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

[derfo]

::[ Hammer 29th : Year 164 : 1386 DR ]::

Horror and chaos strike the settlement once more as rumors of dealings with a giant beholder reach Upper Sanctuary. Amidst the dealings, injured Watchers commend the fact that many brave souls attempted to slay the foul creature, yet were laid low by overwhelming force. Others hail the wisdom of a prefect and other crafty men with their ability to placate the monstrosity in negotiations.

Rumors spread that the shipments that arrived were a large number of crates ranging from foodstuffs, beetles, metal scraps, bombs, and whatever else the layman might imagine. A commotion erupted from the Watchhouse regarding the behavior of many in these dealings, with many ranking officials of the Watchers and government seen storming in and out, sometimes with tales of violent confrontations.

In twine with the happenings in the Public Housing Vault, it seems that strange lifeforms and chaotic circumstances are becoming all the more commonplace.

[Ironside]

::[ Hammer 30th : Year 164 : 1386 DR ]::

It began, as it so often does, with a trial... Prefect Reman Havelstein of the Red Political Guild was ushered quietly into the courtroom this evening to face charges of nebulous nature but clear origin. Presided over by a tribunal of Black Guilders including Prefect Yseult Vatein, Prefect Brent Kendall, and Inspector Marianne Marigiri, the trial was swift, merciless, and its overseers unanimous in their judgement. For the crimes of murder and treason, Havelstein was put to death.

This spark would grow into a roaring inferno as not long after members of the Red Guild (rumored to have been on the payroll of the "Fat Men") made a vicious attempt on Vatein's life in the very heart of Freedom Square. Chaos reigned for a fearful hour, and after several deaths and a bout of fisticuffs between Brent Kendall and Hyram Sinclair the situation was diffused.

An uneasy tension falls over Sanctuary, as members of both Guilds cry out for vengeance and for blood.

[Ironside]

::[ Alturiak 7th : Year 164 : 1386 DR ]::

Following hot on the heels of the late political upheaval is the intensification of problems in the Public Housing Vault. Almost overnight, the majority of the Vault has been filled with bizarre flora and fauna - and a mysterious and terrible plague has broken out, afflicting many of the poor and unfortunate souls living there.

Sanctuary's authorities have largely been silent regarding this new development... save for Director Idraen Markem, who has proclaimed that he and his True Society under Malark Amblecrown will do all that they can to manage the symptoms of the plague many have begun calling the "Twisting Malaise".

Rumors fly...

[ShadowCharlatan]

::[ Alturiak 9th : Year 164 : 1386 DR ]::

When the dark of Alturiak 9th arrived, Prefect Brent Kendall and his cohorts made way to the Public Housing Vaults to liberate the people of the Vault, under heavy supervision by the Watchers and Warders.

Whatever went on there has been buried under a rockfall of confused stories and plastered over by comforting messages from the Watchers and Warders and the Directorate. Word spreads of confrontations, necromancy, and bloodshed... but Director Markem has given Upper Sanctuary assurances that he and the Society are doing their best to keep things under control.

What is surely true is that Prefect Kendall is no longer the Prefect of the Vault, and has led a following from the Vaults to settle in the Crossroad Caves. Though hundreds and thousands remain, defending their homes, enduring. They now look to Ma Murik and their new Prefect - Morgan Dubois - for guidance in troubled times.

[Talir]

18th of Alturiak, 1386 DR

Word from the Barbican speaks of a small party of gnolls having appeared before the gates. Not risking a potential raid the Watchers and Warders of Sanctuary closed and dug in while waiting to see their intention. A group led by prefect Brent Kendall set out to investigate and quickly came to blow with the visitors.

Scouts now report of increased sightings of gnolls in the surrounding caverns, especially near Bresley's Bulwark.

[Tala]

::[ Alturiak 26th : Year 164 : 1386 DR ]::

For a few darks the citizens of Sanctuary have been waiting impatiently to the rumored trial of Markem's Prefect, in charge of the Housing Vaults, Morgan Dubois. Although many were more worried of what will happen after the trial, how the Red guild, or Markem's "True Society" might react, as the memories of the last time a Prefect stood for trial, riots between the guilds and the Watchers and Warders followed shortly after.

Finally the time of the trial has come. This time however, the ones to judge the case were no others but Directors Austanais Glademore, Ma Murik, and Idraen Markem. Rumors from those who attended indicate that the ones who led the prosecution were Agents Daro Dalibor and Vyrgil Vendelstalh of the Reformed Order of the Spellguard which led people to believe the Prefect has done terrible things, to warrant no less than two Agents of the Reformed Order investing their time in such matters. However it was soon discovered that the crime of "Treason to Mankind" they tried to push was nothing but a farce, aided by confusing testimonies, long speeches and mishandled evidence, which only supported the crimes of assaults by other citizens of Sanctuary, and the questionable performance of the Prefect.

It is said that throughout the trial, Director Murik motivated the prosecution with their case, while Director Markem showed the flaws in their case multiple times. The tensions between the two were clearly felt, the result of the current state of the Housing Vaults, no doubt. At a certain point, Director Glademore gave the Agents a time limit to end their case, as it has been proven a valuable waste of time for all involved. After a failed attempt to save their case, Director Markem has made an inspiring speech to those in the room, and in the end of it, fired Morgan Dubois. Finally, Director Glademore has delivered the sentence of innocence on the former Prefect, and the trial was over.

While many believe the whole incident hurt the image of Director Idraen Markem, many also praise him for taking responsibility for his former Prefect's questionable actions. The citizens also view the Directorate in a better light than before, as they arrived and judged the case justly, with no riots or violence following the sentence, unlike when the Prefects and Officers are in charge. Many also question the odd behavior of the Agents during the trial, however aside from careful whispers, they know better than to raise their voices out loud...

[Divine Intervention]

::[ Alturiak 27th : Year 164 : 1386 DR ]::

The last weeks and months have seen turbulent changes to the Sanctuary of Upper Dunwarren. The restructuring of Sanctuary into the sprawling metropolis of Upper, inhabited by all manner of folk and monsters and the gleaming hub of the elite, Final Sanctuary, has seen a rise in tensions as the gap between the "haves" and "have-nots" of society has exponentially increased. The disappearance of the once imposing and monolithic Serena Tower into the reaches of Final Sanctuary has left a strangely devoid spot in the skyline of Sanctuary for those who have dwelt in the city for decades. Few dare complained openly as yet in the teeming streets of Upper, with the enforcers of the resurgent and ever vigilant Reformed Order at every gate and on every street corner.

In the Public Housing Vaults the "Twisting Malaise" that has afflicted a growing minority of residents is a topic of fevered conversation. Although the vast majority of citizens in the vaults remain unaffected, some fear the spread could intensify. For many poor and disaffected communities however, leaving their homes, scant work and support networks in favour of fresher climes is simply not a viable option, and so they stay, hope and pray for alleviation. Despite the best efforts of the Director Markem and his strange company, supposedly supported by the Directorate and officials of Sanctuary, there seems to be no end in sight for the spreading blight. Some even whisper that this sickness might not be such a bad thing, for at the very least the city can no longer ignore their plight.

In news seemingly unrelated to the major shifts going on in the city, some citizens report that the perennial issue of nightmares has grown worse of late. A spate of manifestations of terrible psychoses and sudden bouts of madness or aggression has begun to emerge, culminating in a reported triple homicide and suicide the previous dark by an unremarkable worminger. At present no one seems to have any answers, but amidst the strangeness of these times, even the nightmarish has become strangely commonplace...

[Talir]

29th of Alturiak, 1386 DR

News arrive at last in full of recent tragedies at Bresley's Bulwark, prefecture of Brent Kendall. A tribe of gnolls, first encountered at the gates, has in the recent tenday preyed upon the settlers and twice raided the small settlement. During these events seven people from various places in Sanctuary had emigrated to live amongst the settlers. Of them nary a soul returned.

Rumor has it that after the first raid was thwarted, the gnolls were preparing for a second strike when the prefect made his own attack upon the gnoll tribe hideout -- battling beastmen and demons alike to end the threat to his people. While the forces of the prefect was occupied the gnolls made their strike, killing and abducting some of the residents of the crossroads. Two days were spent searching for the missing members of the Bulwark until they were found, and not a gnoll remains left to tell the tale of what had taken place.

Of five people abducted, the prefect was able to bring back four. However tragedy struck as one of them had been driven mad of the torture done during captivity, twisted into what seasoned rangers call a kryshantel -- savage soul -- who turned upon the survivors.

Residents of the Public Housing Vault now seem more supportive of the work done by Markem and his men. With the Bresley's Bulwark being no escape from the Twisting Malaise they are forced to hope for salvation in their own home. In Sanctuary some loudmouths declare trying to live elsewhere in the Underdark as madness and accuse the prefect of having lured these people to their death, trusting instead upon the defenses set by the Watchers and Warders. Whatever the incentive it seems few now are eager to stake out a living in the crossroads.

Yet, amongst the surviving residents of Bresley's Bulwark, there is not a single word of fault in their leader. Guards now can be seen standing uneasily near the Bulwark's entrance, steadying themselves for what perils may come next. The settlers make do in their diminished numbers, trying their best in a place away from sickness and governmental turmoil.

[Caster13]

::[ Ches 5th, 1386 DR ]::

A cold unease has begun to seep into Lower Sanctuary. Whispers of bodies and corpses being found amongst the alleyways and ruins of and surrounding Lower Sanctuary seem to grow more frequent by the dark. While many of the chaotic and lawless settlement wouldn't think finding a shivved corpse to be entirely unexpected, tales of corpses being found in states of ritualistic desecration--drained of blood, carved with queer symbols, cruelly disemboweled, limbs amputated in stages--bring pause to the normally apathetic and indifferent.

Cults and madmen are not uncommon in Lower Sanctuary, but many now travel through the littered streets in pairs or groups when possible. Even those expecting the strange deaths to fade in frequency like many other tragedies that have befallen Lower Sanctuary can be heard uttering prayers to the Gods that they don't end up the victims of someone or something sinister.

[AllMYBudgies]

::[Ches 5th, 1386 DR}::

As the dust settles two days after the end of the brief campaign of terror bombing launched by the so called"King of Bones", Upper Sanctuary is astir with nerves and fear. Many citizens wonder how this savage and his accomplices could have circumvented the vast security apparatus of the Watchers and Warders, conducting a pair of devastating explosive attacks in the heart of the Public Vaults and Upper proper. The first explosion to rock the city is said to have occured in one of the many abandoned buildings in the Vaults, but the fire quickly began to spread and might have done considerably more damage if not for the prompt efforts of many citizens and officials who raced to extinguish the incendiaries.

However, it quickly became apparent that the first blast was merely a distraction for another crime committed in the House of Knowledge. It is said the Bone-King and his accomplices including an Ascensionist used the departure of so many Watchers and Warders to effect a daring robbery. Although official sources remain tight lipped on what precisely was stolen, rumors suggest it was one or more relics from the higher floors. Although some library staff and lingering Watchers are reputed to have put up resistance, the robbers escaped with their prize.

As the chaos began to abate, a series of sendings were issued from Lower, demanding that unless Watcher Irina Dolokhova was slain by the hands of Sanctuary's citizenry and piked at the Barbican then the necromancer would detonate another bomb every fifteen minutes until his demands were met. Following a very public battle of words through the sending systems, as promised, fifteen minutes later a second blast ripped through Upper. It is said that many Watchers and adventurers had already left the city seeking vengeance on the home of the Bone-King and thus the city was vulnerable to infiltration. When it became apparent the bombers had targeted the Simms Memorial Orphanage, the people of the city were horror stricken at the callous attempt to kill orphaned children. Although the official line is that none were harmed in the explosion, it is commonly held that this is not entirely true.

One thing is evident in the wake of these tragedies, yet another threat has come knocking at Sanctuary's gates, what remains to be seen is how her defenders will react...

[AllMYBudgies]

::[ Ches 7th : Year 164 : 1386 DR ]::

The natural world is left shaken in the wake of a supposed dark ritual performed by the infamous Bone King and his cabal of followers, said to have been a harrowing that took place deep within the energetic field of life known to it's keepers as The Ley. The Circle of Stewards were said to have attempted valiantly to repel these wretched advances, yet in these grim days their numbers are few and the Circle's name is hardly ever mentioned, it is clear that now the Druid's are not so dormant..

Several are said to have died during this blasphemous rite, although names are scarce and rumours leave out key details, it is certain this is not the last foul act upon the Bone King's dark list.

[Tala]

::[ Ches 10th : Year 164 : 1386 DR ]::

Recently, across Sanctuary, both in Upper Sanctuary and the Public Housing Vaults, Scriveners are seen more frequently, for the reason of a few incidents of people collapsing on the street, and instantly die. Besides the oddity in the deaths, they appear to be unrelated, as the casualties were of different races, and different occupations. Most residents of Sanctuary are not overly concerned, however a few already shut themselves at their homes.

In what appears to be a complete unrelated event, a Worminger was seen shouting near the gates, then jumped off the cliff, all to the uncaring eyes of an Agent of the Reformed Order, and the Watchers and Warders....

[Caster13]

::[ Ches 15th : 1386 DR ]::

Tragedy struck this dark as screams rung out from the Niceview Flats of the residential corner of Upper Sanctuary. Those responding found dark clad cultists with undead at their call cutting down innocent and cowering civilians. After a long and desperate battle, the last of the undead and cultists were slain but the surviving residents of the flats spoke of a sinister portal that some abducted residents were taken through. A group of random adventurers jumped through the portal in pursuit, causing its closure. It was some hours later on that these adventurers seemingly returned, announcing their victory via sending.

Rumours quickly spread of the adventurer's miracle-like victory as all of the abducted residents were rescued. At the same time, however, many whisper fearfully, wondering who these cultists could be and what their motives are. Some wonder if the cultists spreading fear in Lower have made their way above while others simply hope they have nothing else in mind for the citizens of Sanctuary.

[Ironside]

::[ Ches 18th : Year 164 : 1386 DR ]::

Grisly murder shattered all hopes for a peaceful dark. The maddened Apprentice of the King of Bones struck at the 'Bulwark' this evening, seeking vengeance for his foul master. Utilizing the blackest and most heathen arts at his disposal, he stole away a valiant knight by the name of Kemsith. Determined to tear her husband-to-be from the clutches of the Apprentice, the Prefect of the House of Gods, Araneidae, was seen to muster a force to enact his rescue and march off into the wider Underdark...

Some hours later, this same party returned, bereaved and bedraggled, carrying the fiendish necromancer's head...

...And the limp, entangled carcasses of Araneidae and her beloved.

The Mausoleum's dolorous bells ring in the evening...

[Caster13]

::[ Ches 20th : 1386 DR ]::

This dark cultists yet again strike the Residential Flats of Upper Sanctuary. Word is a woman of the Bright Sea Flats was kidnapped and whisked away through a portal by a small group of cultists. Six adventurers entered the same portal to give chase and enact a rescue, but when they returned things took a startling turn to the dark and dramatic. A commotion quickly broke out in the Flat, witnessed by many residents, where the kidnapped woman's fiance accused the adventurers of murdering the woman so they could return laden with treasure instead of rescuing her.

After a minor physical scuffle, the fiance hastily made a sending calling for a Watcher. However, as the man was in the middle of speaking with a Watcher in the House of Governance, he was suddenly killed by a bolt of lighting flung by a mage who was quickly taken into custody. Milling commoners and civil servants within the House of Governance are quick to share aghast and scandalized words about adventurers willing to hire killers to seemingly protect their reputations.

After a string of cultists attacks, fear and anxiety in the Residential Flats is at an all time high. With this latest incident, however, the residents have become fearful of not just cultists, but also would-be adventurers who appear to be willing to kill defenseless common residents instead of protecting them.