Blackpowder smugglers
It is clear to the heroes that the murder on Grand Theogonist Yorri was perpetrated using blackpowder. A chemical that is hard to come by in the Empire. One source are the dwarfs, another is the renown Imperial Gunnery of Nuln. Gunpowder does not normally find its way to the market, so smugglers must have been involved.
The adventurers make their way to the docks and after coercing some officials trough bribery and intimidation, learn that about five trader ships that have recently arrived from Nuln and were unable to leave due to the city lockdown.
As it is almost evening, they decide to continue tomorrow.
The adventurers decide they need a butler, and being paranoid (and rightly so) they take great pains to select one. After visiting the guild of stewards and making a selection of possible candidates. Mandred invokes a vision of the future with each of them. In one vision, the butler approaches with the chopped off head of a Skaven. He (named Luther Lösung) is instantly hired.
The evening is filled with plans on the establishment of their whorehouse/spy den. Much of the preparation is already done. Now it is time to implement the plans. Mandred has an appointment with the "Madame" who will run things and comes highly recommended by Fritz.
The plot thickens
Another thing that interests the burglar is the fact that two of the crew are missing since the delivery.
The adventurers reconvene to discuss these findings over lunch. During lunch, Gotrak receives a message from guildmaster Vikram Greathammer of the Dwarf Engineer Guild asking for a meeting.
Death of an engineer
It appears that since the heroes last visited the guild, something is odd. The guildmaster discovered 2 missing barrels of gunpowder. And since then, he hasn't seen one of his engineers. Batrek Steelfist, a gifted engineer who let his hatred of Ulric occasionally interfere with his work. He spent a lot of time at the Breasts of Myrmidia on the Street of a Hundred Taverns. His last known place of residence was Fritz’ Boarding House near the intersection of Volker Weg and Luitpoldstrasse. These missing barrels, together with the ones from the ship, should account for a large enough blast. The investigators hurry to Fritz' Boarding house. Upon arrival, Fritz informs them Batrek was found dead in his room that morning.
The building has seen better days. The owner – Fritz Rilke – confirms that Batrek has rented a room upstairs, but he has not seen the Dwarf in some time. Recently, he had been attending the crazed rants of an agitator, Mayer Gauss. These were usually near the University. Fritz also notes that he could frequently smell Ranald's Delight from Batrek'sroom. A mild opiate (not unknown to some of the heroes).
Dismayed by this dead end, the heroes go to the University in search of the Mayer Gauss person. Questioning the many passers by of the Universities Binnenplatz, they learn that Gauss usually makes his appearance two days from now. So once again. the heroes come to a dead end, for now.
A Rooftop excursion
Meanwhile, a message was delivered to their house from the Temple of Morr.
A meeting with the IndagatriX Grandis
Mórr is one that both sides trust to be impartial in the schim between the churchers of Sigmar & Ulric. It is also recognised that they have a certain expertise for investigating murders. She goes on to explain the following:
“I understand you have been sent by Middenheim to Altdorf because you have special talents for dealing with the most unusual situations. Granted, you also pose grave risks if you do not exercise discretion and silence, where appropriate. Should you succeed, the Empire will be grateful and you will be richly rewarded. The fate of many people are dependent on your success, even your own.
“Your task has several goals. The first is to determine who is behind the murder of the Grand Theogonist. Evidence points to the act of radical Ulricans, but I find such proof as too convenient, too staged. The second, most important point is to uncover what machinations are going on within the Imperial Court. This task will be most difficult given you are all outsiders and the Court is very protective of its privileges in the face of an external threat.
“Our first task is to take you to the bloody scene of the crime. I will provide introductions in order to establish your credentials as my servants. I have asked that the guards who were assigned to the place where the blackpowder was ignited be made available for your questioning. They had apparently been relieved sometime before the explosion by two individuals dressed as members of the Sigmarite clergy. I will depart when you are escorted to the scene of the crime. I expect reports on your progress tomorrow at noon and every third day hence. After our chat, you can review the remains of the four men tomorrow afternoon at the Chapel of Mórr in the Morrwies district. “Before our departure from here, I will write a warrant.
“One more thing before we go forth. I want to relate a dream I have had these past three nights in the hope it might provide you with some insight. The dream starts in an open meadow near a Great River and surrounded by deep and dark forests. A griffon stands alert watching as on one side of the river looking distraught. Soon, a white wolf carrying a flaming brand in its mouth leads an army out of the forest into the meadow. Another army appears on the other side led by a champion carrying a large warhammer. Behind this second army is a large scarlet, rather stiff looking serpent. The armies clash with the griffon stuck in-between them, crying out in pain. Soon a purple haze rises from the feet of the soldiers and enshrouds them as it thickens. The sounds of screams and battle can be heard from the unseen soldiers until all goes quiet and still. The now purple fog dissipates and there is no sign of the soldiers, either alive or dead. There is also no sign of the griffon other than the blood-soaked ground upon which it once stood.” “The griffon represents the Empire as reunified by Magnus the Pious, Mórr bless his soul. The white wolf and the man with the warhammer clearly represent the cults of Ulric and Sigmar, respectively. I have no idea what the significance is of either the purple haze or the scarlet serpent. I trust you will be able to discover their meaning if such is not known to you now.”
“If you’re ready, it is time to depart. Please refrain from discussing what you have been told until you are in a secure and private place. One never knows who might be listening. Furthermore, do not discuss your investigation with anyone other than myself. There are many who will want to learn what you’ve uncovered for their own personal gain…and your detriment. Right. Here are two lanterns as it will be dark by the time you reach your destination. Shall we?”
Return to the Scene of the Crime
This last bit refers to the Bösel Massacre, a bit of news the travellers picked up in their journey to the capital.
A short recap of this event: Raids from mutant bands flying banners with a red crown plagued the southern Middenland village of Bösel. Under the leadership of a self-appointed Ulrican witch hunter, Karl Kuten, the villagers captured a band of mutants with the same symbols. At the ensuing trial, the Imperial Coroner refused to hear evidence against the mutants. Instead he charged Kuten with illegal use of arms and violation of an Imperial edict protecting the physically deformed. Immediately, the villagers rioted. They killed the coroner and five Imperial soldiers, then burned all the mutants, while three soldiers managed to flee. Within a week, Bösel was burned to the ground by a band of yet unidentified Sigmarite templars.
The Captain then presents two Knights of the Fiery Heart, who were on watch on the day of the bombing. The two men – Amadeus Hegel and Friedermann Ruggbroder – look miserable, as if they know their careers are over.
Both men report that a priest of medium built with brown, wavy hair and dressed in the attire of a priest of the Order of the Anvil approached them just before the halfway point of their four-hour duty. The man – who introduced himself as Brother Karl – was around 40 years of age and wore robes of a dark red colour, identifying him as a member of the Crimsonite fraternity. He claimed to speak with the authority of High Capitular Werner Stolz and informed Amadeus and Friedermann there was a change in the assignment of guard duty. Brother Karl told them they were not to wait for their replacements, as they needed to get to the Imperial Palace very quickly. He stated there had been reports of an assassination plot against the Emperor and the Imperial Guard had requested a secret deployment of the Fiery Heart in order to catch the would-be assassin. Brother Karl instructed the two to go to a remote area on the outside of the Palace walls and remain there until they received further orders. In accordance to their training, the two guards departed as quickly and quietly as told, only to learn too late that no such order was ever issued.
What the Dead dont Tell
When they return to the Temple of Morr, to view some of the corpses found underneath the cathedral, the adventurers are led to a small cell. There are five slabs, four of which are occupied by body parts. As with the chapel above, the scent of burning incense permeates the room. There are two priests in the room along with two initiates.
“There’s not much to work with here,” states Priest Philipp as he sweeps his arm over where the bodies lie. “It’s like a puzzle in which many of the pieces are lost. Still, we have to do what we can in order to properly perform the funereal rites. We have a few more to try to match, so feel free to look about. There may be something of interest with that one.” The priest points to the fairly intact torso on the far slab.
They discover a purple hand tattoo on the corpse and what appears to be the early stages of a grotesque mutation. Apart from that, there are no other clues as the corpses have exploded and little remains.