Vallaki - Western Outskirts

[DM Stygian Witch]

An early blizzard blew in off the mountains last night. The cold and freezing rain forced many to seek shelter in either the temple or the tavern.

[NecropolisV]

For those who know Vincent Zolokorov personally.. He has been seen around Barovia again, often in the outskirts or within Vallaki itself.

[Nemesis 24]

Battered, bloody, and savage, a tall figure chained and gagged was escorted into Vallaki in torn, blood covered clothes.  He snapped and snarled and his eyes glowed with hate and a madman's glaze as he was dragged through the city streets and taken to the citadel and a cell. Before long whispers passed through the village.  The Beast of Vallaki had been captured, the monster that had brutalised so many innocents was at last chained, to be given over to his final judgement.  The heroic sergeant Voldymyr Brusilov, with a group locals and outlanders together, triumphed in bringing this vile beast to the waiting embrace of Barovian justice.

[Zwickelfaust]

The witch named Hjorta Was spotted being drug through the outskirts in shackles by Garda. She was frantic and screaming of tyranny and injustice. She has not been seen since.

[Zwickelfaust]

After a few days, the Hjorta Was paraded through the outskirts without clothes and two fingers missing on each hand. There Was no cross of injustice from those that watched. Most seemed uninterested, save one kind dwarf merchant that took pity on the poor witch.

[qwertyuioppp]

A gunshot rings in the growing, silent night. Its target spills his blood upon the ramparts of Vallaki, crying out in agony and fright. The event is capped by the words of rumour that whisper around the surrounding outskirts and its tired, old temple:

"Some bloke's out there shooting guards."

[Alan Hunter]

It is said the big oaf Jack Wilson was seenmleaving late night i furiated by the outlanders chastising and a halfling womans attempts at peace with him. He was seen last flipping and breaking a table and makingvhis way to the Crypts where many can see him violently fighting skeletons and calling out for a vrolok girl in a red dress.

Those that would get in his way or try takin herbs from him would meet a viable verbal out come possibly lead with intimidating violance it seems the lout was unconcoliable as he rampaged about the Crypts smashing everything in sight that threaten him.

[Oracle of Oppression]

A strange sight has become more commonplace as of late in the faithless lands of the Vallaki Municipality. A squad of zealous outlanders have been noted singing grisly hymns of servitude and subjugation as they attend to their business. From the fore of this flock an armored priest bearing a foreign symbol, that of a vile claw clenched into a fist, leads with all the surety of a fanatic.

As these figures come to be seen more and more often, lowly whispers begin to flit between the backward serfs of the nearby farmlands. While the words vary from peasant to peasant, the question remains the same:

'What's brought these foreign beasts to the Burgomaster's lands?'

[Alan Hunter]

It is rumored a champion among the people of Vallaki has come to rid them of the troubles of outlanders, gunderkites, were rats, and pitics. The champions name shouted "Jack! Jack! Jack!" among the locals the burly outlander has been seen donating farm tools to the good people of vallaki, Weapons and good armaments freely to the Garda, Destroyer of were Rats, and lately rumored to have single handedly frighten off a Neuri by shouting and bravado alone with out even cutting the beast. Tales of his son slain at night by Were Rats vengeful of his acts of good only to be staked in the fashion of Strahd among the streets revolt the people but some breathe easier knowing fewer of them exist. Garda troops speak of how Jack arms them with iron and steel so they may better fight their Gunderkite rebels and criminals though finding it atrocious some have seen Jack with a friendly wave and smile as he hung Gunderkite rebels and escapes to the local tree by the wall as well as by some odd feat lancing one to the wall itself Garda having trouble removing the steel spear from the wall as the Gunderkite rebel clutches it even in death finding no means to remove the man down from the wall less sawing him in half.

Equal rumors in the pitic community speak of the slaughtering of pitics by Jack claiming to have been thieves and proven by the garda having lashed a pitic and a fey for their crimes in assaulting the man at night and in a church no less. Further also speak Jack has reconciled with a Kera Nutcracker referring to the woman as lady not pitic for her aid in his son showing even he can stave off ill will for the betterment of the child. although most pitics are hard press to trust the man it is seen he is about a porcelean skin woman with raven hair a foreigner whose captivated the giant making him more peaceful. Weariness grows as he dawns a beard, lion mantle, and rich dementleusu leather coat seeming to have become quite business man albeit his level of intelligence making true even a common can have riches. Hope lingers for a moment to the Vallaki people as an outlander tries his beast to be the best Barovian setting away his outlandish life for a hard working one.

[Grendlykins, Simp of Azalin Rex]

Infrequent "Night Markets" have begun to spring up of late, always after the last light of the day has faded. Twinkling lanterns lead the way to the Markets on the occasional nights they are held, with available merchants rotating out often. Though the unpleasantness found beneath Vallaki is inconvenient, open commentary is made of preferring rats to lycanthropes prowling the night when merchants wish to hawk their wares.

[Zwickelfaust]

    Deep in the night a strange witch passed through the outskirts wreathed in powerful magic. The Garda demanded her to leave or be shot, but the witch refused defiantly. When the wall garrison began to let loose arrows, the walls of Vallaki lit up as lightning cracked and fire exploded in loud bangs. The Garda managed to survive the battle, though it seemed the witch held back as to not kill. Soon after the battle was lost, the witch disappeared. Only the sight of the scorched walls and battered Garda were all that remained of the terrifying encounter.

[Oracle of Oppression]

[As dawn arrives light would fall upon a new series of written proclamations that spread from the Outlander's Gate, west along the Old Svalich Road.]

BEWARE THE WYRM

BE ON GUARD MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, FOR A GREAT EVIL DESCENDS UPON THE LAND. A BLOOD-RED WYRM-CHILD, A DISGUSTING BEAST SPAWNED OF UNHOLY UNIONS, STALKS THESE LANDS LOOK TO PREY UPON ANY WHO'S GUARDS ARE NOT RAISED. ONLY THROUGH UNITY AND COHESION MAY THIS BEAST BE DRIVEN FROM OUR RANKS. KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN, BLADES SHARP, AND REPORT ANY SIGHTINGS TO THE LOCAL LAW!

[Ob]

[Last night the infamous Panflio Mandriagatti appeared in the outskirts in the company of the Pochev cousins.  There was loud talk about some sort of upcoming fight to be held at the Gaping Wound and a crude series of fights were held in a makeshift ring outside the cultists temple.  Bets were placed and, to the cheers and jeers of onlookers, "Gorgeous Gavi" managed to put down a nameless outlander and a pitic in a series of back to back bare knuckle brawls.]

[urathraviel]

[This night the sounds of a woman singing were heard in the area, she seemed to be in good spirits as giggling was frequent. Some time later there was a horrible scream of rage, and the sounds of combat followed it.]

[CashMeOutside]

Shocked whispers are on the lips of outlanders and natives alike in response to the lack of fear shown by "monsters" and caliban alike over recent days.  Apparently it has become increasingly common for such beasts to roam the outskirts just outside of Vallaki in broad daylight, even in the presence of guards.  Some natives have voiced fear that the wretched creatures will soon roam the city freely!

[lakhena]

Last evening, a lone woman wearing a Wayfarer Kinship amulet was seen dragging the corpses of three heavily armored individuals out of the forests south of Vallaki.  Two of the individuals wore the colors and attire of the Cult of the Morninglord and looked extraordinarily pale.  It's said that there was hushed talk of vampires responsible, and that a small group of armed and heavily armored individuals left the Sanctuary of the Coming Dawn immediately to seek revenge for their fallen comrades.  Amongst those who left was an Ezraite, from the green cloak and armor she wore.

[Daboomer]

A lightcarrier carries out a cauldron with Smelted metal placing it oustide the sanctuary.

[Barovian Beggar]

On a cold spring day a foreign knight delivers a sermon extolling the virtues of mankind. Despite the jeers and mocking of several outskirt loiterers the preacher continues unmolested. A keen observer would note the name of his god repeated several times. A faith not heard of in Vallaki for many years, Zarus!

[Zwickelfaust]

    The sounds of battle rang out as two figures attacked the wall garrison. Rumors that the combined efforts of the Garda and the Morninglordians managed to take down one of the attackers. The cost of the victory was high, as the Garda lost one of their own.

[Dumas]

A dreadful scene was discovered in the Western Outskirts this eve... Those that braved Old Noapte at that late hour discovered a crudely hewn wooden pole, driven into the earth at the fore of the graveyard with great force. Blood slowly tricked down from the impaled body - that of Stefan Albescu, of the Vallaki Garda. With the sharpened stake emerging from his open mouth, and his uniform in tatters, it was a grisly, and clear sight.

 Dark feathers were scattered about the display, as well as a message, boldly carved into the ground, deeply cut into the soil :

"THIS IS THE COST OF MORNINGLORDIAN PRIDE"

[Inhumanity]

A caliban's carcass lies mutilated in the bowels of the charnel house, one of his gnarled fingers missing, throat slashed unceremoniously, with three crude letters carved across his chest:

RVT

Below the initials, a blade was dragged across the creature's protruding gut, shaping his bare torso to resemble a smiling face.

[Dumas]

Just before the walls of Vallaki, a bleak sight is discovered in the middle of the night by those that dare brave the darkness. Two guardsman, strangely outside the city at night, have been slain. Both seem to have suffered brutal ends, stricken with great force. However, there is a glimmer of hope, perhaps, that some escaped the assault, as bloodied tracks did diverge from the scene in two directions...

[lakhena]

Those who braved the outskirts during the night would have noticed several heavily armored figures in Morninglord attire standing before the Sanctuary of the Coming Dawn.  All wore grim-faced skull masks and had spears and swords drawn as the sanctuary bells tolled three times each hour throughout the night, a truly macabre sight for those used to the open, welcoming smiles of the Morninglordians. 

[CashMeOutside]

The following poster has been seen in circulation around the outskirts of Vallaki, though it's origin is unknown.

To all interested parties, The time for action is now. The wretched Corporal Rodica Stolojan must be dealt with in a manner that is
deserving of her actions in the past year. It is time for her life to end and the example made of her driven into the hearts of any current, former,
 or future members of the Vallaki Garda. I hereby offer a reward on the head of Rodica Stolojan of 150,000 wolf fangs: DEAD ONLY. Execute her
as you see fit, burn the flesh from her bones, and hang her corpse on the gallows for all to see. Not only will you gain a reward of gold for your
 efforts but will rid Vallaki of the plague that is Corporal Stolojan; do not doubt my words for she is nothing short of a disease upon the land of Barovia.

Signed,
H.M.

[urathraviel]

[An additional peice of paper is stuck to the note in the dark of night by an invisible figure]

Oh sure, offer a bounty on Rodica who might sometimes be harsh but is actually fair, and pleasant out of uniform. Where were the bounties when Albescu was beating people up for not refusing arrest arrest. The man tortured people and tried to molest women.

This is clearly a personal Vendetta, don't cloak yourself in rightousness and leave the rest of us out of it.