Journey to Aldorf: Campaign Introduction

Every great adventure has a climatic end...

As I write this, I Peter Mostert swear by the light that keeps chaos at bay that this tale I am about to tell you is one such adventure. But to fully comprehend the grandness of such a tale I must first tell you how it began, for as interesting as this story ends in all its glory, the telling is in the first steps taken by four adventurers who walked its path, the glory they won and the sacrifices they made.

Some would later call them heroes, others would judge them, murderers. Yet no one could deny they were touched by faith.

Its exact date eludes me now but it was a time when a great storm was brewing up north in the harsh lands of Norsca. A storm that was nearly the end of us all if not for the light of Sigmar!

I remember being afraid, and how thick the air smelled of broken dreams and shattered hope. But poetics aside it was the smell of fear and death which still wakes me up in the middle of the night till this day that I remember vividly. A foolish lord with glory in his heart, too much gold in his pocket and steel in his hand thought it wise to reclaim Marienburg the city of gold in the emperor's name! 

A bit of history first... You see in 2429 IC Westerland formally seceded from the Empire and since then Marienburg has remained independent. Now a victory would have brought this lord great wealth and renown. With defeat? we'll I can't even remember his name any more buried along with his army in the Cursed Marshes. The young foolish lord seemed to have forgotten how easily gold motivates and changes the mind of sell-swords.

Fortunately for Marienburg, it is far too valuable to the Empire's trade routes for it to be ostracized for long. 

Among the mutilated and dead, a beacon of light shone brightly the night after the battle that would later be known as the Battle of "Fools Gold", for a lone campfire illuminated the gloom of the accursed marshes surrounded by our 4 adventurers.

Looking back never would anyone phantom how bright and long that beacon would shine for the Empire...

Campaign Report: Journey to Aldorf - Session 1 (PART 2)

A Howling Good Time: PART 2
(Continuing from PART 1)

The Giant Wolf's arrival changed things. With the arrival of their pack leader, the other remaining wolves immediately joined its side which consisted mostly of the wolves who had overwhelmed and made short work of the mercenary group. 

Knowing it was going to take more than a few lucky shots to take the Giant Wolf down Thorgrim the Slayer turned away from his kill and headed to assist the Smuggler who he knew was going to get into a world of hurt.

Meanwhile, the Pistolier's search for the missing child was not going well. Try as he may he could not find any trace of the missing child in the darkness. Was the child alive? Should he turn around to immediately assist his comrades? It took a while but the Pistolier suddenly realized that searching with a torch from the campfire would probably be a better way of searching for the child in darkness. 

True enough using the torch did help in his search but the Pistolier now wish he hadn't because before him in a pool of blood was the remains of what could only be guessed was the missing child. Not ready to face the dead child's mother with the news and determined to avenge the dead child the Pistolier ran towards the wolves now surrounding the Smuggler.

Now one thing you need to know about giant wolves is that they are twice as large as a normal wolf but just as fast if not faster. While the Smuggler was no pushover with a sword for every would he inflicted on the pack leader he was getting his own fare share. If help didn't come soon things were not going to get pretty. The Hunter, aware of his companion's dire situation yet ever calm in the face of danger again readied his crossbow and with another quick prayer let loose a bolt into the side of the nearest wolf between him and the Smuggler dropping it dead.

Evenly numbered and now heavily wounded the Giant wolf survival instincts were taking over, clawing, biting, and slashing with beastly fury and speed at its enemies. At the receiving end of all, that pain was the smuggler taking the brunt of the giant wolf's attack. But through skill or pure dumb luck, the Smuggler managed to stay standing with no critical strikes upon his body. Either way, the Smuggler knew that if things didn't change fast he wasn't going to be able to keep the giant wolf from eventually ripping his throat open. 

With a mighty roar! Thorgrim the Slayer yet again rushed into battle towards the giant wolf. The beast was gaining the upper-hand against the Smuggler and Thorgrim knew that if he didn't act now it was going to be too late to help his companion... 

Tasting blood and sensing his enemies weakness the Giant Wolf went in for the killing blow but in its rush to finish of its prey, the beast had exposed its left flank to the incoming Dwarf. Seeing the opening Thorgrim saw his chance and stepped in. With weapon held high above his head and slayer blood lust fuelling his strength Thorgrim swung down with all his might cleaving the pack leader in two. Standing over his fallen foe, dwarf beard drenched in crimson red Thorgrim turned towards the Smuggler who's faces clearly showed a sigh of relief, for he knew that this encounter was not looking like it would end with him still on his feet.

Suddenly from behind our adventurers, a man appeared on horseback. In the carnage of battle, the howling and growling of wolves and the screams of the dead no one had heard his approach or the dozen or so well-armed men behind him... "I must say gentleman that was an impressive showing I was delightfully entertained by your performance"... 

End of Session 1.

Journey to Altdorf: Campaign Introduction

Campaign Report: Journey to Aldorf - Session 1 (PART 1)

A Howling Good Time: PART 1

The Battle earlier had been brutal. What few survivors that were left gathered before nightfall on an elevated clearing keeping them dry from the surrounding marshes.

One such group found themselves sitting around a campfire. A smuggler, a hunter, a pistoleer and a newly arrived Dwarf Troll Slayer itching for a fight but late to the party. Each with his own reasons and motivation to being there that night, with the only thing in common among them the goal of getting to The great city of Altdorf.  

The Cursed Marshes is a place that leaves its mark on everyone that pass through it and The hunter and Dwarf Slayer both caught an ailment while hunting for food in the surrounding marshes with nothing to show for it but the carcass of a dog. Meanwhile, dry at base camp The Smuggler and Pistolier talked to the other survivor and managed to gather some rations that would hopefully sustain them during their journey out of the marshes. The Smuggler even managed to get himself a cooking pan claimed to bring fortune and luck to its wielder.

Planning out their next course of action around the amber glow of their campfire with the sound of grease dripping and hissing from the dog roasting above it, the adventurers were joined by a colourful and mischievous character called "Mouse". After a short exchange of sarcasm and pleasantries "Mouse" was invited to join the adventurers for supper.

With years of experience living off the land The Hunter's instincts suddenly kicked in and he quickly warned the rest of the adventurer that they might not be alone while readying his crossbow.

Suddenly a scream was heard and true enough with little warning wolves started appearing around the survivors from out of the surrounding darkness. The Hunter warned his group that only a pack of wolves led by an Alpha would be this brave and coordinated and that they could count on more trouble showing up. Assessing the situation the adventurers saw that the wolves were simultaneously attacking the different group of survivors, mainly a small group of mercenaries, a blacksmith with his wears and a kitchen hand and his family.

The Dwarf with white fist gripped tightly around the hilt of his axe charged into the nearest group of wolves instantly slaying two in a flurry of blows Allowing the rest of the adventurers to move into action.

Noting that the scream came from the direction of a campsite occupied by the kitchen hand and his family, The Hunter with a quick prayer aimed and shot a crossbow bolt in that direction, immediately killing one of the attacking wolves with the Smuggler and pistoleer rushing in, leaving the mercenaries and blacksmith to tend for themselves.

Losing his pistol earlier in the day, The cautious Pistolier, first to reach the family but unaccustomed to hand-to-hand combat managed to distract the wolves but try as he may he could not get a strike on any of the attacker taking a few wounds in the flurry of claws and blade. The Hunter and Dwarf fared better dropping another 2 wolves between them. Axe drenched in the blood of beasts the Dwarf next rushed to aid the blacksmith. 

Now side-by-side, the pistoleer and smuggler started to make progress against the wolves with the help of the Hunters accurate skill with the crossbow. Killing the last of the wolves attacking the kitchen hand and his family the Pistolier was told by the grieving mother that one of her children had been dragged into the darkness by one of the wolves. The Pistoleer took it upon himself to search for the missing child.

While the Smuggler headed back to clean up the remnants of the attacking Wolves, he was stopped dead in his tracks by the arrival of a wolf, unlike the others. This wolf was bigger, faster and stronger than the rest. The Smuggler figured that this must be the Alpha Wolf the Hunter had warned about...

PART 2:

Journey to Altdorf: Campaign Introduction