Night weighed heavily on the city, its crooked rooftops and winding alleys cast in the sickly light of a waning moon. Within the cramped cabin of the riverboat they called home, the companions—Qavitrae, Thindruk, Wanda, Nora, and Felrick—gathered close, their voices hushed. The air smelled faintly of river silt and rot, and each found themselves brooding over the fate of Bergenhofen. Unseen hands were at work, twisting commerce and civility into a darkness that would soon swallow them all. They had learned too much. Following dark rumors and half-whispered warnings, they had scaled walls beneath the eerie green glow of Morslieb’s face, crept through sleeping estates where silence hung like a funeral shroud. In the dead of a previous night, they’d cornered Friedrich Magirius—an influential merchant whose knowledge offered salvation or ruin. Their visit had shaken him terribly, forcing from him a confession of a secret meeting: the Ordo Septonarius, gathered at Warehouse 13, poised to enact a dreadful ritual that could doom the city.

Yet as they returned at his desperate summons the next day, something went terribly wrong. Upon ascending to his private study, they found Magirius pale and frantic. He stammered apologies and half-formed explanations, producing a damning letter that confirmed all their suspicions—there would be no benign “prosperity rite,” only corruption and bloodshed. He feared what he had joined unwittingly and sought their help. But before they could act, a cold blade stole the breath from Magirius’ throat.

The assassin had looked ordinary enough: a house servant bearing a tray of brandy. In a flash of steel, he had buried a knife beneath the merchant’s ribs, then smiled as Magirius crumpled, choking on his own blood. When the companions rushed at him, the servant revealed himself not as a man, but as some twisted thing. Struck with blows that would have shattered bone and ended any mortal life, he only sneered, dark blood shimmering with pinkish fire. Then, with a mocking tilt of his head, he dove out the window and vanished into thin air, leaving only a stained sill and the echo of Nora’s curses behind.

They fled into the daylight streets, heartbeats pounding. Alarms rose across the Adelring as town guards shouted questions and banged on doors. But with a quiet confidence, Thindruk brandished forged politeness and feigned noble purpose—words delivered with a cunning tongue and aided by a well-placed official-looking seal. The guards let them pass, suspicious yet uncertain. Rumor would spread fast, but they slipped away, outwardly calm, while their minds reeled with what they had seen: a demon’s agent prowling comfortable halls.

Back at the docks, Joseph and the riverboat crew stood waiting with anxious eyes. Unwilling to endanger them further, the companions urged Joseph, Gilda, and Volmar to leave at once. The city was no place for innocents now; they must depart downriver and wait in Weissbruck for a handful of days. There were tears and trembling voices. Joseph offered prayers. Nora gave reassurances she did not fully believe. Soon the Bearbelly’s ropes were cast off and the boat drifted from sight, leaving the five to their grim purpose.

It was midday when they approached Warehouse 13. The plan was an ugly thing formed of desperation: infiltrate the structure meant to host the Ordo Septonarius’ dark gathering. They needed to understand how their foes worked and where they would perform their vile rite. The place was busy—stevedores hauling crates onto wagons, moving goods out and clearing space as if for a great assembly. Under a clouded sky, the companions confronted the workers. Thindruk attempted subtlety first, passing himself off as a lofty inspector, but the laborers, having been warned of a con-man posing as a noble, nearly turned on them. Steel and gold soon spoke louder than words, and with an open bribe and a few sharp threats, the workers made themselves scarce. No one wished to anger dangerous strangers, least of all ones willing to pay in silver.

The great wooden doors groaned shut behind them. Within the cavernous interior, dust motes swirled in pale shafts of light. Crates loomed in cluttered heaps, some untouched, many gone, leaving a wide open space at the warehouse’s heart. The clamor of the docks faded behind thick timber and iron locks. Alone at last, the companions stalked through the gloom, eyes scanning every corner. They found no obvious altar or sinister sigils, only the mute presence of cargo stacked in neat rows and a lingering sense of mounting dread.

A locked storeroom’s door broke beneath their combined efforts, revealing more crates of mundane goods. Nothing betrayed the presence of chaos here, no foul stench or eerie whisper. Still, they knew a terrible congregation would gather before the next sunrise. Whatever horrors Toygan and his allies planned would unfold here, in this hollow space where trade’s honest labor had been pushed aside to make room for ritual and ruin.

So they prepared as best they could. In the high rafters, they rigged a trap of their own devising. They hauled heavy crates into netting, hoisted them aloft, and arranged themselves so they might rain down swift violence upon the cultists at the appointed hour. There in the half-light, hands grimy with dust and sweat, they whispered quiet vows. Wanda offered promises to old gods and stern ancestors, Felrick checked the fletching on his arrows, Nora ran a calloused thumb along her new walking stick, and Qavitrae bowed her head, remembering battles fought centuries past. Thindruk adjusted his belt and took comfort in their resolve.

Outside, the sun crept lower, and each breath grew tighter in their chests. They had no allies now, no kindly merchant to provide answers, no boat awaiting their return. Perhaps help existed somewhere in the city’s temples or guard halls, but time was slipping through their fingers. They were five souls in a bleak and twisted drama, poised on the brink of catastrophe. Their fate would be decided here, amid the dust and darkness of Warehouse 13, where soon night would bring forth the cruel faces of those who served the Ruinous Powers. The companions steeled themselves, each determined that, come what may, their courage would not falter.

Session Notes

  • Recap of the previous session:

    • The GM, Luke, begins by setting the scene: Night has fallen over Bogenhafen, with Mórrslieb casting eerie shadows.
    • The adventurers—Qavitrae, Thindruk Steelbone, Wanda Hahnemann, Nora Abendroth, and Felrick Flappan—prepare to confront the dark secrets of the Ordo Septenarius.
    • With Franz Baumann’s aid, they create a diversion to sneak towards the Adel Ring, seeking the key to the city’s salvation.
    • They infiltrate the estate of Guildmaster Friedrich Magirius.
    • They corner Magirius, demanding answers about the ritual and his connection to the sinister Gideon.
    • Magirius confesses that there is a meeting the next night at Warehouse 13 where the true darkness will be revealed.
    • Servants and guards are alerted; the party flees through the garden, scaling the estate wall as arrows fly past.
    • They regroup at the Berebeli, the riverboat of Nora’s uncle Joseph, seeking refuge as dawn approaches.
    • They plan to confront the darkness at Warehouse 13 the next night, knowing that chaos looms over Bogenhafen.

  • Morning on the Berebeli:

    • The party discusses their plans and equipment needs.
    • They pool their coins and give a shopping list to Volmar, asking him to procure items such as glass bottles, flammable liquids, shields, rope, and a grappling hook.
    • Volmar seems surprised by the amount of money and the nature of the items but agrees to help.
    • Throughout the day, Volmar returns with the requested items, including a solid walking stick for Nora with an iron tip and a carved handle.
    • The party hints at the dangerous nature of their mission, mentioning the “ruinous powers” to Volmar.
    • Volmar expresses concern but is reassured by the party, who advise him to leave if they don’t return by the next day.

  • Unexpected Message from Magirius:

    • Above deck, a messenger from the town hall arrives with a sealed parchment addressed to the Berebeli.
    • Nora retrieves the message but cannot read it. She pretends to read it before handing it to Joseph.
    • Joseph reads the letter aloud: It’s from Councillor Magirius, urgently requesting them to come to his house on the Adel Ring as soon as possible.
    • The party debates whether it’s a trap, considering that Magirius might already be dead or planning to betray them.
    • They note that the guards might have descriptions of them, but decide that the official seal might grant them safe passage.
    • They decide to accept the summons, preparing themselves and cautioning Joseph to be ready to leave if necessary.

  • Journey to the Adel Ring:

    • The party disguises themselves as best as they can and heads towards the Adel Ring.
    • At the gate, they are confronted by a guardswoman who questions their purpose.
    • Qavitrae presents the sealed letter, stating they are summoned by Councillor Magirius.
    • The guardswoman examines the letter and, accepting its authenticity, escorts them to Magirius’s house.

  • Meeting with Magirius:

    • A servant answers the door and leads them through the house to Magirius’s study on the second floor.
    • The party is cautious, scrutinizing for any signs of an ambush but finding none.
    • Magirius appears nervous but relieved to see them. He admits he wasn’t sure they would come.
    • They question how he knew to find them. Magirius explains that their activities have been of interest to the Ordo Septenarius and Teugen, and he gently inquired to learn more.
    • Magirius confesses that after their last meeting, he searched Teugen’s office and found incriminating evidence.
    • He produces a letter—a correspondence with someone named Etelka Herzen—that confirms their suspicions about Teugen’s dark plans.
    • The party scrutinizes Magirius, determining that his fear and confusion are genuine.
    • Magirius appears overwhelmed, realizing the depth of the corruption and seeking their help.

  • Assassination of Magirius:

    • As they converse, the servant enters with a tray holding a crystal decanter and snifters of brandy.
    • Magirius is surprised but welcomes the brandy.
    • The servant pours the drinks. As he places the glass before Magirius, he swiftly produces a knife and stabs Magirius under the ribs.
    • The servant discards the knife on the desk and faces the party with a challenging expression.
    • Magirius slumps over, mortally wounded.

  • Combat with the Assassin:

    • Thindruk attempts to tackle the servant but misses as the servant deftly steps back.
    • Thindruk then punches the servant with his knuckle dusters, landing a solid blow.
    • The servant’s blood splatters, revealing dark blue fluid with pink iridescence. The servant seems unfazed by the injury.
    • Wanda tries to intimidate the servant, declaring that they come with the fires of Ulric and a battle-hardened elf.
    • Nora charges at the servant, attempting a takedown, but the servant evades her as well.
    • The servant laughs maniacally and taunts them.
    • Nora strikes the servant with her walking stick, delivering a powerful hit. More blue and pink blood splatters, accompanied by pink flames.
    • Despite the severe injuries, the servant giggles, runs to the window, and leaps out.
    • As he falls, he vanishes mid-air, leaving the party alarmed.

  • Aftermath in Magirius’s Study:

    • Qavitrae rushes to Magirius’s side, attempting to staunch the bleeding but fails to save him.
    • They realize they are being framed for Magirius’s murder when they hear a woman outside scream, “Mr. Magirius is murdered!”
    • Understanding the urgency, they quickly search the room.
    • Qavitrae grabs the incriminating letter from the desk and finds a coin purse containing 20 shillings.
    • They debate calling for help but decide against it, fearing they will be blamed.
    • The party decides to flee the scene to avoid capture.

  • Escape from the Adel Ring:

    • They exit through the back of the house, using their grappling hook to scale the estate wall as they had done previously.
    • They make their way through the streets, trying to remain inconspicuous despite the alarm bells ringing throughout the city.
    • Thindruk uses his guile to navigate past guards, explaining that they had brunch with a nobleman and are running errands.
    • The guards, accepting the explanation, allow them to pass.

  • Return to the Berebeli:

    • The party returns to the Berebeli to regroup.
    • They tell Joseph about the dire situation and advise him to leave Bogenhafen to ensure his and his family’s safety.
    • Joseph agrees, planning to sail to Weissbruck and wait for them there for a week.
    • They have a heartfelt farewell, with Joseph expressing his concern and wishing them luck.
    • Gilda and Volmar are informed, and the Berebeli begins preparations to depart.

  • Planning the Confrontation at Warehouse 13:

    • The party discusses their next move, focusing on stopping the ritual at Warehouse 13.
    • They observe that wagons have been moving items out of the warehouse all day, possibly clearing space for the ritual.
    • They consider seeking help from the Temple of Sigmar or the witch hunters but decide they don’t have time or certainty of assistance.
    • They debate burning down the warehouse to prevent the ritual but worry about collateral damage and the consequences of arson.
    • Ultimately, they decide to infiltrate the warehouse to gather information and set a trap for the cultists.

  • Infiltrating Warehouse 13:

    • The party approaches the warehouse, attempting to bluff their way in.
    • Thindruk impersonates a noble named Lord Lackerson, claiming they are there to oversee the unloading process due to delays.
    • Thindruk fails his guile attempt, and the stevedores become suspicious, mentioning that Teugen warned them about someone impersonating Lord Lackerson.
    • Wanda intervenes, intimidating the stevedores by drawing her sword and shield, declaring that Lord Lackerson is under her protection.
    • Qavitrae throws the coin purse she took from Magirius to the lead stevedore as a bribe.
    • The stevedores, tempted by the money, decide not to interfere and leave the warehouse.

  • Setting a Trap in the Warehouse:

    • Inside the warehouse, they find the front half empty, with crates stacked in the back.
    • The party searches for any signs of the ritual or suspicious items but finds only standard goods.
    • They discover a locked door on the second floor.
    • Thindruk attempts to pick the lock but critically fails, breaking his lockpicks.
    • Qavitrae and Nora use a pry bar to force the door open.
    • Behind the door, they find more storage rooms but nothing out of the ordinary.
    • Deciding to set a trap, they use netting found in the warehouse to create a makeshift net trap suspended from the ceiling.
    • They position crates and flammable materials in the net, planning to drop it on the cultists during the ritual.
    • They adjust the arrangement of the crates to ensure the cultists will be underneath the trap.
    • With the trap set, they prepare to hide and wait for nightfall.

  • Final Preparations:

    • The Berebeli begins to depart, with Joseph agreeing to wait for them in Weissbruck.
    • Volmar and Gilda express their concerns and say their goodbyes.
    • Joseph wishes them luck and prays for their safety.
    • The party readies themselves for the confrontation, knowing that the fate of Bogenhafen may rest on their actions that night.

  • Session Conclusion:

    • The GM awards the party 50 reward points for their actions during the session.
    • The players discuss their characters’ potential progression and future professions, considering how their experiences are shaping them.
    • The session ends with the party concealed in Warehouse 13, waiting to confront the Ordo Septenarius and prevent the impending ritual.