Winter’s March
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Winter grips Bögenhafen

Three long months after the Teugen Conspiracy came to light, another prolonged winter grips Bögenhafen. The promise of spring and the resolution of old troubles is unfulfilled, and cold winds stir a city still in crisis. Although he had seized the city, Graf Saponatheim's military, financial and political grip is too weak to hold power unchallenged, and Captain Brotte's loyalists remain outnumbered by the slovenly and corrupt ranks of the Old Watch. All the forces of the Vorbergland have poured into Bögenhafen, seeking advantage and a piece of the action, from several Sigmarite factions, to merchants, nobles, envoys and vagabonds.
Through all of this, the trial of Johanes Teugen continues. Dieter and and Osanna keep attention away from the adventurers - indeed Malahan and Ludolph are absent the trial entirely, having fled into the forest before winter closed its hand, while Corvas spends much of this time establishing a spy network within the city. With character testimonies complete, the last days of the trial come to pass and the inheritance of the Teugen estate becomes a point of much contention…


Horror Vacui

As magistrate Richter's gavel comes down, the Gallows Yard is tightly packed. Alongside hundreds of peasants eager for a show, nobles of all families, a Sigmarite contingent and a handful of peculiar companions have gathered outside the Courthouse for the hangings. Dieter greets a handful of priests including his old friend Brother William and his brutish associate Korbinian, whose humble warrior-priest garb cannot conceal pointed, aristocratic features. Even as the judgement is unrolled, murmurs of dissent bubble in the crowd. Delivered by an officer of the Court, the pronouncement of the Magistrate triggers full-scale outrage.

"Verily, under the eyes of Sigmar and Verena it is declared that the holdings and possessions of the traitor Teugen, long may he be scorned, shall pass to the rightful ruler of Bögenhafen"

Squabbling breaks out immediately among the nobles, with fists shaken and fingers furiously wagged. It is clear the judgement resolves none of the division and unrest that has fermented in Bögenhafen, rendering all the wealth of Teugen House as the prize of the present power struggle. It's worse for the servants of House Teugen, promptly marched to the noose as the crowd grows more disorderly. To their outrage, a hawk-featured nobleman appears to pardon one of the household before their eyes. Stoked by an agitator's speech, on the hypocrisy, perverse wealth and unaccountability of nobles, the crowd breaks into a riot as the servant's necks are snapped. The rioters crash through stalls and fall upon the headsman in a frenzy. The noble guards begin to drag their charges back to the carriages at the edge of the square, cutting down any commoners in their way with expert halberd blows. Their fellows bloodied, the rioters only redouble their efforts, falling upon the guards with daggers and makeshift weapons. Korbinian strides through the pack, a head taller than any man there, and grabs any rioters who move towards the Sigmarite priests. Tossing the men back onto the dirt he merely levels his hammer and a group of would-be attackers flee in terror. Many of their number cut down already the will of the rioters is finally broken when Dieter fires his pistol into the air, the boom-crack of the engineering marvel sending dozens fleeing out of the square and back into their hovels.

Amid the blood and confusion, Korbinian and Dieter are approached by a compact woman in Mourner's robes who introduces herself as Mother Carlitz of the Temple of Morr. She warns them of a threat to "her flock" and asks if they will check a disturbance near the town hall. Moving across the town square the pair find the butchered bodies of town hall clerks, seemingly cut down as they fled the building. Moving through the eerie, dimly lit hallways they discover more bodies and from terrified survivors hear tales of a knight moving through the town hall and butchering anyone he comes across, followed by a strange robed figure. Tracing the bodies inwards in a concentric circle of death and mayhem they find the epicentre- the Lord Albert Haagen hanging from the roof. Cutting down the antique rope used to hang him they find a list of names attending a meeting. Seemingly a low level meeting to discuss the forming of a new town council the names on the list include Magnus von Saponatheim, Wallnjer Sturmdunkle and Rubrecht Kleinwald, representatives from each of the major merchant houses in town as well as representatives from each of the guilds. How a meeting such as this could take place during the trial baffles both Korbinian and Dieter, as does the addition of two names at the bottom of the meeting minutes: Sir Claude the Breton and Scallus the Elf. Why these foreigners would be at a meeting to decide the town council is a mystery further.

Leaving the macabre town hall behind the pair notice a group of guards not taking part in the pacification of the rioters. Led by Corporal Jacob, one of the old guard from before Captain Brotte took over, they are making a beeline for the town hall. After they lock the door Korbinian talks his way past the guard and Dieter infiltrates behind him. Korbinian is rebuked by Jacob as a "meddling Ubersrieker", turned away and returned to the High Temple of Sigmar when Dieter fails to reunite with him outside. Dieter has gone deeper within the hall to a storage room used to store gifts from dignitaries. Within he finds remnants of boxes bearing the fleur de lys of Bretonnia, smashed open in a hurry. Believing the rope that hanged Lord Haagen to have come from these boxes, he wonders why someone would bring their own rope for a seemingly impromptu hanging. Evading the town guards combing the hall and climbing down the outside of the building Dieter returns to Corvas' apartment to find Corvas and Fedor.

Meanwhile Korbinian watches as a mass debate is taking place in the High Temple. Although united in their worship of Sigmar the temple is split on how to deal with the riots gripping the city. Brother Sigiwalt, an old member of the Church of Bögenhafen urges caution. He speaks of the Church's relationship to both the people and the nobles as being at stake and of the reputational risk of taking sides in a class struggle. Also of Bogenhafen, the elderly Father Emmerich speaks against him. Long stuck in the Pit due to the corruption of Sigvald's previous superior, Emmerich speaks of taking care of the people and of standing up for them against the cruelty and prejudices of the nobility. Standing above them in his billowing purple robes is Bishop Benton, the leader of the Ubersreik contingent in town and a firebrand like few others. His harsh faces matches his words perfectly as he suggests the fraternis militia purge the streets of any peasants that dare step out of line. Korbinian stands to the side with William and Old Fabergus watching as those who should be most united in these trying times tear themselves apart.


Scuttlebutt

At Corvas' apartment Dieter introduces Korbinian to Fedor and Alphonse, the cover story Corvas is currently inhabiting. Doktor Anida, Corvas' companion through the whole legal affair, had just finished informing him about the recent goings on and Dieter fills him in with the rest over a brandy. It seems that Graf von Saponatheim was lacking in both leadership, wealth and military might and that the hanging victim, Albert Haagen, had been considered an obvious frontrunner to control the new town council. Saponatheim's failure to stop the recent rise in crime in the pit was being held as a black mark against his name in the gossip-mills of the city. The group discuss the potential reasons for the murder before agreeing to spread out around Bögenhafen's inns and taverns and see what truth gossip holds.

The the Wolf's Tail Korbinian meets with an Ulrican acquaintance, Brother Stimmel, and learns that the Ulricans see the problems in Bögenhafen as directly the fault of the Church of Sigmar. They whisper of the Magistrate side-stepping making a decision with his proclamation of the 'rightful ruler' and of the rumblings against the nobility within both of their churches. A similar whispering takes place at the Golden Trout restaurant, with Bishop Benton ranting to a group of guild leaders and lesser members of the noble houses. Corvas, as Alphonse, joins the table and listens to the gripes of those present, high enough to be inconvenienced by the Magistrates' decision but too low to have any real power over the decision. The Trout also harbours a surprising amount of anti-Bretonnian sentiment with Benton speaking disdainfully about the caravan from the south that arrived a week earlier and blaming a spate of recent raids and bandit attacks on Bretonnian knights. At the Half Measure Fedor discovers the real source of the attacks. Sitting over a pipe with the halfling Lowi Lowhaven he hears of a number of new gangs popping up in town in the vacuum left by the death of many of the Black Pikes. On the docks the 'Bay St. Breakers' wage a war against industrialisation, breaking what little technology makes its way down the river Bögen. The Pit is also infested with a new group known as 'The Choke Hill Jacks', a violent group making their presence felt with a spate of murders. However these gangs are operating only within the walls of the city, the banditry blamed on the Bretonnians is being performed by a group of vagabonds calling themselves the 'Red Hands', uncreatively after their leader Red Hans. Lowi asks Fedor to go over to the pit and figure out how these gangs fit into the recent troubles.

Back at Corvas' apartment the group share their findings. It had been a successful afternoon for all but Dieter who had been run out of the Journey's End inn by a group of disgruntled burghers. Agreeing to take Fedor's job from Lowi they are surprised to be visited by Clottilda, a chambermaid in service of Hieronymus Ruggbroder. She intends to hire Torchlight Investigations to investigate the missing Albert Haagen. Unsure about how far the information of his demise had spread Dieter reluctantly takes her coin and promises to follow up the following day. Intending to follow up with her master, Dieter and Korbinian instead find themselves later that night at the High Temple of Sigmar where Dieter misjudges Brother Sigiwalt and insults the man. Leaving the church they investigate an apparent ghost sighting but find nothing but a murdered bounty hunter frozen in the snow.

Meanwhile back at the apartment Fedor has a curious visit from a curious man. Vincent helped Fedor with a bounty years ago near the borders of Kislev and had apparently arrived in Bögenhafen this very day. He is extremely friendly and both Fedor and Corvas are put off by his unearned familiarity. Fedor leads him along, filling his cup at the Half Measure until towards the middle of the day leading him to the back room where Lowi and his thugs await. Vincent is a charlatan by trade and talks in circles but Lowi's small hammer soon gets him singing. By the time his fourth toe is broken he reveals that he had been hired by the Choke Hill Jacks, one of the new gangs in town, to gather information about Fedor. Lowi whisks him away to the basement and the group plan a trip to the Pit that night.


Gangs of New Bögenhafen

Dressed in a panoply of dirty clothes and rags the group move out of Corvas' apartment and down towards the docks. The usual gaggle of dockworkers and stevedores mill around a collection of burned river boats. The whispers among the onlookers is that the Black Pike protection racket is being pushed in on and that these boat owners had refused to pay the new tithe. The whispers among the people speak ill of the Church of Sigmar, blaming the church for the recent bad luck in the city and angering Korbinian. Crossing the river with a halfling boatman named Hildo they slide through the ice-ridden Bögen and slosh into the frozen muddy streets of the Pit. Arriving as the sun sets they spot a group of masons board a private boat with mercenary guards, plans to build up the Pit foreshore mostly concealed in scrolls under their arms. With Dieter and Korbinian waiting outside, Fedor enters a slum-bar known by locals as the Jester. With practiced ease he slips a silver coin to Gil the bartender and takes a private corner with the barmaid Edwine. She draws an impromptu map of the pit in the sawdust, explaining that the Black Pikes still own the docks but everything inland is lost to them. The Lowhavens own the streets around the Sigmarite and Shallayan temples and the Choke Hill Jacks operate on Choke Hill, the gallows up near Blackfire Tower. The Red Hands visit the Pit occasionally but have no holdings here or anywhere within the city walls. Outside in the streets the beggar known as Hanno Hassler strikes up a conversation with Reitz, a fellow beggar in service of the Choke Hill Jacks. Reitz enlists Hanno's help in finding a man in the pit who had recently been seen at the Badger, a nighthouse of particularly ill repute. Reitz had been put on the job by Old Harkmand, a lieutenant in the Choke Hill Jacks.

Reuniting with the group still dressed as Hanno, Corvas leads them up to near Blackfire Tower. Not far from the tower they follow the smell of rotting flesh to a mass grave dug in the middle of the street. A half dozen halflings lay slaughtered and frozen in the ice, left to rot until someone comes to dig the hole deep enough. The lights in the tower are still on but it is barricaded shut, the few guards here clearly not interested in interfering with the murder in the pit. Spotting a group of Jacks the group decide to take some blood of their own. Fedor feigns drunkenness and is surprised when the men begin to plunge their daggers into his stomach without provocation. Suddenly on the back foot, Korbinian steps forward unslinging his two handed hammer and pulverising the nearest man. As the melee escalates the shadows themselves seem to reach up and grab at the Jacks, Corvas muttering incantations from a nearby alleyway. Held down, the men are easily dispatched by Dieter's knife and Korbinian's hammer. Taking one of the wounded men as a prisoner the group decide to split up, Dieter and Corvas making their way to the docks with the prisoner while Korbinian and Fedor make for the Temple of Sigmar for healing. Both group dodge patrols from Blackfire, spending hours huddled in frozen hovels waiting for the heavily armoured men to pass. In the early hours of morning a surprised Father Hennek sews and bandages Fedor's wounds at the Pit Temple of Sigmar. Meanwhile, crossing the river with some frightened rivermen, Corvas and Dieter drop the prisoner off at the Half Measure as the sun rises.

At the Half Measure the next afternoon a deferential Lowi Lowhaven introduces the group to his 'great uncle' Quickin. Dressed in humble finery Quickin thanks the group for the "gift" of the captured Jack. Offering the man his freedom and life for information the Jack's harsh exterior quickly crumbles. In the back of Quickin's black coach he speaks for some time, Lowi writing feverishly in a small book as the Jack talks of smuggling routes, planned hits on Lowhaven contacts and of the Jacks' leader Ingolde. A former torturer, Ingolde had been fired by Captain Brotte and had moved to the Pit along with many of the other 'Old Guard'. The Jack also reveals the man being hunted in the Pit is one Melchior Kleinwald, a down on his luck noble who the Jacks want to capture. The captured man also reveals there is a famous swordmaster hiding in the Pit. His usefulness at an end, Quickin cuts short the man's life with a single brutal blow of his axe. Covered in blood and viscera the group are dropped back at the inn for a bath and a hearty meal.

That night as Fedor rests up at the Half Measure Korbinian and Corvas head to the Golden Trout, Corvas wearing the face of the noble Alphonse Leiberung. Sitting with Wallnjer Sturmdunkle he impresses him with tales of battle, the old noble finding kinship with Korbinian's militaristic nature. Sturmdunkle speaks of the weakness of the Saponatheim's, making particular note of the Graf's inability to protect the city from its ills. Over hours of conversation Alphonse has him reveal that the central point of contention amongst the powerful of Bögenhafen is the make up of the council. How many seats would be occupied by nobles, religious groups and military representatives? Would Saponatheim have a seat? Would the Bretonnians? He loudly suggests that his family take over much to the chagrin of Klaus Magirius and Heinrich Steinhager who sit in a booth nearby. The conversation soon turns to the Bretonnians with Wallnjer revealing that they have taken a hostage and are still blatantly staying in town "despite their insults". Korbinian and Corvas soon return to the Measure where Dieter had just farewelled Clottilda, the chambermaid of the Lord Ruggbroder. She had been upset by the news of Lord Haagen's death and Dieter had refused her coin, hoping to gain a foothold in the Ruggbroder estate. The group settle in to a private room, sharing a pot of fine stew, and begin to plan their next move.


Missteps

A night of scouring the city by Lowi's halfling scouts had produced no sign of the Bretonnians but the name of a halfling chef working at the Kleinwald estate. Worse still, Lowi begins to question Fedor's involvement in these matters, a question Fedor has no real response to. He pays Lowi to hold Vincent prisoner for another week and the group leave the Half Measure. Corvas returns to his apartment to deal with the minutiae of impersonating a nobleman while Dieter, Fedor and Kobinian brave heavy snows to visit the far side of the city.

The town hall is silent but for some petty squabbles between the metal workers' guild and the bureaucrats of the hall, a matter that Dieter and Fedor quickly pass by. At the courthouse they speak to Sister Greta, a priestess of Verena, and hear once again that Magistrate Richter had not been seen since the hanging. They also find Clottilda, the now-former employee of Lord Ruggbroder. She had been entreating Osanna to organise her passage out of the city. With some gentle questioning and a pot of hot tea she reveals that she had been sent to Ruggbroder by the late Albert Haagen in order to spy on him and is now worried that with her employer's she "might be next". Realising the value of months of spying, and much to Osanna's annoyance, Dieter agrees to take Clottilda on as a maid, hoping to access her wealth of knowledge about the noble families.

Responding to a summons from Bishop Benton, Korbinian returns to the High Temple. Having heard confession Benton believes there is still residual corruption in the nobility of the city and asks that Korbinian assist him in helping to excise it. With the current uncertainty he cannot act openly and so asks if the warrior priest will assist him in abducting two men and bringing them to him for confession. An attempt to politic Benton into revealing his motivations causes the Bishop to question Korbinian's faith and soon Korbinian is put into a position where he is forced to accept the Bishop's task. Speaking to his superior, Brother Sergeant Valorus, Korbinian is reminded that he needs the approval of a Bishop in order to progress in the ranks of the warrior priests. Reluctant and feeling outplayed, he meets back with Dieter and Fedor and reveals the names of his targets: The noble Magnus von Saponatheim and the swordmaster Friedrich, in service to House Ruggbroder.

At Castle Bögen the group move past an understaffed but heavily armed town guard to meet with Captain Brotte. Fedor makes the introduction, having assisted Brotte with a number of bounties during his time in the city. Over mulled wine the group share with her information about the various gangs in the Pit and she reveals that the "guest" of the Bretonnians is Florence d'Saponatheim, the older cousin of Graf von Saponatheim. Forgetting himself for a moment Dieter reveals knowledge of the Haagen hanging and flounders under Brotte's questioning. Unable to justify his interest in the case beyond "for the good of stability in the Empire" he, Fedor and Korbinian are all thrown in cells. A cold night is sobering for the trio, a stark reminder of their relative power in the city. It is only through Fedor's acquaintance and a bail payment from Osanna that the group are released the following morning.

Their account with her firm now in arrears Osanna asks the group to look into some trouble at the Mourner's Guild, paying them a pittance to officially have Torchlight Investigations on the books. They find the guild heavily guarded and inside similar signs of violence to those at the town hall days ago. The Priestess of Morr Mother Carlitz welcomes Dieter and Korbinian and the pair are reminded with some guilt that it was she that first asked them to help out during the riots. Distracted by the violence at the town hall they had forgotten her request. She reveals in hushed tones that during the riots some of the dead inside the Mourner's Guild had come alive. Many had struggled against their coffins and three had escaped out into the city. Thinking of the shattered wood within the town hall on that day Carlitz confirms that the Bretonnians had returned bodies of fallen knights and interred them at the town hall. The identity of the killers at the town hall now seemingly confirmed, Fedor and Korbinian return to fetch Corvas, hoping the wizard knows some way to track the undead.

Meanwhile a stop at the courthouse takes Dieter to the Temple of Verena after Clottilda mentions Lord Ruggbroder was very interested in the family history of the Saponatheims. With the help of a researcher he discovers that the Saponatheim's were originally a Bretonnian merchant family dealing primarily in soap. They had been granted Bögenhafen and a nobility by Magnus the Pious and had ruled it since then. In 2390 in an attempt to raise taxes they had agreed to not enter the city and the moral and financial decline of the city had been cemented.


A Black Cloud

Stopping at the town hall Corvas discovers that the bodies returned there were those of Sir Rupert, Sir Ludwig and Sir Phillip, all imperial knights kill a century before. Stopping by the meeting hall Korbinian and Dieter find dozens of heavily armed men packed into the hall. Each of the nobles is supported by his armsmen, Laurence Kleinwald with his Spriggans, experts of warfare in the thick Vorbergland forests, Walljner Blacktower with his black armoured knights and even old Ruggbroder protected by red clothed greatswords. Dieter recognises them as Carroberg Greatswords, a famous Reikland state army regiment and clear evidence that Altdorf had thrown its support behind Ruggbroder.

As a heavy snow blankets the city the group spread out to track down the undead. Korbinian finds that the people are unaccepting of the Church of Sigmar and Dieter's attempt to follow signs of violence lead him only to a Black Pike hideout. Meanwhile Corvas' attempts to magically track the undead are thwarted by a cloud of magic over the place that suffocates and blocks out his senses.

After a day of cold disappointment searching for the undead Dieter returns to the courthouse and is surprised when icey hands close around his neck. Struggling with his adversary he sees a man freshly dead, hands frozen solid and eyes aglow with foul magic. Drawing his dagger he lops off the creatures arm without response but finally as his breath shortens he plunges his dagger into the monsters' brain. Braving the howling winds Korbinian and Corvas attend the site, the attacker now reduced to a freezing pile of ash and clothes and saturated with magic. The creature had entered the courthouse through guile and seems to have been sent specifically to target Clottilda. Warming themselves next to the fire the group question the maid about her work spying on Ruggbroder, confirming that he had sent a Carroberg swordsman to the pit to search for Melchior Kleinwald and that he was researching Saponatheim's history. Ruggbroder is described as a strange old man obsessed with his artefacts and library but unfortunately the tottering Clottilda remembers little else.

At the Temple of Verena the following morning the group finally meet the Elven emissaries. They are strange and aloof like most of their kind but the envoy, Luthis, speaks openly with the group. He remembers the meeting that resulted in Haagen's hanging, revealing that Magnus von Saponatheim was threatened by the Bretonnians and recall seeing a figure dressed in rusted ancient armour cutting down servants in the hallways. Luthis also reveals that he knows Corvas is a wizard and discusses the idea that the recent murders have been committed in attempt to muddy the waters of magic in the city. They discuss that it is hard to detect foul magic when the whole city is saturated with it. From a nearby shelf of scrolls a huddled and grubby figure confirms their suspicions. It had been months since Ludolf had been in the city and he speaks little of his spent in isolation or of the matter with the Pandemonium Carnival. He is wide eyed and crazed, covered in warding amulets and speaking in hushed whispers. Back at Corvas' apartment he reveals he had been dreaming of a black cloud of death over Bögenhafen, of cold hands grasping his throat and of the voice of the daemon. Having slain several forms of the Bögenhafen Horror he believes he is connected to it and that it haunts him still. He believes the daemon is left over still, some shard of it clinging on in the city and driving its residents to madness. He is concerned that one of the Saponatheim servants was spared, meaning that nine were executed. Nine, the holy number of the chaos conspirators who had until recently ruled over the city. Exhausted from his predictions he sleeps curled next to the fire and the following morning leaves the city once again. Before he flies away he warns the group again of the black cloud hovering over the city.

Ludolf's warning echoing in their ears Korbinian answers Bishop Benton's summons to the High Temple and finds it awash with armoured figures. Dozens of warrior priests engage in prayers of battle as their squires ready horses while in a huddle of figures Captain Brotte talks her officers though a map of the Pit. Benton reveals to the group that a raid is planned for that night by the Church of Sigmar and the town guard in an attempt to cut down the Chokehill Jacks and the rogue guard faction in one fell swoop. Brotte suggests the group could use their criminal contacts to organise barges to cross the river while in private Benton reminds Korbinian of his duties in abducting Magnus Saponatheim and the swordmaster in the Pit. He suggests subtly that the chaos of the raid might be a good opportunity for people to go missing, the old firebrand's skill at subterfuge becoming clearer and clearer.

Meanwhile at the Golden Trout Corvas speaks to Walljner Blacktower, the noble accompanied by his knights and boasting loudly about the strength of his armies. Walljner believes there should be a trial by combat to determine the ruler of Bögenhafen, a seemingly ridiculous proposition that questioning reveals is not beyond the realms of possibility. Corvas, as the noble Alphonse, continues to befriend the man as he spots one of his contacts enter the Trout. Berkhart manages a boating confederation and is currently in conversation with Phillip Descartes, the Bretonnian cardshark Corvas had last met on the road from Altdorf a year earlier.


Cold Blood

Fedor smiles between bloody teeth, spitting one out and pulling on his moustache with blood stained fingers.
"Got 'im".

Although intrigued by Descartes' familiarity with the Kleinwald family Corvas, as Alphonse, continues to worm his way into Wallnjer Blacktower's good graces. Blacktower reveals a bold but little considered plan to seize the funds of a merchant house with his army, intending to target House Haagen which he believes is the least likely to resist. Using the money taken from Haagen he would destroy the Red Hand bandits and show his power to Altdorf. Returning from the muster at the Church of Sigmar, Korbinian speaks to Corvas and the two agree to include Blacktower in the plans to attack the Pit. Riding in his carriage towards the Adel Ring they discuss the upcoming attack and Lord Blacktower is excited to be involved in the raid. Through Korbinian's subtle manipulation he even agrees to not inform his father, taking only his personal guards to "claim the glory for himself". With his support shored up the pair return to the High Temple of Sigmar to inform Bishop Benton and Captain Brotte. Nearby at the Courthouse Dieter slinks into Osanna's quarters. Instructing her to bar the door he gives her a loaded crossbow and warning about violence to come. He also hints at a position available as Magistrate of Bögenhafen if Magistrate Richter is not found.

At the Half Measure Fedor talks to Lowi on behalf of the Church, intending to procure barges for that evening's raid. Lowi is surprised he hasn't heard of the raid already and declines to help with boats, not wanting to throw his support behind Benton who he calls a "Emperor-damned psychopath". At a nearby hideout Lowi and Fedor discover a Lowhaven safehouse ransacked, Lowi's informants killed with a rusty blunt instrument. Fedor agrees to hide the bodies as Lowi goes to tell Quickin about the stolen 'magic acorns', apparently hidden in the safehouse and the only items missing. Bundling the bodies into a fish-barrel, Fedor hires a Black Pike aligned fisherman and floats out of the city. Leaving the bodies downriver he trudges back to the city through knee-high snow and meets back up with Lowi as the midday beckons. He suggests to Lowi that the Lowhavens might benefit from Benton's death and Sigiwalt's ascension, a suggestion that Lowi agrees to take to Quickin. He asks Fedor again to join the Lowhavens in proper and to give up his other dealings and when the Kislevite refuses he gives him a blackpowder bomb and says farewell.

At the High Temple of Sigmar Sigiwalt and Father Emmerich implore Korbinian to support their arguments against the raid but he throws his support again behind Bishop Benton. The preparations at the Cathedral begin to ramp up, with nearly 100 town guards in steel plate preparing weapons and the knights of Sigmar readying their horses. Corvas tells Benton that he has Blacktower's support while a cautious Brotte suggests that perhaps too many people knowing about the raid is not a good thing. She opposes Blacktower's support but realises that Corvas had played her into a corner where she couldn't refuse it. Korbinian decides to take part in the raid in his new rank of Brother Sergeant while Bishop Benton decides to stay back at the Temple to avoid any bloodletting being directly lain at his feet.

Meanwhile Corvas, as the beggar Hanno, Dieter and Fedor take a small fishing boat over to the Pit. With only a few hours to go before the raid, they intend to find and kidnap the swordmaster and return him to the city before the bloodletting begins. Hanno meets with his contact Reitz and soon the group are led to a house of ill repute, seemingly abandoned with a caved in room and shuttered windows. Corvas sneaks into the ruin, boots crunching eerily in the snow, as Fedor and Dieter ready their weapons and wait outside. Spotting a suit of armour he is overcome as magic surges through the area and the skeleton within the suit animates. His magical senses open he sees the true horror of the creature and is stunned. The undead lurches towards him, swinging a massive flail that is blocked only by Fedor's shield, the Kislevite plunging into the building upon Corvas' cry of terror. In the tight confines of the ruined building Fedor's mace smashes into the armour again and again, denting and cracking the ancient plate even as its wielder tires. Finally with a vicious swing the undead brings its flail through a nearby wall, catching Fedor unawares and smashing him back with the sickening crunching of bone. Shadows burst from the ground, tendrils of darkness summoned by a recovered Corvas grappling the foul construct. As the creature struggles against its magical bonds Dieter walks up to it, putting his pistol against its head and severing the magic animating it once and for all with an echoing boom. With a rasp and a cough of blood Fedor smiles one last time before he dies.

In one of the few standing rooms in the building Corvas and Dieter find the missing swordmaster. Dressed in his leathers he hangs from the roof, his neck snapped by an ancient rope. His breastplate and greatsword are concealed nearby and signs of a struggle indicate that he duelled his attacker before being slain. A chest has been ransacked but his valuables have been left behind. Taking signs of his death the pair set the ruined building ablaze, covering Fedor in his own lamp oil and leaving the Pit as the black smoke billows into the sky behind them.

Some hours earlier Korbinian is given a suit of crusader chainmail and anointed with holy water. He joins his fellow Warrior Priests in chants of war, blessing weapons and calling on Sigmar to help them smite their foes. Bishop Benton does a benediction of war and supported by the town guards in glinting armour the forces of Sigmar ride out. Windows shutter as they pass and many of the common folk of Bögenhafen look out with open disdain. Reaching the river the some 200 strong force board barges and begin to pole across the river towards the Pit.


Reaching the far side the forces of Sigmar move down the main road towards Blackfire Tower. The area is abandoned, quiet streets now desolate and what few locals remain fleeing from the show of force. Groups of guards break off from the rest, smashing down doors and dragging peasants into the streets. With Brotte and her inner circle powering ahead towards the tower her guards are without leadership, beginning to beat and even kill anyone they come across. Korbinian takes control of the group, berating them for misusing their authority and stopping their wanton slaughter. He stays behind with the group as the rest of the column moves up towards Blackfire Tower, their torches the only light in the eerie snowy streets.

As the column reaches Blackfire tower the crack of handgun fire echoes out of the gloom.


God of War

The cold night is split suddenly by the whip-crack of handgun fire and the explosion of several blackpowder kegs concealed along the path. The crescendo of noise is followed almost immediately by the screaming of horses and men, the groans of the dying and, from the dark alleyways, frenzied cries for blood. Near the back of the column Korbinian manages to rally a group of faith militant in the chaos, nearly fifty men armed with rusty relic weapons but with the fire of faith in their eyes. His armour scorched by the blast but unperturbed Korbinian considers retreat but with a bellowing cry leads the group towards Blackfire tower. Here they step over the shattered remains of the vanguard and finally engage the foe. From the dark alleyways and rooftops of the Pit leap the Choke Hill Jacks, skin bloody already and weapons from Blackfire tower held in their fists.

The battle is bloody, hundreds of Jacks and other vagabonds falling upon the faithful lines with frenzied eyes and snarling lips. The faith militant are no trained warriors but fight with the fury of devotion, Korbinian always at their fore. The Warrior Priest is a terror to behold, a vision of Sigmar himself in the dim light. His hammer alight with the fury of his god, he lashes out around him, cutting swathes through the unarmoured gangers and setting flame to wood and flesh alike. The Jacks are fierce and brutal fighters, supported by the rogue guards of Blackfire tower and frenzied in their assaults. Logic would dictate the battle should have been a slaughter. But as the battle grew more violent the flames around Korbinian's hammer only grow more vibrant. A beacon of light in the dark he is an avatar of war, breaking necks with gauntleted blows when his hammer begins to crack from the strain. Bellowing the Hymn of Sacrifice the resolve of the attackers begins to falter despite still outnumbering their opponents three to one. By the time the last Jack falls the ground around the battlefield is bloody slush, the warmth of the bloodletting and the fire of Korbinian's hammer having melted even this stubborn winter's grip. Only a dozen faith militant still live, many wearing deadly wounds, while around them hundreds of Choke Hill Jacks and Blackfire guards lay slain. In these bloody minutes Korbinian and the faithful had, by pure brutal tenacity, saved the raid.

Arriving finally at Blackfire Korbinian rallies the remaining town guards there. Under fire from crossbows in the tower the lieutenant in charge reveals Captain Brotte had been captured and taken into the tower. Deciding the Captain's fate is sealed Korbinian orders his remaining militia to pile the remaining blackpowder and set fire to the buildings around the tower. Moving back through the Pit the faithful throw flaming brands into thatch, splash lantern oil across thoroughfares and kill anyone who crosses their path. Soon despite the biting cold the Pit burns, the stench of death overcome by the thick black smoke. Arriving at the point where he agreed to meet Dieter and Corvas Korbinian finds them gone and orders his men to seize local boats in order to cross the river. As locals plunge into the freezing waters nearby to escape the fire Korbinian's rage reaches its zenith and he orders his men burn or destroy the remaining boats.

Burn them all.


As the Pit burns Dieter watches from the tower of the High Temple of Sigmar with a fuming Bishop Benton. Despite his anger his white eyebrows furrow in concentration as he plans his next move. Assuming the attack on the Pit is lost he asks Dieter to grab Magnus von Saponatheim but rescinds his request when it becomes clear that Dieter's loyalty is to the Empire first and foremost, not to Benton and certainly not to the Church. Before escorting the pair from the building Benton does reveal that the Blacktowers did not lend their support to the raid. Dieter meanwhile returns to the courthouse and to a warm and welcome bed. Osanna greets him with news of Magistrate Richter's death and of her encounter with a strange young man named Simon Brandt.

Simon had come to the city months earlier following rumours of the late Teugen being a necromancer or even undead himself. He had been disappointed to find him a run of the mill sorcerer but had stayed as a guest of the Temple of Morr. An academic by trade, he had studied at Nuln University where he published his thesis titled 'Folklore and the Ethereal in the Southern Reikland' before joining the Church of Morr and eventually training as a dedicated hunter of the undead. He had crossed paths with Osanna after a body was brought to Morr's Field, the cemetery and grounds outside Bögenhafen's walls dedicated to the dead. The body, Magistrate Richter, had been felled by an assassin's bolt and was found some hours out of Bögenhafen, seemingly fleeing incognito along the Nuln road. The body's finder is of military bent and Simon convinces him to turn over a note found on the body that indicates Richter was being blackmailed by someone in Nuln. Taking the mystery upon himself to solve, Simon had left the temple and made his way to the Courthouse where he crossed paths with Osanna.

Travelling to the Half Measure the following morning Dieter is filled in to the rest of the story by Simon himself, the youth unfazed by the heavily armed Dieter sitting on the foot of his bed. Simon and Osanna had broken into Richter's office and found evidence of a hasty exit. Then back at the apartment Simon had not only identified the rotting remains as an undead but commented that it had died of magical instability, a fact Dieter had missed. Realising the man's usefulness Osanna had pointed him towards the Half Measure where she believed Dieter to be staying. Simon recounts the rest of the day prior with excited precision: A run in with Benton's torturer Wolfram looking for Osanna, a meeting with Lowi and analysis of the undead in the basement, the reanimated remains of Fedor's prisoner Vincent. Impressed by the man's knowledge and moxy Dieter offers him a gold coin and hires him for ongoing services to Torchlight Investigations. His first task, the destruction of the undead Vincent, Simon enacts with methodical precision and a rusty bonesaw. Dieter tells Lowi of Fedor's death in the Pit and the two share a shot of Kislevite schnapps and a moment of silence.


Even as Dieter raises a glass in the Half Measure Korbinian's survivors return to Benton at the High Temple. Arms and armour battered and blood dried and frozen on their tunics they are greeted as heroes, the few who stood and fought where others broke. Korbinian is particularly praised, Bishop Benton thanking him personally for saving the expedition and for his forethought in setting fire to the Pit. In Benton's private quarters the pair devise a strategy to blame the fire on the Choke Hill Jacks and priests are sent out to preach the success of the raid to the common folk. Impressed by Korbinian's political guile, as well as his raw combat ability, Benton promotes him officially to Brother Sergeant, replacing one of the Hammers lost in the raid. As Korbinian kneels in prayer Benton speaks to him of the current state of Bögenhafen. Old 'Ironhand' Ruggbroder was using information from the swordmaster to blackmail Merchant House Steinhager into supporting Ruggbroder's push for control over Bögenhafen. Benton intended to take this information and control Steinhager the same way. This combined with the blackmail of having Magnus von Saponatheim under his torturer's knife would have given Benton alliances with both the von Saponatheims and the Steinheigers. Benton needed these alliances to counter threats within the Church, with Father Emmerich's alliance with the other non-Sigmarite churches in town weighing particularly heavy on his mind. On the other hand Brother Sigiwalt of the Sigmarite Gallant faction has formed an alliance with minor House Magirius, a connection Benton doesn't understand.

That afternoon Korbinian, Brother Sergeant Valorus and Dieter ride out of the gates of the city. Korbinian goes unarmoured, clad only in ceremonial rags to symbolise his dedication to Sigmar. He rides his new mount, a grey war-trained stallion that was a gift from Bishop Benton to celebrate his new position as Brother Sergeant. He gives his pledge to the worn down statue of Sigmar at the forests edge, offers his broken hammer to the statue and pulls Dieter close.

If you leave me behind again I will kill you myself.


Brass Balls

The morning after the raid Corvas, as the noble Alphonse, goes to find the Blacktowers. At the Golden Trout he is warned by a friendly servant that a letter was to be sent if he arrived. A small bribe later, and dressed as the beggar Hanno, Corvas finds a Black Pike hideout and tells the men within that Alphonse had been spotted at the Trout. The men arm up to go looking for Alphonse, while he follows one of the men who dons nicer clothing and moves into the Adel Ring. Donning a simple disguise he talks his way past house guards and witnesses Magnus von Saponatheim thundering out of the Saponatheim 'castle' with a group of guards. Saponatheim mutters under his breath about "making Alphonse Leiberung pay" and after the man departs Alphonse presents himself to the guards and requests a meeting with Lord Saponatheim upon his return.

Meanwhile at Alphonse' apartment Simon analyses the strange magical root found within the undead in the Pit. He identifies it as belonging to a Mandrake, not an undead at all but a vengeful winter spirit. Simon had heard of these spirits arising where great massacres have taken place but never before of this magic being linked to that which animates the dead. In order to find out more he and Dieter make their way to the Temple of Verena, stopping briefly to purchase Simon a more suitable winter cloak on Osanna's coin. At the Temple of Verena Simon meets with the researcher Katrin. There is little about the Mandrakes here but some accounts of a war in the north a century earlier does reference the "winter itself" rising up to fight off the invaders in the form of foul dryads made of ice magic. Suspecting elven involvement more and more the pair return to the courthouse to help Osanna move her possessions over to the safer apartment.

At the Von Saponatheim house Magnus returns in a huff hours after leaving, angered at having not found Alphonse at the Trout only to find him sitting in his dining room. Alphonse had not spent this time idly, discovering in the Von Saponatheim records that Magnus fought alongside 'Iron' Ruggbroder in the "Mistletoe Campaign" against Bretonnia. They had directly caused the alleged atrocities that had caused the Bretonnians to strike back at Helmgart some months ago. He is fed and watered until Magnus returns and greets the man with the exact lines Magnus had been practicing on the way to capture Alphonse. The two spar verbally for some times, Magnus off balance but trying to get the measure of the man in front of him. A back and forth of words as deft as any fencing duel takes place over mulled wine and cheeses and as afternoon bell rings Alphonse and Magnus are entering into a deal. Magnus had known about the kidnapping attempt and was aware of Benton's ploys but not his tendency to kidnap family members as leverage. With this information Alphonse gets Magnus on side, essentially burning Benton in the process by telling Magnus about the captives in the now barely-guarded Castle Bögen. In return Saponatheim reveals to Alphonse that the longer things drag on the more likely it is that Von Saponatheim will be successful. If a decision is not made then Altdorf will be forced to interfere and a non-decision would place Von Saponatheim back in control. To this end Magnus and his father are merely trying to stop the other houses and factions from gaining power rather than plotting anything themselves. Alphonse leaves hours later with a promise to return and a new alliance, albeit one that flies in the face of his existing alliances with the Blacktowers and Bishop Benton.

Returning to his apartments Alphonse meets with Dieter and Korbinian and is introduced to Simon and Osanna, now living in the spare rooms. He brings word from the von Saponatheims as well as a strange page, written in what Osanna recognises as the magistrate's hand. A final gift from Magnus von Saponatheim, it had been taken from the magistrate's quarters just after his disappearance.

I am pulled in too many directions. There is only so much a man of the law can do.

Albert is the fiercest of all, a shock to behold in a man of his stature and years. He insists that as City Treasurer, he is the only suitable executor. I have not heard from young Laurent but his expectations have been plain from the start.

I was stunned to receive a visit from Steinhager, whose stake in this I can only guess. He demands that it be Old Heironymous. Blacktower only glares at me in court. I have no idea which or any might be the blackmailer.

Strangest of all was the elven envoy. He insisted that an unclear verdict was the only possible choice; invoking the Old Stone, my verdict would be both right in law, and create such confusion as to cover my escape.

This new evidence fresh in their mind Korbinian and Simon travel again to the Temple of Verena to look for references to the "Old Stone". There they meet with Sister Greta, a Verenan Knight who is part of the Order of Mysteries, a sub-faction dedicated to knowledge. She confirms that the Elves have been looking in the deep vaults but casts doubt on the idea of them being interested in human politics. Walking into the deeper vaults the group pass many items of antiquity and Korbinian is drawn in particular to an ancient tablet covered in dust. Reaching towards it his eyes roll back into his head and he begins to incant. His voice deep and prophetic he recounts meeting Magnus here, the priests of Verena having volunteered their few warriors even as the Lords of Bögenhafen did not. He talks of a young Magnus walking through the halls and stopping next to a mossy stone with strange carvings and finally with a snarl he recounts the Elves standing before this very stone weeks earlier. As Korbinian recovers from his religious epiphany Simon follows up with Sister Greta and discovers that Magnus did indeed visit this site and that the stone Korbinian is referring to recounted the original deal between the Elves and the people of Bögenhafen centuries earlier. Simon discovers the stone gone, taken some week ago by Melchior Kleinwald, the man half of Bögenhafen seem to be searching for.


That night as the snow beats down outside the lead windows the group gather in Alphonse's apartment. They gather what they know about the situation, a wide eyed Simon eventually abstaining from taking further part when the group begin to argue about the fate of the city itself. Corvas suggests the removal of Benton once he had established power, an idea that Korbinian is surprisingly accepting of. The Warrior Priest knows that a purely theological state cannot function and that a Bögenhafen run by religious zealots will not prosper. He is torn by the duality of his nature, the fiery warrior and the statesman, raised as a noble and skilled at court. He suggests that a power vacuum serves no-one and that a single group in power serves only that group. Everyone in the room need not be reminded of the almost deadly consequences last time a single figure had power in Bögenhafen. Dieter and Korbinian find common ground in the belief that the Empire is sacrosanct. Bögenhafen must flourish financially but it must also be a military bulwark against foreign aggression, a trade hub that pays Imperial taxes and a place where the rot of chaos cannot be allowed to flourish again. In the early hours of the morning the Priest, the Witch Hunter and the Wizard agree that Benton's fervour must be tempered by an alliance with the nobles and merchants of Bögenhafen.


Multiplying Villainies

After talking late into the night the group disperse in the cold light of morning to go about their tasks. While Corvas, Simon and Dieter travel to House Ruggbroder against his advice Korbinian travels to the Temple Square where agitators speak out against the Church of Sigmar and Bishop Benton. He sees the agitators watched by a group of robed men and follows them to a house nearby but unable to gain access returns to the High Temple of Sigmar. Gibbets outside the Temple hand with "heretics" and Benton fumes over Sigiwalt and the other Gallants leaving the grounds to take up accomodation with the nobility. Speaking to Benton he reminds the firebrand that cracking down violently on protesters and agitators only enhances his bloody reputation and even convinces the old man to release one of his prisoners. The man, "Kevin", admits to Korbinian that he was once a spy for Benton before he started to question Benton's loyalties. It was for these questions that he was imprisoned.

Meanwhile in the Adel Ring the group are surprised to be greeted by the very swordsmaster they found hanging in the Pit. Intending to return his possessions they leave awkwardly, Corvas remaining behind to figure out who the man was. But Corvas and his master Gotteschalk are already well acquainted. Gotteschalk had come to the city months ago and had made brief contact with Corvas then. Now, dressed as a wagoneer, the pair talk at length in a cold alleyway behind the Ruggbroder estate. Gotteschalk had embedded himself in House Ruggbroder some weeks ago posing as the swordmaster, one of Gotteschalk's agents. He was investigating the strange coincidences by which Ruggbroder's heirs seem to disappear and the collection of artefacts Ruggbroder keeps hidden from the outside world. Of particular interest is an item he sold to Teugen years ago and paid great pains to retrieve just after Teugen's death. Of the item Gotteschalk knows little except it was retrieved by a criminal named Matteus Derflinger. He and Corvas speak briefly about the undead in the city, the master questioning the link between these 'mandrakes' and the wild undead in the city.

Leaving the Adel Ring Corvas makes contact with Berkhart, his informant, at the docks. Berkhart puts him in contact with Phillipe Descartes, the Bretonnian card shark who is brokering a deal between the metal worker's guild, the Blacktowers and the Bretonnians. Before he leaves Berkhart informs him that he helped organise the deal between the Gallants and the boatmen who took the raid to the pit and was surprised the Black Pikes let it happen. At the Journey's End Corvas makes contact with Descartes and the two reminisce about their night at the Coach and Horses inn outside Altdorf. Descartes is cheating at cards as usual and after a few rounds is happy to discuss his purpose in the city with Corvas. Phillipe is working for the Bretonnians and now essentially for the Kleinwalds. The Kleinwalds have the Bretonnians as "guests" and Descartes asks Corvas to help him free them. Corvas agrees, his mind already calculating how to use this situation for his benefit.

Dieter and Simon rejoin Korbinian and at Benton's request the three cross the square to the Temple of Verena. As they do Simon goes to the house Korbinian approached earlier that day and discovers it occupied by Sigmarite priests, assumedly of the Shepherds faction. At the Temple of Verena Sister Greta takes the group down to the deep vaults. She had been translating a diary from the trial of a witch 60 years ago and had stumbled upon a strange ritual. The ragged journal was written in the foul tongue of the Norscans and radiates evil. The ritual caught Greta's attention because it involves the hand of a master swordsman and the tongue of a judge. With the death of the swordsman in the Pit and of Magistrate Richter the ritual, whatever its purpose, was nearing completion. Greta is worried to translate more of the book, feeling the weight of the darkness within laying heavy upon her soul. Dieter and Simon look at the ritual and see that it requires a saturation of death magic in the location. A check of the court records find that Lisalottle was a witch of some power, only caught when a group of crusaders returned to the city and recognised a chaos sigil upon her person. She was burned alive and her book interred.

Travelling back to Corvas' apartment Simon breaks off to help a group from the Mourner's Guild who are transporting an undead. The body is that of a woman who died of a "chill" only to rise and murder her husband. Back at the Mourner's Guild Simon witnesses a ritual by Mother Carlitz that quiets the creature and hearing of how undermanned the Church of Morr is in dealing with this issue agrees to help her. They bond over their time at the University of Nuln and walk to the riverfront to do a ritual to ward off any dead in the Pit. Simon also takes up conversation with Augustine, an engineer from Nuln working on a project to rebuild the waterfront and perhaps even build a bridge. He works on behalf of the Kleinwalds although notes that whomever ends up on top will likely continue the project. While watching Augustine's men drop measuring lines into the frozen river Simon notices the elves watching from a boat in the harbour. The boat bears Marienberg sigils and the elves seem to watch the measuring and note taking of Augustine's men with interest.

Back at Corvas' apartment the group share their findings from the morning although Corvas keeps his conversations with his master hidden from the others. He goes out again on business unknown as Korbinian and Dieter travel to Castle Bogen to visit Benton's prisoners. They arrive to find not the Bögenhafen town guard but a group of rough looking mercenaries occupying the castle. These mercenaries seem to share no allegiance, with a number of different regimental tattoos or mercenary companies present. In the lower levels most of the cells are now empty and the torturer Wolfram chats happily with his new employer, Lars von Saponatheim. It seems the Saponatheim's had seized the castle that very morning, enlisting the remaining town guards to their service. Realising the loss of capital this represents for Benton Korbinian leaves, sharing a look with Dieter as he goes.

Down in the torture chambers Dieter speaks to a Choke Hill Jack named Hubert and discovers that things in the Pit are not what they seem. The distinction between the Blackfire Guards and the Jacks is now academic with the ex-torturer Ingold leading them both. Hubert also speaks of Ingold's seeming immunity to pain and refers to her as a "revenant", an undead animated by an ancient curse of vengeance. He reveals that the Jacks also have an alliance with one of the noble or merchant families in Bögenhafen although he knows not which. Unwilling to leave Wolfram here to continue his torture nor let Hubert return to his fellows across the river Dieter kills them both, posing them as if Wolfram's torture had gone wrong. Hurrying out of the scene he hears sarcastic clap from an adjoining cell.

The child within, called 'Benedict' by Wolfram, had been crying when Dieter had entered but his face is now split with a grin from ear to ear. When he speaks it echoes in Dieter's mind, a dozen voices all crowding around him. He speaks in strange riddles of chance, of the chance of him being caught as a child, of the chance of Dieter coming here and of the chance of him being too moral to let Wolfram's depravity continue. He speaks as if he knows Dieter, revealing parts of the Teugen conspiracy that a mere child could not possibly know. And as the smile deepens Dieter remembers Ludolf's warning. The 'Guardian' killed by the party in the Bögenhafen warehouse, the 'Speaker' and 'Truth' by Ludolf. The 'Spirit' banished by Sister Fabigus and the 'Viper' and 'Wings' destroyed during the failed ritual. Parts of the Bögenhafen Horror remained still and before Dieter was one of them, no doubt the 'Child' that had posed as Teugen's own son for many years. Smiling until the end the daemon-shard dies as Dieter's silver sword severs its head but not before letting out a blood curdling scream for help…


Enemy of My Enemy

Dieter recoils as black ooze begins to seep from the body of the child and the blood on his sword lunges towards him. Dropping the blade with a cry he unhooks the lantern from his belt and lobs it onto the corpse. As the screams of the daemon-shard continue he reaches into his coat and produces Fedor's incendiary bomb, a gift from Lowi, and tosses that in as well. As the mercenaries rush down they meet an ablaze and panicked Dieter rolling on the ground. They bundle him off upstairs and close the prison gates to stop the flames from spreading. Upstairs the mercenary captain questions a coughing Dieter. Dieter says that Wolfram the torturer set fire to the child and attacked the other prisoner, a story the grizzled veteran seems to buy and soon he stands before Lars von Saponatheim spinning a similar tale. With time to think he embellishes the events, claiming to have gained information about Benton from the prisoner before Wolfram struck. Lars believes Wolfram's duplicity and Dieter's tale about Benton having ordered the raid on the Pit to discover which noble house the Jacks were allied with and even goes as far as to offer Dieter a gold piece for his future help. Singed, scared and stupefied Dieter rushes back to meet Korbinian, thanking the Gods that he had survived what had seemed like certain death. Overhead the dark afternoon broils with clouds.

In the snow-covered High Temple of Sigmar Korbinian speaks to Bishop Benton, farewelling the Ulrican Stimmel on his way past. Benton takes the loss of Castle Bogen well, although admits that his most valuable asset has now fallen into enemy hands. He knows that Lars von Saponatheim is no fool and will already be using his hard-won prisoners for advancement in the city. His losses in the Pit had humbled Benton somewhat and he has begun making approaches to the other religious groups on Bögenhafen. He was now content to fight for a seat on the new council, rather than at its head. Korbinian suggests that Benton needs to make an alliance with a noble house if he is going to recover and Benton gives him permission to approach the von Saponatheim's despite the recent bad blood between the group. Later at Alphonse' apartment the group agree that a Benton and Graf Saponatheim alliance would be the best for Bögenhafen. The Graf would offer legitimacy and political weight while Benton would ensure that the city did not fall again into chaos or heresy.

As the storm breaks above and buckets of snow are dumped on the quiet city the group gather into a hired coach and ride up to the Adel Ring. Corvas had organised a meeting with Graf Saponatheim himself and Clottilda is busy pressing and cleaning finery for the occasion. As an apology for his oversight with the Von Sapontheim's Corvas purchases Korbinian a new hammer and while doing so formally takes, Antonin, the doorman at the Golden Trout into his employ with another gift. The coach shudders through the still dark city, the rays of morning failing still to penetrate the heavy cloud cover and snow falling in droves to cover the tracks of the carriage almost as soon as they are made. Some time later the group arrive at the Von Saponatheim castle and are ushered in by a fur-clad Lars. They sit for a while with Lars and Magnus, the quiet politician and the boisterous knight ever the dichotomy. Over breakfast and mulled wine Lars tells the group that there will be a meeting of the town council in three days, on the 17th day of Nachexen, with current bets seeming to place Ruggbroder or Blacktower on the head of the new council. Ruggbroder uses his swordmaster for leverage, threatening a duel with Blacktower that his reputation could not recover from.

Some hour later the group are led through large doors and into a warm chamber where the Graf sits on comfortable chair, his military style garb fine and his oiled moustache black despite his age. The group are uncharacteristically deferential, knowing that their futures and the future of the city depends on this meeting. Alphonse speaks at first but soon Korbinian takes over. It is as though a switch was flipped in Korbinian, the firey warrior suddenly a keen diplomat. He speaks of an alliance with Benton, talking down the authority of Sigiwalt and the Gallants and of the "moral weight" Benton would add to the Graf's claim. Korbinian reveals at last his family name and uses the weight of the name deftly to place himself as a figure of trust within the Graf's eyes. Even the silver tongued Corvas watches with respect as over an hour Korbinian convinces Graf von Sapontheim to form an alliance with Benton. Finally the in-theory deal between Benton and the Graf is done and a meeting for the following morning organised at the Graf's abode.

The formal proceedings done the room splits into smaller groups. Corvas approaches the Graf directly to talk about the Kleinwalds. The Graf suggests that he Kleinwalds are responsible for the Red Hand bandits, funding and organising their raids to weaken his position, and is very interested by the idea of the Bretonnians being held captive in the Kleinwald lodge. He instructs Corvas to investigate the Kleinwald's prisoners and implies great rewards should Corvas show his loyalty again. Near the fire Dieter talks to Lars, confirming that the Black Pikes are allied with the Von Saponatheims. Lars balks at the idea of assassinating the Ruggbroder swordmaster, although concedes that the man is causing the entire affair to be messier than it need to be. Before they leave Lars tells the group that Captain Brotte has rescinded her position, suggesting that "Captain" Frankel of the Blackfire guards retake the role he once held. Captured in Blackfire for days, the group wonder what hideous acts had forced Brotte to sign the testimonial.

Leaving the Adel Ring the group travel back to the High Temple and Korbinian informs Benton of the new alliance. He assures the assistance of Brother Sergeant Valorus and offers that man leadership of the Gallants once Sigiwalt is stepped down. Benton is pleased with the alliance and agrees to visit Graf von Saponatheim the following morning.


The Weave

At Corvas' apartment Osanna reveals that she had been approached by the other frontrunner for new Magistrate, Maximillian, and that he had suggested his interest in the case. She also reveals that having looked at the case notes of the Witch Leiselottle she had discovered that the Magistrate presiding was Lukas, Richter's mentor. At the High Temple the group meet with Sister Greta of the Temple of Verena. She is speaking to Sister Fabigus about the Norscan journal. Greta is torn between sacrificing her wellbeing and not unlocking the secrets of the journal. Dieter and Simon offer to help with the ritual and Korbinian prepares a ritual to ensure the two can do so without risking their immortal souls.

In simple grey robes Simon and Dieter meet with Greta in the deep catacombs of the Temple of Verena. A ritual of chalk and salt is set up on the floor and in the centre the cursed Norscan tome. Korbinian begins his chanting, deep voice echoing through the hall as Greta opens the book and begins to read, Dieter and Simon at her shoulders scribbling notes and translating the magical imagery in the text. The patterns in the book are mind bending and horrific; covered in images that burn the eyes and shapes that make no sense. For hours this process continues, Korbinian never faltering as the three translators toil under an increasing dark cloud. Finally the translation is complete and the book bound and chained again. The chaos ritual is not a ritual at all but a counterspell. An elven based spell intended to unwrite the 'Thrice Struck Pact', the binding magical agreement that binds the city from the millennia ago. The attempt to cast this ritual is what is causing the undead, a bi-product of an overbleed of the magic used in the ritual.

Having discovered that the final component of the ritual is the "eyes of an oracle" Korbinian travels back to the High Temple of Sigmar to see Fabigus. She is still safe, having protected herself with ancient Sigmarite warding runes. She had drawn them after a dream involving a visit from the Bögenhafen Horror. Fabigus takes a particular liking to Simon and tells him about the trial of Leiselottle and her surprise of the witch having given up much of a fight. She has some notes on the trial and gives Simon and Korbinian documents that seem to be from a strange group writing about Teugen's study in Nuln. Her notes also draw a line between massacres in Bögenhafen since its founding. Some of the notes have a strange symbol of a three headed eye. Later Dieter identifies this group as 'the Prophets', an academic fraternity famous for travelling with the Crusades and bringing ancient wonders back from Nehekhara to the Empire. The group dwell on the uncomfortable idea that a group had manipulated Teugen into finding the Bögenhafen Horror in its sarcophagus in Nuln.

The next morning, as Korbinian speaks to Benton before his meeting with Graf von Saponatheim, Dieter and Simon travel to the docks to speak to the Elves. A Marienberg ship is docked at the Haagen wharf and Simon talks his way past the guards with an impressive display of the wastelander tongue. He shows his studies once again when the pair speak to the Elven Envoy Luthis. As the pair discuss in classical Dieter holds his cloak close and watches, the sophisticated language above him. They discuss first the mandrakes and Luthis confirms that the strange undead are corrupted mandrake plantings. Luthis knows of few who would have the elven knowledge to do such a thing. Only those such as Ruggbroder and Haagen who campaigned in Athel Loren would know or those within the Kleinwald families who have long had truck with the elves. Dieter stands for nearly an hour as Simon and Luthis talk in classical and as the two humans leave the ship Simon tells Dieter a very strange tale:
The Thrice Wrought Pact was a promise of ancient Bögenfastus to remain sentry here in protecting this spot. The elves ensured the pact to guard an ancient river spirit bound here, the local God Bögenauer a human representation of the spirit "Bögenyad". This pact meant that every time the call for aid was made Bögenhafen was sworn to answer. Each time the pact was not held blood was shed in the city, both times with the sacking of the city by an outside force. Leiselottle's ritual was an attempt to shatter this pact, an act that Luthis suggests would drown the city in Bögenyad's wrath. Luthis had come to the city to watch another call for Bögenhafen to act and, in his opinion, to watch it break faith again.

Leaving the elven ship and pulling up their hoods Simon and Dieter come to the realisation that a united Bögenhafen is necessary not just for it to prosper but perhaps even survive. When the call to aid came to the city it needed to be answered by just and powerful men.


A Mirror Darkly

Corvas, in his new alias Wolfgang Boogenheimer, speaks to Lowi at the Half Measure about the Halfling chef working at Kleinwald lodge. The Chef, Dori, used to work at the Golden Trout but was moved on due to her gambling debts. One of her acquaintances, Albert Steinhager, gambles at the Measure every night and that night Corvas attempts to dupe the man for information. A halfling named Clive Hilltopple blocks his attempts but after Phillipe Descartes helps pickpocket Albert's signet ring Corvas' leverage finally finds purchase. Albert introduces Corvas to Dori and Corvas promises to pay her debts if she inform on the Kleinwalds for him. Pleased with his new line of information he returns to Albert who trades his ring for an antique and valuable painting and Corvas goes to meet his fellows, just returned from the meeting with the Elven Envoy.

As the darkness grows the city falls further into villainy, the city gates themselves now occupied by bandits from the Red Hands who openly harass citizens in front of the impotent town guards who remain. At the Wolf's Tail Korbinian joins the Church of Ulric in celebrating Kreigzeit, the beginning of the end of winter and the time of the year when Ulric's hold on the land is said to be done and the White Wolves prepare for the fighting and hunting of spring. The snow outside gives little indication of the waning of winter but within the warm inn festivities continue regardless. Denfather Waldo, head of the Ulrican Church in Bögenhafen, is celebrating the raising of his son Elrich to the rank of White Wolf. Korbinian shares tales of battle and glory, drinking and feasting with the Ulricans for hours. By the time Dieter, Simon and Corvas arrive to collect him he has secured an in-principle arrangement between the churches of Sigmar and Ulric. Waldo is willing to rethink his relationship with Emmerich and support Benton as a strong religious hand on the new council in exchange for a seat on the new council.

Rejoining and riding across town the group arrive at the Crossed Pikes, the once booming inn now occupied only by former guards drowning their sorrows. As Korbinian shares a drink with a man he fought alongside in the Pit Dieter speaks to the bartender, Bauman, about meeting with the thief Derflinger. Coin passes hands although Bauman claims to not know where Melchior Kleinwald is and balks at Dieter's suggestion of a trip to the pit. He recalls a tale of one of his men's encounter with a ghostly urchin girl and says with finality that the "Pit is lost to folk like you and I". Despite this Dieter's silver ensures a barge across the river for that night. Unwilling to brave the cold the group lunch at the Pikes, eventually meeting the elusive Derflinger. The thief is cagey at first but when he realises the group don't care about his criminal doings his tongue loosens. He speaks of breaking into Teugen's offices in the town hall and of bumping into another thief there. The other thief was staring into a strange mirror and fled after Derflinger produced steel. The item that Derflinger stole on Ruggbroder's behalf was an old magical tome with a cover of carved wood, written in a strange language and cold to the touch. Derflinger admits there was other items there that he could have stolen but he didn't because the whole place gave him the "heebeejeebies".

Intrigued by this idea of hidden magical items the group don their coats and travel to the town hall. As with the rest of Bögenhafen the guards are absent here. Moving to the top of the tower the group search Teugen's apartments, rifling through long abandoned bookshelves and writing stations. Deciphering Teugen's code Corvas discovers that Steinhager 'The Brewer' was plotting against his now deceased brother and reference to a "Markus Schultz from the Altdorfer Chamber". Searching the room eventually all are drawn to the corner where a strange ornate mirror sits. As each man looks into the mirror the mirror speaks back, to Dieter of his encounter with the Horror of Bögenhafen in the prison, to Corvas of his murder of the Gold Wizard Wolfgang and of Korbinian of his slaughter in the Pit. Simon, protected by Morr, sees only a gaping abyss, the darkness that might soon swallow the world. Shaken, Dieter takes a nearby candlestick and smashes the mirror only to reveal the glowing green glass behind it. Around the edge of the frame is frosted strange green glass that hurts the eyes of those who look upon it. Korbinian says a prayer of protection and the group retreat from the room, unable to decide what to do with what Simon and Dieter recognise as foul warpstone.

The door is barred behind them as Corvas travels through the heavy snows again to the Ruggbroder estate. He returns an hour later with a man dressed in servants garb, his master Gotteschalk in one of his many disguises. Returning to Teugen's chamber and the accursed mirror Gotteschalk orders the men out so he can deal with the warpstone. Only Dieter refuses, the witch hunter unwilling to let the wizard spend time along with the substance despite Corvas' pleas. Frustrated Gotteschalk's once pleasant face takes on a menacing visage. He rears to his full height, towering over Dieter and imposing his will upon him as the very little light in the room seems sucked out of it. Dieter quakes for a moment but recovers, returning the master wizard's stare as Corvas watch on with concern.


L'Infiltration

As Corvas steps out of the room to fetch Simon and Korbinian Gotteschalk acts quickly. Only a minute later when they return they find Dieter seated and staring out of the window with a smile on his face. Of the Master Wizard and the tainted mirror there was no sign, Dieter's memory of the entire event having been manipulated by Gotteschalk's magic. While Dieter and Korbinian fly into a rage when the former is told what has happened Simon suggests caution. Corvas suggests his master might have gone rogue and if the party encounter him again they should "consider him an enemy".

Resting at Corvas' apartment Dieter cancels the boat hired with the Black Pikes and Corvas speaks to Phillipe Descartes about the Bretonnian knights. Meanwhile Clotthilda proves her worth by adjusting the acquired Kleinwald servant's uniforms to fit comfortable. Later that night the four freshly shaven and dressed Kleinwald servants move through the Adel Ring gates and the coalition of private guards that now protect the region. Moving through a light snow they approach the Kleinwald manor, an overgrown estate with a faintly elven and less faintly unpleasant aesthetic. The group move past dozens of Spriggans camped in the forecourt of the manor. These men are rough, dirty leathers and grim faces reflecting lives in the Kleinwald forests. The halfling chef Dori lets the group through the kitchen door and soon they are armed with platters and moving deeper into the manor.

The centre of the festivities is a massive fighting pit built into the centre of the manor. Carved wooden statues show a skewed representation of the wood elven 'wild hunt' and the entire Kleinwald estate engages in drink, food and betting on mock-combat. Moving through the display of decadence serving drinks the group soon spot the Bretonnians Sir Claude and Sir Xavier. Pretending to pour him a glass of wine Simon speaks to Sir Xavier, the younger of the two knights, and convinces him to meet with Corvas downstairs in the kitchen. Noticing that a Spriggan peels off from the party to follow Xavier Simon interferes with the man, slipping away as another servant is whipped for the offence. In the kitchen a shocked Sir Xavier doesn't understand the idea that the Duke of Montford would send men to save him and Claude from the Kleinwalds. He is surprised that the Duke would resort to subterfuge instead of simply demanding the Empire do as he desires. As Corvas tries to explain the escape the Spriggan minder arrives and whisks Xavier away. Meanwhile having slipped away from the kerfuffle Simon speaks to Sir Claude, the older of the two knights.

Simon and Claude speak Bretonnian in hushed tones, organising an escape the following morning. Claude's demands are few and achievable: A luxury coach, a sword and an open road to the Bretonnian border. The Von Saponatheim's provide the coach while the deceased Swordsmaster provides the blade. As Simon speaks to Claude Dieter snoops around the manor, breaking into a number of rooms and finding some correspondence with a familiar sword and raven sigil. He pockets the letters and the group leaves the manor. Organising the sword and coach is easy but the group cannot decide how to get the two knights out of the manor without being seen. As is so often the case the night is spent planning over candle light in Corvas' apartments.


Power to the People

Simon suggests the group purchase a distraction for their raid on the Kleinwald lodge and soon he and Dieter are trawling the docks looking for trouble. They find the Bay Street Breakers, anti-advancement rioters who react angrily to the news that the Kleinwald's intend to build a bridge over the river. Simon and Dieter meet with Tritane, an agitator and leader of the Breakers. The boatbuilders guild are outraged at the idea of a bridge and after a small donation Tritane agrees to have a crowd ready to picket the Kleinwald lodge the next morning. Their distraction organised, Simon and Dieter decide to stay at the Half Measure to avoid suspicion. Meanwhile back at the apartment Corvas has completed a Spriggan disguise for Korbinian and organises supplies and weapons for the Bretonnians in the coach. Returning hours later Simon spots a group of Blacktower guards escorting a man out of the Customs House Bank, a strange clanking rusted knight by his side. He thinks nothing of it.

Before dawn the following day the group pile into the coach dressed as Kleinwald servants. Corvas declares he cannot take part, promising instead of track down his wayward master Gotteschalk. At the Adel Ring dozens of protesters are already present, shouting and throwing rotten fruit at the beleaguered guards. Rolling past the trouble the group pull up to the Kleinwald Lodge, producing a rolled up carpet from atop the coach that gets them past three groups of Spriggans on their way into the lodge. Dori opens the doors into the lodge and still carrying the carpet the group make their way past more guards and into the Bretonnian's rooms.

The ruse had been effective but came to a violent end when one of the Spriggan guards barged into the room and noticed the unrolled carpet, revealing a half dozen weapons and pieces of armour. Shouting alarm he is pushed out of the room by Dieter. Dieter draws his blade and tries to hold off the men while Simon begins hurriedly helping Sir Xavier don his coat and weapon. But Dieter is no warrior, he is beaten back and speared in the gut, nearly killed were it not for Korbinian and Sir Xavier. Korbinian breaks a man's neck with his bare hands, picking up the fallen spear and cutting down another Spriggan. Finally ready Sir Xavier falls upon the Spriggans, his borrowed zweihänder cutting through the lightly armoured warriors like fog. Fighting their way out of the house Sir Xavier leads the way, Sir Claude following behind and cutting down any Spriggans his master misses. Outside of the Lodge the Spriggans clash with the angry mob, Simon's distraction working perfectly and drawing most of the troops away. Killing a few more Spriggans the group board the waiting coach, Dieter heavily wounded but the mission overall a surprising success.

Skidding through the icy streets of Bögenhafen the coachman Manfried expertly slides towards the lower gates, dodging Spriggan pursuers and smashing through groups of rioters. Out in the white countryside he slows the horses and the Bretonnians begin to enjoy the collection of cheeses and wine that Corvas had organised for them. They talk between mouthfuls of delicacies, revealing that Florence von Saponatheim is housed at a castle within the Sturmdunkle barony. The Bretons are confused at why no-one was sent to rescue them when there is a sizeable Bretonnian contingent at the castle, guests of the Baron Blacktower. They consider the trade alliance with Bögenhafen to be the most important thing and will happily support any applicant who was a participant in the Mistletoe campaign. Stopping at the village of Ardlich the group leave the coach with the thanks of the Bretonnians and hire another coach back to the city. At Corvas' apartment warm baths and fresh clothes await them. It is still early morning as the coach returns to Bögenhafen but a bloody victory had already been achieved.


Clean and refreshed, Simon and Dieter travel to the Temple of Verena where Katrin has been translating the letters stolen from the Kleinwald lodge the day before. They present some troubling affairs, revealing that the Kleinwalds had been using the Red Hand bandits to kill messengers intended for the city. One letter in particular is from the Reiksmarshall himself, instructing Graf von Saponatheim to prepare for his emissaries in time for the next town hall meeting. Sister Greta is outraged at the Reiksmarshall's letter being intercepted. She organises with Father Waldo of the Temple of Ulric to send knights to intercept and protect the Reiksmarshall's emissary to ensure they reach the city. Meanwhile Katrin translates the remaining letters. The war in the north against the Orks goes poorly, the Duke of Ostland having recently been defeated by the Ork Warlord 'Azhag'.

At the Von Saponatheim Castle the group moves past the remnants of the riots while Korbinian goes to tell Benton what they had learned from the Bretonnians. After speaking to Lars about the Bretons and handing over the letters he expresses concerns about the contents of the missing letter. Lars also formally acknowledges the group as allies of the Von Saponatheim house and gives Corvas access to the notes taken from the interrogations of Benton's stolen prisoners. He discovers that the leader of the Black Pikes, Gustav the Freak, was in communication with Benton as he had a prisoner Gustav cared deeply about. Lars believes the Black Pikes are planning an all-or-nothing move to regain their position in the city. Corvas also discovers that Benton had the halfling Hildo prisoner and had discovered that Lowi Lowhaven is a mutant, a secret he hides from all but his closest friends. With two days until the town meeting the group prepares for their trip to the Pit that night.


Winter's March

Down at the docks the group meet with their boatman, Ubel, who had been waiting for them over the last few nights. As the small boat cuts through the ice on the river the group pass a number of bloodied bodies, the remnants of the Choke Hill Jacks' latest attempt to move into the docks on the city-side of the river. The noise of dragging chains dominates the far side of the river, with Ubel claiming it is the "rattling of the ghost ships". It is revealed to be something nearly as nefarious as a half dozen undead use massive chains to dredge the river. Seeing undead moving in unison to do a task other than violence is quite the shock, and Simon scribbles furiously in his notebook in the pale moonlight.

The ground of the Pit is frozen solid, many of the boards holding back the Bögen destroyed in the fire. The flood that followed had destroyed many dwellings that the fire had not, the remaining roads frozen over when winter's grip reached the flooded muddy streets. Slipping through the abandoned streets the group are helped onto a roof by a mysterious hooded figure just in time to avoid contact with a group of undead seemingly patrolling the area. The man leads them across rooftops and makeshift boardwalks to the attic of an old tavern. Within huddle a dozen or so survivors gathered around small fires. The trap door to the lower levels is barricaded closed and the eyes of those in the room look up with hope as the group enter. Within the attic are Black Pikes and Chokers as well as civilians from the Pit. They had all survived the fires and had banded together to survive the undead in the preceding days. They call the undead 'Blights' and cross checking his notes Simon confirms that the animations are a byproduct of the dark magic covering the city. The man who had saved the group introduces himself as Roman, an ex-Pike who acts as the de facto leader of this group. As the party share rations with the survivors Simon leads them in a mass-benediction, giving them a blessing of Morr so that should they fall their souls will rest. In return Roman agrees to lead the group to where Ingolde is keeping Melchior Kleinwald.

Moving across the rooftops of the flooded Pit the group follow Roman. He moves across the slippery boards and frozen shingles with the precision and confidence of a master tracker, or an accomplished criminal. They see a handful more Blights and Korbinian must be convinced not to stop and kill every one of the foul creatures. Most of them are missing limbs or badly burned while some bear the ruined armour or symbols of fallen town guards or Choke Hill Jacks. Although somewhat tame the undead, it seems, do not discriminate. Roman leads the group near to the city wall where a second wall juts out and surrounds Choke Hill, the Pit gallows for which the gang takes its name. As Roman leaves them with thanks Corvas and Dieter climb the rocky wall, killing the two Chokers who guard the gate. With their crossbows in hands they open the gates. An undead sways nearby, seemingly inactive and easily beheaded by Korbinian's hammer. Moving through the outhouses Simon shows himself to be a keen archer, his bolt piercing the eye of a man whose finger was on the trigger of his blunderbuss. Corvas notices that the outer buildings are warded against the undead, suggesting an uneasy alliance between the Blights and Ingolde's gangers. With blunderbuss in hand the group easily clear the remaining men, a mix of Chokers and Blackfire guards, and use stolen keys to reveal a small cell holding the dishevelled Melchior Kleinwald.

Dieter piles the bodies while Korbinian pillages the corpses of the slain men, ostensibly to rob them of any weapons should they animate. As the buildings begin to burn another group of Blights approach. They are delayed, climbing the barricade as the group move upwards into the city walls. Moving through the cold and eerie hollow walls Melchior begins to tell the group of his torment. Kidnapped once by the swordsmaster he had then been re-kidnapped by the Chokers and imprisoned for some weeks. He is missing large parts of his memories and Corvas sits uneasy at his master's possible involvement in the abduction. Melchior had fled with the Oath Stone after discovering his uncle's foul plans for the city. Realising the gravity of his revelations the group decide to take Melchior back to the city at once, abandoning their plans to hunt down and kill Ingolde. Moving through the frozen sewers they are briefly shot at by a group of Blackfire guards but soon reach the docks. Lighting a torch to signal Ubel, and hoping that the boatman had not fled, they brace themselves as the undead approach.

The first wave of shambling Blights are cut down by crossbow bolts from Simon and Dieter, while others are ripped apart or held to the ground by grasping shadow tentacles summoned by Corvas. As the next wave breaks through Korbinian meets them. He had been praying behind the group when the first wave attacked and by the time he engages he is burning ruin incarnate. His hammer and eyes ablaze, he meets them with holy fire, burning to ashes a monster with each swing. Wounded by the grasping hands of the creatures Simon and Dieter retreat as Korbinian stands resolute, casting down the undead even as their frozen claws leech his strength. Finally a shout behind them heralds Ubel's arrival and the wounded are bundled into the small boat. Korbinian reluctantly withdraws from the undead and boards the boat just as another figure reveals itself at the end of the bridge. Wreathed in darkness and clad in steel armour the Blights bow deferentially to Ingolde as she approaches, cold bare feet crunching the blood covered snow. After the heat of battle silence reigns. The night is still as death as she raises her hands and reanimates her fallen Blights. The horrific silence seems to last a lifetime before a boom-crack breaks it. Half of Ingolde's head explodes outwards as a shot blasts through it, a look of surprise on her face for a split second before the contact. Dieter, smiling through bloody teeth, whispers under his breath before passing out: "Bitch".


Witness

On Ubel's boat, teeth chattering despite Dieter's loaned coat, Melchior reveals that the Old Stone grants an exemption from a curse, rather than imposing one. It was a mercy granted to the human tribes by a Wood Elven Lord Sceollan, enabling them to stand sentinel over the blighted confluence of rivers. He also reveals that the slaughter caused by breaking the arrangement had been held back twice before, both times seemingly with the help of the Prophets Society. The Prophets, the same academic fraternity that put the villain Johannes Teugen on the darkest path, are increasingly of interest. The group separates at the docks, Dieter and Korbinian taking Melchior to the apartment while Simon and Corvas follow up on strange moonsilver symbols he spotted at the docks.

Following the Grey College runic symbols Corvas arrives at a strange tower, closed but for a rusted iron door with no lock or handle. Opening the door with a flair of shadow magic the pair move within, up a spiralling staircase, and into a room that resembles backstage at the play. Costumes, masks and wigs hang from the walls alongside fake weapons and armour. Through a heavy curtain Corvas finds a collection of magical items and artifacts and a large empty chest that radiates Ulgu, the wind of shadows. Having discovered his master's hideout Corvas takes a necklace artifact that resembles a spearhead. Returning along the docks back to the apartment Simon spots movement beneath the frozen water. Moving closer he is shocked to see an undead waiting patiently beneath the glass surface.

Staying at the apartment the group book a coach for the morning while Korbinian walks across the cold square to the High Temple. Benton is frantic, his office awash with maps and diagrams of voting blocs. He reveals that the other Sigmarite factions have sided with the Blacktowers. Korbinian steadies his nerves, convincing him to stick with Von Saponatheim and asking Benton to spare men in a foray across to the Pit. Benton has no warriors to spare and Korbinian enters the coach and travels to Saponatheim 'Castle'. At the 'Castle' Lars von Saponatheim recovers from an attack by undead, not an assault but a single enraged dead attempting to get revenge on him personally. Lars is introduced to Osanna and agrees to sponsor her as the new Magistrate. He is overjoyed to have Melchior in his clutches and Osanna takes Melchior's testimony about his family.

Melchior Kleinwald's confession
Taken under oath by one Osanna Windalus, EC.
16th day of Nachexen in the year 2514

"As an academic and member of the Prophets society, I assisted uncle Laurent with his curious project …"

Uncle Laurent had met with a sinister elf named Scallis, who had spoken about the Mistletoe Campaign.
Laurent then approached his nephew and tasked him with researching The Old Stone and the history of Bögenhafen, specifically the three noble lineages.
Melchior consulted Magistrate Richter, who had inherited a pack of historical notes from his mentor, the judge who presided over Leiselottel's trial.
He realised a succession of massacres had occurred in Bogenhafen, apparently conjured by the ongoing failure of mankind to satisfy an oath struck between the Asur and the Unberogen tribesmen of Clan Sturmtunkal.
The oath effectively bound the rulers of Bogenfastis and their successors to stand sentry over the river and answer any call to arms to defend it.
This failure resulted in a curse, under which a price was "paid in blood and bone".
Sure his uncle intended to exploit this secret knowledge, Melchior gathered all his evidence and tried to bring it to the Town Council to warn them.
But there is a gap in his memory - he set out with the Stone and his notes under his arm, then awoke bound in a room. A strangely familiar man in his sixties was his captor.
When his captor failed to return one day, he worked his way free and escaped into the Pit. He was quickly captured again by the Choke Hill Jacks and held for ransom.

Meanwhile after an hour or so toiling through the snow around the city Simon arrives at the Garden of Morr to find the black-iron gates cast off their hinges. Within Mother Carlitz reveals that there had been bloodshed during the night. Sister Katrin, the researcher from the Temple of Verena, hangs eerily from a nearby statue of Morr, a thick noose tied off on the stone scythe of the statue. The Bonesmen, defenders of the Garden, have been delayed in reaching Bögenhafen due to the snows and no-one had seen whoever had killed Katrin. She had come to the Garden to reveal something she had discovered in her research but had been unable to meet with Mother Carlitz before she died. But the invaders had not stopped at murder. The nearby tomb of Franz Steinhager had been broken open and his body exhumed. Killed by Ludolf during the night of the Teugen ritual, Franz had been deep in Teugen's council and had begun to learn dark magics under his tutelage. Simon determines that a ritual was performed on the body but cannot identify what it is for.

Mother Carlitz's shock is only deepened as Simon speaks of the state of the Pit, of undead walking the streets and others waiting at the docks to attack the city. Simon implores her to march across the river to destroy the undead but Carlitz is no warrior, her five or so priests have no battle experience and the Bonesmen are weeks away at Ubersreik. She agrees, however, to take her priests down to the docks and renew the protective wards there. She withdraws an ancient tome from the vaults and takes her people to the docks, hoping the powerful ritual will be enough to hold back winter's march.


Faith and Fury

Although Korbinian argues for hunting down the rogue Gotteschalk with no leads on the elusive wizard the group instead travel to the docks with the intention of crossing once again to the Pit. Ubel is reluctant to take the group back across the Bögen but agrees with a largely increased fee. He also enlists two of his fellow boatmen, one a Pike smuggler and the other a bargemaster from Kringler's Ferry. In the Pit the frozen and ruined buildings are worn through by strange roots, the eerie mist meaning a half-darkness reigns even during the day. Avoiding roving undead Dieter leads the group back to Roman's hideout. Roman agrees to gather his people and make for the boats while some of the others travel around the Pit gathering other evacuees. The group consider escorting the civilians to safety but decide to move towards Blackfire Tower, hoping to find Ingolde and cut the head off the undead menace.

Climbing over the crumbled wall of Blackfire Dieter and Corvas deal with the few outer guards. These are rough men, Chokers enlisted in the guard with ragged armour and weapons. Faced with the daunting sight of the gate Corvas summons the darkness around himself and with a slight pop steps into his own shadow. Moments later the gate opens by a gaunt Corvas, the magic required to traverse the gate having drained him. Within the tower the black stone walls are imposing and the winter chill only barely held back by braziers and furs. The first few guards the group encounter are cut down by crossbow bolts from Simon and Dieter although Simon does catch a glancing blow from a halberd that cripples his arm. Korbinian is a terror to behold, moving between the guards with his flaming hammer even as their greatswords and halberds chip away parts of his chainmail. The first patrol are dispatched with only minor injuries to all but Simon and the researcher hangs back to avoid further trouble.

Moving upwards the group goes into the tower proper, omnimous drums calling the men to order to repel the invaders. Avoiding the main brunt of the Blackfire forces the group move through side rooms before they find Freukel's chambers. As Dieter cuts down the guard stationed within Simon begins rummaging through Freukel's writing desk, pocketing important documents as he goes. It is the Chokers that reach the group first, armourless berserkers who are covered in lacerations of their own making. Moments later the Old Guard arrive. Clad in chain and plate, these men are veterans who are drilled and ruthless. Fighting with halberds, shields and short spears they push Corvas and Korbinian back until a pistol shot from Dieter sends the men scattering. Dieter rushes to follow the fleeing men but Corvas and Korbinian are caught up battling a fresh wave of enemies.

It takes less than a minute for the bloodshed to abate, Korbinian's armour rent by the spears and Corvas holding a belly wound. They round the corner and find Dieter laying face down in a pool of blood, the men standing over him in the process of applying manacles. Despite his wounds Korbinian rushes into combat, his rage manifesting as a burst of holy fire that blasts the men back from Dieter's body. Corvas and Simon retrieve Dieter, unconscious but still alive, and Korbinian slaughters the knocked down guards. As the group move to leave a voice rings through the halls: "Benton you coward. FACE ME!". The drums of marching soldiers accompany the challenge. Korbinian looks around at his injured allies and agrees to leave, Simon half-carrying Dieter out of Blackfire Castle.

As Simon and Dieter make for the docks Korbinian and Corvas stop at the Blackfire gates. Korbinian had spotted the same necromantic runes that had protected the Choke Hill Jacks from the undead at Choke Hill and after conferring with Corvas the two set about destroying the wards. Starting a fire they move towards the dock and watch as dozens of Blights move towards Blackfire and the warm bodies within.


Shadow on the Wall

"Power resides where men believe it resides. It is a shadow on the wall".
Tilean saying, source unknown

Moving through the Pit the group move with large groups of civilians fleeing to the boats. The Blights drawn away the emancipated citizens by the fire at the tower. At the docks Simon and Dieter find the boats gone and stop to read some of Freukel's correspondence. It confirms their suspicions of his alliance with the Blacktowers and of Baron Blacktower's promise for Freukel to resume his post as captain of the guard upon Blacktower's ascension to ruler of Bögenhafen. The notes also reveal that the torturer now-revenant Ingolde was once in Benton's employ but that he cut ties with her when he arrived in the city. With Dieter still barely able to stand Simon loads his crossbow and waits- watching the swirling mists for any sign of the undead. After half an hour Korbinian and Corvas reach the docks as well and the group board Ubel's boat.

Arriving on the far side of the docks the group find panic, the brief abatement of the morning mist having revealed to the people of Bögenhafen the undead milling on the far side of the bank. The panic is only exacerbated by the black flagged warship pulled up to Haagen's wharf and the black plate armoured soldiers that disembark. Baron Blacktower was making his move and had moved his considerable army into the city. This new military presence had done little to calm to townsfolk, however, and as the group move through the city horses and carts are loaded by panicked folk intent on fleeing Bögenhafen. Two carriages and a mass of people leave the docks, Dieter taking one to Doktor Anida to stitch his many wounds, Corvas and Korbinian taking another to the Von Saponatheim estate to speak to Lars and Simon on foot leading the mass of refugees from the pit towards the Temple of Shallya.

At the Temple of Shallya Simon speaks to Mercy Sister Bromide, a Knight of Shallya and head of the Church after the loss of the Pit Temple. She is reluctant to take the refugees but agrees when Simon promises funding from the Von Saponatheims. He uses money from Corvas to pay for food and board for the people and undermines the alliance between the Shallyan church and the Shepherds Sigmarite faction. At Doktor Anida's clinic Dieter discovers that almost all the guilds will be voting in favour of House Haagen, a mercantile house that the group had overlooked in the race for chancellorship due to their lack of noble blood.

Moving past heavily armed guards at the Adel Ring gates Corvas and Korbinian meet with Lars von Sapontheim. By the warmth of a fire he moves ornate carved pieces around a board, trying to guess the voting blocs for the upcoming meeting. Behind the stag of Von Sapontheim is the hammer of benton, the wolf of the Ulricans and the book of the Verenans. Behind Blacktower the Shepherds, Gallants and behind House Haagen is the support of the Kleinwalds and the merchants guilds. Over mulled wine the group inform Lars about the revelations from the Pit but Lars yearns for hard proof of alliances. A few pieces move on the board, the Pike of the Old Guard now behind Blacktower, and the group leave a frantic Lars behind for a final afternoon of politicking. Dieter speaks to Brother Krausmann of the Shepherds, an ex-witch hunter from Ubersreik, and tells him about the Blacktower conspiracy. He baulks at talk of undead but is most interested with the idea of a vote for Von Sapontheim not meaning subservience to Benton. Nearby at the Golden Trout Korbinian meets with Brother Sigiwalt of the Gallants but leaves angry when the man shows it becomes clear Sigiwalt has no true allegiance to Sigmar. Meanwhile Dieter and Corvas meet with Gotteschalk. The Old Wizard reveals his interest is in Ruggbroder alone and the fate of the city is just a side interest. While Dieter holds back his indignation Corvas convinces his master to support Von Saponatheim, promising to assist in Gotteschalk's investigations once the Graf is Chancellor.

The next morning the town hall is packed, the crowds of citizens braving the heavy snows. It seems the heart of winter, the river having finally frozen, but it is warm in the meeting chamber. Hundreds are packed into the golden room, each lord and lady accompanied by bodyguards. Behind Blacktower stand his dark armoured knights, with Kleinwald his spriggans. Benton marches in full golden regalia alongside Korbinian and Von Sapontheim is accompanied by his mercenaries. Even the lesser houses and guilds bring heavy escorts, dwarves and cudgel wearing stevedores and behind the metalworkers guild blackpowder wielding escorts. The air is thick with anticipation and the threat of imminent bloodshed and as the lawyer Maximillian drops his gavel and the room falls silent the first meeting of the town council in 2514 begins.


Three Battles

Outside the town hall the morning sun is eclipsed by a dark cloud and the temperature in Bögenhafen drops. The river freezes over entirely and an ill wind sweeps through the town. However within the council chamber it is warm with clamouring bodies.

Before official proceedings start Fruekel, commander of Blackfire and torturer of Captain Brotte, presents her letter of support for him and declares himself for Captain of the Town Guard. Dieter points out that the Captain is elected by the Chancellor and as there is no Chancellor he cannot be elected, eliciting a proud smile from Osanna. As the discussion takes place a new gaggle of figures enter the chamber. A Knight of the Scroll and Ulrican White Wolf accompany three figures all clad in the finery and heraldry of envoys. One bears the sigil of the Reiksmarshall, one of House von Raukland of Ostland and one the sigil of the Prince of the Reikland, the Emperor himself. They do not speak and take seats observing proceedings as Corvas crosses the room to talk to them. As 9th bell tolls the matter of the Chancellor is brought before the room.

The first vote takes an hour to moderate, Osanna's gavel smashing many times, and ends with a dead vote. Every faction in the room had voted for themselves as Chancellor. This pantemime is convention and once it is resolved each of the major blocs sends emissaries and negotiators to deal with the others. As this happens people stand at the lectern to speak. It soon becomes clear that each of the major players, Von Sapontheim, Haagen and Blacktower, are attempting to convince one of the others to give up their position. Many of the attacks personally demonise Bishop Benton and when Brother Sergeant Valorus stands to call Benton out he adds his venom to the pile. Valorus was speaking of Benton's failure in the Pit and of his new allegiance to House Blacktower when he is cut off by a booming voice from the pews-
"Sigmar weeps at your cowardice".
Korbinian stands, his armour still rent from the Pit and his eyes bright. He breaths deeply before beginning, pointing at Valorus directly but orating to the whole gathered crowd. He acknowledges the undead in the Pit, claiming that the purpose of Benton's raid was to slay these undead. He insults Valorus' honour and status as a warrior and calls for the Knights of Sigmar to ride to the Pit. By some provenance a beam of light from the ceiling reflects off Korbinian's hammer and even the Gallants begin to slam their fists against their breastplates in admiration. When he refers to the recent refugee mission as being planned by Benton and Von Sapontheim even the Shepherds begin to applaud, while Valorus sits with a slump, crestfallen.

This leads to another vote, a tie between the three power factions that leads to more shouting and postering before the groups once again break into smaller chunks and begin negotiations. After some time Dieter speaks to the crowd, questioning Fruekel's presence at the meeting. He suggests Fruekel's failure in protecting the city from the Pit and plays off the threat of the undead. He reminds everyone of Fruekel's connection to the old Ordo Septinarius and the last captain, shamed and killed as part of the Teugen Affair. He dances between groups gaining testimonies of Fruekel's savage nature and by the time he is finished he asks boldly-
“How can we allow a captain of the guard who is either incompetent or, worse still, allied with the undead..?”
No applause for Dieter but many furrowed brows and sideways looks. He completes his pitch by giving House Kleinwald evidence that Fruekel is Blacktower's man through and through, hoping the opposing noble house will withdraw their support.

As Dieter prosthelytizes, Simon speaks to Sister Bromide of the Temple of Shallya. He goes with a promise of gold from Lars von Saponatheim and offers to rebuild the Pit Mercyhouse once the Pit is reclaimed. She questions the presence of the Sigmarites in the rebuilt Pit, a question Simon cannot answer. He does, however, ask her:
"Do you think the people of this ailing city will find the mercy of Shallya in the cold heart of Blacktower? Or the duplicitous decadence of Kleinwald?"
The Shallayan vote moves to Graf von Saponatheim.

As the milling negotiations continue it is Rubrecht Kleinwald who steps forward and asks the Graf why he would hold court with a witch. Confusions reigns before in almost comical fashion Rubrecht swings around to point directly at Corvas. He had recognised Corvas from the Kleinwald lodge some year ago and he had been gathering personal accounts of those few who saw Corvas cast magic and lived to tell the tale. For his part Corvas plays the offended nobleman, clutching his sword and shouting his innocence. Gotteschalk, dressed as the Greatsword, takes this chance to step in. He speaks out in 'Alphonse Leiberung's' defence, adding his good name to Corvas' denials. He speaks to Sigiwalt, head of the Gallants, about resolving the problem if he can produce Corvas' license. He offers Corvas to fetch it, a wry smile hinted on his lips and amidst the din of the meeting Corvas hears a whisper:
"I can tell you what he wants. You just have to let yourself hear it."
Corvas opens his mind and the Bögenhafen Horror informs him of Gotteschalk's intention to acquire Teugen's spellbook, hidden within a hollow bedpost in Corvas' apartment. Gotteschalk offers Corvas Ruggbroder's vote and many other things but in Corvas' mind he listens still to the whispers of the daemon. He hears of Gotteschalk's plans for the book. Of his breaking into the Temple of Morr. He sees a vision of him hanging Sister Katrin of Verena. Corvas distracts Gotteschalk with a second location and pulling Dieter aside insists he travel to the apartment and burn the book, lest it fall in his master's hands. Dieter leaves in a hurry and minutes later Corvas reveals the real location of the book to Gotteschalk, who departs with a carroberg greatsword bodyguard in tow.

It has been a frustrating few hours as midday bell rings and the envoys finally insist on speaking. They express, to a man, disappointment at the lack of leadership in the city and ultimately reveal their intention to call for Bögenhafen's aid. The Reiksmarshall's envoy declares that following insults at court and raids against merchants the Reiksmarshall will answer the call to march against Bretonnia, taking his Reiksguard through Axe Bite Pass. This brings a bubble of discussion among the gathered men as the Prince of Reikland's emissary stands. He also asks for aid, in this case aid in defending the Empire against the Greenskins in the north. A massive force led by the warlord Azhag was rampaging through Kislev and the Emperor intended to send aid. Finally the envoy from the Duke of Ostland requires assistance in a planned crusade into Norsca to stop raids by the chaos reaver known as 'Lord Mortkin'. The envoys agree that whomever the vote holds is Chancellor will answer the call. Few in the room realise that if the Chancellor does not answer the call the land will be awash with blood and destruction as the elven spirit takes revenge.

Corvas leaves the town hall after Dieter, leaving the cold mist to creep into the gilded hall.

Here and there the rolling mist manifests into shapes, shambling half burned former residents of the Pit or fuller new victims. All eyes burning with the blue-cold of winter's heart. Turning to run Corvas thinks not of warning the hundreds within the town hall, still intent in their politicking…


Eye for an Eye

Running through the icy streets of the city Corvas hears the stacato crack of a blackpowder weapon and begins sprinting towards the apartment. As he approaches he hears another two shots in close succession before a backlash of grey magic nearly bowls him from his feet. Rounding the corner he arrives at the apartment to find a grisly sight. Dieter lies in the red snow before him, armour rent and his torso hacked in two. The culprit, a Ruggbroder greatsword, walks calmly down the street cleaning his blade but instead Corvas follows the distinct stench of magic radiating from Gotteschalk. A few streets away he finds his once-master. Gotteschalk is heavily wounded, his armour destroyed but successive blackpowder shots. He drags his greatsword along the ground, carving into the red trail from his gaping wounds. A slash along the back from Corvas puts him on the ground, his face aghast at the perceived betrayal of his pupil. He appeals to Corvas' sense of fraternity, claims Dieter was a crazed mutant and even barters with him- producing Teugen's spellbook, now a tattered and burned mess. But Corvas simply waits and minutes later when Gotteschalk's wounds overcome him he draws his dagger across his old master's throat.


Even as the vote is tallied the screams of clerks and servants and ghostly howls bring quiet to the town hall meeting chamber. Almost on cue the windows of the hall smash open and cold wind permeates the room, an unnatural chill that seems to steal away the joy of those it touches. As Korbinian draws his hammer and steps in front of Benton the old man insists that his protector turn his eye to Ruggbroder, reinforcing to Korbinian the importance of Ruggbroder's vote. There is a moment of piece before the first undead enters the room. Clearly burned and disfigured the skeletal creature holds a smith's hammer in it's one hand, eyes glowing white-blue with dark fire. Behind it scramble dozens of others, dessecated and fresh. With a cry Korbinian rallies the Gallants of Sigmar, against Sigiwalt's urging, and charges the creatures. The Ruggbroder Greatswords and Blacktower soldiers follow with their own battle cries. Shining swords and brutal halberds cut into undead flesh as dozens of the beasts are cut down in the first few seconds. The Kleinwald Spriggans fire off their bows and smoke fills the air as blackpowder weapons are discharged into the mass. Hundreds are cut down in the first minute, methodical swipes from expert warriors smashing apart bodies. But on the undead come. They move erratically, quick and driven in pushing past armed men to attack the civilians beyond. As the undead break through those still remaining in the room break and flee. The hundreds of assistants, attendees and servants scream in panic and soon the room mills into a deadly stampede.

The swarm of undead bite and claw at any they get their hands one, held back only by the remaining noble guards and a few brave souls who controlled their panic. Sister Bromide lays about herself with her two handed Kislevite blade while the priests of Morr hold a circle around Carlitz. The mother reads from an ancient tome in a frenzy and every minute or so large swathes of undead simple turn to ash, their magic dispelled at the will of the God of the Dead. Simon stands before her, his blade enchanted by Morr's touch to de-animate any undead it touches. Soon the ragged undead are replaced by heavily armed Blights, knights or soldiers who died in the Pit during Benton's raid. These new foes stand in formation around a strange object. A standing sarcophagus, the stone emanates cold and is carved with the likeness of an Elven maiden. Ingolde stands next to it in tattered armour and robes and the remains of Captain Brotte are tied to it with barbed wire. The wind calls to those in the room with a warning heard in all languages and none: "Bögenaid Comes".

Rushing upstairs after Ruggbroder Korbinian finds a handful of figures gathered around an old mossy stone with elven runes. His hammer bursts into flame and illuminates their surprised faces. Freukel's holds a knife to Ruggbroder's throat and his men rush Korbinian as Freukel threatens the old man, swearing at him to "say the words". The Blacktower soldiers are veterans, expert warriors and hardened by battle and Korbinian makes them look like children. Empowered by Sigmar's fury he smashes the men aside but as he does Ruggbroder is finally coerced into activating the ritual with an elvish phrase and a pulse of cold eminates from the Old Stone at the centre of the room. The runes on the stone glow white and below a freezing mist begins to swirl around Bögenaid's prison casket. Making eye contact with Freukel Korbinian sees him at last- eyes black and a sly smile on his lips: The final form of the Bögenhafen Horror. He offers Korbinian the rulership of Bögenhafen and more in exchange for Melchior Kleinwald but the Knight of Sigmar resists in a most horrific fashion. His flaming hammer makes short work of Melchior's skull, destroying his eyes before they can be used for the ritual and Freukel drags Ruggbroder back down stairs to the main chamber.

Around Bögenaid's casket a swirling vortex of cold and ice has formed into the likeness of an Elven maiden, her face terrible and wreathed in magic. The remaining soldiers flee in terror or are frozen solid and shattered as this new horror pushes her consciousness out into the chamber. As the room slowly freezes Freukel and Korbinian return to the chamber and a new figure announces themselves. The elf Scallus, now clad in glinting golden armour, leaps from the rafters of the room alongside two massive shambling shapes. Although clad in baroque armour these figures are more tree than man, grasping roots and icey branches reaching out to take Ruggbroder. Scallus holds in his hands an ancient rope, the mysterious hangman finally revealed as the vengeful elf. But Korbinian's blood is up and he rushes headlong into these new adversaries. His hammer smashes Scallus to the ground as he puts blow after blow into the agile warrior. As his rage grows so does his fire, the flames around him burning the treemen and scorching the white-marble council floor despite the cold. As Korbinian's maelstrom rages Freukel slinks into the darkness.

Some minutes later Korbinian leans on his hammer amidst the slaughtered forms of Scallus and the treemen. From upstairs comes Ingolde, her bodyguards destroyed by Carlitz and her ritual stifled by the killing of Melchior. She staggers towards the unconscious form of Bishop Benton and with a sickening snap freezes and then shatters his skull. A smile graces her lips for a moment before it is replaced by a disappointed frown. Korbinian limps over to her, leaning heavily on his hammer. She looks up at him from her knees and smiles. He raises his hammer but lowers it when he sees the revenant beginning to fall into dust. She seems almost human as she tells him she was manipulated by the voice in the mirror, the Bögenhafen Horror. She regrets the damage done to the city but maintains that Benton deserved to die, as did the others. Korbinian watches as she turns to ash and looks around at the cost of her vengeance. Benton killed by Ingolde, the women he betrayed. Father Emmerich at the hands of an undead sigmarite he had failed to save in the Pit during Benton's raid. Gertholt Haagen killed by a blade in the back during the melee, Heinrich Steinhager trampled in the panic, Klaus Magirius frozen by Bögenaid's fury. Dieter's blood lays on the streets of the Artisan's district, Gotteschalk's near the Ubersreik Gate and Fedor's long frozen in the Pit. Hundreds more throughout the city, thousands even. So many had died for vengeance.

It is in the same courtyard where the servants of House Teugen hanged weeks earlier that the players of Bögenhafen meet, cold and bloodied, to decide the fate of the city.

No-one in Bögenhafen at the turn of 2514 had escaped bloodshed. The docks were awash with bodies, the Blacktower flagship Storm's Wrath is frozen and shattered, the usurper Florence von Saponatheim hanged from the mast by the Elf Scallus. Scallus had all but finished his trail of vengeance before Korbinian's hammer, hanging the men who had pillaged his village decades earlier. In the courtyard outside the town hall the Teugen fortune is split between House Ruggbroder and the Graf von Saponatheim. Ruggbroder, now the remaining Merchant Lord after the death of 'Gold Hound' Haagen and Steinheiger, becomes a powerhouse in the city. Seats on the new council are granted to the Brother Korbinian of Sigmar, Mother Carlitz of the Church of Morr and Sister Greta of Verena with the Graf von Saponatheim as Chancellor.

The Baron Blacktower would continue to fund and equip the state army while the Von Saponatheims would finance a new town guard built upon the mercenaries already within their employ. The Baron would provide veterans to train the new recruits and send his son with most of his army to aid in the Emperor's wars. This allowance is a sign of weakness for the Graf, but one he must wear out of necessity. The remaining Old Guard either flee the city or are assimilated into the New Guard and Blackfire tower sits empty.

Brother Korbinian is named the "Hammer of Bögenhafen" and the new ruler of the Hammers of Sigmar upon Benton's death. Brother Sigiwalt takes the remaining Gallants of Sigmar back to Ubersreik and Korbinian rules with the support of the new Shepherd, Father Kraussman. He breaks ties with his other once-allies, too occupied in taking over Bishop Benton's legacy in the city.

On the far side of the river the newly formed Black Hook gang rule supreme, an alliance of Black Pike and Chokers who survived the undead. The Shallayans move back across the river and begin construction of a new Mercy House, protected by Black Hook roughs and the vigilant Sister Bromide. Gustav the Freak donates often to the temple. As winter comes to an end the Bonesmen arrive and occupy the Pit. Hundreds of servants of Morr, supporting silent knights with white paint on their black armour, move into the area and perform mass purifications of the tainted land. Simon and Mother Carlitz support their efforts.

The inert idol of Bögenaid is given to a group of elves from nearby Athel Yenlui who insist that the spirit is now dormant. The shattered Old Stone sits in the Temple of Verena once more.

"Was it indeed the water? Fouled by alien idols, and hatreds older than time-worn stone? Perhaps it was the lands. Riddled with the bones of needlessly slaughtered masses, haunted by bitter spirits. Was it the prize? A once-in-a-generation fortune, glittering, bewitching, the blood-soaked bounty of a madman.

It would be comforting, perhaps, to believe this lethal disharmony was truly conjured by the Enemy, on ground carefully cultivated, prepared and sown for the reaping. But, hasn't the discord and murderous ambition of Man always found fertile ground from which to spring?
What do you believe, Initiate? Did vengeful dreams below stoke the blood-thirst of the aspirants? Or did the confluence of treachery above rouse maleficence from its slumber?"

Overheard by a visiting scholar, Order of Mysteries, Temple of Verena 2514


Dramatis Personae

Corvas - Enigmatic Shadow-Wizard.
Also known as the noble Alphonse Leiberung, the beggar Hanno Hassler and the townsman Wolfgang Boogenheimer.
Fedor Baranov - Kislevite Bounty Hunter [Battered to death by an Undead Knight]
Dieter von Kädler - Ex-Witch Hunter Investigator
Brother Sergeant Korbinian - Nobleborn Warrior Priest of the Trocheim family.
Simon Brandt - Scholar, priest of Morr and expert in the Undead.
Ludolph - Amber wizard tracker and woodsman.

Osanna - Barrister from Ubersreik
Father William - Militant churchman
Lori Lowhaven - Halfing fence
Doktor Anida - Tilean surgeon and Corvas' lover
Master Gotteschalk - Grey Wizard Master, over-committed method actor
Berkhart - Manager of a boating group and one of Corvas' informants from Altdorf.
Phillip Descartes - Bretonnian cardshark and charlatan.
Antonin - Doorman at the Golden Trout and in Corvas' employ.
Roman - Survivalist ranger in the Pit, former Pike.
Ubel - Useful boatman
Manfried - Talented Four Seasons Coachman
Katrin - Verenan Savant [Hanged]

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