*Far away from the eyes of man... Across the planes to Khalas, the first layer of Gehenna, the minions of The Lord of Murder gather for the upcoming thrust upon the soil of Toril. Twisted souls of malevolent evil stand before the Throne of Bhaal and pledge themselves to the cause.
A voice booms across the plane, "Come my minions! Together we shall crush the weak and pitiful, and spread my seed across Toril!"
As the voice carries itself across the plane, those that hear it, fall to their knees. Some by choice...others in fear of what will happen if they do not.*
After his recently thwarted kidnapping of Merielle, the Dark Messiah has kept a low profile, but rumours are once again spreading of a hooded figure in dark robes walking the streets of Baldur's Gate in the nightside eclipse. Witnesses have seen him near the Ilmatar temple on more than one occation.
A few accounts even speak of him slithering his way around inside the Candlekeep walls. Will he humiliate the defenses of Candlekeep once again with a direct assault?
When you light a candle, you cast a shadow too ~ Artemis It's better to rule in hell than to serve in heaven ~ Xanthor Your enemy's enemy is your friend ~ Tiberius
Rumor has it that a man dressed in green witnessed a man with the description that resembles *RANDALL THE MIGHTY* was seen screaming like a woman, running scared from a few goblins near Beregost. Apparently the man in Green was seen telling a few locals at the tavern in Beregost this story, and the Rumor has made its way to Baldurs Gate.
Noric NorthWind, The lost Mage Khulger Shieldbreaker, Brother of of Thulger Shield Breaker Wyn Silverleaf, Ranger, Rogue, you never know
Christan Cross, Battle Priest of Torm -- Retired-- Former council Member of the Valiant shield Connick T. Steel Retired
Rumour has it the former "Sanctuary Killer" known previously as Jack, has been sworn in as a Weavemaster, holding the rank of Magus. Confusion and a bit of fear spread through the streets of Baldurs Gate who do not understand the reasoning.
Rennec Rokranon, Chosen of Helm, Retired for now
Isra Wynterborne, Necromancer Hunter
Rask, The Lich, Retired
S.Ravenpath, collector and author of tall tales.
Nathka Blacksand - Khazark of the Enclave
Richter Bedevere - The Reveler and enjoyer of fine wines
Rumors spread that the elven council is deciding the fate of one of their elves who has been known to take on the form of demons and summon Balors. Many elves seem very angry and outraged at this elf and the rumor is that this elf is in the Fist Prison. The face of Aloria seems grim of late.
12 I will make your battlements of rubies,
your gates of sparkling jewels,
and all your walls of precious stones.
A score or so of orcs hang from the trees of the Wood of Sharp Teeth, hung by their feet. The faces of the creatures have been beaten beyond any recognition by what would seem to be a blunt object, and the stench can be smelled from a good distance. Some of the larger ones have sun symbols carved into their chests, the symbol of Lathander. Every few days a few more appear on the trees, in the same manner as the others.
His eye caught by the circle of black birds hovering over the wood not far from the Coast Way, S'ment Lodir heads off the road to investigate and comes upon the grisly scene. Frowning and wrinkling his nose against the smell he decides to cut down the orc carcasses and toss them all into a shallow pit he has quickly dug out using his shield as a rough sort of shovel. Dousing the bodies with several flasks of oil, he then pulls a flask of alchemical fire and dashing it into the pit sets the whole rotten pile ablaze in a great funeral pyre.
Watching for a long while as it burns and satisfied as the bodies reduce to ash, he finally secures his gear and makes to head south towards Beregost. "Some sort of pretender-- must be..." he muses, "a carvin thet holy sign of Lathander inter orcs likes that and stringin em up. Must a been ter slander his name somehows..." Sighing sadly at the swaying tattered ends of the bloody ropes that he could not fully reach to remove, which still adorn the trees like the macabre streamers of some hellish celebration; he heads back to the Trade Way and south.
"I reckon the Sunrise Lord of Beregost will want ter know bouts this blasphemy. Hanging orcs from the trees by Moradin! And a laying it on the Morninglord! Something I can't believe from dem what preach nurturing growin things, sowing seed o'hope and always a saying such like-- from death, life. He shudders as such cold blasphemy but then grins to himself at his next thought: "I reckon them temple folk will leastwise be pleased I reduced all dem corpses ter ash! I hear it's a sposed ter be good feed fer plant life."
Azrak Blackaxe, Dwarven WarriorNyr Doch! Deezgul Silverdelve, Dwarven ChanterThe steel in dwarven spines Fastolph "Sam" Ostgood, Hin BladesmanAs good as his name... really
*wythran finds a few of the bodies and exhales* That.. fool will bring the horde to beregost next....there is only one Lahtandarite that would go this direction. *he spins around and stalks off whispering to himself* Trent...
Perhaps.. the church in Bergost will do something for it.
Wthyran Tal - Drooling, scarred and generally acidic.
Tarnok Deadsbane - Talk about guilt.
~Shipments have departed from the N.T.E. warehouse in Baldur's Gate to a quick and quite trip to the forces of the triad.
If more will arrive in time it is unknown, but it is suggestive that reciprocation for past faith and trust on Baldur's Gate's behalf is being fairly repaid from the Amnian based enterprise.~
TheVoid wrote:Can you imagine what rw would be entitled too if we allowed npc rwot merchants? Those bald ass mothers can freakin get wargolems portaled to them and all other kinds of weapons of mass destruction.
A foul servant of Bane, described as *Describes Filth Seyrut* is said to have been slain by the famous Half Orc Paladin, Arkaine HalfOrken, at the campfire south of Baldur's Gate, after chanting Bane's name and summoning a Balor to attack several adventurers. A chain with the symbol of Bane was found on his body and he is said to have been buried on the side of the road.
The Banite's body was later said to be recovered by the Flaming Fist Mercenary Brigade.
*Wythran hears the rumour*Huh.. so they killed the necromancer again... thats odd. Arkaine Half Orcken. orc kin.. pfft some bastardization killed him - again. Strange never heard of him, *yawns wiping the drool from his face* how.. famous can he really be?
Wthyran Tal - Drooling, scarred and generally acidic.
Tarnok Deadsbane - Talk about guilt.
The Fist have mobilized... Citizens lay witness to catapults being lead, as if on parade, down the Tradeway. Paladins of the triad along with clerics and warriors walk with them in proud formation. Once within the shadow of the fell temple, they set up a base camp for the impending battle. Goodly Mercenaries from throughout the land arrive in numbers, pledging their swords to the cause.
Once the camp has been dug in, they gather around the fire come nightfall. Some praying...some thinking about their loved ones back home. But the one common thought that passes through all of their minds is...
[Meri visits the camp surprised at the flurry of activity. More surprised when she hears the Dukes have placed her, Jonas and Maximus in charge... and worried when she hears the overly-eager have rushed the temple.]
'We were told to prepare not attack. No one enters that temple until Maximus and the rest of the Triad has joined us. We are not ready yet, to press the attack. Use this time to prepare. Rest friends. The time for battle will come soon enough. I beg you heed my wisdom, if you cannot abide my wisdom, then abide the wisdom of a god who sees better than our mortal eyes. Mercy to you all for aiding in this. May the Mercy of Ilmater smile on you. Mercy keep you.'
[She speaks over the din of knights, mercenaries, friends and strangers alike who have come to aid in the battle. She meets their eyes, and speaks a soft prayer over the group. Light envelopes the encampment, and she smiles. Blessings to them, she turns and makes her way, with armed escort to Candlekeep.]
"Play nice." Mum "Mercy, even to the least deserved." "Revenge is beneath me, but Accidents happen..." "Even Echoes fade to silence."
With war on the horizon, the field of battle seems to have taken on an uneasy silence. Knights and Mercenaries alike ready their weapons of war during this... "Calm before the storm.."
The Bhaalists have wisked themselves away to the upper levels of the temple...preparing for their Masters arrival..
The Allies of the Triad use this time to lay out battle plans and write their loved ones that dreaded "last letter"....
