The group begins to get a sense that something is not quite right in the prosperous town.. SUSPICIONS AROUSED Having shown the magistrate the skeleton, picked clean, of the three-legged goblin, the group could not explain why the magistrate had been told the creature had been crushed under some boxes at a local warehouse. Their suspicions were now aroused - clearly some form of chaos cult was here beneath the surface like an infection rotting a patient from the inside out. Baroon and Drake stood as the body of the aged priest, Wittich Gelt, was removed, and they were ushered into a side office by another Sigmarite Priest. The man, one Wenzel Niid, informed them he was the one who had reported his strange behavior back to the Sigmarite Lictor. Together with the priest they searched the mans modest quarters and found a strange document with mostly incoherent ranting, spirals, and CHAOS IS OUR TRUE POWER written in what appeared to be blood. They were provided with the keys to the Church of Sigmar and asked to investigate. Meanwhile, the priests of the church entered the conclave where the new head priest would be selected by secret ballot - this was expected to take at least 2 days. Dronk headed back down to the Schaffenfest, where Doctor Malthusius was nowhere to be found, having left in the dead of night. Disappointed, Dronk began making his way back to the city, but couldnt help himself from picking a few pockets - unfortunately, he was caught red handed by a guilder who called for the Watch and Dronk was forced to unceremoniously hide behind some crates in a muddy corner of the festival. AN ILL OMEN Hugo studied the book of tactics, The Thirty-Six Strategems of Luitpoldus, a volume well over five centuries old, then headed to the Temple of Ulric where he introduced himself to the priests. He was informed of a crazy man who was proclaiming the doom of the town in the town square, but when Hugo went to check no madman was present. Cornelius searched the streets of Bogenhafen for a deal on a pearl he needed to power a spell known for revealing the properties of magickal items. Unfortunately, he found that while pearls were readily available, they also were beyond his ability to purchase. Frustrated, he headed back to the Traveller's Inn, along the way finding a piece of crumpled parchment shoved into his baggage. The group gathered and discussed the day's developments over many a mug of stout ale or thin, watery wine, depending on their persuasion. As they talked, Cornelius noted a strange green light coming from the window - heading outside he could see Morrsleib, the ill-fated moon some considered a chunk of pure Chaos, was nearly full. Although Morrsleib's orbit was irregular and hard to predict, nonetheless Cornelius, as a Celestial apprentice, was aware this simply should not be. The omen boded ill.. Dronk said "We should absolutely be careful. They are watching us in this city, a lady told me... We can't throw rocks at their beehive and not expect to get stung." I see seven and I see nine, all they had will be mine, mine, MINE! The Doomsayer's ProphecyIn the morning, following a light repast at the Traveller's Inn, Hugo accompanied Drake back to the Temple of Sigmar for his morning meditations, on the way spotting a man in filthy rags with a crowd gathered around him. As they moved closer, they could hear some of what was being said, most of which was incomprehensible, but some which was not.. Dronk, meanwhile, interested in finding out about who supplied the locals with smuggled Brettonian brandy, headed to the depressed part of the city, across the ferry over the river Bogen. Known as the Cage, it is an area of blind alleys and closely-placed tenements where most of the town's poor live. Dronk wandered about for several hours through the filthy streets but found little of interest, though he noted the town barracks, known locally as Fort Blackfire, was located against the northern wall face here. Ironically, despite the barracks, very few Watch patrols were observed. On his way back to the ferry, Dronk was confronted by several drunken louts looking for a scrap, whom he faked out then rushed past deftly - avoiding a conflict that would no doubt have ended with Dronk victorious - but also probably in jail. THE SPIRIT-SNAKE Cornelius purchased a number of rare herbs and incense from local merchants, along with a brass brazier, then headed outside the city, where he began the complex ritual required to summon a familiar. As he reached out into the Ether - the Immaterium - he saw a shape take form - that of a coiled snake. The creature, formed of star-stuff, wrapped itself around his incorporal form and Cornelius found himself back in the clearing with the walls of Bogenhafen visible in the distance - with his new familiar who stared back into his eyes with a wisdom quite unlike that of any ordinary snake. Luna was its name, a name he felt he selected himself, but then was not so sure. The serpent slithered around his wrist like a fine bracelet, and Cornelius headed back to town. Baroon agreed with Drake he would check with the Mourner's Guild and the local Temple of Morr, god of Death, to check on the corpse of Wittich, the priest who had died suddenly after seeing Baroon and Drake. After some convincing, he managed to get the priests to allow him to exhume the body from the mausoleum in which it rested, but despite his best efforts he could find no clue as to the man's cause of death. The priests remarked the man was old, and no doubt died of old age, but Baroon wasnt so sure. Nonetheless, not a mark was on his body, and even Baroon's spells for detecting foul poisons and diseases found nothing. Perplexed, he headed back to town, thanking the priests for their assistance. THE QUICK AND THE DEAD On the way, he encountered Cornelius who was heading back into the city, and they decided to go visit the magistrate Richter, from the Festival Court. There they found Dronk, who had been making his way stealthily around the Schaffenfest. Together they visited the magistrate, who informed them (again) of the reported death of the goblin, and while it was not his decision, he would be unable to pay any promised reward, instead telling them to seek redress at the Town Hall. However, he seemed troubled by the evidence the three presented, and offered to send men into the sewers to verify their assertions. He also informed them that the warehouse where the goblin was killed was Warehouse 4, owned by the Steinhager family. Cornelius said "Let's make our way to the warehouse and see if we can uncover anything of merit. Dronk, we're just going to stay alert. Too bad there are not more dwarves around to help you blend in better" On their way to the warehouse, located near the ferry, Baroon was accosted by a group of men dressed in poorly-made clothes, who seemed menacing. The heaviest of the lot, a squint-eyed brute with a scar on his cheek, said "Oi, you gits! You best not be poking your noses into that what don't concern you. I would get out of town while you're still able to, get my drift? I hear Altdorf is nice this time of year.." With the threat delivered, the group of thugs melted into the crowds. Drake and Hugo began to follow the crazed doomsayer, almost losing him in the crowd but managing to get on the ferry along with him, just as it left to cross the river to the Cage. After crossing the river, they lost him within the winding alleyways, but eventually, asking locals, they were able to find the hovel he called home and pounded on the door. When no-one answered they entered the place, only to find a gruesome discovery - the man lay on the floor, his throat ripped out. They called for the Watch, and when they arrived they sent for the Seargent, then waited. The Mourners Guild arrived to collect the body, and still they waited. About an hour or so passed before they decided the Seargent wasn't coming, and headed back in search of their companions, troubled by why they had witnessed. ENTERING WITHOUT BREAKING As they crossed the ferry, they ran into Baroon, Cornelius and Dronk, who were standing outside of Warehouse 4. A guard with a halberd was posted outside, and seemed to be dozing. The group was keen to enter the warehouse, but in broad daylight at the docks, which were bustling with people, this would have been difficult. Drake, however, was uncomfortable with this flouting of the law, and sat, his jaw clenched and his arms crossed, considering what to do. Seizing the moment,. Cornelius used an arcane incantation to float Luna into the warehouse through an open window. The place was nearly empty, but a scrap of paper sitting near some boxes caught Cornelius's attention. Luna couldn't retrieve it, but Cornelius, seeing through the spirit-snake's eyes, could read it clearly. Using a quick cantrip, he retrieved his faithful companion and informed the rest of the party of the letter. By this time, it was only a few hours before dark, and the group contemplated their next move...
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The WizardIn time, you will come to know the tragic extent of my failings... Past Journals
September 2017
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