ArdFionn Lightfoot – a female Elven Outrider from the Laurelorn Forest

Galadaeg Shadowhelm – a male Elven Hunter from the Laurelorn Forest

Gustav Brundle – a male human Tradesman (brewer) from the village of Pritzstock,

Middenland

It's hard to find a city or village in the Middlelands that Gustav hasn't visited. He is obsessed. Obsessed with traveling the lands in search of the best ingredients for his ale. The soon to be legendary "Brundle Brew".

His obsession began about 10 years ago. Gustav and his younger brother Thomas worked up the courage to hop the fence at Old Man Covington's farm and sneak off with a keg of his ale. Covington was an amateur brewmeister and always had a few full kegs stacked near his barn. The two boys ran off to their nearby hiding spot in the woods to partake of their ill gotten brew. Before long they were inebriated beyond belief. Surprisingly nothing major happened and they ended up sleeping it off. But from that day forward Gustav had a new best friend. ALE!

Surprisingly he isn't a drunk. He loves ale. More than most things. Yet it's not the inebriation he seeks, but the taste of a well crafted brew. Over the past years he has spent his free time learning about brewing and using his knowledge in herbs to assist in that endeavor. He loves making ale and he loves sampling the ales of the villages and cities he frequents. His dream is to brew the perfect pint.

In his travels to seek out the knowledge he needs and the ingredients he'll use he has spent many an hour in the dark pubs of the Middlelands. There he savors sips of the regions ales. Making notes in his journal as the hours fly by. In these hours he's learned an important thing about ale. The best side dish to good ale is a good story. He loves listening to tipsy travelers tell tales of their voyages. With each pint they get more and more exaggerated. He'll join in the revelry usually, egging them on until the story has become so outlandish that few are able to stop from laughing at its absurdity. A tall tale and a pint of the Empire's finest. Food for the Gods!

Konrad Feldstatler – a male human Squire from the village of Luftberg, Nordland

LogazNir of Rangenhof – a male Dwarven Pit Fighter from the Village of Rangenhof,

Talabecland

?, Year I.C. 2522

Paths of the Damned

Ashes of Middenheim

The Unquiet Death

Galadaeg will take his final BS upgrade for the current career.
Galadaeg will also try to sell his shield and one animal trap when they reach Middenheim.

While Galadaeg does his selling, LogazNir will do some buying. He will seek out a mail coif and two bottles of good quality spirits.

As you enter the city you make some quick stops on the way even though Father Odo urges you onward. Galadage is given 2 crowns 10 shillings for his battered shield, and 1 gold crown for his trap.

LogazNir has no luck finding a mail coif and is almost laughed at when he inquires after spirits, and is directed to a tavern where gruff folk such as he can drink their fill.

A Heroes’ Welcome

Hoffer and his men excuse themselves before you go to the Temple of Ulric, as Father Odo is urging you to do. Hoffer asks that you not mention their involvement. He says he canot disclose his reasons for asking, but expects you respect his wishes in exchange for your safe escort.

Father Odo brooks no further wasting of time and demands you got o the temple.

Father Ranulf is waiting for you there. What do you do and say?

LogazNir supposes it would be best to deliver the skull, if it will end all of this belly-aching he's had to endure over the course of this trip. Danger and evil are beastmen and mutants, not semi-precious trinkets, however odd they may seem. While he will gladly go along with the act to appease those with a more... superstitious... bent, the dwarf flatly refuses to believe that a small hunk of brass has any power at all, let alone the feats his companions seem to attribute to it. Ha! The damned thing isn't even dwarf-made!

ArdFionn will hand over the skull and tell a brief recount of the trip, making sure to leave all aspects of the groups rescuers out of the tale.
"I expect you found a way to destroy this li'l beastie then?"

"I dont suppose there is any sort of reward for bringing in this artifact?" Gustav asks.... "We risked life and limb to do so. Our dwarven friend here lost a family heirloom in a battle with chaos beastmen. A mail coif of considerable emotional value...."

Father Ranulf is clearly relieved to see that you have retrieved the brass skull. A junior priest takes it from you and places it in an iron chest bound with brass and inscribed with mystical runes.

“Indeed, our research has been going rather well. Ahh, talk of reward can wait until you have been shown hospitality.”

Father Ranulf offers you wine, indicating a jug and several flagons standing on a side-table. Father Odo asks for water.

Do you take of the wine or ask for water with Father Odo?

Konrad walks over to the side table and lifts the jug. He pours it, half filling a flagon. He looks to the others.
"You all having a drink?" he asks, offering to pour for his companions

Galadaeg is going to wave off both water and wine and go to examine the runes on the chest. Do they seem familiar like those seen in the Chaos temple where we found the skull? Are any of them recognizable? Does Galadaeg sense any nervousness or anxiety in the junior priest? "Forgive me, Father, but I won't rest easy until that thing is safely behind us."

LogazNir declines both drinks but instead enquires after lager, ale, or mead, and a loaf or bread. Seeing just how intent Galadeag has become over the chest, LogazNir, too, takes a moment to study it.

"Wine would hit the spot just right." Gustav says.
He'll take his glass and feign drinking it. Tipping it to his lips but not drinking any just yet. He'll use his knowledge in brewing (I know wine isnt brewed) to check it out for anything out of the ordinary.

"Water if'n you please. No use dullin' the wits wit' that thin' still in existance, or least not while I be sharin' the same buildin wit it."

Konrad pours wine for himself and Gustav. Taking a deep drink, he wipes his mouth with his sleeve. He shows no suspicion. This is a priest, after all.

Father Ranulf interposes himself between anyone who approaches and the chest. “Please, sit and relax. I think it best everyone stay as far from that thing as possible.”

To Galadaeg, runes are runes. The priests do not seem outwardly agitated, at least based on the fact you are not terribly familiar with them.

To LogazNir Fathr Ranulf answers, “My apologies, master dwarf, but we are less well-stocked than a tavern. But bread, at least , we can offer.”

Gustav thinks the wine simple and hearty by the bouquet.

When what you desire has been brought from the kitchens, Father Ranulf toasts your success.

“Deputy High Priest Liebnitz will be very happy. He is in charge here while High Priest Ar-Ulric is away fighting with the Emperor, and he was particularly concerned that the skull should be brought here to keep it out of the Hands of Chaos. Now, to the matter of your reward…”

He never finishes his sentence, because at that moment, Father Odo drops his water and falls to the floor in a fit of violent convulsions.

ArdFionn also falls to the ground in convulsions.

(ArdFionn is overcome by waves of nausea. She is also aware of an obscene whispering in her head, and her muscles spasm so violently the she feels her bones are bending.)

You look down in shock as Father Odo and ArdFionn with and thrash on the floor. Father Odo’s face twists into an almost unrecognizable shape. His hands and arms elongate into great, clawed tentacles, his body swells up like a balloon, and pink and purple scales erupt from his skin.

The abomination that was once Father Odo hauls itself to its feet – now armed with talson like those of a giant eagle – and sniffs the air in your direction. Then it launches itself into the attack.

Please post your actions (except for ArdFionn.)

Gustav and Konrad find themselves rooted to the spot in fear and can do nothing this round.

LogazNir moves quickly to place himself between the changed father Odo and ArdFionn, and attack with his two-handed great axe.
((Is ArdFionn changing as well?))

Swiftly recovering from the shock of the horror before him, Galadaeg will take the opportunity to aim and fire a shot from his bow if he has a clear shot. Otherwise he will draw his sword and stand between the Daemon and his friends Konrad and Gustav.

Galadaeg puts an arrow into the spawn’s right leg, lightly wounding it with 7 points dealt (68 rolled).

ArdFionn writhes on the ground but does not appear to be mutating.

Father Ranulf, being unarmed and unarmored, snatches up a chair and attacks the creature but misses.

LogazNir’s axes misses (76 rolled.)

The spawn claws 3 rimes in rapid succession at LogazNir, but misses each time (although the third attack just barely missed.)

Please post your actions for round 2. Gustav and Konrad are still frightened.

Relieved that his friend was unharmed and still standing to distract the daemon, Galadaeg prepares to renew his assault on the Daemon. If Galadaeg still has a clear shot, he'll aim and fire a second time, otherwise he'll draw his sword and charge the beast.

LogazNir will make an All-Out-Attack on the creature, hoping to kill it before it can cause any damage!

Galadaeg would be firing into combat, so would not have a clear shot. As there is not enough room to charge the elf draws his sword and advances into combat.

Father Ranulf swings the chair and connects with the spawn’s left arm but fails to do any damage.

LogazNir’s first attack connects with its head, dealing 6 points of damage, but having no effect on the creature.

The creature claws at LogazNir, hitting the dwarf in the head for 1 point of damage.

LogazNir’s second attack strikes the creature’s right arm for 9 points of damage. The monster is still only lightly wounded.

The creature’s second and third attacks against LogazNir miss.

Assuming your actions stay the same for round 3.

Gustav and Konrad are still frightened.

Galadaeg’s sword strike misses (70 rolled).

Father Ranulf slams the chair into the creature’s right leg (he seems reticent about attacking his former friend) but deals no damage.

LogazNir’s first attack misses (94 rolled).

So does the creature’s first attack.

LogazNir’ second attack misses (93 rolled) as do the creature’s second and third attacks.

Please post your actions for round 4. Gustav is still frightened but Konrad has gathered his wits and may now act.

Galadaeg will aim an attack at the Daemon while in his defensive stance.
OOC: Chris, where can I get a copy of the Errata so that I don't get caught by stuff like that again? Is it in a digital format?
EDIT: Found the errata. Is it possible for you to correct all the affected char sheets to bring the Enc of a Waterskin down to 30 instead of 100?

Thank you for the information! I was not aware they had updated the errata again. The next posting of character sheets will correct the waterskins’ encumbrance.

The defensive stance is a full round action, and permits no blows to be struck.

Guarded attack is also a full round action, whereas an aimed attack is a half action, so Galadaeg could maintain his defensive stance, or make an aimed attack, or make a guarded attack. As I believe guarded attack most closely resembles what you are trying to accomplish, Galadaeg will take that action this round.

LgazNir continues to attack the creature, confident now that the monstrosity can indeed be wounded.

Gustav draws his steel and makes an all out attack. (charging first if possible) Putting himself in between the beast and anyone down and injured)
(Yeah, those waterskins must be full of lead!)

Gustav can draw his weapon and make a normal attack as both are half-actions, but cannot aim as that is another half action. There is no room to charge.

Konrad will make a swift attack against the creature.

Galadaeg makes a guarded attack but misses (92 rolled).

Father Ranulf misses again with his chair.

Gustav draws his sword and swings at the creature but misses (67 rolled).

LogazNir’s greatzaxe finds the creature’s body and deals 12 points of damage, and cutting cleanly through the spawn’s mid-section. It falls to the ground in pieces, twitching, but clearly only from involuntary muscle contractions.

ArdFionn rises shakily to her feet just as the creature is dealt with, The elf is unharmed but nauseous.

Before much stock of the situation can be taken, a great disturbance can be heard from elsewhere in the temple. A rather shaken looking Father Ranulf releases the chair, mutters “What test can this be?” and rushes into the corridor to see what is going on.

Following directly, you see that here of the kitchen staff appear to have mutated. One has sprouted a small pair of feathered wings from his shoulders, ripping out the back of his tunic. He flaps them uselessly as he runs about. In addition, his eyes have turned solid violet, with no whites or pupils. The second has had his kitchen knife fused to his right arm. And the third’s skin has turned purple, blotched with maroon sores that ooze a foul-smelling pus.

The mutants are surrounded by a throng of panicking temple functionaries. While the mutants appear intent on escaping, some of their former comrades are trying to run them down and kill them, while others are simply trying to get away. Father Ranulf looks at you and says, “They must not escape!”

What do you do?

"Father, the ritual to destroy the skull? Perhaps you should begin while you still have followers left. These unlucky few were just the ones with the least resistance to the skull's effects. The longer the thing is here it will transform more of your followers in addition to possibly calling to creatures outside of the city... ...or under it..." says the elf imploringly before he runs at the nearest mutant.
Galadaeg will do a charge attack on the nearest mutant.

LogazNir follows suit.

Father Ranulf hurriedly yells back, “Not possible! The seals lock the power of the skull safely from us. This is something different.”

Gustav, sword already in hand, attacks the nearest mutant. (charge if close enough)

ArdFionn, still feeling quite ill, will draw her sword and do what she can to stop the creatures from escaping.
"Water, who else 'ad water? Is the churches supply separate from the rest of the city. No one else can drink the water!"

No charging is possible as the mutants are surrounded by their former companions.

Galadaeg advances and attacks, his blade finding the head of the mutant with the wings. Galadaeg deals 9 points of damage, lightly wounding the mutant.

Father Ranulf tries to gain control of the mob so no others become tainted.

ArdFionn attacks and misses (68 rolled).

Gustav also misses (93 rolled).

The mutants, flee from combat at a speed rivaled only by Galadaeg. They go in three different directions, each calling out by name to faces they recognize, asking to not be slain. They are now 10 yards away from you.

Father Ranulf shouts, “Stop them!”

LogazNir and Konrad need to post their actions and everyone can post their actions for round 2.

Galadaeg will pursue the mutant he's already wounded and charge if possible, otherwise just pursue and attack.

LogazNir will give chase at his best speed, but is unlikely still to keep up.

Gustav gives chase and will hack down a mutant if possible. He won’t leave the area without his friends though....

ArdFionn will go after the one with Gustav, she will do her best not to let the creature escape, but still being visibly ill doubts her chances of keeping up are good.
Can she draw her net as she moves?

LogazNir can now make a charge attack against the knife –welded mutant, hitting it’s left arm for 13 points of damage. The mutant is heavily wounded.

Konrad must run to reach the mutant with the sores, but cannot attack this round.

Galadaeg charges the winged mutant but fails to hit it (58 rolled).

Father Ranulf continues trying to calm the rest of the staff, while watching your progress with a worried look on his face.

ArdFionn can move 8 yards and sheathe her sword and draw her net. She is 2 yards away from the mutant with the sores.

Again the mutants flee further away.

LogazNir and Konrad may post their actions for this round and then everyone else for the following round.

Did Gustav get to act this round?

My apologies! I had worked out the rolls for Gustav charging the mutant with the sores but neglected to include the results. Gustav struck the mutant’s body and dealt 9 points of damage, lightly wounding it.

LogazNir will continue to chase after or charge at the mutant with the knife.

Galadaeg will continue chasing after his own wounded mutant.

Konrad will make a swift attack against the mutant with the sores when he can.

LogazNir charges the mutant with the knife and removes its head with a swing of his axe.

Konrad is having trouble keeping up. He is forced ro run after the mutants as they disengage faster than he can charge. So, while he can keep up with the battle, he is left with no time to attack each round.

Galadaeg charges the leather-winged mutant but misses his attack (96 rolled).

ArdFionn moves forward and launches her net, but misses the mutant with the sores.

Gustav may go(the mutants fled after being struck ion the previous round), then the mutants will go, then LogazNir and Konrad.

WHOOO HOO!!!!!!!
Gustav continues his offensive. Making an all out attack agains the mutant.

Gustav must charge again in order to attack. Gustav strikes the mutant in the head, dealing 13

points of damage, heavily wounding it and stunning it.

Gustav will charge again next round!!!!

LogazNir will double back and rejoin the others.

ArdFionn will gather her net and try to entangle the creature again.

LogazNir runs back and can see the leather-winged mutant 32 yards to his right and Galadage in pursuit. 22 yards straight ahead is the stunned mutant with sores, being attacked by Gustav and Konrad. ArdFionn is between the dwarf and the mutant, her net cast out.

Konrad can now swift attack the stunned mutant. Konrad’s first swing connects with the stunned mutant’s left arm, dealing 12 points of damage and severing a major artery. After a fraction of a second, the mutant collapses with blood pouring out of the ruins of its shoulder.

Galadaeg charges the leather-winged mutant and invokes Ulric’s fury and deals 14 points of damage, experiencing much the same effect as Konrad as the elf cuts deeply into the mutant’s right arm, slaying it.

Restoring Order

You all stand with chests heaving and covered in blood as the staff weep at what has happened. Father Ranulf is handed a scroll and immediately orders the Temple’s well sealed off. He looks at you grimly. “We have been summoned before Deputy High Priest Liebniz.”

The Deputy High Priest

You are scarce afforded time to gather your wits. The Deputy High Priest Claus Liebniz is a huge man, with a shoulder-length mane of grey hair and steely blue eyes that seem to look into your very soul.

His priestly robes cannot hide his massive physique, and you can tell that he is at home on the battlefield as in the temple.

Waving you to several chairs he sits down on a heavy throne-like chair of oak, carved with wolf-heads and other symbols of Ulric. Around his neck he has a heavy silver chain with a large wolf’s-head pendant, backed by crossed axes.

“So,” he says, as you and father Ranulf enter, “you are the people who helped Father Odo recover the abomination of Chaos from the forest? And now, I hear, he is dead and we have Mutants running about in the temple? Ranulf, what is going on?”

Ranulf stammers and stutters apparently overwhelmed with the recent events. He looks at you imploringly…

"The mutants were taken care of." Gustav says. Obviously intimidated...
"We brought the relic here to be destroyed. And the sooner the better!"

"Aye, an' Father Ranulf is fer thinkin' that the skull ain't causin' the mutants. I still be thinkin' it's

fer the best if we be destroyin' it now, a'fore one o' these beasties be stealin' it away from you!" LogazNir rumbles.

"I be takin' it that the well water was poisoned some 'ow? Is there any chance of the populace of the city bein' contaminated with that water? We can't 'ave 'alf the city being tainted like that."
ArdFionn pauses still trying to catch her breath.
"We brought the lil chaos beastie skull back to the temple like was asked of us. It was stored away in the runed chest, we were offered some drinks. Father Odo and myself asked for water, while the rest had wine. Next thin' I know were fighting a bunch of crazed mutants and there is a beastie on the ground in Father Odo robes. So I'm goin' ask again is there an chance of the temple water mixing with thee public water? An' who had access to the temples water supply?"
Ardfionn seems obviously aggitated by te recent events, but her voice wavers a bit every now and then, you can't help but think she knows how close she came to oblivion.

The Deputy High Priest listens to all your statements but answers no point directly. He stands abruptly and starts pacing the room as he issues orders.

“Ranulf! Take some of the well water off to the apothecary workshop to have it examined. I suspect it has been poisoned with Warpstone. I think we’ll find human hands more likely have been dipping in our water than any mystical power.”

He turns toward your group. “As for you people, it is absolutely vital that word of this unfortunate occurrence does not spread. It’s not long since Chaos stood at our gates, and something like this would lead to panic across the city.

Commander Schutzmann tells me you have a talent for investigation. That is good. What I need you to do is find out who is behind this, and stop them. I have no doubt they will try and spread their contagion elsewhere. Do not involve the Watch – they have many uses, but keeping secrets is not one of them. I say again, the people of Middenheim must not find out about this. Keep a watch on the city’s wells, but do not let yourselves be seen. If you see any suspicious activity, take action. Track these saboteurs down and put and end to them. For the glory of Ulric.”

He folds his arms in a gesture of finality. Father Ranulf ushers you out and sees that any wounds you may yet have are healed fully.

Both Gustav and Konrad know that Middenheim is a big city and has many wells – too many for you to keep a watch on them all.

What is your plan of action?

LogazNir would like to find out if the temple's well is connected to outside water supplies, or is self-contained. He asks the nearest priest he can get his gnarled hands on.

"If the mutants were trying to poison the whole city, they will want to infect the most people with the least effort. Are there any large public fountains where travelers come to relieve their thirst?"

"We need to start by findin' out more about the the citys' water supply. Also whoever has been 'andlin' the warpstone may very well 'ave been contaminated by it themselves. We should keep an eye out for anyone who doesn't fit in, or is 'eavily shawled, persons who only use the water supply when no one else is around."
ArdFionn will question the priests at the temple for all they know about the city’s' water supply.
"Are the town’s wells supplied by an outside source? A river or nearby stream, that would be accessible from outside the city gates. Is there an underground source, or purely rain water that is collected?"
She will look for any information that may be relevant.

Does Gustav know the answer to any of these questions?

Gustav and Konrad both know that the temple, and all other locations, have their own individual, self-contained wells. These are fed by underground sources and by rain water. There are a few public fountains and these are fed by their own wells.

Gustav shares this with the others.
"I really dont want to go back down into the bowels of this city.... But it looks like we may need to find the underground source."
"Though we should check out the wells in the temple first."

"Aye, yer likely right there. Time fer us to be crawlin' through the muck again like slimmy lit'le skaven!" LogazNir bellows good-naturedly. He seems to have forgotten the foul poisoned darts from the groups last foray into Middenheim's underbelly.

Sorry, I wasn’t clear. The wells do not share a source. They all have their own source (you didg down until you hit water, etc. It may or may not be the same source, but is not interconnected by anything man-made. The sewers are a completely different system.