Dance, Dance Wherever You May Be

The scene comes back into focus on three comrades in the printer’s cellar, as Magnus is following the bravo’s down into the cellar.

The printer-sorcerer calls upon Slaanesh’s graces as he moves in the Dance of Madness, catching up all three comrades in the cellar in the compulsion to move to the Lord of Seduction’s beckoning and making any actions costly to them in fatigue and stress (The Dwarf being unable to bear even the slightest more stress before he would collapse!).

The comrades are thus much less effective though still managing to try to attack him and dealing some damage. The bravos finish off the last cultist, before the Sorcerer now adds the Dance of Dreams further hindering his opponents. It proves fortune that Magnus was not in the cellar yet, for he enters to the bewildering sight of his wounded comrades gyrating like the performers in one of the artistic cafes he favours. He steadies his crossbow on a crate and puts a bolt through the sorcerer’s eye – and skull – pinning him to the wall.

(The three comrades are glad there are no smartphones and instagram to share this sight with the world - I was pleased the way the Slaaneshi actions allowed an encounter that was challenging and not all about traditional combat - with insanity and "let's not talk about what happened down there" stuff)

After a few more pirouettes, the comrades are themselves once more all catch their breath (Episode end, Wilhelm and Korhadriel both recover from temporary insanities).

A search turns up the crates of anti-Clothilde pamphlets, as well as an extensive selection of erotic publications (it appears the print shop has something of a speciality). There is a fireplace in the building and the comrades spend more than an hour gradually burning all the pamphlets. Magnus sees the other literature as a ‘gateway’ to sordid desires serving the Ruinous Powers and so burns all of it too. A written order from GvonL to distribute the pamplets about GvonA is found – Wilhelm takes and keeps this evidence.

40 shillings of cash is also found (this is later disbursed equally). When the burning of pamphlets is well along, Wilhelm rides for the watch. It is early predawn and the watch returns with him. He has presented his warrant and explains that while investigating an unrelated cult was uncovered. His noble leadership is quite successful in explaining this to the watch (they accept his story without probing etc. and are impressed by the brave noble’s actions on this ill-omened night).

While Wilhelm is off getting watch, Korhadriel reads a pamphlet before burning it - he is not very impressed with the allegations of sexual misconduct and relations with ruinous powers by ugly ducking Clothilde who blossomed into a beauty while here in the court as a teenager.

He does not mention the involvement of Gerhardt von Leitdorf or the pamphlets about Gravin Clothilde von Alptraum.

The 3 bravos leave with another 3 shillings each from Wilhelm, their leader Ruprecht saying they can be found in the Holy Hammer of Sigmar on the Street of a Hundred Taverns if Wilhelm has any further work for them.

The comrades then retire to their rented quarters and sleep till noon the next day, Festag, 1st of Nachgeheim. Before turning in Wilhelm sends a note to the Averland Electoral Palace to let Clothilde know all is well.

Rising after their rest (the dwarf in particular being a fast healer of critical wounds), they go to see Luminary Mauer as requested. At the Laurel’s Rest they are told he is at the Cathedral prayer service for the Emperor. They notice an ogre in Kaufman livery is standing guard at Mauer’s rented suite.

Wilhelm decides to go see Clothilde, his comrades in tow, though here too they are told, “The Gravin is at the prayer service for the Emperor’s health.” (each time they are told this it is with a look as if to say, “and you aren’t?”)

However, by this time the Cathedral bells start ringing the end of the service so they wait for Clothilde to arrive (her matronly nurse alongside). Wilhelm gives a fuller report including revealing Gerhardt von Leitdorf’s role.

Clothilde is surprised, both to learn of Gerhardt’s role (she knew he was in the city but didn’t suspect him of such a deed – however thinking of it, it is the sort of thing he would do). She is also alarmed to see the wounds the comrades still bear – Wilhelm is severely injured (3 criticals and his To is 3 so effectively near death if he risks many wounds in game terms, though one critical is suppressed by Korhadriel’s new Cauterize spell) and others bear more wounds than she anticipated the task would risk.

She gives the name of an apothecary and healer they can see (at von Alptraum expense), Saskia von Oort and it is clear her “generosity metre” in thinking of rewards has risen.

The first reward is an invitation to permit Wilhelm to escort her to the Great Ball at the Electoral Palace of Stirland the next evening. She offers him an out if he is worried about being seen with her, as the von D’s might disapprove and she is aware of the difficulty he may face if word of his killing Gerhardt spreads – so she would understand if he declined, but he happily accepts.

(He’s young, she’s beautiful)

The comrades now to go see Luminary Mauer, who has returned from the service with his two knightly bodyguards (Luminary Mauer seems to be getting more and more protection, first two knights, now an ogre).

They spend the rest of afternoon detailing what they can of Professor von Oppenheim’s ritual. Only Wilhelm and Magnus were close enough to see and hear it clearly. Wilhelm has little to offer, Magnus remembers a few bits and pieces but not enough to make significant contribution – beyond confirming it wasn’t a secret spell (e.g., von Oppenheim wasn’t secretly a wizard or sorcerer doing a spell).

Mauer secures a reluctant commitment from Korhadriel to turn over Oppenheim’s two key texts. Mauer believes the clapper has been purified to be the opposite of what the tainted artefact was, it suppresses corruption and taint, makes it less risky to be near daemons, in fact makes them more unstable and make it harder for them to remain in the materium. He is trying to ascertain whether it would be best used in temple or battlefield.

When asked, he says the Emperor has been doing better, he has been sitting up and able to meet with counsellors (apparently there is no embargo on good news of the Emperor’s health).
The comrades then go to the apothecary, with Wilhelm and Magnus going immediately under her care for 24 hours to receive the best enhancement to their recovery (-1 challenge +1 expertise to Resilience).

Korhadriel has escaped wounds, though it will be weeks before he even has the chance to recover from The Shakes, and spends the time seeing if there is anything in the books he is to turn over. He chooses Divine Mysteries, Hammer of the Gods being too mythologically oriented for his interest. The centuries old text speaks of the root of divine and sorcerous powers being the same and divine being the only safe channel, condemning sorcery, and promising that faith can accomplish all sorcery can safely.

The evening of Wellentag the 2nd, sees Wilhelm go to meet Gravin Clothilde von Alptraum to attend the party, while Korhadriel and The Dwarf rendezvous with Graf Friedrich von Kaufman to also attend. They are surprised to see Magnus there, among the Graf’s servants who are coming to assist at the party. While Magnus was off lurking in dark corners of the Black Velvet (even when feeling more withdrawn, he is still drawn to the extroverted arts community) he encountered Elke, the servant girl from the Kaufman household he had ‘chatted up’ to learn information about the Graf’s “confidential dinners” while staying at the household. She had drawn him into disguising himself as another servant to join them for some fun.

The comrades are all among those who arrive earlier (as the party fills up from the lower tiers of nobility and their entourages first). The Achenbecks are there along with various other nobles – von Bruner, von Saponatheim, Maria-Ulrike von Leibwitz, Lector Johann Esmer, Patriarch Balthazar Gelt, Preceptors, members of the imperial council, three electors including the last to arrive – Countess Emmanuelle von Leibwitz of Nuln, Elector of Wissenland, Chancellor the University of Nuln.

Graf von Kaufman, Korhadriel, and The Dwarf, speak with Patriarch Gelt and Korhadriel manages (just barely, by dint of his Academic background) to talk up the Southlands expedition findings successfully but not terribly insightfully.

Magnus among the servants is his charming self and gathers gossip that servants pick up from others, including in the palace. There is surprise Clothilde von Alptraum attended given the history of animosity between her and the Countess Emmanuelle (it is an older servant who says this). The palace servants are all fed up with the soldiers and their security – ruining linens by poking them, that Schaffer woman thinks testing food means eating half of it. He even manages to learn some gossip about Schaffer, the servants think she has eyes for Captain Baerfaust and is jealous of the time he spends with Gravin Clothilde von Alptraum.

Graf von Kaufman and the von Aschenbecks engage in some verbal jousting that sees Wolfgang von A. stomp off while his daughter matches the Graf’s taunts and when he tries to put her down with his superior business knowledge surprises him with her own. Over a scintillating duel of commodity price knowledge as each matches the other and ups stakes with more obscure references that are matched back, sparks fly and before long talk turns to mergers and flirting double-entendres.

The potential Aschenbeck-Kaufman commercial empire is born.

Count von Bitternach, the elderly keeper of secrets on the Council of State is lobbied by Clothilde about the plenipotentiary to resolve Averland electorship and makes an obscure reference to appreciating her tact and maturity.

Later, the Count interviews Korhadriel and The Dwarf asking about Wilhelm and whether he is trustworthy and honest. The elf gives a dissembling answer but The Dwarf speaks well of Wilhelm. The Count then speaks with Wilhelm – it turns out he knows Wilhelm was at Blackfire Pass and near the scene where Baerfaust either did or didn’t contribute to Marius von Leitdorf’s death – and he wants to know which it was. Wilhelm defends Captain Baerfaust against the rumours and Bitternach is satisfied.

(For some reason the Count is either investigating or vetting Captain Baerfaust?)

The climax of the evening comes when Countess Emmanuelle insults Clothilde, commenting on the rank of her escort being suitable for her, “oh I see your taste still runs to men good with a sword, perhaps you will have better luck with someone closer to your rank…”. Clothilde is taken aback and enraged to the point she may well say or do something damaging to herself.
Wilhelm, as her escort, intervenes to give Clothilde a chance to regain control of herself – engaging the Countess in a social engagement (Duel of Wits) [clearly understood to be “throwing himself on the grenade” as a social engagement with the Countess is rather much like a duel with a dragon – the Countess being “an epic social monster”].

Wilhelm is demolished by icy stares, invocation of rank, and belittling comments (Do You Know Who I am, Belittle etc.). He manages to score one “hit” by making himself seem unworthy of her barbs, the rustic nobleman from Averland, however she turns this against him with her belittling and he decides to withdraw as the outcome is inevitable and Clothilde has calmed.

[i need to double check consequence of withdrawal from social combat – there may be some mechanical consequences….]

Clothilde and Wilhelm leave the party not long after. Escorting her home he finds her very grateful (he has in the past two days suffered great physical injury saving her reputation and now he has staked his social reputation in a fight he could not win to save her from damaging herself. She thanks him for she was about to say something she should not, it would have damaged her and the Countess. Wilhelm wonders that the Countess would risk this and Clothilde replies the Countess Emmanuelle lives life with the absolute certainty that no one else really matters except the Countess Emmanuelle.

Wilhelm is charming enough that building on his cumulative service to her, Clothilde warms to him personally. She asks him to escort her to the opening of Cobweb Castle in two days, at the Temple of Drama.

We break.

GM Comment

The PC's were mostly passive in the ball except where encounters were pressed on them. I made clear they could intervene/involve themselves in things as they chose (while being clear at the risks of crossing social superiors - a chart of everyone present in rank order was on table), but they chose to "ride along" for most part.

I broke down into a serious laughing fit when trying to describe the Sorcerer's dance attacks, we settled on Michael Flatley as the model for him.

Tangled Webs

or - No Good Deed Unpunished.

As Wilhelm escorted Gravin Clothilde von Alptraum home early from the ball at the Elector of Stirland’s palace, others remained behind.

Korhadriel suffered considerable stress daring to pass among the higher rank and come near Supreme Patriarch Balthazar Gelt, seeing that he really is “the man of gold” being rather disturbing. Gelt is talking with Law Lord von Böhrn getting her reassurance that the Articles of Imperial Magic stipulate that charges such as the Temple is bringing against the Order of Light are to be investigated by the Colleges. She agrees, noting however that if a College were found to have seized a prisoner from the Templars, who operate with Imperial authority, this would itself be a contravention of the Articles (1, 3 and 7 if memory serves) and call the legalization of wizardry into question. Gelt is sure if any magisters are involved they are rogues and will be dealt with as such.

Korhardriel also speaks with Graf Siegfried von Saponatheim about hunting and Korhadriel’s studies and the esteem Graf von Kaufman holds him in. Korhadriel is (having just been the subject of a triple success Guile check to be drawn out without realizing it) forthcoming about his doings for Graf von Kaufman – which The Dwarf (who is nearby) realizes is what von Saponatheim is really interested in.

After Ball, and having escorted Clothilde home, all retire to their normal resting places (the Seven Stars and Freudenhause) except Magnus who goes back to the servants’ quarters in the Horse Tower (where von Kaufman has set up household) and spends the night with Elke.

On Aubentag 3rd of Nachgeheim all wake to a note delivered for Korhadriel, telling him that if he wants the plates used to print the illustrations in the burned pamphlets he will come to Talabecplatz this morning.

[text is printed with movable type but pictures come from plates so where there are pictures there are always printing plates – the PCs did not look for any plates when they were at the printer’s]

Going to Talabecplatz they meet the seller. He says he is a watch member and came across them searching the premises. He figures they’re worth 5 shillings. Magnus senses (Intuition) he is holding something back and he admits he already sold the “best three” to a noble. He doesn’t know the man’s name but for a shilling describes him: it sounds very much like Klaus von Döhnenleiter. Wilhelm pays all the funds in question.

Wilhelm makes some effort to connect with others involved in investigating the blackpowder plot. The site of the Priest’s Rest is no longer cordoned off, workers are filling in the area that was excavated and reconstruction is underway. With The Dwarf’s help Vognus the Dwarf Engineer is looked for but not found – eventually, after word is left for him, Pieter Verstholen comes to talk and advises he expects a report from Vognus by the next day. Wilhelm asks what news of the investigation an Verstholen explains he is not part of the official inquiry, only looking into this one matter for the General. He hears that many mutants and sympathizers have been found, the Red Crown cult.

Wilhelm goes to see Klaus at the Imperial in the Oberhausen District, where his brother is staying. Klaus practically chokes on his sausage when he sees his younger half-brother. He launches in a tirade about Wilhelm’s irresponsible actions, killing a von Leitdorf and minimizing Clothilde’s embarrassment at the ball – does Wilhelm have any idea how much it cost to have all those pamphlets printed or the size of bribe that had to be paid to the Countess’ lady-in-waiting to make sure the right sort of attention was directed at Clothilde!

Yes, it seems both of these events were the work of the diligent Klaus as an agent of the von Leitdorfs (not that they know or would condone any of the sordid details of course – this is what eager cadet families are for).

Wilhelm argues the ethics and wisdom of Klaus’ actions and criticizes Klaus for not letting him in on plans, pointing out Klaus endorsed becoming favoured of Clothilde. Klaus reacts badly to his younger brother challenging him and shakes his head at Wilhelm’s stupidity – ingratiating oneself with her doesn’t have to mean saving her from social ruin when it threatens! Klaus is very concerned about Clothilde’s plenipontiary lobbying and worried she is going to succeed in getting General Ludwig Schwarzhelm appointed.

Klaus offers Wilhelm one chance to avoid his family’s disfavour, if he will cut off all connections with “that woman”. Wilhelm refuses to agree to this and his allowance is cut off accordingly (with mechanical results of failing in noble duty invoked – the poor young man apparently thinks being noble is about character not obligations).

The comrades take the plates to Clothilde (except for Klaus’ three) and Wilhelm explains his brother’s role in things (pamphlets and scene at ball). Clothilde is taken aback and angered, though also sympathetically concerned for Wilhelm as she immediately sees the difficulty he is in. She offers to find a place for him and sensing his interests it turns out she has connections to the Order of the Panther (she has a cousin who married a knight of the order) and can arrange an introduction. Affiliation with a knightly order may help counter his family trouble.

Their trip has saved her servant the trouble of taking a satchel to Wilhelm, as she can have it handed over now (it clinks very satisfyingly).

Returning to the Seven Stars, comrades find an ogre in von Kaufman colours waiting. He is expecting Korhadriel to hand over books. Korhardriel goes to fetch the two books brought from Middenheim and finds they are missing. No one in the inn saw anything through careful examination finds some scratches around the lock to their room. The books have been stolen!

[it having been established twice that Korhadriel had the books and does not carry them with him, as they are bulky, but was leaving them in his room in the inn – the books were the last thing now that Oppenheim, his notes, his books and his assistant have all been lost, who would have expected these two books to ever be at risk ?.

The ogre gives the typically inscrutable-blank-stupid (so interpret others) look, confirming, “No book?”, and then leaves.

Wilhelm divides up the reward from Clothilde (5 gold crowns and 40 shillings, calculated of course as 4 crowns for the noble, 1 for the silver tier and 20 shillings each for the brass tier – generous reward for a days’ field service). The Dwarf declares he needs no reward, regarding the service as a matter of honour between his clan and the von Alptraums (there was no immediate narrative etc. way to reward that roleplay, an extra fortune point next session). Wilhelm, ever the progressive, gives each of his other companions (Magnus and Korhadriel) one gold crown and 50 shillings (keeping 2 gold crowns and 40 shillings – not quite Isle of Eels level distribution but better than a brass and silver tier sort would expect – this distribution reduces Party Tension -1).

Magnus goes to the University District to get some charcoal and paper, and passes by a large crowd gathered to see several executions in the Königplatz at the north end of the Street of 100 Taverns – a murderer and a mutant sympathizer are being beheaded and a witch is to be burned to “top if off”.

Korhadriel in the meantime has been sought out by Witch Hunter Captain Wilhelm Leopold to come to the Temple. Leopold explains, once they are away from prying ears, that there were strange sigils on the wall of the room from which Professor Schott Mandelbrot vanished . They were disturbing and the Templars destroyed them rather than risk a source of corruption in Temple, but they did have them copied first – though imperfectly, copyists found it trying to attempt to record them and the first broke down in a fit before completing the task. Something about them seemed to speak of Southlands or Lustria, the latter being a land Mandelbrot had traveled as a youth.

Graf von Kaufman told Leopold that Korhadriel had great insights into Southland type runes (a stunning success at the Menagerie continuing to haunt him) thus Leopold searching him out, as a source of knowledge unconnected with the Colleges of Magic (though Leopold does note part of the Sun Society with Mandelbrot).

Korhadriel examines the copies and realizes that the symbols do have, within them (as m holds n, and e has c) the same runes that appear on gold plaques recovered from the Southlands. He has no idea what they mean (only Mandelbrot seemed able to read them in Averheim). He realizes (his raw Intelligence dice being successful before his education etc. dice) that he has seen these strange ‘elaborated symbols’ before – the Hammer of the Gods, the mythological text he only leafed through, had various illustrations in it and they often had examples of these symbols in them. Leopold is curious about this and determines to get a copy of this text. Korhadriel finds all of this trying and starts hyperventilating – Breathless temporary insanity.

That evening, Wilhelm has dinner with Gravin Clothilde, getting the introduction needed to the Knights Panther. He also learns she is disappointed for it appears that Cobweb Castle may not open the next evening.

Wilhelm agrees he and his comrades will try to locate the “missing prop” that has gone walkabout in the theatre – it take so little to see a theatre ordered closed and Cobweb Castle’s portrayal of corrupt priest has some looking to shut it down.

On the morning of the 4th, three comrades go to the theatre. Korhadriel is feeling quite stressed by all of this and so stays in the Seven Stars.

[Note sitting out of play will lose about 20 minutes of playing time, though his character may Assess the Situation each Act that passes – once per rally step].

At the Temple of Drama, which is just across the street from their inn, the comrades meet Filipi Remastri, Director of the Miraculous Miragliano Mummers and stage manager Leonardo Catrazan. They explain the realism sought by their troupe and escaped spider (only 5’ long). They hope the comrades can recover it alive but that in any event they can resolve the threat in time for the show to open – assuming the leading man turns up from wherever he has gotten off to – and offer a reward if the whole matter can resolved quietly.

The comrades start poking about, in the cellar of wine and beer barrels and working up.

They note Clothilde has a box reserved (The Dwarf asks if Wilhelm has checked with Klaus to be sure he isn’t behind all this too?)

Examining the spider’s box in the prop room they realize it has pry marks from the outside and find it odd the spider is gone but the door was closed. Looking through leading man Nikolai di Fortessi’s room they find the man himself bundled up in his wardrobe, bloated and webbed.

They take the body to the Director and Stage Manager who are shocked, the understudy will have to change roles.

The comrades wish to speak to the understudy, Carlo Spinezzi.

We break.

We resumed play after a break of couple of weeks (life and work).

Wilhelm von Döhnenleiter and The Dwarf continue their investigation of the missing eight-legged live prop, learning that understudy Carlo Spinezzi has gone spider-hunting with the gate-coin taker Jochen Mell - up into the catwalks over the stage and the attic.

Korhadriel remains resting his nerves at the Seven Stars across the Street of a Hundred Taverns. Magnus Holck recalled he had a brunch date with Elke and, Ostlanders not being such as would disappoint a lass, he takes his leave. (Player absent).

Making their way up onto the catwalk the Trollslayer and aspiring Knight Panther call out and find Carlo and Jochen (who is present due to Carlo offering pay for help getting spider). The catwalk is narrow and rushing about or fighting on it offers risks of falls.

Their search has reached the point where the catwalk goes over the private boxes and into the "front attic" of the theater when the spider puts in an appearance. It's a forest spider and the catwalk etc. are like home to it.

Had to have a fight in the catwalk over stage - Coord checks to move faster and chaos star falls etc.

Wilhelm draws his pistol and wounds the spider with a shot, over Jochen's protests that it's dangerous to do that in the theater, the Dwarf tries to run over to attack it but loses his balance on the narrow catwalk (check required if moving more than one manoeuvre a turn, chaos star) and tumbles into the groundling section (2 wounds and 2 fatigue).

Jochen not wanting a firearm discharged - when they are in exactly the area over Clothilde's box - is the big "clue" looking back - so far none have spotted it. He was really up there making sure spider-hunt didn't find some small barrels of blackpowder above her box - and making sure play went ahead.

The spider bits Jochen, poisoning him and making him woozy as it deals a Mortal Wound critical. Wilhelm draws his sabre and closes, slashing at the spider and wounding it again but he also loses his balance (chaos star) and falls.

The Dwarf has made all haste running up stairs and seeing the spider is badly wounded for once becomes cautious and strikes to Subdue, stunning the spider so it can be trussed up for its part in play.

The Director Filipi and Stage Manager Leonardo are pleased and each of the pair receives 6 shililngs and a ticket to the play. Wilhelm already is coming with the Gravin Clothilde von Alptraum but takes the ticket in case Magnus wants to bring a "plus one".

They are still suspicious, for the spider looks to have been "released" and suspect the understudy. The Dwarf decides against questioning him now - and possibly resulting in the play being cancelled - in favour of questioning him after the play.

Act ends.

At the Seven Stars, Korhadriel's peaceful morning comes to an end when Luminary Konrad Mauer and his bodyguard of two knights arrive. The Luminary has come to make sure the ogre understood correctly, the two books from von Oppenheim's study are really gone? Korhadriel explains they were stolen from his room.

Mauer is furious, the books were the last part of the Professor's research still accessible - with everything and one else lost. He is angry they were simply left in a room in an inn and launches into a tirade the Korhadriel finds insulting (at one point the Luminary questions if he's really an elf, they are supposed to be intelligent). Mauer declares he hoped the comrades were more than just competent fighters, the Empire being full of those, and that they had some intelligence but he was sadly mistaken. He wants nothing more to do with the comrades and he will be telling Captain Marcus Baerfaust and Graf Friedrich von Kaufman of the comrades' failure.

Korhadriel is angered at the tirade and makes no effort to mollify the Luminary, who leaves declaring that he might as well return the Clapper to Graf von Kaufman for him to use as he wants currying favour.

The player could have tried to talk him down with a roll, as it is there is now a permanent modifier of challenge die + 1 failure to all social rolls by PC's with Mauer.

Evening comes at it is time for the play. After they all have some drinks in the upstairs bar, Wilhelm escorts Gravin Clothilde to her private box and the Dwarf joins the groundlings. Korhadriel has no interest in human theater.

During the second act, while The Dwarf is focused on the play (all the cobwebs! - failing observation check to notice some suspicious sneaking ), Wilhelm hears a clicking noise and - at first thinking there is someone sneaking behind him - he realizes the door to the box is locked from the outside (it's latch-lock is on the inside). He is alarmed and while Clothilde waits, dagger drawn in case of an attack, he tries to leap to the next box over to investigate.

For the second time today Wilhelm falls to the theater floor, this time among the audience which break his fall a bit. The Dwarf notices this and the two of them brandish weapons and intimidate a clear path to race upstairs (causing a disruption in the play, though not the biggest it will suffer tonight).

Upstairs they find four armed men in the bar, the door to Clothilde's box being wedged shut with chair and bar. Snarling that the two should leave if they know what's good for them, and shooting a couple of crossbow bolts to emphasize, the bravos attack. A pair of them uses a backstabbing attack against Wilhelm and he falls, wounded into unconsciousness.

The Dwarf hears one of them say, "lets finish this one quickly, the place is going blow soon". It is The Dwarf who makes quick work of two of the bravos - in one flurry of axe strikes dropping both. The remaining two flee (between Trollslayer and other fears).

The Dwarf unblocks Clothilde's box and picks up Wilhelm, the two flee - yelling a warning in the crowded theater seems more likely to do harm than good (and would at a minimum make their own exit path choked....)

This was none-too-soon, they are not even down the stairs to the ground level when an explosion rocks the theater - obliterating the Gravin's private box and sending beams and wooden shards flying everywhere. Clothilde avoids harm but not The Dwarf (and thus not Wilhelm who he carries) they both suffer wounds and criticals - The Dwarf again suffers an eye critical and Wilhelm is now one such wound from death.

There was a five space track running to when the bomb went off from the time Wilhelm heard the noise. 1 fall, 2 run up, 3 fight fall, 4 unblock door, 5 get one round of movement away from ground zero of blast is how it works out.

Out in the street the scene is bedlam, The Dwarf fears a further attack on the Gravin (who had been relying on Wilhelm as her escort and has no other security) so they all get off the street into the Seven Stars, which is happy to offer refuge to such an esteemed guest. Korhadriel tends wounds with First Aid.

City watch and soldiers arrive, the Gravin has the inn send for her servants, as word spreads this was an attack on a noble a watch captain, Harald, comes to investigate. He delicately questions the Gravin on her enemies and she explains it would either be someone who doesn't want the situation in Averland resolved or the rival Leitdorf family. The only names of people in Altdorf she can think of are Graf von Kaufman, who has profited from the current situation, and Klaus von Döhnenleiter, an agent of the Leitdorfs who has tried to attack her reputation (she does not mention that Wilhelm is of that family).

The Gravin receives an escort home, but she arranges for a Shallyan to come and tend to Wilhelm overnight - giving him a bonus on his recovery check. Two fortune dice and 1 auto success.

Episode End

The next day is Backertag, 5th of Nachgeheim.

Korhadriel, with The Dwarf as escort, goes into the university district bookshops looking for books he had seen in Professor von Oppensheim's Middenheim study. He manages to find titles he recalls up to about a "hard" difficulty but fails to find any rare or obscure books (such as the two that were stolen). He spends 30 shillings on some short extracts and copies.

Some of the books he is looking for are questionable in nature and (chaos star) he is reported to authorities (witch hunters eventually).

Yet to manifest in play.

Wilhelm goes to the Gravin Clothilde, who is very pleased his up and about for she credits him with saving her life. The older nurse is present and gives Wilhelm glowering looks. While he is there, she is visited by Holy Inquisitor Johannes Seibolt, who heads the Official Investigation into the Treasonous and Blasphemous Plot Against Sigmar's Faithful.

Father Seibolt is looking into possible connections between the blackpowder explosions and happy to see Wilhelm who can give first hand account of fighting those involved. Wilhelm strikes Father Seiblolt favourably (relating all the mutant kiling he has done) and learns that the Red Crown cult is definitely responsible for the blackpowder explosion at Priest's Rest, there being a disturbing number of mutants in the city at present.

No mutant connection to the Temple of Drama explosion is established. After the two of them have talked, Clothilde offers her own thoughts. She has recovered from the shock last night and Father Seibolt and Wilhelm talking about mutants, going back to the ones in Averheim, made her think of the Black Cowl.

If anyone has prospered from the lack of clear authority in Averland it is The Black Cowl, if the Black Cowl were still alive they would not want Clothilde's mission in Altdorf to succeed. So if the Black Cowl is behind the missing blackpowder, an accepted fact, it must be the Black Cowl who wants her dead!

This makes sense to Father Seibolt and Wilhelm (why didn't we think of that!)

If PC's had and shared, NPCs would have credited them more etc. As it stands, the theory gets out and plot advances but PC's don't get credit. Of course, this is the theory Clothilde wants out - the more evil those trying to stop you, the more virtuous you must be - poor Clothilde, just trying to do what is best for her province and nearly being blown to bit by mutant conspirators! What a brave woman.

One of the problems of being the mastermind behind a conspiracy so vast your minions don't know who you are is that a jealous one can try to assassinate you and not even know it's their leader they're trying to blow up instead of that noblewoman who is turning Captain Baerfaust's head instead of letting him see that I'm a woman not just a soldier! And Tzeentch is happy to see you put in a fix so bad you might have to call on him for help and give him your soul to survive - that's the kind of guy he is.

The Gravin invites Wilhelm if he will accompany her to the Konigstag evening prayers for the Emperor's health in two days.

Wilhelm then goes to see Captain Marcus Baerfaust. He manages to catch the Captain just before noon when his shift in the palace starts.

On the way he has heard the day's news. The Emperor's health has relapsed, we must all pray harder. The Dwarf and Korhadriel have heard the same, hearing zealots preaching that those who do not pray for the Emperor are cultists and mutants.

Before his relapse, the Emperor had rewarded Baerfaust by announcing plans to ennoble him as a Reiksgraf (a mostly honourary noble title unless some actual lands are given).

Baerfaust is not all that enthused with this or with having to spend his time watching the Emperor have soup. He just wants to get back to the front or to Averland. When he hears Wilhelm's report he agrees that the Black Cowl is probably still alive - not the sort to be there in person getting his hands dirty and get blown up in a tunnel.

Wilhelm fails Intuition to notice the Captain's reactions to hearing the 22 year old talk about his evening with Clothilde, ahem the Gravin von Alptraum.

We break ...

Ironically there are jokes about poisoned soup with the news about Arafat, but no one actually suggests this is what is happening to the Emperor.

In retrospect we learn that Magnus was at the Temple of Drama with Elke with the explosion took place. Both were injured, Elke acquiring a bum knee (permanently), though Magnus’ charm means she remains interested in him.

We resume on the 5th of Nachgeheim. As Korhadriel continues to search for texts, with an increasingly bored The Dwarf in tow for the entire day.

Magnus Holck encounters the dwarf engineer Vognus Ironheart, who has been brought in to look into explosions by Pieter Verstholen of General Schwarzhelm’s staff. He is easily found, for he is across the street examining the remains of the Temple of Drama, though he is close-mouthed about his findings.

I won't recount all details of conversations suffice to say there are clues, just as there was a clue in “who didn’t want someone firing a pistol in the catwalk/attic area” there are other clues about which theories and truths circulating currently are valid or questionable – going all the way back to things in Averheim. Just this session something was related that an astute PC could have said, “really – but then why…..”

Wilhelm von Döhnenleiter goes that afternoon to the Chapterhouse of the Knights Panther, courtesy of the introduction from Chlotilde’s cousin who married a knight panther (her cousin Leonora being married to Sir Oswald von Grünwald – currently absent in the north but well known here). How long his preliminaries to be inducted will last, even with her recommendation and Sir Gundred’s referral, is determined [Leadership chosen to test, not done so well, result is 3 days total time to be accumulated - this is all career-transition related but may come around into the story etc.]. He spends a half-day to this end.

A thick Altdorf Fog has risen.

A night passes, more wounds are recovered and critical wounds healed.

The 6th of Nachgeheim sees a delivery from Clothilde von Alptraum to The Dwarf, a thanks for seeing her and the unconscious Wilhelm out of the Temple of Drama – 3 kegs of Bugman’s Best Bitters ( various social and mechanical benefits with dwarfs as well as truly intoxicating ). A true reward. He pays the innkeeper 5 silver shillings to keep the kegs secure.

Korhadriel and Magnus go to the Great Cathedral’s library and seek entry as the search for copies of the lost two books continues. At first it appears they will not gain entry but Magnus shows his Seal of Sigmar and is persuasive enough they gain entry – in fact one priest recalls Korhardriel’s name having been mentioned by a witch hunter.

I pulled out the scriptorium entry from 1000 Thrones Chapter in Altdorf and used its information on the Sigmarite library.

It turns out that the Hammer of the Gods is in a controlled section and Witch Hunter Captain Wilhelm Leopold is already down there looking at it. He brings it up and Korhadriel looks at it. This 400 year old first edition has the same illustrative plates in it but they do not have the discrete symbols in them that Korhadriel remembers from von Oppenheim’s copy.

A search commences to learn if there was an edition with different plates printed at some point, but this will take longer to resolve (2 days).

Wilhelm goes to see Father Johannes Seibolt of the Official Investigation to talk about the explosion at the Temple of Drama. Foreign actors and gate-ticket takers are discussed as worthy subjects of questioning

Near the day’s end a note comes for Wilhelm, he is to report to Graf Otto von Bitternach at the Tower of Altdorf a 9 o’clock the next morning, Konigstag.

That evening the dwarf invites Vognus to join him, Wilhelm and Magnus in a cask of Bugman’s Best Bitters. The liquid gold is a potent offer and also lubricates relations. Vognus shares more of his findings and Wilhelm learns he is not the only one reporting to the Iron Graf Otto the next morning.

Wilhelm’s invitation (order) to report permits him to bring others who can help report (Magnus had to read the note for him and omitted the part where he must vouchsafe the reliability of whoever he brings). As it turns out, Wilhelm doesn’t wish to bring any of his comrades anyway.

Either this reflects the level of party tension or has an effect on it, whichever Party Tension is obviously +1.

Graf von Bitternach has gathered all those investigating the explosion and related matters to have them share with him and each other their findings to date – and instruct that they should pass on new findings as they come in.

Johannes Seibolt reports on mutants and the Red Crown, a barge of blackpowder coming from the Stirland town of Franzen (just across the Aver from Averland and convenient to the area most blackpowder was stolen in).

Pieter Verstholen reports on the findings of powder used so far, there being 20 or more kegs of powder still at large.

Hierarch Ingrid Krause of the Order of Light reports on her order’s interest in Professor Schott Mandelbrot and his dangerous theories, denying any role in his vanishing from the Witch Hunter’s Temple.

Witch Hunter Captain Wilhelm Leopold also reports on Mandelbrot and findings from talking with another Sun Society member in Altdorf, the link between Mandelbrot and von Oppenheim’s thinking and ruins of Southlands/Lustria.

Wilhelm relates the companion’s deeds (not really relating anything not related before until), adding the revelation of Witch Hunter Adele Ketzenblum’s belief that the Black Cowl was one of those at a recurring dinner party with Graf Friedrich von Kaufman, guests including Captain Marcus Baerfaust, Luminary Konrad Mauer and Professor Schott Mandelbrot. He makes clear that he believes The Black Cowl is still alive and tried to assassinate Clothilde von Alptraum because of her efforts trying to get the Averland Electoral crisis resolved.

Wilhelm manages to sing Clothilde's praises before the Iron Graf, a member of the Emperor's Council of State - being completely honest and natural doing it. Oh he's more useful than she ever imagined - though astute observers simply note a besotted young nobleman.

Along the way Wilhelm reveals Adele was a mutant and negates some aspersions Leopold cast while antagonizing him – managing the interesting feat of getting the Witch Hunter and Luminary Mauer to align their views of the comrades.

Mandelbrot emerges as a person of interest to the investigation. Particularly once Graf Otto shares what he knows – the professor being the young son of the Mandelbrot merchant/smuggling family – whose fortunes fell with the father’s death some 18 years earlier. His older brother being a sailor, navigator, smuggler and adventurer using different names, most recently – and lastly – Johann Templeman.

Yes, one Mandelbrot brother was a major figure in the expedition that found the effigy which was made into the corrupt clapper, the other a major figure in the academic society which encourage the expedition and was helping a member research the Middenheim Ritual which may (if Ulric did not) have purified the corrupt clapper.

Wilhelm being the only PC present is the only one able to test Intuition or other skills observing all those reporting etc. He can only watch one at a time and manages (Int 2) to fail all checks so he has no idea who might have been holding back, filling in or how they reacted to each other beyond what was obvious.

At this point, the Graf calls in three others to hear what they can say: Captain Baerfaust, Luminary Mauer and Graf von Kaufman. Each relates what they know. Mauer is mostly mourning the loss of the ritual and now wonders if the whole clapper business was a trick to lure the Sun Society into using the ritual, exposing it so it could be destroyed – as it has been. He wonders if the loss of all the records etc of the ritual really could be incompetence or it if is something worse.

Graf von Kaufman identifies the other dinner guests he had regularly, Unterlector Glotz and Frau Hurdleberger – explaining their civic-minded purpose as unaligned persons trying to keep Averland running without an Elector Count and with the two great families locked in a struggle to fill the position. He admits that the records of the blackpowder shipments were kept in his private study in his home, and Professor Mandelbrot was thus a regular guest on the premises where these records were kept.

Attention is focused ever-more on the missing Professor.

The meeting breaks up – the legendary Altdorf Fog continues to cloak most of the city. Tonight is the evening prayer service for the Emperor's health - though also a few other things.....

A Foggy Night In Altdorf

or

I was 65% sure she's not a mutant and then....

On Konigstag the 7th of Nachgeheim, we resume.

Wilhelm von Döhnenleiter spends the rest of his day at the Panther Knight chapterhouse continuing his indoctrination into the order (career transition requirement).

Korhadriel continues a 2nd day of looking for the edition of the Hammer of the Gods that von Oppenheim used. He finds no such edition, but notes an entry in the library records of an inter-library loan of a later edition to the University of Streissen, at the request of Professor Schott Mandelbrot. The Professor had the book 3 months and returned it, it is not the version Oppenheim had (same generally but no strange symbols in the illustrations).

This was when he created the fake text Oppenheim used.

Magnus Holck sleeps in, sleeping off his “under the weather” condition from enjoying Bugman’s Best Bitters the previous evening. He then goes to the Temple of the Witch Hunters and sees Witch Hunter Captain Wilhelm Leopold. Magnus presents his theory that the The Black Cowl is really more than one person – the Mandelbrot brothers, and that Erich, aka Johann Templeman may still be alive, having faked his death.

He presents well enough (roll made) that this strikes Leopold as a workable theory, he had originally not suspected Mandelbrot of being more than possible evidence against wizardry being safe but now does suspect him of more – though doesn’t see him as a ‘daring Black Cowl criminal mastermind’ more an ‘dangerous obscure genius’. If there were two wearing the cowl, that could explain things.

This facilitates reconciling with Leopold and having Magnus’ petition to join the Witch Hunter order granted [career transition]

The Dwarf’s activities are unknown (player absent).

Comrades dine together and exchange news – Mandelbrot having the book being interesting. They then all go with Wilhelm to see Clothilde von Alptraum to attend the evening prayer service for the Emperor.

Wilhelm is disappointed to learn that the Gravin’s new security, Lieutenant Arta Schaffer and some Greatswords, have nixed an evening trip through the fog to attend services – too great a security risk. However, Clothilde does discretely invite Wilhelm to return and meet her the garden later so they can finally get better acquainted. Korhadriel manages to overhear these arrangements.

The comrades take the Gravin’s carriage to see if there is an attack, there is not, and attend the service. Wilhelm and Magnus find it reaffirming (recover 1 stress each), Korhadriel just finds it a long time to stand (no pews in a Sigmarite temple). The service is well-attended, lots of zealots turning out, Graf Friedrich von Kaufman and Luminary Konrad Mauer are both there as is Wilhelm’s brother Klaus (who gives the young ingrate the cold shoulder – just think of the look had he walked in with Clothilde!).

After the service Wilhelm goes to meet Clothilde and the others retire to their inn.

Here we move to split screen as we see how each progresses through their evening and when, if ever, their paths converge again - play switched back and forth to keep all engaged but I will sum up each all at once. This is the narrative/dramatic approach of time in ‘scenes’ not minutes etc.

We see Wilhelm facing three tests ( different skills based on different stats ) to see if he can cement his relationship with Clothilde – he fails to be witty (dramatically) but manages to get out of doghouse, show he is a good listener or at least knows when to be quiet and is charming. It seems Clothilde likes them quiet, not-too-bright but charming and willing to take critical wounds on her behalf. Things are just getting really interesting for Wilhelm (the garden is where the pamphlets said all the juicy events occurred) when the couple is rudely interrupted.

Lieutenant Schaffer appears in the garden with two greatswords and two bravos. Kat, Clothilde’s nurse is roughly knocked quiet after a short warning shriek and they start hunting the pair – the fog meaning an immediate confrontation does not take place.

And where are Wilhelm’s comrades? As all this transpired their scenes were realizing they were being watched and apprehending the watcher. Being told, by a scoundrel who didn’t want to be taken in for questioning by a witch hunter, that if they wanted to save their friend the nobleman they would have to leg it for him and let the watcher go. The two of them run into the foggy night to get from the Street of a 100 Taverns to the Averland Electoral Palace before it’s too late!

And run, and run, and run, and run – eventually arriving in about the time most people could have walked it in normal conditions (never has a single challenge die and two misfortune dice for fog been so daunting an obstacle).

They resolved first two scenes (spot/catch/interrogate watcher) easily but then keep failing the check to move quickly to aid Wilhelm.

Wilhelm ends up facing Schaffer alone (then again a member of the Young Blades Dueling Society should not want it any other way). Thankfully she is happy to fight him one on one – remarking after his opening pistol shot (3 wounds only) – by which he announces his presence – barely scratches her, “useless noble pistolieres, takes infantry to finish anything”. It’s her greatsword against his rapier.

Clothilde does lend some inspiring words, and Schaffer fails to demoralize Wilhelm with her Villainous Monologue in which she taunts him with merely being a distraction for the Gravin, whose sights are really set on Captain Baerfaust. But he is not for her, he is the hope of Averland, and he will not be dragged into the Leitdorf-Alptraum mire.

The duel goes on as both wound the other and Wilhelm almost wounds Schaffer to unconsciousness, causing her to launch a desperate retaliatory blow that drops Wilhelm – though opens her wound further such that the last thing he sees as unconsciousness claims him is her body falling on top of his own.

She was out of ACE and suffered 2 Fatigue from her action so it dropped her.

By the time Magnus and Korhadriel arrive, no one is present in the garden. Watchmen and soldiers arrive shortly with torches and they learn that a slightly-disheveled Clothilde escaped (being very familiar with the garden’s ins and outs) to raise an alarm. Two guards were found locked in the cellar but no one else was present.

Korhadriel talks with the watchmen to see where they think the rogues might be found and (successful Hard folklore) the Holy Hammer of Sigmar Inn on Street of 100 Taverns is mentioned. A few shillings are paid to ensure the watchmen come along. They would have anyway but Korhadriel was spreading cash around to guarantee things.

At the Holy Hammer, a den of rogues and killers for hire that is more a maze of private rooms than an inn, the pair decide to take the route of coin over intimidation or the “have you met my friend Karl” approach – 3 gold Karls being paid to hire for the evening the ruffians and duelists all present.

Korhadriel spends half of all the money he's acquired to date - having spent none on superior weapons or healing draughts etc. as others have since starting. In game it's the money he saves by mooching dinners whenever he can.

This leads to the quick location of the snug hideaway in back that the rogues and traitor greatswords brought unconscious Schaffer and Wilhelm too. It’s narrow halls so numbers cannot be brought fully to bear as the comrades burst into room.

Fortune points spent to roll expertise dice to see if “someone extra” present and yes (comet meant so, 2 were spent, one hammer plus extra roll got the comet)!

In addition to the expected they find, Curd Weiss, Graf von Kaufman’s right hand man!

Curd is nonplussed, “women” (dismissive look at Schaffer), draws his pistol, aims carefully and shoots Magnus – blowing his leg out from under him and sending him toppling back unconscious (and nearly unable to walk thanks to 3 critical wounds, one severe re leg and one normal re leg).

A very well rolled Sniper Shot action that gets every positive outcome line on the card.

Korhadriel is the only comrade left standing, magic dart at Curd, but has plenty of hired help. As they contend with the greatswords, he sees Curd take something from his tunic and crush it – a whisp of smoke escapes and a portal of some sort opens. Through it comes The Black Cowl! In the flesh for the first time, though only Korhadriel among the comrades sees him.

The cowled figure kills Schaffer with a sword stab into the throat, grabs Curd and vanishes back through portal. However, Korhadriel quick casts and has time for two more magic darts after his first – managing with the last to conjure an impressive one that means it is a slumped Curd who vanishes with the Black Cowl.

The greatswords and bravos surrender seeing how they are abandoned and outnumbered.

We break, at about 11:30 on Konigstag the 7th. Two comrades are unconscious and badly wounded (likely sleeping well into morning the next day, at least).

The immediate question will what Korhadriel says/does with the watch and hired help he has – what immediate actions and how are any attitudes shaped to the right hands of two notable persons being encountered in these circumstances! Oh and of course, what the circumstances were in which all of this happened (Korhadriel heard enough earlier to know it was a secret romantic liaison interrupted)

That's the Wrong Elf!

Korhadriel has the watch take his two unconscious comrades and the dead Lieutenant Schaffer to the nearby Seven Stars, after which the watch departs with the two bravos and traitorous-greatswords. He tips them to get word to Gravin Clothilde von Alptraum that her escort of the evening has been rescued ( choosing words that are not explicit but hint at something ), to the authorities and Witch Hunter Captain Wilhelm Leopold that he has important information.

Korhadriel gives Wilhelm von Döhnenleiter and Magnus Holck first aid, restoring them to consciousness (success by dint of pure intellect, who needs training). The Dwarf returns from a night out with Vognus and other local dwarfs to discover he has missed another round of melees (how is he to ever find his doom?)

That was the explanation of why he was absent last week.

Watch Captain Harald arrives to take statements and is told everything (Wilhelm’s rendezvous with Clothilde being downplayed). Korhadriel emphasizes the magical and unnatural aura of the Black Cowl (how otherwise could he have been so terrifying). Harald turns to the question of Schaffer and Weiss’s patrons – Captain Marcus Baerfaust and Graf Friedrich von Kaufman. He clearly doesn’t relish having to interview them and goes off to secure the approvals he’ll need from the Tower of Altdorf. Wilhelm offers to assist in interviews though Harald isn’t sure when they will happen.

All turn in.

Wilhelm and Magnus both sleep well past dawn and into mid-morning seeking to recover their wounds. Korhadriel and the Dwarf stay up during the night in case there is more danger.

It is now the 8th and Witch Hunter Captain Leopold arrives, interested in the Black Cowl’s magical appearance and disappearance – perhaps Mandelbrot’s escape from the Temple is explained. He examines Schaffer’s body – she shows no signs of mutation but he takes custody of it for a “thorough examination” (sometimes mutation is internal).

In the morning, word comes for Wilhelm to attend the Iron Graf at the Tower of Altdorf. This time he takes his comrades. At the Tower he finds Captain Baerfaust (looking tired and shaken – he would have been on duty at the palace until midnight) and Graf von Kaufman in mid “shrugging denial/dismissing concern mode” (his recurring posture when there’s trouble – picture a glibber Sergeant Schulz). Watch Captain Harald and Holy Inquisitor Father Johannes Seibolt are present.

Schaffer and Curd were definitely in a position to know when the blackpowder shipments were being made and what the patrols would be to avoid if raiding them! Schaffer was at Griffon’s Fall when the suspected treachery took place. There is recurring talk of whether Schaffer was fully part of everything or a dupe/pawn (only a woman after all). Captain Baerfaust has an alibi for the time of the Black Cowl’s appearance last night (more or less, accurate timepieces etc. not being common, 20 or 30 minutes later and he wouldn’t have) whereas Graf v K does not – though there is no evidence of course.

The four prisoners are two hired bravos who don’t know anything and two greatswords who were doing it all to see Captain Baerfaust put forward into a position to be candidate for elector instead of another mad, useless noble who cares nothing for the soldiers whose lives they throw away. At least that’s their story so far, we will see. None show signs of mutation (pending the exhaustive internal examination that will come at the end of their questioning).

Father Seibolt is disturbed, if this conspiracy goes beyond the mutant Red Crown cult then it is even more dangerous! Graf von Bittenach is thinking about the possibility of an ongoing threat to Gravin von Alptraum and that ‘she’s a patriot’ in terms of willingness to help draw out these conspirators (act as bait). Wilhelm doesn’t like that idea much.

Captain Baerfaust and Graf von Kaufman have both denied any involvement before Wilhelm arrived. It’s obvious that von Bitternach is not impressed by Captain Baerfaust’s judgement in having Schaffer as his adjutant (the Captain’s star is no longer on the rise and it may be an extended wait before he’s actually made a Reiksgraf). Baerfaust himself appears oblivious/uncaring to all that and is just saddened and depressed about Schaffer.

On the way out, Graf von Kaufman speaks with Korhadriel. He is reaffirming the paper Korhadriel is to write putting right perspective on Southlands expedition and findings. He’s received word that the navigator, Eothlir Valandar has come to Altdorf with a relative, an elf-woman who wants to see him about the recovered items, particularly the effigy. The effigy is now the Sanctified Clapper of course but he’s pleased at prospect of a buyer for other items (everyone knows Ulthuan elves are fabulously wealthy – usually). He says that the paper will be appreciated by the Church of Sigmar as well, for he has given the Sanctified Clapper to the Great Cathedral.

(Graf von Kaufman is not aware of Korhadriel’s last name and thus doesn’t know Eothlir and the woman are thus Korhadriel’s relatives).

Wilhelm goes to see Gravin Clothilde. She was aware of his rescue but discretion meant she could not come to see him, she is glad to see him now. City watch are now protecting her, Graf von Bitternach’s men not yet having arrived. She is wondering if it was all Schaffer’s madness and whether the Black Cowl is really out to get her at all but is advised that Schaffer’s jealousy probably just made her an easy tool to an end desired anyway.

Told of possible interest in using her to draw out the conspiracy she seems willing but would want Wilhelm there. She was hoping to see the Iron Graf von Bitternach this afternoon about the plenipotentiary matter and if that went well was thinking of leaving the city. It would be a shame to miss the service tomorrow at the Holy Temple of Sigmar (Great Cathedral service for Emperor, also the one Klaus wanted Wilhelm to attend) but Averland (and her own family retainers) is looking like a better place to be.

Between pornographic smear campaigns, being taunted at parties, being almost blown up with the play she was sponsoring, and then being attacked in garden while trying to ‘ahem’ relax, and having to run to a watch station in a less-than-dignified state to get help it’s been a far cry from the Gravin’s usual social calendar. She’s usually a bigger fish in a smaller pool.

The Dwarf and Korhadriel go to the unofficial elven embassy, a mansion in city’s east end. On the way along the docks they are ambushed by four tough-looking dock thugs who seem to want to get Korhadriel away and distract The Dwarf.

Barely has the fight begun, with the comrades pressed against the dock’s edge, when another group of thugs appears and shouts at the first “ What are you doing? ” The reply is “ We got one! ”, to which the newcomers respond, “ That’s the wrong elf, they’ve already got the ones they want – well, you’ll have to kill him now! ”. The Dwarf, however, it is just getting warmed up having wounded one knife-wielder that Korhadriel finished with a flaming magic dart. His twin axes whirling he fells the other six (2 gangs of 3) before he even has time to remember the actually wanted one to interrogate.

Magnus hobbles over (needing a crutch to get around on his gamey leg) to the Horse Tower to see Elke. All of von Kaufman’s household is in a state of panic – Curd – Curd is a cultist!!!! What’s to become of the Graf, of them, are they all to be questioned by witch hunters??? The Graf has been told not to leave Altdorf without advising the Tower first. Magnus tries to calm Elke but fails (however does recover stress, it being strangely satisfying to see the reputation of the witch hunters affects people).

Arriving at the “embassy”, Korhadriel leans that the younger of his older sisters, Avallyne Valandar, has come to the city with his cousin Eothlir Valandar and is staying at the Bookbinder’s Rest in the University District. They arrived yesterday, asked after where they could find Graf von Kaufman, left early this morning and no one has seen them since.

It’s early-afternoon by the time Korhadriel. starts trying to find out “what word on the street is” and learns that the Fish had a bounty out on two elves. Conferring with Harald K the Black Bat is revealed to be the closest Fish hangout.

The comrades have regrouped now but try a subtle approach, and Magnus hobbles in alone on his crutch. Who does he see sitting in a corner but his Averheim acquaintance Frederick Grosz, ahem, Altdorf friend Karl Meisl.

Magnus goes over to ask Grosz what he knows. Grosz explains the Fish’s mercenary and unreliable nature, says he could ask around but Magnus doesn’t want to take too long so Grosz says if he’s willing to spend some coin the Fish in the far corner might reveal what they know.

Magnus goes over to the far corner and has a difficult time getting the Fish to talk, spending over a gold crown in bribes in two rounds of talking to learn that, “ Karl Meisl arranged a bounty to capture two elves staying in the University district and they were put aboard the Restless Spirit barge and sent upriver this morning ”. Magnus looks back to the empty seat where Frederick Grosz had been sitting – at least while the Fish gave him the courtesy of time to get out before they sold him out.

Out front (Grosz did not leave this way) Magnus advises his comrades. In the course of looking for a fast ship on the docks to try to overtake the barge Korhadriel leans that the Restless Spirit is back at its berth (later afternoon). Flashing around imperial warrants and being intimidating the comrades learn that the barge transported two “coffin sized” crates and four men upriver to the nearby village of Autler this morning.

(It arrived back mid-afternoon, being gone about 3/4 of a day).

The comrades go to Graf von Kaufman to obtain a coach and driver (it being one of his businesses) to get to Autler quickly. He has no armed men to offer them, he’s been ordered to reduce the number of his armed retainers. He sheds a tear, “ some of those ogres had been with me for years ”.

It’s late afternoon by the time the comrades head by coach along the road to Autler. This is a good road here at the Empire’s heart and they make good time, but it is still after dark when they reach the small walled village. A ruckus must be raised to get someone to come to open the gate. They learn that the four men and their crates went up the trail to the old Mandelbrot estate.

Mandelbrot Estate! say the comrades.

As had been noted earlier, there was a Mandelbrot estate once – no one asked exactly where – now you know….

By the time they have finished interviewing villagers and decided that though the hour is getting late they will press in their rescue effort it is now about 9:00 pm.

We break.

I like the fate of Adele in your campaign, but I wonder whether the players could have been convinced about her being insane but basically a good girl if not for the character Gunnar? What do you think? (as you know, in my campaign Adele is very much the issue right now, and I hope that she'll somehow manage to survive the pc:s upcoming investigations).

In-character, the players are still inclined to view Adele as a "good girl fighting against corruption outside and inside" (e.g., went down fighting mutants and asking to be burned) - though a fair bit of that is "not wanting to bad-mouth a witch hunter".

Though they realize now she was Slaaneshi.

All present.

The comrades take their coach up the trail from Aulter to Mandelbrot mansion, being told it would take about an hour normally. The waning Mannslieb is only a quarter full and the forest creates shadows making travel at normal speed hazardous so the coach slows a bit (rather than lighting its way).

Several comrades spot the coach passing small groups of men moving in the woods, in the manor’s direction. The coach slows and stops, The Dwarf and Korhadriel moving to intercept one such group. The figures, seeing 2 coming to meet their 4, and not being surprised by a coach, also move to them.

They are four mutants, though not dreadfully mutated, likely able to pass in right conditions but making no effort now. They are ready to fight but The Dwarf intimidates them and Wilhelm appears behind them – having taken his horse quietly though the woods (successful roll) to cut them off.

The mutants think better of fighting “the snoops” (a dwarf and elf team being known of apparently) who are enemies of the Black Cowl. They have no quarrel with the snoops, they are here to kill the Black Cowl and everyone else in that manor (they apparently believe the Black Cowl is here having learned his agents have gathered here).

Korhadriel is willing to let the mutants kill the Black Cowl/his agents but not “everyone” in the manor – not any elves (his sister and cousin presumably there). The comrades slow their advance to let the mutants get ahead of them with the intent of following the mutants in to “clean up” – they do not intend to let any mutants or Black Cowl agents escape.

When they get as afar as a small stone bridge over a stream, with some lights ahead, the comrades send the coach back – with orders to find a watchpost in Altdorf and have word sent to Graf von Bitternach of the activity at the manor.

Moving up, the comrades see several small bands of mutants converging on the ruined manor. One wing is fairly intact and has light coming from it. 20+ Shadows swarm up over the edge of the veranda the light is spilling out onto – there is a pistol shot and a short cry, and the shadows swarm into the manor – with more shots and sounds of fighting.

The comrades come only a couple of rounds behind, Wilhelm first as he is mounted on his warhorse. There are two rooms in which fighting it going on (he doesn’t Observe anything more about what’s in which), he rides into the one with the biggest fight.

The mutants and manor defenders have already begun giving good account of each other, the defenders being mostly “naval-looking sorts”. One room has two unconscious elves tied up next to a table with various knives and vials/flasks of things – the other room (with less fighting) has Curd Weiss in it – hanging from a rafter and looking like he’s been receiving some rough questioning.

The comrades emerge the victors with few wounds to show for it, their strategy of letting the mutants and others weaken each other working. A sorcerer who invoke’s Tzeench’s name appears among the defenders, and it’s a near thing when one defender in room with Curd decides that Curd can’t be allowed to be taken alive and is ready to kill him when Wilhelm rides into the room and stops him.

This was one time a Player strategy really did help - I just arbitrarily had the two groups winnow each other

With control of the manor, after a brief search the PC’s find some horses, trunks of papers – evidently Mandelbrot’s smuggled out of Altdorf after his arrest by the witch hunters, and of

course there is Curd to question and elves to revive.

Korhadriel quickly scans the trunks – there is no time read it all he’s just looking to see anything critical like a copy of Hammer of the Gods. He does find a Hammer of the Gods-workbook – in with lots of Southlands and Lustria texts, maps, inscription copies etc – a blueprint for “how to forge a copy of Hammer of the Gods with secret Old One runes worked into it such that someone would find them and recreate the ritual you wanted them to”. (Education check)

Korhadriel’s spellcraft determines that this ritual was to shield a source of corruption, temporarily as only that is possible, with a ‘coating of purity’ (corruption melts in your bell not in your hand), using a source of external power and requiring sacrifice of something Korhardriel doesn’t understand (technical mumbo jumbo beyond him).

The technical term for "a soul". Oppenheim did sacrifice more than he knew.

Oh-oh, the Clapper is not purified, it’s still a Corrupt Clapper in a Shell of Purity (and Graf von Kaufman has given it to the Temple of Sigmar).

Curd is questioned. He is depressed and dejected, not caring much about what happens to himself and not impressed with threats of torture, but Wilhelm manages to be intimidating enough that in exchange for seeing Curd’s family doesn’t get any blame (they are innocent he says) and promise of a quick death he tells them what he knows.

High points of “what’s being going on in the eyes of Curd Weiss”:

- Curd is an able “Ollie North” serving von Kaufman and his “dinner conspiracy” of Averheim-loyalists in keeping the province running despite there being no elector and the two major families being caught up in a useless rivalry.

- The Black Cowl appeared just after New Years promising to be able to bring the underworld under control – it was getting more and more dangerous as watch easily bribed etc. Tall man, agents in noble households, voice impossible to recognizes (mask does something to it).

- By the time mutants and other strangeness were revealed to be “part of Black Cowl package” Curd was in too deep, just like the Brotherhood, the Cowl personally uses blackmail not just persuasion etc.

- Schaffer was part of this “inner Black Cowl” group as well, in her case wanting to advance the career of Captain Baerfaust, for whom she had conceived a mad love. The attacks on Clothilde (bomb at theater, recent attack in garden) were Schaffer’s work on her own – in part because for a while after the Templegarten explosion they thought the Cowl was dead.

- There is sill 20 barrels of black powder at the Cellini Ironworks.

- Mandelbrot is another Black Cowl agent, Curd doesn’t think he could be the Cowl, he’s a genius but insane – thinks the Old Ones are about to return to cleanse the world of all corruption (including people – so you better hope Mandelbrot is stark raving mad). Mandelbrot is a hedge witch.

- There is another Black Cowl agent, another hedge witch who is Luminary Mauer’s older sister. Mauer came to Averheim looking for her. Curd doesn’t think Mauer is a Black Cowl agent but the Cowl could have a hold on him because of his sister (who’s supposed to have died when witch hunters killed all the adult members of Mauer’s family years ago).

(so yes, each of the three main suspects had a lieutenant or associate who were part of this inner Black Cowl conspiracy and if any serious effort to investigate any of them had been made this might have been turned up – a weak success thinking perhaps the principal was corrupt, a better one realizing it’s a whole set of over-eager Ollie Norths, or perhaps a beter one realizing……..)

- Curd doesn’t like the Black Cowl (that’s obvious) but he does offer two defences/rationales for his service.

(1) The Black Cowl used the Red Crown mutant cult, drawing its members out to get killed in various missions and efforts including blowing up a bunch of them in the Templegarten – it may not look it but this has been a great victory for the Empire, a strike against the Enemy Within- cleansing this 5th column – a more important victory than any battle in the north.

(2) The ‘radical plan’ of the inner conspiracy to blow up (with the blackpowder) the leading members of Averheim’s two great families and Averheim’s Sigmarite clergy (with a bomb at the Temple of Sigmar in Averheim) may be treasonous and murderous but it would have been for the good of Averheim. The great families and Church of Sigmar are a threat to the Empire – Curd points at a pistol, “that’s the same pistol could have been used 200 years ago in the Great War Against Chaos – the Church of Sigmar’s equation of all progress and change with the work of Ruinous Powers is stagnating the Empire, we are moving backwards – only if that hindrance is removed can there be progress – this is what we wanted for Averheim”.

The elves are revived with smelling salts (Korhadriel figuring out what is what among the vials on table). They are happy to be rescued. Avallyne has words with Korhadriel alone about why she was sent by their father once Eothlir’s report of the Effigy was received. When she learns of the Clapper’s origin and the ritual she is very disturbed.

Curd is given his clean death, beheading by The Dwarf. The comrades never did ask him why he was being questioned by the other Black Cowl agents.

The comrades find a cart and load it with trunks of papers, Curd’s body wrapped up, and Magnus along with The Dwarf and Korhadriel. Eothlir drives it and they try to get some rest, as Wilhelm leads the way riding back to Altdorf.

The comrades will arrive at the Altdorf south or “meadow” city gates at about 5:30 am. The gates don’t open until sunrise which is about 6:00 am this time of year.

(A check will have to be made to see if they made that time or if fatigue and darkness slowed them).

Wilhelm has been awake all night at this point. Other comrades tried to get some rest in the cart but aside from being a cart it was crowded with trunks and a corpse. Wilhelm has 3 misfortune dice on all actions, the others have 2 (all have a special Chaos star for physical actions). Those who were in cart may make an overnight recovery check but with three misfortune dice.

The good news is, that gate leads into the south part of Altdorf and has a straight road to the Great Cathedral – today being the day of the Emperor’s Noon Prayer Service and the day Wilhelm’s brother had (before he was shamed in family eyes) wanted Wilhelm to attend because the Leitdorf and related family’s contributions to the cathedral’s restoration is to be recognized.

As we get to the gate, an Episode Recovery will occur.

Wilhelm will then have to make a Resilience (3D) to avoid 2 Fatigue and 2 Stress from having been up all night.

We will not play next week but will before year end in hopes of "Ringing out the Year!"

(credit to Magnus' player for that pun)

The comrades arrive back at Altdorf before dawn

Korhadriel identifies the stimulant “Red Eye” among the vials obtained at manor.

Red Eye gives you wings – actually Red Eye allows you to ignore misfortune dice for being without sleep in exchange for long term stress that will not recover until you do really sleep, Red Eye is not recommended for long term use, do not take Red Eye with warpstone, Red Eye makes your eyes red, Red Eye’s makers are not responsible if you are mistaken for a mutant and burned.

Wilhelm takes/uses this and Wilhelm’s mount also manages to pass check to not lose 4 wind from riding all night. Others role to see what rest they got in the cart (generally not much) – misfortune dice for two PC’s.

Magnus goes to Witch Hunter Temple and Wilhelm, Korhadriel and The Dwarf go to the barracks to find Captain Baerfaust.

In both places warnings are made of the clapper and blackpowder at Cellini Ironworks, plot against the noon-day service.

Captain Baerfaust wasn’t there, being at a morning service at the great temple, but another officer takes the report, sends word to Graf von Bitternach and musters men to raid to the Cellini Ironworks immediately, while the comrades go the great temple.

At the Witch Hunter’s Temple, Magnus speaks to Witch Hunter Captain Wilhelm Leopold and alarms him such that he and a couple of aides accompany Magnus to the great temple.

In the square between barracks and great temple the sunrise-ceremony at great temple is letting out, there in the dispersing attendees is Captain Baerfaust and Gravin Clothilde von Alptraum (with her nurse and 4 soldiers in von Bitternach’s colours – her guards as promised). Wilhelm manages to attract Clothilde’s attention and they all speak.

More alarm at the evil plan. Captain Baerfaust is for heading back into temple and investigating. Clothilde is shocked and bundled off by her nurse and guards. Along the way it came out that Clothilde had tried to contact Wilhelm last evening but he was out (killing cultists and mutants) – as she had said yesterday morning she has decided to return to Averheim and is leaving today (she was planning to leave before the noon service) - the city has not been kind to her.

Not at all because the noon service was supposed to be a death trap for the elite of Altdorf who humiliated her as a young awkward girl.

Averlanders are now quite unpopular (the fortune die and free drinks are over now) – Mandelbrot, Weiss, Schaffer – it has been discovered that Schaffer who was in charge of making sure the emperor’s food was safe was in fact poisoning it!

Magnus and Captain Leopold arrive. Mandelbrot’s papers (in cart) go into his custody (his aides take it back to Witch Hunter temple). Ellothir and Avallyne go to the “elven embassy”.

The comrades, Captain Baerfaust and Captain Leopold enter the temple. (Great Temple outline of floorplan with markers for sorts of attendees onto table along with location card of effects).

There are still about 200 people here between regular staff, those lingering from sunrise service, those determined to pray all day for the Emperor not just at noon etc. Up on the dais “at the hammer’s head”, the comrades can make out Graf Friedrich von Kaufman with a servant (Elke!), Ferdinand and Claudia Leitdorf, Wilhelm’s parents Jurgen and Tanja, and is older half-brother Klaus, Inquisitor Johannes Siebolt, all talking.

Getting to the head of temple picks up a persistent zealot ranting about the gods being angry and day of reckoning coming (ginger haired, those are the worse ranters).

As I tell the players and they nod - I am a red head myself

The comrades have trouble convincing anyone that a corrupt clapper could enter the temple without the temple wards at least flaring in warning (despite Magnus the Witch Hunter doing most of the talking and having some bonuses). The “coating of purity” theory is good (i.e., it’s a +5 sword) but it still takes a persuasive or intellectual success to “hit with it” and PC’s miss. The zealot is barometer, a first wailing the clapper is corrupt everyone is doomed, then exclaiming but of course Sigmar can’t be so easily fooled.

Mechanically, the “bell starts ringing” is a round or two further along than it might have been if believed promptly (the clock started the moment the ‘zealot’ started shouting – this was in fact a warning to those with the bell that the jig was up, with tick tock after that as persuasion fails etc).

However, when the Cellini ironworks are mentioned in the course of the comrades’ warnings and Graf Ferdinand takes note – the Leitdorfs are here because of their aid in the temple’s restoration project, which is to be honoured during the service today. They had the bell recast – at the Cellini Ironworks (oooh hooo, is it not just a special clapper, is it a special clapper in a special bell….). Perhaps this should at least be checked out. Wilhelms’ relatives are casting him dagger looks.

The delay means that 4 workers appear coming out of the bell’s tower and Graf Friedrich calls to them, they say that everything is installed; the men from the Cellini ironworks are just finishing with the last adjustments.

Had PC’s asked about who was still up there, they would have said “6 men and some scholar-type fussing about getting it just so”.

The comrades start down the side aisle to the bell tower.

The ginger-haired zealot capers and shrieks again, at first fearfully and then more gloatingly, “ So corruption can enter the great temple if cloaked in purity? ” The zealot’s skin cracks and peels and as he whirls it flies off to reveal a daemon – his chains flying around him as he whirls releasing the boxes on them to fly and crack open, more daemons popping out all over the temple – all of them trailing purple smoke.

The daemons are sprinkled about but their overall effect is to block most of the priests and griffon knights etc. in the hall from being able to get to the bell tower – only the comrades who had already started to it have a clear path.

I added the idea that the temple has wards against chaos. That seems logical to me and I used by "coating of purity" concept to smuggle in corrupt clapper as also why the daemon "wears a zealot".

The bell also starts ringing…

Here the fateful decision is made that Wilhelm and The Dwarf will go up the bell tower while Magnus (who doesn’t fancy hobbling up all those stairs with his leg critical) and Korhadriel help deal with the daemons.

The bell is now starting to “ring in earnest” – Wilhelm and The Dwarf see little shiny flakes floating down the tower shaft from above, it’s so pretty like a dusting of snow ( FYI , these were little flakes of purity floating down having been broken off the clapper – had a PC thought to ****** one one they would have netted a little shard of holiness – a little bit of help dealing with the situation), each peel of the bell striking Terror as sights and sounds grow more bizarre and each reverberation (rounds between peels) threatening corruption etc.

The first peal of the bell seems to split the air before everyone’s eyes so that what they are seeing is like a mirror with cracks appearing in it.

Spending Fatigue to get up the tower in 2 rounds, Wilhelm and The Dwarf come up stairs to find 5 armed men blocking their way – a 6th ringing bell and Professor Schott Mandelbrot there bwah-hah-hahing.

The second peal sends the cracks further, they are all over now – superimposed on your vision (no difficulty seeing what’s there, just seeing “more”).

Rally Step and Villainous Monologue!

They thought to use me, to destroy enemies and rise to paltry power in this mud-mired absurdity you think reality. In the face of the Old Ones' return such ambitions are not more real than your flesh.

What do we know of the world about us? Our senses are absurdly few. We see things only as the shell we inhabit was constructed to see.

The bell's pealing is unveiling the truth beyond your pitiful handful of senses, you shall see that truth as I use your lives to ascend and escape the doom that comes- I shall become as did the Old Ones!

In the temple’s main hall pandemonium reigns and battle rages. Ferdinand von Leitdorf, Captain Baerfaust, Witch Hunter Leopold, Graf von Kaufman and others fight while some flee and others panic. Magnus and Korhadriel do what they can to assist (rounds their actions are successful the dice pool for battle gets bonus dice). Magnus tells Elke to flee (actually he told her to get out the first chance he got, it’s never a good omen if the GM puts a big floorplan out).

As the bell peals a third time, the crowd screams with panic. Just as vision was affected now all start to hear things, sounds with no source, wind, wave, a metallic clanging but if making their Terror check also cheers and cries of Sigmar and Empire! that strengthen the heart and allow recovering stress and fatigue. [only Korhadriel fails this check]

I added the description of the bell's effects as a peeling away of reality to Chaos but also added some other things - ranks in magical sight help deal with it, insanity severity perversely helps, on this check the Temple's effect as a source of Sigmarite belief venting into Realm of Chaos can assist.

Claudia von Leitdorf dies under a daemon’s claws as Father Johannes Siebolt pushes her aside in his flight. As the peeling bell tolls and corruption comes through the cracks in reality, Wilhelm’s half-brother Klaus is transformed into a chaos beast – bonus bad die to the pool until Ferdinand von Leitdorf kills it (Ferdinand is turning out to be the most able swordsman, even moreso than Captain Baerfaust).

At the bell tower top, Mandelbrot summons sorcerous effects through the ‘cracks in reality’. Arcane blasts of power, lightning and ‘switches to might have beens’ deal out wounds and criticals and weary Wilhelm with age, inflict ill-fortuned conditions etc.

Mandelbrot’s thrall assistants (every professor needs TA’s) do not fall easily and each fights to the bitter end. Wilhelm and The Dwarf have trouble making headway and bell keeps tolling. Eventually Wilhelm manages to get past a foe (ranks having thinned a bit) and attack the bell ringer (he doesn’t think he can sever the heavy belltower rope with one swing – though he can’t drop the bell ringer with one swing either). Foes that can focus efforts on him.

Wilhelm falls unconscious from the stress of Mandelbrot’s reality warping magic (his hold on reality getting weaker as well, his temporary insanity ends up with 3 counters by the time he falls – he’s one wound from dying as well given his number of critical wounds – he would have died if he fell to a wound).

As this happens the last of the daemon horde is vanquished – arriving Griffon Knights causing the dice pool for battle to keep getting better. Graf von Kaufman has taken a serious wound and is out of commission (not dead but badly wounded, at this point more a narrative effect as being out of commission in coming days will have consequences).

[we break with the next round about to start, a new peel of bell to come]

To be clearer, that’s the last of the “smaller daemons” gone – the daemon that had been “wearing a zealot” is still there in its cloud of purple smoke.

It's the bell peeling that allows the daemons to persist in reality despite instability.

Things hang in the balance - we could see a "Mandelbrot win" yet (though what happens if he "ascends" is not at all what he thinks).

I should add that I had the bell "ring" every 2nd round, the off rounds being "reverberation" when the GM die rolls of added effects were made. Ramping up the Terror every single round would have been just too nasty - as it was every PC did get a corruption point.

My Mandelbrot ravings - and some of the idea of what the bell is doing - plagiarize from:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/nec/hpl/hpl45.htm

This will probably wrap my record of The Enemy Within .

The Black Cowl has survived. The "mad genius" plot of the bell was foiled and Mandelbrot, her most useful tool, slain, what is more the Black Cowl's true ambition to assassinate Emmanuelle von Leibwitz and her coterie of hangers on (those who humiliated her years ago) was foiled on the 9th and the back-up plan was foiled on the 11th. She follows Ecaté, the moon goddess of witches, as taught by Kat. Revenge is justice in her eyes.

Both times Clothilde's plans were foiled by Wilhelm and his comrades (it's the old world, though he is not the brightest bulb, he's the noble so everyone assumes it's his crew), however the Player did make rolls to win her favour wooing her. That's the one reason she hasn't tried to assassinate him. His heart is in the right place it's just his sights are misplaced, she sees that, and most lately, he has used what influence his deeds gained him to speak favourably of her and that may be useful when the Plenipotentiary comes to Averland. Wilhelm is younger, lower tier and not very bright - so he's "fun on the side" not a real partner (she likes older men, older higher tier and not very bright would be an acceptable husband, older - equal or higher and a mind to respect could be a real partner).

At least two of the others died, and neither Wilhelm nor Korhadriel tried to save Emmanuelle herself from the bombs. The elf, well elves are strange folk, she is not certain what to do about him - he is the smartest of them but he has relations around that would look into his death.

Sending them both into the Southlands for an extended period, that might suffice. In the meantime, she will keep them close to see what they might know or suspect, though she cannot afford a scandalous liaison with a lesser noble in Averheim. If Wilhelm is to keep company with her, it will have to observe all proprieties.

Barring players being inventive (who knows what they will pull out of their hats), we will resume with them heading back to Averheim, hopefully in time for the Wine Festival, aboard the Emperor Wilhelm with a cast of characters including the two current candidates for the Electorship of Averland (Clothilde von Alptraum and Ferdinand von Leitdorf) and the corpse of Claudia von Leitdorf on ice, courtesy of the Ice King of Kislev.