Summary 35

Winter was passing slowly. The Shallyans seemed generally better minded towards you after the death of Silas. Lazarus and Jakob, in different ways, progressed themselves in the town. Jakob and Whys were visiting the site of the Watch barracks when it caved in, leaving a jagged hole in the ground. Whilst investigating this, you received a summons from the Veche. It appears that senior officials from Raska are to visit in order to re-negotiate trade agreements (and secretly discuss political issues). They wanted you to act as their security whilst in Preslav. It was not entirely clear why. Victor Melderstein is the Tsar's 'Gun Inspector' and Ronneby a powerful faktorier. The latter are essentially state sponsored businesses run by these powerful individuals - a sort of first step to mass industrialisation. Informing Bocland Kalisj of the collapse, he authorised you to undertake a reconnaissance. Lazarus determined to make himself some poisons and managed to poison himself, losing a Fate Point in the process.

The substrata revealed by the fall firstly uncovered a natural cistern with drinkable water (a new supply for the town?), but had two passages leading off. Following these, your investigation turned into a rout as you were first pelted with stones from the total darkness and then chased off. Your enemy was some form of hairy albino hominid. Jakob decided that his own skin was of primary importance and you all then variously ran away as each individual was left to his fate by his beloved comrades in arms. Whilst you were patched up, a serious force was assembled and drove off the hominids. What was revealed was mine workings (including lots of valuable ore, nicely piled into heaps, and now the property of Preslav) and an inner chamber. Here were statues of centaurs (with dwarf torsos), centaurs with bull bodies, wings and dwarfs centaurs and an imperious king on his throne (again, a dwarf with ringlets in his beard and an imposing crown). Everyone realised that this reinforced your earlier suspicions that dwarfs had lived in this region long ago, and you all realised that chaos was strongly implied, a notion further made clear by a number of frescoes and carvings on the wall. It was agreed to destroy the foul place and seal it up. This was done, after removing the ore and stone for building works and Professor Diliberto had been to visit the place. Your bounty was severely reduced by the numbers of soldiers and ancillaries ultimately involved.

By the time you recovered from your wounds (and Lazarus managed to obtain healing from the Shallyans!), the visitors from Raska were due to arrive. From what you can tell, the visit has not gone well. This will not be helped by an assassination attempt on Ronneby by two men and two ghouls, well foiled by Wolf (and helped by all). The last of the man cried "Wheatlands for the Kislevans" as he jumped out of a window to his death. The other was wearing a tin medallion portraying Vsevolod before a rising sun. Ronneby seemed even more angry. This is where we left it.

Game Issues

Lothar has to age one year. I hope that everyone remembered top record an insanity point for each critical that they suffered? 

I still have need one-line summary descriptions for your PCs so that I canput these on the website. Also to repeat, can we please try and start at around the 1.30pm. 

Experience (including carried over)
Jakob  40
Wolf  37
Lazarus  120
Whys Parr  150
Lothar  35 
Nicolai  35
Dieter  90