S5E3 tHR- “Anyone else hear that?”

From the Beginning: https://rigglewwh.blogspot.com/2021/06/s0e1-introductions.html

PCs: Agnes (Duane), Katja (Geoff), Venegrall (absent), Rega (Bill), Gary (Matt), Ymath (absent)

“Heroes of Middenheim, members of ‘KITUM’: Kommission for Inquiries into Threats Unknown to Middenheim.

Afternoon: Agnes took time to sketch (01) Erich Kalzbad per the family portrait at the top of the stairs before the group left to pursue clues.

First stop: the store in Gelbman, owned by Piotr Paval Englebrecht, where the receipt showed payment for a plague mask. The store in flames. “What happened here?!” Their question ignored by those tending a bucket-line attempt to drown the fires. Gary was the first to smell the scent of sulfur which hinted at “demon work.” Agnes noticed a man leaning against a barrel with a distant look on his face…shock. When Agnes approached, he tried to walk away till she collared him, “Spill it. What did you see?”

It didn’t take much (Gary provided Britonian wine) to get the would-be thief (Ajbeorn Thalor) to confess, “Dancing flames! Just remember, I didn’t touch anything. Been casing the place awhile now. Strong-box delivered regularly. The way they guarded it, I figured gold. I planned to heist it except it wasn’t delivered this week. But that’s when I saw that man… carried in a chair… just opened his coat and flames shot out. Flames dancing thru the doorway and windows.” Agnes showed Ajbeorn her sketch. “Yeah, that’s the man on the chair! Left up that alleyway.” They all quickly reasoned Erich was covering his tracks before his planned departure out of the city.

Next stop: Stifel Emporium per the found (3 gold and 14 silver) receipt. [Well, except for Rega who feared Erich might have learned of the ‘skaven in a barrel’ at the college. He headed there to check on it and warn of the potential threat.] The bell above the door rang as they entered the store. “Welcome, welcome to Stifel’s alchemical supplies. Need salves, balms, ointments? Anything else and I’ll need to see your license.” Gary showed his ‘hero coin’ then the receipt, “On business for the Graf. I’m sure you want to cooperate to keep your doors open.” Stifel swallowed at the threat, “Yes, I, I remember the order. See the marks… spell components. But I didn’t have them in stock; he wanted me to deliver when they come in tomorrow.” Stifel fumbled with his ledger, “Here it is. Erich Kalzbad. I swear I checked his license. Well, at least a couple years ago. He comes in often enough, no reason to suspect him disbarred. Delivery, yes. Uh, said to bring it to the purple door on Belgestrail Road.”

Rega walked down the college hall to Professor Hasche’s office. Relief at finding the barrel still in the corner. He explained his concern to the professor and her assistants, Karl and Gaius. “Just be on the lookout for a man being carried thru the streets on a chair. How the hell should I know what to do… just call for the city watch.”

Wizard Guild: Rega returned to the others just exiting the store as they now headed to the Wizard’s Guild. Where the High Wizard, Albrecht Helseher, was not happy at their report. “Erich? No, he’s not registered with us. Rogue you say; surprised he hasn’t attracted the attention of our local Witch-Hunters. The components listed on the receipt are more for spells of mental pain. Yet you say he can cast fire. Did witnesses describe the color of his clothing? Red? Then I’d guess him of the Order of Fire.” Katja inquired about reward, “I AM a bounty hunter. 10 gold per tier? And how do we tell his tier? Oh, by his depth of threatening spells. Then let’s hope it is something we can handle.” At least Albrecht confirmed Stifel a reputable dealer.

Sword & Flail Tavern: Them close enough to check in on the hangout of ‘The Red Shield Company’ who supplied the men carrying Erich around in his sedan-chair. Enough weapons and armor for them to look like they fit in (former soldiers, mercenaries, city guard). Maybe 10 patrons stood near the bar as there were no tables or chairs. Katja and Agnes joined conversations asking if anyone hiring. “Too late. Boltzman’s Blitz Company just hired a few men to join ranks east in that conflict between Ostland and Talebecland. Not much else… well, there was that nobleman who hired guards to escort him to Krudenwald. Hear tell they are carrying him around the city first in one of those chair contraptions. Degrading but hell it pays. For a Lord, he sure was a smelly arse man. Yeah, the ‘Red Shields’ men hired on with him; Sgt Stoll their leader. I assumed Lord for the coins he offered. Speak of the devil… there’s Stoll now!”

The man walking thru the doors hung his head in despair as he stepped to the bar to order a pint. Gary put coin on the counter, “Rough day? Care to share your troubles?” Stoll drained the mug, “Got in over my head. Now gotta find a way out.” Stoll assumed he was confessing to others kicked out of service, “Been hired out to the nobleman a few years now. Him from the treasury. I swear I didn’t know what he was doing. Turned a blind eye for a decent cut. Every Taxday he’d sign out 2 large boxes of coin from the treasury. I delivered one to the barracks for the army’s pay. He didn’t say, but I found out later he had the other box delivered to an empty warehouse. The same one my men carried him to today that he torched. THAT’s how I found out. He threatened me not to tell or he’d expose me in the plot.”

Agnes put her arm on his shoulder, “Confession is good for the soul. And the fact we work for the Graf…” The color of Stoll’s face drained white… “Fear not. We’ll leave your name off the report if you help us catch the man.” Stoll opened up, “I’m supposed to meet him at 7 bells tomorrow night at the Castlerock Coaches Stand (taxi stand) to settle up. You’ll take my place? Thanks be to Sigmar. One less time to suffer his smell and that damn acrid smelling pipe of his.”

Purple Door: They had to circle the block a few times considering the street names missing on a few. They easily spotted the ‘Red Shield’ man leaning against the purple door, cleaning his nails with his knife. They found a few locals who knew, “That place? Been long abandoned till a few days ago. Fresh painted door. I guess they favor princess Katarina’s choice of color. Well, her old color. Maybe 4-5 people come and go. Yeah, now that you mention it, I did see a pompous man carried inside in a chair. Flaunt his money… he could throw some coins this way.”

Rega stealthfully circled the block to measure the building and look for windows and backdoor. “The only thing I saw was an old door long bricked up just to the south of the guard. I’d have to get closer to see if it’s a secret escape.” It became a long, tiring indecision whether to deal with it now or later. “I don’t like killing on an empty stomach.” Agnes argued, “Nobody said anything about killing. We just bribe the guard to leave.”

Morning Delivery: With the others hiding in shadows up the street, Agnes and Katja approached the guard. “Delivery. Is Erich in? Stifel told me to deliver in person; get Erich’s mark.” But the glint of morning sun on Rega’s armor caught the guard’s eye, “What’s going on?!” Agnes changed tactics, “How much is he paying you? I can offer 3 gold for you to keep breathing and drinking at your favorite tavern. Begone.” As he shuffled off past the others, “Tell those inside you didn’t see me.” Rega used the chance to look closer at the bricked-up door… century old mortar. Gary opened the real door spilling morning light into the warehouse. A lantern on the other side of bales of hay located other guards obviously playing dice. “Johann, it’s still your shift. Piss on the street like everyone else! Get back outside.”

If there was any thought of stealth… drawn to the light of the still open door, the 3 guards came to check it out. Gary greeted the first with a pistol shot to his chest (fast-shot). Rega was forced to help end it early as he threatened with his own pistol, “Surrender on order of the Graf.” Ain’t happening. The wounded guard bolted to get away as the others drew bows even though outnumbered. Fools. They soon lay dead. The one trying to escape? Katja gave fair warning, “Surrender or we’ll let you go.” THAT confused her allies. No backdoor. Him captured. “Ain’t worth dying. I was just hired days ago. Erich? Thru that door behind the haybales.” Agnes instructed the prisoner, “Open the door and tell your boss it was an accidentally discharge. You were just goofing around.”

[Poor lie considering none of the guards carried black-powder weapons.] No sooner did the prisoner open the door than he was consumed by flames that danced across his now prone body. Inside: the wizard Erich stood defiant… his cape flashed open revealing a fireball belching penis. Penis, tentacle… a mutation!

Rega initially thought to douse the dancing flames (the crackling flames almost sounded like hysterical laughter) with a flask of water till he reasoned better. He lite a bomb and ran for cover behind the bales, “Fire in the hole!” Agnes loosed an arrow in hopes the flames had solid substance. Gary backed away per the announced bomb. And the flames, not guarding the door as hoped, advanced on Rega and Agnes! The fire burnt thru the straps on the dwarf’s left arm bracer as it flared across his arm, threatening his beard.

Katja shot a bolt thru the doorway, hitting the wizard. Just before Rega’s bomb exploded. The concussion close enough to extinguish both flames that threatened Rega and Agnes. Allowing the warpriestess chance to put out the flames climbing Rega’s arm. Which the dwarf held high to keep away from the other bombs strapped at his waist! The fire relief only temporary as the wizard’s tentacle belched 2 more dancing flames. It worked so well the first time, Rega lit and tossed another bomb. Agnes extinguished one with a well-placed arrow. Katja backed away and defended against the other flame. Now lined up, Gary blasted thru the doorway at the wizard.

As the tentacle belched more dancing fires, the wizard cast at Gary (save) who momentarily shook off a throbbing headache that quickly receded. Meanwhile, once again Rega was on fire, extinguished by Agnes. Gary raised another pistol and blasted a hole in the wizard. He and his tentacle penis dead. But the other fires raged on till eventually extinguished. Only then did Agnes realize her peril extinguishing the dwarf who carried more bombs, “What if those flames touched the fuses?!”

Gary knelt beside the wizard as he searched the body. “Has a purple-hand tattoo. And here’s another coded letter.” Rega searched the now silent warehouse, recognizing it once was a Temple to Sigmar centuries ago. Abandoned except for the now defaced statues of Sigmar and his friend and shield-brother Pendrag. Meanwhile, Agnes deciphered the coded letter:

My friends of change, It is time. Our many hands must come together as one. For too long the purple hand has worked as fragments eac to its own agenda. We have sown glorious caos but to bring the time of canges we must act as one under a campion in shadows. Your friend, Castor Lieberung

Rega puzzled, “Kastor Lieberung? I thought that was Gary’s title.”

Schutzmann: After dropping off the wizard body at the Wizard’s Guild (for 30 gold reward: 3-tiered wizard, impressive!), they reported to the Watch Commander, Schutzmann. This time, the rat smell even more evident. “Congratulations! From your description and this coded letter, you’ve removed one of the leaders of the Purple-Hands. Their Ordo Impedimente.”

But Katja wasn’t paying attention, “Anyone else hear that?” She edged closer to a corner where she thought she heard faint scrabbling and whirring sound. At first, she saw a metal flower protruding above a stack of books. But as she got closer, she saw the giant rat covered in a mechanical harness with an ear-horn listening rod sticking straight up. [Think antenna on a robot rat!] But as Katja reached for it, the robot rat folded its antenna and scurried into a mouse-hole. Katja knelt to look inside and saw green eyes peering back. She dug in her backpack and offered ration scraps to lure it out. Rega assisted [Charm Animal] as he readied his helmet to trap it when it came out. “Gotcha!”

Modi Zargul: They couldn’t get to the College of Engineering fast enough! Where they met with Modi Zargul to show off their catch. “Very interesting.” Using lead-lined gloves, the professor dissected the rat and recovered a warpstone device.  Curious, he pressed a button on it and all heard repeated, “Anyone else hear that?” Along with the rest of the conversations held inside Schutzmann’s office those last days. Schutzmann pissed, “I’ll be damn! No wonder my plans these last days have all been unsuccessful. Someone has been eavesdropping. Who could create something like this?!” Modi answered matter-of-factly, “Clan Skyre of the skaven.” Now Rega even more concerned for Professor Hasche, “Is our conversation about the skaven in a barrel recorded? We need that evidence to convince the entire city the skaven real and a threat!”

Schutzmann engaged even more, “All this excitement. I forgot to tell you about another case I need your help with. There has been a string of murders recently reported. Of concern is the triangular wound-mark at the base of the skulls. Like that skaven symbol you showed me. 3 sewer workers found dead, all within this last week. Two have already been catapulted over the wall before the similar marks realized. Luck that one of the dead rich enough to afford burial inside the city. Go talk to the Cult of Morr to learn more.”

Cult of Morr: The caretaker Yegard (scarred face and glass eye) smiled at their return, “Have you decided to make down payments for your own future internment?” A little too excited… he absentmindedly caught his glass eye when it suddenly popped out… and casually re-inserted it before continuing. “We don’t have all of them. Sent two over the wall already. But you’re in luck. Anston Kron was a Civil Engineer who could afford burial, paid by his widow who lives in the Wynd sector. His body was found in an alley in Nordtor. Another body, Yiva, was found inside the Labourer’s Hospice building. The 3^rd body was a sewer-jack, Haludan Gurg.”

Anston Kron Residence: Knowing it would take hours to unearth the body, they visited Anston Kron’s widow who was dressed in black with the symbol of Ulric held close. They showed their hero coins. Condolences from Agnes as the others just wanted to interrogate her. “Anston was working in the upper tunnels, getting ready to seal off the lower tunnels he’d already mapped. Left that morning carrying his tunnel draft map. Said he just had a few items to crosscheck and thus was working alone. They stole his map! Why would someone steal his map? He was about to publish it like all his other works for the city. His office? He works worked for the Kommission of Public Works.”

Kommission of Public Works: Once again they flashed their hero-coins “for official Graf business.” And thus, they were shown to Anston’s desk. Bare top and empty drawers. “His interns cleared his desk just yesterday. Names? I don’t remember. One was always chatty, the other a bog galoot.” From the description, Agnes guessed aloud, “The chatty one… does the name Gelb ring a bell? I thought so! Did you happen to notice if they had a pouch around their necks? Missing any of their front teeth or perhaps have clipped ears? Oh, long hair hid their ears. Never smiled to see their teeth.” Agnes reminded the others, “Remember that letter from Gelb setting up their meeting with Gotthard at the ‘Heaven’s Lament’? Sounds like the big lug is a henchman.” Rega researched the payroll and confirmed Gelb listed his address as the social club. “Interns can’t afford such housing! Yeah, there more to their story! Definite skaven link.”

Labourer’s Hospice: Socialized medicine for workmen comp. The caretakers perked up at the sight of Agnes, “Praise be to Shallya for sending a priestess to help care for the injured.” But they were disappointed when Agnes only offered inquiries, “What can you tell us about the murder victim, Yiva, found days ago?” They were led up to the 2^nd floor to interview Ester who found the body. “Not a patient. He broke in thru the window over there. I just happened to be walking by this normal empty room when I heard a thud. I came in and found him collapsed in front of the window. Stabbed in the neck. I know him a burglar because the city guard found a grapplehook just outside the window. Like I said, this room normally unoccupied.” Rega reasoned, “Empty gives him easy entry without detection. Except his unluck you walking by. Anything of value on this floor?” Ester explained, “This floor is for the poorer labourers. Not much to steal.”

And that’s when Katja did her own search, looking out the window. She rushed down the stairs and outside to stand beneath the window. And bent over to pick up a piece of scribbled paper. She rushed it upstairs for those who could read to analyze. “Get Renald’s Delight here. Half-Nose.”

Next Session: