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

[Ladocicea]

::[ Eleasis 22nd : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

The campfires have moved into the Dark Lake region, and by most estimations the massive army responsible for them will, at this rate, arrive at the gates of Dunwarren within 30 hours.

Countdown

[Ladocicea]

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

The Khaganate arrived at the gates of Dunwarren today, and the following facts are well known by virtually everyone in Sanctuary and its environs:

The host was many hundreds, if not thousands strong, comprised of highly disciplined, well but lightly armoured and extremely mobile orog raiders. These warriors were accompanied by various slaves, subjugated peoples and creatures, including but not limited to:

• Massive, exotic giants, much larger than those typical of the Dark Lake region, wearing correspondingly enormous shackles, wielding huge clubs
• Strange woolen mammoth creatures, four times the height of an ordinary man, carrying both bountiful supplies for long campaigning, as well as a massive wedge potentially used as a battering ram
• Subjugated orcs of lesser species, including common surface orcs, mountain orcs, wild orcs and even orogs of other tribes: some shackled, others apparently 'free', virtually all of them entrusted with weaponry of various kinds
• Chained minotaurs, also given weaponry
• Ogre Mercenaries, without shackles, apparently fighting willingly under the banner of the Khaganate
• Servile gnolls, gleefully subservient to a powerful master, many wearing collars though nothing which could be described as a shackle
• Enslaved common peoples of the Underdark, drow, duergar and svirfneblin, the vast majority of whom were unarmed and unarmoured, likely used for labour
• A few odd humanoid creatures of different kinds here and there, not native to the Dark Lake region, variously shackled and subjugated.

Along with phenomenal man-power, the host seemed to boast war machines and siege technology that far exceeds the capabilities of other orcs, including catapults, rock throwers and ballistae of a variety of kinds, clearly captured from more technological advanced peoples such as Svirfneblin.

At the head of the host stood a huge black skinned orog, wielding a curved sword, its length twice as long as a man is tall, flanked on one side by a silent, shrewd looking drow swordsman of remarkable poise, who was the only drow not to bear the manacles of slavery, and on the other side a bulbous orog with exaggerated features, who wore a bear pelt and appeared to glow a faint crimson.

The massive black orc, the 'Khagan', proclaimed himself the new master of the peoples of Dunwarren and gave them until the next 'Red Omen' to submit and kneel, or be crushed beneath the heel of the Khaganate.

[Ladocicea]

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

An increasing number of streets and alleyways in the outskirts of Lower Dunwarren begin to bear a bloody sigil, with a number of these sanguine symbols appearing closer to Lower Sanctuary proper, as the influence of whoever is responsible for these signs visibly spreads.

[Divine Intervention]

::[ Eleasis 28th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

Amidst ever growing concern about the outlands and the looming Orog threat, it  was Lower and its environs that were the focus of frenetic happenings this dark.  For hours on end, men of the Silver Brand gang were seen tramping away into the depths of the alleyways, accompanied by strange men garbed all in black, hollow eyed youths and coarse looking mercenaries. When this odd exodus at last drew to a close, there began a mysterious rumbling, emanating from the depths of Dunwarren, with small groups of adventurers and even lawmen descending to investigate the earth tremors.  The people of Lower speak of a company comprised of mages in white and black, Ascensionists and affiliates from numerous other groups that ventured through the streets in search of the source of this instability.

Few seem certain of what precisely occured in the interim, but after several hours of clanging steel and battle, punctuated by explosions, most of the miscellaneous mob of adventurers returned battered but alive, only to race towards the docks.  It is said that this mass of humanity came upon the infamous crime boss "Don" Alberto Vigglioni and a few remaining Silver Brands as they attempted to board a ship out of Lower.  It is agreed that blows were exchanged but eventually some kind of agreement between the groups was reached.

The most extraordinary part of this tale, which has already suffered from theatrical embellishment with each retelling, is that upon approaching the leaders of the mob, the Don was struck down by some foul magic or curse, his heart torn clean from his chest.  The manner of this witchery is the subject of fierce debate and fear of such terrible power is palpable, yet one thing is now certain, a new era is about to begin the chaotic saga of Lower Sanctuary.  Already gangsters are seen sharpening knives and upstarts are eagerly eyeing the power vacuum that has appeared.

[Ladocicea]

::[ Second of Eleint : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

As the perpetual night of the surface begins to break into a russet dawn once more, deep below the surface of Toril, citizens of Sanctuary worry about the promised invasion by the orog horde known as the Khaganate.

Tensions have once again begun to rise as many have felt that, through a mixture of complacency and incompetence, Sanctuary has sleep walked to the edge of the abyss, and it may now be too late to avert imminent disaster.

Many accuse the Directorate of having made no serious attempt to resolve the ongoing crisis: some say the political class have dragged their feet over a rumoured deal with the duergar prospectors of Mutulakt to provide additional baublium to the refinery, which, they contest, would have at least provided a stop gap until a more permanent solution could be found. Others claim that party politics has paralyzed the Directorate, and scuppered any hope of a fast response to this pressing threat, though such moderate voices are drowned out by the panicked finger pointing of the Red and Black guilds, whose representatives, in their desperation to hold their counterpart responsible, have been frequently found brawling in the Grotto, the House of Trade and the House of Governance.

There is an overall sense that Sanctuary is, rather than standing united against a common threat, slowly descending into chaos.

// If you have found a means to predict the arrival of the incoming storm, PM me.

[Ladocicea]

::[Third of Eleint : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

Rioting broke out in Freedom Square today between a contingent of Red Guildsmen and a group of Black supporters.

Witnesses claim the Blacks had left the Grotto after an informal meeting, led by Prefect Irene, and ran into the Reds as they adjourned from a meeting in the House of Governance, with Prefect Duke Laverne among them. Harsh words were exchanged, and the situation quickly deteriorated into increasingly incoherent slurs and insults.

Rotten fruit was thrown from the Black entourage at the Reds, which cause a robust and physical confrontation between an Ordinant and a grizzled adventurer in fullplate: their respective parties quickly rushed to their assistance and the throng of bodies began to riot. Among the rioters were the aforementioned Ordinant and a large adventurer, mourner elves, dwarves in black, at least one Watcher sporting a raven lapel pin, manual labourers, a Spellguard Auxiliary sporting an Eagle pin, several humans in red robes and at least one well known merchant from the House of Trade.

The situation was eventually brought under control by the pacification animatron, but not before around a dozen men and women of both stripes had been knocked unconscious: one Red Guildsman is reported to have died from a head trauma in the altercation, some say from an intentional blow to his temple, others say he was struck fairly but had the misfortune to perish from his resulting fall to the ground.

Sanctuary has not in many months, even years, stood so divided as it is now, even in the face of impending doom. While the Red Guild enjoy a majority in the Directorate, the common voice, informed as it is by the 'Black Rag', "The Writing on The Wall", often speaks favourably of the Raven.

[Caster13]

::[ Eleint 10th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

This dark, the stillness and silence throughout the caves is interrupted by a trembling quake that rolled through nearly all regions of the Underdark. The quake was a powerful one, tipping over bookshelves and furniture throughout the homes of Lower and Upper Sanctuary in addition to tripping numerous people to the shaking ground.

At first, the quake just seemed to be another natural phenomena of living many miles beneath the ground, but along the Dark Lake, a sudden burst of light fired upwards from the Temple of Vera in a show of magical energy.

A number of adventurers made their way to the Temple of Vera in an attempt to discern the details and reasons for the strange show of magical energy, but their curiosity was answered with the sudden appearance of a strange guardians of ruby who stood shoulder to shoulder just outside the light shield surrounding the Temple of Vera.

The ruby guardians did not present a welcoming face to the Temple of Vera, a number of postings throughout Dunwarren still presented an invitation to the Temple of Vera for a future time...

[Caster13]

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

A dark after word spread that Lady Veronique Palionne had gathered the much sought after and elusive Ruby Fragments of Sune, the Lady opened the doors of her Temple of Vera, allowing all to come and witness her ascension to godhood.

Things, however, seemingly did not go according to plan. Though accurate reports are difficult to come by, word is the ritual was interrupted a number of different entities and forces ranging from: one of the band of Sunite adventurers whom originally arrived alongside the large Ruby of Sune; an awe-inspiring womanly figure clad in impossibly beautiful golden armour; a dark and purple clad witch; and a swarm of fell, sinister shadows that attacked everything and everyone.

The ritual that would have lead to the ascension of a new God, instead, resulted in a chaotic battle that resulted in numerous dead and wounded--including word that Lady Veronique Palionne was disintegrated to ash and dust by the armoured woman. As the battle raged, the walls and ceiling of the Temple of Vera began to collapse in on themselves and soon after what was once a beautiful, striking structure had been reduced to a pathetic pile of rubble.

Hours later, after all had fled, only the sinister shadows could be seen to roam the abandoned and ruined Rosethorn Camp.

Later that dark, a number of people who lay their heads to rest find no comfort as their sleep is a disturbed one...

[Wiggyboy]

Following the events at The Temple of Vera, it is widely known that a profound melee broke out amongst the rubble of the ruined structure. It is whispered that the notorious bandit Sabra Ur, also known as Black Sabra, allowing with a menagerie of cohorts and companions â€" among them Carie Welten, of the ‘Dunwarren Militia’ - attempted to overcome the contingent of Sancturians present following the Ritual.

Panicked Sendings by Director Larskul for reinforcements might have initially suggested the warriors of Sanctuary braved poorly â€" however, it is now widely circulated that Black Sabra was captured during the fighting.

A mere half a bell later, panic once again gripped Sanctuary as a profound explosion rocked the cavern. The location of the blast â€" the abandoned Barracks, more recently home to a company of dwarves â€" had seemingly been set ablaze through use of an incendiary device. As the masses of adventurers rushed to render aid however, it became clear the blast was merely a diversion. Simultaneously an attack was launched on the House of Governance. It is widely understood that the attack itself resulted in no initial casualties, but that both Civil Servant First Class Spithiwick Nurb and a Herald of Sanctuary was taken â€" along with a Watcher, now identified as Watcher Yengrin. Negotiations were then said to have begun for an exchange of hostages, whom were said to have been kept within The Cathedral of Ascension in Lower Sanctuary for the duration.

What is not widely known is what happened next. Rumours persist that Black Sabra may have been given a summary trial behind closed doors before execution. Other Watchers claim she was never conveyed to their care. Many Citizens â€" most of them Black of affiliation â€" claim that she was in-fact taken to the private quarters of Director Larskul, for a foul magical sacrifice in the name of her fickle Goddess of Weavery.

Whatever the reason: When news was relayed via the Sending system of Black Sabra’s death while in custody of Sanctuary, the dissidents below are said to have responded with the murder of captive Watcher Yengrin and, later, the Herald herself. Civil Servant First Class Spithiwick Nurb is understood to have escaped the carnage somehow.

A macabre exchange is said to have occurred then â€" the corpses of Watcher Yengrin and the Herald in exchange for the remains of Black Sabra.

Many residents of Sanctuary are shocked and aghast at the sudden escalation of hostilities with those below. Infrequent robbery now teeters towards something closer to a minor revolt. That both parties exchanged corpses rather than prisoners is perhaps a testament to the deteriorating state of affairs between the two settlements.

The Herald is said to have returned to her duties â€" though shaken and subdued. Spithiwick Nurb remains uncharacteristically terse and taciturn over the issue, refusing to relive the ordeal if asked. Watcher Yengrin meanwhile has been laid to rest at The Mausoleum.

Public opinion remains divided. Some guildsman from both factions are overtly petitioning the Civil Service for a posthumous granting of The Shield of Sanctuary to Watcher Yengrin for his brave if failed defence of the Herald’s office during the dissident assault. Others instead focus on the issue of Justice, hoping that the Watchers and Warders of Sanctuary can identify, track down and bring to trial those responsible. Another significant faction questions the treatment of Sabra following her Capture. They question the utility of her death, and wonder aloud if the fallen Watcher might not still live if not for the ‘rash action’.

Though with the Red Storm looming, and Orog of The Khaganate still marshalling to assault Sanctuary, it seems the events of this previous dark are sure to be only a minor diversion from the profound events to come.

[Letsplayforfun]

A ripple in the dark...

Strange floating bubbles have been sighted. Most people believe them to be emprisonnement bubbles send by the Dread to capture slaves effortlessly.

Some travellers boast of "poping" a bubble, though some say the broken things emit a low wheezing sound as they do, and do not linger to see what happens after...

Nor does anyone know what actually happens when a bubble captures some poor soul. Rumors say some pilfer the brains of their victims, leaving a dead corpse intact on the ground...

[Divine Intervention]

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

A strange series of happenings occurred this dark, centred around the rather eccentric and irksome former wine merchant, Coriolanus De Valera.  The man, once known to many in Upper's high society as a peddler of the finest vintages, had reputedly been complaining for a good tenday of swarms of rats in the pipes and foundations of his house, though no evidence could be found.  The individual had become something of a byword for wild imaginings and paranoia of late, reduced to poverty after abandonning his business and becoming a sleepless nuisance troubling the citizenry in his search for enigmatic rodents.

Quite astoundingly for many, the Prefect Irene Ellet and her companions were drawn in by his story and were seen investigating his abode to no avail, before leaving as exasperated as many felt with the mad merchant.  However, later that dark, the same band was seen hurrying back to his house in Sunset Flats, and ordering the door battered down.  Though the circumstances remain mysterious, rumour has spread that De Valera vanished without a trace from behind a locked door, and that the case is being treated as a criminal investigation.  

The people of Upper are now left wondering as to the nature of these strange events, and if the wine seller De Valera was so delirious afterall...

[Caster13]

::[ Eleint 25th : Year 162 : 1384 DR ]::

Todark proved to be an exciting and dramatic day for political enthusiasts and pundits in the city of Sanctuary. It began with rumours spreading that Spellguard Agent Pierre Du'Ponte confronted Prefect Irene Ellet, demanding that she make her way to the Watch House to face a trial overseen by the Directorate itself.

Within a matter of minutes, the court room was filled by curious commoners and supporters of both political guilds. Though it took some time for everything to fall into place so the trial could begin, when Prefect Irene Ellet was finally seated before the Directorate in the prisoner's box, the anticipation was palpable in the air.

With Agent Du'Ponte acting as the prosecutor, it was finally announced that Ellet was being trialed for the crimes of Treason to Mankind and Repeated Serious Offenses. What followed was over two hours of arguments, bitter sniping, and drawn out examinations of evidence. Of the enthusiasts in the crowd watching the trial, many say that Director Edgar Crane openly mocking Du'Ponte's evidence was the highlight of the trial. Others say that Director Rhiannon Kingsley verbally berating and threatening to find Ellet in contempt of court for mocking the prosecutor instead of rebutting the evidence was the most dramatic moment of the trial.

Eventually, however, both sides presented their closing statements and the Directors recessed to discuss the verdict. It was some minutes afterwards before Director Rhiannon Kingsley, speaking for the Directorate, stood up to announce the verdict.

Citing a body of evidence that lacked hard substance and depended heavily on drawn conclusions, Prefect Irene Ellet was found not guilty of Treason to Mankind. Additionally, the Prefect was also found not guilty of the second charge of Repeated Serious Offenses, in this case due to a lack of developed and concluded cases against the Prefect.

As Prefect Ellet basked in her victory, the court room was quickly filled with the murmurs of onlookers discussing the outcome. Black Guild supporters celebrated vocally that their Prefect would keep her position. Red Guild members, meanwhile, grudgingly and quietly admitted that the prosecution was disappointingly weak. As the crowd filed out of the court room, however, many agreed that the political rivalry and wrangling between the prosecuting Agent and the defending Prefect seemed far from over...

[Wiggyboy]

The first casualties of War have come to the safe and serene streets of Sanctuary herself at last.

Earlier this dark, the sirens of alarm situated in The Housing Vaults were raised in a terrifying cacophony or urgent desire. By the time Watchers and other defenders had arrived to answer the call however, there was little left to be done.

Rumours remain hazy as to precisely what occurred, but most witnesses claim that a terrifying Orog leading a small band of humans and at least one gnome or halfling undertook a brazen and lightning fast assault on the streets of the Housing Vault. As many as four Watchers were slain, in addition to some two dozen of the Housing Vault's Residents.

Delgado Flats was also breached during the fighting. Within, a heroic Watcher was no match for the furious and bloodthirsty attack that spared neither women or children. Of greatest note are the whispers that several Rings of Sanctuary were found upon the bloodstained floor belonging to notable members of Sancturian society:

Ordinant Rallic Dess
Sergeant Dalley
Watcher Faerliams
Prefect Jasmine

Upon the lips of Black Guildsmen and mourners alike are the same urgent questions:

How did this Orog obtain the means to Breach the Shield, and will those responsible for making this tragedy possible be held to account?

[Wiggyboy]

As the services of the fallen during what is coming to be known as 'The Delgado Massacre' conclude this dark, public sentiment is slowly shifting from somber and mournful to agitated and incensed.  

The final death count stands at 19. Whilst it is somewhat less than originally reported - it is seemingly still sufficient for few denizens of The Housing Vaults not to have known at least one of the victims in passing.

The Beetle & Baby has become a hotbed of discussion about the circumstances of the raid. Whilst 'The Herald', the Orog that spearheaded the assault, has been spitefully condemned for the senseless brutality of the attack - far more scorn is piled upon the names of those Sancturian notables that were found to have lost their Rings of Sanctuary to this monster - and thereby made the attack possible to begin with.

Citizens begin to wonder if their safety is starting to be ignored by the brash and bold Adventurers of the city, who have consistently failed to take the proper precautions in their travels. More vocal are those calling for justice and harsh reprimand for those found to be responsible for losing their ring through carelessness - and in particular retribution against those responsible for this particular breach.

Elsewhere, one of Director Crane's assistants has offered up the following notices around the city:

Citizens of Sanctuary,

Director Edgin Crane will be making a brief announcement in The House of Governance at this time regarding the recent tragedy. All Citizens are invited to attend and hear his words.

[Wiggyboy]

A speech by Director Crane was delivered last dark. While it offered fairly sincere platitudes to the people of the Housing Vault following the Delgado Massacre, the attempted assassination of Director Crane by his own Prefect Jasmine has almost overshadowed the substance of his words - and has become the subject or much bemused debate by Citizens.

Also well known is that once the speech was over, Director Crane took several questions from the gathered adventurers and Citizens. Whilst initially presenting a confident air, Director Crane was eventually challenged by a burly Worminger named Borivik Straynogo

The man is understood to have made an impassioned plea for the justice he was promised over the massacre - which is said to have resulted in the loss of both his wife and only son. Specifically, he challenged Director Crane for not going further the punish the Citizens and Adventurers responsible for losing their rings to the Orog horde, and making the attack on his family possible. "Safety, Security, Sanctuary" were promised and denied, according to the man - and it is well known that Director Crane did, for once in his life, struggle to find the right words.

Borivik and his fellow Wormingers eventually departed, unsatisfied, but with some veiled threats of further action should the city of Sanctuary ignore their calls.

Director Crane has meanwhile retreated to his manse once more, reportedly surrounding himself in sympathetic flocks of his most ardent supporters and preparing to appoint a new Prefect.