Summary 07

Heading towards the manor in which the Lady Antonescu is being held, you met a slave work-gang. After asking directions feigning being lost, you continued. Arriving at the manor, you followed Rubrov's plan and gained access to the manor. Some of you were a little dismayed by his actions within the out-house, but could no longer doubt his loyalty. Killing one guard, you gained entry to the house and fought your way up the floors. After a heroic combat you found that you had slain Magnus Greel, Herman Balke and their murderous renegades. Particular notations went to Oskar, Jakob, Brian and the NPC Christina for bravery and tenacity. However, all of you had been seriously tested. After some rapid first aid and a haranguing from the freed baroness, you discovered that one of the servants had lit an alarm pyre in the courtyard. Christina's quick reaction killed the culprit, but could not prevent the warning. Jakob once more fell foul of a moody Christina, but it appears that she might have given up rather more than you had all realised to remain with Hilde. Jakob sulkily - and incorrectly - reminded you all that you had not asked her to join you!

Deciding to flee, you packed all of Katrin Antonescu's belongings onto your cart, which creaked under the weight, and took her horses. You then fled north. About two miles north you came across a deserted village, and were forced to rest there through complete exhaustion. You were concerned that the village graveyard had been dug up methodically and the bodies removed, but nothing happened during the night. Brian fell asleep on watch, but - surprisingly - Christina did not kick him in the ribs. Even more worryingly, she may have even put a blanket over him!

A further mile up the 'road' (being very generous in its description) you came across a small open-cast mine protected by a palisade and ditch as usual. The settlement flew the flag of Count von Wallenstein (white eagle on a red background). You skirted it, and found yourself on a much better maintained track north. This joined a road east-west. Travelling east, you reached Polotsk by early evening. After discussion, the majority decided to enter. The Baroness confirmed that Polotsk is not only independent of Heinrich von Weide, but likely an enemy from the stories that she has heard. In addition, she believed that a cleric of Verena was there.

Polotsk is a small town - little more than a village really - and shows clear signs of having undergone some renovation to its defences in recent times. It is ruled by Boyar Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, who has engendered Kislevite nationalism as a means of encouraging his people to fight 'the invader' Heinrich von Weide and his 'Imperialist lackeys'. Three flags fly from the battlements and the central keep: the bear (as a universal symbol of Kislev), the wolf (again a generic Ulrican symbol of propaganda) and a white eagle on a blue background (the boyar's own device). They don't like Imperialists very much!!

Yaroslav Vsevolodovich received you. He is a fat, squat man of about 35 years of age and an ostentatiously platted beard. You attended a banquet held in your honour, and learnt a number of things about the town and events:

• The town itself makes its living as a small market town, primarily in slaves but also in honey, beeswax, furs and some small local mining developments.
• The professor stayed here on the 17^th Jahrdrung, at the Murdering Imperialist inn. However, there was a fight in the inn as two of his companions got into a fight with a local fur trapper who was killed. The two were arrested, and one was hung on the 18^th Jahrdrung, a fortuitous day being a full moon (Mannslieb). The other was sold into slavery by the boyar in his weekly court session on the same day. The dead man was called Ebolt Druckenmiller [a family name that Jakob correctly recognised] and the enslaved was called Ion Iasi. He was bought by a mine to the north-east run by the Srebrolyuby Mining Company, whose steward was in town still from the last slave auction. The professor and his remaining companion left on the 19^th Jahrdrung, heading for Pskoi. They did attempt to bid for Iasi, but were refused leave to obtain a slaving licence.
• Town criers are announcing in Slavic only, and primarily propaganda against Kulm and promises of victory against the usurper Heinrich von Weide.
• The Tsar's determination to hold back the monsters from outside Kislev's borders is being hampered by penny-pinching bureaucrats.
• Slaves from The Empire are being imported in ever increasing number.
• The Sacred Quorum of the Moon's Pain (a sect of the Cult of Mórr, known colloquially as the Black Monks) have recently been seen in Kislev preaching and offering advice to the Tsar. Their new leader, Pavel Rutkin, believes in reforming the bureaucracy and liberalising trade and the legal superstructure. Traditionally, they have remained in their monastery in a mountain hideaway awaiting the end of the world.
• The Governor is hiring Dolgan mercenaries.
• A Citizen's Vigilance Committee led by Horia Pantazi is campaigning in the streets against an influx of pornography. Merchants dealing in the 'filth' are being targeted.

At the banquet, the boyar received an ambassador from Kulm. Quite what he wanted you were unsure - but the boyar sent messages the following morning that you should leave. We re-start on the morning of the 6^th Pflugzheit. The boyar's people have packed up all your things, your horses are ready and you have been given some provisions. The baroness has been asked for a final visit with the boyar in private and is on her way to see him with two PCs as escort.

Experience

Brian 85

Oskar 80

Jakob 75

Lothar 30