Of Murders and Rats

It was then that fate struck. Chance would allow word of our heroes exploits in the Drakwald to reach the ears of the commander of Middenheim’s Militia. So he summoned out three intrepid adventurers to tell him of what has transpired in Untergard and the Drakwald. Impressed, Commander Shultzmann offer’s Ladamere, Heinz and Grudge a job as deputy militiamen, hardly lucrative but more than what they have at the moment. Just as the meeting was coming to a pleasant conclusion, word came in that the good priest of Sigmar, Morten had been viciously murdered within the confines of the Temple itself.

This report would have dire implications for our heroes for it is they who last visited father Morten. The relic that the adventurers delivered has also gone missing. Commander Shultz turns grim and demands an explanation from the three. As would reason be pointed out by our heroes; why would they of all persons, murder and then steal a most holy relic of Sigmar when they delivered said Relic to the murdered priest in the first place. They explained that, one would think that disappearing in the dark woods of the Drakwald with the relic and intent to sell it to the highest bidder some in some obscure border town would be an easier prospect than initiating a conspiracy this grand a scale therefore risking death at the hands of a vindictive Inquisition. Our heroes were fortunate for the Commander was a wise and just man, and would not let himself be blindly led by circumstance. He then deputized and tasked the three to investigate the matter and, hopefully, clear their names. Although their argument was beyond any reason to doubt, people- specially the Cult of Sigmar, would demand a scapegoat and a burning or two.

Investigating the Temple, specifically in the quarters of the dead father Morten, they find numerous clues as to the identity of the perpetrator. The room was left untouched since by order of the town Militia. The body of the Morten lies seated on his wooden stool but slumped on the desk. The window behind him lay open and a good view of the Collegium Theologica is to be seen from here. Around the desk where the priest’s remains are slumped lies scattered parchment, all suspiciously blank. There is no trace of the Relic.

Upon examination, they quickly discover that Father Morten was felled by a poisoned dart from a blowgun. Rummaging through the blank papers, Heinz sees a parchment with what seems to be faint impressions of writing. Ladamar also discovers scratches on the windowsill, scratches not made by anything human and in, fact more rat-like! Peering outside the window, the dwarf also sees what seemed to be like trail marks from a puddle of mud in the streets below. They quickly investigate the tracks and discover that these were not of human origin. They scratch a stick of charcoal on the blank sheet of paper and discover that Father Morten was writing about the relic at the time of his death. Nothing more can be found in the scene of the crime.

They return to Shultzmann and tell him of their discoveries. Shultzmann ponders about these and leads the band to a dank underground room in the City Watch headquarters; here can be found thousands of scrolls wherein records of previous crimes are written on them. He produces three scrolls of three recent crimes that are linked to deaths from poisoned darts. The first victim was an unidentified man whose remains were found in the Ostwald district of Middenheim, The second, a dwarf in league with the city engineers’ guild and the third was a Watchman found dead near the Collegium Theologica. The commander also informs them that perpetrators of these murders are suspected to be Skaven, ancient and vile ratmen who serve the Dark Powers and whose ultimate goal is to topple human civilization. The high council of Middenheim has kept mum about the Skaven and as far as the general populace is concerned, they do not exist lest the knowledge of these ratmen become public and cause widespread panic and hysteria among Middenheim’s dwellers. The next logical step was for our heroes to investigate and, hopefully, find leads out of these seemingly random murders.

Middenheim

The refugees of Untergart, led by the three brave and merry adventurers, arrive in Middenheim. They are shocked to see that the great city has been greatly scarred by the siege that Archaon has laid on it. Below the Faulchlag, mass graves of those who perished in the conflict lay open, still awaiting more as the local militia cleanses the surrounding countryside of the corpses of the slain. Up the viaducts, an endless line of refugees from all over the empire crowd the gates of Middenheim awaiting entry into the city.

So it came to pass that the folk of Untergard settled, albeit temporarily, inside the walls of Middenheim. Heinz the human saw fit to return the holy Relic of Sigmar to the local temple. The city was great and the multitude of refugees that mar the streets makes it all the more easier to be led astray. But fortune was with the band and so they met the City Watchman called Wulfgar who was more than willing to accompany them to the Temple of Sigmar.

Upon arrival at the Temple of Sigmar, the company meets the devout but cheerful (if not generous, as they saw later) Father Morten. He sees the Relic and is astonished at the craftsmanship saying that this, without a doubt, is of Dwarfen origin. The relic is an image of Sigmar painted on wood and framed by gold and iron. Father Morten also implies that this could very well be drawn from life. He generously compensates the company with gold crowns and offers other future assistance if the band wishes so. But alas, fate is not on the side of the devout of Sigmar and this will be that last time that the good father will be seen alive in this tale.

The Beginning

It is the Year 2523, counted in the years of the Imperial calendar. Two thousand five hundred twenty-three years after the most holy Sigmar founded the Empire. A year since the dread time known as The Storm of Chaos wherein the Everchosen, Lord of the End-Times Archaon amassed a great army of Northmen, Daemons and other fell host to invade the Empire and desecrate the ever-burning flame of Ulric, god of battle. All seemed lost as the host of Chaos ravaged the countryside and laid siege on the great city of Middenheim. But alas, a Chosen of Sigmar has risen to the challenge and marched forth to do battle against the malevolent forces of Archaon. Victory was achieved and, for a time, the forces of Chaos were broken and driven back from the Empire.

The storm of war has but just receded but its shadow is still cast upon the land hanging ominously like a fell stalker eyeing an unwary prey. Throughout Middenland, settlements have been decimated and towns have been pillaged but are now slowly recovering. The people of the empire are steadfast in their drive to bring back the former glory of their land. But those minions of Chaos still lurk in the great forest of Drakwald and the remnants of Archaon’s army are still around; hiding in secret corners unseen by those unwilling to pry the unknown.

In the once vibrant town of Untergard, a fellowship of three adventurers has gathered. The Dwarf Grudge Mcfist – a professional pit fighter by trade but has seen hard times, Heinz a follower and supporter (but hardly a soldier) of the Altdorf Regiment who saw fit to stay in the Middenlands and seek fortune in this province and Landren an Elven Kithband warrior whose origin is still shrouded in mystery. Three souls who, despite a growing hatred for each other, decided to band together and seek adventure and possibly fame in this war-torn land.

An imminent beastman invasion of Untergart forces the local populace to flee their hometown and seek shelter in the Great City of the White-Wolf. But they know they must cross the dark and foreboding Drakwald forest and risk the perils that lurk in its dark recesses. They turn to the three adventurers for aid and accompaniment in their journey to Middenheim.

The trek was not without peril. In one instance their priest companion; Father Dietrich met an untimely end by falling into a pit of spikes; impaling himself and dying a slow painful death. But before he could usher his final breath, he hands out an ancient Relic of Sigmar to Hienz demanding an oath to safely deliver the relic to Temple at Middenheim. The significance of this relic would not be revealed until fate greets them when they reach the City of the White Wolf.

What the Hell is This?

First of all, this is the product of boredom and an overly active imagination. This blog is to chronicle my WFRP campaign as it progresses. I have tried this in many RPG's and have, many times, failed. The whole point of this exercise is to create a sort of an archive for games that I/we/whoever has ran in the past. Something that we can look back on and remember with a fond laugh ( assuming the continued existence of the internet and these blogger servers). To my players, feel free to post your after-session comments, questions, suggestions and what not. I would like to think that this medium (especially after that fiasco with invision wherein 3 years of campaign material was deleted for no apparent reason) will suit us better than a forum. Well most off all, this is the packrat in me that's moving this along. I hate disposing of things. My room is an odd collection of mementos gathered over a significant period of time. Also, if you check my MMORPG characters' inventories you will find the same collection of oddities that I cannot seem to part with. Same goes with memories and experiences...I loathe having to leave them gathering dust in the recesses of my greying mind- with this, I do hope it helps...