EFU:R Gossip, Major Events, and Rumors (IC Knowledge)

[Caster13]

::[ Ches 24th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

It was quiet in Freedom Square when the sound of a piercing explosion suddenly burst throughout Upper Sanctuary. An intense and long lasting earthquake followed. Those who made their way found a flickering and mirage-like image of a large rock in the middle of the square. Once some puzzled out that the image was actually of something in the illusion, a few curious folk took off their rings of Sanctuary to investigate.

The rumours that follow say that what they found was a chaos battle scene. In the middle of the square of the illusion stood a large, magnificent ruby gem nearly six feet tall. Surrounding it were adventurers attempting to fight off wave after wave of sinister and swarming shadows.

Amongst the shadows a massive lumbering one that seemed to ignore the adventurers attempting to stop its advance. As the battle raged around it, the massive shadow grabbed a hold of the ruby gem which instantly began to turn dark with its touch. Patches of shadow and darkness grew around the ruby but before it could be entirely covered, the ruby flared with a brilliant light that burned the large shadow away along with all the others.

It's said that, in the process of destroying the shadows, the gem also cracked and shattered. Breaking into multiple large pieces, the the fragments of the large ruby shot out in multiple directions, piercing the walls, ceiling, and floor of the caves--punching large holes through thick stone and rock.

Of the many ruby fragments that scattered in all directions, only one remained to be picked up. This fragment was said to end up in the hands of a dwarf who was a part of a newly arrived adventuring group.

Upon hearing this, many commoners quickly whisper their worries about what sort of omen the large ruby might be. And what trouble was brought to Sanctuary...

[Howlando]

::[ Ches 27th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

Rumors of wild battle, bloodshed, and hostages involving first Wayfinder Melanie Coppertop and later Watcher Ksenia Foltyn spread among the people of Sanctuary. It's said that Wayfinder Copptertop was taken below by Edwyn Nibley and his allies, and later a fierce and bloody rescue effort was made organized by Watcher Foltyn and her allies. Having crept invisible directly into the Lower Fortress, the rescue group avoided the attention of most of the gangs who prowl the lower streets and were able to have the advantage of surprise. In the bloody confusion, Nibley and his long-time ally Justin Blaine both disappeared and - although Wayfinder Coppertop was freed - Sergeant Foltyn was captured. With both sides unsure of where Nibley and Blaine had disappeared to, the vociferous Sergeant Foltyn was freed with a ransom of some thousands.

The next day, a sending rings out across Sanctuary:

::[ Spellguard Broadcast : The Reformed Order of the Spellguard salutes Sanctuary Patriot Zahir Yn Utem for his capture of the dangerous Lowersmen Justin Blaine & Edwyn Nibley. The bounty has been collected and Sanctuary is safer because of it. ]::

Some folk in Lower are seen to be openly weeping in the streets, with most simply shrugging their shoulders at the inevitability of it all, whereas in Upper the mood is decidedly more celebratory. It's even said one particular besotted Worminger cheering his death over his Sanctuary Gin grew so drunken that he accidentally stumbled off of a bridge and plummeted to his death to the cavern floor far below.

[Howlando]

...and then, less than an hour later.:

::[ Unauthorised Dunwarren Sending by Mad Marge Miggsley the Scrapgirl : Oh you ugly rat bastards. Eddie Nibs was the second sweetest boy that there ever was. Well I ain`t sweet, and now you`re going to have to deal with me. GET READY FOR BLOODY, RINGSCABS. ]::

[Caster13]

::[ Ches 27th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

During a quiet lull in the dark, the doors of the House of Governance suddenly burst open as commoners and civil servant clerks fled out into Freedom Square, screaming in frightful terror.

Those brave enough to rush within found the Office of the Herald barred by darkness and huge lumbering shadows that block the entrance ways.

Within, the Herald could be heard preparing the sending sphere with desperate urgency before another woman's voice--projected into the minds of all with a sending stone--spoke up:

Attention people of this last, pitiful Sanctuary. You may have heard--or perhaps even witnessed--the arrival and destruction of a certain Ruby these past few darks. There are those who will tell you that these rubies are sacred to Sune. And these same people may tell you that they must gather these sacred things for some greater good or some other silly hogwash such as that.

I will remind you all of something now: Sune is dead. And dead gods have no use for anything. And so, should you happen to obtain this ruby or fragments of it, know that I shall be more than willing to grant such people great and powerful boons should they deliver such to me.

Some of you know me as Cassandra Heartlight. Some of you do not know who I am. But everybody knows the darkness that you exist in. Merely call out to it and I shall hear your words. Deliver to me the ruby fragments and you shall learn just how powerful my words are.

The woman who made the sending, it was said, addressed the crowd with faint interest before she--and the dark shadows--disappeared...

[Letsplayforfun]

A minor thing, amongst the great battles and tales of Sanctuary.

But today, after a small chat with a Watcher, an old woman threw herself down a chasm.

Although those present say it was despair that pushed her to act, some people wonder why she would do so right after speaking to the Watch.

[DeputyCool]

The people of both Upper and Lower begin to notice a larger than usual number of new arrivals, numbering nearly three dozen. They trickle in and out of Upper and Lower, meek and emaciated. When pressed about where so many of them came from, so suddenly, they relay a frankly bizarre tale:

A group of perhaps a hundred people sheltered in an abandoned surface city, living out a frightened and impoverished existence in the harsh surface environment, were found by would-be drow slavers. After weeks in the hands of their new masters, an eclectic group of misfit saviors arrived. Many speak of a man who glowed with a heavenly light, of a woman with devilish purple eyes, or of a strange (and perhaps insane) lizard-creature. Still others speak of the more relatable human and elf mages who seemed to speak for the group of freedom fighters. Still, the common element becomes clear: each of the former slaves praises the group calling themselves "Sojourners" for liberating them from certain death.

Most of the refugees, after purchasing supplies with coin provided by the strange planar travelers, return to the hidden ship to dwell with their rescuers. Some refuse, however, saying that the membership policies of the Sojourner's are too lax, and that while grateful for their assistance, they could never dwell amongst such freaks.

[Howlando]

::[ Tarsakh 4th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

Rumors spread in Lower Sanctuary of a strange construction project occurring in the center of the old ruins of the Canal Ward.... lights and the sound of massive movements of earth, all watched over by tight-lipped mercenaries in anonymous grey armor....

[Howlando]

::[ Tarsakh 9th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

Sanctuary is in an absolute uproar and state of near panic.

After a series of illegal and taunting sendings from Mad Marge, the forces of Upper arrayed in defense of Wayfinder Hall. The attack, however, came at the House of Heroes... this venerable edifice, a towering monument to Sanctuary's adventuring population, was bombed. After a raging fire, sections of the wall began to collapse and the House is believed largely destroyed...

As the Watchers chased after the first bombers and others worked frantically to put the fires of the House of Heroes out, a second - smaller - explosion was heard. This time Wayfinder Hall was struck, and much of its front was collapsed into rubble.

Mad Marge, Aracknar Blackgem, and other unknown assailants are believed to be responsible.

[Howlando]

::[ Tarsakh 9th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

A series of sendings:

This is Director Quickfeet. Today, Tarsakh the Ninth, a day that shall never be forgotten. This day, the people of Sanctuary saw taken from them brothers, sisters, children...

For no reason, no reason beyond the pursuit of petty vengeance and bloodlust... indeed, this was not a battle that Sanctuary asked for. It was a battle that Sanctuary worked and labored, with every ounce of its being, to avoid.

But the rubble of the House of Heroes, from whence merry songs ring no more, reminds us that avoidance we can do no longer. This battle has come to our doorstep, and we shall answer the call. ]

People of Sanctuary, I swear to you- this shall never be permitted to happen again, so help me Tyr, blessed and almighty. Justice will be done.

Got your Tavern. Got your Hall. Got your boy Zahir - guess what, turns out he was a THRALL for ORMULAX and delivered poor sweet Nibs to that damn beholder before getting gold from you lot.

And, some hour later, another explosion... this time in Lower. In apparent retribution for the attacks, Spellguard and Upper forces - authorized, it's said, by an enraged Director Quickfeet - bombed the Cathedral of the Ascension.

[Howlando]

::[ Tarsakh 12th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

Rumors spread of Director Abala Quickfeet being kidnapped by the feared Dwarven Bandit Aracknar Blackgem at the Upper Gate. Subsequently an unauthorized sending from Mad Marge herself claimed that she would meet at the In Between with terms for the return of the Director.

In exchange for the director, it's said Marge demanded 15,000 gold, the release of her imprisoned parents, and a paid holiday for all employees of the Workmill to be called "Marge Day." Although at first everything seemed to be going her way, towards the end of the negotiation Director Quickfeet somehow escaped from where she was imprisoned below - supposedly a dwarf named Krenshaw, later offered a medal for his service, was responsible.

With the hostage gone, Mad Marge was attacked by the combined forces of the Watchers and Spellguard and other Upper Folk and forced to flee, cursing and screaming insults, into the Machine. The elderly couple was returned to the Serena Tower, the gold re-distributed, and there are no plans for any holiday for the workers of the Workmill....

[DeputyCool]

Late in the night Director Abala Quickfeet announced that the wanted criminal, Aracknar Blackgem,  bandit and kidnapper, had been captured. Blackgem, wanted for terrorizing the city with his banditry and the abduction of more than one Director, was handed over to the Director, though few know by who.

What followed was a short affair, with the Director executing the dwarf herself in Freedom Square. Blackgem is said to have been somewhat mad during the event, proving himself once and for all the greatest creature of avarice seen in the city by conning a man out of two-thousand gold even while he awaited execution, only to throw the money in the air and let it surround him as he was beheaded.


The people of Sanctuary rest a bit easier, knowing they no longer have to clutch their purses quite so tightly.

[Caster13]

:[ Tarsakh 24th : 1384 DR ]::

Rumours quickly spread of the arrival of Lady Veronique Pallione, a beautiful spellcaster who arrived within the illusion with the Rosethorn Mercenary Company in tow. Given an amicable yet cautious welcome by Prefect Aden Connley, the self-involved and narcissistic woman claimed to be seeking the Ruby Fragments of Sune and promised reward and riches to those who brought her what she desires.

After making her purpose within the Underdark known, the woman and the mercenary company departed the illusion and made for parts of the Underdark unknown.

A few hours after the departure of the new arrivals, a series of earthquakes--with varying intensity and duration--rumbles through the dark caves surrounding Dunwarren. Many are quick to dismiss the quakes following the woman's arrival a mere coincidence but others wonder just what sort of magic she is capable of...

[Howlando]

::[ Tarsakh 24th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

A series of startling events this dark began with a simple sending, that Sergeant Tacitus Martialis and Watcher cohorts had been overborne by a band of necromancers somewhere in the Low Caverns. A frantic band of concerned citizens led by another Watcher was seen hurrying from Sanctuary to confront these kidnappers and returned less than an hour later, battered and bruised but with three of the assailants in tow.

After being marched into the Watchouse, it was announced there would be a trial for one and a public execution for the others. Scarcely had this message sunk in, before an alarm bell began to ring deafeningly through the streets of Upper, with a call for the city's defenders to hasten to the Public Housing Vault.

Within the streets of the Vault a tense drama began to unfolded as it was revealed that two of these "Resolute Brethren" who escaped capture by the Watchers had infiltrated the shield and held a score of hostages within the Beetle and Baby inn. Having fortified the building with a number of undead minions, a standoff developed over the following hours.

One terrified woman emerged from the inn to deliver a list of demands, including the freedom of those captured along with something taken from the necromancers. Each demand was evidently agreed to in turn, with the threat that every soul inside would be slaughtered should any refusal or rescue attempt be made.

Onlookers watched as the men held for execution were presented to a negotiator, in the form of a floating human skull, for inspection and then permitted to leave with the disarmed Director Connell-Smythe Falconer.

Eventually as the dark wore on, the Watchers were allowed to send in a private to inspect the hostages, and the men within emerged to be escorted from the city in safety for the return of the Director. Shockingly, a small withered girl by the name of "Molly" pleaded to be allowed to accompany them, and was taken in hand by a sinister figure referred to as "Ghormant Oderian". The strange group was watched to shuffle through the armed mob, towards Starag's Rest, but in a shocking turn of events Sergeant Martialis is said to have ordered his  host to descend and kill both hostage takers.

A short brawl ensued, with rampaging skeletal warriors battling hopelessly against the citizenry and Watchers. In the chaos it is said one of the necromancers made good his escape, whilst the other was cut down by the brave sergeant still clutching his new ward.

In the aftermath it is said the freed Necromancers were pursued, with an elven wayfinder and member of the cult being killed. As peace returns to Sanctuary, many wonder how these extremists were allowed to strike into the very heart of Sanctuary, and what these Brethren might do in retaliation for the killings of their own...

[Howlando]

::[ Tarsakh 27th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

Rumors spread in the Sanctuary below and above that the long-running and mysterious construction has been completed in the Canal Ward. A lift now extends from the Sanctuary above to the Canal under the control, it's said, of Director Gould.

With rumors of Director Quickfeet recently having returned from a trade mission upon the Lake, it's widely believed that the goods produced by the Workmill will be flowing down this lift and from there to different settlements out upon the vast Dark Lake.

[Howlando]

::[ Mirtul 12th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

Sanctuary's people are shocked and frightened by the news that the at times controversial but generally trusted Director Abala Quickfeet died during an encounter with the Dread Empire. Groups of citizens are seen to be reading and re-reading Director Gould's speech and wondering fearfully how the face of their Sanctuary might change....