Adapted For ZWEIHÄNDER By

Daniel Fox

Originally Written By
Ovid

Editing By
Daniel Fox & Tanner Yea

Managing Art Director

Dejan Mandic

Logo & Interior Borders

Jussi Alarauhio

Early Access PDF Layout for A Bitter Harvest

Milena Lakicevic & Daniel Fox

Internal Playtesting for A Bitter Harvest

Adam Rose, Ben Peek, Jeremy Jones, Kay Peek,
Mike “The Boss” Bossaller, Nicholas O'Hare
and Tim Yoder

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 INTRODUCTION
A Bitter Harvest is a rural adventure you can run for new players to grim & perilous adventures. It uses
many tools you’ve learned throughout the Game Mastery chapter: Chase Scenes, Combat Encounters,
Social Intrigue and Wilderness Travel. It is meant to teach you how to use these tools during an adventure,
while providing a structured adventure to better teach players how ZWEIHÄNDER’s mechanics work.
Although most of the adventure requires players to follow the story arc, it encourages investigation and
critical thinking to put together the mystery, with a shocking resolution requiring the players to decide
the best course of action to bring the adventure to a close.

This adventure is designed for three to six Characters in the Basic Tier, although it can be changed for
groups of other sizes or Intermediate and Advanced Tier. It can be run independently or inserted into an
existing Campaign. This adventure isn’t intended to be the origin story of how the adventurers met.
Assume that this is one of their many adventures, as the Characters begin gameplay already knowing each
other. The dynamics of their relationships will be determined as they play through this adventure and
others.

A group of Characters lacking Perception-based Skills will have a very difficult time during traveling
sections of the adventure. Familiarity with Mutants and a caster with the Petty Magick called Wytchsight
would help, but are by no means necessary. Careful role-players can complete the adventure with only but
one Combat Encounter. Characters with an overwhelming hatred of Mutants (e.g. an uncontrollably
deranged Slayer) will find themselves losing Fate Points in a full-scale battle. While most Characters will
have something to contribute, very urban-focused or Characters within the Aristocratic Social Class may
find it hard to contribute in substantive ways during rural events which don’t play to their strengths.

It begins in the autumn town of Swanzi, and leads to the village of Vorberg a day away. For purposes of
this adventure, we’ve positioned the adventure in the campaign seed “Goth Moran Divided”. However,
adventure can take place in any hilly area in a town along the river, within a day’s travel of a village on a
major river where the local economy is relatively undisturbed.

The players will need to show initiative to get the most out of the adventure. The first part is somewhat
linear, but with numerous role-playing opportunities during which the Characters can learn what is going
on. What they discover during their investigations will then inform their decisions in the much more open
conclusion. Completion should roughly take three to five game sessions. Note that this adventure contains
mature themes.
 called “One Eye”. In return for sparing the
PLOT SYNOPSIS village, its leadership (unbeknownst to the rest)
betrayed their womenfolk to the Mutants. The
main instigator of this agreement was
Maximilian Steiger is a very big deal in the Maximilian; two of its victims were his wife
village of Vorberg, but he has a big secret. Twelve Johanna and young daughter Katharina. The
years ago, the village was threatened by a Orxish men involved in the parley, including Brother
WAAAR! Horde. The villagers hid their Wilhelm’s brother Heinrich Treumann and the
womenfolk and infants in a cave in the hills and innkeeper Horst Angeberin, swore each other to
settled in for a siege. One of their number, a secrecy and gradually got on with life, re-
young preacher called Wilhelm “Harefoot” marrying and raising the surviving male children,
Treumann, was sent for a help to Swanzi but such as with Maximilian and Johanna’s son,
returned with the rescuing army a day too late: Waldmann. The village prospered under
although the Mutants had abandoned the siege, Maximilian’s leadership, developing a thriving
they had found the women and children and took hemp industry.
them away as slaves. Wilhelm was a broken man,
especially when he found out what had actually
happened.

THE BALTIC CRUSADES

The idea for this adventure was inspired by a real
event. The thirteenth-century Baltic Crusades
were characterized by tit-for-tat raiding between
German and Baltic Christians on the one hand
and pagan tribes on the other. The summer of
1215 was especially bloody for the pagan
Estonians. After suffering two attacks from
Latvian Christians, an unexpected third army, Although the Mutants killed almost all their
“caught” people coming out of the woods to the slaves before long, Johanna survived and learnt
fields and villages for food, and, burning some of from her new Orx Bigboss “husband” One Eye
them alive and slitting the throats of others with how they had been captured (as well as, falsely,
their swords, they inflicted various torments until that her son Waldmann was dead). She had been
the Estonians gave up all their money and led brought up as a herbalist and also had a small
them to all the hiding places in the woods and amount of Magickal talent. Using a combination
handed over the women and children into their of her own cunning and a mind-influencing
power. But this did not soften the spirit of the Magickal brew called “Mother Knows Best”, she
Latvians... they spared no one, but killed brought One Eye and much of his WAAAR!
everyone of the male sex, took the women and Horde under her control until, with the help of
children captive… and returned home happy her new-found allies, killed her Orx husband and
with their plunder.” - The Chronicle of Henry of took control of the war band. Many of the
Livonia, c.19.3 Mutants have since been killed in various
engagements, but she has now led the remnants
The day before his return, the villagers (thinking back towards the village, set up base in a hidden
he hadn’t got through the Orxish WAAAR! cave below the Horned Monk hills and is
Horde) parleyed with the infamous Orx Bigboss plotting a slow revenge.
 VORBERG’S HISTORY attacked by Mutants and the village is in a state
v 26 years ago: Maximilian Steiger and of fear. They learn that these Mutants are the
Johanna marry; their son Waldmann is same warband that previously attacked twelve
born soon thereafter years ago, costing the village its women and
v 20 years ago: Klaus Dummkopf is born female babies. Sent to reconnoiter the Mutant’s
v 16 years ago: Katharina is born camp, the Characters discover that they are now
v 12 years ago: The Mutant attack occurs; led by one of those women and may learn of the
Maximilian, Heinrich and Horst betray original betrayal and that this attack is motivated
Vorberg by revenge. The Characters must then decide
v 10 years ago: Heinrich Treumann and what to do.
Enid marry; their son Dieter is born soon
thereafter The theme of this adventure is how women, in a
v 8 years ago: Gregor “Mother’s Boy” is society where men have the power, can be treated
born to Johanna and One Eye; Beatte like tools to be used and discarded, how those
Steiger returns to Vorberg women try to accommodate themselves to,
v 7 years ago: Horst Angeberin & escape from or end up being twisted by that
Liselotte marry dynamic and how the next generation then bears
v 4 years ago: Johanna kills her Orx the legacy. It seeks to provide a memorable
husband One Eye and becomes acting playing experience by presenting players with a
Bigboss of the Mutant tribe complex moral situation which can’t be divided
into a “good versus evil” or “chaos versus order”
The Characters get involved when Maximilian paradigm, but instead with one whose horror
tries to marry again. It’s part of a business deal results from petty human selfishness and
with Franz Raffke, a major purchaser, who has a cowardice while selling out humans to Mutants
young, eighteen-year-old daughter, Helena. might be the right (or least wrong) solution.
Unfortunately, the bride token, which was
supposed to be following Maximilian to the town
where the wedding takes place, hasn’t arrived.
Franz demands that he be able to send agents
back with Maximilian and his new wife to ensure
that payment comes. Maximilian agrees, so long
as both pay for neutral third parties - the
Characters.
BRIDE TOKEN & DOWRY
Whereas a dowry is traditionally given to the
family of the groom for agreeing to marry their
daughter, a bride token is given by the groom’s
family or by the groom himself to his future
wife’s family. This bride token reflects the
“value of the woman” in the eyes of the groom’s
family (for better or worse).
The Party travels to Vorberg, but discover that
the wagons carrying the bride token had been
 DRAMATIS PERSONAE them as short and casual as they were intense.
Below follows the major non-player Characters Yet, with Waldmann, Andre has - for the first
in the story, which includes all related, time in his life - a chance at more lasting love,
mechanical details you may reference while and that has this very independent, very self-
running A Bitter Harvest: controlled man caught in an unwonted turmoil of
hope and fear.
ANDRE KESSLER
BEATTE STEIGER
Intermediate Tier
Professions: Artisan/Sellsword Basic Tier
Race: Adult Human (34 years old) Professions: Servant
Social Class: Lowborn Race: Middle Aged Human (56 years old)
Motivation: Decorum Social Class: Burgher
Alignment: Order-Aligned Motivation: Defiance
Bestiary Entry: NONE Alignment: Order-Aligned
Bestiary Entry: NONE
Andre has experienced a lot in his relatively short
life. He grew up in a distance city and was Beatte was married off to a priest of the God-
indentured at a young age as an armorer’s Emperor in Swanzi so that the latter would help
apprentice. The man was cruel, but Andre was her father in his pilgrimage scheme. She hoped
thrilled by the stories of the tough warriors who for the life of a society lady, but the priest turned
frequented the workshop and had visited so many out to be dissolute and miserly. He used her as
places and done so many things. One day, when little more than a housemaid and died leaving her
a mercenary company was in town, Andre stole penniless. By that time, her brother Maximilian
military armaments from his employer and joined had returned and was able to pay off her debts.
up. The company was on its way to foreign lands Beatte resents Maximilian's success, her vanished
and over the next years Andre grew up under dreams and her reliance on him and does
canvas, fighting wars for various city-states. everything she can to make herself feel she’s
better than he is.
Over time, he lost his romanticism about war, but
became a devout follower of the Steward, whom ENID TREUMANN
he venerates for civilizing his personal vocation Basic Tier
of war and giving it some sort of meaning. Professions: NONE
Eventually, the mercenary company was Race: Adult Human (26 years old)
dissolved and Andre took his share and returned Social Class: Lowborn
home, determined to make his own way. Since Motivation: Peace
then, he has made a good living arranging small- Alignment: Order-Aligned
scale security for affluent clients and has three Bestiary Entry: NONE
people working for him. Andre values his
professionalism above all else, but that is being Enid is the wife of an abusive husband (Heinrich
unexpectedly tested now that he has fallen in love Treumann). One of the first girls brought to
with Waldmann, the serious, honest young son Vorberg from Swanzi ten years ago, she and her
of his latest employer. Although Andre has a husband had Dieter before the first anniversary
history of passionate relationships amongst other of their marriage. Many of the village women,
male sellswords, the risks of battle always made including Beatte Steiger, see her as a victim of
abuse. While she remains protective of her young GREGOR “MOTHER’S BOY”
son, Heinrich is determined to “make a man out Basic Tier
of him”. She feels contempt for the choices she’s Professions: NONE
made in life, spends a lot of time with Brother Race: Young Half-Orx (8 years old but appears
Wilhelm, her brother-in-law. 16)
Social Class: Lowborn
HORST ANGEBERIN Motivation: Legacy
Basic Tier Alignment: Chaos-Aligned
Professions: Servant Bestiary Entry: Low Orx
Race: Adult Human (42 years old)
Social Class: Burgher Gregor doesn’t remember a time before Mother
Motivation: Homage led the tribe. For him, the tribe is home and he
Alignment: Order-Aligned would do anything for his Mother. She has told
Bestiary Entry: NONE him he’s better than the Mutants, but he knows
there’s a difference between him and Katharina
Horst inherited the the God-Emperor’s Rest, as and he sees how much time and attention their
it was then called (and from which Maximilian's mother gives her. He often has to get away to be
father got his pilgrimage idea), but he always by himself in the woods that he loves. But one
thought he should be someone who mattered. He day he’ll prove himself to Mother, and this attack
was a few years older than Heinrich, but growing on the village might be his chance - she seems to
up he made sure to keep on the right side of the hate it so much. in his mind, if he brought a
more violent boy. When Maximilian returned to villager’s head back for her, she would be happy
Vorberg, Horst was always by his side and ready and love him as much as she loves Katharina.
to help. It was Maximilian, Heinrich and Horst
(and two others of the village who have since KATHARINA STEIGER
died) who went to parley with the Orx Bigboss. Basic Tier
Horst was shocked at first when Heinrich Professions: NONE
suggested selling out the women, but when Race: Young Human (16 years old)
Maximilian agreed Horst started to see the sense. Social Class: Lowborn
After all, better them than everyone. But Horst’s Motivation: Metamorphosis
conscience nags him and to silence it, he took in Alignment: Chaos-Aligned
the dunderheaded Klaus and tells himself so Bestiary Entry: Occultist
many lies about his own bravery back then that
he’s almost come to believe it (thus renaming the Katharina’s only memories of Vorberg are happy
God-Emperor’s Rest into the Cowardly Orx). ones of playing with her brother Waldmann. Her
Certainly, his young wife Liselotte does, and later childhood was a nightmare of marches and
having his own opinion of himself echoed back hard labor, although her mother’s position as the
and amplified has done little to tether Horst to Orx Bigboss’s concubine meant Katharina was
reality. It is unclear how he would react if spared the abuse that killed the other human
undeniable evidence of the truth emerged. children. She is well-aware of this and would give
her life for her mother. By the time Katharina
manifested Magickal talent, her mother had
gained control of the camp whenever the Bigboss
was away and she used the time to train
Katharina as well as to fill her with hate for the to capital. Maximilian soon discovered a talent
father who betrayed her. Unbeknownst to for wheeling and dealing, relishing the fact that
Johanna, however, Katharina has been hearing where his father had been incompetent, he was a
voices from the spirits of the tribe, who have been master.
whispering to her of a destiny as the new tribal
“Mother” and granting her the Magickal powers By the age of 24, he was wealthy enough to return
to fulfil it. Katharina is afraid that she will one to Vorberg and buy back his father’s house and
day have to choose between her human origins lands in triumph. His father had died of grief and
and the Mutant totems who have, apparently, shame, but Johanna was still there and eager to
adopted her. marry. However, the independent streak that so
attracted a trapped and unhappy child such as
MAXIMILIAN STEIGER Johanna soon rankled with the newly confident
Intermediate Tier courtier.
Professions: Cheapjack/Courtier
Race: Middle Aged Human (50 years old) When the Mutants came, Maximilian did his
Social Class: Burgher best to lead the village’s defense and he hoped for
Motivation: Legacy Brother Wilhelm’s return with help. But the fear
Alignment: Order-Aligned grew that he would lose everything he had
Bestiary Entry: NONE worked so hard for. Trusting to his abilities as a
dealmaker, he called a parley with the Orx
Maximilian Steiger never knew his mother, who Bigboss. It was not an easy decision to betray the
died giving birth to him, but he had nothing but women - he still has nightmares about his little
contempt for his father. Maximilian wasn’t daughter Katharina and he’s become noticeably
treated badly, but his father paid him no more religious since the attack - but ultimately he
attention at all, instead expending all his energies can justify it to himself as a necessary if
on futile get-rich schemes. The only bright spot unfortunate cost of doing business. Maximilian is
in Maximilian's childhood was his friendship desperate for respectability and with that sort of
with a pretty and fascinatingly precocious woman by his side (such was Johanna), he would
charcoal-burner’s daughter named Johanna, but never have attained it.
even their part of the charm was his father’s
disapproval of such a lowly friend: it was one of “MOTHER” JOHANNA STEIGER
the few occasions where he seemed to care what Intermediate Tier
his son did. Professions: Apothecary/Hedgewise
Race: Adult Human (47 years old)
The last straw for Maximilian was his father’s Social Class: Lowborn
scheme to turn Vorberg into a pilgrimage Motivation: Vengeance
destination by claiming that the God-Emperor Alignment: Chaos-Aligned
once slept in a cave in the Horned Monk, Bestiary Entry: Witch
attempting to rename the hill and village
“Godsberg” (albeit unsuccessfully). It swallowed Johanna’s father was Old Tom, an ordinary,
the family’s fortune and as the bailiffs arrived to kind-hearted charcoal-burner, but her mother
collect, Maximilian slipped away and started a was Lady Ursula, the village’s apothecary.
new life working on riverboats. He still regales Although her mother was not blessed, she
anyone who listens with stories about his one visit recognized her daughter’s Magickal talent early
and sought to bring her up in the ways of the Alignment: Order-Aligned
hedge. Unfortunately, the girl grew up arrogant Bestiary Entry: NONE
and headstrong, fighting against her mother’s
attempts at discipline. Waldmann remembers his mother Johanna well.
He remembers the arguments between her and
Ursula set her sights on the young, ambitious his father and the more frequent silences and
Maximilian Steiger, whom she had run with as a careful attempts to stay out of each other’s way.
child. Maximilian proposed to her (some say It was good that he loved the woods, because
helped along by a love potion) and young otherwise he would have had nowhere to escape
Johanna started living a life of relative luxury as a to. Waldmann loved his parents, but he respected
kept woman. Maximilian soon started to resent them more, and when the Mutant attack came he
her, however, perhaps because his increasing was proud to be able help the villagers fight. He
success meant that he would soon have been able was proud of how his mother led the women to
to marry to better advantage and Johanna was not apparent safety, and he tried to be strong as he
one to be subservient to her husband. She is sure bid farewell to his little sister. He was also proud
that Maximilian's insecurity and ambition of his father when the latter went out to meet the
contributed to his betrayal and she holds him in Orx Bigboss and intimidated the creature into
contempt for it. leaving them alone. Maybe his father lacks
genuine warmth under his glib charm, but he had
By luck and by magic, Johanna and their four- what it took at the right time and that is more
year-old daughter survived the initial important than any sentimental bleating. For the
nightmarish months of captivity while all the same reason, Waldmann accepted it when his
other women and children died or were sold on father showed little emotion over the death of his
as slaves. She made herself the Orx Bigboss’s wife Johanna and mourned that of his daughter
favored concubine, especially since a particular Katharina privately.
brew she put together seemed to make the tribe
less fractious and more loyal to him. When she Waldmann is very conscious of his
bore him a son named Gregor, her position was responsibilities (and bears Klaus’s hero-worship
sealed. Little did he know, the brew actually of him with patience and a self-deprecating
made the Mutants personally loyal to her and, smile) and is thus sorry to disappoint his father
with the support of her loyal faction, she killed over his disinterest in the business. He
the Bigboss and his remaining allies and took understands the cold calculation of his father’s
over the tribe. She has since led it back to the marriage to Helena, but himself has recently been
village that betrayed her and wants a revenge that plunged into emotional confusion by the arrival
will reflect the uncertainty and terror she and the of Andre Kessler, whose understated confidence
women experienced while hiding in the cave, and glamorous background have stolen his heart
before it finally ends in pain and death. entirely. Waldmann is seriously considering
leaving his home for the first time to be with
WALDMANN MAXIMILIAN STEIGER Andre when he goes.
Basic Tier
Professions: Trapper WILHELM “HAREFOOT” TREUMANN
Race: Adult Human (25 years old) Basic Tier
Social Class: Burgher Professions: Preacher
Motivation: Peace Race: Adult Human (33 years old)
Social Class: Burgher He didn’t and there followed twelve years of
Motivation: Veneration alcoholic self-degradation. Now, however, the
Alignment: Order-Aligned Mutants are back and Heinrich is dead. Brother
Bestiary Entry: NONE Wilhelm is pulling himself together and the
knowledge that there were in fact some survivors
Where Heinrich was vicious and resentful, and that this attack is in some sense a just
Brother Wilhelm was bright, confident and punishment, might be enough to break through
hopeful. A devotee of the God-Emperor, when Brother Wilhelm’s shame and get him to confess.
the Mutants attacked he secretly thought his
time might have come. Arriving at the vanguard MISCELLANEOUS PERSONALITIES
of the rescuing army was the greatest moment of Throughout this adventure, the players will
his life. The subsequent fall was that much encounter a number of other people. Safely
farther. Brother Wilhelm simply couldn’t assume those who would not intend the
understand how the Mutants could have found Characters harm to be Order-Aligned and of
the cave and pestered Heinrich for answers. Lowborn stock, whereas others who may intend
Eventually his brother told him: because Brother violence upon the players are Chaos-Aligned and
Wilhelm had failed to return on time, the real of Lowborn stock. Exceptions to this may be
men had to make the hard decisions needed in made at your discretion.
the real world, not the fantasy one of heroism in
Brother Wilhelm’s head - it was all Brother
Wilhelm’s fault and he should never forget that.

PART I: THE WEDDING

While visiting the river port town of Swanzi, the Characters encounter the wedding celebrations of
Maximilian Steiger and Helena Raffke. You can use the quick-start Characters, or generate your own.
There are several ways Characters could get involved in the wedding. No matter what option you go for,
assume the Characters already know one another from a former adventure they had embarked upon before:

ACADEMIC ARCHETYPE tradesmen well for their services (among other

The areas around Vorberg were historically a things).
place of great strife between the Mutants and
humanity. A number of Orx are said to have left KNAVE ARCHETYPE
behind artifacts before they were driven away The Characters are on the run from a notorious
about twelve years ago. Such artifacts could fetch bounty hunter/reeve, Piper “The Bride” Hardt,
a high price, or even further fuel continued study who's been charged to drag them back to the
into the histories of the Mutants. capital to attest for their meddling. Adventuring
is frowned upon, and Swanzi should be able to
COMMONER ARCHETYPE provide a quick route out of the area to escape.
An influx of foreign workers has come into
Vorberg, a village not far from Swanzi. It is RANGER ARCHETYPE
spoken that Maximilian Steiger is an on-the-rise The Characters are looking for work, and a
businessman, paying guilded, locally born prominent boat-chandler Franz Raffke is renown
for being someone who has a number of interests customs. There are two activities here; pick one
on the roads between Swanzi and nearby that best suits the temperaments of the
Vorberg. Character’s personalities:

SOCIALITE ARCHETYPE DEGREES OF SUCCESS:

One of the Characters is a cousin to Maximilian
FIND THE BRIDE!
Steiger, the man of the hour, and has been
invited with their friends to celebrate. The bride’s family pretends to kidnap the bride,
while the guests (including Characters) compete
to find and rescue her. The winners are rewarded
WARRIOR ARCHETYPE
with a rundlet of a potent local ale. This would
Several of the Characters (particularly those of be a good opportunity to introduce Lutz
the Warrior Archetype) were a part of an old Wassertrager (see Minor Personalities). He
mercenary company with Andre Kessler, and might offer to tell the Characters in what general
heard he settled in with a rich villager-cum- area where the bride may be, in return for a “small
aristocrat named Maximilian Steiger. He may be consideration” of coins; otherwise 3 silver
able to provide a few leads for work. shillings (ss).

GETTING STARTED There are three other competitors. Every

The bride and groom approach from opposite Character who wishes to participate will roll a
ends of town in two processions, one of the series of Awareness Tests, tallying their
women distributing flowers to other ladies for individual results. Whomever generates the most
luck and one of the men distributing pennies to Degrees of Success will win. The first Awareness
other men to please the Nightfather. They meet Test will be (Challenging -10%), the next
in the town square before the wedding Party (Standard +/-0%) and the final one (Routine
enters the temple of the God-Emperor. Once +10%). If they bribed Lutz, they automatically
they emerge, the festivities begin. add 3 to their total Degrees of Success.

The reception and festivities are held in a CHASE SCENE: THE FOOT RACE
roadside coaching station where the Characters The men compete in a foot race around the
are staying and they become involved in the village, each carrying one of the village maidens
celebrations. There’s a very good reason for on his back. Each woman carries with her three
getting involved - the booze is free! Remember cabbages, for the menfolk to toss at one another
to keep track of the Characters’ drinking (see as they race. The winner is then “married” to the
Chapter 9: Hazards and Healing), as the risk of girl until dawn the next day. There’s no shame in
Intoxication runs high at the start of the anything that happens in that time and any
adventure. As the celebrations will last for children conceived are considered blessed; a
roughly six hours, you’ll want to have the strange local custom indeed. This would be a
Characters make a Toughness Test at the bottom good opportunity to introduce Mollig "Molly"
of every hour to determine if they become Bumsen (see Minor Personalities). Characters
Intoxicated or not. are encouraged to participate in this race.
However, the menfolk of Swanzi will impress
Depending on how quickly you want to get to the upon them that drinking is not only encouraged,
meat of the story, this might be a good time to but required! This is a ruse, as they want to make
fill in details of this region’s strange marriage
sure that the Characters don’t win. They’ll likely If all Escapees are disabled and the Player
be drinking water instead, and a successful Characters are the last in the race, have them
(Challenging -10%) Awareness Test will indicate each roll a final Chase Threshold for themselves,
as such. as if they were the Escapees. Whomever
generates the highest result is the winner of the
There are three other competitors (otherwise race!
Escapees), whose Movement is 6 and Brawn
Bonus (BB) is 4. No one has a Head Start at this MAXIMILIAN’S CELEBRATION
time. This is a Long Chase, set to 6 Rounds. If Before long, Maximilian has his arm around one
any Characters are currently Intoxicated, they of the Character’s shoulders and is pressing
suffer a -1 to their Pursuit Value on the first drinks into their hands. He takes on his role as
Round. Players must disable the Escapees in man of the hour (and, of course, center of
order to win. Otherwise, the Escapee with the attention) very enthusiastically. Being a sharp
highest Chase Threshold at the end of the sixth businessman, he is using this opportunity to get
Round wins. to know people in town. The fact that the
Characters might be disreputable won’t bother
Whenever a Pursuer is afforded the ability to him, since he is well aware such people can be
Attack, they may throw cabbages. In fact, this useful. Maximilian should find the Character
sort of skulduggery (or numbskullery depending with the highest ranking Social Class and engage
who you ask) is highly encouraged! Using real them, taking a genuine interest in who they are
ranged weapons is highly discouraged, and will and what brought them to town (particularly if
result in the worst of outcomes in this adventure one of the Characters is related to him).
(likely ending it). Cabbages don’t do any
Damage, but does immediately reduce their If the Characters look for his bride - and pass a
current Escape or Pursuit Value by -3. Each (Standard +/-0%) Awareness Test - they will see
Escapee and Pursuer is given three cabbages. a heavily pregnant and much younger woman
sitting nearby, sipping occasionally from a
COMPLICATION: RAIN OF TURNIPS tankard of small beer and looking very shy and
If a Character suffers a Complication, it will be unsure of herself. Next to her is another young
as if they’re threatened to be struck by woman, apparently her maid of honor, and a very
passerbyers, throwing turnips, cabbage and other unhappy-looking older man of roughly
sundries as they run past. They must succeed a Maximilian’s age. Passing a Rumor Test with any
(Routine +10%) Coordination test, or reduce of the Order-Aligned Lowborn attendees at the
their current Escape or Pursuit Value by -3. party will get the information that the bride is
Helena and the man Franz Raffke, her father and
COMPLICATION: MOLLY BUMSEN a prominent boat-chandler (supplier of ropes,
If they end up taking Molly Bumsen on their equipment and stores). If they Critically Succeed
back, she harasses the Character during the entire the Rumor Test, they learn that the marriage is
race about inadequacies such as their club- part of a business deal between Franz and
footedness, shuffling about like a buffoon or lack Maximilian, and that both want a boy-child to
of charming appearance. The Pursuer who has inherit the business. Passing a (Routine +10%)
her on their back must succeed a (Routine +10%) Folklore Test reveals that it’s not unusual for the
Resolve Test or become irritated with her, bride to be visibly pregnant on the wedding day:
suffering 1D10+1 mental Peril. it ensures that the marriage will be fertile before
any binding commitments are made. The recent years become a significant supplier of
Characters can’t immediately find out why Franz hemp in the region and Franz hopes the marriage
looks so unhappy, however. will lock his competitors out of this supply. In
addition, they could get on Franz’s good side by
MINOR PERSONALITIES exposing Lutz as the resentful, pathetic little toad
You can deliver information either quickly he is.
through Skill Tests or can insist on role-playing.
In the latter case, here are a couple of non-player THE ALTERCATION
Characters with whom the Characters can Later in the celebrations, Franz and Maximilian
interact: get into an argument, which starts as a heated
discussion and escalates into raised voices.
Mollig "Molly" Bumsen is a pretty, plump and Succeeding a (Standard +/-0%) Awareness Test
young Order-Aligned Lowborn woman who’s (or with a successful (Standard +/-0%) Scrutinize
out for a hunky man (or, even better, a Dwarf) to Test to pick out the slurred words) will tell the
bed and one of the Characters is a candidate. Characters that the conversation is about a
She’ll pretend to be a friend of Helena’s and missing bride token. Franz and Maximilian then
although they did grow up together, Molly leave to continue the discussion somewhere in
always resented Helena for being a bit more private.
popular (and respected) among the lads. Molly
will put up a very bad facade of pity for her “dear While it’s clear that the two don’t want to be
friend for being married off to some fat, old hick followed, any who succeeds a (Routine +10%)
just to seal a silly business deal”. In truth, she is Stealth Test can follow behind or listen in for a
spitefully gleeful about it and will dish on how bit with a successful (Standard +/-0%) Eavesdrop
Franz is using his daughter to ensure his own Test. It is clear that Franz is somewhat drunk and
future because he failed to sire a male heir very angry with Maximilian. Apparently, a large
(providing a Character passes a Charm Test to delivery of hemp was supposed to have arrived by
woo her). now as the bride token from Franz to
Maximilian. The Character who followed or is
Lutz Wassertrager is a Chaos-Aligned Lowborn listening in overhears Franz say that he, “could
dogsbody for Franz, running his errands, passing have given that girl to any respectable
on messages and attending to other menial businessman in town” but that Maximilian had
services. He also carries Franz’ important promised him the best prospects, even though his
documents, including the marriage contract with friends had warned him not to deal with an
the dowry’s value and the bride token invoice uppity peasant like Maximilian. Franz declares
due. Franz pays little attention to Lutz, and the Maximilian isn’t to be trusted, threatening to sue
latter takes the opportunity to pilfer small the shirt off his back, ensures his daughter will
amounts of money. Lutz is sly, but not as sly as divorce him and that their child will grow up in
he thinks he is, so he’ll start by selling bits of an orphanage where no one can find it.
information for bronze pennies, but will quickly
get drunk and run his mouth off about how Franz Maximilian tries to calm Franz down, reassuring
wasn’t man enough to have a son and how he’d him that the bride token will be his and asking
like to get his hands on Helena. With a successful him not to spoil his daughter’s “happy day” (a
Rumor Test (or by plying Lutz with alcohol), the point about which Franz is noticeably scornful).
Characters can learn that Maximilian has in A successful (Standard +/-0%) Scrutinize Test
indicates that Maximilian doesn’t particularly above board to discuss what they wish to
care about Helena’s well-being, but wants to look accomplish and the risks associated with it before
like the good guy. they fully commit to the Social Intrigue event.
PLAYTEST NOTES
If the Characters have made a good impression,
During the wedding celebration, but before then an offer to help the next day will be
“The Altercation”, one of the Characters stole welcomed by either man. The ideal result is that
Franz’s documents. It has a recording of the the men calm down and thank the Characters for
dowry, equal to several hundred gold crowns their help. If the interaction goes unsuccessfully
(gc). The bride token is for over 150 bales - or due to particularly tactless role-playing - the
hemp, weighing roughly 75 lbs each. The men still stop arguing but part angrily, only turn
players used the documents to better to the Characters later out of a lack of other
understand how rich Franz is, and how poor mutually tolerable options.
Maximilian would be if the bride token wasn’t
received. After the incident, any Character who might
reasonably be thought to know something about
marriage rights - e.g. anyone with Education
SOCIAL INTRIGUE: (Focus: Law), Folklore (Focus: Local Lore) or a
INTERVENTION Bailiff, Reeve or someone in the Academic
Intervening in the middle of this conversation Archetype - will be approached by Maximilian
immediately triggers a Social Intrigue event. and Franz simultaneously, asked whether a
Treat both men as if they were Burghers for marriage is valid without the delivery of the
purposes of role-play. Maximilian is of a Polite promised bride token. Maximilian will leave the
Disposition, whereas Franz is of an Impolite conversation happy if the answer is yes, and
Disposition. However, the Disposition may be Franz will be happy if the answer is no. You
improved or worsened due to how the Characters should take the opportunity of putting the
had interacted with them earlier (if at all). For Characters in an awkward position, regardless of
instance, you may wish to worsen the Disposition their interest to help. The result of a Skill Test
if they were spotted sneaking around. won’t easily answer this question. Prod the player
Alternatively, you may wish to improve their to use their best judgement, but give them
Disposition if the Character had previously made enough information that both supports the
a good impression on either man. validity of the marriage and invalidates it at the
same time.
Follow the normal rules for Social Intrigue as a
Complex Exchange, but in this case, those who Helena will leave for bed fairly, but eventually the
pick Interrogation or Intimidate for their Social various guests will trickle away or pass out. The
Tactic have less effect, being unfavorable Skills. Characters are woken in the morning by
Remember, let the players speak to one another Maximilian or a not so fresh-looking Franz.
 PART II: THE JOURNEY
Franz remains in Swanzi, but both he wants the Characters to go with the newlyweds Maximilian and
Helena back to Vorberg by coach (Maximilian’s village) to check on what happened to the bride token
and, if necessary, escort it back. Each is willing to pay the Characters a sum of 10 silver shillings (ss) per
day for their trouble, but individual players can attempt a Bargain Test to get more money. The Difficulty
Rating of the Bargain Test relies solely on the results of the Social Intrigue event the night before. If you
feel they left a favorable impression on either one of them, this is a Bargain Test; this Test may be more
difficult if they made a bad impression. A successful Bargain Test yields a number of additional brass
pennies (bp) equal to their Fellowship Bonus (FB), or three times that if a Critical Success. If it looks like
the Characters might turn down the deal, Maximilian or Franz mentions that there might be more work
in the future if the Character’s carry out this job well: these men are both good, local contacts to have (and
bad ones to anger).

Assuming the Characters accept, Maximilian ROLES FOR THE JOURNEY

introduces them to Andre Kessler, who is in You should ask whether Characters will
charge of his security. If any of the Characters are volunteer to play one of the three Roles required
still the worse for wear (from drinking the night for Wilderness Travel: Guide, Survivalist and
before), then Andre takes them to an inn (if Scout. Not offering up to fill one of these Roles
they’re not there already) and gives the barkeep a will result in having to succeed a Resolve Test or
pouch of herbs to steep in hot water. The suffering 1D10+1 mental Peril from shame, as
concoction is extremely bitter, but allows the Andre will take umbrage at such cowardice and
Character to restore their Peril Condition Track Maximilian will believe less in their touted
positively to Unhindered (unless already abilities to get things done. Assume that if a
Unhindered, resulting in no gain or loss). Character doesn’t volunteer for a Role, one of the
three guards will take it.
WILDERNESS TRAVEL:
It will take about a day to reach Vorberg, which
WALK TO VORBERG
is only a Short Stretch (requiring one Toughness
Andre leads three sellswords, who will be riding Test per Character, regardless if they fill a Role
next to the newlyweds’ rented coach. Characters or not). The route is considered to be Routine
with horses can ride with Andre and the guards. Terrain. Additionally, the journey to Vorberg is
There is room for two more on the box next to of absolutely No Danger from a Threat Level
the elderly, gargoyle-like in statue coachmaster perspective. This is a Fail Forward Skill Test.
(to sit “shotgun”) and another two could fit inside Even if a Character fails or Critically Fails their
the coach with Maximilian, Helena and Helena’s Role Check as a Scout; instead, penalize the
maid-of-honor, her (genuine) childhood friend entire Party with 1D10+1 physical Peril from
Barbara “Bibi” Emmerich. If there are more road weariness.
Characters than will fit, assume that Maximilian
has arranged another small cart hitched to the Under no circumstances will Andre allow the
back of the coach for the wedding gifts and the Characters to stop and Strike Camp to recuperate
Characters can ride perched on that. their Peril Condition Track (even after the events
which transpires in Part III: The Battlefield),
until they arrive back in Vorberg. In the
wilderness, it is clear that Andre is running the SURVIVALIST
show. However, he does allow the coach to break
for a half hour twice - once for lunch, and once ASSISTED BY: MAXIMILIAN STEIGER
in the morning. Otherwise, there is no rest for Maximilian is very easy to talk to. He will happily
them along the road (unless they sleep inside the regale everyone with stories of how he made it as
coach or in the accompanying cart. Any a businessman and how much he’s done for his
Character who is a Scout will not be able to rest village. As regards Helena, he’ll play the doting
that evening. husband. He expresses concern about the missing
bride token if asked, but also confidence that his
Depending on what Role the Characters play, trusted bailiff, one Heinrich Treumann, will
they’ll be paired up with one of the following have had good reason not to have brought it and
people. The person they’re paired up with will that everything will be all right in the end. A
give the Character the advantage of an Assist successful (Standard +/-0%) Scrutinize test will
Die: tell the Characters that Maximilian is more
worried than he’s letting on. If asked about why
GUIDE he has married so late or about his family,
Maximilian will look sad and will admit that he
ASSISTED BY: HELENA STEIGER née had been married once but that his wife and
RAFFKE OR BARBARA “BIBI” daughter tragically died. He has one grown-up
EMMERICH son, Waldmann, who is however not interested
Talking to Helena or Bibi is difficult, as both are in the family business. The older Maximilian
quiet around Maximilian (Helena out of shyness wishes his son would be a bit more grateful, but
and Bibi out of consideration for her friend). what can he do?
Female Characters will get a chance to talk to
them in private during the morning when the At lunch, if any of the Characters have set up a
coach stops to allow people to relieve themselves particularly good relationship with Maximilian,
and again when it stops for lunch. Succeeding a they will find that he leads them aside and, after
(Challenging -10%) Scrutinize Test with Helena thanking them profusely for taking the job and
or a Rumor Test with Bibi shows that Helena is talking about how awkward the situation is and
putting a brave face on a situation she has no how it would be ideally solved quickly and
control over, and her friend is just trying to be painlessly, he will offer a bonus to the Character
supportive. Helena is most concerned about the he’s talking to if that Character makes sure that
baby and hopes for a boy, since that’s what they report back to Franz in terms favorable to
Maximilian and her father want from her. In Maximilian; this bonus is equal to the
private, Bibi can be rather cutting about Franz’ Character’s highest Fellowship Bonus (FB). If
temperament, but tries to be polite about the Character accepts, Maximilian will be very
Maximilian for Helena’s sake. Bibi does let slip, happy. If the Character refuses out of principle,
however, that Maximilian already has a son, just however, Maximilian will look shocked that he
not one willing to take over the business. She might be thought to have intended anything
doesn’t know who the son is, however. other than practicality and his wife’s peace-of-
mind. He will be quite obviously displeased with
the Character, however.
 SCOUT The guards and the coachmaster are foreigners,
hired labor by Maximilian and know little (much
ASSISTED BY: ANDRE KESSLER, less speaking only a smattering of the local
JUERGEN & MARKUS language). The elderly coachmaster, Ernst, is
This sellsword cuts a very professional figure. A ancient and gloomy, while the guards number
devout follower of the Steward after a long stint three between Andre’s right-hand men Juergen
fighting in foreign lands, he moves and acts (who is hung-over and sullen) Markus (who is
efficiently and does not tolerate foolishness on boastful of old exploits) and Udo (a fresh-faced
the job. He’s curious about other people, youngster who’s half-wanting, half-fearing any
however, and will happily chat with Characters action).
who seem serious people. He’s only worked for REFUGEES OR IMMIGRANTS?
Maximilian for a short time, having been hired at
the beginning of the summer. Maximilian had to These casual laborers working for Maximilian
bring in a lot of outside workers to help with the are refugees from a beleaguered region overran
hemp harvest and needed someone in charge of by another army, which decimated their
security. holdings. Maximilian is genuinely happy that
he can combine the virtues of business and
Andre respects Maximilian as a fair boss, charity by employing people in need for
although he generally isn’t fond of wheeler- everyone’s mutual benefit. Andre, however,
dealers. A successful Charm Test will get Andre doesn’t like or trust them - he views this
to admit that he actively dislikes Heinrich particular brand of immigrants as violent
Treumann, whom he accuses of being barbarians. The fact that these ones survived
unprofessionally harsh with his employees. He when others died in the wake of chaos makes
thinks especially little of the man because Andre them even more suspicious in his eyes.
once caught him beating his young son, Dieter
Treumann. If asked about Waldmann, however,
Andre will bluff an off-hand appreciation for the
young man, whom he describes as nothing like
his father, being instead a woodsman who spends
little time in the village but is a good drinking
companion when he does come into the local
pub. If questioned more closely about
Waldmann, Andre will look noticeably
uncomfortable - detectable with a (Routine
+10%) Scrutinize Test; Characters should be
allowed to draw whatever conclusions they wish.
Andre will simply shrug if asked about the
appropriateness of the match between the
younger Helena and older Maximilian: it’s sad
he’ll say, but it’s just the way of the world for
young women to be passed from one old man to
another.
 PART III: THE BATTLEFIELD
After lunch, the terrain turns into rolling hills and the forests become thicker. It’s late afternoon, a couple
of hours before dusk and not far from the village, when Andre (and any other Characters who are filling
the Scout Role) returns from scouting up ahead, visibly disturbed. If he has befriended a Character on the
way, then he will first go to that Character with his news: around the next curve the road is filled with
abandoned wagons and many dead guards. If he hasn’t befriended any Characters, than any of them
outside might be able to listen in with a successful (Routine +10%) Awareness or Eavesdrop Test on
Andre’s conversation with the other guards. The people inside the coach feel it come to a stop and soon
Maximilian will look out of the coach and demand to know from Andre and the nearest Character what’s
going on. Andre will hesitate for a moment, so any Character will have a chance to answer. They need to
be tactful so as not to scare either Maximilian or, especially, Helena. Some story about there seeming to
be a blockage in the road would do (which is what Andre will come up with if given a chance). Andre is
aware that the Characters are there to secure the bride token and so will be sure to take one of them with
him back to the scene of the crime so that they can consult on what to do.

THE SLAUGHTER v The convoy needed to set out early to

The Characters walk into the remnants of a make it to Swanzi in one day and was
battle. There are three wagons; their horses were stopped not far from the Vorberg, so the
all butchered and all around them about a dozen attack must have taken place in broad
people’s corpses, peppered with short, black- daylight.
fletched arrows. Upon witnessing this, they must
succeed a (Challenging -10%) Resolve Test or be Further information can be gleaned by certain
made victim to Fear. Information should be types of Characters and from Skill Tests:
given in response to Character actions and
questions: v Dwarfs, Characters in military careers
(including some of the Ranger
v The arrows are crudely made, with Archetype) and those with a Tradecraft
viciously-barbed iron heads; (Focus: Weaponsmithing) will
v Most of the people have been shot to automatically recognize the arrows as of
death; Mutant handicraft; others who voice this
v They have been only partly stripped of suspicion can have that confirmed with a
weapons and armor, while money and successful (Challenging -10%) Scrutinize
valuables have been largely left behind. Test;
There are no other corpses other than v A successful Folklore Test for any of the
those of the guards (Andre can confirm Lowborn of area or a successful
this); (Challenging -10%) Folklore Test will
v Andre can confirm and point out that the tell the Characters that this region has
bailiff Heinrich Treumann should have suffered from Mutant attacks before, but
been with the convoy but his body isn’t there’s been nothing serious for a while;
among the dead; v A successful (Average +/-0%) Warfare
v The wagons are still laden with the bales Test reveals that the convoy was attacked
of hemp - there was no attempt to steal from both sides of the road and the
the goods; attackers avoided a melee;
 v A successful (Routine +10%) Survival possible. Maximilian will ask if Heinrich’s body
Test reveals that the attackers came was found and when told that it wasn’t, he’ll
through the woods roughly from the breathe a sigh of relief that at least Heinrich
direction of the village and returned the seems to have escaped. A successful (Standard
same way; if the Characters try to pursue +/-0%) Scrutinize Test will tell the Characters
the attackers, Andre will remind them that Andre looks skeptical of this. Regardless,
that they need to protect the coach; Maximilian will settle on going to Vorberg - he
v A successful (Easy +20) Handle Animal cannot afford to lose face in front of Franz
Test reveals the horses were hobbled by Raffke, nor can the rented coach begin to even
gin traps, lain the road below leaf piles. traffic a portion of the hemp back to Vorberg; it’s
far too overloaded as-is, and would be a dead
The question then becomes how to proceed. giveaway that the bride token didn’t make it.
Danger is afoot, and there are signs that the MAXIMILIAN’S FINANCIAL
Mutants may still be nearby. Time is of essence. SITUATION
Andre will listen to Characters’ suggestions,
although he will make clear that neither Despite the front Maximilian put up in Swanzi,
returning to Swanzi nor bringing the hemp he is actually on the verge of financial collapse.
shipment with them to Vorberg are options; Every bit of coin he had was put into purchasing
there simply isn’t enough time nor room in the the three wagons and horses, hiring the
rented coach to offload the shipment. teamsters who guard it and additional
investment into the production of the hemp
If the players dawdle about and waste time from the people of Vorberg. If he isn’t able to
digging through the viscera any further, despite keep the marriage intact, the dowry will be
Andre’s warnings, feel free to let one of the gin stricken from him, Helena and the child will be
traps have gone unnoticed. For every ten minutes taken away and Franz Raffke will bankrupt
players waste, have them roll a 1D6 Chaos Die. Maximilian. Players may even have it in their
If it lands on a face “6”, they must succeed a head that Franz Raffke has somehow set all of
(Hard -20%) Coordination Test or be caught in this up in his favor. Although it is not true
a bear trap. Anyone caught in a bear trap suffers whatsoever in the slightest, don’t attempt to
the Grievous Injury called Maimed Foot (you can persuade the players otherwise from this red
reference this in Chapter 11: Game Mastery). herring. It will only make the climax of A Bitter
Harvest all the more compelling.
REPORTING BACK Assuming things proceed as Andre recommends,
Ultimately, Andre will have to go back to Maximilian gets back into the coach and draws
Maximilian and report. He’ll beckon Maximilian the blinds, claiming there is a long-dead horse on
out of the coach alone, in order not to scare the the road ahead and that he wants to spare the
ladies. Bibi in particular will demand to know ladies the sight (and smell). The coach will start
what’s going on and only be stilled by an up at speed and Andre, along with either one
embarrassed and worried Helena. When told of Character or Juergen (who becomes markedly
what’s happened, Maximilian will go sheet-white more alert once there’s danger) rides ahead. Have
and gather opinions from everyone on what they the Characters each make one (Challenging -
should do. Andre will recommend shutting the 10%) Awareness Test to keep them on edge, but
blinds on the coach, so the ladies don’t witness nothing happens in the hour’s journey to the
the scene and make for Vorberg as quickly as village where they arrive just as the sun dips
behind the line of a hill. This is a Fail Forward Corruption. If they Critically Fail, they are made
Skill Test. Should they fail the aforementioned victim to Stress.
Test, they suffer 1D10+1 mental Peril and 1

PART IV: ARRIVAL

The first sight of Vorberg is striking. Rounding the top of a wooded hill, the group looks down on a village
nestled amongst fields and behind it, the local “mountain” (in fact, a particularly large hill). The latter is
unusual because it juts quite suddenly from the ground and, although its sides are forested like the other
hills, the tree-line ends below the summit, which is topped with a ridge and two rocky peaks. Andre heard
that the resemblance between the twin peaks was once used to sell the hill as a pilgrimage site of the God-
Emperor, but it never caught on. Most people know the mountain as the Horned Monk, because the tree
line with the bare top looks like a monk’s tonsure.

HORNS OF A CUCKOLD
“Horned” was once a euphemism for a cuckolded man, since men who were cheated on by their wives
were said to have horns. For followers of the Martyr or the Nightfather, a successful (Standard +/-0%)
Folklore or Incantation Test, or alternatively a successful (Hard -20%) Education Test allows a Character
to recall a venerated priest of the Martyr known only as “the Horned Monk”. His legend says he was a
particularly brutal count from far away who insisted on the letter of the law being carried out without
mercy. In vengeance, the Nightfather came to him in a dream disguised as the Martyr and seduced him,
promising to be his wife and lover if he would only commit to her. The very next morning, he abdicated
his county and became a monk of the Martyr. But everything he tried went sour. Wherever he went, the
adherents shunned him since they sensed his motives weren’t pure. People he “healed” would come to
grief immediately afterwards. Criminals who were released due to his pleas for mercy went on to commit
even greater crimes. Meanwhile, the Nightfather continued to plague him with fevered, erotic dreams of
the Martyr, who seemed to promise him so much but then always favored others over him, no matter what
he did to prove his love. Finally, pursued by inquisitors and mad with despair and paranoia, the monk
found refuge in a cave under the twin peaks and became an anchorite. There, a broken man, he begged
the Martyr’s forgiveness for whatever he had done wrong. Finally, she took pity on him and lifted his
madness. Some say his heart was then so filled with love that it burst in his chest and his soul joined her
in a pure, spiritual union. But others say he left that cave and wanders the world still, kept immortally
alive and working true healing miracles by his now-genuine love for the Martyr. People pray to the Horned
Monk for help in controlling their own or their partners’ jealousy, in not acting out of selfish motivations,
to escape from criminal punishment and (unofficially) to cure impotence.

After sighting the village, the Party and the coach him arrive at the Stockade gate first, where they
quickly come out of the woods and start crossing are challenged by a watchman. When Andre
the fields. A successful (Routine +10%) Survival identifies himself, there’s an audible commotion,
Test tells the Characters that this is harvest as someone speaks “Thank the God-Emperor!
season and people normally work as long as Maximilian made it through!” and the gate opens
possible - now, at dusk, people should be packing to let everyone into the village, then is shut very
up and leaving the fields, but in this case they are quickly behind them. The coach is soon
already deserted. Andre and any Characters with
surrounded by a crowd of scared and happy victim to Fear. Andre and Waldmann will ask for
villagers. their help to remove the corpses off the
scarecrow’s roosts. Inspecting the bodies will turn
Maximilian will leave Helena behind in the up no further detail, save that they are riddled
coach to go and find out what is going on and with cruelly-barbed black arrows.
will be met first by Horst Angeberin, the village
innkeeper. Bibi will object strongly to Helena Waldmann will expresses his grief for Heinrich,
being left behind and will demand to know what Dieter and Enid Treumann. Enid is the wife of
is happening. If necessary, she will try to enlist Heinrich and mother of Dieter, who is currently
the Characters to find out for her since she will praying in the village’s shrine of the God-
stay resolutely by Helena’s side. Emperor. Waldmann will let slip that he thinks
this is a Mutant attack, but agrees with his father
WHAT’S HAPPENED IN VORBERG? that this should not become common knowledge.
The bride token shipment left in the morning A successful (Standard +/-0%) Awareness Test
two days earlier under the command of Heinrich allows a Character to notice that when
Treumann, who also took his ten-year-old son Waldmann talks of Mutants and the tragedy of a
Dieter with him. For a day, nothing seemed out mother losing her son, he fondles a talisman
of the ordinary. This morning, however, people around his neck. A successful (Challenging -
who went into the fields to work ran back when 10%) Incantation Test made by a Character who
they discovered the mutilated bodies of Heinrich has either Arcane or Divine Magick as a function
and his son Dieter, tied up in the fields where the of their Profession will recognize the talisman as
scarecrows normally roost. The villagers being potentially Magickal.
immediately withdrew beyond the Stockade, and
have not taken their bodies down. The village is THE LOCAL GOSSIP
now in a state of besiegement, although no one The Characters might decide to ask specific
has seen any possible perpetrators. Waldmann people more about the situation. Depending on
Steiger has been in charge of security in Vorberg their actions and their successes, they will get
while Andre was away in Swanzi. Immediately some spin and local gossip:
upon exiting the coach, Maximilian will
introduce the Characters to his son. Waldmann v Andre will, after speaking to Maximilian
will speak with Andre briefly as they shake hands, and Horst, be able to relay the above
and will then ask the Characters to accompany information to the Characters, but will
them outside the gates. He won’t say precisely urge them not to reveal any details about
why, but a successful (Easy +20%) Scrutinize the battlefield, especially the Mutant
Test will indicate it likely has something to do involvement - Maximilian has decided
with the Stockade’s gate being closed. He urges (and Andre agrees) that it is important for
them to gird themselves for what they’re about to the villagers’ morale to think that the
see. enemy are human bandits who can be
bought off;
He takes the Characters to where they were tied v Maximilian will make the same point if
up in the scarecrow’s place in the fields. By this asked directly;
time, night has fallen upon Vorberg. Upon v If the Characters succeed any Bargain or
witnessing this, the Characters must succeed a Leadership Tests during this time, then
(Challenging -10%) Resolve Test or be made they meet Beatte Steiger, Maximilian’s
 sister. She will relay the same gossip as or Guile Tests during this time, they
before and bitterly criticize him for being meet a scruffy-looking man with stale
a cheapskate and not providing enough alcohol on his breath and dressed in the
guards - in fact Beatte uses every raiment of a preacher, who claims the
opportunity to criticize her brother, attack is punishment for the villagers’
including for leaving Helena in the coach sins; this is Brother Wilhelm “Harefoot”
if the Characters don’t take the initiative Treumann, who has come out of the
in getting her lodging; God-Emperor’s shrine to see what was
v If the Characters succeed any Bargain going on but returns to it quickly to
continue consoling Enid.

THE TALISMAN
Waldmann’s talisman is of copper and silver wire, intertwined to form a crude figure and was given to him
as a baby by his mother Johanna. She has given similar talismans to other members of her family (Gregor,
Katharina and Waldmann). The intertwining of two metals into one figure represents how love makes
two people into one (whether through kinship, family or as lovers). The maker must give the talisman to
the recipient at a significant occasion (typically a birthday or marriage) and can only ever do so once to
any given individual, who can only ever have one functioning talisman (later gifts supersede older ones).
The talisman magically protects the recipient who wears it from one life-threatening occurrence (in game
terms, gaining one Fate Point), so long as the maker and recipient love one another. Succeeding a
(Standard +/-0%) Folklore Test will reveal the symbolism of the wires intertwining. A successful (Standard
+/-0%) Incantation Test indicates that the talisman is at least supposed to have protective power,
indicating that this power works only for a specific person. A Critically Succeeded Incantation Test
indicates Waldmann’s talisman can shows remnants of his mother’s enduring love Magickally surrounding
it, functioning if both the giver is still alive (which also, incidentally, provides a hint that she’s still alive).

Eventually, Helena steps out of the coach, either After this, Horst will introduce himself to the
because the Characters have intervened to get Characters and offer to show them to their
Maximilian to attend to her or because Beatte lodgings in his inn, “The Cowardly Orx”. As they
does so, all the while insulting her brother about enter they will be met by Liselotte Angeberin his
his lack of grace, much to his embarrassment. much-younger wife in her 22nd year, who will
Conversation about the attack will suddenly note that they must be tired after their journey
cease and all eyes will be on Helena. With Bibi, and offers to make them a good, hot meal to have
Maximilian and Beatte by her side, she will be once they’ve settled in. A mentally slow young
guided through the crowd to Maximilian’s large man named Klaus Dummkopf, whose parents
house and on the way she will be greeted in a died in the last attack (and whom Horst has
friendly, if slightly pitying manner, by the village. taken in), will help them with their luggage.
The crowd then slowly disperses. Everything is paid for by Maximilian.
 PART V: ASKING AROUND
For the rest of the evening, the Characters are more or less free to roam the village. By this point, they
ought to be wondering how they are going to complete their job and, more to the point, get back to Swanzi
without getting killed. They will find no support whatsoever for the idea of fetching the hemp and taking
it to Swanzi or to Vorberg - it’s far too dangerous and the wagons they had were lost to the wilderness.
Even if the Characters suggest combining this with escorting Helena back to safety, they will have no
luck: Helena is scared and Maximilian has no intention of giving Franz the chance to renege on his
arrangement. Suggesting everyone leave en masse will also be rejected: people want to stay to protect their
homes from a potential attack.

BIBI’S INQUIRY but he doesn’t know anything) and is also a good

If the Characters don’t decide to investigate place to meet the other men of the village.
options themselves, thinking they can leave it up
to Maximilian and/or Andre to resolve the issue SHRINE OF THE GOD-EMPEROR: The
for them, have them be approached in private by shrine to the God-Emperor is where Heinrich’s
Bibi. She tells them that Helena is scared and widow, Enid, and Brother Wilhelm are currently
that although Maximilian and Andre say praying and seeking solace.
reassuring things, they’ve kept both Helena and
Bibi in the dark. She wants the Characters to find THE STEIGER HOUSE: The Steiger House
out what’s happening and a safe way to get is where Maximilian lives, but its ground floor is
Helena back to Swanzi. If the Characters don’t currently occupied by the women of the village,
seem inclined to act out of concern for Helena, who have gathered there with their children.
then Bibi can remind them how grateful her From the drawing room they are presided over,
wealthy father would be if she got back safely and not entirely to their delight, by Maximilian’s
was rescued from marriage to a man who couldn’t sister Beatte. This is also where Helena and Bibi
even guarantee her life, quite apart from the have been brought to be plied with questions and
delivery of a bride token. to commiserate with.

LABORER’S QUARTERS & STOCKADE:

INSIDE VORBERG
Finally, most of the foreign laborers keep to the
Vorberg is a fairly small village protected by a ta
Laborers' Quarters so as to avoid trouble with the
palisade of timber and stockade. It has four
natives, but some can also be found on guard at
significant buildings alongside the usual cottages,
the Stockade.
workshops, gardens and a well. Relevant
Tradecraft Focuses can provide details of
architecture, age, upkeep and other generalities. INVESTIGATION
Practically every building can be seen within the The Characters have a number of investigative
walls once inside, as it is extremely small. Reveal options. Maximilian, Waldmann and Andre are
to the players four specific places in the village of initially nowhere to be found after the bodies are
Vorberg: brought back into the village: asking for them
(from, say, Horst or one of Andre’s guards)
THE COWARDLY ORX: The Cowardly Orx reveals that the three men have withdrawn in
is the home of Horst and Liselotte (Klaus as well, private to discuss options. But there are other
potential sources of information elsewhere.
What the Characters learn will depend on what chest with a key that the Characters can borrow.
they ask (which will, in turn, depend on what Maximilian will make sure that their room is paid
they’ve already found out, so cooperation and for and that they’re fed for their time here in
networking will help). The information is given Vorberg.
below as a series of questions and what each non-
player Character person would answer in their WHO DO YOU THINK WAS
respective place of habitation at the time the RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACK ON
investigation is going on. Require Bargain and
THE WAGONS?
Rumor Tests of the players, modified by the
quality of the role-playing and nature of the
HORST
interaction: e.g. the women are likely to confide
v “Bandits, probably, trying to snatch what
more in a female Character, Horst would be
they can and scare us into giving up more.
flattered to have his bravery praised by a
It won’t work - we’ve survived worse…
hardened warrior and Beatte will react poorly if
much worse.”
she thinks Characters of a Lowborn Social Class
are showing insufficient subservience. Any
LISELOTTE
unnamed villagers they interact with are Order-
v “It’s horrible, all horrible. My husband
aligned, whereas the laborers are all Chaos-
says it’s bandits and not Mutants like
aligned. Both are of the Lowborn Social Class.
Beatte and some of those filthy workers
are saying. I keep saying: it doesn’t matter
DEFENSIVE PROVISIONS
anyway. Horst, Maximilian and the rest
The Characters may also enquire about the
of the men will sort these people out. It’s
village’s defensive provisions. They consist of
just such a shame about Dieter. Poor lad!”
little more than the local militia, comprised of
both villagers and laborers, patrolling the
MALE VILLAGER
Stockade. In an emergency, they are to shout to
v “It was bandits, wasn’t it? That’s what
a runner who is to ring a bell hung up outside the
Maximilian says. Yeah, that’s right -
door of The Cowardly Orx. The men in the
bandits.”
village will then gather with their weapons to be
told what to do by Andre. Characters with
suggestions for improving the system will be WHAT HAPPENED HERE BEFORE, OR
referred to Andre. Volunteers for sentry duty will WHY ARE THERE SO FEW OLDER
be welcomed with a shrug, but they must use WOMEN?
their own equipment (as the village cannot spare
even a fire-hardened spear while under HORST
besiegement by “bandits”). v “Ah, now that’s a horrible story. Twelve
years ago, the Mutants came and we
THE COWARDLY ORX thought we’d all had it. I was a younger
The village’s inn, run by Horst and Liselotte, is man then and wanted to fight it out, but
frequented by every male villager, and Heinrich said we had to hide the
occasionally the casual laborer. Klaus is there, womenfolk first. I said it was too much of
insistent to make sure they know where their a risk, but Maximilian agreed and his first
shared room is. It is small, but clean. There is no wife, Johanna, led them up the Old Hill
lock on the door, but it does contain a storage Road to the cave at the top of the Horned
 Monk. The road was overgrown and WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MAX,
impossible to find, so he reckoned the HEINRICH OR BROTHER WILHELM?
Mutants would never find them there and
they’d survive even if we were overrun. HORST
Brother Wilhelm went for help. We v “Maximilian is the best a man could be.
didn’t know whether he got through, but It’s fantastic that he’s finally found a
we fought as long as we could. I killed lovely wife, just like I did. He wouldn’t be
twenty of ’em myself! Finally, Maximilian where he is today without myself, of
had the idea of bluffing the Orx Bigboss course, but I’m happy here with my inn
about help coming and, what do you and my ’Lotty, so I don’t begrudge him
know, the old dog did it! The Mutants his success.”
ran for their very lives and that’s why my v “Heinrich was a good man to have by
inn’s the way it’s named. Brother your side, although too stern at times.”
Wilhelm got back the next day with some v “Brother Wilhelm’s a tragedy. He was the
troops and we all went to collect our golden boy, completely devoted to the
women. But they were gone. I was lucky God-Emperor and everyone thought he’d
- my dear old mum had already passed become a real priest and go a long way.
and I wasn’t yet married. But Maximilian He was once voted “Villager Most Likely
lost his wife and little baby daughter, and to Become High Cleric”. But not getting
Brother Wilhelm never forgave himself.” help in time turned him bitter. He started
drinking and never left the village. He’s
LISELOTTE always kept the shrine nice, though, I’ll
v She gives a similar account to her grant him that.”
husband’s story, but with even more
exaggeration of his role. LISELOTTE
v “Maximilian is a good man and a good
MALE VILLAGER leader of the village, but he couldn’t do a
v “Twelve years ago the Mutants came. We thing without my Horst. If he’d listened
hid our women up in the cave on the a bit more to Horst and not to that tyrant
Horned Monk and sent Brother Wilhelm Heinrich, we might not be in this mess.
to Swanzi for help. But Maximilian is a Why not?”
slippery one: called the Orx Bigboss to a v “Heinrich? I don’t know, but I’ll tell you
parley and said to him, bold as brass, that one thing: my husband never beat a
the army was coming and he should hop woman black and blue.”
it before he got wiped out. That ol’ Orx v “As for Brother Wilhelm? He’s just a
was terrified and off he went! But the drunk. I know he went through a lot, but
Mutants found the women. Every single so did Horst and he didn’t fall apart.”
one of them. Don’t like to think about
what happened. Brother Wilhelm got MALE VILLAGER
back with help one day late. He never v “Maximilian is all right. Brings a lot of
forgave himself. Some of us have married money into the village, although I could
since then as best we can, but we don’t do without the foreigners coming into
forget.” work the land. It’s good that he’s
marrying again. At least this one’s too
 young to have much of a say - his first the Horned Monk into a pilgrimage destination.
wife was a bit of a handful, may the Gravestones surround it. The altar is covered in
Custodian bless her rebellious soul.” aging, mementos of the village’s dead women and
v “As for Heinrich, I know it’s not right to children. Prominent is a dusty, painted portrait
speak ill of the dead, but he was a bastard of a woman and a three-year-old girl with an
to the core. His wife would be glad to be epitaph, reading: “To my Johanna and Katharina
rid of him if the old tyrant hadn’t taken in grief and regret. - Maximilian.” Draped over
Dieter along. The boy was always a bit the portrait is a talisman. Characters should
soft, but he didn’t deserve a father like make a (Routine +10%) Scrutinize Test will
that. Or what the ‘muties, uh… bandits immediately recognize this talisman is the same
did to him.” as Waldmann wears around his neck. This
v “Brother Wilhelm’s a sad case. He was talisman emanates no Magick: Johanna gave this
the God-Emperor’s favorite, no doubt, to Maximilian on their wedding day, but he
but never self-important or self-righteous recently discarded it whenever he agreed to marry
about it. Martyr forgive me, but maybe if Helena.
he’d been less devout he wouldn’t have
taken it so hard when he failed. No WHO DO YOU THINK WAS
wonder he’s bitter, but his boozing RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACK ON
doesn’t help.”
THE WAGONS?
HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET OUT
ENID
OF THIS SITUATION? v She weeps, “Does it matter? My little
Dieter is dead and it’s all my no-account
HORST husband’s fault. I told him he was too
v “Don’t you worry. Maximilian and I will young to go, but Heinrich wanted to
work out a plan. Why aren’t I talking to make a man of him. A man?! Don’t make
him now? I’ve got work to do here - me laugh! Real men keep their wives safe;
Maximilian knows that! He’ll call me they don’t go around beating everyone
soon enough.” they want to control and who’s too weak
to resist. Dieter was always looking out
LISELOTTE for his mama.”
v “Horst and Maximilian will sort
everything out. Don’t you worry.” BROTHER WILHELM
v “If Maximilian is saying it’s bandits, then
MALE VILLAGER it must be bandits, right?”.
v “We stay put. We defend our lands. Try v However, if spoken to alone: “You ever
running if you want - see how far you heard of bandits that did something like
get.” this? No. This is the God-Emperor’s will.
We failed Him and He is punishing us
SHRINE OF THE GOD-EMPEROR for our failure. This day had to come.”
The shrine is a small domed building, not
particularly ornate but neatly kept. It was built in
the previous generation by Maximilian's and
Beatte’s father as part of his failed attempt to turn
WHAT HAPPENED HERE BEFORE, OR v She won’t say much of Heinrich, asides
WHY ARE THERE SO FEW OLDER reinforcing that he was a stern father
figure to Dieter and not much of a
WOMEN?
husband.
v “Brother Wilhelm’s always been too deep
ENID
in his cups and nightmares about the past
v She doesn’t really know what happened
to care about the here and now, but it
then and isn’t interested in discussing it.
looks like he might have snapped out of it
She grew up poor and was married to the
- he’s been a great help today.”
relatively well-off Heinrich by her father
when Heinrich showed he liked the look
BROTHER WILHELM
of her (even though she always found him
v “Maximilian wants to be good, but he is
disgusting).
weak. Like most ambitious men, he has a
lot to lose and that turns you into a
BROTHER WILHELM
coward. He pays for it in his own way, I’m
v “It was twelve years ago. The Mutants
sure.”
came and Maximilian sent the women
v “Heinrich was my brother. Not a good
into hiding. We needed someone fast to
brother (or a good husband or father for
get to Swanzi to fetch help and I
that matter) but he was my brother
volunteered. Thought I’d be the hero! I
nonetheless. I pray that his soul has found
slipped out, managed to avoid the
the rest it never had in life.”
Mutant guards and reached the town, but
I still failed. I didn’t know how many
HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET OUT
Mutants there were and I wasn’t able to
persuade the authorities to put together a OF THIS SITUATION?
big troop. I was just a kid, not a politician.
Eventually, a commander saw I was a ENID
preacher of the God-Emperor and v “What do you mean, get out? It’s already
recognized a brother in the faith. I too late for me.”
remember riding out in front, guiding
this army and thinking I’d be the big BROTHER WILHELM
hero. But I wasn’t. I was a fool.” v “We will pray, and if needs be fight. But
always pray. We learnt once that mortal
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MAX, powers alone cannot help us.”
HEINRICH OR BROTHER WILHELM?

ENID
v “Maximilian is a good man. A little too
interested in money and not enough in
people, otherwise he’d have noticed how
rotten Heinrich was. But so long as my
husband was running things well, I don’t
think Maximilian wanted to see what he
did to me and Dieter.”
 THE STEIGER HOUSE WHAT HAPPENED HERE BEFORE, OR
The Steiger House is the largest and fanciest WHY ARE THERE SO FEW OLDER
building in the village, fitted out with expensive, WOMEN?
carved wood paneling. It even has a fashionable
drawing room, newly-built specially to receive BEATTE
Helena, but now where Beatte is holding court. v “I wasn’t here - I’d married out to my late
Maximilian, Waldmann and Andre meanwhile father’s business partner in Swanzi. But I
have retired upstairs to the master library (in fact know my brother all too well. Do you
it is Maximilian’s parlor, although there is one really think that useless lump could parley
shelf of ornately bound - but never read - books) with the leader of the Mutants? Don’t
to consult. make me laugh! Martyr forgive me, but it
wouldn’t surprise me if he’d sold those
When the Characters talk to the women in women out in return for being left alone.
Maximilian's house (or whenever you feel it’s I heard he’d had enough of Johanna by
appropriate) have them make a (Routine +10%) the end, although I can’t imagine he
Scrutinize Test. Upon success, they notice that wanted to lose his child Katharina as well.
although the men of the village are of all different Why are the women so young? Ha! Why
ages, almost all the women except Beatte are do you think old men marry young girls?
under the age of 30 years. Succeeding a (Standard Because they can!”
+/-0%) Folklore Test reveals they are from this
general region, but not the immediate locality: FEMALE VILLAGER
they’ve clearly married in from elsewhere (likely v “It was a terrible tragedy what happened
Swanzi). then. I hear they scared the Mutants off,
but not before those creatures had taken
WHO DO YOU THINK WAS their wives and babies. It’s just too
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACK ON horrific to think about. We all made the
THE WAGONS? best marriages we could. Sure, we’d all
like someone who’s young and can
BEATTE support us, but in the real world the two
v “My idiot brother’s saying it’s bandits? don’t usually go together. These are
Don’t be ridiculous. These are Mutants, decent men, for the most part. Enid drew
you mark my words. I knew all that stuff the short straw.”
about Maximilian scaring them away last
time was nonsense. If my brother did it, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MAX,
there was no way it was going to stick! I HEINRICH OR BROTHER WILHELM?
just hope I can help poor Helena.”
BEATTE
FEMALE VILLAGER v “Maximilian thinks he’s the center of the
v “Well, Maximilian is saying it’s bandits. world but he’s a failure, just like our father
And Andre is backing him up. That was. He’ll never amount to anything.
Beatte is just a bitter old woman. Just Trying to marry up is just the latest
because her husband died and left her pathetic attempt to put on airs. I feel sorry
penniless, that doesn’t mean she has to for the girl, Helena - she’s got proper
take it out on her brother.”
 breeding and he’s just dragging her HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET OUT
down.” OF THIS SITUATION?
v “Heinrich had potential, but between that
low-born peasant girl he married on the BEATTE
one hand and my brother on the other, he v “Maybe my brother will buy them off like
never got to use it. I think he had a soft last time.”
spot for no-hopers. That’s probably why
he stayed by his drunk of a brother as FEMALE VILLAGER
well.” v “The men will come up with some plan.
v “Brother Wilhelm is a drunkard, there’s We’ll fight alongside them, if we have to.
not much else to say about him!” We’ll not let them get their hands on us
or our children - not after what they did
FEMALE VILLAGER to Dieter and his father.”
v “Maximilian is a gentleman. We’ve
always felt a bit sorry for him, what with
him losing his wife and baby daughter all LABORER'S QUARTERS &
those years ago. There had been a bit of STOCKADE
tension between him and Waldmann Flimsy structures erected as dormitories for the
over taking over the business, but he foreign laborers, the Laborer’s Quarters are set up
always respected his son, maybe for his against the side of the Stockade, away from the
mother’s sake, and Helena should solve center of the village. When not working (or on
any inheritance issues!” sentry duty), the laborers wile away their time
v “Heinrich was a vicious thug. Enid said here, drinking and gambling on small tables
nothing ’til now because she feared between the rows of cots. The Stockade is a
Heinrich would take it out on Dieter, but standard wooden affair, although poorly
everyone knew what was happening. maintained. Most parts have a walkway along the
Occasionally, if she heard Heinrich had inside, although breaks mean that it’s impossible
been drinking, she’d send Dieter to stay to walk the entire circuit without clambering
with one of us and she’d get beaten twice down one ladder and up the next.
over: once for herself and once for the
missing boy. Martyr help me, but if The Characters may inquire about the village’s
anyone deserved what was done to him, it defensive provisions at the Stockade. They
was Heinrich.” consist of little more than the local militia,
v “We don’t see much of Brother Wilhelm, comprised of both villagers and laborers,
because he’s either in the temple, in his patrolling the Stockade. In an emergency, they
cups or sleeping it off. But by all accounts, are to shout to a runner who is to ring a bell hung
he is different from Heinrich as day from up outside the door of The Cowardly Orx. The
night.” men in the village will then gather with their
weapons to be told what to do by Andre.
Characters with suggestions for improving the
system will be referred to Andre. Volunteers for
sentry duty will be welcomed with a shrug, but
they must use their own equipment.
WHO YOU THINK WAS HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET OUT
RESPONSIBLE? OF THIS SITUATION?

LABORERS LABORERS
v “They’re saying it’s bandits, but that’s v “We’ll fight on the Stockade, if it comes
nonsense. No bandit does that to a little to it. But there’s no way we’re sticking our
boy. My bet’s on Mutants.” necks out for a stranger, no matter how
fairly he’s treated us.”
WHAT HAPPENED HERE BEFORE, OR
WHY ARE THERE SO FEW OLDER
WOMEN?

LABORERS
v “I don’t believe half the things I hear
about what happened back then. If they
were so heroic, how come their women
got snatched? Still, if you had the chance
to marry over again, wouldn’t you pick a
nice young thing?”

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MAX,

HEINRICH OR BROTHER WILHELM?

LABORERS
v “Maximilian is a decent boss. Pays a fair
wage and sometimes even stops by to ask
how we’re doing.”
v “Good riddance to Heinrich, though:
we’re workers, not slaves, and he didn’t
treat his little boy much better. It’s just
such a shame about that kid.”
v “Brother Wilhelm’s a harmless drunk,
really, but no fun to share a pint with - he
just gets bitter and depressed and starts
crying. Seems to have sobered up today,
though. And not a moment too soon!”
 PART VI: THE PLAN
As the Characters start to wind up their investigations, or earlier if they’ve strongly insisted on seeing
Maximilian or Andre, they will see Klaus running towards them. He insists they come with him to the
Steiger House, because Maximilian wants to talk to them. He doesn’t know anything more than that.

THE MEETING wardens of Swanzi would have reported it

The Characters are led through the ground floor, while they were there;
crowded with Helena, Bibi, Beatte and others. v The only Mutants who are familiar with
They walk upstairs to the master library where Vorberg and who know about the cave are
they see Maximilian, Waldmann and Andre the Orx who attacked twelve years ago
sitting around a table. Maximilian is smoking a and killed his mother and sister.
pipe. After tipping Klaus a few pennies and
dismissing him, he beckons the Characters to Characters should make a (Routine +10%)
come inside and sit. There is one fewer chair than Awareness Test. On a success, they notice that
needed, so Andre gets up and stands by the all the time he’s talking, Waldmann is playing
window instead. Maximilian introduces his son with the talisman around his neck. Any
Waldmann again, even if the Characters have Character keeping an eye on Andre or who
makes (Hard -20%) Scrutinize Test notices that
already met him, and explains that no one knows while Waldmann is talking, Andre observes him
the woods like Waldmann does. He gestures his intently, with a pained, emotional expression on
son to speak and Waldmann explains what they his face.
know so far:
After Waldmann has summarized what they
v As the Characters probably know, the know, he pauses to allow the Characters to ask
story about the bandits is a lie - the any questions. Then, Maximilian has a proposal.
convoy was attacked by Mutants (if the He says they don’t know why the Orx have come
Characters somehow failed to work this back and not sure why they haven’t directly like
out at the battlefield, this is the before. It could be that they are playing with the
opportunity to rectify that); village, terrorizing them. Or it could be that there
v When the bodies of Heinrich and Dieter aren’t as many and so they are attacking
were found, Waldmann was able to track opportunistically. Either way, it is important to
their killers back as far as the Old Hill find out as much about them as possible: how
Road - he is sure the Mutants are many they are, who is leading them and so on.
camping in the cave under the summits of
the Horned Monk, where they would be Maximilian suggests that his son lead the
in a strong defensive position since that Characters on a reconnaissance of the camp.
road is the only approach a large group Waldmann knows a secret way up the Horned
could take; Monk that’s accessible to a small group and will
v There were no reports or even rumors of bring them up behind the ridge, granting a view
a Mutant band in the area - wherever they of the cave where the Orx are expected to be.
came from, they came directly to Because the approach is around the side of the
Vorberg, bypassing any other targets hill, the entire sortie should take a day. Once the
along the way. Otherwise, the road Characters have come back with the information,
they can collectively decide what to do. If they see Waldmann will modestly concede that he knows
a chance to undertake something, they should, of his way around. If the Characters try to ask for
course, try it. The Characters probably have additional payment, Maximilian will look angry,
questions, although at this stage neither his son disappointed and Andre regards them
Maximilian, Waldmann nor Andre have many with utter contempt, but promises of an
answers. Andre and the guards have to stay in the unspecified reward will be made. Such requests
village to help protect it if there’s an attack, but will not net them any friends or new patrons in
Maximilian stresses how well his son knows the the future.
woods.

PART VII: THE SORTIE

The Characters spend the night at The Cowardly Orx (paid for by Maximilian), but are woken by Klaus
before first light. As they are awoken, they will not recover their Peril Condition Track completely, only
to Imperiled (treat this as if they were Resting in Unsafe Places, as indicated in Chapter 9: Hazards and
Healing). Characters should now state what they are taking with them on the journey.

Going downstairs they see Waldmann and can search the cottage for items they might have
Andre breaking their fast together. As they enter forgotten or not have, although Waldmann will
insist they leave payment on the kitchen table.
the room, Andre says a few words to Waldmann You can make available anything you feel is
and, laying his hand on his shoulder, leaves the reasonable. Suggestions include: rope, arrows,
building. A hot, nourishing breakfast has been traps, torches, foodstuffs, smelling salts, tincture
prepared for the Characters and Klaus is an and laudanum.
attentive server, both to them and to Waldmann,
who often has a kind word for him. Characters must elect to fill the Roles required
for Wilderness Travel: Guide, Survivalist and
WILDERNESS TRAVEL: Scout. Waldmann will act as a Guide.
INTO THE WOODS It will take about half a day to reach the Horned
As soon as they’re finished eating, Waldmann Monk, which is only a Short Stretch (requiring
leads them out into the first light. After leaving one Toughness Test per Character, regardless if
the village and a short walk through the fields, they fill a Role or not). The route is considered
the Party enters the forest. Characters who pass to be Challenging Terrain. Additionally, the
an (Easy +20%) Survival Test notice that this part journey to the Horned Monk is of absolutely No
of the forest is cultivated for firewood, fruit and Danger from a Threat Level perspective. This is
for pigs to roam in. Light has dawned in earnest a Fail Forward Skill Test. Even if a Character
by the time they reach a charcoal-burner’s fails or Critically Fails their Role Check as a
cottage. The cottage is well-tended but currently Scout; instead, penalize the entire Party with
unoccupied: Waldmann goes to check on the 1D10+1 mental Peril from anxiety of the danger
owner, Old Tom and his wife Lady Ursula, but ahead.
there’s no sign of struggle so Waldmann assumes
(correctly) they just went to Swanzi. Characters
OLD TOM & HIS WIFE Athletics Test to not fatigue out as they climb.
Old Tom is not really old - that’s just a name This is a Fail Forward Skill Test. Failing this
traditionally given to whoever owns this Skill Test allows them to climb to the summit,
cottage. Old Tom’s wife was a herbalist and is but they suffer 1D10+1 physical Peril from
given the honorific title of “Lady”, named Lady hardship. Critically Failing this Test results in
Ursula. She tends to the village’s sick and climbing up to the summit, only to suffer the
delivers their babies. Lady Ursula was an aforementioned Peril and utter misfortune, as
apothecary, and the mother of Johanna. they fall 6 yards. They must try again to climb up
if so.
THE HORNED MONK
After the cottage, the forest turns wild and soon At this point, the Party needs to determine a
a natural rock wall rises to their right - the edge marching order (Waldmann goes in front) and
of the Horned Monk. They continue through the the Characters should tell you what weapons they
forest, keeping the wall on their right until, about have ready, but they will need one hand free to
two hours after they departed the village, balance themselves. It’s approaching mid-
Waldmann seems to disappear behind a rocky morning by this stage and the weather is getting
outcrop. As they follow him round, they can see warm. In addition, the slope is treacherous
a crack in the cliff face up which they can clamber underfoot. Inexperienced outdoorsmen will be
to the summit, 6 yards above. Characters with slipping and cursing their way up the hill. This
Athletics (Focus: Climb) need not make a Skill will require no additional Skill Tests.
Test. Others must succeed a (Routine +10%)

PART VIII: AMBUSH!

After about an hour of hard scrambling, Waldmann tells the Characters that they’re almost at the tree
line. Just beyond that is the ridge, from which they’ll be able to look down on the Orx encampment.

At this point, have all the Characters make a vigorous attempt to persuade him runs the risk of
(Standard +/-0%) Eavesdrop Test. Those who provoking a loud outburst of rage. Let the
succeed hear someone following them. Those Characters debate what to do with Waldmann,
who Critically Succeed notice someone following but Klaus won’t go back alone and they have no
them, and hear movement up ahead (but further one to spare to go with him, so ultimately he will
away). have to come along. The Characters should
determine where Klaus is going to be in the
If the Characters mention the noise behind marching order.
Waldmann, he nods, whispers for them to stop
and then slips away. If not, he tells them to stop Shortly after setting off again, the Characters
and slips away on his own. A few minutes later glimpse gaps in the trees ahead: the tree line
they hear someone shout in surprise and see before the ridge. The Character directly behind
Waldmann drag the dim-witted Klaus out of the Waldmann should then make a (Standard +/-
brush! Klaus has been following the Party 0%) Awareness Test, or an (Easy +20%)
because Waldmann is his hero and he wants to Awareness Test if they previously heard a noise
help. He simply refuses to go back and any more up ahead). Upon success, they see someone
release an arrow towards Waldmann, providing a
moment to react. If they push Waldmann out of
the way with a successful (Challenging -10%)
Coordination Test, the arrow still finds purchase,
but Waldmann is Grievously Wounded and
suffers from a Cerebral Contusion (reference the
Grievous Injury table in Chapter 11: Game
Mastery). Otherwise, failure results in
Waldmann being Slain! by the arrow. The
shooter then makes a break for it up the hill.

COMBAT ENCOUNTER:
FAILED TO CAPTURE!
SURPRISE TURN If the Characters fail to catch the shooter, Gregor
The shooter is a humanoid figure (a Low Orx (who is Johanna’s half Orx child) warns his
named Gregor, but do not inform players who or mother about them. Gregor’s tracks cannot be
what race this figure it yet), somewhat under found beyond the ridge, no matter what Skills or
normal human height and is 18 yards away. Magick they may possess.
Allow the Characters to take one Surprise Turn
in the Initiative Ladder. There is no need to THE SHOOTER CAPTURED!
generate Gregor’s placement on the Initiative Gregor’s talisman prevents his killing, so he will
Ladder at this time. Note that due to the amount probably end up the Characters’ captive. The
of cover, scrub and uneven land (otherwise Hard shooter looks like a powerfully-built teenager,
Terrain), any Attack Action is at a (Hard -20%) but his skin is sallow and his heavy brows are
Difficulty Rating. If they cannot manage to topped by a sloped forehead, which in turn tapers
subdue or kill Gregor on the Surprise Turn, a off into a head of sparse, greasy black hair. He
Chase Scene immediately commences. has a pronounced underbite, so that two overly
large, sharp teeth poke up over his top lip. His
CHASE SCENE: HOT PURSUIT nose is snout-like and he has deep-set, piggish
After the players all take a Surprise Turn, the eyes.
shooter begins to flee, initiating a Chase Scene.
There is only one Escapee (the Low Orx), whose Allow the players to speculate on what Gregor is.
Movement is 9, Brawn Bonus (BB) is 3, and has The description should leave open the possibility
a Head Start. This is a Short Chase, set to 3 that he’s an Orx, but something isn’t quite right.
Rounds. Succeeding a (Hard -20%) Folklore Test would
indicate that he’s likely half Orx and half human,
and young in mind despite his adult body.
COMPLICATION: UNDERGROWTH
Due to the Hard Terrain, it will snag and pull at
Gregor will have to be restrained and stopped
the Character’s boots. This is the only
from screaming somehow. If Waldmann is dead,
Complication you should introduce into the
then a devastated Klaus will have to be kept from
Chase Scene. Pursuers who meet this condition
killing him. If Gregor is searched or given
must succeed a (Routine +10%) Coordination
medical attention, then the Characters find a
Test or trip, or reduce their current Pursuit Value
talisman like Waldmann’s. A successful
by -3.
(Challenging -10%) Incantation Test made by a
Character who has either Arcane or Divine v He’s very offended if called a Mutant,
Magick as a function of their Profession will Kobold or Orx - Mother says he’s better
recognize the talisman as being potentially than them;
Magickal. v If asked where he got his talisman, he’ll
first refuse to answer. However, threats or
SOCIAL INTRIGUE: a successful (Routine +10%) Intimidate
or Interrogation Test will convince him
INTERROGATION OF GREGOR to admit that Mother gave it to him;
Attempting to interrogate Gregor immediately v He doesn’t know why they came to the
triggers a Social Intrigue event. Treat Gregor as village: Mother brought them here and
if he were of Lowborn decent for purposes of she’s always right, no matter what Gwar
role-play. Additionally, he is of a Hostile and the others say - after all, the stupid
Disposition. Characters should pull him away Orx normally fight each other all the time
from the ridge, so that any cries cannot be heard but they not when Mother’s in charge;
by wandering Mutants. v Mother has told him that the villagers
deserve to die, but he doesn’t know more
Follow the normal rules for Social Intrigue as a plans, just that they’ll “be sorry”;
Complex Exchange, but in this case, those who v He didn’t like what happened to Dieter,
pick Guile or Intimidate for their Social Tactic because he liked him, but “...Mother
will have a greater effect, being favorable Skills. knows best”;
Remember, let the players speak to one another v If the Characters reconnoiter the camp
above board to discuss what they wish to later and ask about the stew, Gregor
accomplish and the risks associated with it before doesn’t know anything about it. He says
they fully commit to the Social Intrigue event. it’s something Mother and Katharina
take care of and it’s only for the Orx.
Gregor is just a kid. He’ll be fiercely protective of
“Mother”, and also not very bright. He’ll let slip
various relevant comments if questioned, with It might occur to the Characters to use Gregor’s
more information to be given for good role- and Waldmann’s talismans to show them they’re
playing and successful use of relevant skills: linked somehow. The Characters will have to go
about this very cleverly for it to have a good
v He’ll keep threatening that Mother will outcome: even if they accept that the talismans
“zap” the Characters and that Gwar, a must be from the same person, both parties will
High Orx lieutenant, will eat them; he assume that the other has somehow robbed or
might also refer to his sister who will kill exploited their Mother and become very angry
them with lightning eyes; and upset. A successful (Challenging -10%)
v He claims there are “loads and loads” of Scrutinize Test will yield that both Gregor and
Orx in their group. A successful (Routine Waldmann share some similarities in the way
+10%) Folklore Test will tell that it’s they purse their lips before they speak, and
unusual for Orx to use numbers beyond passing features which even at a cursory glance
one, two, “loads” and “loads an’ loads”; appear akin to one another.
 PART IX: RECONNAISSANCE
At some point, the Characters will have to do what they were sent for: reconnoiter the camp. They can
get a partial view from the ridge down to the base of the peaks, where the camp is set up outside a cave,
but in order to get a better look someone will have to sneak closer.

THE APPROACH have them make a (Challenging -10%)

The camp is about 150 yards away and the slope Awareness Test. Don’t tell them what this is for
is steep and overgrown with bushes (the Horned yet; merely tally up the number of successful
Monk is only “bald” from a distance). The results from the Awareness Tests.
Characters sneak towards the camp in three,
methodical stages and must succeed a series of 50 YARDS OUT
Stealth Tests to not grow unnerved at the Each Character must attempt a final (Standard
approach or alert the Kobold patrols. For the first +/-0%) Stealth Test. This is a Fail Forward Skill
two stages, the Character can only check for sight Test. Success indicates they manage to sneak
with Awareness Tests - it’s too far out to make forward without alerting the patrols of their
out any words. For the last stage, the Character presence. If they fail, it doesn’t spoil hidden
must check for listening with an Eavesdrop Test. movement, but they suffer 1D10+1 mental Peril.
Tally up all successful Awareness and Eavesdrop Additionally, have them make a (Standard +/-
Tests, counting Critically Succeeded Tests as 0%) Eavesdrop Test. Don’t tell them what this is
three successes instead. You’ll need these to for yet; merely tally up the number of successful
reference the tables below to indicate what is results from the Eavesdrop Tests.
learned by the Characters, based on the totals.
Tally up all successful Awareness and Eavesdrop
150 YARDS OUT Tests separately, counting Critically Succeeded
Each Character must attempt an (Easy +20%) Tests as three successes instead. You’ll need these
Stealth Test. This is a Fail Forward Skill Test. to reference the tables below to indicate what is
Success indicates they manage to sneak forward learned by the Characters.
without alerting the patrols of their presence. If
they fail, it doesn’t spoil hidden movement, but CRITICALLY FAILED STEALTH TEST?
they suffer 1D10+1 mental Peril. Additionally, Even if a Kobold patrol hears something,
have them make a (Hard -20%) Awareness Test. however, it may not understand what’s
Don’t tell them what this is for yet; merely tally happening. No attack is expected from that
up the number of successful results from the direction and things frequently move in the
Awareness Tests. undergrowth or dislodge from the slope anyway.
Whenever a Character Critically Fails a Stealth
100 YARDS OUT Test, the Character suffers 1D10+1 mental Peril
Each Character must attempt an (Routine +10%) and potentially draws a Kobold patrol to them.
Stealth Test. This is a Fail Forward Skill Test. Both the Character and Kobold will make
Success indicates they manage to sneak forward Opposed Tests. The Character should make
without alerting the patrols of their presence. If another Stealth Test at the Difficulty Rating as
they fail, it doesn’t spoil hidden movement, but above, against the Kobold’s Awareness Test. The
they suffer 1D10+1 mental Peril. Additionally, Kobold’s Difficulty Rating will be the opposite of
the Character’s. This means that if the Character
was making a (Routine +10%) Stealth Test, the v Two successful Awareness Tests: as
Kobold makes an Opposed Test with Awareness, above, and a rough figure for the numbers
that will be (Challenging -10%). Be sure that the of Kobolds and Orx;
Character reports their Degrees of Success, so v Three successful Awareness Tests: as
you may compare it to the Kobold's result. above, and you can make out some
activity: some are packing equipment,
If the Character wins, the Kobold dismisses the some are eating and there is no fights
sound as unimportant. If the patrol wins, a breaking out among them;
number of Kobolds equal to the number of v Four successful Awareness Tests: as
Characters immediately engages from either 150, above, and the Kobolds are divided into
100 or 50 yards away. These Kobolds are groups, each ordered about by one Low
particularly stupid, and will not raise alarm back Orx. They are very disciplined. There are
at the camp; they’re headstrong, and believe by also three figures (one noticeably bigger
killing the Characters and returning their corpses than the others) in the center of the camp,
to the camp afterwards will please Mother and outside the cave and centered around a
impress the High Orx Gwar. Klaus will cower cauldron;
and hide during this attack. v Five successful Awareness Tests or more:
MUTANT ENCAMPMENT FORCES as above, and exact numbers for Kobolds
and Low Orx; the group at the center
You should adjust the number of Kobolds in the consists of two humans and a High Orx.
camp, according to the strength of the Party. You can make out the activity in detail:
There should be far too many to tackle en each group of Kobolds is taking turns to
masse, but few enough that they could divide have breakfast from the cauldron; as one
their forces in a way that gives piecemeal attacks group eats, another prepares to move out
a chance of success. Add a number of Low Orx, and another seems to be about to sleep;
equal to the number of Characters, and three all appear very disciplined;
additional Kobolds per Low Orx. Note also that v Six successful Awareness Tests or more:
Johanna is not an experienced military as above, and among the two humans,
commander, so let her make mistakes should one is an older woman and the other a
the Characters attempt to engage them into a younger woman. They are serving stew
fight. It is highly recommended that you use the from the cauldron to the Orx and the
Underling Rules for the Kobolds both in the Kobolds. The humans aren’t restrained
camp and on patrol. and the older woman seems to be telling
Reference the table below to give out different the Mutants what to do. Both women are
information, depending whether the Party’s Skill wearing a similar talisman, strikingly the
Tests were successful or Critically Succeeded. same as the one found in the Shrine of the
Depending on how many Characters succeeded God-Emperor back in Vorberg (same as
their Awareness Tests, it lends further insight: Waldmann’s and Gregor’s as well).

v One successful Awareness Test: a rough RECONOITTER THE CAMP

figure for the number of Mutants in Listening in to the camp is resolved somewhat
camp. differently, since it partly depends on the
Character’s language skills. If the Character is in
the third stage of approach, then he can hear the MOTHER KNOWS BEST
Mutant's conversation. The stew in fact contains an herbal concoction
called Mother Knows Best. Anyone who eats it
v One successful Eavesdrop Test: they must make a (Hard -20%) Resolve Test. Upon
understand that the Orx are telling the failure, the victim regards whomever he thinks
Kobolds to eat up their stew and made the stew with filial loyalty. They’ll follow
arranging guard duties and patrols; her instructions and defend her to the hilt. This
v Two successful Eavesdrop Tests: as does not make them stupid, anymore than a son’s
above, and make out exactly where the loyalty to his mother makes him stupid, and they
guards will be and hears references to won’t necessarily agree with what they’re asked to
“mum and her lovely stew”. do and may object. But ultimately, “family”
v Three successful Eavesdrop Tests: as comes first. The effect lasts for a day and is
above, and can make out the local renewed automatically if the victim eats more
common language being spoken by the stew by the end of that period. If not, the effect
older woman, although at this distance he gradually weakens, starting with a more
can’t understand what is being said; conditional loyalty in the second day, to reluctant
v Four successful Eavesdrop Tests: as consent in the third and finally freedom on the
above, and understand generally that the fourth, after which the Character gains a +10
woman is berating the High Orx, calling Base Chance to their Resolve Tests in the future
him an idiot and referring to to Resist the effects of the stew.
“newcomers” and “until nightfall”;
v Five successful Eavesdrop Tests: as LAY IN WAIT
above, and understands that the older If the Character waits to observe a little longer,
woman (who is referred to as “Mother”) have them specify roughly how long (a few
is berating the High Orx for having left minutes, several minutes or longer - although the
his post early the day before; Characters can change their mind at each stage
v Six successful Eavesdrop Tests or more: and leave):
as above, scouts have reported that people v After a few minutes, half the Mutants
might have slipped into the village before leave the camp along the Old Hill Road
sundown. The High Orx, who’s called under Gwar’s leadership;
“...Gwar” by one of the women, is not to v Over the course of several minutes,
leave the road until nightfall. They another quarter follows in a series of small
overhear the older woman telling the groups, each under the command of a
younger one, “Katharina, to go look for Low Orx (they’re going to set up
Gregor - he’s wandered off again”. sentries);
v A few moments later, the final quarter are
divided between a few guards and the rest
who sleep;
v If the Characters stays longer, Katharina
starts to walk in the direction of the
Characters!

Should the Characters leave before Katharina

starts heading his way, they sneak away without
raising alert and may head back to Vorberg to Failure doesn’t necessarily spoil their hidden
report what they saw. movement, but instead inflicts 1D10+1 mental
Peril. Characters who Critically Fail their Stealth
If, however, Katharina is on the move, their Test suffers 1D10+1 mental Peril and
position becomes much pricklier. The Character immediately draws Katharina towards their area.
must sneak away from the camp in three, She is actively looking for Gregor, so her sense of
methodical stages and must succeed a series of perception is far more acute. However, she is
Stealth Tests to not grow unnerved as they move unsuspecting that the Party is there, assuming it’s
away and avoid Katharina. The first Stealth Test Gregor. She’s clamber up the slope, calling out to
is (Standard +/-0%), the second (Routine +10%) Gregor (or in this case, the Characters).
and the final one is (Easy +20%). These are Fail
Forward Skill Tests.

PART X: GIRL INTERRUPTER

The group has a wide range of options. Strictly speaking, they only have to return to Vorberg and report.
But a good group will have worked out by now that Waldmann’s mother is the head of the Orxish
WAAAR! Horde and she is the one who is inflicting the siege on the village. Remember, too that
Maximilian has told them to take action if they see the opportunity. This should all require discussion,
but if that drags or begins to go around in circles or if you otherwise feel it would be dramatically
appropriate (e.g. if the Characters still haven’t discovered that there’s something unusual about these
Mutants), then they are interrupted by Katharina’s arrival.

PLAYTEST NOTES COMBAT ENCOUNTER:

Obviously, depending on what the Party’s scout FIGHT KATHARINA
did, Katharina may be on the way anyway or If the Characters fight Katharina, they will find
even ahead of them. Adapt the encounter her a more dangerous opponent than she looks,
appropriately. but they should be able to dispatch of her.
Fortunately, the sounds of battle will not carry to
ESCAPE KATHARINA the camp unless the Characters are foolish
Katharina has no reason to suspect anyone hostile enough to engage her near the ridge. Note that
is up here, so she is calling out Gregor’s name, the Magick in Katharina’s talisman was used up
and the Party will have one opportunity to escape when she was four years old: if the Characters do
her sight. If all Characters succeed an (Easy something that would kill her, then she’s dead!
+20%) Stealth Test, they take action to hide Klaus will cower and hide during this attack.
before she can spot them (giving that Character
a Surprise Turn if they initiate combat). If a
Character fails their Stealth Test, then Katharina SOCIAL INTRIGUE:
automatically spots them about 50 yards out. She INTERROGATION OF
will cast Trackless Step, and sneak away to warn KATHARINA
Mother. Assume she casts and sneaks away
If they capture her, she turns out to be a tougher
successfully.
nut to crack than her half-brother, but also knows
much more about her mother and the village. v Her mother will lead the Mutants to
Treat Katharina as if she were Lowborn for glory (in this case, Katharina isn’t so sure
purposes of role-play. Additionally, she is of a - she’s trying to reconcile the spirits’
Hostile Disposition. Katharina cares about promises to her with not having to take
Gregor, so threatening him will net a bonus to the leadership from her mother; in fact
their parley, or pointing out the parallels between she knows that the tribe has been heavily
the fates of Dieter and the children twelve years depleted since her mother repurposed it
ago will be beneficial to get her to talk. for her vengeance crusade).

Follow the normal rules for Social Intrigue as a The most effective way of getting Katharina’s
Complex Exchange, but in this case, those who help, however, is using Waldmann’s talisman to
pick Charm or Intimidate for their Social Tactic prove he survived the original attack. (If
will have a greater effect, being favorable Skills. Waldmann is alive, he will also be willing to
Remember, let the players speak to one another believe she is his sister when he sees her talisman,
above board to discuss what they wish to and thus also begrudgingly accept Gregor.)
accomplish and the risks associated with it before Katharina has fond early memories of him and if
they fully commit to Social Intrigue. he is alive she will be eager to tell her mother and
if not then she will be horrified at what has
Katharina knows that: happened. In any case, she will be willing to act
v Her father betrayed the women and as go-between in a parley. A successful (Easy
infants twelve years ago; +20%) Scrutinize Test will yield that Katharina,
v Heinrich was part of the betrayal and Gregor and Waldmann all share many
deserved what he got; similarities in the way they purse their lips before
v The villagers are to feel the same terror they speak, and passing features which even at a
the women did before they all die; cursory glance appear akin to one another.
v The stew pacifies the Mutant host;

PART XI: RESOLUTIONS

In the end the Characters face a wide range of options as to what to do next. You should have an idea on
the non-player Character’s motivations to craft an appropriate, morally complex and maybe even moving
resolution. There follow some suggestions, which you should adapt and combine as needed.

RETURN TO VORBERG behind must succeed a (Hard -20% Resolve Test)

Going back as a whole group is an option if or be made victim to Fear once their companions
Waldmann is alive, as it isn’t safe to leave him are out of sight.
behind. The other problem is that the Characters
probably have Gregor and possibly Katharina If some of the Party stay behind and Katharina
captive. Either they can bring the captives back has not yet come looking for Gregor, then you
to the village with them, or some of them can stay might have this happen while the others are
behind with the captives and Waldmann. This away, switching between the two halves of the
should be an incredibly dangerous prospect; if group when each reaches a cliff-hanger.
they elect this option, those Characters who stay
IF WALDMANN IS ALIVE... equal to the number of player Characters. This
If Waldmann is alive, they can take the hidden will doubtlessly be a difficult fight, and players
path back to Vorberg. It will take about half a day will likely have to sacrifice Fate Points to make it
to reach Vorberg along the same path. There isn’t out alive. This is by design to emphasize how
a need to use Wilderness Travel again, however dangerous Gwar and the other Orx are. Barring
have each player make a (Standard +/-0%) that, Characters may wish to run away. In this
Toughness Test to make it back before the case, Gwar and the Orx will not give chase for
Mutant host arrives. This is a Fail Forward Skill too long. Instead, they’ll rely on the remainder of
Test. If successful, they make it back to Vorberg their forces to eventually catch up to the players
to warn the others in time. If they fail, they still after they’ve ran back to Vorberg.
make it back in time but are exhausted, suffering
2D10+2 physical Peril from the trip. If any one Note that Gwar is covered in a disease called
of them Critically Fail, the Character not only Orx-molt, and the Characters will contract it if
suffers 2D10+2 physical Peril, but the party will they are made to Bleed or suffer Injury from
stumble across Gwar and a band of Orx on their Gwar’s attack. See Chapter 9: Hazards and
way to burn Old Tom’s cottage down. Healing to learn more.
PLAYTEST NOTES
IF WALDMANN IS DEAD...
In play testing, the Characters sent Klaus back
If Waldmann is dead, they will have no choice
alone, later finding his disemboweled corpse
but to take the Old Hill Road. Reference the
nailed to the remnants of the burnt out cottage’s
same guidelines as above, but the Toughness
door.
Test is (Challenging -10%) instead. Upon
Critical Failure, however, the party will stumble BACK IN VORBERG
headlong into Gwar and a band of Orx setting The Characters’ reception when they eventually
Old Tom’s cottage ablaze. reach the village will strongly depend on what
news they bring. The villagers will gather as they
OLD TOM’S COTTAGE arrive and pester them with questions about
Gwar and the Mutant warband burning Old Waldmann and his absence. Whatever they
Tom’s cottage down en route to the road. The answer, the Characters will soon be asked into a
Character with the highest Awareness value and private meeting with Maximilian and Andre in
Gwar will make Opposed Tests. The Character the master library. If Waldmann is dead, then
should make a (Routine +10%) Stealth Test both will be emotionally shattered, although it
against Gwar’s (Challenging -10%) Awareness takes a successful (Standard +/-0%) Scrutinize
Test. Be sure that the Character reports their Test to notice this in Andre’s case. If Waldmann
Degrees of Success, so you may compare it to lives, then their first priority will be getting him
Gwar’s result. back and Andre will personally lead his guards
with the Characters to do so. While the others
If the Character wins, Gwar and his warband are putting together a stretcher for Waldmann,
ignores them as they continue to set fire to the Andre will ask to be taken to reconnoiter the
cottage. If Gwar wins, he and the warband will camp for himself.
fight the Party to the last man. Not even Gregor
or Katharina will be able to satisfy Gwar’s rage at ANDRE’S COUNSEL
their perceived treachery. Gwar is a High Orx, When deciding what to do, Andre will counsel
and his warband consists of a number of Low Orx the decapitation of the tribe on the theory that
without leadership, the Mutants will move on. PLAYTEST NOTES
He will order all the men armed and onto the During this playtest, the Characters were able
Stockade, leaving either Juergen or the wounded to successfully convince the villagers that
Waldmann in charge of the village’s defense. The Maximilian had sold out the womenfolk.
other guards he will take with him and issue to However, this came a day later after returning
the Characters that they execute the to Vorberg, once Johanna and the WAAAR!
decapitation. It may well be, of course, that in the Horde was at the gates of the village. This
process they and Andre discover more about resulted in the village taking shelter inside the
Johanna, Katharina and their history than the Cowardly Orx, and while the Orx burned the
Characters had previously (perhaps by capturing village, the old timers of Vorberg trotted
Katharina if she hasn’t been captured already). If Maximilian to the back kitchens and tore him
Waldmann is dead, then Andre will dismiss any into pieces, as the other foreign villagers and
thoughts of parley or similar and just want to kill young women fled (and were met with the
(although he’ll justify it by pointing to Dieter’s deadly swords of the Orx). During another
death as evidence that Johanna can’t be reasoned playtest, Characters managed to head back to
with). If Waldmann is alive, Andre might be Swanzi to bring reinforcements from Franz
persuaded to behave differently. Raffke’s stable. However, upon returning, the
WAAAR! Horde was positioned outside the
EXPOSE MAXIMILIAN gates of Vorberg as the villagers were huddled
Even if the Characters have found out the truth inside. The players managed to broker a deal
of what happened twelve years ago, it would be with Johanna to expose Maximilian and bring
under most circumstances a huge mistake to Horst before the Horde, in exchange for leaving
publicly accuse Maximilian. They simply won’t the village unmolested. Agreeing, the players
be believed, except perhaps by Enid (Beatte will went inside Vorberg and exposed the betrayal to
turn on any stranger who accuses her brother), the villagers. An angry mob dragged
and may find themselves driven from the village Maximilian from Steiger House with Horst in
with the Orxish WAAAR! Horde outside the tow, throwing them both outside the village.
gates. Even Brother Wilhelm will keep silent out Maximilian was then taken back to the camp,
of renewed shame, but that night will go back to while Horst was disemboweled in front of the
the bottle. entire village. Johanna even told the player
Characters should they ever find themselves
Likely, this will be the inevitable end of the back in the area, the WAAAR! Horde could use
Characters. Be sure to explain the risks of public “a few good men such as yourselves”. A dark
accusation, and using what you’ve learned from turn of events, to be certain.
this adventure to set up a Social Intrigue event to
handle this option.

GREGOR AS BAIT
If the Characters have Gregor with them, this
won’t be accepted as proof and nothing he says
will be believed. Maximilian will order him
locked in a tiny cage in case they can use him as
a hostage.
KATHARINA: WILD CARD PLAYTEST NOTES
If the Characters come back with Katharina, then PARLAY was the option chosen in play
a different scenario is possible. Katharina is clever testing. One Character went with Katharina to
and will remain silent unless the Characters have parley with Johanna and became her advocate
a plan that requires her to speak. She will, after eating the stew, but Johanna was
however, take a good opportunity to kill her devastated when she discovered that one son
father Maximilian (with no care for her own life), had killed the other. She agreed to leave the
assuming she isn’t privy to some other plan. village in peace, so long as the Characters
Meanwhile, both Maximilian and Brother delivered Maximilian to her “for trial”. The
Wilhelm will recognize her and, depending on Characters returned to the village and, after
how the Characters play the situation, Brother telling a distraught Maximilian of his son’s
Wilhelm may gather the courage to expose death, persuaded him to visit the grave. Once
Maximilian. Even here, though, the village there, they notified Johanna and handed him
might split down the middle between those who over after a stand-off between the entire Orxish
believe Maximilian and those who believe WAAAR! Horde and Andre’s guards. Helena
Brother Wilhelm and internecine fighting might inherited Maximilian's property and Franz used
make it too weak to resist the Mutants. the threat of exposing the Characters as Mutant
Alternatively, you might rule that the village collaborators to get out of paying them their
turns against Maximilian, who is abandoned by reward.
Horst in fear and Andre in disgust, and is chased
into his house, where he is burnt alive by the DECAPITATION!
villagers for his crime against the womenfolk The Characters may try to assassinate Johanna,
twelve years ago. assuming that she’s the one who cares about the
village and so without her the Mutants will go
PARLEY elsewhere. There is some truth to this, but only if
This is the most obvious option if the Characters Katharina is killed (or already dead) as well. If
have captured Katharina and Gregor. They also they only kill the mother, then the tribe’s spirits
have Gregor, so they can use one as a go-between will tell Katharina that the time has come to fulfil
(or to ensure safe passage for a Character envoy) her destiny. Her first goal will be to avenge her
and another as a hostage. Any Character who mother and no parley will be possible, partly
enters the camp will be offered stew by Johanna. because of her rage and partly because she will
Again, pointing out that Waldmann is still alive have committed herself entirely to the tribe and
(or that he was until Gregor killed him) is the spirits. Killing only Johanna, in other words,
probably the best way of bringing Johanna will make the villagers’ situation worse.
around. In one point she will not give in, In any case, assassinating one or both is possible,
however: she must see Maximilian suffer and die. but difficult. It would have to be done during the
She will also demand guarantees from the day, because at night the Mutants are at virtually
Characters that any agreement will be held to, full strength and can see in the dark. But during
perhaps by holding one of the Characters the day, both Johanna and Katharina are awake
hostage. and often in the cave which has only one
entrance. Disguise - perhaps Magickally - would
likely be essential, and even then the chance of
getting away is slim. A safer option would be to
shoot one of the two from some point on the
slope above the camp (see the rules for THE forest, they eventually reach Swanzi; bruised,
APPROACH, as above). It would take some battered and perhaps fewer than they set out.
time for the Mutants to arrange a proper pursuit, Conscience-stricken Characters might try to
but on the other hand the Character would likely fetch help. Unless they’re very well connected,
only have one shot. this will take some time. In any case, they arrive
back to see carnage on the road. Driven to
TERROR AGAINST TERROR desperation, the villagers tried to break out of
Combat-hungry players might want to fight a Vorberg and make their way to Swanzi but were
guerrilla war against the Mutants. This might hacked to pieces. You may wish to let Andre
look like suicide, but it has a better chance of somehow survive and have him haunt the
succeeding than is immediately apparent. The Characters’ steps as he seeks vengeance for the
Kobolds vastly outnumber the Low Orx, and death of his beloved. A mix of guilt, shame and
aren’t terribly courageous. Remember, the frustrated professional ambition will also make
Kobolds use the Underling Rules. Things have Franz eager to avenge his daughter.
been going poorly for the warband for some time
anyway, and only the stew is keeping them loyal With luck, however, the Mutants are gone and
to Johanna. In addition, Gwar is not happy with the key question is whether Maximilian has been
the current conditions and would gladly take over exposed or not. If Maximilian is alive and neither
himself. Should the Characters manage to sow betrayed nor exposed, then he pays the
fear and terror within the tribe by selective Characters the agreed amount plus triple to
ambushes, psychological tricks etc., then escort, alongside Andre and his guards, a new
confusion would reign. Somehow interfering bride token of hemp to Swanzi. There, the
with the daily ration of Mother Knows Best Characters can collect Franz’s share of the
would break the tribe very quickly. A coup reward. Andre and his guards then bid them
against Johanna would be in the offing and farewell and return to Vorberg to complete their
Katharina, divided between loyalty to her mother contract.
and the whisperings of the spirits, would act
indecisively and too late to stop Gwar taking Blackmailing Maximilian is unlikely to work:
over, then plundering the village fields in one witnesses are either compromised (Johanna and
night’s orgy of destruction before moving on. Katharina) or a known drunk (Brother Wilhelm)
and any other evidence requires someone to
vouch for its authenticity. Only the word of
EPILOGUE
extremely well-connected Characters might be
The possible outcomes fall into three or four
believed over Maximilian's. Instead, the group
broad classes, each of which implies a different
will just make an influential enemy.
epilogue. The Characters could fail to stop the
Mutants; they could get rid of them without
If Maximilian is killed or disgraced, then Andre,
uncovering and exposing Maximilian's crime or
the guards and the Characters (along with the
they could both get rid of the Orxish WAAAR!
now unemployed laborers) escort Helena back to
Horde and expose Max. There is also the
her father, who still only pays the Characters his
question of whether Waldmann survived.
half of the reward and nothing at all if he can
leverage their parlaying with the Mutants. If both
If the Characters fail to stop the Mutants, but
Waldmann and Maximilian are dead, then
themselves survive, then they’ve probably fled.
Helena inherits Maximilian's properties. If
After a terrifying pursuit and trek through the
Waldmann is alive, then he sells them to her soon
after at Andre’s urging and he and Andre leave v Speaking to Waldmann/Beatte/Brother
Vorberg together. You may have the Characters Wilhelm: 10 RP
encounter the two of them at some later date. v Assessing the significance of
The Characters might also meet the Mutant Waldmann’s talisman: 10 RP
warband again, whoever is leading it. They might
hear wild rumors about a Bigboss who is not PART V: ASKING AROUND
really an Orx but an ordinary human woman. v Investigating on own initiative: 20 RP
This “Joan of Orx” is either said to be a tragic v Investigating at Bibi’s request: 10 RP
human serving girl who was betrayed by her v Finding out what happened twelve years
aristocratic lover or their daughter who has taken ago: 20 RP
her mother’s name in tribute. To avenge the
betrayal, “Joan” has united a hundred Orxish PART VI: THE PLAN
WAAAR! Hordes for the greatest incursion into v Assessing the significance of
settled lands in over a century. Waldmann’s talisman: 20 RP

Lastly, if the Characters parleyed with the PART VII: THE SORTIE
Mutants, this might somehow become known v Picking up something that later proves
and they’ll find themselves the target of vicious useful: 10 RP
rumors and even witch hunters.
PART VIII: AMBUSH!
REWARDS FOR COMPLETION v Hearing Klaus: 10 RP
In addition to the 100 Reward Points you give at v Hearing Gregor the first time: 10 RP
the end of a Game Session, the values below are v Saving Waldmann: 20 RP
in addition to that. Give these Reward Points v Catching Gregor: 10 RP
and Reputation Points at the conclusion of the v Finding Gregor’s talisman and realizing
adventure. its significance: 20 RP

PART I: THE WEDDING PART IX: RECONNAISSANCE

v Good role-playing at wedding (e.g. v Sneaking up to the camp: 10 RP
taking part in competition): 20 RP v Gathering information on the camp
v Successfully calming the two men down: through observation: 10 RP
10 RP v Gathering information on the camp
through listening: 10 RP
PART II: THE JOURNEY
v Good role-playing on journey: 10 RP PART X: GIRL INTERRUPTOR
v Befriending Andre: 20 RP v Catching Katharina 10 RP
v Successfully questioning Katharina: 20
PART III: THE BATTLEFIELD RP
v Each piece of information deduced v Getting Katharina on the right side: 30
without help: 10 RP RP

PART IV: ARRIVAL PART XI: RESOLUTIONS

v Taking care of Helena without v Participated in the resolution: 3
prompting: 10 RP Reputation Points per Character
GENERAL AREA BETWEEN VORBERG AND THE HORNED
MONK