Post/Author/DateTime	Post
dave_the_DM 04-03-08, 01:28 PM	Just finished the "latest" edition of the Waterdeep Herald for my group, thought you guys might get a kick out of a "web version" of it.... The Waterdeep Herald, produced bi-weekly. Located on The High Road, just north of Selduth Street. All articles written and edited by Vensoral Quaren and his sons. Sources protected. http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h310/captcorajus/GriffinA.jpgWaterdeep http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h310/captcorajus/waterdeepcoatofarms.jpgHeraldhttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h310/captcorajus/GriffinB.jpg High Harvest Tide Celebrated A particularly bountiful harvest from Waterdeep’s crops made the High Harvest Tide celebration a major event this year. All over the city Waterdhavians engorged them- selves on roast beast, corn, and drank excessive amounts of zzar. The Field of Triumph hosted a sell out crowd as the city’s best warriors, and entertainers participated in a variety of events. Jousting champion Malinar Vengold retained his title, to no one’s surprise, besting rival Sigfield Renlar in all three passes. On the amateur side, the new comer, Half-Orc Warrioress Dasheen overcame tremendous odds defeating a captured owl bear in spectacular fashion, to capture the top amateur prize of 500 gold lions. This latest up and comer showcases brawn with style, and is someone to keep an eye on. Lady Cassala Thrundwick Attacked A wagonload of iron-banded barrels containing alegar from the Vintners, Distillers, and Brewers Guildhall was overturned at the intersection of Keltarn and Swords Streets yesterday afternoon, apparently part of an attempt on the life of the Lady Cassala Thrundwick, the "Silver Dowager" of Silverymoon. The acrid fumes given off by the liquid contents, used as both a fiery salad dressing and as a cheap preserving agent, stung the eyes and burned the throats of all passerby in the vicinity, and effectively served to obscure the identities of the would-be assassins, at least three of whom assaulted the carriage the Silver Dowager was riding in. Thankfully, the attackers were driven off, in part due to a spray of blinding sparks from one of the Dowager's many rings and the heroic efforts of her Hin retainers, two of whom fell to the envenomed blades the assassins bore. It is not yet known who hired the killers, or what their motive was, but it is suspected to involve the Lady Thrundwicks' association with Lord Maernos' planned demi-human temple-sanctuary, an idea many of the city's nobles are vehemently opposed to. http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h310/captcorajus/dragonshead.jpg Blue Alley Claims More Victims Once again it appears that that infamous section of Sea Ward known as the "Blue Alley" has lured a novice company of starry eyed adventurers into its passageways, for their doom. According to associates of those involved, the recently assembled "Company of the Crying Shield" made plans to attempt the trap filled labyrinth two days ago, just before High Harvest tide. The company is said to consist of five members, one of which is none other than Derrigan Bladesemmer, noble second son of Taeros Bladesemmer. No official word from the Bladesemmer household has been forthcoming in regards to the fate of their youngest son, but it is said that Derrigan's mother Onya Bladesemmer is extremely distraught. Recent talk at the Yawning Portal, the preferred hang out of the missing adventuring company, indicates that there may be a reward for the recovery of the company's remains (if there be any), though how much and who would be paying has not been disclosed at the time of this printing. The "Blue Alley", so named for the faintly glowing blue paving stones at the alley's entrance, has been a staple of Sea Ward since its creation by an unknown (some say mad) reclusive mage over sixty years ago. It has served as the first adventure for many of Waterdeep's most famous adventuring companies, including the Company of Crazed Venturers, the Buckleswashers, and the Deep Delvers. Said to consist of a series of traps and twisting passages, the dungeon is famous for the amount of gold and rare magic that young, up-and-coming adventurers can acquire if they somehow manage to survive its dangerous machinations. http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h310/captcorajus/blushingmermaid.jpg Unidentified Hin Female Found Dead The City Watch is investigating the mysterious death of an unidentified Hin Female found in Dock Ward late yesterday evening. Details are sketchy, but the Watch was called in to investigate a commotion outside the Thirsty Throat Tavern just after sunset. The Hin’s body was found in an alley along **** Street, the apparent victim of a violent attack. http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h310/captcorajus/thirstthroat.jpg The Thirsty Throat No official cause of death has been listed, but sources close to the investigation indicate that the Halfling suffered multiple stab wounds. This is not the first time that a death of this sort has occurred in the vicinity of the Thirsty Throat, and the tavern is getting a rather unseemly reputation, even for one located in Dock Ward. The proprietor, Bulaedo “Fists” Ledgileer was unavailable for comment at the time of this press release. http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h310/captcorajus/Balthorrs.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h310/captcorajus/GoldenKey.jpg
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 04-04-08, 12:41 PM	That was fun to read, thanks for sharing it!
Stigger 04-05-08, 01:45 AM	Spiffy stuff there... nice work. :)
UnicornQueen 04-07-08, 07:22 AM	I really like it.:clap: Is there any more out there? :help:
dave_the_DM 04-07-08, 12:18 PM	Harvest Tide 1357 D.R. Well, we rolled up characters Sunday, RP'd a bit before we had to break up due to time constraints. Here's what we got so far: Dasheen: Female, half-orc. Recent escaped gladiator slave from Calimashan Karel: Male elf, Apprentice mage (thief?), staying at the Order of Magists and Protectors. Borja: female dwarf Acolyte of Clangeddin Silverbeard We started off with a celebration of High Harvestide in Waterdeep. Dasheen, having established herself in the arena, not only for her battle prowse but her sense of honor and fair play, was scheduled to face off against a recently captured Owl Bear on the Field of Triumph. Karl was taking bets on how long she would last, and poor Borja was attending the games in reserved seats, and doing her best to keep the high priest of her order from getting too drunk/ sick on an vicious combination of fine Dwarven Ale and cheap Zzar. The game was interesting as several warriors were involved. But this was not a cooperation event, as the warrior who stuck the killing blow got an extra 250 gps. It was very dramatic, as at 1 HP Dasheen emerged victorious, and brought down the Owl bear before collapsing in a heap from exahustion and injury! Karel managed to come out ahead on bets, and Borja organized a dwarven victory celebration for all (held at the high priest's villa in Sea Ward)! The dwarven high priest, one of the few to come out ahead in Karal's betting scam, asked Karal to speak to the Half-orc on his behalf and invite Dasheen to the party. Not too long after, the half-orc was attended by a halfling bath matron in the hot baths beneath the colliseum. As Dasheen cleaned the owl bear's blood and gore off, she was attacked by the female halfling who turned out to be an assasin! Armed with little but her fists, the naked half-orc was at a disadvantage against the halfling's poisoned stiletto. However Karal, who had been waiting just outside the bath area, heard the commotion inside, and ran inside to help fend off the assassin. Unfortunately, the halfling got away. (Dasheen saved versus poison, and lived!). Later, at the party... The half-orc gladator warrioress from Calimashan was a curiousity at the Dwarven party, and much attention was given... something that made her a mite uncomfortable... but she did her best to put up with it...i.e. she didn't smash anything. Karal was questioned about the bath incident by his mentor Vestinlar who was also attending the dwarven celebration. With a minor spell, Vestinlar helped Karal recall a small but curious detail about the attack... a "domino mask" carved on the handle of the halfling's stilleto! Vestinlar's face contorted in alarm and concern, but warned Karal not to say anything to anyone until he had time to consult "with some people", and to stay close to Dasheen, as she was in extreme danger. Anyway, after the reveal from the memory spell... that's where we ended it till this Sunday.
dave_the_DM 04-07-08, 12:18 PM	Marpenoth 3rd to 5th 1357 D.R. Several days after the “incident” at the Field of Triumph Karel was busy running errands to a variety of merchants, wizards and clerical orders through out the city, on official guild business (The Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors). Primarily this consisted of delivering packages, and messages. His mentor, Vestinlar (Ves-tin-lar), asked that he deliver a package to the High Order of Clangeddin Silverbeard, to take Dasheen with him, and to contact the acolyte Borja and for the three of them to return to the guild headquarters. He had important information in regards to the “incident” a few days ago. Much is hush-hush, and Vestinlar seems excessively secretive (even for a mage), and Karel was concerned about what they were about to learn. Anyway, the three returned to the order, although Borja seemed a little confused as to why she was asked to be present. As is turned out, Vestinlar and the High Priest Falgar the Red, were part of the same adventuring company in years past. Vestinlar has a specific set of questions he wanted asked by the high priest, via a Commune spell, and presented parchment with his request to Borja. He told the curious trio that he believed that a small band of the outlawed guild called the “Shadow Thieves” was working somewhere in the city, and that for some reason they had targeted the warrior half orc Dasheen. Dasheen, being of few words in most cases anyway, wasn’t very informative in regards to this matter, and it was difficult to tell whether she was being secretive, or just didn’t know why (or care for that matter). Back at the Dwarven temple, Falgar the Red (so named for his flaming red beard, hair, and bushy eyebrows), had additional information to disclose to the three. That indeed, the shadow thieves were working in Waterdeep, and that Karel actually had information in hos possession where they potentially could be found. Obviously, the information had been found through a series of Commune spells, and while Falgar was pretty good at asking the right questions, specifics were vague. Slightly confused, Borja pointed out the copy of the Waterdeep Herald that they had aquired in their travels between guild and temple that day. The last story talked of a murdered Hin female. Could this be the same Halfling that attacked Dasheen? The body had been found near the Thirsty Throat Tavern, so after resting, the intrepid trio set of for Dock Ward. The smell of fish, and the strong salty sea air (and other unpleasant odors) assaulted their senses as they entered Dock Ward, and the ramshackle pile of wood known as the “Thirsty Throat” looked none too inviting. Dasheen and Karel entered together, and Borja a few minutes after, and seated themselves separately. The interior of the place was even less inviting than the exterior. A curious fellow lounged back on his chair in one corner, an upright loaded crossbow at the ready. Behind the bar a rather unseemly, large brute of a fellow served drinks. This, Karel knew, was Buleado “Fists” Legileer… so named for his habit of knocking men cold with just one punch. The patrons didn’t look much friendlier. There was a group of supposed "adventurers" at one table, telling tall tales of their Undermountain exploits. Dasheen and Karel sat down at a table near by. At another table, a warrior with a large scar that crossed his eye from forehead to cheek crossed the room, and entered one of two trapdoors in the floor. This, it turned out, was the Tavern’s privy. Borja noticed the peculiar man apparently take notice of Dasheen and Karel while they ordered drinks. After a little warmup introduction, Karel indicated to the “adventurers” that he was interested in hearing more about undermountain as he and is warrior friend "Baarb", were planning on exploring it as well. Borja noticed “fists” perk an ebebrow at this…. Several pitchers of ale later, Karel grew bolder and asked Farq (the party’s apparent leader), if he had been around the night previous when the hin female was murdered. This immediately brought the drunkard out of his stupor, and caused the crossbowman in the corner to right his still lounging chair with an obvious “thunk”. The bar got a little unfriendly after that, and "Fists" went as far as to tell Karel he knew that he was a liar as "Fists" recognised Dasheen from the Gladiator contest on Havest Tide. "I don't like liars coming into my place", he scowled, "and asking questions about things that aren't any of their business. Perhaps it would behealthier for all involved if they left rather quickly." It was then that Karel noticed that the scarred warrior had never come out of the privy. Upon investigation, he found the privy empty, and an apparent secret door that lead to an unknown destination. The other group of "adventurers" had left while Karel investigated (obviously spooked by "Fists" change in demeener), but Dasheen heard one of them mention a place called “warm beds”. The three followed, and after some investigation, found the room in which Farq was staying. Karel decided to question the man, and after gold seemed unwilling to loosen his tongue about the Hin Female, Karel dropped the hint that regardless of whether information was forthcoming or not… those at the Thirsty Throat would believe Farq has said “something” in regards to the matter. Farq broke down, and simply stated that the Hin had only started coming around in the last few weeks, that she had a dark skin tone, and southern accent. This confirmed in Karel and Dasheen’s mind that indeed, this was the same female that attacked Dasheen during Harvest Tide. Leaving a decent amount of gold for Farq, the three left the Inn and headed back to the guild. However, their return trek was interrupted on a side street as a gang of toughs attacked them! Karel managed to affect two with a sleep spell before he was downed by a crossbow bolt. Dasheen cleaved two of the assailants, while Borja went after a fifth with her hammer. One got away, two were killed, and two were captured. The dead and captured were searched, and the trio found some gems (payments?), and a peculiar map on the body of one of the dead(the very same scarred warrior from the Thirsty Throat that had "disappeared" in the taven's privy!). Borja healed Karel, and the watch showed up not to long after. The dead and captured toughs were known street thugs, and the watch chastised the three for being in such a dangerous part of town after hours. The captain told the three to report to headquarter in the morning so their statements could be taken. That morning, Karel showed the map to Vestinlar, who said it looked like the map was a section of the city sewer system. Later, when they returned to the Watch Headquarters, they found that the two thugs that had been captured the night previous were found dead in their cells upon the morning! Further, there was little clue as to how they had been killed, though an investigating cleric from the Temple of Selune seemed to think poison was involved. Back to the Thirsty Throat. While Karel’s initial plan was to break into the now closed Tavern and investigate the privy secret door, but Borja and Dasheen were not all that enthusiastic about that idea. Investigating the alley behind, they found a sewer grate, and Karel climbed down to investigate. After a brief search in the sewer tunnels he indeed did find the secret door that led to the privy in the Thirsty Throat, and was able to match the partial sewer map to the passage he was in. The plan now, was to return to the guild, tell Vestinlar what they had discovered, load up on provisions and supplies, and investigate the sewer passage and the contents of the map further….. Till next time!!
selunatic2397 04-07-08, 01:09 PM	Neat! Thanks for sharing it with us. :)