Results 91 to 120 of 1490
Thread: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
-
2020-07-30, 06:26 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Sieghard
Sieghard returned to Manaan's Keep as the sun was setting and headed to The Star of Marienburg for a drink and a warm meal. As he walked through the gate, Elsa couldn't help but notice that he hadn't found his horse.
SpoilerSieghard is still to angry with Elsa to approach her, but he's not so petty as to put his feelings above preparing defenses if she comes to him.
-
2020-07-30, 06:29 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
- Location
- Ottawa
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
"No one ever signs up for a battle," said Elsa simply.
She then went in search of the surgeon to have him have a look at her bruise-like injury on her arm. She still felt weak from the Battle of Nath and wanted to be in shape for whatever came next.
Elsa approached Sieghard cautiously, in much the same way she approached Bastard before mounting it. "So, the horse? Lost to the wilderness, I take it?"Last edited by -Sentinel-; 2020-07-30 at 06:31 PM.
SpoilerRunning:
Voyages of the Ghostlight (Risus)
Playing:
The Bloody Crown (WFRP) as Elsabeth Holt, rogue pyromancer and court wizard
-
2020-07-30, 06:37 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Sieghard
Sieghard glanced up and gave Elsa a look. Without explanation, he placed the horse teeth he and Urgrim had found on the table and then resumed chewing as if she wasn't there.
-
2020-07-30, 07:30 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
- Location
- Ottawa
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Elsa's eyes widened at the sight of the horse teeth, but she assumed Sieghard did not especially want to talk about it. At least not with her.
"You should, uh, stay at the Star until the ninth or tenth bell at least," said Elsa gingerly. "People need to see you. They're very scared and have been asking where you've been. I told them you were making sure the countryside was safe... so don't let slip that you were just after your horse."Last edited by -Sentinel-; 2020-07-30 at 08:25 PM.
SpoilerRunning:
Voyages of the Ghostlight (Risus)
Playing:
The Bloody Crown (WFRP) as Elsabeth Holt, rogue pyromancer and court wizard
-
2020-07-30, 09:44 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Sieghard
"I warned the people we came across to get indoors and keep under lock come nightfall," Sieghard replied irritably. "I wasn't just looking for the damn horse." He took a rather loud drink from his ale. "And they've got nothing to worry about, I'm not going anywhere. The wrong half of my men wouldn't just abandon the place to the vampire."Last edited by TheSummoner; 2020-07-30 at 09:48 PM.
-
2020-07-30, 10:31 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
- Location
- Ottawa
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
"The wrong half of my men wouldn't just abandon the place to the vampire."
A long, uncomfortable silence followed Sieghard's words. Staring at the floor, Elsa was tempted to just slink away, but at last she forced herself to look at Sieghard and let drop in a low voice: "I'm sorry I said that. I didn't mean it, and I'd give my right hand to unsay it. You command the finest men and women in the Reaches and you deserve it. Our losses in Nath have only one culprit, and one day you'll drive that spear through his skull once and for all."
After a pregnant pause she added: "I'm going to bed. Long day tomorrow; we're fortifying the south side. I think you should take charge until the reinforcements arrive. Herr Sussman's leadership is rather lackluster, and to be honest, so is mine."
She turned to leave.Last edited by -Sentinel-; 2020-07-30 at 10:36 PM.
SpoilerRunning:
Voyages of the Ghostlight (Risus)
Playing:
The Bloody Crown (WFRP) as Elsabeth Holt, rogue pyromancer and court wizard
-
2020-07-30, 10:57 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Sieghard
Sieghard glanced up from his drink as Elsa spoke, but said nothing. He held his silence until she had taken her first step away from him.
"Elsa, you know I wouldn't let you start cutting off parts even if it would change what you said. Death all around, daemons, madness in the air. It was enough to make anyone make an ass of themselves. I know that. It's not me you need to worry about."
"Sleep well," he said. "If the Reaches are to survive, then we have a lot of work to do. I told you before, I can't do it without you."
SpoilerSieghard is still grumpy, but he's cooled off enough to talk to Elsa again.Last edited by TheSummoner; 2020-07-30 at 11:01 PM.
-
2020-07-30, 11:03 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
- Location
- Ottawa
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Elsa's shoulders were released of a tension she did not know she had. She nodded curtly, walked out of the inn and headed back to the keep.
SpoilerRunning:
Voyages of the Ghostlight (Risus)
Playing:
The Bloody Crown (WFRP) as Elsabeth Holt, rogue pyromancer and court wizard
-
2020-07-31, 03:27 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2011
- Location
- Oxford, UK
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Ludo thought for a moment. "Wouldn't say no to the bunk and the food, but I'll keep the pony - It's Nobby's and I owe him a lot of favours."
OOC
SpoilerI don't have anything more specific to say to Nat, but Ludo will make sure he's up to date on what we know about Klammenberg and Nahorek, including how to beat Klammenberg's disguise spell.
The Chalice
Later, Ludo caught up with Adelbert at the Chalice. "Find anything useful?"
"Also... how're you feeling? You were... you were right in there."- Avatar by LCP -
-
2020-07-31, 05:22 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2012
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Adelbert & Ludo
'Not great,' Adelbert admitted. 'Verena has abandoned me and I've abandoned her so I'll have to think of something new to do with my life when we get back. Gods we have to get Klammenburg Ludo. We have to! I need to hurt them for once.'
He stopped himself with obvious effort. 'Did you learn anything?'
-
2020-07-31, 05:32 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2011
- Location
- Oxford, UK
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
"Wait, why have you abandoned her?"
- Avatar by LCP -
-
2020-07-31, 05:42 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2012
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Adelbert and Ludo
'Because if I hadn't used...you know who we'd probably all be undead by now. I know she doesn't want us messing with creatures like that but I'm not sorry over saving Sieghard, Elsa and those Thorns.'
-
2020-07-31, 06:11 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2011
- Location
- Oxford, UK
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Ludo thought for a moment. "I don't... I wasn't there, so i cant say what was the right thing to do. But you got so much out of your relationship with Verena. It gave you... your status, your purpose, your powers... Verena couldn't save you then but you got so much more than that one rescue. I think... I think you should try to repair that."
"When I was a child, before my mother died, my father had a, uh, dalliance with another woman. It wasn't like him, he... i don't know the story. Leni knew more and lorded it over me a bit, and she always implied that there was something more going on, like maybe their marriage was pretty rough then. And he was the most stubborn man I've ever met, even more so than you... I think this was the only time he ever truly apologised, because she meant so much to him. It made him really think about what he wanted and he... he worked hard to make it up to her, and he got another twenty years with her he wouldn't have done otherwise. I can't imagine what it would have done to him if they'd still been fighting when he passed. So... when you feel less angry about this, think about how much you'd be losing."- Avatar by LCP -
-
2020-07-31, 07:11 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2007
- Location
- London
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Urgrim, 18th Brauzeit
"Gods," Urgrim muttered. Guess you were right, Sieghard.
"That horse belonged to Commander Sieghard, the Steward of Painford, but it, uh, took ill a few days back and ran off. I tracked it to the farm where the young lad lives. Seems he just had the bad luck to find it and think he could sell it in the city. But I want to hear his side of things as much as yourself." He shook his head and stepped back from the corpse. "It happens that I know a couple of the priests at the Temple, need to go there anyway. I can let them know, probably get their attention, if your boss ain't had luck with them so far. How's that sound? All I ask is, if ye do find the lad, hold onto him and let me ask my questions of him too."
Another thought occured to him. "Took three men, y'said? Anyone here who witnessed it?"
Spoiler: OOCIf there are any direct witnesses in the immediate vicinity, Urgrim will ask them to describe their full recollection of the event. Otherwise, on the presumption that this guard doesn't take any issue with what he's said, Urgrim will head directly to the Temple, looking for a priest he knows – Heironymous in particular, but Grigore would also be good.Last edited by Thragka; 2020-07-31 at 07:11 AM.
Avatar by LCP
-
2020-07-31, 09:31 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2009
- Location
- UK
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Sieghard & Elsa, 15th Brauzeit
When Sieghard was done at the Star, Sussman found him to discuss the matter of fortifications. "Nothing fancy," he said, "just something to cover the south side of the town. Maybe a ditch, some sharpened stakes? I'm sure your boys know this business better than I do. Speaking of which, I was wondering if we could post a couple of them as lookouts, towards the hills? Just to let us know if anything's coming."
Back at the fort, Sieghard found Hamlyn sitting up in bed, showing off his bandaged stump. The man seemed to be taking the amputation in stride - but most of the Thorns remained quiet and dejected, much as they'd been the night before. Doing a quick roll-call in his head, Sieghard saw there were four fewer of them than there'd been last night.
Urgrim, 18th Brauzeit
"It's been more'n a day now," said the guard. "Sergeant Norten's already let 'em know at the Temple, but you'd be doing us a favour by reminding 'em. Bloody thing's starting to stink." Stepping back out of the shed, he closed the door behind them. "Where should we ask for you if we find the boy?"
The sun was setting as Urgrim made his way through the fire-scarred streets of the Old Town, climbing the winding path up the temple mound. The gates of the temple stood open as usual, the heaps of offerings at the feet of the gods' statues looking slightly larger than usual. The atrium had cleaned up nicely - even in the cracks between the flagstones, no traces of the bloodstains of Geheimnisnacht remained.
Hieronymus was reading in one of the rear rooms; he looked up when Urgrim entered. "Ah!" he said, looking over the top of his spectacles. "Ulgrim, isn't it? Is there something I can do for you?"Last edited by LCP; 2020-07-31 at 09:36 AM.
-
2020-07-31, 10:58 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2007
- Location
- London
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Urgrim
Urgrim stopped to think. "I used to bunk at the barracks when the Thorns were there, but I reckon that's your lot's now. The Duke, I suppose. Name's Jotunnsson. If you leave a message and I don't show up after a day, I've probably had to go back south, so you can forget about me."
At the Temple, Urgrim was delighted to find a priest that at least recognised him well enough to get his name wrong. "Father Heironymous! There's much you should know, and I've little time to tell you. I've to get to the castle before I sleep, let alone the Dwimmulhold ..." Weariness was starting to daunt him of making that trip tonight. He shook his head to banish unhelpful thoughts, and pressed on.
"The northerners, the templars are dead. Every soul among them but two. Did you hear about Caerfort? We tracked the Jackal across the swamp. He hit the village. It's gone. All dead, or taken. We followed the enemy, hoped to rescue the survivors. Joined up - with Sieghard's men, and the northerners - and caught up with the Jackal's followers on the hills before Nath. We fought them in the ruins. A disaster. The northerners are dead, the Thorns almost wiped out. And whatever the Jackal wanted out of those ruins, it seems he got it."
Urgrim held up a hand as he paused for breath, not yet finished. "In the fighting, a – a daemon was loosed from the city. After the battle, after we left the ruins, it took over the body of the Commander's horse. I've tracked it for the past few days. It came here, to the city. The horse is dead – the guards at the south gate have the body, they want a priest to look at it. But that was yesterday. The commander fears it could take over another body, so ... I think there's a daemon on the loose in Savonne."Last edited by Thragka; 2020-07-31 at 11:07 AM.
Avatar by LCP
-
2020-07-31, 11:12 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2009
- Location
- UK
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Urgrim
Hieronymus blinked and sat back in his chair. "My goodness," he said quietly. "That's a lot to take in."
After a moment or two, he started shuffling some papers he had beside him. "Come to think of it, I did have a message from the city guard... I'll send Cezar down there right away. You say it was a daemon?" Already the high priest's natural curiosity was getting the better of him. "Can you describe it?"
-
2020-07-31, 11:26 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2007
- Location
- London
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Urgrim
Urgrim shook his head. "I didn't see it myself, save as a great ball of fire for a moment. We were separated during the fighting. The horse was changed though. Great big teeth. I'm sorry to tell you all this and then run, but as y'can see there's others I need to tell."Avatar by LCP
-
2020-07-31, 11:48 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2009
- Location
- UK
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Urgrim
"I see," said Hieronymus. "...Great big teeth. That certainly sounds unpleasant."
"I'm sorry to tell you all this and then run, but as y'can see there's others I need to tell."
Over at the castle, the first thing Urgrim noticed was a preponderance of soldiers. It looked like the entire Iron Company was in Savonne - he had to practically elbow his way through them to find someone who could take him to the Prince. At first, the Tileans were dismissive, but the mention of Sieghard's name finally got him through.
Sforza was in the solar, studying a map. He looked round as Urgrim was escorted in.
"Yes?" he snapped. "What is it?"
-
2020-07-31, 01:07 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2012
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Adelbert
Adelbert was silent for a long time after Ludo spoke, his expression dark. Finally he said: 'What is important is destroying the vampire. Once he's gone for good it won't matter since I'll be going back home to the Empire. The Reaches have brought a few good friends,' He smiled very faintly at Ludo, 'but a lot more disappointment and grief. There isn't any future for me here.'
-
2020-07-31, 03:20 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Sieghard
Sieghard spoke with Hamlyn for a bit before turning to address the Thorns collectively.
"Don't think I don't know what a lot of you are thinking. When you signed up, maybe you did it for gold or for glory or for adventure. Whatever your reason, you didn't expect... well, this. Maybe you're questioning if it was worth it. Or questioning me. Maybe you're wondering if it might be better to just step aside and let the vampire have what it wants rather than risk death fighting against something so monstrous."
"Don't fool yourselves. You saw what happened to the Caerforters. They didn't fight - they couldn't. Even if they had the will to, they didn't have had the means," he said, growing angry just thinking about it. "It didn't save them and it won't save anyone else. That's why we have to fight. This battle is far more important than noblemen squabbling over who rules in Savonne and the threat far more dire even than the orcs who ravaged the surrounding farmsteads last year. The only way this ends is when the vampire is dead."
"I won't run," he said. "I owe to the innocents the vampire has killed and to those who have already given everything fighting against it. For all its power, the bastard still bleeds. We proved that in Savonne the night it attacked the temple. We've fought and suffered and proven it can be beaten. The cost may be high, but we can be beat it, and we can kill it. We can end this, but only if we fight."
SpoilerCommand roll. Using FP's if needed to reroll and/or +10
(1d100)[57] vs 64
(1d100)[5]Last edited by TheSummoner; 2020-07-31 at 08:04 PM.
-
2020-08-01, 09:49 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2011
- Location
- Oxford, UK
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Ludo and Adelbert
Ludo shook his head. "If that's how you really feel... but I've never known anyone so willing to turn away from -" he slapped his head, suddenly. "I forgot to say! Aisha was seen in Manaan's Keep a few days ago. I didn't have time to look for her before we headed off to Nath, and I forgot to say."- Avatar by LCP -
-
2020-08-01, 01:08 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2012
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Adelbert
Adelbert's eyes widened in shock. 'Oh... well that's something. Thanks for the warning, I'll keep my head down when we pass back that way.'
-
2020-08-01, 02:04 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2011
- Location
- Oxford, UK
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
"No, it wasn't meant as a-"
Ludo sighed. "Alright, if you say so."
He stood. "We've all got rooms in the barracks for tonight if you'd rather that to here. I'm going to get some sleep: I want to leave early so it's not too late when we get to Sermena."
OOC
SpoilerNothing else from Ludo for tonight.Last edited by LeSwordfish; 2020-08-01 at 02:05 PM.
- Avatar by LCP -
-
2020-08-01, 02:30 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2012
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Ludo and Adelbert
'Thanks the barracks sounds fine,' Adelbert replied.
OOC:
SpoilerAlso pretty much done for the evening.
-
2020-08-01, 03:51 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2007
- Location
- London
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Urgrim
Urgrim's torso quickly pivoted about his abdomen, paying lip service to an obeisance. "Jotunnsson, Commander Sieghard's ranger, Lord," he said. "I hope you received the Magister's letter of the battle of Nath. Unfortunately I've more bad news. We think a daemon of some sort was released during the battle. It took control of the Commander's horse the following day. I tracked it all the way to the city. The horse is dead now – I spoke to one of Sergeant Norten's guards at the south gate. They're keeping the body so a priest can examine it, it's been changed, mutated. But the Commander feared that if it could take over one thing's body, it could do it again." He gave another almost-bow. "I wanted to let you know that, Lord, and also make myself available if y'have questions about the events at Nath."Avatar by LCP
-
2020-08-01, 04:43 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2009
- Location
- UK
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Sieghard, 15th Brauzeit
"We're with you, sir," said Ingwald. "This is our home. We're not abandoning it." He hesitated - Sieghard could hear the but forming in his mind. "...It's just, why is always us?"
"It's because of the wizard," said Hanna, darkly. She still looked like she was recovering from the toll taken by her encounter with Tshula-Udiyya, with pale skin and dark circles under her eyes. "She gets some dangerous scheme into her head, and she runs to the Prince and says, can I have the Thorns please?" She turned to Gustaf. "You remember it was her that dragged us down into that goblin warren?"
Gustaf nodded. "And that gods-forsaken library," he added. "Wizards is bad luck. Everyone knows it."
"He wanted her," said Hanna. "Everyone who died back there, died to keep her safe. And she still treats us like her lab rats." She met Sieghard's gaze. "Next time she wants a guard of honour, let's let the Iron Company do it. Or the Brotherhood. Or the bloody ogres." She slumped her shoulders. "Anyone but us."
Urgrim, 18th Brauzeit
Sforza gave Urgrim a lizard-like stare, holding his silence just long enough for Urgrim to start to feel uncomfortable. Rising from his seat, he waved to dismiss the men who had escorted the dwarf up.
"I received Hildebrand's message, yes," he said. "And Sieghard's messages before that. The Iron Company is mustering." He looked hard at Urgrim, scrutinising his face. "She mentioned no daemons. What do you mean, it 'was released'? The necromancer has sent it here?"
Konigstag, 19th Brauzeit
Ludo & Adelbert
The next day, Ludo and Adelbert set out for Sermena. The road from Mirino was much as Ludo remembered. It seemed strange, considering how much the Reaches beyond it had changed since he had last been here.
As they drew near to the town, he caught the scent of roasting meat on the wind. For a moment, awful fears filled his head - but as they rounded the shoulder of the hills, he saw it was the ogres, who were roasting a pair of lambs in the village square. A great crowd of Sermena's halflings had gathered round them, offering their culinary tips and chatting with the off-duty archers of the Gamecocks. The ogres seemed to be enjoying their company.
Valdes was in the Rooster, with Nobby, Old Gill, and Ludo's father. Nobby jumped up to embrace Ludo as soon as he saw him; Valdes gave him a comradely nod, while Odo just inclined his head by the barest fraction. Here was the indisputable evidence that his son was an important person, and he was clearly hating it.
"You're alright!" gabbled Nobby. "Did you - I mean, did you find - what happened to those villagers?" He glanced towards Valdes, becoming conscious that maybe he should be letting others do the talking. Still, he'd started now. "We think he's still here - well, not here, but he might come back - he's not gone yet."
When Nobby had trailed off at last, Valdes spoke. "Stubbs, Schreiber," he said. "Good to see you both safe."
-
2020-08-02, 07:34 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2007
- Location
- London
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Urgrim, 18th Brauzeit
"I don't know, Lord," Urgrim said. He racked his brains to recall how the Sforzas had been addressed at the coronation. "I mean, uh, Principessa. I was separated from the Commander and the Magister during the battle. It was a cursed place, there were foul spirits tormenting us apart from the vampire and his minions. It was only the next day when the Commander's horse took the funny turn that he made the guess and sent me after it, Principessa."Avatar by LCP
-
2020-08-02, 10:43 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2011
- Location
- Oxford, UK
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Ludo greeted the people around the table with as much composure as he could muster. "Lord-Lieutenant, Nobby, Father..."
It had been more than a year now since he'd seen his father, or communicated with him in any way, and there was a deep, strange knot of emotions in the pit of his stomach. He'd come so close to death, and hadn't really thought about the fact that he would never see his father again, but now... some small part of him was a child again with a scraped knee, running to his father for comfort.
"I... yes, I found out. We... he's still around somewhere? That's good."
He looked at the crowds around them. "Perhaps we can find somewhere more private?"
OOC
SpoilerInvited specifically: Valdez, Nobby, Adelbert, Moltke (as a representative of the knights and local Vampire Specialist).
Not invited: the Thorns or onlookers.
Can come if they want: Gill, Jens, Odo.
Ludo is conveying this list through eye contact and body language, if you get me.
Once they had found a private room, Ludo began by telling the story of what had happened since leaving Nobby at Caerfort, including their journey to Nath, finding the vampire and the people of Caerfort there, and escaping thanks to the accidental release of a daemonic entity, in much the same sombre tones as he had used for Nat. He also reiterated the warnings he had give the Volunteer: that the Jackal was in the ascendency and the south lands should be protected.
And once he was done: "So tell me... you said you thought Klammenberg was nearby?"- Avatar by LCP -
-
2020-08-02, 02:38 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
- Gender
Re: [WFRP] The Bloody Crown XII
Sieghard
The way Sieghard remembered it, most of the deaths had been men who had become separated in the storm and far fewer had died protecting Elsa. He could read the room well enough to not mention that. "No more of her errands," Sieghard agreed.
"It's always us because until now we're the only ones who saw the threat and took it seriously," he said, steering the topic away from Elsa and back to Nahorek. "Hate to say it, but it's the way it is. They won't be able to turn a blind eye to it anymore though."