You travelled north to Felsenheim, aware of the need to make it before the end of the day, and with mediocre road quality. Still, you felt it worth trying to investigate the assart that accepted delivery of the ghouls. What followed confounded ordinary logic, but conformed with what passes for player logic. Told by the woodsman (who was rather too heavily armoured) to ‘get off my land’, you did. And continued up the road. After a couple of visits to assarts along the road, it appeared that those on the right were unfriendly to say the least, whilst those to the left were wary, guarded, but at least did talk to you. Finally, you approached what turned out to be the last of the assarts on the right, and refused to be run off. You were then shot at, and chased the man off. Johan chased him into the forest, muttering about wanting the man’s metal armour. Everyone else variously investigated the hut or stood around "on the lookout".

It quickly became evident why this man had been so defensive, since you discovered a trapdoor under some furs. You elected to open it and shut it, and discuss what to do. You were then surprised when you opened it again by the inhabitants by two further ghouls (you learn later that they are indeed these foul creatures). Slaying them, you found little else.

You carried on towards Felsenheim. As you neared the ‘town’, you became aware that you were being followed. This culminated in your being shot at, and thence the animals. Johan in a heroic gesture took control of the cart, scattering you and drove like a … cart along the highway, and into Felsenheim. He entered onto a scene of some disruption as a botched hanging was taking place. The hangman was trying to remove the man’s boots. Johan’s entry, coupled with his screaming "Bandits!" sent the horse attached to the hanging cart off at full pelt. The hanged man was left … hanging, and in his death throes kicked off his own boots, unceremoniously booting those standing too near in the face as well. At the warning cry, many ran for cover, whilst others went for their weapons... just as the rest of the party came around the corner.

After some quick and appropriate words from Pieter, things calmed down. However, this was not the start or impression you had been instructed to make. Things were already very jittery here, and so Johan was arrested to make an example of what happens to those who spread lies. You were introduced to the young Burggraf Albrecht von Kroppen (Woodworkers Guild) and Burggraf Brigund von Haiger (Goldsmiths Guild), who received your warrant and supplies.

The man who was being hanged was a "Middenheimer", an "outlaw" and a "barrow robber", but had surrendered quite easily claiming that his associates had been slain by shadows in their last ‘score’, which was Fulk’s Barrow. Von Kroppen asked you to investigate, hopefully as a means to try and put a lid on the rumours going around the camp. You were taken to a barrow by the guide, Dietl Bauven, which Pieter deduced was the wrong one. The guide apologised, claiming that he thought you had said ‘Pulk’s Barrow’. The day wasted you returned, vowing to go to the correct barrow this time. Sabritz contacted you, and suggest that you find nothing on your expedition. Unfortunately something disagreed with you in your food that night. Oddly, no-one else (and you used the communal camp kitchen) was affected, and neither were Aldhelm and Hans who had not fancied the food. Therefore, it was 13th before you finally made it to the correct barrow, only to find it occupied. After a great deal of inter-party discussion and not a lot of interaction with the occupants, they were seen to flee into the woods. They were two more ghouls, and yet these had conversed with you, reasonably eloquently and gave a name - Mariusz Pellbach. There was nothing else to find, except that there had been some signs of a cover-up of whatever might have been here. You did note that recent remains in the barrow (the ghouls’ food) were animal.

A meeting of the various leaders was arranged for you to report to at the manor house. You decided to be completely honest to von Kroppen about this whole business and the likely involvement of Hans von Bildhofen and/ or his steward. This did not go down well, but better than you had feared. He seems to believe you, but is unwilling to take action. You have also taken Brother Holzbeck into your confidences after the meeting did not go terribly well. You decided to be completely honest in everything that you have seen, but left the inferences to your listeners. Unfortunately, they did not infer anything. This led you to doubt Ritter Volkrad von Nicramszeck and suspect his involvement, especially due to his disinterested manner. Worse, a scout reported finding the outlaws camp, believed responsible for all this. An attack was arranged for the following morning. You detected some ploy of Sabritz, and hope that Holzbeck might initiate a check on your story through his Cult. He certainly seems to like you, having heard good things from your earlier investigation of the ‘murder’ at Mischer. One final odd thing from the evening was the evident shock of Brother Gozwin when he heard about the ghouls, and he rather sharply told you that you MUST have been mistaken. After the meeting you saw him storming off.

Next morning a motley collection of soldiers, law officers and militia set off to attack these hardened outlaws. The attack was held up since Brother Gozwin was missing, and Brother Holzbeck had to be summoned to bless everyone, and ward off their deaths. You successfully surrounded the camp, but the fight was ineptly managed, and there was little stomach for killing. Around a third of the outlaws were killed (7-8) and no prisoners taken. Certain ‘friendly fire’ seemed to come your way, but you were expecting a move by Sabritz’s men and this was one reason for your less than enthusiastic involvement. A number of pieces of jewellery containing the letters "DD" were found in the camp, which seemed to satisfy everyone that they were the "D" that you had come across. You also discovered some Middenheim territorial markers from their enclave, which had been moved and left. This seems to suggest that the camp might actually have been on Middenheim territory.

It is about mid-day on the 14th. You are safely back in Felsenheim. More news has just arrived!

Ritter Volkrad von Nicramszeck, Magistrate, Lord Justice, Grand Duke’s Coroner and Praetor is the grand Duke’s appointed representative. Lives in the fortified manor house, the only completed building at the site. He has a few personal retainers.

Felsenheim:        Burggraf Albrecht von Kroppen (Woodworkers Guild) has a personal bodyguard. He is around 30.

                            Burggraf Brigund von Haiger (Goldsmiths Guild) is over 40.

Felsenheim I:               Andreas Meyer

Felsenheim II:             Gotwin Reichert

Felsenheim III:            Gunnar Otzlowe

Carl Pulsach is a priest of Ulric

Tylo Gozwin is the senior priest of Morr. He is a conservative.

Otmar Holzbeck is an initiate and the circuit priest of Morr. He is a progressive and supports the removal of the dead out of the places of the living into large central cemeteries, where the Cult can better manage them.

Sabritz is referred to as a priest of Taal, but is so much more! He has around a dozen woodsmen who look like they can look after themselves.