Topic: Shadows over Bogenhafen: game thread [players only please!]

[rufus sparkfire]

[Ulrun and Heinrich]

Despite its lack of a discernible mouth, the demonic entity emits an unearthly scream. The noise is horrifying!

[Heinrich fear test: pass]
[Ulrun fear test: pass]

Heinrich and Ulrun are undeterred. Heinrich charges straight at the demon, while Ulrun grabs his sword and releases the Hammerhand spell from the Wonderous Mnemonic.

Heinrich's magical axe blazes with white fire as he comes closer to the demon.

[Demon WP test: pass]

While it is dismayed by the weapon's aura, it is not repelled by it. Heinrich attacks while it hesitates.

[Heinrich 1 (magical axe): 99, miss]
[H2: 30, hits head. S4+1+d6 roll of 3-T7 = 1 wound. Dodge blow: yes. No damage]
[H3: 55, hits wing. S4+1+d6 roll of 6! (add damage = yes)+5-T7 = 9 wounds! 10WS drained and added to Heinrich]
[H4 (off-hand): 92, miss]

Heinrich's axe slices through one wing, sending out a spray of hissing black blood. The demon roars, then attacks Heinrich with berserk fury!

[Demon 1: 67, miss]
[D2: 47, hits body. S7+d6 roll of 3-T6-A2 = 2 wounds]
[D3: 14, hits left arm. S7+d6 roll of 3 -T6-A1 = 3 wounds. Parry attempt: 12, pass. -d6 wounds = 6. 0 wound taken]
[D4: 28, hits right leg. S7+d6 roll of 3--T6-A1 = 3 wounds. Parry attempt: 29, pass. -d6 wounds = 2. 1 wound taken]

The demon unleashes a flurry of blows. Heinrich is able to deflect some of them, but is still battered by bludgeoning fists.

Ulrun casts Hammerhand from his amulet [spell expended from storage amulet. +2S and double attacks. Lasts d6 x 10 turns, or until wounded]. Then he attacks!

[Ulrun 1: 13, hits right arm. S4+2+d6 roll of 6! (add damage=no)-T7 = 5 wounds]
[Ulrun 2: 95, miss]

Driven by magical force, his sword cuts deeply into the demon's arm.

[end of round]

[Karl Voss of Averland]

Less reasonable men, eh? More like the damned cunt eternal. Admund thinks to himself, his face hard and his gaze steeled on Sir Siegfried. He grinds his jaw slightly when he is told he will receive punishment anyway.

 "Very well, sir."  Admund replies. Admund takes the note signed by Commander Schutzmann and folds it once over again and slides it into his pocket. He will leave at once and see Duty Sergeant Konrad at the South Gate Watch Station and ask to see Captain Kratz.

He nods at each of the men, "Sir Siegfried. Commander." And leaves, closing the door with a slight slam.

[rufus sparkfire]

[Admund]

Admund leaves the palace and heads for the South Gate watch station. It's a beautiful morning, and the carnival is in full swing. But Admund marches on, intent on getting his punishment over with. The watch station is busy - patrols are bringing cultist or gang prisoners in at regular intervals. The holding cells must be packed.

Duty Sergeant Konrad greets him with a smile. "Admund! Good to see you! I don't know much about it, but there's a rumour going around that you've been making some big arrests. You'll be due another promotion, I expect - and to think it took me years to get to Sergeant! Ha ha! So, you want to see the Captain? Well, he's very busy at the moment, but he'll make time to see you."

After a wait of a few minutes, Admund goes through into Kratz's office. "I'm glad to see you, Admund," he says warmly, "I could use your help, to be honest! Ulric only knows how I'm going to make all the arrests on this list. This bloody conspiracy was a lot bigger than anyone thought. Anyway, you wanted to see me? Oh, a note from the commander? Let's have a look."

Kratz takes the note and reads it. "Do you know what this says, Admund?" he says, sounding surprised.

[Fandir Nightshade]

Klaus agrees to Max´s plan and with a patronizing elder brother like smile wishes him much fun with Lena. As Klaus enters the palace to meet Emanuelle he offers her a smile in response but for a moment is unsure what to do with her hand...after awkwardly holding it for a moment unsure what to do he bows curtly before her. "Regarding our common friend Ser Martin I would love you to share that story at a later time and yes..." lowering his voice a bit, "It is grand that the Graf is recovering so well from his ailment. I wanted to meet with you just about that...I think we were refreshingly open about several things so I wanted to offer you some informations what exactly happened.

Also to give you a warning the culprit who was behind all of this was the Law Lord Wasmeier, the corruption was rooted deep in the high society of Middenheim so I am rather certain that as soon as the Graf has recovered fully there will be a very intese investigation not only about the cultists but about everyone on the court even though we didn´t share the letters with anyone and the Ar Ulric won´t have any incentive to do so that tale might get out after all. I am not sure how much the Graf knows about you and if you have other secrets but it might be in your interest to leave the city. What I also wanted to offer you, if you would decide to leave, is to join me in Averland once my business here in the north is done. I am certain there is much I could learn from you regarding the special politics of the Imperial High Society....for a starter how I am supposed to treat you on our short walk to make it clear for everyone watching that we are nothing more than friends."

[Karl Voss of Averland]

Admund greets Kratz and Kondrad warmly, but clearly has something on his mind.

"No, Sir. I was told to hand you the note directly by Commander Schutzmann." Admund replies, wiping frustration from his face. "During the hunt for the traitor last night, Sir Siegfried, the Knight Eternal, nearly botched the whole thing. He's going to be dueling the Graf's champion, and filed a formal complaint against me. I just came from a meeting with Commander Schutzmann and Sir Siegfried. He wanted to give me five dozen lashes."

[rufus sparkfire]

[Ulrun and Heinrich]

Heinrich's axe flares up in white flame again...

[Demon WP test: fail!]

...and this time the demon howls, retreating until it is stopped by the wall. Heinrich follows up, eager to take advantage of the demon's weakness.

[note that Heinrich parried twice last round, so only has two attacks this round]

[Heinrich 1 (magic axe): 65 (hits due to +10 from axe last round) hits body. S4+1+d6 roll of 5-T7 = 3 wounds. Dodge blow: pass, no damage]
[H2: 89, miss]

Ulrun, while the demon is distracted, begins to cast his clone image spell.

The demon attacks Heinrich again, but it's hampered by its fear of his magical axe. [demon gets -2a this round]

[demon 1: 82, miss]
[D2: 18, hits right leg. S7+d6 roll of 2-T6-A1 = 2 wounds. Parry attempt = 99, fail. 2 wounds taken]

It lands a glancing blow on his leg.

Ulrun completes his spell: suddenly, there are three identical Ulruns! All three attack the demon. [of course, only the real one can cause damage]

[Ulrun 1: 31, hits head. S4+2+d6 roll of 2-T7 = 1 wound]
[Ulrun 2: 96, miss]

He strikes its head, spilling more of its weird, vaporous blood.

[end of round]

[rufus sparkfire]

[Admund]

Kratz frowns. "Damn, that explains it then. I thought I must have misread this. Well, the commander has ordered that you be whipped, Admund. It's not five dozen though - that would be crazy. It's just a half-dozen." He puts the note down on the table and sighs. "Ulric's beard though, I don't want to do it! But it's an order from the commander himself. Still, at least he's given you the smallest number of lashes he could, short of none at all. When I started here, there was a sergeant who'd give you a dozen just for not shining your breastplate enough."

He stands up and walks over to a cupboard near the corner of the room. "Do you want a drink? I've got some brandy here. Reikland, not Bretonnian."

Admund can read the commander's note upside down as it lies on the desk. Captain Kratz: Sergeant Auerswalder is guilty of insulting the Knight Eternal, and is to immediately receive half a dozen lashes. Signed, Commander Schutzmann.

Kratz hands Admund a glass of brandy (if he wants one), then takes a gulp of his own. "Cheers," he says. "Damn, I didn't expect this. The note says immediately, too." He shakes his head. "Out on that post in the yard where you got lashed a few days back! Before you were even a watchman. Damnit." He drains his glass.

[rufus sparkfire]

[Ulrun and Heinrich]

[Demon WP test due to magical axe: pass]

The creature roars again, and red light flashes across its body. It moves faster than it did before, striking suddenly at Heinrich and the three Ulruns.

[Demon 1 (vs Heinrich): 53, hits right arm. S7+d6 roll of 3-T6-A1 = 3 wounds. Parry attempt = yes, -d6 wounds: 2. 1 wound taken]
[Demon 2 (vs real Ulrun): 85, miss]
[D3 (vs fake Ulrun 1): 75, miss]
[D4 (vs fake Ulrun 2): 39, hit. Illusion disperses]

Heinrich parries an attack with his second axe, though the impact is still jarring. Ulrun is hit in the face by a sledgehammer fist... but he dissolves into the air. It was an illusion!

Heinrich attacks.

[Heinrich 1: 26, hits body. S4+1+d6 roll of 4-T7 = 2 wounds. Dodge blow = pass. No damage]
[H2: 82, miss]
[H3: 38, hits right leg. S4+1+d6 roll of 5-T7 = 3 wounds. 10 WS drained]

He hacks a chunk out of one of its legs.

Ulrun attacks.

[Ulrun 1: 11, hits head. S4+2+d6 roll of 3-T7 = 2 wounds]
[Ulrun 2: 05, hits wing. S4+2+d6 roll of 6! (add damage = no)-T7 = 5 wounds -1 critical to wing! Wing severed, bleeding damage]

His sword slices cleanly through the demon's left wing-joint, completely severing the wing!

[Ulrun I test: 81, failed]

Black blood sprays over Ulrun's sleeve and across the front of his shirt... and starts to eat through it. The blood is corrosive! [Ulrun loses 1 wound, and had better do something to get the blood off!]

[end of round]

[Demon WP test due to axe = fail]

Grievously injured, the demon flinches away from the glowing axe. Heinrich strikes, intending to finish this.

[Heinrich 1: 58, hits right leg. S4+1+d6 roll of 1-T7 = no wounds]
H2: 56, hits body. S4 +1+d6 roll of 5-T7 = 3 wounds. -3 critical to body = dead!]

He hacks open the demon's belly, causing a mass of filthy, rotting entrails to cascade onto the floor.

[Heinrich I test: 04, pass]

Heinrich leaps backwards, avoiding the acidic blood.

[combat over!]

[rufus sparkfire]

[Klaus]

Emmanuelle is clearly a little annoyed by Klaus's failure to kiss her hand, but carries on as though he hadn't made the mistake. "It wasn't easy to deal with Sir Martin's... strange animosity towards you, dear Count, but I can be extremely persuasive when I feel strongly about something." She touches his arm in a slightly suggestive way. "And I feel strongly that you are a person of considerable future importance."

His candor about Wasmeier alarms her. "The Law Lord? Oh my... so he's known, all this time, about... everything? Has he been arrested? What if he tells what he knows? Even if the letters are safe, just his words could ruin everything! Can't... can't you do something? Something to keep him quiet?" She fixes her eyes on Klaus's, a desperate, pleading look in them. "Your offer to go to Averland with you is so generous, but it's a long way to travel... and, perhaps, still not far enough if the Graf learns what I have done. It would be so much better if I were able to stay in the city. Better for me, better for the Graf... and better for you. I can teach you everything about court etiquette... and other things too. Now: take my arm like this... yes, that's it. That's the way to escort a lady without it appearing improper."

[Cannonofdoom]

Heinrich breathes heavily, gripping his axes and watching the daemon for any sign it might still be alive. When it does not move he lets his shoulders sag in relief. "Damn, that one was a bastard. Good work Ulrun. Did any of its blood get on you? I think it's acid." Heinrich will help Ulrun clean off the acid blood.

"Did it work? Is the sword cleansed now?"

[Karl Voss of Averland]

"You didn't expect this?" Admund says taking the glass of brandy, his voice graveled. "I just unearthed one of biggest conspiracies, saved the Graf's bloody life, and captured a damned traitorous Law Lord. What do I get for it? An honorary title and a flogging..."

"Flog me for insulting the Knight Eternal, eh!? The shit is damned near worthless in combat. I don't think I even saw him land a blow. Probably too blinded from his shiny armor or his bloody honor." Admund grumbles. "Wish I had my knight's title today, so I could take a duel with the piss pot proper like. Hell, even Watchman Elrich could show him what for."

"Gods damned cunt eternal..." Admund mumbles into his glass as he downs the brandy. He downs the entire drink in gulps rather than sipping it as Kratz does. Finished, he sets the glass down on Kratz's desk less than lightly.

Admund sighs a defeated sigh and folds his arms. "Watch commander wants a flogging. So. Sure. We'll give him a flogging. Konrad didn't look too busy. He already did a number on my back, think he's up for one more round?"

[Fandir Nightshade]

[Emanuelle and Klaus]
As Emanuelle is in panic and terror of learning about Wasmeier it is on Klaus to frown slightly. Also he doesn´t react to her advances towards him just holding her arm in the way he showed her but more looking carefully around and not looking into her eyes. "First of all you should keep a cool head. The situation is risky but not desperate. Wasmeier lied...a lot to stay in his position of cult leader, crime boss....oh yes he was the Man too and Law Lord of the city of Middenheim. As far as I know he also spread false rumours about Rallane.." Klaus will nod towards the Elf dancing."..and even the very own daughter of the Graf as being a cultist. So if you deny any false accusations of him you might get out of it unscathed. You just have to make sure there isn´t any proof of your wrongdoings. Also I guess we can tell the Graf that you gave us some vital informations in our investigations that you helped us suspecting Wasmeier. Again most important will be to stay calm and don´t panic. It is impossible to "silence" Wasmeier now he is under heavy guard and an important price for the Graf....well if you get lucky his sinister masters might punish him for failing them. Do you know any other dirty secrets of the people on the court? Especially Jana Eberhauer, Rallane, The Princess and the Middenmarshals?"

[rufus sparkfire]

[Ulrun and Heinrich]

The laboratory door bursts open, and three men rush in. Two are guild guardsmen, and the third is an elderly gentleman dressed in extravagant robes. His face is red and he's breathing heavily. "What... the... hell... is going on!" He halts to catch his breath. Ulrun recognises him as Gottfried Magnus, a senior but pompous wizard.

Magnus takes in the demon's corpse (which is gradually degrading into black smoke and blowing away), the candles and talismans, the sword, and the book. "Oh, I see: you've been using that damn Curious Artifice! Honestly, that book is a disgrace! It's full of mistakes, but enough of it works to get you into trouble. It's Ulrun, isn't it? I'll bet you used six blue candles and five red, right? And the Golden talisman of the Southern Extent? Well, if you'd read my monograph on the subject, you'd know that you actually need six red candles and five blue. And the Silver talisman of the Eastern Barrier. If only that damn archivist wasn't so protective of his books! It ought to be locked away where no one can get at it. Still, no harm done. You killed... whatever that was, so your sword is probably cleansed. I'll leave you to clean up! Good day."

With that, he sweeps out of the room again, the guards following.

Ulrun, once he's struggled out of his acid-splattered shirt and wiped the corrosive blood from his skin, can now examine the sword to see if it really is cleansed.

[rufus sparkfire]

[Admund]

"It's not fair, Admund, but that's the way things are," Kratz says, sounding sympathetic. "Maybe the Commander wanted to remind you of your place. The Knight Eternal's an important symbol to the people, even if the man inside the armour is usually an idiot." He sighs again.

"Aye, I'll get Konrad to do the job. He doesn't hold his hand back, but at least he's got good aim. He's not going to miss and hit you in the ear, like I've seen happen before. Right, you'd better go out to the yard. The rules are that all the men have to witness punishment, but I'll make sure they know why this is happening."

Admund and Kratz leave the office. "Sergeant," Kratz says to Konrad, "you're on punishment duty. Fetch the whip."

Konrad looks from Kratz to Admund, confused. "But... surely not Admund?"

"No questions, Sergeant. Just do it!"

"Yes sir."

"Head into the yard, Admund, and get ready" Kratz says, "I'll assemble the men."

[Karl Voss of Averland]

Admund squints in the late morning sun as he steps from the station house. The old wood post used for punishment stares back at him from the center of the yard. Admund steps over to a small table along the perimeter of the yard and begins unbuckling his sword belt and armor. As watchmen begin to file out of the station house, he can feel their eyes on him as he strips down to his undershirt and breeches. His face remains hard and stoic. A few familiar voices call to him inquisitively, but he ignores them and the rest of the mumbles and whispers.

When the time comes, he walks out to the post in the middle of the yard willingly. He pulls his shirt up over his head and shoves it into the arms of the watchmen waiting to shackle and raise his arms to the post. His back has visible red lines crisscrossing it from his previous two-dozen lashes, mixed with a few bruises from the fighting this week.

When the watchman reaches to shackle his hands to the post, he swats away the man's hands angrily. "Damnit man, I'll do it myself." Not using the shackles, Admund reaches high and grips the post, exposing his back squarely to Sergeant Konrad.

Admund spits on the ground and calls out to Sergeant Konrad in a harsh tone, "Square in the back, if it please you, Sergeant Konrad. Get on with it."

[Mogsam]

Ulrun stands topless as the elderly man talks, futily rubbing the skin that had been burnt by the acid blood. He sighs grumpily when he finds out the entire ritual was flawed and that he will have to clean up all the mess they made. When the man leaves he turns to Heinrich and summons him over with his hand. "Let me see the wounds" he says before placing his hands and casting heal. "Many thanks, don't think i'd want to have been on the receiving end of a hit from that thing." he nods. Reaching down he inspects the sword.

[rufus sparkfire]

[Klaus]

"Don't panic," Emmanuelle says, repeating Klaus's words with a trace of amusement. "If I were the type to panic, I wouldn't be where I am today. I'd still be an actress, performing melodramas for the common people... people like you, and me. I was hoping to inspire you to take drastic action. Well, perhaps I should just be straight with you. We're both too used to games to be taken in.

"There's no evidence, other than the letters. And... he... has been very clear that it's over. He's always felt terribly guilty, you know. But he wanted it as much as I did. A vow of celibacy is such a foolish, wasteful thing, don't you think? He means to step down, as he promised, and leave the city entirely. I shall miss him... but on the other hand, if the Graf is back to his old self I won't be lonely.

"The Graf won't want to believe any rumours about me, any more than he would about his own daughter. I think you're right: Wasmeier's words will be seen as a final act of spite by a traitor. As for dear Rallane: he's had his fantasies about the princess, but he'd never act on them. He's a sweet man."

Klaus's question about the secrets of other members of court makes her smile. "Are you looking for blackmail victims? That's a dangerous game. Well, I suppose I owe you a few confidences. Janna Eberhauer is the wizard, yes? I'm afraid I don't know her at all. Rallane is a very dear friend - an entirely platonic one. We had a relationship several years ago, but we discovered we were better off as friends. I'm convinced he has no dark secrets. As for the princess," Emmanuelle's face shows resentment, "she does not like me. She's caused trouble between the Graf and me in the past. However, she has absolutely nothing in her head. There's no way she could be involved in anything disreputable. It simply wouldn't occur to her.

"The Marshals... von Genscher's son is having an affair with Petra Liebkosen, which I am sure he knows nothing about. Petra is a terrible gossip, so any secrets von Genscher has shared with his son will have been spread to half the court. The general, I don't know. The Watch Commander... ah. If you have met Commander Schutzmann... Ulrich... you would think him a cold man. He isn't. Some years ago, he and I were lovers, and it was through his influence that I came to the attention of the court. I no longer see him, but I still regard him with affection.

"Does that answer your question? You're disappointed, perhaps. Well, there is one man at court who has a great many dirty secrets. That Tilean physician! The man is a sexual degenerate and probably also a drug addict."

[rufus sparkfire]

[Admund]

"I'm sorry about this, Admund," Konrad says quietly, "I didn't think I'd be doing this again. I'll do it quick and neat, don't worry."

The muttering of the assembled watchmen is getting louder. At last, Captain Kratz enters the courtyard, his face set into a stern expression of command. "Quiet!" he shouts, "show some respect! Sergeant Auerswalder hasn't been a watchman long, but he's done more work than most of us could manage in a lifetime."

"Why's he getting the lash then?" Someone says. It's Fritz, from Admund's patrol.

"I don't like it any more than you do," Kratz says, "but Commander Schutzmann himself has ordered half a dozen lashes for insulting the honour of the Knight Eternal."

"What, that shiny-suited fool? Bugger that!" Fritz says. An approving murmur rises from the other watchmen.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that," Kratz says. "whatever we think of the Knight Eternal, we respect Commander Schutzmann. I don't agree with him, and I'll be seeing him as soon as I can to tell him so - which I don't expect him to be happy about. But I'm going to do what he ordered all the same. I expect all of you to keep quiet out of respect for Sergeant Auerswalder. Anyone who doesn't will be next at the post. Right, Sergeant: six lashes, and don't hold back. This is a punishment, and we're going to do it properly. Begin!"

Konrad cracks the whip in the air a couple of times for practice. Then he lashes Admund, very hard, across the back. He feels it cut from his left shoulder, diagonally downward, like a burning knife.

"One." Someone shouts.

The next lash falls, parallel to the first.

"Two."

Then the third. Admund's body shudders under the impact, but he keeps silent.

"Three!"

There's a brief pause. Then the lash falls again, this time striking from his right shoulder, crossing the previous lashes. Admund feels the blood begin to trickle down his back.

"Four."

Another lash, parallel to the fourth.

"Five."

Then the final lash hits. Konrad seems to put a lot of effort into it - the whip hits so hard that Admund almost thinks it's going to cut right through his back.

"Six! And done!"

"The punishment is complete," Kratz says, "now, raise a salute for Sergeant Auerswalder!"

Everyone salutes. Admund is still standing with his arms above his head, holding onto the post. Blood runs down his back.


[Admund loses 2 wounds]

[rufus sparkfire]

[Ulrun and Heinrich]

Ulrun casts his healing spell on Heinrich, undoing the (relatively minor) injuries caused by the demon's fists.

[Ulrun casts cure light wounds on Heinrich. D6 wounds healed: dice roll = 5]

His annoyance about having to clean up the mess disappears as a wonderful thought enters his mind: students! He can order some students to do it, and claim it's a practical test or something. What else are students good for?

He reaches for the sword, to see if the hassle he's just been through was worth it. As soon as he touches the hilt, a blast of images goes through his mind. He sees a wide, green plain; beyond it, the sun shines down onto a city of silver spires. Blue and white banners flutter in the breeze. He blinks, and the image is gone. Well, that seems encouraging... he concentrates on the sword. He can't sense an evil presence. Instead, the sword's abilities seem to have increased! Or possibly reverted to what they should have been - instead of causing frenzy, it gives its user greater self-control. This wasn't a waste of time then.

[The elven sword still provides +1 to damage. It now also boosts the wielder's Cl by 10 when held]

[Karl Voss of Averland]

Admund remains gripping the post for a while. Breathing hurts. His back heaves up and down as he sucks in air trying to shake the stinging pain. His fingernails have dug into the wood post. He finally lets go and struggles for a moment before standing up straight.

Admund turns around to face Sergeant Konrad, only a few paces away. Admund's mouth is twisted in pain and anger for a moment, looking like he's ready to spit bile and obscenities. Admund eyes Konrad for a moment before saying in a deep gruff voice, "D...Damn fine arm, Konrad. Same time next week then?" Admund tries to manage a grin, but his mouth only twists and he tilts his head in pain and grunts.

Admund walks slowly and deliberately toward the table with his gear, awkwardly trying to keep his back straight.


[Deducted two wounds, now at 6]

[Mogsam]

"I hint it's better now. Though it's giving me visions of elves, so that's debatably an improvement." Ulrun says racistly. "Come, let's go find some willing, or unwilling students to clean this up and find admund..." He pauses. "I might come back tomorrow, I feel suitably unrewarding by my guild for aprehnending the arch traitor and saving their reputation!"

[Mogsam]

Ulrun realises he is topless. "Ah, I'm doing my best Max impression here. We should stop off at my home first, it's just around the corner. It's probably about time I had a change of clothes anyway!"

[rufus sparkfire]

[Admund]

"Dismissed!" Kratz shouts. "Back to work everyone."

The watchmen shout out supportive comments to Admund as they leave the yard - "Well done Sergeant! The way you held onto the post without the chains - amazing!" "Bloody Knight Eternal!" "I'd have shouted my head off if I'd had those lashes! Good man!" "I'd like to see Sir Bloody Siegfried at the post. Bet he'd wail like a halfling who's lost his pies!" Kratz doesn't reprimand any of them.

Konrad looks at Admund uncomfortably, as he shakes a little blood off the whip. "I had a job to do, Admund - I had to do it as well as I could. I'd expect you to do the same if it were me up there... and I'd sooner it was. Forgive me again?" He offers his hand to shake.

Kratz approaches Admund as he stands by the table his gear is on. "Better not put anything on that back for a while, Admund," he says. "Let me have a look... hmmm, Konrad did a good job. Nice straight cuts, and he's crossed the two sets of three for extra damage. Still, there's not too much blood, and they should heal cleanly. More scars for your collection, right?" He smiles weakly. "I don't expect you to go on duty after that, Admund. Take a couple of days if you want. And I meant what I told the men - I'm going to complain to the Commander about this. I know you're angry with me, and I don't blame you."

He goes quiet, obviously hoping Admund will say something.

[rufus sparkfire]

[Ulrun and Heinrich]

Ulrun goes into the corridor and orders the first group of students he sees to clean up the mess in the laboratory.

[Ulrun Ld test: 13, pass]

They look alarmed at being commanded by a shirtless man with a handlebar mustache (especially because of the scars on his body from his imprisonment), and hurry into the lab with a muttered "yes, master."

He and Heinrich leave the guild and head towards Ulrun's house. Misthollow Lane is a quiet Freiburg street a little way south of the guild. Most of the houses are occupied by students or professors from the guild or the collegium. Ulrun lives at number 8, a smallish place with two bedrooms, a lounge, a study, and a kitchen. There shouldn't be any cultists waiting there to grab him again, now that most of them have been arrested, but Ulrun is worried that the place might have been burgled. Everything looks fine from street level. He unlocks the front door, and he and Heinrich go inside.

Cooking smells are coming from the kitchen! They go through from the hall, and discover a young male halfling frying bacon. He looks at them, and his face goes pale with fear. "Oh! Um."

[rufus sparkfire]

[Mortus]

Mortus returns to her rooms at the Scholar's Inn, and spends the day studying spell books. She focuses on two spells. One is a more powerful version of the protective aura she already knows. The other is a disabling spell that can briefly render an enemy mindless.


[Steal Mind [8 MP, range = 24 yards, duration d6 rounds. Target must pass a WP test or become mindless for the duration. They count as prone, and may take no actions]

Aura of Protection (4 MP, range = caster only, duration 1 hour per level. Increases armour by 2 points. As an aura spell, is dispelled on contact by magic weapons. No character may carry more than a single aura spell at a time. Note that it does not stack with armour)]

[I updated Mortus's character sheet with these]