Session 14: A Hard Fight

Wigand and Ludwig made their way into the outhouse. As they entered the courtyard, they noticed a guard patrolling the inner grounds. When Wigand made his way back to indicate to the others that the coast was clear, he made noise which was noticed by the guard. The man made his way into the storage area, where a fight broke out with Ludwig. The man tried to raise the alarm, but was subdued by Ludwig and Wigand.

Once everyone had entered the mansion, the searched the other buildings, finding all the guards sound asleep next to the keg of beer that had been spiked.

They entered the main building working their way up from the ground floor. As soon as they had walked up the stairs to the first floor, a fight broke out with a guard and his dog. This time the alarm was raised and upstairs they could hear a lot of sounds.

After overcoming the guard, it was decided they weren't going to fight their way up, but rather wait and set up a barricade near the staircase. Ludwig and Wigand made their way outside and, after a few failed attempts, were able to climb up and enter the rooms above. They saw a fully armoured man leave through the door and found 2 women in a corner next to the bed, who clearly had been assaulted before. 

The fight got ugly really quickly, as 6 experienced warriors in full plate got stuck into Lothar, Gotwin and Christina. Up on the stairs, Wigand had been able to trip Magnus Greel, and he was trying to take the leader out with the help of Ludwig.

The group downstairs was relatively successful, but Gotwin got badly wounded at the leg, and passed out. On the stairs, Wigand was knocked senseless too, and Ludwig was able to run Magnus through, but not before the witch hunter hit him with a final retaliatory strike, which took the dilettante out of the fight.

They woke up, 2 days later, having been bandaged. When they joined the rest of their party, it became clear that it had been a very close call. In the meantime, Katrin Antonescu had taken it upon herself to organise their move to nearby Pskoi, where a priest of Verena would be legally able to support her claim to her title. Lothar and his retinue were expected to accompany her.

The group took their time to go through the belongings of the defeated witch hunters, helping themselves to their armour, horses, papers (and in Wigand's case to Magnus Greel's head).

The next day, they leave at dawn, heading east.

Garderike

Kislev

Kislev

Katrin Antonescu.

The rightful heir of the barony usurped by Baron Heinrich Von Weide, saved by the party from the clutches of Magnus Greel and his cronies.

Levan Rebrov

Levan Rubrov, a pedlar, who fills Wigand and Ludwig in on the recent state of affairs in the area of Kulm, Garderike (session 13).
The family owning this Barony is that of Antonescu. However the Baron died last year, and was succeeded by Heinrich von Weide, a minor third son from somewhere in the Ostland border marches. At the same time, it is readily admitted that there was a daughter to inherit, Katrin Antonescu.

He whispered that the rightful heir was kidnapped by Heinrich von Weide and is being held in a fortified small manor to the south-east (about a day’s travel). He believes that she can be rescued and escorted to safety in the village of Pskoi, which is situated in the lands of Governor Dmitri Khuzov. There is a priest of Verena located in the village who can grant her the right of eagrel and so enforce her rights to her title and lands. He assures them that both she and the Governor would be grateful and that most of the locals, including the militia, would welcome her back, but that Heinrich von Weide and his imported thugs are too powerful. They are ex-witch-hunters from The Empire he brought with him at the Count von Wallenstein’s instruction to further certain land claims the count had with his neighbours.

Session 13: A Damsel in Distress!

The group arrives before nightfall at Rheiden. This village is far more imposing than any of those that they have seen so far within Kislev. Its wooden rampart is well maintained and the ditch clear. In  addition the gatehouse flies the flags of the Imperial griffon, in addition to the Kislevite bear and that of a white eagle on a red background. Gotwin recognised the latter as the standard of Count Pleskai  von Wallenstein, marcher lord of the eastern Ostland border marches, but who principally resides in  Bechafen in the League of Ostermark. The squire also made sure to visit the blacksmith, in order to repair his armour (and to take advantage to tell the heroic story of how it got damaged and how he killed a Hellspawn a few days before)

The garrison is a mixed Empire and Kislevite one, as is the population. However, Reikspiel appears to be the more common tongue in the village.  In addition to an inn (The Weary Imperialist), there is a small wooden temple to the Imperial pantheon with primary place to Sigmar. The local priests are a cleric of Sigmar and a Kislevite initiate of Mórr, but an informal network of local deities has its own
tolerated priesthood. Castian visited the temple, and had a talk to the local priest. Ludwig and Wigand, organised the accomodation.

That night in the inn, they are confronted by two witch hunters, who want to have a word to Gotwin about this "Hellspawn" they've heard about, but soon change their attention to Christina, who they seem to know (and call a "Goodie-two-shoes"...). The situation gets diffused before it gets out of hand, but it is clear that the locals are terrified. Asking around, reveals that the two served with Magnus Greel, whom the group has heard being named the Butcher of Brizban, and villagers can confirm that the Baron employs Magnus.
Other gossip and rumours include:

• The Professor and his three (male) companions stayed in the village on the night of the 15th Jahrdrung and continued along the road.
• Kislev is fighting for its survival in the Chaos Wars. Constant fighting up north against invaders has been continuing for centuries. The south simply lets us carry on the struggle alone.
• Governor Khuzov has requested that the Tsar send him a detachment of the Sons of Ursa. These are knights mounted on giant bears, who live in a fortress monastery to the east. What would the Governor want with them?
• Governor Khuzov has fallen out with the Cult of Ulric. He is trying to import worship of his own, Lawful, deities. His private chaplain is attempting to alter traditional burial practices, claiming that they are ‘unclean’.

The next morning they have a strange meeting on the road further eastwards. A bowlegged cavalryman, dressed in heavy armour, with a spiked fur-trimmed helmet and a chainmail veil hiding his features approached them on foot out of the forest,  with his hand held up in a gesture of peace. He will politely inquire of their business and their authorization. Ludwig is able to talk to him in Kislevite, and the man explain there are a few issues with their paperwork. He eventually introduces himself as Tervel. After a few minutes he returns into the woods, and the group fears an ambush. Ludwig swears he has seen at least one large wolf in the wood, but noone else has seen this.

They find Kulm later in the afternoon, which is a protected village, featuring an inn (The von Wallenstein), an imposing wooden temple jointly to Sigmar and Uric (a most unusual thing) and a second to other Empire gods, and a small manor house. Both the gatehouse and the manor fly the flags of the Empire griffon, the Kislevite bear, a white eagle on a red background and a white twotailed lion rampant on a red field. This latter is unknown to the party. Like Rheiden,
Kulm appears to be a well-managed village consisting of a mixed Imperial and Kislevite
population.
They try to introduce themselves at the manor, but are being told by the (Imperial) servant, that Baron Heinrich Von Weide is absent, and as a result, they wont be able to see him. The servant does organize for them to stay in the Von Wallenstein, as guests of the Baron.
The best rooms and a lavish meal are organised, and the party is able to finally get a good and well deserved rest.
During the night, Wigand is approached by a local, who introduces himself as Levan Rubrov, a pedlar, who fills Wigand and Ludwig in on the recent state of affairs: the family owning this Barony is that of Antonescu. However the Baron died last year, and was succeeded by Heinrich von Weide, a minor third son from somewhere in the Ostland border marches. At the same time, it is readily admitted that there was a daughter to inherit, Katrin Antonescu.
He whispered that the rightful heir was kidnapped by Heinrich von Weide and is being held in
a fortified small manor to the south-east (about a day’s travel). He believes that she can be rescued and escorted to safety in the village of Pskoi, which is situated in the lands of Governor Dmitri Khuzov. There is a priest of Verena located in the village who can grant her the right of eagrel and so enforce her rights to her title and lands. He assures them that both she and the Governor would be grateful and that most of the locals, including the militia, would welcome her back, but that Heinrich von Weide and his imported thugs are too powerful. They are ex-witch-hunters from The Empire he brought with him at the Count von Wallenstein’s instruction to further certain land claims the count had with his neighbours.

• The Professor and his three (male) companions stayed in the village on the night of the 16th Jahrdrung and continued along the road. 

The leave the the village early in the morning with Levan Rubrov and his son Nasdip, heading towards the manor in which the Lady Antonescu is being held. There is no obvious road, though
a track might be discerned. Two thirds into their travel  they encounter a work-gang: thirty slaves
(mostly Kislevite, but some Imperialist) will be working on clearing trees, accompanied by six militia and two carts (one loaded with wood).

About an hour later they come withing insight of the walled manorhouse. Levan Rubrov has a plan and an insider in the stockade. One of the servants is a friend of the Antonescu family and can open the gate for them. Levan will enter the stockade to carry out some trade with the staff. Since he is invited to stay the night, he will do so. At around midnight, he will then sneak out of his quarters and open the entry gate into the outhouse, signalling to them with a hooded lantern. A compatriot will ensure that the door to the kitchen is unbarred and unlocked as he sleeps in the kitchen. Levan will also make sure that a small barrel of beer, spiked with a sleeping concoction they purchased in Kulm, is distributed to the Witch hunters. Levan assures them that most of the garrison will not fight for a lost cause, and will obey the Lady Katrin.
He makes his way inside, while the party waits in cover of the forest.

Castian in the meantime, has tried to gain entry to the manor, introducing himself as a priest who has been notified that someone present inside needed to be taught the ways of the Imperial pantheon. The guard refused to let him in and called the sergeant, who also listened, but dismissed the priest. The request for a sleeping place for the night was denied, and Castian took up position against the outer wall, pretending to spend the night there.

Gerd Breytenbach

Gerd was the former servant of Jaie Schraeder. He went in hiding after the fire at Schraeders home, and was hidden by Hilde. Eventually she asked for him to be taken along when she joined Lothar, where he became the new servant, now that Wigand has been given a new position

Inter-session 12.5

Crossing the border into Kislev,  it is clear that Lothar and his retinue are doing a brave and (reasonably) selfless act in order to save an innocent young life and ensure that justice is served on the guilty.
Joined by Doktor Hubertus von Bora, Hilde and Christina, they say their farewells to Mungo (after much haggling about the price of his cart...) and head down the road, towards the Kislev border.
The group is allowed – like condemned men – one final night within the boundary of their homeland. There is little within the region, although a few independent farms are located here. They are very well fortified, being mostly single roomed halls with very thick walls and narrow windows. Uncomfortable and unpleasant, their primary purpose is defence.
After a day’s hard travel, they reach a shrine. There is no shelter for the travelers to use, but this is clearly meant as a resting-place. Four wooden posts hold a tiled roof above the statue that forms the shrine. Painted with faded garish colours, the small statue of Sigmar with a beer stein in one hand and a rather leery look to his face presents a peculiar image for the normally stern god, aspect of Sigmar worshiped as the leader of ceremonies.
This is not a well-developed aspect of the god since it serves no real purpose for the cult centre in Altdorf. However, in these marches, the ability to have a few drinks and forget one’s troubles can be comforting. However, the shrine stinks of urine and is covered in horse excrement.
There is a small cleared campsite, a fire pit and some kindling left by previous travelers. It is travelling etiquette to leave kindling for the next travelers along.

Towards the end of the next day of travel, as they near the (invisible) border, they happen upon a newly constructed farmhouse. A family is engaged in repairs to fences.
On seeing the group they will flee to the house. Soon, the man of the house leaves, with a drawn sword. After establishing that they aren't Kislevites (who were responsible for the damage to his fence), he introduces himself as Yakov Vorster and tells them he served in the Emperor’s Imperial Guard for 25 years as an infantryman. For this service he was awarded this land and exemption from taxes for a further 5 years. He has been here for three years, but the family can barely service the loan necessary to construct the building. He can offer pieces of information, in addition to general comments on Kislev.

• The Professor passed through here on and stayed the night of the 11th Jahrdrung. One of the daughters was ill, and he helped her. She is now fine. The three Kislevites accompanying him rested in the outhouse as the family did not trust them. Professor Stradovski stayed inside the house and was polite and (formally) friendly. They saw nothing of the Kislevites, or the equipment that they had.
• Beastmen are occasionally heard or seen in the region, but humans are the biggest worry. He has been raided four times in three years.
• Groups of travellers often pass this way. Most are clearly up to no good. There is clearly some relationship between some of the families on either side of the border, despite their claims of national interest. Some also carry slaves.
• A group of ranger-templars of the Brotherhood of the Bear passed through here last month. They looked like a bunch of poachers to me, dressed in furs and battered chainmail armour.

He offers them shelter for the night in the barn, explaining they'll be hard pressed to find better accomodation.

The next day, the group enters Kislev and get a better appreciation about Empire roads.In many places the road simply does not exist. Thieves stole the original materials, and then did the same to the repairs. These quickly deteriorated into using planks and packed earth, then simply packed earth and now no one bothers at all. Travel distances are reduced to about 10-15 miles per day, most stopping points are only about 10 miles apart. This is the safest normal travelling speed. Roads that have been allowed to degenerate like those in Kislev are not simply flat but are heavily rutted, potted and extremely uneven. Travel is uncomfortable from the bumping around and dangerous due to the inconsistency in the surface. Sensible travellers within Kislev are also very wary of the forest travel with one eye out for unwelcome predators – human or animal.
A full day will find that the road curves into a circular clearing holding another shrine. There is no shelter for the travellers to use, but this is clearly meant as a resting place.
A stone statue of Ulric stands in the middle of a small cleared campsite. There is a fire pit and some kindling left by previous travellers. It is travelling etiquette to leave kindling for the next travellers along.

Travel is uneventful the next day, although the rain reduces visibility and sounds in the surrounding forest keeps the travellers on their toes. By nightfall they reach a dishevelled wooden wall and dike protecting a village, which was established by the Tsar purely to defend his border. The inhabitants are uncertain even of its name.
Kislevite militiamen guard the gatehouse, which is reached by a crumbling ramp over the ditch. The village talks primarily Slavic, but its leader Sergei Rhuzov speaks Old Worlder fluently (if accented).

The locals are quite friendly, and will offer to share a meal with their guests. Villagers happily tell them that the Professor and his three companions stayed in the village on the night of the 13th Jahrdrung and left along the road. They kept to themselves.

Some gossip to be overheard is:

• The Tsar is unwell. He has the consumption. A call has gone out to find his missing
  daughter, Jekaterina Bokha, but she will never be allowed to rule Kislev. The notion of a female tsar is too similar to the great khan-queens of old.
• Zeljko Wroclaw, a travelling preacher, persuaded the burghers of Bolgasgrad to burn their worldly goods as a sign of their piety and devotion to Ulric and in the face of incursions towards the Lynsk.
• Government troops are retiring to the Lynsk fortresses in the face of increased incursions by monsters from the Wastes into the Trans-Lynsk colonies. 
• Migrating trolls are being pushed southwards into the Trans-Lynsk and are now posing a severe danger to the Lynsk. What would scare trolls into moving southwards in such numbers?

Ersatzheim Village is reached late the next afternoon. This village is little more than a squalid sprawl of houses scattered around a crossroads– or what would be if the roads actually existed. There is an inn of sorts here, offeringvery basic amenities. The locals are not unfriendly, although will be unhelpful to those clearly non-Ulrican or non-Ursun in sentiments or appearances. However, money always  talks in the village. The villagers will be particularly wary until the group makes it clear that they are not from the easterly village of Rheiden, whose inhabitants they will describe as bandits. Villagers will inform the PCs that a new lord has taken control over Rheiden and imported a band of Empire outlaws to attack the neighbouring settlements.

Rumours picked up here:

• Rheiden is trying to steal land from this village and other local villages in the region.
• The Professor and his three companions (here the villagers say that one was female) stayed in the inn on the night of the 14th Jahrdrung. They took the easterly road to Rheiden (and to Kislev). The westerly road goes to Poltski and the northerly rejoins the main Erengrad road according to the locals.
• Boris Ursa – the Forever Tzar – has returned in the east, where he is preparing for him return to rule us all once again. The first Tsar, he promised to rise again from an eternal sleep in Kislev’s hour of need.
• The Tsar’s determination to hold back the monsters from outside Kislev’s borders is being hampered by penny-pinching bureaucrats.
• Some Sigmarite priests claim to have discovered evidence of Sigmarite occupation of these lands. It is just a pretext for an invasion.
• More Empire peasants are still being imported. They aim to replace us, and shove us up north to fight in the Chaos Wars.
• Governor Dmitri Khuzov is called the Iron Governor, as he is so hard upon his enemies.
• Governor Dmitri Khuzov is disliked by the nobility, who see him as an attempt by the bureaucrats in Kislev to erase their rights to advise the Tsar within the Duma.