Summary 31

Firstly, welcome to Dieter another character that has moved into the limelight from the shadows to do good and combat evil. Or, then again, perhaps simply try and earn a living wage.

In some ways a difficult session, as you feel that you have a good idea of who is doing what and even - possibly - who killed Alexander but are unable to prove it. Some in the group wish to adopt a pragmatic approach of hanging 'someone' (anyone?) in order to keep the lid on various socio-political issues - and accept some rewards as well - whilst others insist on doing the 'right thing'.

You followed up various leads and added the following to your knowledge base:

Ivan Sagun was in Preslav on the day of the murder, but you never actually checked his alibi.

The reading of the will was 'interesting' since all of Alexander's property is left to his unborn son. Anya was clearly very pleased. Markus was livid and stormed out. He marched for about a mile, found a tree and proceeded to hack at it. At this point, Lazarus approached and told him that it was pretty hard luck. Silas eventually managed to pull Markus off Lazarus. Markus has not been contacted since!

Georgi Georgivich was believed to have been killed by chaos invaders since a beastman and Marauders had been seen in the region. Silas conjectured that this might have been Caraend-Bereth and his people.

Nikolai Petrevich was variously attacked, tortured and sweet-talked in a most peculiar good cop - bad cop routine. He - eventually - claimed that he bought the sword off a Dolgan (named Vishtal), who he met at the workings at Vistul where the Marauders occasionally visit to trade and sell 'goods'. You were convinced that he knew that Galvan was selling to the Marauders. He eventually admitted that Oleg Kalach, operating a number of workings to the furthest east around Kark, is used by Galvan to engage in some of his 'dirty' work and might be involved. Some of the group still regards Nikolai as an easy target to pin all of this upon. Galvan rejected completely all of Nikolai's 'outlandish' claims. You do not believe him. After more work, it seems more likely that he might be selling to the eastern Patznaks and the southern 'Marienburgers'. Anton Galvan is currently under arrest and is staying with Olaf Vishnevski. This is a peculiar sort of arrest as you discovered since he has the run of the manor house. Lothar visited him individually, and appears to have accepted a commission as an engineer. Silas, in particular, was not convinced. Had Lothar been an Imperial Dwarf there is little doubt that heated words would have led to one or the other's death. However, you are all very suspicious of Anton Galvan - and maybe now of Lothar.

Zvetlana Isenchnko, Anya's maid and companion, offered a most interesting story. According to her, Anya is not pregnant. You are unsure where this puts the will, although Silas made some enquiries of Brother Petre.

Antonella Prokhorovka turned out to indeed be a Dolgan - of sorts. Your lack of knowledge of the concept 'Dolgan' made you unsure quite what is what, particularly as most around here call them all Chaos Marauders - and you have yet to see anything remotely Chaotic. However, it seems to be - in part - a cultural, and not a racial, term. Silas rooted through enough female underwear to eventually discover an assortment of riding gear and other 'Dolgan' clothing. Things took a strange twist when he confronted her as it appeared that Antonella is also a Njevskist and thus (theoretically at least) working to strengthen the Colonies. Barbelle confirmed this (note to everyone else - is she also a Njevskist?). It turned out that she was married to Magyarken, a member of one of the Dolgan groups in the region. This group contained a mix of Dolgans and Ungols from Inner Vlachistan. They are here simply to purchase tin, and have been trading secretly with Alexander Popov to avoid official taxation and censure (official policy attempts to limit export of 'metals' and other 'military hardware' to the north - and everywhere else). Their leader turned out to be Caraend-Bereth, a centaur. You were all remarkably calm at meeting a beastman, although many of you have met friendly beastmen before now. Silas was slightly rude, but then he always is. The centaur met with Alexander in secret on the day of his death, and the two departed leaving Alexander with about one hour to make the 45 minute journey to his home in time for the meal that he ultimately missed. Magyarken knew of Alexander via his wife and thus the group arranged a secret meeting and the deal. This group knew of two others (plus the Emi) in the area and offered their support to help you clear them off. 

The two groups were described to you as follows: The first is a renegade assortment of Petznak Iaxamatae and Alanoi, who decided to join in the raiding of the Chaos Marauders and have yet to go home. Their leader is Zinafer. The second group is an assortment of renegades, including hobgoblins some 'true' Chaos Marauders from the far north unable to resist the lure of further bloodshed. 

Lazarus walked off, on his own, for the day's travel to see the Emi. This rather amazed them (and everyone else), but he wished to obtain their assistance in an attack on Zinafer's group. This he failed to follow up, but Jakob the following day did so. Together with the Dolgans from Inner Vlachistan, an attack was made on the camp with fair results. Dieter took a minor wound from an arrow, but otherwise everything was fine. Unfortunately, the Emi (in particular) seemed rather more interested in looting than fighting and many of Zinafer's group escaped, being chased into the night. More surprisingly, the PCs did not really join in the looting. GM aside, this would have been an excellent opportunity to try and bag a horse for yourselves. 

Zinafer slew two Emi, before he was slain himself despite Silas' commands to the contrary. We ended with the battle mostly over, and your allies will slowly return to camp. The Emi have helped themselves to three carts and both groups have taken horses, armour, clothing, some livestock and anything else that they can carry. Three Kislevan 'slaves' have been freed, although whether the Emi regard them as free has not yet been discussed. A young Emi brave has captured himself a Dolgan warrioress, who he is willing to let you interrogate. She has told you that Vishtal rode off during the fight.

The only obvious lead for you yet to follow might be Oleg Kalach, who runs the mine workings at Kark. 

Your nominal employer Mezyk Seerak has been worse than useless and must be wearing out the fence that he is sitting on. Whilst you have managed to - once again - upset most of the major NPCs, this is clearly a complicated web and once you decide on a course of action, you will need to decide who are your allies and who your enemies. A number of you are (once again) no doubt thinking that a good monster bash is far easier than all this tortuous politics. Damned Kislevans! Damned nobility!! Damned merchants!!!

We start in the aftermath of the battle. For those mot at the session, the inter-party politics revolves around Silas and Lothar/ Barbelle. Silas wants to find the 'right' man. He is a noble and expects you to do what you are told; however, his name is worthless in the Colonies at this time. Lothar wants to do the most 'efficient' thing, whilst Barbelle wants to do the 'best' thing. Over to you.

Experience (including carried over)
Jakob  40 
Lothar  20 
Wolf  40
Barballe  50
Silas  90
Lazarus  60
Nicolai  130
Dieter  110