Prior to setting out for Carrongrab, you learn a few other things from friends within the Cult.

Ilsa Faller was something of an academic and frequently visited the Mausoleum. Examining some of her notes left in her room, you discover that she was treading very carefully through what sounded like heresy to you. Her researches have led to evidence of Sigmar "defying death". Official theology is that Sigmar defied Mórr by entering into the Void and becoming a god. Ilsa was certain that he had achieved immortality. She had found carvings on stones imported from the North and used in the building of the mausoleum. These included Sigmar riding a dragon and leading his peoples to victory, together with what she translated as clear evidence of the King’s immortality.

Prochnow is also not quite as two-dimensional as first appeared, and he is the ‘blue-eyed boy’ of the Cult and a rising star. He supports Carroburg Burial Inc and their move towards outside city graveyards for efficiency, cleanliness and generally better treating of the dead.

Travelling to Carrongrab: Overall 20 miles to Esterog, a hard day’s walk as half is through the Hills. There is a rough ‘road’, but is unmade. Carrongrab a further 5 miles from there.

Your attempts at evading the Frater come to nothing, but a few coins spent in Weidmarkt persuade some locals to help detain them. The village is quite prosperous. Vines. Fishermen. Agriculture, signs of forest clearance. Guilds tend to have Lodges around here.

The Frater spring an ambush just beyond, but you are saved by an Imperial Guard escort, returning from Gaver. Schnork’s #2 [Paulus Gunzberg] leads them. There are 6 men, 7 horses, and 2 packhorses. 5 in new uniforms. The 7th horse has bloodstains down flank. 

Further down the road, Pieter notices worrying activity from some wildlife, and investigates. He finds a body stripped and cut open, hidden.

Another 10 miles brought you to Gaver. At base of Skaag Hills, this is centre of the minting of coins. Well guarded, you are not welcome. Warrants are checked, and you continue on.

A further 10 miles brings you to Esterog. Esterog is quite friendly; von Muncken is the main overlord and a vassal to Grand Duke. No problems to report, sleepy but quite prosperous village. Contented rural poor. Except that there is a problem.

A local folk remedy is to put a small amount of contagion directly into the vein, the aim being to create a mild attack, building immune defence. Local peddler is accused of murder for killing a young girl. Rumours of "chaos". Has warrants from the Cult of Shallya as an itinerant healer, and thus is under Consistory Court. However, locals want to hang him. What is the steward to do? And then along walk a group of Mórrists!

You manage to plot a middle course, whereby the peddlar – Werner Delphinius – is sent back to Carroburg under his own recognisance for judgement. However, you also note the name of the blacksmith – Franciska Kortner – who supplied him, and to check with the Cult of Shallya.

Carrongrab is a rundown village. Prochnow advised staying in Carrongrab, and going to Mausoleum following day.

At the site everything seemed fine. Ilsa was present and Prochnow recognised her.

Of course, it wasn’t. Abigail had been instructed by Prochnow to play along, since she knew this wasn’t Ilsa. The rest of the party presumed that the impostor was.

Things got worse, though, as you searched the Mausoleum. You found an inscription mentioned in Ilsa’s notes and Pieter repeated the name twice. Unknown to everyone else, he was thereby engaged in spirit combat and possessed.

Worse, all was not well at the mausoleum, since lots of dead had been disinterred and laid out in rows, together with rough weapons.

Oh, and did we mention that Dux Thessalix III Antipax, prior to being overthrown and imprisoned in a lead casket within a hollow stone, had been a necromancer.

Chaos ensued in which Mark showed himself worryingly adaptable at playing a powerful necromancer. Carrongrab was annihilated and Esterog destroyed as the rest of you fled to Gaver. Here the menace was held – just. A stray cannonball knocked out Pieter, and the spirit left him.

You were all arrested for involvement, though only Abigail seems to have definitively seen "Pieter" leading the Undead.

Prochnow has disappeared.

You also have a sinking feeling about what CBI and the massive graveyards might be about…