Valkur's Roar Recent Events, News and Rumors

[McGuffin]

It would be common knowledge by now that the High Wizard was removed from her post even after winning a trial by combat against her accuser the High Inquisitor. The High Wizard was accused of sedition and treason against the Crown and a number of other crimes. These events all took place immediately following the Tournament to honor the return of the Baron’s son.

It would also be well know that the High Wizard employs a powerful servant. A Minotaur in spell wrapped rune crafted armor that makes it invulnerable to most attacks. The people bemoan the removal of Vera Gudwerks the High Inquisitor. It is common knowledge that Rupard Higgins has been named High Inquisitor Pro Tem. The people are not reassured by this news.

A tenday after the Tournament the High Wizard unleashed her Minotaur against Nate Skatterhawk. Nate was slain and his body was carried away by the Minotaur whose escape was covered by Mechanical constructs fashioned to look like dwarves.

A tenday later the Minotaur struck again this time ripping through the Baron’s front door. The people talk of a powerful magical explosion that staggered the Minotaur when it destroyed the door but it recovered quickly and rampaged through the manor. Reservist emerged from the Great Hall to give battle to the constructs and Minotaur but only a few meet its challenge head on the rest immediately scattered in search of something unknown. Luckily the Baron the presumed target of the attack was not home. Unfortunately the Baroness Alusantia was. The Minotaur escaped with Alusantia limp body on his shoulder. She was not moving presumed dead or unconscious. The Minotaur escaped by displaying a huge 20’ vertical leap from the ground to the top of the walls and another down to the other side. ((This all happened this past Saturday Night. Feb 14th))

A somber tone permeates the people of Valkur’s Roar. Day to day business carries on as usual but people cast more glances to the shadows as they walk. Their pace quickened and with purpose. The kids no longer frolic in the streets, their parents having forbid them to play outside while the dangerous Constructs and Minotaur are still at large. At all the gates the guards are doubled and many look as if they have gone a few days without a shave and perhaps longer without sleep. Food is brought to them at their posts.

The Great Hall is on lock down while the Baron holds meetings with Ambassadors. It is rumored that the Ambassadors hail from the Enclave and Crown of Cormyr. War Wizards are seen making rounds throughout the city and a regiment of fifty Purple Dragon Knights are hastily housed by locals throughout the city. Some housed at each noble’s home; others with commoners. The Inn rooms are not yet confiscated to house troops but rumor is they will be if more arrive.

The Baron’s house is heavily guarded and work crews erect a tent to hide the activities surrounding rebuilding the door.

The nobles respond to situation. Lord Rothford’s has been seen wandering the docks and reassuring the sailors that all is safe. He wears his armor which barely fits his large robust belly. His kids Lionel and Leopold are not seen and his wife is absent presumed to be in hiding.

Lord Gerld Hunstilver is late to respond to the threat.

Sophie Miller house has double the guards in strange strategic formation that very much resembles a loud enjoyable night at drunken tavern.


Lord Truesilver was seen purchasing a heavy iron statue and moving it in to his home. 


Mortimer Gruteje has only posted a hand full of new guards.


Izzak Bursturm loads his family on a ship and sail some place at night leaving his home guarded by his men. 

Martin Crumb the Mortician can be seen constructing wooden coffins and digging new graves.

[McGuffin]

* An elderly man sits in chair with a little girl on her knees in front him. Her back is to him. The old man tugs and pulls attempting to untangle a small bronze spider from the child’s messy hair.*

“Granpa, I don’t understand why is the Baron in trouble? “ Ask’s the small girl.


“Well, sweetie you see a fief is a promise. The Baron made a promise to the Regent to uphold his fief and all the conditions she had that goes with it. When the Baron terminated the High Wizard he broke that promise, because the Princess had personally selected Ezmarelda to be High Wizard and that was condition he accepted.” explained the old man.


“But didn’t the High Wizard do bad stuff? Isn’t that why the Baron tossed her out?” she inquired.


“Well not exactly, sweetie, you see the High Inquisitor challenged her and said she was doing bad stuff and even claimed that she had proof but the High Wizard said she was innocent and demanded a trial by combat.” the old man continued as he removed a clump of dirt from the childs hair. “When the High Wizard’s champion beat the High Inquisitor’s champion it is believed that the Gods selected a victor and that their will is represented and so that proved Ezmrelda’s innocence.”


The little girl, gritting her teeth as her hair is tugged, excitedly interrupts. “Bobby says that aint right because they worship different gods. He says that only works when two people of the same faith fight and the lord of that faith declares a winner.”


“Yes, well that is indeed the case when two of the same faith have a trial by combat, but that doesn’t mean that the same doesn’t hold true when those of opposed faith’s fight as well as when multiple people each worship multiple faiths. You see what goes on in the realms of the gods is beyond our knowing? How did the gods chose which would win and which would lose we don’t know? Perhaps one god defeated the other at dice? Perhaps there was a grand war in the realm of gods in which the victor of that war was allowed to grant favor? Maybe the gods just didn’t care enough about it to even grant favor one way or the other? Maybe all the gods involved got together and negotiated? The point is we don’t know why but we are to accept that trial by combat is a direct way to discern the gods will. Do you understand?”


“Yeah I get it, the Regent is mad cause he broke his promise to keep her and he couldn't prove she was up to no good but why are the other nobles upset with him too?” asked the curious little girl.


“Well a fief is a promise that goes both ways. When the Baron removed the High Wizard he broke his promise to her. If the Baron will break his promise to honor her fief even after she won the trial what keeps him from breaking his promise to them? They are worried he won’t honor their fief’s either.” said the old man as he rotated the bronze spider getting it more tangled that it already was.


“Okay, but why everyone worried about war with this guy named Thay?” she asked.


“Well, most people think the Regent made a promise to Thay that the High Wizard would be one of his friends.” Said the old man focused more on the mess in on her head that the words.


The little girl’s barrage of questions continued. “Why would the Regent promise Thay to use his friend instead of one of her own?”


“Well, you probably are too young to remember when the town was called Redmist and the Regent lost her control over this land. It was Thay that came to protect us but the Regent wanted her land back and Thay didn't want to give it back. I think the Regent made a deal with Thay that if he left without a fight she would allow his friend and not hers to take the High Wizard’s seat. You see if there was a battle between Thay and Regent it would have been fought in our streets and many of us would have been in danger. This way she could get her land back without a bunch of people getting hurt.” explained the old man as he gives up on her hair and reaches for a knife to cut out the tangled mess.


“Oh, and because the Baron tossed out the Wizard he broke the Regents promise and now both the Regent and Thay want to beat him up!”

[McGuffin]

*The Rumor mill kicks in to over drive as people suggest that the Baron will make several appointments to the Council in Valkur's Roar.*