AOP:Westgate Rumor Mill

## **Whispers in the Shadows**

In the *Outsiders' Path* mini-campaign, PC's will undoubtedly have time for a little carousing through Westgate. Naturally, the big city is *the* source for rumors from all around Central Faerûn and everywhere that traders and merchants travel from.

Exactly what kind of rumors PCs hear really depends on where they go (what kind of crowd the characters are working), and how they're going about it. Some rumors may be picked up just having a drink and quietly eavesdropping, while others may require engaging people.

* Quietly Listening: passively active rumor collection falls under a *Perception* (WIS) check.
	+ Do they believe the rumor is true? An *Insight* (WIS) check will tell a PC if they think the person telling the [rumor/story/legend] believes it to be true.
	+ Similarly, a skill/knowledge check is an excellent screen to put a "confidence level" to the rumor. Regarding rumors, *Arcana, History, Nature* and *Religion* are the Big Four in terms of the average types of rumors that PCs would listening for. Other details that either lend credence or doubt may slip out as well and the PC can use those to better determine their confidence that the person is telling the truth
* Actually engaging people engages a different skill set. A little like a verbal chess match, the *Investigation* skill (INT) can maneuver them into divulging details about particular subjects.
* Engaging people from a different angle, something more like drawing information out of them, especially if they're reticent or nervous to talk, falls to a *Persuasion* check (CHA).
* Buying a person a drink can help, both in the gesture – and in the alcohol itself.
* ~~Bribery~~ *Fiduciary Incentive* can help too.
	+ A low-level rumor could be had for a couple coppers.
	+ Something more significant, but with no bearing or risk to the NPC: a couple of silver.
	+ Sensitive, potentially damaging information starts at a gp and goes up, with the price directly related to the possible consequences to the person spilling the beans.

It's possible to use multiple skills and checks in a single conversation, and players should be encouraged to work to their strengths (and potentially, the target's weaknesses).

### **What Can Be Heard Where**

Westgate will have rumors that come from near and far, though the nature of this port city and regional trade hub means the characters are likely to find a higher density of rumors from places much farther than elsewhere on their journey unless the PCs specifically target traveling merchants in the trade roads they'll be traveling.

In this case, rumor-bearing NPCs are more likely to spill more sensitive information simply because they enjoy the anonymity of the crowd. It's basic *security by obscurity*.

The list of Inns, Taverns, and Festhalls will have different rumor groups. Characters with an INT or WIS of 11 or above are likely to discern what categories of rumors they'll hear in what kinds of establishment.

 2
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* Inform the characters of the categories of rumors.
* Once they know what to look for, they can perform a virtual stroll down the streets of Westgate to find an establishment that has the type of information they're looking for.
* These rumors are just that, situational updates that are campaign related. These are not job tips.

Note: Certain shops, temples or other notable locations are also likely to have associated rumors. A magic shop such as "Gondeth's Mageries" would likely carry the possibility of an arcane-related rumor. People who have medicine skill, for instance, and are looking for medically-related rumors, might swing by Lilda's in the shore ward for updates on local gonorrhea rates.

Note 2: The NC-17 column is a reminder that "festhall" is frequently a Forgotten Realms euphemism for brothel. In fact, at least half of these establishments have at least one dark corner where various activities may transpire that aren't suitable for children under 17 (or really, most sensible adults). Hey, whatever the players are looking for, *we're not judging*...

#### **Those Things That Can Be Heard**

There are five categories of rumors, six specific rumors per category, that the PCs could potentially pick up while carousing in Westgate. The rumors can be determined via d6 or chosen based on what you think the PC's ears would be sensitive to hearing.

A few of the points have sub-bullets, which is optional (but juicy) context to drop on the PC.

##### **MARITIME MERCHANT**

1. Thayvian contacts can find any magic item for a price, even some Primal stuff…
	* …*for a much steeper price*.
2. A Dragonmere express route connects Westgate with Proskur.
	* *Not as interesting since Cormyr annexed Proskur, though*.
3. Suzail merchant traffic has plummeted in the last year.
	* *Teziir has picked up some of the slack.*
4. Selgaunt merchant traffic has plummeted in the last year (though not as much as Cormyr).
	* *Sembia has always considered Westgate a competitor anyway...*
5. The merchants of Cormyr and Sembia are welcome in the city. Their militaries, less so.
6. With the navies fighting each other, the pirates have been more daring in the dragonmere.
	* *Some pirates may have gone the privateer route, preying on the other side by way of a letter of marque.*

##### **TERRESTRIAL MERCHANT**

1. The Zhentarim are the most trustworthy of the consistent pipelines to the west coast.
	* *That doesn't say much for the rest of 'em*.
2. Markets want a Stonehearth portal, but local import/export companies don't like the idea.
	* *A portal would disrupt the current business model. Change is bad. Loose change is good.*
3. The Cormyr/Sembia checkpoints down the Grand Ride are strangling traffic.
4. Sembia recently held Reddansyr for two weeks before Cormyr took it back.
5. They're still fighting over the bridge at Redsbridge.
	* *That and the Giant's Run fighting are killing trade with the south*.
6. The market for arms through the region has climbing.

##### **ADVENTURERS AND MEN-AT-ARMS**

1. Cormyr is hiring for positions in their army and navy.
	* *Check any city under their control for local recruiters, but the closest they know of that's actually signing contracts is fivish-days west, in **Teziir***.
2. Sembia is hiring for positions in their army and navy.
	* *Check any city under their control for local recruiters, but the closest they know of that's actually signing contracts is two days south, in **Redwater***.
3. Neither Cormyr nor Sembia is recruiting in the city. But if you look deep enough in the shadows you'll find people who are recruiting against one, the other or both.
	* *Westgate is struggling to stay free of either kingdom, but it's a good guess that spies from both sides are working the city*.
4. Sea of Stars pirates regularly drop anchor by the north two derelict towns (Ilipur and Pros). They sometimes recruit in town as "armed merchantmen."
	* *There are a variety of legitimate armed merchantmen vessels that also recruit in the city.*
5. Not a day and a half ago, there was a bloody battle between Cormyr and Sembia just south of **Giant's Run**.
	* *There seems to be some sudden surge in the fighting and nobody knows why.*
6. The Proskur Free Trade Association just burned to the ground two days ago. Rumor has it that was a front for a thieves' guild... and Cormyr might have burned it down.
	* *Cormyr classed the PFTA as a thieves' guild they're more like an anti-Cormyr guild.*
	* *Civil war is brewing to the west...*

##### **ACADEMIC, ADMINISTRATIVE AND ARTISAN**

1. Embassy Row in Westgate has been slowly shrinking between Cormyr and Sembia.
2. Cormyr and Sembia both want Westgate. Westgate doesn't want either.
3. There are 10 noble houses that form Westgate. If the Cormyr-Sembia pressure gets any worse, they've threatened to petition for entry into the Commonwealth.
	* *If the Zhentarim somehow made it into the Lords' Alliance, maybe Westgate could make it into the Commonwealth*.
4. Despite the turbulence, the Westgate markets are still the best, hands-down, in Central Faerûn.
5. Despite rumors, Westgate would never support insurrection in Cormyr.
	* *On the other hand, the noble houses of Westgate...*
6. The Zhentarim have been burned enough not to try annexing Westgate anymore.
	* *The only reason they're in the Lords' Alliance now is because they "saw the light" after they had their butts handed to them by the Shadovar. How much they actually saw that light is debatable.*

##### **ARCANE / DIVINE**

1. If you've got connections to primal magic, you'll have platinum in your hands…
	* *...And a target on your back.*
2. Cormyr's War Wizards sometimes buy spell scrolls in bulk from Stonehearth Mercantile.
	* *They're War Wizards, so it's a good bet those scrolls aren't Level-3 "Gentle Massage."*
3. There are clerics out of Stonehearth that channel divine power… without a godhead.
4. There has been a rise of demon cults since the fall of the Shadovar, mostly in Sembia.
	* *There are fears that's spreading in the southern Dragon Coast.*
5. The arcane markets in Baldur's Gate… a merchant can get rich on one trip if they can get their cargo back to the east in one piece.
6. The Temple of Shar has been abandoned since the fall of Thultanthar… but nobody wants to try and reclaim the space.

## NEXT STEP

* Are the characters going to try their luck with the Stonehearth rep? Check the **Jolly Warrior Point-of-Contact page**.
* Are the characters headed back to the Jolly Warrior at **Seven Bells**?
* Actually, I need to check the **Overview Page...**