We Left out heroes at the dilapidated Temple of Sigmar, where they discover what first appeared as ghouls to be actual villagers. These squatters try to shoo off the adventurers saying they are out of food. Obviously, the heroes are not deterred so easily and with a little threatening and intimidation the villagers flee.
Exploring the Temple, the heroes find a book and piece of parchment. They also find a hidden lever that leads to its catacombs.
Ottfried reads the document aloud: "And Those who would Venerate Chaos shall tremble and despair. For when the Dwarfs return to Zaigon and a twin tailed comet fills the sky, though the chaos gates be open, the mutant hordes shall die. Amid a host of warring brothers, a standard is unfurl'd. Rallying man and dwarf behind it in the battle for the end of the world."
As soon as he speaks the words the priest hears a booming voice: "And that hour is fast approaching, will you be ready?"
Of course Ottfried replies yes and the voice speaks: "I shall give you a sign. Go now, and find the source of the chaos which warps my lands."
Entering the catacombs, the adventurers stumble upon the ancient burial site of Siegfried von
Kesselring. This hero of myth was a friend of Sigmar himself, ha was a knight during the reign of Boris the Incompetent, who apparently defended the newly built temple against an assault of Beastmen led by a Warrior of Chaos. With the aid of Barrakul (Hope of the Mountains), his magical sword, he was able to hold off the assault until reinforcements arrived, but was fatally wounded in the process . He was buried together with his sword, in the temple's crypt by the Grand Theogonist himself. The heroes find the blade in the tomb and after a prayer they take it with them.
Beyond that the tunnels branch out to a network that runs underneath the graveyard and beyond. The crew is tired and hungry and checks out the only inn in town.
Doctor Russeaux
The Shooting Star was once a thriving inn, but its occupants now rarely number more than the landlord and a handful of locals. The owner says they are the first visitors in three years.
His rooms are sparse and the food is nice but strangely colored and the chicken has three legs. When Lothar rents all his rooms he brightens up and says what he knows, which is little. When some of the crew return to the ship they also meet Jean Russeaux, the village physician who kindly invites them over dinner the next day.
The next morning, Ottfried & Abel decide to pay the doctor a visit.
The house is well maintained, one of the few without visible signs of decay.
Arriving at the house, the adventurers are met by Frau Blucher, the physician's housekeeper. She is a diminutive elderly woman, who suffers from short-sightedness and is also somewhat hard of hearing. She peers at the heroes quizzically, apparently ignoring all but the loudest of remarks, before showing them into the Surgery to see Jean Rousseaux.
The Physician is not here at the moment and while he keeps them waiting, Abel decides to snoop around.
He finds the following letters after breaking into his study:
Impounded
However, not long after their return to the boat, the heroes hear a commotion outside.
A large force of castle guards arrives on the wharf.
While 8 guards board the adventurers' vessel, the other 12 cover the characters with their crossbows. Their commander, in his own inimitable fashion, orders the adventurers to leave their boat. "Get off this boat, you scum. Get your filthy carcasses onto this wharf or you'll end up feeding the crows." When asked, he explains. "This boat has been impounded because you didn't call at the castle to pay your toll and to pay for the use of this splendid wharf." At this wonderful witticism a few of the guards laugh uproariously. "So, if you 'll just move along, no one will get hurt. Of course, we could always feed you to the beggars if your prefer." The beggars look excited at this and take an eager step forwards.
Outnumbered and outclassed they see their home and fortune disappear into the castles river gate.
Outraged, the crew decides to head over to Dr. Russeaux, who assures them with his heavy Brettonian accent all will be sorted when Madame Von Wittgenstein joins them for dinner.
The traitorous doctor has summoned the castle guard to get rid of these meddlesome men.
A short fight ensues where the poor doctor gets shot in the head by Abel. Searching his mansion, the heroes find the cellar, where another (moronic) servant of the doctor just finished carving up a corpse. With a jarring shock, they realize the reason of the freshness of the meat: it was human!
They kill this servant as well and prepare for the Guard.
Afterwards the adventurers are approached by Hilda, who is part of a group of resistant bandits. Having seen their combat prowess, she implores their aid and takes them to the outlaw camp deep in the forest where they plan to attack the castle...