The Ruined Farmers

Richo the druid walks among the farmers as well,healing those in need and sharing what food he have with them, mostly hunting, fruits and seeds he have gather from the wilds, he then talk to them for some time remaining among them till they take their decision so guide them in safety.
"Fellow Dalelanders, i am one of you, i know how hard it is to loose your farm and your land, since i have lost mine as well here in the city of Shadowdale, i can not give you land neither can give you money and food at least no more than the ocasional hunt i can catch or fruits i can gather, but i promise you i will be with you whatever choice you make.
It seems you have two choices, go into the town of Shadowdale or pass through the elven city and settle at the Morning Lord's farms.
I know it is hard to leave your home, but homes can be rebuilded, i know it is hard to leave your lands, but new lands can be claimed, and is hard to leave behind the life you have used to it, but a new life can always start!.
In the city of Shadowdale you will have safety indeed, but you will live among orc and bugbear mercenaries, and eventually people will stop give you charity and free food, what you will do then? What jobs and craft awaits for you to make your living?
I doupt the Zentharim will spare soldiers to reclaim your destroyed lands and you will end up beggars maybe the strongest of you join the armies and the rest starve to death.
In the Morning Lord's farms which i have seen with my own eyes, there are nice farms to work at least as workers there in the begining, you will not have orc and bugbear mercenaries bothering you, and you will remain neutral too, since the Morning Lord' farms have nothing to do with the elves and their war with the Zentharim.
Also new lands are claimed there day by day, new buildings are rising so you may find a job as a manson, i know it is hard to leave your home behind and Shadowdale is my home as well and havent left it still as much i dont like how the city have become.
The nature have been kind to me and i survived but not so many people can survive at once with all these dangers in the wilds, make your choice wisely farmers of Shadowdale, me Richo the druid will be at your side whatever you decide and lead you to safety!."

With these words he leaves for another hunting to provide as much food he can for them as he waits for their decision.

Kara hears rumors of the lies being told by the zhents and quietly goes among the people to speak with them some more.

"You have choices.

Nobody wishes to force you to flee. But the zhents will try very hard to force you to stay. And if they can't they will try to murder you. It is possible they might decide to murder you anyway.

The journey will be dangerous and you will have to leave most of what you now have behind. But when you get there you will be free and you will have the opportunity to make better lives for you and your families. money has been collected and set aside to help those who want to leave. There is land available for those who want to farm. There are jobs for those with other skills. There is nobody forced to beg for food in the Lathander farms.

The zhents will tell you lies. But who are you going to believe? Are you going to believe a paladin like like me who never lies. Someone like Vincent who you have known for many years and never seen him lie? Or are you going to believe the zhents who you know are constantly lying?

The zhents claim the elves are allied with drow? are you going to believe something which goes against everything you know about either elves or drow? or are you going to look around and see creatures walking the streets of Shadowdale wearing hoods and masks that completely conceal their skin, their hair and their eyes?

I do not know how much longer I will be able walk among you. Eventually the zhents will try to stop me from speaking to you because they fear the truth. And the zhents for all of their boasting about how people should live in fear really hate to be afraid."

Some of you might remember me. I helped Lanius find the cure and I helped many of you before the cure was found - when the temporary solution was a powerful divine spell.
You know I never asked anything in return, nor do I intend to start doing so.
I merely wish to tell you that I have not started the war I wage with the Zhentarim. Till this day, my honor is intact. I have seen what the Zhents do and I have been attacked for standing against their oppression. A man can only be pushed so far. That day, I made my stand.
I believe the time has come for some of you to make yours.

If the thought of living too close to an elven city scares you or makes you feel uneasy, there -are- other choices. Don't let them tell you otherwise. There's the fort in North Ride. The people who built it are very much like you. They lost their homes to ravaging orcish bands and I am sure they will welcome as many of you as they can.

As for the elven city, the Morning Lord farms are a beautiful community built around a Llathander's church. And for those of you who don't know it, Lathander's dogma teaches:
Strive always to aid, to foster new hope, new ideas, and new prosperity for all humankind and its allies.

*the barbarian smiles faintly*

Even to me, that does sound good. A lot better than "Serve no one but Bane. Fear him always and make others fear him even more than you do."

*Taeron grins slightly, saying the dogma almost mockingly. He then looks over the farmers and nods encouragingly*

If you muster the courage and decide to leave Shadowdale, know that the journey won't be easy. But I can say that I walked the path to the fort and the elven city hundreds of times and I will do so a hundred more with you, if I have to. And there are others like me who will keep you safe. The Ironhouse clan, the paladins, the Bastards, the Rebels...

Don't trust easy though. Trust those you've seen helping before, when times were dire and even when times were good.

Good people of Shadowdale, stay vigilant. The opportunity makes the thief. There will be many trying to honey your lips and persuade you do do what you don't want. I believe you've seen enough and you can make the decision. I will force none, but I will protect all who decide to leave.

Elijah entrusts a stack of parchments to his circle of close allies and trusted associates. The parchments are to be pinned up on trees and farmland fences in and around Shadowdale as discreetly as possible.

Each poster reads:

The farmlands of the Morninglord welcomes you!

Would you rather live under constant fear or bask in the joy of freedom?

Would you rather forage for scraps or harvest in abundance?

Would you rather wake to the savage growls of orcs or the sound of children at play?

Would you rather have self-serving Zhent swordhands or benevolent warriors of Lathander patrol your lands?

Choose wisely. Choose the Morninglord's farmlands today!

Songbird wrote:

Still a little unnerved by a comment or two she heard and by the encounter with Taeron, Helen discusses with her and then asks her master

" Master, may I try to find a reliable and presentable trader and mercenaraies to protect him to bring in food for the farmers and their livestock? The stock needs it too or they'll die and then teh farmers will be even poorer. I have about fifty thousand gold spare. "

Her master leans in, clearly very displeased.

"I asked you a question, and I expect an answer."

A vagabond in an armor made of fur, leather and mithril with a grey cloak and hood can be seen wandering the roads near Shadowdale and picking up travelers who decided to leave Shadowdale. People who know him would recognize them as Karovir. He would tell people the following: "Greetings traveler, did you decide to leave Shadowdale? If so then Shaundakul extends his helping hand to you today and I offer you an escort to a safer and more welcoming place."
He would escort anyone who accepts his offer to Myth Drannor's refugee camp or the lathandrite farms.

-Some would notice a small number of eastern foreigners moving amidst the farmers, their sharp accents and well kept exotic clothing marking them apart from the others. If asked, the easterners would politely offer unknown and unusual names and tell that they come from honourable Clan Tanaimutsu. These unexpected emissaries would seek to help the struggling farmers in whatever way possible, moving from group to group, offering to guide any folk in need to certain way stations they have set up.. small camps, providing gifts of food, water and simple clothing. Although the foreigners seem passive and overly polite, they carry weapons openly, with apparent ease, and seem inclined to protect those farmers they encounter. The easterners would politely insist upon escorting whomever they encounter to where they would go, be it Shadowdale or beyond-

(DM's feel free to deduct coin from my account IG to cover whatever costs this would incur)

-An unusual man dressed in simple white cotton clothing and wearing a wide brimmed straw hat pulled low is occasionally seen wandering amongst the groups of farmers. He leans on an old bamboo staff and chatters away in a foreign dialect when confronted. Using broad gestures and attempts at sign language, he indicates a willingness to help the farmers however he can. He keeps a careful eye on whomever he encounters, and often spends long nights sitting watch over those that sleep. Whilst appearing to wander aimlessly, he does his best to scout and patrol the areas surrounding where the farmers congregate-

Stepping forth from the barracks, the Duergar carries a battered body across his broad shoulders, a black hood draped over it's head. As he trudges past the fire, blood drips freely upon the ground; a dark trail left in his wake. He casts his gaze over the people gathered about the city, their eyebrows raised, their faces aghast. Shifting the weight of the orc, he continues forward ignoring their muttered cries.

Shaking his head, he speaks in a low voice to himself.

"Words will not defend the city."

Platoons of Zhentilar soldiers are sent into the farmlands. On their Commanding Officer's orders, they are to silence anyone making public speeches urging the farmers to flee the dale. If asked on what grounds, they answer treason; the provocateurs having come to incite rebellion. Any speakers who remain, they attempt to detain, though those with the wits to flee are likely successful, their pursuers heavily encumbered by armor.

//post approved by DM Umbra. Any who choose to remain, please contact him in-game for your asswh.... interaction

/// leaving for a week - will contact Umbra when I get back. Taeron is a very stubborn barbarian

*having said everything that needed to be said, Taeron watches the battalion of Zhents from a hilltop.*

So it begins...

The dwarves stand ready behind Taeron. Val just nods at his words.

cdnspr wrote:

Songbird wrote:

Still a little unnerved by a comment or two she heard and by the encounter with Taeron, Helen discusses with her and then asks her master

" Master, may I try to find a reliable and presentable trader and mercenaraies to protect him to bring in food for the farmers and their livestock? The stock needs it too or they'll die and then teh farmers will be even poorer. I have about fifty thousand gold spare. "

Her master leans in, clearly very displeased.

"I asked you a question, and I expect an answer."

*she lowers her head, shrinking. Whispers* Master ... please ... he was one who was kind and let me live when others wanted to kill me. I don't know if he's done anything except just talk. Please ...

Karovir would stand somewhere near Taeron and Valtore in case they don't stand somewhere in Shadowdale. If they do he stands somewhere outside alone: "We offer people a better life and let them decide. But the tyrants come with an army and take their chance for a better life. Do those fake Banites want to keep the people or help our cause, I am not sure anymore."


Daoinvel is running after a chicken when he sees the soldiers approach. He stops and waves to the chicken: "You are lucky today!" Then he runs off.

Kara simply walks through the outskirts of Shadowdale without speaking.

She knows that the farmers and townspeople will remember her words and that the threats by the zhents will only serve to reinforce her points.

She makes a point of being seen outside Shadowdale along the roads and offering to help people she finds on the roads.

Charity offers people a chance to travel with on her journeys to collect more food and supplies - if it so coincides with those who wish to leave slipping away, so be it - larger groups are in theory safer, after all. And while she doesn't make speeches about leaving... She is more than happy to discuss the current lot of Shadowdale in quiet conversation.


//Will poke DM Umbra in-game to see if I get in trouble.

((There will be a few events over this topic in game! Stay tuned!))

*So Taeron, Valtore, Karovir, Vincent, and four other Ironhouse dwarves stand on a small hilltop nearby watching the Zhent battalion.*

A young human woman approaches Taeron and the others and offers to help guard refugees if they will pay a small fee.

Auryne drops her invisibilty standing next to Taeron " i heard your ratio was in need of fixing. You guys didnt intend to start without some Ladies help, no?"

*Sab'ak the Banite slave watchs from a safe distance within Shadowdale*

"Bets on how long it will take the sky mages to obliterate them? *eyes the dwarfs* 2000 coin on under 30 seconds...."

As Alfie appears nearby Taeron and others, he gives a brief nod to them all, then says:

"I will be..'round and let ye kno if I notice sumfin dodgy, I will be watchin."

*steps back as his stomach gives a growling sound of hunger, and most likely vanishes into the terrain in the blink of an eye.*

Mara would stand next to Taeron with her sword and blessings from her goddess.


We will do what must be done to provide them with a safe journey to Myth Drannor

Dark and silent figures watch the scene, waiting for panicked refugees to flee to areas unseen ans unnoticed, some wear stolen Zhent uniforms and brazenly go in and take some of the refugees for "questioning and detainment" they are careful to do this away from the eyes of any who might question them and the hidden men in the woods and shadows seek stragglers an those who wander too far from the safety of a larger group, these cloaked and hidden predators are all carrying cudgels and shackles and wear the symbol of Cyric around their necks they are all well equipped with with poisons that incapacitate and drugs to sap the will of their intended prey, they have been ordered to take only the easiest of targets and to avoid a drawn out fight, they are only to grab those who will be easy to sell in the various slave markets in the underdark and any town or city where slavery is tolerated the coffers of the church of Cyric soon fills with the money made on the backs of the newly branded slaves, and their is despair.

Valtore watches as cloae to 500 Zhent troops (the size of a battalion) scour the Northern farms collecting all of the displaced people then marches them under guard back to Shadowdale. Not a one of the farmers appearently escaping thier 'rescue' by the Zhents. Just shaking his head Val tells the others that the clan must head back to the Hall to repair what Volcanic damage was done during the Shadowvar attack. They turn and leave saddened by the turn of events and missed oppertunity.

*as I inderstand the event already happened*