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

[Howlando]

::[ Eleint 26th : Year 165 : 1387 DR ]::

The conflict between the two foes Baron Ormulax and Magnatz the Red of the Mound has reached new levels of savagery, with reports of wild skirmishes between their respective monstrous forces all across the Underdark.

It is said that one band of mercenaries, the "Bloodscums" enlisted a large group of Sanctuary residents to aid them in attacking a convoy of barges ferrying in fresh levies and mercenaries on behalf of Baron Ormulax.

Some  of the mercenaries, including the infamous "Dirzag of the Iron Halberd" and  the "Three Brothers of the Howling Canyons" were persuaded to change sides and subsequently enlisted to serve Magnatz.

[Howlando]

::[ Eleint 27th : Year 165 : 1387 DR ]::

Rumors speak of a sad tale, a dark and dismal end for the old Commandant Antoine Trenada of the Stygian Armada.

For a long time the famed Master Tau Masemba, once of the Armada and later of the Society of the Ordered Mind, had been seen about the Underdark trying to raise a huge sum of gold. It is said that Tau had agreed to aid Ragnur of Clan Silverbeard in an assault against Fortress Mur in exchange for a contribution of twenty thousand. When Ragnur and his allied gathered the sum, they sailed to the Lonesome Rock to meet with Tau and hand over the gold.

Waiting for them there was Tau with all the gold he had managed to accumulate. Ragnur added his large sum to the pile and there they waited as various other small vessels arrived. Within each vessel another mercenary came to toss their own contribution to the pile.

Eventually a final ship arrived, and within that ship was the old Commandant Antoine Trenada himself along with the last Dominion Guard, Loyalist Trevor. The Commandant's old lucky coin was tossed in the pile and Tau explained the reason he needed so much gold:

Long ago, when Trenada was Duke of a Dominion above, he gambled the fate of his Duchy in a casino. He sought gold to feed and protect his people and, after having gathered a huge sum through the tireless efforts of his loyalists, went to double and double it again in the old casino of Traensyr.

Unfortunately, Trenada lost then, and eventually lost his sanity. He's been a wreck ever since, a mad and pitiful thing.

Recently, Tau has discovered that the only way to return Trenada's sanity would be to resolve this long-simmering failure and grant Trenada a chance to gamble it all one more time. The sum gathered was precisely the same amount as had been collected all those years ago.

The group departed by ship, Great Lizard Howdah, Gondola, Beetle Wagon, walking, and Smuggler's Wagon until at last they reached far and distant Nyxae. They found the re-established Casino Lhae'rosa waiting for them.

Accounts of what happened within vary, but all agree - Trenada's luck did not turn, and once more he lost at the roulette table. In the end Tau brought out his final reserves and put himself up as personal collateral, but they still lost.

Tau and others were led away to a life of slavery. Kedrian, once known as 'Specialist' Kedrian, did a final favor for the old Duke. It is said he uttered:

"Goodbye, Commandant. Goodbye, old friend"... before slicing the Duke's throat from ear to ear.

In a mad rage, Loyalist Trevor attacked the drow casino mistress. He was skewered by her guard.

Supposedly Ragnur was offered the aid of Specialist Kedrian and a few remaining old Stygians, but their efforts will surely be much diminished by not being able to call upon the services of Master Tau himself.

The only one who seemed at all pleased by the events in the Casino was the drow mercenary Zendrae who had gambled against the others the whole time, and therefore  made a tidy sum.

[Howlando]

::[ Eleint 27th : Year 165 : 1387 DR ]::

A strange scene in Sanctuary, as a mighty minotaur servant of Magnatz was seen carrying the slain body of the Mound's Ambassador Zharkmon from his residence.

It's said that servants of the Eye struck at the Ambassador within his home, succeeding in slaying Zharkmon, but were subdued by the Mercenary Rana Al-Saif before they could get away.

[Howlando]

::[ Eleint 28th : Year 165 : 1387 DR ]::

::[ Unauthorised Dunwarren Sending by Messenger from Magnatz : Let all tremble before the mighty armies of Magnatz the Red! Ormulax the Eye`s pitiful outpost within the forge-works of the further reaches has been smashed, his forces within obliterated and his spawn slain by Gormauth the Great. A great victory! ]::

::[ Unauthorised Dunwarren Sending by Messenger from Magnatz : Vengeance for Zharkmon! ]::

::[ Unauthorised Dunwarren Sending by Messenger from Magnatz : Gormauth wishes it known that the Red Banner Warriors - Gaspar Castel and Artreez fought well. Also present were the Scions of Nimiety, Zendrae and two companions. And Geoffrey Beaufort. And others who did not utter their names. All fight for the glory of Magnatz! ]::

[Howlando]

::[ Eleint 29th : Year 165 : 1387 DR ]::

The sound of an enormous horn echoes through the Underdark announcing a march to war.

From the depths of the Scamander come an army of trolls, led by their foul witch Magga.

From the pits and mines of the Mound, come a marching army of goblins and packs of cackling gnolls.

Mercenaries from surface lands above and all about the Dark Lake rally to the banner of Magnatz the Red.

They march to Fortress Mur, and the great gates shut. The Duergar, men, and kobolds under the banner of the great Baron Ormulax prepare for the siege with various instruments of war.

For now... it is quiet. But soon battle will come.

[Howlando]

::[ Eleint 30th : Year 165 : 1387 DR ]::

The battle is finished.

The great monstrous army of Magnatz the Red engaged in a bloody frontal assault upon the forces of Fortress Mur, tearing its huge iron gates asunder. After furious and pitched battle, they proved victorious. In the end, the great Beholder, Baron Ormulax, was slain by the dwarf merchant-lord Ragnur Silverbeard and a small pitched force of elite Sanctuarians and monstrous companions.

[(Twitch video)]

[SanTelmo]

::[ Marpenoth 15th : Year 165 : 1387 DR ]::

Although the bloody war came to an end on the Low Road, preparations have continued on quite another frontier - the field of matrimony. Everyone on this side of the Dark Lake speaks how the Wedding of Magnatz and Magga is about to take place in the conquered Fort Mur on Marpenoth 19th.

The smitten and excited bride has been seen furiously collecting taxes of all kind from unfortunate travelers of the Low Road for the wedding decorations and she is clearly set on making them "the most beautiful and wondrous" wedding seen in the Underdark. In addition to the preparations made by the servants of Magga and Magnatz, the new inhabitants of Fort Mur led by Ragnur Silverbeard and Goblin Chieftain Rayguk have been busily clearing rubble, setting up decorations, gathering food and hiring entertainment for the splendid eve to come. 

It is said that guests have been invited from all across the Dark Lake and many are likely to come, for who would wish to offend the Master who is now both the Master of Mound's Mines and Mur's Port? Many are also seeking to be let into the weddings without a formal invitation, perhaps hoping for a chance to fawn the groom or just witness the whole spectacle. Whether they will be allowed to take part will be seen but one thing is likely to be certain - to come without a proper Gift or Offering is to earn the ire of the newlywed.


//This event will be starting roughly around this time. It is likely better to be ready a bit earlier though. The event is open for anyone but one should take into consideration that participating in this wedding between two monstrous creatures may not be without danger.

[Howlando]

::[ Marpenoth 19th : Year 165 : 1387 DR ]::

Magnatz the Red and Magga have wed, and by all accounts it was an eventful celebration.

The ceremony and gift-giving went largely as expected, however things took a sour turn when Magnatz read a note warning of a plot against him and confronted the Red Banner about their purpose for being there. It seems that certain members of the famed mercenaries had perhaps unwisely given up vials of the blood, and this allowed the Bloodmage Giant to compel one of them - Gaspar Castel - to reveal details of their purpose there and of the mysterious vial that they had offered as tribute to Magnatz. Apparently, the vial came from the surface and was to be used to potentially poison or weaken Magnatz and allow the Red Banner to strike to assassinate him.

For good or for ill, the plot on behalf of the Red Banner was foiled and a prepared Magnatz demanded the heads of those responsible to offer as gift to his new bride.

After brief fighting, two of the Red Banner were captured but two managed to escape. The Giant used his bloodmagic to compel the two captured ones, binding them in a quest to bring to him their former comrades who slipped away. He also is said to have promised a grand treasure to any others who capture the Harlot Rana or the Halfling Vick.

True to his word, those unfortunate Sanctuary citizens  sold as slaves to Magnatz were released and made their return to Sanctuary.

[ShadowCharlatan]

::[ Marpenoth 26th : Year 165 : 1387 DR ]::

The distant drow settlement of Nyxae is no more.

The rumour spreads quickly across the Dark Lake that this refuge of traditional Lolth worshipping drow was recently attacked by an overwhelming Ghaunadauran assault led by none other than Temrariel the Slime Lich. Slaves and dark elves from Nyxae fled the city as it dissolved.

One strange twist in the tale goes that a significant war party of Lolth loyalists was able to escape, and has disappeared into the Underdark under the leadership of a warlord, a priestess, and a demon. Dark elf pirates on the Dark Lake claim that the war party is seeking the site of ancient Illythiiri Ruins where the drow of Traensyr are said to have descended to the Underdark many years ago. Or other ways to the surface world. To what end, no one knows.

Stories begin to circulate again and again about the complete abandonment of other Lolth holdouts in the Underdark. Some attacked by Ghaunadaurans, but others voluntarily relinquished in the name of some mysterious pilgrimage.

Meanwhile, Sanctuary takes in a trickle of slaves hailing from Nyxae. And the Reformed Order of the Spellguard recently celebrated receiving a large shipment of baublium.

[Howlando]

::[ Uktar 2nd : Year 165 : 1387 DR ]::

The forces of Sanctuary led two forces into that venerable section of the Dunwarren ruins known commonly as 'The Bowels of the Machine.'

One group descended into the ruins beyond, destroyed a nest of Chosen, and then blew up the bridges leading into the Bowels, thereby preventing easy access to the Chosen that swarm beyond.

A second group solved a complex puzzle that allowed them to enter into some hidden chamber from which vermin across the Underdark had been entering. This chamber was likewise blown up.

The end result is that the Bowels have been (mostly) sealed off from the monsters and vermin that used to infest it.

Lighting systems have been switched on, and huge rumbling animations have begun to set to work - clearing away rubble, polishing off rust, and finishing sub-systems.

The work on the Machine continues...

[Kinslayer988]

::[ Nightal 1st : Year 165 : 1387 DR ]::

It would take a single meeting of powers to send Sanctuary into a terrible descent. it is said that it began with a trial.


Rumors of Statues' kidnapping and 'robbing' by the Reformed Order of the Spellguard circulated in Sanctuary over tenday. It is said from the librarians that it was Adept Cadyr and the Harlot Rana al-saif who had completed the act, others say that she had simply disappeared in a flash of light. These thoughts would come forward at last with a trial, the entirety of the Reformed Order were to be judged for their crimes. Before the Mayor's feet the projection of the Commander manifested, the face of Kyros Miller IV confident despite the overwhelming crowd. The Mayor raised to the public a scroll of crimes. Missing persons, murders, and enslaved, the name of Isabelle Faussad, the person stolen by the Reformed Order at the top of the list. Under Mayoral Decree Commander Miller would return Isabelle and bring compensation to the Sanctuary government for each of its citizens slain by the order.


The projection remained silent, the Secretary eager at the side of the Mayor to see the Commander pale and craven. "No." The Commander answered with confidence, its illusion inverting to face against the masses of Sanctuary. The Spellguard would not follow the decrees of a diseased and impotent Council. For long the Spellguard had served its purpose as its defenders and military arm. It would occur no more. To the shock of the crowd, the words of the Commander lingered on the ears of all. With judgement of the Council, and echo of the Secretary's decree in months past, the Spellguard would withdraw from Sanctuary.


When citizens left the House of Governance the city laid silent. The Watchers and passerby who once filled the city with vibrancy now carried cargo toward the Deep Forges. A sad Edmund Hart hammering the last board upon the Watchhouse door before grabbing his bounty boards. The silence was broken by a scream. From the gates the first invaders, goblins and bandits. Worming their way through the gates in a storm of blades. Some Watchers frowning as they ignored those they had swore to protect, others cheering as harm came to those who had marked them for so long.


The citizens had fended themselves against the first of many opportunists when an odd force had come before them. A large cadre of Knights of the New Path had returned to Sanctuary at the behest of Malark Amblecrown to witness the state of Sanctuary. Among the desperate populace raised a sense of hope that these Knights would protect the weak the Spellguard had abandoned. As more invaders entered Sanctuary, the knights marched past the defenders, making their way to Starag's Rest. Debate is held of what occurred within as the populace focused upon the invading forces, but rumors from displaced men claim that the knights and a gang of Exiles had abused the absence of the Spellguard and taken over Starag's Rest.


Before the dark could settle it is said that the same gang of Exiles embarked into the city to hunt a number of straggler Covenant pactmakers who had not yet been seen so far. Despite their absence from most of the events, it was clear that a large number of oozes had entered into Upper Sanctuary during the chaos of the post-trial. The rest of the dark was spent in a game of deadly chase, leaving both Covenant and Exile members dead in the streets. Some even recall a number of drow entering from the shadows.


The dark would end with explosions as the Spellguard dislodged a number of old bridges, ill-fitting for their new district. Toward the area of Serena Tower now lay a militarized zone where the Watcher and Warder personnel may find safety. The streets have become a hostile place to live, especially for those in the red and black. Spellguard paranoia has erupted in a level not yet seen since the fall of the Sanctuary-That-Was. Reports through the militarized zone go that many Watchers have already began to go missing. A sad watcher reported that a stray Warder was burned alive in the street. Despite the dangers being a member now poses, a large group of citizens have taken to the militarized zone. Hoping to one day earn entrance into the safety of Final Sanctuary at the cost of service.


Librarians have began to write that the beginning of the end has come for what is dubbed as the Sanctuary-That-Is. Theorists have began to write their tomes on the end,  being jokingly called 'grey-mantles' by veteran mantled of the House of Knowledge. The Scriveners however, are appreciative of these recordings and have taken them rather seriously, encouraging more to speculate on the end of all things. Even offering a possible reward.


In the end to all of this, the Mayor's Council lay fatigued. Its weakness has been irrefutably revealed to the entirety of the underdark, many whisper in fear that the Blood Giant Magnatz may take the opportunity to make demands of the city. With a forced optimism, Secretary Thervion has called forward for a new movement of Councilors. Offering the position to those who desire to see Sanctuary brought from its lawless disorder. Many believe this is to be done to replace the traitor Councilor Mekuria and hide the sour reputation Councilor Gerrard Vaughan...

[ShadowCharlatan]

 ::[ Nightal 5th : Year 165 : 1387 DR ]::

Gossip spreads of a very public dispute between Finn Mouldercrest and his wife Alicia Gould. Theirs was a political marriage that secured an alliance between the industrial and business interests of Roaldhe Gould and Finn Mouldercrest.

Once Sanctuary's greatest power couple with - some say - the greatest prospects for dynastic power since the Bresleys, Mouldercrest today was left dumbfounded and crying in Freedom Square. His wife screamed that she wanted a divorce.

The usual know-it-alls and experts-in-hindsight are saying that the marriage was doomed long ago by the long sickness or slumber of Roaldhe Gould. For its part, Gould's estate maintains that the man is not truly dead and is receiving the greatest care possible in his situation.

[Kinslayer988]

::[ Nightal 11th : Year 165 : 1387 DR ]::

In the midst of a hostage crisis between the Spellguard and the Exiles, rumors trickle to Middle of a horrible tragedy in Final Sanctuary. It is said that a Watcher obtained a ring, seeking the pleasures of the Resting Heights. Claxons rang through the paradise and Middle as rumors go, before the Agents could apprehend the man he had killed a number of aristocrats and injured a dozen more. He was last seen running through Middle before the Agents pulled him to their militarized zone.

While the survivors and families of the slain were said to have received sizable compensation and special protection from the Spellguard, one victim has sparked terrible animosity. It is said that Alicia Gould was taken from Final Sanctuary and brought to the Gould Estate with a mortal wound. In a tragedy not seen since the sickness of Roaldhe Gould, the estate's representatives have been called from the underdark to speak on their future. The poor and tentdwelling snicker at this assembly of Fatmen, claiming that they will care for Alicia as they did Roaldhe.

Thoughts linger on what some would call a tragedy, or a celebration. Who was the mad watcher? What would cause such tragedy?  Some claim it was an Exile sabotage, even citing the man to be enthralled. While the Spellguard have taken a stance of heavy opposition to the rumor, paranoia remains in the aristocrats of Final Sanctuary.

[ShadowCharlatan]

 ::[ Nightal 13th : Year 165 : 1387 DR ]::

Todark, a most strange event occurred in Upper Sanctuary. The former Director Roaldhe Gould slipped down from the Gould Estate in a sleepwalk...

At first he rambled incoherently and wandered. Rumours tell that he spoke against Finn Mouldercrest, rambled about the other Directors of his time, talked about Dendar the Night Serpent, about light, uttered some words about Bresley, and boomed madly about his nightmares.
Then he fell to the ground dead, clutching his chest, in the middle of Freedom Square.

Some say Gould's words were those of a madman, clearly coming from spending years in terrifying nightmares. Others believe there was something prophetic to what he was saying.

One consequence of Gould's public demise is the crystal clear revelation of Mouldercrest's guilt. Already there are moves afoot among the industrial circles of Sanctuary to destroy Mr Finn Mouldercrest, whose fortunes have taken a grim turn of late. A race is on to take full control of Gould's property.

Another current of thought regards Gould's final words as a vindication of Ascensionist creeds. His awed words of a snake, of light, of a nightmare ending, and of Bresley, all contrast with the man's past tyrannical and imperial deeds. For the first time in a long time, there is a stirring of talk about Frederick Bresley, and what the legendary explorer would have done in the bizarre times that Sanctuary now finds itself in.

[derfo]

::[ Nightal 14th : Year 165 : 1387 DR ]::

Tumultuous happenings again enveloped the divide between the council and the Spellguard this dark. Many tell tale of combat upon the entry of the Watchers & Warders' forces entering the House of Governance, emerging with a convincing victory shortly afterwards. A large number of hostage were in tow, a few councilors among them.

Fortunately, it is said the evening resolved with a peaceful conclusion and exchange of captured watchers and supporters of the council. Many higher-level personnel of the Watchers & Warders were confirmed to accept the peace during a series of sendings by the council, the Spellguard broadcasting system, and others, citing a general cessation of hostilities.

Meanwhile, outside the city, some adventurers passing through the Grotto talk of significantly peculiar monstrosities that continue to prowl the darkness. The most common stories include pale elves covered in bone and metal, all carrying axes that cleave their foes in two, or shadowy worms spitting projectiles laced with deadly poison and magic...