Reporters this issue:
Andy Merritt (amerritt@armltd.co.uk)
Leonard Scott (lenscott@aol.com)
Mike Phillips (msphil@birds.wm.edu)
William Knight (anwtk@acad2.alaska.edu)
DM's note: Riding "long-ride," allows the three mounts to move at 2 1/2 times the unencumbered move rate of the slowest mount, as in a "forced march," rather than being considered "mounts." see PHB p120.
Impiltur: City of Dilpur:
FREAK STORM WRECKS ESDC CARAVEL, CREW LOST!
The Eastern Sea Delivery Coster, which serves the Inner Sea region
lost a merchant vessel last week in an unseasonable storm two days out
of Dilpur on its way to Alaghon in Turmish. An ESDC official privately
put the blame on rival merchant company, Iron Throne, but others have
suggested that the ESDC has been less than polite to priests of
Umberlee recently. An Impilturian war vessel had said it spotted
evidence of a sahuagin war band in the area several days prior to the
sinking.
The Coster has expressed interest in conducting a salvage
operation to recover the undisclosed merchandise, and is currently
seeking to hire a suitable group.
Cormyr: Eveningstar:
AUCTION TO BE HELD
The former mansion of reclusive wizard, Wyndralee, reverted to
city ownership today in Eveningstar. She was last seen some 20 years
ago and is presumed dead. The house, on the outskirts of town near the
Starwater River, has fallen into disrepair and local rumor has it that
the manse is haunted. The auction will be held at the Lathander
temple, the House of the Morning, in one tenday, and will be presided
over by Eveningstar's Herald, Tzin Tzummer.
Vilhon Reach: Firesteap Mountains:
TROUBLE AT MINES
There have been a rash of unexplained and unusual accidents at the
mines owned by the Miner Equality League in the Firesteap mountains
south of Innarlith along the Golden Road. Two months ago, there was a
cave-in in a well-traveled portion of one of the mine shafts, and more
recently, there has been a fire in the azurite processing plant. In
addition, two miners were found dead from unknown causes. No reasons
or explanations have been given as to why these things are occurring.
The M.E.L. is a cooperative effort among various miners to provide
temporary employment mining azurite when veins of more profitable
gemstones are not available.
Amn: Athkatla:
EXPLOSION AT ASSASSIN TRAINING FACILITIES
Early last week in the hours just before dawn there was an
explosion just out of the city Athkatla near the compound where the
nefarious group known as the Shadow Thieves regularly trains. No
injuries have been reported, but Watch personnel have not been allowed
into the compound to verify this. Eyewitnesses to the blast report
that the sky became as light as midday, and that a "...horrible cloud
of gas rose up into the sky, and it smelled bad," according to a local
shepherd on duty that night. No groups have come forth to claim
responsibility, but it is known that the Harpers have tried to prevent
the activities of the Shadow Thieves before.
Waterdeep: Trades Ward:
RED KNIGHT GAINS NEW FOLLOWERS
A group of warriors has started a new organization devoted to the
Red Knight, an underling of the Power, Tempus. This organization
called simply Warriors of the Red Knight, is seeking new converts and
intends to construct new shrines throughout the Realms. Several
clerics of Helm have already defected, but none of the priestly
Warriors have yet been granted spells from the Red knight.
Spokesperson, Moruna of the Map, says it is only a matter of time:
"The Red Knight will surely honor our pleas if we only have faith. She
must be sure of our commitment before she will allow her name to be
worshipped separately from that of Tempus."
Religious experts note that the Red Knight is extremely lawful,
but just as war-like as the Lord Of Battles, Tempus. Should she gain
followers, it will likely be from the "warhawkish" element of Helm's
worshippers or the more regimented followers of Tempus.
Cormyr: Marsember:
SHIPMENTS OF COFFEE AND MINGARI ARRIVED
Yesterday a ship of the Trueshield Trading Priakos, the One-Eyed
Saloon, docked in the ports of Marsember with a shipment of coffee and
mingari from far off countries in the Shining South. Coffee is a spice
which is made into a drink similar to tea by soaking the ground seeds
in hot water. Mingari is a little known spice which (it is rumored) is
made into a paste for the basting of sweetmeats. Both are being sold
on the docks: coffee for 3 gp per pound, and mingari for 65 gp per
pound.
Additionally, a group of warriors from the exotic realm of Ulgarth
arrived on the ship with some of the finest warhorses to be seen this
side of Waterdeep. They are dressed oddly for knights in not wearing
metal armor, and their hair is styled short and near the tops of their
heads. They are staying at the Roaring Griffon across from the King's
Tower, and have told amazing stories of their journey to get here.
FORGOTTEN REALMS CLASSIFIEDS
WANTED: Brave adventurers to protect and investigate the goings-on at the azurite mines of the Miner Equality League of Firesteap Mount. Good pay plus housing and life insurance provided by employer. Apply to Requid, the League's security contractor, in Innarlith [Vilhon Reach].
FOR SALE: Two room wattle and daub farmhouse on 3 acres of corn and potatoe fields. Has own well and "outdoor facilities." Just inside the King's Forest near Hilp. 650 gp OBO [Cormyr].
** Maaling's Arms and Mail **
Come enter our 4th annual dart-throwing championship and win a gold- plated dagger engraved with your name! To be held on twelth of Eleint (September) at Maaling's shop on Iron-working Street near the Battering Wave temple. Entry fee is 1 gold piece, and practice starts at opening (two hours after breakfast) [Tsurlagol, The Vast].
WANTED: Undersea recovery team for the Eastern Sea Delivery Coster. Needed team of 15-20 men or women to recover shipment lost at sea outside of Dilpur in Impiltur. The ESDC will provide equipment and 25 gold per day per person. Apply in person to Wabi the Wolf (ESDC Training Captain) at the Newcomer's Inn on Dark Wyvern Lane in the city of Ilmwatch in Impiltur.
Popups: Ulgarth recipe using mingari.
Take meat and remove bones. Chop fine, and add mustard, sugar,
mingari, and mextil (another Ulgarth spice). Mix well. Make fine
pastry dough, and place a spoonful of meat paste inside a ball of
dough. Bake until done, and enjoy [Ulgarth].
Leonard Scott: lenscott@aol.com
Mike Phillips: msphil@birds.wm.edu
Port Harvest: The land of the Ku'Ron Vor'shaw:
REALM KNIGHT ESTABLISHES CHAPTER HOUSE IN PORT HARVEST
20,222/ 01/ 20
Sir Volchak, official representative for the Order of Realm
Knights, was on hand to open the first chapter house of the Realm
Knights outside their homeland the Kingdom of Swords.
Most surprising was the agreement reached by the Kingdom of Swords
and the Ku'Ron Vor'shaw that allowed the knightly order to establish
their first official base of operations in another country.
The Ku'Ron stated that the agreement was reached in order, "To
build better relations with our hatchling kin across the water and the
protection offered by the Realm Knights is unsurpassed by any group."
Briten Constabulary: River Crossing:
SORCERESS ESCAPES CONFINEMENT
20,222/ 01/ 33
Chief Constable Luggin of the Briten Constabulary reported today
that the Sorcercess Issceald escaped from the maximum security section
of the Briten Institute for the Criminally Insane.
The Chief Constable and Militia Commander Samuell Trill have
mobilized all available forces for use in massive searchs of the area.
Understandably the community of River Crossing is up in arms.
Five years ago, the Sorceress Issceald led a band of unlife creatures
in an attack on the Wizard Arminster Crowhand's tower located on the
outskirts of River Crossing.
In the ensuing battle, thirty resisdents were rounded up by
Issceald's forces, slaughtered and then magickly incorporated into her
unlife forces. Other residents were slaughtered and used as a food
source for the same unlife troops.
Word has been sent to Wizard Crowhand's assitants, one of whom is
expected to arrive within a day. Others have promised to arrive
within the week.
A reward of 1,000 gold paeons (coins) is being offered for the
capture of Issceald.
The village of Sounik: The land of the Ku'Ron Vor'shaw:
HEKAU STORM APPEARS AGAIN IN DIAMOND SEA
20,222/ 02/ 02
Once again, a great magic storm has formed on the Diamond Sea. It
is not know if any local vessels have been sucked through this time.
However, a fast packet vessel was dragged through from the other
side. Fishing folk from the village of Sounik say that the "Rosa
Maria" out of Granada, Spaneia was caught in the storm on their side
and whisked through without warning. It appears as if the crew from
the other side are unfamiliar with the common occurrence of Hekau
Storms.
The packet vessel was severely damaged and managed to limp into
the harbor at Sounik where repairs will be made. Estimated time to
replace two slit masts, some hull plating, sails, and other sundries
items is three weeks.
The mayor of Sounik, Captain Milligan, has promised to help
expedite repairs in any way that he can.
William Knight: anwtk@acad2.alaska.edu
19th Dec
The next day the part talked to a more cooperative priestess
(although somehow she managed to annoy Eddie, who went off in a huff),
and confirmed what Robert had said, but had no real new information.
Thinking Greenmoor would be the best place to investigate the
second ring, and then to Secomber to talk to Malcolm Mowbray, the
party left Clearwater for Greenmoor.
Arriving without incident in the late afternoon, Scauny the
Quarrymaster was found and asked about the missing barge and its
cargo, and about Melinda's disappearance - although helpful, he had
little information except to ask the innkeeper and the butcher about
other people who lived in Greenmoor before the massacre.
The innkeeper, Owin Barrow, explained that he fought in the
Troubles, but didn't like to talk about it much, as it brought back
bad memories. The other survivors were Brin the butcher and Jerez the
grocer. It turned out that they both blamed Malcolm Mowbray for the
Massacre, and weren't happy about his daughter marrying into the
Baron's family. Jerez turned out to be Jerez Sorter, the likely
inheritor of the second ring. Eddie & finbar talked to him about it,
Finbar pretending an interest in tales of the massacre. Jerez agreed
to bring his (second) wife to the pub in the evening to show them the
ring, which had been hidden during the massacre.
At the pub, Jerez and Annie turned up and her wedding ring looked
like it was the second of the pair, and indeed showed up magic under
Det. Magic. They left to see to their baby, and shortly after a
watchman rushed into the pub and declared there was a fire at a nearby
farm. Volunteers were needed to help out immediately.
20th Dec
The next day, after some discussion it was decided that the party
would take the quick route to Secomber across the moor. There they
would talk to Malcolm Mowbray.
Several copses and a hollow were investigated on they way with
nothing to report, and then in another copse a small cottage was
found. After knocking produced no response, and the door was found to
be locked, Eddie's autopilot set him picking it. However, before
actually opening it the party had a closer look thru some of the
windows and spotted an old crone moving around.
After knocking much louder she opened the door, and was surprised
to find it unlocked. She asked the party to go away as she was busy,
but they came in anyway. The place was clearly a witch's cottage, and
she a witch. Mob ended up buying a slightly substandard (but cheap)
love potion, and the party discovered she sometimes dealt with a local
orc shaman.
Eddie locked the door on the way out and overheard her mumbling
(using his earring of clairaudience) and heard a reference to
villagers coming and visiting her, but could gather no more than that.
Arriving at Secomber in the late afternoon, Eddie booked a room at
the halfling tavern, The Silver Key, whilst the rest of the party
preferred The Rusty Grating, a more human oriented inn. Visiting
Malcolm Mowbray's Bakery, the party met his teenage son Mark who said
that Malcolm had been out of town for over a week, and he had not
spoken to the Baron's messenger. However, Malcolm's assistant, Arnie
Black, a large but quiet fellow came downstairs and it turned out he
had spoken to the messenger saying that Melinda had not been here.
Malcolm was currently on a business trip to Daggerford, and wouldn't
be back here before the wedding, but would go straight to Clearwater.
21st Dec
The next day Eddie got up early and visited the blacksmith,
another of Derval's brothers, Dwain Grimshield, who recommended
getting Derval to fix the broken magic dagger. Over breakfast it was
decided that the next move would be to head off to Clearwater and then
to Greenmoor.
Mob opened the box, and found a silver ring inside. Eddie talked
to two of the people who had been involved in the Troubles. One, a
farmer wasn't very helpful, but the mayor had only good things to say
about Malcolm, not blaming him for the Greenmoor Massacre.
The party arrived in Clearwater early in the afternoon, and spoke
to Baron Perne briefly about the messenger who had reported that
Melinda wasn't in Secomber, and to Mrs Mowbray about Malcolm's
whereabouts. This revealed that he had popped into Clearwater on his
way down to Daggerford about two weeks before, but could well have
returned not calling into Clearwater on the way back, particularly if
he went via Greenmoor for some extra trading, then again he might
still be in Daggerford ... The priestess of Eldath confirmed that
Melinda was not under the influence of a love potion during the
wedding.
Leaving as it was getting dark, the party headed for Greenmoor,
but were attacked by 8 wolves on the way. 2 were frightened off with
light and colour spray spells and the other 6 killed, although one
horse was dead and most of the party were badly hurt. During the
combat Finbar hit himself with his scimitar, Mairenne's bowstring
snapped and Eddie hit two wolves critically, but was bitten critically
back.
Andy Merritt: amerritt@armltd.co.uk