Summary 02

The session commenced outside the 'slaver's base' …

After some discussion, the party decided to pretend to be excisemen collecting the Chimney Tax for the Grand Prince's campaigns into Nordland and Kislev. They announced this to the person on guard, who called his superior. Brian waved your warrant, and the man came out to inspect it. On cue, the group charged the door. Oskar incapacitated the one outside, and Lothar managed to barge open the door with some help. After a running fight through the farm, two inhabitants were left dead (one killed by Oskar), two had escaped and five were captured. Jakob lost a Fate Point. It then materialised that this was a warehouse for the Pedlars' Guild and no slaves were to be found. Mungo, on guard outside, rushed in to announce that a group of militia was approaching. After contemplating fighting and fleeing, Lucas was prevailed upon to offer his aid. Surprisingly reluctantly, he arranged for the pedlars to be arrested for firing on the group. On returning to Ferlangen, you had no luck uncovering any leads to the deception, assuming that your pedlar friend would no longer be quite so friendly. Worse your 50GCs 'fee' turned out to be counterfeit, though Lothar (failing his Intelligence roll on a number of occasions) took a long time to realise this. It was agreed to set off for Wolfenburg the next day. However, you were approached by a gnome financier, Gromril van Aelst, who offered you 10 GCs to escort him to Wolfenburg. Not bothering to haggle, you accepted. At least this meant that those not on horse, could travel in comfort inside his coach - though you did have to put up with a sullen slayer who seemed to bodyguard for the gnome.

Staying at the Dangling Mutant (Jakob was convinced the sign resembled Baron Nikse of Nordland) and Hanged Highwayman coaching inns, the latter yielded a sighting of the professor. He had made some cryptic remark to one of the serving maids, who wore a talisman to Shallya, which she remembered. The accommodations got worse, first a mangey shelter and then a wayside shrine to some nature-like god. In this, you befriended Mathis Haack, who claimed to be a verderer for Jurgen Kimmelman, and shared a fire and food. The next day led to an ambush by the Cult of the Howling One. Despite riding into an ambush, your heavily armed group saw them off. Herman Wurt (the second Sigmarite templar) lost his horse and demanded that Heidi Ubermann give him hers; she refused. That night, resting at another crumby shelter, you were attacked again, but this time you managed some kills. One of the Ulricans thought he saw Haack amongst the attackers. In this attack, Oskar's pony was badly wounded, though Lothar managed to tend the wound successfully. You were not attacked again, though you were all surprised that such a numerous and heavily armed group had been attacked in the first place. The trip improved as the next steps were a wayside shrine to Sigmar and the Sigmar's Hammer inn. Still Wolfenburg was a welcome sight.

Before we continue the story, a review of what you learned about the city

The Grand Prince needs to keep an eye on Valmir von Raukov. He was only made Grand Prince behind the other's back, and there will be trouble yet.

Valmir von Raukov is too honourable to bring the province to civil war over the Electorship.

Valmir von Raukov is too honourable to bring the province to civil war over the Electorship, and too clever to think he could win that way. Still, don't be too surprised if something happens to the von Tasseninck family.

Valmir von Raukov will never be Elector. I am fed up of those Kislevans thinking they rule this province. We are Imperial, with good Imperialist people. They are simply a group of immigrants who need to remember their place.

Crown Prince Hergard von Tasseninck has been sent off to Altdorf for safety. The Grand Prince is no fool as to his family's safety.

Crown Prince Hergard von Tasseninck has been sent out by his father to obtain some military experience and a reputation as a soldier in order to improve his popularity.

Crown Prince Hergard von Tasseninck has deserted his family to become an adventurer. The Grand Prince is livid.

The Talabeclanders are preparing to invade. There have already been a number of border raids. There will be a mobilisation soon to deal with this and the trouble caused by Nordlander and Kislevan raiders. Better keep your head down.

There is nothing to be afraid of. There are a whole load of private wars between nobles that have nothing to do with Ostland. As long as they leave Wolfenburg alone, they can continue to kill each other over a few pigs.

Some local thugs are having some sort of turf war.

A group of bandits have invented some Ulrican mumbo-jumbo of a wolf spirit, and are using it as cover for their brigandry.

Merchants will not use the road to Ferlangen anymore, because it is too dangerous.

The Tsar has led his army in a victorious campaign against the rebellious city of Erengrad, and brought it to heel.

The city is divided into a number of sections:

• Trade Streets: Wolfenburg is the centre of the Ostland pewter trade, and its main street Zinnwaren Straße reflects that in name. However, the city has no particular commercial specialism, and thus no dedicated streets to any particular activity. Most shops consist of a ground floor workshop (where manufacture is carried out), a second floor storage (and possibly display) area, and third floor living apartments. More luxurious shops consist of larger living areas, individual rooms for apprentices and greater distance between the workshop and other areas. All shops are identifiable by universal signs indicating their business. Residential housing fills in behind the larger thoroughfares, and acts as home to many of the journeymen and poorer masters.
• The Docks
• Caravan Yard
• Town Square: The town square is dominated by a statue diorama containing 'Magnus the Pious' and 'Sigmar the Great' overseeing the 'Holy Sigmarite Empire'. Here can be found town criers.
• Temple District: The following temples are located within Wolfenburg: Mórr, Myrmidia, Sigmar, Shallya and Verena. There are small shrines to Taal and Ulric, and one to 'All Gods'.
• Market
• Estates: Like all cities, there are a number of large residencies located in their own grounds, and cloistered away from the rest of the city.
• Ethnic Neighbourhood
• Citadel

Despite a little trouble with currency and paying your entry toll, you entered the city. You hired a guide, courtesy of a booth run by the Cult of Shallya and successfully 'persuaded' the stevedores not to unload your cart. You immediately headed to the Verenan temple and were paid. You then set about finding Jaie Schraeder, only to find that he was dead. You discovered that he was found dead near the Forest Inn coaching house (one day to the east) on the evening of the 3^rd Jahrdrung. Worse his house had burnt down on the evening of the 2^nd. Visiting the Physicians' Guild, you discovered that Schraeder had sent a note on the morning of the 31^st Nachexen stating that his father was ill, and he had to visit him. The helpful under-secretary, Danel Koberger, knew that Schraeder's father was already dead but believed he was taking a sickie. He had not told the Watch, not wishing to besmirch the dead. Watch Captain Crais was pleased to see you (on inspection of your warrant) and you agreed to help each other. He explained that two bodies had been found in the only destroyed room in the house, and that papers belonging to the professor had been found in another room. The two bodies were almost completely consumed by the fire, but must be Gerd Breytenbach, the servant, and Louisa May, the maid. Inspecting the papers, Brian noticed some inconsistencies and you believed that they might well have been planted there. The Watch believe that Schraeder was killed by Cult of the Howling One bandits, and that the professor killed the other two. A visit to the house did not achieve much, as you failed to get in. Talking to the neighbours achieved little, though some of the servants suggested that Louisa May (the maid) had been acting 'funny' in the last couple of months.

At this point you were rather uncertain of what to do, but were contemplating heading off to the Forest Inn. However, Christina had been called away by a young girl who looked like a Shallyan cultist, and then sent another messenger asking you to 'lose' Lucas and meet her back at your inn. Intrigued, you did so. There you found a rather different figure than the disdainful figure you were used to. In fact, as her story unfolded, she began to physically quiver under the rather astonished gaze of Lothar who found the tale most undwarfish. Christina introduced you to her friend, Hilde Muntz, who is an initiate of Shallya but is also an anarchist and member of the Black Cloak Lurkers Below. This is a group who wish to overthrow their rich and powerful oppressors. Unfortunately, Hilde has just discovered that her rather idealised views on revolution are rather more pragmatically (viciously) applied by the group and she wants out. They don't want her out. Worse, the group 'hit' the Steel Fist Thief Ring for a large sum of money, and the latter are out for revenge on any members of the Black Cloaks that they can find. Since two groups are after her, she fled to her friend Christina who is now pleading with the party for help. Not only does she want the PCs to get Hilde somewhere safe, she is adamant that Lucas and the Fraternal Order not know, to the extent that Hilde cannot simply be added to the group. Suggestions that Hilde be made out as Jakob's latest Shallyan conquest did not go down well with Christina. Before this can be further discussed we decided to end as word arrives that Marla Hengist - the girl who brought the message - has been kidnapped.

It is about mid-day on the 17^th Jahrdrung. Brian is feeling a little peckish. It is a bright, warm day.

Brian 70

Oskar 60

Brian needs to make a Cool test, to avoid gaining 1 insanity point for his Critical injury

Jakob 110

Lothar 105

Brian 10

You must all lose D2 points off your social level for the fiasco at the Pedlars Guild warehouse

Oskar's horse has taken a nett loss of 2 Wounds (after Lothar's ministration)

Oskar has lost a total of 2 Wounds

Oskar and Brian have an extra 112 shillings in pay, and can cash in their tokens