After accepting Lord Rickard von Aschaffenberg's patronage (see link below to Eye for an Eye and interlude afterwards), the heroes receive their first request to look into something for him

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_foros_discusion.asp?efid=165&efcid=3&efidt=460642

On Nachgeheim 19, 2521 Vern Hendrik asks the heroes to attend Lord Aschaffenberg at the manor.

Lord Aschaffenberg explains a need for “delicate inquiries” to be made in the nearby mining town of Hugeldal . Lord Rickard asks the heroes to go to Hugeldal and see what is going on with his sister-in-law Agnetha von Jungfreud (his wife Ludmilla’s younger sister, a von Bruner by birth).

Strange reports that could cause the von Bruner’s yet more trouble have reached Lord Rickard’s ears and he wants to know if they are simply rumour mongering and, if not, what is possessing his sister in law (so the speak). Lady Agnetha is said to be persecuting the Shallyan order (banning preaching, confiscating property), which is sure to cause trouble. Lady Agnetha is the widow of Matthias von Jungfreud (who was lord of Hugeldal till he died in the weevil cough outbreak that had Hugeldal quarantined for a bit) and “dowager lady” of Hugeldal, and his sister-in-law, so he would like some discretion.

Lord Rickard suggests not wearing his colours openly to start but has no objection to the heroes revealing they are there as his agents if it becomes useful dealing with his sister in law or otherwise (that is the “trusts your judgment” check Hans made paying off).

The heroes ask if there are any reliable contacts in Hugeldal. Lord Rickard doesn’t know much about the place (it’s the back end of no where) but Vern Hendrik can offer that that the Imperial Engineer, Thorsten Wulfgardt, who is there to see to mine works etc. should be a trustworthy fellow.

The heroes recall that it was in connection with Hugeldal that Hans heard of the missing Holy Father Richter Holstiein. They visit the Temple of Sigmar and Holy Father Emming who fills in details.

Holstein lead 20 or so dwarf miners and able-bodied townsfolk in a “crusade” against beastmen (not just a rag tag bunch of lads from the ale house, a couple of veterans, hunters and such to give the expedition some steel). Miners working the hills in area had reported sighting the creatures. It’s been over 2 weeks now without word (which is uncomfortably long).

Lector Emming welcomes the heroes looking into this though counsels caution if there is a beastman herd capable of destroying an expedition of 20 (he fears the worst). Anselm is charming enough that the Holy Father gave a healing draught to the heroes in case they need it (Hans takes it).

** The human heroes being natives of the Empire all know that Shallya is part of the Imperial Pantheon. She is the daughter of Morr and Verena (mercy is the daughter of death and justice), she is the kindest of the gods (most of whom can be rather fickle, unreasonable etc.). Yes sometimes people blame her servants for not being able to do more against disease and madness and people can get pretty frank in their disparaging of the gods when things don’t go as they would like, but persecuting her cult is unheard of. The Sigmarites and Ulricans go after each other, the Witch Hunters suspect the Verenans, Ranald’s priests are charlatans, but Shallyans? How can you hate Shallyans? They literally wouldn’t lift a hand to defend themselves. Someone who wasn’t a noble who tried to do something like that would end up getting arrested (and ironically it might only be the pleas of the Shallyans what would save them from a very bad end).

The Ubersreik temple of Shallya is also a supporter of Lord Aschaffenberg.

This briefing took place in the same session as the last played events in linked thread above, the next session then started their trip.

29th experience point earned.

After receiving Lord Rickard’s request and speaking with Lector Emming at the Temple of Sigmar, the heroes returned to the Aschaffenberg mansion to borrow riding horses (part of their patronage suite of benefits) and ride down to Hugeldal.

By horse, the bit over 10 miles to the town could be covered before sunset the same day.

The trail took them through Messingen and into the hillier forested terrain south of Ubersreik. As they neared Hugeldal, they came round a bend to see a scene of outrage. Brigands were in the process of cutting down a group of Shallyans, a colourful Strigany wagon also having come up the scene it appears but the driver too scared to lend assistance.

Krieger and Hans are both enraged to see unarmed, pacifist Shallyans being attacked by humans. Krieger and Hans are outraged by this and their blood boils (Frenzied condition)

I offer the human PC's players a free Frenzied condition as a reaction to this site - Findulas being an elf out of Athel Loren doesn’t quite grasp the particularly shocking nature of the crime before him. Two take me up, Anselm is not so enraged – perhaps musing where were the Shallyans when I was an orphan?.

As the heroes are into 2nd Rank, I beefed up the bandits, they were 2 regular bandits, a henchman group of 4 and an improved Tarwin.

The mounted heroes must control their horses (free Ride/Animal Handling per Omens of War), Hans fails but was planning to dismount anyway. Krieger urges his steed forward (with advantage of the old dirt road only needing to spend 1 Wind from mount, he has Riding) to intercept a brigand menacing the one Shallyan still standing. Hans tried to intimidate the brigands (unfortunately he had quasi disguised himself as not-obviously-a-wizard-except-for-my-staff which gave him a single misfortune die on his attempt – becoming the key to its failure) they are not afraid of this unarmoured man shaking his stick at them though do find time to send a few arrows his way and score a trauma critical wound!

Hans reaches the living and fallen people – a guard it seems (not so badly hurt, but still needing care to avoid bleeding out) and a shallyan woman from whom a large pool of blood has come, he coaxes a healing draught down the woman’s throat to stabilize her (using the draught rather than risking 4D First Aid check).

The brigands are all killed by melee and archery and slingshots (Anselm taking down a couple of archers with well placed sling shots and then sending Senor Bitey to attack the particularly rabid attacker) and Hans' burning eyes that finish off the berserk brigand who is last standing.

Maximilian unfortunately gets in the way of a roundhouse swing and more criticals – another Permanent one as he gets a game leg and must now hobble, and his one good eye getting a bit mangled.

Yes, the NPC draws another Permanent critical and has so many crits it's automatically permanent - so far all drawn by NPC's and none by PCs! Maximilian is now a one eyed, limping man with his good eye termporarily mangled. (he’s at 3 criticals and has 3 learnings so far with 4 to be dead and 4 to "graduate").

The heroes speak with Father Braum, the other two survivors being unconscious. (the guard would have been conscious but the first aid tending him rolled a Chaos Star). He is puzzled by this attack, there being no attempt at robbery first. He explains why the Shallyans are on the trail to Ubersreik, showing the heroes a copy of Lady Agnetha’s proclamation proscribing Shallyan blessings etc. (Hans reads it).

The Shallyans intend to seek an audience with Graf von Jungfreud in Black Rock Castle (at Ubersreik) and call for his intercession with his vassal, though Braum does say to the heroes that they were unable to see Lady Agnetha herself and he hopes she is being misadvised or that this is otherwise some misunderstanding and that a noble of the Empire has not really seen fit to confiscate an official cult’s temple and ban its blessings under threat of “gentler tortures”. Father Braum confirms the story of missing Father Holstein, Sigmarite temple being looked after by a young woman in his absence.

Father Braum invokes Shallya’s blessing on each wounded hero and though this does nothing for the wounds suffered by Krieger and Findulas, Shallya’s favour completely cures Hans of the critical he suffered (comet result – bet Findulas wishes he got that with his Severity 4 critical!). Hans’ First Aid tends to Findulas and Anslem (both healed of all wounds) and reduces Krieger’s wounds (still has a few), he used Splints and Bandages on Krieger.

[An “end of episode” recovery of Fatigue/Stress, reset of actions etc. takes place]

The Shallyan wounded and dead are placed into the Strigany wagon, on some bundled blankets (the wounded that is), and Father Braum agrees to wait for the heroes to report back before approaching the Graf about Lady Agnetha.

There heroes found 16 shillings and a healing draught on the fallen. They take one each of the various weapons they were using in case this can identify them (crossbow [being the most valuable], shortbow, longsword) and pack them on horses, the Stigany picking up the rest. Looking about they find a small trail, Anselm and Hans stay with horses while Krieger and Findulas follow it – Findulas suffering a wound from a tripwire sprung stake trap.

Findulas and Krieger find a bandit camp, 3 more horses, 8 more shillings and sign that there was one more person sleeping in this camp than accounted for among the bandits they fought, a [few more] shilling and another healing draught.

The trail continues on (more passable for horses now) and rejoins the road within sight of Hugeldal. The two ride back by road (on horses from camp) and rejoin their comrades (now also having 3 extra riding horses, retail value 2G each).

Coming up to the town, Krieger’s keen eyesight identifies that the temple perched up the steep slope the town is built against is a Vereran temple (the owl-gargoyles).

At the town gate, they are challenged and identify themselves as here to look into fate of Father Holstein and his expedition – Anselm is acting as “speaker” for the Sigmarite priest Krieger (the Guile check gets a fortune die for the fact it’s true just not all the truth and is successful). The guards admit the heroes, double checking that “the elf is with you?”

Another copy of the proclamation is up on wall as they enter, with a pictorial for the illiterate (white dove with red X over it). The heroes ask about this and guard offers to explain it to them, Hans indicates he can read but wonders about it, whiskered guard hems and haws a bit, “duty to enforce Lady Agnetha’s orders” etc. but doesn’t seem enthusiastic, is happy that none of the party are Shallyans (and doesn’t seem to want to hear they are if they are).

The hour is drawing into evening as Krieger leads the heroes to the Temple of Sigmar (that’s the first order of business). They find no young woman but 14 or so peasant refugees making home in it. Krieger is not pleased at this use of a Temple of Sigmar (that’s what Shallyan hospices are for). Apparently these people were all at the Shallyan Hospice/temple but when Lady Agnetha seized it they had to leave, so they came here (Father Holstein being gone at this point). They profess to be good Sigmarites all of course, but Krieger casts them out of the temple with 40 brass pennies each – a bit more than 3 days wages for a labourer for each (from his pocket and some raised from his comrades, 14x40 being 560 pennies or 22 shillings and 10 pennies).

Hans confirms most of them are simply weakened from prolonged illness but seem mending, though one is still troubled by Weevil Cough. Krieger hears from one, also named Hans (“Peasant Hans” for clarity) who says he knows what is going on.

Peasant Hans relates the tale of the “Famine Fiend” he says is responsible for the weevil cough (and deaths of all his family), and he’s sure this Fiend has done for Father Holstein (Krieger observes Peasant Hans says the hill he pulled stones down on and where he met this “corpse-like beastman fiend” was 10 miles south of town whereas the beastmen miners spotted and Holstein lead ‘crusase’ to find were east of town – Peasant Hans is still certain it’s the fiend at work).

The heroes go to the Shallyan temple and there find it empty but for Heidi Cranmer who is looking after it. She used to look after Sigmarite temple but she hasn’t been paid. She relates that Lady Agnetha is paying for the “new Physicks Guild house” to be kept though Doktor Verfullen is reluctant to move into it.

The heroes hear again of the beastmen reported by miners working in the hills, Heidi says it was unwelcome news that more of the creatures are returning to area. The one “good thing” about the recent quarantine was the Graf’s troops cleaning out goblins and beastmen in the immediate area while they were patrolling for the months of the quarantine.

Krieger persuades Heidi to also look after the Sigmarite temple, paying her 10 shillings.

As the shadows of evening deepen, the heroes go to the mansion not really expecting to get an audience with its lady. However, on strength of looking into Father Holstein’s disappearance, they get one easily.

In a study, the conversation with Lady Agnetha (who is concerned about Father Holstein and a good Sigmarite supporter) turns to Shallyan-question whereupon she explains her decision to do away with the indolence-spawning, itinerant attracting Shallyans with their free medical care of questionable value and soaking up donations better spent funding proper medical care from qualified physks etc. - Shallyan cult being an antiquated leech that is on the Empire’s strength (compared to say the bold and useful Cult of Sigmar with its examples of opposition to chaos and forceful defence of the Empire).

Krieger raises the threat of her fate for this action – as we end about to see Krieger try to Intimidate Lady Agnetha…

There was much jolly recognition of the neo-conservative views of Lady Agnetha ("she's Mike Harris! says one player - he was neo-con premier of our province for some time). The players cover a range of political views but all can enjoy a good parody.

Note, I made the "feature disease" Weevil Cough as it connects to tainted crops and in my version the original outbreak of disease is the Famine Fiend unleasing a strong version of this illness. Doktor Verfullen came to town because he was working on a cure but found it difficult, eventually on Hexensnacht he had a stroke of genius reviewing a book he had thought gibberish and realizing it holds great secrets... (essentially, I've blended Doktor Festus' origin with Doktor Verfullen since the Festus story is too good to leave completely offstage).

once again your session reports are a great read. i'd dismissed horror at hulgedal as an adventure for my group because during an eye for an eye they focussed on the dodgy physician as being a leader among the cultists. i felt i ran the risk of it feeling a bit like deja vu.

Hi Valvorik, thanks for the interesting session report. I'm very glad to hear that people are getting into the spirit intended regarding the shocking treatment of innocent Shallyans and deriving some amusement from Agnetha's political justifications.

The allocation of the frenzied condition seemed really apt, nice innovative use of the condition card.

Looking forward to the next instalment!

Yes I was pleased, Hans' Player took the frenzied condition purely because "that's how he would feel" despite being a conservative-favouring wizard of light (he's been roleplaying friendliness to Shallyans previously).

Rob

30th experience point earned

Anselm the Seer (Mystic, Ratcatcher), Findulas the Waywatcher (Hunter), and Hans the Apothecary (Acolyte, Apprentice Wizard). Krieger’s player absent.

Krieger’s attempt to bring Lady Agnetha to her senses with the threat of the consequences sure to fall on her fails (by a wide margin, rolled for Krieger as we broke just about do this, thereafter he “disappears to pray” etc. for session). She orders the heroes out, saying they would better focus on finding Father Holstein than questioning her governance.

Not revealed at time - several of the (many) black dice added to Krieger’s pool reflect she has Delusions of Grandeur and other insanities, one is for fact it’s her manor (location card) – she’s officially mad really – Insight might have seen this in her or a comet on a failure etc., heroes didn’t try Insight - I decided Lady Agnetha must be insane to do what she's doing and gave her a couple of "fitting ones" and also some reason to be ... revealed below.

The hour is late and the heroes go to the Bucket of Blood inn (sleeping in the Temple of Sigmar does not attract them, though Krieger goes to pray for guidance).

At the Bucket of Blood the heroes learn that innkeeper Gudrun Ennslin is another townsperson who thinks Lady Agnetha is insane to do as she’s done. He blames the impious imperial engineer for her actions. Hans sees a man in physician’s robes and goes over, having a glass of wine with Doktor Vefullen, who is also alarmed at the Lady’s actions and explains his treatment for Weevil Cough (without divulging any proprietary information of course). The Shallyans aren’t much use but banning them is bizarre, lots of poor peasants who can’t afford his fees will be trying to pay him with chickens. Insight fails to show he feels differently that stated.

From a bounty hunter, they learn that a group of bandits in area have a bounty on them, lead by the Fleisher brothers. The heroes figure out they killed Tarwin Fleisher and Max is still at large (perhaps he was the fellow who left in as they came in).

After resting overnight, on Nachgeheim 20, the heroes continue to poke around Hugeldal. They discover that the lead attacker’s body from the ambush was removed and taken to the Garden of Morr (left for the town watch to find, with a shilling on each eye to pay for disposition).

I decided Max took care of his brother and then lit out of town. He was at the inn when the heroes arrived but they failed an Observation check to spot the guy who looks like a less scarred, cleaner version of the man they killed, and he left when he saw them come in.

Hans insists on seeing body and uses a cantrip to make a death mask image on a cloth he puts over the face (1D impromptu spellcraft check with 3 successes means it’s a very good, somewhat creepy likeness).

In this case I call for a check to use Cantrip this way but allow it, it's an inventive idea. Some table chatter about the "Shroud of Hugeldal".

The heroes talk to the imperial engineer who is indeed a critic of the religious cults, though not of the gods, and seems (Insight) honestly shocked at the attack on the Shallyans, "they’re mostly useless but killing them, that’s barbaric". They try to see Lady Agnetha again but are denied entry by an apologetic guard (clearly Lady Agnetha has no stout or loyal defenders).

The heroes speak to the Strigany camped out of town getting a general timeline of events from the marriage to present, the Strigany grandmother recognizes that Anselm (the Seer) does not need his fortune told and urges him to buy a magical charm for a single shilling saying “you will need this” (Lucky Charm card). The Strigany saw someone ride up and leave the body at Garden of Morr last night, the rider rode way down the trail (so Max not in town it seems). The Strigany are frank in saying Lady Agnetha is mad (the heroes think this is meant colloquially and only later see the sad truth of it).

They go back to ask the innkeeper more questions, given the engineer not seeming the source of trouble indicated, and he arranges to speak with them in a “nook” room. As Anselm gradually builds up the case suggesting he mislead them, and beads of perspiration form on his brow, a green globe is cast into the room and shatters releasing Pestilent Vapours that blind everyone and affect Anselm with the puss filled boils of Green Pox, Findulas with the foetid stench of Ghastly Vapours (failure plus chaos star) that is also Painful, and the innkeeper with Plague! Hans is the only one unaffected.

Findulas quickly leaps through a small window (Perform a Stunt) with great success (despite added challenge die for being blinded,and painful misfortune die), meaning he lands on his feet in close range to..... Doktor Verfullen!

Hans and Anselm leave the vaprous room more mundanely, pushing the innkeeper out with them and telling him his partner in crime obviously wants him out of way. The cursing Doktor, "meddling fools, I am close to the Cure!", slashes at Findulas with a scalpel but inflicts little damage before Findulas rapid fires three arrows into him.

That Rapid Fire action keeps downing villains!

As he dies, coughing blood, the Doktor continues to curse, he dying words being something about the Cure and his office. The heroes start revealing their true purpose and patronage and deputize bounty hunter Klaus Manchdor to take custody of the innkeeper (Hans pays him 12 shillings, a bit over a good day’s pay for a mercenary). They speak to gate guards about quarantining the town (though are not as impressive as they think).

The innkeeper reveals what he knows of the Doktor’s plans (he was the Doktor’s dupe, in fear of him, he says).

Investigating the Doktor’s office and surgery, the heroes disabuse his pert, infatuated assistant of her dreamy Doktor infatuation (dead purveyor of disease more like) and ignoring her protests go into his surgery (having taken key from his body). A disturbing sight of dissected goblin is slightly unsettling and they root about finding his medical books, a journal (handout) and his money (2 gold karls and 30 shillings).

The last few journal entries can be read “real time” (handout 1) but the full journal would take hours to digest. Hans scans these few entries and sees that the Doktor was indeed key to Father Holstein’s decision to go beastman hunting as he was proving inconvienent to the good Doktor. He wanted to get rid of Shallyans but is dismayed at Lady Agnetha’s extreme actions, planning to ‘do something’ about her, having hired men to see to Shallyans don’t cause trouble yet. He is so close to the Cure. He completed “the ritual” on the 19th and awaits it (apparently the heroes met him as he relaxed having a glass of wine after completing his ritual). What the ritual and Cure are not clear without reading the many entries leading up to that.

The heroes go to the Manor and demand to see Lady Agnetha, her staff are unwilling to refuse them but rather intimidated (they have the dead Docktor, arrows still in him, with them). A couple of times townspeople have been aghast to see the Doktor’s corpse toted around by Findulas, who when asked by a fearful watchman, “d’d’d’ did you kill the Doktor”, rather than a long winded explanation just cleans his teeth and drawls a laconic “yup” (point into party fortune pool, as another player says, never knew Findulas was elven for “Clint”).

In the manor, the heroes find the Lady closeted with her son who she has cared for personally since he recovered from weevil cough. Coming into the chamber, thick with cloying sickly sweet smell of too much incense and perhaps something else, where she rocks him, they see as she rocks forward, see the bundle in her arms - poor Leos did not survive the outbreak after all and has been dead several months - Lady Agnetha is indeed mad – cue psycho music the creepy sight provokes a Fear 2 check (it’s not ‘ooooh, we’re going to die’ so much as ‘ooooh, that’s ikcy’), leaving Anselm and Hans with nicely accumulating stress, Findulas passes the Fear check but on a chaos star due to his illness he does “break wind” adding to the mix of odours in the room in a way stressful to his comrades (yet another reason for the archer to keep back of the rest of the heroes, and downwind as well).

Trying to question her and finding her “gaga” the heroes take pity on the Lady and find someone in the household to take care of her while they go to organize the town.

The situation looks bad, the Doktor’s “suppressing balm” will wear off and from the documents in his office it seems he may have infected up to a third of the town with illnesses of all sorts (such as the Plague innkeeper has) that will now break out full blown.

That afternoon, Anselm speaks to the townspeople and successfully organizes them: Peasant Hans stepping up to be helpful, as is the Imperial Engineer Wulfgardt. PC Hans spends afternoon reading the rest of the Doktor’s journal and seeing where the Doktor “went off the rails”, intentionally infecting townspeople with diseases as part of looking for this Cure that he found in the strange book the Hielung das Lebens (Cure of Life) that was also the sourced of his "balm", which the journal reveals he gradually realized was a ritual to summon an "aethyric being" that "is/will bring" the cure (the ritual he completed yesterday, the "cure" apparently now "on the way").

A travelling show comes to town, its music promising a morale-lifting entertainment, but due to the new quarantine it is told it can’t enter (Findulas suggests the town could watch from walls).

That night the Strigany decamp and the morning of Nachgehim 21st, they are gone.

The heroes are effectively “the authority” in town, with the Peasant Hans and the Engineer Wulfgart actively helping them and everyone else cowed/going along/convinced by Anselm. The heroes now ponder their next move over breakfast.

31st Experience Point earned

On Nachgeheim 21, Krieger prayed for guidance (Player absent) while Anselm, Findulas and Hans considered next steps.

The heroes wished to get word to Lord von Aschaffenberg in Ubersreik of what was going on in Hulgeldal and with his sister-in-law but did not wish to risk sending even an apparently-healthy person out of the town under these conditions.

The heroes decided to use the travelling players who had arrived, offering them payment to carry word to Ubersreik. The carnival players had hoped to put on a show for coin, offering to do so for coins thrown from the walls if the walls could host an audience, but the heroes were concerned about even coins carrying diseases (any with ‘contact’ traits). Going down to the City Gate (location card) and talking from it with the players’ leader from a few paces away (Close), Hans relayed the message and offer of payment.

When it became clear no “entertainment” would be welcomed, the player revealed the strength of his disappointment by conjuring a curse at Hans!

The “players” were revealed as plague-bearing Nurglists who rushed the open gate, while from their wagon a strange musical accompaniment was heard.

The trio held the gate though it was difficult, Findulas tried his trusty Rapid Shot but while he reached for his second arrow the player cultist closed with him (bane on result allows it), ending his ability to use the action. The fight saw Hans suffer a Curse of Decay and gain a “temporary fever” that added a challenge die to all Intelligence checks (hurting his spellcasting). The “strong men” (a man and woman actually) were dangerous reavers, the acrobats a “minion gang of 3” wielding knives and chanting Nuglish exhortations.

The fight was hard as wounds were accumulated (Anselm), Senor Bitey once again saving his master from a critical wound, Findulas found the fatigue of the situation building on him, and in the tight melee at the gate even Hans was wounded.

Meanwhile, in the town, once that music started, urged on by some strange conductor, many townsfolk fell ill with rapidly advancing diseases. Glancing at those he can see, Hans realizes they’re all people the Doktor was using his “balm” on – the reason for quarantine. Over the course of 3 or so rounds, months of “stayed disease” catch up with the victims and many of them literally rot with disease before the heroes’ eyes – dying in seconds. This provokes a Terror 2 check (Hans alone fails, others gaine a fortune die on check because of obscured view of the horror).

This was part of my adaptation of the adventure with the Doktor's seduction by the book he read and the Cavalcade being the "cure of life" he summoned.

Hans' Education recalls stories of how a Cavalcade of Nurgle is said to visit plague-infested towns to claim the bodies of those killed by disease and thereby claim their souls for Nurgle. It looks like about a quarter of the town is dying and the Cavalcade has come to claim their souls.

The cavalcade player leader first met is slain but the fight is still close and deadly, as a daemon emerges from the cultist wagon (rally step) and lumbers forward, its eyes lighting up at the sight of Findulas for, “We are well behind in our quota of elves”.

This is another Terror 1 check as the plague-bearer daemon approaches the heroes: Findulas almost unconscious from fatigue and suffering an almost severed hand (potentially permanent) critical that could end his career as an archer (permanency not yet triggered, critical wound suppressed for time being by Hans), Anselm almost falling from wounds, Hans’ fever still making spell casting very dangerous. The heroes bravely persist in holding the gate to keep the Cavalcade from reaping its harvest of souls.

A rally step happens before the struggle with the daemon and the remains of first wave - the strongmen (their ACE budget refreshed), which is a grim one. Hans invokes the Light of Hysh to empower Findulas’ bow with greater lethality against Daemons but Findulas is attacked and suffers fatigue and another critical (if his ‘permanent’ not suppressed it would have been the loss of his left hand), falling unconscious.

Anselm too is attacked and takes wounds making him fall unconscious (+1 critical), Hans rushes to Anselm and administers a Healing Draught (augmented by Apothecary skill) which is particularly effective and restores some wounds (consciousness) and negates the critical just suffered (severity 2, 2 boons generated on the draught’s dice). Anselm then spends fatigue to stand up, pick up Findulas’ enspelled bow, move back and fire at the Daemon – hitting it (between Pierce 2 and +2 damage on Daemons doing +4 damage net because of the spell, as well as having the Fortune die on attack).

The fight continues to rage and Anselm falls again (another critical, Flesh Wound), Hans uses a Light order spell to restore some Fatigue to Findulas, who wakes up 1 Fatigue from falling unconscious when he rolls back, grabs the bow from unconscious Anselm and shoots from the ground (he can’t spend fatigue to move more without going unconscious, suffers a misfortune die for shooting from ground) and hits the Daemon, piercing its foul heart and killing it!

The surviving townsfolk are very grateful. Though the heroes were looked at askance (you killed the Doktor – you say he’s evil?), their harrowing stand to save the souls of the dead was clear to all.

Twice Hans alone had been left conscious, desperately working to rouse fallen comrades when another man might have broken and run, the elf archer nearly lost his hand, the (what is that guy with the dog again, not sure, it looks like a ratter but he doesn’t seem to be ratcatcher) stayed and fought, seizing the elf’s bow, when it was clear he was at risk of simply falling again with another critical.

** (see below)

The “good news” is that the need for a quarantine has passed. The third of town infected by Doktor and “balmed” has either died (about 80%) or recovered as if months had passed (80% of a third, it’s about a quarter of town dead).

Lady Agnetha is among those who has fully recovered (though still a jar of mixed nuts in a dress).

The heroes rest two nights (nights of 21st and 22nd) to recover wounds and restore some order to town. Hans tries to treat Findulas to help him get over his critical wound. He is successful in helping him but rolls 2 Chaos Stars. Since he was tending someone with a disease, this turns into “make a Disease check to avoid catching the same one”. Findulas recovers from Ghastly Vapours the same night Hans fails that check and contracts it. Anselm does not manage to recover from his Green Pox.

(In player absence), Krieger uses his Healing spell to successfully target one critical on Findulas and convert it to normal wound. He has not tried it against any other criticals Findulas or Anselm have.

On the 23rd and 24th, the heroes venture forth to try to track down Father Holstein’s crusade. They find signs the crusade did come to a bad end at hands of beastmen, but that it must have been infected (hmm, the Doktor killing two birds with one stone) as they find the corpses of several beastmen dead of various diseases. Findulas’ tracking pieces together this is not the entire herd but it’s clear that the rest of the herd has left the region (likely abandoning the diseased ones for their own safety).

By Nachgeheim 25, the heroes are ready to return to Ubersreik and plan to take Lady Agnetha with them.

** Special Award

This session saw the kind of accomplishment (saving many souls from a Ruinous Power) in the kind of style (hold the gate, don’t fall back, stand or die, we’re probably going to die) that is the best heroic tradition of Warhammer.

The rules advise GM's to give an extra award at such times. This might be a free advance but we're already seeing PC's advance very quickly already.

So, given all took fair number of wounds, reward is to treat current or next career as having +1 Wounds on its advancement menu to purchase with one non-career advance.

Incredibly useful, we're just about to start playing this adventure!

One question - how come the gate was open when they were dealing with the Nurglists? I can see my players talking to them from atop the walls, thus negating all that 'hold the gate at all costs' goodness...

Hans' player specifically narrated going down to talk, at the gate, close enough not to have to "yell everything they wanted said to Lord A." - which meant open gate and 'close' range. Gate card means 2 characters can block it. They never tried to step back and close it (probably worried that the strongmen etc. would win a pushing war but that never came up).

The heroes/players were completely unsuspecting of the "travelling players" up to this point. They had planned to write a note and send it (tossing it from wall) but decided instead to use verbal message (worried again about note transmitting something, last thing they want is to be blamed for making Lord A. sick with some disease).

I had expected the 'show to start" with the players doing antics outside town and the "balmed" starting to die, heroes realizing connection and choosing whether to attack the "music-producing wagon" or not etc. - this was instead of the as-written "infect the town". Had they gotten into town for a show they would have tried to spread infection but being kept out were satisfied "collecting those already marked".

Excellent. I suppose if the PCs bar the gate I can always hav the Nurglists swarm over the walls like those 'orrible beasties in Resident Evil - with appropriate bone-cracking changes to their anatomy, of course!

The "acrobats" in the cavalcade should be able to do some "stunts" if needed and the cavalcade could sneak in at night (which was what I was thinking of when the players handily decided to "go down and talk to them")

wow. i bet findalus' player was sweating the possibility of losing his delicate elfy hand!

Yes he was, very happy that Hans' First Aid kept suppressing wounds to keep the "trigger" from going off. The 4-value "fade to black" is tough to get over and really puts you "far along the road to permanency" when you draw one of the new ones.

The Player was good about it though. He had been planning to take some hand-to-hand combat actions at some point recognizing he's a bit too distance combat focused and can't always rely on not being face to face with foes and would have "sped up" that transfer if he lost the hand.

Rob

What a great read! I've been too busy to check back here for a while, but it was worth the wait. What an exciting adventure! And what great characters you have.