This a thread for in-character rumors of events/people/locations, etc.  Nothing in this thread is concrete or verified for use in a plot.

1 Solar EXP per post.

Some say a devil-tiger wanders the East, wearing the form of a man.  The tiger's claws are like liquid steel, and green fires ignite from the wounds it makes.  Even the most fell beasts in the Scavenger Lands have fallen prey to the monster.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:57, Tue 10 Nov 2015.

Some madman is burning down whole towns, leaving nothing but flames, ash and sometimes stone tendrils that are often still hot to the touch.  The Wyld Hunt claims this individual is either an Anathema or some heretic wasting away his Dragons' granted enlightenment.

Survivors speak of a figure in gold and red jade armor, with fire dancing around it at every turn.

They say that a warlord known as Jieron Windlord is uniting the vast tribes of the Marukani, with eyes towards conquering not just his people, but all of the Scavenger Lands, possibly even all of the East.

Of course, they also say that the Windlord is one of the apocalyptic demon-gods from ages past... but really now, how likely is that?

I heard that if you want someone killed, your best bet is to go to the Grass Spiders.  Supposedly they'll kill anyone for a price, and can work out deals - using the Guild as an intermediary - for more complicated assignments.  Supposedly every major city has a contact or point man for setting up jobs and meetings.

The other thing they are known for is for never killing the same way twice, and for being both creative and cruel with their assassinations.  Apparently some poor shmucks have even committed suicide rather than trying to fend off one of the Grass Spiders.

All of them have a green spider tattoo somewhere on their body, too.

Someone has been brutally killing Dynasts of the Realm and anyone associated with them.  Massive explosions are occurring in their homes, or those of their allies, whole families are being killed in very theatrical fashions.  Some Satrapies have even collapsed into chaos.

Most think it's an Anathema, wreaking violence and chaos for its own sake, but I've heard that this seems to be some sort of spontaneous derangement infecting the scions of the Realm.  I've often heard of Satraps - or members of their families - showing up alive after their bodies have supposedly been found.

There's a new player in the Satrap of Jiara.  Despite the Satrap being overthrown not that long ago by one of the Anathema, they say that another force is stepping up and claiming the crown.  Quicksilver Venom Wolf and his Vizier, Empty Spring, have laid claim to the throne of Jiara, and are amassing a hideous force of soldiers, mercenaries and worse.  They say that some of Jiara's temples are even unusable now, what with the still-screaming death throes of dying gods.

There is also an extremely large bounty put on the head of the Anathema known as Perfect Soul, and any who associate with her.

I heard that the Satrap running Greenhaven - out of Stem, you know? - was overthrown.  Apparently somebody calling himself the Perfected Magistrate of something or other is now calling the shots.

What?  No, I don't know what happened to the Satrap.  My bet's on dead or fled, though.

I've been hearing stories about some crazy people trying to "reform" the Immaculate Order.  Supposedly they listen to some aspect of the Sun, his Holy Sword, and they think it's their divine duty to fight for such things as 'justice', 'compassion', and for those who can't fight for themselves.

I know, right?  I mean, they probably mean well... but the kicker is this:  to them, it doesn't matter if you're one of the Dragon's Children or an Anathema.  I overheard one, right before he was ran through by one of our real protectors, saying that even a mortal can be more divine than any Dragonblooded.

What?  No, man.  Peleps Sorel, the Illustrious Blade, died there.  I saw the monk kill him.  No way he can still be walking around after having been run through and set on fire until his body was nothing but ash.

Right?

I heard that some of the Royal Family of the Satrap of Yisha, on the Gray River, actually managed to escape after the tower fell.  Rumor has it that they escaped with a significant portion of the royal treasury, too, and are looking bring together a large enough force to retake their homeland with it.

Yeah.  Between the orcs and their masters, and that bounty they've put out on the Yishans' heads, I doubt that venture will last long, nor be profitable.