Session 12: Farewell Ostland!

After the fight with the Beastmen and Dark Gods worshiping humans, it was time to patch up their wounds. The sisters at the Welcome Rest did what they could, but advised the group to get proper aid at the Temple of the Sigmarite Sisters, further down the road.
This they did, and were able to continue their way to Grenzburg rested and in better health.
Outside the fortified monastery, they found a small encampment where six tents have been placed, knocking over some burial markers in the process, and a number of individuals can be seen moving around. It will become evident very quickly that these people are flagellants. They have come to offer their service to the templars, but the latter are very wary of them. Every hour or so, they whirl  themselves into a frenzy, chanting “There is no country as Kislev. Kislev does not exist.”

Gossip heard in the vicinity of Grenszburg:

• Kislevite raiders invaded Sigmar’s Holy Land again. They raided some farms to the east.
• Magnus Greel, the Butcher of Brizban, must be brought here for trial. He murdered dozens of villagers at Brizban, as well as some of the temple soldiers. Apparently he fled into Kislev – so he should feel right at home.
• A group of dignitaries from the Church of Sigmar returned after some months in the area last year. They brought with them some cult labourers and headed off towards the east with provisions for a couple of months.
• The current Grand Master Aldred Treitszaur is a great leader. His only weakness is having a woman as his second-in-command.
• Mikola Nemanja, the castellan, is the real leadership behind the Order. The Grand Master is a buffoon.
• Lehrkompanie Kazgar has been transferred from Altdorf to Grenzburg and is accepting new recruits for training. There will be many thoughts on exactly what they are doing here, but most anticipate an attack upon Kislev.
• A soldier from Lehrkompanie Kazgar recently shot himself in the head when cleaning his crossbow. Apparently it was loaded whilst he cleaned it.
• Hunjadi Knapster has been arrested for copying and selling maps of the town and other regions. I always knew he was up to something, sneaking around, offering advice freely to visitors and always looking happy. Clear sign of a chaotic, if you ask me.
• Imperial poll tax collectors were forcibly ejected from Talabheim after the Plenipotentiary for Taxation and Population was thrown through a window at the Peerhaus. This could mean war.
• The Sisters that run the way temple on the road here are not as pure as they seem. Apparently they are in hiding from the Grand Theogonist. 
• The Church of Sigmar has denounced some academic at the University of Altdorf for heresy. This has led to a rise in attacks on students, a firebomb attack upon the university gatehouse and withdrawal of funding by a number of benefactors.
• A Professor at the University of Altdorf has posited a village that he called Garderike as the birthplace of Sigmar. This sort of thing shouldn’t be allowed, if he is referring to the Kislev Garderike. 
• Knud Finklestone, one of the portreeves, said that the statue in the town square ought to be replaced. He did not think that anyone knew who Magnus was these days, and the militaristic Magnus has no relevance to the modern Empire. Different respondents to this debate will have different perspectives. Some will believe it is a Kislevite plot, linked to “that Kislevite Raukov”, others will have outlandish views on it as a plot of Ulricans or mutants. Most will agree that the Elector needs to sort this out. One or two might suggest that it is an amusing aside to wind up the templars of the town.
• A Kislevite noble, Ekaterina Bushinov, has declared herself Tsarina and promised to bring the various regions together under central control. Erengrad has declared itself an independent city (although no one is sure on whose side this puts them), the Wheatland Colonies have all broken away and Dolgan raiders are prowling the country. All that is needed now is an invasion by the Hegemony.
• The templars have employed a private mercenary company containing sappers and engineers to do something to the Border Line coaching inn. There was a raid by Kislevites upon it. 
• Children are stolen periodically from farms to the north and east. Sometimes their parents are killed, other times the children simply disappear.
• If you ask me, we need a von Koenigswald as Grand Prince.There are far too many non-Sigmarites being allowed to wander around Ostland. 
• The Watch captain Sergei Druckenmiller can arrange anything you fancy. He knows what is going on, and receives an arrangement fee from these activities.
• The Sacred Quorum of the Moon’s Pain (a sect of the Cult of Mórr) have apparently won favour with the Tsar. Perhaps the Kislevites can start to learn about proper religions now.

The Criers are Calling

• Magnus Greel, the Butcher of Brizban, his lieutenant, Herman Balke, and his followers are wanted upon charges of heresy and murder. The Grand Master offers a 100 GC reward for their return.
• Citizens are reminded that maps of the town are illegal. No directions are to be given to any visitors. Spies are everywhere seeking to locate the important and secret parts of the town and the Grenz. Be on your guard and report unusual events to the local Adeptus Arbites post. Remember that suspicion breeds confidence. 
• Lehrkompanie Kazgar is now offering training to all true followers of the One Faith. Signing for a period of 5 years, recruits will receive training within the Cult of Sigmar’s own training company, and then serve in the Imperialist Sigmarite Army. Pay is 6d a day until training is complete and then 7/- a day24, plus food, clothing, equipment and lodging. Those signing for a period of 25 years will receive a land grant upon retirement.
• The variously named Hive Brotherhood, Children of the Kraken or Cult of the Kraken is outlawed for heresy. Citizens must report any evidence of cult activity. Its leader, and so called Patriarch, Janos Armistadt is sentenced to death and all Imperial citizens are duty bound to carry out sentence. A reward of 100 GCs is offered for his death. All rewards must be approved by the Adeptus Arbites.
• Recent reports have located the necromancer Gunther Spengler within the League of Ostermark, travelling westwards. Citizens are reminded that the Emperor and the cults of Sigmar, Mórr and Myrmidia have placed a 500GC reward upon his head.
• A reward of 1 GC per live captive is offered for anyone bringing to the town any outlaw, heretic or other wanted felon. This falls to 10/- for a dead body, although is waived for members of the Cult of the Howling One or the Hive Brotherhood. All captives must be verified by the Adeptus Arbites. 
• A private crier announces that Bjorn Irongrim is hiring mercenaries under licence from Ulfar Stonehammer, the dwarf king of Karak-Ungor for campaigning in the Worlds Edge Mountains.

The town has a single gate set in its south wall and is extended by a pair of flanking towers. Over the gate itself is carved the title For the Emperor and the Holy Empire of Sigmar. Wolfsbane hangs down from the ceiling, and all those entering must walk below it. Two carved statues stand guard within the gate, representations of horsed Thurini tribesmen from the time of Sigmar.

A magician stands with the guards who interrogate all those seeking entry about their nationality. The man is obviously a mage as he wears robes covered in sigils and wears a conical hat. 

The guards are also very particular about inspecting permits to travel, and check warrants very carefully. They will not give visitors directions, and will explain the law forbidding the asking for directions.

The town is essentially a fortified monastery with limited civilian and commercial occupation. This is restricted to the outer bailey and separated from the keep and Templar buildings by an inner wall holding a single gate. Whilst the town has grown from its initial military roots, it is still governed by those same rules and all visitors are technically regarded as guests. They are, therefore, quartered

in the ‘Guest Quarters’, essentially a giant common room with space for bedding. 

The group was able to obtain food and drink can be obtained from what appear to be private houses. The town rules do not allow taverns, but do grant the right to hold private gatherings. 

Asking for the Professor got the group in contact with the Captain of the Watch, Sergei Druekenmiller. Their commander is Sergei Druckenmiller. Initially he denied all knowledge of him, but after putting some pressure on him, he admits he agreed to hire two of his men to transport the

Professor safely to the Border Line. 

The two men who travelled as bodyguards returned some time ago, and were questioned. Their names are Leko and Vasya Manzel. They confirm the story and admit that they visited a local farmstead, clearly attacked in a localised conflict and almost burnt down, and talked to a pair of farmers there. It was known locally as Jobbággy Farm. The two men were left at the periphery of the farm. The professor met up with some Kislevites on the evening of the 9th Jahrdrung and discussed travel plans with them. Whilst they did not hear a destination, they did hear of what they took to be two destinations. These were the Focšani Gap and Trabzon. noone seems to know where those places are.

The next morning they left Grenzburg again, happy to leave this place and it's paranoia and ridiculous rules behind them. Mid afternoon, they approach the Inn and hear the sound of battle. Lothar and Gotwin move ahead and see that the inn, which is still only half reconstructed, is under attack rom a group of Kislevites and peasants. The two mounted warriors charge into rabble, while Ludwig and Wigand fire from a safe distance their crossbows at them. Castian runs after his two companions, screaming and cursing at the rabble to stop this madness immediately.

This seemed to have effect, and a number of the Ostland peasants withdrew, realizing they were severely outnumbered.

After the fight, the group met up with the Mercenary company who was rebuilding the inn. They confirmed that the professor arrived on the 7th Jahrdrung with two bodyguards. They stayed for two days, and left on the morning of the 10th Jahrdrung. On the afternoon of the 8th Jahrdrung, the three left for about five hours and returned. The bodyguards returned to Grenzburg, the other towards Kislev. The group largely kept to themselves, but did talk to three travellers from Kislev on the evening of the 9th Jahrdrung. The professor left with the three Kislevites, heading up the road

into Kislev.

Lothar put the explanation to the group: they had fulfilled their obligations to the Temple of Shallya, as their writ only carries weight in the Empire. It is decided that they will continue the hunt for Professor Stradovki into Kislev.

Dreams and Omens

Dream of Castian (session 11)

Armies march in step across a large plain with mountains in the background. They are
lovely, the sun glints off burnished armour and banners of many colours fly from raised
standards. As you edge closer, you cannot see faces as they are enclosed in helmets,
but these must be truly beautiful creatures. They wear what appear to be leather skirts,
metal cuirasses and plumed helmets, though what you take to be their leaders wear large
plumes that hang around their shoulders, much as long hair does. The soldiers appear
to be both male and female humans … and the vaguest hint that there is something else
about their build that you ought to realize.

(session 12)
The same armies move forward but this time they are clearly ready for battle, using
lowered pikes in a well managed phalanx. Their enemies fail before this armoured
might as men and elves … that is it, some of these soldiers are men and others are elves
fighting unified together in the same uniforms. Wait, their leader is a female, a beautiful
woman wielding a two-handed sword – and she is human!

(interlude 12.5)
Elves and men are marching together across a very rugged landscape. They wear
chainmail and carry oval shields, painted red and inscribed with a vine leaf. They
carry javelins and swords. These do not appear to be the same soldiers as those before;
something intangible is different. There is perhaps not the same confidence or freedom
of movement? Their equipment is not so glorious, but perhaps that is because the sun is
not shining?
...
A female warrior fights surrounded by hideous beasts. She wears a golden cuirass,
leather kilt and carries a spear and shield. Enemies fall before her, but there are so many.
But, wait! A male figure appears dressed in dendra plate and with a large two-handed
sword. He hacks his way towards her and together they must surely be victorious. As the
woman slays the last creature, the man turns towards her and cruelly strikes her down.
He leers maniacally as he stoops over her, foot on her back and hand under her chin. His
sword comes down and you awake.
...
Human soldiers in a phalanx march forwards towards a horde of beastmen, who break
upon their raised pikes. The men wear linen cuirasses, a few have helmets and less
have greaves (and some only one). Each has a shield, mostly quite small, but some with
larger ones. Whilst they are still impressive, your earlier dreams have led you to expect
better from your dream-warriors. Still, the beastmen are no match for the drilled phalanx
that cuts through the enemy swathe.
...
As before a phalanx advances against beastmen. The warriors are still unevenly
equipped, though recognisably to a similar standard as you have seen before. However,
their enemies appear to be less intimidated and are swirling away from the advancing
unit. and around its sides. Here lighter armed figures, men and women, attempt to hold
the flanks but they are gradually beaten away. As the beastmen close in on the flanks,
the phalanx begins to disintegrate as men try to react to the new threat. However, some
elect to flee, and this trickle becomes a stream and then a total rout. The unpleasant end
is curtailed by your awakening.

Cult of the Howling One

Pankratz explained how some believed the cult to be a sect of extremist Ulricans, others that they're a bunch of bandits, but within Ostland, there exist a number of traditions concerning lycanthropy. There is nothing innately chaotic or evil about the ability to change into the form of a wolf, and there was a strong tradition of this amongst the Thurini and early Ostland nobility. It is likely that Levudal was a werewolf. The early werewolf was linked strongly to worship of natural spirits, particularly the wolf. These were called Wulfen, and it is from a corruption of this term that the River Wolfen and Wolfenburg are both named. Whilst not innately chaotic, they were very susceptible to the call of chaos and their hunger for blood was easily corrupted by the followers of the dark gods. There also were other lycanthropes, introduced via immigration from Norsca and Kislev. bringing with them shapeshifting beings that were believed born of Ulric’s unions with mortal women. They too were also able to take
the form of man or wolf. The Norscan Ulfwerenar, also called Olricsbarn, the children of Olric, thus began to replace the wulfen in the same manner that Kislevite worship of nature spirits displaced the earlier Ostland beliefs. Again, whilst not innately chaotic, the ulfwerenar are particularly susceptible to its lure.

Finally, there is a third form of lycanthropy and worship of the wolf spirit, which is tainted by chaos. There are werewolf creatures within Ostland that are indeed chaotic and the worship of the wolf spirit to them is now a fearful sacrifice to an aspect of Khorne.
So, the description of the cult as a single unit reflects an assumption of there being a single organisation, rather than a reality. In actual fact, the cult is a disparate group of individuals worshiping different aspects of the same spirit, together with a number of simple bandit groups that have adopted the cult’s name as a front, as well as an Ulrican fringe Cult.

Pankratz Zucker

Taalite priest, arrested in Levudaldorf and handed over to Lothar to be taken to Grenzdorf to stand trial, accused of being a ranking member of the Cult of the Howling One.
He was able to give them some information about the Cult on the way east and helped the group to fight of a Beastmen attack at the Welcome Rest inn.
After the fight, he disappeared into the forest of Shadows (Session 11)

Session 11: The Welcome Rest

Castian had entered the Cathedral, in order to go through the trials of ordainment. After an in-depth interrogation of his knowledge of the Twelve Prayers of Righteousness, and singing the Canticles of Sigmar without error, followed by intensive questioning by ranking members of the cult, he was led away for a night of meditation at the Cathedral's altar.

The next morning, he was given a new set of priestly robes, and led in front of the leading priest of the Wolfburg Temple, Father Heinrich, and upon a gem-encrusted, gold (plated) warhammer he took the oath.

“I, Novitiate Castian, swear on the holy hammer with all of you present as my witness, that I will uphold the laws and words of Sigmar Heldenhammer, until my final dying breath.”

As he did, he realised that none of this pomp and circumstance mattered, Sigmar never wandered through the Empire in velvet robes, or stayed in massive cathedrals with exuberant stained glass domes. This would not be his path.

He left the cathedral, and made his way back to the temple of Shallya, when Christina was waiting for him with Gerd and Hilde. apparently Lothar left the day before and had given her instructions.

The left Wolfenburg and headed east, in the footsteps of the others.

On the way, Castian has a dream. Waking up, he can see through the window a comet, making a trail in the sky, heading eastwards. Two days later they arrived at Levudaldorf, but were denied entry to the manor, as the Count was "entertaining guests", and had to wait until the next day to rejoin their friends.

The Count had organised for some alterations to be made to the cart (much to Mungo's displeasure...) to accommodate the prisoner. Once on the road, which had much improved compared to its conditions the previous day, the group started to make conversation with Pankratz Zucker. He explained he was actually caught whilst visiting his sister in the village. She is a member of the Cult of Sigmar and a devout follower of Father Teschitz’s one god-one nation creed, and believes her brother is a heretic, a bandit and a disgrace to her family. He simply finds her misguided, but was shocked – to say the least – after she had set him up.

Although he is initially reluctant to discuss the Cult of the Howling one, he quickly got the measure of this group, realizing these were not the typical close-minded bumpkins, and shared some of his knowledge with them, making sure not to reveal his part in the whole situation. He explained how some believed the cult to be a sect of extremist Ulricans, others that they're a bunch of bandits, but within Ostland, there exist a number of traditions concerning lycanthropy. There is nothing innately chaotic or evil about the ability to change into the form of a wolf, and there was a strong tradition of this amongst the Thurini and early Ostland nobility. It is likely that Levudal was a werewolf. The early werewolf was linked strongly to worship of natural spirits, particularly the wolf. These were called Wulfen, and it is from a corruption of this term that the River Wolfen and Wolfenburg are both named. Whilst not innately chaotic, they were very susceptible to the call of chaos and their hunger for blood was easily corrupted by the followers of the dark gods. There also were other lycanthropes, introduced via immigration from Norsca and Kislev. bringing with them shapeshifting beings that were believed born of Ulric’s unions with mortal women. They too were also able to take

the form of man or wolf. The Norscan Ulfwerenar, also called Olricsbarn, the children of Olric, thus began to replace the wulfen in the same manner that Kislevite worship of nature spirits displaced the earlier Ostland beliefs. Again, whilst not innately chaotic, the ulfwerenar are particularly susceptible to its lure.

Finally, there is a third form of lycanthropy and worship of the wolf spirit, which is tainted by chaos. There are werewolf creatures within Ostland that are indeed chaotic and the worship of the wolf spirit to them is now a fearful sacrifice to an aspect of Khorne.
So, the description of the cult as a single unit reflects an assumption of there being a single organisation, rather than a reality. In actual fact, the cult is a disparate group of individuals worshiping different aspects of the same spirit, together with a number of simple bandit groups that have adopted the cult’s name as a front, as well as an Ulrican fringe Cult.
Doktor von Bora, who wsas very interested in all this, asked Ludwig to share his notes with him when they would stop for the night.

That night, the arrived at the Welcome Rest coaching inn, which looked more like a fortified farmstead than an actual inn, ans was operated by a number of Sigmarite Sisters, priestesses and initiates.
Rumours overheard:

• Kislevite raiders invaded Sigmar’s Holy Land again. They raided some farms to the east.
• Magnus Greel, the Butcher of Brizban, must be brought here for trial. He murdered dozens of villagers at Brizban, as well as some of the temple soldiers. Apparently he fled into Kislev – so he should feel right at home.
• Imperial poll tax collectors were forcibly ejected from Talabheim after the Plenipotentiary for Taxation and Population was thrown through a window at the Peerhaus. This could mean war.
• The Church of Sigmar has denounced some academic at the University of Altdorf for heresy. This has led to a rise in attacks on students, a firebomb attack upon the university gatehouse and withdrawal of funding by a number of benefactors
• The templars have employed a private mercenary company containing sappers and engineers to do something to the Border Line coaching inn. There was a raid by Kislevites upon it.

The group set up an area in the stables where the prisoner could be kept safe, and took turns in keeping an eye on the man. Gotwin feared the prisoner to be a werewolf, and since it was close to full moon, he expected the man to try and break loose. A test with a silver coin didn't convince him, and he asked Wigand to get Christine, who, as a witch-hunter, surely had ways to find out whether or not this was true.
Wigand picked up feeling of unease in the inn, and noticed the Sisters to be looking warily, almost fearful at Christina and Castian. Blending in the background, he was able to overhear part of their conversations, and heard things as "have they been sent by the Grand Theogenist?", "Have the Templars revoked their protection?" "Is he after us?"
He pointed this out to Christina, who considered this. Noticing the sign of the circle with crossed hammers near the door, she realised something and nodded, filling Wigand in on what she remembered.

Sigmarite Sister

The Sisters of Sigmar are a sect of the Cult of Sigmar though their origin is now shrouded in history. One version describes them as a reputed female Warrior Convent under the orders of an Abbess, located in the city of Mordheim. Another suggests that they administered to the sick and the poor, tended to the needs of orphans, cured the diseased and worshipped a more humble aspect of Sigmar than the usual martial representations. In any event, it is known that the Holy Convent of Merciful Sisters of Sigmar was well established on a Sigmar’s Rock in the middle of the River Stir in
Mordheim prior to that town’s destruction in 2000 IC. They were founded sometime in the period 1610-1645 IC as a predominantly Eastern Empire order. At one time, the Sisters were regarded as an ideal home for wayward and troublesome daughters of the nobility, but by the end of the Second Millennium they had become unpopular within the cult, even within their eastern heartland. Coupled with the troubles throughout The Empire, the flow of noble entrants dried up, and the sisters increasingly came from humble backgrounds. The Sisterhood had supported the emperorship of Margaritha, was popular with the commoners (and not with the nobility), were an eastern cult within a largely western organisation, and were said to have the Gift of Prophecy. The latter in particular infuriated and undermined the Grand Theogonist, who claimed to be the earthly representative of Sigmar. After the destruction of the city, the Grand Theogonist took the opportunity to  excommunicate the leadership of the Sisters for heresy, claiming that women had no right to teach the
holy word of Sigmar, and that their purported Gift was in fact heretical witchcraft.
The Abbesses of the Sisterhood having made themselves increasingly unpopular with the hierarchy of the cult by their wealth, heretical (at that time) doctrines, and continued political support for an
alternative Emperor to that of the Grand Theogonist, had few allies within the cult. Indeed, many genuinely believe(d) that the fall of Mordheim was punishment for the blasphemy of the Sisters, and mistrusted their initial survival. It is true that the Sisters had foreseen the disaster and retreated to their stronghold, after failing to persuade the city authorities of the danger. They were also seen competing for pieces of the wyrdstone that fell on the city, which was taken as another sign of their guilt.
Attacked by the legitimate forces of the cult’s witch-hunters and the many gangs and beasts that arose from the fall of the city, it was assumed that any survivors were destroyed by the ravaging undead army of von Carstein that razed the eastern Empire ten years later.

It is known within the church hierarchy that two groups survived the fall; those who were absent at the time, and a small number who escaped the hunters and the chaotics. They centred themselves upon offering service to travelers.

Later that night, Ludwig heard some braying noises in the forest. This was something they had gotten used to over the course of their travels, but it quickly became clear that the braying grew, and a few sounds of horns were interspersed with them. They quickly prepared and got the group together, discussing with Lothar how to defend the farmstead, which clearly was not built to withstand a concentrated attack. Lathar decided to send Gotwin and Wigand to the north-west corner, while he and Ludwig would defend the gatehouse. The sound of beastmen pulling and pushing the wooden fence became clear as Castian and Pankratz (who had been released of his chains) took position near the southern side of the building. Christina and von Bora moved to the east, where they would defend the area near the pens.

A few times, some of the group had the impression they heard human voices outside the walls as well, but it wasn't until they heard a female voice scream "Bring me his skull!" that they were sure. Next, a rain of axeblows hit the flimsy wooden barriers, and large hairy hands and claws were seen, pulling at broken wooden planks. Wigand took aim and was able to hit a number of these creatures, who pulled back in pain, but now their blood was up they threw them in full force against the protective barrier, shattering it in places with their horns and hooves, as well as hammers and axes.

A frantic fight erupted, and at all sides the heroes were outnumbered by a mix of Gors and Ungors as well as dirty humans wearing a mix of armour, but all of them showing the same, bone-deep scars that rant verticall down their faces. Wigand checked through the window, and saw that the Sisters had pulled out a few chests and were donning chainmail armour and distributing weapons, but if they had counted on reinforcements from that area, they were to be disappointed. a loud crash, followed be female scream, indicated that the Beastmen has found a way into the main building and had engaged the Sigmarite nuns.

Castian and Pankratz were struggling with their opponent, even though they somehow seemed to have gotten stuck in cthe vines that grew on the fence they had just breached, while Gotwin and Wigand did what they could to hold their opponents off. One of the large Beastman had struck a blow on Gotwin's arms, shattering the chainmail and tearing it to bits with his axe. The blow almost incapacited the squire, and both him and the faithful servant adopted a more defensive stance, trying to parry and dodge the blows the creatures rained on them.

In the gatehouse, Ludwig did his best to take out his opponents, but it seemed that his rapier had little effect on them. They returned his precision attacks with fierce punched, kicks, spear jabs and axe blows, while next to him, the old Knight fought with the strength of a many a few decades younger than himself. Eventually, one of the attackers was able to him Ludwig in the groin, taking him down, while another one let his axe come down on the young diletant's hand, mangling it. The pain was too much and Ludwig passed out, bleeding profusely.
Seeing this, Lothat dispatched two of the attackers with single blows, covering himself and the walls in a shower fof blood and gore, while crying out to Castian.

The priest came running over, and knelt next to Ludwig, unable to administer first aid. Lothar told him to hold the gatehouse and ran out, charging into the the beasts that were still attacking the Taalite priest. In the northwestern corner, Gotwin and Wigand were still hard pressed, but had been able to kill the two larger beastmen, the brunt had been taken out of the attack, but the still risked being overwhelmed by the humans and small ungors.

After what seemed like an eternity, they heard the sound of the horns again. Fearing reinforcements, they were relieved to see their opponents trying to disengage and retreat into the forest.

Castian was able to take some time and bind the wound on Ludwig's arm, stopping the bleeding. Wigand had come over and threw another brand outside the gatehouse, in an attempt to lighten up that area and see if anything was left out there. As the branch landed, it illuminated the form of a heavily armoured woman, with a badly scarred face. She stood there observing the situation, wielding a large battleaxe and a shield. As she caught sight of Castian, who stepped out of the shadows of the gatehouse, she was unable to control herself and launched a charge at him, screaming something that sounded like "Horn!" while Wigand and Ludwig joined him. As they readied themselves, they noticed some kind of emblem on her breastplate, glowing a deep, dark red, pulsating and shifting before their eyes. Ludwig fell to his knees, vomiting and weeping tears of blood, while the woman rained axeblows onto Castian. He was able to stand his ground, slamming his hammer into her face, causing her to spit some teeth out, but it didn't slow her down. Gotwin has seen what was going on from the other side of the courtyard and charged in, joining the priest, followed seconds later by Lothar, but his attack glanced of the heavy armour of her greaves.
Castian, feeling empowered by his last, made ready to hit her once again in her unprotected face. As he stepped in, his foot got caught in a loop of beastmen intestine, and he slipped, coming down hard on his knee and losing the grip of his hammer, which slid away.
Lothar had a similar problem, as he slipped in the gore covered mud, retching as he went down, because he also had seen the blasphemous symbol on her breastplate.
Gotwin had positioned himself in such a way that she had to focus her attention on him, and was able to deflect and parry her blows, while everyone around him had gone down or were incapacitated in different ways. He waited for the right moment, ducking away from yet another blow, then sliced down hard as she pulled her axe back for another attack. His blade struck her jaw, breaking bones, severing tendons and showering the area in blood as his sword came to a halt halfway through her skull. The body of the woman slumped down, then fell sideways.
Castian caught his breath and got up, standing next to Gotwin as Lothar also struggled to get back up on his feet. The priest looked down on the still-warm corpse and spat, hitting the symbol on the breastplate. As he looked up, he saw the form of Pankratz at the edge of the forest. with a nod, the Taalite priets turned and disappeared into the the trees.

... and thus Gotwin had saved everyone!

The Empire

Click for a detailed view on the road traveled so far

Petrus

Count von Pirkeimer's Captain of the Guard (as well as bastard son)

Bethold

Count von Pirkeimer's Stewart (as well as bastard son)

Father Reinprecht Teschitz

Father Remprecht Teschitz, the local Sigmarite priest at Levudaldorf, a fanatical supporter in the doctrine of one god-one nation

Professor Doktor Dirk Ekman

Professor Doktor Dirk Ekman (43), who is a colleague of Doktor Laubrich and is a senior figure at the University of Nuln. He proposes the creation of a Registrar General to collate statistics concerning public health in an attempt to discern cause and effect for illness. He is a friend of Professor Kozinstev, who suggested that the count might assist politically and financially.

Doktor Brigid Laubrich

Doktor Brigid Laubrich (39), who is here to canvass support from the count for her proposals on public health. Rather than view health as an individual issue to be dealt with by individual doctors, she sees the need for organisation and management in health matters. This needs centralised control of health programs, and the co-ordination of data and research. However, she is known to have developed a theory concerning the transmission of disease via micro-organisms in water, whilst everyone else knows that the miasma theory (transmission by vapours and smells) is correct, and she is be ridiculed constantly

Professor Axel Lommel

Professor Axel Lommel (58), is a retired physician. He is not a member of the Union and is a well-respected figure from the University of Altdorf. He is currently working with Professor Gustav Kozinstev on joint research

Professor Gustav Kozinstev

Professor Gustav Kozinstev (60) is a retired lecturer in philosophy from the University of Nuln. He is tutoring Laura in the works of a number of early Old World scholars and working with Axel Lommel.

Doktor Sepp Hoger

Doktor Sepp Hoger (41), from Ferlangen. He opened up on the case of Angelika Pallenberg, explaining that she died of drug addiction, a matter that the family wanted to keep quiet.

Doktor Dagmar Raab

•Doktor Dagmar Raab (49), retired from practice in Ferlangen, ostensibly in order to pursue an interest in the cause of baldness. He inspected some of Lothar's group scalps during the meal

Cornelius Blacher

Cornelius Blacher (66), an alchemist

Helmut von Pirkheimer

Helmut (35), the Count’s heir, a drunk and a boor.

Laura and Steffan Truchsess

Laura von Pirkheimer

Laura (36), the Count’s second daughter, is married to Steffan Truchsess, son of the current head of the Wolfenburg Merchants’ Guild. Laura is well educated, and seeks to be an enlightened noble like her father. The Truchsess family were ennobled by Magnus the Pious, but like many of the newer nobility were quite prepared to work hard to develop their plans. Steffan holds monopoly trade rights on a number of commodities in his own right. Their marriage has all the appearance of being one of genuine affection – indeed it is – but the Count recognised the need to link his family with money.

Stephan Truchsess

Adolpha and Achiatus von Krants

Adolpha (40), the Count’s rather plain eldest daughter. She is married to Baron Achatius von Krantz (a minor local noble with lands near Salkalten, centred on the village of Grasighügel), and they have two children: Gero (16) and Marquart (13). Von Pirkheimer is discussing with von Krantz an alliance of interests to rid the region of the absentee overlord of Salkalten, Gustav von Wolder, in order to develop both their interests and those of the Grand Prince.

Baron Achiatus von Krantz

Adolpha von Pirkheimer

Gero von Krantz

Count Constantin von Pirkheimer

Count Konstantin von Pirkheimer is the overlord of Levudaldorf, and a large part of eastern Ostland.
He is a very important political figure, and very powerful. He is known to be a harsh man, but also well educated and a supporter of the pursuit of knowledge. He employs some wise men, and offers a place of learned retreat for those academics who have fallen on hard times.
His wife died many years ago, and he particularly supports the improvement of medicine in her name. The Physicians’ Guild in Wolfenburg has a number of bursaries paid by the Count. He is a member of the Zeugen sect of the Cult of Sigmar. They believe in breeding Sigmarites to defend the Empire, although cynics see this as less of a sect and more of an excuse to have sex widely. He has sired a number of (unrecognised) bastards.
He is in his mid 50s and in relative good shape.

Session 10: To Dine Among Strangers

The rest of the day is spent preparing for the departure early next morning. Mungo organizes the rations and equipment, Castian retires to the Cathedral for his Ordainment while the other shop for some last moment necessities. Ludwig visits Doktor Hubertus von Bora, inviting him to meet Herr Lothar at the Shallyan temple. Lothar decides to 'join' von Bora, as he is heading in the same direction as the group anyway.
Early the next morning the leave Wolfenburg, heading east.
Lothar meets with Hilde and sends the other out to see what they can find out about the manor at Levudaldorf, where the Professor, according to Gerd, made his way to with Jaie Schraeder.
The group also visits the Temple to All Gods, a small building near the city wall. The temple is maintained to any god forgotten by the city or those too small to afford their own. The temple and statues are well looked after, but obviously old and little visited. A number of unnamed images and statures are to be seen, such as :

• Albatross wearing a five-pointed crown
• Animated flame
• Beautiful woman in long, flowing robes
• Crossed fingers
• Eye centred in a radiating sun
• Female stepping out of a tree
• Giant frog

Amongst the many small statues and altars can be found many a regional god, such as Haleth and Dyrath, as well as a number of others the group hadn't seen before:

• A beautiful female figure wearing armour and carrying a twohanded sword is represented twice in slightly different guises. One is as goddess of Hope and the other as of Hopeless Causes.
• Esmeralda is acknowledged, although devotions will seem unfamiliar as there appears to be a transformation of the deity into a representation of household and kitchen spirits.
• Kislevite and other nature spirits are represented, including a howling wolf and an ox.
• A representation to the goddess Shallya, representing the goddess with a smile (in addition to her tears). It is similar to the one that they saw within the professor’s office, but is more overtly androgynous, very tall and thin, and has spiked up hair. In fact, if not for the face and iconography it might not be taken as representative of the goddess. Again, there is nothing fundamentally sinister, but the figure is highly unique.
• Solkan is the most important god represented here, and this place is taken as a local meeting centre for witch-hunters from the Ostland chapter. Their actual chapter house is located in the forest, and this offers a useful meeting point within the city. 

Afterwards, they spent some time at the Hall to the Heroes of Ostland, a large hall offering a variety of small shrines, icons and plaques to the heroes of Ostland, including:

• Levudal, chief of the Thurini tribe who resided here before The Empire, and who fought by the side of Sigmar and forged The Empire
• The ox, which Levudal wrestled to the ground, after Artur chief of the Teutogens set it loose to trample down the forests.
• In thanks to the survival of the city after a 6 month siege by Ungol invaders and as testimony to the city as the defender of The Empire against the east [1750].
• To all the heroes, including our allies of Ostermark, who died in war against the foul Gregory I Dissell of Talabecland who most heinously granted parts of eastern Ostland to Ungol invaders [1945].
• To those who died in the rampages of the undead hordes of Vlad von Carstein [2010]. 
• For the Treaty of Ostermark in which Ostland allied with Ostermark and Stirland against Talabecland to recognise the independence of Ostermark [2148].
• From the People of Ostermark to our friends and allies of the people of Ostland for their aid in gaining our independence.
• In celebration of the great hero Oswald von Koenigswald’s miraculous defeat of the foul sorcerer and pestilence known as Drachenfels.
• For the ascension to power of the most beloved of Sigmar Grand Prince Hals von Tasseninck, Elector Count [25 10].

The following is relatively quickly discovered in the better establishments of the city, in regard to the manor at Levudaldorf: Count Konstantin von Pirkheimer is the overlord of Levudaldorf, and a large part of eastern Ostland. He is a very important political figure, and very powerful. He is known to be a harsh man, but also well educated and a supporter of the pursuit of knowledge. He employs some wise men, and offers a place of learned retreat for those academics who have fallen on hard times. His wife died many years ago, and he particularly supports the improvement of medicine in her name. The Physicians’ Guild in Wolfenburg has a number of bursaries paid by the Count. He is a member of the Zeugen sect of the Cult of Sigmar. They believe in breeding Sigmarites to defend the Empire, although cynics see this as less of a sect and more of an excuse to have sex widely. He has sired a number of (unrecognised) bastards.

Rumours that were picked up before leaving the city:

• The goldsmiths and silversmiths are incensed at the Grand Prince’s Kriegsanleihe scheme since it undermines their banking services, and are threatening to complain to the Emperor.
• The Grand Prince has authorised the building of a new bridge lower down the River Wolfen. An assortment of labour guilds have paid him to agree that it blocks passage up river to larger boats, so that they will have to be downloaded further away from the warehousing and so pay higher portage fees to the guild porters.
• The Grand Prince has blocked the proposal to build a new bridge. This rumour is usually followed by some defamatory comments about the Grand Prince by labourers and some violence.
• Baukompanie Helstrum has arrived in the city. They are being housed with the Imperialist garrison. To have arrived here from Altdorf so early in the year must mean something. Various interpretations are offered. Since they are a Cult of Sigmar construction battalion, they must be building something, or so everyone thinks, but what? Some think they are scab labour for the bridge, others to strengthen the defences (why?) and yet others to reinforce against von Raukov. A few might link this with the activity in Norden. 

From Wolfenburg to the Kislev border, travel is extremely hard work. If they found the earlier road hard work, then this is far worse. In many places the wood has rotted to create a worse surface than the earth beneath. The road was meant to bring economic investment into the region, but failed. The road is following that tradition.

The Forest Inn is the first stop along this way, and it is quickly established that The Professor and Jaie Schraeder spent the night of the 31st Nachexen at the inn. The body of the latter was found in a small copse on the evening of the 3rd Jahrdrung by a local farmer (Lenz Quadt) who told the group his story the next day when they visited him at his farm. Jaye had been stabbed in the back, and had been dead for at least a day, as the body was wet from the rain. Noone has seen Elfrieda.

Later that day, they arrive at Levudaldorf. The village is named after the famed leader of the local tribe, who fought along with Sigmar. By the standard of normal provincial villages it is reasonably impressive, mirroring the best found anywhere in The Empire. It is also an administrative centre for the local hemp fields, acting as warehousing and transport locus for shipping to Wolfenburg.
This whole region is littered with small warehousing and distribution complexes served by ancillary housing for the workforce adjacent to large fields growing various crops, but predominantly hemp. The count is clearly wealthy and his antecedents have invested heavily in what is almost industrial agriculture.

The group makes their way immediately to the Manor, where they are greeted by Bethold, the steward, and Petrus, the Captain of the guard. Both share a resemblance. Berthold informs them they are welcome to stay and that the Count will see them tomorrow, as he is unavailable for the rest of the day. A stroll through the ground show that the stables are large, and can hold a number of coaches. Similarly, there are many guestrooms in the house. They meet another few guests (Professor Konitzev, Etti Pittschau, Dahlbert Lohner and Doktor Dagmar Raab) before retiring for the day.

The next evening they are invited to one of the Count's dinner parties. When the party are brought to dinner, the Count is the most gracious of hosts. Each member will be welcomed appropriately. Warriors are offered an arm clasp and a comradely hug. The meal is a formal one and the group is interspersed with other guests.
The following guests are present:

•  Count Konstantin von Pirkheimer.
• Adolpha and Achatius von Krantz, Gero von Krantz
• Laura and Steffan Truchsess
• Helmut von Pirkheimer
• Cornelius Blacher
• Doktor Dagmar Raab
• Doktor Sepp Hoger
• Professor Gustav Kozinstev
• Professor Axel Lommel
• Doktor Brigid Laubrich
• Professor Doktor Dirk Ekman
• Father Reinprecht Teschitz

During dinner, the following is found out during conversations, as well as some more private information (see NPC pages):

• The Professor did indeed visit the manor with Jaie Schraeder. The Count knows the latter from his dealings with the Wolfenburg Physicians’ Guild and he knew vaguely of the Professor’s work. They arrived on the night of the 32nd Nachexen. Schraeder left the following morning and the Professor the morning after that.
  Professor Stradovski was seeking support for research into lycanthropy, which the Count refused, as he was rather suspicious of the very travel-stained proposer who hardly seemed to be acting like a traditional academic. He then set off to the east, towards Grenzburg, stating that he would approach the templars there with a view to offering his services to them. This seemed equally peculiar, but harmless.
• The Count’s Great-Great-Grandfather was a templar of Shallya in the Magnus Crusade and was highly decorated in the campaign. The Count will explain that during the Crusade a number of soldiers were infected with chaos in various ways, and elected to bind themselves to the goddess of Shallya as a last act of defiance. Whilst none returned, and the templar order died out as they succumbed to the disease, each did so gloriously and with honour in the service of Magnus and the goddess. His family has continued a tradition of aiding the cult ever since, although he himself has more interest in Sigmar and Verena as better suited to his duties as feudal overlord. He will admit that his family felt a little betrayed by the cult, as the temple at Couronne never acknowledged these templars.
• However, both Imperial and Kislevite cults recognised their deeds, and his family has always supported bursaries to the cult on this basis. Father Remprecht Teschitz is a fanatical supporter in the doctrine of one god-one nation, a tenet the Count is obviously unhappy with.
• The Count has a favour to ask the party. He has captured Pankratz Zucker a renegade priest of Taal, and leading member of the Cult of the Howling One. He does not have the resources to transport the man and since the group is officially empowered, he is sure that they can do the task for him. The prisoner can be escorted either to Wolfenburg of Grenzburg, since both have the jurisdiction to try the prisoner. The Count could simply hang the prisoner, but both the Grand Prince and Grand Master have asked him to transfer captured cultists to their care for interrogation to aid them in their battle against the Cult of the Howling One. The group may keep the reward. 
• Gotwin almost got into a fight with Helmut, the Count's heir after the drunk man insulted the squire.

... and then Gotwin saved everyone...

(Absent: Castian)