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

[Winston Martin]

::[Mirtul 23rd : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

A disturbing rumor circulates among hard-bitten hunters and veteran traders and slowly spreads to the public: that a Watcher was abducted near the outskirts of the city, carried to the walls of Mur and there eaten alive. Who the man was is unclear, yet of the villains it is said were an ogre, a half orc, and their gnome slave. For a brief time gossiping neighbors grow quiet when patrolling Watchers pass nearyby, in sympathy and fear.

[Howlando]

::[ Mirtul 23rd : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

Some citizens remark with some interest that the Watchers have a new third branch, "The Frontier Branch." Supposedly formed of what remains of the old Wayfinders, it's widely hoped by some that this new branch will help the Watchers bring the fight to Sanctuary's many enemies beyond the Shield. Others are heard to be darkly speculating that this sudden interest in events beyond Sanctuary is sure to bring trouble.

Elsewhere, the old damaged and dilapidated Wayfinder Hall has been boarded up and locked shut...

[Winston Martin]

::[ Mirtul 26th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

A great melee on the Low Road today when several adventurers set out to hunt the ogre slaver Vrarikorg and his fiendish minions! The would-be heroes led by the warrior Rand were nearly victorious in finishing off the beast, but in the end were overcome by sheer ferocity. It is said the creature let them kiss his feet for mercy and were set free, all but one, whose mouthiness determined  she would be taken into slavery. Nica Smithson of the Spellguard Auxiliary was purchased by an ogre guard to be made it's bride. A warning perhaps to all defeated enemies of the value of contrition.

[Winston Martin]

::[ Mirtul 26th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

The old men and desperate drunks at the House of Heroes have something to tell worthy of the place's name, and which puts warmth and pride into them.

Though no prize nor coin was proffered, when a call went out to help goodly folk in need few were surprised to see Alvarn Granitesoul of the Society step forward. Under his command were loyal Raran Roundbrick, cynical Jasmine Ilvastarr, and the caveman Eoghan Gwrn. Together the group tracked a caravan of slavers and their cargo out of Mur and into a burgeoning hive of Hook Horrors nestled within the Badlands.

When most would have turned back at the sight of hundreds of the creatures swarming and feasting upon the slaves, these four waded in, desperate to save whoever they could. Out of that stinking pit they rescued two small children and brought them safely home.

[cmenden]

::[ First of Kythorn : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

Word spreads quickly across the Dark Lake of a massive force of over a dozen strong armed and armored adventurers assaulting the hideout of Vrarikorg's Vandals in the shadow of Fort Mur.

Nearly all of the Vandals were captured in the process and dragged away by these adventurers, their ultimate fates unknown to the denizens of the Dark Lake. Vrarikorg himself, somehow escaped their clutches and many a slaver and mercenary alike can be seen toasting to his future success.

[cmenden]

::[ Kythorn 11th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

A dark day for the residents of Lower Sanctuary as news circulates about the death of Orin Sidian, high priest of Ibrandul. According to those present, mad cultists of Ghaunadaur, a human and a halfling, barged into the Sacred Cave and demanded a tithe of flesh from those present. Orin Sidian and Andalee Farida denied them and the cultists proceeded to attack everyone within. After the battle, Orin was dragged off by the cultists and sacrificed to their foul god.
 
Residents grow more suspicious, with many heard voicing fears that they or their loved ones would be next.

[Caster13]

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

A rare occurrence in Sanctuarian history occurred this dark. While plans had likely been underway for a great many darks, the Mustering Order held today by Agents of the Spellguard revealed that an attack was to be made upon the Rosethorn Company and the woman they served known as Lady Veronique Palionne--who had been attacking citizens in their search for mysterious Ruby Fragments. A plan was explained, orders to prepare were given, and soon after a small army of Sanctuary Watchers, Spellguard Auxiliarymen, Society Ordinants and other citizen-adventurers departed the gates of Sanctuary.

Strangely, however, as the small army marched through the abandoned mines towards the Dark Lake, they found themselves harried by treacherous traps and skirmishing mercenaries. Despite this, the army continued on and eventually made their way to the Rosethorn Company Camp on the shores of the Dark Lake.

Arriving at the camp, the attackers found that the Rosethorn Company were more prepared than anticipated with additional reinforced terrain defenses and more hired mercenaries who screened the attackers. After the screening mercenaries were defeated, the two armies kept their distance--exchanging fireballs, catapult fire, and arrows. As a group of attackers attempted to flank the Rosethorns, they found their alternate path riddled with traps. Soon after these traps sounded loudly, the Rosethorns shifted their catapult fire upon the flankers.

Eventually the flankers broke through the side and the main attacking force charged forward. The battle was grueling, bloody, and hair-raising. After cutting down innumerable veteran Rosethorns, cheap-hired mercenaries, and even duergar sell-axes, the Rosethorn Company Camp was finally taken.

The Temple of Vera, however, was another great obstacle for the attacking force. Breaching the Temple proved to be an exhausting battle of attrition as men and women were forced shoulder-to-shoulder in a tight corridor. With blood, sweat, and tears, however, the attackers finally broke through into the main chamber of the Temple of Vera and there they confronted Lady Veronique Palionne.

It is said that Lady Palionne greeted the invaders with seething anger: "The world lies in ruins above, I am so close to making it beautiful once again. Yet you dare desecrate my Temple!?". A conversation was held between the Lady and one of the Spellguard Agents leading the attack. This conversation, however, proved futile. With a loud stamp of her staff upon the floor, Lady Palionne unleashed her magic--the steel of bloodied weapons followed.

Palionne's personal bodyguards and her magic appeared to be too much for the attackers. This battle was short. As Lady Palionne watched, her bodyguards drove the attackers from the Temple of Vera and even out to the shores of the Dark Lake. Negotiations were offered by the Rosethorns Company but as the terms were being discussed, another battle broke out and the Rosethorn Camp was retaken by the attackers.

When the Temple was entered yet again, however, a harrowing sight was found. The fallen of Sanctuary were gathered and Lady Palionne stood within a small maelstorm of magic and fire which seemed to move and act at her command.

Again, words were exchanged. The Spellguard Agent, in seeming befuddlement at the attack plans being picked apart, asked how it was Lady Palionne was so prepared. The Lady answered by mentioning that a Mister Oak had provided her with the plans and then went on to make her demands: hand over any Ruby Fragments the attackers possessed or the fallen would be made ash by the magical fire that surrounded her.

The Agent seemingly refused to meet her demands and it was said in a short manner of seconds, the corpses of numerous Sancturians were burnt to fine ash--among those were the well-known Wayfinder-turned-Watcher Scout Gylin Allinsk and Spellguard Agent Gernfax Arundar.

Yet again, battle broke out but this time it was a much shorter affair as few were willing to fight alongside the "negotiating" Spellguard Agent whom allowed their fellow Sancturians to be obliterated in flames.

With the leading Spellguard driven off, Lady Palionne turned to address the surviving Sanctuarians. First, she demanded the name of the Agent who spurned her demands. She was given it: Nicodem Skalarius, the Maimed. Second--and to some surprise--she turned to the other fallen Sancturians she had gathered and announced that they would be freed and allowed to return to Sanctuary: "As I said: I am here to return beauty to the world. And mercy is beautiful."

With her final words blaming Agent Skalarius for the Sancturian dead, Lady Palionne ordered all others to exit her Temple--an order swiftly followed. Palionne was not as patient as she is merciful.

When the last of the attackers exited the Temple of Vera, the gates suddenly closed shut with a loud bang. A barrier of light rose from the ground, surrounding the Temple like a protective cocoon.

Hours after the disastrous battle, Adjutant Robert Oak was placed on trial. Having been named by Lady Palionne, he was charged with treason. The man defended himself angrily, blaming Watcher Paul Weston as the true Rosethorn infiltrator who compromised the plan. The court, however, found him guilty and he was executed in the square, his last words a promise to see Weston in the Hells.

[cmenden]

::[ Kythorn 18th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

Lower Sanctuary had a surprise when numerous Slaadi began to pour into the streets, killing everyone in their path and causing mass destruction of property. Lowersmen and adventurers took to the streets to block their advance, and despite incurring many casualties, the Slaadi threat was defeated.

After the majority of defenders had been defeated or departed, a small band of Lowersmen, accompanied by Winston, investigated the threat and discovered a portal had been opened within a building in the Southeast Outskirts. Through no small effort, they were able to destroy the portal and prevent it from spewing forth more of the foul toad-like creatures.

As the citizens of Lower Sanctuary clean the Slaadi bodies from their streets, one question remains on everyone's mind: who is responsible for this assault on their home?

[cmenden]

::[ Kythorn 19th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

Upper Sanctuary is rocked by an explosion, followed almost immediately by a second explosion, as the Distillery is set aflame by terrorists from Lower Sanctuary. A portion of the building collapsed in on itself, sending up a cloud of choking dust and debris that smothered the flames before they could spread too far and damage the nearby Workmill.

Some time after the fervor died down, a sending could be heard:

::[ City Sending by Richard Quargus : Dick Quargus. By order of the honorable Prefect Bakran, Drake Baker and Naridwyn Dy`ner have been executed for their crimes against the city. ]::

As the owner and his workers begin the arduous task of clearing the rubble and rebuilding the stills, Sanctuarians begin stockpiling their beloved gin, hoping to have enough to get them through the feared dry spell ahead.

[cmenden]

::[ Kythorn 20th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

Upper Sanctuary is abuzz with excitement as a new election has been announced for the seats of the late Directors Quickfeet and Falconer. Speculation runs rampant, as citizens discuss whether the Reds or the Blacks will triumph in the elections to come.

Still other citizens are excited to see a new Great Game held in the Sanctuary Stadium, one that will ideally be more pleasant than the last one, interrupted by the Refinery's bombing. The period of mourning for the two Directors has come to an end, and Upper Sanctuary is full of excited and heated discussions once more.

[cmenden]

::[ Kythorn 29th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

Word spreads rapidly through Sanctuary about the shocking events over the past few darks. A lightning bolt onslaught on Freedom Square that injured a Watcher and a Prefect and resulted in the abduction of the Red Guild's candidate has many wondering how the Spellguard can let one of their Agents commit such brutality upon Sanctuary's citizens.

In the mean time, posters litter the walls and streets, proclaiming the virtues and flaws of one candidate or another, and many windows and buildings have been decorated in reds and blacks, showing off the support of those who dwell within for the political guild of their choice.

Upper Sanctuary remains in the grip of election fever, and many wonder excitedly what new scandal will rock this election next.

[cmenden]

::[ Kythorn 30th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

It is a sorrowful dark in Upper Sanctuary, particularly for members of the Black Guild, as their electoral candidate Azriah Chand was knocked out and abducted from Freedom Square by an elven dissident.

Shortly after, citizens discovered the late Prefect's head impaled upon a spear in the illusion with a message implying that candidate Aurelia Larskul was responsible for the deed.

Sorrow and mistrust are commonplace in Sanctuary this dark and will be for some darks to come. Worried citizens whisper nervously as both Guilds remain conspicuously silent on how this will affect the elections and the Great Games.

[cmenden]

::[ Flamerule 8th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

The results of the first half of the Flamerule election cycle was announced in the House of Governance. Edgin Crane was declared the winner, leading to boisterous celebrations among the Black Guild supporters.

In addition, the Black Guild candidate was announced for the second half of the Flamerule elections. Feregor Iganfar, is a devout of Ilmater, and known for his rather extreme displays of religious fervor.

Having two such zealous candidates has lead many to wonder whose faith will prove triumphant in the election to come, and whether the people of Sanctuary feels more beholden to the charity efforts of the Ilmateri, or the Shield and other magical boons provided by Mystryl's Weave.

[Ladocicea]

::[ Flamerule 15th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

It has felt as though a lifetime has passed since the sun disappeared from sky of the surface world, to be replaced only with an oppressive and unrelenting blackness.

But a rumour has spread like wildfire throughout Sanctuary and the wider Dunwarren ruins: new arrivals from the surface speak of a sky that has grown slowly brighter over the last few 'days', in parts blushing a faint salmon pink, stained as though in anticipation of a rising sun.

Though none can say for sure what might be causing this, those that have supposedly witnessed this phenomenon are certain that something, somewhere, is happening...

[cmenden]

::[ Flamerule 17th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

As numerous residents of Upper Sanctuary turned out to hear the results of the second set of Flamerule elections, many members of the Red Guild were overjoyed to see their candidate, Aurelia Larskul, declared the victor.

Before she could even complete her victory speech, however, a sudden attack by a group of elven dissidents occurred right in Freedom Square. The attack was met with powerful resistance due, in part, to forewarning received by Sanctuary's defenders from a man who worked with the elven rebels.

In the days that follow the attack, many whisper about the uncertain loyalty of the relatively small group of elves that remain in Sanctuary, and whether actions should be taken by Sanctuary's leaders to ensure that they can't harm honest, innocent citizens in the future.