Where our heroes set off in their new riverboat, courtesy of the Graf of Bogenhafen, seeking their fate.. A THREE HOUR TOUR As they stood at the quays of Castle Grauenburg with the riverboat Maria Borger, the group decided the name had to change. Calling one of the Graf's workers, they had a new sign created at the back of the boat. They called it the 'Wayward Derelict' - an ill-omened name, perhaps, but a name all the same. This river boat was unusual, in that it had two rudders to steer. Hugo began training Drake on how to operate the vessel. It was a medium-sized riverboat, with a single mast and a broad sail, slots for oarsmen when needed, and a hooded, storm-proof lantern affixed in front. The Graf had been kind enough to furnish the boat with 6 reasonably comfortable hammocks, a set of navigational charts and a sextant, as well as some supplies for repairing the boat should it be necessary. It would take 4 men to operate the boat at a minimum, with a crew of 6 being optimal. With their vessel renamed and all their possessions aboard, the group set sail - destination? Grissenwold, in pursuit of the suspected Black Magister, Etelka Helzen. It was hundreds of miles and would take weeks to reach Grissenwold, but the land route would be nearly double that. Red, having never been on a boat before, found the journey difficult to begin, though he was mostly able to choke back his bile. The others, however, could see his face had taken a slightly green tinge. For several days the party pushed slowly upstream against the River Bogen. The trip was mostly uneventful. When they reached Weissbruck and the canal, it was evening of the third day, so they docked and some headed ashore - Drake and Red to the nearest tavern, while Hugo and Cornelius went seeking some cargo to fill the hold and keep their cover as river merchants. Dronk and Baroon stayed back on the boat, playing dice and cracking lewd jokes. CAUGHT PURPLE HANDED Cornelius and Hugo met with a merchant selling iron, one of Weissbruck's few exports. While many goods were available in Weissbruck, only iron was reasonably priced. However, even the cheap price the merchant quoted was too rich for the group, so with an arcane gesture and a whisper into the merchants ear, Cornelius used Suggestion to tell the merchant to sell the goods at half cost - and he complied, even sending men to help load the Wayward Derelict. Meanwhile, in the Happy Man tavern, Red and Drake were busy getting drunk. Red, being a dwarf, found it easy to keep apace with the Templar of the Firey Heart and yet stay sober, while Drake slipped into a state of extreme intoxication. It was while drinking Red, his Slayer sense ever-keen, noticed a man across the common room staring at Drake. When he looked again, the man had vanished into the crowd of people - mostly boatmen - singing, drinking and gambling the night away. He had a sense that the man - if man he was - was a threat, and his jaw tightened. Hugo and Cornelius had watched the stevedores move most of the iron ore into the Wayward Derelict from the merchant's warehouse. The work mostly completed, they followed the last load towards the docks. As they did so they heard a gravelly voice shout 'Hey you! Catch!' and a small object was thrown towards Cornelius, landing directly at his feet. Cornelius began to inspect the object carefully with his arcane magics, and found it to be a simple rock, wrapped inside of what appeared to be a soaking wet rag, colored purple. The package thus opened, Hugo strode over and picked up the purple rag, as he did so he realized his hands had become stained with the purple color. Disconcerted, he dropped the rag and began trying to wipe his hands off on random nearby objects, the dirt on the ground, his boots. Nothing worked. It appeared the stain was unnatural, perhaps some foul Chaos magic. Cornelius realized the package had been intended for him. NO SLEEP TILL ALTDORF Drake was hauled back to the boat by a wary Red - his feet stumbling, occasionally stopping to vomit - the strong drink had gotten the best of him. When they finally made it to the Wayward Derelict, they were the last to arrive, with Hugo scrubbing his hands furiously with a wet rock, Cornelius checking the iron ore to make sure it had been stowed away properly, Baroon in meditation and Dronk laying on the deck, staring at the stars in the sky. He had to move quickly though as when Drake stepped foot on the swaying boat, another fit of sickness overtook him, and while most of the puke ended in the Reik, a not small amount splashed over the decks. Disgusted, Baroon roused himself from his meditations and cured Drake's drunkenness. Suddenly sober, stinking of drink and vomit, Drake was somewhat confused by his surroundings - and secretly embarrassed - and with a muttered thanks to Red, headed belowdecks for some needed rest. They made fast time up the Weissbruck canal after paying the lock-keeper, and sleeping on the boat, saved the few coins they had left rather than paying for a bed in one of the many canal-side inns. Within a few days, the spires of Altdorf loomed in the distance. As they pulled into the docks of Altdorf, the busiest - perhaps after the sea-port of Marienburg - docks in the Old World. Boats of all sizes and descriptions were moving, tightly packed together, and Drake and Hugo were hard-pressed to navigate through the unfamiliar traffic. Suddenly, with a groan, they smashed into a much larger vessel that had been passing to starboard. There was a snapping sound, and then yells from the other boat. A cold feeling settled over the party, Dronk in particular (who quickly hid himself) when they realized from the markings and flags that this boat, with its swivel-guns that could sweep the decks of anything living in a hail of red-hot shrapnel, was a patrol boat of the Riverwardens. A man with a large hat with a single crimson feather sticking in it came into view. "Fucking idiot! What kind of fool is your captain, crashing into our fine lady! You'll be paying for those damages, of course, and whats more, I have a mind to bring you in for careless navigation! Prepare to be boarded!" Dronk shuddered, knowing if they found the 'bottled fruit' in the hold below, he could be facing a long stint in a forced work camp. Drake and Hugo, dressed in hide armors so they would not sink if knocked overboard, were not immediately apparent as Templars, yet they still carried themselves with an air of authority. Cornelius came from belowdecks dressed in the livery of a Celestial Wizard. Baroon was wearing his armor, adorned with the purity seals of Sigmar and could not be mistaken for anything but a War Priest. There were mutters amongst the crew of the Riverwardens boat. Drake and Hugo addressed the captain of the Riverwardens, as the swivel guns were manned and aimed at everyone on deck. They explained they had a writ of passage from the Graf of Bogenhafen and that they should not be boarded or searched. Clearly they were not criminals, they petitioned. The arrogant Riverwarden captain, used to being a law unto himself, read the document and scoffed. He saw the wild-looking Red who was silently running a finger down the blade of his axe as he grinned, and the angry looking Celestial Wizard, and looked at the document the party had given him again. "Well. you're still a bloody fool, but an official bloody fool, now!" he muttered, clearly angry that he would be unable to board the vessel. "Nothing in here says you are immune to being searched and boarded, and besides, the Graf has no power over us - we hold our powers in honor from the Emperor himself!" At this, Cornelius yelled at the man, explaining that they were on a mission of the utmost importance, and woe unto the man who delayed them. The captain finally relented, possibly distracted by all the ships that were nearby and close to colliding with their ship. "Fine, go with Sigmar, but by all the Nine Hells, if you do something this stupid again I'll have you brought to the magistrates for a lashing, writ or no writ!" Without further comment the party quickly disengaged from the Riverwarden's ship, throwing off the lines, and docked at Altdorf, paying a small docking fee as was typical of all ports. THE CITY OF SIGMAR Altdorf is the capital of the Empire, and one of the greatest cities of the Old World. The walls ringing it are nearly twently feet thick and fifty feet high - when the Wayward Derelict arrived the crew could see teams of dwarven engineers at work reinforcing the massive walls, under a edict of the Emperor. Docking, Hugo, his hands still purple but now covered in gloves, and Cornelius went into the city to try to find a good price for their ore. Unfortunately, they found they could hardly get a profit from the greedy merchants they talked to, and so asked around about better places. They did hear that Caslte Reikguard, just down the river, was forming a new regiment of Reiksguard and as always forged their own weapons - perhaps they could get a better price for the ore there? Meanwhile, Drake and Baroon headed to the Cathedral of Sigmar, where Drake asked about news of the Blackheart family. The priests and templars had heard nothing, but Drake was beside himself with concern since hearing the strange news from Red, about his family not ruling in their ancestral fort outside Vodf, far to the east. Drake pleaded with the Templar-Captain on duty, and eventually the man relented, and offered to send an Initiate of the Order of the Firey Heart to Vodf to find out what was going on. Drake was scolded by the man, saying he must put aside all personal ties in order to serve Sigmar better. Drake nodded, but inside his heart did not change. Red and Dronk stayed aboard, but managed to avoid each other completely. Red knew that Dronk was about and walked where he pleased, but Dronk simply changed position if he heard the slayer approaching. He had a healthy respect for Red, but also a mixture of pity and contempt and had no interest in private conversation with this dwarf whom he hardly knew. As they wandered Altdorf, several of the group had the sensation of being watched, but could not locate the source in the bustling city streets. Their business completed, it was nearing dark when they set sail out of Altdorf, this time, to the south down the river Reik. Before they did so, Drake produced a large feast, layed out on some boxes, and called the party out. Fine wines, cheeses, fresh venison, even grapes were laid out as though at a nobleman's banquet. A last supper? THE SEMAPHORE MACHINE Several days passed uneventfully as they moved down the swiftly flowing Reik, this time with the current. This was a busy section of the river and the Wayward Derelict passed many farms and villages initially, then the banks turned to the dense forests of the Reikwald. Boats of all shapes and sizes were on the wide river, small fishing boats and even rowboats, large river barges three times the size of their own vessel, even a pleasure boat filled with drunken nobles. Red shook his head at the last, at the stupidity and carelessness of the manling race. It was late in the afternoon when they spotted the strange contraption - a tower under construction with a series of mirrors at the top, affixed to a pole. Baroon mentioned he had heard of these devices - "semaphore machines" - that the Emperor had commissioned to send messages over long distances, being distrustful of magic, or couriers. They could see, at the docks near the construction, two dwarves frantically waving at them, one of whom carried a large coin purse. Hugo and Drake skillfully swung the boat around and slowed in front of the dock. The dwarves asked for passage from this 'cursed place' and offered to pay well. They didn't even care which direction they would go! As the party deliberated, a stern looking dwarf dressed as an engineer, with various tools and measuring devices unfamiliar to anyone in the party, came up and started yelling at the two other dwarves. "Deserters! I'll have you hung if you leave! We have a mandate, from the Emperor himself!" The dwarf introduced himself as Higmar Dankil and told the group that he was in charge of the construction of the semaphore machine. He said it had started well, but the project did seemed cursed from the start - men falling off ladders and other strange happenings. Now though, three dwarves had disappeared in as many nights, without a trace. They could be deserters, he supposed, but he wasn't sure. He offered to pay the group to stay, being of a military nature in his mind, as they would reassure the surviving dwarves and hopefully let them finish the project. THE DEAD THINGS Inspecting the tower, the group found that, as Higmar told them, he had chosen a site with an existing foundation, centuries old but conveniently flat, smooth and level, a perfect location in the engineer's view. When talking to the other dwarves though, they muttered it was a cursed place, perhaps 'an elvish tomb'. Though they spent the afternoon and evening scouring the tower and grounds, they could find no entrance to any space underneath the tower. It seemed the engineer was correct - the slab wasnt hollow. Nevertheless, knowing they would be getting paid, sick of sleeping on the boat and with the sun nearly set, they decided to stay for the evening, in the unfinished tower. Dronk told the others he would rather stay on the boat, while discreetly keeping an eye on the cargo the Cutter had entrusted him with. No way he was going to get jacked, he thought to himself - this is my ticket to the big-time! The dwarves slept some distance away, near the docks, where the lit a large bonfire. The group set watches, and started to settle in for what looked to be an uneventful night. In the quietest hour of the night, when the dwarves fire was naught but ashes and all slumbered except Hugo, on watch, a perfectly hidden stone trapdoor open, perfectly silently. Before he could even stand, a hideous skeleton creature, clad in blackened, battered armor, its eyes aglow, and grasping a rusty iron longsword, sprang from the hole, silent as a feather. It seemed only semi-solid and insubstantial - it lunged for Drake with its free hand as it sensed the rich life-force - it wanted to feed. Hugo kicked Drake as he swung his hammer, yelling 'Foes! Awaken brother!' and Drake opened his eyes to see this undying monstrosity reaching for his face, and he swung himself just in time to avoid its deadly grasp. Hugo smashed the creature with Vikas, the von Wolfhardt ancestral war-maul, but his weapon passed through the thing as though it were liquid. He could tell it hurt as the thing made an unmentionable shreik of agony and swang with its rusty, jagged longsword. Drake brought his greatsword up in an arc as he invoked the power of Sigmar to slay the unholy abomination. A blinding light filled the blade as he cleaved the thing in two, like Hugo his weapon passing through the creature, though it slowly rejoined - this time though, where his blade touched, the thing seemed to smoulder and burn. It shrieked in rage. SIGMAR'S WRATH Red had awoken from nearby and rushed inside the room, swinging his greataxe down into the face of the thing. Unlike the others, his weapon unsilvered, it was like cutting into wood. Red grimaced, pulled his axe free and began hacking at the thing. As he did so, all three could see another one, just like the first, come from the hole. It flowed, rather than moved, as an apparition. Meanwhile, Baroon and Cornelius hurried up the hill. They had been at the foot of the mound where they had built another fire, and Cornelius had entertained the dwarves - before they fell asleep - by singing a rendition of 'Lula', a well-loved tavern ballad. Now, hearing the shouts of their companions and the ringing of steel, as well as the rattle of the undead, they rushed up the steep hill towards the entrance of the tower. Dronk was awoken by the noises, and considered heading out to see what was going on, then thought of his cargo, and stayed put. Drake swung again, the power of Sigmar flowing through him, and the thing screamed and broke apart like a parchment torn by horses, a shower of dust and dirt that fell to the ground, even as the now-empty armor and rusty longsword clattered to the stone floor alongside. Something else dropped too, what looked like a small iron rod, on a chain. Hugo smashed the wight directly in the face, making its head vanish for a moment before it reformed, as Red chopped at the body repeatedly. The thing began moaning - a unclean sound that filled them all with dread. The remaining creature lunged at Drake, seeking to kill the threat it saw in the hated Templar. He easily avoided the grasp of the wight, then blocked a skillful thrust of its evil longsword. With a war-cry, he brought his greatsword down, the holy light filling it with power. The thing burned as it died. As it did, its possessions clattered to the ground, just as Baroon and Cornelius reached the tower. They saw Red, Hugo and Drake, untouched but breathing heavily - and in the middle of the room, a previously hidden trap door was open. Looking in, all they could see was inky black darkness. Outside, something howled. A wolf? Perhaps, but there are worse things in the Reikwold than wolves on a night like this..
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12/7/2016 12:43:53 am
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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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