WFRP Update 7
As the thugs circled around the heroes, they repeated their demand that the heroes should keep their noses out of business that didn't belong to them and leave town. Many of the thugs wear an amulet of a rope and pulley, which is easily recognized as the sign of the Stevdor guild. The loaders of boats are tough and not above hiring themselves out to people that require some extra muscle with no questions asked. Haven given their warning they slowly slink back into the shadows and disappear. Rudolpho and Magdelaine begin to discuss their plans while Max herds everyone back to the boat, fearing that the shadows will sprout even more killers.
On the boat, Max once again takes up a watch on deck, watching the night for the eyes that he feels are on him. Below, the other three argue about the plans. Rudolpho favors gathering some information around town and begins to don one of his cunning disguises. Elpham is insistent that he be accompanied, but by the time he has a disguise together, Rudolpho has slipped off the boat into the night. He proceeds to what is now his second home, the crossed pikes inn and barters for some information about the nights events. He gains the insight that the Stevdor guild was hired by someone far wealthy than himself to scare hi out of town. With that nugget he returns to the boat, his steps watched by the leering face of the blood red chaos moon that now watches over the town. As the morning breaks, a brilliant plan is devised. The heroes will gather a sack of junk and hide it under a barrel on the dock and then mark the barrel with an X. They will then proceed about town and hide the skull behind one of the warehouses. Unburdened by any evidence, they will then proceed to make their way about town, proclaiming to everyone who will listen that they have almost solved the mystery of the goblin and the strange goings on. They will mention to a select few people that the evidence has been hidden under a marked barrel and that it should be retrieved if anything should happen to them, Once the seed of suspicion has been planted, the heroes will retire to the boat and watch the marked barrel. Obviously, the villains, who will be fearful for their lives, or perhaps just interested in what information could be hidden in such an obvious place, will come to investigate the barrel and the heroes will be able to capture them. Congratulating themselves on such a cunning plan they proceed to set it in motion. The 'evidence' is hidden under the barrel, it is marked and they make their way about town. As they near the warehouses, they are summoned to an alley by a servant of Fredrik Magerius, the merchant who parted with much information last night. In the alley, a now fearful Fredrik clutches at the heroes and begs them for help. He tells them that the order of seven is actually a mystical order and that the story that it is all fakery is actually a lie. They had hoped to use magic to increase their wealth and the wealth of the town. However, the discovery of the demon room by the heroes necessitated a change of location and that a new temple must be dedicated by a blood sacrifice and that he wishes to have nothing to do with such unholy dealings. He claims that Toygun is the head of the order and that it was he who hired the Stevdor guild to scare us off. Toygun had also instructed Fredrik to calm our fears and tell us whatever lies we needed to hear. He can no longer keep quiet, and begs the heroes to help him. He says that he can not go to the guards since they are controlled by Toygun and the others. He promises to provide the location of the new temple as soon as he can. He only asks that the heroes stop the sacrifice. Hearing that the heroes will try to help, he skulks into the shadows, cringing at every scrape and imagined look.
The heroes retire to an inn to discuss the new development. Upset that their great and wonderfully crafted plan has been waylaid, but happy that they now have a solid lead they decide to spend a few hours relaxing and enjoying the sights of the Shopenfest before they must engage in a battle with the forces of evil. They spend some time with the purveyor of the freak show and, while on a minor errand for him, meet Mistress Elvira, a herbalist from Weisbrook. She offers the heroes some guidance by pointing out the healing properties of some various local herbs, which Max pays close attention to. As afternoon progresses, the heroes decide to head back to the boat and rest before fight with evil. Along the way, they pass by the various temples and Max feels a strange compulsion grow within him. He suggests that a blessing for the upcoming night might not be out of order and ushers everyone into the temple of Sigmar. Magdelaine claims that such a blessing will not last, but the others all receive the blessings of Sigmar. As the priest touches Max he hears a voice that reverberates throughout his mind. The voice tells him that the empire is threatened by what is happening here in Bogenheim. Max looks around and realizes that none of his companions nor the priest has spoken. Then it dawns upon him; Sigmar himself has spoken to him! His paranoia has not been unjustified. There is great evil hidden within the city and he and his companions have been chosen as the ones who will drive the evil from the city. Feeling energized and full of holy fire Max leads the heroes back into the street.
As the heroes start back towards the boat, a blond child presents a scroll to Rudolpho. The child is wearing the same livery as Fredrik and quickly disappears into the crowd. Magdelaine reads the scroll and announces that it is a summons to Fredrik's house. Thinking that the final fight has begun the heroes rush to the boat and gather their remaining weapons and make their way to Fredrik's home. On their arrival they are greeted by a servant, who opens the gate and shows them into the house. The servant informs the heroes that Fredrik is in the study, opens the study doors for them, ushers them in, closes the doors and leaves. As the heroes scan the room, they can not immediately see Fredrik anywhere. They do notice a large chair has been overturned behind a huge desk and Elpham and Max move to investigate. As they move around the desk the discover the body of Fredrik, curled under the desk. He is lying in a growing pool of his own blood, that is seeping from his slit throat. As the heroes try to contain Magdelaine's screams they also notice a message scrawled under the desk. Magdelaine claims that it says "warehouse 17", but all discussion is cut short as shouts of "help! Guards! Murder!" can be heard from the courtyard below the open window. The servant is standing in the courtyard bellowing for the guards and then vanishes from sight, like some figment of imagination. From the door to the study a voice is heard, "you should have minded your own business". As the heroes turn they catch a glimpse of the same child who delivered the scroll.. The child is down the stairs before the heroes can react. From outside they can see a group of town guards rushing into the courtyard.
Rudolpho screams for everyone to run and heads down the stairs and out the back entrance, quickly followed by Elpham. Magdelaine rushes out the door, intent on capturing the child. She takes the other set of stairs and runs into the guards who are now charging into the house. Meanwhile Max is frantically searching Fredrik's body for any other clues that will help them in their fight. He finds only a coin purse, which he quickly pockets. Magdelaine begins to start explaining to the guards that the blond child was responsible for the death of Fredrik, but they choose not to listen and start to beat her with their clubs. Realizing that she is caught, she quickly surrenders to them and gives them no more trouble. The sergeant of the guards rushes past her and into the house, obviously looking for the real killer. By now Rudolpho and Elpham have escaped over the back wall and are well away from the scene, easily mixing in with the throngs of people in the streets. Once Max hears footsteps on the stairs, he steps to the window and prepares to step out onto the ledge. he is quite surprised when he doesn't see a ledge, and realizes that the guards are milling about below the window. A hastily formulated plan takes shape and he leaps from the window towards the guards. Luck fails him as the guard steps aside at the last moment and he lands on the ground. A quick roll and he is on his feet. As the guards slash at him, he avoids their blows and starts to make his way towards the gate, all the while screaming at Magdelaine "curse you woman! No one foils my plans! I'll be back to get my revenge on you!". In seconds he is in the street and has lost the guards with only a minor scratch to show for his troubles.
As the sergeant rejoins the guards, Magdelaine once again tries to explain what has happened. She claims that the child was responsible for the killings and that she was trying to capture him. The sergeant dismisses this, claiming that he knows it was the halfling that was responsible for the death. Magdelaine says that that can not be so, since she arrived here with the halfling. Hearing what amounts to a confession, the sergeant has Magdelaine marched off to prison. As she is marched through the streets she desperately looks for her companions, but can not see them anywhere.
Once she arrives at the prison, she is stripped of all her possessions and shoved into a cell. Left alone, she begins to contemplate her situation and tries to figure out why telling the truth did not get her rewarded this time. As she ponders, she is distracted by some markings on one of the bricks on the wall. As she examines it closer, she notices that it seems to read "secret door". She starts to examine the brick and notices that it easily comes out from the wall. Peering into the empty space she notices that there is a small crawl way. She wiggles her way into the whole and pulls the stone into place behind her. As she feels her way along she finds herself in the sewers. At least she assumes that it is the sewers, since no other place can smell that bad. She begins to feel her way through the sewers, trying to find an exit that leads to freedom and her companions.
She wonders where her companions are and what plans they are making and then she worries about the dark magic that is supposed to happen this night. Will they still be able to stop such a dastardly deed? And will she ever get her writing kit back? And what was that thing that she just stepped on? Somethings are better not known.
On the boat, Max once again takes up a watch on deck, watching the night for the eyes that he feels are on him. Below, the other three argue about the plans. Rudolpho favors gathering some information around town and begins to don one of his cunning disguises. Elpham is insistent that he be accompanied, but by the time he has a disguise together, Rudolpho has slipped off the boat into the night. He proceeds to what is now his second home, the crossed pikes inn and barters for some information about the nights events. He gains the insight that the Stevdor guild was hired by someone far wealthy than himself to scare hi out of town. With that nugget he returns to the boat, his steps watched by the leering face of the blood red chaos moon that now watches over the town. As the morning breaks, a brilliant plan is devised. The heroes will gather a sack of junk and hide it under a barrel on the dock and then mark the barrel with an X. They will then proceed about town and hide the skull behind one of the warehouses. Unburdened by any evidence, they will then proceed to make their way about town, proclaiming to everyone who will listen that they have almost solved the mystery of the goblin and the strange goings on. They will mention to a select few people that the evidence has been hidden under a marked barrel and that it should be retrieved if anything should happen to them, Once the seed of suspicion has been planted, the heroes will retire to the boat and watch the marked barrel. Obviously, the villains, who will be fearful for their lives, or perhaps just interested in what information could be hidden in such an obvious place, will come to investigate the barrel and the heroes will be able to capture them. Congratulating themselves on such a cunning plan they proceed to set it in motion. The 'evidence' is hidden under the barrel, it is marked and they make their way about town. As they near the warehouses, they are summoned to an alley by a servant of Fredrik Magerius, the merchant who parted with much information last night. In the alley, a now fearful Fredrik clutches at the heroes and begs them for help. He tells them that the order of seven is actually a mystical order and that the story that it is all fakery is actually a lie. They had hoped to use magic to increase their wealth and the wealth of the town. However, the discovery of the demon room by the heroes necessitated a change of location and that a new temple must be dedicated by a blood sacrifice and that he wishes to have nothing to do with such unholy dealings. He claims that Toygun is the head of the order and that it was he who hired the Stevdor guild to scare us off. Toygun had also instructed Fredrik to calm our fears and tell us whatever lies we needed to hear. He can no longer keep quiet, and begs the heroes to help him. He says that he can not go to the guards since they are controlled by Toygun and the others. He promises to provide the location of the new temple as soon as he can. He only asks that the heroes stop the sacrifice. Hearing that the heroes will try to help, he skulks into the shadows, cringing at every scrape and imagined look.
The heroes retire to an inn to discuss the new development. Upset that their great and wonderfully crafted plan has been waylaid, but happy that they now have a solid lead they decide to spend a few hours relaxing and enjoying the sights of the Shopenfest before they must engage in a battle with the forces of evil. They spend some time with the purveyor of the freak show and, while on a minor errand for him, meet Mistress Elvira, a herbalist from Weisbrook. She offers the heroes some guidance by pointing out the healing properties of some various local herbs, which Max pays close attention to. As afternoon progresses, the heroes decide to head back to the boat and rest before fight with evil. Along the way, they pass by the various temples and Max feels a strange compulsion grow within him. He suggests that a blessing for the upcoming night might not be out of order and ushers everyone into the temple of Sigmar. Magdelaine claims that such a blessing will not last, but the others all receive the blessings of Sigmar. As the priest touches Max he hears a voice that reverberates throughout his mind. The voice tells him that the empire is threatened by what is happening here in Bogenheim. Max looks around and realizes that none of his companions nor the priest has spoken. Then it dawns upon him; Sigmar himself has spoken to him! His paranoia has not been unjustified. There is great evil hidden within the city and he and his companions have been chosen as the ones who will drive the evil from the city. Feeling energized and full of holy fire Max leads the heroes back into the street.
As the heroes start back towards the boat, a blond child presents a scroll to Rudolpho. The child is wearing the same livery as Fredrik and quickly disappears into the crowd. Magdelaine reads the scroll and announces that it is a summons to Fredrik's house. Thinking that the final fight has begun the heroes rush to the boat and gather their remaining weapons and make their way to Fredrik's home. On their arrival they are greeted by a servant, who opens the gate and shows them into the house. The servant informs the heroes that Fredrik is in the study, opens the study doors for them, ushers them in, closes the doors and leaves. As the heroes scan the room, they can not immediately see Fredrik anywhere. They do notice a large chair has been overturned behind a huge desk and Elpham and Max move to investigate. As they move around the desk the discover the body of Fredrik, curled under the desk. He is lying in a growing pool of his own blood, that is seeping from his slit throat. As the heroes try to contain Magdelaine's screams they also notice a message scrawled under the desk. Magdelaine claims that it says "warehouse 17", but all discussion is cut short as shouts of "help! Guards! Murder!" can be heard from the courtyard below the open window. The servant is standing in the courtyard bellowing for the guards and then vanishes from sight, like some figment of imagination. From the door to the study a voice is heard, "you should have minded your own business". As the heroes turn they catch a glimpse of the same child who delivered the scroll.. The child is down the stairs before the heroes can react. From outside they can see a group of town guards rushing into the courtyard.
Rudolpho screams for everyone to run and heads down the stairs and out the back entrance, quickly followed by Elpham. Magdelaine rushes out the door, intent on capturing the child. She takes the other set of stairs and runs into the guards who are now charging into the house. Meanwhile Max is frantically searching Fredrik's body for any other clues that will help them in their fight. He finds only a coin purse, which he quickly pockets. Magdelaine begins to start explaining to the guards that the blond child was responsible for the death of Fredrik, but they choose not to listen and start to beat her with their clubs. Realizing that she is caught, she quickly surrenders to them and gives them no more trouble. The sergeant of the guards rushes past her and into the house, obviously looking for the real killer. By now Rudolpho and Elpham have escaped over the back wall and are well away from the scene, easily mixing in with the throngs of people in the streets. Once Max hears footsteps on the stairs, he steps to the window and prepares to step out onto the ledge. he is quite surprised when he doesn't see a ledge, and realizes that the guards are milling about below the window. A hastily formulated plan takes shape and he leaps from the window towards the guards. Luck fails him as the guard steps aside at the last moment and he lands on the ground. A quick roll and he is on his feet. As the guards slash at him, he avoids their blows and starts to make his way towards the gate, all the while screaming at Magdelaine "curse you woman! No one foils my plans! I'll be back to get my revenge on you!". In seconds he is in the street and has lost the guards with only a minor scratch to show for his troubles.
As the sergeant rejoins the guards, Magdelaine once again tries to explain what has happened. She claims that the child was responsible for the killings and that she was trying to capture him. The sergeant dismisses this, claiming that he knows it was the halfling that was responsible for the death. Magdelaine says that that can not be so, since she arrived here with the halfling. Hearing what amounts to a confession, the sergeant has Magdelaine marched off to prison. As she is marched through the streets she desperately looks for her companions, but can not see them anywhere.
Once she arrives at the prison, she is stripped of all her possessions and shoved into a cell. Left alone, she begins to contemplate her situation and tries to figure out why telling the truth did not get her rewarded this time. As she ponders, she is distracted by some markings on one of the bricks on the wall. As she examines it closer, she notices that it seems to read "secret door". She starts to examine the brick and notices that it easily comes out from the wall. Peering into the empty space she notices that there is a small crawl way. She wiggles her way into the whole and pulls the stone into place behind her. As she feels her way along she finds herself in the sewers. At least she assumes that it is the sewers, since no other place can smell that bad. She begins to feel her way through the sewers, trying to find an exit that leads to freedom and her companions.
She wonders where her companions are and what plans they are making and then she worries about the dark magic that is supposed to happen this night. Will they still be able to stop such a dastardly deed? And will she ever get her writing kit back? And what was that thing that she just stepped on? Somethings are better not known.
posted by groodude at 7:09 p.m.
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