A continuation of the retelling of the path the group has followed through these tumultuous times.. A SHORT REST At Castle Grauenburg, the group were greeted as heroes. The castle was now manned not only by the local militia of Graf von Sapontheim, but a cadre of Knights Panther. There, they found the Inner Council of the Ordo Fidelis gathered and waiting for them - Hieronymous the High Magister of the Celestial College, Erszebet, a cleric of Verena, Arnulf the Witch Hunter and Kaiser, a Knight-Captain of the Order of the White Wolf. The massive warpstone meteorite the group had kept safe since its retrieval from Castle Eslohe was carefully brought into the castle under cover of darkness, still safe in it's lead casket, and in agreement with the Inner Council, brought to the deepest dungeon under the castle, to be stored in a locked room and guarded round-the-clock by hand picked members of the Knights Panther. The group told the Council all they had seen and done since Bogenhafen - but it came as no surprise to the Ordo Fidelis, as a familiar face emerged from the shadows. It was Magnus, the Grey Wizard who had helped the party in the assault on Castle Eslohe! He had been spying on the group, using his powerful illusion magic and ability to transform into a bird. He cast the group a wry smile, and excused himself. TO THE VICTORS, THE SPOILS The group was brought good food and strong drink, and congratulated for their successes in Eslohe. The Inner Circle told them that they had proved themselves as true hearts and defenders of the Empire, and wished to induct them fully into the Ordo Fidelis. The party agreed, and each received a tattoo using magical ink, the secret sigil of the Ordo known only to other members. In addition to this, each was given a medal forged of iron in the symbol of the twin-tailed comet of Sigmar, showing the initials O. F. and with their names on the reverse, painted in bright, vivid colours. The party received other, more tangible rewards as a token of the appreciation of the Ordo Fidelis for their exertions:
HELL IN A HANDBASKET The party was informed of the many events in the Empire that had the Council most disturbed...
In addition to all of this, the Inner Council continued, the leader of the Ordo Fidelis, Baron Konrad Alpiger, has been unable to meet with the Emperor for weeks. The Emperor surrounds himself with Reiksguard and his personal advisors. His son, Wolfgang, remains at Castle Reikguard, rumoured to be under lock and key. Baron Alpiger suspects that enemies of the Empire - perhaps cultists - have penetrated the Emperor's inner circle, and the Altdorf is no longer safe. Alpiger has gone into hiding. In this dark time, the Inner Council has been instructed to carry out his wishes. THE COUNCIL OF THE ORDO The party spoke with the Inner Council until late in the night. They told the Council of the letter they had found in Eslohe from one Gotthard von Eslohe, the younger brother of the necromancer Magritte, which seemed to indicate he was involved in cultist activities in Middenheim. The Council agreed this was worrisome, but was not convinced that the groups efforts should be focused there, with so many threats to the Empire swirling about at once. Hieronymous told them he had made some progress in understanding the omens witnessed in the skies above Bogenhafen many moons ago. It seems that some great threat lurks that threatens the Empire - nay, Humanity itself - and somehow, the party was directly connected to it. Cyrus scoffed at this 'Sorcery and prognostications' he muttered - but the others were not so sure. The Council urged them to investigate the Army of Sigmar and the Wolves of Ulric, before they inflamed a religious war amongst the peasantry, but the group was adamant - they would go to Middenheim in pursuit of Gotthard von Eslohe - for his family had killed their friend Drake Blackheart. The Council conceded and said they would help them in any way possible. First though, was the small matter of the huge warpstone meteorite. It was clearly being sought after by the Purple Hand and Red Crown, to what end was not known. The party had detected scrying magics following them as they made their way down the Reik, and it was thought that the pirates who ambushed them had been seeking to recover it. The Council agreed it must be kept safe - but how? The cults surely knew the meteorite and the group had reached Catle Grauenburg. A CUNNING PLAN The group asked if additional riverboats could be brought up, and decoys sent off in every direction. In the light of morning, a heavy casket would be brought to each of the three vessels, each with a coterie of Knights Panther, and the boats would set sail in opposite directions down the river. They would reach no destination, but only stop to take on food and water and continue travelling. The idea was to confuse their pursuers, and make them think that one of the boats contained that which they sought, forcing them to break up their focus across more than one target. The Inner Council agreed this was a sly plan - in the meantime, the council would remain at Castle Grauenburg and keep watch, along with the Knights Panther, over the warpstone, to keep it safe and out of the hands of the cultists. The party spent several days at the castle while preparations were made. This was their first real time of rest and peace in the past months, and they took full advantage of it. Hugo was often seen outside practicing with his various weapons, sometimes joined by Cyrus as the two dueled, at least when Cyrus was not consumed with prayer. Dronk similarly spent some time honing his skills, but mostly enjoyed the rich food and drink on offer. Edmee fully recovered from the horrid wound inflicted on her by the cursed warpblade by the assassin during the battle with the pirates, and spent much time in silent meditation. BACK TO THE RIVER Once the boats were brought up, the group left the same day, the damage to the Wayward Derelict having been repaired and the provisions restocked. The four boats headed out, parting ways when Altdorf appeared on the horizon - though one headed east down the river Bogen. The group set sail for the north - for Middenheim. Hugo remarked that in a few weeks time, the great Carnival of Middenheim would be getting underway..
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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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