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Continues later in 2010.
| Episode 72 |
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Saxifrage takes a tired Tilly off to get a room for the night. Dervalk explains that Iago was injured in a fight in the Gisoreaux Gap, and will be following along soon. Half a dozen Black Caps enter the Inn, accompanied by a portly looking noble. They surround the table. The noble, whom Dervalk identifies as Jaan van de Kuypers, rudely explains he wants everyone to go with him to a back room for a talk. He doesn't explain why. Orpheus demands to know why, and on whose authority, but doesn't really get an answer. The party are hustled into a back room by the watchmen, and are sat down at the far end of a long table. Van de Kuypers questions everyone about the time in Bretonnia. His mood remains surly. He slaps Hans, and head butts Dervalk. Eventually he and the Black Caps leave, and four Elves enter. The tallest Elf introduces himself, and apologises for the way the party have been treated, and then explains everything... I am Kethil Grislane. I speak with the permission of the Exarch of the Marienburg Elves, Tarmonagh din-Ciobahn. But, more importantly, I act with authority from Ulthuan itself, and from a direct order by Finubar the Seafarer, Prince of Lothern and eleventh Phoenix King. I am here to take the Brass Skull from you. We know a little of your quest to Bretonnia, and I can only guess the dangers you faced to regain it. My brother, Amber, met Avorn Hathol when he passed through Marienburg, but I do not see him here...? We also know of the second party that Johann Esmer sent to Bretonnia. And we also know of Gunther Weiss. We know he is descended from Kazron Gorespite, who, two hundred years ago, found the skull in the chaos wastes, claimed it as his own, and brought his warband into the Empire. They raped, and pillaged, and destroyed, and thus Gorespite's bloodline lives on. Kazron Gorespite fell in battle, defeated by Magnus the Pius. The skull was hidden in a tomb in the drakwald forest, which is where it was found. The Skull contains half of the essence of a Daemon named Xathrodox – The Red Slayer. Xathrodox guided Kazron Gorespite – the Daemons life force reaching out from the skull, and living again through a Champion of Khorne. The Daemon withdrew into the skull when Gorespite was killed, but it took some of the essence of Gorespite with him. This is why Weiss is such a danger. Xathrodox knows his blood, senses he could live again, and that perhaps Weiss could release him. So I must take the skull, before Weiss finds it. It's not safe here in The Old World. You don't understand what you'd be dealing with if he ever took it for himself. Not only would Weiss be able to use it as a totem to gather the scattered remains of The Storm of Chaos, but Xathrodox could use Weiss to do something that Kazron Gorespite never did for him. The other half of Xathrodox's essence is imprisoned in another artifact, known as The Chalice of Wrath. We do not know where it is. We fear that Xathrodox can sense it, and could lead Weiss to it. We believe that Johann Esmer has some idea where The Chalice has been hidden, but he has been taken from Marienburg by agents of his rival Volkmar The Grim, who, as you know, is once again Grand Theogonist of Sigmar. We do not know where Johann Esmer is, either, or even if he is still alive. Esmer believed that he would be able to destroy The Skull. He is wrong. Only the high mages in Lothern can perform a ritual with enough power to truly destroy this object. We Elves here in Marienburg did not quite realise the power of the object that Nancy Bechet passed through our port with, and that Avorn Hathol sort. Word reached Ulthuan in the usual way, and the nature of our error has been pointed out to us. At length. We have assured His Majesty that The Skull will not escape us again. Kethill's speech slowly sinks in. How do we know you are who you say you are, wonders Hans. Kethil agrees that this is difficult, and assures everyone that he is here with good intent. The discussion is beginning to get going when there is a knock at the door. Kethil answers, and comes face to face with someone who is not here with good intent. Someone who is too quick for Kethil. The black armoured figure runs Kethil through with his sword. And strides into the room. It's Gunther Weiss. Some of Gunther's beastmen and mutants spill in behind him. The Elves put a brave fight, but are quickly subdued. At the far end of the room, Orpheus rushes to the window, and pulls aside the drapes. It's barred. There's no way out. Gunther bids everyone sit down, and begins berating Maude for letting him down. For not protecting his friend. Gunther and Yuri were always close, and it seems Gunther has kept it that way. A minion brings forward a dirty sack, in which Gunther keeps Yuri's severed head, recovered from his grave, and now crudely re-animated. It doesn't appear to talk so much as mumble vague agreement with whatever Gunther is saying. Gunther asks Dervalk to give him The Skull. Dervalk refuses. A creature with half a pigs face flings a spell at Dervalk, paralysing him, and Gunther then shoots him in the head with a pistol. Orpheus tries talking to Gunther, telling him about his son. Gunther does not take the bait, and approaches Hans, who simply prays to Sigmar and awaits his fate. Gunther knocks him out. Maude dives under the table, but can't get her spell to work. She's dragged out by a beastman, and made to watch as Gunther advances on Orpheus. Orpheus puts up a fight. Gunther is trying to knock him out, Orpheus defends valiantly for a while, but in the end goes down. Gunther finds the box containing The Skull and picks it up. He intends to bring about the end of this world, he tells Maude, and he will kill everyone in it and, finally, himself. Maude will die just before him, so she can watch the slaughter of her friends and everyone she loves. This is his gift to her. Gunther Weiss opens the box. 'Blood for the blood god', he says, as he picks up The Brass Skull. The room shakes. Plaster begins to fall. Gunther is surrounded in white light, and an explosion shatters the room. Orpheus, Hans and Maude awake some considerable time later in a stone cell, chained to the wall. A jailer called Gurt throws water over them, and brings food to the 'special prisoners' as he calls them The three guess they have been taken to Rijker's Isle. Their wounds have been bandaged up. Gurt tells them that they 'broke a house'. Rescue here comes in the form of Amber Grislane, brother of Kethil. It seems Jaan van de Kuypers had the party thrown into prison when they were found in the rubble of the destroyed rooms at the back of The Red Cock Inn. Amber has worked quickly get them released. Orpheus tells Amber about Gunther's son, Gregor. Amber is distressed to discover that Gunther's bloodline continues, and that Gunther knows he has a son. The freed prisoners, with Amber, cross a choppy sea back to the city, and are re-united with Saxifrage and Tilly. Amber assembles a party of Elves, and Orpheus leads the way back to the Golden Lotus Dreaming Club, where the compass suggested Gregor was being held. The Elves go in. A fight can be heard, and, eventually, a tall, blonde, young lad comes out of the front door. Orpheus, Maude and Hans look at him, shocked for a moment. He does look like his father.
Hans Birger played by Matt. Orpheus Dunklemann played by Dan. Maude Horsdevil played by Teresa. With Gunther Weiss, Saxifrage Noddalson and Gurt Dyaardik played by Ken Written and Performed by Peter Taylor. Gunther's storyline cooked with Khornite zeal by Pete'n'Ken. Stay tuned... :-) Campaign Archivist Dan. Music and Soundscapes controlled using RPG SoundMixer. 7th Jahrdrung, 2522 IC, 9pm Gunther claims his prize. Episode played on Monday 30th March 2009.
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