The Enemy Within - Session 131

22/12/25

Into the Mountains

The party decide to stay at Dunfurter another day to give Norgrim more time to recover from his broken ribs. Mid morning a wagon, a carriage bearing the Karzburdger coat of arms, 4 mounted soldiers and a messenger arrive at the Castle. Kepler Karzburdger is here with his wife. Magdalena accosts them in the great hall, introducing herself to his wife, Lady Titia. Kepler is mostly cordial, there are no blackmail threats but he doesn't stay chatting for long. 

Farfordda meets with one of the other travelers in the castle garden - Imelda Van Haffner, Green Wizard of the Hochland College of Sorcery, she traveled to Holzbek with Count Von Ludenhof, they had seen though not spoken to her at the reading of the will. Apparently Kepler had brought her here along with the 4 soldiers to collect the hunting dogs bequeathed to the Count. She is eager to hear what Farfordda can tell her, obviously knowing that he and the gang rescued Ada and asks him about Middenheim where she hears they have been. 

Farfordda tells her of the ratmen, and their cult in the city - how they went there to track down their friend Blitzen, but he had been captured by them as was their friend Professor Eunice. The nearby village of Unterfaus was abducted by these ratmen just a few days ago and now the party intend to travel to an old dwarf hold in the mountains occupied by the ratmen to rescue their friends. It is likely the ratmen will threaten Hochland too before long. 

Imelda says she had intended to try employ their skills for her master, to slay Gazrin One-horn, but it sounds like they are busy enough. She can tell Farfordda little of Holzbek save that she knows Lady Eisenhal left and tensions in the town run high. She then inquires more directly after Middenheim having heard queer things about it lately. Farfordda tells her the aristocracy have been thoroughly infiltrated by a chaos cult, that the so called Inquisition is effectively an arm of it and that they murdered both the elfs at court, relating which detail upsets him. Once more in charge of himself he asks Imelda if she will help teach him some magic and she consents, so they spend the remainder of the day at work in the garden (learning Entangle). 

Amos spends his day in the library, vainly scouring books for useful information on the mountains and Norgrim takes it easy, attempting to train his dog in between resting. 

Magdalena seeks out Meyer - he tells her the latest from the town; Lady Eisenhal managed to turn the wealthy against Magistrate Allman, making out that it was her dereliction which endangered the lives of the Holzbeks - these agitators in her town that she had failed to deal with. Lady Eisenhal left for Sohk with Duke Immelscheid and his troops days ago. Von Reiter has managed to capture one of the arsonists - part of some revolutionary group from Middenheim. Tensions in the town are high. Meyer will leave for there as soon as he feels Ada is settled in here. Among those who arrived today is Frau Martinez the Estalian housekeeper of Holzbek Manor, until he can find Ada a tutor he will entrust her with Ada's care. 

Magdalena tells him she and her associates intend to head for the ruins of the Two Fingers, they plan to take on the ratmen who abducted the inhabitants of Unterfraus and seek useful intelligence to that end. Meyer warns her that his lack of knowledge regarding the Two Fingers is a reflection of how deadly it might be. He wishes she would stay and lead forces to help stabilize the region, he needs the Unterfraus mine producing ore again as soon as possible. Perhaps they could destroy the great Orc monument on their journey to the Two Fingers, that would boost the morale of the people? 

She warns him do not try resettle Unterfraus without serious military force, and that destroying a symbol would offer only false hope. They will return here after visiting the Two Fingers before heading for the ratmen stronghold. She asks him to have a note sent to Oberholzbek informing any dwarves who arrive there that Magdalena and her dwarves can be reached here at Dunfurter. As she makes to leave he tells her that he knows she is a wanted fugitive in Middenheim and while others might seek to use that fact against her there is nothing but gratitude and respect for her here in the Barony of Holzbek.

Finally they leave on the cold morning of the 8th Nachgeheim. Magdalena in parting from Ada sets her a task to train Norgrim's dog while she is gone, she expects to return in a week. Then they ride out. They make good time, following the long glen north east up into the mountains, then dismount to turn north west over the rough route that leads up behind what the Oberholzbekers call 'The Shoulder'. It is near dusk when they make camp at the shallow cave their goblin prey camped at a two weeks ago.

Next morning they head on, it is cold and damp and mist gathers thickly, obscuring all. They hope to reach the head of the Kleiflusch valley by dark and camp in the forest a few miles east of the Two Fingers. Mid morning they spy the route which curves off around the Shoulder to the Red Tusk monument, and although they can see neither that or the peaks around them Farfordda and Amos spy clear fresh tracks, coming from the direction of the monument and traveling in the same direction as they. Seven Orcs passed this way an hour or so ago... 

The Enemy Within - Session 130

 13/12/25

Deliberations

 We rewind to Magnus Rest at the start as Karwel got forgotten about last session. Farfordda says his goodbyes to him and they agree to leave messages for each other here at the inn (addressed to Thindra) and Coppershiners in Middenheim, just in case. Before heading on for Dunfurter they also hear from the other travelers present that the Graf's huntsman, the elf Allavandrel, was killed in a hunting accident - some say it wasn't an accident, that really he was a spy for Marrisith the Queen of Laurelorn.

We snap forwards to the morning of the 5th. The party awake at Dunfurter, Magdalena from disturbing dreams that rob her of a restful night. At breakfast Meyer tells them a rider arrived from the inn a short while ago, apparently a hunter arrived at Unterfraus yesterday to find the village empty, there were many signs of struggle but only a few corpses. As the party plan to weather out the next day or two here at the castle, recovering and planning, Meyer sends Ulman the hunstman and a posse of men-at-arms to Unterfraus to investigate, brother Holsenheimer goes with them to perform last rites.

Otherwise the party mostly rest, Magdalena plays with Ada a little and receives some healing (from the housekeeper), Amos studies his book on engineering and has the blacksmith alter a chain-mail hauberk to fit him, Thindra hangs with the blacksmith and Norgrim rests and moves as little as possible to speed recovery of his broken ribs. They weigh up their options, should they head straight up the Taub to try reach Karak Skygg, maybe trying to find Ingrid the hermit near the ford, or make for the ruins of the Two Fingers first? Farfordda consults the Tarot; is Mariposa at the Two Fingers? Maybe. 

The following afternoon Ulman and crew return from Unterfraus with some gruesome details. The body of the Ulrican priest was found tied to the altar, likely tortured to death. In a barn an upturned cart looked like it had been used as some kind of operating table, a gelatinous pile of eyes being found beneath it and 2 dead, eyeless villagers in a corner. 

From the tracks it looked like the villagers had been herded into the mine, then the main tunnel demolished with explosives. A bloodied skaven knife was found in one of the houses. Meyer knows little of the Skaven, to him they're just another brand of Beastmen and Unterfraus is just another problem on his teetering plate of troubles.

Farfordda consults the Tarot again, once more asking if Mariposa is at the Two Fingers. This time he gets what he considers to be a more conclusive answer - no. The party decide they will travel there regardless, perhaps they can find something to aid them with their infiltration of Karak Skygg. 

From the castle Farfordda manages to acquire a bear trap, 2 fighting nets and 3 flasks of oil. Tomorrow, 7th Nachgeheim they will head into the mountains...

The Enemy Within - Session 129

 6/12/25

Back on the Road 

Looking through the bedroom windows, back into the inner courtyard, Farfordda can see the fire is spreading throughout the ground floor. He leaves the room and drops down into the courtyard as one of the Eisenhal guards rushes in - where is sir Vaksman, where is Ada! 

Magdalena takes a sheet from the bed and uses it to lower Ada down to Farfordda. He carries her out into the yard where Lady Eisenhal calls out in apparent relief. Amos is up now and has entered the courtyard with his crossbow - Farfordda tells him look after Ada and goes back for Magdalena. Amos blocks Lady Eisenhal from getting to hug her niece. 

Another Eisenhal guard barks wheres Vaksman at Magdalena as she climbs down into the courtyard - up there she gestures. The building is well ablaze now, some of the dozen horses in the courtyard have panicked and fled. Bells ring out as townsfolk join the fight against the blaze - though shouts of burn the nobles are heard sporadically.

Magdalena tells Lady Eisenhal to go to the Meissen house - then heads to the temple of Verena with Ada and Amos,Von Reiter passes them on his way to the blaze - she gives him a quick summary of what actually happened. Farfordda takes the remaining horses to the stables at the Roaming Pint whilst a bleary eyed Norgrim and Thindra get their possessions out of the burning building.

At the temple of Verena Magdalena relates the story to Meyer, that she dispatched Sir Vaksman after he attempted to murder her and Ada. He says Sir Vaksman would never do anything without Lady Eisenhal's say so, maybe says Magdalena, but Elena seemed distressed on Ada's account. Farfordda arriving at the temple proposes that the key question is whether Vaksman started the fire or merely took advantage of it. Meyer thinks on balance that they should still leave the town first thing in the morning and get Ada to the safety of the castle. He heads out to the fire to find Von Reiter. 

Frau Allman arrives shortly after Meyer leaves - Amos had dropped by to get her on his way back to the fire. Magdalena tells her story of the night for the third time (once more leaving out the details of Farfordda's spellcasting), making no accusations. The implication of Lady Eisenhal's knight attempting to murder Ada could not be more serious. Farfordda asks who else at the meal the other night would have had reason to try murder Ada? Could Vaksman have been in league with another? Everyone at the meal would have backed Middenheim over Hochland. With Meyer and the party leaving in the morning it will all be left to Magistrate to deal with.

Amos returns to the temple with Norgrim, Thindra and their gear. Magdalena receives some first aid and crashes out. Norgrim and Thindra head back into the night to help fight the fire - the building burns to the ground, but the fire does not spread.

Before sleeping Farfordda consults the Tarot. Was Lady Eisenhal involved in the attempted murder? Maybe.

After a couple of hours sleep they are roused by the temple staff. A simple breakfast is laid out and a carriage and wagon have been prepped for the journey. Norgrim's injuries are attended by a temple acolyte while Farfordda drops by the Roamer's pint to speak with Karwel. He tells him about the attempted murder. Karwel is clearly concerned and tells Farfordda that he has learned the murder the other night, of Reinaut Scheffers, was almost certainly performed by a Middenheim spy, likely on orders from Baron Todbringer. Does this change his willingness to go help the Baron? He will still go given the severity of everything that has been relayed to him, but he is less sure and perhaps will not tarry for long. 

Shortly after sunrise the party leave for Dunfurter. Magdalena travels in the carriage with Ada, Meyer and Brother Holsenheimer, the Dwarves ride on the outside, a wagon brings supplies for the castle, 20 mounted men-at-arms accompany them and Farfordda scouts ahead. 

They reach Magnus Rest by late afternoon, the Inn has resupplied since last they were here and having been warned of the imminent arrival of Steward Meyer and Lady Ada's party food and drink await them. Farfordda takes the opportunity to speak with his compatriots in private, telling them what he learned from the Strigany, that something will be coming for him on Grunsnacht. 

The Innkeep accosts them at their table saying he suspected they were all together, so they rescued Lady Ada, eh? You kept that quiet - what happened with young Axel, did you find him? His father's funeral took place yesterday.

Norgrim is reunited with his dog Carnac, Thindra loads up their wagon and they all leave for Dunfurter, making good time they arrive an hour after dark on 4th Nachgeheim, its is cold and windy on the edge of the mountains... 

The Enemy Within - Session 128

23/11/25

Festag night's alright...

 Just before the starting bell rings a weasel faced thug leans down to Norgrim and whispers - there's half a crown in it if you throw the fight in the fifth, gesturing up to where a jowly woman, flanked by 2 related looking thugs, smiles down at him from the floor above. Luther the minstrel has the crowd worked up into a frenzy, Thindra well and truly hammered again sways in his corner as support. Norgrim, Norgim! ding ding, round 1... 

It is a close fight, he loses the first, suffering a cracked rib before Farfordda intervenes to call the round, then comes back in the second, concedes the third and fourth but KO's Jolly Joss to win in the fifth. Much cheering.

Farfordda collects his winnings, reluctantly paid out to him in the form of 20/240 and heads back to town, also carrying Amos' borrowed book on engineering to leave them unencumbered for the celebrations. His sixth sense tingles and he sprints for the gates to avoid a heavy local after his coins. He deposits the book at Holzbek Manor then pays a visit to The Roamers Pint where he manages to trade in many of the pennies for shillings before dropping in on Karwel the wizard. 

Karwel tells him he is intending on setting out for Altdorf tomorrow, Farfordda asks what came of uniting the north? There is more chaos at play than he can deal with alone, it is better to report in. He managed only the briefest of conversations with Baron Todbringer before he left for Middenheim, interestingly the Baron was not skeptical about the Skaven. 

Farfordda impresses on him that he should instead make for Middenheim to aid the Baron as he fears for his safety. Check in on the Baron and the Wizards Guild, and tell the Inquisition about the human, beastmen-with-rat-head cult, based in The Drowned Rat, with its kingdom of tunnels below the city. Turn enemy against enemy. 

Ok says Karwel, he will drop by Middenheim before heading south. What if you manage to rescue your friends, what then? We'll meet or send message to Coppershiners. Karwel tells him Janna, one of the only people Farfordda trusts in the city was heading for Altdorf too as far as he knows. He will travel north with them at dawn then - just as he leaves Farfordda mentions that the Skaven have some plan they intend to prosecute on Grunsnacht next- how do you know this? Because one of the cult who attacked them and murdered his companion Uhtred had a note saying so...

Back at The Pit the dwarves celebrate, Norgrim gets drunk, Thindra is already smashed and Amos buys some weirdroot... they manage to leave before getting into any more trouble, though not before Valeria the ale merchant buys them drinks - she had put 3/- down on Norgrim and has stocked up on Taalwater to drive south for Altdorf tomorrow. 

They arrive back at Holzbek Manor at the same time as Farfordda and shamble off to sleep in the coach house. Farfordda takes first watch with the guards. 

Magdalena wakes to the sounds of shouting and screams, someone is pounding on the door she has wedged shut and she can smell smoke. Stand back she shouts and opens the door - Sir Vaksman rushes in, Ada, Gilbert!  

Downstairs Farfordda hears shouting from within and opens the door - a servant comes running through the courtyard yelling Fire! He can feel the heat coming from behind the kitchen door and see the flicker of flames through the windows to the courtyard - he directs the guards to wake the dwarves and get water, and prevents the panicking housekeeper from opening the smoking door. 

Magdalena grabs a pillow to douse in water for Ada, then suffers a sword blow from behind - Sir Vaksman has pushed Gilbert out the door and lunges at her again. She lands a blow on his arm, then suffers another herself, to the face. 

Gilbert drops to the courtyard, followed by Lady Eisenhal who lands badly. Farfordda rushes forwards to help, more servants flee the building. Where are Ada and Magdalena? she looks up, shouting Ada! Farfordda takes out Herzen's wand and teleports into the children's room. Both Vaksman and Magdalena are shocked at his sudden appearance by her side, he reaches forward, casting sleep on Vaksman, and Magdalena runs the knight through as he falls...

Its not quite an hour into Nachgeheim 4, Farforrda, Magdalena and Ada are in the burning building and the dwarves are waking to the screams and cacophony through an alcohol induced haze in the coach house...

The Enemy Within - Session 127

14/11/25

The Will

The reading of the Will provides no surprises - Ada is to inherit the Barony and assume the title on her 14th birthday, Steward Meyer is to rule in her stead until then and provide her with a tutor in the meantime. 

Meyer says he is willing to speak with any of those present at the Merchant's Hall in an hour and implores them to come together, saying the Baron's death should not be in vain and that Ada's heritage is not in question. 

Count Ludenhof announces that he will pay a 50 gold crown reward for the head of Gazrin One-horn, that his friend should be avenged. Baron Todbringer says he must leave for Middenheim and Kepler Karzburdger acuses him of fleeing as he had Renault Scheffers murdered! Suddenly everyone is talking at at once. 

Magdalena takes Ada and Gilbert back to the house with Jean Saunier, agreeing to bring them to the meeting at the Merchants Hall shortly.

Amos manages to get the clock in the temple of Verena working for 1pm, then heads out to The Pit, but a commotion on the other side of the gates has led to the guards preventing entry or exit, so he makes his way to the Roamer's Pint to join Farfordda and Norgrim. He arrives shortly after Taciana Petraska, who having spotted Farfordda sitting at the window has dropped by to tell him the Strigany are breaking camp and intend to leave Holzbek by sunset. From the window they see Baron Todbringer leaving the town.

The various noble parties convene at the Merchants hall to argue their cases. Lady Eisenhal that Ada should stay with them in Sohk as Dunfurter is no place to raise a young Baroness, Elector Count Ludenhof that she should be raised at his castle in Hergig for the same reasons, plus she can get to know her betrothed then too. Magdalena weighs in with what turns out to be a seemingly acceptable compromise; Ada should be raised at Dunfurter but the Eisenhal's will provide her with a tutor and the Ludenhofs a troop of soldiers to protect her. 

The Duke of Immelscheid is called away during the debate - the east gate has been locked down as men of his were in a scuffle with the Freelancers and a sergeant was killed. Meyer manages to have a brief chat with Magdalena, asking that she comes with them and stays close to Ada until they reach Dunfurter. The plan is to leave at dawn tomorrow.

Farfordda and the Dwarves leave the confines of the town walls for the Oststrasse, Amos picking up a copy of the Holzbek Herald on route - its piece on the Baron's Will prints the details and Meyer's speech verbatim with almost nothing in the way of commentary or opinion. 

As the Dwarves go for a drink in The Pit, Farfordda visits the Strigany camp, which is in the process of packing up. Petru Uriah tells him things are getting too fractious here, they are moving on before they start getting the blame for all the ills of the town. Farfordda presents him with his share of the Oberholzbek glimmer-lead as a gift and asks that he pass word back to Farfordda's kin via his Strigany confreres of old who know them; that he has spent the past while fighting the forces of chaos and that should he survive this coming Grunsnacht he can be found at the Eonir settlement near Altdorf. Taking a not-so-subtle subtle hint Uriah gifts Farfordda a bottle of Dreamwine and then they haggle over potions. 2 Sun stones (Farfordda & Norgrims) and a few gold crowns are exchanged for a Panacea Universalis and a Draft of Forms. They say their goodbyes and Uriah gifts Farfordda a lucky charm as they part.

When they return to the town Amos drops by the print works, he found another copy of the seditious pamphlet at The Pit and comparing it with the type on the Holzbek Herald is not entirely sure if it was printed here. The printer claims he would never let such a thing be printed, it looks like a Middenheim job to him. Amos tries to pass on some engineering tips about the machinery before he leaves.

It is time for the funeral rites of Baron Holzbek. Magdalena attends the service at the temple of Sigmar with Elena and Ada, while the others join the crowds in the town square outside. Fog gathers as the sermon reaches its climax and the Baron's body is carried out by Von Reiter and his household guard to the chanting of a Sigmarite dirge. 

Brother Holsenheimer speaks on behalf of Morr, then Sister Garner on behalf of Verena and finally Wolf-born Heinlein on behalf of Ulric. Steward Meyer lights the Pyre and the body burns as the sun sets. Farfordda with his Second Sight and Amos with his glasses can see the twisting colours of Dhar rise up in the smoke as the corruption burns.

 Once back at Holzbek Manor Magdalena takes up position in Ada's room - after asking Elena where is Sir Vaksman, he's been sorting out travel arrangements all afternoon apparently. Magdalena stresses to Ada that even though Dunfurter might not be as fancy as some castle in Sohk it will be an easier life than growing up on a farm in the shadow of the Middle Mountains. She then jams the door shut and settles down for the evening.

Norgrim and Farfordda make for The Pit, time for Norgrim Reaper vs Jolly Joss Volker - well it will be after the first fight, where Tyson Eisenmenger absolutely destroys Waldron Jaekel. Farfordda turns a few heads by putting down 1 GC on Norgrim, the odds are even.

Amos turns up just in time for the starting bell - he dropped by the temple of Verena to receive Sister Garner's thanks for fixing the clock and borrows a book on engineering saying he'll leave it at Dunfurter.

Its 9pm, Festag, 3rd Nachgeheim, damp and foggy outside, but hot and sweaty in The Pit, packed to the gunnels and heaving with chanting and stamping as the starting bell rings... 

The Enemy Within - Session 126

7/11/25

A Word to the Wise

Farfordda pauses before leaving Karwel's room - saying that there is more he would say if he knew he could trust him and that he really needs to speak to Baron Todbringer. He descends the stairs to the bar but all is quiet, no one is about. He sits and waits, the innkeeper surfaces to lock the place up. Farfordda asks him about the drunks who were sat at the table in the corner - apparently they left a while ago.

On the way back to Holzbek Manor he hears the Holzbek troops moving into the town and approaches two watchmen warming themselves at a brazier. This was found in The Pit earlier he tells them and hands over the seditious pamphlet, but a poor reaction roll combined with illiteracy results in the pamphlet being dropped in the flames and being told to make himself scarce.

He arrives back shortly before Von Reiter, who tells Farfordda and Amos (who's standing guard) that the plan is to prevent anyone in uniform, or anyone bearing arms entry to the town for the next 24 hours. Magdalena takes the second guard shift and Farfordda the last, waking to remember Mariposa finding him in his dreams.

By 8am the house and yard are full of the sounds of servants preparing breakfasts and hot water and Elena shouting for the tailor and where is Jean Saunier. Magdalena sits in the dining hall and greets Ada when she arrives. The girl has no idea of what is to happen today - Magdalena tries to explain but Ada gets upset, her father died a week ago, killed by bandits... Magdalena speaks with Lady Eisenhal in her room, she explains that she will accompany them to the reading of the will, Elena does not contradict her, saying the carriage will take them just before 12. Amos chats briefly with Ada and her cousin in the yard before they get chased up to get ready. Amos asks Gilbert does he not resent losing his inheritance, perhaps he can be Ada's advisor?

Farfordda and Magdalena head to the Roamer's Pint to speak with Baron Todbringer. They are shown up to his room, Magdalena does the introductions and Farfordda relates to him their fears about Middenheim. 

He tells them the Purple Hand (who he has heard of) have infiltrated the aristocracy, he believes they have some way of mimicking faces (which they acquired from Wittgenstein, the castle that collapsed into the Reik), that some sort of 'doppelganger' has replaced his father and others. That Rallane and other faithful members of the court have been murdered. 

Todbringer mentions that this new Inquisition has caught some conspirators, that they are on the case. Farfordda says not to trust them, the chief inspector is some sort of fraud. The Baron says come to Middenheim with me and we can deal with this evil together, no we are wanted in Middenheim, we are known enemies, wanted for 'consorting with dark powers' - also we have an even more serious and urgent threat. The Baron is incredulous that anything could be more important. 

He asks who do they trust in Middenheim - Allavandrel the huntsman and Jana Ebenauer the wizard. He intends to ride for Middenheim after the reading of the will and thanks them for their warning.

They head back to Holzbek Manor, with a hungover, breakfasted Norgrim in tow. Although still foggy the main square is filling, people gather at the temple of Sigmar to pay their last respects to Baron Holzbek while a pyre is being built in the center of the square.

Amos goes to the Temple of Verena to see about fixing the clock - a young acolyte tells him Sister Garner cannot see him, everyone is busy preparing for the reading of the will. He enters anyway, climbs the tower stairs and sets about the repair.

Back at the house Magdalena gets ready, they hear the Duke of Immelsheid has recently been by, complaining that his troops are being denied entry. Where is Von Reiter! Where is that tailor! Ada, now clad in mourning black is upset - she's starting to understand what is happening. She tells Magdalena she doesn't want to be separated from her cousin and her aunt, she doesn't want to be stuck in a tower like a fairy story princess. Magdalena tells her that as a knight-to-be she must often do things she doesn't want, that she must perform her duty. Somehow this gets through to her, at least for now.

Norgrim and Farfordda visit the Temple of Sigmar, the Baron's body is laid out in an open coffin. Sir Vaksman and many locals huddle in around the coffin, crying and praying. Brother Holsenheimer oversees impassively from an alcove. They retire to the Roamers' Pint, planning to take up window seats so that they can survey the square - Ernst the promoter from The Pit spies Norgrim and enthusiastically tells him to come to The Pit for 7, everyone is eager to see the saviour of Lady Holzbek take on Jolly Joss Volker!

Magdalena travels to the Temple of Verenna in the carriage along with Ada, Gilbert, Lady Eisenhal and Sir Vaksman. Nobles and local dignitaries gather around the great Statue of Verena where Frau Allman and Sister Garner will present the will. Baron Todbringer is here dressed for travel, then there is Elector Count Ludenhoff who Magdalena sees for the first time, draped in regal finery and accompanied his guards and a crooked woman in green. 

Elena scowls when she sees Meyer who simply nods at her. At the last minute Kepler Karzburdger enters - he manages to push his way through to Magdalena who ignores him and whispers supporting words to Ada as he spits out, 'if anything should happen to me everyone will know who you are!' The tolling bell stops for the first time since dawn and Frau Allman begins to read the will. It is midday on the 3rd Nachgeheim and the fog has almost lifted... 

The Enemy Within - Session 125

 31/10/2025

Lockdown

 No sooner do the dwarves and Farfordda enter The Pit than Thindra barfs - tonight's drinking has finally got too much for her and the contents of her guts are now all over the floor. Amos decides the smartest thing to do is shepherd her home. The vomiting has somewhat alerted the bar to their presence though - Domu Toma Petraska says - ah these must be the crew who rescued the wee Holzbek girl. Farfordda greets him in Strigany and Toma buys them drinks. Farfordda says he has a wise Pertu and that he will drop by to see them tomorrow with a gift for the Petraska family. 

Toma's companion at the bar is the fight promoter, he asks if this be Norgrim the pitfighter, aye I used to be. How about you come fight our champ tomorrow - 8pm, 4 shillings for a win plus free entry for you and your friends. Ok says Norgrim but free drinks for me now - 5 Taalwaters. Coming right up. 10 minutes later Norgrim is hammered and disappears into the crowds of the bar while Farfordda turns to Jean Saunier the tutor, and his female companions. He recognises Farfordda from the castle. Farfordda says you must be teaching young Ada, not so far he claims, Farfordda, with some menace impresses upon him that she should be treated well. Then having lost Norgrim heads back to Holzbek house.

Magdalena before leaving the Meissen house chats with the merchant and his family - they ask her how the meal went, who was there, what do they think of the girl? Magdalena essentially says we need to hear the Will and see what Steward Meyer thinks before determining Ada's fate. Anneliese Meissen says she met Lady Eisenhal at a soiree the other night, before the Baron died. Magdalena aks her what was Lady Eisenhal saying about her niece then? Oh she didn't mention her, it was all about Gilbert her son. Aniliese says Holzbek is no place for the girl if the town is allying with Hochland - they are such crude people. Dieter her husband begs to differ, the Baron knew what he was doing and the brother thinks the town could do fine on its own, what with that glimmerlead being found in Oberholzbek.

Finally she heads out into the foggy night with the watchman. She gets to the barracks to hear that Von Reiter is expecting her in the Temple of Verena, so she heads there. She is ushered in by a young girl in a grey gown and shortly after finds Von Reiter eating in a small room off the main hall with Sister Garner and Steward Meyer. 

The Steward thanks Magdalena for all she did at Oberholzbek, Ullman the hunter told him about the giant rat. She plays it down saying the dwarves are prone to exaggerate. Meyer asks her about the situation at Holzbek Manor - she says most of the diners favoured taking Ada to Sohk, but she does not seem in immediate danger. She also mentions that Elena asked the Duke of Immelsheid to bring his troops within the town in case there were any trouble at the reading of the Will. 

Meyer tells Von Reiter bring your men within the walls and seal off the town for the next 24 hours. Magdalena says he should speak with Frau Allman the magistrate before taking such predictably controversial action. He asks her to fetch the magistrate then return to Holzbek Manor and stay close to Ada and make sure she is at the reading of the Will tomorrow. He intends to stay here incognito until the reading. This she does, Frau Allman is clearly exhausted, but gathers herself and is lead to the temple.

Meanwhile back at Holzbek Manor Amos puts Thindra to bed and chats with the guards. A member of the watch shows up - some seditious literature has been found in the taverns of the town, inciting the people to rise up against the aristocracy. Amos tells them that this likely came from a mummer he saw in The Pit - she was part of a troupe ran out of Lindenheim just before Ada's sigmarite disguised abductors were ambushed close by. The guards say they cannot leave their posts, they'll need to wait till Von Reiter returns - but he could always go tell. Amos thinks it wiser to wait here. 

Shortly after Magdalena and Farfordda return. They compare notes and Farfordda heads off to the Roamers pint to find Karwel.

He arrives to find a drunk Norgrim with a couple of Lubrecht thugs trying to cause trouble. Farfordda scoops Norgrim from the situation, and steers him out the room. A thin faced guy in a rush brushes past them glancing at Farfordda as he does so. They reach they courtyard to see Baron Todbringer at the foot of the stairs, deep in clearly troubled thought. As soon as he heads upstairs Farfordda casts Sleep on Norgrim and deposits him in the hayloft. 

He returns to the bar to find the owner beset by the thugs and helps chase them off. The owner introduces himself as Baltzer, and excitedly tells him the inn was reputedly built by a wood elf over 200 years ago. He goes to pour him a wine and Farfordda asks for the bottle and 2 glasses then makes for the stairs. 

This time as he leaves the room he hears a somehow projected whisper in his ear 'we should talk when you're done'. He follows the subtle wisps of magic hanging in the air to face what he took to be 2 drunks in the corner, one is slumped over the table, but the other, a filthy woman wearing an eye patch nods to him. He nods back, tells Baltzer not to throw these two out, then climbs the stairs. 

Soon he is sharing the wine with Karwel Eyrich, a grey wizard from the Altdorf schools of magic. Did you find your Blitzen? No he and another Blitzen knew at the Collegium were captured by enemies, taken underground. Farfordda is evasive and asks Karwel what he has been doing - he was in the north investigating Nordland separatist plots. Farfordda tells him a woman they knew in Middenheim was involved, and arrested. Karwel asks what do you mean by underground? They were taken by human skaven cultists - to Karak Skygg, now they go to rescue them. Karwel says you claim this cult has an operation in Middenheim? Also why would humans consort with Skaven? The woman arrested (Olinda Ketternich) was holding letters for Blitzen, she exposed one of her tavern colleagues as in league with this cult. One of them turned into a skaven - they were attacked by them.

Karwel claims things are improving in Middenheim, this new Inquisition is hunting down all such, the plot against the Graf and the like. In fact he helped out while he was there - he identified the abductor of Rehya Ehrlich as a grey wizard who had been expelled from the Grey Order years ago. He doesn't entirely agree with the mutant stonings, but things are in hand. 

Farfordda says a chaos cult called the Purple Hand have infiltrated the authorities. He is skeptical and starts to get wary and suspicious. Farfordda asks him what he is doing now. He won't say anything specific. His job is fighting to hold the empire together. Just this night a noble was killed in this town - he was a Nordlander envoy from the Gaussers, the people behind the separatist movement. Farfordda tells him if he has any influence with Baron Todbringer to warn him of what he might run into in Middenheim. And you - are you really going to infiltrate some Skaven stronghold? That's suicide. Yes, so if you have any good ideas or help please do let us know. Karwel says he'll send word before he leaves. Its midnight on the 2nd of Nachgeheim and foggy out. 24 hours have passed since Baron Holzbek died...