Summary 30

After a number of GM hints, you decided to visit the local "Wizards' Guild" to find out about your magical weaponry. Sadly, you had no money to pay for any services! Barbelle, using her charms, had her sword identified. Unfortunately, it is likely to be expensive to repair. You are no nearer learning the nature of the machaira.

You travelled to Vutka with Mezyk Seerak, his two guards, Markus Popov, Ivan Sagun and Brother Petre. After two days of investigation you have discovered the following:

The body had been officially buried, and little could be ascertained in the form of 'forensic' evidence.

Markus Popov is the brother of Alexander. He is based in Preslav and dealt with the secondary smelting and shipment to the west. He has been badly hit by the loss of trade, since his money was made in the shipment and smelting. He was on a tour of the workings in the region of Vutka when the calamity happened, and did not hear about it until his return. He had seen his brother the day before when he had presented him with a new sword, made to special order. It was inscribed with the words "sic itur ad astra", a Svarog litany, and had a hilt carved into tools twisted around as a sign of the god. Whilst Alexander was not a devout follower, he followed the entire pantheon - particularly any craft deity that might favour his enterprise!

Ivan Sagun is the stepson of Alexander Popov (being the son of his new wife, Anya) and manages Markus' work. His mother re-married to Alexander Popov. He told you that he suspects Markus of dishonesty.

Anton Galvan becomes the leading tinner on the death of Popov. He had attempted to buy a number of Popov's workings (including the Vutka one) but been rejected. You have not met him.

Georgi Georgivich was overman of the Vutka workings and was found dead one morning. The official verdict was that chaos invaders had killed him, since a beastman and Chaos Marauders had been seen in the region. 

Ekaterina Etluk is the new overman of the Votka workings. She told Lazarus that she had seen Antonella Prokhorovka dressed as a Dolgan with other Dolgans. 

Nikolai Petrevich is Anton Galvan's second-in-command. You have not met him.

Grigore Nicolau was Alexander's second-in-command and your guide. He had travelled out with Alexander on the day of his death (with two others as escort) but they had been dismissed early afternoon, as Alexander had said that he had some "private business" to transact. Grigore suspects that tin was being sold to a third party due to some recent works management and logistics decisions, but knows nothing for definite. You also believe that he is not telling you something about Alexander.

Anya Popov is a new wife for Alexander, much younger than he was. 

Zvetlana Isenchnko is Anya's maid and companion. 

Antonella Prokhorovka is Anya's sister and was visiting and is staying to offer sisterly support. You have not met her.

Natascha Vladescu is an engineer, and the only person professionally qualified to open new operations. She clearly hates Galvan, who has frequently ordered his men to carry out the engineering work need to repair old workings or create new ones without authorisation. The sluices and other workings necessary for tin production can indeed be complex. Natascha blames Galvan for many of the recent accidents since others have copied him and many of the supposed instances of sabotage are simply the result of poor quality engineering.

Olaf Vishnevski and Skarde Newky are the local nobility. You have met neither.

Dolgan raiders are known to be in the region and occasionally attack the tinners. However, there is no apparent reason for them to kill Georgi Georgivich. You met with the Emi. They were badly mauled during the invasion from the north, since they attempted to honour their pledge and defend the Wheatlands. Worse, their reward was to be treated as pariah by the easterners, petrified of all nomads. Jakob offered his word to ensure that the Preslav government would honour their alliance. You stayed the night in their camp, much to Jakob's distaste. They told you where to find Meecha. They also told you that there were other Dolgans in the area and two tribes of renegades, one northerners and one chaotics - though they both sound Chaotic to you!

Mikhael Meecha is an itinerant druid. Lazarus asked to be trained as a druid, but then refused to follow Meecha's 'teachings'. He discovered Alexander's body and regards it as a fitting end to the man. He took his cloak and boots, since they were of more use to him. You believe he was innocent of the murder.

We find you about to debrief Mezyk Seerak, just prior to the reading of the will. You also made a startling discovery about someone carrying what appears to be a familiar sword….

Experience (including carried over)
Jakob  40 
Lothar  25 
Wolf  75
Barballe  30
Silas  55
Lazarus  85
Nicolai  130

We need to deal with social level amendments for Jakob, Lothar, Barbelle & Silas.