WFRP (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay), new thread, re-recruiting

[Xsesiv]

New players: go to OOC: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5785561

Old IC: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5786082

You awaken a few hours later amidst a pile of corpses.

[littlebottom]

(put a link back to the old IC too)

Tilmann Frohlich groans, arrrrgh, the pain... where the hell am i? tilmann stumbles as he tries to stand up, and clambers over the bodys to get a good look as to where he is.

[Xsesiv]

On top of the Temple of Myrmidia, from the looks of things. How this happened, you do not know. Were you blown up there, or dragged? Skaven, strangely enough, are coughing and dropping dead all over the streets. They give violent shivers. (Int test to guess why they also have the Grey Ague).

Once all the Skaven die, you are all three set upon by admirers. People worship you as demigods. But one day, just as the town is getting stable, a messenger tells you; "You must leave, or somebody will try to kill you."

[littlebottom]

(you ruined my lovely lovely inteligence :( oh well...)

int= 37
[roll0]

[Xsesiv]

A small group of Talabheimers pull you to the edge of the town and tell you to get out. They claim that as the principal defenders of the town you now legally "own" the Eye of the Forest, which is something the moneyed powers of the town will not let stand for long. Under cover of dark, you are all snuggled onto the open road, the more noble of your comrades-in-arms pressing small sacks of gold (in total [roll0] (51 each) gc) into your hands as you go. And in the Temple of Sigmar, people pray for your safety and unity, and in the Temple of Taal, people ask that you be safe from the wild dangers, and in the temple of Myrmidia, where only the bravest are allowed to tread, a statue of you and your fallen friends is reverently placed, with a small plack that says merely "We will remember." There seems to be a trek ahead, but where to...is up to you or the Gods.

[littlebottom]

Tilmann thanks them for their kindness, and the money. before turning to the group and saying so, it seems we best move away from this town, i think we should head north, there will be more chaos to purge!

(unless you want us to go to the forest about the eye?)

[Xsesiv]

LB, shall we go on a bit so we can have an oppurunity for Cheese to turn up?

[littlebottom]

feel free to move on for cheese if you like, im away this weekend and ive been busy latly, but should be back to normal next week (hopefully)

[Xsesiv]

The roads north of Talabheim have the markings that an army passed this way. The roads are muddy, pitted and worn beyond their intended use. Travel by wheeled coaches would be very slow and cumbersome, but horse and foot travel is only slightly inconvenient. Debris litters the roads; usually in the form of old burned out camp sites, broken wheels, and occasionally a piece of worn out equipment. Shallow graves dot the fringes of the roadway of those who fell during a journey. The Camp Followers have long since looted most of the valuables but if you look, you can occasionally find a useful pair of boots or perhaps even a weapon that found its way onto the ground. A Hard (-20%) Perception Test can be taken. A success will yield 2d10 Silver Shillings, or goods of your choice and equivalent value. For the most part travel is uneventful but for the occasional particularly slow and thorough Camp Follower. Since the roads are in such poor condition, Kislevite caravans and coaches can not efficiently travel south - they instead head west and then south to Altdorf. Scavenger birds can occasionally be seen but most wildlife has long since been run off. A full mile ahead, you see a diminutive figure rustling about with a small handcart on the road. As you approach it is clear the figure is a Halfling and he is having a most difficult time pushing his hand-cart. The cart is clearly labeled “Pie King”. He is exasperated by trying to pull his cart down the road and making little headway. Upon seeing you he drops to his knees: "Esmeralda have mercy, why did I choose to go north! Please, I humbly beg ones as obviously mighty and virtuous as yourself to aid a Halfling..." (and here he looks at Tilmann) "...of the Moot of the Empire...in his hour of need!" He is clearly at your mercy and he indeed does need help if he is to move his cart.

[littlebottom]

tilmann heads over to the halfling and offers to help him get going again.

tilmann still wondering about the hurried departure he had been forced to take(he also leaves any money he finds skatered about on some of the graves)

[Xsesiv]

The Halfling introduces himself as Donald "Don-Don" Donwurst, and he offers free food to you to help him for as long as he is with you. He also says that traveling to Dunkelbild and taking the ferry north would likely be faster and safer for all involved. Average (+0) Common Knowledge (Empire) Test.

[littlebottom]

[roll0]
int : 37

tilmann thanks the halfling and decides to travel with him for a while, since tilmann currently lacks direction and free food is always good

[Xsesiv]

Don-Don is clearly very grateful for your aid. Don-Don's chatter is quite uplifting after a war and solitude. He is a fine cook with a seemingly endless supply of meat pie in the cart. By late that evening, though the distance to Dunkelbild is only another three miles, the cart pushing is hard going on the scuffed ground, and Don-Don suggests you stop to make camp.

[littlebottom]

tilmann looks into the sky (is there any sunlight left, if yes how long for?)

[Xsesiv]

Half an hour's light left, maybe less. You could press on but the going will be slow due to fatigue and it being hard to drive a cart in a rutted road.

[littlebottom]

tilmann ponders this for a while .... "three miles, thats about an hour, but with the slow going and being tired, proberbly more... but is it safe to stop out here?"

tilmann decideds to stop and make camp, but makes sure someones on watch.

[Xsesiv]

Don-Don flat-out refuses to go on watch. He says that he is exhausted, having been shoving the cart since six o'clock that morning.

If you decide to go on watch it's an Easy (+20) WP Test to remain awake. Otherwise you slump against the nearest tree or other edifice and decide to close your eyes for a while (which, as anyone who's ever pulled an all-nighter knows, is a vast mistake).

But, of course, why bother with a guard? You're only near the tainted Kislev, on a long and lonely road...

[littlebottom]

aha!! WP is a good stat for me

WP: 50 +20= 70

[roll0]

[Xsesiv]

The night passes without major incident; a couple of snotlings turned up and ran away screaming at one point, however being awake you hear howls that sound like they should be of wolves but are more likely of dogs, as that morning, as Don-Don is prepping his cart for travel, a lone hound runs out
from bushes and snatches Don Don carrying him away. He squeals and beats at the dog with his tiny club. The wild dog is roughly four and half feet tall at the shoulders with a silvery-gray coat. Routine (+10%) Common Knowledge(The Empire) Test.

Meanwhile, due to skipping a night's sleep, you take a temporary -10% penalty to Ag, Int, WP and Fel.

[littlebottom]

no, not the children of ulrick!

int = 37 - 10 + 10 = 37
[roll0]

it appears tilmann actually KNOWS! something :smallbiggrin:

[Xsesiv]

No, not the children of Ulric! (Not rhetorical.)

The dog clearly is a Middenland Wolfhound, prized by nobility throughout the Empire and are used as both pets and war dogs, and to hunt wolves with. They are capable of tearing a fully-grown man to shreds, so they'll probably annihilate the Halfling. However, for some strange reason, the dogs especially love the smell of pork ribs seared in butter. The breed is renowned for its loyalty to its owners and its ferocity when hunting wolves. Its coat is usually a silvery-gray with dark highlights, worth good money for cape-trim, and it stands four to four and half feet tall at the shoulders. A Middenland Wolfhound can feltch up to 200 gcs.

[littlebottom]

(bloody hell, they is big wolves!)

tilmann frantically searches the halflings cart for porkribs, or simmilar, and butter.

[Xsesiv]

This takes a round. Don-Don, who by now is screaming, has some pork-pies, (but overall he is a steak-and-kidney specialist). In a hatch at the side of the cart is some ingredients for making more pies; flour, meat, gravy, eggwash and lard.

[littlebottom]

tilmann grabs the pork pies, the lard and some steak if there is any, throws them into a pan over the fire, and then follows after the halfling in hope that he is still ok (Taking some pork/steak with me aswell)

[Xsesiv]

The scent wafts across and the dog looks up from chewing on the Halfling's arm and sprints over to the fire to grab the pork. In its madness it sprints directly into the flames, here its shaggy coat flash-burns leaving it shocked and scorched. It grabs the pork and runs away squealing. Meanwhile, Don-Don rocks back and forth, clearly in a bad way. "That thing's as big's a horse - It nearly took me arm off!" he cries. The wound on his arm is leaking blood and lymph. He will probably survive but the wound could easily become infected.

[littlebottom]

tilmann quickly takes him back to camp and tries to cover up the wound (heal int)

int 37- 10 = 27

[roll0]

im onna roll!

[Xsesiv]

As best you could, you clear up the complications. He really should see a real surgeon though, in case the infection is deeper. It takes until roughly noon to get to Dunkelbild, which appears to be a logging village on the river connected to Kislev by it. Few people are on the streets but there appears to be a constant sound of dogs fighting.

[littlebottom]

tilmann asks around for a surgeon, or equivilent.

[Xsesiv]

The villagers tell you to go to Stefan Shaw at the Old Smoke House Inn.

[littlebottom]

tilmann thanks them then follows the directions, keeping a close eye on the halfling.

[Xsesiv]

The Halfling does not get any worse or die. Stephan is a tall dark man, well into his middle years. His eyes are sunken but they spark with a quick intelligence. He is slimly built and his wiry muscles have old scars. Upon hearing of your request for medical aid he fetches his wife Elise, an ex-Shallyan nun, who patches the poor fellow up. Stefan is quite quiet until he asks what you are doing here.

[littlebottom]

what im doing here? well... i am a priest of sigmar, i have been chosen, to clear this world of chaos by sigmar himself no less! tilmann waits for a reaction.

[Xsesiv]

"Of Chaos? You have little business here. The peasants are good, though simple, and Herr Baron is a good man even though the hounds have the run of the place. Several men have been bit and things are clearly out of hand now. It is perhaps a blessing that the Baron was called to the Emperor’s service – now I can tidy things up a bit by the time he returns. The problem is getting the Wolfhounds captured and staying alive while doing so. Especially now, the hounds have ..changed.. since the Baron has left. They are more aggressive, feral and - perhaps you will think me mad, but if you watch them you can see they think. They are clever beyond normal animals."

[littlebottom]

are you sure this is not due to a taint of chaos from the north?

[Xsesiv]

"I know not. But if it is, I can assure you it would be better for all parties concerned if you captured them for me; what say you? You do not look to have a job as of now and it appears you have dealt with thm before...I can Guild you right now if you like. You'll be an Imperial Dog-Catcher, and I can pay handsomely. I would prefer them alive to dead if possible. But you do not have to take up the job."

[littlebottom]

i shall ponder over this...


(is cheese joining any time soon?)

[Xsesiv]

(PM'd him earlier.)

A few tables along, a brawl breaks out over spilled ale and punches are soon flying everywhere. Shaw gets up and jumps up and down at the side of the fight, saying "Stop, in the name of blessed Ulric!" Not a good god to choose, the god of wild savagery. The men's violence escalates as they begin to swing chairs and steins at each other and one chair-blow misses you by millimetres.

[littlebottom]

i stand up and grab my warhammer menicingly, in the name of Sigmar! stop this fight, or ill have to end it for you!

[Xsesiv]

A man sees this as a threat and throws a bottle at you.

[roll0] BS 30 if hit damage = [roll1]

Meanwhile a religious bigot shouts "In Ulric's name!" at you as he charges with a table raised above his head. Don-Don trips him up and the table flies out of the window. Suddenly there is a bang and everyone stops. A man in a long leather trenchcoat and hat with stark white hair and a pale face steps into the room with a smoking pistol and everyone resumes their seats. "I can smell the Chaos in this place." he says, looking round and sniffing the air. "Barkeep! Fourteen ales!"
The other patrons begin to leave.

[littlebottom]

smell the chaos? do you mean the ruckuss the moment ago? or actual beings of chaos? if so, thats an amazing ability... could you teach me that?

[Xsesiv]

Phrf. I do not know if it can be taught, but the place reeks of Chaos. It is saturated. The babies here are born with nine toes, three penises - and that's the girls - and seventeen fingers. The hounds are beasts of Chaos. I shot six. ALE! Why does it interest you?

[littlebottom]

why? because i am a priest of sigmar, and have been chosen by sigmar himself to erradicate chaos from the empire... wait, what? three penises... and those are girls?... and how would you know?

[Xsesiv]

"I've been dealing with Chaos all my life. Klid d'Mur. Witchhunter." The man downs ales with an inhuman rapidity and looks up at you in a beery way. "And you say Sigmar chose you especially. Hmm...perhaps I could put you in touch with someone. He's got wandering feet, like yourself, and he wants to eradicate the Restless Dead. Short in corruption as well as size."

[littlebottom]

what? a dwarf or a halfling?

(gratz on 2000 posts!)

[Xsesiv]

Halfling. Dead shot with a sling, got his own transport. Vicious little bugger.

(Woo! Now what's the next rank? Troll itp? Ettin itp?)

[littlebottom]

i am intrigued, when can i meet him?

(dont know whats next, ill tell you when i get there :smallcool:)

[Xsesiv]

If you come here tomorrow" (OOC: when Cheese is on), "I'll introduce you.

[littlebottom]

im sure i can stay the night (OOC: in my own bed till tomorrow)in the inn till tomorrow

[Xsesiv]

(Night then, That's 3s).

The man is clearly insane as he wanders off mumbling about gears made of cheese.

[littlebottom]

tilmann believes him even with his clear insanity, as to tilmann, its a tip off about an ally against chaos.

tilmann pays the innkeep, and wonders what a gear made of cheese would actually look like (you had to do it didnt you:smallbiggrin:)

[Xsesiv]

Of course.

The night is quite dark and quiet but for the baying of the dogs and other noises made by prostitutes and their clients in other rooms. Seedy pub this.

[littlebottom]

oooooh, seedy pub... oh wait ALL pubs. :smallbiggrin: you would of thought they would of had thicker walls though :smallannoyed:

[Xsesiv]

No they're also made of cheese.:smallbiggrin:

(Maybe that's what he could smell and not Chaos.)

Back to pseudoreality:

After a few hours the sounds calm and you can sleep.

(Where is Cheese?)

[littlebottom]

(in my fridge?... oh wait, erm, i dont know where he is.)

tilmann drifts slowly off to sleep after muttering a few prayers to sigmar

[Xsesiv]

...and is woken in the morning by the sounds of shattering glass. A band of Kislevites, singing out of control, is in the common room sipping kvas and wodka and koumiss and throwing their glasses at the wall. One of them invites you over for an eye-opener.

[littlebottom]

no thanks, my eyes are already open, thank you. tilmann acts polite as not to offend, and asks if brekfast is ready yet. keeping an eye out for flying glasses

[Xsesiv]

"It was, but those Kislevites've had it all." The Albionese bartender points to them with obvious envy. They are now downing shots and singing about Kislev. The bells ring out signalling it to be seven in the morning.

[littlebottom]

tilmann tries to leave quietly to look for somewhere else to eat, and hopes they have calmed down by the time of his return

[Xsesiv]

(I've still not got a reply from Cheese, sorry to be waiting.)

A restaurant down the road is called the Halfling's Lament and looks quite a good place even if the door is four foot high. The cieling is easily seven feet though, so there's little trouble getting in. They serve good ale, and a huge dartboard is on one wall that bristles with darts, while there are also wrestling pits and betting tables, but also a main restaurant which apparently serves good food if the orgiastic grunts of the diners are any indication.

[littlebottom]

(dont worry)

tilmann sits down and orders some food, he looks forward to some good halfling cooking.

[Xsesiv]

The Halfling proprietor's son comes over with a menu that is twice as big as himself, containing such dishes as beef brisket in brandy gravy, poached swan with herbed parsnips, whole sucking pig in broth of swede, parboiled goat-brains seasoned with sage and peacock and grey hares in boiled ale and ginger-carrot sauce. It all sounds OK, and the little man sits down at your table with the informality of all Halflings and waits to take your order.

[littlebottom]

tilmann baffled by choice, finally decides to have whatever the halfling recomends. as im sure he would have eaten most of the things on the menu before, and tilmann feels lost.

[Xsesiv]

The halfling goes on a long rant about the relative merits and drawbacks of each and every dish on the menu and then finishes with "Yeah, so I'd say t'e cow eyes gets a bitta' extra salt from t'e fish-entrails, but t'e bile tips it off a little. I'd meself enjoy the liver-sauce snails more than anyt'in' else, but 'tis an acquired taste."

[littlebottom]

tilmann nods. ill have that then. a little off put by what it actually is, but his sure the halfling knows what he was talking about.

[Xsesiv]

The food is served promptly and very good it is too. The Halfling comes up again and asks whether you'd be wanting a dessert or be ready to pay.

[littlebottom]

tilmann goes to accept the offer of dessert, before stopping himself, as he has proberbly spent a fortune already not today, thank you, the bill please if you would.

[Xsesiv]

The Halfling scribbles on a bit of paper with a charcoal stick. He passes the small sheet across the table to reveal the price of 3 gc 12/6. "Do you want a drink or a coffee?"

[littlebottom]

erm no thanks. tilmann pays before standing up my compliments to the chef, but i must be leaving now, thank you. and heads back to the inn to see if its calmed down yet.

[Xsesiv]

It's worse. The Kislevites are now dancing on the tables, while singing and stopping to toast everyone who comes into the room. "To your health, brother!" they will shout, and down another kvas.

[littlebottom]

tilmann watches them for a while, before deciding its safer to go wait in his room, he doesnt want to start a fight.

[Xsesiv]

After a while the noise dies down and there is a slight scuffle but by the time you come back in the Kislevites are singing in the street instead which is a vast improvement and the Reeve Stefan Shaw, who kicked them out, is back to ask you wheher you'd take up his offer of catching these tainted/feral dogs.

[littlebottom]

i accept your offer, but i am awaiting a possible ally, so i might not start straight away.

(ill do the job, but see if you can get cheese back on before he ends up joining while im chasing dogs)

[Xsesiv]

Two bands of feral dogs are wandering about the town, so says Stefan Shaw. One has fifteen or so members, the other around ten. However they are quite wild. He says they often fight viciously over scraps or territory.

[littlebottom]

well, these wolves almost go into a frenzy for the smell of cooking pork. maybe we can lure them into a trap?

[Xsesiv]

"Maybe we could. Did I discuss your pay? 200 gc for the mission and 5 extra for every live dog trapped."

[littlebottom]

all the better to trap them then! tilmann smiles. i think the quickest way to do it is use someones celler or basement, and start cooking the pork in there, when the wolves turn up, we catch as many as possible in there, and we can tidy up the few who dont get trapped.

[Xsesiv]

Try this if you like, but it'll be very hard to persuade someone to let you use a cellar.

[littlebottom]

maybe so, but people will do crazy things for money...

[Xsesiv]

OK, Hard (-20) Charm test or Average (+0) Intimidate test to gain access to a cellar. The charm test can be sweetened by a bribe of 5 gc which will give a bonus of 10. This can be done up to 5 times.

[littlebottom]

i shall try charming someone. if you help, theres some money in it for you.

[roll0]

[Xsesiv]

You get a small cellar for a night but he expects some money.

[littlebottom]

i go look at the cellar before agreeing, how many is it likely to be able to trap?

[Xsesiv]

There is room for all of them but you will need something to trap them in.

[littlebottom]

ill look at the entrance(s?) to the celler, and if they are lockable, are the locks reliable and easy to use in a hurry? (or even with a bit of string?)

[Xsesiv]

The entrance is a trapdoor, could be closed with a bit of string but would need to be propped up with a stick, which they might knock away. No padlocks but a sturdy latch.

[littlebottom]

the trapdoor can be sorted out then... possibly need something to put the wolves to sleep, otherwise it wouldnt be safe to open the door again... (any kind of sleeping gas or some sort of sleeping poison/drug i could put in the meat? from a shifty dealer anything like that?)

[Xsesiv]

Sorry. No, it's a very small village, and even if, in the highly unlikely event you found one, word would spread that you were looking for one like wildfire, so shady dealers prefer cities.

As it is, the sun is begining to go back down. (about 3 pm)

[littlebottom]

i shall go find bits of sturdy string or thin rope as well as the pork and butter, and put it in the basement ready to begin cooking it.

[Xsesiv]

The whole lot costs a crown. Shall I skip to the hounds attack?

[littlebottom]

if you so wish, the food is just begining to cook and the ropes are tied to the trapdoor (holding it open, so that when i cut it the door closes) and another to the latch, so when i pull it it locks the door.

[Xsesiv]

(Where are you?)
The hounds rush in baying. The group of fourteen includes six Wolfhounds, the other five. Also there are three miniaure Dachshunds - more annoying than a threat. The hounds all run into the cellar and begin to tear each other apart over the meat.

[littlebottom]

*sigh* i am either inside the house with the other ends of the ropes, or just round the corner.

tilmann waits a moment, to see if there is potential for more coming in before the current ones leave.

[Xsesiv]

A couple more dogs bound down the pit but that is all. After a few minutes' scuffling down the basement the barks and howls cease.

[littlebottom]

tilmann springs the trap... (if there is any need to)

[Xsesiv]

The trapdoor locks with a bang and there are a few yelps and growls from under it then it goes quiet again.

[littlebottom]

tilmann watches the trapdoor for a while, and if none try or manage to escape he will go fetch the man, with whom he made his deal.

[Xsesiv]

If any are trying to escape they are contained by the trapdoor. Th man comes round and opens the door and down there are a few dead dogs from the fight, several wounded, and three Wolfhounds who are silently facing off around the pork, none daring to move The man sees the Wolfhounds and runs up the stairs for his Dwarven net launcher, which he fires at them three times. They all end up caught in nets, and the wounded go without a fight; the man gives you directions to the noble's kennel who they belonged to before going feral. He says you should go there so the feral dogs can be reeducated.

[littlebottom]

i nod and thank him and turn to leave before saying he will pay me then? and not you?

[Xsesiv]

"I'll pay you, but only when you get them to him. I am in his employ, and authorised; rather, instructed, to pay on his behalf."

The man there is clearly a nut-case. He opens the chained door and says: "Hullo - no time, no time! You must leave before they come!" Then he realises what you have come for as he sees the dogs. "Geah! Don’t let them bite me! You don’t know! You just don’t know! The eyes, they will eat your soul if they stare into your eyes! We must keep it safe from him!"

But he allows you to use his kennels to store wild dogs and instructs you to locate and defeat a third band of dogs, but this time he explicitly mentioned that the leader is to be killed at all costs.

[littlebottom]

any information on their wareabouts... and will i be paid extra?

(yeah yeah, its out of character to ask for more money, but someone has to do it as remigo isnt around anymore)

[Xsesiv]

even

That'll be negotiable. I'm fairly sure it's a Chaotic beast and I can't ask you to go after them without a substantial fee. How about another 150?

[littlebottom]

agreed, now how will i find them?

[Xsesiv]

He gives you a description of a nearby river and says the hounds patrol around it.

But he suddenly blurts out: "Nigel is his name, the horrid grey wolf that leads the feral hounds. I am sad to say we share the same blood, for he is my father’s younger brother. In their younger days my father and Nigel stole a necklace from a group of traveling gypsies as a prank. Although my father speaks little of it, I understand things turned sour and the gypsies confronted my family. My grandfather, the Baron in those days, had the gypsies burned at the stake for rousing his ire. I know little of the details, but some say one of the gypsies lashed out and attacked my father and my uncle, Nigel. Since that day both were cursed, although my father had far more control than Nigel. Nigel seeks the necklace that they originally stole," and he displays a crescent moon necklace. Challenging (-10%) Academic Knowledge (Magic) or Magical Sense Test. "Why I do not know, but I do know when my father left to aid the Emperor, Nigel has come to me seeking it. I naturally refused to aid him, and so he terrorizes me and the villagers for my impudence. You would be doing a great service for the Baron to put Nigel to the sword. Be warned however, he is more beast than man and he will show no mercy."

[littlebottom]

[roll0] int 38

calm down... are you sure that he has to die? is there no way to return him to human?

[Xsesiv]

(WP test too, Magical Sense)

"No, no way! Kill the man! He is my uncle, so if there was any other way..." He sinks into a chair and weaps.

[littlebottom]

ok.

[roll0] WP 50

(im having SEVERE latency issues with the forums, so if i dissapear again you know why, sorry)

[Xsesiv]

Yep, same here. That's why I left.

The man alows you to leave and says you might as well go back to the village for a rest as it's getting dark.

[Xsesiv]

The villagers decide that it is their obligation to hold a feast for you that night. All manner of meats, stews and sweets are brought to the festival and oil lanterns are hung on long poles. A few of the villagers play some music and a variety of ales and meads are available to drink. The village is full of gossip about the Storm of Chaos wars and they are eager to hear of any tales you have to tell. Klid d’Mur is still present and not looking too pleased. He stays to himself, fully armed and watching all that goes on around him only sipping some wine that was offered to him and still muttering that he can smell the Chaos. Don-Don can't pass up an oppurtunity like this and sits with a group of rosy-cheeked, round-bellied Halflings who came into the village earlier with ponies, rations and slings, who break into song near-constantly, eating and slurping wine and ale. In the early evening two large full moons can be seen through the thick dark clouds as the villagers dance and drink. When the feast is in full-swing, the noble to whom you spoke earlier stands up and feels his chest with an awkward expression. From under his tunic he pulls out the crescent moon necklace. The necklace glows – and brightly.

[littlebottom]

tilmann joins in the gossip till he sees the necklace glow.

my word! how does it do that? tilmann says this sincearly incase its a perfectly innocent reason, but tilmann doubts it, and keeps his hand on his warhammer under the table.

[Xsesiv]

The third band of wolfhounds sprints into town headed by what appears to be half-wolf, half-man. In a matter of 90 seconds 20 of the villagers, roughly a third, change themselves into a similar hideous wolfman being.

The poor noble drops the crescent moon necklace on the table, curls up under it and begins sobbing "When will it end, when will it end?". The half-wolf creature makes a beeline for the weird pendant. Villagers try to flee or arm themselves. Don-Don hides under the table. Klid d'Mur screams out "Yes. This is exactly what I meant! What a stench!" and pulls out two of what appears to be a set of brass knuckles with pistols attached (Intelligence Test to work out what this strange contraption is for). He begins blasting away, shot tearing into the bodies of villager, hound and lycanthrope alike. To the left, several children are torn to shreds by a pack of hounds (Will Power Test to avoid gaining an Insanity Point). To the right, three minor nobles slip rapiers repeatedly through the ribs of a Lupine, and still it takes a long time for the filthy creature to die. And right in front of you is a pack of Wolfhounds, their saliva hanging in ropes and glistening green, coming to attack you. Klid d'Mur blasts one of their ribcages open with a well-aimed pistol shot, giving a gory view of the organs trying to fulfil a doomed quest; Stephan Shaw slashes off a head with a casual swing of his broadsword. The villagers seem to be looking at the three of you for guidance, but with Klid out of ammunition and Stephan tiring, there is little help left for you.

[littlebottom]

int 38 [roll0]

willpower 50 [roll1] (im going insane ><)

tilmann raises his warhammer and casts blessing of fortitude on himself and delaying an action

cast no.5
[roll2]

successful cast = +5 toughness and willpower for 1 min (6 rounds)

[Xsesiv]

Klid throws his pistols at the wolfhounds, doing little apprieciable damage but gaining a few seconds in which to draw his longsword. Stephan Shaw stabs at a lupine twice.
WS 43 [roll0] Damage [roll1]
WS 43 [roll2] Damage [roll3]

The wolfhounds advance and one leaps at Klid, bearing him over backwards.

[littlebottom]

tilmann uses his delay to attack the wounded wolf

WS 44[roll0]

[roll1]
[roll2]

then (on his next turn) uses blessing of sigmar

cast no.3
[roll3]

then attacks the same wolf (if not dead) or other wolf (if dead)

[roll4]

[roll5]
[roll6]

[Xsesiv]

The wolfhound expires as you crush in its skull, but a lupine leaps over the table. Klid cleaves off its head with a longsword as your hammer whistles past the ear of a nearby wolfhound. Two of the Watch arrive to help.
[roll0] Damage [roll1]
[roll2] Damage [roll3]

[Xsesiv]

One watchman neatly cracks the windpipe of a lupine with a cudgel. The past-his-best Shaw is tiring, but heaves his sword upwards again, meaning to slit the jaw of a wolfhound. [roll0] Damage [roll1]

Another jumps at you with teeth and claws at the ready.
[roll2] Damage [roll3]

[littlebottom]

(by tiring you mean just because his been fighting i beleive? not wounded? (would the spell i cast help him? the fortitude?))

tilmann comes round with the spike of the warhammer to hit the lupine under his jaw and peirce through the bottom of his mouth up into his skull (i like cinimatic hits :smallredface:)

[roll0]

[roll1]

other action is to cast fortitude on stephan (if it would help him, if not i go into parrying stance)
cast no. 5
[roll2]

one last thing, i just remembered FP, could i use one to reroll the IP earlyer? dont mind if the answers no, its my fault i forgot :smalleek:

[Xsesiv]

The spike of the hammer now has a wolf head on it. Stephan is not wounded badly, he's just tired, but with the spell he regains some vitality and punishingly spears wolves.

The Halflings you saw earlier unleash a volley of slingstones in your direction and injure several wolves. The numbers of dogs, wolfhounds and lupines are diminishing rapidly and soon most are gone - save for their leader who is clutching the pendant in his teeth. When he sees the fighting has abated, he tries to flea past you.

[Xsesiv]

Sorry, missed the question.

Yes of course you can.

[littlebottom]

reroll for WP [roll0]


tilmann prizes the spike out of the lupines head, then as the leader makes a break for it, i swing the middenheimer to meet face on with the on coming wolf.

[roll1]

[roll2]
[roll3]

[Xsesiv]

As you do this Klid d'Mur has reloaded a pistol and takes a pot-shot at the fleaing wolf aiming to criple. [roll0] BS 69 Damage [roll1]

[Xsesiv]

The wolf dodges the hammer, is missed by the bullet and runs off into the distance with the necklace. Stephan Shaw shakes your hand in thanks. He hands over 200 crowns but as you regrettably failed to eliminate the leader of the dogs he can't give you the extra 150.

[littlebottom]

tilmann thanks him then says which way did he go? maybe we can still catch him?

[Xsesiv]

The noble tells you he has probably gone to the grave site of the gypsies but he flatly refuses to divulge any further.

[Xsesiv]

Klid d'Mur goes there and blasts the brains from the lupine's head. It crumples and he burns the remains along with the amulet. The villagers allow you to go on your way north unimpeded.

A Halfling on a pony, armed with a sling, traipses along the road going the same way as Tilmann. Also there, but not seemingly on a related journey, is another Halfling carrying a sack.

[littlebottom]

tilmann gives them both a polite nod and does the sign of the twin tailed comet may sigmar be with you, halflings tilmann gives a short bow, and continues i am tilmann, priest of sigmar, incase you couldnt tell by the robe and the huge ornamental 2 handed warhammer with the twin tailed comet on it...

[Cheesegear]

Talyn looks across sharply. His small stature disipating whatever threatening manner he tried to bring across.

"Sigmar, eh? What's 'e ever done for me? Last I 'eard 'e was deader 'n my uncle Holey. Now, there's a story, got a hold of one of them 'rifles'-" Talyn twisted his face, at the word 'rifle', something that wasn't at all familiar to most Halflings, and that meant that Halflings should stay away from them "Now, ol' Uncle Holey, 'e wanted to figgur 'ow it worked, y'see? So, what 'e does, right, is he sticks his eye over the barrel-" Talyn made a circle with his index finger and thumb, and put it up to his eye. "Stupid. Didn't look like any barrel I ever saw. Now, Pie Week, last year. That was a barrel, we invited a few dwarves around, and they brought a keg o' their ale. That knocked us out for a few hours. And this other time, my Uncle Holey got so drunk he wanted to figure out how one of those 'rifles' worked..." again, twisting his face at the word 'rifle'. Halflings shouldn't have anything to do with that.

"He looked down the barrel, pulled the trigger and blew 'is 'ead clean off. And that's why we call him Holey, 'e's got a hole in 'is head. Geddit?" Talyn chuckled to himself.
Speaking of heads coming off, have I told about the time my great-great granduncle Raddy bit the heads off bats. Said it warded off Vampires and the like...Except, one time, he ate a bat, and the next day. BAM!" Talyn clapped his hands together. "He's a Vampire, and we've got you human lot coming into town saying things like 'cut 'is 'ead off!' And then we set 'im on fire, and buried 'im inna hole. Say, did I tell you about my Uncle Holey?" seeing the stern looks from the bigfolk, Talyn frowned. They never like a good story. "You talk to much." Wah wah wah.

"Anyway, that's what I do, see? I hunt the dead. Or, the dead that come back to life - we got lots'a them in the Moot, y'see. All dirt and 'rargh'...Tryin' to eat our brains - brains don't taste any good...My ma' had a cow once, she got old and me put 'er 'ead in with a hammer. The cow, not my Ma." Talyn chuckled at another joke, only funny to him.

"Although my Da' said he couldn't tell the difference between 'em. E'cept I could, 'cause Ma could cook, and we had this cow once, and we had to put it's head it with a hammer. Ma' said not to let any of the good stuff go to waste, so we ate the brains, and they were yuck. Talyn squeezed his face and stuck his tongue out.

"And ZOMBIES, they eat brains. You know zombies, right? See, the dead walking, that don't make any sense, so we got'sta put 'em back in the ground. Otherwise who knows? Hey, you've got a Sigmar Hammer, right? You'd know all about vampires and other dead stuff, right? Except...Sigmar. Phah-" Talyn spat on the ground "What's 'e ever done fer me? Last I 'eard 'e was dead. Right? Talyn cocked his head sideways at the priest, Tilmann.

[littlebottom]

sorry i was making a reply the other day when the forums closed on me:smallannoyed:

tilmann simply looks at the halfling in stunned silence for a while.... what has sigmar ever done for us?! you are part of the empire are you not? therefore that is something sigmar has done for you, without him there wouldnt be an empire, he faught of hordes of chaos just so that we could live in the empire as safly as possible, without skaven running the streets 24/7 without chaos beastmen raping children whilst slaughtering their parents in front of them! and you still think sigmar has never done anything for you? tilmann waits for a reply, but ready to give another and much longer rant about sigmar if the halfling is still ignorant in the greatness that is sigmar!

[Cheesegear]

Talyn shrugged his shoulders.
"We do just fine in the Moot without you lot-" waving his hands at the humans "S'funny. The only time any real trouble happens, is when you rag-taggers show up. And then it's all 'Burn this, burn that! Cut 'is 'ead off! String 'im up!' Of course, there was my ol' Uncle Bilko. Got 'imself a magic ring, said 'e could turn i'visible, was good at parties. E'cept he used it to steal stuff with it. Now, us halflings-" he poked his thumb at his chest.

"We like stuff, if we've got our 'ands on it, then it's ours. Makes sense, right? But, being i'visible, that's cheating. I never stole nuffin. But, my ol' Uncle Bilko..." Talyn mimed a rope being tied around his neck, and cocked his head to the side "He broke the law...E'cept then you lot showed up and smashed 'is ring that could turn 'im i'visible. That wasn't nice...

Talyn stuck out a grubby hand Anyway, I'm Talyn. Talyn Rageheart, after me great-great-great-great-great-great Grandfather. He had somethin' called a Heart of Rage, and 'e'd get roaring drunk and break 'eads. You bigfolk used to laugh at 'im. 'What's an 'arfling gonna do?' you'd say - then 'e'd 'eadbutt you in the nadgers. Of course, that's a story, an' I never met 'im meself. Speaking of meself, I'm Talyn." still, with his outstretched hand.

[Black Orc 2k8]

Adam outstretches his hand "And im Adam im travelin with this man. Im on this journey coz i ave a score to settle with chaos, pleased to make ure aquaintence"

[Xsesiv]

(I hope that that's a representation of his earthy accent and you're not going to type like that all through the game.)

It's a hard day's travel. The sun's just dipping below the horizon when you find yourselves to be well inside of Ostland, where the dialect is replete with Kislevite words and forms of speech. Taverns abound by the wayside and much ale, as well as Kislevite kvas, wodka and koumiss, is drunk therein. The darkness is stickily oppressive as it thickens, and to make matters worse one of the straps on Tilmann's shoe, untended over several months' travel, snaps.

[Black Orc 2k8]

I examine the landscape before us, perring into the darkness"I hope none of you lads are scared of the dark, because its gettin pretty late"

[Xsesiv]

The Halfling with the pie cart, Don-Don, pipes up.

You c'n forget that! I, fer one, ain't walkin' all night.

[littlebottom]

you remember what happened last time? last time you get dragged off by wolves because you wouldnt walk all night... although we could just see if there is a cart of somesuch heading this way, then we wouldnt need to walk. tilmann says addressing don-don

tilmann then turns to adam chaos you say? i have had more than my fair share of seeing what chaos has done to our lands! perhaps you and i could be of use to each other?

finally tilmann turns to talyn and shakes his hand you are an extreamly excentric halfling, you know that?

[Xsesiv]

"I've bin here before. There's a perfec'ly good tavern jus' round the corner. I don' see why we 'ave to keep walkin' when there's proper decent priced bed and board right ahead of us. I'm going in whatever you decide to do." Don-Don wipes sweat from his brow and hitches up his pie cart, before waddling up the road.

[littlebottom]

tilmann roles his eyes, but Don-don was right. i think staying here may well be our best course of action for the night, and im sure we will be able to talk more in the morning. tilmann gives the sign of the twin tailed comet again, may sigmar be with you. and follows Don-don to the tavern

[Xsesiv]

The moment you get in the door you are greeted by the landlord who looks like a bear, as he is almost seven foot tall, extremely muscly and dressed in furs. The other drinkers scarcely look up from their ales and spirits but you are asked whether you want anything to drink. Don-Don is tossing back clear liquid in small glasses in front of the hearth and becoming very drunk at an incredible rate. The air of the pub is dismal, but the bartender is trying to cheer everyone up, offering drinks and cracking jokes. A gloomy-looking Sigmarite priest sits in discussions with an Ulrican Brother.

[littlebottom]

tilmann orders an ale from the keep, then continues to wander over to the fellow sigmarian priest and does the sign of the hammer, before saying hail, fellow sigmarian, what seems to be the problem? tilmann always having a soft spot for other suffering priests...

[Xsesiv]

You recieve a sign of the twin tailed comet from the Sigmarite and the Ulrican priest raises his index and little finger with the other two held to the palm by his thumb in the Ulrican U.

"I have just been told by the High Priest of Ulric for all Ostland - sir - we must send agents to Vitkal, in Kislev. An Ulrican priest arrived there and found an unholy, Chaotic rite involving summoning the dead being performed; he preached instead the true worship of the great Gods, and has apparently been killed. The Tzarina has extended her permission for us to unleash Imperial law on these scoundrels. I have hired a small group of Kislevite bodyguards, but I need some Imperial fortitude to ensure the message is delivered properly, and none are stouter than a Sigmarite Priest. I cannot go alone, I have duties to the Temple. But I can guess by your appearance that you are travellers...?"

Don-Don's kvas-sodden shout from the fire rings loud and clear. "D'you do this fer a livin'? I think I'll be takin' a detour tomorra'; in whatever way yer not goin'!"

[littlebottom]

fine i have no problem with that Don-don...

tilmann continues to ignore don don from this point returning to the priestyou want me to deliver a message?

[Xsesiv]

Two months ago, one of our most enlightened brethren – Brother Jurgen – was travelling through the northern wastes preaching the holy word. When he reached the village of Vitkal, he was brutally attacked and killed. I have been appointed by the temple to travel to the village and see justice is done, that the perpetrators of this foul deed suffer the full process of our law. The Tzarina has granted me the right to enact justice – Empire justice – as I see fit. However I need bodyguards and guides to ensure I reach Vitkal safely – it is a week’s journey, and I am sure you have heard how dangerous the open country can be up there. It is your job to ensure I reach my destination so the will of Sigmar and Ulric may be carried out.

[littlebottom]

tilmann nods when do we leave?

[Xsesiv]

Tomorrow at dawn. The journey should take about a week. You'll need at least some winter furs, a kibitka or a yurta, snow shoes, dried meat, fire-making equipment and probably kvas.

[littlebottom]

tilmann simply says .... better go buy them now then... anywhere local i could get all that stuff?

[Xsesiv]

It's fairly accessible this close to Kislev. Kvas can be bought by the skin at 8 ss 10bp. Firemaking equipment is 1 gc 10 ss and kindling is 2 ss per fire's worth. 6 ss buys a week's worth of dried meat, and a kivitka (wooden tent) for 3 is 3gc. A yurta (skin tent), though less hardy is cheaper, and rooms three for 1gc 10ss. A suit of winter clothing and snowshoes are 10gc for a human or 7gc 10ss for a halfling.

[littlebottom]

tilmann buys the better tent and the rest of the stuff and 4 weeks worth of rations so that others can have some too and pays 20Gc keep the change

[Xsesiv]

"Cheers." says the man, and wraps all the equipment up in a free backpack and adds a few extra flasks of kvas.

[littlebottom]

tilmann thanks the man and makes his way back to the tavern to talk to the priest again ok ive got my stuff, and i may have others come with me, if thats ok?

[Xsesiv]

The priest tells you he has no problems with that, the more the better.

[littlebottom]

tilmann will pay for a room for the night, and stay up for a few drinks before going to bed ready for the next morning.

[Xsesiv]

The bed costs 5p each. During the course of the night, a half-naked girl falls down the inn steps and struggles to her feet. A similary semi-clothed, broad shouldered and muscular man stumbles down the steps and backhands her so hard across the face she falls backwards over a table. He chases her back upstairs and stares round the room as though daring anyone to question what he did, but no-one does.

[littlebottom]

to tilmann, what the man just did was going against everything sigmar fought for, and he stands up, meeting the mans gaze, before simply pulling his warhammer out from under the bed. care to find out what it feels like to get hit round the head by someone much bigger than you?

[Xsesiv]

"You can tell me just well enough," he says drunkenly, and punches you in the face.

[littlebottom]

tilmann (im guessing) withstands the punch. that sir, was the wrong thing to do.

[Black Orc 2k8]

Adam goes over to tilman and the man who punched him Nobody, and i mean nobody hits my friends and gets away with it

[littlebottom]

if this man before me, is guilty of crimes against the empire, sigmar, show me now!

tilmann casts blessing of sigmar
cast no.3
[roll0]

[littlebottom]

after a moments pause....

(casts again)
[roll0]

the warhammer flairs up in a golden light, as tilmann holds it high above his head, infront of the man infront of him, and waits to see the mans reaction

its a good spell for this sort of thing, they see it as an act of god and it gets them to spill the beans in guilt :smallamused: of course, ever time i cast it ive got a 1 in 10 chance of possibly gaining an IP :smalleek:

[Xsesiv]

The man passes out with a combination of shock and all the booze.

[littlebottom]

tilmann lets out a sigh of relief, and goes to check on the woman, he gives a blanket to cover up her body. are you alright?

[Xsesiv]

Yes...It's an occupational hazard, some of my clients get a bit abusive.

[littlebottom]

well, he shouldnt cause any more trouble to you for a while.

tilmann goes and gets the man and carrys him outside, ties him up naked in the town square as punishment.

[Xsesiv]

The watch come along and see this going on and there are a few remarks like "I didn't know Sigmarites were into that kind of stuff." The girl runs off home and not much else happens that night but in the morning the man is found to have frozen to death due to the cold north wind but also the influence alcohol.

[littlebottom]

tilmann shakes his head in dismay, poor guy, ah well, he got what he desevered. treating women like that... best we can do for him now is get him to the nearest preist of morr. tilmann asks around for the nearest priest of morr

[Xsesiv]

They are fairly popular and the Morr priest digs a hole in some dirt and blesses the body and puts it in. The Sigmarite priest and Ulrican Brother are ready to go dressed in furs and they have their four Kislevite guides.

[littlebottom]

i shall be ready in a moment, i just need to go to the tavern and get changed. tilmann makes his way upstairs and gets changed, wearing his robes underneath, before turning to the 2 halflings so, would either of you care to join me? the journy shall be perilous, but the more of us going, the easier it should be.

[Cheesegear]

Talyn shrugs his shoulders. "I' got time. There isn't any big parties in my fam'ly for a bit, so, there's no free good and no beer to be got." Talyn grins, showing all his teeth. Never a good sign on a Halfling. "An' I like my free food an' beer. Speaking of Dwarves..." judging by the way Tilmann was standing, he probably wasn't in the mood for a story.

"Ne'ermind. Point is, I'll tag along...But, any word from you about 'ow 'Sigmar is great, Sigmar is wise'" he said the last in a high-pitched derisive tone. "I'll be gone like a shot. I ain't got time for a dead manling. An' shots are pretty fast."

[Black Orc 2k8]

I shrug my shoulders I spose helpin a priest or 2 wont hurt, but before i leave can i try and find a sling. Its just i dont feel like a halfilng without a sling.

[Xsesiv]

Sling: 4gc.

The journey is pretty uneventful except about halfway through a band of Orcs and Goblins comes charging towards you and the priests and bodyguards (you get a round's warning).

Roll Initiative.

Greenskins Ag 25 [roll0]

If it comes to combat, you can choose whether to engage an Orc or Goblin.

[littlebottom]

initiative: [roll0]

[littlebottom]

tilmann casts blessing of fortitude upon himself (+5 willpower +5 toughness)

cast no.5
[roll0]

[Cheesegear]

How far away are they?

Initiative: [roll0] Evidently I rolled a '1'
(Quick Draw) Free Action: Ready Sling
(Rapid Reload) Free Action: Load Sling
Half Action: Aim
Half Action: Standard Attack

Attack: [roll1] vs. BS 57, Aim +10 = 67. Since I wasn't told how far away they were, I don't know my range.
66 might hit {Body Hit}, depending on bonuses/penalties determined by GM.
Damage: [roll2]

Talyn narrowed his eyes as he gripped the reins of his pony and pulled back on them, to tell it to 'Not Move'. Talyn then tore his sling from the belt loop that it hung on and deftly dropped a rock in the sling's pouch. Sighting down the path, Talyn sized up one of the forward goblins.
Leading his target as he swung his sling around in a wide circle, the rock shot forth towards the charging goblin.
...Hopefully Talyn had compensated enough for his target's speed.

[Xsesiv]

The stone hits a Goblin in the chest knocking him clear to the floor.

[Xsesiv]

Adam loads his sling and flings a stone at another Goblin (sorry to take your turn, but you've had three days) [roll0] Damage [roll1]

An Orc charges up and engages Tilmann ([roll2] Damage [roll3]) and a priest or bodyguard each as the Goblin struggles to regain its feet.

[Cheesegear]

Free Action: (Rapid Reload) Reload Sling
Half Action: Aim, +10% BS.
Half Action: Standard Attack

Attack: [roll0] vs. 67 +/- GM. Miss. Easily.
Damage: [roll1]

Pony has a delayed action, to Standard Attack any greenskin that comes close.

Talyn drops another rock into his sling-pouch and lets the pebble fly. The rock goes soaring over the heads of the greenskins with a thud against a tree. Damn. thought Talyn with a scowl. He was evidently going too fast. Slow Down. Breathe.

Talyn gripped his pony around the middle with his knees. Ready to give the command to attack should any greenskin get close enough. Although, Talyn was sure that the horse was smart enough to attack hissing, snarling monsters-weilding-weapons on his own.

[Xsesiv]

When the Greenskins get too close the pony whinnies. [roll0] Unless Talyn succeeds on an Easy (+20) Animal Care check, the pony rears, throwing him off, and bolts.

[Xsesiv]

Tilmann goes all out on his Orc [roll0] Damage [roll1]

[Xsesiv]

The Orc is hit hard in the leg then attacks back [roll0] [roll1]

[Cheesegear]

Animal Care: [roll0] vs. 35. Fail
(29 INT / 2 {untrained} = 15 + 20 {Easy})

Half Action: Stand up.
Free Action (Quick Draw): Draw Sword and Buckler (+10% to Parry. 'Weapon' in my off-hand gives me a free parry)
Half Action: Standard Attack
Free Action: Parry (if any). Which I forgot to roll for :smallfrown: GM can roll for me

Attack: [roll1] That's pretty bad.
Damage: [roll2] Poot.

Talyn widens his eyes as his pony lashes out to attack and rears on it's hind legs. Talyn made a grab for the reins, but, his fingers slipped and he fell backwards off the horse. Talyn landed well, his Halfling dexterity naturally putting him on his feet.

Talyn quickly looped his sling back into place near his sword, and drew the latter. Having weapons close together was something he'd always preferred in situations like this, it allowed Talyn to get at them faster. With his left hand, he drew his small, round shield from his back.

Talyn struck out at the Greenskin attacking him, the blow went wide, but, ultimately, Talyn was only trying to buy time until one of the bigfolk came to take this greenskin of his hands. Talyn was entirely uncomfortable in close quarters - like most halflings.

[Xsesiv]

The nearest bodyguard dispatches his Orc and turns around to help someone else. Seeing a Goblin charge in with the intention of hitting Talyn, he raises his warhammer and attempts to club it upside the back of the head.

Bodyguard: [roll0] Damage [roll1] (43 +10 assisted)
Goblin: [roll2] Damage [roll3] (25 -10 outnumbered)

Parry for Talyn: [roll4] (WS +10 assisted)

Viciously, the bodyguard slams his hammer into the back of the Goblin's head with a resounding crack, knocking it out cold and most likely dead. The blow knocks a few chunks of the Goblin's brains out of his nose and sends it crashing past its target, Talyn. He then turns about to aid Tilmann with his Orc, as two other bodyguards do away with Goblins and aid the other Priests.

[littlebottom]

tilmann attacks backwith another AoA
[roll0]

SB+1 and impact
[roll1]
[roll2]

[littlebottom]

ulrics fury.

[roll0]

[roll1]

[Xsesiv]

Tilmann's hammer cracks several of the Orc's ribs with a thrust and then he smashes its skull in between his hammer and the bodyguard's. The remaining few Greenskins are soon smashed to bits. The priest and his companions thank you for your aid. You walk on, and the endless steppe turns to a dark, but starkly beautiful forest. When you stop to make camp that night, you have only thirty miles to go to Vitkal. As everyone is carrying out their daily particulars, the Kislevite guides come over and introduce themselves as Drake, Hichs, Udzen and Vaskers. Hichs, who is tall and wiry with an eyepatch, says in his best broken Reikspiel that he and his men were impressed by your battle prowess, and invites you over to their campfire to share some kvas.

[Black Orc 2k8]

Its a lovely night tonight. Im just worried were gonna get attacked i say to everyone.

[littlebottom]

tilmann gladly accepts the mans offer, as he follows over to the campfire and sits down, ive had more than my fair share of run ins with the forces of chaos you see, youve got to be good to survive. of course i also have the god of the empire, sigmar to watch over me. tilmann makes the sign on the hammer, before bowing his head momentairily.

as tilmann looks back up he asks is anybody injured from that battle?

[Xsesiv]

One of the bodyguards pulls out a warhammer and threatens you. "So Empire God only God, huh?" he says, waving the hammer drunkenly.

[littlebottom]

tilmann just looks at him. are you implying that i dont beleive in other gods? do so at your own peril.

[Xsesiv]

"Oooh, look the little Empire-man! Him think him God better us God!" The man is soon shut up by his fellows and Hichs says to you "Sorry Drake, please, he very angry man." The language barrier is broken down slightly when the flasks and cards come out, and the evening collaspses into singing, drinking and the playing of games. The hugely muscled Uzden and Drake are throwing waraxes at trees, and the others are playing a complicated Kislevite card game.

[Black Orc 2k8]

Arrr, theres nothin like a spot of gambling i say My brother Lerun he liked gambling i think for a while then say Mind you it did almost get 'im killed

[Xsesiv]

"Aah, you like gamble? Is...we play...what the word? Itirenskia...Itirean. Tilean Atamankas. See, the Atamans and boys Atamankas, the Atamankas Atamans...You not understand to explain me to your tongue. Have kvas."

He hands over a flask of kvas.

The other two, who are hurling axes at trees, are becoming drunker and drunker, singing rude songs in Kislevarin.

"Dushyka, Dushyka,
Kislev at its best...
Twelve months a year is winter,
Summer is the rest.
Coalmines near Dushyka-
That’s where I spent my last vacation.
I surely could have starved to death
If not for the oldest occupation."

they sing, amongst less repeatable ones.

[littlebottom]

tilmann drinks a swig or two as its passed around. but tries to keep a clear head, incase anything were to happen.

[Xsesiv]

It's hard not to spray the kvas, which tastes of molten metal, across the campfire. But you manage it somehow, and after two of the Kislevites pass out, the tone of the night becomes gentler. The two Kislevites are carted off to bed and you are allowed to do as you wish, although there is not much left of the night.

[Black Orc 2k8]

Are you all gonna go to bed now i say to the group Because if your goin im goin. but if your not goin im not goin i think for a moment Since theres no 1 around, shall i tell you something about my life, something i have nether told another livin halflin i wait for there answer

[littlebottom]

erm.. thats rather sudden... are you sure your not drunk?

[Black Orc 2k8]

Err, no maybe a little typsy, but no. Its important. I pause and then say You trusted me from't' start. I said i was fightin' Chaos, and you trusted me like that. Well 'eres me reason for fightin chaos I pause again They took somethin from me, somethin precious, but its lost fo'ever. I cant tell you what they took yet, I c'nt bear it, but thats why i hate choas, they took somethin from me.

[Cheesegear]

Talyn ties his pony to the nearest tree. It wouldn't do to have it bolting in the middle of the night. With that done, he then continued for his next 'setting up for the night' ritual; That is, finding a good few dozen rocks that could be put in a sling. Or, simply just rocks to play Twosies*.

With all that done, Talyn grabbed his blanket from his saddlebags, and spread them on the ground. Talyn sat in his blankets, and listened to the other halfling. His interest piqued, Talyn piped;

"I've got something precious too! See!" Talyn dug into his bag of belongings, eventually drawing out his coin purse. From his purse, he drew a standard Imperial Penny. "M' lucky penny, see? It's got this thing, here..." Talyn pointed to something, barely perceptible...Then stuck his tongue out. Perturbed, he put the penny back, and drew another one. "No. This one. I'm sure of it, is my lucky penny." This second penny was exactly identical to every other standard Imperial Penny. "My ol' Uncle Olliph, he had a lucky rabbit's foot. Dunno what made it so lucky, I could get one meself. S'easy. Get a rabbit, cut it's foot off. Lucky Charm. An' Bob's yer uncle. Well, I dunno about you, but my uncle is Olliph...Oh, and Bilko, I told you about 'im, right? The one with the i'visible ring? Yeah. I did. I think. Maybe...Did I?"

[Black Orc 2k8]

I begin to talk solemly Thats a good story an'all but im talkin about somethin a bit more valuable than ure lucky coin

[Xsesiv]

Secret(ish) rolls: [roll0][roll1]
[roll2][roll3]
[roll4][roll5]

After several seconds of talking, Tilmann and Talyn notice a smoky smell and then notice that the wall of the kibitka is bursting into flame.

[littlebottom]

tilmann curses violently in khazalid. quick we must put that out! tilmann looks around for any source of water to hand (a small river or stream nearby? a random bucket of water for just such an occasion?)

[Cheesegear]

Apparently I can't say a word that begins with 'C' and ends in 'ocked'. Even though it's a legit word, and was used correctly

Talyn looks perplexed, as he inclined his head to the side "More valuable...Than a Lucky Coin?" Talyn bit the penny. "Nope. Can't be that. Seems right." Talyn then put his tongue squarely on the coin, and licked it. "Nope. Tastes the same."
Talyn looked at the coin, with one eye squinted. He knew there were some people that said that a penny wasn't worth a penny unless it was made all of copper. 'Cause he'd heard that those people liked to mix lead in.
"D' y'know what lead tastes like?" Talyn asked no-one in particular. It seemed like a good penny. Talyn shrugged his shoulders and dropped the coin back in his purse.

"Lucky Coins are priceless. Don't you have one? What about a Rabbit's Foot? Horseshoe? My pony has four of 'em. Nailed to 'is feet they are. So 'e's really lucky. Ev'rytime we get in a fight, 'e never gets hurt." It never occured to Talyn that that was because the pony always ran away.

Talyn, noticing that the side of the tent was on fire, once again, dived into a backpack almost as big as he was, and came up with a waterskin, and threw what was left in it over the fire.

[Black Orc 2k8]

Im talkin ab'ut a human life. I shout annoied at talyns non stop talking.

[Xsesiv]

The water thrown on the tent does indeed put out the most part of the fire but the water has pooled in the waxed canvas at the bottom of the tent and from there soaked into people's blankets, which bodes for an uncomfortable night.

[littlebottom]

should we put them by the fire for a while?

[Black Orc 2k8]

COLOR="RoyalBlue"]Yes. I 'ate uncomfy nights[/COLOR]

[Xsesiv]

When you take the sheets out to dry you are greeted by the sight of four birds with beautiful red and gold plumage pecking about in the glowing coals of the fire - the embers spillling everywhere is what probably started the kibitka burning in the first place. [roll0]

Tilmann realises, due to his theology instruction, that these birds are sacred to Dazh, the Kislevite Fire-God, and must not be harmed.

[littlebottom]

tilmann looks around to see who else has noticed these birds, and quietly wispers to those who have, to not harm them...

(would these things hurt me if i picked them up? would i be able to pick them up? could i keep them for a short time with us?)

[Xsesiv]

(You could try)

[littlebottom]

tilmann kneels down next to the fire, and places a hand flat on the ground next to it (in the hope one might come to him)

[Xsesiv]

The birds just look at you quizzically as if wondering why the human could possibly be doing that.

[littlebottom]

tilmann tries to talk to them, ignoreing the fact if they didnt reply he would look stupid (well most people are drunk here anyway) hello? do you understand me?

[Xsesiv]

The sound of your voice startles the birds which squawk and flap up into the air spraying hot coals everywhere.

[littlebottom]

tilmann dodges the coals, before quickly sweeping them back to the fire. what was that about? adressed to everyone still awake.

[Xsesiv]

The half-sober Hichs looks over to you. Is Fire-birds. Put the ember in nest. You leave alone.

[littlebottom]

you mean they do that all the time? whenever a fire goes out?

[Xsesiv]

Yha, always. Always they pick.

[littlebottom]

but to what purpose? where do they come from?

[Xsesiv]

Us say the Firebirds of Kislev childrens of original Firebirds, messengers of Dazh. They use coals in nests, keep snow away.

[littlebottom]

tilmann ponders over this, but decides against hassleing the drunk any further... but keeps his eyes out for the birds.

[Xsesiv]

No more birds come along while you are watching out for them.

[littlebottom]

tilmann sighs before making his way to sleep.

[Xsesiv]

Inside the kibitka, it is found that all the weapons not smaller than a dagger have simply disappeared.

[littlebottom]

tilmann looks around in shock. damn their gone! tilmann looks around at everyone elses stuff, searching for signs of the items stashed in someones bag... without looking too obvious that he is searching

[Xsesiv]

You don't find the weapons in anyone's bags or similar but you get grabbed by one of the Kislevites who threatens you with his dagger and accuses you of stealing his hammer.

[littlebottom]

do i look like i need any more hammers? he just gives the man a look to say that he should be ashamed for acusing a priest

it seems our stuff is missing. gentlemen, lets find out why! tilmann goes and inspects the kibitka. (that is if he doesnt get attacked by the first bloke)

[Xsesiv]

All the Kislevite's hammers and swords are gone. So are the priests'. None of them have yours. Vaskers is tittering in the corner.

[littlebottom]

whats so funny lad?! (if his older than tilmann he will say "man" instead of lad)

[Xsesiv]

He talks to Hichs the default translator. "He says was the Leshi'i...ah...spirit, the forest spirit. It acts like children." Vaskers opens his coat and shows how he has stashed his blades so they would not be taken.

[littlebottom]

(im guessing the rest of the items are there aswell) it "acts" like children? what is it? does anyone know?

[Xsesiv]

Is a spirit...

Vicious howls go up from a few hundred yards outside the camp.

[littlebottom]

quick, grab your weapons and prepare for the worst! tilmann grabs his weapons and gets ready to fight.

[Xsesiv]

The wolves charge into the clearing but the wood-savvy Kislevites chase them off with burning branches and return to their tents. They are heard to mumble about spirits.

[Xsesiv]

*Cutting to next morning*

The next morning (obviously), everyone is up fairly early, not wishing to spend another second in the possible presence of further Firebirds and wolves. The forest becomes thicker and darker as you move through it, and you are not at all far from Vitkal when you come across a frozen and beautiful river in your path, about fifteen yards across. One of the Priests says "At least we won't have to cross it," and he leads you a few hundred yards downriver; unfortunately the bridge he was taking you to, when you arrive, is destroyed.

[littlebottom]

looks like we will be after all. tilmann looks around for a rather large, heavy rock and chucks it at the river to see if holds the weight.

[Xsesiv]

The boulder hits the river between the middle and the edge, chips the ice but fails to shatter it, bounces and skitters away across the river diagonally.

[littlebottom]

it seems safe, but lets take this slowly and one by one. would one of your men like to go first?

[Xsesiv]

The man walks across, when he gets halfway the ice makes a horrible squeaking noise but he makes it.

[littlebottom]

tilmann attempts to go next. with extra caution at the middle, ready to jump if he must.

[Xsesiv]

The ice does indeed crack in a spider-web in the middle where it is newer and thinner, and a hole opens, which forces Tilmann to make an Average (±0) Agiliy Test to leap to safety.

[littlebottom]

agility: cant remember... ill go check now. ?? [roll0]

EDIT: no point, failed.

[littlebottom]

rerolling (fortune point) [roll0]

[Xsesiv]

Tilmann leaps prone to avoid the breaking ice but his body, laden with gromril, smashes through the ice so that he falls through and begins to sink under, dragged by his heavy armour.

[littlebottom]

tilmann panicks momentarily, before being dragged to the bottom by his armour. tilmann then attempts to use the weight of the armour to his advantage and walk across the river bed. and cast a comet of sigmar at the ice at the rivers edge to break it and escape.

[Xsesiv]

Roll a Challenging (-10) Channelling Test to concentrate on the spell over the freezing cold water.

[littlebottom]

WP: 55 - 10 = 45 [roll0]

[Xsesiv]

Go ahead then, roll Casting.

[littlebottom]

comet of sigmar: cast no. 16

magic: 2

[roll0]
[roll1]

i rolled 2 seperate d10s as it is important to see if i roll a 1 or doubles

[Xsesiv]

10 seconds gone. If Tilmann isn't got out soon he will drown.

[littlebottom]

tilmann fights the will to breath, and thrusts his dagger into the ice from underneath.

[Xsesiv]

The ice chips slightly again and your arm jars with a shock against the ice, but the dagger doesn't penetrate.

[littlebottom]

tilmann begins getting desperate, and tries the spell one more time.

[roll0] WP 45

Casting no. : 16
[roll1]
[roll2]

[Xsesiv]

The comet blasts through the ice leaving a huge ragged hole.

[littlebottom]

tilmann takes a short moment, to compose himself, and walks out slowly, with a slightly smug look, once he emerges he says well... minor set back, but no worries eh? a few moments later he adds slightly more seriously no chance of a fire?