Agreed. No hard feelings on my end. I just feel fortunate that we got to try this out. :)
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I’m here and will continue so long as you find this enjoyable as well. :)Thanks! The 'good' news is that I have the ending mapped out mentally and I think it's actually not bad. ...for the Skaven?
I’m here and will continue so long as you find this enjoyable as well. :)
Adela avoided the debris, which was fortunate, as her order forbade helmets. A tenant that had gotten many a good man killed. SL4 Her axe began to glow as she prayed to Ulric. ”Agreed. It would be a foolish death. Fall back, I will cover the rear. Regroup outside the chamber.”
Adela’s first instinct was to pray to Ulric to bless her axe, but the words stuck in her throat. The witch hunters and the soldiers...it was a repeat of Middenheim. They had come because of her and now they were dead...it seems that when it came to Skaven the past wouldn’t stop repeating itself. The weight of the guilt felt soul crushing in it’s intensity.
”Evil. The Cults of Ulric and Sigmar are in need of an engineer with the bravery required to set explosives to machinations of the Old Dark, and to purify their foulness with cleansing flame. But a true expert is needed, not an explosion-happy apprentice. An engineer who can pinpoint exactly what is needed...down to 0.124 percent.” She said, meaningfully. She spoke with the authority of one used to being listened to, not due to titles, but experience. Dressed as she was in the armor and livery of Ulric, it was a stance easy to take. ”We need access to what lies behind, but we cannot bring harm to the town above. And we cannot lose the clues that may lie within, so that we might track down and purge those responsible for these iniquities. You!” She pointed ”Have been judged worthy to take up this task. Are you willing to stand with the Gods against this threat?” SL3, becomes 5 with attractive
Adela barely kept her balance...but barely was enough.
”The dwarves are well known for their engineering skills, as well as their experience holding back the Old Dark. I, for one, would much sooner trust our allies of old before I allowed a dark wizard to call upon the dark powers. Nor would I want one of the licensed mages to risk damnation when honest gunpowder could do the trick.” Adela said, feeling that just blowing the damn thing up was the most straight forward answer.
”I agree. The Empire stands on faith, steel and gunpowder. One of those three will open the way, I am sure of it.” Adela said with confidence.
”Ulric’s teeth...another life.” Adela said, before saying a prayer over the body. ”Let us ensure that his sacrifice is not in vain.”
SL2 ”As fast as you can. This involves the Cults of Ulric and Sigmar, for we are racing against a threat to this city. You were chosen based on your reputation. I am sure that you can handle this job, and will show proper decorum in both talking of this.” The priestess said.
Adela nodded. She was no sage, and her cult was not known for it’s scholarly pursuits.
Adela sighed. It was expected that some of them would die when facing a threat such as this. ”First thing first, we should take him and these bodies to the Temple of Sigmar. It would be a sign of good faith to allow them to dispose of the remains. We will need a cart to move them discreetly.” She then looked at their fallen comrade. ”And then he should be taken to the Temple of Morr. He died bravely, and deserves as such.”
Adela looked around, scanning for any more threats. It was just like the Skaven for the leader to hide while the underlings did the work.
You’re presence will he missed. Best of luck to you!
Adela completed her charge just as the assassin attacked. Her momentum carried her into the Skaven and her axe bit deep into it’s exposed back. Further fortified by the power of Ulric, there was little doubt in her mind that the creature was dead.
Thanks for clearing that up about the ones digit. I like the houserule. It makes it a bit more useful (and useful it is right now, just not very useful). —— As for combat, the only issue I see is advantage. It makes combat require SO much bookkeeping. A has +2 Adv, and B has +3, but C was hit so he has +0, and D is at +1, but... Without advantage combat would run MUCH smoother. Personally, here is what I would do: If you win a round in combat against an opponent, then you can take an extra action against *that* opponent at the start of your next round. This can be a feint, a dodge, or a power attack. Any action requires a challenging WS test to accomplish. Feinting gives the enemy -1SL to their defense. Dodging gives you +1SL to your defense. Power Attack gives gives you +1SL to your attack. This way you don’t have the issue of getting +20 advantage for killing a mob of malnourished slaves, you don’t have to keep track of everyone’s advantage, and it allows more player choice in combat...without ensuring that you snowball an opponent.
My biggest bugbear with the system is that only the 10s matter. Having WS69 or 60 makes no difference.
Adela ran forward, chanting prayers to Ulric as she did so. Her axe began to glow with the chill of winter.
”Let us make haste.” Adela said as she ran towards the ambush, fervently praying that they wouldn’t be too late.
Melee WS: 75, SB 5
Furious Assault (Your blows follow one another in quick succession, raining down on your opponents with the fury of Ulric. Once per Round, if you hit an opponent in close combat, you may immediately spend an Advantage or your Move to make an extra attack (assuming you have your Move remaining).) Winter’s Bite (Fel duration, When wielding an axe, it counts as Magical, causes an additional + SL Damage, and any living targets struck must make a Challenging (+0) Endurance Test or gain a Stunned Condition. Further, struck targets lose any Bleeding Conditions as their blood freezes; similarly, attacks from your axe cannot cause any Bleeding Conditions.)
Now washed, so she wasn’t covered in blood and sewer-filth, Adela was dressed in the simple robes of the clergy of Ulric. This included her axe and wolf-cloak. If anything it accentuated her natural charms. As Ubaldo laid out what had transpired, she quietly provided the evidence at the appropriate times. The head of the grey seer. The head of Von Halstadt. The letter of targets that were provided by the skaven. Thus, with the story being told, each detail was immediately supported by physical evidence.
Adela bowed her head and smiled at the high priest. ”Thank you, it is an honor.”
”Skaven.” Adela said, seriously. ”I am Adela von Suderburg, Priestess Captain of the Cult of Ulric. And I am glad that my spectacle drew you out, as my skills are best suited to open combat. The faithful of Sigmar are rightfully to be lauded for their ability to ferret out enemies who hide in shadows. We are all greatly in need of your expertise.” She looked them all in the eyes as she spoke. ”Secular authorities are implicated. Our cults must work together.” ”The crowd got me here safely. Both from them and their allies. Without their cover I’d likely be dead by now. We have evidence. I would be happy to discuss this, but we should not do so here. I would appreciate if we may do so at the Temple of Ulric, so that I may wash the blood off, and report this to my superiors as well.”
Thank you :)
I decided that if you are going to Ulric then you might as well go all out. Also attractive is the best talent. Getting SL9 is huge.
Adela nodded and then strode forward, her head held up high. She had a bloody axe in one hand, her shield on her back and a bloody sack in her other hand. She met anyone who looked at her had their gaze met without guilt. ”People of Nuln! Rejoice! For your city is safe. The Cult of Ulric has rooted out and destroyed a vile cultist who attempted to ally with beast men! The Wolf God protects his own! Rejoice, and walk with me to the Temple of Ulric! Give praise to the Lord of Winter!” —— She kept an eye out for any store that sold strong spirits. Once there she strode up to the merchant and said in a booming voice: ”Ten gold of spirits for those who march with me! It is a time of celebration, for the Light has triumphed this day over the dark! Men of the Empire, raise your voices in Ulric’s name!”
Adela rationalized that skulking would make the guard swarm them, and a fearful populace would make the arrest all the easier. But a Warrior Priestess, covered in blood and leading a swarm of cheering men towards the Temple of Ulric? What Watchman would be foolish enough to stand in the way of that? It would certainly make a response inevitable, but at that point it would be directed against the Church. While many would be wary of making such a scene, she believed in the teachings of Ulric. She refused to be cowed. She refused to hide. She refused to be ashamed. She had done her Lord’s work and would act as such! And while ten gold was half of what she had on her, she was still a noblewoman and a Priestess Captain. The gold could be replaced, but what she wanted was for her crowd to be rowdy, loud, and joyful. Such a spectacle would do wonders for swaying the public’s perception of them.
”Enough waiting. I am a Priestess Captain of Ulric and I will not cower. You may all come with me if you want, but I am going to the Temple. If you wish to go alone, I understand. But meet me there.” She said, boldly, trusting Ulric to watch his own.
”True. Though I believe that we should ensure that we are not criminals first, by heading to the palace and our patron. I would hate to be arrested during our studies.”
”Climb up. I’ll support you from down here.”
”We should get to our patron as quickly as possible. If we tarry then word will get out and we will he wanted criminals.” Adela said, hoping that someone knew how best to accomplish that from where they were.
”Well done! Let’s take everything we can and keep moving. If any but the count knew of this place, then they will inevitably come.”
”Is there really no other way out? In that case we may not have another option.”
With head in one hand and axe in the other, Adela looked almost comical when she stared in shock at the dead majordomo. She prayed that he was guilty in the crimes of the Count, mostly to assuage any guilt. Pushing that aside, she said ”Collect any evidence you can. His heresy and betrayal must be reported.” She then set about wrapping the head in the Count’s cloak, for a less messy method of carrying it.
(1) Yay for 2 attacks
“This isn’t what it looks like!”
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.
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.”
How cross would everyone be if Adela tries to kill the Count? We have no hard proof except for his words. If we arrest him he can recant, and has serious political clout. If we walk away he can have us arrested/killed. But if we stride up to her Highness with the head of a gray seed, the head of the count, and the note/wardstone...well, that is a different story altogether.
”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.
”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?”
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.
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?
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.”
”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.”
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.”
”Second rate...? Not even Sigmar said...” It looked like the vein on her forehead was about to burst. ”Then show me your faith! Ulric stands with me! Can you say the same?!” As she said this her axe exploded with an aura that radiated the chill of winter.
Starting to think killing these fools is as much a benefit to the empire as killing the Skaven
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