WFRP Update 3
The walled city of Boggenhaufem rises from the ground. The heroes have arrived at the first way point on their journey to fame and fortune. The barge slowly pulls up to the dock and Joseph jumps onto the wharf, eager to start unloading his cargo. The heroes are eagerly discussing their plans when Joseph informs them that the strong-arm guild has much power in this town and that we are not allowed to unload the cargo and thus, we have the day to ourselves. The heroes quickly get ashore and head off in search of the barrister mentioned in the documents that have led them this far. As they make their way through town they begin asking people to direct them to the address written on the letter. Surprisingly, no one seems to know the address, and have never heard the barrister named in the letter. Eventually, they make their way to the town hall and make some inquiries there. Again, no information is forth coming. They are able to tell the heroes who printed the document, which is more information than they had previously, so the heroes quickly make their way towards the printers.
As they arrive, a small man, whose clothes are stained with ink, is closing the shop. With a few friendly inquiries he confirms that he did create the letter head, although someone else filled in the content. He has no knowledge of the address that is given, but he suggests that it may be on the northern side of the river, in the disrespectable part of town. He finds it strange that a barrister would live there, but he does mention that the man that ordered the letterhead did not look much like a barrister at all, what with the great scar across his neck. The heroes, greatly in shock, press on in their questioning. The man who ordered the letterhead was the bounty hunter that had tried to kill them less than a week ago!!
Suddenly is all comes clear! It has all been a scam. But perhaps a scam with some basis in fact. Magdelaine agrees to proceed to the library and research some of the noble families of the Uberriche. Perhaps the family is missing the heir and we can continue to play the scam.
While Magdelaine browses the books, the rest of the heroes decide to wander the local festival, the shopenfest. All manner of sights are there to behold. There is even a boxing ring set up, with a local champion taking on all comers. Elpham is confident of his abilities and climbs into the ring. he only has to last 3 minutes to win the prize. And if he manages to beat the champion, he will win double. many massive blows are exchanged and the first minute passes. As the second starts, Elpham takes a mighty blow and nearly drops to the ground. He decides that this is a fight he can not win and bows out of the match. Meanwhile, Max has been sampling a strange liquid. A dark, bitter drink that comes from the lands of Arabia that seems to energize him. As Elpham leaves the ring Rudolpho's insults and jibs convince the now twitching halfling to take his chance in the ring. the crowd gives a mighty roar as the fight begins. Max is leaping around the ring, playing up to the crowd when a massive fist appears from nowhere and drops him to the ground. The crowd voices it's disapproval as Max is carried from the ring.
After the combatants recover, they set out to discover what other sights the festival holds. They spy a fortune teller and decide to find out what fate holds for them. Rudolpho is told that he will go to a dark, narrow place where there is water. Death will also be there. max is told that the teller sees 7 men and 2. 1 of the 2 will destroy the others and many others besides. Elpham is told that a dark man is not what he seems. That the great shall kill the small and the highest serve the lowest. He is in great danger and the eye of evil is upon him. Rudolpho, in typical form, begins to complain and doesn't stop whining until Max gives him the money that he has spent on the fortune teller. As they exit the psychics tent, they are drawn towards an outlandishly dressed man who is hawking 'the greatest show that you will ever see'. He claims to have many exotic creatures that will amaze and haunt us. As the heroes stand and listen, an evil looking three legged goblin rushes out of the tent that is behind the hawker and rushes towards the city walls. Without even thinking, Elpham grabs and subdues the creature, much to the delight of the crowd. The hawker is so grateful that he invites us to the show as his guests. On the way to find Magdelain, Elpham notices a fellow dwarf, locked in the stocks and begging for mercy. Elpham pays the fellows fine, buys him an ale and gives him a second chance. The rest of the heroes do not have very high hopes for the fellow. The three set off and manage to find Magdelain, who tells of her findings; the family of Leibshine does not exist. the entire journey has been for naught. They are now far from home, with no jobs, little money and no prospects for employment. As despair starts to settle over them, they decide to put the matter aside and enjoy the festival. They head back to the hawker and are allowed into the exotic freak show. The hawker and his assistant, a misshapened midget, show them the animals; a two headed goat, a dog with only one eye, a dog haired boy and the ever popular three legged goblin. Ever helpful, the heroes exit the tent in a wild fashion, screaming, swooning and so on. The line up ot the tent grows even more.
As the heroes see to their stomaches the noise from the hawkers tent grows even louder. Eventually it draws their attention and they look up to see that the town guards are converging upon the heroes. The guards ask Elpham his name and then order us to follow them. The heroes are taken to a tent and introduced to someone of authority, a person of some important in the town guard. The hawker is there and retells his story. It seems that his three legged goblin overpowered his assistant and managed to escape into the sewers beneath the town. The guards order the hawker to pay Elpham, "the mighty goblin hunter" and his associates 30 gold crowns in return for the return of the chaos spawn; dead or alive. With little choice, the heroes gather their equipment and conscript some necessary gear off of the town guard and are shown to a sewer entrance. They climb down the ladder and enter the sewers; a dark, narrow place filled with water. Rudolpho wonders whose death is waiting down there.
One of the fortunes has come true.....if the others will come true as well there will be much evil that will be unleashed on the world. Are the heroes up for such a task? Only time will tell.
As they arrive, a small man, whose clothes are stained with ink, is closing the shop. With a few friendly inquiries he confirms that he did create the letter head, although someone else filled in the content. He has no knowledge of the address that is given, but he suggests that it may be on the northern side of the river, in the disrespectable part of town. He finds it strange that a barrister would live there, but he does mention that the man that ordered the letterhead did not look much like a barrister at all, what with the great scar across his neck. The heroes, greatly in shock, press on in their questioning. The man who ordered the letterhead was the bounty hunter that had tried to kill them less than a week ago!!
Suddenly is all comes clear! It has all been a scam. But perhaps a scam with some basis in fact. Magdelaine agrees to proceed to the library and research some of the noble families of the Uberriche. Perhaps the family is missing the heir and we can continue to play the scam.
While Magdelaine browses the books, the rest of the heroes decide to wander the local festival, the shopenfest. All manner of sights are there to behold. There is even a boxing ring set up, with a local champion taking on all comers. Elpham is confident of his abilities and climbs into the ring. he only has to last 3 minutes to win the prize. And if he manages to beat the champion, he will win double. many massive blows are exchanged and the first minute passes. As the second starts, Elpham takes a mighty blow and nearly drops to the ground. He decides that this is a fight he can not win and bows out of the match. Meanwhile, Max has been sampling a strange liquid. A dark, bitter drink that comes from the lands of Arabia that seems to energize him. As Elpham leaves the ring Rudolpho's insults and jibs convince the now twitching halfling to take his chance in the ring. the crowd gives a mighty roar as the fight begins. Max is leaping around the ring, playing up to the crowd when a massive fist appears from nowhere and drops him to the ground. The crowd voices it's disapproval as Max is carried from the ring.
After the combatants recover, they set out to discover what other sights the festival holds. They spy a fortune teller and decide to find out what fate holds for them. Rudolpho is told that he will go to a dark, narrow place where there is water. Death will also be there. max is told that the teller sees 7 men and 2. 1 of the 2 will destroy the others and many others besides. Elpham is told that a dark man is not what he seems. That the great shall kill the small and the highest serve the lowest. He is in great danger and the eye of evil is upon him. Rudolpho, in typical form, begins to complain and doesn't stop whining until Max gives him the money that he has spent on the fortune teller. As they exit the psychics tent, they are drawn towards an outlandishly dressed man who is hawking 'the greatest show that you will ever see'. He claims to have many exotic creatures that will amaze and haunt us. As the heroes stand and listen, an evil looking three legged goblin rushes out of the tent that is behind the hawker and rushes towards the city walls. Without even thinking, Elpham grabs and subdues the creature, much to the delight of the crowd. The hawker is so grateful that he invites us to the show as his guests. On the way to find Magdelain, Elpham notices a fellow dwarf, locked in the stocks and begging for mercy. Elpham pays the fellows fine, buys him an ale and gives him a second chance. The rest of the heroes do not have very high hopes for the fellow. The three set off and manage to find Magdelain, who tells of her findings; the family of Leibshine does not exist. the entire journey has been for naught. They are now far from home, with no jobs, little money and no prospects for employment. As despair starts to settle over them, they decide to put the matter aside and enjoy the festival. They head back to the hawker and are allowed into the exotic freak show. The hawker and his assistant, a misshapened midget, show them the animals; a two headed goat, a dog with only one eye, a dog haired boy and the ever popular three legged goblin. Ever helpful, the heroes exit the tent in a wild fashion, screaming, swooning and so on. The line up ot the tent grows even more.
As the heroes see to their stomaches the noise from the hawkers tent grows even louder. Eventually it draws their attention and they look up to see that the town guards are converging upon the heroes. The guards ask Elpham his name and then order us to follow them. The heroes are taken to a tent and introduced to someone of authority, a person of some important in the town guard. The hawker is there and retells his story. It seems that his three legged goblin overpowered his assistant and managed to escape into the sewers beneath the town. The guards order the hawker to pay Elpham, "the mighty goblin hunter" and his associates 30 gold crowns in return for the return of the chaos spawn; dead or alive. With little choice, the heroes gather their equipment and conscript some necessary gear off of the town guard and are shown to a sewer entrance. They climb down the ladder and enter the sewers; a dark, narrow place filled with water. Rudolpho wonders whose death is waiting down there.
One of the fortunes has come true.....if the others will come true as well there will be much evil that will be unleashed on the world. Are the heroes up for such a task? Only time will tell.
posted by groodude at 7:06 p.m.
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