Creeping Fear

[Doubtful]

Those who visit Sestra find the township in the grip of fear and worry.

The cliffs seem more vertiginous than ever before, causing visitors to the Corps de Grace Headquarters to stick close to the building. Those crossing the waterfall spanning bridge do so carefully, lest their fears that it may collapse at any moment proove well founded.

In the Thayan Mines worries about cave-ins, lizard attacks and strange shapes in the darkness plague those working the mine faces, damaging output and moral.

Even the palace of the Exarch seems plagued by worry, with engineers drafted in to ensure the hill it's sited on doesn't slip and engulf the town below.

Those fear of attack also clutches at the heart of the town, more people than before seem to be carrying weapons with them. Indeed, three bodies were discovered near the CdG headquarters, two were trapped with some malicious device that killed the CdG members investigating them, the third was later recovered and found to be a local man.

[Doubtful]

Sestra sits under a dark cloud of fear and worry.

Visitors to the township quickly find excuses to leave when confrunted by the pale and nervous natives.

Domestic violence, disappearances and suicides seem on the increase. Most recently two young lovers leapt to their deaths from the the seaward bridge.

Worse still, the arrest of Sam Natch, husband to Adaline for twenty years. He was arrested after stabbing his wife to death, the only words he uttered in his defence were 'I couldn't bear to see her grow any older'.

Even adventurers seem caught by the towns black dog, recent sitings include a dwarf simply laying down to die on the bridge and an elf preparing to hurl himself into the sea.

[ManUtd4Ever]

At his request, Cesar assisted Tery Mard in an investigation of persistent rumors in Sestra. Cesar met Tery and Brunus Ironbreaker in Sestra where they were questioning a local was in progress. An elf came upon the scene, Aellian, who joined forces with the two humans and dwarf as they all set out to investigate.

A sense of dread and despair was manifested everywhere the team went in the village. Within minutes of their arrival, they witnessed a young couple no more than 18 winters leap to their deaths from the stone bridge outside of Corps de Grace headquarters. The sight of their meaningless deaths shook the team but did not discourage them from their task. The same could not be said for a bowman who, upon seeing the suicide, ran from his post and became panicked and borderline hysterical. First he was convinced the bridge was unsafe . Then his paranoia turned violent. He accused Cesar of plotting to steal his girl and pulling his blade, attacked Cesar. The man was quickly subdued and carried into the Corps' headquarters where additional aid and libation could be sought to soothe the man's nerves.

Once inside the Corps' the team was struck by the elevated mood. In complete contrast with the happenings outside, the Corps de Grace's commander was trouble free. Suddenly, two of the team members began acting different. Their moods were consistent with the town's folk seen up to this point; they were in sour moods and became aggressive towards their friends. Tery and Cesar were spared and not affected. Although neither knew the cause of the sudden change in mood, they knew it best to leave Sestra while their very capable team mates were under this unknown and unseen influence. If either of them attacked it would have been fatal.

Once outside the sense of dread and despair increased for Brunus and Aellian. They would not leave the bridge. Aellian appeared to be ready to jump before stepping down and away from the railing. Finally, Tery and Cesar prepared themselves for an epic battle with Commander Brunus as they planned to coax him from the bridge with taunts if necessary. The team made it off the bridge and back to Second Wind Inn where Aellian and Brunus returned to their wits and became themselves again.

Unfortunately the investigation did not uncover any hard facts, but did increase the team's overall concern for Sestra and its citizens. Nevertheless, Cesar for one felt evil was afoot in Sestra and that the rumors were true.

[Dave Fritz]

Discussing Events

**** Please move this to RPCentral if it more properly belongs there ****

Cesar Del Sol and Tery Mard sat by the campfire in front of the Second Wind. They had both just returned from investigating rumours about Sestra. It was clear that their experiences had shaken them.

“So what do you make of what happened?”, asked Tery.

“There is certainly something wrong. I would say that evil is afoot.” replied Cesar. “But what that is, I cannot say.” They both recounted the events which had occurred. “A Curse?” asked Valdor, a young elf Tery had just escorted from the Gate of the Sunderer.

“Perhaps.”, said Tery. “But what kind of curse? It seems very unusual.”

“We understand both the Divine and the Arcane.”, said Cesar. “What do you know of curses?”

“Very little. I would need to study the subject, or ask someone. Perhaps at the Library.”

“A good idea.”

“I still find things unusual. We all sensed the, call it a “cloud”, over Sestra as we began to question folk about the rumours. Then those two jumped from the bridge.”

“Everyone was convinced the bridge was about to collapse, yet when Brunus investigated, he pronounced it solid.” “Indeed.” replied Tery.

“I think everyone is just overcome by this cloud.” mused Cesar. “And then the bowman attacked me .”

“Yet when we got him inside Headquarters see seemed to recover, or at least seemed to be less agitated.” noted Tery. “Capitaine Eddy seemed quite unconcerned. And we felt less of a sense of the cloud. I wonder why?”

Cesar ventured, “Inside HQ people are sheltered, and so would feel less threatened. Or perhaps those inside care not for the people.”

“Perhaps.” agreed Tery. “Yet while we seemed to be less affected, Brunus and Aelian were affected the same way the bowman was outside. While we remained much the same. And I don’t think we care nothing for the people.”

“Maybe we felt the security inside, same as the others.”, offered Cesar.

“Maybe the … Curse … affects Corps members differently.” mused Tery. “yet we could still sense the evil, how it diminished inside and how it was stronger outside. And those inside seemed to not sense it at all. Yet Brunus and Aelian were more affected. Thank goodness it passed when we left Sestra.”

Tery stood. “It’s all just speculation at this point. Yet I think we need to return to Sestra and find out more, as well as researching in the Library.” “Indeed.” agreed Cesar. “That is exactly what needs doing.”

[Doubtful]

Sestra sits in its own black bubble of melancholy and depression, despite the works good work and greetings performed by the Monk of Lathander, Cesar.

Those few who visit the village quickly find their moods darkening, memories of past failures, regrets and sorrows flash to mind leaving miserable stains on the mind.

Underneath it all is a nagging feeling that something is coming, that the bubble of sorrow and misery will burst, and in its wake come terrible horror.


/// This series of events will continue tomorrow, Wednesday 1st June, at 20:00 GMT

[Doubtful]

/// Due to a terrible attack of the Real Life, I'm going to postpone this until 18:00 BST (17:00 GMT) tomorrow (Thursday).

[ManUtd4Ever]

((I hope everything works outs okay. Be safe! Cheers)).

[Kaybrie]

Without any ceremony or announcement, a young Lathanderite cleric arrives in Sestra to quietly observe the scenery and her people. Even as the melancholy almost immediately begins to press down upon her soft soul, it acts as a buffer to redouble her fervor. During her time in Sestra over several visits, she casts a circle of protection against evil upon herself to help act as a shield against malignant forces to those she passes or converses with. She then chooses specific places along crossroads, picnic tables and most importantly at either side of the bridge. In these places she sets up several small, but colorful shrines to the sun god, drawing circle of protections in the soil or on the cobblestones. Upon each of these little shrines she hangs a simple sign with a single word 'reflect'. In hopes that the troubled people of the town could come to these small marked sights and find some spiritual solace.

Her second point would be listening to and finding individuals who normally are looked up to in the small community and speaking with them personally. After talking with them she'd give them a small blessing of protection from evil, then give them a few coins, asking them to go out and try something new and fun with their day.


((Notes; she does have knowledge; Local with five ranks invested, she has the good domain so her presence provides a comforting aura that protects against fear based mind effects. And she isn't looking at all for a source of what's causing this downtrodden mood, unless there are obvious tips among the community itself.))

[Doubtful]

/// Much to my annoyance I'll be unable to run this again tonight, and I'm unsure as to when I will be able to continue it.

You all have my sincerest apologies, when I am in a situation to be able to dedicate enough time to wrap it up to everyone's satisfaction then I'll rock your eventing socks.

[ManUtd4Ever]

((I am sure that when you can get back into game it will be well worth the wait! I will be out of game myself until late afternoon on 12 June. I hope to see everyone after I get back. Cheers).

[Yevelian]

*after meeting with Sir Dain and Tery, Immunes Chang Fennes, priest of Mystra also pledges his support.*

[Dave Fritz]

(((Just a bump to keep this current and because there are a couple of new Corps members)))