Following the ratmen's tracks, the adventurers encounter a dug hole in the floor. This hole leads to a network of tunnels, obviously dug by the Skaven. Not long after entering these tunnels, the encounter a group of veteran Skaven specialists: assassins, a Rat Golem, Stormvermin, a flamer and worse. In addition, the ratmen look sickly, sneezing and covered with pustules.
The Countess Returns
However in light of recent events, this causes consternation to our adventurers. For one, Mandred the Possessed is attending court. Nurgle cultists are working together with Skaven, planning some kind of disease attack, as is evident from the Morr priest poisoning. Meanwhile the Burned Prophet, aided by the Afond crime syndicate are riling up the wokers of Faulestadt into open revolt. Rumours reach the heroes of nightly sabotages on forges and smithies and even assassinations on both sides (workers and pawns of the Saltpeter men alike). On top of that, Hexentag is near, the End Times are coming and Ghal Maraz, the hammer of Sigmar is urgently needed to reunite the Empire. Hidden somewhere in the Border Princes territory, the holy artefact is the only thing that could stop the civil war. Yet, with the Black Fire Pass locked in snow & ice, there is no way to reach it yet...
Tough choices
GM note: we've had plenty discussions on our campaign. The question to convert to 4th ed or not, the timespan of the campaign and the need to speed things up. As we are nrearing the end, we decided not to convert to 4the ed, mainly because it would change the PCs too much. Secondly we decided to accelerate things and jumpstart the end game.