Waterdeep Online 1373 DR

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1373 – The Year of Rogue Dragons

| HAMMER 4 |

Tharantra Husband-Hunting Again
Notorious local "lady of pleasure" Nauloene Tharantra (of Sevenlamps Cut, Castle Ward), who for years ran the Heartflame festhall on Snail Street in Dock Ward until the Night of Pirates, is seeking a husband once more.

Tharantra has been wed nine times. Five husbands died (at least two, rumors whisper, with Tharantra's direct help); two fled Waterdeep loudly denouncing the Flouncing Flame's freespending, loving-all ways; one was revealed as a doppelganger and slain in the streets; and Tharantra threw out her last (the Innarlithan merchant Mharelk Thorlkan), paying to have their union broken. Announcing herself "sufficiently recovered from Thorlkan's cruelties," Tharantra took the stage at the Splendid Falcon theater and dancehall (Street of Bells, Castle Ward, east-front four doors north of the Pampered Traveler inn) in a striking gown made of crisscrossing chains and teardrop blue diamond "dangles," to tell the city she's seeking a mate once more.

The Night of Pirates befell late in the Uktar of the Year of the Shield. The pirate-lord Elro Starankh of the Nelanther, and three of his crews (ninety-six seadogs strong), visited the Heartflame and offered to wed every working-lass there. The bride-price was twenty dragons per head to Tharantra and ten thousand dragons each to the brides. All but two accepted, and Starankh set fire to the Heartflame in a wild, dancing celebration. The ornate Arrowsar Apartments now stand on the festhall site.

| HAMMER 18 |

Treasure Found in Sea Ward Well
City wells are covered to prevent casual contaminations (by the tossing into them of refuse, nightsoil buckets, pet bodies, and the bodies of murder victims or those folk hope to soon become murder victims), and both dredged and inspected regularly. Palace speakers say occasional stolen items and incriminating weapons are found therein, plus dropped water "dippers" and occasionally rings or other small personal items, but it's unlikely any substantial treasure could be successfully hidden in a well without immediate discovery.

However, the Courtyard of the Well north of Whim Street has apparently hosted a magically concealed treasure for some years. Watchful Order member Dormallen Rathanagor (of Rathangor's Mysteries, The Street of Silks, Castle Ward) was demonstrating an arcane eye spell to an apprentice yestermorn, demonstrating how it could see down the well if a light source was lowered in the water-bucket, when his inadvertent use of some arcane words triggered a magic left in place by someone else -- and a block of stone in the wall of the well flew out of its socket and up into his hands, yielding up its small but valuable cache of gemstones.

Rathangor steadfastly refuses to reveal what gems he gained or the words he uttered. The Palace has issued a public warning that the penalty for anyone caught "disturbing" city wells will be the same as for well poisonings: instant, on-the-spot execution.

| HAMMER 20 |

The 24th annual Estelmer Banquet (also known as the "Cacaphonous Conclave of Sagacious Sages and Learned Loremasters") took place today, in the Great Hall of the Cynosure. While not as large as similar gatherings held in the cities of Silverymoon and Berdusk, the Banquet usually attracts a large number of the city’s more sedentary intellegentsia and pundits, as the packed rows of tables tonight attested to.

| HAMMER 30 |

Word reaches the city that Ylraphon, a settlement on the Dragon Reach, was destroyed by a Flight of Dragons.

| CALENDAR DAY - MIDWINTER |

In taverns and festhalls across the city, the ale flows freely and roaring hearths blaze brightly as citizens gather to make agreements for the upcoming trade season, spin tales of heroes long gone and battles hard fought, dwell on the latest gossip (the plottings of Khelben Blackstaff, and the continuing Kelemvorite quest to rid the city of its' many phantoms seem to occupy the majority of such taverntattle), and make predictions for the newly-born year. A few notable highlights on the day:

o A small circle of Auril-worshippers gathered on the slopes of Mount Waterdeep at daybreak, clothed only in short shifts and appearing deep in prayer. As the first rays of the sun crested the Mount, soft nimbuses of bluish light enveloped the gathered faithful and, moments later, a light snowfall began. Shortly thereafter, the Frost Maiden's supplicants ended their prayer and disbanded. The snowfall continued for some hours afterwards, but never gathered in any appreciable amounts in the streets of the city.

o In a solemn ceremony, the druids of the Quiet Place (the chapel of Silvanus) cut specially-blessed mistletoe from their indoor gardens. Along with Lord Piergeiron and Guardcaptain Rulathon (both bedecked in white-tabardded chainmail), and an honor escort of city guardsmen, the druids made a circle of the city, stopping at each massive city gate to ritually hang sprigs of the mistletoe (a tradition dating back to the days of the Fallen Kingdom, designed to bring peace to all within the city walls for the next year).

o In what is fast becoming an annual tradition, the bard's school of New Olamn held its Silvertide Festival. Soon after nightfall, Olamn Square was set alight with colored lanterns and softly-glowing driftglobes. The centerpiece of the Square, the eerily-lifelike Three Giants statue, was lit in vibrant, multi-hued faerie fire, which crawled up and down the length of the statuary until daybreak. Costumed partygoers, wild dancers, Olamnite students and others took part in the wild festivities amid raucous music, pinwheeling Shou fireworks, and a seemingly endless supply of ale and zzar.

| ALTURIAK 1 |

Palace Fined over Outlander Injury

Magister Kaulyn Maurestyn today awarded the spice merchant Haumian Draethe of Tharsult 700 dragons from city coffers. In his judgment, Maurestyn decreed city "neglect in dealing with afore-reported perils" of crumbling stonework at the River Gate was the direct cause of the partial arch collapse a tenday ago that broke Draethe's arm, leg, and cart.

Though Watchful Order wizards took charge of the merchant's cart and runaway team almost immediately, and city-hired priests from the Plinth healed him of his injuries, Draethe suffered four days of lost sales and some spoilage of wares.

The judgment is expected to unleash a torrent of claims from citizens and visitors claiming past and present losses from similar perceived Palace maintenance failures, but Lord Piergeiron moved swiftly to stem such a flood by declaring, "The judgment of one magister in one case may differ from the judgments of others, in others."

| ALTURIAK 15 |

Chiming Gems Hit of Promenade

A three-day promenade has just ended in the Pegasipillars rental hall (on the High Road south-fronting Buckle Alley, Castle Ward). Its highlights were the yet-unsolved theft of a coffer of forty matched, white opals, and the display of gems enspelled to play tunes (as a series of faint, repeating chimes, when lit and gently warmed by candle flames). A handful of wealthy buyers, notably agents of several Waterdhavian noble families, purchased several of the gems.

Many cabals, costers, guilds, and mercantile associations come to Waterdeep to present promenades (called "trade fests" in Tethyr and "trademoots" in Cormyr and the Vilhon). Unlike a market or trading fair, where many merchants sell a variety of wares, a promenade is a public showing and sale by merchants dealing in a single "field" of wares.

The Handful of Stars promenade is a new event that the Gemcutters Fellowship announces at short notice (to cut down on thievery, it's rumored). The Gemcutters Fellowship is a loose association of jewel merchants in coastal cities from Luskan to Tashluta, and the Jewelers' Guild of Waterdeep officially denounced them a month ago. Despite their views about the fellowship, the guild made no move to prevent the promenade (after, strong and persistent rumors suggest, the Gemcutters presented a large gift of trade-bars to the guild).

| ALTURIAK 20 |

Today marks the festival of the Great Weave, one of the dozen High Festivals celebrated by the faithful of the trade goddess, Waukeen. While traditionally the least-observed of the Golden Lady's holy days (largely due to the bulk of her worshipers being absent from the city at this time of year), today saw a flurry of activity from the handful of priests in residence. Laskar Ilithair and his entourage visited each of the major temples in the city, discussing matters of faith and reinforcing old alliances.

| ALTURIAK 30 |

The Third Annual Snowbound Festival was held tonight at Mother Tathlorn's House of Healing and Pleasure, drawing many of the upper class residents still in the city. Touted as "one last festival" before the bulk of Waterdeep's richer inhabitants return from their southern winter hideaways, the event was deemed a success, surpassing last year's festivities. As before, the highlight of the evening was the contest to pick a "Lady Frost" and "Lord Icicle" (something akin to "King-and-Queen-for-a-Day") from among the contestants.

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Updated. Feel free to jump in at any time. Time is flying ...

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| CHES 1 |

Brawl Erupts after Guild Hikes Dues

The Old Guildhall on Gaustus Street, Trades Ward, was the scene of a wild fight this morning, when Master Turnstone of the Cellarers' and Plumbers' Guild announced a stiff hike in guild dues. Guildmembers formerly paid dues of 7 sp/month, but dues will now be levied at 4 gp/month for the remainder of the year, and 5 gp/month thereafter.

If, that is, Master Turnstone and his officers survive that long. An uproar occurred among guildmembers when rumors of the planned increase leaked out -- and members came to the Guildhall armed with pipes, picks, and hammers, obviously expecting trouble.

Trouble met their expectations, as defiant guildmembers rushed the front tables where the officers were gathered, loyalists hastened to defend them, and pitched battle broke out. Four Watch patrols answered alarm calls, cordoned off the hall, and summoned the Guard -- who were forced to use vials of sleepsmoke gas to quell hostilities.

Unconfirmed reports say dozens of guildmembers are dead, senseless and near death, or wounded. In fact, almost everyone who attended the meeting has at least one broken limb or extremity, and the interior of the Old Guildhall is a "shattered shambles."

| CHES 8 |

Word reaches the city that a pair of green dragons have been attacking merchant vessels sailing the sea lanes of Wealdath, off the coast of Tethyr.

| CHES 15 |

Confession in Flavauro Slaying

A Beacon Street grocer has admitted to stabbing the popular actor, dancer, and former adventurer Mistram Flavauro last month. The handsome, debonair Flavauro was notorious for his popularity with Waterdhavian ladies from all wards and walks of life, and many suspected his slaying was the work of an enraged husband, father, or brother of one of his sometimes thrice-daily conquests. If Armest Harrigo's confession is true, these suspicions were correct.

Harrigo, of Harrigo's Good Table (east-front Beacon, three doors south of its moot with Shoor Street), is a short, stout, bustling man of mild and breathless manner. Even Watch officers say he seems an unlikely physical specimen to catch and best the acrobatic, weapons-wise Flavauro in combat. Harrigo claims a customer told him Flavauro was hosting both of Harrigo's sisters (the unmarried Harrigo siblings dwell together above the grocery) in his luxurious tallhouse on Ivory Street, Sea Ward. Harrigo furiously hastened there, found this truth, and attacked Flavauro.

He says his sisters angrily bade him begone, and the naked Flavauro mocked his cleaver and turnip knife, laughing so wildly that Harrigo easily slashed the man's fingers with the one, and buried the other hilt-deep in Flavauro's belly. He says Flavauro backed away screaming and fell through a window to land impaled on the stony spears of heroic statues in his own garden below. Harrigo plundered the murdered man's wine cellar to calm his hysterical sisters, and led them home, reeling and giggling, in the dark hours -- much to the amusement of no less than six Watch patrols on the way.

Harrigo claims he'd defend his kin the same way again, and he confessed recently only because of visions sent him by holy Chauntea. Watch officers have recorded his words, but not yet said if Harrigo will stand trial. Over forty persons have confessed to Flavauro's slaying, but an anonymous Watch officer said details of Harrigo's confession make it the first to match "certain evidence" in the matter. A Watch guard remains on duty in Flavauro's many-times-plundered home.

| CHES 20-30 |

Fleetswake celebrations: The entire city has been gearing up for this last tenday in Ches, which is traditionally kicked off by the Annual Shipwright's Ball and then followed by countless nobles balls, guild galas, and neighborhood celebrations. The nobles and festhalls across the city are said to be spending an unheard-of amount of money on the proceedings, which promise to be the best in recent memory.
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| CHES 20 |

The Annual Shipwright's Ball at the Shipwright's House was held tonight, and drew many of Waterdeep's rich and famous. The decor of traditional maritime motifs, with blue and green sea-tones predominating, were extravagant. Enormous ice-sculptures, carved out of the frozen flanks of the Spine of the World and kept magically cold, were brought in through the North Gate by teams of drovers and arrayed about the grand Hall of Sails, their innards eerily aglow with colored magelights.

Indeed, the grandeur of the glacial sculptures and the school of illusory dolphins that swam and frolicked near the vaulted ceiling of the great hall were only outdone by the massively ornate regalia of two of the city's priesthoods, those of the Bitch-Queen Umberlee and the Lady of All Trade, Waukeen. High Priest Laskar Ilithair of Waukeen, attired in open robes seemingly made of spun gold and platinum undergarments, with enormous slashed and fluted sleeves that reflected the colors of the many flashing gemstones that orbited about his head, spent the night chatting up the city's trade barons and making arrangements for the Highcoin gathering at the end of the month.

Mirroring the opulence of the Waukeenar delegation, Dread High Trident Meiritid Archneie arrived in sweeping aquamarine vestments complete with high fanlike collar, blazing abalone breastpiece, and an animated train that faded into roiling sea foam at the tail end. Flanked by members of the Ulbrinter clan (who have hinged much of their reputation and wealth on establishing the Umberlant faith in the city, in the hopes of currying favor with the Sea Queen and gaining an edge on their maritime rivals), the Dread High Trident was often the center around which the rest of the ball ebbed and flowed.
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| CHES 21 |

Faithful of the god Lathander partook in the Song of Dawn today, a holy festival celebrating the arrival of the vernal equinox. The Spires of the Morning seemed to come alight in the morning rays, resounding with the voices of those assembled, a blending of vocal harmonies and counterharmonies of beautiful complexity that was audible for an astonishingly far distance. ________________________________________

| CHES 21 |

Tespergates Ball: Kicking off the widely-anticipated round of Fleetswake noble parties, the Tesper villa was host to a rousing soiree that lasted until well after the first rays of the morning sun reached over the villa walls. The entertainment featured a beast-tamer and his trained monsters, as well as several "small-spells" magelings which kept the revelers amused amid their carousing and hobnobbing.
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| CHES 27 |

The annual Naval Ship Races were held today, led by the Raerimyn and the Seastallion, the twin flagships of the Waterdhavian fleet.
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| CHES 29 |

Merchant Slays Rival in Bizarre Attack

A long-standing feud between trade rivals ended in tragedy early this morn when Vlaeren Tonstal, proprietor of Tonstal's Beast Remedies (of north-front Sulmor Street, North Ward), was murdered by another natural medicines merchant, Delgor Emmerthyl of Emmerthyl's Wildwonders (north-front Tarnath Street, North Ward). Witnesses say Emmerthyl clubbed Tonstal to the ground with a stuffed dire rat, shattering his skull, and then thrust the rat into Tonstal's mouth, returning to his own shop to letter a placard, which he returned and placed in the obviously dead Tonstal's hands.

The placard read: "Here lies one of the most evil men in Waterdeep, lawbreaking and greedy to the last, who finally choked on one of his kin."

North Ward neighbors of the two (who both rented out the floors above their shops to tenants, and lived a few doors apart on luxurious Saerdoun Street) say Tonstal and Emmerthyl had waged a war of increasingly nasty pranks, hoaxes and dark rumors, and heated words for years. The beginnings of this feud are forgotten, perhaps even by Emmerthyl (who's now in Watch custody, awaiting trial).

Fair Seas Festival: Fleetswake ended amid much pomp and pageantry, leaving the streets empty of all except the members of the Dungsweepers Guild, who were faced with the daunting prospect of cleaning the streets of a tenday's worth of debris.
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| CHES 30 |

A grand gala was held in the Cynosure today, celebrating Highcoin, one of the Twelve High Festivals of the Waukeenar faith. Spoken accolades, accompanied by trumpet fanfares, hailed the faithful for amassing such wealth, both that displayed in the Fleetswake festivities and the coinage and sparkling gemstones that overflowed the donation urns placed throughout the cavernous hall.

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| TARSAKH 15 |
Word has reached Waterdeep of a titanic battle in Calimport that laid waste to great portions of the city. An enormous blue dragon attacked the city, but shattered the legendary Idol of Bhaelros (an aspect of Talos), unleashing an avatar of the deity – which quickly attacked the dragon. The blue was eventually driven off, but the city guard was left with fighting off Bhaelros’ avatar.

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| MIRTUL 1 |
A great fire tore through the Sprawls early yesterday morning, consuming most of the structures of the shanty-town. Rumors abound of a spell-battle in the House of the Seven Stars – the Red Wizard enclave – or that the Red Wizards themselves deliberately set the blaze.

The Lords have taken immediate action and finally had the Sprawls declared illegal, a subject that has been of much contention for the past several years. Therefore, once the last fires go out, no building will be allowed to be built in their place.

| MIRTUL 16 |
Folk in the city are saying the great red dragon Klauth attacked Mirabar a few days ago. Luckily, the city’s dwarven defenders were able to drive him off.

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| KYTHORN 17 |
At least a dozen dragons attacked the Host Tower of the Arcane in Luskan! Word is that the entire west arm of the multi-spired structure was completely ripped off before the gathered mages of the city were able to drive off the wyrms.

| FLAMERULE 14 |
The great red wyrm Balagos, “The Flying Flame”, attacked the warring cities of Mintar and Saelmur several days ago, unleashing a firestorm that killed over half the population of both cities. His attack left both cities in a détente, as neither was able to muster the troop strength necessary to make a credible attack on the other.

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| FLAMERULE 15 |
Maeci returns to Waterdeep and shares her tale, telling of her adventures across the Heartlands with the Crimson Wing. Her quest ultimately led them to the drow city of Maerimydra beneath Daggerdale, where they ended the raids and strange corrupting influence coming from the city.

| ELEASIAS 15 |
A great red dragon recently attacked the capital city of Callidyrr in the Moonshaes, setting fire to large swaths of homes and the central castle. The red was only driven off due to the efforts of a circle of powerful druids, and the damage left in its wake will take years to rebuild.

| ELEINT 16 |

Word is, an enormous blue dragon recently slaughtered several giant clans in the remote kingdom of Hartsvale.

| MARPENOTH 17 |
A bronze dragon has recently attacked the notorious pirate haven of the Nelanther Isles. It left the port of Skaug a smoking ruin and sunk at least a dozen pirate ships, both at mooring and at sea.

| UKTAR 14 |

The small, sleep village of Uluvin, located between Secomber and Ironforge, was recently destroyed by an unknown dragon. No survivors were left to identify the wyrm.

| NIGHTAL 15 |

Two black dragons attacked Leilon, engulfing the city in a noxious, burning mist and slaughtering over half the city’s militia.

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| NIGHTAL 15 |
Taman re-forges House Kholarrn’s alliance with Shade when Prince Rivalen approaches him regarding a renewed friendship.


... that's all for this year!