Rumors of Roaringshore

In-Character News, Laws, Announcements, Rumors, and Stories Relating to the Sword Coast

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Gareut
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Rumors of Roaringshore

Unread post by Gareut »

Roaringshore

This isolated village nestles in a small deepwater cove on the coast about a third of the way south from the mouth of the Winding Water toward the city of Baldur’s Gate. Like Lathtarl’s Lantern (see that entry), this is a pirate hold, but unlike the Lantern, the reputation of bold, lawless Roaringshore has spread far up and down the length of the Sword Coast. Though such tales have grown in the telling, this is still a place raided at least once summer by mercenary armies of 70 or more lancers or horse archers, hired by Amn and Baldur’s Gate. As a result, prominent folk and businesses here tend to be (literally!) short-lived. Even so, two establishments of note have lasted long enough to garner well-deserved reputations: the Swordarm and the Broken Goblet. The traveler should be aware that many pirates here are runaways, local thieves, and adventurers all out to make an impression, and perhaps attract some business as mercenary hirelings. A lot of posing goes on. This can make Roaringshore a very dangerous place for the visitor who isn’t in a large, well-armed group, or obviously powerful. I had to flee it abruptly, but I did manage to learn the details about the two main attractions first.

The Goblet
When pirates and lawless folk come to brawl and carouse, their first thought is to roll into the Goblet. swords drawn, and swagger as they promenade along the raised entry dais and down toward the bar. It’s the place to be seen, and the place to be killed in, if the body count of the last few years is any indication. Don’t go here unless you’re very good with a blade, alert, have a lot of well-armed friends with you, and are protected against poisons. A spell such as ironguard(which renders one immune to metal bladed weapons for a time) is an ideal protection here, but beware, this place is strongly warded, and the defenses permit only existing defensive spells to continue. Newly cast spells are twisted and lost, without effect. The defenses also whisk all missiles (hurled glasses, daggers, darts, bolts, and arrows alike) up into gentle contact with the ceiling. This prevents broken glasses, for drink is served here in ornately carved and blown glasses, some of which are exquisitely beautiful, and rather more of which are simply rude. There are constant rumors that the staff and ownership of the Goblet are not human, and consist of beings far more deadly than the doppleganger “wenches”. Most folk believe that some fell power runs the tavern. Its wardings are certainly strong, and spells have been deflected from them that hurled back or slew large mercenary attacking forces sent to cleanse or raid Roaringshore. (Those bearing a ward token can cast spells within the tavern.) The truth, according to one Harper I spoke with, is that … Volo, ye can be so prudent sometimes it amazes me still. Just avoid the tavern and ye will be fine - Elminster


The Swordarm
You’d expect the only inn in a pirate hold regularly rocked by brawls and open fighting in the streets, and often raided by mercenary armies, too, to be a crumbling, filthy, vermin-infested ruin of a place, on the verge of falling down. Well, the Swordarm was, until a powerful evil wizard decided to make it an investment. He devised a mysterious spell of great power that entrapped his three apprentices, binding them in a mystic web of forces linked to the old stone-and-timber inn building. Their life forces hold the inn together and convert spells cast within it into raw power that binds together and repairs the place, and makes guests safe from hostile spells. The unfortunate apprentices can be seen to this very day, two young men and a young woman clad in dusty, dangling tatters of robes, floating face-down near the ceiling of the lobby and staring down in frozen, endless horror at folk who pass below. After they were trapped, their captor and master, the mage Aulyntar Cowlsar, pierced the walls with many new windows, added an ornate balcony and hanging staircase, and cut a pool now full of hot tingling waters into the floor of the lobby. (This pool would be a delight to bathe in were it not for the continuous feeling of being watched, due to the unfortunate apprentices, no doubt.) These changes probably mean that should anything befall the apprentices, the Swordarm will undoubtedly collapse. Until then, it’s quite an impressive place.

The Swordarm has housed many powerful and dangerous pirates and adventurers over the years. They have come to expect, and depend on, a place that is clean, quiet, and safe. On the rare occasions when guests have offered violence to anyone, swift and sure spells (presumably those of Aulyntar, who prefers to remain unseen) have lashed out to end the matter, usually by destroying the belligerent guest, although there have been some reports of such individuals being teleported abruptly into the depths of far-off Skullport, beneath Waterdeep, or the heart of the jungles of Chult, or into the midst of Icewind Dale. So this inn has become a neutral meeting place for deadly enemies, uneasy rivals, and swaggering folk-of-danger alike. If guests intend to do business together, however, they tend to arrange to meet elsewhere, no one is free of the feeling that Aulyntar or his frozen apprentices are always watching and listening. Some folk are so sensitive to this feeling that they cannot stay in the inn for more than a few breaths. On the other hand, it is the safest haven in Roaringshore, unless one is a wizard. There are several tales of mage guests disappearing here over the years.

Excerpt from Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast

Maecius wrote:Roaringshore probably does not have codified laws or courts, in the traditional sense.

The town isn't even really "led." Rather, it's "controlled."
A powerful cartel and crew of pirates and smugglers have a little fleet all their own, and make frequent use of Roarinshore as a base. Collectively they present enough of a threat to make the situation a stalemate with the local powers. So long as they don't get too greedy, businesses can write off piracy as a form of taxation.

On the shore, ship captains are the laws of the streets. Roaringshore needs them to bring in plunder and sailors to survive, so a Captain's word is often law... not the least because he likely has a crew at his back and a ship in the port.
There is a pecking order among the Captains, with the High Captain(s) at the top, and in combination these figures enforce a sort of order on the community.

It's not a haven for evil, as evil is often destructive. Profitable evil? That's welcome. But evil for the sake of evil? It's probably not going to survive the far-less-fair-than-Baldur's-Gate enforcers of Roaringshore.

It's not a place where "goody-two-shoes" characters are going to be very welcome, either, though. Those who shine with righteousness are likely to be walking around with a big target sign on their back -- first of all, they're probably rich (just look at that shiny armor), and rich people are targets; and second of all, they're liable to insult someone important with their moralizing ways.

In terms of Roaringshore's "street justice," we should stress that we don't want open warfare. The odd brawl or shady murder can pass beneath notice or care, but when you damage the commerce and trade you're likely to get beaten by all available drunken sailors.

The main difference between Roaringshore and the southern centers of law is that troublemakers in Baldur's Gate are liable to be thrown into a jail cell ... while troublemakers in Roaringshore are more liable to be crossbowed, execution-style, in a dark alley.

Assuming they're not hoisted onto the gallows first to dance the hempen jig.
Last edited by Gareut on Fri Aug 05, 2011 3:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Torako
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Re: Roaringshore Role-Play

Unread post by Torako »

Torako walks the streets of Roaringshore - if they can reasonably be called streets - and grins at the locals all-friendly-like. He stops and talks to any who will talk back, and makes conversation. He draws out rumours, and asks about any business coming from the Gate. Any with an eye for it will note his frustration at the answers he receives.

He eventually hears about the Hellstorm Crew.


"Well, maybe they know something."

Though there seems to be disagreement among some of the locals about whether he is alive, dead, or in prison, Torako nevertheless goes in search of this 'Captain'.
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Re: Roaringshore Role-Play

Unread post by Gareut »

While the sea rages from unknown reason a ragged bunch arrives with rowboats to the pier. Some pointed from shadows and muttered: "Hellstorm" The crew made their way straight to the Broken Goblet tavern. Beer flows, men rest and enjoy from that they are still alive.

Their Captain otherhand seems to be deep in thoughts, hardly being able to eat.
Last edited by Gareut on Fri Aug 05, 2011 7:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Infamous Captain Kalma Hellstorm - Gentleman of Fortune
On our pillage through the Sword Coast, We sail heartless under the flag of Piracy!

Krenal Vandree - The Black Wizards
I am them!
Galaahd
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Re: Roaringshore Role-Play

Unread post by Galaahd »

A very tall and large man with a formidable black beard, long black hair and a patch on his left eye comes with the captain Kalma. Some locals know him as "the Reverend" or "Bjorn the Black". He's seen staring with a blank expression his drink at the Broken Goblet, muttering a few words:

"This is so wrong... angering the gods... and now it's all over, it's all over... the captains won't take it kindly..."
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Re: Roaringshore Role-Play

Unread post by Xanfyrst »

The otherwise merry Alistair de Lioncourt, or perhaps better known as the Hellstorm member Alistair the Fair among the citizens of Roaringshore, is sitting on the ground next to the ale, piss-drunk and playing a melancholic song on his flute.
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Re: Roaringshore Role-Play

Unread post by Galaahd »

Reverend Bjorn starts to yell to a small crowd (mostly drunk sailors and petty thieves) outside the Broken Goblet.

"Aye, aye! I know what it's happenin'! Umberlee is angry fer a great offence! But ye know what? IT'S YER FAULT!"

The sailors silently look at him with puzzled expressions as Bjorn continues his rambling speech.

"When has been the last sacrifice?!? AND I MEAN A PROPER SACRIFICE, NAY A SQUIRREL OR A PIG! Aye, I'm lookin' at ye, Bart! And even ye, Finkle. Always been followers, eh, but have ye ever did yer duty? NAY. That's why she's so pissed off, nay for that crazy story 'bout some stolen artifact, that's bull***t. NOW MOVE YER HAIRY ASSES AND FIND ME A SACRIFICE."

The astonished small crowd stand still and silent, only the fat sailor named Bart dares to open his mouth:

"But Rever-"

and Bjorn immediately punches his nose, breaking it.

"Are ye deaf? I said find me a sacrifice! Or I swear I'll sacrifice ye rite now!"

Bjorn stares at him for a moment with an evil (and drunk) grin. Then he barks: "NOW MOVE!" and the crowd is immediately scattered. Bjorn doesn't know if they are really going to look for a sacrifice or if they are simply running away. He doesn't care. Satisfied, he takes a swig from his flask and steps in the Broken Goblet, staggering.
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Re: Roaringshore Role-Play

Unread post by Aikura »

A woman wearing a dark robe and a foul mood can occassionally be seen moving between the taverns of Roaringshore, offering good gold to anyone who can offer her a way out of this "cursed hole".
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Re: Roaringshore Role-Play

Unread post by TheVoid »

Most Sailors and Ferrymen seem to be melancholy due to the rough seas and deadly currents. Their livelihoods are placed on hold until the goddess's rage subsides. Aikura looks and solicits the seafarers for passage, but getting to this seaside locale was a feat, as she met turbulent waters and swift currents.

Over the past days, the waters have grown more violent and storms brew closer to the shores. Hail, rain, and high winds rage and damage boats and structures located along the coastal towns and villages of the Coast. Waves are reaching heights of twenty feet and rising as they crash into the shoreline causing small floods while erroding the shoreline.

Aikura finds no traveller willy enough to brave the storms to return her to her destination. Perhaps, Claudius the ferrymen could be convinced to risk life and droaning if the price was right?...
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Re: Roaringshore Role-Play

Unread post by Aikura »

A dark aerial shape leaves the roof of the Swordarm Inn, and can be glimpsed through the rain as it heads south along the Coast.
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Re: Roaringshore Role-Play

Unread post by Ivan38Rus »

Deep in the night, a pair of beggar boys have nailed a poster to the Bulettin Board.

In screaming red paint the following is written:

Horn of a unicorn for sale.

Leave a note in Swordarm Inn adressed to 'Lurue'.
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Re: Roaringshore Role-Play

Unread post by Galaahd »

Rumour is that two talassan priests have performed a human sacrifice on the pier. One of them had black long hair and beard and a patch on his left eye. The locals know him as Reverend Bjorn. The second one was a woman with white hair and a mask on her face. The sacrificed victim was a follower of Valkur, and the two priests offered him to Talos and Umberlee, hoping to calm the Bitch Queen's wrath.
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Re: Roaringshore Role-Play

Unread post by Krazy »

A woman wearing heavy black robes and full hood that obscures her face has been wandering around Roaringshore, with apparently unknown motive, but a few who have been following her have ascertained that she is seeking audience with the members of the Hellstorm Crew.
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Re: Roaringshore Role-Play

Unread post by LilahAcadie »

A purple robed woman is seen amongst the piers, her steps as graceful as her eyes are inquisitive. She threads her way through the crowds, pausing here and dallying there to ask after a certain man with a tricorn hat. Later, this same woman is spotted in the Roaring Goblet,then the Swordarm Inn.
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Re: Roaringshore Role-Play

Unread post by Gareut »

[First post updated. Huge thanks to Vindicator and Maecius.]
Infamous Captain Kalma Hellstorm - Gentleman of Fortune
On our pillage through the Sword Coast, We sail heartless under the flag of Piracy!

Krenal Vandree - The Black Wizards
I am them!
Gareut
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Re: Roaringshore Role-Play

Unread post by Gareut »

The night of figths. Hellstorm Crew's not so well organized event. Blood flowed like did the gold and mostly of the people were welcomed but few... Like elves had to pay some extra for entrance fee. The fights stopped suddenly when man, well known enemy of Hellstorm crew and Captain himself, waltzed in. Yelling something about that "You dont own this place!" the man quickly fleed when crew members started to pull their blades out from sheats.

Cale, the Brawler. Hellstorm crew's new sailor and champion swordman went to escort Thedran out... Watching that he wont start troubles or -kill cold bloodly- crew members like he does outside of Roaringshore's borders.

Next happenings are unclear and all happened fast. Arrows flied from shadows and unwelcomed man was under attack by sailors and their kind. Soon the unwelcomed man was dead. A small hin brought to the Captain Hellstorm and he was rewarded as gold and worms. Remains of the corpse were fed to the fishes.

Enforcers, not minding about Captain's words, threw the angry sailor and the hin out. Banished for few days so they would cool their feelings.

Roaringshore returns quickly back to its basic day rythm.

[The Captain still has the head of this unwelcomed person.]
Infamous Captain Kalma Hellstorm - Gentleman of Fortune
On our pillage through the Sword Coast, We sail heartless under the flag of Piracy!

Krenal Vandree - The Black Wizards
I am them!
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