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Message: <blockquote data-quote="NiTessine" data-source="post: 406134" data-attributes="member: 475">Chapter 4 – Man Overboard!With the information Franz had gleaned from the little girl, the five adventurers were certain that Bocher von Hedon was somehow involved with the death of his brother. They needed further proof, however, as accusing one of the Empire's nobility of murder with merely circumstantial evidence was a rather quick way to the gallows. So, they devised a plan.Fisibbei was the nimblest among them, and natural inclination towards larceny ran in his very blood. Thus, it was determined he would do the deed itself. When Bocher and his wife left their cabin for dinner, they were followed soon after by Khaelas, who sat in a table near the door keeping an eye on them. Kase and Fisibbei went to the empty cabin. Kase stood watch outside, while Fisibbei picked the lock and rummaged through the room.When the von Hedons would rise from their table, so would Khaelas, who'd then run to the cabin and signal Kase to knock on the door, letting Fisibbei know it's time to split.The lock on the door was a cheap piece of work and did not take long to pick. It clicked, and the halfling eased the door open gently, avoiding making noise. He slipped inside.The cabin was much like Hans' in that it was richly decorated, and much larger than the small, bare rooms the adventurers were using. A large bed stood against one wall, flanked by a massive, forbidding wardrobe. The floor was covered by a thick carpet. Kislevite, the halfling decided after a moment. But he wasn't here to admire the furniture.Armed with several spells to detect toxins, poisons, and venoms, Fisibbei examined Lady Elsa von Hedon's cosmetics box, as well as the several bottles of dwarven ale and wine from the von Hedon vintners that stood next to the bed. As he knelt to examine the bottles closer, he happened to glance under the bed. Of course, too obvious.Carefully, the druid-turned-burglar drew the heavy ironwood box from under the bed. It was reinforced with steel bands, and bore three locks."Well, well," the halfling murmured as he examined the locks. Untrapped, at least by any conventional methods. Still, one could never bee too careful. Fisibbei grasped the small root hanging from his neck, and touched the box with it, murmuring words in Druidic. A verdant glow shimmered around the root, and disappeared. No magical traps, either. Too easy, he thought. Carefully, he began examination of the locks, feeling the insides with his picks, locating the tumblers, counting their number and noting their shapes.After twenty minutes of work, all three locks were undone. As it happened, they had been identical. How foolish. Smiling faintly, the halfling moved on top of the bed, and carefully lifted the lid, with two fingers, pressing on the wooden parts. The metallic ones could be charged with electricity. No poison darts flew out at the opposite wall, nor did a deadly viper strike out. Copious amounts of deadly spiders also failed to manifest. Breathing a sigh of relief, the halfling moved to examine the box's contents closer.The strongbox contained several pouches of gold coins, a large tome bound in black leather, and a pair of small amulets on silver strings. They were identical, and strange in shape. Fisibbei pocketed them. Then he opened the book. It was written in no language he knew, and used a most singular set of alphabets. The characters had strange forms. They were twisted, and shaped most obscenely. Fisibbei snapped the book shut, disgusted by the odd script. He stowed the book away in his backpack, shut and locked the box, and pushed it gently back under the bed. After quickly making sure the room was in proper order, he departed.*  *  *It was much later that they met in Franz's cabin to discuss the strange items Fisibbei had found. The Sigmarite's only reaction to the news they'd been stolen was a shrug."Ends justify the means," he said. "Now show me that book."None of them could read the book. Kase actually felt ill after leafing through for but a moment. "Unholy texts of Chaos, I'm betting," Fisibbei muttered."Perhaps we should show this to Brother Ulrick," Franz suggested."Perhaps, but he might be in league with the murderer," the druid countered."I doubt that. I spoke with him, and he is a good man. I say we take the book to him," Franz replied, the steely edge of resolution creeping in his voice.And so they did. The cleric was not at all pleased with being bothered after he'd just gone to bed, but agreed to take a look at the tome when he noted their urgency."You were right to bring this to me," he said after reading a few pages. "It is a fell tome dedicated to the Chaos gods."The priest looked at them, his chiselled face pale, and his expression grave."I must request that you relinquish this to me, so that I can have it destroyed and purified once we reach Marienburg. How did you come upon this?""It was among the possessions of Bocher von Hedon," Fisibbei replied.The priest was taken aback."Lord Bocher's? Are you certain?""Positive.""This is a grave matter indeed. That one of the most upstanding nobles I have met be a follower of the Dark Gods… But we cannot take action yet. We do not know his power. It is too dangerous to confront him on this ship."The priest took a deep breath, willing himself to stay calm. Then he continued."We will do this… Wait until we get to Marienburg, and contact the local temple of Sigmar, and the authorities. With their help, even the most terrible powers he may summon should be countered."They discussed the plan at length that night, and when the adventurers departed Ulrick's cabin, fear gnawed at their minds. Two days in the same ship with a Slaaneshi cultist, possibly more. What long days those were going to be.</blockquote>

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