Albrecht: "COugh, cough...yes trolls...even some greenskins form the looks of it, but the Captain has more intel."
The scroll is an official letter requesting armed help from the Tsarina in Kislev. The official words are a summary of a desperate cry for help.
You are about a day's travel to Wolfenburg and even though you do not understand the land well, you do know that Kislev is MANY days march in the other direction.
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You are all worse for the wear, but Gretta's touch helps to make you feel a great deal better. You think it a bit odd that her abilities are so quick to effect, the the sudden releif of pain helps you forget those questions.
Looking about, you can see that everyone is in the cave, except for one person....Mud. There is no sign of his except his boots and the sling he was so found of.
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Rider: "COUGH COUGH, PLEASE!!! You HAVE to get word to the captain that the riders are not getting through. They must think of something else and SOON cough cough. There is a secret tunnel that leads to a hidden passage in the city cough cough...on of several, but the rest are either trapped or inaccessible at the moment." (he proceeds to give you directions of where to find it. And the password as well as his necklace which marks him.)
Gretta tends to him "shhhhh, it's time to rest." and attempts to move him into a better position when his entrails spill out of a deep gash in his abdomen and slide wetly across her shoes.
The rider looks up at Gretta with a look of "Why?????" and then his eyes roll back into his head and lies lifeless.
The rider looks up at Gretta with a look of "Why?????" and then his eyes roll back into his head and lies lifeless.
vs 36 (INT): Gretta gives Lutke a grim look. His wounds, whatever caused them, are beyond her limited skills.
Making her way to the wounded soldier:
Gretta tends to him "shhhhh, it's time to rest." and attempts to move him into a better position when his entrails spill out of a deep gash in his abdomen and slide wetly across her shoes.
The rider looks up at Gretta with a look of "Why?????" and then his eyes roll back into his head and lies lifeless.
Gretta bites her lip and cocks her head slightly as the dying man slumps backwards with a final gasp of breath. It's hard to tell from her expression how she feels. She almost seems clinically detached, as if she's studying the nature of death, waiting to catch of glimpse of Morr himself as he snatches the life from the fallen soldier.
You come to the conclusion that Gretta is a complicated woman with some serious baggage.
"Ah, that is most unfortunate." Njord proclaims at last, "And no way for man to die. Warrior should die on feet, not on back in cave..."
Grasping the hilt of his mighty two handed blade, Njord sheaths the weapon and begins to stretch like some savage jungle cat.
"Guess then we burn body, " Njord concludes. "Daemon Master, perhaps you assist in this?"
The Norseman turns his gaze towards Albrecht.
"Ah got most o dah supplies ready anna waitn." "Bah dah wagon is gunna take sum time iffin we want ter use it, but it might bring mo attention to us dan we want"
"HEEHAAW""SNUFFLE!"
"Anna Donaky is sicka pullin it...lazy sod"
"HEEEEEEHAAAAAWWWW!!!"
"ALRIGHT ALRIGHT! I dunna wanna pull it either, but I pulled mah fair share o carts in da mines back home!"
"HEERRRUUUMMPH!!" Donkey rolls his eyes
"Vell now, I feel much better Danks to Ze lady!"
Boom stands up and adjusts his clothing and begins to done equipment
"Ve ver lucky to surwiwe der encounter...vell, most of us anyvay." Boom says as he casts a saddened look over at Mud's shoes and sling
"Little half man served well as cloak," Njord intones, bowing his head.
"I suppose the least we can do is dig a grave for him. A really...small...grave."
Gretta blinks.
"The halfling didn't make it then? Too bad. The more we had to help the better. We're marching on to Wolfenburg! These woods will be dangerous if these Kurgen were any indication. But we must press on and let the city know what's happening to their riders."
At the dying mans gasps, Albrecht looks over... He's not so sure whether Gretta is what she appears, even more so after that blasphemous display of 'healing.'
"Yes... I suppose we can burn the body. He died bravely, despite where his wounds finally took him."
"Krak, Boom, I see the wagon is not of any use now. Disperse the equipment as equally as we can handle. Everyone must pull their weight unfortunately. Let's eat what we can and make for Wolfenburg at once!"
"I am ready to do part in this," Njord says, loading his pack with heavy materials and supplies. "Always wish to see Wolfenburg. Empire city very big. Learn this for myself."
You're amazed at the remarkable endurance of the Norseman. After Njord has packed up half the camp and assorted it on a huge lump on his pack, he leans over and grabs a small wooden spoon.
"Ready also to dig grave for half man. Look, I find shovel!" Njord grins.
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You all gather your gear and leave the warmth of the cave for the cold outside once more.
Donkey is loaded with gear as well as njord and he and Krak exchange banter back and forth in a duel of compliants and wise cracks (though it seems only Krak understands Donkey's whineyings and snorts.)
Boom is up ahead of the party. He carries and long barreled blunderbuss with what seems to be a telescope haphazardly strapped to the top of it.
Krak, Boom and Donkey all wear smoked goggles.
Your group passes the wreckage of the wagon and the now frozen dead mutant Kurgen and a chill creeps up your spine as irrationally you keep thinking that they may rise and begin what was a nightmare all over again.
Krak spits his disgust... flemy and tobacco stained.
Getting to the village in which you 1st spotted the rider, you quickly realize that there is nothing there for you as most of the homes have been ransacked a long time ago. The remains of Kurgen prescence is apparent from the snow covered piles of bones and the burnt remains of frozen meat hangin from trees which upon closer inspection reveal gutted and limbless torsos.
You pass from barren hills to rolling winter forests. The landscape still rises and falls but descends steadily..enevitably to come to rest in the valley inwhich Wolfenburg resides.
The better part of the day passes and the sky darkens with the smear of dusk in the heavens when Albrecht stops the group and tells you all that over the next wooded ridge will give the group a view of Wolfenburg and the direction of the hidden passage that the rider mentioned.
Challenge: describe the scene at Wolfenburg that one may see when able to see over the ridge.
THE WOLVES OF WOLFENBURG:
As the last light of the dying sun flickers on the western horizon, shadows sweep the land and the shattered face of Wolfenburg is revealed to you in all its horrible majesty.
From your hidden vantage you can see that the city does indeed deserve the privilege of being titled the Capital of Ostland. Vast and impressive, but also spartan in design, Wolfenburg is split nearly in two by the large river Wulfen that runs from roughly east to west through the city proper. The aptly titled Great Wolfenburg Bridge spans the expanse between the two sides of the cloven city.
To the south and west you can see the Empire still holds sway. Contingents of soldiers are easily seen from this distance, their multicolored banners snapping in the winter wind. Every portion of this part of Wolfenburg has been converted into a giant barracks for the men of the Empire. Fires burn and chimneys puff smoke as supply wagons rattle through the frozen streets.
However, the north east side of Wolfenburg is a story all together different. Here the Kurgan and their chaos allies struck the hardest. In many places the city is nothing more than smouldering ruins, shattered structures that lurk in the darkness like skeletal overlords overlooking a graveyard. Strange eldritch fires burn untamed through entire city blocks, dancing like impish demons in the night. Smoke covers this part of Wolfenburg like a plague cloak, making it difficult to see the troop movements of the enemy. But it's the sound that's most unnerving. Even here, this far away, you can hear the tortured cries of the dead and dying, the vanquished and tortured, suffering under the cruel yoke of the children of chaos. A shudder runs up your spine.
Wolfenburg is poised to fall. If help does not come soon from the Graf and his armies stationed in Middenheim, this great city is doomed to meet a bloody fate under the callous gaze of the Chaos Gods...
As your eyes take in the stunning scene before you, there is a massive cacophony of explosions that shake the city. There! Imperial artillery from Nuln! You see the rising smoke from the formidable cannonade; moments later an entire Kurgan held city block explodes in a rush of fire and steel.
And then the response...
From the far side of Wolfenburg, the armies of Chaos open fire with their own volley of horror. There is a terrible shriek akin to the cry of souls being mashed under the wheels of some great tank, and then an explosive flash of unholy green fire. Moments later a howling incandescent projectile smashes into the ranks of the Imperial soldiers; buildings flare up and melt as bodies explode like overcooked halfling pies...
Gretta lets out a gasp of horror, stepping forward on her tip toes to better see the scene unfolding below her, grabbing both the arm of Caspar and Njord.
Both men turn their heads to stare at Gretta, then look at one another.
They blink.
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Lutke, who has been rather quiet since the intense battle which nearly killed the party, looks upon the tableau and thinks how much better the Temple of Shallya would have looked right about then.
Stupid wizard.
Caspar tries too swallow hard but it seems to be stuck in his throat. The madness of battle sits before him. "They sure could've used reinforcements from Kislev!" Caspar does an about face and finds himself staring at Albrecht who is in turn looking at him. He realizes that Albrecht is not looking at him but past him, at the battle in progress. He looks around at his other companions and their speechless faces. Gretta still held on to Njords arm. Her grip tightened. He turned around again, and took in the scene below yet again. "Well Captain, I suggest we hurry if we're the reinforcements!" Sigmar save us all! Caspar thought as he began down the trail to Wolfenburg.
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"SHWEEEEEWWWWHHH...." Boom lets out a long whistle of disbelief
"EHY lietle one....Wera needing tah take it ah bit moh easily. We canna just go downder anna say "EHLOOOOOO" canna wee?"
Krak speaks to Caspar and then turns to the wizard
"Werra gonna need what we called inda tunnels...eh machin oda"
"I have a bad feeling about this..."
Njord scans the horizon, gripping the hilt of his impressive two handed blade, his fingers stained crimson from the rust stained iron on the hilt.
KABOOOOOOM! The massive report of Imperial Cannon shakes the very teeth in Njord's head as he surveys the scene below. And then he sees it. There! To the left and down the path, a Kurgan scout! A lone figure lurking in the trees, stooped low and breathing slowly like some ravenous forest cat.
With blinding speed, Njord brandishes his blade and lets out a shout of rage and anger, charging down the hill! The sudden change in the Norseman's posture stuns you all.
Njord's Attack: vs 45 (WS):
Njord's Defense: vs 40 (T): Njord is a raging blade master bent on attack only. He makes no move to guard or protect himself at all!
Kurgan Attack: vs 38 (WS):
Kurgan Defense: vs 40 (T):
Kurgan Life or Death: vs 47 (Saving Throw): The Kurgan has survived. This means Njord has a prisoner!
HOW THE FIGHT PLAYS OUT:
Bounding down the snow covered path, Njord slams into the trees howling with primal rage. You can see the flick and mad dash of his red steel sword as it impacts Kurgan steel. Both men give as well as they get, locked in a dance of death. You begin to mobilize to assist, but the fight is over faster than you can close the distance!
With a prideful look on his barbaric face, Njord marches a bleeding Kurgan warrior out of the trees and kicks him down in the snow before your feet.
Njord spits into the frozen tundra and glares at the fallen Kurgan marauder. "Daemon Master," he says with pride. "I find prisoner!"
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Lutke is once again too stunned to even begin to comprehend the battle which suddenly explodes like a kernel of corn in a hot pan. All he registers is the speed and force with which Njord moves and makes his charge. The numbers whirl in Lutke's mind in time to the strangely high-pitched and glass-like sound of Njord's red steel blade colliding with the heavy iron of the Kurgen's large kukri style weapon. And just like that a bloody Kurgen is kicked into the snow and dirt at Albrecht's feet.
Perception +0 (Int 40) = 40 v.
Holy Ulric! Lutke's feverish mind begins to see things which may or may not be there. He's covered in eyes! Eyes! Lutke felt faint. Chaos was once again confronting him. Suddenly he could see the hag, claw-like fingers reaching for him; the image superimposed over the Kurgen covered in eyes, blinking eyes.
Lutke stumbles backwards into Caspar and then as if every bone in his body had vacated his skin, Lutke faints.
"Uh, Captain? Lutke's sleeping again..."
Before Albrecht can even act the work is done.
"Gretta, get our Trapmeister up and on his feet! He may have some shackles we'll find useful. Njord... I would suggest making sure he is quite unconscious. I'd rather not have him turn into some sort of hydra headed Chaos Spawn when we mean to restrain him."
Once Lutke has been brought to his senses.
"Herr Geshburger, do you have shackles for the Kurgen? I think it best if we are to interrogate him that he be heavily bound and perhaps on the brink of death. Krak, Boom, yes we should sneak in. If the Kurgen have scouts no doubt they'll be watching us take their comrade captive. Let's question him quickly and toss the body. We don't need them following us through the tunnels."
With excessive force, Njord hoists the Kurgan marauder up by his throat, holding his feet mere inches from the ground. Then, in a language you don't need to understand, Njord begins to imply all the horrible things that are about to befall the man if he doesn't cooperate.
vs 31 (S - 10%): It appears this Kurgan isn't going to break through simple threats...
Tossing the captive to the ground, Njord snaps angrily. "Daemon Master," Njord shouts, "I think perhaps we burn out tongue, yes? This one forget how to use it."
The eyes of the Kurgan warrior go wide.
Gretta, (seemingly) shocked, steps in front of Njord and raises her hands.
"M'lords?!" She shouts, "Is this how we treat our prisoners in the Empire? Have we really fallen that far?"
You see a sly grin flicker across her face before she turns.
"Warrior," she says at last, stepping towards the Kurgan. "I'm not sure if you understand me, but know this. Things will go better for you if you talk. We promise food and water and a warm place will be provided for you."
"Warm place under earth," Njord mutters to himself, looking unhappy.
Ignoring this, Gretta continues. "Will you not cooperate?"
Gretta kneels close to the Kurgan warrior (but out of arms length, she's not stupid), the top buttons of her peasants blouse magically pop open as she does so.
vs 34 (FEL -10%): Your jaws drop as Gretta turns on the charm. There's something about this woman that isn't right! You keep saying it to yourself and yet...she's so damn charming!
Igniting his palm, Albrecht walks forward.
"Njord I-- Oh... Well it appears it is unnecessary for me to intervene."
Albrecht sees the 'Camp Follower' perform more miracles than Sigmar himself takes responsibility for. He does not like it... Not one bit... For now he will ignore it as she is on their side.
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-10 for Gretta's "influence" NO SUCCESSES.
A glazed look comes over the Kurgen as Gretta speaks to him.
The rough-hewn face and scarred features turn to a eerie smile as the Kurgen attempts a facial expression he is not familiar with.
He nods his head and says (Njord can translate), "Yes, yes....I will follow you and tell you whatever you would like. You are....are beautiful and LARGYN will follow you to the underworld itself if you wish it!"
Albrecht begins to lay out to the Kurgen where they are needing to go and the Kurgen knows the landscape well. Nodding his head in recognition, he says, "Yes, that rock is not far from here. I will guide you, but beware for many of my tribe scout these woods."
With that, the Kurgen leads your group through the woodland. At times he halts the group and you wait for a patrol to walk or ride by. Thankfully you have not spotted any Mutants or green skins, but after spying through his scope, Boom had assured you that they do in fact make up a portion of the army at the battlefield.
Some moments later you look down from a small hill at a grove in front of the face of a huge boulder, the body of which must be buried in the earth that makes up a rising landscape.
This is the location of the secret entrance. Unluckily though there are 3 Kurgen warriors and their horses taking a break for food as they roast a rabbit at a small campfire.
Largyn has a thin build (by Kurgan standards), which is likely why he was chosen to be a scout. It isn't hard to imagine the savage atrocities he and his people are capable of being this close to the man, and yet (now under the strange spell of Gretta), Largyn seems remarkably docile:
"Yes, yes....I will follow you and tell you whatever you would like. You are....are beautiful and LARGYN will follow you to the underworld itself if you wish it!"
With that, the Kurgen leads your group through the woodland. At times he halts the group and you wait for a patrol to walk or ride by. Some moments later you look down from a small hill at a grove in front of the face of a huge boulder, the body of which must be buried in the earth that makes up a rising landscape.
"Our shaman think there is something special about stone here, so we set a watch and learn to find out what. Look, there!"
This is the location of the secret entrance. Unluckily though there are 3 Kurgen warriors and their horses taking a break for food as they roast a rabbit at a small campfire.
You watch for long moments, hidden in a fold of tall green trees. You see the three Kurgan scouts and their horses, but then a fourth figure emerges. An older man, frail but dangerous looking, shambles into view.
"Ahhhh," Largyn says with awe, "That is a Shaman to our people! It is a high honor to be in his presence!"
You hear Njord let out a snort of barely restrained rage as you continue to watch the scene unfold before you. The Shaman seems to converse with the scouts for a moment, and then raising his hands howls an incantation! Even though you cannot understand the tongue, the words are blasphemous and painful to hear.
Gretta seems to watch with a detached curiosity. Njord shakes with angry fury. There is a flash of black smoke and a horrid stink! The stone has been cracked, but remains intact. You can hear the Shaman cursing loudly as the Kurgan scouts look at one another nervously.
"Hrmph, this hidden tunnel isn't quite so hidden anymore, is it?"
One by one each of you cast Gretta a sidelong glare as if to say, Thank you Mistress Obvious!
"This might be the perfect time for one of Lutke's traps. We'd just have to lead them to it!" Caspar exclaimed, trying to convince even himself. The group's silence anc stares cut deep. "Or we could just do it the way we've been doing it. After all, we may get beaten up again and again but we still live." Caspar's arm still hurt from the previous fight ever so slightly. I'm sure one of these days I won't be so lucky! the thought alone worried Caspar. He was not a fighter and battle was not the way he earned a living. He felt he had to remind his companions this any chance he got.
"Caspar, that's not a bad idea... Though Lutke does complain about materials. Perhaps a simple ambush? Or a pit with stakes? I'm sure the dwarves can work fast enough."
Thoughts race through Albrecht's mind as he plots the course of events.
"Wait, these are scouts it is very unlikely they'll fall into such simple traps. Perhaps we should attempt to get the jump on them and hope for the best...
Yes. We attack. Their shaman is no doubt drained from his spellcraft. He is a larger threat than we'd believe.
Unless you think you can come up with something adequate Lutke?"
Njord paces back and forth silently, walking then towards Albrecht.
"I am for smashing Kurgan where they stand. I am sure he no match for likes of you, Daemon Master. Our strength, your will, together we crush these Kurgan like small bear!"
Njord slams his stone like fist into his palm, anxious to once again draw the blood of his most hated foe.
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"I merely suggest we use tactics to our Kurgen smashing, Njord. We haven't used it yet and it MIGHT just work!" Caspar says to Njord not pleased at all with the reckless northman's response.
Njord pasues, then let's out an audible sigh.
"Maybe this why men of Empire live so long," he says at last. "Perhaps we try way of small red haired man."
Njord slaps you across the back, Capsar, his wide grin a strange slash of jovial brightness across a face that once knew only war and strife.
"Uh, if we're done congratulating each other, there's Kurgan over there that stand between us and Wolfenburg. I don't think they're just going to let us walk in."
Gretta sighs.
"I don't know about any of you, but I could really use a good bath..."
Gretta begins to dream of the warm cozy inn's of Wolfenburg she's always heard so much about.
Largyn stands, his head cocked at an awkward angle. In truth he knows he should drive his kukri's through the necks of everyone here, but there's something amazing, nay, bewitching, about the woman!
Largyn shakes his head like a horse, trying to break the spell of the mysterious woman who seems to have him in thrall.
vs 23 (WP -10%):
The moment of clarity is lost as Largyn scampers over, bowing his head low before Gretta.
"Whatever my princess wish Largyn do! I live to serve..."
Once again everyone gives Gretta a strange sidelong glance. What is it about that damn woman anyhow?!
Ironically, just then, another button on Gretta's blouse pops open. It's suddenly become VERY obvious that the young woman is working with ample tracks of land indeed!
Largyn, Njord and Caspar all gawk openly, though Caspar does a better job of disguising it (barely). Albrecht facepalms his forehead, clearly not impressed by Gretta's antics.
"Acckk.." is all Boom exclaims and then brings his blunderbuss with the scope haphazardly attached up to his cheek and pulls the trigger.
BLAM!!! an explosion echoes off the rocks, trees and hills that surround you.
+1 for the telescope on the rifle. 3 successes
2 successes.
The Kurgen Shaman's head explodes in a shower of blood and bit of human tissue...spraying the other Kurgens like a fountain.
"RIGHT, dis well shak'em up..." Krak counters as he sets light with a small hand-held flint striker to a wick that ends in a small iron ball which he procures from his belt pouch.
2 succeses. Krak throws the handheld sparkling iron ball into the midest of Kurgen even as the headless shaman is toppling, spraying blood as the lifeless corpse falls
BOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1 success
There is an eruption of dirt, blood and pieces of flesh as the Dwarven "grande" explodes in the Kurgen's midsts
For long moments you gather, plotting and planning the best ways to handle the latest Kurgan threat. Should you charge headlong, barreling in to meet danger with sword and dagger? Or perhaps you should lure the Kurgan to their fate, building an elaborate setup of death traps in the tall dark trees that surround you.
"Or we could send woman to seduce them," Njord had joked.
KA-BLAAAAAM!!! A massive report from Boom's long-rifle shatters the relative silence you'd shrouded yourself in. Birds, nearly frozen to frosted branches, leap into the air in a panic, snow falling from the trees about you like an avalanche!
You watch in stunned silence as the Kurgan Shaman spins like a top, hit by the bone shattering projectile launched from the Dwarvish rifle.
Shaman's Saving Throw: vs 35 (T + wounds -5%):
The Kurgen Shaman's head explodes in a shower of blood and bit of human tissue...spraying the other Kurgens like a fountain!
A moment later, Krak heaves a small iron orb into the group of Kurgan marauders with a huff! CLINK, CLINK, TICK...
KA-BOOOOOM! The Kurgan raiders had gathered together in conversation, discussing the actions of the feared Shaman who lead them. The well placed Dwarvish grenade explodes with devastating effects!
(1) Kurgan Defense: vs 42 (T): Saving Throw: vs 42 (T + wounds -10%):
(2) Kurgan Defense: vs 42 (T):
4d100 ⇒ (91, 34, 79, 87) = 291 1 success
(3) Kurgan Saving Throw: vs 47 (T + wounds -5%):
HOW IT ALL UNFOLDS:
As the Dwarvish grenade lands, the Kurgan stare for a shocked moment before the world around them explodes into death and shrapnel! When the smoke clears, you can two of the scouts are down, wheeling painfully on the snow packed earth. The third marauder managed to find cover just in time and has regained his feet, looking about frantically as he draws his kukri from his belt. The wild looking, thin bodied Shaman lies dead in a pool of expanding blood and brain matter.