Vallaki - Government District - Citadel

[Silas Rotleaf]

There was a little fuss and confusion about a naked golden haired outlander being marched out of the citadel at the crack of dawn with a distraught fey maiden behind two Garda officers of higher rank and a private on this winter's day. Just a little. Afterall upset fey and shackled outlanders are nothing too new to the people of Vallaki.

[ardenchasemoradin]

A blonde-haired Ezrite is seen ringing the bell at the south gate of the citadel at least twice on this day. Seemingly travel weary and carrying  a backpack.

[ardenchasemoradin]

The Ezrite Warden is seen again on several occasions ringing the bell at the south gate of the Citadel this day and inquiring as to the whereabouts of Corporal Hubchev.  He his notably more rested and his armor is polished. A silver peace bond tied around the hilt and pommel of his longsword.

[Roose]

[Nailed to the East, West, and South gates of the Citadel]


((Feel free to contact Roose via PM or Discord.))

[Purist]

24th December 773
Private Nandru Anghelescu has been seen entering the Citadel with a stack of books in hands, guessers claim the books were stored in his personal locker.

[Purist]

30th December 773
Private Nandru Anghelescu has been spotted multiple times at the Meeting Hall after sunset. He is always accompanied by a small pile of books.

[CosmicRay]

In the early morn, horns and the stamping of feet break the quiet dawn. Escape! Escape! The cry goes up! The mongrel former Vardo Captain Orsoloya Haraszti has escaped. Garda patrols search the Grey City, but, like the gundarakite vermin she is.. Haraszti slipped away..

[Sunstar Wars]

In the dead of the night the Bell of the citidel rings, the guest? A note left hanging on the gate with an axe to afix it

DOGS OF THE DEVIL
You are as dumb as the reputation Barovians have if you think Roka was but one man. You can not extinguish the rage of a people opressed so easily.
Though Andras may be lost for now. Roka lives on.
We will not be shaken nor will we be ground under your heel!

[Valentin Florescu]

Just after dawn breaks a man was seen approaching the Citadel gates. Not long after the bell would chime out twice in quick succession. When the clamor failed to draw a response the traveler was quick to wander off, though a small note was nailed to the gate in his wake.

[RickDeckard]

A gruesome scene was found upon the Citadel gates, a mutilated corpse nailed to the Citadel gates by his hands and feet. Carved into the corpse is writing in Luktar but the obvious and most easily read words in common were sprayed in blood beside the corpse for passerbyers reading "YOU'RE NEXT", another act of violence towards the Vallaki Garda as of late...

[LancerFreya]

Another body is found with it's heart removed in front of the citadel though it is not a rituals like the others instead a message is written in the blood "I'm coming Cultist"

[DM Tenebris]

[Word spreads throughout the Citadel and beyond regarding the upcoming arrival of an important emissary of the Count, sent in to evaluate the current state of affairs of the city. This news has sent the locals into a state of fear and anxiety.]

[mccarthy00]

[High in the sky ravens can be seen circling the area of the Citadel as if looking for something, Sometimes at night, some may have thought to see a much larger winged creature.]

[NurseLuv]

*A fiery redhead in a garda uniform stands on the citadel southern wall taking aim with her crossbow into the night sky. She watches for any oversized ravens and when she sees them, she begins target practice. A few raven corpses lie just on the outside of the southern wall.*

[mccarthy00]

[Since the night where guards were found dead and broken around the statue of the count Ravens have been visiting Burgomaster Svaris residence and the area around it, Watching the man as he goes about his day and night, Cawing throughout the night, Any arrows launched at them scatter the flocks for a time but they soon return, Cawing and watching.]

[mccarthy00]

[In blood over the Gates to the Citadel the words...]

"Dogs of the Von Khorvichs, Dogs of the Devil"

[No bodies can be found around the incident But where the blood came from is unknown... One can only pray all guards on duty that night check in come morning]

[mccarthy00]

Spoiler: show

[Since the night where guards were found dead and broken around the statue of the count Ravens have been visiting Burgomaster Svaris residence and the area around it, Watching the man as he goes about his day and night, Cawing throughout the night, Any arrows launched at them scatter the flocks for a time but they soon return, Cawing and watching.]

[The constant cawing of ravens stop suddenly as they fly up into the air and out of the city come dawn, The silence is unnerving at first but then the sounds of the waking city fill the air and all is normal once more]

[Purist]

On a typical rainy day, by noon two men cross the Citadel's wide courtyard. One of them, bare of the typical Vallaki Garda uniform, seems overburden with a pack of personal effects. They talk little and shake their hands. The gate is then opened, drawing the man into the world outside.

[mooner]

A number of the guards leaving the Citadel for their morning shift appear more solemn and sullen than usual. With grim expressions, they begin their usual patrols and stand guard at their usual spots. Their idle chatter is gradually overheard by those who reside in the Grey City; rumours quickly proliferate among the locals about a considerable amount of the Count's due taxes being absent from the City's coffers - revealed by the most recent census. These rumours are all but confirmed by the continued, panicked and harsh whispers shared by members of the Garda.

An air of worry and anxiety besets the Municipality, for fear of the eventual consequences should the Count come to discover this discrepancy.

[the_blind_beholder]

Despite its usual somber air, the citadel begins to stir with the activity of laborers and carpenters in preparation for the upcoming festival. Those who manage to peek through the gates as they open describe lines of tables and chairs, as well as an assortment of tents. Notices about the celebration's date and time can be found throughout Vallaki and greater Barovia.

[mooner]

Convoys of oxen are seen escorted in and out of the Citadel gates throughout the day, and even a horse-drawn wagon passes into the courtyard. Shouts and loud orders are given, with the sounds of movement of heavy crates and bags echoing from within the walls. During the early morning, the wagon leaves with a mixed escort of Garda and outlander mercenaries.

[Stormy]

In the night a lone Garda was seen fighting off neuri that were climbing the walls of the Citadel. Frightened witnesses who were either brave or foolish enough to look outside claim that he eventually was forced off the wall, and nothing was heard until morning when a single Garda horn was blown. Witnesses also claim that at some point the man had lost his weapon and continued to beat the creatures to death without it.

[mooner]

One of the guards, known for his unusual headwear, is reportedly absent for an increasing number of his shifts. Among those headed out to the Balinoks this most recent morning was a figure wearing a brown cloak, found discarded near the tent city. Surely unrelated rumours circulate of a hooded poacher - reeking hideously of garlic, staying in the House of Eternal Dawn.

[the_blind_beholder]

At the resolution of the Summer's End festival, the rain broke around dawn. Painted paper lanterns floated up out of the citadel courtyard, a small cloud of color in an otherwise dreary sky.