Friday, September 26, 2025

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...
 

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