Does he fight or does he talk...
It's up to fate to determine if the Count's paranoia has pushed him to attack Adela triggering Combat or if he's willing to continue the dialogue.
If the party is willing to accompany von Halstadt to the palace and to put their weapons away the situation will be defused and combat will not happen but if the party is not willing to do so, von Halstadt and his bodyguards will attack.
Initiative Rolls in case they are needed
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Adela glared for a long moment before putting her glowing axe back onto her belt and then grabbed the head of the Skaven. ”I’ll hold onto this. This kill belongs to Ulric.”
Jarvey glares at the pistoleers as he too holsters his firearm;
"Waste o' good lead on you long streaks o' p1ss anyways. However should any la-de-dahs want some satisfaction once all this is settled I'll happily give ye the honour."
Ubaldo moves to sheath his blade.
"Now, lead on to your superiors and we will see what they make of this mess."
Hanna lets out a long breath as , for the moment, saner heads prevail, "Well said, Dirk. Come let us not tarry, the Enemy will certainly not."
"You all smell and look worse than a Ork midden. If the She-Wolf vow safes for your behavior, we can pick this up again tomorrow after you bathe. Keep your wizard leashed though. We will begin tomorrow morning at eight. Come to my estate in the Altestadt. Do not try to flee the city. You will be watched."
With a final contemptuous glance, von Halstadt walks out the front door followed by his bodyguards.
Ubaldo turns to the others afterwards.
"What an infuriating man. In any case, we had best find sacks for these heads and a place to sleep. Jarvey, you spoke of the coach inn?"
Jarvey nodded, then eyed his own countenance and the rest of the group;
"Likely more than my job's worth havin' us all trapse nightsoil through the place. Best we find a bathhouse an' launderers afore the morrow..."
"That is entirely reasonable.", replies Ubaldo, dreading what he must look and smell like.
”Should have...” Adela growled, before shaking her head. ”Yes, let’s wash up. But we should keep watch tonight. There are now two kinds of rats who might want to see us dead before the morning.”
"Another entirely reasonable point. I am quite content with middle watch. I am used to keeping odd hours."
The von Halstadt estate resembles an ugly fortress more than one of the graceful estate homes of Nuln that surround it on all sides. It presents a unadorned slate grey facade to the street and its walls seem to be several feet thick. There are no windows at all on the ground floor and the windows on the upper floors are designed to allow the occupants to shoot out but for no one from the outside to be able to squeeze through the narrow openings.
The count's majordomo opens the door in response to your knock and gives you a stiff bow. "The master is expecting you in the study. Please walk this way." In contrast to the plain exterior of the house, the inside is beautifully decorated with marble floors inlaid with mother of pearl highlights, vibrant wall hangings and exquisite statuary. The study itself is a perfect gentleman's refuge with a roaring fireplace, bookshelves with carefully arranged volumes of history, philosophy and science, brightly polished weapons displayed on the wood paneled walls and heavy leather arm chairs grouped near the fireplace. The count rises languidly from one of the chairs and gestures for you to be seated. He dismisses his servant with a wave of his hand and then returns to his chair.
"Straight to business yes, why are you in Nuln, why are the five of you a group, did you find a list of names on the rat folk yesterday?"
Ubaldo, a little stiffly, replies:
"In order: to uncover the true culprits for the disappearances beneath Nuln and defeat the same; we are most efficient as a group; there was a list."
"I will ask in return, as we still have a mission to complete. what do you know of this cult? And of the skaven that you have relied upon for information?"
Feeling more at ease on the outside at the least, but still getting a worryingly persistent aftertaste of effluent, Jarvey again lets the longshanks take the lead.
As Ubaldo and the Count spar in verbose fashion, the Kutsche Meister keeps an eye out for any of those preening pistoleers...
Adela nodded. While Ubaldo talked she took the time to look around. She didn’t trust the Count. Did he have men lying in wait? How many pistols were trained on the group? Where were the best places for such men to hide?
Now cleaned up, she struck a much different figure than before. When not covered in literal shyt and holding a decapitated head, her renowned beauty could be seen. She fixed her piercing blue eyes upon the Count, giving him her (apparently) full attention.
”Perhaps we did get off on the wrong foot.” She began. ”Perhaps without the stress of battle we can all approach this more civilly. To echo my esteemed colleague, I have never heard of working with Skaven before. I am very curious as to what has convinced you as to their reliability.”
Hanna has much to say, but the Count's attitude towards her precludes anything to be gained by her uttering a single word.
So , the contents herself to monitoring the conversation and the room, for threats mundane and other...
Ubaldo, a little stiffly, replies:
"In order: to uncover the true culprits for the disappearances beneath Nuln and defeat the same; we are most efficient as a group; there was a list."
"I will ask in return, as we still have a mission to complete. what do you know of this cult? And of the skaven that you have relied upon for information?"
"So there was a list. Excellent, now we can strike at the heart of the cult. The cult is called Dragon's Bane and we believe it is affiliated with other cults throughout the Empire. The Dragon's Bane is trying to destroy...destroy...destroy Her Serene Highness. That cannot be ALLOWED!...THAT MUST NOT BE ALLOWED!...I HAVE TO PROTECT HER HIGHNESS! I SHALL USE WHATEVER TOOLS I NEED AND THE SKAVEN ARE TOOLS NOTHING MORE!!" The count starts the discussion calmly enough but as he discusses the threat to Nuln's ruler he rises and begins to shout and pace excitedly. By the end, spittle is flying from his bright red face. Exhausted by the exertion he falls back into a chair.
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Undeterred, Adela waited until the Count was finished. ”I commend you for your loyalty.” She said, smoothly. ”And I am sure many a cultist has perished due to your actions. But if I may, there is a story I would share of the Skaven beneath Middenheim. They have many nests beneath our city, and the Templars of Ulric send our own to clear them out. One Templar was most proficient in this. The men he led always found the tunnels of the foe, no matter how well hidden. For you see, like you, he had a Skaven informant. An informant who always provided accurate information. The Templar made quite a name for himself, and in time grew to rely on the information provided. That is...until the day that the information was wrong. The day that he and his men walked into an ambush, laid by his own informant. For you see, the Skaven had used him to remove it’s rivals. And when it seemed like ultimate victory was in his grasp, the Templar was betrayed.” She looked at the Count, meaningfully. ”Everything you said is likely true. But for the sake of the Highness, do you have anything in place to know when the Skaven might betray you? For all we know, your informant may well be part of the Dragon’s Bane. Slowly removing rivals...and any other threats...they are Chaos spawn, after all...”
Adela nodded. While Ubaldo talked she took the time to look around. She didn’t trust the Count. Did he have men lying in wait? How many pistols were trained on the group? Where were the best places for such men to hide?
[dice=Perception 42]1d100
Now cleaned up, she struck a much different figure than before. When not covered in literal shyt and holding a decapitated head, her renowned beauty could be seen. She fixed her piercing blue eyes upon the Count, giving him her (apparently) full attention.
”Perhaps we did get off on the wrong foot.” She began. ”Perhaps without the stress of battle we can all approach this more civilly. To echo my esteemed colleague, I have never heard of working with Skaven before. I am very curious as to what has convinced you as to their reliability.”
[dice=Charm 58]1d100
The Warrior-Priestess' words seem to have a calming effect of Count von Halstadt and he sits up straighter and pays close attention to her words. "No need to worry my Lady, the rat folk are little better than unthinking animals. In exchange for bits of worthless Wyrdstone the little monsters are willing to scuttle around under Nuln listening and listening and never being seen. Then they bring me the information. Do you know they actually eat the Wyrdstone, oh my they are so stupid it is unbelievable. But, because of them, my secret police and I were able to eliminate the Rat-Catcher's cult. And now, they bring the names of the leaders of the Dragon's Bane. You have the list yes?"
Hanna has much to say, but the Count's attitude towards her precludes anything to be gained by her uttering a single word.
So , the contents herself to monitoring the conversation and the room, for threats mundane and other...
[dice=Perception (Second Sight):61]1d100
[dice=Perception (Normal):61]1d100
You get a feeling that you are being watched by many pairs of eyes.
Dirk watches the scene with growing discomfort. This was a dangerous man: a noble and a little bit insane. It would be best to be done and away from him as soon as possible. Let's give them the scrap of paper and get moving. This isn't what we were hired to do.
He kept his peace for now.
Jarvey also listens with growing unease;
Rats and their catchers as patsies.!? Don't make sense. The Count here is mad as a bag of cats. I'd give them feck all.
Hanna puts her head in her hands and shakes her head as she hears the Count willfully admit his part in eliminating the Sewer-Jacks, the cities first and sometimes best defence against the incursions of the rat-men.
The fact that Adela was making good progress actually having the man have a cogent and calm discussion, but it was clear , he was a mad-man.
Jarvey also listens with growing unease;
Rats and their catchers as patsies.!? Don't make sense. The Count here is mad as a bag of cats. I'd give them feck all.
[dice=Charm]1d100
Undeterred, Adela waited until the Count was finished. ”I commend you for your loyalty.” She said, smoothly. ”And I am sure many a cultist has perished due to your actions. But if I may, there is a story I would share of the Skaven beneath Middenheim. They have many nests beneath our city, and the Templars of Ulric send our own to clear them out. One Templar was most proficient in this. The men he led always found the tunnels of the foe, no matter how well hidden. For you see, like you, he had a Skaven informant. An informant who always provided accurate information. The Templar made quite a name for himself, and in time grew to rely on the information provided. That is...until the day that the information was wrong. The day that he and his men walked into an ambush, laid by his own informant. For you see, the Skaven had used him to remove it’s rivals. And when it seemed like ultimate victory was in his grasp, the Templar was betrayed.” She looked at the Count, meaningfully. ”Everything you said is likely true. But for the sake of the Highness, do you have anything in place to know when the Skaven might betray you? For all we know, your informant may well be part of the Dragon’s Bane. Slowly removing rivals...and any other threats...they are Chaos spawn, after all...”
"You make a compelling argument for taking extreme care when dealing with the rat folk. But this is not Middenheim and there is not an entire city of rat folk under our feet. There's barely a dozen of the little beasts, and it seems you've killed most of them. But, I do not discount what you say. What think of you of this...you can participate in the questioning of the cult leaders. But their names, I have to have their names...please"
Did the skaven manage the trick of using this lunatic to kill their enemies? Or did his wildly dangerous methods actually uproot a chaos cult?
"You seem very certain of the skaven's numbers. I would know how you have achieved such certainty without coverage of the sewers. I would also know what evidence you found on the felled rat-catchers of their cult's activities. We need assurances that you will be thorough and vigilant, you see."
Did the skaven manage the trick of using this lunatic to kill their enemies? Or did his wildly dangerous methods actually uproot a chaos cult?
"You seem very certain of the skaven's numbers. I would know how you have achieved such certainty without coverage of the sewers. I would also know what evidence you found on the felled rat-catchers of their cult's activities. We need assurances that you will be thorough and vigilant, you see."
[dice=Charm 69]1d100
[dice=Charm 69]1d100
[dice=Intuition 62]1d100
The count develops a facial twitch as he answers Ubaldo's questions. "Certainity? Evidence? Yes, we are certain and have much evidence. Not here of course, at the palace. The palace of Her Serene Highness, we MUST PROTECT the Serene Highness."
Ubaldo cannot tell if the count is lying or if he believes what he says.
Jarvey usual wry expression seems to have drained away, and he dabs his forehead with a sleeve.
Whispering an aside to whomever is nearby, the diminutive Coach Master looks somewhat concerned;
"Is it jus' me or is The Count's study hotter than a torturer's coals?"
He edges away from the nearby log fire, moving somewhat sluggishly...
Adela paused for a moment. She wanted to just kill the Count where he stood, but knew that it was out of the question. This is why I dislike Sigmarites. She thought to herself.
”I do not have it on me.” She said, truthfully. ”But I shall return to the Temple, and will take the letter out from safe keeping.” After another pause, she said ”I don’t like this. Not at all.” Looking at the Count, she asked ”Before I go. How were the Rat Catchers disposed of? If we are to work together, then I would know your methods.”
He said there were no more than a dozen Skaven here... She thought.
"I must also inquire about the the fate of the rat catchers."
Adela paused for a moment. She wanted to just kill the Count where he stood, but knew that it was out of the question. This is why I dislike Sigmarites. She thought to herself.
”I do not have it on me.” She said, truthfully. ”But I shall return to the Temple, and will take the letter out from safe keeping.” After another pause, she said ”I don’t like this. Not at all.” Looking at the Count, she asked ”Before I go. How were the Rat Catchers disposed of? If we are to work together, then I would know your methods.”
He said there were no more than a dozen Skaven here... She thought.
The count shows a very pleased look when Adela asks about how the Rat Catchers were taken care of. "Simplicity itself, My Lady, the entire guild was invited to a celebratory dinner in their honor. The food and entertainment were exquisite. Unfortunately, for the Rat Catchers their meals had all been laced with Black Lotus. They all spent their last hour screaming as they died which is the fate all traitors deserve. It was glorious. It is amazing how the rat folk was able to find so much black lotus so quickly."
"I must also inquire about the the fate of the rat catchers."
"Brilliant plan wasn't it Hartig? An entire guild of chaos worshiping traitors wiped out in one pleasant evening. The rat folk were even so good as to take all the bodies away so no evidence was left for the fellow cultists to find. And I came up with the entire plan..." the count trails off as he looks confused for a moment and has more facial tics, but then smiles and the tics go away as he finishes, "yes, the entire plan all by myself."
Jarvey usual wry expression seems to have drained away, and he dabs his forehead with a sleeve.
Whispering an aside to whomever is nearby, the diminutive Coach Master looks somewhat concerned;
"Is it jus' me or is The Count's study hotter than a torturer's coals?"
He edges away from the nearby log fire, moving somewhat sluggishly...
The count's majordomo appears as if by magick and offers Jarvey a cool glass of water.
”Impressive...but if the rats told you that there are only a dozen of them, then how did they remove all of the bodies? And this cult. What did you do to verify that they were indeed chaos worshipers?”
”Impressive...but if the rats told you that there are only a dozen of them, then how did they remove all of the bodies? And this cult. What did you do to verify that they were indeed chaos worshipers?”
The Count's attention seems to be drifting a bit...
"Rats move them? Yes, that's right. Dumped all of them in the river. How? There's this giant rat thing that probably carried them."
"Verify? Yes, that's right. All of the cultists were mutated...I think that's it..." facial tics again, "yes, yes that was it, all mutated, I remember it now."
"Now, I need that list. Must protect Herr Serene Highness. Cultists everywhere you know." The Count's attention abruptly focuses on Jarvey. "Halfling, this discussion of cultists seems to be making you nervous, no? Why is that?"
Jarvey downs the cool water, then shoots the Count a hard look through his weary eyes;
"Ah'm feelin' a little off colour since the sewers, that's all. Rest assured Herr Count I'm neither nervous nor some secret worshiper o' a cult..."
The halfling forces a grin through gritted teeth;
Just sick o' hearin' your mad ramblings..."
”Mutated? All of them?” Adela said, the same smile on her face. Her eyes were sharp though. She had the Count talking and the momentum was with her. ”And what mutations did they have? Did you see them, or was it reported to you?”
She rose from her seat and walked over to the Count. Walking behind him, talking as she went, she slid her fingers onto his shoulders and leaned in. ”Think. Remember. This is important.”
She couldn’t tell it he was under some sort of enchantment. She wanted to think so, because if not then she would have to kill him. She hoped that her companions were of a similar mindset.
The Count stiffens at Adela's intrusion into his personal space but then relaxes as her Charm's lull him.
"Think, think," the Count twitches under the Adela's fingers but then relaxes again. "Hmmm...For some reason I cannot remember the details of the mutations but I have them all documented in the records at the palace."
The Count wrenches himself to his feet, "now, this conversation has gone on long enough, I MUST HAVE THE LIST!" The Count's eyes glow with the gleam of a true fanatic. "Otherwise, I must begin to believe that your group has been infiltrated with Chaos worshiping, foul cultists." His gaze focuses on Jarvey and Hanna as he talks. "Yessssss..."
Hanna nods along with the path of Adela's questions, knowing if she dared to ask the same, she'd garner the same hatred she faced from the Count already.
His hesitation and tics make her think he might be under some kind of compulsion, so she re-examines him with an eye to what Wind might be affecting him...
0
Seeing nothing, and at his latest insinuation ,her patience is broken and she shakes her head and smiles at the Count, "Hmm, truly the only true suspect of Chaos worship in this room is yourself, Ser. You've admitted to conspiring with an Enemy of Humanity, the Skaven. You've admitted to having the entire corps of Sewer-Jacks murdered by that same Enemy! And what proof do you offer of their relationship with the Enemy? Documents, records at the Palace? Come, let us hie there now and see these records, for in fact you've given us no reason to trust your word in these matters! "
"My colleague is accurate in this regard. If the skaven were deceiving you into cooperating to destroy Nuln's defenses and leave it open to invasion, the results could look little better from their point of view. You must tell us where the evidence is that will make sure that no one thinks that way."
Jarvey catches the cold glint of the zealot in the Count's stare...
Feck. He thinks me tainted. Crazy basterd'll 'ave me stretched an' broken just to prove it! Time to take matters into yer own 'ands Jarviticus me lad...
Sweating the halfling doubles over in apparent stomach distress...
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Jarvey catches the cold glint of the zealot in the Count's stare...
Feck. He thinks me tainted. Crazy basterd'll 'ave me stretched an' broken just to prove it! Time to take matters into yer own 'ands Jarviticus me lad...
Sweating the halfling doubles over in apparent stomach distress...
dice=Sleight of Hand 39]1d100
It's safe to assume that Jarvey can draw his pistol without the Mad Count noticing as he's not paying that much attention to Jarvey as he's completely and utterly distracted by Adela's charms.
Tableaux
The Count is trying to stand and Adela has her hands on his shoulder.
Jarvey has surreptitiously drawn a pistol and is ready to shoot.
Hanna and Ubaldo are hectoring the Count who seems to no longer be listening.
Dirk is standing ready.
Does Adela actually restrain the Count from getting off the couch?
Adela held the count down. The second his began to yell, she hissed ”In Ulric’s name and by the power invested in me by his cult...” Her right hand fell to her waist and in one fluid motion her axe was out.
SL5 + 5 (Str) + 4 (Axe) -? = 14 minus toughness, SL and armor + bonus for him being restrained?
SL7? + 9 = 16 before modifiers
The axe came down at his neck. She wanted to leave the head intact, and expected that it would take two swings to decapitate him. ”...I declare thee traitor and servant of chaos! The sentence is death.”
As Adela enacts the execution, Jarvey flashes a grin and covers the door with readied pistol;
"Anyone comes in, gets lead in their diet!"