I'm beginning this thread as a place for us to post small stories, rumors, and heresay that might currently be spreading throughout the Five Worlds of the Baja Shard.
I got the idea from the Second Edition of The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting: Running The Realms, written by Ed Greenwood and Jeff Grubb.
A couple examples from the Dungeon Masters Guide.
So, start posting some rumors!
I got the idea from the Second Edition of The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting: Running The Realms, written by Ed Greenwood and Jeff Grubb.
The basic concept is for us to prompt storylines, interaction, and possibly even an event or two based on some of the rumors being spread. It is a way for us, the roleplayers, to define what rumors may or may not currently be spreading amongst the gossips and drunkards inhabiting our local taverns, or amongst the noveau rich of Lord Casca's Court.News of the Realms
The following items report the greater and lesser events of the year 1367 DR/9 PR, nine years after the Time of Troubles. DM's may opt to to use this as background story for their own adventures in the Realms, or start player characters at Hammer and have them live out a year in the life of the Realms as news flows in. These news items and rumors should be used as the heresay they are; DM's should feel free to modify them to fit their campaigns.
A couple examples from the Dungeon Masters Guide.
You can also see as you skip ahead a couple months, how the rumors continued.Hammer
An unseasonable plague has erupted in Iriaebor, claiming 20 lives before being contained by the collective actions of local temples. The disease, called the Spotted Plague, is noted by the flushed appearance of the victim, whose flesh is dotted with white pustules. Death comes within 24 hours of first symptoms. The churches of Eldath, Selune, and Chauntea mobilized their forces to combat it, calling in every available wandering priest to aid their churches.
The prescence of a virulent plague in the heart of winter leads some to believe that the disease was magically sent or the result of godly influence. Tattooed women and men were said to have traveled through town several weeks before the outbreak, and Talona is being blamed.
Alturiak
A sledge caravan bucking heavy snows west of Priapurl was attacked by drow raiders at dusk a tenday or so ago as it was hurrying towards a sheltered campsite. Only the prescence of two minor wizards in the caravan snatched certain victory from the drow, who attacked with sleep-poisoned crossbow bolts and javelins ("at least 40 strong"). After several fireballs were hurled and a handful of drow slain blade to blade, the dark elves fled.
As proof of their tale, the wizards brought four drow corpses to Priapurl. Several adventuring bands have set out in search of the drow, and all caravan guards in the area have been raised to triple strength.
As you can see, some of these rumors may or may not be rooted in fact. Often, they possess a small grain of truth, but we can twist them however they see fit.Tarsakh
Drow have attacked the city of Assam, north of Ormath in the Shining Plains in force and have been beaten back with heavy losses on both sides. The Fellowship of the Spiked Fist, a local mercenary band, was hastily hired by a merchant in neighboring Ormath whose family and goods-warehouses were both trapped in Assam. The Spiked Fist's volleys of fire arrows and charge into the drow forces from the rear routed the dark elves. City rulers in Wesgate, the Dragon Coast, and the Vilhon Reach are all said to be worried that this attack represents a new drow invasion of the surface lands, and are arming and making plans for war.
Mirtul
Drow have been seen on the streets of Calaunt by night; rumors are spreading that the rulership of that city has entered into a secret alliance with the dark elves. Strange ships are appearing in the city and docking at guarded places, remaining lifeless by day, and becoming the center of bustling activity by night. Some merchants of the Dragons Reach lands claim to recognize some of these ships as vessels belonging to known pirates of the Sea of Fallen Stars. An adventuring band, the Ladies of the Green Shield, was slaughtered near Calaunt recently, and some say they die because they came upon a drow band by night.
So, start posting some rumors!