(This session was missing our mage and trollslayer, so I did a short rewind from last session and we had this interlude. The adventure was based on Honour Amongst Thieves, a DnD adventure by Ree Soesbee) On their way back to the tower/observatory, a faulty manoeuvre saw Renata's Luck damaged and leaking so the heroes have no other choice than to revisit Kemperbad while the boat is being repaired. The town is filled with travellers going to the annual archery competition in Talabec and so the heroes book a room in the only available inn: The Jesters Bells. Its a small, run-down place that is infested with tiny spiders. The companions decide to visit the town and indulge in many alcoholic beverages. They learn that the daughter of the mayor (actually the presider over the counsel of 13) is missing and a handsome reward of 300 gold has been posted for her safe return. Apparently the daughter (Bertradis Uberlegen) was visiting family when on her return, her coach was attacked, all guards killed and a ransom note was left. Ottfried holds a moving sermon in the town square before he collapses in his own puke. The adventurers decide to call it a day but when they return to their rooms the hear a scream for help. An eight year old in fantastic, rich clothing is chased by a group of ruffians in an alley. The ruffians try to capture her and, failing that thanks to the heroes' interference they even try to kill the little girl. Shocked by these actions the adventurers don't hold back. A short, brutal fight ensues but the ruffians are no match for the heroes and quickly have to retreat. The little girl is frightened but thanks the heroes for their rescue. She doesn't know who her kidnappers were and is too shaken to indulge any further information. One of the ruffians barely survived but when questioning him about who they are and what they want with the little girl, he only manages to warn them that something is not right before dying from an unknown cause. The PCs are brought to the Town Hall, where they are greeted by an extremely relieved and thankful Sir Halmut Uberlegen. A noble from a family that can trace back its ancestry to the elector count Feurerbach of Talabecland. To celebrate his daughter's return, the noble announces he is holding a grand ball in his daughter's name and the heroes' honor. All of the local nobility are invited. At that gala, the Heroes will be awarded the Star of Kemperbad, the cities' highest honour. He is thrilled about the return of his child and promises the heroes not only their reward but a medal of honour from the town. On top of that, they receive new rooms in the Golden Trumpet, an inn in the upper class part of town, next to the guardsmen barracks. The heroes go to their new rooms to enjoy some well deserved rest and a bath... When next the heroes wake up, in a cold bath, there is a foppish guy in their room, flanked by two ruffians. He introduces himself as Luigi Belladonna. The man explains that the creature they rescued is actually some kind of shapeshifter that took the place of Bertradis, the girl is deceased. On top of that, thanks to the heroes, countless members of the "Belladonna family" are being rounded up as they speak for execution. Belladonna's thieves guild had everything under control before the adventurers interfered and Luigi claims they are honour bound to rectify the situation. After some discussion and healthy paranoia, the companion agree to do just that. Luigi provides them with a map and guide who will get them trough the sewers to the town hall in order to either kill or expose the creature trough other means (hacking off her hand is suggested). Not long after Luigi and his cronies depart, the heroes are grounded by the town watch for "aiding and abetting the enemy". Apparently they were held under scrutiny and someone noticed they spoke to one of the heads of one of two major players of the Thieves' guilds. Guards are posted all around their rooms and after trying to talk their way out of this situation, and failing, the heroes escape via the roof. They meet with the Belladonna guide, who takes them to the sewers... The guide takes them trough the sewers, making many detours with the explanation that due to turf wars between the original thieves guild and Luigi's faction, the place is riddled with traps. Druring their navigation beneath the town, Lothar hears something following them and stays behind. He spots a Skaven, one of the legendary beastman species that seem to haunt the group. He fires at it but failing to kill it, the creature drops a smoke grenade and escapes. After a short while, they finally arrive beneath the Town Hall, a lock is picked and the sewer door opens to a ghastly scene: a multitude of skaven are performing some kind of ritual, aided by a strange machine that seems to draw glowing "fireflies" into it and into some kind of Skaven engineer. Many of the creatures are deformed and the engineer grows and mutates while the heroes look on. Without delaying, the heroes charge. During the fight, Lothar has a revelation, the contraption used by the skaven resembles his father's invention but turned upside down. After defeating the ratmen in the sewers, the adventurers finally enter the Town Hall, just in time for the grand opening of the ball. And just in time to see Bertradis killing her father by ripping out his throat with her bare hands. The adventurers charge and manage to defeat the shapeshifting creature.
Once more victorious, the heroes now enjoy a special status as saviours of Kemperbad. |
AuthorCaptain Cutlass. GM Archives
October 2018
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