A (very brief) summary of the setting and immediate story thread…
The Empire is the largest and most powerful nation of men in the Old World. It is a confederation of provinces, each led by an Elector Count, which are united under the rule of the Emperor Karl-Franz I.
Standing proud in the heart of the Old World, the Reikland is the richest, most cosmopolitan and most powerful of the Empire’s grand provinces. Known for its engineers, wizards, and merchants, and for being the birthplace of the Cult of Sigmar, it is a realm of soaring mountains, snaking rivers, dark forests, and powerful trading centres. From his throne in the city of high-spired Altdorf, Emperor Karl-Franz I rules not only the Reikland, but all the Empire that lies beyond.
The fortress-town of Ubersreik is nestled in the craggy shadows of the Grey Mountains, guarding the Grey Lady Pass, the only reliable trade route from the Reikland into the Bretonnian duchy of Parravon. It stands in the fertile Lady’s Vale astride the river Teufel, and is connected by roads traversing the Reikland in all directions. The town profits from the never-ending stream of trade flowing through its busy mercantile districts, handling goods from Bretonnia and the Dwarf Holds of the Grey Mountains before exporting them across the Empire and beyond
The mighty fortress known as the Black Rock is connected to the walls of the town should any less welcome travellers attempt ingress. Ubersreik has had a long association with the nearby Dwarven clans of the Grey Mountains, and in a situation unique to Ubersreik, representatives of the city’s Dwarf population sit on the town council. One of Ubersreik’s more famous edifices, its spectacular bridge over the River Teufel, was built by Dwarfs during the time of Magnus the Pious. Widely regarded as one of the most impressive feats of engineering to be found in the Reikland, it connects the trade road which runs all the way from Bögenhafen to Dunkelberg then Nuln. Ubersreik deals in trade of all kinds, but is most well-known for ore and the skilled metal-work of the Dwarfs.
Ubersreik’s roads are choked with coaches, wagons, and horses carrying goods to and from the town’s busy market places. Similarly, its rivers and connecting canals teem with barges, boats, and ships laden with all manner of cargo for sale and trade. News of this prosperity has spread across the Reikland, resulting in a constant stream of folk too poor to do aught but walk heading to Ubersreik in search of work.
All this traffic makes the town surprisingly cosmopolitan. In addition to a sizeable Dwarf quarter, many Halflings call the town home. Humans from across the grand provinces of the Empire can be found walking its streets and drinking its ale. It is also host to a significant community of Bretonnian expats, and even a small Tilean compound.
Recently, Ubersreik’s rulers, the Jungfreuds, were controversially removed from power following a decree from Emperor Karl-Franz I. This unexpected command was enforced by troops sent from the capital, Altdorf, and compliance was mercilessly secured. This occupying force garrisons in Black Rock Castle, Ubersreik’s nigh-on impregnable inner bastion. Now armed soldiers sporting Altdorf ’s red and blue livery leave there to tour the surrounding land, enforcing the Emperor’s justice with scant regard for the traditions or the wishes of the stunned locals.
The PCs have found themselves thrown together after being caught up in a riot within the Marktplatz of the town. The exact causes of the riot are not exactly known, but it quickly became a chance for disgruntled citizens to take out frustrations from the recent change in town ownership. The Altdorf soldiery stamped down their authority and quelled the brawl, arresting all participants. Whilst the majority of the brawlers were let off with a fine and caution, the PCs had been fingered as the ring leaders and accused of various crimes, with the penalty being death or long term incarceration in a labour gang.
However, fortune favoured the PCs. During their trial, a barrister named Osanna Winandus appeared to act as their advocate. She managed to wrangle a change in sentence – that the PCs join the Ubersreik City Watch. The PCs have little option but to agree.
The new recruits have been placed under the care of Sergeant Rudi Klumpenklug, a grizzled old watchman who is quick to show the PCs the ‘right’ way to walk a beat – keep your heads down, and take advantage of any situation to make a little coin on the side. As the rawest recruits, the PCs have been assigned duties around the docks and slum areas of the town.
They have so far managed to nab a thief, and save some people from a blazing fire. They are currently looking into the report of a missing person. A young boy has reported that his father went missing four nights ago when he left the house to attend to a call of nature. The boy comes from the slum area that has developed under the large Dwarf built bridge in the city (The Dunkelfeucht). The PCs are aware from rumours that there have been quite a few folk disappearing recently, and not just the expected beggars and strays.
The Sergeant thinks this investigation a waste of time, and has let the PCs pursue this alone. They have spoken to the wife of the missing man (Reikert Pechvogel), and have wandered down to the river’s edge to look for any traces of him.
Important status/conditions that were carried over.
Else has a festering wound , giving the following conditions:
Fever - all Fellowship and physical test are at -10
Malaise - you have a Fatigued condition that persists until you recover from your illness. As a reminder, Fatigued gives you -10 to all tests.
Wounded - you can’t heal one of wounds, which stays open and sore, and possible seeping foul-smelling pus.
Lingering - once the duration of the illness has passed, there is a chance it refuses to go away…
Amris is at 10/10 Wounds, 0/1 Fortune, 1/1 Resolve
Meinrad is 14/14 Wounds, 3/4 Fortune, 1/2 Resolve
Fronika is 11/11 Wounds, 2/2 Fortune, 4/4 Resolve
Else is 14/16* Wounds, 1/2 Fortune, 3/4 Resolve (*dropped from 17 due to the festering wound)
The PCs were undertaking perception checks.
Both Amris and Meinrad had failed their rolls, Else had succeeded, and Fronika had yet to attempt the test…
(Any questions or clarifications, please jump onto the discussion thread or PM me. Otherwise, over to @Sagantine and we’ll get the game back underway).
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