![[FORGOTTEN REALMS CHRONICLE]](../image/chron.gif)
1 CP
Year of the Tankard
The Chronicle is a monthly news collection of all the happenings in this great land we call The Forgotten Realms. It is produced out of Waterdeep and delivered by caravan and bard to all the Realm.
SMALL FRY RESTAURANT
Welcome to the Small Fry Restaurant, a restaurant just for the smaller sect: Halflings,
Gnomes, and Dwarves! We offer the finest in Halfling cuisine, Dwarven drinks, and Gnomish
entertainment. You'll feel right at home in our "Small Room" with two
fireplaces, while our halfling chef and his team prepare specialties from Luiren and
exotic meals from the Great Rift.
Afterwards come join our Gnome musicians in the lounge overlooking the lights of the city
while they soothe the cares of the world from you. Pretty maids serve any of 25 Dwarven,
Halfling, and Gnomish beverages, and they can usually suggest just what you would like
best. We also offer take-out for the industrious who can't seem to find the time to come
in. Conveniently located near the Great Hall of the Council, there is no reason not to
stop by! [Ordulin, Sembia]
The TEMPLE OF LATHANDER in Beregost
would like to remind everyone that it provides low-cost healing lotions and salves for all
good-aligned beings, and that any interested individuals may talk to High Priest Kelddath
Ormlyr about becoming an acolyte of Lathander. "Isn't it time to start a new day with
Lathander?" [Western Heartlands]
THE RED TANKARD
This is the Red Tankard, the far-famed meeting place of wizards and swordswingers from
around the world! Rub shoulders with important personages as you drink in the famous ales
and beers that you have heard so much about. Relax in the splendid baths of warm scented
waters as you swap tales with the bravest men and women of the last 50 years (and in some
cases, even longer!). Sit in princely comfort in the smoking room and read tales of long
ago exploits in wondrous lands to the East and South. All this, at such low prices as to
make you believe it all to be a dream! This is no dream, it's the RED TANKARD in
Innarlith! See you soon. [Vilhon Reach]
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The Vast: Tavilar
An army of bullywugs lead by a grotesque 11-foot tall Glib the Noxious has
invaded the northern portion of Tavilar, causing widespread havoc and destruction.
Adventuring bands have engaged in door-to-door battles with the amphibians and have even
turned back some of the horde except where Glib has shown up in person. He evokes fear in
both invader and defender alike by eating alive those that he captures--often while they
are attacking him! He doesn't appear to take an active role in directing the battle,
leaving that up to a group known as the Lieutenants lead by a small bullywug that the
others call Bulev the Slippery.
The defense of Tavilar is made more difficult by the multitude of visitors to
last month's Mushroom and Fungus Festival who were left stranded in the town by the
bullywug uprising. Mayor Do'Elsinor is considering asking for assistance from the High
Blade of Mulmaster if the free adventuring groups cannot drive out the invaders.
UNDEAD KILLED IN HIGH DISTRICT
Western Heartlands: Elturel
Late last night, the cleaning service at the Ruby Staterooms inn on Carpenter
Way discovered the decapitated body of a female guest, Mrs. Vemuren. A detachment of Hell
Riders was called in to investigate only to discover, by the light of day, that the victim
was in fact a vampire. Along with the body--which showed signs of cutting wounds--were
several vials that appeared to once have contained holy water consecrated to Lathander.
The guards are looking through papers found in the room for leads, although this is no
longer being considered a crime. "Whoever did this deserves a medal: From preliminary
evidence, we think the vampire may have been involved in a plot to bring in more of its
kind from the eastern realms."
This secluded inn in the high district is known for the privacy given to its
guests. Innkeeper Mursheeb the Softspoken told the guards that Mrs. Vemuren checked in
only last week, and left instructions not to be disturbed by day. Some are suggesting this
killing may have been linked to another vampire "killing" in Waterdeep last
month.
GITHYANKI STRONGHOLD SIGHTED
The Vilhon Reach: Surkh
A team of adventurers lead by a skilled ranger discovered the stronghold of
the reputed githyanki raiders that attacked the Solemn Sword Inn in Surkh last month,
killing twelve. It is 13 days journey to the north of the city, beyond the local mountain
range known as The Guardians. The team of 9 spotted the monolithic structure in a mountain
valley, but felt it unwise to approach closer to determine the strength of the alien
force. These githyanki are extremely war-like and are skilled in the tactics of small unit
combat. City Elders are looking for a way to remove the threat without risking an all out
war. Interested adventurers with the power and experience to deal with this kind of danger
are invited to come to Surkh to work out suitable monetary arrangements.
CONVENTION OF GNOMES PACKS TEMPLE OF GOND
Sembia: Ordulin
For the last two weeks strange gnomes from lands far away have descended on
the city of Ordulin and congregated at the temple of Gond, The Steady Hand. Although a
small temple run by only 4 priests, the temple has been packed every day from morning to
dusk with at least 200 chanting gnomes speaking a heavily accented form of Common. They
ask for a "sign of perfect knowledge," but have refused to elaborate further.
The local inns and shops are full of gnomes by nightfall, and merchants are unwilling to
interfere "so long as the coins keep rolling in, and they don't start any
trouble," said a local guildmaster. Most of the gnomes are masters at some form of
craft or art and continuously converse with one another at high speeds, seemingly without
end. Local gnomes just shrug their shoulders when asked about their knowledge of what is
happening. "I can think of worse kinds of invasions," said gnome Wullimer
Bildhanks, a local butcher.
DEAD BANDIT SIGHTED
Dragon Coast: Teziir
The bandit leader, "Sir" Blackheart, who was killed last Spring
during an ambush on a wagon train, has been seen by at least two different groups along a
stretch of the Trader's Road known as the Bandit's Tollbooth. The first reported sighting
occurred at night by a group of town militia as they headed back to the city from a
watchtower 15 miles from the city gates. They reported a masked figure resembling
Blackheart, who told them they "would surely die for despoiling the eternal rest of
an innocent man." The Watch commanders assumed the report to be a fabrication by
watch members as an excuse for their tardiness. More recently, a band of adventurers known
as Spingalion, reported a man, "floating 12 feet in the air, wearing a mask, and
shouting curses upon 'grave defilers, and other opportunists'." They shot several
arrows into the man, but appeared not to have injured him in any way. The apparition did
not otherwise interfere with the travelers. It has been assumed that Sir Blackheart left
treasure behind that he would rather not be found, or that some unfinished business has
compelled him to return to his place of death. Blackheart's body was recovered after the
raid, and burned in an attempt to prevent just such a thing from occurring.
AMBASSADORS TO BE EXCHANGED BETWEEN CALIMSHAM AND TETHYRIAN HEIR
Calimsham: Calimport
Our gracious Pasha has decreed that the Tethyrian heir apparent to the
rulership of Tethyr, Kirov Sverdlovsk, is to be considered the new Ruler of Tethyr. In
accordance with this ruling, an ambassador, Sabdul Moramin, and a retinue of officials
have been sent to the Sverdlovsk lands in eastern Tethyr. Sverdlovsk has agreed to
reciprocate with an ambassador in the near future. It is to be noted that the rulership of
Tethyr is still contested by rival, Petya Zuyevo. House Zuyevo is a major family on the
western coast, and currently rules from the ancient city of Myratma. A battle between
forces of Sverdlovsk and Zuyevo last month ended with a victory by the House Sverdlovsk,
but the war continues.
Vilhon Reach: Innarlith
I am Esmera Valdukin, the owner of the Red Tankard Tavern on Candle Street,
and this is my Gossip and Rumors bulletin. Recently, the Mayor's daughter gave birth to a
lovely 8-pound baby girl, named Meershaw. Two adventurers from different groups got into a
tussle while at my pub, and are cooling their heels in the Town Cellars (they must have
drunk too much of my premium brand ale: the Quencher!) And a new stranger came into town
from away South. I offered him a free ale (the inexpensive Copper brand), if he would tell
of some of his adventures. First off, he wasn't riding a horse, but rather a large bird! I
reckon it was 10' tall and had a sharp beak. He said he was a ranger and had just come
from across the Shaar from beyond the Great Rift! I almost didn't believe him until he
ordered my strong Bitternip Whiskey--no one can drink that whiskey and still tell a lie!
He insisted that he was conducting a treaty between various herding peoples and the
Dwarves of the Rift for trade of wool and cheeses (speaking of cheeses, I just got a
shipment of strong Dratleberry Cheese to go with my Spicy Liqueurs). He was quite
tired--he claimed to have ridden directly from Eastern Shaar to Shaarmid--so I settled him
into the Bath rooms for a hot, soapy bath with a glass of my Easy Whispers wine for a good
nap. If any wish to hear more, they can come on in to the Red Tankard; this week's special
is a FREE mug of spiced tea with a purchase of a tankard of Mintall Stout.
[DM's note: the bird is a larger, heavier relative of the flightless bird
(4HD, 1ATK @ 1d10 damage, MV=21') which lives in the Eastern Shaar preying on herds of
small indigenous sheep, goats, and antelopes. They can carry as much as a riding horse.]