The party were summoned to an audience with Captain Kessler the following morning. The ignorant locals seem abuzz that history would repeat itself and there is a huge undead force heading towards the town. They fear that there is no Olaus Stichelm to save the town this time around....
Magnus and the dwarf visit Schulmann first. He is still working fervently on the tablet, and promises to have more information for the party when they return the next day.
The party attend the meeting with Kessler, who leads them to meet the Burgomaster of Stromdorf, Philip Addler. He is an unkempt and slovenly gentleman, apparently overcome by some personal turmoil or tragedy. Addler asks the party to find Brother Grabbe, the local Priest of Morr, as he was visited in his dreams by his dear Madriga, who he clutches a picture of while talking to the party. Madriga warned him that all was not well and Addler has taken this as portent of further ill omen.
Taking an advance pament from Addler, the party strike out south west of Stromdorf. Although largely unobservant, perhaps due to their exhaustion and the constant rain, a particularly eagle eyed member of the party notes that they are being followed. Their stalker turns out to be the local village idiot, Waltrout. The dwarf attempts to scare the simple lad in to revealing why he is following the group, but only succeeds in reducing him to a crying wreck.
Arriving at the garden of Morr, Magnus rings the bell but nobody arrives from the garden to greet the party. The servants of justice smell more foul pla is afoot! Bran bravely fords the deep river himself, risking personal injury in the form of several nasty bites from river eels, and brings the boat back for the party, and Waltrout, who the party now seem to have adopted.
The party enter the dark tunnel to the garden of Morr. Bats brush past
them. The darkness seems all consuming. The passage ends in a low doorway that open up to reveal an underground temple with a checkerboard floor. Bran and Magnus shiver. Superstition dictates that it is bad luck to enter the garden of Morr without a priest by one’s side. In the chamber there is an altar decorated with skulls. Searching the stone coffins in the chamber, the group are assailed by three zombies that emerge from their resting place to attack the party. Defeating the zombies and looking to leave in a hurry, to the party’s dismay the metal door is locked and will not yield to Bran and the dwarf’s efforts to move it. Ever resourceful, Bran picks up the stone font from the centre of the room and batters the metal door down.
The party enter the Garden of Morr. Noticing lightning striking a conductor on the top of a building on the other side of the garden, the party wondered if this Ossuary might be the resting place of a second lightning stone, and if this is to blame for the recent undead plague. Making their way through their macabre surroundings, the party also notice the tomb of the hero Olaus Stichelm, of whom the towns folk had spoke. Inspecting the tomb closer, the party find the sepulcher to be empty … no coffin, body or headstone lies within.
Making their way to the building in the corner of the garden, the party are startled as Shaft suddenly cries out as a hand suddenly emerges from the ground. To their horror, the party notice more undead thrusting themselves up from the soil – the whole garden of Morr seems to be coming to life as the long dead corpses wrench themselves from the ground. Making a dash for the building, the party quickly find themselves surrounded and having to fight for their lives once again. Hacking their way through the grasping hordes, Bran and the dwarf determinedly cleave a path for the party through the zombies.
Reaching the Ossuary, the party slam the door on the undead hordes, only to be greeted with fresh danger. The room they have entered is decorated everywhere with bones, including a crest of the emperor composed of bones. In the centre of the room is a huge pile of the things. Having no choice to return outside, the party attempt to proceed down a set of stairs in the room, but their way is suddenly barred by skeletons that begin to form from the bones on the floor, walls and ceiling of the room. However, the skeletons offer very little resistance to the party’s steel, and they quickly dispatch them and head downstairs.
Exploring the basement of the Ossuary, the party eventually locate Brother Grabbe’s living quarters. The priest is lying on the slab, and the hideously decomposed body of a woman, the Burgomaster’s beloved Madriga, appears to be draining the life from him. Madriga mocks the party’s feeble efforts – she is actually the undying necromancer Lazarus Mourn. Before the party can act against this abomination, a huge, armoured skeletal giant steps in to the doorway of the room, barring their entry. It is the animated skeleton of Olaus Stichelm, wielding a great sword and the late hero’s gravestone as a shield. In a titanic clash, Bran falls in battle to the mighty Stichelm, and summoning their last reserves of power, in the name of justice, the Dwarf and Shaft take down the giant.
Mourn/Madriga proves to be little match for the remaining servants of justice and his feeble vessel is quickly dispatched. Magnus’s attention is drawn to a pendant around Madriga’s neck – the party speculate this is perhaps some evil artifact that acts as a vessel for Mourn’s evil power? They vow to investigate it further, with sufficient caution. Perhaps Shulmann can help them? Stichelm’s shield turns out to be similar to the fragment of the lightning stone that the party retrieved from the beastmen not three days hence. Hefting the stone, the party are excited to deliver it to Shulmann and perhaps shed more light on the unfolding mystery. Fortunately, destroying mourn has released the undead hordes from their torment, and the party are able to once again triumphantly return to Stromdorf with fresh tales of valour and justice!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
The Gathering Storm Part 3: Two Rude Awakenings
As the party slept deeply and recovered from their wounds, they were awakened by the sound of marching feet and an excited crowd outside the Thunderwater Inn. Kessler had swiftly rounded up the guilty parties, the Holtz family and Cobblepot, who were marched in to the centre of Stromdorf in iron chains. The servants of justice quickly realised that this was little more than a lynch mob, and although unscrupulous, the Holtz family had actually acted in league with their mutant child to stave off the threat of the beastmen.
Rushing in to the town square and shouldering their way through the baying throng of locals to the front of the crowd, Magnus protested that the family should not be out to death based on the prejudices of the mob. Although heard, the wizard's protests were shouted down by the superstitious locals, and Kessler ordered the death of the conspirators and cohorts of chaos. The head of the Holtz clan demanded trial by combat. It was now the turn of the dwarf with no name to step before the crowd and bravely volunteer. After one last attempt to persuade Holtz of his folly, the two fighters battled to the death with the dwarf emerging triumphant. Following his defeat, the rest of the clan and Cobblepot were hung by the necks. Justice had been done, but not quite in the way that the servants of justice had intended.
However, this was not the last that the servants of justice would know of the Holtz clan. In the dead of that night, the party were awakened by banging on the Thunderwater Inn door. Quickly preparing themselves they ventured downstairs, to be joined by Shaft who had also been staying at the inn. As the inn door buckled, splintered and finally crashed in, a shambling horde poured in to the tap room. Briefly alighted by the muzzle flash of the innkeeper's blunderbuss, the now four heroes stood grimly together as the corpses of the Holtz and Cobblepot were revealed! Animated by some dark necromancy, the corpses were once again put to rest by the combined arrows, axes and magic of the party. Bonded in battle, Shaft and the others vowed to stand together against whatever evil had been awakened.
Emerging in to the town and peering through the dark and rain, illuminated by the now omnipresent lightning was an old, bearded scholar making his way through the town square. This individual turned out to be Professor kopfchen. Kopfchen's anatomical skeleton had also been brought to hideous unlife by the dark power that appeared to have swept over Stromdorf. The dwarf shattered the mocking skeleton with a single swing of his great axe, and the servants, now united together returned to the Thunderwater Inn.
Rushing in to the town square and shouldering their way through the baying throng of locals to the front of the crowd, Magnus protested that the family should not be out to death based on the prejudices of the mob. Although heard, the wizard's protests were shouted down by the superstitious locals, and Kessler ordered the death of the conspirators and cohorts of chaos. The head of the Holtz clan demanded trial by combat. It was now the turn of the dwarf with no name to step before the crowd and bravely volunteer. After one last attempt to persuade Holtz of his folly, the two fighters battled to the death with the dwarf emerging triumphant. Following his defeat, the rest of the clan and Cobblepot were hung by the necks. Justice had been done, but not quite in the way that the servants of justice had intended.
However, this was not the last that the servants of justice would know of the Holtz clan. In the dead of that night, the party were awakened by banging on the Thunderwater Inn door. Quickly preparing themselves they ventured downstairs, to be joined by Shaft who had also been staying at the inn. As the inn door buckled, splintered and finally crashed in, a shambling horde poured in to the tap room. Briefly alighted by the muzzle flash of the innkeeper's blunderbuss, the now four heroes stood grimly together as the corpses of the Holtz and Cobblepot were revealed! Animated by some dark necromancy, the corpses were once again put to rest by the combined arrows, axes and magic of the party. Bonded in battle, Shaft and the others vowed to stand together against whatever evil had been awakened.
Emerging in to the town and peering through the dark and rain, illuminated by the now omnipresent lightning was an old, bearded scholar making his way through the town square. This individual turned out to be Professor kopfchen. Kopfchen's anatomical skeleton had also been brought to hideous unlife by the dark power that appeared to have swept over Stromdorf. The dwarf shattered the mocking skeleton with a single swing of his great axe, and the servants, now united together returned to the Thunderwater Inn.
The Gathering Storm Part 2: Picking Up The Trail
The party returned to town and recovered, mourning the loss of their elf companion and his valiant sacrifice in battle. Little did they know that his elven brethren had also followed his exploits with the servants of justice.
Ever eager to deliver justice to those who conspire against the Empire, the party duly reported the Holtz family and Keila Cobblepot to the head of the local milita, Captain Kessler, who proceeded to has arrest the Holtz's and Cobblepot for treason.
As the three remaining members of the party recuperated from their battle, they were approached by two individuals. A celestial wizard identifying himself as the renowned Niklas Shulmann approached the party for permission to study the lightning stone. Underneath the grime and filth, the stone was inlaid with ornate and archaic Elven runes, perhaps a portion of a map, although the stone was clearly incomplete. Magnus was in doubt as to Shulmann's renown, but he did appear to have some magical acumen, and the party, perhaps somewhat reluctantly conceded that Shulmen was the only one in a position to help them, so handing over the stone. In 2 days Shulmann promised to translate the mysteries of the stone.
The second meeting that day for the party occurred in the local barber surgeons. They were greeted, or rather, accosted by a furious elf who identified himself as Shaft, assigned by's father to follow and watch over his progress. Shaft was furious with the party for allowing his charge to be slain by the beastmen, and for the indignity of dragging his sodden corpse back to Stromdorf through the mud and rain. What would Shaft tell when 's father learned of his fate? Shaft was placated somewhat as Bran, the dwarf and Magnus related their story of 's noble death, defending his companions.
Ever eager to deliver justice to those who conspire against the Empire, the party duly reported the Holtz family and Keila Cobblepot to the head of the local milita, Captain Kessler, who proceeded to has arrest the Holtz's and Cobblepot for treason.
As the three remaining members of the party recuperated from their battle, they were approached by two individuals. A celestial wizard identifying himself as the renowned Niklas Shulmann approached the party for permission to study the lightning stone. Underneath the grime and filth, the stone was inlaid with ornate and archaic Elven runes, perhaps a portion of a map, although the stone was clearly incomplete. Magnus was in doubt as to Shulmann's renown, but he did appear to have some magical acumen, and the party, perhaps somewhat reluctantly conceded that Shulmen was the only one in a position to help them, so handing over the stone. In 2 days Shulmann promised to translate the mysteries of the stone.
The second meeting that day for the party occurred in the local barber surgeons. They were greeted, or rather, accosted by a furious elf who identified himself as Shaft, assigned by
The Gathering Storm Part 1: The Story so Far ...
Following their early triumph at the Grunewald lodge, the servants of justice were approached by a distraught lady. She explained that her merchant husband had gone missing in the town of Stromdorf, a frontier town of the Empire. She feared that her husband had been kidnapped or murdered for his valuable signet ring, which carried much prestige amongst the merchants of The Empire. A less scrupulous person might use the ring to curry favour and gain trust for more nefarious reasons.
Always the champions of the repressed and those in need (as long as there is some coin involved), the party decided to undertake the journey to Stromdorf on behalf of their new employer.
Stromdorf proved to be a particularly sodden and depressing town, permanently under a sheet of heavy rain. Following their arduous journey to Stromdorf by barge, the party gratefully took up residence at the Thunderwater Inn.
Scouring the town for rumours in the hopes of finding the merchants trail, a number of clues added up to suggest that the Merchant had last been seen at the Stewpot Hostelry, his distinctive white horse helping jog the memories of locals. Indeed, locals noted that not many people went to the Stewpot anymore, mostly just the local watch and the occasional local farmer. When questioned, Keila Cobblepot, proprietor of the Stewpot, claimed that the merchant had merely left well before breakfast in the morning after his stay, something she wasn't too surprised about given he was a merchant. The Servants of justice smelled foul play and some burly dwarf based intimidation later, a sobbing Keila Cobblepot spilled the whole story....
The halfling cook had been involved in an insiduous plan to identify lone travellers to a local family of hill dwelling natives known as the Holtz family. The Holtz clan were sacrificing travellers to chaos beastmen who dwelt in the Stromdorf area. After rebuking Cobblepot for her treason, the servants of justice set off to confront the Holtz family and perhaps uncover evidence of the missing merchant.
What greeted the party was the ruins of another homestead belonging to the Eigel family. The evidence showed that they were murdered by the foul beastmen. The party pressed on to the Holtz residence to find the lone survivor of the Eigel clan arguing with the with the Holtz family.
After dealing with the Holtz family, the party learned that the holtz's had a child, Foaldeath. Such was the grotesqueness and severity of his mutations that he was accepted by the local beastmen as a shaman
After a meeting was arranged with Foaldeath, the creature of chaos urged the servants of justice to recover the herd stone of the nearby tribe. A shard embedded in the herd stone seemed to attract lightning, and it was from the power of this artifact that the local tribe grew strong. Once the lightning stone had been captured, he could command the local tribes and thus protect Stromdorf from the rampaging beastmen.
After a bloody battle, the servants of justice retrieved the herd stone from the beastmen. However, it was not without significant loss. was slain in battle by a cruel blow from the beastmen. Overwhelmed by the bestial ferocity of their opponents, the dwarf Bran and his battle brother, the dwarf with no name were dragged unconscious from the forest by Magnus the wizard, along with the lightning stone.
Always the champions of the repressed and those in need (as long as there is some coin involved), the party decided to undertake the journey to Stromdorf on behalf of their new employer.
Stromdorf proved to be a particularly sodden and depressing town, permanently under a sheet of heavy rain. Following their arduous journey to Stromdorf by barge, the party gratefully took up residence at the Thunderwater Inn.
Scouring the town for rumours in the hopes of finding the merchants trail, a number of clues added up to suggest that the Merchant had last been seen at the Stewpot Hostelry, his distinctive white horse helping jog the memories of locals. Indeed, locals noted that not many people went to the Stewpot anymore, mostly just the local watch and the occasional local farmer. When questioned, Keila Cobblepot, proprietor of the Stewpot, claimed that the merchant had merely left well before breakfast in the morning after his stay, something she wasn't too surprised about given he was a merchant. The Servants of justice smelled foul play and some burly dwarf based intimidation later, a sobbing Keila Cobblepot spilled the whole story....
The halfling cook had been involved in an insiduous plan to identify lone travellers to a local family of hill dwelling natives known as the Holtz family. The Holtz clan were sacrificing travellers to chaos beastmen who dwelt in the Stromdorf area. After rebuking Cobblepot for her treason, the servants of justice set off to confront the Holtz family and perhaps uncover evidence of the missing merchant.
What greeted the party was the ruins of another homestead belonging to the Eigel family. The evidence showed that they were murdered by the foul beastmen. The party pressed on to the Holtz residence to find the lone survivor of the Eigel clan arguing with the with the Holtz family.
After dealing with the Holtz family, the party learned that the holtz's had a child, Foaldeath. Such was the grotesqueness and severity of his mutations that he was accepted by the local beastmen as a shaman
After a meeting was arranged with Foaldeath, the creature of chaos urged the servants of justice to recover the herd stone of the nearby tribe. A shard embedded in the herd stone seemed to attract lightning, and it was from the power of this artifact that the local tribe grew strong. Once the lightning stone had been captured, he could command the local tribes and thus protect Stromdorf from the rampaging beastmen.
After a bloody battle, the servants of justice retrieved the herd stone from the beastmen. However, it was not without significant loss.
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