Spires of Altdorf
From Lexicanum
The Leaving Of Middenheim
While Konrad and Jhared went round the city disposing of various trinkets the Party had accumulated, Siluvane remained at the inn studying the Liber Mutantis. Tondil went to the Collegium Theologica and met with Professor Albrecht Zweistein who arranged for them to access to the Collegium's archive to search for more information about the Red Flayer. After a long and tedious search through the books and scrolls, aided by Professor Zweistein, they located a fragment of text on an ancient piece of vellum that named the other artifacts the daemon's soul was bound to - the Dagger of Yul K'chaun and the Chalice of Wrath. After another day they found some indication that the dagger was potentially in the city of Altdorf. Saying he would continue to search the archives for more information, Professor Zweistein also gave them a letter of introduction to a colleague of his, Dieter Klemperer, in Altdorf.Konrad and Jhared made arranged for them to travel south with a group heading to Altdorf the next day. The group, which set out just before dawn, consisted of two Roadwardens, Siegfried and Ulrike and two families, that of Adebert Mos and Pieter Brush who were moving their extended families to Altdorf with all their worldly possessions. As well as the Party, a scholar named Wolfgang Scheunact was also tagging along.
The first two day of travel led them to the village of Holzbeck, where they spent the night at the coaching inn, though the elves in the Party noted that the two Roadwardens seemed wary around them. Next morning they took the road westward to Grubentrech as the shorter route directly south would lead them all the way back to the ruins of Untergard and the Chaos forces there. The spent a peaceful night in the Grubentrech coaching inn and just after dawn set off heading southwards towards Malstedt.
As the road wound through the forest, the peace was rudely shattered as a group of Beastmen charged out of the trees and attacked. With some difficulty, the Beastmen were eventually slain, but not before Konrad as Siluvane were badly injured. The Party also discovered during the battle that Wolfgang, far from being a simple scholar was also a powerful sorcerer.
Night Attack
The Party set out early next morning, arriving safely at the coaching
inn in the village of Mittelweg, although at several points through the
day the more observant of them had spotted shadowy figures seemingly
paralleling their route in the forest to either side. Setting out around
dawn as usual, the Roadwardens advised them that, slowed by the wagons
they would most likely not reach the inn at Brockel before sundown, and
to be on their guard for trouble.
Although no-one spotted any warning signs through the day, sure
enough, just after sunset, arrows began arcing out of the trees towards
them. Jhared and Tondil charged
towards the trees, using their night
vision as the Roadwardens urgently called on the two families with the
wagons to speed up.
A frantic battle ensued as the small convoy tried to evade the ambush. Jhared, Tondil, Siluvane and Birgit could see well in the darkness. The fighters were evenly matched with the Beastmen, cutting a swathe through them, though not without garnering more wounds. Siluvane, still carrying wounds from the previous encounter, hurried to keep up with the wagons, managed to disable some of the Beastmen with his Sleep spell. Konrad and Berthold were initially at a disadvantage in the darkness until the scholar, Scheunacht cast Crown of Fire, which illuminated the scene sufficiently to even the odds, allowing the Party, aided by the Roadwardens, to kill enough of the Beastmen for the small convoy to escape to the safety of Brockel.
After leaving Brockel the remainder of the trip was uneventful and two days later they arrived safely at Altdorf.
The Daemon Letter
Heading through the crowded streets of the city looking for accommodation, the Party eventually ended up in The Lost Tavern on the Street of 100 Taverns. Next day they headed for the Celestial college to present the letter of introduction given to them by Professor Zweistein to the Celestial Wizard Dieter Klemperer. After reading the letter and hearing their story, Klemperer agreed to help them. He knew nothing about the artifact or how it might be destroyed but offered to introduce them to powerful and influential people in the city who may be able to help, starting with Lord Frederick, a powerful noble. Rising at the end of the meeting, Klemperer asked them to return next day after he made some arrangements.That evening after they had returned to The Lost Tavern, the Party settled down for the evening meal to discuss things. Their meal was interrupted by a street urchin who came to their table proffering a sealed letter to them. Jhared tossed the urchin a penny and Tondil took the letter from him opening it. Instantly green flames erupted and a small Daemon manifested, immediately attacking Tondil. The other patrons of the tavern, overcome the fear and horror of i the Daemon's manifestation fled to hid behind upturned table. Fortunately the Party were made of sterner stuff and reacted swiftly.
Berthold and Jhared leaped to their feet, drawing weapons, while Siluvane hit the deck - crawling under the table. Berthold grabbed the Daemon, pulling it back from where its claws had latched onto Tondil's face drawing gouts of blood from the elf. The Daemon screeched and lashed out a Berthold, ripping through the sleeves of his new shirt and fending his arm. Jhared swung a mighty blow, followed by Berthold and then Tondil, injuring the creature which now oozed foul-smelling ichor form its wounds. Siluvane, having reached the relative safety of the bar area, cast a magical dart at the creature. The blessing of Ulric was with him and the Daemon exploded in a welter of gore. As things settled down, the other patrons returning to their drinking, Tondil examined the letter, seeing it contained nothing other than the image of a Human skull, drawn in reddish-brown substance - Human blood! Siluvane recognised it as the symbol of the Crimson Skull.
Next day, at a brief meeting with Klemperer, the wizard informed them that he had arranged a dinner meeting for them with Lord Frederick at his private club, The Gorgon. As the Party were not members, or wealthy nobles, Klemperer suggested it might be advisable for them to they go around to the back entrance.
That evening, at the appointed hour, the Party duly arrived at the back entrance to the Gorgon. On knocking, an insufferably snooty steward reluctantly led them up to one of the private dining rooms on the first floor. Lord Frederick turned out to be a genuinely pleasant fellow and seemed pleased to meet them. He was most interested in helping with their their quest. After a rather excellent meal, he advised that he could think of a few people who might help Maximilian Saer and Johan Schmidt immediately came to mind. He offered to arrange introductions introductions if they wished to follow up, and would be in touch in a couple of days.
The Cock Pit
Returning back to The Lost Tavern, Siluvane headed up to his room while the other stopped for a drink at the bar. When Siluvane crested the top of the stairs he immediately almost tripped over the body of an unconscious servant on the floor. Calling for help, he continued on to their rooms finding they had been completely ransacked and the shutters on one of the windows had been forced. As the innkeeper arrived on the scene, they quickly found out that no-one had noticed anything amiss upstairs as there had been a brawl in the bar earlier.
Next morning, Birgit set out to track down those who had started the
convenient brawl. Eventually locating them in a disreputable run-down
inn called The Broken Barrel. With a combination of charm, beer and a
few well-timed bashes from the side of her axe, she discovered that they
had been hired by a woman called Solveig who could be found at the Cock
Pit, a noted venue for cock fights in the city, which although in a
slum area was prosperous and well-maintained. Tondil and Berthold headed
off to the university to try and locate Wolfgang, and discovering he
wasn't actually studying there at the moment, and unable to do so, left
a message for him should he show up. Konrad meanwhile tried to contact
the Thieves Guild, but only got ambushed by some footpads for his
troubles.
That evening they received a note from Lord Frederick advising that he had arranged an appointment for them with Maximilian Saer, a rich merchant and ex-Burger at his Town house the following day. The meeting with Saer went well, and although he was unable to help them himself advised they should contact his friend Konrad Messner "the most reliable opponent of Chaos" he knew. He would drop Konrad a note telling him to expect their visit.
That evening they headed en-mass for the Cock Pit in an attempt to find the mysterious Solveig. Paying the twopenny cover-charge, the Party spread through the throng, seeking their quarry, though Tondil managed to distracted by a pretty lady near the bar. Eventually Birgit tracked Solveig down and after payment of a fair chunk of gold managed to get her to talk. She had been hired by a man a couple of days ago to ransack their rooms and steal anything vaguely arcane or strange looking. She had found nothing and reported back meeting him in the ruins near the Bright College. Birgit asked for a description of her employer and Solveig obliged adding that she was fairly sure he had been disguised and that the description she had given was most likely useless.
On their way back to the Lost Tavern, they were ambushed by a bunch of thugs. Though Konrad was injured in the attack, Siluvane managed to take a prisoner, having put one to sleep with a spell and they killed several more of them before the survivors fled. Questioning the survivor, before tying him up and leaving him amongst the bodies of his slain comrades for the Watch, they discovered they had been hired by a woman called Carlott at the Three Beards tavern.
In A Glass Darkly
Next morning the Party set out to find the Three Beards,
unfortunately as they left the inn they were attacked by a sniper from a
nearby rooftop. Jhared took a bolt to the left arm before the sniper
fled over the rooftops, after taking another pot-shot at Konrad to
discourage pursuit.
The Three Beards turned out to be in an area of the city that made the slum areas they have previously visited look good! Fortunately they were relatively unmolested save for a single footpad, that discovered that a lone elf sorcerer was not in fact an easy mark for an impromptu mugging. The Three Beard was possibly the worst tavern any of them have ever been in. The central area, near the bars was relatively peaceful a group of almost two dozen large, bearded individuals, both human and dwarf enforcing relative peace amidst the drinking and carousing. The darkened corners of the tavern did play host constant brawls the losers of which were hoisted out of the glass-free and shutter-free windows. Occasionally followed up by the victors if the bouncers took exception. Konrad and Siluvane sat at the bar, drinking the better of the tow ales on offer and casually trying to elicit information about the mysterious "Carlott" - to little avail. Jhared had a little more luck splashing some cash with one of the working girls who agreed to ask around for him.
Siluvane was first to return to the Lost Tavern , which he almost instantly regretted as something invisible attacked him in his room. He fled the room, the back of his robes soaked in blood. His friends arrived in time for Jhared to bind the strange seeping wounds on his back, but whatever attacked him appeared to have fled.
That night they slept somewhat uneasily. In the small hours Konrad was on watch, when in the other room Tondil woke suddenly feeling something had touched him. Looking round he could see nothing - even with his elven sight. He got up and lit a candle, noticing with horror that SiIuvane's sheets were soaked in blood, though no attacker was visible. He called out a warning and Konrad came hurrying in, scanning the room for a threat urgently. He could see no threat, then suddenly, something caught his eye.
Reflected in the mirror on the wall he could see what looked like a floating cloud composed of pale faces screaming in agony, constantly boiling in and out of existence hovering over the unconscious Siluvane. Quickly, realising he had to use the mirror to target the daemon - or whatever it was, Konrad lashed out with his dagger. Ulric's Fury blessed Konrad's attack and his dagger struck true - dealing the amorphous cloud with a blow that spewed torrents of blood across SiIuvane's bed.
Konrad called out urgently to Tondil, who also began using the mirror to try and target the creature. Konrad's dagger seemed to hurt the creature more seriously, and after a second savage thrust it suddenly dissipated in a welter of blood.
The Frenzied Shoppers
Next morning, Jhared and some of the others returned top the Three Beards where he met Freda who informed him that Carlott indeed an occasional visitor to the tavern and probably came in once or twice a week. While they were away, Tondil was visited by Wolfgang who informed her that although he had no idea where the dagger they sought might be located he believed he knew of a ritual that may be able to destroy it!
That afternoon the Party set out to visit Konrad Messner at the College of Light. After some difficulty, and the help of a passing student, they manage to finally find the college and were met at the door by Konrad himself - or rather as they discovered Lord Konrad! After hearing their story Konrad was sympathetic and informed them that be believed the dagger was in the Secret Vaults of the College. And if they Party proved they had a viable method of destroying it, he might be able to obtain it. There was a problem however. One of the local Witch Hunters, Gottri Hammerfist had for some reason become suspicious of him and were he to remove such a powerful artifact from the Vaults, then it might seem to some that Hammerfist's suspicions were correct and thus he was unable to act. He suggested that they speak to Theodora Pferig one of the other Witch Hunters in the city who might prove helpful.
Have already had Lord Frederick suggest Theodora the Party decided a visit to see her was their next move, and armed with a letter of introduction they headed to her town house to relate their tale once again! Theodora listened patiently to their tale, snorting derisively when Hammerfist's name and suspicions were mentioned, and stoutly defended Konrad. She told them that Hammerfist had two key supporters in the city, a noble named Elizabeth Baern and Klara Roban an Anointed Priest of Sigmar. She also advised them that she had heard rumours that an adventuring group had recently discovered a powerful ritual that might destroy chaos artifact and that she believed some of them at least were still in the city.
On their way to the Temple of Sigmar, as they crossed the market square, the Party were suddenly attacked by random citizens seemingly driven into a frenzy . While the others fought off the unnaturally enraged citizenry, Birgit spotted a mysterious small shrouded figure across the way and charged forward. Quickly dispatching it with her axe she discovered it was a young mutant. With the death of the mutant the citizens suddenly calmed down and the Party swiftly retired before any awkward questions from the Watch.
At the Temple they located Klara , who was much impressed by the Godsmarks and agreed to hear them out. After relating their tale (once again), she seemed disturbed by the fact that two of the most widely esteemed Witch Hunters in the city had such opposing views of Konrad. However without some evidence either way she could do little she could do. She did confirm Theodora's news about the mysterious adventuring group's discovery and that the Wizard from the Party was still in the city. She also advised they should peak to Elizabeth Baern, but warned them she could be very touchy!
On their way back to the Lost Tavern they came under fire by the mysterious sniper again - who one more shot the unlucky Jhared !Mutant Attack!
The Party dealt with the sniper quickly by means of a magic dart from
Siluvane and an arrow from Tondil. Birgit searched the body but found
little of interest save 12 shiny new gold crowns in his wallet. Next
morning Tondil wrote a note to Lord Frederick asking him to arrange an
introduction to Lady Baern while Birgit set out to back-track the
sniper, eventually finding herself back at the Three Beards - where all
roads seemed to lead!
Lord Frederick sent a note that evening advising he had arranged for
them to meet Lade Baern next day at The Gorgon and after a fairly quiet
day they set out for the meeting. As they had been advised was somewhat
touchy, but Konrad and Birgit quickly worked out that she was mainly
upset that no-seemed appreciative enough of her single-handedly
destroying a chaos-cult in the city some years ago. She seemed to have a
bit of a downer on Konrad and supportive to the Witch Hunter
Hammerfist. Birgit though that that best way to get her on-board with
supporting Konrad would be to get Konrad to recognise her achievement!
They took their leave and returned to the Lost Tavern.
Next morning their breakfast was rudely interrupted as they were
attacked by a group of mutants supported by a renegade wizard. It was a
brutal combat, especially when the wizard summoned a daemon to support
them. Things got even dicier when Birgit slew the wizard - who immediately
exploded in a burst of chaos into a bloody skeleton and and blobby
mass of flesh.
After overcoming their fear, the Party eventually prevailed - but
it was a close thing. Questioning the survivors, they discovered
that the mutants had been hired by Carlott. Unlike previous
assailants they had not met Carlott at the Three Beard but at a nearby
warehouse near the river.
The Warehouse
Eventually, after much discussion the Party decided to scope out the warehouse Carlott had apparently been spotted in. and Tondil and Jhared set off on a scouting mission. The warehouse wasn't difficult to find, a couple of blocks from the Three Beards down by the river.Most of the warehouses were busy at that time in the morning, workers loading and unloading cargo from ships docked at the wharves, though one they were interested in was boarded up and silent. Tondil went to speak to some of the ships crews, and confirmed that no deliveries have been made to the warehouse for about a year. Jhared went to try and get a closer look, but was jumped by four dockworkers, who seemed to take exception to his being an elf! He came off worse with four against one, and was badly wounded in the scuffle with a horrendous slash to his sword arm, cutting him to the bone. Fortunately Fate intervened and Tondil found him before he bled out in the alleyway. Tondil bandaged the wound in his badly cut arm and carried him back to the Lost Tavern when the bar-keep fetched a local seamstress to sew up the wound on the elf's arm - after advising that the local barber was over-fond of using a saw!
That evening they returned after dark, leaving the Lost Tavern about 10. Konrad and Berthold set up in the River Inn, just across the street, which was surprisingly quiet for a dockside tavern, while Jhared, Tondil and Siluvane lurked about in the street, drawing some hard stares from a passing Watch patrol. Jhared and Tondil spotted movement on the roof of the warehouse, while Siluvane identified two guards lurking near the front door.
About midnight they made their move. Covered by Jhared Konrad began scaling the alleyway side of the warehouse, while Tondil did the same at the wharf side. Siluvane went round to the main entrance to discover the guards had apparently gone inside. Konrad managed to take the watcher on the roof by surprise, just taking a minor wound before Tondil came to help finish him off, however they quickly discovered to their disappointment, there was no way into the warehouse from the roof.
Konrad joined Jhared Siluvane and Berthold at the front where they discovered that the boards apparently nailing down the windows were in fact nailed together in a sheet and could fairly easily be removed. They did so - only to find a crossbow bolt streaking out of the darkness towards them. The first bolt hit Jhared (again!) and then a second Siluvane. Siluvane able to spot the target with his elven sight retaliated with a magic dart and the three quickly deployed through the window, taking cover behind a large rate.
As Tondil came in through one of the windows on the wharf side, they came under fire by more crossbow men on a high walkway at the other side of the building. Jhared took out one with a bowshot, while Berthold hampered by not being able to see well in the darkness laid down a suppressing fire and managed to hit another.
As the twang of crossbows and longbow strings echoed back and forth across the warehouse, one of the thugs charged out of the darkness and engaged Tondil swinging a heavy knife that was more like a short-sword.
Carlott
The battle in the warehouse began to turn in the direction of the Party Jhared's arrows and Siluvane's magic darts proving most effective. Tondil managed to kill the one who had attacked him, when more thugs who had raced out from a nearby building joined the fray. Birgit and Konrad moved to intercepted them as they went in the main wharf-side doors of the warehouse, while Berthold, now with sufficient light to see moved to assist.When all the thugs were slain the Party caught their breath and began searching the bodies for loot. Jhared was particularly keen to retrieve the mail shirt from the sniper who had been on the rooftop. Siluvane meanwhile went to search the nearby building where he found a veritable feast laid out on a table with abundant bottles fine wines and spirits - naturally he settled himself down.
Birgit and Tondil took some time to search the warehouse looking for a way down to the basement, eventually finding a trapdoor hidden under a heavy crate . Birgit eventually managed to lever the trapdoor open to reveal a stone staircase leading into the darkness. They were about to head down when Jhared realised Siluvane was missing. He located the elf in the nearby building discovering the wizard was in te process of drinking himself into as stupor, they were not getting much magic support from here on in!
Birgit led the way down, narrowly avoiding a trap, to a stone-walled room. The far end of the room was curtained off from view but on the left side was a pallet. On the right side of the room was an overturned dresser revealing a jagged hole in the wall and a tunnel beyond!
While Birgit made her way into the tunnel, instantly regretting the decision as the unmistakable stench of sewers assailed her, the others quickly searched te room revealing little other than an altar to Khorne hidden behind the curtain, and a pack containing some clothes on the floor near the bed-roll on the pallet. Confirming the room was empty the others quickly followed the dwarf.
Unfortunately no-one in the Party had any real ability at tracking so they initially went the wrong way before finding a patch where the walkway had collapsed. Turning back on themselves Konrad spotted a fresh footprint in a patch of mould. They managed to negotiate the mould without too much trouble, but Jhared did suffer slightly from some inhaled spores. As they approached a sharp bend in the sewer-tunnel, Birgit suddenly called a halt as she detected the strong methane smell she remembered from the sewers of Middenheim.
As she called a warning the others - any lit torches were extinguished plunging the Party into darkness. A laugh sounded from ahead of them and with a sudden flare of light a torch was ignited and tossed back towards them - and the pocket of gas!
Fortunately most of the Party managed to avoid any serious consequences, but as they edged forward cautiously they realised that Carlott had chosen her ambush point carefully as ghouls, awakened by the explosion, erupted from a side-passage. Birgit and Tondil ignored the ghouls and charged forward after Carlott. While the others dealt with the ghouls Birgit and Tondil, with sling and bow finally managed to bring their fleeing opponent down.
Cleansing of the Corrupted Vessel
Next day after several baths and arranging for their clothes to be laundered, the various members of the Party, spent the day shopping, relaxing or in Siluvane's case, nursing a spectacular hangover. After a relaxing day they resolved to see Konrad and bring him in on Birgit and Konrad's plan to bring Lady Elizabeth on-board. Though initially reluctant to pander to the spoiled noblewoman, Konrad eventually agreed saying that they would both be at a party hosted by Lord Frederick the following day and he would make a point to speak to her.The next day agin the Party spent in R&R, apart from a rather bizarre trip to the Amethyst College where they learned little other than the wizard they sought was called Gabrielle and she was in fact still in the city. hoping all went well at Lord Frederick's party that evening - though straggly no-one though to try and wangle an invite so they could keep an eye on things! The morning after they received a note from Konrad advising that things had gone extremely well at the Party and Elizabeth had agreed to go speak to Hammerfist that morning and that Klara, the Priest of Sigmar, had agreed to accompany her. After hanging about the Lost Tavern anxiously for the morning, the Party decided they could wait no longer and trooped off to Brean Manor.
After being usher inside they found the noblewoman, and Klara looking battered and bruised and being attended by a surgeon.The ladies told them that when they had approached Hammerfist, the Witch-hunter had flown into a mad rage and frothing at the mouth had attacked them. Fortunately with the help of some Baern men-at-arms they had managed to restrain Hammerfist and had handed him over to the Guard. Surprised but pleased at this turn of event the Konrad noted that all they had to do was find the Amethyst wizard Gabrielle - only to discover she was in fact in the manor a guest of Lady Elizabeth!
Gabrielle, who turned out to be a very young woman joined them in the lounge and the Party once agin related their tale. Somewhat reluctantly Gabrielle agreed to help them, but warned that the ritual could be unpredictable and they need to be on their guard lest some fragment of chaos escape and manifest. The Party sent word to Konrad who agreed to bring the dagger to Baern Manor for midday - the most auspicious time to perform the ritual according to Gabrielle.
Next day as the sun began to creep towards it's zenith, the Party assembled in a darkened cellar in the Manor Mouse. . Gabrielle stood in the centre, the dagger at her feet, while the Party arrayed itself around her weapons at the ready. Siluvane was position next to a long pole that would open a shutter high on one wall to let sunlight in as the ritual reached it's peak. As Gabrielle began to invoke the Cleansing of the Corrupted Vessel, the dagger began to glow with an unwholesome light. Suddenly, as a feeling of uneasiness began to fill the darkened room now lit by an unhealthy glow, Gabrielle shouted "now!" to Siluvane. The elf pulled on the long pole - but the shutter was stuck! The dagger exploded, Gabrielle collapsed to the ground and a horrific shape began to form in the centre of the room.
Konrad, quicker to act, dashed across the room , grabbing the pole and twisted it vigorously. The shutters above opened and allowing a shaft of sunlight into the room. The light was cost of the horrific shape of a hulking daemon - a huge jagged-toothed maw forming in it's belly! This was too much for Siluvane who fled! Jhared noticed that the daemon seemed to recoil from the light before it fled into the shadows in the corner of the room - right where Berthold was standing. Drawing weapons, Tondil and Konrad moved to help Berthold, though their weapons seemed to be having limited effect on the daemon. Jared called out that they needed to drag the daemon back into the light!
The Party changed tactics and all began grappling the daemon. It struggled furiously as they attempted to drag it back into the circle of light. Outside, Siluvane somehow managed to regain his courage and headed back to help his friends. Inch by inch the daemon was dragged back to the shaft of light. As they dragged the daemon into the light, it seemed to become somehow less substantial. Konrad called for Tondil and Berthold, the strongest in the Party, to hold the daemon in place while he and Jhared hacked at it.
In the light of the midday sun the demon's howled as their weapons bit deeply, and howled a final time as Siluvane arrived, and administered the killing blow with his magic.