S4E10 PBtT- Family Passwords

PCs: Agnes (Duane), Katja (Geoff), Brandywyn (Tony), Rega (Bill), Ymath (Brian)

Rats’ Nest: Still in the sewers hearing chanting and screams. They move forward, checking side chambers. Curtain hides a statue to The Horned Rat, another chamber empty except for pegs holding one remaining white-robe with blood stains.  And a side tunnel too narrow for human… but wide enough for skaven! Rega and Brandi set a bomb-trap between the 2 chambers before the group moves forward towards the chanting. A rope bridge just at the edge of Ymath’s lantern. Light that betrays their presence and invites a volley of arrows.

Ymath storms across the rope-bridge that strains at his weight… the support posts groan but hold. But the huge ogre blocks the path for others. Thus, HE faces skaven blasts from warpstone-guns! Rega readies a bomb to hand to the brute but Gary next across foils that idea. [Besides, it would have been Ymath’s Range(Engineer) which he doesn’t have.]

As if 2-dozen skaven within the chanting chamber wasn’t enough, a skaven sorcerer stands behind a vat of blood, with the sacrificed child hanging limp overhead. And the sorcerer casts… and the child springs to zombie-life. And other sacrificial forms rise from the chamber floor and amble towards Ymath, plugging the path beyond the bridge. And if that not enough, everyone hears the “click” from a bridge post. And hears mechanical grinding and slip above and to the side as a HUGE pendulum begins its long-arm swing towards the bridge. [Yeah, just piling it on… you’d think the GM trying to tell us to run. But us led by an almost-intelligent ogre and evil-slaying war-priestess. Nope, we stay and fight.]

Green projectiles splatter upon shield or armor as the skaven fire and reload. Signaling an urgency to stop their volleys. Gary fires his ‘griffonfoot’ pistol to take out a few zombies and skaven foot-soldiers, and squats to allow Rega to fire his own ‘griffonfoot’ to weaken 3 others. The sorcerer inhales warpstone gas to then cast fireballs at Agnes’ Orphans. Katja, Brandi, and Agnes twang arrows and bolts at the sorcerer. Another fireball blast versus impaling arrows and bolts… and the sorcerer flees. Which breaks the morale of its foot-soldiers who follow. Allowing Agnes’ Orphans to dash back across the bridge JUST before the pendulum slices the bridge. While Agnes heals the wounded, Rega and Katja return to the side chamber to destroy the skaven’s statue of their ‘Great-Horned Rat’ god. Earning corruption for their efforts. Corruption too for those hit by warpstone projectiles.

Midnight: Sleep delayed as Agnes contemplates directions for the morning: confront Emmanuelle, or Ar-Ulric, or Chancellor Sparsam. Or seek out the guard who allows the green-eyed woman passage. Or Agnes befriends Luigi to gain access to the Graf’s son Stefan. Or search the missing Law Lord Ehrlich’s home for clues.

Morning: First up- Agnes to the Shallya Temple to brief the High Matriarch about Emmanuelle humping the Graf and Ar-Ulric. And about Kommissar Wallenstein’s true identity and Jade Scepter necklace. The matriarch warning not to spread rumors till solid evidence and to give the accused time to confess. She disappointed since Wallenstein is a major benefactor.

Next up: chat with the Watch Commander, Ulrich Schutzmann. Agnes tells of the sewer encounter with skaven that included destroying a statue to their god, while also suffering at the hands of a skaven caster. Not to mention the new warpstone-guns. Ulrich surprised since he commissioned the Rat-Catcher Guild to patrol the sewers. “I’m also trying to convince the dwarves to step in and aid in that endeavor.” Group request to speak with the night guard at the private gate. Ulrich consults the records and provides the name “Josep Grafius. Off duty so should be in the barracks.”

1030 am: Josep remembers the strikingly green-eyed Frau Kennar, “She had the family password of Hilde who can give to other members of the family. I actually tried to follow her once but lost her in the seedier side of the city.” The allies recognize the area as where they sold their illegal rhinox powder. But the guard continues, “She only used that password once. Afterwards, she used Chancellor Sparsam’s password.” Obvious change once she began supplying him with ‘Ranald’s Delight’.

11am: They arrive at the ‘Square-of-Marshalls’ in time to see Dieter fight. Which he won. But during the bout, Gary chats with the Ar-Ulric. Seeking his opinion about the taxes. Vague conversation with hints of bedding women but no outright accusation. So, when that conversation peters out [pun intented], Gary steps into the ring to fight Dieter. Despite Dieter being hungover, he wins, “Good fight but I guess I’ll be the Graf Champ another year.” Gary offers, “I’ll give my apologizes to Kirsten as your wedding delayed another year.” Agnes invites Dieter to the tavern later, after the Garden Party, which pleases Dieter. “Oh, I hope there will be more dwarves. That was fun.” Brandi tries to hasten the wedding by stepping into the ring to challenge. Despite Dieter twisting a wrist, he soon pummels the barge captain.

Afterwards, a bruised Brandi puts on a fake Ulric symbol and engages Ar-Ulric about the taxes. “On the contrary, we pay. I am just a humble servant with little influence on the Graf on the matter of taxes. But I must say taxing the dwarfs caused an unintended impact of them leaving the city.” Gary joins the conversation and brings up the green-eyed lady. The Ar-Ulric admits haven seen one, “We met a few times. Much to discuss. She would know more about the taxes. Seems everyone is trying to move up in stature. Step on and over those above and ahead of their status. Such as that Nuln princess who is rumored to shun her wealthy backers now that she in higher position.”

2pm: Katja, Brandi, and Agnes attend the Improv Theater for chance to engage in noble conversation. But apparently, those they seek are busy getting ready for the night’s Garden Party. Ymath, Rega, and Agnes attend the Dwarven Choir where they too hope to converse. At least Agnes is, for she approaches Princess Katarina. But first has to talk to the chaperone Hilde. Which provides opportunity to mention use of Hilde’s family password. Hilde confesses, “My nephew. Sister, may I ask a favor? Could you possibly sway my nephew Bruno who has stumbled onto the wrong path? Could you help set him straight, as I hear he deals drugs.” Agnes realizing BRUNO was the dealer Brandi and Gary encountered when selling their rhinox concoction.

Agnes gains access to the princess, giving her a set of promised earrings, to replace the purple earrings she now wears. “Oh, these look so much better. They match your eyes.” Inquiry about the Graf; how is he doing? “Hopefully tonight’s’ Garden Party and all the visitors will help get him out of his funk. As for Stefan, Dr Luigi is doing great things. The Doctor? Probably at the brothels.” Agnes asks the princess to speak to her father about the taxes. Explaining its impact on the dwarves and wizards about to leave the city. But Katarina uninterested in politics, “You should talk to my half-brother Henrich when he returns. Although I do dislike the churches being taxed. The churches do a lot of good deeds for the poor and destitute.”

4pm/Minotaur fight: Let’s just say Rega lasted a little longer. Left his bola at home and entered the ring with an axe. Weathered a pounding by the charging minotaur, gave a few solid hits, survived a stomping and dealt another blow. But the beast was too much. The last Rega saw was the minotaur hoof hovering above his head, just before the lights went out. When he awakened, he actually heard some cheering. His fellow dwarves had bet on the minotaur but were actually impressed the young guildman turned fighter gave a decent showing. Really, you’d think the dwarves came forward to pat his back but really to get a closer view of the bruises and damage the minotaur dealt, “That definitely left a mark. Perhaps you should consider joining the Ironbreakers who could properly train you.”

PERSONA/CAST OF CHARACTERS

Josef Sparsam, the Chancellor

Dieter Schmiedehammer, the Graf's Champion

Rallane Laffarel, the Court Minstrel

"Princess" Katarina Tödbringer, the Graf's daughter

Stefan Tödbringer, Graf’s legitimate son.

Henryk Tödbringer, Graf’s illegitimate son away on diplomatic mission

Hildegarde Zimperlich, Katarina's Chaperone

Maximillian von Genscher, Knight Marshal

Ulrich Schutzmann, Commander of the Watch

Johann Schwermutt, General of the Defensive Armies

Albrecht Helseher, High Wizard

Janna Eberhauer, Deputy High Wizard

Ar-Ulric Jarrick Valgeir, High Priest of Ulric & Elector Count

Emanuelle Schlagen, Kirsten Jung, Petra Liebkosen & Natasha Sinnlich: Ladies at Court

Siegfried Prunkvoll, the Knight Eternal

Allavandrel Fanmaris, elf, Master of the Hunt

Gotthard Wallenstein, Chairman of the City Komission & Head of the Merchant's Guild

Dr. Luigi Pavarotti, Physician of Baron Stefan, the Graf's ailing son.

Reiner Ehrlich, Law Lord gone missing

Joachim Höfich, Law Lord

Karls-Heinz Wasmeier, Law Lord

Frau Kennar and Elise Kaltbultig, green-eyed women of concern

Natissa, source of information

Glugnur, dwarf Trollslayer

Purple-Hand positions: Ordo Impedimente, Ordo Novitiae, Ordo Terriblis, Magistar Impedimentae (Kastor)

New laws can be proposed by various means, depending on their demand: one of the myriad guilds or Kommissions of the city, one or more of the above courtiers or, in many cases a combination can propose a new law. The Law Lords then gather in private to hold a secret vote. If this vote is in favor, the law is proposed to Graf Boris Tödbringer, who then rejects or instates the law as he sees fit. And he too can repeal the law.

Next Session:  https://rigglewwh.blogspot.com/2022/06/s4e11-pbtt-finally-garden-party.html