In which the group seeks the truth behind the organization known as the Order of the Golden Dawn.. LETS GO SHOPPING Standing around outside of Warehouse 4 on the shores of the river Bogen, the group contemplated their next move. The note Luna, the spirit-snake, had seen inside the warehouse told them that the shadowy group known as the Order of the Golden Dawn would be meeting that very evening, an hour past sunset. With the sun soon setting, priorities were considered. First stop was the Hammer and Tongs, a blacksmith run by a kindly worshipper of Sigmar, whom Drake had entrusted the repairs of his armor following the encounter with the daemon in the sewers. Unfortunately, the armor, while fully repaired, and reinforced with a thick leather padding, had not yet been decorated as Drake had intended, with a symbol of Sigmar, the twin-tailed comet. Drake however, sensing that he would need it soon, negotiated the return of the armor and promised to pay a small extra fee to complete the work when he returned. The armor had been expertly repaired, good as new, if not better - Drake no longer felt naked after putting it on. As they headed down the Langen Strasse through the bustling streets, filled with artisans and shops of every description, Cornelius entered a gemcutter's shop, guarded by a particularly mean and stupid-looking Ogre. Cornelius attempted to greet the brute, but was replied with only a furrowed, heavy brow and a longer stream of drool emerging from one corner of the oversized mouth. Moving inside, Cornelius found the object of his fervent desire - a pristine pearl, locked in a sturdy iron cage. After some vigorous haggling with the aged (even by dwarven standards) gemcutter by the group, Cornelius was able to purchase the pearl at an exceedingly good price. Dronk, meanwhile, at an adjacent jeweller, commissioned a signet ring with an elaborate insignia, then inquired about having one made with the logo of the Hand that was on the paper found in Cornelius's baggage. The jeweller informed them he had made several such rings over the past months, to the group's surprise. Cornelius commissioned one with the same symbol. Both were told to return the next day, and paid in advance. Also, Dronk selected a fine traveller's cloak (intended for children) of rough leather and an oversized hat of similar make from another merchant on the Langen Strasse. POWER STRUCTURES This done, and the sun now setting, the group headed at Hugo's suggestion to the temple of Ulric. They were all by now suspicious of the goings-on in Bogenhafen and didn't want to arouse further suspicion by asking the wrong people - they needed to find out more about the Order of the Golden Dawn. Baroon was certain he saw someone following the group from a distance, but on the busy streets it was hard to be certain. All, though, felt the distinct sense of being watched. At the Temple of Ulric, they informed the priest of the murder of the doom-sayer, and then asked about the merchant families in the town, without revealing their interest. They heard how local trade was dominated by four powerful families, the Haagens, the Ruggsbroders, the Teugens and the Steinhagers. Together, they were by far the richest and most well-known merchants and controlled the cities local politics. Other significant institutions also had a vote in the town council, such as the head priest of Sigmar (recently deceased), major guilds such as the Stevedores guild and Sergeant of the Watch. Unlike many towns, Bogenhafen was ruled by the council, although the local noble - who lived some distance away - collected a small tithe each year - a tithe of immense value, however, given Bogenhafens prosperous markets. The priest informed them that the Teugel family lived in a house on the Adel Ring, along with other rich merchants, though he wasn't sure exactly where. With the sun having set, the group headed out in search of the Teugel residence, where the note they had found indicated a meeting would be taking place an hour after sundown. They found the Adel Ring easily, a place notable for its mansions surrounded by high walls, each gated and patrolled by guards. In the middle of the ring was a large park, ringed in trees. Even now in the dark, groups of people could be seen in the park, and two groups of Watch patrolled the ring itself. This place is a fortress, thought Dronk to himself. The group questioned a passing Watch patrol, and found themselves paying a bribe to the greedy man before he directed them to the specific house they were looking for. Here, they split up, with Hugo and Drake walking in a slow, purposeful walk while appearing to be engaging in conversation - Dronk attempted to sneak in the trees along the park rim, only to disturb a rich young couple sitting in the grass. Baroon and Corenlius headed towards the house, and Dronk followed. In a corner of the park not far from where they stood, a duel between two young men took place before their eyes, with fatal results for both. Cornelius attempted to pick up one of the fallen men's pistols, but was seen and quickly muttered some excuse before handing it to the entourage of the now dead man. Baroon attempted to save the life of one of the dead men, but was initially rebuffed by his supporters in their grief, before they came to their senses and allowed him to approach. Unfortunately, it was too late, and Baroon said a prayer to Sigmar for the dead. WATCHERS IN THE DARK Meanwhile, Drake and Hugo had stopped and stood talking - while really watching the Teugen residence closely. They didn't have to wait long before they saw the first of what became a parade of coaches pull up to the house. Out of each emerged a man dressed in fine merchant's clothing and carrying a small bundle. They would greet the armed doorman, who would then call out and the gates would open, allow the man through then close again quickly. Only one of the coaches had a recognizable symbol - that of the Steinhager family. Cornelius, Baroon and Dronk, leaving the scene of the duel, now headed to the house. The doorman sized them up quickly, then rudely dismissed them, telling them it was a private party. Cornelius had hardly started to object when another carriage pulled up, nearly hitting him, and they got a close look at the man who emerged - a middle aged merchant in rich red silks, carrying, as with the others, a small bundle wrapped in cloth. The man didnt even glance at them as he headed inside with a nod to the doorman. The group then gathered where Hugo and Drake had been standing. They were feeling increasingly conspicuous as there were few people on the Adel Ring, other than the Watch patrols doing a constant circuit of the circular road. They were discussing how best to enter the premises, feeling it necessary to stop whatever evil goings-on were happening inside, yet knew the people present were rich, influential and well-guarded. Dronk and Cornelius headed back to the Warehouse where the snake had seen - but not picked up - the letter informing the Inner Circle of the Golden Dawn of the meeting. Dronk was able to easily sneak into the warehouse using his rope and grapping hook, retrieve the letter, and be back outside without arousing suspicion. As they started back to where the rest of the group waited they saw someone following them, one of the very thugs who had threatened Baroon earlier. Cornelius walked towards him, shouting for him to come out of the shadows - and the man turned and disappeared down a side street. "Figures.." thought Cornelius. Back at the Adel Ring, Drake and Hugo noticed a coach pull up and one of the merchants who arrived earlier leaving the Teugen house. The coach passed right by them, and headed further down the road before stopping - they saw the man emerge and enter another one of the mansions. Drake, seeing an opportunity, ran over to the house, with Hugo and Baroon right behind. THE INSIDER At the gate they demanded to be let in, and eventually the staff complied. They were led into a waiting room off the entrance, and shortly after a richly dressed man entered, seemingly angry at being disturbed. They introduced themselves to the man, who returned the favor. His name was Friedrich Magirius, and he was a successful trader of wool and wine. He led them into a dining room, offered food and drink (which they declined) and asked they their business. They told him of what they knew, and threatened that if he was in league with Chaos, they would destroy him and his family. He seemed shocked at the accusation, then as they talked further, explained that the Order of the Golden Dawn was a group of merchants of which he was a member, who kept their activities secret for a number of reasons. They donated to the Church of Shallya and Bogenhauer, ran a soup kitchen and other good works. This was all a misunderstanding, he claimed. Drake and Hugo pressed the point, describing the temple in the cellar and the daemon they fought within it. Surely he must know something - the group told him that someone is in league with the Ruinous Powers. He seemed to falter as they told him more details, then offered the complete truth. It was true indeed that the Order of the Golden Dawn did many good works, and the lesser members knew only of those activities. But the group also worked together to enforce a monopoly power in Bogenhafen, which is why Magirius joined in the first place. The Order was led by Johannes Teugel, who was the younger son of the family and had came back from Altdorf only a few years ago. Shortly after his return his brother died suddenly, and Johannes became head of the family. The Teugels fortunes soared, and they became easily the richest family in the city. "Johannes seems to always profit and we have all done well by him..but." And then came the real revelation. Johannes and the Inner Circle was planning a ritual, a spell that Teugen claimed would make them all rich beyond their wildest dreams and ensure the future of the town for a generation. Magirius admitted he had agreed to participate in the ritual - but that tonight at the meeting he had told them a sacrifice would be needed. A human sacrifice. "And you didnt think there was anything wrong with this?!" exploded Drake, furiously. Magiriuis seemed shaken. "I don't know..I don't know what I was thinking. Johannes has never led us wrong..but.." Baroon studied the man, as he started to break down. "I have two daughters! I tell you, until tonight I knew nothing of any sacrifice - and the daemon I have no knowledge of! You must believe me!" The group reassured him and asked where and when the ritual would take place. He didnt know, Teugen was to tell him the location, but he knew it would be in a warehouse. He would know tomorrow afternoon, Teugen would send a messenger - and the ritual was set for an hour after dark, the next day. They agreed they would accompany Magiriuis to the ritual dressed as his entourage, and he agreed to send for them at the Traveller's Inn the next day once he knew the location. A MAGICAL ILLNESS The group left Magirius' house, just as Dronk and Cornelius reached the Adel Ring. The group now rejoined, they headed to the Magistrate's house. They noticed the green moon of Morrsleib seemed even larger than the night before, though it was not quite full - and they thought they could see a face appearing within the moon. They were greeted at their destination by an aged housekeeper, Gilda, who informed them the Magistrate had taken seriously ill since being visited by the Captain of the Watch earlier in the day. They found Magistrate Richter in bed, his eyes bulging, his tongue grossly swollen. Gilda, distraught, said the doctor wasnt sure what was wrong with him. Baroon invoked the power of Sigmar, and felt the presence of no ordinary disease - but a magical one, a form of wasting curse that ended life painfully. Drake bent over the stricken man's bed, and placed his hands directly on his forehead, closing his eyes while whispering to Sigmar. The power of the god of Men flowed through him, and slowly, the color returned to the Magisrates cheeks and the other symptoms abated. "You've saved him! Praise Sigmar! Oh, thank you! Thank you good sirs!" cried Gilda as she rushed to his bedside. No sooner had she said that then Hugo noticed shadowy figures on the street outside the house, and a crash was heard downstairs. Rushing down, they found a window smashed with a rock - and through it they could see figures in the dark. Gilda screamed as someone outside said "Oi, you lot! We warned ya, now we gonna 'ave ta bash ya fookin heads in! C'mon out!" COME OUT AND PLAY Without a moment's hesitation, Hugo and Drake took up the challenge. Hugo hefted Vilkas, his two-handed war maul, and Drake drew his reliable greatsword, both oversized and intimidating weapons, and ran to the door, screaming battle cries. What they found was a large group of thugs, split on either side, at least ten strong, awaiting them in the darkened back street. The entire group surged towards them, as they did so, one, the leader, a pot-bellied man with a massive mouth, died screaming as a bolt fired by the unseen Dronk through the broken window buried itself to the feathers into his neck. "Sigmar! Protect us with the shield of your faith!" called Baroon, as he waved his holy symbol of Sigmar. A shimmering light seemed to surround Drake, a faint light, almost imperceptible. The thugs came at Drake and Hugo in a maddened rush, perhaps spurred on by strong drink or weird-root. Their attacks were clumsy, and Drake almost casually deflected the wild swings of the first two who rushed him. The third, approaching from his side, made to stab him, but the power of the Shield of Faith turned the strike aside. More attacked Hugo, the first stumbling and nearly falling over, the club of the other kicked aside by Hugo's booted foot. Hugo contemptuously thought to himself 'Not trained warriors - hardly a challenge'. Vilkas, Hugo's devastating war maul, glinted in the green light of Morrsleib as he raised it - then brought it down, aiming for the head of his nearest assailant. The man twisted away, just in time to avoid what would have been a killing blow - but Hugo anticipated this, and stabbed with Vilkas like a spear into the man's chest, collapsing his ribcage and sending him sprawling into the road. A BLOODY SLAUGHTER Drake swept his sword in a broad arc of steel death, cleaving one of the thugs, a thickly muscled man with a thick red beard, at his shoulder, nearly severing his arm. He screamed in pain as blood splattered across the dirty cobblestones, and fell to the ground, dead or dying. Cornelius had, since the window was smashed, been preparing the words of Power. He ran to the shattered window where Dronk was reloading his crossbow, and gathering the threads of magick about him, smashed his hands together and unleashed the power of thunder! Those outside were nearly deafened by the sound and Hugo and Drake felt a rush of warm air and their hairs stood on end as a wave of static coursed around them. Blood rained down from behind. The thug closest to the window, a mere youth, had absorbed most of the blast and..exploded. A leg fell to the ground with a sickening thud. Another two been standing beside the target of Cornelius's wrath - who had been poised to attack Hugo and Drake from their blind spot - fell to the ground, blood pouring from their eyes and ears, their hair afire. Seeing this, the remaining ruffians wavered, looks of doubt on their faces. In mere moments, their leader and half their number lay dead or dying in the street. They had little time to think before another shouted in agony - with one of Dronk's black-feathered bolts protruding from his eye-socket. This was enough for one of the thugs in the back, who turned and ran as fast as his legs would carry him. The others were not so lucky. An attacker with long black hair tied tightly behind his head swung a cudgel at Drake's head, only to have his arm intercepted by Drake - and then pulled, slowly, down onto the blade of his greatsword, impaling the attacker. The man gargled as his life-blood poured from his mouth, a look of surprise and horror frozen on his face. Baroon called from within "Keep one alive, we must question him!" At this, the last surviving thug turned to flee, but Hugo swung Vilkas at his legs, breaking them both in one, fell, swoop. The man collapsed, his weapon falling to the ground, clutching his mangled legs. Drake grabbed the injured man from under his arms and dragged him into the Magistrates house, where Drake lay his hands on the mans legs, healing him enough to prevent his dying. By now dogs could be heard barking, and they could hear the approach of the Watch. The group pulled the wounded man into a back room, and Hugo went back into the street. Before him, in the side street behind the house of the Magistrate Richter, lay a scene of carnage. The bodies of their attackers were strewn about the road like discarded firewood. Blood covered the cobblestones and the nearby houses. The smell of death and singed hair filled the air, as from the main street adjoining came running a Watch patrol..
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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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