S6E8 EIR- Horse Whisperer

PCs: Agnes (Duane), Mor (Bill), Gary (Matt), Venegral (Tony), Katja (Geoff), Ymath (Brian)

Nuln: Stuck in the line of barges and ships awaiting docking assignment outside Nuln. FINALLY, the river-warden boarded, “We should get to you by tomorrow. Or the next. Assuming your papers are in order, and you have the necessary crew. You DO have a ship’s cat?” He didn’t find the introduction to Katja funny. “With out a ship cat, you must be quarantined due to potential disease from rodents. Where are you headed? EAST?! Then expect another 2 days just to get workers aboard to remove your mast for passage under the bridge.” Gary’s announcement they were called to Nuln by request of countess Emmanuelle Von Liebwitz fell on deaf ears. “Yes, she told us to expect you.” Mor had enough and placed his dagger against the man’s privates, “Unless you prefer to work as a unich, I’d suggest you find berthing NOW.” Gary offered gold, “That should cover your efforts to fill out our needed forms and get us audience with the countess.”

As the stevedores caught their ropes and tied up the barge to the docks, they pondered what to tell the countess. “The truth. Parts of it anyway. No need to mention Sigmar’s hammer. She’ll have spies to know we sail east into the Black Mountains. We just say we are looking for a cure for the emperor.” As they made their way to the palace, Gary was besieged by laborers who threw drinks in his face and spit on him. “It’s the traitor Liebrung. You betrayed us!” Gary punched one unconscious causing the others to flee. Venegral cast magic-missiles to halt them but they only responded, “He’s with more chaos worshipers!” Katja was more than happy to collect the gold reward for bringing in the removed purple-hand tattoos from the deceased. Ymath did his part to consume the bodily remains of the dead.

Audience: Their weapons were peace-bound for their audience with countess Emmanuelle. Greetings aside, they explained their direction east. She warned them about Sylvania being a region of vampires. They added their plans to “sail east to Averheim, then turn south on horses for the Black Fire Pass in search of a cure for the emperor.  Perhaps you could provide signature chits to allow us passage through your lands. And maybe even chits for Averheim horses.” 

Emmanuelle nodded at their plan, “Relay your request for horses with Marius Lietdorf in Averheim. Great tactical mind but a strange man who relies on console from his horse ‘Daisy’. As for the pass, under dwarven fortification. There is also a new mine being excavated by the Three-Mother’s Consortium, led by Horatio Schaffenfried.” Agnes remembered that name as the noble in Boganhaffen who had summoned the demon. Dark forebodings of what lay ahead.

During those two days waiting for their sail to be removed, they shopped. Gary for explosives. Agnes for hats for the coming audience in Averheim, “Derby, beret, cowboy… I wonder which is fitting for a horse. Perhaps a feather to add flair.” As for Ymath, he spent the time entertaining lady Emmanuelle with art. Katja and the wizard wandered the streets listening to grumbling (gossip). Most of the talk was about the brewing civil war. Mor? With Nuln the most industrialized city in the empire, he was anxious to depart. Nowhere to hide from the stench and filth.

Departure: Finally, the barge was ready, and they bid farewell to Nuln. “What shall we name our new cat?” Two days sailing east against the Aver River current when they saw smoke on the horizon. Gary’s spyglass revealed a village on fire north of the river. Soldiers under an unknown banner tossed torches onto roofs. Venegral flew forward to confront a captain who claimed his actions “a minor disagreement over taxes.” Venegral tried to reason “there is no future tax collection from dead men.” It took confrontation and blades (and spells and cursed blessings) to cease the senseless slaughter “in the name of the Emperor.” While the now dead leader sported a bird tattoo, most of the soldiers had purple-hand tattoos that were added to Katja’s bounty.

More days sailing east: A day out of Streissen, they were forced to anchor short of a river blockade of chained barges under one banner that differed from the banner flown by a large army on the southern shores. From an opposing crow’s nest, “Halt in the name of Count Marius Leitdorf!” They lower their skiff to seek audience and found Leitdorf already waiting with a table set, “Come, sit, drink; Daisy predicted your arrival.” When Agnes offered the hats, Marius questioned, “Ah, a meal for her. Hopefully not made of wool, else that means war on the horizon. I am dealing with Streissen (led by baroness Marteen Alttram) vying for independence from countess Emmanuelle.” That’s when Venegral faked talking to Daisy in horse-naying, “Yes, a good idea. The leaders should meet under a white flag tomorrow to air their grievances.”

Next day: under a banner of truce, they met in the middle of a pasture. Marteen sought reassurance, “In the name of Sigmar, you so swear? My mother inherited the city from her father who inherited from… by rite of birth, this is MY city!” Leitdorf’s eyes became that of a focused lawyer, “Streissen should be a city free of mismanagement.” Once again, Venegral leaned into Daisy to hear her guidance, “Seek the emperor’s input? Hear both sides of the argument? Till then they should withdraw their armies?” Both sides left the field and withdrew their armies to await the emperor’s decree.

Averheim and South: They left Josef in charge of the barge as they requisitioned horses and a cart for their ride south to Grenzstadt (190 miles) near the Black Mountains. Along the way, they passed shrines to Sigmar and foot-traffic of pilgrims and fanatics too. Days later, Grenzstadt guards challenged them, “All religions welcomed. Passing thru or here to worship?” Katja spoke, “We all follow in Sigmar’s footsteps.” Once inside the gates, they shopped for cold-weather clothing and mountain gear (ropes, pickaxes, lanterns, oil, etc.). Gossip flowed like piss in the river, “Sigmar went into the pass and paused to stare at the sunrise before he rose into godhood.” However, city dwarves had their own opinion, “Sigmar did not pass through. He turned off at Karak Inchor near the 3-Mother’s Pass and entered a cave. Our brethren guard both ends of the pass.” Words that prompt Venegral to load up on 2 barrels of ‘Bugman ale’ as bartering tools on the coming journey.

Next day: As they tightened their saddle straps, Roulf Voesburg introduced himself, “May I join you? To ensure you don’t steal anything.” Not so much a request as an announced purpose of his addition to their caravan. Along the way, he paused to point out various highlights, “The rock Sigmar stepped on; a discarded chicken-bone from Sigmar’s meal. Leave them as they lie so that other Sigmar worshipers may behold such wonderous sights.”

They continued upwards into the pass: Mor as forward scout, Ymath and Venegral riding the cart, and Agnes and Katja as rear guards… who had to dodge a falling rock! Agnes swore, “I just caught glimpse of a child giving it motion. It was Gideon!” As the pass angled higher, they dismounted to guide their horses onward toward a guard post flying Altdorf colors in tribute to the Emperor. Brief pause for rest and rumors to learn: greenskins to the east, still a few days from the 3-Mother’s Pass.

They climbed higher till they reached a valley bathed in reddish moss. [Theology] Agnes informed, “The Blood-Moss plains where Sigmar united the tribes to fight in an upcoming battle against hordes of goblin and Orcs led by Warlord Urgluk Bloodfang.” As they continued across the plains, they came upon the pitiful sight of 18 pilgrim refugees. Their leader, Dieter, explained, “We are all that’s left of the 40 faithful from the mines near the 3-Mother’s Pass. We followed the vision of Sigmar walking through rocks which we interpreted as a mine entrance. Anyway, we were attacked by strange green flying creatures. One such wielded a spinning ball on a chain. Some of our faithful were gored, others died of infections as we fled.” Venegral realized Dieter spoke of goblins with mechanical wings. Agnes and Katja offered spare rations to the hungry survivors.

Black Fire Keep: built upon a granite hill, its walls blacked from centuries of sieges. The area around it cleared to provide a killing ground. Banners of Emperor Karl Franz and the province of Averland fluttered over the ramparts. They warned the rampart guards of the reported flying goblins. Once inside the gate, they stabled their horses before seeking the dwarves. Venegral offered ‘Bugman ale’ to wet their beards and start conversation. “Sigmar turned east at the rock fall, taking his hammer with him. It was a gift to the empire from the dwarves. If the gods allow you to wield it, we wouldn’t object as only the purest would be recognized by the holy weapon itself. As for the pilgrims you spoke of giving warning of flying goblins, only fools would attempt to mine that area.”

NEXT SESSION: https://rigglewwh.blogspot.com/2023/04/s6e9-eir-paintings-on-wall.html