The Enemy Within - Session 121

 05/07/2025

Death in Holzbek

Night of the 1st. Farfordda goes out into the woods, into the wind and rain of the fierce storm and spends xp to level up and gain Channeling (only it later turns out it wasn't quite enough xp so he won't unlock the ability quite yet). He sleeps in the wet boughs. 

Magdalena spends her evening in the Inn chatting with a pair of lawyers from Middenheim travelling to Bergsburg. They tell her Law Lord Leo Krupp is now High Inquisitor, master of this intimidating new order, that they were shocked to hear Lady Hirsch was any sort of conspirator, that Wilhelm Tore is now a Baron and that Rallane the minstrel died of some horrible disease that saw his face swell up purple.

 Both she and Farforrda have vivid dreams. Next morning they reunite over breakfast then get going, Thindra with Magdalena, and the draft horse brought for carrying their gear - they arrive at Holzbek late in the day, near 5pm.

On the evening of the 1st Amos and Norgrim, just after arriving in the town head for Holzbek Manor. Amos says to the guards on the gate that they were involved in the rescue of Ada, and name drops Sir Rieter - the guard tells them the Baron is at dinner but allows them into the yard. Its not long before they are ushered away and told to come back tomorrow - but not before they see Baron Hienrich Todbringer storm out into the night. 

basis generated from https://watabou.itch.io/village-generator

 

The storm builds as they make their way to The Roamer's Pint. The inn being packed to bursting hayloft accommodation is the best they can get, once secured they settle down to drink. Norgrim spies a monocled traveler he recognises from the Middenheim coach. Amos launches into gossip with the intention of spreading the story about he & Norgrim's involvement in the rescue of Ada, but he fumbles and starts a bar room broom brawl... 

Next day they awake to see the aftermath of the storm, hearing there were many fights between folks seeking shelter and that the clock tower was struck by lightning. They go to the Town Watch Barracks to enquire after any recent additions to the cells from out of town - they are looking for Axel. But no, no one brought in. News arrives while they are there that the Baron is dead! He died in his sleep last night apparently. The bell tolls to mark his passing. 

Amos visits the blacksmith and trades in his glimmerlead, then to the temple of Verena offering to fix the clock. But again they are met with people with other priorities, Sister Garner says not today, she is dealing with legal affairs regarding the Baron. He spends the rest of the afternoon researching clockwork machinery in the temple library. Norgrim heads for the Bad Pfennig.

Mags and Farfordda send Thindra into town first to find the dwarves. Then Farfordda rides in, to herald the arrival of Magdalena de Montfort. The guards have heard the story of a female Knight of the Blazing Suns rescuing the Baron's daughter, so are presuaded to escort her to Hlozbek Manor where she arrives about 6pm Nachgeheim 2nd...
 

 

The Enemy Within - Session 120

12/06/2025

Thindra

Before he gets to retire Norgrim is questioned by Brother Holsenheimer - did they rescue the girl? Norgrim tells him the truth up to delivering her to castle Dunfurter, he says nothing of who Ada is. The priest knows he's hiding something but doesn't push him.

Magdalena and Farfordda camp near the edge of the forest by the banks of the Kleiflusch 5 miles before Gladbeich. Farfordda dreams of Magdalena dying an old woman, her handmaid becomes Mariposa and he awakes with her laughter in his head. He loses his summer bonuses from his Season Bound condition as autumn stirs. 

They ride on down to Gladbeich and are reunited with Thindra over a big breakfast a few hours later. They update each other on the 10 days they've been apart then agree to travel on together to Holzbek where Magdalena hopes to gain some kind of pardon from the Baron for having rescued his daughter. Being reunited with Thindra and their cart she once more has her knightly garb. From the Innkeep they hear of villagers and hunters missing since last Grunsnacht and of the tortured beast sounds echoing down from the hills. 

They tell the Innkeep that they traveled down here from Oberholzbek (but no details of what's been happening there), that there is a big celebration about to happen in Holzbek where they intend to travel to now, seeking work. He asks Farfordda (he gave his real name, Magdalena claimed to be Maggie) if as a person of the forest he would go look for his son-in-law, missing these past 4 days. He says no, but maybe when he returns this way...

Norgrim and Amos leave Magnus Rest by 7:30 am, after the slate merchant's caravan but before Valeria. They do see Brother Holsenheiner again before they leave. Norgrim thanks him for his info - says they've sent a message on to Thindra but are travelling on to Holzbek now. So is the priest (Amos says catch a lift with Valeria), maybe he'll see them there.

They pass the slate caravan around the time they reach the Unterfraus turn off, pass a burnt out farm, then nearing lunchtime, the other side of Trolltooth Ridge they find the Cake Wagon with its broken axle and missing wheel. Norgrim spies the halfling baker's body by the side of the road and sets about burying him. Amos crits a Track test - he sees the tracks left by a fleeing Wenzel, and those of 3 or 4 people with blood stains going essentially back the way they have just come. There are some discarded cake boxes in the undergrowth too. Also he can tell that Horst & Gahm's wagon never came this way.

They continue on. Clouds gather and they day becomes darker and warmer throughout the afternoon. Humid with oppressive clouds. A Karzburdger messenger tears past them at pace. Eventually they see Holzbek, a walled town crowned with a clock tower. They enter just after 5pm on the 1st Nachgeheim, through a camp of the Baron's men clustered around the North West gate. Amos buys a copy of the Holzbek Herald; Secret Holzbek Heir betrothed to Haldrich Von Ludenhof!

Magdalena and Farfordda ride back the way they came with Thindra and the cart. They reach Magnus' Rest by sunset. The plan is to leave the Wagon and mountain supplies here (including gunpowder which the Innkeep stores in the tower arsenal) along with Norgrim's dog Carnac, use the draft horse as a pack animal and have Thindra ride with Magdalena. They pay 1GC for the storage, if they don't return by the end of the month the Innkeep owns the lot. 

It is evening of the 1st Nachgeheim, for Magdalena & Farfordda late and the storm raging around the Inn, early for Norgim and Amos with the storm just building in the town...
 

The Enemy Within - Session 119

29/05/2025

Magnus' Rest

 The Inn gets lively with the arrival of Valeria's ale, Farfordda descends from the common room as it is being unloaded. He joins the gaunt priest of Morr - Brother Holsenheiner at the bar. The brother has traveled from Gladbeich, a dream lead him here. He sees that the elf is tainted. Farfordda asks him first about dreams people share and he mentions the comet dreams, which Farfordda admits to having had and relates some of the details. Then asks about rats in dreams, he says he cannot read elven dreams - they slew a giant rat in Oberholzbek Farfordda says. When asked if he travels with the Dwarves Farfordda replies do Elves ever travel with Dwarves?

Magdalena speaks with Oskar the day watchman, asking him about young Axel being taken to Holzbek and the nobles who have passed through of late. He asks her about her travels and she relates the tale of Oberholzbek they told previously (here to find Axel, the giant rat in the mine).

Amos chats with Valeria, saying he saw her at Hohenfarht. She remembers Thindra, says she saw her at Hope Square. He manages to convince her that he knows Gauis, she says she couldn't find him in Middenheim and had to visit the Drowned Rat. He quizes her about Middenheim and she mentioned the mutant stonings and that some new special watch has been established for hunting down witches and mutants involved in that plot against the Graf.

Norgrim writes a letter to Etelka saying her son is not here and that they will continue on to Holzbek looking for him. He deposits it at the Inn. The priest of Morr approaches him saying he had got a lift with a Dwarf named Thindra who was looking for her Dwarf companions who had ran off to rescue a girl. Norgrim says aye that be him - Brother Holsenheiner tells him he left her in Gladbeich this morning - she had taken him and the corpse of Emmerich Handler and his widow from Lindenheim to Gladbeich for burial, which rites he carried out this very morning. He walked to the Holzbek road then caught a ride with Valeria.

Farfordda goes outside to see if he can examine Valeria's wagon. He spots father and son team Horst and Gahm finishing loading up their cart. The son runs back inside the Inn as father leads the cart out to the gates. Farfordda accosts him saying, someone must be right thirsty to need ale be transported at this time. Horst says minimal as his son rejoins him, nestling a crossbow and they drive out into the night.

Farfordda tries casting his Listen spell to hear whatever passes between them and fumbles, Tzeentch whispers in his ear and he gains some corruption. He sees a raven squawk and land on the shoulder of the priest as he enters the yard, then returns to the Inn and updates the others. When the priest returns Amos asks him if he can send his raven to Gladbeich he says no, unless its for a grave matter. 

Farfordda and Magdalena load up their horses and ride for Gladbeich to try catch Thindra before she leaves (Mags rolls a 02 so they will arrive long before dawn taking the north road to the Kleiflusch).

Amos gets involved in the higher stakes of the 2 card games taking place. The Innkeep wins the first round, but the game is interrupted when (about 9:30) Wenzel, the boy travelling with the cake wagon appears. He and his halfling master's cart had broken down on the road - they left without Herr Braun the driver who had been asleep drunk (and since organised to travel with Valeria the following day) - they were accosted by bandits and Wenzel ran when Mortimer fired the blunderbuss. He has been running since. Amos asked him if he saw a cart on the road recently - aye he did and dived into the trees as the cart had no lanterns on - who travels in the dark like that!

They card game resumes and Amos spend his luck to win. Its late on a cold, clear night on the 33rd of Vorgeheim...

 

The Enemy Within - Session 118

 05/05/2025

Wullie's End

 They spend the evening in the Pit Prop. They hear that someone saw Jakan in the afternoon heading north up the river. Amos donates the warplock to the bar, saying only that it was found in Brood Horror lair and maybe they should hang it on the wall. Etelka having heard the party are travelling to the Inn gives Norgrim a letter to post and money asking him to bail her son and tell him his father's funeral will be in days and she heading for Gladbeich after. 

The locals ask to see the Sun stones they have heard about only Norgrim relents and wows them all with the light. A little after 10 Mad Wullie shows up - I'm not mad, see the elf has been in the ratmen tunnels too - but they killed her Tuefelgeist's child, revenge will be visited upon you next Grunsnacht mark my words! 

Farfordda follows him out and chats to him on the way back to his shack. Maybe he should get rid of the warpstone eh? No, it is how Herr Teufelgeist speaks with him - does Farfordda not hear the voice - the end is nigh. The stone will protect him, he found it in the mine when he was a child. Outside his hovel Farfordda casts Sleep on Wullie and catches him as he falls. He removes the stone and lays him on the ground. He takes himself to the other side of the village and adds the pendant to the lead lined jar (found in the Brood Horror lair) which he opens for the first time seeing 2 flakes of warpstone within. He then retires.

The others crash shortly after, taking turns at guard duty. The weather turns early in the morning, and whilst Amos guards it rains. Wullie approaches with a pick axe yelling about the elf. It is just after 6am. Amos wakes Farfordda from a dream in which he chased Wullie into the forest and was captured by skaven and taken to Mariposa in the doorway of the Two Fingers (fails WP roll and has disadvantage now for next 2 hours - due to his mutation). He grabs his bow and runs for the stables. 

Wullie gives chase. He strikes Farfordda's horse with his pick axe just as he tries to flee. Farfordda is thrown, stunned on the ground. Wullie steps forwards with his pick axe raised. Amos shoots him with his crossbow. Wullie is killed instantly.

In the cold, damp morning light miners stumble to the scene. Wullie is dragged away. The party retreat to the Gaffer's farmhouse for breakfast. With Wullie dead the gaffer is now the person who has lived in Oberholzbek the longest.

The party ride out at 9am, Farfordda leaving his injured horse behind (he must be on the chaplain's horse). Not long before midday Farfordda stops them at the confluence of the Kleiflusch and scrambles up a slope with a pick to bury the jar of warpstone.

They reach Magnus' Rest just after 2pm. The place is nearly empty, the Innkeep Franz explains that with all the nobles recently stopping by with their soldiers and entourage, and the imminent party in Holzbek to celebrate the defeat of Ulkin Blackheart his cellar and larders stand near empty. They buy some double price cider (6d), though get near half price common room (6d) accomdation as a result. 

Farfordda slopes off to the common room while Amos and the others regale the Innkeep with their tale of Oberholzbek, starting with the death of mad old Wullie, leaving out all mention of Ada and claiming they arrived there as the dwarves are on a pilgrimage to an old dwarf temple in the mountains (but why the elf?). They say they came here for Etelka, looking for her son (Norgrim posts the letter), but hear he is already gone, taken to Holzbek by the Knights who passed through the other day. 

They have to restart the tale when 3 prospectors show up headed for Oberholzbek, they came from Bergsburg with Falkman's Freelancers who are now in Holzbek. They also hear the Graf of Middenheim is having a great hunt tomorrow, it is surprising that so many nobles should have traveled down to Holzbek at the same time. 

Not long before sunset a wagon train bringing slate from Immescheid to Altdorf shows up, then we finish an hour after sunset on the 33rd, the last day of Vorgeheim with a wagon arriving wagon arriving carrying a gaunt priest of Morr and driven by Valeria Roth, the wine merchant they met in Hohenfahrt waiting for Gauis...

The Enemy Within - Session 117

 17/04/2025

Good Fortune and Prosperity

In the evening Amos goes to the smithy to clean up the warplock. Norgrim in the bar tells tales of killing the Brood Horror in the mine (mentions the remains found, but not the warpstone or items). Etelka, Axel's widow begs him to bring up his remains - he says he will (though failing to persuade the party in the end to re-enter the lower tunnels he will retrieve only an arm). 

Farfordda hides up a tree near Wullies hut before moving inside the hut itself. It is early morning when old Wullie enters. Farfordda says he doesn't think him mad and questions about his trip in the ratmen tunnels - did he see the Horned Rat? He was a horned rat, a one-eyed, white furred rat. It is clear from what he says that he was in the same lair as Farfordda had been. Farfordda says his warpstone chip may have served as a beacon. It was an heirloom from his father he says, the greatest miner of the Middle Mountains. 

Amos wakes from a dream in which he sees green lightning flashing from Karak Skygg at Morrsleib, on which a face splits open to swallow him whole and he gains 5 corruption… he then spends the morning working on the warplock, viewing it through Karlinsel's spectacles he can sees traces of Dhar. He helps Josef create a fuse then visits the bar to give Lucas' wife his wolf skins and asks her to fashion an outfit of sorts with a wolfs head. 

Magdalena spends her morning showing the gaffer how they might set up defenses for the village. Farfordda gets some rest while Josef the smith mends his bow. At midday a posse of riders arrive, 2 knights with Ullman the Holzbek's huntsman. They have come for Ada. Magdalena distrusts them and asks many questions. The others gather and they tell the Knight the whole story of how Ada was abducted and stress to be wary of her aunt. 

Finally they hand Ada over, dressed in chain, with helm, toy sword, stuffed toy from the steward and dog. She leaves happy and makes Magdalena promise she'll come visit. They ride for Holzbek aiming to get there that night. 

Ullman stays behind, he tells them Von Reiter interceded in a fight at the Inn between Martina and Axel junior who'd just heard his father had died down the mine. They tell Ullman about the Brood Horror and show him the skull boiling in the pot. He is impressed. Wait till I tell Meyer he says. The Baron owes you. He tells them the Baron is in Holzbek and his injury inflicted by Gazrin Onehorn is serious, that there are many noble parties headed for Holzbek, and also that a monocle wearing scholar dropped by the castle the night after they were there, and left with Lady Eisenhal for Holzbek the following day. 

He heads for Dunfurter and the party head down the mine shortly after (2pm) with Josef and a wheelbarrow loaded with gunpowder. The locals wait outside with bated breath. 

They descend to the lower caves and Amos and Josef plant their charges in the steep tunnel down. They all leave the mine except Farfordda who stays behind to light The 100’ fuse. Boom. Two other cave-ins are caused but Farfordda gets out unscathed. Note originally Amos fumbled and took on corruption to reroll. 

Martina, now returned, joins them to do some work fixing up the mines. She tells them more of her run in with Axel junior and plan to leave for Gladbeich (she tells the PCs she heard Etelka’s brother-in-law was hung in Lindenheim being mistaken for Heinz Gerber). Soon there will be no real engineers for the mine, hopefully some dwarves will answer Norgrims call. 

Amos suggests that the Brood Horror skull be mounted above the mine entrance with a dwarf rune carved in it. The gaffer tells them about an old dwarf temple he found when he was young on the mountain south of Karak Skygg, in a hidden valley. He tells them the rune and Amos recognizes it as Gazul, but thinks better of it and in the end carves 'Good fortune and Prosperity'. Josef offers them 5GC of glimmerlead for a sun stone, but none of them are interested. 

We end on the evening of 32nd, with the party planning to ride for Holzbek the following day… oh and Magdalena having failed a Toughness test knowing that more infection related fun is on the way...

The Enemy Within - Session 116

 05/04/2025

Filthy Lucre

They search the Brood Horror's lair finding human and skaven remains and a tunnel leading steeply down into the depths, which Farfordda knows is blocked. Farfordda finds a Cathyan sword and sling bag, containing, among other things steel calipers which magdalena uses to search through the big piles of shit. Amos and Norgrim search them regardless. A ring, some pennies and a shit encrusted Warplock pistol are found. 

Farfordda cuts the head off the Brood Horror and they bind it to Magdalena's spear which Amos and Norgrim use to carry it. It is after 4am by the time they exit the mine into a damp night. Magdalena spots old Willie watching them, he scurries away shouting demons when she gestures in his direction.

They wake Martina, she is horrified and nervous about Axel being killed - Etelka will murder me! She asks them to hold off telling anyone until Johann has left for the Inn, but no they insist on going to the Gaffer now, but tell her they wont dob her in it. 

Johann is already up and prepping to leave. They show him the great rat head and tell him they went to the mine looking for Axel and found his and other corpses down in tunnels below the mine proper dug by this monstrosity they killed. They say he should blow the mine up. He says this is how they make a living. Can the party not sort it out - he'll pay them. Amos says you need to pay us for what we did already. 

As with Martina he says - so mad old Wullie was right - its ratmen and devils. He tells them how Old Wullie only started saying all this after the Glimmerlead was revealed - that he had been caught skulking about the village one night and next day he showed up maintaining to remember nothing of it and that he'd been to the ratmen tunnels. 

They tell him about the warpstone caves, but he knows nothing of warpstone. Also this is the first time he met the elf, which he is not entirely happy about. Johann decides to send Martina to the Inn instead of himself (which she is eager to do), he will stay and try calm his people - he asks the party if they will deal with the situation - spend a day blowing the entry to the lower tunnels to show his people they need not be scared. In future they will set a guard at night, and yes they will build fortifications as soon as they can. He offers them 10kg of Glimmerlead.

They crash out, waking at 2pm then head to the Pit Prop - (almost) the whole community is here eager to hear the details. Norgrim tells the tale, stressing Farfordda's role to make them less hostile to the elf. Amos asks if anyone saw the green flashes last Grunsnacht and hears yes - it was like green lightning above the broken mountain. Magdalena goes to see Ada, she is distressed by all the tales about some monster in the mines. 

Farfordda goes looking for Old Wullie, but theres no sign of him - he pays closer attention to the signs in his hut, asking if the sign on the Brood Horror's broken manacle is there - yes it is, but the main symbol is this other one. It is about 5pm, 31st Vorgeheim...
 

The Enemy Within - Sesion 115

 28/03/2025

The Horror in the Darkness

They explore the lower mine. It doesn't take them long to discover the recent tunnels dug by the Brood Horror. Farfordda finds Karlinsel's dark spectacles and they methodically investigate each chamber on the lower level before heading into the tunnels. 

It is a real fumble session for Farfordda - he stumbles and cries out while navigating the tunnels. They follow them down into the caverns below where the passages lead between natural caverns shot through with warpstone chips. 

Finally they enter the small cave below the Horror's lair. Magdalena smells it as it smells them. Its bloody slobbering snout pokes over the edge of the cavern above and the party flee. It chases them down the corridor, easily catching up with the 2 dwarves. 

 

Illo from The Horned Rat Companion - copyright Cubicle 7

Norgrim turns to face it with his pick and Amos lets loose with his crossbow. Magdalena and Farfordda join the fray and they have it on the run before anyone is injured. It scrambles back to its lair. Farfordda fumbles again taking a shot and damages his bow. Magdalena smells the gas above and Farfordda lets loose with a fire arrow. Kaboom. 

Amos scrambles up the slope and puts another bolt into the burning beast - but its the fire that does for it... its just after 3am, 31st Vorgeheim