How many sessions to complete TGS?

Of course it depends on the group.

For us it will basically work out to be 5, maybe 6. Pretty much 1 session per chapter in the book. Provided of course there isn't a second TPK...

We did 12 shortish (3 to 4 hr) sessions, but that was with no side tracks at all.

From reading it I think we'll do it in three sessions (10 hours each).

My estimate is 4 big (8 hour) sessions, though knowing my group, it might easily turn into twice that.

It took me 9 shortish (3.5 hours each) sessions to run through this. However it felt a little rushed. If I had more time I would have slowed it down a bit and tried to insert some less combat focused bits in. As it stands TGS is very combat heavy.

4 sessions, between 10-12 hours. About one chapter per session.

I made Lektor Gottschalk a nemesis for the players when he lost his temper in the end chapter and sent the PCs to Ubersreik to make penance.

One player wants to get even the priest and tries to make some plan on how he can get away with holy murder.

This weekend they will discover that the priest have hired an person to get back the stone that one player stole from the temple (elfstone - brainrock).

Our group is 9 sessions in to TGS; each session is about 6 hours long (take or give an hour). Currently we are at the end of Act 2 and I see at least 5-6 more sessions left. Now granted I added LOTS to this game, I embellished the NPC's in the town, stretched out and changed some of the plots, and got my PC's good and involved with the town and its folk. So it has taken them a bit longer and they've left one hell of a mark on poor Stromdorf; I mean it when I say that town will never, ever be the same again. In all if you play TGS as is; the story is pretty short. But if you embellish and let your PC's explore, it can take a hell of a lot longer and IMO it's much more satisfying.

Kadyx said:

I am curious. Do you have some notes or something. I am working on my TGS campaign and would love to have some good input to expand on TGS.

Double post, read above.

Gallows said:

I would be curious too, we started the campaign last week and I would be more than interested to see how you streched it along!

I have planned a EoN, TGS, Horror of hugeldal campaign. I've set it up to be much more of a sandbox campaign. So stretching out TGS by expanding plots and adding new ones sounds very nice.

Let me see...one...two...(crunch)...three. Three sessions.

Or is it..one..two...three...(crunch)

I do love talking shop so yeah I'll tell you guys how I stretched it out.

I'll share my notes no problem I just need to get them organized! and add in a few things that we've done as well as added some explinations.

I'll get it posted by Sunday as the lastest as Saturday is game day and the PC's are in deep do do, the Wizard is dead, the wood elf wayfinder is complating if elves go to Morr and the rest of the party is crapping themselves as the undead form Olaus Stichhelm just cut off their escape from the wrathful Jessica Brenner (err Madriga Brenner in the adventure, I couldnt remember nor find her name so she got renamed to Jessica).

Kadyx said:

Thanks mate, i look forward to that

It took my group about 14 sessions, 3 hours@ (sometimes 10-20 minutes less)

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_foros_discusion.asp?efid=165&efcid=3&efidt=353836&efpag=0

(note link is to GM section, spoilers for any players in the Gathering Storm)

This was with no "home made sidetracks" though with some fiddling of who is the villain and the final confrontation.

I just trained in a new group on tuesday night (4 hours).

SPOILERS: we got to the farm and to the tree to meet the person.

They spent most of their time trying to cross the river and then messing around with NPCs at the Stewpot and at the THunderwater Inn.

Next comes the showdown!

jh

Gallows said:

Thanks from here too dude!

Ok it took a little longer than I thought to compose all of my notes to Digital format. I use a Mead notebook and write my notes down inbetween game time So i am never more than 1 or two sessions ahead of my game. That way I can see the rocks ahead but I have no idea where port is until we get there.

To Stromdorf:
• PC friend of Wechsler family, asked by Bianka Wechsler to search for missing Husband.
o Last known place Stromdrof
o Usually stays at “the Stewpot”
o Merchant Guild would probably play reward for safe return.

• Town initial impressions:
o Damp, dank and dreary, everything worn and waterlogged
o See Hanko Mucke in market square if during day, “Hidden Tyrant of Ubersriek and his loyal hound. Citizen’s of Stromdorf do you know your worth? The Overlords of Ubersriek surely don’t”
- If PC’s make a scene or end up on the outs with the towns folk or the authorities they make it into Mucke’s speeches. “Roving gangs of Armed thugs….blah blah.
o Church has a lightning rod on steeple
o Smell of chemicals and rotting meat (tannery)
o Lightning rod on Thunder Water Inn
• Belongs to Nickolas Schulmann,
• Very small magic talent, but whip smart
• Sent to Stromdorf to research odd weather patterns
• Not a haughty ass-hole, doesn’t dress as a wizard.
• If PC wizards haven’t declared to Burgomeister suggests that they do.
• Once he discovers Nexus becomes desperate to increase magic talent
• Did experiment with Tempest Knap, got hurt bad.
• Wizards are required to declare themselves to town authorities
o Due to Burgomeister Adler’s unavailability Captain Kessler will accept declarations
o Tells Wizards to keep magic under wraps as not to spook the common folk
The Lesser Evil:
o Cobblepot uses superior Fellowship to redirect any questions as long as PC’s try friendly method
• PC’s who lose contest leave with full place of fried sweet potatoes and feelings of “She’s such a nice lady”
o If Cobblepot is Intimidated, out charmed or deceived as long as she has Boons or PC’ has banes
• Tells PC’s that Reiner Holtz threatened her, afraid for her life she is (false)
• She has no idea what they use the people for (True)
• Makes no mention that she robs her victims (if she can help it)
o Holtz’s farm
• Farm- high dirt palisade, few buildings
• Family of 15-20; all same look - round face, droopy eyes, dirty blond stringy hair
- 4 men: Otto, Reiner, Fritz, Klaus
- 5 women: Marie, Imelda- oldest daughter (wet nursing), 3 other young women (2 preg, 1 not)
- Rest children varying in age.
o Shrine to Taal & Rheys inside compound,
o When PC’s get that they are making sacrifices they proclaim that they are only doing it to safe guard Stromdorf and keep their own family safe from the Beastmen.
• they are not chaos worshippers, just victims
• They have no idea how Cobblepot chooses the people
• The People come drugged and stripped
• They Holtz’s have given their own in the past.
• They didn’t know the merchant personally
• The City Guard never comes out here, who would? The Holtz’s are all alone.
• They didn’t burn the Engels farm down, nor did they set the Beastmen upon it. The Engles chose to stop the sacrifices and paid the price.
• Holtz’s hope that the PC’s will make this problem go away either by taking care of the best men or dying in the swamp.
o When PC’s leave Holtz’s to jouney into swamp; Holtz’s run to hide in Engle farmstead to wait and see if PC’s come back; especially true if it is Obvious that PC’s mean them harm
• Holtz’s leave homestead, gather up kids and necessities.
• Take PC’s horses or Carts if they leave any
• When PC’s return find Homestead empty, lots of personal stuff but no food, no clothes, etc.
• Holtz’s watch from Engels farm, Felix good at stealth.
• If PC’s come back, Holtz’s Run (ONLY IF OBVIOUS PC WILL TURN THEM IN!!!)
• If PC’s head for Farm Holtz’s assume Armed and Murderous Hobos are coming to kill them (Again ONLY IF OBVIOUS PC”S WILL HURT THEM/TURN THEM IN) Holtz men ambush while women & children make a run for it.
Problems in town:
• Fight between Burgomeister Adler & Brenner/Gerber
o Brenner/Gerber have strangle hold on trade though Stromdorf; their approved merchants
o Huge markup on any outside goods other than Leather or Beer, Brenner/Gerber gets a hefty handling fee.
o Brenner owns the Brewery
o Gerber owns the Tannery
o Adler forced Trading Taxes on Brenner/Gerber
o Loosened B/G hold on Economy by encouraging Merchant guilds to send trade to Stromdorf from Ubersriek.
o Brenner/Gerber surprised at how fast/efficiently Adler moved tried to counter but Adler backed by nobility of Ubersriek (money and power) and physically protected by Kessler & Watch/militia
o Current decline of Adler to provide push has stalled his economic growth plan & forced Kessler into a holding pattern
o Adler/Kessler are too strong to fight in streets, but Public opinion waning as Brenner/Gerber tighten grip
o Brenner/Gerber use Hanko Mucke; a failed merchant who blames Adler for his failure
o Hanko can be found most days in Town Market relaying the woes that Adler/Kessler have brought upon them though unfair taxes and economic competition.
• Kessler has had him thrown in the stock numerous times but each time Hanko has come out unscathed as no one throws **** at him.
o Hanko is quietly being backed by Gerber and the tanners watch out for him.
o Brenner has paid local thugs/layabouts to also watch him make sure nothing bad happens to him
o Hanko doesn’t know of Brenner/Gerber protection he believes that the common folk are behind him.
o Common folk have yet to make up their minds but may start to slide towards Brenner/Gerber if Adler/Kessler remains idle.
o Conrad and Tracker are wanted by the Watch
- Conrad resisting watch and brawling with the watch
• Broke a watchman’s nose
- Tracker Menacing and robbing Local innkeeper and resident Halfling Keila Cobblepot.
• Tracker questioned her harshly about the disappearance of his merchant friend, she pointed him at the Holtz’s; menace yes, rob no
- Upon reaching Stromdorf Tracker & Conrad will be taken into custody for crimes against the Town
• Ideally the PC’s will be able to prove Cobblepots involvement with the Holtz’s
o If the Stewpot is searched the Merchants ring + random other loot will be found
o This will clear the PC’s of any perceived wrong doing.
o Hopefully have testimony from a Holtz or Tristen Engel
• The Halfling and any Surviving Holtz’s will be publicly Drowned
o The Town has a large partially buried tub large enough for 3 grown men and twice as tall as a tall man. An iron ring is set into the floor. The condemned is chained to the ring with enough slack to stand on tippy toes or maybe hop. Town’s folk stop up holes at bottom and watch chained person struggle, cry and drown…fun for whole family.
• But resisting arrest and the fact the elf didn’t follow the proper channels still merits punishment in the eyes of the towns’ folk.
• Hanko has been using incident to stir up the Town, stating that the current Bugromiester can’t protect the town.
• Kessler needs PC’s to help with Hanko situation, needs to know who is backing Hanko and put Hanko and associates out of commission. Kessler is a Soldier not a Politician; he thinks the Merchants are behind this but he has no proof, if he attacks the Merchants directly he will lose the town to rebellion.
o Ideally he wants Mucke gone; he doesn’t care if it is on the bottom of the River or on a horse as long as he doesn’t come back and it doesn’t trace back to the Burgomeister or himself.
o Second he would like some proof that the Merchants are behind the unrest, that way he can persecute them with full authority and support in the eyes of the people.
o Kessler will offer a reprieve from jail time or hard labor; instead suggest public whipping and half-day in stocks to gain sympathies of Hanko for PC’s. Will also offer pay 8s a piece and 10s for those who take the lashing. –Note I am thinking of Letting Tracker off the hook if the Halfling is exposed. Instead using the trial to as a show of strength. Of course the Watch gets to take full credit, with the PC’s paid to keep quiet and testify only.
o If PC’s agree to deal, Kessler has Watch spread stories of PC’s exploits in the swamp as PC’s forgot to nab Wargore head.
o Kessler doesn’t tell the Watch about this arrangement to get rid of Mucke, as he knows that sometimes War calls for underhanded deeds and the common man wouldn’t understand.
o Kessler doesn’t want blood in the streets, must be handled quietly
• After the public punishment the PC’s will be approached by Hanko who is looking for brothers in arms against the tyrant.
o If the PC’s exploits in the swamp are known he will hail them as saviors of the town and shining example of how the common man can make up for the shortcomings of their government.
o If PC’s do a good job with Hanko and make everyone believe they are against Kessler Brenner/Gerber may hire PC’s to kill Adler/Kessler…may haven’t decided yet.
The Sting: Assumes PC’s get in good with Hanko and just don’t club and interrogate him. Riot meter, Hanko intends to finish the fight, feeling that the populous is ripe to throw off their oppressive Ubersriek tyrant and live as free men.
• Hanko’s argument “Evil has lived amongst us and where are our so called protectors?”
o Cobblepot and the Holtz’s have murdered countless poor townsfolk, sacrificing them to the beastmen and where were our protectors?
o Hordes of Beastmen lurk just on our doorstep rampaging and killing unchecked, and where are our protectors
o Vile inbred mutants have been walking into our town for years, corrupting us from within, and where were our protectors
o Dangerous Wizards lurk right here in town, casting their witching spells on us as we sleep, and where are our protectors.
o We have been lucky that stalwart proud men have taken it upon themselves to help protect this town and its people from the evil and wickedness that plagues our lands while our protectors cower behind their walls
o Three Stage Event bar, Hanko’s master Plan; PC have chance to counter Mucke’s accusations. If Mucke wins 2 out of 3 contests town riots
? Thunder Water Inn- PC’s notice that everyone who is listening has a drink in their hands, including PC’s and bartender isn’t didn’t ask for coin
? Stromdorf Tannery – every worker is listening to Mucke & foreman isn’t breaking up crowd and getting people back to work.
? Market Square – Mucke is standing on a crate crowd is gathering around him.
• If Mucke won 1 out of last 2 conflicts – small crowd upgrades to medium
• If Mucke won 2 out of last 2 conflicts – medium crowd upgrades to large
The Woman in White: Due to the mishap at the Tempest Knap the Brewers wife awakens and wants revenge on the man who murdered her (husband) and the man who failed to protect her (Burgomeister)
• Sightings
o Sitting in or walking though TWI
o Walking Around the Market Square
o Standing By the Market Rain Cistern
o Outside the Burgomeister Manor
o Looking out a window in either BM or TWI
• Strangeness
o Puddles of water, w/ footprints
o Cold spots
o Women Crying
o Vacant look in Amandas Eyes, calls Conrad by Burgomeister name, “Phillp”, When possessed Eyes turn black, skin look cold clammy, water seeps out of her eyes, ears, mouth and nose. Soaks Bed. She then locks her hands around his throat does same damage as Soul Drain spell.
o Vacant look in woman’s eyes, calls Jerik by Brewer Masters name ,”Sebastian”, and tries to throttle him. Same symptoms as above.
o All Ale and water in Tap Room of TWI turns to fetid sludge (Morr Garden ground water). Foul smell and sickly taste (runs)
• Accidents
o Fire in the brewery while Master Brenner is inside
o Masonry from top of TWI falls and kills someone, next to Sebastian Brenner
o Flue in Burgomeisters Manor shuts causing mass of choking smoke
o Possessed Amanda Holtz tries to throttle Burgomeister. Same symptoms while possessed.
• The Walking dead
o After a few accidents Jessica raises the dead starting with Holtz’s, Cobblepot and the dwarf…god I have been waiting for this one!
o Mass Raising in Garden of Morr, Head for Stromdorf to kill Burgomeister and Master Brewer
• How do they stop her…..? (2/3 of events need to happen)
o Give Master Brenner to her
o Expose her murder at the hands of Master Brenner to town
o Have Burgomiester publicly express his love.
o Remove the stone from the Garden?
o Uh…..Dig up her body, salt and burn it
Fallout: 4 dead and 14 injured after Mucke causes townsfolk to riot (medium size about 35 people), Townsfolk fully in merchants’ court against Burgomeister. Muckee is cut down by arrows and magic by oppressive thugs of Ubersriek (PC’s) during the riot in full view of townsfolk. Most townsfolk rout, after spells start to be cast.
o Population distrust PC’s
? Wizard. + 4 MD, people avoid like plague, no one serves nor deals with, avoid at all cost.
? Elves +3 MD, **** and garbage thrown at them from a distance if possible, no service
? Humans +2 MD, **** and garbage thrown at them from a distance if possible double prices for service.
o Muckee Martyred by towns’ folk.
o Watch who are sent to fetch Priest of Morr to Morrs’ Garden don’t come back. (Jessica Brenner)
o PC’s Kicked out of TWI
o Burgomeister puts them up in a residence/town hall
• BM gives the Human PC’s a Roadwardens pistol telling them they NOW have the authority to drag the merchants to justice.
o Each pistol is unique, and is obviously stolen or taken from a dead Roadwarden.
o Name Jacob Stohl engraved on pommel with Imperial Roadwarden Seal
o Gives PC holding Pistol +1/+2 FD for social rolls vs Imperial Citizens
o Only one shot
• Hans Brenner leaves Stromdorf, leaving a distort Cheryl behind.
o Possibly leads to Brenner possessing the distraught Cheryl.
o Takes all money collected by pair.
o Joins Noble house in Ubersriek as a toady.
Fallout the 2nd: PC’s executed both Sebastian Brenner and Marcel Gerber in street for crimes against the Empire
• Brenner at TWI and is guarded by his group of thugs PC’s +2
o PC’s intimidate Brenner’s Thugs
o Brenner accuses PC’s of kidnapping his son Hans
o Tells PC’s they are just tools, and offers to double their pay.
o Shot in the back of the head by Conrad “the Loveable Companion”
• Gerber at Tannery and is guarded by Tannery workers
o Workers have no armor and use Tannery Tools as weapons
o 60 townsfolk in mob; 5 five person groups, 36 rout
o PC’s backed by 3 watchmen
• Results – Tanning industry demolished, 24 townsfolk dead; rest routed;
The Dead Walk: Happens night after Tannery Slaughter
• Zombies – Otto Holtz, Kelia Cobblepot, + 28 townsfolk swarm town-hall trying to get to Burgomeister Adler, mostly to block him from leaving the townhouse. If they get into the house they crowd hallways and pound on his bedroom door.
• Jessica Attacks – Flue in Bugromeisters room shut, room full of smoke. Jessica stalks room (Tomb banshee) watch him suffocate.
Night at Morrs Garden: Father Gabe Dead, both watchmen sent to Garden dead.
• Skull on Table possible holy relic…does something maybe negs her Willpower bonus to Soak
o Wizards magic hurts her
o Dwarven Hammer hurts her
• When PC’s leave, broken corpses strewn around Garden, very disturbing to Imperials.
• When Return to town, Bugromeister Dead? Coma? Alive and well?
• Watch + able men need to be dispatched to garden to rebury dead and keep watch for reoccurrence + with manpower shortage (38 dead) PC’s are tasked (50 Silver total) to go to Act 3

Sorry for the horrible formatting, the whole cut and paste thing doesnt work well with the FFG forums I'm afraid. And I am too tired from work to really go through and fix the bullets. If you have any questions go ahead and ask!

Ok it took a little longer than I thought to compose all of my notes to Digital format. I use a Mead notebook and write my notes down inbetween game time So i am never more than 1 or two sessions ahead of my game. That way I can see the rocks ahead but I have no idea where port is until we get there.

To Stromdorf:
• PC friend of Wechsler family, asked by Bianka Wechsler to search for missing Husband.
o Last known place Stromdrof
o Usually stays at “the Stewpot”
o Merchant Guild would probably play reward for safe return.

• Town initial impressions:
o Damp, dank and dreary, everything worn and waterlogged
o See Hanko Mucke in market square if during day, “Hidden Tyrant of Ubersriek and his loyal hound. Citizen’s of Stromdorf do you know your worth? The Overlords of Ubersriek surely don’t”
- If PC’s make a scene or end up on the outs with the towns folk or the authorities they make it into Mucke’s speeches. “Roving gangs of Armed thugs….blah blah.
o Church has a lightning rod on steeple
o Smell of chemicals and rotting meat (tannery)
o Lightning rod on Thunder Water Inn
• Belongs to Nickolas Schulmann,
• Very small magic talent, but whip smart
• Sent to Stromdorf to research odd weather patterns
• Not a haughty ass-hole, doesn’t dress as a wizard.
• If PC wizards haven’t declared to Burgomeister suggests that they do.
• Once he discovers Nexus becomes desperate to increase magic talent
• Did experiment with Tempest Knap, got hurt bad.
• Wizards are required to declare themselves to town authorities
o Due to Burgomeister Adler’s unavailability Captain Kessler will accept declarations
o Tells Wizards to keep magic under wraps as not to spook the common folk
The Lesser Evil:
o Cobblepot uses superior Fellowship to redirect any questions as long as PC’s try friendly method
• PC’s who lose contest leave with full place of fried sweet potatoes and feelings of “She’s such a nice lady”
o If Cobblepot is Intimidated, out charmed or deceived as long as she has Boons or PC’ has banes
• Tells PC’s that Reiner Holtz threatened her, afraid for her life she is (false)
• She has no idea what they use the people for (True)
• Makes no mention that she robs her victims (if she can help it)
o Holtz’s farm
• Farm- high dirt palisade, few buildings
• Family of 15-20; all same look - round face, droopy eyes, dirty blond stringy hair
- 4 men: Otto, Reiner, Fritz, Klaus
- 5 women: Marie, Imelda- oldest daughter (wet nursing), 3 other young women (2 preg, 1 not)
- Rest children varying in age.
o Shrine to Taal & Rheys inside compound,
o When PC’s get that they are making sacrifices they proclaim that they are only doing it to safe guard Stromdorf and keep their own family safe from the Beastmen.
• they are not chaos worshippers, just victims
• They have no idea how Cobblepot chooses the people
• The People come drugged and stripped
• They Holtz’s have given their own in the past.
• They didn’t know the merchant personally
• The City Guard never comes out here, who would? The Holtz’s are all alone.
• They didn’t burn the Engels farm down, nor did they set the Beastmen upon it. The Engles chose to stop the sacrifices and paid the price.
• Holtz’s hope that the PC’s will make this problem go away either by taking care of the best men or dying in the swamp.
o When PC’s leave Holtz’s to jouney into swamp; Holtz’s run to hide in Engle farmstead to wait and see if PC’s come back; especially true if it is Obvious that PC’s mean them harm
• Holtz’s leave homestead, gather up kids and necessities.
• Take PC’s horses or Carts if they leave any
• When PC’s return find Homestead empty, lots of personal stuff but no food, no clothes, etc.
• Holtz’s watch from Engels farm, Felix good at stealth.
• If PC’s come back, Holtz’s Run (ONLY IF OBVIOUS PC WILL TURN THEM IN!!!)
• If PC’s head for Farm Holtz’s assume Armed and Murderous Hobos are coming to kill them (Again ONLY IF OBVIOUS PC”S WILL HURT THEM/TURN THEM IN) Holtz men ambush while women & children make a run for it.
Problems in town:
• Fight between Burgomeister Adler & Brenner/Gerber
o Brenner/Gerber have strangle hold on trade though Stromdorf; their approved merchants
o Huge markup on any outside goods other than Leather or Beer, Brenner/Gerber gets a hefty handling fee.
o Brenner owns the Brewery
o Gerber owns the Tannery
o Adler forced Trading Taxes on Brenner/Gerber
o Loosened B/G hold on Economy by encouraging Merchant guilds to send trade to Stromdorf from Ubersriek.
o Brenner/Gerber surprised at how fast/efficiently Adler moved tried to counter but Adler backed by nobility of Ubersriek (money and power) and physically protected by Kessler & Watch/militia
o Current decline of Adler to provide push has stalled his economic growth plan & forced Kessler into a holding pattern
o Adler/Kessler are too strong to fight in streets, but Public opinion waning as Brenner/Gerber tighten grip
o Brenner/Gerber use Hanko Mucke; a failed merchant who blames Adler for his failure
o Hanko can be found most days in Town Market relaying the woes that Adler/Kessler have brought upon them though unfair taxes and economic competition.
• Kessler has had him thrown in the stock numerous times but each time Hanko has come out unscathed as no one throws **** at him.
o Hanko is quietly being backed by Gerber and the tanners watch out for him.
o Brenner has paid local thugs/layabouts to also watch him make sure nothing bad happens to him
o Hanko doesn’t know of Brenner/Gerber protection he believes that the common folk are behind him.
o Common folk have yet to make up their minds but may start to slide towards Brenner/Gerber if Adler/Kessler remains idle.
o Conrad and Tracker are wanted by the Watch
- Conrad resisting watch and brawling with the watch
• Broke a watchman’s nose
- Tracker Menacing and robbing Local innkeeper and resident Halfling Keila Cobblepot.
• Tracker questioned her harshly about the disappearance of his merchant friend, she pointed him at the Holtz’s; menace yes, rob no
- Upon reaching Stromdorf Tracker & Conrad will be taken into custody for crimes against the Town
• Ideally the PC’s will be able to prove Cobblepots involvement with the Holtz’s
o If the Stewpot is searched the Merchants ring + random other loot will be found
o This will clear the PC’s of any perceived wrong doing.
o Hopefully have testimony from a Holtz or Tristen Engel
• The Halfling and any Surviving Holtz’s will be publicly Drowned
o The Town has a large partially buried tub large enough for 3 grown men and twice as tall as a tall man. An iron ring is set into the floor. The condemned is chained to the ring with enough slack to stand on tippy toes or maybe hop. Town’s folk stop up holes at bottom and watch chained person struggle, cry and drown…fun for whole family.
• But resisting arrest and the fact the elf didn’t follow the proper channels still merits punishment in the eyes of the towns’ folk.
• Hanko has been using incident to stir up the Town, stating that the current Bugromiester can’t protect the town.
• Kessler needs PC’s to help with Hanko situation, needs to know who is backing Hanko and put Hanko and associates out of commission. Kessler is a Soldier not a Politician; he thinks the Merchants are behind this but he has no proof, if he attacks the Merchants directly he will lose the town to rebellion.
o Ideally he wants Mucke gone; he doesn’t care if it is on the bottom of the River or on a horse as long as he doesn’t come back and it doesn’t trace back to the Burgomeister or himself.
o Second he would like some proof that the Merchants are behind the unrest, that way he can persecute them with full authority and support in the eyes of the people.
o Kessler will offer a reprieve from jail time or hard labor; instead suggest public whipping and half-day in stocks to gain sympathies of Hanko for PC’s. Will also offer pay 8s a piece and 10s for those who take the lashing. –Note I am thinking of Letting Tracker off the hook if the Halfling is exposed. Instead using the trial to as a show of strength. Of course the Watch gets to take full credit, with the PC’s paid to keep quiet and testify only.
o If PC’s agree to deal, Kessler has Watch spread stories of PC’s exploits in the swamp as PC’s forgot to nab Wargore head.
o Kessler doesn’t tell the Watch about this arrangement to get rid of Mucke, as he knows that sometimes War calls for underhanded deeds and the common man wouldn’t understand.
o Kessler doesn’t want blood in the streets, must be handled quietly
• After the public punishment the PC’s will be approached by Hanko who is looking for brothers in arms against the tyrant.
o If the PC’s exploits in the swamp are known he will hail them as saviors of the town and shining example of how the common man can make up for the shortcomings of their government.
o If PC’s do a good job with Hanko and make everyone believe they are against Kessler Brenner/Gerber may hire PC’s to kill Adler/Kessler…may haven’t decided yet.
The Sting: Assumes PC’s get in good with Hanko and just don’t club and interrogate him. Riot meter, Hanko intends to finish the fight, feeling that the populous is ripe to throw off their oppressive Ubersriek tyrant and live as free men.
• Hanko’s argument “Evil has lived amongst us and where are our so called protectors?”
o Cobblepot and the Holtz’s have murdered countless poor townsfolk, sacrificing them to the beastmen and where were our protectors?
o Hordes of Beastmen lurk just on our doorstep rampaging and killing unchecked, and where are our protectors
o Vile inbred mutants have been walking into our town for years, corrupting us from within, and where were our protectors
o Dangerous Wizards lurk right here in town, casting their witching spells on us as we sleep, and where are our protectors.
o We have been lucky that stalwart proud men have taken it upon themselves to help protect this town and its people from the evil and wickedness that plagues our lands while our protectors cower behind their walls
o Three Stage Event bar, Hanko’s master Plan; PC have chance to counter Mucke’s accusations. If Mucke wins 2 out of 3 contests town riots
? Thunder Water Inn- PC’s notice that everyone who is listening has a drink in their hands, including PC’s and bartender isn’t didn’t ask for coin
? Stromdorf Tannery – every worker is listening to Mucke & foreman isn’t breaking up crowd and getting people back to work.
? Market Square – Mucke is standing on a crate crowd is gathering around him.
• If Mucke won 1 out of last 2 conflicts – small crowd upgrades to medium
• If Mucke won 2 out of last 2 conflicts – medium crowd upgrades to large
The Woman in White: Due to the mishap at the Tempest Knap the Brewers wife awakens and wants revenge on the man who murdered her (husband) and the man who failed to protect her (Burgomeister)
• Sightings
o Sitting in or walking though TWI
o Walking Around the Market Square
o Standing By the Market Rain Cistern
o Outside the Burgomeister Manor
o Looking out a window in either BM or TWI
• Strangeness
o Puddles of water, w/ footprints
o Cold spots
o Women Crying
o Vacant look in Amandas Eyes, calls Conrad by Burgomeister name, “Phillp”, When possessed Eyes turn black, skin look cold clammy, water seeps out of her eyes, ears, mouth and nose. Soaks Bed. She then locks her hands around his throat does same damage as Soul Drain spell.
o Vacant look in woman’s eyes, calls Jerik by Brewer Masters name ,”Sebastian”, and tries to throttle him. Same symptoms as above.
o All Ale and water in Tap Room of TWI turns to fetid sludge (Morr Garden ground water). Foul smell and sickly taste (runs)
• Accidents
o Fire in the brewery while Master Brenner is inside
o Masonry from top of TWI falls and kills someone, next to Sebastian Brenner
o Flue in Burgomeisters Manor shuts causing mass of choking smoke
o Possessed Amanda Holtz tries to throttle Burgomeister. Same symptoms while possessed.
• The Walking dead
o After a few accidents Jessica raises the dead starting with Holtz’s, Cobblepot and the dwarf…god I have been waiting for this one!
o Mass Raising in Garden of Morr, Head for Stromdorf to kill Burgomeister and Master Brewer
• How do they stop her…..? (2/3 of events need to happen)
o Give Master Brenner to her
o Expose her murder at the hands of Master Brenner to town
o Have Burgomiester publicly express his love.
o Remove the stone from the Garden?
o Uh…..Dig up her body, salt and burn it
Fallout: 4 dead and 14 injured after Mucke causes townsfolk to riot (medium size about 35 people), Townsfolk fully in merchants’ court against Burgomeister. Muckee is cut down by arrows and magic by oppressive thugs of Ubersriek (PC’s) during the riot in full view of townsfolk. Most townsfolk rout, after spells start to be cast.
o Population distrust PC’s
? Wizard. + 4 MD, people avoid like plague, no one serves nor deals with, avoid at all cost.
? Elves +3 MD, **** and garbage thrown at them from a distance if possible, no service
? Humans +2 MD, **** and garbage thrown at them from a distance if possible double prices for service.
o Muckee Martyred by towns’ folk.
o Watch who are sent to fetch Priest of Morr to Morrs’ Garden don’t come back. (Jessica Brenner)
o PC’s Kicked out of TWI
o Burgomeister puts them up in a residence/town hall
• BM gives the Human PC’s a Roadwardens pistol telling them they NOW have the authority to drag the merchants to justice.
o Each pistol is unique, and is obviously stolen or taken from a dead Roadwarden.
o Name Jacob Stohl engraved on pommel with Imperial Roadwarden Seal
o Gives PC holding Pistol +1/+2 FD for social rolls vs Imperial Citizens
o Only one shot
• Hans Brenner leaves Stromdorf, leaving a distort Cheryl behind.
o Possibly leads to Brenner possessing the distraught Cheryl.
o Takes all money collected by pair.
o Joins Noble house in Ubersriek as a toady.
Fallout the 2nd: PC’s executed both Sebastian Brenner and Marcel Gerber in street for crimes against the Empire
• Brenner at TWI and is guarded by his group of thugs PC’s +2
o PC’s intimidate Brenner’s Thugs
o Brenner accuses PC’s of kidnapping his son Hans
o Tells PC’s they are just tools, and offers to double their pay.
o Shot in the back of the head by Conrad “the Loveable Companion”
• Gerber at Tannery and is guarded by Tannery workers
o Workers have no armor and use Tannery Tools as weapons
o 60 townsfolk in mob; 5 five person groups, 36 rout
o PC’s backed by 3 watchmen
• Results – Tanning industry demolished, 24 townsfolk dead; rest routed;
The Dead Walk: Happens night after Tannery Slaughter
• Zombies – Otto Holtz, Kelia Cobblepot, + 28 townsfolk swarm town-hall trying to get to Burgomeister Adler, mostly to block him from leaving the townhouse. If they get into the house they crowd hallways and pound on his bedroom door.
• Jessica Attacks – Flue in Bugromeisters room shut, room full of smoke. Jessica stalks room (Tomb banshee) watch him suffocate.
Night at Morrs Garden: Father Gabe Dead, both watchmen sent to Garden dead.
• Skull on Table possible holy relic…does something maybe negs her Willpower bonus to Soak
o Wizards magic hurts her
o Dwarven Hammer hurts her
• When PC’s leave, broken corpses strewn around Garden, very disturbing to Imperials.
• When Return to town, Bugromeister Dead? Coma? Alive and well?
• Watch + able men need to be dispatched to garden to rebury dead and keep watch for reoccurrence + with manpower shortage (38 dead) PC’s are tasked (50 Silver total) to go to Act 3

Sorry for the horrible formatting, the whole cut and paste thing doesnt work well with the FFG forums I'm afraid. And I am too tired from work to really go through and fix the bullets. If you have any questions go ahead and ask!

oops double post...boy that one is long. Uh offical townsfolk body count should be 38 for my PC's....yeah the town really hates them but the people in charge see them as cheap loyal labor.

Hey! Thanks for your notes, it's a bit chaotic in there but you made me think of a few ways of adding to TGS!

Thanks again!

Yeah Sorry about that, the program that FFG uses for its forums doesn't cut and paste well so my formating came out all screwy. Also I tend to write in broad strokes inbetween sessions that way I can't paint myself into a corner. My notes are kind of mix of reactionary actions based on my PC's; which is why their seems to be no consistency in my notes I am not filling in the details just the directions I wanted to go.

For instance I knew I wanted to increase the screen time of Stromdorf and its people and focus on the struggle between the establishment (Alder/Kessler) vs. the merchant class (Brenner/Gerber) with it being obvious that no matter who wins the townsfolk are screwed. I decided that Mucke need to play a more important role because well towns the size of Stromdorf rarely have professional agitators and that ment i had to get the PC's interested in him. My problem was how do I get my PC's invovled in a way that makes sense and gives them lots of options with handling the problem. So in Act 1 when Tracker, my wood elf Wayfinder, got fed up being run around in circles by Keila Cobblepot ( he kept losing the contested charm checks for questioning her about his missing friend Florian Wechsler; he always end up walking away with no answers and a full plate of fried sweet potatoes in awe of how nice she was) and switched tactics to intimidation (which he promptly won). Now, Keila's serving staff having heard the commotion and ran off to fetch the guard, and in PC's intimidation roll he rolled banes so I decided that Keila told him a modified version of the truth. Then Tracker fled the Stewpot Inn; realizing that what he had done looked really bad and that the screaming human servent who ran off probably fetched the Watch (who he was on good terms with). Unfortuantly Tracker had another PC Tag along for this scene; Conrad the Loveable Companion (Human Soldier); who had actually ordered breakfast and was sitting in the common room during Trackers little interrogation of the Inns propretor. When Tracker fled he told Conrad it was time to get lost, Conrad declined stating that he had just orderd breakfast. When the watch showed up with the servant, the servant fingered Conrad as one of the Elf's accomplics. A brawl ensued when the Watch tried to bring the stranger (Conrad) in for questioning resulting in 1 watchman with a broken nose and 2 out cold. Because of this altercation Hanko Mucke has something new to rally against the Burgomeister about, "Bands of Armed thugs (the PC's) roaming throughout our town robbing our citizens and where is the Burgomeister? where is the Watch?". When the PC's returned from their adventure in the Oberslecht; Tracker and Conrad were wanted for resiting the watch and the robbery of Keila Cobblepot (she told everyone that Tracker robbed her, which he didn't) and they got arrested by the Watch. The small action of Tracker's led to the PC's getting dragged into Stromdorfs town politics.

In all I changed a few notable things about The Gathering Storm.

I linked the PC's to the missing Merchant Florian Wechsler, this got them more involved in the adventure and more willing to do things that were a very bad idea. I also made the Holtz's more monstrous and at the same time more the victims of what was going on.

I made the politics in town more of an issue than originally intended with both sides jocking for power and trying to get the PC's on their side. I also pointed out to the PC's that they were the most dangerous people in town, basiclly seen as hired killers by the people who opposed them and hired them.

I got rid of Lazerus Mourn, I thought he was silly and unnecessary, instead I used the wrathful spirit of Madriga Brenner woken up by the influx of magic in Morr's Garden. Using her also allowed me to tie it closely to the politics in town, and haunt the hell out of the principle NPC's and the PC's.

For Niklas Schulmann i made him a apprentice eternal who had a chance at greater power. I made him a highly intelligent and very learned but very weak when it came to actual channeling and directing of magic. He had been sent to Stromdorf to study weather patterns and discovered the Tempist Knapp. His goal was to increase his magic ability, and earn his rightful place in his order. In the beginning I made him very humble, he didn't dress as a Wizard and he didn't advertise; although he did present himself to the town authority showing his writ of Magic (mundane document stating he's been OK'd by the College and the Empire). He did help townsfolk with letters and he did teach the children as stated in the book. And he did blow himself up at Tempest Knap. I just changed his motivations and made him more tolerable to the PC's and more of a shock when he flips out. I also stated to allow him to draw power from the stones; pulling from them like they were batteries. This ability to pull power from the stones amplified his very meger magic skills but forced him to stay around the stones.

Now I am in Act 3 and pretty much running as is.

OH one more thing! I have 6 players. For Act 1 I had one Elf Wayfinder, one High Elf Swordmaster, 2 Human Soldiers, 1 Human Celestial Apprentice, and one Dwarven Slayer. For Act 2 I had lost the dwarf and gained a Bounty Hunter. For Act 3 I lost the Celestial Apprentice and the Wood Elf Wayfinder but picked up a Bright Mage Acolyte and a Dwarven Charlatan. So you will find most encounters are geared for 3 PC's; one of which are a fighting career. I had to jack the theat levels up to give my PC's good dramatic fights as the bulk of my PC's careers are fighting careers.

Any questions?