1376

Notable events and happenings from the year 1376 DR (2019), the Year of the Bent Blade.

• Winter snows cause difficult travel conditions in high ground - High Dale, Daggerdale, and parts of the Dun Hills are badly affected.
• Following the airship crash in Battledale last month, a group of adventurers are called in to help investigate mysterious windstorms isolated to a nearby farmstead. After rendering aid to the gnomish skysailors, a number of elementals were defeated and recaptured to inflate their magical balloon.
• Mysterious lights and sounds are seen over the Pool of Yeven - which lashed like an angry sea. After a tip off by a local, adventurers investigated and the Pool is now at peace - though the local man is heard to grumble that they were hired to slay a magical beast and failed in their task. Rumour has it that there was some kind of 'ice bird' nesting there, and that its nest had been disturbed by aquatic monsters.

• A Featherdarran commoner was attacked by adventurers in Feather Falls, his friends escaping before true harm could be done to any of them. The victim claims the attackers were Thayan agents, and - whether folk believe that or not - Feather Falls residents are keeping a wary eye on strangers for now.
• Bands of adventurers have lately been seen venturing into Mistfall House in Feather Falls - resulting in strange ghostly noises emanating from the old abandoned temple and disturbing residents. Locals noted that only one band of adventurers returned from the gloomy depths, and authorities continue to warn people against going inside the place.

• An Impilturan Noble arrived in Blackfeather Bridge seeking adventurers to reclaim something that belonged to his daughter that a wizard had conned from them - her very hand! Adventurers tracked the necromancer Toskolaer the Young to a keep in the Dun Hills and foiled his attempts to use the maiden's hand in a foul ritual to extend his youth and life. The whole affair seems to have ignited a fresh batch of songs among Featherdale's bards, warning of being careful to whom you promise your hand in marriage.

• A mounting mercantile dispute in Oaknoll seems to have tapered off after the timely intervention of a group of adventurers. A diplomatic solution between the two aggrieved parties seems to have been reached, though some adventurers involved were heard muttering about spiders and local huntsmen note that the competition for game in the woods seems to have increased.

• After protracted discussion and dealings with the War-Chancellor, a group of Red Wizards of Thay have taken possession of Adderposts shop in Essembra, and are due to open soon.
• Adventurers in Battledale report encounters with undead reportedly involved with something called the Nightborne Court in places known to harbour restless dead in the Dale, and the Ghosts of the Mailed Mantle have likewise issued warnings and hired adventurers to claim powerful artefacts from Aencar's Keep before the Court could.

• Summer Solstice Festival scheduled for the days immediately following in Essembra, Battledale
• Adderposts, the popular pawnshop with a mildly suspect reputation officially reopens under the ownership of the Red Wizards of Thay. Locals and adventurers wonder just what sort of deal the Wizards have struck with Lord Jarath, but it is not long before a steady stream of browsers and paying customers frequent the place.

• A peaceful summer, with many adventurers enjoying respite and festivities in the hot weather, leads to monster populations going unchecked over the months to Flamerule. Adventurers report that orcs, goblins, and kobolds in the Battledale surrounds have multiplied and expanded their lairs. Essembrans fear that the roads passing these lairs may soon become unsafe and impassable if something isn't done to cull the beasts!
• Intrepid explorers report the discovery of a bastion of drow in the forest, populating an abandoned mansion. The Abbey of the Sword, having suffered a devastating attack from below some years ago, renews its decree that all drow should be served with battle - as Tempus wills!
• Shieldmeet is held.

• Hap reports that red lights have been seen aglow in the ruined tower at the top of Haptooth Hill. With the mage Dracandros overthrown and long gone, locals wonder who, or what, may have re-activated the Red Wizard's wards.
• Worryingly, not just the top of Haptooth Hill sees activity, lately, but the lower slopes too. Strange creatures have been seen emerging from the tunnels at Deljack's mushroom farm. Could this be related to the strange lights at the tower that looms above it?
• An Oghmanite stumbles into Feather Falls one day, battered and bruised, but speaking of a forgotten archive in the Featherdale wilderness - filled with guardians. In his dying breath, he entreats locals to find and retrieve the information there for the glory of Oghma, and soon after, adventurers in the region begin to search for the place - seeking treasures.

• Autumn Equinox
• Highharvestide Festival is celebrated by the Chauntean faith and farmers across the realms. While some farmers celebrate the bountiful harvest, others have not done so well during the long summer and late autumn. However, the Dales as a whole enjoy good stocks of food for the coming winter.

• The month of Marpenoth is unusually mild, bright mornings and balmy afternoons bringing much cheer. Leaves remain steadfast on their trees, turning red and gold unusually late. As with the festival at the beginning of the month, many consider this a very good omen, and the great harvest continues.
• An upsurge in bounties causes some havoc in the hamlets of the dales as Dales authorities - particularly in Battledale - find themselves shorthanded. Adventurers are widely called upon to pick up the slack, with some senior militia officers worried that uncaught bandits will lead to new gangs forming in the wilds.

• Notorious Beshaban Taeryl Ravenstone hires a band of adventurers in Essembra to delve into the cursed woodland near Moander's Road and rescue - so rumour goes - a body. The mission was apparently a success and the Doommaster happily departed with her coffin - leaving Essembran commonfolk quite relieved.
• The Feast of the Moon is observed at the end of the month.

• Winter Solstice