Tonight my group will sit down for dinner with Lord Aschaffenberg after which they will have brandy with the doctor and librarian. Now, for tonight and for the further use it would be great to gather the combined discussion topics and rumours of the Old World in one thread here on the forums. Even better if in addition to the discussion topic / rumour there's a short explanation what the hell is going on.

Something like this:

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Discussion topic: The new mayor of Gryffenwald

(Category: Political)

Initiated by: A pompous noble

- "Now what do you think about the latest news that they put a wizard in charge of Gryffenwald? It is very dangerous to give political power to a person who is not of noble blood".

- "My cousins neighbour met him and told my cousin that he has yellow eyes. I say that everything is not right here."

- "He won't stay in the position for long. I heard that Count Gryffen's youngest son is going to replace him soon."

Behind the scenes: The new mayor of Gryffenwald is a Grey Wizard who was sent to the area years ago to investigate the rumours of witchcraft. He found only rumours and blackmouthing, but fell in love with the daughter of the old mayor, married her and now after the old mayor is too old was chosen as the new mayor. Naturally the power hungry nobles of the area wan't their own guy for the job and are unhappy with the situation.

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Rumour: Gryffenwald mill burned down

- "Did you hear that the the Gryffenwald mill was burned down during that big thunderstorm few weeks back. I hear that it was that bandit Obersdorf and his thugs who did it. Killed the Müeller family too. Now the grain will rot and the people of the area will surely perish during the winter."

Behind the scenes: Viktor Obersdorf is actually an adventurer who found out about a plot of Skaven Clan Pestilens to poison the whole town. He arrived a bit too late to save the miller Müeller and his family, but managed to burn the mill down to destroy the Skaven. Of course there's no evidence of the ratmen, so everybody blames Obersdorf and his gang.

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I like the idea. It could also include some of the rumours we've read in official adventures. And if it happens that one rumour turns out contradictory with a newly release official bit of info, well, those were just rumours who turned not to be true.

Ideas could come from anyone's mind or from any homemade adventure.

Nice ideas. Those rummors are good and make the game more realistic.

Please post a discussion topic / rumour every time you comment. This way the thread stays alive. I bet that all of you have ideas to share. It only takes a minute

Rumour: Childstealers afoot at Bilborg

- "Last week the travelling minstrel Hezekiel Peiponlaulu visited my tavern and told tales about ominous happenings in Bilborg, you know that little shantytown a few days ride east. He said that many children have gone missing and the mothers of the kids are devastated. He also mentioned something about a childnapping monster that lives in a nearby lake, but you know those minstrels always making tales taller than they really are. "

Behind the scenes: The kidnappings have really happened and the local guard has been bribed to keep their eyes closed. So far six kids between ages 2 and 4 have gone missing. The perpetrators are a ruthless gang of criminals who have been selling the kids to a countess in a nearby big city. Unknown to the kidnappers the countess is a Slaanesh worshipper and has found a spell which needs kids blood for bathing to make the countess forever young. The story about the monster is just a fairytale by superstitious villagers who try to understand what is going on.

One a day keeps boredom away

This one is for all of you fellow Blood Bowl players. In my Old World the game exists, but there's only human teams playing the game.

Rumour / Discussion topic: Reikland Reavers win the Blood Bowl 2521

- "The Altdorfs finest, Reikland Reavers, triumphs over last year's champion Middenheim Marauders in this years Blood Bowl final held at the Marauder's home stadium. The match was a huge thriller, with the Reavers star player Griff Oberwald blitzing his way to the end zone on overtime. After the game there were some minor disturbances when the people poured out on the streets of Middenheim, but the city watch made sure that the troublemakers were arrested promptly."

Over 130 viewers and no new rumours! C'mon, I know you're more creative than that Well no worries here's one for sunday:

Rumour: White doe

-"The hunters near Ubersreik have sighted a beautiful white doe in the woods east of Ubersreik. It has said to have a pelt so fine that even the emperor would be wear a coat made out of it."

-"White doe is a bad sign, mark my words. Bad bad sign. My granpa told me that before they burned down his village some of the hunters had seen a white doe. Bad times are coming. Bad bad times."

Behind the scenes: There's a tragic love story behind the appearance of the white doe. A girl from Ubersreik named Annika fell hopelessly in love with a local hunter called Moritz. The only problem was that popular amongst women Moritz didn't really care about Annika, an average looking girl. So Annika decided that she needed some help. She traveled to a local old hag, who knew a thing or two about witchcraft. In exchange for all Annika's savings the old hag looked into her bowl of bones and told Annika that in order to get all the men fall for her she would have to kill the first being she meets on her way back home and drink its blood mixed with strange green glowing powder (Warpstone powder?).

While Annika was visiting the witch Moritz was hunting and managed to trap a beautiful white deer calf. The young hunter felt sorry for the bambi-eyed animal and let it go. In reality the calf was protected by forest god Taal, sent out as a test to local hunters. Luckily to him, Moritz's instincts were right not to anger the god by slaying the animal and he let it run away.

Unfortunately when returning from the old hag's house Annika bumped into a other hunters trap, in which the white deer calf had entagled itself. Annika felt that she should let the calf run free, but her need to win over Moritz's heart got the best of her and she killed the calf and performed the ritual. The next night she felt horrible pains, while the potion worked its course and when the morning came she had transformed from a grey mousy looking girl into a amazingly gorgeous woman (think all the romantic films, where a woman is "ugly" in the beginning wearing glasses and ugly clothes and then for the final ball she transforms into a superbabe) with almost supernatural attraction towards men.

All the men of the village were after Annika, but she only wanted Moritz. In the evening she went into the edge of the forest to wait for the young hunter and Moritz coming home from his hunting trip fell in love with Annika on the first sight. They walked in the forest and enjoyed each others company when the horror struck. Angered by the death of the white deer calf the forest god Taal has put a horrible curse on Annika. Every full moon she turns into a vampiric white doe, who has to drink human blood in order for Annika to keep her supernaturally beauty. Annika doesn't want to lose Moritz and so every full moon she lures hunters deep into the forest, where she transforms back into her human form and seduces the poor men. When the men fall for her lures, she bites their neck in mid coitus and drains their blood thus preserving her magical looks.

Adventure hooks: The players travel to the neighbourhood to hunt the deer and need local hunter (Moritz) to help them. The pelt would make a great gift to any noble and of course bring loads of fame to the people who manage to hunt it. Or the group meets Moritz who asks them to help to hunt the white doe. Of course Annika will try to keep her husband out from the forest during full moon at all costs, so she can seduce and kill other huntsmen without revealing her secret. How far is she willing to go to stop the players helping Moritz? As a amazingly seductive and shameless woman she has her ways of influencing especially the male characters of the adventuring party.

I love this thread! Good stuff! Here's something I just thought up:

Rumor/Discussion Topic: Thieving Pilgrims

- “Hear tell of those pilgrims wandering around robbing folks? Seems they join a group of travelers under the pretense of being good godly people and offering to share the journey and strength in numbers and all that, then at night they rob these folks blind and make off with all their money and any belongings they can carry."
- "Word is these pilgrims are true and pious ascetics and they are giving all their loot away to local orphanages and churches. This is why no one has ever found any pilgrims with stolen goods on them."
- "Ain’t no one got a good look at these fellows except they wear plain robes and cover their faces in deep cowls."
- "Supposedly one Road Warden fell afoul of this group and ended up horseless and bootless. Supposedly he’s now tending some tollbooth out in Ostermark."

Behind the Scenes: These "pilgrims" are nothing more than common bandits with excellent wilderness skills and a clever scheme. They wonder the roads as pilgrims until they find a group to tag along with, then one night (not necessarily the first in order to build trust), they rob their fellow travelers. They change clothes and move into the wilderness where they cover their escape and high tail it back to their hideout. They use force if they have to, sometimes knocking people out, but they have so far been able to avoid causing physical injury.

Rumour: Tainted Pool

"Did ya hear what happened to poor lil' Klaus Gobersen."

"They reckon, it was the 'mirror pool' out near the old shrine, ya know"

"What the pool gave him that tentacle?"

"I hear it were scales for skin, but yeah. They say he drank from the pool then it happened."

"Never mind how, but the fire is a 'orible way for a youngin to go."

The 'mirror pool' does not corrupt. Rather those that drink from it hallucinate. Klaus was unlucky enough to be passing just after a Witchfinder drank from the pool. He believed the boy corrupt, and killed him on the spot.

Hooks:

Why is the pool doing this now?

What has been the other effects in the area?

What of the Witchfinder - have they gone on a hallucinogen fueled righteous murder spree… or have they realized what they have done and seek those responsible… which could cast the party under suspicion if they start sniffing about...

Fantastic stuff Amani & Munchkin! Keep 'em coming.

Rumour: Lady von Kemper's love affair

-"Ya see that man over there. Ye, the one handsome lad whose gulping down that chow. He's the guard captain Micklausson and they says that he's entertaining the widow of late burgomeister von Kemper."

-"That shameful woman. It's only two months since her husband passed away, may Sigmar let him rest in peace, and already she entertains other lovers. Burgomeister von Kemper was a good man I tell you, good man and he deserves better than that wench spreading her legs to the first young man that shows any interest towards her."

-"It is a good thing young von Kemper is soon returning from Altdorf to take over the family mansion. He will put his mother in her place."

Behind the scenes: The late burgomeister von Kemper's widow is indeed having a relationship with captain Micklausson. Feeling lonely and sad after her husbands sudden death due illness, she found comfort from the company of a handsome young watch captain. The widow is a wealthy and beautiful middle aged woman who had no intentions of being lonely for long. The other middle aged women are deadly jealous of her for the independency and for seducing the young stud and thus they badmouth her in every occasion. One of the most poisonous ones even sent a concerned letter to the von Kemper's son, who lives in Altdorf, and the heir of the von Kemper family fortune is returning to his mother to see what his mother is up to.

Young watch captain Micklausson is an opportunistic man, who sees the relationship with the widow as a possible stepping stone for better life. He doesn't really care for her, but plays the part of a gigolo and is slowly getting the widow used to an idea of a remarrying. Naturally he is worried about the return of young von Kemper and is already making plans for getting rid of him. The road from Altdorf is full of perils afterall...

Come back, I've still got my teeth!

"You hear what happened on the road up to the old mine. Seems some religious nutter's been challenging anyone who wants to pass to a fight. This guys decked out all in black armor… even his sword is black. Anyway, seems this guys immortal. Even if you beat him he's back the next day. Heard one guy chopped off all this fellows arms and legs and he still tried to guard the way… threatened to bite him to death."

What's going on: this is a result of a curse. The warrior must guard a given path fighting any who come his way or suffer unbearable pain. The only way out of the curse is to be killed. The curse makes this difficult but not impossible. When the cursed warrior is killed, the curse passes on to his killer… who is forced to done the black armor and take up the guarding of the pathway.

Question to be answered: Who laid the curse, why and what are they getting out of it...

Rumor/Discussion Topic: The New Toll Keeper

Random Ostermarker: “What’s going on with that new toll keeper, he seems a little off”

Different random Ostermaker : “You’re not kidding, I could hear him talking to himself a mile before I got to the bridge …something about his horse running off with his boots or some such.”

Another different random Ostermarker: “When he first got here I heard he harassed those nice sisters from the monastery of Shallya. He even waved his sword at them to run them off.”

Yet another different random Ostermarker: “Well I was serving dinner at the mayor’s house a few days ago and I happened to over hear something about how he used to be a Road Warden until a group of pilgrims caught him trying to rob them.”

Random Ostermarker: “Sigmar save us! I knew our mayor was corrupt but to set up a highwayman as our new toll keeper?”

Another different Ostermarker: “Yeah and a dumb one at that, I mean who’d want to rob a bunch of pilgrims anyway? They never carry money or anything of value except maybe a few finger bones and such.”

Behind the Scenes: See Thieving Pilgrims above

Well, you asked for it

Here's a bit of sillyness, and weirdness in a not proper english form

Rumor: Night of the living sheeps

Overheard talk:
- "Did you hear what happened in Shafespringen?"
- "You mean those sheeps?"
- "Yeah, I heard they were zombies!"
- "Hah, you believe in fairy tales! The shepherds probably drank too much."
- "No, I tell you it was the truth. My cousin said his wives brother saw a man from that village on a day after. The man was all in blood and shaking."

Drunken shepherd (former)
- "Why am I drinking? To forget about what happened to me! People tell me it was only a sheep, but it was trying to eat my ancles! It was a demon sheep!!"

Crying woman with bunch of kids
- "Oh, what I'm gonna do now. The sheeps ate my husband... <crying here>"

Pious villager
- "Bloody wizards, all of them I tell ya! Its their fault! They wander, and scheme, and one day you wake up, and all your animals want to eat you alive! We should burn all of them blasphemers and heretics!"

Behind the scenes:
Village of Shafespringen is a home for shepherds and their stock.
It was known in other nearby villages for its high quality wool, cheese from sheeps milk, and roasted lamb served in the local inn.
Except of spontaneous wolf attacks no harm was done to them.
Each year all shepherds, people from nearby villages, and occasional travellers gather during a Sheep Fest to celebrate for a few days.
There are sheep shaving contest, ram battering contest, sheep beauty competition, rosted lamb, cheese, meat pies and lots of beer.

Unfortunately this years fest coincided with full moon phase of Morsslieb, and evil plans of a necromancer.
Many years ago, on nearby fields band of ogre bandits was defeated by the ancestor of local noble, and their bones still lie in the ground.
The necromancer found out about that, and wants to use these old bones to make a powerfull bodyguards for himself.
He localized the place, and was very happy, that during his ritual, local people will celebrate, probably too drunk, and loud to notice what is happening not far away (and be less of a threat, when putting new servants to the test).

So he did as he planned. But unfortunately not everything (or even nothing) went as he wanted to.
A kitten (oh crap, those little furry beasts will get anywhere) chasing a mouse intervened during the peak of ritual disrupting it.
The ogre bones didnt move a inch, but the unleashed power backlashed on necromancer wounding him (he remembered to protect himself, so he did survived), and flooded the village.
It didn't affect people... much (a bit of corruption, and few insanities at most), but it did affect sheeps.
The corruptive power erazed the sheeps minds (only they were stupid enough, or maybe it was because of the cat intervening in the ritual... you know, cats like to play with wool), killed some of them, and raised as zombies.

Whan happened next?
Well...
imagine zombie sheeps...
running around with glowy eyes...
trying to bite peoples ancles...
making grave (b)"meeeee"(inssssssss) sounds...
shepherd dogs barking...
people screaming, falling and spilling beer...
all in gloomy Morrslieb moonlight...
You get the picture.

Fortunately, zombie sheeps were not much of a threat, and were defeated quickly, but it was enough to cause chaos, panic and mayhem.

Right now, village is in fear, shocked. No one wants to celebrate anymore. Most sheeps are dead, and those that are not, are looked upon with mistrust ("I don't trust you sheep! Stop looking on me like that!! I'm not afraid of you! I've got SCISSORS!! <mad look here>").
Many people migrated to other villages (where they keep in taverns drowning their fear in beer), and those that stayed keep to their homes.
Meanwhile the enraged necromancer is healing his wounds, hiding in the nearby cave system. He waits for next Morsslieb full moon phase, when he plan to perform the ritual once again, and then burn the village and all the cats in it just to ease his anger.

PS: The cat surpraisingly survived (unlike the mouse, that served as cats meal). Corrupted, and mutating, he is hiding to strike when least expected.

Rumor/Discussion Topic: The Donation

Random Reiklander 1: “Did you hear who gave the Dock Street Orphanage that huge donation a few days ago?”
Random Reiklander 2: “What? Oh, let me guess it was those thieving pilgrims, right?”
Random Reiklander 1: “Pilgrims…? No, no, no they were priestesses of Shallya.”
Random Reiklander 2: “Priestesses of Shallya, well that doesn’t make any sense, aren’t they are forbidden from violence? Seeing as how robbing is a violent act…”
Random Reiklander 1: “No you mistook me, it was the…”
Random Reiklander 2: “…but, then again I also heard these pilgrims were not hurting anyone physically, so…”
Random Reiklander 1: “Look what I meant was…”
Random Reiklander 2: “…and I did hear they were giving the money back to people in need, and orphanages specifically…”
Random Reiklander 1: “Oh, never mind”, walks away
Shady Eavesdropping Reiklander: “Excuse me but were you just saying that it is the priestesses of Shallya who are robbing people?”
Random Reiklander 2: Yeah, well no, actually it was him.” Points to man walking away
Shady Eavesdropping Reiklander: “Sigmar, save us!” feigns shock
Random Reiklander 2: “No, no, no, Shallya.”

Behind the Scenes: A successful merchant who was raised in an orphanage decided to give something back. Wishing to remain anonymous, when asked, he simply said the money came from the local church of Shallya and that he was just the currier. Now for some unknown reason word is starting to get around that the priestesses of Shallya are actually the thieving pilgrims (see Thieving Pilgrims above).
Certain people are starting to get upset, namely the ones who were robbed. They in turn are beginning to rile up some other people who were also affected by their being robbed, such as family members, customers, and even people they owed money to. One in particular was a smuggler who was carrying some goods from one client to another. Neither client is happy with their goods being stolen and are looking for payback.

Black Rose of Death

"What happened here," the watchman looked from the gathered crowd to the cooling body at his feet.

"Well," A rat-catcher spoke up. "That guy there was talking to this woman…"

"A real looker…" A dockhand interrupted. "She was taller than you, long dark hair, and curves…"

"And those hunting leathers she wore…"

The watchman coughed."The body?"

"Yeah, that's what I'm talking about…"

"THAT body," the guard pointed

"Oh…aye, right." the rat cather rubbed at the back of his neck. "Well they was just talking. Then she smiles and leans over and says something to him…"

"… She said 'the Fat One says hi'. Then she stabbed him." The dockhand mimed a stabbing motion as he talked, a vicious short circle about head high.

"Yep… plain as you like, she shoved a knife in his ear. Still smiling too."

"He weren't smiling… more screaming."

"But she were."

"Aye, that she were."

Shaking his head the watchman looked down at the body. He recognized it as Franz Nine-finger Kleister, a suspected highway man. Well, if that was the truth he wouldn't be robbing any travelers anymore…

Behind the scenes: A killing spree has begun. A notorious assassin, the Black Rose', is killing anyone who seems travel certain roads near the city- highway men, road wardens, pilgrims etc

The Fat Man is a local mythological underworld figure. He exists and tough rich there is no way the Fat Man can afford the services of the 'Black Rose'.

So, who or what is the real power behind the 'Fat Man', and why has the 'Black Rose' stooped to killing lowlifes as opposed to her usual noble targets, and why only those who frequent those roads….

Sorry, I cannot help it, only silly ideas come to my mind

Rumor: Pimp ma Orkz

- "There was another attack on a cloth merchant caravan lately."

- "Not even a single soul survived any of the attacks... and all the clothes are gone... but they left very expensive perfumes... weird"

- "I heard, that lady Gertrude is raging mad by the constant caravan attacks. In the last caravan, was her newly ordered dress."

- "If someone won't do something about the robberies soon, then I will have to close my store. My stock of clothes is draining fast."

- "Why would anyone want to steal fancy clothes? If it was food, or gold, then yes, of course, its understandable... but dresses?"

Behind the scenes:
The band behind the robberies is actually a band of orcs and gobbos.
Their leader Pimp O'Nail has a vision (which means he was hit too much in the head).
He is possessed of thoughts of being pretty, and his boyz being pretty too (yeah, definitely too much damage to the head, or maybe its that big nail sticking out of his head, that has something to do with it).
And what's easier way to become pretty, than to wear fancy clothes? Taking a bath is not an option right?
And who has lot's of fancy clothes if not humies? They kill humies anyway, so why not take their clothes? <the lonely neuron in orks brain suddenly hits another lonely neuron resulting in a big and ugly smile>
So he took his ork boyz, found a good spot on a trade route and is having a lot of fun.
They kill humies for food, and steal all the clothes (and wigs) they can get (but not perfumes, smelly water stink weird).
His band looks silly even for a greenskins. Dirty band of big green brutes with rusty choppas, and ugly gobbos with wooden spears, wearing wigs, pink dresses, and other parts of women garderobe... A sight you will never forget.

A bit silent here lately

Rumor: Wine of the Ages
(inspired by too much wine and Tim Burton's Corpse Bride)

An old bard at the inn
- "During my travels, I came along some legends of the Wine of the Ages. It is supposed to grant everlasting youth to a person who takes a sip of it."

A pious and not so bright knight
- "Im on a quest to find the Wine of the Ages. I promissed lord Harrington a father of my beloved lady Jane, that I will bring him a bottle of it, and win my right to his daughter's hand, or die trying."
(both lady, and her father actually wish the birdbrain to die (which shouldn't be so hard), and are happy of disposing him so easily)

Crazy/insane alchemist (has nothing to do with Gold Order)
- "I would die for a sample of the Wine of the Ages. Oh, the possibilities... People would pay me any price for just a one sip... I'm sure wizards of the Gold Order have a recipe hidden somewhere... But their EGO is too big to share it... Would you be willing to get one for me?"

Old crumbling book of unknown origin
"It is unknown how to create the Wine of the Ages, or if it truly exists, but if it does (and there is enough rumors to start believing) it would be one of the most powerfull potions ever."

Behind the scenes:
The Wine of the Ages really exists. Created by an ancient, and long forgotten God of Law, for purpose lost in time like its creators name.
Unfortunately for the one that would find it, and drink it, its not working like expected.
Sure it grants "immortality" and "everlasting youth" (if drinked before getting old) of a kind, but it also grants inability to move, breathe, think, or do anything at all.
The wine actually stops the time flow for a person who drinks it. And I mean totally. You cannot scratch the person, you cannot move the persons hair.
You may throw a man affected by this wine to the heart of the volcano, or sunk him in the ocean, and he wont be affected.
What is more important, no one is immune to this effect. Human, elf, demon, undead, god even, they will all be suspended in time.
Where can it be found? Who knows.
Is there a cure? Possibly.

Whoa, summer. Too much sun to sit on the computer. But you guys have been cooking some brilliant stuff while I've been out. Next time my players will wander into a tavern they will hear some of the greatest rumours around

R umor: Missing child

At the town gate:

Town watch - "Sir, welcome to Grendelhafen sir. State your names and your businesses in our town. Is there any chance you saw or heard anything out of ordinary whilst travelling here? The travelling merchant reported his child missing when arriving yesterday. They camped out at the border of Mistymoors Bog a half a days ride to the east. When going to bed the boy was there, but in the morning he was missing."

When within the town:

A desperate merchants wife: -"Please sir, help us find our son. Please. He is only five years of age. We will pay. Please!"

A depressed and surly merchant: -"Quit it Griselda, the boy is dead. The stupid little git probably ran away and drowned at the bog. Poor little monkey. We can't afford to pay to these gentlemen to chase ghosts."

Behind the scenes:

The boy woke up at night by a strange voice calling for him. He peeked out from the travelling lodge window and saw a beautiful woman calling for him from the edge of the bog. He sneaked outside and when in the edge, he saw the lady further away and walked deeper into the swamp. Of course the lady was nothing less horrible than a malicious swamp spirit, who lured the boy deep into the bog, drowned him and feasted on his body. The only clue left is a small rag of the boy's shirt that might lead the investigators to the place.

If someone cares to investigate further there have been strange disappearances near the bog previously. Every six or so months the spirit needs to feed and lures a traveler to his death.

Just finished reading spell cards from my newly acquired WoM.

I found one (Bestial Transformation) particularly worth of creating a rumour, so here it goes.

Rumour: A hunter became the hunted.

- "Have you met a man somewhere in the forest? He left days ago to hunt some wolves, and should be back now. I need those skins he promissed me"

- "Some strange White Wolf is stalking in the area lately. No idea where he has come from, but he seems very bold. I wonder, why our hunter didn't hunt that one."

- "I'm gathering a team to get rid of this wolf. Yesterday he killed two of my chickens! I'm going to hang his skin on my trophy wall!"

- "This wolf scares me. I heard stories of people, that could change their shape. They hunt people, and feast on their bodies."

Behind the scenes:

The hunter by a name of Gunter Pelz was on a hunt, hunting wolves. There he met an Amber wizard in White Wolf form.

Unsuspecting of who he is aiming at, he fired his rifle, and managed to wound the wolf, but not to kill it. Before he could reload, and angry wizard took his real shape and cast a Bestial Transformation at him in very reckless approach. Tzeentch laughed while wizard miscast the spell badly, and poor hunter was imprisoned in the White Wolf form for a time known to gods only (chaos star effect on reckless side).

Now he roams close to the village being hunted by both the man (that does not suspect, what they hunt), and other animals (that sense he is not what he looks like). He is desperate.

Did I mentioned, its full moon??