WARNING: HUGE SPOILER ALERT!!! IF YOU ARE PLAYING, OR YOU THINK YOU WILL BE PLAYING "THE GATHERING STORM" DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER, OR YOU'LL RUIN THE EXPERIENCE FOR YOURSELF AND EVERYONE AT THE TABLE!!! DON'T BE A ****!!!

The following is a recap of our first session for the adventure, The Gathering Storm. All of the players are new to 3ed, but not the Warhammer universe. We did not choose characters randomly. However, we "assigned" the ratcatcher to someone relatively new to roleplaying as a rite of passage. We had an absolute blast. The game is great! Most of the group are seasoned roleplayers and were thoroughly pleased. We really got into the characters and didn't even get to a combat encounter even though we played for four hours. We recorded the session and will post when it is available.

The characters are still being tweaked, but the party consists of a Celestial Apprentice, a high elf "ronin" swordmaster, a human roadwarden, and obviously a ratcatcher. Since our magic user was celestial, I tied in Niklaus Shulman to the disappearence of Florian Wechler.

My recap is told through the ratcatcher's dog, Master Tomberry. Enjoy, and if anyone has any questions, please ask.

A Small, but Vicious Dog & the Mystery of the Missing Merchant

A Tail of Adventure by Master Tomberry

Chapter One: A Turn of Fate

Oh, yes, how I yearn for the warmth of the sun, to lay beneath the hearth and feel the sweet caress of a fire on my fur, to run through the grass, to smell and taste all the wonder the world has to offer. But, alas, I am drawn to the rat like a baby is drawn to his mother’s teat. They assault my every thought, my every dream until I am frothing with rage and resentment. They tease me, coax me, waving their skinny little tails and sniffing with their snot-encrusted, clammy, little noses. I can’t get their smell off my fur, nor their taste from my mouth, but yet…I am drawn to them. Cursed to scratch them out and rid the world of the tainted, malodorous stench. Yet, I am also drawn to something else…some alternative design. It is this other destiny that I adjure.

My adventure begins on a warm, spring afternoon in the free state of Ubersreik. My master receives word that a great wizard of the celestial order is looking for able-bodied men to assist him in an important mission of great secrecy. While am I not certain my master’s body is capable of anything, he nonetheless answers the call. Like I, he seems to be searching for something greater than himself. Alas, it is both a glorious and arduous day when a man concedes that he is not comfortable with his station. It eats at your will and drives you mad until you finally must take action to prevent your embittered soul from leaving weary flesh. And, so my master, Mickey Blue, the most celebrated Ratcatcher Ubersreik has ever seen, and I, Master Tomberry, a small, but vicious dog, set out on a journey of adventure and discovery.

We arrive at the steps of the Merchant’s Guild in Ubersreik. There is a soaring marble staircase leading up to the door. It is here we meet the others I will share this adventure with. A tall, strange, beanstalk of a man, whose speech totes a most unusual accent. He speaks softly and chooses his words carefully as if each one costs his mouth a silver to enunciate. He calls himself Istvan Gyurkha and he stinks of musk and dust. I am reminded of the smell under the libraries in Ubersreik and the scholars who roam the courtyards. There is also a very unusual creature whose aroma is completely foreign to me. He stands as man, but is more than man. Holstered to his back is a enormous sword the likes before I have never seen. His is clean and well perfumed. His ears are similar to a terrier friend I have in the undercity. His eyes are dark and with his stare I am certain he can read my thoughts. He introduces himself a Vaelevel Misthawke and I detect a melancholy in him that concerns me greatly. The next man is Johann Bakaris, a Roadwarden now turned adventurer. While I do not know him, I do recognize his smell. He is like the ones who vomit and piss down the sewers, disturbing my slumber and fouling my bed. He is strong, proud and comfortable with around people. However, I suspect an underlying wavering and apprehension in his approach. Of course, there is my master, Mickey Blue. Istvan and Vaelevel react to him as they would a scab on their arse. My master appears looks anxious, distressed and displaced. However, I know him to be of considerable heart and defiant in the face of danger, as well as a very good shot with his crossbow. I’ve often seen him bulls-eye womp rats with his T-16. The Roadwarden and my master exchange greetings and there appears to be some knowledge of each other. I may have acted in haste in passing judgment on the Roadwarden, but I will keep my nose on him close nonetheless.

A middle-aged man dressed in long, flowing azure colored robes with a golden telescope and small dagger hanging from his belt, escorts us inside the guild. Although, I understand he is from Ubersreik I have not smelt him before. He introduces himself to the ***** guild assistant as Aldero Kirk, a senior member of the celestial college of magic. We are escorted in a waiting room. My master and I marvel at this décor. Beautifully upholstered chairs surround large tables made of dark wood. Tapestries hang from the wall. Mickey looks out the window considering the bustling market square outside. We have never been in a room with such grandiose wealth before. Already, our adventure brings us new experiences.

We wait for several minutes before an inflated man, brightly dressed in a red blouse and a long, black overcoat introduces himself a Meister Thaddeus Kigel.

“I need you to find a missing merchant,” Kigel bellows, “Two weeks ago one of our merchants went missing in a town called Stormdorf. We are certain he made his delivery, but since then there has been no trace of him, his cart or his horse.”

I lose track of the conversation as I am enjoying the high quality of the carpet. One day I hope to have someone with clipped and polished fingernails express my anal glands, but now I am reduced to dragging my arse on the floor. Kigel continues his conversation. For a colossal sum of money, we are tasked with returning with news of the merchant to Ubersreik, or if the merchant suffered an unfortunate fate, we are to find and return his merchant’s signet ring. Kigel then leaves as quickly as he came, but then we soon learn that we are not only here to find a missing merchant.

“It seems that Stormdorf has a history of missing visitors.” Aldero says, “It seems one of our own is missing as well.”

We learn of the disappearance of a astromancer named Niklaus Shulman and of his work studying the atypical weather patterns that exist around Stormdorf. We learn that the blue wind of Azyer blow unusually strong and the weather has been so bad of late that the road to Ubersreik is completely washed away. Meister Kigel once again joins us and he continues answer questions. I admit at this point I surrender to sleep and the comfort of the rug; alas but my rest is hindered by the sounds of dirty, little feet scurrying in the darkness.

After our meeting with the Meister, Mickey and I return to the sewers for what will hopefully be our last night sleeping in the gutters of Ubersreik. Johann chooses to speak with the proprietor of the Inn of the Burnt Cadaver. Averting a calamitous encounter with the Innkeeper Ulrich Knopp, Johann learns that the merchant, Florian Wechler, delivers a hundred to a hundred and fifty kegs of ale from Stormdorf to Ubersriek every few days. I do not claim any skill in mathematics or accounting, but by my calculations and knowing the price of ale, that could by somewhere near three or four gold per trip. That’s an unbelievable sum of money! Both my master and I would likely suffer immediate death if either ever saw even a single gold coin. However true that is, the merchant Wechler made this journey often. No wonder he is missing. Was he not concerned for his safety? Does he travel alone with ears listening to every single leaf fall and fear that sound does not belong to nature, but the greedy steps of bandit folk. Would he always question whether this trip would be his last? Even I, young in my days of adventure, feel more comfort traveling in the company of others.

One last stop before beginning our troubled trip to Stormdorf was a visit with Wecher’s daughter. Our initial contact goes poorly as it seems I am not the only put off by Istvan’s accent. Johann seems to fair better and learns that Wechler and his daughter are estranged. I find the race of men inconceivable and how quickly they can hold anger for those so close to them. In this case, it seems that Wechler believed his daughter, Ursula, was marrying a man beneath her level. As the news of his disappearance was unknown to her, little help could be gathered. We then go to meet Ulf the boatman and his deaf and dumb son, Toot, at the wharf.

Off we set sail for our brief journey to Stormdorf, a small market town of eight to nine hundred people in the southern part of the Reiksland. It is located on the confluence of three rivers, the Ober, Tranig and Teufel. Ruled by the Burgomeister Phillip Alder, the town of Stormdorf has seen better days. Adler has become somewhat of a recluse and is allowing his second in command, Captain Arno Kessler to more of less run the town. This has bred frustration amongst Stormdorf’s small business class who trade in the town’s primary exports, eel, leather and Thunderwater Ale. The truth that rang true is that the weather is Stormdorf is horrible and for this I am not excited.

Chapter Two: The Lightening Storm

I’ve found I abhor sea travel. Granted this was not sea travel as much as river travel, but nonetheless, I dislike it greatly. I can only imagine the horror of crossing greater distance. The floor, or deck I am told, does not stay still. It rises and lists up and down and back and forth. I found myself sliding all over the place. My colleagues laughed, but I saw nothing remotely funny in my awkwardness. Even in the filth and stench of the sewers you could trust that you would not be tossed about. At least not by the floor!

After several hours of sailing we move closer to our destination. Through the rain you begin to see a small, walled town. Buildings with peaked roofs huddle together looking as if they too, were weary of the weather. Lights flicker in the distance. Up ahead we can see where the bridge to Ubersreik once stood. However, it looks as if the damage occurred recently.

As we approach Stormdorf, the rain and wind grow violent and lightening crashes repeatedly in the background. I notice a concerned look on Istvan’s face when suddenly a bolt of lightening angrily strikes the mast. Lines and beams break and the boat is begins to capsize as the mast falls into the water dragging the boat down into the darkness of the Teufel. Ulf attempts to grab Toot from falling in the dark water, but the force of an errant block crushes his head. Johann bravely dives in the water into to save Toot, but the current overwhelms him. The boats heels over and we all throw into the river Truel.

Saved by eel nets and the helping hands of the inhabitants of Stormdorf, my fellow adventurers and I awake under the care of Hildette Krass, the local healer and herbalist. She mends our wounds and we rest long enough to gain our senses and continue on our quest. Hildette speaks of a healing potion she is able to brew but only if she has the proper ingredients. As we collect our belongings, I cannot help but to wonder what happened to the young Toot.

We reach the Thunderwater Brewery and Inn. I am to learn that this is the brewery for the famous Thunderwater Ale. We find a welcoming table; our fellow patrons are kind and gleeful. I can’t see why spirits in the establishment would not be high. There is warmth, music, open arms and of course the beer is flowing. A large man named Sebastian Brenner introduces himself as owner. We enquire about our missing merchant, but he has no knowledge of him. He suggests we speak with the brewmeister Cousin Maxo and offers his young son as escort. His name is Hans and is probably not much older than Toot. He is very friendly. Istvan asked him if he knows our missing wizard as well, Niklas Shulman. Hans is well aware of Shulman, as the wizard teaches him reading and writing. Istvan and Vaelevel are told that Shulman is staying upstairs and they leave to introduce themselves to the wizard.

They meet Shulman outside his room. His composure is guarded, but he cannot hide his disheveled room. Papers and notes are sprawled on the floor and tacked to the wall. Istvan sees through a magical veil which hides fresh abrasions and burns on Shulman’s face. They speak and Shulman claims involvement in his work is the reason for his poor communication with his elders. He confirms what Aldero Kirk told us at the merchant guild. Shulman is in Stormdorf studying the unusual weather patterns that surround the town. Like Sebastian, he has no knowledge of the missing merchant. Later in the evening Istvan confronts Shulman about his wounds. The wizard claims that he receives the wounds from study gone awry. They discuss other matters concerning the weather and Istvan wisely offers his help in Shulman’s work.

They also have success with Cousin Maxo, Thunderwater’s Brewmeister, confirming the timeline of the merchant’s disappearance. We also meet a friend in Balthus, the sergeant of the city guard. He seems a kind man with a simple nature and while we do not learn much from him, I believe him to be an ally in our cause.

During the night the elf Vaelevel is disturbed by strange dreams of a marble slate tied crudely to a monolith. The slate has writing eloquently carved into it and crude runes drawn upon it. It is continually hit by lightening and pulses with a blue light. He is awakened tired, drained and disturbed by this vision.

My morning fairs much better. Mickey and I awaken to the bliss of a hot bowl of water. Neither of us have had such a wonderful experience before. It is truly a gift from the gods. Mickey cleans the mud and filth from his face and I am surprised to see how the lack of grime elevates his purpose. I get a similar transformation and for the first time in my life the smell of those disgusting hairy creatures diminish. With vigor and confidence we make our way to the Stewpot Hostelry to look for further clues to Herr Wechler’s disappearance. We meet the small, very well endowed, Halfling proprietress, Keila Cobblepot. My master makes his inquiries and is met by guarded answers. With renewed sense of self, my master is able to convince the innkeeper to check her guest book and she returns with new information. The merchant Wechler stayed at the Stewpot and checked out a fortnight ago. We celebrate our discovery with a breakfast ale and both notice Keila talking to a small, skinny man with a very scraggily beard. I get a whiff of him and his stench is terrible. He smells of impurity, shite and dried blood. They inconspicuously stare at us and then go back to their conversation. We return to tell the others.

I am a small, but vicious dog. I realize that while some of my senses are heightened beyond those of man, I must admit it does come with limitations. My thought and desires are simple. If I am hungry I eat, if I have a scratch I itch, if I smell the scent of a ***** in heat I act, but I am continually confused by mankind. They live with muddled, confusing and often sinister purpose. They will feed a child with one hand while killing its mother with the other. They will cherish someone for decades and then walk away the next with a love met moments earlier. They will kill the one’s closest to them for the weight of the coin in his pocket. I cannot help but wonder where does the merchant Wechler fit into all of this. What purpose does he serve and what fate did he deserve? And how does a man with horse and cart, stranded in a downtrodden town with broken bridges and washed out roads disappear?

Alas, I have not the experience, nor the intellect to put all these clues together. I am only a small, vicious dog, but I am also an adventurer! And I cannot wait to see what tomorrow will bring!

GM section...

Okay... you're excused, since it's a very entertaining read

Very very good!

2nded on good read.

He he. Very good. I'm looking forward to more of this.

Sorry for the delay. Here's the second installment. We're really enjoying the game, but there's been a bit of a twist in the end. Not concerned however, as I've tied Shulman into the wizard motivation. He and Shulman shared a smoke where Shulman enlisted his help into locating the stones on behalf of the college. Since the weather prevents communication, the wizard believes he is serving as subordinate. We'll see what happen. Glad you guys like it.

BTW - please excuse the few bits of plagiarism from the module. Makes it quicker for me to write the recap

'I wonder what my choice would have been, but then I am reminded of something Albert Pennington once said. Albert was a terrier friend of mine that used to work the sewers below the Marshcestrasse, with his master Penny the Pence. He said, “These are difficult times, but it is how we act during these times that shape the merit of our souls.” '

You know, I think I've probably been a bit too quick to dismiss the yapping of small dogs in the past.

I don't recognise what you're plagiarising... I'm loving it!

(And loving reading different reviews of this adventure, seeing what changes the different parties make to the outcomes of events.)

I'm actually running two concurrent TGS groups. The ratcatcher's dog group and another.

The other group had taken a more patient, less violent approach to dealing with the Holtz, but more suspicious of Keila Cobblepot. Basically, they staked the place out for days and investigated the missing merchant down to the number of kegs, hides and coal shipments he was involved in. They actually broke in to Cousin Maxo's office to further investigate his books.

The other thing that was funny was I made a comment - which was a joke - about the Thunderwater Inn serving nothing but eel. No one saw it as a joke, but a riddle. And that turned into a whole investigation regarding why no one is eating meat! Eventually, I tied it in to Bruner's wife suicide and a rumor about a two headed sheep potentially being tainted by chaos. Also eventually had the Holtz's brothers working with the herbalist arranging an ambush of the party.

It has turned into two very different adventures. I've always wanted to run multiple parties in the same adventure to see what the differences are. Its a bit of a social experiment. Its turned into very good stuff.

The adventure continues. Our first character death! And the player who plays our ratcatcher came to me and stated he's not enjoying the ratcatcher character so I tried to make him feel a bit guilty for that.

Chapter Five: A Life Lost

It was a wet, muggy Bezahltag evening when we paid for possession of the Lightening Stone with the life of Johann Bakaris.

After an interminable discussion and examination of our actions against the Holtz's and the tactics to retrieve the Lightening Stone we set out past the old hag tree and venture deep into the Oberslecht. The marsh with its deficient vegetation offered little respite from the heavy rain making our march through the mire quite arduous. Despite our best clandestine efforts we draw the attention of a beastmen scouting patrol. Their ambush took us by complete surprise, but we were successful in fending off the attack. One of the abominations attempts escape in order to raise alarm with his bestial colleagues. However, my master’s keen skill with his crossbow destroys his plans of warning and in defiance of potential doom, we continued our trek through the fetid bog.

We walk for hours, the unnatural lightening continually navigating the path to the stone. We are led to a clearing, which reveals the most despicable horror. A scene so wicked it will fuel years of nightmare-laden sleep. We are witness to pack mentality in the most brutal and chaotic form. Legends speak of a gathering of half beast, half men, battling for supremacy and leadership. Once a leader emerges, the murderous herd follows, reaping death and destruction in their ghastly path. I can tell you today that these are no mere rumors as I now bear witness to this occurrence. Here a great beastmen herd was being lead by a massively large alpha, drawing them together under a nefarious looking monolith. The Alpha's obscene roar echoed through the night sky,. The axis of this vile ritual was clear to see. There, crudely attached to the monolith, was the objective of our mission, and the subject of Valeavel’s dreams. Within our grasp lay the Lightening Stone.

Our stealthy attempts of securing the stone failed quickly and a great battle soon ensured. Fortunatley, many of the monsters were detracted by the leaders rally cries and did not notice our initial melee. My master and I fought valiantly. His bolts fired true while I used my size and temper to confuse and anger the enemy. The wizard Istvan, on occasion dangerously close to meeting the ferrymen, channeled his blue magic to fire darts of energy into the beastmen gathering. Valaevel, exceptionally lethal with his monstrous sword, cleaved beastmen in half, leaving little question to whether they were dead. However, no matter how many we killed, more of the creatures emerged and attacked. Our fate was uncertain. It is times like when heroes are made and our fellowship is no exception. During this battle the most impressive was Johann. He took advantage of the chaos of combat to charge the largest brute of this devilish band. He fought bravely with both axe and sword in hand and assaulted the beastman known as Izka the Madtooth. The remaining herd stood in surprise as the human burst through their ranks. It was an incredible display of courage and skill and eventually Johann was able to overcome the herdleader cutting him down with a final blow from his axe. Once the confusion of the attack and the shock over death of leader subsided, the remaining beastmen turned their attention to Johann, cutting and ripping him apart with their sharp claws and horns until Johann Bakaris was beyond recognition.

I must confess I didn’t care for Johann when we first met. He scent was of arrogance and the ignorance of the self-righteous. I was reminded of the many like him who find themselves kicked and beaten by fellow men, only then to then acquire minor positions of power, but instead of honoring those they are sworn to protect they instead use their newly gained status to impose their own tyranny on the weak. Johann may have acted like that the majority of his life, however, in this instant on this evening Johann died a hero, placing himself in a position of certain doom in an attempt to rid the world of chaos and to protect his fellows. I owe him my life and I will never forget his selfless sacrifice.

Tired, beaten, and saddened by the loss of a friend we return to Stormdorf, dragging Johann’s prize through the mud. Niklas Shulman meets us in front of the Thunderwater Inn. He reacts to the lightening stone as I react to a ***** in heat. He dotes over it, wiping the dirt off the stone excited to have it so close to him. We help carry the stone to his room where he places on a table next to a strange device designed to control the lightening attracted to the stone. We tell him of our adventures, but he seems disinterested. He shoos us away, suggesting we speak to the Sergeant of the Guards of our gruesome discoveries.

Chapter Six: The Trial of the Century

As we report the events of the day to Sergeant Balthus, I cannot help but have concern over my Master. Mickey Blue has lived his life under the happiness, sadness, hopes, and dreams of others. He has walked through their squander as societal waste, unwanted and ignored, employed to do what they would do only upon threat of death. I have seen the sadness in him and his desire to raise his standing. And I was with him as we took our first step out of the sewers of Ubersreik and answered a small ad of employment. Our foray into the adventurers’ life was to elevate our status and we have done so even in this short time. However, I am concerned about his will. I am afraid our experience battling the minions of chaos and the death of the human Bakaris has broken his spirit. He eyes once again hold the disheartened acceptance of his previous position and despite the accompanying filth and disgust, I sense a longing to return to more familiar surroundings. And therein lies my struggle, for I am bred to be loyal to my master and I love him with every fiber of hair that grows from my mangy and ragtag body. However, I have never felt more alive than I do now. And I have learned that while I am small, I am also vicious beyond my expectations. My vow is that Johann’s death, and the death of any who share Johann’s courage, will not be in vain. My future lies as an agent against the hordes of Chaos and the tyranny of evil men. I will not return to a life in the sewers, because I am here as champion.

Our report on the Holtz’s and Keila Cobblepot’s crimes leads to our first meeting of Captain Kessler. We are summoned to a meeting of the town elders. I am reminded once again of pack mentality. They argue, applaud, praise and ignore each other in their jostle for leadership. If it wasn’t for their wearing of pants, I’m certain they would mark their territory. Clearly there is disappointment that the burgomeister Alder is not in attendance. Captain Kessler continually defends the burgomeister, but others openly protest. The most visceral dissident is Hanko Munke, a failed businessmen in Stormdorf. However, he is quickly tamed by another named Marcel Gerber, the master of the Stormdorf tannery. Gerber appears to carry great influence with others on the council as well. We tell our tale, and Kessler sends men to retrieve both the innkeeper and the brother’s Holtz. We are allowed to search the Stewpot for any signs of the merchant’s ring, and although we find a box of money large enough to suggest wrongdoing, we find nothing belonging to Florian Weshler, or any other person missing in Stormdorf.

Learning little from the search of the inn, we realize our next avenue is speaking with Keila Cobblepot. We find that she has been taken to Town Hall for questioning by both Balthus and Kessler. Returning to the hall we are witness to a jostling example of justice in the Empire. Beneath town hall is a small, damp basement. It is here we discover Keila Cobblepot , bound to a chair, the previously jovial Balthus towering over the innkeeper. His hands are bloodied, her eyes are swollen and blue. Blood runs out of her nose and mouth. Kessler looks to us pleased and announces the attainment of a confession. Unfortunately, there has been no mention of the ring and its clear that little more can be learned tonight. We request the need to interrogate Keila and about missing merchant. With persuasion, Kessler and Balthus step outside in the hallway. We lean over Keila, barely recognizable as the buxom proprietress we first met. We offer a plea of compassion if she is willing to tell us some piece of evidence that will help us learn of the fate of the merchant, and provide us with information to aid our transit out of Stormdorf. She murmurs, her stare blank and defeated, as bubbles of spit and blood dribble from her lips. A small, barely audible, sounds escapes for her mouth…”Hanko”.

"He reacts to the lightning stone as I react to a ***** in heat."

Say no more. Please.

Oh... Say plenty more!

Do your players read this write up? If the ratcatcher did, he might feel a bit more pride in his character, and (don't know if this has been a problem or not) 'get' more the point of Warhammer FRP and why the ratcatcher is such a cool character to play.