Enemy in Shadows - Warhammer Fantasy (Inactive)

Game Master Aubster

Huzza, xp! And a stint for Talther as a boatman!

What would be common knowledge about Marienburg?

I may not be able to post again until Saturday. Just a heads up.

Huzza, xp! And a stint for Talther as a boatman!

What would be common knowledge about Marienburg?

I may not be able to post again until Saturday. Just a heads up.

Common Knowledge About Marienburg

Thanks Aubster!

If someone is interested in taking that Boatman deal Aubster is offering, it's really good. It just depends on whether your character wants to spend xp on Boat-hand things or not.

Landolf's Landsman career shared a lot of the same material and he's going to be mired in Scion for a long time due to its really awesome talents. I think I'm going to end up purchasing the Luck talent three times, which is crazily expensive. So he'll pass on the deal...I just can't afford to spend forever getting to Noble.

Aubster, would you think that discovering the truth about how we were cheated by Andreas would count for a Discover Resolve recovery for Landolf? I thought about asking on the purple marks on the dead men Landolf just searched, but given that he doesn't understand anything about it yet I don't think it qualifies for Discover. Also, he isn't two short on Resolve right now.

***

A quick update on Markus: I'm keeping him generally in touch about what is happening the game and he is still interested in playing. His busy-ness continues, though, so he'll continue being quiet for now. If we run into a situation where it is important for Markus to act (like combat) I can poke him and hopefully get a response.

***

I'd love for Landolf to be one of the boat-hands for this part of the adventure, if for no other reason that he'll finally get to use his Landsman skills. I'm perfectly fine dumping his wages into the Company pool since not everyone will be able to get paid.

Discovering the truth about Andreas and his long-con would count a Discovery for getting back Resolve.

That's fine about Markus. Hope he's well. Remind him that his cloak changed colors suddenly in Altdorf. It is now bright pink with a pattern of purple hands decorating it.

Feel free to join in on the sailing.

85XP! Total of 90.

60XP for +2 WP (50! That means 20 wounds)
30XP for +3 Trade Explosives

It strikes me that with some investment, what might make the most sense is getting up to Master Miner for “Craft Explosives.” And then in downtime make explosives to sell instead of earning money. It may well be a good way to get around miners making so little in the way of coin.

So slowly working my way out of miner. Boatman seems great, but I just don’t see a Dwarven miner becoming a boatsman on the River. That said, he will *gladly* work for the silver.

Josef will be glad to have Valghaz's help. His strength will come in very handy hauling the sails up or dealing with the anchor.

Sorry I missed a bit, terribly busy with work....

That said, glad we're out of Altdorf!!

Going to be taking the opportunity offered by our gracious GM. Being back on the barge is bringing back memories from Ruprecht's youth when he spent a summer on one with Josef.

It'll be a good way to round out Ruprecht's skills and talents, then he can get back to his Machiavellian tendencies :)

Consider yourself a Boathand. The information is on page 93 of the rule book. Make sure to spend some XP in Sailing and Swimming skills (you're going to need them). Please update your character sheet too.

Huzza, xp! And a stint for Talther as a boatman!

What would be common knowledge about Marienburg?

I may not be able to post again until Saturday. Just a heads up.

Consider yourself a Boathand. The information is on page 93 of the rule book. Make sure to spend some XP in Sailing and Swimming skills (you're going to need them). Please update your character sheet too.

Tempted about Boatwoman…

Mostly for more STR and Agility..

Still thinking about it.

The offer is still available as only 2 characters took Josef up on it.

If you decide to go ahead: Consider yourself a Boathand. The information is on page 93 of the rule book. Make sure to spend some XP in Sailing and Swimming skills (you're going to need them). Please update your character sheet too.

Came *this* close to switching to boatman. It was a very tempting proposition...

Now, a question. To see if I get this right.

Trade skills require Trade Tools. These cost 3 gold.

Trade endeavor allows making goods. Costs 25% of regular cost. The goods can then be sold for 50% of normal cost.

A incendiary costs 1 gold (20 silver). So to make it I’d need to pass a test at +0% (43% currently.) Meaning that if I pass, it would cost 5 silver to make and 10 to sell, for a 5 silver profit. This means that I’d need to make 12 incendiaries to make back the cost of trade tools.

And if 3 endeavors can be done at once, it would take 4 downtimes to break even. And that is with successful tests. Given that Dex isn’t something miners get, with +10 in skills I’d only have a 48% chance each time. Am I reading this right?

Given how rarely we have said downtime, I’m rethinking the idea now that I’m digging into the rules.

I'll decline the Boatman offer. I think staying on the Soldier's path fits more Adelaida for now.

Some Common Knowledge

The Weissbruck Canal
The 60-mile Weissbruck Canal was completed in 2462 IC to carry coal and iron from the mines at Delfgruber directly to Altdorf, avoiding the heavy tolls in Carroburg. Originally designed to accomodate narrow barges towed by horses, the owners have since opened the canal to barges of all kinds to increase toll revenues. However, as the canal is only 25ft wide at its narrowest point, and given the average Reik barge is some 23ft wide, the canal is far too thin for two larger barges to pass side-by-side. To remedy this, an expensive refit began 20 years ago to widen the canal to at least 50ft in key sections to provide ‘passing places’. It was already this wide by the berthing points and locks, but these were too infrequent to ensure jams were not a daily occurrence.

Today, all the original berthing points have inns adjacent, which are broadly similar in layout to the Coach and Horses Inn. House Gruber of Weissbruck manages the canal on behalf of the three noble houses who own it in equal parts: Gruber, Holzkrug, and Holswig-Schleistein. There is an 18/– toll per barge to enter the canal, or 2 GC for barges over 12ft wide, collected at either the Reiksport or Weissbruck end. There are no further toll points along the canal itself. All House Gruber narrow boats use the canal for free, and they are a frequent sight along its length, pulled by horses and guarded by road wardens from the Weissbruck State Army.

Weissbruck
Weissbruck is a swiftly growing town on the River Bögen. It is ruled by the recently ennobled House Gruber, a family that may be rich because of its deep mines in the Skaag Hills, but has little in the way of status. Less than a century ago, Wiessbruck was just another small farming and fishing village, but with the opening of the nearby mines and the construction of the canal it has expanded rapidly.

It is now a bustling merchant town, and the sound of construction rings everywhere as new buildings expand the outskirts to all sides. Warehouses line the canal and river banks, storing coal and iron ore from the nearby mines, wool and wine from Bögenhafen, and all manner of goods from Altdorf, Carroburg, and the Vorbergland Canals.

Came *this* close to switching to boatman. It was a very tempting proposition...

Now, a question. To see if I get this right.

Trade skills require Trade Tools. These cost 3 gold.

Trade endeavor allows making goods. Costs 25% of regular cost. The goods can then be sold for 50% of normal cost.

A incendiary costs 1 gold (20 silver). So to make it I’d need to pass a test at +0% (43% currently.) Meaning that if I pass, it would cost 5 silver to make and 10 to sell, for a 5 silver profit. This means that I’d need to make 12 incendiaries to make back the cost of trade tools.

And if 3 endeavors can be done at once, it would take 4 downtimes to break even. And that is with successful tests. Given that Dex isn’t something miners get, with +10 in skills I’d only have a 48% chance each time. Am I reading this right?

Given how rarely we have said downtime, I’m rethinking the idea now that I’m digging into the rules.

I think that's all correct. Of course, you can Haggle when you sell the Trappings to try to get a bit more money. But it is indeed a significant investment to buy the Trade Tools (you can also Haggle to try to get a discount on the Trade Tools). I guess the Warhammer milieu is set up so you play the same characters for years and then the trade tools make a lot more sense.

I'll decline the Boatman offer. I think staying on the Soldier's path fits more Adelaida for now.

That makes sense :)

Would reaching Bogenhafen safely (including the safety of our crew & cargo) be a good party short-term?

This was the only suggestion that I saw for a new party short-term ambition. Is the one that the group wants to go with?

Getting our gold!

I think we'd be asking to have another partial success if we did that. Getting to Bogenhafen would complete first and isn't a trivial undertaking, so I'll vote for that one. We can try to get our gold after we arrive.

In talking with Aubster, we decided that I need to roll up a Henchman character for Landolf to be their personal servant. They aren't with the party yet. But that's what this is all about:

Species: 1d100 ⇒ 15 - Reiklander (+20 xp)

Career Roll #1: 1d100 ⇒ 82 - not an Outlaw
Career Roll #2: 1d100 ⇒ 25 - not a Townsman
Career Roll #3: 1d100 ⇒ 48 - not a Villager
Career Choice: Servant

Attributes:
Weapon Skill: 2d10 + 20 ⇒ (1, 10) + 20 = 31
Ballistic Skill: 2d10 + 20 ⇒ (6, 10) + 20 = 36
Strength: 2d10 + 20 ⇒ (7, 6) + 20 = 33
Toughness: 2d10 + 20 ⇒ (3, 4) + 20 = 27
Initiative: 2d10 + 20 ⇒ (7, 4) + 20 = 31
Agility: 2d10 + 20 ⇒ (1, 10) + 20 = 31
Dexterity: 2d10 + 20 ⇒ (7, 9) + 20 = 36
Intelligence: 2d10 + 20 ⇒ (9, 3) + 20 = 32
Willpower: 2d10 + 20 ⇒ (3, 7) + 20 = 30
Fellowship: 2d10 + 20 ⇒ (1, 8) + 20 = 29

The results are pretty average, so we'll keep them and swap a few around (+25 xp)
Weapon Skill: 29 - swap with fellowship
Ballistic Skill: 36
Strength: 27 - swap with toughness
Toughness: 33 - swap with strength
Initiative: 31
Agility: 36 - swap with dexterity
Dexterity: 31 - swap with agility
Intelligence: 32
Willpower: 30
Fellowship: 31 - swap with weapon skill

Creation Advances:
+5 Agility

Random Talent #1: 1d100 ⇒ 80 - Strong Legs
Random Talent #2: 1d100 ⇒ 26 - Hardy
Random Talent #3: 1d100 ⇒ 64 - Read/Write

Reiklander Skill Advances:
Animal Care 5
Cool 3
Evaluate 5
Haggle 5
Language (Wastelander) 3
Lore (Reikland) 3

Career Advances:
Athletics 5
Climb 5
Drive 5
Dodge 5
Endurance 5
Intuition 5
Perception 5
Stealth (Rural) 5

I think that's enough for the moment.

In talking with Aubster, we decided that I need to roll up a Henchman character for Landolf to be their personal servant. They aren't with the party yet. But that's what this is all about:

[dice=Species]1d100 - Reiklander (+20 xp)

[dice=Career Roll #1]1d100 - not an Outlaw
[dice=Career Roll #2]1d100 - not a Townsman
[dice=Career Roll #3]1d100 - not a Villager
Career Choice: Servant

Attributes:
[dice=Weapon Skill]2d10+20
[dice=Ballistic Skill]2d10+20
[dice=Strength]2d10+20
[dice=Toughness]2d10+20
[dice=Initiative]2d10+20
[dice=Agility]2d10+20
[dice=Dexterity]2d10+20
[dice=Intelligence]2d10+20
[dice=Willpower]2d10+20
[dice=Fellowship]2d10+20

The results are pretty average, so we'll keep them and swap a few around (+25 xp)
Weapon Skill: 29 - swap with fellowship
Ballistic Skill: 36
Strength: 27 - swap with toughness
Toughness: 33 - swap with strength
Initiative: 31
Agility: 36 - swap with dexterity
Dexterity: 31 - swap with agility
Intelligence: 32
Willpower: 30
Fellowship: 31 - swap with weapon skill

Creation Advances:
+5 Agility

[dice=Random Talent #1]1d100 - Strong Legs
[dice=Random Talent #2]1d100 - Hardy
[dice=Random Talent #3]1d100 - Read/Write

Reiklander Skill Advances:
Animal Care 5
Cool 3
Evaluate 5
Haggle 5
Language (Wastelander) 3
Lore (Reikland) 3

Career Advances:
Athletics 5
Climb 5
Drive 5
Dodge 5
Endurance 5
Intuition 5
Perception 5
Stealth (Rural) 5

I think that's enough for the moment.

That's pretty funny that you got the Read/Write Talent for the Servant. Landolf and I had talked about if a Noble should know how to Read and agreed that a Noble could just pay someone to do it for him and now Landolf will have someone that he's paying that can Read.

Yeah, I was amused/happy that it came out of a roll. I might shift some attributes around to make them a bit smarter. Servant doesn't get a whole lot of Intelligence-based skills for a while though.

They're surprisingly good at sneaking if built with the right talents.

***

Aubster, I picked up the Rough Nights & Hard Days .pdf recently as I was hoping that it would provide an adventure for the game I'm running. The adventure in there is pretty cool, but also WAY higher level than the PCs in question, so I didn't do that.

It also includes a bunch of rules for gambling games though. Do you have the same book? I ask because it has different rules (slightly) for Scarlet Empress than what we've been using here.

Yeah, I was amused/happy that it came out of a roll. I might shift some attributes around to make them a bit smarter. Servant doesn't get a whole lot of Intelligence-based skills for a while though.

They're surprisingly good at sneaking if built with the right talents.

***

Aubster, I picked up the Rough Nights & Hard Days .pdf recently as I was hoping that it would provide an adventure for the game I'm running. The adventure in there is pretty cool, but also WAY higher level than the PCs in question, so I didn't do that.

It also includes a bunch of rules for gambling games though. Do you have the same book? I ask because it has different rules (slightly) for Scarlet Empress than what we've been using here.

I thought about getting it but didn't think it was worth the $20.

I wanted mostly the adventure, so the fact that I'm not using it yet means it was somewhat of a disappointment. I think it was on sale? Or maybe I splurged. Anyway...

Do you want me to supply rules when each game comes up? You could always decide to ignore them.

They're pub games, not gambling games specifically. Not all are likely what you are looking for.

The full list is (descriptions are omitted if it seems obvious and otherwise based on a quick skim)
Al-Zahr - common dice game in the Empire from Araby
Alvatafl - board game using dwarves & elves
Arm Wrestling
Beast Among the Tailors - involves swinging a ball around on a chain and throwing it. Maybe like bowling?
Bowls - sounds like horseshoes
Bull Ring - sounds like horseshoes
Cerevis - drinking game with cards made by university students - I read through this more and I can't find a 'win' condition to take a pot of money. As written, I think the whole point of the game is to get drunk. Really drunk.
Darts
Dominoes
Dwile Flonking - involves 2 teams of 12 and throwing beer-soaked rags
Middenball - soccer or maybe rugby. Described as brutal. Kind of hoping there are expanded Middenball rules in the Middenheim book scheduled to come out.
Muhlen - two player board game
Pub Quizzes
Scarlet Empress
Stones - board game for 2-4 players

Don't forget that if you are Gossiping you need to come up with your own rumors to share.

I'm pretty tired so I'll spend xp, update my sheet, and catch up in gameplay tomorrow.

85xp, which will be rapidly invested into Sail and Swim at GM recommendation. :D

@Aubster: Would Talther becoming a boatman count for this short-term ambition?

" 1. Find a lucrative source of employment."

*******

155xp WS +6
125xp S +5
125xp T +5
155xp Fel +6
0xp Wp +5 (5 advances from character creation)
100xp Change career level
20xp Heal out of profession
30xp Perception 7 ranks (5 advances from character creation)
100xp Etiquette (Servants)
100xp Rover
10xp Outdoor Survival 1 rank
10xp Animal Care 1 rank

40xp Sail (barge) 0 -> 4 ranks
40xp Swim 0-> 4 ranks

1010xp total spent

5xp left

85xp, which will be rapidly invested into Sail and Swim at GM recommendation. :D

@Aubster: Would Talther becoming a boatman count for this short-term ambition?

" 1. Find a lucrative source of employment."

*******

155xp WS +6
125xp S +5
125xp T +5
155xp Fel +6
0xp Wp +5 (5 advances from character creation)
100xp Change career level
20xp Heal out of profession
30xp Perception 7 ranks (5 advances from character creation)
100xp Etiquette (Servants)
100xp Rover
10xp Outdoor Survival 1 rank
10xp Animal Care 1 rank

40xp Sail (barge) 0 -> 4 ranks
40xp Swim 0-> 4 ranks

1010xp total spent

5xp left

Sure, 2 Shillings a day is pretty lucrative.

Huzzah!

+50xp

155xp WS +6
125xp S +5
125xp T +5
155xp Fel +6
0xp Wp +5 (5 advances from character creation)
100xp Change career level
20xp Heal out of profession
30xp Perception 7 ranks (5 advances from character creation)
100xp Etiquette (Servants)
100xp Rover
10xp Outdoor Survival 1 rank
10xp Animal Care 1 rank

50xp Sail (barge) 4 -> 5 ranks
50xp Swim 4 -> 5 ranks
25xp Ag +0 -> +1 (36->37)
10xp Gossip 0 -> 1 rank

1065xp total spent

0xp left

Huzzah!

+50xp

155xp WS +6
125xp S +5
125xp T +5
155xp Fel +6
0xp Wp +5 (5 advances from character creation)
100xp Change career level
20xp Heal out of profession
30xp Perception 7 ranks (5 advances from character creation)
100xp Etiquette (Servants)
100xp Rover
10xp Outdoor Survival 1 rank
10xp Animal Care 1 rank

50xp Sail (barge) 4 -> 5 ranks
50xp Swim 4 -> 5 ranks
25xp Ag +0 -> +1 (36->37)
10xp Gossip 0 -> 1 rank

1065xp total spent

0xp left

And you can pick a new short term ambition. One thought might be something to do with those odd gestures that people keep making to you?

A general reminder, make sure you have a short term ambition (remember it should be something that can be accomplished in 2-3 game sessions).

I had two short-term ambitions thanks to good weather and still have one. I won't say no to a second, but would like confirmation!

I had two short-term ambitions thanks to good weather and still have one. I won't say no to a second, but would like confirmation!

That's right, I had forgotten. Your instinct is correct, you do not get to replace that short term ambition with another.

No worries. I had already removed the info about a second ambition from my sheet at that point.

At least the crossbow guy probably has to reload.

Aubster: for the deck fire, what would be a check to try to put it out? Like if Landolf threw his cloak over it and tried to stamp it out. Is the fire too far gone for that?

At least the crossbow guy probably has to reload.

Aubster: for the deck fire, what would be a check to try to put it out? Like if Landolf threw his cloak over it and tried to stamp it out. Is the fire too far gone for that?

Since Landolf has training in Sailing he knows that the buckets of sand on the deck are there to be used to put out deck fires but if Landolf does that he will not be able to protect himself from Melee Attack.

If you haven't updated your character sheet after spending your XP don't forget to do so before combat so it will reflect your up to date information :)

Oh yeah forgot.
Spend 80xp
50 on sailor +5
30 on swim +3

Everyone has their actions declared for this round, right?

I'm eager to see how Landolf's stabbing goes.

Dear Sigmar, the wizard is ablaze!

Now the wizard sinks!

He clearly wasn't a witch!

Cause he.. wasn't .. made of.. wood?

Spend 75 XP for +3 Ballistics, 10 XP left

Darkest Doomed wrote:

Yeah, I was amused/happy that it came out of a roll. I might shift some attributes around to make them a bit smarter. Servant doesn't get a whole lot of Intelligence-based skills for a while though.

They're surprisingly good at sneaking if built with the right talents.

***

Aubster, I picked up the Rough Nights & Hard Days .pdf recently as I was hoping that it would provide an adventure for the game I'm running. The adventure in there is pretty cool, but also WAY higher level than the PCs in question, so I didn't do that.

It also includes a bunch of rules for gambling games though. Do you have the same book? I ask because it has different rules (slightly) for Scarlet Empress than what we've been using here.

I thought about getting it but didn't think it was worth the $20.

In case anyone is interested, Drive Thru RPG has most of the Warhammer 4th Edition stuff on sale right now.

I may go ahead and get the Rough Nights and Hard Days book as it is on-sale for $14.99 now.

Oh, it's only on PDF…. I though you could get real books in there.

Perhaps of interest: Frog God Games are having a sale the moment. Vouchers on their social media (e.g Twitter).

FGG sales page for what's on offer!

Common Knowledge: River Bögen

The people of Bögenhafen claim Bögenauer, their town's patron deity, is responsible for the commerce-blessed state of the River Bögen. A relatively placid river with a clear, smooth, but not overly swift flow, the Bögen readily allows traffic to sail upriver nearly as easily as down. Its great depth allows larger river going vessels to navigate safely from the Reik all the way to Bögenhafen.

Though its source lies deep in the freezing peaks of the Grey Mountains, the Bögen turns warm as it flows through the hilly Vorbergland. In fact, this mysterious warming seems to occur at one specific stretch in which the river thins out. The temperature change also produces fog. Most evenings, fingers of roiling fog rise from the Bögen, wrapping tendrils about nearby settlements and the surrounding Reikwald. This is frequently thick enough to obscure vision, so thieves, smugglers, and worse use it to conceal their nocturnal activities.

Progress on it has been happening in Landolf/GM spoilers, but Landolf just cleared his personal short-term Ambition of proving himself to be a competent sailor. That gets him just enough to buy a second rank of the Luck talent (200 xp) and 3 more advances in Gamble (45 xp) since gambling seems to be a thing for him now.

Now I need to come up with something new for him to work on.

Aubster, do you want me to wait until the next Fortune refresh to get his new point? It's the difference between 2/6 remaining and 3/6 remaining right now.

Progress on it has been happening in Landolf/GM spoilers, but Landolf just cleared his personal short-term Ambition of proving himself to be a competent sailor. That gets him just enough to buy a second rank of the Luck talent (200 xp) and 3 more advances in Gamble (45 xp) since gambling seems to be a thing for him now.

Now I need to come up with something new for him to work on.

Aubster, do you want me to wait until the next Fortune refresh to get his new point? It's the difference between 2/6 remaining and 3/6 remaining right now.

I think you spend the points on the Luck talent you get the new point immediately.

Just checking.

I did some thinking about Landolf's next ambition while I was out on a walk. Does "Contact one of his family's debt holders" sound good? I'm not assuming that one will be available in Bogenhafen. One or more likely have offices in Altdorf though.

I figure his short-term ambitions should at least sometimes be used to work toward his long-term ambition.

For myself, I'm starting to think that "find a stable source of income" might be a long term goal.

For a short term goal, perhaps "getting his first gold coin" might be more in line?

My short-term ambition completed above grew out of my realization that his current short-term ambition "Gain the support of a noble house" wasn't happening very soon. When I picked the other ambition, I'd been assuming that we'd move down to Altdorf and stay there for a while, but the campaign is proving more mobile than I'd anticipated. Fortunately for Landolf, he got the Glorious Weather boon on our Downtime and that ambition remains in that slot waiting to be filled.

If it's any guide, the core book says that short-term ambitions should usually take 2-3 sessions to complete. In translation for a pbp campaign, I'd take that to mean 2-3 Fortune refreshes since sessions are very ambiguous here. Most of our last ambition completions were in Ubersreik, so it's been a while.

I'd probably agree that "find a stable source of income" might not happen soon for Valghaz. Given that we are moving toward becoming an adventuring company of sorts, I'm not sure that 'stable' is going to describe the income stream for any of our characters.

Just for ideas, is there anything that Valghaz is interested in other than his long-term ambition? You are still contemplating a move toward Duellist if I understand right. Maybe there's something there?

Yeah, from the start I've had trouble with the ambitions...
As an advisor type, I had the thought of tying his ambitions to those of Landolf's but right now I think he'll turn to more personal ones.

Going to crib Landolf's recent and make Ruprecht's current short term ambition to " Become a competent enough boatman so that Josef doesn't throw Ruprecht overboard!"

Still moving towards duelist. But that will be awhile given how many advances are needed to leave miner. Right now his goals are (1) avenge current grudges, which doubles as party goals I believe (2) make money and (3) make stable money, in that order.

Feels hard to come up with short term goals when we are focused. Perhaps though...find a tutor, or information about how the dueling system works? Might make sense to build towards the career shift.

Yeah, from the start I've had trouble with the ambitions...

As an advisor type, I had the thought of tying his ambitions to those of Landolf's but right now I think he'll turn to more personal ones.

Going to crib Landolf's recent and make Ruprecht's current short term ambition to " Become a competent enough boatman so that Josef doesn't throw Ruprecht overboard!"

That's a good idea. Ruprecht needs to pass the following four skill checks of which Ruprecht has already passed two.

1) Test for dealing with knot tying up/casting off the dock (Ruprecht failed that one the first time)
2) Dealing with the sails (Ruprecht showed as passing a casting off check but it was actually working with the sails)
3) Piloting the barge (failed)
4) A miscellaneous task (successfully dealing with the fire definitely counts)

Ruprecht will get more chances before the trip is finished.

Common Knowledge: Skag Hills

The rocky Skaag Hills lie to the north and west of the River Bögen and run along the southern bank of the Reik before falling beneath the trees of the Duchy of Gorland. Near the centre, the Reikwald recedes from the stony crags and layers of stratified rock rise to the scree-laden highlands of the Prie Ridge. A single road crosses the gentler slopes of the Skaag Hills to the south, starting at Trosreut in the shadow of Castle Grauenberg and wending its way through to Holthausen, but many minor tracks and trails also cross the region, most of which started as goat tracks. Once, the hillsides were bustling with small mines boasting rich veins of silver and iron. Down through the centuries most of these played out, leaving many abandoned settlements, many of which the forest reclaimed. Locals now approach such ruins cautiously, for hunters, outlaws, and far more sinister folk are said to make use of what intact buildings remain.