. Fenlan begins setting up his brothel in the Sprawls.
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Post by shoonvii on Jun 10, 2004 14:56:59 GMT -5
This should bring us up to date:
| MARPENOTH 10 |
Taman sends a letter to Lady Hlanta Melshimber, the head of the Melshimber household whom he met at the Hawkwinter feast, in order to foster a relationship between the two houses. Fenlan walks with Ayla Margaster, a young daughter of that noble house. Cyrus visits Helm’s Hall, a sort of orphanage run by an aging paladin.
| MARPENOTH 11 |
The move of House Kholarrn is nearly finished.
| MARPENOTH 12 |
Jero spends the day with his servants, preparing House Kholarrn’s new abode. Fenlan meets with Zentara Estelmer, the young noble lass, whom he was forced into a duel over several months passed.
| MARPENOTH 13 |
There are growing concerns and whispers in North Ward over strange doings in the villa of House Nethelra, an up-and-coming clan of moneylenders and landowners. Neighbors report a feeling of great unease when passing within the shadow of the villa walls, which in recent days have become curiously mottled and pock-scarred in appearance. Family members have been close mouthed when questioned, and the clan patriarch, Thelduun Nethelra, has been absent from his offices at the Zoarstar (guildhall of the Scriveners,' Scribes,' and Clerks' union) for more than a tenday. Further adding to that are the rumors that Iridmae Nethelra, Thelduun's youngest daughter, was found wandering the Heroes Garden some nights ago, gibbering mad and pierced through with over two dozen (apparently self-inflicted) slim, needle-like tines. The truth of these matters is still unknown, although charges of foul sorcery and devil-dealings are beginning to make the rounds in Up-Ward tankard houses and festhalls. Taman spends this evening with Lady Hlanta Melshimber and is well-received. Fenlan continues work on his brothel. None other than Khelben “Blackstaff” Arunsun visits Jero and Marisa in their bedroom tonight, proposing an alliance (and revealing that Marisa and Aza work for him) and telling Jero “tell Lord Hhune that the Knights of the Shield are not welcome in my city.”<br>
| MARPENOTH 14 |
Fenlan continues work on his brothel and also finds time to meet with Ayla Margaster again. Alreena of the Rundeen returns home after Jero informs her that Ssarmn will no longer trouble her (he had learned of this fact through Khelben). Jero and Marisa visit New Olamn.
| MARPENOTH 15 |
Today marks God's Day, the anniversary of the end of the Time of Troubles and the ascension of the mortals Midnight and Cyric to godhood. All through the city, shops and businesses close in rembrance of those who died fighting the minions of the god Myrkul, and a military parade of Guard and Watch units wind through the city, southward along the length of the High Road, ending at the gates to the City of the Dead.
The Church of Mysteries celebrated the holiday today as the rebirth of their goddess in the form of the mortal, Midnight. The religious observances of the Mystrans were subdued as usual, although hazy, ethereal mists and sparkling motes ebbed around the House of Wonder after dark, and many passerby later recounted seeing familiar faces or eerie landscapes in the strange vapors. Jero and co. party it up.
| MARPENOTH 16 |
Burglary in the Spires of the Morning! Acolytes and trumpeters from the temple of Lathander spread across the city early this morning, seeking information and posting rewards for the return of several stolen items, including the "Healing Flame of Wonders," recently donated to the temple by the Hawkwinter clan. Initial investigations of the theft have turned up nothing, and magical divinations have likewise proved useless thus far. Anyone with information about the night's events is directed to seek out either one of the temple heralds, or Athosar the Old, the Prior of the Inner Chapel. Marisa investigates House Nethelra.
| MARPENOTH 20 |
Taman spends another evening with Lady Hlanta Melshimber. The two become increasingly closer.
| MARPENOTH 21 |
Fenlan hires assassin Gage Wintermoon to kill Erak’zin Taminos, Red Wizard of the House of Seven Stars and present his head to Taman Kholarnn, telling Gage “That boy is going to need all the help he can get.” He also tells Gage to offer his services to House Kholarnn. Jero, Marisa, and Fenlan leave on a prearranged trip to meet Lord Hhune in the south. Jero had arranged for Hasheth Balik to come to Waterdeep and help Taman manage the House.
| MARPENOTH 22 |
Today marks the most holy day of Tymora, the festival of the Starfall. At the Tower of Luck, the worshippers of the Smiling Lady gathered to celebrate the date of their goddesses' birth and to ceremonially reward several outstanding members of the clergy. This year's celebrations were unusually ostentatious, most likely designed to offset several recent public setbacks suffered by the Tymorites, including the death-at-sea of the senior priest Faerlthann and the absence from the city of both the Wandering Fortune Jorynn Halstaff and the Elder Fortune Elegul Another, all of which occurred due to the still-simmering feud with the clergy of the Bitch Queen Umberlee.
Taman hosts Lady Melshimber at the Kholarnn villa. Hlanta proposes that Taman use his resources to find the Healing Flame of Wonders – recently stolen from the Spires of the Morning, along with several other items – for her in order to seal the alliance between the two Houses. She says that she has heard a ruffian named Winestab is the one who absconded with the Flame.
Hasheth arrives in Waterdeep with Pharaun, Bronnia Stonesplitter, and Khemed and the Blades of Bhaelros. Hasheth and his lieutenants soon arrive at House Kholarnn and begin planning the recovery of the Flame with Taman. Gage Wintermoon also soon arrives, presenting the head of Erak Taminos and his services to Taman.
That night, Taman, Hasheth, Pharaun, and Gage set out to find the Healing Flame. They find Winestab in the alley behind the Copper Cup, besieged by spell-spitting flying skulls, darkenbeasts, and an ethereally beautiful woman who also seems to under attack by the skulls. A chase and battle ensued wherein Winestab escaped and the woman, Maeci Windrivvere, joined forces with House Kholarnn to help find the missing artifacts. Windrivvere also proposed a mercantile alliance with House Kholarnn.
| MARPENOTH 23 |
House Kholarnn finally manages to track down Winestab after running afoul of the vigilante Red Sashes. They find him on a ship, Wanderer, getting ready to leave Waterdeep. Out of sheer exhaustion, he tells them where the artifacts are and who has them.
Maeci manages to capture the Orb of Starunes and the Writhing Asps of Ss’thas’iness and returns them to the Spires of the Morning. Taman and Gage are close by when the bodies of three Tymorrans are discovered behind the Inn of the Dripping Dagger. After some investigation, they surmise that Umberlants ambushed the Tymorrans and took the Healing Flame of Wonders to the Queenspire, the new Waterdhavian temple to Umberlee.
| MARPENOTH 24 |
Three bodies found partially hidden under a layer of refuse in the alleyway behind the Inn of the Dripping Dagger have been identified as acolytes of the Tower of Luck. The condition of the bodies suggests a targeted assassination, but the identity of the killer or killers remains a mystery. Tlabbras Crael, the Voice of the Halls, has announced a reward for any who bring information of the killings to the temple of Tymora.
Hasheth arranges an afternoon meeting with Alreena Grey-Eyed at her manse (she is treated as a Lantanese noble in the city and is quite popular). He and Taman tell her to arrange a meeting with Meiritid Archneie, that she owes House Kholarnn and the Knights for saving her life and position with the Rundeen. She says Archneie is normally located at House Ulbrinter while the Queenspire is still under construction. The meeting is scheduled for Highsun on the 25th.
Sulavryne of Fenlan’s “Lads” brings the House’s cut of their dealings to Taman and tells him of their problems with the encroaching Shadow Thieves.
| MARPENOTH 25 |
House Kholarnn attacked en route to the Ulbrinter villa by thugs they suspect were hired by House Ulbrinter of the Umberlants. House Kholarnn meets Lord Ulbrinter, Meiritid Archneie, and Murgos Zel and secures the Flame for a large amount of coin and services to be named later. Taman later hands the Flame over to Lady Hlanta Melshimber.
Later that day, Lord Moedt Belabranta visits House Kholarnn with an offer: break into House Ilvastarr’s vault beneath their villa and steal back the Griffontack of Belabranta, an ancient relic created and once carried by his ancestor. He says that most of the house will be out tomorrow evening and tells them how to access the vault.
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Post by shoonvii on Jun 5, 2007 8:22:26 GMT -5
This finishes out the year 1371 DR:
| MARPENOTH 27 |
Stedd Melshimber, youngest son of Lady Melshimber, returns from his ambassadorial mission to the Shining South. The young Lord brings with him some strange-looking creatures of that faraway land and a group of dusky-skinned natives.
| MARPENOTH 28 |
A party is held at the Melshimber villa, celebrating the return of their favored son Stedd. House Kholarrn attends, of course, and saves Stedd Melshimber from being killed by a pair of summoned slaads. Exactly who summoned the slaads is unknown, but the rumors are many. Pharaun juggles his duties with the young heiress of House Ulbrinter and one of the alluring half-drow Crinti of Dambrath that Stedd brought back with him.
| MARPENOTH 29 |
Amid the continuing unrest between the various faiths of the city comes news that Meleghost, the High Mystery of the temple of Mystra, was attacked as his carriage rode through Sea Ward on its' way to the villa of the Cassalantar family. There is no word as to the condition of the priest or the identity of his assailant, as the House of Wonder has been shuttered and warded since early morning. If true, this incident would be a serious crime indeed, as the High Mystery holds a position of no little power in the city. True or not, it is currently believed that the Lords have already sent their agents forth, to seek out the worst of the recent rabble-rousers and roustabouts, and send them swiftly to the depths of the Undermountain, lest the city spiral further out of control.
| UKTAR 4 |
A squad of griffon-riders flew low over the city this morning, trumpeting the arrival of the first winterfrost and the holiday of Auril's Blesstide. Throughout the city's upper Wards, bardlings from New Olamn roamed the streets, ringing tiny handbells, caroling on streetcorners and front stoops, and cajoling shopkeeps and passerby for donations to "help preserve our fair city's arts and culture, lest it never again be said that Waterdeep is truly a City of Many Splendors."
| UKTAR 7 |
The normally staid and stuffy atmosphere of Nybor's Gentlerium was the site of much chaos today. Sometime after sunset the main lounge and hall of the well-known Sea Ward patriarch's club in were filled with malodorous mists of unknown origin. The hueless cloud of vapors caused irritation to the eyes and lungs of those present, and precipitated a swift evacuation of the premises (something much remarked upon by those observing the proceedings, who noted that the patrons of the establishment are rarely known to do anything in the way of haste). The cause of the vapors is currently unknown, although some members in attendance at the time claim that they emanated from the long-stemmed pipe of a dark-skinned, robed man reading in a corner chair. The veracity of those claims cannot be verified at this time, however, as neither the man nor his allegedly offensive pipe has been seen since.
| UKTAR 9 |
For the last fortnight citizens of the Blue Corners, a neighborhood of northern Sea Ward, have spread rumors of an eerie, plaintive singing echoing in back alleys of the Ward at night. Taverntalk across the ward in recent days has placed the source of the singing alternately as coming from a lovelorn banshee (as if there could be such a thing!), the ghost of a waylaid mermaid, or the nighttime carousings of a deceased bardling, reincarnated into the shape of a common alleycat (one would take care not to place too much credence in such ale-soaked mutterings, however). Ammathan Var, the noted "Bard of Blue Corners" and member of the Council of New Olamn, has claimed to have heard the mysterious melody twice already, and has publicly stated that it resembles the ancient elven mourning dirges of Illefarn in style and tone.
Whatever the source, the haunting sounds are agreed by all to contain no words, or at least nothing that can be identified as such, and its source seems to always be aware of those in the vicinity, moving away or fading into the night air at the approach of a living being.
| UKTAR 10 |
Tonight marked the grand celebration of Tehennteahan, the "Night of Hammers and Nails," one of the Twelve High Festivals of the Waukeenar faith. Carriages began arriving at sunsdown at the Grand Hall of the Cynosure, rented out and dressed up for the occasion by priests of the Merchant's Friend. Many high-ranking faithful of Gond were also in attendance, as Tehennteahan celebrates the inventions and efforts of smiths, forgemen, crafters, and those who work with their hands and not magic, the same folk the make up much of the Wonderbringer's church.
Unfortunately, the festival was soon thrown into chaos when the numerous golden hammers, tongs, and bladed smiths implements adorning the walls took life and flew about the room, striking at random. Many of those in attendance suffered a variety of cuts, bruises, and lacerations before the divine magicks of the assembled priests and the ready blades of the doorwards positioned about the hall fended off the malevolent tools. It is unknown who engineered the enchantments, or their purpose, but many in attendance have stated their belief that the high priest of Waukeen, Laskar Ilithair, was the sole target of the chaos. In recent days, the High Overgold has come to be known as the "Golden Autarch" by his detractors, which include many wealthy nobles and merchants unhappy with Ilithair's increasing meddling in the affairs of the merchants and moneylenders of the city, as well as his extravagant spendings and giftings which have made him very popular with the common folk of the City of Splendors.
| UKTAR 11 |
Lord Lylar the Second of House Emveolstone announced today his intentions to hold a grand High Dragon tournament in the city early next year, after the winter snows melt and the transient populations return to the city. High Dragon, for the uninitiated, is a three-player card game, long popular in the gaming halls and tankard houses of Cormyr and Sembia, and is currently rising in popularity in the Western Heartlands as well.
The last organized High Dragon tournament, held in the Carvan City of Scornubel, saw over 400 entrants. It caused quite a stir when the winner, the legendary halfling gambler "Lucky" Lhyrnstar, won the princely sum of 18,000 gold coins, only to be later killed and revealed as an agent of the dread Shadow Thieves by the Waterdhavian bravos Danilo Thann, Zanthus Greencloak, and the late Venzan Margaster. While the Emveolstone contest may not draw quite that many participants, the Lord of the House has guaranteed an almost identical purse to the winner.
House Emveolstone, which owns a number of gambling parlours and meeting-clubs across the city, is believed to be the setting for the tournament, although Lord Lylar is also rumored to be considering the Cynosure or the Smiling Siren Festhall in Dock Ward as alternative venues. Pharaun enters his name in the High Dragon tournament. Taman continues fostering a mercantile relationship with Lord Stedd Melshimber and other young noble heirs of the city. Gage surreptitiously checks in on said nobles, attempting to verify their intentions on many different matters.
| UKTAR 12 |
Excitement in Dock Ward today as the Thirsty Sailor tavern was invaded by a number of watch officers in pursuit of the infamous rogue known as the Scarlet Knave. The canny thief stirred up much trouble in the taproom before making his escape by trapping the officers beneath Wensten's Shield, the centerpiece of the Sailor's taproom decor. The Knave cut the ropes which hold the "Shield" — a generous slab of dining trestle once used by the warrior Wensten to defend the patrons of the tavern against sahuagin invaders — causing it to fall onto the hapless guardsmen below, pinning them to the ground and effecting his escape.
Onlookers report that the frenzied chase began on Thevryn's Wharf, where the newly-arrived Lord Avaeralos of Tethyr and his entourage were relieved of a rather large strongbox of gemstones and jewelry by the daring Knave, right out from under the noses of an honor escort of city guardsmen. Many of those present in the taproom of the Sailor during the scuffle noted that the Knave was not in possession of a strongbox or chest of any kind, and rumors quickly grew that the Knave used one of a number of Dock Ward rainbarrels, middens, or other "hiding-holes" to quickly stash his ill-gotten goods until he could return to retrieve them.
At least one ne'er-do-well in attendance, the halfling Ilvryn Lackpurse, took the rumors of the Knave's hasty stash seriously, exiting the Sailor and proceeding to hoist himself into every barrel, window nook, and corner-cask in sight (finding nothing, but quickly earning himself the appellations of "Bustle-Boots" and "The Barrel Blackguard" by bemused onlookers).
| UKTAR 13 |
Meiritid Archneie, the reigning high priest of Umberlee in the city, has been noted as being busy in recent days, making a number of political moves designed to increase his stature among the power structure of Waterdeep. In addition to his normal duties of overseeing the continuing construction of the new Umberlant cathedral on Raerloon's Rock and receiving petitioners at his temporary court in the confines of the Ulbrinter villa, the Dread High Trident has announced an alliance with his nominal rival, the High Trident Thaeryld Nornagul of the Stormhaven House on Orlumbor (to counter-act the growing power of the Wavemistress Royal Qalbess Frostyl and the Mad Tyrant of Mintarn, most whisper), and, in a great ceremony two days ago, caused a number of important items and relics thought lost beneath the waves of the sea to be disgorged, returning them to their owners.
The items thus retrieved include the Brightblade of Analaena, a Selunite item of the faith thought lost along with the knight Delvyn Banbosk during the invasion of sahuagin and sea-creatures two years ago. It is widely believed that in returning the item, the Umberlant Most Dread is seeking to court the powerful Waterdhavian church of the Moonmaiden, in order to drive a wedge between the Selunites and their allied church of the goddess Tymora (with whom the Umberlants are currently feuding).
| UKTAR 17-20 |
A blinding blizzard hit Waterdeep today, as the heavy winter skies that hung above the city for a number of weeks finally opened, bringing hours of intermittent snowfall to the rooftops and streets of the city.
| UKTAR 23 |
The indoor "hot-houses" of the Spires of the Morning and the bowers of the Quiet Place have been hit by some sort of unholy blight or evil magic during the past day. Many of the exotic plants and flowers kept within the greenhouses of the churches of Lathander and Eldath were killed or severely damaged with the failing of the special spells that kept them warm and damp in Waterdeep's harsh northern climate. Thizraen "Shamble-Staff," the Sacrosanct Seed of the Goddess, and creator of the renowned blue rose, described the blight as "definitely magical" in nature, noting that the damage to the greenery was done before the normally vigilant acolytes and herbalists of the temples could respond. The cleric also reported that the Spires' fragile crop of white moon lilies, whose usage is favored in the upcoming Feast of the Moon holy day, was completely ruined, leaving the traditional feast-day blessing of the City of the Dead tombs in doubt.
| UKTAR 26 |
Several minor riots and civil disturbances were contained and quelled by the Watch and Guard late today, a number of hours after they first began. The epicenter of the disturbances focused on the marble-clad hall of the Cynosure, where the play "Ten Black Days" by the noted playwright Ovir Jaal debuted to a mostly Tethyrian audience. Covering the events leading up to the bloody Tethyrian civil war, a touchy subject at best, the play ignited rock throwing and fisticuffs between those in the audience, many of whom had fought against each other or backed various losing candidates to the throne during those dark years. The violence swiftly spread to the neighborhoods of Tethalan and Zundswalk, and to the outside slums of the Southersprawls, all of which are home to sizeable Tethyrian immigrant populations, where fires were lit and a number of assaults and injuries were reported.
The Watch and Guard managed to dispel the crowds and put out the street fires by nightfall, but sizeable contingents of armed officers remain in the affected areas, guarding against another outbreak of violence. Performances of "Ten Black Days" have been cancelled by order of the Lords, but the attention drawn to the play by the chaos has drawn the interest of many noble and wealthy patrons, who have begun sending missives to the lodgings of Ovir Jaal, inviting the bard to arrange private performances at their villas and clubs.
| CALENDAR DAY - The Feast of the Moon |
Throughout the city today, in taverns, festhalls and private houses alike, the dead are remembered and tales are told of great heroes and valiant deeds far into the night. As usual on this day, many of Waterdeep's undead denizens rested uneasily, and reports of spectral sightings came in from all Wards. The city watch, wearing the traditional white armbands to ward off malevolent spirits, was present, but no reports of any such activity were reported.
As the Feast is the most holy day of Kelemvor, the Judge of the Dead, priests of the Holy Judge and those mourning the recently lost gathered in the City of the Dead this afternoon, to commune with their god and with the spirits of the deceased until the stroke of twelve bells that night.
The Most High Doomguide, Raelar Hosthann, was not present at the proceedings, and has been little seen in the city since the events leading up to the uncovering and slaying of the doppleganger masquerading as Zandoun, heir to House Kormallis. A high priest refusing to preside over a holy day of such magnitude is currently the source of much tavern talk across the city, where it is rumored that the Kelemvorite has fallen out of favor with his god and the elders of his church. His place in the ceremony was taken by Mhaerten Vorl, a Doomguide recently arrived in the city from the main church in Ormath (and who is also widely rumored to be anointed as the fallen Hosthann's replacement).
| NIGHTAL 5 |
The holy radiances that illuminate the Spires of the Morning were dimmed today, and additional muted bands of crimson faerie fire enveloped the highest towers of the temple as the faithful of Lathander mourned the loss of their anointed defender, the Knight-Champion Belterym Vhost. The news that the Morninglord's Mainstay met his doom in the northern town of Mornbryn's Shield (currently beset by attacking trolls and other menaces out of the Evermoors) spread almost immediately throughout the Wards, even before Haldus Albryn, the Voice of the Spires, appeared before Lord's Court to confirm the loss. The Choronals (heralds) of the temple travelled to the Plinth and to each of the other major city temples soon thereafter to read aloud the following statement;
"It is with great sorrow and regret that Her Glorious Radiance of the Morning, the High Lady of the Spires and Most Illuminant Servant of Lathander Morninglord, Ghentilara, brings to your august personages news that Belterym Vhost, the Knight Emeritus and Champion of the Spires of the Morning, has succumbed to wounds recieved in valorous defense of the embattled northern redoubt of Mornbryn's Shield. The body of the Knight-Champion, borne home through the perilous northern skies by his griffon steed, has been laid in state in the Inner Chapel of the Spires. The spirit of the valiant and faithful Lord Vhost has travelled to the Many-Splendored Realm of the Morninglord, where it will await the Resplendant Renewer's reckoning. The faithful of the Spires of the Morning likewise await the will of the divine Lathander in this matter, and stand ready to carry out his Most Holy judgement."
| NIGHTAL 6 |
Amidst the general mourning for the fallen Knight-Champion of Lathander are gathering calls from taverns across the city and from the temple itself, from would-be swordsman and eager bravos, each seeking to outdo their fellows in their zeal to mount a challenge to the monstrous invaders currently besieging Mornbryn's Shield. While heavy snows and the treacherous winter terrain makes land travel to the embattled village an unlikely possibility, it is rumored that the secretive longrobes of the House of the Seven Red Stars, the foreboding complex recently arisen outside the walls of the city, have offered magical means of transport to the northern battlefield. What price they are demanding in return for this service is unknown, but there are whispers that business with the magically-skilled easterners is not always conducted with gold alone.
| NIGHTAL 8 |
Although activity on the surface of the Harbor has largely ceased for the winter months, the mer-folk of the waters have begun to pass on warnings of increased activity in the chilling depths below. The mer-folk community of the Harbor, decimated by a recent plague and by heavy losses during the invasion of sea creatures a few years ago, are no longer able to patrol their environs as vigorously as they once did, and their tales of shadows skulking along the Harbor bottom have prompted an increase in armed patrols, from both the Watch and from ships' captains wintering in the Docks.
| NIGHTAL 17 |
Members of the Watch and local bucket brigades scrambled today to put out a blaze in Trades Ward. The fire, centered on a row of buildings on lower Book Street, has been labeled of suspicious origin, and watch investigators are currently examining the scene for any possible clues. According to local taverntalk, the center of the fire (and its intended target) was the offices of Mloros Tharvast, the owner and printer of On My Word as a Sage, one of the city's more infamous (and salacious) broadsheets.
The On My Word broadsheet, widely read in the lower reaches of the city, follows in large part the exploits of the Lord Xoblob, a rather randy figure whose robes fail to conceal an exaggerated codpiece, and whose faceless mask is often lifted to reveal a wolf's-head face framed by bushy eyebrows and an overly bulbous nose.
The written contents of the broadsheet most often concern themselves with chronicling the many conquests of Lord Xoblob as he moves through a legion of young lasses thinly disguised as members of the city's nobility (So thinly disguised, in fact, that no less than three bravos of the Hawkwinter clan challenged Tharvast to formal duels after reading of the conquest of the young lady Sestra Falconfreeze - an extremely close match to Sereh Hawkwinter, daughter of Lord Eremos. The black-robes refused to sanctify the duels, and the compensatory payments demanded by Lord Eremos were happily paid for by the Hawkwinter's social rivals, the House of Silmerhelve).
Whatever the cause of the fire, or its intended target, it has certainly provided the ever-ready Tharvast with ample free advertisement. Indeed, the self-proclaimed "Voice of the People" was spotted hurrying down The Way of the Dragon soon after the blaze was put under control, waving a sheaf of hastily-penned papers and vowing to reveal "the truth of matters" and to expose "those who do not wish to be exposed."
| NIGHTAL 19 |
A brawl in the taproom of Felzoun's Folly spilled into the streets tonight, spilling the blood of some of those involved and waking a number of nearby residents, but other wise causing no real damage. The focus of the battle is said to be the Snoring Shield of Antalassiter, a legendary item of some magical powers that was listed as missing from the Old Xoblob shop last Hammer. The Shield was in possession of the mercenary warrior Brace Bardrell when it was identified by the Company of Bad Spirits, a local band of adventurers and noted ne'er-do-wells. The Company attempted to seize the item, setting off a tavern-wide steel-and-spell brawl, before Bardrell invoked one of the powers of the Shield and sent a majority of the combatants into a heavy slumber. The mercenary and his prize disappeared into the night snows soon thereafter, but a reward for information on his whereabouts or how the Shield came to be in his possession has been posted by Dandalus Ruell, the owner of the Old Xoblob shop.
| NIGHTAL 23 |
Many are talking of the massive influx of elves into the city. Their arrival is rumored to be magical in nature, as it was virtually overnight, and the city is nigh snowbound regardless. Taverntalk says that they are planning something.
| NIGHTAL 25 |
Today is Orbar, one of the Twelve High Festivals of the Waukeenar faith. Traditionally a solemn remembrance of the dark side of wealth, and of those driven mad by gold or slain by goldlust, today's festivities also have another purpose; today marks the one year anniversary of the return of the Merchant's Faith to the civic and mercantile circles of the city of Waterdeep. Laskar Ilithair, the High Overgold of the faith, is said to be planning quiet visits to the various noble and mercantile villas across the city, and to put in an appearance at the Winterride Ball later tonight.
| NIGHTAL 25 |
The annual Winterride Ball was held at the Palace tonight, and all of Waterdeep's remaining noble or influential personages were on hand, including House Kholarrn. In addition to the attending nobles, there were also officers of the Watch and Guard, ambassadors of various countries and city-states, wealthy businessmen, socialites, the heads of several guilds, and many honored heroes and famous artists.
The Ball, which celebrates the ending of the old year and the beginning of a new one, began promptly at sundown. The evening opened with a display of new magics and unusual creatures in the Lord's Court. After that, those in attendance were treated to a massive banquet, complete with musical accompaniment by an orchestra of New Olamn's finest musicians. After the dinner, many danced in the Great Hall or broke into smaller groups (many of which seemed to congregate around the punch bowl - an amazing sight in itself, being an etched crystal basin large enough to serve as an ettin's bathing tub!). The evening ended with an awing pyrotechnical display by the mages of the Watchful Order, which no doubt lit up the night sky as far away as Neverwinter. A few highlights of the evening;
• Evvryn Dahl, a famed mage-dancer from far Chondath, captivated the assembled crowd with his performance of the Dance of the Staves. The Dance, an ancient elven ritual designed to herald the coming of spring and the forest growing season, is a complicated affair, involving an impressive variety of acrobatics and contortions, as well as a score or more enchanted lengths of wood.
• Ghentilara, high priestess of the Spires of the Morning, announced a Grand Resurrection for the fallen Knight-Champion Belterym Vhost. While widely expected following several days of rumors and taverntalk, the announcement still set the crowd abuzz. It was also met with outrage from the clergy of Kelemvor, the Judge of the Dead, who teach that the souls of the deceased should remain at peace for the rest of time. Led by Mhaerten Vorl, the recently-appointed high priest of the sect, the Kelemvorites engaged in a variety of shouting and shoving antics with the assembled dawnpriests, before leaving the ball en masse in protest.
• One of the most active rumors throughout the night was of the return to the city of Bragaster Raventree, the younger brother of Lord Nandos Raventree. Lord Bragaster, not seen in the city since eloping with Aalnethe Margaster (and a number of prized Margaster heirlooms) in Eleasias of 1370, is known to be highly sought by Lord Thentias Margaster, who is rumored to have sent a number of headsmen and bounty hunters after the missing noble. Talk of Lord Bragaster being in disguise among those present led to a number of Margaster bravos scouring the crowd and disrupting the festivities until they were issued strict warnings by the black-robes in attendance. Of the missing Raventree, no conclusive proof to his presence was found, but for the rest of the night every dropped and discarded piece of costumery was held up as evidence of his attendance and "disguise."
| NIGHTAL 26 |
Khelben leads Waterdhavian forces to Evereska to establish a portal through which to send a relief army.
| NIGHTAL 29 |
Late-night streetwalkers and other nocturnal inhabitants of the city were treated to a rather unusual sight tonight; a thin, ghostly ring of white encircling the full moon high over the harbor, shining above the rain and darkness. Known as a "Selûnar rainbow" to sages and the "Baleful Eye of the Goddess" to worshipers, the eerie luminescence lasted for some time before fading back into the opalescent glow of the moon. Some whisper that the apparition was a sign of Selûne's displeasure, while others argue that the warding ring was a show of divine power, as the Lady of Silver defended herself from her eternal enemy, the goddess Shar. Whatever the cause of the spectral halo, the priests of the Moonmaiden below responded in kind, setting the spires of the House of the Moon alight with brightly shining lamplights and faerie fire magicks.
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