The inauguration of Otfried Orsten
Last night, Otfried was called to the Temple of Sigmar. They have received a letter from Altdorf to state that Otfried is now a proper Anointed Priest. Anointing shows that the priest is set apart for his holy service to Sigmar. The ascension into higher echelons of the church is celebrated at length with a pious ritual. During the ritual Otfried has a vision. He sees a swarm of crows encircling Altdorf which he recognises as a sign of Morr, he gets the feeling the Empire is is grave danger. Just following that, the leading priest gets a fit and blurts out a prophecy:
I see darkness gathering around a walled town - Shadows Over Bogenhafen! I see the Lord of Death astride a great river - Death, on the Reik! I see a hooded evil behind the seat of a once mighty Lord - a Power behind the Throne!
A man bearing a false testimonial shall travel The Empire. And though he be a servant of the Great Mutator, yet shall he die at the hands of His Chosen Ones, the Outcasts, the Nameless Ones created in His image. But another shall come, like unto the first, and yet unlike. He shall take up the testimony, and many will mistake him for its original bearer. Through many perils, he will travel to the place Where Chaos Waits, the City of the White Wolf, home of the War God, Lord of Winter. And in his company there shall be others and Chaos seethes in their wake. As strangers they shall come, but though they stab the spider in its very heart, yet shall its gushing blood but pour forth a greater danger.
I see The Empire in Flames! The Horned Rat doth sit upon the Imperial throne! It is all written in the Book of Changes. Yea - Chaos' most determined enemies shall prove its greatest servants. The Enemy is Within!
A man bearing a false testimonial shall travel The Empire. And though he be a servant of the Great Mutator, yet shall he die at the hands of His Chosen Ones, the Outcasts, the Nameless Ones created in His image. But another shall come, like unto the first, and yet unlike. He shall take up the testimony, and many will mistake him for its original bearer. Through many perils, he will travel to the place Where Chaos Waits, the City of the White Wolf, home of the War God, Lord of Winter. And in his company there shall be others and Chaos seethes in their wake. As strangers they shall come, but though they stab the spider in its very heart, yet shall its gushing blood but pour forth a greater danger.
I see The Empire in Flames! The Horned Rat doth sit upon the Imperial throne! It is all written in the Book of Changes. Yea - Chaos' most determined enemies shall prove its greatest servants. The Enemy is Within!
The day starts with our heroes sleeping late, they have had too little rest at night and the events of the past days have left them exhausted, paranoid and stressed. One by one they convene at the breakfast table and a long discussion on their plan of action ensues.
There is so much stuff to do, so many clues to follow up and so much obfuscation that the discussion continues well beyond mid - day.
Meanwhile they find out that they missed the red Arrows display, Fritz tells them that a big riot has taken place during this event. Opponents of the tax laws have had a clash with the city guards. Several people have been reported killed. Sifting trough their numerous courses of action, the adventurers decide to follow up on the demands of The Man first, if Abel can get a foothold into that organisation, they'd have a powerful ally indeed. So, ignoring the treasure trove of information they found at the Windhund Haulage Co, they set in motion their plans to kill Bailif Kees Steuersünder.
There is so much stuff to do, so many clues to follow up and so much obfuscation that the discussion continues well beyond mid - day.
Meanwhile they find out that they missed the red Arrows display, Fritz tells them that a big riot has taken place during this event. Opponents of the tax laws have had a clash with the city guards. Several people have been reported killed. Sifting trough their numerous courses of action, the adventurers decide to follow up on the demands of The Man first, if Abel can get a foothold into that organisation, they'd have a powerful ally indeed. So, ignoring the treasure trove of information they found at the Windhund Haulage Co, they set in motion their plans to kill Bailif Kees Steuersünder.
The murder of Kees Steuersunder
After securing a safehouse in the Wynd district, Abel poses as a messenger and tells Kees there is a disturbance at the Southgate that might spill over into a riot, the Bailiff is asked to help out. It takes some convincing but in the end the Bailiff leaves his family dinner table to follow young Abel to the gate. Meanwhile Mandred & Gotrak are waiting for them and as they approach, Mandred has another magical mishap, he misses the rest of the encounter while trying to clean shit out of his robes.
Gotrak creates a distraction and the Bailiff is dragged into the house, bound & gagged.
The Bailiff is interrogated first, with a promise he may live if he spills the beans, they learn that the man was responsible of confiscating a large batch of aphrodisiacs. He gave them to Mr. Gouda, who in turn sold them to Gotthard Geubbels. He claims he is being forced to work for Mr. Gouda and that his family was threatened.
Instead of making good on his promise to keep him alive, Abel decides to follow the Man's orders and kills him... Very clumsily, with a dagger trough the eye... Gotrak has to intervene and finishes his suffering.
Gotrak creates a distraction and the Bailiff is dragged into the house, bound & gagged.
The Bailiff is interrogated first, with a promise he may live if he spills the beans, they learn that the man was responsible of confiscating a large batch of aphrodisiacs. He gave them to Mr. Gouda, who in turn sold them to Gotthard Geubbels. He claims he is being forced to work for Mr. Gouda and that his family was threatened.
Instead of making good on his promise to keep him alive, Abel decides to follow the Man's orders and kills him... Very clumsily, with a dagger trough the eye... Gotrak has to intervene and finishes his suffering.
A Snake revealed...
By learning the secrets of Kees Steuersünder, the heroes' feverish minds conjure up a plan to break into Gotthard's house and look for evidence with which to confront the devious man.
With Felix in the lead they sneak into the Geldmund-Kaufzeit-Brotkopfs District. They post their usual guards, Gotrak, Fritz and Ottfried in the area and break into the place. It seems unoccupied and the thieves quickly discover a bunch of disturbing items. A defaced painting of Sigmar, with genitals crudely scribbled on, statues of fornicating people, books with lewd pictures and a collection of sex toys, just to name a few. However, the heroes are in shock when they discover Gotthard's study and find some letters.
Several of them proudly carry the Wittgenstein coat of arms, and bear the return address: Lady Ingrid von Wittgenstein, Castle Wittgenstein, The Barony of Wittgenstein, The Reikland. These are written in a bold, plain hand on yellowed parchment. They are rather spoiled by ink-stains and dirty animal footprints... they look a little like the marks left by cats, but slightly wrong.
All of these letters are to 'my beloved son' and signed 'your devoted mother.' The writer signs off with 'your father sends his love' in each case. They are undated.
Lady Ingrid's letters are quite dull, mainly consisting of news from the castle (the antics of her cats, and her hunting expeditions into the forest). She praises Gotthard for taking the honoured Wittgenstein name out into the world, and especially for his successive appointments to the Chairmanship of the Merchants' Guild, the Tax and Commerce Komission. She hopes that he is eating well and not staying out too late. She also regularly inquires if he has found a suitable young woman to marry, so as to continue the family name.
Lady Ingrid is very happy to learn of Gotthard's friendship with Anika-Elise Nikse of Nordland, the Graf's wife, saying that her patronage will surely open many doors in Middenheim society. In a later letter she commiserates at length over Anika-Elise's death, which seems to have upset Gotthard greatly. Lady Ingrid assures her son that he is more than capable of continuing Anika-Elise's great work.
Other letters are a little stained in places by colourful liquids. The writer of these was more discrete, omitting a return address, and not using any names. They are written to 'my dear brother' and signed 'your sister.' The obvious conclusion is that they are from Margritte von Wittgenstein.
Margritte's writing is terse and unsentimental. She repeatedly reminds her brother that, while she is pleased that he is enjoying himself in the big city, she has no interest in joining him. Her research is all that matters to her.
A few passages give the adventurers the creeps.
You may tell your friend Badwolf that I will be able to supply him with the specimens he requires, provided I am properly recompensed. It is difficult for me to obtain supplies in this isolated backwater, but I cannot afford to leave my work in order to travel. Have the following items shipped to me, and I will dispatch the first specimen by the same boat.
A list of alchemical reagents and scientific apparatus follows.
From a later letter:
I am glad that the modified lizard specimen proved satisfactory. The beast will grow rapidly, and should be very receptive to training. It will make a reliable guard for your friend's laboratory. I am considering breeding these creatures in numbers for sale on the open market, since I feel sure that many noblemen would be interested in owning one. But first I must complete Dagmar's work with the revenant automata.
From another letter:
The three specimens I have dispatched with this letter are all capable of doing what your friend requested. However, I am uncertain of their mental abilities. I have no time for proper field tests. I therefore recommend that Badwolf test the specimens and determine if any are suitable for his requirements. I should then be able to focus my efforts on perfecting the most promising strain.
From yet another:
It is unfortunate that the specimens did not live long. I believe I know the reason, and can correct that mistake. I shall grow a new creature based on the specimen B template, since Badwolf found that to be the best of the three. This will take some weeks, and I shall need these items:
Another list follows.
From another letter:
The specimen that accompanies this letter should fit all of Badwolf's requirements. When mature, which it should be soon after arrival in Middenheim, it will be able to exactly do what is needed. More impressively, it is now able to learn by consuming the brain of the subject. Let me know if the project is successful.
From the final letter:
I am pleased that Badwolf is happy with the last specimen. It has been an interesting puzzle to work on, and is certainly worthy of further study. However, I have made a major breakthrough with Dagmar's research. I am constructing a large revenant automaton from spare parts, which I will animate when suitable weather conditions arise. If it is successful, I intend to create many more. An army of such soldiers would be a formidable force.
With Felix in the lead they sneak into the Geldmund-Kaufzeit-Brotkopfs District. They post their usual guards, Gotrak, Fritz and Ottfried in the area and break into the place. It seems unoccupied and the thieves quickly discover a bunch of disturbing items. A defaced painting of Sigmar, with genitals crudely scribbled on, statues of fornicating people, books with lewd pictures and a collection of sex toys, just to name a few. However, the heroes are in shock when they discover Gotthard's study and find some letters.
Several of them proudly carry the Wittgenstein coat of arms, and bear the return address: Lady Ingrid von Wittgenstein, Castle Wittgenstein, The Barony of Wittgenstein, The Reikland. These are written in a bold, plain hand on yellowed parchment. They are rather spoiled by ink-stains and dirty animal footprints... they look a little like the marks left by cats, but slightly wrong.
All of these letters are to 'my beloved son' and signed 'your devoted mother.' The writer signs off with 'your father sends his love' in each case. They are undated.
Lady Ingrid's letters are quite dull, mainly consisting of news from the castle (the antics of her cats, and her hunting expeditions into the forest). She praises Gotthard for taking the honoured Wittgenstein name out into the world, and especially for his successive appointments to the Chairmanship of the Merchants' Guild, the Tax and Commerce Komission. She hopes that he is eating well and not staying out too late. She also regularly inquires if he has found a suitable young woman to marry, so as to continue the family name.
Lady Ingrid is very happy to learn of Gotthard's friendship with Anika-Elise Nikse of Nordland, the Graf's wife, saying that her patronage will surely open many doors in Middenheim society. In a later letter she commiserates at length over Anika-Elise's death, which seems to have upset Gotthard greatly. Lady Ingrid assures her son that he is more than capable of continuing Anika-Elise's great work.
Other letters are a little stained in places by colourful liquids. The writer of these was more discrete, omitting a return address, and not using any names. They are written to 'my dear brother' and signed 'your sister.' The obvious conclusion is that they are from Margritte von Wittgenstein.
Margritte's writing is terse and unsentimental. She repeatedly reminds her brother that, while she is pleased that he is enjoying himself in the big city, she has no interest in joining him. Her research is all that matters to her.
A few passages give the adventurers the creeps.
You may tell your friend Badwolf that I will be able to supply him with the specimens he requires, provided I am properly recompensed. It is difficult for me to obtain supplies in this isolated backwater, but I cannot afford to leave my work in order to travel. Have the following items shipped to me, and I will dispatch the first specimen by the same boat.
A list of alchemical reagents and scientific apparatus follows.
From a later letter:
I am glad that the modified lizard specimen proved satisfactory. The beast will grow rapidly, and should be very receptive to training. It will make a reliable guard for your friend's laboratory. I am considering breeding these creatures in numbers for sale on the open market, since I feel sure that many noblemen would be interested in owning one. But first I must complete Dagmar's work with the revenant automata.
From another letter:
The three specimens I have dispatched with this letter are all capable of doing what your friend requested. However, I am uncertain of their mental abilities. I have no time for proper field tests. I therefore recommend that Badwolf test the specimens and determine if any are suitable for his requirements. I should then be able to focus my efforts on perfecting the most promising strain.
From yet another:
It is unfortunate that the specimens did not live long. I believe I know the reason, and can correct that mistake. I shall grow a new creature based on the specimen B template, since Badwolf found that to be the best of the three. This will take some weeks, and I shall need these items:
Another list follows.
From another letter:
The specimen that accompanies this letter should fit all of Badwolf's requirements. When mature, which it should be soon after arrival in Middenheim, it will be able to exactly do what is needed. More impressively, it is now able to learn by consuming the brain of the subject. Let me know if the project is successful.
From the final letter:
I am pleased that Badwolf is happy with the last specimen. It has been an interesting puzzle to work on, and is certainly worthy of further study. However, I have made a major breakthrough with Dagmar's research. I am constructing a large revenant automaton from spare parts, which I will animate when suitable weather conditions arise. If it is successful, I intend to create many more. An army of such soldiers would be a formidable force.
...AND MURDERED AS WELL
The group is shocked, amazed, outraged and not a little frustrated. How did they not see it? Gotthard Geubbels is Gotthard von Wittgenstein! And he was consorting with The Cult of the Jade Sceptre, if not their head honcho and he has an affair with the Graf's former wife! Sure enough, they find an ornate jade sex toy above his fireplace.
Angry but determined, the group reconvenes and discusses their course of action.
They have in fact, an invitation to join him at the Snotball play-offs ! While two man go to fetch him, the others sneak back into the house and hide.
The confrontation is quick and brutal, the crew doesn't care much about his excuses or secrets and judge him guilty of being chaos loving scum. They kill him brutally. But on their way out Gotrak who stood watch acts rash and kills a city watch who came to investigate the disturbance, he hides the corpse in the garden.
And so ends the bloody 6th night of the festival...
Angry but determined, the group reconvenes and discusses their course of action.
They have in fact, an invitation to join him at the Snotball play-offs ! While two man go to fetch him, the others sneak back into the house and hide.
The confrontation is quick and brutal, the crew doesn't care much about his excuses or secrets and judge him guilty of being chaos loving scum. They kill him brutally. But on their way out Gotrak who stood watch acts rash and kills a city watch who came to investigate the disturbance, he hides the corpse in the garden.
And so ends the bloody 6th night of the festival...