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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 9595033" data-attributes="member: 16069">LETTERS FROM THE OLD WORLD.The continuing adventures of the usual bunch of miscreants this time playing Warhammer Fantasy Role-Play 4th edition, and The Enemy Within Campaign, of course.SESSION #14 Who Can You Trust?The PCsFergus McClean, Dwarf Scout (Guide) played by Bear.Looks Like: Rough and ready-for-anything Dawi- a bit unkempt; constantly muttering and grumbling at Seamus his imaginary dog.Sounds Like: Northern 'I wur down t'mine', although taciturn, and always grumpy.Frederich Hass, Human Witch Hunter (Interrogator) played by Jim.Looks Like: Thick-set, tall with a resting angry face, never too far away from a snarl, otherwise well turned out.Sounds Like: Whispering menace, accusatory- probing, but charming when he wants to be. Accent is brooding (intelligent) cod-Russian (like a clever but menacing Daktari). Note he sees the hand of the Ruinous Powers behind every untoward event.Lothar Jurgen Muller, Human Witch Hunter (Interrogator) played by Kev.Looks Like: Neat, tidy, clean-cut, perhaps even a little dashing- the boy next door, but doable- and always with a smile on his face, and often in his eyes. Lothar carries his own embroidered place mat with matching knife and fork. Manners and civility are so important.Sounds Like: Civil, polite, formal, caring- and entirely without menace. He's a Paladin doing Witch Hunter, which may yet prove amusing.Olek Hass, Human Artisan- Blacksmith (Apprentice) played by George.Looks Like: Seven (plus) feet tall, and not too skinny with it- lithe and muscled, he's a giant- with wild eyes.Sounds Like: A camp Nazi constantly unfolding, expounding, and explaining the mystery of ongoing events, and seeing the presence of Sigmar everywhere.Straight in and on with it this session.The to do list, updated.<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The bones of Johann Baumann, found on the road to Ubersreik, now carried by Olek, need to be interred within the precincts of Morr, or else given over to his family.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The Purple Hand cultists, why did they want to speak to Kastor/Lothar, what's going on here? Are they protecting the Magical Pickleman (Magister Impedimentae)?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">SCHAFFENFEST! Tax free SHEEP!</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Find the mutant Goblin in the sewers and then get paid, or else get dragged into a tangled web (see below).</li> </ol>Here we go some more.MITTERFRUHL (Spring Equinox), 2512.Bogenhafen.Here's the Daemon-[ATTACH=full]397234[/ATTACH]Through the sewers on a wild-goose chase after the bleeding mutant three-legged goblin and all the way to a secret hidden temple, of the Ordo Septenarius- whoever they may be.SCENE 1. Three (and Fergus) Against One.Just to say in advance, the Daemon looked severely underpowered and so I bumped up all of its stats by 20, and added a chunk more in the way of wounds so that it wouldn't go away too soon. I also gave it a bit of Intimidate and a few other Skills and/or Talents.Here goes it...So, coruscating purple and pink smoke spews from the center of the magic circle, or at least that's what Olek's calling it- he's yammering up a storm atm. Sigmar is getting name-checked every 3 to 5 seconds. Back to the Daemon- lights flashing, coloured mist rolling the Daemon zips through time and space to be here- tonight.A six foot lithely muscled humanoid be-sporting some strange amalgam of an insect and a bull for it's fiendish head- too many eyes and lashing tongues. It generates and then dissipates arms and hooked tentacles from its body, it writhes in ecstasy- churns the air with its horror-tango.The shocked adventurers gawp long enough to be engulfed by the Daemon's wave of fear.They stand sentry comprehending, only dully the sound that follows.The Daemon gargles in its filthy tongue, the angular and discordant sound a trial to each and every listener, and yet...Somehow, in the fug of the adventurer's mind's, sense is shaped-“You must leave here! You must leave NOW! My Master says it! I told the three-legged creature the same thing- but it just dithered as you do now, and so I ATE IT!”“You must leave this place! LEAVE NOW!”Then I roll a '100' on my Intimidate check.So, no-one is buying that. It's a contested check of course but no-one, not even Fergus has any problems getting more than my score (-4 SL & auto fail).Then, in the first moments- with all the PCs gabbling at once, all the fear just washes away.All four PCs make their Cool checks, three of them with style- although a Fortune Point also has to be spent. Only Fergus has one Fear left on him.And so, and in very short order the following takes place.Lother takes a step back, grabs out his bow and sinks an arrow into the writhing purple gargling maniac.It strikes the creature in its chest, and because the shot is from point blank the Daemon attempts to dodge the missile, and rolls- '98'. Lothar rolls something in the teens.The arrow hurts- a lot- it's phasing Daemonic form seemingly manifesting just in time to take the full force of the skewering missile.The Daemon screams some more.Olek prays, and for the third time (out of three) he is heard by Holy Sigmar, the Blessing of Battle is upon his brother- Frederich.“For SIGMAR Frederich! FOR SIGMAR!”[ATTACH=full]397235[/ATTACH]Frederich Hass does not disappoint, he steps into the magic circle- sword and shield in hand, a blessing upon his lips.“I will send you back to the pits of HELL! You will rue the day you tangled with Frederich Hass! BY SIGMAR!And then he strikes.It's a miss- 90-something.Fortune Point?Yep.80-something.I'm not having that!Do you want to beseech the infernal powers? The DM croons.THINKSTHINKS HARDNO!I want to spend a Resolve Point- I just rolled an '11', called shot.And then we check to see if the Daemon was out or in phase (whether its going to take the hit) and, it takes the hit.The Daemon's defensive roll- '100', my second one of the night.The Daemon however is also Painless, which means it ignores most everything that comes with a Crit roll, but it takes the Conditions.Bugger!The Daemon is now Stunned 3.Bugger!Back to the film.Frederich rolls and scampers, his shield and blade fending away limbs ending both with hands and with tentacle-talons- he dashes within the Daemon's reach and... skewers the fiend, ramming his blade clean through the foul creature's body.The Daemon hisses, yet alive, and pushes the Witch Hunter, and his blade, free of it.Note, the Daemon in the book would be down to one Wound left atm.Frederich eyes the Daemon, who twists and turns on the spot, involuntarily clutching at the rent torn in its torso.Frederich goes to speak, to issue another Sigmar-specific taunt, but then has to duck.A rock sails way past the Daemon- closer to Olek's face than anyone else in the room, and from the far side of the chamber we here the battle cry of the drunken dawi.“Shitting 'eck, ave yer seen it? Ave yer? Seen it? Ave yer? Ave yer seen it? Shitting 'eck, I think I've follered thru. Shitting 'eck! Do summats Burner. Do summats! Shitting 'eck!”The Daemon staggers some more, attempts to throw off the fog that is at present engulfing its brain- it succeeds in clearing its thoughts, but only a little.The Daemon is now Stunned 1.The DM therefore cheats- Stunned means the Daemon can still move (half move) and defend itself- it just can't take an Action. Well, it's got a Free Action, an attack with its Horns (if it charges) so (and ignoring the last bit in brackets) the Daemon attempts to smash it's Horns into Frederich.A kind of Stretch-Armstrong version of a headbutt, that's what I'm imagining.Frederich however is up to the test, the (groggy) Daemon is easily kept at bay.[ATTACH=full]397236[/ATTACH]“Just like old times, eh Freddy”Lothar drops his bow, draws his sword and steps into the magic circle*, seconds later and the Daemon has another stripe to add to it's collection, this time Lothar rolls '04' and the Daemon (Stunned & now two versus one) rolls something in the 70s.*The magic circle thing- Olek (played by George) often does my work for me, so when Olek first saw the magic circle he said (or something similar)- “Do not step within, foul sorcery infects this place...” Then, whatever he says becomes canon, at least until someone proves him wrong. No-one, until Freddy did, was therefore keen to step into the magic circle. Job done. Thanks Olek/George.My version of the Daemon had 28 Wounds to begin with, it has just three left.Frederich steps forward, does another little speech- he's reading them from the web, Prayers to Sigmar et al.Then cuts the Daemon's head  off, or else cuts it down, and as quickly as it arrived- it's gone, only a sticky slightly herby smell in the air, and the waft of low level odd-coloured mist.That was very underwhelming- at least from my side of the screen.The Players- oh, they went doolally for a bit, Frederich gave a speech, Olek said a prayer or two and the dawi just repeated the phrase 'shitting 'eck' at odd intervals.The adventurers, soon after, bust the place up looking for other clues (or else a reward) as to what's going on in here. They make notes, Olek has paper and charcoal, and they bag everything in their 'evidence' bag (a ratty old sack marked '4enziks').Fergus gets his breath back, the Daemon experience was enough to make him throw off some of his Drunkeness, he's down to just Fatigue 1. Just in time to go home... but not before he smashes the doors off the big sturdy wooden (and locked) cupboard over the far side of the chamber.Within are just three things- a bloody sacrificial dagger, on a silver tray, and a scroll containing very odd-looking squiggles and symbols. Olek believes it is a scroll of dark magic.The evidence bag also contains the mutant three-legged goblin's picked clean pelvic bone, and a silk handkerchief bearing the monogram FS.That done, the now very smug adventurers retreat out of the sewers.[ATTACH=full]397237[/ATTACH]Oh, but not before they collectively decide- this in their words- to return the secret temple to the state it was when they first entered here.At which point I remind the adventurers that they attacked the door with axe, mace and sword and eventually smashed it clean in two; Fergus did something similar to the wooden cupboard within, and for a while Olek was trying to prize up the giant copper ring embedded in the floor.So, yeah- it looks just like you found it.All that's left of the sewer interlude here is to find out if Lothar can make it all the way back to the surface without falling in, everyone has been in for a dip except him.And... with the spending of a Fortune Point (FP) he makes it, and on the last roll by just one point- he rolled his last Athletics check on the dot, after the FP.The adventurers return to the Journeys End, deposit the ladder, get baths (paid for earlier), pay to have their clothes cleaned, have a last pint and then head on up the stairs to Bedfordshire.Very content.Very very content some of them.“Olek did you see me when I stepped forward and I said to the Daemon...”“Yes, Frederich, a thousand times, yes. I was there remember, brother. I was there.”“I say you two chaps, would you mind keeping it down- just trying to catch a little bit of shut eye here, and what with...”SNORT-FEWWWWWW! SNORT-FEWWWWWW! FAAAAAAAAART! SNORT-FEWWWW! SNORT-SNORT!Aubentag, 1st Pflugzeit, 2512.Bogenhafen.SCENE 2. Paying the Price.[ATTACH=full]397239[/ATTACH]The morning after.The adventurers find their way to the breakfast table in the bar of the Journeys End, and... Frederich is so happy he's whistling a pleasant little tune, at one point he almost breaks into a smile, he is- as he reminds his colleagues, numerous times-“I am leading my very best life.”But what goes up, must come down- or else what goes in, must come out.Jenkins delivers a note to the adventurer's breakfast table, although there's only Fred, Olek and Lothar enjoying the repast. The note is less a note and more a bill for their stay in the Journeys End, a bill for ten schillings.Fred, and soon after Lothar too, are a little put out- their stay at the inn was being paid for- part of the package, and they've taken care of their part of the contract, they have the mutant goblin's pelvis as proof of this, and quite a story to tell, and so it comes as a shock when Odelina tells them-“Contracts void, that Goblin you were after in the sewers, well- they got him, the little bugger was killed, squashed flat, in one of the warehouses down on the Ostendamm.”There follows a short amount of apoplexy, but Odelina is insistent- 10 schillings or else she calls the Watch, and just to make clear- it was the Watch that told her about the dead Goblin when they came and got their ladder back early this morning.The three adventurers are outraged (for a bit) Olek even takes to waving the Goblin's pelvis around for a while.But then the screaming starts.The screaming comes courtesy Pansy, a maid at the inn, the cause of her strife, well- I'll let Pansy explain.“Odelina! ODELINA! Come quickly mistress, there's a dirty dawi shitting in the back passage!”Let's take a step back.On exiting the sewers I, of course, got the PCs to make some checks- for wound infection and for diseases, and guess who- forgive the turn of phrase- came up trumps?Fergus has got the Galloping Trots, and has just failed to escape the inn in time (four turns) in order to safely evacuate his bowels, and so- Pansy discovers a frantic Fergus rattling the back door of the establishment trying and failing to unlatch the latch and then, while staring at the poor women, pulling down his trews and 'letting go' in the aforementioned back passage.Not a pleasant sight.Then, well... things take a turn for the worse.Eventually Lothar, Olek and Fred pay the bill- and a little extra besides, what with Fergus' liquid filth on the rug and up the walls, they then collect their stuff and leave the inn. In truth a chunk of the bill was paid by Fergus- whose gear was still in the room. The dawi meantime has to hide in an outbuilding while his comrades finish their repast, gather his- and their- things and then leave the establishment.At which time they also catch up with a very pale-faced Fergus.“I don't feel right, everything in wanna come out!”The PCs however have bigger fish to fry.They're much less content it seems.After a brief chat amongst themselves- next stop is to see Dr. Malthusias, proprietor of the Zoocopeia, to see what he has heard- after all, he's out a Goblin.SCENE 3. They Can't Keep Away From The Schaffenfest.Although the faire is far from in full swing yet, the Temple of Sigmar has only just sounded nine bells. Dr. M is however soon located- there were pictures in game but no-one took a snap.After Olek shows the mutant goblin's pelvis to Dr. M the whole group retire to his caravan for brandy and pipes, and a chat about what happens next.The PCs learn from Dr. M that having heard that the goblin had been killed in a warehouse he went along to the Town Hall and put in a request to have the body of the creature given back- it's his property after all, his thinking being he would get the dead thing stuffed- a static exhibit. But the Town Hall, very quickly, denied his request- the mutant Goblin's body was so badly damaged as to be beyond pale. All of his other questions were either dismissed or else ignored.And now the PCs are showing him the pelvic bone of said mutant Goblin, and telling tales about Daemon summoning in secret temples in the sewer. Dr. M is out of his depth, or else- well, as far as he's concerned he's going to be keeping his head down, because- as he puts it-“So the Town Hall are covering it up, and it looks like the Watch are involved too...”Dr. M, while trying to convince the PCs to get involved and find out more, is however not going to be sticking his neck out, if the PCs have questions that he can answer then he's happy to chat.He will however also be accompanying the adventurers to their next port of call, which is- the Festival Court here at the Schaffenfest, the PCs want to have a chat with Judge Richter there.Note, the PCs are also trying to figure out atm how much of their story they are going to be telling, and how they need to spin their tale.This after Dr. M's last line-“Who do you trust in Bogenhaffen?”Which resulted in a very small list- the first three names the PCs offered included Dr. M (who isn't from Bogenhafen), Josef from the barge (also not from Bogenhafen) and I can't remember the third name- but he or she was also, as it turns out, not from Bogenhafen.In fourth place came Franz Baumann, which isn't a bad shout.SCENE 4. Beak! Beak! Beak!Just to say, other than the Malaise, Flux (Moderate) and Nausea then Fergus is doing okay atm, although that is of course relative. He's -10 on most things social, and -30 on anything physical because his back is out (plus Malaise) but that's a pretty normal state of affairs. For Fergus.It would be fair to say that Bear is not enjoying Fergus atm. Cruel people would say- you made your bed now lie in it.And so...You made your bed now lie in it, or else change something. Like try not to destroy your own PC every chance you have. Change- you can just say it and it's done- Fergus has seen the light (or whatever it is that he's seen). It is that simple.Back to court, and Judge Richter, although the gang have to hang around a while to get seen, but not too long.[ATTACH=full]397238[/ATTACH]Richter remembers the crew, of course he does, and goes out of his way to offer his commiserations, repeating the story the PCs heard from Odelina but adding a little more detail. The mutant goblin was killed at Warehouse #4 on the Ostendamm, apparently a crate fell on the creature and crushed it, the building he relates is owned by the Steinhager merchant family.“Is that Franz Steinhager?” Olek asks, in point of fact- guessing.“It is, he's a big man in the town of Bogenhafen, a very wealthy merchant.” Judge Richter let's them know.And then...And then...The dam breaks.The PCs had a plan for this- what they would say, what they wouldn't say etc.Initially (for about thirty seconds) they stick to their plan and then... it all comes out, including the evidence bag and all of its contents- mutant goblin pelvis, monogrammed handkerchief (FS = Franz Steinhager), Daemon summoning magical scroll (possibly), sacrificial dagger, etc.Judge Richter is... more than a little perplexed, he tries to make some of the things the PCs say go away but, when they remember (eventually) to make some checks they're all good- the PCs are therefore very convincing.Two things come of this.Judge Richter agrees to ask around at the Town Hall- he has a meeting there at midday today, he will be back at the Festival Court later on, he therefore schedules another meeting with the PCs at three bells here, to report on what he has discovered, if anything.Note, Frederich warns Richter to be careful who he tells this information to, because-“The forces of darkness have power here. Here in Bogenhafen.”Richter thanks the kindly (and yet sinister) Witch Hunter but is clearly amused at the thought.If after the PCs second meeting with the Judge there is still some doubt or else concern, then Richter will order Sgt Dicky Trubshaw and his men to accompany the PCs back into the sewer and to the 'secret temple' they found, at least then the city authorities can see the situation for themselves.The PCs are happy with the outcome of their meeting, but they've still got plenty to do, and we're fast running out of time in this session.SCENE 5. Pap! Pap! Pap!The PCs rush to the tent of Mystic Meg, they have a friend in Bogenhafen- they've remembered, at last, or else they think that Franz Baumann could possibly be a good source of information, and so getting on his good side would be no bad thing.There are no more pictures it seems, and so let's just dive into the meat of it, Mystic Meg invites the PCs in, silver passes hands, and soon after we're off.The culmination of the reading is as follows- when asked directly about the location of the necklace/family heirloom that Johann Baumann absconded with Mystic Meg screams the following in Frederich's face-“Pap! Neuf! Pap! Pap! Neuf! Pap! Neuf! Pap! Pap! Pap!”Followed an awkward amount of seconds later with the screeched-“BLACKIE KNOWS!”The last two words screamed at volume 11 if you please.But she's not finished yet, free of charge and with no questions asked, she also shares the following, sing-song Welsh accent-“I see seven, and two. One of the two will destroy the others, and many more besides.”And lastly- she gets a bit excited towards the end of this one too-“The great killed the small, and the highest serve the lowest. You are in great danger! THE EYE IS UPON YOU ALL!”So, that's nice. Money well spent.But here's the thing- “Pap! Pap! What now? Wha's the ol' bat on about?” Fergus is confused, and so Olek, and then the others wrack their memory- and then think to look at the write up here.The following extract from their first session-        The PCs order drinks- two pints of Fondleburger's Famous (Lothar & Olek), a pint of 'Eavy Erpin Stout (Fergus) and a bottle of Blau Gottenschwester for Frederich, he couldn't afford the Chateau Pap-Neuf-Pap-Pap-Neuf-Pap-Neuf-Pap-Pap-Pap! But at six schillings a bottle few can.Copy and paste ends.Gustav, the fat landlord of the Coach & Horses tried to sell Freddy a bottle of the most expensive wine he had, a dusty bottle of the aforementioned Chateau.And Blackie?           Blackie is Gustav's parroting pet Crow, who was also interviewed (yes, really) by the suspicious Frederich Hass, who moments earlier had just located the name of Johann Baumann in the inn's register. The adventurer's encountered Johann's ghost just up the road from the inn of course.In short the crow took it.Which Frederich duly deduces.If I could afford a cut scene right know it'd go like this.Looking down on the smokey bar of the Coach & Horses, Gustav and Earpin pulling pints for smiling chattering coach travelers.The camera pans up to the full frontal face- beak and beady-eyes of Blackie. The Crow has a bald-spot down one side of its face and neck, courtesy of Phillipe Descartes shot to the heavens.Kaw!The bird hops, rafter to rafter, across the length of the inn and into a darkened corner, where a web of slats, and laths, and beams meet. There in the shadow is a nest, a copious construction made from all manner of sticks, twigs and oddities, and within we spy, through Blackie's beady-eye- a strew of things that shine, prized above all the fat chain-linked silver necklace sporting four clean cut rose emeralds, each one as big as an (apprentice) dawi blacksmith's thumb.But there we leave our story for a little while.The final XP table for this session is below, oh and you are down to half rations for the Session XP now, all the way to session 20, if it lasts that long.       <table style='width: 100%'><tr><td style='width: 45px'>PC</td><td style='width: 58px'>Daemon </td><td style='width: 60px'>Journeys End </td><td style='width: 81px'>Dr. M & Judge Richter </td><td style='width: 80px'>Mystic Meg </td><td style='width: 80px'>Rumours </td><td style='width: 108px'>Session XP </td><td style='width: 55px'>Total </td></tr><tr><td style='width: 45px'>Fred</td><td style='width: 58px'>12 </td><td style='width: 60px'>3 </td><td style='width: 81px'>3 </td><td style='width: 80px'>3 </td><td style='width: 80px'>0 </td><td style='width: 108px'>20 </td><td style='width: 55px'>41 </td></tr><tr><td style='width: 45px'>Fergus</td><td style='width: 58px'>8 </td><td style='width: 60px'>1 </td><td style='width: 81px'>3 </td><td style='width: 80px'>3 </td><td style='width: 80px'>0 </td><td style='width: 108px'>20 </td><td style='width: 55px'>35 </td></tr><tr><td style='width: 45px'>Olek</td><td style='width: 58px'>9 </td><td style='width: 60px'>3 </td><td style='width: 81px'>3 </td><td style='width: 80px'>3 </td><td style='width: 80px'>0 </td><td style='width: 108px'>20 </td><td style='width: 55px'>38 </td></tr><tr><td style='width: 45px'>Lothar</td><td style='width: 58px'>9 </td><td style='width: 60px'>3 </td><td style='width: 81px'>3 </td><td style='width: 80px'>3 </td><td style='width: 80px'>1 </td><td style='width: 108px'>20 </td><td style='width: 55px'>39 </td></tr></table>Keep Gossiping, there are still more Rumors to be had.Stay safe and well.Cheers goonalan et al.</blockquote>

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