Tuesday, February 28, 2017

WFRP 2nd Ed - Rough Night at the Three Feathers

Hi All,

Here's the latest installment in our WFRP 2nd Ed. game.

First let me leave you with some more scenes drawn by J. Brisken from our last session.

Lukas and Genaro being questioned by the Ironsides.

Sally fishing Vincent and Leopold out of the Reik.

Rough Night at the Three Feathers:

Our heroes have been traveling North East toward Talabheim for two weeks now. Olesia's carriage is very comfortable and well stocked, but the supplies are running out. This necessitates more frequent stopping at Inns for meals and lodging.

A couple of days out from Talabheim and Olesia says “The dusk is coming fast, we need to stay at the Inn. I hope you are okay with that?” The “I hope you are okay with that?” appears to be a Kislevite colloquial expression. It doesn't matter if you are okay with that, that is what you are doing.

Before arriving at the Inn the group discusses an alias for Vincent, just in case Jubal Falk has sent people out from Nuln looking for “The Accursed Deriosh.” Vincent is now Walter, pronounced Valter, Listermann.

As we pull up to the two story Inn, we see a luxurious carriage being unloaded by servants in an unfamiliar livery. Outside the Innkeeper; a stocky, bald man with an impressive beard; is directing the men where to take the crates. The sign above the door has an image of three feathers. Olesia tells the group she knows the Inn well. “Good food and drink. Don't worry about the money, it's all paid for.”

Olesia drops the group in front and heads for the stables, she always sleeps with the coach. As they pass inside the group sees the Innkeeper speaking with a scribe, whose most notable feature is his large, fat, purse. Sally and Leopold quickly glance at one another, Leopold licks his lips. Once inside the group has to wait ten minutes before the Innkeeper gets to them, the place is bustling with activity.

He tells them that the Countess of Amberstein, Marie Ulrich von Liebowitz, is staying at the inn and it's going to be a busy night. He points the group to an empty table in the main room and tells us the cost of lodging. Because the Inn is so full we get two doubles and a single. 50 shillings per double, 10 shillings for the single. The group orders Brandy, beers and sausage. For some reason they all pass on the house broth.

The room is bustling, servants run around with platters of food and pitchers of drink. At ome of the tables a huge, muscular, man arm wrestles one of the coach guards. He reminds the group of the judicial champion they crossed paths with in Nuln, he is well armed and armored. He slams the guards arm down on the table and looks around the room for his next opponent.

Sally asks Genaro if he thinks he can take the big man. Genaro thinks so. Sally goes to the table and strikes up a conversation, offering the big man a swig from his bottle of Brettonian brandy. The man's name is Bruno Franke, the Countess' personal champion. Genaro “The Tilean Stallion” beats Bruno handily and earns his respect. Each member of the group had bet one crown each. Bruno makes some small talk, asking where the group is going. He says Talabheim is nice. He says the Countess is on her way to Kemperbad, where he will fight for her in holy judgement. Lukas tries to gossip more but gets no further information.

“Walter” decides to try his luck against the champion next. Only Lukas is brave enough to bet on his traveling companion. “Walter”wins and Bruno is now no longer interested in talking with the group. At a nearby table the group notices a Halfling, shuffling cards. The groups food is up, so they return to their table.

While the group stuffs themselves on sausage and beer the notice three men come into the Inn. They are soaked with rain. After about 10 minutes a servant comes down from upstairs and tells Bruno that the Countess wants him to stop arm wrestling. He berates the servant and tells him to “get lost!”

After eating, Sally decides to head over to the Halfling's table and introduce himself. Sally introduces himself as “Odo Rumpins” and learns that the Halfling is called Glimbrin Weirdfoot. He wears a leather jerkin, two daggers and carries a large purse. Glimbrin states that he's been waiting for a worthy opponent. Sally tells Glimbrin that the group are merchants, Glimbrin is skeptical.”Walter” comes over to see what's going on and join the game. Sally says he wants a clean game and they begin. Glimbrin wins the first hand.

Meanwhile the Countess herself comes downstairs to reprimand Bruno. She orders him upstairs, he follows orders. It appears that most of her soldiers and staff are staying in the common room, but she has one wing of the Inn to herself.

Leopold tries to chat up the three men who entered earlier. He is told to bugger off in no uncertain terms. He sheepishly goes back to the table with Lukas and Genaro. Meanwhile, Sally and “Walter” play another round of cards with Glimbrin. Sally slips and uses Vincent's real name, it doesn't appear to be a big deal, Vincent wins the hand. As they talk with Glimbrin they learn he is traveling to Nuln, or maybe Altdorf. He relays that there are many refugees in Talabheim and it is getting harder and harder to get into.

At that moment the door opens again and four more rain soaked people enter. A well dressed man and woman, and two boatmen. The couple are obviously love birds and can be heard telling the Innkeeper they need a room for Mr and Mrs Schmidt. They quickly go upstairs. The boatmen grab a table and order food and drink.

Determined to talk to someboby, Leopold makes his way over to the Boatmen and introduces himself as “Albrecht.” They are from Grisenwald and sail their boat up and down the river transporting people and goods. They relate that Talabheim is a mess, there is fighting between refugees from Hochland and Kislev in Talagaad. As they jovially chat, three more people enter from the rain. They are Priests of Morr in full robes, faces covered. The Innkeeper comes to them immediately. Words and gold are exchanged, but the group can see that he is unhappy. Two servants in another unknown livery come in bearing a body. The priests and body head upstairs to their room. As the hour gets later, Genaro gets more morose. His mood has improved somewhat as he has become more comfortable on his prosthetic foot. However the evenings are still difficult for him, perhaps he is still affected by the ordeal of their escape from Nuln.

Sally and Vincent are still playing cards with Glimbrin. Sally inquires about traveling alone, Glimbrin says it is easier to evade people you don't want to meet when traveling alone. As they play a woman enters the Inn. She is in full leather armor with a crossbow, sword, net, rope and manacles. She looks like she means business. She talks to the Innkeeper briefly and silver exchanges hands. She sits at an empty table and waits for her food and drink.

Vincent makes eye contact with her to see if there is any hint of recognition, there is none. He comments on the number of late travelers and is met with agreement. The chit chat turns to that of the danger on the roads. Glimbrin says he isn't too worried, when Sally brings up rumors of Beastmen Glimbrin says they are further North. Sally asks”Do you have any friends where you're headed?” To which Glimbrin replies “None in Nuln, but I do have a few in Altdorf.” A conversation about opening up a bakery and selling cookies ensues. Sally isn't sure if it is Thieves Cant for some enterprise, or if Glimbrin really wants to start a bakery. Sally tells Glimbrin he should try the dumplings at the Gallows Humor if he goes to Nuln. Vincent ends up winning the hand.

Leopold goes back to sit with Lukas and Genaro, they are both buzz kills. Leopold looks at the lady sitting alone, but is too apprehensive to chat her up, she looks like a bounty hunter. At 10pm one of the Countess' servants comes downstairs and rounds up all the servants and guards in the common room. The young lover, Schmidt comes down to order some red wine. As they pass, one of the Countess' servants says something to Schmidt, he looks mad while the servant looks smug. At this point the group decides to retire upstairs.

The group has three adjacent rooms, in the North wing. They decide to set a watch schedule. Lukas, in the single, will take first watch. In the double next door will be Sally and Genaro, with Vincent and Leopold sharing the room at the corner near the hall with the stairs. Most of Lukas' shift goes by uneventfully until about 10 minutes before midnight. A knock on Vincent and Leopold's door wakes them up. Lukas accosts the knocker before they can open the door. He startles one of the Countess' servants who has a parchment for Vincent and Leopold. Lukas takes it and sends the servant away. Leopold and Vincent open the door and let Lukas in. They read the letter, it is a request to meet Rechthander in his room.

Leopold and Vincent resolve to see what this is about. Vincent hangs back around the corner while Leopold is let past the guards to see Rechthander in the Countess' wing. Leopold knocks on the door and is let in by the man he recognizes as the scribe with the large purse they saw when they arrived. The purse is now nowhere in sight.

Gustaf Rechthander, lawyer for the Countess Amberstein, is visibly distraught. He is in his night shirt and explains how some men are threatening to expose him. He relates the story of how he joined a secret society while at university, Ordo Ultima. He originally thought it was a science fraternity, but it turned out they dabbled in the occult. After seeing their books and rituals he fled, but the have tracked him down and are blackmailing him. Gustaf says he has killed one already and dumped his body in the river. Leopold is skeptical but sees there is blood in the room. Rechthnder says he will pay the group 250 crowns if they dispose of the other two cultists. Leopold wants the money, but after the horrors of Nuln, he also wants to kill cultists. He agrees to do the job and heads back to the room.

Genaro refuses to wake up; Sally, Lukas, Vincent and Leopold discuss the turn of events. Sally and Lukas, in particular, are very suspicious that this is a set up. Sally goes downstairs and out the back to the outhouse to do a little reconnaissance. Only Glimbrin and the Boatmen remain in the main room, the lady is gone. Outside there is no visible exit from upstairs. Sally returns soaked from the rain. The group questions Rechthander's story, but he was slightly wet.

The group still can't decide what to do, but armor is donned and weapons readied. Sally and Vincent go back downstairs to look for more ways in and out of the Inn. As they come into the main room, four men burst in through the door. It is one obviously drunk noble and three goons. The noble loudly slurs “I'm looking for Friedrich von Friedhoffer, where is he?” The commotion rouses the Innkeeper and a few servants, who come out into the room. The Innkeeper tells the noble to stop making such a rukus. “I don't take orders from common swine!”, says the noble as he starts trying to push past and go upstairs. As the Innkeeper and his staff try to prevent the drunk from going up stairs and disturbing the guests the noble bellows “Out of my way you son of a swine!” Apparently he has something against pigs. A brawl ensues, catching Sally and Vincent in it's midst.

Hearing the commotion downstairs from their vantage point in the hall upstairs, Lukas says “Now's the time!” He and Leopold swing into action. Leopold goes to pick the lock, but it is open. He pushes open the door and Leopold crashes in, hatchet and dagger in hand. The two men inside are caught completely unawares as Lukas buries his hatchet into ones leg. Leopold rushes in, pulling out his club, to confront the second man. A grim dance ensues. Lukas is able to kill his opponent with a clean blow to the head. Leopold has more difficulty with his but dispatches him with heavy blows that make an audible cracking sound. (Actually the battle was quite a few misses on both sides and the use of a luck point each, this way sounds better.) Lukas and Leopold quickly turn over the room finding nothing but 10 silver and that the men each have the symbol O surrounded by a U tattooed on their left breast. They wipe as much gore as they can off themselves on the sheets and then close the door and head downstairs, hoping to get out in the rain.

Sally tries to stay out of the fight but is knocked down by one of the goons. Vincent manages to get himself between the brawlers and the stairs, but is first pushed up and then falls down them. At that moment the bounty hunter woman bursts in. She drops one goon with a single punch and then pulls another of Vincent. The drunk noble is still scrabbling on top of him and is summarily kicked in the head and tied up by her. Lukas and Leopold make their way downstairs to see the noble and his goons tied up and sitting at the table by the stairs while Sally, Vincent and the Innkeeper and his staff all look scratched and bruised. Lukas and Leopold don't pause and head outside to get washed off by the rain.

While the downstairs is quiet, a commotion starts upstairs. Sally and Vincent go to investigate. They can hear screams coming from a room near the top of the stairs. They knock on the door, a priest of Morr answers. They see two robed priests holding another man down on the floor while he screams. The priest at the door says, “One of the brothers has received a holy vision. He screams when he has them.” Vincent says “May Morr watch over you.” to which he replies, “And you as well.” As they walk away Sally and Vincent realize there are too many priests in the room. When they came in earlier there were only three. Sally knocks on the door again, this time weapons out. The priest opens the door again, very irritated. Sally accuses him of lying about the visions, now only three priests can be seen. They all are dressed in the robes of Morr and look legit. “Go away! You are interrupting our rituals!” shouts the priest as he shuts the door in Sally's face.

Not knowing what else to do Sally and Vincent return downstairs. Everyone else has gone back to the common room to sleep. Lukas and Leopold come back inside, soaked but clean of battle evidence. They are puzzled to see Vincent downstairs with his spear. They all head back to Leopold and Vincent's room. “It's done.” says Leopold. He takes off his armor and dries off. Leopold and Sally head off to see Rechthander and collect payment. Sally brings a dagger, Leopold is unarmed.

They are let past the guards again and into Gustaf's room. After confirming the deed is done he looks visibly relieved. He hands over the large purse, as advertised it is filled with 250 gold crowns. We part from him and divide the loot five ways, less 10% for the war chest, to try and disguise our payment. The group does not have much time to revel in their riches, however, as another scream rings out. Loud enough to wake Genaro.

All of the Countess' guards are out in the hall now and are rousting people out of their rooms. The group has been taken to the Countess' wing where the room across from Rechthander's is open. Inside, Bruno, lies dead with Vincent's dagger between his shoulder blades. As the guardsmen lock down the Inn and search all the rooms, the two dead cultists are found plus a third body in a small room near the stairs. One of the inn servants and the bounty hunter woman are missing. Vincent exclaims “My dagger must have been stolen during the brawl!” But no one believes him. The crowd wants to string him up.
The Countess Marie Ulrich von Liebowitz of Amberstein takes command. “I am the victim! I shall execute the Law!' she commands. “You shall be my champion!” she says pointing at Lukas. “You four will be stripped of your possessions and detained while evidence is collected.” she decreed, pointing at Leopold, Vincent, Sally and Genaro. Lukas is locked in Bruno's room and the other four members of the group are locked in Leopold and Vincent's room with two armed guards outside the door.


Will Vincent be able to exonerate himself? Are the missing woman and servant to blame? Are the priests of Morr more than what they seem? Has the party been double crossed by Gustaf Rechthander? Find out this and more, next time on WFRP 2nd edition A Rough Night at the Three Feathers!

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Chibi submitted

Hi All,

Made it in to Imperial Outpost today and submitted my figure in the Intermediate division.


Of course I had not one, but two dead camera batteries so these cellphone pictures will suffice. It does take decent pictures when you clean the lens. The only post processing was sticthing them together and adding the blog logo in photoshop.

I can see some errors here nad saw some more at the shop in their lighting, but the bugger's done. I bought the next one and will start on it next month.

Thanks for looking.

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Paint Table Saturday 172 - More Chibi Madness

Hi All,

Quick one before heading out the door.



Some issues with the craft paint on the cloak. I'm using mid, wash with shade, reapply mid technique. I've also used some glaze medium on the cloak.

Coming along. My hope is to be able to take it into the store and buy the next figure on the 21st.

Friday, February 17, 2017

Oldhammer - Character Injury Charts

Hi All,

Been noodling around with a full write up of the Emporium of Rogue Dreams full Abdul Goldberg contest. My work on the North American submissions got me fired up to do a separate piece on the whole thing.

But on to the main thrust of today's post.

Injury Charts

So, if I recall correctly, Bulldog was talking about Rogue Trader campaigns and how to deal with casualty recovery. He said something about using a chart from Mordheim and I made a comment that I thought there was some such thing in 3rd Edition Warhammer, but I didn't know where since I haven't actually read all of my books.

So I did a little research.


In the Advanced Gamer section of Rogue Trader we find a casualty recovery system on p239.  Using percentile dice (d100) you roll for each fallen figure after the scenario. They have a 50% chance of being fine, 25% chance of being injured (roll on the injury chart) and a 25% chance of being outright dead. Sounds pretty useful.

For 3rd Edition I discovered the Casualty Recovery Chart on p73 of Realm of Chaos: The Lost and the Damned. This one is also d100 but has the injuries folded in the table, no secondary rolls. The chance of outright death has also been reduced to 10%.


 By the time we get to Mordheim we have changed to the d66. I guess it's handy since we tend to have a lot of d6 for playing GW games, but it seems a little weird. It also reminds me of my d666 or d108 post here. Anyway, here again we have the results all in one table, no re-rolling. Each individual value has a 2.8% probability of coming up (thanks Troll Dice) so about a 14% chance of death and then some interesting ideas like being sold into slavery or to be sold as a pit fighter. I don't have a physical copy of these rules but I found it on p80 of something called the Living Rulebook and p174 of something called the Updated rulebook.


 Lastly, Necromunda is essentially the same as Mordheim. There is an almost 17% chance of death and no mention of pit fighting but more talk of scars. It is on p84 of that rule book.

I also have the much newer system, Inquisitor, lying around but Mordheim and Necromunda are Newhammer enough to me that I don't feel the need to look any further. (I just peaked, the system is so different that it doesn't really apply to the older rules at all. Probably more like WFRP.)

So any experience using these various systems? Have a favorite?

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Paint Table Saturday 171 (?)

Hi All,

I've been meaning to post to Pant Table Saturday for over a month. Laziness/ Business has seen me miss it each week.

So here's a picture of what I'm working on, sort of.


Please ignore the terribleness of this photo, it was taken with my Surface Tablet main camera. We see here the two gretchin with very little done to them. Reaper: Grim Reaper 25th anniversary figure for January. He's had his scythe re-bent and a few little flash pieces trimmed. He still needs mold line clean up. The Super Dungeon Explore: Herald of Vulcanis. I should be further along but have dragged my feet. I need add a tiny bit more greenstuff to the slot in his base to hide it better and clean up his mold lines. I also pulled out my Chaos centaurs, I can never make a tiny enough batch of Greenstuff so I try to have figures i can use the excess on. As you can see, they needed pinning.

So that's it.

I'll be proof reading the Oldhammer zine and may "publish" it today or tomorrow morning.

Hope all is well with you.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

WFRP - Escape from Nuln

Hi All,

Not a whole lot of hobby going on. I'm jumping around from figures to the zine to role playing. Not getting any one thing really finished. I do have an idea for a blog post, but something keeps coming up. I'd also like to do another Paint Table Saturday one of these days, but I keep on being very busy on Saturday and don't plan ahead enough.

Any way, here's my write up of the latest episode of our Warhammer Fantasy Role Play 2nd Ed. game.


When we next see our party they are all at Nero's Tavern, Gallow's Humor, in the Faulestadt section of Nuln. A Summer Storm rages over the city as the group feasts with Nihilus in celebration of a job well done. Nihilus and Nero have put on a feast and Nihilus has paid for a prosthetic foot for poor Genaro. It is articulated and probably cost a small fortune.

After much feasting and drinking Nihilus announces "I am sending you to Talabheim!" The group are to deliver a scroll to someone named Dead Eye. He reminds them that, "Talabheim is a city of laws, they are very strict." As he gazes directly at Sally he says "Don't get into trouble!"


Nihilus tells the group that he has arranged for a coach to meet us outside the Griffon gate in the morning. It will be fully stocked with provisions and "extra payment" for the party.

At that moment one of Nero's informants bursts in from the rain. He informs the table that city is on lock down over stolen blue prints from the Engineering College of Nuln. They are searching for a Dwarf Slayer and his accomplice, a certain "Accursed Deriosh!"

Nero and Vincent admit to a side deal to steal the plans for the Engineering College of Altdorf. The fact that the competitor is part of the Empire is the only thing that keeps Nihilus from running them both through.

It appears that the Ironsides regiment is leading the militia's search of the city. They have Vincent's name and description. Lukas says to Vincent, "You should shave your beard and change your hair color." A discussion begins on how best to make it back to the safe house in the Kaufman district. The docks will be one of the first places they search, the sewers are too dangerous, we formulate a plan to try and sneak past the Iron Tower to Der Halbinsel and from there steal a boat to cross the Aver and land in the Kaufman district.

While we discuss what to do there is a pounding on the door. "Open up in the name of the Countess!" It is the guard! Sally frantically tries to punch Vincent in the face crying, "I'll explain later!" He hurts his hand on Vincent's forehead, it is assumed he is trying to improvise a disguise. With a quick glance at each other, everyone bolts for the back door, Vincent trying to saw off his beard with a dagger as he runs.

Although he has a new prosthetic foot, Genaro is not used to it and is greatly slowed. Lukas tries to assist him and the party starts to spread out. Vincent and Leopold leading the way with Lukas, Sally and Genaro a few yards behind. Aside from the lightening it is almost pitch black and the rain mixed with ash quickly covers or group in a filthy mess.

Leading the way, Leopold almost stumbles onto a patrol of Ironsides. Their polished breastplates glint in the lightning, alerting him to their presence. After a short discussion the group chooses to stick to the back alleys. They are even darker and filled with mud, trash, sewage and bodies. Both living and deceased.

As the group gets near to the street leading to the Great Bridge, Leopold trips over an old beggar. The old man starts to raise a fuss, cursing Leopold loudly, "Sigmar damn you!" In the distance can be seen more lanterns and breastplates of the guard. In a panic, Leopold tries to jump on the vagrant and put his hand over his mouth, but all he succeeds in doing is falling into the muck in front of him. The man is now hollering and cursing while he beats Leopold with his crutch. Quickly thinking, Vincent pulls out a copper and gives it to the old beggar, buying his silence. The guards shine their lantern down the alley way, but the light does not reach the party.

Lukas puts forth the idea that he and Genaro should split up from the rest and try to pose as beggars or drunks caught out in the storm. He reasons that neither of them fit the descriptions of the thieves and Genaro's foot will make the journey too difficult otherwise. His other stipulation is that, to complete the impoverished look, Genaro take off his new foot and have someone else carry it. Genaro refuses but is unable to resist everyone else and Vincent takes his foot and puts it in his backpack.

Lukas checks to make sure the coast is clear and he and Genaro hobble off down the main street towards the Great Bridge. Once there they are accosted by 6 guards in full Ironsides regalia. They are frisked and have lanterns shined in their faces. Lukas spins a tale of ex "Free Company" soldiers caught in a storm after a night of heavy drinking. Genaro convincingly plays an unintelligible drunk. "Where did you serve?" asked the Lieutenant. "Talabheim." Lukas replied. "Oh then you must have fought for Kristof Von Drach." Some blustering and a story of drunken debauchery ensues. It is enough to convince the officer that these wretches are not ones he wants to swap war stories with. He leaves them by saying "Jubal Falk himself is offering 50 crowns a head for the Slayer and Deriosh. He wants to hang their heads from the Iron Tower." Lukas and Genaro are allowed to pass. As they make their way across the bridge they see at least 100 soldiers. It appears to be the command center for the search. No one pays any further interest in the two beggars and they slowly make their way to the Reik Platz.

Meanwhile Sally, Vincent and Leopold see a patrol heading East at the crossroads to the South of them. While they wait for the patrol to pass they discuss how best to continue sneaking towards their objective, the Iron Tower. Before they can fully decide, Sally bolts across the street towards the Industrielplatz. Once inside the area they come upon a plaza filled with men and horses. They decide to try their luck and sneak across. Sally is like a ninja and becomes one with the shadows. On his trip across he overhears the soldiers grumble about wanting to hang Vincent from the Iron Tower. Vincent is next across but is almost caught when a lantern nearby is unexpectedly lit. He is able to dive behind some nearby crates and escape detection. Leopold almost gets caught as well but is able to stick to the shadows, he overhears a Lieutenant talking about the "Accursed Deriosh."

Meanwhile, Lukas and Genaro pass by the Great Elm in Reik Platz and see the militia rounding up and detaining anyone on the street, a mere 50m ahead. Thinking quickly, Lukas sees lanterns for a tavern out of the corner of his eye. He starts hustling Genaro in that direction, but quicklyscoops up the big man isn his arms and runs for the door when it is clear Genaro will not make it on his own. Once inside they quickly sit down and order two beers.

Shortly thereafter the militia, led by two Ironsides, come in and demand to know who has just entered the tavern. For some reason the barkeep lies. The guards go around and question all of the patrons. Lukas is given another opportunity to lie. He is now Marcus Aurelius and his companion Wilhelm Podolsky. The free company lie is used again. "Talabheim eh? You must know Stefan Stoppenheimer." Genaro almost blows his cover when he starts to get angry at being called an imbecile, but the lie holds long enough and the guards leave.

Sally, Vincent and Leopold make it to the bridge over the Reik to the Iron Tower. It appears to be empty. Sally once again expertly sneaks up to the bridge and realizes that it is a trap. He moves to the West, downstream, side of the bridge but Vincent and Leopold do not see him. Vincent goes next, but falls and lets out a yelp. Salloy is able to get his attention and he crawls to the side of the bridge. The guards appear to have not noticed. Leopold is unaware of the whereabouts of his friends, but also sees the trap before he blunders into it. He then locates his friends and makes it safely to their side. Sally, with his good low light vision has found some catwalks under the bridge. They look dangerous but the group feels they have little choice. They carefully shimmy across the slippery planks and struts until Leopold slips. Sally watches in horror as Vincent tries to grab Leopold and they both plunge into the seething Reik with an audible crack of the catwalk plank. The guards hear the sound and cries of "they're under the bridge!" ring out as flares light up the night sky.

Back at the Reik Platz, Lukas and Genaro venture out again and head towards the High Gate. To the South East flares light up the night sky causing Genaro to exclaim "Ooh, pretty fireworks!" Lukas is more dubious, "That can't be good." As they approach the High Gate they are stopped by none other than Jubal Falk himself, head of the Ironsides and the College of Engineering. Lukas says they are just drunk servants trying to make their way back to their master's home. Lukas gives the name Markus Lowe and Genaro is dubbed Joakim Mueller. After a brief back and forth and more comments about heads on pikes, they are let through. It takes them another hour, but they manage to hobble to the safe house.

​Sally has seen his friends disappear into the swirling depths and has little time to react. He scuttles along the catwalk until he makes it to the Iron Tower island. With only seconds to make a decision he strikes out for the North West side and finds a small fishing boat moored nearby.  He jumps in and cuts the line, the swift current quickly drags him to the West downstream. By some miracle he bumps into two things floating in the water as he is pushed along. Somehow Vincent and Leopold have not drowned in the mighty Reik. (Fate points were used) Leopold and Vincent manage to pull themselves into the boat without capsizing it and Vincent grabs the oars. With the aid of Leopold the pull for dear life against the current and manage to make their way to the Aver and the shore of the Kaufman district. Shortly the three join Lukas and Genaro at the safe house.

​As soon as the trio enters Genaro demands to have his foot back from Vincent. Vincent then proceeds to shave off his beard and uses the last of the ink in the house in an attempt to darken his light brown hair. While this is happening Sally retrieves his stash from under the floor boards; 17 crowns, 10 shillings and some madman's cap mushrooms. The group then sits down to eat the last of the food n the house and drink up the wine. Genaro drinks several extra cups.

​Suddenly there is a knock at the door. "Open up in the name of the Countess!" Lukas takes his time while Sally and Genaro jump into nearby beds. Thinking quickly, Vincent somehow manages to squeeze into the void beneath the floor boards. Leopold tries to hide the fifth glass and puts his feet up on the table, pretending to sleep in the dining chair. Once the door is opened a Captain and his men push their way in. Lukas immediately offers the Captain wine. He is not mollified and the questioning begins. Lukas is the caretaker of this house. His master, Merchant Joakim Mueller, is in Altdorf away on business. He has invited his friends to stay in and drink after seeing the lock down of the city and the terrible storm. Sally sits up and is immediately questioned. He is Odo Rumpins, cook. The Captain says they are looking for the "Atrocious Deriosh!" The soldiers rudely awaken Leopold and Genaro while sending Sally off to the kitchen to get them food. Genaro is the drunk Mario Luigi, veteran of the Free Company who lost his foot in the war. Again he is unintelligibly drunk. Leopold, not so adept at lying, is Hans Lieberman a fellow caretaker from down the street. Leopold successfully sticks to his story, but the Captain is not buying it. He says "Look, I know you guys are smugglers. The deal was 10 Crowns a month, don't mess around." The group look at each other dumbstruck. "Next month it will be 50 Crowns for lying to me! Have it ready on time!" The guards pick up the food and wine and leave. All inside breath a sigh of relief.

​Our heroes spend the last few hours before full daylight making themselves ready to leave the city. At the Griffon Gate the guards are obviously fatigued from being on duty all night. Vincent's appearance change, coupled with the poor likeness of him distributed throughout the city, allow our adventurers to pass through unmolested. In short order they find the carriage that will take them to Talabheim. It is driven by the imposing Olesia. She has a heavy accent the group cannot place and is wearing a fur trimmed cloak in the height of Summer. Inside the carriage is richly appointed and filled with food for the journey. In addition each person finds a healing draft, Nihilus's special present.

​What adventures will the road hold for our weary travelers?


​So there you have it. Not as glamorous as the last episode, but hey, we're alive.