S3E4: Death on the Reik - Kemperbad

Leaving the Tower: Without success, Agnes shook the study books hoping to find the 6^th key inside a cutout. Henryk insisted, “This basalt base is over 2000 years old. The layer of dust suggests 100 years undisturbed. I still say the surviving heir of that portrait family has the 6^th magical key.” They returned to the barge full of snoring dwarves. Come morning, they announced the tower cleansed. Master Anjuyllis convinced them to stay, “Only 4 days to complete. The easiest gold per day you’ll ever earn.” On the 5^th day, Anjuyllis acted as pay-master, and handed them script, “Empire IOU, payable in Kemperbad or any large city. As good as gold and without the weight.”

On the horizon: They set their sights on Kemperbad where they hoped to find ‘Ostmark Loorbeer c/o The Plummet’s Prospect’. Perhaps bring up Kastor Lieberung’s letter announcing the inheritance a false ploy to draw them out. The same letter that fingered Etelka Hertzen as a professional rival. The same Loorbeer (and Kuln) addressed in a letter from The Arch Lumen who assigned spies to follow the barge. That letter implies Loorbeer may not be a true ally of Kastor. Is Gary bold enough to assume the role of Kastor to get Ostmark to talk? Henryk is anxious to ‘convince’ (aka torture) him into explaining the plans.

Henryk (Bill) noble, Ranger/Witch-Hunter level2

Brandiwyn (Tony) RiverWarden

Mallorhan (Brian) wood-elf Messenger…absent

Gary (Matt) Warrior/Cavalryman

Sister Agnes (Duane) noble, Warrior Priestess of Shallya

Katja (Geoff) noble, Entertainer/Bounty Hunter

 Shoving Off: They gave passage to the dwarves also bound for Kemperbad. Tailwinds sped them along, challenging Brandi’s sailing abilities, considering the other barge in tow with Agnes and Katja as its crew. “Drop a stern drag-bucket to keep the tow-rope taunt.” Hours along the river till Henryk up in the crows-nest called out, “Musket blasts and yelling ahead. I can just make out the shape of a large ship run aground on the northern bank. Men run across its decks.” All eyes rushed to the railing as they swept closer, “That’s the imperial banner of Karl Franz!” “What’s that stretched across the river?” “It’s a chain!” “What’s that sticking out of the ship’s side? A ballista bolt!”

Pirates: Skiffs crossed the river and tied up to the grounded ship railing. They were close enough to see pirates scramble aboard and begin slaughtering the imperial crew. From the towed barge, Katja’s eyes searched the opposite shore. “I see it! They’re reloading the ballista!” With the aid of the dwarves, Gary and Henryk lugged the small cannons to their swivel mounts. Brandi sung out, “Let me get closer within range for the cannons.” Gary cautioned, “We’re already in THEIR range!” Brandi reconsidered his plan, and ordered the stern anchor dropped. “Brace for impact!” Luckily the 2^nd barge only nudged the ‘LostnFound’. Katja and Agnes climbed aboard leaving dwarves in charge.

Gary licked his thumb to then rub the cannon’s forward sight to better his aim. “BOOM!” Smoke and flames erupted from its barrel as the ball hurdled across the river. Direct hit! 2 pirate bodies lifted into the air and tumbled into the river along with wreckage of the trees and the ballista itself. Gary sang out, “For the Emperor!” Pirates aboard the imperial ship took notice and began racing toward the stern to close the range for their crossbows. Katja had to aim upwards considering the imperial ship had a higher deck (even if it was listing toward the river). With the target destroyed, Henryk abandoned the aft cannon, grabbed a musket, and rushed to the forward port musket-mount. Splinters rose from the railing to his side reminding him to crouch for cover from crossbow bolts. Sister Agnes crouched behind the cabin and prayed for her allies.

Another bolt hit Gary still at the forward cannon mount. Thankfully his heavy armor absorbed most of the hit. He pulled a pistol and returned fire, killing one pirate. Henryk peppered another with a musket blast. Katja’s crossbow bolt dropped another who tumbled into the river. But that’s when, with cover from 3 crossbow men, 2 pirates jumped down to the deck of the ‘LostnFound’. One sprawled at Henryk’s feet. The witch-hunter fired the coup-de-grace with his pistol then picked up another readied musket to shoot at the other boarder. By now, Gary had already leapt up to the imperial deck, landing between 2 pirates reloading their crossbows. In short order, he terminated their existence. The last threat raised his hands in surrender.

And that’s when a portly, well-dressed noble exited the cabin of the imperial ship. “Thank goodness for your arrival. I am Count Otto Boorman. The Plenipotentiary to the Emperor. I’m on a mission to Kemperbad exercising the suzerain rite (larger state rule over a lesser state) to address this exact issue. The lack of river patrols to keep these vermin at bay. Oh my, I forgot to ask: do you have any nobles aboard?” And that’s when Agnes exited the ‘LostnFound’ cabin, dressed in her fine clothing, “Well met. May we be of service?” The count obliged, “Well, for starters, tie up that pirate, add weights, and toss him into the river.” Now Katja protested, “I too am of noble blood. But that sir is my bounty I plan to turn in for reward.” Boorman countered, “Here’s 5 gold. Consider the bounty paid. Now off with him.”

Brandi spoke up, “I see your ship a wreck sir. What cargo have you that we might transfer aboard for delivery?” The count beamed, “Cargo?! Why me of course. Tell your crew to gather my luggage and bottles of wine.” Five dwarves had to make two trips to transfer all the luggage.

Kemperbad: Brandi looked forlornly over his shoulder as they left the imperial ship grounded, “That would have earned a hefty finder’s fee.” The hours delay caused them to arrive near dusk. The setting sun over their shoulders cast a reddish hue to the silhouette of Kemperbad perched atop a 500 ft cliff. The dwarves proudly explained the marvel before them, “Our ancestors crafted the lift mechanism. See those lift cages? Counterweights. Faster than the 1,327 steps alternative.”

Once the barge docked, Count Boorman was already at the railing impatiently waiting for a hand and plank to aid his coming ashore. “Agnes, Katja. Come along dears. We’ve only hours to shop for your regal clothing if you are to accompany me to tonight’s banquet in my honor.” Agnes started to protest considering she already wore her finest. Only then did she admit the moth-eaten holes that peppered her current attire. Katja was just as reluctant…but kept her mouth closed. The count momentarily squealed when the lift lurched upwards, “Oh my! Thought I was going to lose my lunch. But the view from above is spectacular.”

Master Anjuyllis and the dwarves departed, “Look us up and we’ll help improve your weapons as promised.” Henryk began sweating profusely as he stared upwards at the cliff. Memories of the visage of his near transformation into a boarman made him quake. Memory of his childhood ‘dooming’ ceremony came to life. The sickly smell of incense, flames licking the brazier center-stage. Then the doomsayer’s vision, “You will rise to great heights but in the end, you will fall to your death. So Morr proclaims, so it will eventually be.”

Henryk paid the 2 pence lift-fee but kept his eyes closed throughout the ride. Topside, he departed for the Temple of Sigmar with the suspicious book displayed at the tower. A scholar sneered as he read, “It’s a study of warpstone. Nothing but corrupt ramblings about the green moon Morrslieb being pure warpstone. There’s even passages that form an evil spell.” Henryk watched as the book was soon torched. Only then did he implore the sigmarites to approve his career advance (from Interrogator to official Witch-Hunter). “Trade out your sword for a silvered blade and pick up a pistol. We’ll provide you a letter, good at any city with a temple, to borrow a horse with saddle and tack. Assuming you know how to ride. Spread the word of Sigmar while you bring the witches and evil ones to justice.”

Meanwhile, Gary and Brandi rode the lift up to the city in search of buyers for the cargo. Over the course of the next 2 days, they found a buyer for the metal and wool. Which afforded them gold to then buy more cargo to ship upriver. The merchant suggested, “Wine, brandy, and armament are always good sellers.” Maybe it was name recognition, but Brandiwyn settled on 280 ENC of brandy. “Enough to fill both our barges. But we’ll also need to hire a dependable crew of two. If they prove themselves worthy, we might be able to send them out on their own as an upstart to our own business venture.”

Load em Up: Henryk took the long way back to the barge; via the 1,327 steps. It was worse than the lift as his dooming whispered in his brain every step of the way. Agnes and Katja almost waddled aboard the barge, “Stuffed to the gills about to burst. The count kept ordering food non-stop and we had to appease him. Racks of lamb, skewers of all kinds of meat. Fruits. An endless flow of wine. I think I burst a seam in my new skirt waist.” Henryk showed contempt, “Bite me!” Brandi was more considerate, “So nice of you to share your whine with us. Now get back to work.”

Agnes ignored the jabs as she shared, “Katja was at her finest, drunk on stage and singing her heart out. I think the count might have a crush on her.” Katja squirmed, “No thanks! He’s large enough to CRUSH me!” Agnes continued, “We did hear gossip Etelka Hertzen bought a mine near Grissenwald. I wonder if that’s the same mine the dwarves mentioned?” Henryk added, “The sigmarite monks at the temple knew nothing of Loorbeer and Kuln. But they directed me to the The Plummet’s Prospect’. The barkeep said they’d long gone.”

Stevedores loaded the last of the cases of brandy and lashed everything down. As Gary checked the merchandise, he felt a tug on his hair. He turned to face the stomach of a LARGE man standing before him, waiting for acceptance of the job done. Gary just managed to catch sight of a smaller man sprinting down the dock, stuffing something into his breast pocket. Gary could just make out the flash of something purple upon his chest. A hand tattoo upon his chest?

Castoff: Light winds partially filled their sails as they plied against the current. Katja made note of passing skiffs, “I see the river-wardens are busy. The counts’ speech must have been effective. Maybe our confirmation of piracy swayed the doubters.”

Hours along the river, and further from the cliff city, river patrols evaporated. As lookout, Katja became distracted by the absence of patrols even behind them. When she finally turned to gaze forward, the sight of ship rigging almost upon them startled her into action, “Collision alarm! Ship adrift; no one steering!” The late warning caught Brandi off-guard. He spun the wheel, but the barge was slow to respond. Hulls scrapped then snagged on one another. Like dogs in heat. Close enough to read the ship name, Maria Borger. And see someone lashed to the ship wheel.

Henryk and Katja jumped across to the other ship. [heal 03] Henryk checked the man’s pulse and felt his cold skin…dead for hours. No blood or visible wounds, till he checked the man’s neck: 2 puncture wounds…”Vampire!” That brought Agnes and Gary over. Agnes confirmed, “Passed away in the night.” Gary noticed, “Look at the knots. He tied them himself. Must have know he was about to turn into one himself.” Henryk corrected, “Was about to turn?! You mean IS about to turn!” Katja provided manacles to restrain the limp body as they cut him down, placed him in the ship’s dingy, sprinkled oil, lit said oil, and set the skiff adrift.

Brandi turned the ‘LostnFound’ over to Mallorhan to then jump over himself. “Now we can check the rest of the ship.” Nothing on deck. Inside the cabin, they found two men, pale in color, not breathing, as they laid in their bunks. Puncture wounds. Brandi aided Henryk carrying them topside to stack in the last dingy as another pyre ship. They rejoined the search below. Gary led the procession down more steps to the bottom passenger deck. 4 rooms; 2 doors closed.

Gary opened the first and reached inside with a lantern. The flickering light revealed an open crate still partially filled with dirt. Dirt tracks led away from the crate. Agnes peered into the room and read the heraldry imprinted on the crate, “Count Orlock of Ostland.” Katja remembered, “Ostland? Wasn’t that the source of the ‘Bold Adventurers’ notice?” Agnes dug out the flier she’d saved, “It was penned by the Crown Prince Hergard Von Tasseninck. But didn’t he die up in the mountains along with his team?”

The trip down memory lane distracted them. Till Katja’s gaze followed the trail of dirt that led to a wall then up. Her eyes followed the trail up as her mouth opened at the scene of a vampire hanging from the ceiling! And just like that, it was upon her. Claws racked her arm as she fought back [crit…causing bleed]. Count Orlock smiled as he lapped at his own blood. And that’s when the other closed door behind them burst open. A female vampire emerged and pounced at Agnes. [melee 01] Fortune the surprised sister blocked the claws.

Close quarters. Gary oh so wanted to blast a hole in the side of the ship to let in sunlight, but this was an interior room. Instead, he blasted the count. The allies outnumbered the vampires but made little progress as the count drank his own blood to heal. And the female racked Henryk’s chest [7 wounds; half his health]. The female vampire cried when Brandi [crit] chopped off her pinky-finger. Which only gave her a source of healing. Till Henryk connected with his silvered blade…she crumpled to the floor. It was now all against one…the count fell. And Henryk beheaded both. Brandi commanded, “Quick, drag him up into the sunlight!” The moment sun hit their bodies, smoke then flames erupted. The same to the heads Henryk carried up.

A dejected Henryk climbed back aboard the ‘LostnFound’, “I was hoping to bring a head back as evidence. Show off its fangs.” Gary ridiculed him, “Why didn’t you say something about silver?! I wonder how much a smith would charge to melt me some silver bullets?” Agnes displayed the heraldry carried from the crates, “If we find the right art dealer, we should be able to get at least 15 gold.” Brandi busied himself on the derelict, “Don’t just stand there, throw me a rope so we can tow another salvaged ship to add to my fleet.” Which started another round of ‘who’s captain?’

Ahead, around another bend, lay Castle Wittgenstein. “I heard rumor the village of Wittgendorf next to the castle has been abandoned. If Count Orlock came from the castle, the whole area might be inhabited by vampires!” 

Next Session: https://rigglewwh.blogspot.com/2021/10/s3e5-enemy-withindeath-on-reik.html