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

The Enemy Within - Session 114

14/03/2025

The Mine

 Amos keeps an eye on Jakan. Magdalena Speaks to Johann (Mulderbrook) about him, she's worried, dude is suspicious, what is a trapper doing with a sword - she's worried for Ada. Johann is off to Magnus' Rest for market day tomorrow, so he'll see what he can do before he goes. Norgrim spends the afternoon working at the smithy, questions why there's no wall, Josef (the smith) says they should build tracks into the mine and upgrade the place generally. 

Everyone gathers in the bar when the mine shift finishes (Martina and Axel head up to start theirs) Johann arrives to ask folks what they want from market. As folks wire into hare stew, Johann intimidates Jakan into leaving - Amos follows him out and watches as he leaves Oberholzbek heading upriver. It is closing in on sunset. Farfordda arrives, Amos quickly fills him in and he sets off in pursuit. An hour later, closing in on the ford he hears the hideous screeching echoing down the valley, with no sign of Jakan he decides to turn back (failed track & 99 luck roll).

Meanwhile Magdalena takes Ada back to the farmhouse and plays with her now that the threat of Jakan is removed. At the bar Norgrim asks Johann if he could use Dwarf help, yes, so he drafts a letter to be delivered to Coppershiners in Middenheim for Johann to take to the Inn. 

Not long after Farfordda returns the Orc drums start up. Amos goes to Martina's - he tells her about Jakan scoping out her place and she checks the lock on the shack. He refuses a drink and gets a map - he must return it she says. He also gets 20 yards of rope and a flask with 4 hours oil. They decide to get some sleep before heading down the mine and take one hour guard shifts. 

It starts to rain at midnight. Norgrim dreams about being at a wake then competing to be the Grafs Champion. 

They head down to the mine, the orc drums still droning away. First they check out the big cavern on right, mags smells gas and Amos does a circuit looking for other entrances. They head on down to the main cavern by the glimmer lead seam. Magdalena can see that in the cavern below the scaffold has been smashed and the floor is wet. 

Amos climbs down first but drops his shield, its clanging echo ringing around the cavern. The lower rungs are covered in blood and there's been some changes since he was here last night, with fresh rubble on the floor. 

Norgrim descends next, followed by Magdalena and then Farfordda. Magdalena, wearing the Yellow Fang amulet smells, before seeing the severed arm. Norgrim identifies it as Axel’s. They see that there is a trail of blood leading into the recent burst open passage and go to follow. They have been down here for 25 mins, Axel’s wife Etelka has yet to notice he is missing, and unknown to them the beast (rolling 05) is awake…

The Enemy Within - Session 113

 07/03/25

Tall Tales & Trappers

 Before leaving the mine Amos via successful intuition roll can tell Martina is hiding something. He confronts her and she admits a scholar came asking about the mine a few weeks ago - let's chat later she says.

Norgrim hangs in the bar telling tales of his adventures. Fafordda in the shack meditates on the shack - this was a living area before it was used as a store. Magdalena at the farmhouse asks old Mathilda who lived in their shack, Karl she says, and becomes edgy - he disappeared last grunsnacht, was a weird boy, very religious, Axel named his dog Sigmar to wind him up. Magdalena says maybe Ada should stay with them tonight, Mathilda seems offended when they leave.

Amos joins Norgrim at the Pit Prop and asks more about the mine. Karl is mentioned, someone says he disappeared down the mine, other's dispute this. Herr Mulderbrook comes down and starts telling tales of Giants. Amos goes off with Martina soon after she arrives. They start drinking in her shack - she tells him about the scholar (Karlinsel Spedklein) and his bodyguard from Cathay, that the gaffer wouldn't let them down the mine, so they bribed her. He said his research was secret. She took them down a couple of times, then they went down by themselves and never came back. It was a week later Karl didn't come back from a shift. Maybe old man Willie is right, maybe they summoned a demon. Amos suggests they could investigate, and they both fall asleep in her shed drunk.

Magdalena takes first guard. Farfordda casts Lie of the Land, consequently sees the warpstome shot through the stone caves beneath the mine. Norgrim stumbles back to the shack not long after the hideous screeching starts up from the head of the valley. Farfordda takes over for a 4 hour shift, and magdalena returns to duty as Amos is missing and Norgrim out for the count. Farfordda wakes disturbed from a nightmare where he goes down the mine to see the Undersun, waking when Morrsleib gapes down to eat him - he is shaky for most of the morning. 

Amos returns and they make plans over breakfast in the shack (tho Norgrim goes to farmhouse to sort it out). As soon as he is able Farfordda heads off with the intention of spending the day learning a spell in the forest on the far bank. But he badly fluffs his swim roll and loses his bow, then elects to spend the rest of his day getting it back (will return at sunset). Amos goes back to see Martina - how about they go down the mine tonight once Axel has finished his shift - so long as they say nothing to the gaffer. Come back before you do and I'll fetch you a map.

Mags goes to see the Gaffer - they will stay one more night then head back to Dunfurter in the morning. Fine he says. Norgrim goes to the smithy and spends the day repairing equipment at the forge.
 

Come lunchtime Amos spots a trapper wandering into town. He saunters into the Pit Prop. Jakan Is his name, he's come from Lindenheim, mentions that Kepler Karzbudger is staying there (also about monks being ambushed on the road). He asks Amos what he's up to - oh we're up here looking for a dwarven temple. The dude spits out his goats milk and tries to regain his composure, he heads out for a smoke.

 Amos spots that the sword in Jakan's bundle has a sigmarite marking, like those they took from the goblins. Where did you get the sword? Found it by the ambush site on the road. Amos goes to get Magdalena. Jakan strolls about having a look around the village - Magdalena confronts him somewhat, carrying her own sword - she questions him about his sword. Its early afternoon, 30th Vorgeheim…

The Enemy Within - Session 112

 28/02/25

Oberholzbek

They switch watch order so Norgrim gets enough healing sleep, as a result Amos hears someone try the tower door near midnight several times, followed a minute or 2 later by the Bretonnian tutor's voice ‘come away from there!’. 

Magdalena takes last watch, woken from a disturbing dream about being married off to the Graf, except he turns out to be the count of Mousilon and is a giant rat, and she has 2 bowlcut haired kids… 

Meyer sees them off before dawn, giving Farfordda a letter for the Reeve of Oberholzbek and a pouch of coins. He gives Ada a shabby looking soft toy of a ferret, magdalena ties her hair up and they dress her in leather to make her look more like a boy, and draw the ace of diamonds determining that she is in a positive mood, despite all the horror she sees this morning as an adventure.

They take off down the muddy track, Amos has some trouble with his horse so it takes them nearly 2 & half hours to reach the ford. The cross without incident and decide to lead the horses from there on. Following the river gets them to Oberholzbek by mid morning. On route the briefly spot the Two Fingers looming over a hill top and closer the Red Tusk Monument leering over the treetops. 

 

It is a mild and clear but windy day. Several children and dogs rush towards them. Amos does the talking, correctly guessing the town will be more receptive to dwarves. He tells the little boy this is Harry and asks after his dog’s name (Sigmar). Farfordda peels away from the gang as they approach the village to take up position on a pile of logs by the jetty. 

A woman out hanging laundry approaches, this is Etelka, Axel’s wife - have they news of the fighting - her boys left to fight for the Baron? Amos tells her the goblins are defeated but the Baron grievously wounded by a beastman. 

The reeve approaches and greets them warmly, Amos spots and comments on the Grungni pendant he wears (and rolls 06 for reaction). Can we talk somewhere in private? They go to his house where his wife reads out the letter. He tells them he’s never met Baron and he never did anything for us but he’ll do as paid, dropping the taxes would be great. 

They ask him about the piked orc heads they saw on the way here. He says Lucas the barman is a great shot, and not the only one. He tells them the Orcs raised that big monument 2 grunsnachts ago, that last night they were playing drums but stopped when the hideous screeches rang out - these noises they’ve been hearing on & off up at the head of the valley since grunsnacht last. He says he’ll have a shack cleared out for them.

Meanwhile Farfordda follows the river bank up towards the mine, then approaches a shack on the far side of the great finger of rock by the river bank. As he does so a scarecrow like figure rushes towards him - away demon! 

This ragged man paces around him gesticulating. Farfordda sees a very subtle hint of a warpstone pendant emanating from below his clothing. He manages to convince the man he is no demon - the raggedy man says there is a demon in the mine - the child of Herr Tuefulgeist - (his name for Morrsleib), summoned recently by a black spectacle wearing wizard - it ate Karl! He’s been to the rat men tunnels - Herr Tuefelgeist sent him - he whispers to him every night, the end of the world is at hand. 

He runs off and watches from a distance. Farfordda peaks into the shack to see a filthy hovel, but the walls are covered in charcoal scratching of the moon and skaven. He ducks into cover when he sees a woman exit the mine then slinks away to hide in some trees.

 

Back at the farm Amos meets Martina the mine forewoman when she arrives - from her he learns that there was a quake here during the long grunsnacht after mitterfruhl, it was that which exposed the glimmer lead, but caused much of the mine to cave in. She needs an engineer, Amos says he’d like to take a look down the mine - she says later. 

Magdalena stays at the farmhouse to play with Ada trying (successfully) to bond her to one of the local dogs while Amos & Norgim head to the bar, The Pit Prop - there they meet Lucas (and see his wife sewn Ulric wolf banner) who shows them his rifle, then later Axel - loutish drunken husband of Etelka. He nearly gets into a fight with Amos, then is beaten by a drunken Norgrim at axe throwing (who in theory wins 3 silver he never actually gets). 

Norgrim spends the afternoon regaling the bar with tales of his fight with the Graf’s champion in Middenheim. Farfordda does the Tarot in his bush - does the demon in the mine mean harm to the village? maybe. He, Magdalena & Amos confer in the shack that has been cleared for them - they notice sigmarite symbols carved into the interior walls.

Magdalena goes back to the farmhouse for dinner, Frau Mulderbrook repeats the story of the quake and tells her last grunsnacht green flashes were seen in the sky beyond ‘the shoulder’ and huge bangs echoed down the kleifluschtaal like Ulric’s farts. She makes a roll for how Ada is settling in - on the poor side of so-so (60) and takes her out after dinner to teach her how to fight with a ‘sword’ which she takes to much better (11).

Amos heads up to the mine after dinner with Martina and Axel (who is about to start his shift). They show him the glimmer lead face and a 3SL geology roll says it’s not from volcanic activity, he guesses Skaven. He returns to the village. It’s early evening on the 29th vorgeheim at session end. They plan to return to Dunfurter the next day.
 

The Enemy Within - Session 111

16/02/2025

The Holzbeks

As the party approach the castle they see Toddbringer and Holzbek penants fluttering from the towers. Amos and Norgrim try make camp a couple of miles back the way while Farfordda and Magdalena ride up to scout out the castle. A failed roll results in them moving on a mile and trying again, having a camp set up with Ada by 4pm, by which point it is raining intermittently.

Mags and Farfordda arrive and say they come with information for the Baron - they get a Friendly Reaction Roll and are bid enter and wait in the grand hall for Steward Meyer. Farfordda asks the guard (Kant) how long Meyer has worked for the Baron and gets told probably as long as the castle has stood. In the grand hall they meet young Gilbert Eisenhal and his Bretonnian tutor (this time with unfriendly/disinterested roll). The castle seems fairly empty. 

When Meyer arrives he tells them the Baron is away at war with the Blackweb Goblins to the south - Magdalena says what they have to say is private, can they go somewhere quieter? he is skeptical until Farfordda buts in to emphasize the import and so he takes them up the Geschloss Tower. 

Magdalena asks if the names Hals and Greta mean anything to him - he looks worried, he says what of them - they show him the Holzbek Amulet Ada gave them and tell their story. He admits it was he who had Ada sent for. Farfordda asks him why? He tells them its all political and says he'll pay for her to be brought here and for their silence. Farfordda says he's not interested in money, he wants to know why? 

This he explains is a border region, the Baron plans to announce Ada as his heir at a Conclave and betroth her to another family - Middenheim has been a flaky ally of late and so they must take measures to secure themselves. The girl was raised in secret on a farm to keep her safe.

What news of Middenheim Magdalena asks, he says that the Graf after having emerged from his malaise has inflamed the strife between the cults of Ulric and Sigmar and that his heir was apparently killed by sigmarites along with his physician on the road south. 

They ask about the boy in the hall - that is the Baron's nephew and he is here with his mother, the Baron's sister, who does not know about Ada, and in all likelihood expects her son to be named heir...

They say can they bring the girl here and guard her till the Baron returns, he says yes - he can have this tower prepared for them. They must take the castle Huntsman with them and he can lead them in after dark. On the way out of the castle they see 2 of Lady Eisenhal's guard, one of whom spots the Elf.

Ulman the huntsman travels with them back to camp - he has been instructed not to ask any questions. Amos tries to befriend him to pick his brains about the mountains but fails. Magdalena spends some time talking with Ada, trying to calm her and tells her that they are taking her somewhere safe. 

Farfordda goes off further into the woods to consult the Tarot. Did the girl's aunt (Lady Eisenhal) organize the attack - with a low hand he gets the answer no. He can also feel that there were a troop of Orc tracking them who have since lost their trail... Once he returns to the camp he tries befriending Ulman with better luck than Amos - a luck roll determines that the huntsman mostly has knowledge of the area close to the castle, he tells them there are hunters who spend long stretches in the mountains - like Jerolyne the Whistler who occasionally shows at the castle to sell game. No one knows the mountains better than she.

They arrive back under cover of dark and are ushered into the tower once more which now looks more hospitable. Meyer takes Farfordda aside - news has come that the Baron is seriously injured - having inflicted a defeat on the goblins they chased them deeper into the forest - yesterday they engaged them again but a beastman horde entered the fray and the Baron was seriously gored. His forces have retreated back towards Holzbek. It would be too dangerous to take Ada on the road to Holzbek, and now also dangerous to keep her here - so he wants them to take her to Oberholzbek and leave her with the Reeve there. 

Farfordda is skeptical but speaks with the gang and they agree to do it. They will leave at first light - he will give them a letter for the Reeve, 5GC each, with the promise of 10 more (between them) when they get there. They also manage to exchange their 2 draft horses for small ponies for the dwarves, get leather for the girl, an open helm for Magdalena, a crossbow for Amos and 3 doses of healing herbs. 

Steward Meyer speaks with Ada, telling her they are taking her somewhere for her own safety and that she will return to the castle when her father gets here - he rolls fairly well, so she doesn't immediately protest. They lock the tower door and begin 2 hour guard shifts...
 

The Enemy Within - Session 110

07/02/2025

Pretty Thing

Magdalena attends to the girl - she is near catatonic. Mags takes her off to a stream to wash her. Amos skins the wolf and prepares what meat he can from it. Farfordda tends to the horses while Norgrim searches the bodies. He finds 8 emeralds which Amos identifies as fakes (with apparent value of 20 gc each!) and 3 bottles of Eilhart wine. They fail to set up a satisfactory camp and move on a mile back the way. 

By 10pm they are sat by fire beneath an overhang, the valley is lost in fog and it is cold. Farfordda gives Magdalena his warm winter clothes. He manages to distract Ada (tho they don't discover her name till morning). While taking guard that night they can hear wolves converge on the goblin and bandit corpses they left a mile away. 

On the cold misty morning of the 27th while finishing off the wolf Amos manages to get Ada talking as the others attend to each other's wounds. She knows nothing about von Holzbek, her parents were the 2 unfortunates she was with (Greta & Hals) - they were taking her somewhere special. The goblins said they were taking her to some orc chieftain who liked ‘pretty things’ to buy their aid against the vermin.
 

They have barely set off into the fog when Farfordda sees a figure walking obliviously past them. He sneaks after them and seeing it is a bedraggled elderly, or at least middle aged woman he steps out and accosts her. 

Her name is Ingrid, she is a hermit and it soon becomes apparent that she has plenty of information that she’s happy to pass on, or sell. Farfordda offers to read her fortune and with a charm roll she assents. 

They join the rest of the gang and make tea at last night's camp. They all give their names except Amos(Mungrim) and say they were hunting goblins to save this wee girl. She tells them much about the mountains, Red Tusk orc territory, Def Batz goblins - that the ratmen came to Zerlumptberg 3 summers ago, that they use human slaves to log in the valley below the mountain - she tells them that there will be tunnels which empty into the river from the old dwarf holds. She describes the 2 routes there and says she stays opposite Karak Kazarak, not far from the ford. If they look for her again carve some Taal markings into the trees close by. 

She asks will she survive the winter, Farfordda with a low hand tells her yes, but be careful. She trades them 2 doses of Valerian for a bottle of Eilhart and finally (10am) the party get underway. 

They head on down the valley - Ingrid told them Dunfurter belonged to the Holzbeks, so that's the destination. The fog lifts over the course of the day and they camp in the Taubertaal once more. A 99 for Adas condition has her being catatonic. By Midday of the 28th they can see Dunfurter castle at the head of the valley...

The Enemy Within - Session 109

 02/02/2025

The Hunt

They head on at 7am, theres been more than one downpour during the night. 

Around 9am they come across heavier tracks crossing the goblin ones but choose to press on. The track leads them behind the Two Fingers hill to the wide and windswept vista of the Kleiflusch Valley. By late morning they find evidence of a goblin campsite - a simple affair under the trees with the gnawed remains of a human arm. 

Not long after Farfordda sees the tracks leave the valley floor and follow another tough trail over the mountains to the south east. At the same times he spots they are being stalked by a Mountain Cat. Not long before they camp Magdalena spots an odd monument on a hill towards Oberholzbek - Amos speculates that it might be a massive Orc head. 

They camp at 7pm, lighting a small fire, they take 2 hour guard shifts and rise at 4am to continue the hunt. Not long before dawn the see another trail, almost a pathway leading south west. Late morning of the 26th they see another possible route up into the mountains to the north east, but the tracks continue on. 

Around lunchtime Farfordda sees tracks cut up a hill to the south, but also continue on - the gang carry on while he goes to investigate what looks like a campsite. He finds the remains of a campfire, wolf tracks and human bones, including a skull. He surmises that the fire was extinguished 12 hours ago. This impels them to press on. 

When the trail drops them into a vast valley, they decide to mount the horses and press on as far and fast as they can - they are tired and out of food but know the Goblins cannot be that far ahead. Dodging a bear, a little after 3pm they catch a glimpse of the river Taub, and the lake before Karak Kazarak - then Farfordda realises there are no more tracks - so they work their way back. 

He finds the tracks again, going north up out of the valley into deeper woods - as they cross into a clearing Magdalena, using the Yellow Fang Amulet sniffs the rancid odor of decomposing flesh - an arrow zooms past, and a second later they charge into the trees. 

Farfordda takes a round to assess the situation then provides bow support for the skirmishers. They make short work of the goblins, the guard barely got to wake his comrades - Amos struck down the wolf and with Magdalena killed 2 goblins. Norgrim dispatched 2, but took a sword blow to the face, and Magdalena was wounded in her shield arm. Farfordda shot down the leader as he tried to flee. One got away, but by 4:30pm on the 26th Vorgeheim they have rescued one distressed little girl - Amos approaches her with the Holzbek medallion...

The Enemy Within - Session 108

 24/01/2025

The Last Request

 The dwarves rise at 7. Thindra still on guard, sabotages their cart wheel to have it last half the days travel. Amos watches the hanging, has a beer and hangs out, delaying leaving much to Chaplain Lader’s displeasure. He is suspicious of the mummers who are cavorting about, he watches them closely and spends luck to make a perception roll spotting that the writer is wearing a Red Crown ring - he suspects they are here to rescue Greber (Amos had been asking a lot of questions about what Greber did previous to becoming a bandit). 

 

Thindra returns to bed saying she is feeling unwell. Eventually Lader presses upon Norgrim who gets them together and they ride out after 10. Chaplain Lader is suspicious or at least nervous about their change of mood and puts the manacles on Magdalena.

Farfordda moves Gaius body and horse a mile or 2 from the road. From the corpse he takes pipe, money and a Yellow Fang Amulet (which he does a 2 SL success Identify Artifact on) then drags the body into the undergrowth. He cleans the horses wound, then does the Tarot - did whatever Gauis was carrying go into the mountains up Felangst valley? No. He slowly makes his back down the road south towards Lindenheim, the plan being to meet the party at camp tonight to spring Magdalena.

An hour or so out of Lindenheim the dwarves pass the Sigmarite Pilgrims and their cart that Farfordda saw at dawn - clear the way they shout, we were attacked by bandits a few miles back! 

Amos scouts ahead while Norgrim intentionally drives their wagon very slowly.

Late afternoon they come upon the site of a massacre, 3 pilgrim bodies and 5 rustics are scattered around at a perfect ambush spot. A woman groans for help from the undergrowth - Amos (tentatively) and Chaplain Lader respond. She has a brutal abdomen injury - 

I am dying she says, I failed in my charge to deliver Baron von Holzbek’s daughter, she has been taken by bandits dressed as pilgrims - you must do what I could not - this amulet identifies her...

She takes out a gold amulet with an inscription of a ferret holding a sword and thrusts it in Amos’ hand as she breathes her last.

The dwarves impress on the Chaplain that they must do something - Magdalena is a knight, the girl must be rescued! He agrees to drive on to Felangst Tower with Thindra while they take the 2 horses and ride hard back towards Lindenheim. He makes Magdalena promise that she will return with the girl.

Two miles before Lindenheim, at the mouth of the Two Fingers valley they find the scene of another battle - it’s about 7pm, the sun is beginning to set. 

Meanwhile Farfordda walking down the road encounters the wagon with Thindra and Chaplain Lader - she pretends not to know him but they tell him what has happened here - Farfordda gallops south and joins his companions as they inspect the battle scene. 

 

They find one pilgrim body, 5 goblins and a wolf. Farfordda can easily see the tracks leading up into the mountains - he sees that there is a heavy wolf, 2 heavy horses, 4 goblins and a child. They head on up the valley. 

 

 

At midnight, just a few miles north of the Two Fingers they stop - Farfordda casts Lie of the Land again - he can see from it that there is a good camp spot a mile on, and a shallow cave a mile or 2 east of the towers, around which he can subtle eddies of the winds of magic. They push on and make camp about 1 am, Norgrim spending all his luck to make up for the failed outdoor survival rolls, they each take a 1.5 hour guard shift, intending to push on at 7am…

The Enemy Within - Session 107

17/01/2025

Gaius

 Amos returns to the Inn and wakes Thindra - they accost Gaius, who is drying himself by the fire - Amos buys him a pint but he is standoffish - saying only really that he is passing through on the way north. 

Gaius from The Horned Rat - Cubicle 7

 

In the morning Farfordda waits beyond the north gate of town, and when he sees Gaius galloping past, follows him. They reach Lindenheim by lunchtime, Farfordda passes around it - he sees a messenger riding hard from the north, then climbs the Two Fingers hill enough to get a view over the settlement, just in time to see Gaius leave. 

 

He climbs down and gives chase again, leaving the road only when he spies 2 wagons heading south. By nightfall he reaches Felangst Tower, reading tracks on the far side he deduces that Gauis stays within, so does his usual and sleeps up a tree - at least its not raining tonight.

The Dwarves leave Hohenfarht just after 9. Amos manages to find a moment to speak with Magdalena and tell her their plan, he also speaks with Wanda and learns that Gauis was here to meet the ale merchant heading for the Picket who left yesterday. 

Magdalena is, as Chaplain Lader identified much better - the disease has run its course. Still at Chaplain Lader's request she travels in the cart, but without manacles. Amos walks alongside  with young Luther the minstrel who is coming to see the infamous Heinz Greber be hung. They are in a veritable convoy with the Roadwardens and Lars the Bounty Hunter. 

Norgrim badly fluffs his Drive test, so a journey with should have taken 5 hours takes 11 - they arrive just after dark - their only encounter on the road being with the Karzburdger messenger Farfordda spotted - he tells them that the prison convoy arrived at Felangst tower last night, that a group of mummers played there and that Kepler Karzburdger is in residence. 

The Orchard View Inn is relatively busy with a crew of Mummers, plus some locals. Magdalena is thrown into the pit prison out back with Heinz Gerber who insists to her that he is actually Emmerich Handler from Gladbeich - if only someone would go and fetch his wife Heidi to prove it. The band decide to take watch to make sure nothing happens to Mags in the pit. 

 

The atmosphere in the Inn is fairly jolly. Amos gets a favourable reaction roll with Josef the Innkeep - he asks him about the Ruins of the Two Fingers (ancient Elf ruins - don't go near), they hear from some locals that there be work in the south as Blackweb Goblins attacked farms around Holzbek. The mummers tell him they played at Felangst last night, they came down from Salzenmund and were hoping to reach Middenehim for the carnival but took the wrong turn in the road.

Before crashing out Farfordda does the Tarot - will Gauis continue on North - he draws a strong hand and gets the answer No. He also casts Lie of the Land and sees the valley which leads up into the mountains, and the best spot to ambush Gauis on the road south. He wakes before dawn and goes to the spot 2 miles south of the keep. 

 

As he arrives he sees a group of monks heading south. He takes up position among the trees - Gaius leaves the keep just after 9am - when he gets within short range Farfordda casts whisper, saying 'Gaius old friend' - he spins around on his horse and Farfordda crits him in the leg with an arrow, then hits him again, this time in the back - Gaius gets control of his horse and tries to gallop back to the keep but another arrow to the body ends him. Farforrda manages to catch up and calm the horse, then search the body. It is morning on the 24th of Vorgeheim and the sky is overcast...

The Enemy Within - Session 106

 28/12/2024

A Knight's Tale

We start the session by rewinding to deal with Magdalena's journey to this point - from the other convicts sharing her prison wagon she chooses to speak to Olinda (once bar manager at The Templars’ Arms), who explains that she is indeed in cahoots with Nordland separatists and reveals what happened with Renata. Nobbler the halfling tells her that the Graf had a fit on grunsnacht and Reinart that the corpse of Lady Hirsch had the tattoo of a high class prostitute on the inside of her thigh.

Norgrim leaves the village to tell Farfordda the latest then Farfordda rides a few miles south from Hohenfart and tries learning Sleep, but fails. He also consults the Tarot; is Father Bach still alive? no.

The dwarves hang around the village - we make a roll to see what the village think of the Magdalena sitch - its very positive, Chaplain Lader (the priest) is clearly doing his job well. Wanda warns Thindra that Magdalena may be dangerous, apparently she was involved in some plot against the Graf. 

Late in the afternoon a recruiting sergeant shows up and the Inn fills with people to drink the free beer, the dwarves don't show much interest - the locals point him in the direction of the Teutogen Brotherhood Temple.

The following day (22nd Vorgeheim) Farfordda spends at the same location and this time is successful. Chaplain Lader makes his health check and is sure that Magdalena should break the back of the disease and be ready to travel tomorrow. Again we get favourable rolls for the village attitude to Magdalena. 

Magdalena in her moments of lucidity tells Chaplain Lader she is a knight of Myrmidia, that she was framed after informing the Graf's chief investigator about a cult in Middenheim - the Purple Hand, he has not heard of them - several good rolls do incline him to at least be sympathetic to her plight, he is willing to consider that she is a political prisoner.

Late afternoon a posse of Roadwardens ride in with the Bounty Hunter they previously saw at the Fox & Crown. The captain speaks with Amos when he hears about Magdalena saying they will ride with them to Lindenheim tomorrow - they are travelling there to get Heinz Greber whom Lars the Bounty Hunter caught. In chat with them the dwarves hear about the inauguration of the new Ar-Ulric and the mutant stoning.

Its starts to rain - heavily.
Just after 8 Farfordda drops over the fence into the village - Amos at the tents explains to him the situation with the Road Wardens (Thindra is sleeping in the common room as she has the middle guard shift). Meanwhile Norgrim is on guard duty and sees a rider enter the Inn compound, as he shakes the rain from his hat to enter the Inn he sees that it is Gauis! He rushes to the tent to tell Amos (and Farfordda)... it is 8:20pm Vorgeheim 22nd and raining heavily...

The Enemy Within - Session 105

 14/12/2024

A Cunning Plan

 Amos plays cards with the convoy guards while Norgrim & Thindra drink from the ale barrel and soak up whats going on. Villagers show up to see the prisoners, the Reeve is called by Wanda to adjudicate over the situation with the diseased prisoner - some are not happy that they are hosting a diseased invalid, others shout that this is Sigmar's judgement for forsaking him. One villager, a devout Sigmarite asks them if they saw the banished father on their travels - no. 

The guards chatting with Amos say they should just off her, I mean no one will thank them for bringing disease to Hope Square. The situation seems tense for most of the night. Norgim & Thindra retire to their tent just after 10, Amos stays on to try convince the chaplain that Magdalena is in danger from the guards and that they could be hired to protect her. Although convinced about the guards he fails to persuade Alberta, but decides he will spend the night in the coach house with her. 

Amos returns to the tents, Farfordda having spied them drops over the wall and they hatch a plan - he returns to the trees outside to sleep in the branches. 

At first light Amos and Norgrim return to the Inn while Thindra, inquiring at the cartwrights as to the Reeves house visit him... Thindra has the answer to this conundrum - the dwarves will take the sick prisoner to Hope Square if paid to do so, ensuring that the disease leaves his town but the convoy will be safe from infection. He agrees that this makes sense and they adjourn to the yard of the Inn where the Priest is arguing against killing the sick prisoner - Alberta sees the sense of the plan and offers them 2s/day, Thindra haggles (and crits), Alberta agrees to pay half up front and pay an extra 1/- per day. 

The Priest maintains that they cannot move a woman this sick and it is agreed that the dwarves and priest will stay to follow on later as soon as the Priest judges that she is fit to be moved - Alberta drops the up front payment but will pay 3s/day. 

The prison convoy rides out of town at 9am on Vorgeheim 21 (mild morning), the locals pelt the prison wagon with rotten fruit as it passes through the village...

The Enemy Within - Session 104

30/11/2024

The Foresters' Arms

They ride on past Hovelhof and a mile or 2 along the prison road they find a spot to run the cart off down a slope and make camp without fire. Amos makes shelters expertly to protect them from the light rain. Farfordda fails his roll to resist Mariposa's dream stalking, and Amos wakes from a dream of rats gnawing on his left arm to find a blister and coughing marking the start of his Itching Pox affliction.

They break camp early, Farfordda canters off ahead while the dwarves follow behind at cart pace. He ignores the Wolf Watch, though succeeds at an intuition roll to see the purple winds of death eddying around it. When he reaches the thin arm of the mountains that Hohenfarht nestles in he leaves his horse and climbs a ridge to see back over the way he has come. He spies a group of Nordlanders leaving the NE trail and waits until the Dwarves show up in their cart just after 1pm. These same Nordlanders hail the dwarves when they meet asking for news from Middenheim - they go there to celebrate the ordination of a new Ar-Ulric, good luck and beware of Sigmarites!

 

Shortly after the Dwarves rendezvous with Farfordda at the foot of the mountain spur. They decide that the Dwarves will push on to the village and Farfordda watch the road from a high vantage point. From up here he can see a compound like a Coaching Inn to the north and the Wolf Watch at the ege of the forest in the west. He spots the prison convoy a little after 2pm and watches it pass then follows on behind. He can see that Magdalena has been removed from the prison wagon and is manacled to the rear of the supply cart, she is filthy and looks in a bad way. 

Meanhwhile the dwarves arrive at Hohenfarht late afternoon - they tie up at the Inn (The Foresters Arms) and order food. Amos insults Wanda the young owner, asking her if there are anymore of her people here (she looks Strigany), consequently spending much of the remainder of the time coughing, sneezing and eating outside. Thindra does a good job of charming her though, tells her theres a prison convoy coming this way and that they are heading into the mountains on a dwarven pilgrimage, she asks about the giant bird skull over the bar. That came from her Aunty as a gift to her father who passed away last year - its a griffon skull, her aunty (she hasn't seen him since dad passed) is a professor in the city. Oh not Prof Eunice Hasche, the Beasteria Prof? Why yes, the very same! 

So Thindra makes it known that they know Eunice and lately had an agreement to meet which Eunice failed to do. Wanda tells her that one of her assistants was through here just before the last Chaos Moon - yes Gauis is his name. She also tells them that last week, the day after the chaos moon a troop of Tuetogen Brotherhood came to the village, tore the doors from their Sigmar temple, cast out their Priest and beat the reeve for protesting. She is appalled, they were supposed to visit today (festag) to make sure there was no Sigmar worship going on.

The Dwarves are debating what to do for sleeping arrangements, they can't really afford to stay in the inn, Wanda tells them they can camp on the common at the other side of the villlage but she'll need to charge them for fodder and stabling for their horses. Amos heads off to set up the tents and Thindra hangs out at the gates to keep an eye out for Farfordda and the convoy as the gates will be closed at 7pm. Norgrim stays in the bar which is fairly quiet (the locals drink at another tavern) for a Festag. The only other occupants right now are Valeria a merchant taking beer to the picket (at some point Thindra spoke to her and she explained the picket is a camp and wall around the Brass Keep since it was occupied by chaos warriors in the last great chaos incursion several centuries ago) and Luther a traveling minstrel. He buys a small keg of ale. 

Norgrim is still sat there when the prison convoy arrives and chaos ensues - Wanda asks him if he can drive their coach out from the the coach house as the convoy need to make use of it. Valeria is also having to move her wagon. Thindra and Amos enter the inn to get a measure of the situation - One of the prisoners (Magdalena) is desperately ill and will be kept in the coach house while the others stay in the prison wagon, the priest convinces the driver (who seems to be the boss of the situation) that he or the nun should stay here with a guard while they ride on...

Its 8pm (20th Vorgeheim), a warm evening and Farfordda is in the trees by the wall, he has spotted the dwarves & their tents though they have not seen him...

 

The Enemy Within - Session 103

 (19/11/2024)

Ruinous Powers

We start with Magdalena just after being incarcerated on the 17th. She whispers briefly to her neighboring cellmate who tells her that the guards will come if they hear. First Inspector Plasait drops by and confirms that she is indeed Magdalena and refuses to say anything about the charges. Shortly after the jailor has her change into a simple smock, then she is taken for questioning (by the captain) who tells her she is accused of murder, conspiracy against the Graf and consorting with the Ruinous Powers. She says she hasn't seen Arrion since yesterday, he just disappeared. She knows little about Sebastian Peak and that she came here seeking Herr Blitzen, a wizard. He warns her they will force a confession from her. 

Back in the cell she wakes after a nightmare, cold and miserable, to the sounds of a sewer jack whispering to some unseen character that here she is. Then she's questioned by General Schwermutt, he is angry about the situation and does not believe it - he tells her they found The Liber Mutandis among her belongings and that Father Bach had impressed upon him that this is nonsense. She mostly tells him what she told the captain, and critically that a) they sent Commander Shulztmann a letter explaining that the Sewer Jack was a skaven and in league with mutants who attacked them while they slept and that they were engaged in uncovering a skaven plot against Middenheim. He said he would go and petition the Graf on her behalf that evening…

Back at The Fox and Crown at lunchtime on the 19th the rest of the gang find a note waiting for them:

Dear Lady Grey, our friend has been arrested for murder, conspiracy and consorting with the Ruinous Powers. I don't believe a word of it, even though they showed me the book. I have implored General Schwermutt to intervene, and failed so far to contact her patron Herr Tore. I have fallen desperately ill and cannot do much more for now, this very letter is dictated as I am too weak to write. She is being held in the dungeon beneath the Watch headquarters in Grafplatz. I fear for her life.

Myrmidia prevail,

Father H. Bach

They pay to leave the 2 riding horses and Norgrim's dog and head off back to Middenheim, claiming they are going to look for work. Farfordda follows them on foot in the forest. They stop so that Amos can shave Norgrim's head by way of disguise. 

Just over half way to Middenheim they have to pull over to allow a convoy of 2 wagons and 4 outriders past - it is a prison convoy taking Magdalena and 5 others to Hope Square! Amos and Magdalena see each other. They turn around their cart and follow at a distance, Farfordda tracking ahead.

The prison convoy arrives at the Inn about 7pm, they stop their cart half a mile before the Inn and Thindra and Amos head in on foot just after 8. They are let in by Old Wendorf and a stable boy tells them he'll get their horses if they wait in the bar. Most of the guards are drinking, one is trying to round up locals for a game of cards. The 2 Shallyan's are talking with the lead driver. They tell Joli (the owner) they found a buyer for the horses so are heading back to Hovelhof. She tells them to be careful travelling at night and mentions Heinz Greber's gang - an armoured dude at the bar gives them a look at the mention of this name. 

They head out with the horses and get back at a little after 10, they still need to make camp somewhere...
 

The Enemy Within - Session 102

 (08/11/2024) 

Leaving Middenheim 

Farfordda wakes in a tree south of the city, then walks in the forest along the north east road, stopping to forage around lunchtime.

The Dwarves go buy a bow for Farfordda while they wait for Magdalena (they hear that the new Ar-Ulric will be sworn in on Festag), when she doesn't show by lunchtime they drive out of the city without any fuss. A poor drive roll on the part of Norgrim ensures they don't reach the Fox and Crown till just before sunset, though Farfordda accosts them near their destination (they also pass a troupe of Knights of the White Wolf on route). 

Magdalena wrote a couple of letters before leaving Tore Palace, one to Wilhelm Tore thanking him and 2 copies of another saying she was going to visit the Temple of Myrmidia then report to Inspector Plasait, explicitly stating that this was insurance in case she was wrongfully arrested. Then she went to the Temple of Myrmidia, tho not before hearing that Wilhelm Tore was happy as he had finally been granted an audience with the Graf which was to take place at lunchtime today, he believed this was in no small part due to Magdalena's performance at the jousting. 

Father Bach is delighted to see M, he tells her that Inspector Plasait was here asking about her yesterday, she tells him that they are on the trail of their friend who was abducted and are following the trail north to the sea - that they slew the sewerjack in self defence and that she was connected to these abductions. M then asks the father to come with her to the Watch HQ - he says sure. As soon as the desk sergeant realises who she is, Magdalena is arrested for the murder of the Sewer Jack Sergeant and consorting with the Dark Powers. Father Bach protests, but she is led away and locked in a dungeon cell.

Meanwhile the rest of the gang spend the evening in The Fox and Crown, Norgrim wins some money gambling, they pick up a bunch of rumours and a Shallyan Chaplain & Nun ask if they can travel together along the Prison road. Farfordda sleeps in the forest - and does the Tarot before he crashes - is Magdalena in immediate danger. No. But they are low cards.

Next morning (Vorgeheim 18th) they reconvene in the tap room of the Inn - they decide to send a message to the Temple of Myrmidia asking where Magdalena is, then pay to leave their horses and cart at the Inn while they go camp in the forest. It rains through the night, they get wet and Amos wakes with a burbling belly heralding pain to come, they break camp and head back down to the Inn by lunchtime (19th) to find a message waiting for them...